Point of View in NovelTea

Today I’d like to talk a little bit about POV. Yes, POV as in Point of View. I know some of you writers out there have a hard time figuring out your POV and as readers we have certain expectations in our books. I personally have become very strict in my POV expectations. And yes I've read NYT Best Sellers and their POV will be completely off. Part of this is that in the romance genre (especially) we are sticklers for it. WHY? The answer is easy: because in romance, more than in any other genre, it is about the emotion of the story—of the characters. If we keep bouncing around from person to person—head to head—how are we ever to really understand and 'feel' with this character? It makes it very hard. So, authors, stay true to your POV. Everything that is seen, heard, felt and understood should come from one character per scene. Want to change your POV character then just cut to the next scene or make a scene break. It's that easy. We all appreciate it. :)

So, what about POV in NovelTea, my humorous romantic-suspense series. I started the series as a first person story from the perspective of the heroine, Juliet Truesdale. I had a lot of fun with that story and then wrote the second one which was a much longer novella. NovelTea Next Door comes from the hero's perspective. Yes, everything through the eyes of Grant Gerard. This was a bit more challenging. I had to think and react like a man for an entire story. Not only that but a man who is a spy for a living. Yes, it was work but rewarding too. And I had a lot of fun. In the 3rd book (novel length), I switched back to Juliet's POV. This time I start the story out as a murder mystery, but before you know it, Grant is on the scene and the faster pace of a romantic suspense begins. Yet, everything is experienced by Juliet.

When you decide to write a story in first person, you have to make a decision that this is the story of one character. All the action and all the plot revolves around that one character. Is that hard? You bet it is. Can it be done successfully? Sure. But you have to decide at the onset who the story belongs to. There is no scene switching and definitely no head hopping. You in a sense have to become that character. In everyday life, how do we know how the person we are talking with is feeling? They have body movements, expressions and we deduce it from that. You need to follow that into your first person story and it will be a success. I know many readers prefer a story told in 3rd person. I have to admit that I really like reading the ones in first, and I love writing them in that perspective. It just needs to be done right so the reader doesn't feel like they are missing something. It should feel like a complete story.

And now an excerpt from A Night of NovelTea:

I moved away from him. “All right? How can I be all right?” I wiped the tears away from my eyes with the side of my hand. “I wanted something exciting to happen to me, but I thought it would be less dangerous and more fun.”

“Fun? You aren’t having fun?” A humorous yet annoyed expression filled his features. “That was my main concern, not the men who are trying to kill me or how important it is to meet with my contact tonight, it’s all about you.” He grabbed my hand. “This isn’t discussion time. We’ve got to get out of here.”

I stood firm and pulled on his arm. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I have no idea what’s even going on. How do I know you’re not the bad guy in all this?”

“Do I look like the bad guy?” He cocked his head to the side and raised a dark eyebrow at the question, a smirk of a smile on his face.

I just stared at him not knowing how to answer. He most certainly did not look like the bad guy. He looked like the hero in some fantastically thrilling suspense—tall, slim, fit with a little bit of danger around his dazzling blue eyes. There was real strength in his face from his high cheekbones to the powerful line of his jaw. He couldn’t possibly be the villain involved in some dastardly deeds. Or could he? I’ve been reading far too many novels these days. Time to switch to non-fiction history. I need more facts and reality in my life, right?

“You want to wait around for those two to return.” He placed his hands at his hips, pulling his coat back and revealing his gun. “Maybe they’ll do you a favor and drop you on home.”

I was intimidated but I wasn’t going one more step with him until he filled me in on the situation. “Who are you anyway and what’s going on?”

He peered back at me with a staunch expression on his face as his eyes crinkled up and his lips pressed together in frustration. I could tell he wasn’t planning to tell me anything.

“Oh forget it and just let me be. I’m going back to my car.” I tried to pass by him as I mentally attempted to retrace our steps back to the restaurant.

He took hold of my hand and swung me back to face him until we were nearly eye to eye. My breath hitched inside my throat as I experienced an unexpected jolt in my chest from being so near to him.

“My name is Grant…Grant Gerard. I can’t tell you much more than that. You just have to trust that I am on the right side.”

Even with all the aura of mystery and danger surrounding us on this hot, sultry night, I was captivated as I gazed into his eyes. They made me feel safe even in the middle of a dark street on the wrong side of the tracks. At that moment, I knew I could trust him. Whatever was on the agenda, he was on the side of right.

He started down the street with my hand still encased firmly in his. “Did you say you had a car back at the restaurant?”

Watch the Book Trailer

Read Another Excerpt

Buy A Night of NovelTea

Read an Excerpt from the Sequel

Watch the Book Trailer from NovelTea Next Door

Buy NovelTea Next Door

Learn more about this series at the NovelTea Blog

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Cindy K. Green is a multi-published author with degrees in History and Education. Previously a middle school English & History teacher, she now homeschools her own children and writes in several genres: Inspirational, Contemporary, Fantasy, Suspense and Historical romance. Join her newsletter at newsletters@cindykgreen.com and she will send you out her short free read serial. Find out more about Cindy and her books at www.cindykgreen.com.

Brenda Novak's Online Auction for Diabetes Research... Get Ready to Bid!

Do you love a bargain? Do you get excited about unusual, one-of-a-kind items? Are you a book lover? A philanthropist? An eBay junkie?

Help me make a difference in the lives of my son and millions of others who live with diabetes by shopping at my Annual Online Auction to Benefit Diabetes Research. How does it work? Just like eBay—except the proceeds help accelerate progress in diabetes research!

Visit www.brendanovak.com May 1st through May 31st, where you can bid on over 2000 items, many of which can't be found anywhere else, including:

• A 6 night getaway to Seattle and Victoria, BC for two from Author Jane Porter
• Sherrilyn Kenyon, Dianna Love & Mary Buckham’s Extravaganza of Items
• Lunch with bestselling author Barry Eisler in San Francisco
• One-night stay in Nora Roberts’ Inn
• A Miniature Bookstore by Anna Stewart
• A special flying getaway to the destination of your choice with renowned writer, Margie Lawson
• Agent/Editor reads, mentoring sessions
• Autographed books from Stephenie Meyer, Dean Koontz, James Patterson, Jodi Piccoult and more....

Help me find a cure for this terrible disease and enjoy yourself while doing it!

~ Brenda Novak

Win Chocolates Today

It's National Humor Month on LASR (the long and short of it reviews site) and today, Rowena Cherry's question is in the spotlight, today, Sunday 26th.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/humormonth.htm

LASR staff will select the winning entry

All the best,
Rowena Cherry
http://www.linkedin.com/in/rowenacherry
http://www.twitter.com/rowenacherry

Goodbye Month

Can you believe it’s almost May? I’m having trouble with the idea. The weather is still iffy around here, though, so that could be part of it. I know it’s almost May because I just filed taxes. Yeah, I confess, I’m last minute about some things. Ahh, well, time does fly, doesn’t it? Well, now that I’m here, whatever shall we talk about?

