Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!




Goodbye to 2009 and a decade that seemed to fly by with a blink of an eye. I started the decade married and pregnant with my son and ended the decade, a divorced mom of two in a long term relationship with a man who is the love I have been looking for. My kids are happy and settled, I have a career I love and many friends-online and offline. As 2009 closes, I look back at he decade as one where I finally found the woman I was to be after a few years of hardship and heart broken sadness. We said goodbye to friends, family and others as they flew the nest, lost their battle to illness or other ways and we faced adversity with a smile and toughed it out until we saw that lining in the sky.

Here is to all of you who faced the ups and downs of life with a smile and wink, who always had a joke to make others smile and giggle, May 2010 and this new decade bring you success, happiness and all you desire.

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Meet Author Keta Diablo & A Contest



CONTEST: TWO People who comment will win a copy of The Sin Eater's Prince, the latest release from Keta Diablo.

Tell us about your latest release. What inspired it?


First of all, thank you so much for having me, Dawn. I appreciate the opportunity to chat with your fans and readers.

The Sin Eater’s Prince was born out of a short story I wrote for an anthology called Boys of the Bite. Edited by Cecelia Tan, the anthology was released by Ravenous Romance in the fall of 2009. Soon after, Lori Perkins, agent and one of the owners of Ravenous, asked me to develop the short story into a full-length novel. It didn’t take much convincing on her part.

Like so many readers/writers today, I’m fascinated with the concept of vampires and all other undead creatures. This includes, werewolves and zombies, put in particular, I love to research historical witches, druids, magic and sorcery.

What originally drew me to the concept of The Sin Eater’s Prince or the basis for the plot was a true story I read about sin eaters. Long ago in England, Ireland and Wales most of the villages had a sin eater in their midst. This person was shunned by the inhabitants and only called upon when someone was near death or had died. He would arrive (they were 99 percent males), eat what they called the dead cakes—a small loaf of bread—and take on the sins of the deceased. This was a wide-sweeping practice in these countries and practiced faithfully. Most believed if the sin eater didn’t take away the dying person’s sins, the person would wander the halls of oblivion forever.

Who are your literary heros and why?

I’ll take a hero any day that has the ability to laugh at himself. Like for instance, he’s chasing the villain and he falls off his horse. Even though it would be very poor timing, I’d find that funny and hope he would do. Being breath-stopping gorgeous wouldn’t be too bad either, but if he doesn’t have a sense of humor it wouldn’t matter if he looked like the archangel, Michael.

Too, he can be utterly deadly and dangerous if need be, but never with the woman he loves.

What do you enjoy reading?

I’m very picky about what I read because I have so very little time to devote to this wonderful pastime. When I do read, it’s almost always a book that’s come highly recommended by another author or several readers. I’m one of those peeps who pay close attention to reviews and, yes, I do follow them closely.

Of course I love To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and wish she would have written more books. At least once a year I re-read a book titled Windflower from the 1980’s (I believe) by Laura London. This is a historical/pirate themed book and for some reason the novel resonates with me. I love the character descriptions and laugh through many scenes while reading about Merry, the heroine, trying to get herself out of one jam or another. I think it’s one of those books you either love to death or dislike.

I do read Helen Kirkman and wouldn’t hesitate to purchase any of her books. Her writing is phenomenal, her prose emotional and rich. One day I have to e-mail Ms. Kirkman and tell her how much I enjoy her books. The last one I just finished that she wrote is called Forbidden.

Tell us five random things about yourself.

1) I grew up in a house full of boys and have the scars to prove it. (lol). None will claim any of my battle injuries, but I assure you they all had a hand in them at one time or another. I still wonder how I ever survived childhood and ask my mother where in the heck she was when I almost drowned, got hit by a utility truck, got stabbed in the hand with a knife and hit in the head with a baseball bat.

2) I’m a loner most of the time, except for my beloved pets.

3) In that same vein, I spend far too much time at my local animal shelter wondering how I can save the cats and dogs that been abandoned, neglected and abused.

4) Unlike most women (I think) I detest shopping in malls and always shop on-line. (See number 2 – a loner).

5) I love animals, soy candles, scented bath salts, books, stationary, reading, gardening and most of all, what else . . .writing.

When it comes to writing, are you an early bird, or a night owl?

If I had my druthers, I’d be a night owl and am most of the time. When I’m on a deadline crunch, which is happening more often lately, I’m up at all hours of the day and night. Sometimes I don’t know whether I’ve woken up at 7:00 a.m. or 7:00 p.m. I know, sad.

How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?

I have wonderful publishers and I’m very thankful for that. I write most of the time for Phaze Publishing and Ravenous Romance and couldn’t ask for better fits. Occasionally I write for Noble Romance and the Dark Roast Press, but my time to spread myself out is getting thinner and thinner these days.

As for advice to novice authors, I don’t feel I’m terribly qualified to offer much advice. Two things come to mind: Do your homework about publishers before you sign that contract, and always remember that writing the book is only one-third of the battle. Next you have to promote and sell your baby if you want the good publishers to stick with you.

What book are you reading now?

This is laughable. My children usually purchase gift certificates from Barnes and Noble for my birthday and X-Mas. I still have 12 books sitting on the ledge above my bureau from last year I haven’t read yet. Don’t tell them; they might stop buying me gift certificates.

If you were a world ruler and you were given a choice of 3 laws to enact, what would they be?

1) Did you know that one of out eight children in the US goes to bed hungry every night? This bothers me terribly that we live in the greatest Nation in the world and our children are starving. It goes without saying that the first law I would enact is FREE food for children, 24/7.

2) Along with that I’d enact a law guaranteeing that all women and children had health insurance and I hope I’d be able to do that without overhauling our entire health system at the cost of billions of dollars.

3) The third law I’d enact would involve the care of neglected/abandoned pets. I’d make sure funds were available to provide care for all animal shelters in the country, and along with that educate the public about what happens to pets when they’re abandoned. So many people buy animals before they think about the responsibility. After the holidays, literally thousands of dogs and cats are brought to the shelters because they “cute” little Christmas present for Susie didn’t work out so well.

If your muse were to talk behind your back, what secrets would he/she tell?

Oh, boy. I’m obsessive in almost everything I engage in—this would include writing. I’m a very loyal friend, and I treasure family above all else in the world.

The world has ended and the apocalypse has happened. What one thing would you miss the most (i. e.: cell phones, soap, chocolate, etc)?

First my coffee and second, the Internet (lol) and being cut off from everything I love about it.

You are told you have to meet one paranormal creature, no safeguards, what do you choose? What do you bring with you?

I’d choose to meet a time-traveler and ask him if I could travel with him for a while. Then I’d bring as much medicine as I could pack, i.e., antibiotics, aspirin, and my purse, because whatever I forgot I guarantee you’ll find it in my purse.

You have to ask a fictional character out on a date—who would you ask and what would you do together?

A highland warrior and I’d ask for a hands-on (and I do mean hands-on) tour of Scotland and Wales.

Where can readers find you on the web?

Thank you so much for asking. I love to hear from friends and readers, so please check out my blogs. Send me an e-mail or at the very least follow my blogs.

And thanks again, Dawn, for the nice chat. It was fun!

You can find Keta here on the Internet:

Author Home: http://ketadiablo.blogspot.com/

Keta’s Haunt: http://www.ketadiablo.com/

Keta’s Keep: http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com/

Gay Fiction Blog: http://thestuffofmythandmen.blogspot.com/

Keta on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo




THE SIN EATER’S PRINCE (Gay fiction/vampire)


Ravenous Romance, http://www.ravenousromance.com/

Setup: Owen has just discovered the man he loves, Andras, is a vampire. He thumbs through the pages of his father’s history books to learn more about the undead.

Excerpt of The Sin Eater's Prince:

An innate sense of curiosity drew Owen to the hearth, specifically to the nearby wooden crate. Shortly after his father passed, he’d relegated the man’s meager possessions and his collection of cherished books to the trunk and hadn’t looked at the contents since. If memory served him, he’d find not only several volumes on Welsh history, but another on legend and lore of Wales.

Removing the lid from the crate, he sorted through the books until he found what he searched for, Demons and Other Mystical Creatures of Wales. Thumbing through the pages quickly, he found the chapter entitled Lords of the Underworld: Vampyres.

