Come Hither Pumps

Man Candy Monday

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

The inspiration behind Zarek, the hero in my latest book The Devil's Trap:

Regan is the best vampirehunter money can buy. But, when she’s paid to kill one of the most powerfulvampires in existence, she doesn’t realize she’s in way over her head. Thingsgo terribly wrong and there is no escape…

Zarek is so powerful hescares other vampires. One little hunter should be no challenge. However, Reganis different, and as soon as he sees her, he will do anything to keep her. Butshe’s a stubborn woman, who refuses to let someone else control her.

When a powerful enemy comes to town, she’s forced to trust Zarekwith her life. Who is the larger threat? The man out to destroy humankind? Or thevampire determined to own her heart?

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

***

New Years Resolutions

2012-01-01T14:51:00.004-06:00

The classic New Years Resolution post. My goals list for 2012 is long, and doesn't just cover writing. I've decided to add some other stuff too, because while I love writing, and want to make it my career, it's not the only thing that's important to me. So here's my list:

WRITING: These are my writing goals for 2012. I'm determined to hit them, because usually I don't.

Finish BadAnimals – May 31^st

· Submit Bad Animals to agents andpublishers

FinishAlmost Human – August 31^st

· Submit Almost Human to agents andpublisher

Finish shortstories on Saturdays

· Topless

· Straight Laced

· Untitled Ménage

Start plotting Sci-Fi story on Sundays

DANCE: I also have some goals in belly dance this year, because there are some things I didn't do this year that I'd like to get done.

Choreographat least 3 solos

PracticeImprov

Create aYoga routine

Practicewhen I don’t have school

MISC: These are just good things to do, that I feel I don't do enough of. I know everyone feels like what they give or do won't help, because they're just one person, but if every person pitched in, we could accomplish a lot. So I encourage you to give back this year. Whether it be time or money. Everyone can spare a little.

Donate atleast $5 every other month to ISF or Cause An Uproar, or Unicef.

Volunteer atleast once at the animal shelter or make blessing bags for homeless.

And that's the end of my big goals list. Of course there are smaller things like trying to promote more, and what not, but they don't go on the big list, those things go on the lists I make daily.

If you're wondering what blessing bags are, this is where I got the idea:

Visit my website.

The Devil's Trap release!

2011-12-31T15:56:00.000-06:00

Blurb:

Regan is the best vampire hunter money can buy. But, when she’spaid to kill one of the most powerful vampires in existence, she doesn’trealize she’s in way over her head. Things go terribly wrong and there is noescape…

Zarek is so powerful he scares other vampires. One little huntershould be no challenge. However, Regan is different, and as soon as he seesher, he will do anything to keep her. But she’s a stubborn woman, who refusesto let someone else control her.

When a powerfulenemy comes to town, she’s forced to trust Zarek with her life. Who is thelarger threat? The man out to destroy humankind? Or the vampire determined toown her heart?

Excerpt:

I reached the wooden bar and slidonto a sleek black stool with a groan of relief. In front of me, a shirtlessvampire buffed the countertop, muscles flexing with each circle he made. Nowthis was a guy you actually dreamed about seeing naked. He was built like agod. Every muscle toned to perfection. He had probably been a big, chiseled guybefore, and vampire blood washed away any flaws he might have had as a mortal.His raven-black hair gleamed in the lights. He was the perfect thing to bringin young women for a bite on the neck.

I sighed in pure feminine pleasure.Just because he was a vampire didn't mean I couldn't appreciate the view. But,a black aura and raw vampiric strength bled from him. He would have beenjump-his-bones hot if his power didn't creep over my skin like spiders. Isuppressed a shudder. No matter how enticing their form, vampires always mademy skin crawl.

His gaze met mine, and I drew in abreath. He had the most gorgeous violet eyes. They were filled with an ancientintelligence. His lips curled into an amused grin, as if he knew I was oglinghis body.

I frowned. It annoyed me that heread me so easily. I shook my head. I needed to remember the real reason I washere. I was here to kill Zarek, not drool over some gorgeous vampire. I was ina den of evil creatures, and he was one of them. Now really wasn't the time todo any lusting.

The smile widened and he raised hisvoice over the music. "What can I get you?"

He had a subtle accent I couldn'tidentify, and the deep, growling bass made my toes curl. It soothed my nervesin spite of what he was and caused another kind of excitement to bubble in mystomach. God, this was not the right guy to get that good down-low tickle for. Focus,Regan!

I cleared my throat and leanedcloser to him. "I'd like to see the owner."

The smirk turned wicked andsuggestive. "I'm Zarek. I'm the owner." He scanned my body, eyesfinally resting on my throat. The scrutiny made me flush and wish I could hidemy neck. Unfortunately, my black tank top and ultra-short shorts didn't leavemuch to cover up with. People who went into vampire clubs usually favored bareskin and a gothic appearance, so I'd been forced to blend.

Had he fed tonight? Vampires weretwice as dangerous when they were hungry. The better question was, had hekilled tonight? For some strange reason, I found myself hoping he hadn't. Itried to shake the ridiculous feeling. Even if he hadn't killed tonight, he hadin the past. And even if he'd stopped, like Alaric and his brothers, it didn'tchange what he was, or the fact that someone wanted him dead.

He licked his lips before meeting mygaze again, leading me to believe that he hadn't fed. Great, I wouldn't leavethis place without giving a little blood to him, even if I ended up killinghim. If a vampire wanted blood, he'd find a way to take it.

"Again, how can I helpyou?"

I barely kept my curse offrustration to myself. I'd hoped to meet with him in private. Fighting to thedeath in the middle of his bar was a bad idea.

You canread the first two chapters on me website: www.honoriaravena.com

BuyLink: http://www.breathlesspress.com/devils-trap

Man Candy Monday

2011-08-22T07:00:00.009-05:00

Okay, I totally stole this title from Em Petrova. She used it in an email to me last week and it totally stuck. And I figured since I have quite a lot of hunky photos stored up, I could post some on Mondays. Because come on? What woman doesn't want to start their Mondays off by looking at a hot guy.

This week's inspiring picture of hotness is the one that I believe created a not so solid story idea for me last Monday:

Doesn't he just make you think beached merman. Or ocean god. Or hell, even passed out, drunken frat boy has potential.

I don't know how long I'll do Man Candy Mondays, but it seems like a nice idea for a while.

15 (16?) Weird Facts

2011-08-21T21:39:00.001-05:00

Okay, originally this was a YouTube tag, but I really didn't feel like doing a video, so I figured I'd could use it for the blog. People do these sorts of things on blogs all the time. Besides, I think I need to try harder to keep this blog active, because I suck lately.

#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you? Mom and Dad call me Pooh. I'm rarely called by my name, it's always Pooh.

#2. What's a weird habit of yours? Uh, damn, just one? I've got a few. I think the weirdest that everyone comments on is that I wear my socks inside out. I don't like the fuzzies on the inside, or the seam at the toes that always seems to lay right under your toe nails. However, the other that's commented on is my relationship with food. I have this thing where my food can't touch on a plate. I will actually get multiple plates just to avoid things touching. I will RARELY mix any food (like some people mix their corn in their mashed potatoes. That freaks me out). I also don't like anything soggy that wasn't originally soggy. That means: no cereal in milk, no cookies dunked in milk, and who knows what else.

#3. Do you have any weird phobias? I'm a fount of phobias. Chief among them is a fear of spiders and riding on ferris wheels. I hate driving. I don't think that counts as a phobia, because I still do it, but I avoid the busier highway in my town, and stick to back roads. One of my weirder ones is a phobia of open closets. One time when I was little mom said something about skeletons in her and dad's closet (probably to keep me out of Christmas presents) and that weird thought just stuck.

#4. What's a song you secretly love to blast and belt out when you're alone? That changes all the time. I like almost all genres of music. Just when I think I've found something I hate, someone will come out with a song in that genre that I love. I think the biggest shocker to most people would be Miley Cyrus's See You Again. Or Taylor Swift's Our Song and Love Story. Considering how opposed I used to be to country and pop (seriously, heavy metal/punk rock all the way). There's a lot of belly dance, and some weird Balkan brass bands. Right now its You And I by Lady Gaga (usually not a fan of hers, but I like that song). Or it's In Ruins by Fol Chen.

#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves? I don't know. I have so many and can never think of them when someone asks me that. I guess its mean people. I don't get mean people. I try to be nice to everyone (with the exception of mornings. I'm not a morning person). #6. What's one of your nervous habits? Pfft. Pick one? There's nervous laughter, fiddling with my hands, clothes, fingernail polish, etc. Nibbling my lips.

#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Well I used to sleep smack in the middle. I have a queen size bed and I like to take advantage of the space, but lately I've been sleeping horizontally across the center. I like it because I watch TV when I sleep, because I tend to have nightmares, and wake up in the middle of the night, and it's just comfortable. And I had some kind of stomach virus a few months ago, and after that dizzy spells, and it just helped to sleep that way, so I've been doing it ever since. I don't particularly like it, my feet hang off the bed, and after seeing Paranormal Activity, that kinda freaks me out...Well that's not true, before Paranormal Activity it was the childish phobia of monsters under the bed. Seriously, the only thing good in Paranormal Activity that actually freaked my shit was when the demon dragged her down the hall and the very end. The rest was boring. Can't believe they made more than one.

#8. What was your first stuffed animal and it's name? I have NO idea. I had like a million stuffed animals as a kid. I couldn't tell you the first, and I don't think I ever named them.

#9. What's the drink you always order at starbucks? Depends on the time of year. Soon it will be fall, so we're coming up on triple tall pumpkin spice latte time. Yes always triple tall. Don't judge my caffeine intake. All the barristas have been questioning it lately. It's like 'Whatever Starbucks worker! Like you don't consume much more than that."

#10. What's a beauty rule you preach, but never actually practice? Uh, quite a few. Lets see, I pop my pimples, and tug on my eyes to apply liner. I think those are my major offenders.

#11. Which way do you face in the shower? Usually away from the shower head. But it depends on what I'm washing I guess. This is a strange question.

#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'? Well, that really depends who you are. I'm a belly dancer, and while I can't seem to choreograph jack shit, I can do some interesting muscle isolations. I've had people say my spine must be a bendy straw. But if you're also a belly dancer, you might not find back bends, undulations, or really deep vertical chest figure 8's to be all that out of the norm.

#13. What's your favorite comfort food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways? Anything sugary. I'm a sugar junky. I'm trying to cut back.

#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say? That changes a lot. It's usually a curse word. I'm famous for my potty mouth. Well, not famous, but whatever.

#15. Time to sleep, what are you actually wearing? T-shirt and underwear. Pants push up to you knees and get tangled around your legs and are too hot. I like to wear as little as possible because I like to be covered by blankets no matter how hot it is. It hasn't been possible all summer. Makes me grumpy.

#16. I figure I should include something writer/book related. So for writers, do you have any weird writing habits? For readers, do you have any strange book habits? I'll answer both. Respectively: I like to drink hot tea when I write. I think it helps me focus (haven't been able to do that all bloody summer either!). I skip ahead in books looking for a good part, and then I'll read for a while when I find the good part, then curse myself for doing that and try to go back to read the part I skipped, but then I'll put down the book, because I get frustrated, because I was at a good part and had to go back. I've started to just go with the flow and if I skip ahead I figure I'll just catch the part I skipped next time I read the book.

If you do this tag let me know in the comments! I'd love to see some of your answers.

First Books and Dyslexia

2011-07-16T16:50:00.003-05:00

Elle Fowler (a YouTube beauty guru for those of you who don't watch her videos) talked about her favorite childhood book in a recent post and, well this sparked an idea for a blog post, so I'm just gonna roll with it, cause I don't blog enough.

I didn't read a lot in my early childhood, so almost every book I enjoyed sticks out in my mind. I have dyslexia, so getting me to read was always a struggle. I'm over it now (with the exception of lowercase b's and d's. If they're in a word, okay, but on their own? I really can't tell which is which) but back then I was a very picky reader, and had to be forced to do any reading. I'm kinda really surprised I ever learned how.

As I said, every book sticks out in my mind, and as I look back on them, they all have something in common. They ALL had a paranormal element. I guess that's always been my thing. I know I liked everything paranormal even before I could read. Like Buffy. Which I think started when i was six.

The first books I ever read were scary short stories. I read them over and over again, because they were short, and could hold my attention.

The first Harry Potter book came out when I was in 4th grade...Well I think it did, that's when our teacher started reading it to us anyway. And while I liked the teacher reading it to us, the prospect of reading a book that thick was a little too much for me, so I didn't start reading them until a few years later.

The first books that change my WORLD were the Everworld series by K.A. Applegate. My mom bought it for me to take to camp in 5th grade, because we had to have an hour of rest/reading time a day. Ugh. I dreaded that. They were taking something that was supposed to be fun, and they were putting an hour long torture session in it every day. I could have napped, but I've never been capable of that either. No matter how tired I am. So it was either stare into space for an hour, or read that blasted book. So, grudgingly, I picked up the book. It was the 11th on in the series, so I was more than a little confused. But even with that confusion, the world was absolutely riveting.

As soon as I got home, I begged for the first book in the series. Well, actually, I sincerely doubt I had to beg, considering my mom was probably desperate for me to read something. I finished the whole series before the 12th and final book had even come out. This was the first time I had to drum my fingers, and wait (not so) patiently, for the release of the next book in a series. I hate the way it ended by the way (well...if I remember right. It's been a while).

After that I moved onto the Fingerprints series by Melinda Metz. After that I pretty much read every book with paranormal elements I could get my hands on. Eventually I stumbled into Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, which made me a writer, and then a friend's mom loaned me my first romance ever. But those are separate stories for another time. I'm pretty sure I've told everyone about Atwater-Rhodes anyway.

Okay, peoples. I'm done typing. Hope you enjoyed my long pointless post. I guess it kinda does have a point. I guess it tells parents not to give up if your kid is dyslexic. Just keep gun forcing them to read books from different genres, and hopefully they'll stumble into something they can't live without.

Ooh, ooh. I can add a little promo at the end:

Running from an abusive husband, Natalya encounters more than she can handle…especially when she becomes a vampire’s target. Buy Fear of Darkness here.

Fear of Darkness rerelease

2011-07-15T10:56:00.001-05:00

Fear of Darkness is out today!

Buy it here

Read the first two chaperes here.

Blurb:

As a Watcher of the King’s Guard, Vahe Patten hunts rogue vampires, ones who break their vampire laws. When dead bodies are left for the human authorities to find, their secret is out, and Vahe takes on the mission by seeking the next victim before the killer does—only to find her blood tasted sweeter than any he’s ever had.

Natalya Woods just wants to avoid her abusive husband and live a normal life, but the small town of Haven has been anything but safe. When she’s attacked in the streets, literally, by the man of her dreams, she finds herself kidnapped and putting her weapon skills to use—surprisingly not on her husband. Attraction and desire throws Natalya and Vahe in a bind as they work together to fight the killer, but will Natalya overcome her distrust of men and allow herself to take the risk to love?

Excerpt:

"Need a hand, Natalya?"

I spun around but before I could even get a word out, I was pressed against the wall with a hand over my mouth. I realized I’d forgotten my gun. I hadn’t thought to put a different one in my other purse, and I should have. Vahe was the least of my problems. Okay, so maybe not the least—a vampire was a big problem, especially if he was the murderer. It was also unbelievable.

"I’m going to take my hand away, and if you scream, I’ll snap your neck. Understand?" I nodded. "Good."

Vahe brushed the scarf away from my neck to reveal his marks. He ran his fingers lightly over my throat. I flinched when he touched the bite. Even with such a light touch, it was painful.

He leaned his face toward me, moved his palm, and then he was kissing me. I hesitated before I gave in to him. The kiss was soft, like he didn’t want to scare me off. So at odds with the threat he’d just spoken. My tongue brushed his fangs, and I broke contact.

He slid his mouth to my throat, and I stood there dazed for a second before I jerked back. I would have slammed my head on the wall, but his hand was between the bricks and me. He tangled his fingers in my hair. His tongue flicked out across the bite mark, and then his mouth clamped down. He sucked hard, making the tiny holes bleed.

I gasped in pain and pushed at his chest. He moaned against my throat and sucked harder. His erection pressed against my stomach. He gave my throat one last sweep with his tongue before he drew back. His eyes were unfocused and his breathing labored. I was glad we were in the middle of the street and not somewhere private. I don’t think anything would have kept him from fucking my brains out, and nothing could stop him from draining my blood.

He cleared his throat. "God, your blood is almost addictive." He shook himself. "Come on. I’ll help you with all this food. I’m surprised you eat so much. You look so thin."

I narrowed my eyes at him and didn’t respond. Seriously, idle chitchat? With a vampire and possibly a murderer. He picked up the food and carried it easily down the street, expecting me to follow.

I raked a shaking hand through my hair. Did I really have any choice but to go with him? It seemed like a bad idea. Before Hollywood had gotten a hold of them, vampires had been considered evil. He’d attacked me. But wouldn’t he have killed me already if he’d planned on it? I followed him before he found a way to make me. I watched my feet as I walked. My heart pounded as I tried to think of a good way to get away from him.

He didn’t struggle to carry the food, but maybe it would take him a few seconds to realize I was gone, drop it, and chase after me. Maybe a few vital seconds were all I needed. I doubted it.

I was starving and wanted to cry at the thought of leaving my food, but I wasn’t willing to go wherever he was leading me.

He stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder. He arched an eyebrow. "Go ahead. Try running for it. You won’t make it three feet."

Pizza Recipe

2011-06-27T01:56:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I know for people who have read this blog, this post will be pretty random. But for those of you who have been asking for my pizza recipe, this is it. Making your own pizza is nice because you can control salt content. And if you eat a lot of boxed pizzas, well this has no preservatives, or whatever other little yuckies the manufacturer might slide in there.

Pizza Crust

2 1/4 c. bread flour
2 1/4 t. active dry yeast
2 T. olive oil
1 t. salt
1 T. white sugar
1 t. Italian seasoning
3 t. garlic powder
1/2 t. onion powder
1 c. warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

Combine sugar, yeast and warm water in bowl. Rest for 5 minutes.
Combine flour, salt, and spices, in a large bowl. Mix in olive oil and yeast water. Let dough rest 5 minutes. Flour your hands and level surface. Knead dough until it's no longer sticky before rolling it out with a rolling pin. Transfer to a lightly sprayed pizza pan and spread it out. Poke holes in the crust with a fork. Bake crust for 15 minutes at 450 degrees. Top as desired. Bake for 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes before cutting. Cheese: italian blend cheeses, mozz cheese.

This recipe also makes good breadsticks.

Pizza Sauce #1 (Tomato)

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 t. oregano
2 t. basil
1/2 t. onion powder
1 t. ground paprika
2-3 large cloves garlic (fine chop)
1 t. sugar

Directions
In a medium bowl, Mix together tomato sauce and tomato paste until smooth. Stir in other ingredients

Suggested toppings with this sauce: Pepperoni, onions, bell peppers, Canadian bacon, or anything else your little heart desires. My favorite is pepperoni and onions.

Pizza Sauce #2 (Alfredo)

3 tablespoons salted butter
8 fluid ounces heavy whipping cream (you can cut it with milk if you don't have enough cream)
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg yolk
2 cloves crushed/finely chopped garlic
salt to taste (keep in mind that there is salt in the butter, so you really should taste the sauce before you add more)

Directions

1. Beat egg yolk in a separate bowl

2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and heavy cream, stirring constantly. Stir in nutmeg, and grated Parmesan cheese. Stir constantly until melted.

3. Add about ¼ cup hot heavy cream/cheese mixture slowly to egg yolk, stirring constantly, and then gradually stir egg yolk mixture into the rest of the sauce. Simmer over medium low heat for 3 to 5 minutes. Garnish with additional grated Parmesan cheese and salt, if desired.

Suggested toppings with this sauce: Spinach, Canadian bacon, grilled or baked chicken, artichokes.

Note: This sauce isn't just for pizza. If you want to try it over pasta, feel free.

New Blog

2011-03-12T20:41:00.002-06:00

Hey. It's Naomi. :) I just thought I'd post that I've actually started my own blog now. Honoria guided me through the scary blogger and now I finally feel brave enough to branch out on my own. I've actually been planning to start my own for some time. I've always wanted my own website, though I'm not going to actually pay for one until I have writing contract. I have deemed myself unworthy of my very own dotcom until then. For now I have my own blogger, which I am very excited about.
I'm sure you are feeling very skeptical about my blogging abilities since I seem to be quite the procrastinator when it comes to posting, but I truly am going to try and keep up with both blogs.
If you get the chance please come by and check me out at http://www.NaomiHunter.blogspot.com
Oh and don't forget to check out Honoria's new and improved http://www.honoriaravena.com!

A Little Bit of Everything...

2011-03-09T15:57:00.008-06:00

Oh, I’m such a dork! I almost forgot to add this! I decided to put it at the beginning because its big happy news: I got two new contracts this week. It’s been on twitter, but who knows if anyone who reads this blog (does anyone read this blog?) follows me on twitter. Breathless Press will be re-releasing Fear of Darkness, and releasing another book called The Devil’s Trap. I can wait (but am also dreading) edits. You know how it is. Fun, but lots of work, especially with the lengths of these particular books. And the fact that Fear of Darkness was the second story I ever finished, so its bound to have problems galore!

Okay so today I’m going to be pretty random. I’m going to talk about my day, and the stuff I bought so its like a haul video, without the video part because I have no camera. I’ll also do a writing update. There’s not much to tell, but I’ll tell everyone anyway.

I got my haircut today so I have bangs and more layers now. The woman who cut my hair was really nice. I love Regis, they always do a great job. A pretty good rule is to never get your hair cut at a place with “cuts” in the title. I’ve never been happy with a SuperCuts hair cut. It just never works out.

I also toured the Macy’s and Dillards makeup sections just to see what they have. It was fun. I always enjoy looking at the makeup. And then I saw something that terrified me…There were these kids at the mall for a field trip. They looked like middle school age I guess. They were wearing these big furry hats. They covered their whole heads. Almost like…I don’t know, anime hair I guess? There were like three of them…Seriously, is that in style now, because BOY does it look really really stupid. I had to keep myself from staring open mouthed in horror.

Anyway. Away from that topic. Far away. As far as I can get. .

So I bought quite a few beauty products today, and really shouldn’t have because now I have $30 left to my name. I’m supposed to get paid soon though . Hopefully its before Urban Decay goes on sale at Hautelook.

Okay, at the salon I got It’s a 10 Miracle Leave In Product. It’s a leave in conditioner that’s supposed to:

Repair damaged hair
Add shine
Detangle
Control Frizz
Protect hair color (which I don’t need because I don’t color my hair, but whatever)
Prevent split ends
Stop breakage
Create Silkiness
Enhance natural body
And has a heat protector

If its not the best thing I’ve ever tried I won’t get it again, because my tiny four ounce bottle was $17.79. But my hairdresser said it was their best seller. I can test it and see what I think.

Next I got Maybelline Falsies mascara. I accidentally got the washable one…I don’t know what my problem is! I need to look closer when I buy things. Hopefully it doesn’t do anything weird and melty. Why do they even make mascara that’s not waterproof? Blair Fowler says Falsies is the best, so I figured I’d try it out. Maybelline makes good products anyway. I have their Lash Stiletto right now.

I also go the Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush, and the Cashmere Ultra Smoothing Bronzer in Light because I’m pale as hell. The brushes they come with are totally crap (especially that blush brush! I’ve never seen such a useless brush) but I have my own brush so its no big. Any of these cosmetics you can find at Ulta.com or probably most drugstores so I won’t include linkage.

And I didn’t get this today, but it’s become my most favorite product EVER. It’s the BH Cosmetics 120 Eyeshadow Palette in 1st edition. Every color under the sun. Any makeup look you want to do, you can pretty much do with this. It’s my baby, and I’ve been raving about it for a while now on Twitter.

Now on to what I should be talking about on this blog: Writing.

Lately in my writing I’m really trying to focus on internal conflicts and making them more concrete. I’m also trying to focus on the characters and their emotions. Now I have to be honest, lately I’ve gotten REALLY lazy with doing character charts and all the other groundwork I should do before starting to write a novel. And so I was wondering why I just wasn’t feeling these characters in the ménage I’m working on. Well, duh, I’ve done no character charts.

Since I’m focusing on internal conflicts and emotions I decided to dig even deeper with that, so I took a list of character questions from Leigh Michaels’ On Writing Romance and I’ve been doing that and I think its really helping, because I’ve been brainstorming some pretty good ideas that make the characters more alive in my head.

Another thing that helped today was this Lindsay’s Ramblings post on quirks. You might want to check it out of you want more insight into creating in depth characters.

So before I let you go, I want to ask, does anyone care if I tell you about the beauty products I’m buying? Should I do that somewhere else and reserve this blog strictly for writing related stuff? I feel like I have so little to talk about that I’d really just like to throw everything at one blog and see which writers I can drive insane with my cosmetics talks.

Also, does anyone out there have any questions they'd like to ask about writing or the acquisitions process? I am a published writer and an Acquisitions Manager so if you have questions, I'd like to try and help. It also might give me something to blog about so Naomi and I aren't just posting every six months.

Critique Partner/Group

2011-02-27T13:34:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone.

I know I am officially the worst blogger ever. My lack of blogging is pretty sad, but I still want to blog if I can ever just get myself to do it. Today's blog isn't without reason. I am close to finishing my novel and I am looking for a critique partner or group to join. I looked on google in search of one, but I came up empty handed. Any suggestions or ideas of where I should start would be great. I'm looking for a partner who will give it to me straight and I will do the same. If anyone is interested please comment this post!

A Snowday (Or Week)

2011-02-06T00:03:00.004-06:00

Okay, so this blog isn’t really going to have anything to do with writing, because I barely got any done. This blog is more about the crazy (yet boring) week I’ve had.

So, if any of you don’t know, Texas (and like the whole South) got slammed with snow and ice. Originally they just said ice, but Tuesday morning I woke up and there were huge snowdrifts everywhere. I was delighted. I didn’t have to go to school. So I took my Health test online, read my English assignments, read a submission, and worked on rewrites. And that was absolutely the last day I worked this week…

I was supposed to hang out with Naomi Hunter on Wednesday and we were going to have a writer day. Exchange what we'd written, talk about books and writing and of course whatever else we happened to blab about. We like to talk a lot. But, alas, we never got our writer day which is bad, because apparently I really could have used the encouragement to keep me on track. Hopefully next week has no horrible winter weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Wednesday morning the power went out starting at 6:30. So we froze our butts off in the living room for like an hour. I’m just grateful they got the power back on and it wasn’t like that all day, but it came on and then went off again and did that like three times.

During the day Thursday I was bored out of my freaking mind, because you can only watch so much TV before you go insane and I’d been reading a lot before the snow, so I’m kind of temporarily booked out. BUT I’ve also noticed that not being able to go out and do anything makes you lazier than ever. Because there was plenty I could have been doing instead of watching TV or reading. I need to write, and rewrite the story I’m working on. I could read submissions, I could do school work (snort). I should have done anything but what I did!

I started to shop. Not like actively purchase, because I’m looking at makeup and I like to go to the store and actually see the colors, and maybe put a sample on my hand before I buy, but I’m making one hell of a list.

I bought some makeup not too long ago from Albertsons for stage make up (because I’m actually performing belly dance every once in a while). I REALLY liked the black eyeshadow I got by NYX. It had the most amazing pigment I’d ever gotten. Most black is really weak and I expected to really have to lay this one on thick to get anything, but I figured I’d make it work. Not this one. You need one coat, and you’d better go light. It’s sooo dark.

So I went to the NYX website just to check out what they had and I saw they had a tutorials page. I figured it would be like ELF Cosmetics and have the steps written out but instead they had videos. So I watched a few and of course got the overwhelming urge to put on make up. And then I saw that both the girls I was watching on the NYX site had their own YouTube channels. By now I’d already decided to purchase a few more NYX products so I’d started my list, and I’ll put my list up at some point in this blog.

