Sandra Hill on Vikings

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Win a signed paperback copy of Viking In Love by Sandra Hill.
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From Sandra:

Sandra Hill, NYT and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, Whether they be historical, time travel, or contemp, Vikings, Cajuns, or  Navy SEALs, the common element is humor…and sizzle 


    Vikings had the greatest senses of humor.  It’s evident in their sagas, reports by travelers of that time period, and oral history.  And personally, I think there’s nothing sexier than a man who can make a woman smile…oh, not clownish funny, more a subtle teasing of the funny bone.

      My first Avon historical romance comes out tomorrow, VIKING IN LOVE.  It’s the story of five Viking princesses who kill the abusive husband of one of them and dump him in an unmentionable place (loosely modeled on the Dixie Chicks video of “Goodbye Earl.).  And currently, I’m working on my second Avon book, THE VIKING TAKES A KNIGHT, September, 2010.

      I’ve always said I could write a doctoral thesis on tenth century Vikings, but surprisingly there is always new material coming up.  In particular, I’ve been researching Norse wedding rituals for both those books.  And, yep, those Viking men did to have a sense of humor, even in the midst of a solemn wedding.

      I especially like the brudh-hlaup or “bride-running.”  Once the formal wedding ceremony is completed, the bride and groom make a race for the great hall.  Assuming the groom arrives there first, picture him leaning against the door jamb, arms folded over his chest, and a wicked grin on his too-handsome face.  His sword lays on the ground of the threshold.  If the bride steps over it, she is making that final commitment to be his wife.  Rumor is, some Viking men then smacked their brides’ rumps with the flat side of the weapon, just to assert their authority.  In my books, the woman might be just as likely to smack the man’s rump.

      Once inside, the groom swings his sword, making a cut into the supporting pillar of the house, the roof tree.  The deeper the cut, the more virile the man.  Can you imagine the teasing that went on?

      There are lots of interesting, sometimes colorful, rituals before and after these events, all culminating in a party Viking style.  And those Norsemen did like to party!

      And did you know that the word honeymoon is supposedly a vulgarization of the Norse word hjunotlsmanathr.  It refers to the practice of a man kidnapping a bride and keeping her until she is pregnant or her family stops searching for her, after which the wedding ceremony can be formalized.  Romance novel plot, anyone?

      Do you know of any unusual wedding rituals?  Or have you done some unique things yourself?

      Stop by my website at www.sandrahill.net for info about my books, genealogy charts, videos, free novellas, and other good stuff.  And please let me know what you think of VIKING IN LOVE and my version of a Viking wedding.

      As always, wishing you smiles in your reading.

Sandra Hill
http://www.sandrahill.net

A Demon’s Wedding by Enid Wilson

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Win a paperback copy of Really Angelic by Enid Wilson.
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A Demon’s Wedding by Enid Wilson
 
When Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth entered, braced for darkness, they were instead blinded by an abundance of candlelight. Hundreds of orange candles were burning, and flowers in all hues of orange adorned the mausoleum’s interior.
 
Dressed in a silk wedding dress in similar colour with a long train, the bride stood close to the demon, wearing a smug smile. The dress was elegant, with intricate patterns embroidered onto it, but due to its similarity in colour to the flowers and the candles, the evil bride looked inconspicuous, except for her hat and her lips: she sported a high turban decorated with long, curvy black feathers, and her lips were, shockingly, painted in black.

Mr. Darcy flinched and Elizabeth gasped upon seeing the bridal appearance of the demon protégé. At her side, the demon was dressed normally, as a clergyman. He, too, wore a smug smile.

“I see that you have not worn your best clothes, Mr. Darcy.” The demon shook his head in censure. “You should be ashamed of yourself, for your lovely bride has been waiting for you for many years. She has spent endless hours preparing herself for today’s wedding – not to mention the wedding night.”

He inclined his head. Following his gaze, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth noticed for the first time that the top of the Meryton knight’s tomb was covered with layers upon layers of orange silk sheets, with orange-hued petals scattered over them.

She expects me to have sexual congress with her atop a tomb, with a demon as witness? Mr. Darcy uttered silently to Elizabeth, disgusted and appalled.
***

Well, how did you find this demon’s wedding? What’s the most horrible wedding you have attended or known of?

The above excerpt was adapted from Enid Wilson’s latest Regency novel Really Angelic, a steamy paranormal retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

To read more about Enid’s books, you can visit http://steamydarcy.com/

THE CALL by Brigit Zahara

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THE CALL by Brigit Zahara

Ah, I remember it well—the call that would make me a published romantic erotica author…

It was a few months after my husband and I moved into the new property we had just purchased in Majorca—one of the Balearic Islands just off the coast of Spain. A place ideal for the coming true of dreams, it was a five-bedroom, oceanfront villa with an outdoor swimming pool and breathtakingly beautiful gardens to go along with the gorgeous panoramic view.

Our own piece of Eden.

While my former career as a special agent had stoked the already existent fires of excitement and adventure in my then closet writing, in retrospect I think our chosen locale in which to put down roots added a spark of romance and sensuality to my voice. Indeed, my very first erotica story, FRONT PAGE FATE, was penned while gazing out over the Mediterranean Sea, imagining the how and why of a relationship between a burnt out reporter and oversexed ultra-masculine vampire. But as was to become routine in the telling of each of my torrid tales, the characters evolved on their own and the story just took off in a direction seemingly predestined, with me functioning as a mere messenger.

Having done very little reading or research of the erotica genre, I was fully expecting a “thanks but no thanks” reply to the query for my first and fairly risqué paranormal book sent to erotica publishing heavyweight Ellora’s Cave. But much to my amazement, I received a glowing email back, congratulating me on the book’s acceptance and offering me a contract for publication. It was among the most thrilling moments of my life.

