At Somethin' 'Bout a Sunday, We Keep Getting Better and Better with Age

Somethin’ ‘Bout a Sunday is growing and we can’t wait to see you grow with us! You’re invited to join us today as we welcome some very special guests from Sensual Treats Magazine.

Find out what goes on behind the scenes at Sensual Treats Magazine. Drop by our group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomanticSuspense_/ and chat with the editors and staff of Sensual Treats Magazine or visit them on the web at: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com/

It’s Sunday and we’re chatting it up. The only thing we’re missing is you!

Come on over and say hello: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomanticSuspense_/

Destiny Blaine
http://www.destinyblaine.com/

Knight's Fork interview on The Authors Show

Quite an amusing interview about Knight's Fork and all things futuristic

The Authors Show

My New Book Cover!

I don't have a release date yet but I couldn't contain myself from showing off my new book cover. The Wild Rose Press artist did a great job capturing one of the new scenes in this romantic suspense.

Blurb -
Annie McCall finds a patient dead in her office, and now she’s on the run for her life. Detective Marshall Thomas is willing to break the rules to protect the beautiful doctor, but who will protect her from him? It isn't long before the only danger Annie's facing is the sizzling heat between the sheets.

Heroes

February is the month of love, and love comes in many forms. There is a mother's love for her children, a child's love for his parents, love for family and friends, love for our pets and the love we have for our sweetheart. For women, sweetheart can easily translate into hero. But what makes a good hero?





Is he a knight in shining armor charging to the fair maiden's rescue? A fireman rushing back into a burning house to save the family dog? A Marine carrying a fallen comrade, or a stranger, to safety? How about a doctor who travels the globe to help the injured and the sick? A policeman leading a lost child by the hand to his parents? The neightbor who shovels your driveway? The stockboy who takes the time to bag your groceries correct? Or do you envision a hero as someone like Tony Geary's Luke Spencer on General Hospital, saving the world and Laura from the next sinister plot? Or John Wayne fighting off the bad guys and winning Maureen O'Hara's hand in the end?





Actually, all of these scenarios make for a good hero. Why? Because each and every one represents a man of good character. Someone with high morals and values and who genuinely cares for mankind and his woman. And aren't these the traits we like to see in a romance book hero? A man who is kind, honest and gentle, while at the same time strong within his own skin and beliefs? Someone who will honor, defend, provide for and protect not because society requires it of him, but because deep down this is his true nature? Someone who won't compromise his beliefs by bowing to pressure from outsiders, friends and foes?





While heroes come in all shapes and forms, I'll admit I adore a man who has grit and spit in his blood like the cowboys John Wayne protrayed. I have a weakness for bulging biceps, sculptured chests and someone who can knock the tar out of another because he needs the tar knocked out of him. I also have a fondness for a man who can take down a steer with his bare hands, but only in the romance books I write and read. In my everyday existence, I prefer myhusband.





He's not a cowboy. He doesn't have bulging muscles. And he doesn't use his fists on a daily basis. He's quiet, modest in his work, not the romantic type (though he has been known to surprise me) and a man of character and intergrity. But what I love most about him is his goodness, his values and the little things he does to make life fun and that much more easier.





He is one to shovel the driveway and bag groceries the right way. He takes out the trash, cooks supper, helps with chores and errands and fixes my computer problems. He even puts gas in my truck. He doesn't compromise his beliefs because of what the 'norm' might be at the moment. He listens with an open mind, is willing to help someone in need and he's a good father. Patience might not be his virtue, but he is there for our son, teaching and guiding everyday. He's a true gem when it comes to my side of the family, always has a kind word and enjoys their company, and I can honestly say he has never forgotten a birthday or an anniversary. He's kind, caring, thoughtful, forgiving and a waelth of comfort when the chips are down. That's not to say he doesn't have his faults. He does, because he's human, and I wouldn't give him up for anything.

Perilous Pauline and the Fiction in her Science Fiction

   One of the questions authors get asked a lot is, “Do you do a lot of research for your books?” Since I started writing science fiction romance, I never know how to answer that. How does one research fictional science? I’m not saying I didn’t try to research FTL (faster than light) drives. And time travel. I even talked to a couple of physicists. They were kind. Both said some version of, “It’s fiction. It can do whatever you want it to.”

   I did get caught in a real causality loop with my husband when I asked him what he thought of my idea for a fictional steam machine for my Steampunk novella. As best as I can remember, the conversation went something like this:

Me (after explaining the unexplainable): So, do you think that sounds interesting.

Him: But that’s not possible.

Me: I know, but does it sound interesting, sort of plausible? In a fictional way?

Him: But it’s not possible.

Me: It’s science fiction.

Him: I know, but it’s not possible.

Me: So you think my science fiction won’t work?

Him (looking relieved I finally got it): No.

Me (finally getting he can’t help it): Well, thanks. I’ll just go work on my science fiction some more.

   We retired to our separate corners and I did retool my idea some, because I don’t want to get emails telling me the same thing from perfect strangers.

   One of the other problems with science fiction is something called world building. If your characters travel to distant galaxies and meet aliens, you need to know what they look like, where they live, stuff like that. I bought a book about world building, but it wanted me to do math. Not fictional math. The real kind. My math skills are pretty much in the fictional realm, according to my various math teachers. My science teachers thought that, too.

   Thankfully I realized that real math and mostly real science are required if you write hard science fiction. In this context, I think hard means more realistic, but for me it just means hard. As in, not going to happen. Then someone told me what I was writing is called space opera. A space opera story is just a romantic adventure set in space. Some SF fans don’t like space opera, but it works very well for those of who are scientifically and mathematically impaired.

   In the end, what I write is fiction. And I always have, whether it is in space or on Earth, I try to write interesting people doing interesting things. Sometimes those things are in space and sometimes they aren’t. Sometimes I can research elements of the story and sometimes I have to boldly go where my brain (and man) hasn’t gone before.

Pauline Baird Jones is the author of is the award-winning author of nine novels of science fiction romance, action-adventure, suspense, romantic suspense and comedy-mystery and one Steampunk novella. Her seventh novel, Out of Time, an action-adventure romance set in World War II, is an EPPIE 2007 winner. Her eighth novel, The Key won an Independent Book Award Bronze Medal (IPPY) for 2008 and is a 2007 Dream Realm Awards Winner. Originally from Wyoming, she and her family moved from New Orleans to Texas before Katrina. You can find out more about her on her website. 

Her upcoming release, Girl Gone Nova, which has more “what if” than actual science, is releasing in April, 2010.

