Today is a day of sadness and loss.  My dearest soul sister, Cynnara Tregarth’s mother has passed.  You may know her, or not.  She’s the founder of LAW.  I ask that you say a prayer for her and her family during this very hard time.  Her strength is amazing and I’m blessed to have her in my life.

Thank you for yesterday’s fantastic party.  We had a wonderful time and I hope you did too.

Have a good weekend…give someone you love an extra hug or two, even if it’s virtually.  Let ‘em know you care.  Life’s short.  Much love to you and yours.

*sings badly* cry if I want to, cryyyyyyyyy if I want to!

Happy January 24th everyone!  Usually not an important day for most but an especially important day for me!  It’s my birthday.  I’m 21 today with *cough* mumble *cough* years experience.  That’s right, I’m 21 and holding.  For the rest of my life.  Mwahahahaha.

So why am I so perky about it?  For one, I really enjoy getting older.  I firmly believe that once I’m gray-haired and wise…okay, at least gray-haired I can release my inner child and do the one thing I’ve always ALWAYS wanted to do…wear hot pink lipstick.  Yes.  I want to be that “screaming pink” lipstick-wearin’ grandma.  Why?  Because I’m a red-head and forced into the earthy mold of browns and bronzes (which I enjoy, don’t get me wrong, but HOT PINK).  So each year I’m a few gray hairs closer to my dream!

*snicker*

Okay, bit much, sorry.  In all honesty, my birthday is a time when I invite my friends over for a party and celebrate life and laughter.  The bonds you create with the people you love are so important.  So in celebration of my birthday this year I’m having a party at the League of Amazing Writers group.  I invite each and every one of you to play and enjoy each other’s company.   Virtual beverages of your choice, of course.  Maybe a hottie or two to keep you company.  A warm roaring fire and maybe an escape to the Bahamas in the fantasy adventure of your choice.  There will be flash fiction, warm excerpts, funny stories, recipes, and hopefully just a really really good time.

So I hope you’ll come out and have fun.  I know I will.  *huge grin*

Aspen Mountain Press is launching a new paranormal series and is asking for submissions.

Word count: 5K–100K
Format: eBooks
Editor: Nikita Gordyn
Genre: Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Can be a heterosexual couple, GBLT, ménage, etc. Mainstream with romantic elements will be considered. Very sexy/sensual is what we’re looking for. Both graphic and non-graphic will be considered.

Story guideline:

The main characters have to do something at the bar to tie it together. They know the proprietor, who is a vampire (Cody Warren was turned while in the military serving in Afghanistan). Humans can go in to see the paranormals or two (or three) paranormal characters, meet outside the bar, etc, but at some point both the bar and Cody must be in a scene.

Stories from Del Fantasma in Vista Loma, California

Del Fantasma is a bar just north of Point Loma, California, known for its ghosts and otherworldly experiences. The owner and bartender, Cody Warren knows a thing or two about the supernatural. While stationed in Afghanistan, Cody was rescued and later turned into a vampire. He is the sole owner of Del Fantasma and the hours suit him just fine. He has normal clients and otherworldly clients, and a knack for matchmaking that would rival any bona fide yenta. After ten years of bringing couples together, not much surprises Cody. He’s certainly heard every tale of love gone right and wrong over the years. In fact, he can recall a tale for nearly every drink he mixes.

They know the proprietor, who is a vampire (Cody Warren was turned while in the military serving in Afghanistan). Humans can go in to see the paranormals or two (or three) paranormal characters, meet outside the bar, etc, but at some point both the bar and Cody must be in a scene.

Examples: Sex on the Beach: a mermaid and her true love (general idea only), Kentucky Tornado: the city meets the country in a tale of horse-trading (general idea only), Harvey Wallbanger, White Russian, Kiss in the Dark, Fuzzy Navel, Tequila Sunrise, Three Wise Men, Stormy Weather, Sea Breeze, Long Island Iced Tea, Pain Killer, Singapore Sling, Alabama Slammer, Aztec Punch, or any other drink that the author would like to do.

Please submit complete stories or a synopsis with the first three chapters electronically only. Be sure to include your name, mailing address and contact information to Dragoness@cogeco.ca or submissions@AspenMountainPress.com. Del Fantasma in the subject line of the email.

