My Top Ten Favorite Christmas CD's of all Time

Whether you enjoy more serious, standard inspirational holiday music or the fun more contemporary end of the music spectrum, I'm sure there is something on this list everyone will enjoy.

10. Handel's Messiah by the Bulgarian National Choir - Love this. If you've ever stood inside a choir while belting out the Hallelujah Chorus, you'd understand my love for this song. We preformed it when I was in high school and let me tell you, for a HS choir, we brought the goods. I've loved it ever since. Just brings me to tears every time.

9. Twisted Christmas by The Bob Rivers Group - I know, most of the songs are offensive, but all so freakin' funny. Come on, The Twelve Pains of Christmas is a classic.

8. More Twisted Christmas by The Bob Rivers Group - more of the same, but still on his game.

7. Christmas Island by Jimmy Buffet - It's Jimmy Buffet, enough said.

6. Christmas with the Rat Pack - That ultra cool trio of Frankie, Dino and Sammy. Come on, it doesn't get any smoother or better than that.

5. CBS Radio Christmas by Various Artists - These are just some really solid renditions of some holiday favorites along with some standard Christmas carols by some of the most beloved artists of the 50's and 60's. There are several CD's or downloads in the CBS collection. Check them out, you won't be sorry you did.

4. Boogie Woogie Christmas by The Brian Setzer Orchestra - The man is just so damn cool and talented beyond belief. The arrangements in this collection (there are two different CD's by the orchestra to choose from) are snappy, spirited and just plain fun.

3. Soundtrack from The Muppets Christmas Carol - Music and lyrics by Paul Williams - So clever and sweet and just all things muppety good.

2. Soundtrack from Nightmare Before Christmas by Danny Elfman - Anytime you put Danny Elfman on a project it's going to be awesome. Pair him with Tim Burton and it's a classic.

1. We Wish You a Merry Christmas by The Ray Coniff Singers - all right I went back a long way for this one. Back to my childhood. This was one of the few Christmas albums we had (yes, on vinyl - cause we really had nothing else back then) growing up. To me, this is Christmas. The arrangements are amazing. There is something very dire in recording on such songs as Ring Christmas Bells, O Holy Night and We Three Kings.

* bonus*

Anything by Sinatra. We have several of his Christmas CDs. Anything with his rendition of Jingle Bells is happening. I swear he was the first man to "scratch" on a record. When you hear the song, you'll understand why I say that. Also, The Christmas Waltz is one of my most favorite songs for the holiday season.

So may your season be filled with love, laughter and most of all music.

'Til next week!

-Kate

Dec-or-ation Time-- Come on!!

All right, so I borrowed the music from Cool & the Gang and changed the words. 'Tis the season and all that jazz.

This is going to be a pretty short-short posting today since I have several I want to get done on my other blogs before I clean the kitchen and we go out to find our tree. Yes, folks this year the hubster and I decided to get a live tree - or well, chop our own down. (I know, sounds horrible doesn't it?) Now, I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure I really like the idea. I love trees and don't like the thought of hurting them. (all right, sad moment now.)

So, it's always been a tradition in my house to put up the tree on the 11th. Two weeks out from Christmas it a good time. Not too early, not too late. We generally keep it up until New Years, so three weeks total is enough. I know when I first moved to NJ and did a lot of home care, I noticed people leaving their trees up until mid-Jan or so. I was like..."Really, people...what are you going to do, take off the Christmas decorations and hang hearts on it for Valentine's Day? Lazy asses." -- Then I was told that up here there is a large Greek Orthodox population and they leave their decorations up until the Greek New Year. (I think it was the New Year anyhow, but don't quote me on that.) - Then the Seventh Day Adventists leave theirs up until Three Kings Day. (Not sure the date of that either.) Living in the small town I did in Florida, I wasn't really exposed to much more than Southern Baptists and the occasional Catholic. So, what did I know from Greek Orthodox? Then it made sense to me. Oh, all right so all these lights on the houses and stuff isn't because they just decided to extend the season well past its best by date, they haven't finished their celebrating yet. Got it.

So, we lost a lot of our outdoor decorations in the Great Flood of 2011. Those will have to be replaced in order to deck the outside of the house, but luckily the inside is set, all we have to do is drag the decorations down from the crawl space in the loft and sort through them. Now, here is where I insert a bit of a story from last year...

Dave went up into the crawl space to get our decorations. We had this huge St. Nicholas - very old world looking. Gorgeous deep red coat and fur trim (not real fur) and looked very Victorian. It was made out of a resin and molded. Anyhoo, the face had been eaten off by mice, so he had to get thrown away. I was pretty upset because I loved that version of Santa. So, Dave goes to unpack the Nativity scene and noticed the mice had been into the wise men. Yes, folks the mice had eaten the wise men. Not a smart move on their parts. I'm at work and talking to him on the phone as he's going through piece by piece and he says..."If the baby Jesus is eaten, it's war." - I got to laughing so hard I thought I'd rupture a gut.

Moral of the story - apparently wise men are fair game, but the gloves come off if you mess with the baby Jesus.

Wishing you and yours a joyous and blessed holiday season,

-Kate

Christmas Grocery Shopping with Rebecca Rose

Hi Wendy! Thank you for having me here.

Who doesn’t like the holidays? Most people will say, “I love the holidays!” Then in the next breath complain about the lines while shopping, the money you have to spend. What bothers me the most? Not what you’d think. While I have three children 7, 11, and 16, the hardest part is the grocery store. Aaagggg!

Now, I’m not one to complain, but does everyone develop bio-polar disorder, or what?

I try to keep thinking positive. And, while it very hard when you get hit with a grocery cart and are told to, “Move” from some stranger, I remind myself to count to ten. Fore, they might have a very good reason for being nasty. Here’s a little story about how just the other day, I had to rein myself in to not ruin someone’s day. (Including mine)

I was going to the grocery store with the three kids. Now, if I was a sane woman, I would have left them home. But, nooooo. So we’re getting out of the car when the 7 yr old, Jack, slams the door into the car next to us! Now no one out there can tell me they haven’t thought of inspecting the car and deciding its okay and not to leave a note. I was hoping for this scenario. What I got was a dent and paint scratch. So, I reached into my purse, pulled out a business card, because that’s all I had, and wrote a note with my name and number. Little did I know a man was watching me from his vehicle. When we turned to go, he gave us a thumbs-up. Awesome, that brightened me up a little about the problem.

The grocery shopping started as usual. I sent the older two on ‘missions’ to find things, while Jack and I went to the deli. This is where he proceeded to topple the carriage when I ordered our meat. The older two ones came back, I sent them out again, grabbed my sandwich meat and turned to find Jack gone. Panic hit me until I noticed he was under the carriage. Upon exiting his hiding place, I caught the carriage before it did a full-on dump, AGAIN. Now people are watching me and me vibrating son who can’t seem to sit or stand. I tried talking to Jack about Santa, Christmas parties, anything to distract him from getting in trouble. But it was as if some alien had taken over my son and left me with a jittering, chattering, nutcase! When my additional sandwich meat was ready, I kept him next to me but then found him on the floor.

