Before I get started on my thoughts of the day, what do you think of the hero in my latest Ellora’s Cave release?  Last time I posted here I was mulling the disconnect between Beast Master’s story and the cover, but this time I’m a beyond happy camper.  Wow.  Talk about intense, just like my hero.  Why can’t I bring him home?

Last week I turned in my latest contracted manuscript for Kensington’s Aphrodisia, a sucker that held at 85,000 words before I tightened it a bit.  I don’t often write long so that surprised me.  His Slave is an erotica, specifically a capture theme with touches of BDSM and some dark and dasterdly minor characters.  Part of my tightening intailed taming those characters so I could better live with them.  Hopefully readers will understand.

Once His Slave was out of my mind so to speak, I went back to a romantic suspense proposal I’ve been working on for too long trying to get it to be what my agent needs to take to the marketplace.  Hopefully I’m there now but I’m first running it past a writer friend whose opinion I truly value.  If I recall, I’ve gone back to Denali Danger three times focusing and deepening each time.  I have a villainess who initially was rather mysterious because I didn’t know her.  It took longer than I care to admit but I understand her now.  She’s multi-facited human being with a disadvantaged background and a hunger for a sense of belonging that leads to–well, a lot of nasty stuff.  My heroine has gone through her own changes, not deepening so much as changing focus.  In the beginning I tried to force her into a box but Laura saw right through the ill fit and called me on it.  Now my heroine’s growth and change throughout the story is a natural outgrowth of her personality.  If she walked in the door, I’d hug her and pour her a glass of white wine because she’s a deer friend.

What I’m saying here is that for me at least, creating a character isn’t a simple matter of popping them out.   At first they’re in essence newborns, cute and fascinating but without fully realized personalities.  That takes time.  And what an exciting journey that is for the writer.

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

Update:  Sorry! I should have been in a few hours ago to post the winner’s name.  (The Bama game distracted me!) So, to make up for my tardiness, I’m going to give away 2 copies of ETERNAL HUNTER. The winners are…Teresa W. and Susan Leech. Congratulations, ladies!! Please email me at cynthia@cynthiaeden.com to claim your prize. And, again, sorry for posting late!

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Book

Wow–so many Bradford ladies have books out in January! Congrats on all the new releases!!  :-)  And thanks for giving me more books to read!

I am currently still celebrating my latest release–ETERNAL HUNTER, the first book in my new paranormal bounty hunter series, released last Tuesday.

I absolutely love that cover. Definitely one of my faves!

Here’s the blurb for the book:

Cynthia Eden delves into the dark realms of the Others, where desires and dangerous games await the unsuspecting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Assistant DA Erin Jerome has a secret. Make that two. One: She’s not entirely human–she’s Other, desperately trying to keep her supernatural strength under wraps. Two: she’s got a killer stalking her–an Other rogue set on “gifting” her bloody corpses, not to mention nights lying awake in terror. Small wonder she’s been having bad luck with men.

But the bounty hunter on her new case isn’t worried about any of that. Jude Donovan is a shapeshifter himself, and the new DA’s midnight hair and addictive scent tell him all he thinks he needs to know:  She’s gorgeous, she’s definitely not human, and she’s bringing out the animal in him in a really good way. He might have to track a psychotic Other stalker through half of Louisiana. But he might also get the chance to watch Erin’s wild side come out and play.

***

And you can read an excerpt here.

Now, if you want to win an autographed copy of ETERNAL HUNTER…well, you’ll have to leave me a comment to do that.  Tell me about your resolutions for 2010–and I’ll be back to pick one commenter on Thursday and that person will win!

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Beach

In other news…I’m the conference chair for the 2010 Silken Sands Writers’ Conference.  That means I’m busy planning for the writing conference at the beach!  Since the temperature is currently 19 degrees (seriously–19 in the Deep South), I am so looking forward to the warmer weather and my good time at the beach.  Here are some details about the conference…

When:  March 19-21, 2010

Where: Pensacola Beach, FL

Why: To write! If you’re a writer or if you’ve ever thought about *being* a writer, then come and give the conference a try!!  Get inspired on the beach, watch the dolphins play, then get busy in those writing workshops!

