Liz Strange's Blog, page 4
July 17, 2011
Bertena Varney, Vampire Professor
Bertena Vaney, Vampire Professor, is here to visit!
Hi Liz. Thanks for having me today. I am glad that you invited me to come to talk to you about my new book, Lure of the Vampire.
First, Lure of the Vampire is a pop culture reference bookon vampires. The book provides lists, websites and essays dealing with thehistory, mythology, literature, movies, television, games, education and more.There is also a section that provides resources for vampire books and shows that are appropriate for children. And the book ends with very telling and intimate interviews with real life vampires and their vampire council.
The lists are for fun and for reference. For example, everyone complains that until only recently vampires can walk in the sun butactually the first vampire to walk in the sun was Dracula. There are also websites that tell where you can go to take college classes on vampire literature, history and more. This book began as part of my master's paper and while researching I found that there are lots of colleges out there that offerspecial classes on vampire literature and more. I have provided lists of the professors and academics and their websites for the readers to access.
I am hoping that Lure of the vampire will be used by vampirefans for both fun and reference.
Here is an excerpt from the essay, Lure of the Dead Boyfriend:
In the beginning was a bald monster with a long face, pointed ears and chin, elongatedfingers and sharp talon claws that lost its humanity and control over its monstrous side. It was lured to a young maiden's window. All of a sudden, with a sudden rush that could not be foreseen and with a strange howling cry that was enough to awaken the terror in any beast, the figure seized the long tresses of hair. He held her to the bed…she screams…shrieks...and he seizes herneck in his fang like teeth… a gush of blood and a hideous sucking noisefollow.
This picture of rape and torture is the bedroom scene of the 1847 penny dreadful, Varney the Vampire: Feast of Blood. The author Thomas Prest painted pictures of the vampire being a sexual monster wanting to devour women, women who wereportrayed as being very passive and weak. In these stories the vampire bite wasa metaphor for rape and the monster wanted his victim aware of every agonizing violation. This is the vampire that was created when men ruled the horror world: a creature cursed to walk the earth for eternity searching not for lovebut for food.
Now today, the story reads more like this, "He met my eyeswith his penetrating gaze. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. ..My heart poundedin my chest… my knees threatened to buckle. I had never seen such a gorgeous man…something about him felt dark and dangerous and desirable. I lifted my chinto give him better access to my neck. He smiled, showing a hint of fangs." This excerpt is from Lynda Hilburn's The Vampire Shrink.
As you see there are lots of hot discussions included inthis book.
Thanks for having me today and if anyone would like to know more about Lure or me please feel free to contact me at the following links:
Sign up for my newsletter here-
***
Lure of the Vampire:
A Pop Culture Reference Book of Lists, Websites and VeryPersonal Essays
By Bertena Varney,M.A.
Paperback: 176pages
Also available as an ebook
Publisher: Searchfor the Lure
Published: June 22, 2011
ISBN-10: 0615501567
ISBN-13: 978-0615501567
Lure of the Vampire is a pop culture reference book that begins with history and mythology and ends with modern living vampires. The author has provided "fun" lists like the Powersof Dracula, Real Live Vampire Murders, Television Shows and African Americans who have Played Vampires. There are also websites in each section that show the most popular vampire books and even children's shows and books. But, there is a personal twist when it comes to Lure of the Vampire. The author has provided personal essays from national and international vampire authors as well as her own. They range from a personal look at vampires in mythology to the romanticlust filled vampire. There are also interviews with various groups andindividuals involved in the vampire community. Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Refence Book of Lists, Websites, and "Very Telling" Personal Essays is a perfect quick to grab reference book for the vampire fan or author. It is concise enough to assist you in finding links to what you are looking for without our being too cumbersome and confusing.
Lure of the Vampire contains essays from authors: DeniseVerrico - David MacDowell Blue - Charles E. Butler - C.J. Ellisson –BittenTwice – Elizabeth Loraine
Interviews with: Vampiric Council of New England, Vlad the Gothic Vampire Magician , Audrey Koogler, Vampire Priestess , and Hugo Pecos,creator of The Federal Vampire and Zombie Agency
Lure of the Vampire is great for any writer who would like to find fun facts to give their vampires in their story. For example, what powers have vampires in mythology possessed or the first literary vampires? There's a section forthat.
What if you are a vampire fan who is looking for new YA oradult authors- there is a section withtitles, authors and their websites.
What about vampire games? There's a section for that too.
Sections include: Mythology, History, Literature, Movies,Television, Recreation, Children's Vampires, On the Web, Education, and RealLife Vampires. There are lists, websites, essays, and interviews included inthroughout the book.
Lure of the Vampire: A Pop Culture Reference Book of Lists,Websites, and "Very Telling" Personal Essays is a perfect quick to grab reference book for the vampire fan or author. It's concise enough to assist you in finding links to what you are looking for without our being too cumbersome and confusing.
You can buy Lure of the Vampire at Amazon.com in print here- http://amzn.to/nwifDw.
Ebooks will be coming to Kindle, Nook and Smashwords soon.
About the Author
Bertena Varney was born in Pikeville,KY. She moved to Winchester, KY where she attended George Rogers Clark High School. When she graduated in 1989 she began her studies at Morehead State University. Her studies included the following:
- B.A. in Social Science and Education
- M.A. in Social Science and Education
- M.A. in Sociology and Criminology
- Rank 2 Secondary Education
Certification
She used all of her extra essays, projects and independent study classes to study vampires in pop culture. Thus the creation of Lure of the Vampire.
She has worked in education as both a middle and high school teacher and college professor. She has also been a deparment director in a business college, and...more Bertena Varney is from Winchester, KY and currently resides in Bowling Green, KY. She attended Morehead State University where she received the following degrees:
- B.A. in Social Science and Education - M.A. in Social Science and Education
- M.A. in Sociology and Criminology - Rank 2 Secondary Education Certification
While in college she used all of her extra essays, projects and independentstudy classes to study vampires in pop culture….thus the creation of Lure of the Vampire.
She has been employed as a middle and high school as well ascollege instructor. Here past employers include Morehead State University Shehas been employed Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University andNational College and will be lecturing at Bowling Green Community College inthe fall.
Currently she is planning her lecture tour schedule. In thepast she has presented papers at conference such as Sirens in Vail, Coloradoand The Harry Potter Witching Hour in Salem, Mass. Currently she is scheduledfor ScareFest, Dance on the Dark Side and A Day of Mystical Blood Lust.
She is also planning to begin a vampirology course basedupon her studies of vampires in pop culture.
