Mary Hughes

Your vote counts--Biting Me Softly up for 2011 Sammies!

2012-02-09T12:50:00.000-06:00

Favorite print cover, best print book! Vote here through Survey Monkey.

Mary Hughes February 1T Giveaway!

2012-02-07T03:50:00.002-06:00

Welcome to my First Tuesday giveaway! Each first Tuesday of the month I'm offering a contest where I choose one winner (who hasn't won in the past twelve months) by random number from all comments on that post. The winner will receive his or her choice of one Biting Love ebook *or* a $5 gift certificate from Amazon or Samhain!

If you're a 18+ and an adult, and if you consent to having your name listed on the rotating 12-month winner list, just comment on this post to enter! Void where prohibited. Please note, the Biting Love books contain explicit sex and violence. If you win please consider that when making your prize selection. Winner chosen at the end of the month and posted as part of next month's contest.

Thank you to everyone who commented last month. I love hearing from all of you! And the winner of January's contest is: Rho! Rho, congratulations! Please email me at mary @ maryhughesbooks.com for with your selection of prize.

Crafting a Sentence: Information versus Impact

2012-01-31T09:08:00.000-06:00

Part of voice is how you craft a sentence. For example, Julian would say "One can impart the information in a variety of ways" while Nixie would say "You can spin the 411".

It's information versus impact. You, the author, has to impart certain information. But the impact is how you say it.

A hero can be described as "hard and powerful as a cannon shot". But to me that's a bit bland. I might say "cannon-shot powerful". The second phrase loses information, the word "hard". But that's implied with cannon shot so I'm willing to lose it. The plus to me is that "cannon-shot powerful" gains impact. Short, punchy. It hits the eye/brain in a way "powerful as..." doesn't. As a verby sort of person, I also like the implied motion.

Movement and punch aren't the only kind of impact, of course. You might make a lyrical impact with (for example only) "Powerful as a cannon's blast amid bombs bursting in the cool night air". You might choose an emotional impact with "The soaring cannon shot of freedom" (both with better word choice, of course :).

Have fun creating your own impact!

Biting Love News Update

2012-01-24T09:14:00.001-06:00

The Biting Love Series is now renumbered! The Bite of Silence, novella with Twyla and Nikos, has been added to the series as Book 3 and Biting Me Softly, Logan and Liese's story, is Book 4.

In other news, the title for Biting Love Book 5 is getting closer to being a reality. The Title Goddess has actually gone back to another incarnation, and though I can't say what the title will probably be, it involves "Oz" and "Biting." :)

More Biting Love news! Biting Love books are now on Kindlegraph! Bonus--there's a great handwriting font so you're not subjected to my chicken scratching.

Followers know I've got two new books up through first drafts--another Biting Love and a wolf shifter/witch romantic comedy--and am now working on a third first draft. I'm very excited about this third book, a serious shifter novel about two wolves who, in the first 19,000 words, are sparking off each other like crazy. This draft is going slower because I'm also working up Prokofiev's First Symphony. For those of you who don't know the flute, the range of the instrument is middle C to the C three octaves above (C to shining C, heh). Well, Prokofiev decided he didn't care what the range of the instrument was and wrote all these C#s and Ds above the highest C. And not slow easy C#s and Ds. No, these are eighth notes at half-note=158. (Take my word for it--blindingly fast. Brain-numbing fast. Eek fast.) Needless to say, it's taking a big chunk of time and energy getting the part under my fingers. Thank you Mr. P. But the draft is still shaping up!

3T Writing Tidbit

2012-01-17T01:19:00.012-06:00

I've been published since 2009 but I've been writing for a lot longer. Over the years I've accumulated various items of wisdom from all over. Third Tuesday Writing Tidbit will showcase these items one at a time in no particular order.

Look for concept words and replace them with specific actions and feelings.

Example: Loyalty.

The dog was loyal vs. the dog lay warming his sick master's feet, gazing at his full food bowl but not moving.

The Artist's Eye

2012-01-10T06:16:00.051-06:00

Heroes, especially alpha males in genre romance, are gorgeous. Or compelling. Or something that sets them apart from the everyday.

Why?

I have a simple reason. Consider a desert. I'm picking Baja California because there's a good set of pictures halfway down the page that shows the dry desert and the same desert in full bloom. How can you see it?

I can think of three ways. You can travel to California and see it in person. It's WYSIWYG, wizzy-wig or What You See Is What You Get. Chances are pretty good you'll get sand, cactus and scrub, dry dry dry.

Or you can view a map of the area. This will give you roads and names of features. Nice, bite-sized, and has the advantage of being more portable. Also the map maker can choose what features to include.

The third way is with a picture or painting. This is the most flexible of all, especially the painting. You can choose what to include and what to exclude. You can paint the desert as is or in full bloom, even though that may only happen once a decade. You can show a deeper truth, the beauty that only exists for a moment.

If you brought one of those three into your home, which would it be? I'd pick the desert in bloom. Because frankly I've got enough dry grass of my own :)

So when I read a novel, I want something different than real, everyday life. If I wanted everyday life I could just live it. If I want to make sense of everyday life, I could read a non-fiction self-help book. But if I want to relive the moment I fell in love with my husband, that belly-punch of the first time I saw him, well then I read a romance novel. What about you?

1T Giveaway!

2012-01-03T03:47:00.004-06:00

Welcome to the First Tuesday giveaway! Each first Tuesday of the month I'm offering a contest where I choose one winner (who hasn't won in the past twelve months) by random number from all comments on that post. The winner will receive his or her choice of one Biting Love ebook *or* a $5 gift certificate from Amazon or Samhain!

If you're a 18+ and an adult, and if you consent to having your name listed on the rotating 12-month winner list, just comment on this post to enter! Void where prohibited. Please note, the Biting Love books contain explicit sex and violence. If you win please consider that when making your prize selection. Winner chosen at the end of the month and posted as part of next month's contest.

Decembers's winners--Mrs. Missive and Pam O! Congrats, and thanks to everyone who commented!

Werewolves Don't Hamstring, Do They?

2011-12-27T12:47:00.002-06:00

I read werewolf romances as far back as early Susan Krinard, but I haven't written one until now. Writing requires being a temporary expert, so of course I started researching wolves. What I found surprised me.

I gotta say, there doesn't seem to be a lot of wolf in werewolf romantic fiction. Oh, wolves mate once and there's an alpha couple and they have packs and they bring down big game. But here are some tidbits that you may not have known.

Packs are small--usually a family unit of the alpha pair and pups. Most packs are less than 8 members (although the size can get up to 30 or so). Larger packs may have another adult pair that breeds.

Kills are rare--the reported hunting success rate varies depending on the site (and the year) but even the highest is about one in four...and that's after the initial testing for weaknesses is done.

Wolves don't hamstring--they prefer to latch onto the nose or rump.

Wolves don't have to hunt in packs to bring down big game--even a single wolf can bring down big game.

That's just some of what I found. You should see what I discovered about sexuality and scenting...makes my hair raise if it's true. I'm still cross-checking. Obviously when writing about wolf shifters, the werewolf legends have to be researched and woven in. And there's the age-old choice of magic shifters vs. physical shifters...but that's another blog.

**Be sure to check out my guest blog December 29 at Whipped Cream! Comment to enter.
**Just a few more days on the 1T Giveaway

Some sites I used for this information:
Wolfsong
eHow
International Wolf Center
USGS

Writing update

2011-12-20T10:24:00.000-06:00

I have recently come to the conclusion that my writing takes time. I'm not one of those authors who can write and polish a book a month, every month. This is a hard thing for me to accept because, well, I'm a bit competitive, and a bit of a perfectionist (I can just hear Mrs. Missive saying "No, really?" :) (Mrs: NaNo writing buddy who kept me in line.)

It's not that I can't write fast. I regularly write 3000 words a day and did a bunch of 10,000 word stories in two days each. I wrote the bones of a 40,000 word story in eight days and once wrote a 90,000 word novel in three weeks.

But my writing takes time to steep. The really good stuff perks through just one thought at a time. I have to make a lot of little edit passes rather than a couple big ones. Although the big ones have their own purpose. Hmm, sounds like a blog topic :)

Anyway I'm trying something out. Instead of writing one story and sticking with it to the bitter end, I'm writing three. I'll take all three to the end of the first draft. Then I'll do all three revisions. Then a trio of polishing passes.

So here's what I'm working on. I have the next novel in the Biting Love universe a few scenes from a complete first draft. I'm not sure if it'll be in the series--right now the heroine is a bit too serious, so we'll see. I started a humorous shifter story in July and am finishing the first draft right now. And I have a dramatic shifter story perking away in my brain for next month.

In about four months I should know if this works or not. I'll either have three wonderful complete novels...or all my hair torn out. Wish me luck!

Finding New Books to Love

2011-12-13T10:57:00.001-06:00

Libraries. Bookstores. I love to browse, touch, smell books. I love the thrill of a title or cover that jumps out and grabs me. Browsing is how I used to find all my new authors. But life doesn't always give us the time to travel, to sift. What to do then? Here are some online ideas.

Samhain Publishing has a sidebar to let you browse by theme. Added bonus--see the latest (most recent and upcoming releases) and greatest (top ten best sellers). Here's an example for Comedy.

Joining an online reading group on Shelfari or Goodreads (like the awesome Kindle Smut) will connect you with like-minded readers with tons of great recommendations!

Amazon has several ways to find new books to love. On each book page is up to a hundred books customers also bought. And check out your favorite author's Author Page (hover over the author's name and click on the "Visit Amazon's author name Page"). On the right side is a list of "Customers Also Bought Items By". Check out other reader's recommendations with Listmania! Search for a favorite author and see what the list author recommends.

And last but definitely not least, FREE! What better way to find a new author than trying their book for free? All Romance Ebooks has Free Reads; Smashwords has a Free filter (this one is Paranormal with Adult Filter OFF); Amazon has their Top 100 Free to the right of the Paid; Stores such as Sony, Kobo, and Diesel have a Free category. Many public libraries also offer ebook lending, such as New York and Wisconsin.

So what about you? What are your favorite ways to find new books?

And remember this month's giveaway, just for my readers! Comment at last week's post to enter.

