Lisa Fox's Blog, page 185
March 21, 2012
Extract Three – A Excerpt from Bound For Glory by Sean O'Kane
A party is held at The Lodge, the most select and discreet SM club in the country and political intrigue is in the air, against a background of pony girls and sex. Lots of sex!
Clive watched as there were the usual invitations to give lifts, the swapping of passengers and drivers, just as there always is at gatherings where large numbers of people have to be transported by any means. But all of a sudden Dandy MacIntyre was beside him.
"Mind if I climb aboard, Clive, old thing?" he asked.
"Of course not!" Clive could scarcely hide his pleasure in being selected. He and the PM might both be seated at the cabinet table in Number Ten Downing Street, but everyone knew that he rarely dispensed the favour of his leisure time on colleagues. He tightened his slaves' reins as Dandy climbed aboard and the weight of the rig shifted while he settled himself. And just as he did, Brian Holden cracked the long driving whip he was using for the four-in-hand, in the air and everyone quietened. He told them as there was no way the big carriage would fit through the arch at the back of the house's stableyard, they would go in procession the long way round, back down the drive and then off right and onto the grassy tracks that crossed the golf course, then along by the side of the woods before re-crossing the course and arriving at the lake. There were cheers all round as it meant the pleasure of driving fine ponies on a fine day would be prolonged very satisfactorily. And even as they made ready to move off the photographers who had been engaged to capture the day were moving amongst the rigs, snapping each one and taking notes of the names of the drivers and passengers for a record of the great day that would only be available to those present.
Brian cracked his whip again and then wielded it in a long figure of eight across the four slaves' backs and the wheels of the carriage began to crunch on the gravel, then, in his wake other whips began to snap and hiss, other wheels crunched and other steel shod sandals scraped and scrunched as drivers sorted themselves into a long procession behind the big carriage that had ponderously managed to turn around.
Clive deftly piloted his trap into a gap about half way along the single file procession, just behind Amelia Johnson, whose passenger was Alberto Salazar, an arena owner and the two could be seen busily talking trade as the slaves got up to trotting speed. Clive made sure the whip had left his two in no doubt that he wanted a good high stepping gait and once he had achieved that he relaxed in his seat.
The parkland looked superb in the bright summer sun which flicked across them as they passed under the trees that lined the drive. Ahead of them the slaves looked beautiful as they trotted, their buttocks rippling and their plumes nodding – his wore the scarlet of The Lodge, but the CSL ones had green and gold while the Girl Squad pair sported their stable's yellow and black.
Beside him Dandy breathed out in a sigh of pleasure and lay back against the quilted leather of the seat.
"It's been a long, hot summer, Clive, but I'm hearing that estates up and down the country are quiet and that law-abiding folk can walk out to take the evening air in safety. It's working isn't it? Everything we put in place is working at last!"
"It looks that way, certainly," Clive replied cautiously.
"The people love us for it because we don't just clean the streets we take the sweepings and make them into something better. Our party now indubitably rules the hearts and minds of the public. The salt of the earth, the people who really make the country tick! And we must make sure that that's how it stays."
Clive wasn't sure where this was going so he stuck to making an approving grunt and flicking the whip over Nine's back a few times, before switching to Six and lacing her paler flesh as well.
The column of traps had reached the path across the golf course and swung to the right and out into open sunlight, the ponies' hooves stopping scraping on the tarmac and instead making soft thuds as they trotted out onto turf. Dandy, turned in his seat to watch the rigs behind them emerge from the trees, one after the other, more pony traps in one place than most men ever got to see – as he observed.
Anna Chatham's life is suddenly ripped apart and her catastrophic fall from fame and fortune to criminal takes only a few days. And in the Britain that she knows, some twenty years in the future, when a pretty girl is condemned for anti-social behaviour, it can mean only one thing. In his relentless drive towards power Clive Mostyn has steered through slavery legislation. Anna Chatham now faces fifteen years as the legal property of an arena. But there is a sinister purpose at work behind her downfall and as she learns to submit to her Masters, a devastatingly cruel plot is revealed. Page-turning action as always as Sean takes us to the climactic Demolition Derby – the arenas' latest and harshest test for its slaves.