`

I suppose I could mention some of the things I’m working on. As this is a family-ish blog, I suppose I should NOT go into detail about the erotic parts of my work.
`
Generally speaking, to me, the intent is the most important part of any story I write, regardless of where the characters end up—bed, dead, whatever. So I’m more interested in the characters’ mental state and motivation, even if the story is just a few pages long. I love to explore personalities.

`

I can’t tell you how many times I re-read something and ask myself what the heck I was thinking…which usually leads to a massive rewrite. (LOL a Massa-ive rewrite) That’s why sometimes I DON’T re-read stuff. But I’ve got a few that are getting or have gotten a bit of an over-haul.
`
Here’s an excerpt from Don’t Ask, coming out in the Going to the Chapel anthology in June (not the changed bits, I don’t want to give the whole thing away):

`
Don’t Ask

`
By J.J. Massa (http://www.torquerepress.com/)

`

Falk smiled down at the young woman his cousin had asked him to take out. She was lovely, well read, all around good company. Most of all, she wasn’t Zack Smith. That might not have been so apparent if the man who was Zack Smith could be ignored.

`
He turned his back to the handsome captain, attempting to block out the image of him kitted out so strikingly in his mess dress uniform. Tight leggings, a short, dark jacket with gold loops and twists up the arms. The outfit only served to emphasize Zack’s powerful frame, his dark hair and his beautiful blue-green eyes.

`

--…--

`

Clarissa was real. She was serious—perfect for him and for his career. Beautiful, smart, but not too smart, she’d suit him perfectly should he decide to settle down and move up the company ladder into administration.

`

Sliding off his stool, Falk intercepted a passing waiter and grabbed two flutes of champagne. It was high time he stopped playing.

`

“Thank you, Falk,” she cooed when he handed the chilled glass to her. “To us,” she smiled.

`

“To us,” he smiled back, raising his glass—not really feeling it but trying to.

`

“Do you know that man?” she asked him, nodding toward a small knot of people.

`

One of them had been glancing surreptitiously at him—Smith.

`

“Yes, I know the captain,” Falk told her, not bothering to lower his voice.

`

Zack rotated toward them, a half smile on his face. “Hi, Thayer,” he greeted him.

`

Falk looked over at Zack and then back to his date, coming to a decision. “Clarissa Meyer, this is Captain Zachary Smith.” Zack took her hand, bowing slightly. Falk snagged his gaze and went on. “He and I were working on a project together.”

`

He waited a beat. “We’re done now. Finished.”

`

He stood unmoving as Zack processed his words. In fact, Falk knew the second that the other man understood the meaning.

`

The hurt in his eyes shone brightly before the dark haired captain nodded.

`

Message received. Falk Thayer was done with him.
`

`

That’s a story I really enjoyed writing. This next one is a story by “Illian Obsidian” and I like it a lot—especially since I’ve “fixed” it. What can I say? It’s true. LOL …which is not to say I won’t “fix” it some more.

`
Into the Light

`
By Illian Obsidian (http://www.torquerepress.com/)

`
“Pan!” Rengal’s voice spun Pan around from where he had been bent over a report scroll. The sight of Rengal standing in the opening flooded him with joy. Rengal entered the room before Pan even realized that he had moved. When he pulled

`

Pan against him, Pan was shocked into stillness. He let himself be embraced tightly, swaying helplessly against his best friend. Of course he had no control, this was Rengal.

Pan reveled in the enthusiastic greeting.

`

“Rengal?” Pan tried to croak out, though he should have saved his breath.

`

“Moons and stars, Pan!” Rengal exclaimed. "I can't believe how much I've missed you!" And it seemed that Rengal had missed him if both arms wrapped tight about him was any kind of a clue.

`

Pan couldn't move, didn't move. Why should he want to?

Everything he'd ever yearned for was right here. Rengal's face was buried in his hair; one broad palm stroking his back the other wrapped around his waist.

`

"Pan, Pan,” Rengal's deep, fluid voice sounded slightly choked.

`

Pan didn't say a single word. He just enjoyed the moment. Of course he did, pressed bodily to Rengal as he was, not a hair’s width between them. He had every reason to doubt that this would happen again.

`

"I had no idea I would miss you this much my friend. Why did you not tell me I would?" Rengal chuckled quietly. "You are my advisor after all, are you not?"

`

"You know I missed you too, Rengal. I hope you know…" Pan fought not to sniffle. He would not make a spectacle of himself no matter that Rengal's arms were tight about him and his own eyes burned with emotion.

`

Rengal stepped back, one palm cupping Pan’s cheek, his thumb sweeping under a damp eye. "Look at us, Pan. You wouldn't know that we're part of the leadership in this community would you?" Rengal chuckled again "It is good to see you my friend. And just what are you doing here so late?" he asked belatedly, the chuckle fading from his voice.

`

Pan shifted uneasily not wanting to confess that he'd been avoiding his friend. "I left early yesterday and did not think to bring with me all the information required."

`

“You were ill?” At the concerned look in Rengal's eyes, Pan hurriedly went on.

`

“It was nothing serious. I was simply unable to complete my work at that time. I came back this dusk to gather my assignments."

`

"I was surprised not to see you at the welcoming gathering." Rengal's brow was arched in question, his voice distinctly chilly now. "In fact I was somewhat…hurt that my dear friend was nowhere to be seen. I chose to believe that you were waiting for a more private reunion." Rengal's eyes held a hard glint now and Pan was becoming a little nervous.

`

"You -- you were right Rengal. I did want to meet you more privately. I wouldn't have been able to stand the crowd.

Please don't be angry. I have missed you so much." Pan bit his lip and wrapped his arms around his torso, hugging himself, nervous as always when Rengal directed his ire toward him.

`

"Pan, you must know that I could never stay angry at you. I was simply disappointed that you were not there to meet me. It is all right now.” Rengal stepped forward and pulled Pan against him once more, those strong arms holding him tight. `

`

"We will meet again in the dawn." Rengal's voice dropped lower, "it is so good to see you again my friend."

Rengal stepped away, lifting a hand in a wave before disappearing back into the warren of corridors that was the Capitol building.

`

How long he stood there staring at the empty entryway, Pan had no idea. Finally he gathered the information he had come for and made his way back to his own den to lose himself in a restless sleep.

`

And that’s all the news that’s fit to print...not much, huh? But there it is.
`
Check out my newsletter at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JJMassaNewsletter/ and find out what’s coming next and when!