For My Readers Only--1T Giveaway Preview

2011-12-06T04:44:00.031-06:00

Next month I start some exciting new features here at my blog, the biggest of which is the First Tuesday giveaway. Each first Tuesday of the month I'll offer a contest where I'll choose one winner (who hasn't won in the past twelve months) by random number from all comments on that post. The winner will receive their pick of a Biting Love ebook *or* a $5 Amazon or Samhain Publishing gift certificate.

Special preview giveaway this month for my readers only! That's right, I'm only announcing this here, on my website, on my Facebook page, and at Goodreads. And as a further bonus to Biting Love readers, I'm offering not one, but TWO prizes! Two winners, double the fun!

If you're a 18+ and an adult, and if you consent to having your name listed on the rotating 12-month winner list, just comment on this post to enter. Please note, the Biting Love books contain explicit sex and violence. If you win please consider that when making your prize selection. Winners chosen at the end of the month and posted as part of next month's contest.

Penultimate

2011-11-29T13:29:00.001-06:00

Here we are, in the second-last month of the year, two days away from the last month of 2011. What are you doing? Starting your holiday preparations or already hip-deep in the flood? Still eating Thanksgiving leftovers or selecting your New Year's hot spot?

As I tie up loose ends from the TRS Thanksgiving party and pound out the last 3000 NaNoWriMo words, I'm given to reflecting what a strange time of year this is. It's a time to finish. But it's also the jumping-off point for new beginnings.

Penultimate means second-to-last. It's not the end, but it is the harbinger of it, the voice in the wilderness. Yet what is after the last? Maybe We're done with this. What's next?

What's next for you? Hopefully something fresh and fun.

Thanksgiving Party at The Romance Studio--Last Hours!

2011-11-22T10:35:00.003-06:00

Great giveaways! Just a few more hours to enter (to midnight EST 11/22/2011)

Here are my offerings:
First Course Bite My Fire plus giveaway!

Main Course Biting Love Freebies plus giveaway!

Dessert Course Biting Me Softly plus giveaway!

Flash Title Poll

2011-11-15T09:24:00.001-06:00

Please help! Biting the Rainbow needs a new name. I've brainstormed some alternatives--which one do you like best? Vote on your top choices for the next 33 hours. I'll submit the top four to my editor. I can't guarantee which one will be picked but I love learning what you like!

Here's the preliminary info:

Musician and sausage queen Junior Stieg lives in an attic garret, kept there by love and duty to her parents and their store. But she dreams of big cities and bright lights. When a show headed to Broadway comes to her small town, she joins the pit orchestra, with the promise that if the musical does well, it will take her to New York with money left over for the folks.

But a kidnapper is threatening the show’s young star. To save the production Junior must join forces with the star’s dark, secretive bodyguard Glynn, whose big body, sapphire eyes and lyrical Welsh baritone make her forget both duty and dreams.

Fierce as a warrior, enigmatic as a druid, vampire Glynn Rhys-Jenkins has searched his whole life for a home. Junior's get-out-of-town attitude burns him—while everything else about her inflames him. He’s waited eight hundred years for true love, but her future is New York and his is Wales and they’ll only have these two weeks in Meiers Corners.

Until a sensuous, insidious evil threatens the very foundations of the city, and Junior and Glynn must face the truth about themselves and what home and love really mean.

Warning: Contains explicit vampire sex (biting of various body parts, multiple climaxes), ka-click ka-shing violence, cheese/sausage wars, viola jokes and—shudder—pistachio fluff.

Biting the Rainbow Under Contract

2011-11-09T03:47:00.000-06:00

I am thrilled to announce that Biting the Rainbow, book four in the Biting Love series, is now under contract with Samhain Publishing!

Biting the Rainbow is the story of woodwind doubler and sausage queen Junior Stieg (introduced in the freebie Oz Bites) and tracker-bodyguard Welsh vampire Glynn Rhys-Jenkins (introduced in the freebie Biting Dracula) as they fight to keep young musical star Mishela out of the evil clutches of Nosferatu. Also features Nixie and Julian, and a whole hoard of viola jokes!

Release date to be announced but it may be as early as second quarter 2012.

New Year Changes

2011-11-08T09:28:00.000-06:00

Starting in 2012 I'll be offering a First Tuesday monthly contest. Since so many of my awesome loyal readers have the whole Biting Love series, I'll offer each winner either the choice of an ebook from my backlist -or- a $5 gift ecard (Amazon or Samhain). Sweet deal! But there's more.

Just for my readers I'll be doing a preview giveaway in December! I'll only announce it to my blog followers, Facebook fans, and Twitter followers. So be sure to stop back December 6.

In 2012 I'll also be adding a second monthly feature--your choice! Please add your input to the poll and help me pick the best one.

Easy recipe--I love eating but am a bit impatient on the cooking side. I've got some easy recipes that I love to use and thought you might like trying them.
Happyscope--I admit I enjoy reading horoscopes. I really like the ones that offer hope for the future or positive motivation. This feature would be a dozen monthly atta-girls/atta-boys.
Hot picture--guys and couples. Web-friendly so not red-hot :)
Writing craft tidbits--I have a huge stack of index cards, each with an important item I've learned about writing. I'd love to share them with you!
Suggestions! I can't add them to the poll gadget once it's up but I'm always open to new ideas.

NaNoWriMo 2011 Starts Today

2011-11-01T09:19:00.000-05:00

Okay, so for me it'll be Na1/2NoWriMo, because my books end up closer to 100,000 words. But it's just as fun! I'll be pumping out words for the next Biting Love novel, tentatively titled Beauty Bites. Join me as a buddy or just stop by to say hi!

Coming next month--a special Biting Love readers-only giveaway. More details next week.

What will the heroine of Beauty Bites be called? The results of the poll: Synnove! But there were almost as many votes for Alexis, so I'll be giving Synnove a sister, who may just show up in a book down the road...

Thanks to everyone who voted! And thanks for your great comments. I'm in awe of how creative you all are!

Final results:
Alexis-9
Cynthia-0
Dakota-1
Isabella-5
Jansie-1
Liv-1
Natalia-6
Synnove-10
Ulrika-1

Awesome suggestions:
Amanda Ryder (Mandy)
Ameren
Ingrid
Kari (Karita)
PersephoneTory (Thorir)

Three Limited Time Giveaways (until 8 pm CST today)

2011-10-30T14:55:00.001-05:00

Join me for three giveaways at Whipped Cream/Goddess Fish Haunting Halloween Blogfest! Comment before 8 p.m. Central Standard Time to enter. ADULTS ONLY PLEASE.

•Trick or Treat Giveaway #3! Goddess Fish Haunting Halloween Blogfest.
•Trick or Treat Giveaway #2! WC Haunting Halloween Blogfest.
•Trick or Treat Giveaway #1! Join me at the Whipped Cream Haunting Halloween Blog Fest.

Launching Your Writing

2011-10-25T10:42:00.000-05:00

Todd Stone launched new ideas for me on how to begin a scene in an article at Savvy Authors entitled Tactics and Technique--The Right Words to Launch a Scene--and Yourself. The monologue in an author's head is just as important as the dialogue on the page. Make it count!

What's in a name? Please help me out!

2011-10-18T11:54:00.000-05:00

Biting the Rainbow is written, awaiting a contract. Black Diamond Jinn is nearing completion of edits for resubmission. So what's next?

I'd love to start on the next Biting Love story but I have a problem. I have a theme and some basic plot ideas and a little mini-story for the middle (Twyla and Nikos never got their happily-ever-after). But I don't have the most important element--the heroine's name.

To me, that's vital. I'm part programmer, remember. The name is the handle by which I call the whole subroutine, or access the whole program. As a writer, the name is the letter-tag that MEANS the heroine. It should resonate with her personality, her looks, her issues.

Please help me out! In this case, I'm trying to find a handle for Twyla's second cousin, a woman who's a quarter black, has the face and body of a Scandinavian model, and is a trained physician but may have to leave the profession because people are distracted by her looks. Oh, and X's name has to be different enough from the heroines I've already introduced: Elena, Nixie, Twyla, Liese, Junior, and Rocky (whose book is after X's).

Some possible names for this character are in a poll to the right. This one you can pick multiple favorites. If you've got other suggestions, comments here are appreciated! Vote through the end of October. Thanks!

Guest Sarah Grimm Opens the Bedroom Door

2011-10-10T03:24:00.124-05:00

Sizzling romance, music, strong emotions. That's After Midnight, the latest release from award-winning author Sarah Grimm. I'm thrilled to have her visit as part of her blog tour. After you've met her, why not check out her blog tour contest!

Please help me welcome Sarah!

When it comes to love scenes in a romance novel, I am SUCH a voyeur. Shocking, but true. A voyeur. I never thought that term would apply to me, but it does. If a love scene takes place behind closed doors, I feel…cheated. I’ve invested time into this book, fallen in love with the hero right along with the heroine, and for what? To have the bedroom door slammed in my face? Noooo!

So I’m a voyeur, a ‘leave the bedroom door wide open, thank you very much’ kind of reader. I don’t want to use my imagination about what is going on in the bedroom. I want the details! Lots of details. So it would only make sense that this is how I write.

If you’ve been following my blog tour, you most likely already know this, since I’ve come right out and warned readers in my interviews. I write sizzling, dangerously sexy contemporary romance and romantic suspense—no intimacy hidden behind closed doors in my books. With me you get detailed, explicit love scenes. Heck, sometimes my heroes and heroines don’t make it to the bedroom at all. Instead they find themselves atop a desk, against a wall, or in front of a trio of mirrors…

~*~

“I’m not the type of woman men fall for.”

“I’ve fallen for you.”

Heat flooded her system. She forced herself to breathe, to keep her eyes locked with his. “No you haven’t. You …”

He pushed off the mantel and stepped in her direction. “I—what?”

“Never mind.”

“Finish the sentence, Isabeau.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Then let me.” He closed the distance between them. “You were going to say I haven’t fallen for you, weren’t you? You actually believe him? That you’re nothing more to me than convenient?”

Her pulse throbbed thick and hard. Heat radiated off his body. The scent of him filled her head. She wanted, more than anything, to press herself against him and relive the pleasure of his mouth against hers. Instead, she lifted her chin.

“Maybe.”

He leaned in close. So close his breath brushed across her lips. “You believe him, but not me?”

“You are here only temporarily.”

“Yes.”

“And I am just down the street.”

“I suppose.”

She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “So the whole thing does seem rather—”

“Don’t say it.”

“—convenient.”

Something dangerous came and went in his eyes. “Now I’m getting angry.”

