Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 242

Dragons and Kidnappings :) by Mandy Rosko

Okay, so quick notice because I just saw this before coming here to post, and with everything that needed to be done to promote Captured, which you can still check out here BTW  ;)

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mq0j5u

iBooks: http://bit.ly/CapturedBox

Nook: http://bit.ly/1nLO9PJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1vaf7Vw

Anyway, because of all the promotion, I actually completely forgot about the fact that today is the day that Der Drachenprinz, the German translated version of The Princess’ Dragon Lord. I had is on Pre order for the last month, and today I got the email that it was released :D I was pretty happy about that, so even though I figured that my sales weren’t that great, I decided to check my dashboard anyway.

It turned out I sold quite a few copies, way more than I though I would considering I have no presence over there and I can’t even put out any tweets or anything. I didn’t make enough yet to cover the cost of the translation, but I’m a little over halfway there. Right now, I’m pretty stoked about that, and I’ll definitely be putting other translated works over there as well :3

Now, onto Captured, the box set I was invited to is now on it’s third week, and so far we’re still doing really well. I’m hoping we can make a list, because that will just be so super awesome that I can barely let myself think about it. Makes me dizzy thinking about how cool that would be @_@

           

My Book in this set is Burns Like Fire, and I love this cover so much. It’s about a hunter who captures his ex girlfriend who is accused of burning his family alive, and giving him burn scars on his body. The story is both of theirs, but I really feel Jack did the most growing here, since he’s the one who had to struggle with the idea that Cindy was innocent the entire time he had her hostage, and all those times he’d planned his revenge.

I think this is the story that I will have translated next, since I’m super happy about so many things right now, and it’s my current favourite. It’ll be more expensive to translate this one than it was for PDL, but I think it’ll be worth it :)

Cheers, and thank you to everyone who checked out the links for Captured! I love every one of you! Burns Like Fire will be exclusive to that set until it’s disbanded, which could be several months from now ;)

Mandy Rosko

————————–

Captured Box Set is Now Available!

The Princess’ Dragon Lord is Now Available at Amazon and B&N

Connect with me online:

Facebook

www.goodreads.com/Mandyrosko

Twitter: @rizzorosko

Mandyrosko.com

Newsletter: http://rizzorosko.com/contact.html
Filed under: romance

Autumn Cool Down Weekly Paranormal-Scope

When the air turns cooler, I switch into snuggle mode.  All the sweaters and blankets come out. Something is in the air, and it’s coming our way.

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

Dragons are digging deep preparing for a very cold winter.  They are also keeping an eye out for a snuggle-dragon.  If asked, be sure to roar!

Taurus:

Hobbits are cooking like maniacs to store up for the winter. They are also checking the tires on their cars.  Have you?

Gemini:

Pixies dust you with their finest pixie dust.  Prepare to shine at work and perform at your highest level.

Cancer:

Ouja said someone is looking for you to snuggle.  Is Ouja demon or angel?  We shall see.  In the meantime, wear something low cut.

Leo:

Werewolves are disorganized messes.  It’s time to declutter and put important papers in files.  Organize your wardrobe into outfits, so you’re not hunting for things in the morning.

Virgo:

Pegasus offers you a ride to clear your head and get a new perspective.  Wear a sweater and enjoys the possibilities.

Libra:

Wise Old Owl caught a mouse.  Now how many recipes can you make with a mouse.  Buy some new cookbooks to explore new recipes.

Scorpio:

Hell hounds are on your trail.  Lay low.  Smile at friends and colleagues, but don’t talk unless asked.

Sagittarius:

Faeries love autumn.  The energy level in nature is buzzing. Plan an autumn getaway.  It could be for a weekend, but you are in dire need of recharging your batteries.

Capricorn:

Mermaids are singing your name. You are loved.  Finish that project and get it to the one waiting.  You have projects in line.  This will be great for your career.

