The end of another year...
It always makes me sit back and evaluate my yearly goals. Did I meet them? Did they flop? Are they even relevant anymore? Yes, I do get a little deep in my head this time of year, which is not my usual style. Normally I'm more of live in the present kind of gal, but December rolls around and suddenly I'm thinking about my life and if I'm where I need to be.
And more importantly where I want to be next December. Yep, some people call them resolutions but my life is too fluid for a ridged word like that so I think I'll still with calling them annual goals.
2008 goals
1. lose weight & get in shape. (check - I have a shape. its round)
2. advance my writing career (check - I wrote lots, subbed lots, pubbed lots)
3. fix my personal life (snort - I mean... CHECK!)
2009 goals
1. diets suck. (I'm going to focus on being more active)
2. writing = good! (with focus on the other parts of publishing)
3. hey hubby? can we go to shogun tonight? (life is good - enjoy it)
Seriously for all you folks that break your own hearts with big resolutions... remember that they are meant to improve your life, not destroy your happiness. Whatever your goals, include the live-laugh-love philosophy and have a great 2009!
Shannon
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
ACACIA III: Cravings
ACACIA III: Cravings
Erotic m/f/m Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-60521-146-6
L. Shannon - http://lshannon.net
Changeling Press - http://changelingpress.com
December 2008
Blurb
Hate crimes against vampires pose a rising threat to the moon colony of Acacia. Subversive attempts to destroy the colony are almost certainly being directed by the human purists on Rahla. Acacian agents have been murdered, and now their blood supply has been tampered with.
Counterintelligence operations have led to the capture of two werewolf warriors, more dangerous than anything either side has ever seen before. With their worlds on the brink of war, Queen Caitlin will do anything to protect her people, even if it means bartering her body to a pair of killers. But will her submission buy their loyalty?
Excerpt
Chapter One
Queen Caitlin stood behind the inch-thick plas-glass security panel and waited for the slaves to come into the exercise room. It had been months since she’d had time to watch them on seventhday. This more relaxed side of them was a balm on her overly controlled life. The entrance opened and in came the boisterous group. There were no guards to direct them, no orders given or followed. Today they came here to play.
Several of the males headed for the floor mats and began sparring. Their glistening bodies held perfect balance between tense muscles and relaxed poise. As the sex slave class all did, they lived mostly naked. The men wore nothing but loose-fitting, nearly transparent pants and armbands which declared their owner’s house, family and status. The armbands these men and women wore were gold and studded with diamonds and Acacia’s rarest stone, the iridescent black ruby. No other vampire in all Acacia would so much as touch these slaves.
They were hers.
There were only five women among them. She looked at each and saw herself in their places. Like her, they were all tall and well formed with long black hair. Her men were more varied, but the women had each been chosen because of their resemblance to her. Their purpose was to enjoy the physical love which she could not. Through them she could experience everything without risk.
One girl caught her attention. She wasn’t with any of the others, not playing or talking or interacting. She was among them, but almost as if she was unseen. She walked across the room with purpose, moving toward a private chamber, one often used for sex.
Caitlin followed, moving into the connecting viewing chamber. This one looked directly into the bedroom. Although she had entered the chamber alone, the girl wasn’t alone now. Two men, great hulking warriors, stalked her around the bed.
The men… they were not hers. They shouldn’t be in there.
Caitlin’s feet refused to move. The scene held her entranced as she watched the men catch the girl between them. Eyes wide, the girl didn’t struggle. Too terrified? Perhaps. But their hands made short work of her thin dress, tearing it from her flesh like animals.
The girl was so much like her. She leaned against the glass. “Fight them. Get away.”
Looking her way, the girl said, “Acacia needs them.”
No, that wasn’t right. How could the girl see her? The plas-glass only worked one way.
It didn’t matter. The girl was being ravished, her body stroked and fondled roughly. The men were both so huge. Every part of them. At some point they’d removed their clothes. Each sported terrifyingly large genitals, erections so thick they would surely leave the girl bleeding.
One pulled the girl across the bed, holding her down and kissing her thoroughly. The other male dragged her legs apart and knelt between her pale thighs. His silvery gaze turned toward Caitlin, as if he, too, could see the observer. “I’d die to protect what is mine. Her world becomes mine to protect.”
The first male abandoned the girl’s lips to add his own affirmation. “As would I. Nothing will cause her harm.”
The silver-eyed one lifted the girl’s hips and drove into her body in one long stroke. All the while his gaze never left Caitlin. He made love to the girl, but every motion, caress, declaration was for Caitlin. Over and over they took the girl, using her roughly, but also bringing her to one climax after another, until she was too spent to do more than accept their bodies.
The two were without mercy. Surely they would be sated soon. How much longer could they continue?
Forever.
Caitlin’s body throbbed with need. She felt their touches, enjoyed their pleasure. But release hovered just out of reach. She parted the folds of her robe, reaching down to her slick cleft. So close. Leaning against the glass she rubbed her thumb and fingers over the swollen nub of her clit. Pleasure rocked through her. Rotating her hips, she held to a controlled rhythm, forcing her body to go slow.
Inside the chamber, the second man took the girl, almost as if he were keeping to the same controlled rhythm. His cock plunged deep and withdrew over and over, in perfect time with Caitlin’s fingers.
Silver-eyes now stood at the glass, one hand resting over where she leaned. That huge hand, so close to hers… His other hand moved up and down his erection. He parted his lips, panting. His hand sped over the tip and slowed over the length. Over and over.
The waves of pleasure knifed through her and as her climax hit and stole her strength, they joined her. Both men found release with her. She sagged and would have fallen…
But the glass was gone. Both men caught her in their arms.
She should have been afraid, but she wasn’t. She felt safe. Which was ridiculous. “You can’t protect me.”
Silver-eyes tightened his arms around her. “We can if you’ll let us.”
The other one pressed his head against hers and whispered, “War is coming for you and yours. Only we can stop it. Only we can save you.”
She pushed at their heavy bodies, needing space. She didn’t need them. No. There had to be another way. Had to. Pushing… pushing…
Caitlin woke tangled in her blankets, pushing at the plush bed covering, desperate to escape the dream, the nightmare… the prescient vision.
END EXCERPT
Buy the book at http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=77
Shannon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L.Shannon ~ http://lshannon.net ~ Dark Paranormal Romance
Eagle Clan: Father of the Wolf - AVAILABLE IN PRINT NOW
Chances 3: Another Chance - 12/08 - Changeling Press
ACACIA III: Cravings 12/22/08 - Changeling Press
Nothing but Ash - TBA - Liquid Silver Books
FREE BOOK (Welcome Home) at http://www.lshannon.net/SCV.html
Erotic m/f/m Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-60521-146-6
L. Shannon - http://lshannon.net
Changeling Press - http://changelingpress.com
December 2008
Blurb
Hate crimes against vampires pose a rising threat to the moon colony of Acacia. Subversive attempts to destroy the colony are almost certainly being directed by the human purists on Rahla. Acacian agents have been murdered, and now their blood supply has been tampered with.
Counterintelligence operations have led to the capture of two werewolf warriors, more dangerous than anything either side has ever seen before. With their worlds on the brink of war, Queen Caitlin will do anything to protect her people, even if it means bartering her body to a pair of killers. But will her submission buy their loyalty?
Excerpt
Chapter One
Queen Caitlin stood behind the inch-thick plas-glass security panel and waited for the slaves to come into the exercise room. It had been months since she’d had time to watch them on seventhday. This more relaxed side of them was a balm on her overly controlled life. The entrance opened and in came the boisterous group. There were no guards to direct them, no orders given or followed. Today they came here to play.
Several of the males headed for the floor mats and began sparring. Their glistening bodies held perfect balance between tense muscles and relaxed poise. As the sex slave class all did, they lived mostly naked. The men wore nothing but loose-fitting, nearly transparent pants and armbands which declared their owner’s house, family and status. The armbands these men and women wore were gold and studded with diamonds and Acacia’s rarest stone, the iridescent black ruby. No other vampire in all Acacia would so much as touch these slaves.
They were hers.
There were only five women among them. She looked at each and saw herself in their places. Like her, they were all tall and well formed with long black hair. Her men were more varied, but the women had each been chosen because of their resemblance to her. Their purpose was to enjoy the physical love which she could not. Through them she could experience everything without risk.
One girl caught her attention. She wasn’t with any of the others, not playing or talking or interacting. She was among them, but almost as if she was unseen. She walked across the room with purpose, moving toward a private chamber, one often used for sex.
Caitlin followed, moving into the connecting viewing chamber. This one looked directly into the bedroom. Although she had entered the chamber alone, the girl wasn’t alone now. Two men, great hulking warriors, stalked her around the bed.
The men… they were not hers. They shouldn’t be in there.
Caitlin’s feet refused to move. The scene held her entranced as she watched the men catch the girl between them. Eyes wide, the girl didn’t struggle. Too terrified? Perhaps. But their hands made short work of her thin dress, tearing it from her flesh like animals.
The girl was so much like her. She leaned against the glass. “Fight them. Get away.”
Looking her way, the girl said, “Acacia needs them.”
No, that wasn’t right. How could the girl see her? The plas-glass only worked one way.
It didn’t matter. The girl was being ravished, her body stroked and fondled roughly. The men were both so huge. Every part of them. At some point they’d removed their clothes. Each sported terrifyingly large genitals, erections so thick they would surely leave the girl bleeding.
One pulled the girl across the bed, holding her down and kissing her thoroughly. The other male dragged her legs apart and knelt between her pale thighs. His silvery gaze turned toward Caitlin, as if he, too, could see the observer. “I’d die to protect what is mine. Her world becomes mine to protect.”
The first male abandoned the girl’s lips to add his own affirmation. “As would I. Nothing will cause her harm.”
The silver-eyed one lifted the girl’s hips and drove into her body in one long stroke. All the while his gaze never left Caitlin. He made love to the girl, but every motion, caress, declaration was for Caitlin. Over and over they took the girl, using her roughly, but also bringing her to one climax after another, until she was too spent to do more than accept their bodies.
The two were without mercy. Surely they would be sated soon. How much longer could they continue?
Forever.
Caitlin’s body throbbed with need. She felt their touches, enjoyed their pleasure. But release hovered just out of reach. She parted the folds of her robe, reaching down to her slick cleft. So close. Leaning against the glass she rubbed her thumb and fingers over the swollen nub of her clit. Pleasure rocked through her. Rotating her hips, she held to a controlled rhythm, forcing her body to go slow.
Inside the chamber, the second man took the girl, almost as if he were keeping to the same controlled rhythm. His cock plunged deep and withdrew over and over, in perfect time with Caitlin’s fingers.
Silver-eyes now stood at the glass, one hand resting over where she leaned. That huge hand, so close to hers… His other hand moved up and down his erection. He parted his lips, panting. His hand sped over the tip and slowed over the length. Over and over.
The waves of pleasure knifed through her and as her climax hit and stole her strength, they joined her. Both men found release with her. She sagged and would have fallen…
But the glass was gone. Both men caught her in their arms.
She should have been afraid, but she wasn’t. She felt safe. Which was ridiculous. “You can’t protect me.”
Silver-eyes tightened his arms around her. “We can if you’ll let us.”
The other one pressed his head against hers and whispered, “War is coming for you and yours. Only we can stop it. Only we can save you.”
She pushed at their heavy bodies, needing space. She didn’t need them. No. There had to be another way. Had to. Pushing… pushing…
Caitlin woke tangled in her blankets, pushing at the plush bed covering, desperate to escape the dream, the nightmare… the prescient vision.
END EXCERPT
Buy the book at http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=77
Shannon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L.Shannon ~ http://lshannon.net ~ Dark Paranormal Romance
Eagle Clan: Father of the Wolf - AVAILABLE IN PRINT NOW
Chances 3: Another Chance - 12/08 - Changeling Press
ACACIA III: Cravings 12/22/08 - Changeling Press
Nothing but Ash - TBA - Liquid Silver Books
FREE BOOK (Welcome Home) at http://www.lshannon.net/SCV.html
Monday, December 08, 2008
Chances 3: Another Chance
Gingersnap (Chances 3): Another Chance
Erotic m/m Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-60521-143-5
L. Shannon - http://lshannon.net
Changeling Press - http://changelingpress.com
December 8, 2008
Blurb
Worlds apart… It’s stupid to want to spend Christmas with a demon, right? Even if he is your lover. Trouble is, Josh is an incurable romantic -- at least when it comes to this particular demon. All Josh wants for Christmas is another chance…
Excerpt
The moment he touched Josh’s mind, Chance knew he was in trouble. The lingering, sexy, teasing bend of his lover’s thoughts offered no details besides the not so surprising news that Josh wasn’t at home.
Of course he wasn’t. Chance was standing in Josh’s empty condo.
Hello, my demon lover…
Where are you? Why are you not here, waiting for me?
It’s been ten months since we met. This will be our first Christmas together. I wanted it to be special.
I’m sure it will be. He’d been looking forward to this visit for a while now, since their last date almost three weeks ago. The thought of holding Josh and quenching some of his fire in his lover’s passion kept him going.
The image of Josh stretched out naked on a bed tickled through his mind. Well, hurry up and get here. The directions to the cabin are on the fridge.
Sure enough, there were directions. Not that he needed anything as mundane as street directions to find his lover. Oh no, simply touching Josh’s mind was enough to get him there.
I’m on my way. Rather than go to the effort of moving through mortal space, he dipped back into Abaddon and took a shortcut, arriving on the small porch of a rustic cabin a few seconds later.
The door opened at once. Josh dragged him into a scorching embrace and even hotter kiss. Josh wasn’t naked but only a burgundy-colored robe interfered with the earlier image branded on Chance’s mind.
For a moment Chance was too overwhelmed to react. Then he caught up with reality and accepted the kiss and the welcome that was more than he’d ever have hoped for. He pushed Josh back, fully into the cabin, slamming the door behind them.
Holding Josh wasn’t enough. Kissing him wasn’t… Touching him…
He needed more, so much more. He shoved the robe off Josh’s shoulders, letting the material fall. Only then did he leave Josh’s lips to trail fiery kisses across to his ear.
Desire flared, not only to kiss and fuck but for something more. He needed to mark Josh, to show the world who he belonged to. For the first time in his life, he envied his cousins who had fangs enough to bite. He scraped his boring teeth over Josh’s neck. Fangs or no, his fire did what he needed so badly. His nibbles left dark scorch marks trailing down Josh’s skin.
Growling happily at the marks, he couldn’t help but return there over and over again. Josh was his now, his for as long as he wanted. Mine.
END EXCERPT
Buy the book at http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1038
See all L.Shannon's Changeling books at http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=77
Shannon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L.Shannon ~ http://lshannon.net ~ Dark Paranormal Romance
Eagle Clan: Father of the Wolf - AVAILABLE IN PRINT NOW
Chances 3: Another Chance - 12/08 - Changeling Press
ACACIA III: Cravings 12/22/08 - Changeling Press
Nothing but Ash - TBA - Liquid Silver Books
FREE BOOK (Welcome Home) at http://www.lshannon.net/SCV.html
Erotic m/m Urban Fantasy
ISBN: 978-1-60521-143-5
L. Shannon - http://lshannon.net
Changeling Press - http://changelingpress.com
December 8, 2008
Blurb
Worlds apart… It’s stupid to want to spend Christmas with a demon, right? Even if he is your lover. Trouble is, Josh is an incurable romantic -- at least when it comes to this particular demon. All Josh wants for Christmas is another chance…
Excerpt
The moment he touched Josh’s mind, Chance knew he was in trouble. The lingering, sexy, teasing bend of his lover’s thoughts offered no details besides the not so surprising news that Josh wasn’t at home.
Of course he wasn’t. Chance was standing in Josh’s empty condo.
Hello, my demon lover…
Where are you? Why are you not here, waiting for me?
It’s been ten months since we met. This will be our first Christmas together. I wanted it to be special.
I’m sure it will be. He’d been looking forward to this visit for a while now, since their last date almost three weeks ago. The thought of holding Josh and quenching some of his fire in his lover’s passion kept him going.
The image of Josh stretched out naked on a bed tickled through his mind. Well, hurry up and get here. The directions to the cabin are on the fridge.
Sure enough, there were directions. Not that he needed anything as mundane as street directions to find his lover. Oh no, simply touching Josh’s mind was enough to get him there.
I’m on my way. Rather than go to the effort of moving through mortal space, he dipped back into Abaddon and took a shortcut, arriving on the small porch of a rustic cabin a few seconds later.
The door opened at once. Josh dragged him into a scorching embrace and even hotter kiss. Josh wasn’t naked but only a burgundy-colored robe interfered with the earlier image branded on Chance’s mind.
For a moment Chance was too overwhelmed to react. Then he caught up with reality and accepted the kiss and the welcome that was more than he’d ever have hoped for. He pushed Josh back, fully into the cabin, slamming the door behind them.
Holding Josh wasn’t enough. Kissing him wasn’t… Touching him…
He needed more, so much more. He shoved the robe off Josh’s shoulders, letting the material fall. Only then did he leave Josh’s lips to trail fiery kisses across to his ear.
