Sugar, Spice and Everything Paranormal

New Interview and Giveaway!

2012-02-06T07:37:00.000-05:00

Join me today at 'Now that's what I'm talking about' for an interview and giveaway of my short story THE CONTRACT!

Remember, if you comment at both my 2/5 and 2/6 appearances AND leave a comment here on my blog, you'll be entered to win a serious box of swag!

Happy Reading!

Guest Post on Literary Escapism

2012-02-05T12:55:00.001-05:00

Happy Sunday!

Before you all immerse yourselves in either a good book or Super Bowl festivities, won't you hop on over to Literary Escapism and see what my MYTHIC character, Mattias Vitale had to say about New Orleans and Mardi Gras? Leave a comment and be entered to win some amazing prizes!

Don't forget, if you leave a comment at BOTH Literary Escapism and here on my blog, you'll be entered to win a box of swag from yours truly!

Happy Reading!

February Appearances and a MYTHIC Character Post!

2012-02-02T00:35:00.000-05:00

Greetings All!

2012 is off to a wonderful start and I've been BUSY! As you may know, I'm one of the featured small press authors at this year's Authors After Dark convention in New Orleans! That said, there will be a few "Author Spotlights" on several different blogs. I hope you don't grow tired of hearing from me.

A few weeks ago I posted a poll to Facebook asking which character you'd like to hear from outside the series. I had a unique opportunity to write a guest post about New Orleans and Mardi Gras through a character's perspective. Well the results are in!

On February 5th, Mattias Vitale will dish about the city and its festivities. Want to see what the sinister vampire coven leader had to say? Visit Literary Escapism on 2/5 to find out. Show me some love with a comment, too! I'm giving away a copy of MYTHIC to a lucky commenter.

On February 6th, join me at That's What I'm Talking About for an interview and a giveaway. Comment and show me how much you love me, won't you?

To sweeten the deal, if you leave a comment at both appearances AND here on my blog the day the posts go live, I'll send you one serious box of swag INCLUDING the first of the Blood Moon magnets!

And just in case you wanted to know what I've been doing with myself over the past few months, here you go...

Welcome Author Joey W. Hill!

2011-12-05T03:00:00.002-05:00

Hey, All!

It's my distinct pleasure to welcome one of my favorite authors to the blog today! Joey W. Hill was kind enough to answer a few questions and give us a glimpse of her latest novel, Bound by the Vampire Queen, scheduled to grace store shelves TOMORROW!

Welcome, Joey!

Jae Lynne: Tell us a bit about yourself.

Joey W. Hill: I’m an extremely boring person, because all I do is write. Write, take care of animals (we have nine), write, try to keep the dust bunnies in the house to a somewhat less-than-horrifying size, write, market, market, market, do promo, get ready for conferences, and make sure I kiss my husband at least ten times a day. On the flip side, I am gifted with a wonderfully interesting muse who gives me great characters to write, which has resulted in a readership of fascinating people who enliven my life a great deal--for which I thank you all.

I worked in office administration for twenty years, ten of which were spent pursuing animal rights issues, and the latter ten in pursuing a writing career. I went to full time writing in November 2007 and have been fortunate enough to do that ever since. I exercise 90 minutes a day, and during 60 of those minutes I indulge my favorite passion, which is watching movies or favorite TV dramas, because I like to immerse myself in a great story, whether it’s in a book or on the screen. Given that my internal editor NEVER shuts off any more, sometimes immersing myself in a great story is easier on screen.

Jae Lynne: In which genres do you write?

Joey W. Hill: I write erotic romance, both paranormal and contemporary. Some of the paranormal has an urban fantasy flare, but I’m still a little fuzzy on what the difference is between paranormal and urban fantasy, so I’m just regurgitating what I’ve been told when I say it has a touch of urban fantasy (grin). Oh, and on the back copy for the latest book, I’m noted as a “cult favorite”. I have no idea what that means either, but marketing people live on an entirely different planet from writers, so I just roll with it (wink).

Jae Lynne: What inspires you to write?

Joey W. Hill: That’s always a hard one to answer. I think the saying “we all have a book inside us” is true. Most of us have a natural desire to put pen to paper. In past centuries, it was considered very culturally appropriate to maintain journals, write poetry and stories, though gauche to try and actually get them published (wink). However, what inspires a person not only to start a story, but to finish it, polish it and seek to publish it, is more difficult to pin down (I vote for insanity as the answer to that – lol) . I started writing novels when I was in elementary school. I began reading at a very early age, and I was so captivated by a well-told story I had a need to try and craft my own. When I have a goal, I’m pretty driven to achieve it, and the desire for my stories to reach a broader audience was one of those goals. I was fortunate that a combination of perseverance, timing, networking and sheer luck resulted in success. It’s kind of a boring tale, but as noted above writers for the most part aren’t all that interesting – at least not this one. I pour the good stuff into the characters!

Jae Lynne: How do you choose names for your characters?

Joey W. Hill: I keep a list of names that are interesting in my MS Notes application. If one doesn’t quite fit, I’ll often visit the baby name sites and look for one I like based on its meaning. In Vampire Instinct, I brought that into play when Mal was thinking about the names Elisa gave the vampire children (because they couldn’t verbalize their given names), and he realized that she’d chosen names whose meanings fit their personalities, and that helped him understand a little bit more about her relationship with the children.

Sometimes the names pop right into my head, but I have to be careful about that. I’m the world’s worst about giving multiple characters the same name, or names that start with the same letter. I’ve had to change a few names when I was halfway through the book and realized 4 out of the 5 main characters had names starting with “M”. Of course, if the muse has already decided that’s the person’s name, it’s difficult to change it! Once again, when writing Vampire Instinct, I realized I already had a full servant in a previous book named Malachi, AND I’d named a Vampire Council member Lord Malachi. But when I decided to change the name (even running a contest to let my readers offer suggestions), the muse flat out refused. So he became Mal, and I addressed it in the story, to avoid the confusion of readers thinking he was one of those other two characters (Plus, since Mal of the far-too-short-lived series Firefly is one of my personal alltime favorite characters, having a “Mal” in my books wasn’t too bad.)

Jae Lynne: What is your favorite type of character to write? Do you have a personal favorite amongst your own characters?

Joey W. Hill: Incredibly strong hero or heroine with severe emotional damage. I know most of us have a person like this in our lives – someone who can handle anything you throw at them, but there’s a part of them closed down and deeply wounded, such that they can’t maintain a healthy relationship. I like to write a story where the damaged person fights their way out of that baggage to accept love and heal. The pen takes over the direction, and each scenario has a lot of potential for emotional and physical intensity. The Dominance/submission genre provides great foundation for that.

One of my personal favorites among my heroes was Gideon of Vampire Mistress/Vampire Trinity. A hardcore vampire hunter who has been steeped in blood for years, he comes to a crisis of faith when he has to become the full servant of a woman forcibly turned to a vampire. As a result, he becomes part of the vampire world he hates so deeply. Gideon was a true bad boy, angry, hostile, yet with the courage of an army and a heart of gold. He’s a lost warrior who needs love and healing, but to do it, he has to surrender, let down his shields. Anwyn is a Mistress of a BDSM club when she’s attacked, so she brings a unique set of resources to open Gideon up – both strong and fragile at once.

One of my favorite female heroines is Mina of A Witch’s Beauty. Part mermaid, part Dark One, straddling the line between good and evil is a daily personal battle for her. She’s a powerful sea witch and a loner, eschewed by the mermaid world, viewed with suspicion by the angel legion. Enter David, a young angel who sees the damaged woman behind the dangerous power, and wants to change her life for the better. If she doesn’t destroy the world first. Marguerite of Ice Queen/Mirror of My Soul is her contemporary counterpart. Marguerite survived a childhood most of us wouldn’t, and crafted herself a very careful, controlled environment to get through each day. She’s an incomparable Domme, but it takes another Dom, Tyler Winterman, to help her break out of her ice house and learn to truly love.

Jae Lynne: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Joey W. Hill: Four things: 1) Know your craft, 2) Know the business, 3) Never give up and 4) Network, network, network. That appears to be the successful formula for many of the authors who make it. It took me three years to get published (after writing off and on for 15 years, so I already had a good craft basis) and eight years to reach the point I was receiving a notable amount of income from it. And I still probably quit my day job about two years too early (laughter).

The above process was a combination of honing my skill, always striving to write a better story than the last one. That meant studying other writers’ styles and staying wide open to feedback, encouraging it from readers, authors, editors, whoever was willing to give me a general or detailed opinion. I still do that today, and I always will, because we’re never as good a writer as we can be. Never, never, never argue with feedback. The reader’s experience is their experience; arguing with them does not change that. Your job is to listen and determine if what you’re hearing can help you improve your work.

Knowing the business/networking is distasteful to a lot of us – let me just stay in my cave and write, for heaven’s sake! But knowing the business, getting out there and rubbing elbows with others in the industry is vital, not only for getting published, but promoting/marketing your work once you get published. 98% of marketing/promo is on the shoulders of the author these days, and knowing the business is important to spend your resources wisely.

Finally, the “never give up”? That’s not rhetoric. Writing books, getting published, staying published, being successful while published, continuing to produce quality stories…it’s hard work, and there are days you think “is this really worth it?” See the insanity clause noted earlier in the interview (grin). You do have to be a bit crazy and tremendously determined to make it in this business. But the golden egg, if handed out at all, is handed to the person who won’t give up striving for it.

Jae Lynne: Who is/are your favorite author(s)?

Joey W. Hill: I tend to choose favorite books vs favorite authors, because authors vary their offerings over their careers. That’s no slur on them – usually all their work is quality stuff; I just prefer some of their subject matter more than others. Nora Roberts’ work in the eighties and early nineties was a huge influence on my initial work/style (and probably still is). Her JD Robb series is my brain candy when I need a break. Audrey Niffenegger’s Time Traveler’s Wife, Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, Once in a Blue Moon by Penelope Williamson, Laura Kinsale’s Flowers in the Storm or For My Lady’s Heart…those are books I consider absolute masterpieces of craft, emotion, character, etc and they live on my keeper shelves. I am also a recent Black Dagger Brotherhood fan. I was caught by Zsadist’s story, which I thought was an incredibly well told story, and so I’ve been an avid reader of the series since.

Jae Lynne: How do/does your favorite authors(s) impact your writing?

Joey W. Hill: Nora Roberts, as noted above, really influenced my style, because she turned her back on the “misunderstanding” formula in romance. We all remember it – where the hero/heroine stay at odds with each other throughout the book, because of this or that ridiculous miscommunication, etc? She let her hero and heroine enjoy sensual scenes throughout the book. They might wrestle with underlying emotional conflicts that briefly drove them apart, but typically they were dealt with in toe-to-toe interactions with one another. She also wrote the alpha males that were really pretty much borderline sexual Doms, and that caught my attention. I liked her writing craft as well, and like most new writers, when I started, I emulated that style until started finding my own voice. As far as sensuality, that woman could ratchet up body temperature with one well-crafted sentence about fingers intertwining. It helped me pay close attention to the details of an erotic scene, instead of just the obvious stuff.

The other writers/books noted above have influenced me with how deeply they delve into the emotions of their characters. Character-driven stories hold my attention far more than plot-driven ones. I studied how these authors and others like them introduce the characters, their emotional conflicts, how they integrate it into the plotline, etc, and try to hone that skill in my own writing. To me, one thing a good author does is always bare his/her soul in the work. This doesn’t mean I know intimate details about that author; but it does mean that at key points, I will cry or laugh because the author cried or laughed when she wrote that section. She opened herself up to the characters, poured her magic into their magic and created a wonderful story. I don’t think you can write a truly great story unless you’re willing to step beyond knowledge of mechanics and offer your own blood to the book.

Jae Lynne: If you were stranded on an island with one character from any book of your choice, who would it be and why?

Joey W. Hill: That would be Anna of A Mermaid’s Kiss. Since she’s a mermaid, I wouldn’t be stranded at all. She could take me to all sorts of wonderful places in the ocean, and when I was too water logged, her mate, Jonah--who happens to be a gorgeous angel who wears only a short red half-tunic, sword and silver white wings, could take me flying through the clouds.

However, if I was truly stranded, such that I needed someone who would be excellent company, I’d go with Mina of A Witch’s Beauty. Yes, she’s also half-mermaid, but the reason I’d want her there is she’s very complex. She’s well read, an advanced magic user, has an irascible attitude and says exactly what she thinks. Sort of a seawitch/Maxine cartoon character combination. Plus she’s mated to David, who is also an angel and Marguerite’s brother from Ice Queen/Mirror of My Soul, so he’s an interesting combination of human and paranormal, which would make him a versatile island companion as well. Plus he’s quite easy on the eyes (lol).

Of course, you know my REAL answer to this would be ALL of my characters. I’d love to just sit in a tree , letting my bare feet dangle, and watch all of them interact and play on the island. It would be like an erotic version of Lost where instead of having to solve intrigues and face terrible dangers, they’d just indulge every fantasy they have with each other…and I’d get to watch (of course all the poor trees would be stripped, because I’d be scribbling down story ideas on every leaf scrap).

Jae Lynne: Hollywood called! They want to turn your novel into a movie or television series. If given the choice, who would you cast as your characters?

Joey W. Hill: I’m always hesitant to answer this question, because I don’t want to impact who the readers see in their minds when they read the books. I’m afraid when I tell them who I see it will ruin the story for them, but that may be giving my opinion more weight than it deserves (lol). There was a contest on the fan forum some time ago to cast Gideon, Daegan and Anwyn from Vampire Mistress/Vampire Trinity, and the readers came up with some awesome options, including Andy Whitfield for Gideon (God/dess bless him, taken from us too early). But let’s see, I’ll give it a stab. I’m assuming you want me to venture options for Lyssa and Jacob of Bound by the Vampire Queen, since that’s the latest release. If I cast all my books, we’ll be here much longer than appropriate (lol).

I could see Alex O’Loughlin (currently playing McGarrett on the new Hawaii Five-O) doing an excellent Jacob, and Melinda Clarke (Lady Heather from CSI, also played a madame in an episode of Firefly) as an incomparable Lyssa.

Jae Lynne: Tell us about your novel.

Joey W. Hill: You mean the bane of my existence? The Torment Sent Straight from the Bowels of Hell? Oh, okay, I’ve finished the manuscript now, so I guess I can think of some nicer names for it, lol. Bound by the Vampire Queen, which is the eighth book in the Vampire Queen series, is the third book featuring Jacob and Lyssa as the main protagonists. Their books are always a challenge, because first there are the intense push-pull interactions between them, the result of her being a vampire queen, and him being her protective alpha male servant, both of them in a world where human servants are supposed to be the property of their vampires. Second, they’re usually wrapped up in a lot of political wrangling and near-death experiences involving the Vampire Council and vampire society at large. As if that wasn’t bad enough, in this book they spend a great deal of time in the Fae World, and so the politics and near-death wranglings with that group also figures into the plot. Chuckle. Seriously, while it was a bear to write, I’m hopeful that readers will enjoy the results. The fun thing about writing a book about protagonists you’ve written about before is they can indulge in a lot of intimate/romantic scenarios only possible with a couple who are already comfortable/familiar with each other. Readers who’ve read the first two books about them (Vampire Queen’s Servant and Mark of the Vampire Queen) have that “inside information”, which enhances the reading experience (if I’ve done it right!).

Researching the Fae world for this book was also a perk. I won’t research something on my own; a documentary or non-fiction book will put me to sleep, but if it’s for a particular writing project, my interest comes alive and I devour everything I have time to read on the subject. I didn’t realize how broad and diverse the Fae world was; in fact, I probably got a little carried away with all the various participants in the Wild Hunt on Samhain night that’s featured in the book. It reads a little bit like a D&D Monstrous Compendium (who wants to admit they know/remember what that is?). There are four characters that come to life in the Fae world that might just get their own story down the line as well, so I may be branching out from the vampires into another species before long (grin). But never fear, I have plenty of fodder for more vampire books.

Jae Lynne: For those of us who’ve been following the series from the beginning, what can we expect from this installment?

Joey W. Hill: When we left them in Mark of the Vampire Queen, Jacob and Lyssa had experienced a significant power exchange that could potentially change their relationship dynamic. You’ll get to see how that’s going, plus what kind of parents they make with their new son, Kane (in fact, for long term fans of the series, I wrote a little vignette about the three of them Christmas shopping which will show up at the Literary Escapism site on December 13). In this book, we’ll also get to visit some familiar faces, because Mason and Jessica of Beloved Vampire will make an appearance, and Gideon, Jacob’s brother who was mentioned earlier, will have a vital role with Daegan and Anwyn, his vampire Master and Mistress.

Hope you all enjoy this latest book in the series!

