I admit it, when I said I’d guest blog for Delilah I thought, “Cool, I can pimp Meandros.” I do have some stuff to say about that story, but I’m not really in the mood for straight book pimping. I have so many other things I want to say, so this is gonna be a bit of a mish-mash post, but there will be a point, so go for it, you might enjoy the way I ramble. *grin*

Meandros was the first story I ever wrote where the character actually took over the story and ran away on me. To a certain extent all my characters do that, as I’m not a real big plotter. I tend to start with a wish and dream and ride the wave as I go. And yes, I’ve tried to get Delilah to teach me how to plot, but whenever we start to do so, I get a panic attack. Seriously, at one point I was almost in tears because I just don’t get it. Ask Delilah, she’ll tell you. Sasha can’t plot.

With Meandros it was a freaky thing though. You see, I’d set out to write a Hot Holiday story with a couple honeymooning in Greece. And it started that way, on the plane, a little steamy action happening, until the end of that first scene when my character (I was writing in first person POV) shocked the shit out of me with one sentence. Want to see it? Check this out…

With that comment, he’d edged out of the tiny stall and left me to readjust my clothes. I savored the knowledge he was just as dirty as I was. He was my perfect other half. I gloried in the knowledge that, with him, I’d found the kind of love I’d given up on ever finding—bone deep and unconditional.

The kind of love that made it unbearable to contemplate what life had to offer me now that he was gone.

Gone? What did she mean gone?!

It took me months of fighting with her, and getting nowhere, before I gave in and went with it. And honestly, I think to this day Meandros is one of my best works. It’s not really a romance, not really erotica. It’s full of emotion and sex, and hope and at times, joy. It’s special to me because of the story itself, but also because it taught me to trust my characters.

But I think I might’ve taken that trust a bit too far. Or maybe started to rely on it too much, because after doing that for several years I’ve been blocked with my writing for almost three years now. One of the things I did to try and break that block was to try doing things differently, hence Delilah trying to teach me how to plot. Yeah, that didn’t work either. LOL

Right now I’m taking a workshop on self-editing because I’ve always worried that my grammar sucks. I graduated from high school with good grades, and English was my top subject. ( I always thought it was because I could talk and wasn’t shy when giving reports.) However, maybe it’s so many years of being a waitress/bartender, I still sometimes get that self doubt about my lack of education. Especially since I became a writer. At first it didn’t bother me because when I started writing I just wrote, and submitted. I didn’t have a critique partner, or a community I belonged to. I didn’t have any friends that were writers. But as success came, and the friends came, and I grew to be part of a community, I slowly started to doubt myself. Not just my ability to tell a story, but my writing skills. And I think that doubt is what’s crippled me.

I have some great friends, like Delilah, who’ve told me I’m too talented to quit. I’ve had numerous reader emails asking when will my next book come out, and telling me how much they love my stuff. I’ve even had some great reviews from critical reviewers. Yet, the doubt still crept in. I’m not sure how it did, but it did. And that doubt talks louder than any praise.

Sad, isn’t it?

The good thing is, that because I recently signed up for that online editing course, I’ve become part of a new community. And something….karmic happened the other night.

One person posted about writers block.

Maybe it’s because I don’t know any of the people on that loop just yet, I don’t know, but I posted about my own struggle, and WOW. The response has been amazing. And helpful! It was in talking with these people that I realized that the problem at the core of my block has been fear. That little bit of doubt about my own skills has festered into something that actually stopped me from writing. I thought it was burnout, (and it was …partly) but after I recovered from the burnout, I still wasn’t writing.

I’m writing again. Not as much as I should, and I’m still struggling a bit. And I know I probably will for a while, but the most important thing I learned is that I’m not alone. Even when my closest friends couldn’t help me, I wasn’t alone. I think it’s super important that we understand that as solitary as this writing gig is, we’re only alone if we want to be. If we don’t want to be, all we have to do is reach out, and someone will reach back.

The point is, that we’re never alone, and we all have fears. The key to success is to not let your fears keep you from doing whatever it is you want to do. I’m not going to.

“You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.”

~Mary Manin Morrissey

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Only once more, always once more.

Dancer Tammi Johnson thought she knew everything about her body–until she was almost crippled in a car accident. She’d resigned herself to a life without joy until the sexy and dynamic Tom showed her that dancing wasn’t the only passion, or pleasure, she could experience. He taught her to live and love with her whole body–and her whole heart

But when tragedy strikes again, Tammi is devastated. Until she acknowledges that the only way to honor the love of her life is to celebrate what he taught her, and for Tom, she’d do anything once more.

The winner of Saturday’s drawing for a free download is at the bottom of this message! Also, I posted an excerpt from True Heart on the After Midnight Fantasies blog—so be sure to stop by and say hello!

