Paranormality

Guest Blogger: Elizabeth Amber

2009-07-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

Are you paranormal?

I just looked up the word “paranormal” in the giant Random House dictionary I’ve had forever. To my surprise, it’s not there. The dictionary’s copyright date is 1983, so I guess the word wasn’t part of the lexicon back then. Things have changed, especially in romance novels. Paranormal has never been more popular.

“Para” means “beyond.” Beyond normal. I like that. I’m pretty normal in my everyday life, and I didn’t really recognize any particular paranormal traits in myself until I wrote my first romance novel, Nicholas, The Lords of Satyr. I wrote it because I had read romances forever, and because I had an idea. But it was an idea outside of the normal realm of romances I was comfortable reading. My idea was about men who are satyrs -- the carnal followers of Bacchus in Roman mythology -- who own a vineyard in 1800s Tuscany, where they guard ancient secrets and engage in rituals that secure their heritage.

This idea was “beyond normal.” It was erotic and it unexpectedly rushed from my brain to my fingers and on to paper. When it was finished, I let my bf, and only my bf, read it. She pronounced it kinky and urged me to submit it to a publisher. When it was published by Kensington, along with three more in the series, my family was supportive, but confused. Why was their normal daughter/sister writing erotic historical paranormal romance? I’d gotten out of the box they’d grown used to seeing me in.

My mom was delighted when one of my book covers (Dominic) was featured on The Today Show in an interesting video about the current boom in romance novel sales. See it at:

http://snackfeed.com/videos/detail/6d5c18d2-7667-102c-8c08-00304897c9c6

For my mom, the world had now righted itself. After all, if my work was on a show she watched religiously, I must be just as normal as she’d hoped after all!

How about you? If you had to check a box that you’re “normal” or “paranormal” in your everyday, work, or dating life -- which would you check and why? The same in all three? Is there any one thing about your personality that’s paranormal? If you’re pretty average/normal in other respects, do you read paranormal? Why do you think that is?

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you’ll leave a comment. Lynda will choose someone to win a copy of my fourth novel, Dominic, The Lords of Satyr! Visit http://www.elizabethamber.com/ to read excerpts of my erotic historical paranormal romances.

~ Elizabeth AmberNicholas

Raine Lyon Dominic : The Lords of Satyr series

Coming soon: Daneerotic historical paranormal romance

Kensington Aphrodisia

http://www.elizabethamber.com/

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Elizabeth's winner will be chosen and posted here on Tuesday evening. Stop back by to see if you've won.

Guest Blogger: Eilis Flynn

2009-07-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

The winner of Eilis's book is: PamK! Congrats, Pam. Give me your contact info and I'll send it along to Eilis. Thanks to everyone who participated.

No matter how far out we get, some things remain the same

One of the things I appreciate most about fantasy and science fiction is the universality of the most basic elements. Food, shelter, love, family . . . no matter how exotic and foreign some details get, our characters still have certain needs. In ECHOES OF PASSION, Daegon Bosaru has to protect the good name of his dying father . . . find out who the woman is who's been haunting his dreams for the past twenty years . . . and get some of that good old-fashioned Neoti cooking (um, yes. It didn't occur to me that I actually went into the cuisine of Neotia Prime until I reread the book when I got the final copy). It wasn't intentional, but eating is as basic as you can get with living organisms, right? I couldn't imagine what could evoke memories of home more than the smells of home cooking, no matter if that home is far, far away, or even as alien as alien could be (here's a hint: the dude's green. Very, very green).

Here's a bit more about ECHOES OF PASSION, which is part of the sci-fi Hunters for Hire series, available from Ellora's Cave and Cerridwen Press! Here's a bit about it:

Neotia Prime . . . The home world of the Neoti and the Vozuans was destroyed by a doomsday device twenty years ago, but the troubles and unrest that led to the event still plague those who resettled on the twin planet.

When Daegon Bosaru arrives on the unnamed world, determined to uncover who is out to smear his dying father’s good name, he discovers that the tragedies of that civil war still haunt those who remain. Not only that, the mysterious, beautiful woman he’s been seeing in his dreams over the past twenty years may have information he needs. But when he finally meets Imreen Dal in the flesh, she seems not to know him — and furthermore, she runs from him every time she encounters him. Why?

Rumors persist that the crazed dictator who set off the doomsday device may still be alive . . . with fresh plans for conquest. Bosaru needs to find out how his father, the mysterious Imreen and the madman are related . . . and stop another world from being destroyed.

You can find it now at: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7007-echoe..s-of-passion.aspx

Now, what kind of food smells evokes memories for you? For me, it's the smell of roasting sweet potatoes on a cold winter morning. One lucky person who comments will win a download of INTRODUCING SONIKA (and come to think of it, there's food in that book too -- but that's plain old-fashioned human food)!

ECHOES OF PASSION, on sale now

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The winner of Eilis's book will be selected and posted on Tuesday evening. Stop by to see if you've won.

Food: Life Force (and a photo of a vampire cow)

2009-07-05T11:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I posted a rant about the movie, "Food, Inc." As often happens, I have a large reaction, burn up the keyboard with my opinions, then -- after sanity returns -- erase whatever I wrote. I used to do that with emails, and it kept my life in turmoil, because they mostly couldn't be "unsent." Live and learn. So, here's a calm post about food.

The movie is very good. Thought-provoking. Upsetting.

I don't know why I didn't get enthusiastic about the notion of eating real food until now. I've certainly heard about organic/natural food for the three decades I've lived in Boulder. But, for whatever reason, I didn't click into the words REAL FOOD before. And, as I've just discovered, products labeled "organic/natural," aren't always REAL FOOD. As usual, there's lots of razzle-dazzle going on in the marketing of "organic/natural" foods.

Anyway, watching the movie and listening to Michael Pollan's "In Defense of Food" on CDs has startled me into expanded consciousness. Something about the way Michael explains things just works for me. There's no pretentiousness or self-righteousness. Just extremely helpful explanations. He says we've gotten lost in "nutritionism," and are eating "food-like substances" rather than REAL FOOD, which leads to disease, obesity, and fouling our own nest.

I'm in the midst of a paradigm shift. New neurons firing. Channeled anger. I need to learn about real ingredients, grass-fed beef, real organic chicken, buying local veggies and fruits. Whew. I need to rediscover the joy of food. Or maybe discover it, since most of the vitality-sucking of our foods began even before I was born.

So, I recommend Michael's books and the movie. Here's a link to the "Food, Inc." trailer on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eKYyD14d_0

p.s. if anyone knows about any classes in the Boulder area on finding and cooking REAL FOOD, please leave a comment.

Guest Blogger: Jody Wallace

2009-06-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

Jody's winner is : Pamk! Congrats, PamK! Thanks to everyone for participating.