Blurb:

Sworn to obedience, compelled by loyalty, and threatened with damnation for betrayal, Jacob entered Lady Lyssa’s servitude as a human servant. Now he is a vampire, but still bound to Lyssa, who has found herself struggling with the capricious powers that have come alive in her paternal Fae blood—and challenged by two enemies…

While the Vampire Council threatens to take away Lyssa and Jacob’s newborn son, the Fae Queen has ordered Lyssa to appear before the Otherworld court to face inescapable charges. The Fae have nothing but contempt for vampires, but to serve her, protect her, nourish her, and pleasure her, Jacob will follow his lady into hell itself. No one—neither Fae nor vampire—will compel him to break the oath he made to serve a vampire queen forever.

Click HERE for a free excerpt!

Jae Lynne: Are there any other projects you’re working on that we can look forward to?

Joey W. Hill: I just turned in In the Company of Witches, the second in the Arcane Shot series. Raina, my heroine, is half-succubus and all powerful witch, and she runs a bordello where her staff are full incubi/succubi. Mikhael shows up on her doorstep running an incubus fugitive to ground. The incubus seeks sanctuary with her, and she and Mikhael come up against each other in a major way over that. Mikhael’s a Dark Guardian, which means he works for the Underworld, so he’s one of those dark, dangerous guys that I love to write. It took some surprising turns.

The book I’m working on now is the fifth in the Knights of the Board Room series. Hostile Takeover is Ben’s story, the last of the Kensington & Associates executives to get his story. The “Knights” are five high level business executives who all happen to be hardcore sexual Dominants. Each book focuses on one man finding the woman who’s meant to be his forever. In the four previous books, my strong heroines really needed a “Knight” to help them out of a difficult situation. In this last book, Ben is the one floundering a bit. He’s seen his four friends find their soulmates, but for the past few years, he’s been on his own. Then the younger sister of one of the previous heroines returns home, and she has her sites set squarely on him, no matter that he sees her as “Cass’s little sister”. It’s been a hugely fun book to write, because though she’s a submissive, she’s absolutely determined he’s her Master, and she is stubborn, fiery and precocious. He’s trying to be the gentleman, but he’s actually the most extreme Master of all four of them, so at a certain point, the reins just snap and it gets really interesting.

Jae Lynne: It sounds like you have a big year ahead of you with new releases and a few scheduled appearances. In fact, you’re the Mistress of Ceremonies at next year’s Authors After Dark convention in New Orleans. What do you hope to take away from your experience?

Joey W. Hill: I’m looking forward to spending time with old friends and discovering new ones. At the last AAD I attended everyone was so welcoming. It’s a great environment for readers, and those are the conferences I like best – where everything is focused on the reader having a great time, them getting access to authors, and us having access to them, so we can find out what they like, don’t like, and just enjoy the heck out of our mutual love of books. The “field trip” idea this year is an excellent one. Authors with New Orleans settings in their books will take readers to places that figure into those stories, which will give everyone a chance to see more of the city while attending the con.

I personally hope to take home about three pounds of beignets on my hips! In Hostile Takeover, which is set in NOLA, Marcie is licking powdered sugar off her fingertips until the hero grips her wrist and takes over that little task. Just thinking of that warm sweet bread melting in the mouth, it makes me wish I was there now! Okay, the finger licking thing wouldn’t be bad either…

Jae Lynne: Where can our readers find you?

Joey W. Hill: I have an email contact link on my website, www.storywitch.com. I’m also at Facebook under Joey Woody Hill, Twitter under Joey W Hill, and of course thanks to four wonderful ladies (of which Jae Lynne is one), you can find me cruising through the JWH Connection fan forum. There’s a “Got a Question for Joey” link there where you can leave direct inquiries any time. You’ll also find free download vignettes at the forum revisiting characters from my full length works, character interviews and graphics inspired by the books, so it’s a great place to visit. For access info, click HERE.

On my website, there’s a subscription link to my monthly newsletter, and it will keep you abreast of all my online and conference appearances, as well as when I’m having giveaways, offering new vignettes, etc. I love to hear from readers. Don’t ever be shy about contacting me!

Thanks so much for joining us today, Joey. Congrats on the release!

Want to win a copy of BOUND BY THE VAMPIRE QUEEN? Joey is giving away one eBook OR print copy of either BOUND BY THE VAMPIRE QUEEN or any of her other titles (reader's choice) to one lucky commenter! Be sure to include a valid email address in your comment so we can contact you regarding your prize! Giveaway is open worldwide and ends on Friday, December 9th!

Happy Reading!

Mythic now available for Kindle!

2011-12-03T06:54:00.000-05:00

That's right folks. I'm so excited to announce that Mythic is now available for purchase at Amazon for all of you Kindle owners!

Here's the purchase link for your viewing pleasure:

Amazon.com

Next week begins with a CAN'T MISS Q&A and a GIVEAWAY with author Joey W. Hill!

Then I head over to Wicked Lil Pixie for a Q&A and GIVEAWAY of my own!

On the writing front, I'm still working diligently on Blood Moon and I have roughly SIX other novels (either stand alone novels or the first in a new series) ready to be outlined. For those who've inquired, yes, I do have plans for another short story for Tease Publishing's Love's Immortal Pantheon Anthology. This installment will feature Diana, Cole and a few new characters. I hope to have more information soon.

Enjoy the weekend!

Q&A Fun AND Giveaway With Author Katie Salidas

2011-12-01T03:00:00.003-05:00

Happy December, Everyone!

Help me kick off the month beginning with Author Katie Salidas! Katie was gracious enough to join me for a fun Q&A. If you're unfamiliar with Katie's work, or you've been a longtime fan, this interview is sure to entertain.

Jae Lynne: Welcome, Katie! Tell us a bit about yourself:

Katie: Hi everyone! I’m very happy to be here. Hmmm, a little about myself. Oddly enough, I am a super shy person “in person.” Seriously, Introverted is my middle name. But, online, I can often overcome that social awkwardness. Being a bit shy means I am more of a people watcher. What else are you going to do when you’re the wallflower? That comes in handy though when creating characters. I spend a lot of time watching people and learning from their interactions. It helps me when it comes to my own characters.

Other than being the wallflower, and using it to help me write, I am a mommy x2 (we’re actually expecting our second child any day now!!!) and wife. I love my family. They are my world.

Jae Lynne: In which genres do you write?

Katie: I primarily write Urban Fantasy, but I love to work with Paranormal Romance and a little Erotica every now and again. The main thing that connects each genre I play with though, is vampires! I love vampires and I love to use them in different situations. I find them to be the chameleon of the monster world. They can go from a creature of Horror to a lust-worthy creature from your wildest dreams, and everywhere in between.

Jae Lynne: What inspires you to write?

Katie: My biggest inspiration comes from asking questions. For instance, in the Immortalis series, I asked what it would be like to really turn into a vampire… without a choice? One minute you are a normal, everyday college girl, and the next, you’re a creature of the night. It’s a hugely life changing event that I think gets glossed over in other books. I really wanted readers to transform with the character and experience the hardship that comes with that. From there, the series blossomed.

Jae Lynne: How do you choose names for your characters?

Katie: I love looking at baby name sites as well as sites that tell you the origins of names. That’s my main resource for character names. I look for something that is age specific (ancient Greek names for my older vampires) as well as area specific (I have some French, some African, etc… vampires), as well as a few Werewolves of Irish decent. Sites like Behindthename.com are my favorite for this.

Jae Lynne: What is your favorite type of character to write? Do you have a personal favorite amongst your own characters?

Katie: This is probably going to come out wrong but I like writing “the jerk.” The guy you love to hate. You know the kind. He’s antagonistic and snarky. He gets under your skin. He pisses you off, but ultimately, he’s on the side of good so you have to work with him. That’s my character Nicholas. He really blossoms as a character in book 2 (Hunters & Prey), and I just love him to death!!!

Jae Lynne: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Katie: Always be writing! Don’t ever let yourself become idle. Don’t focus on one story. Always have additional projects. One of the things I’ve found that helps me through writers block is to switch things up. Some days I can work in one genre, then when I get stuck, I can switch to another story for a little bit. That break often allows me to come back fresh to the first story.

Jae Lynne: Who is/are your favorite author(s)?

Katie: Some of my favorites include: Anne Rice, Charlaine Harris, Laurel K. Hamilton, Christine Feehan, and Lara Adrian

Jae Lynne: How do/does your favorite authors(s) impact your writing?

Katie: I think, whether consciously or not, we take a little something from the books we read. We learn. We know what’s been done before, so we can avoid doing it ourselves. We see what might not have been done and that can inspire us in new ways to create stories from there. And of course, reading is a nice relaxation too. And of course, reading inspires us, not just to write our own stories, but to work our fingers to the bones to become a great author like the ones we idolize!

Jae Lynne: Hollywood called! They want to turn your novel into a movie or television series. If given the choice, who would you cast as your characters?

Katie: This is always fun. Let me give you my dream cast …

The girls:

Alyssa - Mila Kunis

Rozaline - Anne Hathaway

Crystal - Reese Witherspoon

Kallisto - Angelina Jolie or Catherine Zeta-Jones

Fallon - Kiera Knightly

The guys:

Lysander – Gerard Butler

Nicholas – Eric Bana

Drew - Matther McConaughey

Edmond - Jason Isaacs

Santino – Vinnie Jones

Quentin – Mel Gibson

Jae Lynne: Tell us about your novels

Pandora’s Box

Immortalis Series, Book 3

Primary Genre: Urban Fantasy

Secondary Genre: Paranormal Romance

Adult Content: Some strong language. No sexual content.

Page Count: 238

Word Count: 65,000

Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC.

Print Publishing Date: July 12th 2011

Author: Katie Salidas

Available in print and/or ebook at:

Amazon.com USA

Amazon.co.UK UK

Amazon.co.DE Germany

Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Synopsis: After a few months as a vampire, Alyssa thought she’d learned all she needed to know about the supernatural world. But her confidence is shattered by the delivery of a mysterious package – a Pandora’s Box.

Seemingly innocuous, the box is in reality an ancient prison, generated by a magic more powerful than anyone in her clan has ever known. But what manner of evil could need such force to contain it?

When the box is opened, the sinister creature within is released, and only supernatural blood will satiate its thirst. The clan soon learns how it feels when the hunter becomes the hunted.

Apparently powerless against the ancient evil, the clan flees Las Vegas for Boston, with only a slim hope for salvation. Could Lysander’s old journals hold the key? And what if they don’t?

And how welcome will they be in a city run by a whole different kind of supernatural being?

Werewolves…

Hunters & Prey

Immortalis Series, Book 2

Primary Genre: Urban Fantasy

Secondary Genre: Paranormal Romance

Adult Content: Some strong language. No sexual content.

Page Count: 263

Word Count: 75,000

Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC.

Print Publishing Date: December 10, 2010

Author: Katie Salidas

Available in print and/or ebook at:

Amazon.com USA

Amazon.co.UK UK

Amazon.co.DE Germany

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Synopsis: Becoming a vampire saved Alyssa from death, but the price was high: the loss of everything and everyone attached to her mortal life. She’s still learning to cope when a surprise confrontation with Santino Vitale, the Acta Sanctorum’s most fearsome hunter, sends her fleeing back to the world she once knew, and Fallon, the friend she’s missed more than anything.

Alyssa breaks vampire law by revealing her new, true self to her old friend, a fact which causes strong division in the group that should support her most: her clan.

Worse yet, her revelation entangles Fallon in the struggle between vampires and hunters and The Acta Sanctorum is ready to attack again, with a new army of hybrid creations: the Frenzy Soldiers.

If Alyssa hopes to survive and keep her mortal friend safe, she’ll have to be willing to make a deal with the enemy, and regain her clan’s support. It will take everyone working together in a precarious truce to fight against the Acta Sanctorum’s new threat.

Immortalis Carpe Noctem

Immortalis Series, Book 1

Primary Genre: Urban Fantasy

Secondary Genre: Paranormal Romance

Adult Content: Some strong language. No sexual content.

Page Count: 323

Word Count: 85,000

Publisher: Rising Sign Books, LLC.

Print Publishing Date: March 2, 2010

Author: Katie Salidas

Available in print and/or ebook at:

Amazon.com USA

Amazon.co.UK UK

Amazon.co.DE Germany

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Synopsis: Bleeding to death after brutal mugging on the campus of UNLV, Twenty-five year old Alyssa, is rescued by the cold and aloof, vampire, Lysander. Taking pity on her, he shares the gift-and curse-of immortality. She awakens as a vampire and is soon devastated by harsh realities of her new way of life: the loss of her friends, her independence, and her humanity.

As if having her humanity stripped away was not enough to make life interesting, Alyssa finds out her “turning”, did not go unnoticed by the rest of undead society. Old enemies; an ancient sect of vampire hunters, known as the Acta Sanctorum, as well as a powerful Vampire mistress, each set plans in motion to destroy both Alyssa and Lysander.

Only by accepting her newfound immortality, seizing the night, will Alyssa hope to survive. She and Lysander must fight together against two sets of enemies bent on destroying them both.

Thanks so much for joining us today, Katie! As an added bonus, Katie brought a gift to the party. She's giving away an eBook of any one novel in the Immortalis series (winner's choice). Simply leave a comment and you're entered to win!

In addition, there is a tour wide giveaway! The Grand Prize is a signed set of all 3 books in the Immortalis Series with book swag. This contest is open to international shipping!Winner to be chosen on January 1, 2012! Click HERE for more details.

About the Author

Katie Salidas is a Super Woman! Endowed with special powers and abilities, beyond those of mortal women, She can get the munchkin off to gymnastics, cheerleading, Girl Scouts, and swim lessons. She can put hot food on the table for dinner while assisting with homework, baths, and bedtime… And, She still finds the time to keep the hubby happy (nudge nudge wink wink). She can do all of this and still have time to write.

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

To learn more about Katie and her work, visit her website http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Facebook

Twitter

Welcome Author Steena Holmes!

2011-11-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

Steena dropped by today and answered a few questions along the book tour for her novel, DEVIL UNKNOWN.

Welcome, Steena! Tell us a bit about yourself.

Steena: Thanks so much for having me here on your blog! I’m a passionate chocoholic (which pretty much says it all - lol).

Jae Lynne: In which genres do you write?

Steena: This is my first thriller, but I have also written women’s fiction and (shhh) I write erotic romance under my pen name Anya Winter.

Jae Lynne: I do like erotic romance and will be sure to look for your titles! What inspires you to write?

Steena: Passion. A passion for life. For circumstance we find ourselves in. Passion for the stories we read.

Jae Lynne: How do you choose names for your characters?

Steena: They kind of just ‘come’ to me. I have a character in mind and play around with names until I find the right one. Nathan’s name (and story) came to me in a dream.

Jae Lynne: What is your favorite type of character to write?

Steena: I love to write a character with issues. Someone who is ‘real’ in their life’s journey.

Jae Lynne: Do you have a personal favorite amongst your own characters?

Steena: In Devil Unknown, I have to admit that Morax - the fallen angel - is my favorite. There’s so much to this character and being able to write his story is exciting.

Jae Lynne: Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Steena: If you have a passion to write - then write. Do whatever it is that you are most passionate about. If you’re passionate about it - then it will be noticeable in how you tell your story - and that will catch readers. It’s a road with major u-turns and detours, but if you keep the end prize in sight, you’ll do fine :)

Jae Lynne: Who is/are your favorite author(s)?

Steena: I LOVE Karen Marie Moning. Her Fever series are amazing. Ted Dekker is another all time favorite.

Jae Lynne: How do/does your favorite authors(s) impact your writing?

Steena: I ‘hope’ it makes me stronger. I know that after reading and re-reading their stories my imagination runs wild. I get a creative streak that can only be tempered by writing.

Jae Lynne: If you were stranded on an island with one character from any book of your choice, who would it be?

Steena: Any of my books? Hmmm ... well, Anderson from The Master would be a good choice if I had to be alone with a handsome man ... George from Devil Unknown would be able to do all the cooking (since I burn water) so he might be a good choice too.

Jae Lynne: Hollywood called! They want to turn your novel into a movie or television series. If given the choice, who would you cast as your characters?

Steena: Hmmm, good question. Okay, Rachel would be Saoirse Ronan, Nathan would be Bradley Cooper (sigh), and Morax would be Johnny Deep or Gerald Butler.

Jae Lynne: Now THAT'S a movie I'd rush to see! So...Tell us about your novel!

Steena: Secrets. Every town has them, but you’d never expect your pastor to have a hidden side to him - especially ones that bring demons to town. I also knew I wanted this to be a thriller – something totally different from the erotic romances I write under my pen name. When Morax’ story – Nathan’s father, who also happens to be a fallen angel – winds itself into the story, the added thriller element is crucial.