That was a couple of years ago. Today I have twelve books to my name with various M/F, M/M/F and M/F/M stories featuring some pretty sexy vampires, mermen, chocolatiers, bank robbers, businessmen, gladiators, werewolves, shape shifters, bartenders and magicians. And in 2010, I look forward to pumping out more of the kind of super-charged, hot threesomes and sizzling couplings people have come to associate with my writing, as well as exploring the increasingly popular M/M genre.

However none of this would’ve happened without that first tentative knock on EC’s door. So thanks to them for opening that door, and just as much, thanks A MILLION to all my many fans (even you closet ones ;) for buying my books, playing my contests and sending in emails with kudos, questions and suggestions. I really appreciate your support and promise to keep the characters loveable, the stories intriguing and the sex off the charts!

Brigit Zahara
http://brigitzahara.weebly.com/

STEAMED: A STEAMPUNK ROMANCE by Katie MacAlister

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PRESS RELEASE


STEAMED: A STEAMPUNK ROMANCE by Katie MacAlister

New American Library is thrilled to announce the latest novel from bestselling author Katie MacAlister’s, STEAMED (A Signet Mass Market Original Paperback; February 2010; $7.99)! This is the start of an all-new series from MacAlister which combines steampunk with her trademark witty romances.

Katie MacAlister has earned her place among the top authors working in the world of paranormal romance today with her Aisling Grey, Guardian and Silver Dragons series. She’s become a regular on the New York Times, Publishers’ Weekly, and USA Today’s bestseller lists. Now she turns her attention to steampunk—an up and coming fantasy subgenre set in a time when technology is propelled predominantly by steam power. The hero of STEAMED is Jack Fletcher, a computer engineer. When one of his nanoelectromechanical system experiments explodes the impact sends him hurtling into the world of his favorite novel—a Victorian-era world of steampower, aether guns, corsets and goggles. And a world where he meets the lovely, red-haired, airship captain Octavia Pye. Like all of Katie’s books, STEAMED is clever, funny, and sure to delight her legions of fans as well as newcomers to her work.

Katie MacAlister has worked as a bird skeleton cleaner, a wave machine solderer, a Fortran programmer, and a sales assistant for Harrods. She lives with her husband and two dogs outside of Seattle. Her website is www.katiemacalister.com.


STEAMED by Katie MacAlister
A Signet Mass Market Paperback Original
ISBN: 978-0-0451-22931-1
$7.99 / 352 pages
Publication Date: February 2, 2010

Jodi Rosoff, Associate Director of Publicity

www.penguin.com

Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin, Philomel, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.

Do You Read The Movie?

Posted by Kimber Chin in Contemporary Romance, Kimber Chin, Robin Hood

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Over the holidays, I saw the trailer for Robin Hood. It looked so good (and so did Russell Crowe) that I wanted to watch the movie immediately. The problem was… it isn't released until the summer.

So I did the next best thing. I read every single Robin Hood romance I could get my hands on. Yep, I binged on the Merry Men. I hung out in Sherwood Forest. I spent more time reading than Friar Tuck spends eating. (The best Robin Hood romance novel I read, by far, was Cara Hart's Love Not A Thief)

A buddy of mine did the same with Sherlock Holmes (love the tagline… Holmes for the Holiday and that they have nicknamed Jude Law's Watson Hotson). Once he heard about the movie, he rushed out, bought and READ the complete collection. He was seriously sleep deprived.

A time traveling hating buddy resisted reading The Time Traveler's Wife for the longest time. No recommendations swayed her. People GAVE her multiple copies and she refused to read the book. Then the movie came out. That did it. She sat down and read the book (and yes, she enjoyed both the book and the movie).

Other friends refuse to both read the book and watch the movie. They will choose one or the other, swearing vehemently that the other would disappoint (and yes, sometimes they do). They picture characters in their heads as they read and no actor could possibly match up (unless that actor is Colin Firth and then…).

Do you read the books movies are based on? Do you watch the book based movies? Do you want to see Russell Crowe in tights?

$


Kimber Chin gives away her favorite romance read every month. This month, that romance is Cara Hart's Love Not A Thief. To enter, go to her site http://businessromance.com/

Great love stories. Are they about the romance or the sex?

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Great love stories. Are they about the romance or the sex? by Mary Eason

When I first started reading romance novels, (I’m about to truly date myself), there was very little sexual activity in the story itself. For the most part, it was all “hinted” at. Then came the “bodice rippers” where the writer took a bit more leeway with the description.

Today, there’s something for everyone. Do you love a good “romance”, with a story that tears at your heart and make you fall in love right along with the hero and heroine?

Or do you prefer a sexy romance, filled with lots of “steam”. A romance that doesn’t have to necessary be happily ever after, but just happy for the moment. Sometimes, getting there is the best part of a story.

Today, with the wide variety of romance genres that we have, there’s truly something for everyone.

Now, as a writer, I have to say, I’m drawn to creating stories filled with raw emotion. Whether it be romantic suspense of just contemporary romances, I love to fill my stories with the seemingly insurmountable drama in my characters lives that creates great emotion for the reader and well as for me the writer.

This January, FORBIDDEN PASSION is available through New Concepts Publishing.

This is a contemporary romance that brings together two people who have lost someone they both loved. The secrets that lie between Sophie and Erik are what make this story combustible.

Blurb: When her husband is killed in the car accident, Sophie McGraw finds herself all alone and desperate. The one person who reaches out to help her by offering her both a job and a place to live is her husband’s best friend Erik Sebastian.

Even as Erik tries to convince himself that his only interest in the widow of his best friend Kevin is one of loyalty, that she is strictly ‘off limits’, he knows that what he feels for Sophie is much stronger than the friendship he believes she wants from him. There is a chemistry that ignites between them that cannot be denied.

But the closer Erik gets to Sophie the more he realizes that her marriage to Kevin was anything but perfect, as she would have him believe. The truth is nothing about Sophie McGraw is remotely as it seems.

