Daryl Devore's Blog, page 112

One the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful

Let's get right to it – stand up and welcome – Lynda Bailey (loud applause)


My name’s Lynda Bailey and I’m promoting my newest release, On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful—MIC. This is a contemporary, erotic novella and is the first in a four-part anthology.  
Tell us about yourself.  Where were you born? Where do you live now?I was born and raised in the great state of Iowa. After getting a BA in Technical Theatre from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, I moved west to Reno, NV. I had several friends working the huge stage show, Don Arden’s Hello, Hollywood, Hello. For a couple of months, I “worked the bounce” then got hired fulltime to work on the Stage Right crew. My future hubby worked on the Electric crew and the rest, as they say, is history. J
How long have you been writing?  What inspired you to write?I’ve been making up stories since I was a little girl, usually to my favorite TV show. I’d lay awake in bed, thinking “what if this” and “what if that” until I had an entire story mapped out in my head. My inspiration for actually putting words on paper was the utterly fabulous Lorraine Heath. Her stories always touch a deep, emotional chord with me. My goal as a writer is to have readers feel about my stories the way I feel about Ms. Heath’s.
Was there a moment when you first thought "I'm a writer."?Um, not without some prodding. LOL. A couple of years back, when I worked as a substitute teacher, a 6th grade teacher wanted me to talk with her students about being a “working” writer. I scoffed at the idea because I wasn’t a writer, not really. I had nothing published. But Jolene insisted and that was my turning point. Since then, I proudly refer to myself as a writer.
What genre do you write in? List names of published books.I write mostly contemporary romance with heat levels ranging from hot to sizzling. J But I also penned Wildflower, an erotic western. My “other self” (Bailey Lynn) has written a YA romance. Currently I have five titles available through Amazon.com. Battle-Born Love (sexy, contemporary romance; first in my Battle for Love series), Boy Next Door(contemporary, erotic romance-novella), Wildflower(erotic, western romance), Fulfilledand Glad to Be Home (erotic short stories.)
What is your latest book about?On the Corner of Heartache and Hope—MICis a total “ugly duckling” story, as are most of my stories. It’s set in the fictional town of Tatum, Nebraska. Michaela (Mic) runs an automotive garage. Her most loyal customer, Ester, died when Mic was out of town. Ester’s grandson, Scott, comes to Tatum to settle the estate. A misunderstanding leads to a dinner date which leads to an interesting proposal on Mic’s part. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that. J 
What is your favourite moment in the story (one that doesn’t give away any secrets)Aside from typing “The End,” I think my favorite part is the planning/plotting stage. I love to think about my characters and all the various ways I can make their lives miserable. <wink> I even jot down snippets of dialogue for stories that I probably won’t start for at least a year, if not longer.
Have any of your characters ever been based on people you knew from real life?Actual people don’t end up on my stories, but they do inspire my characters. For On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful—MIC, the heroine is based on a gal I met in passing years ago. She worked as an auto mechanic and helped me out when I stupidly locked my keys in my car.  
When you aren't writing, what are some of your hobbies and interests?My husband and I moved into a new house earlier this year. My hobbies and interests these days pretty much are centered on getting the yard up to snuff.
Tell us something your readers don’t know about you.I’m a totally metal-head when it comes to music. My favorite band is Disturbed.
If you could meet an author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?Since I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Lorraine Heath in 2010, I’d have to say Ernest Hemmingway. The Snows of Kilimanjaro is one of my favorite short stories.  
Where do you write? Office, kitchen table, computer, laptop?  Where would the perfect location be for you?I use a laptop and alternate between being in my office and sitting in my La-Z-Boy recliner. I had back surgery last September and sometimes sitting at my desk can cause my back and neck to ache. That’s when I switch to the recliner. The perfect spot for me to write is where I’m physically comfortable and can look outside at the quail, rabbits and squirrels that populate our new neighborhood.
Short question time.Chocolate ice cream or chocolate gelato? Ice cream, hands down.Baseball or hockey? Hockey. Baseball’s too slow for me.Hot red finger nail polish or bare nails? Bare nails. I work too much in the dirt for anything fancy.Spaghetti or steak? Spaghetti. I’m a vegetarian. Laying on a beach or skiing down a mountain? Considering I don’t think God ever intended for man to strap boards to his feet and see how fast he could go down a mountain of snow, laying on a beach. LOLWhite roses or red roses? Ohhh, tough choice. Red.Last one – tell us 1 thing about you that's fun. I love to sing along—badly—with the radio.
Blurb - Beautiful auto mechanic, Michaela Anderson, has never known a man’s touch and, at twenty-six, she questions whether she ever will. Then high school heartthrob, Scott Trehune, comes home and she sees the opportunity to fulfill her dream.When his beloved grandmother unexpectedly dies, Scott goes back to Tatum. Drowning in grief, he turns to Nonie’s mechanic, Mic, for comfort and finds much more than he bargained for.Lives, like streets, can run parallel or they can cross. Sometimes those crossroads lead to heartache or they lead to hope.

