Laura Roberts's Blog, page 69

Hell’s Bounty: Paranormal erotica by Kayden Claremont

Raven Hart, a succubus bounty hunter for Hell, is on a hunt. With her quarry in sight, she hits a brick wall – or rather the very hard chest of a giant sexy man. She might have lost the prize for now, but she’s a winner when the hottie wants to get physical.

Marcus Dionysius, a Nephilim working for Heaven, has one mission – to prevent Hell’s beauty from stealing souls meant for the higher plane. But he soon realizes he’s met his sexual match. She’s naughty enough to tempt his senses, but her innocence means he can’t walk away when she needs him most.

Working together to discover who’s snatching souls from Heaven, they realize the true danger is falling in love.

Excerpt

A giant of a man ducked as he entered the bar, paused, took off his sunglasses, tucked them into his jacket pocket, and waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. He surveyed the bar, then decided his path. Keeping his head high and his eyes skimming the people, he avoided eye contact with everyone.

She watched him. An undeniable current of electricity pulsed through him. Stopping beside her, he dwarfed her slight stature with colossal height, muscular build that showed through the suit, and an air of confidence that made everyone in the bar notice him. He signaled the bartender for a single-malt whiskey, neat.

Once the drink showed up, he cradled the glass in his immense hands, then nodded at her and took a sip of the golden liquid. Pure ecstasy showed on his face. “You waiting for someone special?”

Raven tried to fight the attraction arcing between them. “Everyone is special”

A smile crept across his generous lips, and humor twinkled in his mocha eyes. “I guess.” He took another sip.

Scanning him from head to toe, she asked, “How tall are you?”

He looked down at her with choirboy eyes and his smile widened. “Seven-five, give or take.”

Running her fingertips around the top of the glass she surveyed him once more. If Raven didn’t know better, she’d think he was an immortal, but she could usually sense them. Each immortal had a unique aura about them, a distinct imprint whether fae or shifter or undead.

Buy A Copy

You can buy a copy of Hell’s Bounty at Amazon US or Amazon CA.

About the Author

Kayden Claremont loves sexy, well-crafted stories of lust and love.  Her sensuous style drives the characters in lustful romps.

Her paranormal erotic novella, Hell’s Bounty, is published by The Wild Rose Press.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime International, Sisters in Crime Toronto,  Sisters in Crime Toronto Executive, Romance Writers of America and Toronto Romance Writers.

When she’s not at her day job she’s crafting more tales of love or spending time with her husband and children.

Visit her at Facebook, Twitter, or her blog, or email her at KaydenClaremont@bell.net.

Giveaway

Kayden be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during this tour and the Book Blast Tour, here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I’ve been cheating…

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been writing my NaNoWriMo book, A Cheater’s Guide to NaNoWriMo, as part of this year’s NaNoWriMo challenge.

And I’ve been publishing chapters as I go. On a new blog, so that things wouldn’t get too cluttered here.

So, in case you’d like to take a look at what I’ve got so far, check out cheatersguidetonanowrimo.wordpress.com. You can also sign up there to get posts delivered straight to your inbox, so you don’t have to try to remember that super-long URL.

Enjoy!

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War-N-Wit, Inc.: An interview with Gail Roughton

Today I’ve got an interview with Gail Roughton, author of the War-N-Wit, Inc. series. But first, here’s a bit about her books

About Witch Resurrected

Ariel Anson thinks she has her life in order. She’s young, smart, and beautiful, even if she doesn’t believe the beautiful part. She’s a paralegal with a great career and a fiancé who’s a CPA. You just can’t get any steadier than that. Then she meets private investigator, bounty hunter, process server Chad Garrett.

What does War-N-Wit, Inc. stand for anyway?

Warlock and Witch? For real? Oh, yes! For real.

Her life as she knows it is over! Instead of organizing corporate documents and pleadings, she’s chasing bail jumpers and taking down serial killers. And investigating secret societies. Like Resurrection.

Not everyone can join, just the elite few who remember their past lives. Only the Seer knows if those memories are truth or fabrication. There’s just one problem. The new Seer is missing in action. War-N-Wit’s new assignment is a blast from the past! But whose past?

Available at Amazon.

About Mean Streets (War-N-Wit, Inc. Book 2)

Daytona Bike Week. Biker’s paradise. The perfect place for Chad and Ariel Garrett to take a few days off and relax with Chad’s buddy Spike and Ariel’s little sister Stacy.

But nothing ever goes as planned with that magical duo. Trouble just stalks them like a black cat. A missing agent riding with an outlaw biker gang, a call from Chad’s past, and War-N-Wit, Inc.’s riding again, with romance blooming in the midst of danger. From Daytona, the crew heads back to Vegas and another family wedding. Spike and Stacy are ready to say “I do!” In the Tunnel of Love Drive-Thru at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas, of course. It’s become a family tradition.

But what’s supposed to happen in Vegas just refuses to stay in Vegas. And you’re not going to believe this side-trip!

Available at Amazon.