FindBertena on the web:
Facebook- http://on.fb.me/g8C0Zr
Her writing website is www.bertenavarney.com
Her vampire research website http://searchforthelure.webs.com
Twitter @tenavarney
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
To sign up for her newsletter go here. http://eepurl.com/exZYQ
Book Trailer- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPMyiY...
April 30, 2011
Ellen C. Maze is here to visit!
THE USER BECOMES A PUSHER
A fun chat with Vampire Fanatic-turned-Bestselling-Author, Ellen C. Maze
I grew up reading vampire novels and gothic horror, so it's not a big surprise that given my innate artistic nature that I'd want to make my own vampire stories: the user has become the pusher! I think Dracula by Bram Stoker was my first delve into the vampire genre, and from then on, I could not get enough of the stuff. From my youth, I would pore over the bookstore shelves and spend every last cent of my weekly allowance on anything that had to do with vampires. Here are some titles that stick with me even today: They Thirst by Robert McCammon (my all-time fav), The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice (2nd Fav), A Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas (3rd fav), and The Saint Germain Chronicles by Chelsea Yarbro. But don't let that short list fool you; I read dozens of others. These are the ones that influenced me the most and have certainly sparked my creative vampire brain.
One thing that stands out the most to me when reading vampire fiction is how diverse the mythology is. This thrills me the most about writing in this genre. Every vampire tale has a different and unique origin, or in the least, he has different weaknesses and strengths.
In my series, The Corescu Chronicles (www.thejudgingnovel.com), the vampire, Mark Corescu, was once a priest in 17th Century Hungary. He is a good man who makesa poor choice when confronted by a demon one dark night. The demon overcomes him and transforms him into a vampire for its own purposes. The kicker is that Mark was unconscious when it happened and his maker is killed before he figures out what his has become. So for 400 years, Mark uses his vampiric skills and bloodthirst to seek out evil people and take their lives. He can go out in the daytime and he is not afraid of crosses and garlic and all that.
In my series, The Rabbit Trilogy (www.rabbitnovel.com), the vampires are "born that way." They are an actual race of beings living alongside the humans, under the radar. They have incredible physical strength, and varying mystical and supernaturalpowers, yet all of them drink blood for pleasure. In this series, the vampires cannot survive the daylight.
If you think reading a vampire novel gets you into the story, try writing one. Anyone who has ever written a novel, knows that she has become the vampire during the creating process. She stalked the innocent, killed people, and may have suffered remorse, depending on the depth of that vampire's particular emotive tendencies. The redeeming note, though, is that she has also become the protagonist and learned how to defeat evil and avenge the righteous. Secretly, many authors (of which I am one) long to be the bad guy and the good guy, the vampire andthe victim—and we love that we control the outcome. It is a very self-gratifying existence!
You had previously assured me that you were having no withdrawal symptoms, yet you felt compelled to pen Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider, in order to quench your insatiable thirst! {laughs}.All ribbing aside, what was the main inspiration for the book?
Like many authors, I'm sure, I was unable to NOT write. In 2004, I began work on my first novel, The Judging,and the thing wrote itself. For twelve months, the scenes flowed from my fingers and the characters spoke to me and kept me in line. I'd never written a novel,so I had no idea if this was normal or not. I'd turn to my husband after a scene was done and say, "Wow, I had no idea this scene would end this way!" He would roll his eyes, and tell me that most writers have to plan and blueprinttheir novels to get them to write themselves. Well, I was too green to think too hard about it. With no blueprint and a simple premise, the entire novel wrote itself, and I sat back amazed and awed at the creative process.
I am a fine artist by trade, so creativity was no stranger. But bringing fictional characters to life? That happened to me, it wasn't something I set out to actively do! So, once The Judging was finished, I moved on to writing a sequel, and a year later, when that one was done, I wrote Books Three and Four in the series. Now we're up to 2008, and I had dabbled with querying agents and editors, with zero bites. That's when Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider (RCBR) was conceived, as I was ready to write a new novel.
Basic idea: What if my book, The Judging, was published, and then, what if there were real vampires in the world who read it, and what if they began to question their devilish ways? That is where the inspiration for RCBR originated. Beth Rider is a younger and prettier version of myself, and Michael Stone, the vampire character compelled to protect her, is my fictional knight in shining armor. The concept wasoriginal enough to absolutely floor the first readers, and since the book has been out, people all over the globe have reported how much they enjoyed it! Ahhhh, see, very gratifying to simply share a little story that popped into my crazy head, one winter's day.
You say the book challenges the reader to ''think outside the box,'' which is a good thing considering all of the competition there is out there within the vampire genre. Was it your goal to put a whole new ''spin'' on a tired genre?
This book will not compare to the YA teenage angst books, I'mafraid. And it doesn't fit in with vampire gore-fests, or vampire erotica. My novel plays out through many POVs, some of which are vampires, but one of which is a woman with a biblical world view. Yet, this book does not fit in with the Christian or religious-fiction crowd. It is odd, it is different, and every readerreports that it stretches their emotions, their theology, and their veryunderstanding of Light and Dark, good and evil. It is entertaining and engrossing, but when they're finished reading it, they can't help but ponder it for weeks afterward. This, to me, is a good sign.
My initial goal was (and remains) to write an original tale that didn't look like any other vampire book out there. I don't fault the scads of vampire paperbacks stacked up in the BooksAMillion—when I was a teen, I'd buy every single one of them and enjoy them all. Those books have their place. I am just happy that my book is enjoyed by teens, but also by adults, and that it has essentially broken the mold.
Your books have a distinct southern feel to them. Are you a big fan of the gothic style?
I was born and raised in Small Town, Alabama. The language, the atmosphere, the people, and the culture oozes throughout my novels. I must admit that I've always recognized the gothic style as being the most conducive to the paranormal, and it draws me just like anyone else.
One curious thing another author mentioned to me once is that I don't look like a horror writer. So what do I look like? A soccer mom? {laughs}There's a reason for that. Wearing black and living a Halloween existence doesn't suit my personality nor my persona. My writing is dark and disturbing(some readers cannot finish RCBR because of the creepiness factor), but I am light, fluffy, and happy. I like to laugh uproariously, I like to sing all daylong, and I love the daylight. Could it be that writing my vampire tales is a form of deliverance? Hmmm…
Was it difficult to pen a Christian novel about vampirism without offending certain parties? Or...was the book not targeted for the Christian market to begin with?
When I first wrote The Judging, I was terrified to show it to anyone because I am a follower of Jesus, and I had just written about vampires, of all things! What would my Christian friends say?
