Scaredy Cats go to the Vet

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

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!

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!

Victoria Blisse: Why I write Curvy Romance

Welcome Victoria Bliss, author of rosy, raunchy romance with an English twist. I love Victoria’s stories because she writes about real women, not stick figures that most of us can’t relate to. Naughty Rendezvous is one of my favourites. At one time I was a single mother and I love how Victoria explored that aspect of the heroine. And of course there’s a hunky hero and lots of romance. Enjoy the steamy excerpt! And don’t forget to leave a comment. Victoria is here today as part of her Naughty Rendezvous blog tour. If you comment on this post or one of her other stops you’ll have a chance to win one of these prizes:

A  Print novel, Tempting Rendezvous.
All three eBooks in the Getting Together trilogy.
A copy of the eBook Restoration.

More about the giveaway later, now here’s Victoria…

Why I write Curvy Romance.

Naughty Rendezvous is part of Xcite's Ultimate curves range and I love to write rubenesque heroines. Why? I wanted to represent women like me. I've got a whole bunch of curves and I'm not afraid to use them!

A lot of heroines that I read about in all kinds of romance were skinny with perky tits and a tasty arse. Okay,  so you'd get the occasional glasses wearing geek but as soon as she kisses her hero she takes off her glasses and ta da! Little miss svelte and perfect.

Now, I believe every person of every size is sexy, I'm not anti-thin in any way, shape or form, I just wanted to read about more women like me. Curvy girls are so prevalent in the world but so often we're left feeling fat and frumpy. I wanted to write fiction that would help women with wonderfully wiggly and wobbly bits know that they are sexy too.

Leanna in Naughty Rendezvous is a bit like me. She's got the same body frame and certainly some of the same hang ups. It was good to write out those insecurities and to have Joe reveal just how insignificant Leanna's fears are. I have a brilliant husband who does the same for me on a daily basis.

I hope that when people read Naughty Rendezvous they come away feeling somewhat empowered to be sexy just as they are. The key to it, I think is simply recognising your own beauty and having the confidence to revel in it. Everyone deserves to see themselves in a good light.

Now I'm going to share an excerpt from Naughty Rendezvous which highlights Leanna's hang ups and how Joe helps her deal with them. It's kinda sexy too ¨C bonus!

       
       "I was hoping you slept in the nude." He smiled and I blush in response.


        "I spent so long trying to work out what to wear and all along I'd have been best of just staying nude. Typical." I laughed to cover my embarrassment, then leapt into bed and under the duvet.
     
        "Hey, I was enjoying the view." He frowned, then unbuttoned his shirt.


         "It's okay, darlin'. I'll soon warm you up." He tosses away his top then his trousers and boxers drop into a pile on my floor and I admire his long, firm legs as he strides to the bed. He slips under the duvet and wraps his arms around me, holding me tightly to his chest.


      "That's better." I sigh, the contentment of such a hug overwhelming me. I enjoy the sensation of my breasts being crushed against his warm, hard chest and snuggle closer, throwing an arm over his waist, too.

              He gently strokes my back and my body instantly heats up. I lift my head and our lips press hard against each other. His kiss is like rum blazing across my lips, slipping down my throat and heating my whole body with its flames. Our bodies rub together and my nakedness becomes a plus, not an embarrassing minus.

        He pushes me over onto my back. He is above me, smiling at me between passionate kisses. My hands pull him close, crushing his chest down on mine. I can feel his hardness nudging between my thighs and his hips undulating, tickling my crotch and making me long for more than a fleeting touch.

       "So damn hot," he groans, nipping at my ear and down my neck into my cleavage. As he nibbles on my breasts, my arms loosen and fall down to the bed beside me. My body flows like hot butter and I surrender to the melting heat of his kisses.

            He must have been waiting for my arms to slacken. As soon as they hit the bed, he shifts his weight and grasps one, pulling it above my head. Swaying the other way, he captures that arm, pulling it above my head also.

     "Leave these hands here," he orders, looking down on me with the most delightfully lustful gaze.   


      "Or will I have to tie them there?"


