Zoey Marcel's Blog, page 14

Fallen Angels 3 & Updates on Other Books...and Then Some Rambling at the End

Broken Glory (Fallen Angels 3) has just been accepted by Pink Flamingo Publications! Yay! I don't have an exact release date yet, but I'll let you know when.I'm almost finished with Temptation, Wyoming 6. I've got about three or four chapters left to write before I'm done and can send it off.I finished that BDSM menage cowboys book I mentioned a couple of months back. Now it's just a matter of finding it the right home. It's a little darker than I anticipated, though nowhere near as much as my Fallen Angels trilogy. Just darker than the romances I usually write, though the elements are kind of key to character development, so we'll see what happens. It's book one in a new series that revolves around a BDSM club where menage and cowboys are prevalent. It's one of those F/M/M/M/M/M kind of stories, and I must say it was quite fun to write. :)After I finish Temtation, Wyoming 6 and send it in, then I'll work on Winchester, Arizona 3. That shall be fun. :)
Have a swell day, everyone! Today I'm all about the girl's day off. This is the part where I get to take some time to myself and just shop in the city. Mostly window shopping, but hey, that's good, too. Got to hit the gym later tonight, preferably when all the big guys aren't there with all their bulging muscles and loud grunts. I feel like such a twig in the weight room when surrounded by men lifting a crapton more than me. When I'm alone, it's like "Sweet, I'm lifting way heavier than before. Go me!" Then five of those guys come in and lift 300 pounds with their thumbs...and I shrivel into "I suck" mode. LolI'm no pink 1 lb. dumbell girl, but even at my best, I'm not tossing several hundred pound weights into the air like a ball. I know, I don't have as much testosterone and nobody's judging what I lift in the weight room. It's just awkward to be surrounded by Titans while in the zone.But this mama is determined to look better than before she was pregnant. I'm in the same jean size as before and I don't look bad, but dang it, I want to at least look how I did before, preferably better. Sucky thing is, after you have a baby it takes hard work to look as good as before. Before it was just "Eat relatively healthy and work out." Now it's "Eat CLEAN most of the time and work out even harder" for the same results. Bleh! I assume in time the hard work will get me to the vision in my head. *Sigh* It better. This is hard and then taking care of a baby on top of it. Help me! :PTo all you mamas out there with multiple kids and still making time for the gym, I salute you! Seriously, you're amazing women. :) People like you inspire the heck out of me and make me strive to be better. Have a nice day or evening! :)

Reader's Choice Nominee

I've been nominated for Reader's Choice Award for the Best Shapeshifter Menage Romance. If you read Temptation's Hold (Temptation, Wyoming 4) and wouldn't mind voting for me, I would be so grateful. :) The contest runs until February 28. It's one vote per category. Thanks so much! :)
Here's the link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dEJGS09ZYXJ2VDd5NDBVc09yOVJ5M0E6MQ#gid=0

My Little Plans

I just finished the first book in a new series about menage, cowboys, and BDSM. I sent it off to the publisher, so hopefully they like. If so, the book will probably come out in March. It's a pretty long one at 108,791 word count.
After a couple of days off from writing to focus on other things, I've got finish writing Fallen Angels 3. I only have about six chapters left on it before I'm done.
Once I get that book sent off, I've got to finish up Temptation, Wyoming 6, which is part two to Badge of Temptation. I have about seven chapters left on book six. It's a really long one. Should be over 100,000 word count when I'm done. Lots of kink in that one.
After that baby gets done and sent off, I've got to start Winchester, Arizona 3. That's the final book in the trilogy, though I plan to do a spin-off series based on the side characters and set in the same town.
I've got other books planned to write later this year, but I want to focus on the three above mentioned books first.