I've been reading a book called BLACK AND WHITE this week, by authors Jackie Kessler and Caitlin Kittridge. The book's a full blown "superworld" novel -- that is, speculative fiction in which superhero type characters take center stage. It's not like an urban fantasy or paranormal, but more like a classic "costumed crusaders" kind of plot. And I am seriously enjoying it.

In fact, I'm thinking, "Why aren't there more books like this?"

In the Wikipedia entry for Superhero, the definition is: "A superhero (also known as a super hero) is a fictional character of unprecedented physical prowess dedicated to acts of derring-do in the public interest." That's one kind of superhero. There are others, of course, in particular the grim, "Watchman" style of worldbuilding and storytelling, but the premise is roughly the same -- characters who (somewhat) openly fight crime in ways and with skills that are not exactly standard police procedure. Here is a 2008 column by Cat Rambo about Superhero fiction in which she is nominating a tv episode for the Nebulas and talking about books she enjoys: http://www.nebulaawards.com/index.php/guest_blogs/superheroes/

Here on Lynda's Paranormality blog, obviously there's a lot of talk about vampires and werewolves and hot gargoyle heroes. These are enduring and popular subgenre staples. What began as a somewhat narrow subgenre (paranormal romance) has definitely been branching out in the past couple years, as readers demand variety and new storylines in addition to their beloved blood suckers and shifters. As many successful years as superheroes have captured our imaginations, in both comics and on the big/small screens, why do you think there haven't been more superworld style novels, particularly romances?

Yes, there have been some fun ones. The first I recall is the Aphrodite series by Julie Kenner. I also read and enjoyed the Jennifer Estep Bigtime series (KARMA GIRL, JINX, HOT MAMA) and INTRODUCING SONICA by Eilis Flynn. I have heard Gena Showalter's book PLAYING WITH FIRE described as a sort of superhero romance, and certainly there is the aforementioned BLACK AND WHITE.

It's quite possible there have been more superhero style romances (or chick lits) published, particularly from smaller, more flexible publishers, and I have missed them. I know my good friend Natalie Damschroder participated in an erotic superhero series called The Lusty League from Amber Quill, for example.

What gems am I missing?

I think there are some in YA series, but for the life of me I can't remember the names of them.

Do mainstream publishers feel this particular subgenre wouldn't interest the primarily female romance reading audience? Do they think only boys like superheroes? What do you think?

I will give away either an electronic or a paper copy of my paranormal romance from Samhain Publishing, SURVIVAL OF THE FAIREST (not a superhero romance but does feature some pint-sized supervillians!), to one lucky commenter. And I hope a lot of you comment -- I'd love to see a good discussion about the potential for great stories in the subgenre of superhero romances, as well as lots of suggestions for books I can track down!

Thanks to Lynda for giving me access to the brains of her blog visitors -- and you're safe, I'm not a zombie (today) :)

Jody Wallace http://www.jodywallace.com/ * www.meankitty.com

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Jody's winner will be posted on Tuesday evening. Stop by and see if you won!

I'm having a very nice contest year! Dark Harvest finals again!

2009-06-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful surprise! I just got an email saying DARK HARVEST is a finalist in the First Coast Romance Writers Beacon Published contest, in the Novel w/Strong Romantic Elements category. Yay!

Guest Blogger: Marilynn Byerly

2009-06-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

Marilynn's winner is: Ingrid Foster! Congrats, Ingrid. Send me your contact information and I'll pass it along to Marilynn. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Glenn Miller's song "Moonlight Serenade" makes me cry.

It always has, and I've never known why. I grew up during the heyday of Elvis and the Beatles, but my passion was Big Band music. Ancient Egypt and Rome enthralls me, and at ten I could understand Shakespeare's Elizabethan words.

Some things just come naturally to me, like I've done them before, and some historical places feel as comfortable as the town I grew up in.

If I have lived before, I can name some people, times, and places. A Big Band musician with classical training who died during World War II. An American intellectual during the Romantic movement. An Elizabethan. One of Chaucer's drinking buddies. A Roman. An Etruscan. An ancient Greek. An Egyptian peasant.

No, I can't remember any of these lives. Except for some intense dreams in my childhood, I've never remembered those other times. I've pieced them together from my natural interests, and my frisson of recognition at historical artifacts.

Every time I've attempted to delve into my past lives, my subconscious has told me "don't do this" in a very loud voice.

When I was researching my reincarnation romance, TIME AFTER TIME, I read a book on how to remember past lives. The author suggested that you ask your subconscious every night before bed to give you information on a past life.

The author told of how he'd done this to gain more information on his life as a military man in the late 1700s. He dreamed that he'd seen a night sky, and the stars had formed the name of the famous battle site where he'd died.

"Cool," I thought to myself. "Just think of all the book material I'd find from past lives." I began to ask my subconscious to give me information.

Finally, one night I dreamed I saw a night sky and letters began to form. My letters spelled out "buffoon."

My subconscious has a wicked sense of humor.

Wondering what it would be like to recall past lives, I came up with the premise for TIME AFTER TIME. My hero Justin Lord remembers all his lives and the one woman in each of them. When he meets Alexa West, he knows he's finally found this soul mate.

Determined to win her by making her remember, he romances Alexa by restaging and retelling their past lives and their loves. But he doesn't tell her she has rivals for his love, and she is all twelve.

Unless he can give up his obsession with those past loves, he will lose Alexa.

Remembering past lives proves to be as much a curse as a blessing for Justin, and his problems made me realize that maybe my subconscious isn't so wrong, after all, in telling me not to try to remember. One life is confusing enough.

http://www.marilynnbyerly.com/

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Marilyn will give away a copy of her book to one person who leaves a comment about her/his own past life exploration. Winner will be posted on Tuesday evening. Check back to see if you've won.

Dark Harvest: Finalist, Book Buyers Best Contest and nice words on the CAL website

2009-06-15T08:23:00.000-07:00

DARK HARVEST is a finalist (along with such wonderful authors as Brenda Novak, CJ Lyons and Susan Swift) in the Romantic Suspense/Mystery with Romance Elements category of the Orange County Chapter's Book Buyers Best Contest, 2009! What an excellent surprise!

And, some of the judges who selected the winners of the "Top Hand" awards given by the Colorado Authors League have posted comments about the books they judged. Here's what a couple of them said about Dark Harvest:

CAL Award for Genre Fiction
Dark Harvest by Lynda Hilburn

“This is a finely crafted novel which not only entertains—it leaves the reader hoping for more! [This] story is so original and is so full of fun, snappy dialogue, elegant and graphic sensuality, and fast-paced action that I found it difficult to put down.” Susan Ciazza, Reader’s Advisor, Arapahoe Library District.

