Wednesday, February 10, 2010

[Shelly Laurenston] BEAST BEHAVING BADLY / Book 5: Pride series

Love a sexy shifter novel with lots of action, humor and characters you'll love? Then you've got to read Shelly's 'Magnus Pack' and 'Pride' series novels, if you haven't already.

Shelley Laurenston is one of my favorite paranormal authors. Her books are funny and sexy with to-die-for heroes and quirky, kick-ass heroines. I especially love her writing style which combines great dialogue with action and a smoking sensuality that will leave you breathless! I can never find a place to stop - so I just keep reading!

I'm not-so-patiently waiting for book 5 of the Pride novels, Beast Behaving Badly which will hit shelves in May 25th.


Here's the blurb:

Ten years after Blayne Thorpe first encountered Bo Novikov, she still can't get the smooth-talking shifter out of her head. Now he's shadowing her in New York-all seven-plus feet of him-determined to protect her from stalkers who want to use her in shifter dogfights. Even if he has to drag her off to an isolated Maine town where the only neighbors are other bears almost as crazy as he is...

Let sleeping dogs lie. Bo knows it's good advice, but he can't leave Blayne be. Blame it on her sweet sexiness -- or his hunch that there's more to this little wolfdog than meets the eye. Blayne has depths he hasn't yet begun to fathom -- much as he'd like to. She may insist Bo's nothing but a pain in her delectable behind, but polar bears have patience in spades. Soon she'll realize how good they can be together. And when she does, animal instinct tells him it'll be worth the wait...


Check out an excerpt here.
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Friday, January 29, 2010

Writer's Moment - Ann Lethbridge

Authors - Need some practical advice to keep the word count flowing?

That's exactly what Ann provides on her January 27th 'Tips and Tricks' post at her blog, Seduced By History.

Here's just the beginning to whet your appetite:

"I hear a lot of authors say they are slow writers. I don’t see anything wrong with that at all. Some of the best writers describe themselves this way. Your process is your process. These tips and tricks are merely ideas I have honed for myself, which I am sharing with you to do with as you will.

First I want you to understand that I am a full-time writer. Last year I completed three full length novels for Harlequin, did revisions for same, and also wrote two short stories and one novella. Because I just landed an eight book contract with Harlequin, four full length and four short stories, I had to sit down and really think about my process and what I wanted to accomplish. I had three questions in mind. Did I want to write fast? And how fast? And when did I want to take vacations? I plan to have this contract completed by June 2011.

My tips and tricks.
1. Know how much you write consistently. I use an excel spreadsheet to track.

2. For a period of two weeks record your daily and weekly word counts. Find out the average per day, then use that as your daily word count."


Check out the full post here.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

[Pamela Montgomerie] AMETHYST DESTINY / Book 2: Jewels of Time

Pamela Montgomerie (pen name for Pamela Palmer) is revealing a tantalizing peek at Amethyst Destiny, book 2 in her Jewels Of Time series. It's just a little taste of the novel hitting shelves on May 4th.

The series is described as "a handful of magical gems destined to cause time-traveling mayhem in seventeenth-century Scotland... and beyond."

Read the brand new excerpt here.

Or, for those of you willing to take a trip back in time, check out book 1, Sapphire Dream...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

[Nicole Jordan] TO TAME A DANGEROUS LORD / Book 5: The Courtship Wars


For anyone looking for a fun Regency romance with a heroine you can actually identify with and root for, pick up your copy of To Tame A Dangerous Lord, book 5 in the oh-so-popular series The Courtship Wars.

Nicole started the series off as a trilogy, but continued these fun - and very sexy - historical romances when fans just couldn't get enough. Check out the reference below:

"One of my all time favorite writers, Nicole Jordan delivers romance like no one else. Captivating, enticing, and irresistible, her books are always on my must buy list."
~ Sherrilyn Kenyon, # 1 New York Times bestselling author



Here's the blurb:
Dangerously sexy nobleman and former spymaster Rayne Kenyon, Earl of Haviland, has no interest in love. He merely desires an heir to carry on his title and therefore must have a wife. Rayne makes a surprising choice of brides by settling on the plain spinster daughter of a fellow spy who once saved his life. Yet spirited, witty Madeline Ellis proves much more than he bargained for.

Dazed by Rayne's smoldering kisses, Madeline knows that she's at last found love – with a man determined to avoid it. Once wedded, she decides to take fate into her own hands. Maybe, just maybe, she can kindle the fires in Rayne's heart by turning her plain, ordinary self into a dazzling temptress. With a little help from the Loring sisters, the earl's artless new wife becomes a beautiful, bold seductress in their marriage bed. But who could imagine that a simple marriage of convenience can suddenly be flooded with danger, desire, and unexpected love?

The excerpt of Chapter 1 puts you right into the story.

And the Reviewers have shown lots of love:

“To Tame a Dangerous Lord pits Madeline, a supposedly plain woman, against Rayne, a man whose masculine beauty surpasses most others. I love how strong, independent, and stubborn she is, something her character needs in order to fight for her marriage. The emotional roller coaster is very intense; love, heartbreak... and a passion that explodes within the pages. Once again Ms. Jordan has hit upon a winning novel sure to keep her audience enthralled and entertained for years to come!”
~ Coffee Time Romance

“To Tame a Dangerous Lord is a delightful, wonderful love story. The story has depth, detail and is very well written. The characters are witty, lovable, sexy, and will sweep you away with them. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you enjoy a great love story, sensuality, wit and suspense.”
~ MyBookAddictionAndMore


The good news - TTADL hit shelves on January 26th, so you can pick up your copy today. :)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

[Christina Dodd] Books 3 & 4: The Chosen Ones

I just heard the great news about the next books in Christina's excellent paranormal series 'The Chosen Ones'! (A spin-off of her mega-popular 'Darkness Chosen' books.)