On an unrelated note, some personal goals or New Year's resolutions of mine include finishing the unpacking, trying to plan menus more instead of not having food to eat or eating out in a time crunch, and I want to build more muscle as well.
I've decided to do this thing where I eat clean (mostly non-processed foods) all the time with a couple of treats a week in addition to my working out. I generally eat healthy anyway, but I want to go cold turkey with eating excellent for a few months. I've done it before on a smaller scale, but I want to try it for about twelve weeks to shock my body and hopefully see decent muscle gain. Nothing crazy like steroid goddess or anything. I just want to see how much muscle I can naturally gain and still look like a woman.
After the twelve weeks, since I'll be used to eating clean (hopefully), then it will be easier to continue.
I also want to decorate my home. I have some ideas about what I want, but my tastes seem to differ for each room. I'm definitely sure about the look for the bedroom. I'm thinking romantic and sensual...maybe even erotic. ;) I love scarlet reds, rich golds, olive greens. Not sure how much of each color or if I'd use them all in the room. I also really like black and silver.
In the kitchen I like the Tuscan look. Might do that. I'd have to do all this over time, though. Collect ideas, shop for pieces here and there over the years so I don't go broke trying to be Martha Stewart. When it's all done, my home will look awesome!
I clean of course, but I want to decorate in some kind of theme. I really like whites in the living room, but I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to have a white, romantic look while living with two males. Hmm.

Under His Holster on Amazon in Paperback & Kindle

Under His Holster (Winchester, Arizona 2) is now available on Amazon in paperback and for the kindle. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Holster-Winchester-Arizona-Publishing-ebook/dp/B00AWAUO6I/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357277122&sr=1-11&keywords=zoey+marcel

Under His Holster on Amazon

Under His Holster (Winchester, Arizona 2) is now available on Amazon for the kindle. Here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/Holster-Winchester-Arizona-Publishing-ebook/dp/B00AWAUO6I/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357277122&sr=1-11&keywords=zoey+marcel

P&E Contest

Two of my books are on the list for a contest at P&E for best romance of 2012 and best erotica of 2012. My book Temptation's Hold is on the romance list and my book Broken Halo is on the erotica list. If you liked these books and wouldn't mind taking a moment to vote for them, I'd be really grateful. :)
All you have to do is click the bubble by the title and then scroll down and enter your name and email address. Thanks so much! :)

Here is the link for Broken Halo: http://critters.org/predpoll/novelerot.shtml

Here is the link for Temptation's Hold: http://critters.org/predpoll/novelr.shtml

Note About Where the Rebel Flag Still Waves

In case any of you are wondering what happened to my civil war book, Where the Rebel Flag Still Waves, to make a long story short, the rights reverted back to me, so the book is temporarily out of print. I did some major editing and revising on the story. Pink Flamingo Publications has accepted it and the book should come out next year. I don't have a release date yet, since Fallen Angels 3, which I'm half done with, is supposed to come out first.
While the overall story of Where the Rebel Flag Still Waves is basically the same, here are some of the changes I made: It's still a historical paranormal set in the civil war era, but I turned it from an erotic romance into pure erotica. It used to be a M/F love story, but now it's a M/F/M menage love story. I expanded on the heroine's motives and gave her more depth.
There are also more sex scenes and some kink added, including: more M/F/M menage sex scenes, figging, hot wax play, anal fisting, shaving, clothespins, spanking with a crop, double anal penetration (Yes, on the heroine), some more M/F sex scenes, two more M/M sex scenes, two F/F sex scenes, and one F/F/M sex scene.
Oh yeah, and I added in a bear shifter, because bears are awesome, and how can a Southern gentleman with a gunslinger past and a were-bear side to him not be hot and oh so fun? :)
There might be more that I forgot to mention, but basically it's the same story only hotter and with several significant differences.
I really enjoyed writing this book and can't wait for it to come out. The original version of this story was the very first novel I ever wrote, though it wasn't the first book that got published. My writing has improved a lot since then. The previous published book was good, but I have since edited and revised the book to my liking, and the overall results are a stronger, hotter story. :)
If you choose to read the book, I hope you enjoy it. I would also be curious to hear from anyone who happens to read this book as well as read the previous version. Did you like the changes? Which story did you prefer?
I'll post more when I have a release date.

