The Naughty Girls Next Door

New Year's Eve Interview with Author Ian Dalton!

2011-12-31T17:52:00.002-05:00

This has been an exceptional year for all of us here at Naughty Girls. I was going to do a recap but that's a little boring so instead, I thought I'd end it with an interview with a new author. Enjoy!

INTERVIEW WITH IAN DALTON: AUTHOR OF THE VICTORIA WILDE SERIES

Naughty Girls - Tell us a little about Ian Dalton.

Ian - I've been writing for about six years and began by writing humorous fiction. I'm married, have a full time job, three kids and a new puppy who's currently driving us all crazy with his teething, rambunctiousness and incessant humping of pretty much anything and anyone. I'd love to write full time, but for now, it's just a hobby.

Naughty Girls - What the hell is a guy doing writing erotic contemporary romance?

Ian - Okay, so maybe I'm a little too in touch with my feminine side or maybe I just need some good professional help. At this point I'm not really sure…I can tell you that I have a loyal, but somewhat small group of female fans who really love this series. So I think I have some talent in this genre. All I ask is for readers to download a sample and give me a chance. I believe they'll be pleasantly surprised.

Naughty Girls - In your novels the sex scenes are smoking hot- where do you find the inspiration?

Ian - I enjoy occasional mind-blowing amazing sex with my incredible wife and channel those memories when I'm crafting scenes and then let my imagination take over from there. I say occasional because what guy really thinks he gets it enough… Plus the kids, puppy and just general life stuff can really cut into the amount of romance novel quality type sex a couple can actually have.

Naughty Girls - So why the switch from writing comedy novels to erotic contemporary romance?

Ian - When I wrote my first novel, this comedy about of all things, the subject of male enhancement, I found my sex scenes drifting into the 'a little too much information/erotic/explicit' zone. A friend who read an early draft alerted me to this. So I scaled back those scenes and released it as more of a straight comedy novel. I found that I really enjoyed writing the hot scenes, so I went back and included them in a new version of that story and plan on releasing it under the title ENHANCED very soon. I actually write under two pen names- one for my humorous less explicit work and another for my contemporary erotic romance. I plan to have a version of each book available under each pen name. Well, all except Desperate Thoughts. If I scaled back on the explicitness of that story, it would be just a few pages long…J

Naughty Girls - Where did you get the inspiration for Inappropriate Thoughts?

Ian - Where else…a past relationship. A girl that I won’t mention by name, actually broke my heart in college in pretty much the exact way outlined in the book. She was a ballet dancer and she could really do that thing with her leg (keeping one on the floor while pointing the other straight up to the ceiling) and when I saw her do it at a party, I was hooked. Okay, so I was a shallow pathetic inexperienced eighteen year-old loser… Anyway most of the beginning of the story is based on true events, with the names changed to protect the guilty…I thought my memories from my relationship with 'Miss Flexibility' would make a great start for a novel. From there I set out to write a story to capture the intense desire between a couple who are completely crazy about one another, but are desperately trying to squash those feelings. It's the story of a divorced woman who falls for a younger man who just happens to be the best friend of her son. I wanted to explore all the passionate thoughts floating around in their heads as they pined away, but for obvious reasons are prevented from acting on their desires.

Naughty Girls - So in the story, your romance plays out on a tennis court of all places, what the heck is that about?

Ian - I was looking for a common interest that my characters could share. One that would bring them together in a way that could almost seem sexual without being sexual, you know…In my novel, tennis becomes the sex replacement for this couple as they long for one another. I've always been drawn to tennis. I feel it's the only sport a man and woman can play competitively together and have it be intense and almost sexy. All the grunting and the rhythm that players can get into on the court as they blast the ball back to each other over the net can be incredibly sensual. Not to mention the shorts skirts and all that bending over…Anyway, what was the question again?

Naughty Girls - We love Victoria and are dying to know where you came up with her character?

Ian - She really started as a minor character in the story. I was looking to create a wild and crazy friend to contrast against Jillian Grayson's straight laced, much more proper and shy personality. From there Victoria was born and as I kept writing she became a bigger and bigger part of the story- especially in books two and three.

Naughty Girls - What can you tell us about the series prequel Desperate Thoughts?

Ian - I was so intrigued with the amazing and sexy Victoria, that as I was writing Inappropriate Thoughts, before I even finished the first draft, I decided I needed to write Victoria's back-story. So I put I.T. away for a while and wrote Desperate Thoughts. I was obsessed with figuring out how Victoria developed her mojo, her superfun, wild, strong, sexy personality and I as I crafted it I had a blast. Her story is a little tragic and certainly doesn't have the elements of humor found in the rest of the series, but it's steaming hot if I do say so myself. Let's just say I would love to be Ethan in that story as he got to know Victoria. I recommend that the prequel be read after the other books, but it really can be read at any time within the series.

Naughty Girls - Tell us what's planned for the VICTORIA WILDE series.

Ian - I would…except I don’t want to spoil it. I have an author's note at the end of Revealing Thoughts, which is book three, and there I reveal some things upcoming in book four.

Naughty Girls - So what are you working on now?

Ian - My marriage mainly…I'm taking a little break so my head doesn't explode. I wrote over 250,000 words in this series in 2011 and I need to spend some time with my wife so she doesn't leave me. Victoria has me exhausted, she's been known to do that to a guy…I invite readers to send me an email to help coax me off my ass to finish the fourth book sooner. But for now my brain just hurts and I think I'll have a beer or two and rub my wife's feet occasionally…

Naughty Girls - It seems to be an unusual strategy to offer each of your novels in two forms. Can you tell us more about your plan?

Ian - I'm an unusual guy and I tend to think of my books as something like a copy of a DVD movie that gives you a choice of "rated" and "unrated" versions. I enjoy writing the explicit scenes, but know that not all readers are looking for that much heat. I believe the comedy and characters are strong enough in all the books to let the stories stand on their own without all the explicitness. I wanted to give people a choice. So whether a reader likes their contemporary romance regular or extra spicy, I believe I have something for them. I'm trying to keep the pen names separate for now until I figure all this out. So if someone is interested in the "tamer" versions of my books, they can send me an email for more information.

Naughty Girls - And finally any New Year's resolutions for 2012?

Ian - Definitely floss more, a lot more… Oh, rub my wife's feet at least once a week (Please note this is much less than the twice a day she's looking for…) Figure out what the hell to do with the love triangle that surrounds Victoria in book four of my series and, oh yeah, come clean with my kids that I'm writing erotic contemporary romance novels…on second thought, I think I'll wait until 2014 for that one. That's when they'll finally be heading off to college where it's a lot harder to embarrass them…

Ian Dalton has released four books in the Victoria Wilde series, Desperate Thoughts the prequel (An Amazon exclusive) followed by Inappropriate Thoughts, Secret Thoughts and Revealing Thoughts. He plans to release book four, Second Thoughts early in 2012. If you'd like to help get Ian off his butt, want information on his "tamer" series or just want to send him a note, you can reach him at ianwdalton@gmail.com or follow him on twitter @sexywildesays.

Kindle Freebie from Ian Dalton!

2011-12-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

Here's a Kindle freebie from author Ian Dalton. Ian will be joining us later this month to talk about the life of the male erotica author. Enjoy!

The prequel to the Victoria Wilde series, Desperate Thoughts is a 40,000 word novella, which reveals the tragic yet steaming hot story of how Victoria got her mojo.

SUMMARY

On his deathbed, Victoria Wilde's husband David leaves her with a gift; a replica of the most intimate part of him and makes her promise to go on with her life and share her most cherished gifts with another. But even after fourteen months the young widow finds herself unable to enjoy his gift or share her own. When Victoria spots a man who could be her late husband's younger twin, she's reminded of a story David shared of him as an insecure college freshman, who was given the gift of self-confidence by a clandestine sexual encounter with a beautiful older woman, and Victoria relives the erotic experience with her Davidesque stranger. Afterward, she's re-awakened sexually and motivated to do the same for other deserving young men in a way that both honors her lost love's memory and satisfies her desperately unfulfilled desires. With each new encounter the risk grows along with the passion until events spiral out of control and she's forced to choose between continuing down a path of self-destruction or finally letting go of the past.

The Naughty Girls are Kindle Bestsellers!

2011-12-07T20:06:00.003-05:00

The past 24 hours have been a roller coaster ride. Jinx and I both have freebies out on Amazon now :

Within a day of them becoming free, we both hit the Kindle 100 Bestseller list for Erotica with the below books:

Woot! The Naughty Girls are Bestsellers! Woot!

We can't thank you all enough for your support in getting here. You guys don't know how much we appreciate the emails of support you send (and the emails demanding to know where the next book is, hint, hint, Jinx!)

So thank you! And don't forget to tell your friends about us :)

Minx

The Book Lovers Buffet - 99c Ebook Sale!!!

2011-12-01T07:00:00.004-05:00

I'm participating in the Book Lovers Buffet, an extravaganza of ebooks on sale for only 99c!

But you have to hurry - the sale is only until Dec 15th

Happy Reading!

Minx

P.S. You can follow the news on Twitter too with hashtag #bookloversbuffet

Taken by the Boss - New Release!

2011-10-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

I didn't get much done last week other than my newest release :) Here's a sexy new short story about a little office love....

Summary
I thought it was just going to be another night of working late, on a Friday night no less. My boss, Mr. Grey, is out for the evening and I'm alone. He hates it when I call him that, Mr. Grey, as if he's an older man when he's not even thirty yet.

He can never know the real reason I don't call him by his first name. I'd die if he ever knew that's what I call him in my dreams at night.

All I have to do is drop off this report and I can leave. But as long as I'm in his office,what's the harm in trying out his chair? I have fantasies about him bending me over the back of it, splaying me across his desk as he asks me to call him Sebastian.

I never thought he'd come back and catch me...

READER ADVISORY:

This short story contains naughty kinkery between an assistant and her boss. If you have any objections to lascivious behavior in an office, on a desk chair, or bent over a desk then do not purchase this book.

3600 words - Short Story to wet your appetite

Happy Reading!!!

Jinx

Barnes & Noble gives DC Comics the finger!

2011-10-10T14:13:00.000-04:00

Well the digital world is heating up a bit. Last week DC Comics made an announcement that they would be offering 100 new comics exclusively to the Kindle Fire. Apparently that hit a nerve with the nation's largest bookseller, Barnes & Noble, because they've retaliated by yanking all DC Comics from their brick & mortar locations and now it's on like Donkey Kong!

According to a Barnes & Noble executive, "To sell and promote the physical book in our store showrooms and not have the e-book available for sale would undermine our promise to Barnes & Noble customers to make available any book, anywhere, anytime." Customers won’t even be allowed to special order the comics unless they have them delivered to their own homes.

Ouch!

Honestly, B&N's position sounds reasonable but this still feels like watching a particularly vicious game of dodge ball at recess. Who’ll chicken out first? Who knows but the consumers are the ones inconvenienced in the meantime.

Stay Naughty,

Minx

An Ode to Being Indie

2011-09-28T09:00:00.001-04:00

It's been roughly seven months since I decided to publish a test novella as an indie. Most of what I've learned has been helpful with my traditionally e-published books, as well. Things such as the importance of writing a good blurb, promoting responsibly (no spamming) and being reactive to the market.

It hasn't all been roses though, so I figured I'd share in case anyone else is on the fence.

PROS

In indie publishing, you have a measure of control that is almost addictive. If my sales are lackluster I can change my cover (imagine asking for that at a traditional publisher!), tweak my blurb or even change the title. I recategorized Teasing Trent and it immediately hit some of the sub-category bestseller lists, something none of my other books have ever done. Win!

I've noticed a lot of epubs put their books in one big "Romance" or "Erotica" category which means the book will never trend on a sub-list (such as "Romance - Contemporary" or "Romance - Fantasy/Futuristic"). So, recently I sent emails asking some of my publishers to recategorize the books I have with them.

I was actually told by one that they can't place the book in anything other than a general category (but indie's can put them there? Huh?) and just flat out told by another that they don't want to change it.

o_O

Teasing Trent has been on several sub-lists and it's always an amazing boost for sales. The more lists your book is on, the more people see it = the more people buy it. Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of that? It's the easiest way to get more visibility there is. Just put the books in the right place!

Then there's the stats. The sweetly seductive publisher panel in Kindle's KDP portal and BN's PubIt! Since I'm tracking sales in real time, I immediately know whether my above mentioned changes had an effect. Change the title, score! Upload a new cover, score! Surely you see how this is addictive. There should be medication for this, really.

Speaking of stats, that's the other thing that's interesting. Sales have only gone up (From 53 sales in month one to 313 sales in month six). Now, I'm not setting the world on fire but at my epubs, I got the majority of sales in month one and then very little after that. I have no idea how long it will last but I've already beaten what a longer (higher-priced) story made at a top epub.

I'm good with that.

The biggest PRO of all is that I can put out cool stuff for the fans. Casey's Night In was something I wrote just because so many people wrote me emails about The Mirage Agency series. I wanted to put it on the major platforms so people don't have to hunt for it. BN has already got it for free and hopefully Amazon will price match it soon. I wasn't able to do that with my epubs.

CONS

In the midst of all my glee I sometimes forget to track just how much WORK it all is. Gone are the days when I just write something and turn it over to someone else. Now I have to troll stock art sites for cover photos, find a freelance editor, arrange advertising and most time consuming of all - FORMAT THE THING. Because I am a perfectionist, I actually strip the manuscript down to plain text and then add in the html formatting from there. I actually care if the cover displays nicely next to the book stats on my Kindle when I click on it. I keep seeing books with random pictures or photos that look like candids of the author in place of where the cover should be. Egads!!! Also the book needs a working Table of Contents and proper chapter headings (otherwise I can't skip ahead and back by chapter on my Kindle).

HTML and CSS are not for the faint of heart.

Also, there's no one to blame if you fail. I can't point to the crappy cover (Um, yeah I chose it) or the blurb that was changed after you turned it in or the title that was your third choice because the one you wanted was taken. There's an expression that I love - "The cavalry isn't coming". It's incredibly pertinent to indie publishing because here, YOU are the cavalry. No one's saving you but yourself.

Which is, frankly, kind of scary.

THE POINT

Based on the above, I feel there are valid reasons to publish both ways. There are going to be times when I just plain don't feel like doing all of the above. It's a heck of a lot of work and it's not 9 to 5 type work, either. It's all-day, all-night, chained-to-your-computer, hubby-is-jealous-of-my-laptop work.

I don't want to discourage anyone because clearly, I ADORE it. I just want people to be aware of what they're in for. It's exhausting but it's also incredibly gratifying and the fact that I keep 70% of the money goes a long way to making up for those long nights.

I can buy a lot of coffee with that 70%.

Here's to the cavalry,

Minx

Casey's Night In is FREE

2011-09-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

As a gift to all the great fans who have supported Beg for It, I decided to put out a short interlude that links Book 1 and Book 2 in the The Mirage Agency series. Unfortunately, most sites don't allow you to put things for free but I'm happy to report that Casey's Night In (prequel to Asking for Andre) is now FREE on B&N!!! Go to the Amazon page and report the lower price and maybe Amazon will make it free too. Yay!!

Here's the BN page (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/caseys-night-in-minx-malone/1105136995) where it's FREE

And here's the link to the Amazon page (http://www.amazon.com/Caseys-Night-Prequel-Asking-ebook/dp/B005JKO2PU) so you can tell them it's free somewhere else (you have to scroll down to Product Details and the link to report a lower price is right below the bestseller's rank)

Happy Reading!

MINX

Casting Call for Asking for Andre

2011-08-18T08:44:00.001-04:00

My "casting call" for Asking for Andre is up at Writer's Gone Wild. Come drool over the pictures of Andre Lavin (as played by McDreamy Patrick Dempsey) and Milo Hamilton (as played by Italian hottie Raoul Bova). I went ahead and cast all the recurring characters too so if you've read Beg for It, come see if I did the characters justice.

Casting Call for Asking for Andre

In the meantime, since I cast the characters for Anya and James, I might be persuaded to reveal a few details about Book 3 which is their story. You never know...

Happy Reading,

MINX

Teasing Trent is a Bestseller at Amazon!

2011-08-13T19:15:00.000-04:00

Please forgive me but I have to do a tiny squeeee because Teasing Trent is trending on two lists at Amazon today!

To everyone who's written about how much they enjoy the story, thank you :) It's so awesome to see these characters I love so much getting all this attention. It makes all the work worth it.

Happy Reading!

Minx

Wanna read Stolen for free? You know you do...

2011-08-11T12:55:00.003-04:00

If you'd like to read the first book in Jinx Jamison's naughty new series "The Madame X School of Sex", all you have to do is sign up for The Naughty Girls Newsletter!

Trust me, we're WAY too lazy to send it out often so you'll only get a newsletter when we actually have, you know, news :)

Click the link below to sign up for Naughty News and we'll send you the link to get Stolen free!!

Sign up for Naughty News!

Stay Naughty!

Pimpin' My Girls

2011-08-10T07:00:00.002-04:00

Two of my friends have new releases out that are super hot. First up is Emily Ryan-Davis' tale of forbidden love set in the midst of a sultry Virginia summer.

Summer in Virginia burns as hot as Mitchell’s desire for sheltered Southern princess Pepper. Between official assignments, Capt. Scott has a private mission—claim the genteel redhead before another man discovers the spicy passion lying dormant beneath Pepper’s skittish exterior.

Trust-fund baby Pepper is surrounded by men—her adoptive father, her stepbrothers, her casual romantic companion. All men who want her to fit the roles they envision.

Only Mitch has ever asked her what she wants. She’s going to tell him…as soon as she can think past the scorching press of his body against hers and the overwhelming compulsion of her hunger for a man society says she shouldn’t crave.

Next up is a scorching tale of the hottest fraternity in existence: The Big V by Lolita Lopez

A night of wild partying with football god Chris at his frat’s Halloween bash sounds like the perfect cure for Ashley’s midterm blues. But her carefree night quickly takes an FML turn. Chris and his hunky frat buddies intend to use her as their virgin sacrifice!

She nearly faints as Chris describes the deliciously dirty ritual orgy they have planned, a ritual centered on giving Ashley multiple orgasms. Sensual massage. Spanking. Twelve sets of big, strong hands on her innocent body. A dozen soft mouths driving her wild. Could there be a more memorable way to lose the Big V than with these sinfully sexy frat boys?

Chris promises Ashley a night she’ll never forget—and she plans to hold him to it.

Reader Advisory: Our heroine endures scorching sexual pleasure at the hands—and mouths—of a dozen horny frat brothers. Oh, what torture…

Both of these books are available at Ellora's Cave. Be prepared to be either shocked, scandalized or really, really satisfied after reading :)

Enjoy!

MINX

Fangirl Friday - Lena Matthews

2011-08-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

Most of you know I only do Fangirl Friday posts randomly. But I was re-reading some of the books in my keepers folder on my ereader and I realized a ton of them are by one person.

Lena Matthews

So I wanted to do a fantastic fangirl friday pimptastic move and showcase some of the hottest books I've read by Ms. Matthews

(1) The Gift

Ethan Neilson will do anything for his twin brother. Even father the child Benjamin is unable to with the woman they both love. All their lives, the brothers have shared everything, everything but the woman who matters most.

After several failed attempts to conceive a child, Hannah desperately wants a break. A weekend getaway to celebrate the birthdays of the two men she loves seems like the perfect opportunity to relax and unwind.

Benjamin knows Ethan and Hannah love one another, just as he knows the three of them together forever is the way it always should have been. Now the only thing he has to do is convince his brother and wife. Having a child would be wonderful, but sharing his wife's heart and body with his brother is the gift Benjamin wants most of all.

A Naughty Girls Fave - I have probably read this one ten times because it is so good!

(2) The Joker's Wild Series

(a) Joker's Wild: Call Me

When Kayla Martin tries to revolutionize the sex toy industry she calls on the one person she’s grown to count on more than anyone else, her best friend and downstairs neighbor, Dylan Thompson.

When Kayla approaches him about being a test subject for her newest invention, an anal toy, Dylan is intrigued and aroused. That is until he finds out that The Walnut Wand is an anal toy for men.

Kayla’s sure that a prostate stimulator will be a hit, all she needs is a willing participant. Far from willing, Dylan flat out refuses, but that’s not enough to deter Kayla.

After their monthly poker game, Dylan and Kayla decide to make a risky bet. Kayla wants a test subject and Dylan wants the one thing’s he’s being craving for years. They’ll risk it all on one hand, but anything can happen when jokers are wild.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit language, use of sexual aids and graphic sex.

(b) Joker's Wild: Three Nights

Working for your dream man is never a good idea, especially when he’s as aloof as Chris Wilson. Eliza’s been dreaming of having her boss in her bed for several months now, and when the opportunity comes up for her to spend some of her off time with him at a poker game, she jumps at the chance. Too bad Chris isn’t as excited to see her, as she is to see him.

Eliza has gotten under Chris’s skin bad. He can’t go a day without thinking of his sexy secretary. Chris is determined to get her in his bed, that is until he finds out she has a daughter. He has a firm never date women with children policy that he isn’t willing to give into for anyone, until Eliza makes him a little wager. If he wins, Chris gets to have her any way he wants her, and if she wins Chris has to fulfill three of her fantasies.

It’s a win-win situation he thinks, but anything can happen when jokers are wild.

This title contains the following, explicit sex and graphic language.

(c) Joker's Wild : Stripped Bare - My favorite of the series!!!

When visiting an adult bookstore for a bachelor party, Professor Brody Kincaid is shocked to see his former student Missy Haddan working at the counter. He’s had his eyes on Missy since she’d been his student several months ago and has been waiting for the perfect time to approach her. Fate has just slipped her into his path. Her warm personality and full-figured beauty holds him captivated, and he is determined to have her no matter what the cost.

Missy sees all kinds at her job, but never expects to see her former professor. She knows he’s out of her league, but when Brody offers to teach her to play poker, Missy can’t resist the temptation to learn, or her desire for him.

Their simple games goes further then even she could have imagined. When the ante is upped and her heart is on the line, Missy is willing to risk it all on a game of chance, but anything could happen when jokers are wild.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex and graphic language.

P.S. Her BDSM-lite books at Ellora's Cave (co-authored with Maggie Casper) are also uber-HAWT (Friends with Benefits and Maverick's Black Cat)

Check out Lena's Matthews books directly at her publisher's sites below. Buying direct is usually cheaper and is the best way to support your favorite authors.

Lena at Ellora's Cave
Lena at Samhain

Happy Reading!
MINX

Virtual Release Party ~ Asking For Andre

2011-07-22T09:53:00.003-04:00

VIRTUAL RELEASE PARTY FOR

Asking For Andre
Now available from Ellora's Cave.

The naughty Italian playboy from Beg For It is set to once again heat up the halls of The Mirage Agency.

Andre Lavin lives life in the fast lane and the pampered Italian playboy isn’t used to being denied. Anything. Which makes his attraction to the shy, hauntingly beautiful Cassandra Michaels even more frustrating. She’s unimpressed by his flashy lifestyle and his every attempt to get closer seems to drive her further away. Until he overhears her whispered wish for sex lessons.

Where Casey comes from, rich, handsome men don’t fall for girls like her but there’s nothing to stop her from enjoying a fling. All she needs is one night to find out what she’s been missing and then she can go back to her boring, predictable life. One night to touch and be touched and she can leave with her heart intact.