He swallowed the lump in his throat and scanned the page, his eyes settling on a passage in the middle: The vampyre is the most dreaded and feared creature of the supernatural world. He’s not only obtained immortality, but has the ability to alter his appearance, fly through the night sky, and traverse the ground under the guise of the wolf or a wisp of smoke. After seducing his victims through hypnotic measures or mind control, the vampyre will drain them of their blood thereby bolstering his strength and power. A vampyre might possess beauty beyond one’s imagination or be hideously marked.

Owen’s heart launched into a triple beat and a fine bead of sweat broke out on his forehead. The mouth is thought to be the way the soul leaves the body, and also the way evil spirits are allowed to enter. If one has slain a vampyre in Wales, it is advised the mouth be stuffed with a consecrated object or stitched shut and sprinkled with holy water.

Owen turned the page with an acute sense of trepidation and read his third and final passage: Spiritual vampyres draw the life energy from their victims and at times, their very souls. This species of vampyre does not merely feed on blood but the victim’s essence in order to survive.

He slammed the book shut, tossed it back into the crate and replaced the lid. Then he rose and paced the cottage, the words from the tome tumbling through his head. He didn’t need to read the passages to know Maddock was a vampire; the man had admitted it. What he wouldn’t give to have known Andras before he arrived in Pembrokeshire. Had he always possessed such unearthly beauty or had he accrued it since Traherne turned him?

And what species of long tooth was Traherne? Had he not only fed on Andras’s blood, but sucked the very soul from the man? Andras, soulless? Nay, it could not be. He’d witnessed innumerable acts of compassion from the man while ministering to the sick, watched his eyes flood with empathy when they passed into the other world.

His intestines wound their way into a reef knot. Had Maddock played him false with his words of coveting him from afar and holding a place for him in his heart? Were those the words of a demon possessed of hypnotic capabilities or the words of a man who cared deeply?

The questions festered and churned until Owen knew only one thing: Maddock was a very dark and very beautiful vampire.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Holiday Craziness Continues




Christmas is finally over and is it me or did the year fly by way too fast? I swear the other day it was November not the end of December. *sighs*

The holidays were nice and even though we spent the last few weeks running all over doing shopping and such, it was nice to see kids faces light up over their gifts and to see that our significant other found the perfect gifts for you.

My kids are off from school this week and with all their loot from Christmas, it has been a bit quiet today, thank god. They got a ton of gifts from both my side and DH's side of the family. I got some beautiful sweaters from DH and a ton of gift cards to my favorite places (bookstores and Cheesecake Factory) pkus some great movies/TV shows on DVD I was itching to watch. Seems DH was listening to me natter on when I mentioned somethng I wanted to see.LOL

We are planning on taking the kids bowling and maybe dinner out next weekend if time permits. My brother is home on leave from his Army National Guard unit and leaves Sunday to go back and we won't see him til May 2010 if all goes well.  Plus with New Years this week, we are planning our annual shingding featuring pizza, snacks and lots of Sparkling Grape Juuice. :)

Here is hoping 2010 brings you much success and love. Have a great holiday guys. Many Bright Blessings Upon You All.

Ed Williams talks Sucky Songs



“Sucky Songs Are Brain Heroin!”


I’m trying my best to write an article, but my brain is not cooperating one bit, and it’s driving me crazy! Every time I try to put some words together, this horrible song from the seventies goes through my head. I can’t remember who sung it, although I keep thinking of the name Terry Jacks, but it’s about as sucky a song as I can remember. The words just keep routing themselves through my brain,

“We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun....”

I can’t remember anymore of it, thank God. What I can’t figure out is why I would even remember such a dorky song? Frankly, it stinks worse than a pair of unwashed drawers dropped into a pig sty. Maybe it was so bad that my brain stored it away in some untold of place that preserves really horrible memories, stuff like having to kiss an old maid aunt, eat beets, or sitting around in a cramped room with some college buddies after a big dinner at an all-you-can-eat Mexican restaurant. Maybe that’s it. Oh great, here we go again,

“We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun....”

I must not be approaching this correctly. Maybe I should just let my brain relax and discreetly suggest to it that it might want to play a different song, or at least one that I can somewhat tolerate. If it’ll do that, I can relax, kick back, and get this week’s column out. So I’m going to try it - I’m relaxing my arms, legs, and my feet, zoning out all my inner stress, so now let’s see what happens....

“Rocky I’ve never had a baby before - don’t know if I can do it!”

God, this song is even worse than the first one! I don’t even remember the name of this ode to wished deafness, and there’s a good reason for that. It has to be my all-time pick for the worst song ever. I can remember having to play it back in ‘75 when I enjoyed a brief stint as a disc jockey at WFNE in Forsyth, Georgia and I nearly hurled each time I had to put it on. For some reason, girls thought it was a sensitive, touching, love song between two ill fated lovers, and bought thousands of the records. On account of that, I had to play it over and over and over again. I can’t imagine anything worse than this song, unless, of course, Perry Como made a cover version of it.

I still can’t figure out why I keep routing these wretched songs through my brain. Why am I not thinking of some great songs like Let It Ride, by BTO, or Sharp Dressed Man, by ZZ Top, or All My Rowdy Friiends Have Settlled Down, by Hank Jr. Maybe that’s it! Maybe, by thinking of some good songs, I can get my brain back on the right track. Just relax, Ed. Let it happen....

“Disco, disco duck. Disco, disco duck.....”

Geeeeeezzzzzz, this is really getting out of hand. Okay, maybe I should go about it just the opposite, and think of more really bad songs. Maybe doing that will purge them all from my brain, and new ones will settle in their places. Let’s try it and see how it goes....

“Hot diggity, dog diggity, ummm, what you do to me....”

“Muskrat, muskrat, candlelight...”

“It was a one-eyed, one horned, flying purple people eater...”

“Everybody was kung-fu fightttiinnnnngggg....”

“I write the songs that make the young girls cry...”

Oh man, this was a mistake. It’s like every crappy song I’ve ever heard is working its way through my brain. Well, I can’t keep fooling around like this when I’ve got an article to write. Especially fooling around by thinking about all this sucky music. I guess the best thing for me is to get on about my business and come up with another idea for my next article. Ya’ll forgive me while I go off and write it. And while ya’ll are waiting for me to return, let this familiar refrain play inside your heads,

“Here’s a little song I wrote,

You might want to sing it note for note,

Don’t worry,

Be happy....”


"ChristmaSin'", my new Christmas novel, is now available for sale!
Click the Champagne Books link below to order!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wQu3_9vvig

www.champagnebooks.com/books

http://www.christmasinthebook.com/

http://www.ed-williams.com/

www.twitter.com/ELW3

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Season's Greetings to you all



I wanted to wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope this holiday season brings much joy to you.

Many bright blessings upon you and yours.

Have a great holiday season.


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Rachel Vincent is giving away TWO Soul Screamer Books

Check out author Rachel Vincent's latest contest and enter to win two of her Soul Screamer books (YA)- My Soul to Take & My Soul to Save.

Read how to enter and more at http://urbanfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/12/soul-screamers-giveaway.html

CONTEST ENDS DECEMBER 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST

Monday, December 21, 2009

Win a Nook and a book a day from Authors Lauren Dane and Anya Bast

Anya Bast and Lauren Dane are giving away a book a day and a Nook. Check out Anya's blog at http://www.anyabast.com/blog/ or Lauren's blog www.laurendane.com/blog for more information on how to enter.

Anne Kane's Blog Winner Announcement

The winner of Anne Kane's Blog Day is Anna Shah Hoque.

Congrats Anna you won a $10 Changeling Pres GC From Anna. She will contact you on your prize.

Celebrating the holidays with author Kelley Heckert



Winter Solstice



Winter Solstice (December 21 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 in the Southern Hemisphere) is the shortest day of the year and was also celebrated as Midwinter, Yule and later as Christmas.

Ancient people celebrated the shortest day, knowing and hoping that in a matter of weeks the sun would rise earlier, bringing back the light and banishing the cold, harsh winter. They celebrated with holly, ivy, pine boughs, lighted trees (candles), warm beer and spiced wine drinks (wassail), roasted pigs, large Yule logs, songs and gifts. The traditions are still celebrated all over the world.

