Cerise DeLand's Blog, page 31

#Writers conference, affordable, EXCITING, #Self-pub talks you need to learn from! EPICON2015 in March in San Antonio!

EPICon-2015March 12 - 14, 2015Menger Hotel, San Antonio, TexasCall (800) 345-9285 and use discount code 031115EPIC or book online and use discount code EPICONWorkshopsBook production from A to Z - David Wilk Starting with the raw manuscript, publishers go through a long list of steps to end up with a finished print and/or digital publication. In this two hour workshop, we will cover every element of the editorial and production process, resources writers must access, budgeting, workflow, new and emerging tools and technologies, and tips for saving time and money while producing books that meet commercial standards. We will talk about digital and traditional printing, ebooks, both reflowable and fixed layout, childrens' books, enhanced ebooks, HTML5, and more.Cover Copy: Getting Your Hooks in Deep - Jeff Seymour Indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour has written cover copy for dozens of books, including his own, over the course of his career. He’ll discuss how to break down a synopsis to find its sharpest hooks and how to fit them into a short, sweet package that will give readers everything they need to open a book. Topics will include basic  structures, hook identification, working under a strict character count, and making judicious use of your hard-earned writing skills. Bring a synopsis! We’ll work together to create cover copy for someone’s book over the course of the workshop. Crafty Business for the Working Writer -  Carol Berg Whether writing fiction, non-fiction, long or short, a professional writer has responsibilities to publisher, agent, reader, and self.  Many are related to communication, design, or scheduling.  But professional responsibility must also include the craft of writing itself.  This workshop will explore those sometimes uncomfortable lanes where the business of writing and the craft of writing intersect. Distribution, Sales, Marketing - David Wilk In this two hour workshop, we will discuss the complete range of critical functions that publishers, and authors who publish must know about in the areas of distribution, sales, marketing, PR, and even social media and websites. We will talk about how the trade book industry works, who the players are, what they do, what works best for publishers and authors who publish, and especially, what you need to know and do in order to be as successful as possible, whether you are publishing in print, digital or both, whether you have one book to sell or 100.How to Hit the Bestseller Lists with Ebook Preorders – Jim Azevedo Preorders represent one of the most exciting new tools for indie ebook authors and publishers.  In this session, you will learn how preorders work, and how to plan, stage and execute a successful preorder strategy. The recommended preorder strategies in this session are grounded in professional publishing best practices that will help make any ebook launch more successful. Attendees will hear recent case study examples of how indie authors have used preorders to increase sales rank and visibility, and will leave the session equipped with knowledge that they can put to immediate use.
How to Sell Books by the Truckload on Amazon - Penny C. Sansevieri Amazon is a great place to sell books, but most authors don’t realize that Amazon has an internal sales machine that will actually help you market your book, for free, if you trigger it? It’s called their internal algorithm and, not that dissimilar from ranking on Google, Once Amazon’s algorithm kicks in, you could see a boatload of free promotion come your way from Amazon.Indie, Digital, or Traditional?: Whom to Submit What To and Why - Jeff Seymour In the smash-bang explosion of the digital revolution, writers have more choices than ever in deciding whom to submit their work to. In this workshop, indie author and Carina Press freelance editor Jeff Seymour will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the independent, digital, and traditional models; evaluating the market for your story and choosing the model that fits it best; and the benefits to the author of an all-of-the-above approach. He’ll also talk about why, despite his work as an editor for a digital-first imprint of a major house, he chose to publish his first book independently; why he may not make that choice for his next book; and what he’s learned on both sides of the indie/traditional divide.Practical Marketing Advice - Jennifer Fusco In this interactive session, authors and others will learn how to hook new readers to sell their book in four easy sentences. Learn the differences in marketing strategies and how to apply each to grow a readership. This session will also cover an in depth discussion of brand and brand management techniques.  Learn the differences between a publicist and an author’s assistant (no, they’re not the same thing).  And discuss lessons learned from Corporate America and how they apply to authors, as well as, the future of author marketing and what lies beyond what we already know.Super Fans - The Secrets to Selling More Books - Penny C. Sansevieri At the end of the day, for all of the marketing we do, for all of the Tweeting, Facebook-ing, and blogging we really just want to know if it’s paying off. Does any of this sell books? This session will teach you not only how to identify your exact right market, but how to effectively and efficiently go after them and turn fans into SUPER FANS.The Author /Publisher Marketing Partnership - Jennifer Fusco and Molly Harper