     "Yes, Sir," I reply, once more playing the game, the nervous excitement screwing up inside my stomach, the anticipation making me light-headed.

     His lips return to my neck, my cleavage and lower down onto my stomach. I'm so exposed as he rolls the duvet down behind him. With my arms stretched above my head, I am displaying every curve of my body to his sight.

      "Gorgeous," he growls as his nose nudges the curls at my crotch, then lower, trailing through the dew-covered down until he reaches the soft, ample folds of my eager pussy. He nudges my thighs wider with his shoulders, and I happily spread them for him. My arms above my head makes me feel as if I am surrendering to him, giving over everything I have for his pleasure.

         I groan my frustration as his lips leave their promising trail and he sits back on his heels. I sense his eyes tracing over every inch of me. Feeling shame, I can't help but drop my arms across my chest even though his caressing gaze is exciting me.

       "I warned you," he tuts as he slips off the bed and pulls the belt from his pants. All kinds of images flash before my mind's eye as he strides across to me, his hard cock straining between his thighs. Relief floods me as he pulls my arms above my head and tightens his belt around them, just till the leather bites slightly into my skin, but not tight enough to cause me any real discomfort.

        "Now, naughty girl, if those hands get in the way of my viewing pleasure again, I will be forced to take stronger action, do you hear me?"
      
        "Yes, Sir," I reply, my heart thumping in my chest.

       "Good. I want to see you, to drink you in. I've imagined your body naked so many times and now I have the opportunity to see it, I don't want to miss a single detail."

       His words soothe and arouse me. A little burn of embarrassment remains in me as he climbs between my thighs and views my body once again but mostly I feel lust. I long for more than just his gaze on my body, and as if he heard my unspoken plea, his hands reach down and stroke down the outside of my thighs, sweeping down to my knees.

If you'd like to read more about Joe and Leanna Naughty Rendezvous is available from Xcite now. Sensual Rendezvous, the second book in the series is also available and the third story, Wild Rendezvous will be available on the 15^th  December. 
Tempting Rendezvous, the print version that comprises all the above novellas is also available now, so lots of ways to get more curvy goodness.

Naughty Rendezvous

Joe gives Leanna her perfect punishment.

Joe likes to tease and single mum Leanna loves it too. When they meet up for their first official date, the sparks fly but who's going to crack first? Will Joe's intimate questions and kiss and run tactics bring Leanna to her knees or will Leanna's curves, flashed in moments of exhibition drive Joe to rip off all her clothes and indulge his urges?

How will she react to Joe's domination and will she be turned on by his spankings? She's going to be a naughty girl, so she's bound to find out.

Buy links:
http://www.erotica-romance-ebooks.com/naughty-rendezvous.html
 

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-naughtyrendezvous-614536-144.html

http://www.bookstrand.com/naughty-rendezvous

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005Z2CKE2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B005Z2CKE2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Z2CKE2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B005Z2CKE2

Meet The Author

Victoria Blisse is a Mother, Wife, Christian, Manchester United Fan and Award Winning Erotica Authoress.
She is equally at home behind a laptop or a cooker and she loves to create stories, poems, cakes and biscuits that make people happy. She was born near Manchester, England and her northern English quirkiness shows through in all of her stories. Passion, love and laughter fill her works, just as they fill her busy life.

If you want to keep up to date with what’s going on in the world of Blisse check me out at:

My website: http://www.victoriablisse.co.uk
My facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoriablisse
My Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/victoriablisse

The Blog Tour

Comment on this post or any in the Naughty Rendezvous Blog Tour http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/victoria-blisse/ and you will be in with a chance to win one of these prizes:

A Print novel, Tempting Rendezvous.All you need to do is comment on this post and make sure your email address is included there somewhere (feel free to type as  myname AT myemailprovider DOT com to avoid attracting spam!) and your comment will be counted in the draw.

A Print novel, Tempting Rendezvous.
All three eBooks in the Getting Together trilogy.
A copy of the eBook Restoration.

One comment per blog will be counted but there are 10 blogs in the Naughty Rendezvous blog tour and if you comment on all of them that gives you 10 chances to win!

