Ednah Walters - Venturing Into Other Genres

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Enter to win a Print copy of "Slow Burn" (Adult Romance)!

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VENTURING INTO OTHER GENRES
Writing both YA and Adult romance
by Ednah Walters

“No, you don’t want to do that….stick with one genre…once people get used to your style in one genre, they’ll expect the same tone and level of sensuality in all your books.”

I heard it all but life is too short. I say, go where the muse takes you. Re-invent yourself. My muse slapped me upside down once and I’ve never stopped swinging both ways. No, I don’t mean between the sheets. I mean writing both YA and adult romance. Is it easy? No. Making the mental transition from hot kisses that shoot adrenaline through your veins to PG-13 lip-locking can be painful. Believe me, the yo-yo-ing does wonders to your creativity.

So where did my tango with different genres begin? I could say…It started on a warm summer afternoon…but I’d be lying. It started with my child. My pre-pubescent know-it-all daughter.

I had just finished the first draft of an untitled adult romance and was feeling mighty pleased with myself, sipping a glass of wine and contemplating a depraved, steamy picture for the cover, when my daughter walked into ‘my office’ with her nose buried in some YA book. My office is actually a desk at an alcove in the bedroom of my 6 and 8 year old—they love to fall asleep to the rhythmic pounding of the keyboard and occasional chuckles when one of my characters says something witty.

Anyway, so my oldest daughter walked in laughing and stopped long enough to say, “Mom, you should write something like this. It’s amazing.”

Amazing, ashmazing…what did she know? What I heard was, “Why CAN’T you write something like this?”

“Sure, hun,” I responded casual-like but on the inside I was miffed.

Hadn’t I just spent 4 gruesome months with the hottest guy EVER and a pig-headed artist? Visited a speakeasy and walked through the underground tunnels of L.A.?(online of course) Interviewed a real portrait artist and visited a local studio to chat with another?(I really did) Hung out with Hotshot firefighters and drooled over their toned bods? Jealous? Wondering if I really did? I did. All these cool stuff in the name of writing the best adult romance ever. In fact, I was busy visualizing a shirtless hunk with tats on his arms breaking through billowing flames with the heroine in his arms when my daughter interrupted me.

So the challenge began. If I can write an adult romance, I should be able to write YA, right? Grinning like a villain master-minding the ultimate heist, I dove into the teen literary world, read everything I could find. Some plots were funny-I don’t do funny. Others were ridiculous, I don’t do that either. Then I thought, why not go for something different? Write about a love so forbidden hell and heaven will strive to keep the characters apart. Since they’re teens, they can get their Happily Ever After on book 3 or 5. It’s been done before you say? I say no, it hasn’t. Not when the Nephilim are involved. I had no idea fallen angels were going to compete with the fanged ones, but I finished and submitted AWAKENED, book 1 of the Guardian Legacy series, to agents.

I got one agent interested, the über wonderful agent Leticia Gomez of Savvy Literary Agency. One phone call and we clicked. While she tried to find a home for AWAKENED, I went back to my shelved adult romance, my Hotshot firefighter with the body of a god and the artist he wanted to…use …tame…love. I reworked it to my satisfaction and finally came up with a title…SLOW BURN.

So enamored by the family I had created and still waiting for the call from my agent, I started working on my second and third adult book, MINE UNTIL DAWN and KISS ME CRAZY. Finally I got the call. My agent had sold AWAKENED…rah, rah, bring out the pom-poms. Through edits, the waiting and nail-biting, I polished the adult romances and started on my second YA book, BETRAYED, book 2 of the Guardian Legacy series.

Is it crazy to switch back and forth between genres? Yep. Is it fun? Absolutely. How do I do it?

1. I pretend that my YA characters are dead waist down. Absolutely no mention of a boner or blood rushing to the, uh, lower extremities. That was hard at first, but after AWAKENED, I’ve become a pro.

2. Get inside teenagers’ head by watching teen TV series, listening to my kids and their friends talk about high school, cliques, angst, understanding the annoying “I’ll absolutely die if he talks to me…no, I’ll die if he dumps me…” things that drive grownups nuts but make perfect sense to teens.

3. Keep the dialogue simple… Having a 16 and 13 year old around the house helps. I read out dialogues and they go, “Mom, no one talks like that.” “I did,” I retort but listen to them.

4. After delving into the psyche of an arsonist or a twisted, jilted lover, it is refreshing to see things through the optimistic eyes of a teenager. Plus the switching back and forth between the genres keeps your mojo working.

5. And when I’m fed-up with tame love-scenes…oops, make-out scenes, it is exhilarating to get dirty and raunchy in hot, clothes flying off bodies-scenes.

6. Watch out for words you can get away with in YA but appear juvenile in adult fiction. My editor had fun with a marker crossing out juvenile words.

7. Last, find a way to make them soul mates. Why? Because they are still teenagers. They will go to college or rejoin their pack, their den, return to their parallel world or planet before they can come back to be with the hero or heroine. We saw it in Twilight, I am Number Four…. The bottom line is the HEA must be inferred unless the heroine decides to get married at 18 and have a baby.

So now I write both YA and adult romance. AWAKENED (book 1 of the Guardian Legacy series, YA) was released in September 2010.

SLOW BURN (the Fitzgeralds, adult contemporary romance with elements of suspense) will be available on Amazon.com in print and on e-format everywhere, including iTunes. Don’t miss the blog tour hosted by Forbidden Reviews.

MINE UNTIL DAWN (the Fitzgeralds, cont. romance with element of suspense) is due in June in e-format and print.

BETRAYED (book 2 of the Guardian Legacy series, YA) will be out August 1st.

KISS ME CRAZY (a feel-good contemporary, e-format and print) will be out later in the year.

Meanwhile, I will be writing book 3 of the Guardian Legacy series (due out 2012), and the next Fitzgerald novel.

Happy Reading.

Ednah Walters
http://www.ednahwalters.com

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Elaine Coffman - How Things Have Changed in Publishing

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Enter to win one of two copies of "The Return of Black Douglas".

How Things Have Changed in Publishing by Elaine Coffman

Due to the weddings of both my daughters and the arrival of four grandbabies, I took the past six years away from writing. But, I always knew I would return; because like my children, writing is not something I could ever turn my back upon.