I don’t know about you, but when I find out someone has a secret – I immediately want to know what it is. Especially when it’s my own characters I’ve created. Nathan’s secret took on a whole new direction when I realized his wife found out what he was hiding. They say she committed suicide, but would a pregnant mother so excited to have her first child really kill herself? Maybe if she found out about Nathan’s secret. Or maybe she was killed by Nathan’s father? You never know, those windy mountain roads can sure be dangerous when demons play on the guard rails.

Devil Unknown

By Steena Holmes

Genre: Supernatural Suspense

A Bandit Creek Thriller

Available at Amazon and Smashwords

Blurb: “Each generation, evil takes form and steals the soul of the most devout.”

A long forgotten myth holds the key to the evil descending upon Bandit Creek. When the town turns to their beloved former pastor for answers, little do they realize he may be the evil they fear.

Nathan Hanlin is at a crossroads. His soul is in jeopardy, and he doesn’t know it. Yet. He thought leaving the church would be easy, but when demonic crows start talking and demons reveal a secret about his past -- he realizes turning his back on God might have been a mistake. A ripped page from a journal holds the key to discovering why the supernatural are appearing in Bandit Creek but it’s too late. The myth is real and the only person who knows the answer is missing. Can Nathan save the woman he loves...or is he the reason her life is in danger?

Excerpt: He stood motionless in the cold, sparse room. Perfect for his plans.

The rat droppings were fresh. His intended guest would have more company than first thought. The stench of mold, urine and sulfur filled the air. The aroma aroused him.

He rubbed his hands together as he viewed the room. The scorched cement blocks were a nice addition. The fingers of long ago flames licked the walls and left burn patterns snaking towards the ceiling. The little cracks in the floor crisscrossed each other until the kaleidoscope of weeds peeping through the cracks decorated the floor. Ants and other insects scurried away from his boots as he walked around the room.

Chains anchored in the walls promised torturous delight. Exactly what his guest deserved. Saliva pooled and dripped from his lips as he imagined the hell he was about to create for her.

It was all for her.

Innocent. Humble.

A gift. For him.

Chapter 1

Rotting carcasses littered the path to home.

Nathan Hanlin entered the twilight zone as he drove along the curving mountain road towards home. The remnants of ominous music played in his mind. If he didn’t know better, from the dark swelling clouds filling his rearview mirrors to the dust swirls up ahead, Nathan would think he’d entered his own private hell.

Sentries of large black crows faced him on either side of the highway.

His worst nightmares come true.

For the past week his dreams were filled with the disgusting birds circling over a car wreck. Nathan shuddered at the memory. He’d heard that crows were once used as messengers from the spirits, but if they were trying to tell him something, he wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it.

He rolled his shoulders, trying to ease a kink that had set in more than an hour ago. The highway from the city to Bandit Creek stretched on forever. Ahead was the pass but at the rate he was going, it would be night before he reached it.

Swerving to miss another dead animal, Nathan’s grip tightened on the steering wheel. The crows’ beady eyes followed him as he drove past. It was unreal how they perched there, their black wings tucked tight against their slick bodies.

Only their eyes moved, as if tracking him.

He could have sworn they were looking directly at him. Not his vehicle. Him. As if they knew him.

The archway to the Pass approached in the distance. Nathan pushed his foot until the speedometer inched higher. Thirty feet ahead a barricade of large black crows were positioned beneath the large metal sign with the aged black letters - Crow Mountain Pass. Swirling clouds of dust sheathed the birds’ movements, creating an illusion of a huge black dust storm. Hundreds of eyes stared at him.

You need us.

Nathan jerked his foot off the pedal. What the…?

He must be more tired than he thought. Not a good thing to be on this road. He’d conducted too many funerals from late night driving accidents on this windy road.

His vehicle inched its way along, coming to a full stop right before the crows as their deafening caws filled the air. The side windows and windshield cracked as the multitude of crows flew at him, their screams filling the air. Nathan ducked his head to his steering wheel, hands over his ears. The glass shook from the impact. Nathan was sure his windows would break. He didn’t understand what was happening. His skin rippled from the onslaught of the invisible beaks poking at his skin. Fingers of dread tunneled through his brain. Nathan cried out in anguish, begging God for help.

Raising his head, he jammed his foot on the gas and accelerated until he drove past the swirling cascade. Gasping, Nathan struggled to regulate his breathing, failing with each inhale. Once he made it beneath the archway, he glanced in his rearview mirror. Nothing.

No crows, no swirling dust, nothing. The chaos had vanished.

He hit the brake, his toes cramping from the quick movement. He leaned forward and rested his arms on the steering wheel. Scratch marks ran along the hood.

Nicked, dented and littered with stray feathers, his truck looked like it had been dragged into hell. Nathan reached for the door handle then stopped. His arms collapsed and chafed against the leather edge of the wheel before they fell onto his legs. His body shook as if an earthquake erupted beneath his feet and there was nothing he could do to stop it. Pools of sweat poured down his face as they mingled with his tears.

What just happened?

Jae Lynne: Are there any other projects you’re working on?

Steena: I have a few erotic novellas coming out this month. I am also working on series with Nathan, Morax and Joanne being the central figures. Their story isn’t over and when Nathan finds out just what he really is, his whole words gets turned upside down. I’m so excited about this story and can’t wait to publish the next book!

Jae Lynne: Where can our readers find you?

Steena: Devil Unknown is part of a the Bandit Creek series - I would love it readers would check out these stories. I can also be found at my website - www.steenaholmes.com and on http://twitter.com/#!/Steenaholmes.

Jae Lynne: Thanks for stopping by, Steena! Good luck with the rest of the tour!

Steena: Thanks so much Jae Lynne for having me on your blog :) It was a pleasure!

About the Author:

Two words can describe Steena. Chocolate and passion. Passion for life. For love. For adventure. For chocolate.

Weaving stories with passion for life flows through all of Steena’s stories – whether they be erotic romance under her pen name Anya Winter, in her women’s fiction or in her thrillers.

Join her in discovering the passion for life.

Twitter @SteenaHolmes

Website: www.steenaholmes.com

Bandit Creek Books: www.banditcreekbooks.com

Confessions of a Halloween Babe

2011-10-31T03:00:00.001-04:00

Happy Halloween!

There are so many festive blog posts I've seen this month, but I decided to share something a little more personal. Why? Because of one minor detail. I share my birthday with the day of tricks and treats.

Let me begin by saying that this is NOT a personal pity party, but a look at things from my point of view through the years.

While it's great to have a Halloween birthday, in many ways, it's a tough situation as a child. Both of my parents worked full-time jobs, so everything was rushed on Halloween. Mom often grew frustrated stuffing four kids into costumes and rushing us all out the door. The world was a different place then. We could walk through our neighborhood until 10:00pm and not have a care in the world. But most years, birthday celebrations had to wait until November 1st. Looking back on all of that now, I realize my birthday was a two day celebration that was equally difficult for my parents and they certainly tried their best!

Now that I'm older, it's no longer important. But every so often I still claim bragging rights. And yes, it's kind of cool. LOL

In fact, there are some REALLY cool superstitions I've discovered regarding the significance of being born on October 31st. Some that are worthy of note are:

* Halloween babies will enjoy lifelong protection against evil spirits.

* There is an American myth that states that children born on Halloween will be protected against evil spirits their entire life and will be given the gift of second sight.

* It is believed that anyone born on Halloween can see, hear, and talk to spirits.

Now, I'm not exactly having intellectual conversations with those who've passed on, but I've been known to sprout fangs on occasion. *wink*

In honor of Halloween (and my birthday), I've decided to give away a prize to one commenter. Tell me your Halloween plans, and you'll win your choice of one of my titles in eBook format AND a bag of Halloween treats!

I'll announce the winner on November 6th! Happy Halloween!

A Review of Halloween Fantasies by Katie Salidas

2011-10-27T03:00:00.002-04:00

Halloween Fantasies

By Katie Salidas

Genre: Erotic Paranormal

Blurb: Touted as the sexiest party of the year, the annual Halloween Fantasy Ball is the one place a girl can let loose and succumb to her wildest fantasies.

Disguised as a sexy vampire huntress, Sasha captures the attention of Dante, a real life creature of the night. For Sasha, meeting bona-fide vampire is enough to fulfill one of her life long fantasies. She’s ready to go home a happy woman.

But Dante has other plans. It is after all, a night of fantasies, and he has a few of his own to share.

This Erotic Paranormal novella is approximately 20k words (80 printed pages). It contains consensual M/F/M sexual situations. Adult readers only.

Chapter Excerpt:

A feeling of accomplishment washed through Dante. Success. He savored the moment, allowing himself to fall deeply into her pale blue eyes. She was his for the taking, and he would enjoy taking his time ravaging her.

His cock throbbed with need at the thought of it. The sensual caress of her body against his while they danced had been such a delightful torture. Her intense pheromones had been teasing his baser instincts, drawing out his need not only for sex, but also for the taste of her essence. Now he would soon be able to slake his burning desires.

Careful not to seem too eager and risk putting her off, he smiled and asked calmly, “Are you sure this is what you want?”

Her teeth still bit into her lip as she looked up into his eyes. He could sense she was battling with herself, but the scent of her pheromones assured him of her desire. Sasha’s scent was like sweet honeysuckle, a smell so pure and alluring he was tempted to take her right there on the dance floor. He couldn’t wait to sample just a taste of her essence. He absently licked his lips, awaiting her answer.

A moment passed in silence before she smiled and nodded at him. “You’re right. This is a night for fantasies. Let’s go.”

He bent his head to capture her mouth once more before allowing her to lead him off the dance floor.

They passed by the bar on their way out, and Sasha grabbed a shot and knocked it back quickly. She scrunched up her face as she swallowed. “A little more liquid courage,” she said and then pulled him out of the ballroom.

Excitement —and maybe a little of that liquid courage she’d just downed— seemed to have washed away all worry. Like a switch had been flicked on, she changed from timid to wild. She was on fire as they stepped into the empty elevator. Her hands roamed all over his body, as if she needed to feel every indentation of his rippling muscles and commit them to memory.

He slowly backed her into the corner, thrusting his abdomen into hers, both relieving and intensifying the burning need in his cock as their bodies rubbed together.

She devoured his mouth with hungry kisses, sucking his tongue into her mouth in imitation, suggesting what she would do with his cock later. Her hands cupped his ass, roughly kneading his soft cheeks.

His cock throbbed, aching to be touched. The gentle press against her body was an unbearable tease, and he wanted—needed—to be inside of her. “I’m not sure I can wait to get you into the room.”

She moaned as he uttered the words. Her hands left his ass, finding their way under his tight shirt.

Her touch was like fire to his cool skin. Every gentle caress was filled with delectable heat, sending pulses of animalistic need shooting straight down to his engorged cock. Dante groaned in both pleasure and frustration. If it weren’t for the ding that signaled they had reached their floor, he might have pushed her to the ground and taken her right there.

She snaked out from his caging arms like a wildcat escaping a snare as the elevator doors opened. “C’mon. This way, big boy.” Sasha giggled and gave a little seductive wink before sashaying out into the hallway.

He couldn’t have picked a more alluring woman to share the evening with. She was pure feminine beauty. The tight leather pants hugged every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination. Thoughts of bending her over the bed resurfaced again. He saw himself pinning her against the mattress, plunging deeply into her body as he took his fill of her blood. His self-control was at the edge of its limits. He imagined the sweet essence of her blood filling him as her body tightened and clenched, milking him with her climax.

Dante’s eyes swayed with the motion of her luscious, curvy hips, and he fell into an almost hypnotic trance, lumbering behind her as if an invisible leash was pulling him. His pants rubbed roughly against his throbbing erection, making every step a luscious mixture of pleasure and pain.

He knew he shouldn’t have allowed her to tease him so much. He was so close to losing control. She had already proven to be an interesting and difficult conquest, considering he wasn’t allowed his normal supernatural methods, but he did enjoy this challenge: playing the game, using his charms, making her request his presence. Still, the price was high. He’d allowed his inner monster lie in wait for far too long. He wanted her blood… now.

He fought with the need, the persistent nagging in the back of his mind, and the empty feeling in his stomach. He was not uncivilized; she deserved pleasure for the sacrifice she would make to him by giving some of her blood. He needed to hold back, if only just a little longer.

Sasha fumbled with the key card at the hotel room door. Her long black ponytail swayed behind her as she moved, drawing focus to her long, sumptuous neck.

Dante bent his head and kissed the tender flesh. He felt the gentle thrum of her excited pulse. He allowed his teeth to scrape gently over her skin.

She sighed and leaned her head back into his body, arching her neck to give him better access. “Do it,” she whispered.

How can I refuse? “Maybe just a taste.” He lapped at her neck with his tongue before sinking his teeth in to the soft, warm flesh.

Sasha whimpered softly, and her body stiffened for a brief moment before she melted against him.

Her blood flowed hot and sweet into his mouth, tasting far better than he imagined.

He savored each sweet note of its flavor: vanilla, sugar, and honey with a hint of spice. His arm snaked around her perfect torso. He cupped one of her ample breasts in his hands. His other hand caressed down her leg, gently squeezing her inner thigh.

She cooed softly, and her hand fell limp from the door.

Dante gently caressed the bite with his tongue, stemming the flow of her blood while closing the wound. All that would remain were small dots, tiny bruises.

She hummed serenely, still leaning against his body.

Dante kissed at the tender skin, still caressing her breast with his large hands. “You taste so sweet,” he whispered in her ear before pulling away. His bloodlust slaked for the moment, he could now concentrate on the other needs demanding attention.

Sasha shook herself, appearing to regain her strength. She unlocked and opened the door then turned, grabbing his hand to pull him inside. “There is more where that came from.”

Dante stalked in after her and allowed the door to swing shut behind him.

Sasha fixed him with a stare that would rival that of the hungriest lioness. Clearly, his advance had awakened something primal in her. She licked her lips seductively. “Now, about that fantasy you wanted to share with me...”

“Ah yes, my fantasy.” Dante sucked in a breath, drinking in the sight of the sexy woman standing in front of him, ready to please. “Let me just say that I am used to people doing exactly as I say.”

He caught the shiver, the tensing of her muscles in response to his words. He knew he excited her; he’d seen it from the start. The response to his overpowering demeanor from the moment they met told him a strong, alpha male aroused her. It made her wet and ready and sent butterflies buzzing around her stomach.

“If necessary, I can bend someone to my will. However, tonight, I want you, Sasha, to give yourself to me, completely of your own free will. I want you to allow me total control to do with you as I please.”

******WARNING! This review contains spoilers!*****

It all begins with a cover.

When I saw Katie’s book tour announced through Bewitching Book Tours, the title and artwork caught my eye. Next, I read the blurb and NEEDED to get my hands on this story!

The story begins with Sasha, an average girl who decides to attend the annual Halloween Fantasy Ball dressed as a vampire huntress. But she never expects to bump into an actual creature of the night!

Vampire Dante appreciates the irony of crashing into a huntress and the two begin a casual conversation. When he flashes a bit of fang, raising Sasha’s suspicions that Dante is a REAL vampire, her heart races at the thought of her wildest fantasy coming true—spending the night with a vampire.

But Dante didn’t attend the ball alone. Of course, he has an identical twin brother, Trevor, who decides to make a friendly wager to see who can seduce a woman without the benefit of their enhanced abilities. Can you say ‘double your pleasure’?

Later in flirtatious conversation, Dante confirms that he is in fact, a real vampire. Sasha decides to throw caution to the wind and invite him to her room for a night to remember. But Dante admits to having a fantasy of his own—having her COMPLETE submission.

After a fantastic interlude of body and blood, there’s a knock at the door. A disheveled Trevor enters the room after an unsuccessful attempt at seducing Sasha’s friend, Angela. Sasha and the brothers exchange wicked glances and engage in hot threesome action. Who says Halloween has to be scary?

This was such a fun read and Katie Salidas sure knows how to deliver a sexy story! As an admitted vampire lover, I couldn’t help but want to be Sasha for the night. Lucky girl.

I do hope Katie continues these shorts and gives us a glimpse of what happens next.

This story is a MUST read and earned 5 out of 5 stars! Go grab your copy of Halloween Fantasies!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Halloween-Fantasies-ebook/dp/B0042X9UFW

About the author:

And if you can believe all of those lies, there is some beautiful swamp land in Florida for sale…

Katie Salidas resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mother, wife, and author, she does try to do it all, often causing sleep deprivation and many nights passed out at the computer. Writing books is her passion, and she hopes that her passion will bring you hours of entertainment.

To learn more about Katie and her work, visit her website: http://www.katiesalidas.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-Salidas-Author/214780936916

Twitter: http://twitter.com/QuixoticKatie

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile?viewProfile=&key=58814031&trk=tab_pro

October News and Appearances!

