I want to thank Delilah for having me on her blog today. It’s really an honor. Most people don’t want a reviewer on their blog much less having them talk about reviews.
Okay, right to it…a little background about myself. I live in East Texas, raised in Dallas, married with one son in 1st grade and I work an EDJ. I review for Night Owl Reviews, The Romance Studio and The Forbidden Bookshelf. I also have a review blog that I update semi-regularly. Why the information about me? To let you know, that I’m a real person, with a real life and real everyday issues. I’m not a god, a fairy, or an ogre. I bleed just like you do. Why the dramatics about me? I have some things that I want to talk to you about reviewing and what goes through my mind when I’m reading a book for review.
1. I get to pick the books that I review. Bet you didn’t know that? Well, I do and I choose books/authors/publishers that I normally don’t read or know much about. I pick books that are way out of my comfort zone. When I decided to review, I decided that I wouldn’t read books or authors that I was comfortable with. In the year that I began reviewing, I have found authors, genres and publishers that I seek out on a regular basis. I have been given books to review from authors for my blog and again, I follow the same guidelines if I was reviewing it for one of the sites that I review for.
2. When I review a book, I look for the following: plot (does it hold my interest?), characters (do I even like them?), flow (am I having to start and stop all the time?) and lastly, did the characters connect emotionally and was it believable?
3. When writing a review, I don’t give out spoilers, the ending, the conflict, nor do I give out plot points. I will however, talk about what I did like about the book and what I didn’t. I hate when book review blogs from individuals give you a dissertation on the book. I mean, why buy the book in the first place? The blog already told you everything that you needed to now and more. This is becoming more and more commonplace with so many people reviewing books on their blogs and it really pisses me off. I have books on my Nook that I bought that sadly, I’ll probably never read because of it. Grrr…
4. Also, if you get a bad review, just remember, its only ONE reviewer’s opinion. Some people are going to love your stuff and some won’t love it. Reviewing is subjective and therefore, should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, if the review is snarky and/or down right rude and mean, please, please let the review coordinator/owner know. That should not be tolerated at all. That does happen and it puts all reviewers in a bad light.
5. Lastly, why do I review? I review because I love to read. Period. Some reviewers crave the power they have over an author but for me that’s the wrong reason to review. I review for the simple pleasure of reading and then telling people why I liked it.
If you’re an author, tell me some of your experiences good or bad with reviewers. No names, please. If you’re a reader, what do you look for in a review? I’ve listed below links to where I review to check me out. I look forward to hearing from you.
It’s making the film festival circuit now, but when I can I get my hands on the DVD? And how timely! My story “Dr. Mullaley’s Cure” from Carnal Machines covered just this topic!
This will be Hell-Month for me. Only one trip at the end of the month, but tons of writing to get done! And I have FOUR RELEASES! Sheesh! Here’s what’s coming (click on the covers to read excerpts):
Girls Who Bite—September 13 (officially!)
For bad girls looking for love…fangs are more than an accessory.
These are no Twilight tales—the stories in Girls Who Bite are varied, unexpected, and soul-scorching. Bestselling romance writer Delilah Devlin and her contributors investigate vampire myths from around the world, and add fresh girl-on-girl blood to the pantheon of the paranormal.
Take a walk on the wild side with some of the hottest erotic romance authors out there. In “La Caída,” a Mexican “salt-eater” saves a fallen angel and redeems her own soul. In “Bloody Wicked,” a powerful witch’s spell to lure a lover turns her into a vampire’s love slave. Through a “Pet Door,” a shapeshifting vampire meets the dominatrix of her dreams. South African “Impundulu” sweeps you back into a vampire’s primeval beginnings. With a list of contributors that include Adele Dubois, Christine d’Abo, Paisley Smith, Myla Jackson, Shayla Kersten and Vivi Anna, Devlin delivers a dark and sexy read you can sink your teeth into!
So, sit astride the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica, sail with modern-day pirates, watch a meteor fall to earth, and taste the powdery wings of a Monarch butterfly. Not things you’d expect in a vampire tale? Then sip O-positive from a femoral artery while tugging at the silky strands of your lover’s hair. Eternally delicious.
