Amy Ruttan's Blog, page 5

November 18, 2011

Guest Blogger Julia Phillips Smith




Ok, first my apologies. This should've gone up this morning, but I had parent teacher interviews all day LONG and poor Julia was sick too. Oy.

But she's here now and I'm thrilled to have her. I could gush for hours how much I love Julia and how I was looking forward to this book, but I'll hand over the *mic* to her now!
5 on Friday – Set 92
Thanks for having me here today, Amy.

On Fridays, I join with other music lovers for a meme hosted by Travis @ Trav's Thoughts, where we put together a five-tune set. To play along or to see what other bloggers are showcasing today, visit:
http://travsthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/11/five-on-friday-set-95.html

This week, I'm revisiting a few tunes from previous sets which introduced the main characters in my debut novel, SAINT SANGUINUS. Then I'm spinning a few new tunes for two supporting characters.
~
An elite brotherhood stands between humans and vampires, preventing one side from annihilating the other. Who are called to this service? Only those warriors who curse God with their dying breath.

Welsh warrior Peredur falls to a spear before he can claim Tanwen for his bride. Raging on the battlefield, Peredur utters the curse that seals his fate and leads him to another life. Using the power of a saint whose bone makes up an amulet, Peredur takes on the trials to become a true member of the brethren. Yet his need for the chieftain's daughter Tanwen still burns.

Tanwen resists her father's command to take a husband. The only one who understands her sorrow is Cavan, the wise woman's son. When he promises that he can reunite her with her beloved, she agrees to his terms. But does Tanwen truly understand the depth of the price that must be paid?


1 – I Who Have Nothing – Tom Jones
Who better for Welsh warrior Peredur than sexy Welsh singer Tom Jones?


2 – You Make Me Wanna Die – The Pretty Reckless
Tanwen can't see what's so bad about this option.

3 – Voodoo Child (Slight Return) – Jimi Hendrix
Love triangle member along with Peredur and Tanwen, Cavan is the wise woman's son, a village outsider with a secret.

4 – Suspicion – Elvis Presley
Lord Muirdach is the clan vampire lord who rightly holds suspicions

5 – Oh Death – Jen Titus
Melnak is the member of the vampire Brotherhood who collects Peredur from his last battlefield
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Published on November 18, 2011 11:12

November 10, 2011

ALIVE


Yes, I'm still alive.

I got knocked out on my return from Romanticon with bronchitis and sinusitis. On top of that I've been a busy little Canuck author deep in her cave, writing, writing and writing.

I have some cool news to share!

First up, LAIRD'S RETURN by Scottish Victorian Romance was an ARe recommended read!

WOOT!

Here's a little snippet of the AWESOME review by Lady Rhyleigh:

Exciting, arousing and romantic, Laird's Return had my attention riveted from the beginning.

Second piece of news, I have a date in which INCARNATE will be released in print. It's coming to a bookstore near you on June 5, 2012! Yes, I busy working on it's sequel.

Third piece of news, Laird's Return is available at Chapters. This makes me extremely happy. It's a dream come true to see a book of mine in a local bookstore! Squee!

And finally, BENTLEY GAL has a release date! YAY! Look for my 1920's Blush Romance from Ellora's Cave on January 12, 2012.
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Published on November 10, 2011 14:52

October 12, 2011

New Release: Gladiator's Seduction


WOOT! Romanticon rocked and I'll do a recap in a couple of days. I'm still trying to play catch-up and get over yet another cold.

Not only is today my 9th anniversary with my DH, but release day for my first ever menage from Ellora's Cave titled GLADIATOR'S SEDUCTION.

Not only is it a menage, but also the first book I've written with a M/M scene.

Lots of firsts in this book.

I'm pretty nervous about it to be honest, because it's my first menage and first M/M scene. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it.


Darius and Jason have been hiding secrets. Several secrets, including the fact that Darius is still a slave to the Roman Empire. They have vowed to keep Darius' identity safe, but both of them are lying to each other and neither of them know what the other knows, until an Egyptian seductress is placed in their midst.

Husn can immediately tell the men desire each other as much as they desire her, and she feels it is her duty to bring them together—as it is her duty to kill them both.

Husn will fight the purist sect that wants to place a Ptolemy heir back on the pharaoh's throne, but they hold her sister's life in their hands. Husn must decide if she can turn to the two men she loves, or if she will have to use their secret to destroy them.
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Published on October 12, 2011 00:00

September 24, 2011

Six Sentence Sunday



This is my last Six Sentence Sunday before Romanticon! I'm so excited about Wednesday, that's when I begin my journey down to Ohio.

This week I'm featuring my urban fantasy/demon & angel title, Incarnate from Samhain Publishing.

The setup: She's a guardian of portals between Heaven/Hell and Earth. She is one of the many who keep the book of Revelations from coming true, only someone has started killing off Guardians. The portal she guards is in Yellowknife and she drives a big rig on the ice roads since nothing comes through her portal during the winter months.

