Fantasy Pages: NEW from Kinsey Knight: Elemental Earth @KaydenMcL...

Fantasy Pages: NEW from Kinsey Knight: Elemental Earth @KaydenMcL...: Elemental Earth Kinsey Knight Young Adult Fantasy Pages: 262 Website | Buy-Link | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter ...

Now Introducing: Julian Notte

Night Class  has NEVER been so HOT!

          Julian Notte is a centuries old vampire who has seen the world change and has traveled the world several times over. Being the hottest professor at Woodridge University can be a royal pain in the fang, but when he meets the miracle of a life mate, his sights steer from just trying to get through the bevy of his female students lusty thoughts and fantasies to her. 

                 Ariel Thorne has one one goal and one goal only-to get through her classes, get her degree, and get as far away from her step-father as possibly can. She has no interest in college guys or romance for that matter. Her life doesn't give her enough time for it and she has already seen the pitfalls of bad relationships. One complication she doesn't need is having the university's hottest teacher that seems bent on undoing everything she's tried so hard to put into place. She doesn't need a savior, or maybe she does but will she be willing to have a savior who fills her every waking and sleeping moments with lustful and erotic fantasies not to mention his definition of "forever" might be a little too much of a commitment for her. 

           So just who is Julian Notte? He's lived centuries and is a modern vampire with centuries of experience in all things and when I say ALL things I mean ALL THINGS. He's the forbidden fruit that leaves a woman wanting more. Although he's not just a pretty face, he's also cultured and intelligent. Boring, huh? Julian Notte is also a powerful vampire and guards his territory well. He can read nearly everyone's minds with the exception of one certain acerbic book worm and he can shape shift. Since his sire was also a witch, he has other abilities. Don't worry, you'll be able to all about them in Night Lessons coming soon. 

            I would love to tell you more about Ariel, but this is all about Julian. All I will say is that she is not the "damsel in distress" type. Julian is a predator yet his bite is seductive and sexual. So aside from being a sexual wet dream come true, what else is there to know about him? 

               

                Julian loves literature both classical and modern. He has found he loves teaching even if he detests being "eye candy". 

                             

                  When it comes to music he has a vast appreciation and love of music. Lately, he's been quite hung up on Darkest Days, Korn, Bastille, Cold Play, and Avenged Sevenfold. 

                  He can shape shift and move with vampiric speed but he loves cars especially Italian and German made sports cars. He has quite a collection of Bugattis, Porches, and Ferarris. He also loves American Muscle cars and has a few of those as well as a few high powered motorcycles. 

                For someone who has seen and done so much in his very long life as a vampire, he has pretty much simple tastes-other than AB Positive. He loves a great book, long walks, but hates Pina Coladas even if it is raining. Julian has been spotted playing guitar at a few local coffee shops and low key bars. 

                In the 21st Century he has come to peace with himself and has survived learning to accept what he is. Julian has a code of honor and it applies to everything even feeding. Until he has come about the revelation of his life mate, he hadn't thought about how lonely he has been through the years but now he has a desire to end his lonely nights with a certain red head that is hell bent on having ZERO to do with him. She has given the whole "Playing hard to get" a whole new meaning but he's patient. After all he's waited centuries for her to come into his life. 

                                             ~Tasty Tidbit~

                   Julian came back to the duplex after he had fed. When he’d gotten so close to her he’d felt his incisors slide down and hunger had nearly gotten the best of him.  She was on the second floor, asleep. He could smell her from her slightly opened window and with his exceptional night vision, he could see every detail of her room, the bed she slept in, and of course the calm serene look on her sleeping face.  He shifted into a small owl and flew in through the small opening in her window and perched on her dresser. Looking around he seen that she had posters of faraway places; Paris, The London Eye, Ireland, Spain, and Florence, Italy. There were a few pictures of what looked like to be her and her mother. He flew silently towards the bedside table where a large portrait of her mother sat.

            Ariel had her mother’s facial structure; delicate angles and features but where her mother’s eyes were a light blue, hers were green almost emerald colored. Her mother also had light blonde hair with streaks of gold through it piled atop her head. He wondered what Ariel’s father must have looked like but there were no photographs of him. There were pictures of her with friends and one of her graduating from high school but she was standing with who was probably her roommate Jenna. She also had a book shelf that was packed with books. There were some mysteries, many classical titles, horror and thrillers, and tons of paranormal/ fantasy selections.  He wanted to smile at that. So his little book worm wasn’t all about all work and no play.  He watched as she moved while she slept. Even within the body of an owl, he hungered for her.  Her hair looked like a river of dark red silk against the pillow and she wore just a thin tank top that outlined her full breasts. He would have bet his fangs that she was wearing tiny white panties beneath the cartoonish looking blanket.

            Just then the fates dealt Julian a cruel blow, Ariel turned and kicked part of her covers off her revealing a fair amount of ass. Julian almost shifted back to his own form at that moment but opted for flying out of her room to keep from embarrassing his self and scaring her half to death.  As he flew towards his lair he couldn’t get those soft lips, full breasts, and that body out of his head. He decided he needed to get out of the sky before he ended up flying into a tree or worse-fell out of the sky. He hovered a moment over the faculty parking garage and when he was sure that the night guards had done their nightly patrol, he flew down and shifted. If the security cameras caught anything it would have been of him walking towards his Aston Martin Vanquish which was one of his favorites in his car collection. He pressed the button on the keypad and it unlocked and he slid in. Within moments he was already heading off the university grounds and to his lair that was conveniently outside the city limits. Julian was determined to slip inside Ariel’s dreams since it was the only way he could get inside her head-a relative new experience since he’d never been able to dream walk before which just proved she was his fated mate.