For those of you who haven't read Storm of Visions & Storm of Shadows yet, here's a little history to get you started:


"The Chosen Ones is a seductive paranormal series about an ancient rivalry that lives in the world today … When the world was young, twins were born. One brought light to a dark world. The other, darkness and danger. Their powers could not be denied, and they gathered others around them, men and women destined to use their gifts for good or evil. Today, they walk the earth as the Chosen Ones … and the ultimate battle is about to begin."

Look for Book 3, Chains of Ice, on July 6th and Book 4, Chains of Fire, on September 7th.


CHAINS OF ICE: The sweepingly romantic tale of a man who has lost everything…For one magic summer, Genny Valente escapes to spend time as a wildlife observer in the untamed mountains. Little does she know that a beast more fearsome that any beast lurks in the forest…a man, one of the Chosen Ones, betrayed by his gift and tormented by his memories. John Powell has fled his fate and his duty, yet in Genny he sees his one chance for redemption. He will stalk her, kidnap her, love her as only a savage can. But when a new betrayal threatens, John must call on the powers he swore he’d never use again. Then only Genny’s love can save him…if she dares tame the one man she can’t live without…
Pre-order Chains Of Ice from Amazon: Chains of Ice (The Chosen) by Christina-Dodd

CHAINS OF FIRE: Samuel and Isabelle’s long anticipated romance. Samuel Faa, the adopted son of servants, a gypsy lawyer with the power to control minds. Isabelle Mason of the Boston Masons, wealthy, privileged, refined, and a woman with the gift for healing.Two of the Chosen Ones, they hide a past filled with love and betrayal, and a future denied by fate…until the day they’re trapped underground. No way out. No way to deny the passion that still burns beneath the surface. And when danger threatens, Isabelle has only one choice : to place her trust in the power of the one man she could never forget … or forgive …
Pre-order Chains Of Fire from Amazon: Chains of Fire (The Chosen) by Christina Dodd

Monday, January 25, 2010

[Jennifer Ashley] Pride Mates / Book 1: Shifters Unbound

Who loves a sexy shifter series full of suspense & romance? I do!! Which is why I'm so excited about Jennifer's new 'Shifters Unbound' series.

The first book, Pride Mates, will hit bookstores on January 26, 2010. Here's the blurb:

Twenty years ago, shape shifters of all kinds banded together and announced themselves to the world, only to be shunted to areas no human wanted ("Shiftertowns"). They are forced to wear Collars that control their hunting and fighting instincts (referred to by Shifters as "Taking the Collar").

Liam Morrissey is currently liaison between the Shifters of Austin, TX, and the humans of the city. Kim Fraser, attorney, finds herself in the unique position of having to defend a Shifter on a murder charge.

She ventures to Shiftertown to seek out Liam's help, and there stumbles across too many secrets the Shifters want kept secret. The un-mated Liam is forced to protect Kim against the wrath of his clan leader and his own father, and to his surprise he discovers a powerful attraction to the sassy, sexy lady.

Read an excerpt here.

Plus you can check out a message from the hero, Liam Morrisey here; and you can check out A Human's Guide to Shifters here.

Jennifer is a favorite author who also writes under the names Allyson James and Ashley Gardner. I am a huge fan of her award-winning 'Dragon' series, and can't wait to see this new series.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Every so often I need a lighthearted romance with larger-then-life characters, an entertaining storyline & lots of laughs - and if there's ahot, virile Viking involved, even better!

So I'm excited to to see that Viking in Love, the latest in Sandra's 'Viking I' series will hit shelves on January 26th.

Here's the story:

All Lord Caedmon of Larkspur wants, after nine long months in the king's service, is a bit of peace...not five bothersome Viking princesses who invade his keep, especially not the fiery redhead, Breanne. He has half a mind to kick her tempting arse out the door...but wait...he has a much more wickedly delightful plan for this thorn in his...um, side.Princess Breanne of Stoneheim is shocked at Larkspur's rundown condition with servants and children running wild whilst Caedmon lies abed after a night of mead and, no doubt, wanton bedsport. Breanne must endure the loathsome lout to protect her four sisters. She can hardly imagine what this knight will demand of her in return.

You can read an excerpt here.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

[Lori Devoti] AMAZON QUEEN / Book 2: Amazons

I'm so excited for the April 27, 2010 release of Amazon Queen! This is book 2 in Lori's 'Amazon' series following the hugely popular Amazon Ink.

The series is set in modern-day America where millennia-old Amazon traditions meet the challenges of the age of technology.
Here's the synopsis for Amazon Queen:

Amazon queen Zery Kostovska has never questioned tribe traditions. After all, these rules have kept the tribe strong for millennia and enabled them to live undetected, even in modern-day America. Zery is tough, fair, commanding–the perfect Amazon leader.
At least, she was. A new high priestess with a penchant for secrecy and technology is threatening Zery’s rule. Plus, with the discovery of the Amazon sons, males with the same skills as their female counterparts, even Zery can’t deny that the tribe must change. But how? Some want to cooperate with the sons. Others believe brutal new leadership is needed–and are willing to kill to make it happen.
Once, Zery’s word was law. Now, she had no idea who to trust, especially with one powerful Amazon son making her question all her instincts. For Zery, tribe comes first, but the battle drawing near is unlike any she’s faced before…and losing might cost her both the tribe and her life.