His hands skimmed down her sides, slipped under her shirt and settled on her lace-covered bottom. Her breath went uneven. Searing need swarmed her.

“You want something to believe, believe this.” He pulled her into the solid ridge of his erection. She lost her concentration. “There is nothing convenient about the way I feel about you.”

“I…no?”

“You think you’re not the type to draw a man’s attention, think again. I can’t stand in the same room as you without wanting to taste you. I can’t taste you without wanting to taste all of you.”

Oh, God. Her knees turned to jelly. A hot, wet pulse came to life between her legs.

“If you can’t see in yourself what it is that I see, feel what you do to me.” Taking hold of her wrist, he placed her hand in the center of his chest.

His heart was racing. She tipped her head back and looked into his eyes. Her bones began to liquefy.

“The way you’re looking at me,” she whispered.

“How am I looking at you?”

“Like I’m important.”

“You are.”

She swallowed hard, wanting to believe him. “Like I’m beautiful.”

His lips brushed across her temple and her eyes drifted shut. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. Then you would know how beautiful you are.”

Her eyes snapped open as he spun her in his arms. His hands settled on her shoulders, drawing her back against his chest. She gasped at their image reflected in the trio of mirrors that hung on her wall. When had this become a seduction?

After Midnight

Thirteen years—that's how long Isabeau Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her mother's life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks through the door of her bar...

Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal--one that doesn't include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won't be easy, but he can't get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.

Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?

Sarah Grimm is an award winning author of contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She lives in West Michigan with her husband, two sons and three miniature schnauzers. Between mom's taxi service, parts runs, and answering the phone for the family marine repair business, Sarah can be found curled in her favorite chair, crafting her next novel.

Find Sarah here:

Website: http://www.sarahgrimm.com

Blog: http://www.authorsarahgrimm.blogspot.com

Group Blog: http://www.smutwriterssoapbox.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SarahGrimm.Author

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/SGrimmAuthor

The future of publishing--back to basics

2011-10-04T08:49:00.001-05:00

Lots of blogs and articles talk about where publishing is going in the next few years. Lots of people are feeling shaken by what they see as rapid changes in the publishing world. But I can tell you where publishing's going--where it's always been. Publishing is about getting stories to readers.

Let me say it again. Publishing is about Getting Stories To Readers.

Ebooks taking off doesn't surprise me. Indie publishing taking off doesn't surprise me. Both are well equipped to get new stories into reader hands faster and cheaper. Moreover, independent authors and small presses are often closer to the reader. They work with readers one on one, visiting with them through email, blogs and reader-intensive sites like Goodreads, Smashwords and Amazon.

Smaller-footprint groups in general are leaner, more nimble, and can not only adjust faster to changes, but without the large infrastructure to support, can afford to offer stories that are fresher, edgier, chancier. They can fill the niches that publishers who must sell tens of thousands of copies of a book just to break even can't.

Speaking of prices...how did you find your favorite authors? Many of mine came recommended by friends. But however I heard of them, I still first check them out the same way I always have--at the library. Here's another example of the future being in sync with the basics. Kindle books are now available at many libraries, giving readers a wider range of authors to fall in love with.

My go-to person on Indie writing is Edie Ramer of Cattitude and Dead People fame. She writes regularly for Lori Devoti's How To Write Shop and I find her articles both entertaining and highly useful.

Of course the biggest problem cited with lean-published books is lack of good editing. Anything but clean, crisp copy will come between the author and her readers too. Filling the gap are many quality independent editors, as explained in this Freelance Editor Panel.

So, whether it's a blockbuster published at a large traditional house or a small indie ebook, the bottom line has never changed. It's all about getting stories to readers who want to read them.

Renee Wildes's Riever's Heart releases today!

2011-09-27T09:08:00.001-05:00

The warrior in her was ready for anything. But she never saw him coming...

Book Five in the Guardians of Light series releases today! Renee Wildes's Riever's Heart is the story of elven Verdeen, hopeful warrior ranger until no war mare chooses her. Without advancement, she must take another job, to act as bodyguard to barbarian Prince of Thieves, Daq Aryk. Daq is trying to unite his nation and Verdeen's beauty is a distraction he doesn't need.

Product Warnings: This tale illustrates what happens when adventurous dreamer meets seen-it-all cynic. Contains hot, no-holds-barred sex, voyeurism, and some self-loving. Also betrayal and some graphic (but never gratuitous) battle violence.

30% off during release week at Samhain!

Biting Me Softly up for award! Voting through Sep 30

2011-09-22T08:39:00.001-05:00

My novel, Biting Me Softly, is up for a Bookie Award! Best Vampire Novel is filled with great entries so I'd appreciate any help you can give. Voting through September 30.

http://authorsafterdark.blogspot.com/2011/09/bookie-awards-polls-are-live.html

Hugs!
Mary

Guest Renee Wildes on Elven Heroine from Riever's Heart -- giveaway!

2011-09-21T04:38:00.044-05:00

Renee has been an author friend of mine since my first WisRWA convention. She's a multipublished fantasy author who has won both great acclaim (Ecataromance Reviewer's Choice, EPIC finalist and more) and great sales (Amazon and more). Please join me in welcoming her today! And be sure to enter her giveaway for a chance at an Advanced Reading Copy of Riever's Heart!

Welcome, Renee!

Riever’s Heart comes out next Tuesday, 9/27/11 from Samhain Publishing. I have a lot in common with the elven heroine, Verdeen and thought I’d share a bit about the both of us. Maybe you’ll see a bit you can relate to as well.

Verdeen was born to high parental expectations. Her parents were so proud when she became lady’s maid to the queen, Dara, in Duality. They though “queen” but she saw “lady’s maid” and it wasn’t enough for her. Dara asked what she wanted and Verdeen was honest and told her. So Dara helped her enter the military academy—first female to do so in generations. Her parents were…disappointed. I used to be a waitress, and living off tips getting pinched by drunk businessmen was not where I saw for the rest of my life either. So I went back to college—and became the only vet tech in a family of nurses.

We’re both black sheep, following our own dreams instead of that of others’.

Verdeen and I are both tomboys. We’re both bookworms, both inclined to “look it up” when we have a question. I’m terrible about never wanting to stop research to actually WRITE. There’s so much interesting stuff to learn! But she and I both learned that sometimes, there’s no substitute for actually getting out there and LIVING life instead of just reading about it! Research is also EXPERIENCE. (And we both love to read just for fun, too.)

Tami and Sassy

We’re both major horse lovers. I’ve always had Arabians and have two half-Arab mares now. Temptation Fyre N Ice (aka Sassy) is a gray 7-year-old Morab and Moonlight is a white 20-year-old half-Welsh pony who technically belongs to my daughter Tami.

Tami and Moonlight

Verdeen’s always dreamed of having an elven war mare select her to partner in becoming a full elven ranger—those beautiful, glowing white, sentient war mares. Only when she graduates from the military academy, Verdeen DOESN’T get her war mare. None of them choose her. For me, I just had to buy one. Verdeen doesn’t have that luxury and her disappointment is crushing. What to do when the one thing you want most in the world is denied you? How to come up with Plan B? I’ve also had to deal with disappointments and roads not taken.

Sometimes it’s not about what you want. It’s about what you need.

I’ve started gaming on Dragons of Atlantis with my son, but because I never do anything halfway I’m now second in command in our mutual alliance. I’m basically the go-between between the overlord and the rest of the tribe. I’m counselor, resource allocator and diplomat. I also fight when necessary to protect what’s ours and defend my fellow alliance members. Verdeen is assigned by King Loren to accompany the human riever Daq Aryk back to his kingdom of Isadorikja and help him unite his warring clans into a single cohesive nation. She also is a go-between between Loren and Aryk. Part counselor, part spy. But she’s also right there to guard his back and defend him when threatened. Diplomacy when you can, war when that fails, diplomacy again when the war is over.

Always have a plan, and a backup plan, and a backup to the backup. Turn disappointment into triumph. See a failure as a new opportunity.

We both struggle to balance “warrior and woman.” Career vs. family. Time constraints. Choosing one thing means NOT choosing another. Time management and prioritizing. Coming to grips with the realization that you can’t do everything. Recognizing that every day you set an example, both good and bad. Learning to accept that your best is all there is, but it’s always enough. If you can look yourself in the eye in the mirror every night then you have nothing to apologize for.

We’ve both faced our fears. Verdeen had to climb a mountain, face her fear of falling. I’ve gone rappelling and faced my own fears of heights and falling. We both trusted the person holding the other end of the rope (belaying) not to let us die. Sometimes it’s out of your hands and in the hands of another. Sometimes you just gotta check that rope and step over the edge.

Both of us have dealt with the insecurity of wanting another’s approval, not getting it and slowly coming to the painful realization that we can’t please everyone all the time. You have to be secure within yourself. You can’t let others’ opinions dictate who and what you are.

The best characters are like real people with the triviality burned away. They’re multi-faceted. They have insecurities, weaknesses, moments they’re not proud of and things they want to do over. But they’ve got a good heart, learn from their mistakes and always try to do the right thing. Learn and grow. Be open to change. Be able to adapt. Celebrate life’s triumphs both great and small.

I loved hanging out with Verdeen, seeing how much she’s grown between Duality and Riever’s Heart AND how much she’s grown from the beginning of Riever’s Heart to the end. I hope you all find some part of her and her story to relate to your own life.

All comments are entered in a random drawing to win an ADVANCED copy of Riever’s Heart. Win it before you buy it! So let us hear your thoughts! Drawing will be 10 PM CST Friday night, 9/23/11. Good luck!

Riever's Heart -- Releasing September 27, 2011!

The warrior in her was ready for anything. But she never saw him coming…

Guardians of Light, Book 5

Verdeen is on the brink of becoming an elite warrior ranger until the ultimate humiliation—no war mare chooses her for advanced training. King Loren’s consolation prize isn’t much better. Journey to the Isle of Ice as bodyguard to a human riever. Daq Aryk. Barbarian. Prince of thieves.

Aryk dreams the impossible: unite six fractious clans into a peaceful nation. Failure means they are all doomed to kill each other off—and the nightmares of his son’s death by sword will come true. The new elven ambassador rouses his ire, not because she’s female, but because she’s inexperienced. Her possibly needless death weighs on his already overburdened soul. Her beauty is a distraction he can’t afford.

