Stephanie Julian's Blog, page 17
May 24, 2011
4 Stars from RT for WHAT A GODDESS WANTS!
WHAT A GODDESS WANTS by Stephanie Julian
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
Sensuality: SCORCHER
4 stars RT Rating
This is one hot book! Plenty of sex blends into an exciting, fast-paced story in which Tessa and Cal play well off an appealing cast of secondary characters.
The forgotten Etruscan goddess of the dawn, Tessa's afraid to fall asleep because a powerful god needs her life force to escape his underworld prison with his demons. Her powers are diminishing and can only be restored by increasing her sexual energy. She enlists Caligo, a Cimmerian warrior, who resists being her sex toy, but sees something in her that might salvage his soul. They journey into the world of the gods, through unearthly planes and into the uneven emotion called love. (SOURCEBOOKS, Jul., 352 pp., $14.99)
Reviewed By: Donna M. Brown
May 19, 2011
May 4, 2011
A new review for SIZE MATTERS
from Publisher's Weekly!
Size Matters by Stephanie Julian (e-book)
Read by joysann on Barbara Vey's Beyond Her Blog
Tim Sattazahn, just minding his own business walking through the woods in a snowstorm, comes upon a beautiful woman freezing to death after her car breaks down. Beyond the physical desire he's experiencing as he cares for her, he feels some consternation when he learns that, as a reporter for the Weekly News Journal, she's there looking for Bigfoot, but doesn't realize she's found him. For her part, Carrie Benton is thoroughly taken by the huge, gorgeous, sexy man she's found that's made her trip to the forest worth while.
This is a very fun, cute, fast little read. It's also charming, smile-provoking, and hotly erotic. With Size Matters, Stephanie Julian is cleverly introducing The Fringe, a new series that explores some of the more imaginative reports in the weekly papers at grocery store check-out counter, and I'm looking forward to the next story.
Size Matters by Stephanie Julian (e-book)
Read by joysann on Barbara Vey's Beyond Her Blog
Tim Sattazahn, just minding his own business walking through the woods in a snowstorm, comes upon a beautiful woman freezing to death after her car breaks down. Beyond the physical desire he's experiencing as he cares for her, he feels some consternation when he learns that, as a reporter for the Weekly News Journal, she's there looking for Bigfoot, but doesn't realize she's found him. For her part, Carrie Benton is thoroughly taken by the huge, gorgeous, sexy man she's found that's made her trip to the forest worth while.
This is a very fun, cute, fast little read. It's also charming, smile-provoking, and hotly erotic. With Size Matters, Stephanie Julian is cleverly introducing The Fringe, a new series that explores some of the more imaginative reports in the weekly papers at grocery store check-out counter, and I'm looking forward to the next story.
April 28, 2011
Don't Piss Off the Romance Community, We Bite Back
So, it must have been a slow news day for WNEP in Snyder County PA and I'm thinking they probably wish it had stayed that way.
The ABC affiliate has come under heavy fire for a piece on Judy Mays, a local
romance writer, who also, gasp, happens to teach high school English.
The reporter took it on herself to vilify Mays (who writes for Ellora's Cave, as I do) on the basis of comments from one woman. Nowhere in the piece does the journalist confirm her findings through outside sources other than one Wendy Apple. She did ask the school superintendent for a comment and managed to make the standard "I can not discuss personnel matters or employees. At this point I have no comment." statement sound like a condemnation.
As a journalist myself, I can only shake my head at the misguided, so-called reporting. What editor looked at this story and thought it was a good idea?
I have to ask the question: How did Apple find out? She had to do some digging because Judy has gone to some length to protect her privacy, probably because of trolls like Apple. So, obviously, Apple spent some time on this. Why? Does she have nothing better to do with her life?
Purely on the basis of a few minutes of videotape, Apple proves herself to be petty, vindictive and small-minded. Unknowingly (most likely), she's opened herself up to be pilloried by the court of Twitter/Facebook/Internet and rightly so. She's come under attack in a way I'm sure she never expected and she's discovering just how cruel the world can seem when you decide to stand on an antiquated soapbox and believe you hold the moral high ground.
Apple is probably crying to her husband or her children or her friends about all the mean people in the world who want to make her life miserable. She should've thought about that before she contacted WNEP to say, hey, did you know there's this teacher who writes erotic romance?
The romance community, writers and readers and publishing company employees, have rallied to Judy's defense, which made my day. I hope Judy makes a mint off the publicity. Of course, that does nothing to ease the stress created by thoughtless comments from one woman, a young reporter who may not live this down and a lax editor who should have known better.
And I hope they learned a valuable lesson: Don't piss off the romance community. We bite back. And we're everywhere.
The ABC affiliate has come under heavy fire for a piece on Judy Mays, a local
romance writer, who also, gasp, happens to teach high school English.