“What happened?” I couldn’t help but laugh. He’d tripped on his own feet.

So Jack went into the back of the carriage and my 11 yr old, Leah, was in charge of helping me watch him. As we walked away a man said, “Mine was the same way around this time of year.” Very comforting words and what I needed to hear so I didn’t run from the store pulling my hair out. It was a ‘bi-polar’ moment.

After getting home we decorated the tree and Jack broke a few ornaments. And, while my head was splitting in two from holding my temper and trying not to ruin the excitement he has toward Christmas, I had to wonder…Who the heck is this kid?

HAPPY HOLIDAYS. May they be as sane as possible!

Rebecca Rose

Blurb: Sometimes Redemption Is The Only Salvation Needed To Forgive Yourself.

In his first ever selfless act Donald Write takes a bullet for a man
he just met, Daniel Allen. Now he's changed his name and moved across
the country to live with Daniel’s family whose welcoming home
reception wasn't very warm.

Jacqueline is Daniel’s daughter. This soft spoken, well dressed lady
soon teaches Donald that looks can be deceiving and her heart can be
his if he’s willing to open up and except her gift of love.
Donald hadn't counted on the intense and immediate attraction to
Jacqueline. She’s the boss’s daughter and off limits; that is until he
finds himself with an irresistible primal need to be with her. She
shows him love in a way he's never felt before and gives him the
strength to become the better man he's always wanted to be. But how
can Donald touch and care for someone so pure of heart when their
future can be destroyed by his past? A future built on redemption and
second chances.

WARNING: This novel contains M/F romance, action, and explicit sex.

To buy her books: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=authors&authors_id=103&zenid=dpgmkge3q608tnhhb0avsg0kh1

Echoes in Stone pre-order at TWRP.com

It makes a great holiday gift, though I have to say at 376 pages, it's a little big for a stocking stuffer, so it had better go under the tree.

I know I say this about all my books, but I really loved writing this one. Noah, the hero, is sooo sexy, yummy and good. He's kindhearted but far from a pushover. Lilly, the heroine, has some baggage in her past, but it willing to try again...with Noah. (Well, of course she is...it's a romance.) But it's also a ghost story. Ohhh,scary, scary.

Here's a blurb:

Echoes of tragedy fill the walls of Campbell’s Folly.

Contractor Noah Chase heard mournful cries inside the castle when he was a boy. Now he’s returned to Sussex-On-Delaware to restore the castle and set the spirits free. To succeed, he must face his past, gain the town's cooperation, and come to terms with the emotions the sexy photographer he hires inspires inside his heart.

Lilly Briton has ghosts of her own. After a bitter divorce and estrangement from her family, the last thing she wants is to return to Sussex-On-Delaware. Hired as a photographer to chronicle the castle's restoration, she unwillingly finds herself falling for Noah.

Together they attempt to uncover the mystery surrounding Campbell's Folly and its curse. Yet before they can help the spirits of star-crossed lovers, they must deal with the past and the presence of an evil entity set on destroying them all.

****

Teaser:

What was there about Noah Chase that made her feel as if she’d just stepped to the edge of a deep ravine? There was no way of telling what lay in wait at the bottom until she took the plunge.

The castle walls seemed to close in around her.

The eerie sensation from the day before wound around her legs, traveling up her body like cold disembodied hands. “Lilly?”

She tried to take a step back, but her feet remained planted to the floor. Noah moved closer and held onto her as she started to fall over.

Panic attacks had never taken on such odd symptoms. Or was it panic? Surely she only imagined things. Noah didn’t appear disturbed at all.

“Does it seem cold to you?”

He searched her face for a moment then moved his hand in the space between them.The tips of his fingers brushed her stomach. Heat exploded in her belly on contact, chasing away the lingering cold.

“No. It’s very warm.” Color filled his cheeks and he stepped back. “I need to get back to work.”

****



Releases in ebook Dec. 16th. Available now in print.

Enjoy!!

-Kat

African SF Romantic Adventure anyone?

“Rich with astonishing sights and sounds, primal fears and advanced technology, the simplicity of love and faith and the ugly faces of envy, greed and mistrust - this book is a magical tale that will have you hanging on right to the end.” – Amazon Review by DJP

Now Available

A Senseless Act of Beauty

John Rosenman

Crossroads Press

 

Buy link: Amazon, Crossroads Press

 

 

Blurb:

Aaron Okonkwo, a Nigerian scientist, travels with a crew in the 24th century to evaluate Viridis, which proves to be a beautiful and fabulous world.  There, Aaron discovers a strange, alien species and amazing machines and technology left in a vast underground complex by a mysterious race called the Creators.
Aaron soon falls under the irresistible, seductive spell of Nightsong, a green alien female with ominous and bewitching powers.  However, an even greater danger rises.  He will be forced to fight for the planet’s survival against a ruthless invasion of many ships to conquer and enslave the planet – just as Africa itself was once enslaved.  Aaron knows it’s A Senseless Act of Beauty to try to reclaim his ancient warrior heritage and fight back against such overwhelming odds, but he knows he must try.

 

Excerpt:

 

Peering through the shining leaves of a sarberry bush, Aaron Okonkwo watched the naked alien girl dive into the pond. Her green body lithe, and breasts full and firm in the sun. He wet his lips, feeling his blood course as her delicate, sinuous form glided through the water faster than any human could swim. She moved smoothly, with barely a ripple, her webbed hands flowing with graceful precision. Watching the water caress her long, slender limbs, he felt his body respond.
Aaron rubbed a muscular arm and took out his recorder. He tried to focus on dictating some field notes concerning the sixty species of moss he had so far catalogued, but soon found himself watching the girl again. This, of course, was not right. Their survey team had come to Viridis for a month to evaluate the planet for possible colonization and commercial exploitation. Indigenous, sentient life forms were officially off-limits to Confederation—’Fed—personnel because of the danger of cultural and biological contamination. Since they had landed two weeks ago and first met the gentle, humanoid creatures, he had constantly reminded himself of this fact.
Still, he desired her.
He knew it was more than just the exquisite molding of her form or her quick, light animal movements no human female could match. The clear, liquid trill of her laughter, seemingly so innocent, had ensnared his senses too. Then there was the strange way she would suddenly freeze and stand motionless. At such times, he felt as if she had not only caught his scent, but was listening to his heartbeat.

 

Check out John’s website: Http://johnrosenman.com

The Mountain City Bronzes by Madeleine McLaughlin

“If you like dark fiction, you will surely enjoy Madeleine’s The Mountain City Bronzes.”

Now Available

The Mountain City Bronzes

Madeleine McLaughlin

Museitup Publishing

 

How far will a community go to protect its children when they start to disappear?

 

When Kevin learns of his mountain town’s evil past, he must struggle to understand his father’s part in it and how it affects himself.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving, friends! I know this year I have a lot to be thankful for. Last year things looked pretty bleak for the kids and me. Things are so much better now and I plan on this year's dinner being great and just enjoying each other's company. Also, my 'kind of' boyfriend will be having Thanksgiving dinner with us. Last year he lived out of town so we didn't celebrate the holiday together.

