Grah-roove baby.

So normally my day-to-day these days are a little bit crazy spiced with a tad of the mundane.

I currently teach community college after going through the craziness of finishing my masters. Literally a one week turn around for a job. Thank you heavens above!!

Now though I have to say that it is kinda fun to have the students look at me and wonder if I'm really a college prof when I show up in my Ramones shirt, jeans and Converses, is great. I admit its pretty cool to see their faces widen when they realize I have a wealth of knowledge. What she just doesn't look like the nerdy type?!

Then a couple days ago the coolest thing happens. To say that I was through the roof is the understatement. I shot through the roof, orbited the house and then decided to proceed through the stratosphere. I was accepted at my dream school for my doctorate program, Texas Tech. Deep space here I come!!!

Then I turned into Haley's comet when I read further and realized I was being given a 25K scholarship!

Yeah! By then I was starting to orbit the sun, high fiving Pluto and saying what's up to Uranus. *hehehe couldn't help it* And on the excitement and happiness pumping through my body I stopped and took a deep breath.

The break is finally here. You know that moment when you say everything is good. Everything is right and somehow you have made it to a point in your life when you KNOW things are just continually going to be on an upward trend. This was it for me here.

I have my one dream actually started, I'm writing again and flying over the keyboards like the wind, life is on track. Freakin A.

So to celebrate I put on the man that just makes things a little bit crazy, fun, yes I think he's oh-so-nerdy-sexy and down right cool. Dave Matthews.

And so I end here today with awesomeness, pizazz, spunk and some good ol' American hells yeah vibes.

Keep on rockin out there MSers. Keep on rockin.
And in the immortal words of Dee-Lite I leave you to the waves of the Inter-web.

Grah-rooove baby.

Mila

Mila Ramos ~Paranormal Romance Author
Blog: http://jademystique.blogspot.com/
Website: http://www.milaramos.net/

__
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywNbf0AXL6Y

It's raining m/m!

I confess it took me a while to warm up to m/m, and what finally converted me was a particular pairing in my favorite fandom and well-written fanfic about said pairing. Also reading AJ Llewellyn's spicy and awesome books helped along the way. :D

What do you think of m/m? Do you like it? Hate it? Love it? Any favorite genres or just any hot m/m will do?

These days I've been reading and writing m/m and getting into various yaoi anime such as Gravitation, Junjou Romantica, and Haru wo Daiteita. The more people can recommend to me, the merrier. :D


And speaking of m/m, I'm very excited about my upcoming release from Love You Divine entitled Dawn of the Seraphs! It'll be my very first m/m book and within the paranormal/sci-fi/futuristic/erotic romance genres also.

And the answer to the inevitable question is YES, it will have a sequel.



Blurb:
Tamar is a Seraph, one of the most powerful psychics to exist in the world, and a member of an influential organization of Seraphs known as ANGEL. Seraphs are humans who have evolved to have one or numerous psychic abilities. Possessing a much greater lifespan and intelligence than ordinary humans, Seraphs within ANGEL grow to their full potential by continuous study and practice.

In the year 4287 on planet Earth, ANGEL has deteriorated to become the harbor of the bored elite, and a small but passionate rebellion rises in order to take back the power the society once held. In a pursuit to fulfill his own dreams, Tamar is caught in the chaotic struggle for evolution, power, and to define the greater good.

Kir, an old rival from his days as an apprentice within ANGEL, resurfaces and threatens to shred Tamar’s world into bits...along with his heart. Their ideals clash, and a bitter fight ensues between the two men. Can Tamar’s courage save Kir from the darkness which plagues him while at the same time remain true to himself and what he holds dear?

More info here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html



Love & Magic,
Adrianne

Recycling an Interview

Hey there,

I know. You heard from me on the 25th and here I am again. Well, don't worry, I won't stick around long. I've been stuck on this idea of interviews and it seems kinda silly not to show you all another character profile I created for a book that isn't in print yet.

Last January my book, In a Lover's Silence was selected as one of the eight finalists for the Romantic Times American Title V contest. It was eliminated in the first round (can't imagine why the readers weren't impressed by the first line of the book--"The threadbare gold carpet reeked of stale cigarettes, booze, and sex"--but they weren't.) Anyway, on Sylvia Day's blog I conducted an interview with the characters to see what they're doing 'now'.

Tell me what you think of it, please.


Getting Wynne Smith to stay still for more than five seconds is a task way beyond my capability, but I knew that when I knocked on her door. It became even more apparent when she whipped that same door open and invited—okay, let’s be honest, dragged—me inside.
She barely gave me time to start the tape recorder before plopping her ten-month old daughter in my lap and scooting into the kitchen to grab a sheet of cookies and sliding them into the oven. A second tin sat on a wire rack, cooling.

WS: So, not cool, Q, giving me a little girl.

I looked down at the infant in my lap and was at a loss for words. Wynne wasn’t.

WS: I mean really. Like the poor kid is going to have a moment’s piece with Mr. I-Have-To-Protect-My-Women, as her dad. Sheesh. Shilo will be forty before he’ll let her go on her first date.

Taking into consideration all the things Wynne had gone through with Seth, I could see what she was getting at. Looking first at the baby, then Wynne, I shrugged.

QR: Sorry.

WS: No big. I’ve gotten him to mellow a little bit. And he’s not freaking out at every squeak the munchkin makes, so I figure by the time she starts school, I’ll be able to let her out of the house without an armed escort. (She seemed to think for a second as she wiped down the granite countertop) Maybe.

