Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 495
March 29, 2012
Three Anouncements…and a Question!
After five days camped out with my daughter, I'm finally back home. Yay!—although I do feel horribly guilty over leaving her today of all days. We've been finishing up renovating/painting/cleaning the "new" old house this week in preparation for today. My duties were mostly babysitting kids and animals while she and hubby worked at the house. I pitched in yesterday to help with the final cleanup. I had laid on movers, but the numskulls told me at the last minute that while they moved things, they didn't actually pack anything, so they were fired and we had to recruit family members to help with the actual pack and move today. To top off everything else, it looks like the pregnant dog I was watching is about to give birth. So daughter has her hands full.
However, I have a conference to head to tomorrow and while I decided to forego getting my hair done, I still have packing, nails, car cleanup, and email catchup to do today. She's on her own. I hope she survives. I hope her marriage survives her nerves. 
One little note. Okay, three really. My m/f, f/f short story, Marmalade, was accepted by Mischief (a HarperCollins publishing arm); another short story, Soldier Girls, was accepted for a lesbian collection with Cleis; and I have it on good authority that there is a contract in the works with Montlake for a longer book I have partially written. Some of my beta readers out there might remember my strange little dark paranormal/police drama with witches and wraiths… It's finally going to be published! Woot!
So, while I'm doing my last minute scramble to get out the door to Dallas, I'll leave you with a question. I always love to see the answers!
If you could have been there to witness any specific moment in history,
what moment would you choose?
March 28, 2012
Guest Blogger: Sam Cheever
If you'd asked me this question a few years ago, when I started writing my snarky, kick-butt heroine Astra Q Phelps, I'd have said, absolutely not! But now, I'm not so sure. I'm currently reading a series by a very talented author whose heroine is so strong she has no time for, or real interest in, the hero. Huh? Now, granted, this is an urban fantasy series and romance isn't a necessary component in UF, but the author introduced the romance, she put it out there, and IMHO, her heroine is dropping the ball with it.
This heroine is so strong she believes she can and should do everything herself. That's not really the most attractive or interesting trait in a character. Especially since it's obvious she can't! I, as a reader, enjoy seeing a little vulnerability in a heroine. It gives her depth and enables me to relate to her. Besides, there's so much opportunity for insight into characters when they interact with each other. Without this interaction the author is forced to go inside the character's head to flesh her out for the reader. Bleurgh!
This leads us right down the thorny path to angst.
Sure enough, in the course of not needing anyone else, this character is constantly mired down by personal angst. My least favorite thing in a heroine. Yes, a story needs some angst, but when the plot, key relationships, and romance are mired in it, it's not a good thing. In my opinion as a reader, a character should occasionally have brief moments of introspection, learn from them, and then move on to complete her destiny.
Yup, my dirty little secret is out…I live in a no wallowing zone.
I don't want to read about a character who does it all and doesn't need anyone else. It's kind of sad. And it makes for very one dimensional reading. I love a strong heroine, but I also want her to recognize that she has needs she can't fulfill on her own. I want her to need her hero. I mean, we can certainly survive all alone in the world, but why would we want to? And when you have a perfectly good hero standing there, all hawt and interesting, why wouldn't you put him to good use? I mean, let's not confuse strength with stupidity, ladies!
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"Sam Cheever does it again in a thrilling tale that features one of my favorite heroines of all time. Astra is a perfect blend of our favorite champions for justice. She's a healer, a lover, a fighter, and sometimes just a big softie. Her never give up attitude and ability to kick some serious trash has endeared her to me throughout this series." ~ The Romance Studio
~*~
The Devil You Know – Good versus Evil has never been this much fun!
Astra Q. Phelps is turning twenty-five in a few months and she's starting to feel the effects of her Settling, the time when a half angel, half devil Tweener decides whether to embrace her dark nature or her light.
The delectable Dialle, king of the Royal devils, really needs Astra's help in Hell to deal with an insurrection. But Astra's Settling pretty much has her thinking of only one thing—S.E.X.!
Sex with Dialle, sex with her yummy partner Emo, sex with a molten-hot dragon slayer she meets along the way, and sex with assorted other randy Royals cavorting among the fires of Hell. It's a constant struggle just to keep her mind and body pure so she can concentrate on the business at hand, but Astra Q Phelps is definitely up for the challenge.
The Devil You Want releases 4/11/12!
Astra Q Phelps gave her boyfriend a magic hickey. Usually not a world-changing issue. But in Astra's case, her boyfriend is king of the Royal Devils. And Royals have always thought that only males could mark their mates. So how did she do it? Even Astra doesn't know. That's the first of her problems.