“Great book. The flow from one scene [to another] is outstanding.” Sandy Whelchel, Executive Director, National Writers Association.

Whee!!

Guest Blogger: Linda Nightingale

2009-06-13T13:26:00.001-07:00

Linda's winner is: Bridget3420! Congrats, Bridget. Send me your contact info and I'll pass it along to Linda. Thanks to everyone who participated.

I’m excited!

Both the trailer and the cover for Black Swan, my spicy vampire romance from The Wild Rose Press, are nominated for awards at The New Covey Trailer Awards and The New Covey Cover Awards! Think of the trailer awards as an academy awards for book trailers. Pam Roller produced and I wrote my trailer. Voting for the most intriguing trailer ends June 19. Voting for the covers ends June 14. I’d really appreciate your vote if you like the trailer and cover!

Cover, Entry #21, Black Swan: http://thenewcoveycoverawards.blogspot.com/
Trailer, Entry #2, Black Swan: http://thenewcoveytrailerawards.blogspot.com/

Black Swan was number 1 on the publisher’s bestseller list for 6 weeks, and I’m delighted that it is still on the list.

Excerpt:

The fact that the man she loved was in bed with another woman ceased to be important when Holly saw the blood. Her heart, which had been running on empty until she met Tristan, stuttered and stalled. Horror freeze-framed time -- the shutter snaps of images flooding her brain almost audible. She couldn’t breathe or move, knew she hadn’t made a sound, but Tristan's head snapped up. Wild red eyes honed in on her. Blood smeared his mouth, drizzled from two wounds on his partner's throat. The woman he'd been screwing appeared deathly pale and deadly still.

She should run before he shouted, "What the hell are you doing here?" but fear had turned her to ice. Holly hadn't blinked but Tristan stood on his feet. Her heart tripped over a beat. No one could move that fast. Burning eyes captured hers.

Black Swan is available from The Wild Rose Press. http://thewildrosepress.com/

Please visit my web site for a continuing story, Vampire Hunt. http://www.lindanightingale.com/

Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for a Black Swan coffee mug!

Thanks Lynda for having me as a guest!

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Linda's winner will be selected on Monday evening. Stop back by to see if you've won.

Guest Blogger: Rick Taubold

2009-06-07T18:58:00.000-07:00

I put the names in my mini-coffin and picked a winner: Cecile! Congratulations, Cecile. Send me the email address you'd like Rick to send your download to, and it will be on its way. Thanks so much to all who participated.

Lynda and everyone, thanks for having me. It's a privilege to be here.

What if vampires really existed? What if they were mortal, not predators, and didn't have fangs?

I'm Rick Taubold, and that's the premise of my second published novel, Vampires, Inc., co-authored with Chris R. Hosey, and which just released last week as an e-book from Double Dragon Publishing.

Chris and I set out to make our vampires different. We wanted them to exist in our world without most people knowing of their existence. Our idea was to show how they deal with the stigma of what they are. My co-author has a gift of being able to create three-dimensional characters with real flaws and a lot of baggage, the kind of characters who feel genuine.

The novel has a multi-cultural character set, and not all of the characters are vampires. You'll find the bad guys every bit as interesting as the good guys. There's even a love scene, which my wife helped me create.

Excerpt from Chapter 13 -- the love scene.

New Orleans, May, 1884.

After being changed into a vampire, Eli has wandered the back woods of the South for 25 years. He has just come into New Orleans where he meets Sophie Benoit . . .

They walked along Royal Street and into the nighttime crowds of humans. He would later learn the names of all the streets. For now, he was an innocent child, amazed at the splendor of this newfound place. All of his senses came alive. Sights and scents, more wonderful than he'd ever experienced, flooded over him. More amazing, a beautiful white woman walked at his side and treated him as her equal.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked.

"Chez moi."

He was confused.

She laughed. "To my house. You need a place to stay, non?"

"Yes."

He didn't remember all he saw or how long they walked, but they came to a place of many magnificent buildings. "This is Storyville," she said, "where the sporting women live. For us New Orleans is une bonne ville. There is so much crime. The officials and the police -- les poulets we call them, the chickens -- are like dogs who so stupidly chase their queues. Men's queues always lead them to Storyville." What a sweet laugh she had.

He would learn later what all this meant.

She took him inside a building finer than his slaveholder's plantation house. The carpet was thick; fine draperies adorned the windows. He rubbed his hand over a deep-red, velvet-textured wall. A crystal chandelier, larger than he'd ever seen, hung in the center of this room.

"This is my sporting house, les filles à ton service," she said. "Women to serve you."

He saw women everywhere, many beautiful women. Some wore full dresses, some were half-dressed. Some were alone, some were talking to men, some were escorting men out of the room. He didn't see any others of his race here.

One woman came up to them. "Madam Sophie, is he your new servant?"

He avoided looking at her bare breasts.

"He will serve me," she said. She took hold of his chin and turned his head back at the woman. "Do you not like what you see?"

"She is..."

"Naked? Oui. What is wrong with a beautiful, naked woman?"

"N-nothing."

Sophie laughed her sweet laugh again, then she led him up a grand stairway. At the top, she opened a door. "Here is my room."

If possible, the room was more elegant and luxurious than downstairs. The bed, covered with pillows, was large enough for three people and covered with pillows. Inside the fireplace to his right a roaring fire heated a huge kettle. In front of that sat a bathtub for two people. He'd only seen its like once before. Next to the tub was a wooden toilet.

She'd been holding his hand and now let it go. "Wait here." When she returned, a Negro woman much darker than he was accompanied her.

"This is Elba, my maid."

"What you lookin' at, boy?"

"His name is Eli," Sophie said, "and you will not speak to him that way again. Prepare my bath then leave us."

"Yes, ma'am." Her tone was chilly. On the plantations he'd seen skin color sometimes mattered among the Negroes.

Sophie took his clothing bundle and tossed it on the floor. She bid him sit on the bed while she disappeared behind a dressing screen. He watched Elba use a wooden bucket to dip water from the fireplace kettle and fill the tub. He marveled at the crystal oil lamps that lit the room. Some were mounted on the walls; some sat on tables.

Elba finished and left. When Sophie came from behind the screen, she wore a thin, green silk robe, open in front. "Do you like what you see?"

She had unfastened her hair so it now touched her shoulders. The robe fell open next to her nipples. A string of pearls around her neck hung halfway down her breasts. His gaze drifted down past her stomach. She paused in front of him then walked around the room dimming the lights and glancing playfully at him.

Now that he understood what was about to happen, a memory of his brother Jonas flashed through his mind.

She came over to him. "Mon pauvre petit, I am so sorry for you. Do not be afraid. No one will do that to you here." She placed her hands on his cheeks; her eyes smiled at him. "Sophie will not let them."