This panel discussion is guaranteed to shed light on the workings of the author/publisher marketing relationship. Join bestselling paranormal romance author, Molly Harper, and Market or Die Author Services, Jennifer Fusco as they talk about marketing support provided by the publisher and what the author is expected to do for themselves.The Juggling Act – Writing For More Than One Publisher - Cindy Myers Writing for multiple publishers allows you to write different kinds of stories, reach more readers and increase your income. Learn how to manage multiple deadlines, juggle release dates, handle promotion, and head-off potential conflicts. Author Cindy Myers, who has written more than 55 books for seven different publishers, shares tips and techniques for dealing with the demands of writing for more than one publisher – including how to combine self-publishing with other writing obligations.Outsmarting the Clock – Time Management For Writers (and other publishing professionals.) - Cindy Myers   Whether writing is your full-time job or a part-time passion, finding time to put the words on page – not to mention for editing, promotion, and other business tasks – can be a challenge. In this workshop, prolific author Cindy Myers offers tips and techniques for finding more time to write and making the most of the time you do have. We’ll talk about targeting time-wasters, defeating procrastination, dealing with distractions, getting your family on your side, knowing when and what to delegate, and look at some writing exercises that could up your productivity and creativity.Social Media Strategies for Authors and Publishers - John Warren For authors and publishers, social media offers a way to connect directly with audience. Social media is about adding value—for your stakeholders and audience. In this workshop, we’ll discuss successful social media strategies that address social and strategic goals, from a “digital strategy” that involves broadcasting commercial messages to a true “social strategy” that seeks to reduce costs or increase customers’ willingness to pay. We will review different platforms will help authors and publishers to achieve diverse goals, assess ways to rethink organizational structure and roles; examine techniques to become familiar with your customers’ and competitors’ social media habits; and assess tools for social media analytics. This is a “flipped” workshop and includes a assignment to do prior to the workshop: choose two publishers—one trade or general interest publisher and one academic, professional, or nonprofit publisher—and follow their activities on at least two and preferably three social media platforms—such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr—for at least two weeks, preferably more. Be prepared to discuss the nature of their activities and your perception of the effectiveness of these publishers’ social media strategies during this workshop.Writing a World That Works -  Carol Berg A vivid sense of place helps any story come alive.  Whether your story is set in modern day Chicago or a medieval kingdom that wars with dragons, the characters in your story are going to be interacting with a world you create.  What must you consider when setting your adventure, mystery, fantasy or thriller in a world that is not contemporary USA?  We'll discuss the building blocks of believable societies, avoiding cliches, common world-creation mistakes, and evocative writing techniques.Zen and the Art of Metadata Maintenance - John Warren Metadata is the lifeblood of publishing in the digital age and the key to discovery. Metadata is a universe, a continuum of standards, and a process of information flow; the process of creating and disseminating metadata involves both art and science. This workshop we will examine the theory and practice of metadata, from the basics of quality metadata construction and management, steps for analyzing your metadata process and instilling continuous improvement steps, programs such as BISG’s Product Certification Program, practical applications for publishers and authors such as keywords, metadata issues for ebooks, and the “frontiers” of the ever-evolving metadata universe. Metadata permeates and enables all aspects of publishing, from information creation and production to marketing and dissemination and an understanding of metadata is essential for publishers, authors, and all those involved in the publishing industry.REGISTER NOW! Join the Fun and learn how to be the best author you can be!Registration cost $224.00  Do it now! https://www.epicorg.com/conference-attendee-registration/registrationformform.html