Or so she hopes. Because although Andre is more than ready to teach her anything she asks, what he isn’t willing to do is ever let her go.

CONTEST
Since I'm just thrilled that this book is out, I think I'll give away 2 things to a lucky commenter. I'll give away one copy of Beg for It AND one copy of Asking for Andre. Just because I want to :)

MINX

A prequel just for fun...presenting Stolen

2011-07-15T18:02:00.007-04:00

There are some characters you have to write about just because they're so much fun. I did a super-short prequel to The Madame X School of Sex series just because...

So here it is, Stolen (The Madame X School of Sex)

The first time I stole something was on a dare.

I was fifteen and reckless, determined to prove I could be a bad ass. My best friend Jody dared me to take a pack of gum from the Handy-Mart. In retrospect, I’m surprised my bumbling effort didn’t land me in jail. It was hardly a covert mission but I did it.

I did it, I loved it and I’ve been stealing ever since.

Usually it’s something small, just enough to give me the rush. Over the years, I’ve graduated up to pickpocketing which requires a bit more daring and a lot more finesse. I’ve never gotten caught and I suppose that’s part of the thrill.

Every time I take something I have to wonder if this is the day my luck will run out.

This is the story of the day I stole from the wrong man.

Reader Advisory: Story contains content some readers may find objectionable, including voyeurism, exhibitionism, anal play, sex with strangers and extended orgasms. If you have a problem with orgasms, do not purchase this book.

NOTE: This story is a super-short prequel to The Madame X School of Sex series but it's easy to read as a stand-alone too.

Available at the following sites:

Amazon (Kindle)
B&N (Nook)
All Romance Ebooks (ARe)
Smashwords - coming soon

Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm - Matt's story is on it's way

2011-07-13T21:14:00.001-04:00

For everyone who wrote to me about how much they loved Teasing Trent - thank you :) So many people asked about Mara's meddlesome brother Matt that I just had to write his story. It's still in the works but I see a spunky spitfire in his future who will give him a difficult time.

In the meantime, I've got cover hotness. So here it is - my favorite Army hottie - Matt Simmons

If THAT isn't incentive for me to keep writing, then I don't know what is...

Stay Naughty,

Minx

New Release by Lauren Murphy

2011-07-11T07:00:00.007-04:00

If you're always on the prowl for good multicultural romance like I am, check out my friend Lauren Murphy's newest book, Curse of the Demon Queen.

SUMMARY

Fifty years ago, Lilith, Queen of the Demons, took the fall for something she wanted no part in and it cost her the only man she ever loved.

Betrayed and cursed, Aamon wants nothing but his freedom. Unable to let him go, Lilith watches him constantly, selfishly lusting for the love she destroyed. No matter how long he’s forced to serve, he’ll never forgive her.

The two end up on a treacherous ride of depravity and burning desire. Only absolute forgiveness will be able bring them back from this perilous journey.

Read a full excerpt here!

Available now at Cobblestone Press!

Happy Monday!

Minx

Holy Release Date!

2011-07-08T22:13:00.001-04:00

So, after teasing you for ages...

Asking For Andre is FINALLY coming out! ***squeeeeee**** Did I mention it's coming out in 2 weeks?

The naughty Italian playboy from Beg For It is set to once again heat up the halls of The Mirage Agency.

Or so she hopes. Because although Andre is more than ready to teach her anything she asks, what he isn’t willing to do is ever let her go.

The official release date is 7.22.11

Let the countdown to hotness begin. I'm so excited!

Minx

Free Books Galore!

2011-06-21T11:43:00.001-04:00

Anyone who knows me is aware of my passion for free books. I troll the Kindle and Nook lists regularly and it finally occurred to me that others do the same thing.

So going forward, I'll be compiling my list of the week's best freebies on the pages in the sidebar. I've organized by genre but please be aware that some titles might cross genres. Also, as free offerings can change hourly, check the price before you click!

Click the "Free Books" tab in the menu bar to see what's available this week.

Happy Reading!

Minx

Romance Kills! Virtual Release Party for Seducing Sarah (The Madame X School of Sex)

2011-05-31T16:14:00.002-04:00

Well, we were supposed to wait for tomorrow to celebrate Jinx Jamison's debut book but since romance is apparently toxic to all of our minds, why wait?

Anyone who comments and tells me their favorite place to buy books AND also how they search for new books at that vendor will be entered to win a $10 giftcard to the vendor of their choice.

Oh and congratulations Jinx! You are now an accomplice to poisoning the minds of women everywhere with your dirtay sexay romance :)

Available at the following sites:

Amazon (Kindle)
B&N (Nook)
All Romance Ebooks (ARe)
Smashwords

Stay Naughty,

Minx

Fangirl Friday - Whoever made the Body Shop's Real Barbie Ad

2011-05-27T07:00:00.008-04:00

This was an ad made by bodyshop. But Barbie INC. found out about it and now it’s banned. Reblog if you think this ad deserves to be seen.

I usually pick an artist, musician or writer of some kind when I do fangirl friday posts BUT this Body Shop ad is a thing of glory. The person who came up with this idea is just made of awesome.

Happy Friday!

Minx

The Recipe for Naughty: The Conflict

2011-05-25T07:00:00.003-04:00

The Conflict

Last week I talked about the main ingredients involved in building a series, which are the characters. This week let's look at the actual recipe itself, which in our analogy is what the characters are doing and why they're doing it.

The conflict.

When I first started writing about The Madame X School of Sex, I wasn't sure what kind of conflict could arise at a sex school. Everyone there should be pretty happy, right?

Not exactly.

The essence of conflict boils down to isolating the character's weaknesses and then forcing them into situations they aren't ready for. Sounds sadistic but it's the only way they learn anything. It's also what keeps things interesting. Who wants to read about a bunch of perfect people who always do everything right? Not me, that's for sure.

So, we have our heroine Sarah Caldwell. Her weakness is insecurity due to how her fiance treated her. Her attraction to her boss, Quinn, is something she doesn't know how to handle. He's way out of her league and she doesn't feel sexy or desirable enough to go after him. That's the basis for her conflict. She wants something but doesn't know how to get it. Her weakness (insecurity) is holding her back.

Quinn's weakness is not facing up to something that happened in his past. He wants Sarah but thinks she belongs to someone else. Then he gets a call from his old friend Madame X that changes everything.

Sarah is going to The Madame X School, the place he vowed he'd never return to.

Our hero's conflict stems from two things he wants being at odds. His desire for Sarah vs. His antipathy for The Madame X School (for reasons to be revealed later).

So, now that we understand the conflict - here's a sneak peek at things from Quinn's POV

EXCERPT FROM SEDUCING SARAH

Quinn Sanders hated to rush. He'd built his law career on attention to detail and a slow, methodical approach to research. Yet here he was throwing clothes into a suitcase as if his house was on fire. One phone call from an old friend and he'd abandoned his business and his social life. One phone call had spun his entire world on a different axis.

Sarah Caldwell was going to see Madame X.

The phone clipped to his belt vibrated. He yanked it from its holster and held it to his ear. His room looked like a mini-tornado had ripped through it but he didn't even care. He'd been lucky to book a flight at such a late date and if he didn't hurry, he'd miss the plane. He'd have to drive like a bat out of hell to get to the airport on time as it was.

"Yes?"

"I assume you've already booked your flight?" Madame X had a way of getting right to the heart of a matter. How she did this without ever being rude was something Quinn had yet to figure out.

"I had to pay an astronomical fare but I got a flight. I'll be there in the early morning. Thank you for giving me the heads up. This should be an interesting three weeks."

She made a non-committal sound on the other end of the line. Quinn braced himself for whatever it was she would say next. He'd known her long enough to know that the soft sound usually preceded bad news.

"I'm glad I was able to help you out but I must caution you. Ms. Caldwell is a guest of the Madame X School. If she doesn’t wish to work with you for any reason, then you must respect that. I've already stretched the limits of confidentiality. My first obligation has to be to my clients. Even if you are one of my oldest friends."

Quinn nodded even though she couldn't see him. "I would never do anything to make her uncomfortable. I promise you I'll leave if she doesn't want to work with me. Besides, I used to be your employee. Let's just call this a consulting gig."

Sarah would have the option to decline him as her handler but he doubted she would. Plenty of the instructors and a few of the students at the Madame X Academy wore masks so she wouldn't recognize him. He was glad now that he wasn't prone to long conversation in general. It would make it harder for her to recognize his voice. Even if something about him seemed familiar, he doubted she'd make the connection or question him.

No one questioned Master Q.

"I'm sure Ms. Caldwell will get along with my alter ego just fine. You have no cause for worry."

Silence hummed over the line for a long moment before she spoke again. "You've been out of the game for a while, Master Q. I know you had your reasons for that and I won't pry. I just hope you know what you're doing and are doing it for the right reasons."

Quinn couldn't stop the grin taking over his face. "I know what I'm doing. Sarah Caldwell will get exactly what she needs over the next three weeks."

Madame X chuckled. "I'm sure she will. Hopefully, you will too."

Sarah Caldwell was going to see Madame X.

"Yes?"

"I assume you've already booked your flight?" Madame X had a way of getting right to the heart of a matter. How she did this without ever being rude was something Quinn had yet to figure out.

"I had to pay an astronomical fare but I got a flight. I'll be there in the early morning. Thank you for giving me the heads up. This should be an interesting three weeks."

No one questioned Master Q.

"I'm sure Ms. Caldwell will get along with my alter ego just fine. You have no cause for worry."

Quinn couldn't stop the grin taking over his face. "I know what I'm doing. Sarah Caldwell will get exactly what she needs over the next three weeks."

Madame X chuckled. "I'm sure she will. Hopefully, you will too."

The Final Product

So, we've looked at the Ingredients and the Recipe for Conflict. The only thing left is the final product.

So without further ado, here's the cover art for Seducing Sarah V.1 (The Madame X School of Sex series). The cover was done by The Naughty Girls' own Minx Malone. (thanks Minxie!)

By the time I blog again the book should be live! Wish me luck...

Stay Naughty,
Jinx

Larry Kirshbaum Will Head Amazon's NYC office

2011-05-22T23:00:00.000-04:00

In a surprising move, Amazon has taken the final step toward establishing a New York presence. They hired literary agent and former Time-Warner CEO, Larry Kirshbaum to head their publishing house, effective July 5, 2011.

For many, Amazon has been a symbol of the "anti-publisher", the independent publishing movemement's mascot in a way. It will be interesting to see if Amazon starts to cut back on options for independent publishers and tries to refer them to one of their own imprints. Amazon already has genre-specific imprints for romance (Montlake) and mystery/thriller (Thomas & Mercer). No one was threatened by the original imprints Amazon Encore and AmazonCrossing.

With RITA winner Connie Brockway as the debut athor for their Montlake imprint, it seems as if Amazon is taking over the world.

Let's just hope it's a world that indie publishers are still welcome to play in too.

The Recipe for Naughty : The Ingredients

2011-05-18T08:00:00.001-04:00

So, where to start?

When I first came up with the idea for my erotic series The Madame X School of Sex, all I had was just that: an idea. I had no idea who the characters would be, the setting or even what would happen (besides the obvious). So how does a writer go about figuring this stuff out?

Daydreaming. That's how I figured it out anyway.

First, the characters. Who is just as important as What, in a story. The characters are the ones who take us on the journey. We experience the world through their eyes, their fears, their strengths and their limitations. Plus, if I'm going to write a story about something, I had better like the person the story is about. After all, we'll be spending a lot of time together.

The Heroine: Sarah Caldwell

I decided to pick a young professional woman with some self-esteem issues. Why? Because I can relate to that and I figure a lot of others can too. Sarah is a paralegal who's always done everything she's supposed to. She goes to work every morning at 8:30 am, she always separates the whites from the colors and she pays her taxes each year by April 15th.

She's perfectly ordinary. She's also perfectly tired of her boring life and she just knows there has to be more out there.

This brings us to the What? portion of the planning stage. What can happen to our perfectly lovely, perfectly boring heroine? Well, I decided to make her do something completely crazy. Something completely out of character.

She signs herself up for the infamous sex academy : The Madame X School of Sex.

Once I figured out what naughty business our heroine could get herself into, I was able to start writing. I wrote a few scenes in Sarah's point of view to get a feel for the way she thinks.

EXCERPT FROM WORK in PROGRESS

Sarah let the artificial smile she’d been wearing for the past hour drop. Her face was stiff from holding a smile she didn’t feel, forcing laughter that wasn’t genuine. But she couldn’t let her friend see how dejected she really was. It would just invite more worry, more hovering.

And it wouldn’t sway her from her path.

She reached into her purse and pulled out the envelope that held her plane ticket. Not that she needed to see it again, she’d studied it a hundred times since that morning. A plane ticket to Nevada. One chance to find out if she was really broken or not.

The Madame X School of Sex? It’s an urban legend. Doesn’t exist.

Sarah shook her head. “Oh, it exists. In a few hours I’ll have firsthand proof.”

The Hero: Quinn Sanders

I wanted a hero that provided exactly what Sarah needed, which is contrast. He's the commanding, inventive type that can balance out her fear of change. He'll introduce her to hedonism and teach her not to be ashamed of her feelings. Quinn also just so happens to be her boss.

The conflict

Being the good girl that she is, Sarah wouldn't get involved with her boss. Luckily for her, Quinn used to be an instructor at The Madame X School. So some pretty interesting things are bound to happen when he gets a phone call from his old friend Madame X.

NEXT WEEK: I'll take a look at CONFLICT in depth. This is the meaty part where we figure out why our characters are being so difficult.

Read the next post here

Stay Naughty!
Jinx

The Recipe for Naughty

2011-05-16T09:00:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, I'm Jinx Jamison and I’m so excited to be doing my first post for The Naughty Girls! It took me ages to come up with a topic to write about but I finally decided. Writing and baking are two of my favorite things so I decided to combine them.

Welcome to The Recipe for Naughty, a series of posts about the creation of my new erotic series. Every Wednesday I’ll post where I am in my story along with a sneak peek at my work in progress, no matter how bad (or good!) it may be.

Now, I’m no celebrity chef, or writer in this instance but I think that can work to my advantage. I’m going to document what it’s like for a newbie writer to come up with a romance series from start to finish, planning stage to execution. Then I’ll put the final version up on Kindle and Nook and let the readers be the judge.

I hope you all will follow along as I conduct my experiment. And be gentle…

Viva la Naughty!

Jinx

Operation Auction

2011-03-29T08:00:00.002-04:00

Romancelandia is coming together to help a long time romance reader named Fatin. She lost her husband to a violent act but we can help. Take a moment to look at all the cool stuff being offered over at Operation Auction.

***psst there are editor critiques and lunches with some pretty cool people up on the auction block***

I really want to bid on pretty much everything there. So go forth! Bid and be generous. It's all for a very good cause.

Minx

Tempt Me, Tease Me

2011-03-15T07:00:00.001-04:00

Well, it's finally done.

It hurt me, it consumed me, it TEASED me relentlessly. But my erotic short story, Teasing Trent, is AVAILABLE for Kindle and Nook!!

Just to tease you a little, here's the cover and blurb.

When his best friend Matt was deployed overseas, the only thing he asked was for Trent to keep an eye on his twin sister. Keeping her company on her birthday should be business as usual. He just has to remember the promise he made to himself in college to keep his hands off her.

Which is getting harder and harder by the day.

Ever since Mara walked into her brother's dorm room freshman year and came face to face with a shirtless Trent, she's known he was The One. He’s been right there with her twin brother as her biggest supporter or shoulder to cry on, whichever she needs most. The problem?

Trent has no idea how she feels.

Well, it's her first birthday without her twin and Trent's coming over to keep her company. It's the perfect time to tease him a little. A skimpy yoga outfit and a few glasses of wine later, she plans to finally have Trent exactly where she wants him.

In her bed, for as long as she can keep him there.

If Mara has her way, she'll get a whole lot more for her birthday than a Hallmark card.

Wish Me Luck!
Minx

BUY NOW (Kindle)

BUY NOW (Nook)

A Naughty New Year to You!

2011-01-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Every year I spend New Year's Day thinking up goals for the coming year. This year, I've decided to look back at 2010. One of my 2010 goals was to read at least a book a month outside my normal genres of romance/erotic romance. I'm happy to see that I far exceeded my goal.

Minx's 2010 Book List

1 The Angel's Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

2 Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen

3 Anthem by Ayn Rand

4 The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers

5 A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick

6 The Dead Travel Fast by Deanna Raybourn

7 The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

8 Emma by Jane Austen

9 A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

10 Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

11 The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

12 A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

13 Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
14 Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr

15 The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

16 All's Well That Ends Well by Shakespeare

17 Hamlet by Shakespeare

18 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

19 The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield

20 The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Now that I've had such a great reading year in 2010, I have decided to up the ante in 2011. I am going to try to write something outside of my normal genre. Sooooo, here's to a creative and different 2011.

Happy New Year!

Minx

KJ Reed Talks Text

2010-12-06T07:00:00.008-05:00

Hey girls! KJ here. Thanks for letting me pop on over and say hi! Cute place you got here. ;) I'm always for being a naughty neighbor...okay maybe not, since I live in an apartment and I don't want to be evicted. But the thought is still appealing! I'm really glad I got the chance to come over and chat with everyone!

So Minx asked me to talk a little bit about the idea behind my new release, Text Me, available at Ellora’s cave. So that’s what I’m going to do. Go grab your popcorn or your vente extra foam latte. I’ll wait. Go on, now. Shoo. I’ll be here when you get back.

Ya back? Good. Text Me is the story about a guy and a girl coming together in a not-so-conventional way. Although, the more I think about it, maybe with the new generation, it IS becoming more conventional. But I digress. First, let me back up. Recognize this movie?

I’m sure you do. It’s hard to not have at least heard of the movie. It’s your classic boy-meets-girl movie…except boy and girl meet online first. And then in person. But those who meet in person don’t know they’re the same as their online persona. Interesting, the parallel relationships they form.

It’s an absolute favorite of mine. I love how the two relationships (online vs. in person) are SO different. And it made me think about this concept…but a different mode of communication. Something even more modern/now than email/instant messaging. These days, people have their cell phones attached to their hand. Like Velcro. So why not try texting instead?

And Text Me was born.

Thanks for having me over, ladies! Want more info on this or other books by me? Head on over to my website and check out my blog, my about pages, and even behind-the-scenes info for each book, including deleted scenes. If you have a chance, check out Text Me.

___________________________

Staff Sergeant Travis Donavon is on the hunt for his little sister. Though he hasn’t spoken to her in years, his last deployment reminded him how short life is, and it’s time to reconnect. Only problem? The one piece of contact information he has belongs to someone else now. A woman named Ariel. A woman he can’t get his mind off of.

Ariel Winston doesn’t have time for a man. Her plate is full with work and grad school and family obligations, and she’s fine with that. But the innocent friendship she’s sparked with Trav, the anonymous texter, can’t hurt. Right? It’s not like she’ll ever meet the guy face to face.

But when these two collide during a night of voyeuristic pleasure, they have decisions to make. Will they balk at what fate has dropped in their laps? Or be willing to look beyond the unique circumstances and enjoy their finite time together?

AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO INTERVIEW HER HOT HERO

2010-11-30T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Tuesday readers!

I'm Emily Ryan-Davis and Minx has kindly invited me to come play with the regular Naughty Girls Next Door. I'm here today, instead of some other day, because my latest Ellora's Cave title releases today. The hero of ALL HE WANTS is a U.S. Marine Captain and my favorite hero to date. Minx suggested I interview Keith for you and provide some visual stimulation.

Well, as far as the interview goes - my heroes are a little recalcitrant. They might be willing to converse with my heroines but they're rarely willing to talk to me. I think they sense my voyeuristic streak because they always tell me to watch and see.

Captain Keith Moss...well, he's no different. I tried to interview him. Really, I did. See, here's proof!

“Captain, excuse me! Excuse me!” Emily shuffled across the airfield, her pink Hello Kitty scuffs soundless on the grass. The group of uniformed Marines continued to board the plane that would deliver them from Mongolia to the United States. The writer opened her mouth to call out again when one of the men looked back over his shoulder.

U.S. Marine Captain Keith Moss stood in the shadow of the plane ad met her eyes. Emily slowed. She actively concentrated on not licking her lips. Refraining was hard because...well, damn. And yum.

“Captain Moss,” she said as she reached him. “I know you're eager to get home but I wanted to ask you a few questions before we get started.”

The tall, broad-shouldered captain folded his arms across his chest. “Just a few. I'm not the only man here with plans.”

Oh...more Marines. Emily glanced past Keith. Mmmm. More Marines.

“Ma'am?” Prompted the subject of her latest project, a festive pregnancy fetish romp.

“Oh. Yes. Sorry.” Emily consulted her notes. “I have it written here that you're on your way home to see your wife.”

“I'm not married.”

Emily frowned. “But she's nearly eight months pregnant. You've been married for years and she's very eager for you to come home. You know. Eager. She's past the sick and tired stage, into the desperately horny stage...”

“I'm not married.” Captain Moss scowled. “And don't spread rumors that I am.”

“But what about Telly?” A note of panic edged Emily's voice.

His scowl deepened. Emily stiffened her legs and refused to back down. After a moment, he said muttered, “Telly isn't my wife.”

“Hm. But I thought...well, whatever. Telly is pregnant, though.” She studied him from the corner of her eye.

His jaw tightened. “Yeah, she is. Wait. What are you doing?”

“Correcting my notes. So if Telly isn't your wife and her baby isn't yours, what—hey!”

Quicker than she could stop him, Captain Moss relieved Emily of her notebook. “Telly hasn't done anything wrong,” he said.

“Well...no, not anything wrong. It's just, if she's not your wife, what is she? I have it written here that you're totally turned on by pregnant belly. But that belly belongs to your wife. My editor approved the premise and everything.”

He pitched her notebook into a trash can. “Yeah, well, your editor doesn't get a say in the matter.”

Emily stared at him. “But I have a smutty story to write. And a deadline.”

The captain pulled a photograph from his breast pocket and rubbed his thumb over the image. Emily tried to get a peek but he held the photo from view.

“Smutty story,” she repeated with a sigh.

A slow grin changed his features from kind-of-scary-ominous to hot-damn-sexy. “Okay,” he said. “But I'm telling you what happens. You're not telling me.”

Emily sighed again. “This always happens to me. I need to stop writing about men who like to be on top.”

But she followed him, anyway, and let her hero lead.

And she (I mean, I) did. Let him lead me directly into a sexy, sweet, and decidedly kinky story about a man, his best friend's sister, and his obsession with her baby belly.

Can you blame me? I mean, look at that man over there and tell me you wouldn't follow him into whatever fetish he decided to lead you into. If you can say you'd resist, I can only say your willpower is stronger than mine.

Emily Ryan-Davis writes all kinds of stuff, from historical to paranormal, futuristic to contemporary. ALL HE WANTS is her first contemporary release from Ellora's Cave. To find out more about her other titles, visit Scorched Sheets, the web site she shares with Freya's Bower and Liquid Silver Books author Elise Logan. Rumor has it Emily will be blogging with the Naughty Girls Next Door again in 2011.

For a special look at the U.S. Marine who might (or might not have!) inspired ALL HE WANTS, drop by KJ Reed's blog on December 3. There might be a video. :)

Naughty Nano

2010-11-01T21:52:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year again. NANOWRIMO. National Novel Writing Month is back.

For some people November means daylight savings time, changing leaves and fall weather. But for many writers November is a month of sleep deprivation, manic keyboard pounding and massive amounts of coffee drinking.

