Giving away a copy of Passionate Bid!

Hi everyone,

Come on over, visit me for a bit. Later Romancing the Book will pick one of you to receive a copy of Passionate Bid. Here is the link: http://www.romancing-the-book.com/2010/05/guest-tierney-omalley.html 

 

See you at Romancing the Books!

Tierney

What’s new with you?

Finally, the wait is over. Edits for my first paranormal romance are happening. LOL Yup, edits are  time consuming. But I love doing it. It’s a good way to learn the craft of writing.

Alysia wrote on her World Building post that creating your own world is so much fun. I totally agree. In Wolf’s Soul, I’ve created two clans that exist only in my imagination. Clans that I tried to bring to life in this book. Hopefully, I succeeded. I don’t have a cover for this book yet. Believe me, I am so antsy to see it.

Those of you who’ve been asking when the next Knight will be out, I am happy to announce that Irresistible Knight: Knight Brothers Book Two, a story about Bors, is finished and ready for edits also. No release date yet, but I will definitely shout it out when it’ll be out. Sexy Knight is the third book. ;) This one is about Gawain.

So, that’s what’s keeping me busy these days. By the way, I’ll be a guest blogger for Romancing the Book on May 3. Be sure to stop by for a chance to win a copy of my latest book, Passionate Bid. This book received Five Cups from Coffee Time Romance.

What about you? Anything coming out soon? New reviews, interviews, blogs, guests on your blogs or you read a new book? Are you having a contest or you finished reading a new book? Post it here and share!

Looking forward to reading your news.

Tierney

 

Get away...

Zac (he's my upstairs neighbor) and I were lounging by the pool one day last week and decided we needed to go away even if it was just for the day. Two days later we had the kids loaded in the car for a trip to the Grand Canyon. I had lived here in Arizona for 8 years and hadn't seen it yet.

It took about 4 hours to get there and well worth the trip. Zac and I have a great time together anyway so we had a blast driving up there and back. I haven't seen snow in years and we were in a blizzard which was awesome We hadn't prepared for such cold weather so I thought I might freeze to death.... but I didn't. By the time we were home, we all were wet, cold, and exhausted.

A few hours and a few dollars later gave us a chance to refresh. Along with that wonderful feeling, we came up with more book ideas for me! Can't go wrong there...

Talk to you soon!
Wendy Ely

Writer's Workshop~Lesson I: World Building

Let's be honest. The stories that stick with us through the ages are stories with a little extra touch of magic. Think about it. Examples of books later turned into movies because they were so loved are The Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter. All of these are stories within their own world. Highly imaginative stories that truly took us to another world, a world with objects and creatures completely made up from the creator's/author's mind. This is true world building at it's finest. The first rule you need to learn about world building is: 1. There are NO RULES!

HINT FOR NEW WRITERS: Aside from the regular rules of POV (point of view), 1st person, 3rd person, etc....only because most every editor will chunk your manuscript if you head hop or flip from 1st person to 3rd person...anything else goes. Remember this: One POV per scene. This is a hard lesson for beginner writers to learn. Do not stray from this one thing. Head hopping screams, "I'm an amateur writer!" Just don't do it.

NOW BACK TO WORLD BUILDING. Whether you're writing Sci Fi, Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal...remember, this is your world. You can make up new words for nouns, such as creatures that live in the world or really anything your heart desires. Wow...just think of all the amazing creatures in Lord of the Rings...and all the names J.K. Rowling gave to hers as well...even the unmagical beings had a special name. Remember? What about the Wizard of Oz? The Ompa Loompas..and I have no idea if that is spelled right...lol.

What is MOST important to remember is that this is YOUR WORLD. You make the rules, the laws, the morales and let me tell you...IT IS SO MUCH FUN! And if you're a Panster like I am....whoa...there's a new surprise every day.

WORLD BUILDING TIP: Start a Glossary. A planner would create a glossary before writing but I keep adding to mine as I go along. I keep my glossary open on my computer screen and minimize it so I can refer to it when writing. I'm nearly half through a full length novel right now and every day, my glossary grows with new terminology for rituals, objects used by my characters, names of clans, titles given to characters within the world, gods within my world, names given to servants, etc. And when my book is published, I plan to have the glossary published in the front of the book as well. Without the glossary, a reader could still follow the book fine but I think it's a good idea, especially since this is a series. If a reader chose another book within the series to read first, the glossary will come in very handy. And now days, more and more glossaries are showing up within books to aid the reader along. Just as some authors like to have a drawing of a map of their world. Also, another great idea.

If you're starting a new manuscript and have been looking for something different to do. If editors and agents have told you that your writing is good but the manusccript just wasn't that different from everything else out there in your chosen genre, you may want to try World Building.

You never know. You could create the next BIG THING....a new world for your readers to fall in love with.

I'll leave you with one more excellent example of SUPREME WORLD BUILDING. Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse Vampire Mystery Books. Sublime. This lady really knows how to world build. My God...she created Civil Rights for Vampires. Charlaine...you rock! I bow down to your greatness! I am not worthy!!!! *snicker* But seriously...have you watched True Blood on HBO? Scrumptious...all taken from Ms. Harris's fascinating world of vampires who live and mingle with humans and drink synthetic blood. Wow!!!



Well...I'm off to write some more! World Building...here I come!

Happy Reading and Writing!
~Alisha Paige

Photos Courtesy of Photobucket.com

Another Monday

Another Monday. Another beginning of the week. Many people hate Monday’s because it means time to go back to work and end the fun of the weekend. That’s perfectly understandable. Who wants to give up their free time and get back to business? Well, I guess if you own the business, then you might want to, but the majority of us working folk usually don’t look forward to heading back to work.

There is another way to think about it, though. It’s a new beginning. A blank slate. You can start the week off fresh. Did you have a bad last week? Well, that’s over.
This is a whole new week. You might have the best one yet, you never know.

I’m a firm believer in the philosophy that life is what you make of it. I think a positive attitude goes a long way in making your life better. Bad things will happen, they happen to all of us, there is no avoiding it. But, you can be miserable because things go wrong, or you can try to find the positive and work to make things better. Look at it as a setback, not the be all end all. You have to keep trying and fighting to make things work out.