Doc--Delilah Oliver Clementyne’s—orders are simple: do the impossible and do it fast. A genius/bad ass, she does the impossible on a regular basis. But this time the impossible is complicated by an imminent war between the Earth expedition to the Garradian Galaxy and the Gadi, an encounter with some wife-hunting aliens, and not one but two bands of time travelers.She could handle all that, but her biggest challenge—and the reason the impossible might be not possible this time—is that she’s fallen in love.Wrong time, wrong man, wrong everything. So why does it feel so right?

Excerpt:

“I am sorry.”

Was he sorry? He didn’t sound sorry. He sounded, well, not sorry. She wasn’t sorry either. In the dark she wasn’t Doc or Delilah or the Major’s creature. She was a girl wanting to kiss a guy, if she could figure out how to make it happen. The Major hadn’t covered kissing in her training. Doc didn’t know if he sensed her thoughts or just heard her breathing pick up. Maybe he was just a guy doing what guys did with a girl. His hand, warm and strong and big, slid along the side of her neck, cupping her nape. This cause had the effect of tilting her head to the side just enough to be encouraging. That it was also the right angle for kissing was an added benefit and one he took advantage of, though he didn’t rush it.

His lips brushed across one eyelid, then the other, found the tip of her nose and stroked across each cheek. Part of her wanted him to hurry, but most of her was lost in mind-reeling sensation. She thought she knew chemistry, understood biology, the mechanics of attraction, but this wasn’t mechanical or scientific.

She didn’t understand it, didn’t want to study it. It was enough to feel.

His mouth finding hers was a shock and a shocking pleasure. No amount of study had prepared her for this, her first kiss. His mouth was warm, his lips firm and gentle, confident and inviting. There was taste and texture and magic. Lots and lots of magic for a girl who didn’t believe in magic.

Trailing on a bit...about Trailers!

By way of introduction, my name is Marianne Evans, and I’m an author with White Rose Publishing, and The Wild Rose Press. I’ve also been published by Kensington. I’m glad to be making your acquaintance here on The Romance Studio blog!!

Hearts Crossing is my current release, a contemporary Christian inspy that won the White Rose Publishing “Hearts Crossing” contest this past December. With This Kiss, my Wild Rose Press release, will be coming out at the end of this year!

I'm fairly new to the world of e-publishing, and the nuances of promoting an e-pub novel - but I'm trying to learn fast. This weekend I got my first review from a review site, and found out I was fortunate enough to win nomination in a book trailer award at http://yougottareadvideos.blogspot.com/ (feel free to vote for Hearts Crossing, if you're so inclined!).

Anyway, I'm delighted by the review, and the trailer nomination - but the trailer nod made me think. Naturally, the most important thing, to me, about any book is what's between the covers, not just the way it's promoted. After all, solid writing is what's going to win reader's hearts and loyalty - nothing else. And that's exactly what I want - to touch souls and bring them closer to God by the power of (what I pray will be!) a great, romantic story.

Still, I got to thinking about trailers, and their impact on whether or not I'll read a book, or see a movie. And I have to say, this self-analysis led me to realize, trailers pack a lot of punch! My most current movie favorite – the one I simply "MUST" see once it comes out, based solely on the trailer, is "Letters to Juliet"

The romance writer in me cannot wait to see this movie. Meantime, the realist in me wonders: Will it live up to what seems to be an incredible, heart-touching love story? I sure do hope so!! It hooked me in. I'll be going to see that movie the weekend it releases....based solely on the power of its trailer. Now that's impact.

How about you? What do you think??? What are your thoughts/opinions? I'm eager to know!

Blessings!

Marianne

What do you know about remote viewing?

Probably as little as I did when I began researching it for Freeeze Frame. According to Wikipedia, it's "the purported ability to see distant and unseen objects through extrasensory perception." It became a popular pseudoscience in 1990, and the government used it for several years as part of its Stargate project to gather intelligence data. If you have a night when you can't sleep, go online and read The Declassified Defense Intelligence Agency Manual on Remote Viewing. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
But the more I looked into it, the more people I spoke to, the more I realized people with this ability really do exist, and have helped both the government and law enforcement agencie when other more "normal" sources failed. It works in different ways. You can give a percipient the coordinates of a map location and with conce ntration they can "view" what's at that location.
Or, give them a picture of a person and ask to find their location. Which is exactly what I did in Freeze Frame, Book Four: The Phoenix Agency.
For those of you who have not read other Phoenix Agency books (there are now four), the agency has five partners who are all former military who take on both covert and security work for the government and priv ate contractors. Each of the partners has his own story, and each meets a woman with psychic abilities.

Note: If you go to my web site, http://www.judithrochelle.com/ you can order your own Phoenix Agency t-shirt.

Order the book at:

www.cerridwenpress.com

www.amazon.com

www.SonyStyle.com

In Freeze Frame, Katherine “Kat” Culhane is a highly sought after remote viewer, but her gift is beginning to splinter, and just at a time when she needed it the most. Her sister Mari, along with Mari’s employer and his family, have been kidnapped. But Mike D’Antoni, a partner in the shadowy Phoenix Agency, is suddenly back in her life and could be the only person to help find the hostages. The chemistry between them is just as hot as it ever was, but they parted on very bad terms. Can they put the past behind them as they race to find and rescue the hostages? And what will happen when it’s time to say goodbye again?

"I see the scenes like pictures taken with an imperfect camera, where
part of the images are missing. Then I focus…focus…focus and a shutter
in my brain goes click!

Freeze frame.

Katherine Culhane
Explaining remote viewing
To Mike D’Antoni of the Phoenix Agency

Excerpt
Kat went through the routine again. Hot tea. Meditation. Focus on the map on the computer.
This time the picture emerged a little more sharply and she could see the picture was a restaurant. On the water. People stood under the canopy but unlike the surroundings, they were too blurred to distinguish. A flash of black swept across her vision. A truck. No, a van.
The image stabilized, frozen across the plane of her vision. The Wright family, Mari, some strange men.
Then they were gone. Erased as if by a swipe of a cloth.
The first thing she felt was exhaustion from the effort. The second was the sense of a terrible evil. Something was very, very wrong.
Trying to control her panic, she grabbed her cell phone, checked once more to see if Mari had called, then dialed the number of her sister’s cell.
Still no answer.
She threw the phone onto the couch and flopped down next to it. What should she do? This was well past the time it should have taken them to arrive, get to the house where they were staying and settle in. What had happened in San Diego? Had they never even arrived in Hawaii?
She needed help from someone who could get answers for her. Mike D’Antoni’s name snapped into her brain at once. He had more resources than anyone she knew and could cut more corners. He was picking her up for breakfast but she couldn’t wait that long.
The clock in the kitchen read six forty-five. Too early to call?
The hell with it. She needed to talk to someone now.
Fishing the card he gave her out of her purse, she took a deep breath and punched in the cell numbers.
He answered after only two rings. “D’Antoni.”
“You don’t even sound like you were asleep,” she commented.
“Kat?”
“Yup. It’s me.” She swallowed hard, dredging up her courage. She knew she was really about to impose on him. On their relationship, which at the moment had no clear definition. “Sorry to call you so early but—”
“No, no. It’s all right. Fine. What do you need?”
Just like that. No questions. She took another long breath.
“I wouldn’t call you if I knew what else to do—”
“Kat,” he interrupted. “It’s all right. Just tell me what you need.”