I come from a Messianic Jewish family, which means we follow Jesus and also keep the Feasts and keep kosher. That said, the judgmental attitude of my Christian friends frightened me into silence for many years. My experience with Christians is that they can be pretty harsh in expressing themselves (sorry,but it's true). I try VERY hard to be open, tolerant, loving, and never judgesomeone else, but out in the world, I came upon some pretty hard-nosed religious critics.
It wasn't until 2009 that I felt brave enough to publish, to put my vampires out into the Light for all to see. Thankfully, I didn't get any hate mail from Christians (or Jews, for that matter) even though my premise depends upon a certain Messianic Jewish understanding of the Bible that many Christians are not familiar or comfortable with. The only ones who complainedwere those who hadn't read the work. They pre-judged,and I can't give their opinions any credence, then, can I? My own Rabbi blessed and endorsed my book, as well as bought several copies for family members.That's a show of confidence that is hard to beat!
I have submitted my novels to Christian editors and more than once, they indicated to me that it was 'too creepy' for them to 'get behind'. All I can gather from that response is that I must not have written my book for them. There is an audience that is not afraid of creepiness—those guys, come ondown!
In general essence, do you feel that the current vampire trend is actually a long stream of''angst'' films and books? So many of them seemed aimed at teens and young adults.
Yes, in general. But this industry follows the money. YA Vampire books are where the money is right now. Please don't get me wrong, as I mentioned earlier, there is a place for all kinds of vampire novels. When I visit the big chain stores, the center aisle is invariably stacked with literally dozens of teenage angst vampire titles. I can't really say much,because when I was kid, like a said earlier, I would have saved up my allowance and tried out each one. But there's room for wide variety of vampire lore.
My Rabbit novels are not YA, although the teens love them. Vampire novels can have deeper meaning.Vampire stories can be less about sex (what's it like to make it with a vampire?) and more about motivation (why do I do what I do, and can I stop?).
I would like everyone to continue writing what they like—some of us will write angst, and some, erotica, and some, gore-fest, and some, thought-provoking mythos. It's obvious that the demand is high for all things'vampire'. So, if the author is drawn to the theme, go ahead and dip your toe in the water. Nowadays, non-vampire authors have begun checking into the theme.Some people think they're simply riding the money train, but I don't make those distinctions. There is room for all of our books. Let's get to writing! The readers are hungry!
If you like reading outside of the box, read Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider. I also recommend 33 A.D. by David McAfee. For those feeling particularly brave, read The Jerusalem Undead Trilogy by Eric Wilson. All of these vampire novels touch on biblical principles, have original mythos, are filled with horrifying vampiric violence, and challenge the reader as well as entertain. What could be better than that?
Angst doesn't seem to be a problem with your life, you seem to have a great sense of humor and a good outlook in general. Has having a good sense of humor ever been reflected in your work?
In RCBR, the bad guys get all the best lines. Check it out, and see for yourself. Isn't there something freeing about being the bad guy? No repercussions, no remorse, just do and say whatever you like. My Rabbit bad guys love to chuckle, and they'll make you laugh too.In my novel The Judging and its sequel Damascus Road, there are even more chuckle-worthy moments. The Judging books are more character- than plot-driven, so you get to know them even more so than in Rabbit. They'll make you giggle andsometimes laugh out loud with their shenanigans.
Humor is an important part of life, and I find it incorporates itself into my writing, all by itself. One of the nicest compliments I ever hadwas from my publicist. She said that my characters are "real," everything they say, do, and how they react, is exactly how she feels someone would in the realworld. To her, my characters' humor makes her feel at home while reading, and gives her all the more reason to be frightened when they act up. Now, isn't that funny?
I understand an atheist once refused to keep reading your book after the first ten pages because you mentioned God. How did that make you feel? What was your initial reaction?
Yes. The book was not labeled as 'Christian Fiction' because it doesn't fit the narrow confines of the CBA parameters for fiction. Still, of all my characters, the protagonist has a biblical worldview so she perceivesher world through Bible lenses (just like I do). This will show in the work.One hard-line* atheist actually called me on the phone to discuss the matter with me. She said to me, "How can God and vampires go in the same book?" Before I could answer, she ended the call with an excuse to call back later and I didn't hear from her again. But she wrote on her blog, "I began the novel with excitement but by page ten, the protag began to call on the King of the universe and I knew this wasn't my kind of book." Then she gave my book away to some of her readers. That works for me! At least one of her readers requested it and gave it a try.
*I say 'hard-line atheist' because the majority of my atheist readers absolutely love my book. These are the people who do not believe in the God of the Bible, but hold no animosity against those who do. Tolerant, open-minded unbelievers have left me the best reviews on Amazon. I didn't write this book for any one theological group. I wrote this novel for people who love vampire novels. People who want to see something new done with their favorite mythological sexy-bad-guy. Folks from all walks of life have written me to tell me how they love the book and are hungry for more. That is why I publish—to share with folks who want to be entertained. As of this writing, I have more than fifty 5-star reviews on Amazon and one 1-star from an angry atheist. Let's not fight people, just have fun!
There are a lot of {so-called}''critics'' who have taken a disliking to the new ''edgy Christian fiction genre,'' which I have even written a book about recently. Where do you believe that Christians should draw the line on language, sex, violence, etc?
This is a tough question that the individual author must address.The (biblical) Christian faith is a personal relationship with the Creator—that means (and this isn't a cop-out) that each author is responsible for what they write, how graphic they are, and how profane based on their personal revelation of God. See, there I go with the Messianic Jewish perspective. I take everyword of the Bible as fact, and it is very clear that we are not to judge one another. Each of us, those who serve the God of Israel, is supposed to lift up and edify his brother, leaving judgment to the Almighty.
So where do Christian, Messianic, or religious authors draw theline? They must stay within their comfort zones. Each and every believer is ona journey toward God. Some of us have been at it for years, but some of us are new. I am relatively new at following Messiah. I'm all messed up and working toward holiness. I'm not there yet. And please don't forget that we don't all have the same audiences. We write what we are compelled to write, and if you are a child of God, He puts the audience before you that He wants in place.Write what you feel, write what you know, and for believers—that is all youhave to do. God will do the rest.
Authors who hold a biblical perspective and write horror aren't trying to convert people or make a broad religious statement. We only want to entertain folks with the stories that fill our heads. We are storytellers. Let us tell our stories in peace. Either you like them or you don't. Period.
Before I let you go, tell me a little about your new book Rabbit Legacy.