A Four-Gone Conclusion—September 13
Sometimes a cowboy needs a little help—or three brothers—to snare a wife…
Sam Logan’s boys have a bad rep in Two Mule, Texas. Most of it earned. When it becomes clear his foster sons won’t settle down without a nudge from him, he issues his challenge. Find a wife…
The oldest, Johnny, already had his eye on Mean Ellie Harker. Sam’s challenge just gave him the gumption to ask her out. However, before he makes his move, the twins kidnap Ellie from under his nose. Now, he has to compete with three brothers for the woman he wants.
Ellie thought her prospects were drying up until Johnny Logan finally untangled his tongue and asked her out. When his brothers kidnap her and take her to the ranch, she’s furious…then intrigued by the thought of four men bent on showing her what being theirs would be like.
Warning: Four handsome cowboys. Four choices. Would it be a single sordid night or a chance at heaven as she savors every luscious inch of the Logan brothers?
Bitten in the Big Easy—September 21
Femme Noir, Book One
Butterfly by Paisley Smith
Vampire Narcissa Csintalan is in a New Orleans bar, waiting on her tardy sister Elena, when she develops a raging fang-on for the bar’s sinfully sexy, butch bass player. The bite marks on the songbird’s neck put her at the top of Cissy’s must-feed list.
Butterfly Baudelaire has sworn off strays, but the blonde coming on to her has a killer pair of fangs and looks like she knows how to use ’em. Butterfly’s not banking on the bite Cissy takes out of her heart—or the fact more than her well-spanked bottom is in danger from her vampire lover.
Gilded Cage by Delilah Devlin
Since her turning, Elena Csintalan has wrestled her inner demon on a nightly basis. She never expects her limits to be tested—until she finds herself drawn to a tawny woman whose lush curves make her eyeteeth spike. Before she knows it, she’s dangling inside an iron cage, one that’s frighteningly familiar. And the punishment she endures is oh so divine…
Despite a surprising empathy she feels for the vampire she’s captured, Cassia proceeds with her coven’s plan—drain Elena of her blood at the height of orgasm to complete a potion that will protect them from Elena’s maker. Cassia scried the darkness coming their way, and the monster has a name…the Countess Elizabeth Bathory.
B is for Bondage—end of September
This will be a print book and include 3 or 4 of the 1-800-Dom series books, including my story, Begging For It.
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Is that enough? It’s crazy.
This month, I hope to complete the first of a fun cop-menage series for Samhain. I’m almost there, actually, and sooo late my editor has to wonder whether I’m turning diva! Then it’s on to the sequel of True Heart for Samhain and the sequel to Bitten in the Big Easy for Ellora’s Cave. Plus, I have to wrap up editing Beastly Babes and The Cowboy for Cleis and write my forewords for both books as well as shorts to include in the anthologies. Breathe!
Can you tell I’m a little frazzled? I’ll need some encouragement (um, nags and spankings) to keep working. Do not be gentle! ~DD
I was thinking of inspiration. As an author ideas come from a variety of things. Anything can spark an idea that can be put into a novel. Let me share with you the inner working of what is behind two ideas I came up with for books I am working on that are both part of the same series.
Idea Spark 1- Candy Craving
One day I had this huge craving. A strong craving for candy. I’m not a big candy eater. I can go years without eating any. Also I’m not into chocolate. Shocking. I do eat chocolate ever so often but when I crave it is for something else. I know you chocoholics out there are wondering what candy I am craving if not the all-wonderful chocolate.
Okay I will admit it. I am a caramelolic. Yes caramel is one of my fav candy. That nice sweet caramel is calling me. It is a siren call that I have been resisting but I am longing. Badly. Of course because of how much I am craving I have an idea come to me. A candy idea. An idea of someone who makes sweets for a candy shop and what happens when their craving takes on the sweetest temptation. LOL.
My craving morphed into a story idea.