30 days.

50,00 words.

I'm ready to tackle Nano, naughty girl style.

Minx

P.S. If you want to buddy with me, I'm registered as Minx Malone. Real original, I know :)

Miss Bramble And The Leviathan

2010-10-19T07:00:00.016-04:00

The amazing Kristen Painter has a new release today about my current obsession: STEAMPUNK

Miss Bramble and the Leviathan is available now from Samhain Publishing.

The last thing she planned to steal was his heart.

The Company. Military institution, protector of Praeton and the nation of Grand Isle. Dirty rotten thief.

When Pandora Bramble steps aboard the Company’s premiere airship Daedalus it’s not for the exclusive VIP tour. It’s to secure proof that the Company stole the regulator valve her father designed—even if it means tearing the engine apart. Foiled by the unexpected appearance of a handsome crew member, she despairs of ever getting another chance—until he kisses her.

Captain Theolonius Hatch, sentenced to engine room duty for refusing to take part in the Company’s fleet week activities, never dreamed a woman like Pandora existed. Her brains match her beauty, a combination that adds up to more trouble than he ever expected.

As Pandora allows Theolonius to sweep her into a whirlwind courtship, her wildest dreams come true. As do her greatest fears, leaving her to decide what matters most. Loyalty…or love.

The clock is ticking.

Warning: This book contains airships, mechanical owls, women who are good with tools, men in and out of uniform, steam generated by engines and people, and some hot carriage scenes.

I know what I'll be doing on my lunch break today. Enjoy!

Minx

Hot Hero Interview : Cameron from The First Real Thing by Cat Grant

2010-09-15T07:00:00.005-04:00

Welcome, everyone! Today we’re talking with Cameron, the hero of Cat Grant’s new m/m romance, THE FIRST REAL THING.

Q. Cameron, you have what most people would consider an unusual, if not downright scandalous, job. Do you want to tell everyone, or shall I?

A. Well, I guess this’ll be a pretty short interview if we don’t talk about it! For the past five years—up till a few months ago, in fact—I was a fairly successful male escort.

Q. Wow, you just blurted that right out!

A. [Laughs] I’m not ashamed of it. Despite what the media would have everyone believe, it’s not such a bad life, as long as you’re smart and take good care of yourself. I made a good living at it, until…

Q. You’re not going to leave us hanging on that, are you? Until what?

A. Until I met Trev. And yes, it happened “on the job,” so to speak.

Q. You fell in love with one of your clients?

A. Yes and no. I was at a hotel bar to meet an actual client, and I thought Trev was that guy. Didn’t discover my mistake until after we’d… well, I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.

Q. That’s a pretty unusual way to meet someone!

A. Yeah, no kidding! But luckily, it’s worked out for the best.

Q. So how’s domestic life treating you? I understand you’re quite the cook.

A. Well, I’m no Wolfgang Puck, but I enjoy whipping up a tasty meal. A little osso bucco, a little wine, a little salad. A little French roast while Trev and I curl up on the couch afterward. Life’s never been better.

Thanks to Cat Grant and Cameron for chatting with us today. Keep reading for a sneak peek at The First Real Thing available now at Ellora's Cave.

An Excerpt From: THE FIRST REAL THING

Chapter One

Friday, May 7th, 4:34 p.m.

Want to play a game?

Next time you’re in some elegant upscale bar, take a look around and see if you can spot the prostitutes. I guarantee there’ll be at least one or two.

The dark-rooted blonde in the short skirt getting loud and sloppy over her third martini? Desperate divorcée, maybe, but definitely not a hooker. No self-respecting pro would call attention to herself like that.

The swarthy guy with his shirt unbuttoned halfway to his navel, showing off way too much chest hair? Not unless you’ve jumped in a time machine back to the seventies.

It’s not the bartender either, or any of the waitresses. Who in their right mind would sling drinks for minimum wage when they could be making three hundred bucks an hour?

Fact is, you’ve probably rubbed elbows with us more than once and you never had a clue. The real pros have a talent for blending in.

See the guy sitting at the bar, the one in the charcoal suit and crisp white shirt open at the throat? Dark hair, blue eyes. Well groomed, in shape. Attractive but not underwear-model pretty. Looks like just another business exec winding down after a long day, doesn’t he?

That would be me. My name’s Cameron, and I’m an escort.

Prostitute. Whore. Rent boy. Call me what you like, I won’t be offended. I enjoy sex, and I’m good at it, but it’s not the only service I provide. Most of the guys who hire me are just plain lonely. I’m there to fill the void for an evening or a weekend. Why shouldn’t I get paid for it? It’s a hell of a better living than waiting tables or slaving away in an office.

Now I sound like I’m trying to justify myself. I’m not even sure why I started this blog. I’ve never kept a written record of my working life before, but it’s not like I’ve got anyone else I can talk to about it. My family doesn’t know what I do. Mike’s my only real friend, and thank God he doesn’t judge me, but he’s not in the life. He can’t understand.

I’ve been hooking for five years—that’s a long time in this business. First thing you learn is to turn off your feelings, turn on the charm and get the job done. All those hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold stories are bullshit. You can’t afford to have a heart, not in this line of work.

Can’t afford to let anyone in.

Oldies, but Goodies. . .

2010-09-10T07:00:00.029-04:00

--From guest blogger Kele Moon

Recreating classic love stories isn’t as easy as it sounds and it’s often challenging and rewarding in equal parts for a writer. Cinderella, for example, is a very popular theme that never grows old. The rags to riches stories where true love not only makes your heart soar, but also gives you a very nice happily ever after in the plush palace of your dreams. What’s not to love about that? The term oldies, but goodies was invented for romance!

Perhaps not as light as Cinderella, but still compelling, the Garden of Eden has always intrigued me. As a lover of ménage romance, the contrast between good and evil heroes and Eve’s affinity for the forbidden, it was too much to resist!

In my new book Beyond Eden, I posed the question to myself—What if the devil were the good guy?

Maybe giving into temptation is a good thing.

Set in modern day Tampa, three friends come together in the very emotional journey of Beyond Eden. These characters are just regular people, trying to live normal lives, but dark secrets and burning passions make it impossible. The mirror to the original love story is clear. The devilish Danny charming Eve to not only bite the apple, but to convince Paul to disobey his father and bite the apple as well. Beauty, true love, temptation, obedience and punishment are all elements to this erotic romance with strong BDSM elements.

While Danny, Paul and Eve’s story is their own the vein of the original tale runs deep. At the end of the long creative journey of writing Beyond Eden, I realized something--what happened in the garden of good and evil could have been one of the richest love stories ever told. It's the original oldie, but goodie!

Will you dare to taste the forbidden?

For a free excerpt visit Ellora’s Cave at:

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8612-50-beyond-eden.aspx

For Beyond Eden book trailers and more, visit Kele’s website at:

http://www.kelemoon.com/

"Write what you know," they said...

2010-09-03T05:00:00.045-04:00

...and I took them at their word. I enjoy reading (and writing) science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, and other genre fiction. I also enjoy reading and writing smut. As a college friend of mine once said, when I mentioned that he talked about sex an awful lot, "I like having sex. And when I'm not having sex, I like talking about sex." It's hard to argue with that logic.

When I started writing with the intent to be published, I continued to write science fiction, fantasy, mysteries--and erotica. I've never piloted a starship or fought an invading horde of orcs, but I can imagine it. Sex, though--sex I know about. I was interested in sex long before I ever managed to experience it. The combination of being painfully shy as a child and growing up in a conservative, religious small town environment in Virginia meant it took me much longer than I'd have liked to finally cross that threshold.

That didn't prevent me from reading about it, a lot. And fantasizing. Among the fantasies that aroused me the most were having lots of partners (albeit one at a time), and getting involved in wild sex parties. It took me some years, but I managed both eventually. I've been involved in swinging for a long time now, and while I know some people just don't go for that sort of thing, I don't understand it.

I can understand being nervous about trying something new. I've been a curious first-time observer, and a nervous newbie. The experiences of my heroine, Angela, in The Wild One are not autobiographical, but a lot of the details are based on personal observations:

Excerpt from "The Wild One"

Angela crowded close behind Lourdes as she stopped abruptly in front of the hotel room door. Michelle bumped into Angela and giggled nervously. Angela couldn’t blame her. She could feel nervous giggles poised to escape her own lips.

“This is it,” Lourdes said. The glance she gave Angela and Michelle suggested that she wasn’t quite as calm as she’d like them to believe. Nonetheless, Lourdes knocked firmly on the door. Angela could hear the faint sound of conversation through the door. It didn’t sound like a sex party.

The door opened a crack, and a short, redheaded woman peeked out from behind it. She looked them over, and they must have passed inspection because she backed up, opening the door and silently inviting them inside.

Angela followed Lourdes and Michelle into the room. She glanced back as the redhead closed the door behind them. The woman was short, busty and naked. Silver piercings gleamed in her nipples. She noticed Angela’s look. “Hi, I’m Emily.”

“Angela.” She wasn’t sure what to say next. What do you say to a naked woman you’ve just met? A familiar squeal of greeting saved her from having to find out. She turned to see Vicki leap up from a sofa to greet her three newly arrived friends.

“You made it!” Vicki sounded surprised as well as pleased. She’d tried to get them to come to the party with her, but they had turned her down. It was only after spending some time club hopping that Lourdes had suggested taking Vicki up on her offer. Just, you know, to see what a sex party looked like.

Angela had secretly wanted to go all along, but she hadn’t had the nerve to do it. When Lourdes suggested it again, emboldened by alcohol, Angela had agreed that it sounded like fun. Together, they’d convinced Michelle to give it a try.

Vicki had hugged Lourdes, and now she threw herself at Angela. She was wearing a pair of lace panties and nothing else. “Hey, girl,” Vicki said. “I didn’t think you’d show.”

“We almost didn’t.” Angela gave Vicki a quick hug. “But Lourdes insisted.”

“Me? You wanted to too!”

Vicki laughed and turned to greet Michelle with a hug. “Well, you’re here. That’s what counts. Let me introduce you around.”

Angela looked around, taking in the room as Vicki made introductions. It was a fairly standard hotel room. A bathroom just inside the door to the hall, a king-size bed, and a dresser opposite the bed. The dresser was covered with food and drink—a variety of snack foods, dips, a bucket of chicken, several large bottles of soda, a couple of wine bottles, and disposable plates and utensils.

The back of the room, normally occupied by a small writing desk and chair, was crowded with half a dozen chairs obtained from elsewhere. The chairs formed a rough circle, and about half of them were occupied. Three women and one man occupied the conversation circle. None of them wore more than a towel.

The connecting doors to the rooms on either side of this one were propped open. The sounds of sex drifted through a doorway. Angela couldn’t see into there from her position, but she could see into the other room. It contained two large beds, both unoccupied.

“You’ve met Emily,” Vicki said. Emily waved. Vicki named names, but Angela wasn’t listening. It sounded like at least two women were getting fucked next door, and she was intensely curious—and embarrassed to reveal that fact by walking over to the doorway to look.

Vicki took care of that. “And in this room,” she said, pausing in the doorway, “we have the rest of the gang.”

Lourdes, Angela and Michelle all eyed one another for a moment then collectively walked over to join Vicki, who stepped into the next room. They followed. Angela felt her pulse race in anticipation. She’d had sex and even seen some porn. But she’d never seen real people doing it.

There were two queen beds in the next room. On the nearest bed a couple were going at it missionary style. The woman was blonde, big-boned, and red faced. Her lover was a well-built young man with short, dark blonde hair. His cock was— Angela stared for a moment. It was bigger than any she’d ever seen outside of a porn video.

On the next bed, three men were busy with a single woman. One man was kneeling between her legs, her feet bobbing by his ears, as he fucked her. The woman had a cock in each hand, and was avidly sucking one or the other of them when she wasn’t screaming.

Vicki named the foursome, but again Angela wasn’t listening. “That’s Lynn,” Vicki added, gesturing at the large blonde. Lynn chose that moment to throw her head back and arch her back. She wailed and pounded the mattress with one hand. “Oh god—yes, yes!

When Lynn’s outburst was over, Vicki grinned. “And the gentleman giving Lynn such pleasure is George. Say hello, George.”

George turned his head to take in the sight of Angela, Lourdes and Michelle huddled nearby. “Hello, ladies,” he said, never pausing in the vigorous thrusting of his hips. “Pleased to meet you.” The gleam in his eyes told Angela that he was almost as casual about fucking in front of three strange women as he was pretending to be. He might even be getting off on it.

Angela nodded. “Hey,” she said. Lourdes and Michelle mumbled a greeting as well. Michelle had her flask in hand. She took a drink then passed it to Lourdes, who raised it to her lips for a moment. When Lourdes passed it on, Angela drank as well.

“George here is lots of fun,” Vicki said. She leaned over to kiss him on the mouth. George pressed a hand to the back of Vicki’s head, prolonging the kiss. His hips never stopped moving. Angela watched, wide-eyed. They were so casual about it. George was fucking another woman, and Vicki just kissed him like it was nothing....

Being a newbie was terrifying--and thrilling. But time and experience turn newbies into regulars. What was once shocking and eye-opening can become mundane. It's no less exciting and pleasurable than it ever was, but the naughty thrill of doing something novel and beyond your experience is replaced by familiar pleasures. Again, Daisy's experience is not mine, but I based her adventures on the things I've witnessed and experienced in such places.

Excerpt from "Queen Bee"

Daisy strutted into Soixante-Neuf as if she owned it. Blonde, beautiful, sexy…and alone. She’d exchanged her drab work attire for a midnight blue cheongsam—a form-fitting Chinese dress—and matching heels. She nodded at the man behind the front desk. He knew her well and no longer even asked for her membership card.

The club was moderately crowded, though nowhere near as packed as it would be by midnight. Daisy wasn’t the only regular. She waved or called out greetings to men and women across the room. Others approached to give her a hug, a kiss, or a grope. Often all three.

Still others simply watched her, heads turning as she passed. They were newbies or return visitors who knew her only as the gorgeous blonde who showed up every weekend. Maybe one or two of those men would work up the nerve to approach her on any given night. If they did, and if she found them attractive, she might play with them. If not...well, they had only themselves to blame.

“Daisy!” A naked woman with long, curly red hair approached. She was short and busty, with pierced nipples. She was also flushed and sweating, clearly just done fucking someone.

“Emily!” Daisy leaned over to kiss Emily on the cheek, both of them careful to avoid mussing Daisy’s dress. “Having fun, I see.”

Emily grinned. “You know it!”

Daisy did know. Emily had been one of the first people to befriend her when she’d first braved the club. She’d taken Daisy by the hand and led her around, introducing her to everyone. She’d also spent a lot of time talking to Daisy and answering her questions. She was the only person Daisy knew who was more enthusiastic about swinging than Daisy herself.

They conversed for only a minute before Emily excused herself to shower. Daisy moved on, drifting through the facility to see who was there and what was happening. As usual, not a lot yet—people were socializing, snacking, dancing, playing pool. Maybe indulging in a little grab-ass. The only real action she discovered was in the public play area.

She joined the crowd clustered around a large group bed, their attention focused on a single couple. The crowd around the bed was composed of about equal numbers of men and women. None of them seemed inclined to do more than watch, which they did in an almost eerie silence.

Daisy worked her way into a position to see the couple on the bed. To her utter lack of surprise, she recognized a woman named Lisa crouching over a dark-haired man Daisy didn’t know, engaged in sixty-nine. She knew Lisa well. They’d often shared a bed, usually with several other people, but occasionally just the two of them.

Daisy wasn’t yet so jaded that watching other people have sex had lost its fascination. She watched along with the rest of the crowd for a few minutes. Individuals and couples drifted away and were replaced by other spectators. Someone slid into position at her side, a tall blond man—six two at least—shirtless but wearing a pair of slacks and shoes. He sensed her attention and smiled at her before he turned his attention back to the show.

Lisa and her playmate continued pleasing one another, seeming oblivious to their audience. Lisa began breathing more loudly and erratically, her attention to her blow job flagging. Daisy wasn’t surprised when Lisa raised her head, halting her blow job to shudder all over and make the delighted little noises Daisy had come to know so well. Then, her orgasm over, Lisa resumed her efforts.

The blond man next to her leaned in a little. “They sure seem to be having fun, don’t they?”

“They do,” she agreed. She waved a hand to indicate the crowd around them. “They seem to be the only ones, though.”

He nodded slowly and moved closer. “I’ve noticed that. It seems to happen a lot. People pay good money to come to these clubs, and then they just sit around and watch. I don’t get it.”

“We’re watching,” she pointed out, though she hoped it wouldn’t be for much longer.

He acknowledged her point with a minute shrug. “Yeah, but I just got here. What’s your excuse?” He grinned. “I’m Paul, by the way.”

She looked up into his eyes and said, very seriously, “Nobody’s asked me yet. I’m Daisy.”

Paul leaned in again, close enough that Daisy could feel his breath on her ear. She shivered, desperately horny and eager to join Lisa on that huge bed. “Sometimes,” Paul said, “I’m tempted to just announce, ‘Everyone who’d rather have sex than watch sex, raise your hand!’ Maybe that would get people moving.”

She laughed. She knew exactly what he meant. “It might at that.”

“What about you?” He stood behind her now, not quite touching her but close enough that she could feel his breath on her ear when he spoke.

“What about me what?” she asked, deliberately drawing him out.

“Wouldn’t you rather have sex than watch someone else have it?” Now he did touch her, placing his hands lightly on her hips.

She felt a rush of excitement. She glanced at him over her shoulder, biting her lip as she considered it. He was a good looking man, and his proposition was nicely done.

“Yes,” she said. She turned to face him. “I think I would.”

“Excellent. Here?”

Daisy nodded. She took his hand and threaded past several of the voyeurs to the edge of the bed. She turned, stepped into his arms, wrapping hers around him. Excitement plucked at her nerves and tightened things low in her body. She was about to have sex with a new partner, a complete stranger, in public. Just the thought quickened her breath. If her hands weren’t pressed against his back, they’d be trembling.

She rose on the balls of her feet to kiss him. He returned the kiss with enthusiasm, his mouth hot on hers, his arms tightening around her. She closed her eyes and focused on the strength of his arms, the feel of his body against hers, and the delicate touch of his tongue on hers. He was excited, his arousal evident in the lump pressed against her abdomen.

She broke the kiss and turned her back to Paul. He unbuttoned the top of her dress then unzipped it slowly. The dress sagged open. He planted kisses on the exposed skin of her neck and back, provoking a shiver of excitement. She wriggled free of the dress, letting it drop around her feet.

He cupped her breasts through her bra, his hands large enough to cover her small breasts. He caressed her through the dark lace, teasing her nipples erect. A moment later, she felt her bra unclasped. Fingers brushed the straps from her shoulders, and it slithered down her arms to fall to the floor.

His arms enveloped her, left hand moving to fondle her right breast as his right hand drew a line down her stomach to slip into her panties. His fingers grazed her lower lips to slide between her legs and cradle her sex as he nipped at her ear.

She shivered at his touch. Reaching back between them, she unbuckled his belt and opened his pants. He was hard, his cock drawing the fabric of his briefs taut. She closed her hand around him, smiling at the heat and weight of him. “Mmm,” she said.

She was very aware of their audience. Knowing she was being watched was half the fun of sex at the club. It thrilled her to have uninhibited sex in front of people too shy to do more than observe. Knowing that the men wanted her and the women wanted to be her added immeasurably to her pleasure.

He curled his middle finger, drawing it along her wet lips before parting them slightly. His touch made her body tighten, and he toyed with her stiff nipple with his other hand. Her hand tightened on his cock, and he drew an excited breath then trailed kisses up her neck to her ear. He nibbled at her ear as he fingered her pussy and fondled her breast.

His busy hands and mouth were magic. Pleasure sizzled through her body, arcing between points of contact like lightning. Her legs threatened to buckle. She reached up to clasp the back of his neck with one hand and leaned against him, letting him help her stay upright.

On the bed before them, Lisa and her lover continued to give one another oral sex. Daisy watched through heavy-lidded eyes, the thrill of voyeurism adding to her pleasure. She saw Lisa shudder through orgasm twice, the second time only moments before Daisy’s eyes fluttered closed and she writhed in Paul’s arms as her own climax took her.

Afterward she resumed fondling him, slipping her hand inside his briefs to wrap her fingers around his hot, bare flesh. She stroked him slowly, feeling him grow harder, feeling his hips thrust forward instinctively. His dancing fingers paused as he buried his face in her neck and groaned. That simple sound of desire made her feel incredibly powerful.

On the bed before her, the other man kissed Lisa very thoroughly then murmured something to her. Lisa grinned brightly. “Yes, please!” she said.

He moved between Lisa’s legs. Her single glance at Daisy and the watching crowd, face flushed with arousal, grinning joyfully as she tore open a condom packet, was the only evidence that Lisa, too, was aware of their audience.

"Write what you know," they say. It gives your writing verisimilitude. And when it comes to erotica, the research is a hell of a lot of fun too.

M&M Makin’ the Rounds

2010-08-26T06:00:00.016-04:00

Big thanks to Minx for letting us come here and play today! We’ll get started with our first Q&A.

Ooo, ooo pick me! Pick Me!

Q: Do you have any favorite characters from your books? If so, who and why?

Michelle: Jiri. He’s from Tribes of the Vampire. Also, King Lucien of the Damned from Realm Immortal. These are both secondary characters that I get a ton of fan mail for. They’re total alpha, very much on the evil side, yet everyone asks me to redeem the unredeemable. As a writer, these characters can be more fun to play with than the hero and heroine. And, I like making a bad guy that people want to see get better.

Mandy: I’m going to go with Pallo from Daughter of Darkness. I think he’s just really misunderstood. I’m sure under all that alpha male vampire he’s a sweet, sweet, lovable lil kitten, right? I mean, there has to be more to him than pure sexual maleness. *grin* In all honesty, I really love everything about him. He’s not afraid to piss people off and he will, in extreme circumstances admit he’s wrong—well, if he wasn’t always right that is. LOL.

I think Michelle should work on Jiri’s book next. I also think he should be in love with a woman who is 5’6” curvy, has long black curly hair, green eyes and answers to the name Mandy or Mistress. Really, it’s up to her on the name.

Michelle: Huh, for some reason I opened up a couple WIPs tonight and they’d been edited with that very information. Strange… ;)

Mandy: Hmm, no clue what happened *hides all evidence of having hacked Michelle’s system*

Featured M&M Book of the Day:

Buy Here

Raven Books

http://www.theravenbooks.com/

Raven titles are available on Amazon.com as well as other third party sites

Mandy M Roth
http://www.mandyroth.com/

Michelle M Pillow
http://www.michellepillow.com/

Thanks for letting us hang here, Minx! Everyone, remember that to be entered in the contest at the end of the tour, you need to comment on the posts. You can enter as much as you like. :)

Join us tomorrow when we visit Cathryn Wade where we answer the question Psst, look at the weird kid in the corner!

Wine and Hot Tubs

2010-08-23T04:00:00.004-04:00

I want to say thank you to Minx and the other Naughty Girls Next Door for inviting me to be a guest on their blog today. I'm delighted to stop by and chat with you all and talk about one of my favorite things...wine. For all the naughty girls out there, I have to tell you about Red Cat.

