Gale Stanley

Kris Andersson: While the Wife’s Away and Other Stories

2012-02-02T00:03:00.000-05:00

Welcome Kris Andersson, author of While the Wife’s Away and Other Stories, an excellent collection of m/m erotic stories. There'll be more about the book later. First I want to ask Kris how he comes up with those steamy sex scenes.

Kris: Not being anything like as adventurous or outrageous as the characters in my stories, I have to rely on my imagination for most of the explicit sexual activity that fuels every tale.

And sometimes the spark of inspiration can be found in the least likely places.

I am a big fan of silent cinema – not the comedies of Keaton and Lloyd but the epic dramas of movie pioneers DW Griffith and Cecil B De Mille.

Don’t look to Griffith for erotic inspiration amid the astonishing pageantry, though there are some surprising nude scenes in his wonderful 1914 epic Intolerance.

But De Mille, on the other hand, directly inspired one of the most explicit and outrageous incidents in my first collection of stories, While the Wife’s Away.

The third story in the set, The Sin of Father Anthony, is the story of a young man’s passion for the handsome new parish priest.

As I was writing the story I was also watching my new DVD copy of De Mille’s 1920s blockbuster Manslaughter.

De Mille was a Victorian who believed in giving his audiences a strong morality tale and if that meant showing the vices he was condemning, then it was a lesson they would take – and enjoy!

Manslaughter is the story of a headstrong 1920s flapper who eventually winds up in court where the excesses of the Jazz Age are compared to the Fall of Ancient Rome.

Cue a flashback in which scantily clad extras roll around ancient marble halls – or Hollywood’s idea of ancient marble halls – before the Goths arrive to rape and pillage.

It’s a mortality tale all right – but one served up with enough lascivious detail to keep 1920s audiences on the edge of their seats and ready for the next sermon.

And from there – removing the preaching element completely of course - came the unscheduled idea of having my own narrator, inspired by the statue of St Sebastian that stands by the altar at Father Anthony’s Church, fantasise about being a Roman martyr himself…

As my thoughts started to wander, I would see myself become Sebastian, tied to the executioner’s post, my chest smooth, my groin covered only by a flimsy loin cloth.

And then my Roman Centurion persecutor would appear, looking remarkably like Father Anthony but dressed not in priestly garb but in the full Roman regalia of war.

He would approach me, pressing the cold metal of his breastplate against my chest as he grabbed me by my curling hair and pressed his mouth against mine, forcing his tongue between my lips while I struggled to retain my saintly virtue.

But he would simply laugh and smile that devilish smile as my body betrayed me, for my tongue started to seek his and my loin cloth started to move as my cock responded to the call of nature.

As I maintained the pretense of denial, he reached down and tore the cloth away, gripping my fully erect penis in his hand and squeezing firmly.

Then he reached under the skirt of his military tunic and pulled out his own hard, long and thick member, wanking as he continued to force his tongue into my mouth, enjoying the sensation of me pretending to avoid his hot, sweaty embrace…

I’m not sure it’s exactly what Cecil had in mind when he was directing his movies but the flashback technique added one extra level of erotic excitement to a story already packed with steamy close encounters and it demonstrates that inspiration can be found in the least likely places.

*****

While the Wife's Away is a collection of three gay short stories from well-known erotic author Kris Andersson.

While the Wife's Away: When the boss suggests an evening meeting at his home and makes it quite clear that his wife is away for the night, you can guarantee that there will be more than statistics and spread sheets on the agenda - and by the end of the night a new sort of business partnership has been created.

Masters and Servants: It's hard losing your job - and even harder looking for something new. But just how far will one man go to impress the boss? From steamy encounters in the office to passion in a scenic lift and shower room to lust in the potting shed, this is one job search that proves especially stimulating!

The Sin of Father Anthony: When a new priest arrives in town, one lapsed Catholic decides it's time to start attending Mass again - but he has more than absolution on his mind as he uses his girlfriend to get closer to the true object of his desire and give him a night he’ll never forget. From lusty housekeepers and choir mistresses to a hairy trucker with a taste for stockings and suspenders, this is a story packed with sexual thrills for a young man on a personal mission to satisfy his gay passions.

Buy Links for While the Wife's Away

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005CKHWKY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B005CKHWKY

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005CKHWKY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005CKHWKY

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-whilethewife039sawayotherstories-576118-144.html

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/while-the-wifes-away-and-other-stories-kris-andersson/1105835829

*****

Kris Andersson is an award-winning writer - and occasional actor - who specialises in gay erotica. His work has been described as both pacy and steamy. His current titles include While The Wife’s Away – a collection of three stories - Acts of Passion and A Special Gift. A fourth title is expected to be published very soon and will take Kris in a very different direction, a gay love story set against the horrors of the First World War and its aftermath.

My New Cover: Lane and the Lycans

2012-02-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

Lane and the Lycans

Symbiotic Mates: 6

I just got the new cover for Symbiotic Mates: 6 LANE AND THE LYCANS and I have to share. Reese Dante did the cover and I love it. She captured the characters perfectly. The book will be out in March. I'll keep you posted. Here's a brief synopsis.

Lane and the Lycans

Symbiotic Mates: 6

The Kindred are planning an attack on the Lycans and Lane’s vampire master sends him to Arcadia to gather intel. Things go horribly wrong for Lane when a bear decides to have the cat-shifter for dinner. Two wolves intervene and Lane is sure he’ll end up as wolf kibble. Maybe he was better off taking his chances with the grizzly. But one of the Lycans is a do-gooder wildlife enthusiast and he’s determined to keep Lane safe. The cat-shifter knew that spying on a bunch of wolves wouldn’t be easy but he never expected to be taken home and housebroken

Will be available at Silver Publishing:

https://spsilverpublishing.com/index/book_authors_id/48/typefilter/book_authors

RC Bonitz: A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL

2012-01-31T00:45:00.000-05:00

RC Bonitz is in the house. His contemporary romance, A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL, is getting great reviews and he has a new release coming out soon. More about them later, but first, meet RC Bonitz.

Hi Gale- Thanks for having me today. Since I'm new to your readers, I thought I'd simply introduce myself today. Not to bore you with a real biography, I'm going to address only one question about me. Which is--.

I love to write. I did many different things in my life before I came to writing. Some of them, most of them, gave me a better living than writing does, or ever will, unless I find myself with a couple of N. Y. Times best sellers. One can always hope of course and I do, but in that sense I'm a realist. You know, the odds and all that. But, no matter what my chances are the money doesn't matter.

I've been an engineer, a psychotherapist, a contractor, a teacher and a manager. Yeah, I've been around a while. Some of those careers were frustrating, while others were rewarding. But none of them compare with writing.

I became an author late in life, with a dream that seemed just perfect for the opening of a book. I played with it and wrote about two hours a week in those days. Then the story grew on me and Anne became a real person, a very brave woman who gave wings to her life. I still recall the rush I felt the day she chose to gamble everything for her dreams. Her story is A BLANKET FOR HER HEART, and it's to be published in the next few weeks.

Needless to say, I'm no longer writing two hours a week. The first book I had published was completed in less than six months. A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL is out now in e-book form and will soon be out in print. I've actually written a sequel to it titled A LITTLE BIT OF BABY, which I'm editing now. That too will be completed in just a few months.

By the way, the title for the sequel came from friend and fellow author, PJ Sharon, who gleefully entered multiple titles in a contest I was running. We'll see what my publisher thinks about it, but I figure she hit the bull's-eye.

As you may have realized from my level of activity I'm still enamored of writing. I fall in love with my characters and get a rush when they succeed, or fall in love, or take brave steps forward in their lives. In A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL, when Diane learned the truth about Brian and threw off all her doubts I jumped for joy. Well, figuratively at least. I have too many miles on me to pop around like a kid anymore. But you get the picture. I live for my characters. Their courage and determination thrills me and I love them for it. In A LITTLE BIT OF BABY, Jesse falls in love, but resists when it seems Ike could care less about her. But, when the truth comes out, she forgives him and finds out she is truly loved. My heart goes out to her just writing these words, no less the ones in the book.

So, that's why I write. And I think it's why most of us read, at least those of us who read fiction. We fall into the story and the characters and care about them all.

Well, that's my story. I have ideas in my head for three more books. They don't have names yet, my heroes and heroines, but they're already in my head, and in my heart.

A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL

When some creep plasters nude photos of Diane's kid sister on the internet, Diane plans a little revenge: seduce the guy until his clothes come off and take his picture. Then it's blackmail time. But has she targeted the wrong guy?

Brian's no stranger to the wiles of beautiful women. Most want him for his money, but Diane has a different objective: to trash his reputation. Furious, Brian resolves to teach her a lesson… until he learns the truth and loses his heart to this daring woman. But to win her trust and convince her he's not the villain, he has to best her at her own game.

A LITTLE BIT OF BLACKMAIL is available at Silver Publishing in all eformats:

https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/a-little-bit-of-bAmazonlackmail-ebook-p-655

or Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/RC-Bonitz?keyword=RC+Bonitz&store=book

From Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%

A BLANKET FOR HER HEART Available soon from Dancing With Bear Publishing- in print- at:

http://www.dancingwithbearpublishing.com/

You can find the excerpts and the latest information on my blog at: http://www.rcbonitz.com

Thanks for having me today Gale. I look forward to hosting you one day soon. RC

My pleasure. I really enjoyed hearing about your journey to publication. I took a circuitous path too - lab technician, transit person on a survey crew, and CAD manager. Thanks for the invite. I'd love to come visit.

Elizabeth Kyne: Blog Tour

2012-01-26T08:13:00.003-05:00

Today I'm excited to have Elizabeth Kyne here as part of her blog tour to promote her new romantic comedy If Wishes Were Husbands.

And now here's Elizabeth...

WHEN I DECIDED TO STOP BEING SENSIBLE

Author Elizabeth Kyne reveals why she swapped logic for a career in writing

I had a sensible job once. It was, after all, the sensible thing to do. I put everything into this job, worked six days per week, got in early, thought about it and continued to work on new ideas after I left the office – the whole shebang. Then, one day, when I was at a training course for my job, some 130 miles away from base, I managed to get as far as the tea break before I burst into tears in front of a group of strangers. I walked out of the room sobbing and saying “I can’t cope anymore”. It was this incident that made me realise that having a normal life with a normal job maybe wasn’t such a good idea after all.

I’d not always succumbed to the idea of being normal. When I first graduated with a diploma in radio journalism, I went freelance and spent seven years mixing writing with being on the radio, mostly newsreading. During my studies, I’d managed to get a magazine article published – for which I got paid! – and I wanted to continue doing that, while the radio stuff gave me extra income. This was great for about seven years, until the novelty started to wear off. I also started to get jealous of friends of mine who would, for example, book some time off work and still receive the same salary at the end of the month; or who could go out on a Saturday night without worrying about getting up on Sunday morning to get some work done.

Maybe this concept of a regular job wasn’t such a bad idea after all, I thought. I decided to get one.

I had this crazy idea that a ‘proper job’ would give me more of an opportunity to write fiction. I’d always written stories, ever since I’d bashed out a dreadful science fiction adventure novel on an old typewriter we had lying around when I was twelve, but it had been tough to write a novel at the same time as freelancing. Every time I sat down and wrote “Chapter One”, I would get interrupted by a phone call which meant paid writing work with a deadline, and that had to take priority. But a ‘proper job’ would be different, with its guaranteed weekends and time off. After all, loads of novelists have had writing careers while holding down a day job.

I don’t think any of these writers had worked in radio. The concept of getting up early to write before going to the office is fine when you’re on a nine-to-five, but when you have to be at work by 5am for the breakfast shift, the prospect of getting up a couple of hours earlier has little attraction. The work itself also sapped the creativity from my brain, so I had little left to give to a novel. By the time I realised that, it seemed easy to give up on writing at weekends too, and surrender to the temptation of going to parties and having fun.

