October 5th, 2008
It’s Day 4 of the Allure Giveaways..
Be sure to check out Sylvia’s blog today for a chance to win….
October 3rd, 2008
JC. Your name was drawn as the winner of Cathryn’s PLEASURE CONTROL.
To collect your prize just email me (use the nifty CONTACT button in the menu bar) your snail mail address by Monday morning!
For more chances to win books, check out these blog… one of us will be giving away a book every day for October.
VIVI’s blog
SYLVIA’s blog
DELILAH’s blog
CATHRYN’s blog
LISA’s blog
MYLA’s Blog
and right here with ME!
PS: I checked around, and the book being giving away today is WICKED by me…. if you want a chance to win, I suggest you check out Myla’s Blog.
October 1st, 2008
Today I’m kicking off the 30 Days Of Books Giveaway that me and my Allure sisters are doing.
See, on November 8th, ALLURING TALES: Hot Holiday Nights will be in stores, and we want you all drooling for it. Since the first one we did was so well received, we decided to do more! Hot Holiday Nights is our second ALLURING TALES collection of short stories.
All month long, we’re going to be giving away books from all 7 of us, to entice you into checking out our collections…and because we love readers. *grin*
Today, I’m giving away a copy of PLEASURE CONTROL, by Cathryn Fox.
Ladies and Gents, this book is just the beginning …but oh what a way to start.
Here’s what readers and reviewers had to say abotu her Avon Debut story:
If you’re in the market for something beyond your average sex scene but short of elaborate kink, Fox’s book is perfect.~Romantic Times RT Rating: 4 Stars
Cathryn Fox’s NY debut is a smash! Pleasure Control is intriguing, evocative fun you won’t want to miss. Enjoy! ~A Romance Review Rating 5 roses
With Pleasure Control, Cathryn Fox delivers a very lusty tale. A lot! I learned my lesson with Pleasure Control, never, ever, read a Cathryn Fox book at work. I thought the day would never end!~Joyfully Reviewed
Hot, enthralling and simply delicious — Run don’t walk to the nearest bookstore and purchase this book today. It’s a must read!~Romance Review Today
“Sizzling, irresistible, wonderful.”~ New Your Times Best selling author, Lori Foster
To be entered to win, all you have to do is tell me if you’ve ever read one of Cathryn’s Books before, and if you have..which is your favorite?
If you haven’t? Then why not? LOL
It’s a 24 hour contest so I’ll pick a winner from the commenters in the morning, and announce it here tomorrow!
If you need to refresh your memory on how many books Cathryn has out.. check out her Book Page HERE
Now, for your enjoyment… an excerpt from PLEASURE CONTROL…
EXCERPT:
She stopped to consider what she’d gotten herself into. In no time at all the man she was secretly infatuated with would be walking through her front door, expecting to see her in her slinkiest lingerie. And what were the chances she’d ever experience the feel of his lips caressing hers, or his artful fingers stroking her heated, naked flesh? None, considering the fact that she’d given him a libido suppressant hours earlier. She resisted the urge to slap her forehead. Way to go, Laura. You’re brilliant. That move had Nobel Prize written all over it.
But what if he did get aroused?
The possibilities are endless. Those four simple words had echoed in her head all day. She allowed herself a brief luxurious moment to envision what it would be like to have his naked body moving over hers. His mouth kissing a path down her quivering flesh until he reached the moist fissure between her thighs. The soft blade of his tongue opening her dewy folds so he could taste her liquid arousal. His lips closing over her hooded flesh, branding her with their heat, claiming her as his own.
Her skin came alive as a wave of desire traveled onward and upward through her body. Laura shook her passion-fogged mind from its delicious wanderings and retraced her steps back to the window.
Actually, if she really thought about it, she was in a win/win situation. If Jay didn’t get aroused, they’d secure their funding and make their mark in the scientific world. If he did get aroused, well a slow tremor made her body quake. Well, maybe he could douse the fire raging between her legs. Which one did she want more?
She reached for the curtain. Her fingers froze mid-air when a soft knock on her door drew her attention. She spun around and sucked in a quick, sharp breath. Her pulse leapt in her throat.
