Elise Hepner's Blog, page 8

Be My Guest at Justine Elyot's Blog

Today I popped over to Justine Elyot's blog to gab about the power of control and submitting to the fact that sometimes we have no control at all or only little pieces at any given time. Let the A Little Slap and Tickle blog tour commence!

In the meantime, I'm working on edits for my erotica contemp beach novel and watching Beverly Hills 90210, the original. So many heartthrob flashbacks! Sets my little writer heart all aflutter! And the music...ugh the sexy saxophone whenever there were emotional scenes? Yeah, didn't miss that add on to contemporary shows. Eh, either way, Dylan will always have a special place in my heart as will Brain Austin Green.

Goal Wrap-Up for 2013

For 2013 I had a lot of ambitious goals, but a few of them changed over the course of the year. This is what I managed including reaching my Word Count Goal of 500,000 words:Dust off an old New Adult MS that when I wrote it no one was buying NA. My first paranormal romance and NA to boot. Tall order for me. It needs work, but I'll get it there.Submit a full length novel that I've been working on for a little over a year and a half to dream publisher for e-book publication.Submit a two novella's to traditional publishers that are opening digital imprints like Random House, etc.Submit category novelWrite first draft of super sekreet project for dream publisher for print publicationFinish The Furies Series, as I'm contracted to finish it with SCP--and it's funWrite 13 shorts for Cleis PressWrite at least two more novella's for ExcessicaWrite two novella's for ECWrite two novella's for XciteInstead of fixing up my old NA from a few years ago, I started writing a new one which is now at 35k. I also didn't get as many novella's as I would have liked done because I focused on longer novels, which take me longer to write, and are more time intensive. However, I did accomplish my "Year of Fear" because this year I also:Submitted to at least 4 new publishers that scare me (Both print and digital)Wrote the first book in my cozy mystery alter-ego's seriesStarted looking for an agent for my alter-ego's seriesHit the Top 50 manuscripts in the Harlequin So You Think You Can Write contest (Still freaking out about that one)Wrote a slew of full length novels, up to 96k, when full length is new to me (It's still a process)Stumbled my way through writing my first PNR seriesTook on a job as Acquisitions Editor at Secret Cravings Publishing (Yup, cat's out of the bag now)Chopped off all my hair like Anne Hathaway (This many not seem like a big deal, but oh, it was)Bought my first Macbook Pro instead of a PC (I'm now addicted to my Mac with my Alexander Skaragard background)Did you do anything this year that scared you? Is there anything you're most proud of this year?

One Ugly Christmas Tree

Every year my husband and I have a cute tradition: we buy an Xmas ornament that defined that year in sum total. This year we bought a Liberty Bell Christmas ornament since we made the big move back to PA in Oct and we also have a Lego plane, an oinking hedgehog, and a Las Vegas slot machine from our wedding four almost five years ago. This makes our tree an epic hodgepodge of clutter. So we ran with it. Now we take pride in making the ugliest Christmas Tree known to man picking out ornaments that are just too offensive to the eye to be real including glittering tinsel garland in multi-colored throw up color and icy silver/light blue with dangling snow flakes. We also use strands of fake, glittery pearls, tulip bulbs that were from the '40's and horrid, wonderful giant colored lights. Our tree is definitely our tree--and I love it so much. There's also a garish star at the top but you can't quite see it in the picture. Merry Christmas, ladies and gents!

Have A Little Xmas Spirit and a Call for Submissions

Call for Submissions: An Erotica/Erotic Romance Anthology to Benefit the family of Delaney Brown
Ladies and Gents of the erotica/erotic romance community I’d like your help to continue to support this little girl’s family and their expenses as they go through life without their little girl. So I’m opening up a submissions call for an erotica/erotic romance anthology that will be self-published and all proceeds will go directly to Laney’s family. Delaney has been sick since late May 2012 with leukemia and doctor’s predict she is losing her battle with the disease in the next few weeks. Though there’s a donation set up in her name here: http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/delaney-brown-team-laney/85456 I’d like to do something for the family beyond the next month to help with the hard times ahead.
This is where you come in, if you’re so inclined and up to the challenge. I would like erotica and erotic romance stories with a Valentine’s Day theme of 1,500 to 15,000 words of any genre, paranormal, contemporary, etc. It can be a second chance at love story, singles finding common ground at an anti-Valentine’s day party and taking advantage in back of the bar, high school sweethearts, whatever floats your writing boat. My only request is that the heat level be sensual to erotic/flaming hot with kinks welcome. No need for sweet stories to apply here. Yes, I’m aware peddling erotica for the case of a small child is odd, but it’s what I know how to do, so I’m helping in whatever way I can.
Please have submissions in to faithsommerseditor@gmail.com by Jan 25th 2014 in 12 pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, no extra spacing in between paragraphs, and .5 first line indentations. Put “Submission Delaney” in the subject line along with the title of your story, your name, and contact information at the top left of your submission.