Aquarius:

Vampires are restless.  They are not into change.  Things are changing around you.  Keep your eyes open and be flexible.

Pisces:

Shapeshifters are into homemaking.  Time to clear out, store up and fix anything that could fall off in a storm.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

New release: Vampire King of New York now in print at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also in ebooks.  Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room now in Kindle with a new cover.

Filed under: Max Vander Meer, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, Weekly Paranormal-Scope [image error]

Hero Confusion

Copyright: danielkrol / 123RF Stock Photo

 

I recently got a rejection letter from an agent that I really like because whenever she rejects my books, she gives me feedback about why she’s rejecting it (which not all agents do).

This was a rejection of my current WIP To Woo A Wicked Widow, about a widow who

Copyright: frugo / 123RF Stock Photo

wants to find passion in the bed of a notorious rake because she doesn’t want to get married again, but ends up falling for a man who will not bed her unless she will marry him.  So in the beginning chapter, the widow meets the hero then brushes him off  to go off  with the rake to have a hot and heavy encounter. The agent mentioned that one problem she feared the book would have is hero confusion.  That readers will not realize who the hero is supposed to be immediately and become confused about who they should be rooting for.

This criticism is actually not a surprise to me.  I had a CP early on say I needed to make it clear that the rake is not the hero of the piece.  So I had changed that early encounter between the widow and the rake that made it clear that she’s more attracted to the guy she’s just met than the rake she’s kissing. Perhaps there is still some confusion, at least on that agent’s part.  It’s hard for me to tell, being as close to the work as I am. I may see if there’s some way to tweak that scene even more.

Copyright: frugo / 123RF Stock Photo

Have you ever had hero confusion in a book you were reading?  I don’t remember ever being uncertain about who the hero was supposed to be, never been surprised by the man the heroine ended up with.  That either means that editors catch this problem and persuade the authors to change potential false heroes (this happened to me in Only Scandal Will Do, when I had to drop the plot complication of the Bow Street Runner being  a rival love interest to Duncan) or I simply haven’t run across a romance in which this happens. (As a side note, I do think the character of Claire Randall has hero confusion early on in Outlander when she doesn’t know whether she wants to stay with Jamie or go back to Frank.  But that’s rather a different issue, I believe.)

So please weigh in:  Have you ever had hero confusion and if so, did it turn you off the book?

Filed under: Craft, Jenna Jaxon

Zombie as a Love Interest? What do you think?

I  am a science fiction and fantasy author in addition to being a paranormal romance author, so I’m used to watching the paranormal trends.  I would be the last person on Earth to say that I would adore a zombie as a hero.  In a lot of paranormal romance, zombies are hunted by the hero or heroine or both.  They are just not hero material or are they?

I first fell in love with Vaihan in Sins of the Undead Patriot by a.c. Mason.  It’s an unexpected romance and a thriller novel filled with espionage and sex. It’s very graphic in places and the book reads like a spy novel.  I loved Vaihan’s courage and was so taken with his portrayal of a man treading carefully as a presidential advisor and trying to deal with how he feels about the woman who betrayed him.  I found myself admiring a creature, I had always avoided reading out or seeing in movies.  I fell in love with Vaihan. The book is available in a variety of places.  Here is the Kindle and Print book link:

http://www.amazon.com/Sins-Undead-Patriot-C-Mason/dp/1616507195/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=&qid=

Mason is a dynamic and very explicit weaver of the tale, so prepare yourself for an amazing story.  Sins of the Undead Patriot just took my breath away.

Another zombie tale, I’ve seen as a movie.  I have the book now and might makecomparisons at a later date.  In the movie based on the young adult novel Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion, I was enraptured with the young man zombie named R who was lost and lonely and did something no zombie had done–rescue a young woman and not eat her brain.  I kept watching wondering how long his restraint would last, but the movie kept changing as R changes.  I loved hearing his thoughts and even though “undead”.  I don’t want to give too much away.  This movie is definitely a keeper as a sweet romance.  Even an undead zombie can dream about things being different.  The character Julie tells him, “You can be whatever you want.”  This movie is so good, I decided I needed to read the book.

