Pre-Release Review

I've been meaning to post this for over a month now. M.E. Ellis is a published author and one of the top new voices in suspense/thriller genre. She also edits for Freya's Bower, and will be the first to tell you she's not a romance genre fan. Which, in my humble opinion, makes her comment below even more credible. Thank you, M.E. *smile*

I've got a novel proof that I want to try and get finished by tonight. I read one half yesterday. It's The Learning Curve by Canice Brown Porter. 100K of romance/erotica. If the first half is anything to go by, this one is packed with saucy scenes that will fair make your heart flutter. ...M.E. Ellis

Just in time for Valentine's Day!

Available Monday, January 29th from Forbidden Publications

Sela Carsen: The Virgin Courtesan (historical; sensual)
Stacy Dawn: Apple of His Eye (contemporary; mainstream [aka: nonerotic])
Elisabeth Drake: Wasting the Dawn (dark paranormal; carnal)
CJ England: Angel Eyes and Demon Lies (paranormal; carnal)
Dayna Hart: Wings of Love (fantasy; mainstream)
Loribelle Hunt: Be Mine (contemporary; sensual)
Crystal Jordan: Twice in a Blue Moon (paranormal; carnal)
Jennifer Leeland: Naughty Notions (contemporary; carnal)
JT Schultz: Cupid's Target (paranormal; sensual)
Shelli Stevens: Cabin Fever (contemporary; carnal)

While I'm Waiting...

Okay, I feel a little better about yesterday. I updated my website, so it now has a whole new look. Although, I am still working on a couple of pages. I managed to help my bestest friend *and you know who you are* with her website. I read "Snow Falling on Lovers" by Adrianna Dane. Now all I have to do is write the review. Interesting read, because I kept waiting for the hero or heroine to mention the other's name, and nowhere in the whole story is there the use of a proper name. But, it worked well. No writing at all yesterday. Unless you count the writing I did while revamping my website. NOT!

Goals today:
• write and submit review for Snow Falling on Lovers
• try to write something on my story for the FB BDSM anthology
• start on the RD Valentine's Day short story

Goals through February 2007:
• polish/edit "Innocent Lies/Dangerous Truths" and submit to FB by end of February. (Book 2 of Yesterday's Innocence series)
• setup a new PayPal account for my writing income/expenses
• mail entry fee for The Stroke of Midnight contest (Passionate Ink) and submit e-entry per specs
• finish and post RD Valentine's Day short story on my website (Free Read/Download) no later than Feb. 10th
• finish TROUBLE story for FB no later than 02/21
• start working on historical time travel again (entry for the Stroke of Midnight contest)
Goals through April 2007:

• finish the historical time travel for the Stroke of Midnight contest
• actively seek agent representation

Two New Releases for Jenna Bayley-Burke

Hi there everyone! I wanted to breeze by and annouce my double debut at The Wild Rose Press! I write romance for Mills & Boon, but love the challenge of a short story. I am so thankful WRP celebrates the medium, giving those of us pressed for time a smile and a bounce to our step.

The love after loss story, How About Tomorrow, is the first Rosette I contracted with WRP. My writing friends at Romance Divas helped me tweak it until it was just right...and then Leeane fixed that to perfection.

Jack hasn’t been out on a date since his wife’s death five years ago. Even his teenage daughter thinks it’s time he finally go on a blind date brokered by his sister-in-law. Jack’s unsure, until he meets Maria. She’s as timid as he is at first, but the more they talk the more they realize they should see each other again, and again.


My English Tea Rose, In Silhouette, was so exciting to write. I work mainly in contemporary romance, so stretching into Regency was difficult, but rewarding! I dedicated this story to my critique partner, American Title II finalist Suzan Hyssen. She writes intelligent, comedic Regency romances, when she is not busy with law school.

James Darby is bored by the ennui of country life, fervidly anticipating his return to London. When he spies Miss Hughes entertaining herself by cutting silhouettes at a party he’s captivated by her talent, and charm. How can someone so fascinating survive in a place so tedious?

