Vixenwriter

So fellow Bradford Buncher and really nice person and all around excellent writer Cynthia Eden has a new book coming out next week - Hotter After Midnight. Click the “More” link to see an excerpt and check back later for my review of this really good book!

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Mine To Possess made the NYT best seller list! And rightfully so. Congratulations to you, Nalini!

Got word this weekend that Unexpected, Megan Warden’s book set in the Cascadia Wolves universe, has been contracted by Samhain. You should see it in July or August.

Waiting to hear back on beta on Undercover. I’ve got some feedback so far and I’m relieved. I’m waiting to see what my agent thinks of it and of a proposal I sent her last week as well.

Oh! I did sneak in some reading over the weekend - Patricia Briggs has seriously hit it out of the park yet again with her newest installment in the Mercy Thompson series. Iron Kissed was seriously fabulous. Made me actually weep, not just cry, but weep in one part. The writing is taut and interesting and I love Mercy’s character. I think the resolution with who Mercy chooses works really well and makes sense for everyone involved. Just a really fabulous book.

I also read Carrie Vaughn’s next Kitty book - Kitty and the Silver Bullet. Also fabulous. There were times when I just wanted to smack the crap out of Kitty. Part of the appeal though is how much she grows, of how despite the fact that she’s a werewolf, she’s scared and flawed and well, human. The action was well done and I love Ben’s character development too.

My dude and I watched Shoot em Up on Friday night. First of all, it might come as a surprise to you all but I have a wee bit of a crush on Clive Owen. Just a teeeny weeeny one. I laughed and laughed as I watched the movie. It’s meant to be over the top and campy and it is. Paul Giamati is absolutely hilarious and I don’t mind looking at Monica Belluci in any way so it was all win win for me.

Um, that’s about it for my exciting life today.

I love Anne Cain. I’m just sayin - she makes me all giddy with her covers. God, look at this. Happy sigh.

Writing Playlist:

Feist: My Moon , My Man
Feist: Inside and Out
LCD Soundsystem: Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
LCD Soundsystem: All My Friends
Sara Barielles: Love Song
Bat for Lashes: What’s a Girl To Do?
Pipettes: Pull Shapes
The Bird and The Bee: Fucking Boyfriend (Peaches cover)
Madonna: Frozen
Natasha Bedingfield: I Wanna Have Your Babies
Kate Nash (And oh my god do I LOVE her): Foundations
Kate Nash: Birds
Kate Nash: Mouthwash
Band of Horses: Is There a Ghost
Band of Horses: No One’s Gonna Love You
Miranda Lambert: Gunpowder and Lead (DUDE, I love this woman. She’s the best thing to come from country music in years)
Amy Winehouse: Tears Dry On Their Own
Plasticines: Loser (don’t know what they’re saying, it’s in French, but I love them)
Psychedelic Furs: Heaven
REM: Strange Currencies
Robin Thicke: Lost Without U
Yin Yang Twins: Salt Shaker
Alice In Chains: Would
Depeche Mode: Walking In My Shoes
Chaka Khan: Ain’t Nobody
Donna Summer: I Feel Love
Echo and The Bunnymen: Lips Like Sugar
Foo Fighters: The Pretender
Goldfrapp: Strict Machine
Gwen Stefani: Yummy
Interpol: Public Pervert
Kelis: In Public
Mazzy Star: Fade Into You
NIN: Closer

Because I love Kate Nash so much..

50K on Standoff! Yay!

Also, in yay news - Witches Knot: Thrice United is now available in print from Ellora’s Cave’s new print store!

To celebrate the recent release of Feral Fascination, the anthology containing Reluctant, in print, several of the anthology authors will be at the EC Reader Chat tomorrow afternoon so pop over to say hello, read fun excerpts and have a good time!

I’m caught up in writing today so I don’t have much else to say! Oh, other than if you write a disgruntled letter to the RWR and pretend to be just a reader but you’re really an author in competition with the books you’re complaining about? Naughty. And not the fun kind of naughty either.

But on to the good kind of naughty - I hear it’s Gerard’s birthday. My goodness, I think someone needs some birthday spankings!

oh and

after looking at those it feels more like it’s my birthday!

Today is the day my friend and fabulous writer Michelle Pillow’s second book in her Matthews Sisters series, Along For the Ride releases!

Meet Megan Matthews, a detective who is cursed with always being right. Her instincts are good, her deductive reasoning even better. But she’s that most men find her intimidating, so she’s given up trying to find Mr. Right and has settled, perversely, for arresting Mr. Wrong.

Crime scene photographer Ryan Andrews has had a wicked crush on the sexy detective since he first took her photograph by accident at a crime scene. That picture became headline news, and she hasn’t talked to him since. He’s tried everything to get her attention, and when nothing works he’s left with only one option. But is blackmailing a cop into marriage really a good idea?