I'm lucky to live close to the Finger Lakes region of New York and at least a couple times a year my hubby and I, and usually a couple friends, drive out to the Finger Lakes and tour and taste and buy wine. I'm not a wine snob in any sense of the word. I do know what I like, but you know those little containers on the bar...where you can dump the wine you're tasting if you don't like it?? I've never used one. I'm of the mind that any wine is too good to waste.

Just like wines have different tastes, wineries have different personalities too. And while I could compare many of the wineries (which ones are a little snooty and which ones turn wine tasting into entertainment), today I simply want to draw your attention to Hazlitt 1852 Vineyards on Seneca Lake, and their very popular, Red Cat.

Red Cat is marketed as a party wine, good to share with friends and perfect to drink while relaxing in a hot tub. If you click on the Red Cat link, you can read the Red Cat story yourselves. And as a naughty girl, I'm sure you picked up on this one line, "It was quickly noted that as Red Cat was consumed, less apparel was worn in the hot tub." How can you resist?? In case you can't tell in the picture above - this is the label on the Red Cat bottle.

Oh, and the mug in the picture above? I couldn't resist buying that, along with my very own Red Cat T-shirt. Since it's not possible to read the text on the mug, I can't resist repeating it here. Then see if you don't want your own Red Cat mug - or your own bottle of Red Cat.

I love Red Cat because on the morning after I...
* ...realize why my neighbor calls them flower beds.
* ...truly sound ill when I call in sick.
* ...enjoy introducing myself to that other person in the bed.
* ...love to discover my new friend's name tattooed on my butt.
* ...am always amazed at how Alka Seltzer makes my coffee look like a cappucciono latte.
* ...realize the only cure is to hop back into the hot tub with another bottle of Red Cat!

Hmm...I just realized I've never written a wine-in-the-hot-tub scene in any of my books. I think I'm going to have to remedy that situation very soon. In the meantime, do you have any favorite wines? And do you ever drink them in the hot tub?

Natasha
http://www.natashamoore.com/
BOUND BY DESIGN - available now from Samhain
SEE ME - Coming in November from Samhain

Blueberry Temptations

2010-08-20T00:01:00.003-04:00

- guest blogger, Mary Quast
I live in a small community in Mid-Michigan and every year during the third weekend in August we host the Montrose Blueberry Festival. (Yes, we do have many places to pick berries!) Every year I not only work and enjoy the festival but I gather inspiration and ideas for future characters and books. It's the best time of the year!!!

For those who have never attended our festival, let me tempt you to zip into my town for a visit.

1. Blueberries… everything blueberries! Yummy! Pie eating contest! (Don't forget to have save room for the Pig Roast.

2. Blueberry pancake breakfast on Sat & Sun. We serve 4,000 hungry folks. The sausages are the kids favorites. My family has been working the breakfast for years, so come to it and I’ll take a break to chat. I actually socialize more than work... don't tell anyone.

3. Medieval Village & Renaissance Faire. Montrose is Scottish for “mountain of roses”. In this hilly farming community, many wild roses grow around fields and in ditches. Only during the festival will you see a man in a kilt though.

4.Working with the knowledge of our Scottish heritage and members from the greater Renaissance Festival folk from the Shiabruck Medieval Village, we’ve put together an amazing village and faire. Stop by and meet my special friends, Gypsy and Hagrid. Gypsy made the original necklace Mike McAlister wears in my book "Lonely Soul".

5. The awesome parade. My boys have been in it every year! Oh... and don't forget the carnival. It’s a blast!

6. Farmers Market. The best food to put into your body is wholesome home grown! And yes... we do have some corn-fed, hay-balin', home-grown hunks as well.

7. Flea Market and craft show. I lose myself there every year; the boys have to lure me out with chocolate.

8. Classic Car Show and Vintage Snowmobile Swap Meet. When hubby gives me "that look", I simply shake my head and say, "NO. I didn't bring the checkbook."

9. Firefighters Demonstrations.

10. Demolition Derby. A great way to take out aggression.

11. Live music and a karaoke contest. No way… you won’t hear me sing! We also have an awesome beer tent.

12. Mud Drag & Mud Bog for those who enjoy getting dirty. Grab a beer ladies and let's go!

13. MI Championship Wrestling.

14. Softball,5-mile road race,horseshoes, Tug-of-War Challenge and more time in the beer tent. Great opportunities to see some shirtless men!

Throughout the town and township, there are a ton of rummage sales offering wonderful treasures and parties galore! I hope many of you take a break from your busy schedule and visit. If I’m available, I’ll let you know where the best "goodies" are. Hugs!

Visit the Blueberry Website for more info.

Mary Quast is a contemporary romance writer with three published books available. Feel free to visit her website or her blogs, Romantic Interludes and Romance Writers Behaving Badly.

Selling the Unusual Setting

2010-08-17T08:00:00.001-04:00

And now for something completely different.

A different time period, I mean. Since I've been following author blogs and forums related to the romance genre, again and again I've encountered the notion that unusual historical settings are a hard sell. There's less talk about erotica; it's a smaller part of the market and doesn't always overlap; it's its own niche, and I think sometimes there's more freedom of setting in erotica than in romance.

My post today is not to be taken as the be-all and end-all on this issue. Mostly, I'm just thinking through strategies that might work. Keep in mind that my World War One novel, The Moonlight Mistress, is erotica, which as I mentioned might be an easier market for unusual settings. I have not yet sold a romance novel, so anything I say about the romance market is extrapolated from observation and conversation.

Here are my thoughts on unusual settings in Romance. In romance, historical usually means Regency (often extended beyond the actual Regency period), Victorian, pre-Regency Georgian, a few French Revolution novels, and...not a lot else. There's a sprinkling of European medievals, usually set in England, and a few Westerns (America, usually post-Civil War), and a few others. I'm sure I'm missing some, and of course the periods and locations of the few books not set in eighteenth through nineteenth century England will vary according to market pressures and other things which I am not going to go into, since that isn't really the topic of this post.

My topic (finally she gets to it!) is how to make the most of the "unusual" period you've chosen. Bear in mind that none of my suggestions are guaranteed to work. If they were, I'd be selling them on television. My suggestions are just intended to help you to think about ways of selling your novel in a more holistic way than simply throwing it against the wall of Regencies over and over again.

If you're starting from scratch, I think the first step is to write the book. No, really. You're much better off trying to pitch something that's a little different if you already have it in hand. The editor can then see what the whole novel is like, and you can impress them with how cool it is and how relevant to today's world.

A simultaneous step is to know the market. Even if there's nothing else exactly like your novel out there, still be prepared to give examples of already-published similar works, not just books but movies or television series or comics, to give an idea of your novel's potential market viability. "Similar" might mean similar themes, a similar basic plot, or a similar sub-genre. For instance, you could compare your romantic suspense novel set during the Russian Revolution to one set during the French Revolution that features similar situations. Or compare your novel to a series of historical mysteries set during the Russian Revolution or some other revolution. Or even to a novel with similar themes set during the breakup of the Soviet Union. Knowing that there are similiarities will not only help you pitch the novel, if needed, but also will give you ideas as to how you might shape it to make it more marketable. (Yes, I said write to market! Those aren't naughty words!)

Third, you can set up a niche market for yourself. Perhaps you could write some short stories set in the time period and location of your choice. After you've sold a few of those, you can use them to demonstrate the possible viability of a longer project. At the least, you've made a little money from the short stories!

I'd welcome further ideas on this topic, so feel free to comment or tell me that my ideas would never work.

###

Victoria Janssen's erotic World War One novel The Moonlight Mistress was nominated for an RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award. She's also written the fantasy-universe novels The Duchess, Her Maid, the Groom & Their Lover and The Duke & the Pirate Queen, out December 2010. Find out more at her website.

Free Stuff Alert!!!

2010-08-09T10:47:00.001-04:00

Don't forget that Michelle Lauren and I are giving away free books from RWA Nationals today during her all-day reader chat extravaganza. Sign up at her message board - and come CHAT with us all day long :)

I'll be giving away two books (see left) by the amazing Robin L. Rotham, one of my fellow authors at Ellora's Cave. These books are super sexy sci-fi and not to be missed.

Michelle is giving away a copy of When Darkness Calls by bestselling author J.K. Beck and The Devil Inside by Jenna Black.

So I hope to see you there!

Minx

Naughty Girls at Nationals

2010-08-05T12:06:00.001-04:00

Well, I'm back from RWA Nationals 2010. Whew! This year was one of the busiest yet. I traveled with my BFF, Michelle Lauren, and we arrived in Orlando ready to par-tay.

Nora Roberts was the keynote luncheon speaker this year and her speech was inspiring. Her main point was that people who spend all their time lamenting how hard publishing is now are fooling themselves. It's hard now, it was hard back in the day and it will always be hard. That's what makes it so special. I loved her speech and yes, I loved that she kept saying "Bullshit" over and over. Love me some Nora.

Jayne Ann Krentz also imparted some interesting knowledge in her address. She's had success in several genres and shared that you can write the core story of your heart and set it in different landscapes without feeling like you're selling out. (She's written contemporaries, historicals and futuristics.)

Last but DEFINITELY not least is the swag :)

Michelle Lauren and I will be unselfishly sharing some of our RWA bounty on Monday 8/9/10 during her all day reader chat extravaganza. If you're not a member of her message board - GO SIGN UP NOW.

Did I mention we're giving away RWA swag? See you there...

Minx

Win an Amazon Gift Card!

2010-07-19T06:26:00.001-04:00

My new site is officially LIVE! To celebrate, I’m giving away TWO AMAZON GIFT CARDS. To enter: Visit my blog and answer the following question on the giveaway post:

"What new site feature(s) do you like/dislike and why?"

The contest ends midnight EST July 23. Winners will be selected randomly on July 24 and contacted via email.

THEN check out my new Bookstore for instant access to lots of free reads, exclusive giveaways, book previews, downloads & more!

Hope to see you there!

Michelle Lauren
Site: http://www.michellelaurenbooks.com
Blog: http://www.michellelaurenbooks.com/blog

The Thrill of the Chase

2010-07-10T15:20:00.001-04:00

I am finally finished.

For the past, I don't know, AGE, I've been working on the sequel to Beg For It. My first book with Ellora's Cave introduced an amazing cast of characters that I couldn't leave alone. Writing the second book in the series entitled Ask For It, has been like visiting with old friends. I love the pace of working on something new, the frenetic energy of matching words to emotion. It's addictive, like a legal high. It's the thrill of the chase that excites me I suppose, always striving to make each draft better until the characters are as real to me as any of you are.

Now it's over.

Oh, I will still have edits to do, multiple revisions that will leave me exhausted and feeling like I never want to see this book again. That's just part of the publishing process and in the end I'm always happy to see my babies shined up and pretty.

But it will never be the same as when I'm writing it. Nothing can recapture the feeling of bringing life to characters that were just fuzzy images in the back of my mind. The only thing that cures the melancholy is starting something new.

So in the words of Jay Z - "on to the next one".

Guess who's up next?

ssshhhh, it's Anya :)

Minx

Johnny Loves Krissy Release Party

2010-04-30T11:51:00.005-04:00

Some of you may remember Johnny Loves Krissy.
This story was originally contracted with Triskelion Publishing. After spending about a week on their website for sale, the company went into bankruptcy and Johnny Loves Krissy went onto my "never to be published" shelf.

Only JLK wouldn't stay on the shelf. this story has a deeper meaning for me. I wrote the story for my sister and wanted to see it available again. So after a complete rewrite, with heavy revision, the story is once again available in both print and e-book.

This also represents the last of my stories that were once wrapped up in the bankruptcy hell of Triskelion Publishing. The others have all found homes. Delicious Darkness is at the Wild Rose Press. And The Cougar and the Best Man became Impulsive Pleasures and is also with Ellora's Cave.

So about Johnny Loves Krissy... (adult excerpt)

Johnny Loves Krissy
Copyright KyAnn Waters
All Rights Reserved, The Wild Rose Press
Erotic Contemporary
The Wilder Roses
e-book novel $6.00
rated double rose

To Purchase http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=182&products_id=770

Blurb:
Kristina Taylor's biological clock just went off. She has endometriosis. Now “who's your baby's daddy” just took on a completely new meaning. A brilliant plan for conception includes her hot best friend Johnny

Knock her up? Krissy has to be crazy. Or is she? Johnny has loved her since high school. Her plan might not include life after baby. His does. But how is he going to show her how good they can be together with all her rules--no kissing, no touching, no caressing. He can make love to her, but she's determined not to enjoy it. To hell with that and to hell with her rules. He's determined to show her friendship is the best foundation for a relationship.

But there are always complications. ..

With Johnny, Krissy is afraid to look to the future. Right now, she can't get enough of the present, and she dreads the thought of losing what she's had with him in the past. Huston. Taking him to bed won't be a hardship--if she can only get him to play by her rules. After all, she wants to maintain their friendship. Not easy if he ends up being the best sex of her life.

Excerpt:

"Our baby," she whispered with awe and wonder discernable in her voice. "Is this really happening?"

Her eyes filled with tears. Johnny set the frying pan on the stove and pulled her out of the kitchen chair and into his arms. "Scary when it finally becomes real, isn't it?" He stroked her back. He felt her head nod against his chest. Then she went rigid and pushed against him. "What?"

"We have bigger problems." She took two retreating steps. "The when, where and how."

"Pardon me?"

"I don't want some magical date etched into my mind reminding me of the day we conceived our baby. Where are we actually going to have sex? Not my bed. I'm not going to remember us every time I crawl beneath the covers. Not your bed either. I don't want you thinking about me when you go to sleep."

Good thing she wasn't in his head. He'd already taken her to his bed hundreds of times. In his dreams. "The where won't matter. You and I both know we'll never forget."

"As for the when, I'm ready when you are." Krissy put her hands on her hips. "Actually, I should rephrase that. I'll be ready after you make breakfast and we eat. If we can decide where, then we can do it tonight. We just need to think of sex as the first step in a series of steps to reach the desired conclusion of having a baby."

As if he could just forget he'd be making love while Krissy only thought of their being together as a means to an end. "At least we don't need to discuss the how."

"Actually, I think we do."

Johnny nearly crushed the egg he was holding in his hand instead of cracking it into the frying pan. He looked over his shoulder and cocked an eyebrow. Krissy sat at the table again with a serious look on her face, not a trace of humor in the straight line of her mouth. "I'm capable."

She rolled her eyes. "We both know what happens in relationships when one falls hard and not the other. That can't happen to us. So we need rules about the how." She held up one finger. "No kissing. That includes oral. I'm not sucking your dick."

"What if I need help getting an erection? You won't be my fluff girl?"

She pursed her lips. "I'll get you a Viagra."

Her mouth turned up on the left and he weakened. "Okay, let me hear the rest of your rules."

"No caressing. I know you're an ass man. Mine is off limits. No touching outside of what is absolutely necessary. No grabbing hair."

"Are your tits off limits, too?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Yes."

Laughter rolled from deep within his chest. Unbelievable. His dreams had come true and then morphed into his worst nightmare. He could make love to Krissy, but by god, he wasn't allowed to enjoy it.

"If you make me come, I'll clobber you the minute you get off of me. I don't want you to be good."

Did she read minds now? "I can't control whether it's good or not."

"Yes, you can! Just get on, come, and get off. Hopefully, we'll only have to fuck once."

"Do I get to enjoy myself at all or is that against the rules as well?" Johnny flipped the eggs in the pan, then snatched the bread off the top of the refrigerator. He needed to calm down. Krissy's unrealistic ideal situation was a long way from his.

"Of course." She stood and poured them coffee. "You have to enjoy sex in order to reach orgasm. How else am I going to get pregnant? Coming is ejaculation. I don't suppose you're a premature ejaculator. The faster the better."

Erotic Romance Author
www.KyAnnWaters. com

Anyone who leaves a comment will be entered into a drawing for a digital copy of any of my back list titles available through the Wild Rose Press. Delicious Darkness, Hot Blooded, Executive Positions, Tie Me Up Tie Me Down, The Cougar Meets Her Master, and there you can also grab my free read Twisted Sex and Happenstance. Be sure to leave a way to contact you should your name be drawn as the winner.

Wicked Wednesday: Self Esteem Issues

2010-04-21T08:00:00.000-04:00

As I am working diligently on my next novella I find myself completely immersed in my heroine. Casey is different than anyone else I've ever written. She's beautiful but unaware of it, smart but doesn't feel like it and completely down on herself.

In short, she's awesome but doesn't KNOW she is.

Most of my heroines have been pretty kick ass. Confident, self-assured and ready to rock whatever comes their way. I usually feel that way myself so it makes total sense that this comes out in my writing. So why the sudden urge to write about a woman who has no idea who she is or where she's going?

I think every one of us, no matter how confident we may be, has moments of self doubt. Moments where you wonder if you're making the right decisions in life or whether you can really manage all the things you've taken on. We all doubt our awesomeness at some point. And I think it's important to acknowledge that we all feel this way sometimes and that it's completely O-K.

So - here's to all my sisters who may not know yet just how great they are. This one's for you.

Minx

Excerpt from ASK FOR IT

* * * * *
Casey stared at herself in the mirror and tried to find words. All she could come up with was “Wow.”

She stood in the middle of a dressing room at Neiman Marcus, clothes strewn around the large space helter-skelter as if they’d been caught in a hurricane. She supposed in a way they had. Hurricane Anya. The woman was easily a category five when it came to her powers of persuasion.

“You look amazing.” Anya clapped her hands and started taking bows. She blew imaginary kisses to herself in the full length mirror. “Yes, I know I’m brilliant. She’s my greatest creation.”

“I can’t believe that’s me.” Casey blinked rapidly against a sudden rush of grateful tears. She wore a long sweep of material, a soft pool of silk that swirled around her body like a cloud. It slid against her skin in a seductive caress, tickling her like a lover. She pivoted and looked at the plunging back drape. It dipped low enough to entice but still covered enough that she didn’t feel self conscious. It was more beautiful than anything she could have imagined or wished for.

“I don’t look so pale anymore.” The deep amethyst color made her skin glow like alabaster. She gave a little twirl and watched the skirt flare out showing a hint of leg. This was a dress for someone glamorous, someone daring. She’d never worn anything like it before.

“You look radiant. Like a moon goddess.” Anya moved around her, her blue eyes taking everything in. “But you’re still missing something. I’m not sure what.”

Casey bit her lip and looked at her reflection again. Who was she trying to fool? She didn’t have the guts to wear something this slinky and wouldn’t know what to do even if she did. She wasn’t good at being the center of attention. She never knew what to say or do or how to act.

Curling up in her favorite armchair with a cup of hot tea and a book was more her style. She might occasionally dream about being the belle of the ball but that was fantasy. She knew better than most that fairy tales didn’t come true.

Excerpts…What Works? LIBERATING LACEY Giveaway!

2010-03-27T08:00:00.008-04:00

Today our guest is author Anne Calhoun. She's talking excerpts today AND giving away a print copy of her book, LIBERATING LACEY. This contest is open through Sunday, so make sure you answer her question to get your name in the drawing. Now, I'll turn the "pen" over to Anne.

* * *

Excerpts…What Works?

by Anne Calhoun

As an e-book published author I’m always curious what prompts readers to buy a book available on an e-publisher’s website. To help make a decision there’s the cover, the blurb on the book’s buy page, and usually an excerpt of anywhere from 50-1500 words, depending on the book’s length. My publisher, Ellora’s Cave, prefers an excerpt to be within the first few pages of the book. With Amazon you can search a book’s contents for particular words, or random pages. So, for example, if you’d prefer your book to have sex scenes with handcuffs, you could search for “handcuffs” and get a taste of what the book has to offer (try it with the print version of LIBERATING LACEY). But with the publishers’ sites – Samhaim, Ellora’s Cave, what-have-you – you can’t search. All you get is the chosen couple thousand words.

As a reader, this is tough for me. While writers must ensure the first few pages are snappy, interesting, sexy, and guaranteed to grab the reader, I personally don’t browse books that way. I open the book to a random section. If the writing grabs me in the middle of the book, when the author should be clipping along, pulling out U-turns and surprises and conflict-upping moments with every chapter, then I go back and have a look at the beginning. I also know, as a writer, that sections in the middle of the book are my favorites. Don’t get me wrong – I love the beginning of LIBERATING LACEY, where Hunter and Lacey get down to brass tacks after a not-so-casual conversation in a bar. It sets up their characters perfectly. Newly divorced Lacey knows what she wants – a hookup – and goes about getting it. Hunter’s not intimidated by a strong, purposeful, classy woman. By the end of the first chapter they’ve had sex, and they both want more, not because the sex was smokin’ (it was, of course) but because of the dialogue and their personalities.

But that’s not my favorite scene. If I could have chosen any random 1500 words to tempt the reader into buying LIBERATING LACEY, I would have chosen the excerpt available on the Liberating Lacey page on my blog. Or the excerpt I’ve included below, which sets up one of the more emotional scenes in the book. I think these scenes draw me because they’re so heavy on the emotional ramifications of an ever-deepening plot (in this case, the consequences of casual sex). That’s why I read and write romance, for the emotions, which are harder to set up in the first three to five pages. Goals, yes. Emotions…not as easy to do, which is why I skim in the middle.

Here’s the excerpt, not available anywhere else, unless you buy the book!

---------

It wasn’t just her lips. Her entire body both welcomed and maddened him, the soft give to her breasts and stomach, the way her thighs cradled him, the brush of the baby-soft skin of her inner arm against his back. He’d always enjoyed the slow, sexy build of foreplay, loved women’s bodies and all the mysterious, amazing things they could do, but with Lacey, he couldn’t detach. Kissing meant he had to touch. Touching meant he wanted to crush her under him. Getting her under him meant he had to be inside her, and when he got there the only thing that kept him from losing it and going all caveman on her was the knowledge that he’d scare her to death if he did.

Right now his prehistoric ancestors were beating drums just under the surface of his rational brain. He lifted her skirt, the fabric sodden in his fist, and pulled down her panties. She must be making up for lost time or something, because she never said no. Asleep, tired, irritable after a bad day, whether he asked for a quickie or a marathon session that lasted four hours she never said no, and she wasn’t now, either. He stuffed the wet scrap of fabric in the pocket of his cargo shorts and fumbled with his zipper.

The shorts were low on his hips, his throbbing cock getting pelted by the rain before he looked up to meet Lacey’s anticipatory eyes. She’d asked if this heat was normal for him. It wasn’t. If he got caught having sex in a public place by someone with a grudge or a holier-than-thou attitude, he’d get fired so fast he’d get rug burn on his ass from the carpet outside the chief’s office. First the parking lot, now the park. Even her driveway was considered public, with an expectation of being seen. Around Lacey his sense of self-preservation took a scarily long hike.

Today it looked like his career was safe because shitshitshit, “I don’t have a condom,” he said, knowing she didn’t either. She’d left her purse at home.

She peered up at him through her lashes. Lacey never left the house without mascara because her short, reddish eyelashes disappeared without it. The rain had smudged the makeup around her eyes, a shockingly slutty look for her that, combined with her swollen lips and sexy gaze, did nothing to convince his cock to stand down. “You have your wallet,” she said.

He did have his wallet because he didn’t care if she was as rich as the queen, if she was out with him, he’d pay for the mocha and lunch. But while he had money, he didn’t have protection. “The cupboard’s bare, beautiful. I meant to buy more yesterday but didn’t get to…”

He couldn’t finish the sentence because she’d reached between them to stroke his shaft. Cold water streamed down her forearm, over his balls, making them tighten but he was so hot steam should have been rising from his body. Just to torture himself he cupped one breast through her shirt and thumbed the hard, thrusting nipple, kissing her while he did. She could get him off here. It wouldn’t take long. Then he’d take her home, dry her off and love her up until he was ready for round two.

