Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 359

Elizabeth Andrews: Countdown to the New Year (Contest)

I want to start by thanking Delilah for letting come play here again with all of you.  It’s always a lot of fun to do.

When I started thinking about this blog post, it was still early December, but I’d already been working on my writing goals for next year.  Which got me to thinking about all of the things still to do before next year.  So I made a short list…

Take a look back at the old year.

It’s hard to make new goals without knowing how we did on the old goals, right?  So what did you get accomplished?  I didn’t get as much accomplished as I wanted, but I put a fair dent in my list.  I did have some unexpected trips come up in the spring, to visit a very sick family member, and then again a month or so later for a funeral.  Did anything pop up to derail your plans during the past year?  I do wish I’d been a little harder on myself with regards to time spent doing other things instead of working on some of my goals.  I’d be much happier with my results (and myself!) if I’d checked a few more things off the list.  How about your plans vs. results?  Are you happy with your outcome, or a little disappointed like I am?

Look at where you are, right now.

I’m not talking about physical location, but an honest assessment of the things and people who require your attention in addition to any goals you might be thinking about.  I’ve got a great day-job this year, much better than where I started last year, but I know that there are a couple of weeks every single month where my schedule there is nuts and requires overtime.  Then there are the family and household obligations (and, really, things I want to do for both).  And I’ve taken a good look at where those things figured into my goals and achievements (or lack thereof) for the past year, so I can realistically decide how all of these will figure into the new year’s goals.

Make a plan.

Sounds simple, right?  But for myself, I want a realistic plan with achievable goals, while still stretching outside my comfort zone–though without aiming impossibly high; there is no sense in setting goals that have no chance of being reached, and doing that just makes you (me, anyway) feel bad.

I don’t make resolutions, just set goals.  I took Delilah’s Write 50 Books class again this year (even though work got a bit in my way), so I could work on those ahead of time.  And I try to break my goals down into manageable pieces.  For me, saying I want to write five new books this year and lose weight doesn’t work.  I need to break my goals down further:  monthly and weekly–how many pages or chapters, how many pounds.  Doing that makes it easier for me to look at the overall list and decide if I have a chance or if I’m setting myself up to fail.

I have to be specific, and maybe that will work for some of you, too.  Saying I want to lose weight is great, but I need to decide how much, by when, and how I’m going to do it.

Be reasonable.

Prepare.

Again, kind of a simple step, in theory.  But what can you do now to make a good start on those goals in the new year?  If the goal is learning a new skill, know now what kind of study and practice that will require so you’ll actually be ready.  If it’s diet and weight loss, start now clearing out the stuff you can’t have once you begin that new plan.  Decide on the fitness program you’ll be starting–join the gym now so you can kick off the new year with a workout or personal trainer.  How many new books to read in the new year vs. how much free time?

For my writing goals, I’m doing background work now on the two main characters for the first book on my list for the year.  If I know them a little bit before I start, starting will go easier.  I hope!

Celebrate!

Once you’ve done your countdown and all of your prep work, so take a little time now to relax and celebrate the old year, and then to welcome the new year in a few days.

To make that celebrating a little more fun, I’m going to give away an e-book of Hunting Medusa to one commenter (via RandomResult):  how did you do on achieving your goals for 2015?

Thanks again to Delilah for having me, and happy New Year to all!

Hunting Medusa:  http://tinyurl.com/k7ap35z

When Kallan Tassos tracks down the current Medusa, he expects to find a monster. Instead he finds a wary, beautiful woman, shielded by a complicated web of spells that foils his plans for a quick kill and retrieval of her protective amulet.

Andrea Rosakis expects the handsome Harvester to go for the kill. Instead, his attempt to take the amulet imprinted on her skin without harming her takes her completely by surprise. And ends with the two of them in a magical bind—together. But Kallan isn’t the only Harvester on Andi’s trail…

Excerpt:

Andi kept up her steady pace as they trekked farther into the forest. The sounds of the birds and chattering squirrels kept them company, as they had for the past two hours. He didn’t try to carry on a conversation with her while they walked. He was clearly accustomed to physical activity.

Which meant she’d have a harder time than she’d anticipated in ditching him.

Not that she’d imagined it would be easy.

Nothing could possibly be easy about this. Her luck clearly didn’t run in that direction.

She paused to take a sip of water from the bottle she’d tucked into the side of her backpack, and he stopped beside her. Warmth spread up her spine, and she frowned into the bottle she held. Stop it. He was not potential mate material, no matter how happy her hormones were when he was near.

“All right?” He took a quick drink from his own water, his arm brushing hers as he did so.

She shifted her weight onto her other foot, away from him. “Fine.”

He met her gaze.

Her pulse skipped.

“I know you don’t want to trust me, but you can. On this, you can.”