I can imagine how the ancients felt when they extinguished the fires, relighting them to celebrate the return of the sun. The bleak reaped fields would soon ripple with endless golden wheat. The herds of cattle would soon swell with life, udders engorged with sweet milk for butter and cheese. Life would soon return to the earth.

It is no wonder they celebrated with such merriment on Winter Solstice.

Here in the United States most people celebrate Christmas using some of the traditions of Winter Solstice. For me, this is a time to spend with family and friends, a time for sharing and a time for reflection. Each December I look forward to the end of winter and the beginning of a new season. Every ending is a beginning.

How do you spend Christmas and/or what are your fondest memories?

My latest release is a short, sweet, contemporary/paranormal romance called A Winter Solstice Kiss, which is part of the Winter Kisses anthology from Noble Romance.

Noble Romance Publishing http://www.nobleromance.com/

Blurb: When Brianna decides to attend the Winter Solstice masquerade ball, she never thought she would end up kissing a handsome knight beneath the mistletoe, but they part without exchanging names and phone numbers--how will they find each other again?

Excerpt:

She followed his gaze to mistletoe hanging from the low ceiling, glimmering with a tempting glow. Her breath caught in her throat. Captivated by his nearness, she imagined those masculine lips touching her. "I . . . ." Her feet froze to the floor. He had the most amazing blue eyes.

"It's tradition," he said, dipping his head and pressing a kiss to her trembling lips.

She couldn't move her mouth at first, allowing his lips to capture her mouth in a thrilling crush. His forceful yet tender kiss awakened something inside her. She forgot who she was or that she was allowing a stranger's lips to caress her. Her head spinning, she surrendered to him.

His hand cradled the back of her head and she was aware of the slight scratch of stubble tickling her face. The kiss grew more passionate and she almost dropped her cup, the only thing keeping their bodies from touching.

The heat from his skin sent a flush to every part of her body. Her breasts heaved and tingled. Excitement spread through the rest of her body, quickening her pulse. She wanted to stay there in his embrace, feeling a man's lips giving her so much pleasure again.

"Okay guys, get a room already." A reveler laughed and ducked into the bathroom.

She stepped away from the stranger, the magical moment broken. Blushing, she avoided eye contact with him.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Kelley Heckart

'Timeless tales of romance, conflict & magic'

http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.goodreads.com/kheckart

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

http://www.myspace.com/phantomqueen3

My book page at Awe-Struck

http://www.king-cart.com/Awe-Struck/category=Kelley+Heckart/exact_match=exact

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Grateful for the Important Things in Life

It was not a Norman Rockwell moment. I was sitting on the living room floor in front of my laptop. Ruby was rubbing her chin against my wireless connector, threatening to knock me off line in the hopes I'll pay attention to her, and when that didn't work she proceeded to scratch at my back to get noticed. Cocoa laid spread out on the floor beside me, begging to be petted. Outside, snow quickly piled up on my driveway and front lawn. If the meteorologists are correct, northern Virginia will get 20 inches of the white stuff before the storm passes through on Sunday (and as a transplanted New Englander who misses snow, I'm excited about this). And in the midst of all this, I stared blankly at the computer screen, at a loss for anything to write.


So I started surfing my favorite horror-related websites, if not to get ideas for this blog, to at least waste some time under the illusion that I was working. That's when I discovered that the horror writing community suffered two losses the last two weeks.

One was screenwriter Dan O'Bannon. He penned the screenplays for numerous horror and Sci-Fi movies such as Alien, Total Recall, the B-17 sequence in Heavy Metal, and two of my favorite movies -- Lifeforce and Return of the Living Dead. Dan passed away after a 33-year struggle with Crohn's Disease.

The other was mid-list novelist Z. A. Recht who wrote the zombie sagas Plague of the Dead and Thunder and Ashes, both of which sit in my library. He died suddenly, leaving behind his parents and two siblings.

That's when I got the idea for this blog. I know it sounds cliche, but reading about the passing away of these writers reminded me about how much I have going for me. My health. A roof over my head. Job security. A house full of furry loved ones. And, thanks to Shadowfire and Living Dead Presses, the fulfillment of my dream to become a published author. It puts everything else into perspective.

I'm going to close out this blog and go feed the rabbits some treats. If I'm lucky, I'll get a few nose licks out of it.

Happy Holidays.

Guest Author Day with Anne Kane & CONTEST!



CONTEST: One Lucky Commenter will win a $10 Changeling Gift Certificate. Contest ends 12/20/09. Winner Announcement on 12/20/09.

How to Avoid the Christmas Panic…


Christmas! It’s almost here. Are you excited, or is that last minute I-still-haven’t-got-the-shopping-done panic starting to surface? I’m past the panicky point. That was last week, when I finally got over the flu and realized that I simply couldn’t manage to bake up a storm, show up for work every morning, elbow my way through the crowds at the mall, put up a tree, and still have fun – all in the three weeks left before the big day. So, I decided to prioritize. Let me share some of my tips with you.

1. The tree. If you put enough lights and shiny things on it, no one will notice that the ornaments are not perfectly spaced. Lets face it, most of my family knows that I have no clue who Martha Stewart is, and they expect cheerful and sloppy. It’s a matter of conditioning them over the course of decades to just be happy that you didn’t call them to help.

2. Baking. Announce you are on a diet, and that if you bake you might be tempted to eat it all. Not only does that get you out of baking, but everyone who isn’t on a diet feels honor bound to make sure you don’t succeed, so they will show up at your house with plates of shortbread and Santa cookies!

3. Work. Okay, unless your boss amazingly understanding you still have to show up for work in the mornings if you want to get paid. On the plus side, this is the time of year when good customers feel like tipping or bringing you little presents, and if your boss is as nice as mine is, he’s going to cough up a bonus or a nice turkey.

4. Shopping. Unless you did it all in August (which I didn’t) try to order things online. I managed to get just about everything I needed ordered in less than an hour. ( Hint: give gift certificates to your favorite online bookseller or publisher, and the recipient won’t have to go to the mall either!) Of course, I’ve heard rumors that some of you actually enjoy shopping. If you’re one of those types, I envy you. Go. Shop. Enjoy. And rest easy in the knowledge that I won’t be there getting in your way.

5. Win a gift certificate! Yes that’s right. One way to get shed some of the stress is to read a gook book, so to help you with that, I’m going to give one lucky person a $10 gift certificate to Changeling Press. All you have to do is comment below. Tell me how you cope with the holidays. Or tell me you were all done two months ago, and watch me turn green with envy!

There! Now you can get down to the fun stuff like playing with the grandkids and gathering to sing Christmas carols. Christmas is all about family and fun and appreciating the miracle of the season. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas with lots of love and laughter.

Anne Kane

http://www.annekane.com/

http://annekane.wordpress.com/

http://twitter.com/annekane

Sci –Fi and Fantasy with a sensual twist!


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Guest Author Day with Gracen Miller & A CONTEST!


CONTEST: Comment to win a copy of Elfin Blood. Ends Friday 12/18/09.

Hello all! I’m excited to be here and want to give a huge thanks to Dawn for having me! My book, Elfin Blood, was recently released by Noble Romance Publishing. Be sure to read my post and leave me a comment for a chance to win an e-copy of Elfin Blood.


During this busy time of year, I wanted to talk about something fun so we could take our mind off our hectic schedules. So, I decided on “Guilty Pleasures”. We all have them, some more risqué than others, some more fun than others, some we indulge in more than others, but one thing remains constant…they’re still guilty pleasures.

Here’s a countdown of my ten guilty pleasures:

10. Eating an entire box of chocolate glazed Krispy Kreme donuts. The thought is orgasmic! If only I wouldn’t gain an ounce. Unfortunately, I gain at least five pounds when I drive by Krispy Kreme and sniff the air. It’s soooooo unfair.

9. Silky/lacy undergarments. I’m a sucker for pretty panties and bras. Good thing my husband enjoys them too. :D

8. Starbucks Iced Mocha. Not decaf, not non-fat, but the real deal! I want all the sugar, carbs and fat! Mmmm….mmmm….lip-smacking good! Some sins are worth gaining a pound or two over.

