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Small Town Big Family Ratatouille

There’s a new cookbook featuring recipes from authors called Passionate Cooks, and I’m in it! My recipe for Small Town Big Family Ratatouille is listed under Sides, although I use it as a main dish. It’s vegetarian and does a great job at filling up meat-eaters! There’s quite a few vegetarian dishes in this book, if you swing that way.

That recipe and its tongue-in-cheek name go part and parcel with a lighter contemporary erotic series I’m working on which is set in… you guessed it: a small town. It won’t be out for a while (I haven’t even figured out which publisher I want to submit it to yet) but you can enjoy the food now. And best of all, the cookbook is FREE.

So get to eating, everyone! The cookbook is available in multiple ebook formats here.

Dangerous Alpha Hero Giveaway

It’s time for another giveaway!

I knew I had to join this hop when I read the name, because Colin, the hero of Giving It Up, sure fits the bill. He’s dangerous and alpha and a whole lot sexy.

I’m not only giving away my book. No one writes more alpha or dangerous heroes than Anne Stuart, so I’m also giving away a copy of Black Ice!

Check out the blurbs for each book below, then use the Rafflecopter to enter to win them both!

 

Black Ice by Anne Stuart

Living paycheck to paycheck in Paris, American book translator Chloe Underwood would give anything for some excitement and passion–even a little danger. So when she’s offered a lucrative weekend gig translating at a business conference in a remote chateau, she jumps at the chance to shake things up.

Then by chance Chloe discovers her employers are anything but the entrepreneurs they appear, and suddenly she knows far too much. Her clients are illegal arms dealers, and one of them is ordered to kill her. But instead, Bastien Toussaint drags Chloe away, and the next thing she knows she’s on the run with the most terrifying and seductive man she’s ever met. What were his motives–and would she live long enough to find out?

Giving It Up by Amber Lin

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it’s not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren’t enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And be sure to visit the other stops on the hop:

Online Reader Retreat

Hi, folks. Just wanted to let you guys know about an online event connecting readers and authors. I’ve never done this before (well okay, I also wasn’t a published author this time last year) but I like the sound of it:

With the price of gas and airfare, not to mention rising conference and convention costs, not everyone can make it to the venues where readers and authors conventionally come together. But readers still want access to their favorite authors in a special setting and many of us want a chance to show our appreciation for reader loyalty and support. Welcome to Online Reader Retreat 2012!

Registration is FREE and the so is the fun!

I’ll definitely have some fun stuff to give away, so check it out, if you are so inclined, here.

Sizzling Books of Summer Giveaway

Howdy, folks! Well it’s hot in Texas, I can assure you.

I love a tall, cold glass of mojito. Refreshing! I’m supposed to share my recipe right now, but I can assure you I’m not that formal with my alcohol.

Crush up some mint leaves in a glass, add sugar, squeezed lime and ice and mix. Then I usually just pour in a splash of rum because I am a total lightweight.

Now let’s talk about something fun and sexy to go with that. I read this book earlier in the summer, and it sure got steamy. It’s a really interesting writing style, and at first was a little confusing, but then I really got into it.

SUBMISSION IS HER ONLY ESCAPE…

And punishment takes many forms. Seeking escape from her criminal past, a woman agrees to enslave herself to a trio of men who own an antiquated Louisiana plantation.

Known only as Lydia, she becomes controlled by three very different men – the malicious Preston, the inflexible Kruin, and the gentle Gabriel, all of whom introduce her to a world in which the lines between pleasure, pain and shame are irrevocably blurred. The plantation becomes both Lydia’s haven and her prison as she surrenders to the desires of her unholy trinity.

Lydia’s submission is fraught with tension and hunger, but what happens when the outside world enters her dark, anonymous sanctuary?

If you’d like to win a copy, simply leave a comment with your favorite sexy read of the summer! Then check out the other sexy books up for grabs through the linky list below. Oh, and if you’re looking to win a Kindle Fire, be sure to check out my Release Contest for Giving It Up:

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it’s not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren’t enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

“Giving It Up is original, affecting, emotionally draining, but well worth reading if you are brave enough to go along for the ride.”

—Annabel Joseph, author of Comfort Object

“A ballsy departure from romantic conventions. At once gritty and tender, stark and hopeful.”

—Cara McKenna, author of Willing Victim

“Giving It Up is an erotic, compelling story that takes us to the shadowy, lonely places but doesn’t leave us there. Amber Lin shows us that romance isn’t just for the rich and shiny. Love can find its way even into the dark corners of the most damaged hearts.”