It was the sensible thing to do.

I put everything into this job, and ended up presenting an afternoon radio programme every weekday, plus a specialist gardening show on the Saturday. It was a long week and I was effectively doing the work of two people. Then, when the person I was working with got into trouble with management and was suspended, the workload was piled onto me. I don’t think I quite realised the stress I was under until I went on this one-day training course. After a night in a very hot hotel unable to sleep, it only took several people to ask me the wrong thing and all the stress came out in one go.

The following morning, as I sat in my nightshirt on the step outside my patio door at home, I started to think about my future. I was forty years old and, even though I wasn’t exactly young, I still had more than twenty years to go until retirement age. Did I want to stay in that job for another twenty years? No, I didn’t.

I decided I didn’t have to be sensible anymore. I negotiated to go part time at work, I rented out my house and I moved back with my parents so I could write. It wasn’t an entirely barmy idea. I had, after all, made a living freelancing some years before which included publishing some non-fiction books; and I’d had a little bit of success with stories entered into competitions along the way.

It was, I have to say, harder than it seemed. I hadn’t written for a while and I had to re-learn my craft. I wrote one novel which ended up in the bottom drawer because it wasn’t good enough. It was, however, good practice, and I continued to persevere. A couple of years later, my novel If Wishes Were Husbands is out there and I’m on my way to starting a new life. I still miss those regular payslips at the end of the month, but do I really want to go back to that sensible life? No, I don’t think I do.

*****

If Wishes Were Husbands

Rachel re-invents herself when she moves back to her home town of Aylesbury; with a new job, a new house and a new haircut. But people’s eyes glaze over when she tells them about her life as a forty-something singleton who works in accounts. So why not spice things up a bit? Why not tell her new hairdresser and her new friends about her fantastic husband? Everyone wants to hear about Darren, the man who cooks her amazing meals, cleans the house and takes her to bed for orgasmic sex three times a night! What a shame he doesn't exist…

…Until she comes home one night and finds Darren sitting in her lounge. And everything she said becomes true: from his sensuous food to his skill in bed. So real, that she believes it.

Not as if living with a perfect is man is… well, perfect…

She can’t find anything because every time she puts something down, he tidies it away. Then there’s the shock of the credit card bill from buying all that gourmet food. Not to mention the sex! Three times a night is great at first, but sometimes all she wants at the end of the day is a sandwich and some sleep.

Then Rachel decides that Darren has to go - and that’s when her troubles really begin.

Elizabeth Kyne takes the absurdities of the modern woman's quest for love and turns them into an enjoyable romp. She finds the comic in everyday situations, from buying a dress to experimenting with hair dye at home. While, underneath, she comments on the pressure to find the perfect husband and how that quest is doomed for us all.

PAPERBACK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wishes-Were-Husbands-Elizabeth-Kyne/dp/1908340010/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319364974&sr=1-3

http://www.amazon.com/Wishes-Were-Husbands-Elizabeth-Kyne/dp/1908340010/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1319365757&sr=1-3

EBOOK

http://www.amazon.co.uk/If-Wishes-Were-Husbands-ebook/dp/B005S66A8M/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319364974&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/If-Wishes-Were-Husbands-ebook/dp/B005S66A8M/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319365757&sr=1-3

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/92446

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/if-wishes-were-husbands/id475075856?mt=11

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/if-wishes-were-husbands/id475075856?mt=11

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-wishes-were-husbands-elizabeth-kyne/1106913246

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ifwisheswerehusbands-606059-150.html

*****

Elizabeth Kyne trained to be a radio journalist and spent her early working years reading news bulletins and writing for magazines. Later, after learning the meaning of “mortgage” and “gas bill”, she decided to do the sensible thing and drop the freelance lifestyle to get a proper job. The job, however, all went horribly wrong and she returned to her first love of writing, and worked on several novels before finding success with “If Wishes Were Husbands”.

http://www.elizabethkyne.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.kyne1

Hunter y el Halcon ( Companeros Simbioticos, Libro 1 )

2012-01-24T08:31:00.000-05:00

My book is now out in Spanish! Another first for me. Thank you Silver Publishing!

Hunter y el Halcon (eBook)

( Companeros Simbioticos, Libro 1 )

Los vampiros y los licántropos tienen una cosa en común - el odio por los demás. Sólo dos cosas se interponen entre ellos y la guerra total - un tratado de paz antigua y la disminución de las poblaciones que han llevado a ambas especies en el camino a la extinción. Un vampiro puede tener el secreto de la supervivencia, sino que necesita la cooperación de los licántropos para poner a prueba su teoría.

Cuando Aidan entra en la guarida del lobo y le pide ver el Alfa, no recibirá una cálida bienvenida. Está apenas a través de la puerta antes de que él es atacado. El brazo del vampiro se ha roto y teme que su animal totémico, un halcón, nunca volará otra vez.

Hunter, un Enforcer Lycan, viene en su ayuda y lo lleva a un lado para ser interrogados. Aidan dice tener información sobre el asesinato de su compañero de Hunter y él comercio de sangre Lycan. En un primer momento, Hunter piensa que es una trampa, pero Aidan le convence de que la respuesta a la supervivencia de ambas especies puede estar en su sangre. Hunter está de acuerdo en ayudar en secreto a cambio de Aidan el nombre del asesino. Sin embargo, recibe más de lo que esperaba cuando él se enamora de un vampiro seductor. Cuando la investigación sale mal, él está seguro de que ha sido utilizado por los chupasangres intrigante. Sin embargo, es Aidan el enemigo real o es alguien más cercano a su casa?

Contenido de asesoramiento: Este libro incluye algunos contenidos M / F.

Available at Silver Publishing:

https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/spanish-c-86/hunter-y-el-halcon-ebook-p-817

Irresistibly Sweet Blogs

2012-01-23T10:08:00.000-05:00

I've been told I'm sweet. Okay, so maybe it’s my blog that’s sweet. That's what Calisa Rhose told me when she sent me the beautiful logo you see above. Thanks girlfriend! Calisa is the author of HOME, which I reviewed last week (and loved) Calisa has a very sweet blog too. You can see it here.

http://calisarhose.wordpress.com/

Calisa said I have to nominate 10 other blogs for this award and then spill the goods seven times on myself, but I decided to do something different. There are so many good blogs that I follow, (just look at my sidebar) it's hard to choose. So I'm giving a shout to ten that feature romantic fiction, post reviews or offer helpful advice to writers.

Have fun checking them out:

http://sirenbookstrand.blogspot.com/

https://spsilverpublishing.com/?main_page=wordpress

http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/

http://rainingmenamen.blogspot.com/

http://www.irmcbooks.com/

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/

http://firepages.wordpress.com/

http://hollylisle.com/weblog/

http://edittorrent.blogspot.com/

http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/content.php

It's Release Day!

2012-01-21T09:33:00.000-05:00

It's release day and I'm excited! The thrill of sending your baby out into the world never gets old. A Chance Encounter is a mix of sci-fi, paranormal and MM romance. I'm posting the blurb and excerpt below. I hope you love Adam and Chance as much as I do.

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER
Hybrids: 1

Adam is a wolf hybrid, the result of a military research project, splicing animal DNA with human DNA, to create the perfect soldier. Somehow the genetic manipulation went too far and Adam can't control his beast. Slated for termination, a freak gas explosion provides the opportunity for his escape from the medical facility he calls home. A hunted man, he expects to spend the rest of his life alone, but a Chance encounter changes everything.

Chance is unlucky in love and stuck in a job he hates. Then he meets Adam, his perfect man. But Adam is more than a man and involving Chance in his life could get them both killed.

Available at Silver Publishing:

https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/a-chance-encounter-ebook-p-712

EXCERPT

"Punishment Administration. All residents required to view the lesson"

Adam growled at the blaring speaker, but obediently went forward to watch through the glass wall of his cell. In the space below, a fair-haired youth of about sixteen, naked and defenseless, was flanked by two men dressed in black. Although the guards were well over six feet, the blond towered over them, yet he appeared passive as they approached the padded bench. The bastards! Of course everyone must have a clear view of the exhibition.

Three feet from his fate, the youth stopped short, and refused to move. Good for you, Loki. It wasn’t his real name, he was only a number in a classified database, but Adam thought of him as the Norse God, a shapeshifter and a consummate trouble maker. He admired the boy’s spunk, but it only earned him more punishment.

They must have withheld his drugs to make sure he felt every stroke of the lash. A third guard came running, then a fourth, and between them, they dragged the unfortunate boy to the bench, kicking and screaming. Adam couldn't hear him, the transparency of the cell wall gave the illusion of freedom, but the barrier was just as confining and soundproof as the solid steel of the other three walls. Still, the blond's contorted face and open mouth told the story. Finally, the guards manhandled the young man to the whipping bench, forced him to his knees so his chest lay across the padded top, and restrained him.

Daric, the commander of the guards, stepped up, a long rattan cane in his right hand. He flexed it as he spoke to the victim, making him wait. It was all a show, as much about psychological torture as physical. The humiliation hurt as much as the flesh wounds.

Suddenly Daric brought the cane down and made contact with the victim’s buttocks. The young man fought the restraints and jerked with each blow, but there was no escape. Years of practice had given Daric a good aim. The welts formed immediately and reddened within seconds. Adam could imagine the whistling sound of the cane as it sliced through the air, finally landing on that bruised flesh. He didn’t need to hear the screaming and pleading of the victim, it echoed in his memory. He’d been the recipient of Daric’s expertise more than once.

Daric paused between strokes, part of his sadistic game. One interval lasted longer than the others and Adam hoped the boy’s torture was over, but Daric was only inspecting his handiwork. Once again he lifted the whip and let it fly through the air. Finally, Daric stepped back and let the cane fall to his side. He glanced around the room, his expression a warning. Disobey and this is your fate. Then sneering triumphantly, he looked straight at Adam. Refusing to back down, Adam pressed his palms against the thick security glass that separated him from the rest of the laboratory and bared his teeth. Daric's mouth took on an unpleasant twist and his expression turned more resentful. Adam’s pedigree always brought him more punishment than the others, but he didn't care anymore. He'd already been beaten countless times for insignificant infractions. What more could they do to him?

Happy Reading!

HOME by Calisa Rhose

2012-01-20T11:04:00.002-05:00

I just finished reading Home by Calisa Rhose, a wonderful story of forgiveness, acceptance and love. The story takes place in a time often ignored by writers – the Vietnam era. It's a time frame I'm familiar with and Calisa brought it all back Home. She's a talented writer who knows how to set a scene that puts a reader in the middle of the action. But more than that, she excels at getting inside the character's heads. The relationship between the returning hero, Sam, a man suffering from post-traumatic stress and the heroine, Poppy, who helps him find his way Home is a touching love story that will stay with me for a long, long time. Highly recommended.

Home

What could a gypsy and a Vietnam veteran have in common?

Silvertown's outcast, Poppy Tippen, has loved football hero Sam "The Force" Callahan forever. But he never seemed to know she was alive. Now he's home from the war and she suddenly finds herself comforting him from the demons of "that damn war." Is his attention merely an escape from the haunting nightmares? Or does she hold the interest of the only man she's ever truly loved?

Sam Callahan's only solace from the war nightmares wrecking his life comes in the unlikely form of a gypsy girl with stigmas of her own. He's known Poppy his entire life, but there's something different about her now. Something special he desperately wants to hold on to. Can he convince her she's the only thing he needs to put the past behind him?

Available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Home-Tales-Scrimshaw-Doll-ebook/dp/B006MVF5KG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1327073619&sr=1-1

and Wild Rose Press:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4721

About the Author

Calisa Rhose writes in Oklahoma, USA where she lives with her hero of 28 years and her three grown daughters and four granddaughters. She loves her horse and has three spoiled dogs and one cat between her and hero husband.