QR: Other than my saddling you with a poor, put upon, little girl, (The baby in my lap gave a giggle making me wonder if she knew exactly what we were talking about.) How have things been going since…

WS: The move? (Wynne leaned on the counter, her long, honey colored hair pulled away from her face by a large barrette, and wrinkled her nose.) Okay so far. Seth’s family is a hoot, I think they take my side in arguments just to rile the poor guy.

QR: Do you worry about his job?

WS: Sometimes. But Evie has been a great relief and resource for me.

QR: How?

WS: Well, you know Del was a Texas Ranger? So, when I get pissy about Seth being out of town on an assignment or he has to escort particularly rough characters to court or prisons, I call her up and she reminds me how careful he is about everything.

QR: (I couldn’t help but smile at her discomfort, considering the things she’d done to Seth.) Don’t you think that’s adequate justice for that incident…

WS: Hush! (Shaking her head, she moved to pull two bottles of Dr Pepper from the refrigerator) It’s bad enough he’s constantly reminding me of that one little mistake…

QR: I wouldn’t call facing a serial killer a “little” anything…

One of the bottles was placed on the table in front of me. In deference to the Indian Summer heat, Wynne was dressed in a light green sundress. The skirt swished around her legs and her bare feet were silent on the tile floor as she crossed to the chair facing me. After curling into the seat, she rolled her eyes at me and shook her head.

WS: Seth tends to throw that up when he’s less than happy with me about something.

QR: Trouble in Paradise.

WS: (Her smile was wide and the chuckle held more than just humor) Oh hell no. That man is so worth the aggravation. I have to admit, you picked the right guy when you put Seth on my doorstep, Q.

QR: Glad I was able to help.

WS: (A wadded paper napkin was tossed at me.) Don’t be a wise acre.

QR: Hey, you only fought me tooth and nail over him…

WS: He’s from Texas. You know I don’t do Texas.

SV: Well, you have no problem doing this Texan, darlin’. (Seth Vassar's voice came from behind me, his approach had been silent.)

Twisting in my seat, I watched as Wynne's husband stepped into the kitchen as the oven buzzer sounded and Wynne bounced out of her seat. By the time she’d pulled the sheet of cookies from the oven, Seth had stopped by my seat to kiss his daughter on the top of her curly brown hair before moving into the kitchen.

WS: Well, you grew on me.

SV: But you still aren’t paying attention to locking the door.

WS: Like anyone is going to break in in the middle of the day. Besides, Q was here…

SV: Not good enough, baby.

Seth’s head dipped over Wynne’s his lips meeting hers in a soft kiss. Feeling the heat in my cheeks I turned my attention to the baby reaching for my soda. The sound of affectionate whispers were indecipherable, but having dealt with the attraction this couple had for one another, I knew it wouldn’t be long before…

SV: Miz Q?

QR: Yes? (I glanced toward the kitchen where Seth held Wynne in his arms, one hand stroking along her ribs.)

SV: Can I impose upon you to keep an eye on my girl while I talk to her mama?

QR: (I nodded) Sure.

WS: Seth? What…

SV: Come on, hon, we need to have a little discussion.

WS: (Glancing over her shoulder at me, Wynne rolled her eyes.) Did I say he was worth it? I think maybe I was wrong—

Roman Polanski

By A.J. Llewellyn

Romance novelists for years have used the 'rape' ruse as a convenient way for the 'hero' to seduce his usually virginal heroine. In these novels, an act of hatred turns to love. An act of hatred becomes glossed over in these pages, it becomes a fuel for fantasy that let's face it, is unlikely to happen in real life.
One of the most famous rapes of all time, that of film director Roman Polanski raping a then-13-year-old girl Samantha Geimer during a 1977 photo shoot came to a startling head this weekend with the arrest of Polanski in Switzerland.
After spending the last three decades evading US justice, he was arrested at the Zurich Film Festival where he was due to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Zurich Cantonal Police spokesman Stefan Oberlin said the arrest was carried out at the request of the Federal Justice Department in Berne.

I was stunned when I heard the news on the radio this morning and I turned to Twitter which I knew would be buzzing with it.

I was not surprised so many people sided with Polanski saying he's a genius and the the statute of limitations being expired on this crime.
Maybe 32 years have passed, but he still raped a little girl after giving her a mix of champagne and Quaaludes.
Geimer has always emphatically said that Polanski made his intentions clear during the shoot at Jack Nicholson's Hollywood home.
"I said no several times, and then, well, gave up on that," she said in a recent interview.
However brilliant and talented and artistic he is, Roman Polanski raped a child. I am glad the US finally decided to chase him down.
Geimer and her mother lived for years with accusations that she lied, that she did it for notoriety.
Poloanski, who escaped from Federal custody as he underwent psychological testing in 1978 has gone on to a bizarre, but celebrated life, even winning the Oscar for directing "The Pianist."
It doesn't matter what you write, direct, draw, or paint. It doesn't give you the right to hurt. It does not give you the right to a free life on the lam when your victim knows what happened.
Polanski has never denied the incident, but like a lot of rapists, blamed his victim, even claiming it was consensual.
I am sure he won't do time. In fact, he'll probably get a Hollywood movie deal and in some way, whatever restitution he will be forced to make will free him from his "Wanted" status.
But for Samantha Geimer and countless other rape victims whose attackers really don't pay for their crimes, all this will stir up painful memories.
Geimer said in a recent interview with the Honolulu Star Bulletin that she made a decision years ago to speak out about her experience. That she did nothing wrong and therefore chose not to hide.
"Straight up, what he did to me was wrong, but I wish he would return to America so the whole ordeal can be put to rest for both of us.
"After the publicity came out, I knew it was just as bad for him as it was for me. I'm sure if he could go back, he wouldn't do it again. He made a terrible mistake but he's paid for it."
So has Geimer. I am glad she has her wish though, that justice for her will finally not be denied.
How about you? Do you feel Polanski should have been arrested?
Aloha oe,

A.J.