7. Papa Roach’s song I Almost Told You That I Loved You. *hangs head in shame* I admit the first time I heard it on the Octane channel I laughed over the obscene lyrics. It’s not an appropriate song for my children, but I love this song and all its rude crudeness! If you’re not familiar with it and wish to be daring, here’s a YouTube link to it: I Almost Told You That I Loved You by PapaRoach (Warning: Explicit)

6. Buying something I don’t need, like a new garment, or make up, or new nail polish. *big grin* I have probably 100 bottles of nail polish and after I wear a color a handful of times, I get bored with it. My newest nail color is blue! I love it, but my husband abhors it. He wasn’t too fond of the black polish I applied to my toenails either. LOL

5. Singing at the top of my lungs to my Bon Jovi CD! Oh, Lord, Jon Bon Jovi is sooooo freaking hot! *cheeky grin* That man has made my heart go pitter-patter since high school with his voice, wild 80’s hair and that sexy smile that can induce guilty pleasure fantasies. *sighs dreamily* And like fine wine, Jon Bon Jovi has aged to be as potent and as intoxicating as aged wine, yummier than in his youth.

4. When karma becomes a bitch for someone who deserves it. I guess that makes me mean or spiteful. But some people just deserve to be bitch-slapped with karma. And this was most likely nothing I should have confessed because karma will probably bite me in the ass now. :-/

3. Watching Nip/Tuck and Sons of Anarchy with my husband. *face burns red*

2. Lusting after Dean Winchester…er…okay, his real name is Jensen Ackles, but, oh, my…*fans self* his character, Dean Winchester is such a hottie. Dean is a character on the television show Supernatural and while he’s a bad boy demon-hunter, I’m convinced he’s a closet romantic too. I'm almost certain Santa wants me to have Dean Winchester for being such a good little girl this year. ;-) Hey, it's my fantasy, don't ruin it! :D

1. You may think my number one guilty pleasure is reading or writing a book that turns me on, but no. Nothing about that makes me feel “guilty”, a pleasure, yes, but definitely not guilty. Or you might even guess doing something naughty with my husband when we could be exposed, but again, no, that’s erotic pleasures, not guilty pleasures. ;-) My number one guilty pleasure is rather boring actually and I really wish I could give you something more evocative and decadent. But, being lazy when my kids are at Grandma’s and I have a million things to do, that’s my biggest guilty pleasure. Ah…the joy in doing nothing when I normally spend my days cooking, cleaning, clothes washing, running errands, taxiing my boys between events and working…ah, the pleasure in doing nothing. Absolutely nothing! Pure bliss! It happens so seldom that I feel guilty for having the pleasure. Strange, huh?

Now, don’t be shy, we all have them, and it's your turn to confess all your secrets…ahem…I mean guilty pleasures. ;-) Maybe you’ll imbibed in guilty pleasures at a party this year (licentious or not) or already have in years past. If so, we all want to live vicariously through you, so please share! *rubs hands together in anticipation* I’ll give you one entry for each guilty pleasure you confess, so, for example, if you give me five guilty pleasures, you’re name will be entered five times for a chance to win a copy of Elfin Blood. I’ll draw a winner on Friday, December 18th, so be sure to leave your e-mail address along with your confession! Best of luck to anyone that enters!




Elfin Blood Blurb:


Buy Link: https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=67

Scorned by her own kind for her half-breed elf status, Julija lives a lonely existence among her Ivory Elf kin. She is the only one the elves can trust when a magical book in elf lore is stolen. Relegated to steal the Book from the vampire thief, Landau Jamieson, she's surprised to discover he has the ability to walk in daylight. Refusing to be deterred by developing setbacks, she’s committed to executing the heist for an Ivory King who grows more desperate to possess the Book. Nothing about the vampire is as it appears and Julija begins to doubt her mission. Worse, she begins to worry she won't have the strength to guard her heart from her sworn enemy.

Landau is fascinated by the elf stalking him and baffled by the potent hunger she elicits after ten thousand years of celibacy. Soon he discovers the lovely sprite is a pawn in a dangerous game--orchestrated by none other than a reviled enemy from his past. While blind-sided by her beauty and her magical powers, the least of which is the spell she casts on his heart, the sinister plot unfolds. What started out as folly to catch a thief, blossoms into a love that casts aside bloodlines and forges all boundaries.

Elfin Blood Excerpt:

Their eyes held as he tossed her denims over his shoulders. He buried his hand in her hair, kneading her scalp with his fingers.

“This.” His palm flattened over her bare pussy and she flinched at the jolt of heat shooting through her. “Is beautiful.”

He tugged against her hair, holding her steady as he leaned over her and put his mouth to her breasts through the thin fabric. The scrape of his teeth against the cloth caused her to whimper and arch beneath him.

“Can you tone it down a bit,” he asked, grazing his fangs along the underside of her breast.

“Tone what down?”

“The music.” He rose to his knees, his features pinched.

“I’m not making that music.” Julija was too busy trying to catch her breath to worry about the melody. The pads of his fingers rolled her nipples through the fabric while the palm of his other hand rubbed the outer folds of her sex. She squirmed, itching to press her thighs together to alleviate her escalating arousal.

“Of course you are. You’re a Jewel Master. They’re singing your lust.”

Julija touched him for the first time, tracing his wide, sexy lips with her finger—lips she’d fantasized about.

"I’m not a Jewel Master,” she said, baffled by his statement. She traced the point of a protruding fang. “Ow!” she cried, jerking her finger back to peer at the blood beading the pad of her index finger.

Quick as a snake striking, he reached out and placed her finger against the center of his lips. Mired between fascination and horror, she watched as he used her blood to paint his mouth red. Landau licked his lips. The pleasure flaring across his face nearly brought her to orgasm. Again, he painted his lips with her blood, his eyes rolling with delight when he swiped the moisture away.


Landau dragged his tongue over her finger, cleansing the blood from her flesh. He squeezed and blood beaded to the surface. Again, he licked the digit like it was his personal lollipop. She gyrated beneath him, undulated her hips into his thigh. Had she missed the anatomy lesson that said fingers were erogenous zones?

He sucked her finger into his mouth, his gaze holding hers steady as he sipped nourishment from the tiny wound. A moan tore from her. He suckled again, a hard drag that tweaked her clitoris.

“Mmm.” She moaned, arching her back, needing him inside her.

A grin skirted his lips as her vampire suckled. She cried out as an orgasm jerked through her, surprising and embarrassing her.

Landau chuckled. “You’re easy, Jewel Master.”

Easy, yes. Sex-starved too.

“I don’t know what that is.” Her ragged breath hitched as she tried to orient herself and follow the conversation.

"How can you not?” His brows met his hairline, showing his surprise. “Jewel Masters are rare, but still . . . .” He eyed her speculatively. “You’re joking, right?”

Julija didn’t think she could muster a verbal response so she shook her head.

“I’ll show you,” he said, his gaze determined. He looked at the jewels surrounding them on the bed, his fingers skimming through them until he located a diamond at least ten carats in size. He pressed the flat side against a nipple. “Can you feel it vibrating?”

“Yes.” She strangled on the word. The vibration against her nipple was connected to her vagina.

“Only a Jewel Master can make it do that.” Landau trailed the diamond to the other breast and smiled at her moan of pleasure. “I’m not a Jewel Master,” he said. “Wood Elves create Jewel Masters.” He clarified the last sentence with, “I don’t have Wood Elf in me. You do.”

Mischief darkened his gaze as he dragged the vibrating diamond down her belly, circled her navel and then slid it downward to the flesh at the apex of her thighs.

As if entranced, Landau spread her vaginal lips and pressed the gem against her clitoris. The diamond acted like a tiny, wicked vibrator.

Five seconds. She panted. Ten seconds. She panted faster. Fifteen sec— She climaxed a second time. The diamond launched into hyper-vibration drive, the harmony wobbled her eardrums, the melody so loud, Landau flinched.

He slid the rock lower, soaking the crystal with her wetness. He pressed the gemstone against her entrance; the humming diamond grew louder, vibrated rapidly against her swollen flesh.

Grimacing at the decibel level, Landau removed the stone from her body. “Proof,” Landau said, sounding strangled. When she focused on him, his eyes turned blood red and he looked turned-on, like her. “You’re a Jewel Master.”