The kids usually help cook dinner... my son makes the mashed potatoes and my daughter makes the dessert. So we have a blast cooking and trashing the kitchen as we go! Our apartment is filled with laughs and lots of fun. By the time we are ready to eat, we are all wiped out. Dishes and the mess is cleaned up waaaaay later in the evening and that is okay.

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you have any special traditions?

Wendy Ely

If I had a Nickel

...for every story idea I have that I can't seem to write on at the moment, I'd be a very rich woman.

Have you ever had "the story from Hell?" The manuscript that just kept going and going...like the Energizer Bunny on crack? You only need to add a few more scenes, but getting them on paper is like pulling teeth on a chicken? Yep, that's me. And instead of writing the last few scenes of my stock car racing book, I'm playing with wordpress and blogging on blogger. Anything not to have to open that freaking book that doesn't seem to want to do what I want it to do. Which is not very encouraging since it's been a requested full for months now. Granted, I was very up front with the publisher at the time I pitched it and said it was not completed. I believe in full disclosure in all things. I'm nothing if not honest. No matter how far behind I might get.

I originally said I'd have it in by Sept. (This is in my own self-imposed deadline.) Then with the hurricanes and floods in my area, concentration wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. So, now...yes, I've pushed it back. Now if I have it in by Christmas I'll consider myself golden. But at what cost? What if the pub thinks it took me too long to finish the book? What if they decide to reject on pure slowness. It would be a blow, but I'd send it elsewhere. Why not? Most of my rejected books get sent on to another place. I'm not one to sit on my laurels or even let the moss grow. I need to know that my books are out there earning their keep.

I really need to finish some sequels too. Oh, yes. This is the time of year when I lament about how much time has flown and how little I've gotten done. All in all though, I've had just as many releases this year as I have in previous ones. Though in all honesty, it doesn't feel that way.

I need better organization. So, if any of you have any ideas, please send them my way.

-Kate

Wrimo Wednesday!

Actually, its Nanowrimo for the whole month! My mom called me last week. She asked if I watched some recent television show. "Nope," I said to her, "I really don't have a lot of time for tv." She then told me that she noticed (thanks to Facebook!) that I have more than enough time for Nanowrimo. I had to explain the reality of it to her. Just because I say I am doing Nanowrimo doesn't mean I am succeeding at it. What it really means is that when I have a few minutes I will jot some words down in my nanowrimo novel.

To prove my point:

Word count to date: 3,276.

According to the Nanowrimo website I will finish this nano-novel by May 31st, 2012. Do I need to remind you that this program only goes until the end of November of THIS YEAR?!?!

So my aunt (also an author) emailed me over the weekend. She said she was interested in this Nanowrimo thing but couldn't really find much information on it. I gave her the details of the program and explained that you didn't win anything. People call it a contest but its more like a program.

Her email to me: So what is the point of doing it then??

The point for me is what I wrote in the paragraph above. I do a lot of technical writing. I don't give my brain the creative pleasure it needs for balance. To me, nanowrimo is fun. It provides me with the motivation and push to get me writing again. Yes, I will admit, that I shouldn't need such a program to get me to write. I should make the time to do this because it is my passion, it is part of who I am. I need to relearn how to write every single day no matter what. Nanowrimo helps me do that... for the month of November anyway! Besides, I've met some really cool people who also do the program!

So... I will keep doing the program no matter if I complete the projects each year or not. No matter if I have the time or not. No matter if other people see the point of it... or not.

Write (and read!) on my friends!

Wendy Ely

Condoms in Romances?

Let's talk about sex for a few. Okay, the condoms involved (or not!) with the sex.

The couple has been through all of their drama stuff: sexual tension between the two, outside issues, internal issues (its a romance, of course!) and finally decided to come together. It might be rip-my-clothes-off-and-take-me-now

kind of sex that is filled with so much fire and passion it could burn the building down. Or might be the take-your-time-and-discover-every-part-of-me kind of sex. Both are great and work well in romances. So we get the characters to this scene. They are kissing, touching, yearning for each other. One character pulls out a condom or mentions the use of one. Do you think it ruins the scene? Takes away from the fantasy and sensuality that romance novels bring?

I don't remember adding condom use in any of my books, but I've read some of my favorite author's books that have included condoms. The scenes were done with class and only a few words were added to show that the sex was protected. I didn't mind a bit because it fit with the character's personality. I do think the action of pulling out a condom or denying the other sex would throw me off if the character had been some careless risk taker unless he/she were paranoid of having kids.

So what do you think? Condoms or no condoms? I think I might want to add one in a book somewhere to mix things up a bit. Hm, something to think about for sure.

Wendy Ely

Writing Prompt!

I love writing prompts so I thought I would post one in favor of Halloween! If you'd like to share what you have written feel free to do it in the comments section or email me at authorwendyely@gmail.com. I'd love to read them!

Talk to you soon,

Wendy Ely

Dreaming of Him Excerpts!!

Hiya, friends! I have the excerpts for Dreaming of Him. Can you tell I'm excited?!? Anyway, enjoy the reads....

Dreaming of Him blurb:

The dark brings romance…and death.

Loneliness has clouded Amber Addaire's life, but now she's ready for a change. After a complete makeover still leaves her unhappy, it's only when she starts dreaming of an oddly familiar - and extremely handsome - man that she begins to feel happiness.

Trace Elkson is a spirit stuck on earth long enough to let his childhood friend, Amber Addaire, know how much she meant to him before he died. He can't tell her what he is, or that he's watching over her. He can only communicate with her through her dreams and hopes she will eventually realize who he is.

In the dream realm, Amber falls in love with Trace but can she figure out who he is and join him before his spirit is forced to move on?

WARNING: A deep friendship, impending death, and a life saved.

Excerpt 1:

The man of my dreams stood there, his back to me this time, giving me the opportunity to look at him for any hint of memory. His straight brown hair had recently been cut. Despite the cool temperature, he wore an old t-shirt that seemed to fit over his broad back. The jeans he wore were faded and cupped his ass as if that style of denim had been invented only for him. My stomach fluttered as he turned around, offering a large grin. Had he been waiting for me?

“I’m so glad to find you here,” I said, walking over to him.

He held his arms out and I eagerly stepped into his embrace. It had been so long since I’d experienced this warmth from another person. “I was waiting for you.”

“Can you tell me your name now?”

He shook his head and stepped back. I wanted to stay against his chest. Having him against me washed all of the negativity from my life. “Remember what I asked of you?”

“Yes. You want time.” I turned my back to him. “I never feel this sensation with anyone else.”

****

Excerpt 2:

The sun had begun to sink behind the rippling water of the lake. My favorite time of the night had arrived, along with my favorite season--fall. The cool breeze made me snuggle deeper in my coat. I sat on the large rock, watching the moon glitter over the inky water. This place had been my favorite spot. Always the place I had gone when a problem chewed at my brain, since about age seven.

I felt him approach the rock, but didn’t turn toward him. My gaze stayed fixed on the grooves over the water’s surface. Even his sliding over the rock to sit next to me didn’t steal my attention. At that moment, he didn’t matter to me.

