Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 511

This 'n' That, plus a contest reminder!

The Romance Studio is hosting their 2d Annual Spookapalooza party! I've posted a couple of excerpts, and I'd love for your to comment on them, but there's also a huge list of giveaways. Be sure to check it out!

* * * * *

I'm nearing the end of editing for The Cowboy, which is being retitled Cowboy Lust. The stories I'm working on are hawt! I hope to wrap it up by the end of the week.

* * * * *

FYI, in case you haven't seen the FB or Tweets, GIRLS WHO BITE is getting huge rave reviews. Take a look!

"GIRLS WHO BITE is one incredible read." 5 Paddles, BDSM Book Reviews

"…original, sometimes devastating, and at other times unusual and brilliant…" 5 Stars, Love Romance Passion

"…Absolutely Amazing! Packed with heat, sexuality, and darkness. This book delivers on so many levels." Rated Magnificent, Romancing the Book

"I'm glad I spent my first time with Ms. Devlin's beautiful choices." 5 Stars, Siren's Song Reviews

"…GIRLS WHO BITE is an extraordinary entertainment and highly recommended for adult reading lists." 5 Stars, Midwest Book Reviews

So, if you haven't already ordered your copy, why the hell not?

* * * * *

One last note before I get back to work: remember that I have two contests running, the Authors After Dark Grab Bag contest and the Promo Ho contest (which is awarding two $25.00 gift certificates!). Check out the Contest Page for details.

Catch me being Wild & Wicked!

I'm playing at Wild & Wicked Cowboys today. Drop by, ogle a sexy cowboy pic, and help me dream up a story!

I'm playing at Nine Naughty Novelists

Today, I'm talking again about my Viking book at Nine Naughty Novelists. Remember, any comment you post there counts as an entry in the Authors After Dark Grab Bag Contest. Remember, I also have two $25.00 gift certificates up for grabs in the Promo Ho Contest! Both those contests end next week! Details about both can be found on my Contest Page.

And just so you have a reason to post a comment here, today… Did you know…?

Alaska has the highest percentage of people who walk to work.

~from Snapple Real Facts

That seems just plain wierd to me given the fact it can get pretty damn nippy up there. Wonder why that is…

Sweet Refuge!

Last weekend when friends and I attended the Ozark Writers' Conference in Eureka Springs, we blew off the conference accomodations in favor of something more on the wild side.

We headed a few miles out of town for the Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. It's a big cat refuge where exotic animals that have been abused or have become too much for their owners to handle can live out the rest of their lives. These animals aren't suited for return to the wild and most have some health issue that prevents them from going to zoos. The refuge strives to put every animal they acquire in its own habitat, but while animals heal or are awaiting the opening of a new habitat area, they are caged.

We toured the habitat area and watched the keepers feed the animals. We were impressed with their work, the facility and the need.

First, take a look at our digs. These cabins are made to look like tents set up for safari, but are much more comfortable. At night, we could hear the cats "singing" and snarling. Very cool!

This is the inside of the one I shared with Myla Jackson and Shayla Kersten. The cabins ringed a deck that had a firepit and a jacuzzi. Yeah, we were roughing it.

These are a few pics I took of the animals in the habitats. They looked comfie, healthy, and the fences were sturdy—thank God—because you don't realize how big those creatures are until you stand near them!

[image error]

These are a pair of siblings that share a habitat. They greated each other affectionately, then proceeded to snarl and swat each other with their big paws.

[image error]

[image error]

If you look closely, you'll see that the tiger on the right is missing its hind leg.

These are pics of the animals living in the cages near the visitor center. They are either healing or awaiting a habitat. The refuge relies on donations. I think the stupid pet owners who raised them should have to pay "cat-imony" on a monthly basis.

[image error]

Ever seen a Liger? Me neither. A cross between a tiger and a lion wouldn't occur in nature, but again, stupid pet owners…

Feeding time was fun to watch. Wish they'd let idiots like me pay for the privelege to risk our arms throwing raw meat into the cage.

They had plaques up for deceased animals. I found one pretty kitty who had my name.

Still covered up…

Well, I skipped my Diamond State Romance Authors' chapter meeting today, intending to get some work done this morning, but got talked into taking my daughter and mom out on the art tour again. Daughter is doing better, in short spurts, so we only hit the guy who's selling fusion glass. I picked up several pieces of small art, like bookmarks and pendants that I thought would make good giveaways here. He also had a shadow box that was decoupaged and had bits of things (photos, a small bird's nest, etc.) that gave me all kinds of ideas for things I might want to try to do, so I bought it. Yeah, like I have time for any other artistic endeavors.

Anyway, my butt is firmly planted in this chair for the next while. I have tons of work to finish, and a daughter who still needs some help with kids while she recovers, but I will try to do better about keeping you entertained here. I HAVE GOT to post the pictures from the animal refuge and from Romanticon. Those are coming. Promise!

Quick Question…

This is just a fly-by to remind you that all the contests posted this week are still running. So be sure to take a look, visit the sites I've been, and post a comment here!

I'd stick around but I ferried the older ladies around on an studio art tour this morning and am heading to my dd's now. She had surgery yesterday and needs a little TLC from mommy.

Forget about soft sounds like babbly brooks, gentle showers,

and warbling birds. What is your favorite loud sound?

~ from The Question Guys' Chat Pack

Close Enough to Touch

Hey there! I'm guesting at The Smutketeers' blog today! I have an excerpt, some fun interview questions, and a book to give away! Click here to join us: The Smutketeers

*~*~*~*~*

[image error]Did I mention my little brush with celebrity at the Akron airport?

