Release Blitz: Jenny Kane and Christmas at the Castle

Out Now! Christmas at the Castle by Jenny Kane 

Blurb

Christmas at the Castle is a seasonal treat from Jenny Kane, featuring much-loved characters from her bestselling novel Another Cup of Coffee.

When hotshot businesswoman Alice Warren is asked to organise a literary festival at beautiful Crathes Castle in Scotland, her ‘work mode’ persona means she can’t say no – even though the person asking is her ex, Cameron Hunter.

Alice broke Cameron’s heart and feels she owes him one – but her best friend Charlie isn’t going to like it. Charlie – aka famous author Erin Spence – is happy to help Alice with the festival…until she finds out that Cameron’s involved! Charlie suffered a bad case of unrequited love for Cameron, and she can’t bear the thought of seeing him again.

Caught between her own insecurities and loyalty to her friend, Charlie gets fellow author Kit Lambert to take her place. Agreeing to leave her London comfort zone – and her favourite corner in Pickwicks Café – Kit steps in. She quickly finds herself not just helping out, but hosting a major literary event, while also trying to play fairy godmother – a task which quickly gets very complicated indeed...

Available to buy from Amazon, and to read as part of the Kindle Unlimited Programme: http://mybook.to/christmasatthecastle

Extract

Charlie pushed open the door of The Deeside Bookshop.

Instead of being greeted by John, she was surprised to see a much younger man behind the counter. Having never known the shop without John in it, Charlie was immediately concerned. ‘Um, hello, I wondered if I could speak to John, is he OK?’

‘He’s very OK, thank you. Soaking up the sun in New Zealand in fact.’

‘Oh.’ Not sure what to do, Charlie decided she’d dive straight in anyway. If John trusted this man to run the shop in his absence, then he must be alright. ‘Could I have a quick chat about the literary festival at Crathes? I know Ms Warren has already approached the shop, but I…’

The man, who Charlie guessed must be in his late thirties, ran an exasperated hand through his short hair. ‘I already told your colleague I can’t help. What Ms Warren is asking of me is not cost-effective. Although I wish you luck with the festival, the tactic of sending her prettier colleague to get me to change my mind is not going to work!’

Prettier colleague? Charlie felt thrown. No one ever thought she was prettier than Alice.

‘I assure you no… tactics are in play. I’m only helping out today because I’m a friend of one of the other organisers, and I have a more sensible and, I think, more realistic proposition for you than Alice did. I will tell you about it if you would like to hear it; if not, I’ll leave you in peace to stare around your customer-free shop!’

Rather taken aback by the edge to her tone, the tension in Charlie’s shoulders unknotted a little as, to her amazement, the man began to laugh.

Placing the books he’d been holding on the counter he said, ‘I’m sorry, forgive me for being abrupt. My name is Gervase Potter; I bought John out a few weeks ago. This little empire is now mine.’

Tilting his head to one side, giving Charlie the impression he was enjoying the view, he added, ‘I would very much like to hear your proposal. How about we discuss it tonight over a drink at Scott Skinner’s? I haven’t made it there yet, and I hear it’s a nice pub.’

With her brain privately grappling with the concept of being asked out for a drink by a handsome man who liked books, Charlie replied, ‘It is nice. I often go to Skinner’s to write when I need a change of scene from my desk at home. Oh, I’m Charlie, by the way. Charlie Davies.’

‘I’m pleased to meet you, Charlie. So, you write?’

‘Yes.’ Charlie pointed to the bookshelves, ‘I’m over there somewhere.’

‘You are? Who are you, then? I mean, who else are you?’

‘Erin Spence.’

‘The Unbrave Heart Erin Spence?’

Charlie’s pulse started to beat faster. He didn’t immediately connect me with The Love-Blind Boy. ‘Yes. Yes that was my first novel.’

‘I love that book.’

‘You’ve read it?’ Charlie was shocked. ‘Forgive me, but you don’t look like you’d be into women’s fiction.’

‘I’m not as a rule, but my ex-girlfriend had the audiobook and we played it on a long journey once or twice. I enjoyed it. You have a very perceptive view of the male side of things.’

‘Really?’ Charlie could feel herself blushing, ‘Thanks. It’s kind of you to say so.’

‘Not at all. That drink tonight, then? Eight o’clock? With a meal as well, maybe?’

‘To talk about my idea for the festival?’

‘I’m making no promises, because I think I’d rather talk about you.’

Charlie’s head buzzed with contradictory thoughts. Had she been right to agree to go out with Gervase? Only this morning she’d been thinking about how she felt about Cameron being back, and now she was going on a date with someone else. A part of her knew she’d only said yes in the hope that Alice and Cameron might see them. But so what if they did? Cameron isn’t going to be jealous, and I don’t want him any more anyway. And Alice wouldn’t notice in her current mode if I walked around naked with a pineapple on my head.

A new thought entered Charlie’s head. Was there any point in going out with another man until Alice had gone home? Gervase would only have to see them standing next to each other, and it wouldn’t be her that he wanted to take for dinner anymore.

Suddenly, Charlie stopped moving. She knew she was being ridiculous, but somehow the thought of how Alice was always going to be there to eclipse her wouldn’t shift...

Bio

Jenny Kane is the author the contemporary romance Christmas at the Castle (Accent Press, 2015), the bestselling novel Abi’s House (Accent Press, 2015), the modern/medieval time slip novel Romancing Robin Hood (Accent Press, 2014), the bestselling novel Another Cup of Coffee (Accent Press, 2013), and its novella length sequels Another Cup of Christmas (Accent Press, 2013), and Christmas in the Cotswolds (Accent, 2014).