An Interview With Gail Roughton

How long have you been writing paranormal romance, and what inspired you to get into this genre?

I can’t say as anything inspired me to write in this genre and I don’t, in fact, set out to write in any one genre or another. I just tell whatever story’s occurred to me and frequently have several genres mixed into one book. It just happens that every story I tell seems to have a paranormal thread running through it. As for how long—well, I started actually writing in 1987, 88, along there. And yes, that very first book was paranormal romantic suspense.

What gave you the idea for this series?

A friend of mine’s mother sent me a message. “Tell Gail to write something funny on purpose, ‘cause she’s so funny sometimes without trying to be.” So I did. And that’s how the War-N-Wit series was born.

Who are some of your favorite paranormal romance writers or other literary inspirations?

I admire many writers of all genres, but the three who’ve probably had the most influence on my own writing would have to be Harper Lee, Stephen King and Robert Parker. Harper Lee only wrote one book, To Kill a Mockingbird, but she had a dry and ironic voice that was frequently legalese (I’ve been in a law office for 40 years, so I recognize legalese when I see it and speak it fluently myself. It’s hard to describe, but it’s a matter-of-fact recounting of the factual situation that, when done properly, I find absolutely hysterical—because I’m sort of strange). Stephen King is just an absolute master of story-telling. He doesn’t follow rules except his own, he never lets anything get in his way when he’s telling a story. And Robert Parker was an absolute master of narrative. His characters spoke volumes in one word sentences, especially Hawk of the Spenser series. So I guess you’d have to say I’m a real hodgepodge of writers and genres.

Describe your typical writing routine. Where do you usually write?

How many words/pages per day? Do you keep set hours? What does your workspace look like?

My workspace looks a lot like a kitchen table with a laptop on it. Mostly because my workspace is my laptop on top of the kitchen table. My husband actually set up a little desk/work space area for me in our bedroom but it’s too quiet. I like the kitchen ‘cause I can multi-task in the middle of everything while I’m cooking. Or not cooking, depends on the day. Mostly I only write on the weekends, and predominately on Sundays, although I sometimes do write on Saturday afternoons, too, and occasionally in the mornings before I get ready for work. And NO, there’s no way I could write to a quota of words/pages per day or to any set hours. I keep set hours at work in a law office. I’m not about to do that in my writing. Writing for me’s not a job, it’s a pleasure, and I don’t want it to turn into a job.

Do you have any favorite foods or beverages that help keep your

creativity flowing?

I could single-handedly keep the coffee industry in business. Other than that, no.

Do you have any writing superstitions or rituals when starting (or ending) a new book?

You mean like twirling in a circle counter-clockwise three times under a full moon? Or typing the first word on the stroke of midnight? Nope, not a one.

What do you think makes for a great paranormal romance?

The same thing that makes for any great book. A great book makes the reader feel he’s actually visited another place and met real people, that in fact, he’s been a part of the story, and he’s sorry to cut his trip short and come home.

Which witch (good, evil or both) in literature is your favorite and why?

Sally and Gillian Owens of Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. I love the characters and I love that being magical and having power not only doesn’t solve all their problems, it sometimes creates their problems. But not any problems being human and part of a loving family can’t solve.

What else have you written, and where can people learn more about you and your work?

Well, of course there’re two books in the War-N-Wit, Inc. series, War-N-Wit, Inc. — Witch Resurrected and War-N-Wit, Inc. — Mean Streets. The Color of Seven is my Southern Gothic horror novel , it’s considerably darker than the Wars. One friend of mine termed Vanished as a “Calgon, take me awaaaaay….” read, and I treasure that compliment. It’s a paranormal romantic fantasy, sort of, with a through the Bermuda Triangle plot. Country Justice I privately call my redneck espionage drug-runnin’ novel, and it’s very near and dear to my heart because I’m very much a southern small-town girl and this is very much a southern small-town crime thriller/action-adventure. Sorry, but there’s that “I mix up genres within books a lot” thing again. I’m currently working on the second in the Country Justice series titled Black Turkey Walk. I also co-authored the first book in a projected series with fellow writer Jude Pittman, Sisters of Prophency — Ursula, which is a contemporary romantic suspense with time-travel elements (and there I go again crossing those genres, huh?). They’re all available on Amazon and most of them are available in print at local bookstores via Ingram and Baker & Taylor.

About the Author

Gail Roughton is a native of small town Georgia whose Deep South heritage features prominently in much of her work. She’s worked in a law office for close to forty years, during which time she’s raised three children and quite a few attorneys. She’s kept herself more or less sane by writing novels and tossing the completed manuscripts into her closet.

A cross-genre writer, she’s produced books ranging from humor to romance to thriller to horror and is never quite sure herself what to expect when she sits down at the keyboard. Now multi-published by Books We Love, Ltd., her credits include the War-N-Wit, Inc. series, The Color of Seven, Vanished, and Country Justice. Currently, she’s working on Black Turkey Walk, the second in the Country Justice series, as well as the Sisters of Prophecy series, co-written with Jude Pittman.

