Ellison James's Blog, page 4

Some Fine Tuning

It appears Lexi's Run is on track for a September release. With edits underway, I thought it would be a great time to take another look at something that I feel can make or break a novel before it has a chance to be read - the cover.

Since the second novel marks my commitment to the Immortal Desires series, it stands to reason that I should create a brand or some item that remains constant and identifiable throughout the series.

Enter the series banner.

Take a look at the covers below and comment with your opinion on whether this works as something that ties the series together.


I've also remade the cover for the first novel as seen below:



What do you think? Does the branding work?
The cover you see for the first novel comes from the ebook version. The paperback version still shows Azra's face behind the night skyline of Atlanta, Georgia. This cover will soon replace both version currently on sale.
As some of you may know already, I take great pride in being a completely independent author, even creating my own cover artwork. In the updated cover for Lovestruck Succubus , I moved the photo of the man and woman down to minimize the, uh, exposure of the woman's nakedness. Although this image may seem to risque for some readers, I feel it best depicts the main character of the story, Azra. As most paranormal readers know, the Succubus like to be on top.
The new cover above will likely be the final for publication of Lexi's Run . The new cover for Lovestruck Succubus will appear after the book goes through a late rewrite and the second edition is ready for publication.
For those who might be wondering, writing is underway for the next novel in the series, Demon Among Wolves , and will likely be ready for release next September.

Bleeding Out the Last Word


It is finally completed. I've typed out the last word in the second story of the Immortal Desires series, Lexi's Run.

Okay, so maybe it is just the draft and still needing editing (which the real writing occurs) but the wait won't be long now. The cover design shown above is still tentative, as with the story title, although the title is growing on me.

After a few rounds of editing, I'll be ready to send advance copies of this story out to dedicated readers. If you would like to be a dedicated reader and receive an advance copy of this story, please sign up for my mailing list, or simply email me your request. Of course, I will announce this in a newsletter upon completion of editing.

Also, please do not hesitate to let me know if you have an idea for another cover concept or title. I'm currently working on putting elements together in some form that will tie all the stories of the series together-something like a border or caption.

I would also like to put a word out to Rasj Prophecy Sanders, a facebook friend and the person I see when I think of Joseph Johnson. Hang in there. I haven't forgotten about you. I will find a way to get pictures of you and use them in my cover art ... somehow.

Meanwhile, I'm back to work on what was supposed to be the second book in the series, Demon Among Wolves . As of this post, I'm in the early planning stages for the last book. I have a tentative title chosen of, The Last Lycan or The Last Lycan King .

Until then, live to the fullest, and never be afraid to seek for yourself, fantasy, intrigue, and immortal desire.

Blog Hop Announcement

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I just signed up for my first blog hop. This should be interesting. Follow me this Fall and enter to win something naughty FREE from me and other participating authors.

Official News-New Release

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Here it is, the official release of my latest work, Surrogate. It is live and available everywhere, although it may take an additional week or so to post on ibooks, Diesel, and Kobo.

Download your copy soon, and please be sure to help me spread the word, and make this new series "The Geil Clinic" a success!

Follow this LINK for The Geil Clinic website and links for purchasing options.

Pre Release Freebie

I'm offering a chance for early birds to get a free copy of my latest story, Surrogate for FREE at Smashwords and All Romance eBooks.

Hurry! This offer good only Through 10 July 2012.

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/179583

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-surrogate-863419-144.html

Feel free to leave a review at these sites and at Amazon and Barnes and Noble if you feel so inclined.

Radar Love, or Something Else?

Photo credit: crystalinks.comI'm probably giving away my age but here goes anyway. Way back in 1973, a Dutch rock band called "Golden Earring" released a song titled "Radar Love." Some of the lyrics went like this:

When I get lonely, and I'm sure I've had enough.
She sends a comfort, coming in from above.
We don't need no letter at all.
We've got a line in the sky.
We've got a thing that's called radar love.

This song always gives me the impression that the two lovers had some means of communicating beyond words. They called each other without the use of phone, letter, email, text, or twitter post. They were connected on a spiritual level.

Think about it. Wouldn't it be great if something like this were possible?

Ever feel like someone was staring at you but when you look, nobody is there? Some believe that is a form of PsychoKinesis or PK.

