Clare's Blog 2: The Haven

Come Meet Holiday Writer- Anne Holly!

2011-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

I Swear I Didn’t Plan This!

Anne Holly

I am a “holiday writer”. I didn’t plan it that way, but a number of people have remarked how great my name is for my holiday books. I swear, it wasn’t a master plan. I didn’t get into writing romance so I could specialize in holiday books simply because of my name.

Though, I must admit, it’s turned out great for me, this coincidence.

The first novel I had accepted was a snowy winter romance set in Canada’s North, Strings Attached. It isn’t a Christmas book, but it does partially take place during the season. It never occurred to me the connection with my name – I was just telling a story. Then, in the fall of 2010, I realized I should write a Christmas romance since the holiday was approaching, so next came Unwrapping Scrooge. I’ve always loved redemption-of-a-Scrooge stories, so it seemed natural to write it. Then came another Christmas story, Good for the Goose, which brought about a contract for four more holiday-themed stories in a series, including a New Years story, Bubbly. Well, as they say, the rest is history.

No, it wasn’t intentional – I just went along, writing stories I would like to read, as a romance fan.

This is why all the Christmas stories – I love them as a reader. I’m not a huge holiday junky, really. In fact, I hate shopping and the expense of the holidays, and I can’t stand travelling, especially at the same time as everyone else. I like snow, but there’s a limit to that, I admit. I love holiday lights and the cheerfulness of it all, I grant, but even I can get the bah-humbugs. But, I do love the romances that come out for Christmas. Heart warming stories of family, and love, and home, and hearth – beautiful stories, and I’ve loved every holiday vacation I have spent in my pajamas under a quilt reading these lovely books.

And this is what I want for Christmas – I want to know that there is someone out there, sighing happily, reading about Kale’s change of heart in Unwrapping Scrooge, or Tasha’s reawakening after her heartbreaking divorce in Good for the Goose, or Theo’s melting heart in Strings Attached, or Beth’s second chance at life in Bubbly… Or any of my stories. If one of you out there uses one of my books to bring you a little holiday R&R, then I have had my gift. Thank you.

So, happy holidays from an accidental holiday writer to you, the romance readers that make this all possible. Have a wonderful New Year and I’ll see you at Valentine’s!

*

Anne Holly is a Canadian writer of romance and erotic-romance, as well as a mother and teacher. She is the author of the novel Strings Attached, which was described by The Romance Reviews as “a classic contemporary romance.” She has been published by Wild Horse Press, Decadent Publishing and Rebel Ink Press, and in 2012 by Pink Petal Books. Anne’s work is characterized by its unusual heroes, sweet/spicy balance, witty dialogue, responsible citizenship, and its positive, optimistic nature. She has found a particular niche in holiday romance. You may visit Anne at her blog or website, or find her on GoodReads, Facebook and Twitter (@anneholly2010). Sign up for her newsletter here. Email her at anneholly2010@gmail.com.

Book and Trailer Showcase

2011-12-13T20:35:00.001-05:00

December 15th!

My Newest Release A Paranormal Romance 'Zenward's Magic'

2011-11-20T17:42:00.001-05:00

Blurb

Plagued by a demon his entire life, Marius Zenward will stop at nothing to free himself from this horrible curse. Captivated by his mystery and torn by her desire, Corrigan Heilyn longs to be with him but is held at bay by the horrible secret that follows Marius from town to town.

Will the magic that he possesses set them free?

Excerpt

Corrigan Heilyn's desire for Marius was palpable. Her body cried out for his touch. His strong heavily muscled arms gently caressed her body and held her close. The gentle musk from his skin tickled her nose as she leaned in close to feel her lips tap against his stubbled chin.

Marius parted his lips allowing his ruby red tongue to peak through. They licked her lips ever so gently before she parted hers allowing it to slip inside her mouth. His kiss was ever so sweet and gentle. Yet her body was on fire. As he pulled her close only one thought was in her mind...

I need you.

Take A Bite Into Shannon Leigh's "Chinatown Buffet"

2011-11-18T00:00:00.000-05:00

Shannon Leigh

Chinatown Buffet

Genre: ContemporaryErotica/ Interracial / Multicultural

Publisher: AmberQuill Press (http://amberquill.com)

Purchase URL: http://amberquill.com/AmberHeat/ChinatownBuffet.html

Format: ebook

Also availablein audio format from AudioMinx (www.audiominx.com)

Purchase URL:http://www.audiominx.com/books/chinatown-buffet/

Blurb:

They say theroad to success is a lonely one. Newly named corporate executive of the ChineseAmerican Development Corporation, Ms. Mei Ling Zhao, can attest to this. Hatedby her subordinates, her acquired status has truly left her friendless and inneed of some male attention. After a long week of dealing with spitefulemployees, threatening letters, and one headache after another, she treatsherself to a much-needed drink and an order of fast-food—Chinese takeout, via“special delivery.”

While Mei Ling expectsher meal to arrive smoking hot and in a timely manner, she doesn’t anticipateher delivery boy to be a tall, tanned Texan with a black Stetson, levis thatcling to all the right places, and seafoam eyes that remind her of ocean waterpooling on the shore. And yet, when she opens her door, that’s exactly what shefinds standing on her stoop.

Seems theChinatown Buffet is in the business of delivering more than just a tasty meal,and Mei Ling is about to find out what “special delivery” really means…

Excerpt: PG-17

Her gaze fell tothe black Levi’s clinging to his trim hips and brawny thighs. She couldn’t help but focus her attention on the sizeablebulge at his groin. Her mouth suddenly felt dry. Where was that bottle ofchampagne when she needed it?

Surely this mandid more than make fast-food deliveries. Come to think of it, he seemed completely outof place in Chinatown. With his cowboy hat, worn jeans, and silver-tippedboots, he looked like he’d just arrived from—

“That’s afirst,” he declared, his seductively masculine voice cutting into her wanderingthoughts.

Mei Lingmentally shook herself, then forced her attention back to his face as herfingers closed around the folded edge of the bag. The arrogant slant of hismouth told her she’d been caught staring at his package—and not the one in hishand.

“A first forwhat?” she choked out, that bothersome lump returning in the back of herthroat.

“Most aren’tready to pay ’til we’re finished.”

Confused, MeiLing blinked a few times. “Finished?”

This time, itwas his turn to seem perplexed. “Didn’t ya want special deliver?”

“Well…yes. Idid,” she returned with hesitance. “But I don’t—”

“Good. Thenlet’s get started.” With that, he stepped past her and into the foyer.

Stunned by hisboldness, Mei Ling merely stared at him with her mouth hanging open and the bagof food dangling limply from her fingertips.What the hell was going on here? She didn’t invite him in.

“Hey,” sheprotested when he strode past her and headed for the living room.

“Nice place,” hecalled back over his shoulder, ignoring her objection. “Ya might want to close the door. Inoticed some of your neighbors peerin’ out their blinds. Sure hate for someoneto walk in on us.”

Not knowing whatelse to do, Mei Ling closed the door. “Wait a minute here!” She marched intothe living room behind him. “What’s going on? Walk in on us? Doing what? You’resupposed to deliver my order. Right?”

He turned toface her, a boyish smile lighting his tempting lips.

Then he reachedup with one hand, removed his hat and tossed it onto the ottoman at the foot ofher chair. “That’s precisely what I’m doin’.”

His barging intoher home uninvited had surprised her. But when his T-shirt followed his hatonto the ottoman, Mei Ling nearly choked on her shock. “I’m afraid there’s beensome sort of mistake here,” she gasped, trying not to stare at his nicelyformed pectorals.

She certainlyhad no intention of appreciating the golden mass of curly brown wisps featheredacross his chest and washboard abs. Or how a thickened swatch ran downward fromhis navel to disappear into the waistband of his jeans. And she absolutelyrefused to acknowledge the interest peaking within herself—the increased heartrate, the needful throb deep within her belly, the dampness in her panties.

As thoughignoring her statement, he continued to undress. His boots followed alongbehind his shirt. Then his socks. He’d was just unzipping his pants when MeiLing realized if she didn’t intervene, she’d soon have a naked man standing inthe middle of her living room.

“Wait! Please. Ireally don’t understand what’s going on here.”

Quickly crossingthe room, she darted for the ottoman and his growing pile of clothing. Then shesnatched up his shirt and thrust it toward him. “Here, put this back on. Youcan’t just barge in here and start taking your clothes off. I don’t know ifthis is some kind of a joke, but I only ordered…I don’t even know who you arefor Pete’s sake!”

He stared ather, long and hard, seemingly trying to figure out if she were playing a gameor genuinely confused. “Ya really didn’t know what special delivery meant whenya ordered it, did ya.” It wasn’t a question, but rather a declaration.

“Apparently not.”A nervous laugh slipped from her lips. “Would you…care to enlighten me?” MeiLing wasn’t sure where those words had came from, but once they’d left hermouth, she knew there was no taking them back.

He smiled then,a wickedly delicious smile that curled her toes and robbed her breath. “Mypleasure, ma’am.”

She could onlywatch with a strange sense of anticipation as he moved toward her. While hisintent was unclear, one thing was for certain, his touch would be hotter than aglowing branding iron, and she’d surely melt like a plastic spoon in a blazingfire if he put his hands on her. When his fingertips brushed the side of herneck, she knew she was about to find out.

***

"Giving readers the O in theirerOtica."

Website:http://shannonleigh.org

Email:author_shannon_leigh@hotmail.com

Newsletter:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shannon_Leigh_Newsletter/

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/author_shannon_leigh

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/AuthorShannonLeigh

Twitter:http://twitter.com/shannon_leigh

Blog: http://authorshannonleigh.blogspot.com

Experience the 'Phantom's Touch' by Cindy Jacks

2011-11-17T11:20:00.001-05:00

Erika leads aquiet life—at least in the real world. But her alter-ego, Little Lottie, is asinger at a local club and engages in a wild online romance. For months she’sbeen communicating with a mysterious man, known only to her as the Phantom.

Her lovercontacts her via texts, emails and instant messages. When he offers to fulfillher desires in real life, she can’t refuse. The only condition to meeting fortheir sizzling assignations—he wears a mask to hide his true identity. Despitehis reluctance to reveal himself to Erika, he tears down her inhibitions andunleashes her suppressed passions, taking possession of her body and soul.

Erika may havefinally found the one man who can sate her every longing…if only he would showher the man behind the mask.

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9623-phantom-touch.aspx

Win A Copy of My Book And a Free Kindle!

2011-11-16T16:14:00.001-05:00

And Win A Free Copy of My Book "Fugue"!

Interested?

Go to:

http://www.hippiechicks68.com/hippie_chicks_holly_jolly_christmas.html

Bernadette Marie and The Executive's Decision

2011-09-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Executive’s Decision was just a funny thought once that blossomed into a wonderful novel. What if you met your soul mate on a city bus? Not so odd maybe but what if you fell right into his lap? That’s how the book opens and the characters just moved the story from there.

The book itself was supposed to be a standalone book, but I’m a sucker for family series. Regan has a sister and two brothers. They all have very unique personalities and were going to need their own stories. Let’s not forget the nephews and, well, soon enough everyone will have had families and it could go on and on.

It is challenges, such as the one presented to me by The Executive’s Decision, that keep me writing. Whether it be the fiancée who doesn’t remember the man she is going to marry, but only remembers her ex-husband, or the actors who are only put into a coupling for a publicity stunt, it’s fun to build stories around them.

BIO:
Bernadette Marie has been an avid writer since the early age of 13, when she’d fill notebook after notebook with stories that she’d share with her friends. Her journey into novel writing started the summer before eighth grade when her father gave her an old typewriter. At all times of the day and night you would find her on the back porch penning her first work, which she would continue to write for the next 22 years.

In 2007 – after marriage, filling her chronic entrepreneurial needs, and having five children – Bernadette began to write seriously with the goal of being published. That year she wrote 12 books. In 2009 she was contracted for her first trilogy and the published author was born. In 2011 she (being the entrepreneur that she is) opened her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, and has released contemporary titles and will begin the process, eventually, of taking on other authors in other genres. Also in 2011 she became co-owner of Seven Songs Press and will release a novella as part of an anthology with other very talented authors in November 2011.

Bernadette spends most of her free time driving her kids to their many events. She is also an accomplished martial artist, working her way to her second degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. An avid reader, she enjoys most, the works of Nora Roberts and Karen White. She loves to meet readers who enjoy reading contemporary romances and she always promises Happily Ever After.

LINKS:
WEBSITE: www.bernadettemarie.com
BLOG: www.authorbernadettemarie.com
EMAIL: info@bernadettemarie.com
FACEBOOK:www.facebook.com/authorbernadettemarie
TWITTER: @writesromance

BLURB FOR THE EXECUTIVE’S DECISION:
Regan Keller fell in love with a wealthy and powerful man once. He was her boss. When that turbulent relationship ended, she swore she’d never again date someone she worked with. That was before she literally fell into her new boss’s lap.

Zachary Benson is the head of a successful empire and used to getting what he wants in the boardroom and outside of it – and what he wants is Regan Keller. He’s determined to convince Regan that even though he’s her boss, they can share a life together.

However, when Regan’s past threatens to destroy the architectural firm Zach has invested his entire career in, he has to make an executive decision whether to choose his business or fight for the woman he loves.

EXCERPT FROM THE EXECUTIVE’S DECISION

Chapter One

Thunder rippled through the gray clouds that loomed overhead. Regan Keller raised her eyes to the sky. Please, please don’t rain. As she sent up the silent prayer, she felt the first drop hither forehead.