Buy button: 

 http://amzn.com/B009FEDO3W

My favourite part of writing is also typing – The End! And I agree – humans were not meant to throw themselves down the sides of mountains on skis. Thanks for dropping by – it's been fun.

Research – love it or hate it?

I've been doing a lot of research for my WIP. Capri has led me on a merry chase. I've looked up Lear jets and their cockpits, flight displays and mileage at altitude. 


I now know the eating and sleeping habits of a Komodo dragon.

 I believe I'm up to four different expensive vintages of wine. 

Oh, did I mention the yacht?? 

 Sometimes I feel I spend more time at a certain search engine typing in questions than I spend typing out dialogue. But I love it.Research can be the bane of a writer's life, but I've always enjoyed it. I love learning new things and one thing I didn't count on as I slipped into the profession of writing was how much I was going to learn. If I'm ever at a dinner party and someone queries about whether Komodo dragons are nocturnal creatures – I'm on it with the answer.
My fellow erotic writers know the "fun" places we get to visit as we research (ahem) our characters interests and playthings.
What is the most interesting/embarrassing/gross/disgusting  thing you had to research?

ONE TRUE KNIGHT on Erotic Notions

And to top off my week, another Canadian author.
 Here's DANA D'ANGELO and her book -ONE TRUE KNIGHT


The Law of Attraction and Writing by Dana D’Angelo
Life is full of abundance. You just have to ask for and receive it. This concept is so widespread that it’s almost a cliché. But there are some things in the Universe that we can’t fully explain and the Law of Attraction is one of them.
I’m a firm believer that when you think positive thoughts, you will attract positive things in your life. I know that when I’m super pumped, the world just seems a warmer, nicer place to live. The converse is also true.
Then it got me to thinking…what if I apply the Law of Attraction to my writing? If you project love, good will and happiness into your stories, would those positive vibes bounce back to you in the form of new readership? Would you then gain a reputation for creating works that make people feel good after reading your book?
I meditated on this and decided to experiment with this idea in my new book One True Knight. I figure, for one, it wouldn’t do any damage to send out positive vibes “out there”, and two, if I do end up with new readers, we all benefit as a whole.
So what kind of vibes are you projecting into your writing and in your personal lives? Please post your comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
--
Title: One True KnightGenre: Historical Romance
Blurb:
When the beautiful yet feisty Rowena de Belleville discovers her father’s plan to remarry, she fears the worst and flees her home — only to be thrust into the arms of a stranger.
Desperate to hide her identity from her pursuers, she embraces the dark stranger. But her reckless act backfires as it awakens a passion buried deep within her soul, while igniting the fuse of her mysterious benefactor.
Unable to escape destiny, their paths cross yet again. This time she learns the handsome man is Jonathan d’Abelard - the Iron Hawk, a legendary knight feared by all save one faceless killer bent on making his life a living hell…
Will her chance encounter draw them together, or ensnare her in a dangerous game of seduction, feverish desire and vengeance?