Now somebody's trying to kill the naturally curious Astra, which is always a problem.
Thirdly, there's Slayer. He's shown up on Astra's turf and wants her to hire him. Given their undeniable sexual chemistry, that's probably not going to go over well with her boyfriend. Not to mention that he's got some baggage that's gonna come back to bite Astra big time.
Add in the nearly constant sexual need caused by her Settling and you have a whole lot of stuff for Astra Q Phelps to handle. But, as you probably know by now, she's definitely up to the challenge.
March 27, 2012
Dogs or Cats?
I think I've mentioned it before, but this past week has been insane. My daughter's moving from in town to the house and acreage across the street from where I live in the country. I've been camped out at her place in town babysitting a pregnant dog, two cats, two wild children, and doing chores around here (dishes, laundry, etc.) while waiting for folks to pick up items we put on a Facebook swapshop that we don't want moved to the new place. The Red-Headed Hellion has had it much rougher cleaning out a house a hoarder used to live in, overseeing renovations, and painting.
I've been spending nights here, so it's really hard to get any writing done. Tonight will be the last night, thank God! I can't wait to slip into my quiet little writer cave and catch up on everything.
So, since I'm a little buried here, I have a quick question. I like life simple. I have a fish in a little bowl in my office, a feral cat I adopted whom I feed and pet (now that she's learned to accept affection), but who lives outside, and that's it. I'm not anti-dog and have had many over the years, but like I said, I like things simple. Cats, to me, are simple.
What about you? Do you consider yourself a dog or a cat person?
March 26, 2012
Guest Blogger: Sabrina York
When I was five my Kindergarten teacher pulled my mother aside to tell her it was a damn shame her charming daughter was so retarded; she would probably never learn to read and certainly would never be able to write.
What the teacher failed to take into account was the fact that we come from extraordinarily stubborn stock, my mother and I. Immediately Mom began studying child development and brain patterns, researching everything she could about learning disabilities. She convinced me that my challenges were actually a gift—the ability to look upon the world through new, fresh eyes. I wasn't stupid or weird, she told me. I simply marched to the beat of a different drummer.
The real gift I'd been given was a mother who refused to see limitations. She taught me to love a challenge and never give up. She taught me to dream bigger and hold tighter than common rationality would recommend.
These lessons came in real handy when I decided I wanted to be a writer. Not because I couldn't tell the difference between a 3 and an E. Or a p and a q. Or an S and a 5. Or the fact that letters and numbers rarely had the courtesy to hold still long enough for me to make sense of them. I figured all that out by learning to memorize patterns. (A three rarely appears in a word, for example.)
Nope. Mom's lessons on perseverance came in handy because writing—and the quest to be published—quite frankly, was the toughest challenge I ever took on. Tougher even than pushing out an eleven pound baby.
I wanted to be published, be an author, so bad I could taste it. But that brass ring seemed always just out of reach.
There were times, more than I can count, when I thought I was nuts for wanting such a thing or hoping for such a thing or dreaming of such a crazy crazy thing. There were times—when I found an idiotic mistake in a manuscript I'd read a hundred fricking times—when I thought, perhaps that Kindergarten teacher had been right. Doubt lived with me, every day. Steeped itself in my teapot. Soaked in my bath.
But I'd remember Mom, pushing me forward, encouraging me, daring me to try, and I'd keep going. And I'd roll another sheet into the typewriter (metaphorically speaking).
I read voraciously and when I wasn't analyzing someone else's prose, I was writing. Composing. Plotting. Experimenting. Creating. I wrote an epic fantasy novel (topping out at 175,000-words), a sci-fi horror, an animated children's book, a middle grade about a dyslexic dragon, women's fiction, men's fiction, screenplays and romances by the score. None of them sold. Once I discovered it, a steamy Delilah Devlin in fact, erotic romance became my drug of choice.
Probably not what my mother intended, but there you have it.
I started entering contests. Started winning. Before long, I was addicted. Ironically, this didn't increase my confidence as a writer, because I never sold, and all that really mattered to me was selling. But contests were fun. They made me feel like a writer. Like I was doing something.
I guess that's all it takes sometimes. Doing something.
If you read the Secret (and didn't we all?), you understand that concrete action can set up ripples in the universe. And even if it doesn't, it's nice to think that it does.
It's nice to think that doing something, does something.
And it does. It gives us a sense of power. A sense of control over the universe, or at least our tiny corner of it. And after a while, those little somethings we do in pursuit of our dreams pile up. Gain momentum.