If you haven't already read Amazon Ink, I suggest you get your copy soon. Here's what reviewers had to say:

“Gifted Devoti adds urban fantasy to her growing list of genres with the launch of a gritty first-person series featuring modern-day Amazons. Secrets and stubbornness impact all the major players in this dark drama/murder mystery. If this book is any indication, Devoti has a brilliant future ahead in this genre!”
~ Romantic Times Magazine, Jill M. Smith (4 Stars) Read Full Review

…fascinating mix of myth and reality…“…Devoti’s fascinating mix of myth and reality will keep readers engaged.”
~ Publisher’s Weekly

“The storyline itself is totally memorable with so much intrigue and a myriad of questions needing answers. As each disclosure of the many mysteries is divulged, I was held engrossed by every fascinating revelation. Lori Devoti has crafted an outstanding urban fantasy with strong characters plus creative writing, and I cannot wait to read more about this believable world. AMAZON INK is an enchanting novel brimming with mystery, emotion and an abundance of magic.”
~ SingleTitles.com, Amelia Richards (5 Stars) Read Full Review

…an intriguing tale…“Ms. Devoti pens an intriguing tale with a legend brought to life in a modern day world. Amazon Ink has murder, mystery, and magic that will keep readers engrossed in the story until the very end.”
~ Darque Reviews Read Full Review

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

[Shayla Black] ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT / Book 4: Doomsday Brethren

I'm a serious fan of Shayla's Doomsday Brethren. So when I got the release dates for the next 2 entries in the series (books 4 & 5), I just had to share.

Check out the series list below:
Book 1: TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS — September 2008
Novella: "Fated" (FREE read on my site!)
Book 2: SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW — October 2009
Book 3: POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT — November 2009



Novella: "Mated" (in TBD anthology) — October 2010
Book 4: ENTICE ME AT TWILIGHT — November 2010
Book 5: EMBRACE ME AT DAWN — December 2010

Here's what Shayla has to say about Entice Me At Twilight:
"I am currently writing Entice Me At Twilight, which is Duke's book. One of my advance readers says this is the best Doomsday Brethren adventure yet, so I can't wait to share it with you! As soon as I have an official blurb and cover, I'll share them with you!" And of course you know, as soon as we see them, I'll share them with you. *wink*



You can Meet The Brethern - Brash, sexy warriors willing to fight the worst kind of evil - here.

Some of the amazing reviews for Possess Me At Midnight:

“The volatile emotions in this tale are truly combustible!”
~ RT Bookclub (Rated HOT!)

“Captivating… POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT [is] a book you won’t want to miss.”
~ Romance Reviews Today

“Page-turning magical suspense… Wring[s] emotion from every pore… leaves readers clamoring for more.”
~ Fallen Angels Reviews (Recommended Read)

“I could not stop reading. POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT is absolutely perfect.”
~ ParaNormal Romance Reviews

“I love the angst and passion between Sabelle and Ice; it’s tangible and often breathtaking. Possess Me At Midnight is another exciting chapter in the Doomsday Brethren’s fight…”
~ Joyfully Reviewed

“A thoroughly enjoyable read…”
~ Paranormal Romance Writers (10 out of 10)

Friday, November 20, 2009

[Annette McCleave] BOUND BY DARKNESS / Book 2: Soul Gatherer

I am a big fan of Cover Art and have been known to pick up a book based on the cover alone. (Reading is visual, covers are visual - I think they complement each other. And I'm sticking with that story.)

So I was thriled to see that Annette McCleave has posted the cover for her upcoming Soul Gatherer novel, Bound By Darkness. The Cover Gods are smiling, and so am I - love it!

This is the second book of the series following Drawn Into Darkness, which was the 2008 Golden Heart winner for Best Paranormal Romance (under the title Soul Provider).

Cannot wait for BBD which releases in May 2010!

Here's the synopsis from her website:

Soul Gatherer Brian Webster has long lived with the guilt of failing to save his teenage sister. When another girl dies in his arms protecting an ancient coin from a demon, he takes up her cause. The coin is one of the thirty pieces of silver Judas received for selling out the Son of God. United, the coins are a dark relic of immense power, and in the wrong hands, they could destroy civilization.

Lena Sharpe is on her own mission to find the Judas coins. A Soul Gatherer by day and a thief by night, she’s negotiated the most important deal of her life. When a brazen warrior intervenes and kidnaps her to obtain the coins, she repeatedly attempts to escape. But Brian is unrelenting, fearful that the beautiful felon has made a pact with the devil himself. And he’s not entirely wrong.

Bound together by burning desire and a similar darkness in their hearts, Brian and Lena race against time to recover the missing coins. But as the truth behind Lena’s bargain surfaces, Brian is faced with a desperate choice — save the one, or save the many.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

[Alexandra Alter] HOW TO WRITE A GREAT NOVEL

Absolutely fascinating insight into the writing process!

This excellent article - How To Write A Great Novel - by Alexandra Alter which lists the writing habits and practices of some of the most reknowned writers today. And its amazing how much they've shared abot how they do what they do.

Read the entire article here.

Here's the opening of her article:

Richard Powers lounges in bed all day and speaks his novels aloud to a laptop computer with voice-recognition software. Junot Diaz, author of the Pulitzer-prize winning novel "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao," shuts himself in the bathroom and perches on the edge of the tub with his notebook when he's tackling a knotty passage. Hilary Mantel, whose Tudor drama "Wolf Hall" claimed this year's Man Booker Prize, jumps in the shower when she gets stuck. "The number of pages I've got that are water marked, I can't tell you," Ms. Mantel said.