Desire flared, not only to kiss and fuck but for something more. He needed to mark Josh, to show the world who he belonged to. For the first time in his life, he envied his cousins who had fangs enough to bite. He scraped his boring teeth over Josh’s neck. Fangs or no, his fire did what he needed so badly. His nibbles left dark scorch marks trailing down Josh’s skin.
Growling happily at the marks, he couldn’t help but return there over and over again. Josh was his now, his for as long as he wanted. Mine.
END EXCERPT
Buy the book at http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1038
See all L.Shannon's Changeling books at http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=77
Shannon
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
L.Shannon ~ http://lshannon.net ~ Dark Paranormal Romance
Eagle Clan: Father of the Wolf - AVAILABLE IN PRINT NOW
Chances 3: Another Chance - 12/08 - Changeling Press
ACACIA III: Cravings 12/22/08 - Changeling Press
Nothing but Ash - TBA - Liquid Silver Books
FREE BOOK (Welcome Home) at http://www.lshannon.net/SCV.html
Sunday, November 16, 2008
All Romance Ebooks on iPhones and iPod Touch?!?
***PERMISSION TO REPOST GRANTED***
All Romance eBooks now available through Lexcycle Stanza for download directly onto your iPhone and iPod Touch!
Palm Harbor, Florida (PRWEB) November 17, 2008 – All Romance eBooks, an on-line bookstore that specializes in the sale of romance eBooks, announced today that they now offer books for direct download onto iPhone and iPod Touch through Lexcycle Stanza.
Time magazine featured the Stanza reader in their "Top 11 iPhone Applications" article and the New York Times recently included it in their list of "Seven Must-Have Offline Apps For Your iPhone/iPod Touch". With a reading interface, which is unprecedented in its clarity and ease of use, Stanza is bringing the eBook revolution to the pockets of ove! r half a million readers worldwide. And that number is growing daily.
Through a seamless integration, All Romance eBooks' on-line library can be accessed through Stanza's custom catalog by adding the following url: http://allromanceebooks.com/epub-feed.xml. This groundbreaking endeavor will provide readers instant access to thousands of romance novels written by today's hottest authors.
All Romance eBooks, LLC (www.allromanceebooks.com) sells romance eBooks for hundreds of publishers and their imprints. Founded in 2006 and privately held in partnership, All Romance eBooks is headquartered in Palm Harbor, Florida.
All Romance eBooks now available through Lexcycle Stanza for download directly onto your iPhone and iPod Touch!
Palm Harbor, Florida (PRWEB) November 17, 2008 – All Romance eBooks, an on-line bookstore that specializes in the sale of romance eBooks, announced today that they now offer books for direct download onto iPhone and iPod Touch through Lexcycle Stanza.
Time magazine featured the Stanza reader in their "Top 11 iPhone Applications" article and the New York Times recently included it in their list of "Seven Must-Have Offline Apps For Your iPhone/iPod Touch". With a reading interface, which is unprecedented in its clarity and ease of use, Stanza is bringing the eBook revolution to the pockets of ove! r half a million readers worldwide. And that number is growing daily.
Through a seamless integration, All Romance eBooks' on-line library can be accessed through Stanza's custom catalog by adding the following url: http://allromanceebooks.com/epub-feed.xml. This groundbreaking endeavor will provide readers instant access to thousands of romance novels written by today's hottest authors.
All Romance eBooks, LLC (www.allromanceebooks.com) sells romance eBooks for hundreds of publishers and their imprints. Founded in 2006 and privately held in partnership, All Romance eBooks is headquartered in Palm Harbor, Florida.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Attracted to Sociopaths?
Apparently I am. One of my addictions is DEXTER. If you aren't an addict like me, let me share the premise...
Dexter is a killer. After watching his mother be brutally killed right in front of him as well as some other really bad shit, he grew up with an uncontrollable desire to kill. Since he can't stop killing he channels it into the slightly more appropriate task of killing bad guys, usually very bad guys. Other than that he works as a blood spatter guy at the Miami PD and tries hard to fit into a world he feels very apart from. Part of that is an adopted sister with a foul mouth and a girlfriend who survived a seriously abusive prick of a husband.
Now back to the title of this post. I seriously love me some Dexter. Now logic says that a good man with a fairly well adjusted psyche is a much better choice. yet here I am blogging about a homicidal madman.
Why?
Cause unrealistic as it is, what he is pushes all the right primal buttons. At least this is my theory. See he is at the top of his food chain, a dominant male who is unthreatened by any. As a mate, that is appealing. In this weeks episode, he hunts a child predator who was a threat to his girlfriends daughter. WOW... can protect his young! Yep another primal need checked off. This guy has it all. He survives in an environment that is hostile to what he is.. not he doesn't just survive, he thrives.
Yep... my primal urges are all rampaging.
Since the premise is taken and being done so dang well, I guess I'll have to just stick to writing about demons who kill and werewolves that hunt...
I'm of to dream of Dex.
Shannon
Dexter is a killer. After watching his mother be brutally killed right in front of him as well as some other really bad shit, he grew up with an uncontrollable desire to kill. Since he can't stop killing he channels it into the slightly more appropriate task of killing bad guys, usually very bad guys. Other than that he works as a blood spatter guy at the Miami PD and tries hard to fit into a world he feels very apart from. Part of that is an adopted sister with a foul mouth and a girlfriend who survived a seriously abusive prick of a husband.
Now back to the title of this post. I seriously love me some Dexter. Now logic says that a good man with a fairly well adjusted psyche is a much better choice. yet here I am blogging about a homicidal madman.
Why?
Cause unrealistic as it is, what he is pushes all the right primal buttons. At least this is my theory. See he is at the top of his food chain, a dominant male who is unthreatened by any. As a mate, that is appealing. In this weeks episode, he hunts a child predator who was a threat to his girlfriends daughter. WOW... can protect his young! Yep another primal need checked off. This guy has it all. He survives in an environment that is hostile to what he is.. not he doesn't just survive, he thrives.
Yep... my primal urges are all rampaging.
Since the premise is taken and being done so dang well, I guess I'll have to just stick to writing about demons who kill and werewolves that hunt...
I'm of to dream of Dex.
Shannon
Friday, September 19, 2008
most dangerous cake recipe in the world
Just had to share this recipe. You all know I'm not much for cooking, but it looks easy enough that even I can make it. :) I'll let you know just as soon as I get some cocoa.
MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!
Shannon
www.lshannon.net
MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug
Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly.
Pour in the milk and oil and mix well.
Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts.
The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).
And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world?
Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!
Shannon
www.lshannon.net
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
News for July and August
L. Shannon’s News for
July & August 2008
*What’s on my schedule?*
July 2008Father of the Wolf coming in print! Woot!
July 2008 A Second Chance released from Changeling Press
August 1, 2008 The Vampire Oracle: Love with Cobblestone Press
September, 2008 (I think) Acacia 2: Blindsided with Changeling Press
September 13, 2008 Book signing in Saltsburg PA
SometimeA Lover’s Touch – this story has been delayed due to cobblestone scheduling. It will be out soon in CPQ
Every Friday at 9 eastern – Cobblestone Press release Chat – I don’t always make it to chat, but stop by anyhow and say hello to the other wonderful authors of Cobblestone Press. http://www.cobblestone-press.com/chat.htm
*Did you miss me?*
Sorry I missed putting out news in July. You all know I’m not the best at staying on a schedule. But I’ve been working hard, I can promise you that. In June Moira Reid and I finished and released Steel City Vampires: Welcome Home as a free download. If you haven’t grabbed it up yet, I recommend you run over to http://www.readmoore.com/free_reads.htm and grab it. I also finished edits on another Steel City Vampire novella (The Vampire Oracle: Love) which came out on August 1st with Cobblestone Press. And I wrote a third novella with the working title Bound and Determined which will probably be changed.
July was just as busy. I’m tickled (and tired) to announce the completion of the third Eagle Clan novel, The Longest Journey. And now I have to wait to hear back on the submissions but I hope the story will be coming soon. Not to mention I had a huge send of excitement for the print release of Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf. You can buy it now through Cobblestone Press. Grab your own copy even if you have the ebook. This is a new and improved version.
Whoops! I almost forgot I had another story come out in July also. Check out the Chances 2: A Second Chance, a hotflash from Changeling Press.
Anyhow, I can’t promise I’ll do better. I wish I could. The best I offer is… hey, got this newsletter out, didn’t I? *grin*
*Welcome!*
Welcome to new members tonni06, ladybirdinsyr, lindapeters, hotteddy2001, rm2h, redwitch59, crucible_23, rozblaede1, lonelyone97405, kittensbrightstar ! Thank you for joining the group!
*Contests!*
Join the L. Shannon newsletter loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LShannon/ and automatically be entered for a chance to win a free L. Shannon e-book. I give away one every month just for being a member! I call these Member Rewards. I also have a second contest just for members every time I have a new release. I call these Release Rewards. Both of these contests require you to send me an email to confirm the win.
MEMBER REWARDS!
JULY – ma_tig_fa
AUGUST – downsideuk
(E-mail your choice of e-books to lshannon@hotmail.com)
RELEASE REWARDS!
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf (signed & in print) – arayofdawn
Chances 2: A Second Chance – karensldr
(SCV) The Vampire Oracle: Love – dianestu13
(Confirm your win by emailing me at lshannon@hotmail.com)
WHO SAID THAT?
In Anom’tan 3: Walking at Sundown, who said… “I believe you will die this night.”
I love you guys. I really do, but I’m still waiting on the correct answer. The teacher in my is encouraging you all to try again. Keep sending entries! (E-mail your answer to lshannon@hotmail.com.)
NEW CONTEST!
The fourth and final Anom’tan book has been contracted to Cobblestone press. On the day book 4: Walking Death’s Edge is released (May 30th) I will draw one winner from eligible entries. The winner will receive a box of synnfully fun prizes including but not limited to… scented candles, relaxing bath set, fuzzy cuffs, romantic game dice…
To enter email your favorite line from any Anom’tan book to lshannon@hotmail.com. I’ll be adding to the prize package until the release day and will accept multiple entries from the newsletter group members. If you enter multiple times please pick more than one favorite line.
YAY! We have a winner! Thanks for the many entries for this contest. I loved hearing which lines you liked and I will definitely be having more contests like this one.
The winner is… Caity_Mack!! Her favorite line was: "He looked fragile and ill, but behind that terrifying exterior was a stark beauty so breathtaking she thought for a moment he must be an angel".
Caity_Mack has yet to claim her prize. Caity_Mack, please contact me ASAP with your name and snail mail address. If the prize is still unclaimed by my next newsletter I will pick another winner.
Other contests ~ Watch my blog at http://lshannon.blogspot.com/ and Cobblestone Mainstreet for spur of the moment contests and up to date info on contests and news.
*New This Issue*
You can see my available and coming soon books and read blurbs and excerpts for all my work at www.lshannon.net . Lots to catch up on here. Enjoy!
Chances: A Second Chance
by L. Shannon
7/22/08 - excerpt ~ buy ebook
Blurb
Passionate Obsession… Chance can't get Josh out of his mind. It’s time for the demon to do something to exorcise the human from his nightly erotic dreams. The first step is to find Josh and take his fill of everything the human has to offer…
EXCERPT
"Hey perv! Time to wake up."
His brother’s voice jerked him awake. Chance opened his eyes and the human faded away with the wisps of imagination. Not just any human, but the one man who’d been consuming Chance’s thoughts and dreams for five months.
Damn Josh anyway.
Why couldn’t he find satisfaction with anyone else? No more than a few hours in Josh’s arms and now he was ruined. Damn him. Damn them both.
Chance rolled over, ignoring his brother’s annoyed look. So what if he had been humping his pillow? It was none of Meryk’s business. "What the hell are you doing in my house anyhow?" He couldn’t keep the snarl from his tone. Being hard and unsatisfied made for a bad way to wake up.
"I’m tired of you moping around. I’m the one with a bad attitude, not you. I came down here to offer to watch over your last chance demons so you can go get your head on straight."
"What in the hell are you talking about?" He pulled on a pair of leather pants while trying to wake up enough to understand Meryk.
"I said, you’re on vacation. I can manage things for three or four days. Go figure out what’s wrong and get it fixed."
After stuffing his feet into a pair of boots, he faced his brother. "Just like that?"
"Yep. Any idea where you’ll be going?"
"Miami." He snagged a silk shirt from his closet and dematerialized from Hell. He staggered as he reappeared on a beach in the mortal realm. The sand shifted under him while his stomach reeled from crossing the realms.
Josh’s condo was along this beach on the outskirts of Miami.
Despite the dark night, Chance turned toward the cream colored building without hesitating. Josh was there, inside those walls. His salvation was within reach.
END EXCERPT
Buy the book at http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=949
Steel City Vampires
More than the usual dangers lurk the dark streets of Pittsburgh. Murder and mayhem is always a risk, but fear not. There are honorable undead-- vampires who have pledged their lives to protecting the citizens from creatures and villains who would desecrate their beloved city and its innocent inhabitants. They patrol the city, lurking in the shadows, saving our human necks... for themselves.
Steel City Vampires: Welcome Home
by L. Shannon & Moira Reid
JUNE 22, 2008 - EXCERPT - FREE DOWNLOAD - IN PRINT
Kalib Fontana had searched two hundred years for a peaceful home far away from his cursed past. As his realtor, Shasta Hemingway, welcomed him to the Fox Chapel estate resplendent with the lingering scent of dinner and her perfume, he allowed himself to imagine for one wonderful moment he'd found both. The moment shattered when David found him--David, the one curse that refused to be forgotten. As always, his dangerous past wanted him, and worse, this time it wanted vengeance.
(Steel City Vampires) The Vampire Oracle: Love
by L. Shannon
AUGUST 1, 2008 - EXCERPT - BUY THE E-BOOK
Dillon is determined to save his soul by killing vampires who prey on humans, but the current psychopath, Mistress Serena, is stronger and meaner than any others and has enslaved a man too sexy to resist.
Jason expected his mistress to kill him. He was ready to give that final blood drop, when he was suddenly given away to a huge, dark vampire with unknown intentions. Then again does it really matter which creature finally drains him?
EXCERPT
Dillon stared at the man curled against his side. The damn fool didn’t know what he was doing. Offering sex and feeding was playing with fire, hell, it was playing with fucking brimstone. Then again maybe he did know what he was doing. “You must have a death wish. Just what did Serena use you for anyhow?”
“She used me for whatever she wished.”
“You were her blood slave.”
“Yes.”
“And sex slave as well.”
“I was whatever she wanted.”
“How could you live like that? Slavery has been illegal for more than a few decades. Surely you knew that.”
Jason sighed and ran his fingers through his short hair. “Yes, I know that slavery is illegal, but after a few years of feeding a vampire, I had little choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“Bastard. You’ve never been addicted to the Blood Kiss. How the fuck do you know what my choices have been?”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, total shit.” Jason left the bed and paced across the room toward the still shuttered window. Perhaps if it had been open he would have stared sullenly out into the front yard. Since it was closed, he turned and paced back to the bed. “Look, life with her was hell, but I couldn’t leave. At first I was a child and didn’t know any better. Then, later I stayed for the Blood Kiss and to try and protect my sisters. Now they are gone, and I thought I would be next.”
“She killed them.”
“Either her or one of the others that she entertains. She is very generous with sharing her slaves with others who are impressed by such things.”
“So she kills humans. Does she hunt off the street too?” All the evidence said she did. Dillon had tracked the scent from the latest kill right to Serena. It had to be her.
“I don’t know. Most likely.” Jason finally stopped pacing and settled back onto the bed.
“Are there any other vampires there now, or just Serena?”
The shutters lifted quietly, but Jason stayed on the bed. “I don’t know.”
Jason lay back on the blanket. He made no effort to cover his partially aroused body. His eyes offered more sex.
Dillon’s body reacted at once, but the cost was too great. This time Jason would expect him to feed. Just fucking great. Now he had all the devil’s temptations just laying there in bed looking like a dream. Looking tasty enough to kill for… Shit, how was he going to keep from running down this path to hell?
END EXCERPT
AUGUST 1, 2008 – ANOTHER EXCERPT - BUY THE E-BOOK
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf
Novel by L. Shannon
Cobblestone Press - excerpt available in EBOOK or PRINT
Athair came into Hope’s life with a nightmare on his heels and a clan full of baggage. With his first touch, he awakens a power within her, but will it be enough for them to overcome the odds against them? Only time will tell if their separate responsibilities will tear them apart or bind them together.
Father of the Wolf is now available in print! Find it at http://Cobblestone-Press.com
Check out these book trailers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUa3wUJuHhk (Thanks to Jamieson Wolf for doing this fabulous video!)
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db2mQkrjzC4 (Did this one myself :))
EXCERPT
That evening, as Hope washed the dinner dishes, she realized she’d gone completely mad.
Pardon, I am very thirsty. Could you please bring me a drink? This time the mental contact with the wolf came almost natural, as if it had been there all the time, only now choosing to use words.