It all began when she discovered daydraming about meeting the Bay City Rollers- that Scottish rock group who came like the second invasion from Europe in the mid 70's. (and Billy Ray thought he cornered the mullet market with Achy Breaky Heart!) She decided to write those daydreams down and has never stopped. Now those cute rockers are replaced with cowboys, firemen or whoever strikes her fancy.
She writes contemporary and vintage historical. She enjoys writing about cowboys more than anything but will throw a fireman in for fun. You can visit her on her website: http://calisarhose.wordpress.com Twitter@Calisa_Rhose

and Facebook/Calisa Rhose

She loves getting mail so you can fill her inbox at calisa.rhose@gmail.com

SPITFIRE - nominated for Best Menage Book of 2011

2012-01-16T16:29:00.000-05:00

The LR Cafe 'Best of 2011' Awards Voting has begun and SPITFIRE is nominated for Best Ménage book of 2011

Voting is at Dawn's Reading Nook and ends January 24th, 2012 at Midnight EST (USA Time). Your comment is your vote.

Please, please, please vote for me.
Here's the URL. No anonymous comments allowed.

http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com/2012/01/best-menage-book-of-2011-nominees-are.html?zx=6362b070babb1cd3

Lucy Felthouse: Susie White and the Right Hand Man

2012-01-14T00:07:00.000-05:00

Lucy Felthouse is one of my go to authors when I'm looking for a short, hot read. Lucy has a new book out, a modern take on Snow White, and she's sharing an excerpt. Enjoy!

A wedding, an evil plan, a love story and a sacrifice are the order of the day in this modern retelling of Snow White and the Huntsman.

Susie White and her stepmother-to-be have never seen eye to eye, despite all of Susie’s best efforts to be friendly. Eager not to spoil her father’s happiness, Susie still agrees to be bridesmaid at their wedding. When the big day comes, she meets Louise’s right hand man, Scott. Susie had never believed in love at first sight until that moment. The pair hit it off, sharing a mutual dislike of Louise and her wicked ways. Their camaraderie quickly develops into something more, and they date in secret until it’s time for Susie to leave for University – and freedom. Unfortunately, Scott has an earth-shattering revelation, which means the two of them of them must work together to unravel Louise’s evil plan, before it’s too late.

More info and buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/susie-white-and-the-right-hand-man/
Available at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006J9Q2H6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006J9Q2H6
All Romance: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-susiewhiteandtherighthandman-653106-144.html

Excerpt:

I should have known my stepmother was up to something when she offered to help me move all my stuff to my University digs. It wasn’t like her to be civil, much less helpful, but I figured that she was happy I was moving hundreds of miles away, and therefore would do anything to make sure it happened as quickly as possible.

As my father’s only child, I’m the sole heir to White’s Bites, a massively profitable confectionary company based in Wiltshire, England. My stepmother had made no secret of the fact she resented that she wouldn’t get a stake in the business, should anything happen to my father. Of course, the reason for this was that my father knew the first thing the witch would do was put the business on the market to get her greedy little hands on the cash. I, on the other hand, loved White’s Bites and would continue to run it to the best of my ability.

We’d never seen eye to eye, my stepmother and I. However, it wasn’t the usual ‘child resents someone trying to replace their parent’ syndrome, it was her that resented me.

My mom had died of cancer when I was fifteen. My father and I were devastated, as you’d expect, but I’d always urged him to get on with his life. After all, it’s what mom would have wanted, and I certainly didn’t want my dad to be lonely when I got married and left home.

So, a couple of years later, when dad met Louise and they started dating, I was thrilled. He was happy, therefore so was I. Soon it became more serious and dad wanted me to meet her. I was excited, but nervous.

When the time came and Louise had walked into our house, I’d been in awe. Don’t get me wrong, my mom had been beautiful, but in a natural way, as if she didn’t realise, or care. But Louise clearly did. Her gorgeous hair was perfectly quaffed, and her attractive features were enhanced by expertly applied makeup. Her outfit looked like something from a fashion magazine. I managed to pull myself together before she saw me standing there, all slack-jawed and stupid-looking. Walking towards her, I’d held out a hand.

“Louise!” I’d said, beaming, “I’m so pleased to finally meet you. Dad’s told me so much about you.”

She’d smiled thinly and without any real emotion. “Charmed, I’m sure, Susan.” She’d shaken my hand gingerly, as though she was afraid she’d catch something. I’d half expected her to wipe her hand on her clothes afterwards.

“Oh please, call me Susie.” I’d said, ignoring her odd behaviour. I’d been eager to get on with the woman, knowing it would please my father. “Everyone does.”

Another tight-lipped smile. I’d tried hard to make conversation with her and make her feel comfortable in our home. But I never felt like I was succeeding. At first, I put it down to her being nervous or shy, but as weeks and months passed, I still never felt as though Louise warmed to me. I never bothered my father with my concerns. After all, as long as she liked him, what did it matter?

While Louise and my father were just dating, things weren’t too bad. They went to restaurants, the theatre, the cinema, and so on. I didn’t see her very often, and therefore didn’t have to put up with her frosty behaviour towards me.

Naturally, everything changed when dad told me he was going to ask Louise to marry him. He’d sat me down to break the news – fortunately – and I’d done my best to act delighted. Luckily, dad hadn’t noticed anything was amiss, and as he’d chatted about ceremonies, honeymoons and Louise moving in, a cold shiver had run up my back. This could not end well.

More info and buy links: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/susie-white-and-the-right-hand-man/

Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story - so she did. It went down a storm and she's never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Summerhouse Publishing and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour and Seducing the Myth.

Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk.

Lorelei Confer: Deadly Deliverance Giveaway!

2012-01-12T00:03:00.000-05:00

Author Lorelei Confer is here today, celebrating her new release.

Deadly Deliverance will be out January 17^th from Siren-Bookstrand.

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You can win an ebook copy of Deadly Deliverance! Just leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway.

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Now here's Lorelei...

Good morning! I’m Lorelei Confer and I write romantic suspense.

I wrote my first story in the fourth grade in the form of a play which actually was produced by my teacher for parents and students. I continued writing and majored in English in College. I practice every day to improve my craft.

An author of romantic suspense I love reading almost as much as writing. I have filled my book shelves with my favorites, i.e. Harlan Colban, Eliza March, Johanna Lindsey, Kathy Carmichael, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Andrew Gross, Terri Garey, Karen Rose, LuAnn Rice, and Bobbi Smith just to mention a few, as well as all the classics. I live on a peninsula in the mid west coast of Florida with my husband, two cats, and AJ, my long haired Chihuahua.

I love hearing from readers so please visit my website: www.loreleiconfer.com or blog at www.loreleiconfer.blogspot.com.

In doing research for my first book, Deadly Deception, I learned so much about Human Sex Trafficking and I really wanted to get the message out that this horrific crime is happening in your own backyard. I met with an undercover detective assigned to our local task force for human trafficking and from all the information I gleaned from him and numerous other interviews I have been able to put together realistic stories.

My second book, Deadly Revenge, happens in the North Carolina mountains which is the eighth likely state for human trafficking due to their interstate going north and south and east and west. Who knew?

I’ve just finished my third book in the ‘Deadly’ series, Deadly Deliverance, which is also about human sex trafficking from an investigators point of view. It’s primarily located in the Washington, DC area and is available from Siren Bookstrand Jan 17^th, 2012.

I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy researching and writing them.

Deadly Deliverance

A BookStrand Mainstream Romance

Things get personal for Sam Brower, undercover task force detective for human trafficking, when his niece, Autumn, goes missing. To make matters worse, he’s forced to work with his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Conover, former DC cop, when she’s assigned to a cold case involving his long lost brother.

After infiltrating the gang responsible for the multiple abductions, Sam and Lisa try to unravel the stories behind the kidnapping of Autumn and the disappearance of Luke before their cover is blown.
Undercover work doesn’t lend well to trust. Even if they work together like a fine tuned instrument, will Lisa and Sam be able to salvage love after all they’ve been through?

Available at Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/deadly-deliverance

Deadly Deception and Deadly Revenage are available at Bookstrand:
http://www.bookstrand.com/lorelei-confer and Amazon.

Story Excerpt

“Ahh!! Oh!! Yes! Yes! It feels so good! Right there! Please, don’t stop, please,” Lisa Conover muttered. “Harder, harder! No! Don’t leave now!” She groaned as she pounded her fists into the hardwood floor. “Damn it! Why did you stop?” she asked Godiva, her twenty-two pound silver tabby cat, who had jumped off her back and now sauntered over to a sunny spot on the carpet, flopping down in a very unladylike manner. Just like Sam used to do years ago, gets me feeling comfortable and then he takes off.

Lisa’s aching back muscles were so tight from hunching over her computer ten to twelve hours a day every day for the past weeks. She needed a massage. Better yet, she needed a vacation.

She rolled over onto her back and stared above at the open-beamed ceiling of her log cabin in the North Carolina Mountains outside Hickoryville. She studied the accumulation of dust bunnies along the beams.

The setting sun cast shadows across the room as she gazed out the two-story floor to ceiling windows on one wall. The view of the tranquil scenic mountains in its resplendent fall glory replaced some of the angst she felt about her work. She relaxed and stretched her arms above her head. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn’t had any lunch today.

She stood, trying to stretch her still-aching muscles by turning side to side at the waist, touching her toes—or attempting to anyway.

Then maybe she could get a few more hours of work done before bedtime.

After putting down fresh water and food for Godiva she opened the fridge hoping to find something for dinner. She knew what she would find but she looked anyway. It was empty except for a couple of eggs, and an older-than-she-knew container of yogurt she couldn’t trust anymore.

She glimpsed down at Godiva who had already finished her dinner. “I think I’ll run down to The Barn and get something to eat. You can hold down the fort here for a while, right?” she asked Godiva who sauntered away licking her lips.

She walked the short distance from the kitchen to the corner of the large open room to her desk which held her state-of-the-art computer system with three screens and a laptop. She sat down to start turning everything off when the phone on her desk rang.

“Conover Investigations, Lisa speaking.”

“Hi, is Sam Brower there?”

“Sorry, but I haven’t heard from Sam in years. How did you get my number?”

“This is the last number I had for him. I really need to talk to him ASAP.”

“Maybe I can help you. What’s the problem?”

“No, I need to talk to Sam.”

“I’m sorry I can’t help you. Give me your name and a number where he can reach you, and if I hear from him I’ll let him know you’re trying to get in touch with him, okay?”

“My name’s Luke and he can reach me at …” Then the phone line went dead. He had hung up.

What is it about men? They never say good-bye.

Adult Excerpt

“Sam, have you really thought this through?” Lisa asked as she pulled her hair away from her face.

“Of course I have. Do you think I really want to give up what we’ve just renewed?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, back the truck up,” Lisa said as she pushed away from him, her hands on his chest. “What do you think has been renewed? Yes, we shared a couple of ‘hello’ kisses for old time’s sake, but that’s all.”

Sam turned and moved closer to her. “Let’s take care of that right now. I know I want more out of our relationship, maybe even something permanent, don’t you?” He put his hands on her shoulders and attempted to pull her closer. She resisted.

He leaned in and kissed her shoulders, moving to her neck. She moved away. He pulled her closer and continued kissing her long neck, ears, and cheeks, moving toward her open and groaning mouth. Her hands moved to his elbows and then up to his shoulders until they were around his neck where she hung on for dear life.

His mouth moved to encompass hers, his tongue tangling with hers. He groaned as he pulled her closer to rub against his erection. He walked her backwards toward the bed until the back of her legs could go no farther. They slowly tumbled to the bed without breaking the kiss. He held her in his arms, plundering her mouth. His hands moved up her side and found her breast. She wiggled. His fingers found her nipple and gently squeezed until it became erect and hard. He pulled up her blouse and broke the kiss to take his wet mouth to her breast. He moved her satin-and-lace bra out of the way and plundered her nipple. She groaned and arched toward him. His hand pulled up her skirt and reached for her feminine curls finding soft, satin-and-lace matching panties. He pulled them aside and reached for her hot wet spot waiting and ready for him.