Rabbit Legacy (Oct. 2010) is the continuation of the tale begun in Rabbit: Chasing Beth Rider. When the first story ended, a huge victory had been won, but there were questions left unanswered. In Legacy, most of thecharacters come back and two new ones emerge to make this book even more delightful and moving than the first. I suspect this one will blow the readers away. My beta-readers and editors can't stop going on about how wonderful it is, so they have me excited.
Please watch for my new character, Canaan.Oh, he is a delightful scoundrel, the anti-hero of Rabbit Legacy. I suspect movies will be made about this fellow.Speaking of movies, I wouldn't be surprised if a studio wanted to make Rabbit into a movie. I was approached by a movie company when the first book came out, and am still shopping around for a screen play. Hey, guys, why not?
Any last words for your fans?
Hi, fans! It is my pleasure to share with you a book filled with 20 short stories that involve your favorite characters from the Rabbit Trilogy. In early 2011, I hope to release this book, entitled The Loose Rabbits, where each chapter is a peek into the life of the characters. It also allows me to give more backstory on the characters as well as better define the lives of the Rakum (the vampiric race in the novel). For folks who'dlike a free peek online, go to www.rabbitnovel.com and click 'Loose Rabbits'. I keep ten of these on the web site for your enjoyment.
Also please check out my other novels, to be published soon, The Judging, Damascus Road, and The Tale of Jane Frost. You can read synopses and sample chapters of these books on the web site under 'Also by Ellen'.
Thank you for reading and please contact me anytime atellenmaze@gmail.com.
April 14, 2011
Rick R. Reed
I am so excited and honoured to have the amazing and incredibly talented Rick R. Reed as my guest!!
In their October 2006 issue, Unzipped magazine said: "You could call him the Stephen King of gay horror." And Dark Scribe magazine proclaimed: "Reed is an established brand - perhaps the most reliable contemporary author for thrillers that cross over between the gay fiction market and speculative fiction." In spite of this—or perhaps because of it—he has been lately turning more and more to writing romance and illuminating the emotional lives of gay men. To date, Reed has more than sixteen books in print, and his short fiction has appeared in more than 20 anthologies. His novel, ORIENTATION, won the EPPIE Award for best LGBT novel of 2008. He lives in Seattle, WA with his partner and a very spoiled Boston Terrier. Visit him on the web at www.rickrreed.com or at his blog at http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/
Here's a little taste of my 2011 EPIC eBook Award Winner, THE BLUEMOON CAFE (best Horror Erotic Romance). The book won the 2011 EPIC e-Book Award March 12 in the best horror erotic romance category. Unfortunately, I was not on hand at the awards in Richmond, VA to accept the award, but I'm still really jazzed that the book was recognized.
The EPIC eBook Awards (formerly EPPIES) have been given annually since the first EPIC conference in 2000 to recognize outstanding achievement in e-publishing.
Buy link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure...
SYNOPSIS
Someone--or something--is killing Seattle's gay men.
A creature moves through the darkest night, lit only by the full moon, taking them, one by one, from the rain city's gay gathering areas.
Someone--or something--is falling in love with Thad Matthews.
Against a backdrop of horror and fear, young Thad finds his firsttrue love in the most unlikely of places--a new Italian restaurant called TheBlue Moon Cafe. Sam is everything Thad has ever dreamed of in a man:compassionate, giving, handsome, and with brown eyes Thad feels he could sinkinto. And Sam can cook! But as the pair's love begins to grow, so do thequestions and uncertainties, the main one being, why do Sam's unexplained disappearances always coincide with the full moon? Prepare yourself for a unique blend of dark suspense and erotic romance with The Blue Moon Cafe, written by the author Unzipped magazine called, 'the Stephen King of gay horror.' You're guaranteed an unforgettable reading experience, one thatskillfully blends the hottest romance with the most chilling terror...
(Gay / Dark Fantasy / Shapeshifter / Werewolf / Suspense /Thriller)
EXCERPT
In his imagination, Thad pictured the two of them coming in his front door and Sam throwing him roughly up against the door, covering his face and neck with kisses while his hands roamed, tweaking a nipple there, fondling his balls here. In the pregnant darkness, the man would work Thad into a frenzy of carnal desire so great he didn't know if they would make it to the bedroom or if they would consummate their passion right on the living room floor. He saw their muscles, slicked with sweat, working in unison like a machine tobring each other to dizzying heights of pleasure.
He hadn't pictured Edith greeting them at the door and the poor little Chihuahua manically jumping up and down on him, whining to be taken outside—immediately. So, with reluctance, Thad flipped on the overhead light so he could find her leash. He looked back at Sam, who waited outside in the shadows. "You can just go on in and have a seat on the couch. She won't take me more than a minute."
"It's okay. I can wait out here." Sam groped in his pocket and brought out a pack of cigarettes. He extracted one, lit it, and exhaled a plume of blue gray smoke into the night air. Thad was both repelled and attracted bythe site of Sam lighting up.
Ugh. A smoker. Something I will have to work on changing. He then couldn't deny the "bad boy" thrill the site of the man smoking gave him. Or maybe not.
Thad ducked back in and stooped to affix harness and leash to Edith, who was all but hopping up and down with impatience. She whimpered and stared desperately up at him.
"I know, I know," Thad soothed. "Small bladder."
The two stepped outside and Edith froze when she saw Sam. Her eyes widened and the hackles along her neck and back went up. She immediately began a furious yapping, baring her teeth, and lunging toward Sam, her tiny frame testing the endurance of the leather leash. Thad was surprised the old girl had so much fury and strength within her seven pound frame. He sent a weak smile Sam's way to apologize for her behavior. "I don't know what's up with her.She's usually not like this."
"Maybe it's the dark. I'll walk over here." Sam hurried back down the walkway until he stood near the street, the orange tip of his cigarette glowing in the dark.
Thad squatted down to comfort the little dog, shaking with fury and what seemed like terror. He had acquired Edith as a puppy and had made sure she was well socialized from about eight weeks old on, taking her everywhere with him and exposing her, over the years to all sorts of people, other dogs,and even cats. He had never seen her behave like this. Great! I finally find a man I think I could be nuts about and my dog doesn't like him. Something I'll have to work on. Thad walked Edith in the opposite direction from Sam and she calmed down enough to re-establish her original goal and to take care of it.
"I'll put her in the bathroom," Thad called to Sam as he headed back to the apartment. "Give me just a sec. I'll leave the door open and then you can come in."
Thad hurried to make a bed of towels for Edith in one corner, then rushed into the kitchen to put some peanut butter in her little Kong toy. He presented it to her. "Here, now I've been nice to you. Now you be nice to me.No more trouble from you." He took one last glance back at the dog, busy with getting peanut butter out of her toy, before closing the bathroom door.
