Delilah Devlin's Blog, page 524

Another day, another story—and another contest!

Yes, admire that image—the dark sky full of ominous portent, the hero tenderly shielding the heroine, the woman clinging to her man…

Okay, so it's one of my stories. You know she's going to give a bit of fight. And this time, she's the one in the duster. Here's what the story's all about…

The best defense is no match for desire this hot…

Kate McKinnon's Sanctuary is an island of refuge in a western frontier shrouded in post-apocalyptic chaos. Her only escape from her crushing responsibilities is occasional radio contact with other pockets of survivors. Especially one man whose deep, raspy voice cuts through her exhaustion, straight to her heart. A man whose face she has only imagined.

When she and her ranch hands are surrounded by renegades, she doesn't recognize the leader of the militaristic band that rescues them, but knows that voice.

Ty Bennett is already half in love with the human woman whose voice haunts his dreams. His impulsive offer to add muscle to the Sanctuary's defenses is dangerous to them both. Helping her may redeem some of his sins, but proximity only increases his hunger to possess her—body, soul…and blood.

Without hesitation, she welcomes Ty and his men into the Sanctuary…only to discover the reason why they only ride at night. Yet the survival instinct that screams at her to drive them off is no match for Ty's seductive powers. Or the need for protection from the threat that howls at Sanctuary's gates.

Warning: Expect a dark, violent world where a vampire driven by uncontrollable lusts strikes a bargain with a strong woman willing to succumb to the carnal pleasures only a vampire can provide.

Read an excerpt

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I have two new contests. Both contests end June 27th!

1) The Cabbage Rose Fairy Contest

What can you win?

The last of the lovely fairy journals I purchased to share. It has a velveteen cover, heavy, stock blank paper and artwork sure to thrill you every time you reach for it!

What do you have to do?

Post comments on my blog and or her Facebook page. Every comment you make over the next two weeks will count as one entry. How easy is that?

2) The Promo Ho Contest

What can you win?

I'm giving away one $50.00 Amazon.com gift certificate.

What do you have to do to enter?

See the covers below? These books are in sore need of online reviews by happy readers. So I'm offering a tempting bribe. You know there won't be as many entries for this contest as for the last one, but wouldn't you like to have some cash to spend on new books? And who knows? Maybe you already have these stories sitting on your TBR pile. Time to move them to the top!

Give a review for one of these stories on one of the online bookstores. Send me the link at del…@delilahdevlin.com. It can be the same review on three different sites, but send me three separate messages with the different links. Doesn't matter if the review is on the Samhain's or Ellora's Cave's website, Smashwords, Amazon, Nook—send me the link to the review. Easy as that.

Just one more day until UNDENIABLE & contest winners named!

Did you know I have a book releasing tomorrow at Samhaim? One that includes two of my very favorite things—cowboys and vampires? The story is available for pre-order now at a reduced price. Click on the cover to read more!

As many of my cowboy adventures are, the story's set in Texas. It takes place in the near-future after war has darkened the sky to perpetual night. My heroine is a strong, lonely woman, tired of shouldering staggering responsibilities while she tries to keep her ranch and the refugees she shelters safe. The hero has secrets. Big, dark secrets. But that's the way we like 'em, right? Trying to get the heroine to put her trust in him will be his biggest test. Take a step into a dark, new frontier.

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I'm giving away the first of the $50 Amazon gift certificates for the Promo Ho contest today. The second will be awarded in two weeks. Check out tomorrow's blog for details about how you can win it! The first $50 gift certificate goes to…Amanda Chambers! Amanda, be sure to email me to let me know what email address you want your prize sent to!

The winner of the red-ribboned fairy is…Ilona! Ilona, congratulations! Send me an email with your snail mail address so I can ship you your gift!

Both winners were selected by a random number generator. Tomorrow, another contest begins, so be sure to stop by!

If you loved the fairy and want one of your own, you can contact Christi at 870-230-1877.

Sunday Report Card

The Promo Ho and Red Ribbon Fairy contests END TOMORROW! See details here!

That picture just about sums up my week. I did complete copy edits on Girls Who Bite and get them shipped. I unpacked from my trip. I swam. A lot.