Victoria Blisse will choose the three winners on the 4th December and will announce them on http://www.victoriablisse.co.uk. http://www.writermarketing.co.uk/prpromotion/blog-tours/currently-on-tour/victoria-blisse/

Good Luck!

Carla Angela: Real-life versus fiction

My guest today is Carla Angela, author of Full Exposure. By day, Carla is a freelance journalist in Australia and, in the inky night, an erotic fiction writer. Watching telemovies and obsessing over her starsign are guilty pleasures. More on Carla Angela can be found at http://www.bookstrand.com/carla-angela or http://www.carlaangela.com/. She writes exclusively for Siren-BookStrand. Full Exposure is her first tome.

Today Carla is talking about Real-life versus fiction. Who hasn’t read a great love story and imagined themselves in the hero or heroine’s shoes? I'd love to be a Lycan's mate. 

Tell us who you'd like to be or what you’d like to trade in your life in exchange for that of an erotic fiction heroine’s and you might win an ebook copy of Full Exposure.

And now here’s Carla…

Real-life versus fiction

As an erotic fiction writer, sometimes I’d really love to just swap my life with that of my heroines. There are a number of reasons why (aside from the obvious) and here’s just a few…

I’d always wake up with a full face of fresh make-up (no panda eyes). 
There’d be need for a mad dash to the bathroom in the morning to curl my lashes, slough away the sleep from my peepers, and add a touch of lip gloss and dusting of bronzer. Nope, I’d look Bold and the Beautiful-worthy from go to whoa! And vampy, red lipstick would actually suit me too, and not just stain the pillowcase.

I’d always be on top of my beauty salon appointments too.
Think freshly shaven legs, a manicured, ahem, hedge, and, of course, brows... the works really! Totally kissable skin.

There would be an abundance of hunky men in my neighbourhood…
and a little less of the ageing men variety, with comb-overs and love handles.

I’d always have minty fresh breath when the object of my affection arrives on my doorstep to ravish me…
and not have just eaten a garlic-ridden gyro. Oh, and my skin would smell like roses too, without even needing to spritz my Dolce & Gabbana fragrance in the places I want to be kissed!

I’d always have a screamer of a comeback…
and would never be kicking myself later on, imagining what I should have actually said at the time.

I’d never have PMS, feel bloated or have strained a muscle playing sport… I’d just be up for bedroom Olympics wherever, whenever. Hey, bedrooms not even required!

I’d never have to fake it…
you know what I mean! Not with the capabilities of my (very well-endowed) hero at hand. Yes, at hand.

But, hey, if my life was really like this, then I wouldn’t need the glamorous escape of erotic fiction, and that would be really boring!

Full Exposure blurb:

When photographer Lake Silva helps her best friend trawl online dating sites in her search for love, she is appalled by some of the pictures men upload. Totally unflattering!

So Lake takes it upon herself to do something about it with a brainstorm for a new business venture—professional online dating photos. Slick, appealing, and sizzling hot...with Lake behind the camera lens! What she doesn’t count on is meeting one male client who stirs up more than just business sense in her.

Hunter Dex is not Lake’s usual customer. He lives in a palatial abode, and he has ocean-blue eyes and a tanned, muscular body.

Despite a photography exhibition of nudes also keeping Lake busy, she can’t help having dirty fantasies about Hunter. But such a gorgeous, rich playboy like him could never be seriously interested in a feisty tomboy like her...could he?

Full Exposure is available at Bookstrand:

http://www.bookstrand.com/full-exposure

And Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Exposure-BookStrand-Publishing-Romance-ebook/dp/B005UWPMKG/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1321661673&sr=1-6

Win a copy of the eBook, Full Exposure, by telling us what you’d like to trade in your life in exchange for that of an erotic fiction heroine’s!

I’m On Fire!

It came Tuesday – my Kindle Fire. Talk about Spartan packaging, the box contained my Kindle and the adapter to charge it. No documentation at all. Once I turned it on, I realized that I didn’t need any printed instructions. Registering my Kindle was simple and the books I had purchased from Amazon were already loaded. Any books not bought from Amazon had to be transferred via USB cable. Speaking of which, it didn’t come with one. I have the cable that came with my old Kindle so that wasn’t a problem for me.