His hand slid between her legs and brushed the dewy petals of her damp folds, sending a zing of electricity through her entire body. Working a finger inside her, he growled, “Keep going,” with a jerk of his chin at her still hands.

He worked two fingers into her wet passage and stretched her wide. Her back arched as delicious tremors and hot shocks of pleasure streaked through her body. His eyes as deep and dark as night, his gaze caressed her, traveling over her body to rest where his hand had disappeared between her legs.

Eyes heavy-lidded, he murmured, “I want to lick you all over like an ice cream cone.”

His heated look inflamed her blood, and a film of perspiration covered her skin. She tried to fill her restricted lungs, but there wasn’t enough air in the room.

He moved his fingers inside her. He was huge, jutting past his belly button, a network of veins distended in stark relief along the length.

He was stroking himself while he was pleasuring her. He rolled on top of her and, finding the exact spot, he thrust inside her. She arched her hips toward him, wanting more, and he thrust deeper. In and out, in and out, their rhythm soon matched until they both spiraled out of control and into ecstasy.

Sam moved off her but lay close beside her, wrapping his arms tightly around her. He didn’t want to let her go.

Diane Alberts: RECLAIMED

2012-01-09T00:46:00.000-05:00

I’m excited to welcome Diane Alberts today. She’s here as part of the blog tour for her new paranormal romance, Reclaimed.

I just finished reading Reclaimed and thoroughly enjoyed it. A good read is like a good meal. It’s got to have all the right ingredients. Reclaimed fits the bill and I pretty much devoured it.

For me, the most important ingredient is the characters. The smart and spunky heroine drew me into the story and I liked her right off the bat. I enjoyed the banter between her and hunky hero, Isaac. As in any great story, world building is essential. I want to feel like I’m immersed in the setting. Whether Sabrina was in her new home in England or enjoying a meal at the McGuiness Tavern, the author made me feel a part of it. In fact the whole book is both well written and well plotted. Check out the excerpt Diane is sharing today and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Now here’s Diane.

Where I write?

I often get asked where I do the majority of my writing. I could lie, and state something blatantly wrong such as “the beach”. I could sound sophisticated, and state, “At Starbucks with glasses on and a latte in each hand”. (The second is close to accurate, minus the Starbucks)

In reality, I write with coffee in my hand, and four…yes, FOUR kids screaming, running, fighting, laughing, and crying. My house is never, ever quiet. Unless everyone is asleep. But, I’m usually too tired by then to write! So, I write in my bedroom, at my desk, as every other second a child comes in asking for something.

Distracting? Yes. But I can’t afford Starbucks every day, and so it shall be!

Blurb

After moving to England, Sabrina tumbles into an unknown world when she meets the man of her dreams, literally. As a writer, her overactive imagination makes her believe the impossible, but recovering from shock, she wonders how Isaac could appear in her nightmares—when she’s never met him in real life. Until now.

The staggering events catapult her into a world where ruthless creatures roam freely along unsuspecting humans, and battle lines are clearly drawn.

While embarking on a dangerous and passionate affair, a bitter enemy appears from Isaac's past that will stop at nothing to remove Sabrina from his arms. Permanently. In order to establish a foreseeable and solid future, she must first deal with tumultuous occurrences. Navigating a shadowy world she never knew existed, Sabrina fights for her newfound love...and her life.

Excerpt

A strange stillness sat in the air outside Sabrina’s house. No trees swayed in the breeze, no animals scampered in the forest, as if the world itself had come to a halt.

Uneasiness rolled over her, and she studied Isaac out of the corner of her eye. Surprisingly, he seemed to be as tense as her. He gripped her arm tighter than necessary, and his lips were pressed together as well. She could feel the tension pulsating off his body, and she got taken back into her dreams. For the first time in real life, he made her shiver in apprehension. As if sensing her fear, he shot her a quick grin.

“Well, I had a lovely evening.” He spoke over his shoulder as he practically dragged her to the door. She stumbled in an attempt to keep up with his pace. At the door he pointedly stared at her, causing her to realize he waited for her to open it. She fumbled through the mess she called a purse to find the key. She turned to him and smiled as she studied him through the cover of her eyelashes.

“Would you like to come in for a nightcap? I have wine…or coffee…or tea, or....” She stuttered to a stop, unsure of what to say.

God, she sounded like such an idiot.

Nightcap?

Who the heck said nightcap anymore?

“While I’d love to take you up on that offer, I have something I have to take care of tonight. Could I get a rain check? For say, tomorrow night? We could do a movie and wine? Or is tomorrow too soon in the dating world?”

“No, not too soon at all. I’d love to see you tomorrow. ”She tried to hide her disappointment behind a bright smile. “You can call me, and we’ll firm up a time. Good night.”

She turned to go inside and got caught off-guard when he grabbed her elbow and spun her to face him. It happened so quickly she leaned back against the door in confusion; one hand on the doorknob and the other braced against the cool steel of the door. He moved his body closer to hers and placed his hand at her head. His other hand cupped her cheek while his thumb stroked her jaw line. All thought fled as his body pressed against hers, and a small swoosh of air escaped her lips at his touch.

“I didn’t think it even possible for you to grow more beautiful, but you have proven me wrong.” When his lips met hers, she lost all thought, all ability to move. She’d somehow been tied to this spot—this man.

Until January 16th, Reclaimed is just $0.99 at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Reclaimed-ebook/dp/B006OSWIUC/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1326037157&sr=1-1

Reclaimed is also available here:

http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=428&osCsid=2j0g98ah0rcrrhmrqahh215l87

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006OSWIUC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B006OSWIUC

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006OSWIUC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006OSWIUC

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/116756?ref=cw1985

Author Bio and Links:

Diane Alberts lives in Northeast Pennsylvania with her husband, four kids, and a bird. She lives in the mountains-but wishes it were the beach. She has been writing since she was in elementary school, but only recently fulfilled her dreams of being published in 2011. Enjoys dyeing yarn and knitting in her “spare” time.

Diane Alberts is a published romance writer. Kill Me Tomorrow, Diane’s addition to the popular 1NS series from Decadent Publishing, will be out on October 28, 2011. Look for Reclaimed, available soon from Decadent Publishing. Also, Escape To Me, Diane’s second contribution to the 1NS series, just recently got contracted. Absolution, the first of a new series with Decadent called Honor Guard, is in the pre-editing process. Broken, another 1NightStand book, was also recently contracted with Decadent Publishing.

In addition to being a writer, Diane also reads slush for Entangled Publishing as an intern.

She loves interacting with readers, so feel free to email her or follow her on her various social networks.

Website: www.dianealberts.com

Blog: https://dianealberts.wordpress.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/DianeAlberts

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Diane-Alberts/121705201245084

The Goddess New Release Party!

2012-01-07T12:00:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow I’ll be one of the authors at the Goddess New Release Party giveaway!

Here’s the deal: Sunday, January 8, 2012 at http://goddessfishparty.blogspot.com/
between 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Eastern Time there will be guest blogs, excerpts, and prizes. Along with individual giveaways from the participating authors, Goddess Promotions will be giving a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to one commenter.

A CHANCE ENCOUNTER is available for pre-order!

2012-01-03T11:11:00.000-05:00

January is a time for new beginnings and I have a new series starting. It's called Hybrids and each story is about a man who's been altered by deliberate genetic engineering. The books can be read as standalones. The first book, A CHANCE ENCOUNTER, will be officially released by Silver Publishing on January 21st but it can be pre-ordered now. The gorgeous cover is by Reese Dante. Here's the synopsis:

Chance is unlucky in love and stuck in a job he hates. Then he meets Adam, his perfect man. But Adam is more than a man and involving Chance in his life could get them both killed.

Available at Silver Publishing:

http://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/coming-soon-c-2/a-chance-encounter-ebook-p-712

Happy Reading!

Fried Meat Dumplings on New Year's Day

2012-01-02T13:42:00.001-05:00

New Year's Day was spent watching the Mummer's strut their stuff down Broad Street. I love it all, feathers, sequins, makeup and beautifully crafted floats, but the comics are my favorite. The parade has a long tradition, starting 1901 when Philadelphia made it an official city-sponsored event. I posted a video from Youtube below to give you a little taste of the Mummer’s Magic.

While we watched the parade from the comfort of home the DH and I whipped up a batch of Fried Meat Dumplings. The DH found the recipe at http://www.cookstr.com/recipes/fried-meat-dumplings. The recipe was much easier than it sounds. It took us only 1 ½ hours from start to finish. Three minutes of frying on each side worked for us. They were delicious!

Here’s the recipe along with our pictures – before, frying and after.

(Twigim Mandu)

Mandu makes a nice light lunch, appetizer, or snack. Although you can really fill them with anything you want, the traditional way is to make them with pork. To make a vegetarian version, substitute the meat with tofu. The secret to getting nice, crisp dumplings is to make sure all the ingredients are as dry as possible, so that the filling doesn’t make the skins soggy and cause extra splattering when frying. Still, to be safe, use a frying screen (they are screens stretched over metal circles with handles that fit over frying pans). If you can talk a friend, sibling, or spouse into helping, it’s much more fun and the work goes faster.

Yield : Makes 50 dumplings

Ingredients

1 cup mung bean or green bean sprouts

½ pound ground beef or pork

½ medium onion, chopped

2 green onions, chopped very fine

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 tablespoon ginger, minced

1 egg

1 teaspoon sesame oil

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon white pepper

50 Fresh Dumpling Skins or storebought dumpling wrappers

Vegetable oil for frying

Directions

For the filling:

1. Blanch the mung bean sprouts by dunking them briefly in boiling water. Rinse in cold water to stop cooking. Squeeze out as much water as you can from the sprouts, chop them, and put them in a bowl.

2. In the same bowl, add the remaining ingredients (except the dumpling wrappers) and combine until mixed.

3. Before you begin filling the dumplings, prepare a large tray or other flat surface for laying down the dumplings as you make them. Also, pour some cold water in a small bowl for dipping.

4. Place a wrapper on the palm of your hand. Then, spoon enough filling into the middle of the circle to leave about ½ inch of empty skin (about a tablespoon). Dip your finger into the cold water and wet ½ of the edge of the dumpling skin. Fold the skin in half, sealing the filling inside, making a semicircle.

5. To make a fancy presentation, make small ridges on one side of the edge as you seal, using your finger and thumb, making about 5 or 7 ridges on each dumpling. The dumpling will curve naturally as you do this. This takes some practice, so don’t worry if the first one doesn’t come out stellar.

6. Repeat with each wrapper until all the filling or wrappers are used.

7. In a frying pan, pour enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom surface of the pan and heat over medium heat. Carefully, place the dumplings in the pan, filling the pan, but not crowding them so much that they touch and stick to each other. Fry until golden brown and crispy on one side. Flip them (long wooden chopsticks work best), cooking all sides until they are golden and crispy all over. Continue until all the dumplings are cooked, adding more oil as needed.

Serve warm with Vinegar Soy Sauce (Cho Ganjang) for dipping.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-01T10:37:00.000-05:00

Gratuitous Cat Photos

2011-12-28T10:45:00.000-05:00

No serious posts today. Instead I’m sharing gratuitous cat photos. Here are my furry babies enjoying Christmas morning with their new toys…

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T18:10:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays to All!

A Star is Born

2011-12-22T10:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I was at Beth Wilde's Yahoo Group along with Gabrielle Bisset, Natasha Blackthorne, and Karen Mercury. We were chatting, posting excerpts and giving away books. Thank you to everyone who participated and asked about my health. I'm taking my meds and feeling a little better today, not coughing as much.

I ducked out early last night to see my youngest grandson in his debut as a shepherd in his very first Christmas pageant. It was sweet and I do believe a star was born. As promised here are a few pictures.

