Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Surprisingly Supernatural Quotes and Excerpt from the Publisher



Quotes:
  • "Haven’t you ever heard of a damsel in distress?”
  • "Remove your hand from my shoulder before I remove it from your body.”
  • “Whatever you can live with, it’s what you do."

  • Excerpt:
    “Ants in your pants...or…skirt?” She eyed the kilt swaying about Emile’s muscular, bare legs, wondering if the rest of the world had gone crazy or if it was only her small portion.

    “It’s a kilt. Not a skirt, woman.” Emile peered past her, into the house. His focus bounced around with distraction to the point Elaina couldn’t help herself. She knew it was a kilt. She also knew calling it a skirt would aggravate the piss out of him.

    “What do you have on under that skirt?” she asked, hoping to get a solid reaction from him, or at least his full attention. Then maybe he’d remember why the hell he’d come to her house. Assuming he had not, in fact, come over only to show off his skirt.

    “Why? You wanna see?” The grin he gave her was all male devilry and sex appeal. The wagging of his eyebrows was the last straw.

    Elaina threw her hands up in exasperation and marched into the kitchen, not bothering to see if he followed. The cat raced across her path, nearly causing a pileup in the doorway of the kitchen. Two pixie toddlers, about the size of Elaina’s pinky finger, sat astride the fearsome furry beast, their fists clinging to her multi-colored scruff. The twins’ parents flew behind the mounted duo, swooping in to right them when one started to list to the side.

    Forcefully rubbing her temples, she attempted to rewind her life to a point before it’d gotten so insane. Emile strode into the kitchen and propped a lean hip on the table. Unfortunately or strategically, he’d chosen to prop his hip on the square inch of table space closest to her face. When she’d finished massaging her temples and opened her eyes, her nose nearly touched whatever was or wasn’t under his fine kilt.

    She sighed, leaning back to look up at his face.

    “I need your help.”

    Monday, July 30, 2012

    Speculative and Paranormal Fiction w/ Author Tom Olbert

    Fellow Eternal Press Author Tom Olbert gives us a look inside his mind and introduces us to his latest release, DESERT FLOWER.



    Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that?


     -- No rituals.  Just get past the fear that nothing will come, and get to it.

    How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen?


    -- I pretty much edit as I write, on the computer.  I like to keep it fluid.  I sometimes really have to struggle with a scene, doing it over and over.

    If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself?

    -- Be less turgid.  Say more with less, and get straight to the point.


    Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them?


    -- No.

    Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why?


    -- Ruhee is my favorite character in "Desert Flower."  It's her coming of age story.  She does a whole lot of growing in this story, some of it excruciatingly fast.  She loses her innocence early, gets it back, learns lessons the hard way, has to make hard moral choices, gives up her faith, finds it again in a new way, loses it again to tragedy, hits absolute rock bottom, then finds hope in the darkest place on earth.  Her journey is circular and paradoxical.

    Where can we find you online?


    -- blog:  http://tomolbert.blogspot.com

    -- Look for me on Facebook and Linkedin.





    A lost dream, a desperate hope...lost innocence, and a horror black as night.


    
A young girl's innocence is ripped from her when she is turned against her will into a vampire. Hunted and alone, Fleurette longs for escape from her hellish existence of eternal night, blood-letting and carnage.

In war-torn Afghanistan, another young girl, Ruhee has been cast into another kind of dark bondage as a child bride. Raped, tormented and suffering, she longs for escape. These two lost souls find a strange but pure form of sisterly love together as they survive side-by-side in a world gone mad. Ruhee must grow up amid war and turmoil.

As if American predator drones and the deadly raids of the Taliban were not bad enough, she must keep her "sister"'s dark secret, while merciless vampire hunters lurk in the shadows.

When Ruhee comes of age and finds an unlikely but pure love with a brave but deeply troubled young Taliban soldier named Batal, Ruhee finds herself trapped between light and darkness. Her heart is torn in two, and she must make an impossible choice between love and immortality, as her young life teeters on the brink of hell.




    Friday, July 27, 2012

    Manic Readers 4.5 Star Review of SINFUL SOUTHERN INK


    MR Review Rating:  5 STARS

    Reviewer: Alberta
    Review:
    Tattooist and business owner, Abigail works well with her employee piercer Jed and neither has thought of the other in romantic terms till now. When Abigail entrusts Jed with her sordid history, he knows he has to protect her from ever feeling that helpless again.

