Jessica E. Subject's Blog, page 203

Recently Enjoyed Books: Fantasy In Death by J.D. Robb

Fantasy In Death by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts)

Publication date: February 23 , 2010 by Putnam Adult

Mystery/Suspense, Romance, Science Fiction, Futuristic

From Goodreads:

In the latest novel from #1 New York Times-bestselling author J.D. Robb, it is game over for the criminals pursued by NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas. 

Bart Minnock, founder of the computer-gaming giant U-Play, enters his private playroom, and eagerly can't wait to lose himself in an imaginary world, to play the role of a sword-wielding warrior king, in his company's latest top-secret project, Fantastical.

The next morning, he is found in the same locked room, in a pool of blood, his head separated from his body. It is the most puzzling case Eve Dallas has ever faced, and it is not a game. . . . 

NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is having as much trouble figuring out how Bart Minnock was murdered as who did the murdering. The victim's girlfriend seems sincerely grief-stricken, and his quirky-but-brilliant partners at U-Play appear equally shocked. No one seemed to have a prob­lem with the enthusiastic, high-spirited millionaire. Of course, success can attract jealousy, and gaming, like any business, has its fierce rivalries and dirty tricks-as Eve's husband, Roarke, one of U- Play's competitors, knows well. But Minnock was not naive, and quite capable of fighting back in the real world as well as the virtual one.

Eve and her team are about to enter the next level of police work, in a world where fantasy is the ultimate seduction-and the price of defeat is death. . . .

Fantasy In Death is available from most book retailers in print and as an ebook.

Find more about the In Death series here: http://www.jdrobb.com/

Thanks for visiting!

Find me at Jennifer Lane's blog & enter to win Celestial Seduction!

Today I'm being interviewed by romance author Jennifer Lane. I'm giving away a copy of Celestial Seduction, so be sure to stop by and leave a comment for your chance to win.

Also, stop by Starla Kaye's blog where she's featuring heroines from several of Decadent Publishing's 1 Night Stand stories, including Carrie from Celestial Seduction.

Oh, and this month I'm a featured author at TRS Blue.

Six Sentence Sunday #44: 09/04/11 – Beneath the Starry Sky – Meet Josh

Thank you to everyone who keeps coming back to read and comment on my excerpts every week. I appreciate all of your support.

This excerpt is from my soon-to-be-released 1 Night Stand story from Decadent Publishing entitled Beneath the Starry Sky. Please note, edits have not been done yet. If you've read Celestial Seduction, this is Tamara and Josh's story, but find out a little bit more about Josh here:

Josh Summers rushed through the doors of the Castillo Hotel. He thought he'd finally escaped the big city and bright lights, at least the one where crazed fans and paparazzi followed him everywhere. Apparently not. Thankfully the Castillo hotels and resorts had a reputation for keeping out those he constantly tried to avoid. But it meant he had to miss the meteor shower tonight. He would be safe, as long as he stayed inside, for the next ten days while contractors finished the renovations to his new home and Kevin Keinelburt decided whether he wanted to invest in Josh's new production company.

Visit http://www.sixsunday.com/ to find out who's participating in Six Sentence Sunday this week or follow the #sixsunday hashtag on twitter.

Also, be sure to check out the contest in my sidebar.

 

Indie Book Blowout!

This Labor Day weekend is an ebook lover's dream come true! Over 100 authors, over 130 titles, all priced to 99 cents as part of a Labor Day weekend sale to remember. It is the first annual Indie Book Blowout!

We are talking award-winners! Best sellers! All genres! New releases! All priced down to 99 cents PLUS, if you sign up for the newsletter, you'll be entered to win a brand new KINDLE and $100 in gift card giveaways.

Just head to http://IndieBookBlowout.com, shop, click, buy and enjoy! Happy weekend and happy reading!!