Live and in color

Today is the last stop on my mini tour and I'm sad to see it end. It's been so much fun meeting readers and fans both new and old as well as other authors and vendors and talking a bit of shop. I really enjoy the live events much better than chatting online. It's nice to finally meet people face to face or meet new people for the first time. I'm a little loud and have a bit of a twisted sense of humour so some people are a bit taken aback the first time they meet me. I'm not shy and there is definitely no filter between my brain and my mouth. You never know what I might say next. To my friends this is a quirky, endearing quality, to some strangers it's the exact opposite. LOL But I have had a great time and even though the weather has really been kicking our ass on all the tour stops we;ve mangaed to enjoy ourselves in spite of it. For anyone who is out and about in the Raleigh/Durham area tomorrow stop by the Duke East campus and come say hi. I'll be side by side with Amanda Young and Vincent Diamond, laughing and selling books and talking shop. Hope to see you there. Authors, readers, how do you feel about live events and signings or festivals? Like them, hate them?
Beth
www.bethwylde.com

Questions for Characters

Have you ever wondered who determines the questions for interview? Is there a set number of questions? Specific questions for men and a different set for women? Are the questions selected based on the outcome expected of the interview?

In my case, I like interviews that tell a little bit about the person, but leaves the reader with questions and the desire to find out more. I think I succeeded with an interview I did with Bryce Halsey, the hero from my January release, Unfair Advantage.

Yesterday I reposted the interview on Sensual and Secrets (another blog I contribute to) and it got me to wondering about interviewing other characters. I don't have very many books out (just four so far and a fifth on the way in November) but I'm curious which character the readers would like to read about.

Here's a break down of who and which book they came from.

Santa's Elf-- Dayton Kringle (hero), Elfina "Elf" Jeffries (heroine), Jodi (heroine's best friend), Bryce Halsey (hero's friend and mentor--already interviewed)

Meeting A Neighbor's Needs-- Gina (heroine), George (hero #1), Garrick (hero #2), Olive (heroine's best friend)

Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage-- Bryce Halsey (hero--already interviewed), Mattie Lawrence (heroine), Lyssa Lawrence (heroine's older sister), Mike Halsey (hero's younger brother), Richard Bennett (hero's business partner and friend), Jacob Halsey (hero's father)

Diablo Blanco Club: Under Control-- Ben Murphy (hero #1), Vance Justiss (hero #2)

If you've read any of my books, let me know whom you'd like me to interview and some of the questions you'd like me to ask.

There are other characters I may draw upon to answer quesitons, but I'd like to know which ones the readers would like to hear from and some of the questions they'd like answered.

Thank you for your help. Hope you have a great day.

Qwillia

Hot Buttons and Secret Babies

I’m currently reading a book by a NYT bestselling author. I’m about halfway through when the realization hit me. The heroine has done something that hits one of my hot buttons. I am pissed. I never would have wasted money on this book if I’d known that the heroine was guilty of the one thing I can’t tolerate.

She had a secret baby.

I’ve seen the damage a mother can do when she thinks it’s her God-given right to keep a father from his children. I’m sorry, but I don’t agree with that thinking. To me such behavior is selfish and inexcusable under any circumstances except for when the father is a danger to the children in some manner, such as abuse. Having witnessed in real life the pain this type of mother causes her children, you would NEVER see one of my heroines commit such a selfish act. Now my villains, that would be a different story. In fact, I’m working on a romantic suspense right now in which the mother is that type or mother. She’ll even commit murder to prevent her children from having a relationship with their father.

I don’t believe I could ever redeem a heroine that felt that she had the right to deny a father his child. So, yes, this author hit my hot button by having the heroine marry another man and pass the hero’s son off as the other man’s son. That doesn’t work for me. Even worse, the hero seems oblivious to the time frame surrounding the child’s age and can’t figure out why the heroine married the man she did a few months after he left for the military. Can we say TSTL (too stupid to live)? Get a clue, buddy.

I just finished another book which didn’t finish at all. In fact, I had to buy the next book to see if they caught the villain (a serial killer). This seems to be a trend lately in books. I find it mildly annoying because you have to wait to see what happens. You’re also manipulated into buying the next book.

I’m sure all of you have hot buttons regarding your reading and writing. I’m curious what they are. In romance, I’m guessing that an unhappy ending would be another hot button. So tell me some of your hot buttons.

On giving up too easily...

I'm not a quitter.

I have come up against many difficult situations in the course of my education, career, and personal relationships. Normally, when I get into one of those situations, I don't just throw up my hands and go, "Oh gee, it's getting hard. I quit."

So I'm wondering...Why do I do that with my writing?

Sometimes (more often than I care to admit), I run into a snag in my writing and just toss the story aside. I have what I refer to as a WIP graveyard, where works in progress go when I get annoyed with them or decide they won't work. A few of them are legitimately unworkable stories, especially the ones I started years ago. Others were good ideas that, if I had persisted, just might have become published works. In fact, two are finished. They needed more revision than I had the time for then, and I've never picked them up again.