Adriana Kraft, team of #husband and #wife, give us book #4 in RIDERS UP series, DETOUR AHEAD

Hubs and I are beyond excited to announce the release of the fourth and final book in our Riders Up series, set in the horse racing industry. If you didn’t know already, both my husband and I love horses, and have been privileged to own them once in a while. The Arabian on the cover wasn’t ours, but easily could have been. Ransom, the featured horse in this book, is based on a very real half-Arab, half-saddlebred horse we owned. My husband began his ground training when Ransom was still very young and worked with him until he was two, when we had to sell him for health reasons. Here are a couple photos of him – one as a new foal, and one at age ten: 
We had no clue the honey-russet color we loved when he was tiny would turn out white, but he looks just like his daddy in the second photo. A side note – the photo in the pasture was taken when we visited our friends where he is stabled. He hadn’t seen us for over seven years, but he came when we called.
That kind of loyalty – and the gentle, patient training that fostered it – are central to the story line in Detour Ahead. Our heroine, Traci Steele, was raped as a teenager, and has yet to transform from being a victim to being a survivor. Here’s the blurb:
BLURB
Threatened race horses, city slicker attorney, sexy California wrangler—what can possibly go wrong?
Hot-shot Chicago prosecuting attorney Traci Steele works tirelessly keeping rapists off the street to prevent other women from suffering the hell she’s endured, so she resists her friends’ insistence that she take a two month R&R in their California Live Oak condo—until they persuade her to help their rancher friend as a private investigator. 
Though he runs the stables at Live Oak, well-muscled mustached wrangler Scott McCord much prefers working with the race horses he trains at his ranch, and he can’t believe his old friends have sent a greenhorn female to help him with horse troubles.
The improbable dance between this mismatched pair barely fits in around the escalating suspense of whoever’s after Scott’s horses. Traci is as tenacious in her sleuthing as she is terrified about her inability to ever love a man. Can Scott succeed in gentling her - like he does his horses - before she flees in panic? 
REVIEWS
Night Owl Reviews Top Pick This is a story about letting go of your past so you can move on to your future. It is a story about letting go of being the victim and becoming a survivor…Add into this touching story of recovery a mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end, and you’ve got a story you won’t be able to put down. Angi
You Gotta Read Reviews Rich in romance and suspense, this book had me mesmerized from the first page. I was definitely drawn toward the main character, Traci, and all of the emotional barriers that she faced… a sensational job of combining just the right amount of suspense with a sauciness that leaves you longing for more. Run, don’t walk to your nearest book store for this sensational book. Val
BUY LINK   http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RPT6YJA/GOODREADS    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24268627-detour-aheadSHELFARI   http://www.shelfari.com/books/38386501/Detour-Ahead-%28Riders-Up-Book-4%29
EXCERPT
Scott McCord stood at Traci’s emergency room bedside. He must look a mess. A nurse had already asked if he wanted a sedative. Hell, no. He wasn’t going to soften his guilt with drugs.
God damn, how had it happened? He replayed the scene over and over again. He still couldn’t understand it. One minute Traci and the horse had been working together as a team, and the next she was tossing about like a child’s rag doll.
Until she landed in the dirt. He hadn’t been able to move fast enough. Her words and the magnitude of her distress had temporarily paralyzed him. Without a doubt, this accident involved more than a woman learning how to ride a horse. But she was his responsibility, and he’d let her down.
So there Traci Steele lay, ashen, but breathing steadily. The doctor said nothing was broken. There were no apparent internal injuries. She’d be bruised some. And they’d want to keep her overnight to check her for a concussion.
He followed behind the gurney when they moved her from emergency to the second floor. No one seriously challenged his presence. Since he didn’t know about her insurance carrier, he’d signed to cover financial responsibility. Looking at the pale woman, who was becoming a bigger mystery every day, he knew she wouldn’t be pleased he’d taken over. But they could straighten things out later.
During the night, Traci came to enough to complain to a nurse about the IV, but he could tell she still had little understanding of where she was or what had happened.
Scott dozed off and on until sunshine bounced off his closed eyelids. Sputtering, cussing himself for having fallen asleep, he pushed himself up in his chair and looked at his patient. She stared back at him with a wan smile on her lips.
Leaping to his feet, Scott fumbled for words. She held out her hand to him; he clasped it between his own.
“Hi,” Traci said, softly. “You don’t look so good.”
“Maybe.” Scott ducked his head so she wouldn’t see the moisture forming in his eyes. “You don’t look quite ready to walk down a fashion show runway, either.”
“I’m sore and maybe a little weak, but otherwise I’m fine,” Traci offered. “So where am I?”
“You’re in the regional hospital. The doc wanted to keep you overnight for observation. They couldn’t find anything wrong other than being knocked out. Do you remember what happened?”
He watched the competent lawyer withdraw behind shuttered eyelids. Her body quivered and then gradually calmed. She stared at him with renewed energy. “Yes, I remember. It wasn’t Cory’s fault.”
“No, I should have--”
“It wasn’t your fault, either. It’s hard to explain. I lost control of Cory. And then I got into a terrible place, and I lost control of myself.” She smiled weakly. “But I’m alive. I’ve survived worse.” Traci squeezed his hand. “Please don’t blame yourself. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“So are you going to tell me about it? Somebody hurt you badly.” His fingers curled into a fist.
ABOUT ADRIANA KRAFT
Award-winning author Adriana Kraft is really two people, a husband-wife team writing sizzling romantic suspense and erotic romance. With backgrounds in criminology and counseling, they combine their expertise in the criminal mind, trauma, healing and human nature with a passion for robust sexuality and life-long vitality. Together they have published over thirty romance novels and novellas to outstanding reviews. Long and Short Reviews: “scorching hot…refreshing...something to read when you want straight up hotness.” Romance Junkies: “filled with warmth, blazing hot sex, well-developed characters…not for the faint of heart.”  Romantic pairings include straight m/f, lesbian, bisexual, ménage and polyamory, in both contemporary and paranormal settings.
ADRIANA KRAFT ON THE WEB
Website: http://adrianakraft.comBlog: http://adrianakraft.com/blogFacebook Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Adriana-Kraft/182846025133440Twitter http://twitter.com/AdrianaKraft GoodReads http://www.goodreads.com/author/list/1578571.Adriana_KraftShelfari http://www.shelfari.com/adrianakraftGoogle+ https://plus.google.com/102791537641895264573/postsPinterest http://www.pinterest.com/adrianakraft5/boards/
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Adriana-Kraft/e/B002DES9Z4

Cerise went to #Paris for research, discovering tidbits @ #Josephine, #Napoleon, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Fontainebleau, Grand Courtyard of Main entrance   Travel is a wonderful way to do historical research for novels. Time-consuming, it is an intriguing way to put drama into your day...as you eat and drink you way around your chosen paths!