Jenny’s fourth full length romance novel, Another Glass of Champagne, will be published in 2016.

Jenny is also the author of quirky children’s picture books There’s a Cow in the Flat (Hushpuppy, 2014) and Ben’s Biscuit Tin (Coming soon from Hushpuppy)

 Keep your eye on Jenny’s blog at www.jennykane.co.uk for more details.

Twitter- @JennyKaneAuthor

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JennyKaneRomance

Jenny also writes erotica as Kay Jaybee.

Release Blitz for C.A. Bell and BDSM Poetry

Out Now! BDSM by C.A.Bell 

Blurb:

BDSM is a collection of poetry containing f/f, anal play, femdom, bondage, shibari, anal play and much more. It contains meaningful, intimate, and downright filthy poetry written in acrostic, ballad, cinquain, and free verse.

This collection is intended for the open-minded people out there who love all things BDSM.

So, let BDSM take you on a journey into the taboo, and give the most erogenous part of your body, your brain, a treat.

Excerpt from Harem:

The three of us knelt, collared and chained,

Waiting for one master, to teach the untrained.

The three of us were stripped, told to behave,

Told we were sluts, whores, and slaves.

He entered the room, we all bowed our heads,

His attire was magnificent, all blacks, gold’s, and reds.

Then under my chin, he placed his big hand,

Told me that tonight, I would follow his command.

I nodded my head, subserviently so,

Then he moved to the next, second in the row.

And said exactly the same to the second and third,

And then left the room without saying a word.

We all sat motionless, staring at the floor,

Until he entered again, slamming the door.

Knowing he was back sent a surge of exhilaration,

This was what I needed, strong domination.

He snatched up my chain, tugged me over to a stock…

Author Bio:

C.A.Bell was born and raised on the outskirts of London, England, but for the past three years has resided in a much more rural town of Shropshire, where she and her husband married and made a home.

She is currently working on a number of projects, including the follow-on book to The Architect, as well as a novel, and aspires to be a well-known author.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1MUIvGq

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1PzRRhg

Social Links:

Twitter @cbellAtrix09

Facebook https://en-gb.facebook.com/people/Author-C-A-Bell/100010696021804

Author Website http://authorcabell.co.uk

Release Blitz for Sexual Sorcery and CM Fontana

Sexual Sorcery: An Erotic Tale of Sex, Mystery and the Occult, in Victorian England by C M Fontana

An unwitting academic stumbles into the erotically-charged occult underworld of Victorian London. With a cast of characters including an investigator with a talent for seduction, a mesmerist collecting a harem of beautiful ladies, and a woman who believes she has had sex with Satan, Sexual Sorcery is a sizzling story of decadence, conspiracy and carnality.

When a collection of books go missing from the University's collection, Fredrick Clifford travels to London in search of the likely culprit, an apparently respectable gentleman named Victor Braystone. But he soon finds that he is not the only one with an interest in Mr Braystone, and the manipulative Catherine Wolseley soon draws him into her own schemes.

As he, Miss Wolseley and their seductive accomplice begin to unravel Mr Braystone's plots, Fredrick Clifford finds himself both confused and entrapped in a shocking world of of sex and duplicity. And as the trail leads him from the seductions of a London club to a Satanic altar in the wilds of the Welsh borders, he struggles to make sense of both the dark uncertainties of the occult, and of an unfamiliar realm of debauchery and sex.

Buy Links:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1VaaXZC

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1OunW9F

Author Bio:

C M Fontana is a British erotic author, fusing plots of mystery, intrigue, and the supernatural with racy erotica. The first full-length novels, Sexual Sorcery, was published for Kindle in September 2015, with two novellas continuing the series released soon after.

Author Website: http://mysticerotica.com/

Author Twitter: @mystic_erotica

Excerpt

By Saturday morning, Fredrick had still not had time to visit the agency to advertise for a new domestic servant, and he was becoming heartily sick of bread and marmalade for breakfast – or, indeed, for any other meal that he could not reasonably eat out. It was also an irritation that he had to answer his own front door, and now he found himself greeted at his front step by a small grubby boy, in bare feet and ragged trousers, presenting him with a sealed envelope.

He took the letter, tipped the boy a coin, and closed the door.

The paper was expensive, that handwriting feminine. Inside, a note simply read:

Two o’clock. My carriage will collect you. We cannot have gaps in your education as a gentleman. Please be an attentive student. Such classes are not inexpensive.

And that was all. He assumed that it was from Miss Wolseley, and resigned himself to having to follow her cryptic instructions. In the meantime, he thought, he would finish his newspaper, and then visit the agency to and see if they could alleviate his domestic difficulties.

And so, soon after lunchtime, after a satisfactory visit to the agency he found on returning to his house a familiar carriage parked outside.

“My good man, am I late?”

“Not at all Sir,” the gruff coachman tipped his hat. “I’m early. Take your time, Sir. We aren’t due til ‘alf past.”

Fredrick re-emerged promptly at two o’clock, and climbed into the carriage, and sat back while it bounced and swerved through the city’s congested streets. Out of the window he saw gentrified houses, and, as the traffic moved slowly on the main roads, although the journey was barely two miles, it took over twenty minutes. He was relieved to find that they stopped in a fashionable West End street.

He stepped down from the carriage, and the coachman indicated the door across the road.

He crossed the street and rapped with the brass door knocker.

Promptly, the door was opened, and a short, grey haired maid opened the door.