So, I’m actually looking forward to making my week the best it can be. I’m going to go to work with a positive attitude and keep telling myself that no matter what happens, I’m going to do well. I’m going to get my work done, I’m going to study for my test (that I’ve been avoiding terribly), and I’m going to keep editing my book that I’ve been working on forever and a day. Yes, I know the house needs to be cleaned and the yard needs to be mowed. Maybe I’ll get to that, too. (I’m not completely insane, I know I can’t do everything in one week) I am going to give it my best shot, anyway.

Those are my goals for this week. Hopefully, I make at least a few of them. If I don’t make them all, oh well, there’s always next week.

Seducing Fate by Antonia Pearce out now from Siren Publishing

We interrupt my regularly scheduled blog to bring you a bit of promo from one of my good friends and critique partners, Antonia Pearce. First let me say a few words about her. She's hot!!! And her writing is volcanic. I should know, this is the first book I critiqued for her way back when. She's also a wonderful person with a completely big heart. Show a girl some love and check out her book.

Here's some blurbage and a bit of excerpt for your enjoyment.

Luke Hanson burned for only one thing—Merryn Porter. Beautiful, smart, and totally off-limits. Determined to do the right thing, he rejects her love and ends up dead. Now Fate has cut him a deal, and he has one shot at making things right.

For Merryn, the pain of Luke’s rejection left her with an empty heart—until a freak accident on her best friends’ wedding day leaves her in a limbo she can’t escape. Confronted with the love of her life, she has to choose between redemption and temptation.

With the clock ticking, the past meets the present and never-forgotten desire threatens to consume them. Now Merryn must decide if she can trust Luke again before it’s too late.

Note: This book contains anal sex.

A Siren Erotic Romance

excerpt:

Time to hitch up her big girl panties, or, in this case, take her panties off, and launch her offensive. Merryn Porter sat up, peeking cautiously at her friend, Serena Hanson, sleeping in the other bed. Serena was sprawled on her side, her pillow clutched over her head, muffled snores rumbling out into her designer room in her brother Luke’s house. Perfect. She didn’t want any witnesses.

Merryn, finally of legal age, had been in love with Luke since she’d turned twelve. She’d always considered her passion for Luke a hopeless cause. Who could compete with the older, sophisticated supermodel types he dated? The friendship they’d built, the common interests, the hours spent discussing everything from life-after-death to entertainment—none of that could create romantic interest where none existed.

Lately, faint hope flared in her heart once again. She’d imagined she’d caught him staring at her at odd moments, like tonight at the little housewarming party he’d thrown. She’d enjoyed her first taste of champagne—just one taste, but a treat nonetheless. She could feel the tingles from that rare gaze as she sipped from his crystal glass, laughing as the bubbles tickled her tongue. Though quickly extinguished when she turned to him, she’d caught the peculiar gleam in his eye. Maybe she’d pissed him off and the gleam represented a glare of disapproval, or maybe he actually liked her too but didn’t want to behave “dishonorably” with his younger sister’s best friend. Luke always tried to be noble, to do the right thing with his family, in his business, and in life in general. That, among many other qualities, led her to fall irrevocably in love with him. It also annoyed the crap out of her because she desperately wanted him to be more than a bit naughty with her, and she didn’t see it happening. Not without a considerable nudge from her anyway. She had to do something to erase Luke’s perception of her as just his kid sister’s friend.

In her typical bull-headed, crafty way, she’d planned to override his iron control. She wanted him. She burned for him with a carnal craving she understood only in theory, but one that drove her to action. A tiny twinge of guilt stung her conscience, and she hoped Serena would forgive her for wangling extra invitations to be around when Luke might be there. Forgive her for lusting after her brother, and forgive her for tonight—her last ditch, pull-out-all-the-stops effort to show Luke how much she loved him and how good they could be together before she and Serena headed off to college. Well, actually, she hoped Serena never found out if she went down in flames. She risked enough humiliation without adding that shame.

She slipped out of the bed, heart beating madly, butterflies assailing her tummy. She didn’t know if she possessed the courage to do what she planned, but did she really want to wonder “what if” for the rest of her life? At the very least, she wanted Luke to be her first. Even if he didn’t love her or want her long-term. She’d trade anything for one night with him.

So she set aside her innate shyness, crept from the room, and silently closed the door behind her. The hall leading to the master suite, to Luke, loomed long before her, the distance seeming to grow rather than diminish with each step. Tick-tock, tick-tock. The antique clock on the landing provided a rhythm for her careful footsteps on the cool hardwood floor. If only her heartbeat would stay that slow and measured. She shivered a bit. Though the furnace battled the chill, temperatures outside had dipped into the teens and cold spots peppered the house. Fear of rejection didn’t help to steady her tremors, either.

She twisted the knob, relieved to find his door unlocked, and stepped into Luke’s bedroom. The warmth from the fireplace embraced her and bathed the room in a golden glow. Her toes sank into the plush carpet, and her gaze immediately turned to Luke’s sleeping form in the big bed across the room. She held her breath, but he didn’t stir. She let out a shaky exhale and softly closed and locked the door.

Luke lay on his stomach, the sheet just draped across his hips and waist, his muscular back and legs uncovered, his skin gleaming in the firelight. Her mouth watered, and a familiar odd tickle began low in her belly. His dark reddish-brown hair curled forward over his face—his chiseled features softened in sleep. She couldn’t believe how much younger and more vulnerable he looked. Her heart cracked a little.

Yeah, she had it bad for this man. But did he have any feelings for her?

Her hands shook as she grasped the hem of her nightgown and pulled it over her head, dropping it to the floor. Need dominated her fear, pushing her forward. When she reached the edge of the bed, she took a moment to listen to his peaceful breathing and draw his unique scent into her lungs. She loved the way he smelled—a hint of sandalwood soap, a bit of musk, but all Luke. His fragrance was as overwhelmingly dear and attractive to her as the man himself.