Excerpt:“What is it?” she asked, searching his face. Her eyes settled on the long scar that ran down the length of his face. It made him look fierce, although the expression on his rugged face had turned gentle, a smile playing on his lips.
Rowena didn’t think that he was handsome at first but now up close, she had to admit that he had a rather pleasant face. She shifted uncomfortably on her feet, and became conscious of the strength and power that exuded from his body. And she was all too aware of him as the virile male that kissed her once in town and many more times in her dreams.
He stood close to her now and with one hand, he reached out to caress her soft skin. “I often lie awake at night thinking about our encounter in town,” he confessed.
She startled at his touch. “Sir Jonathan,” she managed in what she hoped was a brisk tone. She took a step back. “We are no longer in town. That game is finished. I told you that I do not wish to speak of that encounter ever again.”
“I know there’s something warm and yielding inside,” he continued as if he didn’t hear her. He traced a long finger along her jaw, leaving a burning trail of erotic heat in its wake. “I want to experience it again,” he said softly, undeterred by her icy tone.
“’Tis a mistake for us to be alone,” she said, although she remained as still as if the slippers she wore somehow had sprouted roots and became embedded into the ground.
He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, stroking, caressing her silken skin until it tingled with awareness.
She felt her mouth go dry and she touched her tongue to her lips to moisten them.
“The only way to know for sure that I didn’t dream everything up is to taste your sweetness again,” he said, staring at her lips. “Will you indulge me?”

Bio:
Dana is the only girl from a family of nine children. As a teenager, there was a constant battle for the T.V. remote, which she lost, so she was forced to find her amusement in books. A friend got her into romances, and soon she read as many as ten romance novels per week, spending hours with her nose pressed between the pages, skipping meals and cutting out sleep. Life, it seems, wasn't as exciting or interesting as in the Medieval or Regency eras.
It wasn’t until she was married with two young kids that she decided to take a stab at writing her own historical romance novels.
She is intrigued with the idea of writing romantic stories that could bring hours of enjoyment to readers, help them escape from reality, and perhaps remind them how sweet love is and should be. These are the things that she enjoys as a reader, and these are the things that she wants to give back as a writer.
Dana lives in a city east of Toronto, Canada. When she’s not writing or reading, she’s dining at local restaurants with her husband and kids and enjoying spectacular foods of the world.

Purchase link: www.dana-dangelo.com/otkWebsite: www.dana-dangelo.com

ROSANNA LEO and THE SELKIE on Erotic Notions

Haven't been here for a while, but I'm diving back into blogging with a Canadian author.
Rosanna Leo is here with her latest – The Selkie