When I got to their YouTube channels I watched stuff on hair, and I watched these things called haul videos where they go shop and show you everything they got, which is just awesome. I need a YouTube channel just to do that, because I love sharing what I buy with people! And they kept mentioning Ulta (which is a make up store for those that aren’t into make up or from around here) and I was like “Ulta? We have a new Ulta store in town that I haven’t been to. Ooh, I see fun shopping coming up.” So that’s where I will be going as soon as I can get down the bloody driveway and past all the stupid snowdrifts.

So I did my make up. My whole face. The water went out at like seven that night, but I figured they’d actually have it fixed when the water company said they would. They said it would take four hours. No, they never got the water turned back on. And I shower at night, so I hadn’t showered since like 10pm on Wednesday. So that night all I could do was take off my eye make up. I had to leave my icky foundation on. The water didn’t come back on most of Friday either, but I still put on eye makeup in a different way. I was dying of thirst all day. We melted and filtered snow, but it tastes like freezer burn, and I just don’t like the taste of freezer burn.

So Friday night I finally got to take a bath, but there just wasn’t enough water pressure to take a shower. I just would have been dripped on. A bath isn’t my favorite method of bathing because the soap stays on you no matter what. You just can’t rinse all the way. I also couldn’t use conditioner, so I couldn’t blow dry my hair and since I’m on my new crazy beauty kick I wanted to. BUT, a bath is better than nothing.

We finally had enough water today for me to shower. It was pure bliss. I conditioned my hair and blow-dried it and I’m hoping to get out of this house to go to Ulta. I want to go with some one, because its boring to go by myself, but I don’t think I’m going to be able to find a shopping partner, and I’m so desperate to get out of the house that I’ll probably just go on my own.

I’m sad. I’ve got books and mango coconut tea sitting at the post office and I can’t go get them until Monday.

So here are the links to the two girls I’ve been watching on YouTube.

Elle Fowler
Blair Fowler

They're great, and they do tutorials on makeup, hair, and other stuff. There's even one on applying false eyelashes.

Here’s the little version of my list. I trimmed it down, because I’ve still got some products I’m using and so I might as well use them all up before I get something new and awesome. Also, I really don’t expect this make up/beauty phase to last me very long because usually I get to a school day and say “to hell with it all” and I don’t bother doing my hair or make up or anything. I get super lazy. But I’m going to try and do my make up everyday. I also doing want to spend a whole truck load of money because I just don’t.

I want at least one lip gloss. Maybe two because I want one neutral everyday pink color, and one kind of out there color.

Concealers in green and skin tone. I’ve honestly never owned concealers, because I just figured foundation was good enough, but its really not, so I’m hoping a concealer will hide some of those icky zit areas.

Eyeshadow base because eyeshadows really do stay on longer if you add a base.

A black eye liner pencil. I know, what am I doing without one of these? I accidentally bought a charcoal gray one last time I got eyeliner. Also I’m in the mood to try something new. I really need something creamier for my water line and it really should be waterproof.

And lastly I want to get a red eyeshadow. That one is kinda weird right? Yes, but I saw Elle Fowler do a look inspired by Twilight’s main character Bella Swan and while I’m not crazy about the books (except the first one. That one was pretty good) or her character I’m absolutely crazy about the look Elle did and I don’t have anything even approaching a red eyeshadow because I’m really not a red girl, and its just a weird color to have on hand anyway.

I thought about getting a blush, and eventually I will. I don’t use blush a lot because I get really flushed on my own and hate to add any more color to my cheeks.

Now things I decided not to get at the moment:

A brush set. It would actually be the cheapest thing for me to buy; because where I’d get them it would be twelve brushes for $12. But I think I’ll just work with what I’ve got. I haven’t used brushes a lot before and there’s no pressing reason that I must start now. They’d just be handy to have.

Bronzer. I have one I’m going to use up first. I just wanted a new one because mine is kind of light. But then again, I’m kind of light (see very light. Almost as white as snow. Okay so not really. I’m white but I’d like to think I look a little healthier than snow.)

I also want Mabelline Falsies mascara. I hear awesome things about it, but I already have some very good mascara that I’m going to use up first. It’s pretty close to death anyway, but I can still wait.

I also want a new leave in conditioner. The one I have I love, but it always has this funny scent. Even when it’s brand new, so I’m going to try something different, and hopefully it will have a better smell AND be a better product.

I also want to try a new acne treatment. I miss the days when I had clear skin. I didn’t start getting the heavier breakouts until I was 17. This other beauty vlogger suggested Neutrogena Rapid Clear. Specifically the 2 in 1 toner. Again, this is something that can wait, because I’ve still got some face wash left. It’s also probably something I can put on the grocery list for Mommy to buy so I don’t have to!

The same woman that suggested Neutrogena Rapid Clear also isn’t a morning person. Which Hello! So me. I’m not even human in the morning. She hates to wash her face in the morning because of this lack of humanness so she uses Neutrogena deep clean oil free makeup remover wipes. I’ve always known I should wash my face in the morning, but again, humanness is something I have a problem with. Also, the water in my bathroom sink really has a problem getting hot, and in the winter that’s a real problem. If I don’t want to wash my face in warm water, there’s no way I want to wash it in finger numbingly cold water.

Wow, that was a long, boring, rambly blog. I guess I need to write so I don’t dump on everyone when I finally doe sit down and decide to write a blog.

Gracing you with one blog before school starts

2011-01-11T23:32:00.006-06:00

Okay, so not really. I'm going to try and blog more, and not just have this be the last blog you get until May. But no promises. It's hard enough to keep up with school, dance practice, writing, and acquiring manuscripts. My blogging hardly gets any attention (though it should).

What have I been up to lately? Lots of dancing. I performed for the first time ever December 9th. And then again on the 16th. Talk about nerve wracking! Especially since one of the pieces I did on the 16th I'd only learned the Saturday before.

Christmas was good. I got lots of belly dance stuff for that too. Costume pieces, DVD's (instructional and performance). I'll have 'Christmas presents' arriving all of January. I actually kinda like Christmas like this. It's stretched out over all of January, which is fun. Fun to get almost weekly presents in the mail.

I've only just started to get back into the writing groove. I bought the Write Or Die desktop edition, and it really seems to be helping. Though it makes you think things like "if I can write over 900 words in 30 minutes, what could I accomplish if I wrote for like four hours"?

While I have been writing the past few days, everything I write still sucks. I need to start doing some rewriting to see if I can fix it. It has no tension, and nothing is really happening, which is really weird for me. Usually my books are tension and action packed. Meh, at least I have something to edit. It's better than having a blank page mock me.

What am I working on? The ménage I've been working on forever that I meant to do for NaNo. But my computer died in November so there was no attempt at NaNo. I'm hoping the story will be like 15k. I was hoping to finish a first draft by the end of this week, but I don't see that happeneing with the problems I'm having with it.

I've been reading Jaid Black's Viking series, and it's really good, so if you're looking for an interesting erotic romance, check out her books. Her book Warlord was also excellent.

I'm going shopping for more books tomorrow with Naomi. We're hitting a Recycled books. I want some yoga books and of course, I'll be checking out the romance section.

Until next time (when ever that may be)!

NaNoWriMo...Kinda

2010-10-30T18:25:00.006-05:00

"I can scare the stupid out of her, but the laziness runs deep." -Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls

So, I've known about NaNoWriMo for... eightish years now and have never done it. Yeah, this year isn't the year I'll be doing it either. Last year I didn't do it because I was in the middle of a novel I wanted to finish up. I think that's pretty much my excuse every year. Maybe I have commitment issues? Nah! (Yeah.)

This year, I found I wasn't really in the middle of anything, except an ugly battle to get the rights back from my (ex-ish) publisher on the book that I'd finished in the previous year. Long ass story, and one I can't really tell (though I'd really like to, but it would be petty, and beneath me... and maybe I'll do it next Saturday. Nah).

So why am I not doing it this year. Laziness. You know how hard it is to do 1,667 words every day? Impossible, for me. In fact, hats off to anyone who manages it! You deserve some chocolate or money or something. I also have school, which blows, and is quite enough of an excuse for me.

While I'm full of laziness I do plan to finish a novella during November. I want it to be a maximum of 20k. We'll see how that works out. This will probably be the only time I go OVER my goal. I always fall short. Anyway, at 20k I only need to do 667 words a day, which is much more manageable. Lol, but still might be beyond me. We'll see how it goes.

Okay, that's freaking annoying. Because I'm signed into blogger I can't get on my Acquisitions account without signing out of my blogger account. Guess I'll have to come back and add to this blog if I forgot something.

Interview with Steven Nedelton

2010-08-31T05:00:00.000-05:00

Please welcome Steven Nedelton to Come Hither Pumps.

1. What’s your current project? My latest project title is Tunnel. I started working on it months ago but due to work on my books’ promotions I stopped. I am too busy to write right now. I have about 30K words done. Finalized 30K? Not yet.

2. What’s your genre and how did you choose it or have it chosen for you? I get my ideas from the everyday news, from the everyday events. My novel Crossroads was based on a a sentence I read in a local newspaper, in 92. The Raven Affair was based on the TV news about a court case/court proceedings in California, in the 90s, I believe. So my genre was dictated by the events. However, I do like suspense.

3. What advice would you give writers about rejection letters? One cannnot give a good advice. It’s a big struggle for most of us, it is so very hard to get published these days. I believe that some writers do succeed quicker because of their writing style. They get noticed. But I am not sure that they are better than others who have to struggle on. However, it is most important to have the MS professionally edited before submission.

4. Tell us about your writing place. Which is your favorite? What would you change about it if you could? Do you always write in the same spot all the time, or do you roam from room to room, area to area as the mood strikes? I don’t have a specific writing place. I write where my laptop is. It could be here or there. Once I have a good idea, I can sit down almost anywhere and write.

5. Whose writing do you admire most? I like all good writers. I admire Mark Twain. I liked Hemingway in some of his novels. I admired Dostoyevsky, and Gogol in his short stories.

6. What kind of activities do you do to clear your head? I believe that the best way to clear my mind is through exercise. Like riding a bike, anything physical seems to help. Just getting away from writing, if possible.

7. What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever got? To self-publish.

8. Was there a special moment that told you “I’m a writer”? I don’t think so. I read a lot in the past because I started reading fairly early. And so I began writing in my teens. Together with a few friends of mine. I knew then that I could write.

9. What books would you recommend on writing? Any good novel, any good short story should be a good guide for a writer. One learns by reading quality writing, by reading different authors.

10. Which character was the most difficult for you to write? Why?

My novels are in suspense, at least I try to write suspense, though I do go much deeper than simple action. And so I develop my characters through events. I try to fashion them, mold them according to various situations. I didn’t have that much difficulty in creating any of my characters in the past.

11. Welcome to the shameless promo part of the interview. Please tell readers about your latest release and where they can find out more about your work.

My last published novel is titled The Raven Affair. It was based on the hunt for an exceptionally sadistic mass murderer, Anton, who committed indescribable atrocities. The story also involves two priests living in San Francisco, Father Dominic and Father Joe, who had never heard of this criminal, and the Interpol agents who are hunting Anton, unaware that one of them is leading a double life and operating clandestinely as a high priced hit-man ‘Raven.’ Then there are Mick and Lynnie, living in San Fran too. Mick, ostensibly the well liked maitre d’ at the Westin St. Francis’ Michael Mina Restaurant, yet—unknown to Lynnie and his employers—also the dreaded underworld figure known as ‘Clerk.’ Thus, there’s a romance with a very questionable character and much, much more to read, wonder about and discover. Based on this blurb, some might conclude that The Raven Affair is no more than a thriller. But they’d be dead wrong. For the novel was called ‘frighteningly good’ by one reviewer and ‘a superb instant classic’ by another. There was a reason for that. To find out why, one has to read it. All information about my books is available on the web site, www.suspense.web.officelive.com, or, www.snedelton.com.

It's reading time!

2010-08-28T10:51:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone. Its been forever.. I know. I'm horrible at this whole blogging thing. I have good news though, I have nearly finished my novel Lost in Moonlight. Its only taken me two years to even get close to finishing. Once I finish I still have to work on getting published, but mark my words, I will do it! Even if it takes me forever. (It better not take forever, I just might lose it.)

I have also just finished reading Kresley Cole's newest edition to her IAD series, Demon from the Dark. I am close to nearly worshipping her, lol. She is my favorite author and never fails to leave me inspired by her writing. Here is the trailer for Demon from the Dark. I hope this inspires to pick up one of her books. Who knows, maybe she will inspire you too? :)

Strapless Release!

2010-08-06T21:37:00.004-05:00

My new short story, Strapless, was released today! Get your copy now!

Strapless
By
Honoria Ravena

Buy it here.

Reviews:

"It held my interest from the first word to the last..." -Violet Harper of The Pagan & The Pen

"If you want to read something very short, something hot, and something fun, then this story is for you." -S. K. Fero of Got Erotic Romance

Blurb:

Suffering from heartache over her broken engagement due to disapproval from her ex-fiance's parents, Nadia has sworn off men. Elisheba, who has been a good friend throughout the break-up has always stood by Nadia—but somehow her friend wants more.

Excerpt:

She blew her bangs out of her face with a frustrated breath and shook her head. "You need to get back out there. Plastic toys are no substitute for human contact."

I grinned. "They’re not plastic."

She rolled her eyes. "You miss my point."

"No, I ignored it. I’m not ready to deal with a man yet."

"Then you should be with a woman."

I choked on my tequila shot. My eyes watered as it burned down my throat.

When I stopped coughing, she asked, "What is so funny?"

"I’m straight. In other words: I heart cock."

It was her turn to choke on her drink. "I’m going to have that put on a T-shirt for you, and I’m going to force you to wear it."

"I don’t swing that way. And I don’t know anyone who does."

Her brown eyes sparkled with mischief. "Occasionally I do." She brushed the back of her soft hand down my cheek. "For you I would. You have soft, expressive eyes, and a body with curves in all the right places."

I could feel the flush creeping into my cheeks. Thomas had never given me such a compliment. A little thrill of excitement curled through my belly. I cleared my throat and sat back in my chair. I wasn’t really surprised that she was bisexual. She was the kind of beauty that made everybody’s head turn. Her laughter would make guys cross the bar to talk to her.

But she was hitting on me? This was new territory. Now how to solve this tactfully so I still had a friend in the morning…

Buy it here.

Happy Anniversary to 1RomanceEbooks.com!

2010-07-23T05:00:00.001-05:00

Thank you for visiting my stop on the 1RomanceEbooks.com one-year anniversary blog tour! This is stop #17. Your last stop should have been Smut Girl Blog #16.

Today I’m talking about toys. No, nothing naughty like that! Get your mind out of the gutter. Though, toys are used in my latest book, Strapless, so maybe its my mind that’s in the gutter. (Did you catch the shameless promo?)

But no, I’m talking about the toys I have on my desk. The things I mess with when I’ve got writer’s block from hell.

Well, first, to tell you what toys I have on my desk I have to dig for them. It’s past time to clean and organize the desk. Papers everywhere. Nice layer of dust too. *Dusts so she can take a picture for the blog.*

I’ve got a statue of the goddess Hathor, and Bastet in kitty form. Hathor is the Egyptian sky goddess. She concerns herself with beauty, love and marriage, and watches over women giving birth. She’s also the goddess of death and offers comfort to the newly deceased as the pass into the after life. Bastet is the goddess of joy, music and dancing. She’s the goddess of pleasure. Cats were sacred to her because they symbolized animal passion. They’re pretty appropriate for a romance author, but they were gifts, and not really supposed to symbolize anything. I have an incredible love for ancient civilizations, so I like them there.

I have a magic 8 ball. An old school one that is actually black, none of those stupid pink ones. Lol, its nice to ask the 8 ball questions like: “Will I ever finish this book?”. I’m always hoping for some positive reinforcement, and usually I get it. Lol, but some times, even the magic 8 ball is against me.

I have a tiny metal statue of a squirrel with a nut, sitting on a rock. Lol, there’s absolutely no significance to that. I just like squirrels, and thought he was cute. The other little metal statue is a naked woman straddling a crescent moon.

I also have zils, or finger cymbals, used in belly dance. One day I want to be a professional belly dancer, and I actually started a blog about it here: Snake Charmer.

I also have some bubbles, because when you’re really stuck, there’s nothing better than turning around and blowing bubbles. If you’re lucky, you get to watch kitty attack them.

Lastly, and most importantly, I have my stuffed sheep on the desk. I got him with a $25 purchase and Bath & Body Works. He sits in my lap, and I’ll squish him, and throw him in the air. I actually added some hard candy and gum on my desk when I started chewing on him (because I’m not three, I really don’t need to chew on my stuffed animals). Also, sucking on a hard candy is supposed to improve your concentration.

So what about you? Do you have any toys on your desk?

Make sure you register with 1RomanceEbooks.com to win prizes! Include your participant number in the comment you leave to be entered for a chance to win some of my books. I’m giving away a copy of Fear of Darkness, and Strapless (as soon as it’s released from Breathless Press on August 6th).

Remember, the more comments you leave on the tour, the more times you’ll be entered to win a the grand prize— a Sony E-Reader.

The next stop on the anniversary tour is #18 Just Joshin.

I Just Never Post Here

2010-07-03T15:43:00.004-05:00

Lol, I love how we never post here. I’m going to try and post more often. No guarantees though. I’ve been covered under a mountain of work as I judged the Breathless Press (LINK) Halloween contest. *Sigh of relief* It’s over now, and we’ve got some great stories coming to you in the month of October.

Oh oh! In the August edition of RT Book Reviews, on page 12, is the cover of my book Strapless. Strapless is coming out August 6th, I believe. But I’m so excited to see my over in a magazine. It’s in an add for All Romance eBooks. Too cool. I bought a copy because I just had to, and now I’m sure I’ll show it to anyone who will sit still for five seconds to let me.

I need to set up some promo for Strapless. I hate to promote, and I really do suck at it.

I haven’t accomplished much on the writing front, being all busy with the Halloween contest aka: practicing my procrastinating skills. (Not that I need the practice. I’ve turned procrastinating into a brilliant art form.) You always have time to write at least a hundred words. So…As soon as I finish this blog, I will be off to go write.

One thing I actually have been doing is exercising every day. I started a belly dance blog at my old blogspot address. Here's the link if you'd like to check it out: Snake Charmer

I’ll leave you with this awesome interview from J.R. Ward where she talks a little bit about her writing process and how much she writes per day. I just think she’s great. I’d worship at her feet, but she’d probably just tell me to get my ass off the ground and go write something.

What's in a name?

2010-05-25T17:36:00.003-05:00

Good Afternoon fellow bloggers! I hope you are all doing well. :) Things have been going good for me, especially in the writing portion of my life. Today I hit 54,000 words. My goal is 90,000. I can't wait to make it there. I've just got to stay motivated. Which occasionally becomes difficult. I'm sure those of you who are writers completely understand. Something else wonderful has also happened. I have finally chosen a title for my manuscript. I have felt endlessly frustrated not being able to find something I like. I have come up with numerous titles that I felt were either boring, or just not write for my story. Thankfully all of that changed last night. I was sitting at my computer after doing some writing and decided that I wasn't going to bed until I came up with a good title and luckily it only took me ten minutes. It's kind of funny when I think about because it has taken me months to become fed up enough to just sit down and decide. And once I did it took me no time at all.

I'm sure your thinking... 'Just tell me already!' lol, so I will end the suspense... The official title of my manuscript is Lost in Moonlight. It's simple, fun and I feel that it really fits my manuscript well.

I'm curious how all of you come up with the titles to your manuscripts? I know that some of you are far more experienced at this then I am, so I would love to hear tips or ideas about how you name the precious words you put so much thought into.

That's all I've got for today. :) See ya.

Liar Liar, Pants on Fire

2010-05-12T12:42:00.004-05:00

Thanks to Tara Nichols and Abby Wood, I have been nominated for the Creative Writer Blogger Award! As the rules state, I must pass the award to seven bloggers who I think are worthy. I also get to display this lovely badge and I must make up 6 lies and 1 truth –or– 6 truths and 1 lie. Can you guess what I did? What's the truth? What's the lie?

Pfft, and lets see if I can find seven bloggers to pass this to. As it is, I'll never find they're email addresses.

Writer's Gone Wild
Sincerely, Alissa
Brindle Chase
J.K Coi
Vauxhall Vixens
Wicked Lil Pixie
The Many Shades of Life and Love

Here are 7 things about me. Guess which one is the truth/lie – Remember it could be 6 truths/1 lie or 6 lies/1 truth!

1. I'm the dictator of Fiji.

2. I also used to be a top prostitute in Hong Kong.

3. I love sports. Football in particular.

4. I wrote the first draft of my last WIP in seven weeks.

5. I went to Australia for 20 days in 2005.

6. I'm pregnant with my first child.

7. I own my own home.

Summer Sunshine

2010-05-08T19:00:00.002-05:00

Woo! I've hit summer break. Well, not yet I guess. I do have one more final. But it should be easy, and I'll just study Tuesday. Anyway, since school is ending I can actually get some writing done. *Hops up and down* It's been so long! I might have to re-read my story to know what the heck I'm doing. I plan to start this writing tonight at seven. But later this summer I plan to write all freaking day. I want to try for at least 8 hours. Overly ambitious, I know, but I have GOT to finish this novel before school starts in the fall. I hope to finish this one and start another.

I did finish the second round of edits on my f/f story, Strapless. You can read an excerpt here: Strapless Excerpt. It should come out sometime in August.

Hmm...What else was I going to say...I can't remember now. Besides, it's time to make tea, get my ass up, and go write.

Bloggers Block

2010-04-20T22:31:00.022-05:00

It has been far too long since I've posted a blog. I feel like I have really been letting Honoria down by not blogging more. She didn't ask me to be her blog partner, so I could do nothing but occupy the space on the left side the page.

So here I am, with bloggers block. I didn't think it was possible to have bloggers block, but apparently it is because I definitely have it. It's like the section in my brain that blogs has been completely consumed by the college monster. (Yes, I've been listening to far too many Lady GaGa songs, lol)

I thought college was beneficial. No wait, I take that back.
College is beneficial.

I do feel smarter, but not from some of the classes I have taken so far. I have found a majority of them to be useless or at least when you have a teacher that teaches you nothing, the class becomes a useless waste of a lot of money that I didn't have to begin with. AND at times it cramps my writing. I know it cramps Honoria's. Its sad because we sit around together and instead of writing, we complain about college. It's unproductive, but I enjoy it, lol. I've actually had a terrific week for writing in spite of the college monster. I've put a pretty good dent in my current manuscript with hopes of finishing in the next month and a half or so, but we will see if that's actually how it goes.

I took the time the other day to pick out some pictures of what my characters look like so as to be able to picture them better. I was actually pleased with what I found.

Krispin & Echo. Aren't they gorgeous? :) && yes that is Brandon Beemer from the Bold and the Beautiful. Love him!

I honestly can't wait to finish my novel. I feel like I have been working on it forever and it's still unnamed. I have 46,000 words, surely it will come to me soon. My goal after finishing is to find an agent and the be published by print publisher. My hopes are high. I honestly can't wait to prove to everyone that what I'm writing isn't a total waste of time. I look forward to their shocked faces. Is that pathetic? Even if it is, it's how I feel. I have truly found that writing is my passion and I won't settle for anything less. I am bound and determined to get what I want. I believe in me and that's what counts! Ha Ha, it doesn't hurt that I have an amazing writer friend who inspires me beyond belief, (thank you Honoria) a terrific fiance' and a wonderful son!

That's all I've got fellow bloggers! Hope I haven't totally put you to sleep. Happy Almost Wednesday!

Breathless Press Submission Call

2010-04-18T12:33:00.003-05:00

Breathless Press continues to expand its exciting new lineup and is pleased to announce the launch of yet another new series. In August 2010 they will add their female/female stories called Aphrodite…where female passion and sexuality tantalize the senses. To kick off the release of these new books, the company will publish Strapless by Honoria Ravena. Writers wishing to submit should follow Breathless Press guidelines and put the word ‘aphrodite’ in the subject line.

And this fall, two other two new lines will also be added to its already exciting mix of top notch romance and erotic romances.

Launching in November 2010, author Kaye Spencer (A.L.Debran) will kick off the new series of Branded books which are sure to put the sizzle in the Wild, Wild West. The publisher is currently seeking Western themed erotic and romance stories. Submissions should follow Breathless Press guidelines, but writers should put Branded in the subject line of their submission.

And in January 2011, Breathless Press will be launching a new line called Cyber and is currently looking for futuristic (or Science Fiction themed) erotic stories of between 2.5k and 15k. Stories of up to 20k will be considered on a submission to submission basis. Submissions should follow Breathless Press guidelines but writers should put CYBER in the subject line of their submission.

And Breathless Press is also currently looking for the following stories-

For October-Witches and Demons (stories must contain a demon or witch element).

For December-Naughty or Nice (stories must contain the themed element of being naughty or nice).

All stories must be erotic or be in the category of a 2+ heat rating (please see the Breathless Press site for details), must be under 35k but above 1k, (no flirt lengths). Both categories are open to unpublished and published writers. There will be ten winners in each category. Stories must be original and not have been published elsewhere. Stories will be treated like any other one published by Breathless Press. They will be available from the time they are live to the time the contract expires upon which it may be renewed. Each story will get their own, unique cover with a graphic that sets them apart from regular Breathless Press stories. The author will receive the standard Breathless Press royalty of 35% of net sales. In addition each winner will receive the following-

A $10 gift card for the book or books of their choice on the All Romance Ebook Web site www.allromanceebooks.com .

A $10 gift card redeemable at Breathlesspress.com

Deadline for the Witches and Demon stories is June 30th, 2010 at 12.00 a.m. Eastern Time

Deadline for the Naughty or Nice stories is September 30th, 2010 at 12.00 a.m. Eastern Time

For all lines and contests, both new and established authors are invited to submit their work.

Stories for all the new lines and contests should be e-mailed to acquisitions@ breathlesspress.com

Please visit the Breathless Press Website www.breathlesspress.com for submission format requirements and/or to view a sample contract.

The Quest for Perfection

2010-04-03T22:20:00.004-05:00

Okay, SOOO maybe not perfection, but I would like to lose my 'winter weight'. Apparently I was determined to pack on the pounds this winter (well it didn't really start with winter, but whatever). Now, if there's anything I'm good at, its eating bad for me foods. I have a sweet tooth that is constantly craving sugary goodness, and I tend to give in. By the way, don't you just hate her? >>>

I also really hate to diet. Life is too short to only eat salads. Also I have this incredible aversion to vegetables. I HATE salads, I hate broccoli, I don't really like spinach unless its cooked in this special Korean way with the garlic and soy sauce. I don't like corn, but that's okay, because corn isn't really a vegetable, or food for that matter. I like peas, but I'm told those are also a starch, and won't do me much good. But I like fruit (again, that sweet tooth calls me). I can make really awesome green smoothies, which are a banana, frozen fruit, cranberry juice and raw spinach (for those of you that are cringing, you can't taste the spinach).

Now, when I get to working out, I work out every day of the week, but when I fall off the wagon I crash hard. Like I won't exercise for MONTHS. I've been working out with Naomi this past week though, and trying to convince myself to get my butt off the couch on other days. However, I haven't exactly chosen a profession that is full of go go go. Reading submissions and writing novels isn't exactly high impact. How many calories does typing burn anyway? I can do 70 words a minute, surely that has to be worth something!

So how about everyone else? Are you looking to lose weight? Have you got any yummy vegetable recipes I could try? Or workout secrets to keep me motivated?