What I have to ask myself is this: Why do I accept giving up when writing gets hard, when I would never allow myself to do that in life? And better yet, what can I do about it?

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do! I'm resolving to go through my WIPs and finish some of the stories that I gave up on because of a silly problem.

Anybody else have the problem of giving up too easily, in writing, reading, or real life? What did you do about it?

Cassandra Gold
www.cassandragold.com

Guest Blogger: Angelia Sparrow!

Location Location Location

Plot, character, theme and setting. How do I love setting, let me count the ways!

I like the “write what you know” idea when it comes to real-world stories. Science fiction and fantasy are another beast altogether. I love to read a book that makes me feel like I'm walking the streets of New Orleans, New York, Memphis or London. I want to feel the cobblestones and see the gaslight, smell the rampant vegetation and feel the humidity or hear the traffic and taste the street vendor's hot-dog...not like that, trashmind!

When I write, I try to stick to places I know. Memphis. Birmingham. Louisville. St. Louis. Kansas City. And smaller places too, Jonesboro and Hughes Arkansas, Peculiar and Harrisonville Missouri. Mishawaka, Indiana. I've been to these places. I've driven in them. I've been lost in them. I've eaten, slept, lived and loved in them.

In Kansas City, I know where there is a Wal-Mart supercenter and a Denny's nearby. Sometimes this is vital to the plot. In Memphis, I know the layout of the city. I can put zombies on President's Island and werewolves teaching at Christian Brothers University without much difficulty. When I write New York? It's all movie knowledge and research, with only a minimal tang of “been there.”

When writing, I have to remember my readers may not have been to these places. They may not know that the jail in Memphis is at 201 Poplar. They need to be shown that tall, white building, allowed to smell the stale coffee and staler sweat, and hear the cars bringing in new miscreants. They've almost certainly never driven a semi on the narrow streets of Blytheville, Arkansas, and don't know how tight the turn coming out of the grain elevator lot is. I have and do. (I nearly took out the traffic lights on that street.)

So, the question becomes, how much to tell them and how much to leave to imagination as well as what liberties to take with the setting. If you take too many, no one is going to buy it. If you shoot the back lot and call it Burma, the audience will be lost. But if you just use the generic City, they aren't going to buy it either.

It doesn't have to be graphic detail. I remember reading Laurell K Hamilton's BLOODY BONES, set in Branson. One character says something about oh, no we don't want to hit the strip at this hour. I remembered being trapped for hours in traffic on the Highway 76 strip, the endless taillights, the stuffy car, the short tempers getting shorter, just from that throwaway line. From there, I was totally invested in the idea that we were in Branson.

Setting is a delicate balancing act between being a weather forecaster, a tour guide, an architect, a bus driver and a storyteller. The storyteller should always take precedent and the rest serve the story.

Tell me about your favorite story settings.

Author bio:
I'm a middle-aged truck driver living in the mid-south. Sometime in between working and raising four kids, I've managed to start a writing career that includes everything from Gay Christmas Werewolves to Roaring 20s adventurers. 2009 will see the publication of six novels, all GLBT focused: dark future truckers, dark future political thriller, Robin Hood, the adventurers, a gay pagan inspirational romance and an evil carnival. My website is http://www.angelsparrow.com

Do You Know Who I Am?

This past week there has been a lot of buzz in the celeb world about all the things that they are doing. I know what you are probably asking yourself. Aren't they always doing something that gets them on the front page of a magazine...

Yes they are...

This week if you watched the MTV VMA's you saw Kanye West jumping up on stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance speech just so that he could tell everyone he did not agree with her win. OK is that anything new? No..It is not the first time he has done it and probably not the last.
The only difference is this time everybody was not as enthusiastic about what he did and the backlash came full on from all over the entertainment industry. People are getting sick of his attitude.

Then we had a pro Tennis player get way too angry and supposedly threaten a lines woman because she was called on a fault.

I know that it is pretty much a regular thing where celeb go off their high chair and spaz about something.

Come on, just because you are famous does not give you the right to act like a horses ass. I think it is sad to see how much the fame has gone to people's head. As soon as they make it big they think they have the right to treat people horribly and do whatever they like.

They are not any different then everyone else except they make more money and are plastered all over the front of a magazine...

If it weren't for the people these celebs would not be big. Do they not remember that at one point in their life they were not rich and were nobody? I guess not.

I think that the "Do you know who I am" attitude has to go. You fame and everything might be here one day and gone the next. They need to grow up or have a reality check. They are not the centre of the world.

Do you think if you were famous it would change you?

Savannah
http://www.savannahchase.com

Ever wondered...

Can I have a drum roll, please? Louder! Yes!!! I present to you, my dear Midnight Seductions readers/authors, the brand spanking new cover for my next release (writing as Eve Adams). RIDING COWBOYS was first introduced to you on the 11th. Now that you know the characters, how about a peek at the cover?

What do you think?

I create my own covers, which is a good thing AND a bad thing. The good thing is that I know exactly what I want in a cover and have all the power in the world to create it. On the flip side, the bad thing is I'm no where near a cover artist and it shows in the look and feel of my covers. I'd love to be able to create those award winning covers, but alas, I don't know how...

Which leads me to the blog topic: At what point in your life do you settle into a career, and at what point do you admit you made a mistake and wish you could have it over to do differently?

Don't get me wrong. I love my job. I'm a Project Mgmt Professional (PMP) with a global computer technology firm, focusing on entire ERP implementations for higher education institutions. Sounds boring, right? It is anything but, my friends! If I had it to do over, I'd still take all those business and computer classes in college, but had I known then what I know now, I'd definitely take graphic arts as well.