I entered hundreds of contests in my career and, to the chagrin of my fellow contest whores, won a lot. (Sold not). But it only takes one. One winning lottery ticket, one dream come true. One editor or agent who likes the order in which you throw words onto paper.
In November of 2011, I got an e-mail from an editor at Ellora's Cave asking, very politely, if she could please acquire my book, which she had received as the result of the Novella's Need Love Too contest sponsored by the Celtic Hearts chapter of Romance Writers of America. (I said yes.) In December she bought the second book and in January, another. In February she snapped up the fourth.
Maybe my life is destined to be a feast or famine proposition.
I'm okay with that.
I walk away with another lesson. A new lesson: Sometimes mulishly pursuing your dreams feels like a folly. And sometimes, just every so often, it doesn't. Every so often, dreams do come true.
And perhaps every so often is enough.
As long as you don't quit. Never give up. Never surrender.
Sabrina York's very first novel ever comes out April 4, 2012 from Ellora's Cave. It's a hot & sexy erotic romance called Adam's Obsession. Read an excerpt and check out the awesome cover at www.SabrinaYork.com. You can follow Sabrina on Twitter @sabrina_york.
March 25, 2012
Wild at Heart…and Sunday Report Card
So much happened this last week! My life is completely nuts. Let's see if I can break it down for you…
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Wild at Heart
First, for all you writers out there, the deadline for submitting your stories for inclusion in the Wild at Heart anthology, which will directly benefit the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is APRIL 1st! Please get your stories in. They are short—just 1500 to 4000 words, and who doesn't have an idea for one? You've been to a zoo, right? You've watched National Geographic. You don't have to be an animal expert to be able to write about some exotic animal in need of refuge. There's still time. Read more about it here: Wild at Heart
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About Three Stories
Three developments, book-wise, happened this week.
1) All Hallows Heartbreaker, the second story I ever published, is being offered for free! But this deal doesn't last forever! For more information, follow this link: Free Story
2) The eighth book in the My Immortal Knight series, My Sweet Succubus, is out! It's Moses Brown's story, and I know there are those of you out there who have been waiting for him to have his happy ever after. Well, he gets it all right. Just not sayin' where. If you'd like to read more, click on the cover.
3) And most exciting for me, personally, is that I have a brand new contract to edit another anthology collection for Cleis Press! One more to follow Girls Who Bite (out last September), She Shifters (coming in July 2012) and Cowboy Lust (out in August 2012). It's strange how much of a thrill this gives me. I should only want to write my own stories, right? But it's so much fun. I get to read great stories, "meet" established authors, and nurture new authors. It's work, sure, but it's also very, very satisfiying. And something different to do. I like mixing it up. So if you hear me talking about smokin' hot firemen over the next coming months, that's what this is all about.
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Sunday Report Card
But what did I really accomplish this week? Not enough.
1) I worked through stacks of papers to burn, shred or file away in my newly neatened file cabinets.
2) Did some "back and forth" with my Cleis editor on the new anthology, wrote the call for submissions and sent it out to the world.
Notice there's no mention of pages written. I have tons of good reasons—all centered around the fact I've been making tons of trips to Hot Springs to buy building supplies. The Red-Headed Hellion and her family are moving into the house across the street from me this week, but we're down to the wire with renovations and now one of our contracted workers is a no-show. So SIL is learning very quickly how to repair and texture dry-wall so he can get walls and ceilings painted. In the meantime, I'm babysitting cats and dogs, doing laundry and cleaning their other neglected house to get ready for the movers. I hope to have some downtime in between to get some pages in, because I have a novella due tomorrow. Eeek!
Have a great week. Hope you're getting lovely spring weather like we are here in Arkansas. Have to check the pool temperature. Won't be long…
March 24, 2012
Snippet Saturday — Bad Boys at Night
Enjoy the excerpt! I'm busy at the moment trying to wrap up the sequel to this story, Two Wild for Teacher, so I'll have my head down for the next couple of days. Enjoy!
"A FOUR-GONE CONCLUSION is a prime example on how a novella should be written; fast and fun, touching characters that pull you in and a story that is completely fulfilling."
4.5 Cherries, Long and Short Reviews
One devilish night…or a chance at heaven?
Sam Logan's foster sons have a bad rep in Two Mule, Texas. Most of it earned. When it becomes clear they don't plan on giving up scootin' after ever pretty pair of boots in town anytime soon, he issues the one thing he knows they can't resist: a challenge. Find a wife.
