Jocelyn Modo's Blog, page 10

Flash Fiction Writing Contest

Your Story Writing Contest: $500 in prizes and publication on Your Story starts tomorrow August 1st! Time to get creative ;)  http://yourstorywritingcontests.blogspot.com  
Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

book trailer reviews

Seriously Reviewed is offering book trailer reviews. Submissions should be sent to romancereader@ymail.com with the title, author name, YouTube link and a buy link for the book.
All trailers will be scored for both content and the presentation and placed on the NEW www.seriouslyviewed.blogspot.com site.

There are now also trailer ad spots available for purchase in several locations including the sidebar of Seriously Viewed, the NEW trailer page on Seriously Reviewed as well as the website. Trailer spots purchased for the website or the NEW trailer page on Seriously Reviewed will come with a cover spot on any of the sites powered by SR, authors' choice, OR you can choose to ONLY purchase a trailer spot for a smaller fee.

Please let me know if you have any questions :)

www.seriouslyreviewed.com
www.seriouslyreviewed.blogspot.com
www.sweetlyreviewed.blogspot.com
www.seriouslyinterviewed.blogspot.com
www.contestconnection.blogspot.com
www.google.com/profiles/seriouslyreviewed
http://twitter.com/seriouslyreview


Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

A Year of Nookie

Alright grrrls, we are lucky to have Robyn Bradley here on Meta Modo to talk about "A Year of Nookie!"

A Year of Nookie: Reflections on My Dive into the Digital Revolution by Robyn Bradly
It was a year ago that I became a Nookie (that's shorthand for "I bought a Nook" -- get your mind out of the gutter) and ventured to the "dark side" (i.e. I decided to get off the query-go-round and self-publish).
Here's a look back at some of the highs, lows, and surprises along the way. And because I believe reflections require a certain amount of distance, I'm writing the recap below in a third-person, diary-entry format. Besides, it's much easier to make fun of myself in third person. (Don't judge.)
July 2010: Re-reads Anne Lamott's Bird by Bird, a book for writers, and finally understands what Lamott means about validation needing to come from within. Researches this self-publishing thingy and decides to give it a go. Buys a Nook. Watch out world, she's serious! Loves her Nook but discovers it freezes up (and no, this isn't a euphemism for her love life). Could it be the universe's way of saying "slow down?" She ignores message.