She pulled him to her and kissed him lightly with her moist and wonderfully warm lips. "It is time pour l'amour. Take off those old clothes."

He didn't move.

"For your bath, mon chou. Do you take a bath in your clothes? We will burn the old ones and I will buy you fine new ones."

She stood up with him while he took off his cotton shirt. She ran her hands over his chest and shoulders, down his arms, squeezing his firm muscles. Her hands slid over his chest; her palms brushed his nipples.
He shivered.

"You like how Sophie touches you." Again she pulled him to her. Her lips came to rest gently on his. He opened his mouth; their tongues touched. Before he realized it, or could stop her, she had untied the rope holding up his pants. In cooler weather he would be wearing long johns underneath, but those were in the bundle on the floor.

She took a step back and took in his nakedness. "Mon dieu! Quel cigare."

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So, we have something for everyone. Even if you say, "I don't read vampire novels," you might be surprised by this one, and maybe you'll want to read Vampires Anonymous when it comes out.

To find out more about the novel go to Double Dragon's website: www.double-dragon-ebooks.com. You can read the whole first chapter there. For those of you who prefer print books, we're expecting the print version of Vampires, Inc. to follow in a few weeks.

To learn more about me and my writing, and for updates on my various projects, visit my website: www.ricktaubold.com. There's a link to the Vampires, Inc. website, or you can access that directly at www.vampiresinc.net. While you're browsing my site, check out my first novel, More Than Magick. It's a science fantasy, and it's not vampire-free. You can also read my first published short story there, So, You Want To Be a Vampire.

I've got some neat things planned for the Vampires, Inc. universe. Adrian Shadowhawk, one of the fascinating characters in the novel, has his own website that he'll have up and running next month. Keep checking back. I'll also be doing a quarterly newsletter. Email me at magick46@rochester.rr.com if you want to be added to the mailing list.

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Rick will be giving away a download of his new book to one person who asks him a question here. The winner will be posted on Tuesday evening. Check back to see if you won!

Excerpt: Blood Song (my short story in the Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance)

2009-06-02T19:18:00.000-07:00

“Are you sure you should walk home alone, Grace? Even in a small town like Boulder, women can’t be too careful,” a female voice called out.

Grace finished locking the door to her sound-healing studio and turned to the group of attendees still lingering on the sidewalk in front of the building. She looked into their sincere faces and smiled. It was the same every time. People got so energized after participating in the sound circle that they tried to stretch the evening out as long as possible. She, on the other hand, yearned for peace, quiet and a large glass of wine. After a session, she needed to be alone to recharge. Walking home through the quiet, tree-lined streets at the end of the evening had become a private pleasure.

Grinning, she reached into her shoulder bag and pulled out a small aerosol canister. “Don’t worry about me.” She raised the container. “I’ve got my trusty pepper spray. I’m armed and dangerous. Besides, my house is only a few blocks up the hill, and in all the years I’ve lived here, nobody’s ever bothered me.”

She almost mentioned she’d never even encountered a mountain lion, but decided not to raise the issue. It wouldn’t be wise to give the group any more ideas about why she might need company – whether she wanted it or not. Nothing scary had ever happened to her – fanged predators or otherwise. Unfortunately, she thought, nothing exciting, either.

“I’ll see you at the next sound circle.” She waved and hurried down the street before the singers could foil her escape. She loved all her clients and circle members, but it had been a long week and it wasn’t over yet.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, she felt herself begin to unwind. She walked until she came to a dead end, then turned toward the foothills, climbing the gentle trail that lead to her house. She gazed up and smiled. The full moon illuminated the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, outlining them in breathtaking detail against the star-studded tapestry of the night sky. Lights from the houses sprinkled across the canyon glittered like suspended fireflies in the magical darkness.

The late summer air held a subtle hint of fall, her favorite season, and she fantasized about the Autumn Equinox sound ritual she’d be creating again this year. She had invited sound healers from all over the world to participate. Thinking about the event, she remembered the face of the handsome Brazilian musician she’d met at the Summer Solstice celebration in Rio.

He’d smiled at her with those amazing, full lips – displaying wicked dimples and beautiful white teeth – and she’d lost the ability to speak. His eyes were the color of the Mediterranean Sea, and she’d longed to dive in. That memory caused heat to shimmer through her body, and she unbuttoned her jacket.

Of course, she hadn’t had the courage to take him up on his unspoken offer. So, what else was new?

She’d mailed him an invitation to her Equinox ritual, and she didn’t know what worried her more – that he wouldn’t attend, or that he would.

She shook her head, thinking how pitiful it was that even the thought of the musician caused her body to overheat. She was too old for that kind of reaction. She wanted to get over her dating anxiety and find a relationship – like a normal woman. How could she be so confident as a performer and healer, yet such a basket case about men? Why did she turn into a tongue-tied teenager every time a handsome guy came near?

A rustling sound a few feet away snapped her attention from the Brazilian. Startled, she stopped and raised the pepper spray, scanned the bushes and trees, and listened. Her heart pounded against her ribs, adrenaline shot through her system.

That’s what she got for being cavalier about mountain lions. She should know better. Simply because she’d never come across one of the beasts, didn’t mean they weren’t there. Her hands trembled so badly she almost lost her grip on the canister, and her knees threatened to fold. She’d heard the deadly cats stalked their prey. Was one watching her now? Her mind spun as she tried to remember what the article in the newspaper said about the lions: try to look big and never run. Run? Even though that was what her brain demanded, she didn’t think her legs could manage, since they seemed to be made of rubber.

She waited in the thick silence with her finger poised over the canister, her stomach tight. The seconds passed like hours. She finally let out a shuddering breath, relieved that her imagination had probably exaggerated the sound of a deer or a raccoon. She’d just relaxed her shoulders and taken a couple of shaky steps up the path, when something large burst out of the bushes.

Pivoting toward the movement, she screamed and pressed the spray button, sending a shower of the caustic substance into the eyes of a large man who’d lunged at her, hands clutching, mouth gaping to reveal long, bloody fangs. He shrieked as the irritant coated his eyes and face, but still managed to tackle her ferociously, slamming her body down onto the asphalt path. Her canister bounced against the ground and rolled away.

The man – or whatever he was – had outrageous strength. He pressed against her like a concrete slab, easily holding her down, while madly swiping at his eyes with one of his hands. The treacherous, long, razor teeth she’d glimpsed as he’d leapt at her were poised over her neck, dripping saliva and blood. She could feel the slimy, wet substance oozing down her shirt as she choked on the hideous stench of his breath.

His long, dark hair hung filthy and stringy, his skin deathly pale, his clothing torn and foul.