“Amber?”

“Mm hm?” My gaze remained on the lake before me. I had the sense that I had been in this exact situation before. But I didn’t know this man. I was certain of it, even though he felt familiar in a way I couldn’t put my finger on.

“What is bothering you?” He slid his arm around my shoulders and hugged me close, and I rested my head against his shoulder without hesitation.

“How do you know something is bothering me?” Tears of frustration threatened to spill.

“I know you, Amber.” He slid his fingers through my hair. “I can tell when you’re upset about something. What is it?”

I took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. Was he someone I could trust? He must be. Being in his arms felt so right, even without knowing his name. “I’m trying to be someone I’m not.”

“I see.” He really didn’t. He couldn’t possibly understand what a fake life I lived outside of this dream. But he washed away the tension that had been bundling my nerves into tight bands.

“I don’t know what to do about it. That’s why I came here.”

“Because this is your favorite spot to think. Right?”

I pulled from the comfort of his arms. “How do you know that?”

“Because I know you, Amber Michelle Addaire.” He turned to me and clasped my hands in his. “I wish you would realize that.”

“But do I know you? What’s your name?”

His eyes. In each dream, those rich chocolate brown eyes drew me in as though I had once looked into them. Not in the dreams, either. In real life. Had I? Would he tell me this time?

“You’ll know soon enough. Sometimes rushing things ruins the situation. Time, my dear, is everything in this case. Give it all the time warranted.” He stood. “And Amber?”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry about trying to be someone you’re not. Everyone does that once in awhile. It helps us discover who we really are.” A piece of hair fell down against his tanned forehead as it had the first time he’d joined me at the lake.

The man of my dreams disappeared then, leaving me sitting alone on the rock.

I woke up with a start. Why had he just left willingly this time? It wasn’t as if I had somewhere to go. Saturday morning had arrived, meaning I could sleep in all day. And be with him in my dreams. But nope. He had to disappear, leaving me to wake up in the dreary bedroom, dreading the day ahead.

There really wasn’t any reason to dread the day, either. Things weren’t so bad in my life. Many people in the world had it a lot worse than me, so why couldn’t I see it like that? I tried, damn it, but couldn’t.

***

I don't know about you, but I can't wait for this novella to be released (1-23-12)!!

Talk to you soon,

Wendy Ely

Tis the Month for Ghouls, Ghosts and Wickedly Witches

I love, love, love October!

As a child, no month on the calendar could quite compare to the crisp, fallen maple leaf smell of October. Growing up in Michigan, the fall really was the most wonderful time of the year. Only a month into the new school year and the Halloween decoration were up on the bulletin boards, recess talk was about costumes. Weekends were devoted to apple picking at orchards and watching the mills make cider in the press. Fires in the fireplace were usually the norm as the days grew colder. Huge piles of leaves in the front yard that were perfect for jumping in. With memories like those, is it any wonder that I grew up to love this month of changing colors?

But it's more than that. I've always loved a good ghost story. I can't seem to help myself. The mere thought that people can come back from the other side and communicate with the living is one that has been with me all my life. See, I grew up in a haunted house. My mother, who really isn't a firm believer in anything paranormal--a stark contrast from my father who believed in everything paranormal--saw shades of people who may have once lived on our property. Not the house itself since from the way she described the clothing of the man she saw leaning against a mantle that wasn't like ours, it was a spill over from another era. But something about that man, saw into our world, our time and he looked directly at my mother and smiled then faded away.

Ghosts have followed me all my life. I don't think I've ever not lived in a haunted place, though in all fairness they are benign spirits who make more noise than nuisance of themselves. I'm fine with that. And given recent theories of time-space, whose to say that time isn't curled in on itself and the past and present, along with the future do not touch along some great cosmic helix. If that's the case, they have as much right to be in my house as I do--though I wished they'd do a little more around the house and perhaps help pay the mortgage.

At this time of year, I like to curl up with a scary book and read about ghosts, ghouls and wickedly witches. It's that same little kid in me wanting to relive my childhood and drink mulled apple cider with cinnamon sticks and sit in front of a fire. I do love scary movies, but sometimes nothing beats a great scary book on a cold autumn night.

By the way, I am looking for recommendations. Let me know if you have any. I'm about ready to get my Halloween TBR pile together. Oh, and the story doesn't necessarily have to be set around Halloween, but it does help.

Until next week,

-Kate

Interview with Lux Zakari!!

What made you decide to write in this genre?

It was never so much a decision as it was a natural draw. I find it impossible not to write about relationships, with all the good and the bad, and for the most part relationships concern sex in some capacity. I choose to be graphic with all the sexy details because I’m being graphic about everything else everyone is feeling or doing. It wouldn’t feel right for me to skimp there. Plus, it’s hot and fun!

Which character did you like writing the most? Why? Which character was the hardest?

Finale’s protagonist, Olivia Gray, was the most fun to write. I loved the opportunity to be so sarcastic and describe the world in such a dry, ridiculous, over-the-top way. Her growth was also really satisfying to chart, as was the decline of her secret paramour, the musician Jonathan Levant. Their relationship and dialogue felt very natural and easy to write. The children were definitely most difficult to write, as I don’t currently have kids of my own. Hopefully I succeeded in lending them a semblance of realism!

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Tell us a little about your writing process.

I definitely start out with a synopsis to get me going, but I don’t write in any specific order. Actually, I write in no order at all; I’ll start in the middle and sometimes write the end before the beginning. I just go with whatever idea is most vivid in my head—that ensures that at least something gets done!

Where did you get the idea for this book?

The inspiration for Finale may strike some readers as obvious, but it goes beyond the bare-bones concept of a music legend dying under sudden circumstances and leaving his three children behind. This isn’t the music legend’s story. I wanted to explore the idea of what the aftermath of his death would be like for all the parties involved, and I wanted to intersperse the story with a complicated love story providing evidence behind the decision to leave the children under the guardianship of a person who never thought of anyone but herself.

Did it require a lot of research? What was your favorite part of research?

My friend cracked me up recently; I was telling him how on some occasions, I try to be an unobservant as possible, and he was like, “You try to be unobservant? How are you a writer, man? ...Maybe that’s why you’re prolific; you’re just making shit up!” Generally, that’s what I do; I definitely just wing it if I have no idea what I’m talking about, and for the most part, I have little experience with some major themes of the story, such as fame and parenting. But the story did have to be grounded in realism, so whenever I would reach a point where I needed a fact or some realistic inspiration (i.e., when the Grammies took place, what kind of car was popular in 1985), I’d just type “XXXX” and go back later to fill those spots in.

Is there anything you'd like to share with readers?

In the near future, look for some happy endings – but know they won’t come easy!

# # #

Purchase link for Finale: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/torrid/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=601&zenid=6682f72a0e56c6d5ef87b6d88e427d51

Purchase link for Coercion: http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_12&products_id=315

www.luxzakari.com

Into the Home Stretch

Well, here it is. The last fourth of the year. Autumn. The time of year when I take stock at what I've done and what I have coming up and realize I'm waaaaay behind.

