Fierce Romance

Are You a Seasonal Writer???

2009-07-18T01:00:00.001-04:00

I never gave it much thought until my werewolf book, Heart of the Wolf, ended up as a series. In Heart of the Wolf it was set in the fall, and then in Destiny of the Wolf, also fall. To Tempt the Wolf and Legend of the White Wolf are winter stories.

Now we have spring and wolf pups and new beginnings with Seduction of the Wolf. The next story was supposed to have been a winter story instead, but my mother was tired of winter, so I promised a spring story for her. She died while I was still rewriting Legend of the White Wolf, but I'm sure she knows that Seduction of the Wolf is a story of spring and warmer weather, just for her. Actually, both Book 5 and Book 6 are spring stories.

But of course I can't seem to coordinate these with the actual release times...oh, wait, no, that's not true. Legend of the White Wolf will be out in Feb and for many places that's still winter. :) And Seduction of the Wolf will be out in April, the first spring story. :) Maybe the next one will be summer, instead of another spring, although the release date will be in the fall.

What's neat is that the seasons can help shape the story. Fall brings color and the end of hot summer. It brings cooler weather good for getting close and a change of clothes. Winter brings cold and snuggling, fires and cuddling, Christmas and hugging. :) Spring brings flowers, rain, warmer weather, and babies. Summer is for weddings, beach trips, tossing the clothes!

But also, characters can be described in terms of seasons.

In Destiny of the Wolf, the heroine thinks of the hero as winter chilled. But she's autumn, brightly colored leaves and baking pumpkin pies. In Legend of the White Wolf, the hero thinks of the heroine in terms of what she might look like in a bikini, rather than bundled up in winter clothes--to him, she's a summer babe.

So even characters can be thought of personality-wise as seasons.

Have you read books that seem to have a seasonal theme? Are you a seasonal writer?

If you're at conference, I hope you're having a blast! If not, have a super Saturday wherever you may be!

Terry Spear

www.terryspear.com

Real Life Heroines

2009-07-17T05:30:00.000-04:00

by Kristin Daniels

I'm coming at you from RWA Nationals in Washington, DC! The conference started in earnest today, and can I just say Wow! I've laughed, cried and been inspired beyond belief. I've passed some of my own favorite authors in the hallways and the lobby, and listened to sage words of advice in opening ceremonies and luncheons.

In a lot of ways, these women--every one of them who put their heart and souls into their craft--well, they are my heroines. I look at them, listen to their stories and realize that maybe they're not so different from me. The trick is to take what I'll learn here and apply it to write the best books I possibly can.

But for now I'm going to enjoy my time here in DC, soak up the knowledge, and maybe, just maybe, walk away from it a better author.

More on my experiences next week...

Until then,

Kristin

Great Jobs for Heroines

2009-07-16T01:10:00.003-04:00

I blogged before about good professions for heroes (law enforcement, special ops, and cowboys among my faves), but what about jobs for heroines? What can our heroines do that allows them so much time to take long leaves of absence from work and skulk around with the hero or spend precious hours engaging in sexual antics?

A heroine who's a student or teacher is always good. They usually have summers off and can get into all kinds of trouble, like my heroine Lila Monroe from The Stranger and I. Lila is a marine biology graduate student AND a student teacher, so she doesn't have to check in with a boss when she goes jauntering about the desert with a spy and people shooting at her. My heroine, Lacey Kirk, in A Doctor-Nurse Encounter is...you guessed it...a nurse. I know these days, you have your heroines who are doctors too, but that didn't work for this particular story. The heroine in Circumstantial Memories, Julia Rousseau, works in an antique store AND she's a student. But she's trying to regain her memory, so that's a full-time job.

The heroines in my erotic romances are a little more on the edge than my Harlequin heroines. One is a male strip club owner - she's not a male, the strip club is (Vivica Steele in Hot on Her Heels), one owns a sex toy company (Hayley Grant in The Gee Spot - the lovely lady in the cover above), one is a bounty hunter (Cassie Cartwright in Aphrodite's Fire), and one is a Vegas showgirl (Brandy in the upcoming Triple Threat). I also have a librarian in Virgin of the Amazon (yeah, she lets her hair down) and an attorney in Sex and the Single Pearl.

Are there any professions for heroines you don't like to see? I could not get a few past my editor at Harlequin - one was an attorney. The rock singer was a definite no-no (loved that heroine), as was the radio talk show host. I'm not sure why these professions wouldn't fly, although I was told attorneys aren't very sympathetic. I have an FBI agent upcoming as well as an artist and then a heroine who's rich and doesn't really do anything at all. I'd love to write a psychiatrist heroine one of these days, and does a D.A. count as an attorney?

So does the heroine's job matter to you at all, or is it just a function of the plot?

Strong Heroes Need Strong Heroines

2009-07-15T00:17:00.007-04:00

A few years ago I was in Puerto Rico on a business/pleasure trip with many other people. We’d been divided into groups of about 20 to play an elaborate scavenger hunt game in the city of San Juan. After it became clear no one was going to organize my group, I did so, assigning duties, etc. to everyone (all strangers to me). I apologized for being so bossy, and the President of the company, who was in our group, said to my husband, “It takes a strong man to marry a strong woman.”

That comment always stuck with me. I think it explains one reason why readers like strong heroines. Romance readers want powerful, or at least capable, heroes. Such men must be balanced by equally sharp women to create compelling conflict and a satisfying resolution. If one of the characters totally dominates the other, the story becomes unbalanced and less interesting. The hero must be secure enough that strength in his woman is considered an asset to his life, not a detriment.

But I believe at least somewhat in the yin/yang of male/female relationships. They both must be very good at some things, but not necessarily the same things. I’m not too keen on the heroine who possesses greater physical skills than the hero – things like running or endurance. First, it doesn’t happen that way in real life. Second, it emasculates the hero.

But the heroine can (and should) have important skills or characteristics that the hero doesn’t have. Let him run faster; she can think faster.

So who are some romance heroines I like that meet these criteria?

I tend to like Jayne Anne Krentz heroines. Sharp and witty, they live their own lives, but never feel the need to emasculate men to prove how strong they are.

I also like the heroines in Georgette Heyer’s old Regency romances. They are funny and go toe to toe with the heroes in a way that they both emerge victorious.

Nora Roberts has very strong heroines (though sometimes the men seem a little like an accessory, rather than a main character on center stage).

Which brings me to the realization that I think I like heroes more than heroines. But isn't that the appeal of romance novels? They offer a great hero we can fall in love with for a few hours, with a heroine to match him (because the reader doesn't want to identify with someone who is ultimately a weakling).

I wish I had some current examples of wonderful heroines, but I haven’t been able to read a lot of fiction since I started writing it. There are only so many hours in the day. I noticed in reading the other posts on this blog that most of the mentioned heroines are in paranormals. Hmmm, what does that mean?

Carly

P. S. My all time favorite heroine is Pippi Longstocking. Her ability to rebel against silly rules and trick pompous adults is rooted in the fact that she doesn't need to fear consequences since she’s the strongest person in the world. So this choice argues against what I said earlier. But Pippi doesn’t inhabit the romance world. If she were to marry a man she could pick up and twirl around her little finger like a pizza dough, I probably wouldn't love that romance.

Anti-heroine: No, This Ain’t Your Mama’s Sister

2009-07-14T16:42:00.007-04:00

One of the more interesting aspects of being an author, especially an author of erotic horror and fantasy, is that readers tend to wonder whether or not you’re one of your own characters. In particular this curiosity applies to the heroine, or, in some cases, the anti-heroine.

The anti-heroine is the female equivalent of the anti-hero, a character archetype that’s come into its own in literature and film over the course of the last five years or so. These characters do things or live in ways that are at the least morally ambiguous, and, to the extreme, downright reprehensible. However, they still function as a main character of a story and, strangely enough, many readers migrate to them. They aren't the villains in the story, although their behavior may be villainous, and they can be soooo much fun to write.

To do this post, I started listing the heroines from my short stories, novellas, and novels, and I realized among their ranks resides a number of anti-heroines. You know, bad girls gone really bad but who run lead in the story? These chicks will never be TSTL, but they definitely qualify as TSTBA (too scary to be around). They aren’t bad as in naughty, although that may play a role in their personas. They’re bad as in being some kind of evil or possessing a rather strange sense of right and wrong. They’re dark angels who don’t know there’s a light, or simply don't care. They revel in their rotten ways because of some extreme character flaw or because they can't get what they want if they don't behave they way they do. Their needs are always most important, as the other characters in the story discover, sometimes too late.

There’s an adage that states, “Write what you know,” and so for that reason there’s a little bit of me in every one of my main characters. One little piece of me as sort of an anchor, a point of connection. However, the tough part of having an anchor is that while sometimes it can hold you in safe harbor, other times it can weigh you down and not let your character develop. Writing the anti-heroine can be quite a freeing experience in that a writer can take a little bit of herself and expand on it into a personality that is totally foreign and complex—no rules or societal norms to restrict her—and, therefore, very interesting. Many actresses have proclaimed they’d rather play the bad girl in the movie than the good girl, because those roles are so much more fun. Writing the anti-heroine, for me, is much the same way.