And in February, SHADOW GAMES will release through Champagne Books.

SHADOW GAMES is a romantic suspense drama that is filled with cutting-edge suspense, lies and espionage. The spy world truly is a game of shadows. SHADOW GAMES brings one woman back to the past she thought she left behind in order to save the one man she couldn’t forget.

Blurb: He was the love of her life. The father of her child. Now he was missing. Presumed dead behind enemy lines.

CIA agent Booth Tanner was the best of the best and now he’s as good as dead. The only person who can save him now is the woman who’d written him out of her life three years earlier as a lost cause. Then Rachel Weiss receives a text message that is brief, chilling, and enough to send her back into the shadowy world she thought she’d left behind for good. So, what do you think? Are great love stories about the romance or the sex? I contend that great love stories can be filled with romance and sex but they always, always leave the reader wanting to know what happens next in the hero and heroine’s lives. And if you’re like me, you’ll end up reading those books over and over again.

Hoping your 2010 is filled with great love stories…

All the best…

Mary Eason
http://www.maryeason.com/

I lost my Pants! by Suzanne Rock

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Win an ebook copy of Up On The Housetop by Suzanne Rock.

This is a paranormal spicy romance from Loose-Id

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I lost my Pants! by Suzanne Rock

Thanks so much for having me here at Night Owl Romance. It’s great to “see” everyone. :o) Today, I want to talk a little bit about my writing method. Before you ask, yes, there is a method to the madness, lol.

Writers normally fall into one of two categories: plotter or pantzer. A plotter is someone who plots a story out before writing. This can be as little as writing a one-page synopsis or as detailed as chapter-by-chapter spreadsheets and five-page character interviews.

Pantzers on the other hand, do just as the name implies – write by the seat of their pants. They like to start with a blank page and just go for it. They may have a general idea of who the characters are and how the story will end, but they don’t know much about the characters, or how they will achieve their ending.

I used to be a die-hard pantzer. Once I figured out the details of a story, I lost interest in it and couldn’t finish writing the book. There was no mystery, no adventure, no excitement.

So I wrote my first handful of stories by the seat of my pants. The excitement level was high. Who were these characters? Where would they take me? This kept me going for about fifty pages. Then the frustration would begin.

My characters would often veer off on tangents that had nothing to do with the story arc. I would frequently suffer from writer’s block. My motivation would run away and it would take me a while to find it again. I persevered however, and submitted my babies one after another with enthusiasm.

They all got rejected.

After a year of rejections I was forced to re-evaluate my writing process. Now, I’m not saying if you write by the seat of your pants that you will be rejected. Far from it. I’m just saying that this particular writing style wasn’t working for me. I found I had to spend five times as long editing a manuscript after I wrote it. Not very efficient, eh? Even after editing I wasn’t getting much more than form rejections. It was obvious something had to change.

I decided to plot. Not detailed plots mind you, but just a blurb to keep my writing focused. My first book, “Spyder’s Web” was born from that method. Encouraged, I wrote a proposal for “Up on the Housetop” (first three chapters and synopsis). I submitted it before finishing the story. (I had a good enough relationship with my editor so I was able to do this.) That too, was accepted. Not only did it get contracted, but I found drafting the rest of the story to be much easier. No writer’s block. No run-away muse. I had to spend less time with my editor to polish it. Now that I’m writing the sequel to “Up on the Housetop,” I realize the value of plotting. Not only do I have to keep everything within my story consistent, but I have to keep the world building the same from story to story.

I think balance is key – at least it is for me. I plot enough to keep everything consistent and the story plot on track, but I can’t over-plot, as I will lose interest. Within each chapter my characters can do as they please, as long as they know that by the end they have to be at a certain place and at a certain time. It keeps the story interesting for me, and hopefully for my readers as well.

I know that there are as many different ways to write a book out there as there are writers. If you’re a writer, share with us your writing method (plotter or pantzer). If you are a reader, share with me one of your favorite paranormal books that has a great plot. I’m always looking to add books to my “to be read” pile. ;)

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Purchase - Up on the Housetop

Up on the Housetop: Blurb

Desperate to escape her controlling family, Chloe Bradford scrambles up to the housetop of her Texas home on Christmas Eve. There she discovers a sexy stranger cloaked in shadow. He convinces her to shed her good-girl image and give into her most secret desires. The man's low, raspy voice tugs at her memory as much as it awakens her passion. Is he a Christmas miracle, or some figment of her imagination? When he tries to leave, she follows him, eager to learn his identity.

Zach can't stop thinking about Chloe, or their reunion on the roof. His wolf-half urges him to reveal his identity and claim her, but he doesn't dare. For both their sakes, he must remain in the shadows until he can control his inner beast's bursts of rage. After a decade of struggle he thought he could handle his curse, but Chloe's presence causes his control to slip. As the moon-rages become more frequent, he knows he's slipping toward the insanity that claims many of his kind. Only Chloe can save him, but will she want to after he reveals his identity and the reason he broke her heart over a decade ago?

Website: http://www.suzannerock.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Suzanne_Rock

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/suzanne.rock

Embrace the Shadows Blog: http://embracetheshadows.wordpress.com/

Embrace the Shadows Fan Club: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/embrace_the_shadows/

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2982868.Suzanne_Rock

Why do you read erotic romance? by Cari Quinn

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One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of Full Disclosure by Cari Quinn.


Entry Details: Just comment on this post and leave the first part of your email address on your comment. You must be a memeber of one of the Night Owl Reviews newsletters to enter. We get your full address from our newsletter list. You must be 18 years or older to enter.

Contest Ends: 1/19/2010

***

I'm thrilled to be at Night Owl Romance today!

Now I have a question for you...why do you read erotic romance?

Is it for the fantasy? The desire to maybe learn some new things that will ignite the spark between you and your significant other? Is it pure entertainment or do you like it because erotic romance still gives you a hot HEA while dealing with some edgy and often difficult topics?