August 2010: Privately plans world domination through Amazon's Kindle Publishing Platform and believes she will single-handedly resurrect the short story format by releasing one short story per month for the next 12 months. She has five short stories ready to go and knows writing another, oh, seven is completely doable (ahem). Finishes first novel -- The Help by Kathryn Stockett -- on Nook and is in love, despite said freeze-ups.
September 2010: Finalizes new author website, launches Facebook page, ups her Twitter ante, has a nervous breakdown, and figures out how to "fix" what's been dogging her with her novel for almost a decade. Nook reading -- nonfiction: Columbine by Dave Cullen and Game Change by John Heilemann and Mark Halperin.
October 2010: Releases her first short story, "Support Our Troops," and waits for call from 60 Minutes or something. Hears about some guy named Joe Konrath. Finds his blog. Converts and worships at his altar. Soon realizes many other people -- Amanda Hocking, Karen McQuestion, Victorine Lieske -- are the true self-publishing pioneers. Picks herself up, dusts herself off, and starts all over again. Becomes true student and reads and joins everything remotely related to self-publishing. Nook reading: Room by Emma Donoghue.
November 2010: Releases second short story, "Orange Pineapple." Facebook fan page grows and a person she doesn't know -- a true fan! -- writes on her wall and says how much she loved "Support Our Troops." Glows for days. Finishes edits on Forgotten April and decides to forgo the short-story-a-month approach. Plans release of Forgotten April for the end of April 2011. Nook reading: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary  by David Sedaris.
December 2010: Releases third short story, flash fiction called "The Object." Family and friends begin to realize that she's "serious" about this crazy venture. Family avoids topic during holiday season. Fa la, la, la, la. Reads paperback and feels guilty for cheating on Nook: Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout. Christmas gift: Nook is fixed -- no more freezing up.
January 2011: In awe of Amanda Hocking's numbers. In awe of Joe Konrath's numbers. Releases "A Touch of Charlotte." Spends much of January indoors, thanks to blizzards that bombard the Northeast. Learns how to use Animoto software to make really cool book trailers. Spends way too much time playing with this and doesn't shower for days. Nook reading: A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick.
February 2011: Book review blogger "Big Al" gives "A Touch of Charlotte" five stars. Glows some more. Starts reviewing work-in-progress, a draft she completed the previous year and the complete novel based on "Support Our Troops." Commits to having this thing done for her writers' group in June. Cat demands she showers more often. Nook reading: Switched by Amanda Hocking.
March 2011: Receives first royalty check from Amazon and B&N. Can buy…gas! Maybe! Releases final short story, "Crush." In awe of Barry Eisler's decision to walk away from a half million dollar book deal with Saint Martin's press. In awe of Amanda Hocking's two million dollar book deal with Saint Martin's press. Gulps and anxiously awaits release of her own novel. Nook reading: Not What She Seems by Victorine Lieske.
April 2011: Eats too much chocolate. Drinks too much wine. But showers regularly so the cat is happy. Writing mentor dies on Easter Sunday. Releases Forgotten April on Thursday, April 28. Nook reading: Nailed by Joseph Flynn.
May 2011: Thanks her lucky stars that she did NOT release the novel on her back-up date of Sunday evening, May 1, since Osama Bin Laden eclipses all other news. Receives early reviews on Forgotten April (they're good). Cheats on Nook (again) and reads paperback: How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward.
June 2011: Releases paperback version of Forgotten April . Commits major typo in public. Discovers George Clooney is back on the market. Dreams about writing from George's villa in Tuscany while anxiously awaiting feedback from writers' group on second novel. Forgotten April averaging between four and five stars on Amazon and B&N. Nook reading: A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan.
July 2011: Revises second novel (coming out in October). Still daydreams about George. Reads paperback (Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian) but falls asleep with her Nook. Goes on a virtual book tour and ends up here. Is excited about what's next.
Thank you so much, Jocelyn, for having me. It's been fun. :)


Thank you, Robyn, for allowing us sneak peek into your writing and reading world.

Robyn Bradley Bio and Links

Robyn Bradley is a Short Story Seductress and Novelist Ninja with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University. Her work has appeared in FictionWeekly.com, Metal Scratches, The Breakwater Review, Writer's Digest, and The MetroWest Daily News, among other places. In 2007, she won a short story award for "A Touch of Charlotte." Forgotten April is her first novel and is available on Kindle, Nook, iPad, and in paperback. When she's not writing or sleeping, Robyn enjoys watching Law & Order marathons, drinking margaritas, and determining how many degrees really separate her from George Clooney. Learn more at www.robynbradley.com.

Purchase Links for Forgotten April: Paperback - http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-April-Robyn-Bradley/dp/146114972X/
Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-April-ebook/dp/B004W9BXYM/
Nook - http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Forgotten-April/Robyn-Bradley/e/2940012651730/
Ipad, Iphone, Ipod Touch - http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/forgotten-april/id431887718?mt=11
Learn more: www.robynbradley.com.
Robyn's Blog: http://www.robynbradley.com/robyn-bradleys-blog/
Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Dianne Hartsock: Interview and Contest

Today we have an interview with author Dianne Hartsock who will give her book Shelton's Promise to one lucky winner who comments, listing your favorite romantic character between now and July 31st. Don't forget to include your email address in your comment OR send your email address to me at Jocelyn (at) JocelynModo (dot) com.

Welcome, Dianne!

