Vixenwriter

BTW, I say Dream Man but I meant Mr. Perfect!

Two of my friends have really wonderful books coming out at the end of this month – Cynthia Eden has Everlasting Bad Boys releasing on August 26 (an antho with Cynthia, Noelle Mack and Shelly Laurenston) and Ann Aguirre has Wanderlust, the follow up to Grimspace, also coming out on August 26!

In honor of that, I’m going to choose two winners, one to win a copy of Wanderlust and one to win a copy of Everlasting Bad Boys. I’ll have the copies pre-ordered to ship direct from Amazon.

ATTN: here are the rules! All you need to do is respond to any of the the posts about tropes (there’ll be a few, starting with lone assasins on August 14th) with some of your own favorite tropes/storylines and an example of that (because I always want to find new books!) and I’ll toss your name in and choose a winner via randomizer on Thursday August 21 at noon pacific.

Good Luck!!

At Lust Bites with a new snippet of Stripped (extra spicy!) so head on over and say hello!

Book reading wise, I finished Mark Henry’s Happy Hour of the Damned: Happy Hour is so wrong, so very, very wrong that it’s right. It’s twisted and hilarious and sick and dark and also just great fun. Anyway, I haven’t read anything like it before and the combo of all that dark (read – scenes of zombies eating people, bodily fluids of all sorts) and all that hilarity and snark – works.

It’s alchemy in an insane, gonzo sense. Also? I usually hate it when men write female protags – they often get the inner dialog incorrect or it’s so stereotypical it makes me want to hit someone) but Mark Henry doesn’t write her down, doesn’t make her a bimbo and she’s genuine even if I’m not sure I’d want her to be my friend, I’m sure there’s a part of me in her and every other woman I’ve admired too.

Happy Hour is also not a romance, but I think if you’re looking for something unusal and you’re not squeamish, Happy Hour is a great book. I’m totally looking forward to Amanda’s next book!

Book writing wise: I hit 15K on Relentless last night! Wheee! I’d like to have a very productive weekend since I’ll be in Ohio next weekend for the Lori Foster Reader Get Together.

Heard back from our editor at Black Lace today and he said he really enjoyed TCOB. His comments made me quite happy and I’m looking forward to plotting out the next book with Megan next week!

Early tomorrow I’m off to Anya’s and then on Sunday we’re off to Megan’s! Then we have a photo shoot with the uber fabulous Scott Church on Monday the 14th. Later that evening a book signing at the Waldenbooks in the Lebanon Valley Mall from 6 – 8 pm so if you’re in the area, please do come by to say hello!

And then on Tuesday we’re off again to Pittsburgh for the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. I’m all atizzy with prep today. The washing machine is going. I’m nearly totally packed but there are always last minute things and I realized Wednesday that I’ll need to take along another small suitcase for extra promotion stuff because we have 68 people and not 50 sign up for our reader party. I’ll also be able to bring back books in it so I suppose that’s a good thing too.

I have not written as much as I wanted to this last week, which sucks. But I’m still good and hopefully I’ll come back as energized to work this time as I did last year.

Cascadia Wolves: Fated

Just wrote a very emotional scene last night but I think it came out well because I cried as I wrote so apparently it translated, or it did to me anyway.

Bookwise I haven’t read much although I did get an early look at Beth Kery’s Wicked Burn and I have to tell you all, this book is freaking amazing. Dark and sharp, totally sexy with an alpha hero who reminded me a lot of Linda Howard’s early heroes. Speaking of La Linda – I read Now You See Her last week and I have to reiterate how much I love her books. I LOVE HER. I’m reading The Ruins now which is uber creepy and I don’t think I’ll be taking it with me on this trip. I did get Karen Chance’s new one and also Meredith Duran’s Duke of Shadows so we’ll see which one I pick for the plane. I may actually do some plotting out of an idea I have as well. I don’t often have large blocks of time that are solely my own so I have a plethora of choices.

As many regular readers know, Anya Bast is a dear friend. She’s like one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. She rarely says a mean thing about anyone or anything (I know, it boggles as to why she likes me too). She’s also a really fabulous writer who’s taught me many things about craft in the years I’ve read and then knew her.

On March 4, Witch Blood, book two in her Elemental Witches series officially releases although it’s apparently shipping from Barnes and Noble and has been spotted on shelves already.

In this installment, we get Thomas, who we meet in Witch Blood. Thomas is a man wearing the very heavy mantle of leadership of his Coven in some dangerous times. He’s strong, an earth witch to Isabelle’s water witch powers. She’s chaos and emotion and he’s quiet intensity but no less emotional, he’s just more contained.