—Tiffany Reisz, author of The Siren

“This is a book you MUST read if you like gritty, edgier romance that makes you think as well as turns you on.”

—Cari Quinn, USA Today Bestselling Author of No Dress Required

“Every page is chock full of sexy, angsty must-read-moreness.”

—Karla Doyle, author of Game Plan

“Giving It Up is a gritty, real romance that deals in an honest way with what happens to sexuality in the aftermath of rape…. Read it. You won’t be sorry.”

—Ruthie Knox, author of About Last Night

“Dark and edgy…but don’t be fooled. There’s a wonderful love story running through this book. Sharp, intense writing, sexy as hell, and such a cool idea!”

—Charlotte Stein, author of Sheltered

“The book is well-written, keeps you guessing, has you on the edge of your seat, and throws in plenty of surprises. I found it really engaging, and was rooting for Allie and Colin throughout.”

—Lucy Felthouse, Seattle Post Intelligencer Blog

“HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK IS GOOD!”

—The Romance Man

“Dark, gutsy and deeply emotional; this is a story of two wounded souls finding solace with one another. Ms. Lin deftly handles the intricate psychological aftermath of rape and violence, of betrayal and forgiveness.”

—Cheryl, Romance Junkies

“GIVING IT UP is intensely sensuous, wrought with emotion, and so well written that I absolutely could not put it down!”

—Rho, The Romance Reviews

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Books for Bunnies

Back in college I got it into my head that I needed a bunny. I’m not totally sure how I came upon this conclusion, but I suspect I saw the ones up for adoption when I volunteered at the local shelter. Even though I knew enough to adopt my dogs, somehow I thought it would be okay to buy a bunny. Plus, the ones they sold at this store were much smaller than the type up for adoption, which I figured would work in my favor, living in an apartment.

So I go to the store, and they have these bunnies crammed into a cage. The whole atmosphere of the store was really icky and tense. All the bunnies look rather terrified, and I probably should have high-tailed it out of there at that point, but I already had decided to get one from somewhere so it would have been mean to leave them all there if I could save one from a fate that was…. at the very least, quite uncomfortable. I buy him and take him home. The whole time he doesn’t really react to me much, just cowers in a corner of his box, but I’m thinking this is normal bunny behavior, considering he doesn’t know me or anything.

At home I realize there’s a problem. Imagine the bunny pictured left but completely white and more hostile. He isn’t eating and he’s really terrified of my touch. It feels like more than just shyness now, so I make an appointment at a vet that sees rabbits.

The vet says yup, something’s wrong and takes him to the back where they shave off the fur on his back and reveal crazy amounts of scarring and scabs. It’s kind hard to describe, but I can’t quite imagine how he survived without medical attention all that time. He got some oral medication and ointment and eventually it all healed, but of course I have wondered how he got those marks. It could have been from another rabbit in the cage, I suppose. Maybe he got caught in some sort of netting, although it didn’t look like that.

It also just so happens that the store I got him from had a snake. A giant snake……… yeah.

So probably the bunnies were food. It explains why they had so many of them crammed together when Petsmart, a store with much more traffic, only keeps a handful of furry animals. Probably I should have figured that out before we got to that point, but to be honest, I didn’t want to think about it at the time. Could it have been a failed feeding attempt with the bunny somehow that caused those wounds? Maybe. At that point I wanted to go back to the store and buy all the rabbits, but ignoring the fact that I couldn’t take care of them, the pet store would simply profit and then buy more rabbits.

He also had ear mites and some other bunny maladies, but he ended up healing quite nicely. The problem was he was just too scared of everything. Bunnies and other pets can get along, but in this case he was just living in fear. I eventually found him a new home for him with no other pets.

Maybe the specifics of my story are unique, but bunnies are often impulse purchases. The fact is that bunny care is pretty different from dogs and cats and other pets you might be familiar with. It’s also easy to buy a little bunny from the side of the road around Easter, especially when your kid is begging that he’ll really feed it and love it and please please please. There’s nothing wrong with having a bunny. Seriously, there are so sweet and soft and funny. But, like any pet, it shouldn’t be a spur-of-the-moment decision.

The moral of the story is: adopt your pets. If you want a cat or dog, you know where to go. If you want a bunny, somewhere in your city, there is probably a shelter or organization that adopts them out as well. They will give the bunny medical care and make sure he’s good for your home (with whatever pets/kids you have). They often have some sort of education on proper bunny care, whether it’s a pamphlet or talking to an experienced owner, etc. We took my bunny to a little seminar where they had socializing, bunny massage and even bunny reiki – I kid you not, but this was in Austin and Austin is weird

There’s something else you can do to help, which is donate to the House Rabbit Society, an organization which has rescued and fostered over 25,000 bunnies, as well as providing education and advocacy. And if you make your donation during the Books for Bunnies promotion, you will be eligible to win ebooks and print books donated by authors.