Family Growth

I found out that our family is expanding once again. My cousin is having another baby. I’m so excited. She is looking so radiant and glowing that special glow. Her other daughters are excited and her family too.

With this news of family growth it’s made me think a lot about families. I enjoy writing about family. Those families by birth/marriage and the ones you choose to call/think of as family. In many of my stories I explore various types of family dynamics. It is fun to explore the in’s and outs of family. The love, tribulations and triumphs they share.

Throw in romance into the mix and it become so much more. Families can create a great or troublesome dynamic with a newly forming relationship. It can be funny, crazy and always entertaining. I love exploring it all. I’m always creating more family ties in my stories.

Ah… the new growth to a family brings a whole new dynamic to explore.

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 emotionallowed.


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.

Find out about Jan Bowles and her New Release 'Love Lessons with the Texas Billionaire'

My name is Jan Bowles and I’m an author of contemporary romances. I live with my husband in an old farmhouse in rural Lincolnshire, England, in the UK.

When I’m not writing I paint large landscapes and sweeping vistas. I also love walking, and looking in old antique shops. There just might be something someone has overlooked. If you’d like to know more about me please visit my WEBSITE or FACEBOOK page.

Let me introduce you to my latest release from Siren-Bookstrand. ‘Love Lessons with the Texas Billionaire’. It’s a very sexy hot read that’s sure to warm up the coldest of winter nights. So grab a cocoa and curl up with my latest release.

I have to say that I’m very proud of the cover that’s been created for me by cover artist Jinger Heaston. It shows all the passion and romance that the book contains. It’s just perfect for the two main characters portrayed.

‘Love Lessons with the Texas Billionaire’ focuses on Eva St. John. She is an English beauty who is flown to Texas to shadow, rugged billionaire oilman, Jack McClaine, for the magazine article she is writing.

He has a reputation as a fast living, womanising rogue, who has quite literally come from the wrong side of the tracks. A self-made man who always gets what he wants.

Still nurturing a broken heart and a secret past she left behind her long ago, Eva intends to remain professional at all times. Will she be strong enough to resist the inevitable sexual advances of the predatory Texan, Jack McClaine? Ultimately, will she really want to?

I really love the strong charismatic character of Jack McClaine. He’s flawed, and yet so loveable. He’s a real sexy Texan, with a gritty past, and an eye for the ladies. I guess Eva will have her hands full when it comes to taming him! Yet, Eva is more than a match for Jack. Strong-willed and determined to stay professional, she will not yield so easily.

Here’s an excerpt

“Why, Miss Eva St. John, I feel about as welcome as a skunk at a lawn party.” Jack McClaine spoke as mild amusement played around his silver-grey eyes.

Eva eyed him warily. It was only two days since she had first laid eyes on the rugged Texan. Now his lithe, athletic frame perched on the desk, her desk. He looked every inch at home, as if he belonged there. Wearing a light grey suit, he seemed to think his very tall six-foot-three-inch frame had somehow a right to be there.

“Just what is going on, Mr. McClaine?” Eva folded her arms across her chest, her mouth compressed with indignation, as she waited for his answer. Her gaze was drawn inexorably to his, and like a laser it burned into her. Then as a smile spread from his eyes down to the deep dimples at the side of his mouth, she felt the breath escape from her lips in a silent gasp. Why did he have to be so damned attractive? She had to fight the sudden urge to push the stray hair back that had fallen forward across his forehead.

“Mr. McClaine, are you going to answer my question?”

“Hold on now, darlin’, I thought we were on first-name terms already.” He smiled at her in amusement.

“No, we’re not.” She slumped into her chair and glared up at him. “Andrew Jameson could shadow you for a month. Why do you want me? I won’t be a pushover, you know. I’ll certainly write exactly what I think.”

He smiled easily and twisted around to meet her frosty gaze. “Now, why would I want Andrew Jameson to shadow me for a whole month? Live in my home. Share my food. Share my life. Why would I want him when I’d be much happier with you?”

Eva picked up a pen and pointed it at him. “You, Mr. McClaine, have a reputation. If you are expecting anything but a working relationship, then you are mistaken.”

“Well, that’s settled then, honey.”

She looked up watching the amusement play around his eyes. The creases channelled down to his mouth. “Don’t look so smug, Mr. McClaine. You may regret your decision to invite New Dawn magazine into your home. You may not like what I write. Be careful what you wish for, Mr. McClaine.”

“Darlin’, I’ve never regretted anything in my life.”

“I told you once before, Mr. McClaine, I’m not your honey, and I’m telling you now, I’m not your darling either.”

He laughed. “Eva, it’s just a figure of speech. It don’t mean anything.”

That afternoon a huge row developed with her boss, Simon Jessop, but he wouldn’t back down. If she pulled this off, he’d give her a raise. Even more than that, he’d give her a promotion. She wanted to know why he thought Jack McClaine specifically asked for her to do the article. His thoughts exactly mirrored her own. He had lifted his hands in the air, an expression of helplessness on his face, and said, “You’re a big girl, Eva. I’m sure you can handle yourself, and Jack McClaine.”

Well, thanks!

Eva felt like a dish served up specifically for Jack McClaine’s pleasure. What’s more, her boss had handed her over on a solid silver platter.

See what I mean. Eva will certainly have to watch out for the very sexy, rugged Texan, Jack McClaine. You can find out more about ‘Love Lessons with the Texas Billionaire’ HERE Available Now from Siren-Bookstrand.

Now That Valentine's Day Is Over...

Now that the flowers (and chocolate, and jewelry, and perfume) have been bestowed on loved ones, what type of message do all those colorful flowers convey? Red roses are virtually synonymous with the holiday, but different colors each have something to say. Not all of the following colors occur in nature, but florists can work their magic to produce what you request.