There is a down side to writing the anti-heroine, though, and that is, as I mentioned before, everyone thinks you’re her. I don’t mind if readers connect me to some of my heroines, like Rumani Gladstone in Ride ‘Em, Girlfriend, a Robert Louis Stevenson-quoting professor with a sassy attitude who lifted herself out of bad circumstances through hard work and determination. Nor do I mind being mistaken for Claret McDaniel in Second Nature, an environmental activist who loves living in harmony with the earth, or Emma Rose, the heroine of The Survivors, who finally finds a way to forgive herself for being a survivor. I don’t even mind being compared to Lilly Gillingham of A Stranger’s Desire, a high school teacher with an unusual sense of Southern belle propriety who sets out on a somewhat dangerous, quirky sexual journey to rediscover herself after her mentor dies.

None of these ladies qualify as anti-heroines. They make mistakes and act out because of their pain maybe. They may get angry or make blunders because of miscommunication or good intentions gone horribly wrong. However, they rarely cross that fine line between good and evil, or if they do, they have a really good reason and hop right back over to the good side. My anti-heriones, though…well, they never knew there was a line to begin with, and being compared to them can be a bit unnerving.

For example, Miranda in An Even Trade has some serious mental issues that cause her to act in a very, very unladylike way in her quest for revenge against God. At one point she’s standing on a city bus, barefoot, wild-eyed and holding her girlfriend’s panties with a gun weighing down her purse. Editors would add little worried notes at the end of their rejections, sometimes with religious advice, to which I would hurriedly respond with a message thanking them for their time and indicating Miranda and I had nothing in common except losing a loved one to cancer. Every other part of her came from my asking, “What happens when someone is so grief-stricken she embarks on a futile journey to get revenge for a perceived injustice by a deity?” There are some people who choose the road to recovery after a losing a loved one and others who never reconcile those feelings and take a different path. Miranda not only took a different path, she plowed one of her own, and for that reason she was a fascinating character to write.

Another bad girl I enjoyed writing was Ellie in The Perfect Sin, who lets her love for one of her teachers drive her to commit a shameful act she chooses to live with every day of her life instead of facing consequences. While I wouldn’t want my friends to think I’m as conniving as Ellie, I did enjoy her quasi-erudite attitude and her willingness to go any lengths to get what she wanted. She showed some remorse along the way, but ultimately her desires continued to cloud her judgment until the very end of the story and beyond.

And speaking of clouded judgment, Miss Witch is one of my favorites among my stable of monstrous personalities. She’s a delusional sociopath who believes her sole purpose in life is to do away with other sociopaths—a serial killer of serial killers (pre-Dexter). She shows no remorse and glories in a heinous crime well done. To her credit, she's a campy vamp who never takes an innocent life, and actually saved a baby spider once. Of course, to her discredit, she believes no one in Horrordom is innocent, she uses those feminine wiles to seduce victims, and she saved the spider so she could use it later as an accessory. Did I mention she's resourceful as well as completely mentally unbalanced? Kind of makes you feel sorry for Jack the Ripper as she leads him to his doom.

I’ve saved my best awful angel for last. Vektor Schloss is more of a secondary character in Disappear, but definitely a presence not to be ignored. As a matter of fact, she won’t let the other characters ignore her. She’ll one day get her own book in the series if I can manage it, as anti-heroines can be a challenge to maintain for an entire novella. However, if any inter-galactic, warrior witch-training cannibal can carry a book, it’s Vektor. This is one little curly-haired doll you should never turn your back on, even if she is supposed to be on your side. Forget that and you'll either become her next, er, date, or her next meal. She’s opportunistic, quick-tempered, has razors for teeth, and is hungry all the time--and those are her good qualities. She’s a heck of a lot of fun for other characters to hang around with, if they can keep her from trying to have sex with them or kill them, and almost too much fun to write.

Do you have a favorite anti-heroine from a book or movie? Do you have an anti-heroine you’ve written? If you’ve never considered writing one before, I whole-heartedly recommend it. Unlike writing the heroine, who sometimes can represent who we want to be or who we wish we could be, writing the anti-herione lets a writer explore who she's afraid she might be, and that makes for some interesting fun. :)

What a book!

2009-07-13T09:55:00.002-04:00

We've all read heroines that scream TSTL, right? Certainly, none of us ever want to be accused of writing one! But what is it that makes a heroine memorable...in a good way?

Well, I recently finished Christine Feehan's "Hidden Currents". The last of the Drake Sisters series. What a fantastic read. Now THIS was an emotional ride! The first five chapters or so I was on the edge of my seat. I couldn't put it down. The rest of the book had me either laughing or in tears. The ending was beautiful. It was the best romance book I've read in a very long time. Elle was smart, strong, tortured, vulnerable, the works. There were depths to her character that brought her off the page and into my heart. Jackson was her equal in every way. Brave, proud, sweet, sensitive, lovable, tender, powerful, aggressive, and of course, delicious. Um, I think I'm in love. LOL

Christine Feehan always writes with emotion, but this book is by far the best I've read from her. The thing is, as writers we cannot turn our brains off long enough to enjoy a good book! We tend to analyze each word. We pick the story apart. I sometimes miss the days before I started writing because I used to sit down with a book and just enjoy it. These days I make notes. LOL

At any rate, this particular book will stay with me for a long long time. I love reading something THAT good. I know half the reason I loved the book so much is because Elle Drake was such a terrific heroine. What she endures is heart wrenching. If you haven't read it yet, my advice is to have a box of tissues handy. LOL

Is there a heroine that stuck with you? If you're an author did YOU create a heroine that just really rocked yours socks?

Those Animated Animals -- Some Smiles for Your Sunday

2009-07-12T15:27:00.003-04:00

From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved animals. As pets they add comfort, companionship, loyalty and fun to our lives. When wild and part of nature’s kingdom, their majesty and beauty captives us.

Walt Disney and Charles Schultz were the masters of portraying animals at their animated best. To this day I delight in watching clips of some of my childhood favorite characters, including those below. Sip your favorite beverage this Sunday afternoon and join me in a trip down Memory Lane. Reel yourself back to a carefree time when giggling and grinning were more the norms than the exceptions in your younger days.

The Aristocats (aristocracy never had it so cute) –

Click here to access a clip that will have you humming along

Lady and the Tramp (featuring my favorite romantic scene, complete with spaghetti) –

Mary Poppins (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious -- who doesn’t love riding those carousel horses?) –

101 Dalmations (countless laughs from over a hundred adorable puppies) –

Snoopy and Woodstock (my all-time favorite cartoon character—Happy Dance time) –

Bambi (an emotionally compelling Classic) –

Rudolph (happy holiday memories) –

Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
TORMENTED -- Ellora's Cave (Recommended Read from Alternative-read.com and Dark Angel Reviews)
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Reprints, Anyone?

2009-07-11T08:25:00.005-04:00

Years ago, I wrote for a print publisher that I had sold two books to, but they did away with their Young Adult line before the books were released. But one of the authors who wrote for them was getting reprints. And we were all in awe. Mainly because most authors weren't selling out of their first edition prints. There was no likelihood their books would have a reprint. And they wondered what they were doing wrong?

I soon learned that if you have a million copies of your book printed and sell 50%, that's not as good as selling 80% of 20,000. Why? With a million copies sold at 50%, you sold 500,000 copies. With the other, only 16,000. But yes, with the 2nd equation, the sell-through is much better and the company only got stuck with 4,000 books they couldn't sell, rather than 500,000 copies. Bad for business.

When I first started in the book writing business, I didn't know any of this. I just thought books were printed, they sold, the author wrote a ton more, and they kept selling. :)

And years later, the publisher might even reissue them with new covers confusing fans who thought it was a new book and halfway through says to herself or himself, I've read this book! Years ago! :)

But I just got an email from my editor at Sourcebooks saying that both Heart of the Wolf (Publishers Weekly's Best Book of the Year) and Destiny of the Wolf (PNR Top Pick) have been reprinted and the new copies are at the warehouse, just in time for To Tempt the Wolf (NOR Reviewers Top Pick) to come out, September 1!!!

The books have been selling all over the world--Canada, UK, France, Germany, New Zealand, and Australia. Probably other countries but I don't have statistics on them as far as where they've sold. I do have on Amazon sales for the other countries, or library sales for New Zealand and Australia. So it's exciting to see that the books have gone international!

Even The Vampire...In My Dreams has found its way into homes in the UK!! :) And so has Winning the Highlander's Heart! And now the sequel, The Accidental Highland Hero, will be coming out in March 2010, also!

After I finish the next two wolf books, I want to set the next one in a Scottish castle since many of my ancestors came from Scotland and Highlanders are hot!!! Which means I'll have to stay at one for research purposes, right? Yep, that's what I want to do!!!