Tell us about yourself.  Where were you born? Where do you live now?Thanks Daryl! I am a married mother of two who has been writing since my kids were little. However, it was only last year that I “got the call” and was offered a publishing contract for the first time. I grew up in the metropolitan city of Toronto, Canada, home of the CN Tower and so many great cultural attractions. I still live close by, just west of the city. Far enough to avoid the city traffic and close enough to take advantage of the great restaurants!
How long have you been writing?  What inspired you to write?It’s been about 10 years now that I’ve been doing it with the intention to learn and be published. I’ve always written for fun, but when my sons were babies, I started playing with it some more after having taken a lot of time off. I didn’t have one particular inspiration, other than loving romance stories so much, and wanting to create my own. I needed an outlet for all the star-crossed lovers in my head!
Was there a moment when you first thought "I'm a writer."?When Liquid Silver Books accepted my first book For The Love of a God, I certainly began to wonder!
What genre do you write in? List names of published books.Paranormal romance – For the Love of a God, Sweet Hell, The SelkieContemporary romance – Up In Flames
What is your latest book about?The Selkie takes us to romantic Orkney in Scotland. In that area of the world, there exist legends of Selkie men and women, immortal creatures who can shift into seals and who have debilitating lovemaking abilities. In my book, my heroine Maggie Collins has lost everything: job, fiancé, family. She travels to her ancestral home in Orkney to settle her grandmother’s estate, only to find her gran has left her an unusual inheritance…in the shape of a sexy selkie man! The book deals with Maggie’s journey to belief, her fiery, sexy relationship with the selkie and their attempt to evade the villain who is after his cherished pelt.
What is your favourite moment in the story (one that doesn’t give away any secrets)There is a certain love scene in a stable between Maggie and the selkie, Calan. It involves a hay bale, a lot of nudity and some wandering hands. Let’s just say it stuck in my mind.
Have any of your characters ever been based on people you knew from real life?No. A lot of me is in my heroines. My ladies are often uptight and scholarly and nerdy, much as I’ve always been all my life. However, I haven’t taken any other person from my life and plunked them into a book. I might sneak in the odd characteristic or turn of phrase, but that’s as close as it gets. You never know who might get offended.
When you aren't writing, what are some of your hobbies and interests?My husband and I love travelling. The more, the better. We love visiting England and Mexico in particular. However, when we can’t escape to an exotic location, hiking is fun. I was a classical singer for many years, so music is still also important to me.
What's something about you that your fans don't know?I am a hideous nail biter. Really bad…like, until they bleed. It’s so foul.
If you could meet an author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?I’d want to meet Lord Byron. I’ve always loved his poetry, but more than anything, I’d like to put all those theories to the test…the ones that claimed he was a real ladies man!
Where do you write? Office, kitchen table, computer, laptop?  Where would the perfect location be for you?Our spare bedroom is my office right now. However, if I could write anywhere, I’d be holed up in a musty cubby somewhere in the British Library. Ah, libraries! My other passion.
Short question time.Chocolate ice cream or chocolate gelato? Ice cream, all the way!Baseball or hockey? Hockey. (knew it had to be hockey, you're Canadian – eh!)Hot red finger nail polish or bare nails? Depends. On fingers, bare. On toes, hot red.Spaghetti or steak? Ooh, steak. Laying on  a beach or skiing down a mountain? Laying on a beach. No question.White roses or red roses? Red roses. Last one – tell us 1 thing about you that's fun. I once climbed up the CN Tower for charity. Now, the CN Tower was acknowledged for years as the world’s tallest freestanding building. It took me 45 minutes and I huffed and puffed the whole way. I got a T-shirt to prove it!! (Having been to the CN Tower, I can say – Oh WOW!. I cheated and took the elevator to the top.)
It was great having you here, Rosanna. Best wishes for lots of sales.

Buy Links - 

http://www.lsbooks.com/the-selkie-p698.phphttp://www.amazon.com/The-Selkie-ebook/dp/B0095M6R7O/ref=la_B007X5P4I8_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347398876&sr=1-1https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theselkie-930496-140.html

Sexy Red Hood on Six Sentence Sunday

Six Sentence Sunday – Aug 12,2012
From my twisted fairy tale – Sexy Red Hood.
As Red stepped through the elevator doors, her flip-flop caught on the edge of the threshold. His strong hands grabbed her. One hand held her waist; the other grabbed her right breast. Her nipple responded to the contact and her pulse quickened. When she released her flip-flop and regained her balance, Red looked up into his dark sunglasses. "Well that was embarrassing."

For more – click on the Free Read tab.

Buy links - New Dawning International Bookfair - http://www.newdawningbookfair.com/Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hood-Twisted-Fairy-ebook/dp/B0055L1KJYSmashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66071All Romance Ebooks – http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sexyredhood-562333-149.htmlKobo - http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=Daryl+Devore&t=none&f=author&p=1&s=averagerating&g=both

