Welcome, Suzzana C. Ryan

Earlier this month, my friend and colleague JL Oiler visited to talk about her newest release Glimpses of Midnight, vol 1. Today, her colleague (and my new friend) Suzzana C. Ryan talks about her new book, the continuation of the series, Glimpses of Midnight, vol 2.

Glimpses of Midnight: Decadence 

By Suzzana C Ryan Cyrus 

Bellefleur ruled the underworld but couldn’t rule his mate, Alkmene, a gorgeous succubus. The feared ancient vampire could crush a legion of humans but found it impossible to tame one redheaded beauty. Their tumultuous union periodically resulted in the succubus fleeing the underworld in an attempt to anger him. She’d do what she did best and that was ravish human men with her temptuous body. Her prowess in bed was her curse. It was at times like these Cyrus followed her into the world above.

This time, however, when she ran from Cyrus, she found a portal in time, traveling to the year nineteen-fifty-seven, looking to hide. But Cyrus could sniff out an opening in the time line.

Alkmene found herself a dark, handsome lover, a fallen archangel, who was ripe for the plucking. But she never figured on his lovely human conquest falling into the mix. Emmy Harris was an up and coming Hollywood starlet and the biggest thing to hit tinsel town in ages. Now Emmy became a pawn in the wicked games Cyrus and Alkmene played.

In a world called South Hedonism, all vices, indulgence, decadence, obsession and perversion flourish. All creatures foul, evil and corrupt exist in the evil inner cities. They come and go between both worlds and love to play above. But they always return. Hell has its advantages. 

Here’s book two of Glimpses of Midnight. Here you’ll meet Cyrus Bellefleur, the dark under lord. I love him, evil with a very twisted sense of humor and a mate that tries his patience on a daily basis. She’s a beautiful red headed succubus named Alkmene.

Definition Succubus: a female demon or supernatural being appearing in dreams, who takes the form of a human woman in order to seduce men, usually through sexual intercourse.

She was Cyrus’s first big mistake. Silly vampire, he expected such a creature to be faithful. Let’s note his second mistake, falling in love with the spitfire and third, Carina, his half-breed daughter. And might I add, a quite prolific creature who disobeys her father, well a hell of a lot more than your mother.

Okay we’ve got the evil family. What’s next on the agenda, a slew of creatures, time travel, thousands of cities existing in the darkness, Labyrinths, erotic sexual encounters and a dose of evil. Then we have some inhabitants, going top side, creating unrest, havoc and death in the human world. Did I mention, Cyrus encourages and condones such behavior. Awe its hell, baby, and well its fun. Did I say that.

As one of the writers involved in this wonderful collaboration, I get too engrossed in my characters and in the world that JL Oiler and I have created. Did I tell you I have an obsessive personality, enjoy wicked evil things, love erotic poetry, ghouls, vampires, witches, werewolves and they live in my head, yeah, on a daily basis. Is this redundant? LOL, not to worry, last time I looked things that go bump in the night don’t exist. Hm, gotta raise an eyebrow here, in my brain they do exist.

You must read Glimpses of Midnight, Volume One, here you will encounter Carina, the half-breed orgasm-seeking daughter. Really, she’s running creatures ragged, in pursuit of the perfect orgasm. You meet, the two humans who venture into hell and pay the price. You’ll enjoy the wickedness of JL Oiler has created and her talent of getting three, count them three in one bed. She a master at ménage, and has taught me a thing or two. Oh, sorry I get lost a lot, smiles.

Well, fellow humans, time to wrap it up, got some serious writing to do. Look for Glimpses of Midnight, Volume Three, Obsession and then Four Perversion. See those heading, we won’t let you down, I promise.

Kisses and hugs…
- Suzzana C Ryan
http://www.suzzanacryanromanceromanceauthor.blogspot.com

Going Bump in the Night

A Guest Post by Siobhan Kinkade

Creepy crawly critters…

Dark, shadowy corners…

A chilly wind whistling through the trees…

Let’s face it, everyone wants a good scare. It’s the adrenaline rush, the increase I endorphins when your heart starts pumping in overtime. That tingle of hesitation will draw you in and hold you hostage every single time.

It’s why us romantics are so drawn to a sexy alpha-male shapeshifter or a brooding bloodsucker. It’s why the taboo and untouchable becomes the desired. Of course, when we start talking about the anti-hero type of heroes, the phrase “going bump in the night” takes on a whole new meaning. The monsters become the love interests, and perspectives change. I don’t know about you, but I like the danger. The possibility of being devoured (and not in the happy fun way) by the scary creature really gets my blood pumping.

I happen to be partial to vampires. Ones like Christian, for example… He’s about as unconventional as a hero can get – piercings…tattoos…blue mohawk… VAMPIRE.