So for a person who could never picture a zombie as a hero or a love interest, I have changed my mind.  As was said in the movie Princess Bride, “Death cannot stop true love. All it can do is delay it for awhile.”

What do you think about zombies as the romantic interest?  Have you read these books or the movie Warm Bodies?  What do you think?

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com



Available at Amazon in Kindle and Print

Available at Barnes and Noble in Nook and Print

Available at Kobo

 

Filed under: a.c. Mason, paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Romance suspense, Sins of the Undead Patriot, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampire books, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, YA, ZOMBIE

Learning Ever After by Stacy Hoff

My debut romance novel, DESIRE IN THE EVERGLADES, went “live” on Amazon on Wednesday. Seeing my book’s cover by the iconic pictures of a shopping cart and smiling mouth was a fantasy come true.

Mostly.

I had always assumed that once I became a published author, I would be perfect at the craft of writing. Flawless. Unparalleled. Ready to teach at the graduate university level. After all, since I’d be part of the writing elite, why guild the lily by bothering to learn more?

Because I do need to learn more—lots more.

Look, I love my book, but only the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God, can truly be perfect. A mere mortal myself (and a flawed one at that), all I can do with perfection is aim for it. And the only way to do that is to take more classes.

I find the classes that help me most are the ones aimed towards authors, not academics. Looking at writing from an academic eye is not the pragmatic guidance I’m looking for. I don’t want to merely analyze someone else’s work, I want to know how to better work on my own stories.

This is why I recently attended a full weekend-long workshop taught by New York Times bestselling author Cherry Adair. The course was sponsored by my writing group, CTRWA. For two days, eight hours a day, Cherry taught us practical ways of plotting, making our characters three-dimensional, creating effective dialogue, and how to stop a sagging middle from sinking our manuscript. My right hand was flying across the notepad as I tried to capture all her comments. For those I missed, or failed to master, she’s got a writer’s bible on-line that I’m buying (you can find “Cherry Adairs’ Writers’ Bible” on-line, if you’re curious). Because learning doesn’t stop when we type “the end.”

If it does, it might be “the end” of our career.

My thanks to CTRWA, and Cherry Adair, for holding this wonderful workshop. What classes have you taken that make you better at what you do?

Find Stacy on Social Media:

www.facebook.com/authorStacyHoff Twitter: twitter.com/authorStacyHoff   Web: http://www.stacyhoff.com

Desire in the Everglades available now. http://www.amazon.com/Desire-Everglades-Stacy-Hoff-ebook/dp/B00NFSMCYG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410289138&sr=8-1&keywords=desire+in+the+everglades

 

Filed under: Characters, Emotions, Plot, Stacy Hoff, Writer Workshops, Writer's Life, Writing, Writing Topics

Apple Picking by Gerri Brousseau

Even though the day was overcast, damp and quite humid, last Sunday we took the Gorgeous Grand-Daughter out to do a little apple picking. She’s two now and quite independent, so it was no surprise to us that she wanted to have her own bag for apples. We brought along her wagon so we could pull her around the orchard, but she would have none of that. She insisted on walking and frankly, I was surprised that she allowed us to hold her hand. It was a long walk up the hill to get to the low trees that were the apples for baking pies and making apple sauce. She walked with her Memé (me) and we talked about picking the most delicious apples and making pies.

When we got to the top of the hill, naturally she wanted to pick up the apples from the ground, but we showed her how to pick them from the low tree branches. It was a struggle for her to pull them off, but with a little help, she did well. She actually carried her little bag with one apple in it until she decided it was time to snack on that apple. Knowing how much she loves apples, we came prepared with bottled water so we could wash the apple first. She happily munched while we continued to pick.