Celestial Seduction featured on Katie Harper's blog

Today Celestial Seduction is featured on Katie Harper's blog, so be sure to stop by and say hello. While you're there, check out Katie's upcoming release from Decadent Publishing, Never Say Just.

Cake Writing: Guest Post by Emily Cale & BOOK GIVEAWAY

First, I'd really like to thank Jessica for having me here today to talk about my newest release, Dessert First.

Recently, a friend managed to make me agree to bake the groom's cake for her wedding. I do a lot of baking for friends' birthday parties and because I like the challenge, but never anything this large or stressful. So late on a Friday night, my husband and I sat at the dining room table eyeing the nine cakes stacked in front of us and preparing for the daunting task of turning it into a mountain.

We carved the stack the way we'd done for the practice cake, but it didn't look right. It didn't look like a mountain. It didn't look like anything except a giant pile of chocolate cake. I was immediately upset and began insisting that we would need to start over because the whole thing wasn't working (never mind that it took 5 hours just to bake the cakes and that every dish we own was already dirty). He, being the rational one, said no.

So, I started frosting it. The first layer is the crumb layer and really doesn't do much but lay a base. Still, even I had to admit that it looked a little better. Not yet a mountain, but like something. Then came the real work. The next layer of frosting went on thick and covered every surface. When it was done, the cake no longer looked like three different sized circles stacked on top of one another. I dare say that someone might even know what it was without being told. I started to relax a little and think we might pull it off.

All the little details slowly cake together. Rice Krispie treats covered in brown frosting formed rocks, shrubs were put into place, and licorice rope was tied to the top for the groom to climb. Finally, I got to put in the river running down a ledge and add some nice summer flowers.

You know what? The bride was thrilled when she came to get it. The bridesmaids took a hundred photos. The groom hugged and thanked me at the wedding. It looked pretty damn good sitting up at the front of the reception hall.

Making this cake wasn't so different from writing a story. The first draft is like the carved cake. It looks like crap and even the author isn't entirely sure what it's supposed to be. It's easy to say that it won't ever work, throw it out, and start over. The thing is, you'll never get a finished cake (or manuscript). That part isn't supposed to look pretty. You have to do revisions and slather on a nice layer of frosting that helps the story take shape. Then there are all the little flowers and rocks that get dotted in during edits that really make it shine.

I wish my cakes came out of the oven looking absolutely perfect and I wish stories fell out of head from chapter 1 to the end without missing a thing. It doesn't happen though. That's why the process is so important. If I had pulled the cake out of the oven looking amazing, I wouldn't have been so proud of it at the actual wedding. As much hard work as it was, I was glad that I did it and could take credit for all of it, even the parts that weren't absolutely perfect.

Enough writing talk. Who wants a copy of Dessert First? Leave a comment with your favorite dessert or a question for me (or both) and I'll enter you for a chance to win. Contest is international and ends September 5th, 2011 at midnight EST. Winner will be notified by email.

Blurb:

Playing perfect daughter at her mother's parties isn't Alexis Arnette's idea of a good time. She always leaves grumpy and hungry. Unimpressed with the spread laid out in the living room, she sneaks off to the kitchen to find something a little more satisfying. What she discovers is chef Morgan Crane, a man who is even more delicious than his baked goods. When one taste of his creations leads to more and her good girl demeanor dissolves, would the boring evening turn into one she'll never forget?

Buy link: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=322&osCsid=164037be35562f7bfc124229576cbe20

August In Review: Contests, Contracts, Covers & more

My Writing

Wow! And I thought July was busy. Not only has the promotion for Celestial Seduction continued, but I also submitted and contracted Beneath the Starry Sky, a contemporary erotic romance to Decadent Publishing for their 1 Night Stand series.

At the beginning of the month, KLB Virtual Events hosted a book blog tour for Celestial Seduction with over 10 blogs helping to promote my debut story. I've also had Celestial Seduction featured as part of Starla Kaye's 1NS heroes special, on TRS's Book-a-Day Giveaway, posted on Daily Dose of Decadence and been interviewed by Sizzling Hot Book Reviews. Thank you all!