Have you thought about going back to school for anything? Even to advance your current career? Tell me about it! I'd love to know if me thinking about taking some online classes in graphic art is a mistake, or something I should pursue. Maybe I should just give my cover designs over to a real graphic artist and forget the whole thing. Lord knows I'm busy enough with all that's on my plate.

Talk to me! Post a comment and let me know your thoughts. Thanks...

Allie K. Adams, aka Eve Adams

At Any Cost - 5 Stars!

Seek and Destroy - 5 Stars!

It Takes Two - Coming Soon!

www.alliekadams.com

alliekadams@blackfoot.net

Where Are They Now? Catching up with Paisley and Gray from Protective Custody!

I'm running a new feature on my blog called "Where are they now?" so you can catch up with some of my characters! The first couple I sat down with are Paisley and Gray from my sexy contemporary erotic romance Protective Custody, available from Liquid Silver Books!





Paige: Thanks so much to both of you for taking the time to visit with me today!


Paisley (laughing): I had to practically drag Gray away from the baseball game he was watching, but we wouldn't have missed it for anything. We haven't talked to you in ages!


Paige: Yeah, I know. I've been hard at work on lots of new books.


Paisley: Any featuring us?

Paige: Not at the moment, but I have had several readers ask if I'm going to do a sequel to Protective Custody.

Paisley: How exciting! What did you tell them?


Paige: That I'd have to wait for you to get yourself into trouble first!


Paisley (grinning at Gray): How 'bout it, honey?


Gray (giving her a wry smile): Not happening, sweetheart.


Paisley: (winks, then whispers to me from behind her hand): I'll work on it.

Gray heard her, but makes no comment. Instead, he just shakes his head with a grin. Something tells me that Paisley has the no-nonsense police inspector wrapped around her finger.


Paige: Okay, enough about me and what books I'm working on! Tell me what you two have been up to.


Paisley: You know we got engaged right after that whole ordeal with Evan, right? Well, we got married back in June.

Paige: That's wonderful! Congratulations! I know my readers will be thrilled! Though I have to ask, how did your dad feel about you marrying a fellow police officer? I remember you telling me that he had his reservations about the two of you.


Paisley (smiling lovingly at Gray): He did, but after he saw how much I love Gray, he didn't even try to talk me out of it. Not that he would have succeeded, if he had tried, of course.


I realize that Paisley and I have been doing all of the talking and decided to turn my attention to Gray.


Paige: So, Gray, what's it like working for your father-in-law?


Gray (chuckling): Not much different than it was before I married Paisley, actually. (His dark eyes suddenly twinkle) Except that he doesn't yank me off any more investigations to babysit beautiful women, of course.

Paisley (giving Gray an indignant look and thumping him in the arm): He'd better not!

Gray and I laugh at that, along with Paisley. As he pulls her close for a quick kiss, I'm reminded of another question I've been wanting to ask.


Paige: Now I have to ask something everyone who read Protective Custody is going to want to know. Does Gray still spank you?


Paisely (laughingly giving me a wink): Only when I'm bad.

Gray (mouth quirking): And she's bad a lot.



We all have a laugh at that, then afterward, talk some more. But since I don't think anything can top hat bit about the spanking, I'll have to save the rest of the interview for the next time we catch up with Paisley and Gray!





More on Protective Custody!



Read Chapter One!

Buy it at Liquid Silver Books!

Watch the Trailer!




*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheels blush!"

Two pet peeves

The Christmas Gift - Holiday Contemporary - Release Date October 2 from http://www.romancedivine.com/ - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/ and Amazon.com Kindle Books.

My blog doesn’t have a thing to do with romance novels or writing. What I’m going to blog about may be off the beaten track. I’m venting today about fast food restaurants.

I have two pet peeves concerning fast food drive thru restaurants. The first is trying to order through the little black box. Most of the time, the disembodied voice sounds as if they’re talking a bunch of gibberish. This makes me wonder if the person really listens to a customer.

The second peeve I have is the bag I carried home doesn’t contain a thing I’ve ordered. When I get home and look through the contents, I find things inside that I can’t begin to describe. Maybe I’m being too fussy, but hey, if you order and pay for it, you should at least get something that looks like that type of food.

Lately, I’ve tried a different strategy. After accepting the food at the window, I pull the car up a few feet and check all the contents in the bag. In the end, this saves either a telephone call to the restaurant or a drive back to pick up the messed up order.

It’s not that I spend all my time eating at fast food restaurants, but when I do, I expect the order to match what I told the person inside.

How many of you ever experienced this before? Maybe I’m just frequenting the wrong fast food joints. LOL

http://www.mary-suzanne.blogspot.com/

http://www.webspawner.com/users/romancewriter/index.html

Grandparents- Ya Gotta Love 'em

This is Grandparent's weekend. A Hallmark holiday that's been made up in the last few years but fun just the same. All across America children had celebrations at school to invite their grandparents for tea, donuts or maybe just to have fun together. My own grandson is spending the night with us and we're all watching The Penguins of MAdagascar! (Whoo, Hoo- a reason to watch cartoons)

I have a book being released at Red Rose Publishing, Kismet, on September 24, 2009, and the main characters are almost ninety by the end of the story. This makes me think... I love older people and older characters. Older people have lived through so much and experienced things that many of us have only read about in books. I could sit for hours, and have in the past, listening to stories about 'when I was young'. My grandmother rode across country several times in an old Chevy with five other people and only a roll of bologna and a brick of cheese between them. No, they didn't have air conditioning either. That was during the depression.