Marine Corp to Romance Writer - Lisa Carlisle

Please tell us your name and the title of your bookMy name’s Lisa Carlisle. I wrote Smoldering Nights, which is the first part of a series for Ellora’s Cave focused on the developing relationships between characters who visit an underground/Goth club on the New England coast.
Tell us about yourself. Where were you born? Where do you live now?I’m only 5’ tall, but by a weird twist of fate one day I ended up enlisting in the Marine Corps at 19. I was born in Boston and have lived in the California desert; Okinawa, Japan; and Paris, France. Now I’m back in the Boston area.
How long have you been writing?  What inspired you to write?In the sixth grade my teacher would send home weekend assignments where we’d write a fictional story based on a topic. Ever since then, I wanted to be a writer, but didn’t think I could make a living at it.
Was there a moment when you first thought "I'm a writer."?In school, I usually got bored and wrote stories. They were silly adventures my friends and I would take. We’d overcome any obstacles and get the boy we liked in the end. Funny, I think I’m writing the same stories now, only with fictional characters. J
What genre do you write in? List names of published books.I’ve been writing non-fiction for years under the name Lisa Cordeiro, based on my travels and experiences. They include the books Parris Island: A Woman’s Memoir of Marine Corps Boot Camp, Journey of a Woman Marine, and travel stories in Europe from a Backpack. For more info, check out www.lisacordeiro.com.
What is your latest book about?Nike loves visiting the goth club Vamps—she can exchange her firefighter uniform for a slinky fantasy outfit. There she runs into the man she’d been admiring from afar at a rock climbing gym. He’s been the star of all her fantasies, so is it any wonder they end up in his private room upstairs? Just when things begin to heat up, Michel’s enemies appear.
Only Michel isn’t an ordinary mortal. And someone from his past is on the hunt for vengeance. Michel and Nike are forced on the run and hide out in a coastal cottage in Maine. They can’t resist their attraction and spend the nights exploring each others’ bodies while trying to sort out how they feel about each other. Can they overcome their differences to be together? And how will they evade the predators who are chasing them?

What is your favourite moment in the story (one that doesn’t give away any secrets)Oh, this is tough. When Nike first talks to Michel at Vamps, feeling very much on display in her slinky outfit; when they’re on the run; Oh wait -- the mirror.
Have any of your characters ever been based on people you knew from real life?Not really. I may find quirks or habits in people or think of interactions between people.
When you aren't writing, what are some of your hobbies and interests?I try to work out every day to get a break from the computer. So I’ll bike ride, run, or go to the gym. I also try to garden and experiment cooking with vegetables from my farm share. These are not always successful.
What's something about you that your fans don't know?I usually read several books at once, and pick one up depending on my mood. But it takes me days to get through a movie, if I ever sit down to watch one. And then I’ll bug my husband because I don’t have a clue what’s going on. I’ll say I have to read the book!
Where do you write? Office, kitchen table, computer, laptop? Where would the perfect location be for you?I love to ride my bike to a café and write on my netbook over a cup of coffee. But usually I write at home in the study or living room whenever I can. My goal is 500 words a day and it’s finally starting to become a habit. It may mean staying up late after the kids get to bed, but I’d take writing time over sleep any day.
Short question time.Chocolate ice cream or chocolate gelato? Chocolate gelatoBaseball or hockey?Football :-)Hot red finger nail polish or bare nails?Red, but my nails are bareSpaghetti or steak?SpaghettiLaying on a beach or skiing down a mountain?I’m a ski bumWhite roses or red roses?Red Last one – tell us 1 thing about you that's fun.Every Halloween, I go crazy decorating the house all through October. I make all kinds of creepy Halloween party food, put tombstones in the yard, hang fake legs from the ceiling, and so on. Come November 1st, I crash and say never again! 

Link -  www.lisacarlislebooks.com
Read an excerpt and buy at Ellora's Cave: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-10271-smoldering-nights.aspx
Well thank you Lisa for stopping by and letting us know a bit about you and your latest Smoldering Nights .

Twenty years in the Navy shifts right to Romance Author

Welcome to Erotic Notions - Jennifer France.


Excuse me a moment while I drool over that cover!
Tell us about your latest book, including its genre. Does it cross over to other genres? If so, what are they?The Highlander’s Witch is about a current day witch sent back to 14th CenturyScotland where the Laird of the land thinks she’s a spy – so she’s worried aboutbeing tortured as a spy or, if she tells the truth, burnt at the stake as a witch.