The question for me this week is whether I can remember how to be a writer. It's not hosting contests (although that's fun). It's not tweeting or FBing. It's not being "me" on line.

It's sitting my butt in the chair. It's fingers poised over the keyboard. It's isolation. Because only when I find that happy subspace (submissives aren't the only ones!) can I create. So what I need now is a writer's Dom to whip me until I feel good and ready to do my muse's will. Okay, so maybe I should be saving the words for a new book. Later!

Snippet Saturday: Best Friends Forever

The Promo Ho and Red Ribbon Fairy contests continue! See details here!

The winner (by random number generator) of yesterday's One-Day-Only bag of swag is…#19 Danni! Danni, congratulations! Send me an email with your snail mail address. Be watching next week for the next bundle of joy from Lori Foster's get-together!

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Love this theme! I've had male best friends in several of my books. In this one, Officers Chavez and Ross team up to teach this little filly a lesson in obedience. We meet them first from her point of view. Things get more interesting when we find out what's happening from their side of things…but you don't get to see that unless you read the book. I didn't sleep much, so today I'm feelin' just a little mean.

"…Ms. Devlin has definitely created three very hot stories about three intriguing females who has lassoed themselves three very hot Texas men." 5 Blue Ribbons, Romance Junkies

Welcome to Honkytonk, the hottest town in Texas—thanks to its adventurous women, irresistible men, and sizzling sex…

Bound and Determined

Bar owner Tara Toomey is in the mood to serve bad boy Cody Westhofen more than a drink. What better way to capture his attention—and more—than to kidnap him for a wanton weekend? Tied to Tara's bed, Cody is more than willing to cooperate…

Breezy Ridin'

When Joe Chavez and a sheriff's deputy pull over a speeding motorcycle, it's no surprise the county judge's naughty daughter Sarah Michelson is behind the wheel—naked. And when she bribes them with a threesome, all laws are suspended as the men prepare for the ride of their lives…

Night Watch

Schoolteacher Amy Keating never planned to be a voyeur, but one innocent glance into deputy Logan Ross's bedroom window has her hooked. Now she's into a world of sexual play she never knew existed…

From Novella #2 in Texas Men: Breezy Ridin'

A hot breeze toyed with a strand of hair lying across her breast, but Sarah Michelson wasn't about to flick it away now. She was already in deep shit and wondering whether she should pour on the syrup and sweet talk the two officers striding her way.

She'd been driving without her headlight, following the pale gray thread of road she'd driven since she'd graduated to adulthood until she hit the winding canyon and had to flip it on. A quick drive-by of the bar and she would have proven she was still the reigning bad girl of Honkytonk.

Then she'd seen the glint of metal at the side of the road and throttled down.

Damn, who knew she'd run into a speed trap on little ole Amman Road?

"Ma'am, I'll need to see your license and registration."



Sarah squinted against the spotlight aimed at her from the squad car parked beside the sawhorse barrier and shot a glare at the deputy who'd halted beside her. That glare was signature "Sarah" and would have had most men backing up half a dozen paces. To his credit, Joe Chavez didn't flinch, but neither did he crack a smile.

So that's the way he wanted to play it. She could pretend there wasn't a thing unusual about this particular traffic stop, too. "Officer, I seem to have misplaced it," she said, dropping her voice to a sultry purr.

"Forgot a few other things as well," the other deputy Logan Ross drawled, coming close enough she could make out his features in the bright light.

What were they—a tag team?

Two police cruisers, blue lights strobing, and a barricade with orange lights seemed overkill for a simple traffic stop. Of course, she'd probably given them fodder for sly jokes at the stationhouse for months with this stunt.

While she might pretend nonchalance, a hint of where this was going would do a lot to quell her rising anxiety. But so far, they were letting her sweat. Where Deputy Chavez's face didn't betray an ounce of humor, Ross's lips were pressed together in a thin line as though he fought a smile.

Time to bait the trap.

"I was in a hurry when I left the house," she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder just to make sure Deputy Ross got an eyeful of what her hair had covered.

"Ma'am, you'll need to step away from the bike," Deputy Chavez broke in.

If Ross's slow perusal was a balm to her pride, Chavez's stony expression was the pinprick slowly deflating her confidence…which kind of turned her on.