In a fragrant, moonlit garden, Verdeen dares yield to an irresistible compulsion to kiss the mortal riever. The heat shakes her to the core, and frees a desire that should occur but once in her life. With a mate.

As their quest twists down ever more dangerous paths, though, their bond is the asset that could assure peace…or the liability that could send a dream down in flames.

Product Warnings

This tale illustrates what happens when adventurous dreamer meets seen-it-all cynic. Contains hot, no-holds-barred sex, voyeurism, and some self-loving. Also betrayal and some graphic (but never gratuitous) battle violence.

Website: http://www.reneewildes.net/index.html
Blog: http://reneewildes1.wordpress.com
Publisher: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/authors/renee-wildes
Email: http://www.reneewildes.net/contact.html

Tomorrow--Guest Blog and GIVEAWAY

2011-09-20T09:34:00.001-05:00

Independent women, strong smart men, and horses. Add in a giveaway of an Advanced Reading Copy giveaway and tomorrow promises to be epic! Fantasy author Renee Wildes will be here to share some insights and celebrate next week's release of Riever’sHeart (Samhain Publishing), the fifth book in her Guardians of the Light series.

A personal writing update: I have some editorial interest in my short story Black Diamond Jinn, where a dying witch and powerful jinni fight to save the world from Y12 (the Mayan Doom) even as they fight their own attraction. More as that develops.

To round it off, my husband sent me this link to "The Young Lutheran's Guide to the Orchestra" by Garrison Keillor. It reminded me of Meiers Corners.

‘The Young Lutheran’s Guide to the Orchestra’ in We Are Still Married (New York: Viking Penguin, 1989), 30–4.

After the Publishing--Getting the Word Out

2011-09-13T11:02:00.002-05:00

Every writer's journey is different. It's like we're each in our own canyon. We all want to get out of the canyon and back to civilization, but we're differently equipped. One may have a sure-footed donkey, one climbing equipment, one a radio... Anyway, there's a lot of advice out there but not all of it will apply (like the climber reading Getting Out of Your Canyon, Step 1: Turn on the radio). I advocate picking what resonates for you and trying it. If it works, keep it. If not, try something else.

But there's one universal. After the publishing, if you want your stuff read you have to do something to get it into readers' hands.

Two weeks ago I published Oz Bites. I wrote it as a thank you to patient Biting Love readers, so I didn't announce it to the general public. But I did get the word out to my readers, with channels that can also be used in general marketing. I thought I'd share them today.

Goodreads Groups. I belong to the awesome Kindle Smut group. They not only have a place to announce reads, they have discussions and are very active and well-read.

Yahoo Groups. I belong to Samhain Cafe, SavvyAuthors, EPICSocial and the WisRWA loops among others. The important thing is to create a post title that snaps. You want your post to stand out from all the other New Blog Today posts. The first line usually shows too, so make it count. FREE is always a good word to grab attention. Example: Free Short Story--Oz Bites // Vampires, music, marital relations and a smart-mouthed heroine. Free at Smashwords!

Facebook and Twitter. These are two of the current top social networks. If you're not on them, I'd suggest looking into them. Warning: They can be addictive!

Newsletter. Newsletters are great for the reader who doesn't have time to check out your sites.

Website and blog. I've read just about everywhere that your website and blog are your number one promotional tool. Dunno if I agree but I have both and enjoy them--hopefully readers do too.

Books and blogs. There are way too many to name (and see the above on picking what works for you) but Smashwords Book Marketing Guide, How To Write Workshop are a two that I used for this release.

How about you? What are your favorite ways to catch an author's new book? A favorite way of getting news out or hearing it?

The Anatomy of a Free Short Story

2011-09-06T10:18:00.000-05:00

Last week I released Oz Bites, a free short story. Thanks to everyone who voted in my title poll!

After publishing three novels, one novella and two freebie short stories, I have to say this one presented some brand-new challenges.

This is the first time I've been responsible for the cover. I tried a few pictures on my own (like the one on the left) but thankfully eventually ended up with this from Valerie Tibbs (the one on the right).

This is the first time I've been responsible for posting and format. Originally I thought I'd make my own pdf and prc copies and load them onto my website, adding other formats as I learned how to make them. A couple, ahem, hiccups getting the beta copy to Mrs. Missive (it wouldn't even copy in properly) showed me I needed help. I needed a well-tested, inexpensive system to give me robust well-formatted ebooks in a variety of formats. Thanks to some self-pubbed friends including Edie Ramer (Self-Publishing Basics by Edie Ramer) I knew about Smashwords.

After reading the information at Smashwords, I knew I needed to preformat my story properly to have a clean conversion. I used a combination of the article How to Format an Ebook by Lori Devoti and the Smashwords Style Guide.

That's my self-publishing story. Hope you found it informative. Thank you to everyone who downloaded Oz Bites!

Oz Bites available!

2011-08-30T18:54:00.000-05:00

Free! Short! Nixie! What more is there to a great read?* Download your copy at Smashwords today!

*Okay, there are probably a few more things you want to know.

Here's the revised blurb:

Vampires and sex and flamingos—oh my!

Punk musician Nixie Emerson is now married to her master vampire and life is grand. Until the mayor “voluntells” her to assemble a pit orchestra for Oz, Wonderful Oz, a new Broadway-caliber musical.

Problem—she has no budget. Add in a vampire turf war and a pregnancy that makes finding the right sexual position a challenge and running from rogue vampires impossible, and she’s getting overwhelmed. As a rebel who thrives on creative solos, she’s getting zilch for solo time.

Then someone blabs there’s no pay and her musicians back out. Worse, whoever’s stealing secrets isn’t just stealing Nixie’s.

Warning: Contains wild sex, explicit violence, and a frazzled punk heroine. Or is that explicit sex, wild violence, and a frazzled lawyer vampire? What the heck. There’s sex, swearing, fighting and smiles.

Oz Bites--Beautiful New Cover Art

2011-08-27T14:22:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Tibbs Design for getting this amazing cover done so quickly!

Oz Bites
A free short story in the Biting Love universe

Vampires and sex and flamingos—oh my!

Punk musician Nixie Emerson and her master vampire husband Julian try to assemble a pit orchestra. Someone blabs there's no pay, making Nixie and Julian's chore impossible... and worse, what other secrets do the bad guys know?

Warning: Contains wild sex, explicit violence, and a frazzled punk heroine. Or is that explicit sex, wild violence, and a frazzled lawyer vampire? What the heck. There's sex, swearing, fighting, and laughs.

Decision fatigue

2011-08-23T02:28:00.001-05:00

Willpower, something every romance alpha male has. But it's not all mind over matter. Do You Suffer From Decision Fatigue, an article in the New York Times Magazine online, explores decision-making and energy. There's a reason your vendor calls all the time at 4 pm. There's a reason you spend four hours resisting that chocolate cake only to then give in.

There's a reason it gets harder to decide, the more decisions you make.

I took away two things. Getting tired after being hit by lots of choices is completely normal. And the best aid to self-control is structuring life to conserve willpower.

For my readers...free short story August 31!

2011-08-16T14:32:00.000-05:00

I read a great blog today about readers. Actually, Promoting your e-books on Amazon and Yahoo forums is about promo, but what I took away from it was the need to connect with readers, with their hearts and minds. That resonates strongly for me.

Since the next Biting Love novel is taking a while to reach release (thank you, Demon Murphy), I decided to offer a short story freebie to my patient readers in the meantime. I've had great fun writing it and working through the challenges of selfpub, and am happy to announce I'm planning to make the story available August 31. Here's the preliminary blurb:

Vampires and sex and flamingos--oh my!

Punk musician Nixie Emerson is now married to her master vampire, and duty is no longer a four-letter word--well, it is, but...it's not as much of a horror for her. Until the mayor voluntells her to assemble a pit orchestra for Oz, Wonderful Oz, a new Broadway caliber musical.

Problem--she has no budget to leverage a professional-quality pit. Factor in her growing obligations (including pregnancy, which makes find the right position a challenge but running away from rogue vampires impossible) and she's getting overwhelmed. A rebel who thrives on creative solos, she's getting zilch for solo time.

Then someone blabs there's no pay, making her chore impossible... and she and Julian discover the bad guys know all their secrets.

Warning: Contains wild sex, explicit violence, and a frazzled punk heroine. Or is that explicit sex, wild violence, and a frazzled lawyer vampire? What the heck. There's sex, swearing, fighting, and laughs.

Bonus! I need help picking my title. Take the poll at the right and let me know which to use!

Opening the Windows to Sweet Air

2011-08-09T12:40:00.001-05:00

We've been alternating between rain and super hot temps lately, and the windows have been shut on the house. Today is the first time I've opened them in quite some time and I have mixed feelings about it.

On the one hand, the cooler weather means fall is coming, and with it shorter days and imperfect light. The short days don't bother me as much as the watery sunshine. Something about that half-light makes me sad and reminds me of bad dreams.

On the other hand, today's breeze feels great and smells even better, both soft and fragrant. Nice change from stale windows-shut air. We don't get these lovely days often.

If I were to focus on the meaning of the cooler day, I'd be missing the simple joy of the sweet air. I'm not saying ignore the future, but it's a nice reminder to open the window when I can.

Timeless Prose vs Fresh Writing: The Prize Fight

2011-08-02T14:44:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Writing Wrestling Entertainment! In this corner, with classic plots and themes and enough metaphors to make eyes bleed--it's Timeless Prose! *hurrahhhh* And in this corner, with crisp verbs and strong nouns and the latest slang--it's Fresh Writing! *woohooooo*

The referee rings in the first match. "Atticus told me to delete the adjectives and I'd have the facts." It's a reread of the classic To Kill a Mockingbird...and wait. There's been a disqualification...apparently this Timeless Prose is full of Fresh Writing! It's a shocker, folks.

Okay, next up is the reigning champ, Nora Roberts aka J.D. Robb and Promises in Death. "Do little pink fairies sing and dance in your world, Peabody?" / "Sometimes, when it's very quiet and no one else can see." But what's this? An insight into human nature? a touch of the whimsical? Good grief, Fresh Writing is full of Timeless Prose! The ref is sending the contestants back into their corners, clearing the ring. I've never seen anything like it.

The final match is the Rex Stout mystery Omit Flowers: "In my opinion it was one of Nero Wolfe's neatest jobs, and he never got a nickel for it." Oh no, a classic with a snappy first line! I don't know what's going on, folks. It seems that fresh writing is part of truly timeless prose and vice versa.