Thanks for having me as your guest today, Jocelyn.
Dianne, can you tell us about your books and how you come up with your ideas?
Shelton in Love Breathless Press: http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/291
Shelton is falling hard for his best friend and roommate, finding Nevil's dark good looks and moments of gentleness almost impossible to resist. But Nevil is more interested in affairs of the body than the heart. As Shelton's desire for the man grows, he wonders if he can change Nevil's mind. But does he even want to? Nevil might not stay, once he learns Shelton's secret, and then his loneliness would be complete.


Shelton's Promise Breathless Press: http://www.breathlesspress.org/Book/345
Shelton has a gift he's eager to give to Nevil. At a party, Nevil flirts with one man after another, keeping Shelton on his toes. Then Percy, an ex, shows up to complicate things. Despite his best efforts, Shelton can't find the right moment to give Nevil his gift. Will Nevil ever let Shelton get close to him, or will Shelton have to keep the gift in his pocket all evening?
I came up with these stories last summer. My husband and I had taken a trip to Glacier National Park. Beautifully romantic trip, but the long drive through the Idaho desert would have done me in, if it wasn't for my sometimes naughty imagination.
I'd recently written a short ghost story, The Trials of a Lonely Specter (MuseItUp Publishing, due out this fall) and I began to wonder what my two men had done when they were alive. How had they met? Who would they be in the new story taking shape in my mind?

Nevil came first. Handsome, sexy, witty. Do you know the song The Last Of The Famous International Playboys by Morrissey? That's my Nevil.
And who would be special enough to win his heart? Someone shy and beautiful, unsure yet alluring in his own way. Definitely a temptation. Lovely Shelton. I started plotting the story out, and wrote them as soon as we arrived home.

ALEX Solstice Publishing: http://bitly.com/liLUSG
Severely abused as a child, he is left with horrible scars on his body and even worse scars within his mind. Even though it puts him in danger, he's compelled to help those who call to him. He's driven, motivated by his visions to rescue them and uncover the killer. When he can, he helps the police; yet some detectives suspect he's the cause of the problem, not the solution. Often, Alex finds himself alone and afraid in a world he doesn't always comprehend.
With Alex, I again based the MC on a character I've written for a fantasy/adventure story I'm working on. I fell in love with this character and wondered what would happen to him if he were placed in modern times. Who would befriend him? Who would fall in love with him? Would anyone believe he was psychic, or think he was simply insane? It was an intriguing, complex story to write, often heartbreaking. But I enjoyed the process all the same.

What are your favorite scenes to write and why?My favorite scenes are the ones where my characters are at their most vulnerable; when we get to see inside them, learn what they're made of. These are the most difficult scenes for me to write, simply because I have to feel what they're feeling before I can put it down on the paper. Some of the emotions aren't nice. Often they make me cry. But I love when I'm finished and can take a deep breath and know I've written something meaningful.
Do you check out reader reviews on your books or keep, keeping on writing?
The first few days after a story is published, I check for reviews obsessively. Then I settle down to just a few times a day. J I guess you can say I'm a nervous writer. I write for a while, then roam the Internet for a break, then get back to my MS. That's when I check all my social sites and also check up on my books.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what do you listen to?
Oh yes! I can't get anything done in a quiet house. Mostly I listen to Pandora on the computer. There are no advertisements and I don't have to change a CD. On my play list I have Wintersleep, Placebo, Rogue Wave, Snow Patrol, Silversun Pickups, Arcade Fire, Matt Pond, etc.
What advice would you give to a new author?
You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will. Work hard. Learn your craft. Always follow your heart when it comes to your writing. When you sit down to write, take a deep breath. Don't think about how anyone else would write the scene. Forget about all the advice you've been given. Simply write the words as they come to you. It's the best way to find your own unique writer's voice. You can work on the editing later.