Buy Link: https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=67

~~~~~~

Where I can be found on the web:

Website: http://www.gracenmiller.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/GracenMiller

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/gracen.miller?ref=profile

Monday, December 14, 2009

Author Eva Gordan Talks Wolves





Power Totem or Feared Werewolf

By Author of Paranormal Romance Eva Gordon

Why I was moved to create my ‘werewolf’ paranormal romance series, The Wolf Maiden Chronicles

My blog is about why I created the epic paranormal lycan series, The Wolf Maiden Chronicles. Book 1, Werewolf Sanctuary released May 2009 followed by Beast Warrior (August 2009), which takes place during the Viking era. White Wolf of Avalon: Werewolf Knight will be release late fall 2009 and Lycan Gladiator late spring 2010. My passion for wildlife, especially wolf biology (my degrees are in Zoology and Biology) and my love of mythology was like the mixing of chocolate and peanut butter to create the Reeses Peanut Cup. I had to combine my two great loves. The call of the wild meets romance. Why the wolf? That was easy. The wolf is one of my totem guides and in fact has been the totem guide for numerous cultures. Nothing sends a chill down your spine more than hearing a wolf’s howl in the night. While at a wolf sanctuary, I spent the night in a trailer on the grounds and was privileged to hear night after night of thirty wolves in their nightly serenade. No sound is more awesome. Wolves have traits we admire. They are powerful predators, with complex social behavior, and what appeals to most romantic readers, wolves are monogamous. In reality wolves have a low hunting success rate and the average wolf is the size of a German Shepherd so I made my lycan wolves huge, the size of bears with cool tribal tattoos. The Beast of Gevaudan legend of 1764 of Southern France spoke of such a large wolf creature/werewolf said to be the size of a bull. I knew then that my lycan had to be larger than the average wolf.


I studied myths about wolves from around the globe. In Native American culture the wolf is an important archetype. They had great respect for the wolf and often offered prayers before a hunt to the wolf spirit. Wolf spirit was also powerful medicine for shamans who traveled to the world of the dead. In Europe just as in the New World, myths and stories about wolves are universal. Early Europeans Respected the Wolf as Protector and Teacher. From the Steppes of Asia Minor to the British Isles the Wolf was mighty totemic protector. Hecate, an Ancient Greek deity was worshipped as a goddess with three wolf heads. Rome was founded by Romulus and Remus who were fed by the she-wolf, Alcala/Lupa. In Ireland, King Cormac was nursed by a she-wolf. Myths about heroes being suckled or raised by wolves are ubiquitous and would take too much space for this blog. In the Viking world to be a member of the Wolf Clan, Ulfhednar was the greatest honor. Viking warriors believed that if they died a heroic death they would be turned into magnificent wolves. Vikings also believed wolves chasing and devouring the sun and moon caused eclipses. Two wolves accompanied Odin, ruler of the Norse Gods. He created the wolves Freki (Hungry One) and Geri (Greedy One) as loyal companions.

Many of these wolfish tales were actually werewolf stories. As Europe went from hunter/gather to a agricultural land grabbing cultures the wolf was no longer seen as friend but rather foe. Tales of ravenous wolves haunted the land. From Lycaon being turned into a werewolf by Zeus to Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf became the new evildoer. Werewolves roamed looking for human prey. There are numerous accounts of werewolves devouring people. And so many ways to become a werewolf, from wearing a wolf pelt, from a curse, drinking from a specific water hole or the classic bitten by a wolf and influenced by the full moon. I then I began to see history through the eyes of a werewolf. What if werewolves were real? Mine would be genetic and super powerful. If they were, they would need to keep themselves secret. Thus my creation of my werewolf universe, in The Wolf Maiden Chronicles.

Since ancient times, the Lupercal Council has kept their people’s werewolf identity a well-guarded secret from man. They refer to their kind as lycans. The lycan shifts into a bear-sized wolf, bearing unique markings reminiscent of Maori or Celtic tattoos. The pack shifts during the full moon and are under the control of their alpha male leader. The alpha male and alpha female are not bound by the full moon and can shift at will. Lycans can only breed with their kind. The exception is the alpha male, which can only mate with human women known as wolf maidens. These human women bear the five-toed lycan paw print or mark of the wolf on their left hip. Female alphas are sterile but are the leading lycans governing the Lupercal Council. They are aided by selected men known as Lupercii who help inform the Lupercal of all human activity. In their religion they worship the Goddess Feronia. The romance in my stories revolve around the alpha male and the wolf maiden destined to be his life mate not just in this life but throughout time at each rebirth. There is much more detail, but this is it in a nutshell. In each book I capture the realism of the historical period and the story unfolds as a ‘werewolf historical’ paranormal fantasy.

To start your journey you can start with Werewolf Sanctuary, a contemporary that leads to the ‘werewolf historicals’, however each novel is a stand-alone. Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf is the second and takes place during the Viking Era. Here is a blurb to each.

Werewolf Sanctuary
By Eva Gordon
Book 1. Of The Wolf Maiden Chronicles



ISBN: 978-1-935407-30-0 for Werewolf Sanctuary http://tinyurl.com/WerewolfSanctuary


The Lupercal society is in peril due to an unknown disease infecting their young offspring. The children that survive the pestilence shift too early into wolf cubs, lose their distinct markings, and end up becoming normal wolves unaware of their human consciousness. Normally immune to most known diseases, the Lupercal has few of their own doctors and must seek the help of a human outsider to find the cure.

Wyatt Weylin, the alpha male of the Montana pack and leader of a team of mercenary lycans, flies to a World Wolf Conference in San Francisco, where he hopes to convince leading authority on wolf diseases, veterinarian Dr. Madeline Styles to come to his wolf sanctuary and find a cure. The minute he sees her he feels drawn to her striking good looks. The sensory chemistry is instant. He tries to suppress the feeling knowing that he is forbidden to fall for a human. Life gets complicated when Wyatt discovers that the vegetarian animal doctor has the mark of the wolf and is his life mate.

Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf
By Eva Gordon
Book 2 of The Wolf Maiden Chronicles



ISBN 978-1-935407-31-7 for Beast Warrior, Viking Werewolf http://tinyurl.com/Beast-Warrior-Viking-Werewolf


Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf is a historical paranormal romance that takes place during the Viking Era of the Dark Ages. A time when only the strong survive. It is the second book in the Wolf Maiden Chronicles, which depicts alpha lycans and their human wolf maiden mates.

Sigurd, an alpha Norse wolfskin, son of Gunnolf the Red seeks revenge against shape shifting bearskins, Bork the Mad and his son, Mord the Blood Claw for the death of his parents and his older brother Guda. Orphaned, he has been raised by his older sister Brynhild, who convinces him to take a wolf maiden in order to increase their small pack. Despite the warning by Hungerd the wolf witch, he takes a farmer’s new bride with tragic consequences. Alone he joins a long ship until the day he can avenge his pack’s demise.

Emelisse, a Frank wolf maiden, has been raised and educated in the classics, science, literature and languages by female lycans of the Lupercal. Born a runt with a weak heart her father has been overprotective. She refuses to be treated like a delicate vase and rebels by seeking out riding and falconry. Now at age eighteen Emelisse frets that her father wants her to accept Radulf III the Cruel, an alpha lycan of a pack of powerful warriors. She tries to run away with her human lover.

Viking werewolf, Sigurd rescues Emelisse, from the claws of the berserker bear men. He claims her as his ulf hexen or wolf maiden, but she wants to leave lycan society and live with humans. To complicate matters she has been called by her goddess Feronia to save the lycans from a dreaded disease. Their union is wrought with great peril in a world where werewolves must battle against their own kind as well as their fierce enemy, the berserker bear men. Will Emelisse accept Sigurd a foreign lycan as her alpha mate? Sigurd vows to protect her from their enemies but how can he save her before she dies from her ailing heart?

Learn more about my musings on my blog http://evagordon.blogspot.com where on each full moon I interview a famous werewolf and like creature or person.

Eva Gordon


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Getting to know Jayden Chelcee and a CONTEST



CONTEST FOR TODAY: All who leave a comment, I'll put their name in a hat and have a drawing about 5pm CST and the winner will win a fee E-copy of Too Close to the Fire.

What is your favorite movie of all time? The one where you can watch it and still get affected at the same spots each and every time?
Gone With The Wind…(Laughs) There’s just something about those Southern gentlemen and Rhett Butler…