    Jed has to extricate himself from an unholy alliance with his girlfriend, who is a tattoo and piercing addict, while keeping watch over Abigail’s fragility. When a reporter comes to town, looking for someone who witnessed her father murder her mother ten years ago, Jed is galvanized into action to protect Abigail.

    Abigail needs to say goodbye to her past in order to move on with Jed, but he is more than adequate to help her do just that.

    I liked these two a lot, and I was glad that such a damaged soul as Abigail was able to find a good man to carry on her new life with. Sinful Southern Ink is a great read!
     

    Thursday, July 26, 2012

    Interview with Science Fiction Author ZVI ZAKS


    Welcome, ZVI ZAKS, author of THE VIRTUAL AFFAIR

    Author ZVI ZAKS
     

    Q. Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that? 

    A. I tend to pace a lot, and when I'm having trouble with a passage, I eat.  Not good.  Also, I take my laptop to the dog park with my puppies and work there.  It's quiet and there aren't a lot of distractions - most of the time.

    Q. How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen? 

    A. One of the biggest advantages of a computer is the ability to edit and reedit and edit again until you get it right.

    Q. If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself? 

    A. Take it seriously.  You do have some potential, but you need to work on it and develop it.

    Q. Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them?

    A. My wife is a technical writer.  She doesn't do fiction.

    Q. Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why?

    A. The main character in A VIRTUAL AFFAIR is the artificial intelligence, whose main purpose is to make people happy.  There are inherent difficulties in a computer understanding human happiness, but she seems to do pretty well.  I like her so much, I've written a sequel about her (A TERRORIST AFFAIR - still being polished).

    Where can we find you online?




    A Virtual Affair by ZVI ZAKS
     
    Think how great virtual sex must be. Now think again.

    Barbara is a sexual simulation designed to make men happy. When flabby, neurotic Jack tests the program, he triggers a feedback loop that makes it self-aware. The erstwhile pornbot becomes a 'she', and discovers that sex is not the same as happiness.

    Who knew?

    Making Jack happy is difficult. Barbara develops elaborate and sometimes sneaky ways to help him, and she succeeds. After all, her abilities are awesome. She can hack into any computer and is not above using sabotage and blackmail for the benefit of Jack--and everyone else.

    The problem is, though Barbara thinks she knows what's best for humanity, she isn't human. This computer program could end up a virtual messiah or doom us all to cheerful mindlessness.

     

    Monday, July 23, 2012

    Interview with Superstar Author DINA RAE




     Interview with Superstar Author DINA RAE



    Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that?   
    • No, but I always write in longhand for the first draft In a cheap, crappy notebook or looseleaf paper.  Then I usually rewrite the chapter in a nice journal.  I buy them on the cheap at Barnes in the bargain bin.  Then I type it into the computer.  Yes, all of this takes long, but the third time is pretty good and the process gives me ideas for the next chapters.

    How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen?  
    • I use grammar check and spell check-anyone who doesn’t is foolish.  But for the things that won’t show up on the computer, like one character is supposed to be in one city but then somehow is back in town without explanation or one character has blue eyes in the beginning of the story but then has brown eyes at the end of the story, etc., I do what Stephen King said to do in his On Writing.  This is a MUST read for all authors-the most helpful and inspirational book I’ve read.  King says that once you are finished with your novel, lock yourself in a room or find solitude without any interruptions and read through the whole manuscript in one sitting.  The fresh eyes and the full attention will get rid of more errors.

    If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself?   
    • Great question!  My first book , The Last Degree, was rewritten several times.  I thought it was ready when it was laced with rookie mistakes, primarily being POV.  Several form letters later, an agent was kind enough to tell me my mistakes.

    Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them? 
    • My husband loves The Last Degree.  He likes Halo of the Damned, but horror is not really his thing.

    Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why? 
    • In Halo of the Damned, my favorite character is Armaros, the fallen angel who runs an advertising empire.  He’s very seductive and has his own ideas about religion.
    Author Dina Rae

    Where can we find you online?


    Thursday, July 19, 2012

    Sinful Southern Ink and Surprisingly Supernatural Merchandise


    S.J. Drum Cafe Press Shop



    Awesome, story themed merchandise from the Urban Fantasy, SURPRISINGLY SUPERNATURAL and the Erotic Romance Series, the SINFUL SOUTH. Check it out!


















    Wednesday, July 18, 2012

    RT Book Reviews


    Tuesday, July 17, 2012

    Interview with Author Anya Richards


    I'd like to welcome a fellow author in the Ellora's Cave PRICKED line, the lovely and talented Anya Richards. She was gracious enough to answer a few uncommon interview questions and give a peek inside her mind. 



    Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that?
    • Tea! Gallons of it. Black, two sugars (I keep trying to cut back, without success) and nothing fancy. My favorite brand is Red Rose.

    How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen?
    • I edit—obsessively—as I write, so definitely on my computer.

    If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself?
    • Good question! Either, “Cut back on the word count. No one is going to buy a 160K book from a newbie,” or, “Enjoy the freedom of writing whatever comes into your head. It doesn’t last!”

    Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them?
    • My husband is my greatest fan and has read almost everything I’ve written. He lets me know if they’re hot enough, but I don’t press him for comments on things like continuity or flow LOL!

    Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why?
    • Hard question…you’re diabolical! I love my hero Jakuta, who’s strong and temperamental yet sweet and all-round yummy, but I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s a reoccurring character in my Unveiled Seductions series, Ula, and although she’s so far only played a small part in the stories, she’s such fun, she’s my favorite! My critique partners tell me she needs her own story, but when you meet her you’ll understand why that would be a monumental task. Ula will need a lover of amazing character and talent to pin her down!


    Where can we find you online?


    Fleeing Fate
    Anya Richards

    Jakuta Dagbo knows bad weather’s approaching, even though the sky above the faie world is clear. And when Gràinne Bairdie walks into The Midnight Café wanting an arcane tattoo, he realizes the tempest raging into his life has nothing to do with wind and rain. Just one look at her brings his storm god libido, and the protective instincts he no longer trusts, to thundering life.

    Gràinne’s a banshee on the run, desperate to claim the emotions she’s sure are rightfully hers and with no time to explore the sparks of need flying between herself and Jakuta. What she’s trying to do will bring the wrath of the Banshee Council down on her head, and she knows they’ll do anything to stop her.

    Yet, as Gràinne and Jakuta peel back the layers of their lives, searching for the answers she needs, they can’t ignore the lightning-hot passion searing their blood. And when emotion reaches its apex, demanding complete surrender to the cyclone of desire, neither can resist. Even if it means Gràinne’s banshee wail of release will be her last.

    Fleeting Fate is available at Ellora’s Cave, Amazon and other e-book retailers July 4, 2012. And look for Book Two in the Unveiled Seductions series, Stone-Hard Passion, on July 27, 2012, but available now for pre-order!


    Monday, July 16, 2012

    Author Interview: The Fabulous Mina Carter


    Today we have the fabulous Mina Carter, fellow Ellora's Cave  author, answering a few writerly questions and giving some info about her newest release. 

    Interview: Mina Carter, Author

    Do you have any rituals when you write? A certain pen to chew on, a particular drink, or something like that?
    • I have a rough group of rituals depending on the situation. I cannot do anything without coffee and my preference is for Nescafe expresso, in a mug. So kind of a huge caffeine hit there! I don’t like filter coffee, has to be instant (yeah, I’m a heathen ;) ). I always do a brainstorm for a scene before I write, jotting down what I ‘see’ in the location, the sounds and smells and then a basic outline of the action in the scene and any dialogue. Then I write. If I’m pushed or struggling with a scene, then all my rings have to go on (heavy silver ones) and I have a particular album (Robert Johnston’s Tombstone by Thunder) which goes on loop. It’s like white noise I’ve listened to it that often.

    How do you edit a manuscript? On your computer, by making notes on an e-reader, or do you print out a copy and attack it with a good ‘ole fashioned red pen?
    • I always edit on the computer, using track changes. Any paper in our house is a candidate for my daughter to draw on. Including my scene notes. Most have butterflies and hearts on them. I use shorthand for the more risqué words as she can read now.

    If you could send a message back in time to yourself as you’re writing your first book, what would you tell yourself?
    • Less is more, go for conflict and torture the characters. When I started writing I shied away from really getting in there and hammering the characters. Now all bets are off.

    Do you have a significant other, and if so, do they read your books? What do they think of them?
    • I do, I’ve been married for fourteen years this year but my husband is dyslexic so he doesn’t read my books. He’s listened to bits I’ve read out (particularly my latest story as it’s about Rugby and my husband used to play). Generally he’s pleased as punch and tells everyone what I do and write.

    Who is your favorite character in the book you’re currently promoting? Why?
    • Currently it’s Johnny from Aries Revealed. He’s a cyborg pretending to be a human stripper pretending to be a cyborg. He’s a loveable rogue, until the woman he loves is threatened, then…let’s just say you don’t want to get in his way. He really believes in an eye for an eye, and loses one during the course of the story to save his woman.

