February 8th, 2010
Bits and Pieces

Thanks to Amie Stuart and her 14 Days of Love I found something Fabulous! Check out this calendar by artist Robert Alvarado. I want it. I’m getting it.

Weird Bit….A strange thing happened to me last week. My iMac died. Well, okay, it didn’t really die, but it did get sick. So sick I had to wipe the hard drive and reinstall the operating system. Only that didn’t really help. And the more things we (I say we because AppleCare was on the phone with me all day last Wednesday trying to help me figure out what was wrong. LOVE the people at AppleCare.) Anyway. The more things we tried, the worse it got. Turns out I need a new harddrive. Very weird. I say this because I’ve been using Macs for about 6 years now, and I’ve never ever had a problem with one. I’ve had the iMac in question for 3 years now, and again, no problems at all until this. I thought I might’ve gotten a virus, but the guy at the shop said Nope, I’d just killed it. LOL And that yes, it was very rare for that to happen.

I also have to say that this issue with the iMac was probably the least stressed I’ve ever been about having a computer issue. And that’s because I had an external hard drive, a MacBook pro (that had all my writing stuff backed up on it) and a MobileMe account. Redundancy is good in some things.

Good news, A new hard drive is less than $100, and it’s a bigger faster one than the one that came with the 3 year old computer. Color me happy.

Personal Bit….I fucked up my ankle again. If you’ve been following me for a while you might know this happens to me too often. Yesterday, as I was getting into my car to go to work last night I rolled my ankle because of a rut in the packed snow. I cursed, I cried, it didn’t make it feel any better. Bad ankles are not a good thing for waitresses…thank God I have good co-workers who let me baby it for the 3 hours I was there before someone could switch form the restaurant to the bar to cover the rest of my shift.

Writing Bit…. My lovely editor at Samhain has sent me a draft of the cover for ONE WEEKEND, and I have to say. I like it. I think you will too. I’ll share as soon as I can. Maybe I’ll even have a blurb to share soon. :)

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February 4th, 2010
Movie Love

I went to see THE BLIND SIDE last night. Loved it!

I always enjoy Sandra Bullock movies, and I’d heard the buzz about this one. The trailer looks good, but I kept putting off seeing it because I wondered if it was worth the price at the theater since I doubted there were any huge plot twists.

And I was right, in a way. If you watch the trailer, you’ll know what to expect. There are no surprise twists anywhere in the story, it’s pretty straight up. It’s based on a a true story, so really, no surprises. However, unlike some other recent movies that held no big surprises, The Blind Side was thoroughly enjoyable. The story itself is wonderful, the acting was great, and the emotional payoff fantastic. And not in a big tearjerker or try-too-hard kind of way. It was just a very nice, very warm, very touching story. I left that movie theater with a light heart and a smile.

I highly recommend you go see it, and see exactly why Sandra Bullock got the Oscar nomination.

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February 2nd, 2010

Nothing going on here, but some writing. ONE WEEKEND, the short story fro Samhain is all finished with on my end, but I’m still waiting for blurbs and covers from the publisher. As soon as I get a cover for my April Samhain release, I’ll post more about it.

I’m writing a short story for the Mammoth Book of Hot Romance right now, then I have one to write for PASSION:Romantic Erotica anthology.

All are just short stories, but they are all 2010 releases, and I’m happy to have them after taking more than a year off. Who knows, I might even have more news soon.

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January 31st, 2010
SALE!

All Romance eBooks is having a sale. 50% off all titles purchased on AllRomanceeBooks.com through this weekend if you use the code SBTBARe1.

So, for those of you who have been thinking abotu trying eBooks, or wholove eBooks, or who have simply been looking for a book to read, Check it out!

I LOVE the fact that BOUND, my very frist novel for Berkley is available in eBook format. I wish it were back in print, I get emails from so many readers who loved WICKED and TROUBLE and who want to read the book that started it all, but it’s no in print anymore and hard to find…This isa way to get it!!

You can find BOUND HERE and you can see all of my titles that All Romance ebooks had HERE.

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January 30th, 2010
A chance at Free Books

It’s Genreality’s one year anniversary and I’m giving away three free books. Winners choice!

But there is a catch..click on the link below and read today’s post at Genreality to see what it is.