Don't get me wrong, I love the fall. This crisp air, the comfy clothes. Fires in the fireplaces. Geez, it's enough to make me want to curl up in my favorite spot on the sofa with a good book. Oh, wait...I already do that. Except the book is mine and I'm trying like hell to finish it and get it sent into a publisher.

For some reason, I feel I haven't gotten as much done this year. However, when I look at the amount of releases I've had this year as opposed to former years, it's exactly the same. So, why does it seem that production is down if it's really stayed the same. Why do I feel as if the wheels are spinning and there is no traction? I know you've read me complain about this in the past...and I'll no doubt do it in the future. But how do I increase productivity when I'm already writing 5 books at a time?

The answer: I haven't the slightest idea in the heaven or earth how to do it. Granted, some of the books I've written this year are full lengths and not actually at pubs at the moment. I may not see a return on them for a few months. It takes a bit longer to write 2 90K novels than a few smaller ones and to get the ball rolling on them. That's fine. It's part of the job. Yet, I haven't had surgery this year like I did last, so there wasn't any real downtime...Oh, unless you count the four days my hubby and I spent bailing out our basement after the Great Flood of 2011 followed immediately by The Great Barbie Rescue of 2011. Trust me when I say it was a disaster of collectible proportions.

With any luck, now that I'm winding down on my second full length book and about to get that out the door within the next few weeks, I will be able to finish all the other ones on my plate and move on. I'd like to have a couple things go out the door in December or January. You know, end the yeat/start the year with something sitting on an editor's desk.

I will say this much for my 2012 plans-- I'm going to be cranking me out some hotter titles and while I'm at it, revist some worlds that aren't as hot, but sure sold like they were.

Until next week...keep those cards and letter coming.

-Kate

The Long Hood of the Law

Synopsis:
Good must do whatever it takes

Casey and Bruce are assigned to investigate a paedophile ring in operation around Jadebrook. The victims are young, athletic teenage boys. Not only are these young men being photographed for the rings’ disturbed enjoyment, they are then murdered, their bodies dumped in the forest.

The paedophile ring must be stopped at all costs.

It’s up to Casey to find the leaders of the ring and all who they associate with before they strike for the eighth time. A major undertaking for all concerned, especially for Casey. He’s volunteered to go undercover, pose as a high school football jock. Thankfully, he’ll be backed up by the only man he trusts, his work partner Bruce.

But will that be enough?

Can Casey pull off his first undercover operation and stop the ring from grooming their next target? Or will he become a victim himself?


Excerpt:




“What you laughing at, baby?” Casey offered casually, not taking his eyes off the TV.

“Some newbie twerp on this sports chat forum I’m on, that’s what. I mean, get a load of him, talk about desperate. He’s trying to crack onto whoever will reply to him.”

Casey sat up, bringing the recliner part of his chair back into its housing, disappointed he’d been distracted from the game, but at the same time, concerned about what Jason was seeing. “You mean there’s a bloke trying to score in there? On a Jadebrook Tigers fan forum?”

“Yeah, I mean, look at this.” Jason pointed to a line of text on his screen. “He’s plainly got no fuckin’ clue.”

Casey got up out of his chair, setting his beer down. He couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, chat room talk all looked the same to him. “Where?”

“Can’t you see?”

“No. Now show me before I take you into the bedroom and start spanking that sexy hide of yours, baby.”

Jason looked up, his expression lit with his obvious excitement at Casey’s little tease. “You can do that any time you like, Case. My arse is yours.”

Casey embraced him, and lavished kisses all over his face, concentrating on his plump lips. “Now you’d better show me before I miss the first half of the game.”

“Only if you promise to take complete advantage of me at half time.”

“You got yourself a deal.”

Jason smiled, victorious and alluring, before turning his attention back to the computer. “Well, for a start, look at the way he’s typing the words, it’s all proper and so obvious. It’s like he’s never texted a message in his life.”

Casey could see what Jason was talking about, and now that he had, he was surprised he missed it before. Even in chat rooms, most of the time everything was abbreviated to text speak or shortened forms of words at the very least. Sure, there were emoticons added, but most of the time it was straight to the point. People typed in such phrases as, see u 2mro or Ur hawt. Not so with the person who referred to himself as terryboi69. He typed in stuff like, I’m free for drinkz later. No wonder Jason laughed. When Casey thought about it, replacing S’s with Z’s didn’t make for very good internet forum speak.

“I have to say, he’s gaining a lot of attention.”

Jason snorted. “Yeah, probably from all the dudes who feel sorry for him.”

Casey could see at least three blokes this man was conversing with. Was that all part of his plan? To act dumb in the hope of catching himself a date. One lad in particular, referring to himself as, TigerFanRuben seemed to be taking more interest than the other two.

Then again, it was a sports forum, not the usual haunt for gay blokes wanting to get themselves a fuck. Casey would bet the man Jason laughed at was only trying to be social, especially as the game was on right now. Most of the talk in the chat room was about how the game was playing out, them cheering over the goals kicked and anything else football related, including substitutions and injuries.

“Seems harmless though,” Casey said, returning back to his chair, flicking the lever to recline it. “Looks like blokes sharing a common interest to me. I’m all for that.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Jason began typing. “But if you want some free drinks, let me know. I can get this terryboi dude to buy us some. He’s organised a piss up at his house over in lower Jadebrook at five o’clock, everyone’s welcome.”

Casey sipped on his beer. “He sure is generous then. But just so you know, at about that time I’m planning to fuck you good and hard.”

Jason let out a guffaw. “Wow, the game must be going well for the Tigers. I’ve never had an offer of a half time and full time session in the sack from you on a Sunday. How lucky am I?”

Before Casey could answer, to let his boyfriend know how dangerously close he was to getting his clothes ripped off, his cock sucked dry and his arse pounded with all the affection he could muster, the phone rang. He leant over and picked up the receiver. “Hello, Casey speaking,” he droned in his usual manner when answering the phone which rang in the middle of a football game and right when a goal was kicked to bring his team forty points into the lead.

“Hey, buddy, you busy?” Bruce asked.

“Other than watching the Tigers game and getting into my boyfriend later because he’s too damn sexy, not really. Why?”

“Well, keep your cock in your pants, buddy. Sarge has called an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning. We’re to report to him plain clothes…no uniforms.”

“No uniform? Damn, what’s going on?”

“I don’t know the details, but there was another young man found dead out in the Jadebrook forest this morning.”



Purchase here:


http://www.extasybooks.com/the-long-hood-of-the-law-3-2/

Just Plain Five!

I borrowed this from another blog and am adding my own spin on it. Here are some of my favorite things that start with the letter A.

Like:

1. Alexis- she is my daughter.

2. Ash- he is "the guy" I talk about occasionally.

3. A happily-ever-after - to a love story of course!

4. ARe Newsletter- I read it every time it hits my inbox!

5. Assisting the teacher- I work as a teacher's assistant for a 1st grade classroom and I loooove my job!

Don't Like:

1. Ant bites- I ride the bus and I won't even notice this little nasty bugs crawling over my feet until they start biting. It sucks bad.