Red: red flowers symbolize romantic love. And red roses say desire, passion, and even eroticism.

Dark Red: deeper red symbolizes a deeper kind of love. They convey a message of strong true love and also beauty and perfection. These are the type of flowers you send to a spouse of twenty years

Black: this color typically signifies a loss or a goodbye. Buy why waste your time and money sending flowers for a breakup? Black doesn't necessarily need to be something bad. They can also signify elegance, power, and mystery. Maybe something special for a spouse who has a bit of a dark side.

White: this is usually associated with purity. Combine them with red and you're sending a message of a loving bond.

Yellow: this is the color of friendship. These are not the flowers to send to your significant other. Yellow flowers are a 'thinking of you' gift for a good friend or congratulations.

Green: green flowers are the color of fertility.

Pink: girls should not send pink flowers to their boyfriends, but it's great to send to a lady. Pink flowers signify femininity, sweetness, and charm.

Peach: since oranges and pinks are warm colors, peach flowers tell the recipient that you're comfortable with them. They signify appreciation.

Orange: this is a strong color that symbolizes fascination and even a hint of mischief. They are a perfect gift from a secret admirer.

Lavender: purple is the color of nobility and royalty. Sending flowers of this color says you put the recipient on a pedestal. It's also the symbol of trust.

Blue: blue flowers are all about peace. We all want passion in a relationship, but calm is important. They can tell someone you trust them. Not necessarily a color associated with romance, but still a romantic message.

And now I'd like to say a few words about my latest release, DÉJÀ VU by Samantha Gentry, a romantic suspense from the Crimson Rose line of mystery at The Wild Rose Press (www.thewildrosepress.com).

BLURB: When Alexandra Caldwell is hired by a reclusive author to research the thirty-year-old disappearance of a big name newspaper tycoon and his wife, she wasn't sure what she would discover. As she embarks on this project, she finds herself in the middle of a series of frightening events and an unexpected attraction to Gable Talbot, the current owner of Skull Island where the disappearances occurred...a man with a magnetic sex appeal and a past as mysterious as the case she's researching. Will she be able to do the job she was hired for, or has she stumbled too close to the truth?

I'm not sure exactly where the idea for this book came from, but it was an idea that had been floating around in the back of my mind for a while before I started putting a specific storyline together. The concept of using a privately owned island as the setting for a mystery appealed to me. Isolated location, the island's owner having a hidden past, and unexplained happenings that throw the characters together leaving them surrounded by life threatening danger. Since I'm particularly fond of the Pacific Northwest and have spent a lot of time there, I decided to locate my fictional private island in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington state. And this, of course, required a research trip. :)

Next I needed to devise a situation that would provide a logical and valid reason for my heroine to be on the private island owned by my hero, two people who had no prior knowledge of each other. When I finally came up with a premise that I liked, I started working on the details of the storyline and then the writing of the manuscript.

I liked working out the mystery elements. Does the heroine have an ulterior motive for being on the island other than what she told the hero? A hero who doesn't have a past, does that make him a dangerous man hiding behind a false identity? Is the heroine in danger from him? And the mystery of the island itself, exactly what happened all those years ago and why is a thirty year old event suddenly creating a danger for today?

And after I formulated the questions, I had to come up with logical answers.

DÉJÀ VU was a fun book to write. I ended up really agonizing over some of them. I'm working on a romantic suspense mystery right now that's not going as smoothly as I'd like. Others seem to flow with very few problems. Too bad they can't all flow that easily. :)

There are several excerpts from DÉJÀ VU on my website as well as excerpts and reviews for my other books. Stop by and take a look. www.samanthagentry.com

Let's Stop Ebook Piracy

Hi there. Regardless of anything else that I am -- mom, wife, friend,
volunteer, etc. -- I am a huge fan of romance novels of all kinds and
I always have been. Ever since I was an early teen really and that's
a few years. Take TRS for example. I wanted a site where I show off
dozens of awesome romance authors (and we're lucky to be able to
offer hundreds instead) where readers, like me, could easily find any
type of story they could ever want. We've succeeded. The romance
genre is the reason for everything we've done here at TRS and it's a
big part of my life.

But the heart of TRS, aside from an amazing staff that I'm damned
lucky to have, are the authors and the wonderful books they write.
Without them, there would be no TRS. Period. We'd have no books to
tell you about and show off. Nothing.

That's a sad picture, huh? But that would never happen right?

Well, let's think about that for a moment. What happens if authors
stop writing books?

Huh? Why would authors stop writing books?

Easy answer. Piracy.

Piracy is the illegal distribution of ebooks to third parties and to
file sharing sites like Astatalk, Altavista, and others. See, when
you buy an ebook from an ebook publisher or venues like Fictionwise
and All Romance Ebooks -- permission is granted only to YOU to read
that electronic file. You aren't given permission to mass cc it to
your reading peeps and you aren't given permission post it to a file
sharing site. Period.

Notice I used the wording "you aren't given permission." I didn't say
"you can't post it to a file sharing site" because people do it every
single day. If I need a cover image to use for our book-a-day
giveaway on any given day and I Google a title, half the time the
first entry in the search results I'll run across is that title
posted at Astatalk or some other file sharing site. The FIRST entry.

What's so significant about that? Who cares?

Okay, fair questions. The authors and publishers who provide us with
the wonderful books we enjoy -- and now you see favorite NY authors
in ebook form so this includes them -- are being hurt. Authors and
publishers rely on the income from their writing the way you rely on
your paycheck from whatever job you hold. Many authors, even those in
NY, don't make enough to solely support themselves with their writing
so many authors make time in their lives to write -- around FT jobs,
families, and everything you and I face in our lives.

BUT if their books are just going to be posted for free on the
internet, WHY should they continue to write? Their earnings have and
will go way down. In time, for some authors, it may no longer be
worth the effort for them to write and they may decide to call it quits.

And look at the big picture for a moment. With finite resources being
a growing concern, in future years, we'll see less print books and
more ebooks. If we're just going to post them all over the internet
for free, could we potentially lose our authors and publishers over time?

Think I'm being overly dramatic? I'm not. Pirating ebooks is
stealing. It would be the same if you owned a greenhouse and someone
broke in, stole all of your plants and then gave them to all of their
friends. All of your hard work for nothing. Your livelihood hurt.
Think about it.

Do you love the romance genre like I do? Help us stop piracy.