If you were stranded on a deserted island, what 5 things would you have with you? *mind you, you do have a strong hunky man to help you with things*
*grins*…Hmm…Coconut Oil, Definitely a toy or two…(Giggles), Strawberries, Whipped Cream, and how about some soft padded cuffs?…I think I can handle everything else. (Laughs)

What is your favorite way to relax after a hard day working and writing?
I like to watch a good action movie with hubby, or a very romantic one…(Giggles)

What is the one era you would love to go visit and why?
Pre-Civil War…Again those Southern gents…


What is one historical figure you would love to chat with and why?
 George Washington. I’d like his to hear his thoughts about the America now and how things have changed.

Out of all your books, do you have a favorite one? If not, then which one is closest to your heart?
Right now, Too Close to the Fire is closest to my heart. I put a lot of hours into writing this book and trying to get all the emotions in there the characters needed to feel.

What character out of all your books is the closest to your personality?
Nyra. Her story still has to be told, but she’s my all time favorite character and she’s dispositioned like me.
What do you feel is the most important aspect a new author should remember when writing/creating their own stories? Any advice for aspiring authors?
 Never get discouraged, no matter what anyone says. Write if writing is what you love to do. Then edit your work, polish it til it shines, then send that baby off. You might get a rejection slip, but hey, keep trying.

Have you ever been nervous over reader reaction when a new book come out? How much does reader response mean to you over your books? What do you hope readers get from your books after they read them?
I’m very nervous when each one of my books are released. I always wonder if I got it right. Reader response means more to me than anything. I want the readers/fans to love my books. I hope they see my characters grow, see them learn from their mistakes and see them as humans who stumble and fall, but get back up and keep trying.

How long does it take to write a book for you? Is there much research involved in your stories?
I can write a 100k word novel in about three months. And yes, I do tons of research, but very little before I start the novel. I research as I go and need to.

You got a call from Hollywood that one of your books is being made into a movie and YOU get to pick the book and cast your characters. Which book would you choose and who do you see acting as your characters?
Hmm, I’d love to see In the Arms of Danger and the entire Montana Men series made into movies…For Danger…gosh, maybe Skeet Ulrich as Danger…gotta love that guy…For Lacey…I like Jennifer Aniston or Jennifer Love Hewitt…they’re both pretty feisty actresses.

Sneak Peek into Too Close To The Fire- coming to Eternal Press (http://www.eternalpress.ca/)

Inside the hut they were dry, but it felt claustrophobic. How could Taylor sleep with all that screeching going on outside? But his soft snores assured her he was in fact asleep. Dianna wiggled in the dark, squeezed her thighs a little tighter and tried not to rub Taylor’s chest.


Still, she couldn’t keep from touching him. She sifted her fingers through the light furring of hair on his chest. She loved his wide chest, the sculpted muscles, the perfect pecs. Slowly, she walked her fingers down his solid midriff, awed at the ridged, six-pack abs. She slid her fingers a little lower and paused at the edge of the elastic band of his boxers.

Should she? Or shouldn’t she? Dianna toyed with the elastic band. Toyed with temptation. Slowly, she slipped her fingers a bare inch beneath the elastic. Her heart hammered. Her pulse pounded. Oh my God! Had all her blood rushed to her head? Her fingers curled with the hot need to stroke his cock, cup his balls and gently squeeze the manly nuggets.

Dianna held her breath and glided her fingers through the top edge of the nest of soft hair. A little more and she’d be able to touch ‘it.’ Her fingertips were right there at the tip of the treasure she sought. She released a long breath. God, it was hot inside the hut! Why, it was downright steamy.

Her breath caught in her lungs. Her palms felt sweaty. She eased her fingers from under the elastic and instead walked them up and down the hard length behind the thin cotton material of his shorts. Holy cow! Dare she invade the Land of the Jolly Green Giant?

Damn, she wished Taylor didn’t dislike her so much. Right now, she could stand a little tender, loving care. She wiggled closer. Daringly, she slipped her fingers beneath the elastic once more. Glory be, the head of his cock was right there! She was pretty sure she hadn’t slid her fingers any further down than from the first time. That meant…oh yes, that’s exactly what it meant.

She couldn’t resist running a fingertip around the smooth skin. Oh my God. She was right. It had grown. It was nice and firm and yeah ― a perfect length. It couldn’t be better if she’d ordered it her way. She explored the tiny slit, felt a drop of moisture and rubbed the lubricant onto the plum-shaped head. She pumped the engorged shaft a few times. This could get interesting. Mmmm!

Dianna stopped pumping and frowned in the dark. What should she do now that she had her hand inside his shorts and around the broad tip of his spear? Should she continue pumping until she got the full works?

“Hell, don’t fucking stop now. It was just getting good.”

CONTEST REMINDER
Just for fun and a signed copy of three of my books and the promise of two more as they’re released, beginning Jan. 1st, I'm starting the year off hosting a contest for you...the fans and readers of the Montana Men series...titled, Who Is Your Favorite Hero?…you get to cast your ballot, having a say in which man in Lacey Blackstone's life you want her to end up with for her Happy Ever After Ending...So mark your calendars and watch for that to be posted on my blog site Jan.1, 2010…http://tabithashay.blogspot.com/ But first, u have to read the E-books to know what's happening in her life...Start with In the Arms of Danger, book one of the Montana Men series, in which you will be able to obtain a free copy from All Romance E Books during their Twelve Days of Christmas promotions. The E-book will be available free for two days only…Then you’ll want to read book two, No Holds Barred, then available now at Eternal Press, book three, Too Close to the Fire when you'll learn who the mystery man in Lacey's life is...then things get really complicated...that's why I'll need your vote..so that in Playing For Keeps, book four, scheduled for release in 2010, or in The Wilder Side, at last Lacey's future happiness will be settled...I hope you'll join me for this month long Vote-A-Thon...I'll be keeping tabs on the ballot box and keeping score, and on Jan. 30, I’ll lock the ballot box and begin counting. On Jan. 31, I’ll post the hero's name who won the most votes (although ultimately, the choice is up to Lacey)…At that time, everyone who voted and left a comment, their name will be dropped in a separate ballot box and the winner announced that day as well...Books one, two and three are available in E-format at Eternal Press now at http://www.eternalpress.ca

Friday, December 11, 2009

Good News, Bad News for Digital Publishing

First, the good news.  The digital publishing market is steadily growing. 

For those of you who missed it, this past Sunday The New York Times published a brief Q&A with Jeff Bezos, the CEO of Amazon.  Naturally, the discussion turned to the Kindle.  When asked what percentage of books that Amazon sells are digital, Jeff responded that for every 100 copies of a physical book sold by Amazon, 48 copies are sold in digital format.  Jeff also noted that when they launched the Kindle two years ago, 90,000 titles were available for download.  Currently, Amazon has 350,000 titles and is adding thousands more every week.  According to Jeff, his goal is to eventually have available in digital format every book ever printed in all languages.

Now the bad news.  At present, Amazon adds digital books to its holdings based on the popularity and sales of that book in printed format. 

Okay, so that's not really bad news.  It just means new authors are going to have to hustle to increase their sales and their popularity.  Big deal.  We planned on doing that anyway.  So I guess this is mostly good news.

Snow, Snow, Snow

You know, I grew up around the great lakes in Western NY and since moving back here, I just can not get warm anaymore. Maybe it has to do with me living down south for many years and being used to the weather down there. No idea but when this huge moster winter storm hit us late Wednesday this week, I buckled down and hoped I wouldn't lose power. Yesterday was the worst- 60 MPH winds whipping over a foot of snow all over, drifts close to a foot high and nothing plowed until it was done. All said and done, we got almost 2 feet of snow and the southern tier part of NY (near PA border) is getting pounded with up to 18 more inches of the white stuff.

I heard snowmobilers and skiers this morning and I just read several ski places opened up with smiles and cheers. The kids have another snow day so they are geting a four day weekend. :) DH shoveled out the car after the snow plow guy buried it after plowing the driveway and was able to get to work in reasonable amount of time today.

Now the question is- will I be able to get out this weekend to go do some major grocery shopping nad Christmas shopping? With only 2 weeks left till Christmas, I am running on panic now.

I hope to get some snow pictures this afternoon to share with y'all.

So any ideas what to do with kids to keep them occupied while snow bound?

