Ranae Rose's Blog, page 14

Battered Not Broken & Rough Around the Edges Playlist

This is how I write. Having a tiny corner for a workspace and a family + two dogs demands noise cancellation, and these babies can block out a jet engine. So yeah, of course I have a writing playlist for Battered Not Broken & Rough Around the Edges. These are the songs I listened to while writing & editing Ryan & Ally's books.

'The Sound of Winter' by Bush'Stay' by Rihanna'Sail' by AWOLNATION'Radioactive' by Imagine Dragons'The Red' by Chevelle'The Chemicals Between Us' by Bush'Creep' by Radiohead'Into Jars' by Chevelle'Panic Switch' by Silversun Pickups'Little Black Submarines' by The Black Keys'Just Can't Get Enough' by The Black Eyed Peas'Chalk Outline' by Three Days Grace'Send the Pain Below' by Chevelle'Diamonds' by Rihanna'Titanium' by David Guetta ft. SiaIf this playlist seems short, that's because I don't always listen to music while writing - sometimes I listen to my favorite rainstorm or ocean soundtracks.

Rough Around the Edges Release Date Announcement + Other News & A Secret Project

Rough Around the Edges will release on April 4, 2013.
That date is for the ebook edition. A paperback edition will follow very shortly thereafter.
I can hardly wait. :) 
Rough Around the Edges is super-special to me as a writer. I hope you all will enjoy reading Ryan's POV as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Rough Around the Edges just went live at Goodreads, so if you'd like to add it to your to-read list, you can do so here .
Just to be clear...
Rough Around the Edges is not a sequel. It's the same story told in Battered Not Broken, only from Ryan's point of view. Because it's from his POV there are new scenes that weren't in Battered Not Broken, and things about Ryan's life (his time in the military, his relationships with his family members, etc) are explored in greater detail than in Battered Not Broken. The epilogue also takes place a little further in the future than BNB's and offers a peak at Ryan and Ally's less-immediate future (I think you'll like it). ;) But it's still the same story.
In other news...

I have a logo now. Here it is. The purpose of it is to make my work easier to identify. So if you see this open heart with the double R on something, that means it was made by me. ;) It's gradually appearing in more and more places. Eventually, you will see it on all of my book covers, except for the titles I have with Total-E-Bound publishing (those books bear the TEB logo).
And just to be a tease...
Although I am, of course, crazy busy preparing Rough Around the Edges for publication, that's not all I'm working on. There's something special that I've been planning for quite a while but have just recently been getting up and running. It's not a book. But it is something that I'll be launching in conjunction with the release of Rough Around the Edges. More updates on this special project soon - I'm working hard on getting it ready to reveal! ;)

Do Erotic Romance Writers Actually Do the Things They Write About? Well...

It's the woman in the hotel hallway who stands between you and her child like a human shield because you write 'sex books'. It's the random man who comes up to you in the conference hotel bar with a chain collar and leash around his neck and offers you the leash end because he 'heard that was what you were into'. It's the reader who approaches you with this sweetly devious smile and waggles her eyebrows up and down as she says 'you know, we all assume that you actually do the things you write about in your books'.
These are the not-so-subtle signs that some people (kind of a lot of people, apparently) assume that stories (particularly the racier moments) are fictionalized accounts of real life experiences that romance writers have had.
Well, thanks for thinking that my life is so interesting. LOL
But how much of a romance book is actually based on the writer's real life?
Well, I can only speak for myself. But I regret to inform you that I have in fact not ever had a werewolf (or any sort of shifter, for that matter) for a boyfriend. No vampires, either, and I've never fallen in love or lust with a tattoo artist. (Although to be fair I've never encountered a tattoo artist with an Eric-level of swoon-worthiness, either.)
But it's definitely true that bits and pieces of my real life make it into my stories. It would be impossible to exclude them. Things that happen to me sometimes end up happening to my characters ... sort of, but in a much more interesting way.
A few examples...
Sort of like Kelly in Glazed, I once took a racy photo (actually, it was pretty tame, but try telling that to the HR department) of someone that got them in trouble at work. He almost got fired! (For the record, it was his idea.) Sadly, this event was never capitalized upon and immortalized on any t-shirts like in Glazed.
You might already know that I'm into martial arts. It's been a hobby of mine since I was a teen. I got the idea of Ally (Battered Not Broken) having a problem with telegraphing her kicks from, uh, myself. Because I've done that about a million times. Do you think there's any chance Ryan might materialize and help me perfect my technique? ;D
It was easy for me to write about Mina (Hot Ink) getting a tattoo on her ribs, since I have one in the same place. (Ow! LOL)