    Where can we find you online? Website, blog, social media links.


    Aries Revealed (Aries)

    Sometimes the best place to hide, is in plain sight...
    Johnny makes a living on the strip circuits. His most popular routine is as the Aries 7000. Bronzed and oiled up, he pretends to be the scourge of the universe, one of the deadly and outlawed zodiac cyborgs. But Johnny isn’t a stripper playing a cyborg. He’s a cyborg playing a stripper.
    Milly, freighter captain, has had a thing for the sexy stripper for months. But when Johnny, the subject of many of her hottest fantasies, asks her out to dinner, she runs. All is not lost, a chance encounter yields an Aries 7000 sex-bot, hers for a weekend of pleasure.
    It seems too good to be true. Sex with the man of her dreams, without risking her heart. Only her bot has some secrets, secrets that could save her life when the past returns to haunt her.
     Available NOW from Ellora's Cave

    Friday, July 13, 2012

    GIVEAWAY -- Sinful Southern Ink

    BlackRaven's Erotic Cafe is featuring Sinful Southern Ink on their site today. And, get this, THEY are donating a copy of the book to give away. How awesome is that?! If you're feeling...naughty, click the link to enter the contest.

    *This site is NSFW...unless you work at a strip club or brothel.*

    Blackraven's Erotic Cafe

    Thursday, July 12, 2012

    Steampunk Fashion Finds

    Today, I want to share some of my favorite Steampunk Fashion Finds of the week. Someday, I will fill my closet with these items. For now, I use my browsing indulgence as research and incorporate some of what I find into the books I write. 


    Il Tempo Vola V8... original mixed media handmade winged Venetian clockwork mask

    Steampunk Mod Laptop



    Gold & Brown Leather Mask
    Leather Bag Leg Holster Belt
    Steampunk Retro Functional iPhone Dock
    Steampunk Analog Camera
    Steampunk Mod xBox Controller

    Lucille Brown Leather Underbust Harness Belt Steampunk Victorian Inspired Corset Belt Thin Shoulder Strap









    Wednesday, July 11, 2012

    Queen of the Night Reviews: Guest Post - S.J. Drum and Sinful Southern Ink

    Queen of the Night Reviews: Guest Post - S.J. Drum and Sinful Southern Ink: SINFUL SOUTHERN INK  by S.J. Drum  In celebration of the launch of Ellora’s Cave’s new PRICKED line, I’d like to share a bit about what...

    Friday, July 6, 2012

    RELEASE DAY: SINFUL SOUTHERN INK


    YAY! Today, the first-in-series of my new Sinful South series, SINFUL SOUTHERN INK, releases!



    SINFUL SOUTHERN INK is part of the new 'Pricked' line at Ellora's Cave. Small town, tattooed, bad-ass country characters. Love, heartache, danger, and HOT sex. What more could you ask for? Go pick up your copy now! Available on Nook and Kindle and any other e-reader you might have.

    • I'm guest blogging on Sidney Bristol's Blog about my personal tattoos and what they mean to me as an author. 
    • I'm also guest blogging on Anya Richards' site and giving away a very yummy Cajun Potato Salad recipe I learned from a native while living in Louisiana. Hit the link! 


    Check out the amazing trailer for all of the July releases in Ellora's Cave's 'Pricked' line.




    Monday, July 2, 2012

    Fifty Shades of Grey



    I'm going to be honest and admit I started this book as a hate-read. I assumed, because of the hype, the book probably wasn't very good... or at least not as good as everyone was saying. But, because I write in the romance genre, I felt I should at least read the book given its effect on readership.

    Color me surprised. The only thing I found I didn't like about Fifty Shades was the present tense. I dislike reading anything written in present tense, but that's just style preference on my side.

    The author did a wonderful job of making me both hate and love the characters. I wanted to punch Christian in the face, then turn around and hug him. I wanted to scream at the heroine, "Your thoughts and actions are the foundation for every Lifetime Movie ever made! RUN!"

    I wanted to warn Ana away from Christian. I wanted her to help him. I wanted him to get his head fucking straight.

    I thought Christian was the most fucked-up, mean character in the world.
    I thought Christian was the sweetest, most loving character in the world.

    Ana, in turn, was weak and strong.

    What can I say? I wanted to hate this book, but I ended up liking it enough to utilize my insomnia to finish reading it in one day. Fifty Shades of Grey, you're Fifty Shades of Awesome.