Romance and Dogs

Hey y'all!

Sorry I'm running late today - spent the entire morning with one of my pack at the vet. Having a 13-year old dog is a day-to-day experience. The newest baby puppy - he's a tricolor basset hound - was in the vet's last week.

I think Julia Talbot and I are putting Dr. Gary's daughter through college single-handedly (double-handedly?)!

*grins*

Suffice it to say, there's a reason dogs feature so prominently in my novels. Between twice daily walks, the feeding time at the zoo (wherein each of them has their own particular set of foods), snuggles, baths, playtime, and the daily Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom hour in my front room, I am constantly being fed ideas from the beasties!

For instance, Shane and Galen (from my Stormy Weather series) have Goober (a baby boy basset) and Khan. Coke and Dillon have Jerome and Pansy. Stress Relief featured Noodle the Twinkie-eating lab and Bear the Rescue Dog. There's a three-legged dog in Redemption's Ride that attacks a demon, an old English Sheepdog in Storm Chasers that brings a photographer together with a botantist, and a sneaky old hound in Mud on the Tires romances a little collie.

Then there's the shapeshifters... And goodness knows I love to read them, I love to write them, I love movies about them. And I'm easy on the pairings: 2 boys, a boy and a girl, 2 boys and a girl, 2 girls... I'm equal opportunity, so long as there's growling, the promise of biting, and my happy ending (what? I believe in happily ever after!)

So, yeah. Dogs. (In fact, there's one drooling on my thigh, right now... ugh.)

So, share with me? Tell me your favorite romances featuring dogs or werewolves, help me find something new and wonderful to feed the addiction.

*grins*

BA Tortuga
Pack Mom

www.batortuga.com - HUGE contest news coming on Wednesday!!!
batortuga.blogspot.com
batortuga on twitter

Weather

Another season has come and is almost gone before we know it. Am I the only one who wonders what happened to summer? One minute it's here and the next gone...

This summer, I've re-released a few works, and the Weather Series is among them. The story Electric Rayne has been one of my favorites from the start. I just LOVE those Cajuns...

Like a lot of folks, I've been wilting in the heat, so I'm not going to draw this out. I want to share the link and an excerpt or two from this book and I hope you'll visit New Concepts Publishing and check it out:

ELECTRIC RAYNE

By

J.J. Massa



Rayne Deveau—Electric Rayne—is back in town and Sheriff Remy Doucette wants answers. Who’s the threat to her and grandmere? Who’s trying to kill them? And is it true that the old woman’s a witch because he’s having a hell of a time keeping his mind on his business and off of Rayne.


excerpt:


Wow! Yesterday I was a twenty-five year old virgin who’d never been kissed. Today I’m a femme fatale.

Rayne stood in the kitchen orchestrating supper. She’d already put the butter, cream, Parmesan cheese, and Romano cheese on the counter. The broccoli was being chopped. The pasta and the pans were floating across the room.

“What ya fixing?” Remy called from the bottom of the stairs. The box of pasta, two pans and the broccoli knife fell to the floor with a bang and a clatter.

“Remy, you scared me,” she breathed. That was really close.

He chuckled at her, picking up the debris.

“You get tired easy?” he asked her.

“I do. My mind has more energy than my body. I guess if I had a body like yours, maybe I wouldn’t need to use my other senses.” She smiled at him.

Remy put his arms around her. “I like your body just fine, Béb. I ‘specially like what you did with it earlier. You sit down and I’ll do this. Just tell me how to mix it, yeah?”

“Okay, Remy, if you’re sure.” He kissed her forehead and she sat.

“You must be worn out from the day you had. Every bit of it,” he definitely had a wicked gleam in his eye now.

“Pretty much, I am,” she agreed. “Remy, do you believe in magic? Telepathy? Levitation?”

“Maybe. Some. It’d be fun to see but I wouldn’t want deal with it every day,” he allowed.

Rayne nodded. She could understand that. Besides, this whole thing could be over in a matter of days. She took a deep breath.

“How about a glass of wine? I’ll pour,” she offered. He nodded, concentrating on mixing the sauce.

Rayne poured the wine from her seat at the table, and had his float over to him.

He’d had his back to her and she didn’t think he noticed. She held her hand out and the other wine glass floated over and the crystal bowl of the glass landed in her open palm.

She watched him as the glass floated into her hand. He turned at the last minute and looked at her with a raised eyebrow. She stared determinedly back at him.

He turned and drained the pasta and brought two plates of Pasta Alfredo over to the table. I guess some people only see what they want to see.

She wore her gray satin robe and he wore a pair of jeans. She thought he looked impossibly sexy.

She pushed some pasta around with her fork. It was nearly time to come clean. This was going to be uncomfortable.

“Don’t play with it, woman, eat it!” he growled. “I'm goanna think you don’t like my cookin’"





And that's it for now :)

visit New Concepts Publishing for the rest of the series... www.newconceptspublishing.com

Taking the First

Hi, I'm Janet Mullany and I write funny historical romance in first person.

I've been joining in discussions at All About Romance and Romancing the Blog on books written in first person and thought I'd talk a bit more about it here.

First off, it's nothing to be frightened of. It's a literary device, a way of telling a story, one of the many tools a writer has at her disposal. When I first started writing what I call Regency chicklit, it became quite clear that first person was the way to go; after all, I knew romance readers were smart and after the initial shock they would get used to it. To avoid the inevitable complaint that you only saw one character's viewpoint, I switched from heroine's voice to hero's (and also I found the heroine of my first Regency chicklit The Rules of Gentility, a naive babbling fashionista, a bit overwhelming. I needed the occasional break from her).

For the writer it's both liberating and constricting. Liberating, because it's possible to spell out the secret thoughts of the narrator, and constricting for the same reason. Consider, for example, this sentence in third person:

She heard the ring of the front door bell and wondered who had come to call at such an early hour.

What the character really thinks is something like this:

Oh lord, I hope it isn't that tall fellow who sits and stares at his boots but it might be my best friend Celia although if it is a gentleman I hope he won't notice the coffee stain on my gown and I really don't want to receive callers I want to go on reading this scandalous novel and I'm sure my hair looks awful today.

So there's a huge amount of shifting, selecting and rearranging of material, much more so than in third person. Also there are problems with descriptions--why should anyone want to launch into a description of their drawing room just because they, or someone else, has walked into it? And that's really what you do as a writer anyway--you're manipulating and shifting and revealing some but not all of what your characters do and think. There may be things only some of your characters know or that only you, the writer, know. It's like a series of magic tricks.