It sounded like a vow, she thought, panic making her heart beat faster. She didn’t want to believe him.

But on this one thing, she realized she did. Of course she did. Even though she hadn’t wanted to, she’d trusted him not to kill her after they’d made their bargain for the scissors. He’d earned it.

She swallowed, her mouth dry, and lifted her water bottle to her lips again, giving herself a distraction from the intensity in his green eyes.

He sighed, then took another drink.

Andi closed her eyes briefly, girding herself, and capped her bottle. The next stretch would be more of a challenge. Maybe this would be where her luck changed.

Or not.

Two hours later, she panted softly, her heart pounding hard as she put one hand on the nearest tree trunk and dropped her head to pour the rest of her lukewarm water over the back of her neck.

Straight up the side of the mountain, and he was still not doing more than breathing hard, the bastard.

She felt her backpack shift, and glanced to the side.

“Getting you another drink.” He tugged a bottle out and then rezipped her pack.

She mumbled her thanks and chugged down half the bottle in one go. Then turned in time to see his throat working as he swallowed the last of his bottle. His skin glistened with sweat, muscles beneath shifting and making her want to touch. With her fingers, her tongue.

About the Author

Elizabeth Andrews has been a book lover since she was old enough to read.  She read her copies of Little Women and the Little House series so many times, the books fell apart.  As an adult, her book habit continues.  She has a room overflowing with her literary collection right now, and still more spreading into other rooms.  Almost as long as she’s been reading great stories, she’s been attempting to write her own.  Thanks to a fifth grade teacher who started the class on creative writing, Elizabeth went from writing creative sentences to short stories and eventually full-length novels.  Her father saved her poor, callused fingers from permanent damage when he brought home a used typewriter for her.

Elizabeth found her mother’s stash of romance novels as a teenager, and-though she loves horror- romance became her very favorite genre, making writing romances a natural progression.  There are more than just a few manuscripts, however, tucked away in a filing cabinet that will never see the light of day.

Along with her enormous book stash, Elizabeth lives with her husband of  twenty years and two young adult sons, though no one else in the house reads nearly as much as she does.  When she’s not at work or buried in books or writing, there is a garden outside full of herbs, flowers and vegetables that requires occasional attention.

Soft Resolutions (Contest)

It’s that time of year!

And yes, from my polling earlier this month, I know many of you never make a list of resolutions because you feel as though you’re setting yourselves up for failure, but how about those “soft promises” to yourself?

I’m a list girl. Always have been, and the older I get, I lean on them harder. If it’s not on my list, it’s not on my radar sort of thing. But my lists are usually compiled of very finite goals and almost always aimed at writing projects. So—work-related! Not at all a “soft promise”. So far as those go…

I don’t usually set weight goals because, like many of you, I always let myself down. But when I had a health scare a couple of weeks ago (I’ll say it out loud—I had a mild stroke!), I did some soul-searching and decided: Now, is the time. No waiting for the first. The day after I spent an afternoon in the ER, I ordered a box of Nutrisystem. It was a very mild stroke, transitory. No lasting effects, thank goodness! But I think it was a wake up call. I’m seven pounds down, and while I have no desire to be reed-thin, I do want to feel better, so that’s my goal. Feel better in 2016!

Then there’s the whole smoking thing. Yes, I love nicotine. It’s my drug of choice, or one of them. The other’s caffeine, and there’s no way I can give that up—I’d be comatose at the keyboard. But there’s the whole living thing. All I have to do is think about what it felt like to realize I was slurring my words and feeling muzzy to know something’s got to give, so smoking’s going to give. Already, I’ve cut my daily habit by half.

Then there’s the art thing. Writing is my creative passion, but the past couple of years, it’s felt more like a job. I show up every day at the keyboard and pound out words. I’ve been feeling a little empty, like the creative spark needed a new outlet. I’ve been making jewelry, but it doesn’t always feed my need for color and freedom because wrapping, linking, beading doesn’t feel explosively creative. When I took a zentangle workshop last summer, I felt that burst of creative pleasure. I’ve been experimenting with watercolor and mixed media art, and so, come January, I’m going to keep an art journal  for the year and make little dates with myself to fill it up while I practice different approaches to my art education.

Lastly, I want to learn to be a saver. I’m luckier than most in that I won’t have to depend on Social Security when I’m in my dotage. I have a couple of retirements that will kick in when I hit 60, but I’d love to feel more in control, and to take some lavish trips. So, with Iceland and Bora Bora in mind, I’m taking the 52-week savings challenge. It’s small beans, but I hope it will help me learn a little discipline. No, I don’t need another paint brush or the latest tablet. Not that I am any good at denying myself little treasures, but one thing I learned about myself this past year is that I get EXTREME pleasure from treasure hunting at flea markets and yard sales. Those pretty buttons, odd beads, and small machinery finds help feed my art habit. So, maybe I don’t need a new Michael Kors bag, but I can get my shopping on looking for just the right piece of bric-a-brac for the mixed media piece I’m working on. For instance, this didn’t cost a thing—my daughter had a fanfold of picture matting swatches—just the right size for tearing apart and making a bunch of painted bookmarks. I scarfed those up. TREASURE! Be expecting to see pictures of some of those in the coming months.