And I want one. If I had to pick a vampire to go bump in the night with, it would be him, hands down. Want to know why? Read more…

Lana Roberts has come to Boston searching for her twin sister, Sarah. The last place Sarah was seen is an underground club called The Mausoleum. Not realizing what she has gotten herself into, Lana enters, only to find herself in the company of a seductively frightening vampire named Christian Sterling – the only creature in the place that wants to help her. But there’s one problem.

Lana is still human. 

If she goes back into The Mausoleum, she’ll be killed, but Christian has a plan…if he can only convince her to go along with it. Can a pair of Halloween costumes, the sexy stranger she has found herself falling for, and a little bit of unorthodox behavior save the day? And just how long can Lana keep telling herself she doesn’t want him?

 

Excerpt from Blood Doll:

“How long would it take?” Lana asked after several moments of silence. She shook her head and her eyes seemed to clear. Then she looked up at him, and her cheeks turned a warm, tempting pink color.

“If timed carefully, just a few hours.”

“What happens if it isn’t timed right?”

“You take in too much and turn.” He bit into the burger again, and her face crumpled in confusion.

“I thought vampires couldn’t eat human food,” she said, and glanced down at her own plate. Her stomach growled.

“Vampirism isn’t like you think, Lana.” He placed the burger back on the plate and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Like I said, we eat and drink, we breathe, we have heartbeats. We also crave human blood and will wither and die without it.”

“That’s kind of gross,” she replied, startling a laugh out of him. However, the laugh quickly died as he spotted two familiar faces peering through the grimy door at him. He looked straight at her, reaching across the table to take her hand.

“Are you planning to eat?” he asked. She looked down at the plate, then back up at him.

“Why?”

“Because I think we’re about to have company. We need to make a quick exit.” She grabbed two fries from the plate and shoved them in her mouth whole, which puffed her cheeks out like a squirrel. Christian smirked and patted her hand before pulling a twenty-dollar bill from his wallet and throwing it on the table. “Chew fast, sweetheart,” he said, rising from the booth. She grabbed the burger, took a large bite, then grabbed her straw and stuffed her mouth further with soda. Shaking his head in amusement, he took her hand and led her to the side door just as the front door opened.

The pair watching him paused, then whispered something to each other that was lost in the din of the restaurant. Christian tugged her out the door and started down the sidewalk at a brisk pace. Beside him, Lana chewed the mouthful of food quickly, fighting to swallow it without choking. Any other time he’d have laughed at her, but he heard the door of the diner open and the pair following them call his name.

“Chew faster,” he urged, picking up his pace. Lana was nearly running when she swallowed the final time and gave a weak, gagging cough.

“What’s going on?” she choked out.

“We’re being followed.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly.” He swept her into his arms and began to run. Nine blocks later, Christian ducked into an alley and dropped her to her feet. “Do you trust me, Lana?” She looked up at him, her eyes wide and perfectly round, and nodded. “Then just go with me on this, okay?” She nodded again. He peered around the alley wall, listening as the footsteps moved in. “They’re coming,” he said, turning and walking her back into the shadows. He pushed her back against the wall and took her face in his hands. “Just go with it,” he said, and kissed her.

This was no tentative first kiss. Christian pressed his full body against her, pinning her to the wall as he threaded his fingers and laid siege to her mouth. 

Links:

© www.sugarnspicepress.com © www.amazon.com ©
© www.allromanceebooks.com © www.barnesandnoble.com ©
© www.bookstrand.com © www.fictionwise.com ©

~+~+~+~

Where to find Siobhan:

http://siobhankinkade.wordpress.com
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSiobhanKinkade
http://www.twitter.com/siobhankinkade

Interview with Author JL Oiler

J.L. Oiler was one of the first people I met in publishing, way back when I first started in ebooks, and we share a publisher or two. I'm happy to have her come visit today to talk about her new release, Indulgence, volume 1 of the new series Glimpses of Midnight.

How did Glimpses of Midnight happen?

I received an email from the Staff at Rebel Ink Press explaining they’d come up with an idea for a cooperative paranormal series between myself and Suzzana C. Ryan. They provided this sort of vague mini blurb and left it our capable hands from there. Everything from the characters, subgenre's, locations, and heat levels were left up to the two of us.

What was it like to work with Suzzana C. Ryan?

Amazing! It was as if we clicked instantly, feeding of each other’s strengths and striding overtop and weaknesses. Suzzana is great to work with and I would not want to tackle this project with anyone else.

Was it difficult to interconnect the stories, yet produce stories that could stand alone?

Not really as much as you might expect. The two of us work so well together that when the characters seemed automatically fit into our given situations. We simply had to read the other persons work in progress and our minds began building on side elements and events to include into our own pieces.

How did you create this world?

Lots of Brainstorming and caffeine

Will we be seeing more from this series?

Certainly, both me and Suzzana are currently working on the next installments of the series which we are hoping to release in December!

So, give us a summary of your book, volume 1.