She pressed down on the mattress, putting all her weight on one knee and climbing up beside him. He mumbled something incoherent, stirring restlessly, and she froze. What should she do? Her body decided for her. Without conscious plan, she reached out and drew her fingertips down the smooth flesh of his back. His muscles twitched in response. “Luke,” she whispered.


Seducing Fate available now from Siren Publishing

Time of the Soul Cover Revealed!

At last, the next installment of The Pembroke Eve Chronicles, Time of the Soul, has a cover! I am thrilled to see that Angela has done such a wonderful job yet again! I can't thank her enough. The series is in full swing now, so here's the synopsis of the Time of the Soul to help whet your appetite for m/m sci-fi and fantasy :-)

Time of the Soul continues the adventure a month after the events of Light of the Body.

This time the townsfolk are celebrating the Spring Dance. An event that will hopefully kick away the worries of past incidents in the town. Although, even an occasion such as the Spring Dance can't remain uneventful for long, especially because this is Pembroke Eve, after all.

Unfortunately, for Jacob things are about to get really weird as a pan-dimensional being whisks him away just as Corey Harrington decides to make a scene at the dance and start throwing punches. The being, who also happens to fall in love with Jacob, shows him a different past, a possible present and a future he must choose. But the consequences of the being's love is more than Jacob can handle or allow to happen. He will lose all of his friends and a life he thought he had if he accepts the being.

Something he knows cannot possibly happen.

Jacob is alone, without Callum or Zane or Suzy this time. Even Mr. Barnaby and his strange friend can't really help in the alternate reality the being has created to woo Jacob into his web. In the end, Jacob must resort to making a deal with the devil--his arch enemy Corey Harrington--and use all of his wits to make sure his life is as it should be before the being discovers his plan and decides that Jacob no longer deserves his affection...or his life.

A little peek...

At the new cover for the second book in my Desert Secret Series! Midnight Secrets will be released in November so watch later this year for excerpts! Anyway.... I had to fill out a paper describring what I envisioned for the cover. I wanted it to have a similar style to Confessions but with different people (the main character is Chelsea's sister Allison!) and I think Renee Rocco did a brilliant job!

Here's Confessions excerpt just in case you haven't read it yet:

Jordan sat down on the couch and patted the floor in front of him. “Sit down. Let me get those knots out.”
She took a few steps in his direction, stopping out of his reach, afraid to let him touch her. If he touched her, then she’d fall madly in love with him all over again. That couldn’t happen.
She watched as he leaned forward far enough to grab her by the hand. He pulled her to him.
“Are you sure you want to?”
“Yes,” he said. He guided her down to the floor between his legs. Before leaning back, she slipped her t-shirt off, revealing the navy tank top. His strong hands slid over her skin and she sunk back against him. She’d forgotten how strong he was, how needy she felt when he touched her. As if by magic, her body slowly began to relax underneath his touch. He kneaded her skin with the palms of his hands. The more he touched her, the more she felt at ease. She leaned forward a bit, making his legs embrace the rest of her body. His hands trailed down the length of her back toward the top of her jeans. A small moan escaped her lips. If only he would go lower.
“Feel good?” The words floated through the air like music from a past dream.
“Mm hm.”
He rubbed the small of her back, his hands working every muscle imaginable. “Remember when I would rub your feet each night after work?”
“The best part of the whole day.” His hands. His voice. He had cast a spell over her.
“I loved those times with you, Chels.”
Butterflies swarmed in her stomach, breaking up her intoxicated sensation. Chels? He used to call her that when they were teenagers. He was the only person who’d ever had a pet name for her.
“Me, too,” she mumbled.
“That’s what has gotten me through until now. Those memories of us from before you disappeared.” His hands stilled, but she could feel their heat against her.
Damn it! Tears welled in her eyes. He couldn’t see them, she wouldn’t allow him to. She scooted away him his touch, far enough away so she could stand up on her own without using his assistance.
“I’m sorry, Jordan. We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“What are you talking about, Chelsea?” He tried to grab her by the hand again but this time she walked away from him. She went over to the windows, dried her eyes and then turned around.
“I told you everything, so now I should go.” She walked past him toward the stairs.
“No, you won’t.” The words were ice cold. It seemed like his massage had been some sort of dream.
She froze. “What do you mean, I won’t?”
“Let’s get something clear. Okay?”
She slowly turned around. She had never heard this tone from Jordan in the whole time she had known him. It scared her.
“What?”
He stood up from the couch and walked over to her. His hands jammed into his jean pockets. “There’s a choice to be made here,” he said. “You either stay here to help me locate my daughter or I contact the authorities.”

****

And if you want to get a copy of Confessions, it's available at www.lyricalpress.com/confessions

Talk to you soon,

Wendy Ely

More from the Diary of a Pantster...An Exercise to Find Your Method

My last blog entry really forced me to think about our craft. It truly is a craft, is it not? And as I mentioned last week, we all have our methods. I would say that I'm 98% pantster...only planning future scenes when I'm tying up loose ends...and even then, I don't really plan. I may decide which characters will play a role in my next scene but I have no idea how it will play out until my fingers start typing.

If you're new to the writing game and you're busy learning all you can about our craft and have no idea if you're a planner, a pantster or a mixture of both...get a pen and paper. Write down three columns titled Planner, Pantser, Both. Put a check mark in the appropriate column. Whichever column has the most checks, that's the method you most often choose. The longer you write, the more you will lean to one of the three and find your "zone", the perfect method for you.

Do you brainstorm before writing? If you do, put a check mark in the Planner column.

Do you look for names in a baby book for your characters? If you do, put a check mmark in the Both column. This isn't really planning a plot but it is taking the time to research for a name..so it's a little of both.

Do you make character charts for your characters? If you do, put a check mark in the Planner column.

Do you have a vague theme you would like to write about and turn on your computer and envision a scene, start typing and come up with your character's name and description on the spur of the moment? If you do, put a check mark in the Pantster column.

Do you find holes in your story and then go back and plug them up? If you do, put a check mark in the Both column. You probably tend to write by the seat of your pants, read over your manuscript and realize you left out a small detail. This is common in pantster writing but a skilled pantster will pay attention. If you do this, you are really both planner and pantster. Put a check mark in the Both column.