Another War-N-Wit plot always seems to be brewing on the back burner, too, whether she’s actually trying to brew one or not, and usually boils quicker when she’s trying not to brew one at all.

Connect with Gail online at Facebook, Twitter, BooksWeLove, her Amazon author page, or at her blog, gailroughton.blogspot.com.

Giveaway

Gail is giving away 5 print copies of Witch Resurrected. To enter, use the Rafflecopter below, and don’t forget to follow the rest of the tour for more chances to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

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A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur’s Court by Mari Mancusi

“Sparkling debut… a nice twist on the modern girl’s search for prince charming.” – Publisher’s Weekly

Once upon a time there lived an outspoken fashion editor named Kat, who certainly was not your typical damsel in distress. But when a gypsy curse sent her back in time to the days of King Arthur, she found she’d need every ounce of her 21st century wits (and pop culture references) to navigate the legend. After all, surviving a magical plot, an evil prince, and a case of mistaken identity–all without changing history or scuffing your Manolos–takes some doing!

Luckily, she’s got her very own knight in shining armor, Lancelot du Lac, on her side. The honorable-to-a-fault and devastatingly handsome champion insists on helping her out, even though she’s not quite sure she wants him to. After all, shouldn’t he be off romancing Queen Guenevere or something? Will Kat manage to stay out of trouble long enough to get back to her beloved lattes, cosmopolitans and cashmere? And what will Lancelot’s forbidden love mean for the kingdom of Camelot?

An Excerpt from A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur’s Court

“What do you want to ask, Kat?” Lancelot prompts me with a tender voice. He takes an embroidered handkerchief from a small bag tied to his belt and blots my tears. For a medieval knight, he realty is a nice guy. Honorable. Stable. Loyal. The kind of man I should look for in my real life, instead of the I’m-in-a-rock-band-and-have-no-job losers I always end up with.

But should I tell him I think I’ve traveled back in time? He’s going to think I’m majorly screwed up in the head. But, then again, what do I have to gain from his thinking I’m normal? And truly, I’m sick of keeping all these crazy thoughts to myself. I need desperately to share.

“This is going to sound insane,” I say, offering the disclaimer up front. “But what I was asking is when am I? ‘Cause to me it seems a lot like I’m back in the days of King Arthur. And that’s a time zone I don’t belong in.”

Lancelot looks surprisingly unpuzzled, and he continues to stroke my hair. His touch is comforting, supportive, and gives me the courage to go on.

“What would you say if I told you I was really from the twenty-first century—like, a thousand years into the future? And that somehow I have traveled back in time?”

Instead of freaking out, Lancelot offers a fond smile. “I would say you already told me that last night. About thirty-five times, in fact.”

I stare at him in shock and awe. Did I really already spill the time-travel beans while drunk off my ass the night before? I know I have a tendency to babble and, worse, repeat my babble when drunk, but would I really have told him that I was a girl from the future not once, but thirty-five times?

Oh, man, I am never, ever drinking again.

Purchase Links

Amazon

About the Author

Mari Mancusi is a two-time Emmy award-winning television producer and author of novels for adults and teens. A graduate of Boston University, she now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and young daughter. When not writing or producing she enjoys traveling, snowboarding, reading fantasy novels, and her favorite guilty pleasure: video games.

Connect with Mari on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, her blog or her website, marimancusi.com.

Giveaway

Mari will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly selected winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to follow the rest of the tour and comment here; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Clear as Glass: An excerpt and #giveaway from Lynn Kellan

Poised to become her overbearing father’s right-hand man, Jaye Davis is tired of being a faceless drone, writing software. She’d rather help real people—like the family who owns a struggling glassblowing factory in rural Pennsylvania. While she’s there, she might figure out how to squash the secrets gnawing at her.

Mitchell Blake and his father keep butting heads about expanding Blake Glassware, and now Mitch has to deal with his father’s consultant, Jaye. She claims online marketing will boost sales, but Mitch insists broadening their product line will increase revenue. Arguing with this doe-eyed woman makes one thing perfectly clear: she has the power to shatter his safe, lonely life.

Jaye’s got four weeks to save his glassblowing factory, but he detests her marketing plan. She’s got no place to live, but he has an extra bedroom in his house. She’s got secrets, but living with a glassblower who can see right through her would be an enormous mistake… or would it?

An Excerpt

Her insides kinked. A few minutes ago, she hit him in the nuts and called him a murderous sex maniac. Now, he had very good reason to fire her.

“You must be Mitch Blake.” She angled the flashlight at her chest. The bright light beamed off the ruffled white blouse peeking from the lapels of her blazer. “Your father hired me.”

Mitch’s gaze dropped to her skirt. “I’m supposed to meet someone named Jayson Davis.”

“I’m Jayson, but I’d rather you call me Jaye. Sorry about the confusion. If it’s any consolation, this isn’t the first time someone didn’t expect me. My father was convinced I’d be a boy. He liked the name Jayson too much to change it.” The confession eroded her confidence. Would Mitch be another man she’d never please?