At the end of Romanticon, my dd and I were set to fly out of Akron. We had a little time on our hands, so I suggested we hit a gift shop to purchase some last minute souvenirs. I picked out a couple of magnets and stuffed animals, and then went to the register. A man was in front of me, paying for his purchases. He seemed tall (I'm 5'4″—everyone seems tall), wore a dark leather jacket and was in pretty good shape. I was admiring that shape when he turned his head. Even in profile, I recognized him on the spot.

I elbowed my daughter. "That's Corbin Bernsen," I whispered.

"Who?"

"Corbin Bernsen…you know, Psych's dad!"

CB left the counter and walked away.

"Is he famous?"

"You didn't recognize him?"

"I wasn't really looking."

"He was right in front of you. What do you mean, you weren't looking!"

She shrugged. "He's an old guy. Who is he, anyway?"

"You mean to tell me you've never watched Psych?"

She shook her head.

"But he's been in a dozen Sci-Fi movies."

Still, she shook her head.

"He was Arnie in LA Law for chrissakes."

She patted my shoulder. "I get it, mom. You've got a crush. You've always had a thing for bald guys."

Bald guys?! That's all she noticed? Gah!

So what about you? Have you ever had a brush with the rich and famous?

BTW, CB's even hotter in person!

For the busy, busy bees… (4 prizes!)

You know you didn't have enough to do, right? Now, I'm gonna send you on a quest. Interested in winning prizes? Well, pay attention!

First, I'm the guest author at the fabulous Jasmine Hayne's website. If you head over there, you can post a comment and enter to win a prize. Plus, I'm talking about Vikings, so you won't be bored! So, get on over there: Jasmine Hayne's blog

Second, Southern Sizzle Romance posted a blog for me yesterday. If you head there and comment, you'll be entered in the contest below. In fact, if you comment at any of the three sites, you're entered in the new grab bag contest. You'll have to page down through sexy man photos at Sizzle, but you'll find me: Southern Sizzle Romance

I have two new contests running here at the moment! Be sure to check them both out!

1) Authors After Dark Grab Bag Contest

What can you win?

I'd forgotten I had a ton of swag from my trip to the Philadelphia conference. Let's see what's inside…

* Trading cards, pens, bookmarks, excerpt booklets, um, Ellora's Cave playing cards…like I said, a ton of stuff, plus the conference bag!

Then I took at look at the stack of books I have to give away—autographed books.

* Awakened by a Kiss by Lila DiPasqua

* Love Me Once, Love Me Twice by Sandy Sullivan

* Rarities Incorporated by Taige Crenshaw

Ooh! And I found an autographed Missy Martine T-shirt, size large!

What do you have to do?

Post comments on my blog and or my Facebook page. Every comment you make will count as one entry. How easy is that? This contest ends next Tuesday, October 25th!

2) The Promo Ho Contest

Read how to enter to win one of two $25.00 gift certificates here: Contest Page

Ghostly Orbs in the Crescent!

The Romanticon Grab Bag #2 contest ends tonight! Be sure to post.

I'll update this evening, HERE, with the name of the winner!

Before I get to the ghosts, I wanted to share a screen shot I swiped off of Amazon last night. This was the sales ranking for A Four-Gone Conclusion. Thanks so much for making this happen!

Onto the ghosts…

By now, if you've been following my blog, you know I'm a bit of a whack-job. I admit it. I own it! One of my sincerely held beliefs is that ghosts exist, and I have a fascination with finding proof.

One place that has cemented my belief is the Crescent in Eureka Springs. This past weekend, I made a second trip there. This time with friends, and although I didn't have quite the scary experience I had back during the summer (you can read about it here: Haunting at the Crescent Inn Hotel), there was still plenty of creep factor to enjoy!

[image error]

A ghost hunter's first and foremost piece of equipment (beside an open mind), is a camera. And as always, it wasn't until I got home and blew up the photos I had that I saw just how much "proof" I had. In particular, I had tons of ghostly orbs. Some skeptics say it's dust, but I can promise you, I don't get these little glowing circles anywhere but inside creepy, haunted places. Take a look!

You saw one round, glowy circle, right? And what's up with the wide-angle view of the picture? I promise, I did not change a single setting on my camera, but that's how all the pictures came out. See this next orb? Keep watching.

Same shot, same orb, only it's getting closer.

And I wish you could see this in the original photo. It's almost impossible to make out the outline with the graininess of the image when I uploaded it here, but that brighter spot on the carpet, right in front of me, is the orb. Someone was checking me out.

After that, things went nuts. In this pic, you will see maybe four orbs, but in the original, I can count six.

How many can you see here?

And here? It's harder to make out because it's lighter, but look again!

If you've followed the Ghosthunters on TV, you might remember an episode they shot at the Crescent. In the old morgue area in the basement, they caught the full shadow of a ghost on their infra-red standing beside this locker. In my previous Crescent posting, I explain more of the history of the place and why it's completely appropriate to find ghosts here. Last time, I got nada so far as ghostly images or orbs. This time? We shut off the lights here to get more shadows to see the orbs.

Same view—with the lights on. Persistent little suckers, aren't they? You can almost feel them buzzing, "See me! See me!"

Last one, there are a couple in this shot, but I liked that one of them was right on top of me.

There is more to the Crescent than ghosts. If you ever make it to northern Arkansas, the view is fabulous. This is right at sunrise. (Yeah, I really was up that early. )

And a few moments later, same spot.

There's so much color! Hope you enjoyed the pics!

A Question…

I'm back from my latest trip, and I'm diving into work today. I'll share pictures of the trip this week, and I'll put up a poll for the best titles for the The Cowboy anthology you all provided a couple of weeks ago. I have tons to share, but you'll have to be patient. Deadlines!

Remember that today is the last day to enter the Romaticon Grab Bag #2 contest—gotta post to win!

If you had the ability to compete in any Olympic even,

which one would you choose to enter?