2011-10-16T02:30:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone!

Yes, I know, we're halfway through October and I'm just NOW posting news! This month has been hectic (always in a good way) in terms of writing and this will likely continue through the beginning of the year. As I continue along the journey with the story of Dante in Blood Moon, brand new story concepts for a completely different series ran amuk in my mind. You never know when a fully fleshed out plot will arise, so I took a few moments to jot a few things down.

In addition to Blood Moon, I'm writing a new erotic novel titled, Desires of a Dark Lord. The story features Ronin, a hell-bound demon and Ginevra, a human whose soul he's sent to claim. Those are the only details I can divulge at the moment. Don't want to spoil things. LOL

This month's appearances (including chances to win a few goodies) are as follows:

October 11th - Red Hot Books Interview
October 20th - Eliza Gayle's D.A.M.M. Blog (Guest post)
October 31st - Lynda Hilburn's Paranormality Universe Blog (Guest post)

***Remember, I have a month-long running contest at Coffee Time Romance with an opportunity to win a copy of MYTHIC and a ton of author swag!

Visit my blog on October 31st for your chance to win your choice of either MYTHIC or THE CONTRACT in eBook format and a Halloween goodie bag. Besides, Halloween is my birthday and I want to celebrate!

Sweet Dreams.

September News!

2011-09-25T14:10:00.001-04:00

Happy Sunday!

After a busy weekend, I felt the need to wind down with Dante and dive deep into Blood Moon. It's full speed ahead with this manuscript as the pressure is on to complete the novel! Since a number of you asked about the status of the novel in recent months, I thought about posting an excerpt. Stay tuned for a sneak peek!

I'm so excited to announce that I've been nominated in a number of categories in the Authors After Dark Bookie Awards. I can't tell you what an honor it is to be nominated by fans in the same categories as some of my favorite authors. This is a debut author's dream come true! If you want to take a look at the extensive list of nominees, be sure to visit the site: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/69XZZKW. Voting ends at midnight on October 1st. Winners will be announced at the Authors After Dark Con next year in New Orleans!

Keep a close eye on my blog for a Halloween contest! The prize will be a goodie bag of sorts...candy, swag, a print book, and some other great items!

Speaking of contests, I'm already working on a Christmas prize basket. Have you read my novel, MYTHIC? Win a basket filled with items from vampire, Nicholas Sutton's home town of Cape May, New Jersey, including a genuine Cape May diamond, plucked by hand from the sea and polished to perfection! You won't want to miss this!

Okay, that's enough from me for now. Back to Blood Moon.

Happy reading!

The Hand He Dealt by Tanith Davenport NOW AVAILABLE IN PRINT!

2011-09-14T03:00:00.002-04:00

Hey all!

For those of you who'd attended or commented on my post featuring special guest author, Tanith Davenport, I'm happy to announce that her novel THE HAND HE DEALT, is now available in PRINT!

Check out the novel, it sounds like a great read and I'll be picking up my copy this weekend!

The Hand He Dealt

by Tanith Davenport

ISBN: 978-0-85715-570-2

Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance

Publisher: Total-e-Bound

Book Description:

Nobody can beat Astra Scott in playing the hand she’s dealt.

Astra Scott likes to live life to the full. A sorority girl and Gaming Management student, she spends her days studying and practising guitar, and her nights partying or working at the Fountain Casino, where she has an internship as part of her final semester. The only blot on her landscape is Ash Drake, her best friend Sasha’s boyfriend. Arrogant, physical and blond, Ash has never forgiven Astra for her rejection months earlier and enjoys annoying her at every turn.

But when Astra’s boyfriend Harry reveals a shocking secret, Astra responds in the only way she can think of: by finding a way to take on a more attractive, masculine role in the relationship. Her experimentation with sex toys finds a surprising outlet in Sasha, but when Ash discovers their secret and wants to get involved, Astra finds herself torn between dislike and desire…and as their undercover relationship grows, Astra finds herself falling in love, a path she feels can only end in heartbreak. For Ash may be the only man whose own fantasies are a match for hers, but can she knowingly steal his affections from her best friend?

Reader Advisory: This book contains one scene of pegging/strap-on penetration and scenes of ménage and FF intimacy.

Ebook link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1244

Print Link: http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1380

EXCERPT:

A third red-backed card flipped over on the green baize. The ten of hearts.

“Twenty-four. Bust.”

With a scowl, the man pushed his chips to the centre of the table and got up to leave.

“Too bad,” Astra called after him. “Have a good night.”

It was four in the morning and the casino was closing. Around the room, the croupiers were clearing their tables and preparing to leave. Astra’s table was the first one closed—as the lights began to snap off she was already halfway to the door.

She passed another croupier, an attractive blonde, just unhooking her coat, her forehead smeared with blood, and she paused.

“Hey, Becky? What happened to you?”

The girl scowled. “Some jerk threw a glass at me. Think he just lost the expense account.”

“Ugh. Men.” Astra could taste the bitterness in her words. “They’re all pricks.”

The cold air hit her like a wall of ice. The skies were still pitch-dark. The night was clear, starlit, the edges of the full moon sharp. Streetlamps spilled pools of light across the sidewalk as Astra started the long walk home.

Thank God she didn’t have an early lecture.

Across the street, shouts and raucous laughter filled the air as the door of a neon-fronted bar opened and a group of twenty-something men fell out. Astra’s stomach twisted as a painful image forced its way into her mind.

Are you out tonight?

She dropped her head, fighting against the picture that haunted her. Oh God, she was beginning to hate this walk home. The surrounding dark engulfed her like a wave, weakening her, dragging her down.

Every time you do this, I lose another part of you, something I’m afraid to forget.

Her feet knew the way home as well as her mind did.

I can’t remember the scent of your hair.

It was amazing how quickly the sidewalk was passing.

I can’t remember the feeling of your breath on my neck.

It really wasn’t such a long walk after all.

She broke into a run, one hand over her face, tears choking her. Astra stumbled up the main road through the campus and into the Omega Zeta sorority house. She dashed up the stairs to the first floor, dived into the bathroom and locked herself in a cubicle.

It was stupid to feel this way. Stupid. But the aching feeling of loss was rarely absent these days.

She had only herself to blame. She had been too intelligent, too arrogant, to believe she could lose herself in the intense gaze of a pair of blue eyes. Too clever to recognise her own weakness in the face of a cheeky smile.

Fuck. The door had opened. She wiped her face and stepped out of the cubicle, her carefully-crafted neutral expression dissolving when she saw the girl turning away from her reflection.

“Sash.”

“Astra?” Sasha looked her up and down in concern. “Are you okay? What’s…”

“Don’t ask.”

Sasha nodded slowly and turned back to the mirror with an assumed casualness.

“Oh—by the way. News.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“It’s Ash.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“He knows.”

Astra caught herself in the middle of a third “Oh yeah?” and stepped behind Sasha. Their eyes met in the mirror.

“What?”

“Ash knows.”

Astra leant back against the row of sinks and ran her hand through her hair in shock.

“Ash… Fuck.”

Author Bio:

Tanith Davenport began writing at the age of sixteen as a way of utilizing her ability to drift into daydreams at any hour of the day or night. Her interests range between rock music and modern cinema to medieval literature and classical singing. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac Eldorado.

“The Hand He Dealt” is Tanith’s debut novel and was released by Total-e-Bound Publishing on 13 June 2011.

www.tanithdavenport.blogspot.com

Welcome Special Guest Author E.B. Walters & GIVEAWAY

2011-09-12T03:00:00.005-04:00

Hey all!

Join me in welcoming author, E.B. Walters. She's here courtesy of Bewitching Book Tours to promote her latest release, MINE UNTIL DAWN.

Remember to comment! She's giving away an eBook copy to one lucky commenter.

WRITING BOTH YA AND ADULT ROMANCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HERE ARE TWO LOVE SCENES-A KISS:

BETRAYED (YA):

He lifted my chin, brushed hair from my face, and briefly pressed his lips against mine. My lips tingled and butterflies danced in my stomach. He stopped kissing me before I could respond and searched my face, his emerald eyes swirling pools of concern. You okay?

I grinned. I am now. I missed you over the weekend. Where were you?

He stroked my face with the tips of his fingers and tucked another stray curly lock behind my ear, a smile I couldn’t read playing on his lips.

Taking care of something. I missed you too, that’s why I’m here. He glanced over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing. “You can put her backpack down, Sykes.”

“What? No thank you for my gentlemanly act?” His tone was sarcastic, making it hard to tell whether he was genuinely annoyed or faking it.

Bran ignored Sykes, lowered his head and kissed me again, the way he usually did when we were alone. Angling his head, he deepened the contact. I forgot about Sykes as the world tilted and I floated to a zone filled with sensations and warmth. I stopped caring about who might be watching as our psi energies mingled until it was impossible to tell where he ended and I began

MINE UNTIL DAWN (adult romance);

“My turn,” he said in a guttural voice he didn’t recognize as his own. He wanted her to feel the full range of his passion, to succumb to it willingly.

Her eyes round, she gripped his arms. “You promised—”

“Just one kiss.” His head swooped low and he claimed her lips. At the same time he pulled her against his hard body. Sinking his hand in her hair, he thrust his tongue past her lips to explore the moist, satiny wonders of her inner mouth. The taste of her, sweet and exotic, left him light-headed.

Her arms crept up to circle his neck and cradle him. He felt the tremors course through her body, echoing his. Deftly, he shuffled forward, half-carrying and half-dragging her, until her back was against the wall. He braced himself, legs slightly apart, as he deepened the kiss. His hunger was so shocking and unexpected, her unrestrained response so exhilarating. He plundered her mouth like a man long starved.

Blood roared in his ears. His hands shook like an adolescent on the verge of his first sexual encounter. Vince reached for the lapels of her robe and parted them. She gasped against his mouth, her unrestrained breasts spilling out. From the corner of his eye, he spied one perfect mound. Beautiful. Succulent. Meant to be suckled. He cupped it and rubbed the tight, puckered nipple with his thumbs.

Any moment, Vince expected Jade to stiffen, push him away, or tell him to stop. It would kill him, make him howl like a rabid dog, but he would respect her wishes. A protest arose from his chest when her arms dropped from his neck to his arms.

Oh, crap, here it comes.

But instead of pushing away, Jade’s fingers dug into his flesh like talons. She arched her back, offering him better access to her lush breasts.

Forget one kiss. It wasn’t enough. It could never be enough between them. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t drag this one to eternity and back. He had a whole bag of sexual tricks just for her. He wanted her over the edge, tumbling to the other side with nothing but the sound of his name on her lips.

Is it crazy to switch back and forth between genres? Yep. Is it fun? Absolutely. Do I regret it? Hell no. Any questions?

Mine Until Dawn

By Ednah Walters

July 20 Firetrail Publishing

http://www.firetrailpublishing.com

Chick Lit Romance with an element of suspense

BLURB: She's armed with a new attitude and a kick-ass wardrobe....

By age twenty-eight, art historian Jade Fitzgerald has had a marriage from hell and an equally nasty divorce, worked hard to control her weight and her arrhythmia. The last thing she needs is another man messing with her head or shooting her heartbeat off course. That is exactly what she gets when an aloof and mysterious stranger storms into her life.

He's cynical and don’t take crap from anyone....

Former investigative reporter Vince Knight is on a quest to recover a priceless, ancient Mayan artifact, which he believes Jade’s mother stole. He’s skilled at gathering information while remaining emotionally detached, until he meets Jade. The voluptuous woman stirs in him a hunger he hasn’t felt in a long time and a protectiveness he can’t explain.

Neither of them expects passion to flare so fast or danger to dodge their footsteps. To defeat a ruthless art collector with a twisted agenda, Jade and Vince must learn to trust each other and embrace their growing feelings.

Until, an insane man plots to add Jade to his collection of beautiful and rare things.

EXCERPT: Jade eased her car into an empty parking space outside the Palace and switched off the engine. A groan escaped her when she caught a glimpse of the time. Three minutes late and counting. That was what she got for taking a little extra time to deck her body and paint herself like a geisha. Granted she had a party to go to after their meeting. Still, to make Vince Knight choke on his words would be an added bonus.

I haven’t changed, my butt.

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and studied her face in the rear view mirror. The make-up and pinned-up hair with a few tendrils framing her face couldn’t be labeled overkill. She tilted the mirror to check the enticing valley created by the black bustier she’d worn under her matching spaghetti-strapped dress. Now that sight could be classified as a look-and-drool display.

Jade picked up her black purse and sheer shawl then stepped out of her car and locked it. She smoothed the silk dress down over her hips. A chuckle escaped her. Her behind had its own agenda and continued to resist any attempts to slim it down, but she was learning to live with it.

Jade took several steps, glanced down and grimaced. Six-inches of pure hell. She was a sucker for beautiful shoes, but the look on Vince’s face when he saw her in them would be worth it.

Two men exited the hotel as she approached the entrance and froze at seeing her, eyes wide with appreciation. A drawn out ‘damn’ brought a quick smile to her lips. That was all the encouragement she needed to work the black drop-waist dress with asymmetrical hem.

Her senses thrummed with anticipation as she glided through the hotel doors. Jade gave the busy foyer a sweeping glance. When her gaze locked on Vince, her heart started a rickety shuffle and her stomach tilted.

This was bad. She wasn’t within sniffing distance of the man and her body was already betraying her. Even in plain jeans and a T-shirt, he stood out. She studied his tall, built body as he leaned against the front desk. His tanned skin contrasted with his white T-shirt in an attractive way, his teeth flashing as he spoke with one of the managers.

It wasn’t fair. He wasn’t even her type. She avoided the silent, brooding, emotionally unavailable types like the plague. They were too difficult to understand and complicated. On the other hand, where had an outgoing man gotten her? A bad marriage and doubts about her sensuality.

As though he felt her gaze, Vince turned.

She stopped breathing, a stupid thing to do. He gave her a slow appraisal, his gaze lingering on her chest before colliding with hers.

Expression on his face? Cool. Unimpressed.

Air left her lungs in an unsteady rush. She twisted her lips into what she hoped resembled a smile as she started across the room. All that time spent putting her war paint on wasted. How could he maintain that stone-cold soberness all the time? Vince had to be made of ice, and served her right for trying to get a rise out of him.

Maybe that was the problem. His rigid control and aloofness made her want to do or say something to rattle his cage. His lack of interest in her was a definite challenge. Maybe there was some truth to the lure of the unattainable. Vince Knight, without trying, fascinated her.

Vince approached with the loose-hipped predatory stride of a jungle cat, sending a whoosh of anticipation through her. Feeling a little light-headed, Jade hoped she didn’t totter on her high stilettos.

“Sorry, I’m late,” she said, hating the breathlessness in her voice.

“No problem. You’re here now.” He gave her another cool once-over without making a comment and lifted a duffel bag she didn’t notice he was carrying. “I need to show you something.”

Her gaze moved from the bag to his face. “What is it?

“Let’s find a place to sit first.” His dark gaze swept the foyer as though cataloguing faces. She wasn’t sure whether it was caution or paranoia.

She trailed his gaze. “Is everything okay?”

“No.”

MINE UNTIL DAWN is available at:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

SMASHWORDS

About Ednah Walters (E.B. Walters): I grew up reading Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys mysteries, before I graduated to Mills & Boons (starting with Janet Daily's Shutter the Sky) and the rest is history.

I enjoy good love stories, tingly mysteries and wondrous adventures. When I finished college and decided to be a stay-at-home mother, I devoured books like they were going out of production, until reading just wasn't enough. So I started to write.

I've written picture books, contemporary and romantic suspense, biracial/multicultural books, and finally YA fantasy. AWAKENED is the first YA book in The Guardian Legacy series. It was released in September 2010. BETRAYED, book 2 in the series, will be out August 1st 2011. In my adult romance series, SLOW BURN, book 1 of the Fitzgeralds, was out May 1st 2011, MINE UNIL DAWN is due mid July. Book 3, KISS ME CRAZY, a contemporary romance, is with my editor. I'm presently working on book 4, Faith Fitzgerald’s story and book 3 of my YA Guardian Legacy series.

When I'm not writing, I do things with my family, five children or my darling husband of 19 years. I live in a picturesque valley in Utah, the setting for my YA series.

To learn more about Ednah and her work, please visit:

http://www.ednahwalters.com/
http://enwalters.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000535104042
http://twitter.com/#!/ednahwalters
http://www.youtube.com/user/ednahwalters?feature=mhsn
http://bookblogs.ning.com/profile/EdnahWalters

WAIT...There's MORE!

Ednah is also having a big tour finale giveaway at her blog for another opportunity to win prizes!

Details are as follows:

Contest begins September 1st and ends on the 21st.

The finale is happening at Ednah's blog, where you will win goodies.