Now that's a dilemma!

How do you come up with ideas?I lie in bed and start daydreaming. Seriously. When deployed, there were a LOT of noises (alarms clocks going off for watches, jets landing/taking off) so I had toget to the point where I could relax and sleep – so I fantasized about somethingor other – when that storyline was played out I’d go on to the next one … there’s alot of time to daydream during 6 months at sea ;) … I guess, I’ve never broken the habit
What is the single most important part of writing for you?Getting what’s in my head down fast enough so I don’t forget but methodical enough for everyone to be able to understand
What is the most important thing you do for your career?Until I know I’m an author folks want to read, I just do it for me with the hopes that I’ll be liked – until then, and maybe not even then, it’s not a career – I just want to share my fantasies and hope a lot of people make them theirs.
What do you enjoy most about writing?Being able to ‘live’ out my fantasies – Just like when I am reading someone else’s book, I am the main female character and I pretty much rock :P
What do you enjoy most about life?As imperfect as it can be, when I chat with friends they are always saying I should make a book out of my life because of all the things I’ve done and the places I’ve been – and did I say the things I’ve done?!? (I don’t because I can’t remember half of the good stuff!)
Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?Daydreams – it really does start there – then I do the research to make it plausible.
What did you learn from writing your first book? What didn't I learn? Book trailers, marketing, every high and low imaginable with the publisher and going from wanting to be a published author to BEING one
Would you consider self-publishing?I am self-publishing. However, I’m actually considering going through a main stream publisher to see the differences – on the fence still
How many hours a day to you spend writing?Depends on how much I have in my head that needs to be written – a half hour, maybe an hour here or there – it’s the whole feast or famine thing – remember?
If you could give the younger version of yourself advice, what would it be?I’d tell myself not to rush into the things I ‘think’ I want because that’s not what’s going to make me a better person … but I doubt I’d listen and that’s okay
Is your muse demanding?She’s a quirky kinda gal – I think she’s also a Gemini because she goes from being OCD about the story making sense to not being able to think things through :D
Are your stories driven by plot or character?I’m not sure I could do one without the other. Without the right kind of plot I can’t think of what kind of character and without the right character the plot doesn’t make sense.
How do you balance a life outside of writing with deadlines and writing muses?Balance? You can balance all that? Is there a class? I need to sign up! Seriously.
What is the craziest thing you did as a kid, and would it ever end up in a book?As a kid? I can’t think that far back, but between you and me? 20 years in the Navy has brought me to some awesome places … with some awesome experiences :D
What are some jobs you've done that would end up in a book? I don’t have many job experiences to go off of. I will admit that I started writing a book about a girl getting out of the military, vacationing with a friend who has a hunk of a hunk of a cowboy brother-in-law …. But I know too much about the military to make it – believable … it’s like when cops watch CSI and they roll their eyes – if you know too much you pick it a part…I’ll figure it out
If I was a first time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?Depends – do you like a hunk in a skirt? Then this one…do you like the hunk that has a thing against demi-gods? Then the 2nd …. You like bondage? Then the 3rd? Cowboys? The one I haven't completed …. Something else in the romance theme? Let me know and I’ll talk to my muse and get back to you :-)
What do you hope readers take with them after reading your work?I can’t write something that gives meaning – I can only write to take someone away from what they have and give them something they want – even if it’s for only the duration of a book. So, I hope they take with them the knowledge that there is always a happy ending – against all odds - when it comes to my books
List two authors we would find you reading when taking a break from your own writing.Hands down: Christine Feehan and Sherrilyn Kenyon


When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wrote a sci-fi fantasy (and I meant ‘wrote’ as in pen to paper) in HS – so forever ago :P … one day I forgot it on the lunch bench and went back during class – it was gone.
 How long does it take you to write a book?About 3 months-maybe 4 – if I don’t have to worry about any other books


Thanks for stopping by Jennifer and letting us visit with you and drool over your cover. 