“Fredrick Clifford,” he introduced himself. “I may be expected?”

“Of course,” the maid curtseyed, with a hint of an accent, perhaps Italian or French, and stepped back to let him in.

She took his coat, hat and cane, and then led him up the stairs, and into a well furnished sitting room. Tall windows let light flood into the room through lace curtains, the room was decked with a range of plushly upholstered chairs and settees, the largest of which, unusually, seemed to be the size of a single bed, but with ornate arms and a high back.

The maid motioned him to take a seat in a plush chair by the window. She assured him, “I will say that you have arrived,” and then withdrew.

As he waited, he looked around. The décor was, the more he considered the details, eccentric.

Not only were the chairs unusually deeply upholstered, and the main sofa far wider than was needed, but there were numerous sturdy hooks, which looked like they might have hung chandeliers before gas lighting was installed, both in the ceiling and also, inexplicably in the skirting board at the foot of the wall. There was also a faint but spicy scent in the air, which he suspected might be incense – an unusual scent to encounter outside of a High or Catholic church.

The door opened, and he turned to see a tall, graceful woman step into the room. She wore a red silk robe like a dressing gown, and around her neck an ornate necklace of black beads. Her brown hair hung loosely in flowing curls, cascading over her shoulders, and Fredrick’s eyes were drawn further down, to the sides of her firm breasts, indecently visible where the two sides of the robe met.

“I’m so sorry!” he instinctively stood up and turned his back on her, to stare fixedly out of the window.

“And why, Mr Clifford, are you sorry?” The voice was soft, the accent unmistakably continental.

“I am… that is to say…” He could barely hear her approach, her bare feet on the carpet. “Perhaps I should return when you are properly dressed.”

Her voice, now just over his shoulder, chided, “Mr Clifford, I was told that you were a gentleman.”

“Well, yes!” he replied, indignantly.

“And is it polite, when a lady enters a room, turn your back on her, and then proceed to criticise her choice of clothing.”

“Well, I… there is a question of what is appropriate!”

“Your lessons today,” she corrected him, “are to deal instead with the question of what is courteous – gentlemanly. You may be quite right about what is appropriate. But this afternoon, that is not our subject.”

To Frederick, what was gentlemanly and what was appropriate seemed intimately connected. But Miss Wolseley had, presumably, some purpose in sending him here.

“I apologise,” he conceded, turning to face her. It would be a shame to argue with such an attractive hostess.

She smiled and inclined her head. “Then shall we start again?”

Fredrick nodded.

The woman turned and walked softly back to the door. He watched her robe sway against her legs, and was impressed by her grace. She left the room, and shut the door after herself. Fredrick sat down again, and waited.

After a minute, the door opened again, and the woman returned.

Fredrick stood up, and stepped forwards to greet her. “Fredrick Clifford, Madam. At your service.”

She held out her hand, palm down, and he took it gently, and bowed slightly as he motioned to kiss it. He could not help, bending forward, but appreciate the gentle curve of her breasts, barely draped in thin red silk.

“Signorina Maria Cenci,” she replied with a hint of a curtsey. “Charmed to meet you, Sir.”

She motioned him across to the wide sofa, strewn with cushions, and when he sat she took a seat next to him. Her robe fell open at the knee, revealing her slender, pale calf, and Fredrick made an effort not to look too intently.

The door opened again, and the elderly maid entered, carrying a tray, which she set down on the table by the settee.

“Milk and sugar, Mr Clifford?” Signorina Cenci asked.

“Please, yes.”

“Tell me Mr Clifford, she asked, as she poured the tea and the maid withdrew, “how should a gentleman behave towards a lady?”

Fredrick considered for a moment, and then, taking the cup and saucer offered to him, replied: “A gentleman should always be respectful.”

“And why is that important?” she asked. And when Fredrick had no ready answer, she clarified, “Why should a gentleman be respectful to a lady, and not, perhaps, to a tree or stone?”

“Obviously, trees and stones don’t have feelings!”

“So when you say respectful, you mean that you should be aware of the lady’s feelings?”

“Quite so,” Fredrick said, taking another sip of tea and then setting the cup aside. “The male is the stronger sex. It is our duty to protect, both physically and mentally, the frailer gender. It shows us to be civilized human beings, and not savages.”

“And so,” Signorina Cenci asked, “you see that, if a man turns his back on a woman as she enters the room, she might be upset. In which case, the gentlemanly response is to greet her courteously, perhaps?”

“I see your point, Madam,” Fredrick acknowledged, not wanting to argue.

“But is it also gentlemanly,” she teased, “as you bend down to kiss her hand, to stare so intently at her breasts?”

Fredrick blushed, “I am so sorry, Madam, I didn’t intend to.”

She laughed, and stood. “Then shall we try again?”

“Of course, if you wish.”

She left her tea cup on the table, walked to the door, turned, paused, and then returned towards the sofa.

Fredrick stood, stepped forward, and took her hand when she offered it. This time, as he bent and motioned to kiss her hand, he kept his eyes fixed firmly on the floor.

Again Signorina Cenci laughed.

“Mr Clifford,” she smiled, placing her hand on his arm. “Do you really think that if a lady deliberately appears dressed like this – ” she raised her other hand to her neck and let her index finger slowly trace a line along the hem of the robe, down her chest, over the mound of her breast “ – that she does not want to be admired?”

“Really, Madam, I protest,” Fredrick sighed, “You say that I should not stare, and now you say that I should stare. What am I to do?”