I'm waiting for a sign from the ref...yes, it's a TKO, a technical knockout to clunky writing. Fresh and timeless writing wins the prize!

NaNo, to me, is like a new flower garden

2011-07-26T08:56:00.000-05:00

NaNoWriMo July Camp is my first NaNo. It's a lot of hard work but I'm having a great time. The brand new garden my husband and I put in on Sunday is amazingly parallel.

I do not (repeat not) have a green thumb. I've had to learn a lot of craft in order to not end up with brown shriveled houseplants and flowerless weed-infested outdoor gardens. Every plant that thrives is a miracle, and flowering is just plain inexplicable but cause for rejoicing.

I've learned a few tricks from watching real gardeners. The first thing to do is prepare the soil. With a brand new garden what this means (to me, remember, not an expert) is breaking up what's there so it's manageable chunks. Then I level it off and pile as much good topsoil on as I can reasonably afford on top. Sunday, that took about four hours.

Then comes the fun part, picking plants. Real gardeners grow theirs from scratch but I can't tell a weed from a rose until it's grown (and has a helpful label :) so I buy them or gratefully take what friends offer.

Then comes the almost-as-much-fun part, placing the plants. I remember my theater director saying, "Clumps, people! No straight lines!" so I arrange the pots in little triangles and diamonds on the smooth dark (prepared) soil. When it looks good hubby & I start digging holes.

Next comes the secret my gardener friend gave me--fill the holes with plant root grower. There are a number on the market but mine turns the water a very pretty blue, added bonus :) Splash some in the pots too. Put the plants in, water some more. Cover with mulch (we used bark nuggets this year) and voila! Looks almost like real gardeners had a hand.

So how's this like NaNo? Normally when I sit down to write, I try to read through what I've done before so I have a nice continuity going, and I try to have the scene plotted before I write it. Like doing a garden a bit at a time, it's painstaking and slow.

NaNo has given me freedom to just write. It's not always the prettiest of prose and certain plot and character points clash like fighting mutant ninja trashcans, but that's okay. Right now I'm spreading topsoil, getting ideas for where the plants will go. There's a joy in pouring out words that I don't have the other way. That joy is like the gardener's secret, the fertilizer going into the holes that will make richer, stronger character and plot.

Concrete prose: chiseling down to specifics

2011-07-19T14:17:00.000-05:00

I recently asked a very smart man to read one of my manuscripts. The story is about a dying witch and a jinni fighting together to stop an EBG (evil bad guy or evil bad gal) from destroying the world. Near the end they break into the EBG's lair and are smacked in the nose with the "rank odor of destructive magic."

Okay, we all know what "rank" means. Nasty, icky. But it's pretty general. What kind of nasty is it, the sharp bite of acid or the over-sweet of decay? So I refined it to "acetone" but really, how many of us sniff nail polish and think "uck, acetone." Yeah. We want concrete, and not esoteric concrete but something most readers can relate to. So the very smart man said how about the smell of burnt hair? It's concrete and everybody has (or has had :) hair, and we have the added bonus of a nice shudder along the spine (think about it. If you haven't experienced it, seeing your hair go boof! is pretty darn scary. If you have, you know what I'm saying).

But even specifics themselves have to be concrete! Another bit of the story had the witch saying she was a "level four". Which, the very smart man pointed out, didn't mean anything. It's arbitrary specificity, like saying "I got five stars" which is good in book ratings but would make a very small galaxy. So I changed her to a "full" witch, still not completely defined but hey, it was a short-short story and at least "full" has specific meaning.

Another example: I originally started this posting with "In the battle to show not tell, one siege stone you can throw is making your words concrete. Hazy, vague writing can instantly snap to attention by chiseling down to specifics." Nice idea words but this is not a paragraph you can sink your hands into and knead.

So slash paper with red ink or prick nostrils with pig stink--keep it concrete!

Author update: I've got a new paranormal witch/shifter story started as part of NaNoWriMo Camp, and 6000 words on the Nixie & Julian short story freebie.

Two Friends Have New Releases Today!

2011-07-12T10:55:00.000-05:00

And at opposite ends of the spectrum too!

Vivi Andrews continues her top-rated fun paranormal Karmic Consultant series with A Cop and a Feel, the story of a touch-psychic and the cop she must save to have. It's a short story, a great way to dip into Vivi's pool!

Keith Melton's novel-plus length gritty vampire noire Ghost Soldiers reveals hit man Karl Vance has a new target, a rogue, charismatic sorcerer--and it will forever color his relationship with Maria. Ghost Soldiers is the exciting followup to B&N PN/UF forum Featured Author Feb 2010 book Blood Vice.

Winner June Blog Contest!!

2011-07-04T10:40:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone for commenting on my June Contest post. Pachelbel is definitely a fave, and we do it for a lot of brides. Funny story--the Canon starts with the cello alone and after 2 bars the flute enters. So that's Gregg & then me. F# is a hard note to tune for me, so I concentrate VERY hard to get it right. Well, every once in a while at rehearsal (rehearsals ONLY) Gregg'll start the thing in Eb instead of D. Hey, I don't have perfect pitch and it sounds the same, but when I come in with my F#, focusing like sumbiche, and it sounds like a minibus thrown off a cliff,and well, it's like stepping on a stair that's not there. Husbands is such fun...

And the winner of the contest, chosen by random number, is Jen B! Jen, congratualtions! Please contact me at mary @ maryhughesbooks.com for your prize!

Various posts of interest

2011-06-29T17:11:00.002-05:00

Some articles that I think are worthwhile sharing.

On fear: http://rockyourwriting.com/2011/01/fear-management-for-writers/
How to write: http://jimbutcher.livejournal.com/
On book reviews: http://open.salon.com/blog/jeanette_d/2010/03/27/amazons_one-star_book_reviews

And then, every once in a while, I come across things I personally delight in.
Duelling cellos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlVbEclPj4c
Simon's Cat: http://www.youtube.com/user/simonscat?blend=1&ob=5
Ninja cat: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbwpgyRUv5g

Upcoming Television Premiers

2011-06-24T11:16:00.000-05:00

Anybody remember the days when TV premiers happened only in fall? Now we get story goodness all year long. Here are a few of my favorites starting new series soon. What are your favorites?

Leverage--June 26
Top Gear--June 26

Torchwood--July 8
Warehouse 13--July 11
The Glades--July 11

If you haven't entered the June giveaway yet, there's still time!

June Giveaway!

2011-06-16T23:37:00.001-05:00

June, the season of weddings. Let's celebrate with an ebook giveaway! The rules are simple. Here are some famous wedding pieces. Comment with your favorite! Or let me know about a favorite that's not here. Or just comment to enter!

I'll select a commenter at random to receive their choice of a Biting Love ebook. Through June 30, 2011. Adults only please. Winner to be posted by July 5.

NOTE: These have sound. Not work safe.

Jesu Joy

Sheep May Safely Graze

Air on a G String

Pachelbel's Canon

Arioso

Clarke Trumpet Voluntary

Purcell's Trumpet Tune

Mozart's Alleluia

La Rejouisance

Rondeau

Bonus Winners! Biting Me Softly In Stores blog tour

2011-06-14T11:37:00.000-05:00

As promised, I've got a bonus winner for the blog tour! I was so tickled with the response I had to award not one, but two more giveaway winners. Frequent comments do pay off! Those who commented at two or more of my posts this tour (who'd not yet won) were put in a random.org hat. (If you missed the winner recap, it's here.)

Winner gets her choice of a paperback copy of Biting Me Softly (if US or Canada) or any of my Biting Love stories in ebook.

And the winner is Jen B! Congrats, Jen! Please email me at mary@maryhughesbooks.com for your prize.

Now there's one more giveaway I have to make. For the most posts this tour--the winner is Cathy M! Cathy, congratulations! Please email me for your prize!

Thanks again to all my lovely blog hosts, and to everyone who read and commented! You're the best!

WisRWA Conference a great success!

2011-06-06T17:13:00.000-05:00

I do enjoy conferences. The 2011 WisRWA was great as always, lots to learn and fun people to be with. The speakers were truly incredible, inspirational, entertaining and informative!

Featuring:
Susan Wiggs
Simone Elkeles (Bonus! Perfect Chemistry rap on YouTube)
Brenda Novak

Workshops:
Angela James (blog)
Carrie Lofty (Art of Elevator Pitch--useful, concrete advice for short pitches with punch)

xkcd on age

2011-06-05T22:43:00.001-05:00

If human ages had taglines :) xkcd

From NetFlash: Worst hackers ever?

2011-06-01T11:55:00.001-05:00

My husband sent me this link to NetFlash yesterday...my favorite line is "Surprisingly, the FBI has access to YouTube."

Biting Me Softly In Stores winner recap

2011-05-31T08:32:00.000-05:00

As I prepare for a weekend of writing fun at the WisRWA conference, I'm taking time out to thank everybody who participated in my Biting Me Softly In Stores blog tour. Readers, blog hosts, commenters--you all made it so much fun!

Here's a recap of the winners:

May 27—Heroines with Hearts: The Cover, Your First 1000 Word—Harlie Reader
May 20—Ramblings by Amber: Crafting the First Line—Desi
May 19—The avid reader: Splashing Verbal Paint—Kat
May 11—Vivi Andrews: Meet Electricity—Pommawolf Emeraldwolfeyes
May 2—Star Shadow Blog: Contrast—throuthehaze
April 28—Amber Polo's Wordshaping: Why I Write Fantasy—Becky
April 27—Victoria Allen: As Simple as ABCBC—Renee
April 18—Shelley Munro's Taste of Kiwi: Finding the Friction—Tamsyn

BONUS GIVEAWAY
**I was totally tickled by the response this tour! For the next couple weeks I'm putting together the last touches on a couple novels, but as soon as that's done I'm going to pick a frequent commenter at random (who didn't win one of the giveaways) as a bonus giveaway winner!

Last giveaway this tour! Heroines with Hearts on Cover Art

2011-05-27T08:31:00.000-05:00

Join me at Heroines with Hearts for a blog on cover art from the author's perspective. Comment to enter my final giveaway for this Biting Me Softly In Stores tour--or just to say hi!