3 winners will be chosen at random at the end of the tour.

Winners will be announced on 9/22.

Winners will receive:

1. A signed copy of Mine Until Dawn (print)

2. Slow Burn tote bag

3. Slow Burn mousepad

4. Slow Burn Bookmarks.

Contest is International

TO ENTER:

1. You must comment on the participating blogs first

2. Tweet about the post on participating blogs

3. Follow Ednah's blog when you get there.

4. Leave Ednah a comment on her blog at

http://enwalters.blogspot.com/2011/08/mine-until-dawn-tour-finale-giveaway.html

Welcome Special Guest Author Lauren Hawkeye AND GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-02T03:00:00.033-04:00

Please join me in welcoming special guest author, Lauren Hawkeye. Lauren joins us as part of her promotional tour with Bewitching Book Tours to share a bit about her new release, TAKE ME DOWN.

Welcome, Lauren!

Thanks for having me Jae Lynne!

Incidentally, “Jae” is one of my favourite names. This made me think of how I go about naming my characters. It’s a process not entirely unlike trying to name a child—except that I don’t have to get my husband’s approval! Nevertheless, the name has to be just as perfect. It affects how the reader will view your character. It might even affect how the character develops. And it has to fit the story, or expect to be asked to change it.

For example, in Take Me Down, I went through quite a long list of names for my heroine. I knew who she was, mostly, at the beginning of the story, and so the name had to fit someone who already existed (in my mind, at least!) This heroine was unsure of herself, she lacked confidence, and she was reeling from yet another perfect event in her perfect sister’s life. She was grumpy because of the heat and because she’d been forced to turn her home into a hostel for the wedding weekend. I wanted a name that suggested someone who had definite ideas and opinions, but who wasn’t too strong emotionally—not an “alpha” female, per say. I went through a few—Leah (made me think of Star Wars), Sarah (not quirky enough), Jennifer (my husband’s sister’s cousin’s mother’s brother’s daughter’s BFF was a Jennifer and apparently was quite a brat... or something like that). The name I kept coming back to was Evelyn, but to me Evelyn made me think of my great-grandma Evie, who according to family lore ruled with an iron fist. But... Evie, the shortened version, seemed to fit quite nicely. And so it stuck.

There are different ways that I find character names. I keep a running list of ones that I hear and like, and if nothing on that list works, I hit up babynames.com. If I‘m writing paranormal, or even just trying to add some symbolism to a character, I’ll often try to find a name with a specific meaning. But sometimes the characters just name themselves. I wrote a manuscript a couple of years ago that had three main characters. Two of them had names that started with J, and it was suggested that I change one. I couldn’t do it. The character was so firmly entrenched in my mind with that name that I wound up writing the entire book with her name as it was, then doing a search and replace with a new name... one that just never really fit for me.

All this talk about naming characters makes me wonder...

What is the most memorable character name that you have ever read? Why did it stay with you?

TAKE ME DOWN

By Lauren Hawkeye

Pub date: September 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-426-87894-7

Evie may feel like she doesn’t measure up to

her prettier, younger sister, but she still knows

what she wants—Lucas, her cousin’s sexy

roommate. She’s dreamed about being with him

for a long time, and on the sweltering night of her sister’s wedding, it’s clear he shares her lust. Now Evie is determined to take what she desires—even if it’s just for one night….

Book One of Lauren Hawkeye’s Erotic Me series.

Coming soon in the series:

TIE ME UP (Book 2)

By Lauren Hawkeye

Pub date: October 1, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-426-88547-1

LEAD ME ON (Book 3)

By Lauren Hawkeye

Publish Date November 1, 2011

About the author:

Lauren Hawkeye is a writer, theatre enthusiast, knitting aficionado and animal lover who lives in the shadows of the great Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada.

She’s older than she looks—really—and younger than she feels—most of the time—and she loves to explore the journeys that take women through life in her stories.

For more information, visit Lauren's website:

http://www.laurenhawkeye.com

***Lauren is giving away an eBook copy of TAKE ME DOWN! Answer Lauren's question from this post and leave your email address to be entered to win!

Appearance at JoJo's Book Corner AND GIVEAWAY!

2011-08-24T13:48:00.003-04:00

Join me at JoJo's Book Corner as I join in the two year anniversary (and 900 followers) celebration of her AMAZING blog! Just in case you're wondering, JoJo sure knows how to party. Don't believe me? Go have a look! Just wait until you see the goodies I've brought to the table. Want to win an eBook copy of my novel, MYTHIC? Comment to win! Winner announced at midnight on 8/25.

AND...Don't forget to comment on my Authors After Dark blog post for your chance to win the convention's coveted welcome bag containing books and swag from over 100 authors! Winner chosen on Sunday, August 28th!

Authors After Dark 2011 and a GIVEAWAY!

2011-08-20T23:07:00.003-04:00

I'm back from AAD and I'm EXHAUSTED (in a good way, promise).

This year I had the pleasure of being a member of Stella Price's convention staff and it was an epic experience. From the moment I pulled up to the hotel with some 5,000 books sent by various publishers, I worked my ass off! Between filling welcome bags with several pounds of swag from over 100 authors, to setting up ballrooms for dinners, organizing the Bookie Awards ceremony, attending the costume balls, and other things on the fly, the experience was a rewarding one.

Besides meeting new readers and seeing old friends, this was my first con where I attended as an author. That's right! It was a career milestone. During the public book signing on Saturday, I found it surreal that people asked for MY autograph. Yes, the sensation is still foreign. But the proud expression splayed across my husband's face as he witnessed this, was priceless. <3

With the end of the Philly convention, preparations for Authors After Dark in New Orleans in 2012 are well underway! I'm looking forward to another successful event next year!

Were you at the conference? Plan to go in 2012? Comment for an Authors After Dark welcome bag full of the swag I mentioned (including a few novels). Don't forget to include your email address! I'll announce the winner next Sunday (8/28).

Oh and I have pictures! Enjoy...

The view from our room!

Another room view

My girls Mindy and Kelly showing Joey W. Hill some love in her absence.

Larissa Ione and Stella Price at the Mythos Masquerade

PJ Schnyder, Marilyn Hackett, Me, Stella Price, Mindy Howard, Kelly Smith and Sandy Albury posing for the Pros

The charity gift baskets

Kelly, Mindy, Me, Sandy and Mar (down below) at the Steampunk Ball posing for the Pros

Another Pro Steampunk Ball photo

Another room view

Such a gorgeous city

Me as Artemis from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter Series (Thanks Mindy)

Mar, Me, Sandy and Helen at the Mythos Dinner (Another Mindy photo)

Meet Special Guest Author Heather Cashman

2011-07-29T03:00:00.002-04:00

Welcome, Heather! Tell us a bit about yourself:

Thank you, Jae Lynne. It’s exciting to be with you. I’m a run-of-the-mill mom of three who goes crazy when I don’t write. I’ve moved a lot, all over Southern Arizona, New York, and now Kansas. I like to kayak, and so does my dog. She looks similar to a hood ornament as I row down the river.

In which genres do you write? :

I write Science Fiction/Fantasy and Urban Fantasy. My books always have a little romance. They are suitable for ages 10-100.

What inspires you to write? :

My characters. They get mighty loud. Sometimes, I wonder if writers aren’t misdiagnosed schizophrenics.

How do you choose names for your characters? :

Sometimes I take a name from a character in the Bible that possesses similar character traits. Sometimes I know what I want the name to mean and run it through Google translator until I find one that sounds good. Sometimes I like to use names I see on random signs. It’s all very calculated. (Wink, wink.) I named a villain for the mob boss in Chicago my Gram always used to talk about.

What is your favorite type of character to write? Do you have a personal favorite amongst your own characters?:

I love them all. I love the strong protagonist that has to overcome themselves to save the world (at least their world). I enjoy the quiet sidekick who is always there, waiting to save the day. I even love the villain. Every character has an entire back story that compels them, that makes them who they are. In order for the life of a story to come full circle, every character must play their part. It is the author’s job to make sure they live up to their potential.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors? :

Find someone who knows what they are talking about and listen. Study. I love Strunk and White—it’s my writer’s Bible. I also recommend The Art of Fiction. Don’t ever think your writing is perfect. There is always room for improvement. Once you have realized these things, do the best you can and be happy with what you’ve achieved.

After I had written my first novel, I thought it was marvelous. I had written a whole novel, after all. None of my friends or acquaintances could say the same thing. Then my estranged grandfather passed away. A novelist himself, he left behind a significant collection of writing books. And while I was disappointed that there weren’t hundred dollar bills among the pages, the information was equally valuable. I began to read about the craft of writing. The more I read, the more I realized my flaws. Instead of bemoaning my novice novel, I revised. I rewrote. I threw out complete sections. I changed from third to first person. (I wouldn’t recommend it, but it gave me a whole new perspective on my characters.)

After over sixty rewrites, I am published and happy. Never give up.

Who is/are your favorite author(s)? :

Anne McCaffrey, Jane Austen, love A Tale of Two Cities but not all Dickens. JK Rowling is bloody brilliant. (Did you hear my English accent?) I actually enjoy a lot of stories from the Bible. I like Cinda Williams Chima. I could go on for at least another page.

How do/does your favorite authors(s) impact your writing? :

When I read Chima, my dangling participles get out of hand. When I read Austen, I begin using phrases like “in want of.” Anne McCaffrey was the inspiration for one aspect of my Tigers’ Eye Trilogy, because I love the idea of being telepathically linked.

If you were stranded on an island with one character from any book of your choice, who would it be? :

Bear Grylls Living Wild: The Ultimate Guide to Scouting and Fieldcraft And no, this isn’t all practicality.

Hollywood called! They want to turn your novel into a movie or television series. If given the choice, who would you cast as your characters?:

All I know is I want Baelon (the bad guy) to be Alan Rickman.

Tell us about your novel:

The Tigers’ Eye Trilogy is set in a post-apocalyptic future. Some might call it dystopian, but things aren’t as bad as they could possibly get until the second novel. The origin of their nation was a present-day military research facility that was mixing animal, plant, and human DNA to create super-human soldiers. Worldwide disaster (explained in the prequel, Resurrection) strikes, and the genetically engineered soldiers have greater abilities to cope. Over time, the DNA continues to evolve, and as each animal/human pair is born, their telepathic link becomes stronger.

Blurb: Your perception will sharpen once you see through a tiger’s eyes.

More than five hundred years after the apocalypse, the survivors of off-grid genetic experimentation have refined their mixed DNA to the point that humans and their animal counterparts share physical and mental links. Varying species have divided into districts, living in a tenuous peace under the President of Calem.

Ardana and her tiger ingenium Rijan leave their life of exile and abuse in the Outskirts, setting out with their twin brothers to redeem themselves and become citizens of the Center. But shedding their past isn't as easy as they had hoped. When the system that shunned them becomes embroiled in political conflict and treachery, their unique abilities and experiences from the Outskirts make them invaluable to every faction. The runaways become pawns to friends as well as enemies, and with every step it becomes more difficult to tell which is which.

EXCERPT:

Be careful. Rijan’s faint thought echoed from deep in the forest where she hunted with her brother, Adamas.

I will. My thought reached to Rijan, my ingenium. I watched, rapt with admiration for my great white tiger, the other half of my soul. Her vision momentarily clouded my mind: a large buck bounding through the forest ahead and Adamas, my brother Kade’s ingenium, concealed not far distant.

Hearing only the twittering and snapping sounds of the forest behind me, I peeked around the small wooden message board. The area was deserted. Small puffs of dust betrayed my steps as I crept, cat-like, behind the northern row of two-story shops with their owners’ apartments above.

A lifetime of cruelty had ingrained a correlation in our minds: going to see Kade would risk the loss of a few meals. I paused to reconsider and stared at the strange colors of dusk, a bright orange on the horizon that melted into a deep purple. Our mother Maran could no longer beat me, and we would be of age in little more than a ten-day. The news from the message board left me no other option. I blazed down the back of the buildings like fire in dry grass. My legs and chest tightened with the anticipation of seeing him and the fear of possible discovery.

An abrupt halt at the back door found me winded. I took a deep breath and held it, controlled it because I needed to control something. The door swung easily as I lifted the handle to silence the screeching hinges.

He was there, alone.

My heartbeat slowed, and I sighed with relief. His eighteen-year-old back hunched like an old man’s over the red-hot piece of steel he was hammering into a scythe. If only it were a sword, the head of a spear, or a lance. My anger and hatred yearned for a weapon, a weapon I could fight back with. A weapon might be the difference between living and dying if I left—when I left—now that I had a reason, a destination.

I slipped inside. The soot-covered walls of the forge remained dark while white-hot fire, like half a miniature sun, lit his small world from behind. Beads of sweat on his forehead caught the light. Brilliant eyes intently focused on their work. The muscles of his square jaw tightened before each blow of the hammer.

“Ana,” Kade reprimanded in a hushed voice, startling me. “What are you doing? You know Maran will starve you if she catches you here. I can’t protect you from her all the time, and you cannot afford to go without another meal.” He felt helpless and angry. I could sense his feelings somewhere inside my chest, like a musician whose ears detect the vibrations of a perfect note because they have been hearing it for so long. Kade was pleased to see me but apprehensive and worried for my welfare.

“Rijan can feed me. Besides, I can protect myself now. I had to come,” I whispered. “The message board, Kade . . .” Excitement built inside me, nudged at him, and pushed out his worry. Curiosity overcame at last.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt so much excitement in you,” he said as a smile broke around the edges of his mouth.

“There’s a new Campaign in just over a twenty-day,” I said.

Kade stared blankly. “And you want to enter. We have no lineage, no tokens, Ana.”

“We can forge a lineage.” My eyes begged him to try.

“And have a token inked into our backs in twenty-day’s time?” He thought I was crazy. I could feel it. “It’s illegal. And there was a reason we were exiled from Calem, Ana.”

Kade’s worry and desire for security played tug-of-war with my impetuousness and need for freedom. “We were barely four, Kade. No one will even recognize us. We’ll invent different identities.”

“Being twins will make us more noticeable.”

“Twins among the Tiger District are not that uncommon. Besides, it’ll be cheaper. We only need one lineage for the both of us.” I wouldn’t let it go.

“How are we going to get someone to ink the lineage token on our backs? They will ask why we didn’t have a Rite when we were sixteen. What are we going to say?”

“We lost our parents and have been travelling,” I said, as if it would be easy. “You are making excuses.”

“We have no district.” He shook his head. “They threw us out.”

“We will go to the Center and find a place.”

I could feel the conflict rage within him as he turned away to wipe his face on his sleeve. “It’s dangerous.”

“And living in the Outskirts isn’t?” I asked.

“This is the Outskirts, but in some ways—important ways—this village is different.” His eyes bored through me, forced me to recognize the truth of his words. “We have books, have been taught all subjects, and have been protected. We know we’re different, we just don’t know why.”

“You are different,” I reminded him.

“To Maran, yes, but the others care for you as much as me, if not more. We’ve gone over this a thousand times.” Kade pointed at the ground. “This village poses a different kind of danger, one we can easily survive.”

I couldn’t deny it. We knew little of the world inside the wall, the basics from a history lesson. Each district had its own ruler, a senator who spoke for and protected the rights of their district in the Senate. As a whole, the Senate balanced the President’s power.

“We need to live, not survive.” I paced impatiently near the wall. The President of Calem, barely hanging on to life, would soon die. In an unprecedented move, he had called for an immediate Campaign to determine the new president. Such a strict life would be too confining for me, but who better than my brother? And it would have definite advantages.

“We will go,” he said at last, and, when he turned to face me, there was a renewed brightness in his eyes that reflected purpose. His hasty concession led to doubt that crept into our bond.

“We will go,” he assured, “but not to enter the Campaign. I worry for you every moment you are not with me, which seems to be always, lately. Every day Maran gets worse. I petitioned the older ones to take you away, but until you’re of age . . .”

For the first time I could remember, I took the initiative and hugged him. Ages had passed since we had been physically close, but we were completely alone now . . . alone and together. He towered over me as I looked up into his face with newfound enthusiasm. His feelings wove through mine: anxiety, hesitant optimism, fear, and concern for an unknown future. There was hope in him as well, hope for us both. Elation swelled in my chest so that I could hardly breathe. Age had strengthened our connection.

Alone and together for longer than had been allowed in years. Something was wrong.

“The Campaign will be the perfect camouflage,” said Kade. “It’ll flush all kinds of creatures out of the woodwork.” He kissed the top of my head. “Besides, if you had met the new members of our village, you would never take no for an answer.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that they are from the Tiger District and would be a horrible match for you and Rijan.”

“Match?”

Are there any other projects you’re working on? :

I am currently finishing the second novel in The Tigers’ Eye Trilogy and also working on an Urban Fantasy/Paranormal/Romance about a girl who has a prostitute for a mother.