So, that’s my soft list of resolutions. Not a huge list, and I won’t attack them with any “all or nothing” ambition. Plus, I didn’t wait until the 1st to begin.

So, how about it? Do you have a “soft” resolution?

Something you’d love to do for yourself this coming year?

If you comment, you’ll be entered to win a small Amazon.com gift card.  ~DD

CONQUESTS — F*R*E*E for a very limited time!

Some of you might have new eReaders ready to gobble up some books! Let me help you out with that! Just click on the cover to pick up your free copy of Conquests: An Anthology of Smoldering Viking Romance today!

Vikings. Fierce warriors who terrified all in their path as they raided and marauded, enslaved and murdered during Europe’s Dark Ages.

But these rough men from a rugged land were also sailors, explorers, craftsmen, and highly sought after mercenaries.

Conquests: An Anthology of Smoldering Viking Romance will transport you to the realm of fantasy where such fearsome and loyal men are relentless potent lovers. Whether the lady of the keep demands a few stolen hours of pleasure with a captured Viking warrior or the handsome Northman is the one seducing his captive, you will find plenty of lusty adventures in settings as far-flung as Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Byzantium, Moorish Spain and the New World.

Let your fantasies run wild to a time when men wearing bearskin shirts and shining iron helms could capture a fierce maiden’s heart!

The Captive by Lizzie Ashworth – A captive turns captor when the lady of an English keep commands a few stolen hours of pleasure with a captured Viking warrior

Ásgeirr and the Tree of Life by Mina Murray – Danger and desire collide when a wounded Viking warrior washes ashore on a remote Irish island

A Varangian Guest by Melissa Fuchs – When her brother returns to Constantinople in the company of a warrior from the far north, a widow finds herself drawn to him with irresistible desire

How to Train Your Skjaldmaer by Delilah Devlin – A Viking jarl tricked into marrying a shieldmaiden sets out to tame his fiery bride

The Viking’s Prize by Emma Jay – Treachery and desire greet a Viking warrior who travels to the coast of Newfoundland to broker peace with the indigenous tribes

There for the Taking by Nym Nix – A captive is seduced by her Viking captor as he couples with an amorous shieldmaiden whilst she is left to watch

Sweet Silk by Megan Mitcham – A Viking returns to Persia years after saving a merchant from certain death to retrieve the child-bride awarded him–yet never claimed

Little Warrior by Evey Brett – A woman braves a pair of daunting shieldmaidens and her father’s wrath in order to take her sister’s place as bride to a Viking warrior

Protecting Her by Regina Kammer – A Byzantine noblewoman seeking refuge in a monastery loses her heart to an invader when Constantinople is sacked by the Rus

Enslaved by Elle James – A conquering Viking vows to tame his sassy Celtic slave–if she doesn’t kill him first

The Oak and the Ale by Beatrix Ellroy – A businesswoman trying to secure trade routes for her family instead finds love with a crippled warrior

New Words by Teresa Noelle Roberts – An Andalusian Arab poet learns that her new Northman husband is more than just a handsome barbarian

The Needle and the Strap by Bibi Rizer – A young man hasn’t lived up to the Viking standards of his brave and ruthless kinsmen–until he rescues a wild and wicked shieldmaiden from a burning ship

*~*~*~*

And if you didn’t know, I have another short story, newly released…

A Dominant policewoman, fresh from the mean city streets, finds her perfect match in a curvy small-town, bicycle cop…

Enjoy! And I hope your holiday continues, that Santa was very good to you, and that everyone is safe and happy!

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays, Y’all!

If you are on my friend page on Facebook, you can take a peek at how my day is going. Don’t miss the video of me trying to play Guitar Hero against my SIL, Dex. Could not stop laughing.

Yes, we had a very early morning. I had my alarm set for 6:30, but my dd called at 5:15 to say the kids were standing over her bed because Santa had come. Several cups of coffee later, I am back at my desk for a little quiet.

I hope Santa was good to you! The kids gave me a Star Wars light saber—my favorite gift (HeHe, they gave their mom socks!). Also really cool were several pieces of jewelry—completely my style and taste (a turtle pendant, a snail brooch, a Star Wars charm necklace).

Feel free to share your favorite gifts and moments today. Or better yet, head back into the din and enjoy the day with your family!