An unusually robust crop of books from some of the biggest names in literature has landed this fall. Kazuo Ishiguro, Orhan Pamuk, Mr. Powers and Nicholson Baker have new books out this fall, along with a host of other prominent authors.

Behind the scenes, many of these writers say they struggle with the daily work of writing, clocking thousands of solitary hours staring at blank pages and computer screens. Most agree on common hurdles: procrastination, writer's block, the terror of failure that looms over a new project and the attention-sucking power of the Internet.

A few authors bristle when asked the inevitable question about how they write. Richard Ford declined to reveal his habits, explaining in an email that "those are the kind of questions I hope no one asks me after readings and lectures." Others revel in spilling minute details, down to their preferred brand of pen (Amitav Ghosh swears by black ink Pelikan pens) or font size (Anne Rice uses 14-point Courier; National Book Award nominee Colum McCann sometimes uses eight-point Times New Roman, forcing himself to squint at the tiny type). Some now offer fans a window into the process, reporting on their progress on blogs and Twitter feeds. On his author Web site, John Irving describes how he begins his novels by writing the last sentence first.
Here is how a range of leading authors describe their approach to writing—a process that can be lonely, tedious, frustrating and exhilarating.


NICHOLSON BAKER
Most days, Nicholson Baker rises at 4 a.m. to write at his home in South Berwick, Maine. Leaving the lights off, he sets his laptop screen to black and the text to gray, so that the darkness is uninterrupted. After a couple of hours of writing in what he calls a dreamlike state, he goes back to bed, then rises at 8:30 to edit his work.

He wrote his first novel, "The Mezzanine," by dictating to a voice recorder during his commute to work. For his recent novel "The Anthologist," a first-person narrative by a frustrated poet who's struggling to write the introduction to a new anthology, he grew out a beard to resemble his character, put on a floppy brown hat, set up a video camera on a tripod and videotaped himself giving poetry lectures. He transcribed about 40 hours worth of tape, and ended up with some 1,000 pages of notes and transcription. Creating the voice of a rambling professor "was something I had to work on a lot in order to get the feeling of being sloppy," said Mr. Baker.


Even then, Mr. Baker decided the first draft was too orderly. So he divided the novel into numbered sections, then went to a random-number generating Web site and arranged the chunks according to the random order it gave him. It was a total mess. He had to return to the original order, although a few random bits worked. "I had to claw myself back to the old way," he said.

Monday, November 2, 2009

[Cynthia Eden] ETERNAL HUNTER / Book 2: Others


Who loves strong heroines and sexy shifters?

Anyone who answered, "Me," should definitely put Eternal Hunter on their 'Must Buy' list for January, 2010.

This is the second novel in Cynthia's 'Others' series following the release of Immortal Danger lst March.

The heroine is a non-human 'Other' who's an Assistant DA with a psychotic killer as a stalker. Our hero is a shape-shifting bounty-hunter trying to keep her safe.
Check out the excerpt here.


If the 4 1/2 -5 star ratings for Book 1 are any indication, Eternal Hunter should be on your list of great books to get in 2010.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Writer's Moment - Kate Garrabrant (KatieBabs)








Want to jumpstart your writing? KatieBabs has just the idea posted on her blog and November is the month to do it!

It's National November Writing Month and Katie calls it, "a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing."

The idea is simple: begin writing November 1 with a goal of writing a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

CONTEST Book Reader Times giving away Karen Marie Moning 'Fever' 4-Book Series











The Book Reader Times is giving away Karen Marie Moning's hugely-popular 'Fever' series!

The giveaway is for all 4 books - Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever & Dreamfever - and is open to everyone! A winner will be chosen on November 18th, 2009.

Check out the contest guidelines and read a synopsis for each book here.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Writer's Moment - Toni McGee Causey







It's easy to get so swallowed up in the business of writing that an author neglects the skill and craft that produces a truly quality read. That's why Toni McGee Causey's solid, well-grounded advice in her blogpost '10 Things I've Learned' at Murderati.com strikes such a chord.



Since all 3 books in her well-reviewed 'Bobbie Faye' series (including Charmed and Dangerous, Girls Just Wanna Have Guns & When A Man Loves A Weapon) were released in paperback this past summer, Toni may just have an idea about how to succeed in the industry. I was very impressed with her observations and how she communicated them.

A few fundamental truths she noted about writing and creativity:
  1. A strong writer isn’t afraid to toss out a good idea.
  2. To enrich the full experience, you sometimes have to hold back a part of it for delayed gratification.
  3. Use juxtaposition to frame the quality you care about.

Read the entire post here.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

[Nalini Singh] BLAZE OF MEMORY / Book 7: Psy-Changelings

More Psy-Changeling magic is coming in 2 short weeks! That's because Blaze of Memory hits bookshelves on November 3rd.

If, like me, you've read every book in this amazing paranormal romance series (at least once!), then I know you're counting the days until this release.

Read an from Blaze of Memory excerpt here.

And be sure to check out Nalini's website for lots of extras - FAQ, deleted scenes, short stories, a character list and more.

Feels like Christmas is coming early - can't wait!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

[Chloe Neill] FRIDAY NIGHT BITES / Book 2: Chicagoland Vampires


How much intrigue can a 27-year old grad student stand? A lot if you're talking about about newly-turned vampire Merit. Between her job as a Sentinel at her Vampire House, a grandfather who's the liaision between Chicago's city administration & the supernatural community, a magical best friend, and 2 very hot vampire love interests.

Friday Night Bites, the 2nd installment of the Chicagoland Vampire series, is a terrific follow-up to Chloe's debut novel, Some Girls Bite.