Also, watch this video:

And then donate HERE.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Notes From A First-Time RWA Goer

This week I’m at RWA, which is an annual convention of romance authors and other industry professionals. There are workshops, there is drinking, what’s not to like?

Unless you’re an incurable introvert such as myself.

But this is my first time here, so I am content to watch and learn. I’m rooming with the lovely (and much more savvy) Ruthie Knox, and I’ve met some other cool people, both published authors and aspiring writers. I had planned on live-tweeting more stuff, but the internet kinda sucks here at the hotel and even my iPhone’s 3G is struggling in certain rooms (like, oh, the ones the workshops are in).

I spent yesterday at the Beau Monde mini-conference, which was a day of learning about historical details, focusing on the regency era. Then I got to drink wine and learn a country dance at last night’s Soiree. Not gonna lie, the evening started off trippy, but after I had a little alcohol, it was all good.

I got to see two workshops by Sandra Schwab, who it turns out is very smart and witty and also has a fun (German?) accent that I could have listened to all day. I was so impressed that I went online to check out her books, and discovered that I recognized one of the covers. I’ve had her book sitting in my Kindle for a long time now. I should probably read from there more often instead of buying new books! Of course, between all the freebies in our bag and goody table and other things, I have quite a bit of reading to do anyway.

Today I’ve hit a few panels, and then there’s some more this afternoon, possible drinks with other Loose Id authors and then the Passionate Ink “Hurts So Good” party tonight. Boy, I am going to need some serious decompression time when I get home.

Speaking of home, I am going through serious withdrawal pains being away from la familia. The hubs sent me a picture of our 4-year-old strumming on his Toy Story guitar and the quote “I’m playing sad music because I miss mama.” So I have serious mama sads.

On a high note, I brought a big bag of my custom handcrafted soap swag for Giving It Up and it’s going like hotcakes. I put about half out the first time, and then again, and each time it’s snapped up in a matter of hours. Even as I was laying them out in a nice arrangement, people were coming up and asking about it. So that’s good. I felt like I did my duty to my book, since I’m not doing any other authorial promotion things while I’m here. Marketing? Check. And I didn’t even have to be in the room

The More Things Change… or, My Letter to the Huffington Post

Last week I stumbled upon a site called Stop the GR Bullies. I didn’t have any context at the time, but as I read their website, I was appalled. These anonymous people were complaining about readers/reviewers and publishing their real name, phone number and addresses online. I hoped it was a tasteless joke, a bit of performance art about hypocrisy. Unfortunately it’s true, and already one of the readers in question has been threatened.

Earlier today Huffington Post ran an “op-ed” piece by the owners of Stop the GR Bullies… which was again, anonymous. After HuffPost was handed their asses by the online community, Andrew Losowsky posted a response and apology that was about as polite as it could be, even as it missed the primary issue altogether.

This is the letter I wrote to him:

I appreciate the relatively quick response and apology to what I consider a big ethical mistake. There was also one glaring lapse in your apology note, where you state “The accusations are serious, but we have been unable to corroborate them. In an email to me, one of the people who runs the site categorically denied stalking, threatening or telephoning any of the people who have been featured on Stop the GR Bullies.” This is self-evident in the Stop GR Bullies site, where they spell out their own actions in ferreting out information about readers and then sharing it publicly… for what purpose?

There is a good use for flowery language, but this is not one of them. The only reason it would be useful to have “Lucy”‘s real name, phone number and address online is so that people may harass her. That is stalking. That is threatening. And the most ridiculous thing about this situation is that the Stop the GR Bullies people ADMIT to doing this right there on their website. It doesn’t matter if the owner of that site never picked up a phone to call her. This person started a website with all sorts of claims, ones that are provably untrue, then he/she identified and shared that information on the very same website. Did he/she think someone was going to send Lucy flowers? I don’t think so.

I would hope that most people can figure out right from wrong simply by reading the Stop GR Bullies’ posts carefully. It is not okay to make false accusations about a person in the same breath as you post their personal information. Whether or not it is legal, let’s agree it’s not okay. Most authors I know and talk to have spoken out against this. The Anti-Bullying logos that Stop GR Bullies website were taken down, presumably by request of those same organizations. Did it not seem relevant to you that a group who makes it their purpose to share personal information about anonymous online entities refuse to sign their own names? But if you were unsure, it still would have behooved you to reach out to…. well, ANYONE prominent in the community of books and reading, who could have told you like it was and provided, not even an opinion piece, but a plain statement of facts.