Happy Anniversary blog post

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January 27th, 2010
No Prince Charming

Shiloh Walker has a new release!

I was going to post my blog about NO PRINCE CHARMING. releaseing yesterday, becasue that was it’s release day, but honestly, I started reading it and forgot about everything else. Don’t you just love it when a book takes your mind off of everything?

While I have read other books by Shiloh, and enjoyed them , this is the first of her Grimm Fairy Tales I’ve read, and I’m going back to search them all out now. Seriously, I loved it. Not only did it suck me in, it made me want to write. A good book can do that too, inspire me.

No, my review doesn’t have any details, cuz you’ll have to read it and I don’t want to spoil anything…so… check it out here…then go buy it!

Her Happy-Ever-After has been a long time coming…

Elle spent years trying to get over her so-called Prince Charming, and she’s finally getting the hang of it. A Grimm—a guardian angel with unique gifts—she spends her nights trolling for demons and kicking ass, and lately, her days have been spent with her on-and-off-again lover, Ren, a fellow Grimm. But fate has other plans in store for Elle, plans that include Michael, the prince from her youth who broke her heart.

“What do you choose…live for her? Or would you rather die?” That was the choice Michael was given all those years ago. Although he knew she’d never forgive him, when Michael was given the chance to become a Grimm, he took it. Still, he isn’t so sure Elle needs him in her life. With a lover at her side and a mission before her, Elle looks like she’s doing just fine without him.

But the not-so-charming prince isn’t going to back off that easily…not if there’s a chance she might need him again. He’d do anything to save her. Kill for her, live for her, die for her…

Warning: This dark, twisted version of Cinderella involves demons, deceit, desire, and debauchery between a princess and two sexy guardian angels, both determined to win the fair Cinderella.

EXCERPT:

“We’ve got to get inside tonight,” I told Ren. Halfway across the parking lot, I picked up my pace. “It’s getting darker in there. We’re going to lose more if we don’t move soon.”

There was so much life…so much emotion.

Lust. Anger. Jealousy. Need. Love. Rage. Hatred.

Emotions—uncontrolled emotions drew predators. That’s why the demons were here. Wherever there were people there would be emotion. And wherever there was emotion there would be demons.

Wherever there are demons there would be Grimms.

There would be us. Unlikely guardian angels trying to keep the unsuspecting mortals from making bad, bad and worse mistakes.

That was our job. We would do it. We would do the job. We would deal with the succubi and incubi. We would find the king or queen and eliminate them. Then Ren or I would hang around long enough to make it clear this area was now under the Circle’s watch.

If I had my way about it, it would be Ren hanging around. If at all possible, I wanted to clear the hell out the second we dealt with the king or queen.

I was planning on getting out of Ohio as quick as possible.

Maybe head for New York this time. Or Chicago—

No. Screw that. I was going to Milan. And the Circle could pick up the damn ticket, too.

I’d asked for a break and I’d ended up with an assignment instead.

They owed me that break, damn it.

I took a deep breath and glanced down at my clothes. Barbie goes badass. That was the look I’d been going for. I had on a black silk corset and, unlike some of the corsets I’d seen around lately, mine was the real thing—it pushed my boobs together and up, cinched my waist and kept my spine ramrod straight.

I was as comfortable in one as anybody could hope to be, but then again, I’d had a lot of practice. I’d grown up wearing these things when I had to—thanks to a doting father, I hadn’t spent my entire childhood in one.

But I had worn them often enough.

Never one quite like this though. Black-on-black silk brocade with blood-red lacing. I’d paired it with leather pants and heels that would break my neck—if I fell, and if I could break my neck in such a mundane manner. Which I can’t. I’d pulled my blonde hair into a high ponytail, gone a little heavy with the black eyeliner and red lipstick.

Barbie does badass, with a little bit of Dominatrix Barbie thrown in for good measure.

“You look delicious,” Ren said as he kissed one bare shoulder. “You sure you don’t have a whip lying around?”

“Oh, please.” I smirked at him and took a few seconds to adjust the bodice. I had my pendant tucked between my breasts. Wasn’t very comfortable, but I couldn’t afford to have the wrong person see it, nor could I afford to be without it. There wasn’t any room for weapons on me, but that had been intentional.

I wanted to look around this first trip in, not fight. I’d made that clear to Ren as well, but he’d have weapons on him. I knew that as sure as I knew my own name.

