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Thursday, September 30, 2010
Happy Blawgaversary!
I'm celebrating the one year anniversary of my blog and giving away a gift package that includes a copy of each of my 3 M/M releases!
Tight end is about a football player and his . . . well . . . tight end. The Outlaw is a western steampunk about a bringer and an outlander. One Way Trip is about an astronaut and and a Martian!
If you have time, swing by http://blog.rebeccaleighromance.com/ and leave a comment for a chance to win all 3 of these fun and sexy stories!!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
I'm featured at Ramsey's Reviews Halloween Bash
The Halloween fun at Ramsey's Reviews continues, with me in the spotlight! I'll be there through Thursday. I hope you'll pop over for some spooky fun. Leave a comment on my post to be eligible for the giveaway, a copy of One Soul for Sale.
Reviewers have described this novella as "unpredictable," "well orchestrated," "a touch of whimsy," and "outstanding." Find out for yourself! Leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. It's a month of fun, so be sure to check back there often.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Upcoming events I just had to share
Here's an excerpt:
MacKay swung the pack over her shoulder and brushed past him. Following, he grabbed her arm and stopped her. She eyed his hand. He let go.
“I can help.”
“You could also get me killed.”
But he did have two hearts, and if he could keep the wasps off her while she defused that bomb... She had insulating bracelets that should ground most of what the creatures hit her with, but it wouldn’t stop the zap from hurting like hell. The fewer stings she received, the better. She would already be freezing her ass off in the tank. A little help could go a long way. Maybe he could help.
“I thought you placed the ad for this reason. These sea wasp things sound like trouble—more trouble than you can handle. Let me take care of them while you defuse the bomb.”
Do it MacKay. Nothing says you have to keep him as an employee after. She sighed. “You’re not going to leave, are you?”
“No.”
MacKay shoved the pack into his hands. “Carry this.”
“Does that mean I got the job?”
“It means—carry it. I’ll decide if you get the job when I’m done with the freighter.”
Boomer grinned. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Call me MacKay.”
“MacKay.”
If ever there had been a sexy voice, it had to be his. MacKay’s heart jumped. And that smile reminded her of her husband when he’d been alive. When Glenn had smiled like that, she’d never been able to say no. She knew little about Boomer and what she did know generated a fluttering in her stomach and sent red flags up all over the place. He knew how to put her off balance and emotionally disarm her, a lot like Glenn used to do. She hadn’t intended to bring him along but now found herself with an assistant.
Her hands shook, and her heart raced. She’d given him shit for being jittery, but here she was, shaking like she was about to go out on her first date. For the first time in five years, she’d noticed a man sexually. Not any man, but one that reminded her of a happier time in her life, something she’d never get back. Nothing good could come of this.
“Do what I say and stay the hell out of my way.”
“Are you always this personable, MacKay?”
“I’m looking for an employee, Mr. Boomer, not a date. Don’t get it in your head that my letting you come along is encouragement for you to try to get me into your bed.”
“Not a problem. You’re not my type.”
MacKay paused. What he’d said stung. She might not have a super-model’s beauty, but she didn’t resemble a mud gat either. What was his problem and what the hell did he mean she wasn’t his type? She knew better than to ask, but the words just leapt from her mouth. “And what exactly is your type, Mr. Boomer?”
“Less antichrist. Softer, feminine. More, you know…nice.”
“I’m not the antichrist, Mr. Boomer.”
“It’s your story. Tell it the way you want to. I’m looking for a job, Alice, not a date. So why does it matter?”
He’d thrown her words right back in her face and for once, she’d wished she hadn’t said them.
“It doesn’t.” MacKay stalked away.
But it did. Why? She shouldn’t care if he found her attractive or nice or soft and female. But damn it all to hell, she did care. And it bugged her more than the fact he’d found a way to worm himself into her employment.
Here's an upcoming blog-a-thon at Parnormal Romatics, with lots of trick-or treat goodies to give away.
And, I've got an upcoming interview with author, Krista Ball, on October 7th at Para-Fanatics.
http://para-fanatics.blogspot.com/.
Come on by and help her celebrate the December 1st release of her new novel, Harvest Moon that will be available for pre-order on October 1st.
Barbara Elsborg has a new release out Friday, October 1st.
I’m in trouble.
Matty suddenly finds herself back in her childhood home, naked and alone, with no clue how she came to be there. When her greedy uncle sells Milford Hall from under her, Matty hides in the attic.
The woman is trouble.