And there's lots of love for Friday Night Bites:

"Proving that her debut was no fluke, Neill continues to build a world where newly revealed vampires and humans have an uneasy truce. Exploring this world through feisty and funny newbie vampire Merit's eyes, she reveals a mix of the funny, the treacherous and the dangerous. This qualifies as first-rate fun!"
~
RT Book Reviews (4 1/2 stars)

"It's fun and fast-paced." ~ CS Magazine

"Ms. Neill has created an urban fantasy world that’s easily believed and a pleasure to visit. Friday Night Bites is wonderfully entertaining, and impossible to set down. There’s plenty of supernatural action to entice fans of the paranormal, while the suspense and romance open this series up to fans in a variety of other genres. I’d happily recommend the Chicagoland Vampires series as a delicious escape to get hooked on."
~ Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews


Check out an excerpt here.
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Monday, October 19, 2009

[Nancy Holzner] DEADTOWN / Book 1: Victory Vaughn

Deadtown, the first in a new urban fantasy series by Nancy Holzner, hits shelves December 29th.

Nancy's post-apocalyptic Boston is a vastly different world populated by werewolves, zombies, demons, assorted inhuman/undead inhabitants and 1 professional demon-slayer - Victory Vaughn. Enter a "ruthless force of destruction with a personal grudge against Vicky," and you've got a must-read story.

This is Nancy's 2nd book following, Peace, Love, and Murder, a mystery just released on August 31st.

Deadtown's already getting lots of pre-release love:

DEADTOWN is full of dangerous magic and populated with characters so realistic, they almost jump off the page. I loved this book. Nancy Holzner is a master of characterization and I’ll be buying her next book the moment it hits the shelf.
~Ilona Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of MAGIC STRIKES

DEADTOWN is fresh and funny, with a great new take on zombies.
~Karen Chance, New York Times bestselling author of DEATH’S MISTRESS

Check out the scoop here.
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Friday, October 16, 2009

Writer's Moment - Richard Nordquist


Who's ready for some writing tips that are simple, straightforward and based on the observations of some of the best writers in the business?

This is exactly what Richard Nordquist delivers in his October 5th blogpost at About.com. Here's a taste of what you'll learn:

"If I had to give young writers advice," playwright Lillian Hellman once observed, "I would say don't listen to writers talk about writing or themselves."

Advice is cheap, the saying goes, because supply always exceeds demand. And yet, as many professional authors will tell you, aspiring writers are often hungry for advice--eager to pick up an insider's tip that will open the door to the writing life.

So let's take the question seriously. What's the best advice on writing you were ever given? Not words of encouragement, necessarily, but sound, practical advice that you took to heart and that helped you become a better writer.

While you're mulling it over, consider how a number of others have responded to the question.

  • Write One Inch at a Time - The best advice I've ever come across for any kind of writing is from Anne Lamott's book, Bird by Bird. She says to write just one inch at a time. I love that! It's so easy to be overwhelmed by a big project, but if I only have to concentrate on one inch, well, that I can handle. Eventually those inches will be feet and yards and whatever it takes to make a book. This is true for research, too, which can be overwhelming.--Editor and children's book author Maureen Boyd Biro, quoted in The ABC's of Writing for Children, by Elizabeth Koehler Pentacoff (Quill Driver Books, 2002)

Read the entire post here: http://grammar.about.com/b/2009/10/05/the-best-writing-advice.htm
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[Meljean Brooks] DEMON FORGED & Motivational Posters

Meljean Brooks has many talents. Not only is she a fabulous writer - receiving rave reviews for her series, The Guardians - she's also incredibly funny and very handy with Photoshop.

Check out a couple of her own brand of "special" Motivational Posters at her blog. I'm feeling inspired already. *wink*

And while you're studying her amazing handiwork, be sure to look over Book 8 in the series, Demon Forged, released on October 6th and in stores now.

Check out the excerpt here.

Aw Meljean, we love it when you bring the funny!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

WE'RE BACK!


Okay - vacation is officially over and one little sister has been married off!
Had a great time, but it's good to be back.

Hope you're all ready to kick back into gear with more posts about fantastic new authors, thrilling new books, fun literary events, awesome writing advice and more.

Here we go!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Writer's Moment - Claire Delacroix


Ten Things You Can Do To Improve Your Chances Of Making Your First Sale
Published by Claire Delacroix at FreshFiction.com
September 15, 2009

Who's ready for some straightforward, heartfelt and simple advice to help get your book into the hands of a publisher and, from there, on shelves? That's just what Claire provides.

Check out an excerpt below, then read the full post here: http://freshfiction.com/page.php?id=1989

"I know a lot of aspiring writers (and I’ll likely meet a lot more, during the writer-in-residence program at the Toronto Public Library this fall. And every July, after aspiring romance writers attend RWA’s National convention, many of them come home determined to sell their first book by the next annual conference.

Selling a book by a specific date sounds like a good goal, but think about it. We say that authors make sales, but who is really is charge of that part of the process? Publishers buy books - specifically editors working for publishers - while authors write books. So, it’s not really up to you when your book is sold. This makes selling a poor goal, as the biggest part of it isn’t in the realm of your influence.

That said, there are a lot of awfully good goals that can put on the right path to making that sale, and - good news! - they are all within your powers.

1/ Finish the (insert adjective of choice here) book manuscript. Most authors make their first sale on a complete manuscript, plain and simple. It’s the only way that any editor can know for certain that you know how to write a book. If you want to be published, you’re going to have to not just sit down and write, but finish what you started.