God, she was a bundle of nerves. It wasn’t everyday her job required her to entice the guy she’d been fantasizing about for months. A guy who was completely out of her league.
She tightened her robe around her waist and slowly padded across the floor. Slipping her hand around the knob, she twisted it open, and eyed the man casually lounging against her doorjamb.
She took a moment to peruse the length of him. Sculpted muscles stretched the cotton fabric of his T-shirt while broad shoulders tapered to meet a tight waist and firm stomach. With symmetry and a lethally honed body, he was designed to satisfy the most insatiable.
Dressed in a pair of jeans that hugged his physique in all the wrong places, this bad boy had trouble written all over him.
He presented her with a sexy, lopsided smile. “Hey,” he said, handing her a bottle of wine.
“Hey yourself.” Taking a small step back, she placed the bottle on a side table, waved her hand, and gestured for him to enter. “Come in.”
Without taking his eyes off her, he stepped inside. A shiver skipped down her spine at the sound of the deadbolt clicking in place.
Damn. He was so handsome. So perfect. Some deeper emotion stirred within. She moistened her lips and shrugged it off. It wasn’t like she was going to fall for him if he kissed her, touched her, or made sweet love to her all night long. She knew better than to fill her head with fancy notions of love. JC Penny’s weekend white sales were known to last longer than his relationships. The predatory gleam in his eyes made her pulse rate kick up a notch. She began to warm in the most interesting places. She fanned her face and loosened the lapels of her robe, exposing the lace on her teddy. Was it getting hotter in here? Schooling her expression, she banked her desires and asked, “How are you feeling? Any side effects yet?”
He shrugged, his eyes shifting downward to examine the rise and fall of her chest. A feminine thrill ran through her.
He cleared his throat and raked his bangs off his forehead. “So far so good. I still have all my hair and I’m not drooling.” His gaze roamed her body. “At least not yet,” he said playfully.
She glanced at his crotch. Purely for research purposes, she told herself. “Anything going on, down there?”
He grinned. “A few twitches. Nothing out of the ordinary.” His eyes sparkled with mischief and something else. If she had to guess, she’d say promise. “We’ll know more when we put him to the test.”
She shivered with a mix of excitement and nervousness as she toyed with the belt on her housecoat. She didn’t want to seem too eager, too anxious to start putting Little Jay to the test, but the promising look in his eyes prompted her into action. With renewed concentration, she plastered on an air of professionalism and fought to ignore the fine tremor of heat rippling through her.
She lowered her voice. “Perhaps we should get started. We have no idea how long this will take.”
Powerful muscles shifted as he took a step closer and angled his head. His heady male scent intoxicated her and fired her senses. “Yes, perhaps we should.”
Drawing a fueling breath, she inched open her housecoat, revealing a silky white chemise, lace panties and matching garter.
A rich, decadent rumble of pleasure sounded low in his throat. Her body trembled in response. She watched his eyes darken with lust as his gaze caressed her.
Lust! In his eyes! When he looked at her!
Hot damn!
Her nipples swelled under his devouring eyes. She felt her cheeks flush from heat and desire.
His fingers bit into her hips as he pulled her hard against him. A fever rose in her when her breasts crushed into a wall of thick muscle.
His voice was husky, sensual. “How did you know?” His eyes reflected his every emotion, his every desire.
“Know what?” she rasped.
With excruciating gentleness, he skimmed her curves with his palms. “That white lace is my favorite.” The deep timbre of his voice covered her like warm butter.
She cleared her throat and drew in a steadying breath. “I once read that white lace will raise any man’s eyebrows.”
The turbulence in his eyes made her skin grow moist and tighten. He tangled his hands through her hair and urged her mouth closer.
“Yes, well, what we’re looking to raise is nowhere near my eyebrows.”
She resisted the urge to scream hallelujah!
October 1st, 2008
ALLURING TALES: Hot Holiday Nights will be releasing so, and to help get you all pumped up for it, the Allure AUthors are giving away a book a day this month,
Each day one of these authors will be giving away a book on thier blog… so you have many many chances to win!
VIVI’s blog
SYLVIA’s blog
DELILAH’s blog
CATHRYN’s blog
LISA’s blog
MYLA’s Blog
and right here with ME!
