Cassandra Dean's Blog: Blog of Bloggy Blogness, page 8

It’s my birthday!

Peeps, today’s my birthday! How excitement! Do you think Michael Fassbender might swing by with a cake and his own gorgeous self???

Yeah, I know. Wishful thinking. However, it IS my birthday and as such I’d like to celebrate with all you lovely people, so I’m offering a giveaway. I know, I’m just the best ever, aren’t I?

Enter via the rafflecopter below to win any Decadent Publishing ebook from my backlist along with some swag-like paraphernalia. This giveaway is only running for a week, so make sure you get in quick!

Right, I’m off to eat cake, hopefully off Mr Fassbender’s luscious man chest…

Cassandra

xx

a Rafflecopter giveaway



 

Am writing. Kind of.

I find it really interesting what I use as place holders in my writing. In the first draft especially, I’ll put in little phrases or words that would completely not make sense to anyone but me, but I know they mean “big massive fight scene filled with blood and gore here” or “tender, loving moment between hero and heroine with lots of smooching etc”.

The latest word – blergh. Blergh, peeps. Who knew? Apparently, this means to my brain that the hero and heroine are experiencing their first real moment of URST (UnResolved Sexual Tension, another placeholder) with lots of eyes locked, beating hearts, loaded silences, skin prickling, almost kissing but not really. Blergh. Of course it means that.

These placeholders, in whatever form they appear, are really quite important in just getting the first draft done. As I’ve mentioned before, the first draft is the Vomit Draft, where you’re just trying to get the story down on the page so you can fix it later. At this stage, I don’t need to get into the nitty gritty of what my hero and heroine are feeling in that moment, don’t need to describe the emotion and sensations they’re experiencing. That’s for the second or third draft. What I need to do is write a placeholder, a word or phrase that will describe what that section of story is, a kind of shortcut for my brain, and then move on to the next scene. The most important thing is to finish, and as my film-making friend says, we’ll fix it in post.

So, blergh. It’s a thing.

Happy Birthday, SILK & SCANDAL! I’m celebrating with a #giveaway

Happy 1st Book Birthday

SILK & SCANDAL !

 

To celebrate SILK & SCANDAL’s first book birthday, I’m holding a giveaway. Enter via Rafflecopter below to go in the running to win:

 

* An ebook copy of SILK & SCANDAL

* A Prize of Mystery

 

International entries are welcome – if Australia Post can reach your country, you can enter. The giveaway ends on 16 May, so make sure you enter quick.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thanks for celebrating with me, peeps!

New website! …means new subscription

Hi all,

I haz a new website! I’m messing about with it at the moment, trying to make it look super pretty, but it’s up and running! Huzzah!

With this new website comes new subscriptions. If you’re subscribed to receive posts and the like via email or in your blog reader, you may need to resubscribe. For email, you can do so here –> Subscribe to Cassandra’s Blog (scroll down until you see the subscribe to blog section on the right sidebar). For your reader, enter “http://cassandradean.com/blog-2/ ” in the ‘Add Content’ section.

Rightio, I think that’s it! If you have any queries, feel free to contact me – here’s the link for that –> Contact Me

Exciting times! Migrating the website

Hi all,

After years with a free wordpress.com website, I’m making the move to a self-hosted one! You may have noticed a few changes about the place, and my email address appears to be down at the moment. However, there will be amazing and better things once the process is complete and I learn the new bits and pieces!

One of the things that needs to be updated is subscriptions to the site. Those already subscribed will be moved over to the new system and there will be a handy dandy sign up on the sidebar.

I’m pretty excited about this move. I can’t wait to have a more dynamic and usable website, with lots of awesome plug-ins and features. I’m sure you’ll love the new site just as much as I will!

Cassandra

xx

New Release – What You Need by Landra Graf

A sexual submissive, Royce wants a woman who’ll make his fantasies come true. The last thing he expects on his 1Night Stand is to be paired with Victoria, his ex-best friend.  Haunted by their past, he refuses to deny his newfound attraction or his need for answers.  This time, he doesn’t plan to let her go.

Victoria has loved Royce forever, but the sting of his rejection is not so easily forgotten. No longer the naïve girl he knew, she’s matured into a sexual dominant. This domme demands a chance to restart their relationship—on her terms. Knowing that one night will never be enough, she plans a seduction that will last forever.

AVAILABLE NOW

Amazon | Decadent

 

 

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Email: landra.graf7@gmail.com

 

Giveaway!

To celebrate 2 Lucky Winners have a chance at a $25 Gift Card to PureRomance.com and a free copy of What You Need. To enter to win just comment on this post with your email address.

 

 

Enjoy the following excerpt for What You Need:

“Hi.” About the only word he managed before a pair of luscious, plump red lips descended on his. One sharp heel spike scratched the skin above his ankle. His trousers were tight and rough on his thighs igniting a pleasurable pain in his pulsing erection. She molded her body to his, and her nibbling bites on his mouth sent his brain reeling. The press of her weight sparked his nerves. Lord, he hadn’t experienced anything like that.

Skin hot and flushed, he moved to embrace her and deepen the kiss. Instead, she grabbed his wrists and anchored them above his head; a simple gesture of dominance and one he’d never thought of as arousing until then. Her ministrations slowed to a crawl, opting for tracing the seams of his lips and he thrusting his own eager tongue forward, desperate for another taste of spice and something familiar…a flavor of summer and sweet lemonade.

She pressed harder, her breasts crushed to his chest, his wrists still restrained, her nails biting into the flesh. Royce’s desire ratcheted up further and as he thought he might succumb to the most embarrassing release ever, she pulled away.