In February, another of my stories will appear in the Dreams & Desires charity anthology. Keep a look out for my Last Rose of Summer Rosettes...they are coming soon!

Jenna

Cerulean Skye by R. Pia

Available now at Silk's Vault
Skye Clearwater is devoted and diligent in every aspect of her life, especially when it comes to the people she loves. The galaxy is at war again. Skye’s father is called back to active duty by the Cerulean Brotherhood. When all communication with him ceases after a few mooncycles, Skye decides to join the conflict to search him out. Young Skye is thrust into the complexities of real life and galactic war. Skye is captured by the warring Hegemony and has to use her wits, skills, and powers to save herself and her love ones. What Skye doesn’t expect to find in the midst of chaos, is her soul’s reflection in another. . .

Link: Cerulean Skye

Mating Call by Emily Ryan-Davis

Available now at Freya's Bower!
Cora Phillips has witchcraft in her blood, but she's convinced she inherited the recessive rather than the dominant trait. Her mother and sister are the real heiresses to the Lune tradition; Cora has neither the interest nor the inclination to take up the Dragonkeeper mantle. Years ago, she left the New York City Witch lifestyle to the other women in her family, and said goodbye to all the velvet and lace. However, during a moment of insomnia-induced insanity, she agrees to come back to celebrate Christmas/Winter Solstice with her family.

It comes as a shock to all three women when Cora, through clumsy fumblings to "get in touch with her goddess" at her sister's urging, calls a pair of ancient dragons into her meditation circle.

Cora swears it's a mistake. Her mother swears it's the correct course of events. Eventually, every Dragonkeeper issues the call to mate. Problem is, nobody expected Cora to summon even a single dragon, let alone two.

Before long, the dragons' guardians come knocking, literally, and ruin any hope of politely apologizing and returning the creatures.

For more information, visit Freya's Bower!

Now the Waiting Begins...

Four days. A minimum of 10,000 words. Amber Quill Press contest. Deadline Today, January 15th.

It's the only way to get your foot in the door with this publisher. Once a year. From January 1 - 15, AQP hold their annual contest for published and unpublished authors. They choose the winners from the entries. Those stories which are chosen are offered a publishing contract with them. Of course, once you are "inside" they will accept submissions from you at any time.

Judging Criteria? Each story entered will be judged on the following...
— Plotline and Overall Story
— Story Pacing
— Characterization
— POV (Point Of View) Focus
— Genre Appropriateness
— Descriptives
— Dialogue
— Writing Mechanics (Grammar, Punctuation, Sentence Structure, Etc.)
— Originality of Writing Style

Gawd, I hustled, but at the same time edited, polished, and wrote each time I worked on this book. By 5:28pm (EST) today, Something Strange About Angelina went off to AQP, meeting their deadline. And, I had almost 13, 500 words! Not bad. What helped me meet this deadline? I wrote the story out in my journal when I couldn't sit in front of my computer. Then, I transcribed.

I originally thought it would fall into a shapeshifter/suspense, but entered it into their Dark Fantasy/Thriller line. This is not my usual writing style. (Which I've done a lot of lately...deviating from my usual contemporary, historical and time travel genres.) Don't ask me why? These last two stories came from out of the blue or a conversation I held with someone.

I submitted Virtual Lovers to Freya's Bower and am waiting to hear back from them. Soon, I hope.

The AQP entry? I won't hear anything from them until March 1, 2007. If my story is chosen, it will publish in June 2007.

Keep your fingers crossed!

Something Unexpected Coming 01/16/07

My best friend, Miranda Heart, will have a new BDSM themed erotic released from Freya's Bower on Tuesday, January 16th! Be sure to check it out! She's an excellent storyteller and writes prolifically. She's well versed in the lifestyle.