Available from:
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Bound-for-Glory-Sean-OKane/9781908593474
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/sean+o27kane/bound+for+glory/8850691/
The book is also available from all outlets of WHSmith Travel in the UK .
*****
Sean O'Kane came to writing erotica via various routes. He was a successful author in other fields before the erotic bug bit him!s
Since first appearing in the Silver Moon canon he has written several best-selling titles and 'Bound for Glory' is the ninth novel in the acclaimed Arena series. Readers have kindly supplied him with a lot of feedback over the course of the series and even suggested ways in which the various plot lines might develop. He is very gratified by this proof of his books being enjoyed. In the erotic genre, that degree of reader feedback is rare!
He has another Arena novel planned but after that is not decided in which direction he might turn.
Sean lives a full life beyond his hours at the computer. He is keen on gardening and cooking as well as reading – he likes to see what everyone else is up to! He has many friends on the SM scene and is proud to class Francine Whittaker as being among them.
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: BDSM, Bound For Glory, Erotica, Guest Blogger, Sean O'Kane
But Why Self Publishing? by Savannah Chase
I want to start off by saying thank you to Lisa for inviting me to be a guest on her blog. It is a pleasure to be here. For those who don't know me, my name is Savannah Chase and I'm an author.
You've probably heard a lot of chatter about authors venturing off and taking on the self publishing route. Why are they doing that? Aren't they happy with their publishing houses?
Well I can't speak for everyone but I'm happy with the houses I'm at. For me the choice to self publish is not about happy or not happy. It is about doing something different. It's about taking another step in a new direction. I've talked to a lot of people about self publishing, and the most common answer is control and freedom. Another answer I hear was they wanted to branch out.
There are also people who have said they've decided to self publish because they were unable to find a publishing home for their book. So does that mean that every Dick or Jane who gets rejected can self publish? Well honestly, yes they can, but it's not as easy as you might think.
Just because you decide to take the self publishing road it doesn't give you the right to publish something unprofessional or half assed. Self publishing means you have a responsibility to make your work just as good as if you were putting it out with a traditional publisher.
You have to edit and check over to make sure that your finished product is as perfect as possibly can be. You have to put in a ton of time and effort into your book.
If you've followed my official blog you probably read about my publishing journey. If you haven't let me take this time to give you the short version.
This year I decided to try my hand with self publishing. Instead of releasing a book you can buy I decided to put out a very short story for free.
Why free?
I wanted to put something out for readers that they could get as a sort of thank you. I appreciate all the support and hard earned money people spend on my books. I wanted to do something special.
This was also my way to dip my toe into the water and see how things work in this whole indie world. Lovers Moan, the short story I put out has been out for a little over a week and so far most of the feedback I've gotten back from readers has been wonderful. That means a lot because putting out something on your own there is a bit more pressure. Or the author feels pressure to measure up and as one would say bring it on because they are stepping out on their very own.
Self publishing has been something new and amazing. It's taught me a lot about what I'm capable of doing and taking on.
It is a scary thing to get into when you've never done it. You have to find your own editor, and hire people to create a cover and proof read your work and so much more. It takes time and a lot of patience.
I've put out free reads on my site before, but have never done it in the self pub format.
The time came and I knew I wanted to refresh old stories I'd put out on my web site and bring them to life again, but this time make them accessible in more places.
The first venue that I released Lovers Moan was Smashwords and I hope to have it out on Amazon and other places soon.
With self publishing something for the first time there is a learning curve. The biggest one is getting the story file ready for all the different venues. That means having the format right. Everything takes time.
So far I've been lucky enough to have people who have taken the time to answer my questions and point me in the right direction.
So you might ask, is the control worth all the extra work and possible stress? Yeah it is because once you get the hang of the little things the rest is just getting everything in order.