First off, the price is right at $199. The Kindle has a 7” touch display and a nice hefty feel to it. It has 8GB of storage on the device and free cloud storage for all your Amazon content. It comes loaded with some apps: a news reader (Pulse app), weather app, Facebook, ESPN, silk web browser. Read books, watch movies, listen to music and play games. I have an iPad and I bought the Kindle mainly as an ereader but I did load angry birds. Can’t help it, I’m addicted to the game.

For the most part I love it but there are a few cons. I bought the device mainly to read books I expected a little more in that department. Don’t get me wrong, I love the color, the touch and the lighted screen. (I know I’ll miss the antiglare eInk screen on my old Kindle when I’m at the beach) What I miss most is a way to organize my books. My old Kindle had collections and I could find what I was looking for in a matter of seconds. On the Kindle Fire you search by Title, Author or Most Recent. Even my iPad allows me to set up collections. I’m hoping Amazon corrects this with a software update.

A New Cover and a New Release!

Hell, it doesn’t get much better than this. Last night I got the new cover for BACKFIRE and today SPITFIRE was officially released.

BACKFIRE will be out next month. In the meantime here’s a preview to go with the cover.

****

Wolf-shifter, Jack Remus, is at the Silverado Saloon looking for a night of casual sex, but his plans backfire when he catches the scent of a wolf he can't resist. Big blue eyes and copper curls turn his world upside down but the other man isn’t feeling it.
 
Dakota is on the run from an abusive Alpha, and a new lover is the last thing on his mind. When a dark, sexy Lycan shows up to play white knight he knows it's time to move on. But Jack has other ideas.

 ****

BACKFIRE and SPITFIRE are part of the Southwest Shifters series, and old characters make appearances, but each story can standalone.  .

Bookstrand offers a discount on new releases, so this is a good time to pick up your copy of SPITFIRE. Here’s an excerpt. Happy reading!

[Ménage Amour: Erotic Paranormal Ménage a Trois Romance, M/M/F with M/M, werewolves]

Brady and Cade are already lovers, but each wolf-shifter has his mind set on making a certain she-wolf his mate. By the time the men realize they're meant to be a threesome, Ayala has made other plans.

Ayala cares for her Lycan lovers, and she enjoys being submissive in the bedroom, but she wants more than a life taking care of two dominating wolves. Her Alpha sends her to Philadelphia, to work with a Lycan doctor who runs the FIRM, a pack funded research facility. Seduced by a lavish lifestyle and promises of a career, Ayala soon finds herself at the mercy of the unscrupulous scientist, and longing for the life she left behind.  

Available at a 10% discount. Offer ends midnight CST, November 23rd.

http://www.bookstrand.com/spitfire

Excerpt

Safe inside the car, Ayala stared at the dancing neon lights that spelled Silverado Saloon in red, white, and blue. Suddenly her plan didn’t seem so foolproof, and she had second thoughts.

“You getting out?” Mr. Hopper’s raspy voice asked impatiently.

After begging him, a neighbor she hardly knew, for the ride, she couldn’t very well ask him to turn around and take her home. She checked her hair in the rearview mirror, thanked him for the lift, and climbed out of the car. Outside the honky-tonk, a melting pot of humanity gathered. Cowboys, tourists, white-collar, blue-collar, every class of people was represented—except hers. Could she pass? New clothes and a kickass attitude didn’t change who she was inside. Maybe she should—

Ayala turned in time to see Mr. Hopper take off with a squeal of tires and a spray of gravel. She watched the lights of his ancient station wagon disappear in the distance. It was too late to change her mind now, and her heart raced while her feral instincts told her to fight or flee. She tamped down the primal response to an unfamiliar situation. She was not in danger here. She hoped.

Okay, showtime. Out of her element for sure, but damned if she would show it, she sauntered up to the door, hips swaying in skintight, faded jeans. Ignoring the appraising stares from the males catching a smoke in front of the building, she opened the door and walked in as if she owned the place. Like nothing she’d ever seen before, the gargantuan room overwhelmed her. She stepped into another world, an alien world gone wild, complete with a mechanical bull roped off to her right.