Who will be there: Me!!  Okay, um…Karen Rose, Dianna Love, Laura Bradford, Elaine Spencer (the Knight Agency), Megan Records (Kensington Publishing), Patience Smith (Silhouette), Lindsey Faber (Samhain), Barbara Vey (Publishers Weekly) and a ton of other super cool, friendly folks.  That means you should be there, too!

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Best Wishes

I hope everyone has a fantastic year.  May 2010 be great for everyone!!  I hope you stick to all of your resolutions. I hope you meet new friends. I hope you read great books. I hope you live your life to the fullest. Happy New Year!

Hi all! I’m very pleased that the first full length novel of my new series is releasing tomorrow. I’m excited about this new series and can’t wait to see where it goes. I hope you enjoy it too.

I’m in excellent company this month, as far as new releases go. There are quite a few of the Bradford Bunch with new novels coming out. Ann has done a great job featuring those in her contest here on this blog. Congrats to all the other all the Bradford babes with books hitting the shelves this month! What a great way to start off the year.

Gabriel Mac Braire is a half-incubus residing in the Unseelie Court, a place filled with fae who can use their magick to draw blood. Gabriel’s specific power is the capacity to enthrall women to the point of enslavement. His king has asked him to use this skill on a particular woman who resides in the shining Seelie Court—a place that is light to the Unseelie Court’s dark—in order to lure her over.

However Aislinn Finvarra is everything most women are not, and that makes her resistant to him. In fact, she despises him for the charm that other women find so fascinating. Gorgeous, charismatic men haven’t exactly been good men in her experience.

That does not make the errand Gabriel’s been given an easy thing to accomplish since it means he must be himself in order to tempt Aislinn over to the Unseelie Court. That takes time he doesn’t have. Not to mention that it forces him to actually get to know her. In turn, he must allow Aislinn into his heart to get to know him as well.

A funny thing happens when Gabriel finally does win Aislinn over; she wins him over too. For the first time in his life, he comes to care about someone other than himself.

That’s when things take a very dark turn and both their lives change forever. Because nothing is what it seems, and the dangers are far greater than he or Aislinn could ever have imagined. Aislinn has a secret that threatens the Unseelie Court and soon she is fighting a war she could never have predicted for stakes she never wanted.

Welcome to the world of the Piefferburg fae. Wicked Enchantment is the first novel of my new Dark Magick series. I’m very excited to share this new world I’ve created with you.

Those who have read my Elemental Witches series know I put my characters through the wringer in my novels—both emotionally and physically. The Dark Magick series will be no different. I love to write dark, sensual fantasy packed with action and emotion. For me, the more perilous and dangerous the journey is for the hero and the heroine, the greater the payoff at the end and the stronger the bond of love.

Piefferburg is an intriguing place where the unique and the magickal abound. I hope you will be as swept away by this world as I have been. Let go of your cares for a little while and allow yourself to be seduced into the lives of the fae.

If you’re interested in knowing more, you can find an excerpt, book video, and an interactive map of Piefferburg on my web site.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Hi everyone!

I’m so pleased to join the other Bradford girls here on a more regular basis, and thrilled to meet all of you.

I’m Jess Granger, and I write Science Fiction Romance.  That feels like a confession.  I chose to write SFR because I loved reading paranormal romances.  I loved them, and read as many as I could, but when I set out to write, I found I needed more freedom from the paranormal conventions and world building of that genre.  So I created my own worlds completely from scratch and I’ve used them to create the most terrible and terribly delicious conflict I could.

My first book, Beyond the Rain took conflict to a whole new level.  Here’s the blurb.