****

            Ariel felt the warmth of the sun kissing her skin as she walked along the beach. It was secluded with lush green palms and foliage that framed the crystal blue waters. She breathed in the salty clean air as the waves gently lapped the shore. Overhead she could hear the call of the gulls that flew over. Just then she focused on a gorgeous sloop sail boat that had a gorgeous set of sails that were gently billowing in the wind. She walked towards the boat just as a man that looked a lot like Julian Notte, but this was all a dream so she waved and he waved back.

            He stood wearing an open white linen shirt and low cut jeans with his hair tied back. Ariel smiled at all the naughty thoughts running through her mind.

            “Ahoy.” She called out in a sing songy voice.

            “Ahoy yourself.”

“Permission to come aboard, Captain?”

“Sure, come around and I’ll help you up.”

 She nearly skipped as she went around to the side where a small plank had been dropped down. He stood offering his hand. Ariel took it and he helped her onto the sloop.

            “Thanks. You have a gorgeous boat.”

            Pride shown in his golden eyes, “She is a beauty but I think the company has her beat.”

            Ariel felt herself blush. This one was a charmer but since this was her dream, of course he would be a charmer.

            “Would you like to go for a sail?” he asked hopeful she’d accept.

            Ariel looked around at the open blue water and nodded enthusiastically, “Yes, I would love a sail. My name is Ariel by the way.”

            He walked over and began pulling up the anchor while she helped pull up the gang plank. In moments the sails were catching the wind and they were at a good steady pace. She loved how the water parted for the boat and the wind blew her hair.

            “My name is Julian, but you knew that already didn’t you Ariel?”

            He said with an air of confidence as he handed her a cool drink.

            She slowly took a sip of what looked and tasted like a Mimosa. She reclined on the bench seat and winked at him.

            “Why not, sure.”

            Julian returned to the wheel. When he set the course he returned to the bench seat, she was smiling at him, a sexy little mischievous smile that she’d never used on anyone but this was her dream; a fantasy. He gently moved a strand of hair away from her face before he moved in close and touched his lips to hers. Ariel’s whole body came alive as he deepened the kiss by moving his tongue erotically over hers.  Ariel couldn’t help how her body was reacting to him. She arched closer into him. His hand had moved to her breast and with a simple flick, he had her breast free from her bikini top. His hand felt good, too good. Her nipple had hardened and he moved from kissing her to popping her nipple into his mouth. Ariel jerked and cried out as pleasure flooded her body

THE DARK SIDE OF PUBLISHING: THE SCAMS AND FRAUD OF VANITY PRESSES

THE DARK SIDE OF PUBLISHING

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

ABOUT PUBLISHING SCAMS

                The first thing an author does once he or she has finished the final draft of their manuscript is start sending it to publishers. For most they send out query letters and follow submission guidelines to the letter. If what they have written catches the eye of a publisher, then they are sent a contract. However, there is a dark side to publishing and it is called the Vanity Press. What is a vanity press, you ask. It is any publisher who charges to publish books and written materials. Not sure there’s a problem with that? Well there is a huge problem when you take a publisher like America Star Books also known as Publish America who has been notorious for its false claims, scams, and not paying authors. I know this because I was once one of their authors when they were under the name Publish America.

                In 2009, I wrote my first novel. I labored over it and even involved the help of a very good friend of mine who happened to be my Creative Writing teacher from college. She helped me to edit it and then I had the task of sending it to publishers. I sent copies to all the big names and of course I either got “Sorry, we cannot accept it at this time” or “Sorry not interested” and “We only take submissions via a literary agent”. Most of them didn’t reply at all which left me in limbo. I was green; I knew ZERO about the publishing game and that was how I found Publish America. I sent in my manuscript and within a week I got a phone call stating that they wanted my manuscript and they would send me a contract. Sure enough, I got that and a $1 check in the mail which I didn’t cash-who wants to cash something that small? Anyhow I was ecstatic. I looked over the contract not really knowing much but it seemed pretty clear. I would get 10% of sales from each book and would receive a royalty check as soon as I sold $500 worth of books. That meant, my commission had to get to $500. I thought, “Okay, I just have to work really hard.” At the time, we still had a local bookstore; Walden Books. I couldn’t wait to schedule book signings and see my book on the local author shelf and get the local library to carry my book. That is where the dream stopped.

                First off, no book store (and I called them all within my state-both big chains and local mom and pop book stores) would carry it because Publish America offered no return policy, the book price points were set too high, and the only way I could do book signings were if I consigned copies (meaning I buy the books and then reimburse myself with the copies that might sell). Publish America never gave me a press release which they had collected information for and promised me. Instead what I got was E-Mail after E-Mail of offers to buy my own book and to have my book reviewed by big name authors, and services that most publishing companies already do that they do not charge the author for. The biggest heart ache was when I at last got my author’s copy. I began looking through each page and was horrified to see sentences cut off and my book basically chopped up more than a Chef’s Salad. It was like they had just copied and pasted and did a poor job at that. The price point for my book was $35.99 for a book that was barely 300 pages long and in soft cover at that. That being said, I did sell copies. I sold over sixty books. I should have been happy about that but according to the Royalty Statement I was only counted royalties for 10 copies of my book due to “intended promotional copies”. I still didn’t want to believe I had been had.