The oldest, Johnny, is actually grateful. He's had his eye on Mean Ellie Harker for a long time, and Sam's challenge is the kick in the pants he needed to ask her out. Except before he can make his move, his brothers kidnap her right out from under his nose. Now, instead of being one question away from victory, he has to compete for the woman of his dreams.
Ellie thought she'd be a dried up old spinster before Johnny finally untangled his tongue long enough to ask for a date. But instead of teaching him better uses for that tongue, his brothers have whisked her away to the ranch. At first she's furious…then intrigued when she starts to wonder what it might be like…
Warning: Four handsome cowboys. Four choices. Would it be a single sordid night or a chance at heaven as she savors every luscious inch of the Logan brothers?
Rolling up to the garage, Johnny noted the twins' truck parked at an angle in the center of the driveway.
"Guess they were in a hurry. Must have got lucky."
Johnny didn't reply. For a short while as they'd killed time in the Feed and Seed, purchasing supplies while waiting for the diner to close, he'd felt lighter, anticipating an evening spent with a warm, willing woman. An attractive woman with rosy cheeks and a sharp-eyed gaze. Now he'd have to listen to the sounds his brothers made as they entertained a girl. And it would be a girl, he thought sourly.
He and his brother piled out of the truck and walked through the breezeway and straight into the mudroom off the kitchen.
Voices sounded from the living room. One voice in particular caught his attention, the feminine edge so familiar his body grew instantly taut.
"I am not sleeping with you! Get it out of your head right this minute."
What the hell was Ellie doing here? And with the twins? And what the hell was she talking about—not sleeping with them? Had Mace and Jason succeeded where he'd failed? He glanced back at Killian whose eyebrows rose high.
"Is it because of our reputations?" Mace sounded like he always did—on the brink of laughter. "Not all of it was earned, I swear."
"And that's supposed to make me feel better?"
The edge of sarcasm in her voice pushed him into action. Women went soft and giggly around the twins. However, Ellie wasn't treating them any differently than she had him and Killian.
Johnny slammed through the swinging door—and ground to an abrupt halt.
Ellie sat on a kitchen chair, her hands behind her as though bound. When her head swiveled his way, her eyes snapped with anger and a furious blush colored her cheeks.
Johnny's head felt ready to explode. "What the hell is goin' on?" he shouted.
Mace and Jason glanced up from where they knelt beside her, tying another knot.
"She tried to bolt and take the truck back to town," Mace said cheerfully.
"Why the hell is she here?"
Ellie's chin shot up, her mouth thinning. "She wasn't given a goddamn choice!"
Jason shrugged. "We asked nicely. First. But she said she was busy."
"Maybe you should have believed her."
Killian swept past him and circled behind Ellie. "Nice knots."
Ellie sputtered. "Nice knots? Do you know how many charges I could bring against these two idiots?"
Johnny's anger cooled in an instant. He narrowed his gaze on the disheveled woman. "Law's not comin' anywhere near them," he growled.
Her eyebrows lowered and her lips pushed into a stubborn pout. "Untie me now."
Johnny glanced at Killian whose expression was bemused. His brother cleared his throat and knelt at her side. "You know they don't mean any harm," Killian said, his tone even and for once without a hint of sly humor.
"That doesn't excuse the fact they kidnapped me," Ellie said with a firm nod.
Johnny strode forward and gripped the arms of the chair and turned it hard, jerking it to face him directly. Then he bent so close he was nearly nose to nose with her. "What has you maddest? The fact they kidnapped you? Or the fact that it wasn't Killian and me?"
Mace's eyebrows shot up. "It was you she was gettin' busy with?" He started chuckling.
Jason's laughter was full-bodied, and he hugged his belly and dropped onto his ass on the floor.
Johnny shook his head, waiting for them to quiet while his fingers tightened on the chair's arms.
Mace held up a finger. "We'll stop…promise. Gotta hear the rest of this."
He felt a tic pulse beside his eye. Anger and frustration, even a little fear for the twins, bubbled up inside him.
Her frown eased and her hazel eyes widened, staring at the tic. She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue.
Silence enclosed them at last as the twins' laughter faded. He knew they all stared at him, waiting to see how he'd solve this problem. His focus narrowed as he loomed over her. This was between the two of them. Regardless of how it had happened, this moment had been inevitable. For once, the right words spilled out. "Maybe they didn't go about it right, but it doesn't mean this has to end bad."
Her gaze locked with his.
His trailed down her body.
Her chest moved with her shortened breaths. Her nipples beaded against the thin tee stretched taut by the position of her arms.
"I don't approve how they got you here, but you're stuck here now. Until we figure out a way to make this right."