Hi. Hello. Bonjour. Ciao. :)

2010-03-22T14:49:00.011-05:00

Hello everyone. :) Naomi here. I am happy to now be apart of this wonderful blog. Honoria very kindly asked me to join her here and I happily accepted. I thought I would make my first post one to tell you all a little about myself and my writing style.

I am currently an unpublished author working on my first manuscript. My interests fair along the same lines as Honoria. Paranormal Romance. I also like Historical Romance. My current manuscript is a paranormal romance about a Vampire and his human mate. I have had the most fun writing it. I've always loved to read, but it wasn't until early last year that I decided to try and write my own story. I've always felt like I have a lot to say. I worked on it for awhile and then stopped. I felt like my writing was wrong and I got stuck on a part I thought would be easy to be move through. No such luck.

This January, spring semester of college started and I managed to get into the worst history class I've ever been in. I love the subject, not the teacher. I would rather poke my eye with a needle repeatedly, then go to his class. (Not a pleasant feeling.)

Fate wasn't as cruel as I thought though. I ended up sitting next to a girl I went to high school with. I'd known her since I was in first grade, but we'd never really been close. We ran in different circles throughout high school. We started talking and found that not only do we have the same graduation gown, but we both have an infinite love for reading and writing paranormal romance. It is because of her that I began writing my manuscript again. She helped me push through my writers block and onto bigger and better things.

I'm sure you're wondering who this inspiring person is, so I'll end the suspense...

It's none other then the wonderful Honoria Ravena.
Suprised? ha ha, I know you didn't see that one coming. :)

I thought I would also attach an excerpt from my current unnamed, unedited manuscript to give everyone a taste of what I'm all about.

Krispin could feel his heart beating in every inch of his body. Rage intermingled with intense fury coursed through his veins.

He found her, his mate, but she wasn’t snuggled away in some comfortable apartment. She was being attacked by some low life gang, their intentions clear and no where near honorable. When he came around the corner of the alley and saw the scene that was about to play out, he lost all control. It had been a very long time since that had happened to him.

He didn’t even think twice about killing them, in fact once he had ripped each head from its body, he still didn’t feel satisfaction. He continued to tear each one limb for limb. Right in front of her eyes. It was not something that he wanted or planned to do. Once he finished destroying them he approached her in the corner of the alley. He knew what he must look like, but he didn’t care. She was his and he was going to have her one way or another.

She was beautiful, even in the mix of chaos and horror, he could see that she was perfect. Her slim tanned hands were holding up the shredded remains of her delicate dress, seeing this made him want to kill them all over again. They had already begun to violate her.

She was small, no taller than 5’1 with a naturally tan skin, she appeared to be Indian, or at least part. Her bright blue eyes shown in the night like sparkling crystals against her darker complexion and yet her lips were light pink, plump and perfect. Her black hair flowed down her back in luscious curls.

She was bleeding and sweating he could see it mingling together as it tricked down her chest. He had a great desire to lean forward and lick it away. He knew she would taste exquisite. He needed to touch her. Her small body trembled with fear, but he was so enraged, he could find no words to comfort her. If he could only touch her, he could show her with his hands that everything would be okay. As he reached his hand out to caress her pinkened cheek, her blue eyes shot even wider with fear and she collapsed into his arms.

As he caught her, something within his madness was screaming at him, though he couldn’t hear what it was saying. He shook his head trying to end the noise within. He looked down at her again, her beautiful body clearing the madness ever so slightly and it hit him.

She had been in a dark alley, captured by a bunch of grungy men, she had been defenseless, alone and most of all, human.

Picking a Pen Name

2010-03-21T16:14:00.003-05:00

In honor of my partner in crime picking a pen name I've decided to explain how I came up with mine. Also a lot of people like my pen name, and I'm asked about it a lot.

One of my main concerns was that I wanted it to be pretty. I also wanted it to stick out. I wanted people to think "That's a pretty name." or "How the heck do you pronounce that?" So maybe they'd be more likely to remember it.

While my real name Miranda Elizabeth is a beautiful name, but 'Miranda' is fairly common, as is 'Elizabeth', and so is my last name.

Since I love Gilmore Girls, and love the name Lorelai, I thought about that. Then I saw a lot of pen names that were either the same, or similar so I decided not to use it. I still love the name, and if I have a daughter that will probably be her name, but its just too wide spread for my pen name.

While I wanted it to be unique, I didn't want it to be so far out there that it sounded like something out of science fiction, or a preservative in a Twinkie.

I also wanted my pen name to be mysterious and sexy, without being stripper sounding ( please welcome our guest blogger, Trixie McBimbo), and I needed it to be flexible enough that if I decided to branch out of the romance genre, it would still fit.

I first heard Honoria on M.A.S.H. and I thought it was gorgeous. I'd never heard it anywhere else. Ravena comes from my favorite character in the YA paranormal, Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (I'm still in love with Nikolas). This is the novel that inspired me to write when I was twelve. I still re-read it if I have writer's block. So Ravena seemed like a fitting tribute to it.

Now, after all this thought, I still wasn't sure if I wanted a pen name. I mean, wasn't the whole point to see MY name on the cover? But the first time I saw it on the cover of Fear of Darkness I knew it was perfect (which is a damned good thing considering it was already on the cover). I get the same perfect feeling every time I look at one of my covers. I think I've made the right choice.

Bored

2010-03-19T17:19:00.004-05:00

I'm bored with this blog, and I haven't posted in ages so I've decided to change it up... A lot. Joining me will be my new partner in crime. An unpublished author, but an up and coming star in my not so humble and incredibly biased opinion. She hasn't picked a pen name, so she's just My Partner In Crime for now.

We'll be doing blog posts, the occasional interview or guest poster, and possibly book reviews.

I'll be changing the title of the blog, as well as the look, so when you hear cursing, and things being thrown, that's just me trying to do website stuff. Though I actually designed a decent looking website header without any pain, or even swearing, so maybe I won't kill anything while redesigning this blog.

Testing a signature:

13 Favorite Desserts

2010-02-18T18:20:00.001-06:00

1. 1. Chocolate covered cherries - My mother only makes these once a year at Christmas, and they are SOOO good. All my friends wait for them. I've suggested she start an online business selling them, but she says no.

2. Cheesecake pie - Check out my website, and download a free Red Rose author cookbook to get the recipe. This is the best thing ever, and unlike regular cheesecake it requires no baking, and very little prep-time: http://honoriaravena.com/free-reads

3. Lemon Meringue pie

4. Russian Tea Cakes - These have a lot of different names, but they're round cookies, with pecans in them, and they're covered in powdered sugar.

5. Peanut butter cookies

6. Coconut cream pie

7. Banana cream pie with a coconut crust

8. Pumpkin pie - Wow, a lot of pies make the list.

9. Oatmeal cookies

10. Sugar cookies - A classic. The only thing I don't like now is mom won't let me put frosting and sprinkles on them anymore. When I was little she let me decorate them, but not now. She says frosting is gross. *Sigh* Lol, and now I'm feeling inspired. I'm going to make sugar cookies with frosting some time soon.

11. Rice pudding

12. Eggnog cookies - another Christmas favorite. Basically sugar cookies with eggnog.

13. Chocolate chip cookies - another classic.

Gees, looking through mother's recipe book to do this Thursday 13 has made me even hungrier than I was. We're having turkey for dinner, and so that's all I've smelled for the last 3 hours. That's the terrible thing about turkey dinners. They smell good as soon as you sauté the onions and celery.

Maybe one day I'll put some of these recipes up on my website.

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Why Do I Write by Angela Kay Austin

2010-02-11T05:00:00.004-06:00

I still have my very first pink and white diary. I don’t remember what age I was when I got it, but I remember the feeling. I can’t explain it in any other way than to say…relief.

I don’t know if that makes since, so, let me try to explain.

Like so many other African-Americans born in the seventies. I was bused from my urban neighborhood to attend school in neighborhoods that were different from mine in every way: economically, racially, and at times culturally. And, even though you were in such foreign surroundings, no one told you how to ‘fit in’. So, I didn’t. Don’t worry; I had friends, but not many. It’s weird how that also affected my life in my neighborhood. I didn’t get to hang out in the lunchroom with the kids from my neighborhood because we weren’t in the same place. It’s kind of like going to work every day for years with the same people, and then you change jobs. How do those ‘work’ friendships fair? Well, it was the same for me. So, books became my best friends. Back then, Reading is Fundamental was incredibly strong in schools. One day, I came across Judy Blume’s, Are You There God It’s Me, Margaret? Could I have picked a more appropriate book? Aside from a crazy connection with Margaret, I connected with Judy Blume. I wanted to write!

I took that little pink and white diary, and I wrote everything I could. I didn’t know what to do with it, but I wrote. In my mom’s magazines, I saw stuff about contests and short stories. So, I entered. Nothing happened. So, I asked her for my own magazines. I entered their contests. Nothing happened. Over the past twenty years, I’ve written and submitted. February 11th, 2010, my first novella—Love’s Chance—will be released by Red Rose Publishing.

So, when I say relief, I don’t know how else to explain finding your calling. Even if Love’s Chance wasn’t being released, I’d still be writing and submitting. No matter what, I’d still write: poetry, women’s fiction, romance, and more.

So, it’s funny, as I type this, the other half of my brain is working on a scene from a manuscript I’m working on. I can’t turn it off. No, not voices in my head…well, maybe a few. I don’t think I could stop writing even if I were forced. Writing allows me to cry, laugh, explore, share, and so much more. Free therapy, who could ask for more!

Bio: I am an author of contemporary romance novels. My books feature strong African-American women whose love can not be bound by race, bank accounts, age, religion or gender.

Additionally, I write for www.eHOW.com, and www.Examiner.com/dc. My first novella, Love’s Chance, will be released in 2010 by Red Rose Publishing.

Website

Book blurb: To pay back her parents and prevent the loss of their family business, Sinclair Mosley leaves her family and friends behind. Pennsylvania doesn’t welcome her with open arms, but Chance O’Malley does. At the risk of losing everything that brought her to Pennsylvania, including her family’s restaurant, Sinclair must decide if she’s willing to take a chance on love.

An Incredible Beginning by Lynn Crain

2010-02-08T05:00:00.001-06:00

Every day I sit down and write but it isn’t every day that I start a book. A book’s beginning is something that can make or break a writer. It is very important to the book as a whole. Even when my mother read me fairy tales growing up, I realized books had to have an incredible beginning or people just wouldn’t read the rest.

Since I started to learn about writing, I understood the power of a great hook. And I went to every hook class I could find whether it be at a local or national convention, I went to workshops discussing a book’s very first line for many years. Apparently, something must have sunk in because I’ve been told more than once I have good hooks.

Here are some great hooks from other people’s books. Now the thought isn’t to try and recognize the book...if you do...great, I’m sure the authors would be ecstatic. What I want you to see if just how compelling each of the listed hooks are. Here’s my top ten list of best hooks in the world. The answers are listed below. They are in no particular order:

1. Hunting vampires was a bitch.

2. He was running for his life.

3. It was a dark and stormy night.

4. It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.

5. Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were.

6. Marley was dead: to begin with.

7. When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.

8. It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance.

9. Somewhere in the world, time no doubt whistled by on taut and widespread wings, but here in the English countryside it plodded slowly, painfully, as if it trod the rutted road that stretched across the moors on blistered feet.

10. The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane.

Each one of those have special meaning for me as I read each of those books at a different time in my life. Realize that this list ebbs and flows like a river, changing with time and never standing still. Notice there is a mix of classic and contemporary pieces. Some are romance and some are not. But each of them have something so compelling which makes me want to read more. And read them I did, some more than once and a few of them I still read yearly if I can remember just where I left my latest copy. LOL!

So what comprises a good hook? Notice that with the ones I listed, there is not one standard theme. Some come from a character’s point of view and some don’t, some involve something personal and some don’t. So just what is it?

There are some constant elements each and every hook must have. They are:

·It must be compelling

·Should be a beginning – The reason I say should here is because some books have started with the ending and been quite successful.

·It can start with dialogue.

·It can start with action.

·It could be a contrast or something totally unexpected.

·It could be a character description or a description of a setting.

·It could be a humorous question or exclamation or even a regular question or exclamation.

Let’s look at some of mine now and see just what I do. The first is from a WIP called “Where’s My Underwear Anyway?” and it is a fun romp. It’s direct, to the point and immediately brings you into the action.

“So…you really don’t know where your underwear might be?”

There are groups out that who say never start your novel with a question. But this question just begged for an answer. It puts the reader immediately on a quest for the missing underwear. It also brings to mind other questions: who has the underwear? how was the underwear lost? was the underwear misplaced? I could go on forever.

Suddenly, a reader wants to know the answer to those questions.
Here’s another of my first lines. This is from a completed book which is part of the Blue Moon Magic world.

He had always been in this cage in one way or another. It was only recently they had decided to make it his permanent room.

Again, this one takes you immediately into a dilemma. You know someone is in a cage. You don’t know the how’s or the why’s but it just begs those questions.
Here’s another from my Santa’s Elves series. This is from one of my Christmas books, The Thing About Elves.

That human woman drove him crazy.

From just this first line, you know the person thinking is a man and that he isn’t human. Still, you wonder just what the human woman is doing to drive him crazy. It must be something good or he wouldn’t be thinking about it.

This last one is from another WIP called “Avenging Aingeal” and is a story of elemental magic with just a twinge of science.

No one knows where we came from really. We just…are. And there are so very few of us, roaming the earth, protecting the inhabitants these days.

This is from an omniscient POV but is still interesting in its own way. We want to know just who ‘they’ are and why we need protecting. Then one might want to know just how long have ‘they’ been protecting us because the way the sentence is constructed, it is implied that ‘they’ have been here for a long, long time. But one must read the story to know the all answers.

And this one has always been one of my personal favorites as it won quite a few contests with the most notable being at the Hawaii RWA conference. Leslie Wanger picked it as one of five from the whole room full of people.

“Damn, I’m going to lose another one.”

This from my complete book, Midnight Run about a woman off-road racer. It was my first book ever, all 72K of it. It has a great hook but a saggy middle with a kick-ass end. But that’s left for another blog. LOL!

Here’s the books those fabulous first lines came from and if you haven’t read these, you should if you want to learn about great fiction. Each of them starts with a wonderful hook and keeps you entertained until the last line.

1.Hunting vampires was a bitch. – Minion – L.A. Banks

2.He was running for his life. – Hot Ice – Nora Roberts

3.It was a dark and stormy night. – Paul Clifford – Edward Bulwer-Lytton

4.It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. - Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

5.Scarlett O’Hara was not beautiful, but men seldom realized it when caught by her charm as the Tarleton twins were. - Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell

6.Marley was dead: to begin with. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens

7.When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton. Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkein

8.It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance - Outlander – Diana Galbadon

9.Somewhere in the world, time no doubt whistled by on taut and widespread wings, but here in the English countryside it plodded slowly, painfully, as if it trod the rutted road that stretched across the moors on blistered feet. - The Flame and the Flower – Kathleen Woodiweiss

10.The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane. - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling

After all, isn’t that what a hook is meant to do? Make you as the reader want to read the book?

You betcha!

Lynn

Website

13 Favorite TV Shows

2010-01-28T14:41:00.003-06:00

My thirteen favorite TV shows, and they're pretty much in the order of favorite to least favorite.

1. Gilmore Girls
2. Weeds
3. Stargate: SG1
4. Stargate: Atlantis
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
6. That 70's Show
7. Supernatural
8. Two and a Half Men
9. Dead Zone
10. M*A*S*H
11. I Dream of Jeannie
12. America's Next Top Model
13. Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles

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A Random Wednesday Post

2010-01-27T17:22:00.004-06:00

Monday's guest blogger had to re-schedule so I figured I'd post something. The only problem is I'm totally out of back up blogs, so I'm just going to wing it and tell you what's been up with me.

I started my spring semester at school on the 19th. I have to second half of US History and World History. I actually have a friend from high school in my US History class, and she wants to be a writer, so I've been talking to her a lot.

I've started a FaceBook and a Twitter for my characters. Specifically Nyx, and the other people who work in his vampire bar.

Here are the links:

Twitter - Of the Night Bar
FaceBook - Of the Night

Also, I have plenty of character profiles up on my website. They're really fun to do and I hope you'll check them out.

Shapeshifters
Vampires

And tomorrow (January 28th) I'm going to be interviewed on Fang-tastic Books.

I've been writing almost everyday for the past few weeks. The WIP is going so well! I'm happy. And speaking of writing, I've got to get to it.

Marie Tuhart Interview

2010-01-22T05:00:00.001-06:00

1.What are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on two books, both erotic romance book titled.
The first one is: His For the Weekend. Cassie Adams makes a deal with Marcus De Luca, she'll spend one weekend with him on his terms, but then it's over. Opening herself to her sensual side and giving up control is not easy for Cassie, is she repeating history and headed for a fall or could Marcus be the right man for her. Marcus has made his intentions toward Cassie quite clear, this weekend is the first step in showing her they belong together forever, but can he get past her issues around control to make both their dreams come true.

The second is: Cowboy Up – Becca Dalton needs time to recuperate after finding her fiancé in bed with another woman. Her best friend has given Becca an all expensed paid trip to Quick Silver Ranch, a dude ranch. Becca escapes to the ranch only to come face to face with temptation in the body of cowboy Jack Carson. And what a temptation he is, especially when Becca realizes that her ex didn't break her heart, only her pride. Having a good time with Jack seems perfect, after all its only for eight nights, how much trouble could she get into?

Jack Carson is one of the co-owners of Quick Silver Ranch. When he meets Becca, Jack realizes this is a different woman than he's used to. Over dinner he finds that Becca is alone, he knows that could be an issue. Quick Silver Ranch is a dude ranch, but it is also an adult fantasy ranch, that usually only caters to couples, and apparently Becca didn't know this. Escorting her back to her room, Jack tells her she really needs to read the brochure and if she wants to stay that's fine, if not they'll fully refund her money. What he doesn't expect is Becca tells him she wants to stay and if he'll be her partner, they can have some fun. Jack agrees even though he's breaking his own rules in getting involved with a guest, besides its only for eight nights, it's not like he's going to fall in love.

2.I noticed your bio says you like to travel. What countries have you been to? Which was your favorite?
I've been to Germany, Holland, England, France, Mexico, Panama, Canada, Curacao, and at least 30 of the 50 US states. My favorite so far is England.

3.When did you attempt your first novel? What's become of it?
I attempted my first novel when I was 19, I knew I wanted to write a romance novel, so I started one. I received a form rejection letter for that book. It is currently filed away in my file cabinet.

4.How many novels did you complete before you sold your first?
I finished ten novels before I sold. In Plain Sight was actually the seventh novel I'd written.

5.What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever got?
Persistence. Never give up on your dream.

6.What inspired you to become a writer?
I'd had an active imagination as a child, and I would make up plays in my head and act them out with my stuffed animals for my family. Then I would start to re-write books they way I wanted to read them. When I discovered romance novels, I liked what I read and realized I also wanted to write them.

7.What kind of activities do you do to clear your head?
Sometimes I'll walk, play on-line computer games, go do the dishes piling up in the sink, or pick up a book and read for a while.

8.What books would you recommend on writing?
Anything by Donald Maass

9.What is your favorite "comfort food"?
Pizza

10.What are you reading, if anything, at the moment?
I have just finished Christine Feehan's Dark Slayer

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?

You can find out more about me and my books at my website: www.marietuhart.com Feel free to stop by and enter my contest.
You can also find me on my blog: www.escapetoaneroticfantasy.com
And on Facebook: www.facebook.com/marietuhart

Here's blurb for In Plain Sight on-sale today at www.thewilderroses.com

Bad boy businessman Joe Bradshaw has achieved almost everything he’s wanted in life, but his strait-laced colleague Victoria Collins is proving an elusive challenge. A steamy encounter in the elevator begins a wild journey of sensual discovery. Joe’s determined to break through Vicki’s barriers to reveal the red-hot woman hiding inside. But Vicki is stalked by her past—her ex-fiancé will stop at nothing to get her back. Falling in love and keeping Vicki safe could be the biggest challenges of Joe’s life.

My Muse

2010-01-21T13:42:00.002-06:00

*Gasp* A rare post from the woman who owns this blog!

Not long ago I blogged about my characters yelling at me (read Rude Characters), but this week I’m talking about my muse. She introduces me to my characters and does her own fair share of shouting.

My muse is everything I’m not. Blonde, thin, leggy, and a royal bitch. She looks like you’d think a muse would look. Hair up in a chignon, sporting the whole white toga thing.

Not all of us have a muse. Some just have imaginations. There’s no problem with either, though I imagine not having a muse would make writing rather lonely. At least if you don’t have one it makes you seem less crazy. You won’t wake up at five in the morning, muttering “Not now…I was asleep.”

Between her and my shouting characters I'm surprised people don't think I'm a nut. I'm also surprised that I get any sleep.

I wonder if any other writers don’t get along with their muses. I know I don’t. She picks the most inopportune moments to want me to write. She’ll take off on long vacations when we have a spat, or she doesn’t want to work on a project anymore. She’ll leave me all alone to finish a project by myself. She skipped off to Bora Bora for SIX MONTHS to work on her tan. B*tch...

So, do you have a muse? What does he/she/it look like? Do you get along with your muse?

The Quest for the Divine: ancient and modern myth revisited

2010-01-18T10:34:00.005-06:00

Today I’m not going to talk about sex or erotica. Too much has already been said in other blogs so I’m going to concentrate on another of my favourite themes, the search of the Divine.

First a word of warning. I’m not going to get into sterile discussions regarding the existence of God. He may or may not be, but that’s a very personal matter between a person and his or her beliefs. And if to me something exists, which you might call God, Brahma, Allah, Zeus or whatever other name one chooses, that again is my personal conviction and means to influence no one.

What I do like to explore however, and have frequently done in my writing, is the search for this Divine in whatever form one perceives it. And the questions, often unanswerable, the doubts, the curiosity have prompted a variety of solutions, not just in religions, but in writing, too. Let’s not forget that the most ancient written text is the Indian Mahabharata, which tells of a spiritual journey.

In my own small way, I’ve contributed to raise questions, make comparisons, challenge conventional religious beliefs in order to get to a greater truth, which is never self-evident, as you can see from my little story below.

The Quest

“So how does the story begin?”

“Once upon a time—“

“Come on! That’s for fairytales not epics.”

“What do you think an epic is if not a fairytale with a lot more sex, blood and violence? Not to mention word count. Just Homer’s Iliad weighs 1.8 pounds while a fairytale is roughly— “

“OK, I’m convincing. Let’s move on.”

“Once upon a time, there was a king who had a beautiful daughter—“

“They all do!”

“Of course, if they didn’t, it wouldn’t be an epic, would it?”

“I suppose not.”

“Glad you agree. Can I continue?”

“Please do.”

“In face of all human sufferings, our king wondered whether god existed at all so he offered his daughter’s hand to whoever would bring proof either way.”

“I doubt many met the challenge.”

“You’re right. The only one was a brave and handsome knight—“

“What’s his name?”

“Uh…let’s see. I’d call him…Devlin. And the king, before you ask, is…Roy. Devlin went to Roy and said he had no interest for his daughter, he rather liked men, but—“

“I knew you’d include your gay tendencies!”

“Give me a break, will you? I’m gay and so are my characters.”

“I’ve never heard of a gay knight.”

“Think again! Achilles and the Greek soldiers were ambivalent at best. As for the English knights…who can really tell?“

“If Devlin was gay, why would he take on the challenge? And what did the king have to say to that?”

“Devlin—who wasn’t just gay but a smart fellow, too—had also wondered about gods, not to mention he liked the king…a lot and asked to spend a night with him as a reward. Roy was flattered naturally. A good-looking widower with a powerful body that wouldn’t quit, he had spent the last five years alone, looking only after his daughter. He figured she was beautiful, and high-ranking, enough to find a husband on her own while Devlin was handsome enough to give it a try, even if he’d never been with a man. So he accepted and our knight started on his quest, traveling around aimlessly at first until he came upon a lonely castle. The count was glad to welcome him and when he heard of Devlin’s strange quest, he offered to give proof the next day that god didn’t exist. After a sleepless night, the nobleman took him to a battlefield. Without time for thinking, Devlin chose to support the weaker side and took arms against an unknown enemy to defend a nameless territory. The battle raged on all day, massacring men, sweat and dust clogging his nose and throat, pouring down his forehead to sting his eyes. His arm felt heavy from swinging heavy blows, but he never stopped until a thousand bodies littered the soil.

* * * *

“See?” the count asked when it ended. “This should prove god doesn’t exist for if he did, why would he allow wars? They’re a waste of time, energy and precious lives.”
Sure, Devlin thought, but is it proof enough? Too tired to answer, the knight nodded not entirely convinced. Continuing on his journey, he arrived at a small town where the Chief welcomed him warmly.

“If you’d like, tomorrow I’ll give you proof god exists,” he offered on learning of the mission.

* * * *

Readily agreeing, Devlin was brought to the local brothel. After asking what was his pleasure, the Chief installed him in the best room of the house and sent him a steady stream of handsome young men to have sex with—“

“You wish!”

“Yeeah, gotta admit it’s one of my fantasies. But my knight really had the best time of his life, at least until his energy lasted. According to the Chief that was proof God existed or men wouldn’t feel so much pleasure. Too exhausted to reply, Devlin nodded, but again he wasn’t convinced. Resuming his travel, he met a Druid who claimed he could summon Higher Beings if Devlin had sex with him. Intrigued, Devlin complied also because the Druid had a long, thick—“

“Hey, I’m not interested in details.”

“OK, bit the sex felt different from the start, more powerful, and what do you know? Brahma, Odin, Zeus, Buddha, Yahweh, Allah and whoever else you care to add, all appeared before him.”

“Wow! Talk about sexual energy.”

“Devlin was impressed, too.”

* * * *

“You exist!” he exclaimed.

They shifted their feet nervously. “We do, but only because humans make us real,” Allah finally confessed.

“You mean…without us, you’d be nothing?” Devlin asked incredulously.

“Well, maybe we would anyway,” Yahweh argued, “only in a different form. We’re really One—“

“But I see six of you.”

“We take different names and shapes according to the humans inventing us,” Zeus explained. “When they thought of me, men were enjoying sensual pleasures.”
“They were more interested in wars and power when they created me,” Odin jumped in.
“So you represent our vices?”

“We embody your worst fears and noblest aspirations,” Buddha argued. “But don’t get us wrong. Although we’re a product of religion, we express what’s holiest in humans. Everyone has the potential to rise above hatred, violence, pettiness and selfishness, but some used this knowledge to create religion.”

“Which is not necessarily a bad thing,” Brahma continued, “only it needed images and myths to make people believe in that higher spirit. And that’s where we come from.”

“With time though, religion became more important than what it strove to accomplish,” they all considered. “Not only does it portray us as separate entities, but even enemies when in fact, we’re One and the Same.”

* * * *

“Seems to me, there’s no clear answer. What did Devlin tell Roy?

“The truth. Human-shaped gods didn’t exist except as figments of religious creativity. What did exist was a Higher Spirit, but men didn’t need religious symbols to make it real because it’s in every soul.”

“But was the king satisfied? I mean enough to give Devlin his prize?”
The malicious smile left no doubt as to the answer.

On a more serious note, my book Divinitas takes a spiritual journey, using reincarnation to egg the characters into a quest through various religious beliefs until they come to a turning point and the discussion rages. What is Divinitas? It’s a conventional name to indicate the Divine Spirit in all its forms and transformations. What my characters they discover in the end is religious beliefs tend to be alike in their basic teachings, so much that one takes from the other, varying only the figure head to fit the changing time.

This is an excerpt from a conversation between Halifax, an ardent missionary, trying to spread the Word in 1st Century AD Celtic Britain, and Shaun, a Druid, a believer in the old faith.

Excerpt PG

“But Divinitas did not exist until the Savior walked the Earth,” Halifax stated.