                The straw that broke the camel’s back was the E-Mail I received that for $400 my book would be shown and represented at the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany. I almost fell for it. We had gotten a pretty nice tax check, and I was nearly to the point of getting my husband to invest in me. Something just kept nagging at me though so I looked up the book fair. Indeed there is a book fair. I ran up my phone bill calling the international number all the way in Frankfurt, Germany and after several calls I finally got an English speaking person to help me. I asked them if Publish America was scheduled to be there to vend books. I was told that they didn’t even know who that company was. I gave them the Maryland address. They still had no clue. I immediately contacted Publish America and asked very nicely why they were not listed and I was E-Mailed with a response that made me feel an inch tall and madder than a wet cat. I was accused of lying and getting wrong information. Then I was told that Publish America has invested in me as an author and I should be grateful. The next offers came-“Pay X amount of money to have your book at the NY Times Book Fair, UCLA Book Festival, and AARP Book Fair” All these places I called and they all had never heard of Publish America. I even got E-Mails that I forwarded to Publish America and they still accused me of false information. Then they began with the book reviews for x amount of dollars from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, Stephen King, and J K Rowling. J K Rowling was to review books at the Edinburgh Book Fair in Scotland. She came out swinging and was even on the world wide news claiming she had no such dealings with Publish America nor was she contracted to review ANY books. Her lawyer immediately sent a cease and desist order, to Publish America.

                I had at this point begun to just save E-Mails from Publish America rather than read them. They were frauds and the BBB and the Maryland State’s Attorney General found no wrong with them because they had their loop holes. I still had never bought a single copy of my book. The only copy I had was the author’s copy they sent me.

                This could have had a sad end because so many of their authors are still under contract with them and still not making a dime. I found a cloud with a silver lining. My dear friend, fellow author, and mentor, Denyse Bridger, found a law office here in the states that were doing a class action suit against Publish America and I immediately contacted them. I sent them all 1200 E-Mails I had including the one that pertained to J K Rowling, the author of Harry Potter. Last year, I got my rights back as an author to my book and Publish America had to remove my book from their site and vendors. To this day, Amazon is the only one who still hasn’t gotten with the program even though I sent them everything from the law office who handled the class action suit. Today Publish America is still in business with their promises but under a new name, America Star Books. How can they do that? I don’t know, your guess is as good as mine. They are predators on authors and will virtually publish anything. They give false promises, condescending responses, and know NOTHING about publishing.

                What to look for with a publisher or even a self publisher

                First off, read your contracts. Read them and even have an actual lawyer look at them. If they are not clear and to your understanding, then run far and run fast from them. A good publishing company has a clear and concise contract with no small print or hidden agenda. The standard percentage for royalties is about 6% give or take. Most publishing companies whether they are self-publishing pay by the quarter. If sales are very low, they might ask that the writer combine it with the next quarter but you get paid and paid what you are owed. Next, the standard contract usually expires within 2-3 years not 7 or even 10. Publish America had me for 7 long years with my book. A reputable publisher also will outline what they intend and what you will have to do for the marketing of your book. Be ready to do a lot of work yourself because most publishers unless it’s one of the big names, will require you to blog, use word of mouth, use of social networks, and do the leg work with book stores. However, they will give your book an ISBN number and list it with online vendors, have a return policy, and do not over price the price points so that book stores and online vendors can move your book to consumers. Publishing companies want you to sell books because that is how THEY make money and everyone wants to make money. They might clue you in to book fairs and what not but most of that is on you, the author to do. If your books are physical books, then you might need to consign copies or the publisher might send a few promo copies and E Book publishers may offer discounts to consumers that they may push with their online vendors but again, marketing is up to the author. Publishers-especially small presses cannot afford to just mass produce books and send them so they don’t advertise that and they do not charge you the author for that service since well they can’t afford to mass produce books.

                Publishers like Publish America do not want to push your book to the consumer they want to get as much money out of you as they can that is why they offer the world practically. A reputable publisher will let you know exactly what they are able to do, willing to do, and what you must do yourself. Blogging and making use of social networks are tools as word of mouth is. Reputable publishers will list your books with every online vendor they possibly can but again marketing and promotion is up to you. The reward is that you will draw people’s interest and they may choose to buy your book which means money in your pocket not out of it. Steer clear of vanity presses. Go to websites like: http://www.writersbeware.com and http://www.authorsden.com. Talk to other authors and publisher and follow submission guidelines to the LETTER! Failure to follow guidelines will ensure no one ever sees your manuscript. Any publisher that seems too good to be true usually is. Go with your gut and if you’re still not sure-ask other authors and publishers. Network! Do not be prey to a predator Vanity Press like America Star aka Publish America.

                Right now the US laws on this kind of pyramid scheme and fraud are pretty vague. I got lucky that there was a class action suit pending with Publish America but that was luck. If you find yourself a victim, keep right on the publisher asking for your rights back. Sometimes you might even have to pay money to be released from your contract but it could prove very profitable to invest in getting your rights back and your work free and clear of them. Once they have their claws stuck in, it is near impossible to get them out. If you can afford an attorney, you will invest more money but that is another avenue to getting out of a vanity press predator. You can also rewrite your work and use a different title but beware because if a publisher even gets a slight hint that you’ve been previously signed with one of these kinds of publishers and it can even slightly be considered copyright infringement they will drop you like a hot potato and you will find yourself black balled. The best advice is to educate yourself before you sign on that dotted line or sign an electronic contract. Read, Read, Read and do some detective work. Once you sign, you are playing Russian roulette and you’re going to lose. Most publishers if they know you have something published by these kinds of presses will NOT do business with you just because of the stigma and black mark these places give off.  They are a scam; a fraud that so far very few laws to fight them with. They are slippery and know their loop holes well. Steer clear and pass this along. The best defense against these scum bags is a great offense and the more word that gets out about them the less people they will prey upon and the less people they will rob.