And yet the writing continues with another SFR short story in the works. This one has the possibility of being a series and has some elements I've never written before. For those of you who've read Celestial Seduction, I've decided to continue Frey and Carrie's story, but I have no idea when it'll be ready.

My Blog

I have the following CONTESTS going on right now:

Becca Dale is giving away a copy of Wrath Unleashed and Erotic Healing. Contest ends September 4th.
And today is the last day to enter the contest at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews to win a copy of Celestial Seduction and book swag.

Coming up on my blog in September:

September 1 – Guest Post by Emily Cale with GIVEAWAY!!
September 7 – Interview with Heather McCorkle
September 19 – Guest Post by Layna Pimentel
September 21 – Love Beyond Time by Rebecca Royce blog tour (Goddess Fish)
September 29 – Guest Post by Starla Kaye

And as always, I will be participating in Six Sentence Sunday, sharing excerpts from various stories, published and unpublished. Thank you to Sara Brookes for all of her hard work each and every week!

Other dates of note:

September 2 – Celestial Seduction is featured on Katie Harper's blog
September 5 – Jennifer Lane interviews me on her blog and I'm giving away a copy of Celestial Seduction
September 5 – Starla Kaye features heroines from Decadent Publishing's 1 Night Stand series
September 9 – Starla Kaye features heroines from Decadent Publishing releases
September 12 – I'm guest posting at Offbeat Vagabond and giving away a copy of Celestial Seduction and book swag
September 16 – I'm blogging at Daily Dose of Decadence

That's all that I've scheduled. I'm sure there will be more and I'll keep you posted here.

So how was your August?

Interview with Author Becca Dale with two GIVEAWAYS!!

Welcome Becca to my blog. It is a great pleasure to have you visiting Mark of the Stars.

Thanks for inviting me, Jessica. I'm glad to be here.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I am married with two grown children. Of course, I had my son at twelve so I am not nearly as old as that makes me sound. Okay, that's not true, but being an empty-nester is still odd for me. Although I do enjoy having more time to write, I miss the sounds of teenagers in the house.

 

How did your journey begin as a writer?

I've had stories in my head all my life, but I had no real clue how to get them out so I could share them with others other than just telling them to friends and such. I spent a great deal of time talking with writers' groups and picked up some good friends who weren't afraid to tell me when something stunk. The first story that someone liked (besides my mother) was part of a call for submissions from Phaze publishing. I remember being ecstatic when I found out Ice Crystal had been accepted. That small success gave me the confidence to try again and thus the ball rolled forward.

Erotic Healing was the first 1 Night Stand story I read, and I loved it. You managed to make me cry, and that emotional connection is the key for me to fully enjoy a story. What was your inspiration for this story and the characters Brenna and Kostas?

Wow, what a nice compliment. Thank you so much, Jessica. Erotic Healing was both interesting and challenging to write. I wanted to write about what might happen if a gorgeous woman, one who had become dependent upon her looks, suddenly had to face the world without that crutch. Kostas showed me that beautiful people have problems just like the rest of us. He helped me make Brenna human and vulnerable.

Erotic Healing, Can't Stop Me and Wrath Unleashed are part of three different series that other authors write for as well. How is writing for an established series different than writing a story with no guidelines?

It can be a huge challenge. Can't Stop Me was the hardest because while the others have guidelines, once those are met, each author is basically responsible for him or herself only. Whereas, Can't Stop Me started with the creativity of others. I worried about disappointing the band members, the other authors, and Decadent Publishing's Heather Bennett who asked me to participate. Still, it was very exciting and fun.

Can't Stop Me is based on the lyrics of a song of the same name by L.A. based band Run Devil Run. How did you manage to turn a song into a story?