Gripping the stick, I tried to downshift to avoid the hole that opened up in the middle of the ice road. The brakes felt like Jell-O and though my truck slowed, it was pointless. I slid right for the hole. The black, frigid water looked like a giant mouth about to swallow me whole.

This was it.

This was how I was to die for the second time.


Have a great Sunday. I'm off to the in laws where's there's no Internet access. I'll be making my rounds later tonight.
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Published on September 24, 2011 23:55

New Team Blog

I'm over at Silken Sheets & Seduction today talking about what I think is sexy.

Don't forget the MASSIVE giveaway is still running there.

It's HUGE.

Drop by and say Hi.
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Published on September 24, 2011 05:25

September 18, 2011

Sunday Six


For this week's SSS on thought I do my most recent Ellora's Cave book as in two weeks I will be heading to Romanticon! I am very excited.



I'll be there for the entire conference, but if you're in the Akron Ohio are Ellora's Cave is having a HUGE booksinging/sale at the Ramanda downtown Akron and it's open free to the public, as long as you're over 18.

I'll be sigining there that day.






So the setup for this weeks is the heroine, Angela has the hots for her postman and he's delivering something C.O.D.




"Twelve fifty exactly," he smiled up at me again, those chocolate eyes raking my body. My nipples hardened under his appreciative gave, my blood firing and my body humming with anticipation. He was looking at my outfit. My tennis outfit that consisted of a short, pleated, white skirt and halter top.

"Going to hit a few balls?" he asked innocently.

I tried not to choke at his remark.
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Published on September 18, 2011 00:00

September 13, 2011

Guest Blog-Anya Delvay


I'm super excited to have Anya here. She's one of my fantastic CPs and her debut Ellora's Cave release is something worth celebrating for sure.

I love this book. I loved it the first time I got a glimpse at it and it was then I told her to pitch her idea during a pitch contest at Passionate Reads.

After much arm twisting she did and...well I'll let her explain.









It's all Amy's fault.

Yeah, I know, that's a line usually reserved for her husband, kids and other assorted relatives to use, but in this case she deserves it.

There I was, minding my own business, when Miss Busybody emails me with a link and this message:
An EC editor is having a pitch contest. Manuscript doesn't have to be finished to pitch.
Chance to get past the slush!!!!!


Huh, nice email to send to a friend whose going through an extreme case of writer's constipation. She insisted I pitch to Grace Bradley at the Passionate Reads blog, forced me to hone a half-baked idea into a somewhat viable blurb and twisted my arm until I said I'd give it a go. [I freely admit it. *grin*]

Then she threatened me! Said she knew my husband would back her if I didn't pitch and she had to come over to kick my butt.

Worse of all, she was right…

I pitched, making sure she knew I had to go hurl after I hit send.

That was January of this year, 2011. I know because I looked up the email and chat logs. This is September, and last Friday the book I wrote based on that pitch, Beyond Prudence, was released by Ellora's Cave. You can watch the video here, and read an excerpt here. I've also included a short additional excerpt below, featuring Amy's favourite secondary character.
*shakes head*

Yep, it's all her fault.

Thanks Amy, for the faith and the *whippah* and the encouragement when I was absolutely, positively sure it would never work.
Couldn't have done it without you!

Anya Richards
Journeys Through Seduction

Blurb:

The mysterious device in Prudence Hastings' basement could be the answer to her prayers, if she could just figure out what it is. Needing William Foreman's help, she's prepared to do whatever it takes to gain it. Even putting aside her dislike of machines and volunteering to test the risqué apparatus he's developing for the Acolytes of Concupiscence.

Will's expecting a lightskirt for a test subject and is horrified when he realizes the tempting woman he just debauched is very much a lady. But despite his best intentions, something keeps drawing him back to her, and it isn't just the thought of discovering the inner workings of her uncle's last invention. Unlocking their passion is turning out to be a far more pleasurable, if dangerous, job.

Beset by desire, automatons, secrets, an unintelligible maid and the danger of utter ruin should their association become known, Will and Prudence haven't a chance in hell of remaining unscathed.

Fire up the boiler, open the sluices and take cover. Something's about to explode…

Excerpt:
This had to stop. Torturing himself with desires that were best forgotten would serve no purpose. Prudence Hastings was far beyond his reach in the most important ways there were, and nothing good would come of their continued association. In fact, if what they had done became known the scandal would be horrendous and the consequences dire for them both. He couldn't trust himself to keep his hands to himself, and neither could afford further dalliance.
So he would have to put an end to it.

Rifling through the various documents on his desk to find the one he wanted, he reached for a sheet of paper and the pen lying beside his blotter. Albert Fitzwaller would, he was sure, be able to help her to unlock the mystery of Sir Harold's machine. Even better, that gentleman, although an energetic septuagenarian, preferred the company of other men to that of women.