Where can our readers find you? :

Website: www.heathercashman.com for links to buying the ebook or paperback, contact information, more about me, upcoming news, etc.

Facebook (Please LIKE)

Twitter

GoodReads

LinkedIn

Email: heather@heathercashman.com

Get Rocked with Special Guest Author Tanith Davenport

2011-07-22T03:00:00.002-04:00

Please give a warm welcome for guest author Tanith Davenport! Tanith joins us as part of her virtual book tour presented by Bewitching Book Tours to promote her new release, THE HAND HE DEALT. Welcome Tanith!

Let's Get Rocked

There’s something deeply erotic about rock stars.

Maybe it’s to do with the music. Rock music is wild, rough, passionate, and by extension so are the men (and women) who perform it. Combine this with long hair and tight leather trousers and you’ve got a sex god who would make anyone wet. When Jon Bon Jovi shouted out to Huddersfield Stadium that “If the sheriff comes for me, I know forty thousand beds I could hide under!” every girl in that crowd was thinking “Under? Forget under!”

One of my current WIPs is set within a rock band’s entourage, which gives me a chance to thoroughly indulge myself. However, for The Hand He Dealt, I couldn’t resist adding a little extra sex appeal to my hero Ash and giving him an electric guitar – and after that, well, he just insisted on performing on stage, despite getting a scene where he played Smells Like Teen Spirit in his fraternity house bedroom.

For me, the stage scene summed up everything I loved about Ash as a character – physicality, passion, and that delicious arrogance and raw sexuality that radiates from a good rock frontman. As a person, Ash is cool and inarticulate; as a performer, his emotions ring in every note.

Also intrinsic to the eroticism of rock music is the atmosphere of the performance; the heat, the excitement, the electricity in the air.

And showing that, as well as the physical effect it has on two of the characters, was one of the best parts of writing the story – no clues, but I’ve been tempted to slip outside with someone after a rock performance too…

The Hand He Dealt

by Tanith Davenport
ISBN: 978-0-85715-570-2
Genre: Contemporary Erotic Romance
Publisher: Total-e-Bound

Book Description:

Astra Scott likes to live life to the full. A sorority girl and Gaming Management student, she spends her days studying and practicing guitar, and her nights partying or working at the Fountain Casino, where she has an internship as part of her final semester. The only blot on her landscape is Ash Drake, her best friend Sasha’s boyfriend. Arrogant, physical and blond, Ash has never forgiven Astra for her rejection months earlier and enjoys annoying her at every turn.

But when Astra’s boyfriend Harry reveals a shocking secret, Astra responds in the only way she can think of: by finding a way to take on a more attractive, masculine role in the relationship. Her experimentation with sex toys finds a surprising outlet in Sasha, but when Ash discovers their secret and wants to get involved, Astra finds herself torn between dislike and desire… and as their undercover relationship grows, Astra finds herself falling in love, a path she feels can only end in heartbreak.

For Ash may be the only man whose own fantasies are a match for hers, but can she knowingly steal his affections from her best friend?

http://www.total-e-bound.com/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=&P_ID=1244

EXCERPT:

Two hours later, and Astra stood in front of her bedroom mirror, holding in one hand the toy she had bought from Amy’s Delights.

Rubber underwear was laced through her fingers, a small plastic remote control dangling below on the end of a long cord. And attached to the front—

Well.

It was a strap-on.

It was a strap-on dildo.

And it was purple.

A purple length of shiny plastic. A perfect simulacrum of a veined, circumcised penis, five inches long and of a thickness Astra considered average, just the right width to wrap a hand around.

She stared at her reflection for a long time, contemplating the dildo, before slowly drawing it back towards her body, holding it against her stomach.

No.

One foot through the straps, two feet…rubber caught against denim-clad legs, but after a moment’s struggle the strap-on dildo was in place, and Astra’s image stood in front of her, the purple dick jutting out in front like the hilt of a sword.

Slowly she rotated her hips, watching the dildo glide from side to side, before stopping abruptly with a giggle.

Shit. It looks like a fucking light sabre.

Watching herself in the mirror, she closed one hand around its length, giving it a tentative stroke.

Nothing. Unsurprisingly.

She tried it again, this time holding the remote control and flicking the switch. A sudden buzzing, accompanied by a muted vibration through her jeans, made her jolt sharply.

Interesting.

Flipping the switch again, she rocked her hips slowly, her eyes glazing. In her mind formed a picture of Harry’s smooth back and bare buttocks, thighs parting to receive her, Harry’s voice gasping, begging for more, more, please, more…

Oh.

The switch snapped off.

Astra eyed herself coolly, squaring her shoulders, her legs automatically widening into a masculine stance.

Author Bio:

Tanith Davenport began writing at the age of sixteen as a way of utilizing her ability to drift into daydreams at any hour of the day or night. Her interests range between rock music and modern cinema to medieval literature and classical singing. She loves to travel and dreams of one day taking a driving tour of the United States, preferably in a classic 1950s pink Cadillac Eldorado.

“The Hand He Dealt” is Tanith’s debut novel and was released by Total-e-Bound Publishing on 13 June 2011.

www.tanithdavenport.blogspot.com

Would you like to win an ecopy of The Hand He Dealt? One copy is being given away tour wide. To enter just leave a comment at one or all of the stops along the tour A winner will be chosen from all the tour stops after the tour ends. The winner will be announced on the Bewitching Book Tours site.

Welcome Special Guest Author Erin Jamison

2011-07-20T03:00:00.003-04:00

Join me in giving a warm welcome to Erin Jamison. Erin joins us today to give us a look at her new release BETTER THAN 8 FANTASY. Welcome, Erin!!

Thank you for having me Jae Lynne!

The first romance book I ever read was a Harlequin romance book. It was among the books stacked in my mothers library. Those books compared to romance books of today in terms of heat level, barely fit in the same league.

We've come to expect so much more from romance books these days havent' we? Depending on the genre, we expect action, drama, connection, emotion, sensuality, and yes..heat...and a lot of it I might add. When I set out to write a romance story of my own I knew that it had to tick off all the boxes however I wanted to show real women. I wanted characters that we could relate to. For me, the story was ambitious. I knew I wanted it to be funny and remind us of women we know. I wanted those women to remind you of your sister, aunt, friend, cousin, best friend, that loud mouth down the street, and that woman that has always got something to say. I wanted to reflect how we second guess ourselves and how we turn to those same women who will be brutally honest. I wanted to also show that the unconventional is just that...unconventional but worth it if you want it.

We humans women are not infallible. We all have our faults however I know women who represent the very characters we fictionalize in books. These women deny themselves happiness or love because it may not be viewed as proper. I want these woman to inspire you to pursue the things you want whether they be career or personal relationships. I want them to remind you to have an open mind and take chances if it's worth it. Find out more about the women I'm referring to in my debut novella, Better Than 8 Fantasy. Better Than 8 Fantasy is out as an ebook at Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords, Goodreads, and Xinxii. It's also available on Amazon as an ebook or printed book.

Blurb:

Amara Simmons has always fantasized about having two lovers but believes it is just that: a fantasy. She likes her men “gifted”, if you know what I mean. At the suggestion of a friend she registers for an online dating website for well-endowed men called www.betterthan8.com She believes nothing will come of her site membership but after months of flirting online via email and instant messaging, she’s shocked to discover that she’s fallen for a gorgeous Latin man that has the potential to be her everything – except he never calls and she has no idea why. Nursing a broken heart she is totally unprepared to meet her would-be Latin lover in person much less at the negotiation table of a multi million-dollar real estate deal. In Puerto Rico, passion ignites. Promises are finally fulfilled and the lines of reality blur when her fantasy finally blooms to life. Can Amara have it all: the deal, the man, and the fantasy?

A Brief Overview of "Better Than 8: Fantasy"

"Better Than 8: Fantasy" is a series of romance and dating novels written by Erin Jamison. There will be 8 books in the series, with each one focusing on a different aspect of romance, love, and relationships. These books are packed full of exciting stories chronicling a journey to find true love in the rocky and tumultuous dating world.

Several Ways to Enjoy "Better Than 8: Fantasy"

Erin Jamison's book series is available in two different formats: paperback books and online e-books. Call or e-mail author Erin Jamison to place an order in the format you prefer.

A Controversial Story of Love and Intrigue

"Better Than 8: Fantasy" has been praised as a controversial and engaging piece of literature that highlights the mysterious nature of online dating. If you have dabbled in the world of online romance before, this book will provide you with a brand new perspective.

Author Bio:

An avid reader by nature, Erin Jamison dreamed of telling stories of her very own. Mustering her bravado, she forged ahead to create a series of stories that promote individuality, confidence, fearlessness, fortitude, and passion. She writes sensual erotic stories of women who know what they want and aren't afraid to go after it for women who want a bit of a thrill too.

Want to learn more about Erin and her work?

You can find her at:

Website http://www.erinjamison.com

Follow me on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/erin-jamison-author

Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/erinjamison

Blog: http://erinjamison.wordpress.com

Summer Giveaway Contest Winners!

2011-07-10T01:22:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. I'm sorry the announcement is a little late, but I've had an eventful saturday with a good amount of progress in Blood Moon (Mythic's sequel). I hope you all enjoy reading Dante's story and continuing Gianna's journey to where fate leads her.

Without further delay, I want to announce the winners (chosen at random) of the contest:

The winner of the MYTHIC gift basket is: Tonya

The winner of the e-book copy of THE CONTRACT goes to: Shadow

Congratulations, ladies! I hope you enjoy your prizes. I'll be emailing you both privately with details.

For any of you who are in the Philadelphia area, I'll be attending Authors After Dark next month! The event will be held in the Doubletree Suites on Broad Street in Philadelphia. The book signing on Saturday is open to the public. There will be print copies of both MYTHIC and THE CONTRACT available for sale at the convention only! This is your chance to get your hands on a copy of both novels IN PRINT!

A special thanks to everyone who participated. In the meantime, if you'd like another book for your e-readers, I know of two that would love to join your list. Visit All Romance to learn more about my available titles.

Summer Giveaways!

2011-07-02T18:14:00.004-04:00

Summer is finally here and what a fabulous way to celebrate both the season and USA's Independence Day weekend by adding a book to your summer reading!

I'm running a week long contest consisting of a gift basket that features a rare PRINT version of MYTHIC. This is the chance for those of you who enjoy turning actual pages instead of using the e-readers.

Since MYTHIC isn't available in print yet, you will receive my author copy. What else is in my basket of delight?

A $10 Applebee's restaurant gift card

A Jolly Rancher blue raspberry scented candle

Author swag featuring MYTHIC and THE CONTRACT (both titles available in e-book format at All Romance)

A MYTHIC shot glass
A MYTHIC beaded bookmark
Mojito cocktail mix gift set (includes cocktail mix, a shaker, and rimming sugar for your glass)

I'll autograph the book for the winner who will be chosen at random on Saturday, July 9th! Due to the content of the gift basket, the winner must be at least 21 years of age.

But...THAT'S NOT ALL! A second winner will be chosen at random to receive an e-book copy of THE CONTRACT.

Leave a comment here on my blog with a valid email address and you're entered to win! Good luck to all participants! Also, if you want to know the latest updates and appearances, don't forget to find me on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Happy Reading!

Let's Talk Music

2011-06-01T02:03:00.001-04:00

Many of you know that I can't write, drive or work without my iPod. Wherever I am, odds are there's something playing in the background. One of my family members said it best when asked the best gift to give me...a pair of concert tickets.

So, this brings me to my latest topic...Music.

During the creating of Mythic, I designed a specific playlist, a soundtrack for my series. I listen to this set at least twice per day and there is some sexy music on my list.

Most of my steamy sex scenes are inspired by the sound and feel of certain songs.

Some examples:

1. The first love scene between Nicholas and Gianna in Mythic was inspired by "Landing in London" by 3 Doors Down.

2. The 'almost' love scene between Gianna and Mattias was inspired by "Driven Under" by Seether.

3. The shower love scene between Gianna and Nicholas was inspired by "The Gift" by Seether.

4. The final love scene was inspired by "R-Evolve" by 30 Seconds to Mars.

As a romance author, I'm always curious to learn if other authors' scenes are inspired by music. If so, what's on your playlist when writing the 'all important' love scene?

And a question for the readers...Do you listen to music while reading? If so, what's on your playlist?

Finally, I leave you with Seether's "The Gift". The lyrics are powerful, Shaun Morgan's voice is sexy, and this band tops my list of favorites. Enjoy!

Memorial Day Weekend in Philadelphia!

2011-05-29T01:01:00.003-04:00

For those of us in the USA, I hope everyone is having a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend! My Saturday was spent in Philadelphia with friends (including my wonderful husband). As promised, I have pictures to post, including photos from a few locations featured in my short story, THE CONTRACT.

Enjoy the photos and the rest of the weekend!

Philadelphia Art Museum

City Hall

William Penn atop City Hall

Independence Mall (Historical Philadelphia)

Location from THE CONTRACT: South Street

(The first sign Diana sees when she teleports to the human realm)

Location from THE CONRACT: The Dark Horse Pub

(Where Diana meets Cole for the first time)

Location from THE CONTRACT: Penns Landing/Benjamin Franklin Bridge
(Where Diana battles her brother Apollo)

Penns Landing

Philadelphia Art Museum

Location from THE CONTRACT: The Dark Horse Pub
(Where Diana meets Cole for the first time)

South Street overpass to Penns Landing

Broad Street View from the Art Museum

The Love Statue

The Rocky Statue

The Liberty Bell

The infamous Geno's Steaks

Reviews Just in Time for the Holiday Weekend!

2011-05-27T03:15:00.002-04:00

Greetings all,

If your plans include reading this holiday weekend (for those in the USA), reviews are in for THE CONTRACT and MYTHIC! After you check out the reviews, BOTH stories are available at All Romance for your reading pleasure.

I plan on visiting Philadelphia this weekend. Well, it's not actually a visit, considering I live less than a half hour away and it was my hometown for fourteen years! Still, I'm headed to Philly with some friends to enjoy the festivities. While I'm in the 'City of Brotherly Love', I'll be stopping by the various landmarks used in THE CONTRACT and will post those sometime during the weekend.

No matter your plans, have fun and stay safe!

The Contract is now available!

2011-05-15T20:59:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone,

For those of you who've asked about the release of The Contract, I'm happy to announce that the story is now available in E-BOOK format at All Romance!

What's THE CONTRACT? The Contract is an Urban Fantasy short story featured in volume five of Tease Publishing's ongoing anthology, LOVE'S IMMORTAL PANTHEON and is completely unrelated to my MYTHIC series. The story was wonderful mini-vacation from the usual cast, allowing me to create new characters in a different world. Needless to say, I had a great time writing this one!

In celebration of the release, I'm giving away a PDF copy to one lucky commenter. Simply leave a comment here on my blog and you're entered to win! The winner will be announced on Friday, May 20th. Good luck!

Blurb: The goddess of the hunt carries an entirely different meaning in Diana’s world.

A contract assassin for her father Jupiter, the Roman deity traded her traditional gowns for a crossbow and vowed to fulfill her duties by eliminating anyone who threatened the pantheon.

When she receives a contract to kill the sexy Cole Hunter—the heir to an artifact that could expose the existence of her people, she willingly sets out to meet her two week deadline and deliver Jupiter the man’s heart as proof of her success.

But when she grows close to her target, the heat between the two ignites. Diana develops feelings she’s never experienced and is faced with the decision to give Jupiter the human’s heart, or give Cole hers. The race is on to protect him from Jupiter’s wrath, before she loses him forever.

Welcome Special Guest Author Rie McGaha!

2011-05-14T03:00:00.002-04:00

Please join me in welcoming special guest author, Rie McGaha! Rie is here to promote her novel, CALEN and to share a bit about herself.

Sweet Summertime, Summertime by Rie McGaha

I love living here in Oklahoma. I'm a native Californian but I've lived here for so long I consider myself an Okie, and my mother was born here as was my dad's father. So I'm where I belong and love being here. The winters are short and mild; the summers are long and hot, which makes for great days on the lakes. We take the boat, drinks, food, and pile in along with a tube the size of a king-sized bed.

We spend hours taking turns on the tube, seeing how fast we can throw someone off, except for me because I'm the Nana and I ride with the baby grandkids. When everyone is tired, we find an out of the way cove, toss the anchor over and have a BBQ. Then we swim, play toss the baby, and then we're back on the boat and tube.

While most people are still in a deep freeze, our corner of Oklahoma is warm and sunny and the flowers are blooming. By April the temperatures are in the high 70's and low 80's and by May, it's summertime. The best thing is our summers last well into the fall months. We are still on the lake well into September and the early weeks of October. The weather cools but is still mild through November and we usually have a sunny Thanksgiving and Christmas even if we need sweaters by Christmas.