She snorted, but her expression softened as though she wasn't quite as self-assured as she'd been moments ago. "You wanna make this right?" she said softly. "You take me home now."
Killian eased closer and pushed a mussed strand of her hair behind her ear. "Tell the truth, Ellie," he whispered. "You kinda like this, don't you?"
Her head pulled back. "You're all insane."
Killian tapped her nose. "The truth now. This is the most fun you've had, isn't it? Or it could be."
More than a little shocked at the implications, Johnny fought the sudden surge of heat roaring through his body. The sight of her, trembling with rage, tied and vulnerable, shot lust straight through him. What the hell did that say about the kind of man he was?
He cleared his throat to get their attention. "Ellie, we're already in too deep now. Look at me."
Her head hung for a minute then slowly lifted. Moisture filled her eyes, but her chin firmed again as she met his glance.
"They went about this all wrong. But they don't mean any harm. None of us do."
"What do you want from me, Johnny?" she asked, her voice husky.
His throat worked as he drew moisture into a mouth gone dry. Christ, he was really gonna say this. "I want anything you're willin' to give."
She gave a soft gasp.
The impulse was there, and since he was already damned, he didn't resist. He bent toward her, satisfaction blazing through him when she raised her mouth to meet his.
* * * * *
Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors' blogs:
Megan Hart:Read in bed!
Rhian Cahill
Jody Wallace
Eliza Gayle
Mandy M Roth
Mari Carr
McKenna Jeffries
Myla Jackson
Taige Crenshaw
HelenKay Dimon
Lauren Dane
Leah Braemel
Shiloh Walker
TJ Michaels
Zoë Archer
March 23, 2012
New Call for Submissions — SMOKIN' HOT FIREMEN
Please pass this along to all your writer friends out there! ~DD
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Smokin' Hot Firemen: Firefighter Romance Stories
Editor: Delilah Devlin
Publisher: Cleis Press in Summer 2013
Deadline: June 15, 2012 (although sooner is better!)
Smokin' Hot Firemen is open to all authors.
Editor Delilah Devlin is looking for hetero firefighter stories for a romantic erotica anthology tentatively entitled Smokin' Hot Firemen: Firefighter Romance Stories.
A firefighter is one of those iconic heroes who inspire a jumble of sexy images at just the mention of the word—a soot-covered face, sweat dripping from hard, chiselled muscles, the sexy snap of suspenders—yes, only a fireman can make suspenders sexy!
Smokin' Hot Firemen will seek stories that satisfy the reader who craves the romantic idea of that soot-covered, smokin'-hot man while exploring stories set in American cities and small towns, as well as international settings. The stories will be contemporary. While traditional themes are likely to be featured, writers are encouraged to imagine greater in order to create tales that, while featuring this iconic hero, may also surprise.
Think about the big-city firehouse, teaming with sexy firemen, responding to a high-rise fire; firefighters arriving at the scene of an accident to pry a victim from a burning car; a strong, sexy man carrying a child from a burning house… All heroic acts we expect from our local heroes. Then think about the smoke-jumper parachuting into the hot zone of a forest fire; the sexy rancher next door, who's also a volunteer firefighter, responding to an out-of-control brush fire; or even an oil-rig worker whose extra duty is to respond to a catastrophe on a rig in the middle of the ocean…
Then imagine the romantic possibilities of being held against that massively muscled chest by a man whose mission is to protect and serve…
Published authors with an established firehouse world may use that setting for their original short story.
The stories may be as kinky or vanilla as the writer wants—but a deep sensuality should linger in every word. Exotic locations and scenarios are welcome. Keep in mind there must be a romantic element with a happy-for-now or happy-ever-after ending. Strong plots, engaging characters and unique twists are the ultimate goal. Please no reprints. We are seeking original stories.
How to submit: Prepare your 1,500 to 4,500 words story in a double-spaced, Arial, 12 point, black font document with pages numbered (.doc, NOT.docx) OR rich text format. Indent the first line of each paragraph half an inch and double space (regular double spacing, do not add extra lines between paragraphs or do any other irregular spacing). US grammar (double quotation marks around dialogue, etc.) is required.
In your document at the top left of the page, include your legal name (and pseudonym if applicable), mailing address, and 50 words or less bio in the third person to smokinhotfiremen@gmail.com. If you are using a pseudonym, please provide your real name and pseudonym and make it clear which one you'd like to be credited as. Authors may submit up to 2 stories. Delilah will respond in September 2011. The publisher has final approval over the stories included in the manuscript.
Payment will be $50.00 USD and two copies of the published book upon publication.