J.J. Massa http://www.jjmassa.com/

What if Beauty was the Beast?

Phantom of the Opera, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Beauty and the Beast...I've always been fascinated by an outcast longing for love. It's a special deep-to-the-marrow ache that brings tears to my eyes, squeezes my heart and instantly makes me root for the hero or heroine experiencing it.

Holly Spinnaker is a monster. Really. Fangs and all.

When the idea for HUNGER, a vampire romance came to me, I wasn't certain if I should follow my muse and go for the unusual twist. After all, from Dracula to Dark Shadows to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's the hero who's the monster haunting the shadows. Would readers care about a girl who had a golden life until it was stolen from her? Would they care as she was plunged into a nightmare existance from which there seems to be no escape? And, most of all, would they ache as she falls in love with the one man who has sworn to kill all monsters like her?

In the end, I sat down and wrote HUNGER because I cared. I cried with Holly. Laughed with Holly. And, like Holly, I didn't give up on the desires of my heart just because the odds were against me. She's the most vulnerable heroine I've ever created and the strongest. Her determination sees her through the dark because she refuses to forget the light.

I've been thrilled and gratified by the response of readers and reviewers. Turns out, people do care about Holly and they eagerly turn the pages to see how she can possibly find her HEA. They root for her and ache with her and fall in love with the hero she longs for. (Of course, they also write me demanding that the sexy irrisistible villian of the story gets his chance for redemption;>)

So, what if beauty was the beast? Would you be interested in reading her story?

HUNGER is available now from Samhain Publishing. You can also find Barbara's books at eharlequin.com and Loose Id.

Freedom's Treasure and Sam

By Janet Quinn

Sam is one of my favorite characters. He first appeared in The River’s Treasure and everyone liked him so much, I decided to give him his own book. Of course, this is the book that refuses to be finished. I am three-quarters of the way through and keep getting sidetracked.

When we first meet Sam, it is 1830 Arkansas at a slave auction and he is on the auction block. He is a big man, well over six feet tall, about 250 pounds of pure muscle and clothed in rags with fresh whip marks on his back. Chains bind him so that he cannot escape. He never looks up or makes eye-contact. He is an angry looking man the instills fear in all who see him. Even Cooper.

Arnou, on the other hand, feels they should buy Sam. He would be a great field worker, come cheap because no one else has the nerve to buy him and, most important, he needs saving. Cooper is sure that none of them will see the sun rise again, but lets Arnou talk him into buying Sam. Having been held in a type of slavery, the first thing Cooper does is unchain Sam. Then he is drawn away and when he returns he finds Megan, his 18-month-old, has beguiled Sam, who is letting her chew on his finger.

During the course of The River’s Treasure, Sam becomes part of the family and indispensable to them. At the end, Cooper grants him his freedom for his service to them.

Now, to Freedom’s Treasure. If I had known I was going to write a sequel, The River’s Treasure would have been set in 1835 or 1840. It would have made it easier for the plot of Freedom’s Treasure. Sam is now truly part of the family. He owns 50 acres of land where he farms rice and soybeans. He loves his life, but wishes he had a wife. He has thought of having Cooper buy him one – with Sam’s money – the way Cooper bought Ilde for Arnou. He just isn’t sure where to look for a wife and he wants love like Cooper and Arnou have found with their wives. After all, this is a romance.

Then Jubilee enters with three escaped slaves in tow. One is an injured man. With him is his baby and wife. Sam doesn’t know what to do, but knows he wants to get to know Jubilee. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He also knows that he could bring danger down on his family by sheltering runaway slaves.

Sam becomes torn between the woman he now loves and wants to protect and his family who could be harmed if he continues to help her bring slaves North.

Sam started as a throw-away character. Cooper and Arnou needed help on their farm, but they refused to hire the poor white trash that roamed the area. They feared for their family’s safety. So, they went to town to see if they could find a slave for cheap, because they were poor. Figuring they would end up buying some scrawny lad, they never expected to find Sam. Nor did they expect to forge family ties with him that would make him a valuable family member. I never expected them to find Sam and forge family ties either. After they bought him, I expect them to have him work for them for two or three years, then offer him is freedom. Cooper and Arnou would never keep a slave forever.

Sam had other ideas as he entered the story. He made himself invaluable because this was the first place he’d ever felt safe. He grew into a dynamic character and then asked for someone to love. How could I say no?

He has gotten a bit cranky with me at times when I left him running from the slave hunters for six months. When I left him in bed with Jubilee for two months, he wasn’t quite so cranky?

Holocaust Memorial Day

I picked this as a topic today, not just because today is Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Hashoah Ve-Hagevurah, meaning the "Day of the Remembrance of the Holocaust and the Heroism") but because it factors into so many lives - without so many people being aware of it.

Yes, Jewish people predominantly mark the occasion. Tonight we'll assemble at the local Holocaust Memorial, I'll play a small violin piece (weather permitting) and we will light yahrzeit candles before going inside to the temple for services where pages of names of the deceased will be read. In some cases, actual names have been lost and we are left saying "Baby Girl Warnicki" or "Mr. and Mrs. Judah Rosen and their children, names and ages unknown." From Russia to England towns, families, communities, cultures, and more were erased as if they had never been. Yes, from the ashes new nations arose and new beginnings took hold, but from the apathy of today it appears too many were so desperately focused on looking forward that they forgot one day they would need to look backwards. Those who have crawled out of hell don't ever want to look back, however, to heal, to ensure such evil never rises again, it must be done.

Since my mother's family is Jewish, with relations in the affected areas of Europe, there was a direct link. But there was also another link in that my grandfather, a first generation Greek American, joined the army to help defend not only this his new home but his ancestral home. Long talks with my Grecian Aunt, who passed away in the spring of 2001, told me how bad things were in Greece during World War II. She hid her brother and sister in Athens then took to the hills with the freedom fighters. Trust me, the stories weren't all about camaraderie and thrilling tales of guerrilla assaults on enemy squads. She spoke in low broken tones about starvation, seeing interment camps, rape - both by her countrymen and the invaders - and other desecrations. One of her friends from France recalled instances where dogs were set on children at the whim of the soldiers.

Though the wording of the day of rememberance lends the impression that it is all about the Jewish aspect, it isn't. Shoah from Hashoah means "catastrophe" and the day was set aside by Israel to mark the day for ALL people who suffered in the ghettos, the death camps, the pitched battles; for all of the heroes who passively and actively fought back against the Third Reich from Bristol to the Bataan.

It is important to remember, not just because there are leaders like Iranian President Mahouhd Amenajad who dispute the fact that the Holocaust ever happened (and how Israel should subsequently be eradicated) but because it is a part of the past of every living person on this planet. World War II left scars on every nation, every people, every race, religion and creed - even every sexuality as homosexuals were forced to wear identifying badges. No one of us can afford to forget.