In a universe torn apart by civil war, a warrior and a slave must fight for their freedom, for their lives, and for a love that may destroy them both…

After five years behind enemy lines, Captain Cyani is ready to retire to her homeworld of Azra as one of the Elite — the celibate warrior sisterhood that rules the planet. But first she must complete one final mission to rescue her fellow Union soldiers. The last thing she expects to find is a prisoner, chained and beaten — but radiating feral power and an unbroken spirit…

Soren is a Byralen, an enigmatic people who possess a unique hormone that they use to bond with their mates — and that is sold as a sexual narcotic in the shadow trade. For years, he has endured torture at the hands of his captors as they leeched his very essence. The last thing he expects is to be freed from slavery by a beautiful warrior woman with radiant blue eyes.

Driven by her rigid sense of honor, Cyani frees Soren even though her life hinges upon the success of her mission. But after so many years in bondage, his hormones are so unbalanced that he will die if he does not bond with a woman. Can the lovely but distant warrior be the woman he needs to survive, or will the forbidden bond destroy them?

I loved writing this book, and I had so much fun with the characters and this conflict.  But I had even more fun writing the second book.

Click to Read an Excerpt

Beyond the Shadows is coming to bookstores this May, and I can’t wait for everyone to read it.  I had more fun with this hero than I have ever had with a character.  (Okay, that sounded a little dirty.  Oh, what the heck, he’s delicious.)

Here’s the blurb.

A man of deception. A woman of justice. Can their fragile trust be strong enough to prevent a war?

Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers.

Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.

In celebration of joining the blog today, let’s have a contest!

All you have to do to enter is ask me a question.  You can ask anything, ask about the books, ask about me, ask about the mating habits of ring-tailed lemurs, anything is game so long as it isn’t a question that has been asked before in the thread.  I’ll choose one winning comment, and that person will have a choice of prizes between a signed copy of Beyond the Rain, (limited to US and Canada residents) or a super secret only you can see it sneak peek at an exclusive excerpt from Beyond the Shadows. (This one is open to everyone!)  The contest will close Jan 4th, when I announce the winner.

Good luck all, have fun, and ask away!

Jess

Merry post-Christmas all! Though this is my official “first” post to the blog, I’ve been here several times guest blogging so I shouldn’t be a complete stranger. (At least I hope not!) It’s very fun to be part of the group, and I’m thrilled to be here with you all!

It’s so hard to believe Christmas has already come and gone, isn’t it? Seems we wait and shop and wait and bake and shop some more…all in preparation for the big day and then it whizzes by. This year I admit to being somewhat distracted. You see, the third book in my Stolen Series - STOLEN SEDUCTION - releases next Tuesday, and in between promo stops, checking my Amazon ranking, finishing a book that’s due January 4th and other assorted holiday craziness, I’ve been amped more for the release of this book than anything else. Why? I’m not sure. It could be because this is the final book in the trilogy. It could be because I really enjoyed this story. But most likely, it’s because I wanted to kill the hero on more than one occasion and actually did.

Don’t worry…it’s a romance, so it has a HEA. But, it didn’t always. About 2/3 of the way through the writing of this book, I was so frustrated with the hero - Shane Maxwell - that I actually wrote his death scene. It happened after a particularly nasty grumbling session with my CP where she said, “Just kill him. You know you want to.” Little did she realize that I WOULD. (Don’t ever dare me to do anything.) I sent the chapter to my CP who emailed right back and said, “Um, E. About the chapter. I wasn’t serious. Killing off the hero of the romance kinda goes against that whole HEA thing you’re striving for.” Kill joy isn’t she? But she had a point. Now, I have to mention that my CP is usually right about these kind of things, so after lots of grumbling I edited the scene, considered letting him simply lose a hand (to which my CP - again - said, “That’ll make those sex scenes, yeah, interesting.”) and forced myself to go on with the book.

I’ll tell you flat out, this is not normal for me. I don’t generally want to kill the main characters of my books. I mean, I write romance, after all. A dead hero DOES go against the whole HEA thing. But this guy…wow. He was something else. I really struggled for quite a while, and it wasn’t until shortly after the near-death scene that I realized the problem wasn’t the book per se, the problem I was having was a relatability issue.