“Hunter.”

She might have said his name twice because her voice was raised, urgent. He forced his eyes to focus, saw both intensity and hesitation in her face.

“I’m on the Pill.”

He knew that, had seen the container with its twenty-eight tiny pills in her bathroom.

“I’m safe,” she said and stroked her thumb over the tip.

Sure she was. Shit, she’d been with one man before him. She was the one who should be worried. He didn’t keep score but even the approximate number was a fucking scandal.

She stroked him again, tip to base, before he uncurled her fingers from around his cock. “I can’t think when you do that, beautiful, and I’d better be coherent for this conversation.”

Obligingly she laid her hand flat on his stomach and looked up at him, complete trust and wicked temptation in her brown eyes. “I’m on the Pill. I’m clean,” she said. As if he hadn’t heard her.

“Fuck,” he whispered. He’d resisted temptation before because kids should be wanted and mistakes happened. Because women lied about all kinds of things, birth control not the least of them. But fuck, oh fuck, now that the option was out in the open he wanted to be bare inside Lacey. His whole body ached with wanting.

And Lacey was honesty personified.

---------

GIVEAWAY TIME!

What do you like in an excerpt that prompts you to buy the book, or does the excerpt not factor in at all? Do you only buy certain kinds of ebooks – BDSM themes, or shapeshifters, or ménage, or reunion stories, and the excerpt makes no difference? Is it about voice, or a suspenseful setup, a character who grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go?

Let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll choose one winner of a paper copy of LIBERATING LACEY! And stop by my website or blog to check out my upcoming Spice Briefs releases and other news. Many thanks to those Naughty Girls Next Door for allowing me to guest blog!

**Note** The contest ENDS Sunday, March 28th.

Dark Man and Sexy Vampires

2010-03-24T10:47:00.006-04:00

Today the third installment of my Blood Slaves series, Dark Man, released from Ellora’s Cave. Before I tempt you with an excerpt or two, I’d thought I’d share some of my other sexy vampires and vampire lore.

The Blood Slaves isn’t my first foray into the erotic decadence of nightwalkers and bloodsuckers. In Hot Blooded, Kelis is a vampire living in LA. And the woman in the story, Loni Soleil is offspring from a man from another star system. And in After Dark, Ellora’s Cavemen Jewels of the Nile Vol II, Alandro Blackwood is a Native American vampire searching for his bloodmatch, the only woman with whom he can breed. In After Dark, I explained away the myths of vampires. Garlic was only offensive because the vampire’s acute sense of smell intensified the odor. Alandro had a reflection but didn’t like looking at himself. Within the comments section of this post, I’ll share an excerpt from After Dark and Hot Blooded.

However, in Blood Slaves, the vampire world is unlike anything I’ve written before. Seven master vampires control the entire vampire world. Only the seven can turn a human, only the seven are warm blooded and only the seven have a heartbeat. In the first three installments, the history of the vampires is only brushed upon. This was intentional. Each story reveals a little more of their world. There is a rift occurring between the seven and the rest of the vampire world and the vampire world and humanity. In future works, you’ll learn more about the disease that nearly destroyed all vampires, how Theron and the other seven survived and how the disease will once again threaten the vampire’s very existence.

But for now, let’s move on to the good stuff. Theron is my favorite character to date. He's stubborn and yet vulnerable. He's responsible for his Sect of vampires and refuses to let others close. He feeds and F*cks in the Catacombs. There are times when he isn't likeable, but you can't help but still feel for him because you know his iron-fisted control comes from a need to protect his world and the vampires. To see him in his own story is both thrilling and scary as hell, because I hope readers love him as much as I do.

This book is graphic and intense. I'm going to post the excerpts in the comments section.

Book 3 in the Blood Slaves series.

Vance is determined to discover the secrets hidden in The Catacombs, an exclusive all-male fetish club. Someone there was the last person to see his ex-lover alive and he intends to seek revenge for the brutal murder. Once in, he meets Tac, the owner of the club. He's secretive and hot as hell. The BDSM sex is unlike anything Vance has experienced. Tac is becoming an obsession and keeping him from the truth.

Nothing can endanger the vampires' existence. Theron, known in the club as Tac, will destroy any who try. He is dominant and dangerous--in total control of his world. He lives only for sex and blood. He has never been emotionally involved with anyone. Now, a human has slipped into his life and under his skin, making him want more than meaningless sex with blood slaves. But Theron will never allow a mere mortal to bring him to his knees.

Note: This book contains scenes of smoking-hot men engaged in multiple-partner sex and bondage.

Click To Purchase Dark Man

Guest Blog: Gail Roarke, with an excerpt from One Knight Stand

2010-03-13T04:00:00.001-05:00

Michelle and the other Naughty Girls Next Door were kind enough to invite me to guest blog here today. Thanks, girls! I'm a long-time fan of pulp fiction and comics. I like larger-than-life heroes and heroines, so when I started writing erotica and romance, much of it involved superheroic characters. One recurring character is Victor Kruger, the Black Knight. He's co-starred in two other stories as the heroine's playmate, but One Knight Stand is my first story from Victor's point of view.

Excerpt: One Knight Stand

Broadway Street in Denver looked like a battlefield. Red and blue lights strobed across the scene, reflected on smashed windows and the wet streets. The last ambulance pulled away with a brief whoop of its siren to clear a path. Cops stood guard over empty suits of powered armor as their former occupants were loaded into police vehicles. Firefighters in heavy turnout coats coiled their hoses, the fires extinguished at last. Bystanders crowded the police barricades, gawking as always, talking and taking pictures with their phones.

Victor caught a glimpse of himself in a storefront window. He looked a mess. His chain mail shirt was slashed, torn, partially melted in places, and full of bullet holes. It was also covered in blood—his blood. He healed almost faster than he was injured so he felt fine, but he looked like an extra for a zombie film. His face and hands were clean, though. The energy that filled him, the same energy that regenerated any injury, no matter how severe, also burned away any blood on his skin. But his clothing wasn’t so lucky.

“Probably why I never get the post-battle interviews,” he grumbled.

Okay, yeah, he was a newbie hero. And he wasn’t affiliated with the Guardians, who invariably got the lion’s share of the credit any time they showed up. He could see the media clustered around the Guardians, including Iron Maiden, and hanging on their every word. But still, he was doing good work, and while he wasn’t doing it for the acclaim, a little acclaim now and then would have been nice.

A soft female voice interrupted Victor’s thoughts. “Mr. Kruger?”

He turned to see a reporter, judging by the press pass in her packet pocket and the photographer at her side, approach him. She was more than a foot shorter than Victor, but at six foot five, he was used to looking down at most people. Slender, with delicate features, fine platinum blonde hair and blue eyes, she was dressed for success in a dark skirt and blazer over a white blouse.

“That’s me,” he said.

“Robin Harris, Denver Weekly News. I’d like to interview you, if you don’t mind.”

“A little late to the party, aren’t you?”

She looked chagrined and glanced over at the media circus surrounding the Guardians. Reporters and cameramen from all the local television stations crowded around, clamoring for attention.

Then she turned back to Victor and shrugged with an adorable grin. “Just a little. It’s been that kind of day. No room at the table for the new gal from a small weekly. I imagine you can relate to that.”

He snorted. “You got that right, sister.”

“So…the interview?”

“Sure. Shoot.” He was pleased that she wanted to interview him, and more than happy to spend time with her. She was quite attractive.

“Great,” she said.

It took only a minute or two for her to coordinate with her photographer. He took a series of photos of Victor, and of Victor with Robin. As he worked, Robin pulled out a small digital recorder and held it up between them.

“We’re outside the headquarters of Ingolf & Devore with the city’s newest protector, the Black Knight—”

Victor grinned at the reporter. “Call me Victor.”

She smiled back. “Victor, then. Tell me, Victor, how did you happen to be here at just the right time to stop the Marauders?”

“Just lucky, I guess. I was in the neighborhood when I saw the Guardians arrive. You don’t usually see all the Guardians in one place unless it’s big trouble, so I figured they could probably use my help. I followed them here—and the rest is history.”

“Wow.” She sounded sincerely impressed.

Victor’s smile grew a little more arrogant, his attention a little more overt. He didn’t think she was a good enough actress to be so convincing, in which event he thought a case of hero worship might serve him well.

He shrugged in faux modesty. “I do what I can.”

“And you do it very well,” Robin replied. The faint widening of her eyes told Victor she realized how she sounded. “I mean, you rescued the hostages without any customers or bank employees getting hurt.” Her eyes flicked to her left toward her photographer. Victor could see him smirking.

“Yes, I did.” He would rather have gone head to head with the Marauders in their powered armor, but Sentinel, the Guardians’ leader, had had other ideas. Victor had been a Marine in World War II, and he knew when to shut up and do what he was told. It wasn’t about him or his taste for brawling; it was about rescuing the hostages—and he’d managed it.

The interview went on for another couple of minutes. Victor answered the woman’s questions, giving her the responses he knew she expected. All the time, he gave her the benefit of his full attention, letting his interest show in his gaze. She really was beautiful. She hung on his every word, meeting his eyes with a bold look of her own, all but preening under his gaze.

“Thank you, Victor,” Robin said, caressing his name. She turned to face her photographer. “That’ll do it, Steve.”

Steve shook his head. “Jesus, Robin, could you be any more obvious about it?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, nose in the air. She tossed the recorder to him. He fumbled for a moment before catching it and scowled but didn’t pursue the issue.

Victor dismissed the man from his mind. He opened his mouth to speak just as Robin said, “I’d love to get a more in-depth interview with you, Victor.”

Victor heard her photographer choke on a stifled laugh as he turned away. I’ll just bet you would, Victor thought. And I’ll be glad to give it to you.

“What sort of interview?” Victor asked. The not-so-subtle emphasis of her words suggested that she was really angling for a date. She might do an interview too, probably would. But he wondered if she was really just a groupie when all was said and done. Not that there was anything wrong with that. He’d had his share of fun with groupies over the last few months.

“Oh, you know,” she said, twirling a hand in the air, “the usual. Some background, questions about rumors, how you got into the biz—the usual.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes.” She’d produced a compact from her purse and was checking her makeup as she spoke. “There are always rumors—you know that. For instance,” she added, eyes flicking in his direction once, “Rumor has it you and Iron Maiden are an item.”

Oh ho, Victor thought. “Not true.”

“Really?” She couldn’t keep the pleasure out of her voice.

“Really. I’m not the sort to kiss and tell, so even if we were an item, I wouldn’t discuss it. But take it from me, we are most definitely not an item.”

Not, he thought, if you mean we’re dating, at least. He and Leah—Iron Maiden to the public—certainly had fun between the sheets on a regular basis. But there was no relationship there, no emotional commitment. Just good, clean dirty fun.

“Oh. Well, then. See? That’s one rumor squashed already. So you’ll do it?”

“When and where?”

She smiled with undisguised pleasure. “Excellent!” She put away the compact and produced a business card from one pocket. “How’s eight o’clock tonight?”

Victor took the card. “Let me check my schedule.” He pretended to think for a moment. “That would be fine. That answers one question. But what about where?”

“It’s on the back of the card.”

He turned the card over and saw an address and phone number written on the back. She’d come prepared. He recognized the neighborhood, an upper middle class area in the eastern part of the city.

“Your place?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She smiled. “It belongs to friends, actually. I’m house sitting.”

“And you’re allowed to have…guests?” He put just a hint of suggestiveness in his voice, curious as to how she’d respond.

“My friends are adults, and so am I,” she said without the faintest whiff of embarrassment. “Having guests over is hardly unexpected.”

“I suppose not.” He waved the card gently. “I’ll be there, Ms. Harris.”

“Good. And please—call me Robin.”

“Of course, Robin. Eight o’clock, then.”

“I look forward to it. Oh—how do you feel about Indian?”

“I’ll try anything once—”

She cocked her head to look at him sidelong. “I’ve heard that about you. Perhaps we’ll put that to the test.”

He grinned. “If you like. You won’t be disappointed, I promise. And as it happens, I love Indian.”

She smiled without replying then glanced over her shoulder to where her photographer was standing with Man-Ape and Sentinel. She met Victor’s eyes again. “Well, duty calls. Until tonight.”

He bowed his head briefly. “Until tonight.”

She turned and walked away. He watched her go, admiring the sway of her hips and the smooth movement of her legs.

Wicked Wednesday: Michelle Lauren

2010-03-02T22:39:00.003-05:00

The work I'm sharing today is VERY different from what you've read from me. It's written as pulp noir fiction. (If you've seen Sin City, you get the tone.) Very dark, action-packed, a little paranormal edge and a soupçon of mystery. Since I'm Queen of Revision, I'll just share a teaser today and more in coming months as the story progresses and gets refined. Enjoy!

Death by Design

“Thanks for listening to Siren's Song. This is Lola Samuels, signing off.” Lola motioned to Wally, who flipped a switch in the sound room, turning the blinking sign from ON AIR to OFF AIR. The lights dimmed.

Leather creaked as she leaned back in the chair. The door swung open, and Lola looked up as Wally entered, a cigar perched on the edge of his mouth and a clipboard in his hands.

“Great job tonight, sugar. I keep telling the boss to pay you more. Most of the listeners call to hear you, not the music. There's just something about your voice that makes a man wanna do whatever you want.”

You don't know the half of it. “It comes in handy.”

Wally shifted his bulk in front of the door, a sly grin on his face. “Go out with me tonight. We could have some laughs...”

“Sorry. I have other plans.” She didn't miss the disappointment in his eyes as she brushed past him and took the staircase to the back parking lot. Lola liked Wally, liked him too much to involve him in her plans tonight, which had nothing to do with laughs and everything to do with committing a murder.

Lola slid behind the wheel of a gray Volkswagen and glanced at the dashboard. Ten after midnight. Plenty of time to pick up her mark, do the deed and get home. Keying the ignition, she started to go in reverse. Then the unthinkable happened.

A siren chirped. One glance in the rearview mirror showed a police car, one of the Chrysler Airflow models. Lights flashed as it pulled to a stop, blocking Lola in. Great. More complications. Just what she needed. A rap on the window made Lola sigh. Rolling it down, she smiled at the burly officer.

“May I help you, sir?”

He fingered his gun, and his eyes darted around the car's interior before returning to pin her. “Your brake lights are out.”

“Really?” Lola feigned surprise. In truth, she hadn't bothered to replace the lights on the car since she usually rode the bus to work at the radio station. But tonight having her own transportation was key. “Thank you. I'll get that fixed first thing tomorrow.”

He nodded but his gaze flicked to the backseat again. Her stomach tightened. If he looked much harder, he would probably ask about the contents of the burlap bundle, which contained supplies Lola needed for tonight.

If he opened it...well, let's just say busted brake lights would be the least of her worries.

“Not so fast.” Lola paused in rolling up the window as the officer leaned closer. “Your voice sounds familiar.”

“I get that a lot.”

Frowning, he looked at the radio station sign above the parking lot's entrance. His eyebrows shot up. “Wait a minute! You're that Siren's Song lady. You sound even better in person.”

She got that a lot, too. Her fingers clenched around the steering wheel and she forced a smile. “Always glad to meet a fan. Can I leave? I need to get home.”

“Rough day?” He chuckled and leaned in the window. His gaze lingered on hers before dropping to her breasts, emphasized by the plunging neckline of the red dress. “Matter fact, I just told my partner there” his head jerked toward the idling vehicle “that I deserved something nice and soft to relax with tonight. You interested?”

“No.” The window started to close. The sound of a gun cocking made Lola freeze.

“That wasn't a request, baby doll. Get out of the car. Now.”

“You really don't want me to do that.” Lola's tone deepened, become richer, more persuasive. His eyes flickered as he leaned forward.

“I...don't?”

“No,” she murmured, holding his gaze. “You don't. You want to turn around and drive away. In fact, once you're back in the car, you won't even remember meeting me.”

He wanted to say no. His eyes reflected the struggle of his will to triumph over hers before they dimmed in defeat. Drunkenly, he stumbled to his vehicle and fell inside. The siren immediately muted. Seconds later, the vehicle pulled away and disappeared into the rising mist.

Her vision blurred and she rested her head against the steering wheel until the urge to vomit passed. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking. Liquid splattered on her thigh.

Lola swore and wiped at the blood dripping from her nose. After all these years, messing with minds still took a lot out of her. Too much. But tonight it would come in handy.

Lola pulled up outside the Velvet Curtain Lounge ten minutes later. Jazz music wailed in the night punctuated by the howl of cats in heat. Nearby, tires screeched, followed by the rapid fire of gunshots, then the squeal of rubber.

Prostitutes with hollow eyes leaned against the street poles, their skin exposed despite January's chill. They watched her progress until Lola disappeared inside the stained brick building.

Only a few steps inside she spotted her target, Luigi Giacomo.

The smoky air burned Lola's eyes but she didn't blink. Everything in her fixated on the hulking, sweaty figure surrounded by scantily clad women in all hues, everything from flaxen haired nymphs with Aryan features to exotic girls with pale eyes and light brown skin, products of mixed races.

Lola knew Luigi's biography by heart: the younger brother to the largest mob boss in Virginia, Luigi made a name for himself trafficking young girls in the sex trade. He was also one of the men responsible for making the public fear people like Lola, people with…gifts.

When the media found out there were women with the power to literally talk a man into anything, they asked Luigi for his take on the “phenomena.” His response? “If it were up to me, I'd tattoo serial numbers on their wrists and throw the whole lot of those freaks on an island. I got enough trouble dealing with normal women.”

Like normal was anything to brag about.

Luigi belched and tossed a glass against the wall. Wiping a meaty hand across his mouth, he tangled the fingers of his free hand in a girl's thick locks and forced her onto her knees between his splayed thighs. She struggled for a moment, and then cried out when he slapped her.

Lola's fists clenched. Murder was a sin. God says "Vengeance is mine." But in times like these, God worked too slowly.

That's where she came in.

DEADLINES

2010-02-27T02:01:00.003-05:00

Writers have deadlines. Why are they called deadlines? Who was the genius who thought that term up?

Actually, that’s not a rhetorical question. According to The Maven’s Word of the Day:

The word deadline first appeared as an American coinage that referred to the line around a military prison beyond which soldiers were authorized to shoot escaping prisoners. According to Lossing's History of the Civil War (1868): "Seventeen feet from the inner stockade was the 'dead-line', over which no man could pass and live." This use is also found in Congressional records as early as 1864: "The 'dead line', beyond which the prisoners are not allowed to pass."

Dead line. As in dead at this point. As in cease to exist if you go THERE. Dead. Line. Deadline.

Hmmm, even though it really does feel like that at times, I am willing to bet very few authors actually DIE if they miss a deadline. So what else could it be? More Maven wisdom says:

The other possibility is that the deadline we know today as 'a point in time past which something will not be accepted' comes from an early 20th-century printing term. In the years before the first citation of deadline referring to a point in time, there are citations for deadline meaning 'a guideline on the bed of a printing press beyond which text will not print': "Make certain that the type does not come outside of the dead-line on the press" (Henry, Printing for School & Shop, 1917).

As a writer, you will always have deadlines. At first they are self imposed. You *WANT* to finish that story and have it ready to go by a certain date. If that doesn’t happen, you feel like a loser but you live. There is no sentry waiting to fill you full of lead, just a nasty wave of self-disappointment. (tastes like feet, blech)

Then you sell and, suddenly, the deadline carries more weight. You don’t get to define it anymore. There is no leisurely flipping around the manuscript looking for flaws. Nope. Your editor is waiting on that story and you have a concrete date. Copy-editors and art departments are waiting on you. You are under the gun now!

Fine, you make that deadline but there is more! Now you have a second story with a whole separate deadline. You are writing one, editing the other and oh yeah, did I mention promo? (Little things like waiting until the last minute to do that guest blog post you didn’t forget but have been putting off really jerks a knot in things). You can almost feel the deadline pressing down like iron bars.

Do that for several books.

Wow, you are in demand now! You have enough oomph behind your name to sell on proposal. Easy street, right? Wrong! Now you have a date pre-set but no real story started, just a promise and an outline. You are bound by legal issues tighter than handcuffs. If you screw up a date, you might as well pucker up and kiss your career goodbye. (with tongue)

And what about your readers, your fans? By this time, you have some. Even if it is just one woman’s library group that meets every Wednesday for prune juice and raisin cookies. They are waiting for your latest! You owe them and don’t want to let them down. *CRACK!!* Get to it!

Don’t get sloppy or lazy. That is one way to kill your writing career. (public nudity while eating Cheetos in Wal-mart is another)

Keep doing this, over and over and over. The glamorous life of a writer. It’s not all champagne and caviar. But who wants old grape juice and fish eggs anyway? Gimme a cold cup of coffee, a soft pair of pajama pants and a deadline, then watch me make magic.

I am a writer. Deadlines are my life. And I love it. I am actually on a deadline now.

The sequel to MYLA BY MOONLIGHT has been contracted by Carina Press. Titled SALOME AT SUNRISE, it is slated for a June release. So while I tappity tap tap my edits and work on the final book in the trilogy, leave me a comment(with your email addy). I will swing back by and choose one person to win a free copy of Myla by Moonlight.

You can read blurbs, excerpts, free reads and generally just play around on my website. Enjoy! *puts nose back to the grindstone*

Wicked Wednesday - Minx Malone

2010-02-17T08:00:00.002-05:00

Hi guys,

I've been working on the sequel to my contemporary novella Beg For It (Ellora's Cave) for awhile now. I couldn't quite get a handle on Italian smooth talker Andre Lavin.

Let me know if I finally got it right in my Wednesday Work in Progress.

***

Ask For It (excerpt)

“I’m not sure about this new slogan.” Andre Lavin rubbed his hands roughly over his face trying to erase a week’s worth of stress. He was so tired he almost felt intoxicated but seeing his dream come to life was worth a thousand sleepless nights. “Living the Lavin life. It sounds like a ripoff of a cheesy pop song.”

James Lawson, owner of Mirage Advertising Agency, patted him reassuringly on the shoulder. “No worries. I’m sure we can come up with something that suits you better.”

Andre swallowed a grunt of disagreement. He wasn’t so sure. He’d already seen presentations for two alternate slogans and they were no closer to capturing the essence of what he was about than the current one. He’d been waiting his entire career to launch his international campaign and he wouldn’t see it derailed now. His debut had to be top notch. His success had been too hard won for him to chance botching things now.

“I have the production figures. We’re in good shape.” Jason Gautier, his business partner and best friend appeared at his left side. His blond hair was cut into a short spiky do, more for ease and comfort than style. His friend had been accused more than once of having a calculator for a brain and a cash register for a heart. Success was his life’s blood. It was one of the things they had in common.

“Fantastic. Do we still have that conference call with the bank this afternoon?”

“Actually there was a mix up. We’re supposed to be on that call in about ten minutes.” At his glower, Jason shrugged apologetically and crossed his arms. “Don’t shoot the messenger. How do you want to handle this?”

“Gentleman, I think I have a solution.” James waved over his assistant, a young woman with short dark hair and flashing blue eyes. He whispered something in her ear and she turned and sashayed off.

He stole a quick glance at the watch on his wrist. “The conference room isn’t booked for this afternoon, so why don’t you take your call and then come back around 3 o’clock. I’ll have our designers rearrange their schedules to accommodate you.”