“Mr Clifford, you are to be a gentleman. You are to behave with consideration for the lady’s feelings.” Seeing that he was still confused, she continued. “If you stare dumbly at my chest – “ she turned slightly, so that he could fully appreciate the silhouette of her breasts – “I might consider the stare to be aggressive, or I might worry that you are no longer capable of rational thought. You are still capable of thought, Sir?”

He raised his eyes from the curve of her robe, to look her in the eye again. “Yes, of course.”

“But if you ignore me entirely, I might think that I have failed to impress you, or that you consider me ugly. You do not consider me ugly, do you?”

“No! Of course not!”

“Then, Mr Clifford, please, stop trying to guess what the rules are. There is but one rule to being a gentleman. Consideration for the feelings of the other person. And so, consider my feelings, and act accordingly.”

“Very well,” Fredrick acquiesced.

“Then shall we try once more?”

She walked back to the door, and again turned to face him. She paused for a moment. “Are you ready, Sir?”

Fredrick nodded.

She ran her finger down the front of her robe, and deliberately opened the gap at her chest a little further, so that the sides of both breasts were quite bare. “Are you certain?”

Fredrick paused for just a second and then answered confidently: “Yes, Madam.”

Signora Cenci walked across the room, her hips swaying, and held out her hand, palm down.

Fredrick took her hand. As he bowed and raised it towards his mouth, he let his eyes glance over her soft flesh, and at the lowest point of his bow he glanced up to look her in the eye. Then he looked back towards her hand as he stood, and looked her in the eye again, keeping a lingering hold of her hand before releasing her.

“Mr Clifford!” she smiled, “Have you not been taught that it is too forward, even impertinent, to look a lady in the eye as you kiss her hand?”

“Signora Cenci,” he countered, “From the way that you adjusted your gown, I understood that you wanted me to be forward, even impertinent.”

“Bravo!” she clapped her hands three times and smiled. “Please sit, and explain to me your strategy.”

As they both sat down, he on her right, she on his left, he explained. “I trust that you wanted,” he glanced again at the curve of her breast, “to be appreciated, but with discretion. And I gathered that you would not mind a little impertinence. When I first looked up at your eyes, you could have looked away, but you did not. And so I inferred that a little more impertinence might be in order before I released your hand.”

“Perfect, Mr Clifford! You considered my feelings, and acted accordingly. One might almost say, appropriately?”

Fredrick smiled, “Yes, I think that you have proved that point.”

“Which is exactly why you are here,” she explained. She put her right hand behind her on the settee and turned her body towards him. “I am told that you are an intelligent, educated gentleman. But you have been taught to be a gentleman by following a set of rules. And now you find yourself in situations where the rules do not seem to work. Situations for which no rules have been written. Is this so?”

Fredrick nodded, “Increasing so, it seems.”

“And you are particularly unsure how to deal, in certain, unusual situations, with ladies?”

“I understand how to make polite conversation,” he admitted, “but there there are things, I find, that I do not really understand.”

“And that is why you have been sent to me,” Signora Cenci smiled. “Because if you are to be a gentleman in these situations, you will be more confident, yes?”

“I suppose so, yes.”

“And to be a gentleman you need only two things. You need to act with consideration or the other person. And you need to understand what the other person wants. You see?”

“Theoretically, I suppose.”

“At this moment, yes, quite theoretically. Because you do not know enough about what a woman wants, and so you cannot treat her…. appropriately. So we shall give you a basic understanding.”

She looked at him, saying nothing more.

He felt that he was expected to react in some way, but had no idea how.

“Mr Clifford,” she flicked her long hair over her shoulder, and then lowered her hand to her knee, where she parted her robe a little. “You are alone with a woman who has chosen to greet you in a quite indecorous outfit – so indecorous, that she has not even troubled to put on underwear, but instead has nothing between you and her but a single layer of very soft, very thin silk. And now she has sat mere inches from you, turned her body towards you, and is now waiting for you. Can you not imagine a gentlemanly reaction?”

He sat, confused, uncertain.

“To make this simple,” Signora Cenci coaxed, “you have two options. If you are not sure what I want, then you can construct some witty, sensitive line of conversation to draw me into disclosing my desires. Or you can take action, in such a way that my response will tell you more of what I want…. Do you feel able to engage in witty conversations at this moment?”

He shook his head, mutely.

“Then Mr Clifford, take action!”

Welcome Author Joy Nash!!!

Hi Joy! Thank you for joining us on your blog tour. We are so excited about your 50 Days, 50 Books Giveaway Tour!






Joy, as a mother of two teenagers, I know it’s a struggle to juggle everything. How do you manage your mom-time and your writing-time and do you have any specific schedule you follow when you’re writing?

I actually have two teenagers and a twelve year old, and I also work part time at a non-writing job. With three kids, sometimes things are really crazy around here, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m blessed with a wonderful husband who does a lot around the house and also drives more hours as a hockey dad than most NYC taxi-drivers!

My main strategy for keeping to my writing schedule without going nuts is to schedule my writing time for early in the day. Yep, that’s the same advice all those weight loss articles give you for maintaining your exercise program: Do it early in the day, or it won’t get done. So I set a minimum number of pages for each day and get them done before all the other distractions kick in. The writing gets done – too bad I can’t say the same for exercise!


I can relate. It's easy to find a reason to postpone exercise! On a personal note, before we begin talking about the Immortals, what can you tell us about yourself that few people know and what do you like to do in your spare time?

Let’s see…something people don’t know about me. My immigrant grandparents were truck farmers and I seem to have inherited their gardening genes. I don’t let a summer go by without growing tomatoes, sweet peppers, and basil (among other vegetable), which I always start from seed. Right now my tomatoes are in season and taste like heaven!