2. Assignments- I'm so tired of being in school. I have 5 months left until I get my degree in paralegal studies.

3. Argumentative people- I had a big issue with that today. Why can't people just let others believe what they want as long as it doesn't hurt anyone? I just don't get it.

4. Adult Swim channel- my son just discovered the shows on this channel which I don't approve of.

5. Arizona summers- its in the middle of September and its still warm. I swear we have two seasons "Too damn hot" and "Not hot".

I'd love to hear about your favorite things! Feel free to share so I can have a chance to get to know you!

Wendy Ely

Deadly R&R is NOW AVAILABLE for .99!!!

Check out my new book trailer for Ruby Vines' debut novel, Deadly R&R! Available now for .99 at Amazon and Barnes and Noble Worldwide!




~Spread Love,
Ruby Vines

What are you watching, Wendy?

I love tv. My kids love tv. If you come into our apartment at most any time during the day or evening, our tv will be on. The television serves as background noise for me and I can actually concentrate better with the extra sound. I watch it when I write, read, do school work, and housework. When I get up in the a.m I have to watch (or listen to) the news while I drink my coffee or my morning doesn't feel complete.

My last movie date conversation when something like this: "I'm really sorry for taking you to a guy movie, Wendy". I told him it was fine. "No really. I shoulda brought you to see a chick flick instead of the action movie."

Okay so I admit I'm a girlie-girl. I love pink and all that jazz. Obviously I'm a romance author so I enjoy a happy ending. But really? If I had a choice of movie genres I would have to pick action or a good mystery. I don't watch tv shows like American Idol or Jersey Shore. No way. I loooove crime stuff and I don't mean the fake crime shows like CSI. I want the gritty true life shows from the ID channel or the biography channel. That stuff keeps me interested from beginning to end and never ever gets old. There are so many ideas I scribble down from watching that stuff and then twist into a love story.

So, my friends, what do you like to watch?

Interview with Elise Hepner

Today, I'm talking with my good friend Elise Hepner, whose Ellora's Cave Exotica Roped Emotions is about to release.

1) When you read a book, what draws you in to certain characters? What turns you off?

I really enjoy heroines with a huge self-deprecation problem, women who can admit they aren't perfect while still having a sense of humor about it. Sometimes the more cynical and sarcastic, the better. I gravitate towards strong attitudes on either side of the spectrum either through "screw you" attitudes or Meg Cabot's Size 14 Isn't Fat, sarcastic, chick-lit humor.

What can really turn me off about a character is an overly whiny attitude or when either hero or heroine are way to self-confidant. Heroes that order the heroine about because clearly they know everything--that drives me insane. I'm okay with a confidant, alpha hero but one who's pushy and super domineering makes me want to throw a book at the wall.


2) Have you ever been so struck by an idea that you had to sit down and write the story immediately?

That happens with almost every book idea I have. Luckily, I can write my idea on a scrap of paper and that keeps the creative knocking at bay until I can finish my current project and get to the new project. I think my favorite instance of this was when I sat down to write my Steampunk Novel a few months ago and I wrote 26k in a week. The story came really easily and it was a nice change to get so into it, all the time. Normally, my writing just flows naturally without me having to think about it, but this book really took me by storm until I couldn't eat or sleep because the words might leave me while I was otherwise engaged by an action that wasn't writing the book.

A lot of my short anthology submissions are written in a day, often in one sitting, from thought to final draft.


3) In retropspect are there any characters you wish you'd have written differently and why?


I find it's best not to think about past books in terms of what I could change only because it winds up getting me frustrated because making changes isn't possible until I get the rights back to that work. My writing has a really steep learning curve and I'm always picking up new ways of twisting words and building dialogue which means my books evolve all the time. If I thought about how I could have incorporated a cool idea that I learned this week in a manuscript that got turned in two months ago I think I would go crazy with insecurities.


4) Ever see a man or woman in public and thought, "Holy shit! They are so hot, I have to write about them?"

All the time! I am such a people watcher. I like to go to the mall near my house and just watch people outside the local Starbucks while I drink my caffeinated deliciousness. I try to be covert about it but I'm sure some people think I'm a weird stalker. But people are so unique and fun. I've never really had to make up a character's look from just the images in my head because I can find some feature to tack on there to make it yummy.

Blurb:
Rapunzel is trapped by the harsh, inescapable reality of her prison, so she builds vivid sexual fantasies where she has full control and no one can take it away. If nothing else, at least she has command over her thoughts.

When Prince Samuel climbs into her tower it’s a small, satisfying excuse to break the rules—until his gentle touch coaxes out her trust. But it’s not enough. No longer can she keep her dark, sexual secrets inside. Rapunzel yearns for rough, passionate sex—a way to unlock her sensual freedom for good.

Vulnerable but unable to turn back, Rapunzel leads Prince Samuel on an intimate journey to define their sexual limits while twisting their definitions of control forever.

Excerpt:

“What in Christ’s name…”

I must be hearing echoes from the town nearby, where Mother sells her herbs and braided goods. No one ventures this far toward my tower because Mother’s gone to great lengths to see that they don’t—bear traps are her new favorite method of discouragement. Once one life is claimed, I imagine word spreads fairly quickly to stay away from the area. Why then are there hoof beats that make my head pulse with a slight pain?

There’s no understandable excuse I can delude myself with any longer. Before I can focus on the consequences, I swing my head out the window into the oppressive, humid summer air. Just the very top of his head is visible, his hair brushing past his cheekbones, glowing from the sunshine and shot through with gold. Never have I seen a color so close to my own before—not that I see many people.

For a few moments I can’t quite come to terms with his presence and it’s not for a lack of staring that my pulse inevitably echoes inside my head like an overbeaten drum. This is my chance. Mother won’t be back for quite some time with her wares. He’s circling the tower, slouched over a horse who looks a bit like a nag. Certainly not a proper horse for a man with such fine clothes in gorgeous colors and sumptuous fabrics.

There’s no going back from this moment. It’s a certainty that makes my teeth chatter in a wash of cold fear, despite the heat, and my hands clasp around my middle as I try to hold myself together. He hasn’t looked up yet, more intent on studying the free-standing structure than noticing my shadow plastered across the grass. My mind is desperately working out what I’ll cry out to him. Even as my throat closes with an infusion of happiness that makes me rock on my feet.

“Excuse me?” A tentative question I’m not sure he will hear because it can’t be any louder than a frightened whisper. “Sir, you’re really not supposed to be here.”

Somehow, I’ve managed to make this part louder because he glances up—and his slack-jawed expression is a blow to my chest. He possesses the most gorgeous cobalt blue eyes. Underneath my ribs, the pain grows until taking a full breath is hard. Mother is right, he hasn’t even overcome his shock as my heavy plait of hair rests down the stone side of my prison. He’s not to be trusted.

What am I thinking? He won’t even come near me to aid my escape and his eyes are swamped in confusion—and there’s a flash of unreadable emotion that I refuse to question. He must leave here now and I must somehow convince him to bring no one back with him. I won’t be paraded around for anyone’s amusement. This man has made a mistake coming here.