Coleen Kwan: Christmas Eve

There’s a unique atmosphere to Christmas Eve, a mixture of anticipation, anxiety, and resignation. What presents will I get? I wonder if those weird cousins are going to turn up? Too bad the store is out of cloves; now the ham won’t look so good. When I worked in IT, Christmas Eve was a great day to be at work. Everyone was already in holiday mood, there were no deadlines, people left early and the boss didn’t mind. Of course, Christmas Eve is also when those last-minute gifts are bought, usually over-priced perfume gift sets or the last cookbook on the shelves or the standard fallback of a box of chocolates. (Hey, that’s fine. I love chocolate!)

Why are supermarkets and grocery stores so packed on Christmas Eve? It seems people go berserk at the thought of the stores not opening for a couple of days, and they have to buy truckloads of food in order to survive. It’s like Christmas Eve is a prepping exercise for a doomsday event, and everyone needs to hoard enough food and drink to feed an army. Here in Sydney, the fish market stays open for 48 hours straight so that everyone can get their salmon, tuna, lobster, and prawns. I’m not a big fan of seafood, so I don’t see the attraction of spending Christmas Eve in a crowded, fishy market.

I prefer to treat Christmas Eve like the calm before the storm. It’s the last opportunity to get some quiet time to myself. I can finish up a bit of writing, tidy up my inbox, maybe even read a book or two. I can take a stroll around the neighborhood and check out all the Christmas displays that people love to do. Christmas Eve is like standing in the shallows while that giant wave rolls inexorably toward you. Just enjoy the moment and let everything wash over you!

Just in time for Christmas, my latest release is LOVE, DOGS, AND OTHER CATASTROPHES.

He knew everything he wanted…until she showed him everything he never knew he needed

Dog person, cat person: Joel Winslow is a money person. PetzBizz is facing bankruptcy, and it’s his job to fix it. Shoring up a business often means hard decisions, but Joel knows that short term pain leads to long term gains, and it is in everyone’s best interest to keep the doors of PetzBizz open. If only he can convince Andrea, the prickly part-time clerk determined to get in his way.

Andrea Ho understands jargon, and ‘restructuring’ means ‘slash and burn’. The last thing PetzBizz needs is some corporate drone coming in and making decisions based on money instead of compassion. But Joel comes with three adorable if unruly dogs, and Andrea is desperate for some extra cash. A side job doing something she loves seems like a perfect solution—and it allows her to keep an eye on Joel and PetzBizz. Unfortunately, Andrea likes what she sees just a bit too much for her own comfort—and it looks like Joel feels the same way.

Opposites may attract, but different values aren’t the basis for long-term happiness. When it comes to a choice between love and money, only one can win.

LINKS:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B017SGBIY0

Barnes&Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-dogs-and-other-catastrophes-coleen-kwan/1123018739?ean=9780857992864

iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/love-dogs-other-catastrophes/id1057462589?mt=11

Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/love-dogs-and-other-catastrophes

Author Bio:

Coleen Kwan has been a bookworm all her life. At school English was her favorite subject, but for some reason she decided on a career in IT. After many years of programming, she wondered what else there was in life — and discovered writing. She loves writing contemporary romance and steampunk romance.

Coleen lives in Sydney, Australia with her partner and two children. When she isn’t writing she enjoys avoiding housework, eating chocolate, and watching TV shows like Criminal Minds and Bob’s Burgers.

Website: www.coleenkwan.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ColeenKwan

Facebook: www.facebook.com/coleenkwan.authorpage

Sheri Fredricks: Have Yourself a Sexy Little Christmas

Ho, ho, ho! Let the sexy flow!

Christmas presents are fun to open, and more so when you’re the giver. Oh sure, there might be children who are flipping out from excessive hot chocolate and gift-wrap overload, but a secret gift shared between lovers can bring the house lights down.

My most recent release is an erotic twisted fairytale based on the story of The Frog and the Princess. As with the original tale, it’ll take a special person to set them free from their secrets.

It’s give and take, and a whole lot of consensual heat…

Here’s a few gift ideas for those on your naughty list:

Holiday-themed Condoms: Old St. Nick has a variety of fun with whimsical fun packs. Makes a great stocking stuffer.

Kinky Kris Kringle: There’s more than just toys in Santa’s velvet bag! Watch your lover’s eyes as you pull out a patent leather paddle with matching whip.

Ring-a-ding: Don’t wait for him to give you a ring, buy one for him instead. Created specifically for hands-free fun, have him slip-on this stimulating cock ring and you’ll both reap the rewards of your gift.

Sexy Santa and Elf Costumes: You’re never too old to sit on Santa’s lap. Time to bypass the school-girl ensemble — pick-up a sexy costume for him…and a naughty outfit for you!

Erotic Bedtime Stories: Forget about Rudolph and other childish fables. Spike your eggnog and read to your sweetie a little Christmas erotica. May I suggest (ahem) my book CONTINUUM? I guarantee nobody will fall asleep.