You see, I’m a  “glass is half full” kind of girl. If someone knocks you down, you get up, dust yourself off and keep going. If life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. I believe in redemption, second chances, that unless you are a psychotic serial killer, you can always change your life for the better. And deep down I believe everyone DESERVES good in their lives. But Shane didn’t. He was the first character I ever wrote who didn’t think he deserved to be happy, and that was a major stumbling point for me while writing this book.

Of course, like I said before, I write romance, so he got his HEA. And, I have to say, it was well worth the wait.:) But his redemption has stuck with me for a very long time. In ways the redemptions of other characters have not. Even now - while I’m working on different books - I still think about him. The nice part is that since I don’t want to kill him anymore (good news for him!) it’s with that “Aw” feeling that leaves a person all warm and fuzzy on the inside instead of with that “OMG…That’s it, buddy!” feeling that isn’t quite so appealing.

How about you? Have you ever read a book (or if you’re a writer, written a book) where you had trouble relating to a character, for whatever reason? I’d love to hear about it. And if so, what happened when you got to the end?

And before I go, I have to mention that in honor of the release of STOLEN SEDUCTION, I’m running a big contest on my blog with daily guests and giveaways. You could also win a $100 Amazon gift card just by entering! Click the image below for all the details!

Being the age that I am, Christmas invariably makes me think of one thing…Cabbage Patch Kids and the great shortage of the mid-80s.

I got my very first Cabbage Patch doll when I was seven. I don’t have a lot of distinct memories from back then. I was always sort of a spacey kid, way more inside my own head than paying attention to what was going on around me. But I very vividly remember picking the doll up at the Toys-R-Us. My mom had somehow gotten on the waiting list or had a rain check or something, and a shipment had FINALLY come in.

The dolls were stacked in a locked metal-latticework cage. You had to buy the doll first before they would let you pick it out. I was fairly dancing out of my skin by that point, and I talked the poor cashier’s ear off, telling her everything about where we’d looked for the dolls, how long I’d been waiting, the kind of outfits I wanted her to have, etc.

At the cage, I saw the exact Cabbage Patch Kid I wanted. A blonde-haired, green-eyed doll staring back at me. Of course, they were all staring at me. (Cabbage Patch Dolls do not have eyelids.) Then my mother pointed out a red-haired doll with blue eyes. “There’s one that looks like you,” she said.

Sold! Alverta Corene (that was her “birth” name) came home with us that night.

At Christmas, a year after that, Cabbage Patch Preemies were the big thing. I was not holding my breath. I’d been lucky to get one doll in the first place. My dad was (and still is) a minister, so there wasn’t a lot of extra money floating around our house. I’m not even sure if I even bothered to ask for one, knowing that they were hard to find, even at Santa’s workshop (according to my parents).

Christmas morning arrived and, per the household rules, my brother and I were not allowed to come downstairs into the family room, where the tree was, until the all-clear was given. I suspect now my parents were doing some last minute assembly or, knowing my mother, frantically searching the house for a gift she’d purchased and then hidden from us so well she couldn’t find it again.

After being given the signal, my brother and I went downstairs and I experienced that pure joy that comes from being well and truly surprised by something you’d hoped for but never dreamed possible.

There, sitting on top of other packages, was a Cabbage Patch Preemie. Believing, of course, that Santa had brought her to me, I never questioned how my parents had managed this minor miracle until years later. As it turned out, a couple of my dad’s parishioners had gone out of state somewhere and won the doll in some kind of sweepstakes (yes, that’s how valuable they were considered at the time). These parishioners didn’t have little kids of their own, so they brought it home and GAVE it to my dad for me. These things were selling for hundreds of dollars on the “black market,” but they gave it away.

I love that story.

So…how about you? What is that one gift you wanted and never thought you would receive? Or, what’s your Cabbage Patch Kid story? I know I’m not the only one!