If you had the money where you could travel anywhere in the world and set your next book there, where would you go??

Terry

http://www.terryspear.com/

Spiders, Iguanas, and Lorikeets...Oh My!

2009-07-10T14:01:00.016-04:00

Guess who’s got a spider in her spare bathroom?

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I’m an animal lover, a possessor of the mutant gene that makes a person go ga-ga over not just cute puppies and kittens, or even horses, birds, and bunnies, but any creature that flies, crawls, wiggles or squiggles about on earth. That even includes spiders, snakes, alligators, snails, and, as my hubby so cleverly puts it, especially the birds and the bees (ba da dum). I used to think I was some kind of freak and tried to break my habit of being so soft-headed and soft-hearted, but then, after several bouts of recidivism, in an effort to get on with my life, I decided to do what many of my contemporaries around here have done when they can’t find any really good excuse for any number of screw-ups they’ve committed or flaws they’ve yet to overcome—I blamed my mother.

She IS responsible, actually, on both the nature AND nurture level. Biologically, she contributed her tainted DNA to my fertilization and production. On the nurture side, she did nothing to dissuade my critterological pursuits. As a child, it was not unusual for her to ask my grandmother if she could bring a friend to dinner. That friend usually turned out to be a bug she’d let loose on the table or a snake she’d keep tucked safely inside her blouse sleeve so as to not raise the alarm and my grandparents ire. You can see how I never stood a chance, can’t you?

So, guess who’s got a spider in her spare bathroom?

I do. His name is Leonidas, and he’s a tiny little guy, much tinier than his predecessor, Pericles. He made a little web in an out of the way spot near the faucet, and every morning I go in and say, “Hiya, Leonidas, wassup?” To no one’s surprise, he doesn’t answer me. I’m not sure what he lives on, as I never see anything in his web, but he seems to be doing well. And as long as he’s not trying to snag a cat or attack me with laser beam eyes, he can stay.

This is how I am, so imagine my surprise when my husband left it up to me to pick out which excursion we would take on our cruise this last June. He should know better! But I think he hates making decisions more than he fears whatever hokey scheme I will come up with to get my hands on some critters, so he cleverly found a way to delegate the decision to me.

“Honey, you make the decision,” he said.

So I did. That’s how we ended up in the bottom of a submarine-type thingie staring out the windows and taking in scads of fishies before wandering a marine park on the island of St. Thomas. Our guide introduced us to our captain and his first mate, Davy, a very adorable English Bulldog. Oddly enough, the captain described how he was surprised Davy could swim like a champ, since his breed wasn’t known for their aquatic skills. Why someone who captains a boat would choose a dog whose breed isn’t known for its swimming capabilities for a pet was beyond me, but Davy seemed to bask in the attention of his guests, going so far as to try to chew my hand off with his puppy teeth before allowing me below. Since he didn’t try to eat anyone else, I felt sort of special, so we soldiered on into the bowels of the boat.

I enjoyed seeing the bottom of the ocean and some of its inhabitants, including yellow tail tuna and a fish called the Sergeant Major (because of the stripes). We also saw barracuda, which may be why in one picture we took (not posted here) it appears the captain, who’d gone out with fish food to attract some marine life for our viewing pleasure, is trying desperately to get back in the boat. I imagine Davy was up on deck, throwing chum overboard and chuckling. I hear English Bulldogs are quite clever when the mood, or opportunity, strikes.

Anyway, we ambled off the boat with some memorable pictures, some of which you see here, and wandered over to the marine park. I have mixed feelings about these places, as I do zoos, but since I didn’t realize it was part of the excursion at first, I was committed to seeing it through. I was happy to note that the iguanas roaming freely throughout appeared to be very, very content and happy…and confident. These fellows would stroll right up to us, stop, and pose. No begging for food, just striking poses. And they wouldn’t leave until I took several photos of all of them, turning this way and that, lifting their chins in the air and doing jazz tails. Then they just all sauntered away as if nothing happened, as if being fabulous was an everyday occurrence for them. I have to admit, they were quite striking, and they did inspire some ideas for my next shape-shifter story.

We also enjoyed the lorikeets, which is a bird in the parrot family. They were colorful and friendly, although we did witness what the guide described as a marital dispute between two of the birds involving a third bird. They all got in this box with little plastic balls and starting batting them around while jumping on each other and "grooming." Personally, I think we were unwitting voyeurs to an ornithological ménage scene, but who am I to question park personnel? Besides, I got even more fodder for new stories.

There was so much more to see—stealthy stingrays, sneaky starfish, drooling nurse sharks—but I have to admit that there’s no critters like my familiars, who watch over me as I write and demand attention so that I don’t get too absorbed in my other worlds. They keep me balanced and lavish me with the opportunity to worship them, for which I am eternally grateful, so I was happy to return home to my kitties and, of course, Leonidas.

Have you hugged a spider today? lol

Pets in Books?

2009-07-09T19:59:00.008-04:00

Have you ever read a book where a pet is a "character?" (And, no, I'm not referring to wolves, werewolves, or shapeshifters!) I haven't written too many stories that feature pets, but I think they can add to a story or character. In my Harlequin Intrigue, A Doctor-Nurse Encounter, the hero and heroine rescue a cat from a dead woman's apartment and the hero ends up taking the cat home. This was an important moment for the heroine, as she had the doctor pegged as a little too perfect to get cat hair on his $5,000 suits. When the doc takes the cat home, the heroine begins to relax a little more in his presence because she realizes he has a good heart.

I have another story where the hero has an English mastiff (you'll see why later). The dog takes an instant liking to the heroine, which again, reassures the hero since he sees the heroine as a tough chick with a hard edge. Hey, if his dog likes her, she must have some redeeming qualities.

Writers can use animals in stories to bring people together, reveal a character trait, and can definitely be used to add a touch of humor. Animals can also be used as plot devices to move a story forward - I'm thinking about Stacey Joy Netzel's Chasin' Mason here.

Any other books you love that feature pets and animals?

In honor of pets/animals week at Fierce Romance, I'm sharing a picture of our 210 lb. English mastiff, Dexter (his muzzle is gray but he's only six years old - the dog, not my son). He's a big baby - really!

Swimming with Dolphins

2009-07-08T00:01:00.001-04:00

Is the dolphin “smile” the reason why humans have such an affinity for these amazing marine mammals? Or is it their friendly and playful personalities that make them so appealing? Dolphins are featured in human records all the way back to Greek mythology.

One of the most amazing and fun activities my family ever experienced was swimming with the dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico. They are so playful and friendly and swam among us, letting us pet them. They are very social and attuned to each other, which is why you so often see pictures of them jumping and diving together. When we were swimming with them, they were always in pairs. They did “kiss” us and wave bye-bye. (More on that later.)

The highlight of our swim was a trick in which two dolphins swim up behind you and together they lift you in the air and plow forward in the ocean, giving you an amazing ride. They are strong, but gentle. They seemed to be having as much fun as we were (though who really knows?) Though I must admit I’m not the type who ever fancied being pushed through the air by dolphins, I was really glad I did it. (nope, not me in the pic)

This was one of the best activities my family has ever done, worth every penny. We even bought the video afterwards, which is something I’ve never done before or since.

This is an expensive outing (plan on $150-200 per person). We were told that part of the reason for the high cost is that some of the money is used for research to help the dolphins. I hope that’s true. The trainers we met said they (the trainers) were all marine scientists and the animals were treated well. It was definitely not an amusement park type setup but…

There is controversy over using dolphins to entertain humans, and I can see the problem. These dolphins had been trained to perform and, although they lived in the ocean and not in pens, they had to have some constraints on their movements. They were not fully wild.

On the other hand, there are marine scientists who argue that the money raised through allowing human interaction with dolphins provides funds for research and education that will ultimately help the dolphins. Also, bringing humans into closer contact with dolphins is seen as a way to develop support to save not only the dolphins, but other sea creatures as well.

Dolphins are under threat not only from man (fishing, coastal development, etc.) but also from the general threats to the sea and to all marine life (pollution, pesticides, loss of habitat, etc.). Ultimately, their fate will most likely depend on humans.

Let me leave you with a few interesting facts about dolphins.They are social animals who live in groups. They only breathe voluntarily, not automatically as humans do. They don’t sleep as we know it, but do nap for a few minutes at a time. It is believed they communicate with each other through sounds they make. And finally, to keep us somewhat on topic, dolphins are sexually promiscuous and the males compete for females (in much the same way human males do through displays of power, fighting for dominance in the pecking order and showing off.)

They are awesome animals when seen up close. If you ever get a chance, please put in a good word for them. Keep them smiling!

Hannah Murray gets tied up in The Boy Next Door

2009-07-07T00:30:00.002-04:00

Today I'm happy to be talking with my anthology mate, Hannah Murray, about her story in Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures!

Hannah Murray is a self proclaimed hopeful romantic, who loves banana flavored Laffy Taffy and hates horror movies. She lives with a very large, very grumpy dog who pretty much runs the show. When not catering to his needs, she can usually be found reading, watching old British sitcoms and reruns of The Golden Girls, or doing anything else that allows her to put off the housework for one more day.