Blurb: Beatrice doesn't understand her new found feelings for pain and pleasure until she meets the Marquis de Sade. As hard as she tries to deny her feelings, the Marquis and what he can do to her continues to excite Beatrice. Finally, she devises a scheme to get him alone. By the end of the night, she's sated but disappointed that she can't share her new tastes with her betrothed and must keep it a secret. Having had a taste of what she really needs, how can she endure a long, boring marriage?

And, yes, I did her cover art.

AMBER QUILL ENTRY COVER ART & BLURB

This story is for the Amber Quill Press contest. It is an erotica shapeshifter/suspense. Angelina Pratt is a 10 year veteran homicide detective. When the naked body of a young woman is found brutalized, mutilated, and tortured in a ritual fashion, Angelina is plagued by nightmares. Something the "Freezer Queen" never has experienced before.

Angelina is dealing with more than the stress of her job. The medallion that she has never taken off since her father placed it around her neck just before he disappeared, matches the hieroglyphics that were carved into the victim's body. Is her father a murder? Connected to this cult and killing innocent women?

And, on top of all this, now she has to deal with some stupid nightmare where some dark figure warns her that her life is in danger. Run? Not in this lifetime!

Stefano is sent by his people to warn Angelina to seek refuge somewhere else. Those who have been tracking her are close at hand, and will kill her if they find her before her 30th birthday.

Although Angelina finds herself perturbed by the nightly warnings, she is strangely comforted and drawn to the black-clad male that visits her in her dreams. Something about him reaches into her soul and touches a part of her that no other man has ever done. But, he's a dream! He's not real. Or, is he?

Cover art by Brenda Porter/Novel Ideas Design

Available Now
BEYOND THE MAZE, an historical time travel romance and
THE GOBLIN, THE WITCH, AND THE SINGLE GIRL, a
paranormal/contemporary romance
from Freya's Bower at http://www.freyasbower.com

WooHoo! Virtual Lovers is complete and submitted!

I finished Virtual Lovers (almost 20K words) and even sent it to Marci at Freya's Bower. It took a few twists at the end and will probably shock a few readers. LOL It was such a great write!

Now I have to get busy and write a minimum of 10K words for the Amber Quill Publishing contest which has a Monday, January 15th deadline! But, that gives me almost 5 days. I think I can do it!

Congrats go out to my best friend -- and cohort in crime -- Miranda Heart. Her new BDSM novella, Something Unexpected, will be released from Freya's Bower this coming Tuesday, January 16th! She asked me to do her cover art for this one, which I did!

Available Now
BEYOND THE MAZE, an historical time travel romance and
THE GOBLIN, THE WITCH, AND THE SINGLE GIRL, a
paranormal/contemporary romance
from Freya's Bower at http://www.freyasbower.com

Freya's Bower Issues Call for Submissions!

A Rose of Any Color -- A BDSM Anthology
Freya’s Bower is compiling a two-book anthology for readers who love BDSM stories.

A Rose of Any Color -- Book One: FemDom
and
A Rose of Any Color -- Book Two: MaleDom

Each volume will incorporate the work of five authors. We are looking for three established BDSM authors for each volume. Remaining story slots for each book are open to newer writers to submit. Stories must be no less than 10K words and no more than 20K. Any sub-genre of BDSM is welcome with ratings of sweet, tangy, spicy, sizzling and beyond sizzling.

Both volumes are based on a rose theme. Whether the rose (or some form of a rose such as its thorns or petals) is integral to the plot or merely makes an appearance in the story, it is a requirement for all submissions.

Submit entire manuscript attached as a Word document to editorkatherinem@yahoo.com with the words “BDSM Rose” in the subject line. Established authors must include a short bio.

Deadline is March 31st.

Another Diva Release!

Up In Flames by Ember Sinclair
Available January 12, 2007
from CobbleStone Press
Ember Sinclair's Website

Blurb

Kat Ashbrook has two things on her mind—catching a murderer and sexy new boss, Connor Mercer. She never expected his come-hither looks, but she’s betting she can resist if she keeps her mind on the job. Too bad a prank leads to her surrender and possibly their deaths.