The muscles along his jaw tightened, hard as the cold pavement. “Does my father know you’re a woman?”

“I have no idea. We made arrangements via email. He never asked.” Mitchell Blake was acting like a sexist oaf who thought women didn’t belong in a factory. Jaye gripped the flashlight, tempted to whack him in the nuts again. “Your father said he’d provide a place for me to live during our four-week contract. Could you point me to the hotel?”

“You’re not staying at a hotel.” Mitch’s terse words bounced off the road. “You’re living with me.”

About the Author

Lynn Kellan writes romance about strong men who have a weakness for smart women. She believes men and women aren’t that different… we both want to be with someone who will empty the dishwasher. When Lynn isn’t writing, she likes to play tennis and golf, but not at the same time.

You can connect with Lynn on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube or her website, LynnKellan.com. Or sign up for her newsletter to stay in the loop!

The Giveaway

Lynn will award a $50 GC for jewelry to one randomly selected winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Don’t forget to follow the rest of the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning! All tour dates can be found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Words That Bind: An interview with Ash Krafton + #giveaway

Social worker Tam Kerish can’t keep her cool professionalism when steamy client Mr. Burns kindles a desire for more than a client-therapist relationship – so she drops him. However, they discover she’s the talisman to which Burns, an immortal djinn, has been bound since the days of King Solomon… and that makes it difficult.

Ethical guidelines are unequivocal when it comes to personal relationships with clients. However, the djinn has a thawing effect on the usually non-emotive Tam, who begins to feel true emotion whenever he is near. Tam has to make a difficult choice: to stay on the outside, forever looking in… or to turn her back on her entire world, just for the chance to finally experience what it means to fall in love.

An excerpt from Words That Bind

“So. You’ve destroyed a stereotype for me. A genie who lives in a library. Different.”

“When in Rome, no?” He stirred his cup before setting down the spoon with a light clink against the saucer. “Or, I suppose it is more accurate to say when in human form. When I am Burns, I prefer here.”

“Human form.” It didn’t sound right. Who said things like that, and meant it? “Can you change into anything you want? Any shape at all?”

He stretched out his legs and cocked his head, sliding his gaze up and away. “I suppose I could. I’m getting old and set in my ways. There’s this…” He swept his hands down the line of his body.

Her eyes were unable to keep from following, not even when he lingered over his midsection. Even lounging, his shirt was tightly tucked into his beltline. No belly fat there.

He tilted his head and gave her an upper-teeth smile, nibbling gently at his lower lip. “And apparently this form is pleasing to the eye, so I wear it often. But there are others. Tiger, a favorite. Savage and regal and the colors of flames in the night. Fearsome to behold, but very useful when dealing with physical conditions in which a human form may be outmatched. Plus, I can lash my tail.”

His voice took a teasing, conspirator’s tone. “I love my tail. You’d love it too, if you saw it.”

She trained her eyes firmly upon his. No way would she give him the pleasure of checking out his tail.

Purchase Links

Interview

How long have you been writing romance, and what inspired you to get into this genre?

Until I wrote Words That Bind, I wrote urban fantasy novels, with romantic elements. The difference between romance and romantic elements is all in the Happily Ever After department. When I began thinking deeply about my characters and the plight they would face, I knew that it would be a rough journey – and I knew that they’d need a HEA (and so would I). Because of this, I departed from my usual genre and embarked on my first true romantic journey. This wasn’t a light undertaking… I actually spent years researching romance novel technique before I began to write the book, because I wanted my readers to be completely satisfied with the story.

What gave you the idea for your latest book?

I was in the midst of writing one of the Demimonde books and came up upon a writer’s roadblock. I did what I always do – I wrote around it, and daydreamed a brief passage involving a genie and a social worker. (My sister-in-law is a social worker, and she had been on my mind, so, naturally.) She enjoyed it so much that I tucked it away for future exploration. I’m glad she inspired me to keep at it because I really love how this book turned out.

Who are some of your favorite romance writers or other literary inspirations?

I love to read Katie MacAlister, MaryJanice Davidson, Charlaine Harris, and Tricia Schneider for paranormal romance. My preferred reading runs the entire gamut of speculative fiction, with or without romantic story lines. And I admit, I have a soft spot for subtleness, so Jane Austen is a favorite when it comes to the innocent blossomings of becoming aware of affectionate feelings.

Describe your typical writing routine. Where do you usually write? How many words/pages per day? Do you keep set hours? What does your workspace look like?

I don’t have the luxury of writing full-time, so I don’t keep set hours. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not writing. Like a lot of writers, 90% of my writing happens in my head, those ideas and imaginings that go on every time my mind is free to wander. The other 10% is when I sit down to actually type it out. I keep a notebook or my Windows tablet with me all the time, jotting notes or tweaking pages or banging out ferocious chapters in between all the other goings on of my days. A few times a week, I get a few hours a day when I can sit down at my desk (or one of my other makeshift “desks” throughout the hours), and just think book. It’s not a structured regiment, but it’s never boring and I’ve not to worry about getting bored with a routine any time soon.