******* Permission to forward, granted. *******

I love this series.  There are so many great titles out there, Texas Tea, Screaming Orgasm (doesn’t that sound nice right about now? LOL),Black Wolf, Undertow, and many more.

I’m currently working on Tequila Sunrise and man is it getting HOT in here!  Shapeshifters, conspiracies, and you guessed it, Cody.  LOL.

There are several industry blogs I check out at least once a week. One of them is Redlines and Deadlines, an Ellora’s Cave/Cerridwen Press editor blog. One of their recent posts really caught my attention. Allow me a bit of buildup before I explain…

With so many epublishers failing in the past year or two, the author outcry has been intense, to say the least. I’ve read everything from “epublishers should be avoided at all costs” to “NY is the only true publisher.” This recent one made the red-head in me turn feral. Excuse me? I’ve kept my peace. I’ve been polite, but the ONLY TRUE publisher?

Last time I checked, New York was both a state and a city, NOT a publishing god. Yes, some of the largest publishing houses in the world are HOUSED in the city. But come on people!  With the internet age of publishing, it’s easier (and less expensive!) for publishers, agents, etc to live somewhere other than NY. It’s far more cost effective. If your goal is NY, I’m rooting for you, but don’t stomp on everyone around you to get there. But I digress. Little rant over…

Raelene Gorlinsky put the epublishing world in perspective, from a business point of view. (Finally!  Thank you Raelene for LOGIC over emotion!!) For those who are nervous and wondering if epublishers should be avoided at all costs, read this first.  Writing is a business.  Before you choose a publishing venue, do your research.  No one else is going to do it for you.  Let me say that again.  NO ONE IS GOING TO DO IT FOR YOU.  There are hundreds of online resources out there to HELP you make the right choices.

My favorite part of her article?

I don’t believe that epubs fail in any higher percentage than businesses overall. So please quit it with the nay-saying about epublishers. Focus on those of us who are doing it right, surviving and succeeding, rather than trying to make the world see only the ones that don’t make it.

Truer words were never written.

*brings out soapbox and steps up, cue dramatic music, spotlight on red-head*

I’ve stayed out of the plagiarism drama for a while now.  As a lurker on several blogs it’s really hard to avoid.   So I’ll just say this about it.  I was taught plagiarism was bad…and this is how:

plagiarism = expulsion from school and grounded for life

Good deterrent.

But I’m seeing an infuriating trend in the author blog community that ends in insulting readers.   ‘It’s not like they’d know anyway’ should never be the party line.  Have we forgotten?  We were readers, first.  I remember getting pissed as hell when I found out a well-respected author had made up life saving information in one of his novels.  How did I find out?  I researched it.  Why?  Because that’s what reading DOES.  It opens the door to more information, more reading, more pleasure.

You think nobody’s paying attention?  Think again.

Rant over.

*steps off soapbox, music fades, spotlight dims on soapbox*

Vanity Fair’s February edition has some really awesome stuff. I picked it up yesterday so I could swipe a pic or two for character collages…something I do for a series or novel. I find my characters and put them in the collage as a visual reference for me. Anyway, inside there were a few articles that caught my attention. A quote, in particular, made me so glad I spent the money.

“I have a tendency, when I’m working on one thing, to doodle around and work on other things, to avoid what I’m doing.”

– George Lucas

Ahhh, so I’m not the ONLY one. You’re chuckling at me for saying that I’m sure. LOL. A writer is usually pretty isolated, even with the amazing real time of IM. You feel that everyone around you is productive while you’re having a shiny day.  I’m two days away from my final release in the Bound Trilogy!  Bound Eternally releases on my birthday!!!  So I’m sending out an invite.  On the 24th of January, at the LAW (League of Amazing Writers) group, the ladies are throwing me a party!  Bring yourselves out there, join the group, and have a blast!

Hope to see you there!

So I was pleasantly shocked this morning when I received notice that Babes in Toyland II had won honorable mention at the Love Romances Cafe for Best Anthology 2007. How wicked! I’m so thrilled. *huge grin* First a Must Read, now this?? For those who went out and voted, thank you!

