Be sure to post today for a second chance to win yesterday’s prize! I’ll announce the winner tomorrow!

I was supposed to have a guest blogger here today, but she forgot to mail me stuff. So here I am—wondering what I should do with today’s posting. I could talk about the pool, talk about my dogs, my new dragons, slap another excerpt up here, but I do like to change things up a bit so that you (AND I) don’t get terribly bored.

While I was in Canada, Sasha and I hit a bookstore. I know, so cliché, right? Anyway, we were looking at those mini-books in the racks at the front. You know the ones that are usually dedicated to Mom, to Irish limericks, to living the bountiful life.

Well, I found a couple of little books that I think I can have fun with here if I use them as topics to start a conversation. The one I’m looking at this morning is The Woman’s Book of Simple Delights. It has suggestions like:

* Wear your absolute greatest pair of shoes even if they are out of season
OR
* Dress up and try on expensive jewelry at Tiffany’s

I thought we might have some fun sharing some of our own Simple Delights. So here go a couple of my special things I like to do:

* I don’t dress up, but I go to my local jewelers. They know me by name now. I like to try on everything in the store, and usually have at least one nice item on lay-away.
OR
* I go for a morning swim when the air is cooler than the temperature of the pool. Very refreshing and sensual. The perfect way to start my day.

So how about you? What are your simple pleasures. Hmmm…if we came up with enough, we could write our own little miniature book of Simple Delights!

Before I got on the plane to Canada, I added music to my iPod. Sasha and I have very different tastes in music, except for songs she calls “Cock Rock”—music to you-know-what by. And I knew I’d want something of my own to plug in because we’d be stuck in a car for hours and hours and there’s only so much Nickelback I stand. 🙂

My last minute adds were:
Indestructible by Disturbed
Hard to See by Five Finger Death Punch
I Stand Alone by Godsmack
Be OK by Ingrid Michaelson (sometimes I just need a bubbly voice)

During our first day’s drive, Sasha stuck a CD in the player that she’d made from her iPod downloads of her latest “Cock Rock” adds. There were several I hadn’t heard before, and I loved them. They are of course completely inappropriate to play in public, but that’s why I dig them. So first time we stopped for the night, I had to add them too:

Addicted by Saving Abel
Use Me by Hinder
Satisfied by Social Code

And because iTunes recommended it on the same page, I tried Dead Memories by Slipknot and added it immediately. It’s my new favorite song.

What have you been listening to lately? Dont’ be ashamed to say Sinatra (I have him on vinyl) or Nickelback (I have two songs of theirs on my iPod that I can tolerate).

This posting is like three Sundays of reports because I’ve been gone so long.

What I accomplished while I was away:
* I completed True Heart, a western novella.
* I brainstormed a new project with a new writing partner.
* I completed copyedits for Four Sworn, which BTW, releases on September 7th!

Good news since the last report?
* I sold my anthology concept for Girls Who Bite to Cleis Press!
* A Long Howl Goodnight was accepted for publication by Ellora’s Cave!
* The Red Stilletos anthology released!
* I published Textile Free on Smashwords!

I’ve only got a little over a week left in the month and have to ramp up. This next week, I want to be four chapters into the next Lone Star Lovers book and be through chapter four of the Viking book (that book’s deadline is creeping up on me!). I also hope to finish chapter four of the next Cat Tails installement.

Be looking this week for pics from my trip to Canada and Kent, WA!

And one little note on the side, Un, Deux, Trois, Menage! is on Amazon now, but needs reviews! So if you’ve read it, please make sure you leave a comment!

I’m heading out on the road early today. I have my monthly Diamond State Romance Authors meeting, and sis (Elle James) is coming down from northern Arkansas for it. Can’t miss that!

While I’m away from my desk, I have a question for you to ponder…

Almost everyone can recall a missed photo opportunity because he/she didn’t have a camera. What moment above all others do you wish you could have caught on film?

I have pictures to share. Fun things to recount, but right now, all I want to do is decompress. Ever feel like that after a long trip?
Yesterday, Sasha dropped me at the airport at a quarter to ten. I had a flight to Denver, a two hour wait between flights, before the last leg to Little Rock. I get to Little Rock, anticipating crawling into a car with family and enjoying a long chat on the drive home, but I have messages on my cell phone.