Readers have changed, and part of this is due to all the availability of different modes of communication. Gone are the days when I fill the file cabinet with handwritten or typed letters to me, regarding my books, and my replies. Readers don’t mail letters to your publisher. They can find you on the Internet and write authors whenever the mood strikes. The Internet has also made the world a smaller place, for now it is not uncommon for me to hear from readers in South America, Asia, Europe and even Egypt. I also think there is a tendency for some readers to be more vitriolic nowadays, than in the past, and perhaps this is also part of the Information Age we live in. I have also noticed when reading reviews online at Amazon that some are so caustic that they don’t use their real name, and I recall that one can always get ones point across without stabbing others with it. But then, I’m remember that television and movies are filled with that sort of entertainment, so I think of it as a sign of the times, but it wasn’t this way back in 1988 when my first book came out. And yet, the dear readers are still out there, opening their hearts to you and telling you how much your book meant to them, or helped them through trying times. I’ve had many write me distraught over having moved and lost some “of my beloved Mackinnon books,” or my “very favorite book of yours is so dog-eared and the pages falling out that I’ve lost some of them.”

As far as how the books have changed, I’m not a very good authority on that because I don’t read romance novels. I do this because I don’t want to know what others are writing, because I don’t want to be influenced by them. My books are part of me and my life experiences and that is reflected the way I put my words and thoughts down, and I want it to stay that way. That does not mean I don’t read about the trends in the genre and what people are reading, for that helps me to know there are still “hot” settings like Scotland and England, and favorite genres and sub-genres. Otherwise, I’d still be writing westerns like my first few books! I recall when I began writing romance novels there were pirate stories, Civil War stories, westerns, Russian settings, and always the Scottish and English settings. Now, we have leaped into outer space and into ghosts, vampires, or traveling through time!

Some of the biggest changes have come in publishing and the first that comes to mind is the number of publishers when I started, that are no longer around. And the same is true for many of the editors and agents. Publishing has definitely gone electronic. Gone are the FedEx trucks that used to pick up my burdensome manuscript. No longer do I have to back up my book on a floppy disk to send to my editor, or worry that someone will walk into the library and turn on the ceiling fan and send my stack of carefully typed papers flying across the floor. Each precious word now resides in my computer, with a backup on my both hard drives of my PC, my laptop and external hard drive. Another change is the slow-down with autographing tours the publisher planned, so that more publicity is falling on the shoulders of the author. Part of this, I know, has to do with the economy and that has forced many changes in the industry. And speaking of changes, there are now websites that post illegal copies of your book, or post it, leaving out a few pages here and there, and think that isn’t violating your copyright.

And lastly, how have I, the author changed? Well, I’ve gotten older . . . and with age, there comes more wisdom, more understanding and tolerance. I am more relaxed now, regarding my writing schedules, or what is happening in the writing world. I have a good feeling about the books I’ve written in the past and the knowledge that although I was away for several years, my readers did not forget me and/or my books. I know that a good book, no matter when it was written will survive the test to time- that is a nice feeling. I am comfortable in my writer’s skin and in the knowledge that it is impossible to please everyone, but can still charm some, worldwide. And perhaps the biggest change is that I have come to realize that in the beginning I wrote books because I had a story to tell, but also because I wanted to make a name for myself, to become a well-known writer and to hit the big lists. Now, I have returned to writing because it was the pure joy of having an idea for a story and watching it come to life and the feeling of accomplishment. This need to put my words on paper is a great motivator. I love living in the worlds I create. Now, writing has become my legacy, my footprint upon the literary sands of time.

THE RETURN OF BLACK DOUGLAS BY ELAINE COFFMAN – IN STORES APRIL 2011

He’ll Help a Woman in Need No Matter Where She Came From…

Alysandir Mackinnon rules his clan with a fair but iron fist. He has not time for softness or, as he sees it, weakness. But when he encounters a bewitching young beauty who may or may not be a dangerous spy, but surely is in mortal danger, he’s compelled to help…

She’s Always Wondered if She Was Born in the Wrong Time…

Thrown back in time to the tumultuous, dangerous Scottish Highlands of the sixteenth century, Isobella Douglas has a lot to learn about her ancestors, herself, and her place in the world. Especially when she encounters a Highland laird who puts modern men to shame…

Each one has secrets to keep, until they begin to strike a chord in each other’s hearts that’s never been touched before…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Since her first publication in 1988, New York Times Bestselling author Elaine Coffman’s books have been on the NYT, USA Today Top 50, and Ingram’s Romance bestsellers lists, and won four nominations for Best Historical Romance of the Year, Reviewers Choice, Best Western Historical, and The Maggie. Elaine lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next book! For more information, please visit http://www.elainecoffman.com.

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Kristina Wright - Dream Lover

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Enter to win 1 of 2 print copies of Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance!

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Hi Kristina Wright! Thanks for joining us today. How did you get started writing and editing romance?

When I started writing romance back in 19mumble-mumble, I found that I could just write romance. My romantic fiction always seemed to involve a lot of hot and heavy lovemaking before the heroine and hero found themselves in some dangerous situation with some nefarious bad guy chasing them. Sometimes, the nefarious bad guy wasn’t even human. Sometimes, the heroine and/or hero weren’t even human. Most of those stories were filed away and I resigned myself to the notion that they would never be published because a) erotic romance didn’t really exist as a genre at that point and b) romance was romance and erotica was erotica and never the twain shall meet. Oh, how the times have changed!

Erotic romance burst on the scene and at last true love and hot sex were happily sharing a bed. Joy, joy! And then… the envelope got pushed even further. Not only was there hot sex in romance, there was hot sex and non-human creatures. Creatures once resigned to the fantasy, science fiction and horror categories were suddenly making appearances in not only romance, but erotic romance! It was enough to make me swoon.

Of course, the popularity of vampires, werewolves, ghosts, shapeshifters and other paranormal creatures was a trend just waiting to happen—and I wasn’t the only one swooning. Readers who had longed for Dracula to just get on with it already and seduce the fair maiden, were delighted to see that authors were finally getting a chance to publish those hot, hot stories about humans getting hot and heavy with creatures of the night. No longer was the vampire always the bad guy—now he could be the hero and the lover. Or he could be a she and the vampire could be a strong, fearless woman falling in love with a hot sexy vampire hunter. Oh, the conflict! Oh, the romance! Oh, the potential for sublime sex!