I read - and write - erotic romance for all the above. I'll admit, when I first started checking out erotic romance, I thought it was more often than not just a competition just to see who could get more salacious and scandalous acts into print. Then as I learned more, I saw many authors go far beyond that. Erotic romance is hot, yes, often right into X-rated, if our books were movies. But the themes these books explore are universal. Love, betrayal, acceptance. It's true, you may not own a sex swing or have ever considered inviting more than one person into your bed. That's perfectly okay. For some people, those elements are reality, just as some of the more shockingly painful things we read about have often occurred outside of the pages of the books. I know I read and write to learn. About myself. About others. Insights about the human condition often come to me while I'm lost in fiction, and I know I can't be the only one.

I also tend to be nosy and extremely curious. No closed doors for me. What better way to really get a sneak peek of a hero or heroine's inner workings than a book that contains scenes that run the gamut of emotions? Few scenes illustrate as dramatically what a character is made of as a love scene. Want to know what that hero/heroine is really all about? Watch how they make love...or if they make love at all. Better yet, sometimes what a character refuses to reveal in a sexy scene is most telling of all. I don't necessarily mean does Floyd Golightly like kink in the bedroom. More, I'm referring to what baggage he brings with him under the sheets.

Some stories exist as pure fantasy. Most of us have never had a threesome with werewolves *g* and I can honestly admit I wouldn't partake were that option given to me. But what's wrong with that? Fiction at its root is escape. Some readers only find relief from difficult situations in their lives when they manage to lose themselves in a character's world. Identification with another, even if that other is fictional, can act powerfully to remind us that we're not alone. "Sally Slaphappy can overcome the issues in her life and find her happy ending, so I can too." There are as many reasons for people to pick certain genres as there are readers, and as a writer who loves her job, I'm very grateful for that.

My first book, Full Disclosure, released this past November at The Wild Rose Press Wilder Roses. It's definitely a spicy story - I tend to like those ;) - but it's also a story of learning how to trust and give yourself to another in ways that go far beyond the physical. Holly and Alex definitely use sex as part of their discovery process, but it's only when they learn true acceptance of each other and themselves that the act becomes about more than simple release.

I really enjoyed writing Full Disclosure. So much so, I'm writing two more stories set in that world. Hunk Du Jour, an online dating site, plays a big part in Full Disclosure, and I just completed the story of Jenny, Hunk Du Jour's webmistress. I'm now writing Haley's story, Holly's younger sister. Hopefully those tales will be making their way to a virtual bookshelf near you soon.

Want to know more about Full Disclosure? Here's the blurb:

Thirty-eight-year-old divorcee Holly Burrows has had enough of battery-operated love. Prompted by an ad left at her law office, she investigates Hunk Du Jour, a website designed to foster ‘adult connections’. After weeks of sexy emails and phone calls with surf hunk Kent, she's ready to test their chemistry in person. But first she has to get through lunch with her colleague Alex, a man with a brain as agile as his body. When their consultation ends with a bang, she barely remembers the man she'd lined up for dessert. Now she thinks she's juggling two hot young guys. How can she choose between her two gorgeous cubs – and why do they remind her of each other?

You can buy Full Disclosure here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=737 or at Fictionwise: http://www.fictionwise.com/

I'm thrilled to be giving away a PDF copy of Full Disclosure to a commenter! I know why I read erotic romance, but why do you? I'd love to hear what makes it your genre of choice, either to read or write. If you don't like erotic romance, you're welcome here too. What's your favorite genre and why? I'm curious to see what makes people gravitate toward certain types of stories. I look forward to your responses!

I love meeting new readers and writers, so feel free to stop by my blog: http://cariquinn.blogspot.com/ I'm also cariquinn on Twitter. Between the two, I'll keep you posted on any new releases and/or news of earthshattering importance in my writerly life. Occasionally I have some fun, too. ;)

Comment away!

Author Bio:

Cari Quinn wrote her first story - a bible parable - in 2nd grade, much to the delight of the nuns at her Catholic school. Once she saw the warm reception that first tale garnered, she was hooked. She attempted her first romance in junior high, long before she'd ever read one. Writing what she knew always took a backseat to what she wanted to know, and that still holds true today. Cari's genres of choice include contemporary, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, urban fantasy and paranormal. Recently she discovered erotic romance. Oh, how far she's come…

Writing a Post- Apocalyptic Romance

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Enter to win a copy of Beyond the Night by Joss Ware. One commenter will win!

Just comment on this post!

Include the first part of your email address with your comment. You need to be a NOR newsletter subscriber to enter. That's how we get your full email address...so you don't have to post it all on the comment. You must be 18 or over to enter and a legal residents of the the USA. This prize only ships in the continental USA. No Purchase Necessary. Contest Ends: 1/19/2010
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Writing a Post- Apocalyptic Romance by Joss Ware

About three years ago, I was talking to someone about trends in romance novels. Vampires were hot, of course, and demons and shapeshifters were starting to get really popular as well, but this person said, “I think there’s going to be a trend toward post-apocalyptic romances.”

Huh, I thought. Wow. Then I immediately discarded the thought. I was writing the Gardella Vampire Chronicles http://www.colleengleason.com/ at that time, and post-apocalyptic zombies were about as far from historical vampire slayers as you can get.

Besides. How could anyone write a post-apocalyptic romance? How can anyone believe in true love or a happy ever after when the world is being destroyed around them? People are dying, in pain, kids, dogs, cats being destroyed, buildings in shambles…no thank you!

But then, one day, I was chatting with one of my critique partners, and she said, “I think you should write a post-apocalyptic romance.”

And I started to think about it. The more I thought, the more fascinated I became with the idea…or, more accurately, the challenge, of writing a romance set in such a dark time. I loved the idea of having a world that had all of our knowledge in technology and science, our pop culture and fashion…but without the infrastructure and civilization that we are used to today.