YOU!: Forgive me for stating the obvious, but what person wouldn’t fantasize about their lover all wrapped up in a sexy red bow? Meet your partner at the door on Christmas Eve wearing a pair of heels and a Santa hat. You’ll give the best gift imaginable!

What’s the sexiest holiday present you’ve ever given? And would you read aloud a sexy bedtime story?

About Sheri:

Always on the hunt for the uncommon things in life, award-winning author Sheri Fredricks thrives on creating adventures in her mythological kingdom series, contemporary stories, and soon-to-be-released western time-travels.

A former engineering secretary, she lives on California’s beautiful central coast. “I wanted to move away from a profession of inflexible right angles and create an unboxed world with no boundaries.” A voracious reader since her early years, Sheri found her brain crowded with stories of her own. “Ultimately,” she says, “my husband encouraged me to write them all down.”

Winner of the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewer’s Choice Award, and a multiple Finalist for InD’Tale Magazine’s Reward Of Novel Excellence (RONE) award, she has numerous five-star reviews everywhere eBooks are sold.

Sheri loves to connect with readers and spend time at home. A computer hutch keeps her focused on creating stories, but the panoramic view of life on a ranch will call her outside to play in the sun.

About CONTINUUM

Privilege came at a price for the voluptuous Princess Evianna. Life as a royal was a lonely existence for the girl who grew up forbidden to interact with villagers. Relief from solitude and sexual frustration came in the form of fantasies she’d spun about an unknown prince who would rescue her from a daily requirement of AA batteries and her erotic imagination.

Cursed by a spiteful witch to remain in the form of a frog, Tad spent the past fifty-five years banished to a brook and dodging hungry predators. Resigned to live out the remainder of his amphibious life in a cold-blooded existence, he’s surprised when the visiting princess understands his croaked words.

Evianna needs the frog and his sexy voice to fulfill her sexual desires. The frog needs the princess to break the evil curse.

What could possibly go wrong?

Excerpt:

Though he wasn’t a real man, Evianna couldn’t believe the upswing of her good fortune. With his wicked ideas for sexual games, perhaps he’d be her constant companion for life.

Instead of imagining a voice inside her head that set her blood to boil, she’d have the real deal.

Rough, edgy, deep.

The frog’s tone, so much like that of a man’s, sent a cascade of shivers to strum her body’s innermost regions when he spoke.

He seemed to enjoy dominating her, and she could get off as being a submissive. A win-win for them both.

“Take off your dress, and do it slowly.” The frog croaked his first request. “Your underwear, too.”

This was one naughty frog, and a thrill shot through her. The way her heart took off in a rapid hammering gait told that good times were ahead.

Reaching behind her back to grasp the dress’s string, she pulled to untie the bow.

His bulbous green eyes rarely blinked as he watched.

Based on sketches she’d seen of her mother, she’d inherited the monarch’s curvy figure. Did the frog really find her voluptuous body attractive? Why the question was important to her, she didn’t know. She gathered the bottom hem in her hands and pulled the soft garment over her head, shaking her hair free. Holding the dress away from her side by a trio of fingers, she dropped the fabric and it fluttered into a colorful heap on the old stone floor.

“I’m a bad girl.” She stuck the tip of her finger into her mouth to suck while her shoulders twisted slowly back and forth. “I didn’t wear any panties today.”

“So, I noticed.” The frog’s little arm came up and he swiped accumulated moisture from the back of his head. She even thought his frog lips curved into a smile. He coughed to clear his croaker. “Now lie down beside me on the bed.”

Soft as silk and plump with the stuffing of goose down, the mattress dipped as she slid onto the velvet comforter and settled herself. She was careful not to touch his cold-blooded body.

The surprise of finding him at not only her home, but also the distance in which he’d hopped in order to get there, reopened the heavy doors to her self-inflicted guilt. The frog had been nothing but royally nice to her, and she’d rewarded his kindness by being a raving bitch.

In other words, she’d acted like a typical princess.

Couldn’t blame that on the blackberry brandy.

Evianna turned her head to face him, wanting to apologize and assuage her shame.

He showed he was faster and croaked first. “Close your eyes, Princess. Think of me as the prince in your fantasies, running my hands along the insides of your thighs.”

Oh, that voice!

Just like the first sip of brandy, the warmth tantalized her mind before drifting down to hover between the mounds of her swelling breasts. From that point gravity took over, leading the warmth in a descending spiral…and her body had no compunction to sideline a direct path to the inevitable.

Directions the decadent frog gave weren’t hard to follow. Her eager hands stroked a slow path upward that started at her knees.

“Think of the way it might feel to have my beard stubble scratch the soft skin of your belly when I kiss you there.”