Do you have any favorite foods or beverages that help keep your creativity flowing?

Tea, definitely. I treat myself to an elite Darjeeling when I’ve got the word counts going. Usually I drink Irish Breakfast so switching to a flavorful, aromatic, earthy Darjeeling is just a perfect incentive. There’s even a tribute to good tea in my last book (Wolf’s Bane) because it was time to tell the world how wonderful my favorite Darjeeling is.

Do you have any writing superstitions or rituals when starting (or ending) a new book?

I can’t say I do. I’m always working on more than one project, even if I am focusing heavily on just one of them. Because of that, I never feel like there is a specific beginning or ending – writing is a continuous process for me. The only time I’d start to worry is if I wasn’t writing anything.

What do you think makes for a good paranormal story?

I like when an author busts through a limit – pushes past a convention into something new and undiscovered and a little scary. I like to take that journey of discovery with them because I love feeling like I’m the first to witness something new and incredible.

What else have you written, and where can people learn more about you and your work?

Most recently, I completed an urban fantasy (romantic elements) called the Books of the Demimonde, featuring Bleeding Heart, Blood Rush, and Wolf’s Bane. I also have a few short story anthologies out, as well as dozens of poems sprinkled all across the internet. Visit ashkrafton.com for more!

About the Author

Ash Krafton is a speculative fiction author from northeastern Pennsylvania. Krafton’s first novel, Bleeding Hearts, was published in 2012 as part of an urban fantasy trilogy, The Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press). An urban fantasy novella, Strangers at the Hell Gate, was published by Wild Rose Press in 2013. Her newest release, Words That Bind, won first place in the HeRA RWA “Show Me the Spark” 2013 competition as well as a Zebulon award in 2014.

Krafton also writes New Adult speculative fiction novels under the pen name AJ Krafton. Upcoming titles include The Heartbeat Thief, Face of the Enemy, and the award-winning Takin’ It Back. She is part of a YA/NA collective known as the Infinite Ink Authors.

In addition to novel-length fiction, Krafton enjoys writing poetry and short prose, some of which earned distinctions in various writing competitions. One of her poems was also nominated for the Pushcart Prize. She’s a proud member of Pennwriters, Romance Writers of America, and Pikes Peak Writers. Krafton also writes for the Query Tracker Blog and the Prose and Cons blog.

She resides with her family in northeast Pennsylvania.

Connect with Ash on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, or her blog, ash-krafton.blogspot.com.

Giveaway

Ash will be awarding a $25 gift card to Amazon or BN, as well as a unique handmade book-inspired keychain to a randomly drawn commenter and to a randomly drawn host. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour (and comment!) here for more chances to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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The Winner’s Guide to Kicking NaNoWriMo’s Butt

It’s October 31 — which means Halloween to most people. But for those of us who write, it’s the day before National Novel Writing Month, aka NaNoWriMo, kicks off.

This year I’m actually writing a guide to “cheating” at NaNoWriMo, because I’ve found that although I’ve won 3 NaNoWriMos in the past, the setup isn’t ideal for my particular approach to writing book-length works.

Instead, I finally figured out how to turn NaNoWriMo to my advantage with a few hacks, so I’ve decided to share my tips and tricks throughout November. You’ll get to follow along as I write the guide, and hopefully use this stuff in real time to finally bust out a win this year.

If you want to sign up for those hacks, delivered straight to your inbox daily, CLICK HERE. You’ll be signed up to a special mailing list ONLY for NaNoWriMo hacks, delivered daily throughout November, and nothing else. No spam, no scams, no junk mail. Just NaNoWriMo-relevant stuff, daily.

Also note that this stuff won’t be posted here on my blog, so signing up for that list is the only way to get in on the action. So sign up already!

Now for those of you who like to play by the rules, here’s a short guide to getting into the right mindframe to win NaNoWriMo. I call it The Winner’s Guide to Kicking NaNoWriMo’s Butt.

Here are the steps you’ll need to take in order to win NaNoWriMo:

