Monday, August 29, 2011

Just for fun - lavender recipes

While writing The Magic of Lavender, I came across so many delicious recipes for dishes using lavender, I thought it would be cool to create a companion recipe book. It's free from Smashwords, but Amazon wouldn't let me charge less than 99 cents, so if you'd like a copy for your Kindle, just email me at cate.masters AT gmail.com and I'll send you the prc file.

So now you can create the same lavender dishes exclusive to Lavender Hill Inn. Joss Gibson's grandmother handed these recipes down to her, knowing full well it would draw the fae to the establishment.

I make no such claim about these lavender recipes. I only know that your life will be sweeter if you make these specialty dishes for your family! And yourself, of course.

Though you may not be related to a goddess like my heroine, you can still be a goddess in the kitchen with these recipes!

And while you're sipping down a lavender lemonade (or a lavender margarita!), and maybe soaking your feet in a lavender foot bath, why not sample The Magic of Lavender? With its delectable heroine and yummy hero, it's sure to sate your appetite in other ways. :)

Sunday, August 28, 2011

New release: Song of Love and War out with Amber Allure!


Hi everyone! I have some great news and wanted to share it with you. My m/m paranormal novella was released today with Amber Allure Press! :)

This is the story of Thane, a human man, and Suresh, a male elf, who meet in a lull in the war and discover their feelings - and lust - for each other. ;)

Thane leaned forward, putting down his glass. It was the man with the long ponytail he’d seen at the lobby. He sat alone, staring into his drink, his fine features locked in a scowl. A strand of dark hair teased the base of that long, white throat. Even from afar, his eyes glittered, some pale shade of crystal, and his lips curved into a slight sneer, beautifully shaped and soft-looking.
Then the man dipped his head to sip at his drink, and an elegantly pointed ear peeked through his dark hair.
An elf!


Also, my short m/m/m paranormal story, featuring a vampire, a demon lord and an angel, is now out in the Ravenous Romance anthology "Three's a charm"! :)

The anthology is available here!

Friday, August 26, 2011

Happy Release Day -- I have a new paranormal!!


Today is the release day for my newest short story "Sensual Apparitions" which is included in the Ravenous Romance anthology THREE'S A CHARM.


"Sensual Apparitions" is a sexy m/m/f between a human female and two male ghosts!

Gia Hammond gets a lucky break when she’s bequeathed her great-aunt’s Victorian-style mansion.  When she moves in, she finds more than she bargained for.  Aunt Julia’s house is a gateway to the afterworld.  In the other-realm between the living and the dead, Gia encounters two male ghosts who inhabit the old house, and the erotic allure of their passionate touch.  The two apparitions bring Gia the promise of sexual liaisons that will last a lifetime.

THREE'S A CHARM is available here.

If you can't get enough of Gia and her two ghostly lovers in this short, be on the lookout for these sexy characters in a full length novel -- I'm writing it now!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

It has to be said

Piracy is a romanticized term for illegal book sharing. Not only are hackers stealing ebooks to distribute on their own sites, but “book clubs” also offer the chance to read an ebook and pass it on.

Is it any wonder no indie author - whether with an epress or self-pubbed - can catch a break? Or has to work full time at writing, but also a day job just to be able to do what they love?

Not only do ebook authors not get an advance, and receive only a percentage of royalties, but many publishers withhold royalties until a sales reach a certain amount. Sales are further lowered by thieves who siphon off profits with illegal sharing.

And make no mistake about it: it is illegal.

Margaret West cited some disheartening statistics in her recent post. But disheartening doesn’t begin to cover what I felt when I read Tracy L. Darity’s post about CreateSpace allowing resellers to print POD books and sell them at an insanely high price, and when the author fought back by selling at a lower price, snap! the other seller instantly lowered their price to outsell her. Oh, and there’s much more. Read her post, though it may turn your stomach to learn resellers can use POD to sell your book as used, so you the author will never see a profit and John Kremer’s post about how Amazon rips off authors.

So now I have to limit distribution of my Kindle books because resellers will pilfer it. I wondered how some copies of my books were being sold at ridiculously high prices. That’s the reason.

Amazon already forces authors to opt into their lending program, which cuts into profits. Why this media giant needs to rip off small-time authors, I’ll never understand. But I highly discourage readers from using this feature. Like many others, I priced my work below its fair value to encourage readers to buy. I know the economy’s tough. I like free stories too, when authors (and sometimes publishers) make them available as such. Not when others decide they should be free and help themselves.

Worse, some authors are finding their work resold under a different name. Apparently some peole are creative in the worst ways: converting ebooks to text, then putting a new cover on it and slapping their name on the product. Also covered under Mr. Kremer’s post.

