Shiloh Walker's Blog, page 176

Doing my happy dance… why?

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

FYI, first must share the funny freudian typo I had on twitter today…

Guess what…I just beat my dreadline by two months and change. *yes, I see the typo, but it seems fitting…

Dreadline… heh. I thought that was cute. Accidentally cute, even.

Anyway, so I had three brutal deadlines coming up. November 15, December 15, January 15. These were the days I had to turn romantic suspense books 1, 2 & 3 to my editor at Ballantine.  I turned in the first book back in the summer.  The second back in September, I think.  And now?  Today?  I just turned in book 3.

I am done.  This trilogy-my first-has eaten my brain, like a zombie, I swear, and now I am done.  That's why I'm doing a happy dance.  Well, actually, I'm celebrating with a glass of strawberry wine and chocolate.  But that's pretty good, too.

Saturday Snippets…from The Departed

(follow up to The Missing)

Dez paused at the door and looked back at him. She lifted a brow at him. "You won't allow it," she murmured, cocking her head. Then she sighed and opened the door. "You don't get it, Taylor. You don't have a choice here."

Their eyes met, held, steely blue on darkest brown. She was the one to look away first.

"Good-bye."

As she closed the door behind her, he could have sworn he heard something crack.

But it wasn't his heart—he wasn't so fucking stupid that he'd allow himself to fall for a woman he couldn't have.

And even if he was that stupid, surely he wouldn't compound it by chasing her away.

Except Taylor knew that was exactly what he'd done.

(Sorry, guys…no release details or anything on this yet)

The Friday 56

Today's 56 is from my book-it's the book closest to me cuz I'm editing it.  Book 3 in the my RS trilogy with Ballantine…

Normally, he was here at 7:30, the same time as Mrs. Tuttle, because she terrified him.  But that morning…well, Lena had slipped into the shower with him.  He had lost track of time.

About the Friday 56

Grab the book nearest you. Right now
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

Qs for Broken

Have you read Broken?

If so, can you help me out?  (FYI, if you haven't, you might not want to read the questions-they'll probably involve some spoiler stuff).

A friend of mine heads up a book club and she wants to put together a page on book club discussion questions for books in the genre and she asked me for 10-12 questions on a book of mine-we decided on Broken.  But I'm clueless about what to ask… can you help me?  Here's a link to her site if that will help give you ideas.  Toss out your suggestions… help me save my brain… O.o

Haunted by Your Touch… giveaway…

I meant to blog about this when the book came out but…well, some of you know I had a rough week.  Life and everything else got away from me.

But I'm doing it now and I'm giving away a copy of the book, too…see, I've already got a copy…a nice, pretty ARC that Shayla gave me.  (I heart Shayla)

USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost seduces readers into a forbidden new world as she teams up with romance stars Shayla Black and Sharie Kohler for a sizzling collection of original novellas featuring fallen angels, anarchistic demons, warrior wizards, and irresistibly dangerous creatures of the night.Enter the dark realm of Nocturna in Jeaniene Frost's redhot tale, where blisteringly sexy Raphael dominates the demons of a lawless dimension and tries to help a beautiful young woman avenge her cousin's disappearance. In the shadowy world of Shayla Black's Doomsday Brethren, magical warrior Raiden vows to protect his woman and their unborn youngling from evil—and deliver her safely to another man. But once he's saved her, can he let her go? Lycans rule the night in Sharie Kohler's suspenseful story, as a fiery woman stalks mysterious Luc, the undeniably hypnotic being she believes can save her from turning…if she kills him. Danger beckons in these captivating paranormal tales that will tempt readers to the edge and leave them begging for more.

I'm already admittedly a Jeaniene Frost junkie and her new world was fantastic.  Shayla's book was wonderful and I really need to catch up on Doomsday Brethren.  This was the first story I've read by Sharie Kohler, and I'm going to check out some more. 

Like I said, I've already got a copy (have I mentioned I heart Shayla?) but I wanted to buy it, too.  So I'm giving away that copy-the one I bought.  Want it?  If so, just leave a comment below and tell me what you're reading.

Normal contest rules apply…

Open across the globe
One entry per household
You must enter via my blog/@ my website(not thru FB/goodreads, etc)
Do not enter this contest into twittersweeps, post to sweeps/contest sites, etc-if that happens, I reserve the right to end the contest without awarding the prize, yadda yadda yadda (FYI, when I say I reserve the right-this translates to I likely WILL do so if I see this happen. And yes… I know when it happens.)
Winner's name will be posted here at the blog sometime in the next week or so-to claim it, you must check back
Rest of my rules…at the disclaimer page. As my disclaimer states, entering any of my contests means you've actually read and agree to my contest rules… so if you haven't done that?  Here you go… disclaimer.

Guestblogging today…AND… Nalini Singh

Over at Lisa Renee Jones' blog.

Come say hi!

AND… Nalini Singh's latest is out.  Play of Passion. FYI, it's my personal and professional *hey, I'm a professional writer, that means I can have a professional opinion on this, right?*  Anyway, it's my personal & professional opinion that Nalini Singh rocks.  Professionally-her stories are awesome.  Personally…um…well, she sends me ARCs.  How can I not adore her?