About the editor: Ms. Devlin has published over a hundred erotic stories in multiple genres and lengths. Her published print titles include Into the Darkness, Seduced by Darkness, Darkness Burning, Darkness Captured, Down in Texas, Texas Men, Ravished by a Viking, and Enslaved by a Viking. Her short stories are featured in Zane's Purple Panties, and Cleis Press's Lesbian Cowboys, Girl Crush, Fairy Tale Lust, Lesbian Lust, Passion, Carnal Machines, Dream Lovers, and Best Erotic Romance. She is published by Avon, Kensington, Harlequin, Atria/Strebor, Ellora's Cave, Samhain Publishing, and Berkley. In Fall 2011, she debuted her first anthology with Cleis Press, Girls Who Bite. In 2012, Cleis Press will release She Shifters and Cowboy Lust.
Direct any questions you have regarding your story or the submission process to Delilah at smokinhotfiremen@gmail.com.
MY SWEET SUCCUBUS is here!
I have news for readers and writers today. It's a very busy time for me. For you writers, I'll be back later today with a brand new call for submissions. I have to write it first and run it by my editor, but check back because I have something very HOT and tempting…
For you readers, I have a new release! Well, unless you bought the self-pubbed anthology Moonstruck, which is no longer available in the e-world. I decided to give the story to Ellora's Cave to keep all my MIKs in one place. So pretty new cover, newly edited, and here you go. Oh, be warned: I've been told this one's a little freaky.
My Immortal Knight, Book Eight
Melanie Bradshaw is driven to horny desperation by her torrid dreams. When she finally acts on her desires, things go horribly wrong and she witnesses the murder of an overly amorous lounge lizard—whose body disintegrates before her eyes.
Detective Moses Brown isn't thrilled to get another "full-moon case"…until he meets the delectable Melanie, who took a walk on the wild side straight into vampire territory. Moses doesn't know why vamps are interested in her, but until he can find out, he's going to stick to her like glue, doing his best to ignore their instant attraction.
But pretty little Melanie has designs on his body. Her hunger for sex is voracious, even downright insatiable. How's a brother to resist?
Publisher's Note: This story was previously self-published under the title She's All That.
March 22, 2012
Guest Blogger: Mari Carr
You know what I love? Series. Seriously. I'm one of those readers who never wants a book to end with The End. If the story has characters who speak to me, I always hope for another book and then another and another. I was really sad when I realized Meg Cabot's Mediator series was over at book six. When I finished The Amber Spyglass, the last book in Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy, I went to his website, hoping I was wrong and that there were more. I went into a depression when the Harry Potter series ended for nearly a week. No lie. A real depression because I knew those characters, who had become like family to me, weren't going to be in my life anymore. The movie releases sort of alleviated that for an extra year or two, but now they're done too. Sob!
As a result of my love affair for series as a reader, I find myself drifting toward writing series as well. It took me months to write the final book in the Wild Irish series, Any Given Sunday, because I just couldn't say goodbye to my Collins family. My editor finally put her foot down (God love that woman) and said "Just write the damn book!"
A couple of weeks ago, the last book in the Compass Brothers series, Western Ties came out. I cried for days as I wrote that story. Finally, my hubby looked at me and said, "You know this is fiction, right?" I told him it was still hard because those characters felt SO real to me. Those were some of the toughest scenes I've ever written. Plus, on top of leaving the Compton brothers, my collaboration with Jayne Rylon (who is like a sister to me) ended as well. It was a double whammy!
But…my love of series still perseveres! I'm in the midst of some new ones. I'm excited about them so I thought I'd do a bit of shouting here.
I recently finished Misplaced Princess, book one in the Crossed Wires duo, I'm co-writing with Lexxie Couper. They are fun books that take place in New York City and Australia. I'm about to start writing Fix You, the first book in a new series for Samhain called the Second Chances books.
And…last, but not least, the second book in my Cocktales series at Ellora's Cave, Screwdriver, released yesterday! Woot! It's a fun series about four friends who own a combination bar/bookstore in Portland called Books and Brew (this is my DREAM business). Each woman runs a different aspect of the business—bartender, bookkeeper/office manager, the marketing/events coordinator, and the bookstore gal.
In the Party Naked, Stephanie Harper receives a parking ticket from hot cop Jarod Nolan and ends up getting way more than a fine. Handcuffs, anyone?
In Screwdriver, Jordan Lance, Books and Brew's bookkeeper harbors a secret crush on the uber-wealthy and handsome landlord of their building, Gabriel. However when construction worker, Casey comes in to do some work on the store, her attention turns to him…much to Gabriel's chagrin. How's a girl to decide? Um…does she really have to?