PUBLISHERS TO BEWARE OF

American Book Publishing (Salt Lake City, UT)

Archebooks Publishing (Las Vegas, NV)

Helm Publishing (Rockford, IL)

Hilliard and Harris (Boonsboro, MD)

Oak Tree Press (Taylorville, IL)

Park East Press (Dallas TX) (formerly Durban House, formerly Oakley Press)

PublishAmerica aka America Star Books (Frederick, MD)

Royal Fireworks Press/Silk Label Books (Unionville, NY)

SterlingHouse Publisher (Pittsburgh, PA--imprints include, among others, Pemberton Mysteries, 8th Crow Books, Cambrian House Books, Blue Imp Books, Caroline House Books, Dove House Books, and PAJA Books)

SBPRA/Strategic Book Publishing/Eloquent Books (Boca Raton, FL--formerly known as The Literary Agency Group and AEG Publishing Group)

Tate Publishing (Mustang, OK)

Whitmore Publishing Company (Pittsburgh, PA)

It's All In A Series: What Makes A Book A Great Series

         Have you ever wondered what makes a book end up a series? Is it the characters or plot? That's kind

of like asking, "What came first, the chicken or the egg?"

         I can only say that for myself, to have a great series launch from a single book-it has to be a great marriage of character(s) and plot. When I wrote my first two books I knew from the start of the first one that it was a book I wanted to expand on, not only because of the characters I had given birth to but because of the stories that came from them. Cursed Awakening  was not initually going to be a series until I was actually writing the last chapter. I really was hit with the idea or ideas rather that these characters couldn't have everything told in a single novel. However every author is different though. Some absolutely refuse to entertain sequels and maybe Hollywood is to blame for that, who knows. Authors, what is the deciding factor for you when it comes to whether or not  your story has a sequel? Readers-what do you look for in a great book series?


            Still though what makes for a great series? That is the question, isn't it? How does an author write book and decide to continue on with the characters, the continuation of the story, or decides to create a whole world? I think about J K Rowling, who has written the famous Harry Potter Books and how she began with a love of  magic and this story that began to form inside her head and it took on a life of its own. Sherrilyn Kenyon has done the same with her Dark Hunters, The League, and Chronicles of Nick as has authors like Christine Feehan, Lyndsay Sands, J R Ward, Gena Showalter, Kerrilyn Sparks, and countless others in the Paranormal Romance genre alone. Each of their series either revolves around a character or world. So does that answer the question? Not really because every series has their own niche I think.

           For some writers, they write a book and decide for one solitary character or even trio of characters that the story isn't done such as Charlaine Harris did with her Sookie Stackhouse books and much like Karen Marie Moning's Fever and Dani O'Malley books. They kept the stories of their main characters going. When I wrote my first novel, which is currently in the works for republication, I knew after the first five chapters that I would not be done with just my main characters. I wanted to write all of them in stories. Cursed Awakening I didn't think I would make into a series until I re-read it after it was published by XoXo Publishing and then republished through Evolutionary Publishing, that I wanted to continue on with the Wahpeton clan. Have you ever read a series that failed?

          Some books, and they are very few that I have come across and I won't name any names but I just didn't feel like they were series or should have been made into a series just because the books themselves couldn't relate to the other books. It's like a movie-the first one is great and then it gets mucked up with sequels and prequels. Rarely is a sequel as good or better than the original movie. For me, a series doesn't have to be like Moning's Fever series or even Kenyon's Dark Hunters but the books should at least have some sort of relationship to each other. Larissa Ione, Kresley Cole, and Laura Adrian all have series that fit together and when you read each book you know exactly where you left off. However some books can all have a vampire main character but that's about it-they fall flat because they are so different that after you read one you're reading the next thinking, "Who are these people and what is the story here and what happened after I finished the last chapter of the last book I read?" I don't like to feel that way, do you?

            So what do you look for in a series? Do you mind if each book is just different or do you like books that follow at least some pattern? I consider myself an open mind when it comes to books, especially my genre, but I like to stay on the adventure instead of stopping in one place and having to start in another and not know how I got there. I don't like being confused. One of my favorite things about reading series is the characters that we all end up falling in love with and get curious about getting their story told and it flows with the rest of the books. I mean it's cool if Batman doesn't always hang out in Gotham but if you start out reading Batman's story you don't want to go from him to some Mr. Grey who lives in Seattle that has nothing to do with Batman's world even though it has Batman's title to it. Have I confused you yet? I think I might have confused myself. Just hang in there, I am sure once you re read this blog post you'll see where I am going here.

           So what makes a series? You tell me since I have already given you my idea and writers, what makes you want to write a series? What combination of characters, storyline, or combination of the two does it for you? C'mon, let me hear what's rattling around in your head.