* It's a Party *

2011-12-20T16:44:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow, Wednesday December 21, is the date.

The place is Beth Wilde’s Yahoo Group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bethwylde/

I’ll be there along with Gabrielle Bisset, Natasha Blackthorne, and Karen Mercury.

Between 9 am and midnight (EST) we’ll be chatting, posting excerpts and giving away books, so be sure to stop by often.

The place to be is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bethwylde/

Hope to see you there!

Calisa Rhose: HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

2011-12-19T08:36:00.003-05:00

I'm thrilled to welcome my good friend and fellow Rose, Calisa Rhose, whose first book, Home, will be released on Decmeber 28th. I've been lucky enough to share a small part of Calisa's journey to publication and I couldn't be more excited. Calisa has written a wonderful story about... Well, I'll let her tell you all about it. Here's Calisa.

I’m so excited to be on Gale’s blog as part of my tour for my debut release, HOME from The Wild Rose Press! Thank you for having me, Gale. I never would have imagined that I’d be promoting my book when I met you a year ago. Or at least, not this book. J My wolves, maybe. An Historical? Well let’s just say I’m beyond words so let me share my book of love and hope with you in the best way I know how.

BLURB:

What could a gypsy and a Vietnam veteran have in common?

Silvertown’s outcast, Poppy Tippen, has loved football hero Sam “The Force” Callahan forever. But he never seemed to know she was alive. Now he’s home from the war and she suddenly finds herself comforting him from the demons of “that damn war.” Is his attention merely an escape from the haunting nightmares? Or does she hold the interest of the only man she’s ever truly loved?

Sam Callahan’s only solace from the war nightmares wrecking his life comes in the unlikely form of a gypsy girl with stigmas of her own. He’s known Poppy his entire life, but there’s something different about her now. Something special he desperately wants to hold on to. Can he convince her she’s the only thing he needs to put the past behind him?

Excerpt:

“I’ll always want you, Poppy.”

Her head shook in automatic denial. “You’ll want a girl who fits your life. Not some gypsy with no family lineage to brag about. Your momma won’t accept that, either. She’ll make you choose someone like Connie, someone who fits into your world. Not the girl everyone avoids and whispers about behind her back. You’re gonna be the town’s doctor. You need an uppity wife who will make you proud.”

When Sam laughed, his chest shuddered against her back. Deep, husky, real. He turned her in his arms and looked down at her, smiling. “Poppy, do you honestly think I give a damn what people think? Look at me! I’m the town outcast, the survivor who should have died saving the others, not be here planning a future that includes a wife, a medical practice. “I shimmy under park benches, run from my mother’s lipstick, for God’s sake. I wake up screaming and crying over nothing in the middle of the night, crawl under my bed and hide, shaking,

until morning. Hell, I can’t even be a doctor because I haven’t finished school yet.”

“I didn’t know. It must be awful for you.” No matter how it hurt Poppy to know he used her, it felt much worse to know how he hurt alone. “The only time it isn’t awful is when I’m with you. When I think of you.”

Get your copy of HOME on Wednesday, December 28^th at The Wild Rose

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4721

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

On twitter @Calisa_Rhose

and Facebook @Calisa Rhose

She loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at calisa.rhose@gmail.com

Thanks again, Gale. It’s been fun!

Wayne’s Dead

2011-12-16T12:06:00.000-05:00

Between edits I picked up a book I’ve had on my to be read pile for a long time. Wayne’s Dead by Christy Tillery French is a dark psychological thriller. The pace is quick and I finished it in one sitting. I had a bit of trouble believing that a smart cop couldn’t figure out who the bad guy was. I picked up on it immediately. Still, it’s a gripping read if you don’t mind some blood and gore.

Amazon Synopsis

Jackson Daniels, investigative detective with the Knoxville Police Department, is called to the scene of a murder at a ritzy hotel in Knoxville. A dead man lies on the bed, above his mutilated body the words, Wayne's Dead, have been written. Jackson and his team of detectives ascertain fairly quickly that they are faced with a brutal serial killer who has been on the loose in the Southeast for the past twelve years. Choosing married, middle-aged attorneys as prey, the killer seduces them, murders them, and then mutilates the body afterwards, leaving the same message on the wall above the victims. Frustrated over the lack of evidence found at each scene, Jackson and his team frantically search for their perpetrator, never suspecting that the person they are trying to find has been with them from the start.

Available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Waynes-Dead-Christy-Tillery-French/dp/1591291976/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324054192&sr=1-1

Trying To Keep My Head On My Shoulders

2011-12-12T10:24:00.000-05:00

Is anyone else feeling overwhelmed by the holidays?

No matter how diligently I plan ahead, something unexpected always throws a monkey wrench into the mix. This year I got a double whammy. A lingering sinus infection has me feeling like a limp noodle. On top of that, I found a massive amount of edits in my inbox – and they’re due the end of the month!

I look forward to the excitement of the holidays, but they’re a stressor for sure. Shopping online and having a supportive partner is a big help. Tell me, how do you stay balanced through the hectic holiday season?

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Minette Meader - Creating Bad Guys

2011-12-09T00:16:00.000-05:00

Welcome Minette Meador, author of the Belle Stalker. She's here today as part of her blog tour and she's sharing an inside look at how she creates a villain. There's also an excerpt from her new book and some great prizes.

Giveaway #1 Minette will be giving away a small Kindle worth $79, plus a Portland Tote filled with goodies to one randomly drawn commenter. Follow her tour for more chances to win. The tour dates are here:

goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/10/virtual-book-tour-belle-stalker.html

Giveaway #2 TODAY’S PRIZE: Recipe Box filled with Minnette’s favorite dishes..

Giveaway #3 And any reader who sends their name and address to Minnette will be sent a stack of signed swag. Just drop her a note at:

mmeador@minnettemeador.com

THE BELLE STALKER
An Urban Fantasy Thriller
by Minnette Meador

The police have done all they can, but it isn’t enough. When Belle finds the mutilated body of her lover strewn across the furniture she knows only her ex-husband, Homicide Detective Mike Cranston can stop the maniac who has been dogging her steps for over a year. The only problem is the man who stalks her...is not a man at all. Belle plays a dangerous game and only hopes that Cranston can stop the monster before it’s too late.

ANATOMY OF A BAD GUY

He nodded once and took Belle by the throat, lifting her off her feet.

Remmick’s darkened teeth showed behind his lips as Tequelin applied pressure, and Belle began to fight. Tequelin could feel the dwarf lean toward them in his excitement. It was all he needed.

Tequelin released Belle and caught the dwarf in the chest with a kick. He went flying back into the others, and the sword sailed into the air. Tequelin turned and caught it as it finished its arch. His long fingers wrapped around the hilt. The sword flickered in the sparse light of the cavern.

A wave of scintillation traveled from the hilt to his hand, into his arm, and a sunburst exploded inside his head. His senses sharpened acutely, and his heart pushed vitality though his veins. Invincibility crowded out every other awareness. It had been more than a year since they had taken it from him, but his body remembered. Prehistoric spells filled his mind. Memories crashed through him in an avalanche. He threw his head back, slowly widened his mouth as far as it would stretch and shouted at the high roof of the cavern.

When he lowered his chin, the dwarves were scattering, but they seemed slow to his revitalized awareness. He swept Belle back against the wall and lifted the sword.

An image of dead dwarves piled high on the dais filled his thoughts. For the first time in centuries, Tequelin laughed.

The Belle Stalker – Chapter Thirty-Two

The Belle Stalker is available at:

RESPLENDENCE PUBLISHING

AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
All Romance eBooks

Visit Minette's Blog

TODAY’S PRIZE: Recipe Box filled with Minnette’s favorite dishes.

Don’t forget: If you send your name and address to Minnette, she will send you a stack of signed swag. Just drop her a note at: mmeador@minnettemeador.com

And Now Here's Minette...
Yesterday, over at Paranormal Romantic Suspense Reviews we talked about bad guys. Today, I’d like to share with you the characteristics of a bad guy and what my process is for creating them. I’ve taken out any spoiler info, but I thought you might find it interesting to see how a writer uses a character sheet.

CHARACTER CHART

Date this chart was completed: 12/15/09

Character's Full Name: Tequelin

Reason or meaning of name: na

Birth date: 10,000 years ago

Astrological Sign: Does not have a sign

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

Very slim, but muscular, elongated face, large hands

Age: How old does s/he appear? 40

Eye Color: Glasses or contacts: Bright blue Eyes, No glasses

Type of body/build: Tall and muscular

Weight: 185#

Height: 6’6”

Skin Tone: Olive

Skin Type: Smooth & Flawless
Shape of face: Long Oval

Distinguishing Marks: Faint scars

Predominant feature: Eyes

Hair color: White

Distinguishable hair feature (bald, receding hairline, etc.): Completely straight and very thick

Type of hair (coarse, fine, thick, etc?) Thick

Character's typical hairstyle: Parted in the middle, tied at the back most times

FAVORITES:

Character's favorite color: An old worlds color that has no English translation

Character's least favorite color: Pink

Why? It reminds him of humans

Favorite Music: Singing

Least favorite Music: Human Pop

Why? Reminds him of humans

Food: Fruits, vegetables, nuts

Literature: Voracious reader of everything human - Wants to get to know them

Mode of transportation: Limousine

Daredevil or cautious? Cautious

Same when alone? Yes

HABITS:

Smokes: What? No

When and how much? Never

Drinks: What? Water only imported from Anglesey, an island off of the Welsh coast

When and how much? Normal amount

Hobbies: Accomplished with the lute and the pipes - Though diminished from earlier times, still practices some white magic from time to time to sooth his nerves

How does character spend a rainy day? Often stands in the rain with his face up - Part of the reason he chose Portland to begin with, because of the similarities of climate with Anglesey

BACKGROUND:

Hometown: Eloriana

Type of childhood: spoiled, pampered, very well educated, allowed to do pretty much whatever he wanted unless his parents intervened - Overall kind to his peers, but cruel to servants

First memory: His mother's face

Most important childhood event that still affects him/her: Almost losing their kingdom to the barbarian elves when he was six. His sister was killed that day.

Why? He was never mentally the same after that

Education: Dark and white arts - Heavily educated in the other human world by choice - was fascinated by them - It was on an excursion to 60 AD to the isle of Mona (now called Anglesey) that he was caught by surprise when the Romans attacked and wiped out the druids

Religion: Ancestral worship

Finances: 2000 years of accumulated wealth in various ventures and investments. He is quite wealthy.

FAMILY: Father and Mother, twenty siblings

Mother: Queen of Eloriana

Relationship with her: He loved her very much

Father: King of Eloriana, strained

Siblings: 14 brothers and 6 sisters

How many? 20

Birth order: He is the oldest

OCCUPATION

Where does Character work? Independently wealthy

Character's dream job: King

ATTITUDE:

Character's greatest fear: Never being able to return home

Why? He hates living among the humans

What is the worst thing that could happen to him/her? Being trapped in this world forever

What single event would most throw character's life in complete turmoil? If he fell in love with a human

Why? It would mean his continued damnation here

Character is most at ease when: Alone

Most ill at ease when: Around humans Depressive or SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)? Yes - Also, paranoid-schizophrenic disorder, sociopath, megalomania

Priorities: Escaping the human world and destroying the human as he leaves

Philosophy: There is only one superior race

How s/he feels about self: Feels he's superior to everyone

If granted one wish, what would it be? Why? To get back home

PERSONALITY:

Greatest source of strength in character's personality (whether s/he sees it as such or not): Dedication to his goals

Greatest source of weakness in character's personality (whether s/he sees it as such or not: He's a sociopath

Character's soft spot: Belle

Is this soft spot obvious to others? No

If not, how does character hide it? Denies it to self and others

Biggest vulnerability: Belle

Which of the 7 deadly sins does your character fight (or give into, willingly or not)?(lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride) Fights: lust, gluttony, sloth, envy, pride - Gives into (usually unwillingly): wrath

Which of the 7 virtues does your character have (or fight against)?