You can check out my review of Along For the Ride right here…

This has been a great week for book lovers!

Today at Ellora’s Cave - Bona Fide Liar by Red Garnier releases!

Alex will do whatever it takes to keep male coworkers away from Carly. Who cares if she hates his guts? He wants her bad. He can barely believe his eyes when Carly sways seductively toward him and speaks the words he’s been longing to hear. Her place. Bring the plastics. There really must be a god! It’s finally time to make Carly his—for real this time.

Carly has heard her share of lies, but the ones spilling out of Alexander’s lips beat them all. The gall of him, spreading nasty rumors of them doing all manner of kinky things—even if she has dreamed about it. Carly’s determined to pay him back, and she’s wasting no time putting her perfect plan into action.

Red is one of my favorite up and comers! I think in a year or two she’s gonna make it big. I love her voice and this one is in my TBR pile (I would have read it already but I had to finish up a revision - which I did last night). Anyway, I’ll be reviewing it when I do you can bet on it.

And on Wednesday - another favorite Mandy Roth released Demonic Desires from Ellora’s Cave!

She might look fragile, but Ava Fenaly is fierce. She knows a thing or two about magik, and she knows exactly what she’s doing when she summons a demon in her bedroom. Well, almost. Ava is convinced that the exhilarating, almost terrifying night of passion that follows is all a dream. It has to be, because she’s dead set against revisiting her past—and the horrors she left behind long ago.

For the last three-hundred-plus years, Donatus Manlian has been living a peaceful life. Lonely, but peaceful. When the demon he has kept carefully locked within for centuries finally breaks free and responds to Ava’s call, the peace—and the loneliness—are gone. Now Donatus is forced to revisit tragedies long buried as he protects Ava from the evil that pursues her. But another evil lies within him—and now that it’s been awakened, the demon wants free.

No secret I love Mandy’s writing and this one and Guardian are in my TBR file too!

And wow, look at the list of authors in the newest Caveman Anthology - Seasons of Seduction III!

Six of EC’s really fabulous authors (and two of my personal uber faves Charli Teglia and NJ Walters)

Sunshine for a Vampire By N.J. Walters
Sunshine DeMarco is a blonde-haired, blue-eyed vampire who just doesn’t fit in with her own people. She doesn’t really like the whole vampire lifestyle — the opulent surroundings and overindulgence in everything from food to drink to blood. But even she has family and social obligations.

Reality intrudes and Sunshine flees, but she hasn’t seen the last of her mystery lover.

I Was an Alien’s Love Slave By Charlene Teglia
Micki Sloane needs a hero and she needs him now. She’s got a deadline, writer’s block and no inspiration. What to do? Wish on a star.

Keelan Os’tana has been seeking his bondmate, the one woman who is on his wavelength — literally. He answers Micki’s mental call by beaming her up into erotic adventure beyond her wildest imaginings. Her options? Form the permanent telepathic bond with Keelan or go home and write for the tabloids. “I Was an Alien’s Love Slave” is a sure seller, but Keelan tempts her to live the fantasy instead.

But look, the other four? Fabulous too. Go and check it out!

Last but way not least - Snowbound by Larissa Ione from Samhain

Thanks to a devastating medical diagnosis, ski patroller Sean Trenton has endured two years of celibacy. Two long years that have chipped away at his confidence. Now, with the career opportunity of a lifetime on the line, he’s ready to remedy the celibacy situation, and sexy snowbunny Robyn Montgomery is just what the doctor ordered.

Unfortunately, the last thing reliable, intense radio station manager Robyn Montgomery wants in her suddenly turbulent professional and personal life is a thrill-seeking former Olympic skier—even if he is a total hottie. She’s had it with guys who hog the spotlight and leave her in the shadows. So why is it that even an icy blizzard can’t temper the combustible heat between them?
I’ve had this one on my TBB list forever so I can’t wait to wade through all the other stuff on my to do list to get to this one!

This is potty training central. Sigh. Time number three. This one a girl so I don’t have to constantly redirect penises, which is nice and far less messy. (Again, I know, so glamorous!!). I find myself giving praise for bodily functions, which is, um odd outside of sex, LOL, and no, I don’t give my dude stickers or clap for him, even when he’s got his A game working. She likes to bring her barbie in with her and put her on the back of her seat. Whatever. As long as she doesn’t fall in, I’m game with whatever will get her out of pull ups because after what seems like an eternity of changing diapers (and my oldest will be 10 in November so yeah, a looooong time, each time I get one trained I ended up having another)

I’m in that “in between books” stage. I’m trying to settle in and work on something. I just figured out the opening to dirty/bad/wrong last night and this morning. My husband always listens to me so patiently when I pelt him with my ideas, LOL. And he’s a great sounding board and helps me plot too. I’m also revising something so that’s a task which uses a different writerly brain muscle.