Paranormal Romance: The Softer Side

    Stay with me here, I know you read the title of this blog and you're already groaning. The movie adaptation of the book by John Green, The Fault In Our Stars, hit theaters Friday and it got me thinking, what Paranormal Romances have I read that are complete tear jerkers. I mean what ones have literally caused me to weep? So get your tissue boxes handy and I'll give you my picks for a good paranormal romance that will no doubt have you getting teary eyed if not weeping. For me, these books had me ugly crying, and ladies I know you all know what that's like when you're crying so hard your face is puffy, red, and you look more like a boiled cabbage and if you've ever watched Steel Magnolias, My Sister's Keeper,  or the pinnacle of "cry ugly" movies, My Girl, you have cried ugly.

The first trio of the paranormal tear jerkers are awarded to Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters. All of her Dark Hunter books always has one character that has literally come through some hell but none have ever suffered like Acheron, Styxx, and Zarek. Acheron and Styxx have their own stories respectfully and if you can read through either of them and not have to grab something to keep from wailing aloud, well you're made of sterner stuff than I am. Zarek's story is almost as heart wrenching and gut ripping as the two brothers but I won't give anyone away other than to say that it will melt whatever ice you might have packed on your heart. 

Inside the dark world of the Carpathians there is a war between Carpathians and Vampires. For Carpathian males, their only salvation is with their life mates; the light to their darkness. I have read just about all of Christine Feehan's Dark Series and none of them made me ugly cry like Dark Melody. Dayan is playing a small club; pouring out his heart in song, desperate to find the light to his darkness and when she walks in, his whole world changes but just as his miracle is before him, he realizes she's not only carrying a child but is dying. This is the first book in the series where the male lead has been shaken to his knees and is unable to anything. Dayan is going to have to rely on not just his own gifts but those of his own family as well as Carpathian brothers and sisters to save Corrine and her baby. Need a Kleenex yet? I needed several.

I know there are some Kresley Cole fans that are reading this and you know exactly why I chose this book. One of the most noted characters from the Immortals After Dark series is Regin the Radiant. Regin throughout the books has been full off piss and vinegar and she does it with style and a middle finger. Regin is flawless when it comes to battle and the use of quick wit, even she would make a gangster rapper blush with her use of "poetic profanity". Regin is a well loved character but in Dreams of a Dark Warrior her walls come down because Regin isn't such a stone cold Valkyrie; Regin once fell in love but it was a love that became cursed. She would never have her Berserker but that didn't stop fate from reincarnating him every few centuries but no matter how hard she tries-he always dies and she's left with the heart break.  How many times can a girl go through that? 

You know, if the a fore mentioned books don't have that thing in your chest jerking a little, then perhaps J R Ward's Lover Eternal and Lover Awakened will crank those waterworks just a little. In Lover Eternal, Rhage is a beast of a guy-literally, he's one of the biggest dudes of the Black Dagger Brotherhood but he can get a little Godzilla now and then which makes him dangerous. He's also an infamous playboy with all the female conquests he gets per night. So when he falls for a human who just so happens to have cancer, everyone is wondering," How she could have tamed the beast?" What Rhage is wondering, is what he is going to do without her in his life and how he can stop it?

One of the darkest and most volatile of the brothers is Zadist. He doesn't care about the pain he inflicts and if it weren't for his twin, Phury, he'd probably made Jack The Ripper pee his pants.He's full of rage from a horrific past as a blood slave but when Bella needs him in a way that he has never known himself capable of, he may just destroy himself in the process. 

Bella is coming through hell and Zadist is the only one she wants. She doesn't know what it is about the male that calls to her, but ever since she first saw him-he ignited something in her. Can she awaken the part of him she knows he's hidden so well?  

Okay picture this, you find this really unique mirror, and there standing in it is a naked man who is every wet dream you have ever had but he's cursed inside the glass. Imagine you're a centuries old Highland Laird who was cursed inside a mirror and standing before you is a woman who presses all your buttons yet you can't stop envisioning what it would be like to just touch her, just once. 

Cian MacKelter is on borrowed time, literally and as badly as he would love his curse broken, he wants Jessi St.James even more. However, just as their passion is creating firestorm, Cian's ancient enemy has almost found a way to keep Cian trapped forever. How far will Jessi be willing to go and what will Cian for all his knowledge of the dark arts be willing to sacrifice for Jessi?  

Gena Showalter's Lord's of the Underworld series are some of my favorites. Basically you have these fallen guardians of Olympus who became cursed with the demons that were let loose from Pandora's Box. Of all the books, The Darkest Lie just made me tear right up. Gideon is the keeper of the demon of Lies. He cannot tell the truth or he feels excruciating pain. However, meeting up with his long lost wife, of whom he has no recollection of by the way, is not really a good thing. Scarlet is the one person that Gideon cannot tell whether she is lying to him or not. Scarlet is a demon possessed female. It seems when Pandora's Box was opened, one of those little critters found a mortal woman and of course it would have to be nightmares. She is too dangerous to be left alone but she can't help but plot his death and he can't help but totally not want to jump her bones and both of them are going to find out a good many things while they're both trying to keep their hands and claws off each other. 

The tear jerker about this book, you ask? Well Scarlet deep down remembers the love she shared with Gideon. It's still there in her heart buried deep and the fact he doesn't remember makes her quite distressed. Gideon wants to remember but he couldn't tell her if he could or not because everything he says is a lie. It's both frustrating, funny, and heart breaking.

