A Bloody Mary Mixer at JAPM

Join us... we want to hear from our fans, fellow authors and just about anyone...Bloody Mary Mixer...special guest moderator Sapphire Phelan for the day along with KA M'Lady and I.  Look for some fabulous legends, creature feature specials and all kinds of interesting excerpts from our fabulous authors. 

We look forward to having you there, so put us down for your Halloween Day haunting spots.

Thank you to Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle

Thank you to the fabulous Brenda Woody and Steve Tindle for the Liebster Award...

Brenda and Steve can be found at:  http://www.brendawoodystevetindle.yolasite.com/ We blend our stories with the male and female perspective. "Best Lover in Town" is our first novella which was re-released July 2011 and "Temptations Triggers" is our second book, a collection of erotic short stories published by Charles River Press. We have twelve other books and several short stories in the works. However, we are currently focused on our novella, "Triangle of Secrets due to be released fall 2011. Read our author bio and surf the other websites where we promote on the "About us" and "Contact us" pages. I am excited to be a part of this... My five choices are: Kayden McLeod: http://kaydenmcleod.blogspot.com/?zx=b08c62e3b2deafeb Cindy Jacks: http://cindyjacks.blogspot.com/?zx=9db6d2e04852c70c Trent Kinsey: http://trent-kinsey.blogspot.com/ T.D. Jones: http://writingonthego.blogspot.com/ Audrina Leone: http://theblogginamamma.blogspot.com

The Allure of Fairytales and Vampires

How`s that for a combination totally at odds? Does anyone know of a vampire fairytale? I've actually been thinking of creating a romantic fairytale where the Prince Charming is in fact a vampire. We've come to a place where these once reviled characters/entities have become the new princes we long for, so why not? Would anyone be interested in a story like that?

At the moment, like the lovely Brigit, I'm world building and creating something along the lines of my first major fantasy novel, which means research, reading and a very lengthy outline and plot. So far, I am loving what I'm creating and I hope you will too once it's underway and I can share some scenes and excerpts.

A couple of my most successful titles recently have been based on fairytales. One is a best-seller called Glass Slippers and Jewelled Masques, which is obviously Cinderella, and the second one is called Favola, which literally means "fairytale" in Italian - and yes, it's based on an Italian fairytale called Bella Venezia. Because that one isn't so well known here in North America, the publisher allowed me to include a synopsis of the story with the actual book.

Now, the world building is a much more complicated approach, for many reasons. It's always a challenge when you have to build from the ground up, because retelling fairytales comes with a built-in outline, doesn’t it. The new book is going to involve a race of vampires who share our world, but are apart from it, too. In this instance, I have to build two believable concepts, and they have to marry well, or it's a mess! Just like real-life in that respect, isn't it? *lol*

So, I'm curious, do you prefer a totally new tale, something based on old ones, or the combination of both? Since Brigit has graciously allowed me to take over her space today, how about if we have a little giveaway for her readers? Leave a comment and on Friday noon we'll pull a name and you can have whichever one of these two fairytales appeals most to you. Thanks for joining us and we'll keep you posted on the new world!! You can stop by any of my sites and stay in touch or just catch up. My links are listed below. Warning, the main website is undergoing reconstruction, so it's not totally up to date at the moment!

Ciao for now, and I'll be popping in and out to answer any questions you might have. Also, my blog HAS had its facelift, so if you haven't been by for a while, it's worth a look!

WEBSITE: http://www.denysebridger.com
BLOG: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com
Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/denysebridger
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/denysebridger
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denyse.bridger
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Romance.and.Fantasy
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003LUHE96

GLASS SLIPPERS AND JEWELED MASQUES

Available NOW from New Dawning International Book Fair

BUY it HERE: http://www.newdawningbookfair.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=4&flypage=flypage.tpl.master&product_id=71&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=186&vmcchk=1

Our Price: $2.99

About the book:

Cindi Lancourte is the illegitimate daughter of a powerful businessman and a lovely woman who worked for him. Acknowledged when his wife died, she was quickly relegated to the role of servant by his new wife and step-daughters, but an invitation to a Masquerade gives this Cinderella a new shot at happiness with a handsome Prince Charming.

FAVOLA: Re-telling a fairytale for an adult audience:

Available now: http://xoxopublishing.com/shop-online/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=101

Genre: EROTIC romance/fairytale

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xPiAM-ELis

Blurb:

In the town of Favola, a prince and a lovely girl imprisoned by her mother's jealousy find passion and love... but will it be enough to outsmart the machinations and fury that their devotion inspires in the beautiful Bella Venezia? An Italian fairytale is re-told for an adult audience....

World Building...