(chastity, abstinence, liberality, diligence, patience, kindness, humility) Gives into: Abstinence, liberality, diligence, patience - Fights: kindness and humility (considers them weaknesses)

TRAITS:

Optimist or pessimist: Why? Pessimist - He can be very cynical about others, but optimistic about himself

Introvert or extrovert: Why? Introvert – stranger in a strange land

Drives and motivations: Getting closer to his goal of returning home

Talents: Skilled with both black and white arts, but dwindling, genius per human standards, natural leader

Extremely skilled at: Martial arts, weapons (except guns, which he abhors), recruitment and maintaining an army

Extremely unskilled at: Dealing with mundane day to day activities, petty foibles in others

Good characteristics: Dedicated to his goal, fair to his troops (for the most part)

Character flaws: Cruel to his underlings, sociopath, wants to destroy human kind

Mannerisms: Hands on his hips, scowls most of the time, very controlled in his manner, stiff

Peculiarities: Enjoys torture

Biggest regret: Being trapped on earth

Minor regrets: That he is weak when it comes to Belle

Biggest accomplishment: Rebuilding the underground city beneath Portland

Minor accomplishments: Able to control his rage most times

Character's darkest secret: That he desires the human woman almost more than he desires his home

Does anyone else know? No

If no, how did they find out? Belle finds out during the story

SELF-PERCEPTION:

One word CHARACTER would use to describe self: Superior

One paragraph description of how CHARACTER would describe self: Intelligent, talented, entitled, he feels the world should pay for his imprisonment and all the wrongs that have been heaped upon him

What does CHARACTER consider best physical characteristic? His hands

What does CHARACTER consider worst physical characteristic? His ears - they are difficult to conceal

Are these realistic assessments? No

If not, why not? This eyes are the most compelling part of his body - His ears are beautiful

How CHARACTER thinks others perceive him/her: They fear him as they should

What four things would CHARACTER most like to change about self? (#1 most

important, #2 second most important, etc.)

1. That he were stronger where it comes to Belle

2. That he was weak when he agreed to take on the company to help him with his plans

3. That his magic was so weak

4. Inability to rest

Why? He would be running things much differently

If change #1 was made, would character be as happy as s/he thinks? No

If not, why not? He will never be happy because of his condition

INTERRELATION WITH OTHERS:

How does character relate to others? His servants fear and hate him, his troops respect, but fear him

How is s/he perceived by...

Strangers? Mysterious, angry

Friends? Has no friends

Hero: Perceives him as a psychopath
Heroine: Fears his power over her and her attraction to him

How does character view hero/heroine? Loves Belle, wants to kill Cranston

First impression: Wants to possess her

Why? He doesn't know why and it drives him mad

What happens to change this perception? Her hatred towards him

GOALS:

Immediate goals: To get Belle and force her to tell him where the gem is and to take her as his own

Long-range goals: Take them both to England to open the gates to the other realm

PROBLEMS/CRISIS:

How character reacts in a crisis: The warrior inside him comes to life - Is extremely good in a crisis

How character faces problems: Petty problems he delegates to others - Major problems he handles himself

Kinds of problems character usually runs into: Small mutinies among his soldiers (he publically executes traitors himself in front of his assembled armies when he can), the police and particularly Cranston interfering or destroying his plans

How character reacts to NEW problems: Formulates a plan quickly based off his experience

How character reacts to change: Gets angry and usually takes out his frustration on an underling then takes care of it

GENERAL:

Favorite clothing: His royal robes

Why? Makes him feel at home

Least favorite clothing: Human clothes - They make him feel soiled somehow

Jewelry: The royal ring on his middle right finger, jeweled sword belt when in his robes, golden armband with his family crest

Other accessories: Sword, short blade, and crystal knife

Drives: No - Walks or is chauffeured

Where does character live? In a mansion in downtown Portland

Where does character want to live? Eloriana

Spending habits (frugal, spendthrift, etc): Very frugal, except on his home & services

What does s/he do too much of? Planning - Would rather take action - Watching Belle when he should be working

Too little of? Getting to know his soldiers

Most prized possession: His sword Why? It gives him power

UNCATEGORIZED:

Person character secretly admires: Cranston

Why? The human has amazing abilities and luck

Person character was most influenced by: Himself

Why? He takes no other's advice or counsel

Most important person in character's life before story starts: Belle

Why? He needs the gem she carries and secretly loves her

How does character spend the week before the story starts? Laying the last plans with the Company and stalking Belle – killing a rival

After I fill out one of these sheets, I then do a backstory for the character. If you’d like to see the backstory for Tequelin I’m afraid you’ll have to wait and read the book. It would spoil the plot otherwise.

So, just for fun, walk yourself through this character survey. What kind of character would you be? Would you be the good guy or the bad guy? Use your imagination and come up with a character on your own and tell us about him/her. Have fun! Minnette :o)

It's Release Day!

2011-12-08T09:13:00.001-05:00

Well, the day has finally come. Backfire is officially released and I already got a 4 star review on Bookstrand. What a great way to start the day!
All the info is below, including an excerpt. Enjoy!

BACKFIRE

Southwest Shifters: 3

[Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Paranormal Romance, M/M, shape-shifters]

Jack Remus has always been a player. While his pack mates value their relationships, Jack is only interested in casual sex—one night of passion, then a parting of the ways, never to see each other again. And that’s exactly what he’s looking for at the Silverado Saloon, but his plans backfire when he follows an intoxicating scent and ends up in the middle of a brawl.

Dakota is on the run from an abusive Alpha. He has a temporary job at the Silverado, and when he earns enough for a bus ticket, he’ll be on his way. When his boss tries to seduce him, Jack steps in to play the white knight. A new lover is the last thing on Dakota’s mind. He knows it's time to move on, but his plan backfires when the dark stranger follows him. Jack is on Dakota’s trail, but it’s a path that just might get him killed.

Available at Bookstrand:

http://www.bookstrand.com/backfire

This title is offered at a 10% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, December 15th.

Excerpt

The winking neon lights and the smell of human testosterone lifted Jack’s spirits with promises of good times ahead. A delicious thrill of anticipation coursed through his body. Not knowing who stood on the other side of the door gave the hunt an added edge of excitement. A major letdown sometimes followed the pleasurable expectation of finding what he wanted, but tonight he had high hopes for success. Besides, he’d rather be on the prowl than sitting at home jerking off.

Boredom had brought him to the Silverado Saloon, boredom and loneliness, two things that could get a wolf into big trouble. His frustration level, now at an all-time high, had him itching to fuck or fight. He’d prefer the former, but he’d settle for either one.

A slow moving crowd entered the honky-tonk, and Jack followed the partygoers, letting his nose search for that special someone. Perfume, scented shampoos, and deodorant blended with human pheromones to tickle his olfactory receptors, but no one stood out. He wouldn’t let it discourage him. The night is young.

He knew the staff was friendly and polite, but the big beefy bouncer at the door was downright chummy, holding Jack’s hand a beat too long when he checked his ID. The man’s steroid-bulked body might appeal to some, but it wasn’t his type. He offered the doorman a noncommittal smile and made his way inside.

The racket didn’t bother him in the least. On the contrary, his sensitive eardrums reveled in the din. Instead of lowering the tuner in his brain to make the noise level more manageable for his ears, he raised the volume so he could hear the sounds of glasses clinking, and the thump of mugs on the bar, as well as the loud country music coming from the bandstand. More than alcohol, he thirsted for the sounds of humans talking and laughing, and drunks slurring their words. Even the announcements coming over the loud speaker were a welcome change from the dead quiet of home.

The old barn, itself, was a lot more interesting inside than out. Exposed rafters created a rustic cathedral effect in the center, and the lofty, angular space made the gargantuan room look that much bigger. Rustic barn wood paneling was festooned with western and American Indian artifacts. Whiskey barrel tables surrounded the dance floor and a long rough-hewn wooden bar lined the back wall. That was where he headed, fighting his way through a sea of humanity. Aware of the admiring glances from the ladies and the resentful glares from the men, he wished it was the other way around.

He knew he looked good, and he’d dressed for success. A white shirt in a simple western design set off his dark tan. Like the others in his pack, he always went commando, less clothes to worry about when shifting. He’d already experienced the agony of getting his foreskin caught in a zipper, so he wore ball-crunchingly tight button-fly Levis. There was no risk of cock damage, and they had the added benefit of increasing his profile, not that he needed it.

His pack mates limited their exposure to the public and avoided attracting attention, but Jack didn’t mind being looked at. He never denied being vain. If a man had charisma, he should use it to his advantage. And six feet, six inches of toned hard body could hardly be disguised. Why try? Besides, it was more than thick chestnut hair, amber eyes, and a big package that drew hungry looks from humans on the prowl. It was wolf genes, plain and simple. His pheromones attracted beings of the same species, but his lupine biology gave him a primal, predatory edge that turned human heads as well. He’d used it more than once to get what he wanted.

He squeezed himself onto the only vacant barstool, and the doe-eyed bartender honed in on him, giving him a big smile. A knockout in her early thirties, clad in skintight low-ride jeans and a bikini top, she had long, wavy brown hair and a tattoo on her left arm.

“What’ll you have?” she asked him, in a way that signified he could have just about anything he wanted.

If he wanted pussy, he could have stayed home and fucked one of the she-wolves, but he hadn’t touched any of the women since the Alpha stopped forcing the pack mates to breed. He knew they wouldn’t turn him down, but he preferred the backdoor to the front and a big, beautiful cock and balls beat double-Ds any day. Just to be nice, he smiled back at the brunette and ordered a beer.

Happy Reading

Tracey Cramer-Kelly:True Surrender Blog Tour

2011-12-06T09:11:00.003-05:00

I thrilled to have Tracey Cramer-Kelly as my guest today. She's here as part of her True Surrender Blog Tour and she’s sharing her inspiration for the book.

She’ll be giving away a Fallen Soldier T-Shirt (red, size TBD) to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and all proceeds benefit http://www.ourfallensoldier.com so be sure to leave a comment. Find the other blog dates here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/10/virtual-book-review-tour-true-surrender.html

The inspiration for True Surrender came from my military background as an Army National Guard paramedic (five years).

I wasn’t a very good soldier. In fact, people often react with bemused surprise when they find out. “You?” they say. “You took orders from others?” Not very well, I admit…but this was 20 years ago – I was young!

But I like to think I was a good medic. I loved splinting a broken leg. Inserting an IV. Dressing a sucking chest wound.

I joined the National Guard to help pay my way through college (my real aspiration); never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be activated.

Desert Storm changed that. One day I came home to a blink on my answering machine and a message from my Sergeant: “call me immediately.” My friend said I lost all color in my face; my legs went shaky and I had to sit down. Turns out that the Military Police unit that shared our armory had been activated and the purpose for the call was to reschedule our monthly training.

For the first time, it occurred to me that I might have to defend our country somewhere half-way around the world. That was not in my plans!

If it wasn’t in my plans then, thinking about what kind of sacrifice it would take NOW (when I have two young children and a business to run) … it’s almost more than I can fathom. When I think about it that way, it’s incredibly humbling what our military members do day in and day out.

When I started thinking about the character of Aaron Bricewick (Army officer held hostage by Afghan terrorists), I read memoirs from soldiers who’d been in Iraq, I watched war movies and I hung out with my Patriot Guard (a motorcycle club that presents the flag at military funerals) friends.

But when it came to getting into his head, I discovered … I already knew him. He was bits and pieces of people I’d known and snippets of encounters I’d had over the years. I tended to have male friends (the military and my hobbies compounded that) and I like to bond with others the way men do: by doing some sort of physical activity (like basketball, for example).

