Why Am I So Quiet???

After years of suffering with diabetes (dialysis) and rectal cancer, my darling husband - Larry - passed away at our home on October 16, 2008. I have been on hiatus for the past year while caring for him 24/7. This past year has been extremely hard beginning in January when he had his first heart attack; to be followed by TIAs (mini-strokes); and the devastating news in April when we were informed he may have six months. (Larry was unable to have radiation due to multiple medical problems and surgery was "iffy" early on in the detection.) He has always been my shelter and refuge from the storms; my light in the darkness; and, the laughter in my heart and soul.

I hope to be back writing and designing coverart by mid-2009.

Attention Authors/Publishers...Pirated ebooks

Someone emailed me today that Andrea Connors enters ebook contests with the intent of winning and then turning around and selling the ebooks. I will be contacting Google, as she has a blog on Blogger, to take this blog down and hopefully ban her from using their services.
Her email is: connors21@cox.net
Her blog: http://connors21.blogspot.com/
Her other site: http://www.esnips.com/user/connors21
A lawyer suggested that whenever you are holding a free giveaway contest, before you give the book to the winner, you send an email with this in it:
"To...put the winner's name here...I do not grant permission for this book to be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program or as a prize in any other contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the US Copyright Law. When you no longer want the books, they must be deleted from your computer. If you agree to these stipulations, please email me back and I will send the books to you."
If they write back and agree, save that email, print it out and keep it in a folder specifically made for that. While this won't keep them from pirating if they are going to, it gives you a stronger leg to stand on should you ever need it.
Please share this with your author friends. Some readers may not be aware this illegal. The more honest ones, it will make think twice. The completely honest ones will understand completely.

The Mistress Diaries by Julianne MacLean

The Mistress Diaries by Julianne MacLean

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was the first book I've read by Ms.MacLean, but it won't be my last. Although I found one or two diary entries out of sequence (at the beginning of each chapter), I put it aside and read it in one day. The characters were well drawn out and although the story's plot was quite "common", it was a good read. Of course, as with this type of book, you always know there will be an HEA by the end of the story.
View all my reviews.

A LITTLE BIT WICKED by Victoria Alexander

A LITTLE BIT WICKED by Victoria Alexander

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was an excellent historical romance! I read it in one day.

View all my reviews.

Someone To Love by Jude Deveraux

Someone to Love by Jude Deveraux

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
It's been awhile since I've read anything by Ms. Deveraux, but this book reminded me of why I had previously read her stories. A great plot that carried the characters through the story. Well done!

View all my reviews.

Wicked Ties by Shayla Black

Wicked Ties by Shayla Black

My review

An "okay" read
This was the first book I've read by Shayla Black and I was not impressed. I was dissappointed in her lack of knowledge regarding BDSM - in this instance, D/s - and was abruptly put off early on in this story by the initial incident between the two main characters. I also found it hard to believe that anyone would allow a perfect stranger to tie them up. The plot - which was weak to say the least - wasn't "thick" enough. It took me over two weeks to read this book. Would I recommend it to friends in the lifestyle? No way! It is obvious the author did some research into the lifestyle, but definitely not enough to write believeable fiction. Until the author knows the intricate workings of the lifestyle, I suggest she stick to writing "kinky sex/erotica" and leave the BDSM community alone.

Where have I been?

I am currently on hiatus from writing and edits due to my husband's terminal illness. My energies are focused on his end-of-life care.

Once I can return to my writing, I will be finishing the edits on the first book (The Learning Curve) of my 5-book contemporary romance series titled Yesterday's Innocence. It is contracted through Freya's" Bower, which is an awesome independent publisher (ebook & print).

Double Take by Tawny Taylor

Double Take
by
Tawny Taylor
(BDSM/Menage a trois/Gay)

Fallon dreamed of a dominant lover for years. Giving it all to a man who can master her sexually. What she never imagined was not one, but two dominant lovers, determined to make her wildest sexual dreams a reality. But perfect lips and to-die-for bodies aside, the identities behind her new Masters’ masks aren’t the only secret they’re keeping.

