Hello everyone! I hope you’ve had a pleasant month!! I know I have.

I’m happy to announce that several of my backlist titles are well on their way to being re-released for kindle and several other ebook formats (look for print next year!). You can learn more about them here.

And I have to do a quick thank you to Mandy Roth/Nat Winters for providing such awesome covers!!

And now, please join me in welcoming Shelli!

Shelli Stevens, Interview by Michelle M. Pillow
Multi-genre author Shelli Stevens might not have been abducted by aliens or raised by a shifter clan, but that doesn’t stop her from creating imaginative paranormal worlds. I had the opportunity to talk with Shelli about her latest erotic paranormal offering, Sexy Beast VII where she delves into a world of were-jaguars to discover what it is that inspires her.

Q: In your book, His to Reclaim from Sexy Beast VII, you delve into the world of shifters. What inspired you to write about this?
Shelli: Well all stories in the Sexy Beast books need to be paranormal. Kate Douglas is in each book in the series with her popular Chanku stories. I was thrilled to be invited to write a story for the Sexy Beast anthology, and it was a great experience for me to plot out this fun capture and reclaiming story, and delve into the world of shifters.

Q: When world building, did you base your story off of known myths throughout history?
Shelli: I really don’t base my shifters on legends or other ‘rules’ from other shifter books, those just make me feel boxed in. I try and just have fun and make up my own world and my own rules.

Q: Why do you think readers, and society in general, are fascinated by the paranormal?
Shelli: I think because it’s the unknown and the fantasy aspect. Authors/Movies humanize these paranormal characters and make us care and become even more drawn to them.

Q: What are your favorite paranormal shows, movies and books?
Shelli: I love A Haunting on the Discovery channel, and have to confess I do like the Twilight series *wince* Well, until the last couple books. She lost me there.

Q: Do you believe in the supernatural?
Shelli: I do believe. Definitely with the paranormal ghost/haunting aspects. Other stuff…not so much. But it’s fascinating to imagine. Hence the escapism of reading it in a book or seeing it in a movie.

Q: Have you ever had a paranormal experience?
Shelli: Possibly. On the haunted tour in D.C. last summer, our group was at the last house that was not occupied. Totally creepy, fantastic house with so much history. And as the guide was talking about it, the lights inside flickered. Even he was surprised.

Q: How would you react if you came face to face with a paranormal creature?
Shelli: I’d probably freak out for a few minutes, then interview the heck out of it.

Q: Have you ever been abducted by aliens?
Shelli: Sigh. No. How boring am I?

Thanks for joining us, Shelli!

You can learn more about Shelli and her books at her website, www.shellistevens.com. Sexy Beast VII is currently at all major bookstores.

Interviewer Michelle M. Pillow is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres. She can be found at www.michellepillow.com. Paranormal Underground Magazine’s website is here.

Well, summer is almost over…the kidlet isn’t quite back in school (couple weeks), even though I know some kids have already started back. I’m kind of excited for a free day again and kind of bummed for the sporadically hot weather to leave for good, though the weather has managed to aggravate me more than please me this summer. And I did enjoy the bit of traveling I got in. Both within my home state (Washington) where I had the  pleasure of experiencing a flash flood and then down to Disneyland where both the child and myself both contracted the stomach flu (she’s still got it–we just returned Saturday!). And though I didn’t quite get as much writing done as planned, I did manage to revise a story that our fabulous agent whom this blog is named for probably just resent to the publisher (cross your fingers for me!). In other publishing news, my summer release from Samhain, Going Down, has continued to go strong since it came out and I hope those who’ve bought it enjoyed it!

Anyway, that’s my random, not so fabulously creative post (work with me here, still dealing with a sick kid). If you leave me a comment on how your summer’s gone, I’ll draw a name for someone to win a print book or ebook off my backlist. Now I’ll leave you with pics to sum up my summer!

Today I thought I’d ramble on travel (and food I guess?). I love to travel, be it international (which I haven’t done a whole lot of, just UK/southern Ireland really), or be it domestically. I love going to conferences for my writing, because it means I get the chance to travel, while combining it with my writing.

I just got back from the Romantic Times convention and had a blast. It was my first time there, and I loved mingling with readers/authors/booksellers/librarians. Usually I go to the RWA conference and only see other writers and occasionally a bookseller or librarian. The RT convention was in Ohio, which I scratched my head a little wondering what I could possibly see there. But I had lunch with a local friend who drove me around and showed me just how charming it was! We ate at an über popular place called Dirty Franks (where, yup, they served hot dogs–and of course I did the veggie). Tons of locals and lots of fun!

I also discovered a place called The Elevator, which was only about a 10 minute walk from the hotel and was a fabulous place I’d go hang out with other authors!

But really, I love hanging in my home town too. Seattle. And it’s good to be home. Because let’s face it, it’s kind of a fun place. And when the weather is nice, it’s SO much fun! Yesterday, in kind of a mother daughter/half sis day I took the girls downtown and explored Pike Place Market, the waterfront/aquarium, Queen Anne hill. So much to do! Like see a mummy at Ye Olde Curiosity shop on the waterfront.

Eat a grilled cheese at Beecher’s in Pike Place Markte (nom nom nom)

Or just take in the view from Queen Anne hill.

So where’s one of your favorite places to travel? What’s your home town like? And a happy mother’s day to all!

So we all have a movie or musician or book or SOMETHING out there that we wouldn’t want many people to know that we love. And today I’d love it if you fess up. I’ll tell you mine

Here it is. I effing love the movie Robin Hood. What people call the ‘cheesy ass’ version with Kevin Costner from 1991. Maybe it was because I was in middle school when it came out, and it was my first ‘historical’ experience, but I was hooked. I think it began my fascination with England and that time period. And I’ve gotta say, I’m a little skeptical of this NEW Robin Hood coming out this summer with Russell Crowe. Seriously, can’t people make a new movie instead of redoing ones that have already been done? And they’re redoing Romancing the Stone–another classic. Anyway, that’s a whole different rant/topic!

So not only that, but I also loved the cheesy ass song that went along with 1991 Robin Hood: Everything I do, I do it for you by Bryan Adams.

And if you’d like to relive this song (and the terribly fabulous 90’s clothes the band is wearing) and see scenes from the movie, click here. I would’ve pasted the video in, but embedding has been disabled

All right. Now you spill! What’s your guilty pleasure movie/band/song/book/etc.

Hi, all! Glad to be back blogging (and I very much suck for missing my day a couple weeks ago!) To make it up to you, I’ll give away a copy of my latest release Four Play (oops, did I mention you need to like it hot?) to one randomly drawn commenter. Winner will be drawn Sunday morning.

Okay, I’m a writer, and so that means I tend to favor comfy pants when I’m writing. Yoga pants, sweat pants, even pajamas. I’m a big advocate of comfort. Comfortable shoes. Comfortable clothes. I’m also a fan of the Snuggie. You get the picture. So when I saw a friend post on Facebook a link to the below video, I watched in fascination. Like OMFG where have they BEEN all my life fascination? Could I do it? Actually wear them and actually take myself seriously?

Or better yet, could you? (they have plus sizes too!!!)

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! )