When I started editing erotica anthologies for Cleis Press, I knew I would be pitching ideas for collections that were not only erotic, but also romantic and paranormal. And so, Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance was born. For this collection, I wanted to explore the limits of paranormal erotic romance and discover what creatures lurked in the hearts and minds of other writers. I wasn’t disappointed. Not only did I get delicious tales of vampires, werewolves, demons, ghosts and mermaids, I also got some fabulous stories about possession, telepathy, weather manipulation, succubi and shapeshifters who are made of stone. And each and every story was romantic and erotic and satisfying in a way that only the mashup of romance, erotica and paranormal fiction can be.

The draw of the paranormal creatures is in their ability to transcend reality and take us to a place we can only imagine. Vampires, werewolves and their brethren let us readers live on the knife-sharp edge of violence, sacrifice, blood and hot (dangerous) sex. Shapeshifters let us slip free of our own mortal existence for a time and experience life in a different skin; ghosts ask us to believe in that which we cannot see. And, oh!, how we want to believe! We want to believe in magic, in fate, in things beyond our normal day-to-day existence. We want to believe in heroes who have fangs and claws and the virility of a wild beast. We want to believe in the fairy tales and legends of our youth—and we want it all tied up with a romantic bow and sealed with an erotic kiss. Paranormal erotic romance fiction is here to say because these are the bedtime stories we want to read as adults—stories that take our breath away and leave us weak with forbidden desire.

Dream Lover: Paranormal Stories of Erotic Romance will be released on May 1. Supernaturally sensual and captivating, Dream Lover is a feast of fanciful delights. Kristina Wright, editor of the popular Fairy Tale Lust presents a potent potion of fun and sexy tales filled with male fairies and clairvoyant scientists, as well as darkly erotic tales of ghosts, shapeshifters and possession. Dream Lover asks the reader to explore the realm of the otherworldly and answer the question... who is your dream lover?

About the Editor

Kristina Wright (www.kristinawright.com) is a full-time writer and the editor of the Cleis Press anthologies Fairy Tale Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women; Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance; Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance and Best Erotic Romance 2012. Kristina’s erotica and erotic romance fiction has appeared in over eighty print anthologies and she received the Golden Heart Award for Romantic Suspense from Romance Writers of America for her first novel Dangerous Curves. She is a book reviewer for the Erotica Readers and Writers Association and the book club moderator for SexIs Magazine’s Naked Reader Book Club at EdenFantasys.com. She also holds degrees in English and Humanities and teaches English Composition and World Mythology at the community college level. She is living and writing happily ever after in Virginia with her family.

Amazon Links
Dream Lover: Paranormal Tales of Erotic Romance
Fairy Tale Lust: Erotic Fantasies for Women
Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance
Any Day of the Week
Educating Emma - And Other Stories
The Watcher - And Other Stories (Xcite Erotica)

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L. K. Below’s Cinnamon and Spice Scavenger Hunt

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L. K. Below’s Cinnamon and Spice Scavenger Hunt 

Hello, everyone! As a writer of erotic romance, among other things, I’m very pleased to introduce to you my latest release -- and my latest contest!

Blurb: Jack is smart. Jack is charming. Jack is persistent.

But Melissa is dead certain that he isn't the guy for her. In a moment of weakness caused by his shiver-inducing voice, Melissa finally agrees to one date. She shows up on his doorstep determined to get it over and done with, but Jack has something different planned. With a home-cooked meal, wine, and cinnamon-scented candles, can he break down Melissa's resolve?

Can he steal her heart?

Rules:

1. Must be 18 or older to enter contest.

2. Contest open to entrants world-wide

3. Email me at the provided address (lbelow at lbelow dot net) with the answer to the question. No need to answer in essay format (unless you feel moved to do so) a simple sentence or even one word will enter you.

4. Only one ballot per question -- but if you visit my other stops and answer the other questions, you will be entered multiple times.

5. Contest open until May 2nd, 2011 at 11:59PM EST. Winner will have 48 hours to confirm their email address and give a physical address where they would like their prize to be mailed.

Prize: 1. A goodie basket of cinnamon-scented products. 2. A photo of the Cinnamon and Spice cover, signed by me (L. K. Below) 3. A PDF copy of Cinnamon and Spice.

CONTEST ALERT: To enter to win the above prizes, simply email the answer to the following question to lbelow(at)lbelow.net.

Question: Have you ever planned out the perfect date?

Do you want more chances to win? Each scavenger hunt question answered counts for one ballot towards the prize. Check http://lbelow.blogspot.com/ for the full itinerary. Good luck!

L.K. Below
http://www.lbelow.net - Website
http://lbelow.blogspot.com/ - Blog

Toni LoTempio - Raven's Kiss Extended Excerpt

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Enter to win a PDF copy or a Smashwords download code for Raven's Kiss.

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Extended Excerpt: Raven's Kiss - Paranormal Romance
by Toni LoTempio

The Hellhound took a menacing step towards me. “We all have our crosses to bear,” he leered. With a snarl, he snapped a hand on my shoulder, the other on my hip and pulled me close to him. I caught a whiff of his fetid breath and almost gagged. I felt his sharp claws rip my blouse as he lifted me off the ground. Damn. My new Leslie Fay, too. The one that’d cost me almost a week’s salary. Damn. And I was still paying it off on my Visa, too. Now that really bit.

Headache gone, I let out a low growl and twisted around in his grasp. He wasn’t expecting that, and loosened his grip, enough for me to jab the heel of my boot straight into his leering mouth. Startled, he staggered back and dropped me. I rolled over to the far wall of the building and stood up shakily, brushing the alley dust and grime from myself as I did so.

Before I had a chance to think, the Hound advanced on me again. “You’re a spunky one,” he hissed. “Maybe I won’t eat your flesh—no, maybe I won’t. You’d be a good addition to our number.” He shot me another leering, black grin. “All it takes is one bite, you know. How’d you like to look like me?”