Purchase your ebooks from the publisher or reputable sellers like All
Romance Ebooks and Fictionwise.

Don't share ebooks, either those you've bought or won in contests,
with your friends.

Don't post ebooks, either those you've bought or won in contests, to
any site where it can be downloaded by countless other people.

I've had people tell me "Well, if you don't want it distributed,
don't post it on the internet." Does that mean since I can access my
checking account on the internet everyone should have access to it?
(That wouldn't last long LOL)

Don't let people fool you into thinking it's okay. It's not okay.

Want to know more? Check out http://copyrightalliance.com/

U.S. announces intellectual property watchdog
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1224904520100212


Thank you!

Tina Pavlik

It's hard to believe it's been five years since I received my first contract with Whiskey Creek Press, for "Cupid's Arrow". Hard to grasp that in the last five years I've had 8 books published. And 2010 is looking good, too. With a goal of one book a year, so far I have two coming out. A re-release of "All the Right Moves", this time in print. And my first short erotic romance, "Talk Dirty to Me". This one makes me blush!

"Cupid's Arrow" was just the beginning and launched my career, giving me the confidence I needed to pursue my dreams. I'll never forget how I felt, reading that email from Debi Womack for the first time, offering me a contract. I'd just returned home from a two-week cruise to Alaska and it was the first thing I saw in my inbox. I was on top of the world!

Since then I've written spicy, spicy suspense, torrid suspense, torrid and now erotic romance. But that sweet romance will always be one of my favorites. It made me a best seller, as it was on the publisher's best sellers list for two consecutive months!


Readers' Choice #1 Bestseller

Mike has his hands full between working as a police detective and raising a teenage daughter by himself. The last thing he's looking for is a relationship to complicate his life, much less love. However, he finds himself immediately smitten with Emma Stuart after a mistake lands him at her door. Soon it seems he's bumping into her everywhere he goes. He convinces himself he's not interested, only problem is, why can't he ignore the heat between them every time they meet?

Emma's content with her quiet life the way it is. Two years after her divorce she's looking forward to settling into her new condo by the lake. However, her matchmaking sister has other plans. Before she knows it she's running into Stratton's sexy small town detective at every turn. Mike quickly lays down the law, his law that he's not going to get involved with her. Well, if that's the case, why can't keep his hands off her?

Debbie Wallace AKA Tory Richards

Romance with an Attitude Blog
Debbie Wallace
Whiskey Creek Press
Tory Richards

7th Annual Cupid and Psyche Awards TODAY!

Today is the day we find out who won in this year's CAPA awards! The awards will be live at our CAPA blog http://trscapa.blogspot.com and announced on our site and via Studio Notes, later today. We'll also be posting winners live on Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. We're giving away books. Don't miss it!

Copyright

There's a lot of misinformation on the internet about what readers can and cannot do once they've legally purchased an e-book from a publisher or authorized retailer. Now that Vice President Joe Biden has set up a task force to combat piracy of movies, music and books on the internet, it might be a good time for the honest truth about what you can and cannot do with your files.

The info below is taken from the Copyright Office.

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-digital.html#p2p

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Can I backup my computer software?

Yes, under certain conditions as provided by section 117 of the Copyright Act. Although the precise term used under section 117 is “archival” copy, not “backup” copy, these terms today are used interchangeably. This privilege extends only to computer programs and not to other types of works. 

Under section 117, you or someone you authorize may make a copy of an original computer program if:

• the new copy is being made for archival (i.e., backup) purposes only;
• you are the legal owner of the copy; and
• any copy made for archival purposes is either destroyed, or transferred with the original copy, once the original copy is sold, given away, or otherwise transferred.

You are not permitted under section 117 to make a backup copy of other material on a computer's hard drive, such as other copyrighted works that have been downloaded (e.g., music, films).

It is also important to check the terms of sale or license agreement of the original copy of software in case any special conditions have been put in place by the copyright owner that might affect your ability or right under section 117 to make a backup copy. There is no other provision in the Copyright Act that specifically authorizes the making of backup copies of works other than computer programs even if those works are distributed as digital copies.

Is it legal to sell backup copies of computer software (in online auctions or on website)? Is it legal to buy and use a backup copy of software I already own?
 

No. The Copyright Act does not permit anyone to sell backup copies to third parties separately from the original copy of the software. If you lawfully own a computer program, you may sell or transfer that lawful copy together with a lawfully made backup copy of the software, but you may not sell the backup copy alone.

We have been made aware of websites that are offering to sell “backup” copies of software via download over the Internet or in a custom-burned CD-R format, under the guise that section 117 permits this. Section 117 does NOT permit the sale of backup copies. Again, section 117 does not allow you to sell backup copies to someone else except when such backup copies are sold together with the original lawfully owned copy. It does not allow anyone to solely distribute “backup” copies to the public. In addition to being a violation of the exclusive right of distribution, such activity is also likely to be a violation of the terms of the license to the software. In many cases these sites appear to be a front for distribution of illegal copies, which is copyright infringement. You should be wary of sites that offer to sell you a backup copy.

And if you do buy an illegal backup copy, you will be engaging in copyright infringement if you load that illegal copy onto your computer, i.e., the unauthorized reproduction of the infringing computer program into memory. Lesson: if you want a backup copy of a lawfully owned computer program, back it up yourself.

Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks, and if not, what is the penalty for doing so?

Uploading or downloading works protected by copyright without the authority of the copyright owner is an infringement of the copyright owner's exclusive rights of reproduction and/or distribution. 

Anyone found to have infringed a copyrighted work may be liable for statutory damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed and, if willful infringement is proven by the copyright owner, that amount may be increased up to $150,000 for each work infringed. In addition, an infringer of a work may also be liable for the attorney's fees incurred by the copyright owner to enforce his or her rights.

     Whether or not a particular work is being made available under the authority of the copyright owner is a question of fact. But since any original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium (including a computer file) is protected by federal copyright law upon creation, in the absence of clear information to the contrary, most works may be assumed to be protected by federal copyright law.
     
Since the files distributed over peer-to-peer networks are primarily copyrighted works, there is a risk of liability for downloading material from these networks. To avoid these risks, there are currently many "authorized" services on the Internet that allow consumers to purchase copyrighted works online, whether music, ebooks, or motion pictures. By purchasing works through authorized services, consumers can avoid the risks of infringement liability and can limit their exposure to other potential risks, e.g., viruses, unexpected material, or spyware.