   My biggest kicks come from standing in the very spots that others infinitely more interesting than I have stood. Reflecting on how they must have felt at certain points in their lives—or seeing what has become of those places long after they have passed sends ripples of ennui down my spine.

   Here, hopefully tickling your need to feel the same sort of ripples, are a few from my recent trip to Paris in October. Note the dates I have put in bold. Many are poignant coincidences of time, place and people.

Closeup of front steps of Fontainebleau   One of the places we visited was Fontainebleau. (If you wish to read more about that famous grand hunting lodge expanded to a palace, do scroll below in my blog for previous posts about my recent Paris trip.)

Napoleon signing abdication papers
in Fontainebleau, April 1814   Here you see the grand staircase outside. Why is this an interesting view? Well! Not only was this the main entrance to the palace during the Ancien Regime, but also one used by Napoleon and his coterie. On these very steps, Napoleon emerged from the palais in April 1814. The previous night he had attempted suicide, swallowing a poison which proved ineffective. (I wish I had a picture of his bedroom where he slept and the room where he signed his abdication from imperial power. Alas, the ones I took were terribly out of focus! It's what comes of being too enraptured and soaking up the scenery instead of tending to the camera! Do see the painting which is very accurate decor.) Greeting many of his generals and troops who were gathered in the courtyard below (see next picture), he bid them farewell. He boarded a coach, escorted by a small French retinue and a few Englishmen to assure his departure, and left for Elba. He arrived there May 30, 1814.
The Golden Courtyard where Napoleon's troops would have heard his farewell in April 1814
before he departed for Elba. Here you have the view Napoleon had as he addressed his troops.   Months later in February 1815, encouraged by news from France that the restored Bourbon king, Louis XVIII, was misusing his power, renewing high taxes and stripping the soldiers of their honors, ranks and pay, Napoleon sailed from the small island of Elba and returned to France by way of Cannes. He made his way north and in March, he returned to Fontainebleau! The palace, you see, is south of Paris. (Today, you can get there on the RER, take a local bus and arrive almost on these front steps!) In 1815, he could take up residence there and be regarded as a threat to the capital city but not in charge of it...yet. Here he waited a few days and once the Bourbons had left Paris and the French army welcomed him, Napoleon took the hour long journey into the city which was once more his.
A small portion of Josephine's gardens blooming still
in October!
  After Napoleon's departure to Elba in late April 1814, the Bourbons returned to France to rule once more. But they came with those foreign officials (and armies) who had defeated Napoleon's army and forced him to abdicate. One of those in Paris at the time was the Tsar Alexander I of Russia. Taking liberty to visit Napoleon's second wife, Marie-Louise, who remained near Paris in the old chateau of Rambouillet, he also took a coach south to visit Josephine, former empress and first wife of Napoleon. She introduced him to her family, Eugene and Hortense. She had an entertainment prepared for him in her music room. (See picture here.) They strolled in her famous rose garden and then, days later, she took a chill. Developing a high fever, she took to her bed. She developed a throat infection, could not speak, and passed away in her home within the week. She died May 29, 1814, leaving her son Eugene the house and contents of Malmaison. When Napoleon returned to France in 1815, he went to Malmaison to mourn the woman he had loved so dearly.
Front entrance to Josephine's home, Malmaison on a rainy October day.

Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette at prayer,
representations in main chapel of Saint Denis   Finally, for this post about "tidbits" that make me shiver, I give you the picture I took of the statues of Louis XIV and his wife, Marie Antoinette. These two kneel in prayer inside the famed cathedral of Saint Denis. Located in the Paris suburbs, this gothic cathedral is the first example of gothic architectural developments. A marvel to see (and I will post in future a complete blog about our visit to this stunning church), Saint Denis was redone in gothic form beginning in the early 12th century. The other reason you want to take the Metro to view this marvelous cathedral is that it is the church where all kings of France are buried. Yes, all. Many are accompanied by their queens and children, some very young and others older.