I’m back from Mississippi! Thanks to the ladies who visited my blog while I was gone! The workshop was a lot of fun and everyone plotted stories I’m eager to read!

While I was gone, an old friend of mine from my days in Germany contacted me. We’d lost touch; something I always regretted. I haven’t made many really close friends outside of family over the years, but she was one I really missed. My head’s spinning with travel plans now. I have to get back to Germany to see her and her husband. Not sure it will be this year, but I don’t have any firm plans for the fall, so who knows!? She’s into cemetary photography. I’ll have to send her links of my cemetary pics. 🙂

Just to catch you up on what’s happening writing-wise… I finished a short for a Cleis anthology. Am hoping it’s accepted. If not, you’ll be reading it on this blog or Everything Erotic, no doubt. I’m still working on a cowboy threesome which I hope to publish with a couple of friends. I’ll likely have to finish it up on board the cruise ship.

Did I mention I’m leaving this week, Wednesday to be exact, for a writers’ conference aboard a Carnival ship? I fly to Miami on Wednesday and will board on Thursday. First stop is Key West, then on to Cozumel. I have a new digital camera, a Canon Rebel Eos, so I’ll break it in on that trip. Hopefully, I’ll have it figured out by then. So not a lot of writing planned before I leave. I need a pedicure today. Hair tomorrow. Have to dig my passport out of my file cabinet.

Thanks to everyone who sent me messages regarding True Heart and Ravished by a Viking. I LOVE that you’re loving both. True was #1 on the MBaM site until today. Remember, that if you read them, it would be much appreciated if you tagged or starred or reviewed them. Tell a friend you enjoyed them. Every sale means a lot. Means I may be able to write more in the series.

Winding down now, I have to get changed to hit Tony’s Nails before it gets packed. The winner of the free download of any of my Samhain or Ellora’s Cave backlisted books is…Nicole! Nicole, email me with your choice of story!

Until tomorrow…

Why, Yes. Yes, I Can

by Katriena Knights

I’ve seen some things on blogs and elsewhere recently that seem to represent a disturbing trend. At least they disturbed me. Maybe I’m easily disturbed. But I’ve had my medication today, and I don’t know any better than to keep my mouth shut, so I’m going to address the idea here.

Here’s the idea: You can’t make a living writing.

Here’s my idea: You can’t make a living writing if you spend most of your time telling yourself and everybody else that you can’t make a living writing.

I spent a chunk of my summer in an online workshop with Christine Kane, who is a life coach, successful entrepreneur and massively awesome musician. What we all learned in this workshop was that if we maintain the idea that our dreams can carry us wherever we want to, they will. In a big way. Over the past couple of years, I’ve seen this happening with my own career. Not all at once, mind you, but in increments and phases and with opportunities that came out of nowhere and smacked me in the head. Heck, a few of them damn near knocked me unconscious. (As my mother says, God is never subtle with you, is she?)

I do not have an agent. I do not have a contract with a major New York publisher. Okay, I got a few novellas optioned with secondary rights over to Pocket, but that’s not the same thing as an ongoing deal with Pocket. It’s one of those bits and pieces, though, that make up part of my ongoing puzzle. What I do have is a collection of publishers I work with regularly for fiction writing, a selection of clients for whom I write non-fiction pieces, and a stubborn streak about nine million miles wide. I also edit, which I originally never dreamed I’d do, but which has turned out to be a rewarding venture that allows me to help other writers and also goes a long way toward improving my own writing.

I also don’t have a day job. It took me a few years to get here, but I’m doing it. If I can, so can you. So keep those positive thoughts moving, say “thank you” to whatever power you believe in, or to the universe in general, for every step forward and every opportunity, and keep going. Because you can make a living writing, or singing, or walking dogs, or making art out of paper clips. But not if you keep telling yourself you can’t.

*****************

Katriena Knights is the author of several paranormal and contemporary romance novels. She also writes erotic romance as Elizabeth Jewell. Her latest release is The Regan Factor, previously published under her Elizabeth Jewell pseudonym at Ellora’s Cave, now self-published at various outlets including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Her next release arrives in March from Noble Romance. It’s a fantasy romance called Ring of Darkness.

Information on her books can be found at http://katrienaknights.com, and she blogs at http://katrienaknights.blogspot.com. She can also be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/crazywritinfool

I promised a contest! Be sure to leave a comment today, and you’ll be entered to win a free download of ANY of my Samhain or Ellora’s Cave ebooks! In the meantime, enjoy the excerpt. I had an amazing time writing Ravished by a Viking and it’s sequel (coming this Fall), Enslaved by a Viking. I hope you enjoy the excerpt, even though some of the aspects may feel unfamiliar because you haven’t been deep into the story and learned about the rich world I built. ~DD

“Clash of cultures, clash of myths, clash of powerful personalities…how many authors can bring out on paper the excitement and more-than-willing suspension of disbelief that old fashioned adventure stories once brought us?…a wonderful, action-packed, emotional roller-coaster of a read.”
Alien Places on RAVISHED BY A VIKING

What a Viking wants, a Viking takes.