Are you working on anything new right now?
I'm currently working on the third book in my 'Shelton' series. I have it half-way done and the rest loosely plotted out in my head. It's finding the time to write it that's the difficult part!
I'm also finishing up another m/m erotica, this time a fantasy. I'm on my second round of edits, so I'm close to being done.

Ok, enough of the hard stuff. How about some fun questions? Vanilla, Chocolate, or Kinky? ;)
Vanilla. Sweet and sticky. J


What's your favorite kind of gum?
I like the first minute of chewing spearmint gum, then I have to spit the wad of rubber out. Are you a cat or dog person?
Cats! I love their arrogance.
Who would win a fight between an astronaut and a caveman?
A caveman, definitely. All he'd have to do is pull the hose from the astronaut's air tank and the astronaut would suffocate before he even had a chance to fight.

What is the last book you read?

What the Night Knows by Dean Koontz. Terrifying and horrible and deliciously scary. Koontz always delivers a happy ending, which helps me get through the bad things that happen in his books.




What is your favorite movie?

9 by Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov. It's about a man who splits his soul into 9 parts to save mankind. The care and gentleness and love with which the characters treat each other touches my heart.



Dianne Hartsock's Blog   |  Facebook   |  Twitter: @diannehartsock


Thanks so much for letting the Meta Modo grrrls get to know you better today. I for one can't wait for your new books to be released.

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Hauser's Pride

Meta Modo grrrls please join me in welcoming the fabulous Ms. G.A. Hauser who is here to talk about pride, Of Wolves and Men, and 'O-Hell-O'. Welcome Hauser, please, do go on!


PRIDEby G.A. Hauser
Sometimes it seems as if the United States has made a move to the extreme right. I don't like talking politics, religion, or the Great Pumpkin, but as I am fresh from my trip from San Francisco, during the Pride weekend, I will make an exception.
Many of you who know me, or know my ranting...ahum...get the feeling I don't like where I live at the moment. They are correct. I live in Ohio, or as I commonly refer to it among friends, 'O-Hell-O'. I may get a lot of slack for this negative nickname of a 'beloved' state, but heck, everyone's entitled to their opinion. I think writers are number two behind loud mouthed politicians for being outspoken, but again, that's a personal view.
Standing in an enormous crowd on Market Street, watching literally tens of thousands of spectators enjoying the spectacle, was surreal. There in the parade were hundreds of culturally diverse groups, mega companies, religious organizations ...etc...showing their rainbow colors.
I thought, 'what the heck?' Truly I am not in Kansas (or Ohello) any longer. Suddenly I was in a world that embraced diversity, love, and civil rights for all to marry, and be themselves.

I have to admit, I cried. The fact that there are areas of the country that support same sex love, marriage, and a multitude of other ideas that free thinking inspires, made me emotional. It was bliss.

Why then, are we so silent the rest of the year? How can so many corporations, including banks, huge department store chains, car manufacturers, and religious groups, stay quiet as the far right scream and stomp their anti-freedom views?

I don't know. Another question without an answer. Perhaps we are not silent, we are just not as manic. But the time I spent with my married male friends, and the sense of freedom Gay Pride gave me, will be something that will stay with me forever.

It strengthens my resolve to keep up the fight. To combat the nonsense against gay society; to stop the far right from not giving everyone the choice to live how they choose in a country as strong and open as our good ole USA. It has to change. I do believe we have the power to make it happen.

And standing in the crowd at the Pride Parade in a city like San Francisco convinced me.

It's the reason I write my novels. To open closed minds to the idea of love of all kinds. And I won't stop.

Keep fighting for what you believe in. In reality, it's what makes this country so great to begin with. We just have to find ourselves. We've become lost in a quagmire of a few who think they know what's best for everyone.
 