“Great, that’s…” Andre trailed off as something passed his vision. A petite girl wearing an oversized monstrosity of a sweater. Her dark hair was bound back tightly into a bun and she moved like she was in a rush, her slim legs carrying her quickly behind the reception desk. She turned and her delicate profile came into view. His mind registered recognition at the same time as his body. He cursed softly and turned away slightly, giving himself time to calm down. His reaction made him feel like a lecher, especially since from a distance she looked more like a fairy child than a grown woman.

She was assisting the designers with the campaign and ever since he’d first seen her a month ago he’d been battling this borderline obsession. He knew her every expression, the way she tilted her head when she was listening or pursed her lips when she didn’t agree with something. Her skin was very pale and it made her look even more fragile. She was delicately built, petite with slim hips but something about her manner told him she had a backbone of steel.

He turned at the sharp nudge in his side. Jason lifted his eyebrows in inquiry before stretching to see over his shoulder. Andre stepped forward blocking his friend’s view of the girl. He wasn’t sure what drove the protective instinct but in that moment he didn’t want his friend even looking in her direction. It was like letting a wolf loose on a lamb.

***
Ok so that's just a little taste of Andre, a character that I love to write. He's driven, he's perfectionistic and he's about to be swept off his feet by a woman who's nothing like what he expects.

Hope you enjoyed the sneak peek. Now back to your regularly scheduled lives :)

Minx

Sinful Saturday: Dangerous Beautiful

2010-02-13T09:37:00.012-05:00

Welcome to our first Sinful Saturday! Minx and I teamed up to write on the same prompt: She couldn't breathe.

By chance, we both decided to write suspense: My flash fic for today is contemporary suspense and Minx wrote paranormal suspense.

Plus, YOU get to join the fun! Here's my challenge: Give me a scene (roughly 100 words or less) using this prompt: She couldn't breathe. I'll jump start the party:

Dangerous Beauty:

She couldn’t breathe.

The sensation shocked Grayson Keele awake. Needles of awareness pricked her skin, coalescing into a dull ache that compressed her lungs. She sucked in loud, greedy gasps of air until the pressure on her chest eased. Grayson tried to sit up, only to collapse when her body didn’t cooperate.

What the…? She shifted, testing the responsiveness of her limbs. Her fingers twitched, followed by her toes. Other than that, nothing. At least the paralysis seemed near to wearing off. She estimated five, ten minutes tops. That left one question: Where the heck was she?

So far, it was too dark to tell. Despite being dulled, Grayson's senses picked up two voices. Male. Low. Very gravelly, as if from heavy smoking. Or screaming.

Eavesdropping proved difficult thanks to an engine’s constant rumble by her head. The noise cut off every other word, but after a moment, she picked up snatches of the conversation. Unfortunately, it was in Russian.

Or some derivative of it. Quelia? No. That last sentence claimed Belarusian ancestry. Trasianka, probably. A picture of her captors began to form. Not many younger people spoke that particular patois. Certainly no one born outside Belarus — at least, not without government training.

Grayson’s eyes narrowed as she translated the phrases “packages” and “arriving soon.” Neither boded well.

At least the ringing in her ears stopped. She shifted again and froze as something, cool and smelling faintly of antiseptic, brushed her nose. PVC? Heavy duty, too, by the feel of it.

Alarm flared before years of training kicked in. Focus. She needed to focus. After a moment, the facts knitted together in her mind: mild paralysis; headache; the sterile smell of rubberized plastic; the confined space. Added together, they formed only one, obvious conclusion.

She was in a body bag.

Well. Can’t say I saw that coming.

Memories buzzed in Grayson's mind like fireflies seeking perch. Slowly, the events from last night pieced together to form a picture: X’s on a calendar leading up to the 12th of March. Gloved hands pinning her against a metal table. The sting of a needle plunging into her left triceps.

Clarity returned with the last thought. Propofol. It would explain her symptoms. The soporific drug used to induce coma-like states could result in dizziness, mild memory loss and difficulty breathing upon a return to consciousness. With that information came bone-chilling knowledge.

In a few minutes, her captors would open the body bag. Then all hell would break loose.

A grim smile split her lips. All in all, a typical Friday night.

Grayson realized the vehicle had stopped. Suddenly, metal hissed as the body bag’s zipper released and light exploded in the small space. The silence stretched. Leather, cool and roughened with age, stroked her cheek. Then:

“Hello, milaya. Miss me?”

~ Michelle: Hope you liked it! Now I'll pass the pen to Minx.

* * * *

Hi guys,

I had so much fun with this. Although I hate to have to follow Michelle!
Ok here we go....

The Call of the Dark

She couldn’t breathe.

Fear and panic clogged her throat as Kayla peered into the dark. She could barely see two feet in front of her face. The fog swirled around her feet, wet tendrils that clung to her body like eerie gray fingers. She shuddered and shook her leg to free herself. It was a stupid waste of energy but one she couldn’t resist. She’d always been afraid of everything. Afraid of the dark, afraid of spiders, afraid of life. Now she was here, alone in the woods and her stupid fear might be the thing that got her killed.

A twig snapped under her foot and she jumped at the sharp sound. Everything was magnified in the dark, every sound ominous, every shadow menacing. The clouds shifted overhead and the moon was revealed. The shining pale light chased away some of the shadows. Many of the shapes that just a few seconds ago looked frightening were now mundane, bushes , shrubs and fallen logs. In the light of the moon the forest looked magical, no hint of the menace she knew lurked within. Another set of clouds passed overhead obscuring the moon and the light dimmed. That’s when she saw the eyes.

Intense and mesmerizing, they watched her from the dark. A huge pair of shining golden eyes.

"Who are you? Just tell me what you want from me."

There was no answer other than a slight stirring of the wind. Time seemed to stand still until all she knew, all she wanted to know was what was in those eyes. She could see her past, her present and all that would come.

She could stay here forever.

Something cried into the night, the plaintive call of an animal in danger. She turned toward the sound and in that moment the spell was broken. She shook her head hard, trying to dispel the mental fog clouding her thoughts. She turned back around and the eyes were gone. Which meant that whatever stalked her was on the move.

She swung around, both fists raised. Her heart felt like it was about to jump out of her chest as she circled slowly, surveying the woods. A dark shape whipped by on her right. She jumped back with a shriek, bashing into the tree behind her. Pain shot up her arm like a lightning bolt and she glanced down briefly to check for injuries. Blood ran down the side of her arm and dripped onto her jeans. She could still move her arm so that was something. She wasn’t going down without a fight.

She was exhausted. She was bleeding. But by god, she was still standing. There was something out there waiting, something not quite normal. Something not quite human. She had to stay calm. Focused.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be walking out of these woods alive.

****

Hope you enjoyed my walk through the woods :) I can’t wait to read what you guys come up with.

Minx

* * * *

Now it's YOUR turn! Take a stab (pun intended) at this prompt in the comments section. Don't stress about word counts, either. Just have fun!

2/8 Bitten by Books Interview, Chat & CONTEST! PRIZES Win Amazon & Barnes & Noble Gift Cards!

2010-02-08T22:01:00.005-05:00

My Bitten by Books interview, chat and contest is LIVE! Stop by and chat with me for a chance to win one of TWO PRIZES: $30 Amazon Gift Card (1 Winner) and $20 Barnes and Noble online Gift Card (1 Winner).

EVENT TIME: NOW

WHERE: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=19521

EVENT ENDS: Feb. 9th 12pm Central Time

**Open to U.S. & International Entrants**

**REMEMBER** Your purchases also go towards Haiti relief organization Doctors Without Borders. (I'm donating 10% of all my book sale proceeds to Doctors Without Borders when you purchase the books directly from my publishers.)

AVAILABLE BOOKS:

Temptation Eve (Nocturnal Cravings - Book 1) - Buy Link

Starstruck: Hunter (Celestial Lovers - Book 1) - Buy Link

Hope to see you there!

~ Michelle

Wicked Wednesday - KyAnn Waters

2010-02-03T08:59:00.006-05:00

Wednesday Work in Progress.

I envy those writers who can sit down to the computer, know their story, pound out the words and finish what they start. Nope, that's not me. For every story I finish I probably start 10. I'll get a few words or a few pages then the story fizzles and I want to write something else. I guess you could say I am a bit A.D.D when it comes to writing. I don't think I've ever finished a book where I didn't change at least one character's name at least one time. But my bad habits can sometimes work in my favor. When I'm stuck and not sure what to work on next, it's those past stories I go through to find my inspiration.

So...
As I share my work in progress with you, the names, places and title will most likely change. :)

Beautiful Storm - contemporary short story - nearly complete
(unedited - first draft)

Excerpt:
Adrian Beck sat on the beach, tunneling his toes into the warm white sand. The full moon pulled the tide in and called him to the sea. Here, in the tropical breezes of Long Caye, the stress of the city couldn’t find him. Self-imposed exile suited him well. Post 9-11 New York couldn’t compete with Belize Island. Perhaps nothing ever would. There was the crux of his problems. Once he’d lost his firm—lost everything, including those most important to him—he hadn’t felt the same zeal for life. He didn’t see the beauty in buildings anymore, didn’t want to.

The prodigy Adrian Beck, a winner of the American Architecture Award, was burned out. He’d closed his firm, what was left of it after the Trade Towers came down. He hadn’t wanted to rebuild, not after losing so much.

Closing his eyes, he let the balmy night air surround him. His open shirt billowed in the gentle wind. The crash and roll of the waves lulled him to a place where he embraced solitude.

Last week he’d received a phone call. Isa Clemet, developer of luxury casino resorts wanted a meeting. No amount of negotiations would get him back, but that didn’t seem to stop the tenacious billionaire from insisting on a face-to-face meeting. He chuckled. Post 9-11 merges with post Katrina. Not funny, but he couldn’t help seeing the humor. Clemet Casinos wanted to build on the coast in Biloxi, Mississippi. Ms. Clemet wanted the best—she wanted Adrian.

Too bad. Adrian had no intention of giving up his private piece of paradise.

Moonlight shimmered off the cresting waves. Tropical breeze coming off the sea cooled his skin. The salty tang on his lips did make him long for a woman to hold, to kiss, to spread her smooth legs and slide his restless cock into her hot welcoming sheath.

Adrian cursed. How long had it been since he’d had someone special in his life? Three maybe four years. Since before he came to Belize Island to escape the real world.

Gulls rustled in the leaves of the tropical foliage. The spongy sand popped and whispered to him—taunted him. Adrian had always compared a woman to the ocean. Sometimes she could be as fierce as a tropical storm, unpredictable and dangerous and other times calm and wet, like sailing on a cloudless day.

Adrian leaned forward and rested his arms on his bent knees. Movement on the water caught his eye. Silver shimmer stretched into the horizon. He squinted. A swimmer. Long limbs broke the surface. And if he wasn’t mistaken—a woman—swam closer.

A wave caught her and brought her to shore. She stood, a nude goddess born of the sea. His heart pounded. She emerged from the tide, water sluicing over her arousing form. He followed a bead of moisture down her face. Sculpted eyebrows arched over wide almond shaped eyes. At this distance, he couldn’t make out the color, but her skin was bronzed by the sun. Raking her fingers through her hair, she combed her long wet tresses away from her face. She paused and stared at him. Full luscious lips titled into a soft smile. Not a joyous grin, but a sinful smirk that hinted at mischief.

I'll be back later with another excerpt from my BDSM work in progress.

Happy Hump Day,
KyAnn

TWO brand new FREE READS!

2010-02-01T07:37:00.008-05:00

“Nights of Temptation” (A Nocturnal Cravings Prequel)

Experience the passion that led to my bestselling paranormal romance, Temptation Eve, available from Cobblestone Press with this prequel.

A dangerous attraction. A night of passion that leads to more…

An icy hot lawyer meets her match in a jaded incubus who haunts her dreams in this steamy tale.

Read it now in two versions & cast your vote in the ongoing "Battle of the Temptations" poll in my site's sidebar.

ALSO: Download new digital bookmarks, custom desktop backgrounds and more -- free!

AVAILABLE AT www.michellelaurenbooks.com/freebies

Chasing Mr. Darcy - From Wacky to Wicked

2010-01-27T10:56:00.004-05:00

Has there ever been a truth so universally acknowledged as this:

Women love Mr. Darcy.

P&P seems to have enjoyed a remarkable number of revisions lately, some refreshing and some downright ridiculous. Join us as we take a look at the most recent Pride and Prejudice remixes.

Let me count the ways...

2009 Books

1)Loving Mr. Darcy: Journeys Beyond Pemberley (Pride & Prejudice Continues) by Sharon Lathan

2)Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Classic Regency Romance - Now with Ultraviolent Zombie Mayhem! by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

3)According To Jane by Marilyn Brant

4)Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

5)Waiting for Mr. Darcy (Indigo) by Chamein Canton

6)A Little Bit Psychic: Pride & Prejudice with a modern twist by Aimée Avery

7)Bargain with the Devil: A Spicy Retelling of Pride and Prejudice (Volume 1) by Enid Wilson

8)The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini

9)Fate And Consequences: A Tale Of Pride And Prejudice by Linda Wells

10)The Other Mr. Darcy: Did you know Mr. Darcy had an American cousin? by Monica Fairview

11)Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One (Mr & Mrs Fitzwilliam Darcy) by Sharon Lathan

12)The Private Diary of Mr. Darcy: A Novel by Maya Slater

13)Darcy's Passions: Pride and Prejudice Retold Through His Eyes by Regina Jeffers

14)Vampire Darcy's Desire: A Pride and Prejudice Adaptation by Regina Jeffers

15)Mr. Darcy's Dream: A Novel by Elizabeth Aston

16)Darcy's Temptation: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice by Regina Jeffers

2010 Books

1)Pemberley's Promise: An Uncharted Voyage with Mr. Darcy by Kara Louise

2)My Dearest Mr. Darcy: An amazing journey into love everlasting by Sharon Lathan

3) Mr. Darcy Broke My Heart: A Novel by Beth Pattillo

4)Pride/Prejudice: A Novel of Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennet, and Their Forbidden Lovers by Ann Herendeen

5)Conquering Mr. Darcy by Abigail Reynolds

6)Mr. Darcy's Great Escape: A tale of the Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman

7)Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds

Has there ever been another novel as revised and reworked as many times as this? If I had gone back and included prior year books I fear this post would never end!

What do you think of this Pride and Prejudice obsession, just a trend or an enduring genre? Just how much Mr. Darcy can we take?

Just a thought,

Minx

Interview: Michelle Lauren dishes about TEMPTATION EVE

2009-11-12T01:00:00.003-05:00

Minx Malone: So tell us about your newest release Temptation Eve?

Michelle Lauren: The book is available 11/13/2009 from Cobblestone Press. It is part of their Wicked line – and this story is definitely that. Here is a blurb:

Sometimes passion has a price…
Eve Templin has the reputation of an ice queen in the courtroom, but in the bedroom she craves the thrill of sexual submission. Past betrayals left her wary of emotional involvement with a Dominant, but she can't ignore the connection she feels with one in particular, incubus Alonso D’Agostino.

Alonso is everything Eve craves in a Dominant: Intelligent. Exotic. And insatiable. He is also one of her law firm's biggest clients and a notorious playboy. When he offers her more than a fling, will she risk her career for love or walk away for good?

Watch the video

Minx: What inspired Temptation Eve? Have you ever dated anyone you work with?

ML: Originally, I wrote this as a piece of flash fiction with no paranormal elements. It was very hot and very short. But the characters had more stories to tell so I revised it. I’m very glad I did because plot went in a totally different direction.

No, I have never dated a coworker. I’ve been tempted before, though.

Minx: Which comes to you first, the characters or the plot?

ML: The characters. Plot develops out of whose story I'm telling. Alonso and Eve have a lot in common: they are both successful, attractive people with major control issues. Both have experienced hurt and betrayal in the past and don't trust open declarations of love. They indulge their need for intimacy with these games.

Minx: While your love for nerds is well known, I have it on good authority that you have a tendency to fall for villains. Which is your favorite?

ML: Nerdy villains, what else? Alonso isn’t a villain, but he is definitely a bad boy. A real triple threat: looks, brains and attitude, the kind of guy that would never bore me. And that is a major attraction.

Minx: The character of Alonso seems like a merger of those two concepts - the intelligent bad boy. Was his characterization intentional or did he just "happen" that way?

ML:It was intentional. Women love bad boys. To me, the best bad boys are a marriage of brains and brawn. They’re cunning, seductive and yet vulnerable.

Readers will be able to empathize with Alonso’s situation. Beneath his sometimes brash attitude, he harbors a desperate yearning for Eve, someone he thinks is out of his reach.

Minx: The title of the story alludes to Eve's greatest temptation, the freedom to give up control. What's your greatest temptation?

ML: Easy. Pajamas. Strange, huh? What can I say? Some women collect shoes. I can’t pass up a cute pair of PJs.

Minx: Can you tempt us with an excerpt?

ML: Sure. Enjoy!

Sex with an incubus definitely wreaked havoc on a woman’s wardrobe.

Eve Templin glared at the run in her black lace thigh highs before she turned and scowled over her shoulder at her lover.

“You are costing me a fortune in lingerie. This is the third pair this month!”
Said incubus, Alonso D’Agostino, grinned. Lush, midnight black curls fell across his forehead as he studied her. Hunger darkened his normally pale gray eyes to pewter. His finger trailed up her thigh, causing the muscles to jump.

“Let me make it up to you, bellissima.“

Eve gasped as his callused hands palmed her butt and then spread her cheeks. She bit her bottom lip to muffle a moan. No matter how many times they met, this part—the anticipation—never got stale.

“Do you have any idea how hot you look right now?”

She could imagine. Kneeling on the floor, hands bound behind her with his red silk tie, her thick curls swinging around her waist and naked except for those thigh highs, she probably looked like a pagan offering to the gods.

Warm breath ghosted over her entrance, followed by the cool glide of Alonso’s tongue thrusting inside her heat. Eve’s head dropped on a moan—only to jerk upright as laughter, loud, feminine and entirely too close for comfort, filtered through the door. Her pulse skyrocketed.

More laughter, accompanied by the clink of glasses and the crooning strain of a saxophone, reminded Eve why having sex in a closet during her law firm’s annual Black and White Ball was a really bad idea. Right now, a flimsy door was the only barrier between her and two hundred of her coworkers and clients. Even worse, Alonso seemed oblivious to the danger.

What was it about him that made her natural sense of caution disappear? Six months ago, Eve would have blamed her reaction on his powers. Blessed with a touch that could take a woman from zero to orgasm in seconds, the thirty-four-year-old playboy never lacked for lovers.

Alonso was everything she wanted in a Dominant: exotic, intelligent and insatiable.

But their attraction went beyond physical chemistry. She enjoyed spending time with him. Beneath his aloof exterior was a man who—despite spending most of his adult life on the wrong side of the law—could win legal debates with his eyes closed, was surprisingly insightful, and had a biting sense of humor and a smile that made her forget why falling in love with him would never work.

Not only was he a commitment phobe, he was also a client. Make that her firm’s biggest client. Wolkowich, Blythe & Templin was a Virginia-based law firm that catered to paranormal clientele. At age thirty-one, Eve was the youngest partner and the only female, a distinction she’d worked too hard to jeopardize.

Despite the preternatural nature of the firm’s clients, Wolkowich, Blythe & Templin maintained a disappointingly conservative view on some matters, including lawyer-client fraternization. If her relationship with Alonso ever went public, she could kiss her professional credibility goodbye.

Eve opened her mouth to tell him to wait. At the same moment, his lips closed around her clit and sucked. All thoughts of stopping vanished.

Buy Link: http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/temptationeve.htm

If you enjoyed that, be sure to visit Michelle's Freebies page tomorrow to read Chapter 1 FREE!

**BONUS** Get an exclusive 6k FREE READ w/purchase of Temptation Eve. It includes a SNEAK PEEK at Nocturnal Cravings Book 2. TO RECEIVE: Just email your purchase receipt to interactive@michellelaurenbooks.com.

**Want to know more about the book? Chat with incubus Alonso or visit the book’s Virtual Release Party for a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card. Spread the word about the book and you can win even more goodies! **

Hot Hero Confession: Alonso D'Agostino WIN Temptation Eve!

2009-11-10T01:00:00.006-05:00

*Pictured above:* Alonso relaxing at home

Today, we welcome Alonso D'Agostino, the hero from Temptation Eve to the blog. Stick around as he shares his guilty pleasures and what item he can't live without. He's also giving away a copy of Temptation Eve (Available 11/13/09 from Cobblestone Press)
Minx Malone: You obviously don't have a problem with strong women. How does it make you feel to have such a strong willed woman like Eve put herself in your hands?

A lot of people assume that submission is about power. It's not. It's about trust. Trusting someone with your body, your pleasure. Yielding to their will. Giving yourself to someone that wholly takes great courage. Knowing Eve has that much faith in me makes me more determined than ever not to betray that trust.

Minx: Eve's firm has a no fraternization policy doesn't it? Does it bother you to keep your relationship with Eve hidden?

That policy is a pain in the butt. I hate hiding my relationship with Eve. But coming out of the closet, so to speak, could cause us both a lot of problems, personally and career-wise. The smart thing to do is break up. But we can't. We don't want to. As Nietzsche says, happiness comes from living dangerously.

Minx: What's the kinkiest thing you've ever done?

I can't talk specifics or Eve will hurt me. Let's just say it involved silk, handcuffs and lots of maple syrup.

Minx: If you could take Eve out publicly, where would you go?

Venice. I haven't returned home to Italy for months and I'd like to show my bambina where I grew up. I would take her to Palazzo Ducale to see paintings. Then we'd have dinner at Ristorante Masaniello. We would spend the evening on a gondola on Canale Grande before returning to my family's villa for...dessert. **Eve elbows Alonso hard.** What? That wasn't even kinky! Well, maybe a little bit.

Minx: Think fast - Name one thing you can't live without.

Fanfiction. **Pinches Eve, who snickers.** It's a guilty pleasure. And no, I'm NOT telling what type of fanfiction I read. My ego has taken enough abuse. (Seriously - Eve? It's not THAT funny, unlike SOMEONE'S Hello Kitty collection).

Minx: What about your family? Do you have any brothers? Do they look like you? *hint hint*

I come from a close-knit, large family: five brothers and two sisters. Vanity would prefer I say that I'm the cream of the crop, but we come from a VERY blessed gene pool.

Minx: You seem like such a badass. Is there anything about you we'd be surprised to learn? A soft spot for babies or a penchant for romantic comedies perhaps?

I used to read Harlequin romance novels. Ma used to get them by mail, like 5 books at a time - and she'd read them in the bathroom so my father wouldn't fuss. When I was eleven, I found one stashed in the bathroom and started flipping through it. I got hooked.

Minx: What's currently on your ipod?

Take a look for yourself.

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

(If the player doesn't show up, view the player here)

As you can see, I listen to a little bit of everything. Usually, whatever mood I'm in, that's the music I listen to.

Minx: What can we expect next for you Eve? Any hints about what the future holds?

There's no telling when Alonso is involved. My relationship aside, the firm has experienced some troubles recently - whispers of blackmail, etc. It's not that unusual in my line of work, but this time feels different. Like a storm is brewing. Whatever it is, Alonso and I will be ready.

Minx: Thank you Alonso for taking time to chat with us today. Alonso will be with us all day to answer questions, so readers, post away!