September 29th, 2008
YAY!! I’m so excited. My box from Amazon.ca arrived!!
I’m refilling my creative well, and spending all my free time reading and catching TV shows. (I just watched the first season of CALIFORNICATION…has anyone watched it? I loved it!)
Anyway, this is my TBR pile, so keep an eye here for my thoughts on them.
First book I’m digging in to…
The Three Novel collection of ROGUE ANGEL: RENAISSANCE
You can see my thoughts on GABRIEL’s HORN and the ROgue Angel series here in my Books I loved post.
I also have GOD OF THUNDER and THE GOLDEN ELEPHANT in the TBR PILE. What can I say, I was late discovering this series, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!! I’ve almost got them all now.
In the TBR pile is also ANGEL OF MERCY
I’ve never read Toni Andrews before, but this cover caught my eye, and the blurb hooked me. Anyone else read this, or her first one BEG FOR MERCY.
Also in my TBR pile is the anthology FIRST BLOOD.
I’m so looking forward to that anthology. I’ve enjoyed Chris Marie Green and Meljean Brook in the past, and while I’ve never read Erin McCarthy, I love the woman in person…I just know this antho is going to rock!!
What about you? What are you reading right now?
September 27th, 2008
Okay People. MY PREROGATIVE has been in stores for a couple of weeks now. Do you have your copy?
I’ve shown you chapters of the book, reviews, and even the playlist I listened to when writing this book. Now, I’m focussing on rewarding my readers who help spread the word. Have you read MY PREROGATIVE? have you posted a review online anywhere? On any online bookstore? On your blog? If you have send me a link to it.… and be entered to win a $30 Amazon Gift Certificate (Or for the online bookstore of your choice)
And if your review is quoted here on my blog in a READERS SPEAK post, and you email me by the deadline, then you can also win a book from my backlist!
Todays READERS SPEAK has 2 winners!
Laurie K. WHo has posted a review on BORDERS.com
“Kelsey isn’t your typical heroine which makes her all the more enticing to read about. Her life might not seem normal to most, but is normal for her. There is always a point in Ms. White’s books where you are empathetic with her characters and Kelsey is no different. It’s couldn’t have been written any better! The feeling and emotions jump off the page, erotic or not. Everyone finds their happily ever after in different ways and Kelsey is no different. Poignant writing from one of today’s best erotic writers.”
And Debbie E who has posted her review on Chapters.ca
“Kelsey is a fantastic heroine who is not ashamed to love sex, have fun and not settle for the wrong man. She is somebody that could be one of your good uninhibited friends and let me say – you will feel the sizzle and sparks right along with her. Harlan is a fun, hot, considerate hero who will have you drooling at his way of knowing exactly what Kelsey needs and when she needs it…
This is not a story just about hot sex – there is real emotion involved – in Kelsey’s friends at work, her Mom and sister and her girlfriends. You will not be disappointed in reading this scorching hot and emotionally moving story. As an added BONUS – there is a short story with a relating character included at the end of the book.“
Debbie and Laurie, you have until Tuesday Sept 30th to email me with your snail mail addy’s and choice of book from my backlist. (Not all are available, but I will do my best to get you the ones you want) Use the CONTACT link up top and put READERS SPEAK in the subject line please. :)
Have a great weekend everyone.
September 26th, 2008
I’m not sure if it’s because I started out writing short stories, and built up to writing novels or what, but I tend to almost always be short on my final word counts. I try very hard to hit them, I think big long books are what readers like, especially when they’re paying $14 for them, but honestly, it’s a struggle to bump it up. I think mostly because as a reader, I absolutely hate filler like overly descriptive passages and sex scenes thrown in just for the sake of plumping up the pages. I want to read a good tight story, that always has me wanting more, never wanting it to end. I do not want to be skimming pages to get to ‘the good stuff’. The whole book should be ‘the good stuff’. I take my writing just as seriously as my reading, and I want my stories to be engaging all the way through. I don’t ever want to hear that a reader skimmed through pages of it because it was too wordy. I know I hate it when I start skimming books, that brings a story down in my eyes.