How do you feel about older characters? In real life and in books?

Sneak peek at my newest release!

Shhh. Don't tell anyone. Come a little closer. No no no, closer still. Thaaat's it. Look around the room to make sure no one is watching you, or reading over your shoulder. Okay? Okay.

I'm just finishing up book three in my Riding Series. RIDING COWBOYS is set to be released before the end of the year. I haven't even created the cover, yet! That's how new this release is. Do you want a peek? DoyaDoyaDoya? I knew you did!

For those of you familiar with my Riding Series, this story is also set on a ranch in Holston, MT, where the cowboys are sexy as sin and menage relationships are the norm. The Riding Series starts with RIDING DOUBLE where a spoiled country girl discovers how hot it can get being loved by two larger-than-life cowboys. The series continues with RIDING LESSONS where a lost city girl learns exactly how gorgeous country boys survive.

And introducing, for the first time ever, RIDING COWBOYS!

Meet Amber Dalton: Amber loves a challenge, and having two incredibly sexy cowboys both wanting her to share their bed definitely fits the bill. When they offer her something that seems too good to be true--a happily ever after--she jumps at the chance to join the ranks of those in Holston, MT who live, and love, their life in a menage relationship.

Meet Norris Emerson: Being in love with Amber has its ups and downs. She is everything he's ever wanted in life, and in love. She is also hypersexual and Norris can barely keep up with her sexual demands. She needs, and deserves, more than he can give her. In the hopes to find the perfect partner, he takes her to The Roadhouse--a place where the alternate love style is not only embraced, but openly practiced.

Meet Brett Fields: Owner of The Roadhouse, Brett has definitely enjoyed his share of the open love experienced at his establishment. The night Amber appears at The Roadhouse, Brett sets his sights on her. He will have her, not only for the night, but for the rest of their lives.

Brett and Norris take Amber--in every sense of the word!--and show her what it means to ride a cowboy. Amber takes them both right back and together the three make it a night that just might lead to the rest of their lives.

As soon as my publisher gives me a release date, I'll let everyone know. Until then, check my bio page for information on how to pick up your copy of other books in the Riding Series!

~Eve Adams~

"Under the Covers", Menage Amour - 5 Blue Ribbons!

"Riding Double", Menage Amour - 4 Angels!

"Riding Lessons", Tasty Treats Anthology - 5 Blue Ribbons!

http://www.alliekadams.com/EVE.html

http://alliekadams.blogspot.com

alliekadams@blackfoot.net

Are Ménage Romances Books Here to Stay

The latest hot genre in erotic romance is Menage a Trois. It is so hot, one e publisher has even created an entire line of ménage books called Menage Amour and releases two to three new ebooks a week. This line now numbers in excess of a hundred books.

Last November I wrote a blog entitled ‘Menage. Is this your fantasy?’ that generated a lot of interest. This is sort of an update on that blog. At the time I’d written the blog I’d dabbled in what I call a man’s ménage—two women and a man. Now ten months later, I’ve penned several women’s ménages and have more in progress.

Here is a short sample ménage excerpt from my upcoming Playtime with Sera. Though it doesn’t show the steamy parts, you get the idea.

I knew before we did a thing that I would love it. I tried not to show how pleased I was when I took their hands and walked hand and hand with them into the bedroom. We sat on the edge of our California king, Marc on my left and Jack on my right.

Starting with my blouse, Marc unbuttoned and took it off.

Next. Jack’s clever fingers unhooked my bra. “Here let me help you take this hot, cumbersome bra off.” Jack removed my bra and my breasts were bare. For a brief few seconds the air-conditioning hardened my nipples, before two warm mouths enveloped them and I melted. As I’d always suspected, lips on both nipples felt divine. Their sucking sent tickly currents of need racing through me, terminating in my core.

Marc’s hands pushed my lacy panties down to my knees. “Let’s get these panties off before they get all wet.” He dragged the panties down and over my sweat socks. He removed my socks and I was naked. A thrill ran through me as I realized. It’s going to happen. I’m going to have sex—with both of them!

Writing a woman’s ménage as a romance is a little bit of a challenge in that you don’t want the heroine to come off as a tramp. In the erotic stories, the woman can be normal, a slut or worse, but in the romances the woman should be as normal as possible.

I’ll tell you a secret. Since I started writing women’s ménages I don’t think about the other kind much. It seems more natural for a woman to receive the affections of multiple partners then men, and of course women are better equipped. Also let’s not forget if a woman has an orgasm, she can keep going, while men are usually out of action for awhile. LOL.

So, why is this relatively new sub genre so popular? I believe women readers love to fantasize about having two or more lovers. They live vicariously through their daring heroines, enjoying all the fruits that could possibly be enjoyed by multiple coupling. Lips, tongues, hands fingers and let’s not forget cocks.

I think women also like the idea of throwing convention out the window. From chastity belts to burkas the little box of sexuality women have confined to has been the work of men. Now that sexual freedom is upon us, some women are testing the limits.

As for the women that experience a ménage, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was an element of exhibitionist involved. You certainly wouldn’t invite two or more men in your bed and then turn the lights out.

I once talked with a woman who fantasized about being gang banged. I asked her how many and she didn’t know, just more then two. When I pressed it by asking ten, she thought and said, maybe.

How about you? How big is your kink—real and imaginary?