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Guest Author Day with Shiela Stewart



Angels and Demons: Taboo or the new in thing?




Heaven and hell. Good and evil. God and Satan. We’ve all learnt about it, talked about it, debated it. God is the divine Lord, ruler of good. Satan, bad man, sins, fear him. But is writing about Satan wrong? What about a demon and an angel mating? The child would be divine and evil all in one. Do you think God would tolerate one of his angels procreating with a demon? What do you think the punishment would be if he found out? And what about Satan? What would he do if one of his minions were to bed an angel and get her pregnant?

In my current work in progress, Awaken the Demon, I delve right into the good an evil. Draco Starr is a direct descendent of Satan. He was sent to earth centuries ago to collect souls for his master. But he’s grown tired of it and wants something more for his life. He’s a multi-millionaire owning real estate across the world but no matter how famous or successful he becomes, he always has the shadow of his calling haunting him. When Satan finds out a child has been born from a demon and human, he sends Draco on the search for her. Draco sees this as his way out and decides to bargain with Satan. If he finds this woman, his contract with Satan must be ended.

Missy Green is a woman running from an abusive boyfriend. When she crashes her car into Draco’s Limo and brought to his home to recuperate, she has no idea she is in the midst of a demon. In order to pay off her damages, she agrees to take a job as one of his maids. But when she stumbled upon Draco performing an incantation on a woman she’s thrown into a world beyond comprehension. Learning you are a demon is hard enough to grasp, and having Satan after you so he can control your soul is staggering, but finding out the woman that gave birth to you was actually and angel is something Missy has no idea how to deal with.


Now, I’m not going to divulge anymore about the story, only that Draco and Missy fall in love and eventually live happily ever after…sort of. But when I first wrote this story, Missy was the daughter of a demon and witch. She had powers that outmatched Draco’s, her strength surpassing his. As I wrote it, something didn’t feel right. Sure, she was strong, but would being a demon and a witch make her stronger than a man born directly from one of Satan’s genes? It just didn’t want to work for me. Then it hit me. Her mother wasn’t a witch, she was an angel disguised as a witch to blend in. And everything just clicked.


Awaken the Demon is book one in my demon series. So far there are three books planned and each one deals with Satan having control over Draco and his family.

Book Two, Offer the Demon deals with Draco and Missy’s daughter, Aurora. Born to collect souls for Satan, Aurora wants only to live a normal life. When she meets the man of her dreams, Scot Monroe, she is willing to do anything to rid herself of her calling even if it means giving up being a demon. But when Satan refuses to let her go, Aurora goes head to head with the Devil determined to win.

Book Three: Claiming the Demon looks at the life of Mick Monroe. Son of Aurora and Scott, Grandson of Draco and Missy. Mick is a cocky rock star with a voice of an angel. Only he didn’t come by that talent alone. As a child Satan began to train Mick with the goal that when the time was right, Mick would assist him in rising and taking over the world. When meets Officer Laci Harris the cocky bachelor is determined to bed the busty beauty. But when he meets her son, Tim, all his machismo is thrown out the door. The kid is an admirer of Mick’s music and clings to the devote lady killer. As Mick begins to fall for Laci and her son and contemplates giving up his lifestyle, Satan steps in with better plans. But when Mick refuses to give in, Satan pulls no punches and causes major turmoil in Mick’s life, leaving him no choice but to follow along with the plan. But love often conquers all and with his family at his side, Mick is willing to fight to the death.

Now I ask you this. Is it taboo to write about Angel’s and Demon’s? If so, why? Once upon a time people thought vampire books were taboo and those that wrote about them were evil as well. I think it’s time to stir up the romance world with something a little taboo. And I’m hoping Angel’s and Demon’s are the next big wave. What do you think?


Shiela Stewart

http://www.shielasbooks.ca/




Monday, December 7, 2009

Winner of Amber Skyze's Blog Day

The Winner of a copy of Heat Waves, Amber Skyze's new release is.........orelukjp0

I sent Amber your email orelukjp0 and she will contact you on your prize. Congratulations and thanks for coming by.

Tallking with Author Ed Williams



“I Hate Telephones!”


I hate telephones. Of all the type telephones that are made, I hate cell phones worst of all!

If I were a betting man (which I am), I’d say that most of you out there wouldn’t agree with my statement. You’d probably tell me that telephones are a wonderful thing, that they allow us to communicate with just about anyone we want to, at any time we want to, and anywhere they happen to be. You’d also probably tell me some things about internet connections, conference calling, cell phone/Blackberry technology, etc, etc, etc. And I’d just sit there, listen respectfully to you, and even nod along as you rattled some of that stuff off. I’d even agree with some of your logic. Some.

I’d do all those things, but I’d still hate telephones. I genuinely do despise them, more than I hate one ply toilet paper. And, it’s pretty easy to understand why. Just consider the following:

1. Around eighty percent of the calls we receive we don’t want.

Think of all the calls we get from relatives wanting money, favors, or discussions regarding their various ailments; calls we get from strangers wanting to promote religious or political causes; calls from polling organizations wanting “data“; and my personal all-time favorite, calls that start off with, “Excuse me, sir, are you the man of the house?” I always fight off the urge to answer, “No, I’m the woman, I just haven’t woke up good yet.”

2. They give telephone solicitation people jobs.

Telephone solicitors give convenience store workers and ambulance chasing lawyers a good name. I particularly love the ones that are obviously reading from a script. You can say almost anything to them, and they’ll continue reading. My daughter Alison and I disagree on how best to handle them - I hang up immediately when I realize I’ve got one, Alison will listen until she can break in, say, “We’re not interested, thank you,” and then hang up real quickly.


3. They keep 900 numbers in business.

I read somewhere recently where they’re thinking about eliminating the 900 number services. Since this would eliminate a lot of skanky infomercials, that would in and of itself benefit humanity. I do have mixed feelings about eliminating the services where women talk naughty to you cause I’ll probably never get a real call like that from a woman, so a bought one may be my only hope.

4. They sense when you’re in the bathroom, and ring.

If you’ve just gotten home from eating the volume special at Taco Bell, the exact moment you settle into your restroom is precisely when your cell phone will ring. And at said precise moment your ass and the toilet seat will be separated by about a foot or more due to the intense vertical leap off the seat that you’ll do. I’ll be discreet and say no more, but ya’ll know where I‘m going with this.

5. You end up paying one hundred percent of the bill for them, but your teenaged daughter accounts for ninety percent of the usage.

Alison not only spent the majority of her teenaged hours at home on the phone, she developed this sixth sense regarding when it would ring. It never ceased to amaze me - the phone would ring one time, she’d pick it up, and it‘d be for her. If the phone rang a second or third time, you’d know the call was for one of the rest of us. And she did this without having caller ID on her phone. I guess it’s just one of those clairvoyant gifts that you hear about some people having. One thing you could always bet on was that if the call was for someone other than her, she’ll time the conversation, and, after about ten minutes had passed she’d make it real clear that you needed to stop talking as she might have “another call coming in.”

Now ya’ll see what I mean? And I didn’t really get into the heart of my hatred for cell phones here all that much, even though they’re about the most irritating electronic devices ever. In fact, if I really went into my feelings about them, my language would end up getting kinda rough and they’d end up slapping one of those warning messages on this article which means that I’d look like a cad and lose a lot of views that there’s just no reason for me to lose. So, for those reasons, I will keep my $%#-ed mouth shut. But it hurts, though!

Well, I could go on more about this, but I’m not gonna run my literary privilege into the ground. My case here is made, and my work for this article is done. Wait! Y’all are gonna think I’m kiddin’, but my cell phone has started ringing! There goes one ring....two rings...I really do have to go now, this call’s for me, and I can already feel a cussin‘ comin‘ on...

Where to find Ed Williams:

www.champagnebooks.com/books

http://www.christmasinthebook.com/

http://www.ed-williams.com/

www.twitter.com/ELW3

"ChristmaSin'", my new Christmas novel, is now available for sale! Click the Champagne Books link below to order!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wQu3_9vvig

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Contest Winner from Kris Condi's Blog Day Announcement