The Holocaust Memorial is not just for the Jews, it is for all mankind. If all you do tonight is light a candle at sunset and say a prayer, be it for the dead or in hope for the future, it will be a step in the right direction.

Dynamics of Family

I’ve been thinking a lot about families lately. Before I get into why I was thinking of family let me first give you the typical definition and my own.

The Typical Dictionary Definition of Family ~

A fundamental social group in society typically consisting of one or two parents and their children.

The McKenna Jeffries Definition of Family ~

Individuals who share ties either through blood or through a deeper bond that surpasses friendship that shares in each other’s lives to create a close knit unit of familial relations.

Some examples of family are what I have at my chat group McKenna Jeffries List. Another is the one that came out of the blue to me last week.

I recently had something to celebrate and I was a little sad because my mom wasn’t here to share with me. I celebrated by phone with my sister since she lives too far away to celebrate with me in person. My lunch buddy who I eat with everyday who I think of as good friends celebrated with me about my news. Moments like this reaffirms my take on the diversity of the definition of family.

As I’ve mentioned a few times in the past at various places family isn’t about the blood it’s all about what is in the heart. There are millions of definitions you can have of family. Think of some moment in your life and give me what is your own definition of family?

McKenna Jeffries
http://www.mckennajeffries.com/
…. sensual, edgy, unexpected

Blog: http://www.mckennajeffries.com/blog
Chat Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McKennaJeffriesList

Conquering Jazz - What’s a woman to do when she unwittingly makes a tantalizing proposition to her best friend?

Be brazen, bold and set some ground rules.
Her offer. One night of carnal bliss. No emotion allowed.

His counter offer. A continued affair to fulfill all their sexual cravings.

His hidden agenda. Conquer to make sure their affair never ends.

Buy here at Liquid Silver Book.

Double Jeopardy by Ericka Scott

Double Jeopardy

Dominic Wells wouldn't hesitate to do anything to keep his wife happy. Anything at all . . . .

When one member of their marital triad dies, Dominic Wells figures he’s all set to have his happily ever after with his beautiful wife, Tabbitha. However, now that he finally has her all to himself, he realizes he can never be enough for her. No one man could. So, they set out on a quest to find a new husband to complete their loving marriage.

Special Content Alert: Menage, slightly macabre

Just Released!

...just another day on the ranch.

That's what you think! An escaped convict out for revenge, arson and murder wreck havoc in the lives of two strong willed people drawn together against their will.

If you're into cowboys...sexy cowboys...then you'll love rough and ready Chase Saunders in "THE COWBOY WAY"! Available at Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

Also, check out my brand new website!

What Do You Collect?

Years ago, my husband teased me that I couldn't say I collected dogs because I only had two, and a proper collection requires three or more.

Humph!

I showed him.

I started hunting flea markets and yard sales, antique stores and junk shops. And my friends (in polite circles we call them enablers) helped with my obsession too. I've received dog figurines from China, Singapore, Italy, Mexico and Japan. I am always on the lookout for the unique, the bizarre, or the curious.

I prowl for dog paintings, figurines and even jewelry. But I'm rather breed specific. While I do have a few tiny-tot dogs like Pekinese and Pomeranians, most of my dogs are the beefier sort. I adore shepherds of all kinds, working dogs, hounds and giant breeds.

Dog memorabilia is my biggest collection, but it's not my only one.

There is a seedier side to my collections that I house in my studio, things the average visitor doesn't get to see because let's face it, they already think I'm a little eccentric. Over the years, I've collected old bones, rocks and small dead animals and insects that I preserve in alcohol.

This was an accidental collection from when I was a professional artist. I used to draw these things for practice. Since I wandered the woods with some regularity I would come across a wide assortment of newly dead creatures or the last of their bleached bones. I'd stash them in my little bag, thinking they'd make good subjects for my sketch pad.

It never occurred to me it might be construed as peculiar until my mother ran across them and started blessing herself with the sign of the cross. Poor woman thought I was in some sort of cult. She kept throwing holy water at me for days!

Sheesh! "I'm innocent, ma!"

So I want to know. What do you collect? How long have you been collecting? And why does this item appeal to you? And if you collect any really strange items….email me. We'll talk. *grin*

This is my first time on The Romance Studio and I can't wait to come back! Until I do, come over to my blog and read about my contest to promote TOUCH OF FIRE. The person who tweets, blogs or reviews TOUCH OF FIRE the most by May 28 wins a super prize package worth $100.

In the meantime…tell me about your collections, from one addict to another.

***

TOUCH OF FIRE hits bookstores on April 28. Buy it at:
Amazon
Barnes & Nobles
My Bookstore and More

Read an excerpt at Samhain Publishing
Get info about the contest at my blog.

First post and a contest.

Hi Everyone!

This is my first time posting on this bloggy so I figured I would introduce myself. My name is Stella Price, and I'm a Romance author (Now everyone says, Hi Stella!). With my sister, I write paranormal romance and urban fantasy and I write for Tease Publishing LLC, Phaze, Siren and Total -E- Bound.

We just had a new book release at Total-E- Bound, the first in our weresnake novella's in the Knossos West series and I figured I would tell you guys about it. This series came about when Audra and I decided we disliked werewolves and wanted to do something different, with physical connotations of the forbidden, that, most of all, didn't smell like wet dog when they were stuck out in the rain. So weresnakes were the obvious choice. At the time we originally put these books out, no one had done it. Now, there are imitators, but we are the original team that wrote and write weresnakes as a focus in books, not a side character.

That said, the series is about three cousins living in the upstate NY nest called Knossos West. Each of them is very different, from a rocker with a heart of gold, to a playboy with a kinky side, to their eldest and most responsible relation that moonlights as a go between for some shady characters. All of them are looking for something specific in their lives, and the women they meet are the only ones that can give it to them. So wont you join us on this journey these three virile men have to take? Good! I thought so. Heres a snippet from the first book, Beyond the Vision of Dreams.

Remy Crane, a unmated were python, has been having some extemely erotic dreams for the past week about a woman hes sure dosent exist. Imagine his surprise when he wakes up one morning and finds the woman of his dreams standing just inside the front door of the Weresnake compound.

He recognizes Chrissy Stanford as his mate, albeit instinctually only, and decides he needs to have her in his bed. Little does he know shes going to become part of his heart as well.

OOH and I did say contest... Lemme see... heres a Linkie...