Please consider reaching out to Jane Litte of Dear Author and Sarah of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books who are both authorities in the romance community (which is where at least one of the victims of Stop the GR Bullies, Ridley, is a part of). They have consistently advocated for readers AND authors, and have already spoken out against Stop the GR Bullies. I’m sure they could provide a balanced view, and possibly one a bit more of a reader’s perspective than Scalzi’s. The point isn’t whether authors (I am one, by the way) should cry over bad reviews. The point is that online stalking and threatening and yes, ironically, bullying are not okay.

And I signed it with my real name, which is Amber Shah.

It hurt me to type that part, because there are people out there who have already proven they don’t care if violence happens. They want it to happen. That is only conceivable reason for posting these reviewers names and contact information.

This isn’t new. In 2007, Kathy Sierra, a UI designer and blogger, received death threats at her home. These reviewers are talking about whether or not they liked a book they read. Kathy Sierra was talking about the most efficient use of space on a website. WHY IS IT OKAY TO THREATEN THEM WITH RAPE AND DEATH?

But the anonymous people behind Stop the GR Bullies didn’t threaten them, or so Andrew Losowsky claims. That’s not the point either. They incited the threats, that’s their entire purpose with the site. I have no idea whether their actions have legal ramifications, but they sure as hell have moral ones.

God, I’m so tired. What was I talking about, 2007? Women have been threatened with rape forever. They’ve been raped forever. Why is this okay?

Recently, comedian Daniel Tosh suggested that a woman in his audience who objected to his rape jokes should be gang raped and wouldn’t that be oh-so-funny. The sad thing is that part of the story didn’t shock me. What shocked me is that when the women felt offended and frightened and got up to leave, NO ONE ELSE DID EITHER. No one else stood up to say that no, this woman beside me getting gang raped wouldn’t be very funny at all. No one stormed out beside her, except the friend she came with.

I’m tired. I’m tired of being hurt, except I’m not really hurt here in the present. Because I live in a nice, safe town and lead a quiet life, where I mostly try very hard not to stand out or bother anyone. But why should that really matter? If I go online and say I don’t like your book and that I think that particular design is too top-heavy, I STILL DON’T DESERVE TO BE RAPED. Why is this okay?

Sometimes when men make obtuse comments about these issues, as if they truly believe rape culture isn’t real, I have to wonder… they love their mothers, they love their wives and sisters and daughters. Surely they just don’t quite get it. They’ve never experienced it, they don’t know. I try to make these excuses because that’s the only thing I can do in the face of their utter denial.

But I am fairly confident that at least some of the people behind Stop the GR Bullies are women. Certainly they have some supporters who are women. And it’s this quote that keeps playing in my head, over and over, but it’s not even angry, when I hear it. It’s just sad. Is this what we’ve come to?

“There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” – Madeleine Albright

Why are we still here?

BDSM Unleashed Bloghop & Giveaway

Welcome to the BDSM Unleashed Blog Hop, where authors and bloggers are giving away free erotic books!

My debut novel, Giving It Up, is in an awkward spot when it comes to BDSM. That is, many people wouldn’t consider it to have any. There definitely aren’t any of the normal props and though it is at times painful, there isn’t really erotic pain in the usual sense. However the genre is officially “BDSM Suspense”, at least according to my publisher, and that is due to the dynamic between my hero and heroine.

Colin is naturally dominant and Allie is naturally submissive. She also has masochistic tendencies. She has a rough past – specifically, she’s been raped before. And as the book opens, we find her seeking out rough, dirty sex with strangers. That is, until she meets the hero. Ohh, he has some opinions on that matter.

I received a really great question on my blog tour, which was to ask whether Allie had acquired her masochistic or submissive mindset as a direct result of the rape. This can be a controversial topic because of its implications… for example, if I say yes, then am I also saying that BDSM is only a result being victimized?

But if I say no, there is no link… well, that doesn’t quite hold up either. The shame and guilt she feels about the rape are still raw, and therefore relevant to her current sexual encounters… how could they not be?

My answer then was that her submissive tendencies were innate but her self-destructive behavior at the club was a result of the rape. That sounds reasonable although even now I’m not sure. How can they be distinct? Allie’s present will always be influenced by what happened. In real life, a woman who was also a victim, or who wasn’t a victim – every part of her sexual history shapes her current sexual identity, doesn’t it?