**For more about Temptation Eve, visit the Virtual Party or Read an Excerpt.**

TODAY'S GIVEAWAY

A copy ofTemptation Eve.

To Enter: Leave a comment/question for Alonso on this interview post. Winners will be announced tomorrow.

Virtual Release Party: TEMPTATION EVE

2009-11-01T09:55:00.011-05:00

“I can resist anything except temptation.” – Oscar Wilde

Temptation Eve, my first paranormal romance, releases November 13, 2009 from Cobblestone press. To celebrate, I’m hosting two month-long contests, giveaways & a special reader prize.

In Temptation Eve, opposites attract and passion is the ultimate temptation. But sometimes passion has a price…

Eve Templin has the reputation of an ice queen in the courtroom, but in the bedroom she craves the thrill of sexual submission. Past betrayals left her wary of emotional involvement with a Dominant, but she can't ignore the connection she feels with one in particular, incubus Alonso D’Agostino.

Alonso is everything Eve craves in a Dominant: Intelligent. Exotic. And insatiable. He is also one of her law firm's biggest clients and a notorious playboy. When he offers her more than a fling, will she risk her career for love?

VIDEO | EXCERPT| BUY

Now, for the PRIZES!

NOTE: All contests and giveaways last until midnight EST 11/30/09.

CONTEST: Countdown to TEMPTATION & WIN BIG!

Post my Temptation Eve widget online, then comment on the contest post to win some fantastic prizes:

FIRST PRIZE: $75 Limited Edition NARS The Love Set from Sephora. This set features the bestselling Orgasm Blush, Pillow Talk Lip Gloss, and a Sex Machine Lip pencil — the perfect gift for a night of temptation!

SECOND PRIZE: $20 Amazon Gift Card. For details, go here.

GIVEAWAY: Win NEW RELEASES from authors!
Visit my blog every Tuesday & Thursday through 11/30 for a chance to win new releases from authors like Crystal Jordan, Natasha Moore, Jeanne St. James & more! Click here for details.

FREE READ Get an Exclusive Free Read!
To thank readers who buy the book, I’m giving away a special 6k story from the world of Temptation Eve, plus a SNEAK PEEK at Book # 2 in the Nocturnal Cravings series.

INSTRUCTIONS: Email me your Temptation Eve purchase receipt (financial info redacted) by midnight 12/1/09.

TODAY’S GIVEAWAY (2 winners)

What’s your favorite guilty pleasure? Leave your answer in the comments on this post and you'll be entered in a drawing for 1 of 2 "guilty pleasure" prizes:

* $10 Amazon Gift Card
* Specialty Chocolate

N.J. Walters is LIVE on my blog today!

2009-10-15T07:34:00.004-04:00

N.J. Walters, bestselling author of the Tapestries series from Ellora's Cave, is LIVE on my blog all day. She is revealing the "secrets" behind her new book, Alexandra's Legacy. Also, she tells us about the month-long scavenger hunt giveaway where readers can win their choice of 1 book from her backlist.

Don't miss the fun! LINK: http://michellelaurenbooks.com/blog

Contest UPDATE: Win PRINT copy of Crystal Jordan's CARNAL DESIRES

2009-09-01T07:20:00.007-04:00

My September contest is now LIVE! Win a PRINT copy of CARNAL DESIRES, Crystal Jordan's sexy, scifi shifter anthology.

For a chance to win this book, do ONE or ALL of the following. Each thing counts as an ADDITIONAL ENTRY in this prize drawing. So the more you do, the more chances you have to win.
1) EMAIL me the correct answer to this question:

In Chapter 4 of my scifi romance Starstruck: Hunter (Available from Liquid Silver Books) what item(s) does Miranda break when she gets frisky in the bathroom?

Send emails to interactive@michellelaurenbooks.com with the subject "SEPTEMBER CONTEST."
2. POST about this contest on your blog/Myspace/Facebook or any social networking site. Email the link to your post to me at the address above.
3. JOIN my Yahoo Group.

4. SUBSCRIBE to my monthly newsletter, HERE.
**International entrants welcome!** Contest ends 9/30 midnight (EST). I'll announce the winner 10/1.
For more contest rules, please see my contest page HERE .
Happy reading!

HOT HERO INTERVIEW: Milo makes you BEG FOR IT PRIZES

2009-08-19T08:00:00.009-04:00

Michelle Lauren: Milo, thanks for stopping by the blog today. Can you state for the record, your job at this company?

I was just promoted to Vice President of Mirage Advertising Agency.

ML: Why did you agree to this interview?

Actually Minx told me I had to do it. Not that I blame her. I work in advertising so I understand how important promotion is. She could have been nicer about the way she asked though.

ML:What’s the best part of your job?

Besides looking across the room and seeing Mya every day? Well, I love the challenge. Every account is different and it’s a true test of my creativity and drive to find the right solution for every client’s needs.

ML:How competitive are you?

I don’t think I’m THAT competitive. I just like to win. Who doesn’t really? I consider myself to be more “focused” and “determined”.

ML: I understand you and Mya are a couple. Isn’t that usually frowned on by employers? Why is your relationship allowed?

Mirage Advertising isn’t like other companies. Part of the reason we’re the best at what we do is because we think outside the box. We are professional of course but we’re not afraid to try new things or do things outside of the “conventional” methods.

Besides, I’m pretty sure James and his assistant Anya are an item too so it would be pretty hypocritical of him to disapprove of my relationship.

ML: What’s the kinkiest thing you've ever done?

Well, I’m really not that kinky of a guy. I love Mya’s curves and how soft she is and I don’t need anything like whips and chains to appreciate how feminine she is.

Although there was this time she did something to me with a frosted doughnut that I don’t think pastry was really designed for…

ML: What attracts you most to Mya?

I don’t know if I can even explain it. This is like astrophysics -type complicated, you know. I mean she drives me crazy sometimes but I love it. She’s stubborn, argumentative and occasionally scatterbrained. Of course she’s also creative, affectionate and intuitive. She’s a strong woman who appreciates a strong man. I don’t know how I’d get by without knowing she loves me.

ML: Milo, thanks for taking the time to chat with us today. To get more of this hot hero, purchase BEG FOR IT.

CONTEST PRIZES:

Everyone who joins Minx Malone's newsletter by 8/31 will be automatically entered to win a FREE download of any one of Minx Malone's books.

Also, everyone who leaves a comment on this post is entered in a drawing to win ONE of three prizes:

(1) $25 Amazon gift card
2) A download of any of my books
3) An Ellora's Cave playing card deck

Winners announced in next issue of Minx's newsletter and contacted via email by 9/5.

Sneaking in Historical Detail by Victoria Janssen

2009-08-15T00:00:00.012-04:00

Sneaking in Historical Detail
by Victoria Janssen

Detail is one of the keys to writing fiction in a historical setting. It's a way to show the reader that she's traveled in time. Things are different in the world she's reading about. Even simple differences spawn more and more changes. For example, the heroine of the story doesn't drive a car; instead, a male relative must drive her in a horse-drawn carriage. Instead of worrying about the cost of gasoline, she has to avoid stepping in horse dung and dirtying her silken dance slipper. All these details have to appear normal to the reader because they are normal to the characters in the book.

You don't need to include every single detail you've researched; in fact, you need less than you think you do, though sometimes that depends on your period; for example, romance readers are more likely to have a working knowledge of social mores in Regency England than in Moldavia during the same period. Still, a few telling details can reinforce the sense of time travel.

I use a few tricks to sneak in the details. Most of my tricks are used in tandem with story elements like characterization, so every detail does at least double duty. The thing I try to keep in mind is contrast. The historical detail contrasts with the present day.

First, if there's an opportunity to use a historical detail rather than a general detail, I do it. Especially if the detail involves something that's different now from then; for example, in my upcoming novel Moonlight Mistress (December 2009), which is set during World War One, a nurse is caring for a wound. She cleans the wound with Lysol, common in 1914 but surprising now, when Lysol is most often used to clean bathroom tile.

Second, it's easier for the reader to absorb details if they're included along with action and are meaningful to the point of view character, thus giving depth to characterization. An example from Moonlight Mistress, in which things have changed: "This hamlet reminded him of the ones they'd seen on their way into France, full of cheering people who gave them cigarettes and flowers and loaves of bread. Now it was devastated, all the people gone, gardens trampled, animal corpses bloating in the streets, houses and churches shot to pieces by the guns."

Third, if a character is visiting a new place, or visiting a place that has changed since they were last there, details are a necessary part of transition between scenes or locales. Another example from Moonlight Mistress: "Even in the dark, the hot, dusty streets were mobbed, three times as crowded as a normal night. Compared to that morning, the whole town felt alien to her. Boys hawked newspapers on every corner. Men stood and read the papers under streetlights and in the street itself, arguing vociferously, blocking wagons whose drivers cursed. Singing and pipe smoke, drunken cheers and angry shouts billowed from the open door of a beer garden."

And my last trick? Don't research it to death. As much fun as research is, eventually you have to write the book.

#

You can check out my blog here.

Excerpts from my books.

Purchase link for The Duchess, Her Maid, The Groom & Their Lover. Moonlight Mistress is available for pre-order on Amazon.com.

Beg For It Virtual Release Party

2009-08-07T07:00:00.009-04:00

Welcome to the Beg For It Release Party! Thanks for stopping by to help me celebrate my very first release with Ellora's Cave. Everyone who leaves me a comment below will be entered in a drawing to win one of three prizes:

(1) $25 Amazon gift card
(2) A download of any of my books
(3) An Ellora's Cave playing card deck

In Beg For It, Milo and Mya are best friends, co-workers and rivals. They are also secretly in love with each other.

The only thing ad executive Mya Taylor loves more than winning is her best friend Milo Hamilton. Nothing has ever come between them until she finds out Milo is her chief rival for a new account.

Milo’s not sure when it happened but his secret crush has morphed into an obsession. He wants Mya in his bed, screaming his name, and he knows just how to make it happen.
When he proposes a friendly wager on the account, he knows the ultra-competitive Mya won’t be able to resist. She’s more than ready to lay it all on the line until she finds out how high the stakes are—the two of them. Skin to skin.
Suddenly, all bets are off…

When I was younger I always had a lot of platonic male friends. Guys seemed to be infinitely less difficult than girls, more relaxed, just more fun.

Fun without all the drama.

However as I've gotten older, even the idea of having close male friends has become something I can't really imagine. I find myself wondering if my husband will be jealous or if people at work will start to talk. It's no longer the relaxed, simple thing it used to be. When did things get so complicated?

As I was writing Beg For It, I couldn't help thinking back on some of those long ago friendships I used to have. Was I fooling myself in believing we were really just friends?

So I'm interested to get some other people's opinions. Do you think men and women can truly be just friends if they're also attracted to each other? Or do you think the attraction would always be in the way, even if you never acknowledged it, like the proverbial "elephant in the room"?

Minx

Romancing the Nerd: The Sexiest "Geeks" in Romance

2009-07-13T21:43:00.005-04:00

Romancing the Nerd: The Sexiest Geeks in Romance

*This is part IV in my "Nerd is the New Sexy" series. See previous installments: The Hottest Geeks in Film ; The Nerd Next Door: TV Edition; and Four Reasons Nerds are Sexy.*

All July, I'm counting down the hottest nerds in romance, television and movies. Today, I'm sharing my picks for the sexiest nerds in romance novels. For a special treat, I'm also doing a fantasy casting call for who would play them on the big screen.

Also, I'm giving away PRIZES! So buckle up and enjoy the ride!

**UPDATE** Congratulations to Rebecca and Jasmine! You won autographed STARSTRUCK: HUNTER bookmarks. Email me HERE to claim your prizes.

HARRY AMBREWSTER (The Nerd Who Loved Me; as played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

Fans of author Vicki Lewis Thompson will appreciate why I've chosen Harry as one of the sexiest nerds in the romance genre. The son of a scientist, Harry is a shy accountant at a Las Vegas casino where he meets love interest and showgirl, Lainie.

Nerdalicious^TM Factor(s): What's not to love about Harry? He's smart, witty, and great with kids. Far from being the "typical" paper pushing nerd, Harry isn't afraid to get his hands dirty and appoints himself as Lainie's protector when her ex-con ex returns to make trouble.

Also? Harry has a great sense of humor, as seen in the following excerpt from the book:

Excerpt:

"Happy populating." Dudley headed off across the golf course.

"Happy populating?" Lainie turned to Harry. "What on earth did you tell him?"

"I said this was your fertile time."

"My what?"

He shrugged and looked sheepish. "He picked up on the chemistry between us, so I decided to play on that to get rid of him. I said we wanted to give little Dexter a sister or brother, and your broken glasses were really no problem because I planned to keep you in bed with me the rest of our stay here, so whether you could see well didn't much matter."

"Oh." She wondered if he had any idea how a statement like that turned her on. "I guess we should go inside. I wouldn't want to make a liar out of you."

Dr. REUBEN WHITFIELD
("Reunion" in the Living Large anthology; as played by Brian J. White)

Nerdalicious Factor^TM (s): This was one of the first romance novels I read that featured a sexy, African-American nerd. Needless to say, I LOVED it!

Author Rochelle Alers did a fantastic job creating this character. Reuben is a former social misfit turned successful dentist with his own practice. During school, he was so intellectually-advanced that he not only graduated early but went by the nickname "the Scientist."

I loved that this was a reverse on the typical "ugly duckling turns into swan" story I see in fiction (those usually feature the nerdy girl getting a makeover into a McHottie). Reuben gets buff but he never forgets about his high school crush, a beautiful, plus-size woman. They meet again as adults for a ten year reunion, and the chemistry jumps off the page as seen below:

Excerpt:

"Reuben." His name was a breathless whisper.

"Yes," he whispered back, angling his head and moving his mouth over hers. He kissed Elaine without touching her. Kissing her was what he'd wanted since reuniting with her.

"Reuben? We shouldn't be doing this."

"Why not?"

"Because we're friends."

"Haven't you known friends to kiss each other?"

"Not like this, friend."

He chuckled deep in his throat. "Perhaps we can give a whole new meaning to friend."

You want to date me?"

"I do."

"Because you like me?"

'Yes."

Her lids fluttered wildly "Can we do this?"

"I believe we can."

OLIVER (The Accidental Virgin; as played by Wes Bentley)

**Sorry, but even going back through the book I couldn't find Oliver's last name. ** For those of you who haven't read this romantic comedy (emphasis on the comedy) by author Valerie Frankel, you're missing out on a treat. It's a slightly-older woman and younger man romance (he's 27 to her 32) - one of my favorite novel themes.

Nerdalicious Factor^TM (s): Oliver is the sexy computer hacker next door to the titular heroine, Stacy Temple. At first she isn't sure about him, but the more she sees him, the more drawn in she is. His sex appeal is subtle but intense; he's bold when he needs to be and is willing to fight to win her heart. The banter between them is great, too, as seen below:

Excerpt:

"I've had a few girlfriends, but I wasn't preoccupied by any of them."

"Is that how you know you're in love?" Stacy asked.

Oliver said, "Thinking about her all the time, imagining her reactions, trying to figure out what she'd think of things or what she'd say...That's love. That's the nature of love. When you're not with the person, you think about her. And when you are with her, you look at her and can't believe how lucky you are."

"I'm jealous," she said finally. "I don't have a working definition of what it means to be in love."

"You can use mine. To notice the signs."

NOAH BENSON (Starstruck: Hunter; as played by Justin Theroux)

Nerdalicious ^TM Factor (s):

Noah Benson is a favorite of the heroes I've written. His story is a twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers. I love sexy nerds with edge and he is definitely that.

He makes it on the list for several reasons: he's an astronomy buff and is amazing with his hands - in and out of bed. Definitely the kind of geek I love: smart, but dangerous.

The scenes between Noah and Miranda (the celestial star he inadvertently knocks to earth and later must protect for hunters) were great fun to write. There is vulnerability and guilt to his character that's balanced by his sense of awe, protectiveness and attraction for Miranda, as seen in their first meeting below:

Excerpt:

"Is this heaven?"

The question surprised a laugh from him. Noah shook his head. "Far from it, sugar. This is Neptune."

"Oh. What constellation is that in?"

His blood froze. "What did you say?"

She touched the bruise on her temple. "Something hit me. I must have fallen." Her expression morphed from confusion to terror as she stared at him.

"Where do you live?"

She pointed a trembling finger at the sky, cementing his suspicion: she was the star. His eyes closed. Of all the places she could have landed, why here?

"Where am I?"

"Earth. I guess you've heard of it?" he said drolly when she gasped. He got the feeling that she would have run if she'd had the strength. "Don't worry; you're safe with me. What's your name?"

"Miranda."

"My name is Noah. Whoa!" He caught her as she fainted. He scanned the area, realizing for the first time how exposed they were. "Come on, sugar. Let's get you inside."

He carried her up the fire escape to his room and settled her on the bed. With grim resolve, he focused. Ten years ago, he'd failed to protect a star. He would not repeat that mistake. He would protect this one no matter what. His lips ghosted over hers.

"You're safe with me. I promise."

Thanks to everyone for joining me! Visit my site Saturday, 7/25 for a special event in my Nerd Appreciation month: I'm counting down The Sexiest Comic Book Nerds. Don't miss out on the fun!

CONTEST QUESTION:

Who is your favorite nerd in romantic fiction and who would play him in a movie?

Answer both parts of this question in the comment section of this post for a chance to win autographed bookmarks from my multicultural sci-fi romance, Starstruck: Hunter.

The post will be revised July 14, announcing the winners. I will also contact them via email. Happy reading!

Never, Ever Throw Anything Away

2009-06-26T11:31:00.005-04:00

Okay, you can throw some things away especially if they get smelly; but I’m thinking about all those journals and diaries you kept as a kid. Come on, I’m sure there are a few readers out there who still have that locked diary containing an entry of that first kiss. Perhaps, many of you keep a journal currently.

Hello, I'm Mary Quast, I'm a romance author and I keep a journal.

I started writing a journal and keeping a diary way back in third grade. Yes, I still have it too. As I grew older, my mom encouraged me to write in a journal. She always stressed the fact my great-great-grandpa kept a journal at the end of the civil war and for many years afterward. His journal has been published and treated as a piece of history. If I had a dime for every time she said, “You never know…” I’d be rich.

Anyways, I kept a journal. I would write poetry, short stories, paste pictures or other’s works I found inspiring into my books. When I became an artist, I kept a journal just for recording ideas and drawings into. I’d even record special lyrics of songs. Some ideas were drawn or written on paper bags or napkins and I would paste the item into the book or rewrite it.

I also enjoyed writing love stories. In high school, my friends would ask me to write a little romantic tale of them with their latest squeeze. Funny, it got to the point where even guys were coming up to me and asking me to write a story for them. (Maybe that’s how I learned to write erotic.) Now my focus in this blog post is to tell you about the journal I kept when I was 16 yrs old and I dragged my best pal with me to spend a summer in England with friends of my parents.

The Godfrey family lived in Leicestershire. Peter was a poet/writer and Audrey was a school teacher. During “down times” when traveling, we’d see people and make up stories about them on the spot. It was a great game! Then we went to London. Keeping in mind this was back in the ‘80’s and Punk was THE thing; I kept my camera ready to capture some photos of London Punks.

Lo and behold, while traveling on the Underground a tasty young punk dressed in black leather stepped onboard. He was a portrait of black and white. Black pants, black jacket, white shirt, black eyeliner, black hair with a stark white stripe like a skunk. I was too busy drooling to take a photo, but he seemed aware of our gaze. When he left the subway, he spoke to us but we couldn’t make out his words. So he gave us a jaunty a salute before disappearing into the crowd.

We spent the rest of our stay working on a story about an American girl falling in love with a London Punk. In my journal I recorded the importance of names, places, industry, and thoughts of the English landscape. Upon returning to Michigan, our memories were soon packed into a box and eventually forgotten. I went to college to be an artist and writer; my friend went to college for media fields and ended up being an editor.

Now, in 1999 my dear hubby purchased a gift set of 80’s music on CD. When I listened to the tunes, recollections of being in England flooded my mind. I quickly retrieved the box of memories and the journal. I laughed as I read the wonderful romance story, but then ideas popped into my head. What if I changed this; did that? I called my friend and she said to run with my ideas. I then called her back at midnight to read the thirty pages I had written longhand in a new journal. She told me to keep running. So I did.

By 2003 I had a 122,283 word manuscript I called “Painted Soul”. At the end of writing this contemporary romance, I fell in love with the secondary characters and decided to give each his own story; thus the birth of the Soul Series.

Vanilla Heart Publishing offered me a contract in 2007. Painted Soul was released May, 2008, Tormented Soul, Feb. 2009 and Lonely Soul, May, 2009.
I’m currently working on two more in the series with ideas for four more. During my first book signing event at Barnes & Noble and seeing my books on the shelves, I took a moment to thank my mom for telling me to never throw a journal away.

My advice to you… never throw a diary or journal away, you just never know.

Now for a little treat, maybe even better than chocolate..
send me an email with "Tasty Sample" in the subject and I will send you the cover and first chapter from the first three Soul Series books. Feel free to check out my blog or website.

Author As Matchmaker

2009-06-23T00:45:00.023-04:00

Hi, my name is Cassandra Curtis, and I am an incurable matchmaker. If my friends aren't available, I will happily latch onto acquaintances and try to fix them up. The matchmaker gene runs rampant within my family. A victim of my mum's, sisters’, and aunts’ machinations throughout most of my twenties, I do have sympathy for those singles who catch my attention.

Lucky for all concerned, I started writing fiction so I could pursue my genetic disposition, playing creator, and matchmaker with my characters.

I start out very low-tech and use an organic approach. My heroes and heroines develop using profile sheets that I keep in giant 3-ring binders. The basic information is filled out. Age, weight, height, hair, and eye color, married, divorced, if they have children, etc. I may or may not have a name for the character at this point. But when I close my eyes, I see them quite clearly.

The profile sheet helps me keep track of various physical attributes, but it also helps me dig deeper into the character. I become an investigator sifting through facts about my character's life, all in an attempt to answer a seemingly simple yet actually complex question. What makes this hero or heroine worth writing about? What makes them intriguing to a potential reader?

Often as I develop the hero or heroine, their complimentary match appears when I close my eyes and imagine the perfect foil for him or her. More questions crowd my brain. What are the two characters basic beliefs? Are they opposing in some way, creating the possibility for conflict? What things do they have in common? Did the hero come from a big family? Or was he an only child? How does his early childhood and teenage experiences play out in his adult life and how do those formative years impact his relationship with the heroine?

Has the heroine experienced the death of a loved one? A painful divorce? What are his or her core character traits? Do they have a sense of humor? What makes them different from the antagonist (if the story has an antagonist)? What do they use as a coping mechanism against the difficulties in life?

Friendships are important relationships in reality and when we place flesh on the bones of our character, we also should ask who he or she hangs with, if they hold any influence or sway over the main character.

As we continue to build the layers, we might take note of the hero or heroine's hobbies, likes, dislikes, and especially fears.

Another thing I do to delve deeper into my characters is play a game I call Writer's Duel. A few of my fellow romance writing friends and I challenge each other to a duel with scenarios we create. The person challenged must use the main characters from their current work in progress. The rules are 750 words or less, within 48 hours, and keep it PG13. Sometimes we include objects, like a trench coat, a jar of peanut butter, and a ladder. Those items must be incorporated into the scene.

Not only does the Writer's Duel reveal surprises about our heroes and heroines, it also forces writer's block back into the shadows.