The words one bite served to rile me. I jerked myself upright and glared at the monster. “Hey, pal, the one bite thingy? Been there, done that, by something far worse than you, incidentally.”

His chest puffed out and he tapped one long, sharp fingernail against his breastbone. “Hah. What’s worse than a Hellhound?”

“This,” I hissed, and closed my eyes. I felt my body go all tingly, and parts of my anatomy start to stretch. A moment later, I heard the Hounds’ agonized cry.

“What the San Blazes is this?”

In my changed state, I slithered closer to the beast. “I’m sure you’ve seen a Hydra before,” I hissed. “The famed many-headed serpent, whose bite is deadly to most anyone, mortal or Other—and while it won’t kill you, it will induce a coma, which is all I need for now.”

Two of my seven heads shot out. One nipped the Hellhound on the neck, the other on its ankle. The creature swayed, stared at me through slitted golden eyes.

“Shifter—you’re a Shifter,” he muttered, as he slid to the pavement. “That means…”

“Yeah,” I hissed out, “you’re two years too late to turn me, my friend. It’s already been done.”

The Hellhound dropped like a stone, his head hitting the pavement with a sharp cracking sound. I drew back all seven heads, shimmered, and a moment later stood, albeit a tad wobbly, over the fallen creature.

“Coma’ll make you a bit more cooperative, too.” I reached into my pocket for my cell phone. “George owes me big time for you, friend.” I felt around in my pocket. Damn. My phone was gone. I remembered taking it out in the bar—I must have left it there. Friggin’ great. I glanced at the apartment building. Now all the lights were out. Well, maybe someone wouldn’t mind being woken up. After all, it was for a good cause.

At that precise moment, the back door of the building was flung open, and a girl with frizzy red curls, wearing tight jeans and a cutoff top, ran onto the stoop.

“Help! I think my roommate’s been murdered!” Her head swiveled in my direction, and her arms started to pump like a windmill. “Please help! She—she’s not breathing.”

I gave Houndy a sharp kick to make sure he was still unconscious. Then I took off my belt, bound it securely around his wrist. I retrieved my badge and hurried over to the stoop where the girl stood, hugging herself.

“Thank you,” she breathed as I approached. “I—I don’t know what to do. She—she—“

I flashed my Recovery badge and slipped my arm around her shoulders. She was shaking like a leaf. “It’ll be okay,” I said. “Show me where she is.”

I followed the girl into the building, up two flights of stairs and into a corner apartment that was sparsely furnished. There was a threadbare sofa flanked by two scarred end tables, a floor lamp, a rolling bar cart with two bottles of wine on top of it. One wall was covered with bookcases, filled to the brim with what appeared to be a combination of school textbooks and paperback novels. I took all this in at a cursory glance as I followed the girl into the bedroom. She stopped on the threshold, jammed her fist into her mouth.

“She—she’s in there.”

I stepped across the threshold and the breath hitched in my throat. The bed was big, definitely a king, and took up almost the entire room. It was slicked with what looked like genuine satin sheets, the color of delicate pink roses, a match for the skin of the girl who lay sideways across it.

She was pretty, a face like a cameo, hair that cascaded like a fiery red waterfall down one shoulder. I leaned over, put my fingers against her throat.

“She’s still alive,” I said. “Call 911.” As the other girl continued to stand there, mewling with her hand still in her mouth, I barked louder, “Did you hear me? Call 911, or she might well die yet.”

That seemed to rouse the girl, who turned on her heel and left. I started to turn and follow, when something caught my eye. I leaned over the body, and very gently turned it to get a better look at the right shoulder. I sucked in my breath. I wasn’t wrong.

Two fang marks, inside an upside down triangle. The same mark I had on my right shoulder.

The mark of Aega, the damn demon who’d turned me into a Shapeshifter.

-------------------------------------

Toni LoTempio
http://www.tonilotempio.webs.com

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Jianne Carlo - Excerpt From The Peacemaker

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Enter to win the first two Viking Warriors books, The Bear and The Bride, and The Dragon Slayer.

***

The Vikings created the modern world.

Whoa! You say. How’s that possible? Let me explain the reasoning behind that bald, sweeping statement.

Can we all agree that if there hadn’t been a William the Conqueror there wouldn’t be a Great Britain?

I’m imagining consensus on that point.

How did William come about?

First there was King Alfred the Great (the only English monarch to claim that moniker). In 886 Alfred unites the country against the decades of Viking raids that threatened to tear the island of England apart. That’s not to say that the Vikings vanish. They don’t. In fact they continue to raid England and capture regions and towns. But relative peace allows Alfred to build a network of towns and cities ruled by a common set of laws derived from Danelaw.

Dane law or the law of the Danes becomes the basis for English law.

For a period nearly two centuries English monarchs defend their country from wave after wave of Viking invasions and manage to do little but keep the enemy at bay. In 1016 King Cnut, king of Denmark and Norway invades England and claims the land. Cnut is the first and only man to ever rule simultaneously the four countries of England, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (parts of the last one anyway).

Cnut dies in 1035 and infighting between his heirs keeps the disparate kingdoms in disarray until in 1066, William of Normandy declares England was promised to him by Cnut’s last legitimate heir, Edward the Confessor. And we all know what happened next. William invades England and becomes king on December 25, 1066.

Can you tell I’m obsessed by the Vikings?

Oh yeah. Like there’s anything hunkier than a Nordic dominant warrior. I turned my obsession into a series of novellas, Viking Warriors.

Here’s an excerpt from the forthcoming third Viking Warrior book, The Peacemaker (note this is an unedited excerpt):

“See you your bride?” Jarvik’s wide grin sent Njal’s belly into a coil.

“Nay.” He faced his brother, not the crowded hall. But he’d heard the collective gasp, then a moment’s eerie quiet followed by a slew of heated murmurs and whispers, and guessed his bride had made her appearance. “She has finally deigned to grace us with her presence?”

“She is at the foot of the stairs.” Magnus sipped from his goblet. “Should you not greet her?”

“’Tis a hard enough task to steel myself to consummate this marriage to a lass who resembles a lad save for her long locks.” Njal rolled his eyes. “I only pray she has the manners of a lady at the high table. Loki the trickster must have muddled King Cnut’s mind to bind me to a female as coarse as Bettina. Never could I take a country lass as simple and unlearned as she to the courts. ’Tis not the alliance I had hoped for.”