Make an outline. Ideally, do this today – before the contest officially begins – because you’ll need this time to start brainstorming ideas and characters. You’re allowed to work on an outline and any other backstory ideas, character sketches, and what Sean Platt has called “development” info for your novel before November 1, so take advantage of this because you’re gonna need it.
Start writing as soon as you get up on November 1. I’m not going to say that you must get to work exactly at the stroke of midnight, although many participants are so jazzed that they do. But I would definitely encourage all Wrimos to knock their daily word counts out early, because it’ll make procrastination that much less of a problem later on. A big part of writing is building good habits, and learning how to schedule your daily writing time is key.
Always hit your daily word count. Yeah, I know. It’s the day after Halloween, it’s Saturday, and all you want to do is lie in bed gorging on candy and watching The Nightmare Before Christmas. But this month you’re a writer, and writers hit their word counts. Remember, if you’re in it to win it, you need to hit 1,667 words a day – every day. Don’t slack off one day and think you’ll make it up the next, because then you’ll start to snowball and soon you’ll need to be writing 10,000 words a day to make it all up. YIKES!
Keep your creativity stoked. The usual tip for writers and other creative types is to remember to “replenish the well.” That means you need to always be on the lookout for new inspirations and ideas, as well as learning new things, in order to keep your creative juices flowing. Don’t let the well run dry. Take yourself on “author dates” — purely fun outings doing whatever it is that’ll make you happy. Hit up a museum, go for a hike, sign up for a cooking class, get some friends together for margaritas at your favorite bar, whatever — just make sure it’s something that’ll let you relax, enjoy, and savor someone else’s creativity for a change.
Don’t be afraid to fail. So many people fail NaNoWriMo every year because they’re afraid of making mistakes. Ultimately, that means they’re afraid to fail. But you know what? You can win NaNoWriMo just by putting words on paper. ANY WORDS. Trust me, this is frequently how I have “won” in the past. If it’s your first NaNoWriMo, don’t be afraid to put words on the page. Any words on the page. Remember: perfect is the enemy of done. Get ‘er done. Worry about perfection later!

Have you ever done NaNoWriMo before, and will you be participating this year? Join my mailing list for hacks, daily, and let me know what you think!

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Sexy witches: A guest post by Karma author Donna Augustine

Today I’ve got a guest post on the subject of Sexy Witches from the author of the Urban Fantasy novel Karma, Donna Augustine. But first, here’s a bit about her new book.

People say karma’s a… well, you know. Personally, I don’t think I’m that bad. It’s not like I wanted this job. I wasn’t even in my right mind when I accepted it. 

Now, I’m surrounded by crazy coworkers like Lady Luck, who’s a bit of a tramp, and Murphy’s Law, who’s a bumbling oaf.

But the worst is Fate. He’s got a problem with transfers like myself and I have to see him constantly. It’s unavoidable, since we’re hunting the same man, my murderer.

A Night Owl Top Pick, available at Amazon.

An Excerpt from Karma

“No. Just you. Everyone has their own department. You are Karma.” He pointed toward me dramatically, the way someone would try and accent a meaning to a person who didn’t know the language.

“I’m not sure I’m adequately suited for this position. Even for a month. I’m more of a ‘bygones be bygones’ kind of person. Don’t you need someone a bit more vengeful?”

He looked down at the file spread on his desk. “I would disagree. Your file said you would be an excellent candidate.”

“May I see that?” I asked, eying up said file on his desk. How much did Harold know about me? Everything? That was an uneasy feeling. Even the best of us had our secrets and even though I considered myself a decent human being, I didn’t think I fell into the saintly category.

The file didn’t look big enough for my entire life to be in it. It didn’t even look thick enough for a short story. Maybe just a highly edited Wiki version?

“No, absolutely not.” He shut the manila folder quickly, as if I were going to jump up and try to peek. The guy took neurotic to a whole other level.

Okay, the file wasn’t that important. I needed to keep the peace and simply explain in better detail how I’d made an error in judgment. Be nice. My southern mother had always said you caught more bees with honey than vinegar. She had tried to drill it into my head since I was a small child. It wasn’t something I’d come naturally to, that was for sure, but it was a valid tactic, even if that wasn’t the lesson my mother had meant to instill.

“Harold, when I agreed to work for you, I was under the duress of seeing my dead body. You can understand how jarring that can be, right? I wasn’t thinking clearly at all.” It sounded logical enough to me, but I wasn’t sure if he’d ever had the pleasure of dying and his manner didn’t scream naturally empathetic.

He cleared his throat and I could tell by the set of his mouth that I wouldn’t like the next words. “I’m sorry, but that’s not how things work here. Like I told you, there’s a mandatory one-month trial period. An active one-month.”

He leaned back in his chair and pushed his glasses up closer to his face. His almost black eyes, artificially enlarged from the lens, stared at me in a bit of an awkward way. I wasn’t sure if there was a bite to follow up his bark but his magnified beady gaze sure made the situation less than desirable.

Still, beady gaze and all, I had to try one last time. Perhaps a different angle. Regardless of my record, he clearly thought I was an idiot; maybe that was the way to go. I had no problem playing a stooge if it got me out of here quickly.

“As you stated, I’m a transfer. You really don’t want me. I’m a horribly slow learner. The mistakes I’ve made in my life, geesh, you’d squirm if you knew.” I twirled a finger in my hair for effect and wished I had some chewing gum to smack.

“Yes, I’m well aware.”

He was? Hey, wait a minute; I didn’t think I’d done too badly for myself. What were these jerks writing about me in that file?

“Fate will help you with that.”

And just like that, I had bigger problems. I wasn’t just stuck here; I was stuck with him. “The guy who helped me so far?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“It has to be him.” Harold threw his hands in the air, as if why am I bothering him? Not his orders.

“Then I’ll work alone.”

I’d be clueless but peaceful. There was something wrong about that guy. There was something too bossy or too intense. I couldn’t even describe exactly what it was about him that was too much, but it was.