Now there's one book in the romance canon that seems to be immune to the first person stigma and that's Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, responsible for a zillion spin offs of innocent governesses, brooding heroes, and the whole gothic scene. It's a remarkable book for its clarity, its economy of language, and its passion, but even in this first person narration Jane (or Charlotte) does not reveal all. For instance, it's written as a memoir, meaning that Jane (the narrator) knows everything that's happened by the time she "writes" the story; but it's Charlotte Bronte who's behind the scenes, cracking the whip and revealing the secrets. Otherwise Jane Eyre would have been over quite quickly:

I found out that the owner of the house, a most unpleasant brooding sort of fellow, kept a mad wife in the attic and so I decided to take a position elsewhere.

But what astonishes me is that so many people adore Jane Eyre but claim they don't like first person narration, thus depriving themselves of some wonderful reading experiences.

What do you think of first person narration? Love it, hate it?

The fine print: You can buy my book A Most Lamentable Comedy (funnier than Jane Eyre and written in two first person voices!) here and visit my website, www.janetmullany.com to find out more about me and sign up for my infrequent yet scintillating newsletter.

First off, a big shout-out to The Romance Studio … thanks so much for inviting me to hang out with you guys today!

I don't know what the weather's like where you are, but up here in New England, the hot weather has finally hit! We're staying as cool as we can get, laying low midday and getting our physical stuff done early in the morning and late at night. The other day, it was even almost (but not quite) too hot for me to face firing up the BBQ for dinner!

During the summer, I'm very into cooking (or, as often occurs in my case when I get caught up in something else and lose track, burning) food over an open fire. We're old school- we've got an open kettle grill that requires charcoal, lots of lighter fluid, a lit match, and the occasional whoop of surprise (and singed eyebrows) when we get the timing wrong. And pretty much whatever we might cook inside during the rest of the year, we find a way to cook it outdoors now!

Interestingly, my new release, SKYKEEPERS, has a strong foodie thread running through it. The heroine and reluctant mage, Sasha, is a chef who (whether she likes it or not) gravitates toward the Mayan flavors that remind her of her father. She's highly sensual, and experiences the world through its textures and flavors. The hero, Michael, is also very sensual, albeit in a hotter, earthier way. The two of them together … can you say HAWT???

Well, how about I show you what I'm talking about?

Here's the blurb, so we're all on the same page:

Ancient prophecy holds that 12/21/2012 will bring a global cataclysm. Mankind's only hope lies with the Nightkeepers, modern magic-wielding warriors who must find their destined mates and fulfill the legends to defeat the rise of terrible Mayan demons.

In Skykeepers, Michael Stone is a man with a dark secret that has skewed his magical abilities dangerously toward the underworld. Seeking redemption, he sets out on a perilous mission to save the daughter of Ambrose Ledbetter, a renowned Mayanist who died before he could reveal the location of a hidden library. The Nightkeepers must find the library before their enemies gain access to its valuable cache of spells and prophecies.

Sasha Ledbetter grew up hearing heroic tales of an ancient group of powerful magi who were destined to save the world from destruction. She never expected that her bedtime stories would come to life in the form of Nightkeeper Michael Stone, or that she'd hold the key to the warrior's survival. As Sasha and Michael join forces to prevent the imminent battle, sparks of attraction ignite between them, and they're forced to confront the unexpected passion that brings them together … and also tears them apart.

Now, check out this short excerpt:

Michael thought he'd steeled himself for the familiar kick of attraction, the lust that hadn't faded with their becoming lovers. But need hit him hard the moment he saw her stretched on her tiptoes to return a bowl to a high shelf, her midriff-cropped tee riding up, yoga pants riding down, the two exposing a strip of her taut, strong abdomen, with the soft lines of muscle on either side of her navel, where a trio of freckles drew his eye.

She turned slowly, and when she met his eyes, he saw a reflection of the burning heat that churned in his gut. "Well?" she said softly.

His body moved almost without conscious volition around the pass-through and into the kitchen, where he stopped close enough to catch her light scent over the cooking smells, close enough to distinguish the heat of her body from that of the stove. "What's cooking?"

She handed over the mug she'd been sipping from. "It's something I've been playing with."

He knew she had magic in the kitchen, knew she wielded flavors with the deftness of a trained chef and the inspiration of a mage, but still he was unprepared for what hit his taste buds the moment he took a sip. Sensations exploded across his neurons in a blaze of heat, texture, and taste that had him sucking in a breath. There was chocolate, yes, but it was more savory than sweet, taken away from the realm of dessert by a mix of peppers and salt, and things he wouldn't even begin to match with chocolate, but that somehow matched perfectly. He sucked in a breath. "Holy crap." Took another sip and rolled it around in his mouth, closing his eyes briefly as the flavors changed subtly, the peppers mellowing to something else. "Nice," he said, and this time his tone was one of reverence. "Very nice."

"That," she said with evident satisfaction, "was exactly what I was going for."

Eyes still closed, he felt her trying to take the mug back, and tightened his fingers on it. "Leave it," he said. "I'm at your mercy. Anything you want. Just ask."

He'd said it partly in play, but also because he remembered what she'd told him back in the beginning, on her first day at Skywatch. I cook when I'm happy or sad, when I'm celebrating with friends or all alone with my thoughts. Which of those things applied now?

He felt the air shift, felt her indrawn breath as his own, but instead of "we need to talk" or any of the female warning signs experience had taught him to expect, she surprised him by leaning in and touching her lips to his.

The kiss was as unexpected as the hint of pepper and spice he tasted amidst the chocolate on her lips, in her mouth. Setting aside his mug, he deepened the kiss, relieved to let it be easy even though a small part of him said it shouldn't be so easy, that he was skimming the surface of something he needed to be diving into. But then she shifted her hands, sliding them up his chest to link behind his neck and tug him closer, pressing her body to his, and the vibe went true, singing inside his skull with the warm sparkle of red-gold magic.

"Come back to bed," he said against her mouth. "We've got a few more hours to burn."

***

(Smiles.) Can you tell I love these two together?? For other excerpts, more info on the books, and some really cool animation, please check out http://www.JessicaAndersen.com. To check out the video trailer for Skykeepers, go to: http://www.youtube.com/user/DocJess1!

Anyway, back to barbecuing … What do you say we have a virtual cookout here today? All commenters will be eligible to win a copy of either Nightkeepers or Dawnkeepers (the first two books in the series). To enter, tell us what you're going to bring and/or barbecue today! Extra (imaginary and intangible) points for managing to relate it back to the Maya, Nightkeepers, or end of the world!

To get us started, I'll start pouring the drinks. Who else wants a Virgin Sacrifice??