Vampire historian, Turner, has long had his eye on Milford Hall and there is no price he won’t pay to own it. He doesn’t expect to find an aggravating female living in his attic insisting she has a right to be there. The small print in the contract backs her up but Turner is determined to maintain his privacy. Doesn’t matter she’s the hottest thing he’s seen for years— in order to protect her from his mistakes, Matty has to go.
I eat trouble for dinner
After a self-imposed twenty year absence from Turner, werewolf Catch arrives to put the past right and save his former lover from circling enemies. But one kiss from Matty and Catch has more than Turner to worry about. Neither boy wants to share their new toy.
You feeling the love???
Not yet?
Here's the link: http://www.jasminejade.com/
It's Banned Books Week - how will you celebrate?
Unfortunately, the practice of banning books follows a longstanding tradition of censorship. Read Mark Twain’s letter, written after the Omaha Public Library banned Huckleberry Finn
It’s surprising that even today, books are still being banned. One of my favorite authors, T.C. Boyle, made the list with The Tortilla Curtain. The Santa Rosa High School review committee limited its reading to juniors and seniors because they considered certain parts “provocative.”
This, when America ranks lower each year in global literacy? Seriously, how can students learn to think for themselves if others decide what they should and should not read?
Here are some accounts of attempts to ban books.
Four members of the Christian Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit seeking $30,000 each, claming emotional distress simply because the West Bend, Wis. Community Memorial Library displayed a copy of Francesca Lia Block’s Baby Be-Bop. They called for the YA book to actually be burned in public. Thank goodness for the library board’s decision, 9-0, not to restrict access in any manner.
After a parent claimed the book promited “economic fallacies” and socialist ideas, a Pennsylvania school district banned even such a benign title as Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America. A CYA move, disgraceful to say the least.
Here’s the complete list of books banned this past year.
These complaints makes me want to run out and read it for myself. Judge for myself. How about you?
How to combat this ongoing nonsense? The American Library Association advises us to be proactive. Stay informed. Several groups include activities designed to protect our First Amendment rights, including The Freedom to Read Foundation, The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, The National Coalition Against Censorship, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Find them online, including Facebook, to keep yourself informed.
What should you do if you find an act of censorship? Report it to ALA’s Offi ce for Intellectual Freedom. All identifying information is kept strictly confidential. You can fi le reports online by going to www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm.
Most importantly, participate in Banned Books Week by joining in a local event, or simply by reading a banned book. The New York Times suggests a list of ten activities, if you can’t think of one yourself.
Anna Quindlen also provided a few suggestions in her op ed piece.
What have I done, you ask? Why, I bought a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird. I look forward to reading this classic, and to continue reading any book I choose.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Author of "Speculative Sky"- Clare Dargin
What inspired you to write this book?
Well, ever since I was a child I always wanted to be a writer. It was a dream of mine to be published and to write stories that everyone could enjoy. Speculative Sky was created because I’ve always had a fascination with stories about Extra-Terrestrial Life and S.E.T.I. and I wanted to integrate such a story with a female character as a strong and intelligent lead.
Do you have a specific writing style?
Yes I do but I am not sure what to call it. When people read my work I want them to feel as if they are right there in the midst of it all. I want them to be able to hear, taste, smell and see the action as if it is happening all around them. I also tend to write tight stories with quick pacing. It's what I like to read and consequently how I write.
What is the name of your latest book? And how did you come up with the title?
To be honest I’ve always been attracted and fascinated by the abstract and the symbolic. I wanted the title to be symbolic of what April Mullen, the main character, has to deal with as an Astronomer and all that came with her assignment.
What is Speculative Sky about?
It is about a woman who takes a chance and leaves for an assignment on a science colony far away from Earth. As an astronomer it is her job to monitor the stars at night and to record her findings. Nothing more than that. But when she arrives, she notices that her new home is a bit odd, and that though there is evidence of life out there… they don’t want her to either acknowledge it or do anything about it. She of course finds this troubling.
What books have most influenced your life most?
To be honest, in fiction category, it would have to be the old star wars books that came out in the eighties after Return of the Jedi. The expanded universe books taught me more about atmospheric and expanded universe development then any book I know! I read them over and over again and learned about non-human creature development, planetary science fiction and description of space travel and not to mention how to write a cool leading man. I still read them!
If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Douglas Preston and/or Lincoln Child. They write incredibly compelling books of which I generally can't put down.
What books are you reading now?
To be honest and I am almost finished with “Book of the Dead” with Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child. I'll be going through their back list very soon in order to get caught up.
Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Last night I was thinking about the Friday House about D. K. Gaston and how it's a compelling story about assassins who have no memory of their being programmed and stuff. I think it's cool. And several books on the military scifi romance front that I have recently heard about. I write in a tiny subgenre so it's nice to see what other authors are doing in it. That way I don't get lonely!
What are your current projects?
Presently I am finishing up the final editing for “Ice and Peace” the sequel to Cold Warriors. As well as having another expanded universe book in the works. Not to mention, two futuristic romances that are completely different from my military fiction.
Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
The Motown Creative Writers Group-- they helped get on the road to being published. And not to mention the many groups in the Romance community. They really pointed me in the right direction. I'm grateful for that.
Do you see writing as a career?
Yes! One day I hope to do it full time.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
Yeah that's why I have to hurry up and get it out of my hands cause I keep changing it!
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
As a child my father use to encourage it. I use to write stories for my family and give it to them and they would say “Maybe one day you could get this published!” I was like five.... and then when I was in middle school I found out that S. E. Hinton had been published at sixteen-- I became truly determined then.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Yea, getting through the first draft!
Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Just get the first draft down on paper and don't be afraid to make stupid mistakes and have dumb lines on paper cause it's the first draft and you are allowing the characters to come alive. Later on you can fix and micro manage but don't try to do it the first time through cause it will stifle your creativity.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don't give up on being published! Try every avenue! There is away for you!
Where can we find you on the web?
Just about everywhere! You can google Clare Dargin and find me! But to make life simple which I'm all for here are some places to start! My personal web site-- The Haven http://www.claredargin.host22.com
My Blogs: Clare's Blog- The Haven http://www.claredargin.bravejournal.com and The Embraced: Scribal Love http://theembraced.blogspot.com
Social Networks: Myspace-- www.myspace.com/nuncius
Facebook-- search for Clare Dargin-- can't remember the link now!
Bebo and whole bunch more!
You can buy the book at Red Rose Publishing
Thank you! And I look forward to seeing more of you all!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Writer's Wednesdays
Also remember that I'm still running the contest for the $100 Amazon GC.
http://www.vividumas.wordpress.com/
Vivi
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Do you love vampires?
Help!
Monday, September 20, 2010
New ebook review site!
I'm not publically taking any requests right now, though the occasional bribe might help me change my mind :)
I'll be reviewing all genres equally. I've just found someone to give me a hand with horror, but I could use another person, too. If you're interested, drop me a link - kristadball at gmail dot com.
Feel free to drop over. I only have 2 reviews up, but I am planning to add more as I read. Thanks!
Krista
Friday, September 17, 2010
Win $100 Amazon GC
With all these pending releases, I thought I’d drum up some worshipers for the Paranormal Queen. So what better way to do this than to have a contest.
Show me the money you say… Well, this is what you have to do to win. The contest will run until October 15th. You can gain points in the following ways:
Subscribe to this blog (1 point)
Subscribe to website – www.vividumas.com/wordpress (1 point)
Follow me on Twitter (1 point)
Friend me on Facebook (1 point)
Refer a friend who subscribe to blog, website, Twitter, and FB (4 points) – friends gets their own points for sign up according to the above schedule. (You get the points every time you refer a friend who sign up so tell the world!)
When you subscribe you MUST leave a comment on the contest post on http://www.vividumas.wordpress.com/ with your email addy and if you followed on Twitter or FB please let me know so I can verify and get you your points. If you refer a friend, PLEASE make sure they know to leave their email addy and your name or email.
The person with the most points by October 15th will be the winner of the $100 GC.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Giveaways!
Here's the blurb:
AJ Dillon is trouble. The former lead singer of an indie band has no home, no money and no future. His grandfather is the only relative willing to take another chance on him. AJ arrives in Weeki Wachee, Florida, with his guitar, a few clothes and a bad attitude. The only good thing about Weeki Wachee is the ocean -- the one place AJ feels at home.
Grandpa lines up a job for AJ at Weeki Wachee Springs, where beautiful women perform as mermaids. Grandpa says real mermaids exist, but AJ doesn’t believe – until he meets Cassiopeia. She helps his passion for music resurfaces. But greedy Chaz finds out about her, and threatens to kill them if AJ doesn't go along with his plan to make a fortune with a real mermaid show. Can AJ save Cassie, even if it means losing her?
Giveaway #2
Over the next two days of Blogmania, you can also have a chance to win a basket of books and goodies from The Susquehanna Writers (US and Canada only). Visit our blog, become a follower and leave a comment - how easy is that? We are a diverse group of authors from the central Pennsylvania region. Check us out!