Carina is the only daughter of the dark lord of South Hedonism, Cyrus Bellefleur. Belonging to a city of Indulgence and decadence has its privileges but the half vampire half succubus is having a difficult time finding someone, or better yet more than just one someone, who can help her reach that ultimate orgasm. When a pair of human males are caught just outside the city walls the subject of the dark city desire nothing more than their immediate death. Carina however sees something special in the pair of well-endowed males.

Evan and Eric are the ultimate urban adventures. Therefore, when they hear rumors of a city hidden beneath their own beloved New York they cannot help themselves, they have to try to find it. Now as prisoners among creature they would never in their wildest dreams believed existed the pair of brothers find their fate lay in the hands of the cities sexy princess.

They discover survival depends on provide Carina with the ultimate in sexual satisfaction before her father discovers humans within the walls of his city in exchange the feisty woman might lead them back topside. There is however a catch, what if they really don’t want to go or she doesn’t want to let them?

Congrats on the new book, JL!

Check out the book at ARe or at the series' website.

Love at First Bite by Jessica Coulter Smith

Today I have Sean from Love at First Bite with me.

So Brian, being gay in a small town must be hard. Have you ever wished you weren’t?

There were times in the past I wondered why I was born this way, but I’m comfortable being me. If people can’t handle the fact that I’m gay, that’s their problem, not mine.

So what’s it like being with a vampire?

Different. I can honestly say I’ve never with anyone like Brian before. But then, that isn’t just because he’s a vampire. I know the moment he enters a room, without even looking. And when he bites me – it’s incredible!

You wouldn’t change anything?

Well, the idea of growing old while he stays the same bothers me sometimes. We haven’t really discussed the possibility of him turning me, but I know it will come up in the future.

And it wouldn’t bother you to be a vampire?

Honestly? No. It would allow me to be with the man I love for eternity. What’s not to love?

You’re that certain he’s “the one”?

Oh yeah. I can honestly say that I can’t see myself with anyone else, ever. Brian is amazing, and I don’t just mean the intimacy,  but that’s pretty wonderful, too. He completes me.

 
Well, thank you for stopping by, Sean. I can’t wait to hear more about your story.

Love at First Bite by Jessica Coulter Smith

Available Now from Changeling Press

When Sean discovers Brian is a vampire, he’s ready for love at first bite.

Sean has spent his life in the small-minded town of Willow Grove. Given his preference in sexual partners, finding romance has always been a challenge – until Brian.

When Brian walks into Sam’s Place, the first thing he sees is Sean and he knows he has to have him. When he takes Sean back to his place, he reveals his true self and hopes that Sean will accept him -- fangs and all.

Excerpt

I glanced at my watch and realized I didn’t have much time before I had to be at work. With a groan, I slipped out of bed and dressed.

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked in a groggy voice.

“My car is still at the bar, and I’m going to be late for work.”

“So take mine.”

“Are you sure?” I couldn’t imagine driving the sleek machine he owned.

He chuckled. “Not like I’m going to use it anytime soon. I may not sleep all day, but I am stuck here until the sun goes down.”

“Thanks. I’ll bring it back as soon as I get off work.”

“Good.” He smiled. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

I warmed from the inside out at his words and knew I had a goofy grin on my face. Blowing him a kiss, I grabbed his keys and left. I had less than half an hour to go home, shower, change and get to work. I think it was safe to say I would be late.

* * *

Forty-five minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot at work, grabbed my bag and rushed inside. I’d already called the secretary to let her know I was running behind.

Thankfully, she hadn’t asked any questions.

“Any messages, Jane?” I asked as I hurried by her desk.

“Just one, from some guy named Brian.”

I felt my face flush and grabbed the note from her. She gave me a knowing smirk as I walked off. Thank goodness Jane was cool with me being gay. If anything, it made me her favorite guy in the office. She never had to worry I would hit on her.

When I got to my desk, I put my stuff down and picked up the phone. Brian answered on the first ring.

“It’s about time,” he said playfully.

“Miss me already?”

“You bet.”

“I’ll swing by your place when I leave here, probably around five-ish.”

“Bring a change of clothes. I liked you staying the night.”

“Me too,” I murmured with a smile.

“So… I’ll see you when you get here.”

“See you then.”

He hung up and I logged into my computer. As I skimmed through my email, I saw something from my boss. When I opened it, I groaned. My project was now due tomorrow instead of next week. There was no way I could get the CAD drawings done in time. It would take a miracle. I’d been pacing myself for my original due date, not expecting such a radical change.

I picked up the phone and called Brian back. “Hey, I’ve had a change of plans.”

“Find someone hotter?” he joked.

“No, that couldn’t happen. But work did… I have a project due tomorrow that wasn’t supposed to be finished for another week. If I don’t stay and work on it, I’ll never get it finished.”

“So, I’ll bring you something to eat and we can spend a little time together later tonight.”

I smiled, glad he understood. “That would be great.”

After we hung up, I was still smiling. Not only was he excellent in the sack, but he was accepting and flexible with my work schedule. I couldn’t have asked for more in a partner. Not that we were at that stage yet. At least, I didn’t think we were. I hadn’t thought to ask when he saw clients, but I’d bet he saw them at night. Otherwise, how would he get to the office? I hoped I wasn’t cutting into his work time.

