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Paige Tyler – Author of Sexy, Romantic Fiction » Thursday Thirteen!

Posted 3 hours ago


Thirteen Sexy Excerpts from MR. RIGHT-NOW, My Hot New Erotic Romance from Ellora's Cave!

1.

“For once, give yourself permission to have a no-strings-attached fling with a hot guy just for the fun of it,” Kristin said.

Beside Kate, Rachel grinned. “That’s a great idea! In fact, you can start this weekend.”

Kate looked at her in surprise. “This weekend?”

Rachel nodded. “No time like the present. And you know what they say, ‘what happens on San Juan Island, stays on San Juan Island.’”

Kate gave her a wry look. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that.”

“Well, they should. Besides, I have the perfect guy for you to have a fling with. Bob’s best man, Dawson McKenna.”

2.

Kate shook her head. “You can’t honestly expect me to sleep with some guy I don’t even know.”

“Did I mention he’s handsome, smart, and has an absolutely gorgeous body?” her friend asked.

“You left that part out,” Kate said dryly. “But if he’s handsome, smart and has an absolutely gorgeous body, then why is he still single?”

Rachel shrugged. “I don’t know and I don’t care. Neither should you. You’re not looking to marry the guy, remember? You’re just looking to have a good time with him.”

3.

When Rachel and the other girls were going on about how hot the best man was, they forgot to mention his voice was as sexy as the rest of him. She couldn’t remember ever feeling heat pool between her thighs at the sound of a man’s voice. Damn, with a … [Link]

Shapeshifter Seductions » Whirlwind Affair hits the front page

Posted 3 hours ago


Hi all,
Whirlwind Affair released today and is on EC's front page. I'm so excited by this new release. I had great fun developing the concept with Paris and working with Ash and Delilah to make the series come to life. It was great fun!

This has been a pretty darn good week too. Not only has my latest work been released by Ellora's Cave, but I found out on Monday that my book, Seeking Truth, WON an EPPIE in the historical erotic romance category. I've been dancing on air all week. It feels so good to know there are readers out there who evaluated my work and liked it enough for me to final, let alone win an award. Woo hoo!

And even better, I get to top off my week by attending an author breakfast and book signing on Saturday. Life is going pretty well right now. grin… [Link]

Beyond the Veil » Thursday Thirteen: Thirteen Great Fantasy Creatures

Posted 4 hours ago

The great thing about writing Fantasy Art Templates, my new book from Barron’s Educational Series, is that it turned out to be more than just another how-to art book. By the time artist Rafi Adrian Zulkarnain and I were done, it had become a 21st century bestiary, a resource for writers and gamers and people who write for games, and (for me, at least) a research project to love.
So in honor of both the release and Thursday, here are thirteen of my new favorite creatures and a few samples of the book’s luscious artwork—not to mention the house I want to live in when I grow up.

Kelpie—Traveling along the rivers and lakes of Scotland, should you ever meet a handsome, tame, but unbridled black horse with water dripping from its mane, do not touch it! Chances are that it is a Kelpie, a carnivorous water horse with an adhesive hide. If you pet the Kelpie or, worse yet, try to ride it, you will be unable to tear yourself free when it plunges into the depths of its watery home.

Strigoi—Strigoi are shapeshifting revenants who rise from the dead to plague their former relatives, and commit mischief in the form of cats, bats, owls and other nocturnal animals. (The neat fact we had to cut for length: if a Strigoi manages to evade detection and destruction for seven years he or she can regain their humanity and have children, though they'll all become Strigoi when they die.) … [Link]

Taste of Kiwi » The Wonder Grain

Posted 4 hours ago

I entered a competition a few weeks ago and yesterday, I received a box of rice and rice products worth $100. It was a real surprise, and now our pantry is full of rice. It’s just as well I like rice.