The Sentinal Wars series by Shannon K. Butcher has got to be added to your reading lists. It has all that groovy Sci-Fi feel to it yet has a great love story. The Sentinals are warriors that are born with a tree. The tree grows and leafs out but what's bad is that when the last leaf falls from their body tattoo, the good part of their soul dies and they grow dark. Each Sentinal needs their mate-the one female who can absorb all the power that is stored up within them and both can work as a team at defeating the really nasty creatures that want to eat us humans. In this book, Torr, who was once paralyzed and on his death bed was saved by the sacrifice of Grace-a woman he saved. Grace gave her life for Torr but he found someone to heal Grace but part of the cure was that Grace would lose all her memories-including the love that she and Torr shared. CRY! 

Yes, this book will take you on a emotional boo-hoo but it also delivers on adventure too so don't think it is all mush. So be sure to check this book out.

                          Are you dragging out your Kleenex yet? Got any favorite paranormal tear jerkers to share? Make sure you let me know which book(s) and authors have you crying ugly below in the comments.

What You Might Not Know About Me, The Author And Woman Behind The Scenes

Have you ever wondered about the life of the author of whom you are reading? Well cop a squat and I'll be happy to at least tell you about me. 

Where did it all begin? The madness that is.

Once upon a time there was this white rabbit...Okay maybe it wasn't quite like that. When I was a little girl, I lived in mostly an all adult neighborhood. Not the greatest place for a lone little girl to have an early childhood. I found that I had to make my own adventures (many of those got me punished by the way). We lived by a lake and in the spring and summer, mermaids lived there and the fairies lived among my grandma's flower beds. This made my grandparents quite unhappy because I was forever wading in the lake and getting dirty and my grandma was forever finding dolls and make shift twig houses among her tulips and rose bushes. so I guess it is safe to say that I got into story telling and writing just out of necessity. I loved books-they were my first friends and I wanted to tell my own. 

Throughout my childhood and right on through my teens, I wrote and only let a very select few people read them. I wrote one story that had me sent to the counselor's office just because my teacher "worried " for me-I was like, "Really....it's just a vampire story, Anne Rice just did it and she got a movie deal." Me, I got sent to the school shrink. I wasn't deterred. However, after a fight with my sister which led me to write a horror story about a psycho Siamese twin who enacts revenge against her "normal" sister, got me grounded for two weeks.

The turning point in all this came at age 35. I had an epiphany if you will that it was now or never and never was so not an option. I wrote a story and I even had my creative writing teacher go over it. I had my sister Kim read it and she loved it and at that time she was just not all into the "book addiction" (but she is now) and I began to send off submissions and queries. Let me stop right here and say that when one goes to send their hard work to a publisher or editor be sure to follow their submission and query letter guidelines. I had no clue what a query letter was and online templates suck. Publishers want what they ask for and nothing more or less. I learned that the hard way. I got a phone call one night after many rejections-expect rejects by the way if you are a writer seeking to be be published. It was from a scam press but at the time I didn't know that and their website appeared impressive. I was so green. I signed a contract and was ecstatic. Long story short, it took six months after signing my baby away to find out just how scammed I had been and took almost three years, an author friend, and a lot of luck that I got my rights back and I was able to find a reputable publisher who published Cursed Awakening. So I think we are all caught up so far? Right? Maybe? 

What Are My Days Like? 

Some days are hectic and other days are easy. I am a mom first and foremost and though I have one child that is 18, my work as mom is never done. I also have a nine year old little boy who keeps me at the very edge of sanity but I wouldn't take anything for either of them. Well I might rent them out for a vacation but seriously, they are as stuck with me as I am them. 

I love to write at night when everyone is in bed and it is quiet but if I get possessed by some idea or story, I am scrawling it down in a notebook, typing it out on a lap top, or writing it down on a napkin or paper plate if I have to. I have been known to write out ideas on the inside of my son's coloring books . 

When I am not writing or reading and tending to the children, I am just like most of you-average. I cook, I clean, and I play and sometimes play hard. I like to watch television but I am not addicted to it. Actually there are only some shows I will watch. I am a huge Game of Thrones, True Blood, Dracula, Defiance, Sons of Anarchy, Being Human, Modern Family, and Big Bang Theory fan. I also love X Factor, Survivor, Duck Dynasty, and The Pioneer Woman cooking show. I also watch a lot of FUSE of a night because since MTV stopped playing music-I have to find it somewhere and FUSE is it. I love going to the movies and I will almost be game on for anything playing but I have an eclectic taste. I love old black and white movies, B Movies, Cult Classics, Horror movies, Chick Flicks, and Sci/Fi. I also love comedies, all sorts of them. 

I am one of those who loves theme parks-and I am HUGE on thrill rides even if I just look at them and wave (hint-Millineum Force-that one got a wave) and I love to go to haunted houses and attractions. I love art, but I love macabre and unusual stuff. I am a total rocker chick but ya know I like a variety of music; just not gangster rap or hip hop. I like odd places and sometimes those corny little side road attractions. I have a warped sense of humor blended with a down home approach. So I guess you could say my sense of humor is Dolly Parton mixed with a dash of Robin Williams, Russel Brand, and Monty Python. I grew up in the 80s when people like Whoopi Goldberg, Robin Williams, George Carlin, Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Bill Cosby, and so many others were King. I also grew up watching SNL and Monty Python. 