Sam leaned against his front door, smiling. He didn't look tired in the least, even though it was near two in the morning and he had worked all evening. The color in his cheeks was high, his lips full and slightly parted,and the way he stared at Thad was all invitation. Thad simply wanted to get lost in that big, furry body.
But he was still a little flustered. "Sorry about that. She isn't usually so unfriendly. I don't know what got into her."
"Don't worry about it. I'm not much of a dog person—maybe she knew that. And maybe you don't know what's gotten into her, but I have an inkling you have a very good idea what's going to be getting into you." Sam winked and then laughed.
"You dog!" Thad crossed the room, flicked off the lights, and pressed his body against Sam. The kisses, against the door, just as he had imagined, commenced. Thad was, for once, grateful he didn't have a job to go to come Monday morning, because he knew his face would be red and chafed from the pressure of Sam's beard. This way, he imagined he would smile with fond memories every time he looked in a mirror.
They kissed for what seemed like the next hour, until both of them panted and half their faces were wet with the other saliva. Without ever leaving the front door, shirts had been undone and pulled open, flies opened,and shoes kicked into corners.
Breathlessly, Thad forced himself away from Sam and said the three little words every man longs to hear: "To the bed." He grabbed Sam and tugged him toward the bed that occupied one corner of his studio. They fell upon it, laughing and tearing at each other's clothes...
[WITHHELD IN THE INTEREST OF THOSE WITH DELICATE SENSIBILITIES]
...Sam and Thad lay on their backs, breathless. Thad spoke first, but only after several minutes had passed, long enough for him to process what had just happened and to allow his respiration to return to a somewhat normal pace. "That was amazing. I'm no Mary Poppins, but I can honestly say I don't know when it's been that good for me." Thad let out a long, quivering breath."You're right; you are an animal."
Sam laughed and the sound was comforting, here in the pale, silvery light from a waning moon outside. Thad snuggled into the crook between Sam's chest and arm, resting his head on the fur that blanketed Sam's chest.This, he thought, surprising himself, is just about as good as the sex.
"I just go with my instincts." Sam stroked Thad's hair gently. "If that makes me an animal, then I am guilty as charged." He moved slightly away from Thad. "Don't kill me, but do you mind if I have a cigarette? I can go outside if you want."
Thad shook his head, grinning. "A smoke after sex. That's so cliché. But go ahead. Normally, I wouldn't allow it, but I'll make an exceptionfor you…Sam." Thad liked how the name felt on his tongue.
"Grazie." Sam turned to sit up and grope in his pants pocket,bringing out a pack of Marlboro Reds and a lighter. He leaned back against the headboard and lit up. The room filled with the acrid stench of burning tobacco and paper and instead of being repelled, as he normally would be, Thad moved close to Sam again, taking up his newly claimed spot on the man's chest. He stared up at him, watching him smoke. Lazily, he traced circles in the hairy mat covering Sam's chest. His fingers stopped when he caught sight of a design on Sam's left pectoral, something he had hadn't noticed in the dim light or perhaps because it was all but hidden by the forest of hair. Thad got up on one elbow.
"You have a tattoo?"
In the dark, Sam nodded. "I've had it for years, way before tattoos were all the rage like they are these days."
"Especially here in Seattle." Thad often wondered if there was some requirement that all citizens of Seattle must have at least one tattoo."What's it of?" Thad strained to make out the design's contours in the dim light and couldn't.
Sam leaned forward to switch on the little bedside lamp. Thad squinted at the sudden light source, then directed his gaze down at the muscled chest before him. "What is it?" Thad traced the design with his fingers,lowering his head to peer more closely at it. He nipped at Sam's nipple and Sam laughed.
"It's Lupa, the she-wolf who suckled Romulus and Remus, the twins who founded Rome in mythology. Cool, no?" Sam flexed his chest so the wolf seemed to move. Two cherubic twin boys below the figure suckled at her teats.
"It's kind of weird. But it suits you." Thad reached over Sam to turn off the light again. "What brought you to America?"
Did Thad detect a slight stiffening when he asked the question? He had only meant to further their little post-coital conversation. "I don't meanto put you on the spot," he hurried to say, wondering if he had imagined the slight body language. "If it's none of my business, just say so."
Sam relaxed against the bunched up—and damp—pillows. "No. It's okay. We came from a small village in Sicily. Lots of mountains, rocks, olivetrees…not much else. You would probably think it's pretty, but me, I was bored.We just decided one day to go, to come to America, to see if we could make a goof it here. We tried New York City first, but it was too crazy there. Too many people, too expensive. We wanted someplace where everything was not concrete,where there was some nature. Seattle was, how would you say? A natural choice."
Now it was Thad's turn to stiffen just a bit. What was with all the 'we' this and 'we' that? His feelings, briefly at an all-time high, sunk.Was Sam married? Did he have a lover? Was Thad just that night's side dish?Sam's olive cake with Marion berries? Would Sam soon be getting up to hurry home to someone who was sleeping with one eye open, waiting for the sound ofhis key in the door? Thad did not want to come off as suspicious, but he couldn't resist his next question and thought he might as well get everythingout in the open right from the start.
"You said 'we'. Who's 'we'?" Thad tried to bite his lip to keep himself from saying it, but he couldn't resist the impulse. "Wait. Don't tell me. There's a boyfriend—or a wife—right?" Thad held his breath, waiting for the bad news to be delivered. It wouldn't surprise him, but it would certainly deflate him. And it would be just about right for how his life had been going lately.
Sam chuckled and took a last drag off his cigarette. He got up andwent to the window to flick it outside. His ass, high and firm, glowed in the moonlight and Thad wondered if he would have to rethink his policy of not dating committed men. Hell, with that ass, I may have to rethink my policy of being a total bottom.
He's not talking because he's trying to think of the right way totell me. Thad clutched a pillow to his chest, almost as if he was bracing himself for a blow, which he was.
Sam weighed down the bed as he slid back in beside him. "You silly boy. There's no one else. I said 'we' because I have a son. He came with me." Sam took Thad's face in his hands and snatched him up in his dark-eyed gaze."There's no one else." He let go and Thad immediately missed the contact. "I travel light. I usually like, um, no complications? But when I saw you, I couldn't resist."
It wasn't until they were drifting off to sleep that the paranoid side of Thad caught up with him again, causing him to wonder if the fucking was a way to stave off further conversation. Who was this son? Did Sam really just come to America for a change? How many people actually do that…or can even afford to? Stop it, now. He's here with you now…
And the men drifted off to sleep together...
April 3, 2011
Eve Langlais
Look who's stopped by-- the amazing Eve Langlais!