She used the fingernails of her left hand to scrape her stomach and imagined it as his rough cheek. “Mmm, that feels good.” Tighter and tighter her nipples squeezed, until the rosy points almost hurt.

“I’m going to nibble my way lower now, down to your pussy. And then I’ll suck your delicious clit.”

While her core muscles squeezed at his raw words, her legs spread wider. Evianna concentrated on the erotic picture the horny toad uploaded to her brain. She magnified the imagery. He’d be so good with his lips, teeth, and tongue that she’d throw her head back and moan when he ate her out—and she did just that.

“Oh…,” she panted.

“That’s right, Princess. Think of my hands running over your luscious body.”

Without forethought or shame, her hands reached and massaged her breasts. She played with her nipples as she thought of her prince, twisting one and then the other until she moaned some more.

“How wet are you?” he asked, his croak growing rough. “Touch yourself and find out.”

This was much better than any date-night fantasy she’d had with her vibrator. Her right hand squeezed her breast before trailing across her abdomen. She skimmed past the notch of her bellybutton and over the bump of her pubic bone to dip two fingers inside.

Wet again, and growing wetter. Oh, how she wanted to plunge inside and ease the tightness that grew with every word he spoke. A few deep thrusts couldn’t be helped.

“Feels good, doesn’t it, Princess?” The frog sounded out of breath, but it was likely her imagination. “I want you to bend one of your legs and let it drop to the side. Open for me, sweetheart. Let me see you.”

Turned on by his deep hypnotic voice and clear of rational thought, she slid the heel of her foot closer to her ass. The pounding of her heart seemed as erratic as the sudden need for air. In a bid to obey, Evianna did as directed. She dropped her knee sideways to the bed, and it felt delectably sizzling.

Opened to his hungry eyes, aroused beyond belief, she didn’t mind when his cold little body climbed her other leg and landed with a ribbett between her spread thighs.

An image of a hardened cock bloomed in her mind, and savage need arose. She pressed her trembling fingers to her aching, wet center.

“Go ahead, Princess Evianna. Pleasure yourself.”

Less than a command and more of a need, she slowly massaged her pussy back and forth. Her free hand continued to play with her nipples, squeezing and pulling, while her mind drifted in the impassioned current painted by the tempestuous frog.

In her mind, his was the voice of the prince of her dreams.

And Evianna let the sensations of the fantasy carry her away.

*~*~*

Buy the book:  Kindle  Nook  Kobo

 Thank you to Delilah for having me stop by. Muah!

XO,

Sheri

Share Your Christmas/Holiday Traditions

 vs. 

I lived for seven years in Germany. Before the wall came down. And I loved every minute of it. Loved the food. The People. The lovely landscapes. The castles. Loved their traditions, some of which I instituted as my own new family traditions. My heart warms seeing my daughter carry on those traditions. Some of them center around Christmas.

We celebrate St. Nicklaus Night. Always, on December 6th, as a precursor to Christmas, the kids put their shoes outside the door before they go to sleep at night. That night, St. Nicklaus lets them know whether they are on his naughty or nice list by leaving them presents in their shoes or a lump of dirty coal. This year, two of the girls got candy coal.

We have an advent calendar that we hang at the same time the Christmas tree goes up at Thanksgiving. Each morning in December, the children wake up to see what small gift they have in the calendar—candy, money, pencils, etc.

We have nutcracker ornaments we collected in Germany hanging from the tree.

The one tradition I did not include was Krampus…

You know Krampus, right? The alternative to St. Nicklaus. Good children receive gifts from Santa. Bad children are carried away to Krampus’s cave where they are devoured. Germans can be a little scary in their storytelling. Just think of the real story of Cinderella where her sisters cut off their heels and toes to fit their feet into the slippers!

One tradition I enforced on my children was that the moment they stopped believing in Santa, he stopped delivering Christmas presents. My children NEVER admitted that they no longer believed. My daughter’s been a little lax with that one. She let her oldest tell her she didn’t believe. I’d have taken all her presents and let her stew a day until she “re-believed.” But I’m mean that way.

What traditions do you follow for your holiday celebrations, whichever one you celebrate? If you’d known about Krampus, would have you instituted him as part of your holiday tradition? Do you hide the Christmas pickle or the spider?

Ann Jacobs: Reinventing the Wheel of Erotic Romance

Yes, I write erotic romance. I’ve been doing it since before the turn of the 21st century, first with Red Sage Publishing, where I wrote a novella, “The Barbarian,” for SECRETS 3 in 1997. That story is still available, so if you’ve missed it and the other awesome stories that were pioneers in erotic romance, grab it and catch up on some classic erotic romance!

In the fifteen months or so, I’ve gotten rights back on all but a handful of the books and novellas I wrote for Ellora’s Cave Publishing. So far, I’ve revised or rewritten more than half of them and republished them, either independently or with the assistance of Beyond the Page Publishing. During this process, I’ve learned a lot about myself—and the characters I’ve created.