So this means really digging into the stories and trying to find ways to add that actually effect the story line, make it stronger, better. It’s times like this I wish I got revisions from my editors. In all honesty, I’ve never had revisions on any of my stories. Ever. I used to think this was a compliment to my writing - my previous agent told me it was because I could write a good tight story on my own…this was a good thing. I believed her.
In the past 4 years I’ve written 10 full novels and 4 novellas, (and each of them are short on the actual contracted word counts if you go by computer wordcount) and as time went on, I found myself wanting revisions. I wanted my editors to read my stories, find flaws, big or small, and point them out to me. I wanted to have them rip apart my stories, then hand them back to me so I could put them back together- better than ever. But it never happened.
Once, one of my editors did give me a few notes…I was thrilled, I thought they were revisions, but really, it was just very small minor changes. But the point was… I was thrilled to have them.
I have friends who get revisions and edits like that, and they’re always saying how it helps them grow and learn and become a better writer. I also know many authors who tell me I’m a complete idiot to want the pain and stress that comes with that sort of thing. That I should be loving the complete freedom I have…and part of me really does. But there is also that part of me that really wants to be able to talk to my editors about my stories, my characters, I’d like to have someone to help me become a better author. I want to write bigger and better stories, and I’m worried that I can not do that on my own.
This is the main reason why I have slowed down on my writing to the point that I’m just not sure when, or even if, I’ll write another Sasha White novel. People will always say this is a tough business, and you won’t survive it if you don’t have a deep abiding passion for it. Well, I do have a passion for it. But my burning passion is like any fire…it’s going to falter and turn to sparks and then embers, and maybe even to ashes, if nobody feeds it another log. It can only remain self-sustaining for so long.
While my fire is not yet out, it is at the sparks only stage. Part of me thinks time away from writing will breathe new life into my fire, part of me wonders if a new passion will come by. I’m just not sure. All I do know is that I do not want to keep pushing out the same level of book over and over again until my readers revolt and stop buying because there is nothing new happening. Is this anyones fault but my own? Not at all. It’s up to me, the author, to come up with something new that will energize my muse and my passion… but am I wrong to want an agent, editor, or publisher who shows some enthusiasm for my work? Am I being too demanding? Am I wrong to want someone to help me keep the fires of my passion burning?
This is by no means meant to be a whiny or complaint ridden post. Many authors talk about this stuff in private, but honestly, I’m tired of back room discussions…those feel more whiny and childish to me that bringing the subject out into the open. I’m not looking for a bunch of people to stroke my ego or make me feel better, or to come and tell me I should be grateful for what I already have. I am grateful I have three wonderful publishers, and editors who let me push the envelope and write the stories I want to write. I’ve been blessed many times over by the cover Gods, and readers and reviewers alike to seem to really enjoy my work. I want to keep working, keep writing, keep building my career by writing bigger better books that draw more and more readers…I’m just not sure how to do that without a little help.
Maybe it’s just the place I’m in mentally right now, and after a bit of time off, I’ll be raring to go. But i wanted to share some of my thoughts because PBW did a post on 25 Reasons to Keep Writing the other day that had me thinking. I do want to keep writing, but I also want to grow as an author.
September 23rd, 2008
SECRET THOUGHTS
Samhain Publishing
ISBN-10: 1599989786
ISBN-13: 978-1599989785
Release Date: October 28, 2008
The print anthology SECRET THOUGHTS is the combination of eBooks EROTIQUE and LUSTFUL.
PRE-ORDER NOW at
Chapters.ca
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble
Domination or submission? Menage a trois or man on man? What about voyeurism? A tease? A taste? Sink your teeth into this collection of erotica short stories from five top erotic storytellers.
Everyone has them. Those Secret Thoughts that bring forth your hottest dreams and desires. The ones you dont share, the ones that make your heart pound and your blood heat. What’s your pleasure? Kink? A lusty encounter with a stranger? Two strangers? How about man on man while you watch?
These authors draw back the curtain on your deepest, lustiest, most secret forbidden fantasies. Slow and sensuous. Or hot and hard. The pleasures all yours. Go on. Step through the curtain. You know you want to.