She kicked and flailed, pushing against his powerful shoulder, trying to dislodge the unnatural, unbelievable beast. Her arms ached from the useless pounding, her throat went raw from screaming. His body weighed so heavy against her chest, she feared her ribs would snap any second. Her heart thundered in her ears as if about to explode from the terror.

He’d kept up a growling rumble, punctuated by yelps and groans, as he frantically worked to clear his eyes and wipe his face.

Struggling for air, she made gasping noises, all the fight gone out of her limbs.

The tips of his pointed fangs broke through the skin of her neck, sending a wave of pain radiating down her body. This is it! As she braced for the expected horror, suddenly the monster was gone. His weight no longer pressed on her chest so she could breathe. Shocked, she blinked her eyes – realizing she must have closed them in her panic.

For a moment she felt certain she’d died – that the thing had torn out her throat or crushed her heart. She hadn’t seen a white light or a tunnel. There were no idyllic scenes – no relatives coming to guide her to greener pastures. And, it was strange that her body still hurt, but she had to be dead – there was simply no other possible explanation.

She’d looked up and seen the perfect face of an angel.

And then nothing.

* * *
“Shit!” Ethan yelled. He grabbed the back of the undead troublemaker’s filthy shirt, jerked him off the woman, and dangled him in the air. “Nelson! Come and take this disgusting specimen, would you?”

He turned his gaze to the frightened eyes of the beautiful woman sprawled on the path, gave her the command to “Sleep,” and watched her eyelids close.

Of all the rotten luck. He’d lost sight of the brainless newbie for one minute and look what happened? Of course there had to be a mortal walking around. Why didn’t these humans stay in their houses at night, like they’re supposed to?

Guest Blogger: Judi Fennell

2009-05-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

The winner of Judi's charm is: Lil. Congratulations, Lil! Send me your contact information and I'll pass it along to Judi. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Hi everyone and thanks for having me!

My debut novel, In Over Her Head, is out and about in stores now. In Over Her Head is the story of Erica who is afraid of the ocean and a Mer man named Reel, "The Spare" heir to the Mer throne, and the undersea adventure they have to recover stolen diamonds and escape a sea monster.

I'm eagerly awaiting feedback from readers, but have had an initial idea of what people will think because this story was in an online contest, similar to American Idol, on the social networking site, Gather.com. The contest, First Chapters Romance, took place in August 2007 and those of us who entered had to post our first chapter for people to read and be able to comment on. The story made the Top 5 finalists and caught the eye of one of the judges who was instrumental in helping me sell it to Sourcebooks.

The minute the contest opened, the fish puns started flowing fast and furious. And now the reviewers have gotten in on the act, and I have so enjoyed them. It's been as fun to read what people say about the story as it was to write the plays-on-words, the double entendres, puns, and tongue-in-cheek poking fun at language and culture. Here are some:

"a hurricane of sensuality"

"Judi Fennell dives into the paranormal scene with a splash"

"This debut has grabbed me hook, line, and sinker!"

"I truly found a pearl in my oyster when I read this delightful tale"

"From the beginning you feel the chemistry flowing between he and Erica."

I've been asked where I came up with the idea for the story since there aren't any Mer men stories out there. In Over Her Head came out of a series I was working on that was a twist on fairy tales: Beauty and The Best, Cinda Bella, Fairest of Them All. I wanted to do a twist on The Little Mermaid. The most natural way was to make the guy the Mer. Toss in some talking fish and a bunch of mythology and there you have it.

I wrote the story more for me than any thought to getting it published; it's the kind of story I would love to read. Gather had had a previous contest, First Chapters, for all genre fiction and Beauty and The Best was the only romance to make it to the Top 20 finalists in that contest (out of 2700 entries), so when they announced the First Chapters Romance contest, over a hundred people emailed me to ask me to enter the contest. I didn't want to enter the same manuscript and In Over Her Head was almost finished. I figured, why not? What did I have to lose?

Well, I didn't win the contest, but selling the book - and the next two in the series certainly made up for it.

To celebrate the release of each of my books, and to keep with my "contesting" mindset, as well as a great tie-in to the sea theme of the stories, I'm offering readers a chance to win one of 3 romantic beach getaways on my website, www.JudiFennell.com. All the information and rules to enter are there - no purchase necessary.

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About The Author:
Judi Fennell has had her nose in a book and her head in some celestial realm all her life, including those early years when her mom would exhort her to "get outside!" instead of watching Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie on television. So she did--right into Dad's hammock with her Nancy Drew books.

These days she's more likely to have her nose in her laptop and her head (and the rest of her body) at her favorite bookstore, but she's still reading, whether it be her latest manuscript or friends' books.

A three-time finalist in online contests, Judi has enjoyed the reader feedback she's received and would love to hear what you think about her Mer series. Check out her website at www.JudiFennell.com for excerpts, reviews and fun pictures from reader and writer conferences, and the chance to "dive in" to her stories.

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www.JudiFennell.com
In Over Her Head, coming from Sourcebooks, 6/09
Wild Blue Under & Catch of a Lifetime, books 2 & 3 in the Mer trilogy
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Judi will give away a mermaid cell phone charm to one person who comments here. Check back Tuesday evening to see if you won.

Dark Harvest Wins!, Book Signing with Carrie Vaughn and Esri Rose, 5/26, Great Contest on Cecile's Blog and Guest Bloggers Wanted

2009-05-23T16:19:00.000-07:00

I just got this email from Colorado Authors League:

Dear Lynda:

This is to let you know that your entry, Dark Harvest, won the Genre Fiction category of the 2009 Colorado Authors’ League “Top Hand” Awards. Please watch for your plaque and $50 check to arrive in the mail. Congratulations!

OK. That's just cool.

**********

Carrie Vaughn (Kitty the werewolf series), Esri Rose (Bound to Love Her, Stolen Magic) and yours truly will be holding a signing at Boulder Bookstore (Boulder, CO) this Tuesday, May 26, 7:30 p.m. Stop by and say hello!

**********

My cyber-pal Cecile has created a week-long contest for me and my books on her blog. She's my #1 supporter. Drop by and check out her efforts on my behalf!

http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com

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And -- I'm looking for more paranormal guest bloggers for Mondays. I have openings starting this summer. Send an email to this address if you're interested: boulderboomer at aol.com. The topic is anything paranormal.

Signed copies of my books

2009-05-22T07:24:00.000-07:00

I've gotten requests, so I thought I'd post this information again.

A while back, I signed all my books at a Denver book store and the owners (lovely people!) are great about offering a discount price for the books and fair shipping. If you'd like a signed copy of one of my books, you can contact:

Nina and Ron Else
Who_else@att.net
303-987-0281

Two Great Sites to Choose From!