It would be like writing a historical novel (no cell phones, no computers or cars), but with the ability to know everything we do now. Fascinating.

But, yet, the problem of dealing with the devastation of the earth and civilization and all these people dying still bothered me. So I decided to start my series fifty years after the horrible events that ruined the world and destroyed the human race.

And with that boundary, I was off and running. I had to decide why and how the earth was destroyed—was it a group of bad guys whose plans, for once, weren’t foiled? Was it nature? Was it aliens? An asteroid? Global warming? Nuclear war?

I decided (you’ll have to read the books to find out what!) and from there, I went on further. I knew I wanted there to be a strong connection between our world (in 2010) and the new world (of 2060), so I decided to build the series around a group of guys who somehow “miss” the catastrophe and suddenly find themselves in this strange new world.

They’re called The Awakening Heroes: Elliott, Quent, Simon, Fence, and Wyatt. Each one of them awakens with a changed life, to find that everything they once knew is kaput. Nada.

Not only that, but some of them have even acquired paranormal abilities. And of course, they meet sexy, smart, brave women as they try to build a new life in this strange, horrible world.

The series is called the Envy Chronicles, and the first one, Beyond the Night, is available on January 12. The second book, Embrace the Night Eternal is coming in February, and Abandon the Night will be out in March!

I’d like to thank Night Owl Romance for having me here, and for being so supportive of my books. I’m happy to answer any questions and will be giving away a signed copy of Beyond the Night to one commenter with a relevant post. :)

This contest is for residents of the continental US, only, please--however, follow me on Twitter (@Joss_Ware) or find me on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/joss.ware) where US and International readers can win advance copies of the second and third books in this series.

You can read excerpts and find out more at my website: http://www.josswarebooks.com/.

***Videos The Videos: Beyond the Night by Joss Ware***

Does Anyone Know What’s Going on Here?


Lou Waxnicki is Back . . . and Still in Trouble


Lou Waxnicki’s Third Post . . . Is it the End of the World?


Lou Waxnicki’s Fourth Post . . . Did He Say Monsters?


Lou Waxnicki’s Fifth and Final Post . . . We All Have to Make it Beyond the Night

What’s Your Guilty Pleasure? by Adrianne Brennan

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What’s Your Guilty Pleasure? by Adrianne Brennan

What guilty pleasures turn people to read various erotic romance or erotica books? Is it an alpha male? Bondage? Sex magic? Werewolves? Vampires, werewolves--or just being bitten? What about menage or even “bi-curious” works?

When I look around for a good, hot read often what catches my eye are the books that write about the buttons that I enjoy being pressed. I greatly enjoy paranormal erotica including magic and I'll have to admit that a particular Mercedes Lackey book gave me my telepathy during sex fetish. Reading fantasy and paranormal erotica may never be the same again! Then there’s BDSM, particularly if well written. And when all’s said and done, who doesn't like a hot vampire?

Then there’s the exploration into different sexualities and modes of expression. F/f is one of my favorite pairings and not always easy to find. And who at one point hasn’t been curious about what it would be like to be in a hot threesome—or even an orgy—with either two hot men, or a hot man and an attractive woman? How about sex with aliens in a sci-fi novel?

Part of why erotic romance sells is that safe escape to enjoy things we may not necessarily have the courage to experience in real life—and in some instances, would not necessarily want to! We can try on new directions like one would try on clothing and test drive it for a while. Erotic romance allows us to indulge in our passions and have fun with our guilty pleasures, and that’s what makes both reading and writing erotic romance so enjoyable for me.

One of the things I touch upon in the BDSM/fantasy/paranormal Oath series is the idea of trying new directions, exploring one’s sexual desires and impulses, and the idea of letting go within a safe, controlled environment. Nothing is sexier than giving your fantasies full rein, but the ability to trust in that space is an additional comfort. J

Adrianne Brennan
http://www.adriannebrennan.com/

Let’s get Snow Kissed! by Cindy K. Green

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LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!! by Cindy K. Green

It seems impossible, but the holiday season is already over. We look forward to it (at least I do) with such expectation.  And then before we know it, it all over. My five year old and I took the decorations down on January 3^rd and I think we were both a little sad. Don’t you hate those after Christmas blues? Then I have to remind myself of the New Year and all that it may hold.

What are some winter activities you do at this time of year? Perhaps some special baking or even getting out in the snow. How about reading? I love to read in my warm house near the fireplace with the cold weather swirling around outside. Or perhaps you like attending a yearly winter carnival. My recently released story Snow Kissed takes place at one such carnival in the middle of January.

As I began writing this story, I knew I needed some insight about SNOW from my friends who actually lived in the snow. I, myself, am a California girl recently transplanted in North Carolina. I’d visited snow, gone skiing, spent weekends in the mountains all while living in CA. Now in NC, we have the occasional snow fall which usually melts that same hour or within a day or two. But living with snow day in and day out all winter long, I knew nothing about. So I tapped into the knowledge of my good friend and critique partner who is a Wisconsin native. Here is some (but not all) of what she told me are the ‘Ins and Outs’ of Snow.

Good Things

1. Snow is beautiful.  Especially new fallen snow that has yet to be disturbed. 
   
2. Winter sports and activities are great – skiing, sledding, ice skating, snow mobiling, snow shoeing and ice fishing to name a few.
   
3. It’s nice to look out at the snow from your cozy, warm house as you are curled up under an afghan with a good book.
   
4. Winter clothes are so cozy and cuddly (not to mention more forgiving of figure flaws than most summer clothes.)
   
5. Hot chocolate with whipped cream when you come in from the cold.
   
6. No road construction!
   
7. Snow days!  Hurray for no school.
   

 Bad Things

1. Dirty snow and slush are gross. 
   
2. Shoveling the driveway and digging out cars after a snowstorm. 
   
3. We miss gardening, picnicking and swimming outside. 
   
4. It’s not nice when it’s twenty degrees below zero (before factoring in the wind chill) and your car battery is dead from the cold. 
   