     For more information on this issue, see the Register of Copyrights' testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Source:

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-digital.html#p2p

Pearls of Wisdom - Snow Day

I promised that my monthly blogs would focus on tips for aspiring writers, but I'm departing from that a bit this month. Like everyone and everything else in my corner of the globe, I'm going to take time out from the daily writing routine for a snow day. But in doing so, I'm still giving you would-be novelists out there an extremely important tip: don't neglect your setting in writing your story. More than anyone I know, I am guilty of this sin. I confess that I was a teenaged drama geek - you know, active in the drama and glee clubs and moping around in my all-black wardrobe while quoting various literary geniuses about the meaninglessness of our existence. My goal was to become a playwright, and I still write first drafts like a playwright - lots of blocks of dialogue with only minimal stage direction. They are in her apartment. The car hits a wall. Scene in an airport hangar. Later, I go back and I flesh out those directions with more detailed description of the setting. It still doesn't come easily to me, though.

"White Room Syndrome" is a common problem for beginning novelists. You see the scene so clearly in your head, that you're surprised to discover everyone else doesn't see it too. You dash off one sentence: "Mary and Fred came into the kitchen," for example. And then off you go, telling us about Mary and Fred's argument. Or their hot sex on the kitchen table. Or the dead body they find. But you tell us almost nothing about where this happens. To the reader, it feels like being trapped in an all-white room, hence the name.

I just finished judging some manuscripts for a writing contest, and five of the six I judged were all prime examples of White Room Syndrome. It takes a lot of effort to overcome this disease, and I myself still struggle with it every day. But you can beat it, if you make a conscious effort. The best training I know is to just read, read, read. Read lots of books that are full of vivid descriptive detail.

And that brings me back to Snow Day. Trapped in my house almost around the clock since last Thursday, I started thinking about the power of the snow. How quickly all our modern conveniences become useless, how deadly a few feet of frozen water can be, how fast we are thrown back on our own mental resources. (And how few are those mental resources for someone from my son's generation, who is lost when the power goes out and he loses all Google capability. But that's a rant for another blog.)

Snow can take the White Room Syndrome and turn it right on its head. Because in the whiteness of the snow, you have a powerful setting for your story. What follows is my list of some of the best examples I know of Snow Stories. Feel free to add your own suggestions.

7) Groundhog Day - No, it's not a novel. But watching Bill Murray slogging through the Pennsylvania winter over and over again certainly adds to the fun in this touching romance.

6) The Snowy Day - My favorite book as a child. Beautiful, simple story and illustrations capture the magic of snow through the eyes of a child.

5) The Left Hand of Darkness - By the brilliant Ursula LeGuin, The Left Hand of Darkness is set on a planet called Winter. Need I say more?

4) A Winter's Tale - Mark Helprin's tale of master thief Peter Lake, his flying horse, and his great love for the consumptive Beverly. A lyrical and magnificent depiction of New York at the last turn of the century.

3) To Build A Fire - Jack London's truly haunting short story about a man caught in a snowstorm and trying to build a fire and keep it alight. It does not go well.

2) The Worst Journey in the World - Apsley Cherry-Garrard's vivid nonfiction account of his experiences with Scott in 1910 in Antarctica. It really does not go well.

1) The Shining - A character every bit as vividly drawn as Jack and Wendy and little Danny, the snow comes down with a vengeance on Page 210 of this masterpiece of terror and suspense, and it does not let up for another 20o or so pages. If you want to know how to make the setting an integral part of your story, read this book. But read it with the lights on. If you still have electricity.

Keep warm if you can, and I'll be back with more writing tips in March. Meanwhile, feel free to post about your favorite winter stories!

What Are Your Fave Romance Couples Doing For Valentine's Day?

I love Valentine's Day. It is the one day out of the year we all celebrate romantic love. Although the hubby was the first man I dated over the holiday, I loved Valentine's Day long before I met him. Why wouldn't I? I was a romance reader so I had hundreds of fictional couples I could spend the day with.

I'd imagine what they would do for Valentine's Day. Would Mr. Darcy take his 'barely tolerable' Lizzie out dancing? What would Jessica in Loretta Chase's Lord Of Scoundrels give Dain to bring him to the edge of tears again? Leo in J.K. Coi's The Morning After is fighting to win back his wife. What kind of grand gesture would he make?

I wonder the same thing about my own characters. Fortunately, I don't have to guess. I can ask them.

I asked Grace and Tavos from my latest contemporary romance Flawless.

$

Kimber: Valentine's Day is coming up. Do you have any special plans?

Tavos: Valen-f***in'-tine's Day? What kind of piece of s*** holiday is that?

Grace (wiggles in her chair): Ohhhh, I love Valentine's Day.

Tavos (gives her THE look): F***. You do?

Grace (sighs dreamily): I've never had a boyfriend for Valentine's Day.

Tavos: F***. I'm not your f***in' boyfriend and I'm not celebrating Valen-f***in'-tine's Day. I'm a f***in' killer, not some teenage f***in' Romeo.

Grace (touches the cuff of his shirt): You don't have to give me much, flowers, maybe chocolates.

Tavos: I'm not your f***in' boyfriend and I'm not giving you f***in' flowers.

Grace: And chocolates. (Pats his arm) Don't forget the chocolates.

Tavos: F***. Next you'll be wanting a f***in' amethyst bracelet.

Grace (tilts her head): Wellllll…

Tavos: F***, this is impossible. I'm f***in' leaving. (He storms out)

Grace (leans over and whispers): I think I'm getting an amethyst bracelet for Valentine's Day.

Tavos (reappears in the doorway, a scowl on his scarred face): Grace, are you f***in' coming or what?

$

There you go. Looks like romance is brewing in the Santos household. What are your fave romance couples doing for Valentine's Day?


$

Every month, Kimber Chin gives away her fave romance eBook read the month before. For more details, go to http://businessromance.com/ .

It's in the blood.

Living on the edge of danger, that is…



Anyone else out there love a good spy story? I don’t know what it is about them, but I just can’t get enough of them, whether it’s reading or writing them. Maybe it’s the possibility of living every day right on the edge of life and death, risking everything for love and country.


But not all spy stories are fiction. In fact, some of the best romance stories I know have come out of World War II.


One in particular was about a young woman who was studying to become a nun in Russia right before the Nazis invaded. Her family wasn’t Jewish, but they were certainly on the enemy list of the Nazi regime.


This young woman was attacked and raped by Nazis soldiers yet somehow managed to escape with the help of a young man. The young man turned out to be a spy for the Allied forces and helped the girl and her family escape before they were taken to the concentration camp.