Giveaway and Blog! Crafting the First Line at Ramblings by Amber

2011-05-20T08:37:00.001-05:00

Second-last chance to enter! (Or, as Julian would say, your penultimate opportunity :) Visit me at Ramblings by Amber, where I talk about crafting that opening line. Comment there to enter the Biting Me Softly giveaway! Part of the In Stores blog tour, through May 22. See you there!

Giveaway and Blog! Splashing Verbal Paint at The avid reader

2011-05-19T12:09:00.001-05:00

Only a couple stops left! Comment at The avid reader to enter the Biting Me Softly giveaway, part of the Softly In Stores blog tour. And while you're there, check out the delightful things A.L. had to say about Biting Me Softly!

My Spotlight at Off the Keyboard

2011-05-16T10:07:00.000-05:00

Author Sarah Grimm asked me some fascinating questions for today's blog stop on the Biting Me Softly In Stores tour. Please join me and comment!

Short visit to Alaska

2011-05-11T13:34:00.001-05:00

I took a flying (heh) four-day trip to Anchorage recently. Here are some pics! Don't look too closely at the person holding the books, she was in planes and airports for a solid two of those four days, and it shows :)

Mary with Vivi Andrews's The Sexorcist
Anchorage Barnes & Noble

Road, water and mountains abut

Me and Biting Me Softly

That Ol' Boy-Meets-Girl Electricity

2011-05-11T09:44:00.000-05:00

With giveaway! Join me at the incredible Vivi Andrews's blog for a short item on Meet Electricity.

Author signing Saturday!

2011-05-05T09:54:00.000-05:00

May 7, 1-2:30 p.m. CST (Fireside Books, West Bend WI)—Signing and fundraiser for the Kettle Moraine Symphony. Special: Gregg & I are playing Irish duets

Contrast

2011-05-02T10:04:00.000-05:00

Short blog on contrast at Star Shadow, today through May 4. Part of the Biting Me Softly In Stores tour. Please join me!

Why I Write Fantasy--Blog & Giveaway

2011-04-28T09:35:00.001-05:00

The Biting Me Softly blog tour continues with Why I Write Fantasy...and another giveaway! Visit Amber Polo's Wordshaping and comment to enter!

Giveaway! and Blog--Good Writing: As Simple as ABCBC

2011-04-26T21:53:00.001-05:00

Join me at erotic author Victoria Allen's blog for a discussion on how order can make or break your writing.

Part of the Biting Me Softly In Stock blog tour! Comment to enter a giveaway for a signed copy of Biting Me Softly!

Biting Me Softly First Chapter free at DRB 1st Chapters

2011-04-20T10:21:00.000-05:00

The entire first chapter of Biting Me Softly is now available at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters! Sample the hot friction, great action, and fun!

Finding the Friction: Blog & Giveaway

2011-04-18T10:52:00.000-05:00

Today's the start of my SavvyAuthor blog tour!

Please join me at Shelley Monro's Taste of Kiwi for Finding the Friction (getting story tension out of everyday careers). Comment at Shelley's blog to enter my giveaway! Through April 20.

Writing as advertising

2011-04-15T11:44:00.000-05:00

You have a spare ten minutes. Do you write or promo? Here's the view of USA Today bestselling writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

http://kriswrites.com/2011/04/06/the-business-rusch-promotion/

More Biting Love poll results!

2011-04-12T09:59:00.000-05:00

Poll results! If I write a Biting Love short story, which familiar characters would you like to see?
41% Nixie & Julian
26% Liese & Logan
20% Twla & Nikos
11% Bo & Elena

And remember my Biting Me Softly at a store near you Giveaway! Comment before April 15 to enter.

Giveaway! Biting Me Softly at a store near you!

2011-04-01T10:44:00.001-05:00

I'm so tickled Biting Me Softly is in stores I'm having a giveaway! Just comment on this post to enter. Get a second chance to win by mentioning the city and/or store you saw Softly! Open through April 15, 2011. Adults only, please.

And the prize? A signed paperback copy of Biting Me Softly!

If for some reason I can't mail to your area, I'll substitute all four Biting Love stories in ebook format.

Biting Me Softly in stores now!

2011-03-29T15:00:00.000-05:00

Several booksellers around the United States are stocking Biting Me Softly! If you haven't gotten yours, please consider checking your local store.

Who moved my printer cable?

2011-03-22T09:51:00.000-05:00

We moved house recently (right in the middle of a concert week featuring Peter and the Wolf and that &*!! bird part). Five days of intense labor later, we're completely out of the old house, completely in the new house--and I've only lost about 50% of my stuff.

Moving is a great way to find out what really matters in life. It's not always what you think. I know exactly where our computers are but am missing printer cables, a mouse and half my usb drives. I have all our cell phones but only one charger. The dishes are put away and the bathroom closet is set up (and thanks to the advice of a friend we have tp) but we have no mirrors, towel bars or tp holders. Or window miniblinds, which curtails my um, novel research. Yeah, that was one of the discoveries--window treatments are more important than I thought.

So what about you? Anything in your life that's surprisingly important...and how did you find out?

100 likes contest

2011-03-08T09:51:00.000-06:00

Are you on Facebook? Check out my 100 Likes contest!

If I write a Biting Love short story...

2011-03-02T14:48:00.000-06:00

In the previous poll most of you said you'd like to see familiar faces in one form or another. But which ones? Vote in my poll at http://maryhughesbooks.blogspot.com/

The poll results are in!

2011-03-01T12:53:00.000-06:00

I asked and you responded!

If I write a Meiers Corners freebie short story, would you like to see a new set of characters or ones we've already met?
3% New characters
29% More with existing main characters
32% New romance with secondary characters we've met
35% Combination of new and familiar faces

A few of you specifically mentioned Nixie as a familiar face you'd like to see. Please comment or write me at mary@maryhughesbooks.com if you have other preferences!

One Writer's Journey: Honing the corkscrew brain

2011-02-17T03:00:00.001-06:00

Join me at the Samhellion for another fun look at writing! Commenters welcome!

One Thousand Kitty Whiskers, AKA The True Story of One Thousand Kisses

2011-02-14T01:00:00.025-06:00

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Meankitty as my guest! Meankitty is the awesome cat whose typing slave, Jody Wallace, writes wonderful fantasy and paranormal romance. They're here today to celebrate Jody's brand new release One Thousand Kisses! And if you hurry, you can still enter her contest (more details below).

Now, here's Meankitty!

Elder Embor Fiertag, Primary of the Fairy Court, didn't know that much about kittehs. He was sad and cranky and led a cat-hair free, unhappy life. When he first laid eyes on Master Fey, aka The Real Star Of One Thousand Kisses, he knew something seemed familiar about the soft, fascinating animal. Master Fey's beautiful, shiny black fur and perfectly neat, oh-so-brilliant tuxedo bib, along with neat white paws, struck a chord deep in Elder Embor's hardened heart. The two-leg's had been hardened by years of ruling the Realm all alone with only the help of his twin sister, Elder Skythia, a brash, rather barky woman who's on the kitteh watch list for possibly stepping on tails.

The fey cats who are clearly the most exalted creatures in the Earth and All Places Beyond decided the Primary must be softened if he was ever going to accept he wasn't really the one in charge of things. So
the cats struck up a plan to insert one of their favorite fairy ladies, sweet, soft-voiced Anisette Serendipity, into Embor's path so she would have a salubrious and softening effect on the grouchy Primary. Once made malleable by the nice, silky female of his own kind, Elder Embor would be more receptive to subliminal messages, suggestions, tauntings and outright directives from his superiors, the cats. It was the cats' will that this be so, and thus it was, although it did take an odd turn in the middle when Embor and Ani ran off to humanspace--not a cat's favorite litterbox, if you know what I mean--and Master Fey had to guide them back onto the right path.

PS Cats love adjectives.

Anyway, when Elder Embor first laid eyes on Master Fey, the True Hero had been enjoying a spot of cuddle time with Anisette. For some reason the woman was nervous because Elder Embor was insisting she go to the VET due to some panic attack she'd had, though Master Fey thought it was more likely the horrid VET trip was due to her unfortunate immersion in water. Elder Embor, impatient to hustle Ani to the VET, interrupted the cuddle.

The meet-cat-cute went a little something like this:

"Princess," Embor's voice called through the wood. Her stomach fluttered so hard she was surprised the cat didn't wake up and chase it. "You have an appointment."

"One moment." She hadn't chosen her prettiest blue dress because she was to see Embor today-it was because the yellow was dirty. She always combed her straight hair one hundred times; otherwise tangles overwhelmed her head. And she always dabbed perfume behind her ears and glossed her lips.

A bit breathless, she tied her hair back and opened the door. Outfitted in an off-white tunic and trousers, Embor appeared more and less intimidating than he'd been yesterday. More intimidating because his handsome face seemed drawn with displeasure. Less intimidating because she knew what he looked like naked. Courtesy of her dreams.

Much like her exchange with the cat this morning, she and Embor eyed one another without comment, the only difference being neither of them broke off to lick their behinds.

Embor finally dropped his gaze to his briefcase, adjusting his grip. "Have you breakfasted?"

"No, I-"

"Good. Gangee said you needed an empty stomach."

"This isn't necessary. I feel very much myself this morning."

He examined her from head to toe. Ani resisted the urge to fidget. Her toilette had been pointless. She'd never seen him wear anything elaborate or trendy. He wasn't the type to be impressed by fripperies, but looking her best imbued her with confidence. Yesterday he'd seen her looking her worst, and behaving worse than that.

"Have you remembered what happened before you took ill?" he asked.

Ani hadn't thought about it beyond the generalities. "It could have been as minor as a forgotten appointment. A number of things conspire to trigger a panic attack."

"Did you forget an appointment?"

"Well, no. But anxiety is hardly a rare condition in this environment." She often cared for the triplets. She often suffered through meals with the Torvals. The only unusual element in her day yesterday had been running into Embor, but she could hardly blame him for her overset.

To his face.

His stern, handsome face with kissable lips and piercing grey eyes.

She was a silly goose. That's what was wrong with her.

Embor shifted his case to his other hand. "Walk or transport?"

If they walked, it would prolong the awkwardness. Why was this man so hard to talk to? If he could answer a question in a monosyllable, he did. Sometimes he did even when he shouldn't.

If they transported, she'd get to touch him.

"Transport please." She held out her hand as something fuzzy bumped her ankles.

He's keeping secrets from you, the cat said, his mind-voice a silken whisper.

When Embor reached for her, she snatched her arm back, peering at the cat. He seated himself beside the doorjamb and stared at the Primary.