“If you will not greet her, I will.” Jarvik straightened his tunic and finger-combed the golden hair brushing his broad shoulders. “You are a fool, brother. She is a beauty and I would give my left stone to have Bettina at my side.” Jarvik sent him a pitying contemptuous look.

No one appreciated female beauty the way Jarvik did.

Njal turned around, his grasp on the goblet he held slackened, and all the blood in his body sank to his thickening cock. He could not disguise his shock or the lightning bolt of lust that struck him motionless at the transformation of Bettina the flat-chested, lanky lass into Bettina the voluptuous goddess.

“Even covered in blood her beauty shone, but in that dress…” Magnus whistled softly.

“And those tits are magnificent. Where did she hide them yester eve?” Jarvik adjusted the brooch at the neck of his tunic and took a step forward.

“Stand down.” Njal elbowed Jarvik aside and devoured the entire length of the great hall in six strides. When he stood in front of his bride to be, he near swallowed his tongue and could not take his gaze off her breasts.

Njal the eloquent, the man who charmed snakes and serpents alike, was so consumed by lust, so slack jawed and half-witted, he had not a rational thought or word in his head. He did not want any other man gawking at her titties. “Have you no shawl?”

Bettina’s forehead creased. “I have no need of one. ’Tis overwarm as it is. Is aught amiss with my dress?” She glanced down and smoothed the black lace trimming the scooped neckline. “Mayhap ’tis not what the ladies of King Cnut’s courts wear. I fear Mama traded dearly for this cyrtel and she has had the women of the keep sewing non-stop to fit the bodice.”

Njal could not master control of a cockstand that threatened eruption if her tits jiggled once more. ’Twas as if his prick controlled his watering mouth and scrambled his thoughts.

He stared at the scarlet silk covering her breasts, hoping for a peek at her nipples.

Pink?

Nay, cocoa, like the sweet drink he’d had in Jutland. And up-tipped, pearled, and pointing, he could almost taste the dulcet buds.

“Pah! I am babbling. I will not have you take me to task for my dress. ’Tis the best we can do and must be enough. Pray my lord have a care for our audience and greet my face, not my bosom.” She stamped her foot and half-winced.

’Twas her wince that finally brought together the cleave his prick had sliced through his brain. “Your ankle still smarts from your injury yester eve. I will carry you.”

Brilliant Njal, a scheme worthy of ten thousand coin, for if he had her in his arms, then he could shield her titties for his eyes only.

“Do not dare shame me so.” The posy in her hand dripped pine needles onto the rushes as her fingers tried to strangle the greenery.

“What shame in a warrior caring for his female?” Njal sent her the smile that had earned him the bed of princesses, countesses, baronesses, and maids galore.

Her eyes narrowed, her lips… Why had he not noticed how plump and tasty they looked before? So red and full they brought to mind other lips he’d like to plough, lick, and bury his nose between. Would she taste like honey? Nay, she would be spicy to taste, her musk intoxicating.

“My lord?”

She cleared her throat and he could’ve sworn she snorted. Vaguely he realized she awaited his response. What had she asked? Dazed, he watched her start a conversation with one of the guests.

“The priest is ready, Njal.” Magnus dug an elbow into his side.

Njal shook his head but that didn’t clear his lust-haze.

“Pick your jaw up from the rushes.” Another jab, this time to his ribs. I hope you enjoyed both my take on the Vikings and the modern world and the excerpt from The Peacemaker. Feel free to disagree with me, in fact, I encourage you to do so. Nothing more wonderful than a yummy Viking other than a heated discussion about Vikings.

Want to have fun with the topic? Leave a comment with your favorite Viking hero or God, and I’ll enter you in a contest to win the first two Viking Warriors books, The Bear and The Bride, and The Dragon Slayer.


On 4/29/2011 I’ll ask Tammie to draw a winner and announce the winner on my blog: www.jiannecarlo.com.

Have a great day!

Cheers,

Jianne

--------To Enter the Contest--------

Just leave a comment with your favorite Viking hero or God on the post below. Leave the first bit of your email address along with your comment. You do need to be a NOR Newsletter / Fan Club subscriber to enter.  Ends - 4/29/2011.

Jianne Carlo Titles at Amazon:

The Bear and the Bride (Viking Warriors)
The Dragon Slayer (Viking Warriors)
Dark Chocolate Side of the Moon (Lucky In Red)
Carnal in Cannes (Mediterranean Mambo)
Lucifer's Choice (Hades Squad)
T Is For Temptation [Witchy Women 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)
A Paratrooper in a Pear Tree
D is for Desire [Witchy Women 2] (Siren Publishing Classic)
T Is for Temptation [Witchy Women 1]
D Is For Desire [Witchy Women 2]
Manacled in Monaco
Lucky in Red
Notorious in Nice

Sable Hunter - Excerpt From Bobby Does Dallas

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Enter to win one of 3 print copies of BOBBY DOES DALLAS!

I am older than my husband - not by much - just enough that he kids me about it. Of course, I tell him that I am older and 'wiser'. He doesn't buy that. When we first started dating, neither one of us looked our age. We would get carded at bars and that - while flattering - could sometimes be annoying. One funny incident comes to mind. Jason is an investment banker turned cowboy. Before we moved to the ranch - while he was still working at his firm - he had this customer that was running for public office. Now, let me clarify. This was eight years ago and Jason has filled out, pumped up - (he's reading this) become a macho, alpha manly man. But, eight years ago - he still looked YOUNG. Pretty, hot, but young. Anyway, at work he wore the full suit and tie, I guess it aged him a bit. This very day, he had done business with the politician at work. That night, this same politician going door-to-door doing some campaigning. He came to our home, knocked at our door - stood face to face with Jason - who he had talked to not hours before - AND ASKED HIM IF HIS DADDY WAS AT HOME.

I was standing behind him and cackled. Jason was not amused. And fate does not take kindly to our enjoying one another's delimas. When I went to the mail box - that very day - I got my AARP card in the mail. How does one get an AARP card when they are 23?? - beats the hell out of me. Jason got his revenge.