Thirteen Things About Rice

1. Rice is a staple food for more than half the world’s population.

2. Rice belongs to the grass family and produces seeds (the rice grains) on long stalks.

3. Rice is either short, medium or long grain. Short grain rice is more moist and sticky, due to higher starch content. Long grain rice is lighter and drier and the grains separate easier.

4. Rice is high in complex carbs. It has almost no fat. It has zero cholesterol and a low sodium content. It also provides protein and is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It’s gluten free and is easy to digest.

5. More than 40,000 varieties of cultivated rice exist.

6. Arborio rice is a short-grain rice grown in Italy. It absorbs flavor well and is used in making risotto. It can, however, be used in soups, rice puddings and paella dishes.

7. Basmati rice is my favorite. It’s a long-grain rice that comes from India and Pakistan. It’s name comes from the Hindi word for fragrant. It has a nutty scent and is perfect with curries.

8. Sushi rice has been grown in Japan for more than 2000 years. It’s sticky and holds its shape due to the high …

[Link]

The Otherworld Diner » A Look Inside Cerridwen Press

Posted 6 hours ago

Ever wonder what it’s like to write for Cerridwen Press?

Multi-published author Frances Stockton is here to share her experience with us and I hope that you’ll check out one of her many books. Within a few pages, I bet, you’ll find yourself rooting for her heroine and hero to deepen their compelling romance. Her Abcynian shape-changers are mystical, alluring and just plain yummy.
Header by Samulli
1. How did you get started as a writer? Actually, I started writing when I was thirteen. I’d always been imaginative and loved telling stories, so when I sat down and put it all together and created a contemporary version of Laura Ingalls Wilder who wanted to be Nancy Drew, while dating one of the Hardy Boys (the oldest, btw.) While it wasn’t the best or most original concept, what I’d known when I’d written ‘The End’, was that I had many more stories to tell. Since then, life, school, education, working as a Veterinary Technician, a teacher, and volunteering at a community theater all helped prepare me to become the writer I am today.

2. Getting The Call is the moment many unpublished authors fantasize about. It’s that moment when authors hear that a publisher wants her work. Can you describe your experience? Well, for me, I decided to submit a partial of what became Seductive Persuasion to Ellora’s Cave Publishing for Cerridwen Press, according to the publisher’s guidelines. To my pleasant surprise, I received word from my editor on Christmas Eve that she wanted … [Link]

The Rantings & Ravings of Jeanne St. James » 13 "Opposite Attracts" Movies

Posted 6 hours ago


13 "Opposites Attract" Movies
I found a lot of movies where “opposites attract.” From the 1930s to the current. So I tried to pick and choose some of the movies that are more well-known.

1. “Shrek” (2001)

2. “You’ve Got Mail” (1998)

Pretty Woman
3. "Pretty Woman" (1990)

When Harry Met Sally
4. "When Harry Met Sally" (1989)

5. "Love Actually" (2003)

6. "There's Something About Mary" (1998)

Six Days, Seven Nights
7. "Six Days, Seven Nights" (1998)

8. "Sabrina" (1995)

9. "Murphy's Romance" (1986)

10. "Say Anything" (1989)

Overboard
11. “Overboard” (1987)

12. "Serendipity" (2001)

13. "Maid in Manhattan" (2002)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants [Link]

Kiss and Tell » Workshops and Covers

Posted 10 hours ago


I’ve had one of those weeks where I ended up doing 100 percent of everything but what I intended to be doing. I am so far behind in writing this year I’m afraid to say it publicaly. But – I’m excited about what I’ve been working on.

This weekend I’m giving a presentation to my local RWA chapter. It’s called CSI for Writers: What TV gets right and wrong and how to make forensic techniques believable in your non-mystery stories. I told you I was bad at titles
. Could that be any longer? Jeeze.

For this class, we’re killing off K&T’s own Samantha Kane. Then, we will burst the CSI: Miami bubble by explaining how the real investigators use forensic techniques to determine Who Killed Samantha Kane. I’ll be doing a bad David Caruso impression before the end of the day I’m sure. I packed the sunglasses.