Yet, there’s still a part of me that grips the windowsill until my palms are numb and that clings to the hope that he will at least acknowledge me. So long since I’ve had any kind of normal conversation. One that didn’t revolve around my hair, my rules or my mother’s day. Won’t he say anything? I’m as trapped by his thick silence as I am by the beauty of his face.

“Please, you must go and tell no one about what you’ve seen. You shouldn’t have ignored the traps. They are there for a reason.”

I don’t know how I’ve gotten that all out because my main focus lies on the foreign stirrings of heat in my cheeks as the pulsing sensation twists lower in my abdomen. What is happening to me? With a certainty that surprises me, I find myself clenching my thighs together, only to have the subtle touch of flesh-on-flesh be more than I can bear. He has yet to take his gaze from mine and a shudder slips up my spine.

“How long have you been here?” His voice carries the strain I hold back and I’m slightly put at ease that at least we are on similar ground. “Who did this to you?”

“For a man who is about to leave, I don’t believe it matters.”

The words barely tumble out of my mouth before I clamp my hand over my lips. I hadn’t meant to be so harsh and instantly regret it. He is so handsome—and these sudden urges, they are overwhelming and confusing to the point where I wish to completely remove the problem. My lips part in an apology and I watch a jovial grin span from ear to ear as he laughs at me until I can’t hear anything but the frantic beat of my heart.

Who is this man? Now he stares at me with a playfulness that washes a wave of goose bumps across my flesh. He doesn’t seem offended, merely amused at my suggestion that he leave. To further that fact, he quickly dismounts and ties his horse to a nearby tree branch. While I can only stare at the way his tight riding boots and breeches hug his muscular body from his calves all the way up to his perfectly rounded buttocks.

Though I’d learned of desire from my mother—and all its wicked principles—I never expected it to rear its head in my lonely, simple world.

However, now my life spirals out of control quickly enough that I tilt back against the wall to my left and watch with trembling hands. This mysterious man climbs the wall of my tower as if it had been built to be climbed so easily—without any aid from my hair. One strong, sun-kissed hand and booted foot at a time. When he offers up his hand to me to pull him over the side, what choice do I have? Even a man that strong would eventually grow tired and plummet to his death—and I want him tucked close to my body, not on the ground.

“I was beginning to wonder what it took to get some assistance.”

He softly grunts and clasps my hand hard enough that I gasp as I shift my weight to pull him over the side. Muscles I didn’t know existed inside me burn with sharp pain from disuse because of my isolation. His touch radiates heat all along my arm. If it wasn’t for his precarious situation, I would fight to pull away on instinct—but as it is, he manages to throw himself into my home with as much grace as a charging boar—and he trips, falling on top of me and sending us to the hard, stone floor.
His surprisingly soft hand brushes the hair out of my face and lingers, gently stroking, down my cheek. Should I be frightened? Probably. At the moment I can’t bear the thought that my first sincerely gentle touch from a man would be anything but special. His sharp leather scent surrounds my tingling skin.

“Isn’t this a day for surprises?” His gaze cuts through all the fear inside me and his mouth holds the subtle curve of a half smile. “I should move myself off you, this isn’t proper at all when we’ve barely been introduced.”

Yet he doesn’t move an inch.

A realization whips through my mind and would have left me on the floor if I wasn’t already pinned there by a gorgeous man who touches me with such reverence I might weep. When will this happen again? After this twisted, meandering path of fate, there is no doubt I will be alone again—and I want a loving memory to cling to at night when my old fears tighten my chest until I can’t breathe. This is a choice I can make for myself. And I won’t live the rest of my ordinary, sheltered life not knowing true passion when it burns across my skin.

“They call me Rapunzel.”

“Samuel.”

His inviting smile lights up my whole world.

Buy Links:
http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9567-roped-emotions.aspx
Author Links:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elise-Hepner-Writing/311925106401

Thank you, Elise for stopping by and sharing this fun and sexy twist on a fairytale.

-Kate

WIN a copy of Deep-seated Passion

AJ of BlackRaven's Erotic Cafe is giving away a copy of my latest book, Deep-seated Passion. Winning is easy. Just leave your comment and you'll have a chance to read my book for free.

Deep-seated Passion
Tierney O'Malley
eXtasy Books




See you all at BlackRaven's Erotic Cafe!

Tierney O'Malley

Mean People

So my birthday was on my Monday and I had planned on blogging (with pictures included!), but my camera didn't work so no pictures were taken. Besides the camera issues, I scrapped the blog idea for a topic much more important: Mean People!

One of my author friends called me recently. She was terribly upset because someone had bashed both her and her books on the Internet. During a Google search, she had found the post that ripped her apart.

"Why are people mean?" she asked me over the phone. I wanted to sit there and call the author of the blog nasty names to defend my friend. I wanted to sooth her hurt feelings and make her feel better. I didn't call anyone names but I did try to ease her hurt. While doing so, I thought about why people don't like certain books or whatever.

Have you ever watched a movie and the main character reminded you of someone you know? I did. I love the movie The Waitress. I love the story line, most of the characters, even the main actress is one of my faves, but I cringe every single time the main character's husband appears on the screen. You see, the husband in the movie looks exactly like a guy who used to beat on my relative. It hits to close to home for me. If I was more sensitive, I'd probably hate the movie just because that one actor.

Back to books... I once had a new critique partner. She started reading Confessions and couldn't get past the first chapter. She sent back a nasty note with my manuscript that went something like: Wendy, it is impossible for people to sell their babies. It just doesn't happen. You won't ever sell this book to a publisher and I'm not going to critique it for you. I was pissed and wanted to ask her if she ever watched Lifetime because damn it, people do sell their babies. It isn't legal but since when do laws stop some people? Never. Just so you know, my mom was sold as a toddler and Confessions is #1 bestseller for romantic suspense on my publishers site! Anyway, I later found out that my new critique partner couldn't stand my story because it hit way too close to her own life. The stuff going on in my book reopened issues she had in her life.

I explained all that to my friend. Sure, the person didn't like her book and we don't know why since it is taboo to comment to negative posts. Something in my friend's novel might have struck a nerve with the poster of the blog. Maybe one of the characters reminded her of someone she once knew. My friend needed to just brush off the fact that the blogger didn't like her book.

What wasn't acceptable is the crap she talked about my friend. We never know when someone we talk about is going to read our blog so why should we make comments like "I would rather die than read anything from that author again" (that wasn't what was said. I made that statement up). I think that is a lot worse than saying, "I didn't like such and such in the book because..."

There is a difference between stating your opinion in a respectful way and being mean. So, my friends, that is all for this Wednesday! Have a great evening and I will talk to you soon.

Wendy Ely

Hot Damn....Men

I've been on a tear lately. For some reason, I've had multiple m/m storylines come to me. Being the writer I am who let's the story dictate the romance...I'm going with it. This is a unique challenge for me since I've only had a few m/m romances in the background or as secondary characters in other books. (One of which was very sexy-hot but I haven't finished the book yet so it is still on my hard drive.)It was that heat generated by the simple act of the characters' mere touches or how the related to each other that made me realize I might be able to pull this off. After all, love does change no matter who the participants are - the emotions are still the same. The choreography of the love scenes will just be slightly different. Oh, and perhaps the whole pronoun confusion aspect, but I've not had a hard time with that on menages, so I'm thinking I'll be all right. (Keeping positive always helps, I find.) And if I can't seem to get something right, I always have several friends who write m/m who can direct me. So it's all good.