I have a new idea floating around in my head.  This one more complex then many others I have had.  Don't get me wrong, creating any story or series is difficult, and requires some world building. However, there are some that are more complex then others.  Where the back story is as important as what is currently going on, or the way the city or home is set up is imperative to getting your point across.

Anyways... I have a new idea, a complex one, with twists and turns and...*sigh* world building. I have witches, Gods, mixed races like Vampire/Demon/Warlock and there is something else niggling in the back of my mind that hasn't fully come forward yet.  The problem is, complex world building, like this, well it isn't something I have done a lot of.

Yeah I have Torrent's Talents.  But the world building there wasn't complex.  I created a town, made a bakery and then, outside of each story's individual needs set the scene the same way each time (yes I am aware of this).  And yes in Justice for Leanne I created a bit more complex world with the idea of Lesser and Higher Gods, and the portal and realm of Hell.  However, Book 2 will be in the same world, no need to move it and in fact I can't.

This however, this is so much more.  It is about the color of their hair, their eyes, the direction the house faces to the sun, the abilities they each have and how they help each other.  The back story of how their mother couldn't raise them both so they went to two very different homes and how that background helps them. *sighing again* So much to make sure is perfect before I delve into the story.

This is all Denyse Bridger's fault.  Well not the story, but the world building.  She is working on an amazing new world and she said... "I'm going to create a solid outline firths, then works from there." That is how her best work is done.  I thought, "wow, I wonder if I do that if it will make it a better story (or two)." Sure enough I got out the yellow pad and a pen and started building and am still building.  Yet I can already see how the stories will be better.  So my hat off to my bestest buddy Denyse Bridger who has yet to steer me wrong even when she doesn't know she is steering me.

Weddings, Romance and Dress Hems?

White tulle, flowers everywhere, rose petals down the aisle, men in tuxes, music playing... the magic of seeing the bride come down the aisle smile on her face as she sees the one she loves waiting there for her.  The groom's wide eyed grin as he spies her for the first time, looking like his dream and coming towards him to be his for all time.

Yep, the dream.  The Wedding.  The moment when it becomes a reality rather then just the thought that was somewhere in the future.  The end result of the smiles, shy kisses and hand holding that has led to this very moment, this time when two become one.

Wait...hold it...is that a stress line on the bride's face?  And why don't the flower girl's flower match? And *gasp* is the hemline of the bride's maids dress shorter than everyone else's?  What on earth?  Is this perfect moment ruined?

Of course not, but it does serve to remind us that while it is all fun in the world of romance writing, it isn't as easy as it looks to get to that point. There are choices to be made from where to hold the service to what color flowers to what food to serve to what colors to use to who shall sit where and by whom.  Oh and let's not forget about who do we really invite.

Hemlines become the least of the concerns.  So when I asked my friend, who's wedding I'm in at the end of August, what length she wanted me to hem the skirt too (as I live in the States and she lives in Canada) and she said floor lengthish I had to laugh.  First off, the original plan was to wear heeled boots with the dresses so I have a brand new pair of gorgeous heeled boots, however if the dress is to the floor it won't matter what I wear cause well no one will see.  So then I figured take the boots wear them out and wear comfy shoes under the dress.  But now, she says *ish... well if that is the case then I could hem up a bit and people would see the boots, but I don't want to hem too far up cause well she said *ish.

Dilemma... see... so now I am off to figure out how long floor lengthish is and whether to wear my comfy shoes or my new boots...

Now don't get me wrong. I am so excited to see her and she is going to make the most beautiful bride ever and the wedding is going to be super romantic.  This is a romance for the ages for sure, it has taken a bit to get to the wedding, as they all do, but they never lost faith, hope or love for each other and it has been an amazing ride.  Hem lengths and family invites aside, this will be a romance talked about for years to come.

Hello!!!!

Hello faithful followers.  I am so sorry that I haven’t been here before now but oh what a wild wonderful whirlwind life has been lately.

So two new books out:

Kraig’s Kat, Book 3 in the Torrent’s Talents Series is out with XOXO Publishing https://www.xoxopublishing.com/shoponline/index.phpmain_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=147&zenid=7ec2631315936f8f06f9d6ef533a36d7

Justice for Leanne, the first of a two part set, is out with Solstice at Night http://www.solsticeatnight.com/products/Justice-for-Leanne%252d%252dPDF-EBOOK.html

They are two very different and yet fun, sexy paranormal stories written by yours truly.

I am also finishing a fun flirty book and am hoping to get the second book of the set, titled right now Hope’s Heart, finished up before summer is over. 

As I find myself writing I have to wonder why I don’t more often.  And I can clearly say I don’t know.  I know that I don’t write as many books as others or have as much time to write, as I don’t do this for a full time job just yet, but I also know that is just an excuse.