Blurb for Of Wolves and Men
'Cowboy' Charlie Mosby worked on a horse ranch in Heber, Utah. He loved his work, the owners of the ranch, and his co-workers; wranglers who helped tourists with guided horse tours and trail riding all year round.
But after a chance meeting with a handsome gay man who had helped Charlie change a flat tire on Interstate 80 a month ago, Charlie was beginning to wonder about his sexuality. And if that wasn't confusing enough, strange things were happening on the ranch.
Satanic worship? A strange cult ritual? Whatever it was, it wasn't good for the owners or the horses on it.
One night Charlie stumbles upon Roman Burk in the woods, naked, bleeding and shivering in the cold. What Charlie never imagined was who -or what- Roman was. Even though the handsome stranger seemed to vanish at times and reappear as if by magic, Charlie was infatuated by this man.
Roman was fearful of revealing his secret. Most of all to a cowboy who was spending more time hunting him, than loving him.
In this shape-shifting story of sexual bonding and discovery, can both Charlie and Roman find what they're looking for? It's a question of honor; one that has been up for debate since the first time man set his eyes on this formidable predator. It's about the mutual respect of Wolves and Men.

Sample chapter for Of Wolves and Men:It was crisp and clear. The dark sky was covered in stars, far more than anyone near a city could see. As he made his way, his horse the only sound for miles, Charlie realized his buddy 'Goat' was right. Nothing seemed alive around him. Usually the songs of night birds or movements of nocturnal hunters were audible. Not tonight.