Guest blogging today
Please stop by. I have the first page of my paranormal romance--Ashes--May, 2011 posted and some lame stuff about me.
Monday, September 13, 2010
What's this "Harvest Moon" all about anyway?
**Harvest Moon is set in Northern Alberta. Somewhere between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, to be exact. I wanted a different setting. There are so few stories featuring Canada’s First Nations peoples. It was important for me to include them in my work.
**Yes, Saskatoon berries are real. They're small, so red they're nearly black, and sweet-tart.
**There is no bannock in Harvest Moon. (Pauses to allow the collective gasp of Western Canada to subside). Bannock is a traditional native food around these parts. When I worked at the Mustard Seed, I included raisin and cranberry bannock with my Thanksgiving meal for the homeless. Sadly, this traditional food was only developed after the white arrivals. I can’t find any evidence for it pre-European and a lot against it. So, I left it out. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make yourself a good batch of it before reading Harvest Moon. hint hint shameless promotion
**Yes, there is a bisexual character. And, yes, there is historical evidence showing that some First nations tribes historically accepted homosexuality and bisexuality. So, I included a character that was.
**No one swears or drinks in Harvest Moon. I was too embarrassed to ask my Cree-speaking peers about swear words in Cree. So, those couldn’t exist in the story. Add to that the general lack of alcohol pre-Europeans in Canada. So, Dancing Cat is the most straight-laced character I’ve ever written. It’s no wonder I made the girl change genders. Things were going too smooth for her!
Wanna check out the first scene? Check it out!
Know that you want to buy it? Download it now!
Congrats to Cate!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
New Publisher includes a Release by One of our Members
As of January they'll begin a regular schedule of anywhere between 10-15 books a month.
Harvest Moon, Krista Ball, is on the front page and yep, it's already on my hard drive and well worth the cost. A lovely story, with unusual twists. A polished read for all readers that'll be hard to forget. Congrats to MuseitUp and to all the featured authors.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Time for Blogfest!
Time for Blogfest! Woo hoo! *throws confetti and blows noisemaker*
My blog is participating, and giving away the tasty prizes shown below. So pop on over to http://catemasters.blogspot.com, follow my blog and leave a comment (open to those in the continental US or Canada, sorry).
Click on the photo for a larger view.
Shifters
I've read about weredingos and werefoxes etc but I think once the creature starts to get too small, it feels wrong to me. If you don't start off with an animal that has some strong physical characteristic, I can't see how the change works. Anyone read any stories with unusal shifters?
Friday, September 10, 2010
Contests / Scavenger Hunt
I have a few contests to tell you about.
I am part of BlogFest 2010 where hundreds of blogs get together and each hold contests. You can visit me at Authors By Authors to enter my giveaway http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com/2010/09/blogfest-2010.html
or go to the massive BlogFest 2010 grand giveaway! Head on over to http://ajourneyofbooks.
Also, there is still a lot of time to participate in the Excessica Scavenger Hunt. Up for grabs there is two pre-loaded Kindle 3's plus many other prizes. Go to http://excessica.com/excessica-scavenger-hunt to read all about how to participate!
Have A Great Weekend!
Kiki Howell
~where love is a mystical thing~
http://www.kikihowell.com
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Writer's Wednesdays
http://www.vividumas.wordpress.com/
Viv
Some of Rebecca's work
Monday, September 6, 2010
A Halloween to Remember by Roxanne Rhoads
It's a steamy (and slightly naughty) erotic romance set at Halloween with slight paranormal touches.
Here's a quick blurb:
What says Halloween better than a wild party at an old Victorian mansion complete with its own cemetery?
Perhaps meeting the man of your dreams thanks to the magic of Halloween.
Adena can’t believe her eyes when she spots Dimitri in the library- he looks like something straight off the cover of a historical romance novel-the type of guy she’s always dreamed of. Too bad he disappears before she has the chance to introduce herself. When she finally spots him again later that night she decides she’s not letting him get away again.
Adena thinks she’s finally found the one. Until she wakes up alone the next morning- in the cemetery.
Halloween magic brought them together but will it be strong enough to keep them together?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
My first erotica novel is now out!!!
James had never been attracted to a man before. But Horus, the Egyptian god of the sun, is not just any man. Drop dead gorgeous, Horus is also the harbinger of bad news.
He proclaims James to be Seth, his dark godly counterpart and ally, and warns that Osiris, god of the dead, is about to take over the world once more.