A Cover Needed

By Janet Quinn

I am still waiting for my cover for my new book, Wanted: True Love. Getting the cover brings the whole book together and makes it feel finished. I’ve done the galley, so the print side is ready to go.

I have gotten no writing done in the last two months. Poor Sam is doomed to always be waiting for me to finish with him. He is from Freedom’s Treasure which is and has been, two chapters from finished since the beginning of June. There is something about being in pain from my back that seems to put me off writing. That, or it could be the drugs they keep giving me. There seems there should be a point that my back gets better – like before next March and EPICon.

I am coming up with ideas for short stories to go with Wanted: True Love so I can run a contest when it is released. Bree-Anna has so many things that she has done, it isn’t hard to write something about her. Quint, on the other hand, is a bit more difficult.

Hopefully by the first of September I will be back to writing and all will be good.

An Italian Summer - Montepulciano

An Italian Summer – Montepulciano

Linda Bilodeau’s most recent book, The Wine Seekers, takes place in Italy. This blog is a summary of her trip through this beautiful country.

The Wine Seekers is available at www.amazon.com and now featured in Kindle format

Visit www.lindabilodeau.com to enter her latest contest.

Be the first to receive notices about Linda's contests. Email her at bilodeau19@comcast.net and put Subscribe in the subject line.

Of all the cities and villages I visited in Tuscany I found Montepulciano to be one of the most picturesque and therefore chose it to be my protagonists hometown in The Wine Seekers.Montepulciano like so many other Tuscany villages sits high up on a hill. It is a major producer of the famed Vin Nobili and also known for its cheeses, lentils, and honey.This village has a long and varied history. During Roman times, it served as a garrison port and guards were posted high up in a fortress to protect the roadways below. The middle ages brought war and the city was often attacked by Siena. Montepulciano allied itself with Florence for protection and in the process, the city was developed with buildings heavily influenced by Florentine architecture. I discuss some of this history in The Wine Seekers.The road approaching this town is line with Cypresses making the pathway a grand entry. Looking up at the city, one sees the limestone ridge on which the town was built and the fortified walls still in existence. This natural ambience makes this town appear dignified and welcoming.Surrounding the village from the base are many vineyards filled with grapes that make up the famed Vin Nobili, the wine of the nobles. At one point only titled people were allowed to drink and make this wine. Now it is available in all price ranges and readily sold in the US.

Our first stop in charming Montepulciano was the church of The Madonna di San Biagio, which lies just outside the city’s entrance. This church is a vision with its creamy Travertine exterior and its gorgeous arches, frescos and statues inside. Entering, one notices the statue of San Biagio, (St. Blaise) who is honored for his ability to cure diseases of the throat and mouth. Each year on his feast day, believers gather for the blessing of the throat bestowed by the local parish priest and with a prayer, one hopes to be protected against any malady that nature might inflict.

We spent time touring this church since it was to be the place of worship of Nicola Romano’s family, the protagonist in The Wine Seekers. The church is also used as a site for the funeral mass of Nicola’s beloved father.

After leaving the church, we entered the village and started our steep climb through the main street known as The Corso. Along the way are shops and wineries, restaurants and Inns and of course, homes of the locals who reside there. We visited early in the day as to avoid the throngs who flock to this wonderful village. We also had the privilege of meeting some of the shop owners where we tasted the fabulous Vin Nobili produced in this region.

We visited the church of St. Agnes, the patron saint of the city, the church of St. Augustine and St. Barnard.; all beautiful in their own right. Each church had its statures, stained-glassed windows, and architecture representing the year and time period they were built.

We stopped in the Palazxo Communale, the center of city government. Here the town hall and local police stations are often mistaken for museums due to their size and structure. A tour through town hall is like walking back in time and I used this building in The Wine Seekers for many purposes.

At the very top of the city rests the Duomo, the cathedral where one can view the beautiful painting of the Assumption of Mary, which dates back to the 14th Century. I used this church as the site for the Gianna’s marriage to Santino Callisto.

We walked back through the village in order to do several wine tastings, the topic of my next blog.

If you've read and enjoyed The Wine Seekers you might also enjoy Stepping Through Seagrass available at www.archebooks.com for just 20.99.

Linda Bilodeau
www.lindabilodeau.com
www.amazon.com

Summer Reflections

Summer has been a blast. Busy with family and so on. Also had a b-day. (grin) Another year and some reflection. I took some time to take stock on what you have planned for the rest of the year. There is so much possibilities. I've been exploring those moments of possibilities. I re-evaluated what was on my writing plans. I revamped the old plans into a new one. I’ve organized the books I want to complete before the end of this year and the time frame I want to complete them in.

One of the things that I’ve want to complete is a story that keeps nagging at me. So I finally had to sit down sketch out my thoughts in order. I'm still working on a title for the story. Now that the idea is down I can’t wait to write. With the concept done I’m ready to actually sit down and write the story. And yes it is about a family of sorts.

Various readers have mentioned to me that they like my work because I write about families. To me family is the corner stone of everything. No matter if you’re close or fight like crazy it’s all about the family dynamic. And not just the typical ones either. After all there are many types of families. Those by blood and those you choose to call family. The rest of this year I am writing books to help build my various families I have created and make some new families. Stay tuned for more on them.

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

Blog: http://www.mckennajeffries.com/blog
Chat Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/McKennaJeffriesList
Free Reads Site: http:/ /www.satinnotes.com/

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.

Podgy Stomachs and Competition

Forty days ago, my husband and I purchased Wii Fit. It’s a huge topic of conversation in our house so here is a list of ten things about our Wii Fit experience.

1. It’s loads of fun.
2. It’s a great way to exercise when it’s cold and raining outside.
3. Wii brings out the competitor in both my husband and I. We’re both terrible at gloating when we beat each other’s scores!
4. It’s an exercise in frustration when I can’t beat hubby’s scores.
5. Did I mention we’re competitive?
6. Our stomachs are actually smaller.
7. I’m the hula hoop and step champion.
8. I’m not so good at skiing…
9. I’m even worse at hitting footballs with my head.
10. My fitness has improved.
11. I laugh every time I see my Wii figure with its podgy little stomach.
12. I aspire to beat my hubby at skiing…

Do you have a Wii Fit? Do you enjoy it? Are you competitive? What is your favorite way to exercise?

Shelley Munro lives in Auckland with her husband and a geriatric dog. Her latest release TEA FOR TWO is currently available in print from all good bookstores. You can visit Shelley at www.shelleymunro.com

Posted For Eva Gordon: Eva Gordon’s Blurb and Character Interview from her latest release: Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf.

Eva Gordon's Blurb and Character Interview from her latest release: Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf.