Saint Denis, main entrance, undergoing restoration
   What is interesting about this ensemble of Louis and his wife? The statues are representations, yes. But the two are not buried here. No. What is intriguing to learn here is that, while the two were guillotined during the Terror and both were buried in the cemetery of Madeline, their bodies were exhumed in May 1814 and sent to Saint Denis to be buried alongside their ancestors. The two now rest in the lower crypt beneath a huge black granite polished stone bearing their names. Alongside them are other members of the Bourbon family—some named, others not—in a gigantic mass grave.  Sobering to regard, this mass grave bears witness to the inhumanity of man to man.
Basilica of Saint Denis in Paris suburbs, undergoing major renovations,
is burial place of all French kings.

Cerise went to #Paris, stayed in #Montmarte, went to #chateau of #Chantilly and ate in famous #kitchen!

View from our 6th floor Paris apartment in Montmarte!
A sunny day in October!Known as the largest, best preserved of the grand chateaux in France, Chantilly is a gorgeous edifice in the Paris suburbs. To get there, as we did, by RER train, is quick and easy. We had a NAVIGO card, which I recommend you buy and so our trip was quick and affordable. It was especially so because we stayed in Montmarte, and here is our view from our apartment.

Chantilly, originally built by the Montmorency family, was owned by the great rival of Louis XIV, the Grande Conde. This nobleman led a famous battle which he won resoundingly, and thus became a powerful man in his own right. He rebelled against the famed Louis, but lost his hegemony. I leave it to you to investigate further, should you desire. My attempt here is to give you highlights, not necessarily the in depth history of the chateau.
One entrance through which you access the
kitchen, now a restaurant that serves marvelous food!
Devolving from the Montmorency family, Chantilly went to the Grande Conde and then after the French Revolution and Napoleon, on to the Bourbons once again. The last owner was the nephew of the last Bourbon king to rule France, known as the Duke D'Aumale. It is his house and furnishings which are largely on display at this marvelous estate.

Known for the stables and horse breeding, the stud is a well known one in France and today it is still used for races and such. The arena is huge and on the Sunday we visited, they were hosting a competition there beyond the elaborate gates.

Along the moat, the house seems to float.Inside the main house, the grandeur tends to overwhelm with huge circular marble staircases, a superlative art collection including portraits of each of the Bourbon kings and the original of the 3 Graces.

If you go, do plan enough time to dine in the kitchen which is now a fabulous restaurant. Yes, they serve Chantilly cream on their puffs for dessert. But the rest of the menu is scrumptious, too. If you have seen the movie VALMONT about the famous French chef who served a famous house party where Louis XIV was guest, you will sit in the same room as he...and dine well!
The main entrance to the chateau.  Entrance to the stables. Inside is a show arena. Rococco decor on the front gates of the stables. Chairs in the Duke's office, not exactly conducive to conversation!
The music room with the duchess's harp.
A bust of the Grande Conde.
The family chapel in the chateau. Note the French canopy of blue and gold as well as
the black marble altar pieces. Inside these are buried the hearts of the dukes who lived here.
Yes, this was a tradition until the last duke to give his heart after death in the 1860s.
I leave you with a picture that was the very devil to take!
The ornate ceiling of the family chapel with its shields, carvings of gold and blue amid the light
from fabulous stained glass windows.

Lisabet Sarai gives us her newest releases, all 3!