Two semi-trucks collided on the freeway. A wrecker coming to help clear the vehicles off the freeway kissed a tanker truck. My daughter’s little hour and half drive is going to be more like four, and mom, you can’t ever go away for that long again!

Hmmm… Wonder what she’d say if I told her I was contemplating a month-long train trek across Europe. Might not want to spring that on her just yet.

So what exciting things have been happening in your lives while I was away? I want to catch up. Thanks so much to the authors who played on my blog while I was gone!

Until tomorrow! DD

Cougar, Cougar Burning Bright
By Mardi Ballou

Comment today and you may receive a download of your choice from my backlist!

As a woman of a certain age, I have to wonder where the term “cougar” came from. Of course I’m not thinking of the sleek jungle predator, but rather the woman who goes for younger men. Hmm, “sleek” doesn’t sound bad. “Jungle” is not the usual setting. “Predator”? Intriguing, but not always the case.

I know it wasn’t for me when I was single. I did “date” two significantly younger men—no, not at the same time. Remove your mind from that interesting gutter, please. I’m smiling as I write this—but I must admit, fun as it was to date those guys, I didn’t have the ego ever to relax about the age issue. Kudos to those who can. Are you a soaring cougar, or does it make you nervous to be with a much younger guy?

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

In “Long, Slow Ride”, a Quickie from Ellora’s Cave, 25-year old Jeff rescues 36-year old Lori from wallflower status at a wedding—and offers the ride of a lifetime. Hungry as Lori is for exactly what Jeff has to offer, she pushes him away until she almost loses him.

Gwen, the 40-year old heroine of “Soap Bloke,” a new Quickie coming from Ellora’s Cave Aug. 25, shares some of that age angst—though she’s in a solid relationship with Dirk, age 30. TV stars, they’re lovers both on and off the screen—in fact, they first got together when their characters fell in love. So when the producers write in a new love interest for the vampire character Dirk plays, Gwen is terrified she’ll lose him for real. Dirk loves Gwen, but he’s getting tired of the distrust…

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

An excerpt from Soap Bloke by Mardi Ballou, coming Aug. 25

Gwen always viewed sex as a barometer for how their relationship was going. Might be a tad simplistic, but it seemed accurate. If Dirk’s gusto in getting them to the bedroom was indicative, they were in great shape. She could allow herself to relax for the moment. Relax and enjoy him.

He carefully deposited her on their luxurious king-size bed. She slipped out of her clothes, lying in the sexy undies she’d changed into when they got home—guaranteed confidence builder. She lounged on the fine Italian sheets, savoring the silky touch on her skin as Dirk treated her to his bump-and-grind strip show—the sped-up version. No matter how many times she feasted her eyes on his outrageous body—buff with just the perfect amount of hair and muscles in all the right places—she never allowed herself to take him for granted.

Off with his T-shirt, off with his jeans. He stood before her clad only in black silk briefs that did nothing to conceal the erection she’d spent too little time with on the set. She swallowed hard and her pussy creamed in joyful anticipation. This big, hard dream lover was all hers, would be deep inside her in moments. Now there would be no intrusive director, no cameras tracking their every move…

He came over to the bed. “Would my lady care to remove what remains?”

She licked her lips and let her inner coquette come out. “On one condition.”

His cock bobbed in welcome, and she had to restrain herself from taking it in hand. He was so amazingly beautiful, so very tempting. How did she manage to refrain from touching him all the time? “Condition?” His voice sounded husky. “What condition would that be?”

“That you let me take them off with my teeth.”

He roared his assent. She sat at the edge of the bed and drew him to her, bracing herself by wrapping her legs around his, her arms around his slim hips. She clamped her teeth onto the waistband of his briefs, gained purchase and began to tug. In vain. After several moments it was clear this wasn’t going to work. With a grunt, Dirk stretched out on his side on the bed so she could continue her attempts to de-pant him on a more level playing field.

She gripped her teeth on the silk and pulled down. His skin was warm and his scent made her head swim. Maybe that was why she couldn’t move the briefs.