Thanks for being our guest today at Fierce Romance, Hannah! Please tell us about The Boy Next Door.

I’m so thrilled to be here to talk about The Boy Next Door, which is my contribution to Secrets 27 Untamed Pleasures. It’s the story of Isa, a woman who likes bondage in the bedroom but can’t seem to find a guy to deliver the goods. While she’s drowning the disappointment of her last romantic misstep in a few glasses of wine, she accidentally reveals to her next door neighbor Jacob just what her difficulty with men is. Needless to say she’s pretty embarrassed about that until she realizes the guy she’s looking for has been right next door the whole time.

This is a sizzling, sexy story and I loved it!! (I was so lucky to get a sneak peek.) What or who was your inspiration for this story?

I have a wonderful friend who makes the best bondage rope there is – if you’re interested in tying your lover up, he’s the guy you want to go to. He also luuuuvs to play around with his own product, and his enthusiasm for bondage and the rope he makes was a huge inspiration. When I met Monk (http://www.twistedmonk.com/ ) what struck me was how much fun he had playing with rope. It made me think how much I’d like to read a fun, lighthearted story that still had the intense sensuality that bondage brings. Then I thought, “Hell, I’ll just write it!”

Exactly! Why not? How did you research the bondage elements of this story?

Oh, I’m a “method writer” – I really must experience, whenever possible, everything my characters go through! ;-) And in addition to the “hands on” research, I used a really wonderful book, Bondage for Sex by Chanta Rose, to write some of the details. It’s basically a manual for couples interested in using bondage in the bedroom, with very clear instructions and beautiful photography. It was a godsend when it came to describing exactly how Isa was being tied up, I was able to get the details in without getting bogged down in the technicalities. I highly recommend it, and I can personally vouch that everything depicted in the book really works, and is a lot of fun. ;-)

The right research is vital! ;-) What is your writing process or method?

I tend to be a “fly by the seat of my pants” kind of girl most of the time, at least when I’m first starting a new project. I’ll get an idea about a character or a situation and I like to just sit down and start on it. After I’ve got a good handle on the basic elements of character and story, I start making notes to keep myself on track. And I’ve discovered that outlining really isn’t the dirty word I always thought it was; it really does help keep the story moving and focused. But I’m never tied down to my outline; I’m always willing to change direction if a better idea comes along. After a first draft is done, I usually leave it alone for a few weeks, then come back with fresh eyes to work on any problems with plot or continuity.

Do you have any advice for unpublished authors?

My advice for new authors is really simple: write what you like to write, it’s what you’re going to be best at. Be willing to accept constructive criticism but don’t change your focus on someone else’s whim. And above all, work at it. There are going to be days when inspiration is nowhere to be found – sit down and write anyway, those are the days that will make you an author.

Fantastic advice! What’s next for you?

I’ve got a finished manuscript that I’m shopping around, a contemporary comedy with a tightly wound heroine, a laid back (former boy band singer) hero, and a big manner-less dog. Add in the heroine’s best friend, the best friend’s very angry ex-fiancé who is causing problems for everyone, and you’ve got yourself a good time! I had a lot of fun writing it, though of course I’m still tweaking it here and there as I wait to hear back from the editors I’ve sent it to.

The other thing taking up my creative mojo these days is what I think of as a contemporary/paranormal hybrid. Y’all know how witches are always really ethical, following the rules about not using magic for personal gain and treating their magical gifts with respect? Well, if I had magic powers, I’m sure that I wouldn’t be that good. I mean, who could? So I wondered what would happen if you had a witch who didn’t concern herself too much with what she was and wasn’t allowed to do. Would she get away with it, or would there be consequences? Would she learn a lesson about thinking about the big picture, or stay just as irreverent as always? I’m having a lot of fun finding the answers to those questions.

Sounds interesting and unique! Would you like to point readers to your contest, review and excerpt?

There’s a review up at Romance Junkies and you can find an excerpt at my website. There’s also a contest up for July, your chance to win some of the bondage rope Isa and Jacob enjoyed so much!

That's a sexy adventure waiting to happen! :) Thanks for being here! It's been fun!

Thanks for having me today!

I Feel Like I'm in a Disney Movie

2009-07-06T05:00:00.000-04:00

Until four years ago, my family lived out in the country, in a small house in the middle of five acres that was hell to keep mowed in the summer. It was mostly open land with some old apple trees to one side and a two hundred foot driveway that was hell to keep plowed in the winter. Even though we lived out in the country, we rarely saw any birds besides robins and crows. Rabbits occasionally dashed around in the bushes at the end of our property, but rarely came near the house. A frog or two showed up now and then. And the only deer we saw were on the roads when they ran out in front of our cars.

Two years ago we bought a little house in a village near a lake. Our entire property is only fifty feet by seventy-five feet. Mowing takes fifteen minutes. Our parking area takes not much more than that to keep plowed. Both giant pluses in my book. One unexpected side benefit of our new home is the incredible amount of wildlife we see in our tiny backyard.

This duck couple waddled around our neighborhood last year. They'd take a walk down our street every evening, stopping now and then to rest under a tree in someone's front yard, or take a break in our bushes. Here they've finished their break and are off to visit one of the neighbors. I haven't seen them this year. I miss seeing them take their walks together.

One type of wildlife we have plenty of is the woodchuck. There is a family living in a burrow under the three yards that meet behind our house. They have a number of holes to get in an out and while we've tried live traps, the critters are pretty darn smart. They love the crab apples that fall from our tree. You can see one of them enjoying dinner in our back yard. We've pretty much resigned ourselves to sharing the space with them.

Some of the wildlife I sit and watch from my back porch I haven't been able to get pictures of. This spring I laughed for a good half hour watching two rabbits playing together, running through our yard, into the neighbors', around the trees, back into our yard, hiding behind the bushes, and dashing out again. We have squirrels and chipmunks and we get colorful birds like cardinals and bluejays and finches. Last spring we had the most surprising wildlife visitor of all.

My husband and I were having breakfast on our back porch one morning when this fawn suddenly appeared in our yard. We silently sipped our coffee as the baby deer walked around our yard and then settled down in some long grass in the yard behind ours. My husband quietly got his camera and walked over and took several pictures. The fawn didn't seem to be afraid. He rested there for a little while and then took off.

I'm enjoying the view from my back porch. I never know what's going to appear. I'll have to remember to keep my camera handy and if those seven dwarfs ever show up, I'll be sure to share the pictures.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Fireworks--Not Only for the Fourth

2009-07-05T17:23:00.007-04:00

Yesterday people across our nation enjoyed picnics, barbecues, and outdoor concerts. As the grills cooled, conversations heightened and the sun bid farewell to another Fourth of July. Dusk hovered and soon yielded to darkness. Anticipation built among those gathered. Sparklers fizzed and bottle rockets popped. Lightning bugs twinkled and melting ice cubes clattered at the bottoms of beverage glasses. A fiery ruby abstract design erupted, spangled the sky and sprinkled down. The fireworks had begun.

While I adore watching fireworks, this year my focus wasn’t on those brilliant bursts but on something more romantic. What do I think of first when I think of fireworks?

A kiss.

There are kiss offs. Kiss ups. Kiss and tells. Prince Charmings kissing Sleeping Beauties and awakening them from slumber.

But the best kiss of all is a kiss from the one you love. The one to whom you’ve given your heart.

Remember the first or last time your lips made contact with a special someone’s? Their warm, damp flesh pressing yours. How you breathed in each other. Tasted each other. A spark deep within caught, flamed from your neck to your knees and consumed your whole being. The embrace deepened and rendered you giddy. Speechless. Breathless. Heart pounding. Head spinning. Your hands, mouth and tongue searching and cleaving to the one with whom you were bound in a moment of ecstasy. He tipped you backward and traced his hand along your hip. Pinwheels spun in your brain. Your eyes were closed, but his image remained. He righted your heaving body and his mouth played over your chin and neck. He whispered something and you agreed. His muscular arms enfolded and lifted you. You looked into his eyes and searched his soul. What did you see?

Love.

Commitment.

And a promise that more passion lay ahead…

I’ll always remember my first kiss and my favorite kiss. Many years passed between the two, but one thing remains certain—I am a woman who loves being kissed! A kiss tells so much about the one with whom you’re intimate.

Click here to experience the romance of kissing. A fine art often forgotten in today’s fast-paced world.

Do you remember your first and your favorite kiss?

Wishing you all many happy reading and romantic moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
TORMENTED -- Ellora's Cave (Recommended Read from Alternate-Read.com and Dark Angel Reviews)
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave Exotika,
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave Exotika
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

An American Revolutionary War Story

2009-07-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

Here's my 4th of July story having to do with the Revolutionary War...