“Divinitas has always existed, though He has been called different names throughout time and space. He has also taken many forms and faces, but He’s never changed His nature for He is the One.”

“If that were true, why did He need so many changes?”

Shaun shrugged. “Humans are fickle creatures. What they believe the day before is no longer true the day after. They need continuous reminders to keep their faith alive.”

“My Savior is sure to keep their faith. His teachings are unique,” Halifax objected.

“Are you sure, devil?”

“Of course, I am. Why, our Savior—“

“Stole his birth date from an ancient Persian god named Mitra.”

“Never heard of him,” Halifax scoffed. “Besides, He died and came back to life after three days.”

“The Persian god did the same and so did an Egyptian god before him, Us-Yri also known as Osiris. People considered them gods of rebirth for they defeated death after having sacrificed their lives to cleanse humanity of its sins. And they sat in judgment of the dead souls. Unfortunately, after centuries of worship, people didn’t believe in them anymore and those ancient gods ceased to be Divinitas.” He gazed at the fire’s bright flames for a moment as if searching for inspiration. “Or perhaps those Divinitas didn’t appeal to the people anymore…who knows?” Shaun shrugged. “Either way, He was forgotten, just like Osiris and Mitra before Him.”
Halifax opened his mouth to protest again, then closed it. Something in Shaun’s words rang true.

“Humans adored the ancient Divinitas,” the Druid continued, “at least for the first few centuries. Just think of how powerful they became. When the Romans learned of Mitra after their conquest of the Persian Empire, not only did they adopt him as a divinity, but also turned him into an invincible Sun god. Sol Invictus they called him, to symbolize its power. Both the Egyptian and the Persian Divinitas had a male oriented religion, where women were not considered worthy disciples.”

“My Savior values women—“

Shaun raised an eyebrow. “As disciples? Can they bring His Word to the farthest reaches of the world like you’re doing?”

“Well—“

“Can they act as priests?”

Angry at Shaun’s relentless prodding, the missionary spat, “You Celts aren’t much better in the way you value your women. I believe only men can become Druid.”

“True, but the women handle the higher mysteries, the ones no man can understand because he’s unable to give life.”

“So, our religion will find a way to integrate women in—“

“Only as second class believers. To us, the Goddess is at the top of the hierarchy and men only play to Her greater awareness.”

“Well,” Halifax said uncomfortably, “our Savior’s mother is an integral part of our faith.”

Shaun grinned. “Your believers borrowed this as well. Did you know Mitra had a virgin mother, too?”

TITLE: Divinitas
AUTHOR: Laura Tolomei
GENRE: Gay, M/M, Lesbian, Ménage, Paranormal, Deities, Historical, Dark Fantasy, god, gods**
HEAT LEVEL: 5 flames
ISBN: 978-1-55487-215-2
RELEASEE DATE: January 1st, 2009
PUBLISHER: eXtasy Books
BUY LINK

Laura Tolomei
Website

Pat McDermott Interview

2010-01-13T05:00:00.003-06:00

1.What are you working on now?

I’m finishing up the third book in my alternate history trilogy, which supposes that if a key battle in Ireland’s past had a different outcome, kings and queens would still rule the Emerald Isle. In the first book, A Band of Roses, the present king’s daughter, Princess Talty, joins a military mission that explores parallel worlds in which she finds danger and romance. Her “otherworld” adventures continue in Fiery Roses, just released by Red Rose Publishing. I’m polishing the third book now. Salty Roses is a rollicking good pirate story, one I’ve had a fabulous time creating.

2.What inspired you to be a writer?

Hearing and reading fairy tales and poetry as a child. Falling under the spell of a story made me want to be a magician who could create similar spells for others. I’ve been writing short stories for as long as I can remember. One of my tales received an honorable mention for children’s fiction, an award that gave me the boost I needed to write and finish my first novel.

3.How many rejection letters did you get before you got an acceptance? What advice do you give the writers about dealing with rejection letters?

I have a drawer full of rejection letters from agents and publishers. A writing teacher warned me to expect them, though I still found the initial batch of barely legible form letters discouraging. The nicer rejections, more personal and actually signed, stated that my book wasn’t for them but encouraged perseverance.

Authors shouldn’t take rejections personally. Perhaps that particular agent/publisher has met their monthly quota for new submissions when a new query arrives, or the agent is going on leave. Keep at it, attend writing classes and workshops to hone your craft, never stop reading, and read a wide variety of books to learn what makes good writing. Above all, persevere in your quest to become a published author.

4.How did you celebrate your first contract?

I opened a good French burgundy and shared it with my writers’ group.

5.What's your favorite way to advertise?

Through blogs, online interviews, and any internet sites that allow interaction with readers. The whole promotional aspect of writing befuddles me, I’m afraid. I’m still learning about it. While I realize marketing is important, I’m happier creating stories. I’ve attended book marketing seminars and did a couple of book signings, and I loved that a local readers’ group chose A Band of Roses as their book-of-the-month and invited me to be their guest author. Great fun. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the marketing process.

6.What do you do to amuse yourself when not working?

Cooking is one of my favorite pastimes, and I enjoy exploring various ethnic cuisines. I’ve recently mastered some delicious Turkish, Spanish, and Irish dishes, and I make a mean risotto. I also love to travel, especially to Ireland.

7.Where do you see your writing going in five years? In ten?

That depends on how well readers receive my stories. I’ll always write, even as a hobby, and I’d love to live in Ireland doing it, at least for a while.

8.What is your favorite "comfort food"?

In the middle of winter in frigid New Hampshire, Guinness Beef Stew and Mashed Potatoes.

9.You've been to Ireland many times. What is your favorite place there?

If I’m going over to write, the Beara Peninsula. I visit a gorgeous writing retreat where all you can hear are cows mooing and the roar of ocean waves. Otherwise, I’m a city kid who loves Dublin. It’s a great base of operations. I’ve also spent time in County Mayo’s Westport, a pretty little market town on Ireland’s west coast. Oh wait, you only asked for one favorite place . . .

10.Who are your favorite authors?

That’s a tough one. With so many wonderful authors out there, how can anyone have a favorite? Simon Winchester conveys facts in an easygoing manner that seems more like fiction that nonfiction, very helpful for research. For fiction, Edward Rutherford and Diana Gabaldon draw me into their historical worlds, John Sanford and John Connolly into their modern day crime scenes. I admire William Trevor’s ability to create vivid images and complex characters from succinct phrases. Overall, I read a wide range of genres, from Dean Koontz to Roddy Doyle to Norah Roberts and Sarah Addison Allen, and I’m not done finding “new” authors yet.

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?

I’d be happy to share an excerpt. Before I do, I want to thank you, Honoria, for your gracious hospitality today. Good luck to you and your own writing!

The best to learn about me and my books is my website, www.patmcdermott.net. I also have a blog called Put the Kettle On, at http://www.patmcdermott.net/blog/blog.html

See the Fiery Roses Trailer.

Buy links:

A Band of Roses

A Band of Roses On Kindle

Fiery Roses

The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance (Anthology Featuring my Novella “By the Light of My Heart” - Release Date January 26, 2010)

In this excerpt, Irish Princess Talty Boru and her husband, Neil, have unexpectedly arrived in a place called Velavesnia. They've accepted the hospitality of Baron Anza Lucini, who thinks Talty is Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes. We join her, as will Neil, in a luxurious outdoor bath heated by volcanic springs.

EXCERPT

Water rushed over the ledge to the bathing pool below. Rainbows danced in and out of the spray, adding a magical feel to the hot, sultry springs. A serving woman had left clothing and towels nearby, though Talty was in no hurry to use them.
The cascade's gentle roar blocked all sound. She forgot the Peregrine Portal—and her disturbing anger toward Neil—and luxuriated in the refreshing shower pouring from the shadowy rocks above her. Wearing only her wedding and engagement rings, she worked a third lathering of rosemary-scented soap over her hair and skin to remove the last traces of sticky soot.

When Talty lived in Japan, her then husband, Eric Yamada, took her to bathe in onsen, volcanic hot springs that soothed both body and spirit. The bubbling mineral waters behind Anza Lucini's hunting lodge were similar: steamy, salty and mildly sulphuric. Anza had said his ancestors discovered the springs generations earlier.

Today, a wall of hewn black stone and cypress trees surrounded the thigh-deep pool. Beyond it stood a terra cotta hunting lodge, Anza's base while he and his men scoured the forest to supply his small domain with meat.

Squeaky clean and dry at last, Talty wiggled her way into the Velavesnian garments. The woolen top, a knee-length tunic embroidered with colorful designs, was more finely woven than those Anza's two serving women wore.

"It belonged to the baroness," Renen, the younger of the women, had said. "Her clothing is still here. I think it will fit you well, ma'am."

The tunic fit incredibly well, as did the soft leather boots. Renen had also left a bronze comb wrought with leaves and tiny horse-drawn chariots. Dressed and rejuvenated, Talty sat on a seat carved from stone and worked the tangles from her hair. Suspecting that the comb, too, had belonged to the baroness, she wondered who the woman was and what had happened to her.

"I was afraid you'd melted away, you were out here so long."

Smiling at the sound of Neil's gentle baritone, Talty twisted her head. He stood at the arched entrance to the baths looking delicious in his Velavesnian attire. The well-cut wool and leather emphasized his brawny arms and shoulders. Her approving gaze trailed downward, lingering over his trim waist and the muscular thighs stretching his gray leggings. Waves of pleasure rippled through her. How could she have been angry with him?

She glanced up at his handsome face. His raven hair, still damp from his bath, set off his fair skin. His familiar smile was absent, however. Uncertainty clouded his keen blue eyes.

Some reconciliation seemed in order. "I don't believe I've ever been so filthy."
He circled the pool and sat beside her. The pleasant scent of rosemary soap hovered between them. "Why didn't you let the women help you? They seemed miffed when you sent them away."

"There are only two of them, and they had enough to do to prepare the meal. Besides, I didn't know how to explain why a goddess would have such awful scars."

His fingers brushed the top of her tunic. "Nick is helping them fix the food. Richard told Anza that Nick is sworn to feed your mortal body, while I'm sworn to see to that mortal body's more amorous requirements."

Smothering a grin, Talty cocked her head. "Oh?"

A corner of Neil's mouth turned up in the tiniest smile. "I thought it was ingenious of him. Nick will see that we're fed well, and I am your husband." He tugged her tangled hair. "Even if you are angry with me."

"I am not!"

"Come on, Tal. I know you too well. I suspect we're about to have our first real quarrel."

She opened her mouth to deny it; the truth in his eyes drew a sigh of resignation from her lips instead. "I don't want to argue, but you can't keep being so protective of me. At home I try to ignore it, but in a place like this, your interference could get someone hurt, or even killed."

"I'm your Shivail, Tal. All my life I've learned it's my duty to protect you." He reached for her left hand and rubbed his thumb over her rings. "Even if I weren't in love with you, I'd still be your Shivail. I try not to be overbearing about it, but I can't forget how badly you were hurt. I never want to see that again."

Neither did Talty. The memory of Roger Wessex's assault put an edge in her voice not meant for Neil. "That was a long time ago. I'm a warrior now. Don't treat me like some useless prima donna. We all have to do our share if we're to survive here, and I can do my share very well. You know that. You're my training partner, and you've read those reports."

Sighing silently, he took the comb from her and studied its intricate design. "A pretty thing," he said, and shifted to sit behind her. He ran the comb and the fingers of his free hand through her hair, a very unfair tactic during an argument, she thought. His gentle strokes were wonderfully soothing—and distracting.

So was his intimate tone: "I was just getting used to you being Crown Princess again. Now you're a goddess—and a fierce one at that. I've had a bad day, Tal. I've gone from crossing Ireland in the Morrigan to crossing your portal into who knows where. I thought we were all going to die in that lab, and then I thought I'd die from being sick. You and Richard and Nick have done this before. I haven't. I don't know the rules."

He was right. While they were alone together, she should give him a crash course, teach him how the Peregrine Team worked . . . but his stroking fingers felt so good.

"We should talk about the rules, Neily."

He set the comb down and pushed her hair away to kiss the spot where her neck and shoulders met. Taking his time, he embedded a string of nuzzling kisses up to her ear. "Don't be angry with me, Tal. I can't bear it."

Her eyes closed. She savored the thrills shooting down her back. The strange clothing she'd just put on suddenly grew warm. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to be angry.

But you—"

He seized her chin and twisted her head to his. The intimacy of his kiss cut short any further lecturing. Sorry for the rift between them, she kissed him back, an utmost kiss that sought to reassure and reconcile.

When at last they broke apart, the confidence had returned to his eyes. "I'll let you go round trouncing whoever you like if it'll get me kisses like that. I'm sorry, Tal. I'll try my best not to be such a ninny-hammer." He stood and pulled her to her feet.

She squeezed his hands. "You're no such thing. You're a fine man, and I love you well. I only wish we were in a more private place just now."

"So do I. First chance we have, I'm going to give you a proper bedding. Right now we'd best get back to the house."

Belinda McBride Interview

2010-01-11T05:00:00.001-06:00

1.What are you currently working on?
I’m currently juggling a couple of projects, most notably the final book in the Bad Angels trilogy. I’m also working on Belle Starr: The Nameless, which the second book in the Belle Starr series.

2.When did you attempt your first novel? What's become of it?
My first novel attempt was Soul Keeper, which I began about 3 years ago. It’s an urban fantasy/romance about mythical creatures living in today’s world. It’s available at New Concepts Publishing.

3.How many novels did you complete before you sold your first?
I was actually pretty lucky, almost everything I’ve written and submitted has sold. Imperative: Missing You was initially rejected because I missed the deadline that it was supposed to be submitted by. I expanded it and sold it to Changeling Press.

4.What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever got?
This goes back a ways, I was an English major in college, and when I went to meet my advisor the first time, I told her I wanted to be a writer. She laughed at me and said, “Everyone wants to be a writer.” Not advice, but hugely discouraging. Since I sat down and really started writing seriously, I don’t think I’ve received any bad advice. Of course, not everything works for everyone, so you just have to take it for what it’s worth.

5.What inspired you to become a writer?
I was a voracious and precocious reader from the time I was little, and my grandma once said, “Honey, you love to read so much, you really should be a writer.” That’s always lived in the back of my mind. The event that inspired me to really take it seriously was when I bought and read some truly atrocious books. I thought, “I can do better than that,” and figured it couldn’t hurt to at least try.

6.What kind of activities do you do to clear your head?
When my brain is really whirling around, I’ll take a hot shower or a bath. I’ll also lie down not to sleep, but to let my mind just go where it wants. A walk or work-out is good, it helps to get out of the house.

7.What books would you recommend on writing?
I really liked Morgan Hawke’s ‘Cheater’s Guide to Writing Erotic Romance. There’s also a load of good writing information on her website. Beyond that, I don’t really have too many books on writing. Oh…the Chicago Manual of Style. That’s pretty important. I also like the Snowflake Method.

8.What is your favorite "comfort food"?
Ah, that would be chocolate. LOL!

9.What are you reading, if anything, at the moment?
I am currently reading Nalini Singh’s Blaze of Memory. I really enjoy her Psy/Changeling series. I’m eagerly anticipating Laurell K Hamilton’s Divine Misdemeanors. And I just finished Patricia Brigg’s Cry Wolf. I loved that one.

10.If you could live in any time or place–where and when would you choose?
Well, I’m a historian, so knowing what I do, I’m pretty happy with the here and now. However, Imperial Rome and Golden Age Greece would be pretty amazing to visit.

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?

The best place to find out about my books is at my website.

And my blog.

And here’s an excerpt from An Uncommon Whore, a m/m space opera which releases at Loose Id on January 26:

Buy Link

I continued to evaluate the room, when my attention was caught by a long, lean figure sprawled negligently at a table near the back exit. Even seated, it was plain that he was taller than the average humanoid. He was hard muscled and battle worn. His black hair was overlong and tumbled in a wavy mass down his neck. The profile he gave me was hard as a blade. An arched nose accentuated cruel, sensuous lips. He wore a black leather patch over one eye, and a scar bisected his high, hard cheekbone. Since he was blind on my side, I took the occasion to watch him openly. He couldn’t possibly see me behind the veil, but I was certain that he felt my stare.

He surveyed the room slowly, stopping to watch a whore take position between a gambler’s knees. After a few moments, the pirate reached down and readjusted his cock, and then turned his attention elsewhere. He might be interested, but he was here for a reason other than sex.

But God! His head turned slowly in our direction, and my mouth grew dry. My head spun at the impact of that gaze. His remaining eye was black as night and as fierce as flame. I felt the weight of his gaze from behind the veil, where my eyes were covered by a mesh panel. He looked at me for a few heartbeats and then moved on.

I shifted uncomfortably; my cock had grown long and heavy beneath the sheer gauzy robes that covered me from head to foot. Pain lanced through me as it reached the limits allowed by the chastity ring that shackled me. Every instinct urged me to cross the room, to take his arms and look into that dark face…to make him see me.

Sadly I could only go where summoned, and not far from the dark man, a nervous-looking human was gesturing to U’shma. My chest went tight as my owner rose to begin negotiations with the john. They whispered and they argued, and finally U’shma signaled defeat. Not really defeat; the twitch of his blunt fingers told me that he’d negotiated a higher-than-expected price.

Rising smoothly to my feet, I carefully manipulated the folds of fabric that shrouded my body and face. There were perhaps three seconds for me to decide on a course of action. An erupting fight in my path held me steady in place, buying a few more seconds and ultimately, the opportunity to act. I’d paused within a few paces of the dark man when a body inevitably slammed into mine, throwing me in his direction. My hand lashed out, knocking over the goblet of sweet wine that sat on the table.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as the bloodred fluid soaked into his shirt and beaded off the battered black leather of his pants. He growled in annoyance and stood, hands brushing at the wet stains. I was tall, but he towered over me. His shoulders were nearly as wide as U’shma’s blockish form, and the black eye was as fierce as I’d imagined it would be.

Once again my lust surged, my heart pounded, and I knew that this man could not be allowed to walk away.

Raine Delight's Interview

2010-01-04T05:00:00.003-06:00

1.What are you working on now?
Raine says: I am currently working on a short novella set in the Devon Falls world called Moonlight & Magic. It is around the annual bachelor auction, a young woman giving up on finding love and a rare white tiger shifter. Let’s just say some Chocolate and scarves were not harmed in the writing of this story. *grins* I hope to get into my editor by 12/15 and release is tentative for February 2010.

Next will be anew series called Club Fantasy. It is my paranormal BDSM series centered around three fantasy rooms. In book 1, Desires Unleashed, we meet the owners of Club Fantasy, a half demon of lust and his lover/partner and the woman they find is their mate. In Book 2 and 3 we continue to explore Club Fantasy with these two stories centered on some really kinky rooms. J I hope to have book 1 in to my editor in March 2010.

2.How many rejection letters did you get before you got an acceptance? And what advice do you have for writers about rejection letters?
Raine says: I think I got three and that was good according to some authors I talked to. I got lucky with a few places interested in my work and asking for more.
I think to deal with the rejection I got I made sure to see if they had any constructive criticism and work with it to make the manuscript better. Each time I got one of these letters, I would work on what they told me.

3.What's your idea of the "perfect" hero?
Rane says: I love flawed heroes. I think they have the most interest to me. The ones who are wounded in some way emotionally, the ones who keep you rooting for them even as they play the bad guy. Those guys are always a turn on for me because the reader is drawn to the imperfect ones over the perfect heroes.

4.Who are your favorite authors?
Raine says: I have so many I would literally be here for days on end just mentioning them. LOL

Bertrice Small, JD Robb/Nora Roberts, Maggie Shayne, Sherrilyn Kenyon, JK Rawling, JR Ward, Celina Summers, Selena Illyria, Kate Hill, Michelle Hasker, Cynnara Tregarth, and so many more.

5.What books do you recommend on writing?
Raine says: I actually have two. One is for writing M/M fiction by Josh Lanyon. It is a really good help guide especially if you never wrote this before. It’s called “Man, Oh Man” Writing M/M Fiction for kinks & cash”.

The other is called “The First Five Pages” by Noel Lukeman. This has helped me immensely as I struggled with some problem areas and it helped me identify what I need to do to fix them. Both of these are very informative and I highly recommend them to any writer.

6.What's your favorite thing about writing? Least favorite thing?
Raine says: I love creating new characters and storylines. I find I love creating a twist to things like if a gamma ray blast hits Earth. What would happen to us and end up creating something very new.

Least favorite thing- I hate editing…maybe because I am so close to the project that I sometimes have to force myself to see what my editor is saying through their eyes and not my own.

7.Do you talk to your characters, your muse, or both?
Raine says: If I did that, my family would drop me off at the nearest mental hospital. *laughs*

I do sit here and mumble under my breath and pray the gods of writing keep the muse in line…though lately it has been quite a chore in that department. *sighs*

8.How did you celebrate your first contract?
Raine says: I screamed then called everyone or emailed everyone I knew and danced my happy snoopy dance then got to work writing the next book. J

9.Where do you see your writing going in five years? In ten?
Raine says: I hope to be at a few more publishers and creating more stories and possibly within ten years, be with a NY house.

10.If you could meet any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?
Raine says: ooohhh right now I would love to meet a tiger shifter….maybe because I am writing one right now. LOL Besides I love the big cats. So graceful and full of strength.

11.Okay, it's plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you'd like to share?
Raine says: Oh man…I just had my fourth Devon Falls book, Haunting Magic, release from Aspen Mountain Press. It is my best selling to date in the entire series which has me dancing on air. You can find it at the following places along with my book trailer I had done for it:

Devon Falls 4: Haunting Magic

Raine’s website

Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press

Click here to purchase at AMP.

Purchase at Amazon Kindle here.

Purchase at All Romance E-books here.

Purchase at 1romance e-books here.

Watch the Trailer Here.

Blazing Trailers- click here

Rodrick Dracon is the twin heir to the Dragon Inn. When he finds himself longing for a mate after being footloose and fancy free, he finds himself drawn to the most obnoxious, brassy woman he has ever met: Jaxon Sinclair. She is the one woman who doesn't melt when he goes by or hangs on his every word. She is just aggravating and down right sexy as sin! Soon the sparks fly, passion goes into boiling and Halloween approaches. Can a wolf shifter get this woman to heel before the full moon? Or can Jax turn the tables on this ladies man and tame the wolf?

Excerpt:

Jax was stunned by the clenching of her pussy as he traced his finger down her nose. If she didn’t know better, she could have sworn there was a flare of interest in his eyes; though it could have been that she was moon mazed or something. Jax tried to still the weak kneed response to him touching her as she tried to form an annoying response.

“You can boil water? Oh My God!” Jax looked up at the darkening sky then back at Rod. “Wow the sky hasn’t fallen yet. Did you pay off Heaven or something? Has Hell frozen over and no one told the Devil?”

The smile that played on her lips had him growling low in his throat. Jax didn’t know what to think when Rod yanked her to him and said, “You have a death wish don’t you Jax? You really don’t want me to show you that I can do that and so much more.” The last was said so low and as he nipped her ear, Jax felt her bones turn to mush. He turned her on, no two ways about it and damn it, why him? He has to be the most annoying man on this planet yet he also was sexy as sin and damn it to hell and back, he made her want him with every inch of her being. Trying to shove away from him was like trying to hit a rock with an open palm. He was an immovable object and his eyes, she could have sworn, glowed faintly.

“Will you please let me go, you ass?” Jax tried to keep her voice strong and pissed off but dang it, he was making her stomach do flips every time he nipped her ear. “If you really want to prove to me you can cook, fine. I swear it is like your male ego got in a snit or something.” She huffed and blew her breath out when nothing else seemed to make him let go, though if she was honest with herself, she liked his hands on her body, not like she was going to tell this idiot that. No telling what else he would do with that information.

“Is it possible that I can go grab some food before I die of starvation? I swear if that was your goal tonight, Rod, you are not doing a very good job.” Jax said as she felt his hands glide down her arms then let go, the lack of his touch almost had her keening for more. This attraction she had for him was getting out of hand, especially as she and Rod rub against each other like oil and water.

Her treacherous body leaned into him before she caught herself and as she glared at him, she didn’t know what the hell was going on tonight but for some reason tonight he was determined to drive her insane.

“Go get your take out, Jax, but tomorrow, make no plans for the evening. I got something to prove and frankly, I am more than happy to show you what else I can do besides what you may perceive all I can do.”

More information can be found at my website (http://authorrainedelight.com) plus other excerpts and news from me.

Friday's Feature: Fallen Star by Morgan Hawke

2010-01-01T13:44:00.003-06:00

Series: Interstellar Service & Discipline; Previous Book: Victorious Star
Genre: Science Fiction; BDSM; Nontraditional Sexualities
Length: Novel

Isabeau Fallon, the Fallen Star is one of the finest thieves on Dyson’s Ring station – until she’s caught by the Skeldhi hunter, Sobehk, who captures her and makes her a sex-pet. Trapped and altered into a skeldhi-human hybrid known as a rehkyt, her past is a closed door – until it literally comes back to haunt her in the form of a E’sey Khan. E'sey is a Skeldhi Lord Officer intent on taking Fallon, the Moribund Company’s prize code-cracker, away from Sobehk, the one man he ever loved, and making her his very own.

Seemingly random accidents and hidden programs converge to prove that there is more going on than the capture of a not-so-simple thief. There is a conspiracy afoot...and the small thief from Dyson’s Ring station is in it up to her collared throat.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, BDSM (including bondage, domination/submission, whipping), menage (m/m/f), and homoerotic sexual situations (m/m, f/f).

Excerpt:

A low, masculine chuckle echoed in the alley. “Dead-end, thief.”

Her heart slammed in her throat. Blood and Fate, not again? She turned sharply to look behind her. Her pursuer was little more than a silhouette of broad-shouldered moving blackness, yet he filled the alley with his intimidating presence.

Damn it! She'd known he was close, but she hadn't thought he was that close! How, by burning fury, was he finding her so fast? The stupid, stubborn brute ... She turned her back on him and set her gloved hands on the steel wall, but it was too slippery with night condensation to climb. Shit, shit, shit!

“You are out of options, thief.” His chuckle echoed at her back. “Yield, and save yourself some grief.”

She backed up against the steel wall and dropped into a fighter's crouch with her fists raised. “I'm not down yet!”

“But you will be.” He stepped across a small beam of light that cut through the misty darkness to caress his sculpted, overlapping black body armor. It shimmered with oily iridescence, as though made of midnight rainbows. Silver gleamed in the frost white of his hair. Shadows deepened the pale and brutally handsome lines of his high cheekbones and strong jaw. Pairs of silver rings glittered in the lobes of his pointed ears, accentuating the decorative cuts along the lower arches. The long tail of his severe braid fell well past his broad shoulders and swung at his narrow waist as he approached. “You will go down, and you will yield.”

Fallon felt her pulse beat in her throat. He was fully armored, and all she had was a thin layer of battered leather. Fate and damnation, she didn't want to fight him again, but she didn't have a whole lot of choice. “You haven't caught me yet.”

“Oh, no?” His white brows rose over bright, amused sapphire-blue eyes. Feline green-gold reflected in their depths. His full lips curved into a cruel smile. “Have it your way.” The points of his canines gleamed. “But there's only one way out ...” He opened his arms, his hands pointedly empty of the weapons she knew he carried, daring her to get past him.

She took the dare in a flurry of fists and feet.

The exchange of fists, kicks, and curses was vicious and short. He trapped her arm and grappled her into a chokehold with both of her wrists wedged up to the center of her back, wrapped in one large paw.

She was just too damned tired.

“This hunt is over, thief.” His breath was harsh and hot against her ear. “You lose.”