Yay for Curvy Heroines
Eva Langlais
Look who's stopped by-- the amazing Eve Langlais!
Yay for Curvy Heroines
In my teens and twenties, I inhaled romancesat a vicious pace. I absolutely loved to read romance and didn't care a whitthat the heroines had a teeny tiny waist s that a hero could span with hishands. Three kids later, I growl at the same description.
I'd love to be slim. I've even gone on a dietand started an exercise regime to accomplish that goal(or at least get close toit), but I'm never going to enjoy a svelte figure. The best I can hope for ishealthy and curvy. Not that my husband minds. He loves me no matter my shape.
His attitude and my consciousness of my bodyimage is what led me to write several pieces where the heroines aren't perfectsize 2's. Plump, curvy, full figured, I've got several pieces celebrating themore opulent heroine who finds a man who absolutely adores her curves—andworships them.:)
In My Teddy Bear,I took the concept a little further. I introduced a pair of shifters, fated to be together as mates. Sounds simple except for the fact the hero, until he meets her, doesn't like a girl with extra pounds. He quickly changes his mind after a taste of her, but hurt and afraid to trust him, the heroine keeps pushing him away. What ensues is a sensual chase as he tries to show her with words, and actions, that full figured or not, he wants her just the way she is.
Here's a teaser.
All he wants is his chubby Teddy bear.
Chubby Teddy, who is ironically enough a bear shifter, has finally found her mate. There's one big problem though. He doesn't like what he sees.
Reece never imagined his chosen mate would be a woman with extra curves, but all it takes is one taste to realize the benefits and turn his world upside down.
Their arguments are many, their lust for each other fiery, but while he's ready to go for the next step, Teddy keeps running. What will it take to win her trust and heart?
*****
Excerpt:
Reece couldn't believe the short, chubby woman looking up at him was his mate. Didn't fate know he liked his women tall and slim?
Even more astonishing was the dismissal in her vivid blue eyes when their gazes met. Before he could say a word, she snorted with clear disdain and pushed past him.
With that simple touch, lightning struck. Reece sucked in a breath as the brief contact set his body aflame—and instantly hardened his cock. Extra curves or not, the urge to bend her over and take her almost overwhelmed him.
And appeared one-sided.
As if she cared not a whit and hadn't sensed a thing, she sauntered away from him to the bar and signaled the bartender. Reece knew he must look a sight, gaping after her like an idiot. But, seriously, while he saw no problem with his aversion of her general shape, he found himself stunned at her evident dislike of him. Women love me!
He couldn't stop staring at her as he waited for her to turn and face him. How could she not when everything in his being screamed at him to claim her? Surely she feels the same pull? But ignore him she did as she tossed back a few shots and murmured with a tall blonde who'd arrived to join her.
When the little bear did finally leave the bar, it wasn't to come back to him. Oh no, instead, she moved further away as she shimmied her way onto the packed dance floor.
Reece couldn't stop his feet from moving in her direction while his eyes tracked her. Self-respect screamed that he treat her indifferently—tit for tat—but his wolf and rod had different thoughts on the matter. His cock refused to play dead, and to his disbelief, thickened ever further as he watched her short and curvy frame gyrate on the dance floor. Her rounded bottom jiggled in a way his cock found much too fascinating and his jeans became tight and confining.
Reece dropped his hands to his crotch to cover his evident arousal, not that anyone paid him any attention—not even the woman his agitated wolf howled was their mate.
Then a feeling he'd never experienced before, but had seen all too often in his mated friends, engulfed him. Jealousy. He wanted to fight it, but it wasn't just his wolf who freaked when it noticed another shifter sidle up to her and start dancing. Reece couldn't prevent the growl that slipped past his lips when the other man touched his woman and swung her around.
And then the little witch had the nerve to stick her tongue out at him—a pink temptation that made him curl his hands into fists. Her laughter at his expense—a challenging and taunting sound—rung clear as a bell in his ears.
Reece knew he should walk away. She'd made it obvious she had no interest in him, and truly, she wasn't his type—even as his engorged cock made lie of that assumption—but instead of returning to the bar to get rip roaring drunk, he found himself a heartbeat later on the dance floor, prying the groping hands of the soon-to-be dead man from his woman.
The lycan who'd dared encroach on his territory took one look at Reece's snarling face and blanched. "She's all yours, man. I didn't know she was taken."
Reece could only growl as the man, who'd dared touch her, slunk away. He longed to chase after him and inflict damage, but that would mean leaving his fated mate alone to start more mischief.
He turned his attention to the woman who'd managed to shoot his control to hell and disordered his life in less than thirty minutes flat. She returned his glare with a cool one of her own. She crossed her arms under plush breasts that strained over the edge of her top and Reece's eyes became riveted by her shadowy cleavage. Now that's what I call a pair of tits.
He moved closer to her and noted the slight tremble in her frame—and smelled the desire her attitude tried to deny. He flicked his gaze back to her face and saw her blue eyes widen as he invaded her space. This close to her, Reece could no longer think coherently. All he knew was he had to touch her, claim her, now.
She fled before he could lay a hand on her and make her his.
* * * * *
This isn't the only piece I've written featuring a girl with extra curves. Alien Mate and Alien Mate 2 both enjoy fullfigured heroines as does Wickedest Witch, and Dating Cupid.
In conclusion, I say long live the shapely heroine who makes her hero's eyes glaze with lust and his manparts…Um, we'llleave that part alone for now I think lol.
Thank you for taking the time to read this anda bigger thanks to Liz for hosting me. I hope you find a heroine that you can relate to.
Happy reading,
Eve.
Website: http://www.EveLanglais.com
March 14, 2011
Stacey Kennedy
Hi Everyone-
Another wonderful, sexy and exciting author to share with you!!
Big thanks to Liz for letting me stop by and chat with you all! I've been gifted—or cursed, I haven't quite decided—with an overactive muse. What does this mean? Well, it means I have a thousand ideas swirling in my head constantly with very little time to get them done. My solution, write some novellas to keep my muse contained.
The result of this came, Wolf Tracks Novels, which are paranormal erotic romances centered around werewolf packs in the United States. I have to admit I loved writing the first novel in this series. What can I say, I love sexy alpha werewolves. And the lower word count let my muse out to play. I enjoyed the fast pace, the focusing away from big story telling and getting right to the good stuff.
So, in between my full length series, I always squeeze in a novella to let the muse run wild. I'd love to hear what you all think, do you like reading novella's or are you a hardcore lover of full lengths?
Here's a peek at the first story in the Wolf Tracks series, A BROKEN BOND, which released with Amira Press on March 11th.