“What?” she gasped aloud as his words sank in, and she realized the animal was again speaking into her mind.
Juice would be nice.
Deciding she might as well go along with the madness, she got a glass and filled it with orange juice. She could feel his thirst. It made her fill a second glass for herself before walking to the clinic recovery room.
Thank you, he said into her mind as she entered the room.
“I am not talking to you. Wolves don’t talk,” she said sternly.
He chuckled in a low, sexy tone that raised the hair at her nape. Unlike a voice spoken aloud, his mental touch vibrated through her whole body.
“They don’t do that either.” The sensation that had passed through her left her off balance and started a strange ache she didn’t want to name.
His next thought showed he understood just how much this situation unsettled her. Would you rather I pretend to be only a wolf until I leave?
She thought about what he meant by the offer. They could act as if he were a nice, normal wolf, and once he was well, he would leave without causing any more strangeness in her safe little world. The offer was terribly polite for an animal. But her curiosity and fear won out. She needed to know more. What if he was one of those who had attacked the girl, or he knew who had done it? If he was actually a werewolf, he would have the answers she needed.
“Maybe that would be a good idea,” she said. “But I want to know what you are first.”
A man, mostly.
“What does that mean?” Was he being deliberately vague?
I am not sure how to explain.
Yep, he was being vague. Maybe if she asked him specific questions, she would get more details. “If you are a man, why do you look like a wolf?”
I can change into wolf form.
Her guess had been confirmed. She was suddenly very glad he was behind the wire. “You are a werewolf,” she said in an accusing tone.
I can feel your fear, but there is no reason for it. I will not hurt you. He paused. Werewolf is one name we have been called, but it’s not one I prefer. With a mental shrug, he asked, So, do you plan to kill me now?
Shaken by his question, she studied him. His expression was one of acceptance rather than of fear. He actually expected her to try to kill him, after she had worked so hard to save him. The thought dampened her fear and brought her curiosity about him back to life. “Well, as I don’t have a pitchfork and torch handy, no. I don’t plan to kill you at this time.”
Then may I have the juice? It is not poisoned, is it?
“Oh, I forgot. Sorry. And no, it’s not drugged.” To prove her point, she took a sip from the glass before pouring the juice into a bowl and sliding it past the wire.
He drank it gratefully. The juice was soothing and cool to his tender throat. Again, I thank you, Hope. He drank the rest of the bowl. I may have a slight fever, despite your excellent care. I believe my body is trying to purge the poison I was given.
She refilled the bowl with her juice. “How did you wind up under the wheels of Steve’s station wagon? And how were you injured so seriously to begin with?” She sat on the upturned box.
Athair wondered just how much he should tell her, and decided she deserved to know the truth, or at least most of it. He would have eventually died from the poison and injuries if she had not found him. Considering the strength of the poison, even he would not have healed after losing so much blood. She had saved his life, and he wanted to speak with her honestly. But where should he start the story?
I was poisoned by members of another clan. When I did not succumb quietly, they attacked me. I had no choice but to flee. They chased me until I met with your friend’s wagon.
“Oh. By clan you mean...there are more werewolves? If you don’t prefer to be called werewolves, what do you prefer?”
He nodded. I am a Valà frn. And yes, there are others.
END EXCERPT
(Read the whole first chapter online! http://www.lshannon.net/EAGLE/FatherOfTheWolf.html )
Buy in EBOOK or PRINT at http://cobblestone-press.com
*Currently available*
Cobblestone Press
Anom'tan 1: Walking with Synn ~ 7/20/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Anom'tan 2: Walking in Memories ~9/21/07~ excerpt available in ebook
Anom'tan 3: Walking at Sundown ~ 2/22/08 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Anom'tan 4: Walking Death's Edge ~ 5/30/08 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf ~ excerpt available in EBOOK or PRINT
Eagle Clan 2: Destiny ~ 6/30/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Lynx Clan 1: Forgiven ~ 9/15/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Origins: Vali's Curse ~ 11/10/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Origins: A Spirit United ~ 11/2/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Origins: My Immortal ~ 12/14/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Tascryn: Season of Blood ~ 10/31/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Tascryn Royals 2: Blood Reign ~ 1/19/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Tascryn: Surviving Synn ~ 5/11/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Valà frn: Forever Eden ~ 8/17/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Vampire Oracle: Love (SCV) ~ 8/01/08 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Changeling Press
Tascryn Royals 1: Of Blood and Blessings ~ 6/2/06 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Chances: A Snowball's Chance (hot flash) ~ 3/3/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Chances2: A Second Chance (hot flash) ~ 7/22/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Acacia 1: Abducting Aeron ~ 4/18/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
*Off Topic*
Off topic, off course, off task, often. Yep that’s me blundering around in this thing I call life. I love lists and plans and agendas. I really do. They give me this false sense of order when deep down in my heart, I know life is chaos. But I’m from calm dependable stock and I know that chaos can reign and life will still roll onward. Hey, quit laughing. I CAN be calm. I can, really. I mean it. STOP LAUGHING. Okay then… as I was saying.
I have a list of things to do and I look at it often, sometimes I let the very intimidating list terrorize me, other times I let it motivate me. At the moment I feel fairly on top of things. I have one book due in (checks calendar) 4 days and I really think I’ll be turning it on time.
Right now that list is motivational, because when I look at it and see that the book in line is Dead Men’s Nails: Kindred Spirit and I LOVE that book. Had to put it aside last fall to finish up some promised books and now I’m almost back to it. Can’t wait. :-)
Shannon
*Writing Wips*
At the moment I’m working on the second Acacia story, Blindsided.
Med Blake, A high ranking vampire doctor in the medical division of Acacia is shocked to find the blood supply contaminated. He nearly dies before his devoted slave, Dasher, saves his life. Dash has been at his side helping him for years, but never had he turned to him for sex or for love. But when the slave sees Blake almost die, he risks everything to save his master. Now the only question is who contaminated the blood, with what and why? And how will Blake and Dash go back to their former roles as master and slave?
Then I’ll be on to Kindred Spirit.
So what do you get when a girl chased by assassins meets the essence of death? Well, you might think she'd be bright enough to run, but no, not this time. Faith nic Wolf already has her hands full when Nail drops into her life, giving her a Dead Men's Nail as well as the oh so fun ability to see how her friends will die. So how, while struggling with finals and family politics, will she save their lives? Not to mention, what will her parents say when she brings Mr. Essence of Death home for a visit?
*About L. Shannon*
L. Shannon, the author, came into existence in June of 2004. Ms. Shannon’s always been a reader and lover of books, but never considered writing until one night when she ran out of books to read… She began writing that very night as the first line defense in a battle against insomnia. Her writing has steadily grown into a war against reality. Her friends kindly say reality never stood a chance. The L. Shannon novels have expanded to fill an entire world with paranormal wonders including Valà frn werewolves, Tascryn demons, blood-sucking vampires, sexy selkies and many, many more. Be careful if you choose to enter Ms. Shannon’s hunk-filled world. You may never wish to leave…
In the time Shannon doesn’t spend writing, she’s kept busy with bothering her husband, showing dogs, gardening and watching over her four Butterfly Koi ponds. You can learn more about her writing and her life at www.lshannon.net.
Blogger hates my links, so if you see one that you want more information about you have two options. 1. Go to my newsgroup to find this original news post. The links my have survived there or 2. Go to my webste at http://lshannon.net and find all the information there.
Shannon
July & August 2008
*What’s on my schedule?*
July 2008Father of the Wolf coming in print! Woot!
July 2008 A Second Chance released from Changeling Press
August 1, 2008 The Vampire Oracle: Love with Cobblestone Press
September, 2008 (I think) Acacia 2: Blindsided with Changeling Press
September 13, 2008 Book signing in Saltsburg PA
SometimeA Lover’s Touch – this story has been delayed due to cobblestone scheduling. It will be out soon in CPQ
Every Friday at 9 eastern – Cobblestone Press release Chat – I don’t always make it to chat, but stop by anyhow and say hello to the other wonderful authors of Cobblestone Press. http://www.cobblestone-press.com/chat.htm
*Did you miss me?*
Sorry I missed putting out news in July. You all know I’m not the best at staying on a schedule. But I’ve been working hard, I can promise you that. In June Moira Reid and I finished and released Steel City Vampires: Welcome Home as a free download. If you haven’t grabbed it up yet, I recommend you run over to http://www.readmoore.com/free_reads.htm and grab it. I also finished edits on another Steel City Vampire novella (The Vampire Oracle: Love) which came out on August 1st with Cobblestone Press. And I wrote a third novella with the working title Bound and Determined which will probably be changed.
July was just as busy. I’m tickled (and tired) to announce the completion of the third Eagle Clan novel, The Longest Journey. And now I have to wait to hear back on the submissions but I hope the story will be coming soon. Not to mention I had a huge send of excitement for the print release of Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf. You can buy it now through Cobblestone Press. Grab your own copy even if you have the ebook. This is a new and improved version.
Whoops! I almost forgot I had another story come out in July also. Check out the Chances 2: A Second Chance, a hotflash from Changeling Press.
Anyhow, I can’t promise I’ll do better. I wish I could. The best I offer is… hey, got this newsletter out, didn’t I? *grin*
*Welcome!*
Welcome to new members tonni06, ladybirdinsyr, lindapeters, hotteddy2001, rm2h, redwitch59, crucible_23, rozblaede1, lonelyone97405, kittensbrightstar ! Thank you for joining the group!
*Contests!*
Join the L. Shannon newsletter loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LShannon/ and automatically be entered for a chance to win a free L. Shannon e-book. I give away one every month just for being a member! I call these Member Rewards. I also have a second contest just for members every time I have a new release. I call these Release Rewards. Both of these contests require you to send me an email to confirm the win.
MEMBER REWARDS!
JULY – ma_tig_fa
AUGUST – downsideuk
(E-mail your choice of e-books to lshannon@hotmail.com)
RELEASE REWARDS!
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf (signed & in print) – arayofdawn
Chances 2: A Second Chance – karensldr
(SCV) The Vampire Oracle: Love – dianestu13
(Confirm your win by emailing me at lshannon@hotmail.com)
WHO SAID THAT?
In Anom’tan 3: Walking at Sundown, who said… “I believe you will die this night.”
I love you guys. I really do, but I’m still waiting on the correct answer. The teacher in my is encouraging you all to try again. Keep sending entries! (E-mail your answer to lshannon@hotmail.com.)
NEW CONTEST!
The fourth and final Anom’tan book has been contracted to Cobblestone press. On the day book 4: Walking Death’s Edge is released (May 30th) I will draw one winner from eligible entries. The winner will receive a box of synnfully fun prizes including but not limited to… scented candles, relaxing bath set, fuzzy cuffs, romantic game dice…
To enter email your favorite line from any Anom’tan book to lshannon@hotmail.com. I’ll be adding to the prize package until the release day and will accept multiple entries from the newsletter group members. If you enter multiple times please pick more than one favorite line.
YAY! We have a winner! Thanks for the many entries for this contest. I loved hearing which lines you liked and I will definitely be having more contests like this one.
The winner is… Caity_Mack!! Her favorite line was: "He looked fragile and ill, but behind that terrifying exterior was a stark beauty so breathtaking she thought for a moment he must be an angel".
Caity_Mack has yet to claim her prize. Caity_Mack, please contact me ASAP with your name and snail mail address. If the prize is still unclaimed by my next newsletter I will pick another winner.
Other contests ~ Watch my blog at http://lshannon.blogspot.com/ and Cobblestone Mainstreet for spur of the moment contests and up to date info on contests and news.
*New This Issue*
You can see my available and coming soon books and read blurbs and excerpts for all my work at www.lshannon.net . Lots to catch up on here. Enjoy!
Chances: A Second Chance
by L. Shannon
7/22/08 - excerpt ~ buy ebook
Blurb
Passionate Obsession… Chance can't get Josh out of his mind. It’s time for the demon to do something to exorcise the human from his nightly erotic dreams. The first step is to find Josh and take his fill of everything the human has to offer…
EXCERPT
"Hey perv! Time to wake up."
His brother’s voice jerked him awake. Chance opened his eyes and the human faded away with the wisps of imagination. Not just any human, but the one man who’d been consuming Chance’s thoughts and dreams for five months.
Damn Josh anyway.
Why couldn’t he find satisfaction with anyone else? No more than a few hours in Josh’s arms and now he was ruined. Damn him. Damn them both.
Chance rolled over, ignoring his brother’s annoyed look. So what if he had been humping his pillow? It was none of Meryk’s business. "What the hell are you doing in my house anyhow?" He couldn’t keep the snarl from his tone. Being hard and unsatisfied made for a bad way to wake up.
"I’m tired of you moping around. I’m the one with a bad attitude, not you. I came down here to offer to watch over your last chance demons so you can go get your head on straight."
"What in the hell are you talking about?" He pulled on a pair of leather pants while trying to wake up enough to understand Meryk.
"I said, you’re on vacation. I can manage things for three or four days. Go figure out what’s wrong and get it fixed."
After stuffing his feet into a pair of boots, he faced his brother. "Just like that?"
"Yep. Any idea where you’ll be going?"
"Miami." He snagged a silk shirt from his closet and dematerialized from Hell. He staggered as he reappeared on a beach in the mortal realm. The sand shifted under him while his stomach reeled from crossing the realms.
Josh’s condo was along this beach on the outskirts of Miami.
Despite the dark night, Chance turned toward the cream colored building without hesitating. Josh was there, inside those walls. His salvation was within reach.
END EXCERPT
Buy the book at http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=949
Steel City Vampires
More than the usual dangers lurk the dark streets of Pittsburgh. Murder and mayhem is always a risk, but fear not. There are honorable undead-- vampires who have pledged their lives to protecting the citizens from creatures and villains who would desecrate their beloved city and its innocent inhabitants. They patrol the city, lurking in the shadows, saving our human necks... for themselves.
Steel City Vampires: Welcome Home
by L. Shannon & Moira Reid
JUNE 22, 2008 - EXCERPT - FREE DOWNLOAD - IN PRINT
Kalib Fontana had searched two hundred years for a peaceful home far away from his cursed past. As his realtor, Shasta Hemingway, welcomed him to the Fox Chapel estate resplendent with the lingering scent of dinner and her perfume, he allowed himself to imagine for one wonderful moment he'd found both. The moment shattered when David found him--David, the one curse that refused to be forgotten. As always, his dangerous past wanted him, and worse, this time it wanted vengeance.
(Steel City Vampires) The Vampire Oracle: Love
by L. Shannon
AUGUST 1, 2008 - EXCERPT - BUY THE E-BOOK
Dillon is determined to save his soul by killing vampires who prey on humans, but the current psychopath, Mistress Serena, is stronger and meaner than any others and has enslaved a man too sexy to resist.
Jason expected his mistress to kill him. He was ready to give that final blood drop, when he was suddenly given away to a huge, dark vampire with unknown intentions. Then again does it really matter which creature finally drains him?
EXCERPT
Dillon stared at the man curled against his side. The damn fool didn’t know what he was doing. Offering sex and feeding was playing with fire, hell, it was playing with fucking brimstone. Then again maybe he did know what he was doing. “You must have a death wish. Just what did Serena use you for anyhow?”
“She used me for whatever she wished.”
“You were her blood slave.”
“Yes.”
“And sex slave as well.”
“I was whatever she wanted.”
“How could you live like that? Slavery has been illegal for more than a few decades. Surely you knew that.”
Jason sighed and ran his fingers through his short hair. “Yes, I know that slavery is illegal, but after a few years of feeding a vampire, I had little choice.”
“You always have a choice.”
“Bastard. You’ve never been addicted to the Blood Kiss. How the fuck do you know what my choices have been?”
“Shit.”
“Yeah, total shit.” Jason left the bed and paced across the room toward the still shuttered window. Perhaps if it had been open he would have stared sullenly out into the front yard. Since it was closed, he turned and paced back to the bed. “Look, life with her was hell, but I couldn’t leave. At first I was a child and didn’t know any better. Then, later I stayed for the Blood Kiss and to try and protect my sisters. Now they are gone, and I thought I would be next.”
“She killed them.”
“Either her or one of the others that she entertains. She is very generous with sharing her slaves with others who are impressed by such things.”
“So she kills humans. Does she hunt off the street too?” All the evidence said she did. Dillon had tracked the scent from the latest kill right to Serena. It had to be her.
“I don’t know. Most likely.” Jason finally stopped pacing and settled back onto the bed.
“Are there any other vampires there now, or just Serena?”
The shutters lifted quietly, but Jason stayed on the bed. “I don’t know.”
Jason lay back on the blanket. He made no effort to cover his partially aroused body. His eyes offered more sex.
Dillon’s body reacted at once, but the cost was too great. This time Jason would expect him to feed. Just fucking great. Now he had all the devil’s temptations just laying there in bed looking like a dream. Looking tasty enough to kill for… Shit, how was he going to keep from running down this path to hell?