"A cat," Embor said.

"He was in my room this morning." While cats communicated in mind speech, they couldn't be addressed in mind speech, not that they'd acknowledged. Considering what the cat had just said about Embor, Ani didn't want to respond aloud.

"Why are you here, Fey?" Embor asked.

Without taking his gaze off Embor, the tom began scratching the doorjamb slowly with one white paw.

***

Links to find out more about One Thousand Kitty Whiskers, aka One Thousand Kisses:

Meankitty's human's site

Meankitty's much more awesome site

Meankitty and the human typing slave's blog
Buy One Thousand Kisses from Samhain Publishing

CONTEST: At Jody's blog through February 15!

Also available in The Fey Realm series: Survival of the Fairest

No magic for two weeks? What’s a fairy to do? Go to Vegas, of course!

Princess Talista of the fairy clan Serendipity has been sent, like all young fairies, to a remote forest in humanspace for mandatory survival training. But headstrong Tali’s got different ideas about where to spend two weeks without magic. What better place than Las Vegas to learn to live like humans, a true test of survival?

Tali might not blend, but she’d like to be shaken and stirred with stage magician Jake Story. Their attraction is instant and electric…and Tali senses there’s more to Jake’s show than flashy tricks.

Jake always knew he was different, even before he developed an unusual flair for hypnotism. He has no trouble mesmerizing the luscious Tali during act three, but the lights that appear around them when they kiss weren’t part of the program.

When the authorities from Tali’s homeland track the missing princess to Vegas, Jake and Tali end up on the run. In between magic experiments, evil gnomes and astonishing sex, Tali learns what it really means to be human—by falling in lust, followed closely by love.

But Tali’s not human. And Jake doesn’t believe in fairies. The truth will either bind them together—or tear the fairy realm apart.

Product Warnings: This title contains the following: Intoxicating sex, misuse of magic, gorgeous cross-dressers and flesh-eating gnomes.

Vote in my poll!

2011-02-08T14:38:00.001-06:00

If I write a Meiers Corners freebie short story, would you like to see a new set of characters or ones we've already met?
Vote at my blog through February 28!

The Bite of Silence Wins Best First Line!

2011-02-03T09:11:00.000-06:00

The Bite of Silence has won Best First Line for December at DRB 1st Chapters!

Times Square, New Year's Eve. Twyla Tafel uncovers a plot to unleash berserk vampires on the stroke of midnight. Her only ally is severe, muscular Nikos. The big Spartan vampire might help her stop the rampage, but if she pushes past Nikos's reserve, who will stop him?

And the opening line?

It’s a little-known fact that when vampires fly, they hog the window seats.

Samhain Cafe Softly release party today!

2011-02-02T01:11:00.009-06:00

Join me in celebrating Biting Me Softly's release in paperback February 2! I'll be at the Samhain Cafe on Yahoo groups some time after noon EST for excerpts, contest, and chat!

Biting Me Softly Releases Today in Paperback!

2011-02-01T09:11:00.000-06:00

Five Angel Recommended Read, Five Diva Recommended Read, All Romance Ebooks bestseller Biting Me Softly is now available in paperback!

He's a candy box of sex appeal wrapped with a golden bow. She's on a diet.

Blood, sex, violence. Blood, okay, but computer geek Liese Schmetterling had enough S&V when her cheating ex fired her. Now security expert—and lip-smacking gorgeous—Logan Steel saunters into her Blood Center, setting fire to her libido. And threatening her job.

Visions of pink slips dancing in her head, Liese tries to push Logan away without touching his jutting pecs...or ridged abs. Or petting the Vesuvius in his jeans. He's hiding something, but it doesn't seem to matter when his smiles stun her, his kisses crank her to broiling and his bites rocket her to heaven. Fangy bites which, if she weren't grounded in science, would make her think ampire-Vay.
Centuries old and tragedy-scarred, Logan's mission is to fortify the Blood Center's electronic defenses against his nemesis, the leader of a rogue vampire gang. He's ready for battle but not for Liese, who slips under his skin, laughs at his awful puns, charges beside him into dark, scary places—and tastes like his true love.
No matter how often Logan declares his love, Liese can't bring herself to trust him. But when his archenemy comes after her, not trusting him may cost her life...
Warning: contains explicit vampire sex involving absurdly large male equipment (hey, they're monsters), unbelievable stamina (just how long can he stay underwater in a hot tub?), hide-your-eyes violence and horrendously bad puns. And, just when you think it can't get any worse, a computer geekette trying to play Mata Hari.

Five Divas! Recommended Read! "Biting Me Softly is a sensational read that I could not put down! Mary Hughes brings it to the mat with this fantastic book…Logan, simply gives me chills with his electric sizzle and his “alpha” Vampire personae. He likes to be in charge, but when he meets up with Liese, let the battles begin. There is no way to say who will end up on top." ~ Reviewed by Deb for Dark Diva Reviews

Five Angels! Recommended Read! "I love, love, love Mary Hughes' writing style. It revs me up and keeps me going from the sheer excitement of the merry chase her heroines lead their men on in hopes of winning their love. I do believe that each time Ms Hughes delivers a new hero to her voracious fans they become hotter and sexier. I know that I certainly feel that way. Each time I think that I can love no other character as much as the previous one she gives birth to a new empyrean delight to torture and beguile the reader." ~ Reviewed by Hayley for Fallen Angel Reviews
5 Fangs! "I absolutely love Mary’s sense of humor which comes out in the richness of her characters...At times, it’s laugh out loud funny and at others, well between all the action, danger, steamy hot hook ups, it’s also a touching renewal of faith in falling in love." ~ Reviewed by Sidhe Vicious Reviews

More reviews
Read an excerpt

Author spotlight at Romance Junkies!

2011-01-25T10:48:00.000-06:00

I'm in the spotlight at Romance Junkies! Although the hunky pic of Logan is the true star. Biting Me Softly releases in paperback in just one week!

Preorder and SAVE!!

2011-01-24T10:04:00.015-06:00

And the big news is--Samhain's new store has Preorder!! How do I know this? I preordered Keith Melton's Zero Dog War and saved 30%. Come on. Keith Melton? A werewolf with a thing for health food, geletin wars and corporate zombies? You know you want to :)

But it gets better. Preorder Biting Me Softly in paperback and you also get 30% off! Such a deal, but it's only for preorders and new releases.

Visit the new Samhain Publishing Store today!

One Writer's Journey: Verbing

2011-01-20T16:53:00.000-06:00

Cars, chasing, crashing. I discuss why powerful verbs attract readers at The Samhellion.

Cats Tell All!

2011-01-10T10:17:00.001-06:00

My cats spill the beans (or the kibble) on life at the Hughes house at Jody Wallace's Writer & Cat!

Giveaway & Blog: Stripped-down Characters (heroes in a crisis) at Tina Donahue Presents!

2011-01-10T10:14:00.001-06:00

Join me for a Biting Love giveaway and short blog on characters and crisis at the red-hot blog of author Tina Donahue!

Blog and contest at Tina Donahue Presents

Upcoming Blog visits

2011-01-05T12:25:00.000-06:00

Both January 10
Visit me at Tina Donahue's blog! I'm talking about characters and crises--and there's a giveaway of one of my ebooks!
My cats spew the secrets about living in the Hughes household at Jody Wallace's Writer and Cat!

January 20
I blog at The Samhellion!

“Ring in the New Year with the explosively hot The Bite of Silence!” *

2010-12-31T11:58:00.000-06:00

Tonight's the night! Enjoy New Years Eve with a free New Years Eve story. If you haven't gotten yours, The Bite of Silence, a Five Angel/Recommended Read** is free for Kindle at Amazon and Nook at Barnes & Noble for a limited time!

*Joyfully Reviewed **Fallen Angel Reviews

Erotic vampire romance with a dash of snark and a naughty use of ties...

Today's visit to Tina Donahue's blog has been postponed due to computer issues. Tentatively rescheduled for January 10, 2011. Thanks for your understanding!

After the NaNo Holidays

2010-12-22T01:21:00.001-06:00

Handling Life After The Rush.Come let me know how you're coping after NaNo*, or how you deal with post-holidays at the Samhellion!

*National Novel Writing Month

A Lady Who Knows What She Wants: Tina Donahue Guest Blog and Contest!

2010-12-20T01:00:00.070-06:00

One of the things I like best about writing contemporary erotic romance is a heroine who isn’t shy…a lady who knows exactly what she wants.

My women aren’t aggressive, they’re assertive, not afraid to speak their minds, to claim what they want and need.

In Sensual Stranger, my newest erotic romance that released December 15^th, I envisioned Toni Starr as a young woman without guile. Although she speaks her mind, beneath her candor is a heart aching with need.

To illustrate what I mean, here’s the blurb and an excerpt:

BLURB:

Into his life she came—wanting…willing…wanton

It’s no ordinary morning when Toni Starr arrives at Zach’s garage. Flat broke, with a past she won’t share, Toni’s instantly taken by such a potently virile man. Direct and unashamed, she tells him she’s a motorcycle performance artist who needs work and knows motors.

Zach knows women, and Toni’s unlike any he’s met. Lushly sensuous, exceedingly assured, she’d easily be his match in business and bed. A provocative challenge that stirs him as nothing has since losing his wife. A chance he’s reluctant to take, offering no more than a month’s employment, then she’ll have to be on her way.

The hours tick by. Each word and glance intensifies their denied yet escalating desire, forcing them to surrender to passion and Toni’s need for Zach’s dominance. Driven by carnal hunger, conquered by yearning, they face the unforeseen truth of Toni’s past and a future neither of them expected.

EXCERPT:

(This scene is shortly after Toni and Zach have kissed for the first time with Zach questioning his good sense given that Toni’s a woman he believes he shouldn’t pursue)

Zach stood framed in the doorway, his powerful body straining against his tee and jeans, utterly masculine, sensuous beyond belief. Unable to resist, her gaze roamed over him. He’d finger combed his damp hair. His face was freshly shaved, his eyes veiled.

Behind her, the bacon sizzled and popped.

Zach’s gaze darted to the skillet and the carton of eggs on the counter. His lips parted as though he intended to speak. In the end, he did not. He looked back at her, taking in her naked feet, blue-jean cutoffs and aqua tank top.

Toni’s nipples constricted with his scrutiny.