My mother was Canadian and she told me how two of her ancestors were American. One was Charles Roux, who turned out to be French, then moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana as a boy, and the other was Pennyslvania Dutch, George Washington Cramer. But I couldn't find any George Washington Cramer in records in America. So I switched back to Canadian records in Kingston, Ontario where he married his wife. And discovered he had been born in Canada and never set foot in America. So why in the world did he have the name George Washington???

My mother was sure that if I dug far enough, I'd find her American roots and could claim we were Daughters of the American Revolution.

Here is the story of the American Revolution as it pertains to my mother's ancestor. Lorenz Kraemer was born in Essenheim, Hessen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, and had family in New York, who had come over earlier to the States. As a young man, he had no funds to travel from Germany to America. When a Hessen prince was recruiting men to fight in the war against the Americans as mercernaries hired by the British, Lorenz joined up, and they were shipped to Quebec in 1776. But he wasn't interested in fighting the Americans. He thought their cause noble, and deserted as a member of 3rd Company, under the command of Col. Joh. Christoph Lenz. Johannes Ranau, his companion, and he disappeared on a march between Nobelton and Barrington in western Mass in 1777.

He then made his way to NY where he married a German woman and attended the Reformed Dutch Church Called Christs Church, Ghent, Columbia, New York. So that's where the "Pennsylvania Dutch" notion came into play. His son, Abraham, was born in NY. So there's my mother's American connection. :)

Lorenz moved with his children to Quebec after his wife died, married a French woman, and was part of the Militia there, so he wasn't afraid of fighting, just didn't want to fight as a mercenary against the Americans. He thought so much of George Washington, he praised his efforts to his sons and told of the war and how he would not fight the Americans and when Abraham Cramer's second son was born, he named him George Washington Cramer. George also named one of his sons George Washington.

But I'm afraid we can't be included in the Daughters of the American Revolution. And so that's my American Revolution story on my mother's side. Her father was Welsh, married into an Irish family and they came over from Ireland and ended up in Quebec, so no American roots there either. And most of the rest of her family were Highland Scots who settled in Prince Edward Island.

But, as I was digging through my dad's history, I discovered Henry Temple Sr on his mother's side gave supplies to the Revolutionary Troops on June 1780 and 20 Apr 1781, proving his patrotism--"For sundreies furnished and cash paid the milita of NC, VA and SC" Re bo luntionery Army Accounts of SC, Book C, page 52 and 119.
:)

So I guess we do have some patriotic bones, not just the fighting sort, in the early family tree. :)

My dad made up for it though. His grandfather broke horses for the cavalry in WWI, and Dad went in as a 16 year old to fight during WWII, wanting to ride in the cavalry with a saber raised. Only when he arrived, the horses had been moved out to the Burma Campaign and he was stuck mucking out stalls. Sooo, he put in for a transfer and became a tail gunner, was shot down on his 13th mission and after surviving 16 months in a German prisoner of war camp, was freed by Patton's troops and continued to serve a life of adventure in the Air Force.

Happy 4th, Everyone!!!

Terry
www.terryspear.com

Here’s to you, our Military heroes

2009-07-03T06:30:00.002-04:00

by Kristin Daniels

As we come upon the Fourth of July weekend, I’d like to take a moment to honor those who fight for and serve our country, and to offer every one of them a huge THANK YOU!

Military personnel have always intrigued me. I've meet someone in passing—both men and women alike--only later to find out they’ve served our country in some capacity. And I always think to myself, “Man, what courage. What dedication.”

Then, the questions start. I can’t help myself—just ask my father-in-law (Hey there, Pops!)—I want to know everything. Some soldiers are more willing to talk than others, and I understand that. In serving our country, people see or do things they just don’t want to relive. I completely respect that.

I recently met a young man, home from Iraq for maybe a year or so. So personable, so willing to share. By this time I had already written Lily’s War and it was due to be released soon. But this soldier’s stories of mental anguish and what he faced once he came home really affected me. In a different context, he could’ve been my soldier/hero.

I have to admit, I started Lily’s War on a whim. It was going to be a hot little story. You know, just a quick, sexy romp starring a returning vet. But then my hero changed. I wasn’t too far into the story before Eric got angry. Really, really angry.

And who could blame him? Even though I never served in the military, I put myself in what I pictured to be Eric’s combat boots. And honestly, the result surprised me. He was overwhelmed and in pain, but loved my heroine with all his heart.

Quite a lot for a guy to deal with.

But Eric shined. He pulled no punches, and in the end he stayed true to himself. Yes, the pain was still there, but so was the support. And beyond anything else, that’s what our military men and women deserve. Our support. Our understanding.

Here’s to them. And now that I think about it, thank you really isn’t enough.

Are You Feeling Wicked?

2009-07-02T02:00:00.002-04:00

So several Red Sage authors got to yakking online after the RWA Conference in San Francisco last year about writing a series of connected ménage stories. I believe Liane Gentry Skye’s husband actually came up with the idea of a time-traveling hunk getting cozy with different couples, but then the ideas were bouncing around fast and furious, so I may be mistaken. When the dust settled, we had decided on a series, Three Kinds of Wicked, featuring a demi-god, Trey, who has to make things right between ailing couples to earn his redemption and his own true love. Pretty cool, huh?

We came up with descriptions of Trey (and his tattoo), posted a few inspirational photos of him, and then each of us decided on our individual stories featuring Trey. We bounced some ideas off one another, got pretty silly, posted some synopses and excerpts, and then got down to the business of writing.

The series launches this month with Liane’s intro/anchor story, WICKED TEMPTATION. She introduces us to Trey and sets the stage for his travels and his redemption. The series continues in August with Alice Gaines’ story set in Victorian England, TO TOUCH A WOMAN. September brings us Anne Rainey’s hot contemporary, RECKLESS EXPOSURE, and Oct. rides in with Titania Ladley’s Western, RENEGADE AND HIS REBEL. I stayed with my favorite genre, contemporary romantic suspense for my story, TRIPLE THREAT, which comes out in November.

The idea for my story came from our initial conception of Trey as a lonely traveler, who picks up couples on the road. The original name for our series was Three for the Road. I brainstormed about situations that would lead to couples being stranded on the road, and from that I created the characters of Brandy, a rootless Vegas showgirl with a hard-scrabble past growing up in foster homes and Ridge, an embittered FBI agent with a black spot on his record and something to prove. Brandy’s on the run from both the mob and the FBI after witnessing the murder of a blackjack dealer in Vegas. Ridge is hell-bent on relegating Brandy to the Witness Protection Program. Both are afraid to trust and love...until they meet Trey.

I’ve invited the authors (Liane, Alice, Anne, and Titania) of the first wave of stories from Three Kinds of Wicked to drop by Fierce Romance today to share how they developed their stories within the framework of our series, and to discuss the challenges and the excitement involved in writing a series of this kind.

Visit the Three Kinds of Wicked website, and don't miss one minute of Trey's adventures!

One Week and Counting

2009-06-30T20:40:00.008-04:00

I’m excited about my upcoming release of The Feline Fugitive from Lyrical Press on July 7th. I had an absolute blast writing this story. One thing I love about writing is I can allow my imagination to run wild. And boy did I let it run wild.

I came up with the concept of The Feline Fugitive about a year and half ago while I was sitting in the backyard watching my kids play. I’d been toying with the idea of writing a shifter story for awhile, but couldn’t come up with that perfect ah-ha plot. It wasn’t that I was unfamiliar with paranormal, most of my short stories incorporate some kind oddity in it. Robin’s Cap features a deranged, bloodthirsty Redcap. A Love Rewritten, a woman is transported inside her favorite romance novel and in Prince Henry’s Secret, the hero is cursed. So I wasn’t scared of trying to write a new genre. My issue was I’m weird. Not in a bad weird sort of way, just a little on the odd side and wanted to write a shifter story that veered away from the more alpha animals. So as I sat pondering what in the world I could make my hero’s counterpart, a dang stray cat walked by.

Ah-ha!!!

Now The Feline Fugitive isn’t about catnip and balls of yarn. I take an extremely masculine hero, Luca Doyle, and give him a softer kitty side, but that is as soft as Luca Doyle gets. Faced with being convicted of a murder he didn’t commit, and no way to prove his innocence, he goes on the lam in search of the true murderer, never knowing along the way he would meet the woman he loves and be unable to reveal his true self. Then danger knocks on the door….

Here is a quick trailer (under a minute) I wanted to share with you:

And also an excerpt:

'He's a cat, Roger,' she'd said.

If only she knew how very wrong she was. The longer he lived here the harder it became to mask himself from her. The need to become Luca and mark her as his grew stronger with each passing day. He'd refused to stay in the bedroom with her.

For the second night in a row, he'd missed out on watching the innocence of her relaxed features, the soft sigh that passed her full lips as she dreamed and the small smile gracing her mouth as deep sleep captured her.

Down the hall, the usually closed bedroom door stood partially open. His heart swelled. She'd thought of him. Even was willing to bet she missed him. He sure as hell missed her. Tomorrow, he'd rejoin her. Flopping on his side, he closed his eyes and tried to get some sleep. A muffled noise caused his eyes to pop open. He strained his ears forward then jerked back when the sound repeated.