I loved this book. I loved it from the first paragraph until the very end. The action part of the story is strong, interesting and really well told. Anya’s strength at drawing you into the world she’s writing really shines here. You care about the Coven and her witches, you care about the people, you can see the rooms right down to the wood grain in the floors and you can feel the silk of Thomas’ hair as he lets it down for Isabelle.

Isabelle is a woman filled with conflicts and guilt, she needs revenge for her sister. But she’s not wild and stupid, she’s impassioned and needs to make things right for this woman who accepted her, warts and all. I loved that about Isabelle actually. I loved that we know she’s hard and rootless but her anchor in life was her sister who’s now gone. That element was very emotional for me and I think Anya nailed it and has really shown Isabelle rather than told us about her.

The romance is strong and sexy. The love scenes are, whew, hot, guh! And totally elemental to the story. The way Thomas falls for Isabelle is startling and well written and Isabelle’s reluctance is not one of those romance novel moments when you wrinkle your nose and tell the heroine she’s a twit.

Little unique details like where and how Thomas’ power is stored really made the book extra special. I cannot wait for the next book! Anya Bast has scored yet another hit with her Elemental Witches.

The basics: A water witch, Isabelle Novak has always led a chaotic, nomadic existence. But her life spins out of control when her sister—her only friend and emotional anchor—is killed by a demon. Driven by grief and a desire for revenge, she turns her back on the Coven and the rede they hold sacred: Harm thee none…

When Isabelle first encounters Thomas Monahan, she’s running on pure rage and sorrow, channeling her pain into power—and trying to freeze the life out of a warlock she holds responsible for her sister’s death. Together, they form an uneasy alliance to hunt and destroy a demon of tremendous power. As head of the Coven, earth witch Thomas must thwart Isabelle’s dark impulses, but his very presence stirs deeper desires she never knew she had…

Okay so, because I loved this book so much – how about a contest? I’ll send the winner a copy of Witch Blood straight from Amazon.com upon winning. All you need to do is comment here and I’ll pick a winner at random on Saturday, March 1 at noon pacific. So g’wan and enter!

WHEEE! Today I got notes from Amazon that The Outlaw Demon Wails AND Grimspace have shipped. Yes, that’s right, I have read Grimspace but I’m buying a copy too, LOL! Also about half an hour ago, Rhyannon Byrd’s new Nocturne showed up on my doorstep. Much squeeing on my part. OH, and I’ve got an early copy of something that won’t come out until the fall.

I’m trying to recover from being sick, which sucks but with three young kids, it’s sort of old hat. I’m sweaty, dizzy and now annoyed at my children but such is life, LOL. Anyway, I’m thinking a lot about three things:

First – The Romantic Times Booklover’s Convention in April. This will be my second year and I’m totally thrilled to be attending again. I’m trying to figure out all the basics, the promotion stuff, the swag for our reader party, costumes and clothes – all that good stuff.

The trip will be jam packed with stuff – I’m flying into Anya’s neck of the woods and she and I are driving to Megan’s! Then we’re getting our author shots with the super fabulous Scott Church. I’ve wanted so much to get him to do my headshots but he’s in PA and I’m in Washington so I wasn’t sure when to make it happen. I’m totally thrilled about it! And then there’ll be a signing and Megan, Anya and I will do a fun live webcast probably Monday night before we head into Pittsburgh for RT on Tuesday. Then you know, RT stuff for days and days. Books, authors, readers, dancing, friends old and new, it’s going to be fabulous.

Second: The release of What Happens in Vegas May 1! (and I’ve heard it’ll be available early at RT!!) Oh my goodness how excited am I about this anthology!! We sold it in late 2006 so the four of us have been waiting a while now for it. Recently we’ve received some early reviews so I’ll be posting those at my website soon and now it’s a matter of making sure the ads are in place, getting my prize baskets ready for RT and contests elsewhere and trying not to break my neck looking at Amazon and Barnes and Noble every three minutes.

Here’s a longer blurb for my story, Stripped:

Dahlia Baker had a reputation in her hometown. It was one of the things a woman with a body like hers had to contend with. As if large breasts and legs for miles made her a dumb bimbo. But it wasn’t like anyone cared that she had a 4.0 and a free ride to UNLV and so she grabbed opportunity with both hands and headed for the sunny heat of Las Vegas.

Still, she has bills to pay and if she wants to keep herself in books and a roof over her head, she has to get a job. And that’s where The Dollhouse came in where she worked as a burlesque dancer.