Fallon sucked a breath past the armored arm jammed across her windpipe. Bloody Fate, he has a tight grip. Smart move on his part; she was very limber. If he gave her the smallest increment, she would wiggle free. She arched her spine, coming up on her toes to relieve the ache. Not that it did much good. He was more than a head and a half taller, and his shoulders were twice hers in width. He didn't look nearly this big when he introduced himself in the bar. But then, he hadn't been wearing pointy black armor, either.

She sucked air past his chokehold. “Sobehk, you are cutting off the circulation in my arms.”

“Oh, really?” Sobehk's chuckle made the hair on her arms rise. “That's too bad, Fallon. Or should I say, Isabeau Torne Fallon?”

Fallon froze. He knew her whole name? Where, by fury, had he heard that? Not even her boss knew more than her handle!

“Do you yield?” His voice was a sinister purr in her ear. “Or do I need to break something?”

Damn it, she couldn't afford the time off to heal a broken arm. “All right, fine, I yield. So now what?”

“Now, you go down.” His foot hooked hers and she fell to her knees. He dropped down on one knee with her, keeping her wrists jammed tight up against her spine, with his arm snug around her throat. “And you stay down.”

Fallon hissed to keep from yelping and arched back sharply. The uneven pavement dug into her knees, and both shoulders were painfully close to dislocation. “Take it easy on the arms, you big brute. I'm not a marine cyborg!” She was robotically augmented for agility, not power.

“No, but you are one slippery thief.” His hand tightened on her wrists. “I'm not taking any chances with losing you again.”

She bit back an escaping whimper. “Yeah, I'm a thief. What did you expect? This is a smuggling outpost -- everybody's a thief.” She wriggled her fingers, but all she could feel was his damned body armor. It had to be some kind of titanium alloy; he moved like it didn't weigh more than paper, but there wasn't a drop of give to it. She hadn't been able to land a single effective blow. Her foot was still bruised from that last kick she'd aimed at his kidneys. This really sucks ...

Damn it! She didn't have time for this shit. She set her teeth. “Look, whatever you intend to do to me -- beat me, fuck me, or whatever ... Can you hurry up and get it over with? I have shit to get done.”

His arm tightened on her throat. “What? Do you have a quota or something, thief?”

She turned her head slightly and sucked in a small breath past his chokehold. “Or something ...” Blood and Fate, yeah, she had a quota; everyone on this blasted outpost had some kind of quota to fill. She was lucky that she was damned good at filling hers, because this stupid game of hide-and-seek had taken far too much of her productive time. “Just do it, all right?”

“I'll get to it when I'm damned good and ready.” Sobehk's voice rumbled in a deep growl. “If you wanted a quick end to this, you should have yielded two days ago when I caught you the first time.”

Fallon snorted. “You could have given up two days ago when I got away the first time.”

“Too bad for you.” Sobehk actually chuckled. “Once I start a hunt, I finish it.” His long teeth caught the lobe of her ear in a tender bite. “You shouldn't have picked me for a target.”

Fallon tilted her head away from his mouth. “You shouldn't have pissed me off!”

He nipped at her exposed throat. “What? Don't you like sex?” He made a sound that might have been a growl, but it sounded a lot closer to an actual feline purr.

Fallon shivered in spite of herself. “Sure, I like sex -- with guys that aren't assholes!” She tried to twist, even a little, but his grip on her arms was far too tight. “Look, grabbing people and kissing them within seconds of stating your name is not the way to pick up women.”

“Is that so?” He purred right into the curve of her ear. “Then why did you kiss me back?”

Fallon felt her face heat. She had kissed him back; Sobehk was a damned good kisser. “So I kissed you, big fat hairy deal. That didn't mean I wanted to have sex in the middle of a crowded bar.”

“Are you sure?” His deep chuckle curled straight down into her gut. “I didn't hear any complaints until after I had your bare tit in one hand and you were ready to cum on my other.”

“Of course not!” Fallon scowled as her cheeks flushed with more heat. “I was flat down on the table with your tongue shoved down my throat. I had to bite you to get your mouth off mine so I could tell you to stop.”

“I thought you were just being affectionate.” His voice practically purred ... then the sound drifted into a growl. “Until you took off on me.”

Fallon pitched her voice as sweet as sugar. “And I thought you were just being a perverted asshole, which is why I took off on you.”

Sobehk stiffened and his voice rumbled deep in his chest. “Is that why you took my turbo glider?”

“Well, yeah.” She winced under the increased pressure. If he gripped her any tighter, he was going to break her arm. “You pissed me off!”

Sobehk relaxed slightly and barked out a laugh. “You were pissed because I almost made you cum right there in front of everybody.”

Fallon ground her teeth. She remembered only too well exactly how close -- and how fast -- he had brought her to the trembling edge of orgasm. He was damned attractive, in a big, scary kind of way, and he was really good with his hands and his mouth. She had spent over an hour with her fingers in her wet flesh, trying to ease the burning hunger he had stirred in her before she had fled. The smug bastard ... “And you're pissed now because it took you three days to catch me.”

“Fuck, yeah, I'm pissed! Because of you, I'm way behind schedule. But I've got you now, and you're gonna pay for holding me up -- with your ass.” The brute was grinning; she could tell by his voice.

She scowled. “What, do you have a quota to fill?”

“Not anymore.” Sobehk's voice purred with innuendo. “Your nipples are hard. I think you like being caught.”

Her nipples were hard, and it pissed her off even more. “I think you like being a bastard.”

“Oh, I do. I love being a bastard to slippery little thieves who really need to have their asses smacked for taking things that don't belong to them.”

“I don't know why you bothered chasing me; you got your glider back the next day!” Damn it, she couldn't reach anything with her fingers ...

“I'm bothering because I've been rock hard since that night in the bar -- and I fully intend to do something about it.” He dropped his arm, releasing her throat, and slammed a hand between her shoulder blades, shoving her face down onto the pavement. “And your tight little ass is gonna feel really sweet around my dick as I empty my balls in it.”

Fallon had to turn her head or breathe concrete. What? Does he plan to ass-fuck me? Bloody Fate, I hope not! When he'd had her lying flat down on the bar's table she had felt one monster of an erection pressing against her stomach. She honestly didn't think she could fit something that big up her butt. “Hey, I have a perfectly good pussy!”

“Don't worry, I'll get that, too.”

Read an extended excerpt here. Or buy it here.

Thirteen Favorite Paranormal Books

2009-12-31T10:45:00.006-06:00

1. Shattered Mirror by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes: This book inspired me to write. It's YA, so it might not appeal to all of you, but it's a really good story, and I'm still in love with Nikolas.

2. Circus of the Damned by Laurell K. Hamilton: I have an old tattered copy that traveled with me to Australia and back in the summer of 2005. I re-read it probably five times on that trip alone, but I still love it.

3. Night Play by Sherrilyn Kenyon: My copy of this book is held together by tape.

Actually most of the following are held together by tape. I had to buy a new copy of Circus. It broke in half. The only reason Shattered Mirror has survived is because it's hardback, and even it's about had it.

4. Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton

5. Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh

6. Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn Kenyon: It's a classic. It's the beginning of the Dark Hunters, and Kyrian is hilarious.

7. Master of Seduction by Kinley MacGregor: Gotta love pirates!

8. Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward

9. Galahad by Angela Knight in the Bite Anthology

10. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward

11. Fallen Star by Morgan Hawke (Tomorrow's Friday Feature)

12. Dark One by Angela Knight

13. Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon

And all of these authors have many more books that are incredible.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

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2010 Goals

2009-12-30T14:58:00.002-06:00

Wow, its been an eventful year for me. I finished a novel, got three contracts and two of those books were released this month. I started my first website, and have been trying to perfect it ever since (I think I'm finally happy with it). I guest blogged once a month at Happy Endings and started two blogs of my own, including a character blog.

I started college, and while I despise it with every fiber of my being (and no I am not exaggerating one tiny, itty bitty, bit), it still is a pretty big milestone.

I got my first serious job, and I actually really love it. Being Acquisitions Manager of Breathless Press is one of the best jobs I think I writer could get. I get to read (a favored past time of mine) and picking out the errors in manuscripts challenges the writer in me. I think it's just the perfect job.

Now that I've shared what I did this year I'll share my plans for next year with you.

1) I want to try and write everyday.

2) I want to finish Archer's Story, and I want to try and finish the rough draft by May 1st at the latest. I'm thinking it needs to be about 60k

3) I want to submit to agents, and hopefully get one.

4) I want to finish at least two free reads. One is a contemporary erotic romance, and another is just a short story that goes with Fear of Darkness. Just a tiny encounter between Vahe and Natalya.

5) I want to finish at least one short story to submit to Breathless Press. I want it finished by March 1st.

6) I want to start a new series. I still can't decide if I want to start my fantasy series or sci-fi. Eventually I'll have to make that choice. I think its going to be the fantasy series though, because that's what keeps interrupting my WIP.

7) I want to finish the first book in whatever series I do choose to start. I want to finish it by December.

8) This one is just something I might do. I'd like to try and finish Bad Animals. Pretty sure I'll fight for every word of that.

I don't think my goals are too ambitious, and I'm hoping I can accomplish them all.

A Blog Award

2009-12-30T05:00:00.001-06:00

I got a blog award from Debra Kayn. Now I'm supposed to share seven things you might not know about me, and pass the award on to seven other bloggers. Lol, this might be difficult.

1. My food can't touch on my plate. My aunt tells me they have medication for that.

2. I wear my socks inside out. I don't like the fuzzy parts on the inside.

3. I'd love to be a belly dancer.

4. Weeds is a hilarious show, but definitely not for everyone.

5. I've gotten one speeding ticket.

6. I hated the series finale of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. I'll never NOT be annoyed by it.

7. I'm watching Get Smart on DVD. The TV show from the 60's, not the new movie.

Now to find some blogs that I love.

1. Writer's Gone Wild

2. Naughty Little Vamp

3. Vauxhall Vixens

4. Wicked Lil Pixie

5. Living With Immortals - J.K.Coi

6. Melissa Aires

7. Happy Endings

The one flaw in this award: I have no clue how to contact most of these blogs.

2010 Reading Challenge

2009-12-29T20:04:00.004-06:00

1. Lover Eternal by J.R. Ward (January 3: Re-read)
2. Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward (January 4: Re-read)
3. Tanner's Scheme by Lora Leigh (January 27: Re-read)

On Writing Unconventional Horror

2009-12-29T05:00:00.001-06:00

By Lisa Lane

My thanks to Honoria Ravena for having me; it is a pleasure to be your guest today. I think it is safe to assume that a good number of readers here are horror fans as well as paranormal romance fans. Today, I’d like to introduce you to my unique blend of horror, paranormal romance, and provocative prose. My style is not for the faint of heart, nor is it for those who do not enjoy a bit of literary value to their reads, but for those who do, I invite you to join me aboard my wild ride.

The Darkness and the Night series meshes qualities of paranormal romance, dark, cerebral horror, and deep philosophy, creating a story that not only provokes and entices the senses, but also leaves the reader pondering questions not typically addressed in works of similar genres. When I set out to write the series, I had some key questions in mind that I was determined to answer with gritty and lifelike detail:

·If there were such things as vampires, would becoming one really be the romanticized experience so often portrayed in today’s fiction?

·What would it be like for a good, decent person to realize that she was slowly becoming a monster? What would she do to fight it? What would it take for her to give in to her terrifying impulses?

·What would happen if she were to find out that she was pregnant with the offspring of the monster that turned her? What would her offspring be like? Is it possible for a child to be evil and innocent at the same time?

·What would she do, if suddenly she found that the only person she had to turn to was also her greatest nemesis?

·How would an underground world of vampires actually survive? What would a vampire commune be like?

Blood and Coffee, the first book in the series, follows the dark odyssey of Karen, a young adult who finds herself the pawn in a plot for revenge against her father—who has recently been released from a long-term mental hospital committal for having killed a man he had “believed” to be a vampire. The plan: present the freshly-turned Karen to her “rehabilitated” father, and then see which one survives. The plan goes awry, however, when Billy, the vampire chosen to turn her, ends up falling for her.

Suddenly finding herself on the run, with nowhere to go, Karen becomes caught between her hate for Billy, for what he has done to her, and the animalistic attraction that their unwanted blood bond has created between them.

In book two, Cosmic Orgasm (don’t let the corny porny title fool you), Karen literally goes to Hell and back in a cerebral struggle over her soul, after a freak astral death leaves someone close to her slowly becoming a demon trapped on the Astral plane—determined to take her with him. Karen begins to harness her vampiric powers, and she finds friendship and sustenance in the most unlikely of heroes. I originally wanted to title the book Blood and Shadow, but the publisher insisted upon Cosmic Orgasm after reading one of Karen’s most unusual experiences, which those who have read agree is one of the most unique and creative sexual encounters they have ever seen in print.

The third book, Twins of Darkness, follows Karen’s not-quite-human twins’ milestones and her trials of being both a vampire and a mother. The story, which has been raved as by far the best in the series, is actually four novellas that together create one extended story:

Part I: Vampire. Mommy.
Karen's past returns to haunt her as Billy's nomadic family tracks her down, set on kidnapping her infant twins, Andy and Anna.

Part II: The Innocent One
The full extent of grade-school-aged Anna's Astral abilities shine through in dark and horrifying ways as Karen's vampire-hunting father tracks them down in suburbia, intent on killing them all.

Part III: A Family Affair
Desperate to know more about her natural father, adolescent Anna uses her Astral abilities to pull an alternate version of Billy into reality. His presence proves bittersweet for Karen, who has committed herself to donor and lover, Jason.

Part IV: The Awakening
Andy begins to undergo an unexpected transformation, while commune bounty hunters track down Karen and Jason. Anna, with her goddess-like Astral abilites, is their only hope ... but her aid does not come without a sacrifice.

The combination of elements—sci-fi/horror, paranormal romance, and literary—makes The Darkness and the Night intense and horrifying, yet also a thoughtful and satisfying read. Few other books compare, which is not always a good thing in the world of publishing: the erotic aspects might turn off some straight horror readers, just as much as the horror elements may dissuade potential romance readers. I think you’ll agree, however, that the series is unique in a positive way, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Do you like mixed genre books? Let me know what you think, and you may win a free book. I’m giving away one electronic copy of each novel in the series; make sure to leave your name with your reply in order to qualify. Warm regards—and happy reading!

Lisa Lane
http://www.cerebralwriter.com

Interview: Catherine Bybee

2009-12-28T05:00:00.001-06:00

1.What are you working on now? – I have a few things I have in the fryer right now. I’m in edits for Silent Vows, Myra’s story in the MacCoinnich trilogy. Kilt-i-licious, a sexy little ménage to follow after Kilt Worthy and an entirely new series I’m currently pitching to agents. Shhh… I like a full plate!

2.How many rejection letters did you get before you got an acceptance? And what advice do you have for writers about rejection letters? - I’m not sure I can count that high Miranda! LOL… no, actually I received a good twenty rejections from agents and a couple of publishers when I first started this journey. In those rejections I’ve had a couple of manuscript requests that ultimately led to a publication. My advice to authors is this… if you’re not receiving rejection letters, you’re not submitting your work. And don’t think for a minute that the agent / publisher of your dreams is gonna pick up the phone and call you. Submit your baby, it’s the only way to get a thumbs up.

3.What's your idea of the "perfect" hero? – Sexy, caring and completely in need of his heroine. Oh, and did I say sexy? lol

4.Who are your favorite authors? – Oh, so many… Nora for Nora sake, I admire the woman’s stamina and ability to roll out book after book. For contemporary romance, I enjoy Judith McNaught – When I have to laugh I pick up Dakota Cassidy and Candace Havens. Shannon K. Butcher’s Burning Alive was my favorite pick last year. Kate Pearce and Jess Michaels sizzle the erotic historical category for me. Caridad Pineiro is on my list along with Lisa Kylpsis. If you have another day or so I can predict who I see making the leap from e-published to mainstream with in the next few years. There are simply to many writers I enjoy taking the time to read these days.

5.What books do you recommend on writing? – I’m not sure I’m the one to ask on this. I actually don’t read other author’s books on writing. I pick up promo tips and writing tips on author blogs and agent blogs… But I don’t have a ‘writing bible’ that I turn to.

6.What's your favorite thing about writing? Least favorite thing? – Favorite thing? Simply writing a new story. I enjoy the actual creating of a story and characters and making it all work. The least favorite thing is waiting. Waiting for agents to get back to you, publishers to get back to you… edits to get back to you… release dates to come around… reviews to evolve. Waiting!

7.Do you talk to your characters, your muse, or both? – Shhh… not when people are looking. But yeah, I know my guys and gals rather intimately.

8.How did you celebrate your first release? – Does one celebrate when they’re online all day telling the world they have a new book out? I’ve celebrated my ‘contracts’ with a night out and or a good bottle of wine, but on actual release days… I’m way to busy plugging to celebrate.

9.Where do you see your writing going in five years? In ten? Five years? I do hope to have my books on the stores shelves outside of cyber-space. Or at the very least, a upcoming release date for that day. In ten, I hope to be able to arrive at a conference and have people know who I am and want to have a signed copy of my latest release. *sigh*

10.If you could meet any paranormal creature, what would it be and why? – Ohhh hard question. Anyone who is immortal. Vampire, demon… were… The concept of immortality is fascinating, but I’d guess less than romantic when you think of outliving any and everyone you know.

11.Okay, it's plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you'd like to share?

I thought you’d never ask… no, that’s not true, I knew you would.
I’m celebrating my first print release, Binding Vows, the first in my MacCoinnich trilogy from The Wild Rose Press.

Here is the blurb:

Duncan MacCoinnich’s task… Travel to the twenty-first century Renaissance Faire, deflower the Druid virgins, and go home. Only his job is not so easily accomplished with the virgin in question, Tara McAllister.

Time is running out. The evil is closing in on them both.

Tara finds Duncan irresistible after what was supposed to be a mock Hand-fasting binds them.

When Duncan whisks her to his home in Scotland she could accept that. But, can she forgive him for taking away her modern life when she finds herself in the sixteenth century?

And is it love they feel? Or something else?

Excerpt:

"Where are you going, Tara ?"

"Out!"

"I can see that, but where?"

She stopped and turned. "Far away from you."

He almost collided with her. Before he could react, she was storming off again, as he shouted, "A lady is not safe out here by herself."

She stopped. This time he didn't stop in time and fell into her.

Hands at her sides, her chest thrust up next to his she gritted between her teeth. "A lady isn't safe around you either."

"Now, Tara." He tried pleading with her.

"Oh, don't you even 'now, Tara' me." She stepped to the side and started off, in a different direction. Stalking in circles.

He let her walk for several minutes before attempting to speak to her again. "I would be happy to escort you on a walk. But, we need to get you more properly dressed." He knew the effect watching her walk in tight jeans was having on him, he could only imagine what his men must have thought when she stormed the courtyard.

"You're a bastard, you know that MacCoinnich?"

He wanted to counter what she said, but cautioned himself against it. "Still, we need you in more fitting clothes. If someone were to come along, questions would be raised which would be most difficult to answer."

"You should have thought of that before you brought me here." She waved a hand in his general direction. "Right now, I don't give a crap what questions you might have to answer."

"I told you how necessary it is for secrecy." He turned to the Keep and noticed some of the men watching, curious about what would happen. He needed to put a stop to this and soon.

"Bite me."

A completely inappropriate image of him doing exactly that popped into his head. A slow lazy smile inched over his lips.

Unfortunately, for him, Tara read his thoughts. She didn't find them nearly as entertaining as he did. "You ass..." She raised her hand to slap his face.

He caught her hand before it made contact.. "I've had enough of this."

You can find me at www.catherinebybee.com for my backlist and future releases.

Binding Vows is available at http://www.thewildrosepress.com/binding-vows-paperback-p-3755.html

Like A Virgin by Eve Summers

2009-12-24T05:00:00.002-06:00

"Like Virgin" is an e-book romance written by Eve Summers and published by Red Rose Publishing on 24 December 2009. (And yes, with her other books titled “Wild Thing” and “I want to know what love is”, Eve Summers seems to be shamelessly plagiarising pop songs. The truth is, however, is a lot more prosaic: Eve Summers has a very short memory and a very poor knowledge of music. Next time, she’ll try to Google any title that sounds like a good idea - before she uses it, not after. J )

Anyway, back to the book. Aurora is a virgin when it comes to Internet dating. A mousy schoolteacher in real life, she wants to be something more online. Someone else: a Bond girl, perhaps, who drinks champagne, travels the world and does skydiving. So when she creates her online persona, she exaggerates a little... ok, a lot.

The man she meets on the dating site literally takes her breath away. He’s everything she’s ever wanted: a successful CEO, somebody who loves the songs she loves and who gets Aurora’s quirky sense of humour. With the cyber world not always being what it seems, is he too good to be true?

That’s not the only problem facing Aurora, though. Because when you fib on your online profile, is there ever a good time to come clean?

Buy Link

Establishing Credibility for New Writers

2009-12-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

By Sascha Illyvich

Establishing yourself as an expert in erotic romance is one of the toughest things to do, especially with the internet making everyone an “expert” and allowing a lot of content to go unchecked. The easiest solution is to follow the true experts- those with track records who have achieved the same results you’re striving for.

I reference Morgan Hawke a lot. There’s a reason for that and it’s because she’s goal oriented.

The hard part is trying to get into the group of writers so you can get the tips first. My question to you is: do you really need to belong to a critique group with varying degrees of experience in order to write?

No. But it helps because you’ll see the folks that stand out and are getting results.

Writing is like any other business, it requires the author to be results oriented. If you’re not writing for a profit, what are you writing for? Personal gain? Self esteem? Those things come with experience and time, and I’d like to mention that I’m specifically aiming this post at career writers, not hobbyists.

What are the pitfalls of trying to establish authority when you’re new? Plenty. First off, people have a tendency to overload their plates in a feeble attempt to know everyone and everything. This results in a crash on the human body and a quick burnout. For a solution, I talked about this here because new writers need to learn some lessons passed down from those of us who have been new before.

Once you’ve learned and applied the lessons I’ve talked about, you’ll get a better grip on time management which will allow you to be a healthier writer. This industry is filled with authors who suffer from various ailments and the curealls are actually pretty simple once you realize you need to start taking care of yourself when you’re YOUNGER. I touched on this here too with Writer’s Self Care.

The results will be easy and measurable because you’ll find yourself with more time and creativity flowing better than most of us who are “old hat.” Once you’ve built up a following, using social media like Twitter and facebook to promote your work, you’ll quickly find out who to pay attention to, what to look out for and how to protect yourself as a writer.

You’ll need to understand the mechanics of writing an erotic romance. Sex is part of those mechanics and a good primer for writing sex scenes can be found on Angela Knight’s blog. You’ll also need to know about plot and showing vs. telling.

Worries about recycling content? Don’t be. From an SEO standpoint, it’s not so bad from what I understand. We all have content that gets left behind when we write articles for blogs or websites that were great, gave a lot of information and made an impact on our audiences. A few word changes and some modification gives us a new article that may reach a few more readers.

The biggest thing I had to learn when I started teaching others about money and finance was that people all have different styles of learning. Some are technical, you can tell them what a Dominant is in a BDSM context and they understand how to write that character. Others require articles like this.

The point of all this is that to establish yourself as an expert in anything, it takes time, patience, goal setting, measurable results and self care. This is true of writers especially since we ARE our own bosses. True we have deadlines but those are set by other humans and can be adjusted as life interrupts.

Best of success to you in your career!

Hard Candy

2009-12-22T05:00:00.002-06:00

A Soundtrack for Hard by Jameison Wolf

Hey Everyone!

I’m so thrilled to be here at Honoria’s blog today. And do I have a treat for you! Below you’ll find the links to download a soundtrack for my new novel HARD which is available from the good folks at Breathless Press!

You can get a copy of HARD by clicking here:

http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/temptations/hard.html

But why the heck would I do a soundtrack for my book?

Well, I wanted to do a short EP for Hard for a couple of reasons. First of all because I find that the story, though short, goes through three different stages of emotion. I wanted to have music reflect that.

I also love doing soundtracks for my novels. What better way to bring a book to life, and to further the reading experience, than by creating a soundtrack?

I always find that books with music really draw me into the story and make it come alive for me somehow. I hope I’ve achieved that with Hard Candy.

I hope you and others enjoy the soundtrack and I really do hope that it brings the book to life for you!

I’ve included the liner notes for you. You’re free to download the songs and burn them to a CD and enjoy them again and again.

TRACK ONE – FANTASY
http://www.box.net/shared/619xqnzxy2

TRACK TWO – TURMOIL
http://www.box.net/shared/m7x99ot275

TRACK THREE – REALITY
http://www.box.net/shared/xzobpjn3t8

LINER NOTES
http://www.box.net/shared/nou67h4a71

You can listen to the soundtrack on its own or, even better, listen to the soundtrack when you’re reading the book.

I hope you enjoy it!

Cheers!
Jamieson
------

Jamieson has been writing since a young age when he realized he could be writing instead of paying attention in school.

Since then, he has created many worlds in which to live his fantasies and live out his dreams. He is the author of several novels which include: Witches, Silent Communication, Valentine, Valentines Labyrinth, Finding Beauty, The Hunted Series and more.

He currently lives in Ottawa Ontario Canada with his husband Robert and his cat, Mave, who thinks she's people. Visit Jamieson at www.jamiesonwolf.com

Lisa Lipkind Leibow's Interview

2009-12-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

1.What are you working on now?
I tend to have several projects at once, at various stages of development. Right now, I’m putting the finishing touches on a novel that is a tale of modern feminism in a complex world. It chronicles the life of an Iranian émigré, from her repressed childhood in 1950s Tehran to her eventual liberation over 40 years later. The main character’s saga begins in pre-revolutionary Iran—a land of contradictions, where mini-skirted women with college degrees face arranged marriages. At the same time, I’m in the midst of revising the first draft of a middle grade high fantasy novel that I wrote during moments I needed a break from more serious subject matter. It’s pure fun! I’m also well underway in the first draft of a novel that takes place during the Revolutionary War. It’s turning into a fictional slave narrative. I’m excited about it. While I divide my time among these projects, other ideas are percolating, and I have three or four other concepts in research phase, which means I’m reading everything I can on the subjects, conducting interviews, and visiting locations.

2.What inspired you to be a writer?
It’s difficult to point to one event in my life that gave me inspiration to be a writer. It’s really the cumulative impact of finding a way to incorporate the things I love to do: read, research, write, act, daydream…

As a child, I had a flare for drama. I loved to play pretend. In high school, I played the leading role in the school musical and enjoyed performing in Community Theater, too. In college, I studied radio-television communications where I loved writing, directing, and performing. If a professor offered the option to write a paper instead of take an exam – I jumped on it. My skills at research and writing took me to the next step in my career.

I spent a chapter of my life going to law school and practicing law, drafting legal briefs and memoranda much like the young attorney in my debut novel. However, after being stuck at my office on 9/11, a month-long siege on metro Washington, DC by a sniper, and discovering that the other parents at my twins’ preschool thought my au pair was my sons’ mom, I could hear these words echoing in my ears. "If I knew this was what it was going to be like to have it all, I would have settled for less." (Lily Tomlin: The Search for Intelligent Life in the Universe).

I didn't really settle for less. I settled for different, and traded the billable hour lifestyle for fiction writing. My new career provides fantastic intellectual stimulation, a wonderful creative outlet, and a great excuse to recapture my love of drama and playing make believe.

3.How many rejection letters did you get before you got an acceptance? What advice do you give the writers about dealing with rejection letters?
I could wallpaper a bedroom with rejection letters. As a first-time unknown author, it’s tough to get your foot in the door. But I know I can write, and enough of those rejection letters were personal and encouraging rather than form letters to make me realize I was moving in the right direction – getting closer. I kept honing the manuscript based on feedback and, Voila! Success!