In Bachelor's Bait, Sophie Kennedy, marketing/event coordinator for Books and Brew can't stand Marc Garrett, a free-aid lawyer and do-gooder who rubs her the wrong way. When fate steps in, tossing them together, Sophie's passionate anger turns to another kind of passion…
In the final book, Screaming Orgasm, Jayne is depressed. She's watched all her friends meet their Mr. Rights and fall in love. Little does she know, Elias Clark, the unassuming professor who is a regular at the store has had his eye on her for quite a while, but Jayne will find out he's not at all what he appears to be. Underneath his quiet exterior lurks the Dom who speaks to her submissive heart.
To read more about this series and the others I've mentioned, please stop by my website, www.maricarr.com.
Screwdriver, Cocktales, Book Two
When Jordan Lance isn't pouring over spreadsheets for Books and Brew, she's fantasizing about the store's landlord. Too bad she's squarely in Gabriel's "just friends" column.Jordan's prepared to pine forever—until she meets Casey. The handyman is hot, handsome, charming…and Gabriel's best friend. Suddenly her wicked fantasies are porntastic times two.
Casey has suspected his friend's interest in Jordan. If he can push them together, he might get Gabriel off the bimbo train he's been riding. The plan? Jealousy. And it's working. It's not long before Gabriel's deeper feelings for Jordan emerge. Problem is…so do Casey's. What happens when two friends want the same woman? Red-hot ménage, baby.
Two gorgeous men playing every inch of her body? Um, yes please!Jordandoesn't know if threesomes are considered acceptable, but she's sure of one thing—being this bad feels far too good.
Excerpt:
Casey looked closer at the AC unit. "Damn. I was afraid of that."
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"I was hoping it was an issue with the belt, but the motor bearings are shot. I'm going to need to order a part."
"So it's not getting fixed today?"
"I'll see if I can rig a work around for the time being." He stood and stretched. "God bless it, Jordan. I apologize if this offends you, but it's hot as hell in here." Reaching for the hem of his t-shirt, he whipped the thin cotton over his head and fanned himself with it.
Her now-familiar blush returned and Casey felt compelled to prod, to see if his suspicions about Jordan's underlying naughty side were true. "Just so you know, I absolutely will not be upset if you decide to follow suit and work shirtless for the rest of the afternoon."
The twinkle in her eyes let him know she enjoyed his joke. "I'm fine with my shirt on."
"You sure?" he teased, taking a step closer. "I don't mind helping you peel it off." He reached out but she darted away, her smile widening.
"Casey," she said, swatting his hands away. She dodged behind the AC unit and he followed.
The two of them played a quick game of cat and mouse as Casey chased her around the storage closet.
He'd just captured her,Jordansquealing loudly, when the door to the closet opened.
"Jordan? Are you okay?" a deep voice asked from the hallway.
Gabriel peered around the door and Casey wondered what his best friend thought he was seeing. They certainly presented a risqué picture—Casey shirtless, his arms wrapped aroundJordanfrom behind while she laughed.
"Hey, Gabe." Casey releasedJordanand pulled his shirt back on. "What are you doing here?"
Gabriel's response was slow in coming as his gaze traveled from Casey to Jordan. "I was checking on your progress." Gabriel's eyes landed back on Casey's face and they narrowed angrily. "Looks like you're making some."
Shit. Casey's suspicions about Gabe's feelings for Jordan were confirmed in an instant. His friend was hot for the accountant.
Problem was…so was Casey.
"We were taking a break," he explained.
Gabriel looked at Jordan, his expression softening. "You're blood-red, Jordan. You need to get out of this heat."
Casey glanced at her face. Gabriel made the same mistake he had. Jordan wasn't hot. She was blushing. Big time.
"I'm okay, Gabe. No worries," she answered. "I can see why you two are friends. Casey's cure for the heat wave is going topless too."
Gabriel's expression darkened even further as he snapped his gaze to Casey once more. "Topless?"
"Actually, I think we're done for the day," Casey said, anxious to change the subject before Gabriel pulverized him. "I need to order a part before I can fix the unit."
Jordan frowned and he sensed she was surprised by his sudden retreat to safer territory. Gabriel had never referred to Jordan as anything more than a pal, but Casey could read between the lines—even if his oblivious friend couldn't.
"Um, yeah. That's right. We were just wrapping things up. It was nice of you to come by and check on us." Jordan's gaze drifted to Gabriel's face and she smiled.
Crap. The pure longing on Jordan's face told Casey all he needed to know in regards to her feelings for Gabriel. It told him more than he wanted to know.