Do you sit down to write, your mind a blank, focus on the story you've written so far, think up a new scene and attack the keyboard? If you do, you are 100% Pantster. Put a check mark in the Panster column.

Okay, count up your check marks. We don't have to choose our method by what we hear at writing conferences or from writing friends. Choose what feels right. Hopefully this little exercise will help you to recognize your method and embrace it fully.



Happy Writing!
~Alisha

(Photos courtesy of Photobucket.com)

To sway or to stay?

Do you have a particular genre you read most? I do. Although I do read other types of books, my all time favorite is paranormal romance. It is my chosen genre. I read it more than anything else. And, that’s what I write the most as well.

Once in a while, though, I think it’s important to read outside of your “area of expertise”. It allows you to get a handle on some new tricks or tips that may not be utilized in your one niche of the market. If you only read historical romance, chances are that you could learn some new tricks by reading paranormal or sci-fi. Even though they are both romance stories, they are entirely different reads.

The same thing goes with other types of books. If you’re a big romance reader, have you considered reading a biography? Both deal with life and human nature, but they are written in a completely different style. You may not think you can learn anything from that, but you absolutely can. Granted, it’s not fiction, but you can still pick up on things like sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, etc. No matter what it is, if it’s in written form, you can learn from it.

At least, that’s my opinion on the matter. I love to read. Romance is my favorite genre, with paranormal romance being my favorite sub-genre, but I still read other types as well. I read almost as much non-fiction as I do fiction. Sounds crazy doesn’t it? I’m sure everyone reads in different ways, just like they write in different ways. As I always say, to each his own. That’s what makes us all unique. And, with my eclectic tastes, I’ll probably be reading something from each of you someday.

So, do you agree with my assessments? Do you disagree? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Down to the Wire

I'm within sight distance of finishing about four different books. You don't know how happy this makes me. I sometimes despair of ever finishing anything again.

Why you ask?

Because I'm a foot dragger.

Yes, I know. Anyone as prolific as I am has no business dragging their feet at the end of a book. I have no idea why this is, or how it happens. I basically know the ending or I might have it all plotted out, but for some reason, I see that last word on the horizon and my feet start slowing down and I get all anxious. It's not that I don't want to finish and move on. Lord, knows I like nothing better than to get books out the door and sent off to their intended destination. But man. Something about that finish line is like I'm typing through an ocean of thick mud and molasses. Even the books I have plotted within an inch of their lives give me fits toward the end.

I've asked myself multiple times why it is that I don't want to see the end come. Is it because I've fallen hard for the characters and want to stay in their world? Is it fear of failure? Or fear of success?

Whatever it is, I don't have the answer, nor a quick fix. It all comes down to just sitting at the computer and doing the work.

Which I will start....tomorrow.

(No, that wasn't permission for procrastination - I have to go t work in a bit.)

Until next week,

Write Hard, Love Long,

-Kate

Author Nichelle Gregory Joins Us Today!!

I've been in love with books and the written word for a long time. Writing songs, poetry, and stories came naturally to me but it took awhile to realize my love for writing was actually part of what I'm supposed to be doing on this planet. Boy, if only I'd understood this sooner, I would've paid more attention to dangling participles and semicolons in English class!

Finding out my first short story, The Enchanted Flute would be published by Noble Romance Publishing will forever be a turning point in my life. I could no longer listen to the doubts in my head or question what my soul was already saying . . . you are a writer. Being a newbie author has been a wonderful and scary experience. There is so much to learn and so many nuances within this business that it can be overwhelming. I really didn't know how to do any of the things I'm working on today from queries, blurbs, cover art requests and how can I forget the dread synopsis? Whew! I thought becoming published would silence those voices of doubt and insecurity but I think they've gotten louder. The important thing is to drown them out with the click clack of the keys on the keyboard and daily affirmation: I am a writer and therefore I must write.

Sharing your work with the world is awesome but you soon realize not everybody's going to feel the same way about what you've created. And that's OK. I love art but I prefer Renaissance over Contemporary artwork. Thank goodness, we all have our own tastes! Still, it's difficult as a new author and I imagine at any stage of your writing career to find out someone disliked something you've worked hard on. I've been told to take it all in stride. Keep striving towards becoming a better writer and above all else stay professional. I must say I'm thankful for many of the authors at Noble Romance for reaching out to explain and guide me through this strange new world. I'm quickly learning this is a profession constantly changing and growing in genres and technology and a good writer has to keep abreast of it all. It's not an easy task but I've always enjoyed a challenge! *smile*

Blurb:

Lost in the heart of Africa, Filipe is shocked to discover a beautiful maiden locked away in a stone tower prison. Taken with her innocent beauty and desperate plight, he vows to help Rapunzel but is soon trapped by his own unrelenting desire to have her. His fiery desire gives way to guilty pleasures, but Filipe can't accept Rapunzel's innocent declaration of love. Heartbroken, Rapunzel follows Filipe's plan for escape but nothing goes as predicted. Can Rapunzel convince Filipe her love is true and their destinies are intertwined?

Excerpt:

"You came back," Rapunzel said, as he stepped through the window.

Filipe saw her tear-streaked face and took her into his arms, a need to comfort and protect rising deep within in him. "I promised you, I would." He pulled away, his gaze dropping from her wide copper eyes to rest on her high cheek bones, and then lower to full, luscious lips quivering in a shaky smile. Without thinking, he leaned in capturing Rapunzel's mouth in a sweet searching kiss.

She smelled of wildflowers and rain, her lips soft as rose petals. He could feel her uncertainty as he gently caressed her mouth, hungrily tasting her tongue when she let him inside. When she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her small frame as close as she could, Filipe's body responded instantly, his cock hardening in seconds. With not but a breath between them, he was aware she could feel his erection and was not surprised when she pulled away.

"What is that?" Rapunzel asked with an innocent look, pointing to the bulge in his pants.

Filipe started to laugh and then stopped, realizing she was serious. He assumed she was a virgin, but he had never considered how much she would not know. He swallowed hard, trying to calm the savage beast in him, wanting to throw her to the ground and show her the answer to all her questions. "Surely, your godmother talked to you about what happens between a man and a woman?"