Blurb About Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf

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

Historical Paranormal Romance in the Wolf Maiden Chronicles

Beast Warrior 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?

Interview Introduction: Today I have the special pleasure of briefly interviewing my hero and heroine from my just released novel in the Wolf Maiden Chronicles, Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf, an epic paranormal romance, what I call a 'werewolfhistorical'. As you know 'were' means man so I include the term werewolf or lycan. Beast Warrior: Viking Werewolf takes place takes place in the Frankish Kingdom during the Viking Era of 840 AD. A time when only the strong survive. I have always been fascinated by Norse mythology, which is rich in wolf lore, so this book was a labor of love.

I will briefly be interviewing the main characters separately since they have not met. I will begin with Emelisse our heroine and then Sigurd our hero. If you wish to learn more please read the blurb below the interview or better yet check out the novel.

Day Interview with Emelisse

Eva: It is early and the day is bright and sunny. The door to the Werewolf Café opened and in walked a spry beautiful young woman with raven black hair and dark eyes. She is wearing a fine silk tunic and red cloak, reminding me of Red Riding Hood. "Emelisse, welcome to the Werewolf Café."

Emelisse: "Pleasure is mine." She nods and sits with the air of confidence of a princess of the realm.

Eva: "Tell me of your family and home." The server brought us warmed cider and oatcakes.

Emelisse: "I am the only daughter of Duke Chanteloup the Gray. He is the lycan pack alpha of most of the Gascony region and the Pyrenees Mountains. Our castle is on top of a grand mountain. His territory houses the Lupercal so he is deemed most important."

Eva: "Wow, I heard the Lupercal is led by twelve alpha females who rule all of your secret lycan society."

Emelisse: "Yes, though the different alpha pack leaders may disagree with their laws they obey the Lupercal nonetheless."

Eva: "You are a wolf maiden, tell us what that means?"

Emelisse: "A wolf maiden is a human woman born with the mark of the 5- toed lycan paw print. She is bound to be the mate of an alpha lycan. The mark heats up and turns red once her chosen one is found. Only a wolf maiden can give the alpha children since the female alpha lycans are sterile. Our beta males and females can mate with one another." Her eyes turned sad. "I have no choice but to marry an alpha. T'is Feronia's and my father's will."

Eva: "Feronia is your wolf goddess?"

Emelisse: Her eyes brightened. "Yes, I'm her oracle. She often selects wolf maidens such as me to commune with. Feronia guides life mates to find one another." She sipped her warm cider and sighed. "Still I wish to leave the pack and live with humans. "

Eva: "So you do not wish to marry a lycan. Why?"

Emelisse: "I have been the only human in my pack and I'm tired of being treated like I will break at any minute. You see I was born a runt with a weak heart and my overprotective father has tried to keep me from doing anything fun." She smiled. "But since he was always gone as a knight for the king I learned to ride, hunt, fish, falconry and archery without his knowledge. "

Eva: "And your heart gave you no problems?"

Emelisse: "Lupa the alpha leader of the Lupercal prepares potions for me and has taught me how to breathe when I feel an attack coming. I know I may not have long to live so I enjoy my life as much as I can. Truth be told, most runts are killed at birth. My father did not allow my death. The seer found out later that I am destined to choose a mate that will unite all the packs."

Eva: "That's quite an honor."

Emelisse: She shrugged. "Seems like my father wishes me to marry Radulf III the Cruel, the most powerful lycan in all the Frank Kingdom."

Eva: "But you don't love him."

Emelisse: Vehemently shook her head. "Never. " She lowered her voice. "I'm in love with a human woodsman, Galien. We meet discreetly. It is my wish to marry him."

Eva: "But how will your father react?"

Emelisse: "Oh he will be angry, which is why I must runaway."

Eva: "Are you not worried that they will follow your scent?"

Emelisse: She slowly shook her head. "I assure you, I must work on a plan that will not get Galien murdered. I would rather die than end up with Radulf."

Eva: "Will your goddess Feronia allow this."

Emelisse: Teary eyed she looked at her cup. "I will beg for her forgiveness." The server brought her meat pie and she pushed it away.

Eva: "Not hungry?"

Emelisse: "Of late my stomach has been sensitive, perhaps a miasma."

Eva: She looked pale. "Do you have any plans for the rest of the day?"

Emelisse: "I will fly my merlin." She smiled. "Nothing brings me greater joy than riding and flying my bird." She wiped her lips. "Thank you for sitting with me in such an interesting tavern."

Eva: "Thank you. Take care." She left and I peeked out the window as she mounted her mare and galloped up the hill.

Night Interview with Sigurd.

Eva: I gasped as in walked in a large framed muscular Norse werewolf with flaming red hair and aquamarine eyes. He wore Viking armor and on his belt was a sword that had to be half my height if not more. He was one of the most ruggedly handsome werewolves I have ever met. As if Thor was nearby a bolt of lightning lit up the night followed by a thundering boom. "Sigurd, thank you for meeting me this evening." I gestured for him to sit. He took off his helmet and raked his long red hair back.

Sigurd: He smiled displaying snow white teeth and a hint of fangs. "Are you Hungerd in disguise?"

Eva: "No I am simply a woman from another realm who wishes to ask you a few questions. Who is Hungerd?"

Sigurd: He eyed me suspiciously before answering. "She is a crone wolf witch who has great powers in seior or magic. Often she shifts into others. Sometimes into birds or often she appears as a lovely woman." Our server brought a bottle of Mead and poured us a glass. He sniffed in pleasure. "What is that wonderful aroma?" He looked around.

Eva: Was it Emelisse's scent he picked up. "Tell me of your kind, Sigurd Son of Gunnolf the Red."

Sigurd: "I am an Ulfhednar, a wolfskin. Odin's brother, Loki created our kind just as he did our natural wild wolf brethren. We shift into giant bear size wolves with markings that separate us from the forest wolves. I am leader of my pack and rule those who are forced to become wolves during the full moon."

Eva: "Lycans call the leader the alpha of the pack. Alphas can shift at anytime, while the lower ranked lycans or betas must shift during the full moon."

Sigurd: He gave me a quizzical look and smiled. "Ah, the southern wolfskins."

Eva: I nodded. "Without the alpha's leadership the betas may run amok."

Sigurd: Gulped his entire glass and poured more. "My sister Brynhild and a few den brothers are all that is left of a once prosperous pack."

Eva: "Tell me what happened?"