He had just started his note to Prudence when Oliver flew into the room, a package clutched in his talons, and tried for a landing on the short, and only clear, end of the desk.

"No, Oliver, circle arou—"

Of course the owl ignored him and overshot, the package flying from his grip, talons scraping across the wood before he smashed into the wall.

"Sorry!" Oliver righted himself, sending Will a sheepish look. "I keep thinking, 'This time I will get it right.'"

"I've told you, it's no fault of yours." Will bent to retrieve the package as Oliver hopped toward the fireplace. "I just can't seem to adjust your wings exactly right for the quick stop."

"Never you mind." Oliver rotated his head, clicking his beak in amusement. "Gives Max something to laugh at, anyhow. He does love to see me crash—"

With a horrendous clang the fire iron flew from its spot on the hearth and whacked the owl in the side, bowling him over again.

"Oh, bollocks." Oliver tried to get up, but the angle of the poker wouldn't let him. "I'm bloody magnetized again. I hate when this happens. Now, if there's anything for you to sort out, it's this."

Will didn't bother to explain again that if Oliver could land properly and not go bashing into things, he wouldn't end up magnetized. Instead he called for Clifford to come get the owl and take him back to the lab to have his molecules properly realigned.

"May I deactivate him first, sir?" Clifford asked, lifting Oliver, fire iron and all, and preparing to carry him away.

"You bloody well better," Oliver retorted, rustling his feathers in an attempt to look fierce and failing spectacularly. "Or as soon as I'm free, you'll be on the receiving end of my beak. I hate having it done when I'm awake."

It was only after they had left that Will got a chance to look at the package and when he did his heart leapt. He recognized the feminine, looping handwriting from the two letters Prudence had sent him, which he had finally found and read the day before. Tearing open the paper, he found his jacket, neatly folded, along with a note.

Dear Mr. Foreman,
After you left Hastings Halt yesterday I realized you had unfortunately left your coat behind and thought I would send it on to you.
I also wanted to thank you again for your offer to aid me in investigating Uncle Harry's invention. I will not bore you with details, but determining its use and potential marketability is of overriding importance to me at this time.
Yet I also realize that, because of my unconscionable and frightfully untoward behavior, you may not wish to have anything more to do with me. I sincerely apologize if I have caused you any discomfort, and if you no longer desire to render assistance I would understand completely. I only ask that you suggest another gentleman of your acquaintance who may be able and willing to unlock the mystery of my uncle's device.
I remain, yours sincerely,
Prudence Hastings

Will read the note through once, then twice again, getting a little more—well—aggrieved each time. The formality of her words, the assumption her actions were distasteful to him, annoyed him beyond measure.

Untoward behavior…

If there was any untoward behavior, it was his.
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Published on September 13, 2011 08:59

September 12, 2011

Silken Sheets & Seduction + HUGE giveaway

I have joined a team blog which discusses all things spicy. I'm totally proud and honored to be a part of this great team!

As part of our launch we're having a HUGE giveaway and I mean huge. There's many chances to win something, but the grandprize is a Kindle. :)The giveaway ends October 1st where the winner will be announced.

Check out Silken Sheets & Seduction here. I'm blogging the 2nd and the 4th Saturday of each month.

Also check out this great video introducing us all.

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Published on September 12, 2011 10:31

September 11, 2011

Six Sentence Sunday



This SSS is the second book in my enchantress series, Sorceress from the Sea. This book is about Alfwyn and sorceress he rescues from the sea, only a dark demonic warlord is tracking her and Alfwyn has to protect her and his land from the demon's plague.

The setup is Alfwyn is walking along the cliffs at the edge of the sea and he spots something adrift on the water:

It was a funeral barge, a custom among the people that dwelled at the edge of the sea. Poor soul. Alfwyn wondered briefly about the occupant, watching as the waves tossed the barge closer to the rocks. He couldn't tear his eyes away as it jostled around like a feather in the wind until it crashed against a promontory of rocks,
splintering into numerous pieces. Then there was a bloodcurdling scream.

Dead men don't scream.

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Published on September 11, 2011 00:00

September 7, 2011

Buried alive



Working steadfastly on the layering of my bear shifter. It's taking a long time, these characters have a lot to say and they are forever all over each other. LOL!


I thought I would stick my head out of my cave briefly to wave. Hopefully I'll see the light soon! :) I have a lot to do before I head down to Romanticon on September 29th in Akron Ohio. I am SO looking forward to meeting more of the fantastic Ellora's Cave staff and writers.


I'm also trying to get a lot done for the workshop I'm attending this Saturday in Toronto. I'm attending Deb Dixon's GMC workshop. I'm really looking forward to it because I joined the TRW just after she had done one and I missed out.

Better get back to it. Have a great day. :)
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Published on September 07, 2011 07:54