2009-05-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

My sweet reader friend Cecile is holding a week-long event on her blog for me. She's posting excerpts of my short stories and my books throughout the days, and will share the interview we did. There are lots of giveaways! Check it out:
http://alliwantandmore.blogspot.com

Also, I'm guest blogging today at Silk and Shadows. Stop by and leave a comment to enter a giveaway where you can choose one of my books:
http://www.silkandshadows.com

Guest Blogger: Angie Fox

2009-05-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

(I posted this earlier, but for some reason, it disappeared.) The winner of Angie's book is: Phoebe! Congratulations, Phoebe. Give me your contact info and I'll pass it along to Angie. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Hi, my name is Angie Fox and I write a series about a preschool teacher turned demon slayer who has to run off with her grandmother’s gang of geriatric biker witches. But what cracks me up is that nobody ever asks me about that.

Biker witches? Sure! Demon slaying preschool teachers? Why not? What readers most want to know is why the hero of the books, Dimitri, is a shapeshifting griffin.

My answer is always – why not? Don’t get me wrong – I love werewolves and vampires and all kinds of heroes. But frankly, I’m surprised we don’t see more griffins in paranormal books.

Aside from being sexy as all get out, griffins are known to be loyal, intense and strong. Griffins were even a symbol of marriage in the Medieval church because they mate for life. I can’t think of a better quality for a hero to have. And while griffins may not be your classic Alpha “my way or the highway” type of guys, they are tough and absolutely willing to leap tall mountains (literally) for the women they love.

In honor of Dimitri, and griffins everywhere, I’m giving away a copy of my latest book, The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers. And if you’d like to learn more, be sure to visit www.angiefox.com

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Leave a comment here to enter the drawing for Angie's book. The winner will be selected and posted on Tuesday evening. Check back to see if you won!

German version of The Vampire Shrink

2009-05-13T07:01:00.001-07:00

I discovered a link to my book's upcoming German version:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://www.droemer-knaur.de/autoren/Lynda%2BHilburn.1421188.html&ei=etEKSuf6PJ6ktAPgpNzrCA&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=2&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3DLynda%2BHilburn%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D150

I hadn't seen the cover, nor did I realize they'd changed the name. And the blurb is very interesting (at least the Google translation from German). What fun! Last I heard, it was being released in November of this year. Click on the book cover.

Guest Blogger: Nancy Haddock

2009-05-10T20:11:00.000-07:00

The winner of Nancy's book is: Kerry Nelson! Congratulations, Kerry. Send me your contact information and I'll pass it along to Nancy. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Where Are the Weres?

I write a paranormal mystery romance series for Penguin/Berkley starring Cesca Marinelli. Cesca is a 228-year old vampire who was born in St. Augustine, Florida in 1780, turned in 1800, then buried in a coffin in a half-basement and forgotten for over 200 years. When Maggie discovers Cesca during the restoration of a Victorian house, Cesca has a second shot at afterlife, and lot to learn to catch up to the 21st century.

You may surmise that my series is not dark or edgy, and you would be right!

After La Vida Vampire was released, several readers asked me why I didn’t have werewolves (or tigers or leopards, etc.) in my books. Several more asked why I killed off the werecreatures entirely.

The short answer is I didn’t want Weres in my story world. Not because I don’t like werecreature characters – oh, no! Far from it! I’ll read stories with Were characters all day long, be they the throat-ripping bad guys, the sexy good guys, or a mixed bag. Weres are an integral part of the paranormal and urban fantasy genre I love.

But let’s face the facts, folks. We have werelions and weretigers and werebears, oh, my! We have wereleopards, werewolves, werepanthers, wererats, and about any other werecreature an author wants to create.

Given that, where and when do Weres wear thin?

I did consider including Were characters during the early stages of my world building. After deliberating the pros and cons, I thought it was enough of a risk to write a vampire book when so many authors already wrote vampires so very well. The same applied to werecreatures. So many authors wrote them well – and so many populated their books with both Weres and vampires – I figured I didn’t need to go there. I “killed off” Weres for my story world, partly to take care of the question in the reader’s mind. I also made that choice so I could highlight the difference between lycanthropes and my magical shape-shifting character, Pandora, the Florida Panther.

As the time has neared for Last Vampire Standing to be released, a sneaky, savvy, darling reader pointed out that I killed off the Weres in the US, but made no mention of them being wiped out world wide. Might I, the reader asked, ever write a story line in which Weres from Europe trickle into town?

Hmmmm. Now there’s a fun possibility. And, since I’ve learned never to say never, who knows what may show up in future stories to challenge Cesca’s “normal” afterlife?

That’s a question for later. For now I hope that readers will embrace the old and new characters in Last Vampire Standing. Triton, Cesca’s first love from her girlhood, makes an appearance in the new book, and, of course, Maggie and Neil, Saber and Pandora figure prominently. Jo-Jo the Jester, the wannabe stand-up comic, was a scream to write for the sequel, and a paranormal investigation geek is also introduced along with a few more vamps in Daytona Beach.

What is your reading pleasure in paranormal and urban fantasy – the more supernaturals the better, or do you prefer a cast of fewer? Which kinds of supernaturals do you most like to see Weres paired with – vampires, witches, other Weres? Do you like to see new supernatural characters and elements brought into sequels, or do you like all the ingredients in the soup from the get go?

I’d love to discuss these questions, so please leave a comment. If you’re a published author and leave a comment, please also leave your web URL or title of your last or upcoming book! I like sharing the stage!

Nancy is giving away a copy of Last Vampire Standing, but you must leave an answer to one of the questions to be entered. For more opportunities to win a book, see the Beach Party page on Nancy’s web site – www.nancyhaddock.com. The winner will be posted here on Tuesday evening. Check back to see if you won!

Multi-Author Book Signing, Saturday, May 9

2009-05-07T05:58:00.000-07:00

If you're going to be in the Greeley, Colorado area this Saturday around noon, stop by the Borders Books and say hello to Elaine Levine, Melissa Mayhue, Robin Owens, Tara Janzen and me. We'll be signing our books for a couple of hours and would love to see some familiar faces.

Guest Blogger: Stephanie Julian

2009-05-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

The winner of Stephanie's book is: Amber! Congratulations, Amber. Send me your contact info and I'll pass it along to Stephanie. Thanks to everyone who participated!!

At last month’s RT Booklovers Convention in Orlando, Florida, I gave a talk on worldbuilding, “Beyond Celtic Fairies and Greek Gods,” with Jessica Andersen, Lynne Connelly and Melissa Mayhue.

I first came up with the idea when I decided I was going to RT and knew I wanted to get my name out there other than only at the book signings.

Being a relatively shy person (no, really, I am), public speaking is so not my thing and I hate making small talk. But I love to talk writing.