Once the character is fleshed out, it's time to take them on a date. I play it out in my mind and take notes. Is he attentive? Does he fumble and act nervous? Does he show his attitude and make like a player? What is her body language during their date? Does she hold his eye contact? Or look shyly away?

Now, sometimes as I flesh out the hero, no heroine steps up and figuratively taps me on the shoulder. So then I have to make my hero do the catwalk. :wink:

I take all the sheets that pertain to the hero and I parade him in front of the heroines already in my binder marked Female Protagonists. Basically—I match make.

Sometimes it is the heroine who must take the parade route past an assortment of my heroes.

I'll actually pair them up and they go on a virtual date. When I say virtual date, what I mean by that is I sit down, write a few paragraphs, and see how the conversation flows, if certain traits come to the fore. I look for chemistry on paper. There are missteps. Like in real life, not every date is a winner. Some heroines go on several 'dates' before they find their hero.

So, the next time you decide to play fictional matchmaker, take your characters on a virtual date first. You might be surprised at what they have to say.

~ About the author ~

A former fine artist, journalist, and instructor, Cassandra Curtis writes paranormal, fantasy, and contemporary erotic romances. Ms. Curtis is also a founding member of the Midnight Moon Café and a member of both the World Romance Writers and Romance Divas.

The third and final installment in her bestselling Shifting Tides ebook series, entitled Soul of The Sea, will be available August 23, 2009 from Amber Heat, an imprint of Amber Quill Press. The complete Shifting Tides trilogy is slated for print release September 2009.

Odd Moments in Collaboration - and a Contest!

2009-06-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Let me tell you a short story. Very short.

Once upon a time, there was a baby writer who wanted a critique partner. After numerous failed attempts, she found one. Hooray! The relationship between the two writers grew, with each coming to appreciate the unique perspective the other brought to the work. For simplicity, we'll call the baby writer Elise (hey! that's me!) and the fantabulous CP Emily (hey! that's my crit partner!) [side note: this is not to say that I haven't had other writers read specific works and make valuable comments and provide excellent feedback - I have. But Em is my go-to gal].

In any case, over the course of a working relationship, Emily and Elise learned to appreciate the specific and unique perspective each brought to the work. And they discovered that they had similar responses to other people's writing, and to ideas about writing. Mostly. So the germ of an idea manifested - hey! Let's do a joint website. That'd be cool. We can each have our own areas, but a joint blog that spreads the work out a bit. Awesome! And so Scorched Sheets was born.

While discussing what we wanted on the site, we hatched a plan (have you noticed I gave up trying to convince you it isn't me? I switched to first person. Bad writer.). Our plan was simple: let's create a new universe and populate it with characters we create together. Then we can set episodic stories in our little universe and make a kind of serial free read. Thus was born our idea for, well, not exactly a Space Opera. More like a Space Soap Opera.

It's an odd thing, sharing your mental space with someone in a collaboration. Odd, but good. Em is much more precise, more terse with her prose than I am. She helps tone my purple prose down to a liveable lavender. I, on the other hand, am a freak about world building. I mean spreadsheets and diagrams and powerpoint presentations kind of freak. It's a little scary. But, it does keep us from making mondo inconsistency errors.

We each write episodes in real time on google documents, so the other can read, make suggestions, and point out any issues. Some entries are truly joint efforts, so we had to make a joint signature tag for that (okay - plug for Celia Kyle, who designed scorchedsheets. She did a great job and was really nice about going back and fixing things we broke after the site went live).

Anyway, you probably want me to get to the good part. You know, the contest part. So, I'll skip to the end of this little story. The GMS Mercy serial on our site is the product of all this collaboration and mucking about in each other's writing. We think it's pretty darned spiffy. And we want you to read it. So.... here's the contest: Go to scorchedsheets.com. Read the Mercy stuff (by the way, some episodes are NOT work safe, so be aware of that). Come back here and tell me what your favorite episode of Mercy is and why. On Monday (I want you to have plenty of time to read and enjoy our little universe), I'll come back and pick a winner from the comments. The winner will be chosen randomly from all valid entries (i.e., those who name their fave and why it's most coolio), likely by my five year old daughter (random!). What will you win? A copy of my release Dining In and the winner's choice of an e-book by Emily Ryan-Davis (her releases are listed on the site under her section). Good luck, and I look forward to seeing what you think of Mercy.

Happy reading!
Elise

Guilty Pleasures

2009-06-16T01:51:00.005-04:00

Anyway, when I was growing up, we had an old black and white television with a pair of rabbit ears that could pull in two stations. Less if there was a lot bad weather in the area. So I buried myself in books. I loved fantasies like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As I grew up, while I continued my love of fantasies, I fell in love with Victoria Holt’s dark and gothic novels. My mother didn’t really approve of them, she’d rather I read something more … literary. But I loved how the heroine had to overcome obstacles like her faithful nanny poisoning her. Or the possibility that the hero was trying to kill her.

When I moved out from home and could indulge in my love of romances without feeling like I had to hide my books from my mom, I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss. I read everything of hers I could get my hands on. Then I haunted bookstores and libraries and found other authors that wrote similar stories. That's when romances began opening the bedroom door just a crack.

About three or four years ago, I bought my first e-book – Kate Pearce’s Antonia’s Bargain, which led me to buy her Eden’s Pleasure. (They were written and released in the reverse order, but it didn’t matter to me.) I was hooked. I loved that the bedroom door was left wide open. That the heroine wasn’t stuck to the normal sexual standards of keeping both feet firmly on the floor. That she could be sexually adventurous, and yet still virtuous. (I know, it sounds weird, but Kate manages it spectacularly in Antonia’s Bargain, and it’s what I try to emulate in my own writing.)

I love how romances can create flawed characters, with great internal conflicts, and still have a happy-ever-after ending. It’s not a pie-in-the-sky idea, I’ve been married for 31 years to a man I adore. But there’s something satisfying about curling up with a book at the end of the day and losing yourself in the story, reading how someone else overcomes adversity and finds true love. It gives me that little push when I’m having a bad day of my own, let's me forget my own troubles. And if there’s great sex involved? Well, that doesn’t hurt either. As my hubby can testify. ;)

That's why writing a character like Sam Watson, from my latest release Personal Protection, was so fun to play with. He had such a past that I could torture him with. You see, Sam's a big strong bodyguard who has built up his company from the ground up and turned it in one of the most successful ones on the eastern seaboard. He's one of those guys that everyone knows, everyone envies, who is surrounded by friends, and yet, there's a part of him that is incredibly lonely. He doesn't show it to many people, but when the heroine, Rosie, discovers it, and discovers why, she has to make a decision. Actually, she forces him to make a decision. One he doesn't want to face.

If you'd like to read an excerpt, you can find one here. You can also find outtakes and more excerpts on my blog.

Oh, and I'll give you special advance notice - join my mailing list, and you'll get an extra chance to win goodies during next month's Birthday Bash. Check back on my blog for details on June 25th - first contest will be held on June 26th when Jaci Burton visits.

Funny bones and stuff

2009-06-10T00:38:00.004-04:00

Everyone does not have a funny bone. It's true. There are people who are not funny at all.

So where does funny come from? There is not a milestone on a child's growth chart saying YOU ARE NOW FUNNY. There isn't a class you can take. There is no Humor Masters degree or PhD. You can't buy it. There is no bar code for humor. Funny parents can have unfunny kids. Boring parents can have funny kids. It is not genetic. So, where do you get funny from?

I have no freaking idea.

I don't. I didn't have some horrible childhood I needed to escape from(I am the only girl and had to clean the bathroom after boys, does that count?). There is no deep tragedy in my past that would warp my brain patterns just so(there is that Oscar Mayer hot dog thing, hmmm). I don't even have six fingers or weird ears that made me the laughing stock(So I made my husband propose before he saw my feet, big deal!!). I wasn't a class clown (I never ever imitated Ms. Shaffer's duck walk *quack*).

*sigh* Comedic failure.

Or not.

I am a wee bit funny little bit. At least, sometimes. I had this funny little thought. It grew. Like a seed that sprouted and grew massive honking leaves! I think it was all the bullsh*t I fertilized it with myself. Anyway, I wrote this tale down. A looooooooooooong time ago. Like, long time. Like Neon sweatshirts slopping over one shoulder long time ago.

And like any good writer... I stuck it in a box and forgot about it.

What?

So anyway, I kept writing bcause, honestly, I talk enough that most people stop listening and I needed someone to converse with. So I made people up. Grown up imaginary friends. (please, don't sit there, that is Freida's seat, she is standing right there, for gawd's sake!!)

My husband, poor brave man that he is, asked me one day why I never did anything with them. Well duh!! They are INVISIBLE!! But he meant the stories.

Oh.

I dunno, I just thought it was me being... me. Goofy. But he started me thinking about something, a dream I had a long time ago, shoved in that box with that story. I wanted to be a writer. So I dug it out. And decided to type it up. But it needed polishing. And well, it is not that boxed up tale anymore. In fact, It is so different it is like mayo compared to... uhm... chocolate. There that works as a comparison.

I wasn't sure I could do anything with it but what the hell, falling on my face never stopped me before, right?

I sent it to Samhain Publishing. Well, not really. I meant to. But I attached the wrong damn file to the email. *faceplant* Did I mention I am computer illiterate? I am.

So I tucked tail (tale?hmmm) and begged for a reprieve, to sent the correct file and pleasepleaseplease DO NOT look at that mess attached. You know, the uhm, christmas wish lish for my kids, yeah, that one.

They were very nice and let me send THE RIGHT DAMN FILE.

And OMG, they laughed. They liked it. They wanted to make it into a *gulp* real book.

And they did.

I puked. Mulitple times, by the way.

But it is a real book and I hope it makes YOU laugh!!

Wanna see it? Sure you do. Look!! Up there! (Pretend with me, I am like that annoying Aunt who makes you sit through slides of her Yosemite Trip. See? It's me on a donkey!)

Let me tell you about JINXED. (Here is where you have to go to the bathroom during the slide show and hide out in the kitchen with creepy Uncle Phil until I am done)

JINXED - When opposites attract, they are screwed three ways from Sunday.

Frannie learned the hard way that a McHottie doesn’t always equal marriage material. Besides, she’s happy with her vanilla life. She has friends, a career and a double-D-powered vibrator. Then Fate shoves her, literally, into Prince Charming’s lap. His declaration of love at first sight is cute—and spikes her bullcrap meter into the red zone.

She’s more than willing to give in with her body. But she’s barricaded her heart behind castle walls—and permanently welded the gates shut.

Tragedy taught Jinx that time is too precious to waste, so when a series of uncanny coincidences thrusts Frannie into his life, he holds on tight. He knows she thinks he’s several fries short of a Happy Meal, but he’s determined to breach the fortress around her heart and give her a Happily Ever After.

Even if he has to carry her fanny-first into his kingdom.

WARNING: Includes jelly shoes, a narcoleptic cat, and meatloaf. The steamy sex scenes may lead to fogged windows and wet panties, so proceed at your own risk. Do not attempt to read without the following items: tissues, napkins for spewed beverages, and a booty call on speed dial.

So, there it is, out of the box and polished to a pink frothy goodness. It is funny. It is sad. It is sexy and mostly, it is all mine.

Er, unless you want to buy it. Then it can be all yours, too.

You can visit me here and buy it here and read an excerpt here and Look!! ELVIS here.

Want to win a free copy?(duh Inez, of course they do) Leave me a comment below and I will come back tonight and pick a random commenter for a free download of JINXED!

ENJOY!!

In the Mind of a Medieval Warrior

2009-06-04T05:00:00.017-04:00

Greetings unto the readers of The Naughty Girls Next Door!

When I began to write Seeking Truth, I knew there would be at least one sword fight and that fight would take place between an honorable knight and baron (my hero, Eaduin) who is in service to King Stephen and a rogue knight with no honor and everything to lose – in short – a villain.

I fretted and worried about this. How could a man of honor fight someone treacherous and not get himself killed due to his sense of chivalry. As I grew closer to the end of the book, I still had no clue how to make this a realistic fight where my villain fights dirty but my hero survives - which is as it should be. This is a romance novel after all.

In order to figure out how to handle this, I went to a group of people I was sure could help me – fighters in the SCA. What’s the SCA you ask? Let me explain.

The acronym SCA stands for Society for Creative Anachronism. The organization has been around since the 1960s and I’ve been a member for about twelve years. I am not a fighter, but I know quite a few. Some are men-at-arms, some are members of fighting orders, while some are knights. Granted these gentles are modern “knights” but part of their fascination with the Middle Ages is their interest in historical fighting styles, fealty, and the rules of chivalry. I decided if anyone could help me with this dilemma, it was them. So I sent out a call to the group email list of my local barony (a group within the SCA) and I asked them this:

“I'm writing a critical wager of battel/trial by combat between my hero and the villain. The setting is England in 1146 during the reign of King Stephen. I'd like to write this pivotal scene at the climax of the book from the point of view of my hero. This means being inside his helm, but I've never put on armor in my life. I can write this scene from my imagination, but I'd prefer to have insights from fighters.

In the midst of a fight, do you focus only on the other fighter? Do stray thoughts about why you're fighting float through? Are you conscious of the weight of your armor and weapons, or is the adrenaline rush so high you don't notice? Is there anything I haven't asked about that I should know?

This is a fight to the death between a man with nothing to lose (the villain) and everything to lose (the hero). The villain has no honor and will be fighting dirty. My hero must counter the dirty fighting and survive."

With no more information than this, I began to receive private emails from fighters. I can never thank them enough for the wisdom they shared. I appreciate their aid so very much. To get into specifics, they told me how they viewed their opponents, dealt with their armor and so on. I received some very useful information. I learned that a trained fighter doesn’t feel the weight of his armor and weapons. It is a part of him and he’s trained to the weight.

I also learned that if a fighter is tired or wounded you see it in his shield, not his sword. His shield drops below the “proper” location. The more tired he is or the more blood he loses, the more the shield falls, leaving an opening for his opponent to kill him. Blocks get slower and footwork gets sloppy. Fine motor skills for throwing controlled shots is lost and fighters begin to try for powerful simple shots to end things quickly. I read all of this and thought…WOW. I can use this! Until it was explained to me, I didn’t really get it or understand how combat worked. Because of these sage words, I was able to use this in the fight scene I wrote to make it more authentic.

Absolutely everything I learned from the fighters helped me write a stronger scene, but most of the responses addressed the logistics of the fighting. I was still stymied about how a man of honor could face a man without honor. Other than the typical, kill or be killed thing, I didn’t know how to handle this. I needed to hear about a knight’s “world view,” so I genuinely understood how Eaduin would behave. One SCA gentle, Sir Angus, addressed exactly what I needed to hear in a way that I could really understand in his missive to me. He said:

“A knight swears to defend the innocent and protect the defenseless. We do not swear to be kind and merciful to our foe. At least during the fight when he is armed and dangerous. When he is helpless and injured that would be different. The sword has two edges. One delivers the kings justice, one edge cuts to the truth of the matter. The scabbard counsels mercy. Counsels, not requires or demands, or even promises. In other words, if the dog must be killed, a knight is the man to put it down. So when the fighting gets dirty, your hero should feel free to end the fight as quickly and as deadly as possible. Depending on what you are planning on having as a dirty technique, my responses might differ. If you want to run some of the techniques by me, I would love to ponder how I would honorably deal with them.”

I thanked him for his words of wisdom via email and when I next had the chance to see him in person I thanked him again. Finally I got it. I understood how Eaduin would view this critical fight. I felt my mind fit with his. It’s the knight’s job to put down a rabid animal and Eaduin was the knight for the job. Sir Angus, your words made such a difference. I was able to employ what I learned from your fellows to make the fight feel “real” but what I learned from YOU allowed me to make my hero real, not only to me but to my readers. In modern parlance, you totally rock!

So if you, my fellow writers, need to get into the mind of your hero then look for others who can help get you there. Books are great, but talking to real people is even better.

If you write historical romance set during the Middle Ages or Renaissance, seek out your local SCA. They can help you get inside the time period. But for those of you who focus your work on other time periods, you aren’t out of luck. By all means, use books but there are many groups of real people out there who re-create the past. Civil War re-enactors are enthusiastic about their time period and devoted to detail. To learn about living on the prairie, find a group known as The Buckskinners who can help you bring the Prairie to life. Visit “Living History” museums like Colonial Williamsburg. Visit battlefields like Gettysburg. Want to bring the World War I or World War II era to life in your books? There are re-enactors for those time periods too.

Anything you can do to make your characters more real to you will make your writing stronger. If your characters are real to you, they’ll live for your readers too.

Useful Links:

Society for Creative Anachronism: http://www.sca.org/

Re-enactors.net – a clearinghouse of information – all time periods: http://www.reenactor.net/

*****

I'm running a contest today. All commenters will be put into a drawing to win a copy of my book, Seeking Truth. To titillate all of you to encourage you to comment, here's a blurb...

Baron Eaduin Kempe, a man of intense passions, seeks a healer at a nearby abbey. When the abbess introduces convent-raised Lady Vérité de Sauigni, he knows he’s hellbound for desiring her. He wants to tie her to his bed until she sobs with the pleasure of his touch.

Eaduin offers Vérité marriage in exchange for easing the pain of his dying foster mother. Years ago, Vérité secretly watched Baron Eaduin arouse a lover and has dreamed of his touch ever since. She desires him enough to risk exchanging the imprisonment of convent life for that of marriage. On their wedding night, Eaduin craves dominance and Vérité submits with enthusiasm. Each heated encounter thereafter binds them closer together.

When Vérité’s father accuses her of witchcraft because she won’t use her psychic gift of seeing truth to aid him, she begs Eaduin to kill her so she doesn’t suffer. Instead, Eaduin challenges her father to trial by combat, determined to save the woman who owns both his passion and his heart.

Chains of Desire Winner

2009-05-31T19:17:00.007-04:00

Thanks for everyone who took the time to comment the other day. I'm thrilled to announce that the winner of a free download of Chains of Desire is....
Mallory!!!

Congratulations! Send me an e-mail at natasha@natashamoore.com and let me know what format you would like and I'll send it on to you :)

And for all you disappointed commenters, you can buy your very own copy here:

Thanks again to those Naughty Girls for inviting me this week!

Natasha
Romance with more...sizzle
www.natashamoore.com

Workin' It!

2009-05-29T08:00:00.005-04:00

When I was a teenager, I was something of a goody two shoes. One of those perfect attendance, straight A, President of the French club type girls. All I did was study, study and occasionally study really hard. Then one day I decided I needed to see what things were like in the real world.

I decided I needed to get a job.

I realize this is not groundbreaking. Lots of people had jobs as teenagers. And my plan would have probably worked out well if I hadn't chosen to work at a well known chicken joint.

Now I like chicken as much as the next girl. I didn't even mind the ugly uniform. What I did mind were the horrible customers. From the harried woman with the gaggle of kids who decided to pay entirely in nickels to the mean older man who yelled at me because I couldn't keep his ridiculously long order straight. I hated working there and didn't feel even an ounce of regret when I quit a week later.

Needless to say after that experience I appreciate a great work environment. But I've never had a job anyplace like the setting of my newest series...

Desire Incorporated - The Temp debuts TODAY!

Ava Kincaid took the temporary job at Desire Incorporated because she desperately needed the money, not because she was secretly hoping to see her ex-boyfriend Gavin Sloan again. She’s already been there, done that and gotten kicked in the teeth. She just wants to do her job and go home.

But when they meet up in the halls of Desire, the chemistry between them is as strong as ever. Suddenly she’s doing way more than filing…

Temping has never been this good and Ava finds herself wondering if perhaps this position could lead to something more…permanent?

Read an Excerpt

If only going to work could be this much fun for the rest of us! Stop by my website to check out more about this exciting new series. If you sign up for my newsletter you'll be entered to win a copy of the book and other great prizes!

And just for kicks - I'm going to host a special contest here that's exclusive to the Naughty Girls blog. Everyone who follows this blog by June 15th will be entered to win a copy of The Temp. So hit that follow button and join the Naughty Girls for regular updates about the mischief we get into :)

Minx
www.minxmalone.com
www.desireincorporated.com

The Naughty Girls Next Door

New Year's Eve Interview with Author Ian Dalton!

Kindle Freebie from Ian Dalton!

The Naughty Girls are Kindle Bestsellers!

The Book Lovers Buffet - 99c Ebook Sale!!!

Taken by the Boss - New Release!

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An Ode to Being Indie

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Casting Call for Asking for Andre

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Wanna read Stolen for free? You know you do...

Pimpin' My Girls

Fangirl Friday - Lena Matthews

Virtual Release Party ~ Asking For Andre

A prequel just for fun...presenting Stolen

Mmmm, Mmmm, Mmmm - Matt's story is on it's way

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Holy Release Date!

Free Books Galore!

Romance Kills! Virtual Release Party for Seducing Sarah (The Madame X School of Sex)

Fangirl Friday - Whoever made the Body Shop's Real Barbie Ad

The Recipe for Naughty: The Conflict

Larry Kirshbaum Will Head Amazon's NYC office

The Recipe for Naughty : The Ingredients

The Recipe for Naughty

Operation Auction

Tempt Me, Tease Me

A Naughty New Year to You!

KJ Reed Talks Text

AUTHOR ATTEMPTS TO INTERVIEW HER HOT HERO

Naughty Nano

Miss Bramble And The Leviathan

Hot Hero Interview : Cameron from The First Real Thing by Cat Grant

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"Write what you know," they said...

M&M Makin’ the Rounds

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Free Stuff Alert!!!

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The Thrill of the Chase

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Wicked Wednesday: Self Esteem Issues

Excerpts…What Works? **LIBERATING LACEY Giveaway!**

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Guest Blog: Gail Roarke, with an excerpt from One Knight Stand

Wicked Wednesday: Michelle Lauren

DEADLINES

Wicked Wednesday - Minx Malone

Sinful Saturday: Dangerous Beautiful

2/8 Bitten by Books Interview, Chat & CONTEST! **PRIZES** Win Amazon & Barnes & Noble Gift Cards!

Wicked Wednesday - KyAnn Waters

TWO brand new FREE READS!

Chasing Mr. Darcy - From Wacky to Wicked

Interview: Michelle Lauren dishes about TEMPTATION EVE

Hot Hero Confession: Alonso D'Agostino **WIN Temptation Eve!**

Virtual Release Party: TEMPTATION EVE

N.J. Walters is LIVE on my blog today!

Contest UPDATE: Win PRINT copy of Crystal Jordan's CARNAL DESIRES

HOT HERO INTERVIEW: Milo makes you BEG FOR IT **PRIZES**

Sneaking in Historical Detail by Victoria Janssen

Beg For It *Virtual* Release Party

Romancing the Nerd: The Sexiest "Geeks" in Romance

Never, Ever Throw Anything Away

Author As Matchmaker

Odd Moments in Collaboration - and a Contest!

Guilty Pleasures

Funny bones and stuff

In the Mind of a Medieval Warrior

Chains of Desire Winner

Workin' It!

Excerpts…What Works? LIBERATING LACEY Giveaway!

2/8 Bitten by Books Interview, Chat & CONTEST! PRIZES Win Amazon & Barnes & Noble Gift Cards!

Hot Hero Confession: Alonso D'Agostino WIN Temptation Eve!

HOT HERO INTERVIEW: Milo makes you BEG FOR IT PRIZES

Beg For It Virtual Release Party