Rapunzel shook her head.

"No?" Filipe waited for her to say more, but she simply stared, her eyes moving from his face to his growing hardness. "When a man desires a woman, it is hard . . . um . . . how do I say . . . difficult, to hide the evidence." He struggled to find the words to explain.

"Does it hurt?" Rapunzel asked.

Filipe threw back his head and laughed, when she giggled.

"Not in the way you imagine." Filipe turned away from Rapunzel, removing the shoulder pack containing silk and other supplies. Taking in a deep breath, he willed his cock to behave. Rapunzel's naivety sparked wild lust in his loins, but he prided himself on being a gentleman.

"Can I touch it?"

Filipe stiffened, her soft words making his cock rock hard inside his pants. Hesitantly, he faced her and was again, struck with the depth of her innocence and the force of his desire to take her right then. He stalled, not wanting to hurt her by denying her request and yet, not quite sure he could endure her touch without losing hold of his gentlemanly restraint.

"Filipe?" Rapunzel asked, closing the gap between them.

"Let us look at the supplies I brought," Filipe said, exhaling roughly.

But Rapunzel smiled. "Kiss me again. I love how your lips feel on mine." She wound her arms back around his neck, her body, once again, pressed to his. "Please, kiss me again."

Filipe grabbed her fast with both hands at the base of her neck and kissed her hard, enjoying her moan of surprise and delight. She proved to be a quick learner, mating her tongue with his as she edged even closer. He groaned when he felt her hand cover his rock hard cock, gently cupping the rigid muscle through the soft material of his pants. Each tiny caress from Rapunzel's fingers sent shivers of desire roaring through him. With much effort, Filipe, broke the kiss.

Light of the Body is HERE!

Click here to get your copy. The adventure in Pembroke Eve continues...this time with Zombies! Zounds!

*hugs* to all my readers that are making my books a success :-)

Diary of a Pantster

I've been thinking a lot lately about my method. For readers out there in blog land who have never thought about it, writers have various methods in which they write.

We have those who outline and plan everything from beginning to end, those who plan the ending first and then plan the book around the perceived outcome, those who have a vague plan and write as they go (by the seat of their pants) and then there are the flat out Pantsters as some are called, those who start with a blank page and have virtually no idea where they are going. These writers truly write by the seat of their pants.

I'm this kind of writer. I read an article once by a very famous novelist of years past. This particular author had very meticulous, detailed outlines for his books. He once said that to write by the seat of one's pants was totally unprofessional. I was quite offended by this comment. And a little shocked. Hey, I don't knock the planners and outliners. Every person's brain works differently. We all approach our craft at a different angle. If it works for you, do it. I've tried to plan. It never works out. I never stick to the outline. I start writing and my characters pretty much just come alive on their own and take over.

And this is really how it seems to a real pantster. It's as if the book writes itself. Once a pantster is in the zone, our fingers are really just mediums for our characters, the ouiga board from which to speak and come alive. Our characters surprise us. Characters we never intended to have a large role become some of the most unforgettable characters ever. The plot may take a nose dive or take a fork in the road that we never saw coming.



It is both exciting and frustrating to be a panster. And frightening. We never know the outcome of our books. Even if we start out with a general idea, the theme of the book will change many times. We discover hidden messages our characters are trying to say. There are many great writers who plan and there are many great writers who write by the seat of his or her pants. I think I would feel more secure if I were a planner, if I had a detailed outline and knew when I would finish each book. My life would be less stressful but I wouldn't give up my panster style for anything now. Why? Because it has never let me down. I listen to my characters. They speak to me and take me to places all on their own. Writing a book is no different from reading. I simply have to keep typing to turn the page and find out what happens.

For those that don't believe in such a thing. True pantsters are real. We do exist. And yes we are always worried that we'll lose it and stare at that blank page and nothing will come forth. But when those days comes, we simply set our hands on the keyboard and listen. No, we're not any more gifted than the writes who outline. For me, I build upon scenes. We do have our own ideas but they are simply more spontaneous and last minute. The ideas literally come to us as we write. Our ideas flow to us as we write dialogue, a new scene, introduce a new character. Our brains just work this way.

Being a panster is like taking a road trip without a map.



Have a beautiful week!
~Alisha

Inventing Your Own World

I love worldbuilding.

It's one of the most rewarding and fun exercises I do as a writer. Cutting my teeth on fantasy fiction, I got a real taste for losing myself in governments, religions and social structures not familiar in this world. Or rather an amalgamation of several systems we know but peiced together to create something new.

I don't always start in the same place with an idea for how my world will be. Sometimes I just jump into the action and let it develop as the characters tell me about their world. That's a bit more freeing, but it's also a bit disorganized. In order to reel it in, I jot down little kernals of knowledge about the world in a notebook for later use. This has helped so much in writing sequels. Coming from someone who used to be so anal that I'd actually name everything before I started, it's a major step in a different direction to work backwards. My office walls are filled with maps my husband drew and framed of some of my fantasy worlds. (It's really quite cool!)

In my novella, Private Negotiations, soon to be released from Liquid Silver Books, I've married classic fantasy settings with high-tech gadgets. The courtiers of the Vanden captial are straight out of the French court of Louis XIV. Though we see them only in periphery, they are an important force of discord within the palace. Then there are the Ashlin warriors, who are straight from the tales of the samaurai. And these varied people reside in only one of the two countries at war in this book. The country of Telesia is more modern and military in their culture. Even the heroine, the daughter of the chancellor, has been conscripted to fight in the war.

The more I wrote this story the more I loved it. Working off the cuff, I allowed myself to create scenes that kind of poured forth from the characters.

Here's a tiny excerpt for example.

Set up: Loden, Regent of Vanden, has taken the Telesian emissary, Rinalda, into a tower in the Vanden palace gardens. Loden and Rinalda had met and fallen in love four years before. Though they were on opposing sides of a bloody war, they managed to find common ground. However, Loden used an alias to woo Rinalda, never expecting to fall in love with her. Now he has taken his place as the Regent, he wants the peace their fathers fought so hard against. He also wants Rinalda as his wife and consort. Showing her a glimpse of his family history is only a small segment of bringing her into his life.