Idea Spark 2 – Fro Affair
Sometime last year I was on my way home when I passed this woman who was sporting a slamming Afro hairstyle. The woman’s fro was big, high and poufy. I think it was a wig but it was so good I couldn’t tell. She was also sporting the clothing to go with the fro. She looked fierce. People were turning and looking at her. Me included. People were complimenting her on her look. Like any good diva she said thank you graciously and kept strutting. As I watched the woman stepping looking cool and fierce my mind was racing.
That day as I walked home I thought of the Fro. The idea took shape for a book with a woman in a fierce fro and clothes to match.
A fro brought so much more than viewing pleasure. It brought an inspiration.
Making the ideas into a story
The two ideas I had I worked into a series I am working on. In book two of my series there is a candy shop that the hero and heroine of the book frequent. They both have a sweet tooth. The candy shop owner will eventually have his own story and get to fulfill the idea spark I had from craving candy.
In the series I will use the fro idea for a supper club where the main characters go to. The owner of the super club will be getting her own book. I will be writing in a sixties theme night using my afro idea spark. 🙂
Inspirations for ideas are all around. Taking something that happens in the everyday life then using it create a concept is a fun thing to do. The unexpected can lead to so much more. Any little thing can give you an idea spark, which will be your concept for the next book.
Hmmm….now, I’m having a candy craving. Off to get some caramel my favorite candy to fill my craving. Yummy.
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Taige Crenshaw is a multi-published author with books available at Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Liquid Silver Books, Loose Id, and Total-E-Bound. Taige has been enthralled with the written word from time she picked up her first book. It wasn’t long before she started to make up her own tales of romance. With novels set in today, in alternate dimensions, or in the future she writes with adventure, fun sassy heroine’s, and sexy hero’s. Always hard at work creating new and exciting places Taige can be found curled up with a hot novel with exciting characters when she is not creating her own. Join her in the fun, frolic, interesting people and far reaches of the world in her novels. You can find out more about Taige at her website: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com or blog: http://www.taigecrenshaw.com/blog.
Power of Instinct—A woman does whatever is necessary to protect the man who is hers but once he finds out he goes with his instincts and makes her his.
You voted! I have the prerogative to change up the contest prize list a little, but I don’t think you’ll mind!
What can you win?
* An autographed book, your choice, so long as I have it in stock. And I do have copies of most of my print books.
* A pretty Bored Fairy with a Mask journal. I purchased this from my favorite curio shop, Christi’s Gifts & Consignment (870-230-1877).
What do you have to do?
Post comments on my blog or my Facebook page. Every comment you make over the next two weeks will count as one entry. Could I make it any easier?
Psst! Be sure to enter your vote in the poll at the bottom of this post!
I’m back from the land of cowboys! I still have to unpack, wash laundry, download pics and catch up on email, but I’m not going anywhere for a while! Thanks to all my wonderful guests who kept this blog hoppin’ with fun excerpts, contests and snippets of their wisdom.
I have a contest winner to announce today. I’ll do so at the bottom of this post, but just a reminder to you all— Be sure to check tomorrow’s post for the new contest details I’ll post. And if you don’t have a long attention span, I have a one-day-only giveaway happenin’ on the Girls Who Bite website. Be sure to jump over there AFTER you’ve read through the rest of this post!
September will be an extremely busy month for me. I have books coming! Girls Who Bite and A Four-Gone Conclusion. Amazon’s already shipping GWB—so you can order it today! A Four-Gone Conclusion is available for pre-order. Just click on the covers to place your orders.
I also have a story coming from Ellora’s Cave, a vamp story set in New Orleans that’s one part of a two-person anthology with Paisley Smith. I’ll have more details to share later. But Bitten in the Big Easy is the start to a very hot new series!
There will be tons of shiny new excerpts, prizes, etc., because you know I can’t talk about new stories without wanting to make a party of it!
In the meantime, my Little Lizard Boy has found a new master. The winner is…June M! June, congrats, and send me an email with your snail mail address!