As Fallon is pulled further into the erotic web they weave, she realizes that being submissive to two dominant men isn’t just about the sensations they can rouse in her, but the emotions they unleash.

The biggest surprise is yet to come, the one that can either set her free to share a love and a life she never dreamed possible, or break her heart forever.

Read an excerpt/Buy

What's happening...

Well, I didn't get a lot done in 2007. I had one story published in the Freya's Bower BDSM Anthology, A ROSE OF ANY COLOR: Book 2: MALEDOM. It's received some high marks with reviewers, although one or two reviewers weren't real happy with one of the scenes. However, those negatives have actually created quite a stir and I'm not complaining. My story, ON BENDED KNEES, is perhaps one of the more true-to-life D/s stories in the anthology. Those who understand the lifestyle haven't had a problem with it. As a matter of fact, one reviewer with no knowledge read the Foreword (which I also wrote under my D/s nick) and gave me one of the highest marks (5 champagne flutes). She stated it contained a quite beautiful love story and not to let the BDSM theme fool you.

I recently submitted (on 02/25/08) SOMETHING STRANGE ABOUT ANGELINA to Harlequin's Nocturne Bites ebook line. I've got my fingers crossed on this one. Wedging one's foot inside the door at this longtime romance publishing industry icon would be a major kudo for me. I found out they are looking to acquire paranormal erotica (includes vampires, shapeshifters, etc.) and ANGELINA is a shapeshifter erotica! I did go through it and make a few final edits on it before submitting it. The good news here is that they supposedly will pay an advance!!! Below is a short blurb for ANGELINA:

For over 10 years, Angelina Pratt has been a competent and competitive detective. Having to prove herself over and over again, she's earned the titles of "Freezer Queen" and "Frostbiter" within the precinct for good reason. The nicknames never bothered her. However, the gruesome murders of young women recently didn't affect her until she realized the heiroglyphics carved into their flesh actually matched the talisman she'd always worn around her neck. A medallion her father had placed there when she was a small child. He had disappeared without a trace. Numerous failed attempts, using her authority to find him over the years, had turned up nothing. Now his words that had warned her to never take it off so long ago echoed in her mind.

Stefano watches over Angelina from nearby with the aggressiveness of a ruffled black raven. He is her protector. He has to convince her she is in danger. The ritual murders are actually cases of mistaken identity and those who commit them are growing reckless and agitated. Angelina must find another sanctuary. A safe refuge. At least until her upcoming 35th birthday. Only then would she be able to fully protect herself. This woman, his promised mate in life, already exhibits traces of her intended destiny.

When Angelina's friend at the university decodes the heiroglyphics on her medallion, she's even more puzzled. Could her father be one of the perpetrators of the grisly killings? And who the hell is this "Rectifier" the heiroglyphics speak of? Is she going to have to remove the talisman in order to fight the evil that Stefano says is seeking her.

I'm hoping this will pique Harlequin's interest enough to contract it. Of course, they have the entire manuscript, but the cover letter has to push their buttons as well.

I've got another BDSM story started, titled THAT THING SHE DOES, and I've already got the coverart ready to go for this one too. I'm not sure where I want to submit this one once it's polished to within an inch of its life. I had actually wanted to send it to Freya's Bower, but I may steer it off in Ellora's Cave or Phaze's direction. They tend to be a bit more open to true-to-life D/s erotica than Freya's Bower. Heaven knows, I had a few "discussions" via email with the publisher regarding a reader misinterpreting that scene in ON BENDED KNEES. I simply refused to change anything within the scene as it had gone through the editor and the proofer and neither had a problem with it. Plus, I wasn't about to demean the lifestylers who might read it. I did agree to add more definition to the Foreword on the lifestyle and delve deeper into the psychology within the dynamics of a BDSM relationship. Frankly, I had to explain what a "mind f**k" is in so many words without actually using that particular term.

I'm working on the edits to THE LEARNING CURVE which is book 1 of the 5-book Yesterday's Innocence series. I got way behind in this, but I'm back on it once again. The publisher and I are targeting a June 2008 release date. Tentative depending on circumstances surrounding my personal situation. I think this is enough for one afternoon. And I should be getting back to those edits. Oh whooped-t-doo!!!