Sigurd: He gritted his teeth and his eyes narrowed in rage. Thunder boomed in the distance. "My parents and older brother were massacred by bearskins, men who shift into bears." He pounded his massive fist on the table causing the cups to spill and the local werewolf clientele to stop what they were doing to look. He took in a long breath. "Bork the Mad and his son Mord the Blood Claw must die by my hand. If in the end I cross the Rainbow Bridge to Valhalla so be it." Fangs flashed. "Bork wears my father's red wolf pelt!"

Eva: I drank my glass and wiped my lips of mead. "Is it true these bearskins must sleep during the winter?"

Sigurd: He nodded. "Hungerd the crone has searched for their lair but they too have a witch named Bolla who has used seior to hide their winter den." He shrugged. "No matter, I wish to meet them in the battlefield so I can gaze at their eyes as they die watching their entrails litter the ground for the ravens to eat."

Eva: "Ooh, yuck." He was one serious werewolf out for blood and vengeance. "What does your sister think?"

Sigurd: He snorted. "Brynhild wants me to find an ulf hexen and raise a family but I will not until I find and kill Bork and his son."

Eva: "Ulf hexen is your word for wolf maiden, a human mate."

Sigurd: "Brynhild thinks she found one but I must tell her my decision to join a Viking drakkor.

Eva: "You wish to join raiders?"

Sigurd: "It is the only way I can find my sworn enemies. Mord and his sons are berserker bearskins who sail and raid for the Jarls. By joining a drakkor I hope to find them and tear them asunder."

Eva: "But what about the ulf hexen?"

Sigurd: "If I am not in Valhalla then on my return I will seek out my mate." He looked up as a distant howl was heard in the distance. "My sister calls."

Eva: "Thank you for speaking to me. "

Sigurd stood and bowed. He donned his helmet and left as a storm pelted the ground. I knew he was in for a great epic adventure and hoped that like Emelisse he too would survive the Dark Ages, a time of great peril.

Eva Gordon

Author of Paranoral and Fantasy Romance

Contact Information

http://www.ravenauthor.com

http://evagordon.blogspot.com/

http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/Eva_Gordon_WKIK.html

http://booktour.com/author/eva_gordon#

http://twitter.com/evagordon

ISBN: 978-1-935407-30-0 for Werewolf Sanctuary LCCN: 2009924111 http://tinyurl.com/WerewolfSanctuary

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

Oh my fickle fiend

And that fickle fiend is my muse. She'll probably disappear for a few days since I called her a fiend, but she's really been jerking my chain for the last year or so.

Do you ever have that problem? The flighty muse?

If you don't count yourself lucky, for my muse has been quite fickle lately.

Upon her 9 month hiatus, when she barged into my hospital room after I just had given birth, she dropped 4 story ideas on me.

GREAT! First I was elated, dry spell over WOOHOO and then on the other hand I was like *woohoo* great 4 stories all demanding my attention.

And she doesn't stop there! OH NO! She sends my plot monkey's my way. Every day in fact. I've taken to carrying around a journal to write them down, but the thing is the ideas won't shut up. They all are demanding my attention. Write me, write me, WRITE ME!!

The worst is at the 4 a.m., feeding. When I'm half asleep, in my son's room, which he shares with his 3 year old brother. I can't see, and usually I have my PJ's on backwards or am covered in milk.

WRITE ME!!!

This isn't the first time this has happened. In 2008, just before I was heading to Nationals and I was getting out of my Evil Day Job ... I had the fickle muse attend me and the war to write 2 books leered me. One was RAIN GOD and the other was HARD CANDY.

I managed through it okay, but 4! YOWZER I've been struggling, and it's turning this non-plotter into one. It's the only way I can keep them straight.

As for my fickle fiend, I'll keep her. There's no way you can get rid of your muse once she settles in, but I think I can safely say my dry spell is up.

Just wish me luck! LOL!

Amy

http://www.amyruttan.com/

Fantasy fans on Facebook

The N3F group is without many fans (could be because of their fiendishly clever and geeky name) but are apparently very receptive to Fantasy readers....as fans.

The url is http://www.facebook.com/pages/N3F/89128934330

It's not my group (btw) I'm merely a fan, but one of the admins asked me to spread the word.

Best wishes,

Rowena Cherry
Please vote for my cover/title/blurb (social networking contest for authors) http://tinyurl.com/Award-5-Stars

Mating Net (listen to Rowena read it all aloud)

Last Thursday, I drove 40 miles each way to a video recording studio and read every word --all 15,000 of them-- of Mating Net in front of a camera.

If you would like to hear me read this somewhat risque short story to you, please check whether or not these links work. Be aware, this is adult material. It is not sweet!

Part One:
http://lsc.audioacrobat.com/download/5469a230-094f-0354-5d6b-db5b4e884715.mp3

Sorry it's in two parts. I had to stop and have a glass of water before I had the courage to read the more controversial sex scene.

Part Two:
http://lsc.audioacrobat.com/download/e07f641f-cbd7-d71e-db0d-63a1c3d2bd2e.mp3


Mating Net is a prequel for my god-Princes of Tigron series (Forced Mate, Insufficient Mating Material, and Knight's Fork).

Set 70 years before the flurry of marriages and murders described in this trilogy, Mating Net shows how the ambitious young Princess Helispeta split a royal family and started a war.

Mating Net can be purchased as an e-book at http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/matingnet.htm

Please vote for the cover art, title, and blurb (all on the page) to help out Insufficient Mating Material in a publicity contest. http://tinyurl.com/Award-5-Stars

Rowena Cherry

25 Blogs in 25 days...the TORTURED tour!

August 14, 2009
Day eight of the blog tour

(TORTURED, erotic medieval, Harlequin Spice, Aug.'09-Amanda McIntyre)




In a time of chaos, darkness, and violence, it is better to live only in the moment, lest your memories eat you alive.

A young woman blessed with “sight seeks vengeance against a tyrannical lord responsible for her mother's murder. Forced to become an executioner's apprentice, she encounters a Roman prisoner who offers her a away to escape her prison and find a future. Torn between desire, duty, and the chance for revenge, her choice to live or die leaves her TORTURED. (Available now, Harlequin Spice, Aug. '09)

Okay, I’m going to gush here with a little Midwestern pride!! For those of you who have been following the TORTURED blog tour, you know I’ve been talking about the places I visited this summer on an extensive road trip with my family(sans oldest son) across the eastern states. But I’m feeling a little like Judy Garland at the end of “Meet Me in St Louis” when she says “And its here. Right in our own backyard.” What am I babbling about? The IOWA STATE FAIR! Of course!!

The Iowa State fair celebrates its 150th anniversary this year! Known as the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country, it boasts an annual attendance of over a million people coming from all over the world during its week long run.