Thanks for letting me hangout with you guys. I hope you will take a look at the books, and the other books we have available:

The Eververse series (Demons!)
The Dragon Elementals (Dragons)
Duvall Inc. (Djinn and assassins)
The Knossos West weresnakes (Weresnakes)
And coming soon:
The American Satyr series (Satyrs)

Ooh and Check out my blog at the Authors After Dark Blog, Im giving away a box of goodies from RT on May 10th there.

XOXO~
Stella
www.stellaandaudra.com

Lemony Goodness...

I have a definite sweet-tooth. My recent favorite is cinnamon bears, the gummy kind. I could eat them all day long. In my recent release, SOMETHING ABOUT HER, my heroine Blythe is well acquainted with a sweet tooth...and often takes midnight trips to the kitchen to avail herself of the sweets left from the evening's dessert.

In one such scene, she introduces the hero, Michael, to the real way to enjoy Lemon Syllabub -- a delicious treat popular from the Elizabethan era and forward.

So I thought I would share an excerpt and a recipe, for those with a sweet tooth like mine. :)


LEMON SYLLABUB
from James Martin: Yorkshire's Finest

250ml double cream
2 Lemons, zest and juice
6 tbsp Mascarpone
6 tbsp lemon curd
4 tbsp icing sugar
4 sprigs Mint, fresh, to decorate

1. Whip the double cream until it forms soft peaks.

2. Beat the lemon zest and juice, mascarpone, lemon curd and icing sugar together until smooth.

3. Fold the whipped cream into the mixture until thoroughly combined.

4. Spoon into individual dessert glasses and decorate each with a sprig of mint.


Excerpt ~@~ SOMETHING ABOUT HER


The noise came from the kitchen ahead of him.

Perhaps Thomas was getting some food? Could he actually be here, right under Michael’s nose?

Sure of his steps now, he strode down the center of the hallway into the kitchen. The room was large, but Michael followed the stream of light toward the right side.

A very delightful backside wrapped in a dressing gown presented to him.

“Blythe.” What was she doing here?

“Oh!” Blythe squeaked and swirled her head around. “Your Grace!” Whatever she held in her hand clattered to the floor.

Michael strode toward her and bent to pick it up just as she did. His hand covered hers, and with his left, he grabbed the spoon upon the floor.

Together, they stood up. Michael held the spoon out to her, but she stood there, grasping the ends of her dressing gown tightly around her.

He peered past her in bemusement. A glass full of something frothy sat on the counter. “Whatever are you doing?”

“I—” she started then stopped. “What are you doing here?”

He leaned forward, close enough to her that he could smell the freshness of her hair and dropped the spoon onto the counter with a clack.

He dipped a finger into the froth and brought it to his mouth. “Sweet.”

“Lemon syllabub,” she muttered. “From tonight’s dessert.” She grabbed the spoon and with a glare at him, walked to the sink and set it in. She opened a drawer and pulled out another.

He frowned. “You certainly know your way around the kitchen.”

“I know where the desserts are,” she replied with a smile and a shrug. “I have a fondness for sweets.”

“In the middle of the night?”

She laughed. “That, my lord, is the best time of all for sweets.”

His gaze dipped to her mouth and he imagined the tart sweetness of the lemon-flavored dessert would taste sweet on her.

She grasped her dressing gown tightly again. “I should go upstairs. This is highly improper.”

He was reluctant to let her leave. He couldn’t say why he did not want her to go. He just knew he didn’t.

“I did not have dessert.”

She cocked her head. “Perhaps if you had spent more than a handful of minutes over your food, you might have enjoyed it more.”

He met her eyes with his own. “Share with me.”

“All right.” She turned around and grasped the parfait glass. Reaching into the drawer again, she drew out another spoon. Holding them aloft, she walked toward the center block table that had stools pushed up to it.

Idly, Michael wondered if his kitchen had places to sit. “Why would one sit in the kitchen when the dining room has perfectly good chairs?”

She lifted an eyebrow. “I imagine you could not describe your kitchen to me at all.” She set the parfait and spoons on the table and reached over to light the set of candles.

He blinked as light illuminated them into a cozy circle. “Why should I? I have no need of going in there.”

She shook her head and pulled out a stool. “Don’t you ever get hungry when no one is around?”

He sat in the other stool. “No.”

Blythe laughed. “You control your hunger to appropriate times. How unsurprising.”

Michael frowned. “I do not see the problem with maintaining proper meal times.”

She grabbed a spoon and ladled a large bit of froth onto it. With a happy sigh, she opened her mouth and took it in.
“Mmmm.”

Lust awoke deep in his gut.

She pushed the other spoon at him. “Have some.”

He took the spoon and dipped it into the cup. Bringing it back, he swallowed the whipped tart.

She stared at him. “You did not even enjoy that, did you?”

“Of course I did.”

She shook her head. “No, you didn’t. You just ate it as if it were necessary. That, Your Grace, completely ruins the point of enjoying a sweet.”

“There is a point?” If she had one to make, he certainly couldn’t see it.

“Did you not ever partake of sweets as a child? Just because?” she asked as she dipped in for another bite. She, unlike him, apparently reveled in the taste.

He lifted a shoulder. “There was nothing much enjoyable about being a child.”

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Read more of Blythe and Michael : Read Chapter one at my website
--------------------------
Available Now
Print: Amazon.com BN.com
eBook: The Wild Rose Press
--------------------------
The Book Video:

Book Learnin'

I’m reading the first Trixie Belden novel to my class. They mostly pay attention, but I kinda don’t care, because this book was a childhood favorite, and I’m reliving the memories. I remember traveling all over the country via Trixie Belden books.



We’re also reading NUMBER THE STARS. There’s a scene were the girls are playing paper dolls and I asked if any of the girls in my class had played. They hadn’t, but I had, because characters in a book I read played with them and I wanted the same experience.

I remember getting horehound candy because Laura Ingalls ate it in the Little House books.



I started WRITING because the characters in one of my (still favorite) novels wrote a romance.



Even as I matured, I wanted to try things I learned about in novels. Can you believe I’d never heard of pesto until I read a Jayne Ann Krentz novel?

So even living vicariously through books isn’t enough. I want the same experiences as the characters.

What have you tried because you read it in a book?

Egg-xactly!

As some of us spend today coloring eggs, helping little troopers search for eggs, or eat too many chocolate eggs (my fave are the peanut butter filled eggs – yum), I figured I'd talk about eggs.

Eggs appear in both of my published novels. In Breach Of Trust, my first contemporary romance, Philippe makes Anne a wonderful omelet.

Philippe opened the fridge door, looking for something to eat. “You have eggs.” He took the carton out, weighing one in his hand. “They’re okay. And cheese.” He placed a block of cheddar on the counter. “Oh, and a green pepper.” The man sounded delighted with his findings.

“I do cook.” Anne acted indignant, but was secretly glad she bought the green pepper. She didn’t know what she was going to do with it at the time, green peppers having been on sale.