END EXCERPT
AUGUST 1, 2008 – ANOTHER EXCERPT - BUY THE E-BOOK
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf
Novel by L. Shannon
Cobblestone Press - excerpt available in EBOOK or PRINT
Athair came into Hope’s life with a nightmare on his heels and a clan full of baggage. With his first touch, he awakens a power within her, but will it be enough for them to overcome the odds against them? Only time will tell if their separate responsibilities will tear them apart or bind them together.
Father of the Wolf is now available in print! Find it at http://Cobblestone-Press.com
Check out these book trailers! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUa3wUJuHhk (Thanks to Jamieson Wolf for doing this fabulous video!)
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Db2mQkrjzC4 (Did this one myself :))
EXCERPT
That evening, as Hope washed the dinner dishes, she realized she’d gone completely mad.
Pardon, I am very thirsty. Could you please bring me a drink? This time the mental contact with the wolf came almost natural, as if it had been there all the time, only now choosing to use words.
“What?” she gasped aloud as his words sank in, and she realized the animal was again speaking into her mind.
Juice would be nice.
Deciding she might as well go along with the madness, she got a glass and filled it with orange juice. She could feel his thirst. It made her fill a second glass for herself before walking to the clinic recovery room.
Thank you, he said into her mind as she entered the room.
“I am not talking to you. Wolves don’t talk,” she said sternly.
He chuckled in a low, sexy tone that raised the hair at her nape. Unlike a voice spoken aloud, his mental touch vibrated through her whole body.
“They don’t do that either.” The sensation that had passed through her left her off balance and started a strange ache she didn’t want to name.
His next thought showed he understood just how much this situation unsettled her. Would you rather I pretend to be only a wolf until I leave?
She thought about what he meant by the offer. They could act as if he were a nice, normal wolf, and once he was well, he would leave without causing any more strangeness in her safe little world. The offer was terribly polite for an animal. But her curiosity and fear won out. She needed to know more. What if he was one of those who had attacked the girl, or he knew who had done it? If he was actually a werewolf, he would have the answers she needed.
“Maybe that would be a good idea,” she said. “But I want to know what you are first.”
A man, mostly.
“What does that mean?” Was he being deliberately vague?
I am not sure how to explain.
Yep, he was being vague. Maybe if she asked him specific questions, she would get more details. “If you are a man, why do you look like a wolf?”
I can change into wolf form.
Her guess had been confirmed. She was suddenly very glad he was behind the wire. “You are a werewolf,” she said in an accusing tone.
I can feel your fear, but there is no reason for it. I will not hurt you. He paused. Werewolf is one name we have been called, but it’s not one I prefer. With a mental shrug, he asked, So, do you plan to kill me now?
Shaken by his question, she studied him. His expression was one of acceptance rather than of fear. He actually expected her to try to kill him, after she had worked so hard to save him. The thought dampened her fear and brought her curiosity about him back to life. “Well, as I don’t have a pitchfork and torch handy, no. I don’t plan to kill you at this time.”
Then may I have the juice? It is not poisoned, is it?
“Oh, I forgot. Sorry. And no, it’s not drugged.” To prove her point, she took a sip from the glass before pouring the juice into a bowl and sliding it past the wire.
He drank it gratefully. The juice was soothing and cool to his tender throat. Again, I thank you, Hope. He drank the rest of the bowl. I may have a slight fever, despite your excellent care. I believe my body is trying to purge the poison I was given.
She refilled the bowl with her juice. “How did you wind up under the wheels of Steve’s station wagon? And how were you injured so seriously to begin with?” She sat on the upturned box.
Athair wondered just how much he should tell her, and decided she deserved to know the truth, or at least most of it. He would have eventually died from the poison and injuries if she had not found him. Considering the strength of the poison, even he would not have healed after losing so much blood. She had saved his life, and he wanted to speak with her honestly. But where should he start the story?
I was poisoned by members of another clan. When I did not succumb quietly, they attacked me. I had no choice but to flee. They chased me until I met with your friend’s wagon.
“Oh. By clan you mean...there are more werewolves? If you don’t prefer to be called werewolves, what do you prefer?”
He nodded. I am a Valà frn. And yes, there are others.
END EXCERPT
(Read the whole first chapter online! http://www.lshannon.net/EAGLE/FatherOfTheWolf.html )
Buy in EBOOK or PRINT at http://cobblestone-press.com
*Currently available*
Cobblestone Press
Anom'tan 1: Walking with Synn ~ 7/20/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Anom'tan 2: Walking in Memories ~9/21/07~ excerpt available in ebook
Anom'tan 3: Walking at Sundown ~ 2/22/08 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Anom'tan 4: Walking Death's Edge ~ 5/30/08 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf ~ excerpt available in EBOOK or PRINT
Eagle Clan 2: Destiny ~ 6/30/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Lynx Clan 1: Forgiven ~ 9/15/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Origins: Vali's Curse ~ 11/10/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Origins: A Spirit United ~ 11/2/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Origins: My Immortal ~ 12/14/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Tascryn: Season of Blood ~ 10/31/06 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Tascryn Royals 2: Blood Reign ~ 1/19/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Tascryn: Surviving Synn ~ 5/11/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Valà frn: Forever Eden ~ 8/17/07 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Vampire Oracle: Love (SCV) ~ 8/01/08 ~ excerpt available in ebook
Changeling Press
Tascryn Royals 1: Of Blood and Blessings ~ 6/2/06 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Chances: A Snowball's Chance (hot flash) ~ 3/3/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Chances2: A Second Chance (hot flash) ~ 7/22/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Acacia 1: Abducting Aeron ~ 4/18/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
*Off Topic*
Off topic, off course, off task, often. Yep that’s me blundering around in this thing I call life. I love lists and plans and agendas. I really do. They give me this false sense of order when deep down in my heart, I know life is chaos. But I’m from calm dependable stock and I know that chaos can reign and life will still roll onward. Hey, quit laughing. I CAN be calm. I can, really. I mean it. STOP LAUGHING. Okay then… as I was saying.
I have a list of things to do and I look at it often, sometimes I let the very intimidating list terrorize me, other times I let it motivate me. At the moment I feel fairly on top of things. I have one book due in (checks calendar) 4 days and I really think I’ll be turning it on time.
Right now that list is motivational, because when I look at it and see that the book in line is Dead Men’s Nails: Kindred Spirit and I LOVE that book. Had to put it aside last fall to finish up some promised books and now I’m almost back to it. Can’t wait. :-)
Shannon
*Writing Wips*
At the moment I’m working on the second Acacia story, Blindsided.
Med Blake, A high ranking vampire doctor in the medical division of Acacia is shocked to find the blood supply contaminated. He nearly dies before his devoted slave, Dasher, saves his life. Dash has been at his side helping him for years, but never had he turned to him for sex or for love. But when the slave sees Blake almost die, he risks everything to save his master. Now the only question is who contaminated the blood, with what and why? And how will Blake and Dash go back to their former roles as master and slave?
Then I’ll be on to Kindred Spirit.
So what do you get when a girl chased by assassins meets the essence of death? Well, you might think she'd be bright enough to run, but no, not this time. Faith nic Wolf already has her hands full when Nail drops into her life, giving her a Dead Men's Nail as well as the oh so fun ability to see how her friends will die. So how, while struggling with finals and family politics, will she save their lives? Not to mention, what will her parents say when she brings Mr. Essence of Death home for a visit?
*About L. Shannon*
L. Shannon, the author, came into existence in June of 2004. Ms. Shannon’s always been a reader and lover of books, but never considered writing until one night when she ran out of books to read… She began writing that very night as the first line defense in a battle against insomnia. Her writing has steadily grown into a war against reality. Her friends kindly say reality never stood a chance. The L. Shannon novels have expanded to fill an entire world with paranormal wonders including Valà frn werewolves, Tascryn demons, blood-sucking vampires, sexy selkies and many, many more. Be careful if you choose to enter Ms. Shannon’s hunk-filled world. You may never wish to leave…
In the time Shannon doesn’t spend writing, she’s kept busy with bothering her husband, showing dogs, gardening and watching over her four Butterfly Koi ponds. You can learn more about her writing and her life at www.lshannon.net.
Blogger hates my links, so if you see one that you want more information about you have two options. 1. Go to my newsgroup to find this original news post. The links my have survived there or 2. Go to my webste at http://lshannon.net and find all the information there.
Shannon
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Soldier by Dee Carney
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Voodoo Bones by Melanie Atkins
Voodoo Bones by Melanie Atkins
http://www.melanieatkins.com
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/voodoobones.htm
http://www.melanieatkins.com
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/voodoobones.htm
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Bitten in the Bayou by Selena Blake
Selena Blake's Bitten In The Bayou Book Trailer
About the Author
Bestselling author Selena Blake writes paranormal and contemporary romance for Cobblestone Press. Her series, Stormy Weather, will be available in 2008. Drop by her website to find out more about the handsome Deveraux men of Louisiana and for a free short story. http://www.selena-blake.com/
About the Author
Bestselling author Selena Blake writes paranormal and contemporary romance for Cobblestone Press. Her series, Stormy Weather, will be available in 2008. Drop by her website to find out more about the handsome Deveraux men of Louisiana and for a free short story. http://www.selena-blake.com/
Monday, July 21, 2008
Promise in Eden by Yolanda Sfetsos
PROMISE IN EDEN by Yolanda Sfetsos
Embed Code:
Signature:
Yolanda Sfetsos
www.yolandasfetsos.com
Embed Code:
Signature:
Yolanda Sfetsos
www.yolandasfetsos.com
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sunlight by Moira Reid
Name of Video: Sunlight by Moira Reid
Debra Moore aka Moira Reid
I'm a BRAVA finalist!
Pay Dirt, Cobblestone Press
Hawkes Abandon from Cobblestone Press
Paid in Full-Valentine Monologues, Cobblestone Press
Sunlight-The Vampire Oracle coming 9/08, Cobblestone Press
Seduction 101, Samhain Publishing
FREE EBOOK DOWNLOAD: http://www.readmoore.com/free_reads.htm
Please visit my website! http://www.readmoore.com
Join my yahoo group: EMAIL readmoore-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Debra Moore aka Moira Reid
I'm a BRAVA finalist!
Pay Dirt, Cobblestone Press
Hawkes Abandon from Cobblestone Press
Paid in Full-Valentine Monologues, Cobblestone Press
Sunlight-The Vampire Oracle coming 9/08, Cobblestone Press
Seduction 101, Samhain Publishing
FREE EBOOK DOWNLOAD: http://www.readmoore.com/free_reads.htm
Please visit my website! http://www.readmoore.com
Join my yahoo group: EMAIL readmoore-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Moonshine by Moira Rogers
Moonshine by Moira Rogers
On sale now! http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/moonshine.htm
--
Moira Rogers
http://www.moirarogers.com
On sale now! http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/moonshine.htm
--
Moira Rogers
http://www.moirarogers.com
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Testing 1..2..3?
Hello, is there anybody out there? Is anyone listening?
Well I signed up for a video blog tour, and anyone who knows me is laughing at that statement. Technology and I have a love hate thing going on. I love it, but I'm a moron when it comes to learning new ways ofdoing things. Not that it stops me from creating a SNAFU. It doesn't. I dont' know what I'm doing and I try to do it anyhow.
This time I'm attempting to figure out how to mess it up, in time to not be late, messing it up. LOL In other words, I'm using this as a test post with my own video before I mess up the videos of any of my chums.
so here goes...
My book trailer for father of the wolf. This is the one I did.
About the time I realized that I didn't have a clue, I asked a good friend Jamieson Wolf to help me out and he took pity on me. He made this beautiful video trailer for Father of the Wolf.
So did it work? What do you think?
Oh and for anyone interested, Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf is comign out in PRINT with Cobblestone Press on July 25th! I'm so excited I could just dance! Or sing, or strip and dance on the tables! Wait... Umm... okay I'm excited, but there will be no stripping. Honest.
Well I signed up for a video blog tour, and anyone who knows me is laughing at that statement. Technology and I have a love hate thing going on. I love it, but I'm a moron when it comes to learning new ways ofdoing things. Not that it stops me from creating a SNAFU. It doesn't. I dont' know what I'm doing and I try to do it anyhow.
This time I'm attempting to figure out how to mess it up, in time to not be late, messing it up. LOL In other words, I'm using this as a test post with my own video before I mess up the videos of any of my chums.
so here goes...
My book trailer for father of the wolf. This is the one I did.
About the time I realized that I didn't have a clue, I asked a good friend Jamieson Wolf to help me out and he took pity on me. He made this beautiful video trailer for Father of the Wolf.
So did it work? What do you think?
Oh and for anyone interested, Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf is comign out in PRINT with Cobblestone Press on July 25th! I'm so excited I could just dance! Or sing, or strip and dance on the tables! Wait... Umm... okay I'm excited, but there will be no stripping. Honest.
Monday, June 23, 2008
NEW BOOK!! (AND IT'S FREE!!!)
(stolen from Moira Reid's page because she did it awesome!)
I'm very excited about Sunlight, my newest book coming out in September. Sunlight is part of the Vampire Oracle series written by 24 amazing authors.
While writing Sunlight, I suggested to one of those authors, L. Shannon whose book is Love, that we should link our stories. She agreed. Her hero, Dillon, and mine, Johnathan, are brothers and part of a bigger group of vampires known as the Steel City Vampires.
To introduce readers to Dillon and Johnathan before the release dates--we decided to write a new story and give it away! Why??
Kalib Fontana had searched two hundred years for a peaceful home far away from his cursed past. As his realtor, Shasta Hemingway, welcomed him to the Fox Chapel estate resplendent with the lingering scent of dinner and her perfume, he allowed himself to imagine for one wonderful moment he'd found both.
The moment shattered when David found him--David, the one curse that refused to be forgotten. As always, his dangerous past wanted him, and this time it wanted vengeance.
Download your FREE copy today from either of these sites!
http://www.lshannon.net/SCV.html
http://readmoore.com/
I'm very excited about Sunlight, my newest book coming out in September. Sunlight is part of the Vampire Oracle series written by 24 amazing authors.
While writing Sunlight, I suggested to one of those authors, L. Shannon whose book is Love, that we should link our stories. She agreed. Her hero, Dillon, and mine, Johnathan, are brothers and part of a bigger group of vampires known as the Steel City Vampires.
To introduce readers to Dillon and Johnathan before the release dates--we decided to write a new story and give it away! Why??
BECAUSE GETTING FREE BOOKS ROCKS!
Kalib Fontana had searched two hundred years for a peaceful home far away from his cursed past. As his realtor, Shasta Hemingway, welcomed him to the Fox Chapel estate resplendent with the lingering scent of dinner and her perfume, he allowed himself to imagine for one wonderful moment he'd found both.
The moment shattered when David found him--David, the one curse that refused to be forgotten. As always, his dangerous past wanted him, and this time it wanted vengeance.
Download your FREE copy today from either of these sites!
http://www.lshannon.net/SCV.html
http://readmoore.com/
Thanks to all the folk on the blog tour!
I'm sure everyone probably know, but I'm bad at promotion. I would rather sit here and write the next book than take the time to tell everyone about the one that was just released.
I'm trying to be better about it.
Really. :) But I can accept that I'll never be one of the writers who seems to be on every blog or forum or list sharing all the good news with the world. I wish it were, but that's just not me. So this blog tour was a lot of fun. I enjoyed circling the block so to speak. Did my little "queen wave" and everything.
But now it's over and life goes back to normal. Another post will follow... with some news. I promise.
Shannon
I'm trying to be better about it.
Really. :) But I can accept that I'll never be one of the writers who seems to be on every blog or forum or list sharing all the good news with the world. I wish it were, but that's just not me. So this blog tour was a lot of fun. I enjoyed circling the block so to speak. Did my little "queen wave" and everything.
But now it's over and life goes back to normal. Another post will follow... with some news. I promise.
Shannon
Friday, June 20, 2008
Selena Blake - Selena's Sex Tips
1. Get creative. Do some research. Read an erotic romance. Think outside the box. Look up new positions. Once you've got some new ideas, present them to your SOS.
2. Get your SOS involved. Send them links to articles, websites, photos. Rent a movie together, read a book together, or flip through a magazine.
3. Get out a scarf or tie and tie one end to your wrist and the other to that of your SOS. Spend a whole day like this and you'll find plenty of opportunities for kisses and cuddles.
4, Tell it like it is. This is really the key. Ask for what you want. Use words like faster, slower, harder, softer, to the left, etc.
5. Get out of the bedroom. Nothing like a new venue to inspire you.
6. Try a sex toy. With dozens (probably hundreds) of websites out there that will provide quality merchandise in discreet packaging, you've got no excuse not to try something new.
About the Author
Selena Blake writes paranormal and contemporary romance for Cobblestone Press. Her series Stormy Weather will be available in 2008. Drop by her website to find out more about the handsome Deveraux men of Louisiana and for a free short story. Http://www.selena-blake.com
2. Get your SOS involved. Send them links to articles, websites, photos. Rent a movie together, read a book together, or flip through a magazine.
3. Get out a scarf or tie and tie one end to your wrist and the other to that of your SOS. Spend a whole day like this and you'll find plenty of opportunities for kisses and cuddles.