In my spare time - I don’t watch much TV (because the commercials are so annoying), but I love to watch movies (new and old) with my husband and/or kids. My son and I just finished a marathon of all three Rush Hour movies – Jackie Chan is so great, and we laughed so hard! Next up on my movie queue is Saving Silverman (already and fave) and Fargo (haven’t seen it yet, but I love the Coen brothers).

The Crossing is coming to the Immortals in October, but take us back to the first installment—The Awakening. What can you tell us about the beginning of the Immortals and The Awakening from a behind-the-scenes standpoint? Where did you get the idea and what steps did you take to ensure its long-term success?

If you’re not familiar with the first four books in the Immortals series (released in 2007 and still available!), here's what you need to know:

Time and Place: Now, on Earth--but the Earth of Immortals is not the one you know! Magic and magical creatures are commonplace. Humans get cozy with demons, vampires, Sidhe, or werewolves...and many other magical creatures.

Magic: There are two kinds: Life Magic and Death Magic. These eternal forces must exist in balance for humans to thrive. While humans can practice both kinds of magic, magical creatures are aligned with one force or another. On the Life side: Sidhe, Werewolves and other shapeshifters. In service to Death: demons, vampires, Unseelies, and zombies.

The Immortal Warriors: Five big, bad, sexy warrior demigods/brothers who have existed since ancient times. Their mothers are different aspects of the Mother Goddess, their fathers were five human priests from various cultures and times. The Immortals were created to champion the fledgling human race against the forces of Death Magic. All five Immortals fulfilled this purpose until the Middle Ages when, mysteriously, they disappeared from human affairs.

The Immortals world is the brainchild of Jennifer Ashley. Robin Popp and I were brought on board by the Immortals editors, and had a great time helping Jennifer develop all the details of the Immortals world and characters. A big selling point has been the Immortal series website and MySpace (we have over 1200 myspace friends! – whew, I was never that popular in high school, lol) Check out all the extras at www.immortals-series.com and http://www.myspace.com/immortalsseries. Don’t miss the cool book trailers!

How many books are planned for Joy Nash and the Immortals series?
Right now the Immortals series stands at eight books, ending with an anthology, Immortals: The Reckoning, in March 2009. My contributions are Immortals: The Awakening, Immortals: The Crossing, and the novella “Blood Debt,” in Immortals: The Reckoning anthology.

Jennifer Ashley’s Immortals books are Immortals: The Calling, Immortals: The Gathering, Immortals: The Redeeming, and the novella “Wolf Hunt,” in Immortals: The Reckoning. Robin Popp’s Immortals books include Immortals: The Darkening, Immortals: The Haunting, and the novella “Beyond the Mist,” in Immortals: The Reckoning.

Do you mind to give us a short summary of The Crossing and The Awakening?
Not at all!

Immortals: The Awakening (August 07) Immortals Series, Book 3 - When Coven of Light witch Christine Lachlan tracks an elusive Immortal Kalen to his castle in Scotland, she finds the cynical warrior isn’t interested in saving mankind from a powerful demon. It’ll take all her power to convince him to join the fight. (A USA Today Bestseller)

Immortals: The Crossing (October 08) - Immortals Series, Book 6 - Demigod Manannán mac Lir (Mac) is on the trail of Artemis Black, a stunningly dangerous woman who’s inexplicably able to intertwine life magic with death magic. For the safety of his people, he should destroy the desperate witch. But first, he needs to uncover her darkest secret.


You are a USA Today Bestselling Romance Author. This is not an easy milestone to reach by any stretch of the imagination, especially today. With more and more small presses offering authors the opportunity to build a reader base and tougher competition in the romance industry than ever before, what do you think truly sets a bestselling author apart from the rest of the crowd?

There is so much talent out there, and so many wonderful authors and stories. Ebooks and small press are a growing part of the business, and I’ve discovered many new favorites through that medium. When it comes to appearing on national bestseller lists, a lot is beyond an author’s control. A book makes the bestseller’s lists mainly on the strength of its sales in the first week of release. Besides having a well-written book in a marketable sub-genre and a strong online presence, a bestselling author will always have the support of her publishing house in the form of a good-sized print run, good distribution, advance publicity, and co-op dollars spent to ensure prime placement in bookstores.


Tell us what is up next for Joy Nash.

2009 is going to be a very busy year for me. March 09 brings the Immortals: The Reckoning Anthology. My novella in the anthology, “Blood Debt,” features my very first vampire hero. June 09 will see the start of a new, lighter contemporary series with A Little Light Magic. Then my Druids of Avalon historical paranormal series returns in October 09 with Silver Silence. Silver Silence is the third book in the Druids series, after The Grail King and Deep Magic. I’m working on that book now.


Joy, I want to thank you for joining us here today. I wish you all the success in the world and I will most definitely read the Immortals! Please come back soon to visit!

To Bite or Not to Bite--That is the Question!

I’m concerned. I’m hearing vampires are on the way out and I’m ‘seeing’ it too because I’ve been on a GOOGLE blog search this morning and according to some, vamps were on the up and out several months ago.

I missed that memo.

Shapeshifters, (which are not on my list of personal favorites), are preferred in paranormal. Since I write a lot of paranormal, mostly vampire-related novellas and novels, I wanted to post and get your opinion.

I have an upcoming shapeshifter—Turnkey Lovers (Coming soon to Whispers)—I find a lot more appeal in a blood thirsty vamp. True, I like the modernized vampire. Yes, toss a paranormal/urban fantasy novel my way and I’ll disappear for a bit so long as the hero is an ultra-sexy vamp with a hard body and great dialogue to inspire his heroine.