A chill rose to his skin, but it was under his jacket and not from the cold. He had never believed in supernatural mumbo-jumbo. Didn't pay attention to local Indian legends, and certainly never believed in ghosts.
He drew near the area where he and Butch had repaired the fence. It was intact just as he had left it.
The ground was freezing up, and Spirit's hooves snapped brittle twigs and made heavy clomps on the solid soil.
A whimper caught his attention. He stopped Spirit and listened.
A sensation stronger than chills hit him. It was borderline terror. He jumped off Spirit's back and held the rein. After a few yards, Spirit refused to keep walking with him, rearing up but not in a violent way, just being stubborn. Charlie trusted his horse's instinct. He stopped too.
Another whimper, a very human voice, shocked him. Spirit would not approach with him, so he dropped the rein and hurried towards the sound.
In the dimmest of the sliver of moonlight, Charlie found a man, naked, in the fetal position, shivering.
"Son of a bitch!" He rushed to his side and found blood spattering him. "Talk to me! Where're you hurt?" Charlie touched the man's arm.
Immediately the man's brilliant green eyes met his.
"Hang on! Hang on!" Charlie rushed back to Spirit who was looking nervous, the whites of his eyes showing. "Calm down, buddy. Don't you go crazy on me now." Charlie took a blanket off the saddle and hurried back. He wrapped it around the shivering man.
"What the hell you doin out here in this cold? You will get hypothermia." Charlie tried to warm him.
"F…f…freezing…"
"No wonder!" Charlie tucked the blanket closer around him. "I need to get you out of here."
"No…no police…"
"Look. I just want to get you warm, all right?"
The man nodded.
"Where's that blood comin' from?" Charlie began to check the man over. Though he was thinking only of the man's wellbeing, this man was at least six feet tall, and built like he had weight lifted at a gym all his life. His hair was jet black and his jaw had dark designer stubble covering it. He looked like a city boy, out of his element.
Charlie tucked the blanket high on the man's chest and inspected his legs for some kind of wound. His thighs were wide and muscular, his pubic hair as black as his head hair, and the glance Charlie got of his crotch was enough to know this man was big everywhere. "Come on, partner. I got to get you warm. Can you stand?"
The man nodded, struggling to sit upright.
"You got a name?" Charlie hauled the man to his feet, feeling his weight leaning heavily on him.
"Roman. Roman Burk." The man's teeth chattered.
"How on earth did you get here and why?" Charlie walked Roman to Spirit.
The horse backed up, snorting as if in fear.
"Hang on. He's all spooked." Charlie grabbed Spirit's rein and had to drag him closer. "What's with you, boy! Calm down."
The horse shifted like a nervous colt, not staying still for a second. "Spirit! Hold on. Hold on, boy." Charlie dragged Spirit closer to Roman by the chin strap, angry the horse was making a bad situation worse. "Come on, Roman. You climb on. Just step into my hand."
Roman and Spirit seemed to lock gazes. It was the oddest thing Charlie had ever seen. "Come on, Roman, he's all right."
Clinging to the blanket, Roman seemed as reluctant to get on Spirit as Spirit was for him to ride him. "Will you both calm down?" Charlie had no idea this would be an issue. He yelled at the horse, "You gonna make me call and wake someone up? Now behave." He reached out to Roman. "Come on."
Roman moved closer.
"Climb up. I got you." Charlie cupped his hands for Roman to step into it and get on the saddle.
Spirit was about to protest, but Charlie jerked his bridle to prevent it. He swung up behind Roman and put his feet into the stirrups. It took some persuading but finally Spirit began heading back down the trail.
Charlie felt Roman leaning back on him, so he held him close with one arm. "Why are you up here? You know, you picked a bad time to be getting lost naked in the woods, Roman. There's some mighty odd things going on lately. You're lucky I found you when I did."
"Thank you."
It was so softly spoken, Charlie just caught it. Roman's hair brushed his lips as they rode back.
"Thank you, Charlie."
"I'll take care of you…" Charlie blinked. "I don't remember telling you my name." Did he? He must have.
"I know. I know you will, Charlie. You'll take good care of me."
"Have we met?" Charlie felt a strange sensation in his body.
"I'm so cold."
Charlie held him tighter. It was the best he could do with one arm. He didn't know where he was going. The hospital? Vernon's house?
"Your cabin. Please."
"Are you reading my mind?" Charlie laughed but he was slightly rattled.
"Please."
"You don't fret. I'll take care of you."
"Thank you, Charlie. I know you will. That's why I chose you."
Charlie imagined the cold was making Roman slightly delusional. He heard hypothermia did that. Made you hallucinate.
He rode to the barn, dismounting and helping Roman do the same. He tightened the blanket around Roman and quickly got the saddle off Spirit. Spirit was still acting like a mass of nerves, staring at Roman like Charlie had never seen him look at another human before.
He shut the lights in the barn and held Roman around the waist as he hurried with him to his cabin. "Almost there."
"I know."
Charlie opened his door and locked it behind them. "I'll get the fire going, you go take a hot shower, ya hear me?"
Roman dropped the blanket, standing naked before him.
Charlie gulped audibly. "You…you need me to show you where everything is?"
Roman stalked him.
Charlie backed up near the fireplace. The blood spatter was in a strange pattern. Light, as if Roman was standing beside something else that was shot, or cut. But Charlie kept being drawn to Roman's eyes. The intensity of the color, the power of the stare was hypnotic.
Roman put one hand against the cabin's exposed wooden beams, over Charlie's head. He brushed his lips against Charlie's lightly.
"Sweet mother of god, I got me another gay boy." Charlie gulped and his cock went thick in his jeans.
Book Title:Of Wolves and Men
Copyrightby Amanda Hauser 2011
Amazon Book Page
Genre: M/M Shape Shifter Romance

 About the Author
Award-winning author G.A. Hauser was born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, USA and attended university in New York City. She moved to Seattle, Washington where she worked as a patrol officer with the Seattle Police Department. In early 2000 G.A. moved to Hertfordshire, England where she began her writing in earnest and published her first book, In the Shadow of Alexander. Now a full-time writer, G.A. has written over sixty novels, including several best-sellers of gay fiction and is an Honorary Board Member of Gay American Heroes for her support of the foundation. For more information on other books by G.A., visit the author at her official website: www.authorgahauser.com
G.A. has won awards from All Romance eBooks for Best Author 2009, Best Novel 2008, Mile High, and Best Author 2008, Best Novel 2007, Secrets and Misdemeanors, Best Author 2007.
Email | Website | MySpace | FaceBook | Blog    





