Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Downbeat Release Tour starts today!

Join me and Authors Angels for the Downbeat release tour! Enter the Rafflecopter for a chance at the grand prize of a Kindle or Nook ereader (up to $250.00)! Visit each spot for more chances. Links updated daily.

ABS

Striking the right note could shatter more than their hearts.

After an attack that slaughtered his family, vampire Dragan Zajicek walled off his heart and went on a sixteen-hundred-year rampage with the bad boys of history.

Now a rock star of the concert podium and master freelance spy, he’s taken the baton for a small orchestra near Chicago to investigate rumors of a monstrous, undefeatable vampire dubbed the Soul Stealer.

But it’s the lovely, unassuming Raquel “Rocky” Hrbek who mesmerizes him from the first touch of her luscious lips on her flute.

Rocky, a shy shadow scarred by middle school cruelty, is mystified as to why core-meltingly gorgeous Dragan would notice a mouse like her. As his stolen kisses draw her dangerously close to the edge of her carefully constructed comfort zone, he exposes her secret—she’s investigating the monster herself.

As their quest draws them closer together, the monster zeroes in on the woman Dragan’s rebellious heart tells him is his mate. Now they must find a way to destroy the indestructible before Rocky is utterly consumed. And Chicago is bathed in the blood of innocents.

Warning: Contains a master of seduction and symphonies, an awkward and innocent flutist, small-town humor, heart-stopping action, and an exodus to Iowa. Oh, and the cheese balls are ba-a-ack—and deadlier than ever.

2/25/2014
Fae Books
Queen of the Night Reviews  (Guest Post)
My Odd Little World (Guest Post)

2/26/2014
Mrs Condit & Friends Read Books
What’s On the Bookshelf

2/27/2014
Tattooed Book Review

2/28/2014
Michelle Graham, Erotic Romance
Romance Book Craze

3/3/2014
HEA Romances With A Little Kick
Busy Moms Book Reviews 

3/4/2014
deal sharing aunt (Guest Post)

3/5/2014
Penny For Them… 

3/6/2014
Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews (Author Interview!)
Storm Goddess Book Reviews

3/7/2014
Harlie’s Books 
Delighted Reader

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Love is Bliss--Guest Leigh Ellwood!

Hello, I am Leigh Ellwood and I write romance and erotica. Over the last ten years I have attended a number of book events, everything from signings at local independent stores to the big Saturday bash at RT. I experience different things at each event - I've been humbled to have people come to a specific event just to purchase my book, and I've managed to convince readers who never heard of me to take a chance. Part of the fun of a physical signing is seeing how people react to you.

During my first group author signing at a mall in Virginia, I had a book with a rather racy cover (that novel has since received a makeover). I often had to stifle a chuckle when passersby double-taked and gaped at it. Years later, a friend helping me at an outdoor book fair fashioned a sign for my booth which read Romance in All Colors, Not Just Grey. It was an obvious dig at Fifty Shades, and a few readers did get a kick out of it. It even got me a few sales.

Why all the talk about book signings? One would think an author with a long eBook back list shouldn't worry, because everybody's gone digital. While I read the majority of my books in e-, I do receive requests for print. Late in March, I'll debut my latest paperback, Love is Bliss - a duology of my two shapeshifter novellas, Sheer Bliss and Pure Bliss.

When you come to The Novel Experience Event in Atlanta from March 28-30, you'll not only get to meet me but you'll find many more authors who romance, mystery, sci-fi, young adult, and other genres to share with you. In fact, the organizers of the event have given me one free VIP ticket to anybody registered with a room reserved at the host hotel.

If you are traveling and have reserved a room for the event, feel free to email me at kspatwriter at yahoo dot com to see if the ticket is still available. First come, first serve.

While you're waiting for March 28 to roll around, here's a look at Love is Bliss, which is also available in eBook at All Romance:   LOVE IS BLISS features two hot, erotic novellas by award-winning Leigh Ellwood. Both stories are also available separately.