So, maybe next time someone asks me if my books are based on real life, if I'm feeling a little mischievous I'll just say 'somewhat'. ;)
Oh, and a note of caution to any random leash-wearing men I may encounter this year: please think twice before offering your servitude to me. I could really use an assistant, and in this economy, it's kind of tempting when someone offers to do as you say. (Proofreading? E-mails? Are you proficient with Excel?) Just saying.

Rough Around the Edges Cover Reveal + Valentine's Newsletter Giveaway Winners

Here it is - the cover and title for Ryan's side of the story. Hope you like it. I'll be sharing Rough Around the Edges' official release date before the end of February. ;) You can check my Coming Soon page anytime for the latest updates.


Sometimes love is enough. Other times, you have to fight, too.
For Ryan Moore, the choice to fight is like the choice to breathe – necessary. After being wounded in war and discharged from the United States Marine Corps, competitive MMA fighting is the only thing he’s still able to excel at. Every round is a risk he can’t afford to take, but time spent outside of the cage is purgatory, until he meets amateur female fighter Ally Rivera. For the first time since an IED blast destroyed life as he knew it, he wants something – someone. And she wants him, but the lingering effects of war might just tear them apart, if the gang violence that plagues her family doesn’t kill them first.
Rough Around the Edges is Ryan’s side of the love story told in Battered Not Broken. It’s not a sequel, but a separate novel written for those who want to experience the story through Ryan’s eyes. Read Battered Not Broken first or simply dive right in and enjoy an erotic romance novel told completely from a male point of view.
Release date TBA before the end of February 2013.
If you would like to be notified when the book releases, submit your e-mail address using the form below. You will then receive a one time notification e-mail on the book's release day. You will not receive any other messages, and signing up for this does not sign you up for Ranae's monthly newsletter (if desired, you may also subscribe to that separately here). Your contact information will never be shared or sold.  <!-- #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } /* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block. We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */ </style></div>--> <br /><div id="mc_embed_signup"><form action="http://ranaerose.us6.list-manage1.com..." class="validate" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" method="post" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" novalidate="" target="_blank"><label for="mce-EMAIL">Subscribe to our mailing list</label><input class="email" id="mce-EMAIL" name="EMAIL" placeholder="email address" required="" type="email" value="" /><br /><div class="clear"><input class="button" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe" /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">February Newsletter Giveaway Winners</span></b></div></div></form></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prize #1 - Signed <i>Battered Not Broken </i>paperback & goodie pack: Becky W.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Prize #2 - <i>Battered Not Broken </i>goodie pack: Rachel M.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've contacted both winners via e-mail, so if you're one of them you should have something from me waiting in your inbox.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you all who participated! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Happy Valentine's Day!</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>

This is What I Do Every February 13th

I like to bake Valentine's gifts to give away instead of buying them. So every February 13th, I fire up the oven and embark upon my annual Valentine's baking spree.
So this is what I've been up to this morning.