And I love to write, particularly paranormal series. Seduced by Danger, the sixth story in my Magical Seduction series from Ellora’s Cave, was released Friday and in it you’ll find many of the characters from the previous books, along with the main couple, Michael and Cara.

I love writing series because it allows you to revisit favorite characters, to catch up with them every now and then and see what they’re doing.

And I adore writing paranormal series. There’s just so much more you can do with paranormal. You aren’t bound by the traditional rules of nature, except those you choose to follow and the ones you create yourself.

I chose to play with an Etruscan mythology in my books, mainly because no one else was. And my dad’s family is from Italy. It was a natural fit. And I didn’t want to do the traditional Greek gods. I wanted to do my own twist. But how do you find that twist?

When I started cruising the Internet for information on Etruscan mythology, I discovered the wild and wonderful world of speculative non-fiction. Sites dedicated to theories on who really built the sphinx and the pyramids and crystal skulls and the Piri Reis map.

I was fascinated by lost civilizations (yes, I mean Atlantis but also Ra and the Lost Mines of Murabeca and etc.), artifacts unearthed in Middle Eastern deserts that appeared to be ancient electrical equipment and cryptozoology.

I felt like I’d hit the goldmine of idea. The very nature of their being sparks little ideas that grow into big ideas.

Here are some of my favorite places on the Internet to find weird and wonderful ideas.

Encyclopedia Mythica
http://www.pantheon.org/
The mythology section is divided into six geographical regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Middle East and Oceania. Each region has clearly defined subdivisions. The folklore section contains general folklore, Arthurian legends and folktales from many lands. There is also a bestiary, legendary heroes, image gallery and genealogical tables of various pantheons.

Crystalinks Ancient and Lost Civilizations
http://www.crystalinks.com/ancient.html
Good jumping off point if you’re looking for something to kickstart your creativity.

Pib Burns Cryptozoology
http://www.pibburns.com/cryptozo.htm
Want to read about weird creatures? Here’s the place to find some.

World Mysteries
http://www.world-mysteries.com/index.html
Another weird stuff site but full of interesting tidbits to make you go hmm.

Skeptic’s Dictionary
http://www.skepdic.com/
The other side to some of the weird stuff you’re going to find on the other sites.

Rick Richards
http://www.rickrichards.com
A little bit of everything here, from Jesus to Mayan temples with lots of pictures.

www.stephaniejulian.com

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One commenter will be selected to win a copy of Stephanie's book. The winner will be posted here on Tuesday evening.

Dark Harvest a finalist in the Colorado Authors League "Top Hand" Awards, Genre Fiction AND Colorado Romance Writers Conference, 5/1 & 5/2, Denver

2009-04-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

I got an excellent email this morning, telling me that DARK HARVEST is a finalist in the Colorado Authors League "Top Hand" Award, Genre Fiction. The winners will be selected at the CAL banquet on May 19. You can read about it here:

http://www.coloradoauthors.org/

Here's the info on the wonderful Colorado Romance Writers conference in Denver this Friday and Saturday:

http://www.coloradoromancewriters.org/conference.html

Guest Blogger: Jeri Smith-Ready

2009-04-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

The winner of Jeri's book is: The Ink Gypsy! Congrats! Send me your contact information and I'll pass it along to Jeri. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Urban fantasy worldbuilding: a place like ours, or not

We usually associate the daunting word “worldbuilding” with science fiction or traditional fantasy, where an idea becomes a system of rules and details that astound us with their complexity and completeness. But the same rigor must also be applied to urban fantasy. While traditional fantasy usually involves an invented world—think Middle Earth or Narnia—urban/contemporary fantasy is by definition set in a world we recognize. It might be a well-known city like Las Vegas, or it might be a place that doesn’t exist but feels real, like Bon Temps, Louisiana.

Even in urban fantasy, these visions of “our world” can vary. They can be identical to the one we know, where the supernatural remains secret; or a parallel world, in which magic is integrated into society. As it so happens, I write one of each, so I’ll try to describe some of the challenges I’ve faced.

My WVMP RADIO series (WICKED GAME and next month’s BAD TO THE BONE) is solidly set in our world. The truth about vampires, including the station’s disc jockeys, is hidden from the public (though it is eventually used as a marketing gimmick). Therefore, their existence has not changed the world we know. The only addition is a covert paramilitary organization known as the International Agency for the Control and Management of Undead Corporeal Entities (aka the Control), which works with federal agencies in various nations at top levels of secrecy.

I incorporate real-life details such as music, technology, and even sports. In BAD TO THE BONE, the actual November 5, 2007, Steelers-Ravens football game plays a role in one of the subplots. I worked the game into the backdrop of a dramatic scene, and the final score sharpens the rivalry between Shane and David. (In real life, I was heartbroken at the Ravens’ crushing defeat, but then realized, “Hey, I can use this!” Great art comes from great pain. ;-)

The characters’ close ties to the real world allows them to step out of the books into our reality. They might even, oh, hypothetically speaking, have MySpace and Twitter accounts. They can communicate with readers about current events and music, because they share our culture.

To build this series’ world, I must decide which real-life elements to include. Which kinds of events are relevant to the characters? In BAD TO THE BONE, a single football game causes a cascade of conflict and confusion.

On the other side, how much of Ciara and Shane’s world should be brought into our domain? Does their online reader interaction enhance the world building, or could “breaking the fourth wall” make their fictional world feel less special?

My other project is a young adult urban fantasy series, which will begin in 2010. It takes place in our world (Baltimore, which many people think already exists in a parallel universe), and also mentions modern music. But this world has one major addition: the heroine (Aura) and everyone younger can see ghosts, due to a mysterious event called the Shift, which took place at her birth.

Proof of the supernatural sends shock waves through Aura’s society, even for those who can’t see them—i.e., anyone seventeen and older. The government forms the Department of Metaphysical Purity (DMP, whose agents are colloquially called “dumpers”). An obsidian-based technology called BlackBox™ is developed to keep ghosts out of sensitive areas such as bathrooms and military buildings.

To build this fictional world, I had to decide how much of our world would change over the course of sixteen ghost-filled years. Adults would be slow to adapt and accept the new reality, especially since they can’t experience ghosts directly. This reluctance would manifest in religions clinging to the old ways, or pop culture fetishizing ghosts in a cynical attempt at profit. The youngest generation would feel isolated and misunderstood by the larger world. They wouldn’t have the influence to mold their culture—yet.

So in building this world I have to think about how the two vastly different segments of society would react to the existence and presence of ghosts. One would fall into denial and paranoia, and the other would find ways to adapt, since they have no other choice.

Along with a few other individual, the heroine Aura is determined to discover why the Shift occurred in the first place, maybe even figure out how to reverse it. Until her boyfriend dies and becomes a ghost.