Philippe’s expression said he didn’t buy her protest.

“Okay, maybe not every single day,” Anne admitted, “but I do cook. I even have an onion somewhere and there should be a tomato rolling around in the crisper.”

He found it. “You’re right. If you grate the cheese, sparrow, I’ll make you a killer omelet.”

“A killer omelet?” Anne unwrapped the cheese. Was killer a good descriptor for food? She had a taco once that was almost a killer, she was sick for days.

Philippe pulled out the cutting board and quickly diced the veggies. He seemed to know his way around the kitchen. “D’accord, d’accord, bad choice of words. It won’t kill you, far from it. I’m a terrific cook.”

In Invisible, my latest contemporary treasure hunt romance, Hagen, a large guy, has an equally large appetite.

“You want to talk about it?” Charlie was sitting down to a leisurely breakfast now that their business was successfully completed. Hagen would be pleased with the results, that is, if he actually cared. Which he didn’t.

And she didn’t either. Care.

“Honey?” Her friend was looking at her expectantly. “I’m listening if you wanna talk.”

“That’s what he always says.” Maeve nodded towards the empty chair. If Hagen was there, he’d be sprawled out, spilling out of the chair, his knee pressed against her leg. He’d have eaten the restaurant out of eggs again, too. Bottomless pit.

There's a reason for this. I grew up on a recreational farm. We had laying chickens (and eatin' chickens but we won't talk about those). Being dirt poor and one of six kids, if the chickens laid eggs, we'd eat breakfast. If they didn't, we skipped the 'most important meal of the day.' So you can see how I would equate eggs with happiness.

And we treated eggs like gold. Sure, we'd paint eggs but not boiled eggs. We'd prick a hole in the small end and a larger hole in the larger egg and blow out the raw egg into a bowl. Then we'd stretch it with water (we had the original low calorie eggs – grinning) and leftover veggie bits like onions to make wonderful scrambled eggs. After the painted eggs cracked (bound to happen - I had three rowdy brothers), we'd mix them into the garden for fertilizer. The perfect packaged food!

A shelf stable packaged food. Growing up on the farm, we refrigerated our eggs. They'd sit in a bowl on the counter. I can't do that now, unfortunately, with the grocery store bought eggs because they are already old when I buy them. Into the fridge they go!

I'd love to hear your egg stories! The crazier, the better!

$

Every month, Kimber Chin gives away her favorite eBook read the month before. To enter, visit http://businessromance.com/

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

I HOPE YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY WITH YOUR FAMILIES.

OH The Wonders of children

This morning, I read with interest an article by a local grandparent about how his granddaughter. As they walked to the beach, the little girl saw a tree in bloom and to her, the tropical pink flowers, looked like butterflies. "Look, Grandpa," she said. "The butterflies are resting in the tree." And when he tried to explain they were flowers, his precocious little girl wouldn't hear any of it and insisted on revisiting the butterflies resting in the tree for as long as she was around.Writer's take note.

How often have we scratched our heads, used the the dictionary and walked around for hours, trying to come up with new and refreshing ways of getting our points across? Children have a knack for seeing beyond reality and letting their imaginations run wild.

Maybe next time I'm stuck for an idea, I'll take a walk with a sweet four year old and see what she sees. And perhaps by looking at the wonders of the world through a child's eyes, I'll learn a thing or two or at least witness butterflies where only flowers existed.

Best
Linda Bilodeau
www.lindabilodeau.com
The Wine Seekers is now available at www.amazon.com

Small World

It is truly a small world. I was on the train going to the day job the other day and I spotted a familiar face in the crowd. I kept glancing at them trying to remember where I recognized them from. It took me a few stops before I placed where I had seen their face before. When I did I was please and shocked. It was one of my high school teachers. As I continued to study them I realized they were doing the same to me. I laughed and since they were standing close to me I said hi and called them by name. They blinked and had a look like how do you know me and I am sure I know you but from where. We pulled into another stop and a seat right next to me opened up and they sat. I told them who I was and how we knew each other.

After that we talked about what we had both been up to since high school oh so many years ago. To soon my high school teacher reached her stop and we parted ways. We talked so much we forgot to exchange contact info. I was cursing myself for not thinking of it when we talked. I haven’t kept in touch with much people from my high school year. Heck even my college years. I do try but we grew apart. But with it being such a small world maybe my high school teacher and I will run into each other on the subway again and this time before I start talking I will get her contact info so we can keep in touch.

It was great reconnecting with her and brought back lots of memories.

Who have you reconnected with lately?

Taige Crenshaw
http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/
…increasing the sizzle factor

Blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog
Chat Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/crenshawcafe
Newsletter: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/newsletterandgroups.shtml
Free Reads Site: http:/ /www.satinnotes.com/

Forever, I Do - Rosalind Fletcher has a secret. Her cakes are bewitched. When her livelihood is threatened by a wedding planner who eats a sample meant for his client, she discovers she may loose more...her heart.

Buy here at Loose Id.

Spring Reading Fever

Spring is in the air. Flowers are blooming. The sun is shining. The kiddies are running around, excited about their break.

And I've got Spring Reading Fever. Some symptoms of this condition include:

Wanting to run to the bookstore (every few hours)

A consuming desire to sit and read (and ignore all housework)

Extreme curiosity about the new releases on bookstore shelves (What's out? What am I missing?)

Oh, yeah, I've got the fever and I've got it bad. Lucky for me, I'll be heading to the Romantic Times Convention in Orlando soon, and I am going to try and stock up on as many books to feed my fever as I possibly can!

Am I the only one suffering from the book fever? Please, tell me I'm not alone!

And, hey, I've got a new release out now! (Just had to mention it!) My latest paranormal romance, IMMORTAL DANGER, is on the shelf of a friendly bookstore near you (and available online, too). IMMORTAL DANGER features my ex-cop turned vampire heroine, Maya Black--a woman all the supernaturals fear. Maya teams up with the mysterious Adam Brody as they race to rescue his niece. Adam doesn't trust vampires, but he soon finds himself craving Maya. (Such a fun book to write!)



Thanks for checking out my post! Have a great week! Don't let the fever get you down! :-)

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
IMMORTAL DANGER--Available now from Kensington Brava
Believe in monsters. They believe in you.

Starting Easter Morning Off Right...

Starting Easter Morning Off Right...Here Are Some of My Favorite Easter Memories

As a child growing up on my Aunt Mabel's ranch outside of the small Texas town of Early, Easter was a special time of the year for us.

Me, Aunt Mabel and her best friend Trudy had our own Easter morning tradition. And we celebrated it faithfully.