However, if she moved off the bike he'd see the wet spot on the leather–and how embarrassing would that be?

"Whenever you're ready," he growled. "Refusing isn't an option."

"Why? You gonna frisk me?"

"I don't think I have to," he said with a sharpened edge to his voice. "I can tell you're not carrying."

"What gave it away, Deputy?" she said, flashing him a smile she hoped would thaw his icy reserve.

"I've got an eye for concealed weapons."

"Then you obviously missed a couple of suspicious lumps," she said, drawing out her words in the sexiest whisper she could manage.

A muscle flexed along his strong, square jaw. "Do you want me to search you?"

"I wouldn't want you to give me any special favors on account of who my daddy is."

"Wouldn't think of it," he said silkily. "Wonder what the judge is going to say when we bring you in."

Up to that point, Sarah had thought the two men were just having a little fun at her expense, but Chavez's face didn't show a flicker of what was really going through his mind. For the first time, she wondered if she wasn't going to be able to talk her way out of this after all. "We don't have to wake Daddy up for something so minor, do we boys? Can't we work something out?"

"What do you have in mind, kitten?" Deputy Ross murmured.

Her gaze swung from Chavez's impassive face to Ross's. His smile was appreciative, something she could work with. Maybe he'd be willing to convince his friend to let this incident slide right under the carpet.

"I don't know, Deputy Ross. Neither of you have been in Honkytonk long. You don't know how things really work in our little town."

"And you want to help us out? Hear that, Joe? Sarah here is worried about us. Sounds mighty neighborly of you, Sarah."

"Logan…" Deputy Chavez said, his deep voice rising in warning. "Go run her plates."

"Sure. This is your bust." His gaze flickered over Sarah's chest, and a grin split his face.

Sarah narrowed her eyes at him until he sauntered back to his squad car.

Alone with Chavez, she took a deep breath, looking at him from beneath the brush of her eyelashes to see if his gaze followed the movement of her chest.

Nope, his gaze was locked on her face. Deciding that maybe she should give him a little cooperation before she completely pissed him off, she kicked down the stand and climbed off her bike, knowing she was giving him an eyeful of her moist pussy–which again, really turned her on. "Look, I know this looks bad."

"This looks like you're racking up multiple misdemeanor counts, Miss Michelson."

No hesitation. No clearing his throat because she'd shocked or pleased him. Damn, he was a tough nut to crack. "Honestly, it's just a little harmless hell-raising."

The deputy shook his head, his expression turning downright grim. "Ever seen a person lay a bike down on pavement? Seen what road burn can do a person's skin?"

Was he worried about her skin? She shook her head and stepped closer until only a few measly inches separated his Kevlar-cloaked chest and her beaded nipples.

"Ever seen what can happen when a head hits the pavement without a helmet," he continued.

"It's not against the law to ride without a helmet."

"It is against the law to ride buck naked in public."

She quirked one side of her mouth up. "But I'm not completely nude."

His chest rose, swift and hard. "Cowboy boots and chaps don't cover the important parts."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Be sure to check out the snippets on these other authors' blogs:

Emma Petersen

Leah Braemel

Mari Carr

McKenna Jeffries

Taige Crenshaw

HelenKay Dimon

Sasha White

Shelli Stevens

T.J. Michaels

One-Day-Only Contest!

I have tons of promo stuff that I brought back from Lori Foster's. Today, I'm going to give away some of it! What do you have to do? POST A COMMENT—here or on facebook!

This is what the first bundle includes:

Autgraphed books:

Dragonbound by Jade Lee

Carpe Bead'em by Tonya Kappes

Escape by Kate Douglas, Willa Okati and Marteeka Karland (signed by Marteeka only)

Autographed drink koozie from Kristin Daniels

Assorted stuff (much of it autographed as well)…bookmarks, trading cards, excerpt booklets from:

Emma Wildes, Jade Lee, Marie Force, Leah Braemel, Jane Rylon, Leanna Renee Hieber, Madelyn Ford, Lila DiPasqua, Virna DePaul, Donna Grant, Zenobia Renquist, Samantha Kane, Krista Daniels, and Cheryl Brooks.