Publishing traditionally you still have edits and proof reading to do. You are still responsible for your book. So that doesn't change when you publish on your own.
The difference now is that your responsibility is a bit larger and involves learning some new stuff. Through all the confusion and my multiple questions I've learned so much and hope to pass it on to the next person who comes around needing help. I'm no expert, far from it on self publishing but the knowledge I've gained I can always pass along.
I look forward to publishing more free stories and non free. Oh and don't worry I'm not going all Indie. You will still be seeing books from me via my publishers.
Lovers Moan by Savannah Chase
Publishing Date: March 12, 2012
Publisher: Savannah Chase
Genre: erotic romance, contemporary
Format: eBook
ISBN: 978-1-4658-3368-6
Price: FREE
Seduction never sounded so good.
Karina places an ad in the classifieds in the hopes of fulfilling a fantasy to bring pleasure with only the sound of her voice. But when a caller responds and engages her in a stimulating conversation, will she break the connection, or answer with a lovers moan?
If you would like more information on me and my work I invite you to come on by http://www.savannahchase.com or my official blog at http://www.savannahchase.com/blog
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: Awesome Authors, Guest Post, Lovers Moan, Savannah Chase, Self-Publishing
March 20, 2012
March 19, 2012
In Limbo
I'm blogging over at Flirty Author Bitches today, trying to figure out what I can do while I am waiting to hear about my various submissions.
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Filed under: Flirty Author Bitches Tagged: Flirty Author Bitches, Houseboy, Lisa Fox, Publishing, Sexy Men, Waiting, Writing
March 18, 2012
Six Sentence Sunday
I have six more from Knightly Desire for you this week.
Gabrielle is Brant's caretaker while he recovers from his injuries. She has come to his room to check on him, but finds him asleep.
She touched the curve of his solid pec, then traced the outline of one rectangular abdominal muscle. Her hand trailed lower, down over his stomach, and she gasped in surprise when he suddenly grabbed her wrist.
His dark brown eyes flicked down to where he had caught her hand and then met her gaze. "Good morning, Gabrielle."
"Good morning, Sir Knight," she said, trying to keep her voice level even as her heart pounded in her chest. Their clasped hands hovered just below his navel.
Be sure to stop the OFFICIAL SITE for all of this week's snippets!
Filed under: Six Sentence Sunday Tagged: Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Knight, Knightly Desire, Sexy Men, Six Sentence Sunday, Super Secret Project
March 17, 2012
Saturday Video – Celtic Thunder – Caledonia
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Filed under: Holiday, Saturday Video Tagged: Caledonia, Celtic Thunder, Hoilday, Saturday Video, St. Patrick's Day
March 16, 2012
Get Your Green On!
Tomorrow is St. Patrick's Day after all!
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Filed under: Holiday, Hot Men Tagged: Brent Van Zant, Sexy Men, St. Patrick's Day, Underwear
March 15, 2012
Could Almost be Body Paint
Those are some tight clothes.
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Filed under: Hot Men Tagged: Body Paint, Eye Candy, Nearly Naked, Sexy Men
March 14, 2012
What Makes A Romance? by Dianna Hardy
I am pleased to have Dianna Hardy here today!
***
What Makes A Romance?
by Dianna Hardy
Thank you so much, Lisa, for having me on your blog today 
So, what makes a romance? In some ways I mean this as a rhetorical question, because it's such a personal one. What's romantic for one person, isn't for another. Some people find possessive and intense to be romantic, other's find acceptance and calm to be romantic. I write all kinds of characters, and all types of relationships, rather than stick to one type of romance.
