#PNR Friday: Paranormal Fall Fling Coming!

Thank God it's Friday! For some reason, this week seemed to crawl by. I've been involved in a work kerfluffle, so that's probably why this seemed like the week that wouldn't go away.  But let's leave that world behind and enjoy the one that is Friday, gorgeous outside, and filled with paranormal Alpha males!

It's almost a week since Blood Spirit was released, and the Paranormal Fall Fling begins this Monday at a great blog perfect for a PNR book, Bitten by Paranormal Romance. For 5 weeks, I'll be out and about at blogs talking all things Blood Spirit and Sons of Navarus, so check back frequently for all the news on that. There will be weekly prizes and grand prizes of ebooks, gift cards, and swag, so don't miss it.

I've been so flattered by all the comments on Blood Spirit. It was a labor of love, no doubt, and to hear that readers are so moved by the story is so wonderful. :) 

I'm deep into the next book, Blood Prophecy, and this is going to be a big step in the series. It's looking like it might be a bit longer too.  At the same time, I'm also writing a free short about Vasilije and Sasa, and anyone who read Blood Spirit knows that they're going through some things in their relationship. The short will continue that theme but show the two of them in private. It is shaping up as a very sexy free read, like its predecessor, Forbidden Fruit. If you haven't checked that out yet, click on over there HERE to get a taste of Hades, the God of the Underworld, who is set to make his debut in the Sons series soon.

And congratulations to Jenese, the winner of my giveaway in the 18 and Over Giveaway Hop! Look for more hops coming and more chances to win in the Paranormal Fall Fling beginning next week.

I'm off to begin my day and enjoy the Fall Equinox. Have a great one!

F*R*E*E Read and A New Cover

I've never met a Friday I didn't like, and this one is especially good. I have a new short story I've put up for a free read for my readers and a new cover. :)

Okay, first things first. I've begun to write free reads that will go along with the Sons of Navarus series. They're just short stories under 5K, but some are spicy and others are meant as more details about some of the characters. The first one, Forbidden Fruit, is about the god of the Underworld, Hades, and a mystery woman (you'll have to click on over to check it out). It's erotic, so be sure you're not at work or have the kiddies behind you when you read it. I figured I'd begin with him since he's getting ready to make his appearance in the Sons series in a book or two. Head on over to my Free Reads page and enjoy!

And here's the new cover (you thought it was the one for Forbidden Fruit, but no, there's more)...

The incredible Talina Perkins has done it again! When I approached her about updating the covers of the Trilogy ebook and paperback, along with Love's Master and Masquerade now that Vampire Dreams is no longer sold as a single novella and only appears in the Trilogy, she loved the idea and ran with it. I told her I was considering calla lilies and found an image. She found a better image and look at this masterpiece she created! I love it!!! 

I can't wait to see the others. :)  I'll be updating all the covers once they're done. In the meantime, you can find the Trilogy at all major outlets. For a sampling of what's inside, visit my Victorian Erotic Romance Trilogy page.

Have a wonderful Friday!

#WIP Wednesday: Hades

I haven't done a WIP Wednesday in a little while since other posts have been taking its spot. Today, I'm all about Hades and his mystery woman who have been sharing my time with Ramiel and the fourth book in the Sons series, Blood Prophecy.

My Hades short story won't be a release in the truest sense. I'm not going to sell it but instead put it up for a free read on my website. When I was asked to write a story for BTS eMag, I figured I'd do something small (it only had to be 1K words) and afterward put it up on the website. But then I began to write the god of the Underworld and his lady and before I knew it, I'd gone over the number of words allowed. So I figured, "Why not put this up for a free read in its longer version?"

This Friday, the Hades story, entitled Forbidden Fruit, will begin what I plan to be a number of shorts about characters who appear (or are set to appear) in the Sons series. Hades is the first, and then readers can look for a short with Vasilije (before Sasa), one with Thane, and one with Saint and Solenne (that's by request of my street team). I'm also considering some that wouldn't necessarily be romantic in nature but would give readers a little more about the characters.

So be sure to look for those and don't miss Hades' debut this Friday. I've written the god of the Underworld in the way I believe he'd be portrayed in erotic romance. He's sensual, powerful, and above all, a real Alpha. Think tall, dark, and deliciously indulgent. What else would a god be, after all?

#WIP Wednesday #amwriting #erotic

Happy Wednesday and the beginning of a new month! August is always a little less than thrilling for me since that means I'll be going back to the day job soon. Yeah, I know. No tears for person who gets the summer off. I feel that. :)  But August 1 means the summer is almost over.

July was the best month of sales for me so far in my career, so I'm sorry to see that month go. The Sons of Navarus series had a stellar month, so things are looking good for Terek as he gets set to make his appearance on September 17.

As for WIP, there are two on my plate: the 4th book in the Sons series, Blood Prophecy, and the Hades short I'm writing for a free read for my website. Even though I've had so many people ask me if I plan to make Hades the star of a new series, the answer is no. At this time, he's just a character who will show up in the Sons series soon.  As the father of one of the first vampires, it was inevitable he'd come on the scene, but I have no plans for even a full length book for him. I can say, though, that the story on my website will be much hotter than the one that will appear in the September issue of BTS eMag. ;) (BTW, for a look at the current issue of that great magazine, scroll down to the bottom of this page.)

Blood Prophecy will include some pretty big developments in the series' story arc, so I'm taking it nice and slow with this one. My former Visigoth turned vampire has been very willing, despite his usual surly attitude, so the writing has been good.