Ayala turned to her left. A small cowboy band, set up next to a dance floor, played country western. If she had to dance, she’d be in big trouble. She could follow along to a slow number, but these people were twirling and twisting to the music like they’d been born hoofing. Nobody said she had to dance. She’d start with a drink and take it from there.

A plan this complicated and important couldn’t be rushed. This was only a trial run, an audition to determine how well she could blend in with the human race. There were no obvious physical differences between Lycans and humans, but she’d lived a segregated life with her seriously antisocial wolf pack, and she had to be sure she could fit in outside their tiny hidden society. If her acting was believable, she’d put plan B into action.

She’d always been a loyal and obedient member of the pack. All twenty-two years of her life had been spent playing it safe and trying to please everyone, and consequently not pleasing herself. She wanted to break away and take a shot at having a life of her own, but she would not put the pack in danger by revealing their existence. If she could pass for human, she’d feel safe leaving the old life behind.

A Twisted Tale that will blow you away!

The Basement by Stephen Leather is an alarming look into the mind of a serial killer. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that will blow you away, look no further. This is not a story for the squeamish, so be forewarned. Expect graphic sadistic and sexual scenes. It’s a short tight read that keeps the tension high and kept me turning the pages. I finished it in one night and never saw the end coming.

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2011

New York is a city full of strangers. For NYPD detectives Turner and Marcinko, none are harder to figure out than the serial killer on the loose torturing and killing young women. In fact, right now, somewhere in the city, a woman is being held captive in a basement and it is up to the detectives to find her and the killer—before it’s too late.

As pressure mounts on Turner and Marcinko, their prime suspect is screenwriter wannabe Marvin Waller. He is becoming increasingly frustrated by his lack of success and the cops think he might be channeling his anger into murder—but he doesn’t seem to be at all concerned that they are hot on his trail. As Turner and Marcinko close in on Waller they have to wonder: is he the killer? And if he isn’t—who is?

Fusing shifting viewpoints with a growing sense of dread and almost unbearable suspense, the UK’s thriller master Stephen Leather arrives on the shores of the United States with The Basement, his most terrifying work to date.

Available at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Basement-Stephen-Leather/dp/1612181481/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

Writers Meeting Writers

Writing is a solitary endeavor, but most of the time I’m so involved with my characters I don’t feel lonely at all. I’m a member of two online groups, Romance Writers of America and Passionate Ink.  And I belong to twenty plus Yahoo Groups. When I need a little encouragement, I have lots of supportive friends in cyberspace. They may be all over the globe but they’re only an email away.

Last week when I took the girls to Barnes and Noble I found out there would be a writer’s group meeting that Sunday. I made note of the time, thinking it would give me a good excuse to get away from the laptop and visit the bookstore again. Then yesterday morning I got involved in the new MS and almost didn’t go. But it was a beautiful balmy sixty degrees and every time I looked up and saw the sun shining in my window, I got more antsy. Finally I got dressed and hopped in the car.

Boy am I glad I did. I found the writer's group in the cafe area. We were a small group, of various ages, but we all had one thing in common – our love of writing. Published or unpublished, there is always something new to learn. Someone threw out a writing prompt, a topic to kick start the imagination and we wrote for fifteen minutes. Then it was pens down, and time to share what we’d written. It was a good exercise but my favorite part of the meeting was the chance to talk about writing, and hear what others were working on.  

There’s something to be said for meeting face to face with others who share your passion. Nobody understands the absolute need to write like another writer. Sharing success and commiserating over failure with a small group of sympathetic listeners is therapy for the soul. It can keep you sane. This was my first meeting but it definitely won’t be my last.

Where Have All the Bookstores Gone?

My grandkids, even the very youngest, a four year-old, are already tech savvy. The fifth grader has a cell phone, an iTouch and a Nook. The six year-old taught me to play Angry Birds on the iPad. So imagine my surprise when the girls begged for a trip to Barnes and Noble, the actual store, not the virtual one.