When we got back to the bottom of the hill she discovered a small area that had pumpkins. She was thrilled to wander around and tried to pick up a few, with no success. Finally she found a small one that weighed about one-pound, and she was able to pick that one up and carry it the short distance to her wagon. We found a small box of gourds that look like tiny pumpkins just the right size for her to hold, and so we got her one of those.

We had a fun day outside in the fresh air. We got her back in her car seat and with her tiny pumpkin in hand it was no time before she was sound asleep. It was a wonderful day and a fun family activity.

In a few weeks, we’ll be taking her out to the Pumpkin Patch to get the large pumpkins for outdoor decoration. She’ll have a good time there because they have a small petting zoo with pigs and sheep. The family is looking forward to that trip with great anticipation. Not only are we getting to enjoy the course of our normal autumn activities, but we get to enjoy it through a child’s eye. Now I’m off to bake some apple pies, but before I do let me ask you, what is your favorite fall activity? Happy Autumn everyone.

Filed under: romance

Taking Risks

Working in the financial industry for my day job has me having conversations about taking risks all the time, and if you’ve ever invested, you’ve most likely heard someone say “no risk means no reward.” While I’d say these wise words still apply, today I’m talking about quite a different kind of risk.

This week at work, an exciting new position became available at work and despite its appeal, I had quite a bit of an internal debate about whether I should apply for the position or not. You see, for me this position holds a lot of risk because it is in quite a different direction from where I’ve been going the past 4 years. That doesn’t mean it would be impossible to return to this path later on, just possibly more difficult.

So what am I going to do? I’m going to take the risk and go for it. If not, I’ll be forever asking myself what if.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted. Besides I’m a firm believer that we all should take risks (including with the books we write) if we hope to challenge ourselves and reap greater rewards. In other words, push your plots and write those books you’ve been thinking about but have been too nervous to write. You may be pleasantly surprised by how it turns out and what rewards you reap.

Happy writing this week!

Filed under: A writer's life, Toni Kelly

Captured Is On Its Second Week by Mandy Rosko

Second week, lots more blog, Facebook and Twitter posts, and I’m still excited and hopeful for everything that’s going on. A lot of other blogs and Facebook groups have been really nice when they post something or retweet something to help us all get the word out. And another group of authors doing a box set of their own is even doing a cross promotion with us :)

Speaking of which, The Highland Shifters looks pretty damned amazing, and as of this writing it’s #56 on the Kindle Bestseller list. Figured I should mention that, since, you know, cross promotion and all ;)

Here’s the link if you want to check it out. I’m definitely going to pick up a copy because the new Outlander tv series has me stoked for Scottish guys in kilts again.

http://amzn.to/1B2x3TI

           

I had to put in the 3D version of the Captured Box Set because I’m super proud of it, especially since as of today, it’s finally on Kobo. It took a while for it to get up there, but it’s there now and I’m really stoked about that :D

Anyway, this was just a quick update. It seems that so much time has gone by since I first got the email that asked me to be in this box set, but it hasn’t been that long at all. It feels like a whole other dimension when I wasn’t making Facebook and Twitter updates every few minutes. It’s a lot of work, but I love this, and I loved getting to meet Eve Langlais and hanging out with the other authors in this set, though I haven’t met everyone yet, though I really hope to since the ones I have met and hung out with have been pretty cool, and the quote cards have been pretty sweet to look at, too.

Right now, I’m reading Accidental Abduction by Eve Langlais, and though I’m only a couple of pages in, so far I’m loving it. I can’t wait until I get to the part where she meets the hot purple alien!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1mq0j5u

iBooks: http://bit.ly/CapturedBox

Nook: http://bit.ly/1nLO9PJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1vaf7Vw

Cheers,

Mandy Rosko

————————–

Captured Box Set is Now Available!

The Princess’ Dragon Lord is Now Available at Amazon and B&N

Connect with me online:

Facebook

www.goodreads.com/Mandyrosko

Twitter: @rizzorosko

Mandyrosko.com

Newsletter: http://rizzorosko.com/contact.html
Filed under: romance

Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Change is in the air like an exciting electric spark. I can’t wait to see what the winds bring besides snow.