No doubt, I'll throw some of my stuff in as well! So, what can you comment about? How about this?

By perseverance the snail reached the ark. ~Charles Haddon Purgeon

Which reminds me of my favorite joke. Okay, so it's the only joke I ever remember, which is why it's a joke my family teases me about. (I get gifts of snail figurines)…

What does the snail say as it rides the turtle's back? Whee!

A Question…

Yawn. Last night, I stayed up way too late playing with my new iPad. However, it's impossible to resist. I bought the white one and put a pretty pink cover on it. It's sitting on the nightstand, and when I reach to turn off the light at night, I can't help picking it up and flipping over that cover. Do you know how many free games there are to download? I haven't even scratched the surface. But I did buy Pages—so, at least I have a tool on the thing that I can use to write. It's there, buried in all those games.

The past two days have been a bust so far as writing. Monday, I had to work all day on reading through the copyedits for Girls Who Bite. I love how it looks! But no new pages Monday. Yesterday, I had a doctor's appointment in Little Rock, which stretched into a trip to the mall because the red-headed hellion needed to see the optometrist. (I have a new purse!) But when we arrived home, it was hot as hell, so I spent the rest of the day in the pool, then went back out last night with the Tiki torches lit to swim again. Sounds like a rough life, doesn't it?

So, in the interest of getting to work quickly, I'll simply pose a question, then run and hide out at my desk while you do all the work!

Whenever you are having a bad day, what is the best thing

you can do to help cheer yourself up?

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The Promo Ho and Red Ribbon Fairy contests continue! See details here!

Pre-order UNDENIABLE now and save! Read an excerpt!

UNDENIABLE is available for pre-order, now! It releases one week from today, but if you buy it now, you'll save yourself some money: $350 $2.45

Buy link

The best defense is no match for desire this hot…

Kate McKinnon's Sanctuary is an island of refuge in a western frontier shrouded in post-apocalyptic chaos. Her only escape from her crushing responsibilities is occasional radio contact with other pockets of survivors. Especially one man whose deep, raspy voice cuts through her exhaustion, straight to her heart. A man whose face she has only imagined.

When she and her ranch hands are surrounded by renegades, she doesn't recognize the leader of the militaristic band that rescues them, but knows that voice.

Ty Bennett is already half in love with the human woman whose voice haunts his dreams. His impulsive offer to add muscle to the Sanctuary's defenses is dangerous to them both. Helping her may redeem some of his sins, but proximity only increases his hunger to possess her—body, soul…and blood.

Without hesitation, she welcomes Ty and his men into the Sanctuary…only to discover the reason why they only ride at night. Yet the survival instinct that screams at her to drive them off is no match for Ty's seductive powers. Or the need for protection from the threat that howls at Sanctuary's gates.

"So where are we going to bed down for the night?"

Kate felt the earth move beneath her feet—so shocking was the undercurrent of sensual promise in his question. She drew in a shaky breath. "We're not stayin' in town."

He laid his other hand on top of hers, enveloping her in heat that radiated up her arm and to places she had no business noticing when danger was still afoot. "My men need to top off the vehicles and find that crowd of troublemakers before we head out to your ranch."

"Fine," she said, her voice clipped. "We'll see you at the ranch tomorrow. I'll be sure to tell the men at the gates not to shoot you on sight."



He squeezed her hand. "I don't want you heading out there on your own. The sky will be pitch-black soon."

"We're ready for any trouble." The only trouble she saw was standing right in front of her.

His eyes narrowed. "There's no need to take the risk. We're here to help. Let us do our job."

She slowly pulled away her hand. She couldn't think when he touched her. At least not about anything that made any sense. His broad frame and handsome face turned her brains to mush.

"Katie, you need any help out there?" Shep shouted through the window.

Still not willing to turn her back on Ty and his men, she shouted over her shoulder. "Everything's under control," she lied.

"We need to talk," Ty said.

"I agree. There's a gazebo out back on the grass."

"You really want to be out in the open for it?"

"Who the hell's gonna attack with the Army in the front yard?" The intimacy of four walls around them would be too tempting. She'd fantasized about him too long.

He drew a deep breath and signaled with a wave of his hand for her to precede him into the church.