I’m celebrating the release of my first self-published book, Slush, a heartwarming M/F erotic romance story set in frigid Boston. It’s available now from Smashwords and Amazon, for only 99 cents!
And if you want more holiday reading, I’ve got two free PDF stories – yours just for the asking. Silver Bells is a steamy M/F/M BDSM tale. Last Minute Gift is a M/M story, filled with humor, heat and heart. If you’d like a copy of either one, just email me ( lisabet [at] lisabetsarai [dot] com ) and let me know which one you want.
Slush Blurb
Hot shot Boston lawyer Ian Pierce has everything but peace of mind. Christmas Eve finds him alone, wading through the slush to his BMW so he can drive back to his lonely luxury apartment. Then everything goes black. He awakens with an aching skull to find himself in a freezing, boarded-up garage occupied by a street kid. At first he blames the dodgy-looking youth for his troubles, but before long he realizes the raggedy girl who rescued him from the gutter may well be a Christmas angel in disguise.
Excerpt
He grasped herpointed little chinwith his other handto draw her closer.She didn’t resist.Now her face wasmere inches away, hersteel-gray eyes fixedon his. Her lipsparted. Her breathcame fast, in littlesighing pants. Heached for that sweet,enticing mouth, anache that drowned outthe residual throbbingin his skull andeven the swollen pulseof need in hisgroin.
He didn’tdare. He was afraid– afraid she’dpull away, afraid ofscrewing up somethingsimple and perfect withhis selfishness .
In the end,she made the firstmove, leaning toward himjust enough to pressher lips against his.That was enough. Hereleased her handto wrap his armsaround her and clutchher to his chest,kissing her witha ferocity he couldn’tcontrol. He neededthis so badly – thewarmth, the softnessthe illusion that someonecared...  Daisy returned hiskiss with equal desperation.She opened to himwithout any prodding,sucking his tongueinto her mouth totangle with her own.Her fingernails scoredhis back even throughthe undershirt as shetried to pull himcloser. She plungedher tongue into hismouth, nipped at thecorner of his cold-chappedlips,  moanedand writhed in hisarms when he slidaway to nuzzle thehollow under her ear.
“Ian...please...” All at once shebroke their embrace. Withone fluid movement,she dragged her teeshirt over her head,baring modest but flawlessbreasts topped withcranberry-red nipples. Shedidn’t say anythingfurther, just heldhis gaze as shehiked up her buttocksand rolled the knitlong-johns down overher creamy thighs. Agust of female muskrose from the blondtangle hiding her pussy,masking the scentsof charred wood, dieseland rot.   
In two breaths,Ian’s half-erectpenis swelled to fullhardness. Daisy layback on the blanketwith her knees raisedand her moist sexopen to his view,tempting him. Heyearned to launchhis body onto hers,to mash those lusciouslittle tits against hischest and drive hiscock into the hot,wet cleft that exudedsuch a heavenly fragrance.Something held himback, though. Idon’t deserveher, he thought.She’s tooyoung, toostrong, toogood... toogood fora nasty,angry sonof a bitchlike me.
They remained motionless,eyes locked, for longseconds. Daisy lickedher lips and spreadher thighs wider. “Don’tyou want me, Ian?” She gave him amischievous grin. “Thelast chance I hadto shower was yesterdaymorning, at theY – do I smellbad?
“You smelldelicious,” he replied,completely sincere. “But...”
“But what?It’s ChristmasEve. Let’s celebrate,while we can.”
Buy Links
Amazon   - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QNMYV5O
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/499356
Coming soon to iTunes, Kobo, and B&N!
About Lisabet
Lisabet has decided celebrate the holidays by writing what’s in her heart. If it sells, great – but all she really wants to do is touch a few readers.
You’ll find information and excerpts from all Lisabet’s books on her website (http://www.lisabetsarai.com/books.html), along with more than fifty free stories and lots more. At her blog Beyond Romance (http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com), she shares her philosophy and her news and hosts lots of other great authors.

Twitter
#slushstory #holidayromance
Try Slush, Lisabet Sarai’s sweet, hot holiday romance, only 99 cents (http://tinyurl.com/p5jp4h7)

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Check out Lisabet Sarai’s new holiday romance, Slush, plus two free holiday romance tales just for asking.  For details, go to:
http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.com/2014/12/coming-soon-to-itunes-b-kobo-and-more.html

Desiree Holt builds Club Fantasy, Three of a Kind, for your reading pleasure! Quickie read!