And I study men. In particular, how they react to problems. How they deal with intimacy and emotionally trying situations. How they struggle with identity and regrets. My male friends (and my husband!) will tell you that I’ve grilled them at some time or another about something or other. In my writing, I like to explore how a male character may change/be changed by events/situations (a major theme in both my published novels). Women want to ‘understand’ men and see the more vulnerable side of them? True Surrender gives them lots of that!

So how has my experience in the military affected my writing? I think everything I write is affected by what I’ve experienced. Yes, there’s a healthy dose of imagination and plenty of creative license, but a seed has to be sown somewhere, and for me the dual experience of military training and medical training turned out to be a rich garden.

What fascinates me about today’s military - especially since recent veterans are more accessible and seem to be more … sharing(?) about their feelings - is the juxtaposition between service to country and service to family. This inherent conflict is something I’m only beginning to explore, I suspect!

True Surrender

When Major Aaron Bricewick is rescued from Afghanistan terrorists, he thinks the worst is over. But his personal journey is just beginning...

The first surprise is the amputation of one of his legs.

The second is the woman he left behind, now a widow with a 4-year-old son - and his new prosthetist (artificial limb maker).

He vows that losing his leg won't derail his career. But maintaining his outward appearance as a got-it-together officer becomes increasingly difficult as he faces one personal demon after another - and sees his career aspirations slipping away. And though he has no intention of expanding his life to include a woman, his heart has other ideas - and he finds himself questioning the very foundation of his personal beliefs.

When violence - and unexpected redemption - touch his life again, Aaron must make a stand. Which will he choose: duty or love?

EXCERPT

His bed was empty.

Impossible, she thought.

And then she saw him: motionless on the floor, a dark stain spreading underneath his body. A stain that she recognized instantly.

Blood.

Oh my God, the terrorists found him!

This first irrational thought was immediately followed by a more trained response. She assessed the situation in the few moments it took her to cross the room. She hit the button on the intercom system, identified herself and requested help.

She dropped to her knees next to Aaron. She spoke as she ran her hands across the back of his neck. “Aaron! Can you hear me?” As soon as she was certain he had no neck or spinal injury, she shook him gently. “Aaron, it’s Holly. Talk to me, Aaron.”

His arms snapped up, flailing for a moment before his good hand clamped onto her wrist—hard. His eyes were wide open, and in them she saw terror…confusion… pain…

They engaged in a macabre tug-of war as Holly stated repeatedly, “Aaron, it’s me—Holly. You’re okay. Take it easy.”

After what seemed like a long time, she saw recognition seep into his eyes. But then he shut them tight, and his body went limp. He released her wrists and dropped his hands over his face. “Go away,” he whispered, his chest heaving.

“I can’t do that, Aaron.”

“You shouldn’t see me,” he said. “Not like this.”

Unexpected tears stung her eyes.

“This isn’t who I am,” he rasped.

“You asked me to leave once already,” she said. “And I honored that request. Maybe I shouldn’t have. So please…”

She locked her eyes onto his, which were open again. Surely he could see that she was close to tears, but she didn’t care. “Don’t ask me to walk away again.”

Author Bio:

Tracey’s work fuses writing, music and visual imagery whenever possible, and includes novels, short stories, essays and music videos. True Surrender is her second novel. Her first, Last Chance Rescue, is an Indie Award finalist. Her first full-length music video, The Rose (Surrender Version), includes scenes from True Surrender. Her writing draws from her experience as an Army Reserve paramedic and helicopter pilot. When not managing the family business, Leader Motorcycle Accessories, she enjoys motorcycling and outdoor activities with her husband and two young children.

Web site/blog: http://www.TraceyCramerKelly.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TraceyCramerKelly
Twitter: http://twitter.com/TraceyCramerKel
Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgtDW91q4DM&feature=player_profilepage

Jan Graham: The Year of Flying by the Seat of my Pants

2011-12-03T00:41:00.002-05:00

I’m excited to have another Siren author here today, Jan Graham. Jan is sharing the story of her journey to publication and then a peek at her debut book, Finding Angel. As soon as I read the excerpts, I was hooked, you will be too.

If you would like to win a free copy of Finding Angel then click on Jan’s weblink in this blog and send her a message through the contact form on her website. State the name of this blog in the message so she knows you are part of the competition. A winner will be chosen on Monday evening and will receive a copy of Finding Angel in eBook format.

This was The Year of Flying by the Seat of my Pants

When the year began I was at home, recovering from an illness. Doctors had told me for the last decade to reduce my stress levels, I didn’t. By the end of 2010 my body told me to reduce stress. I had to listen. Going from fulltime work, in a highly stressed field, to being at home 24-7 is a shock. I always used to complain I didn’t have time. No, I can’t do that, there’s no time. Now I had all the time in the world, and it was driving me nuts. I finished all the ‘one-day’ things on my list within a few months of becoming a house body. I read every book I’d promised myself I’d read, plus more I found along the way. I painted the interior of the house, I moved furniture around to give the house a fresh look, I exercised (well sort of), I visited friends, I went to the movies, and I gardened. Then everything was done. All the things I’d put off for years, well, all of them except for one.

I sat at my computer and began to write. I love writing, I always have. I just never finished anything…because I never had the time. I’d been busy doing all the stuff that people think they need to do. I hadn’t been doing what I really wanted to do, what I love. So, I wrote, and by April this year I had my first completed manuscript, Finding Angel. As it turned out Angel is the first in a three book series. I began work on the second novel, plotted a few more storylines and began writing a series of novellas. Life was good, I was relaxed, I began feeling healthier and my stress was, well…what stress? It wasn’t until I started to think about publication that I began flying by the seat of my pants.

I had no idea how to present a submission to a publisher, or even what the life of an author truly entailed. Thank god for Google. I compiled my submissions, I sent them away, I got rejected numerous times and then bingo. I was signing a contract, then a second. I discovered I needed an online presence for promotion of my work. I fumbled my way around social network sites, blog sites and authors groups. I went through my first edit process, completed everything that was thrown at me. I didn’t know what I was doing with any of it. I wasn’t stressed though, and flying can be exhilarating if you embrace the challenge.

On November 30^th Finding Angel was released for sale to the public and with the release came the next flying lesson…a blog tour. I’m touring Australia, Canada, and the United States without even leaving my chair. I’m hoping that everyone who reads Finding Angel enjoys the journey of trying something new. I’ve attempted to write a debut novel that has twists, turns and a few surprises. The book might not be a rollercoaster ride that has you gripping your seat at every turn, but hopefully Angel will take you on an exhilarating flight with her story of romance, suspense and intrigue.

Finally thank you to Gale for hosting me on your blog, and to anyone who has or intends to purchase Finding Angel, I hope you enjoy the book and come back for more when the rest of the series is released. If you’d like to give me feedback about the book, or just say hello, you can contact me through my website at http://www.jangraham.com.au

Book blurb:

Angel Wylde is a woman with a complicated existence, a damaging past, and a desire to be normal. Unfortunately, what’s normal to Angel is unconventional to the rest of us. A crime boss will kill to get an incriminating ledger from her. Detective Steve Jax also wants the ledger from Angel, but the infuriating woman has disappeared.

Christian and Daniel Shore, Steve's two best friends, don’t know about the ledger. They just want Angel. A chance meeting has them taking her home and deciding she is the only woman for them—yes, both of them. Obviously, Angel isn’t the only one with unconventional desires. So who does Angel trust? Two kinky Doms she just met, a cop she doesn’t know anything about, or a nasty crime boss? Trusting all of them may save her life, and falling in love with two Dominant brothers is the icing on the cake.

Purchase link:

http://www.bookstrand.com/finding-angel

Adult Excerpt from Finding Angel (contains obscene language)

Angel felt like she wanted to scream. She needed more than gentle touching. For some reason she was hornier than usual. She had been since she’d woken. As much as she loved being turned on with gentle strokes and caresses, tonight it just added to the fire that had simmered inside her all day. She wanted to be taken, and she wanted it now. Her cunt hadn’t lost the heat of their morning fuck session so she didn’t need to be teased to arousal. She was already there.

Christian joined them on the bed, and Angel felt his hand ease under the lace of her pants. His fingers teased open her lips and slowly made their way to her clit. God, she wanted him to rip her pants from her while Daniel tore away her bra, she wanted them to take her with force, and she wanted to be filled with both of them and filled now.

“Grrr,” Angel growled, looking over at Christian as she tried to pull Daniel closer to her hard nipple, wanting to feel the bite of his teeth against it.

“Fuck it, Christian rip my pants off, tear them off, and fuck me now,” she demanded.

Obviously it didn’t have the effect she was after as both men eased back, removing the touch from her body altogether. She kicked her legs against the mattress and screamed in frustration.

“Are you throwing a tantrum?” Christian laughed down at her as he licked the wetness from his fingers.

“Yes.” Angel sat up and pulled off her bra and then her pants. “I want to be fucked hard, now, or I’m going to explode.”

Angel pushed Daniel backward and attempted to straddle him, only to feel her body being lifted up and off the bed by Christian. Angel could feel the tip of Christian’s erection brush against her bottom as he held her, back firmly against his hard body, feet dangling in the air.

“Ask nicely,” Christian spoke into her ear before skimming his lips over the softness of her neck.

“Bite me,” Angel snapped back at him, trying to wriggle out of the tight hold he had on her. She felt his lips part slightly and stilled in his arms as his teeth sank into her neck, biting hard and sucking her flesh in between them. The pain was exhilarating as she screamed and moaned in delight.

“Yes,” she whimpered as her hand rose up to push his face harder against her neck. As soon as she spoke, Christian released her flesh from between his teeth and laughed as she growled at him once again.

“Wylde by name, wild by nature. Or so it seems tonight anyway,” he joked, staring over at Daniel who was still on the bed wearing nothing but a wry smile.

“So you want this?” Daniel asked Angel as he eased himself back onto one elbow, stretching out on the bed, his hard cock reaching up into the air as he massaged it with his hand. “But you don’t want to ask for it nicely,” he stated in amusement.

“What’s got you so horny tonight, my love?” Christian asked, easing her feet onto the floor but still holding her firmly.

“I need you both inside me. I’m so horny I could die at any minute. I’ve been horny all day, and I want you to fuck me now!” Angel stamped her foot and screamed the last part of her statement, only to hear both men laugh as she did.

“Let me get this straight.” The smirk on Daniel’s face was more annoying than the fact he had begun to stroke his cock, or at least Angel thought so until she saw a glisten of pre-cum seep from the end of it. “After all the emotional events of the day, you are refusing a night of gentle lovemaking and demanding we just fuck you?”

“Bingo,” Angel stated as she slammed her heel down onto the top of Christian’s foot and slipped from his arms, diving toward Daniel lounging on the bed.

“Fuck that hurt,” Christian yelled as he reached for Angel, taking hold of her by the arm and stopping her escape.

Her knees were already on the bed by the time he reclaimed her, and Christian allowed her to fall forward as he quickly administer three hard smacks onto her bare bottom. Angel screamed, her hand going immediately to the red heated spot on her butt cheek.

That was definitely not a spanking for play. That was more like you’ve been a bad girl punishment kind of smack.

Christian released Angel as she rolled over onto her back, her hand still pressed against the mark on her butt.

“Ouch,” she pouted, looking up at Christian.

“Ouch,” Christian replied, pointing to his foot.

“So you need to be fucked, Angel.” Daniel dragged her to the centre of the bed. “Hard and fast, no foreplay, no gentle teasing?” Angel nodded her head, desire flaming behind her emerald eyes.

“On one condition, no holes barred.” Christian looked down at her as she lay naked in the centre of the bed. “Do you understand me, sweetie? We take you any way we want.”

Story Excerpt from Finding Angel (nothing offensive)

Angel felt someone grab her arm and turned around to see the blonde Adonis she had just teased attached to it. As she got to the entrance of the foyer, he was still holding on to her, his arm now hooked through hers.

“Wait,” she heard him say. “Hello, I’m Christian, and I just came down to ask you to our party.”