Accepting his direction meant turning her back on him and his men. But hadn't she already surrendered when she'd left the safety of the church? What chance did she really have if things turned ugly? Deep inside, she wanted to trust him. Wanted so much more.

This man had kept the hope for a better future alive in her heart for months. He'd made no promises and told her damn little about himself—but she'd held tight to the strength in his voice when he'd admonished her for being reckless, praised her for her courage and comforted her all those times she'd felt so overwhelmed.

She'd wanted to turn over the reins to someone stronger and more capable. Well, here he was.

His body appeared relaxed, like he had all the time in the world for her to make up her mind. She wondered what he saw and wished now she'd at least run a comb through her hair before she'd bound it in her usual ponytail.

Her dad had always said she should go with her gut when logic failed. Her instincts told her he was a dangerous man—and she wanted him on her side. Whatever the cost.

If her body was only too happy to surrender, she was entitled to enjoy making payment. She turned and led the way into the church, her heart skipping a beat when his hand settled on the small of her back. The pressure, even through her coat, thrilled her.

Shep awaited them, his rifle barrel pointing toward the ceiling. His eyebrows rose when he saw how close Ty stood.

"I know him, Shep. He's here to help."

He nodded and lowered his weapon as more men filed inside the chapel, but he didn't look happy.

"I'll have the men get the generator going and set up a perimeter defense," Ty said.

Another load off her shoulders. She glanced above to the choir loft. "It's okay, Danny. You can come down, now."

Danny's face, brimming with curiosity, peered over the balcony. "You sure?"

"Yeah. I've been…expecting them."

Ty nudged her back, a reminder he wanted to talk.

"I'll be in the back," she said to Danny and Shep. "Take a load off. Looks like we'll be spendin' the night here."

She headed to the back of the church, hanging a left at the altar and striding into the corridor where the church offices stood vacant. The door leading to the lawn in back opened with a whine, and Kate stepped into deepening twilight with Ty right behind her.

Their boots crunched on the dry grass adding to the crackling tension building in her shoulders and back. Ty was here. They were alone. What would happen between them? Would he insist on taking his pleasure now the bargain had been made?

She wasn't sure whether the thought excited or appalled her. Sam had been her only lover, but not once in their years-long arrangement had she felt this sharp-edged excitement.

Mingled with anticipation was the fear she'd disappoint. Ty was so much more man than she was woman.

They climbed the steps of the gazebo, and she turned to face him. Shielded from any prying gaze by the lattice-board sides of the building and the dried vines clinging to the frame, they stared at each other for a long moment.

Now that they were alone, she felt more than a little unnerved by his dark, hooded gaze. She cleared her throat. "You said you wanted to talk."

His gaze bored into hers. "We should set some ground rules."

She nodded, her mouth suddenly dry. Rules? "For the trip?"

"For what happens between us."

A fine trembling started deep inside her. He'd shot straight past business into intimacy. "All right. Shoot."

"First, you tell me everything I want to know. No secrets."

"Will you do the same?"

"In time."

She snorted softly and gave him a derisive look. "I'm supposed to give you my trust, but you won't reciprocate?"

"It's a little complicated. There are things best left alone for now. Can you live with that?"

It was perverse, but the mystery surrounding him was a huge turn-on. "Depends."

He lifted one eyebrow in question.

"On whether you follow through with your promise to provide safe passage to the people at the ranch."

He canted his head and stared like he was trying to see inside her. "Don't you want to ask anything for yourself?"

She licked her lips. "I think I'm going to get it."

His lips curved, and his dark eyes crinkled at the corners. "I think you're right," he said, his voice a deep, smooth rumble—like a panther's purr.

Her cheeks burned beneath his scrutiny. "What else?"

"I'm in charge. No questions. When I'm not there, you'll follow my next in command."

Her teeth ground in frustration. "Will I have any say?"

"I'll listen. But I make the decisions."

"Will your next in command have power over me?"

"He'll give the orders, but you're mine. He won't touch you."

The way he said it, flatly like an already recognized fact, rankled while at the same time tripping a thrill that heated her body from the inside out. She didn't know how to respond.

"Does anyone else have a claim on you?"