Two years ago, Cash lost his mate and abandoned his Montana pack. Now, he has found a reason to return. Rylie, daughter of the Wyoming Alpha, life has been uprooted. Her father killed and succeeded by her mate, Layne. A wolf she will spend a life time running from. On her journey to free herself, destiny brings her Cash, a wolf determined to give her aid toright his wrongs. But how far will he go? When Rylie's life is on the line, will he forget his pain to save her or will his loss seal her fate?
Excerpt
Rylie shifted in her seat of the lime green Volkswagen Beetle as Wyoming mountain passed by in all its beauty. It was the hundredth time she'd fidgeted on the drive down BeartoothHighway. The night was dark as thick rain clouds covered the sky while rain beat against the windshield and thewipers worked madly to keep up
She took a quick glance toward Chloe and noticed the firmness in her best friend's posture hadn't changed. Her hands where stuck at ten and two, her knuckles white from the deathgrip on the steering wheel. Rylie sighed, then glanced back out to the wilderness.
A short time later, they crossed over state-line into Montana. Chloe let out a loud breath and sank back in her seat in relief. "Guess Layne was none the wiser." Her tone was relieved.
Rylie nodded as she let out a deep breath of her own. "Apparently not." If Layne had known what she was attempting, she wouldn't have made it out of Wyoming. Her death would have come first. Harsh, but that was a pack rule. She was bound to him, his mate for all of eternity, and since she was immortal, that meant forever.
Layne would have killed her for her betrayal―no one would have stopped it. Her father, Edwin, once Alpha to the Wyoming pack, had been succeeded by Layne only days before. Layne had unofficial business that brought him into Cody, and even Rylie couldn't deny they were destined to bebound.
The problem? Layne was scum-bag central. Greedy and cold-hearted was only the tip ofthe iceberg. He also lacked character. Sexy, of course, as were all werewolves, but his strong, sculpted body and tall, dark and handsome features were of nointerest to Rylie. She may only betwenty-four, but she had enough sense to not fall for a man on looks alone.
In a matter of twenty-four hours, Layne had issued a challenge to claim the status of Alpha in the Wyoming pack, claimed Rylie as his mate, andkilled her entire family. Her father fought with vigilance, but in the end, it hadn't been enough. Her mother, loyal to her mate right to thevery end, refused to submit to the new Alpha. The end result—she died right along with him. In thirty minutes, her entire family had dwindled down to nothing.
Now, Rylie focused on her survival. Besides, she wasn't entirely alone. Chloe, her best friend, was her anchor. Born a day apart, destined sisters born from different mothers, they always joked. Friendships like the one with Chloe weren't formed through time. It was a bond that lay soul deep, and one that Rylie wasgoing to miss tremendously.
Chloe may have only be five-five with auburn hair that coiled betweenher shoulder blades and a pretty face with sandy-colored eyes, but she was as tough as any man. Chloe's courage and in-your-face attitude was something Rylie envied. She had yet to find the balls that Chloe seemed to be naturally born with.
"We're only ten minutes from Cooke City," Chloe said, drawing Rylie away from her thoughts. "Are you really sure you want to do this? You'll be on the run forever."
"What other choice to do I have?" Rylie sighed. "I can't stay with Layne―he's horrible."
"That fucker," Chloe growled. "Treating you like he has. You'd think when he found his mate, he would treat her like a queen. Not like a door mat."
Rylie wasn't going to argue that point. Layne had been nothing but wretched to her. He'd barely spoken a word to hersince their bonding ceremony, and even that Rylie wished she could erase fromher mind.
Virgins should be handled with care―with consideration. Something Layne had obviously never been taught. Her first sexual experience held no touching except when he put lubrication on her opening and then shoved his dick in. If she never had sex again,she'd be perfectly fine with that.
"All right," Rylie finally said, willing herself to leave the past behind her. "Go through it again with me?"
"Again?" Chloe groaned.
"Yes, again. I want to make sure you have your story straight. I don't want this coming back on you."
"Fine―once more, then that is it," Chloe said with a firm look. "You called me up and told me you wanted to go for a drive into Cooke City."
"Yes...and?"
"We went into a little store, I was looking at a book, then I turned around and you were gone."
"Right! And what are you going to do when you drop me off?"
Chloe rolled her eyes, exasperated. "Call Layne and report you missing."
"Exactly," Rylie responded, ignoring the look. "Just stick to that story and you'll be fine."
"I have no idea why you are worrying about me. You're the one who could end up six feet under."
Wasn't that the truth? "Hewon't find me." Rylie hoped, begged, prayed. "I'll just keep running until he gets tired."
Chloe's expression shifted to knowing. "Let's just hope he gets tired of hunting you."
A wave of fear mingled with annoyance as it washed through her. All of this was true. What if he never grew tired? Layne seemed the type of man who would chase her till the end of the earth. Not for romantic reasons, only because she belonged to him. He owned her, and what he owned, he kept.
Cooke City's downtown lit the sky minutes before they entered thetown. Wild-Wild West still played aserious role here. If a cowboy came outwith the whole chaps and spurs get up, Rylie wouldn't have been surprised. Cody, her home town, wasn't a busy citycompared to some, but it was definitely bigger than this hick town. A couple of gas stations sat on either sideof the road, small stores―hardware, a local store, used book store, couple knickknack junky places and a few clothing shops―that was about it.
Chloe pulled the car off the road, put the car in the park, then met Rylie's gaze. "This is it then, I guess."
"Yup, guess so," Rylie replied, a lump forming in her throat. As much as leaving Chloe behind was gutwrenching, she was happy within the pack. Her mate, Devan, was a man to drool over and who loved her silly. Her place was with him.
Chloe breathed in a deep breath, then blew it out as she hugged Rylie tightly. "Be safe, okay?"
"I'll sure try." Rylie laughed, a nervous sound that said just howshe felt.
Chloe backed away, her eyes filled with tears. "If you get in any trouble, call me. Devan said he'll come and help you if you need it."
Rylie kissed Chloe's cheek. "Tell Devan I said thank you, but I'm just going to get as far away as I can. Layne will get bored. He will move on. I am sure of it."
"Of course he will," Chloe responded. "Give it a week and he'll forget all about you."
If Rylie hadn't known her so well, she would have believed her. But as it was, she knew Chloe had just lied. "I'll miss you," she managed, her throat tight.
"Me too," Chloe choked.
Rylie grabbed the door handle, opened it, then gave a push against the door with her arm. "So, I'm going."
Chloe's tears spilled over. "Yes, you're going."