My advice to other writers about dealing with rejection letters is to view every one of them as another step closer to publication. If you receive something other than a form letter, view that as a small success. Savor the feedback of someone in the business who took the time to read your work. Keep yourself occupied with the creative process while you await responses, which in my experience, can take forever (excuse my exaggeration, but responses take a long time). Don’t let a rejection hold you back. Keep circulating your manuscripts and short stories. They will have no chance for publication if they sit in a drawer or fester on your hard drive!

4.How did you celebrate your first contract?
You mean, after I jumped up and down screaming for joy upon reading the offer for contract? Ha! I’m still celebrating! I’m so happy Red Rose Publishing was looking to expand their mainstream fiction line and that the editors loved Double Out and Back!

During that first week or two following my book deal, every time I met a friend we toasted my success (there was much champagne involved…).

5.What's your favorite way to advertise?
I’m not a natural at self-promotion, I have to admit. But I enjoy interacting with readers. I love visiting with book clubs either in person, on-line, or via conference call to participate in discussions of Double Out and Back. If any of your readers are interested in inviting me to their book club, fill out the contact form on my website, www.LLLeibow.com

6.What do you do to amuse yourself when not working?
My life is filled with the happy chaos of my husband, children, and a menagerie of pets. They amuse me to no end. But when I have some “me” time, I try to stay active by biking, jogging, and doing yoga. I really need to counteract all of the sitting that crafting good fiction requires.

7.Where do you see your writing going in five years? In ten?
On the creative side, I continue to hone my craft every day. I have so many ideas in my head. Sometimes it’s difficult to rein them to focus on just one. I love the challenge of bringing to life a time and place I haven’t experienced first-hand. It forces me to use my imagination to build a world. I dabbled in this in Double Out and Back. I wove in a vivid past for Chandy in South Africa during the implementation of Apartheid. With my second novel, which is perpetually-almost-finished, I explore pre-revolutionary Iran, in the 1960s, where miniskirted women with college degrees are subject to arranged marriages. Here, too, I bring to life a time and place I did not experience first-hand.

However, in both of these instances, I was able to interview people who have been there to obtain first-hand accounts. I see my interests in historical fiction deepening.

Lately, I have been crafting a novel that takes place in colonial America. It will be my first, truly, historical fiction in that nobody alive today was there. I must rely on historical documents, museums, and the like to build a realistic portrayal of my characters and setting.

As for the business side of my writing career, I’m hoping that in five to ten years I will finally become an overnight success. I stole that line from my publisher, Wendi Felter of Red Rose Publishing, but it sums up what I hope will be. So, I urge you, if you like my work, spread the word!

8.What is your favorite "comfort food"?
All of these tough questions about my writing process and intellectual opinions about the future of the publishing industry, and this is the question that stumps me? Hmmm…I have to pick just one? It might be easier to tell you what foods I don’t care for…

Some of my favorites: I love a bowl of hot chili on a cold winter day. In the summer, I could live on fresh blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries. I’m a big fan of Japanese, Chinese, and Thai food, too. I can’t turn down tuna sashimi or those sesame balls on the Dim Sum dessert tray. And, of course, chocolate has incredible healing powers. Join me in the movement to make chocolate count toward a daily allowance of vegetables – It’s made from BEANS, after all.

9.Do you prefer ebooks or print for your reading pleasure?

Warning: noncommittal answer below.

I adore the complete, sensory experience of holding a print book – the smell of the pages, the way the paper feels between my fingers, and the look of the ink on the page. I love to dog-ear and highlight my favorite passages as I get lost in the fictive dream a good book brings to me. I savor, I devour, and I love print books. Nothing could completely replace that love.

Now that I’ve spoken my undying devotion to print books, I hope you won’t think me unfaithful when I tell you that I’ve been loving some e-book on the side!

E-books offer new ways to love literature. I can adjust the font size of the print as large or small as I like. I can keep a file of “clippings” of my favorite passages. I can perform keyword searches, and gain quick access to material when I’m on deadline.

More than that, e-books are great for impatient people, like me. I agree with Carrie Fisher when she said, “That’s the problem with instant gratification – it’s just not fast enough!” The ability to download a book within seconds of deciding I want to read it is fantastic.

10.Who are your favorite authors?
I have diverse taste in reading. I enjoy reading fiction with a strong voice and unique perspective. I love quality women’s fiction, mainstream fiction, historical, and literary fiction. I read and love so many authors. It’s difficult to narrow it down. However, here are some of those I consider the masters. I’m in awe of Alice Munro’s ability to sum up an entire lifetime in a sentence. I love the quirky characters of John Irving, the vivid, detailed descriptions of Ayn Rand, and the strong, pithy dialogue of Ernest Hemingway. I admire the character driven fiction of Julia Glass and the expertly plotted tales of Steven King. I admire the boldness of Barbara Kingsolver to tackle multiple, first-person points-of-view in one novel, and Amy Tan’s ability to carry me to a time and place I’ve never been and make it seem real to me.

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?
Visit me at www.LLLeibow.com. There you’ll find more about me and my writing, along with links to my twitter, goodreads, facebook, as well as links to my blog, and my group blog, The Roses of Prose.

I can’t leave without saying thank you to Honoria! I loved answering these thoughtful and fun questions. You’re a great host. Thank you very much for letting me share your blog, today.

I’ll leave you with an excerpt from Double Out and Back. Enjoy!

Chandy’s parents were both Jewish, of Eastern European descent. Diogo embodied the great melting pot of Cape Town, South Africa. His mother – Tessie’s daughter – had married a half-Portuguese and half-black man, the son of a native tribal woman who had married a fisherman who came to port.

One day, while Bubba was baking and Diogo and Chandy were playing, Chandy asked Bubba, “What was it like here in the olden days?”

“Tell us, Bubba,” Diogo urged.

Bubba wiped her hands on her apron and sat at the table to answer their

question.

“When I first came to Cape Town, we moved to a small flat on the same street as the Garden Shul.”

“Garden Shul? You mean the Great Synagogue?” Chandy asked.

“Oy, yes. They built the original building, the Garden Shul in nineteen-oh-five. I was a kinder in Lithuania back then. When we moved to Cape Town, we were welcomed by none other than Rabbi Alfred Bender. A Friday morning, and he showed up at the door with some candles, a bottle of wine, and a beautifully braided challah, so Zayda and I could welcome the Sabbath.

“He served as Rabbi for more than forty years, may he rest in peace. Back in ’twenty-five, when I moved here, he had already been here for thirty years. He was the glue that held this community together. We all just loved him, even Diogo’s other grandma, his Papa’s mama, a gentile. She loved that rabbi.”

Just then, Ita Leah’s daughter, Miriam, walked into the flat with an armful of bundles.

“Chandy, have you finished with your lessons?” Miriam asked.

“Yes, Mama,” she answered.

“I only had to help her a little,” Diogo said, giggling.

“Oh, Diogo, I’m glad you’re here. I have something for your mother.” Miriam put the bundles down on the table in front of them. She wiped her brow with the back of her hand after releasing the heavy bags.

“The days are getting shorter. I saw old Mr. Phillips making his way down the street, lighting all of the street lamps,” she said as she took out a long, narrow, newsprint-wrapped package. “It’s a good thing too, because, I needed the extra light to find my way to the fishmonger. I picked up this Cape Salmon to make lox.”

“Yum,” Chandy said.

“I stopped by the new dress shop, the one Zodwa, just opened. I saw a beautiful skirt for your mother and brought it home for her. Will you give it to her for me?”

“Yes, ma’am. I need to go home for supper soon,” Diogo answered.

Miriam stood taller than expected, having squat Bubba for her mother. Her height allowed her to tower over Bubba. Next to Bubba’s round shape, Miriam looked rectangular – broad shoulders, thickened waist, narrow hips, and elongated torso. If Zayda were triangular, they could have had a real mélange of geometric characters in the family – a whole new meaning to the adage, people come in all shapes and sizes.

Miriam finished putting away the packages and sat at the kitchen table to go through the post. Bubba could tell something was wrong, because her daughter’s chin scrunched up, her upper lip tightly pressing down onto a protruding, but tense lower lip. Under stress, the whole lower half of Miriam’s face creased the same way many people’s brows furrowed.

Bubba stood even in height with her seated daughter. She touched Miriam’s hair, which was colored darkest brown. It fell in short ringlets, with perfect sections in front of each ear that curled upward like crescent moons illuminating each of her cheeks.

Bubba looked equally rattled as she read over Miriam’s shoulder.

“This is a nightmare. It’s the next step, isn’t it?”

Miriam shook the paper.

“They can’t do this!” The skin on her chin puckered as her lips tightened to near disappearance.

“Let me see,” Bubba requested. Miriam passed her the paper. It held the official seal of the South African government.

“They can, and they are.” Miriam’s voice trailed off.

Bubba’s eyes traveled from top of page to bottom absorbing the official letter’s contents. As of that date, under Population Registration Act No. 30, passed by the nation’s legislature, Bubba would be required to register all babies she delivered under one of four distinct races: Black, White-Afrikaans, White-Other, or Colored or mixed race.

###end of excerpt###

Support Authors and Small Presses: BUY Double Out and Back at http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?products_id=402

Also available at Kindle, Mobipocket, All Romance Ebooks, My Bookstores & More, BookStrand, and other fine e-book outlets.

Short Bio: Lisa Lipkind Leibow is the author of Double Out and Back (Red Rose Publishing), which takes the reader on the roller-coaster ride of infertility treatments as seen through the eyes of three women. Originally working as a lawyer, Lisa decided to trade the billable hour lifestyle for fiction writing. Lisa’s work has also appeared in Pisgah Review. She lives and writes in Northern Virginia with her husband, three sons, a clumber spaniel, and two red-eared sliders. You can learn more about Lisa and her writing at www.LLLeibow.com.

Biohazard by Honoria Ravena

2009-12-18T09:47:00.002-06:00

That's right. I have to releases back to back. Here's an excerpt from today's release: Biohazard.

Title: Biohazard
Author: Honoria Ravena
Heat Rating: Three
Word Count: 8,258
Publisher: Breathless Press
Buy Link

Blurb

Hunted by his people, the shapeshifter, Jayden, sheds his human skin after escaping his execution. 200 years later he’s still on the run. When he’s attacked in the remote woods in Wyoming, the last thing he expects is to be saved by a human woman.

When Maura finds a rough looking group of men hunting a tiger in her forest, she doesn’t hesitate to pull a gun on them and release the animal. What she doesn’t expect is for that frightening cat to change into a gorgeous, surly man with a tortured past.

But when his people threaten her life, will he save her, or leave her to the wolves?

Excerpt:

I jerked awake as a warm cloth slid across my open wounds. I snapped my teeth and snarled at the female cleaning the injury. She jumped, and her wide, frightened eyes shot to mine. I moved to shove her away and found my hands tied to the headboard.

I pulled at my bonds, shaking the bed and ignored the small bubble of panic that rose in my chest at the thought of being trapped. “What have you done, human?”

She stepped back from the bed and pointed a handgun at me. “It’s just a little insurance. I don’t know who, or what you are, and until you convince me that you won’t hurt me you’re staying tied to that bed.”

I sneered at her. “Your ropes can’t hold me.”

I tried to change, and found that I couldn’t. I roared and yanked at the ropes. Dizziness swamped me, and I had to lay my head back down. Whoa.

“You have a fever.”

“No shit, female.” Spec-fuckin’-tacular. I couldn’t change with a fever this severe. Thankfully I wasn’t human. One of their kind would be dead. Eventually my body would fight off the poison, but for now I was helpless.

“Untie me.”

She didn’t move, just stood there with the gun in her hand. “My name is Maura.”

“How is that a response to ‘untie me’?”

She bit her lip. “What’s your name?”

I growled. “I’m called Jayden. Now…Maura untie me”

She shook her head, her golden curls cascading around her shoulders. She pointed the gun at the floor. “No,” she said as she backed toward the door. “You haven’t been very friendly. I don’t trust you yet.”

I took a deep breath and tried not the shout at her. “I’m not going to hurt you. Just let me go, and I’ll leave your home.”

“No.” Her eyes locked on mine and she hesitated a moment. “Besides, you’re hurt. You should at least stay here until you heal.” She turned and fled.

“Female, get back here!”

My command fell flat in the empty room. I sighed and lay back on the bed. I couldn’t afford to be tied up if my ‘buddies’ decided to bust in and kill us.

I started working the knots. Fortunately, she wasn’t good at tying them. Within seconds, the restraints fell away. Rubbing my wrists, I sat up. I’d have to take the woman by surprise or she would shoot me. Any damage she could inflict would heal, but I really didn’t want a gunshot wound. Besides, there was always a chance she would hit the head or the heart and then I’d be worm food.

I followed her scent, and the smell of chicken soup, as I limped down the hallway. My ankle had more than likely been fractured in a few places, but it was already partially healed.

The most pleasant sound filled my sensitive ears. I peered around the corner. The female bustled around the kitchen, singing quietly to herself. She had the voice of an angel.

No, she had the voice of a goddess.

And the looks of one, too. Her blonde curls spilled to her waist. Her body was lusciously curved. The women of my culture were all bone. There was nothing for a man’s hands to grasp. No lush cushion or warmth.

I sucked in a deep breath. Lord, and she smelled incredible. Most women wore too much perfume. She wore none. Hers was the aroma of soap and her unique feminine scent.

My dick started to harden. Great, just what I needed to convince her I meant her no harm. Unfortunately, it wasn’t something I could stop, and given my heightened libido because of the disease I carried, I was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner.

Her taunting frame beckoned as she leaned forward and avocado, tomato, cheese and lettuce out of the fridge. She slapped the cheese into a frying pan and then moved to the cutting board on the counter.

I darted into the kitchen and pushed her against the counter top. She screamed and made a wild grab for the knives in the wood block. Before she could reach a weapon, I had her by the wrists. Bringing them around behind her, I clasped them in one of my hands, then I pulled them up, forcing her upper body onto the counter.

Buy it here.

Fear of Darkness by Honoria Ravena

2009-12-17T11:16:00.003-06:00

I've had a lot of people on my blog recently promoting their own books. Today it's time to promote one of my own. Please enjoy this excerpt of Fear of Darkness.

Buy Link

Blurb:

Vahe Patten is a Watcher in the King's guard. The vampire king, that is. As a Watcher, Vahe executes vampires who break the only major vampire law: keep the secret. When Dylan Andrew starts leaving his murder victims for the human authorities to find, something must be done. While in Haven, Vahe enters the dreams of a woman plagued with nightmares of her past. When he sees Dylan flirting with her in a bar, he knows she'll be his next victim.

Natalya Woods just wants to avoid her ex-husband. The small town of Haven, Maine seems perfect until she's attacked in the street by, literally, the man of her dreams.

Excerpt:

"Need a hand, Natalya."

I spun around but before I could even get a word out I was pressed against the wall with a hand over my mouth. I realized I'd forgotten my gun. I hadn't thought to put a different one in my other purse and I should have. This vampire was the least of my problems. Okay, so maybe not the least, a vampire was a big problem, especially if he was the murder, but I did have other people I was worried about. A vampire… It was just unbelievable.

"I'm going to take my hand away and if you scream, I'll snap your neck. Understand?" I nodded. "Good."

He brushed the scarf away from my neck to reveal his marks. He ran his hand lightly over my throat. I flinched when he touched the bite. Even with such a light touch, it was painful.

He leaned his face in toward me, moved his hand, and then he was kissing me. I hesitated before I gave into him. The kiss was full of probing tongues. My tongue brushed his fangs and I broke the kiss.

He moved his mouth to my throat and I stood there dazed for a second before I jerked back. I would have hit my head on the wall but his hand was between the bricks and me. He tangled his hands in my hair. His tongue flicked out across the bite mark and then his mouth clamped down. He sucked hard, making the tiny holes bleed.

I gasped in pain and pushed at his chest. He moaned against my throat and sucked harder. His erection pressed against my stomach. Trembling, he drew back. His eyes were unfocused and his breathing labored. I was glad we were in the middle of the street and not somewhere private. I don't think anything would have kept him from fucking my brains out, and nothing could stop him from draining my blood.

He cleared his throat. "God, your blood is almost addictive." He shook himself. "Come on, I'll help you with all this food. I'm surprised you eat so much. You look so thin."

I narrowed my eyes at him and didn't respond. He picked up the food and carried it easily down the street, expecting me to follow.

I followed him without prompting. I watched my feet as I walked and tried to think of a good way to get away from him.

He didn't struggle to carry the food, but maybe it would take him a few seconds to realize I was gone and chase after me. Maybe a few vital seconds were all I needed. I doubted it.

He stopped abruptly and looked over his shoulder. He arched an eyebrow. "Go ahead. Try running for it. You won't make it three feet."

I had a childish second where I wanted to kick him in the shins and run. Instead, I waited for him to turn and then I took off down the street. I just had to reach a shop that was open, or a bar. I rounded a corner and then skidded to a halt. He stood in front of me, his arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow arched mockingly.

"You see, last night I was injured and couldn't use my preternatural speed, but after I had a sip from you I found a nice willing donor. I don't feel like messing around. I just want you to come with me."

"If you think I'll go with you willingly, you're nuts. I seem to remember being told not to go with strangers. That the only reason they want to take you somewhere is to kill you. Hell, you're a vampire. I can't even believe I'm saying it. How am I supposed to trust you? And I got farther than three feet."

He tried to suppress a smile at the last part, but didn't quite manage. I hadn't meant it to be funny.

Read chapter one on my website or buy it here.

Antonia Tiranth

2009-12-16T05:10:00.003-06:00

As the year comes to a close, one always looks back and wonders...what did I do this year? I look back and realize I did a heck of a lot! This year saw the release of Books 1-3 of my Tales of the Rikashi Series from Lyrical Press, Inc and Book 1 of my Tarot Kings Series from Red Rose Publishing. Truly a year of a dream come true for me and I hope this coming year continues to be just as good. I've met so many wonderful people through LPI and RRP, authors, editors and readers alike. Despite the troubles of the year, I will put this year as one of the best, if only for the people I've met. This year I have more than five people outside of family to send Christmas Cards too! Which reminds me...I need to write out Christmas cards. And what about the age old question of what my New Year's Resolution will be? I think it will be to write everyday and make an effort to meet more of the awesome people at both of my publishers.

If your interested in my Tales of the Rikashi Series you can find them here.

And the newest series, which I've never mentioned on here yet is The Tarot Kings. The first book of the series is King of Swords. Here's a little peek:

"I had everything under control, Sebastian."

He took a step towards her, she retreated but he followed. "But you didn't really want to be, did you Lily?"

"What are you talking about?" Lily swallowed around the sudden lump in her throat, watching his eyes travel to her throat. The way he was looking at her made heat collect in her belly.

"You don't want to be in control," he replied, his voice a low seductive growl.

"Yes I do," she protested weakly.

"No, you don't. You want to let go, to hand someone else the reins."

"I can take care of myself." Lily straightened her shoulders, trying to ignore her body that longed to throw itself at this man's feet.

"Of course you can," Sebastian conceded, "But you want someone to take care of you. I know why you weren't happy with Philip," he said.

"Oh?" For every step she took away from him, he took one forward. Her heels touched the wall at the same time her hip hit the counter. She had backed herself into a corner and he placed his hands on the wall on either side of her head, trapping her. Her breath was coming in quick gasps now. She couldn't look at him. She kept her eyes on his shoulder but that turned out to be a bad idea as she noticed now that the black turtle neck hugged his form in a sinful way. "And why is that?" she somehow managed to ask.

Sebastian bent his head, catching her gaze with his own. "You want a man who won't let you control him."

"And you could?" she countered, her cheeks flushing.

She held her breath, thinking he was going to kiss her again but he took a step back. "Come, we're leaving." His tone left no room for debate and she really didn't feel any desire to refuse the command. Still it was her brother's party and she always stayed here to spend Christmas morning with him and Kate.

"But—"

"I said, come."

It is available now from Red Rose Publishing!

Interview with Sascha Illyvich

2009-12-15T09:43:00.004-06:00

1.What are you currently working on? – Nothing Not a damn thing, nadda, zip, zero, zilch. I’m on vacation. Though when I return to writing in January, I have a motivational/success book to start writing, a cyberpunk Male Dom BDSM wolf/faery story for Renaissance E-books and starting a new project that’s hush hush right now J

2.How many novels did you complete before you sold your first? – I sold on my first novel actually. eXtasy books picked up A Christmas Favor at the same time I had put together a compilation of short erotic stories for Renaissance E-books.

3.When did you attempt your first novel? What's become of it? – I was probably 15. It’s unfinished, retarded and in the closet never to see the light of day or a bottle of whisky ever.

4.Did you always want to be a writer? If not, what inspired you to become one? – I’m not sure “become” a writer is actually how it happened. I remember telling my hair dresser that I wanted to write after the IT bubble burst and she said if you want to do it, do that instead of wasting time looking for work.

5.What's your favorite way to advertise? – If you’re spending money then you’re doing it wrong. Money flows TO the author. Not from. So paid speaking engagements, teaching classes, anyway I can that helps others to become better authors while putting cash in my pocket is a viable way I like to advertise.

6.What are you reading, if anything, at the moment? Susan Kearney’s Solar Heat

7.Who are your favorite authors? – Diane Whiteside, Joey W. Hill, Angela Knight, Richele Mead, Colby Holdge is a new favorite, Rebecca York, Laurel K. Hamilton, I could go on.

8.What kind of activities do you do to clear your head? – Cigars. I prefer La Riqueza by tatuaje or Padrons. The time to smoke one cigar is usually an hour at least for me and gives me down time needed to NOT concentrate on writing/work. Or I masturbate.

9.What do you do immediately after finishing a manuscript? – Drink more. Then I leave the MS alone for about a week and work on something else or do website stuff, but I “try” to take a few days off. Usually I end up at Grants for a cigar.

10.What advice would you give an aspiring author? – Believe in yourself but don’t think that this is easy even if you GET a lucky break. Respect those who came before, and pay it forward.

11.It’s plug time. Tell me about your radio show. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?

The UnNamed Romance Show on Radio Dentata can be found at http://www.radiodentata.com and is a one hour (usually) show dedicated to bringing you the hottest in industry news, author interviews, excerpts, my rants and more. It airs Mondays at 1 PM PST and again at 7 PM PST and once more on Thursday at 6 PM PST.

You can also find me at http://www.saschaillyvich.com and YES we have an excerpt from “Lessons Learned” which is my male dominant ménage story featuring a switch and a sexy submissive both of whom are in love with Master Clint. Wendi is a stubborn submissive who likes to push buttons because she thinks any attention paid to her is a sign of love. Master Clint is only able to put up with so much despite what his heart tells him. After he disciplines her one night too harshly, Summer appears and spends time with Wendi. What is Summer’s secret?

The blurb wasn’t written yet when I got this interview and the story just happened so…here’s an excerpt instead!

Once outside the private room, the two weren’t alone any longer. A few other patrons had been hanging outside the rooms, either relaxing with their submissives or talking to others near the bar.

Wendi wandered past everyone at a comfortable pace behind Clint. Her feet slapped against the floor. She shook her head, trying to block out the words he’d told her earlier. She didn’t have the energy right now to concentrate on her control issues.

It was much easier to cling to Clint’s body for warmth. Goose bumps ran the length of her exposed flesh.

She kept walking until she’d stumbled into the hardness of his body. Backing up to a respectful distance, she lowered her head and waited for the slap across her face that was sure to come.

Instead, Clint turned around slowly, leash still in hand. He tugged it.

She tripped forward and fell against him with an oomph
.
He wrapped his arms around her and smoothed one open palm down her back.

His hands settled around her still warm ass. The embers of desire still burned in his eyes and made her want him even more.

Clint stepped back and tilted her chin up to his. His mouth came down on hers, claiming her. His tongue pushed past her lips.

Gasping, she opened her mouth to let him in. Her thighs grew damper with arousal. She reveled in the way his tongue explored every nuance of her. Fingers clenched around her sore ass.

His kiss pulled a tiny moan from her. She opened her eyes to see him and suppressed a giggle.

Her master kissed with his eyes closed.

Her body began to tingle, especially when blood raced towards her cunt. Gods, how she wished he’d fuck her right now.

She reached for his kilt with one hand, fingers caressing the smooth leather.

His teeth nibbled her lower lip. “Don’t.”

Ignoring him, she responded to the ache in her pussy. She clutched the leather and dragged the hem up his thigh.

He swatted her ass lightly. Pulling back from the kiss, he frowned at her.

Wendi flinched and tilted her head at him. She batted her eyelashes at him, hoping he’d give in to her advances. Her mouth formed an 'O'.

“You should know better.” His tone held a combination of arousal and disdain. “I should drag you back to the spanking bench and give you fifty lashes right now.”

Her body still yearned for his cock to split her in two, but she stepped back from him.

Clint yanked on the leash, bringing her to her knees.

She looked up at him, saw his lips purse into a thin line and lowered her gaze to his boots. “I’m sorry, Master.”

Clint stepped back another foot and yanked the leash harder.

Wendi fell to her hands, ass up in the air. She knew better than to move, despite the fact that there were a few sets of eyes now staring at her reddened ass.

She wanted to scramble away and hide in the dark. She wanted to run. Fear gathered in her throat in the form of bile that she tried hard to swallow. Her stomach twisted up in knots.

Clint dropped the duffel. It landed with a loud thud against the floor in front of Wendi.

“Stand up.” His voice was harsh now.

Slowly, Wendi stood. Clasping her hands together in front of her body, she knew the moment she looked up that she was about to be punished. Hopefully he’d just take his aggression out on her ass with the singletail. That hurt but the wounds disappeared after a few days. Odd how she’d grown to love the sting of it when he was playing with her, but when she displeased him, it was torture.

He dropped her leash. The leather thong fell against her skin, hanging from her collar between her breasts. He nodded and turned on a booted heel. Then he strode away.

She started after him.

He stopped.

For a moment, it seemed like there were only the two of them in the brown walls of the warehouse that had become Broad Horizons.

Without bothering to look over his shoulder, he spoke. The set of his shoulders rose and fell with his words. “Don’t follow me. You are not to see me until I say so. Go home, Wendi. Think about what it is that you want from me and are willing to give before we continue this.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Tears stung the backs of her eyes. “But Master, I—“

“No.” He shouted. “No more until I say so. Goodnight.”

He picked up the duffel bag and walked towards the exit, ignoring the few glances that came his way.

Wendi’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach faster than a plane crash. Tears streamed down her cheeks at the realization of what he had said.

They were through.

Shiela Stewart's Interview

2009-12-14T09:06:00.004-06:00

1.What are you working on now?
Right now I’m working on rewriting a series I wrote many years ago. It desperately needed to be edited so I decided just to rewrite the whole thing and give it a new spin. The first book is called Awaken the Demon and is a story of a young woman running from an abusive boyfriend only to find herself working for a demon. But what she doesn’t know is that she too is a demon and that Satan wants control of her soul.
The series deals with three generations of demons working for Satan, collecting souls and how they rebel and fight to break free.

2.What inspired you to be a writer?
I’ve always written. It’s in my blood. As a child I would tell tales to my friends and cousins and as I grew up I began jotting those stories down on paper. I had-still do-have a very vivid imagination. In my teens I used writing as an escape from teenage angst, trouble at home and depression.

3.How many rejection letters did you get before you got an acceptance? What advice do you give the writers about dealing with rejection letters?
LOL, wayyyy to many. Advice? They suck, they hurt but remember, just because one editor didn’t like your story doesn’t mean anything. There will be someone out there who will love it. Just remember to make sure and send in the best copy of your manuscript, making it as clean as possible and also, know the publisher you’re sending to. Know what they like, what they publish. It really does help.

4.How did you celebrate your first contract?
First, I jumped up and down screaming that I had finally accomplished my dream. When that insanity left me, my hubby and I went out for dinner and drinks and after…well, I’ll leave that up to your imagination. J

5.What's your favorite way to advertise?
I’m not sure I have a favorite but I am fond of doing interviews on other blogs, and advertising my books on popular websites and blogs.