She’s got a plan for her future. But into her life strolls Nash, the brother of the man who owned the Dollhouse and a reputed player. Nash was literally the hottest man she’d ever clapped eyes on.

And he wants her.

Despite her reservations, they enter into a fiery affair and soon Dahlia’s heart is involved.

Nash knows Dahlia is skittish and over time, he begins to understand why. He may be a playboy, but he knows what he wants and he wants forever with Dahlia. It’s just going to take a very skillful combination of extremely hot sex and unconditional love to get her to see it too.

Third (and related to #2): Getting Sensual Magic finished. This is the follow up to Stripped, the novella I’ve got in the Vegas anthology. I’m nearly done and if I can stop feeling like I’m going to hack up a lung, I’ll be done by the end of this month and have plenty of time for crit and revisions. This is William’s story, he’s Nash’s brother and he owns The Dollhouse, the burlesque club Dahlia (heroine from Stripped) works in. This one has a paranormal storyline (as do the others in the second anthology!)

oy, there’s “pull my finger” talk going on in the other room, must put a stop to it before I get “the talk” from teachers.

I usually read a lot. Several books a week along with writing but at the moment I’m working on three different projects at three different stages of the process (editing, revising and writing) so I’m so busy I’m not able to spend as much time as I like reading other people’s books.

Anyway, I’ve picked up two books recently where I’ve just had to put them down. The thing is, one person’s wallbanger is another person’s keeper. I totally believe this is true. There are books I hear folks raving about all the time but when I read them I just wasn’t engaged at all.

Here comes the part where I ramble about sex in books and a great many things I find myself annoyed by…

One thing I notice a lot is how sex is used in a book. Now not everyone writes erotica or erotic romance. Not everyone puts big sex scenes in books and that’s fine too. But one of my biggest peeves is how authors will toss in multiple, totally gratutitious sex scenes in a book. I don’t know why they do it. Perhaps it’s because sex sells and people think that more is better. I don’t know. Sometimes, more IS better. Sometimes that’s what the book calls for. Sometimes not so much.

A sex scene is like any other scene in a book. It should propel the story in some direction. If it’s just filler, it’s useless and it reads that way. Put from my perspective – it’s a wasted opportunity for great character interaction. Sex is rich with opportunity for an author! If you use it, use it wisely. If I skim past a sex scene, it’s not really motivational for the characters. Can I skip past large blocks of other scenes with the same effect? If so, same thing – you’re not utilizing your words.

There are authors who don’t have long detailed sex scenes but who understand the complexity and importance of a sex scene. It’s not the level of graphic words, it’s not page count – it’s content and purpose. Look at Nora when she writes as JD Robb – when Eve and Roarke have sex there’s a reason for it. That’s why the physical chemistry between them resonates with readers so deeply. Roberts understands how to use sex effectively even though she’s not writing 24 page sex scenes. There are authors who do write long, detailed sex scenes who DO know how to use them effectively (several of them blog right here at The Bradford Bunch) Sadly, I see a lot of stuff that mistakes quantity for quality and the use of certain words as shortcuts to try and seem sexy.

I’m not an expert more than anyone else is. I write sex. I like to write sex and so perhaps when I read, I see it differently than other readers do. I’m sure I’m far more nitpicky than some people can be. For instance – I don’t care how gargantuan his penis is, it’s not going into the heroine’s womb. The head of a penis can bump the cervix which can be painful or pleasurable depending on the woman, the time of the month and hell, the day or level of arousal. But the womb is closed, penises do not go into them. Now, there are times when a woman’s uterus contracts – often during orgasm and she feels THAT during intercourse, but that’s not a penis in her uterus.

Also – some things are just plain painful. If an author is going to use backdoor play in her story – can she please avoid scenes without lube or (cringe) double dipping? It’s not safe to have the fingers/toys or a penis go from anus to vagina.

In many scenes a little goes a long way. As in – just because you have him dangling her upside down from the side of a building, singing the national anthem with sparklers in his ears while attempting four movements from the Kama Sutra, doesn’t mean it’s “hot” – no, sometimes it makes me cock my head and wonder just how bendy any one human can be. Most people aren’t double jointed.

And I was just discussing this with someone who will remain nameless earlier today – what is with the gagging scenes during oral? I’ve noticed this as a trend in porn too. Maybe I’m alone in this feeling but it’s not sexy. First of all, have people actually gagged? Because it’s not a pleasant thing. Second of all, while I’m sure a great many people have triggered the gag reflex while giving oral sex, it’s usually not on purpose. Sounding like one is about to vomit doesn’t ring my bell and I tend to wonder about the dude whose bell it does ring. Again, this is just *my* perspective and I could totally be wrong and gagging could be the sexiest thing since Gerard Butler in a leather kilt.