The nervous flutter in her stomach quickened as she looked down at her watch. Surely her day couldn’t get any worse. But the sky opened up, and those around her crowded together in the bus stop shelter. Her hair, tied in a tail at the base of her neck, dripped rain down her back as she hunched in her coat. How could she have forgotten her umbrella? Had her car been running, she’d have the one tucked safely away in the glove compartment because spring in Tennessee often meant sudden storms. She should carry one in her bag but had suffered a lapse in memory, having opted for the sunny beaches of Hawaii for the past two years.

As the bus arrived, those under the shelter huddled onto it ahead of her, claiming every seat. Soaking wet, Regan wedged herself between two people and held onto the handrail above her head. She looked out the window at the commuters driving themselves to work in the pouring rain. That should have been her.

A bitter-faced old woman sat below her, her oversized bag occupying the next seat. Regan bent to ask her to move it, but the woman glared up at her and gave a grunt that sounded like a dog’s bark. Regan flinched and tried to look away. But she was compelled to keep an eye on the woman.

The man to the other side of the vacant seat snickered. Regan looked down at him in his long black overcoat and perfect hair. Hemmed in between the old lady’s bag and an overweight man in a jogging suit, he was as pinned in his seat as she was to the people around her. She would have given him a piece of her mind for laughing at her had the bus not jolted to a sudden stop. It lurched forward then back and tossed Regan onto the man’s lap.

“I would have offered you my seat,” he said with a bright grin as the bus lurched again.

“Why, you…” She struggled to free herself, but the crowd moved in tightly around them as the bus bounced down the street. The pace of her heart kicked into gear and she could feel the sweat bead on her brow.

She hadn’t been this close to a man in over a year, and the panic of having him actually hold her on his lap was making her more than uncomfortable. “I need to stand up.”

“You might as well sit.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Doesn’t look like you’ll be standing again anytime soon.”

Regan took a few deep and cleansing breaths. She forced down the panic that was filling her body and tried to push it away. Alexander Hamilton thought she was dead. There should be no danger in sitting on the lap of a nice-looking man. She should find it within her to enjoy the experience and focus on something else.

He didn’t have an accent native to Tennessee like hers. Perhaps the rain had caught him off guard as well. If she didn’t relax, she’d have a heart attack, and this nice gentleman who wasn’t from Nashville would probably be blamed for her death on the bus on his way to work.

Accepting her predicament at face value would be a prime opportunity to let go of bitter feelings for the opposite gender, though after what she’d been through, she wasn’t sure she could. The thought of ever loving another man or letting one touch her made her palms sweat and her stomach clench.

The man smiled at her, and a dimple formed in his cheek. “This is your first time on this bus, isn’t it?” He pushed back a wet wisp of hair from her forehead, and she flinched away. “It’s always crowded, but I know I would have seen you.”

“My car wouldn’t start this morning.” She pressed her hand to her jittery stomach and willed it to settle. “I start a new job today. Car trouble couldn’t have come at a worse time.”

“New job? Congratulations. So what is this new job?”

God, he was handsome, and wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the ride? But she wasn’t. “Executive assistant.” The words shook as she spoke.

“Pretty important.”

“You think it’s just some glorified secretary, don’t you?” She clenched her teeth and her fists. Why wouldn’t she be angry? The last man she’d worked for had interpreted the title executive assistant as a license to run her life and to ruin it.

“No. I was serious. It’s a very important position.” He looked sincere. “So where is this new job?”

“Benson, Benson and Hart.”

“Real estate development.”

“Yes.” Her breath was becoming harder to push through her lungs. “I should get off your lap.”

“You’d ruin my day.” He laughed easily, so she tried to relax. “So whose executive assistant will you be?”

“Zachary Benson’s.” She looked around for a space to stand.

“CEO? He must have been very impressed with you.”

“I’ve never met him. His current assistant is having a baby and leaving the company. He was out of town when she interviewed me.” She thought about Mary Ellen, his current assistant. The interview had had a motherly quality to it. She wasn’t sure whether it was because Mary Ellen was pregnant or that worried for her boss. “I think she takes good care of him. It’ll be a hard pair of shoes to fill.” And if that hadn’t had her stomach tied in knots, here she was having a conversation about it with a man she didn’t know while sitting on his lap. Had she completely forgotten the last man she’d gotten this close to tried to kill her?

“I’m sure he’ll be pleased with her choice.”

“Thank you.” She wanted to wiggle away from the hard muscles she could feel in his chest, from his arms that held her tight against him, and from the legs of a man who obviously kept in shape. She couldn’t, so she kept talking. “I hope he likes me. I can’t imagine him not wanting to meet me first.”

“Maybe he’s ugly.”

Finally a laugh rolled from her throat. “That’s not what Mary Ellen said.” She tucked in her lips. “She says he’s a hottie.”

“Hottie?” His voice lit with humor. “Well, you’ll enjoy your job then.”

“Strictly business here. I don’t get involved with the boss,” she said sternly. Not anymore. This was, after all, her chance to take back her life after making such a mistake.

The bus stopped, and the old woman stood and grabbed her bag.

“Move!” She shoved her way through the people who climbed on and made her way out the door. Before Regan could stand and claim a seat, the crowd around her pushed her closer against the stranger, whose arms wrapped tightly around her as others dropped down beside them.

“Your stop is the next one,” he offered, and she nodded. “So what’s your name?”

“Regan.”

“You’re native to Tennessee, aren’t you? Your accent gives you away.”

“I was born in Memphis. I spent most of my life in Nashville though. I did a stint in Los Angeles and then lived in Maui for the last two years. I missed home though.” The more she tried to suppress her nerves, the more she talked.

“Los Angeles? Tried your hand at Hollywood?”

“No.” She shook her head. “I worked for a prominent lawyer who had some big-name clients. But I wasn’t seeking fame and fortune.”

“Well, Ms. Executive Assistant, I’m glad you came home or this would have been a very boring ride this morning.” The bus stopped, and most of the people began to move to the door. “This is your stop.”

She finally stood and turned to exit with the crowd without looking back.

The man caught her hand and held it. Her very core shook, and her first instinct was to rip her hand away. But she needed to move on and not be so damn afraid of every man that gave her attention.

“Would you have lunch with me?” he asked.

“What?” She looked back at people climbing on. If she didn’t exit the bus now, she’d miss her stop. “Oh, I don’t think so.”

“Meet me at the hot dog stand at noon just on the north corner of your building,” he said with a wink and a nod.

She couldn’t think to speak. She nodded as she hurried off the bus.

The rain had subsided for the time being. Regan had almost dried off as she sat on the handsome man’s lap. The smell of his cologne lingered on her coat. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of him.

She stopped as she neared the door and turned to see the bus drive away. He was watching her from the window, and he waved. It occurred to her she didn’t even know his name.

She looked down at her hands. They were shaking.

Get over it. Move on. Not everyone wanted to hurt her. Not every man was evil with ulterior motives. No, some were just nice men who wanted to take you to lunch.

Well, it wasn’t like he’d asked her to stay at a hotel. He’d offered to buy her a hot dog. Really, it was harmless. And he’d assume she was too busy with her new job if she just didn’t show up.

But she wanted to.

Well, there was no better time to move on with her life, and no better way to get to know the man on whose lap you’d ridden to work than over a hot dog.

A tingle of hope shot through her. She needed to start taking back her life the way she wanted it. No more mistakes. No more regrets. It was her life now, and she was going to enjoy it.

End Excerpt

Rachel Brimble and Her Latest Novel "Paying the Piper"

2011-09-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Back to school, my darlings!!

Until these summer school holidays I always thought I was pretty good at time management…but how very wrong I was! Oh, lordy, lordy! Six long weeks of barely typing a word and when I did it wasn’t very good – not a great recipe for producing something polished enough to submit to a publisher come the Autumn.

I’m mum to two young daughters of twelve and ten – the age where I stupidly assumed they would be out with their friends playing in the sunshine. Remember when we did that? Yes? Well, as other writer mums out there reading this undoubtedly already know, such nonsense is laughable. I soon discovered kids don’t need to go out with friends when they have virtual ones all over the internet and TV, arrghh!!

Alas, the holidays are over and my little darlings are back to school so I am feverishly writing once more, hoping to finish a novella and another novel by the time they break up for Christmas…she says. The interruptions were mammoth, the moaning and fighting worse than ever or maybe it was just my own frustration and naïve expectations that caused me to drink far too much wine and break out in hives over the holidays.

But anyway, onwards and upwards, we are into September now and don’t have to think about the summer holidays again for another ten months, yay!

The novel I am here promoting today, Paying The Piper, is a darker, grittier story than I usually write – it focuses on the romantic union of two lost souls searching for escape from their fathers’ expectations and abuse.

Here’s the blurb:

Nightclub manager Grace Butler is on a mission to buy the pub where her mother's ashes are scattered but the owner wants to sell to anyone but her. And that owner happens to be her father...who has a secret she will do anything to discover.

Social worker and all around good guy Jimmy Betts needs funds to buy a house for three special kids before their care home closes. Time is running out and he's desperate for cash. He agrees to to a one-time 'job' for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmy finds himself employed by Karl's beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter, Grace. Their lives couldn't be more different, yet one thread binds them: they're both trying to escape the bonds of their fathers. Maybe the only way they'll be free is by being together, instead of alone.

Buy Link:

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=81&products_id=424

I love writing a TOTALLY different sub-genre with each book I write. It keeps things fresh for me and also, I hope, my readers. So far I have had two romantic suspense novels (the third is under consideration as we speak!), one romantic comedy, one Victorian historical (the second is with my agent) and two contemporary romances published. They are all entirely different – except for my voice which people say they always recognize, which is great.

So as gritty as Paying The Piper is, the book I am working on now is funny, sexy and bright. A complete contrast in every other way apart from the best bit – the romance.

My question I’d like to throw out to Clare’s visitors today is how you guys read? Do you often swap romance sub-genres or stick to the same one? Do you vary your genres completely from book to book?

I have recently acquired an agent and wonder how long I will be able to continue with my enjoyment of changing sub-genres with every new novel, or will my publisher want me to stick to one until I ‘make it’ so to speak?

Does it irritate readers rather than interest them? What do you think? I’d love to hear from you!

Bio

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. Having always believed there’s someone for everyone, Rachel started writing her own tales of love once her children were at school. Since then, she’s had several books published with The Wild Rose Press, Eternal Press and Lyrical Press. She has recently acquired a US agent with her second Victorian historical. A member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America, Rachel cannot imagine her life without romance or writing!

When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family. And in the evening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused…

Six Sentence Sunday- An Excerpt From 'Cold Warriors'

2011-09-11T17:20:00.003-04:00

Caitlin looked into his eyes, her heart pounded. She was mesmerized by his gaze. Keegan's hand moved slowly through her hair, sweeping it behind her shoulders. He leaned forward, his nose inches away from hers. Their lips met slowly and pressed firmly together. His mouth parted, as he gently met her velvety tongue with his, unleashing a passionate kiss.

Call for Submissions- Honor Guard Line- Decadent Publishing

2011-09-07T14:28:00.002-04:00

Decadent Publishing is actively seeking stories that fit our new Honor Guard line.
The Honor Guard line is composed of contemporary multi-national romance stories with a heat level of 3-5 and word count between 10k-30k.

Setting: US embassies around the world. The hero can be any alpha male having to do with embassy operations: Marines, MP, CIA, Homeland Security, NSA, etc.

The heroine can be an American or foreign national. Her age should be 25+ (can be Late Escape--romance between couples age 50+--as well). If your setting is in India, Australia, Norway or wherever, we need "local flavor". Tap your travel experiences!

If you write about the military, make sure it's accurate. Give us fun, adventure, romance, interesting settings, strong characters and hot lovin' combined with cultural insights. HEA is mandatory.

Decadent is also taking submissions in our popular 1Night Stand line and is open for general sunmissions in the following catagories. Please keep word count between 5-50k at this time.
See SUBMISSIONS page on the website for details. http://www.decadentpublishing.com/index.php?osCsid=084930d6cc456d4ae1915b6958c5a3e5&content=submissions

Historical paranormal romance
Late Escape romance (couples who are 50 years of age or older)
May-December romance
Comedy (romance or mainstream fiction)
Time travel (romance or mainstream fiction)
Erotic Romance
GLBT (especially F/F)
Non-Fiction (Biography, historical, memoirs, autobiography)

Shadowphoenix Requiem by J. S. Wayne-- A Quick Taste!

2011-08-30T23:09:00.001-04:00

Welcome J. S. Wayne!

What is the name of your novel?

Shadowphoenix: Requiem

What first attracted you to writing vampire fiction?

I’ve always been fascinated by the versatility of vampire fiction, and the seemingly endless ways in which the genre has been imagined and reimagined.

Who is/are your main character(s) and is he/she a vampire?

Markus Latimore is a vampire in a very *snicker* different vein than most. His human wife, Robyn, is the great passion of his life and the person around whom his entire existence revolves. And as a magician, he also has some very nasty powers which he can call upon.

How would you describe your vampire character? Is he/she a lover or fighter? Is the beast within held at bay? Or does he/she go with her passions?

Honestly, Mark is both. He loves fully, gives of himself completely, and doesn’t hold back. But when someone arouses his rage, he is a deadly, calculating, remorseless predator who is utterly ruthless in achieving his goals.

What are your thoughts on some of the traditional weaknesses of vampires? Sunlight, crosses, wooden stakes etc. Did you incorporate any of that into your fiction? If not what were some of the weaknesses that your character must avoid?

Excuse me while I snicker into my sleeve.
Vampirism in Mark Latimore’s world is very different from the Stoker formula; it is a genetic condition which can be passed on to others under very rare circumstances. (Most of the time, the person undergoing the change dies because their bodies simply cannot tolerate the immense number of changes which the vampire virus wreaks on their system.