When his younger brother goes missing, Dagr, Viking warrior and Lord of the Wolfskin Clan, will do whatever it takes to get him back. But nothing could have prepared him for Honora—a feisty, intelligent woman who is nothing like the women of his world—women who are content to serve their men in all things. Drawn to her despite her recalcitrant nature, Dagr is determined to show her who’s boss both in bed and out.

When the two enemies-turned-lovers join forces to find Dagr’s brother they are thrown into a rousing adventure full of danger, intrigue and erotic abandon. Can their passion truly unite them or will their different worlds lead to destruction for them both?

Just as his skiff crunched against the rough edge of the beach, Dagr jumped to the ground, then spun to see how the battle fared. What there was left of a battle, anyway. The action was mostly a retreat—an ignominious run for safety. He counted heads quickly, assuring himself that every one of the men who had accompanied him had made it.

Frakki ran to his side. “Shall we save the bastards?” he said, disgust flavoring his tone. He nodded toward the Consortium soldiers doomed to die if the Vikings didn’t mount a concerted rescue.

Odvarr loped toward him, his chest heaving, his face creased with worry. “Dagr, your woman!” he shouted, pointing toward the open waters.

A woman was on the ice! Dagr turned in time to see a slender figure pitch over the side of a skiff and slide on her belly perilously close to the edge. He didn’t bother asking what Honora was doing there, or, more precisely, what she was doing on the frozen water. He broke into a run, heading for the closest boat, Frakki on his heels.

They both swung up, Frakki taking the steering ropes, and Dagr balanced on his feet at the raised nose of the small craft. He cupped his hands around his mouth. “Stay still, Honora,” he shouted, although the wind, the hollow roars of the beasts, and the screams from the remaining soldiers drowned out his voice.

He ignored the slashes of laser light that pounded the ice around him, dared the soldiers sure to die a gruesome death to kill him because he wasn’t turning back. If the goddess Hel herself reached up from her frozen kingdom to drag him down, he’d fight her.

“Dagr . . .” Frakki said quietly, dread in his voice.

“I know.”

Beneath them, a dozen sea serpents, blue, green, and orange, swam, tracking them like prey, spiraling, shooting away for a few feet, then circling in closer.
Read the rest of this entry »

HOUSE OF SIN is finally out!

My very first Samhain release is finally out. This story took a long time for me to finish. I wrote up until almost the end and then was sidetracked onto another proposal. When I came back to House of Sin I fell in love with it all over again.

This story is not only my first Samhain release but it is also my very first attempt at writing a story set in the Victorian period. I had to do a bit of research not only on the clothing and social aspects, but also on servants during this time period. I love to research and the Victorian period is so fascinating and filled with contradictions.

Here is the blurb:
Her most important duty—serve the master’s pleasure.

Emily’s dreams are simple: a life of dedicated service at a respectable estate, and a strong marriage filled with love and devotion for one man. Portage Place, the manor where her parents apprenticed, seems the perfect place to start. Though it is whispered that all is not as it seems behind its grand façade.

The rumors, it turns out, ring with truth. The halls are saturated with sensuality, desire and lust. Despite the scandalous duties she is asked to perform, she is determined not to stumble on what could be her first step toward her dreams. Dreams that, lately, have included the manor’s fiery haired groomsman.

A promise to watch over his younger half-brother brought Adam to Portage Place. For the first time in five years of enjoying the delights of the manor’s unbridled debauchery, Emily’s innocence touches the protector that still lives deep in his core. This house of sin may have ruined him, but he will see to it that it doesn’t ruin her.

It seems, however, that behind every door lurks a conspiracy to bind Emily in velvet chains of desire. Until the only way out is for Adam to take the biggest risk of all…

You can read a bit of the opening scene here: Read an Excerpt

You can purchase House Of Sin at Samhain, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Hope you enjoy!

Lacy

I’ll be heading out of town tomorrow for a plotting bootcamp in Jackson, Mississippi. I have fun stuff lined up for you while I’m gone and some great guests! And I started today because I have a million things to do before I leave. Take a look at the line-up—then be sure to drop by and play with my guests. On Saturday, I’ll be running a little contest for a free book, so be sure to post for your chance to win! ~DD

Friday: Lacy Danes
Saturday Snippet & contest
Sunday: Katriena Knights

The Accidental Series

By Teresa Noelle Roberts

This week, Phaze released my latest erotic fantasy/paranormal romance, Threshing the Grain: Seasons of Sorania Cycle 3.