Still, I knew I could trust him not to draw them unless he had to.

I just hoped nobody forced his hand…or mine. I might not have weapons, but I’m pretty far from helpless.

The air closer to the building felt hot and heavy, a warning of what lay inside.

I’d known from the get-go this wouldn’t be a quick, easy job. I might have been harboring hopes, but they were dying, fading, withering away with every second I remained close to this abyss of darkness.

“Should be a piece of cake,” he had told me. Those had been my boss’s exact words.

“Will, one of these days, I’m going to kick your ass,” I said to myself.

“Hmmm?”

I shook my head. “Just grumbling about Will. He had the nerve to say this should be an easy job.”

“Well, so far all I’ve done is make out with you in view of others and watch other people making out as well,” Ren shot me his trademark devilish smile and in a low voice added, “Seems remarkably easy.”

“Your luck is about to break.”

This wasn’t going to be easy. It wasn’t going to be quick. We would have to kill while we were here. Not tonight, but sometime before the job was over. I knew it as sure as I was standing there. Possession by succubi or incubi was subtle…a seduction. It started out as just a minor need. Sex—something pleasant…maybe even harmless.

But the more the victim fed that need—through sex, naturally—the stronger the hold. It was like an addiction.

In the early days it was possible to rid the victim of the demon’s presence. Possible, but not easy, and the longer it went on the harder it would become.

Sooner or later, without intervention, the demon would be in control and the need for sex would dominate over anything else. Everything else.

Either the victim literally screwed themselves to death—forgoing food, water, anything and everything that wasn’t sex. The other scenario—the need for sex became so overwhelming they lost all inhibitions and all sense of right and wrong.

I’d saved people in the past before one of the possessed could rape them.

Somebody in there was already too far gone. Either they were killing themselves without realizing it, or I’d have to kill them when they went too far. Personally, I’d rather find whoever it was and just end it now.

A waste. Such a waste. Somebody had given up everything.

Do I sound slightly bitter? Sorry. Can’t help it. I’d lost my rose-colored glasses a few hundred years ago. Right about the time I lost my virginity and, shortly thereafter, my Prince Charming.

“Elle.”

Speak of the devil.

I knew that voice. It was the last voice I wanted to hear right now. Unless he was saying something along the lines of, “Ow, that hurts!” as I beat him across the head with a heavy, blunt object.

I stood there, frozen. Although I didn’t want to turn and face the music, my partner had no reservations.

I dug my fingers into Ren’s arm.

Why?

Will. Damn it. He’d done this—orchestrated this.

Schooling my features, I turned around and I’m proud to say, I didn’t feel the urge to swoon. Not even for a second.

That angel face of his hadn’t changed at all in the past three hundred years.

He looked as perfect now as he had the day he kissed me for the first time.

Heat flashed through his grass-green eyes as he studied my clothes and despite myself, my belly clenched in response.

Visit Shiloh’s Blog to get to know the author better.

BUY NO PRINCE CHARMING NOW

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January 25th, 2010
Burn It To The Ground

What is it about songs that tell you to go hard, go far, go for it, go all the way that I love so much? Sure, they’re party anthems, but for me they also make me super motivated to work hard, be it in the gym, or at the keyboard. (Plus, I love Nickleback because they’re home town Alberta Boys, and they know how to rock. )

This one in particular, I just love the “That shit makes me batshit crazy” cuz, well, there are things in life that really do make me batshit crazy. LOL

Writers will tell you they put blood sweat and tears into their work, but to be honest, it doesn’t always happen. I’ve read stories that left me cold, and when that happens I often think that the author just didn’t put enough into it somehow. I know there are stories that I’ve written, that I’ve had published that I wish I’d put more-effort isn’t the right word, because there is always effort. Just that I’d put more, period. More of myself, more emotion, more energy into them. I firmly believe that when a writer puts their energy, and their emotion into the work, that it comes across on the page. That doesn’t mean I have to have experienced things, shit I write about falling in love, yet I’ve never been in love. But I do hope to be someday, and that hope goes into my stories.

The “We’ve got no fear, no doubt, all in- balls out” line of the song somehow just struck a chord about that and writing. If you want to write a good story, one that will make the reader feel emotion, then you have to put emotion into it. No holding back. SO…I’m keeping that in mind with my current stories and going hard.