6.What do you do to amuse yourself when not working?
Well now, we’re getting personal. LOL Okay, mind out of gutter. I like to create in other forms like crocheting, Knitting, painting and redecorating. I also like to garden and work on my yard. Aside from that I like to go on long walks with my hubby and talk about everything and anything that comes to mind. I also enjoy playing video games with my children.

7.Where do you see your writing going in five years? In ten?
I would love to see my writing progress to the point that I have contracts with some of the bigger romance publishers. That is my goal now and like everything else in my life, I rush into it with a great deal of determination.

8.What is your favorite "comfort food"?
Chocolate. I am a sucker for chocolate but unfortunately, because of my migraines, I can’t eat a lot of it. Talk about cruel when Christmas, Valentine’s day, Easter and Halloween come around. My favorite though is thick chocolate cake with plenty of chocolate icing. Mmmm…now I want cake. LOL

9.Do you prefer ebooks or print for your reading pleasure?
I like the feel of a book in my hands but I am all for ebooks and I think ebooks should become the norm for university and colleges to use instead of the huge cumbersome and expensive text books the students have to use. I also think Ebooks in high-schools and elementary schools would be great. Allowing the student to access any book from a library on line would be a great asset to them.

10.Who are your favorite authors?
By far, Nora Roberts and J.D Robb. I can’t get enough of her In Death Series.

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?

I certainly do and thank you for allowing me to boast a little about my work. J
Readers can find me at www.shielasbooks.ca
Twitter
Facebook
Blog
Publisher: Breathless Press

Here is the blurb and excerpt of Consuming the Darkness

In Jacob’s Cove, where death is as common as apple pie, a serial murderer is a first. Lieutenant Sienna Storm, the town’s newly minted homicide detective, is eager to prove she’s up to the job of tracking down the demon who rips out his victims’ still-beating hearts. Even if it means using her innate ability to connect with him through his blood.

Detective Nathan Powers lost his partner to the aptly named Heartless Killer, and the trail of bodies leads him straight to Jacob’s Cove. However, this is no typical small town. It’s a strange world populated with bloodthirsty demons and run by a vampire. Still, the leggy blonde Sienna is a pleasant distraction. Until he discovers she’s after the same killer—and she’s not sharing.

Minds clash as the hunt intensifies, but the more they run into each other, the harder it is to stay apart. Together they discover not only clues, but a searing need that rises higher by the day.

That need may be their downfall when Nathan becomes the killer’s next target, and Sienna must risk everything to get him back.

Excerpt:

“Behind you! Get down.”

The gun came up in his hand, aimed at her head. She felt the presence of the vampire as he jumped out from behind the dumpster. As she spun around to take him down, the gun fired, hitting the vamp in the right shoulder. He jerked back, screeching like a banshee.

“What the hell are you doing?” she yelled at the man with the gun as she ran to the vamp.

“Daisy, stay!” Daisy sat as she’d been instructed while Sienna knelt down beside the screaming vamp. She pressed her knee to the vamp’s bleeding shoulder to ensure that he wouldn’t move. “You are under arrest for breaking the laws of human and vampire and will be detained in the local jail while awaiting trial.”

“You’re a cop?” the guy behind her responded.

“Yeah, I’m a cop. Oh, stop your screaming already,” she yelled at the vamp, then flipped him onto his belly and pulled his arms to his back, pinning them in one hand while she searched for her handcuffs. “Damn it, why don’t I have my cuffs on me. Wanna tell me why you were about to attack me?”

“I wasn’t…honest…I was only…out for a walk. Yeah, I was walking. I’m going to sue the cops for harassment. I was minding my own. Fuck, my shoulder is killing me. Police brutality!”

“Shut the hell up. No one gives a damn.”

“Here.”

Sienna glanced up to see a set of shiny silver handcuffs dangling down before her. Glancing up, she took a moment to survey the gentleman and noticed he wasn’t bad on the eyes. His dark brown hair was messed up but somehow looked natural. And wow! The guy had a hell of a body. Broad shoulders, wide chest, and narrow waist. His face was pretty decent to look at, even with that thin line of hair over his upper lip that ran down the sides of his mouth to cover his chin. He had nice eyes, dark, round, with long lashes. “I’d prefer a regulation set rather than your bondage toys.”

“These are regulation. I’m a detective. Nathan Powers,” he introduced in a deep, throaty voice that sounded as if he’d had one too many cigarettes.

The vamp squirming beneath her, she took the cuffs. Before slapping them on the vamp’s wrists she made sure they were regulation. Flipping him onto his back, Sienna pinned him with her knee as she had before. “Don’t try anything stupid.”

“Bitch!” the vamp spat.

“What the hell’s with the yellow contacts and fake fangs?”

Sienna glanced over her shoulder as she responded to the detective. “What? You’ve never seen a vampire before?”

“A what?”

“A vampire.”

“I heard you. I thought I’d seen it all, but I guess not. Now we’ve got junkies playing vampire,” The detective chuckled with a shake of his head.

One look at the guy told her he was serious. “Oh jeez, he’s a virgin.” She rolled her eyes. “I told you to shut up.” She yanked the screaming vamp to his feet. “This is a vampire, not a fake, the real deal and if you plan on being in Jacob’s Cove for any amount of time you might want to be on the lookout for them. Some of them refuse to abide by the new laws. Isn’t that right, screamer?”

“Seriously though, he’s a vampire like the blood-sucking kind?”

“Don’t know any other kind.”

“Shouldn’t you like…you know, jam a wooden stake through his heart? I can’t believe I just said that.” He laughed boldly.

Was he for real?

She didn’t care for the sarcasm in his voice. “Neither can I. We prefer to rehabilitate them rather than turning them to dust.” Holding the vamp in one hand, she pulled her cell phone out with the other and dialed the station. “Lieutenant Storm here. I have a rogue vamp I need brought in.”

“I wasn’t doing anything, you stupid bitch.”

She clamped onto the squirming vamp a little tighter as she gave her location. She slipped her phone back into her shirt pocket when she was through and gave the vamp a hard shove against the dumpster. “Right, you were only skulking in the dark because you needed a smoke, right?”

“It’s a free world last time I looked.”

“Sure, except when you’re attempting to drink someone dry. Save it for the judge; I’m done listening.”

“You can’t prove anything. I’m innocent.”

“Do you know what I am?” she asked as she leaned in real close. “I’m a Tejakkan which means I have precog abilities. I saw you moments before you jumped out and I saw just what you’d planned to do so save your ‘I’m innocent’ act for someone who gives a damn.”

“Bitch!”

“That’s right and remember it.”

Guest Blog: Victoria Roder

2009-12-11T17:17:00.007-06:00

I wrote an article for FarmLife magazine on my rescue dog Rocky. He is a beautiful black and tan Husky that was hit by a car and left for dead. His back leg and tail had to be amputated, but the day after his surgery he walked out of the veterinarian’s office and into our hearts. When I saw my article about Rocky’s harrowing experience in print I was hooked. I set an original writing goal to have something published to honor each of my beloved family pets for all eternity.

With the success of publication came the inevitable rejection. Oh the devastation of receiving those initial rejection letters in the mail hurt deeply. I could have given up, I wanted to give up a few times, and then my stubborn nature took over. When I received a rejection in the mail I would immediately submit the story to another publisher, or magazine, based on the theory that ten separate publishers could give me ten different reactions to what I had crafted. Perseverance means determination, and I was determined. The key in writing is to find the right match for your manuscript, short story, or article. A rejection doesn’t mean your writing is lacking it could mean the publisher has met their quota for your genre at the current time. I received enough rejections for The Dream House Visions And Nightmares that I could have wallpapered my den with them. If I would have abandoned my determination I would never have received the publishing contract from Asylett Press.

Rejection can arrive in many forms, some rejections are a form letter, sometimes you don’t get a response, and sometimes the letter contains a glimmer of hope such as, good premise, shows promise, but…

Take the “but..” and fix it and re-submit. That’s how I landed a contract with Champagne Books. The editor liked my premise for my serial killer action thriller Bolt Action, but she suggested I soften up my main character Detective Leslie Bolt and then perhaps she would reconsider the manuscript. So, did I claim artistic talent, or writer’s prerogative? Hell no, I softened Detective Bolt’s characteristics and also explained earlier in the manuscript why she is rough around the edges and Bolt Action will be released in April 2010.

Set your goals, be determined, and persevere. Rejection is part of the process of publication. Take it with a grain of salt and sometimes a shot of─stubbornness, and resubmit.

Please read the excerpt below from The Dream House Visions And Nightmares, Asylett Press July 2009. Visit my website www.victoriaroder.com and read an excerpt from Bolt Action coming from Champagne Books April 2010.

Acknowledging my desire for─but my inability to─sleep, I decided to read for a while. I stretched for my neglected novel and prayed for heavy eyes and dreamless sleep. As I read several chapters I could feel myself nodding off, jerking awake, nodding off…

***

The young redheaded boy crouched on the rotting, dilapidated porch of my
childhood home. He couldn’t have been more than seven or eight. His mop of hair whipped in the gale force wind surrounding us. He had a white-knuckled clutch on the shell of the bay window.

Fearing for his safety, I screamed, “Hey, over here.”

The wind pricked at my face. My white nightgown billowed out behind me. I again called to him over the blustery wind. “Hey, you!”

Turning toward the sound of my voice he removed his hand from the window and pressed his index finger to his lips to silence me. Then he beckoned to me with a gesture of his hand. Struggling against the wind like a drunk attempting to walk a straight line, I finally reached him. He slipped his small hand into mine and led me out of the windstorm and into the abandoned house.

Once inside, the house transformed before my eyes into the home I’d once known. There were panes of glass inside the windows. Mustard-colored carpet covered the floor. The only light in the room was the flickering glow of the television set, its light falling on a snoring man on the couch. The stench of whiskey and cigarettes hung in the air like fog rolling off the San Francisco Bay.

The man and the children appeared blurry as if I was watching them on a station with bad reception. In a tight-knit group, several children sat within inches of the television set, but instead of watching the program, they used the light to see primitive motions they were gesturing toward one another. Although the children had not noticed us, the young boy and I stood motionless, watching their signals of communication. They seemed to be conversing with one another in their own sign language, I assumed, in an effort to avoid disturbing the passed out man.

I turned toward my companion in an eerie slow motion. He watched the children and imitated their gestures. He tapped my arm and repeated a hand sign over and over.

Attempting to recall the sign language class I took in college, I searched my memory.

Think, think.

Yes! Help. It’s the sign for help.

The boy walked backwards toward the downstairs bedroom, beckoning me to follow him. The bedroom was furnished with an unmade queen-size bed, a shabby pressed board bureau with a cracked mirror, and a bassinette someone had taken the time to weave blue ribbons through. A familiar, barely audible, tune played as a mobile of butterflies turned above the bassinette.

I turned to look for the boy, but he was no there. A glimpse of the bed drew my attention. I was now covered in cobwebs and an undisturbed layer of dust had materialized on the bureau. I focused on an invisible finger etching words in the dust. The words left behind read: HELP THE BABY.

I scanned the room once again, searching for the boy. Though I could not see him, I was certain it was he who had written in the dust. The beautiful bassinet enticed me─almost as if beckoning me to it─but I planted my bare feet on the arctic-cold floor. My gut instinct seemed to warm me against approaching the bassinet. Somewhere outside of myself I felt a presence encourage me. Go over there…over to the bassinet.

A wall of water ascended behind me, and with enormous pressure, forced me toward the bassinet. I could hear an infant crying. The icy cold water splashed against my back as I peered into the ribbon wrapped bed. As a mother, the site made my heart flutter. A blue and white crochet blanket embroidered with tiny flowers and edged with sheer lace lovingly swaddled a child. My hand─as if its own accord─moved toward the infant. No mother can resist the urge to hold a baby.
With gentle care, I picked up the bundle, and marveled how light the babe felt. Removing a corner of the blanket from the child’s face I inhaled in shock.
Suddenly, the boy stood before me signing in jerky panicked motions, “Help, help, help.”

In mortified horror, I tossed the crocheted blanket. Remains─human remains─tumbled out of the blanket onto the floor in front of my bare feet. The beautiful crocheted blanket had tenderly covered nothing but decaying bones. Everything in the bedroom vanished except the spinning musical mobile. Now the barely audible music became deafening. Over and over the mobile played the tune, Hush Little Baby…

As the whirlwind from outside shattered the windows, spraying glass pierced my face and chest. The wind whipped around in the hazy bedroom the mobile began to spin violently. It crashed to the floor, landing on top of the bones. Even over the howl of the wind I could hear the music. At unbearable decibels, Hush Little Baby, resounded from the wreckage.

Guest Blogger Yvonne Walus

2009-12-10T08:13:00.005-06:00

The Journey of One Idea
Or
How an SF Story Became a (non) Christmas Book
by Yvonne Walus

BUY LINK

"The Hanukkah Time Capsule" is a short e-book published by Echelon Press Shorts on December 9, 2009, as part of its "12 Days of Christmas" initiative.

The book was originally a short story written for a competition. The rules dicated that the story had to begin with the sentence "She wondered whether she should open it." I knew straight away that the plot would involve a time capsule. At first, it was a contemporary setting, and a time capsule from the past. Later, I adapted it for a Science Fiction market and changed the setting to something 3 generations in the future. An editor liked it but wanted the setting to reflect a minority culture, so I made my protagonists celebrate Hanukkah... the publication folded before they could use my story though, and I forgot about it until my publisher asked for season-themed fiction. That's how "The Hanukkah Time Capsule" found its home at Echelon Press.

Of course, by now it's three times as long as the original text and bears little resemblence to it. If you've read "The Hanukkah Time Capsule" and are keen to see the original, please email me on yve@xtra.co.nz.

Blurb for "The Hanukkah Time Capsule":

In the late 2060s, decades before organic computers replaced the old-fashioned electronic ones, Esther's grandmother had left her a time capsule. The time capsule was meant to be used only when a genuine need arises. Today, Esther faces a failing marriage, two daughters who are outcasts because of their birthright, a Hanukkah without the wine and an Anti-Knowledge Warden, who definitely doesn't know what a browser is. Did Esther's grandmother guess correctly what her youngest granddaughter might need in the future? Will the time capsule save Esther's family from their enemies?

Excerpt of "The Hanukkah Time Capsule":

"Get on with it," snarled the Anti-Knowledge Warden. "Open the damned time capsule! Let's see what precious information your Grandmother has left for you to abuse."

Esther hesitated. The fear which she had learnt to accept in the last few years, burnt sour in her stomach. Escape, she needed to escape from it all. Briefly, she wondered which of her so-called friends had reported the legacy her Grandma had left.

The mind stunner glinted in the Warden's hand. "Do it now, or -"

"Yes, sir," muttered Esther. The words sounded dull in her suddenly constricted throat. She would do anything to avoid being zapped. Mind stunners left permanent marks: gaps in memory, holes in the logical processing. Some claimed they could even alter the victim's personality. Judging by Nathaniel's latest behaviour, she wouldn't be surprised… after his encounter with a mind stunner, he was simply not the same person she had married.

Rie McGaha Interview

2009-12-09T09:27:00.003-06:00

1.What are you working on now?
I’ve got so many irons in the fire right now, even I don’t know what I’m working on! LOL I guess I am trying to get caught up on WIP’s and I’ve got a couple of new releases this month and next month, plus some others over the months to come!

2.What inspired you to be a writer?
I never know how to answer that question. I’ve always been a writer. I think I was born to write since I’ve done it all my life. From the time I could make letters, I’ve written stories, poetry, song lyrics and now books.

3.How many rejection letters did you get before you got an acceptance? What advice do you give the writers about dealing with rejection letters?
Ha! I don’t know how to count that high! I’ve had so many rejections I don’t even get upset over them anymore. The first few bummed me out because I thought it was a sign I shouldn’t be a writer, but even after being published I still receive rejections on a regular basis. It’s a part of writing, so no big deal.

4.How did you celebrate your first contract?
I think I just ran around the house doing the naked happy dance for a few days!

5.What's your favorite way to advertise?
Promotions are the worst thing for me, I absolutely hate them even though I know it’s a necessary part of being a writer. Fortunately there are promo people out there and I now have a wonderful (and sexy) guy who does it for me. But I still have to be available for interviews, contests, blogs, etc. It’s never-ending!

6.What do you do to amuse yourself when not working?
Giggle* giggle* well now, that’s a very personal question!

7.Where do you see your writing going in five years? In ten?
I’m old and all of that five and ten year plan thing isn’t something I think about. If I’m still above ground in ten years, I’ll be ecstatic!

8.What is your favorite "comfort food"?
I have so many! I guess I really like crawling into bed with the electric blanket on, a cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream in hand and something like cracked grain bread with pepper jack cheese slices to eat with it, or a bowl of sliced bananas covered in hot fudge and topped with lots of whipped cream!

9.Do you prefer ebooks or print for your reading pleasure?
Definitely print books. I like to fill my Jacuzzi and climb in with a glass of wine and good book, so electronic really doesn’t work well with water.

10.Who are your favorite authors?
My very fav is James Patterson. I fell in love with Alex Cross and haven’t missed a story yet. I also love Karen Marie Moning, her highlanders are soooo hot! And Sherrilyn Kenyon has some great vamps, as does Lynsay Sands. I also love a lot of the e-published authors like Kelley Heckart, Jesse Fox, Cinsearae Santiago, Bryl Tyne, Fiona Jayde, GR Bretz, and many others.

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share?
So glad you asked! I’m on all the sites like My Space, Face Book and Twitter, so friend me or follow me and I’ll do the same! My website is www.riemcgaha.com and all the contest information, new releases, excerpts, links, etc. is there too. You can visit my publisher buy link where there are more excerpts and trailers to watch! And thank you so much for having me today, Honoria, it’s been a pleasure.

Excerpt from Ancient Blood by Rie McGaha (sequel to Blood Line)

Amenemhat traveled under the cover of darkness, knowing the danger he would face if recognized, and knew it would surely end his life. The people would welcome no consort of the crown. They were hungry, their children were dying, and they had little will left to help themselves, but they would have no problem killing the right-hand man of the dynasty they blamed for their deplorable lives.

After traveling most of the night, he reached Thebes by early morning light. Exhausted as he entered the temple to pray and be fortified, he stood before the altar of Amun, and Amenemhat felt a shiver run over his flesh and knew he was not alone. Slipping the knife from his waistband, he held it hidden in the folds of his robes. He turned slowly, and then involuntarily sucked a breath into his lungs at the sight he beheld.

The woman was ethereal in her beauty. Dark, thick hair fell to her knees in glorious, shining waves. With eyes as black as night, she peered at him from beneath heavy lashes. The faintest blush against alabaster skin highlighted her cheeks. Red and full, her perfect mouth nearly curved into a smile, but not quite. Her gown appeared to shine like silver, held beneath her firm, full breasts with a girdle of braided gold. The long sleeves fell like bells past her wrists, covering her hands as they lay loosely at her sides. Standing with bare feet, she observed him as if he was the intruder. The knife in his hand clattered on the marble floor.

"Who are you?" He asked in a barely audible whisper. Licking his lips, he tried to overcome the complete way she had caused his brain to all but cease functioning.

With one slow step toward him, she extended one hand in front of her as if she would touch him. He felt his breath catch in his lungs as she crossed the distance between them without seeming to have moved at all.

"You may call me Ganda."

Her voice was as close to music as he'd ever heard. And then she was beside him, laying her hand gently on his arm.

"You have nothing to fear, Amenemhat," she assured him softly.

He swallowed hard, forced himself to take a long, slow breath. His skin was on fire beneath her touch. His blood felt as if it were about to boil. Barely able to hold a coherent thought in his head, he stared at her, inhaled deeply, and let the breath out slowly. Finally, he was able to speak. "Why are you here in this sanctuary? How do you know me?" He hoped his voice sounded steadier to her than it did to him, though she appeared not to notice his nervousness.

"I…” she hesitated and looked over her shoulder at a man Amenemhat hadn’t even noticed. She smiled again, and corrected herself. "We, that is, have heard your prayers."

The man that joined her looked altogether normal, yet not quite, as Amenemhat looked him over. He was tall, but no taller than Amenemhat himself, and he had black hair, with eyes as blue as a summer sky. It was in the way he carried himself, Amenemhat decided. The man just appeared so much larger than life. He was definitely human, but he was also something more than that. Something sleeker, wilder, more defined than an ordinary man.

"I'm Colin," the man said with a smirk, as if he knew exactly what Amenemhat had been thinking.

Amenemhat cleared his throat, but it didn't help, his mouth was so dry his tongue was glued to the roof. He cleared his throat again but no sound came out. When the woman looked directly at him it seemed as if he could no longer control himself. His mind failed to function, as well as his mouth. Something about her made him want to touch her, to bow before her, to worship her body, and to promise her anything she might ask of him.

Finally, Amenemhat was able to pull himself together and managed to croak, "I don't understand how you came to be in this place. It is sacred. Only the king, the priests, and myself, are allowed in this sanctuary."

The man and woman looked at one another, joined their hands and smiled into each other's eyes. There was nothing Amenemhat could mistake in the look that passed between them. The woman belonged to this strange man, and Amenemhat thought he heard the word mine whispered on the air when the two joined hands. He took a step back. It was fear and respect, awe that he felt now.

Neither of these beings were simply normal human beings. He knew it in the depths of his soul, though he couldn’t have said what it was he thought they might be. The woman looked him in the eye again and he felt his stomach muscles quiver, his blood seemed to explode within him, and he couldn’t breathe. Falling prostrate before them, he pressed his fists to his eyes. He didn't see the look the man gave the woman, or the smiles that passed between them.

The man shrugged and said, "Arise,” with so much authority Amenemhat immediately obeyed.

"How may I serve you, my lord?"

Again Colin smiled but caught the look Ganda sent him and quickly sobered. "We aren't here to be served, but rather to help you. We heard your prayers, we've seen the devastation in your country, and we want to help all of you."

Amenemhat looked warily from one to the other now. Speaking of his country sobered him. "Help? In what way would you be able to help? We are all but finished here! The war has raged since before I was born, before my king was born, and none of his predecessors were able to end the civil war here in Egypt. How can you help?"

"We are able to see beyond what you see. And able to succeed in areas that a…well, that a man such as yourself is unable to," the woman said.

Amenemhat could have listened to her all day so sweet was her voice, and so warm was her touch, and so very seductive. He would have done anything to have a long, slow taste of her, of that mouth, and to be able to feel that body beneath his. Everything that was male within him reacted to her. She was the most beautiful, desirable woman he’d ever seen in his life. He had never felt such hot desire licking through him, had never felt such raw lust pricking every nerve in his body.

This woman was snatched from his fantasies. One he had dreamed of but knew could never really exist. The gods had simply not been able to create such perfection. Yet, here she stood with all that glorious hair falling around her. It was all he could do not to reach out and wrap his hands in it. Her dark eyes were like pools with endless depths and he was sure she could see right into his very thoughts, his mind and soul.

He could imagine kissing those lips, sucking that full bottom lip into his mouth. Her breasts, so full and high, he could see her nipples in his mind’s eye all puckered and pink. Licking his lips, he felt the heat of his desire for her coursing through his blood. He knew he had never wanted a woman the way he wanted this one, and he would never touch another woman without thinking of this one, then he caught the look the man was giving him.

"She belongs to me, and if you want to continue drawing breath in this life, I suggest you keep those thoughts out of your head," Colin said softly with a smile that belied the edge of danger hanging from his words.

Amenemhat's mouth fell open. Falling flat on his face, he lay prostrate before them once more. This time, however, he begged for forgiveness and pleaded for his life. They must truly be gods Amenemhat thought vaguely, since they could read his mind!

Colin almost laughed out loud. Not a god at all, but what could it hurt if everyone thought he was? Egypt was going to be fun!

Small Packages by Franny Armstrong

2009-12-07T10:09:00.004-06:00

Please welcome Franny Armstrong, who is here promoting her new book, Small Packages, released December 10th.

SMALL PACKAGES: A CHRISTMAS STORY
by Franny Armstrong

Buy link

BACK COVER BLURB:

Widow Paula Winters, romance author, Paula R. Prentice, wasn’t interested in meeting men when her daughters sent her on a romantic cruise so she decides to use her two–week vacation to finish her novel and do some Christmas shopping. She hasn’t recovered from the loss of her beloved husband and has no intention of meeting someone else.

Widowed workaholic Derek Rawlins is only on the cruise at his son’s insistence and figures he can get some work done, not because he has plans on meeting any women.

When they meet, Paula wonders if he’s the romantic hero in her next novel, or someone she wants to keep in her life permanently. This Christmas will bring them more than one small package to fill them with joy!

EXCERPT

“Are you sure you aren’t cheating?” Derek asked, laughing.

Paula had won three rounds of Euchre, with him as her partner.

“Absolutely not! I don’t even know how to cheat in cards!” she protested. What is trump?” she asked, having asked twice already.

“Diamonds! Are you going alone, or do you want me to play too?”

Biting her lip, she was silent for a moment then nodded. “I’ll go alone. Thanks anyway, partner,” she said.

Raising his eyebrow, he put his cards on the table face down.

The couple that they played with put down their cards and Paula laid down the ten of diamonds, taking the hand. The next card she played was the ace of diamonds and took those cards as well. Then, she led with the ace of spades, losing that hand. Finally, she put down the Jack of diamonds and the Jack of hearts, capturing the last two hands.

“You did it! Congratulations, Paula. Nice job.”

“Thanks. It was a pleasure playing with you,” she thanked their opponents. “I don’t know about you, Derek, but I’m kind of tired and would like to call it a night.”

“Works for me, I still have a couple of gallons of salt water to process. It’s exhausting being a hero,” he teased.

Laughing, she accepted his hand and they said good night to their Euchre companions. They made their way back to their rooms.

Derek paused outside of her door.

“Goodnight,” Derek said, leaning in to kiss her tenderly.

“Goodnight, Derek. I had a wonderful time today.” Paula whispered. She gazed into his deep-blue eyes and saw a question. Shivering she panicked and opened her door, ready to slip inside.

“I’ll see you tomorrow?” he asked, his voice husky, his eyes burning with a dare.

“Sure. Yes. Goodnight,” she said and stepped into her room, closing the door.

Putting her hand over her heart, she shook her head. “What am I doing?” she whispered, thinking of her heroines and their courage in the face of passion. She decided that she didn’t want to be alone, especially if it meant not being near a man as kind and gentle as Derek.

Nodding to herself, she said, “I’m forty-five freaking years old, for crying out loud! It’s the millennium! And…and…damn it! I want that man!”

Filled with her resolution she grabbed her purse and key card and left her room. Walking straight across the hall she knocked on the door. She had a terrifying moment where she thought her legs wouldn’t hold her, but braced herself.

When the door opened, she just stared at him and couldn’t speak, though her mouth made every attempt as it opened and closed like a guppy’s.

Without a word, Derek took her hand and pulled her close, closing the door behind them. His lips found hers and she dropped the purse and card, kissing him with a sudden wild passion.

When she finally pulled her lips away, she said, “I…I want to be with you.”

“I don’t have a problem with that,” he chuckled then kissed her again.

Friday's Feature

2009-12-04T14:07:00.004-06:00

This is what I've been reading this week. Jessica was sweet enough to give me a copy. This books is absolutely great and if you're into vampires and paranormal romance you should definitely check it out.

Genre: Vampire Paranormal
Length: Novel Plus
Buy Link

Blurb:

Kenric St. James wants revenge. Three hundred years ago, an ancient, female vampire turned him against his will and killed the woman he loved. He's spent more than a century building an Enclave of warrior vampires who have sworn their allegiance to defend humanity and to eliminate the ancient vampire determined to destroy them all. After two centuries of denying his body's needs to gain strength, he's poised to take his vengeance when he meets a new love, who he burns to claim as his own. But giving her his love will surely mean her death.