Angel had no intention of going anywhere with him, even if he was good enough to eat. She walked a little further into the foyer, away from the downstairs crowd, and turning around, glanced up at the private club room window to see the other sexy man-God watching them. She looked back at the blond Adonis standing next to her and gasped. His eyes were the most gorgeous brown, just like milk chocolate, and she wanted to melt into them. Angel fought the urge to reach out and run her fingers through the shoulder length curls of his blonde hair.

“Christian?” she asked, watching him nod before she continued. “Thank you for the offer, but I’m going home.” Angel smiled before gently unlinking her arm from his.

“Come on.” He winked at her. “Come to my brother Daniel’s welcome home party. We’ll have fun, I promise.”

Angel sighed. He was standing so close, and even in her platform boots, she had to look up to see his dreamy eyes and perfectly formed luscious lips that begged to be kissed. Any other time she would have said yes, but not now. Everything was still too complicated to meet someone new at the moment. Angel hoped she didn’t have to get nasty if he kept insisting. He seemed nice, and she’d hate to have to get nasty and deflate his Dom ego. She glanced back up at the window to see that the dark-haired God had disappeared.

“I’m sure we would.” Angel took a step back. “But I didn’t come here to meet anyone. I just came to see friends and have a dance, which I’ve done. I apologize for doing that thing with the straw. I didn’t mean to give you the wrong idea. I get a little flirty when I drink.” Angel felt her face heat up. “I didn’t think you would come down here.”

Angel turned to walk away and was startled to hear a deep male voice that sent an erotic shiver up her spine.

“What if it’s just a no strings attached come and dance and get to know us invite,” he said.

Angel turned around to see the dark-haired God who had disappeared from the window moments before. He was nearly the same height as the blond Adonis but had short dark hair rather than the alluring curls of the other man. His shoulders were broad and firm, just the sort of thing Angel would imagine sinking her nails into as she orgasmed beneath him. She felt her heart begin to race and moisture pool between her legs. Being in such close proximity to them was intoxicating, but she knew these men were way out of her league. And she couldn’t let herself walk into something that would end up breaking her heart. Even though the sheer dominant male force they presented nearly overwhelmed her, she had the feeling that they were two really nice men. They hadn’t grabbed her boobs or used crude pickup lines on her, even after the now regrettable straw sucking incident. For a moment Angel nearly accepted, but then she suddenly remembered her genetic flaw and told herself that looks could be deceiving.

“I appreciate the offer, but I can’t accept, and if I don’t leave now, I’ll miss my train,” Angel stated politely. “I got the barman to call me a cab, and it’s probably waiting for me outside.”

“Fair enough. If you have to go, then we accept that.” Angel heard a hint of disappointment in Daniel’s voice and she got the distinct impression that it was far from what he wanted to say. If the look of lust that filled his gaze was anything to go by then letting Angel leave was the last thing he wanted to do.

“Of course we don’t have to like that you’re leaving without spending time with us.” Angel’s gaze moved back to Christian. “Sure you won’t reconsider?” his smile was more than charming.

They were losing her. Christian wanted to grab hold of her and beg her to stay, or pick her up and kidnap her back to their house. As he looked at her succulent body and felt her sweet voice swamp his senses, he had to fight the urge to get all primal and claim her as his own.

“Thank you.” Her eyes moved from one brother to the other. “It was nice meeting you both. Maybe I’ll see you again.”

Christian saw her smile before turning to walk away. He felt like he was losing something more precious than life as she walked toward the door. She suddenly turned back around, her eyes locking onto Daniel’s.

“Oh, I forgot to say something.” her eyes twinkled as she spoke “Welcome home, Daniel.”

“Wait, what’s your name?” Christian called after her as she turned away again.

“Cinderella,” she yelled back over her shoulder, laughing as she walked out the door.

About the Author

I live on the fringe of both Sydney and the Southern Highlands in NSW, Australia. I have enjoyed writing throughout different periods of my life, but it is only now that I have the ability to work on it in a full time capacity. I love the imagery the written word creates in one’s mind and therefore I am an avid reader as well as an author.

At the end of 2010, after many years of working in the “real” world, I finally decided to make writing my career. Finding Angel is my first novel to be published.

I am pleased that I’m finally able to give the characters that swirl around my head on a constant basis the opportunity to put themselves down on paper, and hopefully entertain others as much as they amuse me.

Website: http://www.jangraham.com.au
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jan_graham
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JanGrahamAuthorpage
Blog: http://jangraham.blogspot.com/

Lorelei Confer: Why I Self-Published CHRISTMAS AWAKENINGS

2011-12-01T00:27:00.002-05:00

I’m excited to have author, Lorelei Confer here today. In addition to writing romantic suspense for SirenBookstrand, she just self-published a Christmas anthology and I’m anxious to pick her brain. So, Lorelei, what led you to self-publishing?

Our world as we know it is changing in many areas, especially in the book market. With modern technology growing in leaps and bounds it’s hard to stay on top of all the changes. Being a published author and promoting my own work anyway, I wanted to jump on the band wagon of self publishing.

I decided to self-publish my short Christmas book, CHRISTMAS AWAKENINGS, for a number of reasons. First, it is a compilation or anthology of four short, inspiring and uplifting Christmas stories totaling 18000 words. It is and will remain an eBook which is very hard to sell to a big publisher in this economic market.

Second, and my main concern, was that it reached the readers. I formatted the book through Smashwords and then uploaded it to Amazon. It was very easy using Smashwords downloadable Style Guide and it was free. Can’t beat that price! It automatically went to Barnes & Noble, Mobi-pocket, Kobo and others via Smashwords.

Setting my own price of $.99 for this particular book at this particular time was great. I wanted to reach a lot of readers and make it really affordable. Especially now with the popular Kindle and Nook. Who knows? Maybe next year I’ll change the price to $2.99. I have that capability.

Self Publishing also allows me to release the books on “my” schedule and based on the demand of the readers and my ability to get the job done. I actually did this in September but didn’t start marketing it till November 1^st.

There are numerous editing services around. I highly and very strongly recommend that you take advantage of them and have your work professionally edited as I did. This maintains the integrity of your work and all future books coming from various and numerous authors.

I strongly feel that e-publishing and traditional publishing should go hand in hand. Traditional publishers have the ability of turning a book into an event, something memorable that readers want to keep on their shelves and show off to friends as part of their personality. And that’s fine. I believe there is a place for all manner of books as long as they are well written and tell a wonderful story.

So, yes, there is a place for everyone in the world of books in whatever form as long as they reach the readers.

Lorelei Confer on the web:

WWW.loreleiconfer.com

www.loreleiconfer.blogspot.com

CHRISTMAS AWAKENINGS

An anthology of four short inspirational Christmas stories to help you get into the holiday spirit.

Available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/CHRISTMAS-AWAKENINGS-ebook/dp/B005U512HU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322705306&sr=1-1

DEADLY DELIVERANCE coming Jan 2012 from SirenBookstrand

Available Now At Bookstrand:

DEADLY REVENGE (June 2011)

http://www.bookstrand.com/deadly-revenge

DEADLY DECEPTION (Nov 2010)
http://www.bookstrand.com/deadly-deception

Scaredy Cats go to the Vet

2011-11-29T20:27:00.000-05:00

BUFFY

Today was the dreaded visit to the vet. If you have a pet, then you know what I mean. The annual exam is one of those things that have to be done, but nobody likes it. Buffy and Spike enjoy going to the vet about as much as I enjoy a visit to the dentist. I think if our furry family members knew why they were going, it wouldn’t be so bad, but of course they’re clueless.

SPIKE

First we had to catch them and get them into the cat carriers. I distracted them while the DH pounced and grabbed. Once they were trapped, the crying started—and lasted all the way to the office.

At last we were in the exam room and I could let them out of the carriers. When the doctor walked in, they’d already inspected every inch of the room. I have an awesome vet. He immediately got down to their level, sat on the floor and let them come over for a cuddle. And at the same time he was checking them over and asking us questions. Then it was time to get their shots and their nails trimmed. Doc said they’re doing great. It’s hard to believe they’ll be ten years old in February. They still play and act like kittens. It’s worth a little stress to keep them healthy, but whew, I’m so glad it’s over.

Rebecca Royce: Love Beyond Sanity Blog Tour

2011-11-28T00:21:00.001-05:00

I'm excited to welcome back Rebecca Royce, author of The Outsiders series. She's here today as part of her Love Beyond Sanity blog tour. We’re talking about writing series romance. Tell us what you think and you’ll be entered in her giveaway.

One randomly drawn commenter will win a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate. Follow Rebecca’s tour and you’ll have more chances to win.

To follow her tour, visit Goddess Fish Promotions:
http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2011/10/virtual-book-tour-love-beyond-sanity-by.html

And now here’s Rebecca…

I start out with the intention to either write a book as a series or as a stand-alone book. Why? Well, mostly because I love writing series about as much as I love reading series. I love, love, love to see my favorite characters again over and over. Even if they just stop by to say ‘hello, how are things going?’

Again, you might ask, why, Rebecca? Well, the answer is that I am so engaged by the end of a book, so in love with a couple that even the epilogue doesn’t satisfy my need to see them in their happily ever after. If they pop in together in a future book and say ‘oh yes, now we’re having a baby’ then I know that they are continuing to flourish, continuing to make things work.

In Love Beyond Sanity, the book had to be a part of a series as the Outsiders presented themselves to me as a fully formed story of nine couples fighting not only for their own lives but for all of us. How could the story be anything but a series?

Do you like to read series or do you prefer stand alone books?

Love Beyond Sanity

Blurb

Eighteen years earlier, Charma lost her destined soul mate. Convinced he must be dead, she kept her fears to herself so as not to destroy the morale of the Outsiders who already live with a shaky prophecy as their only guide.

Dr. Jason Randall is a man used to getting what he wants. There has never been a problem he couldn't out think or a situation he wasn't capable of handling.

Now they are both hunted by not one but two demons as they lead the slowly forming group of Outsiders out of the darkness and back into the light. The two strong souls will have to decide if prophecy alone is enough reason to stay together through insane odds...or if love is their true fate.

Available at Silver Publishing:
https://spsilverpublishing.com/product_book_info/male-female-fantasy-c-52_71/love-beyond-sanity-ebook-p-621

and Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Beyond-Sanity-Outsiders-ebook/dp/B005T2Q440/ref=sr_1_24?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1322440697&sr=1-24

Excerpt

No, she was not nuts. He was here. The nameless man—she'd never learned his name—who had been made for her, chosen for her in heaven was in this room.

And, she had felt him die. Felt it the night he hadn't come to their secret garden. It had been like someone had taken a sledge hammer and demolished half of her body and soul with one hit. She'd known he was dead.

Alone. That was how she'd felt. With other people's problems filling her days, nights, and dreams.

Until now.

Had he been this way since he'd disappeared when he was twelve? Charma's eyes roamed his body for signs. Impossible. He looked too healthy. Muscle tone defined his body. He didn't look like a man who had been endlessly asleep on a bed. His eyes fluttered as if he was in deep REM sleep.

She cleared her throat, afraid to wake him but wanting to at the same time. "Hello."

Nothing. Charma's cheeks warmed. Why had she assumed he'd respond to her? He was in a coma for goodness sake. She was going to have to do more than speak aloud to get his attention.

Meet Rebecca Royce

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

http://www.rebeccaroyce.com
http://www.rebeccaroyce.blogspot.com

Love Beyond Time
Also Available at Silver Publishing and Amazon

Thanksgiving was Yummy!

2011-11-26T14:10:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a wonderful holiday. Mine was all about family and it was awesome! We had dinner at Fager's Island in Ocean City Maryland, then a trip to the light show in Northside Park. And of course no holiday is complete without seeing Santa.

The weather was perfect so we even got some beach time in on Friday.

Now it's back to work, especially working off the pounds I put on. Have a great weekend!