I’ve about got everything together. It was more work than I thought it would be. I forget how anal I can be with presentations and details. This evening I’m making the blood spatter patterns for the walls and floor. Fun. Fun. What? We need a crime scene to solve a crime.
I’ll post some photos after the workshop- Both of the corpse (Sorry Sam) and the class working with trace and fingerprinting.

In the meantime I got cover art for the upcoming release of Love Doctor ! Squeeeeee. I love Syneca’s work. This book is the sequel to Beware of the Cowboy and follows Becky’s adventures with a … [Link]

Fierce Romance » Wonderful Reviews for Kilted Lover

Posted 13 hours ago


I recently received some fantastic reviews for Kilted Lover that I wanted to share with you. The first is from LASR-Whipped Cream.

“When kilted cabertosser Scott MacPherson tosses Leslie Livingston over his shoulder to rescue her from two armed thieves trying to steal her priceless amulet, they are thrust into a deadly but sexy adventure. Though Leslie already has a lukewarm, uninterested boyfriend, her attraction to Scott is whitehot and undeniable. She wants to lick this tall, muscular alpha male all over and explore the depths of eroticism with him. But will he want anything more than one night once the danger is behind them?

Every time I read a kilt related story I get the crazy urge to go to Scotland and find myself a handsome long haired, hard bodied highlander. Kilted Lover by Nicole North was no exception. From page one, Ms. North attracted my attention. She kept it when “the scot” appeared in the picture: long blond hair, firm body, kilt, and the attitude of a real gentleman. Then the pendant that the protagonist wore glowed slightly and I became inevitably hooked.

Through Ms. North’s words, I quickly created an emotional link with most of the characters. For example, though Les, the main character seems a bit too innocent at times, it is an innocence which I couldn’t help find sweet and adorable. From empathy towards the main characters (the predicament they find themselves in is something which could happen to anyone), to dislike and pity towards others which … [Link]

Enchantments » Marching forward

Posted 15 hours ago

I felt universally crappy yesterday—thought I was coming down with a cold, because my throat felt wonky and I had the energy of a newborn kitten—so I self-medicated with a hot bubble bath and the Nora Roberts that finally popped up in my Holds queue at the library (Vision in White).I also decided, looking at my schedule for this month, not to go to San Diego with Ken this weekend, where he’ll be [Link]

Dana's Magic and Mayhem » About Time!

Posted 17 hours ago

Finally! I got a full day's work done. Almost 4k, and if my hand hadn't started hurting I would have gotten even more done.

There’s nothing I hate more than wanting to go go go and my body won't let me. Grr. But I'm finally past the three-quarter mark on Hecate’s Own and I'm about to write the big showdown, save-the-day scene, after which there will be food, sex, and more food, knowing Zach. Once that's done, it's time for the Meat Grinder and the Beta Readers while I switch gears and begin serious work on Norwegian Wood.

I keep thinking I'm missing something, though. Something important. Hopefully it will come out in the Meat Grinder and I'll slap myself silly, fix it and move on. If not, my Betas will find it, slap me silly, and I'll fix it and move on.

I haven't gotten the artwork yet on Mating Games, and I'm still waiting for word on Noble Blood, but I knew I would be. Laurie was swamped with Red Hot Fairy Tale submissions, so for everyone who's waiting to hear the fate of Duncan, Jaden and Moira hopefully I'll have word no later than the end of April.

Oh! And if you've emailed me and I haven't responded, please email me again! I've been so caught up I may have missed it. Our oldest graduates grade school this year, we're planning a trip to Disney and I've got RT coming up, so when I'm able to sit at the computer I've … [Link]

My mind wanders… » Wheee, I'm giddy!

Posted 17 hours ago


Check out the awesome gift I got this morning from the incredible Savanna Kougar!

What a way to start the day! Bast, Mari and I thank you, my dear!