Open Promo on Erotic Notions

Welcome to August and the first of the month means open promo time.


So post your excerpt and buy links. Do go too overboard on the heat level - some non-erotic readers might go through here.


Mine promo


Author - Daryl Devore
Title - Sexy Red Hood
Genre - erotic contemporary romance (twisted fairy tale)
Buy links -
New Dawning International Bookfair - http://www.newdawningbookfair.com/Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Sexy-Hood-Twisted-Fairy-ebook/dp/B0055L1KJYSmashwords - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/66071All Romance Ebooks – http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-sexyredhood-562333-149.htmlKobo - http://www.kobobooks.com/search/search.html?q=Daryl+Devore&t=none&f=author&p=1&s=averagerating&g=both
Excerpt  Red moaned and rubbed her forehead. Her eyes briefly fluttered open. It was dark. She was uncomfortable and cold. Her wrists hurt and--wow--did she have a headache. She adjusted her position. That didn't help. Whatever she was lying on felt cold and hard. Had she fallen out of bed? Without answering her question, Red drifted off to sleep. The pain in her shoulder woke her. She tried to stretch and yawn, but couldn't seem to move. What the…? She opened her eyes and sat up. Her head spun, her stomach clenched as she fought the urge to throw up. Where the hell am I? Crap my head hurts. Why is it so friggin' dark? She reached out with her right hand to grope around to try and discover where she was, but her left hand followed her right. Puzzled, she moved her left hand back to her side and her right hand moved along with it. Thinking through the ache in her head, it--figuratively--hit her. My hands are tied? The cramping in her legs made her try and shift positions. My legs are tied? She wiggled herself up to a kneeling position and felt around in the darkness. Shelves. Cool to the touch. Metal. Bottles. Plastic. She unscrewed a cap and sniffed. Cleaning stuff. Her eyes watered. Eww, industrial strength. Reaching forward, she placed the palms of her hands on the edge of a shelf, touched it and moved a bit to the left. She worked her way around, patting the shelves and trying to delineate her space. Her hands slid across a smooth surface. Door. They touched another shelf. I'm in a closet. What the hell am I doing in a closet? How drunk did I get last night? Rolling off her knees until her butt hit the floor, Red wiggled forward until she reached the door. Reaching up with both hands, she grasped the handle and turned. No joy, it was locked. Ok, think. For some unknown reason I am tied up in a closet and my head friggin' hurts! She sat in the dark. At some point isn't some brilliant idea supposed to come to me about how to get out of here? No ideas pushed their way through the pain in her head. She yawned. I'll just have a little nap and maybe my head'll clear. The images in her dreams were blurred and disconnected. A puppy. Her grandmother. Green shiny stones. Dark eyes staring. A rose. Pain. Lips pressed against hers. Music. The smell of sunscreen. The smell of a man. A growling wolf. Her eyes opened. Damn. Wanted to wake up in my room. Sliding around, she sat up and leaned against the smooth surface of the door. Mom sent me on a cruise. Oh, I'm on a ship. It's a closet in a ship. Ok, we're getting somewhere. She sent me to look after grandma. Grandma gave me her emerald necklace. I danced with Chopper. And Will. Then I wanted to go to bed. I was in Grandma's cabin. Why? The necklace! Her hand reached for her neck. Damn it! He took it. The bastard. 
Now post your excerpt.

Erotic Notions is @ 6 Sentence Sunday

If you are here for A Heros Blog Hop - please scroll down.

Six Sentence Sunday
Been a long time since I was here. Glad to be back. 
From my WIP, Capri and her friend, Kat, have just been given a meager offering of champagne and chocolate.
I snapped my fingers. "Waitress." She turned back toward our table.With one hand, I picked up more champagne flutes and with the other I grabbed another plate of dark delight. "I paid seventy-five dollars a piece for these tickets, these are mine."She started to protest but I gave my best corporate-bitch stare down. She turned on her heel and left.

I'm hoping to have this book out this year – if I can get it finished!