As it turned out, the young girl and her spy fell in love, married and moved to America. They later became my grandparents. Great story, huh. Maybe that’s why I love spy stories so much.


This month, Shadow Games released through Champagne Books. Part of my grandparents’ story is there, slightly embellished of course, and modernized to reflect the current war.


Here’s the book’s blurb for your enjoyment.


Rachel Weiss thought she’d dealt with her feelings for Booth when she left the shadowy world as a CIA operative behind three years earlier after discovering her love affair with Booth had produced more than a broken heart. She was pregnant with his child. Rachel walked away from the CIA and Booth who let her go without a fight further proof that her decision was for the best. If Booth truly cared about her, wouldn’t he have at least tried to convince her to stay?


Three years later, Rachel settled into a new, far more stable career as Assistant US Ambassador to Israel, happily raising her two-year old daughter Ava.


When someone text messages Rachel asking if she knows where Booth Tanner is, she is unwillingly plunged back into the murky world of espionage.



Hope you like it.

All the best…



Mary Eason

www.maryeason.com

The Darker Side of Valentine's Day

I'm Ericka Scott and I write seductive suspense. often my writing focuses on the dark side of life. Murder, mayhem, magick, ghosts, goblins, and even a zombie or two, they are all fodder to my imagination and my keyboard. I throw in a liberal dose of romance and mostly happily ever after endings, and ta-da.

But sometimes....sometimes the endings aren't so simple. Which got me to thinking about Valentine's Day. When I was single, I dreaded Valentine's Day because I didn't have a partner. But that yearly visit from Cupid isn't only dreaded by singletons, but also by those unhappily married. Talk about a double whammy. Which gave me the inspiration for this dark little tale.

Take a peek at how the men of one family solve Cupid's mistakes in A Family Tradition.




Ericka Scott is a multi-published, bestselling author of seductive suspense. She's written stories for as long as she can remember and reads anything under the sun (including the back of cereal boxes in a pinch). She got hooked on romantic suspense in her college days, when reading anything but a textbook was a guilty pleasure. Now, when she’s not chauffeuring children around, wishing she had more than 24 hours in a day, or lurking at the library, she’s spinning her own web of fantasy and penning tales of seduction and suspense. She currently lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.

Get a behind the scenes look at her writing and zany family on her blog at http://erickascott.blogspot.com

She also loves friends, so come friend her at http://myspace.com/erickascott

She's also on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ericka.scott and Twitter @ErickaScott

You can find out more about her books at www.erickascott.com

Extraordinary People – Writing Community

Something happened the other day that got me to thinking of all the extraordinary people in my life. What is extraordinary about all of them is that they are giving without looking for anything in return, they support when needed and you can trust them with any of your secrets. I’m going to give you some insight into who they are.

The 1st of my extraordinary person came into my life through our joint love of reading. We bonded over reading and became family over time. We are there for each other through rough and good times. Have great conversations about books we read. And she listens as I tell her my ideas and vice versa. The things we have shared are so much I can’t put it all down.

Next up is someone who started as a writer I knew and became a friend to count on. No matter how weird my ideas instead of saying no way she usually says yes what comes next. We talk and listen to each other. Listening is a key component to her extraordinariness. People listen but sometimes doesn’t hear. She listens and hears. She is there no matter what.

Another person started as a writer I knew and became a friend I admire and respect. I loved her books and the first time I wrote her I was shaking. But she was so cool and blunt that I laughed and knew she was real. When I met her at RT Convention in 2008 her first words about my covers made me smile then laugh. In 2009 we chatted even more. Her wisdom and wit are great. She is gracious and I love all her series. Each time she gets a contract I dance for her in joy. And her Writerly posts give such insights.

And last of the extraordinariness for this time around is another writer I’ve spoken with online a few time but it wasn’t until I met her RT Convention in 2008 but it wasn’t until RT 2009 that I was able to get my voice and speak. That happens when you admire not just the writer but the person. She was warm, blunt and oh so real. We talked, connected and she made me believe. Believe that grace comes not from success but from the soul. At RT she teased me about my delightful accent and nails and toes looking so fierce. It was fun and a joy to get to know her. I’m looking forward to her Wyoming Wilde series.

Those are a few of the extraordinary people who have touched me. Who are some of the extraordinary people in your life?

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/

Wilde Seduction - What happens when a woman who doesn’t know how to relax meets a man whose lust for life will change her and make all her deepest desires come to life?

Buy here at Total-E-Bound.

Welcome Author Amanda Young to Destiny Blaine's Somethin' 'Bout a Sunday

Best selling author Amanda Young will join us today at Somethin’‘Bout a Sunday: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomanticSuspense_.

Author of the Candy series as well as the Daywalker and MIA series, Amanda Young can be found online at her website: http://www.amandayoung.org/books/ or over at Somethin’ ‘Bout a Sunday this afternoon. Join us before watching the Super Bowl!

Hope to see you at Somethin' 'Bout a Sunday-a Yahoo group dedicated to romantic suspense books of all heat levels: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RomanticSuspense_

A Writer's Life

A Writer’s Life
By
N. J. Walters


Writing is a very rewarding career, but it’s not always an easy one. In fact, there’s not much about it that is easy. It’s filled with rejection. There is no job security or pension plan. And it’s isolating.

But there is no other job I’d rather be doing.

The thing is, a writer spends most of her/his time in her/his head. I know I do. A writer isn’t just daydreaming, a writing is plotting and planning. It’s all part of the process. A writer isn’t doodling, they’re working out intricate plot points and character sketches. There’s a lot of work that goes into a book other than the actually physical banging on the keyboard, producing words, paragraphs and chapters, one character at a time.

I love being able to immerse myself into a fictional world filled with incredible characters and weave stories of love and death, of betrayal and redemption. I love it when a reader emails to let me know how much they enjoyed a book or how it moved them emotionally in some way. Readers are very loyal. If they like your books, they’ll continue to support your work. I’m continually shocked and amazed by my readers and I thank each and every one of you.
It’s ironic that, once you start publishing, you have less time to spend writing. There are synopsis and blurbs to be written, contracts and cover request forms to fill out, promotion to do, blogs to write, etc… The list is endless. But the lure of the keyboard is always there. Characters are always tugging at your consciousness, trying to lure you back into a fictional world.

The process of writing also varies from book to book. I’ve written some books that have flowed easily, the words pouring onto the page in a torrent as my fingers struggle to keep up with my thoughts. I’ve also had books that have been more like trying to find a raindrop in a parched field during a six-month drought. Most fit somewhere in-between where you have good days and less than productive days. They’re all a part of the process and neither is better or worse than the other.