Hmm. Why had she thought this would work? After she’d tried several different times—once biting the firm flesh of his waist—Dirk groaned and gently pulled her away. “Baby, I know you didn’t eat much dinner, but you’re killing me.”
A laugh percolated up from her middle. “I guess hint number seventy-two from Keep It Lively, Ladies is a no-go,” she sputtered.

He pulled her to him and shook his head. “You want to keep it lively, do you?” With that he peeled off her bra with his fingers while he demonstrated the fine art of de-panting with his teeth.

“Where’d you learn to do that?” Gwen shivered in his arms.

“Vampire secret,” he muttered in his best Transylvanian accent before proceeding to apply his lips and teeth somewhere much more interesting than her panties…

My husband and I visited a prep school friend of his in San Diego in late July. I fell in love with the white buildings with red tile roofs, palm trees nodding overhead, the old church towers rising on hillsides. And of course the harbor – home to every type of vessel from sailing ships to Navy carriers. I watched surfers and dolphins playing in the waves, beach volleyball games and families on the beaches. Even got to watch my husband on a surfboard—briefly. He’s such a stud-muffin.

I was sure I’d love San Diego, from photos and descriptions. But I was nervous about staying in the beach house of a couple I’d never even met. Would they be glad to have me tagging along? Would I have anything in common with our host’s wife? Would we connect?

My fears were allayed when our host greeted us at the airport, with a big California smile and hug. His wife was just as charming and friendly. She directed us to our room, complete with private bath. And there on the bed were two fluffy white robes—embroidered with our initials!

I felt as if we were at a luxury spa resort. And the feeling lasted as we chatted our way through walks on the beach, tours of local attractions and quiet evenings around the pool. We talked about our children, laughed about the guys’ high school experiences on blind dates and compared notes on how we finally met the right people to truly fall in love, and marry. Mellowed by wine and sunsets, we shared deeper feelings.

On the plane home to the Pacific Northwest, I opened my little Acer to jot down notes and impressions of San Diego. I’ll surely want to set a story there. But I got to thinking. Reading a new author is like going to stay with strangers. You spend your hard-earned money for the trip and hope it will be a grand, positive experience.

I want my stories to be as welcoming to you as that Del Mar beach house was to me. I love reading books by my favorite authors. When they are my hosts, I know I’m guaranteed a certain kind of experience. I’ll be welcomed into their characters’ inner worlds, given a tour of the sights and brought along on a sexy, romantic adventure with thrills and even a few laughs along the way.

I hope when you begin one of my stories, you’ll look forward to the same welcome. And know that as hot and dangerous as the adventure may be, you’ll wind up safe in the arms of love … and happy ever after.

Best,
Cathryn Cade

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

Here’s an excerpt from my new ebook, Prince of Dragons. A shape-shifting prince travels the galaxy to find a virgin bride, but falls instead for a beautiful warrior famed for her seductiveness. He will fight beside her to protect the spaceship Orion from deadly saboteurs, but can he convince her that he is the one man for her?

… Unable to sleep, Sirena had just stepped out of the shower-dry and belted on her flame silk robe when she heard musical laughter out in the corridor. It sounded familiar.

“Holo-cam on,” she commanded. “Passageway.”

She stood stock still, rage burning inside her as she saw the image that sprang up. Two of the Aquarian princesses were just coming out of Slyde Stone’s room. One was patting her tousled hair, the other fastening her robe.

“Thank you, Commander.” One of them giggled. “That was lovely.”

“Yes,” the other added. “We hope you enjoyed it too.”

Sirena’s eyes narrowed dangerously. He was grinning like a fool, his uniform was unfastened halfway down his broad chest and his short hair was tousled, as if someone—or two someones—had been running their fingers through it.
“Thank you, ladies. My compliments on your treat. I’ll take care of cleaning everything up.”

Why, the sneaking, slithering bastard. He had lied to her so completely, so thoroughly. She had actually swallowed his tale of waiting in solitude for her.

She waited until the two had rustled away and then snapped open her hatchway.

Slyde looked over at her, still smiling a little, until he saw the look on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.
Read the rest of this entry »