The G.A. Hauser Collection
Single Titles
Unnecessary Roughness
Hot Rod
Of Wolves and Men
The Order of Wolves
My Best Friend's Boyfriend
Mr. Right
The Diamond Stud
The Hard Way
Games Men Play
Born to Please
Got Men?
Heart of Steele
All Man
Julian
Black Leather Phoenix
London, Bloody, London
In The Dark and What Should Never Be, Erotic Short
Stories
Mark and Sharon (formally titled A Question of Sex)
A Man's Best Friend
It Takes a Man
The Physician and the Actor   
For Love and Money
The Kiss
Naked Dragon
Secrets and Misdemeanors
Capital Games
Giving Up the Ghost
To Have and To Hostage
Love you, Loveday
The Boy Next Door
When Adam Met Jack
Exposure
The Vampire and the Man-eater
Murphy's Hero
Mark Antonious deMontford
Prince of Servitude
Calling Dr Love
The Rape of St. Peter
The Wedding Planner
Going Deep
Double Trouble
Pirates
Miller's Tale
Vampire Nights
Teacher's Pet
In the Shadow of Alexander  
The Rise and Fall of the Sacred Band of Thebes   


The Action Series
Acting Naughty
Playing Dirty
Getting it in the End
Behaving Badly
Dripping Hot
Packing Heat
Being Screwed
Something Sexy
Going Wild


Men in Motion Series
Mile High
Cruising
Driving Hard
Leather Boys


Heroes Series
Man to Man
Two In Two Out
Top Men


G.A. Hauser
Writing as Amanda Winters
Sister Moonshine
Nothing Like Romance
Silent Reign
 Butterfly Suicide
Mutley's Crew

http://www.assistingauthors.com/








~

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Dancing With Bear Publishing Call for Submisions

This call comes from the new Dancing With Bear publisher who pubs sweet romance, nothing sassy (no erotica).

Length - 20,000+ words
Deadline - September 15, 2011
These stories can be any sub-genre that falls within the regular submission guidelines.

~ * ~ Subject - Valentine's Day 2012
Length - 20,000+ words
Deadline - December 15, 2011 
For Valentine's Day stories I want to see all that sweetness oozing off the pages with flowers, hearts, diamonds, chocolates, or any other way you can think of to make the heart go pitter-patter! All sub-genres are fine, keep regular submission guidelines in mind.
~ * ~Subject - Easter 2012
Length - 20,000+ words
Deadline - January 15, 2012
These may be any sub-genre as long as they fall into the inspirational story main genre. For Christians everywhere this is an important holiday that recognizes Jesus' resurrection from the dead and emphasizes that we serve a living God. While the stories do not have to specifically occur on Easter, they should give a message of hope, affirmation of life, and lasting love.

~ * ~
Children's holiday stories will also be accepted but please note that while children's stories tend to be shorter they will be published in e-format individually, but in print they will be combined for an anthology depending on each story length.
Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Dee Brice Needs Your Help!

Dee Brice needs your help in naming the next title in her Virtual Seduction series.
 
The contest dates are July 1-July 31, 2011
 
The title may be either Her or His Virtual ???
 
The third word must begin with an E (Her/His Virtual Evenness for example)
 
Submissions must be emailed to deebrice@sbcglobal.net and received not later than midnight (PDT) July 31, 2011. Please put Dee's Contest on the subject line.
 
The eXtasy publisher and editor-in-chief will select the winning title.
 
If there are duplicate submissions of the same title, each winner will receive one (1) PDF download of any eXtasy Books Dee Brice title and one (1) copy of the winning book.
 
Dee will dedicate the book to the winner(s).
 
Good Luck!!
 
**~~**
The Virtual Seduction Series is....
 
           
 
   
HER VIRTUAL ????
 