4, Tell it like it is. This is really the key. Ask for what you want. Use words like faster, slower, harder, softer, to the left, etc.
5. Get out of the bedroom. Nothing like a new venue to inspire you.
6. Try a sex toy. With dozens (probably hundreds) of websites out there that will provide quality merchandise in discreet packaging, you've got no excuse not to try something new.
About the Author
Selena Blake writes paranormal and contemporary romance for Cobblestone Press. Her series Stormy Weather will be available in 2008. Drop by her website to find out more about the handsome Deveraux men of Louisiana and for a free short story. Http://www.selena-blake.com
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Terri Molina - Could it be magic?
Could it be Magic?
Last summer I entered an online writing contest sponsored by Gather.com and Pocket Books. It was a first chapter contest for romance writers. Normally I don't enter contests because I just don't do well in them...especially if they're RWA sponsored.
Anyway, there were around 300 entries, I think, and the voting was done by the readers. It was pretty much a popularity contest...which I didn't know until after I'd entered. Anyway (sorry I say that a lot!)...thankfully a lot of it was about how good the stories were, and my novel DARK OBSESSION, a paranormal romantic suspense, moved onto the top 25 for the second round. I was pretty happy, and as per the rules, I had to post my second chapter to be voted on. The readers vote//rate your entry 1-10....10 being the best, of course, and in the end, only the entries with the most 10's will count and send the top FIVE onto the final round---which is to be judged by Gather and Pocket Books Editors. (did I lose ya??)
Anyway, I came in around tenth place overall...like I said, it was a popularity contest and I wasn't as popular. Haha
A n y w a y....During the contest I would peruse the Gather site stopping to read other non contest articles and I came across something from a woman who's topic was about Magic and whether or not you believed in it. I sent her a comment stating that, yeah, I think everyone has a sense of magic in them. But, by my definition, magic doesn't mean having the power to cast spells or make yourself float in midair. To me, magic is about emotion-- how strong your heart is, how strong your bond is with everyone and everything around you.
I've always felt I've had a strong intuition ( a strong sensory perception) and it's gotten me out of some pretty hairy situations. And I use this intuition when I write....which makes me a "panster"-- meaning I write by the seat of my pants.
In my novel (and contest entry) Dark Obsession I end chapter two with the sentence *It was the look of someone who had just seen the dead.*Since , the voters in the Gather Contest are encouraged to leave comments on your entry (which also help with the voting), I received some wonderfully encouraging feedback that both pleased and mostly overwhelmed me.
In a very glowing and very kind comment, a reader named Sammie A said::
Quote: "I love this ending. It really ties this chapter in with the first one with such a perfect twist of irony after him seeing his dead grandmother. I wonder, did you intend that when you wrote it, or was it just something that you realized afterwards?"
And well, I guess I have to say, yes and no. When I write, I always, always look for a way to end a chapter that has the reader saying "No..don't stop! What happens next?!" because your goal as a writer is to keep those pages turning!
The best compliments any writer can get is...."I lost sleep because of you!" or "I burned dinner because of you!" It's what we thrive for....what I thrive for. So, when I'm giving you a story I want to make sure that you're forgetting everything around you!
Anyway....I rambled....as for Sammie's question and that particular scene, I based it on something I once experienced when I lived far away from my family. (you know what they say....WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW)
I was working at a grocery store (in NY) and stocking shelves one morning when I turned around to see a woman standing in the aisle....she was shopping...not doing anything creepy like staring at me...but I had to do a double take when I saw her because she looked exactly like my aunt Delores....my mother's older sister who raised me from the time I was sixteen until I moved out at eighteen (I had lived with another aunt and uncle a few years before that---it's a different story though).
Anyway, the woman continued shopping and I followed her into another aisle, but when I looked at her again, she didn't look anything like my aunt. A few days later, I found out that my aunt had a heart attack (she'd been ill for a few years already but had been healing fairly well).
Growing up (and most anyone of Mexican/Latina decent will confirm this) we heard a lot of stories about ghosts and spirits and magic. It made for fascinating ways to scare each other, as well as build our imaginations at play time (since we didn't actually have toys to play with). And, as I mention in another WIP, you can't be born or raised near Mexico without believing the possibility that the magic existed. So, I've used this magic to help build my stories of suspense (sometimes around a central love story) and keep the reader intrigued, turning pages, and burning dinner.
To learn more visit me at my website www.terrimolina.com
Last summer I entered an online writing contest sponsored by Gather.com and Pocket Books. It was a first chapter contest for romance writers. Normally I don't enter contests because I just don't do well in them...especially if they're RWA sponsored.
Anyway, there were around 300 entries, I think, and the voting was done by the readers. It was pretty much a popularity contest...which I didn't know until after I'd entered. Anyway (sorry I say that a lot!)...thankfully a lot of it was about how good the stories were, and my novel DARK OBSESSION, a paranormal romantic suspense, moved onto the top 25 for the second round. I was pretty happy, and as per the rules, I had to post my second chapter to be voted on. The readers vote//rate your entry 1-10....10 being the best, of course, and in the end, only the entries with the most 10's will count and send the top FIVE onto the final round---which is to be judged by Gather and Pocket Books Editors. (did I lose ya??)
Anyway, I came in around tenth place overall...like I said, it was a popularity contest and I wasn't as popular. Haha
A n y w a y....During the contest I would peruse the Gather site stopping to read other non contest articles and I came across something from a woman who's topic was about Magic and whether or not you believed in it. I sent her a comment stating that, yeah, I think everyone has a sense of magic in them. But, by my definition, magic doesn't mean having the power to cast spells or make yourself float in midair. To me, magic is about emotion-- how strong your heart is, how strong your bond is with everyone and everything around you.
I've always felt I've had a strong intuition ( a strong sensory perception) and it's gotten me out of some pretty hairy situations. And I use this intuition when I write....which makes me a "panster"-- meaning I write by the seat of my pants.
In my novel (and contest entry) Dark Obsession I end chapter two with the sentence *It was the look of someone who had just seen the dead.*Since , the voters in the Gather Contest are encouraged to leave comments on your entry (which also help with the voting), I received some wonderfully encouraging feedback that both pleased and mostly overwhelmed me.
In a very glowing and very kind comment, a reader named Sammie A said::
Quote: "I love this ending. It really ties this chapter in with the first one with such a perfect twist of irony after him seeing his dead grandmother. I wonder, did you intend that when you wrote it, or was it just something that you realized afterwards?"
And well, I guess I have to say, yes and no. When I write, I always, always look for a way to end a chapter that has the reader saying "No..don't stop! What happens next?!" because your goal as a writer is to keep those pages turning!
The best compliments any writer can get is...."I lost sleep because of you!" or "I burned dinner because of you!" It's what we thrive for....what I thrive for. So, when I'm giving you a story I want to make sure that you're forgetting everything around you!
Anyway....I rambled....as for Sammie's question and that particular scene, I based it on something I once experienced when I lived far away from my family. (you know what they say....WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW)
I was working at a grocery store (in NY) and stocking shelves one morning when I turned around to see a woman standing in the aisle....she was shopping...not doing anything creepy like staring at me...but I had to do a double take when I saw her because she looked exactly like my aunt Delores....my mother's older sister who raised me from the time I was sixteen until I moved out at eighteen (I had lived with another aunt and uncle a few years before that---it's a different story though).
Anyway, the woman continued shopping and I followed her into another aisle, but when I looked at her again, she didn't look anything like my aunt. A few days later, I found out that my aunt had a heart attack (she'd been ill for a few years already but had been healing fairly well).
Growing up (and most anyone of Mexican/Latina decent will confirm this) we heard a lot of stories about ghosts and spirits and magic. It made for fascinating ways to scare each other, as well as build our imaginations at play time (since we didn't actually have toys to play with). And, as I mention in another WIP, you can't be born or raised near Mexico without believing the possibility that the magic existed. So, I've used this magic to help build my stories of suspense (sometimes around a central love story) and keep the reader intrigued, turning pages, and burning dinner.
To learn more visit me at my website www.terrimolina.com
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Jamieson Wolf - Reading Romance - Writing Romance
The other day one of my co-workers asked me what I was reading. This is an every day occurrence. In fact, I’m asked several times a day what I’m reading. There aren’t a lot of people in my office who read; there’s only one other girl who has her nose stuck in a book on her lunch and breaks like me.
It seems people who read are an oddity in my office.
That’s okay, though. I don’t mind being an oddity. In fact, I revel in it. I have always been what I would call eccentric, always outside the norm. But it seems I’m even more outside the norm because I read romance. And I write it.
I love love love romance. I read tons of it. You write what you love to read, right? As a romance writer, I’m almost duty bound to read romances; I’m pretty sure it’s in my contract somewhere.
But people always get wierded out by the fact that I read romances for two reasons. I’m a guy and I’m gay. People assume that, since I’m a guy, I shouldn’t read romance and, since I’m gay, I wouldn’t want to read straight romances.
They’re wrong on both counts.
I love romances not just for the sex scenes, but for the story, for the characters. I don’t know what it is about romance but the characters always seem to be more alive, more real than in regular fiction. Plus you get passion, excitement, harrowing plotlines, danger and disaster at every turn, conflict galore AND a happy ending. What can be better than that?
If any kind of writing was popcorn or candy for the mind, romance would be it.
In the end, I love reading romances and I love writing them even more. For whatever reason, my characters always come alive more if they’re in one of my little romantic novellas.
I’m particularly proud of Valentine (available now from Cobblestone Press) and Finding Beauty (coming soon from Cobblestone Press). To me, they are some of my best pieces of writing that I’ve done.
Thankfully, there are always new stories to write and to read. I will forever be a romance writer and a romance junkie.
For more info on Valentine, check out the blog! www.valentineanovel.blogspot.com
And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up your copy of Valentine by clicking here:http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/valentinejw
It seems people who read are an oddity in my office.
That’s okay, though. I don’t mind being an oddity. In fact, I revel in it. I have always been what I would call eccentric, always outside the norm. But it seems I’m even more outside the norm because I read romance. And I write it.
I love love love romance. I read tons of it. You write what you love to read, right? As a romance writer, I’m almost duty bound to read romances; I’m pretty sure it’s in my contract somewhere.
But people always get wierded out by the fact that I read romances for two reasons. I’m a guy and I’m gay. People assume that, since I’m a guy, I shouldn’t read romance and, since I’m gay, I wouldn’t want to read straight romances.
They’re wrong on both counts.
I love romances not just for the sex scenes, but for the story, for the characters. I don’t know what it is about romance but the characters always seem to be more alive, more real than in regular fiction. Plus you get passion, excitement, harrowing plotlines, danger and disaster at every turn, conflict galore AND a happy ending. What can be better than that?
If any kind of writing was popcorn or candy for the mind, romance would be it.
In the end, I love reading romances and I love writing them even more. For whatever reason, my characters always come alive more if they’re in one of my little romantic novellas.
I’m particularly proud of Valentine (available now from Cobblestone Press) and Finding Beauty (coming soon from Cobblestone Press). To me, they are some of my best pieces of writing that I’ve done.
Thankfully, there are always new stories to write and to read. I will forever be a romance writer and a romance junkie.
For more info on Valentine, check out the blog! www.valentineanovel.blogspot.com
And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to pick up your copy of Valentine by clicking here:http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/valentinejw
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ava Rose Johnson: Heroes: The Dark Side
Heroes: The Dark Side
Hello all! Ava Rose Johnson here, ready and willing to chat with you about my favorite topic. Heroes.
For me, the hero makes a story. I read romances for a lot of reasons-heroine, fun plot, hot sex scenes-but the hero usually takes the biscuit for me. It's the same with movies. Without a dashing hero, I'm not so sure I'd be interested.
Like a lot of people, I'm partial to the tall, dark and handsome version of the hero. Think David Boreanaz, Olivier Martinez, Clive Owen, Pierce Brosnan...I could go on forever. And speaking of tall, dark and handsome heroes, how could I not mention Mr. Big? I finally saw the Sex and the City movie last night and the whole way through, I couldn't stop thinking about how Big is the perfect hero (for me). Yes, he's flawed and can be stubborn and stupid at times. But that's hot. Who wants a hero who is absolutely perfect?
Okay, so we want the romance and the passion and the deep love and the 'likes dogs' to be part of our hero too. I don't think I could be hot for a hero who's afraid of puppies. But a hero has to have some mystery, some depth, some kind of darkness to pull me in. That's probably why my favorite kind of hero is a vampire. You don't get more dark and mysterious than that!
In Power, my upcoming release from Cobblestone Press, the hero is a centuries-old vampire called Jourdain. He's got the tall, dark and handsome thing going on. He's also big on vengeance which can be seen as a flaw, but I love him for it. He's pretty solitary, doesn't get involved too easily. Of course that changes when my heroine enters the picture. *wink*
So what makes a hero for you? Do you need your hero to be Mr. Alpha, or do you prefer the Beta side? Are you fan of Mr. Big or do you just think he's an arse?
To bribe you into telling me, here's some tall, dark and handsome eye-candy for your pleasure. Enjoy!
Thanks for having me!
Ava
Coming July 4th from Cobblestone Press- The Vampire Oracle: Power
A vampire's promise lasts forever...
Website ~ Blog ~ MySpace ~ Yahoo Group
Monday, June 16, 2008
MG Braden: Vampire Oracle - Harmony
Vampire Oracle - Harmony
I never thought I'd be writing a paranormal romance. I write straight contemporary. I also didn't write fully disclosed love scenes. So, when the call came out for proposals for the Vampire Oracle line, why did I jump at it?
I have no idea. I originally read through the descriptions for each card and thought they sounded great. For someone else. Not my thing.
But then the Harmony card showed up (they were released for proposals five at a time, just like they are being published the same way).
I was drawn to the face on the card:
Then, the description captured me:
Key Words: sustenance, without conflict
Meaning: This is a time of happiness and constancy. But like all good things, they have been worked for and could slip through the fingers if taken for granted.
My storyline for Harmony immediately popped in my head and I rushed to open a document and start laying it out. Once I finished that, I carefully checked all the rules for the proposal and then submitted it.
It all happened very quickly, but I was in the middle of the pack for submissions and we were to wait until mid-August, or maybe it was the end, but either way, it was a long wait. However, we got lucky and Deanna and Sable made their decisions much faster. When I saw the email pop up in my inbox earlier than the expected date, I assumed it was a decline and was afraid to look.
It was a contract!! (Obviously, since I'm writing this, but still, very exciting for me.)
From then to now has been a busy time: writing, editing, blurbing and getting ready for release date. The first five Vampire Oracle novella's released yesterday (June 6/08). Vampire Oracle: Harmony will release August 1/08. And, if I do say so myself, those love scenes turned out pretty hot. I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone and writing it.
Here is my blurb:
Recently engaged, Kara Staten and Marc Brodeur are in love, and life is good. Kara has a brand new business, and they have both worked hard to get to where they are. When things start to turn bad, they struggle for the harmony they once had.
The balance starts to unravel, secrets become harder to keep. Kara's skincare salon's "Take A Bite Out of Love (TBOL)" campaign results in several almost fatal love bites, and Marc doesn't know if he's the cause. He's a vampire trying to live a normal life.
As the vampire in him struggles to take control, Marc is only sure that he can't be the man Kara needs. She doesn't know he's a vampire--can't know. As their lives spin into separate paths, they will find that the thing that could tear them apart is the one thing that will ultimately keep them together.
__________________
Michelle
WEBSITE BLOG
I never thought I'd be writing a paranormal romance. I write straight contemporary. I also didn't write fully disclosed love scenes. So, when the call came out for proposals for the Vampire Oracle line, why did I jump at it?
I have no idea. I originally read through the descriptions for each card and thought they sounded great. For someone else. Not my thing.
But then the Harmony card showed up (they were released for proposals five at a time, just like they are being published the same way).
I was drawn to the face on the card:
Then, the description captured me:
Key Words: sustenance, without conflict
Meaning: This is a time of happiness and constancy. But like all good things, they have been worked for and could slip through the fingers if taken for granted.
My storyline for Harmony immediately popped in my head and I rushed to open a document and start laying it out. Once I finished that, I carefully checked all the rules for the proposal and then submitted it.
It all happened very quickly, but I was in the middle of the pack for submissions and we were to wait until mid-August, or maybe it was the end, but either way, it was a long wait. However, we got lucky and Deanna and Sable made their decisions much faster. When I saw the email pop up in my inbox earlier than the expected date, I assumed it was a decline and was afraid to look.
It was a contract!! (Obviously, since I'm writing this, but still, very exciting for me.)
From then to now has been a busy time: writing, editing, blurbing and getting ready for release date. The first five Vampire Oracle novella's released yesterday (June 6/08). Vampire Oracle: Harmony will release August 1/08. And, if I do say so myself, those love scenes turned out pretty hot. I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed stepping outside of my comfort zone and writing it.
Here is my blurb:
Recently engaged, Kara Staten and Marc Brodeur are in love, and life is good. Kara has a brand new business, and they have both worked hard to get to where they are. When things start to turn bad, they struggle for the harmony they once had.