I listened to the words over and over again, picking out elements that might work in a paranormal romance. The lines about the voices in his/her head got the whole story started and it built from there. I loved the song from the start, so writing Can't Stop Me wasn't difficult, meeting the adorable guys from the band was no hardship either. Here is a link to the trailer for Can't Stop Me if readers want to hear the story's namesake. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHFFJnd52J8 Note that all the cover models are the band members.

Of your other published stories, which is your favorite and why? Can you tell us about that story and your inspiration behind it?

Sweet Temptation will always remain my favorite story. It is very short but Marc and Darcy both grabbed my heart and imagination from the start. I grew up with friends from a verbally abusive home, and so Darcy's situation was easy to understand. I have had readers tell me that no mother could be as cruel or harsh as Darcy's, but honestly, she was mild compared to some things that I have heard both when I was a kid and as a teacher in an alternative school. I like Darcy and Marc because each to the other offers the perfect example of being just what someone needs.

From all of your stories, who was your favorite character to write and why? What character begs you to write the rest of their story?

Actually, the characters from Kya's King are some of my favorites, especially, Kya's brothers, Jake and Ryan. I had hoped to write the brothers' stories shortly after Kya came out, but my dang heroines fell in love with the heroes with no conflict. It is very annoying working with lovable guys.

What are you working on now?

I think I finally have Ryan's Treasure figured out–the second story in the Sanctuary series (Kya's King). I hope to have it done before the holidays so it has a chance to come out early next year. I also have a story in to my editor at The Wild Rose Press which tells the story of (Sweet Temptation) Darcy's brother Gavin. Otherwise, life has kept me pretty busy so I don't have much time to write.

Do you have any upcoming releases?

I do. Heart Desires another 1NS story has been accepted, and I hope to start edits in the next month or so, but nothing really eminent.

Where can we find you?

I am on Facebook and Twitter. I had a website but the company apparently had issues with an erotic romance writer and pulled the site, so now I need to start over. Do look me up on Facebook or Twitter though.

 

Is there anything else you would like to share with us?

Can I share a couple things?

Here is an excerpt from Erotic Healing, which I will give a copy away in a random drawing. To participate, readers must share a favorite thing about the 1NS series or how/why the idea of a mystical matchmaker intrigues them.

Brenna shook her head and read the note again.

Ms. Halsted,

Welcome to Greece. I assume you will find your room satisfactory and the wine at the appropriate temperature.

I have taken the liberty of placing guards outside your door. Should you feel the need of them at anytime during the next twenty-four hours, simply call my name and they will assist you in any way you desire.

Please, do not take their presence as a lack of faith in your date for the evening. Mr. Kostas Drakos is a respected businessman. Rest assured, I have investigated every aspect of his personality and trust he will offer exactly what you need to overcome your problem. The guards are simply a security blanket, requested by Mr. Drakos himself. Should this venture exceed your comfort level at any point, the men will move you to different accommodations and ensure your utmost privacy.

In the basket beside the bed, you will find everything you need to fulfill both yours and Mr. Drakos's fantasies.

Enjoy yourself, my dear,

Eve

The basket held a red satin mask, two sets of matching fur handcuffs, several long strips of white silk, condoms, and another note requesting she remove all clothing and lie on the bed wearing nothing except the blindfold.

Good God, what have I done?

Buy Link: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=238

And one from Wrath Unleashed which I will also give away a copy of to the most creative comment on anything within this interview. (Language Warning)

The whole town knew the story of the infant found in the trash on Rivers Street. The city often boasted about how the citizens had rallied to protect the child dubbedBabyRivers, but the anguish of Gabriel's introduction to the world never failed to tear at her heart. She leaned in and kissed his lips tenderly, aching to show him how much he meant to her. "You were born addicted. Your mom had to be strung out. No woman would have left her newborn without care otherwise."