It’s a place where your deepest, darkest secrets can come out to play. Where nothing is forbidden and everything is hidden. It’s sensual, erotic, an erotic playground. It’s….Club Fantasy.
For your evening pleasure, #5 in the Club Fantasy series, Three of a Kind, part of a 5-story arc the teaches you how to play the sensual game of Cut the Cards.Be sure to leave a comment, One lucky person will get their choice of the other Club Fantasy stories:Blind Ecstasy, Dark Desires, Cut the Cards, Blackjack
Blurb: Delaney Fox loves being a submissive. She loves being Hunter Mills’ sub. She’s even in love with Hunter, something she had never expected to happen. But Delaney can’t make that permanent commitment because she still feels there’s something missing in her life. When Hunter’s twin brother, Taylor, comes to visit between his globetrotting jobs as a photojournalist, Delaney wonders if he could be the missing piece of the puzzle. It takes a night at Club Fantasy and a game of Cut the Cards to show that three of a kind can work in love as well as it does in sex.
Excerpt:A hand touched her shoulder and she jerked, eyes opening. When she saw who it was she relaxed again. Hunter, six foot one of solid male, with thick dark hair that just brushed his shoulders, eyes a rich emerald green, a sculpted face and a smile that could melt her panties in a hot minute.  “You startled me,” she told him. “Sorry.” He leaned down to press a kiss to her lips, brushing his fingertips across the tops of her breasts at the same time. “You should take off this little scrap of cloth. It barely covers you, anyway.”Deftly he released the tie at her nape, slipped his hand down to reach the one at her back, and pushed her bikini top to the side. Delaney shifted in her seat. Part of Hunter’s thing as her Dom was to show his possession in ways like this. He enjoyed letting other people know that she obeyed all his orders as well as proudly displaying the assets of his submissive. Forcing herself to resist the automatic reflex to cross her arms over her breasts, she let her gaze roam casually over the others at poolside and on the wide covered deck. The men wore bathing suits that were little more than codpieces, the women either bikinis or tiny shorts and halters. Some of the women had already removed their tops. On a wide lounger Nia March sat cradled between the thighs of her Dom, “Blackjack” Blackwell, talking to a man standing beside them. Blackjack idly fondled his subs’ breasts, toying with her nipples, sliding a hand over her tummy into the tiny triangle of fabric covering her mound. Of course. Why should she feel the least bit uncomfortable? Everyone here at one time or another had taken part in performance night at Club Fantasy. And giving in to their sensual natures at informal gatherings like this was almost a given. It was a lot like being in the lounge at the dungeon only more private, because all the people here were friends.She looked up at Hunter and smiled. Of all the Doms she’d been with, he was by far the best. Not only was he inventive sexually but he was also caring, attentive, and considerate. He was one of the few she’d developed a relationship with outside the club, someone she enjoyed socially as well as sexually. Someone who understood her submissive needs outside the bedroom. So why couldn’t he be enough? Why couldn’t she agree to establish a household with him where they could live their lifestyle all the time? At least half the women who’d been with Hunter would have given anything to have that on the table. There must be something wrong with me.“Heavy thoughts there, sweetheart?” Hunter crouched down beside her, idly pinching one of her nipples.“No. Yes.” She sighed. “I don’t know.”His expression turned serious. “Are you not having a good time?”She smiled at him, arching slightly to his touch. “I’m having a wonderful time. I’m so happy for Tanner and Kelly.” She glanced to her right. “And I have a feeling Blackjack and Nia won’t be far behind them.”“I agree.” Hunter nodded. “And they can thank Kelly and Tanner for that, we were there the night they were introduced, remember?” He lightly pinched one taut bud. “What about us, kitten? Where are we going?”Delaney turned her head to look at him, a tiny thread of panic wriggling through her. “Are you unhappy with me, Sir?”He bent his head and took the nipple he’d been teasing into his mouth, sucked and gently grazed it with his teeth before lifting his head again. “Unhappy? Far from it. But I want more, sub. A lot more. And I sense you holding back.”
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-threeofakind-1700313-147.html
http://www.amazon.com/Three-Kind-Club-Fantasy-Book-ebook/dp/B00QY2GBB0/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1418504975&sr=1-1-fkmr1&keywords=Three+of+a+Kind+desire+holt

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Cerise's fan praises #romance #novel about #female #veteran home from war w. problems few #Americans understand

     I am proud and honored to post here for you an email I received from a reader and a fan of my novels. She writes to me often but this one brought me to tears. Writing about my recent release, WHENEVER WE TOUCH, my friend Shirley has given me permission to post this for you and your thoughtful consideration of those men and women in our armed forces about whom we know so little and to whom we owe so much.
     
Here is Shirley's email:

Good mornin'. Hope all is well in your part of Texas. Things in deep East Texas are moving right along.
Totally, absolutely, without a doubt fell in love with Garrett. He was, in my humble opinion, the total package. Sweet, rugged, loving and alpha. What more could a girl want? Seriously, you know I've read almost, if not all, of your work and this one is right up there at the top as one of your best yet.
The fact that Amy was a soldier was very special. I think we tend to forget that not everyone carries a gun in war zones. The details and descriptions of the war, the injured, the PTSD were very enlightening and inspiring. We should all be more thankful for what our military does and the problems they face when returning. Whether they be soldier, nurse, doctor, whatever. They all go thru hell and we at home need to be mindful of that. As the wife of a Air Force Vietnam veteran, I tend to be very vocal about our military and their families. Everyone who reads this book should stop and say a prayer for our service men and women. Whether we have someone currently serving or not, they all need our prayers and gratitude.
OK, off my soapbox now. :) Just wanted to say hello and tell you how very much I loved this book. This one will stay in my heart and mind for a long, long time.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. May 2015 be filled with happiness, love and success for you and yours.

Shirley * * * * * * * *     My great thanks to Shirley for her endearing words. 
     
     Also, my delight to have this book named a TOP PICK by Night Owl Reviews. See the review here:  http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Reviews/ELF-reviews-Whenever-We-Touch-by-Cerise-Deland          As we go into Christmas and New Year, let us pray for peace on earth, good will toward men. And for those of us who have never been to a war zone, let us learn a greater understanding of precisely what our military endures to keep our peace—and let us develop a greater compassion for the conditions both physical and emotional that they endure to preserve our independence.
And here are a few  BUY LINKS, but available at all vendors. Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Whenever-We-Touch-Cerise-DeLand-ebook/dp/B00O3AIEOC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418070320&sr=8-1&keywords=Whenever+we+touch+cerise+deland

All Romance Ebooks: A RECOMMENDED READ https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-wheneverwetouch-1704522-340.htmlEllora's Cave: http://www.ellorascave.com/whenever-we-touch.html

Want a man in your stockings for #Christmas? Cerise DeLand does SANTA CUTIE!