2/ Follow your heart. Don’t write a book that you don’t particularly want to write, just because you think "that kind" of book will sell and get your foot in the publisher’s door. Most of the time, this doesn’t work. When an editor buys your first book, she or he will want a second book that shows similar characteristics - for example, another historical romance, or another funny paranormal romance, or another romantic suspense. By marketing several books in succession that have strong similarities, the publisher can "brand" you and build your readership. This is a good thing. It means, however, that the first book that you write and submit should be characteristic of the work you intend to do for the next five or six books. Following your historical romance with a cookbook is going to confuse everybody. Figure out what you want to write for the next little while, and make sure your first book is of that type."

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

[Claire Delacroix] Guardian / Book 2: Fallen Angels


Claire takes us back to her dark, futuristic world of angels, evil and the oppressive Republic in Guardian, the second book in the Fallen Angels series.

Claire draws readers into the story by combining 'excerpts' of futuristic laws and news reports, intrigue within the government of the Republic and sizzling romance. Look for Guardian in bookstores on September 29th.

Check out the excerpt here: http://www.delacroix.net/guardianX.html



There's still time to start from the beginning of dark intrigue in an apocalyptic future. Just pick up Fallen, book 1 of the series.

Read the excerpt here:
http://www.delacroix.net/fallenX.html

Friday, September 11, 2009

Writer's Moment - Sir Ken Robinson


Creativity is the heart of the Writer, Painter, Auteur or any other professional where the product is a fabrication of the human mind.

Today's Writer's Moment is a thought-provoking commentary from creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson who believes modern society at large, and education in particular, is killing creativity.

Thanks, Ken, for pointing out that the odd and unusual thought process of a writer is something we should strive to develop.

Watch the video here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
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Friday, September 4, 2009

WRITER'S MOMENT - Christina Dodd

Check out Christina's 'Top 10 Points Of Wisdom' at the Squawk Radio Blog as she shares insights gathered during her last 18+ years as a successful author who's published an amazing 40 books.

Love the humourous and heartfelt advice such as:

"9. From my vantage point, everyone in publishing is doing better than I am. From everyone else’s vantage point, I’m doing better than they are. The truth is somewhere in between — and an author who’s published is not going to get any sympathy at all from an unpublished author who’s written for ten years, finished three manuscripts and has twenty-five rejection letters. Believe me. I know. I was that author.

8. Editors are sometimes right.

7. How well an autographing goes is not an indicator of how well your career is going. Thank God."


Check out the whole list here:
http://www.squawkradio.com/index.php/sblog/christina_dodd_celebrates_her_first_forty_books/
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Wednesday, September 2, 2009





Huge hugs to BFF Jory Strong (author of Ghostland, Spider-Touched and hottest erotica ever!) for turning me on to the Suvudu Free Book Library.

With the Suvudu Free Book Library, you can read the first book in some of the most acclaimed series absolutely free! Yes, you heard me right FREE!

Some great series-opening novels available:
  • Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian
  • Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
  • Full Moon Rising by Keri Arthur
Books can be downloaded in a variety of formats including: .PDF, Kindle, Sony Reader, BN.com & Scribd.

Best of all, you can sign up to receive monthly updates about new books added to the Library.

Sweet!

CONTEST - [Maya Banks] SWEEET SURRENDER

Berkley Heat is giving away 20 copies today of Sweet Surrender by Maya Banks. This was the first in her 'Sweet' series which follows a group of friends and coworkers in Houston, Texas.

Berkely will give away 20 Copies of to randomly drawn commenters at Borders 'TrueRomance' blog with Kate Grimshaw. For your free introduction to the series, go to:

http://bordersblog.com/trueromance/2009/09/02/guest-author-maya-banks-2/

Maya's celebrating the October 6th release of Sweet Seduction, the third book in her 'Sweet' series. Can't wait!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

[Anthology] BELONG TO THE NIGHT


Looking for a hot, sexy little paranormal read? This collection of 3 stories certainly fit the bill. Belong to the Night just hit shelves today.

Check out the excerpt here. just be sure to turn up your air conditioner first...

Here's what's inside:

The Wolf, The Witch, And Her Lack Of Wardrobe
by Shelly Laurenston

Jamie Meacham has enough trouble controlling her supernatural abilities. There’s no time for lust, or for Tully Smith, even with his smoldering amber eyes. But Tully’s grappling with his own animal instincts as a powerful shifter-wolf, trying to protect all his territory—including a certain sassy witch—from vicious rivals.

In The Dark
by Cynthia Eden

FBI agent and leopard shifter Sadie James’ undead ex, Liam, still arouses her deepest desires, distracting her from tracking the brutal rogue shifter who is terrorizing Miami. By teaming up with Liam, Sadie has a better chance of solving the case, but as passion consumes them, she stands to lose more than just her heart.

City Of The Dead
by Sherrill QuinnDori

Falcon is a witch with a plan: get to New Orleans, locate her missing brother, and recover the Eye of Bastet, a mysterious and powerful amulet. Her plan never included falling for sexy Cajun cop Jake Boudreau; but without his help, she may never find the demon who has her brother, and the key to her family’s survival.

Monday, August 24, 2009

[Annette McCleave] DRAWN INTO DARKNESS / Book 1: Soul Gatherer novel

Wow! If you've been waiting for an award-winning paranormal romance, be ready to run to your local bookstore on September 1st.

That's when you'll be able to pick up your copy of Annette McCleave's Drawn Into Darkness, the 2008 RWA Golden Heart Award winner, Best Paranormal Romance.

This is a dark and seductive tale in a compelling world where the fulfillment of an ancient prophesy promise death and destruction for a mother and teenage daughter caught in the crossfire of otherworldly events. Only the Soul Gatherer, who battles demons for the souls of the dead, can help them but he's been assigned to gather and deliver the teenager’s soul to her afterlife.