I can't think of a better place to live. Not only is the weather great, it's affordable to live here. Sure it's out of the way, and there's no malls, or movie theaters. But the schools are good, you can leave your doors unlocked and the keys in your car without worrying about theft. You can have California and all it's cities and beaches and people, I'm good right here.

Calen blurb: When Calen MacLeod begins having dreams of an ethereal beauty who beckons to him, he passes it off as just having an itch he hasn't scratched in a long time. But when he leaves on a journey to find her, following the directions she's given him in his dreams, he begins to doubt his sanity. And when he finds himself high in the Mackinaw Mountains in a secret fortress with unicorns and a pink and white castle, surrounded by women, each one more beautiful than the next, it's a fantasy no man would want to wake up from. But Arianna is the only woman for Calen.

The women of the Fortress have lived in peace, hidden away from the humans who tried to annihilate them all. But now a 500-year-old demon is out to destroy the women's matriarch, Ariella, and he'll stop at nothing to complete his mission. When Calen MacLeod shows up, he throws a wrench into Damon's plans. Never let it be said Damon isn't ready for anything, but when he kidnaps Arianna and takes her to modern day San Francisco, is he ready to meet Calen, who will stop at nothing to save his ladylove?

~ * ~

Author bio: Rie McGaha is an author, editor, and reviewer. She has more than a dozen books to her credit, with the other two books of the My Soul To Keep Trilogy being released later this year. You can join Rie, GA Hauser, & Stormy Glenn at Blog Talk Radio, May 14, 2011 at 7 pm CST, followed by a group chat at Erotic Promo.

LINKS

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/worldofinknetwork/2011/05/14/a-good-story-is-a-good-story-with-host-marsha-casper-cook?ie8c=0

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eroticpromo/

GA Hauser – http://authorgahauser.com/

Stormy Glenn - http://stormyglenn.com/

Rie McGaha - http://www.riemcgaha.com/

“The Haunting of Posey Chapel” by Special Guest Author, Erin O’Riordan!

2011-05-10T03:00:00.002-04:00

Please welcome special guest author, Erin O'Riordan.

Erin joins us today to promote her novel, The Smell of Gas, currently available from Melange Books.

The Smell of Gas is a purely fictional story about a tragic event, a fire that kills a young couple. In real life, tragic events such as this tend to stick in the minds of people who live in the area, forever linking the place with the sorrows that happened there. The sense that some places are haunted by tragedy sometimes contributes to rumors that certain places are haunted literally.

I myself have never seen a ghost, but I became enthralled by my sister-in-law’s true haunting story. She told it to me on the night of my brother’s bachelor party, as we headed for a girls’ night out at a Michigan casino. We passed through Indiana’s LaPorte County, where my SIL (to protect her privacy, I’ll call her Missy) grew up. She shivered as we passed historic Posey Chapel Cemetery.

Posey Chapel is well-known to local paranormal enthusiasts. The chapel building itself, built in the 1840s, is no longer standing. It burned down many years ago; explanations of how it happened vary. Like many 19th century places of worship, it had a churchyard where the county’s early settlers are buried. A variety of mysterious happenings have been reported there, from unseen children calling for their mothers to a spectral black dog that appears out of nowhere. Missy’s experience was slightly different.

Missy was a young teen, working at a Dairy Queen. After work, she and some friends went out to Posey Chapel to see if they could channel some paranormal activity. They brought with them a Ouija board of sorts, improvised from fast food boxes. Missy and her friends found a grassy spot in between the ruins of the chapel and a wooded area nearby.

Their Ouija board seemed to make contact with some invisible entity. They asked it a question: “Are you an evil spirit?” At that moment, Missy heard a peculiar sound. It was a rustling sound, almost like the wind, but distinctly coming from the woods. She describes it as a “rising” sound. It was different from the soft movement sounds of a deer or small animal in the brush - it was more like the woods themselves were rising and coming toward Missy and her friends.

Panicked, they picked up the Ouija board and ran for the car. They drove back to the Dairy Queen, pulled up around back, and set the Ouija board on fire on top of the bare concrete. The cardboard contraption burned to ashes, all except for one word…Yes.

Links

The Smell of Gas at Melange Books

Erin O’Riordan home page

Pagan Spirits blog

Facebook

Twitter

The Smell of Gas Official Book Blurb: Love pulp fiction? Just try putting down The Smell of Gas. TSOG is full of saints and sinners you'll love to hate. There's Brigid, the high school basketball player and secret heroin addict. Fred, a Catholic lesbian teen, loves Brigid, but doesn't know about her affair with Edward, a married Evangelical preacher. Sex, ethics, religions and mythologies clash as you dig deeper into their connection to the death of a young couple.

About Erin O’Riordan: Erin O'Riordan lives in the Midwestern United States with her husband and co-author Tit Elingtin. Her erotic stories, essays, and film reviews have been published in numerous magazines and websites. She loves myths and folklore and refuses to choose any one faith. A trap designed to catch her should contain dark chocolate, espresso drinks and Christian Bale movies.

Excerpt:

If this was some Goth kid’s idea of decor, Fred had seen worse. At least there weren’t gargoyles mounted on the walls and tacky candleholders shaped like human skulls. She stepped closer to the shadowy figures gathered at the far end of the room. Three men stood in a circle, all wearing black robes. One was tall and skinny like Dennis. Fred thought she recognized him as one of the underclassmen at her old high school, but it was hard to tell with his head shaved. The others were older, possibly in their thirties. One was very fat, and grinned at Fred until she felt icky inside. The other was brawny and had a coiled snake tattooed on his bare head.

Fred figured that the woman, who wore a purple robe and had an angry scowl on her face, must have been Eva. Eva, apparently, was not required to shave her head. Her hair was blonde with purple streaks that matched her robe. Her face was pretty, but her features were hard. Fred thought of Marlene Dietrich.

Leander picked up a black robe from a pile as he passed the yellow couches. He picked up a purple robe and tried to hand it to Fred, but she refused. “Hell no,” she said. “This is getting too weird. Let’s get out of here.”

Leander grabbed Fred by the forearm and jerked her toward him. “For Chrissakes, Fred, just be cool. I promise you it will be worth the trouble.”

She stared into his deep brown eyes, wondering if she could detect the truth in them. Not that it mattered. If what Leander had told her was true, Eva had great connections. This was Fred’s one chance to be done with common street skag once and for all. She pushed up the sleeve of her sweatshirt and ran her fingers in between the sores.

“Okay,” she said. “But I’m not sacrificing any small animals.” She clutched at the crucifix that hung from her neck.

Welcome Special Guest Author Jenn Nixon!

2011-05-03T03:00:00.009-04:00

Please welcome guest author, Jenn Nixon.

Jenn is here today to promote her novella, Wild & Wicked, available 5/15 from Tease Publishing.

Welcome, Jenn! Tell us about Wild & Wicked.

How I came to write my novella: Funny story about Wild & Wicked…while querying another book to publishers, I was fortunate enough to get two yeses, TWO days apart! I accepted publication with the first publisher and emailed the second to let them know. They kindly offered me the chance to submit shorts to them for publication and since I had this steamier idea rolling around in my head for about six months, I decided to actually write it. I submitted it a few months later and they said yes again!

The novella process was a totally new experience for me. I loved every minute of it and surprised myself in the end with a novella that I really, really love. So much so that I had to write a sequel to it!

Blurb: Veronica Chance’s sister has gone missing. In order to find Valerie, “Roni” takes a waitressing job at Foxxes Gentlemen’s Club, the last place her sister worked, to search for clues. First day on the job, the club owner makes her give a lap dance to his VIP guest, Mr. Storm. Veronica’s instant attraction to him spells trouble and threatens to blow her cover.

Former detective Mason Storm can’t deny the connection he feels for the wild and mysterious Roni. During the lap dance, he learns about her missing sister, offers his help, only to be rejected. Not ready to give up, he confronts her again, adding in the fact he’s see her sister in the club, but she denies him once more.

When Veronica calls, acting rather strangely, Storm finds her at the club, drugged and giving a lap dance to a kid at an illegal after party. Grateful for the help, Veronica comes clean about who she is, and accepts Storm’s offer to help. Together, they unravel the clues surrounding Valerie’s disappearance, uncover the horrible truth behind the illegal after parties, all the while exploring and succumbing to their lustful desires for each other.

Coming May 15th from Tease Publishing

Jenn Nixon resides in New Jersey. She is a member of Romance Writers of America and Liberty State Fiction Writers. Her love for thrillers and suspense often finds its way into her novels whether they are Science Fiction or Romance. When not writing, Jenn spends her free time reading, absorbing pop culture and current events, and social networking online.

For more information please visit www.jennnixon.com or http://jennafern.blogspot.com/

May News!

2011-05-02T20:43:00.001-04:00

Hey all,

I’ve recently decided to host some guest spots for fellow authors with impending or new releases. The journey to publication is often a difficult one, and I like to lend my support when and where I can. I hope you enjoy the guest blogs. You never know where you'll find your next favorite author!

In the meantime, I'm ecstatic about this review of Mythic at Blogcritics.org. Lucy also gave the book FOUR stars on Goodreads.com!

Keep watching this blog for pre-order info for "The Contract" releasing on 5/15. Happy reading!

Last Chance for Book Tour Giveaways

2011-04-23T12:51:00.000-04:00

Today marks the end of my virtual book tour with a final stop at Erotica For All, where I've been reviewed and interviewed. Thank you to everyone who left such wonderful comments. Also, a HUGE thanks to Roxanne at Bewitching Book Tours for arranging the tour and keeping me organized!!

For anyone interested in Bewitching Book Tours, click the photo below to link directly to the site. I HIGHLY recommend them and will surely be using them again in the future.

Interview at Just Views!

2011-04-22T09:39:00.001-04:00

Hey all,

The book tour is winding down with the final stop tomorrow. Today I'll be appearing at Just Views for an interview.

Have you been paying attention to all of the tour appearances? Be sure to check the schedule and post at all of the stops for your chance to win BOTH a copy of Mythic AND the promo pack! Good luck to all participants.

Review, Interview and Giveaway at Bitten by Paranormal Romance

2011-04-21T11:13:00.000-04:00

Today, I'll be stopping by Bitten by Paranormal Romance an interview and review of MYTHIC.

Remember...Comments = Prizes! Don't be shy.

The Tour Continues...

2011-04-20T13:09:00.001-04:00

Join me at Fang-tastic Books for a guest post where I ponder "The Ideal Vampire". Anyone care to add their thoughts?

I'm also over at Jacqueline Paige's Blog for an interview. BOTH appearances have respective giveaways! See you there!

Interview and Giveaway at Book of Secrets Blog

2011-04-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

The book tour continues! Each appearance will give you a great insight into the characters and world of MYTHIC.

Join me today at Book of Secrets Blog, where I'll be sitting down for another intriguing interview. You never know what secrets I'll unveil. Remember...your comments earn you the chance to win some great prizes!

Join me at Authors After Dark!

2011-04-19T06:00:00.003-04:00

Join me at Authors After Dark (AAD) as I guest post about why I'm attending the conference in August, and what my plans are while I'm there! Click the on the image below...

Let the Virtual Book Tour Begin!

2011-04-18T09:09:00.000-04:00

Today is the beginning of my week long book tour! This week will be filled with appearances and prizes (I'm up to my ears in swag).

The first stop is Jojo's Book Corner! Remember, comments = prizes! I'm going to sweeten the deal for a lucky commenter. If you leave a comment at each of the scheduled stops on my tour, I'll give one lucky commenter a PDF copy of MYTHIC AND a promotional prize pack! That's right...BOTH! At the end of the tour, simply send me an email at jaelynne@jaelynnedavies.com confirming that you've left a comment at each appearance, and provide the ID used to comment at the various sites (for example, you'll find all of my comments listed under "Jae Lynne Davies" at every site). I'll announce the grand prize winner on Monday, April 25th. I'm excited to give this one away, friends, so don't be shy. And don't worry, I'll post a reminder of my daily appearance(s). See you on tour.

The complete schedule is as follows:

April 18 Interview Jojo's Book Corner

April 19 Guest blog post Authors After Dark (AAD)

April 20 Interview and Giveaway Book of Secrets Blog

April 20 Guest Blog Fang-tastic Books

April 20 Interview Jacqueline Paige's Blog

April 21 Review and Interview Bitten by Paranormal Romance

April 21 interview and review Leilani Loves Books

April 22 interview and review Just Views

April 23 interview and review Erotica For All

Interview at Jenn Nixon's Blog

2011-04-14T09:24:00.000-04:00

I'm officially kicking off my April book tour with an interview at fellow author, Jenn Nixon's blog! Stop by and show some love, won't you?

Preparing for an April Book Tour!

2011-04-03T13:42:00.000-04:00

There will be several opportunites to win a copy of MYTHIC and other great prizes! While I have several stops, Im preparing for a week long book tour that begins on 4/18. Below is the April schedule. I'd love to see you all during the tour. AND if you comment at all of the stops, I have a HUGE prize to give away! Don't miss out!

April Book Tour Schedule

April 14 Guest blog post Jenn Nixon's Blog

April 18 Interview Jojo's Book Corner

April 19 Guest blog post Authors After Dark (AAD)

April 20 Interview and Giveaway Book of Secrets Blog

April 20 Guest Blog Fang-tastic Books

April 20 Interview Jacqueline Paige's Blog

April 21 Review and Interview Bitten by Paranormal Romance

April 21 interview and review Leilani Loves Books

April 22 interview and review Just Views

April 23 interview and review Erotica For All

THE CONTRACT has a release date!

2011-04-01T03:04:00.000-04:00

Hi all!

I know it's late, but I needed to share some good news! I received word from my wonderful editor, that my next release, "The Contract", is set to debut on May 15th! The story will be available for purchase in ebook format at All Romance. Stay tuned for pre-order information.

The beautiful cover is the talent of my kick ass cover artist, Stella Price! Be sure to compliment her on a job well done, as always!

For those who don't know, "The Contract" is a short story being published in volume five of Tease Publishing's ongoing anthology, "Love's Immortal Pantheon". The story is an Urban Fantasy featuring the Roman goddess, Diana.

Blurb: The goddess of the hunt carries an entirely different meaning in Diana’s world.

A contract assassin for her father Jupiter, the Roman deity traded her traditional gowns for a crossbow and vowed to fulfill her duties by eliminating anyone who threatened the pantheon.

When she receives a contract to kill the sexy Cole Hunter—the heir to an artifact that could expose the existence of her people, she willingly sets out to meet her two week deadline and deliver Jupiter the man’s heart as proof of her success.

But when she grows close to her target, the heat between the two ignites. Diana develops feelings she’s never experienced and is faced with the decision to give Jupiter the human’s heart, or give Cole hers. The race is on to protect him from Jupiter’s wrath, before she loses him forever.

Interview and Giveaway at Suburban Vampire!

2011-03-29T11:38:00.001-04:00

I was interviewed at Suburban Vampire today! Stop by and leave a comment for your chance to win a PDF copy of MYTHIC, or a promotional prize pack. Hope to see you all there!

All in the Name of Research

2011-03-09T23:46:00.000-05:00

I'm currently hard at work on BLOOD MOON, making certain that my locations are as close to accurate as possible. Now mind you, I've never been to Greece--which is where the majority of Blood Moon takes place, but I am armed with Google Earth, the internet, and what's left of my Cafe Du Monde chickory coffee.

It makes me wonder if we truly consider how much time and effort is actually spent researching for a novel. It's a vast amount of work that a lot of people might not take into consideration. For example, I researched the hell out of Greece, and I'm still not sure I have it all down pat. *HINT...if any of you are familiar with Greece, email me!

For example, in October, I visited New Orleans, Louisiana for the very first time. While part of the trip was for the pleasure of seeing the city I'd only dreamed of visiting, research was a large part of my decision to go. The third novel of the MYTHIC series, tentatively titled ASHES OF RECKONING, takes place in New Orleans. Thank goodness I had the company of friends who are as equally interested in my series and assisted in building MY New Orleans. I chose characters' homes, locations for fictional establishments mentioned in the story, and made certain the factual landmarks were accurate. At the end of the trip my camera was exhausted!

In the end, the work is worth the final product. As a reader, when I visit locations that were used as settings in my favorite novels, I do my own unofficial tour of both fictional and factual landmarks. Don't think for one second that I didn't go on my own Dark-Hunter tour while in New Orleans. Many nights were spent drinking at the Absinthe House in Pirate's Alley while I imagined Acheron strolling down the brightly lit street at three in the morning. *wicked grin*

My question to the readers: When visiting locations that were used in the settings of your favorite novel, do you find yourself on your own tour, searching for places from the novels?