In my latest book, BOBBY DOES DALLAS, Bobby Stewart falls madly in love with a woman who is 9 years older than he is. It doesn't bother him one whit, but it plays havoc with her self-confidence. It's a shame that our society has so many rules about who can love and be loved. I have a friend who is ten years older than her husband, and she is very sensitive about it. It's a shame really. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could arrive at the day when everyone was accepted for who they were and what they could offer instead of being labeled by the number of days that they have lived or the color of their skin? That's one reason that I love to talk to people online - you get to evaluate them for their mind, their hopes, their dreams, their viewpoints - not their bustline or the length of their penis. Whew! Talk about a soapbox!

Bobby Stewart has become one of my favorite heroes that I have created. He is a bull-riding Cowboy who plays football for the Texas Longhorns. Right there, with those two things - you have stepped foot into my world. I've never ridden rodeo - barrels or otherwise - but I do raise bulls. Yes, that's right. I raise registered Beefmaster and Longhorn bulls. A few of my babies have gone on the rodeo circuit - and they are treated much better than you would expect, but most of mine are raised strictly for breeding purposes. Anyway - so when I go to the rodeo, sometimes I am in the odd situation of rooting for the bull. Bullriding is one of the most demanding, dangerous sports that exists. Bullriders don't get the respect and honor they deserve - because what they do - is unrivaled in the world of sports. Eight seconds may not seem like a long time - but when you're on the back of a monster bull and he's doing a good imitation of a Texas tornado - eight seconds can seem like an eternity. So, Bobby is a bull-rider - and a good one. And to me, bullriders are sexy as hell. In the book, I have him riding Chicken-on-a-Chain. He's a real bull - a quite famous one, partially owned by Larry the Cable Guy. I don't know what that says about the bull, but it made it interesting to me. My husband Jason loves to watch Larry's program on the History Channel and one episode just cracked me up - I had to write a version in this book. Larry went to a rodeo and some cowboys tricked him into helping them take the bull's temperature. They somehow managed to get him to do it the same way we take babies temps - but with his hand!!!!!! Anyway, it was hilarious and the scene in my book is funny, too. Bobby also plays for the Texas Longhorns before he gets drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. Both are beloved Texas teams. My whole family are Longhorns - we bleed orange. We never miss a game and when Coach Mack Brown tells us to 'come early, be loud, stay late and wear orange - we do what we're told. Somehow, I manage to work the Longhorns into every book - Cowboys, Longhorns and Texas just go together. This year, neither the Longhorns or the Cowboys had a winning season. It was sad at our house. But, we have hope for next year. . . . . if they only had Bobby Stewart playing for them - winning would be a sure thing. But - hey - this is my fantasy - my world - and I create the rules.

Recently, one of my books sold to Secret Cravings Publishing. It's T-R-O-U-B-L-E and will be released on October 10th 2011. There is a free read also - several actually at Secret Cravings - mine is A BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN.

BOBBY DOES DALLAS will be available for purchase by the end of the month - check my website - sablehunter.com

Here's an excerpt from BOBBY DOES DALLAS

Bobby walked toward the Darrell K. Royal Stadium. It was time for football practice. And there was nothing that Bobby Stewart loved more than football - except women. Jeffrey Johnson and Ladon Mahoney stepped in beside him. "Hey, cowboy. How's it hangin?" Ladon slapped Bobby on the back.

Bobby had come straight from the rodeo arena and he was still dressed in full cowboy regalia. Johnson laughed, taking in the scene. "Hey Stewart, did you know that there are four cute little coeds on your tail? I think they like the way you look in those chaps." Bobby swung around and winked at the little ladies, making them giggle as he tipped his hat at them. "You know it's just not fair," Ladon grumbled. "You've got it all Bobby. Not only are you a football star, you're also a champion bull rider and freakishly good-looking. The only thing that I've got going for me is that my people are healthy and live a long time. I've got longevity in my genes."

Bobby laughed and cupped his crotch. "I've got longevity in my jeans, too."

"Heard you rode that killer bull. Was his name Porn Star?" Johnson liked to jack with Stewart. He was a down-to-earth, good guy - despite seeming to have it all.

"Rock Star," Bobby said with satisfaction. "I stayed on that devil for the full, long eight seconds."

Ladon slung his backpack over his massive shoulders. "Only a bull rider would think eight seconds is a long time. I pity your women, man. They have to learn how to get it in gear and get off fast."

Bobby tipped his Stetson at a beautiful blonde that was walking toward him, and a curvy redhead that crossed their paths and spoke to him sweetly. "Hi, Bobby."

"I always leave my women completely satisfied." Bobby stated matter-of-factly as he opened the double doors to the hall that led to the locker rooms and the player's lounge.

"That's what I hear." Reece Witherspoon flung a towel at the large hamper. "Word is that Stewart is hung like one of those bulls he rides. Hence, his nickname - Bull Stewart." "This is a locker room, 'Spoon. We've all seen each other's plumbing." Bobby passed off the good-natured ribbing with his usual smooth return. Looking up, he noticed that one of his coaches was standing at the door motioning him over "Uh-oh, I'm being sent to the office."

"If it's what I think it is - I believe you'll find its worth your trip," Reece sighed, wishing it was him.

"What's up Coach?" Bobby didn't think he had done anything wrong, but he had halfway been expecting them to complain about his bull-riding. Some athletic programs frowned on their players doing anything off the field that could be construed as risk-taking behavior - and mounting one ton of pissed off bull was definitely a risk.

"I've got some good news for you." The coach grinned at him. Bobby inwardly let out a breath of relief - this was something else entirely.

"Good news? Do you have a special play that you want me to try?" He loved to be on the receiving end of Colt McCoy's throwing arm. Colt could thread a needle with a football - he was just that accurate.

"The deadline for declaring for the NFL draft is January. Are you planning on pitching your hat in the ring or are you content bouncing around on top of those widow-makers with horns?"

Bobby looked sheepish. He hadn't tried to hide his extracurricular activities, but none of the coaching staff had ever mentioned it to him before.