Author Discovery ~ THE CHALLENGE by Serena Shay

Blurb: Marina Jamison is a mystery. As a half-breed shapeshifter, she lives on the fringe of were-jaguar society. Though her love for pride leader Bastian LaRue is forbidden, she finds herself tied to him by a bond stronger than their individual wills, a psychic link born from their one-night stand. When her secret is revealed, she is scorned and excluded. Neither Bastian nor the pride can accept a half-breed queen.

~~~
Okay, admittedly I have a hankerin’ swoonin’ thing for Ms. Shay’s hero. When it comes to his tenderer feelings and his most ferocious erotic desires, I adore an alpha who stands his ground, and Bastion did not disappoint.

This were-jaguar leader obviously needs a good woman and he doesn’t bother going into macho denial when he finds his mate. No, he owns up to it—definitely my kind of hero and always such sexy-goodness when reading an erotic romance.

Yes, Bastion has a little dysfunction problem when Marina abandons him for a very good reason, a secret she has to keep. Still, it’s his heart that is truly craving his beautiful were-mate, not just his admirable ability to satisfy her over and over.

I could vividly see Bastion in my imagination, both in his human form and his were-jaguar form, given Ms. Shay’s lovely and powerful descriptive voice. And, I … [Link]

Contest Divas » 2009 Divas – Dixie Kane Memorial Contest Winners

Posted 18 hours ago

The Southern Louisiana Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, Inc.
congratulates the winners of its 4th Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Contest:

Inspirational:

First Place Defending Hope by Dianne K Burns

Second Place The Road to Love by Anne Wolfe

Third Place Murder on Ocean Drive by Gloria Ferguson

Honorable Mention Light the Fire by Mary Manners

Short Contemporary:

First Place No Bull by Dee S. Knight

Second Place The Perfect Holiday Mix by Wendy S. Marcus

Third Place Beauty and the Feast by Chana Alexander

Honorable Mention A Thread of Shells by Lucy J. Dixon

Single Title Contemporary:

First Place Marryin' the Librarian by Wendy Qualls

First Place (tie) Murder, Curlers, and Canes by Arlene McFarlane

Second Place Chasing Miracles by Linda Chubbuck

Third Place Courting Disaster by Ellie Kirkland

Honorable Mention Worth Fighting For by La-Tessa Montgomery

Novel With Romantic Elements:

First Place The Choice by Pamela Kopfler

Second Place Tragic Choices-Far Off Voices by Margot Pleasants

Third Place Odin's End by Dawna Rand

Honorable Mention Wild Rodeo Nights by Sandy Sullivan

Historical:

First Place A Mad Passion by Laura Hirneisen

Second Place The True Confessions of a Lady Novelist by Emily Becher

Third Place A Frenchman's Secrets by Rhoda Fort

Honorable Mention Thief by Night by Connie Queen

Paranormal:

First Place Rocky Mountain Howl by Kinsey W. Holley

Second Place Intergalactic Brides Series: The Triple Bride by Dee S. Knight

Third Place Demon Soul by Christine Ashworth

Honorable Mention A Vision of Death by Evelyn Grady

Romantic Suspense:

First Place From Baghdad With Love by Gail Zerrade

Second Place The Light of Truth by Shelley M. Masog

Third Place Anytime Darlin' by Julia Barrett

Honorable Mention Saving … [Link]

Cleopatra's Perfume: The Prequel » A Naughty Victorian Lady discusses her naughty Pillow Book: Part 1

Posted 19 hours ago

by Lady Carlton nĂ©e Katie O’Roarke, heroine of “The Blonde Samurai”

I have in my possession a great treasure, dear lady reader, that will change the way you have sexual relations with his lordship. I shall tell you what it is after I explain to you how I obtained this wondrous item lest you find it so shocking you dismiss my posting and go about your social calls and rant about what “that Carlton woman” is up to now.

I chanced upon this esteemed item of pleasure in a small shop in Kobé owned by an old swordsmith and former samurai. A small trunk decorated in makie or sprinkled pictures, a process using gold and silver flakes and powder captured in lacquer to present narrative imagery. I mention the shop because this fortuitous gentleman was most instrumental in helping me during my time in Japan (as you shall discover in my memoir).