Only if you look on my author page at Phaze, you won’t see covers that say Seasons of Sorania Cycle 1 and 2. The books are there, all right. Lady Sun Has Risen is Book 1 of the series and Rain at Midsummer is Book 2. If you read the blurbs, you’ll see the series mentioned. But I didn’t set out with the intention to write a series when I stared Lady Sun Has Risen.

It was supposed to be a one-off, a story written for a particular call that was a homage to Conan the Barbarian and other stories with slightly barbaric alpha heroes and semi-captured heroines. When I ran it by my critique partner, though, she said my world seemed too generic. She knew I’d been reading a lot about Arabic-ruled Spain in the Middle Ages and suggested I incorporate some elements of that rich setting. But that seemed too grounded in a specific monotheistic culture—and it was important to this story that the setting be a pagan one with multiple deities. So I stole some elements from the late Roman Empire and some from pre-Islamic Persia, added a lot of imagination—and being me, a healthy dollop of sex magic—and Sorania was born. In the process, my heroine ended up less ditzy, with real strengths of her own, even if she’s out of her depth, and my hero ended up less barbaric and more complex. Oh, and they both ended up kinky.

(Mind you, I missed the call deadline while doing the rewrites, but I ended up with a far better story.)

It seemed natural to return to this setting and elaborate on it for Rain at Midsummer. I’d mentioned that the mother of the Lady Sun hero was an escaped slave from a neighboring country. Her story deserved telling, and thus Rain at Midsummer was born.

Unfortunately I came up with the series title after I turned in Rain at Midsummer and approved the cover. Oops! Maybe someday they’ll be reissued with new covers.

But once I came up with the series title, it was obvious that the next book would involve the Harvest Festival and that it would be a much darker book. In the ancient world, harvest festivals were a time of rejoicing, but often had elements of mourning for the vegetation god, cut down so humans might live—and in the very ancient world, the sacrifice made in the god’s honor might not have been a barnyard animal, but a young man. Fall pagan holidays also call to mind Samhain, Halloween, Day of the Dead. Threshing the Grain plays on these elements of horror and pits the hero and heroine of Lady Sun has Risen, Adimir and Miryea, against a demonic threat that demands Adimir sacrifice his life in exchange for his people’s safety and prosperity.

Adimir’s a nobleman, and in the remote province where he was raised, that means he has magical bonds enforcing his responsibility to the land and the people who live on it. In his worldview, sacrificing himself to a demon to save others might be his destiny. Miryea is city-raised, the child of a university-educated doctor and studying medicine herself. Although the events in Lady Sun awakened her own magic, she takes the “modern” (roughly 5th century AD) view that the gods let you shape your own fate—and she’s determined to save her husband by any means necessary.

Even means that might undermine the very foundations of their marriage.

Did I mention there are mysterious, sexy satyrs? And kinky sex, of both male-dom and fem-domme varieties? And both blood magic and sex magic?
Read the rest of this entry »

They’re Doing It Everywhere!

by Myla Jackson

Okay, so other authors, even my sister Delilah Devlin, are doing it. They’re doing it on their blogs, in their newsletters, on Smashwords, in the closet, under the bed… Oops, I digress. My mind hits the gutter way too easily when I’m anywhere near Delilah. Ah the joy of the older sister rubbing off on me.

And what, might you ask, are they doing?

Free Reads!

Good grief. Who wants free reads? Don’t we all want to read books we paid for—spent our hard-earned dollars on to seek a few minutes of escapism? Spew…choke…snort!

Free Reads? Who wants ’em?

We do! We do!

I see your hands up, and finally I’m convinced. So where do I start? What makes a good free read? What does the audience want from a Myla Jackson story? I have to say, I’m stumped and in need of a little help.

Should I write a western with sexy cowboys and strong women, willing to hog-tie their men if that’s what it takes? Or should I craft a contemporary comedy sure to tickle a funny bone here and there. Or maybe a dark paranormal story with shady shifters, vicious vampires or ravenous beasts of all shapes and sizes?

The selections are endless, the time is limited and I’m still on the fence about what to write. It’s not for lack of an idea, it’s drinking from the fire hose of ideas. Sigh…

Such is the nature of the writer’s life. So many stories, so little time. So help me please… Help me by choosing a premise that pleases you, a genre that gets you going, characters that you can’t let go. Step on over to my web of intrigue (my website and my blog ) and let me know your choice of suggestions and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a $20 gift card from Amazon.com. Then join my newsletter to read the installments of the free read you’re going to help me build…

And check out my newest western ménage in the Bound and Tied Series: Duty Bound. Also check out the other contests I have going for a chance to win more gift cards and free books!