Take, for instance, the d’Argent vampires, being released by Beyond the Page over the next few months. These guys, and their queen, Alina, are classy vamps whose background is the European aristocracy. For centuries they’ve been on the right side of justice. They don’t resort to a lot of locker room language, particularly in their sexual encounters, although they’re to-die-for seducers whose lovers are eager—even anxious—to join them in immortality.

We’ve retitled the series “Hunting the Dark Lord,” which is fitting since four of the five novels and novellas deal with the d’Argent guys seeking an evil vampire determined to take revenge for the d’Argent queen’s refusal to join forces with him by killing beautiful women around the world who happen to resemble her. ON THE TRAIL OF DARKNESS, released last month, is the story of Claude d’Argent and Marisa Delgado, whom I found I had shorted when I’d first written VAMPIRE JUSTICE. The revised story has been expanded to show more of the pretty stripper and her situation that brings her to Claude’s attention.

Just released last week, SHADOWING THE BEAST is Stefan d’Argent’s story, formerly ETERNITY OF DARKNESS and ETERNALLY HIS—yet different in that the emphasis is on him and Julie falling in love and finding common ground between mortal and vampire, rather than on the sex that admittedly is hot and heavy between the two!

The Hunting the Dark Lord series is just as erotic as ever, but the stories now are more reflective of who the characters are instead of focused almost entirely on the sexual elements of the relationships. I hope readers will fall in love with the heroes again, and that they’ll enjoy what I’m pushing now: eroticism with class, and always in keeping with the story people, their backgrounds, and their attitudes toward life, liberty, and the unabashed pursuit of happiness in every facet of their relationships.

Happy holidays! Thank you for having me as your guest.

Ann Jacobs

http://annjacobs.net

https://www.facebook.com/AnnJacobsAuthor

http://www.twitter.com/authrannjacobs

(Note: Buy links are for Amazon.com. These titles are also available from most online booksellers.)

Aurora Russell: Holidays, Bear Shifters and Good Old-Fashioned Anglo-Saxon Words

First of all, thanks to Delilah for having me on her awesome blog! I hope everyone is having a holiday season filled with the unique joy and generosity of spirit that is so close to the surface this time of year. I know I am!

I wanted to write about inspiration—my wickedly fun journey to becoming an author of erotica—so I thought back, trying to determine the specific moment that ultimately sent me down this path. And it took me waaay back!

Studying English Literature in the hallowed, scholarly halls of the small college I attended, I read (and loved) Shakespeare, Spenser, Milton and Donne. I practically spoke and dreamed in iambic pentameter. Then I was given D.H. Lawrence as assigned reading.

I had heard of him, sure. And was intrigued, as young Aurora always was, by the fact that some of his books had been banned. I figured his writing was probably pretty tame by modern standards. Maybe there’d be a “damn” or some off-color remark by a character. When I read Lady Chatterley’s Lover, though, I was shocked. My mouth dropped open and I reread the first sex scene a couple of times to be sure I wasn’t imagining it. He used the word cunt. With abandon. With love. His descriptions of fucking, of the hero’s cock and the heroine’s cunt (nicknamed John Thomas and Lady Jane) were everything that I thought should be vulgar. But instead, they were wonderful. Intimate. Gloriously beautiful. Romantic.

D.H. Lawrence and his “four-letter Anglo-Saxon words” (description used by a New York judge about Lady) opened up a dimension of reading and romance to me that truly expanded my mind. Maybe even made me a better person. That’s the power of literature. To affect readers so deeply that you change them just a little bit. I wanted to do that, too.

I still think about D.H.’s words today when I’m writing. When some part of me hesitates a little at pressing the keys to type some of the descriptive words that appear in erotic writing, some other, wilder part of me swoops in and says, “Do it. That’s the right word for it. That’s the word you want.” Those words can be rough and raw, but brimming with passion.

I think the wildness is part of what draws me to writing about shapeshifters. The shapeshifters in my stories have their animalistic natures barely held inside of them, crouched and ready to pounce. It sounds kind of like a curse, and in some ways it is, but in other ways, they live life more fully. They lead the heroines to embrace their lives with greater passion, courage and love, too.

Ivan Dorogev, the Russian werebear hero in my Stocking Stuffer story, Upon a Midnight Bear, has a rough exterior even as a human man. As a werebear, he can fully manifest that wildness. But his eyes always show the tenderness he has inside of him, as a bear or as a man.

Here’s a little taste of Upon a Midnight Bear, which is truly a fun holiday treat. I hope you’ll love reading about Ivan and Serena as much as I loved writing about them:

Walking home, she had to pass by what her Poppy had called the Upstart Houses. A flutter of pleasure and excitement coursed through her when she saw that her neighbor had chosen that exact time to come out to get his mail from the mailbox next to the road. She slowed her steps a little bit, taking in the view. And Good Lord, he was worth getting a little chilly for.