Only ¼ of 1% of all people subjected to the vampire virus survive the change, which makes the vampire genotype self-limiting.) Vampires have to be extremely careful when having sex with humans; condoms are essential because of the dangerously high risk of passing on the virus. Only one blood type, B+, is resistant to the effects of the vampire virus. Vampires’ systems are also surprisingly delicate. If a vampire is allergic to seafood or peanuts, for example, exposure that would land a human in the hospital will kill them. But garlic will only hurt a vampire if they started out allergic to it, and vampires don’t exist solely or even mostly on blood.

The only reason they have to ingest blood at all is because their bodies do not produce hemoglobin (the oxygen-bearing component in whole blood) naturally.
Sunlight affects each vampire differently. These effects range from none whatsoever to a lingering and painful death, depending on the vampire. Vampires cannot turn themselves into different things, grow wings, or vanish. They do, however, have the requisite supernatural speed and strength.

Crosses and other symbols of faith affect vampires much the same way they do humans; but they’re all but useless for stopping one. If a marauding vampire is after you, it doesn’t matter how many trinkets of faith you’re carrying; they might as well be so much tissue paper for all the good they’ll do to stop the vampire.

As far as fire, beheading, and wooden stakes? Well, do any or all of those to a human and see what happens. The same thing happens to a vampire? Say it ain’t so!!

A well-placed bullet will kill a vampire just the same as a human. So will a knife, a properly employed baseball bat, or any number of other implements of destruction; it may take a little more effort to really make it stick, though.

Go crazy and tell us about your book! Include an excerpt if you like!

Blurb

Markus Latimore is not your usual vampire. Living in San Antonio with his human wife, he had perfected the masquerade he had been trained to live since birth. As a practicing occultist, he dedicated his days and nights to helping others and loving his wife. One favor for a friend changed all that.

Within hours, his wife had been attacked, and his carefully orchestrated world began to crumble around him. Now, he must navigate a murky labyrinth of deception, duplicity, and death. Innocent lives hang in the balance, and he quickly learns that the stakes he's playing for couldn't be higher. To survive, he will have to do the unthinkable.

For the first time in his life, he will have to fully embrace his nature. If he fails, there will be hell to pay. If he succeeds, the shadow world in which he moves will demand his death.

Either way, he'll have to give the devil his due...

Excerpt Explanation:

This is close to the end of the book, and Robyn’s well out of the picture. The devil worshipers have chosen a new target, Michelle Delacroix, and Mark has agreed to let her stay at his place for safety. The two have recently come to grips with their mutual attraction, but the eve of an impending war is no time for thoughts of romance. Or to reveal to your lover that you have a few . . . unusual attributes.

Chapter Thirty-One

Michelle was settled in the living room, happily watching Titanic; I could hear a wailing
pipe from the soundtrack, and shook my head to try to block out the distraction. I was studying aerial maps and copied blueprints of the factory, courtesy of Josh. He’d come through, in a big
way. Neatly clipped to the pictures was a tactical assessment concerning best points of entry,
known sentry posts, rotations of guards as best they could determine, and the armaments of
same.

It was pretty dismaying. I had to find a way to get in, when they had every entrance onto
the grounds and into the factory proper guarded by private, armed security that I had to bypass, find where the {devil worshipers} were assembling—too bad there were only half a dozen spaces that could fit that many people, I thought sourly—make pickup on Amanda McEvoy, and get back out again without getting us both killed.

It would only be the two of us against an army of them, and since Amanda would most
likely be in shock and/or drugged, that made it my individual ass against, best case, one hundred fifty of them. I only prayed that the DWs themselves wouldn’t be armed, or I was in heap deep shit.

I’d studied the surveillance on the factory. The security guards staggered their patrols to
be completely random. They might not pass one area for fifteen minutes, but then they could go through it three times in as many minutes. So best case scenario, I had fifteen minutes to get in
and out. Worst case, about the time I found the DWs, I’d have security nipping at my heels.
Either way, the odds were definitely not in my favor.

I had been staring at the factory data for so long I’d begun to slip into a trance state.
There was something obvious that I was overlooking here, and I was damned if I could think
what it was. I closed my eyes and considered what the report had to say about the security of the factory.

They had every entrance guarded about equally; so that meant two stationary men and
two rovers at each door who’d have to be neutralized, either wounded and incommunicado or dead. Then I had to get over the fence, which was crowned with razor wire and I was pretty sure would be rigged with motion detectors if I was lucky. If I was unlucky, they’d also have heat and pressure sensors on the fence, which would make it much worse, never mind that I didn’t think
they had the resources or the technical know-how to set it up. Of course, one of the benefits of being a vampire was that I didn’t have to actually touch the fence; it was only twelve feet high.

With a good enough running start, I could clear the fence and come down ten yards inside the perimeter off one jump. The only problem was that if I miscalculated my leap, the razor wire coiled across the top of the fence would cut me in half, from balls to eyebrows. That sounded
sufficiently unpleasant that I decided I’d see if I could find a better way.

Going in through the main entrance was too risky; that was where the latecomers would
be, and I would be too evident. If anyone challenged me, and I failed to say the right thing at the right time, Amanda McEvoy would never be seen again. At least, not alive.

I was driving myself slowly batshit, and I knew it. Somewhere along the line, I had
decided to shoulder the full weight of the blame for anything that happened as a result of the
DWs’ actions. Although common sense said to knock it off, I just kept right on, and now the
consequence was that when I needed to be sharp and paying attention, I was distracted by
thoughts of what would happen if I failed, rather than refusing to even consider the possibility of failure. It didn’t help matters that I was giving myself an acid stomach, which was gurgling and grumbling at my ill-treatment of it.

I slumped over the desk, feeling completely overwhelmed. This wasn’t like a week
where four people needed four different rituals for four different reasons and needed them all ASAP. If I couldn’t do it immediately, generally no harm would be done by waiting. This was as life-and-death serious as it got, and the immediacy of it was only too apparent.

I don’t know how long I sat there with my head sitting in the basket of my hands, willing
my brain to settle down so I could get a better view of what was what. But what brought me out of it was a pair of warm hands pressing into my shoulders. I didn’t open my eyes, but asked, “Is the movie over?”

“No, I had to switch tapes,” she said. “You look beat.”

“I feel it. There were six of them, with hockey sticks,” I groaned.

She began to rub at the junction of my neck and shoulders. “You’re all knots,” she
observed as she pushed in with her thumbs. “How long since you had a neck rub?”

“Not…”

“Since Robyn,” we chorused. “I knew that was coming,” she continued. “Well, relax,
because you’re not getting out of that chair until I’m done with you.”

“You’re the boss,” I muttered. I had to admit, it did feel good. Maybe when I woke up
tomorrow, my neck wouldn’t be so damned stiff.

“You like that?” she asked as she dug her fingers into a particularly stiff spot and got it to
unwind.

“Mmm,” I said. “I‘ll give you the rest of your life to stop that.”

She chuckled. “When I get done, you should take a hot bath.”

“Think I will,” I said drowsily. She was lulling me to sleep with her expert ministrations,
which had now gone beyond my shoulders and down my back, finding spots that I wasn’t even aware were tense until she encouraged them to relax. The feeling was absolute bliss, and I hung on the cusp of sleep for I didn’t know how long, until I heard the whisper of cloth hitting the
floor and noticed dimly that her hands were no longer working magic on my abused muscles.

“Mark?”

I opened my eyes to see Michelle standing in front of my desk, naked as the day she was
born. Her hands were positioned modestly over the essentials, her face was flushed, and she
looked breathtakingly, heartbreakingly beautiful.

“I want you, Mark. If you have to do this tomorrow night, I want you now. I want you to
make love to me tonight. I want one night with you as my lover.”

I rubbed my eyes. “Michelle, the other night was wonderful,” I said honestly. “But like I
told you, there are things you don’t know about me.”

“It doesn’t matter,” she said breathily. “I want you. I want all of you. Everything that you
are, good or bad.”

“You don’t know what you’re asking,” I said, dry-mouthed.

“Oh, but I do,” she said, coming around the desk and taking my wrists. Then she leaned
down and laid another one of those ten-on-the-Richter-scale, someone-in-Peking-is-saying-“What-the-hell-is-that?” kisses on me. Kisses like that shouldn’t be legal, I thought. The
FDA should make them illegal, because they’re more addictive than heroin and harder to give up than nicotine. And being a smoker, I was in a position to know about that.

Common sense went right out the window at that point, along with the urgent need I had
to figure out ingress and egress at the factory. Other concerns had just taken top billing.

She undressed me hungrily, biting at my flesh like she was planning to tenderize me and
then devour me slowly. When I was as naked as she was, she crawled atop me and guided me into her warm softness, bypassing the preliminaries and going right for the prize, coaxing my tongue into her mouth and sucking it avidly.

“Mmph,” I grunted. Then, more urgently, “Mmph-er!”

“What’s the matter?” she gasped, bucking against me as though she was determined to
break through the floor.

“I’m not wearing a condom!” I protested.

“It doesn’t matter,” she cooed. “Just enjoy it.”

“Michelle, goddammit, you have GOT to listen to me!” I bellowed at full vampire volume.

She stopped, clapping her hands over her ears in evident pain, and looked at me as if I’d
hit her. She climbed off my lap and drew on her robe. “Fine,” she said frostily, “I’ll try to listen, considering the ringing in my ears.”

“Michelle, God help me, I didn’t want to stop you, but I didn’t have a choice,” I said
miserably, pulling on my jeans. “Let me explain why I stopped you, and then you can make your decision, okay?”

She nodded. “Okay,” she said unconvincingly.

“Here’s the deal,” I sighed. I had dreaded this moment my whole life, and now that it was
here, I felt like I’d just swallowed molten lead. Lighting a cigarette, I tried to figure out how best to approach the subject. Finally, I blurted it out.

“Michelle, I’m a vampire.”

She stared at me like I’d told her I was the bastard child of a squid and a duck-billed
platypus. “A vampire,” she repeated dully.

“Yes. A vampire.”

“And I’m supposed to believe this?” she asked incredulously, scrambling to her feet, her
lithe body tense. “You’ve thrown up every barrier that you could think of, they didn’t work, so now you decide to try an out-and-out lie?” she demanded.

“I’m not lying,” I said defeatedly. “I’ll prove it to you.”

“How?” she asked.

Before she could do more than blink, I had gone from sitting at the desk with my
cigarette to right behind her.

“Nice trick,” she said, her voice quivering just a little, “but I’ve seen David Copperfield
do the same thing.”

“Fine,” I said. “Hit me.”

“What?” she squeaked in disbelief.

“Hit me. Hard as you can, much as you want,” I said.

Lips trembling, she followed my instructions. Her first slap wasn’t much more than a pat,
and I told her so.

“I just denied you what you wanted so badly and that’s the best you can do?” I mocked.

“Try again.”

The next one was a vicious whip across my face, followed by a brutal backhand. The next
time she kicked me right in the groin, driving the wind out of me and my mouth open. My fangs began to extend, and I made no effort to stop them, making certain that Michelle could see them.

Her hand flew to her mouth, and she looked ill.

“Okay…” she whispered. “Do you…use those?” she asked.

I seized her by the hand, in the grip of that unique rage known only to vampires, and all
but dragged her downstairs and into the back room, where I kept my python and the rats.

Picking up one of the rats, I deftly snapped its neck and drained it right in front of her.
Michelle’s flush of anger abruptly drained to the pallor of a ghost. She gasped as I
finished my drinking and disposed of the tiny corpse. Then I marched into the bathroom and
brushed my teeth with furious vigor while Michelle vomited into the toilet bowl.

“You really are a vampire, aren’t you?” she asked weakly when she had voided the
contents of her stomach.

I turned and looked at her, mouth open, my fangs still extended, and retracted them as she
watched. “Yes, I really am a vampire,” I told her.

“Oh my God,” she said weakly.

“It gets worse,” I told her matter-of-factly. “Let’s go upstairs.”

She was still very pale when we got into the living room, and I poured her a generous
jigger of brandy. She slugged it back and spent the next minute and a half gasping and heaving.

When she finally settled down, I went into the office and grabbed the file on vampirism that I had kept for just such an occasion, hoping I‘d never actually need it. I handed it to her without
comment and waited patiently for her to read it.

“Now do you understand?” I asked, when she looked up, her eyes brimming with tears
and comprehension. “I can’t take that kind of chance with you. An hour’s worth of pleasure
could kill you a lot faster and a lot more painfully than AIDS. That’s why we have to use a
condom if we’re going to do it at all.”

“Did Robyn know about this?” she asked, slamming the file closed.

“No,” I said heavily. “I thought I could keep it from her. What I didn’t think about was
the fact that our child would probably be a vampire too, and I would have to explain how that came to be.”

“But it didn’t make her into a vampire, right? I mean, you two were holding hands for a
long time before that ever came up.”

“No, it didn’t. What’s your blood type?” I asked.

“A negative, I think,” she replied. “Why?”

“Because people with B positive, like Robyn, seem to be much more resistant to the
retrovirus that I carry in my body fluids.”

“Can you get it from a kiss?” she asked, looking green again.

“No,” I said. “You couldn’t get it from saliva unless I deposited a lot of it in a major,
open blood vessel. But vampirism has to be treated like any other STD, Michelle. I didn’t know this either, until recently. Most vampires only breed with other vampires, so it’s not an issue. I’m pure-born, and didn’t know until recently that there was any other way.”

“You can go out during the day,” she said accusingly. “I thought vampires couldn’t do
that.”

“I’m a porphyriac,” I told her. “I can go out during the day as long as I put on sun block
with an SPF of 36 or better. I usually use SPF 50 just to be on the safe side. I also have to wear sunglasses, because I’m more accustomed to darkness than light.”

“What about garlic?” she asked.

“Love it,” I said. “I’m not allergic to it. But seafood, or any kind of fish, for that matter,
could kill me.”

“Crosses?”

“Myth. Christian hysteria about something they couldn’t understand,” I said dismissively.

“Running water?” she asked, looking a little desperate.