In my paranormal romance, The Witching Pen we meet Karl and Elena. They've both been best friends since pretty much forever, and Karl's been in love with Elena, a very powerful witch, for nearly as long. What makes a romance with these two, is the intimacy of friendship that they both have with each other on a day to day basis, since they were kids. It's a love based on the fact that they know and trust each other better than anyone else, and you can get a good sense of this in the FREE short story that I've written for the fans of the series, which take these characters back to their childhood: Wilted (A Witching Pen Novellas Prequel)
Karl and Elena have always been there for each other, only now, their mutual feelings are about to be tested: Elena's being seduced by a demon in her sleep – the same demon who 'gave' her a magic pen that can write the future. He's awakening all sorts of lustful feelings within her, and Karl's the only one who can bring her back. However, he's not immune to his own feelings for his best friend. But he can't do anything about that, because sleeping with Elena will deplete her of all her magic forever…
Excerpt from The Witching Pen
He bouldered his way into her room to find her sitting up, tangled in her sheets and tearing at air.
"Elena!"
Did she see him? She seemed to be looking at something…
"Elena! Wake up!"
The look on her face almost had him frozen to the spot, but his practical nature always bested him, and he grabbed her shoulders instead, trying to shake her into full alertness. The woman was rigid under his hands, so he tried a different approach. Collecting her into his arms, he planted a tender kiss on her forehead and rubbed her back, speaking softly, "Elena, honey, everything's all right. It's me – it's Karl."
She was burning hot, her skin tacky with sweat, but she blinked.
Yes. We're getting somewhere.
"Elena, it's okay … everything's okay…"
He rocked her in his arms, back and forth.
"Wake up, baby. Wake up…"
She blinked again and turned her head. "K-Karl?"
"Yes, it's me … are you all right?"
She looked skittishly at her surroundings, then surrendered into his arms, her breaths coming out sharp and quick.
"What happened?"
"There was … something was here…"
He frowned at her open window. Did she mean that someone was actually in here?
As if reading his mind, she shook her head. "No. It was a like a dream … but it wasn't a dream."
She paused and seemed unsure of what to say next.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"I don't know. I…"
She looked at him – looked right into his eyes with her own hazel ones. Up until now it hadn't even occurred to him that they were holding each other wearing not a hell of a lot, and he forced his mind away from the fact.
A slight smile touched her lips. "I like your eyes – I like that they're so blue…" And then her smile disappeared, she looked away and shuddered. His practical self won through yet again, and he used the opportunity to untangle her sheets and draw them up around her – for his sake more than hers. She shot him a grateful glance.
"It was a demon. I think he was in this room, or at least, his shadow was. He seeped into my mind as I was dreaming."
"A demon?"
Nothing about Elena or the life she led should surprise him any more, but he'd never heard her mention demons at all in the past, so here he was, once again taken aback.
"I don't know much about them. There are text books and stuff, but my teachers never concentrated on the demon worlds so much … guess I'd better get researching."
"A demon? I don't know what to say … how do you know it was a demon?"
"Instinct, I guess … and he looked kind of … demonic. Oh, God …"
"What?"
"The pen … he said it was his gift to me."
They both looked at the pen that sat atop her nightstand.
"Do you believe him?"
She shrugged. "I have no reason not to, I mean … the pen just appeared one day out of nowhere."
"So you think he planted it for you to find?"
"I suppose he did, and I'd better find out why fast, because I don't think this was a one-off visit. Karl? Karl – what is it?"
Karl had stopped moving; he'd almost stopped breathing. A feeling of dread had sunk into the pit of his stomach. "Do you always sleep with your notebook open?"
"Yes, it's easier for me to write down dreams and stuff when half asleep."
"Did you write down that?"
Elena looked once again at the notebook and spotted what she had obviously missed before. A strangled cry escaped her lips.
The plane's final engine failed, and the passengers
screamed as it plummeted.
The Witching Pen is available as an eBook, currently at the offer price of $0.99 (list price $1.99), and will be released as a paperback at the end of April.
Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things. Writes about witches, demons and angels. All info can be found on her website DiannaHardy.com
Filed under: Guest Blogger Tagged: Dianna Hardy, Guest Blogger, Guest Post, Paranormal Romance, Romance, The Witching Pen