If you look at my title list, you might just disagree with me today and I really, really hope you do. The Winning Virgin series just kicked off Winning Virgin Love which immediately hit the 14-Day Best Seller and the 60-Day Best Seller list at Siren. Yay! Go Siren! Go Winning Virgin Love! Go You and Go Me!

Needless to say, I was thrilled.

Still, after surfing the internet this morning and reading what others have to say—vampires may soon be on ice. Literally.

I’d love to tell you my vamps are different and to an extent, they really are, but all writers probably tell you the same thing. It’s the nature of the business. We’re all supposed to convince one another and ourselves that we write the profoundly different regardless of what we write. Some of us even believe that nonsense even though there are millions and millions of books that have been published over the course of several hundred years.

Winning Virgin Love has a very different story because of a ‘non-traditional mating ceremony’ and the thick romantic suspense plot. Winning Virgin Lust promises more of the same and it’s coming soon. See what I mean? I’m convinced. No one ever wrote anything comparable before. Did I convince you? I hope so. Buy the book and see!

As for the Blending Bloodline titles coming soon to Resplendence Publishing, the first two short stories Bewitching Bite and Bewitching Purpose (coming next week), have a phenomenal novel to follow that borders on the very dark side of paranormal. The plot is one that has never been done so that’s a good thing. The two short stories? Hmmm…Bewitching Bite caught fantastic reviews but some of the reviewers recently wanted ‘more’ and they’ll certainly get it in the third and final book.

Bewitching Purpose is on the way first and Matilda and Armand draw out the worst in one another for a purpose greater than either can comprehend. That purpose will be explored in an in-depth novel to follow. Let me simply state that the ‘novel’ in question has been researched too death for the purpose of getting the facts behind the fiction (For those of you who don’t know, the Blending Bloodline titles touch on the life of Erzsebet Bathory, The Blood Countess and another notorious vampire).

So, my questions to you today are numerous. Answer one or answer all. What do you like to read in paranormal today? What do you like to find in your vampire-induced paranormals? And what genre do you read most now? My romantic suspense, Unspoken Truths is taking a run up the charts so I assume a lot of people are reading romantic suspense but what are YOU reading now?

Until next time, keep it sexy and read it blue-hot!
Destiny

The ‘HOT’ Topic

Winning Virgin Love kicks off the new releases for

The Ménage Amour Collection at Siren Publishing!

My first ménage novel will be released from Siren Publishing later today.For those of you who know me, yes, you read that correctly. I know, I can’t believe it either. I was the writer who tiptoed into erotic romance. Actually, it was more like skipping rocks in the beginning.
Those days are gone. Truly, they’ve disappeared with a distant wind.I decided to step out of the closet with a bang. Actually, after you read Winning Virgin Love, you may decide it’s more like a sprint from one bedroom to the next or more precisely, from one hot vampire rogue to another. Now before you get too excited—I am most definitely talking about my characters here!
For those of you who have been gracious enough to stick with me since my early days of writing erotica romance, I can tell you right now, you will be shocked and pleasantly surprised. Winning Virgin Love is hell-hot and you know it’s spicy rich when I blush at my own excerpt! It was the whole ‘seeing it posted’ thing but I’m over it now. In fact, I want to send you to take a look too:

http://www.sirenpublishing.com/destinyblaine/wvlove.asp

Winning Virgin Blood released in April and while I loved Orlando (the younger twin son of Samuel Spenser), I always had my eye on Almonzo so you can imagine how exciting it is to see him burning up the pages in Winning Virgin Love. Believe me when I tell you, he comes ‘alive’ in every way that matters!Without providing spoilers, let me just say that my ‘boys’ in this series are definitely Almonzo Spenser and Gabriel Sabbat. It’s tough choosing just one and you'll quickly see why in Winning Virgin Love.

That's the best part.

Since Winning Virgin Love is part of Siren’s Ménage Amour Collection,
you don't have to choose!



These sexy vampires grab and hold a woman’s attention. Never mind what they do to behind closed doors.


If you haven’t read Winning Virgin Blood, stop by Siren and take a look at the first book in the series.
Later today, Winning Virgin Love is set for release. I’m telling you, you don’t want to miss this ménage debut!


Destiny Blaine

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand
http://www.sirenpublishing.com/destinyblaine/wvlove.asp
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/destinyblaine_romance

PLEASE NOTE: If you purchase any of my titles today (on release day) from Siren or BookStrand, hang on to your receipt and later today, you'll find out why!

Contest info for July 1st and Beyond!

It’s Monday!

For those of you who are members of Just Another Paranormal Monday, you know what that means. It’s another thrilling day of paranormal news, excerpts, and reviews. Where? I knew you might ask so I thought I’d post the link to make it easy for you! Check us out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ParanormalMonday

Thanks to everyone spreading the word, JAPM is now over 450 members strong! We also have a phenomenal blog and it's already loaded with some fantastic reading: http://paranormalmonday.blogspot.com. ALL JAPM members
are welcome to post blogs and it’s a great place to visit! :))

I have two new releases coming up tomorrow. One Vampire Summer is releasing from eXtasy Books and Love, Lust and Scandal in Professional Football will debut from the new BookStrand! If you want to get in on the excitement, then you don’t want to miss “There's a New Game in Town Sweepstakes" because it promises to help you SCORE BIG in 2008!