Anyway, I’ve just finished a huge edit/revision so I’m braindead. The best you get from me today is a ramble. What are your pet peeves with sex in books?

BTW – I’ll take the folks who reply and toss the names into random.org and choose a winner for an ARC of Standoff – you have until 2/10 at noon pacific to reply!

So, week one of Sven – 24.5K! WHEEEE!

I’d written an opening scene but it just wasn’t working for me, or it was fine but I want more than fine. So I changed that and it totally freed everything so yay! Sometimes, writing is like a puzzle, you have to put the edge pieces together but when they all look like sky, it takes a bit of cocking your head and patience as you work through it.

Somehow, it’s become very cold. Like we skipped fall and it’s winter or something. When I picked the kids up at school Friday my hands were so cold they stung. Bleh. Sideways rain, high winds and cold. But I do love this time of year. I’ve pulled out the crock pot and used it several times, I get to wear scarves and all manner of sweaters and get all snuggly at night with my dude.

Got my cover for To Do List, hopefully I can put it up soon!

Oh and I finished Blood Fever and wow. I know some people are put out because this series isn’t a romance but it’s excellent dark fantasy and I’m really thrilled with where Moning took Mac in this book. I liked Dark Fever but this one is more taut, better plotted and definitely dark (a few spots made me a bit queasy but in the best possible way). Vivi Anna’s new Nocturne came last week so it’s in my TBR pile now but they said Lisa Renee Jones’ was delayed! I pouted over that because I love her writing.

I need to get my basket for the Emerald City RWA con finished, send out some contest wins and get some planning and promotion done for my November 3rd booksigning at the Waldenbooks at the Southcenter Mall (6-8 pm). I’ll be there with my fellow Samhain author Stacia Wolf. Stop in, say hello, we’ll have chocolate and books and well, it’s us, what more do you need?

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 weekend I finally got around to reading the most recent issue of the RWR and aside from my annoyance at the continued condescension of the letters from the president, I read the letter to the editor and found myself scratching my head.

For those who don’t know, someone wrote in and complained at the language used in romances these days. Apparently, it’s okay for a hero to say bad words but when a heroine does, she sounds like a gang member.

Sigh.

Here’s the deal, everyone is allowed preferences. I have no issue with people who don’t like their characters cursing. But for me, as an author and as a reader, realism is important. My heroines, for the most part, are harder edged and while I take issue with the idea that cursing makes one sound like “a gang member” I do believe a hardened warrior or vampire hunter would tend toward harder language. That’s just basic story accuracy and being true to a character. For instance, Tate Murphy, my heroine in Making Chase has a slight problem dropping “F” bombs when she’s stressed. She’s not a gang member, she’s pretty darned wholesome all in all, but it’s part of who she is. Also? A vagina does not make one exempt from excited utterances of bad words when faced with a demon bearing poison teeth or an uzi in your face, or even walking in on your boyfriend with your best friend on the kitchen table.

I take issue with the idea of needing yet more ratings and explanations on books. We’re talking about adults here. If I pick up a dark paranormal I’m absolutely going to expect to find harder language in it. That’s sort of common sense. Also, over time, I’m going to know what lines and authors write what. Nocturne for instance has darker paranormals but the cursing is at a minimum. Most Harelquin and Sil lines (except Blaze and Spice) keep the cursing to a minimum. But in truth, if you’re reading a contemporary or a paranormal – just like in modern day life, people curse. It might not be what *you* do, but to call someone vulgar or a gang member for saying “shit” or even “fuck” seems, well, quite an overstatement.

To a certain extent, I sympathize with readers who find it hard to find what they like on the shelves. I’ve been there! But I’m an adult and I don’t need anyone else rating what I read to enable me to be a big girl and do my own research.

First – a note that two wonderful authors I know have books out this week!

Sasha White’s Trouble

This one came via UPS (with several other books, wheee!) and I’m saving it for my vacation later this month. I can’t wait to read it. As I’ve said before, I love Sasha’s writing and I think her erotic writing is marvelous.

And Charlene Teglia’s Wild Wild West

This one also came via UPS on the same day Sasha’s did although I did peek at the first story, I’ll also be reading this one on my vacation. This is Charli’s first NY release and I love her writing so I’m quite sure it’ll be fabulous