So finally, here’s the poll. Place your vote for what you might like to win. This is your contest and I aim to please. It’s in my DNA to please. Ahem.
What would you like to see offered as a contest prize for the next round?
A signed and autographed book, reader's choice? (38%, 10 Votes)
A grab-bag of things from Memphis, including Elvis memorabilia? (27%, 7 Votes)
A pretty fairy journal? (27%, 7 Votes)
A fairy ornament to hang on a holiday tree? (8%, 2 Votes)
I’m thrilled to be a part of Delilah’s Blog. I’ve been a long-time admirer, but I have to admit I had a bit of brain fart about what to talk about. I’m usually quite chatty with people I know and with new people I’m a little bit quiet … unless you get a couple drinks in me.
Most people at RWA in 2008 can attest to this. Can anyone else say they’ve walked through the hotel barefoot, dressed to the nines and carrying an armful of vibrators? *Ahem* I thought not.
Well, that year was my first convention and I thought I’d talk about some firsts.
This year I had a lot of firsts in my writing career this year.
I had my first urban fantasy, Incarnate (written under a new name), release from Samhain Publishing. It was also my first with that publisher.
I wrote my first inter-racial for Ellora’s Cave titled Male Order.
I also wrote my first ever ménage with a male/male scene, which is my third gladiator book, Gladiator’s Seduction coming soon from Ellora’s Cave.
It’s been a lot of year of firsts and a few more, but I can’t divulge any of that information…yet. I know I’m a tease.
One first I can divulge, the one I’m looking forward the most, is my first Romanticon! Woot!
I am super excited to be heading to Ohio (also my first time there) for Romanticon.
I’m super stoked about it. I’m going down with a couple author friends and I’m going to be kicking it with all my favorite peeps, writers and readers alike—also the Cavemen. Can’t forget the Cavemen.
I have been so excited about this trip because I get to meet some more awesome staff at EC. I’ve met Val, Jeannie and Raelene already, but I haven’t met my editor, so I’m stoked about that. Also because when I go to the States and say I write for Ellora’s Cave people actually know the publisher, more than they do up here in Canada. So for me that’s an absolute thrill.
Ellora’s Cave is also my first publisher. They took a chance on me back in 2007 and made my dream come true and I’ve had a lot of firsts with them. First publisher, first editor, first book, first royalty cheque, first book signing, and first book signing at a Sex Show. Yeah, I did say that.
And believe me that sex show was a real eye-opener! It was the first time I signed books for Klingons.
Yes, honest to God Klingons and they were surprisingly delightful.
Okay, so maybe not real Klingons, but they let me sign their books in their human names and tried to recruit me to join the Klingon side. I told them I was strictly Federation.
Anyways, I am super excited to be attending my first Romanticon and to be visiting the Akron area for the first time.
Last week also I had my first bad panic dream about Romanticon. I was there and I brought nothing and I was super MAD.
I have an amazing dress for the Prehistoric night with matching shoes (I’m quite excited about it) and I have an amazing Steampunk outfit for the Futuristic night. I even made my own fascinator for it, but in my dream I forgot it all.
So I’ve started to make my first lists, so I don’t forget anything. I’m pretty anal about that.
The nightmare won’t be my last of the panic Romanticon dreams.
As you can see I’ve had a lot of firsts this year. Granted nothing exciting as the first time (though one of my heroines is going through that right now with a very hunky hero in my current WIP) or first kiss (which I always LOVE to write), but still a lot of fun stuff to look forward to.
So do you have any memorable firsts? If so I’d love to hear from you.
Amy Ruttan started writing at a very young age. Life and responsibility got in the way and writing was put on hold. It wasn’t until the birth of her second child and spending countless hours in a NICU she realized that life is precious and it shouldn’t be wasted.
Now years later–and a healthy baby later–Amy has realized her dreams. She was first published in 2007 and she hasn’t looked back.
I was thinking of inspiration. As an author ideas come from a variety of things. Anything can spark an idea that can be put into a novel. Let me share with you the inner working of what is behind two ideas I came up with for books I am working on that are both part of the same series.
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