 
 
Book 1: His Virtual Virgin
Book 2: His Virtual Assassin
Book 3: His Virtual Bride
Book 4: Her Virtual Consort
Book 5: His Virtual Diva (Coming August 1st)
 
and coming soon......
 
Book 6: Her Virtual ???
 
**~~**
 
Check out other Dee Brice books at the following places....
Website
Blog
eXtasy Author Page
Ellora's Cave Author Page

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

And The Winners Are...

Today's the day! Are you ready?

The winners of Married by Morning and Tempt Me At Twilight by Lisa Kleypas are:


Bella's Mom won Tempt Me At Twilight
AND
Audra won Married by Morning




Congrats you two and enjoy the reads.
Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Lunar Lovers by Emma Abbiss

It's release day for Lunar Lovers by Emma Abbiss! Woop! Woop! :)
On an ancient space station, Samius recognizes Achelle, a half-human, half-Rane female, as his mate the moment he smells her sexy scent. Knowing their lust for each other will soon become uncontrollable, he races to get them home to his brothers so all seven of them can complete the Rane bonding ritual—mating and marking her as part of their family.

Samius' brothers accept Achelle as his mate and she accepts them into her body, but is horrified at what she's done when she wakes the next morning. Before Samius can explain her heritage and their culture, Achelle runs from him—and right into trouble, leaving her wondering if she'll ever find a place where she belongs.

Line: Aeon
Series: None
Book Length: Novella
Book Type: eBook
Publisher: Ellora's Cave Publishing
ISBN: 9781419934285
Price: $4.45

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com

Shades of Martin Sharlow

Meta Modo grrrls, please welcome author Martin Sharlow, who is here to talk to us about the difference between paranormal romance and paranormal fantasy romance!
Martin Sharlow:


First I want to thank you for having me here, I appreciate having the chance to speak to your readers.
I want to talk about paranormal romance, and what I like to call paranormal fantasy romance. I'm not sure if that's an official title or anything for any genres these days. But that's what I like to use to differentiate between the two types. Paranormal romance, in my opinion, falls within say the Twilight series, and The Vampire Diaries. While paranormal fantasy romance though very similar has more fantasy in it, say like True Blood TV series. Unfortunately I've never read the Sookie Stackhouse series so I can't really comment on the books. But I have watched the TV series, which is one of my favorites. I do watch Vampire Diaries as well.

But if you look at the two, you will notice that there are distinct differences. In True Blood, you will find not only werewolves, but fairies and other fantasy mystical creatures and situations. I like to think that my series Shades of Twilight and Shades of Blood, fall more in the romance fantasy area. Mostly because I like to extend my world further than just the norm. I want it to be open and growing, even though at the same time I try my best to put my characters in the real world.

So it's kind of a quandary. I want them in reality, yet I want explore themes of fantasy as well. After all, vampires and werewolves are things of fantasy. Especially when it's involving paranormal romance and not horror. Usually at least earlier in our history, vampires and werewolves were primarily used as monsters to scare people, and in the books and later the movies we see them mostly used to kill people. Today however, thanks to paranormal romance, we see those same monsters as people with needs and personalities beyond being some sort of monster. I think it shows how our perceptions of grown over time.

This is why I say paranormal romance actually is paranormal fantasy romance. So at least you will see more fantasy aspect in my books. At least I hope so. I think part of the problem for me, is that I grew up in straight pure fantasy. One of the first books I ever read was Lord of the Rings. That really shaped my thought process when it came to writing fantasy, and then it has also affected me as I write paranormal romance. I'm just glad that series like Sookie Stackhouse came along. It produced a lot more freedom for writers like me. So if you like to have a little fantasy mixed in with your paranormal romance, then I would say my books may be up your alley.

~

Thanks Martin. I've never thought of breaking the sub genres out like that ,but I agree with your definitions and the major differences between the two. Very cool having you here. Thank for stopping by. :)

Love, light, and laughter!
Jocelyn Modo
www.jocelynmodo.com