Passion and reason collide with explosive force in the newest installment of Nalini Singh's "mesmerizing"* Psy/Changeling series. As a conflict with Pure Psy looms on the horizon, two powerful wolves fight a far more intimate war of their own…



In his position as tracker for the SnowDancer pack, it's up to Drew Kincaid to rein in rogue changelings who have lost control of their animal halves—even if it means killing those who have gone too far. But nothing in his life has prepared him for the battle he must now wage to win the heart of a woman who makes his body ignite…and who threatens to enslave his wolf.

Lieutenant Indigo Riviere doesn't easily allow skin privileges, especially of the sensual kind—and the last person she expects to find herself craving is the most wickedly playful male in the den. Everything she knows tells her to pull back before the flames burn them both to ash…but she hasn't counted on Drew's will.

Now, two of SnowDancer's most stubborn wolves find themselves playing a hot, sexy game even as lethal danger stalks the very place they call home…

Excerpt

Impulsive…

I read this a while back (FYI, HelenKay was kind enough to let me read an ARC) and it was awesome.  I loved it.  It's out now.  You should go buy it.

Impulsive by HelenKay Dimon

Katie Long was supposed to be undercover. She was just supposed to watch Deputy Prosecutor Eric Kimura at his ex's wedding and gather intel on his campaign for prosecutor. But he's a lot hotter in person, and the kind of intel they accidentally shared in the hotel bathroom might lose both of them their jobs. Especially since it seems to be a recurring incident. Is it possible for a one-night stand to last ten days?

Kimura isn't usually the impulsive type. He's driven, he's ambitious, and he knows what he wants—a respectable future in Hawaii politics. Which means wild half-public sex with a beautiful stranger in a short little caterer's skirt is just tabloid fodder waiting to happen. Conveniently, just as his campaign is coming under attack. Sabotage, media gossip, and an insatiable desire for a woman he just met? If he's not careful, Counselor Kimura might lose all control…

Tarnished Knight…another excerpt…

Happy Halloween…

I'm feeling lazy.  Rough week, although I did get to go out Friday with the DH and relax.

Instead of thinking of something wickedly clever, I'm just going to share another excerpt from Tarnished Knight-FYI, it's out now…

Think you know fairy tales… guess again…

erotic paranormal romance

One look at Jack Wallace and Perci knows he's going to be trouble. Even surrounded by soul stealers, he's a one-man wrecking crew. What does he need Grimm training for? He's already hell on earth, a warrior bent on destruction. And something…more.

He's too strong and fast to be a mere mortal. Even covered in blood, he makes her forget she's only here to do a job and get out. It's twisted. Sick. She hasn't felt this alive in three centuries.

Born with a natural talent for killing unnatural things, Jack has always known things he shouldn't. The fact that Perci is one of them glows all over her. Giving him an unholy urge to see just how far he can push her before don't touch me melts into touch me there.

When they come together, it isn't careful or cautious. It's heaven and hell, exposing all their raw and wounded places to healing heat, resurrecting memories of a destined love from the distant past. But the evil that destroyed them once before has tracked them here, threatening their second and last chance at forever. Demanding a sacrifice no one—Grimm or human—should ever be asked to make…

Excerpt

Her mouth…

Jack shuddered as her mouth opened under his. She tasted like cinnamon and cream and honey and heaven and damn it, he didn't think he'd get enough of that taste. Then she tore her mouth away from his and he growled, reached up and fisted his hand in her short, silken hair. "Kiss me," he muttered against her cheek.

"This is insane," she whispered.

"Yeah. Don't care. Kiss me."

A sigh shuddered out of her. "I can't be doing this." Her shoulders rose and fell and Jack found himself staring at those sleek, pale curves. Soft…

Without realizing it, he found himself lowering his head and pressing his mouth to one shoulder, left all but bare by the skinny strap of her tank. Soft…smooth. Hmmm.

He touched his tongue to her skin. She stiffened, then shuddered.

Turning around, he walked blindly until he could put her down on the counter by the refrigerator. Lifting his head, he stared into her dark eyes, watched her face as he slid his hand under the hem of her shirt. Simple, basic cotton—nothing fancy, and yet it would be a pleasure to peel away from her.

An image flashed through his mind.

Her…her hair long and luxurious. Her lean body had been softer then, clad in a lush gown of velvet.

A man was with her, and he was peeling that velvet away from her body. Slowly. Teasingly. And watching her with a look of such love and awe. They knelt together on a blanket.

He could see them—had seen them. Watched…wanted. Loved.

It hit him in the gut like a punch and he should have pulled away.

Would have pulled away.

But then Perci rested her hands on his forearms, stroked up. The image shattered, fell away under her touch. Need and hunger swamped him. She cupped his face in her hands and tugged his mouth to hers.

"I thought you said this was insane," he muttered against her lips. Pull away, Jack. Something strange is going on here, man.

"It is. I'll figure it out later." She caught his hands and guided them to her breasts. "Touch me…damn it, please touch me. I… Shit, I feel alive when you're touching me."