It has inspired authors, three movies and the fabulous Rogers & Hammerstein’s smash Broadway Musical, “State Fair.” It is listed in the bestselling book, “1000 Places to See Before You Die,” and continues to be one of the top events in the country by National media.

Set now in an idyllic 400-acre park like setting, the Iowa State Fair has been host to countless celebrities playing its Grandstand shows to local talent showcased on the variety of free stages throughout the park. My very first concert at the tender age of thirteen, was to see the Jackson Five at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand. I was in heaven!

It is a tradition in our household to pack up one afternoon and head over to the fair for an evening stroll through the Varied Industries building to see all the exhibits, then to the Ag building where we can take a peek at the famous “butter cow” and this year a tribute to the king of pop himself, Michael Jackson. (Yes I’m sure he would be humbly impressed.) However, let me just offer here that this craft, started for the fair back in the 1900’s has been handed down through apprenticeship ONLY through the years. Each year, along the traditional butter cow, is a special sculpture depicting a noted figure for that particular year. It’s in the Ag building that the Iowa Honey Growers association makes their famous Ice cold honey lemonade (to die for!) and then its on to see what “food on a stick” is available this year! If you want to learn more about this fine slice of Americana—visit http://www.iowastatefair.org/

Celebrating my "25 blogs in 25 days...the TORTURED tour!" Amanda McIntyre will be giving away a signed copy of her new Dark Ages erotic historical! Winner drawn at random from posted comments



Called “a disturbingly touching tale of hope, love and survival," ~BookWyrm Reviews.

Next stop on the tour: Aug.15
Come enter the magical world!
http://thefaerycourt.com/faeryblog/


May the wind be at your back~
Amanda
www.amandamcintyre.net

Those Fortunate Accidents

I messed up this month and posted on the 8th. I really was supposed to post today. When I found out about my early posting, I thought… disaster! I've posted on some other author's day. She or he will be mad at me. I'll be cursed up and down (not likely, romance authors are some of the sweetest people around – so understanding and friendly and forgiving). And Holly, dear Holly who is always so wonderful, she'll be upset.

But then Holly let me know that weekends (the 8th being on the weekend) are open posting days. No problem! Better than no problem. I get to post here twice in the same month! A disaster turned into a win.

I've had quite a few reading disasters turn into wins. I read a lot of romance novels, averaging one a day. That means I'm not always careful about what I pick up. My preference is straight historicals. That's all I would buy or read if not for fortunate accidents.

I was zipping around the blogosphere and ran across an interview with the very witty J.K. Coi. Although I don't read paranormals, I loved the interview. I commented. I won a copy of Immortal Kiss and I LOVED it. I'm not a fan of demons or vampires or other half dead creatures but the characters were so real and intriguing that I didn't care if they had three eyes (they don't), I'd read about them. I now gobble up every book J.K. Coi releases and some of my favorite books come from the paranormal category.

I don't normally read erotic romances. I was, again, hunting for a great historical, and ran across Emma Wildes' Midnight Without A Moon. I read it, thinking 'wow, this is a very spicy historical romance', only it wasn't a spicy historical romance, it was a spicy historical erotic romance. Again, I LOVED it. Now, if I can't find something I like in the straight historical romance category, I immediately venture into erotic romance.

Recently I discovered a new author by mistake. I intended to pick up Vivi Andrews' Serengeti Heat and bought Kinsey Holley's Kiss And Kin instead. What a lucky error! I read and enjoyed both stories and have added Kinsey Holley to my writers to watch list.

Have you had any fortunate accidents in reading?

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

Making Lemons Out of Lemonade

My plan was to spend this summer doing book signings for my first book and relaxing by the pool with my son. Instead, I had to have major surgery to remove my possibly cancerous uterus. Fortunately, there was no actual cancer - merely a precancerous condition called complex hyperplasia with atypia. How's that for a fifty cent phrase?!

But of course, the surgery totally scotched my plans for the summer. Instead of lounging poolside, I've spent most of the summer catching up on my Netflix queue and thinking. I've been thinking about how easy it is to lose sight of yourself when you achieve a certain goal. I'd always wanted to publish a novel, but once the magic day came, I was kind of sick of the whole thing. The book was written nearly three years ago, after all. (In fact, it was written during my last cancer scare. I get those a lot due to family history.)

I was no longer enthused about the idea of promoting the book or doing book signings or anything of the kind, but I kept plodding through the motions until the surgery stopped me. I was almost relieved to have an excuse to stop promoting myself. Now, however, having had about four weeks of relative inactivity, I've recaptured a bit of enthusiasm. Because I realized what I had originally been excited about was still there: I was excited to have written a realistic story about a cancer survivor and an "older" woman who finds a way to reinvent herself after facing death not once but twice.

In Thirty-Nine Again, my heroine Sabrina is a forty-year-old breast cancer survivor who is kind of sick of the curves life keeps throwing at her. She just wants to crawl back into her quiet life as an accountant and forget about this big challenge she's just faced. Instead, she discovers the Mexican Mafia wants her dead and the guy she thought was her personal trainer is really a Homeland Security Agent. Circumstances through a monkey wrench into her narrow little life - and in the end, she's a better and happier person for it. I hope you'll enjoy reading about her adventure, and more than that, I hope you'll learn from it. Even when nothing comes out the way you planned it, you can still make lemons out of the lemonade. You can find a new path, re-invent yourself and your life, and start again. I hope to be doing just that in the Fall, when I'm fully recovered from my surgery! Considering the alternatives, reinventing yourself every couple of years isn't a bad way to live, as Sabrina discovers. And I have too!

By the way, a portion of author royalties for Thirty-Nine Again will be donated to breast cancer awareness charities. So I hope you'll buy the book and enjoy the story while supporting a good cause!

Tanya Hanson: A Livestrong Wedding

I love weddings. I love the dresses, the flowers, the music, even the tears. And all of the above appear in my current Western historical release, Marrying Minda--when the bride marries the wrong man. Thankfully, in the world of historical romance, everything works out for the reluctant groom after some twists and turns like outlaws, an evil ex, and three adorable orphans.

And the book couldn't have been released at a better time. Our own daughter just got married to the right man. A Pronovias gown, yellow roses and gerberas, a string quartet, and tears during the daddy-daughter dance to Tim McGraw's My Little Girl.

Tears of joy! For last year, her daddy, my own personal hero, battled testicular cancer and a harrowing chemotherapy protocol that almost ended his life. During his ordeal, his wishes were to watch our toddler grandson grow.

And walk his little girl down the aisle.