I do!How really good will Santa be to you this holiday?Will he put a man in your stocking?Or…um…in your panties?Will he be the right man?(Please, God, let him be kind, smart, buff and OH. SO. HOT!)SANTA, CUTIE is all about the gifts we ask for and the ones we receive. Susanna Corrigan asks Santa Claus to make her holiday merry with the right man, if only for one night.When she arrives in (yes) Alaska for her rendezvous, she waits nervously for the man she requested to show. When he does, she is astonished that for once in her life, she gets the Nice Package of a handsome outside, and a Sweet Package of a caring man on the inside!If you need a little pick me up this Christmas, try SANTA, CUTIE…and ask him to hurry down your chimney tonight!BUY LINK:  http://amzn.to/ssT5GL Think of all the joys you’ve missed…Think of all the fellas that you haven’t kissed.Next year will be so cool…And I won’t be a lover’s fool.
So Santa, Baby, hurry down my chimney tonight!

You need Desiree Holt's newest #Naked Cowboy cuz a gal never has enough!

Another Naked Cowboy rides into town!We had SExcerpt:“How about taking a ride with me? It’s still early in the afternoon. I’d like to show you some of my work. Give you an idea of the kind of stuff I do.”Cyn’s stomach muscles knotted. Go for a ride? With Jesse Orosco? Her hormones already were doing the Texas two-step at being in the company of a guy who’d invented the words sex appeal and who didn’t treat her like dirt. Besides, spending time in a car with a man who had to be nine or ten years younger than she was and set her body to doing a happy dance made her nervous.“Come on, Cyn,” he coaxed. “I like to show off.” He looked at his watch. “One hour, then you’ll be back here.”Why was she acting like such a scaredy cat? At forty-two, she should be able to keep herself under control. This was a professional situation, right? Except there hadn’t ever been a man who made her girl parts stand up and sing the way Jesse did.Get it under control, kid.Dusting off her own smile, she nodded.“Thank you.”“Lock up and we’ll head out of here.”Cyn was glad she’d worn jeans today when she realized what a big step up it was into the cab of Jesse’s truck. Bracing her hands on the door and the frame, she attempted to hoist herself inside. Warm hands rested at her hips and lifted her effortlessly up to the seat. Even when he released her, she could feel the heat of his hands burning through the fabric of her clothes.“Big step up there,” he acknowledged. “Sorry about that.”“Oh.” She busied herself with the seat belt. “No problem. Thanks for the help.”And please do not start behaving like an idiotic schoolgirl. He’s only a man. That’s all. And one who’s definitely out of bounds.But for the first time in longer than she could remember, a man—this man—made her feel feminine and special. She found herself relaxing with him, asking questions about the town and the people who lived in and around it. She steered away from questions about herself, but beyond that, she found Jesse incredibly easy to talk to.Her friends were right about his talent. Jesse was an artist, a craftsman. He took her to a couple of shops off the main drag where he’d done interior work and then to the library. Then he drove past some of the older homes where he’d done some restoration, pointing out some exterior work.“I’d love to take you inside some of these places,” he told her. “And maybe I’ll call a couple of folks and see if we can drop by tomorrow or the next day. But I think you’ve got an idea of what I can do. Mostly it was the finish work I wanted you to see.”Cyn didn’t remember the last time she had been so conscious of a male body near her. The flex of muscle in his tanned arms as he drove. The stretch of jeans across his thigh as he shifted from accelerator to brake and back. The way the denim cupped what she was sure was the best ass she’d ever seen.And what the hell was the matter with her that she was practically drooling over him? Hadn’t she learned her lesson about men with Frank? Her scars from that disaster weren’t even healed yet, and here she was ogling a man she’d just met. She barely had the scraps of her life together, plus, if she hired Jesse Orosco, she’d be spending a lot of time with him. She needed to give herself a good talking to.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naked-desire-desiree-holt/1120137848?ean=9781619222946
http://www.amazon.com/Naked-Desire-Cowboys-Desiree-Holt-ebook/dp/B00MO9WHDS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415765102&sr=8-1&keywords=naked+desire
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-nakeddesire-1664154-149.html
http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/naked-desire
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/naked-desire/id908936274?mt=11&uo=4

Thursday you need to Party w. @desireeholt and @CeriseDeLand here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1508780312725324/
    Thursday, Dec 11 from 3-7 p.m. EASTERN, 2-6 CENTRAL, come party at JINGLE BELL ROCK with Desiree Holt and me!
    We'll have guests, fun, prizes, pix of fabulous men and more more more...like free books for those who join us for a bit of eggnog, rum and more!
    Here is the link! sing up! Put us on your calendar!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1508780312725324/