We had a sleep-over and Friday morning couldn’t come fast enough, they were that excited to shop for books. The younger girl, selected books she could read herself, including one titled, There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow. The older girl wanted big, thick scary mysteries she could sink her teeth into. I hate when a good book ends, she told me.

I was tempted to add a few more books to my own TBR list, but I already have stacks and stacks waiting to be read. Instead, I satisfied myself with a few hardcover journals. Browsing the shelves was a treat. The girls even turned down lunch so they could get back to the house and read.

The store was crowded with other shoppers and it got me thinking. If so many people still enjoy spending time in a bricks and mortar bookstore, why are they all closing? Remember Tower Records? A weekly trip to buy CDs was a given. And how about the video stores?

Online sales is now the way to go. I’m guilty myself. The huge selection and super-fast shipping on Amazon is tempting, especially when you don’t have to go out in the rain or snow. Still, there’s something really magical about wandering through the shelves and feeling the weight of a book in your hands. Even with the pluses of online shopping, it’s sad to see so many places we love disappear. I’m really glad the girls dragged me out yesterday. I’m not giving up my Kindle anytime soon, but I will be visiting the bookstore more often.

Available for Pre-order now! SPITFIRE

SPITFIRE Southwest Shifters: 2  is available for pre-order at Bookstrand.
http://www.bookstrand.com/spitfire

Official release date is November 16th. Here's a preview.

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Brady and Cade are already lovers, but each wolf-shifter has his mind set on making a certain she-wolf his mate. By the time the men realize they're meant to be a threesome, Ayala has made other plans.

Ayala cares for her Lycan lovers, and she enjoys being submissive in the bedroom, but she wants more than a life taking care of two dominating wolves. Her Alpha sends her to Philadelphia, to work with a Lycan doctor who runs the FIRM, a pack funded research facility. Seduced by a lavish lifestyle and promises of a career, Ayala soon finds herself at the mercy of the unscrupulous scientist, and longing for the life she left behind.  

 

Jeff Carlson's Long Eyes and Other Stories

Science fiction is plausible fantasy, in other words, weird stuff that could possibly happen. That’s what makes it so fascinating. Jeff Carlson’s new anthology, Long Eyes and Other Stories runs the gamut from futuristic technology to space travel. The sixteen short stories are radically different and each one will blow your mind with an intriguing concept and clever conclusion.

I love to escape into alternate realities but to me the best stories are character driven and Jeff’s tales of human hybrids are my favorites. Long Eyes is a great story about Clara, part woman, part spaceship but my #1 favorite is Pressure. The story reminded me of a book I’ve read many times over, The Experiment by Richard Setlowe. Jeff tackles the same premise in a different way - adapting the human body to live in the depths of the ocean. He conveys perfectly the awe and fear of abandoning a family to explore the unknown. That’s all I’m sayin’. You gotta read it yourself, it’s good stuff.    

For me one of the best parts of the book is the afterwords Jeff includes at the end of each story. Writers’ minds work in weird and wonderful ways, and who doesn’t like to know how a writer comes up with his ideas?

Highly recommended! I can’t wait to see what Jeff comes up with next.

Long Eyes and Other Stories is available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Long-Eyes-Jeff-Carlson/dp/1466362286/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320157367&sr=1-1

About Jeff:

From the mind that brought you Plague Year and The Frozen Sky...
Sixteen stories about strange worlds, biotech, commandos, and the girl next door.

"Striking." "Exciting. "
—Locus Online —SF Revu

First published in top venues such as Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazineand cult ‘zines like The Vampire’s Crypt, these stories have been translated into fourteen languages worldwide. Several received honorable mentions in Gardner Dozois’s The Year’s Best Science Fiction or in Ellen Datlow’s Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror. As part of the Fast Forward 2 anthology, “Long Eyes” was also a finalist for the Philip K. Dick Award. The first complete collection from international bestseller Jeff Carlson.

"Chilling and dangerous. "
—HorrorAddicts.net
“Captivating.”
—BookBanter.net

Jeff is currently at work on a new thriller novel. Readers can find free fiction, videos, contests and more at http://www.jverse.com