PROMO: The Fever and the Fury, by Stephanie Draven

Revenge is a dish best served hot!

Phaedra, a fury, is bound to make Lieutenant Luke Lazaros atone for his supposed crime, but her usual method of inflicting pain doesn’t work very well on a phoenix with the power to be reborn every time he dies. However, each rebirth leaves him with an overwhelming need for sex. Phaedra’s new plan: to drive Luke mad with desire.

But Phaedra has never touched anyone—even herself—except to cause pain. She’s an innocent when it comes to pleasure…but Luke isn’t. His touch is a revelation, arousing a passion in Phaedra that is as delicious as it is terrifying. For no matter how much she wants Luke, giving herself to a man risks awakening her goddess’s wrath.

Stephanie Draven is a multi-published award-nominated author of paranormal romance. Stephanie’s critically acclaimed Mythica series asks: What if the monsters of ancient mythology still walked the earth...and what if you found out that you were one of them? Currently a denizen of Baltimore, Stephanie lives with her favorite nocturnal creatures–three scheming cats and a deliciously wicked husband. And when she is not busy with dark domestic rituals, she writes her books.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

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Excerpt:

She'd already killed him twice this week.

Monday, the harpy bitch grabbed the wheel just as he was making a tight turn on a cliff-side highway. The car jumped the barrier and exploded in a fiery crash of glass and twisted metal at the bottom of Moraca Canyon.

On Wednesday morning, he'd chanced taking a shower and she dropped a hair dryer in with him, sending a deadly shock through his wet body.
It wasn't even the weekend and she was already trying to kill him a third time.

Luke had awakened to the sinuous slide of her body atop his and, for one groggy moment, he'd enjoyed the carnal sensation of a woman in bed with him.

Then her knee came crushing down on his windpipe.

Now Luke thrashed upon the mattress, grabbing at her supple thighs, trying to throw her off. The curve of her breast brushed his arm, her moist lips parted and she clutched at his face as if she were going to draw him into an intimate embrace…just before fingernails like talons cut his flesh to bloody ribbons.

Or at least that's what it felt like.

With the lightest touch, she could put an ordinary mortal man in complete agony. But he wasn't an ordinary mortal man and she should have known better than to touch him.

"Atone," the fury demanded, her voice driving needles of agony into his spine. “Atone!”

Luke was desperate enough to consider it. Anything to get rid of her. Anything to make the pain stop. Anything that might relieve him of the memories that haunted him. The blood in the sand and all the lies…

Take the money, Luke. There'll be more where that came from.

His traitorous lips parted in surrender, ready to tell the fury whatever she wanted to hear, but then he felt his square jaw clench tight in stubborn refusal.

No. Screw atonement and regret. Luke would rather die again.

Her lithe legs wrapped around his waist like a vise. They were locked together as tightly as lovers and in blind suffering he banged the back of his skull on the headboard. It started like a fever, a sexual rush of heat that seared its way through his veins, pulsing through his hammering heart, racing to his groin.

Damn it. He liked this villa, but he'd burn the place down to get free of her if he had to. Sparks leaped from his fingertips to the bedsheets and the scent of scorched linen rose to his nostrils. The fire would obey him—it was the one goddamned thing in his life he still had any control over—so Luke made the fire rise higher, engulfing them both in a flash of flames and searing pain.

His bones went white-hot, molten beneath his skin, and he screamed. He was turning to ash. He was burning her too, burning her alive. He could have held onto her. He could have forced her to share his torment to the bitter end, but he flung her away. And her tumbling body was the last thing he saw before he died….

Phaedra was accustomed to inflicting pain, not suffering it. But now every cell in her body screamed in protest as her burned skin rose up in blisters. She was immortal. She could never die. That didn't mean she couldn't feel pain, and making this man miserable had somehow become her own personal torment.

She lay dazed in agony on the floor, smoke filling her lungs while Lieutenant Luke Lazaros burned alive before her very eyes. Gods of Olympus, he was stubborn. He should have broken by now, but he was only getting more unmanageable. None of the men she'd been sent to torture had ever been so obstinate. Then again, she'd never been unleashed upon a phoenix before.

In the light of the crackling blaze, Phaedra's blistered body healed, new pink flesh knitting over the old with miraculous speed, and it occurred to her that the fire alarm wasn't shrieking. A quick glance up at the scorched ceiling told her that he'd disabled it. That he'd planned for this exact circumstance. He was handy that way. Good with modern gadgets. And a born strategist. He'd started anticipating her. Adapting…

All at once, the conflagration on the bed extinguished itself and a burst of air dusted her with Luke's charred human remains. A bit of stagecraft on his part.

Of course, she'd seen him do this before—rise from the ashes as a new man, his dark curly hair cut in sharp military style, his name and blood type displayed upon frayed patches on his desert fatigues. A backpack full of cash in his right hand.