He advised me that the small trunk of which I speak had lain covered with dust for years in his shop (gloves must be worn when handling the delicate trunk) after a blusterous Englishman left it with him to inscribe his family crest on the key. He never returned to claim it. (I have since learned that the Earl of Valford was lost at sea and his heirs have no interest in claiming anything that has to do with his lordship’s “Oriental folly,” as they call it.)

The Valford Chest boasts the finest …

[Link]

Nara Malone » Why do I?

Posted 19 hours ago

Mist the Oak Tree by wabberjocky

For my old dog who loves his job herding deer from garden back to woods
For the deer, silent shadows moving between trunks at dusk, feeding on acorns
For the acorns that grow into sturdy oaks with roots like armor around the chuck-wills burrow
For the the branches that provide a jungle gym for energetic squirrels to climb toward the sky
For the sky that sends the rains back to the canopy of leaves and the shelter of oakwood
For the leaves that paint blue mountains in shades of gold and orange in the fall

Because the veil was torn from my eyes in those years the loggers came
Because the whine of logging saws at dawn drowned out the birds
Because day after day they ripped through hardwoods, whittling hundreds of acres down to fifteen
Because they cut, they ripped, they burned, they sent crop dusters spraying herbicides to insure the oak would not grow back
Because rain without the filtering watershed carries the poison into my well
Because replanting with pine means they can log more often, means hardwood forests disappear, means autumn disappears
Because the chuck-wills don’t sing here anymore

Modifying habits might modify their habits
Obedience to a conscience that insists I do something…anything
Those are the reasons I read E

What are yours?

This post was written in response to the Three Word Wednesday Prompt. Click that link and check out what other participants …

[Link]

Nara Malone » Tuesday’s E-Library Winner

Posted 20 hours ago

I’ve contacted Tuesday’s winner and I’m waiting to hear back. Check your e-mail everyone.

I’m still waiting for a response from Monday’s winner. All prizes unclaimed by Monday morning will go into a second chance drawing Monday and be sent to the new winner.

In the meantime, let’s get to work on Wednesday’s drawing. I’ve got a Three Word Wednesday post that should incite some commenting either for or against.

Tagged: E-books, E-librarycontest, ReadanE-BookWeek [Link]

Redneck Romance Writer » Insanity Runs In My Family Whiskey Wednesday

Posted 20 hours ago


Well, after a loooooong day yesterday involving the Emergency Room and calls from my kid’s teachers, I think things have finally died down.
The BIL I can’t stand was committed yesterday. We think he’s going through withdrawals from drugs and alcohol, but we aren’t sure. He was clearly hallucinating and really having a rough time, but I think he’ll be okay. It only took two trips to the ER and a call to the mental health hotline, but my BIL is getting the help he needs.
Yesterday afternooon, Train Boy’s teacher called because TB was refusing to participate in a presentation given by the University. Because the Redneck has definite opinions about environmentalism, my son said “I won’t” and didn’t. The only problem is when I told TB to go back in there, he defied ME.
Yeah. I wasn’t in the mood.
I had to pick him up and take him home. Let me just say that I am NOT happy. Though I am thrilled my son isn’t a lemming and questions everything, I still believe we should be respectful of the “other side”. The Redneck, however, disagrees.
So, last night he and I went ten rounds with no decision.
*sigh*
It ain’t easy being a Redneck in these here times.
It’s not that I don’t agree with him. When Demolition Boy’s teacher tells me that another nine teachers are on the chopping block because there’s “no money”, I wonder where the money for these “presentations” are coming …

[Link]

Beyond the Veil » Absent minded

Posted 20 hours ago

Okay, so it's 9:30 am and I just now remembered I'm supposed to blog here today. Which is becoming a more frequent occurrance. Me forgetting things, not blogging here. A few weeks ago I finished copy edits on a freelance job (post-rewriting it). I finished it way before deadline, but then I completely FORGOT to turn it in! The person dropped me a reminder email, thank goodness, or else I probably never would have remembered.