Be sure to view the book trailers here. I am so proud of my daughter. She worked this weekend on creating two video book trailers and I have to say the first one (Winning Virgin Blood) was good but—the second one for One Vampire Summer is just rocking! See what you think!

Later today, I'll have a winner for my Books for 2008 contest and I'll announce the lucky winner right here and over at Just Another Paranormal Monday! Speaking of contests, I have plenty of those coming up in 2008 and you'll want to get in on the excitement by joining my newsletter at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/destinyblaine_romance/.

Why? Well, because I'm going to turn it into one big on going party again and I'll have details coming up soon! All genres are welcome over there and that’s where we’re going to keep score with the "There's a New Game in Town Sweepstakes" so you don’t want to miss it!

I also have a very big announcement. Ladies and gentleman, hold onto your caps because I'm about to release a big YIPPPPPEEEEEE!

*Sigh*

Now that I have that out, I can tell you. I am a winner. Yep, it's true. I AM A WINNER!!!! I'm so excited about this that I had to scream it out. I won a month of free advertising from Joyfully Reviewed!!! As some of you know, Joyfully Reviewed had a wonderful paranormal event last week and authors were able to post their paranormal work. JR posted they would give away a month of free advertising and guess what? (okay, so you already know now but remember the drama effect-lol) Yes, I won! :)


I love winning. Thank you so much Joyfully Reviewed. You gave my week a good boast! Everyone, be sure to check out Joyfully Reviewed at http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/ and join Chatting with Joyfully Reviewed at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chatting_with_Joyfully_Reviewed. Watch for my One Vampire Summer cover coming soon to Joyfully Reviewed!


Now about the after-party contest: For those of you who were at the Siren/BookStrand Membership Drive, you know a new contest was posted for the after-party excitement. You can still get in on the contest and here’s how: First, make sure you’re a member at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand-- and tell those ladies over there I sent you.

Now, all you need to do is enter and win. Here’s how the after-party contest is going to work:

On July 1st, I'm going to give away one copy of Love, Lust and Scandal in Professional Football and one copy of Winning Virgin Blood. Also, if you win the copy of Winning Virgin Blood, you'll win the second title in the Sports Wives Series. If you win Love, Lust and Scandal in Professional Football, you'll win the second title in the Winning Virgin series so ultimately, you get to try out two series in one win! The second titles will not be sent out until their respective release dates. :))


All you have to do is visit my blog at http://www.destinyblaine.blogspot.com/ (here)
and let me know which one of my upcoming BookStrand/Siren titles you're looking forward to most and why. The titles are listed here and on my website at www.destinyblaine.com.


Remember, all comments must be approved but I'll be back online to approve them soon. On July 1st, I'll announce the winners early in the morning so you can `get in the game' and start gaining yards for a touchdown in the "There's a New Game in Town Sweepstakes" so hurry up—get in on the excitement today!

Two things will enter you in the contest for free books on July 1st! Comment on the book trailer and tell me which BookStrand/Siren title you can't wait to read!



Have a great Monday!
Destiny :))

Siren Chat Today!

Come on over and join us today!

Join Siren Authors for the Siren/BookStrand Author Bash and let them know I sent you! I'll send you a free chapter read/sneak preview of an upcoming Siren/BookStrand book!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBookstrand/

Also, since you're here, check out the new video trailer for Winning Virgin
Blood!

Have a wonderful weekend!
Destiny :))

Savanna Kougar is back with us today!!!!

Okay, I admit it. I seldom ‘do’ interviews. I don’t know why, I just don’t. The last interview I did under my real name was so dated by the time it posted, I nearly cringed when I saw it. Throughout life, circumstances change and situations send even the best of writers on a different course. With interviews posted online, readers don’t always recognize dated interviews and often they appear current. So, since I seldom do them, I rarely ask for them. However, I just had to ask Savanna Kougar a few questions and here she is back today with some great answers!
Welcome back Savanna! We’re so glad you’re here!

Destiny (who is actually “doing an interview” tomorrow so stay tuned)

Savanna Speaks:

A writer often knows they are born to write but even if they begin to write at a young age, often it is years before they begin to write for others. Tell us when you knew you were "a writer" and what inspired you to write for other people?

Since I was kid in school writing and English classes were a natural for me. Although I didn’t think about being an author until I was about sixteen. Believe it or not I was in bathroom and I just asked myself and God, what is my career? I asked because it was confusing. I had so many areas of interest, a lot of different paths before me at the time. Anyway, writer sounded in my head ~ you’re going to be an author.

What are your favorite genres to write?

Truthfully, anything and everything in paranormal, sci fi, futuristic, fantasy with history thrown in.

Do you write seven days a week and if so, what kind of writing schedule do you follow?

Currently I do write seven days a week, unless I get interrupted by life, or I’m too sick. Ha! What writing schedule? Since the release of my two e-novels, promo takes chunks out of my day. So I just try to fit it all in.

Do you write ‘on-location’ and if so, where have you traveled for your story?

The only location I write from is my mind and imagination. I would love to travel, but my health prohibits that.

What do you do for down-time?

Take care of my doggies, watch them play, play with them and give them smooches and hugs. Occasionally I dabble in my drawing and painting.

6. Who are some of your favorite authors? And remember, you can’t use your interviewer—(that way if I’m one of your favorites, it doesn’t look like a shameless plug and if not, then it doesn’t hurt my feelings—now laugh!)
I have so many fave authors, romance and otherwise, I’ll just say Walter Farley, author of The Black Stallion series for kids. And Marguerite Henry, who wrote fabulous horse stories and one of my all-time favorites, King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian.