So, for my fans who are wondering...is she taking this new turn and staying in that sub-genre? The answer is no. These are very specific projects where the characters determined the gender configuration and it was completely out of my hands. Also, for two of the books, I just don't think m/f would work right.

I'm so excited by these projects that I can't wait to work on them. One is a 20K contemporary set on an island off the coast of Brazil. So hot!!! The other two are fantasies; one a novella and the other a novel length. I'm hoping to have the two novellas done and out the door by Christmas. (One is for a special call at one of my pubs so it has a deadline and must be out...I have no choice in the matter.) So far, both books are coming along very nicely and I'm pleased with the results.

That is my "pushing my writing boundaries" project for this year. Do you have any? If you do, what are they?

-Kate

Deep, hot, sizzling, true...it's love, baby!

DEEP-SEATED PASSION

AVAILABLE NOW

EXTASY BOOKS

Aaron Hawke is a successful engineer, an overachiever, fiercely independent and cautious man. After eight years of being away, he comes home only to learn that his ex-fiancée who stabs his heart and left love’s bitter taste in his mouth is living and working in his grandfather’s mansion. Aaron quickly decided that she must leave. However, his grandfather’s will has made things complicated—Bronwyn can only leave when she has paid her debt.

Bronwyn Flaherty, a down-to-earth, honest, faithful chatelaine and utterly broke, is miserable. Aaron wants her to pay her debt or start packing. With her hands tied behind her back, she comes up with a solution—sex.

Bronwyn’s bold offer shocks Aaron, but he accepts it. He will use her whenever he gets a chance. Payback time. But two weeks into their agreed one month contract, he’s become entangled in his own seductive game.

Magolescence available now from All Romance eBooks!

That's right, you can get Magolescence at All Romance eBooks right now! Begin the magical adventure of Shane, Joel and Will today here!

Dreaming of Him blurb is here!

The dark brings romance…and death.

Loneliness has clouded Amber Addaire's life, but now she's ready for a change. After a complete makeover still leaves her unhappy, it's only when she starts dreaming of an oddly familiar - and extremely handsome - man that she begins to feel happiness.

Trace Elkson is a spirit stuck on earth long enough to let his childhood friend, Amber Addaire, know how much she meant to him before he died. He can't tell her what he is, or that he's watching over her. He can only communicate with her through her dreams and hopes she will eventually realize who he is.

In the dream realm, Amber falls in love with Trace but can she figure out who he is and join him before his spirit is forced to move on?

WARNING: A deep friendship, impending death, and a life saved.

Deadly R&R....Coming This Week!

For all my Texas readers who are still dealing with this HEAT WAVE from Hell...hang in there...there is a cold front coming! Next week it will be in the 90's and we will have lows in the evening in the 70's! Can I get a hell yeah? HELL YEAH!!! Woot! I need to go get some firewood..lol!

Ruby's debut novel, Deadly R&R, will release this week!!! Here's the blurb! Have a fantastic day and don't forget to spread love!

Blurb for Deadly R&R

Shay Reynolds was raised solely by her father and abandoned by her mother at an early age. Old enough now to take the reigns of her father's business, R&R Advertisting in Palm Springs, Florida, she's about as happy and as successful as a modern woman can get without a mother. Engaged to handsome Chase McMillan, an anchor on the popular national morning television show in New York City with her ads regularly nominated for the prestigious Clio Awards, she's a woman accustomed to life handing her roses. Her good fortune takes a nose dive when her fiance dies mysteriously. Falling into a deep depression, Shay confides in her chauffeur, Tommy Smith and agrees to hire his father's private eye service to investigate. Afraid to be alone, Shay shares her thoughts and broken dreams with Tommy. A serial killer is on the loose. Bad timing for Tommy who has always had it bad for his boss. Hot on the trail of a sicko who enjoys the shock factor of cryptic messages sent to the object of his affection, Tommy fights to shield the only woman who has never treated him like a hired hand.

An Eventful Vacation

For the last ten days I've been on vacation from my night job (I say night, because I work shift-work and am on duty from 7p-7a). It was a real working vacation because I had much ado about writing to get accomplished in this wonderful end of the summer stretch.

So the week started out awesome. I managed to get my steampunk tweaked, the synopsis written and the packet off to the agent who requested it at RWA nationals. During this time, I experienced a phenomenon that is somewhat uncommon in my neck of the woods - yes, I'm speaking of the Great Northeast Earthquake of 2011.

As it happened, I was sitting in front of my computer, writing, when one of the ladies in the writing chatroom I'm always in, typed in EARTHQUAKE. Now, she lives in the DC area, I'm in NJ. About that time, it dawned on me that the swaying I felt at my desk wasn't from construction vehicles passing by on my street, or even the fact my inner ear was acting up and I was a bit dizzy. Simultaneously, the shaking increased and seemed to envelope my house so I actually saw it moving over my head. Needless to say I grabbed my dog and ran. Now, before you get all crazy and say, "Never run outside during an earthquake" let me reassure you that I live in a very rural area. I was in more danger inside my house with a possible roof collapse, then outside in my backyard where there is nothing. I can jump a crack in the ground or move out of the way of a tree, but I failed to see the safety in becoming the Wicked Witch of the East and letting the house fall on me.

By this time I'm shaking and needing information. I turned on the television and watched the news. Yes, it was confirmed. An earthquake. In my area. That big! Unheard of. We get small ones once or twice a year. 3 something on the scale, just enough to feel the ground tremble as it would during a thunderstorm or when they're blasting from doing road construction. Nothing major. This...well, this shook me a bit. I think it was more the WTF moment then anything else.

So, as I'm watching coverage I get my first glimpse of Hurricane Irene. What? Are you kidding me? No, Sheppard Smith was not kidding me. He was in earnest. And her she comes up the coast. But at this point she's a few days away so I am still hopeful she'll spin out.

Yeah, right.

I start working diligently on the contemporary romance I've promised Sourcebooks (from another pitch at RWA nationals). I'm almost to the finish line and am listening intently to the morning forecasts as Irene takes a stroll up the eastern seaboard.

Now, folks, I grew up in Florida. I know me some hurricanes, and I know me some preparedness. I had everything done and ready to go on Friday. It was just a matter of hurry up and wait as she took her own sweet time getting here. (I think she might have been sight-seeing, but I'm not sure.)

So, yesterday I finished the contemporary and started working on other things. (I have a m/m due to an editor in Nov.) So, I'm working and the storm is getting closer, but I kept working.

Then it hits me. (The idea for my blog today, not the storm, though as I write this, she's still shaking her tail feathers at NJ.) I'll write about my very eventful vacation. When I sum it up, it looks like this.

2 books, 1 synopsis, 1 earthquake, 1 hurricane. I sound like the weather/writing equivalent of a George Thorogood tune.

-Kate