Jordan's cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID. "It's Steph. We made plans to do a late lunch. I should take this."
She walked toward the door as she answered the phone. Gabriel stepped aside and let her escape. Casey suspected he wouldn't be freed as easily.
"What the fuck were you doing?" Gabe's question was murmured, but even in the quiet tone, Casey detected the anger. A small part of him was thrilled to hear any emotion at all from his friend.
"I told you. Taking a break."
"With your clothes off?"
Casey shot him a dirty look. "I took off my shirt to cool down. I've been in this godforsaken sweatbox for nearly two hours. Besides, what the hell are you so pissed off about? I'm here because you asked me to fix the air conditioner."
"Why was Jordan in here?"
And now they were getting to the heart of the matter. "I asked her to help me."
"Since when do you need an assistant?"
Casey was hot and tired and annoyed. Not a good combination. Gabe was poking the bear. "I spotted a gorgeous woman and an empty closet. Come on, Gabe. You're a smart guy with a degree in finance. Put two and two together. I'm not averse to mixing work and play."
Gabriel shook his head. "You're not playing with Jordan."
His friend's vehemence tweaked Casey's temper. "Last time I checked, you weren't my keeper. Or Jordan's."
Gabriel rubbed his neck wearily, and for the first time, Casey noticed the dark circles under his friend's eyes.
When he spoke again, Gabriel's voice was calmer. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you. I saw you with Jordan and I…shit, I guess I lost it."
"Why? I'm not an asshole to women. You know that."
Gabriel shrugged. "I know. She reminds me of Annie in a lot of ways. Somewhere along the line I've become a bit protective of her."
Annie was Gabriel's only sibling, and no little sister was ever loved more. Casey wasn't sure how to respond. Gabe's initial reaction screamed of jealousy, not brotherly instinct. "I can see why. Jordan's very sweet."
Gabriel didn't seem to appreciate his answer. "So sweet you felt compelled to strip off your shirt and corner her in a storage closet?"
Yep. Definitely jealous.
Screwdriver is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
March 21, 2012
Guest Blogger: Kate Sherwood
I love characters. Characters who are funny, characters who are sweet but try to hide it, characters who have strange quirks and don't care who knows about it. Plot's lovely, evocative writing adds a lot to my enjoyment, but if the characters don't grab me, I won't enjoy a book.
I think I create pretty good characters. (At least the male ones – I'm still working through my issues with writing female romantic leads, but I'm pretty pleased with Tara, the MC of Shining Armor, due out April 2 from Liquid Silver Books). I love my boys. But I love other people's boys, too. Do you guys remember S.E. Hinton's books? I fell in love with the characters from The Outsiders with full pre-teen passion. When that book was over, I would have happily read about the characters cleaning the house, going to school, watching TV… anything, no plot needed, just so I could get my fix. When there was a mention of them in one of Hinton's other books (Rumblefish, maybe? Or That was Then, This is Now?) I was like a cat on really good 'nip. It was perfect – my boys were still okay, and living their fictional lives.
Dark Horse is the first book I ever wrote, the first thing I tried to get published, and I had no idea how long books were supposed to be. So I just wrote. I wrote the main story, the one that's told in Dark Horse and Out of the Darkness, and then I wrote a lot of little extras, because I wanted to see how my boys were doing. I missed them, and I wanted to visit.
I said I wouldn't write any more in the series, because I felt like I'd left the boys in a good place, and because I'd already written so damn much! But then I started thinking about the guys again, wondering if they were okay… and wondering how well they'd stand up to a crisis. Of Dark and Light (due out March 26 from Dreamspinner Press!) is the book that came from me putting them through that crisis.
Traditional fiction is pretty rigid about what constitutes a story: we all know the plot graph from English class, and writers know what publishers are looking for. But the world is changing. Fan fiction, I think, did a lot of this, with writers playing with characters created by others, giving them new adventures and new worlds. But maybe it's time for original fiction to catch up. With e-publishing, we're no longer so limited by how much it costs to print a short story, or the challenges of distribution. Maybe e-publishing will lead to authors writing their own time stamps and AUs and all the other fun little fandom traditions.
I'd love to see it, as a reader and as a writer. When I really fall in love with a character, and the book ends, I don't want the relationship to be over! I know we can't go steady anymore, but couldn't we at least have a few reunion dates?
Which books have left you guys with that aching sense of sadness at the end, just because you don't get to hang out with the characters anymore? Would you like it if your favorite authors wrote little extras with the characters you love, or is your own imagination enough?