The balance starts to unravel, secrets become harder to keep. Kara's skincare salon's "Take A Bite Out of Love (TBOL)" campaign results in several almost fatal love bites, and Marc doesn't know if he's the cause. He's a vampire trying to live a normal life.
As the vampire in him struggles to take control, Marc is only sure that he can't be the man Kara needs. She doesn't know he's a vampire--can't know. As their lives spin into separate paths, they will find that the thing that could tear them apart is the one thing that will ultimately keep them together.
__________________
Michelle
WEBSITE BLOG
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Moira Rogers: Faking Human (free read!)
Free Read from Moira Rogers!
Faking HumanClaire Franklin has never been ordinary. As the only child of a filthy-rich New York power couple, she's spent her life following rules. The most important rule of all--the one imposed by her mother in a desperate bid to hide the family's strong shapeshifter heritage--is the rule she hates the most: always act human.Attending college in Mystic Ridge, hotbed of supernatural activity, was the perfect rebellion for a girl tired of being human. At least, it should have been. But when she agreed to date the cute guy in her biology class, Claire found herself back where she started: trying to fake human. (Short Story set in the Mystic Valley Universe.)
Download for free! [PDF] [HTML] [Mobi]
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Kris Eton writes contemporary and paranormal erotic romance. Currently, she has four books published. Visit her website for excerpts from each of her books and more information about her writing.
Q. What's your favorite tv show?
A. I am a tv addict. I admit it. I've gotten better over the years...trimming my list of programs to those I really really like. There were some shows that I outgrew or that just became so godawful I didn't know why I was watching anymore.
As for a favorite show, I might have trouble narrowing it down. But, I guess I can pick three...is that okay?
LOST - Love the characters. I'm not all that worried about all the 'science' making sense in this show. I will always love Sawyer and Sun and Hurley and Charlie.
UGLY BETTY - This is my fun, makes-me-laugh show. It's sweet enough to stay grounded in some kind of reality, but has just enough over-the-top soap opera moments to keep me smiling. Betty and Gio are adorable together. And now that Eddie Cibrian has joined the show, there's plenty of hot guys to drool over.
THE OFFICE - Not every episode works for me. I prefer the darker shows with snarky humor over the more slapsticky ones. Out of the four NBC comedies on Thursday nights, this is the one I always watch first.
Q. What is your writing process like?
A. My writing process is constantly evolving. With every book I write, I fine tune it a little bit more. But sometimes books just take a hold of you, and you find yourself channeling a story. So my process is never consistent.
What I typically do is get the 'cool idea' first. The mini idea for a plot. Then, I think of ways this plot could be fleshed out. Sometimes actual complete scenes come to mind. Then, my characters start to fill in the blanks.
Lately, I find myself focusing more on character. Finding just the right combination to make the romance work. Because if it's too easy, it's boring. You have to give these people obstacles to overcome. Reasons not to be together.
I tend to have a very strong idea about where I want the book to start and to end. The middle is usually a mess of empty nothingness.
The last novella I completed, I had sketched out the first two chapters and the last two chapters. When I tried to sketch out anything in the middle, my mind went blank. So I left a huge hole.
It always finds a way to fill itself in.
Q. What's your favorite indulgent treat?
A. I do have a sweet tooth, but it's getting weaker as I get older. Thank the Lord. Things I don't like - ice cream, popsicles, sugar candy. Things I love - brownies, homemade cookies, chocolate from our local chocolatier, muffins, Red Velvet Cake!
I like some chunks or substance to my sweets.
Q. Which of your books is your favorite?
A. I will have to choose SNOWDRIFT. I think because of the characters in that book. They just came to life. The dialogue was snappy. And there's was some great sexual tension in that book.
SNOWDRIFT is the story of an old high school crush. Piper was in love with her best friend's older brother, a football star. But he never knew it. Years later they meet again during a group ski trip in the mountains and the sparks fly once again.
Battling through their past hurts and misunderstandings was just so much fun. There is one particular scene where they kiss for the first time, that is just so heart-wrenching. Sigh...
Yes, for now, that is my favorite book.
Thanks so much for having me stop by!
Kris Eton
http://www.kriseton.com
http://www.myspace.com/kriseton
__________________
Kris Eton
GOING DOWN, SNOWDRIFT, VARGAS GIRL now available
MOONLIGHTING now available from The Wilder Roses
Friday, June 13, 2008
Loribelle Hunt: Catured Moon
Captured Moon: Lunar Mates 6
Blurb and Excerpt
When her marriage ended, Abby retreated into herself to lick her wounds and rebuild her life. She’s found satisfaction and some success writing, and she’s happy. Mostly. Who wouldn’t welcome a little R&R?
Her favorite fantasy and many of her stories revolve around two men modeled after real life werewolf twins Rule and Lawe. When two of her friends talk her into participating in a local auction, fantasy and reality begin to mix. Rest and relaxation never felt so good, but is reality more than she bargained for?
Available June 27, 2008!
Excerpt
God, she couldn’t believe her own libido. A familiar awareness coursed through her just thinking about them. Rule and Lawe made her want wicked, sinful things. Things she’d never wanted with any man, much less two. It seemed so taboo, forbidden, especially considering she’d thought of them as her own brothers for years.
There were other considerations, though. Deep fears. Good reasons not to explore the passion she was sure could ignite between the three of them. That kind of thing tended to lead to mate bonds and the last thing she wanted was to be mated to a Panhandle werewolf. Or two. Sighing, she pushed those worries from her mind. It wasn’t like they’d showed that kind of interest.
She focused on the open doorway leading to the stage. The waitress at the entrance was hissing at her. Time to go on. She wondered how she was supposed to stroll across the stage without literally showing her ass. After walking out, it took her a moment to get her bearings. She’d never seen the bar from this angle.
“A yummy morsel, don’t you think, gentlemen?” Bill asked the crowd. “And I have to say, she’s just as lovely under the mask. Now, where should we start the bidding? Fifty? Do I have any takers?”
She shot him a horrified look. Was he crazy? No one was going to pay fifty dollars to go on a date with her! To her amazement, someone took the offer, then someone else countered. Before she knew it, the total was one hundred and fifty. She assumed that was the limit until she heard one of the dark, honeyed voices that fueled her dreams and fantasies up the bidding again.
Rule’s voice sent shivers down her spine. She longed to hear it in the darkest depths of night against her ear, whispering of the decadent things he was going to do to her and filled with the tenderness she ached to receive from him. Because as physically alluring as she found him, she wanted more. She wanted the steadiness, the strength of character, the caring and gentleness he’d shown her during the last year as she’d struggled to accept her divorce and the loss of her family.
But she only wanted a few nights. She wanted to be able to walk away. She tried to ignore a taunting internal voice. Yeah, right. Just a few nights.
After her parents’ deaths a little over a year ago, she’d taken the plunge and filed for divorce. Why she’d ever imagined a werepanther would be the same faithful, loving family man her werewolf father was escaped her. He was a cat, after all.
The loss of her parents had been horrific, but it had also been a wakeup call. She’d moved out within the week and started the long process of licking her wounds. Alex hadn’t fought for her. No, instead he heaved a sigh of relief and confessed he’d found someone else, someone he insisted was his mate even though, in her experience, werepanthers didn’t believe in life mates.
That was a week of changes. Maggie and Marilyn, who’d left for college and only returned for summer visits, moved back to Florida, and within a few, days the twins had come home too to take over their family’s bar. They were all together again. Sort of.
The twins switched responsibilities. Every couple of months, one would take over the bar, and the other would leave. She had no idea where they’d disappear to or what they did while they were gone. They’d both been gone for a few weeks in December, returning just in time for Christmas. They’d worked out some kind of part-time arrangement with the Hunters, but Marilyn had told her earlier in the evening that Lawe would be back soon and they were both done. Retiring.
Her pussy clenched at the thought of his return, and she tried to ignore the memories that rose. Lawe was something else entirely. Wild. Untamed. They’d grown close a few months ago, and she’d almost felt pursued as if he were hunting her, as if he were going to take that next step and ask her out. Or take her to bed. Then he’d backed off, and Rule had come home to take over. Maybe Lawe had sensed her desires and disapproved. Or just didn’t reciprocate.
And now Rule was bidding on her. Why?
She searched the crowd for him and groaned when she saw him standing at the rear of the bar. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a sound of pleasure, not even the small enjoyment she got scoping Rule out anonymously behind the mask, because standing next to him were Lawe and her ex, Alex.
She ignored Alex and concentrated on the twins. They looked so much alike, most people couldn’t tell them apart. Tall and fit, with matching green eyes and long dark hair, they turned heads. In personality, they were polar opposites. Where Rule was calm and collected, Lawe was a force of nature, always volatile and in motion.
Now, his brows were drawn down in a scowl, and he glared daggers at his brother before turning to gaze at her. The look didn’t soften when aimed in her direction. He recognized her. Did he not approve of his brother’s interest? Like this fiasco wasn’t bad enough, they both had to witness it?
With impatience, she waited for Bill to call an end to the bidding—she wanted to escape and fast—but before he could, the bid was upped again. The voice that called out one hundred seventy sent shivers up her a spine, and not in a good way. Ripping her gaze from the twins, she turned to the corner booth where Gage, the Alpha, held court. His lips turned up in the slightest smile and he lifted his beer to her in salute.
Her stomach flip-flopped. What the hell was he up to? The last thing she wanted was to come to the attention of the Panhandle Alpha. No way, no how. Thank you very much.
She whipped back around to Rule and Lawe. One of them had damned well better raise the bid. She was tempted to do it herself, but didn’t dare do anything that might embarrass Gage. He ruled the pack with an iron fist. As an unmated female associated with it, she was allowed a certain amount of latitude. But publicly opposing him… She shuddered. She didn’t want to know how he’d respond. Thankfully, Rule countered with two hundred. Gage held his gaze a long moment, nodded once, and let the bidding end.
__________________
Christmas Moon now available at Cobblestone Press
Rules of Engagement now available at Cobblestone Press
Fireworks now available at Samhain Publishing
http://www.loribellehunt.com/
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Day in the Life of Cassandra Moore
A Day in the Life of Cassandra Moore
-------------------------------------
Hello, true believers. Cassandra Moore here. I'd like to tell you a little bit about how I run my life.
On the surface, my life seems to run like a chicken with its head cut off. If you delve deeper, however, you'll find something completely different.
About ten thousand chickens with their heads cut off.
There are patterns to all that fowl play. They tend to depend on what time of year it is, meaning whether or not my kids are in school, but even then there are things that don't change.
I wake up. It's seldom before 9 AM, and is more often about 9:30. Sometimes, I go as late as 10, and on the weekends, it might be closer to 11 or 11:30, but most weekdays it's around 9:30. I'm a late sleeper, mostly because my sleep's very fragile, so I spend some time in there awake, too.
Most mornings, it's a shower next. I plot best in the shower, so this isn't only about washing my hair. It's about kick starting my brain, getting the plot in order, and thinking about what I'm writing that day. Strange, isn't it? But it works.
Once I either have all the plotting done or I've run out of hot water, I throw on my clothes, open the bedroom door, and trip over the cats that are waiting for me. I stagger out and turn the AC to a less arctic temperature (I prefer to sleep in a blizzard), then check my e-mail.
The music goes on at this point. Generally, it's my big, random playlist. 193 songs, 14.3 hours of music.
Breakfast time. Bowl of cereal (usually Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds) with soy milk, glass of water, and my usual round of websites. I keep a tab on my Google homepage with all the writing oriented sites I look at, then I make the rounds of my friends' blogs, my favored news sites, the couple of forums I read, just the usual stuff. One of the cats begs for my cereal bowl, then realizes I have soy milk and gets disgusted with me.
If the kids aren't home for the summer, I feed the guinea pigs here, too. If the kids are home, they've already done it.
For the most part, I open up the document for the story I'm working on (if I even bothered to close it up the night before...most of the time, I don't reboot my computer, just turn off the monitor) and read over what I did the day before. I make a couple word adjustments, and get back into the feel of the story. I also look over the outline, and whatever wiki information I have on it (I have my own wiki to work with), and then I write.
There's a break for lunch in the afternoon. If the kids are in school, I go get them, and I grab food. I read a few websites, or do critique work if someone's sent me something. If it's the summer, I take the kids swimming and the break's a little longer. I read while they swim, and listen to my iPod.
Usually, it's back to the grindstone after that. If the kids are playing the XBox (and until I get my office set up in my bedroom), sometimes I'll get some chores done here, like picking up, laundry, phone calls, whatever. When I can, it's right back to writing until suppertime.
Kids usually eat first. My husband gets home later than they like to eat, so I get them fed. Sometimes, we go get Mr. Moore, sometimes he makes his way home on his own. Then I get the two of us fed.
Evenings are almost always the same, just variants on a theme. Occasionally, I'll keep writing, but it's often not very good for my carpal tunnel. A break at night is important for my health, and sometimes my sanity. You have to let the words come back. If I haven't hit my two thousand words that day, though, I do "overtime".
Other nights, if there's something on the television, we'll watch it. Sometimes we put on a movie, and I knit while we watch it. Some nights, we play video games together, either on the XBox 360 or on our computers. Feed the guinea pigs again, clean out their cage, make their food for the next day.
Then it's bedtime. We try to hit bed around 10:00 PM, but it never works that way. It's generally closer to 11:00, and on weekends, midnight or even later. We're usually up chatting til at least midnight either way, sometimes longer. (It tends to depend on how hard and fast the meds hit. No really, I'm an insomniac.)
And then...we do it all over again.
Isn't my life exciting?
__________________
Cassandra Moore
Vampire Oracle: New Life - Coming in October from Cobblestone Press!
Taint of Shadow - Coming soon from Cobblestone Press!
http://www.cassandra-moore.com
-------------------------------------
Hello, true believers. Cassandra Moore here. I'd like to tell you a little bit about how I run my life.
On the surface, my life seems to run like a chicken with its head cut off. If you delve deeper, however, you'll find something completely different.
About ten thousand chickens with their heads cut off.
There are patterns to all that fowl play. They tend to depend on what time of year it is, meaning whether or not my kids are in school, but even then there are things that don't change.
I wake up. It's seldom before 9 AM, and is more often about 9:30. Sometimes, I go as late as 10, and on the weekends, it might be closer to 11 or 11:30, but most weekdays it's around 9:30. I'm a late sleeper, mostly because my sleep's very fragile, so I spend some time in there awake, too.
Most mornings, it's a shower next. I plot best in the shower, so this isn't only about washing my hair. It's about kick starting my brain, getting the plot in order, and thinking about what I'm writing that day. Strange, isn't it? But it works.
Once I either have all the plotting done or I've run out of hot water, I throw on my clothes, open the bedroom door, and trip over the cats that are waiting for me. I stagger out and turn the AC to a less arctic temperature (I prefer to sleep in a blizzard), then check my e-mail.
The music goes on at this point. Generally, it's my big, random playlist. 193 songs, 14.3 hours of music.
Breakfast time. Bowl of cereal (usually Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds) with soy milk, glass of water, and my usual round of websites. I keep a tab on my Google homepage with all the writing oriented sites I look at, then I make the rounds of my friends' blogs, my favored news sites, the couple of forums I read, just the usual stuff. One of the cats begs for my cereal bowl, then realizes I have soy milk and gets disgusted with me.
If the kids aren't home for the summer, I feed the guinea pigs here, too. If the kids are home, they've already done it.
For the most part, I open up the document for the story I'm working on (if I even bothered to close it up the night before...most of the time, I don't reboot my computer, just turn off the monitor) and read over what I did the day before. I make a couple word adjustments, and get back into the feel of the story. I also look over the outline, and whatever wiki information I have on it (I have my own wiki to work with), and then I write.
There's a break for lunch in the afternoon. If the kids are in school, I go get them, and I grab food. I read a few websites, or do critique work if someone's sent me something. If it's the summer, I take the kids swimming and the break's a little longer. I read while they swim, and listen to my iPod.
Usually, it's back to the grindstone after that. If the kids are playing the XBox (and until I get my office set up in my bedroom), sometimes I'll get some chores done here, like picking up, laundry, phone calls, whatever. When I can, it's right back to writing until suppertime.
Kids usually eat first. My husband gets home later than they like to eat, so I get them fed. Sometimes, we go get Mr. Moore, sometimes he makes his way home on his own. Then I get the two of us fed.
Evenings are almost always the same, just variants on a theme. Occasionally, I'll keep writing, but it's often not very good for my carpal tunnel. A break at night is important for my health, and sometimes my sanity. You have to let the words come back. If I haven't hit my two thousand words that day, though, I do "overtime".
Other nights, if there's something on the television, we'll watch it. Sometimes we put on a movie, and I knit while we watch it. Some nights, we play video games together, either on the XBox 360 or on our computers. Feed the guinea pigs again, clean out their cage, make their food for the next day.
Then it's bedtime. We try to hit bed around 10:00 PM, but it never works that way. It's generally closer to 11:00, and on weekends, midnight or even later. We're usually up chatting til at least midnight either way, sometimes longer. (It tends to depend on how hard and fast the meds hit. No really, I'm an insomniac.)