Yuo can read how the SECRET THOUGHTS books came about RIGHT HERE
September 16th, 2008
I had a weird day. It started normal, nothing exciting. I did my work thing (as opposed to the work out thing) , and then chatted with some friends online while checking emails and found one that messed up the rest of my day. And that jolt of anxiety/panic that hit spurred on some serious thinking on my part.
At the end of August, I did some timed writing exercises online with a couple of author friends who also had Sept 1st deadlines. We’d write for 45 minutes, then break for 15. That last week of August was hugely productive for me. And I loved what I wrote. In fact, I loved it so much I’d sort of decided to keep writing - to jump right into another project.
One of my friends and I talked about doing the timed writing every Sat, and I was going to become a “weekend novelist” since I’m back at work at the bar full time as of Sept 2nd. I talked with friends and co-workers about a non-fiction idea I’ve had forever, and even they got excited. Yet, part of me has worried over the past two weeks because I haven’t been as diligent in my working out as I’d planned. Mostly because going back to work full time has been kicking my ass -physically.
Seriously, I’ve not worked a nine hour shift in at least two, probably three years..and now that’s almost all I work. I’m loving being back at work though. I enjoy talking to people and flirting and pretty much everything about waitressing and bartending. Okay, there are the drunks, and the idiots, and the assholes…but that’s a different story. This is about the things I like. But, I’m almost 39 years old, and I’ve spent the better part of the past three years on my ass in front of a computer, and I’ve gained a lot of weight. My feet do not like running around for 9 hours a night with all this weight. They don’t complain at the time, but the next afternoon when I wake up, I feel like a cripple.
And strangely enough, after my little anxiety attack this afternoon, I sat down to watch some video tapes. Yes, I said tapes. I don’t have cable, my mom tapes some shows for me every week. (Law and Order, Bones, CSI, Flashpoint) Anyway, I pulled out a tape and popped it in the VCR, and on the screen came me. Almost fifteen years ago, at a Karate compitition.
Wow! Blew me away.
My long long hair, and y’know… I kicked some ass. LOL I cried when I saw my old friend Jackson do his thing in the weapons competition. Jackson was a very good friend, and a mentor to me in many ways - and he passed away ten years ago from cancer at the very young age of 34. It was a strange sort of feeling to see him on screen completely by fluke when I’d just finished writing story that featured a character I’d originally named after him (Jackson Barrows was a secondary character in SEX AS A WEAPON, and gets his own story in next years MOST WANTED ) In all honesty I think he’d laugh so hard he’d cry if he knew I was now writing erotica, and I’d named a character after him.. You see, Jackson and I didn’t have that sort of relationship. He was like a big brother to me. And while I was writing SEX AS A WEAPON he was in my mind as Jack, he was not in my mind when writing UNRESTRICTED ACCESS (the story in Most Wanted) . The character had become his own man….but it was still a cool reminder.
And it was a good swift kick in the pants for me to see myself in fighting form. At one point in time martial arts was my life. I lived and breathed training. But life goes on, I moved on. Traveling and photography was my passion for a while too. And so was writing. I realized that I do still enjoy writing, and I do still really want to get back into fighting form, and I still want to travel… but none of those things has to be the one and only thing I do for the rest of my life.
I’m not talking about doing a bit of each every week, or even regularly. I’m not talking about finding the balance in my life. I’m talking about finding the joy in life again. Each and every thing I’ve done has been somthing I loved, until it became work, or a career, and then I tend to put too much pressure on myself, and the joy gets squeezed out.
So tonight I finally accepted that I might never have one solid career. I have too many passions, and I refuse to live a life without passion. So I’m going to focus on doing whatever the hell I want until I become restless with that, and decide I want to get serious about something again. And it will happen. One thing I learned about myself years and years ago that has not changed… I thrive on challenges… and changes. And my goal for the future is to thrive again.
What’s you goal for the future? Share with me in the comments.
PS: After I wrote this post, I saw this as my horoscope for Tuesday. (Which technically it is right now.)
You are finding it increasingly hard to find the energy to do the things you don’t want to do, which needs to be seen as a major clue and wake up call. It’s the things that you’re finding it hardest to get excited about, that you need to run through a reality filter, at a time of year when you are doing a lot of weighing up, about what stays and what goes. It is your imagination that needs to be allowed to run free, even if it seems pointless.