Review for Winchester, Arizona Trilogy (Books 1 & 2)

Here is a review for the first two books in the Winchester, Arizona trilogy posted at Mary's Naughty Whispers. Thank you, Mary for reading and reviewing my books! http://marywhispers.blog.com/?p=1214

Note About My Books - Erotic Romance vs Erotica

The terms erotic romance and erotica are often used interchangeably when in fact they are two different genres. Similar they are, but different enough to make note of.
Erotic romance is more graphic than mainstream romance. The sex scenes often have more explicit language, but romance is still the key point to the story. The love scenes, while they can be kinky and include things like threesomes, BDSM, etc., are about the romantic feelings between the characters, and erotic romance books generally have either a HEA (Happily ever after) or HFN (Happy for now) ending.
Erotica, on the other hand, is more about the main character's sexual journey than a romance. That doesn't mean there can't be a love story in there. Sometimes there is, but the main point of those books is sexual exploration and self discovery through sex, kink, fetish,etc. It's more about sexual fantasies that people have rather than a gooshy romance that makes you feel cozy. Erotica also doesn't have to necessarily have a HEA or HFN ending, though it can. The sex in these books is far more graphic and can include certain taboos that are not permitted in erotic romance.
I write both erotic romance and erotica, but the reason I'm writing this post is to alert you of the difference if you're not already aware. Some people read both like I do, but there are those who are strictly one or the other and that's why I point this out.
If you have read my erotic romance books and liked them, but have never read dark erotica, you may cringe if you pick up one of my erotica titles. On the other end, if you've enjoyed my erotica and happen to peek at one of my erotic romance books, you may find them too sappy.
My erotic romance books all have a HEA ending, except for the Winchester, Arizona trilogy, because those are a continuing series where all three books are connected. The first two are HFN and the third one will be HEA. The BDSM and sex in these books is consensual, though sometimes there might be dubious consent or forced seduction. The heroes, even the flawed antiheroes, are still basically good.
In my erotica books, sometimes there is a HEA ending, but in some books it's more of an open or mixed feelings ending. Some of the sex is consensual, but in some there is forced seduction or elements of nonconsent. Also the content is more graphic than my erotic romance titles. The dark erotica books may include hardcore S&M, watersports, etc. The heroes are usually either antiheroes, or in the case of the Fallen Angels trilogy, villains. They are still love stories, just far more graphic and psychological.
To be clear, I write fiction and sexual fantasies. In real life, sex, S&M, or any such act should always be consensual. However, in fiction, different people have different fantasies. I personally love to read/write forced seduction and on occasion nonconsent if it's done right. Some love it, other don't and that's okay.
Some people love to red about incest. Personally it squicks me out, but I feel that if those people want to read it, they should be allowed to, just as I should be allowed to read what I want. We're all entitled to our fantasies, and even if it doesn't match someone else's, it does't matter.
In real life incest is gross and non-con is wrong. But in fantasy there is nothing wrong with enjoying taboo fiction. We're adults. We know how to separate fiction from reality. As long as one remembers that, then it's healthy to indulge in fiction we find hot and entertaining.

Contest Winner

Congratulations to Diane Goodman, the winner of the contest! :) You got the most questions right. If you contact me at zoeymarcel4@yahoo.com I will mail your prize to you.
Thank you to everyone who played.
In case anyone is curious, here are the correct answers to the questions:
1. In Haunting Siren, what is the name of Hannibal's parrot?
d) Trouble

2. In Wrestling With Temptation, what is the name of the sorcerer who raised Morrigan from the dead?
b) Raphael

3. In Broken Halo, who breaks Sonya's hymen?
c) Jude

4. In Fleeing Temptation, what kind of coffee does Hilary order?
d) White Andes

5. In Brazen Temptation, what happens when Joaquin kisses Claire for the first time?
b) His dormant heart beats

6. In Temptation's Hold, what pet name does Lucius call Chanel?
c) Princess

7. In Sin Wore a Stetson, what initials does Jade have tattooed on her badonkadonk?
a) I.C.

8. In Badge of Temptation, which of the four men meets Jill first?
d) Logan

9. In both Broken Halo and Broken Vow, which actor was the inspiration for Nimbus?
a) Sean Bean