This anthology will be out for Valentine’s Day 2014.

All Aboard: Next Stop On A Little Slap and Tickle Bloghop

Today I'm over at Lucy Felthouse's blog talking about how to make the Renaissance Faire sexy. Because as cool a setting as it is, steak on a stake needs a little help setting the mood for a BDSM workout.

Here's a list of the rest of the places I'll be until the blog hop is though:

Justine Elyot: December 28th
Twimom: January 10th
Kay Jaybee: January 11th
Demelza Hart: January 12th

BDSM Blog Tour: A Hop in Time for the new Hobbit movie

Today started a long journey for me: the journey of my A Little Slap and Tickle Bloghop hosted by all my awesome writer friends and colloquies. I was out Christmas shopping earlier which is why this wasn't up sooner, I apologize for my delay. But here are a few of the stops I'll be making along the way:

KD Grace: Today--or what's left of it.
Sommer Marsden: December 14th
Lucy Felthouse: December 17th
Justine Elyot: December 28th
Twimom: January 10th
Kay Jaybee: January 11th
Demelza Hart: January 12th

Watch out for giveaways, a little turbulence, and a lot of candid chit-chat about my new book. Also, I'm still giving away two more copies of my new release over Ian and kitties! Now I'm going to settle into my snow filled day tomorrow, hunker down in my library, and churn out another book while taking breaks to read Dead as a Doornail by Charlene Harris and drinking tea. There's nothing more peaceful to me than watching the snow fall in a quiet house with my cats surrounded by books. Though why I like snow and loathe the cold is a mystery to me. A musing for another day. Stay safe, wherever you are, snow or no snow, and Happy Holidays!

A Little Slap and Tickle New Release

My new BDSM novella, A Little Slap and Tickle, is out with Xcite, huzzah! It's .99 cents on Amazon right now which is a good deal for 84 pages of smutty goodness at the Renaissance Faire.


Blurb:Eliza’s stuck in a lacklustre, dead-end slump after coming home with her graduate degree to a slippery job market and her brother’s fold out couch. Unable to circle newspaper ads for another second and desperately crawling into sexual fantasy to escape her dismal reality—Eliza takes her escapism a step further when she agrees to go to the Renaissance Faire with her best friend, Dru. 

Her whole world shifts when Eliza meets Hunter, a quirky, mysterious leather worker who runs a booth at the faire. He’s been a platonic friend of Dru’s for ages and supplies her with homemade BDSM bedroom toys—toys that he’s more than willing to demonstrate with Eliza once the faire closes. But can Eliza give up control in order to trust that one of her biggest fantasies will live up to her expectations? 

Hunter’s skills as a dominant force Eliza to trust herself again and Hunter finds himself with a feisty submissive that pushes more of his buttons than he ever thought possible. Together they push themselves farther than any fantasy, until their lives are never the same again. 
AmazonB&N
The first three people who comment on this post will get a free copy by the end of the week, please provide an email address below in the comment section. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to do a happy dance around the house!

Daughters of the Nile...or What I Like to Call "Daughter's of the Awesome"

From critically acclaimed historical fantasy author, Stephanie Dray comes the long-awaited new tale based on the true story of Cleopatra's daughter.After years of abuse as the emperor’s captive in Rome, Cleopatra Selene has found a safe harbor. No longer the pitiful orphaned daughter of the despised Egyptian Whore, the twenty year old is now the most powerful queen in the empire, ruling over the kingdom of Mauretania—an exotic land of enchanting possibility where she intends to revive her dynasty. With her husband, King Juba II and the magic of Isis that is her birthright, Selene brings prosperity and peace to a kingdom thirsty for both. But when Augustus Caesar jealously demands that Selene’s children be given over to him to be fostered in Rome, she’s drawn back into the web of imperial plots and intrigues that she vowed to leave behind. Determined and resourceful, Selene must shield her loved ones from the emperor’s wrath, all while vying with ruthless rivals like King Herod. Can she find a way to overcome the threat to her marriage, her kingdom, her family, and her faith? Or will she be the last of her line?Read the Reviews"A stirring story of a proud, beautiful, intelligent woman whom a 21st century reader can empathize with. Dray's crisp, lush prose brings Selene and her world to life." ~RT Book Reviews"The boldest, and most brilliant story arc Dray has penned..." ~Modge Podge Reviews"If you love historical fiction and magical realism, these books are for you." ~A Bookish AffairRead an ExcerptBelow me, six black Egyptian cobras dance on their tails, swaying. I watch their scaled hoods spread wide like the uraeus on the crown of Egypt. Even from this height, I'm paralyzed by the sight of the asps, their forked tongues flickering out between deadly fangs. I don't notice that I'm gripping the balustrade until my knuckles have gone white, all my effort concentrated upon not swooning and falling to my death.And I would swoon if I were not so filled with rage. Someone has arranged for this. Someone who knows what haunts me. Someone who wants to send me a message and make this occasion a moment of dread. My husband, the king must know it, for he calls down, "That's enough. We've seen enough of the snake charmer!"There is commotion below, some upset at having displeased us. Then Chryssa hisses, "Who could think it a good idea to honor the daughter of Cleopatra by coaxing asps from baskets of figs?"The story the world tells of my mother's suicide is that she cheated the emperor of his conquest by plunging her hand into a basket where a venomous serpent lay in wait. A legend only, some say, for the serpent was never found. But I was there. I brought her that basket. She was the one bitten but the poison lingers in my blood to this day. I can still remember the scent of figs in my nostrils, lush and sweet. The dark god Anubis was embroidered into the woven reeds of the basket, the weight of death heavy in my arms. I can still see my mother reach her hand into that basket, surrendering her life so that her children might go on without her. And I have gone on without her.I have survived too much to be terrorized by the emperor's agents or whoever else is responsible for this.If it is a message, a warning from my enemies, I have already allowed them too much of a victory by showing any reaction at all. So I adopt as serene a mask as possible. My daughter blinks her big blue eyes, seeing past my facade. "Are you frightened, Mother? They cannot bite us from there. The snakes are very far away."I get my legs under me, bitterness on my tongue. "Oh, but they're never far enough away."### Available now in print and e-book!Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads
Available now in print and e-book!Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo | Powells | IndieBound | Goodreads