Thanks for stopping by.

Black Dorn's Hero on A Heros BlogHop

Welcome to A Hero's Blog Hop on Erotic Notions.

Yes you at a blog for the A Heros Blog Hop. I'm supposed to put the picture here, but it won't stick?? But it's on the side.  Heros blog hop
 
And you can tweet about the hop - use #HeroBlogHop


 There I think that's all the business stuff.


Interview with Royalty

I'm nervously sitting here on my deck waiting to do my first interview with royalty. Do I curtsey? Bow? Lick his feet?
A blast of trumpets heralds his arrival. He dismounts his black stallion and a loud gasp escapes my lips. There he stands all 6'3", broad shouldered, scruffy hair, unshaven princely goodness.
I force myself to stand. He strides across the yard, mounts the steps then glances at the deck chair he supposed to sit in. "Deeply sorry," I mumble. "I don't happen to have a throne." Remembering my royal etiquette, I bob a quick knee dip of a curtsey. "Gon-dra Malack."He raises one eyebrow. I fight the urge to say, "Dude, curtsying 101 was not on the curriculum of my Canadian high school."
He rubs his nose, sniffs and sits. In my most pleasant tone, I query, "Can I get you a drink? Diet Coke? Beer?"
At the mention of beer, his curiosity is aroused. I quickly return and offer him a cold one. He lifts the bottle to his lips and swallows a mouthful. "Mmm." In two mouthfuls, he finishes his beer and hands the empty to me. "Your brewer is a fine fellow."
"His name is Molson and I'm sure he'll be pleased."
I return with another beer and sit next to him. My nose tingles at the musky aroma emanating from him. I inhale deeply and revel in his scent. "Okay, onto business. Can you introduce yourself?"
"You already know who I am?"
"I know, but you're supposed to."
His brow darkens.

(I think maybe I should have written him a little less arrogant.)
Nervously licking my lips, I smile. "So I'll introduce you. With me, I have Gon-dra Malack of Black Dorn. In our English, that would be Prince Malack, heir to the throne of the castle and all its lands, Black Dorn."
He bangs the empty beer on the table, I scurry in and return with the remainder of the two-four. He grabs one.
"Can you tell me what you thought when you first saw Branwyn?"
"A brazen wench who needed a lesson. One does not just speak to the Gon dra." A smile crossed his mouth. "Then I saw her golden-red hair and the fire in those green eyes. My heart was lost to her. And if you tell anyone that I will rip out your heart."
"Have another beer." I place his fourth on the table. "Was there a moment when you knew you loved her?"
"Aye." He finished his third beer and picked up the fourth.
"You're supposed to describe that moment."
"That is not what you asked." He rubbed his forehead. "This interview thing is most tiring.""To help the readers I'll post a snippet that shows your desire for Branwyn."
The duna (instructor) leaned forward. "Yes, Gon-Dra Malack." "Who is the dune (student) that Leah serves?" "Her name is Branwyn. She is young and untrained." "She is beautiful and desirable." "By the smile on your face, and the rise in your garments, thoughts of her fill your dreams."
He raised his beer to his lips. "Beautiful and desirable. Good description.""Do you think of yourself as a hero?""No, I am Gon-dra. I do what I must.""But you fought a battle….""I have fought many battles." He grinned. "Defeated many an enemy."I slap at a mosquito. "You battled your brother to save Branwyn.""I would die for her."Handing him another beer, I smile. "And that is why you are the hero of Black Dorn."

To win an ecopy – post a comment that relates to my post and isn't as mundane as thanks for the giveaway.If you wish to purchase - here are the buy links -  Available at - http://www.newdawningbookfair.com/
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Black-submission-punishment-bondage-ebook/dp/B005XQ93RC
Smashwords – http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98038
Kobo - http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Black-Dorn-submission-punishment-bondage/book-9vcORpb9BUaVdzUALE5mfQ/page1.html
All Romance Ebooks - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/produ...
Now onto the other blogs and comment on as many as you can and win some of those incredible prizes.