You have to develop a thick skin as well. You’ll work for months on a book that someone will dislike. And they’ll tell you so. Publicly. The thing you have to remember is it’s not personal. At least not for them. It’s their opinion and they’re entitled to it. They didn’t see the hours you spent at your keyboard or the hours you sweated over plot points and rewrites trying to get your vision down on paper the way you wanted it. They can’t know the anxiety you felt when it was released into the world. The way you hold your breath until someone lets you know they enjoyed it. You have to learn to enjoy the good reviews and let the bad ones go.

Then there is the every present challenge of ebook pirates—those folks who think it’s okay to put your work on the internet and give it away free to thousand of other people. It always amazes me when they do this. Would they work for free? Yet they expect writers to.

Only a very tiny percentage of writers make a huge amount of money. The vast majority of writers have day jobs or are a royalty check away from needing one. Personally, I don’t mind if a reader shares one of my ebooks with their best friend, sister or mother. What I do object to is someone making it available for free to thousands of people they don’t even know. If the writer wanted to do that, they’d post it for free themselves. And it doesn’t just hurt the writers. All publishing houses have staff who depend on the income from the books published for their salaries as well. In these tough times every penny counts. And many publishers offer free reads that writers have generously given for that purpose.

In this job, you have to hang on to the good stuff and release the negative. By far the good far outweighs the bad stuff. Writing is a fabulous career. It’s not for everyone, for sure, but it is rewarding.

So if you have multiple people talking in your head at all times, have the urge to write stories about these people, don’t care about a steady paycheck or job security, then this might be a job for you. The benefits are plenty. You are your own boss. You can wear your pajamas to work. You can even take a two-hour lunch break if you want. And, when you finally get to see your work published, there’s nothing quite like it.

N.J. has always been a voracious reader, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.

Check out all my books at http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)

The Zen of Writing

Linda Bilodeau writes from her home in sunny Southwest Florida. Her books are: Stepping Through Seagrass, The Olive Branch A Tale of Resistance and The Wine Seekers, all available at www.amazon.com. Visit her website at www.lindabilodeau.com


The Zen of Writing

There are all kinds of reasons people write, some to tell a story, some to make a point, some to construct a memoir. Me? I write because it’s thrilling, relaxing, and creative. Writing fulfills my need to express myself. I write fiction mostly, stories about strong women facing difficult situations.

I find time every day to write even if it’s only for a few hours but most days I manage to put in six or seven hours. I enjoy creating characters, constructing a plot arch, manipulating people and situations and constantly asking What if, what if.

Writing isn’t for everyone just like being a policeman, nurse, doctor or stockbroker isn’t for everyone. You have to enjoy working on your own, enjoy being introspective and have a knack for coming up with unique story ideas.

Are good writers born with a gift? I believe like with any talent, gifts will only take you so far. Yes there are natural born story tellers but I don’t think there is a writer on earth, whether famous or not who can say they pounded out a story without a lot of blood, sweat, and tears.

Being an author takes endurance, patience, and a belief in oneself and though there are times you just have to do it for the sake of the craft, without any accolades, without any hope of selling a piece, I still think it’s worthwhile. That is, it’s worthwhile for me.

Best to you all.

Linda Bilodeau
www.lindabilodeau.com

Symbols In Fiction

Symbol DefinitionSomething used for or regarded as representing something else; a material object representing something, often something immaterial; emblem, token, or sign. (Dictionary.com)

I’m fascinated by the charms and keepsakes people have. In our society, Jewelry such as wedding or engagement rings and lockets have special significance when given by a loved one. When we attach emotion to an item, it comes to symbolize those feeling and the relationship.

Concrete symbols that represent important events or relationships between characters often have huge meaning in fiction. Even items that have no intrinsic value can become significant when they indicate the characters’ feelings. Although I’ve long since forgotten the plot of the first of J.D. Robb’s In Death series, Naked In Death, I still remember that Roarke found a button from Eve’s jacket and kept in his pocket through much of the story. This demonstrated beautifully his interest in her without the author having to stress the point.

Symbols are often used in paranormal and fantasy stories, including romance. They can signify emotions, relationships, conflict, or other important elements of the story. Concrete symbols such as rings or swords are used to make an intangible concept tangible so the reader is given a focus to follow that element of the story.

I’ve used tokens and symbols in my Magic Knot fairies series. The Magic Knot itself is symbolic of the person who owns it. Each character of fairy blood has a Magic Knot consisting of three linked stone rings that hold the essence of their body, mind, and spirit. Lovers exchange Magic Knots placing the care of their essence in the hands of their loved one, demonstrating the ultimate in trust and connection. Divorce is not possible in my fairy world. Once lovers exchange Magic Knots, they are bonded with one another for life. That’s a long time when some of them are immortal.

In The Phoenix charm, the heroine is a sensual water nymph whose power has been bound with Celtic symbols painted on her skin. When she finally removes the Celtic symbols near the end of the story and releases her true nature, it is symbolic of her acceptance of who she is.

Can you think of any symbols used in fiction that you found enhanced your experience of the story?


The Phoenix Charm.

HE’S PURE TEMPTATION.
Cordelia has sworn she’ll abstain from looking into Michael’s future—particularly when the image in the gilded smoke of her divination mirror shows him half naked. Yet she can’t resist watching the sexy rascal slowly running his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicking open the button on his jeans with a little flourish like a magician performing a trick.

SHE’S TRYING TO RESIST.
Respectable wise woman Cordelia restrains her secret water nymph sensuality with the Celtic symbols painted on her skin. But Michael’s powerful fairy glamour leaves her breathless, off balance, struggling for control. When Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh King of the Underworld, steals away Michael’s infant nephew, Cordelia must work with him to save the child. But how can she trust her instincts with Michael tempting her to explore the hidden elemental depths of her nature and insisting that she believe in the power of…The Phoenix Charm.

I have a novella linked to my Magic Knot Fairy world called The Feast of Beauty in The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance coming out in early February. This story is about the people of Lir the Irish Sea god.

The Feast of Beauty

Kate’s grandmother’s dying wish is that she should return her pearl pendant to the tiny fishing village in Ireland where she was born. At the village’s Midsummer Feast of Beauty, the unearthly silver hair and emerald eyes of Esras, the wealthy local landowner, mesmerize Kate. But how can she trust her heart to a man who claims to be a sea fairy king?

To read my free fantasy-romance short story, Jack’s Garden, visit the Dorchester website.

For more information and story excerpts go to www.helenscotttaylor.com