This was how he looked the moment he was war-forged. The instant he stopped being an ordinary mortal man and became a monster. But as many times as she watched him die, she couldn't enjoy it. Watching him now, she took no satisfaction in his shudder of revulsion at the feel of a new body that wasn't his own. Nor did it encourage her to see the half hostile, half haunted look in his eyes as he tried to remember himself. Shaking his head as if to fasten upon his old memories, he caught her look of dismay and gave a dark smile-that-was-not-a-smile.

"What's the matter?” Luke asked. “Didn't expect me to be so hot in bed?"

Given that she was clutching the burned and blackened remains of her clothing against her body, Phaedra didn't appreciate the sexual innuendo. It didn't surprise her though. Every time the lieutenant was reborn, he battled overwhelming hunger. He'd be ravenous now, for food, drink…sex.

Still, he grabbed one of his white dress shirts from a drawer and tossed it to her. "Here. You can wear this."

The gallant gesture was starkly out of place considering their situation. Phaedra eyed her nemesis as she fastened the buttons, disconcerted by his scent on the shirt and how it mingled with the perfume of her newly healed skin. "Does this mean you're ready to be redeemed, Luke Lazaros?"

"Just means I was brought up right," Luke said through his teeth. "And that an officer falls back on his training in a crisis. Or maybe I've just always fantasized about a leggy woman wearing nothing but my shirt. Until I get rid of you, I might as well improve the scenery."

"How many times must we go through this?" Phaedra asked, ignoring the predatory glare in his eyes. She rose to her feet. She was tall, but he was taller. She was hard-bodied and imposing; even before they felt the torture of her touch, most men had the sense to cower. But not this man. "There is no getting rid of me, Lieutenant. Once a fury is unleashed upon a criminal, she's unbreakably bound to him until he atones or is driven to insanity."

"I'm not a criminal," Luke snapped. "And I will find a way to be rid of you."

I hope you do find a way, Phaedra thought. Because she was every bit as stuck with him as he was with her.

Female Shifters: The Rarest of Beasts

I say rare, but not totally absent, mind. There have been some very good, popular books featuring women who turn into various werecreatures. However, it is my impression this is relatively uncommon.

Why would this be? Why do the dudes get all the shifting fun?

It has occurred to me that the practicality of this is that books are seldom written from the shifter's POV. We writers like to place the book through the eyes of the "normal" character, thereby allowing the reader to experience the story though relate-able eyes. Like the reader, the normal character is thrown into a situation that is outside his or her everyday life, and this makes it easier to reveal the details of the book's world. It also allows for an element of surprise, fear and occasional frailty, which wouldn't be as easy to achieve through the eyes of a powerful shifter.

Similarly, most romance, paranormal-romance or erotic-romances are largely told through the female character's POV. Hence, the predominant use of male shifters, from a practical angle, I think.

However, there is a cultural reason, as well. First, that very frailty authors like to explore are simply more acceptable in a female character. As a society, we are more comfortable with the male being the powerful being, for right or wrong. Often, we are intolerant of fictional males weaker than the females they love, and are less jarred by the reverse, regardless of how well this mirrors reality. Further, there is a psycho-sexual dimension to this - female readers (the target audience) are believed to be drawn to strong males, and not to weaker males. The description of a dark, mysterious male shifter with the power to both love and kill them is meant to tap into the ultimate in alphamale desire.

Hence, the relative scarcity of female shifters, I think.

In writing my new WIP, I have been struggling with these things, and how to balance the needs of the story with the expectations of the audience.

However, I do believe there is room for more female shifters. I am a female, who loves to read romance, and I find the presence of an extremely strong female character quite alluring, especially if there are other factors that balance out the power dynamics between the male and female leads. I will just have to hope there are enough people out there that feel likewise!

So, that is something I've been thinking about lately as I write and read.

***
Please, feel free to comment and suggest female shifter romances below!

The NEW WIP: Dark Paranormal Heat

On Sept 15, after a little break from fresh writing to edit and submit the New Years Eve story, Bubbly, I started my new work - a paranormal/shifter sensual-romance. So far so good, though this is brand new territory for me. It's a lot darker than my usual work, which was exactly the plan. I kind of want to delve into untapped corners of my imagination. A few hints - it's not a werewolf, and it's not a he-shifter. :)

Untitled Dark-Paranormal Erotica/Sensual Novella
An ex-boxer finds more than he bargains for on all fronts when he gets in to bed with the mob - and a mysterious exotic dancer who refuses to let him get too close.
This will be a novella at 20,000 words.
Finish goal: October 15, 2011.

The finish goal for the rough draft is early October, and I've very tentatively entitled the working draft Topaz. I have two publishers in mind for submission when it's done and edited, but this isn't contracted to anyone, yet. I hope it turns out well, and you all enjoy it.

(I may be seeking shifter/dark-erotica/paranormal expert writers/readers who are willing to betaread it for me in a few weeks, around Oct 1st-ish, to make sure I'm hitting the mark.)