Hopefully it will pay off. :)

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January 21st, 2010
My Tips For Writers

I’ve never been a big fan of rules, in anything. However, I’ve always had my own opinions on things. I’m great at giving advice, just ask anyone who knows me. Following it on the other hands, isn’t always my thing. I even find it hard to follow my own advice sometimes. In fact, my own advice is usually the hardest to follow. With that in mind, I thought I’d share my Favorite Tips for Writers.

These tips are ones that I DO follow, and I figure if I can follow them, anyone who has a true desire to be a writer mind also find them easy to follow.

Sasha’s Top Tips for Writers
1) Write regularly.
I’m not a fan of the write every day school of thought. I don’t write every day. For a while I tried to make myself write every day, but I found that I just stressed myself out because I’d spend hours staring at a blank screen or letting myself be distracted by blogs, games, and playing with photos. What I have learned is that if I designate one (or 2) full days a week to only writing, I get a lot more done. So most days I work on my blog posts, my reading, research, catch up on tv shows, work my night job, have lunch with friends….whatever. I have a life on those days. Then on my designated day (or days) all I do is write. I get up focussed, I turn the ringer off the phone, I don’t go online, and I write.

This works for me. Sometimes its one day a week, sometimes two. The deeper I get into a story, the more time i spend on it. The key is that I don’t pressure myself to write every day, just every week. And that allows me to find more balance, and be more focussed when I DO sit down to write.

2) Don’t wait for inspiration.
It’s greta to be inspired, but you can’t depend on it. The only thing you can depend on is yourself. So instead of looking for inspiration, why not think about how what you write might inspire someone else?

3) Carry a notepad -or have one on your phone/iPod.
Just because you shouldn’t wait for inspiration doesn’t mean you can’t use it when it strikes, and inspiration almost always strikes when you’re doing anything other than writing. So always carry something to jot down notes on.

4)Finish what you start.
There are few things that can compare to, or encourage , a writer like finishing a project can. Be it a book, a short story, a special blog post…get in the habit of finishing things. It’s a good habit.

5) Follow your instinct.
It’s great to have beta readers, or critique partners, but always remember that what you’re writing is your work. Those are your characters. It’s your story, and it’s going to have your name on it. Follow your instincts and don’t be afraid to ignore someone’s input or buck a trend.

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January 18th, 2010
What inspires you?

I went to see Michael Jackson’s THIS IS IT when it was in theaters. Not so much because I’ve always been a MJ fan, but because At one point in my life, I was. I was in junior high when Thriller was released. All through junior high and high school MJ was there at every dance or party. I never really took a stand on if I thought he did or didn’t do some things. To me, there were others in the world who had much more knowledge than I did, and I wasn’t going to judge. I preferred to focus on the music. And knowing that his songs were such a big part of my memories, I thought “How can I not go see this?”

And I’m so glad I did. The show wasn’t exactly what I’d expected, but it was better. It wasn’t about Michael’s life. It was about his music, his talent, and his energy. The man himself, and the concert preprations, and wow…what a concert it would’ve been. They had some amazing things planned.

The music. The writing. The words…That man had a magical way with words, and there isn’t anyone who can deny it. When I left the theater all I wanted to do was go home and write. I wanted to be positive, to live life and focus on the good. Life, and those who surround you in your daily life, can sometimes break you down. Be it bad reviews for your books, a cranky co-worker or boss, someone who cut you off on the road, things can pile up on a person and we lose ourselves in the negativity. I’ve learned one way to pull myself away from that is to focus on what *I’m* doing. Yes, self centered. But really, sometimes all a person has control of is themself. And one of the things I’ve been using lately to help stay positive is music.

The other day I felt like I needed a positivity boost so I downloaded the soundtrack from THIS IS IT. Listening to the album not only makes me feel good, it inspires me.

What’s inspired you lately?

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January 14th, 2010
CAPA nominee

Wicked has been nominated in The Romance Studios’s CAPA’s.

Because it’s actually a 2008 release, it’s in the Psyche category. (The P in the CAPA’s) and I’m thrilled that readers and reviewers are still hooked on this story.
*The Psyche Award is a category for romances that did not meet the nomination criteria but that our reviewers felt deserved special recognition. Books in this category have not previously received a CAPA award.*

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