“Makes for a pretty stinky vampire if I can’t bathe,” I told her. “And as you’ve seen, I do
cast a reflection in a mirror.”

“What else can you do?” she asked.

I stood up, walked over to her, and picked her up over my head, while she shrilled her
head off. When I put her down, she was breathing hard from the exertion of making that much fuss, but I hadn’t put that much into it: I could lift about five of her, seven or eight if I strained, and that assumed that I wasn’t angry or scared at the time.

“I can move faster than the average human, I can smell more than you do, and I can see
almost as clearly in the darkest night as you can on an average sunlit day,” I told her. “Also, right now…” and here I did my Flash impersonation, leaning up against the doorframe in the kitchen, so I had the entire width of the room between us, “I can hear your heartbeat from here.”

“Oh, my God,” she wailed, and crumpled to the floor. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my
God,” she muttered over and over, hugging her knees and rocking.

“Michelle!” I barked. When she looked up, I said, “Snap out of it.”

I knelt beside her and put my index finger under her chin. “Look at me, okay?”

She focused on me, eyes wide with fear. It hurt, but I knew it was coming.

“I’m still me,” I assured her. “The man you know hasn’t changed any, he just…he just
has another level that you didn’t know about.”

She stared at me for a minute, then blinked rapidly and stood up. “Well, that explains that
comment you made about not belonging here,” she said briskly.

I looked her up and down, feeling lost and hopelessly alone. “I’ll understand,” I said
tonelessly, “if you’ve changed your mind about wanting me tonight.”

She met my eyes for a moment, and then turned away.

“I’ll have to think about it,” she said numbly. “Go do your thing. I need to be alone for a
while,” she said, before turning and walking into her room. I watched her go with a horrible
sinking feeling of loss, and damned myself to a hell I didn’t even believe in for having ethics that were better developed than my overwrought hormones.

You can purchase Shadowphoenix: Requiem at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/70675 ,

and check me out on the Web at http://www.jswayne.wordpress.com,

http://www.wix.com/jswaynesite/herebemonsters,

on Facebook (Author.JSWayne)

and on Twitter (@jswayne702)!

Thank you so much for having me here today!

Thanks for Dropping by! - Clare

Is Darlene Fredette "Keeping Secrets"? Let's Find Out!

2011-08-04T12:00:00.010-04:00

Keeping Secrets

Blurb

Samantha Witherspoon is a strong, independent, businesswoman, determined to prove her worth as the heir to her late-grandmother’s chain of cafés. When she clashes with Matt Sullivan, the stubborn contractor who refuses her renovation project, Samantha returns to her childhood home to convince him. Sparks fly, tempers flare, and Samantha quickly realizes that befriending the rugged contractor isn’t as easy as she thought.

Despite her reservations, desire ignites between them under the city stars of Montreal. Matt’s mere touch makes her long for the kind of love Samantha thought she’d never have. When a mystery box reveals devastating family secrets, Samantha decides it’s time to come-clean with Matt. But before she can, her own secret arrives on her doorstep. Samantha’s heart is torn. Will a promise made to her late-grandmother prevent her from finding true happiness?

Keeping Secrets Excerpt

Samantha’s ears twitched at the sound of a crackling coming from the ceiling just above her. She watched as a trickling line split and plaster showered downward like a heavy rainfall.

Suddenly a set of strong arms encircled her and held her tightly, taking the breath from her chest. Her feet were lifted from the concrete floor and she was yanked backward, slamming her and her rescuer into a wall. An image out of a romance novel, where the hero sweeps the woman of his dreams into his arms, declaring his everlasting love, flashed through her mind…until another large piece of plaster fell from the ceiling, crashing loudly on the floor before shattering into thousands of tiny pieces. Samantha no longer saw a vision of two lovers, but one of her, crushed under the debris. She took several deep breaths.

Hammers stopped and were followed by the rush of work boots running across the concrete. “Matt, you okay? Is the lady hurt?” they asked. “That was a mother of a close call!” another said.

Her hero ignored the men and set her back on her feet. His once warm brown eyes were now cold and throwing daggers. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I...I was...looking for you.” Winded, her breathing was heavy.
From the drooping brows and harsh pressed lips, she could tell Matt was not at all happy to see her, but Samantha couldn’t have been more pleased. Her search was over and the incredibly attractive man she had been seeking had rescued her.

Robin Badillo is My Very Special Guest! She Talks About Her Killer Book "The Blood Hunter Trilogy: The Return"

2011-07-26T19:05:00.001-04:00

What is the name of your novel?

My newest release is book #3 in my Blood Hunter trilogy, The Return

What first attracted you to writing vampire fiction?

Actually, my first attraction to writing about vampires came from a character I liked, whom we’ll just refer to as “Eddy”.

He had such potential and his story intrigued me. However, after finishing the series, I was left feeling a bit empty, so I said what I’m sure many people have said after reading a book, ‘I can do that, too.” Yeah, right.

Turns out, I could. Though, I’ll never go so far as to say I do it better than anyone else. I’m too much of a cynic to be so arrogant. I do give it all I have, though.

Who is/are your main character(s) and is he/she a vampire?

In this edition of the trilogy, I have merged the first two book’s storylines and characters into one grand finale. Thereby giving, The Return, two heroes, Thorne Abbott and Jason Craft. Naturally, neither of these two guys would be complete without their two leading ladies, Raven Prince and Jazmine Fabré.

How would you describe your vampire character? Is he/she a lover or fighter? Is the beast within held at bay? Or does he/she go with her passions?

Jason had always been a bit of a playboy, and in his early days, relished the thrill of the seduction and hunt. Although unmatched in the skills of a hunter of his own kind, when it came to feeding, he was a lover not a fighter. That was, until Jazmine Fabré came along, enticing his lust for a new passion, and stifling his need for beautiful, human snacks.

Raven Prince, quite the seductress herself, also enjoyed a good hard hunt and her seductive abilities usually lead her straight into trouble. Enter, Thorne Abbott, the human who broke her down and changed her eating habits forever…not to mention fulfilling every other need she had. He was one heck of a human.

What are your thoughts on some of the traditional weaknesses of vampires? Sunlight, crosses, wooden stakes etc. Did you incorporate any of that into your fiction? If not what were some of the weaknesses that your character must avoid?

With science fiction and paranormal stories pushing the envelope in recent years, imagination is a writer’s best friend. These days, sticking strictly to old stereotypes limits boundaries and prevents the unveiling of so many new traits just waiting to be discovered.

I, personally, mix it up.

Though all of my book’s vampires have some aversions to sunlight, the degrees vary. In the “Blood Hunter” trilogy, sunlight can ruin a perfectly good day’s sleep, so you won’t find them at the beach on a sunny afternoon. At least, not by choice.

Wooden stakes hurt like hell, but to kill vamps in my stories, you better take his head with you before you go.

Food isn’t necessary, but wine and hard liquor are always on the menu. Of, course nothing beats blood, whether synthetic, human, wild animal or other vampires, it’s all lip smacking good.

Go crazy and tell us about your book! Include an excerpt if you like!

First of all, I want to say how much fun it was bringing together two books for a great conclusion. Tying up loose ends and healing old wounds isn’t easy, but when you’re dealing with such loveable characters in the first place, it made it much easier.

Here’s what you can expect inside the pages of, The Return…

Raven Prince, a vampire, and Thorne Abbott, her human lover, have endured secrets, lies and even murder. The only task remaining is for Thorne to become a vampire as well. Eternity never looked so good.

Haunted by the shame of deserting his first true love, Jason Craft, became a hunter of his own kind. Brought together on a mission of revenge, he found sanctuary in the arms of Jazmine Fabré and together they uncovered a startling truth.

Jason, now an enemy of the Vampire Lord for whom he’d been employed, sets out to save the coven he’s been commissioned to eradicate, which leads straight to the woman he left behind thirty years before, Raven Prince.

Will fate lead them to where they were meant to be? Or will evil forces destroy them all?

Sometimes the only way to get something right is to go back to where it all went wrong.

Excerpt:

Thorne and Raven

Her stomach fluttered, hearing the sound of his car engine rev as he pulled up the long drive to their family’s estate. He was home.

Raven dabbed a bit of tuberose scented perfume on her neck, then dipped down between her breasts and made a quick swipe across her wrists, hitting all the pulse points as though she were still human. Some habits were hard to break.

She glanced down and smiled as the sheer fabric skimmed across her breast, prompting her nipples to ball into tight, sensitive buds. Thorne’s warm tongue lapping at her hardened peaks would have them softened and wet in no time.

“Raven,” Thorne called out as he neared their bedroom door.

Raven bit back a giggle, dove onto the bed and stretched across it on her side, making sure she bent one knee ever so slightly to force her rounded hip to rise up from the indention of her narrow waist. The negligée clung tightly to her shapely form and the split up the side revealed enough flesh to get a rise out of him the instant he walked through the door. What little skin the slit didn’t show off, the sheer fabric would surely expose.

“Raven? Why aren’t you downstairs?” Thorne froze, wide eyed, as he rounded the corner of the entryway leading into the bedroom of their private suite.

Raven ran her tongue over her lips and eyed him up and down. “Would you prefer I be down there with the entire family, or up here waiting for you?”

His heart pounded so loud she heard it from across the room. “Well that depends,” he said as he inched toward her.

“On?”

“On whether or not you want me to take that off of you.”

Raven rose up on her elbow and glided her fingers up her thigh. “Oh, this better come off.” She giggled.

He came to her and stood next to the bed. “What’s gotten into you?” The left side of his lip curled as his hooded gaze took her in.

“You, if you hurry.”

Jason and Jazmine

Jason stared at her as she returned her attention to the road. How had a guy like him managed to find the only two women on the planet who could get through to his tough, loner ways and dig their nails in so deep he couldn’t stand the thought of being away from them, not once, but twice in his life?

He had, in fact, let Raven go, but Jazmine? That was a different story. He wouldn’t make the mistake again of bowing down to anyone, not even his creator, Mena, and certainly not her ruthless sire, Bruin Duerr. Jazmine, he would die for.

He scanned her body, taking note of the way her thigh high leather boots hugged her legs and how soft ivory flesh peeked out from under the hem of her short, black skirt. She rarely wore skirts, but when she did, every ounce of her sensual femininity seeped from her every pore. “If you don’t get to the hotel in the next five minutes, I just may have to force you to pull over.”

Jazmine’s attention snapped back to him. “Why? What’s wrong?” Her brow pinched with worry.

“I need to see you in those boots and nothing else, Kitten.” He offered a cocky grin as his jeans tightened from his uncontrollable desires.

Jazmine arched her left brow, the corner of her mouth tugged tight and a devious grin followed suite. Tires skidded across gravel as she slammed on the brakes, pulling over to the side of the road.

“You’ll have to catch me first.”

Before Jason could unfasten his seatbelt, the driver’s side door slammed shut. She was gone.

“I love it when she plays dirty,” he growled as he exited the SUV and bounded toward the forest just beyond the road’s shoulder.

Playful laughter echoed through the night, bouncing from one redwood tree to another as he hurried through the woods in search of Jazmine.

“You’re getting warmer,” she sang out from the dark.

Jason slowed his pace. “When I find you, and trust me, I will find you, you’re gonna be in real trouble, Kitten.”

“What’s the matter? Is the big, bad vampire hunter feeling frustrated?” She continued to tease.

Jason’s chest rumbled with a hungry growl as he skulked through the underbrush, her sensual scent, burning in his nostrils. The delicate skin around his eyes tightened and his fangs slipped down into a predatory position. If it was a vampire hunter she wanted, that was exactly what she would get.

Links:

Website: http://robinbadillo.com/

Blog, Sealed with a Kiss: http://robinbadillo.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robin.badillo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Robin_Badillo

Publisher- eXtasy Books: http://www.extasybooks.com/

The Return Buy Link: http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=3270

Amazon Buy link: http://tinyurl.com/4xc2hmc

An Exclusive Excerpt of Erotica Author Elaine Lowe's "Magic Eights"

2011-07-15T15:49:00.009-04:00

Here is an exclusive excerpt of 'Magic Eights' for Clare and Her Readers!

She climbed out of the tub and the rush of air over her skin was lovely and cooling making her tingle with need. She grit her teeth, determined to ignore it. Maybe a dull technical journal?

After a towel dry with the super plush terrycloth she indulged in, her hair was efficiently wrapped up in a towel. Then she donned the terribly ugly but comfy maroon silk robe that her mother had gotten her for Christmas last year. Why her mother got her freckled, red-haired daughter things in such colors, Susanna never understood. Still, it was short enough that Will liked to admire her legs and the August heat was such that she would really rather have worn nothing at all.

One of the benefits of taking a searing hot bath in August, was that it fooled her body into thinking that the air was cool, at least for a little while. Then she’d simply retreat into the air conditioning of the bedroom and curl up with a book or a technical manual and try not to stare
beseechingly at Will to come and fuck her some more.

She sighed softly and opened the door, determined to find out the source of all the
commotion outside.

The hot, humid air of the bathroom gave way to the hot, stuffy air of the hallway. It wasn’t supposed to get this hot in San Francisco! It was supposed to be foggy and overcast and sweater weather in the middle of “summer”. It was not supposed to be hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk.

She cursed the weather gods and the condo complex’s rules that only allowed them to put an air conditioner in the bedroom. She would have followed Will into the bedroom and tried not to think about jumping his bones, but he must be in the kitchen judging from all the noise. Given how much he hated the heat, that seemed very unusual.

Sure enough, Will was right there, in the kitchen, in the midst of cooking one of his
incredibly intricate meals. Practically naked—except for his apron. And, Will was right
there, in the kitchen, standing at the sink and scrubbing away at a mountain of pans.

Again, almost bare, except for an apron and apparently boxer-briefs that cupped his great ass with TLC.