Ivan Dorogev was tall and muscular, with dark eyes and a face that was as handsome as it was rugged. He wasn’t wearing a coat—presumably he hadn’t taken the time to put one on just to dash out of the house—and she could see his huge muscles moving under his dark sweater and jeans. She’d noticed before that he had a slight limp, but it didn’t prevent him from moving with a surprising grace for such a large man. His limp, and the indefinable air of sadness that always seemed to hover around him, made him just imperfect enough to draw her in even further. What had brought him to Greening? And why did he often seem so alone?

Serena didn’t realize she’d stopped walking until he raised his hand in a wave. Her heart pounded as she raised one arm back, unable to really achieve a full wave with her hand in her heavy coat and mittens. Had he noticed her staring? Practically drooling? She really, really hoped not.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B018SQHGQ8

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Aurora_Russell_Upon_a_Midnight_Bear?id=KW4UCwAAQBAJ&hl=en

Ellora’s Cave: https://www.ellorascave.com/product/upon-a-midnight-bear/

About Aurora Russell

Aurora is originally from the frozen tundra of the upper-Midwest (ok, not frozen all the time!) but now loves living in New England with her real-life hero/husband, wonderfully silly son, and two of the most extraordinary cats she has ever had the pleasure to meet. But she still goes back to the Midwest to visit, just never in January.

She doesn’t remember a time that she didn’t love to read, and has been writing stories since she learned how to hold a pencil. She has always liked the romantic scenes best in every book, story, and movie, so one day she decided to try her hand at writing her own romantic fiction, which changed her life in all the best ways.

Website: https://aurorarussellauthor.wordpress.com/

Giving Thanks My Way — With Something F*R*E*E!

Even above eeking out a living, this writer loves being read. And I truly do appreciate loyalty. Those notes you send me telling me you love my stories bolster me up when I have those little crises of confidence. I save them for days when I feel like a hack. This has been a really good week. Not monetarily, because hey, my two new releases are only $0.99 on Amazon, but because they are doing well among the 13 million books listed in the Amazon store.

[Click on the covers to learn more!]

This blows me away! Who’d have thought a little 5,000-word story would do so well? Thank you for the purchase! I’m known for cowboys, but not so much for LGBT fiction, so this was a very nice Christmas present.

This warms the cockles of me heart, whatever that phrase means! There are a ton of paranormal-shapeshifter stories out there, and this doesn’t have a series propping it up, but you are reading it! Thank you! I have it priced at $0.99 until Sunday night, and then I’ll push it up to where it belongs, $2.99. So, if you don’t yet have your copy, go buy it now!

As a way to show you how much I appreciate your loyalty, I’ve lowered the price of Silent is the Knight to FREE! If you don’t have your copy, go get it now! It will only be free until Monday! And look where it’s sitting?!

Thank you! Thank you! Happy Holidays! ~DD

*~*~*~*~*~*

P.S. For authors only!

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for yourself, here’s the one! Get your New York kicked off right!

ROSE’S ONLINE PLOTTING BOOTCAMP

January 2016

Back by popular demand!

Dates: January 4 through 29

Last date to register: January 4

Cost: $50

Offered through

www.rosescoloredglasses.com

What you can expect:

LOGLINE (Lunges)

PREMISE  (Pushups)

CHARACTER (Strengthening exercises)

CONFLICT! CONFLICT! CONFLICT!

Breaking through the STORY STRUCTURE stronghold

Battling the PLOT LINES

We do more in one month than some people do all year! Get tough! Get motivated! Get Plotting!

Join your Drill Instructor, Delilah Devlin, to learn a methodical approach to harness your creativity in order to produce an in-depth plot for your next novel.

Sound scary? It is!!!! Especially when you’re staring at an empty page without a compass and a map to guide you through the novelistic jungle. Your DI will lead you through four weeks of tactics, exercises, and training that will help strengthen your abilities.  Delilah will accomplish this with weekly lessons, bi-weekly chats, and daily online communication. Join us for bivouac in January!

Join this elite force now!

For those who don’t know, my sister and I co-founded the website for writers called Rose’s Colored Glasses in 2004. From that site, we run a critique group and provide workshops—some free and some for pay. In January (to start the New Year right!), I will be leading a month-long plotting bootcamp. Join me if you can!

How’s our workshop different from every other one out there? We provide feedback and brainstorming every step of the way.

Your DI (Drill Instructor): Delilah Devlin

Dates: January 4-29, 2016

Cost: $50.00—cheap, considering everything you get!

Interested? Follow this link to sign up: Rose’s Plotting Bootcamp

And feel free to pass this along to anyone else you think might be interested with my thanks!