The reporter took it on herself to vilify Mays (who writes for Ellora's Cave, as I do) on the basis of comments from one woman. Nowhere in the piece does the journalist confirm her findings through outside sources other than one Wendy Apple. She did ask the school superintendent for a comment and managed to make the standard "I can not discuss personnel matters or employees. At this point I have no comment." statement sound like a condemnation.
As a journalist myself, I can only shake my head at the misguided, so-called reporting. What editor looked at this story and thought it was a good idea?
I have to ask the question: How did Apple find out? She had to do some digging because Judy has gone to some length to protect her privacy, probably because of trolls like Apple. So, obviously, Apple spent some time on this. Why? Does she have nothing better to do with her life?
Purely on the basis of a few minutes of videotape, Apple proves herself to be petty, vindictive and small-minded. Unknowingly (most likely), she's opened herself up to be pilloried by the court of Twitter/Facebook/Internet and rightly so. She's come under attack in a way I'm sure she never expected and she's discovering just how cruel the world can seem when you decide to stand on an antiquated soapbox and believe you hold the moral high ground.
Apple is probably crying to her husband or her children or her friends about all the mean people in the world who want to make her life miserable. She should've thought about that before she contacted WNEP to say, hey, did you know there's this teacher who writes erotic romance?
The romance community, writers and readers and publishing company employees, have rallied to Judy's defense, which made my day. I hope Judy makes a mint off the publicity. Of course, that does nothing to ease the stress created by thoughtless comments from one woman, a young reporter who may not live this down and a lax editor who should have known better.
And I hope they learned a valuable lesson: Don't piss off the romance community. We bite back. And we're everywhere.
April 13, 2011
Grace in Moonlight
"GRACE IN MOONLIGHT" is the working title for the next Lucani Lovers book and I really hope I get to keep it because I love it. The book's moving along, in great part to the song below. It just fits so perfectly, I've got it on repeat a lot when I plot.
And I kind of have a thing for Corey Taylor. Okay, maybe not kind of. I took my baby to see Slipknot three years ago and fell under the spell. Of course, the members of Slipknot wear masks, but Stone Sour, the side project Taylor fronts, does not. I've actually seen Stone Sour a few times in the past year and, though their music isn't as hard as Slipknot's, I like it. Especially "Hesitate." Enjoy.
And I kind of have a thing for Corey Taylor. Okay, maybe not kind of. I took my baby to see Slipknot three years ago and fell under the spell. Of course, the members of Slipknot wear masks, but Stone Sour, the side project Taylor fronts, does not. I've actually seen Stone Sour a few times in the past year and, though their music isn't as hard as Slipknot's, I like it. Especially "Hesitate." Enjoy.
March 24, 2011
Hero Roundup
As July slooooowly approaches, bringing the release of WHAT A GODDESS WANTS, I'm trying to keep myself busy so I don't crawl out of my skin with anticipation.
Cal's worth waiting for, of course, though he's not too keen on spoiled goddesses: "Here seemed as good as any place to die. And if, by some miracle, he didn't die, this was the last fucking time he ever took a job for a deity. They screwed you over every damn time."
His opinion does change when a certain Etruscan sun goddess needs him to save her. I based his physical characteristics on Jensen Ackles because I adore his character on "Supernatural." And it totally fits for Cal.
I just finished the first round of edits on SEX, LIES & SURVEILLANCE, my first release from Carina Press! I'm so excited about this story. It's always been one of my favorites. Sexy, contemporary and a hot hero.My hero describes it like this: "...the DeMarcos were not what he'd expected. He'd imagined "The Sopranos." Instead, he got "Ozzie and Harriet" with a little "La Femme Nikita" thrown in for flavor." His name may change in the book but in my head, this has always been Cal.
I just started Lucani Lovers 4. Grace and Kaisie's story is moving along and I found the perfect inspiration for Kaisie. Look to the right. Sigh worthy, yes?Kaisie's shaping up to be awesome and extremely alpha: "He wanted her to tell him who he could kill for putting that pain in her eyes and he wanted her to tell him she was never going back to the Mal."
I'm also working on edits for the second book in the Forgotten Goddess. HOW TO WORSHIP A GODDESS will be released in December 2011 and features Lucy, Etruscan Goddess of the Moon, and Brandon, Reading Railers No. 17. He's a hockey player and oh, my, do I love them.
No cover yet but here's what Lucy has to say about hockey and the players (and I so totally agree): "She loved hockey. Loved the speed, the agility. The fights. The men. Brawny, sweaty, messy. They let their hair grow, though no one would ever accuse them of being feminine, not with perpetual five o'clock shadow and bulging muscles. They skated with the grace of a ballet dancer and fought at the drop of a glove."