Soapy water dripped onto the kitchen floor from the overloaded sink and the scent of sautéed garlic wafted up into the air as she stared at the men in her kitchen. Two men. Both completely familiar. Her husband and what appeared to be his twin. Unless Will and his family had been hiding something from her for years.

“I’m dreaming. I fell asleep in the tub and I’m about to drown any second.”

Will…Wills…oh hell, both of them looked up at her with a smile. One said, “Hi, sweetheart!”

And the other, “Are you parboiled enough yet?”

Susanna was pretty sure that if she had been the fainting type, she would have collapsed. As it was she pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and slumped into it, not noticing that her robe gaped open invitingly.

She swallowed and decided to act nonchalant. “Hi…honey. What are you doing out here? I thought you were going to work in the bedroom?”

Chef Will waggled his eyebrows at her as he expertly flipped a pan of mushrooms that were searing to a golden brown. “I know you like my work in the bedroom, but I thought I’d cook you up a nice dinner. I know you hate to cook on a weekday.”

“But it’s Saturday…”

Her words seemed to slide right off of him and he went right back to stirring his pans. Dishwasher Will turned and grinned, “And I wanted to get the dishes done. You know I hate to leave the kitchen a mess if I’m going on a journey.”

She could practically hear the rim shot for the punch line coming, and set him up for the follow-through, though she was almost dreading to hear the conclusion of this setup, “And where are you going then? Crazy?”

“Oh sweetheart, I’m heading down a long, dark, warm tunnel to heaven, and I plan on taking you along for the ride…”

She blushed hotly, “Oh, that was bad. Really bad.”

“I think in the realm of pickup lines, I would be court jester.” He turned back to the dishes, his gorgeous ass barely covered by a pair of black briefs.

“I’ve always preferred the jester to the king. He can make you laugh and has time to give a girl a really good time. Much less stress.”

“See, I knew there was a reason I adored you.” He winked at her and got back to scrubbing a pot that Chef Will must have just finished with. They were a perfect team, sliding past each other in the tiny kitchen with synchronicity to be envied, but they never seemed to acknowledge each other’s existence.

Her brain was simultaneously thinking a thousand things, “What the hell is going on?” or some version thereof took up most of that thousand, but somewhere in there was, “Damn, my husband has a nice ass,” “Wonder what he’s cooking for dinner, it smells good,” and quite prominently,

“Two! The things I could do with two of him!”

Surprise Sleepover by Sara York

2011-07-11T17:30:00.004-04:00

An Excerpt

Nick stared out of the fifteenth floor window of the Hayson building in 
downtown Dallas. His plane to Cancún was scheduled to leave in the 
morning, but based on the ice falling from the sky nothing would be 
taking off or landing at the airport. He’d called the airlines again and 
still got the same answer. He guessed he would keep calling until they 
cancelled, or it was so close to flight time he would try to make his 
way to the airport.

His floor had been empty for hours. Everyone with brains had left 
Jackson and Reeves Corp except him. At lunch someone had dumped fifteen 
contracts on his desk. Nick wanted to curse them and ignore the work, 
but leaving the contracts for when he returned wasn’t his style. No 
question about it, he would finish the work before his week of vacation. 
Of course, he hadn’t believed the snow would hit this early either. Now 
a drive to the airport looked like a trip to hell.

Only one more contract to review and print and he’d be done. Lucky for 
him the deal was easy, no special add-ons or exclusions. Time slowed as 
he drew closer to finishing. Only a few more minutes, then party time 
started. Hell, who was he kidding? The roads were crap. It would take a 
miracle to drive more than a few miles in this muck.

The eerie hush of the streets made him jumpy. Usually cars zoomed past, 
but not today. It’d been thirty minutes or more since he’d heard 
anything outside.

A loud noise broke the silence. He mistyped a few characters, which he 
corrected before getting up to look for whoever was sneaking around the 
building. The noise had been the door by the elevator, he was sure of 
it. That particular door made a loud popping sound anytime it opened. 
Had someone come back to work? Impossible, with the roads the way they were.

Nick stepped closer to his door and hesitated. The smart thing would be 
to lock the door and call someone, but he wasn’t a baby. And who would 
he call? Sure, he was afraid to leave the safety of his office, but no 
one who wasn’t supposed to be in the building could get in.

The pounding of his heart and the sweat on his brow made him laugh. He 
was being ridiculous. This wasn’t a slasher film. Some guy wasn’t going 
to jump out from behind a corner and stab him or shoot him.

Nick shook off his fear and walked out of his office and straight into 
another person. He screamed and flailed his arms. The rapid beat of his 
heart echoed in his ears.

“Oh God, I didn’t mean to run into you.” The man stepped back, grasping 
Nick’s upper arms in his hands.

For a moment Nick fought the stranger’s grip. Fear shot around his 
thoughts before he realised the man holding him was James from accounting.

“I didn’t know anyone was still here.” His heart still hammered in his 
chest and his breathing was erratic, but he wasn’t sure if it was from 
the fright or the fact that James was touching him.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. How about you? Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I was just looking to see if anyone else was in the building. I’m 
James, by the way. I work down in accounting.” James dropped his hands 
from Nick’s arms and laughed. “I guess I don’t need to hold on to you 
anymore.”

Nick laughed too, not because James had laughed, but because he wanted 
James to touch him and so much more. But he was used to hiding those 
desires. So he laughed to cover what he really wanted, hoping the other 
man wouldn’t see the desire he felt. “I’m Nick.”

“I know who you are.”

Surprise Sleepover available for Pre-Order at 
http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1290

Can the Navy Seals Survive Against Their Non-Human Foe?

2011-05-18T21:27:00.006-04:00

Lt. Chad Meyer and his team of Navy Seals are on a simple arctic training mission in the Gates of the Arctic National Park when they find more than they bargained for when a normal day goes awry. Attacked by an unknown and deadly force, the team now out gunned and out manned fight for survival.

Chad, determined to safeguard the lives of his men, must use all of his courage, will and stamina to make sure that they survive against their non-human foe.

Available Now at Secret Cravings Publishing:

http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/MilitaryNonRomance.html

Kybernatia- by Clare Dargin

2011-05-16T13:23:00.003-04:00

Blurb:

Kybernatia was supposed to be humanity’s newest paradise but that dream is all but gone. Ruined in an horrible terra forming accident, the planet was deemed no longer fit for humanity. Gabrielle Burle, project manager for the development of the planet, was forced out of her job as a veil of secrecy suddenly shrouded the planet.

Determined to find the truth, Gabrielle goes on a journey of discovery that leads to the one man with all the answers.

Kybernatia, an aquamarine-blue planet with islands and continents of sandy gold and dark brown, filled the view screen. Happy people with large white perfect smiles romped through scenes of beautiful sandy beaches while sapphire blue water washed upon their tan bodies. Lush forests and cozy mountain getaways flashed, wrapping up the almost Edenic view of this once beautiful planet. The commercial ended slowly for Gabrielle. It brought back all the memories she had for the little planet that had been devoid of all forms of life. A sober-faced reporter appeared upon the screen pulling her from her memories and bringing her back to the present as he grimly stated the realities of the horrific planetary accident.

“You’re not exactly fired, but we think it’s best that you move on,” Dr. Linwood said, interrupting the news anchor's controlled-yet-cool delivery of the news. Dr. Linwood appeared sympathetic to her plight, but she knew he was just covering his back. It was, after all, Washington, D.C., and if you didn't cover your backside, someone else would do it for you.

Still, she tried to hide her surprise. Couldn’t he had at least have waited until all the people had been removed from the planet before kicking me to the curb? All of a sudden, their playful banter and office talk seemed like it was just that: talk. They hadn’t been friends as she had hoped.

Unable to speak, Gabrielle Burle continued to stare at the disturbing and tragic images on the view screen inside her office. Emergency craft of all shapes and sizes sped to the planet as smoke and plumes of ash erupted from its surface. They could see the hospital ships close in as the wounded and seriously injured were brought aboard for care.

Gabrielle gazed helplessly at the scene. The once-promising new home for humanity went up in smoke, right before her eyes, along with any hopes of ever working in Washington again. Clenching her fists, she dug her nails into her palms as the pain of the destruction ripped her heart in two. It was all she could do to keep from crying. Kybernatia had been her project, her baby, and now it was in ruins.

As a planetary developer specializing in the area of terraforming, Gabrielle had had experience in the field before, mostly with small moons and a few of the satellites around Jupiter. Those developments were mostly for mining purposes; Gabrielle’s specialty had been negotiation of contracts with labor unions specifically for the development of planets. Kybernatia had been her largest work to date, and her dream job.

Devastated, Gabrielle could hardly believe her eyes. Opening the door to the closet across from her desk, she stooped down to pick up an empty box. She had used it to carry in a few plants she’d bought to sit on the window sill, along with a few other things to decorate her office. Now, she would pack her stuff to leave permanently. Looking at her reflection in the office window, she could see dark circles around her eyes from stress, and her once nearly flawless umber-colored skin was now blotchy. Her long mahogany hair cascaded limply past her shoulders, completing the look of depression she felt inside.

As she gathered her things, Dr. Linwood placed his hand on her shoulder. She smiled bravely, feeling a bit of ire rise up within her

“Don’t bother,” he said evenly. “We’ll send them to you.”

Like it? Buy it here!
http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=261&osCsid=cb24b95ee9d3b23242263fc0a56c5f09

Sneak Peak of John Trevillian Punk Noir Scifi Thriller- "The A-Men Return"

2011-03-29T00:00:00.030-04:00

Guest Blogger- John Trevillian Gives us a Sneak Peak of his Book 'The A-Men Return'

Blurb:

Abandoned by her beloved Jack, Susannah Jacqueline Saint-Clare has flown to the ArcAfrican continent for a fresh start and a new career; as assassin for hire. Unfortunately her activities have provoked the native Wolves of Owando clan, and also brought herself to the attention of those who can offer her a chance for her long-awaited revenge. Here we join her as she makes the drop into Dead City to locate and destroy her ex-lover – who also holds the key to the salvation of the near-space starstations from imminent destruction.

Excerpt and Sneak Peak:

Twelve thousand metres up, my baby-blue eyes open to a world that is dark and foreboding. Just like the last time I left this miserable, rat-forsaken hellhole of a city. That miserable bastard of a man. And now I’m going back. I am a faceless, trikevlar-clad hardbody and like a bullet fired down into the night, I fly. Straight down. This is a shock. As are the broken maw of buildings racing up to greet me beneath my trianon-graphite kickboots. Readouts mark this as Dead City. One of fifty-eight inderdicted zones in this once-great continent. My former home. But they’ll be time for reminiscing later. Right now, I have to make some sense of my situation and make that checkpoint.

“Run tropix,” I say.

>Executing tropospheric sequence. Primary subject: Troposphere. Secondary subjects: Free Atmosphere and Planetary Boundary Layer.

“Go pressure.”

>Geopotential pressure equals 850 hPa. Height equals 9042gpm.

Shit, there’s a storm coming and I’m dropping right through the front of a developing cell. Finally thank my dedication at Astrogations class. It’s ironic. I only went ’cause of the cute instructor.

“Compensate frictional drag,” I mutter and the tech manual corrects.

The sky is gun-metal grey, tinged with a sickly cast of green. Even within the suit I can feel the heaviness in the air. The sticky, uncomfortable humidity. Blips on the periphery of my retinal interface show distant thunderheads, a well of anxiety headed almost tangential to my position.

“Should I be worried?” I ask the onboard node.

>Coriolis Effect in mid-Tropopause. Cyclonic. Type: Hazardous.

I also get a construct view. Spelling out its position, shape, vorticity and shear.
“Define hazardous.”

Systems rattle out data. It’s a severe local storm. A short-fused, small scale thunderstorm, with expected wind damage and possible flash floods. Like eighty-three-over-one-hundred possible. Rough upshot: it’s a pit of darkness and it’s heading my way.

And all the while I’m evaluating this, the city’s getting closer.

Falling with me, corded to my suitpack, is a roughly missile-shaped carrier case. Seemingly random spray lettering adorns its outside while inside lurks my kit for this mission: a first-in-class performance Osakimo geocycle. Well, how else did you expect me to get around a devastated, corpse-strewn megalopolis? Take a taxi?

“Initiate flex at thirty-five-hundred.”

Twist in the air and bring the bullet between my thighs. Force my gauntlets into the handles and snap-on. Readouts whirr metre counts until three-thousand five hundred when the pod deploys. Grip tight as the wings appear, then release and go for hands-free trim. The weather hazard makes the manoeuvre tricky, but I manage. Ditch the casing as three thousand turns to two, then one. Kickstart the systems and release the macrolight. Wheels click down, engine selfstarts and I feel the gut punch as forward speed kills downward momentum.

Full-initiate the geo. Watch as the triangular casing splits and unfolds, disclosing a copper-plated tank and waxed fabric seat. Just like the rest of my kit the geocycle has an aggressively militaristic design. Beneath the harshness though lies a heavily revised engine that even at one-ninety emits the merest bee-hum of resonance. The sculptured seat, chopper-style foot pegs and air-cooled, 1,131cc V-twin engine combine to give a girl the ride of her life.

Flip up my face shield to get a smell of just how bad the air is down here. Roll my wrists forward, engaging smoothly into fifth, propelling myself gently down the roadway. I feel a molten burning sensation travelling upwards from my inner thighs, across my genitals and into my belly. I twist the throttle and race away like the tooled-up turn-of-the-new-century dominatrix I am.

I crack a grim smile. Hi, honies, I’m home!

My muscles strain, my face wind-glazed. I think down the visor, shift flat on the Ny-Tok seatpad and punch one-sixty.