Also, as this is my last post of the year, I want to say I’ve been truly blessed this year to see more of my writing dreams come true, and much of that is owed to the generosity of others. I am so incredibly grateful! Thank you!

It’s that time of year again. For some, the holidays are about giving gifts, for others, it’s a religious holiday. For me, the holidays mean that once again I’m touching base with my extended family.

Does anyone feel my pain? There’s a reason why we don’t hang out with these people year round. Maybe they look a little too much like we do. Maybe they act a little too similar. Whatever the reason, meeting up with your family can be a source of stress. I mean we love them, but sometimes they can drive us crazy.

I think this is partly because of expectations. We assume our relatives will behave in a certain manner. Unfortunately, many of them see the world differently and have different ideas of how things should be done. When people fail to live up to our expectations it can cause hurt feelings and angst.

In my book, “Up on the Housetop,” rich-kid Chloe got whatever she wanted, materialistically speaking. Daddy had deep pockets and supplied her with her every desire. Her material wealth wasn’t free, however. In return for her father’s favor, she had to give up her dreams of being a concert pianist and learn the family business. Her father wanted the picture perfect family and controlled every aspect of Chloe’s life to get it — even going so far as to hand pick her future husband.

The arranged marriage was the last straw. On Christmas Eve Chloe climbed up onto the roof of her childhood home to escape the noose she felt closing around her neck. There she met a stranger, had a brush with the supernatural, and learned that she’d never truly be happy as long as she lived in her father’s shadow. It was up on the roof where Chloe finally began to discover herself.

So, is there anything that is giving you angst about the holidays? Is it family? Responsibilities? Something else? Tell me about it in the comments section and be entered for a chance to win a free copy of “Up on the Housetop!”

Blurb for “Up on the Housetop”:

Desperate to escape her controlling family, Chloe Bradford scrambles up to the housetop of her Texas home on Christmas Eve. There she discovers a sexy stranger cloaked in shadow. He convinces her to shed her good-girl image and give into her most secret desires. The man’s low, raspy voice tugs at her memory as much as it awakens her passion. Is he a Christmas miracle, or some figment of her imagination? When he tries to leave, she follows him, eager to learn his identity.

Zach can’t stop thinking about Chloe, or their reunion on the roof. His wolf-half urges him to reveal his identity and claim her, but he doesn’t dare. For both their sakes, he must remain in the shadows until he can control his inner beast’s bursts of rage. After a decade of struggle he thought he could handle his curse, but Chloe’s presence causes his control to slip. As the moon-rages become more frequent, he knows he’s slipping toward the insanity that claims many of his kind. Only Chloe can save him, but will she want to after he reveals his identity and the reason he broke her heart over a decade ago?

You can buy this book HERE at Loose id.
View the trailer HERE.
Read the 5 cup review of Up on the Housetop by Coffee Time Romance HERE

You may buy this book HERE

Blurb for “Spyder’s Web”:

I have a dark secret. I’m cursed with an intense sexual desire which can never be satisfied. If I abstain, I go mad. If I have sex, I black out and my partner ends up dead. The only way to break the curse is to find my protector and soul mate.

James is a cop who thinks I’m the “Black Widow” serial killer people are talking about. He’s watching in the shadows, waiting for me to slip up so he can send me to jail. My curse longs to claim him, but I resist because he saved my life. Soon, I will need him to do it again.

Now his morbid fascination with me has turned into an obsession. I don’t know how much longer I can keep him at arm’s length.

I’m not sure I want to…

Publisher’s Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, violence, voyeurism.

Website: www.SuzanneRock.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Suzanne_Rock
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/suzanne.rock
Embrace the Shadows Blog: http://embracetheshadows.wordpress.com/
Embrace the Shadows Fan Club: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/embrace_the_shadows/

Hi! It’s another new face at the Bradford Bunch! Actually, I have two faces, so I’m just slightly disoriented. I’m a 2010 double-debut author (hm, that sounds faintly kinky). I write as Maggie Robinson and Margaret Rowe. Maggie’s Mistress by Mistake is coming out on April 27 from Kensington Brava, and Margaret’s Tempting Eden arrives on June 1 from Berkley Heat. My family has enough trouble with one of me, so there have been adjustments all around.