Panting, he tugged at his shirt collar. His date faced the window, out of the fan of illumination from low-lit lamps within the room. Curvy with toned arms and legs, her bare back on display, she stood straight and confident, her profile nothing less than stunning.

He took a deep breath and exhaled hard. What a way to start the night. Chemistry wouldn’t be an issue. But he also wanted a little conversation.

“That’s some way to say hello.” Chuckling, he grabbed his discarded bag and moved farther into the room.

“Yes, it is. But I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.” Her voice sounded sultry and all-too-familiar.

Holy hell.

“Tori?”

 

 

 

SILK & SCORN is now available!

Peeps, today’s the day! SILK & SCORN is now available for purchase!

 



 

To celebrate, SILK & SCANDAL, The Silk Series Book 1, and TEACH ME are on sale for $0.99! Make sure you hurry, though, this is for a strictly limited time only.

Alrighty, that’s it! I hope you enjoy Sarah and Arthur’s story!

Cassandra

xx

 

 

 

 

SILK & SCORN Cover Reveal

Peeps, it’s finally here! SILK & SCORN‘s Cover Reveal!

Stop by all the blogs for your chance to win and to check out SILK & SCORN‘s cover.

 

13 February 2014

Zee Monodee – Author’s Corner

Mark of the Stars

A Passion for Romance

Rise of the Slush

Jennah Scott

Libby Waterford, Romance Writer

Sara Daniel Romance Author

JoAnne Kenrick

EE Carter

15 February 2014

Kathleen’s Place to Reflect

Nana Prah, Writing Romance & Loving Life

Love Knows No Bounds

Writery

Creative Conversations

At The End Of The Day

16 February 2014

Cate Masters

History in the Hot Lane

 

 

 

SILK & SCORN Release Date and Cover Reveal

Fantastic news, peeps – SILK & SCORN is on its way!

 

No matter how much their mothers wanted Sarah and Arthur to wed, Sarah had loathed him. However, circumstance and her late husband’s father conspire against her, and she is forced to turn to Arthur for help. Perhaps she needs his legal expertise, but she refuses to acknowledge how handsome her oldest foe has become…or her reaction to him.

His childhood nemesis is the last person Arthur Davenport expected to require his services. When a spurious claim against her late husband’s estate brings Sarah Wetherall to his door, he can’t refuse the pretty widow, no matter how much he wants to.

Thrown together by fate, will they discover there is a fine line between scorn and passion?

The Silk Series Book 2

Early Victorian Sweet Romance

 

 

And more good news, SILK & SCORN will be released on

 

19 February 2014

 

To celebrate, I’m revealing the cover on a whole series of blogs over the Valentine’s Day weekend. Make sure you stop by any or all of them to see the GORGEOUS cover. There will also be a bit of a giveaway – stopping by each blog will increase your chances.

 

13 February 2014

Zee Monodee – Author’s Corner

Mark of the Stars

A Passion for Romance

Rise of the Slush

Jennah Scott

Libby Waterford, Romance Writer

Sara Daniel Romance Author

JoAnne Kenrick

EE Carter

15 February 2014

Kathleen’s Place to Reflect

Nana Prah, Writing Romance & Loving Life

Love Knows No Bounds

Writery

Creative Conversations

At The End Of The Day

16 February 2014

Cate Masters

History in the Hot Lane

 

Make sure you stop by and celebrate with me, peeps! I’m so proud of this series and I hope you enjoy Sarah and Arthur’s story

 

 

 

Edible Christmas Treats – Fruit Mince Pies

Every year, I like to give friends homemade treats. I gather recipes from various sources throughout the year (okay, mostly from the ‘edible Christmas presents’ blog posts that pop up at the end of the year) and experiment with them. I have the staples, the tried and true recipes that make an appearance every year, but I also like to try new things. This is what I tried this year.

 

I’ve posted this recipe before but it’s such a good one, I’ve posted again! It took me ages to find the right pastry to match the delicious mince, so I hope you enjoy.

 

Ingredients:

Fruit mince recipe

470g can crushed pineapple

¼ cup brown sugar

1 cup sultanas

½ tspn cinnamon

1 cup raisins

½ tspn nutmeg

¼ cup currants

1 tbsn cornflour

¼ cup apricots

¼ cup brandy

1 apple

Peel and grate apple. Combine all ingredients in saucepan except cornflour and brandy. Stir over medium heat until mixture boils, reduce heat, simmer 3 minutes or until fruit is plump. Blend cornflour with brandy, mix into hot fruit mixture. Stir until mixture boils and thickens. Cool before filling into pie shell.

Pastry recipe

1 cup plain flour

1 egg, separated

1 tbsn icing sugar

1 tbsn iced water (approx)

1 tbsn custard powder

1 tspn finely grated lemon rind

90g cold butter, chopped coarsely

1 tbsn white sugar

Grease 12 round based patty pan (or metal pie shells). Process flour, icing sugar, custard powder and butter until crumbly. Add egg yolk and enough of the water to make the ingredients come together. Knead dough on lightly floured surface until smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 200 degrees celsius. Roll two-thirds of pastry until 3mm thick. Cut rounds to fit patty pan or shells. Repeat until all 12 are filled. Spoon fruit mix into pastry cases.

Roll reserved pastry until 3mm thick. Fashion pie lids in whatever shape you desire. Place over fruit mixture, brush with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake pies 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Stand for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool.

 

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And that’s it, peeps. All over red rover. I hope you enjoyed the recipes are are inspired to try them yourself.