With me on the ground I get to thinking about what Lucille said before she left. The bit about revenge. I’m not one for regrets, but the day The Nowhereman tossed me aside still stings. Memory’s buried deep in a place I rarely acknowledge let alone touch. But now I’m back and I’m packing. Ravn always said that my love of the gun would one day cross the line between sex and death, but I blame my mother. On the day of my first date when I broached the subject of protection, she loaned me her Luger.

Dodging wrecks and debris I speed as fast as the terrain and sensors allow, pushing one-seventy on the long dark stretch that was once U Street Corridor.

“Estimated zero-point.”

>Point-zero in 6.645 klicks.

Once this neighbourhood was what the corporates would laughingly call culturally diverse. For Exxo this was where the workers went for their kicks. A district stuffed block after block of tri-rise bistros, hip sidewalk cafés and rooftop restaurants. I can see them now squatting on low leather hassocks around a mesabgrab at some swanky Ethiopian. They’d drink medium-dry, small talk, watch the world go by.

Then the world went bye-bye.

And now there’s just a death valley cluttered with four years-worth of neglect.

Zero-point is a former blues club, the playfully named Hooker June’s. Osakimo stooges will be there. Some goons called ZipSqueal and Brender.

Race down Connecticut, K Street and finally into Vermont. And there she is. Ms June. All dead neon swirl of naked sax-playing blonde. Club’s name emblazoned across her flashing cleavage.

Kick the geo down to second and slide up outside. Wonder how Lucille’s faring with her part of the mission. Wonder how I’ll fare with mine. How when I see that dirty skanker I don’t just lose it all again and paint another wall another shade of crimson.

Links

Author website:

www.trevillian.com

Full and unabridged audio podcast of the first novel:

http://trevillian.libsyn.com/

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-men-john-trevillian/id372409870

John Trevillian is an author of punk-noir science fiction novels. His newest work The A-Men Return is available from Amazon and at the author's website (www.trevillian.com).

Jane Toombs Has a Fondness for Fantasy!

2011-03-28T00:00:00.035-04:00

Please Welcome Jane Toombs!

Although I read both SF and fantasy, I do believe I’m a bit fonder of fantasy than I am SF. I would hesitate to actually write SF because I am not science oriented and I would have to be to do a credible job. Fantasy is different. Writers without science majors write good fantasy all the time--from demons popping out of toilet bowls to the urban fantasies where weird things happen in civilized communities.

My fantasies include weredragons in the USA, and any number of odd happenings in my neck of the woods --I refer to it “North Of Nonesuch,” which is what I named the anthology that contains were creatures, a djinn, an evil vampire, caprics (half-goat, half-human) and a totem bear. Only the first story in my anthology is not set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula wilderness, but in New Mexico and it’s also a fantasy. Since all theses tales end happily, they also romances.

I recently released another fantasy volume that I have to admit contains a bit of SF, since one story takes place on another planet, but it’s still more of a fantasy. This one is titled Ten Past Midnight: Dark Tales by Jane Toombs. And yes they are, although two do end sort of happy for now.

But I also write sweet romances, historicals, including Regencies, gothics and paranormal romance. Oh, and one horror.

All my books, including the Darkness Of Dragons Trilogy can be found at my website: www.JaneToombs.com Most are also on Kindle.

Bio: Jane Toombs, the Viking from her past and their calico grandcat, Kinko. live on the south shore of Lake Superior where the three other wonderful seasons almost make up for the nasty winters. Jane has over eighty published books to her credit and uncounted novellas. Her stories range from sweet to sensual and a lot of them are paranormal.

An Excerpt of "Rachel's Desire" by Dawne Prochilo

2011-03-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Rachel's Desire

Rachel's Desire Promo

Blurb:

What's a woman to do when her sexual needs are ignored? Every woman has needs and sexual desire.

When Rachel Chambers' married lover is selfish and demanding, she turns to her best friend Kari Burton for support, venting...and love. A girl knows what she needs and right now Rachel needs Kari.

A girl's night in turns into a night of explosive passion and realization of frenzied love.

Excerpt:

Deke Ellington wasn't obsessive compulsive. He just liked order in his life. He kept a routine. A strict schedule was of the utmost importance, even when it came to sex. In and out, literally in six minutes flat. That is, six minutes if his cock cooperated. If not, the act could take up to nine minutes. But good ole' Deke prepared for that nine-minute deadline and if he finished in the six-minutes, then he had three more minutes in his day to be productive.

Rachel Chambers watched the older man as he buttoned his dress shirt. Each button took precisely one and a half seconds to clasp. But who was counting? She stretched under the cotton sheets, her bare legs escaping the confines of the sheet, exposing a perfectly toned leg. She released a yawn as Deke finished buttoning his shirt and moved onto the tuck.

The tuck us, for all mental purposes, the extreme measures Deke took to make sure his shirt was exactly perfect and evenly positioned into the waistband of his pants. The process annoyed Rachel every time she witnessed it.

She glanced at the bedside alarm clock. Today's f*** was a good one. Deke finished in record time. He arrived, stripped, fucked her and was almost re-dressed in under seven minutes. He'd probably have to try to break the record some day. Wouldn't that be just like him she thought. Get his fuck of the day and be back at his Fortune 500 Company in a matter of a quarter of an hour.

Rachel released an elongated sigh then leaned on her right elbow, “Can't you stay a little longer Deke?”

Website

Blog

Facebook Fan Page

Buy link

Writer's Block!

2011-03-11T00:00:00.003-05:00

There is nothing worse than looking at a blank MSWord document. Trust me, I've been doing it for the past hour. Why? Well, I have a guest blog to write. It's supposed to be insightful as I talk about my latest release, Blood Moon, and just a tad amusing. I mean, who doesn't want to be liked by their readers. I did everything I could think of to get the creativity going, but nothing worked. Finally, after I asked my husband for what seemed like the millionth time what I should blog about, he said, "Tell them what you do when you're stuck."

Don't tell him this, but sometimes my husband is a genius.

When I get stuck, infamously known as writer's block, I first read through what I have to see if my main character doesn't like what I've done. It's been known to happen, especially when I'm writing from Sarah's perspective, but it's not always the case. I then go through a list, checking off things that might have stalled my Muse. Do I have the right music, munchies, drink, etc.? If I was listening to music I'll turn it off to see if that does the trick. But sometimes, even after all of that, I am still stuck with a blank MSWord document. Then I have to face reality…

My Muse has gone on a fabulous vacation and left me here to rot.

Gee, thanks Muse. It would have been nice if you let me know this an hour ago.

Don't tell my Muse this, but some days I like when she goes on vacation. Like today; I got to spend time with my family, go to the park with my son, and have an all around great day.

So tomorrow, when I sit down to write, I know I'll have lots to say. After a day like today, who wouldn't be inspired? Sometimes, writer's block is a fabulous thing.

My latest release, Blood Moon, is the third book in the Sarah Vargas series, picking up right where Malevolent Dead left off.

Blood Moon Blurb:

After she broke her contract with the Blood Moon Corporation, Sarah Vargas knew that it was only a matter of time before they came for her. What she didn't know is what lengths they would go to make sure that she had no where to run. Everyone Sarah has every relied on is in danger during a time when friends become enemies, and Sarah quickly realizes that the Blood Moon Corporation will never give up until she is dead. The Blood Moon Corporation is coming, and even Sarah doesn't think she can make it out alive.

All proceeds from Blood Moon will be going to MUSC Children's Hospital.

Please visit http://www.musckids.com/ for more information about this wonderful children's hospital.

Buy Links

Blood Moon: Book Three of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Malevolent Dead: Book Two of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Fade to Black: Book One of the Sarah Vargas Series, Eternal Press
Promises to Keep, Eternal Press

Coming Soon

Epiphany, Decadent Publishing (TBA 2011)

Visit Heather Kuehl online at

http://www.heatherkuehl.com/,

http://www.heatherkuehl.blogspot.com/ or follow her on

Facebook or Twitter.

Shifters, Shifters Everywhere!

2011-03-01T00:00:00.022-05:00

Shifters, shifters everywhere!

I love shifter books. The raw, primal feeling these guys and gals have amid the pages really has me glued to the book, flipping the pages so fast it looks like I am a NASCAR race. My favorite shifter book has to be by Deborah Cooke. Her Dragonfire novels are one spellbinding story from start to finish. When I sit down with one of her books, I am blown away by the way she created this world and populated with shape-shifting dragons. Now who doesn’t like a good dragon story? I love them.

In my Devon Falls book, Fiery Magic, I got the idea to make one of the characters a dragon and the heroine called him “pretty”. Now tell me, are dragons “Pretty”? To me they are wild, primal and pure fun as in the case of Smokey from Yasmine Galenorn’s Otherworld series. Each author makes the shifter, be it dragon, wolves, tigers or, heck, even ferrets, their own and they each incorporate something that will have the reader clamoring for more.

In Fiery Magic, we met the Dracon twins; one is a dragon shifter, the other a wolf shifter; one family-many generations- who are shifters of some kind. I made my shifters a bit different, where each person in this large family, is something different. They didn’t get bit by the animal; case in point a werewolf, but were born as a shifter of some kind. It is the magic in their blood that defines what they become. Eventually we will meet a cousin of Rod and Damien Dracon- a woman who, in this large family of shifters, has no shifter powers what so ever. What do you do if you have no powers but what god/goddess gave you? That is the question I will ask her and her hero………eventually. :)

My next Devon Falls book introduces a new character in Michael Barnes, who is a rare white tiger shifter who is all alone with no pride. He roams from place to place and is friends with Damien Dracon, who tries to get him to Devon Falls to no avail in years before. He was an interesting character to write about. Here you have a lonely, quiet man who has no place to call “Home”. He longs for mate, hearth and kits of his own but knows that with no pride; he is limited in his choices…….or so he thinks. We meet the woman who will knock him flat on his back and show him that home is where the heart is in Moonlight & Magic.
Shifters are a world where readers and authors can explore with pure enjoyment. I love reading them and hope to eventually expand on shifters as an author to include Kitsunes and others that fire the imagination. In the meantime, I am going to sit with my dragons and explore their world because Ms. Cooke and Ms.Galenorn are calling me from the bookcases. So what are your favorite shifters to enjoy? Any author you love that write about shifters?

Raine Delight

You can find her on the web at:

http://www.authorrainedelight.com/

Secret Cravings Publishing

Shadowfire Press

An Excerpt from "Gypsy Charm" by Icy Snow Blackstone

2011-02-27T00:00:00.030-05:00

A Chance Meeting with a Gypsy....

Lisa had always been considered kind-hearted…in fact her roommate Annie generally thought she was too trusting for this world.

Take that business with the gypsies, for instance. She’d been on her way home when she saw the angry store manager throwing the old gypsy woman into the street.

The next thing Lisa knew, she was paying for the groceries the old woman supposedly stole and offering to drive her to the trailer park where she’d stopped for the night. It seems Mrs. Lee always pays her debts, so she gave Lisa a magic charm—“Good for one wish—didn’t spend it on pizza—” and assigns her cat Tomas to watch over the girl.

Tomas is the perfect pet…clean, companionable, funny, attentive… If he was human, says Annie, he’d be the perfect man. Tomas appears to be ready to defend Lisa against everything from her roommate’s barbs to a lustful boyfriend…but there are a few things he can’t protect her from. One is the dream she has of a man she feels she knows, a man with the shadow of a giant cat looming over him…the other is a criminal preying on women living alone…

I had a lot of fun writing this story, especially the scenes told from Tomas’ point of view. I like cats and it was easy to get into seeing his side of the story.

EXCERPT:

He'd gotten a good look at the layout of the house while Annie washed the pizza dishes, and now—while those two were out of the way—he was making certain the house was secure. Protecting Lisa. Just as Mrs. Lee ordered.

Studying the kitchen door, he gave a cat-nod.

Okay, backdoor shut and locked. Trotting briskly into the living room, he looked at the two windows opening onto the front lawn.

Hmmm, better check that left one. He scampered over, standing on hind paws to tap the bottom of the sash with a front paw.

Good, shut tight. The front door was locked also.

So...that leaves only the bedrooms...
For just a moment, he stood there, looking from Annie’s room with its open door to Lisa’s on the opposite side of the living room.

Which one to check first? Tomas didn’t really want to bother with Annie. The girl was rude, sharp-tongued, and had made some pretty crude comments.

What does she eat for breakfast, anyway? Cactus?
Sauntering cautiously over to the open door, he peeped in.

Empty. Good.

A few steps brought him to the bedroom window. A quick swipe at the curtains knocked them out of the way to reveal the sash in place and locked. So far, so—

“Hey, what are you doing in here?” Annie appeared in the bathroom doorway, toothbrush in hand, mouth smeared with white foam.

Uh-oh! Tomas backed away. He stared at her face, eyes wide. My God, she’s foaming at the mouth!

“What's the matter? Haven’t you ever seen anyone brush her teeth before?” Annie spluttered toothpaste as she spoke. Tomas turned his head, making an odd disjointed little sound sounding suspiciously like laughter. Cat laughter.

“Get out of here!” Picking up a pillow, she swatted at him, and as he galloped for the safety of the living room, tossed it back on the bed and returned to the bathroom.

Okay. Fine. Tomas watched her disappear inside Let someone break in and steal you. See if I care...

...but he knew he’d better not let that happen. Mrs. Lee had entrusted him—not Isaac or David—and for a very good reason, and he’d better not screw up this time. Turning his back, he stalked with feline dignity into Lisa’s room.

***

Gypsy Charm
　
is a paranormal romance in novella-form, and will be available from Class Act Books March 15, 2011.Tomas was going on his self-appointed rounds.

Relay Romance Raffle

2011-02-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Greetings!

Last year the romance community helped me raise $500 for the American Cancer Society Relay For Life by donating signed books to my first Relay Romance Raffle. Well, this year I am at it again and I am going BIGGER!