In other news…It’s my birthday this week! The 24th!!!! BUT I’m NOT ALONE!!! Aline DeChevigny’s b-day is today! *Happy Birthday, A!!! May you have many many more!* JM’s is the 28th. Totally awesome stuff! ON MY BIRTHDAY, Bound Eternally releases! How awesome is that??? To celebrate, I’m having a birthday bash at the League of Amazing Writers! Everyone’s welcome to play. There will be some flash fiction, a little heat, and whole lotta fun. But it only happens if you come out and play!

Have a great week. I’ll see you when my brain stops reeling. LOL.

Ladies and gents, I’m pleased to announce that Maggie Nash is FREE!!!  Yes, the judge FINALLY released the last of the Triskelion contracts to the authors.  In celebration of her awesome newfound freedom, she’s redesigned her website.  Guys, it’s HOT.  So if you get a chance, check out Maggie’s New Home!

*hugs* Maggie.  You rock, lady!

*permission to forward granted*

Another amazing good time is coming out of Aspen Mountain Press!

The first annual January Raffle is underway TODAY!!!!!

How to play/participate…

Sign up for AMP community at AMP_Community-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Post a message to the loop with a brief description of yourself and how you heard about AMP or be honest and say you heard about them through this email!  LOL!  When the post goes through I will email you privately with a raffle number (ticket).  Then if you buy anything from The Aspen Mountain Store email me privately at Ravistar28@yahoo.com with your Receipt number, and I will issue one raffle number (ticket) more per purchase.

There will be a drawing twice a week on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s for prizes from the AMP authors, ranging from book thongs, to book marks, to key chains, and maybe even a free download, depending on what I can weazle out of them!  (naw! They are great, I get stuff in the mail from them constantly!)

If you are already a member of AMP_community…buy, buy, buy.  Email me with your proof of purchase and I will issue a raffle number (ticket).

The raffle will end on February 3rd ( I got a late start this month due to my move) and on February 4th the BIG winner will be drawn and announced for the BIG prize, which will be announced later this month!

Good luck to all, and let’s all get AMPed!!!!!

Phoenix Forrester

I am amazed at the awesome reviews coming in for Bound in Lust.  Here’s the most recent.  From Whipped Cream:

Bound In Lust may be short, but it packs a powerful burst of sensual heat, interesting world building and two characters that are explosive together.

Elena is a pawn in a game she has no knowledge of. She has talents and needs that she’s only beginning to know.

Drake is a lust demon who knows the game but not all the players. He is the only one who can save Elena but it means risking himself for the first time, and for a human female no less.

Dawn’s characterization is a perfect balance for such a short piece. I was able to appreciate Elena’s vulnerability yet I got glimpses of her strengths that the enemy has no knowledge of and Drake is all too willing to use.

Drake is a ‘man’ who is so long-lived, he should have been filled with ennui, but finds himself feeling things he doesn’t dare name. I guess I like men of mystery. The tease of a male who is sexy and strong, who knows something and who leaves you unsure if they are good, bad or in that gray area where a man has to be bad to be good.

What Drake does in order to save Elena should make you hot and bothered as well as eager to read more because it certainly did that to me.  

You might decide that Elena’s amorphous acceptance of her new status in life might have been too easily won, but I don’t feel that way. I think Elena is adaptable and most importantly, in love with Drake; she just hasn’t faced her heart yet in this installment.

To say the ending took me by surprise is an understatement. What was the surprise?
It ended.

Bound in Lust is written well enough that it has me hooked solid for the next installment. What in the world is going to happen in the second book,Bound in Fury? How hot is the fire going to burn between Elena and Drake? And is the betrayer who I think it is and once Drake finds out, how is it going to affect him? Will it cripple him? Will Elena have to save Drake?

This is so exciting! Dawn has written a wonderful tale in an unusual world where demons are not cliché,the characters have substance and the erotic heat makes you crave to read more.

And I do want more.

Rating:

Normally I don’t post a review in its entirety.  However, I’ve recently received emails from people whose work servers have blocked blogspot, wordpress, and livejournal.  How you can get to my site and not the free blogs is a mystery to me.  *huge grin*  I do ask that you go to whipped cream and give them some love!  Their reviews are thorough and fun.  And to date I’ve agreed with most of them.  A rarity for me, to be sure!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!