And what about woman’s ménages? Do you think they’re immoral or overdue. Do you dream of them? Would you invite multiple men into your bed?

And what about the books? Are you a fan of mfm romance novels? If so, do you think you could get tired of them? Will the demand for them continue to grow, go flat or dry up with time?

Think about it and comment if you like.

Busy! Busy! Busy!

Wow, it's been a whirlwind last couple of months. After being evacuated from our home for a fire for 4 days, it really made me reevaluate some of what is important to me. Writing is important, and kept me somewhat sane.

I have a new release coming out with Rosa Romance probably sometime this month. It is a complete rewrite (over twice as long) of Sometimes in September, a time travel romance back to the California Gold Rush. September's Gold is being written under my sweet pseudonym Ashlyn Barré. You'll be seeing her around MSA soon. Ashlyn also has another historical romance with Rosa Romance, Streams of Passion. That will be coming along in a bit.

Not to leave out Cassidy, by any means. Cassidy has a reworking of The Midas Touch coming out with Rosa Romance, as well as 3 new works coming out with Resplendence Publishing over the next year and a half. Add in an erotic western story in an anthology for Noble Romance and another short erotic work for them as well.

A couple more in the works, but I'm going to be a busy girl! Or girls, as the case may be. LOL. Hope you enjoy the new and reworked books coming out, I know I sure have enjoyed writing them.

Cassidy/Ashlyn

Who likes to win stuff?

I've been participating in quite a few contests lately (as one of the givers, not as a potential winner). I've given out signed print books, beaded book thongs, gift certificates to bookstores, and I've gone in on an ebook reader. I used to give out copies of my ebooks, but not so much lately.

My questions for you all are: What kinds of prizes do you like best in author contests? What do you like least? What kind of contests do you like (scavenger hunts, questions to answer, random comment selection, etc) and dislike?

In case you're feeling lucky, check out the two new contests I'm participating in! (And feel free to tell me what you think of the contests if you enter.)

Torquere Press is doing a great giveaway all month in honor of their 6th anniversary. Go to http://www.torquerebooks.com/contest/index.html to see the daily prizes and enter to win an ereader preloaded with a bunch of great Torquere Books!


To win Fictionwise gift certificates, go to Red Rose Publishing to enter the September contest: http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/contest_sep.php

For more info, you can also check out my website: www.cassandragold.com/contest

Cassandra
www.cassandragold.com

Check out the GLBT Bookshelf!

Guest Blogger--Ed Williams

Dull Crap Becomes Important Crap When You Get Older!

God, I’m almost embarrassed to write this article, as I’m really gonna be telling on myself in a major way…..

I have to do it, though. It’s too late for me to be rescued from my own fate, but perhaps it will help someone out there avoid the same in years to come. Hey, it might even be used to aid in the cause of anti-aging research, at least I hope it will.

Bottom line, the reason for today’s article is both simple yet profound. It’s also undeniable. So, without further ado, our reason for being here today is:

I’m finding, as I get older, that I want to talk about drivel, stuff that in years past I’d never have mentioned to anyone. I’d not have found it important or interesting enough.

Bear with me, it’ll make more sense in a few, unfortunately. This past Saturday, I needed to get the oil changed in my truck. Around 2 pm or so, I ran it over to the garage that does such things for me. And since Ole Black (my ’98 Toyota Tacoma that I love more than God) was a bit on the dirty side, I whipped her into a car wash and cleaned her up a bit. Then, we both went home.

As soon as I arrived and walked in the front door, my son Will asked where I’d been? I then proceeded to launch into a long, impassioned explanation of how I’d just taken my truck in for an oil change. That wasn’t enough, though. Then I launched into yet another impassioned recounting of how I took Ole Black for a good washing afterwards. And as I was telling Will all this stuff, the thought hit me, “Just how boring is this? And why do I give a damn about giving him such a long-assed explanation of either item?”

Right at that point it didn’t bother me too much, but about an hour or so later my son-in-law Dave walked up. He mentioned that he’d noticed I’d been gone earlier, and wondered why? I then launched into yet another impassioned speech about how I’d taken Ole Black in for an oil-change and a car wash. And as I heard myself get yet again into all this detail about two such mundane events, the reality of what I was actually doing hit me, and my mind screamed out,

“We’re getting old, dammit! Oil changes are now a big deal So are car washes! Look at us, we’re getting mossy and mentally skanked!”

The bad thing about it all was, my mind was telling me the truth. I am getting old, and that’s a sure tell tale sign of it, getting long-winded about trivial crap that even a tse-tse fly couldn’t care less about. And if I’m already caring about car washes and oil changes, then the following things are probably on the horizon:

Talking to my neighbors about their favorite garden fertilizers and why.

Discussing out loud stuff like dry skin or scalp flaking problems and what the best means of addressing them are.

Discussing what types of vitamins best promote good health.

Getting into earnest discussions with my male friends about toupees vs. the natural (bald as a damn eagle) look.

Arguing that music was only music back when it was on vinyl, not on these damn MP3 computer files that are so prevalent today.

Bemoaning the loss of pay phones and empathizing with the postal service’s current problems.

Whispering under my breath to my male neighbors about how the lady down the street does yard work in far too skimpy outfits.

If I start getting verbally long-winded on any of those things, especially that last item, then I’ll know I’m getting older than the pyramids and that I might as well start hiking my pants up under my armpits. I’ll truly know that old age has set in, and that park benches and clogging in those awful square dancing outfits are in my future. A future even more dismal than being given the complete works of Perry Como in MP3 format, and that should make any adult with a reasonable set of eardrums moan the blues.