I can’t wrap my head around how someone can put so much effort into stealing another person’s hard work. It just boggles my mind. Authors put so much heart and soul into their stories, sometimes years of their lives. And just like that, someone steals it?

Fighting illegal sharing – and Amazon, it seems – is impossible. So my best defense is to educate readers. If you love the books authors write, then please please please never download a book from any sharing site. Please please please give the authors their due by purchasing directly from the publisher, or if the author’s self-pubbed, then use the links they provide. Don’t buy from a reseller. Don’t download a free copy. You’re hurting them more than you know. You may justify it by saying, “it’s only one copy, it won’t impact them” but that’s wrong. Everyone thinks the same thing, and illegally shared copies quickly add up to many many copies. Please thank the author who writes stories you love by legally purchasing their work. And if you want to share their work, recommend your friends buy copies too. But don’t give it away. This business is tough enough. Authors need your support.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Rex Rising--Released!!! A Wow-When-Is-Book-Two-Coming-Out-Read!!!

Amazon


In a world where parasites create new human races, Elei leads a peaceful life — until a mysterious attack on his boss sends him fleeing with a bullet in his side.
Pursued for a secret he does not possess and with the fleet at his heels, he has but one thought: to stay alive. His pursuers aren’t inclined to sit down and talk, although that’s not the end of Elei’s troubles.
The two powerful parasites inhabiting his body, at a balance until now, choose this moment to bring him down, leaving Elei with no choice but to trust in people he hardly knows.
It won’t be long before he realizes he must find out this deadly secret – a secret that might change the fate of his world and everything he has ever known – or die trying.

Chatting about The Wolf Man


I'm chatting about the horror classic, The Wolf Man, at Karen Michelle Nutt's blog today.
Hope to see you there!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Sat Shifters-Karen Michelle Nutt


Can't resist fallen angels? Stop by Mariposa's Musings to find all about Karen Michelle Nutt's Warriors for the Light Series. Hope to see you there!

Monday, August 8, 2011

The Take over continues

 
Week One has passed and some great authors have contributed! Thank you all who have visited!!

Let’s see what Week Two brings us. How about some more of the same great talent from the Melange Pub House?!

So don’t forget to drop by to see the eclectic and talented group of Melange authors as they talk about different issues of writing and what-not under the sun!


This week we have:

7 – Mila Ramos

8 - Glenn Parkhurst

9 – Jack Wear

10 - Ann Regentin

11 – Nick Howard

12 - Heather Cashman 

13 - Herbert Grosshan

Have something specific you want to tell your favorite Melange author, drop by and leave a note!
See you all there!!!

Any questions please email me tribalbutterfly77@gmail.com

Friday, August 5, 2011

What's a 1NS?

Have you seen it? Everywhere you look, they're popping up on Decadent Publishing covers.
Starla has the upcoming release lineup for the 1NS series. I've got two on the list. Stop by and find out a little about this hot new series and the heroes that make the stories.
Upcoming 1NS releases

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Aspen Mountain Press Anniversary News!


Aspen Mountain Press is celebrating their 5th Anniversary with a blog tour--grand prize is a Kindle! More info can be found on my blog http;//melisseaires.blogspot.com

I am very pleased that AMP chose my two paranormal romance novellas to be in a 4 story book bundle with two books from Author Selena Illyria!

M/F Del Fantasma

Demonade Melisse Aires
Tiger Juice Melisse Aires
White Russian Selena Illyria
Choc Snake Bite -Selena Illyria

Total 13.99
20% 2.80
Bundle price—11.00

 Del Fantasma M/F tales to keep your summer nights hot.

When Melisse Aires and Selena Illyria spin tales of hot magic in the Del Fantasma bar,  the temperature heats up all over the world.  Belly up to the bar with Demonade, Tiger Juice, White Russian and Chocolate Snake Bite from our fans' favorite line.
http://www.aspenmountainpress.com/book-bundles/del-fantasma-mf-bundle/prod_439.html 

I am giving away a lighthouse necklace to celebrate my Del Fantasma stories. Be sure to check out my blog!
 

Monday, August 1, 2011

Beepie Awards!

It sounds cute, but its really super sexy!  It's the First Annual Beepie Awards for my publisher Breathless Press.


Breathless Press authors with 2010 releases have books that are eligible to be voted on and the winning authors get prizes!

My short story BEHIND THE BENCH is up for a Beepie!  


Go here to vote!

Mahalo!

Melange Books - Small Press Book Publishing Company


Welcome as the Melange Authors take my blog by storm!

Drop by to see the eclectic and talented group of Melange authors as they talk about different issues of writing and what-not under the sun.

It changes everyday so keep an eye out!!!



Melange Books - Small Press Book Publishing Company