You can find more info on my recent, current and upcoming projects on my WIP list, here.
*

PS - Not saying anything for sure, but how do we all feel about 1st person?

PPS - Here's an interview I did that was posted yesterday, if you care to see it, and also a little one posted today.

My "Other Covers"

I thought I would wrap up my cover week with a few notes about the two covers not mentioned elsewhere.

The cover for my romantic-comedy Christmas novella, Unwrapping Scrooge, published last year by Decadent Publishing, has to be one of my favourites. Designed by Dara England, and featuring additional photography by K.M. Cook, this cover is professional and attractive. For Decadent, as with RIP, I had to fill out a cover info survey describing my characters, the major motifs and the images I most/least wanted. Kale is a bit different here from how I imagined him, since you can't tell he wears glasses and long hair, but otherwise, the image is perfect. Molly is wonderful! The embrace is sweet, yet passionate, just like in the book. I always imagine that the box Kale is holding contains the gloves she knitted him!

~*~ 

The cover for my paranormal erotic Waking Kara will always have a special place in my heart, because it was my first. Designed KitCat Designs, the cover made me blush a bit when I first saw it, but I appreciate its pretty, feminine sensuality. My one concern with it is that it doesn't really scream "paranormal," but it is likely attractive enough to encourage the reader to read the description, where they can discover the story's basic outline. But nothing really compares to it being the very first, nor erase the memory of my excitement the night WHP emailed it to me without warning. 

Covers are important - to readers and to publishers, and especially to authors, since they become part of our identities as writers. I have lived with some of these covers for months, and I am still not sick of them. I guess that means they work!

A Preview of 2011

2010 was a pretty great year, with three shorts released and a full length excepted. The New Year brought a lot more work in other areas of my life, but writing is still in the works. So, what's up for me this year, writing-wise?

Holiday Shorts Series for Wicked Nights: Following up on my Christmas erotic romance, Good for the Goose, I hope to add four more sweet and spicy shorts to this collection, hitting Valentine's Day, St Patrick's Day, Halloween and Thanksgiving. My February one is in draft form now - a shy young man with unexpected romantic depths shares an unforgettable V'Day with the girl next door.

Fall 2010's Full Length: This contemporary romance, which was written in rough during NaNo, is the passionate, and at times awkward, story about a determined anti-romance single mom who unwillingly falls for an almost-too-goof-to-be-true single dad. Between her job and his teen daughter, the course of true love is not only not smooth but seems to lead right up the wall. (But, between you and me, I think they'll make it.) This manuscript is in editing right now, and will soon be ready for a beta reader. I have a publisher in mind, so I hope to submit it by spring. Your guess is as good as mine as far as release date, but I will certainly keep you posted.

Winter 2011's Full Length: This is a paranormal/contemporary romance - a school psychologist may have to come clean about her family's well-guarded secrets in order to help a young girl with a troubling stalker. One her stubborn and broken father doesn't even want to acknowledge. This book has been outlined and is in the process of a rough draft.

I also have a novella planned for Spring 2011, and full lengths for Summer 2011 and Fall 2011 (my next NaNo work!), but don't expect them released any time soon - except maybe the novella.

And, of course, my full length contemporary romance, Strings Attached, will be released in May 2011 from Wild Horse Press!

Stay tuned for the results of these efforts, as well as snippets from them as they roll out of my brain.

I hope to continue making love stories you will love!

The Gatekeeper Series By Stacey Thompson-Geer and Stevie Trinity

A note from Stacey Thompson-Geer on her upcoming release:

~*~

This series is about two strong women who have families and lives but when the world breaks, they are forced into fulfilling a bigger destiny. They are charged with closing doorways that have been opened to other layers of the worlds.

These women have real world issues within their families as well as facing supernatural entities that want to kill them and their families. Readers will be introduced to strong women, magick and the beginning of an underlying love story with both women.

The series starts in January with The Gatekeeper Series: Lynn. A short story letting readers understand Lynn a bit more. Each month a new short will be released until the first novel, The Gatekeeper Series: Dark Magick in June 2011.


Excerpt from The Gatekeeper Series: Lynn

I have been a warrior my entire existence. From the very first life I lived, I knew this to be true. My purpose is not my own. I’m to save people that are not ready to see the truth, not ready for the world that seems to have unraveled around them.

I walked past the dying plants in front of my new home, a hut made from trees and leaves. It wasn’t much, but it did the job against the cold Wyoming winters. I couldn’t help but wonder what the hurry was about. Normally we had a little time, but the way Rhea had sounded this time we didn’t.

I knocked and opened the handmade wooden door. A woman with long blond hair sat with her back to me, mixing herbs and at a small table. She didn’t turn to face me, but spoke. “I had a another vision.” She continued with what she was doing.

“I know. Their getting worse, aren’t they?” I stepped closer to her as I spoke.

She ignored me and kept going, “You have to go to Canada.”

