Bonnie Vanak's Blog, page 21

Happy Thanksgiving

Back from Honduras, thankful I live in the USA. I'm thankful for my home, that has real walls and a roof and solid floor, running water and a low enough mortgage. I'm thankful for DH, friends and family, and our dogs.

I'm thankful for a new book contract, the chance to put my imagination on paper to hopefully provide readers with much-needed escapes.

I'm thankful for my readers, and my writing buddies.

And I'm thankful for the chance to be able to help the poor through my writing, and my day job, which I've done now for 18 years. Eighteen years of traveling to poor countries has given me the chance to meet some amazing, wonderful people who give true meaning to the ideals of faith and trust in God, and the compassionate, generous people who help them.

And last, but not least, I am very thankful to all who serve in our armed forces. To all the US troops, at home and overseas, who put their lives on the line each day. A very special thank you, and blessings for the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Contest next month!

Watch this blog for details. I'll be giving away an electronic copy of one of my novellas in my new series, The Ancients!

Still busy writing the Nocturne that is slated for release next August. I really love how these characters have taken on a life of their own. Matt is very sexy, very handsome and very dangerous, more so than the average Draicon werewolf. He's courageous and loyal and would die for the woman he loves. And at this point in the book, he's ready to make that ultimate sacrifice, if necessary.

Next week I'll be offline and in Honduras for the day job. Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Hunted by the Jaguar

Now available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle.


Stranded miles from home, Ariana Fuller has few ways to protect herself from the enemy hunting her—except to let her demon side take control over the angelic half of her soul. The last man she wants to come to her rescue is jaguar shifter Daimon Nelson, the man who claimed her virginity and still tempts her like no other.

Though Ariana fears giving in to erotic abandonment will free her inner demon, Daimon' s scorching kisses and wicked aura of sensuality make her forget all common sense. She tries to resist his allure, but Daimon is equally resolved to complete his mission of seduction. He must mate with Ariana to absorb her dark powers before they are unleashed—and before the enemy can claim her for himself….

This is the third story in my series, The Ancients, for Harlequin's Nocturne Cravings line. Another novella, Seduced by the Wolf, is a sequel to this story and will be released in March, 2012.

In other news, I'm hard at work writing the Nocturne that will be an August 2012 release. Nearly halfway there!

Mated to the Wolf cover!

MATED TO THE WOLF is my November release from Nocturne Cravings. It's the second in The Ancients series. Maybe it's because I enjoy writing werewolves, or because the hero is scarred emotionally and physically, but this story was the most fun to write out of all three.

I love this cover. The colors are sultry and evocative, and having his face cast partly in shadow is reflection of his inner torment.

Here's the blurb:

Grayson Adler—lone werewolf, powerful Ancient and empath Healer—has never lusted after prey before. As a paranormal bounty hunter, he's duty bound to capture Samantha Fuller. She's half demon and half angel, with deadly powers emerging and a vendetta against the hunter who killed her parents. Yet Grayson aches to touch her and let her angelic half soothe his hurts, his longing for a connection as powerful as his sexual need. Then he gets a new assignment: to absorb her evil powers and tame her by becoming her mate before she turns demon…

I got the idea for the opening scene of this book when DH and I were dining at a neighborhood bar. It was a unique place, because the dining room was separated from the bar area by a wall and several windows. It was a cool place to go after work and grab a meal and have a glass of wine or a beer. We'd slide into one of the wooden booths, order and talk about our day. That night, I was gazing at the bar and the scene suddenly came to me. I always carry a small journal with me should ideas strike, and I jotted down the images I had for Grayson and Samantha's story.

Sadly, that bar/restaurant closed a few months ago. Like other businesses struggling to make it in this economy, they had to shut down for lack of sales. But for me, they'll live on in this story.

You can pre-order MATED TO THE WOLF on Kindle here on Amazon.

Or here on Nook.

Happy reading!

In memory of Steve Jobs

Thank you for all you did. The world has not only lost a true genius, but a man who truly understood the importance of creative vision.


"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do." - Steve Jobs

New release!

Bitten by the Vampire is the first novella in The Ancients series by Harlequin's Nocturne Cravings line.

Vampire Lucian Marcello knows it's his destiny to claim Mara Fuller as his own. She is a Darklighter, half-demon and half-angel, and has sworn to destroy the man who almost killed her. If she succeeds, her demon side will take over and she will turn evil. The only way to save Mara is for Lucien to mate with her and absorb her dark powers. But though tempted by a shared erotic vision, Mara is resistant to his charms. It will take all Lucien's powers of seduction to make her surrender to his dominance and desire. For if he fails, her life will be forfeit…

You can purchase it here on Amazon...

Or here on Nook.

Next month is Mated to the Wolf , followed by Hunted by the Jaguar . And in March of 2012, look for Seduced by the Wolf !