The middle-aged, ex-pro player knew extraordinary talent when he saw it. It was his business. Trotsky leaned back in his office chair and waited for Bobby to put his mind to rest. He had taken special interest in this young man because Stewart had that certain something that separated the good players from the great ones - give Bobby one shot with the ball and he could make it happen - and make it look easy. Stewart was a joy to coach.

"Yes, sir. I've already got the paperwork done."

"Good - because Dallas is looking at you. You could be a first round draft pick."

Bobby swallowed hard. Had he heard right? Playing for Dallas was his ultimate dream come true. "Sir - are you serious?"

"They'll be at the first game. And don't worry about it. We've got a little time to get you ready. Just play like you normally do and try not to get yourself killed by one of those bucking 'hamburgers-on-the-hoofs' before then." Trotsky stood and put his hand on Bobby's shoulder in a fatherly gesture. "I'm proud of you, boy. I've enjoyed coaching you more than you'll ever know. You're a good kid."

Bobby walked back to the locker room in a daze. The Dallas Cowboys were interested in him? - Bobby Stewart!?! Hot damn! He slapped his Stetson against his leg and laughed out loud. He thought about calling his brothers, but decided to wait until he had something more definite to tell them. Dallas! He couldn't believe it. Hell, this was great news! Dallas wouldn't know what hit it when Bobby Stewart arrived. He was going to take 'Big 'D' by storm.

Thanks for reading,

Sable Hunter
http://sablehunter.com

--------To Enter the Contest--------

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Linda Wisdom - Romance: It Does a Body Good

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Enter to win one of two copies of Demons Are a Girl’s Best Friend by Linda Wisdom!


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Romance: It Does a Body Good

Thank you so much Night Owl Reviews for allowing me to play here and talk about my favorite part of being a romance writer.

I know the title is a variation on the milk commercials, but who says it’s just milk, true?

Although mine is more why I enjoy being a romance author.

First and foremost, I’ve loved reading romances since the days the prince rode up to carry the princess off to his castle. As I grew older, I found romance books that gave me that same satisfaction. No wonder I wanted to write romances. There’s always something about the happy ever after endings that makes one smile.

I’ve always been a storyteller and telling a story that makes a reader smile and feel good does the same for me. But there’s more to it than that.

I enjoy telling a story of relationships, the challenges that a couple might encounter before they reach that HEA ending. There’s spinning tale where a woman and man meet, discover they are meant for each other, and might encounter a few pitfalls along the way. Who says romance is easy, right?

All of us who read romance like the escape it offers. The chance for us to forget about real life for awhile and live another’s life and romance. That’s what I want to do. I want to give the readers a few hours of entering a new world and in a sense, making new friends. One of the best examples I can give of what a romance writer can do for a reader was something from years ago. I used to be deathly afraid of thunderstorms. I’m talking so bad that if one hit during the middle of the night, I’d pick up my pillow, a blanket, some books, and my dog would follow me into the closet since there weren’t any windows there. He didn’t like them any better than I did. There I’d have the light on and would read in hopes I could get past that fear. One night was the kind of storm where the house seemed to shake and I was positive a freight train was making its way toward us. Plus the power went out and I used a flashlight to read by. I took a very thick historical romance in with me, The Tiger’s Woman, by Celeste De Blasis. For the first time, the thunder didn’t bother me. I was lucky enough to meet Celeste and tell her. I’m no longer afraid of storms. I can’t sleep through them, but I don’t hide from them either. I’ve been privileged to have readers contact me with heartwarming stories where my books created a special niche in their lives.

That’s what makes it worthwhile. To know that what I’ve written is special to a reader the way books have to me in the past.

Has that happened to you with a book? To where it’s hit you in a unique way?

Linda

DEMONS ARE A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND BY LINDA WISDOM – IN STORES APRIL 2011

A Bewitching Woman on a Mission…

Feisty witch Maggie enjoys her work as a paranormal law enforcement officer—that is, until she’s assigned to protect a teenager with major attitude and plenty of Mayan enemies. Maggie’s never going to survive this assignment without the help of a half-fire demon who makes her smolder… A Hotter-Than-Sin Hero with an Agenda…

Declan is a proprietor of an underground club and busy demon portal. No way he’ll allow his demon race to be blamed for the malicious acts of some crazy evil Mayans. But he’s already got his hands full when the sexy witch offers him a challenge he can’t refuse…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Wisdom has published more than 70 novels with 13 million copies sold worldwide. Her bestselling books have been nominated for RT Book Reviews awards and the RWA RITA Award. She recently won the RT Book Reviews Career Achievement Award for Hex in High Heels. Linda lives with her husband in Murrieta, California, where she is working on her next book, A Demon Does it Better, set to release in January 2012. For more information, please visit http://www.lindawisdom.com.

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Tracey H. Kitts - Naked Vampires?

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Enter to win a PDF copy of Till the Break of Dawn by Tracey H. Kitts.

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Why vampires and do they have to be naked? By Tracey H. Kitts

A lot of people (relatives in particular) have asked me why I write so much about vampires. I write werewolves too, but vamps seem to draw the most attention. At least, it gets the most questions. The truth is, I write what I like. When I was in school I read every book that had anything to do with vampires. Anything I could get my hands on that had vampires in it, I read it so thoroughly it could be considered studying. I also wrote a few short and semi-erotic stories about werewolves just for fun. Of course, they weren’t up to par with what is considered erotica now, but it was pretty sexy to me and my friends.

I always knew that I wanted to write professionally some day. It wasn’t something that just came to me out of the blue or something I did on a whim. Everything I have ever done in my life I have viewed as “good writing material.” I knew that each experience, whether it was a job or a relationship that went wrong, would somehow end up in my books. In the case of bad relationships, it could be considered therapy. Ha. Ha. Of course, names have been changed to protect the guilty, but there are a few of those along the way.

Since I always knew I wanted to write and I have always been drawn to vampires, it seemed only logical to me that’s what I’d write about. The other question that I get even more often than, “Why vampires?” is “Why sex?”

The short answer: Why not?

Now, for something more in depth: I love science fiction, but find it grossly lacking in sex. Ha. Seriously, I enjoy a good story but what I also enjoy is a good romance. I used to read the really old romances, the ones you could find at garage sales and such. So, they were really outdated and for my tastes, too … sweet. I wanted a heroine who could kick ass and take names. I wanted someone who I could identify with. Someone who wasn’t “pure as the driven snow,” and all that crap. I wanted someone real.