First step: Valentine's brownies. Essential. Or so DH says.
I made a whole tray, but I always make DH a special heart-shaped one.
I also made a star-shaped one for my son, but as I typed this blog post he stole it off the stove and ate part of it, so I can no longer really call it star-shaped. More like a crumbly mess in a star-shaped baking mold.
I think I may make a cherry cheesecake this evening, too. And woe betide the person who steals any of that off the stove and tries to devour it early.
What about you - do you have any Valentine's Day traditions?
P.S. Don't forget to stop by again tomorrow for the Battered Not Broken companion novel cover and title reveal. I'm glad it's less than 24 hours away, because my self-control levels are seriously dwindling. I can hardly wait to share Ryan's side of the story - well, the cover and title, at least.

Heartbreaker Blog Hop & Giveaway

I know all about having my heart broken by fictional characters. Between being an avid reader and an author, it was bound to happen at least a few times. Even my own characters, the ones I write about in my books, have been known to make me shed a tear or two (shhh, don't tell anyone).
To me, a heartbreaker hero can be any of a variety of hero types. Some are heartbreakers because they're bad boys - learning to live with and love them isn't an easy process, and sometimes getting along with them is frustrating at times (though they're sure to have some incredibly hot redeeming qualities to make it worth it). Maybe some are just so sexy that your heart breaks from beating so fast when they appear on the page! And others - my favorite heartbreaker heroes - are scarred, whether it be on the outside, the inside or both.
Like Ryan. Here's my heartbreaker hero.

Ryan is a Unites States Marine Corps veteran who wears the scars of war inside and out. Alone in the civilian world after being medically discharged from the USMC, he returns to his original love of competitive MMA (mixed martial arts) fighting, even though he shouldn't - with a TBI (traumatic brain injury) from an IED blast, every match is a risk he can't afford to take. And it definitely breaks Ally's heart.


But she's tough - a fighter - too.
There's plenty of heartbreak to go around in their story - Battered Not Broken - but as a reader, I think tough trials make a happy ending that much sweeter.
What about you? When a hero breaks your heart, does it make you love the happy ending even more? Let me know in  a comment including your e-mail address and you'll be included in a random drawing for these prizes...
Grand Prize #1: Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet (winner's choice) - International
Grand Prize #2: $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card (winner's choice) - International
Grand Prize #3: Giant swag pack full of books & goodies from the hop's participating authors - US Only
My Individual Prize: A Battered Not Broken goodie pack, as pictured below - US, Canada, UK

Battered Not Broken goodie pack prize includes: signed post card, button and key chain.
* * * * *Want to earn extra entries toward the Battered Not Broken goodie pack? Try some of these Rafflecopter options below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway


* * * * *
Battered Not BrokenRyan Moore forged his own path when he defied his wealthy family’s expectations by joining the United States Marine Corps as an enlisted man. After a period of service that’s cut short by an IED explosion, the lingering physical and mental effects of war result in an isolated struggle to exist in the civilian world. He throws himself into competitive MMA fighting – the one thing he’s still able to excel at, even if every match is a risk he can’t afford to take.His first encounter with amateur female fighter Ally Rivera ignites a spark of desire he hasn’t felt since before a bomb left its marks on his life and his body, but his flirtation with her turns out to be anything but harmless. She’s struggling to hold together a family ravaged by violence – a feat that isn’t easy when her father has been imprisoned, leaving her vulnerable to relatives who run a local gang. Can two unrelenting fighters overcome challenges they couldn’t defeat alone, or do the wounds of war and crime run too deep for even love to heal?Full-length novel. (Approx. 110,000 words)Ebook Available Now at…    iBooks      Kobo      All RomanceAlso available in paperback.Read an excerpt here at my site.* * * * *Contest rules & restrictions: must be 18 or older to participate. Contest ends 02/11/13 at 11:59 pm. Grand Prizes #1 & #2 are open to international participants, while Grand Prize #3 is available to US participants only. The Battered Not Broken goodie pack prize is available to participants in the US, Canada and the UK. Contest void where prohibited.Don't forget to check out the other participating bloggers' posts for more entries toward the grand prizes! You can access the entire list right here.