Chased is out in print today! Wheee! I don’t see it listed at My Bookstore and More yet though, grr. It is however, now shipping from barnes and noble!

Even more good news? To Do List will be in a print combo with Jaci Burton’s Unwrapped in September of next year. How freaking thrilled am I? More details as they’re worked out.

Lauren: You all should know up front how much I love Michelle Pillow. She’s one of the people I think consistently makes romance authors look professional. She works hard, she always conducts herself like an adult in public, she’s not prone to oversharing or acting like a tool and she also happens to be a great writer. On top of all that, she quite often shares what she knows with other authors - proving time and again, what community really means. So, it’s not a surprise really that I read her books and thought interviewing her here would be fun. Without any further delay….

LD - Where to start? You’re such a jack of all trades, woman, it’s sort of intimidating!

MP: LOL. People say that, but I hardly feel intimidating. Though, I’ve been told I have a pretty mean growl—gerrrrrr… See, as fierce as a baby kitten.

LD: Let’s see – how about you give us a few details on your upcoming Cheek release, Along For The Ride?

MP: I can do that. *wink*

My books for the CHEEK series are just fun, light contemporaries with lots of erotic romance thrown in.

LD: This is book two in a series about the Matthews sisters – how many books planned in the series?

MP: There will be 5 total, one for each sister, so there should be three more after Along for the Ride. The next, book 3, is contracted — Recipe for Disaster and will release Spring 2008. It’s already on preorder at Amazon.com. The other two aren’t contracted yet, but I do plan on writing them soon.

LD: What’s on tap for you in 2008?

MP: I keep on a pretty busy writing schedule, though I did take somewhat of a break from this year as to the amount of books I put out. Even so, it’s a pretty fast pace. I plan on stepping it up next year and completely a few series I have out there—Space Lords for NCP, the Matthews Sisters for Virgin Books, and hopefully the last of the Call of the Lycan series will come out from EC. We just contracted it there.

I’ve got a few submissions floating around I hope to hear back about soon, but I tend to go where the muse tells me to.

LD: What’s your writing schedule like?

MP: Ever changing. It has to be with my lifestyle. I’ve always got three things going at once. Normally, I try to write every day, sometimes all day with a few interruptions. I tend to do best late at night, but my schedule doesn’t always allow me to stay up until four in the morning.

LD: When you’ve had a crappy day, do you reach for salty snacks or chocolate?

MP: Coffee. And if I can trick my husband into cooking, it’s a bonus. He makes the best pasta.

LD: I know you write across several genre lines – do you have a favorite?

MP: My first love was historical romances. It’s what I originally started out writing. Now I love them all—paranormal, futuristic, fantasy, ect… But historicals have a special place in my heart. Maiden and the Monster was one of the books I wrote pre-publication and it ended up winning the RT award. That is one of those first-love futuristics. I have several more just like it waiting for the right home.

LD: What are five comfort reads?

MP: I tend to comfort movie watch, lol, but normally only because my eyes are so tired from working. Some of my favorites of all time are Pride and Prejudice, Amanda Quick’s historicals—Rendezvous, et all, Mandy Roth’s books (plus I can call and bug her for what happens next in a series if the next book isn’t out yet), nonfiction books… I love nonfiction. Sometimes I read them for fun.

LD: What are you reading right now?

MP: Funny you should ask, Lauren. I’ve got your new EC one here, lol. (and I’m so not lying and playing kiss-up) I’m also reading NJ Walters Tapestry Dreams and Kelly St John’s Ghost and Roses— I tend to go on binges and read several at once. Oh, and I hope to get to Kootz’s Velocity soon. It has the best opening paragraph ever—guy gets killed by garden gnome. That alone won me over on the book. (Lauren here - see what great taste she has )

LD: Are you superstitious or do you have writing rituals?

MP: Does requiring offerings of coffee, cabana boys massages and the whole “Michelle is a Goddess” chanting/fire dance count? Then, no, no rituals. LOL

LD: How do you balance your family life with your professional life?

MP: Family has to come first. Period. But, they know I work at home and know to leave me alone so I have time to work. I really don’t have it all that hard.

Anything else you’d like to add?

MP: Thanks for having me, Lauren!

If readers want to learn more about me or get in touch, here is me on the web:
LINKS
Blog - www.michellepillow.com/authorblog/
Website- www.michellepillow.com
Press Kit - www.michellepillow.com/press_kit.htm
Newsletter - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellempillow/join
Myspace - www.myspace.com/michellepillow
Email – michelle_pillow@yahoo.com
The Hussies™ Website - http://www.thehussies.us/
THE RAVEN
Free Ongoing, Online Paranormal Story http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/raven.htm
Paranormal Blog- http://ravenvampireclub.blogspot.com/
Podcasts - http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/raven_podcasts.htm
Raven Reader Yahoo Group (chatting)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Raven_Vampire_Nightclub/join