Even the brief moment I’d actually been in my right mind around him, it was as if his presence exerted some sort of gravitational pull, stronger than a normal person’s. As if his intensity could throw me out of orbit. And I didn’t want to go out of orbit. I had enough things to handle besides ping ponging around.

“Non-negotiable. I’ve got orders.” Harold folded his hands and rested them atop his desk, littered with paper.

“From who exactly?”

“The universe.” His chin notched up a hair.

“Would it be possible to speak to this universe person? I’m sure they’ll understand that there is a personality conflict.” It was time to bump my complaint to upper management.

“No one speaks to the universe.”

“Then how do you know what to do?” I leaned in a little.

“Simple. Through my orders.” His eyes started to twitch.

“Which you get how?”

“My memos.”

“Then you can send a memo to the universe. I won’t work with him.”

“I’ll file your complaint but it won’t matter. And don’t forget, as I’ve already explained, it has to be an active month.”

Twenty-five days. I’ve dealt with worse for longer. One case in particular came to mind. The guy actually tried to bite me when we lost. Harold didn’t seem inclined to bite and he didn’t get into my personal space. I could deal with him.

On the other hand, Fate looked like he might be the biting sort.

“Do the last five days count toward the thirty? Time served and all?”

“Yes.”

“These first days were highly unpleasant. Do you think I could get extra credit for those? Maybe, I don’t know, you could knock off a day or two? Like they do in jail for good behavior?” He squinted his eyes and tilted his head. I was going to take that for a no.

Sexy Witches

Witches have been an intriguing topic for a very long time. There’s an obvious reason. A being who can call upon the forces of nature to do their bidding is just cool. And in every group, you’ve always got a few standouts. I’ve listed a few of my favorites below.

When you think of sexy witches, Dumbeldore might not be the first one to come to mind. First off, he’s technically a warlock. Second, he’s a little long in the tooth to be considered a sex symbol by most people. I think his age is one of the things that makes him so great. He’s got countless years of experience under his pointy hat.

Then there’s Glinda from The Wizard of Oz. She might have been the first witch I ever liked. I’m probably going to date myself here but every autumn I’d wait for The Wizard of Oz to come on TV. She was the epitome of what every good witch should be with her sparkly wand and pretty dress.

Now, no one can forget Samantha from Bewitched. As a writer, and fan of urban fantasy, she might have been one of the first examples of the genre on TV. She was such an unorthodox example at the time and was portrayed so perfectly. I remember watching her as a kid and being convinced that if I could just get my nose to twitch like hers, it would unlock all sorts of hidden powers. I can’t even get started on how much I wanted a black cat.

I guess my point is, witches come in every sort of variety and almost all of them are intriguing for their own reasons, but what makes a truly sexy witch? I’d got to say lots and lots of really cool powers.

About the Author

Donna Augustine’s lifelong ambition was to become the crazy cat lady. Unfortunately, when family allergies cut short her dream of living in a house full of furries, she turned her ambitions toward writing. Combining her love of fantasy, scifi, horror and romance, she tries to string together interesting twists on urban fantasy.

A native of New Jersey, when she isn’t writing, or overdosing on caffeine, she can occasionally be spotted in disguise at the local dog park.

Connect with Donna on Facebook, Twitter, or at her website, donnaaugustine.com.

Giveaway

Donna is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and 5 ebook copies of Karma, via Rafflecopter.

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#HumpDayReviews Halloween Special: BigBoobenstein by Jeff O’Brien

If you’re a fan of old horror movies, campy goth chicks like Elvira, or have ever wondered if there was something far more sinister than the simple reanimation of corpses going down in Dr. Frankenstein’s lab, you’ll dig Jeff O’Brien’s perfectly Halloweenie novella – and the first in a trilogy of the same name – BigBoobenstein.

Part Frankenstein parody, part Bizarro fable, and 100% hilarious, you’ll find plenty of insanity packed into these 154 pages, including a demented doctor, a homeless man with a talking hernia, and a teenager who can save the day by masturbating.

If you’re already feeling addled, or have never indulged in the world of Bizarro literature, here’s what you need to know:

Poor Adelaide De Carlo is obsessed with breasts, thanks to her idiot boyfriend, Johnny, who’s cheating on her with two of the town sluts. (And no, I’m not just slut-shaming these bitches; they are, in fact, sluts. And bitches, too, but I digress.) In order to please Johnny and win him back, she decides to invest in breast implants at a suspiciously low price, to be installed by the equally suspiciously named Dr. Kuntz. But after her botched implant surgery goes even more awry than anyone could ever imagine (outside of a horror movie, that is), Adelaide morphs into the TIT–ular BigBoobenstein and there’s hell to pay for this woman scorned!