Guest Book Spotlight - A New Clandestine Classic: Tarzan of the Apes

Author Lily Harlem is my guest today. I'm spotlighting her new book, the Clandestine Classics edition of Tarzan of the Apes. We all know Tarzan was a wild character in Edgar Rice Burroughs' original novel - now his and Jane's romance has been expanded by Lily, an award-winning erotic romance novelist. Sound exciting? Read on for more info and an excerpt from this new release. ;)

Tarzan of the Apes
A wild man with primitive desires, will anyone be able to tame him?
A handsome English aristocrat raised in the jungle by apes, self-sufficient, thriving on danger and with a head full of unanswered questions. Where is he from? Why is he different? What will satisfy the hunger that eats away at the very core of his being and finally feed his appetite for something other than food and shelter?
A delicate American woman, expected to be the best she can be and marry well, but with a craving for adventure and exploration as well as a hope in her heart to find true love with a man who can sweep her off her feet.
When the two very different souls collide, in deepest, darkest Africa, only one thing can happen, and it’s raw and feral. Lust a common language, satisfaction the ultimate goal. But will the gentleman outshine the savage-man? Is virtue to be honoured? And when faced with a civilised decision, can Tarzan do the right thing?

A Word From Lily...
Thanks so much for inviting me over today as your guest. I’m really excited because as part of Total-E-Bound’s Clandestine Classic range, I’ve teamed up with Edgar Rice Burroughs and added steamy jungle scenes to Tarzan of the Apes. This is one of several classics brought to life by various Total-E-Bound authors and inserts the sexiness that readers previously had to use their imagination for.