5. It’s a pain to have to put on so many extra clothes – coat, hat, mittens, scarf and boots – just to walk to the end of the driveway and get the mail.  If you have kids, add snow pants as well to their outdoor ensemble.
   
6.  Cold floors!  Especially if you don’t have carpeting in your bedroom. 
   
7. Bad driving conditions.  Icy roads can send cars spinning into the ditch and drifts of snow can trap cars in them. 

Do you have anything to add about snow? Love it—Hate it?

 

Read the Night Owl Review: … Ms. Green is a talented author and her stories are always quite enjoyable to read. This one is no exception!

Snow Kissed is available from White Rose Publishing. Feel free to stop by and read an excerpt at my website anytime.

Hope you have a terrific New Year!

**********

Cindy K. Green is a multi-published author with degrees in History and Education. Previously a middle school English & History teacher, she now homeschools her own children and writes in several genres: Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, Fantasy and Historical romance. No matter what she writes, she always throws in a bit of humor and fun. Find out more about Cindy and her books at www.cindykgreen.com and http://cindykgreen.blogspot.com/. To join her newsletter email her at  newsletters@cindykgreen.com, and she will send you out all three parts of her FREE READ serial,  “Valentine’s Challenge.”

2010 Watch Out!

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Win an autographed copy of The Cowboy Way

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by Tory Richards

This is going to be a better year. It has to be. Last year sucked, to put it mildly. I lost one family member to suicide, one to cancer, both within a week of each other. And I lost a friend at work in the same week that was killed in a motorcycle accident. My daughter suffers a miscarriage a week after taking the swine flu vaccination, the week before Thanksgiving. I’m telling you there for a while my emotions were on a roller coaster ride. I was numb.

I rang in the New Year sharing a pitcher of home made mudslides with my hubby. LOL We didn’t have the right ingredients so he made them with Kamora, milk, and cherry chocolate ice cream. Don’t laugh until you try it. It tasted pretty darn good. I actually made it to watch the ball dropping on TV. Did anyone see Dick Clark? God bless him he’s still going! By twelve-thirty my butt was in bed.

So, what’s in store for 2010? I’m looking forward to going to the theatre to see Phantom of the Opera with the girls this month. The girls meaning my daughter and niece. Later this year we’re planning a cruise together. ALL THE RIGHT MOVES will be re-released with The Wild Rose Press in print. If any of you enjoyed the ebook with the first publisher you won’t be disappointed by the print version. Some 20,000 words including a new last chapter were added, plus it will receive a new book cover. I’m very excited about this!

I’ve also submitted my first short erotic romance, TALK DIRTY TO ME and a full length novel, THE PROMISE. I’m waiting to hear back from publishers on those. My gut tells me I’ll have some new stuff coming out this year. My goal is one book a year.

In 2009 THE COWBOY WAY came out with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid. My third torrid romance with them, blurb and excerpt below. I’m giving away an autographed copy to one commenter, to be randomly picked on Saturday 1/30 and the winner will be posted on my Romance with an Attitude Blog. Good luck!

Blurb – Artist Lacey Owens comes home to her father’s ranch for a long over due visit, and a little R and R. She's not prepared for becoming the means for revenge against him by an old enemy he helped send to prison. Getting involved with her father’s ranch foreman and partner Chase Saunders isn’t in her plans either. But as unexplained incidences occur and Lacey’s life becomes threatened, fate throws her and Chase together when he makes it his mission to protect her. Her independent nature rebels against his arrogant high handed methods and tempers ignite, but it soon becomes apparent that their animosity is only a ruse for the intense sexual longing stirring in their blood.

Excerpt –

"I want to talk to you."

"Really? And here I thought you stopped to kiss me." What was she saying? Baiting a man like Chase was dangerous.

There was a long pause. Something flickered in Chase’s eyes. His expression gave nothing away, though. Lacey began to feel nervous again, though for a different reason than the one back at the house.

"The cowboy way, ma’am?" His tone was soft, dangerous, carrying the subtle threat of an unspoken promise.

Lacey swallowed nervously. The cowboy way? That was twice he’d used that expression. She wondered what it meant. An explosion of heat uncurled inside her belly, as her imagination ran rampant. Of the two of them locked in a hot, passionate embrace. No longer was Chase’s mouth firm and unyielding, but soft and sensuous. His eyes darkened with smoldering intent. Yet instincts warned Lacey that Chase was just as dangerous now as he had been a moment ago, in anger. She tried to jerk the reins from his hands, suddenly afraid she was about to find out what the cowboy way was.

"Let go." Misty moved nervously beneath her, obviously sensing her growing panic.

In the blink of an eye his expression changed. "Not until you listen to what I have to say."

"You can’t bully me, Chase." The wind blew at her loose hair, and she reached up impatiently to wipe it out of her eyes. "I won’t let you."

He reared back his head and laughed at her comment. "And how do you propose to stop me? I could do anything I want to you right now and you wouldn’t be able to stop me."

Lacey tightened her lips in frustration, even while the thought of what that something could be caused a tingle of excitement to zing through her. As his hard mouth curved upwards in a crooked smile that was sexy as sin, she wished she could wipe that arrogant expression off his rugged face. He was so sure of himself. The look in his eyes told her to go ahead and try. Well, she’d taken self defense lessons a few years back and wasn’t as helpless as he thought.

"Then maybe you should have warned me about you, this morning!" She jerked on the reins again, harder this time. When he wouldn’t release them Lacey reached out and slapped him across the cheek. She caught her breath, realizing a man like Chase might strike back. He didn’t look the type to turn the other cheek, or ignore a challenge. Their eyes clashed in silent battle.

Then without warning he reached forward and pulled her from her horse and into his arms. His gaze dropped to her mouth before returning to her eyes. "I think you need to be taught a lesson."