There was something so broken, so raw in her voice.

He couldn't not touch her. Couldn't not cup her face in his hands, lift it to his and brush his lips over hers. "I think I like the taste of you," he muttered. "The feel of you."

He wanted to make love to her…gentle, slow. Needed it.

But she didn't want gentle. Greedy, hungry, she skimmed her hands down his sides, grabbed the hem of his shirt and jerked it up and over his head. As she bared his chest, she leaned forward and nipped at his nipple with sharp teeth. "I don't want slow, and I don't want soft and sweet words. Fuck me," she said, tipping her head back and staring at him.

She scraped her nails over the denim-covered ridge of his cock and Jack shuddered. Reaching down, he closed his hand around her wrist. "Is there any reason to rush?" he muttered against her mouth.

She cupped him with her other hand and squeezed.

Groaning, he caught that hand as well and then penned them behind her back. He lifted his head to stare down into her glittering, hungry eyes. "What's the rush, princess?"

She snarled at him. "Don't call me that."

"Fuck, but I think it turns me on when you glare at me," he muttered, dipping his head and nipping her lower lip. Then he licked it with his tongue and kissed a trail down along her chin, her neck, until he could bite her gently through her bra. "I want to see you naked."

"Then let go of my hands and I'll get naked."

He smiled at the command in her voice. "And what if I'd rather be the one to get you naked?" He let go of her hands, but before she could take care of her shirt, he did it by reaching up and grabbing the neckline. He smiled down into her eyes and watched the surprise flicker as he tore the thin cotton apart.

Her breath caught in her throat and she glanced down, stared at the torn tank top before looking back up at him. "You forgot something." Then a smirk twisted her mouth. "Although I bet you can't tear the bra quite so easy. They make them pretty sturdy."

That smirk…damn but it turned him on, and he was already so fucking hot, he hurt. "I can think of a way to get it off." Holding her gaze, he reached up and grabbed one of the blades he had on the refrigerator.

He kept sharp, shiny objects in a variety of places all over his house. It had saved his ass a time or two.

But this time, it proved to be worth it for a different reason.

As he pulled the blade down and slipped the tip of it under her bra, he watched her eyes widen, watched as her lashes fluttered.

"You scared?" he teased.

Not that he really thought she would be, and he wasn't surprised when her brown eyes opened and she smiled at him. "Of you? No way in hell."

Keeping the knife still, he watched her. "Should I stop?" All it would take was the slightest bit of pressure, just the slightest bit.

"If you stop, how are you going to finish getting me naked?"

He gave the slightest flick of his wrist and watched as the blade cut through the lace and silk. Her eyes went dark, and as he reached up and pushed the straps off her shoulders, she smiled at him.

Holy hell.

Just one look from her was enough to make him weak in the knees.

He laid the knife down and she glanced at it, flicked him a look from under her lashes. "What, you're not going to cut my pants off too?"

"Don't tempt me," he muttered.

buy

Irony

Yes…. I haz it.

Say What…

I just got my RWR for the month.  And it has my article on digital self-publishing.  No, I'm not eating my words with Beg Me, because after all, I never said I wouldn't try it again.  I said it wasn't likely.

And if it wasn't for a few friends who kept nagging me at RAW in September, I don't know that I would have decided to try going independently with Beg Me.  I'm not going into detail about things, but long story short, I figured I'd give the digital self-publishing thing another shot, if I could come up with another idea.  And I did.  Beg Me.  Timing-wise, if I tried sending it to Samhain, it wouldn't get published for almost a year. I don't want to wait that long for it, and if I did, it would put off the next Grimm book for that much longer.  It also came along at a time when…well, I needed to control something-completely.  I didn't want to worry about not getting the title I wanted, or worry if the subject matter was too dark-yes, it's dark and the story isn't for everybody, I know this.  I needed to control something and damn it, that's what I did.

In the long run, this will be an interesting experience-and already has been.  I've gotten to work with a great freelance editor, got an idea of what the costs are, got to control the cover aspect from start to finish-realized I can do a blurb without screwing it up, although it's a good thing a synopsis wasn't required.  I'll get a better idea of whether or not it really is a feasible option to consider in the future, because as the article mentions, my previous experience with digital self-publishing?  Complete and total flop.

And… FYI… this is why I rarely say never.  Because I don't like eating my words or backtracking, and I knew it was possible I might try it in the future.  I just didn't expect it to happen this soon.

Regardless, it's not something I see me turning to in the future altogether.  It's too much work and I want somebody else doing this extra stuff so I don't need to, and if this had been a harder book to write, or a longer book?  It wouldn't be going out solo.

The Friday 56…Rachel Caine's Ill Wind

Rachel Caine's Ill Wind

The fantasy had been good; the reality was better.

started reading this Wednesday, am loving it…

About the Friday 56

Grab the book nearest you. Right now
Turn to page 56.
Find the fifth sentence.
Post that sentence (plus one or two others if you like) along with these instructions on your blog or (if you do not have your own blog) in the comments section of this blog.
Post a link along with your post back to this blog.
Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.