Excerpt
So Tarzan of the Apes did the only thing he knew to assure Jane of her safety. He removed his hunting knife from its sheath and handed it to her hilt first, again motioning her into the bower.
The girl understood, and taking the long knife she entered and lay down upon the soft grasses while Tarzan of the Apes stretched himself upon the ground across the entrance.
Here she lay, gazing upward at the crude roof of the shelter, and mulled over the extraordinary day that had unfolded, and the wild man who had stolen the first kiss from her lips. Although Jane was an innocent woman she was not naive in the ways of married couples. What went on behind closed doors and beneath the covers was something she was completely intrigued by and she’d sought to quell her curiosity in the only way she could. For Jane, like Tarzan, adored reading, and fashionable books about love and romance that hinted and suggested at the many delights to be had between a woman and a man were her most favourite material—she’d been thrilled to find two such books within the primitive cabin.
She sat and began to unlace her shoes, her hair just skimming the greenery above her. As her small and nimble fingers unweaved the soft leather laces her gaze settled on Tarzan’s broad, golden back as he lay, facing away from her, staring into the line of trees. The gutter of his spine was deep set and flanked with columns of strong muscle. He had a few scars and imperfections around his shoulders, marks of his wild lifestyle, and at the very base of his back, just before the doeskin-like loin cloth he wore, were two dents, almost dimples.
Jane couldn’t help but linger over the task of removing her shoes, the sight before her was simply too engrossing. She had never seen a man wearing so little clothing. The scrap he wore around his modesty barely covered his buttocks, indeed she could make out the very groove of his cheeks through the material. Her gaze roamed downward, committing to memory his powerful thighs coated in sandy hairs, calves sinewy with tendon and muscle and long feet that she was quite sure had never been within spitting distance of a shoe until now.
Footwear finally removed, she pushed them outside her small shelter.
Upon hearing her movement Tarzan turned, his body twisting, his face a mask of concern.“I am quite all right,” Jane said, gesturing to her shoes. “But I really can’t sleep in those.”
Tarzan looked at the shoes, then sat and reached for one. He held it up, turned it over, examined the base and the inside, poking and prodding. Finally he lifted it to his nose and inhaled, long and deep.
“No,” said Jane, snatching it away. “Really, that is most untoward and really quite rude.”
Tarzan tugged his hand back, fingers clenched, his expression evidence enough that he knew not what he had done wrong.
Jane, seeing his confusion, took pity on him. For she understood that he was trying very hard to make her feel at ease, and she should surely return the favour. “I’m sorry,” she said, reaching for his hand that was in a fist at his sternum. “It is just that they are the only shoes I have, and I, well, I fear I may not have been able to keep them as fresh as I would like.” As she spoke she squeezed his big hand in hers. His skin was a little sticky from the copious amounts of juicy fruit they had shared, but even so a current of pleasure shot up her arm and settled in her belly. His hand, nearly twice the size of hers, was so masculine, and so strong. Unlike Clayton’s neatly trimmed nails, Tarzan’s were unevenly short, no doubt from wear and tear, and he had a twisted strip of vine around his wrist, a kind of makeshift bracelet, it was like nothing she had seen before.
He allowed her to keep holding his hand and tipped his head, his gaze boring into hers.
“It is just,” she went on, “that bathing facilities since we landed ashore have been considerably less than adequate. What I really long for is fresh water to sink my entire body into, to make me feel refreshed and rejuvenated and get some relief from this tropical heat.” Knowing he understood not a word, she tutted and released his hand. Frustration ploughed lines across her brow.
Tarzan raised his eyebrows and wiggled his fingers in a ‘carry-on’ gesture.
“Oh,” she said with a sigh. “What I really want to be able to do is wash.” As she spoke she cupped her palms and raised them to her face, mimicking splashing water on her cheeks.
Tarzan’s face lit up. He knew instantly what Jane was trying to say. She wanted to clean her body. Tarzan understood that desire very well, for he too liked to bathe frequently to keep his body free from irritations and unpleasant aromas. He had also read about it in his books. Civilised people set personal cleanliness in very high esteem.
Eager to show Jane his comprehension of her request, Tarzan jumped up and pointed in the direction of Cumba, the small rocky inlet just yards to the right of their camp. It was a safe and shallow bathing area that he had used since being a small boy. He was sure it would be perfect for a woman, for his woman, Jane.
He made a grunting sound which his ape family would have recognised as ‘come this way’ and stepped toward Cumba.
“Do you understand me?” Jane asked, amazement in her tone and her eyes wide.
Tarzan stepped further away, urging her to follow with frantic hand gestures.
“You want me to come with you?” Jane asked, crawling completely from the shelter and standing barefoot on the roughly textured grass.
Without realising he was giving the correct signal, Tarzan nodded.
“Okay,” Jane said, pressing down the creases in her dress and tilting her chin in a very confident little gesture given her precarious situation. “I will. Please lead the way.”
Tarzan grinned, flashing his neat teeth, and strode across the clearing. In order to keep up Jane quickly realised that she must move at a near jog. Though once they reached the denseness of the forest this was impossible, and Tarzan slowed in order to move branches and bend bows out of her path.
Jane was thankful when after a couple of minutes of thick undergrowth another clearing emerged. This time one with a large rock pool fed from a sparkling waterfall. She heard it first, the tinkling sound of water falling on stone, and when she finally laid eyes on it, she paused to marvel at the sheer beauty of the small lagoon.
High above the sky was turning pink. Dusk would soon be upon them. In the tallest branches, bright red and blue parrots were preparing to roost. The rocks around the waterfall were the colour of elephant skin, and the water, a rich navy, sparkled silver where the cascading water added to its depths.
“It is beautiful,” Jane said, her fingertips sweeping over the petals of a crimson orchid that bobbed its long neck to her right. “Simply exquisite.”
Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice-Burroughs and Lily Harlem is available from all good retailers in ebook and print (print - 18thFeb).  More information including that famous yell on Lily’s blog  or Total-E-Bound . (It’s important to note that purchase price is only for the added words, not for the original work.)