Last Saturday, 16 months cancer-free and in perfect health, he got to see both his dreams come true at a historic mansion in Orange County, California. (It reputedly even has its own ghost!) Our grandson in a tiny tux, bearing rings. Bridesmaids in yellow. Lemon drop martinis. Yellow Livestrong bracelets as favors with a donation made to the Lance Armstrong Foundation's fight against cancer.

We returned home yesterday from the destination (for us) wedding when I had good news waiting: Marrying Minda is a top seller at The Wild Rose Press for two months now, and my editor is contracting Marrying Mattie...featuring Minda's younger sister! The perfect end to a perfect weekend.

But for once, this blog isn't really about my books, even though I'm thrilled to death. It's about Livestrong. Ladies, get your personal heroes and all the guys in your life from middle school to old age to check their balls regularly, like you do BSE's. Testicular cancer is curable if found early. My hero thought it was a hernia. Now he can live long and prosper.

Happy creating! Happy reading. And Live Strong!

~Tanya
www.tanyahanson.com
www.petticoatsandpistols.com

But...It's Not Heroic!

My husband likes the show Rescue Me. While I agree that it’s a well-written show, I don’t enjoy it for one big reason.

The characters are not heroic. Not a single one. They’re alcoholics, adulterers, stalkers and horndogs. One of the guys, when he found out he was a father, pawned his child off on his parents because she was too much of a disruption in his life. They shirk responsibilities, hold grudges and blame others for their problems.

No, thanks.

I read a book--a romance--like that recently, too. The supporting characters were complete jerks, with no redeeming qualities. None. I know they were secondary characters, but I learn a lot from main characters by watching their interactions with all the characters in the book.

I need my characters to be heroic. Maybe they don’t always make the right choice, but they think it’s right. I like my characters (ones I read and ones I write) to think of others and not just themselves. I like my characters to think before they act, most of the time, and if they don’t, I want them to own up to the consequences.

Maybe Rescue Me is more like real life, but I’ll take my fantasy, thanks.

What about you? Can you root for characters who consistently make bad decisions?

There Are NO Bad Reviews

I deliberately write romances that polarize people. The only reason I have my stories published is because they offer something different to the genre. Some people like that. Some people hate that. Reviewers are people (at least all the reviewers I've met thus far). Some reviewers love my stories. Some reviewers don't.

That's okay. That's more than okay. That's great.

I don't want readers to spend their hard earned money on my stories and then find out they aren't what they expected. If that ever happens with one of my stories, tell me and I'll send you a wonderful romance (in PDF – 'cause I have a phobia about the post office) from a different author (there are SO many great romances out there).

I don't want readers plunking down cash for Selling Forever (the short, sweet romance I wrote for my short, sweet Mom) expecting Invisible 2. I've told as many readers as I can that it is a different read but I'm grateful when reviewers help spread the word. I love it. These readers should NOT buy Selling Forever. They should save their book buying funds for Flawless, Tavos' story (out February 2010).

And readers who look fondly back at the bachelor auction stories of the 1980's, those that are looking for a light, less steamy, tongue-in-cheek read, should consider Selling Forever, rather than Flawless, as the next Kimber Chin book to try. Two solid stories, two different sets of readers, two different sets of reviews.

'Course that doesn't mean I don’t throw yet-to-be published manuscripts at the wall when I receive a less than stellar review (ALL writers get bad reviews IF they are trying something different – it is our badge of bravery). That doesn't mean I don't stomp around the house, vowing up and down that I'll never publish another story. That doesn't mean I don't drown my troubles in rocky road ice cream smothered with caramel sauce. I'm only human (and a bit of a sweet addict). But after that short, stormy thunder burst, I appreciate what the reviewers are doing. They are helping us ensure that readers are properly matched to books they're more likely to love. I thank the reviewers. Sincerely. They're doing the reading world a public service.


$

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

A Summer Break

For the most of summer I've been spending a lot of time off-line. Taking a summer break for me and to spend time with my family. At first it was hard. I'm used to going on my computer everyday. It is one of the first things I do when I get home from the day job. It is so instinctive that as I walk in my door I head straight for my office to boot up the comp. The first few days my finger was on the button ready to push it to boot up the comp when I stopped myself realizing that I wasn't going on the comp. I have gotten much better at not going on the comp everyday. And even the days I go on comp I don't spend as much time on it.

So now instead when I get home I bypass the office and relax with my family who is visiting from out of state. My cousin who lives close to me come by with the kids and it is a full house of family. We laugh, chat and have a blast. Since we enjoy various TV shows it is fun discussing them or debating according to the show. We get loud and defend out positions. LOL. We've also been spending time exploring some sights, shopping and dining out.

I'm also getting some reading done. My big sis and I are avid readers and have similar tastes in books. Someday's we sit in the living room reading a book while the TV drones in the background. If something in a book grabs us we tell each other about it. When we are done we switch books. After we finish each others book we then talk about it. The debates on what we liked or didn't in the book gets heated. The other day my nephew came running to see what the arguing was all about. I calmly told him his mother was 'crazy'. He looked at both of us and said right back that we both were. My sis and I looked at each other then back at him and replied in unison 'so are you'. He sighed loudly, rolled his eyes and countered he prefers to call it eccentric. We all cracked up. Ever since we are saying we are eccentric. Hanging with fam is so much fun.

The break for summer has been a much needed escape.
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/

Silk and Shadows - Can a warrior elf find a naughty partner to ease his loneliness and fulfill his needs.

Buy here at Total-E-Bound.

Research is Fun!

Research is Fun!
By
N. J. Walters


Mastaba.

You might be tempted to say gesundheit, but please refrain. There is no need to pull out a tissue or a hanky. There are no runny noses here. I didn’t just sneeze, but I did make a fascinating discovery while I was working on a book.

I didn’t know what a mastaba was until I started researching for my time-travel/ménage a trois book, Amethyst Moon. The heroine, Olivia Fifield, is an archeologist on a dig in the deserts of Egypt, who ends up traveling through time and space to another civilization. She finds herself in the arms of two strong alphas, who are willing to pull out all the stops to convince her to stay.

Where did I come up with the idea for this book?

It all started one day when I was poking around on the Internet. I’d thought about doing a book featuring ancient Egypt. And why not? It’s a fascinating period of history. The pyramids are incredible feats of architecture. Plus, they do tend to make one dream about that time period—the pomp and the sheer majesty of it all. While doing some research, I discovered mastabas, which are, in fact, ancient Egyptian burial tombs that predate the pyramids.

The definition of mastaba is: an Egyptian tomb with a rectangular base, sloping sides and a flat roof. Built of mud brick, or, later, stone, it has a deep shaft, which descends to underground burial and offering chambers. It comes from the Arabic word for “bench”.