Not surprisingly, the reviews have been amazing:

"Swords flash, spells are cast, and twist and turns come head-spinningly quickly...Readers will hope for sequels..."
~ Publisher's Weekly

"...a captivating read that's filled with chemistry, sexy characters, and the trials of falling in love."
~ Kimberly Swan, Darque Reviews

"...a fabulously entertaining tale of demons, angels and beings in between."
~ Romantic Times (4 1/2 stars)

Read the excerpt here: http://www.annettemccleave.com/index.php/books/

Friday, August 21, 2009

WRITER'S MOMENT - Pimp My Novel



Aspiring writers take note: Eric at Pimp My Novel has created an amazing resource for anyone interested in learning more about the market and sales considerations for 8 fiction sub-genres.
Eric works in the sales department of a major trade book publisher and his Blog is dedicated to helping readers understand what happens to their creative child after it's acquired by a house.
Very useful information includes sales trends and the amount of a 'typical' advance. Check out the genre posts at:
Genre Sales 1 of 8: Fantasy
Genre Sales 2 of 8: Children's
Genre Sales 3 of 8: Mystery
Genre Sales 4 of 8: Sci-Fi
Genre Sales 5 of 8: Literary
Genre Sales 6 of 8: Historical
Thanks, Eric, for laying out the facts. What we do with that, well, let's just say some of us chose Ficton & Fantasy for a reason...

Thursday, August 20, 2009

[Sandra Hill] VIKING HEAT


Viking Heat, due in bookstores Septmber 1st, is the next entry in Sandra Hill's Time-Travel novels throwing medievel Vikings and modern-day Navy SEALs together in a light-hearted, romantic romp.

Sandra's witty, sexy Viking stories are reader favorites and earlier books in have received numerous awards: 2008 First Place Winnerof the Pearl Award in Time Travel (Viking Unchained), Winner of the 2006 PRISM for Best Time-Travel (Hot and Heavy), 2006 Winner of the Hughie for Best Time-Travel (Hot and Heavy), Finalist PEARL Award (Rough and Ready), Booklist Top Ten Romance Novel for 2006 (Rough and Ready), and 2005 RITA Finalist - Paranormal Category (Wet & Wild), to name a few.

Check out the excerpt here:
http://www.sandrahill.net/VikingHeatExcerpt.html

Few things are better than a hot Viking man meeting his match in a modern, well-armed, woman!
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Wednesday, August 19, 2009

WRITER'S MOMENT - Kyle Cassidy


Today's post is a fascinating peek into the hearts and minds of authors.

Kyle Cassidy, noted photographer, has compiled a short series of pix entitled Where I Write. This series of photos shows Fantasy & Science Fiction writers in their creative spaces.

Where I Write will be featured as eight pages in the 2009 Worldcon program guide. A much larger collection is being compiled into a book featuring Neil Gaiman, Lois McMaster Bujold, and many others along with interviews about their spaces.

Check out the photo spread here:

Interesting - I no longer feel that deep sense of shame over my book hording tendencies...

Monday, August 17, 2009

[Shayla Black] SEDUCE ME IN SHADOW & POSSESS ME AT MIDNIGHT / Books 2 & 3: Doomsday Brethren

Summer's gotten wicked hot with a sizzling triple play from Shayla Black!

Today Shayla posted her novella, Fated, as a FREE download on her website.

This follows last summer's Book 1 in the Doomsday Brotherhood series, Tempt Me with Darkness, which got rave reviews:

TEMPT ME WITH DARKNESS is fast-paced, emotional and thoroughly addicting… a very strong first installment, and I find myself panting for more of this bold and sassy new series.
~ Romance Junkies (5 stars)

Tempt Me with Darkness is a fascinating tale… I loved the mix of mystical, magical and legend that was woven together to produce a first rate story that delights and entertains.
~ Fallen Angels Reviews (5 stars)


This orgasmic paranormal…will have Black’s fans panting for the next installment.
~ Publisher’s Weekly


You'll want to get your hands on Fated and Tempt Me with Darkness ASAP because Book 2, Seduce Me In Shadow, hits shelves September 29th.

And the advance press is positively glowing:

Emotionally charged conflict and sizzling sexual tension add to the page-turning quality of this paranormal suspense. Once again, Black delivers!
~ Fallen Angel Reviews

“…full of the same excitement, sensuality, and suspense as its predecessor…Seduce Me in Shadow is engrossing. The Doomsday Brethren is an intriguing series and I look forward to the next installment.
~ Joyfully Reviewed


Then there's barely time for a lazy stretch in the Autumn sun before Possess Me At Midnight lands in stores on October 27th.


And if that's not hot enough for you, go the Doomsday Brethern Home and Meet the Brethren, a handy guide to the Doomsday hunks.

And while you're there, enter Shayla's end-of-summer celebration & contest.

*Sigh!* Does summer get any better than this?

Friday, August 14, 2009

WRITER'S MOMENT - Dean Wesley Smith

The Poker analogy just works for me.





Stages of a Writer
Published by Dean Wesley Smith
at 11:37 am, August 12, 2009

Before I get to the new series of posts about killing sacred cows of publishing, I wanted to just toss this idea out there.

For a while, I played at playing semi-professional poker, traveling to tournaments, and learning as much as I could from every source I could. (I have a full shelf unit of poker books.) And, as a writer, I liked watching people as well at the poker table, and I came to some conclusions backed up in different ways by different poker experts. Basically, boiled down into my words, there are four basic types of hold’em poker players.