The deep, dark texture of his voice upped the tension building in her core. "Why?"

"Just wondered if I might have a fight on my hands."

She shook her head, ready to deny, but remembered his warning about no secrets. "My foreman, Sam…he's the only one. Sometimes. But he won't interfere."

"When was the last time you slept with him?"

She jerked at the crudeness of his question and dropped her glance, unable to hold hers steady beneath his steely gaze. "Weeks, and we don't sleep together," she muttered.

"Take off your hat."

His tight, roughened voice drew her nipples instantly to aching points. She closed her eyes and slowly took off her hat.

"Your hair. Let it down."

Her fingers trembled as she fought the elastic band, but finally her hair fell around her shoulders. She knew it was longer than had been fashionable, but her dad had loved her ponytail and had tweaked it often.

She gave him a quick glance to gauge his reaction. The flare of his nostrils seemed a good sign he was pleased.

Her hand rose to smooth down the flyaway strands.

He reached out, and tipped her chin upward to study her features. "Green. I thought they might be."

"Do we still have a bargain?" she asked, trying to sound cool, but knowing he heard the nervous quaver in her voice.

His response stole her breath away. He stepped so close the heat radiating from his body warmed the space between them. As she tilted back her head to hold his gaze, his head dipped and his mouth covered hers.

Now she'd been kissed plenty, but she'd never been devoured. He ate her lips, slanting over her mouth, sucking her lower lip between his teeth to nibble and then sealing their mouths to thrust his tongue inside. He swept behind her teeth, stroked over her tongue and curled his to tug and tease until she groaned.

Kate grasped the corners of his shoulders, holding on for dear life as he circled and prodded and told her without words how he'd fuck her. Hard, relentless—leaving nothing undiscovered.

She'd never known the likes of the lust that arose inside her—so strong her whole body shuddered with need. She closed the distance between them and pressed her breasts against his chest.

Ty's hands dropped from her face and parted her coat to reach inside. He smoothed around her waist to her back, and lower, to cup her bottom and draw her hips close.

His erection, thick and hard as a post, ground into her belly, building a fire that swelled her pussy and drenched her panties—she was more than ready to keep the bargain. Now!

He lifted his head and dragged in a deep breath. "I won't take you here."

"Why not?" she asked and glided her lips along his firm jaw.

"It's too open."

"Who's gonna watch?" God, couldn't he tell she didn't care? She nipped his chin.

"It's almost dark. The moon's rising."

"You think werewolves need moonlight to prowl?"

"I know they're more vicious when the moon rules them. We go inside."

Kate jerked away, and his hands fell to his sides. Maybe he didn't want her as much as she did him. Maybe he'd just been playing with her to see how far he could lead her. She drew the edges of her duster tight around her and swept her hat from the floor where she'd dropped it. She placed it on top of her loosened hair and gave him a look that anyone who knew her would say meant war.

"We still have a bargain," he reminded her.

"I still don't follow orders well," she said through gritted teeth.

"Like I said, I'm gonna take care of that. Let's get back inside. I need to check on the men."

Kate wiped her mouth with her forearm and cursed under her breath. Her lips still throbbed. Anyone looking at her would know she'd been kissed. She shook her head. Since when did she care? She'd been ready to fuck him where they stood.

Her body hummed with frustration, but she put one foot in front of the other, ignoring the moist heat between her legs and the man at her back.

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The Promo Ho and Red Ribbon Fairy contests continue! See details here!

Trading Cards

Some things I took with me to Lori Foster's convention were trading cards. Not for baseball heroes or X-men, but romance covers! I took more of them with me than bookmarks.

Have you seen them? Are you collecting them? There's even a site where readers can go to peruse through romance trading cards and make requests for copies (Romance Trading Cards), but don't click away yet!

I had these made just before I left. Kind of a rush job, and I want the next to be a little more distinctive, but I think they're pretty just the same. I'll be putting them on my EXTRAS page so readers can request them. If you'd like a set, let me know. Just send me an email with your snail mail address and I'll hook you up! Are there any other of my older books that you'd like to see in trading cards?

I'm baaaack!