On all fours, crouched low to the floor, he crept down the hall. He craned his head around the door. An unknown man straddled her lower body, his hand pressed against her mouth.

Caterwauling, Luca raced forward and launched into the air. Claws dug into skin, teeth sank into flesh as he landed on the head of the assailant. The attacker screamed and grabbed him by the scruff of the neck. Hissing, he struggled to free himself from the man's strong grasp, but the man hurled him across the room.

Pain exploded throughout his body as he slammed into the wall. Dazed by the impact, he slid to the floor with a thud. Stars shot in front of his eyes, and he shook his head. With effort, he came to his feet. The human inside the cat churned, clawing forward. Fighting for control, he pushed the instinct to emerge aside.

"Fluffy!"

The sound of a hand striking cheek vibrated through the room. Then came Claudette's cry of pain. Roaring with rage, he stopped the battle with concealment and allowed the transformation to take place.

Prickles started in his gut, spreading like wild fire to his extremities. A feeling of elasticity passed over him as his muscle and bone popped and stretched into human form. Morphed, he gasped in labored pants, crouching on the floor. Head lifted, he scanned the couple on the bed with his gaze. Claudette's eyes had rounded into huge blue saucers of horror. The assailant's hand muffled her scream.

"Shut up," the attacker said as he cuffed her on the side of the head with his free hand.

Snarling, Luca sprang forward, tackled the man and sent them both crumpling to the floor. Pain shot through his scalp as the goon yanked a fistful of hair and the force of the wrench turned him sideways. He lost his grip on the man and flipped onto his back, then spun onto the balls of his feet and squatted low.

The assailant jumped up and crossed the room, laughing hysterically. "I knew it was you. You are so predictable. Your hero complex is your own worst enemy."

He narrowed his gaze on the man. Darkness cloaked the room, not allowing much in the way of vision, but he was positive he’d never met him. "Who are you?"

"Don't you mean, what am I?" His outline disappeared, replaced by the small silhouette of a cat.

Impossible.

Luca took a deep inhale with his nose. Nothing. Not even the slightest hint of shifter scent in the air. What was this creature?

The cat jumped into an open window. The light from the street lamp radiated over his tabby coat. Memories of that horrid night which ruined his life rushed over him. The unknown body lying on the floor, pain ricocheting through his head as he was hit from behind, the fire engulfing the building, the glimpse of a fleeing calico alley cat as he fought for consciousness before the fire raged out of control.

Like a fist in the gut, the realization hit him. This cat had set him up.

With a growl, the feline jumped from the window into the tree beside the house and disappeared from view. He stared after him, but whipped around when Claudette moved from the bed. Wide-eyed, she backed toward the door.

"Claudette, I can explain."

He moved with slow steps toward her. She rushed to the corner, grabbed a bat and pointed it at him. "Stay back!"

Halting, he held up his hands, hoping to keep her calm. "Claudette!"

The bat shook in her hands. "Where the hell is my cat?"

Thanks for letting me share!!!
Esme
http://www.esmereldabishop.com/

Calista Fox reveals her Object of Desire

2009-06-30T08:41:00.004-04:00

We're thrilled to have as our guest today Calista Fox!

Award-winning author Calista Fox (aka Ava McKnight) began her professional fiction-writing career in 2004, following an exciting career in PR, where she specialized in writing speeches and Congressional testimonies. Her books have received rave reviews and have won contests, and she is also the recipient of Romance Reviews Today’s Best eBook of 2008 for its category and a Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Sci-Fi Erotic Novella in 2006.

Nicole: Thanks for being here with us, Calista. Please tell us about Object of Desire. (Your cover is beautiful!) And do you have a review you could share with us?

Calista Fox: It’s always so much fun to be here! Thanks for having me again! ;-) I’m very excited about my single title release from Red Sage Publishing for a number of reasons. First, it’s only the second single title to be released in print by Red Sage—the first being Angela Knight’s The Forever Kiss, of course! Object of Desire is an action-packed spy/treasure-hunting novel, so it was great fun to write. I spent quite a bit of time dreaming up narrow escapes for the hero and heroine, but the characters also sparked easily because of their strong, sexy personalities, so developing their hot-and-heavy romance was also exciting.

Here’s a little about the book:

When treasure hunter and spy Laurel Blackwood raids Victoria Peak in Belize to recover a rare Mexican fire opal rumored to evoke dark desires and passions, she unwittingly sets off a sequence of dangerous events—and finds herself in the midst of a battle between good and evil… and lust and love. Laurel must keep the opal from falling into the hands of a deadly terrorist cell, a greedy Belizean dignitary, and one particularly hot and scandalous treasure hunter named Devon Mallory.

For ten years, Devon has had his eye on the $30 million prized opal and his heart set on winning Laurel for keeps. But her web of secrecy and now her betrayal over recovering the legendary stone without him has Devon hell-bent on stealing the opal from her and collecting on the massive payout. But Devon will have to make a choice soon, and decide which gem is his true object of desire...

The reviews have been great so far! The cover was featured in the July RomanticTimes Bookreviews erotic romance reviews section, and RT had this to say about Object of Desire:
“Bombings, kidnappings and hot, hot sex fill the pages of this engaging story. Not only are the alpha hero and heroine strong, they have intriguing flaws too.” ~ Donna

I’m really excited about RT’s review, but am also ecstatic over the 5 Blue Ribbons Romance Junkies gave the book:

“OBJECT OF DESIRE was a very good book! The plot was fast paced, the adventure was thrilling, and the espionage angle added a whole new edge to the book. The developing relationship between Devon and Laurel was fun to watch, and the romance between them was intense! I especially liked Laurel's character, because she was an independent female who didn't need any man to take care of her. She could do it on her own, so get out of her way. Devon made a very good foil for her, because he was there if she needed him, but he was man enough to step back and let her take care of her business. I loved it!” ~ Noelle

NN: I can't wait to read this book! Please tell us more about the hero of this story.

CF: I don’t like to play favorites with my heroes—I love them all!—but there is something incredibly sexy and charismatic about Devon Mallory that has stuck with me long after I typed “The End.” He’s a modern-day Han Solo. Cocky, dangerous and a bit of a reluctant hero. He’s a strong alpha male who doesn’t like to lose, and who sometimes has wayward intentions. But when he teams up with the right woman, he’ll move heaven and earth to keep her safe while they both reach for the brass ring.

NN: He sounds like my kind of hero! Please tell us more about the heroine of this story.

CF: The verve and skill of Lara Croft, the cunning of Ethan Hunt, the panache of James Bond… Laurel Blackwood jumped off the pages and ran away with the story while I was writing it! She’s a larger-than-life character who pulls over-the-top stunts, all in a day’s work. I loved that RT Bookreviews identified her as an alpha in the story, in addition to Dev, because she truly is a kick-ass heroine who let’s nothing stand in her way—not even the hunky hero!

NN: I love a strong heroine. One of your reviews mentions "intriguing flaws" that your characters have. Could you talk more about that?

CF: I love characters with unexpected quirks, and these two have their fair share! Among them, I’d have to say that Devon was fun to write because, although he’s a very strong-willed, skillful hero, he’s more of a lover than a fighter. Carries a gun, but couldn’t hit the broadside of a palapa. In fact, I think he only gets one shot off early in the book and then Laurel takes over! Plus, his greed wars with his conscience and that creates some strife in his life. As for Laurel, she’s a smart cookie, but her judgment is sometimes skewed where Dev is concerned. She’s also in massive denial over her true feelings for him.

NN: Those sound like wonderful quirks. How did you balance the sensual/erotic elements of this story with the suspense elements?

CF: It wasn’t easy! In fact, I wrote an article for Red Sage’s June newsletter that touched on blending suspense action with sex action! It really was more difficult than I’d imagined because Laurel and Dev were always being shot at or having to execute daring escapes… I wondered sometimes how I was going to get them together with all the explosions and shoot-outs and deadly situations. But these are two characters who have a natural spark to them, and as the story started to develop, the opportunities to strengthen their bond and give them a few moments of, um, unadulterated pleasure, just seemed to present themselves at the right time!

Plus, there’s a mystical fire opal that helps to draw out their deepest, darkest desires… Resistance is futile!

NN: What is it like having a ST release from Red Sage?

CF: Very exciting!! LOL I’m totally giddy over the whole thing! I’m a huge fan of Red Sage—in fact, I just signed my 11th or 12th contract with them. I’ve also been in awe of Angela Knight since reading Candidate for a Kiss in Secrets Volume 6. By the time I’d discovered the Secrets volumes, Angela’s single title was already on bookshelves. I had just started writing fiction, had just sold my first novella to Red Sage, and I told my friends I wanted my very first single title to be published by Red Sage. So this really is a dream come true.

And, as always, they gave me gorgeous cover!

NN: Absolutely! Congratulations on your latest contracts! You have a lot of novellas published. How was writing, editing and promoting this full length novel different for you?