I've also been playing around with Blood Spirit's book trailer for a few days. I have the music and here are some of the images I'm considering working in:

And finally, here is the banner the wonderful Talina made for the release of Blood Spirit:

My editor believes she'll have the entire book back to me soon, so the countdown begins. 48 days until Blood Spirit's release!

Have a great Wednesday!

#WIP Wednesday #amwriting #amediting

Happy Wednesday! How is everyone doing today?  It's hot as hell here in Pennsylvania, but in six months it will be just the opposite, so I'm enjoying this heat wave.

I've also been writing and editing, in the air conditioned splendor, of course. :)  The short for BTS emagazine is complete at just about 1K words and titled Forbidden Fruit. I've also finished the expanded version that will appear on my website after the magazine comes out. Hades has been a delicious character to work with, and I'm looking forward to more of him coming up in the Sons books.

Typing and editing continues with Blood Spirit. So far, I'm through to Chapter 17, editing as I go. The plan is for the book to be at the editor for this weekend, and so far, I'm on course to make my goal. I do have to go to Family Night at Boy Scout camp tonight to see my son, so no typing will happen today. Since I loathe typing, you won't find any tears from me, though. LOL 

I'm at Carrie Ann Ryan's blog for Writer Wednesday today talking about Vampire Dreams Revamped and returning to the past every so often. One commenter will win a set of Sons of Navarus bookmarks, so stop by and say hi. :)

Also, I announced this in my FB street team group yesterday, so now today I'm telling the rest of the world. I've been asked to be the featured author at the 2013 Indie Romance Convention that will take place in TN next October. I'm so flattered! I'll be there with other great authors, so if you're a reader or blogger, check out the site and make your plans to attend. It promises to be a fun time!

And yet another announcement--BTS eMag has asked me to be a featured author in their January 2013 issue on indie writers. Again, I'm so flattered!  Writing the short was such a nice honor, but to be asked to be a featured author is really great. Click on over to check out the current issue of the magazine.

It's been quite a week for this indie writer. How has yours been? Have a great Wednesday!

A Mid-July #WIP Wednesday #amwriting

It's another WIP Wednesday here at my blog, so I thought I'd chat a little about the short I'm writing for the September issue of the BTS Magazine. When Myra asked if I'd like to write a short story no more than 1K words for the issue focusing on erotic romance, I said "Sure!" Minutes later, I was sitting in my usual spot where I write with not a thought in my head. Not a very auspicious beginning, to say the least.

You see, 1K is a very short story. It's more like a scene. I had to adjust my thinking to get my head around that first. Then I had to chose a topic. Myra suggested I make it something associated with my Sons series. Since I eat, drink, sleep, and breathe the Sons, I agreed, but because my series is still unfolding, choosing one Son to highlight soon became an issue. So for the last week, I've been mulling over ideas as I finished Blood Spirit and published Vampire Dreams Revamped.

Nothing came to me that I loved a ton until last night. I blame the alcohol. Well, actually, I thank the alcohol. :)  Through the haze of a few beers, I found my way over to Pinterest and began looking at pictures. I should have been writing, but Pinterest was calling me. I guess I should thank Pinterest too since I found my inspiration over there...with the alcohol, of course. (Don't want to slight any of the muses.)

There, in that sea of hot, shirtless men and desserts (I have friends on there who have the most delicious taste in both!) I saw this picture on my mythology board:

Source: sandara.deviantart.com via Gabrielle on Pinterest

The image is of Hades and Persephone. Hades is often seen as an old, shriveled up god stuck in the bowels of the Earth or thought of as the guy in the Clash of The Titans movie (Ralph Fiennes did a great job with him, BTW).  This picture, however, shows a different side of the god of the Underworld and his stolen wife.

The story of Hades and Persephone has always intrigued me. Hades, one of the three ruling males in the Olympians, seems to play the part of aggrieved brother-turned-unhappy-ruler of the realm of the dead.  His brother Zeus tricked him out of his birthright, so while his youngest sibling gets to rule the world and have sex with anyone he chooses, Hades is stuck underground with the dead and no damn woman, goddess or otherwise, wants to hang out there. So he stalks Persephone, the goddess of Spring and other fine, dainty things and grabs her, forcing her to live with him in the Underworld.

Artists have given their take on the abduction of Persephone by Hades (sometimes called the Rape of Persephone), but the most famous is probably this sculpture:

Like his brothers Zeus and Poseidon, Hades is portrayed as virile and pretty well built, actually. If he's not doing it for you, just put your finger over his head. See?  Now he's looking a little better. That big shaggy beard thing doesn't help anyone. And Persephone? Well, let's just say she's not a willing participant in Hades' plan to end his loneliness.

So, with the romantic and classical images in my mind, I began to have ideas about what my short could be about. What if I wrote about Hades? I'd still be writing something concerning my Sons series since Hades is the father of Macaria, the goddess of the blessed death and the mother of the vampire race, and will make his appearance in the storyline soon.

In a flash, I had an idea and had about 300 words written. The short involves Hades but with a different woman. I'm giving him a sensuality that fits in with my Sons series, and his story has a really sexy feel to it. My goal is to stay on the cleaner side of erotic since those are the guidelines for the magazine, but the short will give readers an interesting look at the god of the Underworld and another goddess (who I'll leave as a mystery, for now).

I hope to have the story finished for this weekend so my editor can give it the "red pen" treatment and then it's just a matter of revising and sending it off.  Here's to hoping your week is going well too!