I am increasingly absent minded, and I think it's just because there's more stuff crowded in there. Boy's schedule, vacation, WIP, work, appearance schedules, and the myriad of grad school projects I have to finish. Thank goodness we haven't started editing my next book yet too, or my brain might explode.

Is this a sign of getting older or just busier? I used to be able to remember EVERYTHING. Now, if I don't write it down, it's just as likely to fall into the Bottomless Pit of my brain, from which Nothing Shall Ever Return. I'm lucky I have extensive notes on my WIP, or else in Chapter 13 aliens might land in the middle of 19th century Philadelphia.

I could seriously use an assistant, but I'm terrified I might lose them.

Maybe this is a side effect of the internet. Or some viscious plot by my cats, whereby I eventually lose the ability to remember anything except to feed them. I don't know. I just know that if it continues in this way, eventually I'm going to forget … [Link]

Jax's Artistic Journey… » My love for Korean drama romances

Posted 21 hours ago

Well, my mother purchases all kinds of foreign shows and movies that are dubbed in Vietnamese. I normally would roll my eyes because I never had time to invest in watching these things. But when you've got time on your hands, you become easily swayed. One day I thought I'd spend time with my mom and we started watching…It occurred to me that there's a huge explosion (and demand) for Korean series dramas and it's become very popular in our market. I always assumed these types of series programs are equivalent to Soap Operas, but after watching a few, I have to say I'm really impressed. The Koreans are known for their elaborate locations, fashion, and storytelling. In fact, the more shows I've seen, the more I realized how similar my storytelling is to what I'm watching. Of course, I don't throw in the exaggerated humor but the romance aspect is very much me. I can admit I got sucked in completely! I think that watching these shows/movies has lit a fire under me to pursue screenwriting and the movie industry again. It made me miss being on the movie set, and although I often worked my ass off, I enjoyed every second of it.

It’s also a source of inspiration when you're stuck with your own writing. Being exposed to other creative storytelling pushes you to create. Watching these shows made me really reflect and see if writing is what I truly want to do…sure, it's a time suck… but what … [Link]

Paige Tyler – Author of Sexy, Romantic Fiction » Sexy Hunk in a Sexy Commercial!

Posted 22 hours ago

Yay! One of my favorite commercials is finally on YouTube, so I can finally share it with you! I first saw it during the Olympics and thought the guy in it was totally a hottie!


So, who wants to go skinny dipping?! LOL!

Oh and if you want to check out my other favorite commercials, visit http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/2010/02/thursday-thirteen_25.html

*hugs* [Link]

Embrace the Shadows » Marking time

Posted 22 hours ago

“The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things.

Of ships and shoes and sealing wax,

And cabbages and kings.

“And why the sea is boiling hot

And whether pigs have wings.

“Calloo, Callay, No work today,

“We’re cabbages and kings!”

Have you ever noticed that as writers we measure our time not in minutes but in word count? Or when we think about time at all, it’s to count the number of days that have passed since we pressed “send” on that submission?

Yeah, writers are a strange bunch of people. An eclectic group of folks from all walks of life with a common thread that binds us together: the love of writing.

Maybe you’ve wondered how I’ve been coping since the bout of writer’s block that took over my February. Maybe you haven’t. I’ll tell you anyway. Why? Because I’m excited about this WIP.

I’ve come out of the slump and am now happily working on Chapter 6 of my dragon book. It’s currently sitting at 22K words. I’ve also plotted out a bit of a new novella I want to write.

Life’s good—mostly.

I often wonder if other writers ever feel on top of the world one moment then like you’re eating dirt the next. That’s how I’m feeling at the moment. Yes, I love the book I’m writing. I’m excited to be writing it. Yet all around me people are announcing on the social networking sites about where they’re located on various best seller …

[Link]

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