"No!"

"Yes!" He hissed. He crushed her to him and slammed his mouth down on hers, locking any protest deep in her throat. Lacey struggled but it didn’t seem to matter to Chase. He over powered her easily, while managing to control his stallion’s nervous movements with ease and expertise. Lacey brought her hands up and pushed against his massive, rock hard chest. But it was like trying to move a mountain. She whimpered beneath his attack, becoming aware of things she didn’t want to notice.

She began to slip towards the ground and ceased her movements, bringing her arms up to cling to Chase’s neck. It brought Lacey closer to him. He growled, forcing her mouth open until he could slip his tongue inside. Unwillingly, she began to melt under his rough kiss, returning the thrust of his tongue against hers. A sharp need of desire uncurled inside her belly, turning her blood hot. She was afraid of not being strong enough to deny him if he should seek more than a kiss.

Lacey had never been handled so ruthlessly by any man before, no one had dared. And while she balked at his arrogance, she couldn’t deny the feelings he roused. The thrill of his mouth on hers, the feel of his whiskers against her tender skin and the taste of something sweet on his breath heightened her arousal. Her nostrils flared, greedily taking in the masculine scent of sweat, leather and horse.

Most of all his arousal.

Blog – http://debbiewallace.blogspot.com/

Website – www.toryrichards.com

Quirky Fiction For Boomer Babes© by Nan D Arnold

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Quirky Fiction For Boomer Babes© by Nan D Arnold

My blog today will feature an interview with my alter ego whose name shall remain shrouded in mystery. Okay, I’ll give you one of the names. Ms Sleep Disorder. Therefore, in the Q&A below, it will be referred to as MSD (there are other names probably not suited for print)

NAN:   Do you enjoy depriving this author of sleep while ruminating in the wee hours out loud in my sleepy head? Things like: What is your next book going to be? Will there even be another book? And, Nan, if you were a real writer you’d plot out your story.

MSD:            Actually, I love my job. Oh, and by the way, what is your next book going to be about?

NAN:   Shut-up. These are daylight hours and I have control here.

Next question:  Ever consider working with my subconscious when I need you to. Like

generating ideas to up the stakes, or some clue about a new plot twist or two to make my story pop, perhaps some character quirk to make my characters even more interesting.

MSD:   That’s not my department; that is soo totally right brain and I like to pal around with

            Lefty (left side of your, uh, limited brain space). Besides, I think you look cute with

            dark circles under your eyes.

NAN:   Thank you so much. Fortunately, I have a New Year’s resolution that should help me out, that being to find balance. First, literally, I’m adding physical balance with that yoga class I’ve wanted to join. And, I’ll read more craft books. If you can’t help me out of some writerly difficulties, that should help. And, finally, I’m going to take a natural supplement that aids sleep and get to bed earlier; rise earlier, and write earlier and better. So, there, do you worst, DSM, I’m counter attacking.

Well, gentle readers, that concludes insight to some of my neuroses. (Hey, I’m a writer).

Until next time…

Be Happy, Be Healthy, and Be Thankful

Happy New Year, all

Nan D Arnold

Writer of Quirky Fiction For Boomer Babes©

http://www.nandarnold.com/

Men and Their Emotions by Nicole North

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Contest Ends: 1/12/2010

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by Nicole North


In a romance novel, I want to fall completely in love with the hero vicariously through the heroine. And I want to watch the hero fall madly in love with her. A strong, tough alpha hero is often out of his element when his emotions for the heroine overwhelm him. At first, he probably will not want anyone else to perceive this.

Most men are not as “sensitive” as women, but they do feel emotions just as strongly. One disadvantage men have is they have a hard time verbalizing how they’re feeling. Women can do this without much problem. But men will sometimes try to avoid the issue or beat around the bush when it comes to acknowledging certain feelings. Men in most societies have been conditioned to not show weakness, especially in front of other men. They often see showing emotion, like love, sadness, or pain as a weakness. Anger is okay in their eyes because it’s an emotion that makes men seem even tougher and fiercer.

No matter the time period or location, most men are not going to reveal all their painful emotions to another man, no matter how close the friends or brothers are. They might say a word or two relating to their emotions, with the friend prying and dragging it out of them. And even if a word or two is revealed of their true feelings, they’re probably not going to show it. They’ll still try to conceal the bulk of their emotions behind a tough façade or an irritable mood. Who these taciturn men will spill to, if they spill at all, is the woman they’re emotionally close to.

This quandary the hero finds himself in is one of the things I love most about romance novels. What a fun and emotionally rewarding experience it is to watch a big, strong man fall under the spell of a woman. Often he doesn’t want to do this. He wants to be immune to her charms, or only see her as someone to have sex with. But when he discovers it’s far more, that he can’t stop thinking about her. Or that her smile lights up his day more than anything else. When he relishes the soft, silky feel of her skin, or her unique scent, this is a beautiful, profound experience for him and likely changes his life forever.

When I was writing my latest erotic romance novella, Kilted Lover, I definitely wanted to dig down into the hero’s emotions through his personality. Scott turned out to be alpha, protective, honorable and a bit bossy. But he is also friendly, sexy, daring and has a fun sense of humor. I enjoyed watching him fall in love with the heroine, Leslie, even though he tried to resist. She was “already taken” after all, but he couldn’t help himself, especially when they indulged in such a hot, delicious fling.

Kilted Lover: When kilted cabertosser Scott MacPherson tosses Leslie Livingston over his shoulder to rescue her from two armed thieves trying to steal her priceless amulet, they are thrust into a deadly but sexy adventure. Though Leslie already has a lukewarm, uninterested boyfriend, her attraction to Scott is whitehot and undeniable. She wants to lick this tall, muscular alpha male all over and explore the depths of eroticism with him. But will he want anything more than one night once the danger is behind them?