SHEER BLISS
Living in Bliss, New Jersey has it perks, unless you're a shifter looking for love or a human looking for peace and quiet. Not only does Calla Savitch, owner of Shear Bliss salon, have to deal with warring panthers and werewolves with overlapping appointments, she's fed up with their constant matchmaking attempts. The last thing she wants especially is a hook-up with the one shifter who broke her heart years ago. Handsome were-panther Caleb Houlihan still nurses the guilt of Calla's heartbreak, but when presented with a second chance to woo her he is reluctant. Calla may forgive his youthful indiscretions, but when she discovers his aunt's true motive for wanting them together, will she send him packing?

PURE BLISS
Betrothed for years to Malcolm Weaver, Trisha Houlihan has grown tired of archaic panther shifters ways and wants to live on her own terms. A chance meeting with a hot stranger serves to spark her rebellion, but backfires when she discovers she's fooling around with her intended. Malcolm isn't keen on old traditions, either, but there's something about Trisha that inspires him to make an exception. Trisha is certainly exceptional, unlike other she-panthers, and he is convinced they were meant to be, regardless of the circumstances that brought them together. Trisha wants to resist, but her growing attraction to Malcolm proves problematic. Can these two find a balance between tradition and passion and create a happily ever after?

On this stretch of the Jersey Shore, it's a different "situation"!
 ~
Hope to see you in Atlanta!
Leigh Ellwood - Variety and Spice! http://www.leighellwood.com
Twitter: @LeighEllwood


Mary's note: Love is Bliss is also available at Amazon and BN

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

3T Writing Tidbit

Create tension and pump up emotion by giving the heroine's feelings as she approaches a scene.

Flash example.

Before:

I flung open the door and confronted him.

After:

My heart pounded as I stood outside the door, my mouth dry as cotton balls. He wasn't going to like this at all, but duty drove me. I had to do this. I flung open the door and confronted him.

Published since 2009, over the years I've accumulated various items of writing wisdom. The Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit showcases these items in no particular order. Click here to see all 3T Tidbits.

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Top 10 Posts Countdown #8

Writer's cave hiatus--finishing Assassins Bite among other things. Enjoy the top 10 posts from my blog in the meantime :)

#8 Strong Women and the Men it Takes to Handle Them--Guest Cathryn Cade

I usually (okay, always) write alpha heroes. My men have even been described as alpha-holes by one of my editors. Sometimes I tone them down, sometimes I don't. 'Cause I write what I love to read. And I love to watch a strong, macho manly man brought to his knees by the most powerful force in the universe … love.
Yeah, love to watch him stride in with fists and big ol' jaw clenched, eyes slitted menacingly while he lays down the law to anyone who threatens our heroine.  Okay with me if he wipes up the bar room floor with 'em, too. Sigh … now that's just fun.
Read more:
http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/2013/05/strong-women-and-men-it-takes-to-handle.html

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

February 1T Olio

Assassins Bite writer cave continues. Downbeat countdown T-4. Here's an unedited tidbit from Assassins Bite, coming November 11.


 

Chapter One

 

The dark city revealed itself in flashes of light, street lamps strobing through the police cruiser’s windows. The old brick buildings appeared peaceful, but my stomach roiled and my fists clenched.

This was it. Two intense years of criminal justice, seven grueling months of academy training, and another ten weeks of field training all led up to this chilly March night.

My first night as a cop.

“Looks quiet,” I said hopefully to my partner, Norris Don’t-Call-Me-Chuck Jones, aka Jonesy.

Looks,” Jonesy said. “Be alert.”

“Copy that.” Somehow I clipped it like Joe Friday. I forced myself to relax. “I hope it stays quiet, though.”

Jonesy grunted in response. He was the epitome of grizzled cop, a twenty-five year veteran who’d driven the streets of Redfox Village longer than I’d been alive. He was deft with a gun and I couldn’t be in better hands.

So I forced myself to unclench my fists. Surely I wouldn’t blow it on my first night?

Problem was, my last name was Ruffles. While good fairies listen to other families, Ruffleses have a direct line to Imp Central.

Jonesy cornered onto Grant, anchored by the solid Redfox Village library and substantial StoneGiant Bank. I bit my lips as I scanned the shops marching resolutely up the street in orderly rows. I was overreacting. What could possibly disturb the tranquility of this law-abiding Chicago suburb?

Sure enough, that was when I saw the flash of movement ahead.

“Something’s wrong.” I saw it again, out Jonesy’s window.