Many people believe this kind of thing is not only possible, but is something that exists within us all. Parapsychologists from all over the globe have dedicated great amounts of time and money performing tests to determine if one person could possibly communicate with, or even better, influence another without actual verbal communication or physical touch.

The phenomenon has been given many names: telekinesis, Psycho-Kinesis or PK, Remote Influence, Direct Mental Interaction with Living Systems DMILS, among others. Personally, I consider the prospect of remote influence very interesting.

There have been countless studies on this subject involving everything from staring (remember The Men Who Stare at Goats?) to skin reactions. Many of the studies had varying results but some were positive enough to warrant additional study, or even training, in an attempt to foster one's ability in such a matter.

Now, you know as a writer, I could not just leave well-enough alone on this subject. I wondered just how far one could go with this. Is it possible to influence another through tactile stimulation? Could one establish a mental or spiritual connection with another? Could one person remotely stimulate another ... sexually?

In my upcoming story, Surrogate , I explore these questions, and take the possibilities to the next level. To gain more insight, check out this story, written for the Geil Clinic series, scheduled for release on or before 12 July 2012.

Or, if you simply cannot wait that long, Surrogate is available now through Smashwords by clicking this link. I'm even offering it FREE until release day using this coupon code: KZ54K

Hope you enjoy this story. I certainly enjoyed thinking about all the possibilities remote influence might bring, while writing this short (11 thousand words) erotic tale involving four women, a clinical study, and a breakthrough in remote influence of the most intimate kind.

Still FREE at ARe

I'm still offering my short celtic/wiccan erotic tale, The Cusp of Libra FREE at All Romance eBooks. Of course, this work is still available free at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and just about everywhere else.

A Little Taste

 Photo from rogerblazic.com Holly made the connection. Her mind was transported to the room next door. There was a body lying on a bed and she felt her soul, open and ready for communication. Her mind was let into the person easily but maintaining the connection would take all of her concentration. She opened her eyes and saw Katrina standing at the edge of the bed. She nearly lost her concentration at the sight of Katrina's beautifully luscious body, closing her eyes again to flush the sight from her mind. Katrina was a hard vision to push away. Her dark skin and curvy form was like a neon sign flashing take me, I'm yours. Nonetheless, Holly tried to imagine her as the subject while waving her hand at the camera for Doctor Mueller to kill the lights.She leaned forward, her eyes still closed, until she sensed Katrina's abdomen, inches from her face. She was close enough to smell the essence of Katrina's perfume. She breathed in Katrina's aura, and it brought a fire to her senses. Reaching forward, she drew her arms around Katrina and ran her hands slowly up her back as she stood.The room lights dimmed and the darkness brought a great sense of Katrina's body into her soul. Embracing Katrina, she focused on the subject in the next room, trying to deepen the connection with her and get a sense of her body. She needed to feel the subject's body in her mind. Finally, Katrina became the subject to her, and she knew, from this point forward, she would hold that connection using Katrina as the surrogate.Holly allowed her hands to explore Katrina's back and neck until her fingers became entangled in her hair. She pulled the scrunchy from her head and Katrina's hair fell to her shoulders. Holly ran her hands over Katrina's shoulders and down her arms before bending to let her hands fall down her legs to her knees. As she bent down her cheek brushed across one of Katrina's extended and rigid nipples. It was warm across her cheek, seemingly producing a heat from some unknown source. She circled Katrina's knees twice before inching her fingers back up her legs along her inner thighs, barely skirting the outer edges of her pubic hair and upwards along her torso. Katrina sucked in her breath as Holly circled her breasts until her fingers skipped across her nipples.Holly concentrated on maintaining her connection with the unknown subject in the next room. She projected the feel of Katrina's smooth skin through the air along a fragile, invisible string to her subject. She could not be sure the actual feeling was making it into the next room but was sure her connection remained intact. The thought of actually being able to influence this subject on such a personal level spurned her on. emboldened by her initial success, she leaned in and found Katrina's lips.
Just thought I would post a little taste of an upcoming story.

A Little Help

Above is a mockup for my upcoming novel. I'm considering giving the book the title: Lexi's Run and liked the concept of the woman getting on the bus alone.

I'm looking for opinions, advice, ideas, or just suggestions on this possible book cover. Let me know what you think about the fonts used. Or, the font size or color. What do you think about the map superimposed on the ground below the bus?