And then...we do it all over again.
Isn't my life exciting?
__________________
Cassandra Moore
Vampire Oracle: New Life - Coming in October from Cobblestone Press!
Taint of Shadow - Coming soon from Cobblestone Press!
http://www.cassandra-moore.com
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Yolanda Sfetsos - Where do your ideas come from?
Yolanda Sfetsos - Where do your ideas come from?
You know, just like every writer out there, I'm always tempted to answer this question with a sarcastic response. Something like, "I buy them at the corner store, where you can get two for the price of one". Yeah, very witty, huh? Lol.
The truth is, I find ideas just about anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes, it can be as simple as waking up after a dream I've managed to hold onto. Or I could be looking at a picture online and there's a new idea. Other times, I might hear a line from a song and there's another new one. One of my faves is reading research material and having one drop right into my head. This actually happened with Guarded By Stone.
I don't know when they're going to strike, but when they do, I make sure I ponder the thought and write it down. Sometimes the ideas come fully developed and before I know it, I'm already working on the story. Other times, I need to slowly research and explore the character/s or situations that have entered my mind before I can start writing.
The only thing every process has in common, is how intriguing and exciting it is. There's nothing better than the excitement of discovering a new tale to tell, and all the things that go hand-in-hand with developing the idea into a story. Personally, I love it. I love chasing it to where it leads... hopefully, to a new short story, novella or novel.
So, when you get an idea, hold onto it and don't let it go. You'd be amazed at what it can develop into. For me, this extends to other things in life too.
Yolanda Sfetsos
www.yolandasfetsos.com
You know, just like every writer out there, I'm always tempted to answer this question with a sarcastic response. Something like, "I buy them at the corner store, where you can get two for the price of one". Yeah, very witty, huh? Lol.
The truth is, I find ideas just about anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes, it can be as simple as waking up after a dream I've managed to hold onto. Or I could be looking at a picture online and there's a new idea. Other times, I might hear a line from a song and there's another new one. One of my faves is reading research material and having one drop right into my head. This actually happened with Guarded By Stone.
I don't know when they're going to strike, but when they do, I make sure I ponder the thought and write it down. Sometimes the ideas come fully developed and before I know it, I'm already working on the story. Other times, I need to slowly research and explore the character/s or situations that have entered my mind before I can start writing.
The only thing every process has in common, is how intriguing and exciting it is. There's nothing better than the excitement of discovering a new tale to tell, and all the things that go hand-in-hand with developing the idea into a story. Personally, I love it. I love chasing it to where it leads... hopefully, to a new short story, novella or novel.
So, when you get an idea, hold onto it and don't let it go. You'd be amazed at what it can develop into. For me, this extends to other things in life too.
Yolanda Sfetsos
www.yolandasfetsos.com
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Sophie Athens: The Vampire Oracle: HUNGER
THE VAMPIRE ORACLE: HUNGER--BLURB:Olivia Johns, a counselor who specializes in helping vampires blend into the human world and "conquer" their blood thirst, receives in the mail a strange card that says "Hunger"--a card that not only jump-starts a restless, aching need within her, but serves as the catalyst for a chain of events she can't stop.
Spurred by this new sensation building within her, Olivia meets Marcus Willoughby, the sexy, self-assured vampire who owns a night club, and is drawn to him with a hunger that surprises her. Suddenly, Olivia is forced to confront her own fears and prejudices about vampires...when Marcus turns her into one herself.
EXCERPT:
The dance floor split in half as a tall man strode confidently down the middle. He came right toward her. Her breath caught in her throat as she slid her gaze up his strong, firm legs encased in black pants. A blood-red shirt opened at his neck, accentuating his pale skin, and a shock of black hair was cropped short on his head, the front slightly spiked.
But his gray eyes stopped Olivia, froze any thought that came to mind, as they boldly returned her stare. They were the color of a cold winter sky, though the look in them was anything but frosty as he held her gaze.
Her heart raced, beating hard against her chest. As her head swam, she realized she’d been holding her breath. She quickly exhaled then drew in a short burst of air.
The intoxicating man stopped less than a foot from her. His warm, earthy cologne hit her nostrils, and she closed her eyes for a quick second, breathing him in.
He turned to the drunken man then spoke in a low, relaxed tone. “Go.”
The guy didn’t say a word but walked away quietly, which Olivia saw out of the corner of her eye. She still couldn’t take her eyes off the gray-eyed man’s face.
He turned his attention back to her, a smile spreading across his mouth. “I’m Marcus,” he said, extending his hand. “The owner of this club. Sorry if he was bothering you.”
“Olivia.” She took his hand. “Thanks for sending him away.”
He thumbed the crease of her palm, sending spirals of warm, sexual tingles across her skin, down to her lower belly.
“Would you like to dance?” she blurted out. A flush spread across her cheeks at her unusual boldness, but something about Marcus made her want to be as close to him as possible.
He smiled again, tugging her close to him. His mouth hovered no more than a couple of inches from hers, his eyes hooded. “Love to.”
She dumped her bottle in the nearby trash can as he led her out onto the floor, and a grinding song pounded into the room. Alcohol coursed through her body in a warm sprawl, making her movements slower than usual. Marcus moved in close, then closer, his body brushing hers. Her nipples awoke beneath the thin fabric, perking at the sensation of his hard, warm chest against hers.
Sliding her hands along his shoulders, she found herself unable to stop the wanton grind against him. She rubbed the front of her pelvis along his upper thigh, reveling in his sharp intake of breath. She caressed his neck with her fingers, behind his ear, then down the firm muscles of his back.
The music throbbed in her, pulsed like the hunger that flushed her skin and parted her bare thighs in anticipation. Her panties grew wet, warm against her skin.
She wanted this man, wanted him with a need that startled her, even as she grew excited. She pushed her body tighter against him, his lean, muscled thigh wedged firmly between her legs.
He bent over and rubbed his lips along her shoulder, breathing deeply. His tongue lightly touched the dip behind her collarbone. “You taste so good,” he murmured.
A small flutter ran through her stomach, and her head felt light, almost dizzy. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been so aroused. But she needed some fresh air, needed to strip off her clothes and feel this man on top of her, pushing into her, needed to run her hands across his skin.
She nudged her face beside his ear, letting the words in the back of her mind flow out of her mouth. “Let’s get out of here.”
AUTHOR BIO:
Sophie Athens has always had a love of romance, from the time she was a pre-teen hiding in her room to read her mom's Harlequin novels. However, it wasn't until 2007 that she picked up her laptop and started writing one. Her first novella, HUNGER, is now available with Cobblestone Press here -- http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/line/vampireoracle.htm.
Sophie has a degree in English and happily lives in Ohio with her family. In her free time, she loves to play video games, watch chick flicks, read scads of books, shop for hot shoes, and harass her friends.
Visit her on the web at http://www.sophieathens.com for more details.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Dee Carney's First Sale
My First Sale
A DJ on the radio asked listeners to think about the careers they had once dreamed of having when they were children. I thought long and hard about it and ran through my list...I'd wanted to be a medical doctor (ugh. too much school), a vet (allergic to a million things), a child psychiatrist (wtf?), a chef (still holding on to this one), an artist (not enough money per my dad) and a writer. That last one took me by surprise because I'd completely forgotten that once upon a time, I'd wanted to be a writer when I grew up. So how, if I'd forgotten I'd wanted to be a writer, did I end up here? Well, lemme tell you...
Scroll back about fifteen years. Sitting in a sociology course, I had an instructor who loved to hear himself talk. I mean LOVED. While sitting there bemoaning the mandatory attendance requirement, I thought up a story about a servant and a land owner (think pre-Civil War) who embark into a marriage agreement so that he can keep his inheritance. For the next year, whenever I had a course that bored me to tears, I whipped out my story idea and wrote an actual story to go along with it. When school ended, so did my writing. I had to go work in the real world...with only 1 1/2 chapters left to go. To this day, I still have 1 1/2 chapters left of the story. One day I'll finish it. But I digress....
Scroll back about eight months ago. While perusing a publisher site for kicks and giggles, someone mentioned joining NaNo. Being the internet detective that I am, I went to the site. After reading some more, I figured, what the heck...and signed up. Since it was only October, I also figured I'd better practice since my writing was a little rusty. So I thought up a story about a man who dies. But then comes back - in a new time & place. After I finished the first two chapters, I gave them to my secretary to read. She became engrossed in the story and refused to talk to me until I'd handed her the next chapter. And the next. And the next. All of a sudden, I was writing The End.
I was very proud when I handed her that final chapter. If I say so myself, it was a pretty good story. She thought so too. She called me out of a meeting to gush over the story. And my head got too big to fit through doorways. And when she told me to submit it to a publisher, my head was so big it barely fit into the car for the ride home.
Once again, what the heck? flashed through my mind. And I submitted it to this e-publisher with a good reputation and fair terms. The fact that their authors had positive things to say about them didn't hurt either. And on Christmas Day while sitting at work I opened up my email to find a letter from Deanna Lee letting me know that she enjoyed my story too.
SOLDIER released from Cobblestone Press in April of 2008. Since then I've been contracted for an additional two stories with Cobblestone. I'm only looking forward from here. Who knew that a little kid a zillion years ago could have predicted the direction her life would head? I'm glad she did.
Hugs,
Dee
__________________
Dee Carney (aka Morgan Sierra)
SOLDIER available now at Cobblestone Press
Also coming CAREER OPPORTUNITIES and THE FALLEN
http://www.deecarney.com/
A DJ on the radio asked listeners to think about the careers they had once dreamed of having when they were children. I thought long and hard about it and ran through my list...I'd wanted to be a medical doctor (ugh. too much school), a vet (allergic to a million things), a child psychiatrist (wtf?), a chef (still holding on to this one), an artist (not enough money per my dad) and a writer. That last one took me by surprise because I'd completely forgotten that once upon a time, I'd wanted to be a writer when I grew up. So how, if I'd forgotten I'd wanted to be a writer, did I end up here? Well, lemme tell you...
Scroll back about fifteen years. Sitting in a sociology course, I had an instructor who loved to hear himself talk. I mean LOVED. While sitting there bemoaning the mandatory attendance requirement, I thought up a story about a servant and a land owner (think pre-Civil War) who embark into a marriage agreement so that he can keep his inheritance. For the next year, whenever I had a course that bored me to tears, I whipped out my story idea and wrote an actual story to go along with it. When school ended, so did my writing. I had to go work in the real world...with only 1 1/2 chapters left to go. To this day, I still have 1 1/2 chapters left of the story. One day I'll finish it. But I digress....
Scroll back about eight months ago. While perusing a publisher site for kicks and giggles, someone mentioned joining NaNo. Being the internet detective that I am, I went to the site. After reading some more, I figured, what the heck...and signed up. Since it was only October, I also figured I'd better practice since my writing was a little rusty. So I thought up a story about a man who dies. But then comes back - in a new time & place. After I finished the first two chapters, I gave them to my secretary to read. She became engrossed in the story and refused to talk to me until I'd handed her the next chapter. And the next. And the next. All of a sudden, I was writing The End.
I was very proud when I handed her that final chapter. If I say so myself, it was a pretty good story. She thought so too. She called me out of a meeting to gush over the story. And my head got too big to fit through doorways. And when she told me to submit it to a publisher, my head was so big it barely fit into the car for the ride home.
Once again, what the heck? flashed through my mind. And I submitted it to this e-publisher with a good reputation and fair terms. The fact that their authors had positive things to say about them didn't hurt either. And on Christmas Day while sitting at work I opened up my email to find a letter from Deanna Lee letting me know that she enjoyed my story too.
SOLDIER released from Cobblestone Press in April of 2008. Since then I've been contracted for an additional two stories with Cobblestone. I'm only looking forward from here. Who knew that a little kid a zillion years ago could have predicted the direction her life would head? I'm glad she did.
Hugs,
Dee
__________________
Dee Carney (aka Morgan Sierra)
SOLDIER available now at Cobblestone Press
Also coming CAREER OPPORTUNITIES and THE FALLEN
http://www.deecarney.com/
Sunday, June 08, 2008
An Interview with Leila Brown
Woo HOO!! An interview with Leila Brown!
Can you tell us a little about yourself? Well let’s see…I’m an avid reader. Always have been, always will be. I enjoy a good story whether it’s romance, science fiction, or horror. I’m in it for the story. That’s what I strive for. In every story I write I try to provide my readers with a great story first and foremost.
Were you a reader before you became a writer? Oh yes. I could read 3-4 category romances a day or one and a half single titles. I spent hundreds of dollars a month on books.
Did you always aspire to be an author? Was writing a passion of yours? Yes. I started writing in the second grade. Unfortunately, I didn’t win that first writing contest. But it created the need to write.
Have you always had the writing bug? And how long have you been writing? I’ve been writing seriously since 2002. I entered contest but didn’t start sending my work out to publishing companies until 2005.
Your real job is very different (non-creative) from writing. Does this difference drive your imagination? Some days. My day job as a computer programmer/analysts can be a drain. If I’m dealing with a particular hard problem or training people then I use the creative juices try to come up with ways to explain technical things to non-technical people. Other days I find myself coming up with new ideas while I work. I keep a notebook handy for just such an occasion.
What is the best part of being a writer? Creating stories that entertain me and getting paid for it.
How did you get your break and sell your first book? It’s kind of funny. The first book I sold will actually be my fourth book released. When Cobblestone Press first came out with their Vampire Oracle line I loved the oracle card images. I submitted three proposals. Battle, Lust, and Hunger. On Aug. 10th 2007 (like how I remember the date?) the publisher contacted me and expressed how much she liked my Hunger proposal. But she felt it fit the Sacrifice card better. After reading through her reasoning, I had to agree.
Has your writing made you adjust your lifestyle in any way? I’ve learned sleep is for wimps! No, actually I learned to take care of my family first. After that the day job and finally all free time is spent on writing and promoting my books.
Are you planning on writing any series books or do you have any more books that lead on from your existing titles that we should know about? You betcha. The sequel to The Diamond Heartstone is The Pearl Heartstone. I am working on that one right now. It’s the story of how the nasty prince meets his match.
The sequel to A Chance Encounter is also in the works. It will detail how Monique, Heather business partner and best friend, gets caught by her own set of powerful Faeries. Yes, it’s another ménage.
And…as if that wasn’t enough, in September and October of this year I will be releasing Mastering Mirage and Making Mischief. These will be the stories of Soundwave’s sisters who are out searching for big sis when they cross the wrong men. Is that enough? J
www.leilabrown.com
www.leilabrown.blogspot.com
~Addictive Erotic Romance You Can't Resist~
Can you tell us a little about yourself? Well let’s see…I’m an avid reader. Always have been, always will be. I enjoy a good story whether it’s romance, science fiction, or horror. I’m in it for the story. That’s what I strive for. In every story I write I try to provide my readers with a great story first and foremost.
Were you a reader before you became a writer? Oh yes. I could read 3-4 category romances a day or one and a half single titles. I spent hundreds of dollars a month on books.
Did you always aspire to be an author? Was writing a passion of yours? Yes. I started writing in the second grade. Unfortunately, I didn’t win that first writing contest. But it created the need to write.
Have you always had the writing bug? And how long have you been writing? I’ve been writing seriously since 2002. I entered contest but didn’t start sending my work out to publishing companies until 2005.
Your real job is very different (non-creative) from writing. Does this difference drive your imagination? Some days. My day job as a computer programmer/analysts can be a drain. If I’m dealing with a particular hard problem or training people then I use the creative juices try to come up with ways to explain technical things to non-technical people. Other days I find myself coming up with new ideas while I work. I keep a notebook handy for just such an occasion.
What is the best part of being a writer? Creating stories that entertain me and getting paid for it.
How did you get your break and sell your first book? It’s kind of funny. The first book I sold will actually be my fourth book released. When Cobblestone Press first came out with their Vampire Oracle line I loved the oracle card images. I submitted three proposals. Battle, Lust, and Hunger. On Aug. 10th 2007 (like how I remember the date?) the publisher contacted me and expressed how much she liked my Hunger proposal. But she felt it fit the Sacrifice card better. After reading through her reasoning, I had to agree.
Has your writing made you adjust your lifestyle in any way? I’ve learned sleep is for wimps! No, actually I learned to take care of my family first. After that the day job and finally all free time is spent on writing and promoting my books.
Are you planning on writing any series books or do you have any more books that lead on from your existing titles that we should know about? You betcha. The sequel to The Diamond Heartstone is The Pearl Heartstone. I am working on that one right now. It’s the story of how the nasty prince meets his match.
The sequel to A Chance Encounter is also in the works. It will detail how Monique, Heather business partner and best friend, gets caught by her own set of powerful Faeries. Yes, it’s another ménage.
And…as if that wasn’t enough, in September and October of this year I will be releasing Mastering Mirage and Making Mischief. These will be the stories of Soundwave’s sisters who are out searching for big sis when they cross the wrong men. Is that enough? J
www.leilabrown.com
www.leilabrown.blogspot.com
~Addictive Erotic Romance You Can't Resist~
What is a blog tour...?