This week I am starting to gather signed books, ebooks, and swag/merchandise from authors all over the romance spectrum. I will be holding 2 online raffles with all donations going directly to Relay For Life via my Relay For Life team page (http://main.acsevents.org/goto/eromanceraffle for ebooks and http://main.acsevents.org/goto/relayromanceraffle for signed print books). Each ticket will be $5 or 3/$10 and is TAX DEDUCTIBLE for the buyer, so you know the money will be secure and well spent. 95cents on every dollar donated to Relay For Life is spent on research and patient services, an amazingly high percentage!

We will host the raffles at our blog with a special page dedicated to the event. (http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com/p/relay-romance-raffle.html ) We’ll be listing author donors with a hyperlink to their author page for the duration of the raffle May 1. All genres welcomed, all lengths welcomed, my teammates and I just sincerely wish to raise money for Relay and FIGHT BACK against cancer. It is my personal cause as I lost my father and 2 uncles to cancer within 15months in 2008.

If you would like to join me in the fight against this horrible disease, please email relayraffle@gmail.com and let me know what you would like to donate and the URL you would like posted. I can send you our American Cancer Society tax ID # with a receipt for your donation amount once we receive your books.

Thanks you for your time and have a RELAY wonderful week!

Heather Bennett
Relay For Life Team Captain
relayraffle@gmail.com

***

Jessica Barksdale Inclan http://www.jessicabarksdaleinclan.com/
Paperbacks
-The Beautiful Being, Believe in Me, Being With Him

Amanda McIntyre
Paperbacks

-Diary of Cozette, Tortured, Winters Desire, The Pleasure Garden, The Master and the Muses, Naughty Bits, Vol III

Anna Campbell http://www.annacampbell.info/

Paperbacks
- My Reckless Surrender, Captive of Sin

Run Devil Run Anthology

2011-02-24T00:00:00.000-05:00

1/22/11 ~ Decadent Publishing announces the release of a Paranormal-romance fiction anthology rooted in rock ‘n roll and ripped straight off the Sunset Strip.

Run Devil Run, an L.A.-based rock band well known locally for their dynamic live performances, diverse musical talent, and humorous video antics has lent their faces, titles and lyrics as inspiration for a five-book series with the publisher.

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Welcome Mystery Author Wade J. McMahan As He Discu...

2011-02-21T16:07:00.000-05:00

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Welcome Mystery Author Wade J. McMahan As He Discu...: "Independent short-fiction author, Wade J. McMahan, crosses the boundaries of numerous genres. His latest work “Naughty or Nice? A Rich..."

Deanna Talks About Her Love For Writing Erotica and Specifically in the M/M Genre!

2011-02-19T00:03:00.000-05:00

Well, first things first, I am ever so grateful that Clare has allowed me to hijack her blog today. You rock!

We all know what holiday just passed, the ever popular and often dreaded, Valentine’s Day. And while we all may have different ideas about VD (I just love calling it that) we all know that during February everyone wants to talk about LOVE. Being in LOVE. Getting some LOVE. Showing LOVE. Reading about LOVE.

Therefore, in the spirit of LOVE, I wish to remind everyone LOVE knows no bounds. LOVE knows no gender.

LOVE is LOVE.

And as a romance writer, I suppose I am in the business of spreading the LOVE.

A literary Cupid!

No, I am not wearing a diaper or those gold shorts that Angel of Love is wearing either.

What kind of LOVE am I spreading lately? Where are my arrows of Love and Lust being directed?

Why hot man on man luvin’ of course!

My fave thing to read and write.

M/M

Have you ever read an m/m romance? That stands for male/male as I so awkwardly had to explain to my mother. As a woman who still cringes at the P-word (you know which one I mean)and finds that same bit of anatomy ‘icky,’ how could I convince her of the appeal of two gorgeous men together?

I couldn’t.

So I just lied and said, “Well, it’s popular, Ma and I wanna sell books.”

LIAR, LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!!!!

Um…. (((hangs head to hide evil grin))))…yeah, I lied. But what mamma don’t know won’t hurt her! LOL

In truth I have been avidly reading m/m for only a short time. I was introduced to it about a year ago but I was hooked from the get go. As a writer who suffers from WADD (Writers Attention Deficit Disorder) I never have a shortage of ideas simmering. And all of them lately are m/m.

Why is this?

Because two men in LOVE is a beautiful thing. What a gift to be allowed to follow the special journey of two strong males as they let their guards down and become intimate together amidst prejudice, hatred, fears, intricate plots and obstacles! It is a Happily Ever After you have to read to believe.

As a “Literary Cupid,” my goal is to convert as many women as possible into reading m/m. I have converted most of my friends, I am happy to say!

The rest of you have no idea what you are missing!!!

If you are already an m/m reader you KNOW what I am talking about. If not, might I suggest stopping over at my BLOG, where you can read my FREE m/m short story LEAKING PIPES. You will never think of plumber’s crack the same way again!

LEAKING PIPES is one of 25 m/m stories available for FREE download in an anthology put together by the awesome group M/M ROMANCE over on goodreads. The collection is called STUFF MY STOCKING and the download link is on my BLOG. He, he, he, see how sneaky I am making you visit my blog, too? Don’t worry there is plenty of eye candy to make it worth your while. And believe me…you won’t regret snatching up these naughty boys for your Kindle!

I also have one more m/m book to add to your collection— which I know you will start building once you read your first m/m romance. It is my holiday erotic short story SECRET SANTA.

All this weekend at Rainbow eBooks you can download SECRET SANTA for FREEE!!!

Did you hear that?!

I just hooked you up with two FREE BOOKS!!!

Now before you leave the awesome Clare’s blog in your rush to get a fix of hot man on man luvin,’ I would LOVE to know whether or not you have ever read an m/m novel or short story.

If you have, what was it that you liked about it?

If you haven’t, please leave a comment, as well.

Everyone who leaves a reply will be entered in a random drawing to win my m/m erotic retelling of THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW from DECADENT PUBLISHING.

Thanks for stopping by! And thanks Clare for having me!

And please don’t forget:

Love is Love! It should be celebrated, embraced and enjoyed in all of its many facets!

XXOO

~D

Deanna Wadsworth is an erotica and m/m author.

Her books are available at http://decadentpublishing.com/ and on http://amazon.com for Kindle.

You can visit her blog http://deannawadsworth.blogspot.com/ and hang out with her on

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001206469235 where she enjoys posting pics of hot guys and chatting with folks about anything canine, book, sex or alcohol related!

An Excerpt from 'Catch of the Day' by Lily Sawyer

2011-02-17T00:00:00.023-05:00

Here's a quick blurb:

Kellan Murphy is a successful car dealer in Chicago, but he isn't happy with his life. He finds his job boring and wants a change. After the sudden death of his lover he decides to move someplace warm. He sees an ad for the Florida Keys in a magazine and packs everything and moves to the Keys.

Kellan starts his new life as a fisherman and tour guide. He has his own home and boat, but the one thing missing is someone to share his life with. On a rare day off he decides to go fishing and what he finds at the end of his fishing line changes his life forever.

An Excerpt:

Kellan grabbed a cup of coffee and carried it out to the back deck of his beach house. It had been a year since he moved from Chicago to the Florida Keys. The two places were as different as night and day. Back home there was a foot of snow on the ground and here the temperature didn’t make it down to the freezing point. He certainly didn’t miss having to deal with the icy winds and the endless winters.

He’d worked as a car salesman for one of the biggest automakers, and had been recognized as their top seller two years in a row, but the accolades didn’t mean anything to him.   He felt like he’d become like a robot in the corporate world and he desperately needed a change.   He’d been looking at a travel magazine while sitting in his doctor’s waiting room and spotted an ad for the Florida Keys.

There was nothing holding him in Chicago, his parents had died a few years ago and they’d left him a nice inheritance.    He’d been in a serious long-term relationship, but after losing him in a tragic accident he decided this was the final straw and it was time to start a new life somewhere else.

Now he had sunny days and a new business venture that got him excited to get up in the morning.    He’d always loved nature, he remembered going on family vacations to the mountains with his parents and his father taking him out on the boat they kept up there.    It was one of his fondest childhood memories.   Now he was living his dream of owning his own boat; he enjoyed taking people on tours of the Keys. Kellan also took people deep sea fishing, his clientele ranged from the locals to big wigs who wanted to land the ‘big one’ to the vacationers who came from all over the world to experience the Keys.    Ernest Hemingway was to blame for the influx of visitors, the famous author put the place on the map, but Kellan wasn’t complaining. He loved meeting new people and seeing the joy come over their faces when they caught some fish.    The really big ones were the marlin and sailfish; they could really give you a run for your money.

So here he was sitting in the Keys enjoying all this new life had to offer.   While he enjoyed his time with other people during the day, his evenings were spent in his house, alone.    Maybe one day he would find someone, he just wasn’t in any hurry, he was still grieving over Frank.

Kellan heard his empty stomach rumbling and made himself scrambled eggs for breakfast and filled two thermoses with coffee then drove over to the marina where his boat was docked.

This morning Kellan didn’t have any charters and he decided to take off on his own. He filled up an ice chest with beer, bottled water and sandwiches, made sure his tank was filled up with gas, weighed anchor and was on his way.

The weather was gorgeous and Kellan still marveled at how blue the water was. He’d dreamed of seeing the ocean one day and now here he was, there was nothing like smelling the fresh ocean breeze and feeling the salty mist on your face.

After spending some time out in the open ocean he sailed into his favorite private spot, a deserted cove and picked up his lucky fishing pole and cast it into the water. It wasn’t long before he was catching fish, they’d make a delicious dinner and whatever he didn’t use he’d freeze.   He worked up an appetite so he took a break to have lunch. He was sitting in a chair on the deck finishing the last bite of his sandwich and drinking from a bottle of beer when he saw the fishing line he’d left in the water start to bob up and down. He put the bottle down and went over to check it out.

“Damn!” Kellan grunted as he pulled on the line; it felt like it weighed a ton. “What’ve I got on the end of this line a whale?” He blurted out.

“Uhhhh,” He put his back into it as he pulled on the pole and reeled in his line. Kellan figured he could have snagged a mackerel or maybe even an old tire.   You came across pollution from time to time, even down here in a pristine place like the Keys.

He could see a shape in the water and it definitely was not a fish.   The front part of the animal was hidden under the boat; he could see the tail flukes and thought it might be a manatee.

“Oh man,” he was worried he’d get in trouble with the fish and wildlife conservation commission; manatees were a protected species.   He quickly tried to get the animal out from under the boat so he could get a better look at it and see if it was hurt. As soon as the lower half of the animal cleared the underside of the boat it became clear what the catch of the day was. “Oh my gawd!” Kellan couldn’t believe his eyes.   It wasn’t a manatee; in fact it wasn’t like any manner of marine life he’d ever seen.    The tail looked like a manatee or whale but he saw the head and torso of a man attached to it.   ‘A merman!’    Kellan thought.    He didn’t have time to think about it. He could see the man was hurt. So he quickly pulled him onto the deck. The fishing line had tangled on his tail so he took a knife and cut the lines.

“Hey, uh, bud. You okay?” Kellan wasn’t sure what to make of this creature. Was he a man or a fish? Kellan’s instincts took over and he checked the merman for injuries. As his hand disappeared into the dark hair, he found a bump on the back of the merman’s head. His arms weren’t broken, he felt along the well-built body for broken ribs but found nothing then he looked down at his waist. Instead of hips, thighs and two legs there was a long torso that ended in a tail.

Kellan was at a loss as to what to do next.

End Excerpt

To buy it now! http://silverpublishing.info/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/catch-of-the-day-p-183

Author Cynthia MacGregor Introduces Her Library of Fiction and Non-Fiction

2011-02-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Sometimes it seems I spend more time writing promo than I do writing books. <sigh> It's a necessary part of the whole deal, but I miss the days (my age is showing) when publishers did all the advertising, and we writers were free to just WRITE BOOKS.

Yes, my age is showing...and I don't try to hide it. I'm 67. A YOUNG 67, but still...67 is 67, even if people who meet me do assume I'm on the young side of my 50s.

I have 54 conventional (printed) books to my credit (some of them still in print, others long since out of print), and a plethora of e-books already released or scheduled for release this year.

I've already survived the demise of one e-publisher, who contracted for a slew of my books, released some of them, faltered, and went under...without paying me any royalties. <long sigh>

This e-publishing world sometimes feels like taking a step into the darkness without knowing if I have solid ground under where my foot is about to fall...or if I'm about to step off the edge of the precipice.

Still, I believe e-publishing IS the future, and I'm committed to it. (Although I haven't totally forsaken printed books either.)

My first book to be published came out in 1993. It feels like it just happened. It's hard to credit that that was damn near 20 years ago. I LOVE writing. (I also edit, and enjoy that too, but not as much.)

But I love writing BOOKS far more than I love writing promo. It's a relief when, faced with the need to write promo, I can just sit down and vent, like this, instead of having to try to find a new way to tell the world how wonderful my latest book is.

What IS my latest book, anyhow? (Ah-HAH--here comes the advertisement.)

Actually, I have a bunch of them. (I'm both prolific and diversified.)

Though I mostly write nonfiction, I have a novel out with the Living & Learning imprint of Secret Cravings Publishing.

What Child Is This? is a mainstream novel (as opposed to a specific genre). Here’s a blurb about it. See if it sounds like something you’d like to read:

All Marie Levy Erlig wants is to have a nice normal baby.

All Adam Josephson and Rev. Argyle each want is for their respective churches to grow.

Van Jordan, Channel 11 newsman, wants a Big Story.

When two kids see an apparition they believe is the Virgin Mary, and shortly after that Marie gives Share the Harvest an eggplant that seems to bear the likeness of Mary on it, it causes a huge uproar in her small town. Adam, Reverend Argyle, Van, and others see in her a way to pursue their own agendas. They are joined by many who truly believe—but Marie wants to be left alone to give birth to what she keeps telling them is just a normal baby.