We'd get up well before dawn, and made country hand and redeye gravy together. You see, I'd been cooking for just about as long as I'd lived with my aunt. But once I saw the old movie classic called Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn, where Audrey's character went away to culinary school abroad and created those lovely dishes with strange sounding names, well, I was hooked on cooking from that time forward.

Oh, I burnt my fair share of meals, but before I knew it, I was cooking most of our family dinners.

So on Easter Sunday, we'd have ham and redeye gravy and then we'd go out to the field behind my aunt's house and have our own sunrise service. It was the perfect setting for it.
Then, we'd go to God's house to pay our respects and make it official.
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.

Country Ham with Redeye Gravy

Here's a great way to start the day. Couple this with eggs for a substantial way to start the day. Ham and eggs - what more can anyone ask for?

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 large country ham slice, about 1/2" thick

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee

METHOD

Heat skillet until very hot. Pour in oil, then ham. (Oil is necessary for making gravy, as cured ham produces little fat.) Lower heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes per side. Remove from pan; keep warm. Raise heat and add coffee to hot drippings. Boil for about 2 minutes. Pour over ham. Serve with biscuits.

*Note: because it is cured, ham will overcook quickly and become too dry. Therefore, no more than two minutes per side is recommended for country ham. Truth is, you could eat it without cooking and probably not have any side effects because the curing process chemically cooks the ham. Cooking is recommended though to insure that heat will kill any trichinosis that may be present.If redeye gravy is too scary for you, try this old southern favorite: old fashioned sawmill gravy, a milk gravy.

Serves: 2

All the best...

Mary Eason

http://www.maryeason.com/

Starting Easter Morning Off Right...

Starting Easter Morning Off Right...Here Are Some of My Favorite Easter MemoriesAs a child growing up on my Aunt Mabel's ranch outside of the small Texas town of Early, Easter was a special time of the year for us.

Me, Aunt Mabel and her best friend Trudy had our own Easter morning tradition. And we celebrated it faithfully.

We'd get up well before dawn, and made country hand and redeye gravy together. You see, I'd been cooking for just about as long as I'd lived with my aunt. But once I saw the old movie classic called Sabrina with Audrey Hepburn, where Audrey's character went away to culinary school abroad and created those lovely dishes with strange sounding names, well, I was hooked on cooking from that time forward.

Oh, I burnt my fair share of meals, but before I knew it, I was cooking most of our family dinners.

So on Easter Sunday, we'd have ham and redeye gravy and then we'd go out to the field behind my aunt's house and have our own sunrise service. It was the perfect setting for it.Then, we'd go to God's house to pay our respects and make it official.I hope you love this recipe as much as I do.

Country Ham with Redeye Gravy
Here's a great way to start the day. Couple this with eggs for a substantial way to start the day. Ham and eggs - what more can anyone ask for?

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large country ham slice, about 1/2" thick
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup strong brewed coffee
METHOD
Heat skillet until very hot. Pour in oil, then ham. (Oil is necessary for making gravy, as cured ham produces little fat.) Lower heat to medium and cook for 2 minutes per side. Remove from pan; keep warm. Raise heat and add coffee to hot drippings. Boil for about 2 minutes. Pour over ham. Serve with biscuits.
*Note: because it is cured, ham will overcook quickly and become too dry. Therefore, no more than two minutes per side is recommended for country ham. Truth is, you could eat it without cooking and probably not have any side effects because the curing process chemically cooks the ham. Cooking is recommended though to insure that heat will kill any trichinosis that may be present.If redeye gravy is too scary for you, try this old southern favorite: old fashioned sawmill gravy, a milk gravy.
Serves: 2
All the best...

Mary Eason

www.maryeason.com

Confessions of a Research Junkie

Hi, my name is Carolan, and I am a research junkie.

Left to my own devices, I will spend all my free time obsessively ferreting out every book, article, online resource, etc. on whatever subject tickles my fancy at the moment. Witness the disorderly piles of books in my office; the length, width and breadth of my Amazon wish list. The weird and obscure stuff on my ereader.

At some point, my husband will squint at the pile and declare, “If you don’t start writing something NOW, I’m renting a Dumpster. Nobody needs this many books on [insert latest obsession here].” Throwing my body between him and my precioussssss collection and wailing pitifully does not sway him. He’s an engineer, which means Everything Must Have A Purpose.

Is it really just a voracious appetite for knowledge? Or classic avoidance behavior? I mean, it’s so much easier to wield mental archeological tools (soft brushes and dental picks) than it is to do the heavy lifting of writing (bricks and mortar).

But eventually there comes a tipping point – usually when my brain is leaking and ready to explode – when seemingly random factoids begin weaving themselves into a fragile web. Suddenly an opening scene blasts, fully-formed, out of my subconscious. It’s either give these characters their story, or be doomed to be haunted by them to the end of my days.

So for me, there’s no choice. Once that opening scene reveals itself to me, I’m committed. Which means my life will not be my own until the voices in my head are appeased.

Or I may find myself “committed” to a very different place for a very different reason. :)

——-

Carolan Ivey writes award-winning paranormal and Celtic-flavored fantasy romance. Her most recent release is A Ghost of a Chance , book 2 of the Legends series. Visit her web site at www.carolanivey.com.

Follow Carolan on Twitter

No Place to Run by Regina Paul...

I have a new book coming up this Spring from Amira Press. It will be part of an anthology called Mating Season. No Place to Run is another Native American romantic suspense story, although it's a bit different than my other book with Amira Destiny's Choices. Here's a little blurb for No Place to Run:

Lin Chen carries a strong bloodline from the Bunun tribe. On the run from an abusive ex-husband, she has left her native Taiwan hoping to draw her ex away from her family. Driving through North Dakota, a winter blizzard forces Lin to stop on the Standing Rock Reservation. There she meets Kyle Little Eagle, a medicine man. While, it isn’t long before they are close, her ex is not far behind. Can Lin overcome her fear of men, and let Kyle help her? Can love and a mutual connection to the spirit world prevent her worst fears from being realized?

And just to give you a taste, here's an unedited exerpt as well:

Lin Chen stared out at the ever increasing blizzard wondering where she could possibly find shelter in this flat, treeless land. Snow was almost unheard of in her native Taiwan, although she could remember seeing a snow flurry or two when visiting her relatives in the mountains, but that was years ago, and nothing like what she was seeing now.

Everything around her was covered in a white blanket, and strong winds were catching what was falling from the sky and blowing it at an angle giving the appearance of a curtain at an open window being blown to the side to give the occasional glimpse of what was outside it.

I have to find shelter. Ancestors I need shelter, please help me find some. The words were whispered only in the quiet of her mind but she knew from past experience once she thought the words, help would come.