CF: Writing the book was as close as I’ll ever come to giving birth! I’ll be honest, there were some very painful moments for me because I’m used to novellas and can crank one out over a long holiday weekend. It took so much longer to write Object! There were times when, after every page I wrote, I was checking the word count. Ugh—65,000… Ugh—65,250… Ugh—65,500… Will I ever finish??! I kept thinking, “Who would torture themselves with a full-length novel?” It was certainly a labor of love, but in the end, I was thrilled to have made it through all 300+ pages!

As for editing the book, I’m a diligent self-editor, so I fine-tooth-combed the manuscript before sending it in, and then made another pass before my editor started to work on it. A little distance can be helpful, and about three months had passed before she started her edits so I went through the manuscript again and made a few revisions that had been lingering in mind since handing it over. This resulted in her edits being extremely minimal. I can think of maybe three lines of dialogue that we moved around, and I kept asking her, “Are you sure that’s it?!” Our copy editor was wonderful, too!

Now for promoting… I think I’ve been promoting the book since I contracted it two years ago! I started with the base marketing plan I use for my novellas, then built upon the plan to try to reach a much larger audience. Needless to say, I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the book, which is now anticipated to be July 15 when I’m at the RWA National Convention—perfect timing!

NN: It will have been worth the wait! Thanks so much for being our guest! :) I've enjoyed it!

CF: Thanks again for having me! And don’t forget to visit my website at http://www.calistafox.com/ for some great contests. And if you leave a comment on the Fierce Romance blog, you’ll be entered to win an autographed copy of Secrets Volume 26, featuring the third story in my Rendezvous trilogy, Secret Rendezvous!

NN: Wow that's a fantastic prize!! Leave comments, everyone, for a chance to win!

To purchase Object of Desire visit:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Red Sage

Secrets Volume 27 Untamed Pleasures

2009-06-30T08:25:00.003-04:00

Our anthology is set to release around July 15. I wanted to share the book trailer video I made and some review snippets that relate to my novella.

5 Ribbons from Romance Junkies: "Scottish highlanders are a favorite of many romance readers and Nicole North’s adds an exciting paranormal element that truly captures the imagination. This is Ms. North’s first published story and I’ll be anxious to see what she comes up with next. The Red Sage SECRETS anthologies have long held space on my keeper shelves. Like its predecessors, SECRETS VOLUME 27 contains four tales of varying genres that deliver on readers’ desire for something more erotic in their storylines. Each of these authors delivers a captivating story full of intense scenes guaranteed to have you in search of more writing by them. SECRETS VOLUME 27 contains four smoldering stories of various genres in one convenient book. Like the other SECRETS anthologies, Volume 27’s stories tease and tantalize the senses." ~Chrissy Dionne
***
4 1/2 from Romantic Crush Junkies: "Devil in A Kilt is by far one of the best erotic romance highland stories I’ve been honored to read. Ms. North has an uncanny way of using wit and satire to deliver an amazing high octane read... Besides the scintillating sexcapades between Gavin and Shauna, I found myself giggling and smiling at how they related with one another. This story is a full charged electric read that had this reader craving more of Ms. North's Hottie highlander. If this is just a taste of what the author has in store I say, 'thank you and give me some more.' I hope you enjoyed these four delicious stories by Liane Gentry Skye, Nicole North, Hannah Murray and Leigh Court as much as I did. ~Christine S. Morehouse

***
4 stars from Romantic Times Book Review: "Few anthologies give as much bang for the buck as this one... Shauna MacRae meant to go to the Highland Games, not 400 years into the past, which she does in North's story. Will she have what it takes to free her "Devil in a Kilt?" ~Devon Paige

***
4 plugs from The Romance Readers Connection: "With the release of their 27th Volume, Red Sage hits the mark once again... Nicole North’s story, DEVIL IN A KILT is a cute time travel... a fun light story..." ~Sarah Silversmith

Some thoughts on Reviews

2009-06-29T06:35:00.003-04:00

I just received my first review for my recent Ellora's Cave release, Chains of Desire from Just Erotic Romance Reviews. It's a pretty darn good one so I thought I'd share it here.

Hanna longs to see space and experience life with a man. She gets that opportunity when she is mistaken for the princess, kidnapped, and sold as a sex slave for a king on Noria, a planet far away and more advanced than her own. The dark, dominant Jarrod is not to touch her while he guards her, but he can’t help but teach Hanna the pleasure given and received while being a sex slave. Will the Master/slave relationship end once they arrive at Noria or will Jarrod find a way to save Hanna and make her his slave?

I was hooked from the first few pages. The characters felt like real people who are likeable and yet complex. Hanna and Jarrod have more in common than one would first expect, which only deepens the connections the two have with one another. Jarrod’s attraction for Hanna begins as a tease, which in turn builds to combustible heat. I liked that Jarrod’s character, while a Dom and a guard on a slave ship, is not hard or uncaring. As readers, we get to see the softer side of a BDSM. The love scenes were intense and included chains, ropes, binding, male/female/male action, spanking, and some inventive activity with berries. I also liked the interracial element to the story. It is subtle and doesn’t define their relationship, but adds an exotic edge to the imagery of the couple. I only wish that the ending elaborated more on the resolution of Hanna and Jarrod’s relationship, but the author has left it open for a sequel and I will definitely read it if there is one. Chains of Desire is nicely written and the characters are deeper than the Master/slave roles they play.

Jessica Black
Just Erotic Romance Reviews

I'm always thrilled when a reviewer "gets it." No more thrilled than when I hear from any reader who likes one of my stories, but since the reviewer's opinion is put out there for anyone to read, I wonder how much the reviewer's opinion affects readers' opinions, and whether or not it could affect them buying my book.

I've had a few reviews that were not-so-hot (and no, I'm not going to post one of them LOL) Reviews that tell me the reviewer didn't really get the story, didn't get into the characters, or understand the story. Some reviewers even get the names wrong or plot points wrong - and those are usually the reviewers that didn't seem to like the story. As the creator of that world, I would love to e-mail the reviewer, point out everything she got wrong, explain those points she didn't get, tell her why she should love my book. But of course, I never do. I've come to learn over the course of more than ten releases, that not everyone is going to think everything I write is brilliant. Hard to believe, but there it is.

So, I wonder... Do you go to review sites and read the reviews each month? Do you happen across them, like reading this blog? Did a review ever make you decide to pick up an author or a book you hadn't heard about before? Did a review ever make you decide not to buy a book you'd planned on buying?

For me, I rarely seek out reviews (except my own, of course) but when I do read them, I'm looking more for story elements or character types than I am what the reviewer's opinion was. I've defintely found new authors by stumbling upon a review, but I don't think a review ever talked me out of buying a book I'd already wanted to buy.

How about you?

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Up, Up and Away

2009-06-28T15:05:00.011-04:00

On this beautiful Sunday, it’s nice to take some time and reflect on something I love to do--reading. I’ve been traveling quite a bit this June, so this is the first Sunday I’ve not had to be planning for the next excursion for either pleasure or work. It’s just a day to relax for a bit and recover from delayed flights, lost luggage, and uncomfortable plane seats. I’m still a little jet lagged, so please bear (or is it bare? Wait, no that would mean…yikes, never mind) with me if my post repeats anything already discussed.

One part of air travel I love is that I see TONS of people sitting in airports or on planes reading, and not just magazines or newspapers, but books. I also see many with laptops and other electronic devices that could be used as e-book readers, so probably some of those folks are indulging in the joy of the written word as well.

Statistics show that there are way fewer readers today than a decade ago, and those same statistics indicate men read less than women, but I’m heartened by the fact I see people of all ages in both genders reading when they could be doing something else to pass the time waiting on a flight or in flight. And might I add at this point, is there anything sexier than a man holding a book? Is there? No, there certainly is not! Well, maybe if he’s holding a puppy, too. Or just a puppy. Or wearing a uniform. Or cooking dinner. Or…

What was I writing about? Oh, yeah. Reading.

Anyway, most of these readers looked like they’re really into the books, the world around them a distant buzz of activity. I get that way when I read. On one particularly harrowing flight to Canada, I remember reading a Dave Barry book and laughing hysterically as the plane veered up and down, left and right. I swear the pilot was practicing maneuvers and nearly went into a barrel roll at one point. The thought briefly flitted across my mind that his flying style was no more than a blatant attempt to ruin my reading time, since I don’t get much that doesn’t involve more unpublished books than actual published ones. It couldn’t possibly have been the poor pilot was trying to keep the plane in the air. I really didn’t care either way. I just clutched the arm of my seat with one hand and my precious book with the other, figuring if we were in real trouble, I’d get hit with an oxygen mask, see flight attendants go on alert, or hear a big splash. Until then, I determined, I would keep reading, and I did.