Time to wrap this up, my friends. I know this week’s article was pretty much a downer, but y’all will be much happier with next week’s. In next week’s epistle we’ll talk about why prunes are an incredibly wonderful food, why they’re misunderstood, why our elected officials ought to aggressively promote them to their constituents, why Post should start making “Prune Toasties,” why……

Ed's bio:

I'm a Southern Outlaw Author, I've had two books published. One was called "Sex, Dead Dogs, and Me: The Juliette Journals," the other was called "Rough As A Cob: More From the Juliette Journals." A story of mine, "Sally the Screamer," recently appeared in the Southern humor anthology, "Southern Fried Farce." I wrote a column called "Free Wheelin'" for several years and have spoken to groups all over the southeast. And, I've just signed a contract for my Christmasthis November. I guess I'm kinda like the Forrest Gump of Literature. novel, "ChristmaSin': A Juliette Christmas Epistle," it's coming out

My website link is: www.ed-williams.com

Juggling Lessons

I came back from vacation the other day and I'm still trying to catch up! That's the sign of a good trip, when I don't have time to check emails or keep up with things while I'm away. I went to an event which had been planned since the beginning of the year and which a lot of my online friends would also attend. This particular trip turned out much better than planned though I actually nearly canceled it altogether. It's all rather complicated, but it's an issue that I know I am not alone in dealing with.

The problem is juggling online time. Because I got busy with writing projects and some family issues, my time for online socializing all but disappeared for a few month. To my friends, it was the same as me disappearing, and after my absence it was incredibly difficult to get back into friendships and relationships--I still haven't really accomplished that. I missed out on making travel plans with friends and had some difficulty finding roommates. It all worked out in the end and I met some wonderful new people, but the basic problem isn't resolved.

I can't figure out how to keep in touch with people who seem to have unlimited amounts of time to spend socializing online. Because of my writing career, I need to budget time for writing, promotion, networking, etc. This means I don't have as much time to just hang out and gab, though I desperately wish I did. I know I'm missing out on the fun and chance to stay close to some important people.

I have found twitter to help since I can just chime in now and then without needing to be in the whole conversation, but it doesn't seem to be enough. I try to pop in on facebook a couple of times a day, but again I feel like I should be doing more. Sometimes it feels like blog posts or facebook messages are just going into a black hole.

Is there a solution to this? Is there a way to keep in touch with several different groups and individuals ?

I'd love to hear your ideas for how to deal with this. I hate to leave anyone out, but I do have to prioritize and I know something or someone is going to get left out.




EM Lynley
http://www.emlynley.com | http://emlynley.livejournal.com | http://twitter.com/emlynley | http://www.facebook.com/emlynley | http://www.emlynley.com/blog


Coming soon: VENUS ENVY from Cobblestone Press

End of summer? So soon?

For those of us in the States, Labor Day weekend is fast approaching. For many of us, this heralds the unofficial end of summer but for some, it also brings the back to school season.

Traditionally, I've attended a huge BBQ/party every Labor Day. I make my special Mexican layered dip and bring veggie burgers to grill. I'll be doing the same thing this year.

Here's my recipe for the dip:

2 containers of sour cream (I use Tofutti)
2-4 different colored peppers
1-2 containers pico de gallo
2 containers of salsa
1 block cheddar cheese (I use either Follow Your Heart's Vegan Gourmet or Teese), grated

Get out a baking dish for this one: usually about 8x9 or 9x9 works. This won't be baked, but it's the perfect container for.

1) Add the sour cream to the bottom.
2) Add layer of salsa
3) Add layer of pico de gallo
4) Dice up the different peppers and put on as another layer
5) Grate the cheese on top

This goes well with chips. I make the vegan version of this, and it's TO DIE FOR. Sometimes I put out a side of veggie ground beef and have people put the dip on that with the chips. :)

What sorts of plans do you enjoy for the Labor Day weekend, if any? Shop for back to school? Parties?

In any event...have a wonderfully long weekend! An if you try the dip, let me know! :)




Love & Magic,
Adrianne
http://www.adriannebrennan.com

Two hot new releases!

April Swings, Book Three in the Meghan’s Playhouse series at Whiskey Creek Torrid, is newly released today, September 1. Reviewers have loved Book One, Seducing Cat, and Book Two, A Woman for Zachary!

BLURB

April Day deeply loves her husband Derek, but something’s missing. To spice things up she books them on a Caribbean cruise for their seventh anniversary. She’s not sure what she’s looking for, but she knows she’s found it as soon as she spots the delectable sprite of an actress who stars in the ship’s daily shows.

Meghan Keenan’s having a blast with her latest squeeze, Josh Hendricks, who writes and directs the shipboard main shows. Should she turn down April’s request to heat up her marriage? And if she accepts, where will Josh fit in?

Derek is stunned by his wife’s brash pursuit of the hot young actress. Must he match her boldness to keep her from leaving him?

Swinging Games: A Tempting Taste is due out at Extasy Books September 1. The prequel, Swinging Games: Anticipation, and Book One, Swinging Games: Hookups, have both received rave reviews.

BLURB

A little voyeurism, some role-playing, a taste of m/m, ménage for three and four – is this more than they signed on for? No longer novices, Jennifer and Brett Andrews reach a little deeper into the swinging world. When the evening’s over, will they still go home together, and what will happen next?

Excerpts from both books are up at my blog ~ watch there for announcements about September chats and giveaways!

Adriana

http://adrianakraft.com