“Great, more snow.” I joked fiddling with an open spot on the wall.

She turned to me and cocked an eyebrow. “There’s a group there. They don’t understand what’s happening.”

“Are they underground?” I didn’t look her way.

“No, but they’ll be hostile.”

“What else is new?” I snorted.

“One of them is important.” She didn’t look away from me. “I just don’t know which one.”

“Perfect. So, I have to get a whole group of people out of a very Demon occupied country and get back with all of them alive? Awesome.” I sighed.

“Demons aren’t the only thing there, you know,” she smarted off. I made a face at her and started for the door. “You should take Miles with you. He’s good.”

I didn’t say anything but stopped for a moment. “You’ll watch my kids?”

“You know I will.” She said smiling slightly and I dropped my gaze to the floor. This was not the kind of news I wanted to hear. Just one day off would be nice once and a while.

Welcome Wicked Leanore and receive a free short with your comment!

My name is Lenore Elliott and I write Paranormal Romance. I've written ten so far, and you'd think that maybe you would've heard of me, right? I'm still unknown, but I feel once these stories get around?

I write hot and mostly explicit but that's just the topping to a well made dish. Here's my recipe:

… A hot alpha guy, a strong kick-A girl. A twist of the paranormal or a full-blown shot if it. Whip in Hot steaming sex. A cupful of tense conflict, more hot erotic fun with three kinds of climax: (the story kind and two more heaping spoonfuls of the sexual kind.) Dashes of humor, smidgens of pain, some slivers of sensual delight. Blend slowly and spread on the layers of suspense thickly. Bake at high temperatures to make the reader squirm in their seat. Top it off with the guy and girl in the altogether, who along with the reader? End up gasping and laughing.

The stories usually start out contemporary and then they take a paranormal turn. I have the Soul Trilogy and The Beast Series out right now. Find them at Lranore's link below. I do have a release for sometime this Month. Nowhere, Arizona: The Sunset Warrior from Knight Romance Publishing and it's to be the premier book of their Nocturnal Seduction Line. The book was chosen for that because the whole story is seduction from start to finish. Here is a PG excerpt:

*
“Ahh!” Cactus needles covered her upper thigh. “Oh no,”Madeline whispered while she stared at her leg.

“Never fails. Every time some tourist comes here, they land in the Cholas.” Devon came over to the couch.“Okay, I have the water started and I have the hemo’s from the first aid kit.” He grasped the edge of her sun dress.

Madeline scooted back. “I don’t even know you!” she exclaimed, “You are lifting my dress and I don’t even know your name!”

“Oh yeah.” He set back on his heels and held his hand out to her. “Well, my name is Devon.” Grasping her hand and releasing it, he lifted her dress.

“Wait the f*&^ up!”

“You know my name now and if you wait any longer with this many needles in your skin? It will cause a delirium of sorts.” His tone fell low and serious while he stared at her face.

“Oh,” she released a breath, “Okay, but,”

“Do you want them to stay there?”

Madeline shook her head.

“Wait for a minute, okay?” Devon got up again.

“I'm not going anywhere, apparently.”

He went into the small kitchen, opening the cabinets and Madeline could hear clinking and other noises. His face appeared above her. “Here, drink this.” Taking the glass, she drew it to her nose. “It’s whiskey!”

“Yes, and you are gonna need it.”

She pursed her lips. “But I don’t drink.”

“Well, now is the definite time to start. You're gonna be in pain once I start to remove these needles.”

At the mention of the cactus, she winced and felt all the prickly painful jabs in her thigh. “Drink the entire glass straight down.” Devon sat closer to her and held the glass to her lips.

“Ugh.”

“Now, another one,” he urged.

“No!” Madeline protested as he handed her the refilled glass, she sighed and gulped it down. “Eww!”

“Yeah, it’s not the best but,”Devon fumbled around with something on the floor. “Okay now.” Placing a small table next to the couch, he set a lamp on it and knelt close to her leg, “You've got to hold perfectly still, you hear? I mean it and it’s gonna hurt, but if you move?”

Madeline breathed out through her nose and nodded, Devon leaned over her and she could feel his warm hand grasp her thigh. “Oh,” she breathed the word out with a sigh.

“I haven’t even started yet,” he whispered.

She shivered at the sound of his voice. “Sorry.” The little pricks pinged on her skin. “Actually, I don’t feel a thing!”

Devon smiled and studied her thigh. “Yeah, the wretched whiskey does that.” He pulled another piece out.

Curious, she moved her head to see him better.

“Hold still!”

“Oh yeah, sorry.” His face came into focus in the light of the lamp. Can a man be beautiful? Devon possessed a great profile with a strong jaw line, high cheekbones his face tan and smooth. Is he Indian? Madeline did not feel anything while lost in wondering about him. “Where did you come from?” she asked.

He didn't look up. “The mountain.”

“Oh, you were born around here?”