Readers are important to us—to society, to publishing, to us as individuals in that they are friends and family. I come from a home of voracious readers, with my grandmother able to put away 2-3 mass market paperbacks in a day if she wanted. My mother read all the time, too, especially as her illness progressed, and my aunts constantly brought over huge brown paper sacks of books to trade. Mom and Grandma made plenty sure they read to my sister and me when we were young because they knew reading to young children assists in vocabulary development, promotes language acquisition, and instills in them the ability to learn to read and enjoy it. When I asked my mom once how she and my grandmother, both of whom dropped out of school with only my mother returning to get her GED, knew they should read to us, she casually replied, “I read it somewhere.” Go, Mom!

I was reminded the other day how much those stories we heard as children affected my sister and me when I did a Notes exercise on Facebook. The challenge was to write down fifteen books that have stuck with you in fifteen minutes and tag fifteen friends to do the same. My list included picture books and YA novels, as well as some adult classics and current favorites, and I could picture the covers of those books just as easily as if they sat in front of me right then. Then I remembered how we always had books around the house, lying everywhere. There were more books than toys, and in some cases I think our books became our toys, the poor things. The point is, my sister and I grew to be avid readers, with a craving for the written word just as vital to us as the primitive drives of hunger, thirst, sleep and sex.

Because of this, and to selfishly build a future fan base, I volunteer every chance I get to give books to kids. Not MY titles, certainly, as they aren’t appropriate for the age group, but I buy some of my favorite children’s classics as well as other fiction and nonfiction. When I can, I read to kids; even teens need to be read to now and then. Actually, truth be known, I also read to my friend’s dog when I dog sit. She seems to like it, or maybe she’s humoring me. I’ve heard of people reading poetry to cats, and I’ve also heard cats are reincarnated poets, hence their penchant for playing with any writing utensil unwittingly left within reach.

By the way, reading to young children also helps develop the imagination. Can you tell? lol

It’s been said the most voracious readers usually become the best writers, and I think we’ve seen the evidence of that in my fellow bloggers here at Fierce Romance. Perhaps we can pass along the joy of reading by becoming Fierce Reading Advocates, too. Something to ponder later; right now, for some reason, I feel the need to pick up a book.

Happy Reading!

PS In the first picture in this post, I bet that couple just got done reading a nice book of erotic poetry. In the second picture, I think the hubba hubba is holding a book right above his head, waiting for some lucky lady to try to grab it. And finally, how nice is it of this hunk to volunteer to read to this poor gal who is blindfolded? She's so grateful she's giving him a kiss, and then they'll get started...reading. Yeah, reading. :)

Vampires with Heart!

2009-06-27T02:00:00.001-04:00

I've just finished final edits on Legend of the White Wolf coming in Feb, and the vampire romantic suspense, Deadly Liaisons, for the print version coming out in Jan, and have to work Saturday, sooo, ... I'm trying to finish preposts so I can get back to work on Seduction of the Wolf...all short fused deadlines.

I keep hearing how vampires are way over done. But even in this Bible Belt location, I constantly see vampire books being checked out at the library where I work. I'm not sure why the worry about vampires not being popular. They were popular when I was a kid and they'll be popular way after I'm gone. Just think, vampires in space. Yep. :)

When I look at this picture, I think, what's not to like about a vampire???

*sigh*

The other day a patron was asking me about how they come up with the covers for my books. :) The library only has the YA story. When Deadly Liaisons comes out, I'm not sure they'll want the book in the library because of how wild the cover is. LOL. I might have to donate one. :)

So the story is that the model was a werewolf, not a vampire. My vampires are clean shaven, no whiskers. Wolves have whiskers. And my hero was way too old. He needed to be a teen. Scott Carpenter gave me a super cover for The Vampire...In My Dreams. If I ever had the time, I'd love to write the sequel.

But here's the naughtier adult romantic suspense's cover. Scott did a great job on this one too. Very sexy. :) Don't you think?

Yep, nothing wrong with vampires, I say. Don't they need loving too?

Terry Spear

www.terryspear.com

Books and the Movies that Follow.

2009-06-26T11:33:00.006-04:00

As a huge Harry Potter fan, I’m impatiently awaiting the July 15th release of The Half-Blooded Prince (sadly, but not so sadly, I will be at Nationals. This will be the first opening night I’ve missed of any Harry Potter movie release and yes I was one of those that had my copy of the book the day it came out, too). Here in the next couple of weeks, I will dust my book off and settle in for a refresher. Sometime I wonder if this is the smartest thing to do. I go into the movie completely aware of what I want to see happen and I wait for it, anticipate it. All but one movie met my expectations. One even exceeded it. I was impressed with how they handle the 800 page Order of the Phoenix. Could I have handled another two hours? Heck, yeah I could have. But I’m probably the minority in that opinion. LOL.

Either way, I love both the Harry Potter books and movies. And have a sense of sadness knowing the last movie is on the horizon and my time with the Potter world will come to a close. It’s been a fun and enjoyable ride. I do ask one thing of the director, not much I can do about Half-Blooded since it has already been filmed, BUT for the Deathly Hallows all I want, all I ask, is they do the love story of Ron and Hermione justice. I spent seven books reading those two bicker like an old married couple and, for me, in the last two book, J.K. Rowling did a fantastic job of bringing those two together. And I want to see it. It is my biggest fear that love story will get pushed to the background by the directors of the movie, one of those expectations from the book that needs to be a must in the movie.

I don’t just have Harry Potter to look forward to in the coming weeks. New Moon will be released soon too. I’m very curious to see how they handle this movie. I loved Twilight the book, but was meh on the movie. I really thought they could have done so much more with it and the entire thing felt rushed. I know people don’t want to sit and watch at three-hour movie and the directors have to pick and choose what they focus on, but as a reader I’m let down on certain thing that are glossed over. For me, the Twilight book far surpassed the movie. I remember ranting over the final scene for days afterwards because I was so disappointed in how they portrayed it. So New Moon will be an interesting watch.

Another series that I am embarrassed to admit that I have only watched the series and never read the books is True Blood. Let me tell you though, I LOVE the series. It makes me want to read the books something awful, but I’ve heard a lot of reading fans are not thrilled with the series. So that has made me hesitate. I normally never do these things backwards. I’m usually the reader first then the watcher and know the movies will always lack in comparison to the books. But I am so enjoying the show, I’m debating on waiting to read so I don’t get angry and don’t want to watch the series anymore. Any opinions on this? Any True Blood readers that can shine a light and help guide my way?

So what about you? What is one of your books that came to Hollywood? And how did you feel about the director’s portrayal of the authors work?

Esme
www.esmereldabishop.com

I'm going to hate this book...I think

2009-06-25T07:28:00.004-04:00

Have you ever picked up a book and thought to yourself, "I'm not going to like it"?

I did this last night. My niece wants me to read the new Tina Wainscott book, What Lies in Shadows. Now, let me just say, Tina Wainscott is a terrific author. She can do no wrong in my opinion. I’ve loved all her books and she just keeps getting better. Her plots are original and this one is no different.

Here’s the blurb:
Her blog is one of the hottest on the Web—a place where she can be herself and talk anonymously about her most private needs and desires. Not even her wealthy new husband knows about her online persona. And when Jonna Karakosta learns that he may be cheating on her, she needs her online community more than ever…

Enter “Dominic,” a frequent guest on Jonna’s blog who seems to understand her like no one else. She finally agrees to meet him face-to-face, and he turns out to be better—and more attractive—than she could have imagined. But when Jonna has a change of heart and decides to fight to save her marriage, Dominic refuses to take “no” for an answer.

Now Dominic will do anything not to lose Jonna—even if it means bringing her deepest, darkest fears to light…and taking her world apart piece by piece.

Sounds intriguing, huh? But wait, she’s stepping out on her husband? Oh boy, that’s not usually my sort of book. And yet...I flip to the first page. Crap, more bad news. It’s all told in first person point of view. Then I flashback to Linda Howard’s “To Die For”. Another first person pov novel with a heroine I didn’t think I could like. I ended up loving the book and it’s sequel, “Drop Dead Gorgeous”. I literally laughed out loud reading it!

SO, knowing I shouldn’t be so hasty to judge this new Tina Wainscott book (and knowing my niece has never steered me wrong) I picked it up and started reading. Okay, let me just say, it SUCKED me right in from page one. She doesn’t give you a chance to hate it. You get instantly caught up as the drama unfolds. It’s like watching a movie. You’re on the edge of your seat!

I haven’t finished it yet, but don’t you love when an author surprises you? That’s the best moment for a reader like me. I’ve been in something of a slump lately and my niece, again, nudged me to read this book. She swore I’d love it. I was in the mood for some romantic suspense so I finally caved. I’m so damn glad I did.

What book/author managed to surprise you? Tell me, maybe it’ll be a new author for me!

In other fantastic news. Mrs. Giggles gave my latest release, Taking Chloe, a rating of 83 and said:

"Short stories are touch and go where quality is concerned, especially those marketed in the "Red Hots!" line, but I'm pleased to discover that Taking Chloe has a nice balance of story and sensual scenes to round things up nicely."

Yay!!