Emily Ross is a nurse struggling to start a new life. She's a survivor, coming off the tail end of an abusive relationship and the tragic death of her parents. All she wants is time alone to learn who she is without a man and to save the home that holds her heart. The last thing she wants is another controlling, dominant male calling all the shots, in bed and out. Never would she have thought stopping her car one night to save a dying man might change her mind, and her life, forever. But is what they have, their desire, worth dying for?

Excerpt:

His head hurt like a bitch.

Someone was trying to pickax their way out of his skull.

The metallic smell of dried blood weighed heavy in the air. A wave of hunger coursed through him, tightening Kenric’s stomach into an agonizing spasm. His veins burned, demanding to be fed.

A thick fog clouded his mind. Where the hell was he, and what the hell happened?

Muffled voices chattered in the distance. The lethargy throughout his body had sealed his eyelids.

Pushing through the haze muddling his brain, he assessed his surroundings. Along with blood, there was an acrid scent of antiseptic. Above his head, the repetitive sound of a mechanical heartbeat pinged. Shit!

How long had he been in a hospital?

Through the insistent pounding within his skull, the memory of his battle with the DEADs returned. He’d been about to call Guerin when he’d blacked out. Where the hell was his phone? He had to get out of here. The itch beneath his skin, like a fucking sundial, warned him time was running out.

The heart monitor over his head lurched into a rapid succession of beats. Get a grip, Kenric. He couldn’t risk drawing any unwanted interest. With a fierce hold on the gurney’s rail for strength, he focused on the pounding of his heart, slowing it to a steady rate.

Now, to find his damn phone. He searched along his left side, feeling for the lining of his coat. A cool draft floated in under the thin sheet. Shit! Where the hell is my coat…and the rest of my damn clothes?

Approaching footsteps and a trio of voices grabbed his attention. Taking a deep breath, he stilled his movements.

“You guys go ahead and get out of here. Can you give me a rain check on breakfast? I want to check in on our John Doe one more time before I leave.”

“Come on, Emily. You’ve been here a year already, and you keep turning me down every time I try to get you to meet someone. Jake is really interested. I know you two would hit it off if you’d give it a chance.”

“I promise I will. Soon. Just not this morning. Not yet.”

“Fine,” a female said with a sigh.

The sharp sound of metal rings sliding over a rod near his head indicated one of them had entered his area.

Emily closed the privacy curtain of the trauma treatment room. The unidentified patient she’d found earlier at The Docks lay unconscious on the hospital gurney. Bloodstained bandages covered his flank and neck.

Once the paramedics had gotten him here, the ER had been able to stabilize him with a few universal-donor transfusions. He remained in need of additional units to bring his hemoglobin into an acceptable range, though. Unfortunately, the lab was taking longer than usual to type and cross-match him. They’d found some kind of anomaly present in his blood work. There was even talk that he possibly had some form of leukemia on top of everything else, due to the extreme elevation in his white-blood-cell count.

Emily followed the slow and easy rise and fall of his chest. She couldn’t help but admire the sheer will this man had to survive. And she couldn’t ignore the fact that even though he lay there covered in bandages, he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen.

His hospital gown stretched to encompass the breadth of his shoulders, while the arm openings strained to contain his biceps. She did love a nice set of biceps. The bedsheets covered the contours of his torso, but she remembered how his body tapered to a narrow waist and those amazing, washboard abs.

Wavy hair, a little longer in front than back, fell over his forehead, almost covering his eyes. The color was amazing. A black so deep, it shone under the fluorescents.

The dark waves framed a regally defined face; beautiful, but not in the feminine sense. Not too perfect. In fact, a pale, thin scar ran along his right cheekbone, ending about an inch above his lip. To others, the scar may have damaged his looks; to her, it added character that accentuated his masculine features. His nose was long and straight, ending above lips that, God, she could kiss all night. From the moment she had laid eyes on him, everything about him had captivated her.

Her tongue traced her upper lip, and her body tingled.

Stop it, Emily! You’re a professional nurse who shouldn’t be ogling a patient. Just take his vital signs and get out of here. She needed to leave this man alone.

Lifting his arm to check his blood pressure, she noticed a tattoo wrapped around part of his right bicep. Unable to resist, she traced the outline of the connecting loops. It formed a figure eight lying on its side. Infinity.

The symbol intersected with a dagger that pierced the center of the joining circles. Red drops of what looked to be blood dripped from the blade.

“What were you doing out there tonight?” she whispered.

Everything about this man was a very intriguing mystery.

Kenric lay perfectly still as the female approached him. Until he knew whom and what he was dealing with, he didn’t want to give away any clue that he was conscious. She paused at his bedside for a moment before lifting his right arm and placing a cool device under his bicep. She must be a nurse. He savored the warmth of her hands on his skin as her fingertips glided over his bicep. She traced the symbol of the Enclave. His flesh tingled in the wake of the pads of her fingers.

Suddenly her touch disappeared as a cuff tightened around his arm. He clenched the fist of his opposite hand, struggling to maintain his tenuous control. Why had she stopped touching him? His fist ached from keeping such a tight hold on his denial. He wanted to grab her hand and beg for one more brush of her fingertips. Anywhere. Everywhere.

Her hair teased his chest, sending chills skating across his body. Desire stormed. He drew in a long, deep inhale in hopes of calming his thundering need. The scent from her hair and skin filled his nostrils, burrowed deep inside his mind. And did nothing to quell the storm or soothe the growing need that threatened to unravel the edge of his control.

Her fragrance reminded him of wildflowers after a spring rain. Warm, sweet, and spicy.

Another deep breath filled him, sparking every neuron in his brain. She was intoxicating.

Good God. The blood that remained within him surged into his groin, lust and hunger intermingling. Get a grip, man, before you do something you’ll regret.

His mind struggled to hold the vampire in check.

As if starved for her scent, he inhaled again, stifling a groan. His fangs lengthened. The drive to feed the hunger twisted in his gut.

Time had run out.

Harnessing the strength that his hunger provided, Kenric opened his eyes and reached for the woman.

She swung her head around with a startled shout. A wave of dark auburn hair fell over her shoulder.

Breathtaking.

Long, dark eyelashes framed hazel eyes specked with a hint of blue, green, and brown at the center. Her heart-shaped face held a small, upturned nose and rose-colored lips, the bottom one slightly fuller than the top. Lips that were made to form a perfect, warm satin glove for the hard ridge of a man. No, not any man’s cock. His.

Kenric dragged his gaze away from her mouth. He needed to concentrate on holding her attention, not linger on the fantasy his mind and groin wanted to study in greater detail.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you,” he whispered.

“I’m fine. Are you…okay?” Her gaze met his, giving him all the opening he needed. Kenric slipped inside her mind to give her the mental nudge she’d need to accept his verbal commands.

“Don’t be afraid. I need you very calm and very quiet. You are safe. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” His voice resonated, maintaining his hold. “What’s your name, Wildflower?”

“Emily… Emily Ross.”

“Emily, I need your help to get out of here. I want you to disconnect me from these monitors and tubes without bringing attention to us.”

She didn’t move; instead, her mind pushed back, attempting to block his control.

“Now, Emily.” He pushed in return, harder this time. His body trembled from the effort to maintain his presence in her mind and the rhythmic beat of his heart, so that the heart rate monitor kept its orderly beat. Red hair suited this female. The color matched the spirit of her fight.

Emily removed the leads of the cardiac monitor from his chest and the IV from his forearm. She moved about the room, as if on automatic pilot. Her compliance took every ounce of telepathic influence and skill left at his disposal.

Once completed, she returned to his side.

He caressed the right side of her face, the warmth of her skin a heated embrace to his cool palm. With the gentle persuasion of his hand, Kenric brought her gaze back to connect with his.

“Lean closer to me, Emily.”

She complied, lowering her head. Kenric pulled her in, positioning her neck near his lips, and brushed a stray curl away from her neck.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered against her skin. “If there were another way, I would take it. You see, you have something I’m in desperate need of.” He didn’t know why he felt the sudden, overwhelming desire to explain. He had to feed. And he would make sure she didn’t remember when he finished. But something inside him needed her to understand and not be scared. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I promise, I will be as gentle as possible.”

He savored another whiff of her sweet scent before tasting the area above her pounding pulse. She shivered, wringing a groan from his throat. He could wait no longer.

His fangs pierced her supple flesh. Tightening his hold, he held her immobile, not wanting to tear her skin. A moment later, Emily’s body relaxed. He loosened his grip and gently caressed her arms, soothing her as he drank.

Her blood spilled into his mouth, a flood of hot and sweet. It filled his starved body in a tidal wave of sensation and pooled in his groin. He’d never tasted anything as luscious as the woman in his arms. And he wanted more. With each pull at her neck, his erection pulsed, greedy for her affection.

Reaching farther around her body, Kenric lifted her onto the gurney with him. He wanted, no needed, the feel of her whole body next to his. Her hip pressed against the length of him. His eyes rolled in exquisite pain. If he were in a different place and it were a different time, he would be buried so deep inside of her, she would no longer know where he stopped and she began.

Reluctantly, he withdrew his fangs, licking the remaining spicy droplets of blood from the small twin holes on her neck. Pressing his tongue to the wound, he held pressure on the area for a few seconds to ensure clotting had taken hold with the aid of the agent releasing from its surface.

“Thank you, Emily,” he whispered into her ear, easing his arms from around her. She slumped.

“Shit!” He hadn’t stopped in time. What the hell was wrong with him? A frantic shuffle ensued as he worked to slide out from beneath her and onto his side. Holding his breath, he checked for a pulse.

There was a strong beat.

Air rushed from his chest with relief. She’d passed out.

Good man, Kenric. This is really the way to get out of here unnoticed. He punched the pillow beneath them and silently groaned when he’d have much rather shoved his fist through a wall.

Now, not only do they have a slashed-up John Doe who will go missing but also an unconscious nurse with bite marks on her neck.

Nice inconspicuous exit, asshole.

Kenric gripped the side rail of the gurney, pulling himself to a standing position while lowering Emily onto her back. His legs trembled under his weight, and he struggled to gain his balance. It would take a few moments to feel the full restorative effects of her blood.

Studying the auburn-haired woman in blue scrubs, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt more alive than he did moments before when holding her. But he needed to get the hell out there, fast. Wipe her memories and be gone. He could take care of the mess he’d made after the fact.

With the back of her head in his palm, he closed his eyes, focusing on the memories he needed to capture from her mind.

He lowered her head back to the mattress, then whirled, giving an exasperated swipe to his hair.

“What the hell’s wrong with you? You’re not a damn fledgling.”

He couldn’t concentrate. Every time he’d find the memory he sought, it faded, slipping from his mind. It wasn’t like he didn’t have to perform this little trick at least once a week when he needed to feed. What was different about her that had him so rattled?

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Back at the gurney, he held her head in his hand, searching once again for focus. This had to be done.

His mind rebelled. With a grimace, he lowered her head and threw his hands up in surrender. He couldn’t do it. She didn’t deserve to wake up alone, confused and sick, lying in an empty gurney. She didn’t deserve to be confronted for an answer to what the hell happened to John Doe. And maybe, he didn’t want her to forget him.

Where the fuck did that come from? He shook his head and huffed. He didn’t need the complication of being responsible for any woman.

But cleaning up all traces of the John Doe from the hospital, with help from the inside…

He stared at his dilemma sleeping on the gurney. If he trusted this woman to help him, he would place the entire Enclave at risk. Kenric ran an impatient hand through his hair. He couldn’t and, in truth, did not want to leave her here like this.

“Guess there’s only one way to handle this situation.” He brushed a stray auburn lock of hair from Emily’s check. “Wildflower, you’ll be coming with me.”

In a hospital bag on the counter in his room, he found his clothes and coat. He reached in and pulled out his shirt and jeans. Sliced pieces of denim and cotton dangled from his hands. Damn. The hospital gown he had on was going to cover more of his body than the scissored mess the ER staff had left behind of his clothes. His phone was still in the coat pocket, though, and luckily in one piece. He pressed speed dial one for Guerin, who answered on the first ring.

“Kenric, where the hell are you, man? We’ve been trying to reach you all night. Arran’s been out searching for you for hours.”

“I’ll explain when I see you. I don’t have a lot of time. I need you to send a car to… Hang on.” Kenric eased closer to Emily. Picking up the ID badge lying on her chest, he continued, “Elizabeth Bay Memorial.”

“Elizabeth Bay Memorial! Shit, how the hell did you end up there?”

“Like I said, I don’t have time for the details.” Kenric’s pulse thumped in his temples. “Just get me a car,” he growled. “Pull up outside the ER, ring my phone once you’re in position, and I’ll phase into the back.”

“Give me about ten minutes. We found your Mercedes where you parked it. Michael’s also out searching and should be near you. I’ll get him to grab your car and haul ass over there. In the meantime, make yourself scarce.”

Kenric snapped the cell phone closed, leaving it on vibrate to wait for the signal. Damn good thing they’d left his car where he’d parked it. It wouldn’t take but a few minutes to get here, and with the extra tint on the windows, it would keep his ass from going crispy.

Moving silently over to the curtain enclosing his private treatment room, Kenric pulled back the edge of the blue-checked material, scanning the area. A few distant conversations along with the clatter of equipment moved in the opposite direction. Good, the area’s clear for now. Hopefully, it would stay that way for the next few minutes. He rubbed the stubble along his chin and sighed. With any luck, the staff would believe Emily had already left, her shift over.

Emily moaned and shifted on the gurney. Releasing the curtain, Kenric returned to her side. She was a little pale, but her pulse beat steady under his fingertips.

“Damn.” He couldn’t believe he’d been so reckless. His father had trained him for discipline and self-control since before he could walk. In his childhood home, those traits either came to you naturally or you learned them under the whip.

He never lost control when feeding.

The phone buzzed in his palm. The car was here. He dropped his phone into the hospital bag he held in his hand, then reached down and slid his arms underneath Emily’s shoulders and knees and lifted her. She was a full and curvy woman, soft in all the right places, and fit perfectly in his arms. He loved the way she felt.

She whimpered and snuggled closer. Closing his eyes, Kenric fought the distraction of her body in order to focus on bringing the image of the car’s interior into his mind. It would take most of what energy reserves Emily had been able to restore to phase them both the short distance. He didn’t have a choice. It was his only option for getting out of there unnoticed. A passed-out nurse in his arms, and his ass flapping in the breeze while he waltzed out the front door, would not make for a subtle departure.

Slowing his heart rate, Kenric sharpened the image of the car’s backseat in his mind. His body tingled. A brief falling sensation and momentary disorientation confirmed the phase. Less than a second later, he opened his eyes. They’d made it into the back of his Mercedes.

“Glad to see you’re safe, sir,” Michael said, turning around to toss a thick black blanket to his newly arrived passenger. Nodding his head of sandy blond waves at the woman in Kenric’s arm, a slight smile curled at the corners of his mouth. “I see we’ll be having a guest at the compound.”

“That’s correct. And we’ll also be keeping this between us for now. Understood?”

“Yes, sir. However you want it.” Michael faced forward.

“When we arrive at the compound, park the car near my private entrance.”

“Understood, sir.”

It would buy him some time. Keep her scent under wraps until he could explain -- to her and to his warriors.

His skin stung even from the subdued morning light coming in through the tinted windows. Covering his face and body with the supplied blanket, and Emily as well, he eased back into the soft leather seat with Emily resting against his chest.

The car bumped and dipped leaving the hospital parking lot. Michael revved the engine, accelerating them into the flow of traffic.

Kenric’s mind raced with the upcoming task at hand: How could he convince Emily to help him erase his presence from the hospital? Not to mention, how to tell her why he needed it erased in the first place?

He was a vampire. Not just any vampire, but one who had already helped himself. He squirmed in his seat. Damn, how was she not going to be scared out of her mind? It was scary enough for a human to learn vampires were not a myth. Top that little bit of information off with the fact they’d already been snacked on. Not good. Not good at all.

Inside the blanket, Emily’s sleeping face lay pressed against his chest. His heart swelled at the sight, and he pulled her in tighter. He relished the stark contrast between the rough wool scraping at his arms and the softness of the woman contained within.

Draped in darkness, he found no escape from thoughts of her. Unable to avoid it, he drew another intoxicating breath. He hoped working with Emily didn’t take too long, because when he inhaled her scent and embraced her like this, all his self-control turned to shit, and every cell in his body screamed one word.

Mine.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: BDSM content (including/not limited to: bondage, domination, whipping), bloodletting, multiple partners/orgies, strong violence.

Thirteen Things I Won't Get for Christmas

2009-12-03T13:14:00.003-06:00

Thirteen Things I Won't Get for Christmas

1. A trip to Europe
2. A new car
3. A new laptop
4. An MP3 player
5. A digital camera
6. A LCD flat screen TV
7. A new cell phone
8. A kitten
9. Books (mother refuses to buy me books, she says I have enought)
10. A ferret
11. A bird of any kind (the cat gives them heart attacks)
12. A snake. Yes, I do actually want a snake.
13. Wireless high speed. I know, that's not a normal Christmas present, but if my mother decided we were going to get high speed internet for Christmas I would be thrilled.

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Sandy Sullivan's Interview

2009-12-02T09:27:00.009-06:00

Please welcome my first guest ever, Sandy Sullivan!

Thanks Honoria for having me on your blog!

For those that don't know me, my name is Sandy Sullivan and I write erotic contemporary westerns and historical westerns mostly for Siren Publishing. You can find me on the web at the links below.

If you leave a comment on this blog after reading my interview, I will be putting everyone's name in a drawing for a pre-released copy of my newest novel, Wild Wyoming Nights. I'll draw the winner at midnight so make sure you comment!

1.What are you currently working on? I just started a Civil War time travel piece. I'm not sure of the title yet, but it's about a modern day registered nurse who is fascinated with the time period. She goes to a reenactment and somehow is transported back in time. She runs into our hero who is a doctor with the Confederate Army.

2.When did you attempt your first novel? My first novel is Texas Lady. It is currently available as a self-published piece, but I will be editing it and submitting it in the future.

3.How many novels did you complete before you sold your first? My first release was my second novel written called Cowboy Love. It is available now at Siren publishing.

4.What’s the worst piece of writing advice you ever got? I haven't received any that I considered to be bad advice. I take everything in and absorb what I can.

5.What inspired you to become a writer? I've always love romance novels. I've been reading them since I was a teenager. I thought about writing one several years ago, you know, when we still had typewriters. I couldn't handle the tediousness of using a typewriter. With computers, it is so much easier. I wrote Texas Lady in 2008 and had a friend read it. She told me it needed to be published so I just kept writing. It's a release for me from stress.

6.What kind of activities do you do to clear your head? Ride my horses, listen to music and read others work.

7.What books would you recommend on writing? I don't know any off the top of my head, but take everything told to you with a grain of salt. All publishers have their own thing they want in a manuscript. If you send the same manuscript to three publishers, you'll get three different responses.

8.What is your favorite "comfort food"? Chocolate! Doesn't every woman like chocolate? LOL

9.What are you reading, if anything, at the moment? I'm not reading anything at the moment because usually when I buy something, I'll read it until I'm done. I just finished Nailed by Cindy Spencer Pape. I loved it, but it was much too short.

10.If you could live in any time or place–where and when would you choose? I would probably chose the late 1800's in the west. I love cowboys!

11.It’s plug time. Where can people find out more about your books? Got an excerpt you’d like to share? I can be found at www.romancestorytime.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, my author page on Siren at http://www.bookstrand.com/authors/sandysullivan/. I think that's about it

Here is a blurb from Cowboy Love and Wild Wyoming Nights.

Cowboy Love

Amy Russell has sworn off men, but then she runs into Tanner Lewis. His muscular chest, soft brown eyes and drop dead gorgeous, sexy dimpled smile make her rethink her decision. Can she learn to trust again, especially a cowboy, after her ex broke her heart? Will she let Tanner penetrate the shell around her heart?

Tanner's been burned. Yeah, he was in love once, until he caught his fiancée in bed with his best friend. Now all he wants is to get his singing career on the right path. Just when he thinks things are going perfectly, he runs smack into Amy Russell, horse tamer extraordinaire and registered nurse. As he watches her take a difficult horse and turn it into a docile pussycat with nothing more than soft words and a kind touch, he's fascinated, but Amy doesn't want a relationship. Can he convince her there's nothing better than a cowboy's love?

Note: This book contains anal sex.

Buy Link

Wild Wyoming Nights
AVAILABLE: Thursday, December 3rd.

Abigail Carter lost her firefighter husband on September 11th. On a mission to heal her heart, she starts a new life in the prairies of Wyoming. Her neighbor, hunky rancher and quarter horse expert Chase Wilder, makes her heart race for the first time in years, but will she let him get close enough to warm the cold winter nights?

Chase rescues Abby from her overturned car in an accident similar to the one that took his wife. His dormant libido goes into overdrive when he looks into Abby's beautiful green eyes. Unfortunately, she's still struggling with her grief, and Chase doesn't want to push her. Can the two find a way to overcome the past and have a future together?

Note: This book contains anal sex.

"If you love sexy cowboys as much as I do, you'll fall in love with the story of Chase and Abby. This story came to mind from a scene that popped into my head of a young woman sitting on a window seat, crying. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it." ~ Sandy ~

Buy Link

The Novel From Hell

2009-11-30T13:48:00.003-06:00

Almost everyone who knows me knows I’m having a devil of a time with my work in progress. EVERYTHING is wrong with it. The characters names feel wrong, but I’ve searched and searched for the right ones. The scenes don’t flow, they just seem to hang out on their own. I’ve skipped writing EVERY sex scene in the book because the chemistry feels wrong. My word goal was at least 70,000, but I don’t think I’m going to hit 30,000.

I’ve tried everything to inspire myself and make the book flow better. I’ve rewritten parts of it. I’ve read the books I read when I’m in a writing funk. Hell, I even took a break and wrote a short story, and that story wrote easier than anything I’ve ever written. I figured my writer’s block was cured so I went back to the WIP.

Nope, it’s still all wrong. This leads me to believe that the problem isn’t with me, it’s the book. I wrote an 8k short story in a month and all was well. I’ve had at least ten ideas for future stories. I actually was looking forward to writing and now I dread it, because I know I’m not getting anywhere.

Usually during my writing process I have down periods, but this is ridiculous. And since I wrote the short story and I’ve had millions of ideas I don’t think I’m off my game.

Unfortunately I don’t think I can just give up. I like to finish books once I start them. Maybe rewrites will make it better, but I’m not sure I can even make it to the rewrites stage.

But, I think I’ve finally given up. I haven’t written on it since October 30th. I think I’ll work on the next book in the series, or maybe even start something new.

What do you think? Do I just not know when to quit? Should I move on or keep trying? Have you ever had to give up on a book? What was your breaking point?

Update: I started the next book in the series. So far it's going very well, which makes the problems with The Novel From Hell even more annoying.

Oops

2009-11-28T15:00:00.004-06:00

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. I got all busy. I'm currently behind on reading submissions and since I've got two stories coming out in December I'm getting lots of edits back so everything got crazy.

What I've got planned for this blog:

I'm going to be opening the blog up to interviews on Mondays and guest authors on Wednesdays. So if you're an author and you'd like to do either, email me at honoriaravena467@yahoo.com.

I also plan to do Thursday 13 (www.thursday-13.com) because it sounds like fun.

And I think I'm going to have a featured book on Fridays. Just a book that I've read and liked with a blurb and a cover.

That's all for now. Until I actually get some interviewees and guest bloggers I'll be back to blogging like normal.

Historical Romances

2009-10-28T15:14:00.001-05:00

A Paranormal Writer's View on Historical Romances.

Now, for the most part I'm a paranormal romance kind of girl. I write it, read it, dream about it, and if I could live in my world I would.

However, I do like the occasional, good historical romance. They're almost like going to another world, too. The characters in a historical have different values, and beliefs than we do. They behave differently also.

I love history, which might be another reason why I like historicals. However, most historical romances don't occur during my favorite time periods. Ancient history is my beloved time period. Particularly Mesopotamia and Ancient Greece.

I'd love to write a historical romance one day, but I don't know if I'd ever feel like I knew enough about the culture of those ancient peoples. Paranormal is easy in comparison, because I've created my own cultures.

So, do all those historical romance authors out there: How do you know when you've done enough research? Do you ever reach a point where you're comfortable with your amount of knowledge?

I'm seriously impressed by all of you who manage to write historical romance.

Dreams

2009-10-21T22:02:00.001-05:00

The other night I had a great dream that would have made a very good science fiction novel. But I made one crucial mistake: I didn’t write it down.

Usually I write stuff like that down, but that day I had class and so the alarm went off at six twenty (the Devil’s hour in my opinion). So I was tired, annoyed, and in a hurry, and didn’t put pen to paper.

I can remember some elements of the dream, but not the actual plot. It’s driving me crazy, but it serves me right for not writing it down. I know I have to write things down or I forget.

A lot of writer’s get ideas from their dreams. I honestly don’t get that many. If I only wrote the stories I got from my dreams I’d only have written two books. And I’d now be waiting for inspiration. I wouldn’t even be a paranormal romance writer. I’d be a horror writer.

Yep, the only two dreams I’ve had that would be good as a novel have been scary as hell (with the exception of the sci-fi dream I had last night).

But for the most part my dreams are a mass of strange mumbo-jumbo that I can’t even piece together, let alone make a good novel out of.

Question: Have you ever had one of those ‘naked in public’ dreams?

Answer: No, but I have had one where I wasn’t wearing shoes in my high school. It was just after I got in trouble with the vice principal for my high heels being too tall. They were really obsessed with footwear in my school. They even banned flip flops one year.

So, do you get any of your writing ideas from dreams? Have you had a ‘naked in public’ dream, or have you just been without shoes?

Come Hither Pumps

Man Candy Monday

Recommended Reads 1/8/12

New Years Resolutions

The Devil's Trap release!

Man Candy Monday

15 (16?) Weird Facts

First Books and Dyslexia

Fear of Darkness rerelease

Pizza Recipe

New Blog

A Little Bit of Everything...

Critique Partner/Group

A Snowday (Or Week)

Gracing you with one blog before school starts

NaNoWriMo...Kinda

Interview with Steven Nedelton

It's reading time!

Strapless Release!

StraplessByHonoria Ravena

Happy Anniversary to 1RomanceEbooks.com!

I Just Never Post Here

What's in a name?

Liar Liar, Pants on Fire

Summer Sunshine

Bloggers Block

Breathless Press Submission Call

The Quest for Perfection

Hi. Hello. Bonjour. Ciao. :)

Picking a Pen Name

Bored

13 Favorite Desserts

Why Do I Write by Angela Kay Austin

An Incredible Beginning by Lynn Crain

13 Favorite TV Shows

A Random Wednesday Post

Marie Tuhart Interview

My Muse

The Quest for the Divine: ancient and modern myth revisited

Pat McDermott Interview

Belinda McBride Interview

Raine Delight's Interview

Friday's Feature: Fallen Star by Morgan Hawke

Thirteen Favorite Paranormal Books

2010 Goals

A Blog Award

2010 Reading Challenge

On Writing Unconventional Horror

Interview: Catherine Bybee

Like A Virgin by Eve Summers

Establishing Credibility for New Writers

Hard Candy

Lisa Lipkind Leibow's Interview

Biohazard by Honoria Ravena

Fear of Darkness by Honoria Ravena

Antonia Tiranth

Interview with Sascha Illyvich

Shiela Stewart's Interview

Guest Blog: Victoria Roder

Guest Blogger Yvonne Walus

Rie McGaha Interview

Small Packages by Franny Armstrong

Friday's Feature

Thirteen Things I Won't Get for Christmas

Sandy Sullivan's Interview

The Novel From Hell

Oops

Historical Romances

Dreams

Strapless
By
Honoria Ravena