Excerpt: (May vary slightly from published version)

The first flower bed they came to had vines that rose up along the walls of an old tower.

Rinalda glanced up the expanse. She pulled a bloom to her face. "Lovely."

"Don't take in too big a breath. They are a sweet lethargy inducing fragrance. The Seduction flower."

Rinalda raised a brow. "Is this the reason you brought me here?"

Loden laughed, but didn't defend or deny the charge. "It was rumored my grandfather kept my grandmother locked in the top apartment as a prisoner before she finally consented to marry him. At night he'd go to her, making love to her until morning then steal away to the palace proper. During the day, he'd ignore her. Her frustrated cries would fill the yard. At sunset, the blooms would open, sending their haunting scent to her window and lulling her into a state of carnal desires only my grandfather met."

Rinalda frowned. "Did he love her? Or just wish to drive her mad?"

"With his every cell and fiber he loved her. When she died, he followed not long after. The rule then passed to my father."

"If he loved her, why lock her away in a tower? Why not show her respect instead?"

Loden started walking again, this time to the far side of the tower to the hidden door. "She was a political prisoner. A spy caught in the act and condemned by her own admission."

Rinalda stalled behind him, a hand on his arm. "And your grandfather didn't execute her?"

Loden unlocked the tower door. "No. She was brought to him and thrown at his feet. The guards had worked her over pretty badly. Even bruised and bloody she turned defiant eyes to him and spit on his shoes. She tried to kill him with his own weapons and he fell in love."

Rinalda followed him into the foyer and up the stone stairs. "You aren't about having me locked away are you?"

He turned to look down at her as they ascended. "It hadn't even crossed my mind."
"So, how long did it take for your grandmother to fall in love with him?"

"I asked her that once." Loden moved to the side, opening the upper tower door and allowed Rinalda to enter ahead of him. "She said he was like a virus she couldn't shake. He was always there, below the surface of her consciousness."

"That's a little unromantic." Rinalda stopped and made a turn in the room. "This is beautiful."

It was. He hadn't intended to bring her up here, but now he had it seemed right. He smiled at her reaction. "It's been kept the same as it was during her imprisonment. I was told that sometimes after they were married, they would return here at night to recapture the magic."

Loden watched as Rinalda's glance moved over the bed and then she turned to him. "I think she did love him."

"Very much. My grandmother was a warrior. Tough. Cynical. Hard. But she loved with her entire heart. She just didn't like to show it to outsiders."

"You sound like you loved her."

"I adored her. She's the one who taught me how to shoot. And when she taught, you didn't miss."

~~~~~~

From Private Negotiations by Kathleen Scott, soon to be released from Liquid Silver Books

~~~~~~

I love that scene because it protrays the grandmother, not the grandfather as the warrior. She was also an assassin who had come to kill him and instead fell in love. Loden uses the story to illustrate that if his grandparents could overcome such a conflict, so could they.

And that scene was created with what I knew of my characters, but not planned. It was as if I were writing a true history. That was the way things were and had always been. I love it when that happens.

This is only one small sample of the worlds I've built and civilizations I've created while marrying my sci-fi with fantasy. But you know what? It definately won't be the last.

Happy Writing and Reading,

Kate

WINNING HEROINE NAME

All the votes have been cast and the winner is in. And I do believe the winning name will make Tierney happy. LOL By a landside 65% of the vote, GENEVIEVE is the winning heroine name.

Since the meaning of names are important in this book, I did a search of the meaning of Genevieve and was shocked to see that it means “Woman of the People”. Wow! Knowing the demonic plans for Genevieve, that is the perfect name for her!!

I’ve already done a search and replace in my story and substituted Genevieve for Katherine. Thank you bunches to everyone who participated!

JODER suggested Genevieve, which means she’ll win the prizes. You left me your e-mail, Joder, so I’ll drop you an e-mail in a few minutes.

Since SHERRY and DIANE TAYLOR suggested the other two names in the contest, Jacqueline and Catia, I’ll send you and PDF e-book of Elfin Blood if you want it. If you’re interested, just drop me an e-mail at contact@gracenmiller.com. (That’s contact at gracenmiller dot com). (I'll attempt to track you both down by e-mail, but just in case you don't hear from me and are interested, send me an e-mail!)

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

~huggles~
Gracen

Inspiration Strikes Back!

Why is it when you're in the thick of writing (I am currently working on part 4 of my Pembroke Eve Series) that I get more ideas for books?

I blame this all on reading, of course.

Lately, with my new eReader by my side and ready to be used wherever I go, I have been immersed in reading. And from that, comes inspiration. At the moment I am reading some excellent sci-fi by David Drake and the classic "Island of Dr. Moreau."

*happysigh* Looks like I have about 5 more book book ideas to jot down :-) One of which WILL be a novelization of my best selling short story: "The Cadet's Officer." There have been many requests for this one to be expanded from many of my wonderful readers, and that was always on my agenda.

There will also be a novel set in colonial Australia. At the time of the First Fleet. I have to do a bit of research for this one, but I know I will have an Irish protag and an aboriginal who become, against all adversity, more than friends :-) It will be my first interracial story and I think it will offer a nice challenge for me. Also, it will be something completely different as there will be minimal speculative content. The only 'magic' that coming from aboriginal belief (Wanjina and the Dreamtime) and what the two will share together.

Aren't reading and writing wonderful :-)


Oh, and here is a really COOL review of my latest, Shadows of the Mind...Oh, and here's another. Gee, love this!

I'm bored!

I am so dang bored and I hate the feeling. The boredom isn't that I don't have anything to do either. My life is pretty much set and crammed full with projects to do. This is why I'm bored. I don't want to write. I don't want to go out and visit with neighbors in the courtyard as I do most every day. I don't want to read, watch movies, or anything. I don't want to clean the apartment or do laundry... okay, I never want to do that.

What I want is for this feeling to go away. I like my life and my schedule. I thrive on calmness and knowing what comes next. To fix it though, I usually do something really dramatic like start dating a new guy, go shopping and spend too much money that offsets my budget, start a new huge project which I'll regret later, or volunteer for a big job (I was a Scout leader for 5 years because I was bored one day).