Have any authors motivated or inspired you in any way?

All the time! And from the moment I began reading. I’d have to write a novel to fully answer this question.

Tell us more about the writing competition you recently entered!

None recently. I’ll qualify for Passionate Ink’s Passionate Plume contest for authors next year. So I’ll probably enter that one. But ya know, I don’t really have time for that now.

Lottery Winners

I’m a gambler. I love to gamble on a sure thing. You know those sucker bets that should ensure you win without a shadow of a doubt. Those bets. I’ve lost a few of those little beauties. That easy money that I already had banked with confidence.

Of course, I’m not opposed to playing the long shots. These are the bets that pay something like thirty to one (or much more if you’re betting on the ponies). If you shoot dice, you know that those so-called long shots can pay off handsomely. But the truth is, I’m not here to talk about craps and rolling the dice. At least not yet.

Tonight, I want to talk about the kind of life-changing long shot that was found this month at a place called Clyde’s Market about two hundred miles south of Atlanta. In the town of Portal, Georgia, Lady Luck passed through and left behind a loot. $270 million dollars to be exact. That’s a lot of money. Not that you needed me to verify the fact, but it is.

After I read about winners Tonya and Robert Harris and their lucky win, I went on a search to discover more. I found a few posts about the lottery winners and I even found a statement made by Tonya Harris (to ABCNews.com). She made a statement regarding the win where she said, "It just hasn't sunk in yet really…” So, I thought I would pull out my soapbox. You know, step up and offer some words of wisdom from one gambler to another because the sooner it sinks in, the better chance she has to hold onto it!

I have a suggestion because I’m full of them.

Mrs. Harris, if you are reading this, go book a twenty-one day cruise that you can not afford on your current salary (yes, prior to the $270 million dollar bonus). Charge it. Stay in a suite with a private balcony. Order the most expensive champagne money can buy and demand that it be kept chilled in the ice bucket at all times. Shop. Yes, shop until you drop. Max out that credit card. Do it. Do it because you can and do it because you want to know what debt feels like one last time before you begin to revel in riches and think money has no true value.

Use twenty-one days to think about how you want to live your life now that the money you’ve won is enough to change your life. While you’re on this lavish trip, think about the money you are throwing away without a care but think about it from a different point of view. From the person’s point of view that would’ve never blown money away so frivolously. The old you. The one that would not have been able to afford a twenty-one day cruise, a lavish suite, the best champagne and everything else chance enabled you to buy.

Then, go back home and settle into the hum-drum of daily life. Be thankful for what you have. Pay off that credit card and think about how great it feels to do it. Then, sit down and look at all of the offers that have poured into your mailbox while you’ve been away. The vultures are hungry and with your $270 million dollars, they’ve been circling waiting for your return. But wait! Before you answer the mail you’ve received or return the phone calls you’ve been able to avoid, take a moment and search the internet.

This is where you’ll find that the odds are stacked up against you. The proof is found in the many lottery winners before you. This is where you’ll discover that the gift you’ve been given can quickly be taken from you if you listen to those who want something from you. The good news is, I believe odds are made (or set) to be challenged, if not broken.

I am a gambler at heart but I don’t play the lottery. I don’t like the lottery because I’m a
numbers person. I like games where the odds are in my favor (poker) or where the house edge can be minimized when conditions are favorable (craps) for the player. The lottery is a game of chance and luck. Never skill. Sometmes, I believe this is why those who win with luck often find it difficult to hang onto the winnings. They never expected to win and were unprepared when the cash literally fell in their lap.

I can understand and relate to lottery winners because I’ve spent hours in casinos and I’ve witnessed and watched huge takes from slot machines. Luck brings the unexpected. Luck leaves everything to chance and luck always turns back in the opposite direction. If you don’t believe me, squeeze in around a crowded craps table on a Friday night and you’ll see for yourself. Luck takes prisoners and holds hostages if you believe in chance alone.

A few years ago, I watched a documentary on lottery winners and one winner in particular stood out. David Lee Edwards won millions and he spent it. Boy did he ever. Today, it’s safe to say nothing remains of his fortune. There have been other hard-luck lottery winner stories.

It’s tough to send out kudos and congratulations to any chance winners without first adding a warning. I do believe that winners can be true winners when they know what is at stake and don’t always feel the need to push for more. When they are content with what they have and that’s enough. It’s all they need. More than they deserved.

The problems that lottery winners face is often something they could avoid if the greed-factor stayed in check. If the new money factor didn’t become more important than the old traditional values. Because of money, more becomes… more important. There’s a need for more material things because there’s more money to buy them. More homes and more expensive cars are luxuries that lottery winners seldom deny themselves.

Then, there’s the money-attitude. The one that often marks the beginning of the end. It’s where more respect is demanded because respect bought is easier than respect earned.
More is great but more often brings a whole lot less when it isn’t managed with humility and a humble heart.

My hope is that every lottery winner today and in the future will proceed with caution so that the good fortune they receive will always be remembered with a smile rather than thought of as a curse. After all, Lady Luck can give but “twisted fate” can sure take away.

Just a matter of my opinion. I’d love to hear yours!

Destiny

I'm blogging with Maddie James this week!!!!

I'm blogging with Maddie James this week! Please stop by and visit when you can. Just click here: http://maddiejames.blogspot.com/ and then come on over so you can tell us what's up with you!

Maddie is a multi-published author. She published her first book in 1997 which was a Kensington Precious Gems Romance. She's a wonderful writer and I feel honored to be her guest this week. So join us!

Destiny