When I started writing in 2003, I really had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I’m not so sure I do now, either, but I’m looking forward to getting my dream realized after seven years. Part of me can’t wait. The other part (see? I told you I was disoriented) is scared to death. The thought of reviews is daunting. People tell me not to read them. I’ve taken some risks (particularly as Margaret Rowe) which might be considered controversial. But before I know it, the waiting game will be over.

You can read excerpts of both books at my websites, www.maggierobinson.net and www.margaretrowe.net. Just don’t tell me you don’t like them.

Got any tips for a new author? What makes you take a chance on an unfamiliar writer? I have some beautiful bookmarks and coverflats I’ll send to everyone who makes a comment below to calm me down and make the wait more bearable. You can send your mailing address to maggie@maggierobinson.net and a packet will be on its way. Have the happiest of holidays! I hope your 2010 is as exciting but not as nerve-wracking as mine.

Title get your attention?  Good because that was indeed my intention.

My mood’s not the best this morning because I just learned that my longtime Ellora’s Cave (which is where Beast Master is available) is leaving.  No, say it ain’t true!

But it is and there’s nothing I can do except brush myself off and break in a new editor, something I’ve done way too many times over my career.

Oh, about the title.  For the vaguest of reasons, I’ve been collecting weird sex laws with the thought of offering the whole stack on my website.  In the meantime, here’s a teaser.  Sure makes one wonder why these laws were determined necessary doesn’t it? 

There is a law in Florida that prohibits anyone from having sex with a porcupine.

In Massachusetts its illegal to have sex with a rodeo clown in front of horses.

In Colorado it’s against the law to kiss a sleeping woman.

Adultery is punishable in California by a $1,000 fine and/or up to one year in prison

In Utah sex with anyone except your spouse is strictly prohibited.

Rhode Island prohibits unmarried people from engaging in sexual activities of any kind. The fine is $10 each.

In Virginia it’s illegal to have sex in any position but the missionary.

In Connorsville, Wisconsin it is illegal for a man to shoot a gun while his female partner is having an orgasm.

Vonna

www.VonnaHarper.com

It’s the most wonderful time…to drink beer. Yes, I sometimes sing beer instead of year, but the kid is picking up on it. So I gotta be careful!

Hi, again! I’m Shelli Stevens, and I’m back blogging at the Bradford Bunch. Only this time I’m a new addition here! Yay! What a fun blog to be a part of.

It’s the holidays and you’re either loving every minute of it or counting the days until it’s over. Or I suppose you could be in that middle ground. Can you guess which side I fall on? I’m all about the holidays.

I start the holiday music playing mid-November. In fact, I don’t allow anything except holiday music or movies in my house until after the holidays (yes, I’m a wee bit obsessive!). I even have a holiday playlist that I workout to on the elliptical for an hour–finding an hour’s worth of high energy holiday music was a challenge!

Now I’m going to talk about holiday movies. What’s a must and what’s a miss on your list?

Now, I know many out there would probably rattle off It’s a Wonderful Life as their fave. Me? Not so much. I mean it’s fabulous and all, but once I’ve seen it, why go through the tears again?

Though sometimes I don’t mind the tears. And one of my favorite holiday movies (though it’s not totally holiday) is Love Actually. And, really, this is my favorite movie of all time. It makes me cry and laugh and hope… it’s just fabulous, showing all sides of love, not just the obvious one. If you haven’t seen it, definitely put it on your list.

But my other staple, because I just love to laugh, is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

Share with me your favorite holiday movie. And since I’m officially new here I’ll throw an impromptu contest. Out of the commenters I’ll draw a name tomorrow and the winner can have any of my ebooks off my backlist (I’d say print, but I’m not going ANYWHERE near the post office right now! )