I have my thoughts and reservations but truly would value some outside opinions. Please give me you comments, good, bad, or ugly on this mockup.

Of course, the quality of the picture would be better if I was not using a comp but I'm not sold enough to purchase the stock photo yet.

Again, please help me out and comment or email me with your opinions on this possible cover and title.

Thanks.

Who Says you Can't Give it Away

I like to announce that from now on and forever, I am offering my erotic fantasy The Cusp of Libra free. that's right-FREE.

Just head on over to Smashwords and download your copy. It would be great if you might consider leaving a review when you get a chance.

This work should be free at Barnes & Noble soon, and I would ask that you might also consider reporting the free price to Amazon so it can be free there as well.

Here's the link for Smashwords: The Cusp of Libra at Smashwords.

And, here's a link for the book at All Romance ebooks: The Cusp of Libra at ARe.

Here's a sample of what is in the story:

She stripped her clothes off, sending a little thrill through her body when she accidently brushed her hand across her breast, the smooth skin on the back of her fingers plucking her rigid nipple. She was so sensitive, and it surprised her that she had such a reaction to Aiden and Liam. She could not remember ever having such a reaction to a man, never mind two men at the same time. But, something about the brothers affected her on a level beyond her conscious control. For the first time in her life, she was having vivid fantasies about these men when she was wide-awake.Must be this mountain air, she thought, as she eased herself into the hot water.The feel of the hot water enveloping her body, and the smell of the infused baths salts carried her mind again to thoughts of Aiden and Liam. This kind of thing had never happened to her before, and wondered what it was that she found so attractive in both these men. Nonetheless, she liked the feeling, and welcomed the fantasy, as her hand floated across her breast, gliding smoothly over her nipple.She felt her muscles relaxing as the hot water seeped through her skin into every curve and fold of her body. She closed her eyes and let the visions in her mind flood her thoughts. In her mind, Shayla saw Aiden and Liam, together somewhere outside. They were both completely naked and chopping wood. It must have been summertime, as their bodies glistened with sweat. The light played off their bodies, creating reflective light and dark shadows, in all the right places of their bodies. She felt her body responding to the movie playing in her mind—a warming in her breasts, and along her torso, all the way down into the deep folds at the apex of her inner thighs. Her hands found their way to her breasts, pushing across them until they reached the crest along the slightly raised surface of her areolas. The warmth on her skin turned to a kind of sexual fire, burning a path of electricity and need behind her hand's movements. She pinched the nipples on both her breasts, and the touch felt foreign, as if the sensation came not from her own tiny hands, but from Aiden's big strong hands. Her mind went into overdrive, fast-forwarding through the scenario in a flash of feeling and pleasure.
Her fantasy suddenly changed, and Liam was kissing her—opened-mouthed and passionate. Aiden was now circling her breasts with his big hands, running his thumbs across her alert nipples, tightening the skin around them more with every pass. Shayla felt somehow suspended with Aiden and Liam surrounding her. Maybe they were suspended as well, floating with her in some kind of symbiotic cocoon, devoid of weight or gravity. Fingers again pinched at her nipples, and the sensation shot to her core like a bullet. She felt the muscles loosen and then tighten in her pussy, seeking touch and relief. Her hand moved, as if on its own volition, down between her legs until she found the heat of her inner folds with her fingers, somehow hotter than the surrounding water. In her mind, her hand became Liam's hand, his fingers gliding slowly across the length of her slit.
Shayla was imagining Liam's fingers on her, blindly probing along her folds, while he kissed her. Aiden was still at her breasts, but now alternated from one to the other with one hand, pinching twisting, pulling, and brushing over them as she sank deeper into the brother's talents. Her mind was awash in fantasy so real she wanted to stay there forever. Liam's fingers brushed across her engorged clit and sent her heart rapping like a hammer driving into wood—five quick raps, so loud she could hear them as much as feel them. The rapping started again and the fantasy dissolved. Liam's fingers and Aiden's hands became her own. She was no longer kissing Liam, but simply licking her own lips. A third rapping ensured the loss of her fantasy, as she clearly heard someone knocking at the door to her room.
 "Yes," Shayla said her voice low and rough. "Yes," she said again, this time louder."It's Maeven," she said through the door. "Supper is ready. Come down whenever you would like."

Enjoy!