Maybe a salon day is in order since I need my hair done anyway... I think I'll go make that appointment now. But before I go, let me know what you do when you're bored and I'll talk to you soon!

Wendy Ely

An Excerpt from Circle City: Lord of the Wolfen: Book I

Happy Spring to everyone! I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter. I had a blast decorating eggs with the kids. My two year old likes to chunk his eggs into the dye. They were all cracked. He didn't care much for the handy egg dippers.

I love this time of year. I've been sitting on a blanket under a tree writing as I listen to the birds chirp. Today's is a glorious, sunny day with a soft wind. Sigh....

Here's an excerpt from my Work in Progress, Circle City:Lord of the Wolfen - Book I. I hope to complete this book in a couple of months.



A lone dog walked the streets of Circle City. He had no fear of being captured or seen by the Wolfen. Tonight was the night of the first full moon after the historical Feral Consummation, a time of great celebration. All of Circle City was invited to the “human” wedding of Axl and Zoe. Though it was all for show, the traditional fanfare usually followed the real deal. Since the ancient ceremony was attended by only males, this wedding had been planned by Sakti and would be attended by all Wolfen and Circle City humans. Rumors were swirling, even as far away as Anchorage where the Kontar lived among the humans. The dog had caught wind of the party weeks ago even though he lived in hiding from his own kind. He had to see if it was true but first, he had to find something else.
The gangly, tortoise shell colored canine snorted, his hot breath forming puffs of smoke above his head as he walked through the gates of the Circle City Cemetery, passing ancient headstones, some now broken from ages of snow and ice. He made his way to the center of the graveyard, leaping over broken stones and fallen frozen branches. His gait slowed as he neared the Wolfen tomb, keeping his head low, ever watching, glancing behind him and moving onward, his belly grazing the ground as he slid beneath the fence and scampered up the stone steps. He lifted his thin muzzle in the moonlight and took a deep breath. The word Wolfdorn, the human surname for the Wolfen clan was etched in giant block letters. He cocked his ears, listening for noise. Organ music drifted from the church. Soon the ceremony would be over. He’d conceal himself here until the people had moved on to the reception.
He sniffed. Nothing.
It was safe to enter. He walked inside the giant tomb, impressed at its enormity. The Kontar tomb was only a fourth the size of this monstrosity. Shadows now concealed him but his night vision could see everything in perfect detail. There were dozens and dozens of slender glass coffins lined in rows. Fresh flowers decorated every single casket. The stench of formaldehyde and stale death clogged his nostrils and he grunted, pointing his nose to the ground, keeping his eyes focused on the wall, reading the etched names as he strode past ancient ancestors of the Wolfen. When he came to the last aisle, he stopped, closed his tired eyes and sniffed. A yelp escaped as he collapsed onto his haunches, then laid flat on his belly.
He could smell her. Tisa.
He lay there for several minutes before rising. With shaking legs, he stood and walked forward. Lifting with his hind legs, he rested his front paws on the edge of the glass casket, peering inside. A great, mournful whine escaped as he gazed down at her, his wife, his love. His tail shook at a flurry of violent sparkles, feet flew beneath his hind legs and he grew taller, unable to keep from shifting to a human in all his grief. Now leaning over his dead wife was a gaunt man with short, brown hair and wide brown eyes, conveying all the sadness in the world as tears dripped onto glass as cold as ice. His breath fogged up the coffin and her face disappeared beneath, only the color of her shining ruby red hair shown through. He rubbed it away with a shaking palm and sobbed out loud.
“Tisa, my love! I never abandoned you! I was banished for marrying you. The king wanted you for himself. They took me away and told you lies.”
He collapsed on top of the glass and screamed her name again and again, hoping and praying the Wolfen would hear and end his misery. No one heard his cries. The only sound was the echo of his sobs on the cold, stone walls. He raised his eyes to her name and whispered it again.
“Tisa.”
It had been so long since he’d said it out loud. His kissed his wedding ring and plucked a dead white rose from her funerary flowers. The dog man sat beside her in silence, sniffing, thinking of her and the love they once shared. And suddenly the reality of his nightmare slammed into full focus. Surrounding her were seven miniscule coffins. He gasped, ran a rugged hand through his hair and stood again, rushing forward. Within each coffin lay a body wrapped entirely in white, the customary burial garb for children of the Wolfen. The souls of the innocent were considered so pure their bodies were not allowed to be viewed in death. He walked from casket to casket, touching every one, praying in Kontar tongue between the soft sobs of a broken man. And then he returned to Tisa’s coffin, opened the latch and raised the lid. He touched her face and smiled through his tears. Blackest grief gripped his heart, squeezing it so that he could scarcely breathe. A tear dropped onto her lips and he kissed it away ever so softly.
“We will meet in the next life, my love.”
With shaking hands, he closed the casket and fastened the latch before shifting back into a dog and darting back into the night, bounding down the tomb steps, running straight down the center of the cemetery, leaping over a giant angel with icicles hanging from her wings and past the gates. He ran down the middle of the road, harboring no fear as he sprinted to the church and walked around to the side stained glass windows. He pressed his nose against the glass and sniffed. It wasn’t his imagination. He thought he had caught the scent when he’d walked into town.
His eyes flashed open, changing from brown to burning red. He sniffed again, whining softly.
He was sure of it. He sniffed and closed his eyes. Now he wondered why his sister, Magna had never told him. He knew she was working for the Wolfen and had cut ties with the Kontar though he knew how to get in touch with her if he needed to.
The scent flooded his nostrils. It was all he could do to restrain a growl. Inside was one of his own. Ivan panted, pacing back and forth, his mind reeling. One pup had survived.

Happy Writing and Reading!
~Alisha

(Photos courtesy of Photobucket)

Apologies and ramblings

I apologize for being MIA lately. It seems like life has completely gotten away from me. Spiraling out of control into a volcano of duties that is about to explode. I’m not trying to make excuses, I have none. I’ve just let things slip.