To be frank, I am personally more concerned about the idea that if a woman has been victimized, she somehow loses the right to consent (or not) to BDSM activities. That if Allie’s sexuality was shaped by the rape, that maybe her submissiveness doesn’t count.

Hmm. Here’s the blurb for Giving It Up….

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it’s not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren’t enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

And if you’d like to find out for yourself, it’s available at Amazon and All Romance Ebooks.

We’ve got some awesome prizes on this hop, so do visit the other stops and be sure to enter to win the grand prize. I’m giving away a copy of Giving It Up. I’d love to hear your perspective on the topic of innate sexuality and how sexual events change us and what the distinction means to you.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also be sure to enter my Release Giveaway where you can win cool prizes, including a Kindle Fire.

Release Giveaway!

My debut book, Giving It Up, is officially out! It’s up on my publisher Loose Id’s website. It’s up on Amazon. It’s up on Fictionwise, All Romance Ebooks and Kobo! It will be up on Barnes & Noble very soon. To celebrate and also to help get the word out, I am running a big giveaway.

[image error]This contest is a thank you to people who are already helping me spread the word about my debut, by offering them chances to win and cool swag for stuff they’re already doing. It’s also an an opportunity for interested readers to learn more about the book and win cool stuff. We have something for everyone here. But first…

Let’s take a look at Giving It Up!

Allie prowls the club for a man who will use her hard and then ditch her. Hey, it’s not rape if she wants it. Instead she finds Colin, who looks tough but treats her tenderly, despite her protests.

He tempts her, but kindness and a few mindblowing orgasms aren’t enough to put her back together again. Allie has no hope for a real relationship. Two years ago her best friend betrayed her in the worst possible way – she’d be stupid to trust a man again. Besides, she has her daughter to think of, the only good thing to have come from that dark night.

But when her rapist returns, threatening her sanity and custody of her daughter, Allie turns to Colin. Under his protection and patient touch, Allie begins to heal and learns to hope. Colin’s no saint, though, and his criminal past draws danger of its own. Allie must fight to protect her child and the man she loves, hoping her newfound power will be enough to save them all.

“Giving It Up is original, affecting, emotionally draining, but well worth reading if you are brave enough to go along for the ride.”

—Annabel Joseph, author of Comfort Object

“A ballsy departure from romantic conventions. At once gritty and tender, stark and hopeful.”

—Cara McKenna, author of Willing Victim

“Giving It Up is an erotic, compelling story that takes us to the shadowy, lonely places but doesn’t leave us there. Amber Lin shows us that romance isn’t just for the rich and shiny. Love can find its way even into the dark corners of the most damaged hearts.”

—Tiffany Reisz, author of The Siren

“This is a book you MUST read if you like gritty, edgier romance that makes you think as well as turns you on.”

—Cari Quinn, USA Today Bestselling Author of No Dress Required

“Every page is chock full of sexy, angsty must-read-moreness.”

—Karla Doyle, author of Game Plan

“Giving It Up is a gritty, real romance that deals in an honest way with what happens to sexuality in the aftermath of rape…. Read it. You won’t be sorry.”

—Ruthie Knox, author of About Last Night

“Dark and edgy…but don’t be fooled. There’s a wonderful love story running through this book. Sharp, intense writing, sexy as hell, and such a cool idea!”

—Charlotte Stein, author of Sheltered

“The book is well-written, keeps you guessing, has you on the edge of your seat, and throws in plenty of surprises. I found it really engaging, and was rooting for Allie and Colin throughout.”

—Lucy Felthouse, Seattle Post Intelligencer Blog

“HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK IS GOOD!”

—The Romance Man

“Dark, gutsy and deeply emotional; this is a story of two wounded souls finding solace with one another. Ms. Lin deftly handles the intricate psychological aftermath of rape and violence, of betrayal and forgiveness.”

—Cheryl, Romance Junkies

Time for the good stuff

First of all, I know you’re totally psyched about reading Giving It Up by now, so you’re probably wondering where you can buy it. You can grab it from Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, Loose Id or Fictionwise!

If you’re still on the fence, check out the excerpt and the book trailer below, and enter to win the giveaway at the same time! Even if you decide to read the book, you can still enter the giveaway multiple times because the prizes are really cool. Take a look…

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want some swag? I’ve got your swag.

By the way, if you’ve already read Giving It Up and would like some fun swag, including a signed bookplate, romance trading cards and a handcrafted signature soap for showers together, designed for Giving It Up by Ana Banana’s creations, all you have to do is shoot me an email with your proof or purchase and your mailing address. Magic!

Thank you all so much for reading my book and helping me share the broken love