Caught between a game of power and falling in love with Horus, James must remember his past and regain his powers, or he’ll lose everything—his future, his former lover, and his own life.
Out with Cobblestone Press.
Most of us are familiar with the classic Egyptian myth in which Seth is Osiris’ evil brother, Horus Osiris’ son, and Osiris and Horus battle with Seth for the throne of
But there are older myths of the two gods, of dark Seth and Horus the Elder, who ruled Upper and
But the truth remains in rituals where Seth rides on the Sun Boat of Ra-Horakty (the Sun Horus) every day as his faithful friend, battling Apep the dragon of Darkness, allowing the birth of a new day.
This is the story that gave birth to this book. This, and an episode in the battles of Seth and Horus where Horus has sex with Seth and penetrates him, in this manner winning the battle. Sanctioned by the mythology, returning Seth to his former glory, I give you the story of the Falcon and the Jackal, uncensored.
Here is the book trailer. Enjoy!
Win Amazon $20 GC and Free Books
www.vividumas.wordpress.com
Remember we are giving away a $20 Amazon gift certificate to a lucky COMMENTER. Must comment to qualify. And we’ll also be giving away some copies of the stories.
- Hearts Sentinel by PJ Schnyder
- Red’s Wolf by PJ Schnyder
- The Legacy Keeper’s Treasure by Kelly Yeakle
- Blood Moon by Ellen Keener
- Of Course I Try by Seleste deLaney
- Red Riding Hood by Deanna Wadsworth
- Maybe more to come later…
The party will be ending at 8:00 PM on Monday. Winners will be announced on Tuesday.
Okay… I’m going to find a seat. Too many cocktails today, but that’s what happens when you start partying at 8:00 AM.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Free ebook contest from MuseItUp Publishing
A message from Lea Schizas, editor and owner of MuseItUp Publishing.
It’s time, dear readers, to announce what we have in store for you…one surprise at a time.
Beginning October 1st, and on the first of each month, one lucky reader will win a FREE e-book.
The rules you ask?
Simple: join our discussions, ask questions to our authors, have fun with us, that’s it. Participate and you have a chance to be one of our monthly winners.
To join our readers group go here:
http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/MusePub_Readers/
Give your friends the link above and ask them to join us too. Come October things are going to begin hopping and a’bobbin’ all over the place.
But that’s not all:
Join us in our readers group for our December 1st Launch Party and you have a chance to be one of our two lucky winners:
First prize: a year’s worth of ebooks (12 in total)
Second prize: six month’s worth of ebooks (6 in total)
Hold on, we’ve got more…
Between October 1st and 31st we’ll be hosting a Masquerade Blog Festival where each day one of our authors will entertain you with a variety of posts, from short stories, recipes, historical facts of the Halloween season, to decorating tips. In-between these posts there will be random YouTube videos posted and the first reader who jumps in the loop and calls out the title of the song posted will have his or her choice of any one of our released or soon to be released e-books. If soon-to-be-released you will receive the e-book once it debuts.
So tell your friends to join us because we’ve got tons of goodies in store for you each month.
Invite to the Decadent Gala Ball at Delusions of Granduer
Place: Delusion of Grandeur www.vividumas.wordpress.com
Welcome to our first Decadent Gala Ball. Today, I'll be hosting the wonderful authors of my new publisher, Decadent Publishing. I thought, what a better way to get to know my new family than to throw a fabulous party and invite everyone over.
So... Each hour I'll highlight a Decadent author and their wonderful story. We'll party until the last person drops, when that'll be no one knows.
I want you to put on your most fabulous gown and fantabulous shoes, men find a fine tux (love a man in a Hugo Boss tux) and come party with us. Who knows. You might just find that story you've just been dying to read.
Also, we'll be offering a nice parting gift for the best dressed commenter. So, please make sure to tell us what you're wearing when you drop by.
What am I wearing you ask? I picked up this modest Jovani gown just for this occasion. And stole these heavenly pair of Stewart Weitzman Cinderella slippers. Had to steal cause I couldn't buy them at a cool $1.2M. I'ma have to sell a lot of books to afford those. hehehehe!
So... Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Seriously?
Hi Arlene,
Thanks so much for visiting me at The Book Boost. You won the print copy of Surfacing!
Just let me know your snail mail address and I'll pop it in the mail to you.
Hope you enjoy it,
Cate
Sweet. I'm reading Going with Gravity, so hadnt picked up the mermaid one yet, and now I feel like I won the lottery.
Writer's Wednesdays
http://www.vividumas.com/
Viv