I never was that popular kid in school or that one person that could walk into a room and just be the life of the party. I wasn't the emo kid either-I was the quiet one who just liked to feel everyone out. I find that in my thirties (actually mentally I'm still at the height of my 20s) I no longer quest to be the wallflower and I try to find ways to push myself so that others can bask in my insanity. Life is way too short to be a people watcher. I have had a lot of challenges just like you-some may not be as big and others seem overwhelming, but I take it day by day. That is where writing really comes in. 

Inspiration, Perspiration, and Lots of Chocolate

One question that people seem to ask me and other authors is always "Where do you get your inspiration from?" I get mine from everything. There is always the common denominator which is the genre I write but outside of that-everything inspires me to write. Writing, even though it is something I am rabidly passionate about, is hard work. Stories may flow freely but not every story is a good story. Sometimes I will write something and go back over it and it falls flat. So rather than scrap it, I have to go back and do a little Dr. Frankenstein to bring it to life. Sometimes it works and sometimes it is back to the old story board. The hardest part about writing a romance novel of any kind is finding the balance of chemistry. I don't want to write some weepy and wimpy female or some male character that is Mr. Rogers with a libido. Who wants to read that? 

Once the story is written and all the I's are dotted, T's crossed, tenses resolved, and balance is achieved-then the really hard work starts-PROMOTING. I should have mentioned publishing but since I have a publisher, I have to skip ahead to PROMOTION and Marketing. Everything just about it is via the World Wide Web and if you are going into this whole journey of being an author thinking that once the book is out there it will just sell itself or that the publishing house will magically give you a city to city book tour-YOU ARE ON SOME SORT OF LSD TRIP and frankly, share okay because we'd all LOVE to have those perks. Marketing and Promoting your book(s) is on YOU. I am still learning but what I have learned is making the right connections, blogging, mingling with other authors, bloggers, etc. is a great start. Networking is a useful tool as is hiring a great promotions firm. Sensuous Promotions has done some excellent work and I have had a lot of success through them. They take an author and shoot them through the cyber stratosphere. 

Where does the chocolate come in? Okay unless you just have an absolute aversion to chocolate or are allergic-who doesn't like chocolate? I prefer dark chocolate with a touch of sea salt. Decadent I know and not very good for my curvage but hey, it's my guilty pleasure and when I'm dead locked with Writer's Block or the phone seems to keep ringing and the 9 year old is bouncing off the walls; it keeps me from GPS'ing places to hide bodies and a statewide duct tape shortage.

Random Fun Facts About Moi

1.I love word and trivia games

2. I love Italian, Mexican, and Asian cuisines

3. I dream of going Sky Diving 

4. I would LOVE TO GO TO COMIC CON AND THE JIMMY JOHN'S RT CONVENTION

5. Some people say I have a southern accent-I was born a Hoosier though and I'm not ashamed if I do have one. It's who I am. 

6. I love Rockabilly music and fashions

7. I am a huge Rob Zombie Fan

8. If I had a million dollars, I would make sure that I took a tour of all the places where all the literary greats came from or made their mark, and then there's all the charity I would donate to, kids secured in college, and blah blah blah. 

9. I still listen to 80s pop and Hair bands (I hate that term Hair bands but Glam rock just irks me) 

10. I love chocolate/banana Tootsie Pops dipped in peanut butter

So now you know a little about me so tell me a lot about you. I will select a random winner for a copy of my book  Cursed Awakening if I get at least 10 responses so make sure you tell your friends, share on your social network pages, and Tweet.

Sensuous Promotions

Evolutionary Publishing

From Heroes to Heroines: The Ya Ya Sisterhood Of Paranormal Romance Novels

NO BOYS ALLOWED

FANGED OR OTHERWISE

This blog is all about our favorite female characters. So feel free to chime in.

Mostly when we talk about books, we go on and on about those hot and hunky fellas but I think that the women of our favorite genre deserve to be showcased, don't you? So I will be giving some of my favorite ladies and they range from kick-ass to American sweet hearts.  

The Kick Ass Category

Some heroines just are bad ass and one of my favorite bad ass females is none other than Kresley Cole's Regin Radiant from her Immortals After Dark Series. Throughout the books Regin has been ferocious, smart assed, quick witted, a legendary Valkyrie,  and can out drink just about any creature that has ever lived, but like most leading ladies, she has a story and it is heart breaking even though you're probably going to know her best for the bones she breaks.

Karen Marie Moning's Fever Series no doubt delivers on the extreme thrill ride when it comes to her Fever Series, and Mackayla Lane is her kick ass heroine. Mac, as she's called, not only has some powerful Celtic mojo going on but she is forced to either be a survivor or die-horribly and dying would be easy than what the Unseelies and a monstrous book hell bent on the destruction of the world. Mackayla is inventive and is a lot tougher than she's given credit for and if that's not enough to envy, she has Jericho Barrons wrapped around her little finger which is by means no easy feat. Mackayla Lane may be blond and has a penchant for bright colors but she's one tough cookie. 

Angels, Vampires, and Guild Hunters Oh my! Nalini Singh has spared us the whole "Guardian Angel" scenario with her Guild Hunter Series and no female is more kick ass in these books than Elena Devereaux. Elena not only has a sixth sense for vampires, but she's stuck to the Alpha of all Arc Angels, Raphael but enough about him, this is about her. Elena kicks some serious ass and isn't afraid to stand her ground with these elite beings called Angels. She isn't afraid to make tough decisions but she's not made of stone either but she will not go down without a fight-a bloody one. So if you've not discovered The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh, I highly recommend that you do.