Violence glowed in his eyes, but she wasn't afraid, never of her crazy man. He spun and sether away from him then jerked the door open. She dove and shoved it closed before he could leave. Her back pressed to the cool metal, but the soothing temperature did nothing to calm the pounding in her chest. If he wanted to move her, he could with little effort. "Damn it, Gabe, it wasn't your fault. Just because she was a screwed up bitch, doesn't mean love isn't real."

"Get out of my way, Mick. I'm not messing around." His voice had dropped, flat and cold, lifeless despite the ever-present anger distorting his handsome features.

Tears burned, and her heart threatened to burst from her chest, but she did not back down. She would not walk away from him. "Make love to me. Let me show you that there's more to touching than physical release."

"Why? Because you feel sorry for me?" He smacked his open palm beside her head. The door vibrated on its hinges, and her heart jumped despite her surety that he would never harm her. He leaned close and slammed his hips against her. "I don't need or want a God damned thing from you. Got that? Especially, not pity." He caught a handful of her hair and pulled her head back while his other hand found her breast and squeezed roughly. His eyes turned deadly cold. "If I stay, I won't be responsible for keeping my hands off you, but it won't be anything beyond a good, hard fuck. Tomorrow morning, when this bleeding heart compassion wears off, you'll realize I used you. Suddenly, an innocent romp will become something you hate me for."

Rising to her toes, she feathered her lips over his tight jaw. "It doesn't have to be like that."

"Yes, it does." His icy stare softened for a moment as he released her breast and caressed her cheek. "Maybe not for you, Mick, but for me, sex is the raw and primal urge to bump uglies until the vicious world of reality retreats for a moment. It never was, and can never be, the pile of warm fuzzy shit a woman like you expects."

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Wrath-Unleashed-Seven-Deadly-ebook/dp/B005CDIMR8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314067550&sr=1-1

Thank you, Becca, for joining us today! I wish you all the best with your future endeavors!

So glad I could drop by. Thanks again for hosting me, Jessica.

*Please note: Both giveaways are international. All comments must be made by midnight (EST) September 4th, 2011. Winners will be chosen and notified September 5th.

An interview that digs deep into Celestial Seduction…

Today I'm being interviewed at Sizzling Hot Book Reviews by Vicki, the reviewer who gave Celestial Seduction 5 hearts. She goes deep into the heart of the story and asks some interesting questions. Be sure to stop by. Oh, and I just happen to be giving away a copy of Celestial Seduction and some swag to one person* who leaves a comment on the interview.

*Contest is international. Winner will be chosen by Random.org. Contest closes August 31st, 2011.

Recently Enjoyed Books: Another Chance by Rebecca Royce

Another Chance by Rebecca Royce

Publication date: June 22, 2011 by Decadent Publishing

Paranormal Romance

From Goodreads:

Patrick O'Callaghan is a vampire grappling with the fate that has been laid out for him. Turned into a vampire during World War II, he lived for many years as a crazed monster searching only for blood and dishing out death. That is until he is approached to join a unique unit of the United States military, a special operations division made up of vampires looking for a second chance, for a way to redeem the horrors they have caused by serving God and Country. The only catch? He had to give up human blood.

Jennifer DeMarco is a hard-nosed reporter and the daughter of an Admiral in the United States Navy. When she goes missing, kidnapped by terrorists she hoped to interview, Patrick's unit is sent out to rescue her and then remove her memory of the events, making it like they never happened.

Things go awry when Patrick responds sexually to Jennifer, something that hasn't happened since he was made a vampire. New truths are unveiled to Patrick-things he never thought he either could or should have as a creature of the undead, and Jennifer's life continues to be in danger.

When disaster strikes, the two will discover that there are second chances if only you're willing to take them.

Another Chance is available from:

Decadent Publishing
Amazon Kindle Store
Kobo Books
B&N Nook Book Store
and more

Find Rebecca on her Blog, Twitter, Facebook and Goodreads.

Thanks for visiting!