The winner of a copy of the Chat Pack by Kris Condi is Susan L.

Susan, please email me at dawn_roberto @ yahoo.com in order for Kris to get your prize out to you.

CONGRATS!

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Winner of Cynthia Vespia's Blog Day

My kids picked the winner of Cynthia Vespia's blog day contest and the lucky person is.....Skyla11377

Skyla, please email me at dawn_roberto AT yahoo DOT com so I can get your info. to Cynthia.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Meet Author Amber Skyze & A CONTEST


CONTEST: One Lucky Person will win a copy of HEAT WAVES. Contest is open til Monday Dec. 7th.

What would you tell aspiring young writers about the publishing business?


If you think it’s all about making lots of money and living a grand lifestyle, find another career. It’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears to make it in this business.

Tell us five random things about yourself.

I’m a closet shopaholic (ooops guess that’s out of the bag)I love hard rock music

I’m actually very shy

I could eat Buffalo wings every day

I’m a Jeopardy nut

What type of writer are you—the one who experiences before writing, like Hemingway, or the one who mostly daydreams and fantasizes?

I’m definitely a daydreamer who tries to live out her fantasies! 

From the moment you conceived the idea for the story, to the published book, how long did it take?

The normal turnaround time for me is about four to six months from idea to published book.

When it comes to writing, are you an early bird, or a night owl?

Early bird…I’m up at around 4am. I browse the blogs and then write until 6:30 when it’s time to wake the house up for the day.

How was your experience in looking for a publisher? What words of advice would you offer those novice authors who are in search of one?

Ellora’s Cave was a no-brainer in the beginning. I wanted to start with the largest! Aspen Mountain and Noble Romance I did a little more research and found I liked what they were offering.

I suggest novice authors study the different publishers and read what they’re selling. Make sure you want to see your name associated with what they’re selling and the other authors. Biggest is not always the best fit for everyone.

And another thing is contact other authors to ask for advice about their experiences. Most would be willing to give you information.

What book are you reading now?

I just picked up books one and two of Marley Gibson’s Ghost Huntress series.

Have you ever woken in the night with the need to write? If so, how do you deal with this urge?

I’ve heard a lot of authors talk about waking in the middle of the night with a burning need to write. I love my sleep! LOL. I have woken up and couldn’t sleep and used writing to tire me out. But it had nothing to do with a need to write. J


Sneek peek into HEAT WAVES, Now Available at Aspen Mountain Press
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/

“So are you tired?” she asked, lifting his shirt and running her fingers up his stomach.


Was he tired? How could he possibly be tired with such a sexy woman stirring his manhood awake?

“Depends. What did you have in mind?” he teased.

“A little of this.” She reached up and kissed his neck, while her hand worked the button of his jeans. “And a little of this.” She nibbled on his earlobe, rendering him useless.

He grabbed her and tossed her down on the seat. “I’m not tired in the least,” he said, tugging at her shirt. “I want to devour you.”

She squirmed under his touch. “I’m feeling a little sleepy.” She faked a yawn.

Ty loved a challenge. “You can go to sleep, but first let me show you what you’ll be missing.”

He brought his lips down on her breast. He felt the bud hardening under the heat of his breath. His fingers roamed her soft skin, searching for the other breast. When he reached his destination he tweaked the nipple between his fingers. She closed her eyes.

“Very sleepy.”

She was going to play that way, was she? He’d show her tired. Lifting her shirt over her head, she didn’t resist him, but she didn’t assist him either. Laying like dead weight she continued with her pretend sleep. But Ty knew it was only a matter of time before she stopped faking and joined in on the fun.

With her shirt off and her bra opened, he worked on shrugging her out of her jeans. It wasn’t easy, but he managed. Now she lay fully exposed – an open invitation to do whatever he pleased to her.

He placed gentle kisses on her flat stomach. Tiny hairs stood on edge, her skin prickled under his touch. She was becoming aroused. He could smell it in the air. He admired her perfectly trimmed pussy as he made his way to prove his point. As he drew closer to her pussy her arousal became more pronounced.

Sleeping, my ass. Let’s see you sleep through this.


Find Amber at the following places:

http://amberskyze.blogspot.com/

http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com/

http://goddessesofstorytelling.blogspot.com/

Friday, December 4, 2009

Advice to New Authors: Don't Sell Yourself Short

So, you've finally finished your first novel. You've sacrificed endless hours of personal time with family and friends, have revised and redrafted your manuscript ad nauseum, and have finally sent out the first batch of queries. Now all you have to do is wait around for the first acceptance letter to come in, and then sign your "fame and fortune" contract.


Not so fast, my friend.

The publishing industry has undergone major changes in the past few years, and not necessarily for the better (I'll blog more on these topics in future postings). An increasing number of books are published each year, and more people are trying their luck at being writers. Inevitably, a cottage industry has infiltrated the publishing field designed specifically to take advantage of aspiring authors. Let me site two examples.

While checking out a friend's blog last week, I stumbled across this story. Link Harlequin Romance has teamed up with Author Solutions to form a new vanity press, DellArte Press (formerly Harlequin Horizons). In essence, Harlequin is declining to publish some submitted manuscripts because they do not feel the work is worthy enough for publication; however, Harlequin will be more than happy to provide that same author with their full range of vanity press services so the author can publish the book themselves -- for a fee, of course. Harlequin should be ashamed of itself.

This is a variation of an old scam. Years ago some small, disreputable publishers would positively respond to an author's query letter, telling him/her how much they liked the work, but pointing out that there were editorial weaknesses in the manuscript. that needed to be ironed out first. Of course, the publisher just happened to have the name of a manuscript editor who they could recommend. A lot of money was spent by authors on these sham editorial services, and very few of these publishers ever put out a book. (I received a brochure once from one of these sham editorial services and gave it to the rabbits to chew, so they are good for something.)

The other scam to be aware of comes from some small, unknown publishers who tell an author how much they liked his/her work, and that they're sending out a contract. Read that contract very carefully. Several months ago I received one of these offers from a "publisher" that shall remain nameless. Naturally, I was excited at the prospects of finally seeing my name on a book cover. Then the contract arrived. This publisher wanted all the rights (print, electronics, audio book, movie/TV/radio, proprietary rights) to my first four novels for perpetuity, and would reimburse me 10% on all sales made. My response was much more polite than the "publisher" deserved.

I know at least a few of you may be thinking, "That's not a bad deal. I've got a career and a family that occupies a lot of my time. It would be great for someone else to do all the marketing and sales for me, even if I only get 10%." Which is a fair observation. And for some people it may seem like a good idea. But before you sign on the dotted line, consider the following.

The contract does not necessarily mean a publisher will actively try to place these rights, only that they will own the rights. So it does not translate into the publisher doing all the work and you cashing your check.

What it does mean is that if a director calls from Hollywood and says they loved your novel and want to turn it into a movie, and sends you a check for $100,000, 90% of that goes to the publisher. If Oprah talks about your book on her talk show and your book rockets to the bestsellers list, 90% of those profits go to the publisher. And if you happen that you are the next J. K. Rowlings.... Let's put it this way, Miss Rowlings sold the movie rights to the first four Harry Potter books for 2 million dollars (let alone the rights to games, toys, etc.). Under your contract, 90% of that would go to the publisher for doing nothing.

What I'm trying to get across to all the authors just starting out is not to sell yourself short. You put a lot of time and effort into writing that first book, and if it's worthy of being published it's worthy of being published by a reputable publisher. The temptation is great to grab at that first opportunity, but don't unless it's a good offer. Something worth while will soon come along. (Note to the reader: Three weeks after rejecting that other "publisher's" offer, Shadowfire Press offered me a contract for my first novel, The Vampire Hunters, which I accepted.)

Behind the Scenes with Kelli Wilkins: Loving a Wild Stranger

  Behind the Scenes: Loving a Wild Stranger (A Historical Romance) By Kelli A. Wilkins www.KelliWilkins.com     This “Behind the ...