When you read or write romance, do you enjoy the glimpse inside the hero’s mind and emotions? Have some been more memorable than others for you?

Bio: Nicole North's erotic romance novellas have been described by reviewers as "exciting, high octane, captivating, scintillating, sinfully delicious and pure romance." Her stories contain "heart and heat, killer love scenes, magic and extraordinary characters." Her latest release from Red Sage, Kilted Lover, is contemporary erotic romance novella with a touch of paranormal. Her first story, Devil in a Kilt is in the anthology Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures, out now from Red Sage. The second novella in the series, Beast in a Kilt, will be in Secrets Volume 29. Her works have finaled in over a dozen writing competitions and won several awards. She teaches online workshops about various aspects of writing, including sexual tension and how to write great love scenes. Though she has a degree in psychology, writing romance is her first love.

Kilted Lover Chapter One Excerpt: http://mysite.verizon.net/restljm7/nicolenorth2/id18.html

Kilted Lover Book Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5Lz5dNoI0g

Kilted Lover Buy Link: http://eredsage.com/product.php?productid=149
Nicole's website: http://www.nicolenorth.com/

World Building by Cheryl Brooks - Author of Fugitive (The Cat Star Chronicles #5)

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World building.

Sounds a bit daunting, doesn't it? Most people don't like making a cake from scratch, but world building is something writers must do. Of course, world building isn't actual construction, but the geography, politics, climate, flora and fauna, language, culture, customs, and people who make up an imaginary world. Think about the Lord of the Rings, perhaps one of the most detailed examples ever conceived, and you'll immediately understand the concept. Any work of science fiction or fantasy contains these components, but, the funny thing is, as the author of The Cat Star Chronicles series, I was doing it long before I ever heard the term.

All elements of world building are important, but for me, it's the interaction between the inhabitants that makes a world come alive. The goofy neighbor or the old sage on the mountain are more interesting than the length of the day or the position a world might have within its solar system. But even though the main thrust of a romance is the interplay between the hero and heroine, in order to see them as a part of a larger world, that world must be created.

To begin the process, I ask myself several questions. What will the terrain add to the story? Will it be easy to travel across, or will there be mountains to climb? Will the climate affect the story? If my hero and heroine need some encouragement to get closer, a chilly environment will do that very effectively and being snuggled up together for warmth can lead to all manner of romantic elements.

But what if it's hot? In Rogue, Darconia was a desert planet and my heroine, Kyra, was unused to extreme temperatures, which had her fainting from the heat, thus giving her hero, Tychar, the opportunity to be, well. . . heroic. A hostile environment can bring two would-be lovers together in a struggle against the elements, something I used in Outcast when Bonnie and Lynx fought a fire that threatened her home.

Is there magic on this world? So far, I've opted against it. In Warrior, my heroine, Tisana, is a witch, but she is not truly magical; her powers are the result of her alien ancestry. Such abilities are natural for her, and only seem magical to others. My Zetithian heroes have visions from time to time, but, there again, this is natural for them, as opposed to magical.

How does the planet's history affect the story? In this series, the Zetithian homeworld was destroyed by war and most of its people and culture were lost, but that culture still affects the habits and personalities of the survivors, and therefore, must be considered. On other worlds, history influences native customs which can affect everything from the style of dress to whether the society is matriarchal or patriarchal.

And what about the animals? Are there horses to ride, as there were on the planet Statzeel in Slave? Or are there fictional species, like the enocks in Outcast that laid valuable eggs, but were very dangerous for anyone to work with, let alone a pregnant woman living alone.

In my latest book, Fugitive, the world of Barada Seven adds a number of elements to the story. It is very primitive, with the tall, toad-like natives living in tree houses. The climate is tropical, and the terrain consists of jungle, lakes, and oceans, but the birds are stunning, which is why wildlife artist, Drusilla Chevrault has come to visit. Along with the Baradans, she meets the lake-dwelling eltran, Zef, an ugly, snake-like amphibian whose hobby is collecting curse words in many different languages. Another fun thing about science fiction is that the characters don't even have to be alive; the lake house Drusilla stays in has a computer called Dwell to manage it, along with a house droid called Klog who knows what you want for dinner without being told.

A singular world can add fascinating details, but the romance reader is more interested in the interaction between the hero and heroine, and sometimes it is the one non-indigenous being on a world that makes the story. Barada may have beautiful birds for her to paint, but what captures Drusilla's attention is Manx, the elusive Zetithian man living in the jungle with nothing more than a knife, a bow, and his wits to keep him alive.

World building gives a sci-fi/fantasy writer the chance to combine logic, physics, and imagination in ways that aren't possible in other genres, and having alien heroes has enabled me to create some of the hottest lovers I can imagine—and, believe me, I can imagine quite a bit!

What about you? If you could create your own world, what would it be like?

FUGITIVE BY CHERYL BROOKS—IN STORES JANUARY 2010

When a Zetithian fugitive meets a beautiful Earth woman, their passion may cost them both their lives...

Manx is a Zetithian fugitive with a feline gene that gives him remarkable sexual powers. He has been in hiding in the remote jungles of Barada Seven ever since being marked for extermination by the violent Nedwuts.

Artist Drusilla arrives on Barada Seven, enticed only by the promise of finding a nature paradise there. But she discovers a wildlife she wasn’t expecting when she encounters Manx. Reckless with desire for the beautiful Earth woman, Manx risks his life to win her as his mate.

It’s only a matter of time until the Nedwuts find them, but it will take all of Manx and Drusilla’s passion, skill, and ingenuity to survive.

About the Author

Cheryl Brooks is an Intensive Care Unit nurse by night and a romance writer by dayt. Previous books in The Cat Star Chronicles series include Slave, Warrior, Rogue and Outcast. Hero, book six, will be in stores August 2010. She is a member of the RWA and lives with her husband and sons in Bloomfield, Indiana. For more information, please visit http://cherylbrooksonline.com/