I'm back from Ohio. Lori Foster's was a great event. One I'd recommend to an author or a reader. It's very laid back. I was bummed that I managed to forget to submit a list of books for the booksigning, but it worked out. I made it around the signing tables begging for swag. I have a ton of books, t-shirts, and signed bookmarks, trading cards, excerpt booklets, etc., to give away. The authors were very generous. Let me get unpacked and I'll get started on that. For sure I don't want it hanging around my office!

I'd love to send kisses—muah, muah, muah—to the ladies who chased me down at the booksigning with books they'd brought from home for me to sign. I was very thrilled to see so many!

I will post pictures as soon as my sister, Elle James, sends them to me. Yeah, I took a camera, but did I remember to take it out of my suitcase?!

This week, it's nose to the grindstone. Sis and I managed a lot of brainstorming this weekend. I feel like the well (from whence all inspiration cometh) is refreshed. And I mapped out the external plot of the next Viking story! That one had been nagging me because I didn't know how I could equal Enslaved by a Viking.

This week, Juniper Bell aand Berengaria Brown will be guesting with me. And I think that's about it. Thanks to the ladies who have posted reviews for the books they've read. It's greatly appreciated!

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The Promo Ho and Red Ribbon Fairy contests continue! See details here! ~DD

Guest Blogger: Renee Wildes

CONQUERING FEAR

I am a true April Taurus—earthbound, practical, stubborn and temperamental. My life is ruled by fear. In true "bull" fashion, I tend to meet it head-on. It's what drives me, not a weakness but a motivator.

I've always been a tomboy, preferring horses to boys growing up. I belonged to the Wilderness Challenge Club in high school (Wisconsin Academy in Columbus, WI). Whitewater rafting, caving, rappelling, canoeing, if it meant sunburn, mosquitoes and getting dirty—that was where you'd find me. Very glamorous stuff. Now, I've always been afraid of heights. Like—freeze atop a 6-ft ladder scared of heights. We won't even mention airplanes. Sedatives. LOTS of sedatives…

So, the first time I went rappelling was at Devil's Lake, from atop Devil's Rock. Guarded by all manner of…rattlesnakes. Saw two, sunning on the rocks. So there I was on a snake-infested rock atop the world. Beautiful view. Wasted on a sixteen-year-old in a cold sweat. See, the secret to rappelling is to WALK down the rock face. Anyone who's walked across a floor knows the easiest way to do that is to be perpendicular to the floor surface. So if the floor surface is almost entirely vertical, that means the walker gets to be the one who's…horizontal. And that translates into standing backwards at the edge of a cliff, the true ground several hundred feet below, and LEANING back against a rope-and-nylon-harness-affair into thin air until you're lying down on NOTHING—and then walk down the wall.

Sure. Uh huh. (Never said I was a BRIGHT kid. Well, okay, I was. Straight A nerd.) And Mr. Snyder was right there like some hairy bearded cheerleader from Buffy saying stupid things like, "It's easy. You can do this. Nothing stops you. Just leeeeeean back and walk down."

But it was my best friend stating "Don't be such a chicken shit" that got me going. Okay, it took me 20 minutes of whimpering like a toy poodle in a thunderstorm before I leaned back enough to start walking. Reaching the bottom to more Buffy reject cheering felt like conquering Mount Everest.

That's how I tackle life. I let fear motivate me into moving, defeating, conquering. It can either stop you or get you going. Being a Taurus, stubbornness gets me a long way through life. As a writer I try to let the quality bleed off into my characters. Set them up against a bad situation some would consider impossible, but the character just takes a deep breath, says "Who if not me?" and forges on to start, to try. And so the stories go.

Renee

http://reneewildes1.wordpress.com

About Renee:



Fantasy Romance Author Renee Wildes writes the "Guardians of Light" series for Samhain Publishing. She lives in central WI with hubby, 2 kids, a calico cat, a black Chow, and 2 half-Arab mares. She still considers herself a tomboy, although she hasn't hoofed it down Devil's Rock in years. Nowadays, writing, reading and scrapbooking occupy her time—when she's not prying her kids out of a tree or off the roof… Her latest book, Dust of Dreams, comes out in paperback on June 8, 2011. Riever's Heart will be out in ebook on Sept. 27, 2011.

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