Only Pastor Hemmings has no selfish agenda. He helps Marie to make a getaway, complete with a new identity. But can she really escape the public eye permanently?

Check it out at: http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/CynthiaMacGregor.html

If nonfiction is more your style, and if you happen to be a “solo parent” (divorced, widowed, never-married, mom or dad), you may want to pick up a copy of Solo Parenting.

Who am I to write such a book? Well, previous (print) books of mine include After Your Divorce, The Divorce Helpbook for Kids, The Divorce Helpbook for Teens, and Jigsaw Puzzle Family. I’m the siteowner of www.TheSoloParent.com. I’m the host of Solo Parenting, seen Saturday mornings at 8:00 in South Florida over WHDT. And yes, I raised my own daughter solo—I was divorced when she was two.

Interested to learn more: http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/CynthiaMacGregor.html

Or maybe you’re already remarried and finding yourself cast in the role of stepparent. (Or perhaps it’s your new spouse who’s the stepparent, suddenly helping to raise your kids.) If that’s the case, the book you need is “Step” This Way.

http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/CynthiaMacGregor.html

Finally, on a much lighter note, if you’ve got a funnybone, tickle it with Dust Bunnies Ate My Socks. It’s subtitled A Bachelor’s Guide to Housekeeping, but you don’t have to be a bachelor to laugh your way through Dust Bunnies Ate My Socks. Co-authored with George Moyer, a genuine bachelor (divorced once, widowed once, and on his own for quite a few years now) with a crazy sense of humor, the book evolved out of a series of emails from George, a former boyfriend whom I’ve remained good friends with. George is totally off the wall, and so is this book. Buy it for your bachelor friends. Buy it for yourself. Buy it and laugh. (Different publisher from the above three.)

http://www.secretcravingspublishing.com/CynthiaMacGregor.html

Finally, on a much lighter note, if you’ve got a funnybone, tickle it with Dust Bunnies Ate My Socks. It’s subtitled A Bachelor’s Guide to Housekeeping, but you don’t have to be a bachelor to laugh your way through Dust Bunnies Ate My Socks. Co-authored with George Moyer, a genuine bachelor (divorced once, widowed once, and on his own for quite a few years now) with a crazy sense of humor, the book evolved out of a series of emails from George, a former boyfriend whom I’ve remained good friends with. George is totally off the wall, and so is this book. Buy it for your bachelor friends. Buy it for yourself. Buy it and laugh. (Different publisher from the above three.)

On or after Friday (the release day is 2/18), go to:

http://www.uncialpress.com/home.php

Thank you for reading this. Thank you for buying one or more of my books, telling your friends about my books, and just for reading in general. We writers count on readers like you.

One last thing: If you want to learn more about me (or see a picture of me so you can put a face with these words) go to: www.CynthiaMacGregor.com.

And if you’ve got feedback for me, you’ll find me at Cynthia@cynthiamacgregor.com.

Thanks, Clare, for letting me guest in your blog today.

Hugs to y’all -
Cynthia MacGregor

Who Was St. Valentine?

2011-02-14T09:47:00.000-05:00

St. Valentine

Today is February 14th, commonly called Valentine's Day or St. Valentines Day. This day, which is commemorated around the world (from China to Pakistan not to mention all of over the western world) is the day that lovers celebrate love and romance!

We are very familiar with the trappings of Valentine's day, such as hearts, candy, love, roses, balloons and the all too symbol of love and passion- the color red that permeates this day, but the real question is where did this day come from?

In 496 AD, Pope Gelasius inaugurated, February 14 to celebrate and remember the martyrdom of St. Valentine who was a Roman Priest who was martyred during the reign of Emperor Claudius II for marrying Christian couples and for aiding any Christians who were being persecuted by him.

Once imprisoned, one legend says that while Valentinus was there he restored the sight of his jailer's blind daughter and another legend says, on the eve of his death, he penned a farewell note to the jailer's daughter, signing it, "From your Valentine."

So even while under immense persecution he still remembered to love others. As should we. So, who is your Valentine?

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Science Fiction Novelist David Perlmutter Discusse...

2011-02-12T20:52:00.000-05:00

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Science Fiction Novelist David Perlmutter Discusse...: "Scribal Love Welcomes David Permutter!　 David Perlmutter is an author of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mystery stories and novels, a..."

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Welcome Romantic Suspense Author Betty Ann Harris ...

2011-02-11T11:54:00.000-05:00

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Welcome Romantic Suspense Author Betty Ann Harris ...: "Scribal Love Welcomes Betty Ann Harris! Betty Ann Harris is an author of romantic suspense. Her newest work, Agent Of Mercy, is available ..."

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Fantasy Author Sarah Ettritch Discusses Her Newest...

2011-02-08T14:11:00.000-05:00

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Fantasy Author Sarah Ettritch Discusses Her Newest...: "Scribal Love Welcomes Sarah Ettrich! Sarah Ettritch is an author of fantasy and science fiction. Her newest work THE SALBINE SISTERS is ava..."

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Historical Romance Author Rie McGaha Discusses Her...

2011-02-07T20:12:00.000-05:00

The Embraced: Scribal Love: Historical Romance Author Rie McGaha Discusses Her...: " Scribal Love Welcomes Rie McGaha Rie McGaha is an author of romance in various sub-genres. Her newest work Cross The Line ..."

Share Your Soul- An Excerpt from the Anthology 'Run Devil Run'

2011-02-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

A RUN DEVIL RUN NOVELLA

An Excerpt-
On the fifth anniversary of my murder, I took action against inaction. I set out to find what I wanted the most—revenge. Others warned me that the whole project could be risky, but getting even with my killer husband seemed worth the danger. Turned out, I made an appointment with the Angel of Death. Perfect.

I’ve always had a weak spot for bad-boy, rocker types but Gabriel the bad-boy angel surpassed my fantasies. He looked like Bon Jovi in his long hair days, which destroyed my ability to concentrate. Plus, he claimed he could help me only if I trusted him. The last man I put my faith in shot a bullet through my heart. How the heck could I trust the Angel of Death?

So anyway, I told Gabriel that I needed retribution before I could move on. He granted me three days in a mortal body to gain closure. Great offer except for one thing—my dear husband had already been found not guilty so he couldn’t be tried again. No hope of ever putting him behind bars…at least not for shooting me. I also had no idea where the loser had dumped my body. How was I supposed to get vengeance?

After that, things got really complicated. I had to find dirt on my jerk of a husband while placing my faith in the Angel of Death and ignoring the forbidden things he did to my phantom heart and loaner body. Yeah, the whole situation sounded weird to me, too, but what was a misplaced spirit to do except roll with it?

Genre: Paranormal romance, contemporary romance, suspense

Heat: 3

Cover design by Fiona Jayde

*To obtain your free music download from the Rock band Run Devil Run, please send proof of purchase to: RunDevilRunBonus@gmail.com
Instructions for ‘capturing’ proof of purchase: Press Ctrl+PrntScr on your Decadent download page, copy and paste into the body of an email.

Run Devil Run, an L.A. based Rock band well known locally for their dynamic live performances, diverse musical talent, and humorous video antics has lent their faces, titles and lyrics as inspiration for a five-book series. The stories in this anthology are penned by popular and award-nominated authors Rachel Carrington, Mari Freeman, Susan DiPlacido, Valerie Mann and Becca Dale.

For more information about the band, please visit the Decadent Publishing blog.

Cold Weather Inspires Me

2011-02-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Some people think of cold weather and instantly associate it with lot's of snow, horrible roads and maybe the flu, colds and if their lucky hot chocolate.

I see cold weather as inspiration for my writing. When I think of cold weather, I think of glaciers, pristine snow and ice and mysterious weather where only the heartiest can survive. To me the winter is a time to write with my inspiration just outside my window. With a glance I am there with my characters battling the bitter cold.

For instance winter weather plays heavily in my military science fiction series Cold Warriors where the main character Caitlin Driskoll has been scientifically adapted to live and survive and fight in cold weather. In fact she needs it to survive.

Then there are the characters in the 'Fugue' coming soon from Secret Cravings Publishing. The characters are Navy Seals training in arctic conditions who are unexpectedly caught by an unknown enemy who not only out numbers them but also has them outgun. In the cold, they must fight for survival.

So the next time when you see snow on the ground, see it as a time of adventure. I know I do.

Writing Fantasy by Author of the 'Last Mage' by Nick Krimp

2011-02-01T03:00:00.000-05:00

Fantasy

This genre is one of the hardest to write about. It is difficult because one has to create a world that is believable as well as entertaining. That said I must go a bit deeper and try to explain what a Fantasy writer has to go through to be believed. I myself believe that all other writers put us at the bottom of the list. Every time I say I write fantasy I get a smile from most people. I ask why are they smiling and they just shrug their shoulders, but why do copies of fantasy books sell so well when most folks laugh as the category. If I were to say, “I write mystery or romance or thrillers,” I would get a completely different reaction. Although it doesn’t deter me from writing in that genre, I find it sometimes frustrating. I love to pick up a good book and just lose myself in the story and for a short time enter a world that doesn’t exist.

There are many different fantasy stories and most are well written and are able to place the reader into a world that was thought up by the author. I have been reading fantasy as long as I can remember. As a teenager I read all of Edgar Rice Burroughs books, from “At the Earth’s Core,” to, the “John Cater of Mars” series. I did not get into the fantasy of Elves and Dwarfs until much later when my son bought me a book called, “The Sword of Shannara.” It was then that I truly fell in love with fantasy. Terry Brooks inspired me to begin writing. I have his complete collection of the Shannara series and hope he comes up with more in the future. I do have my first book in the “Last Mage” series; subtitled “The Dragon’s Mouth” on sale at Mobipocket and a few pages on my blog at www.readerswriterscorner.net. I am working on the third book in the series as well as a Sci-fi story of marooned space travelers. I hope to finish both in the coming year.

Please visit my blog and let me know how you enjoyed the first few pages of the last mage. You can also drop me a note on face book there you can find me under nkrimp@hotmail.com.

I always say that those who do not read a book are missing out on half of what the world has to offer.

Nick Krimp.

So You Think You Want To Write A Fantasy Series?

2011-01-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

Guest Blogger- Bobbye Terry!

So you think you want to write a fantasy series…

You can’t stop thing about it, an idea nagging at the back of your brain that won’t go away, a heroine with kick-assitude who keeps waking you up from your dreams or a hero who woos you awake with his evaporating kisses. But where do you begin and how will your idea spawn not one but many books around some central theme?

Before you sit down and busily start to get the first chapter down, stop. Be smart and consider the following list. Know where you want to go so you don’t have to come back and backtrack, and yes, pantsers, this will work for you (so said the queen of all pantsers, me).

Series Worldbuilding-List of Things to Consider:

Fantasy in current world or other world? Will your world co-exist with our current world or will it be different, play be new rules? If so, what are those rules?
Future, Present Day, Past or Time Travel?

Is this in the future on our planet Earth? If so, how did we get where we are? Background here...is it a dystopian world, ravaged by war and devastation of a flourishing paradise, or a world now controlled by one sect? How will you best illustrate the change in conditions? Is it in the past? If so, have you done your research about dialect, clothing, customs, conditions, activities and occupations for daily living? Is it a time travel? If so, how will you best contrast the dichotomy?

Fantasy beings—in human form with special powers, category beings (i.e., vampires, witches, angels, zombies, demons, etc?), or totally new category?

If your characters look like humans but have powers, what are those powers? Is there a limit or an Achilles heel? If they fall into a category of beings, do they act like the stereotype of those in other novels, or do your beings look or act differently? If they do, bring that out early. Are they in a new category? If so, how do you describe them and how do you suspend belief?

Items, terrain, locations, special features that remain in all books?

What is the glue that holds this series together, the constants? Think of one or a small number. In my series now in progress, the series centers around the holy book, The Book of the Beginning. If you use the same locations each time, make sure these locations, their places, etc., stay the same in each book.

Do the Hero and Heroine stay the same in every book or do they change?

If the hero and heroine are the same, how will you ensure that they can hold your readers from book to book? What is suspenseful that continues to propel readers forward? If hero and heroine change, what continuity do you bring over from earlier books?

Tone of the books—needs to stay similar.

You can’t have one dark and one light, one funny and one somber, one sweet and one ultra hot. The books need to be smooth like a nice glass of wine or a great piece of jazz music.

Keeping all the characters straight—do you have them written down somewhere, including physical and personality details?

This is very hard after you write 80-1000,000 words times three or four or five. Write down all your characters, their idiosyncrasies, their traits so you can reference to make sure they stay the same. Even if they’re short-term in the book or the series, you need to keep track of the names and using the same letters, etc. Consider doing some backstory, other things about what make them who they are. You may want to do a companion book like Sherrilyn Kenyon did for the Dark Hunter series.

Website—does your world have its own distinct website?

This may be a good idea if the series is long. I have one for my Book of the Beginning series. It’s not complete yet, but will be a s the first book debuts. Always be ready to greet your readers and fans with information to whet their reading appetities.

I hope this has gotten you to start thinking, or maybe a single title sounds real good about now…

Bobbye Terry is the multi-published writer of fantasy, suspense and romantic comedy novels under her own name, her solo pseudonym, Daryn Cross, and her co-authored one,Terry Campbell. Her previous works have garnered finalist awards in the Booksellers’ Best and other RWA-sponsored contests. Her most recent release is It’s Magic by Daryn Cross & LJ DeLeon, Crescent Moon Press. Craigs’ Legacy by Terry Campbell, will debut as one of Black Opal Books’ first releases on February 11th. Additionally, she has a new short story, “Legend of the True Love Angel” by Bobbye Terry, in Turquoise Morning press’ just released Be Mine, Valentine anthology.