While I am not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planets, I am intimately linked to the paranormal in the world in many ways. So are you.

The paranormal scope is for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to guide your life by.

The week for:

Aries:

Hobbits love to join forces to put on a great party.  Meet new hobbits and expand your circle.  Someone wants to be cozy with you.

Taurus:

Faeries love eating healthy. Get some cookbooks and try more recipes to eat healthier and expand your foodie delights.

Gemini:

Salamanders are Fire Spirits. You are ablaze with talent and people will look to you for leadership.

Cancer:

Pixies are tight with family and friends.  Plan a small reunion or a comfy get-together.

Leo:

Shapeshifters love planning events. Create a social calendar and be open to inviting additional new people.

Virgo:

Goblins keep their ears to the ground for new opportunities.  Keep your eyes wide open before accepting a change.

Libra:

Aslan is revered for his wisdom.  Others will seeks out your advice. Be confident and honest and smile.

Scorpio:

Land sharks are not a myth.  You have competition coming your way.  Make sure people in power know your work is yours.

Sagittarius:

Werewolves know how to delegate work.  That’s what being the head of a pack is all about. Find someone you trust who is on  the same page as Team You!

Capricorn:

Dragons will teach you to soar.  It’s time to buckle down and get out a lot of work. More success is coming your way. Contact those dragons with power.

Aquarius:

Mermaids love new locales. It’s time to book a vacation.  You need some down time.

Pisces:

Vampires know how to play cards close to the vest.  Don’t give out all your trade secrets.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

New release: Vampire King of New York now in print at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Also in ebooks.  Mrs. Bright’s Tea Room now in Kindle with a new cover.

Filed under: paranormal, paranormal romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, The Stormy Love Life of Laura Cordelais, vampire books, Vampire David Hilliard, Vampire King of New York, Vampire King of New York In Print, Vampire Maximillion Vander Meer, vampires, Weekly Paranormal-Scope

Virgin Heroes

Virginity is one of the staple tropes of the historical romance novel. To date I’ve never written an historical heroine who wasn’t a virgin and during most periods keeping one’s virginity until marriage is a pretty big deal. Of course one or two of those heroines has jumped the gun, so to speak, but with her hero only. This necessity provides many plot complications and helps build tension up until the heroine is virgin no more.

What is almost as common, although I wouldn’t have believed it, is the virgin hero. The “Books with Virgin Heroes” list on Goodreads numbers 269 books where the hero is a virgin until he meets the heroine. And this list was created in 2009, so there may indeed be more.

The number one book on this list is Outlander and I’m sure millions of women tuned in last night to see Jamie Fraser’s deflowering on the series (including me!). And yes, this post was inspired by “The Wedding” episode of Outlander. Number 5 on the list is Twilight (I always forget that Edward is a virgin when he marries Bella). And one of my favorites is number 35, Forbidden by Jo Beverley.

Until I actually looked at the list of books with virgin heroes, I’d always found it rather difficult to think of men past their teenage years as virgins. I know, that seems like the old double standard in reverse. But men place such an emphasis on sexual prowess, that to find a character who has denied themselves that rite of passage to manhood casts that character in a different light to readers. It speaks to the depth of their character and their conviction that they have imposed this deprivation on themselves for whatever reason. I find them more attractive because of their virginity, because to my mind they have chosen not to follow the crowd but to march to their own drum. It speaks to their strength of character and I love a strong hero.

So I have worked a virginal hero into one of my historical series. His story is a couple of books down the road, but I’ve already figured out why he’s stayed a virgin and how his heroine reacts to this news. I’m really looking forward to their interactions and how his virginity drives a lot of the conflict of the book.

Do you have a favorite book with a virgin hero? Have you ever written one?

Filed under: Craft, Historical romance, Jenna Jaxon