STEPHANIE DRAY is a bestselling, multi-published, award-winning author of historical women’s fiction and fantasy set in the ancient world. Her critically acclaimed historical series about Cleopatra’s daughter has been translated into more than six different languages, was nominated for a RITA Award and won the Golden Leaf. Her focus on Ptolemaic Egypt and Augustan Age Rome has given her a unique perspective on the consequences of Egypt's ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion. Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has-to the consternation of her devoted husband-collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

Thankful

Yesterday was a day of rest for me where I did absolutely nothing but read Meg Cabot's newest Size !2 mystery book in between bout's of lag on my computer while playing Sims 3 University. It was epic, wonderful, and much, much needed. Followed by a healthy dose of Thanksgiving Feast of which I could only eat turkey and Dairy Free, Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie due to the pancreantitis madness. Needless to say, I was hungry, but thankful for food at all.

Next up is my yearly cruise! Will be gone for a week to Disney World and the Bahamas ready to reset my creativity and power through another year of tough writing challenges.

Things I'm Thankful For This Year: YOU, my readers, because you're the only motivation I have sometimes to get up in the morning and get going on my latest WIP. You're the reason I wrote and beat my insane goal of writing 500,000 words for 2013! So thank you for your support and your constant presence in the back of my mind, you've helped more than I know how to express here/

Now...for exciting things! A Little Slap and Tickle is finally available for purchase! I'll be posting up more sales links as I get them, because right now it's only available on Xcite's publishing site, but soon it'll be available on Amazon, B&N, and Kobo. Keep your eyes peeled for it!

Pancreaintitis is a Bitch, Avoid It

So, I've been gone again for the 90th time, mainly because I was in the hospital for a week recovering from pancreantits which is inflammation of the lining of the pancreas. I don't recommend it. The doctor's still have no clue how it happened as I don't drink nor do I have gallbladder stones which are the two most common indicators. But, I'm also used to being a medical mystery. I was in the hospital three days after I moved to a different state and since then it's been hours in bed forcing myself to recover. The disease heals so slowly that eating anything was a trial, let alone getting up and doing normal things. I've only come back to myself about two weeks ago and that's after a relapse where eating too many almonds--high in fat--set me back. It's like having a little alien in my body that only tells me what I can and cannot eat after it's too late and it's in my body. So for now we're going high carb, high protein, low fiber on doctor's orders and I'm catching up on work like a mad woman.

Good news is I got my first version of edits done today for A Little Slap and Tickle. Progress! I also got a copy of the lovely cover art! I love it, what about you?


My little Renaissance Faire BDSM story that could is finally chugging along on the right path.
Other news: I was a finalist in the Top 50 Manuscripts for Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write Contest for my Romantic Suspense, A Fight for Shelter, but I didn't final to the Top 10. It was an amazing experience, one I plan on repeating in the future. Talk about an ego boost! I've tidied up the manuscript a bit more and resent it out on submission.
In unpacking news, my office is all shiny and pretty, it feels much more like home here which is very conducive to writing. Also, I got a shiny new MacPro for Christmas which came early as my Hulk of a Vaio was beyond it's last leg and no longer working. I'm writing on it now and it feels like magic beneath my fingers. Yeah, get your minds out of the gutter!
As I slowly recover I'll slowly start recounting my news. Right now it's submission madness!