He gave a slight nod

She glanced lower to look at the rest of him. Long legs molded into his jeans a nice wide chest existed under his tee-shirt, which encased strong muscled arms with the capacity to either embrace you or tear you apart. I choose embrace. Madeline smiled.
Devon lifted his head. “There, I think I got it all.”

Staring at him, she giggled. “Yeah, you’ve got it all, that’s for sure.”

His gaze swung to hers.

“You are the finest piece of man, I've ever seen!” Madeline let out a full-blown laugh.

“Oh yeah?”He sat back on his heels.

“Yeah!”

“I’ll be back, okay?”

Madeline stopped giggling. “Where are you going?” Her voice turned serious.

“Gotta make a poultice.”

Her brow wrinkled. “What?”

The trailer door slammed she let out a huge breath and shifted her leg. “Oh, I felt that!” He just up and left? The room spun. Oh man, I'm drunk! She laughed. I actually told him what a fine piece he was! Her laughter grew loud.

“Having a good time are we?” Devon appeared over her again.

“Yeah, I suppose I am.” Stifling a giggle, she felt his hand on her thigh again.

“Man, you have wonderful hands.”

A smile tugged at his lips as he laid the green mixture over her thigh and placed the warm wet cloth over it. “Now there should be no swelling.”

Madeline released a huge shaky breath. “No, there should be lots of swelling.”

“You're drunk, Miss Madeline Sayers.”

At the title, her eyes widened. “How did you know my name?”

Devon shrugged and moved the table back over. “News travels fast out in Nowhere Land.”

Stunned, her eyes grew wider.

“Your luggage tag.” He winked at her.

“Oh, yeah.”

“I’m gonna stay and watch over you for the night, okay?” Devon grasped her hand while her big blue eyes sparkled up at him. “You can watch over me forever, if you want,” Madeline responded.

“No, I really don’t have forever.” His deep voice faded away as he dropped her hand. “Do you need anything?”

Yeah, you and forever would be nice. “Um, no I’m okay.”

~~~~~
I already finished Nowhere Two: Gateway to the Sun and it will be out in 2011.

So, if you made through my interview and excerpt without nodding off? LOL I'm giving away a short and its a Western Paranormal! 'Lace and Leather' It's also a hot read. Just leave a comment here with Anne to get one. If you don't want to leave your emaill addy? Please do leave the comment and then write to me at: litemdbear777@yahoo.com

Thank you sweet Anne, for allowing me to visit!

LEANORE'S BOOKS

Excerpt Sunday: Waking Kara

Here's another little snippet from the paranormal erotic short I released through Wild Horse Press: Liquid Heat series last October. Enjoy!

Kara went straight from their en-suite bathroom down to her basement office, to avoid running into Adam. Her cheeks flamed red with the memory of how she behaved. Perhaps it was the thunderstorm, she thought. Even now, as the distant rumbles made her shake, she could feel the silk of her robe and nightie slide against her skin in ways she wasn't accustomed to noticing.

A part of her wanted to just sleep and forget all about today, but she knew she was too wound up for that.

Instead, running a thick towel over her long chestnut hair, she sat at her desk, where her bag from the day waited to be unpacked and repacked for tomorrow. Flipping on her computer and her desk lamp, Kara carefully unearthed the chamois-enrobed statue. Perhaps some time spent cleaning and Googling the object would put her mind back where it should be.

Peeling back the layers of the thick yellow cloth, she shuddered as she revealed once more the intensely male form of the fallen angel... or demon, she corrected, mentally. The beautiful face of the creature was too darkly forceful to retain any angel.

Re-crossing her legs restlessly, she took in the detailed features of the creature, turning him over to run the corner of the cloth down the muscular back and down to the cleft of his buttocks.

Spritzing him with gentle cleanser, she carefully, lovingly, wiped away decades of grime, bringing a glowing sheen to the pale, perfect skin.

Skin? She laughed at her folly. Stone. Nothing more.

Somewhere in her head, she heard a derisive chuckle, but she wasn't sure from whom it came - herself, at her recent odd behavior, or from somewhere deep inside.

Waking Kara is available for purchase through Amazon Kindle and on All Romance Ebooks, and elsewhere, with a suggested retail price of 99 cents! (Not intended for audiences under 18 years old.)

I'm on Amazon!

You can now find Waking Kara on Amazon!

(Still waiting on Barnes and Noble.)

Trailer for Waking Kara! NEW!

My First Release!

Announcing my first release!

My paranormal erotic, Waking Kara, is now available for purchase at ARE, and will be up on Amazon and B&N later in the week, I hear. It was published through WHP Liquid Heat, and is for adults only!

It's only a short, but I'm excited. Kind of takes the edge off waiting until May 2011 for my full length release!

~*~

ETA:

CONTEST!

If you purchase Waking Kara or any of the other releases I have coming up over the next couple of months, send me a copy of your receipt or some proof of purchase (anneholly2010@gmail.com) to be entered to win my full length novel coming out in May 2011! (Deadline: May 15, 2011.)

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