I have a really clear picture in my head of what Brandon looks like. I just can't show it to you because, well... Let me look around a little more and see what I can come up with.
And finally, I actually started the next Fringe story. Andy's a real character and I mean that in the best way. More to come on that story later...
March 17, 2011
WHAT A GODDESS WANTS ARCs are here!
Aren't they pretty? I certainly think so.
So here's the deal: I'll be giving away ARCs but you have to join my email loop to be in the running. Go here to sign up: Stephanie Julian On A Moonlit Night
I promise I won't be inundating you with posts but I will be leaking exclusive excerpts and contests on there.
I'm also on Facebook at Stephanie Julian And on Twitter at Stephanie Julian
The official release is July and I'm gearing up for a great summer.
March 7, 2011
Philadelphia Flower Show
In my other life as a freelance writer for a daily newspaper, I get to do cool things like cover the Philadelphia Flower Show, which I did Saturday.
I ooh and ahh and sigh over the fact that my garden will never ever look like that. But every year, I come home determined to make my garden sparkle. And every year I fail. At least I have pictures.
I ooh and ahh and sigh over the fact that my garden will never ever look like that. But every year, I come home determined to make my garden sparkle. And every year I fail. At least I have pictures.
February 20, 2011
Kiss of Moonlight in Print!
It's here!KISS OF MOONLIGHT is finally in print! If you were waiting for paper, wait no more. As of now, you can order at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. This is the first book in the Lucani Lovers series and introduced Kyle and Tam, along with Cat and Tivr, and several other members of the lucani.Plagued by nightmares. Stalked by kidnappers. Tamra McMillan needs a safe haven. When tattooed bad-ass Kyle Rossini steps into her life, she didn't expect to find a sanctuary from her demons or hot sex. But appearances can be deceiving. His tender touch and the hunger in his eyes brands her his for life. But otherworldly forces are afoot and death hovers… Etruscan werewolf Kyle Rossini is a loner. The king's assassin with a killer's instincts. The last thing he needs is a mate. Until he meets the one woman who needs him more than he needs his solitude. When Tamra stumbles into his world and his bed, she captures his heart. And nothing will keep him from her.
Just a few reviews:
Fallen Angel Reviews [image error] "Stephanie Julian has another awesome read on her hands with Kiss of Moonlight ... Ms. Julian will tempt a saint and give the sinner what they want with Kiss of Moonlight . This is a fantastic read with brutally vivid characters and flaming hot passion that just leaps off the pages. I cannot wait to see what will happen next." Night Owl Romance [image error] "...I'm hooked...A wonderful romance with lots of hot interludes, I anxiously await more stories in this series."
Ecataromance "an emotionally and action-packed story... If you are looking for an emotionally, touching story, pick up Kiss of Moonlight." Smexy Books "Stephanie Julian knows her way around a sex scene... A solid start to a new series and I definitely recommend." Smokin' Hot Books "Move over Twilight, these Etruscan wolves have got some serious game. With Kiss of Moonlight the author creates a unique and rich shifter world in just under 150 pages. That's skill right there!" Anna's Book Blog "This first installment is a great beginning. I loved this story. But the bit of cliffhanger at the end about killed me. I'm eager to read the upcoming books in this series."
The Fiction Vixen "This is a hot, steamy read and Kyle may be a bad-ass assassin but he is also one considerate lover... the author lays a good foundation for future books."
Erotic Horizons "A wonderful first book in a series that I was very pleased to have read. There is an excitement to the pace that the book takes which I was very impressed with..."
February 14, 2011
Happy Valentine's Day
Hope you all have a good day, whether you've got a Valentine to share it with or are happily single and plan to spend the day treating yourself like royalty. Either way, enjoy.I'll be spending much of the day at a funeral for a dear friend of the family. The Ole Harr will be greatly missed, not only by his wife and daughters and family but by my dad, who considered him his best friend for 40 years. May the fishing and hunting be good wherever you are now, Harry.
Life's been off-kilter here for the past two week, a rollercoaster ride with no stop button. No one ever said raising teenagers was easy but someone should at least mention the fact that, occasionally, it will be unbearable. And at all the wrong times.
Luckily, I finished the second book in the Forgotten Goddesses series and sent that off to my editor today. Can't wait for you to meet Lucy and Brandon. Of course, now the nail-biting commences. Or continues. Actually, I shouldn't have any nails left. Or hair. At the very least, it should be all gray. Good thing I have a hair stylist.
Tomorrow, I'm jumping back into revisions for an erotic romance project for my agent and by the end of the month, I should have edits for a new project I'll be announcing soon. That's such a bright spot in my life right now that I'm hugging it close.
That's the wonderful thing about writing romance. There's always a happy ending. Have a good one!