I am making myself and you guys some promises, including more guests, more posts from me and a few surprises along the way I am sure.  I wish you all a happy Tuesday!

Paranormal Romance by Rie McGaha

I've always liked Brigit's blog – Where The Paranormal…Is Just Normal. And why shouldn't it be normal. We are all raised on the scary, things that go bump in the night stories and I don't know any kid who doesn't love to be scared out of their wits by ghosts and goblins. It's just when we grow up do we get to have bigger and better things that go bump in the night. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and shape-shifters in the form of every animal you can think of. I even read one story about rabbit shifters.

I've also written my own version of werewolves in Blood Line and the sequel, Ancient Blood. I've always had a problem with rules, I guess, and as much as I love my werewolf stories, I didn't want a bunch of slobbering wild animals running around eating people. So my werewolves are a tad different than what readers may be used to but my werewolves are ones that I get emails and reviews telling me how much they are loved.

I also enjoy a good vampire story and have been in love with Lestat since Interview With The Vampire came out. There were a few things about Ann Rice's vamps that I disagreed with, so when I wrote my own vamp in Written In Stone, I had the chance to put my own twist on vampire lore. This isn't anything I've read before, nothing I've even heard of as a suggestion for vamps, and again, readers and reviewers both, love Written In Stone.

The paranormal romance genre is chock full of authors and books that encompass everything the mind can imagine, but still, we have to stand out amongst the others and I hope I've achieved this in my own paranormal romances.

* * * *

Rie McGaha is an author, editor, and reviewer. She has more than a dozen books to her credit, and her recent release, Calen, is the first book in the My Soul To Keep Trilogy, with the other two books being released later this year from Silver Publishing. You can join Rie, GA Hauser, & Stormy Glenn for Blog Blast 2011 (http://blogblast2011.blogspot.com/), on Blog Talk Radio, May 14, 2011 at noon CST, with an all day group chat at Erotic Promo. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/eroticpromo/

Prizes will be given away all day long, so join us! And check out Blog Blast 2011 for a list of prizes, and "follow" us to be entered into the grand prize drawing.

Everyone who comments on this blog is also eligible to win!

GA Hauser – http://authorgahauser.com/

Stormy Glenn - http://stormyglenn.com/

Rie McGaha - http://www.riemcgaha.com/

                                             

Calen by Rie McGaha

Blurb:

When Calen MacLeod begins having dreams of an ethereal beauty who beckons to him, he passes it off as just having an itch he hasn't scratched in a long time. But when he leaves on a journey to find her, following the directions she's given him in his dreams, he begins to doubt his sanity. And when he finds himself high in the Mackinaw Mountains in a secret fortress with unicorns and a pink and white castle, surrounded by women, each one more beautiful than the next, it's a fantasy no man would want to wake up from. But Arianna is the only woman for Calen.

The women of the Fortress have lived in peace, hidden away from the humans who tried to annihilate them all. But now a 500-year-old demon is out to destroy the women's matriarch, Ariella, and he'll stop at nothing to complete his mission. When Calen MacLeod shows up, he throws a wrench into Damon's plans. Never let it be said Damon isn't ready for anything, but when he kidnaps Arianna and takes her to modern day San Francisco, is he ready to meet Calen, who will stop at nothing to save his ladylove?

Excerpt:

At a stream, he stopped and kicked off his boots, stripped and carried his clothing with him as he waded into the cold water. As he made his way upstream to a pool damned by fallen logs, the water inched up his body, causing gooseflesh to rise on his skin. When it reached his stomach, he dove under and came up gasping for breath. He used the lye soap he'd pilfered from the laundress and washed his clothing, tossing each article onto the bank with a wet plop. Then he began washing himself.

She sat on a log at the edge of the trees, watching him, fascinated by his body. His muscles rippled when he walked. With well-defined thighs and calves, his high, tight behind appeared much whiter than the rest of him, and she licked her lips. Watching as he washed himself, she imaged those big hands roaming over her body in much the same way, even though she didn't understand the feelings going on inside her where this man was concerned.

She knew what a man was, of course, though he was the first mortal male she'd ever seen with her own eyes. The males of her kind had been annihilated so many years ago, she had nearly forgotten them altogether. Since that time only two women had dared leave the safety of the Fortress to be with mortal men, and now, both were dead. Arianna guided this man now because his life had been entrusted to her, even though wasn't supposed to be watching him this way, or be developing feelings for him, either. She wasn't sure exactly what those feelings were, but the need to touch him was nearly overwhelming.

Beautiful, she thought, and now knew why those who had chosen to leave the Fortress for a mortal had done so. She would leave for this one, even though she couldn't say why. But the task ahead of them both was much more important than what she wanted for herself. Nevertheless, she would take what she could get.