Lin slowed her car to a crawl trying to see through the blowing snow if there was a house, a business, anywhere that she might ask for shelter. Suddenly the wheel wrenched sharply to the right causing the car’s back end to fishtail for a second on the icy road before she again regained control. Were those lights?

Creeping forward her foot barely touching the gas pedal, not even knowing if she was on a road, although it seemed to be one, Lin moved closer and closer to what she was now convinced were lights.

Finally a sign with rotating round lights came into view. “Prairie Knights Casino and Resort.” Lin read out loud to herself and sighed with relief. She had seen a sign advertising this casino earlier and she knew from what it said that it was run by one of the local American Indian tribes.

Lin pushed strands of long inky black hair out of the way and carefully pulled into the parking lot. Visibility was still just about nil but because of the storm the lot wasn't that full and she was able to find a parking space near the front door once she located it.

She switched off the ignition and shivered. I’m thousands of miles from home, there is no way he can find me. She thought to herself, but she was well aware that her ex-husband was looking for her. Her cousin had left a voicemail on her cell phone telling her he had visited their small village looking for her. But I was already long gone by that time.

Lin tightened the belt on the stylish coat and pulled the collar up so that it curled around her lower face. She dropped the keys into her purse and reached for the door handle, turning it then shoving the door open.

A blast of icy wind hit her square in the face and she pulled the collar tighter around her face, shut the door and set the alarm before heading for the glass doors she could see several feet ahead of her. The heels of her boots slid on the slick surface of the snow-covered asphalt and she would have fallen down if a strong hand hadn’t gripped her elbow.

“Easy there.” A mellow voice murmured.

Lin startled nearly knocking them both off balance again when she heard a male voice speaking to her. Fear coated the blood that ran through her veins. Although she knew that not all men were violent, five years with an abuser, a man she had thought she could trust had changed her. It took everything she had not to jerk away from the gentle grasp.

As though sensing her fear, the man let go and moved back. “Are you alright, Miss?” He asked and Lin realized she’d been standing there trembling in his grasp for a moment longer than she had realized.

“I am fine. Thank you for your assistance.” Her voice wobbled with the stilted words, as she bowed her head slightly in his direction. English had never been easy for her, but she was glad now that her grandfather had insisted that she learn it. She could not even imagine the nightmare of trying to traverse America with no understanding of the language. Most Americans while they seemed pleasant enough sometimes didn’t have any patience for those who did not speak or understand their language.

“You’re welcome.” The man replied easily.

When Lin finally looked up at her rescuer all she could see were two eyes as black as onyx framed by silky black lashes staring out from the hood of his dark blue ski parka. He had a scarf wrapped around the lower half of his face and he’d tucked his hands into his pockets.

“Let’s go inside where it’s warm.” He finally said after letting her look her fill.

Lin nodded and began heading in the direction of the lights again, the man shortening the strides of his long legs to match hers. He just wants to make sure I don’t fall. She told herself nervously.

The man was tall and big boned she could tell. Her head wouldn’t even reach his shoulder were she to stand close to him. A cold chill raced down her spine as she thought of how easy it would be for such a large man to hurt a woman. She would have no chance against him if he were to decide he wanted something from her she was unwilling to give. Unconsciously she began walking faster putting as much distance between them as she could. Before she could even reach the door waves of heat flashed through her body, and her chest tightened to the point that it felt as though she couldn’t breath. Her thoughts became a jumble and she realized belatedly that the meeting with the stranger had triggered a panic attack. Seeing a bench Lin sat down and closed her eyes and began breathing deeply and slowly, in and out. Bai is not here. The man that helped me is not Bai. In all likelihood he is a good man. Bai was sick, insane, and he’s not here now. Just keep breathing and you’ll be fine.

(c) Copyright 2009 by Regina Paul. All Rights Reserved.

Bad Boy Fantasy

In real life he's usually the one you should avoid, but the great thing about books is what excites you often turns out to be what's best for you too. I'm talking about the bad boy. Intense, mysterious, rugged, and cocky, he's the rebellious guy who borders on being a villain. Maybe he is the villain, but in fiction he can always be redeemed—hopefully not reformed because that would take away his charm! The fictional bad boy has all the elements that make a real-life bad boy irresistible, but here's where the fantasy comes in. He also has integrity, a sense of honor, and once he falls in love, he's loyal to and respectful of his partner. Sure he does things that a golden hero wouldn't, but it's his flaws that make him endearing, even respectable. Often the bad boy is the one who makes the hard decisions and does what needs to be done even when it's not pretty. He's misunderstood and usually has good reasons for his behavior. Only when he meets his true love do we see the layers of pain and anger peel back to reveal the core of a man deserving of love. It doesn't often work this way in real life, but this isn't reality, it's the bad boy fantasy. Enjoy!

Does anyone else love bad boys? Do you have any favorite fictional bad boys you recommend? Authors, have you written a bad boy who's especially close to your heart?

Kate Hill

What do trips around the world, endless nights of breathtaking sex, and a muscular, 6-foot 3-inch, brown-haired, blue-eyed significant other have to do with Kate Hill? Absolutely nothing, but she can dream, can't she? In reality Kate is a single, thirty-something vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. Visit her online at http://www.kate-hill.com/.

Silk Bonds by Kate Hill
Coming in April from Changeling Press
http://changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1140

Recovering from an accident that almost killed her, Lourdes realizes she must reevaluate her life. She takes a job categorizing books in the vast private library of Alexi Marius, a wealthy, reclusive and sinfully gorgeous man.

Lourdes is soon seduced by her brooding employer. As she and Alexi explore their sexual desires, she discovers he's hiding a secret more dangerous and unbelievable than she ever imagined.

April Fool's!

Today is April 1st, more commonly known as April Fool's Day. My kidlets have already tried to get me by saying they had tests today that I didn't know about.

No one is certain when exactly April Fool's Day began but most credit a change of calendar with its existence. The Gregorian Calendar was introduced and New Year's Week celebrated previously from March 25-April 1st was moved to January 1. Some didn't hear about the change and others stubbornly clung to the old celebration date. They became known as fools and pranks began to be played on them.

Each country celebrates in its own unique manner. In Scotland, jokes are centered on the butt. In England, pranks are only done in the morning. To prank after noon is considered bad luck.

Several pieces are running around the Internet on the best April Fool's Day hoaxes. I have to say the Swiss spaghetti harvest perpetrated by the Panorama show on the BBC in 1957 is good. They had people calling to see where they could get a spaghetti tree! LOL.

In 1996, Taco Bell announced they'd purchased the Liberty Bell. April Fool's! Another good one.

So wherever you are, be careful of people playing pranks on this first day of April. And share your story here of the best prank you've pulled or had pulled on you.


Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
http://www.mechelearmstrong.com
http://www.melanylogen.com