Of course, I also wanted a hero who was sexy beyond imagination. I don’t want the guy next door. Let’s face it, unless Hugh Jackman lives next door, none of us are really interested in normal guys, are we?

I also have a deep love of fantasy. So, you take all that, mix it together (shaken, not stirred) and you get paranormal romance. Paranormal romance is really an adventure for women. We just happen to find romance to be part of the adventure.

I write what I like to read. Why would I try to sell something to someone if I didn’t even like it myself? That’s ridiculous. I love vampires and if we get them alone in the story, someone better tell me what they look like naked! I don’t know about you, but I’d feel cheated otherwise. Of course, I’m okay with waiting for such a moment (like in the case of a series, which I enjoy writing). But once we get there, I want details. Ha. Ha.

The last and probably best answer I could give is this: Writing is wish fulfillment and so is reading. Who hasn’t fantasized about living forever with some gorgeous hunk? Tall, dark and immortal sounds pretty darn good to me. To never grow old, never get sick and die. And let us not forget, eternal love. I think these are all pretty strong fantasies that most people can identify with, even if they don’t get into the whole, “Bite me,” thing.

Unfortunately, in the area where I live most people just see it as macabre. For the rest of the fang bait™ out there (like myself), please check out my latest release. LOL For everyone else, I do hope we can move beyond that some day.

For more information me and my books, you can find me at www.traceyhkitts.com

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Laura Navarre - Familiar Demons and Dark Archetypes

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Enter to win a Print copy of The Devil's Mistress by Laura Navarre!

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Familiar Demons and Dark Archetypes: How to Sympathize with the Devil
By Laura Navarre

It won’t surprise anyone who knows me to hear that I’m fascinated with the devil. Not the literal Devil of Christian mythology, but the dark hero becoming ever more popular on stage, page and screen. Most of us grew up with these familiar demons—dark archetypes from the classics we studied in school: the vengeful madman in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the brooding lover in Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice, the fallen angel in Milton’s Paradise Lost, the husband who murders his wife in Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, the tragic monster Grendal in the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf. Whatever our favorite genres to read and write, our stories can be enriched by a deeper understanding of why dark heroes continue to fascinate and inspire sympathy from the audience.

Of course, the dark hero has evolved a bit along the way. In order to earn our sympathy, the tortured vampire Angel in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer must grieve and atone for his sins. Caustic chauvinist/executive Don Draper in Mad Men must be brilliant, devoted to his children, and haunted by his mysterious past to earn our grudging sympathy; even so, without the occasional flashes of humanity he displays toward his unhappy wife and stressed-out subordinates, we wouldn’t care for him much. In The Tudors and many novels featuring King Henry VIII’s tempestuous love life, Henry’s desperate lifelong quest for a son to succeed him (an eminently human drive) helps us understand just a little the murderous tyrant he became, even while we condemn his actions.

The importance of infusing our dark heroes with sympathetic and human qualities can’t be overstated. Indeed, the lesson holds equally true for our villains. As screenwriting guru Robert McKee teaches his students in his Hollywood writing textbook Story, every villain is the hero of his own story. Strong, fascinating true-to-life villains never twirl their mustaches; every villain performs his dark deeds for reasons that seem good to him. Remember the horrifying Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs? Though Hannibal actually functions as Clarice Starling’s dark ally in her quest to capture the central villain—serial killer Buffalo Bill (so called because he “skins his humps”)--Lector’s cannibalistic acts can be driven by fairly complex motives. Recall untalented flutist Benjamin Raspail of the Baltimore Symphony, whom the music-loving Lector kills as a sort of public service, and later serves as a ragout to his unsuspecting dinner guests. And the fact that Hannibal declines to pursue Clarice after his escape because, as she puts it, he would consider it “rude.” This criminal ally with his civility and contradictions is eminently more fascinating to us than a mindless sadist, chuckling gleefully as he commits random acts of murder.

I tried to exploit these lessons learned while crafting the dark heroes in my March releases, my dark Crusader romance The Devil’s Temptress (Dorchester) and my Tudor romance The Devil’s Mistress (Samhain). At the glittering court of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Jervaise de Vaux (Temptress) is an embittered Crusader, scarred body and soul by a lifetime of war, who has abandoned his faith in God. He seems to revel in his sinister reputation, and amply earns his notoriety as the Devil of Damascus. Yet despite his public shaming, fueled by guilt and self-loathing, a spark of secret honor still flares in the heart of this disgraced Muslim knight. It is this contrast between Jervaise’s dark deeds (including the execution of his own murderous father) and the honorable motive that drives him—the need for atonement—that made Jervaise such a pleasure for me to develop.

In The Devil’s Mistress, my dark heroine is Italian perfumer and reluctant assassin Allegra Grimaldi. Allegra is blackmailed to poison the heretic Anne Boleyn, and complies unhappily with the scheme only to save the lives of her own blind father and kidnapped sisters. Thus, Allegra’s love and devotion to family is the light in her darkness. Like Angel in the Buffy series, she suffers endless remorse for her sins, and willingly risks her life to make amends…which I hope renders her sympathetic for the reader. Even her blackmailer, the fanatical Spanish ambassador Don Maximo, is fueled in his relentless hatred for heretics by his misplaced desire to save innocent souls from burning.

I’ll wrap up here with a few other examples of complex and suffering dark heroes for your reading and viewing pleasure. How about brooding Mr. Rochester who’s locked his madwoman-wife in the attic in Jane Eyre? Amnesiac assassin Jason Bourne in The Bourne Identity, whose drive to rediscover his identity while eluding a squad of government hit men puts us firmly on his side? What about the oddball “anti-hero” archetype, like the considerably less than brilliant killer-for-hire Leon, who protects a ten-year-old Natalie Portman from vengeful drug lords in The Professional? And how can I fail to mention my favorite dark ally, Severus Snape in the Harry Potter books? In each of these stories, by making these dark figures both complex and human, the writer manages to inspire our sympathy for the devil. Happy reading!

Laura Navarre
www.LauraNavarre.com
Desire has never been so dangerous.

--------To Enter the Contest--------

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