I hope that in my own rambly way, I’ve helped illustrate a few of the different challenges involved in urban fantasy worldbuilding. Turns out, it’s just as complicated as any other kind.

****

To enter to win the last Advance Review Copy of BAD TO THE BONE (release date May 19), just leave a comment below. It can be about worldbuilding either from the perspective of a reader or a writer, or a reaction to what I’ve written above.

Or, you can suggest a title for my YA series. I am desperately seeking a name, both for the series and for Book One, so any help would be very appreciated!

A name will be drawn at random on Wednesday evening, April 29, and posted here.

Jeri can be found on all the internets, including:
www.jerismithready.com
www.myspace.com/jerismithready
http://twitter.com/jsmithready
http://twitter.com/CiaraGriffin
http://twitter.com/ShaneMcAllister

Romantic Times Convention, Orlando, FL, April 21-26

2009-04-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'll be winging my way to Orlando tomorrow for the Romantic Times convention. If you're going to be attending, please come and say hello! I tend to be shy in large crowds, so if you see me cowering in a corner (or sitting with my nose buried in a book in a restaurant) please come over and say hi. I love meeting other book fanatics.

I'll be here:

TUE 7 pm
I'm hoping to join other FF&P writers for dinner (I think at the Golden Corral)

WED 10:30-11:30
Vampire Panel
VAMPIRE: A BITE WITH A TWIST: INFUSING NEW BLOOD IN THE VAMPIRE GENRE: A discussion about transfusing blood from other genres to keep vampires flourishing. Examine the cross-genre vampire novels of today with some of the genre's top authors.
Moderator: Caridad Pineiro Panelists: Lynda Hilburn, Jeaniene Frost, Jaye Wells, Mario Acevedo

WED 5:30-7:30
I'm going to try to attend the FF&P Happy Hour Gathering

THURS 10:30-11 and 3-3:30
I'll be at a table in Club RT

SAT
Book Signing!

I look forward to meeting as many old/new friends as possible!

First Place, Lories Best Published Contest, Book Trailer and Weekend Events

2009-04-12T16:31:00.001-07:00

I'll be here:

Saturday, April 18, 10-4, Carbon Valley Regional Library Author Event, Firestone, CO http://www.susanjtweit.com/Susansite/Where_I_am_files/flyer.pdf
CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW STORM

Sunday, April 19, 1-3, Author Open House, Englewood Public Library, Englewood, CO
http://www.englewoodgov.org/Index.aspx?page=971

Yay!

I just got this from the contest coordinator:

It is with great pleasure I inform you that your novel, Dark Harvest, has taken First Place in the Mainstream category of The Lories Best Published Contest. We had a wonderful turnout for the Mainstream group this year and you should be proud of your accomplishment. On behalf of From The Heart Romance Writers, you will receive an e-certificate and e-logo.

Your winning novel will be sent to Debbie Meredith, Romance Manager at The Bookstore, for ranking alongside the seven other First Place category winners in The Lories Best Published Contest. Final rankings will be announced on or around June 5th with the Grand Prize Winner being awarded the conference registration of his/her choice.

Guest Blogger: Barbara Sheridan

2009-04-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

The winner of Barbara's books is: Dawn McClure! Congrats, Dawn. Send me your contact info and I'll pass it along to Barbara. Thanks to everyone who participated.

That Was Then, This is Now

It's hard to believe that ten years has gone by since April 1999 when my first book, Timeless Wish was published as part of the old Jove Time Passages line. I can still remember seeing it for the first time and thinking. The cover is so green, the photo album so wrong, the back blurb so very dull . . . *grin*

I was sad when the line folded and TW went out of print a few years later, but by then e-publishing was starting to take off and I was fortunate to have Cerridwen Press love the book as much as I did. They gave me a lovely new cover and allowed me to use the blurb I wrote, the one I used in my original query to Berkley/Jove:

At the stroke of midnight on December 31, 1898, Sheriff Corby Hillhouse makes this heartfelt wish: "Please send me a woman my love won't kill." Corby doesn't realize it, but his wish is granted in the form of 20th century interior designer, Laura Bennett. Like Corby, Laura harbors many regrets, but when she's hired as nanny to Corby's motherless daughter she finds the happiness she'd been searching for. But before Laura can enjoy her new life she has to get past Corby's suspicious nature, his spiteful ex-lover, and the man who wants both Corby and his daughter dead.

I suppose the oddest thing about Timeless Wish is that it's actually the third book in a loosely connected trilogy featuring members of the Hillhouse & McNamara families of the old Indian Territory/early Oklahoma. Only my Muse would be whacked enough to stick a paranormal in with two historical romances.

Then again . . . my formative years were spent being influenced by TV shows like Bonanza, Big Valley, and Gunsmoke as well as all the "woo-woo" happenings of Dark Shadows, Time Tunnel, and our local weekly Saturday night B-movie fest-Chiller Theater, so it all makes perfect sense.

If you'd like to see how my mad Muse managed to combine those early influences, leave a comment to this post. The winner will receive electronic copies of Bittersweet Surrender, Sweet Medicine and of course Timeless Wish.

www.barbarasheridan.com

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Barbara's winner will be selected and posted here on Tuesday evening.

Paranormal Gift Basket for Brenda Novak Online Auction

2009-04-03T12:27:00.000-07:00

Here's a photo and the author line-up of the Paranormal Gift Basket we're donating for Brenda Novak's Online Auction. Basket Kase of Boulder, CO put the basket together for me, and co-owner Kathy Donnel did an awesome job. They ship everywhere. Here's their contact info:

www.bbkase.com

Here's the auction website:

http://www.brendanovak.com/auction.shtml

Donating Authors:

Lynda Hilburn:
Signed copy of THE VAMPIRE SHRINK
Signed copy of DARK HARVEST
Relaxation guided hypnosis CD
Shower gel and body lotion
Chocolate Fudge
Bookmarks

Nancy Haddock:
Signed copy of LA VIDA VAMPIRE
Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Starbucks Gift Card
La Vida Vampire key chain
Bookmark

Esri Rose:
Signed copy of BOUND TO LOVE HER
Bookmarks
Assorted chocolates

Carrie Vaughn:
Signed copy of KITTY AND THE DEAD MAN'S HAND
Copy of Kitty's play list on CD

Jeanne C. Stein:
Signed copy of THE BECOMING
Signed copy of BLOOD DRIVE
Signed copy of THE WATCHER
Signed copy of LEGACY
Chocolate
2 pens
Set of book cover magnets

Jamie Leigh Hansen
Signed copy of CURSED
Signed copy of BETRAYED
Paper and pen set
Bookmark

Mario Acevedo
Signed ARC of X-RATED BLOOD SUCKERS