As the Amazon sales page for this book asks, “Is it really necrophilia if the corpse you’re fucking has been reanimated?” An interesting question, indeed, and just in time for All Hallow’s Eve! Adelaide is essentially a zombie, reanimated by the deranged doctor for dastardly purposes. Though I hesitate to give away a big plot twist, it’s clear he’s done this before, for some seriously sinister reasons. Adelaide turns out to be his finest creation, however – and not just because of her notable knockers. No, this gal is all woman, but she only truly comes into her own after death.

Which brings us to the question, is there life after death? In O’Brien’s weird and wonderful universe, there definitely is. In fact, it’s possible that the only people who are truly living in this Anytown, USA are the undead! Blame Dr. Kuntz, blame the Satanic rock ‘n’ roll music, or just blame the otherworldly trolls; whatever the case, it’s clear that death is just another part of life, and the coolest cats are whooping it up in zombieland.

Despite Adelaide’s superficial obsession with appearances, this book is an oddly feminist one. It ultimately takes the notion of getting breast implants for oneself instead of to please a man to its furthest extremes, and its stinger ending really nails it all into the coffin.

Once you’ve read the first installment of BigBoobenstein, you’re sure to become addicted to its particularly peculiar charms, so be sure to grab the next book in the series, The Groom of BigBoobenstein, as well as the final installment (so far), Daughters of BigBoobenstein. Happy Halloween!

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Countdown to XXXmas: The Heart of Christmas #giveaway

Just call her Christmas Eve…

Eve Harmon has always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it reminds her of everything she doesn’t have. Almost all her friends are married now, and that’s what Eve wants, too. Love. A husband and kids of her own. But the B-and-B she manages and even Whiskey Creek, the small Gold Country town where she was born and raised, suddenly seem… confining.

As Eve turns thirty-five, she’s worried that her future will simply be a reflection of her past. She’s dated all the eligible men in the area. There’s no one she could even imagine as a husband – until a handsome stranger comes to town. Eve’s definitely attracted to him, and he seems to have the same reaction to her. But his darkly mysterious past could ruin Eve’s happily ever after – just when it finally seems within reach. Just when she’s counting on the best Christmas of her life!

An Excerpt

There was a naked man in her bed.

Eve Harmon’s stomach tensed, and her heart skipped a beat – but she was pretty sure she’d invited him. From the way their clothes were strewn carelessly around the room, it was obvious that, not long ago, she’d been happy to have him with her.

She nearly groaned as her eyes swept over him. What had she done? She didn’t have a boyfriend and she never slept around. She hadn’t been with anyone since Ted Dixon – an old friend who had briefly turned into more a year ago. And before him, it had been much longer. Most people, at least those younger than her parents, would consider her extended periods of celibacy rather pathetic for a woman her age. But she lived in a small town, cared about her reputation and had been holding out for the kind of love that came with a white picket fence.

She just hadn’t found the right guy, and she was beginning to think maybe she never would. The odds weren’t in her favor. Now that most of her friends were married, she didn’t get out all that often.

But she had a lot to be grateful for in spite of her dismal love life, she quickly reminded herself. Although she’d never been the type who wanted work to become her sole focus in life, she liked her job. She ran Little Mary’s, a B and B in a converted Victorian owned by her retired parents. They lived in the house a hundred yards in front of her own small bungalow – when they weren’t traveling in their RV like they were at the moment. Thanks to them, and the quaint, bucolic area where she’d been raised, her life had always been pleasant and safe – and predictable. Absolutely predictable.

Until now.

God, she hadn’t even slept with someone she knew. And since there were only about two thousand people in Whiskey Creek, it was hard to find someone she didn’t.

Shifting carefully so she wouldn’t wake the man lying next to her – she needed to regain her bearings before confronting him – she tried to get a look at his face, but a thunderous headache made it difficult to sit up. That headache also explained how she’d ended up in this predicament. Last night she’d made the mistake of going out to celebrate her thirty-fifth birthday even though her friends weren’t available until tonight, and she’d drunk too much. She’d been determined to do something wild and fun and completely out of character before reaching such a significant age, the age at which some doctors advised against getting pregnant.

Now she was paying the price for her out-of-control evening.

Had they even used birth control?

Briefly squeezing her eyes shut, she sent up a silent prayer that she’d had the presence of mind for that at least. It would be entirely too ironic for someone like her – someone so cautious – to get pregnant because of a one-night stand.

What have you done?

Buy A Copy

You can buy a copy of The Heart of Christmas at Amazon, B&N or iTunes.

About the Author

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak is the author of more than fifty books. A four-time Rita nominee, she has won many awards, including the National Reader’s Choice, the Bookseller’s Best, the Book Buyer’s Best, the Daphne, and the Holt Medallion. She also runs an annual on-line auction for diabetes research every May at www.brendanovak.com (her youngest son has this disease). To date, she’s raised over $2 million. For more about Brenda, please visit www.brendanovak.com. You can also connect with her on Facebook or enter her 12 Days of Christmas Contest at http://www.brendanovak.com/monthlycontests/rafflecopterbloggercontest/.

Giveaway

Brenda will be awarding a $100 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour, and a $50 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn host. Don’t forget to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. All tour dates can be found here.

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