He took in a shallow breath, and finally spoke on a ragged sigh, “That shouldn’t have happened.”

Expecting him to say as much, Toni faced him. “Why not?”

His eyes jumped to hers. Obviously surprised, he parroted her words, “Why not?”

“Exactly.” She reached over and turned off the bacon so they could talk uninterrupted. Hooking her thumbs in her front pockets, she turned back to him. “I enjoyed what happened upstairs and so did you. We’re both adults. We both know what we want. We’ve known it from the moment I stepped into your garage.”

His gaze shifted to the side, then returned to her.

“We have a month,” she said, her voice throaty with arousal. “Why not have some fun? Why not enjoy it while it lasts?”

He shook his head. “No.”

Toni refused to back down. Even though he could never give her love, she still craved his warmth and strength. “Why?” She took a step toward him. “You have a girlfriend, a fiancée, an ex-wife you still think about?”

Shoving his fingers through his hair, he muttered, “I told you last night, I’m not divorced.”

“You told me you weren’t married.”

His hand dropped to his side. He heaved in a deep breath. “Or involved. With anyone.”

Toni didn’t understand his resistance to her and was reluctant to question. Had he loved someone who’d dumped him? What woman would be crazy enough to do such a thing? Even if some woman had, his actions upstairs hadn’t been feigned or hesitant. He’d wanted her as much as Toni wanted him.

Anxious to settle this, she spoke quickly, “Are you worried I’ll want something more than just sex? Do you think I’ll hold your garage or this place hostage?” She put up her hand, stopping him from answering. “I told you last night at the shop, I’m not a thief. And I’m certainly not going to call in a team of lawyers to slap you with a sexual harassment suit. I’m the one who just spent a few days in jail, remember? You’re the upstanding citizen. They’d believe you in a heartbeat.”

He sighed. “Good god, I never thought any of that, all right?”

She advanced another step. “Then you’re concerned there’s something wrong with me or I’ll get pregnant?” Before he could answer, she spoke softly, sincerely, “I’m clean, free of disease, Zach, and as far as having a child, it won’t happen. I’m fully protected. I know what it’s like to be alone, to be without a father to protect and love me. I’d never force a baby on a guy who didn’t want it. I’d never do that to any child, especially my own.”

Zach’s face flushed. For a moment, he looked lost, exactly as she’d felt for too many years. “Why are you so alone? What happened to—“

She cut him off. “No. Don’t go there…please” She forced all emotion away, refusing to cry, to let him know how vulnerable she was. “This isn’t about my past. It’s about here and now. You and me. Having some fun. Then I take off. No harm done. You go back to your life. I go back to mine.”

Shoulders slumping, he lifted his face to the ceiling as though he couldn’t bear to hear another word.

Despite it, desire radiated from him, charging and thickening the air.

Desperate to be back in his arms if only for a little while, Toni murmured, “I know you want me, Zach. You’ve had a hard-on since we met. A few minutes ago, up in the hall, you proved it.” Her gaze dropped to the solid ridge of male flesh behind his fly. “You’re hard now.”

His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. He spoke in a choked voice. “So what if I am?”

“So do something about it.” Please.

A pulse in his throat jumped. His chest expanded with his fitful breaths.

Never had Toni seen a man struggle so hard to control the male animal within. With the other men she’d known, especially Joe, there had been little concern over crossing boundaries.

Why Zach was so different, Toni wasn’t certain. Nor did she care.

Passion sang in her blood. Her body buzzed with energy. She advanced another step, determined this moment would play out even if she had to goad him. “What’s the matter, Zach?” Cocking one brow, she reduced her voice to a sultry purr. “What’s the real problem? Don’t you know how to satisfy a woman?”

He went completely still, not even finishing his breath.

Several moments passed. The only sounds were the hush of the air-conditioning and the rapid thumping of her heart.

Lowering his head, Zach met her gaze with hooded eyes, his expression changed. He wore the look of a rutting animal, male, feral. He spoke through his teeth. “Sweetheart, you have no idea what I can do to you.”

Excitement snaked through her. Her cunt felt heavy and achy, needy of his cock. “You’re right.” She held his gaze. Challenge rang in her voice. “So why don’t you show me.”

Zach’s lids slipped down, hiding his eyes. As he opened them, danger continued to flare in his expression and voice. “That’s enough. This conversation is over.”

“We’re not finished.”

“I said, knock it off.”

“Make me.”

Swearing, he crossed the room to her so quickly that Toni’s initial reaction was to step back. She did not. Head lifted, pulse racing, she stood her ground, looking at him looming above her. Formidable. Aroused.

“Make me,” she whispered.

What happens next is beyond hot.

Sensual Stranger is available now!

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8932-50-sensual-stranger.aspx

Email: tina@tinadonahue.com

Website/blog: www.tinadonahue.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tinadonahue

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000458023097

To celebrate the upcoming release of Sensual Stranger, I’m offering a contest today. One lucky commenter will have her choice of one of my following books**:

Lush Velvet Nights – ebook
Adored – ebook
Deep, Dark, Delicious – ebook
Close to Perfect – mass market paperback
Bad Boys with Red Roses – trade paperback
Take My Breath Away – trade paperback

** Winner chosen at random. Winner in continental US has her choice of one of the six. Winner outside continental US has her choice of one of the ebooks

Contest open through Wednesday evening (December 22, 2010 11:59 p.m. EST)

Ring in the New Year with a FREE READ on Kindle, Nook

2010-12-15T09:10:00.000-06:00

Top your tree with a Star---A 5-Angel Recommended Read FREE! The Bite of Silence is one of four New Years Samhain books free today at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Limited time only!

Does music give you skin o's?

2010-12-10T10:14:00.000-06:00

An article at The Body Odd on msnbc.com on how some of us react physically to music.

Coming this month...

2010-12-06T23:19:00.006-06:00

Upcoming events

December 15, 2010—Secret! To Be Announced
December 18 & 19, 2010—Samhain Christmas Party! At the Samhain Cafe
December 20, 2010—Visit from Tina Donahue, contemporary and contemporary erotic romance author--with contest!
December 20, 2010—I blog at The Samhellion
December 31, 2010—I blog and offer a contest at Tina Donahue Presents

Anatomy of a Musician, mid-holidays

2010-12-06T12:19:00.000-06:00

'Tis the Season...for holiday gigs. While the rest of the world might be decorating, sending cards, and digging up new recipes for that festive turkey or ham, I'm--playing. And practicing. And playing some more.

The last four days alone I've had two rehearsals and five--count 'em, *5* performances. That's not counting time at home, woodshedding any of fifty holiday pieces. My wip...excuse me, lip feels like Dr. Claw stretched it out and ran a tractor over it. My eyes aren't focusing; when I shut them little eighth notes dance on my eyelids. I've played more versions of Silent Night than it has letters.

This week: three more rehearsals and three performances (although some of them are for my husband only and I'll just drive him there and read on my Kindle). But it means I'm only taking a quick dip in the cyberwaters today before plunging back into the raging current of holiday music. Hope to see you on the other end!

Two writers' blogs

2010-12-05T09:46:00.001-06:00

Jim Butcher on writing quite seriously the most amazing treatment I've read on the net

Charles Stross on a variety of topics, entertaining and informative

EPIC article

2010-12-01T16:59:00.000-06:00

Whose Book Is It: A succinct article on differences between buying a print book and an ebook.

BBC Sherlock--Brilliant!

2010-11-29T10:28:00.000-06:00

I love shows and movies done from books. Done well, it's an added dimension, seeing another interpretation of a favorite. Here's my latest: Sherlock

Bite My Fire up for August Sammie Cover poll

2010-11-27T09:35:00.000-06:00

If you're on the Samhain Cafe in Yahoo groups there's a sweet poll for Samhain cover art each month. Bite My Fire is up as part of the August print books--please vote!

Biting Me Softly Gets Five Blue Ribbon Rating!

2010-11-23T11:39:00.001-06:00

"Author Mary Hughes delivers another hit with BITING ME SOFTLY...I can’t wait for another installment in the BITING LOVE series."

~ Pamela Denise for Romance Junkies

Annual Black Friday Bash at the Samhain Cafe!

2010-11-23T11:21:00.000-06:00

Time for the annual Black Friday Bash in the Samhain Publishing Café! Prizes, authors, more!
Friday, November 26th in the SP Café from 7-11 p.m. EST!

Blog and Biting Love ebook giveaway!

2010-11-17T10:22:00.000-06:00

Join me at The Samhellion as I blog on One Writer's Journey: Picking Out the Muddled Sentence Comment for an opportunity to win a Biting Love ebook!

Biting Me Softly up for Best Book--please vote!

2010-11-08T11:33:00.000-06:00

Now through November 14. Biting Me Softly is up for Best Book of July at Dark Diva reviews. Please vote!

Biting Nixie up for Best of Halloween

2010-11-04T12:08:00.000-05:00

Please vote for Biting Nixie for best cover and best first chapter! Check out the Best of Halloween poll at D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters (scroll about 1/2 way down).

Happy Birthday Samhain Publishing!

2010-11-01T11:41:00.000-05:00

Fifth birthday celebration 10-10 EST today, November 1! Join me at the Samhain Cafe for chat, prizes, excerpts, more!

Comment to Win! Biting Nixie 1st Chapter

2010-10-31T09:13:00.000-05:00

Biting Nixie is up at the 48 Hours of Halloween. Comment to help make it the prize--comment on all the other wonderful authors' chapters to increase your chances of winning!

Biting Nixie First Chapter drops at 5 am EST!

2010-10-30T16:39:00.001-05:00

October 31 5:01 am EST—Biting Nixie at 48 Hrs of Halloween—Please comment to help make Nixie the prize!

LASR Halloween Scavenger Hunt

2010-10-29T11:32:00.000-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is having a Halloween Scavenger Hunt! October 30-31. Lots of prizes. I'm participating in the Whipped Cream hunt.

Are We Living in a Hologram?

2010-10-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

Article at Discovery News about the possibility of us being a holographic projection from the Universe's event horizon.

Check out the Samhellion Spook-a-Palooza! Kindle, ebooks, wow!

2010-10-18T14:58:00.000-05:00

Three contests, lots of amazing prizes! I'm participating in two, please join me.

October 17-23 is the first Scavenger Hunt. Twelve awesome authors, twelve ebooks. More info here.
October 24-31 is the second scavenger hunt.
October 17-31 is the Kindle contest. More info here.