Advice to authors

This November marks the 9th year I've been a published author. So, for debut authors out there, I have a little advice for when you're faced with a bad review and want to say something to the reviewer.
Don't.
Bad review, snarky email, it comes with the business. Some people will love your books. Others will scratch their heads and think, "WTH?" And the public criticism of your books will come. It might be a small suggestion, or something large and very snarky on a popular romance blog. You'll want to fire off a response about your book, the one you sweated blood and tears over.
Don't.
Here's the best advice I can give you, and it applies to the corporate world as well. Don't ever write an email when you are upset/angry/want to hold the critic's head under water until you hear a gurgling sound. Write a letter to yourself instead.
Get on your computer and fire off everything you feel inside. Get out all those feelings, frustrations, etc.
Keep that letter in a safe, password protected file. Wait 48 hours and cool down.
Then delete it.
Time and again it's been shown that authors, even superstar ones, who take on their online critics, pay for it. The payment may not be lost sales. But it can be something everyone needs these days..something very precious...
Time.
Why waste time responding to online criticism of your books, unless you are correcting a misconception about your book? (For example, if you wrote a romantic comedy about pigs and included the fact that a pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes and the reviewer said, "She is ridiculous! Whoever heard of a half-hour orgasm?" Then you can send a polite email to the reviewer and point out your research. You were not pulling this out of thin air, or your butt. You know the facts. BTW, pigs DO have 30 minute orgasms. Seriously. Lucky pigs!)
You'd be better off spending your time writing another book and therefore, collecting another advance and more money! If the criticism really gets to you, get together with friends, have a drink and commiserate. Then get back to what you do best...writing!
Criticism comes with this business. Readers also change their taste. So someone who loved your books a year ago may be snarking about them tomorrow with their online friends. It happens. It does NOT mean you are a poor writer. Remember, you got published. Your book resonated with an editor! Be proud of that.
And keep all your positive reader emails in a file. When you feel a little down about a bad review, pull them out and read them for reinforcement.
Be proud of yourself and your work. You're an author. Congratulations! You persevered and you made it.
Now go out and show the world what a professional you can be.

Now available from Ellora's Cave...

From author Blair Valentine...



When Nicolas Hoffman wakes up naked, chained to a wall and ordered to give three orgasms in a row to a rival pack's heiress, the sexy werewolf thinks his worst nightmare has come true. He vowed he'd never again be used for sex, but he is the last resort for the lovely and emotionally cold Jessenia Drake. She needs Nicolas' hot touch and passionate lovemaking to break the curse that keeps her frozen.



The sex is sizzling and intense and Nicolas suspects someone wants to keep the heiress on ice in order to seize her power. But Jessenia has an additional concern. As her emotions return, her greatest fear isn't remaining encased in a world of emotionless ice, but losing her heart forever to her handsome werewolf lover. Reader Advisory: Contains brief m/m and group-sex scenes.



You can purchase it on Amazon Kindle by clicking here.

Why I love werewolves

Need I say more? Howl!!!!!!!!!!



They run hot. Very hot.



My newest Nocturne, THE SHADOW WOLF, is now in stores! And I have news about a new release.



On the run from authorities, gutsy Megan Moraine knows shadow wolves like herself have no place in this world. But she's still prepared to do anything to protect her young charges. That resolve is tested when the trio is captured by Gabriel Robichaux. Everyone knows that Gabriel is a ruthless bounty hunter, a member of an elite group called the Enforcers. Why then is Megan so attracted to her enemy—a wolf who hunts his own people? A wolf whose languid, sexy drawl makes her dream the impossible?



You can purchase it from Barnes and Noble by clicking here .



It looks like Hurricane Irene will miss us here in Florida. While I'm breathing a sigh of relief, I am keeping those further north on the east coast in my thoughts. Nineteen years ago today, Hurricane Andrew came on shore. My friends and I volunteered in Homestead, helping to clean up. It was horrific.



Stay safe, everyone.



In other news, my evil twin, Blair Valentine, has an upcoming release. Blair writes erotic romance for Ellora's Cave. Her newest book, The Ice Queen Cometh, will be out Sept. 16! Details to come.



Happy Hump Day!

The Shadow Wolf and Hurricane Irene

Tomorrow The Shadow Wolf is out! Yay!







Thursday we here in S. Florida are supposed to get Hurricane Irene! Boo!







My heart is beating fast, but it's not because The Shadow Wolf will be in bookstores tomorrow. It's because Irene, a Cat. 3 hurricane, is supposed to either brush our coast or have a direct impact.







I haven't gone toe to toe with a hurricane since Wilma in 2005. Score on that one? Wilma: 1, Bonnie, oh, about $50,000 in damages. Wilma dropped a tree on our roof and two others in the yard. I've posted a photo of what Wilma did to our back yard here... one of the trees crashed through the Florida room, where I had been, stupidly, standing 5 minutes earlier watching the winds pick up.







I've never taken hurricanes for granted after that.







So as excited as I am about The Shadow Wolf, I'm too focused on Hurricane Irene and what we have to do to protect ourselves from the storm.





Ironically, there is a hurricane in The Shadow Wolf. Gabe and Megan and the twins ride one out that's barely a Cat. 1. And Gabriel has a built-in generator that automatically transfers power when the electricity goes out.







Gabriel, can I move into your cottage with DH and the dogs?