Most people know that the pyramids were the burial place of the kings of Egypt, but what many didn’t realize was that some mastabas held the mummies and possession of kings as well, although as a rule it was usually high-ranking advisors and members of the royal court. Mastabas started simply enough, but later versions were more elaborate, often having false doors and hidden chambers, which gave me all kinds of ideas for my book. They often contained a statue of the deceased and had several rooms. Filled with food and equipment they grew more elaborate over time. The mighty pyramids evolved from the mastaba.

While the walls of the pyramids were generally bare, mastabas were filled with images depicting scenes from everyday life—an actual social history of the people. In many ways, they were more important then the pyramids, in my opinion, as they offered an actual glimpse into the lives of everyday people.

This bit of research got me thinking…always a dangerous thing. I thought what if the book wasn’t about Egypt, but about travelers who came from another world and left their mark on that culture. What if there were signs of this other culture, but mainstream science didn’t want to believe. What if there was even an artifact or two? I decided on jewelry. What girl doesn’t love jewelry? Plus, it helps provide a vehicle to allow for time-travel.

I was ready to dive into Amethyst Moon and the alternate world of T’ar Tal. The first book was so much fun, I had to go back to this world. Thus came my latest Ellora’s Cave release, Amethyst Dreams. It’s the story of Dr. Augustine Mitchell, archaeologist and good friend of Olivia, the heroine from the first book.

BLURB: AMETHYST DREAMS

Dr. Augustine Mitchell has made her career researching a lost civilization. She owes her success to her colleague and friend, Olivia Fifield, who mysteriously disappeared four years earlier, leaving her with a set of notes, a vague letter and a silver and amethyst necklace.

Decisions and dreams plague her waking and sleeping hours. At a crossroads in her life, Augustine sets off on an archeological dig. The discovery of a secret room sets off a chain of events that land her in the world of T’ar Tal and in the arms of two sexy men—Rorik and Kirce.

Augustine is shocked when the men from her dreams are suddenly real. There is no denying the sexual chemistry that sparks between her and her two lovers, but there are seemingly insurmountable problems as well. Their destinies are entwined, but only Augustine can decide their fate.

Both Amethyst Moon and Amethyst Dreams can be read as stand alone books. I’ve already had several readers ask if I’m going to return to this world. Not right now, but you never know where my research might lead me in the future and what ideas I’ll have.

That’s the fun of research!


http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)

Does There Have to be SEX in a Romance?

To hold your interest? And what about anticipation?

Over the years, when I used to have time for reading, I'll admit that I expected there to be sex somewhere in a story. I loved the anticipation leading up to the moment, and when the author delivered I was happy. But, those times the author closed the door and left it to my imagination I was so disappointed that I often put the book down and refused to finish it.

All except for Kathleen E. Woodiwiss's books. Reading "The Wolf and the Dove" and "The Flame and the Flower" back in the early 70's, I didn't expect to read the explicit details between a man and a woman when they made love.

Now a days there's sex and plenty of it in romance novels. When I wrote "Cupid's Arrow" I wrote a lot of sexy situations between the characters that didn't deliver in the end. I felt that the anticipation of the big moment, when it finally came, would make up for the number of love scenes in the book. Quality over quantity. And I must have done something right, it was on the publisher's best sellers list for two consecutive months.

Though it was my first book and is considered a sweet, traditional romance, it's probably one of my personal favorites. I really enjoyed building the relationship up between Mike and Emma. Feeling their sexual frustration and how they dealt with it, had me wanting to write more. I wanted to prolong their first time because I felt building up to it was just as important. And when they made love for the first time it was sensual, emotional and very fulfilling.

Do you expect there to be sex in a romance novel? Do you need for the hero and heroine to consummate their love for each other or are you okay with guessing what happens behind closed doors? My imagination isn't that good. I want to read the words.

Debbie Wallace

Romance with an Attitude Blog

Whiskey Creek Press

Romance Readers, What's on Your Wishlist? Plus An Upcoming Free Read

Ah, welcome to August Romance Studio Readers! I still can't believe it as I still had some July things to do but time waits for no one! :-)

Not too long ago, I joined some great new and upcoming authors over at the Paranormal Romantics blog to chat about our works and paranormal goodies in the media. Early in July I posted an open dialogue between authors and readers and I'd like to extend the post here to get some opinions from TRS readers. The post was inspired by Dear Author's post entitled 'Digital Publishing Has to Step Up Its Game' and it's no mystery that the romance industry is going through many changes as we speak. We have many epublished authors here in the blogosphere, perhaps more than traditionally published, and even some indie published as well. Digital publishing is changing the face of how we acquire, sell and obtain books. I, for one, am excited to see what new avenues open and what kind of stories come out of it. Publishers like Tor and Harlequin are the first big publishers after digital publishers to really push toward an online community of various readers and authors. Quartet Press is a new publisher on the horizon that has the community in mind along with making their books reader friendly (no DRM woo hoo).

So, let's pretend for a moment that I have a genie in a bottle and I'm offering the same questions offered over at PRomantics to authors and readers. What's on your romance wishlist?

For authors, what would you like to see for the future of digital publishing? Where would you like to see the industry go?

For readers, if you were given a chance to have your greatest reading wishes fulfilled with the oncoming new era of publishing, what would you like to see happen? What kind of stories would you like to see presented in the romance genre? Anything goes from access to certain books, the perfect digital reading device (that maybe looks like a book?), the types of genres you’d like to see, book cover wishes, anything you would like to see in the books you read.

I'll give some of my wishes. I'd love to see more romances that feature various cultures. Not just multicultural (ie African American) romance but romances that feature interracial couples and diverse characters like Nalini Singh's Psy Series, Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series, even C.E. Murphy's Negotiator trilogy or the characters of Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea fantasy series.


Heather over at The Galaxy Press covers many books and media that features SF Romance. I would love to see more of these books myself (being a science fiction lover and a newish romance reader). Although I would love to see more world building and techie goodness from the science fiction side with a romance in the backdrop. Something like the Appleseed manga and movies which balances both world building, future technology and a romantic plot with some nice action.

Speaking of readers receiving a little something, be sure to keep an eye out Friday, August 7th for my free read 'Upon a Tide of Wintry Morn' available for download. The short novella is a story that takes place within my Ashen Twilight series between Book 1 (A Kiss of Ashen Twilight) and Book 2 (Within the Shadows of Mortals) coming November 2nd. Be sure to bookmark the link and feel free to share it with your fellow readers!

Rae Lori
(Author of the Ashen Twilight Series)
Visit the new Ashen Twilight Page
http://www.raelori.com
http://raelori.blogspot.com