In the realm of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter books, when it comes to the top of the food chain of Bad Ass Females; Simi, Ash's Charonte Demon and daughter holds the top spot. There are all sorts of warrior women and tough girls in these books but Simi is at the top. She is the bonded demon to one of the most powerful beings ever conceived and he's spoiled and pampered her but Simi is ferocious when she has to be and if you mess with her Akri, there will not be enough of you left to scatter to the wind. Simi make seem human but she's still a demon and she will take on Zeus himself over her Akri, Akra, and her new little brothers. Tread lightly with Simi.

The Smart Girl Category

Not all girls were meant to be warriors; sometimes brains has to win out over the need to make something bleed. The first in the line up of Smart Girls comes to us from Kerrelyn Sparks's Love At Stake Series.

Toni Davis has but one goal in All I Want For Christmas Is A Vampire and that is to prove vampires exist so she can rescue her best friend. All Ian McPhie wants is a vampire lady who can see beyond his looks and settle down with him. Toni has no need for a vampire boyfriend but she has to use her smarts when it comes to helping Ian find his lady love and trying to save her best friend from a mental hospital.



It's funny how life can change at the drop of the hat, or in Rachel Garret's case, a 300 year old vampire that keeps showing up in her morgue. Rachel is a pathologist at her local hospital and twice she's seen the same body. When a crazed self proclaimed vampire hunter fatally wounds her, it is Etienne Argeneau who has to make the decision whether or not to save Rachel's life even though it could mean that she might not want to stay on an eternal night shift.  Rachel is a smart girl who uses logic to solve life's problems and with Etienne she's going to need the patience of a Saint.

Lynsay Sands' Argeneau Series are not only great books full of intrigue, mystery, thrills, and a lot of laughs but they are also sensual and seductive.

Not all paranormal romances take place here on Earth. In Sherrilyn Kenyon's Ichidian Universe, Alix Garran has boarded the ship of one of the most skilled and deadly men to have ever been born: Devyn Kell. Devyn is the son of one of the best thieves and criminals not to mention his mother is the most feared bounty hunter in the universe. Her name actually makes some pee right down their legs. Alix is not so much a fighter as she is resourceful. Having lived a hard life she's had to be able to think fast on her feet or suffer for it later. You have to admire a girl who can fix anything with some string and a few drops of coolant. She's got a huge secret and an even bigger burden on her shoulders but our girl Alix is no wilting flower-she can fight for what she wants but her survival skills make her a bad ass smart girl that you can't help adoring.

Sometimes having the ability to hear the voices of the past can be a real drag. What's even worse is when you're put face to face with a demon possessed warrior who in his stupidity decided to be in on opening Pandora's Box releasing the very demons that possessed his Brethren along with himself. Ashlyn Darrow will have to use every ounce of smarts to tame the beast that resides within Maddox, Keeper of Violence and break his age old curse.

I chose Ashlyn for this list because outside of her psychic abilities, she pretty much relies on her intellect and it pays off but that's all I will tell you about Gena Showalter's The Darkest Night from her Lords Of The Underworld Series. 

The Heart Of Gold Category

Now, aside from our warrior women and those who depend on their smarts, there are those heroines that have a heart of pure gold that have us rooting for them all the way.

Gabrielle Maxwell can't believe what she's caught on camera one night in an alley and it chills her to the bone. She's become part of a dark seductive and dangerous world of The Breed; vampires who were sired from alien sires who came to Earth long ago. Not only does she get wrapped up in their world but she gets wrapped up with the top of the chain of command, Lucan Thorn, a Gen One Breed. Gabrielle has to have courage, an open heart, and brains if she's going to survive The Breed let alone the danger that lurks in both their worlds.

Lara Adrian's Breed Series has a blend of women that range from hearts of gold to femme fatales and is a must read series for all paranormal romance fans.

Micah Toler can't stop thinking about all the naughty things she'd like to do with the Breed Navarro. However he's out of reach being a Breed. Breeds are humans who have had their DNA spliced with that of animals and she knows she's not his destined mate but Navarro doesn't see it that way. Micah is selfless, tough, smart, and determined to not have her heart broken.

Lora Leigh's Breed Series are beyond sensual; they are erotic but also tell great stories. Much like Lara Adrian and the other authors mentioned, her female leads come from all walks of life and all of them find courage of heart to tame their Breed counterparts.



Now what kind of author would I be if I didn't give a shout out about my own heart of gold character, Ivy Morgan from my book Cursed Awakening?

Ivy Morgan has seen and experienced the worst of life but has begun her life anew. She's went through hell only to come out of the other side with the strength to pick up the pieces and move into a new direction and romance isn't even on the 'to do list'. When Ivy meets Nyx Wahpeton, she's drawn to him as he is her but just as she's starting to open her heart up; her past comes calling as well as something horrifying lurking in the dark. Ivy will have to draw upon a strength she  never knew she had and fight for a love she never knew was possible to have. Both their secrets could tear them apart but it is a chance that both Nyx and Ivy will have to take.

Now I know you probably are wondering why I left out so many good girls and bad girls with a killer edge, but that's why I want to hear from you! Tell me who your top five are and why. Are they warrior women who kick ass or do you go with more of a smart girl who uses her intellect and street smarts to get by. Perhaps you like a woman who has had to come through something tremendous yet still has a ways to go. No matter-tell me who your favorites are and don't forget to share the author who wrote them.