About Lily

Lily Harlem is an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance and lives in the UK with Mr Harlem and a host of rescued pets. She loves to spend her days dreaming up naughty stories that have a happy ever afters. When you read her books be warned though, the bedroom door is always left wide open!
Connect with Lily at...
www.lilyharlem.com
Facebook - Friend Page
Facebook - 'Like' Page
Twitter
Goodreads
* * * * *For more information on the Clandestine Classics imprint and other titles, visit the Clandestine Classics site .

Battered Not Broken Companion Novel Updates & Timeframe

As you may already know, I've been hard at work on another book featuring Ryan & Ally. It's their story, told completely from Ryan's point of view. I've been calling it a 'companion novel' because it's not a sequel, but in reality, it could be read on its own by someone who hasn't read Battered Not Broken. 
Anyway, up until now everything's been TBA. Today I'd like to let everyone who's interested know that I plan to reveal the title and cover + announce the release date before the end of February.
I'm really looking forward to it. Although I'm sure some people will pick it up without having read Battered Not Broken / decide to read Ryan's POV first or only read his POV, I'm writing this book first and foremost for those who have read it and want to know what was going on inside Ryan's head. I'm excited to show you, because I've had Ryan's POV on my mind ever since I wrote BNB - the book just would've been too insanely long if I'd included both (because both characters have a lot to say).
I hope it'll answer all your questions. Some things that will be covered in more detail are Ryan's military experiences, his time with Manny and relationships with his family. I think his military experiences and the consequences will be particularly enlightening since these are something that Ally isn't really able to totally understand.
So, I'll be making those announcements before the month is over.
You can always check the Coming Soon page on my site any time for the most up-to-date info. There's also a sign-up option there where you can opt in to be notified when the book is out via a one-time e-mail on release day, if you'd like.

Thank you everyone who's let me know that you enjoyed Battered Not Broken and want more of Ryan. Your feedback has been an inspiration as I work on bringing you his side of the story. :)

Winners of Hot Ink Button Mini Weekend Giveaway

Over the weekend I ran a mini-contest for some Hot Ink buttons. (You may have heard about it on Facebook or Twitter.)
Here are the two randomly-selected winners:
Angel R.
Becky W.
I've contacted both winners via e-mail, so if that's you, you should have a message from me waiting in your inbox. ;)
And here's what they won!

If you participated but didn't win this time, don't worry - I'll be giving away more of these in February. I'm preparing this month's edition of my newsletter right now, and when it goes out soon it will include giveaways for lots of goodies, including some of these buttons. (Plus signed books, book cover keychains and more.)
If you aren't currently subscribed to my newsletter but would like to be, you can sign up right here for the once-monthly mailing.
On Friday and through the weekend, I'll be participating in the Heartbreaker Blog Hop, and there will also be some goodies (including buttons) given away then. So be sure to stop by again. ;)
Also, speaking of contests, my publisher Total-E-Bound is currently conducting a reader survey. If you're an erotic romance reader, you may want to consider taking a few minutes to complete the survey - everyone who participates will be included in a random drawing for a kindle and 50 Total-E-Bound books. You can access the survey right here .

Something Fun for Readers of Battered Not Broken + Other News

It's been a busy week, but I've got some fun stuff to show for it. ;)

First of all, there's a brand new addition to the 'fun extras' section of my site - Battered Not Broken wallpaper for your desktop ! 



In my opinion, Ryan is definitely worthy of being made into wallpaper. You can download this design in the size of your choice here . Hope you enjoy it. ;)
In other news, yesterday The Indian Express published an article titled Classics Laid Bare. It's about the Clandestine Classics publishing imprint and my contribution to that - Wuthering Heights - is featured, along with some interview quotes I gave the Indian Express. 
'Novels such as Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights return to book stores with an erotic twist...'
You can read the entire article here at The Indian Express' site.