Beginner (Poker Player): This player looks at his cards and that’s all that matters. Often they wouldn’t know a good starting hand, and any two cards suited seems to get this level of player excited. They seldom fold and couldn’t care what any other player is doing, or even what cards are on the board. They are always surprised when they lose.

Beginner (Writer):
These writers are focused only on one thing: Writing a good sentence. To this level of writers, sentence-by-sentence writing is all that matters. No clue how to actually build a story or characters or pacing or anything else. Beginners think pretty sentences equal good writing.

Intermediate (Poker Player): This player knows decent starting hands, pays attention to the cards on the board, and sometimes even pays attention to other players, but more often than not just gets angry when someone is pushing a pot they want to draw at cheaply. They blame the dealer, blame other players, and want deck changes. They have no real idea what another player has in their hand and often think they should have won a pot when all the clues were telling them otherwise. These players are fond of telling you what cards they laid down that would have won.

Intermediate (Writer):
This writer is still focused on sentences, but glimmering of story process is starting to come through. Often this writer does something naturally well and gets praised for it, but this level writer often gets lost and trapped for years in workshops, where people tell them about their sentences, about their grammar, about their syntax, and so on. Understanding story is just a glimmering on the edges and story has no focus to this writer. Writing is still sentences and heaven forbid you change viewpoint in a chapter or paragraph. This level of writer follows “rules” completely.


Read the rest of the post here:
http://deanwesleysmith.com/index.php/2009/08/12/stages-of-a-writer/

WRITER'S MOMENT - Chriatina Dodd

So true and well-said!

Re-Tweeted Twitter post from TeresaMedeiros
9:28 AM Aug 12th from TweetDeck

@christinadodd I like 2 torture my heroes early and often. Seems to develop POV, sort of like roasting nuts brings out the flavor.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

[Christina Dodd] STORM OF VISIONS & STORM OF SHADOWS / The Chosen Ones

Prophecies of evil, a group of Chosen Ones defending humanity against the forces of evil - the Others, and an epic battle of light and darkness - yes this series has it all!

Storm of Visions, Book 1 in Christina's new paranormal series 'The Chosen Ones', was just released on August 4th. In SoV, a reluctant psychic must take her mother's place as the Chosen's Seer and finds herself in the arms of the fierce bodyguard who is her only hope of survuival.

"Christina Dodd’s Storm of Visions, the first book in her new The Chosen Ones series, definitely hooked me!"
~ Heather, Errant Dreams Reviews (4.5 stars)


Sexy thief and quiet, hot librarian - what's not to love? Especially when Christina packs pounding action with her trademark romance. Storm of Shadows promises to keep the heat on high in this new series. Look for it in stores on September 1st.

"I loved these two. Aaron manages to be more than your typical brooding dark romance novel hero, and Rosamund manages to be more than your stereotypical bookish “hidden beauty.” Rosamund is quirky and entertaining, and it’s a ton of fun to watch Aaron sputter as he’s stymied by her lack of apparent interest in him. They have an unlikely chemistry that works out beautifully!"
~ Heather, Errant Dreams Reviews (4 stars)

Check out the excerpts here:
http://www.christinadodd.com/excerpt.php?excerptid=000048
http://www.christinadodd.com/excerpt.php?excerptid=000047

Monday, August 10, 2009

[Jess Granger] BEYOND THE RAIN


Looking for Sci-Fi action, adventure and romance? Pick up Beyond The Rain, the first novel by new author Jess Granger which was just released on August 4th.

Well-written, romantic and sexy - I definitely recommend Jess' initial effort and hope to see more from her soon.

http://www.jessgranger.com/books/

BEYOND THE RAIN is a fascinating, fast-paced futuristic romance that drops you in richly drawn exotic worlds — grim and beautiful, immerses you in extraordinary alien cultures, and wraps it all in a love story laced with heart-rending twists and turns. A fully intriguing read.
~ Linnea Sinclair, RITA® award winning author

[Dear Reader] Comparison of eBook Reading Devices


Like Jane at Dear Author, many readers I've talked to lately have been thinking about purchasing an eBook Reader.
Jane's comparison chart of the devices currently on the market and coming soon sums up the alternatives quite nicely.
Check out the facts here:
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Friday, August 7, 2009

WRITER'S MOMENT - Teresa Meideros

Wednesday Teresa tweeted:

"Best Writing Advice Ever? Ignore any writing advice that doesn't work for YOU. #askromancewriter #arw"

Authors responding also agreed. Thanks, Teresa!

http://twitter.com/TeresaMedeiros

Thursday, August 6, 2009

[Christina Dodd] Christina Dodd Talks About Her Funniest Mistakes

I read this post last week and couldn't stop giggling, then went back again today for another chuckle. So, I thought I'd share.

Excerpted from: Christina Dodd Talks About Her Funniest Mistakes blogpost on Monday, July.

"I have been published for eighteen years. On August 4, my thirty-nineth full-length book, STORM OF VISIONS, is on the shelves. I’m not bragging (well, only a little), just giving you a framework for my blog.

Because last year, I wrote a scene in INTO THE FLAME where the hero sees the heroine for the first time in two and a half years, and startles her. The line I wrote was, “She didn’t jump, he’d give her that. But Firebird Wilder had always had balls of steel, and she showed them now as she coolly turned to face him.”

I am a professional. Don’t try this at home.

In INTO THE SHADOW, my heroine stumbles onto the hero sitting in the Japanese garden. He jumps to his feet and says, “Is this your private place? Should I leave?” and she says, “No, it’s okay, my private place is big enough for the both of us.”"