I can’t believe we are already into April. Where has the year gone already? It just started, I swear! Now, it’s already a quarter of the way gone.

I hate to admit it, but I’ve accomplished nothing of my plans for the year. I know I still have time, but a lot less of it than I had January 1st. It’s time to get busy. I need to buckle down and just do it.

Lucky for me, I’ve been hit with a giant dose of spring fever. My daydreams are abundant. I can’t stay focused on anything. My mind just wanders off on its own at regular intervals. I’ve got plenty of ideas floating around in there. As long as I can keep my mind occupied long enough to jot them down, I should come out of this with a heaping file for the future.

I’m a firm believer in there being a reason for everything. Maybe this down time has been good for me. I sure have been paying attention to my surroundings a lot more lately. I’ve noticed characteristics, personality traits, flaws, biases, and judgments. People are certainly fascinating creatures. Hopefully, all my observational skills will continue, and they will help me with my writing. As long as my memory holds out long enough to find a paper to write it down, that is. I know, I’m supposed to keep a pad and paper close by for these moments, but somehow, mine was removed from my purse and I haven’t replaced it. Bad writer!

Obviously, I have lots of bad habits I need to kick, and soon. I am going to start working on that ASAP. I don’t even have my fingers crossed behind my back. I mean it.

Do you have that problem? What are some of your bad habits? Is spring fever getting you down, or have you experienced it at all this year? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Three Heroine Names...

Last week I asked for you to suggest names for a "kick-ass" heroine (I don't remember who called her that, but I chuckled over it and loved it). I intended to announce the winning names yesterday, but my husband had surgery this week and it's been a little crazy...a lot crazy actually! After surgery the hospital lost my husband, not a good feeling. And he's a 6'4", 230 pound man, so he can't fit in any ole' nook and cranny! My imagination soared and hovered around the thought that he wasn't lost, but that something was wrong with him and they were stalling before coming to tell me. But, he was ultimately found in recovery, just not in the recovery area that was planned. And he was having problems with his blood pressure dropping, dropped as low as 102/42 at one point, so he spent 2 hours in recovery instead of 45 minutes as expected. All is good now, he's home, started phyiscal therapy the day after...

So...enough about me! Let's get what you're waiting for. The three winning names chosen by random.org all came from suggestions made here at WTR. So, congrats to the WTR folks! Those names are:

Genevieve (offered by Joder)
Jacqueline (offered by Sherry)
Catia (Katia) (offered by Diane Taylor)

A poll has been created on the upper left-hand corner of the Moonlight, Lace & Mayhem blog so you can vote for your favorite name! Here's the link: http://moonlightlacemayhem.blogspot.com/

Voting ends April 9, 2010 and the winner will be announced on Saturday, April 10, 2010.

Good luck on voting your favorite name!!!

New books on Amazon Kindle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Passionate Bid and Wicked Knight: Knight Brothers Series Book One are now available in Kindle format.

 

Both books are bestsellers at Red Rose Publishing

 

***************

I finally got my email quota and mails are coming in again including my copy of Passionate Bid. Watch out for my upcoming contest. :)

 

My list of WIP is getting longer. My time to write is getting shorter. Right now, I am working on Sexy Knight: Knight Brothers Series Book Three and a standalone, Baby You’re Mine.

 

Congrats on your new cover, Wendy.

 

 

Blurb: Passionate Bid

The destiny of a man

Drop dead gorgeous veterinarian, Julian Ravenwood, has made a mistake--slept with a young virgin, Joanie Saint Claire. Forced to do the right thing, he marries her then leaves while she's still in her wedding gown.

The fate of a young woman

Joanie finds herself facing an altered life after her one night with Julian. She's left alone with a little bug who means the world to her.

The spirit of an abandoned wife

An opportunity to solve Joanie's problems comes when Julian shows up to serve her. She agrees to sign the divorce papers on one condition--he pay her one hundred thousand dollars.

The unexpected love

Julian can't believe it. His scrawny bride has grown into a seductive, attractive, and feisty woman he can't stop lusting after. And the secret she has kept rocks his world.

 

Blurb: Wicked Knight

He vowed never to love again. She is afraid to love. A passion so strong they cannot resist.

Ruggedly handsome pediatrician, Dr. Tristan Knight, is done with marriage. Once is enough. Eager to avoid making another mistake of getting trapped in marriage vows, Tristan wields strong control to suppress his growing attraction to his sister's friend, Julie Parrish. But his resolve is tested when an unusual request for help lands on his lap--marry Julie.

Author and former model, Julie Parrish has been trying to keep her image clean; otherwise, her drunkard father will get the inheritance her mother has left her. She will never let that happen. But her stepmother, Marla, has learned about the will's stipulation. Since then, she's been attempting to prove to the lawyers that Julie is far from being clean. Fortunately, her mother has added an out to the will. Marriage. So when Tristan surprised her by offering his help end her problem with Marla, she accepts. But Julie wants more than just a ring. She wants the elusive doctor's heart.

 

Tierney

Attack of the Killer Plot Bunny

I was merrily writing away yesterday when a dreadful thought occurred as I grabbed a cup of tea and rolled over in my mind what I had just written.

I had gone off on a tangent!

I became seduced by the lure of a plot thread that really had nothing to do with the flow and direction of the main plot. Yes, I had encountered the dreaded plot bunny. That little critter burrows its way into prose and can create a convoluted and twisted plot which, if left alone, can destroy manuscripts as easily as it can a field of vegetables.

What did I do?

I panicked first...then, once I had calmed and realised I didn't have to cut out great chunks of writing, i sat down and calmly went through what I had just written. I caught said plot bunny just in time. I sent in my 'fox' and eradicated all signs of its created tangent from my WIP. I can't believe I didn't see what I had done sooner. It took me all morning yesterday to get rid of the useless thread. Actually, the only reason I caught it was because I got to a point and I thought...hang on...this isn't where I'm supposed to be by chapter 12!

Thank God I write out a bullet point skeleton plot for all of my works. Otherwise I don't know what would have happened. Instead of writing a fantasy involving dragon shifters and nymphs I could have ended up writing Anne of Green Gables or something. *shudder*

Die plot bunny. DIE!