Beats me. But it sounded like fun, so I signed up. :)
Watch here during the following 14 days for posts about some of my fantastic fellow authors with Cobblestone Press.
Shannon
Watch here during the following 14 days for posts about some of my fantastic fellow authors with Cobblestone Press.
Shannon
Friday, May 02, 2008
L. Shannon’s News for May 2008
L. Shannon’s News for May 2008
*What’s on my schedule?*
May 30, 2008 Ã Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge - Cobblestone Press
June 2008Ã A Lover’s Touch – released in June 2008 issue of CPQ
July 2008Ã Father of the Wolf coming in print
August 2008 Ã The Vampire Oracle: Love with Cobblestone Press
Every Friday at 9 eastern – Cobblestone Press release Chat – I don’t always make it to chat, but stop by anyhow and say hello to the other wonderful authors of Cobblestone Press. http://www.cobblestone-press.com/chat.htm
*Welcome!*
Welcome to new members harrisonpatty, smg5775, blakeygirl42, dianalynn16124, tazteach1, dee_carney, jcksnt. Thank you for joining the group!
*Contests!*
Join the L. Shannon newsletter loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LShannon/ and automatically be entered for a chance to win a free L. Shannon e-book. I give away one every month just for being a member! I call these Member Rewards. J I also have a second contest just for members every time I have a new release. I call these Release Rewards. Both of these contests require you to send me an email to confirm the win.
MEMBER REWARDS!
May - jlindahlj
(E-mail your choice of e-books to lshannon@hotmail.com)
RELEASE REWARDS!
Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge – soozlebug2000
(Confirm your win by emailing me at lshannon@hotmail.com)
WHO SAID THAT?
In Anom’tan 3: Walking at Sundown, who said… “I believe you will die this night.”
(E-mail your answer to lshannon@hotmail.com.)
NEW CONTEST!
The fourth and final Anom’tan book has been contracted to Cobblestone press. On the day book 4: Walking Death’s Edge is released (May 30th) I will draw one winner from eligible entries. The winner will receive a box of synnfully fun prizes including but not limited to… scented candles, relaxing bath set, fuzzy cuffs, romantic game dice…
To enter email your favorite line from any Anom’tan book to lshannon@hotmail.com. I’ll be adding to the prize package until the release day and will accept multiple entries from the newsletter group members. If you enter multiple times please pick more than one favorite line.
Only 29 days to go! Enter now!
Other contests ~ Watch my blog at http://lshannon.blogspot.com/ and Cobblestone Mainstreet for spur of the moment contests and up to date info on contests and news.
*New This Issue*
You can see my coming soon books and read blurbs and excerpts for all my work at www.lshannon.net .
Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge
Cobblestone Press
Genre: Erotic Urban FantasyMay 30, 2008
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/lshannon.htm
Two sides of a single dangerous coin. Bryck works death magic to do his duty while Maya feeds on death to survive. Together they could rescue or destroy everything they hold dear. It’s a chance they’re willing to take, risking everything to bring Flayvor back safe and whole.
UNEDITED EXCERPT
“Hello, Dante.”
Bryck didn’t jump in surprise, because damn it, Daelyn don’t scare. And in his case, half Daelyn don’t scare much. Not that the woman standing in the entrance wasn’t odd. She was. She was perfectly odd. Her silver hair streamed around her, framing her light brown skin. The hair blended in, matching her white gown, some flowing muslin thing that looked almost as fragile as the girl herself.
From her bare feet to her silver hair, the girl was frail and ghostly. And obviously blind.
Dante glided forward and caught the girl’s hand. “Maya, I’ve someone I want you to meet.”
Bryck watched as she pulled her hand back. Good. She didn’t seek out the vampire’s touch. At least she didn’t seek out his touch now. Had she ever? He bit back the growl that clawed at his throat.
He had no right to even consider possessing such a fragile girl. He pushed aside the insane impulse and stomped up beside the vampire. “So this is her?”
Her face turned his way and he could almost see her hackles rise. Her nose flared out just once before she adjusted the angle of her face to look directly at him even though her eyes remained closed. “I’m Maya. Who are you, demon?”
Demon? How could she know? “You must see a hell of a lot better than it appears.”
She shrugged. “I usually see what I need to. Who are you and what do you want?”
“What I want is my demon back. I’m told you can assist me, but now that we’ve met I begin to wonder how.”
“But we have not yet met. Meeting requires a greeting. If it is as you say and you require my assistance, I would think you’d be somewhat more accommodating to my desire to have your name. As it is, I am beginning to consider you no better than the last demon I faced and that encounter ended with a demon dying. I ask again, for the last time. Might I know the name of this demon, who I face, who I do not know, who has come to ask for my aid?”
“Maya?” a human male asked quietly from the open door. “Have I come at a bad time?”
“Ricky.” The relief and pleasure in her voice twisted inside Bryck’s gut. She turned her back on him to make her way toward the human, moving slowly and with great care.
She wanted this human, when her only reaction to him was one of outrage. And why did that knowledge bring his already rising anger to a boil? Why did it make him want to rip the human into small bite sized pieces?
“Thank the gods you came. I was afraid that you would skip this week when I found the place had been attacked.”
“I know how much you need …my product.”
Her hand closed around the human’s elbow and she leaned in close enough for her small body to brush against his side.
Bryck’s vision darkened. “Fuck this! We don’t have time for your dealer to make a delivery.” He grabbed her shoulder, spinning her back around to face him. The skin-to-skin contact sizzled through his veins, setting his body on fire. His iron control over his powers melted, evaporated, leaving his darkness surging outward without restraint.
Her eyes opened with a flash of pure white light. Her energy met his with an explosion of power, throwing them both into the unknown. For a heartbeat the world roared. The lights and windows shattered. Tables and people were shoved away by the outward force. Lightning streaked from the night sky, pounding the street outside the club.
Then just as suddenly as the world had gone to hell, it all settled into a deep well of silence.
“Well, shit.” He dropped his hand away from her.
“You can say that again.” The white light of her eyes faded, revealing soft brown irises. She blinked up at him as if seeing him for the first time and considering the fact that she had appeared blind, it probably was for the first time.
END EXCERPT
*Currently available*
Cobblestone Press
Anom'tan 1: Walking with Synn ~ 7/20/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Anom'tan 2: Walking in Memories ~9/21/07~ excerpt - buy
Anom'tan 3: Walking at Sundown ~ 2/22/08 ~ excerpt - buy
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf ~ 6/30/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Eagle Clan 2: Destiny ~ 6/30/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Lynx Clan 1: Forgiven ~ 9/15/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Origins: Vali's Curse ~ 11/10/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Origins: A Spirit United ~ 11/2/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Origins: My Immortal ~ 12/14/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Tascryn: Season of Blood ~ 10/31/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Tascryn Royals 2: Blood Reign ~ 1/19/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Tascryn: Surviving Synn ~ 5/11/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Forever Eden ~ 8/17/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge ~ coming 5/30/08
Changeling Press
Tascryn Royals 1: Of Blood and Blessings ~ 6/2/06 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Chances: A Snowball's Chance (hot flash) ~ 3/3/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Acacia 1: Abducting Aeron ~ 4/18/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
*Off Topic*
Woohoo! Spring is finally here! I’ve been busy gardening and taking care of the ponds. With the warm air came the addition of 15 new butterfly koi babies. I’m very excited about the little pretties. Also all the dogs are getting haircuts (short summer do’s) and I started getting the veggie garden planted. The peas are in and most of the rest is cleared and turned.
In the coming weeks I have a couple pond cleaning days that will leave me exhausted but to be honest I love getting in there to weed the overgrowth and prep the bog filters for the year. Wish me luck getting through all that so I can get back to the big writing projects. Once I do, I’ll be focusing on the next Eagle Clan book. I’m still hoping that will get out in 2008.
Enjoy the spring weather. J
Shannon
*About L. Shannon*
L. Shannon, the author, came into existence in June of 2004. Ms. Shannon’s always been a reader and lover of books, but never considered writing until one night when she ran out of books to read… She began writing that very night as the first line defense in a battle against insomnia. Her writing has steadily grown into a war against reality. Her friends kindly say reality never stood a chance. The L. Shannon’s novels have expanded to fill an entire world with paranormal wonders including Valà frn werewolves, Tascryn demons, blood-sucking vampires, sexy selkies and many, many more. Be careful if you choose to enter Ms. Shannon’s hunk-filled world. You may never wish to leave…
In the time Shannon doesn’t spend writing, she’s kept busy with bothering her husband, showing dogs, gardening and watching over her four Butterfly Koi ponds. You can learn more about her writing and her life at www.lshannon.net.
*What’s on my schedule?*
May 30, 2008 Ã Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge - Cobblestone Press
June 2008Ã A Lover’s Touch – released in June 2008 issue of CPQ
July 2008Ã Father of the Wolf coming in print
August 2008 Ã The Vampire Oracle: Love with Cobblestone Press
Every Friday at 9 eastern – Cobblestone Press release Chat – I don’t always make it to chat, but stop by anyhow and say hello to the other wonderful authors of Cobblestone Press. http://www.cobblestone-press.com/chat.htm
*Welcome!*
Welcome to new members harrisonpatty, smg5775, blakeygirl42, dianalynn16124, tazteach1, dee_carney, jcksnt. Thank you for joining the group!
*Contests!*
Join the L. Shannon newsletter loop http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LShannon/ and automatically be entered for a chance to win a free L. Shannon e-book. I give away one every month just for being a member! I call these Member Rewards. J I also have a second contest just for members every time I have a new release. I call these Release Rewards. Both of these contests require you to send me an email to confirm the win.
MEMBER REWARDS!
May - jlindahlj
(E-mail your choice of e-books to lshannon@hotmail.com)
RELEASE REWARDS!
Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge – soozlebug2000
(Confirm your win by emailing me at lshannon@hotmail.com)
WHO SAID THAT?
In Anom’tan 3: Walking at Sundown, who said… “I believe you will die this night.”
(E-mail your answer to lshannon@hotmail.com.)
NEW CONTEST!
The fourth and final Anom’tan book has been contracted to Cobblestone press. On the day book 4: Walking Death’s Edge is released (May 30th) I will draw one winner from eligible entries. The winner will receive a box of synnfully fun prizes including but not limited to… scented candles, relaxing bath set, fuzzy cuffs, romantic game dice…
To enter email your favorite line from any Anom’tan book to lshannon@hotmail.com. I’ll be adding to the prize package until the release day and will accept multiple entries from the newsletter group members. If you enter multiple times please pick more than one favorite line.
Only 29 days to go! Enter now!
Other contests ~ Watch my blog at http://lshannon.blogspot.com/ and Cobblestone Mainstreet for spur of the moment contests and up to date info on contests and news.
*New This Issue*
You can see my coming soon books and read blurbs and excerpts for all my work at www.lshannon.net .
Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge
Cobblestone Press
Genre: Erotic Urban FantasyMay 30, 2008
http://www.cobblestone-press.com/catalog/author/lshannon.htm
Two sides of a single dangerous coin. Bryck works death magic to do his duty while Maya feeds on death to survive. Together they could rescue or destroy everything they hold dear. It’s a chance they’re willing to take, risking everything to bring Flayvor back safe and whole.
UNEDITED EXCERPT
“Hello, Dante.”
Bryck didn’t jump in surprise, because damn it, Daelyn don’t scare. And in his case, half Daelyn don’t scare much. Not that the woman standing in the entrance wasn’t odd. She was. She was perfectly odd. Her silver hair streamed around her, framing her light brown skin. The hair blended in, matching her white gown, some flowing muslin thing that looked almost as fragile as the girl herself.
From her bare feet to her silver hair, the girl was frail and ghostly. And obviously blind.
Dante glided forward and caught the girl’s hand. “Maya, I’ve someone I want you to meet.”
Bryck watched as she pulled her hand back. Good. She didn’t seek out the vampire’s touch. At least she didn’t seek out his touch now. Had she ever? He bit back the growl that clawed at his throat.
He had no right to even consider possessing such a fragile girl. He pushed aside the insane impulse and stomped up beside the vampire. “So this is her?”
Her face turned his way and he could almost see her hackles rise. Her nose flared out just once before she adjusted the angle of her face to look directly at him even though her eyes remained closed. “I’m Maya. Who are you, demon?”
Demon? How could she know? “You must see a hell of a lot better than it appears.”
She shrugged. “I usually see what I need to. Who are you and what do you want?”
“What I want is my demon back. I’m told you can assist me, but now that we’ve met I begin to wonder how.”
“But we have not yet met. Meeting requires a greeting. If it is as you say and you require my assistance, I would think you’d be somewhat more accommodating to my desire to have your name. As it is, I am beginning to consider you no better than the last demon I faced and that encounter ended with a demon dying. I ask again, for the last time. Might I know the name of this demon, who I face, who I do not know, who has come to ask for my aid?”
“Maya?” a human male asked quietly from the open door. “Have I come at a bad time?”
“Ricky.” The relief and pleasure in her voice twisted inside Bryck’s gut. She turned her back on him to make her way toward the human, moving slowly and with great care.
She wanted this human, when her only reaction to him was one of outrage. And why did that knowledge bring his already rising anger to a boil? Why did it make him want to rip the human into small bite sized pieces?
“Thank the gods you came. I was afraid that you would skip this week when I found the place had been attacked.”
“I know how much you need …my product.”
Her hand closed around the human’s elbow and she leaned in close enough for her small body to brush against his side.
Bryck’s vision darkened. “Fuck this! We don’t have time for your dealer to make a delivery.” He grabbed her shoulder, spinning her back around to face him. The skin-to-skin contact sizzled through his veins, setting his body on fire. His iron control over his powers melted, evaporated, leaving his darkness surging outward without restraint.
Her eyes opened with a flash of pure white light. Her energy met his with an explosion of power, throwing them both into the unknown. For a heartbeat the world roared. The lights and windows shattered. Tables and people were shoved away by the outward force. Lightning streaked from the night sky, pounding the street outside the club.
Then just as suddenly as the world had gone to hell, it all settled into a deep well of silence.
“Well, shit.” He dropped his hand away from her.
“You can say that again.” The white light of her eyes faded, revealing soft brown irises. She blinked up at him as if seeing him for the first time and considering the fact that she had appeared blind, it probably was for the first time.
END EXCERPT
*Currently available*
Cobblestone Press
Anom'tan 1: Walking with Synn ~ 7/20/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Anom'tan 2: Walking in Memories ~9/21/07~ excerpt - buy
Anom'tan 3: Walking at Sundown ~ 2/22/08 ~ excerpt - buy
Eagle Clan 1: Father of the Wolf ~ 6/30/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Eagle Clan 2: Destiny ~ 6/30/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Lynx Clan 1: Forgiven ~ 9/15/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Origins: Vali's Curse ~ 11/10/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Origins: A Spirit United ~ 11/2/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Origins: My Immortal ~ 12/14/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Tascryn: Season of Blood ~ 10/31/06 ~ excerpt - buy
Tascryn Royals 2: Blood Reign ~ 1/19/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Tascryn: Surviving Synn ~ 5/11/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Forever Eden ~ 8/17/07 ~ excerpt - buy
Anom’tan 4: Walking Death’s Edge ~ coming 5/30/08
Changeling Press
Tascryn Royals 1: Of Blood and Blessings ~ 6/2/06 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Chances: A Snowball's Chance (hot flash) ~ 3/3/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
Acacia 1: Abducting Aeron ~ 4/18/08 ~ excerpt ~ buy
*Off Topic*
Woohoo! Spring is finally here! I’ve been busy gardening and taking care of the ponds. With the warm air came the addition of 15 new butterfly koi babies. I’m very excited about the little pretties. Also all the dogs are getting haircuts (short summer do’s) and I started getting the veggie garden planted. The peas are in and most of the rest is cleared and turned.
In the coming weeks I have a couple pond cleaning days that will leave me exhausted but to be honest I love getting in there to weed the overgrowth and prep the bog filters for the year. Wish me luck getting through all that so I can get back to the big writing projects. Once I do, I’ll be focusing on the next Eagle Clan book. I’m still hoping that will get out in 2008.
Enjoy the spring weather. J
Shannon
*About L. Shannon*
L. Shannon, the author, came into existence in June of 2004. Ms. Shannon’s always been a reader and lover of books, but never considered writing until one night when she ran out of books to read… She began writing that very night as the first line defense in a battle against insomnia. Her writing has steadily grown into a war against reality. Her friends kindly say reality never stood a chance. The L. Shannon’s novels have expanded to fill an entire world with paranormal wonders including Valà frn werewolves, Tascryn demons, blood-sucking vampires, sexy selkies and many, many more. Be careful if you choose to enter Ms. Shannon’s hunk-filled world. You may never wish to leave…
In the time Shannon doesn’t spend writing, she’s kept busy with bothering her husband, showing dogs, gardening and watching over her four Butterfly Koi ponds. You can learn more about her writing and her life at www.lshannon.net.
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