"Right now," Rylie said. Her own tears formed.
Chloe gave a firm nod. "Go."
Rylie willed herself out of the car, forced her body to move, andsoon, she was standing outside of the Bug with her hand on the door. With a firm shove, she slammed it closed. Tears overtook her vision―the world went blurry. Chloe's cries echoed through the dark sky.
A cold rain came around Rylie. She raised her head to the sky and let the sensation ease her. She was free from Layne, from a lifetime of mistreatment, from years of unhappiness.
The sound of a phone beeping snapped Rylie back to focus. It was time. She needed to run. With a deep sniff, the scent of wolf surrounded her. Her heels dug into the ground, then she pushed off and ran as fast as she could.
A muscle car rested outside the local store, the headlights on, and a figure sat in the front seat. Whoever sat in that car was a male and he was rogue. A lifeline had just been thrown her way at the opportune moment. A rogue wolf wouldn't be opposed to helpingher. He wouldn't know who she was or care what she was doing―he wasn't bound by loyalty.
The rain splashed up as her feet banged against the ground. She never stopped running. This was a good way out. She continued to run toward the car, urgent to get out of the line of sight. The moment she met the passenger door, she slammed into the side, grabbed the handle and flew in, shutting the door behind her. She met the driver's bewildered gaze. "Go―please, just drive."
************
February 12, 2011
Nerine Dorman
Hello Everyone-
For the very first time I am hosting a guest blogger at my site, and it seems fitting that it should be my wonderful, insightful, witty, and long-suffering editor (and amazing writer in her own right) --Nerine Dorman.
Without further ado:
Writers, visionaries and reaching for dreams
This writing thing. It all has to start somewhere. It helps to have a love for shaping words, which I've had since I can remember. I always have my nose in a book, in fact I used to get into trouble all the time for reading during class. My teachers were constantly confiscating books from me when they caught me reading while they were trying to teach a lesson.
Problem was, the lessons were boring and I tended to get good grades without much effort, so it never occurred to me to apply myself during class. Granted, this became more difficult in high school with subjects like physics, maths and chemistry, but I still had my music, which I loved and was good at. Somehow I scraped through, narrowly missing having to study electrical engineering (my mother's idea for my career path, not mine).
The problem was, you see, no one believed that I could get my writing published. I was, after all, writing either SF, horror or fantasy. I was reading authors like Neil Gaiman, Poppy Z Brite and Storm Constantine. I wanted to write those kinds of stories, not some high-browed literature exploring the meaning of life. I love vampires, for goodness sake.
I toed the line for a while. Even had a boyfriend tell me my writing is "too sentimental, romantic" and, for a good couple of years I believed everyone else. But at the age of 26 something happened. I think some call it the "quarter life crisis". I'd had vague notions I'd be famous for something by that time. Instead, I was living the average Joe middle-class suburban nightmare of a job in marketing communications, a two-bedroom cottage with a picket fence in a gated neighbourhood and a husband. Luckily no kids. I still thank my lucky stars I haven't had kids. I don't want them. I have my writing. I have my music.
At age 26 I started writing again: magazine articles, short stories... I made a complete career change getting a job as a sub-editor at a newspaper publisher (that graphic design diploma turned out being good for something). Most importantly, I was writing. I think I completed my debut novel, Khepera Rising, in 2007. I sold it late 2008. I haven't looked back since. Between then and now I've written many more novels, and have even dipped my toes in writing erotic romance (with the pen name Therése von Willegen), and now have five sales under my belt.
Yes, I got my start with epublishing through the small presses, but it's a good, solid base, and I've had a literary agent tell me it's always good for authors to have their feet planted in both traditional and electronic publishing. Whether an author decides to self-publish, run with a small press or wait until a big break with the larger publishers, each method has its pros and cons. It's important, as an author, to understand these, and to constantly look for ways in which she can improve her craft.
I don't just write novels, however. I've taken what is, essentially, a very limited position as a commercial features (read:advertorial) sub-editor and turned it into a dream job. I work on a travel supplement for a weekly paper, and occasionally get sent to write stories in foreign destinations. It's not easy. I have to wade through a lot of grunt-work and often work overtime, but rewards include having visited exotic destinations such as Mauritius or Zambia, or writing book reviews and lifestyle-orientated pieces, guest columns and interviews. This is stuff I do over and above my day-job, and I don't get paid to go the extra mile. I do this because I enjoy it. I don't have a degree in journalism. I've learnt from my peers, have taken constructive criticism, and have pulled myself up by my bootstraps. If you love something so much, you won't let anything stand in the way of achieving your dreams.
It's all about seeing an opportunity and, although it's not what you think you want, it can teach you many skills and help you build a network that will later start paying dividends.
My advice to authors who have day-jobs. Keep your day-job but find ways in which you can expand your enjoyment thereof by writing. So, you're a plumber? How about starting a plumbing blog or offer to write a weekly advice column for a newspaper? I know it sounds crazy but when you start creating a presence, and you spread out using all your skills, doors start opening. People talk. You get noticed.
Never lose sight of what it is that you want to do. Set yourself realistic goals. They may be as simple as writing 500 new words a day, or querying enough literary agents to say that you tried. What it boils down to is that most people don't achieve their dreams because they don't try. Don't let people tell you you're being crazy, or that something isn't possible. With enough elbow grease and dedication, you can do anything. Just remember that it won't happen overnight and you have to take many small steps before you've reached that milestone.
* * * *
Nerine Dorman is published through Lyrical Press and Siren. Although she works as a sub-editor by day, she spends her spare time as a content editor for Lyrical, and always welcomes queries from authors with complete manuscripts.
Query her at nerine@lyricalpress.com
Twitter: @nerinedorman
January 30, 2011
A Second Chance at Forever - Nominee for Best Vamp Book of 2010
Hi Everyone-
I am so shocked at this and truly estatic. If you could find the time to throw me a vote I would really appreciate it!!
http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com...
Thank-you!!
A Second Chance at Forver - Nominee for Best Vamp Book of 2010
Hi Everyone-
I am so shocked at this and truly estatic. If you could find the time to throw me a vote I would really appreciate it!!
http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com...
Thank-you!!
January 16, 2011
Authors After Dark Convention
Hello-
I'm very excited to tell you about an upcoming convention that I will be taking part in. The awesome, fun and informative Authors After Dark convention will be taking place in Philidelphia on August 11-14th, 2011.
http://www.authorsafterdark.net/index...
I may have the honour of participating on one of the panels for MLR Press, the publisher who recently picked up my novel, The Embrace of Life and Death.
Look forward to meeting readers and authors alike!!
Liz