To the authors: How far would you go, or have you gone, in the name of research?

Two Interviews and Giveaways!

2011-02-28T17:56:00.001-05:00

As of tomorrow morning, I will have 2 interviews running simultaneously. Both will involve a giveaway of an ebook copy of MYTHIC to one lucky commenter...BUT I'm about to sweeten the deal. I am going to actually select TWO winners from the interview comments. One will receive the ebook, and the other will receive a sweet promo packet that includes a piece of all of my promotional products being used in 2011. This amazing prize pack includes bookmarks, beaded/jeweled bookmarks, postcards, a temporary tattoo of Gianna’s mark, magnets and MORE! I will announce all winners on Monday, March 7th! Good luck.

The first interview is currently in process at Romance Author Hotspot

The second interview taking place tomorrow morning will be at Fang-tastic Books

Interview and Giveaway!

2011-02-27T12:19:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow I'll be stopping by Romance Author Hotspot (click the banner below) for an interview and a giveaway. Be sure to tell all your friends, as I'll be giving away a PDF copy of MYTHIC to one lucky commenter! Hope to see you all there!

Contest Winners Selected!

2011-02-22T00:44:00.000-05:00

The MYTHIC release celebration winners have been selected and contacted via email regarding their prizes. Missed out on the contest? Don't worry. I'll be stopping by Romance Author Hotspot on 2/28 and Fang-tastic Books on 3/1 for interviews and will be giving away another ebook copy of MYTHIC to one lucky commenter. Hope to see you all there!

Congrats again to the winners! Enjoy your prizes, ladies!

My First Novel is Officially Released!

2011-02-15T01:23:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! MYTHIC has been officially released! Won't you join me in celebrating? I'm giving away the following goodies to commemorate the event:

1. A free pdf copy of MYTHIC.

2. A promotional basket that includes EVERYTHING I’ll be giving away to promote MYTHIC and the anticipated sequel, BLOOD MOON. This amazing prize pack includes a coffee mug, t-shirt, bookmarks, beaded/jeweled bookmarks, postcards, a temporary tattoo of Gianna’s mark, magnets, pins and MORE.

To enter, simply fill out the contact form on my website and enter “contest” in the subject line, for your chance to win one of these great prizes. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 22nd. Good luck to all the participants and don’t forget to pick up your copy of MYTHIC, available at All Romance.

MYTHIC Release Contest!

2011-02-14T00:10:00.001-05:00

I'm celebrating today. Why? My first novel, MYTHIC will be released tomorrow! In honor of the event, I've decided to give away two prizes.

1. A free pdf copy of MYTHIC.

2. A promotional basket that includes EVERYTHING I’ll be giving away to promote MYTHIC and the anticipated sequel, BLOOD MOON. This amazing prize pack includes a coffee mug, t-shirt, bookmarks, beaded/jeweled bookmarks, postcards, a temporary tattoo of Gianna’s mark, magnets, pins and MORE.

To enter, simply fill out the contact form on my website and enter “contest” in the subject line, for your chance to win one of these great prizes. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, February 22nd. Good luck to all the participants and don’t forget to pick up your copy of MYTHIC, available at All Romance.

MYTHIC Now Available for Pre-Order

2011-02-10T00:43:00.002-05:00

After a long day, I received word that MYTHIC is now available for pre-order at All Romance! For those interested, here's the link: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-mythic-513518-139.html

This Friday (February 11th) I will be appearing at Jojo's Book Corner! We'll be talking about MYTHIC and the Authors After Dark convention this summer in Philly--which I'll have the pleasure of attending! Come by and comment to be entered to win one of two great prizes INCLUDING a pdf copy of MYTHIC. Don't miss it!

AAD Panels and News!

2011-02-05T15:49:00.001-05:00

In August, I will have the distinct pleasure of being amongst a fabulous group of authors while attending Authors After Dark in Philadelphia!

In addition to attending to promote MYTHIC, I'll have the opportunity to meet readers, attend some unique workshops, and participate in panels.

If you plan to attend the conference, I'll be on three panels this year: "When the ending isn't HEA", "Myths and Magic, and "Behind the Scenes of the Average Author". Be sure to stop by and say hello. I'll have some new promo items with me and I can't wait to share them!

Speaking of promo items, I know I mentioned a contest in my last blog post. Don't worry, I still plan to run one. When MYTHIC is released on 2/15, I will be celebrating with the contest announcement that will include a promotional basket AND a free copy of the book! There will be a few upcoming interviews at different blog sites where I'll give away some goodies for your comments. STAY TUNED for more info.

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! MYTHIC will be released in 10 days! I hope you'll join me in celebrating. Keep those eyes on the lookout for your chance to win a copy of the book and other fabulous prizes. In the meantime, look for the book to be available for pre-order at All Romance .

As always, for more info on current projects, or what I'm working on next, visit my website at http://www.jaelynnedavies.com/ .

Release Date is Official!

2011-01-14T20:43:00.003-05:00

For all of you asking about the official release date of MYTHIC, I'm happy to announce that my the novel will be available in e-book format on Tuesday, February 15th! I hope you enjoy reading the story, as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

In anticipation of the release, I will be launching my very first contest in a few weeks, giving away some cool prizes including a copy of MYTHIC! So stay tuned for the contest announcement and be sure to join me in celebrating!

Soundtracks and Playlists: Music that awakens the Muse

2010-12-30T23:59:00.001-05:00

Today, I heard a song that inspired my muse. In fact, an entire scene played out in my mind to the tune of "A Familiar Taste of Poison" by Halestorm (see "Mythic Soundtrack" on this VERY blog page). The lyrics and music are so powerful that I listened over and over again, just to make sure I didn't miss any detail of the scene in my mind.

This inspired me to create a soundtrack for my series. A playlist of songs that inspire different scenes in my stories for that pick-me-up when my muse grows silent.

Do you have a particular playlist that sparks your creativity? What awakens your muse?

Mythic by Jae Lynne Davies

Coming early 2011 from Tease Publishing

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-29T23:25:00.000-05:00

Happy Holidays, everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying this wonderful time of year. Things have finally started to slow down in my house and I'm back to writing more of Blood Moon (Dante's story). If you're not familiar with Dante Diakos, you'll have to read Mythic, the first book in the Mythic series. It looks like the book will be available in E-book format sometime in January!

After Blood Moon is at the halfway point, I will take on a second project of writing a short story for the "Love's Immortal Pantheon" series published by Tease Publishing. The series is a collection of short stories based on characters of various pantheons, penned by a number of talented authors. It's a series that shouldn't be missed. Not only is it a fantastic read, but it gives the reader the opportunity to explore the writing style of several authors. You don't want to miss it!

Happy Turkey Day!

2010-11-26T01:51:00.000-05:00

I wanted to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for at the moment: Family, friends, health, opportunities, and a few more that are dear to my heart. Unfortunately, my holiday was spent without the company of my beloved Grandmother, who lost her battle with cancer in April. Although her absence was apparent, she was hardly forgotten.

After the nonstop cooking and baking, things have finally settled down and I'm looking forward to the holiday season! On the writing front, I'm making tremendous progress with Blood Moon. I can't wait to tell Dante's story! No word on the official release date for Mythic, but my editor says sometime in January. Stay tuned for more details!

MYTHIC has a cover!

2010-11-12T00:43:00.001-05:00

I've been working on MYTHIC for nearly two years, and my journey toward publishing has been a fun-filled roller coaster. I am beyond thrilled to announce that not only have I signed with a publisher, but the work that I've devoted the last two years of my life to, finally has a cover. Stay tuned for an official release date!

Authors After Dark (AAD) Registration NOW OPEN!

2010-11-10T23:49:00.002-05:00

For those of you who haven't had the pleasure of attending this FABULOUS convention, it was my first con experience. This annual event for readers, by authors, focuses on the author/reader relationships and the love of books!

This year, one of my favorite authors, LARISSA IONE, will be the MOC! I hope to see everyone in Philly in 2011, at the Doubletree Suites on Broad Street!

Click on the graphic below for details on the convention, and information on how to register:

Back from NOLA

2010-11-10T00:10:00.000-05:00

Greetings everyone!

I had the experience of spending the week of Halloween (my birthday) in New Orleans, in the company of a few great friends. The city is so rich with culture, it was difficult to be bored. Besides researching for the third book in the MYTHIC series, some of the sites left me gasping in awe. I won't bore you with details of trips Cafe Du Monde at 4am, the variety of alcoholic beverages, and the delicious cuisine. I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Tried my first piece of crawfish and a raw oyster all on the same night at the Acme Oyster house!

Burbon at night.

Visiting one of the cemeteries.

Found a shell that bore a striking resemblence to The Phantom of the Opera.

One of my favorite hangouts...The Absinthe House in Pirates Alley!

My absolute favorite location...Jackson Square and the St. Louis Cathedral.

The bank of the Mississippi.

Prime time in Jackson Square!

Little time wasted in decorating for the next holiday.

I wish I could live here. LOL!

Beignets and Cafe Au Lait...DELISH!

Yes, I took a vampire tour. I couldn't resist.

The shadow of the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Building used in "Interview with a Vampire"

The Jackson Brewery.

I just had to buy this t-shirt. New methods of anger management.

Authors After Dark

2010-09-24T22:17:00.000-04:00

Now that things have settled, I wanted to post about my experience at Authors After Dark in Secaucus, NJ.

Let me begin by saying that I had the pleasure of meeting and mingling with some wonderful authors, readers, editors, and bloggers. The crowd was intimate, and I believe the ratio of authors to readers was practically 50:50.

Some noteworthy faces that I had the opportunity to meet were, Joey W. Hill, Jacquelyn Frank, Leanna Renee Hieber, Eliza Gayle, JoLynne Valerie, and Cat Johnson--just to name a few.

The event was coordinated by author, Stella Price, who is about as wonderful as they come! I believe this event was unlike any I've ever attended. While the panels were informative and delightful, the vendors were unique--ranging from jewelry, books, buttons, beauty items, and a TATTOO ARTIST! That's right, the highlight of the vendors was the tattoo artist who was always busy applying ink to a fresh canvas.

In addition to the above, there was a masquerade ball, author sponsored dinners, after hours parties in hotel rooms, and TONS of give aways. I think I walked away with twenty five free books that I can't wait to dive into. But, I walked away with great new friends, and an experience that I look forward to repeating next year, when the conference moves to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! If you have the opportunity to attend, I highly recommend the Authors After Dark Romance Convention.

Me (with the red wig) and a friend, preparing for the character masquerade ball.

Me with the girls during Joey W. Hill's sponsored dinner

The tattoo artist doing what he does best

Leanna Renee Hieber dressed as her character Percy Parker, and Jacquelyn Frank

Leanna Renee Hieber dressed as Percy Parker

After hours party in our hotel room. Do you know of such a convention where the readers hang out with the authors in THIS kind of setting?

Joey W. Hill and Eliza Gayle

One of my favorite authors, Joey W. Hill posing with those precious pages.

It's Conference Time!

2010-09-12T20:54:00.000-04:00

Later this week, I'll be attending the Authors After Dark convention in Secaucus, New Jersey. This will be my first convention and I'm excited for several reasons. I finally get to meet those I've come to know via various writing loops, the networking opportunities, being able to pitch to several different editors, and to just have a good time away from daily life!

I'll have a full report when I return. Keep your fingers crossed that I have some success with my pitches!

Goodbye Hiatus...Hello Grindstone

2010-07-08T02:54:00.000-04:00

After a long hiatus, I'm thankful to say that I'm ready to emerge. It's been an emotional roller coaster on a personal level, losing family members to terminal illness. It seemed as though stress would never subside.

The waking of the muse begins with a casual conversation. I was speaking to a friend yesterday who happened to begin reading something she's put off for awhile. After she plunged head first into the book, we spoke about the story and it awakened the part of me I pushed aside for a little while to deal with family issues with a clear frame of mind.

My girlfriend asked, "So, how is Gianna?"

For those of you unaware, Gianna Marino is the heroine in my series of novels. The question caught me off guard. Suddenly, I thought about my characters standing in the last written scene, staring at each other wondering what to do next, waiting for direction. I am ready to direct!

My renewed passion begins with another full manuscript edit. I am attending a conference in September and I hope meet with some editors who will be in attendance. It's time to send this manuscript on to the next phase.

The Muse Is Back With A Vengeance

2010-03-07T16:47:00.001-05:00

While my day job has been too demanding and I've fallen victim to a strain of the flu--sleeping 20 hours since Friday night, a familiar voice decided to make an untimely appearance.

She's...back. Yes, the Muse is back with a vengeance. Edits have picked up, finally. Ideas for other stories came to mind, normally quiet characters demanded attention, and I couldn't be happier. Honestly, I thought she'd abandoned me.

Last, through a friend's recommendation, as a way to assist with over usage of words in my ms (Thank you, Sharon), I visited Wordle. I posted my ms in the box, it displayed a word cloud, and I couldn't help but view it as a work of art. Create yours here http://www.wordle.net/.

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I'm off to snuggle with my husband, a cup of cinnamon-infused coffee, and my brand new Nook e-reader.

Jae Lynne

Blizzard in Photos

2010-02-16T01:16:00.001-05:00

As promised, here are some pictures from last week's blizzard. I find it amazing that something so destructive can be so beautiful. Funny, since I don't even like snow.

On a different note, I'm currently taking a course on how to write more effective fight scenes. Since my heroine, Gianna is a powerhouse of strength, she'd better step it up! Kidding, of course. She is amazing and I'm only to go make her that much better!

Enjoy the photos!

Just In Time For Valentine's Day...

2010-02-10T14:00:00.000-05:00

In ancitipation of Valentine's Day, and the fact there there is another 24 inches of snow threating my region, I feel the need to indulge myself in all things warm, and not necessarily fuzzy.

With that being said, I am burying my head in my latest guilty pleasure, "Fangly, My Dear", by Mardi Ballou.

As both a reader and writer of romance, I often think of the scenes in other author's books that cause my heart to race. So, I ask...which author has penned your favorite "between the sheets" moment?

I have so many these days. Among the list are...

Pleasure Unbound, by Larissa Ione: The first love scene between Seminus Demon Dr. Eidolon and Demon Slayer Tayla in her hospital room. HOT!

Beloved Vampire, by Joey W. Hill: Each love scene is hotter than the last. In my opinion, the woman can do no wrong.

Night Play, by Sherrilyn Kenyon: Vane and Bride's first love scene in her store dressing room. It sent me running for the nearest glass of ice water.

Twenty Four Inches: A Perfect Opportunity

2010-02-04T21:12:00.002-05:00

Mother Nature is threatening my area with twenty four inches of snow! That's right, folks...a blizzard warning is in effect! What does this mean? I can finish second round editing on Mythic, can dive head first into Blood Moon (manuscript 2), can finish up critiquing, and can finally make a dent in my "to be read" pile.

I picked up a few new reads to add to my endless pile. This week, I downloaded "Little Red and the Wolf" by Alison Paige. (available at http://www.samhainpublishing.com). I've been looking forward to reading this one. In addition, I hope to tackle "Bad Moon Rising" by Sherrilyn Kenyon and "A Mermaid's Kiss" by Joey W. Hill.

Finally, I finished reading "Ecstasy Unveiled" by Larissa Ione and I LOVED it! Larissa's Seminus Demons make me swoon.

For those of you who may be affected by this weekend's blizzard, stay warm and safe.

Overkill, overload

2010-02-01T19:52:00.003-05:00

On the home front: My two year old daughter recently developed an interest in "Team Umizoomi". For those of you who are not familiar, it's a new show on Nick Jr. Why is it that when children find something they like, they wear it out like an old pair of jeans? Worse, the show has only been on the air since January 25th and she knows the words to the theme song. Now, I find myself singing the theme song, too. It's pure torture!

On the writing scene: I am still in edit overload and am over halfway through my second round. Once that is complete, I need to prepare a synopsis and submit. I am so excited and terrified at the same time.

What am I doing to unwind these days? I dove into Larissa Ione's latest novel, "Ecstasy Unveiled" and I love it. Larissa created an amazing world with equally amazing characters. I can't rave about it enough!

Edit, edit and edit some more...

2010-01-24T01:52:00.003-05:00

I am in FULL edit mode. Mythic has been an officially completed manuscript for nearly a month and yet I can't seem to stop editing. I've been taking several workshops with the current being editing.

Now, I know that I'm my worst critic but every time I feel like I can move forward, I look again and want to change a minor detail. Grr...but I need to get moving and submit to the 3 editors/publishers that requested a copy of the full manuscript.

Blood Moon (Dante's book) is in the works. I am two chapters and a prologue into the story and the way that the series unfolds will be mind-blowing. Stay tuned for details!

I have to get back to late night/early am edits as the kiddies will be awake before I know it.