Mudflat Fortune Cookie for the week -

11/22-28 PAST THE FULL MOON AND INTO COUNT DOWN TIME, ON MONDAY PROBLEMS FIND SOLUTIONS. AND OF COURSE, TUESDAY BRINGS A NEW BATCH. WEDNESDAY THE PROBLEMS WIN. THURSDAY THINKING IS A BIT BLURRED BUT FOCUS, BECAUSE LUCK IS ON A HOLIDAY. YOU’LL FEEL BETTER FRIDAY. SATURDAY TURNS COMPLICATED SO DON’T CHANGE PLANS. CONFIDENCE GETS YOU THROUGH SUNDAY.

Mudflat Fortune Cookie for the week -

A Special Thanksgiving Event!

The Holidays are a wonderful time of year, where we thank those in our lives that have done so much for us throughout the year.  Romance in the Backseat is also taking part in saying thanks.  We have authors giving away books as well as some truly generous giveaways.  Those of food for families in need this Holiday.  Come and Visit Romance in the Backseat.  Nominate those who need some cheer for the book giveaways and those you know who are in need to win the Food Gift Cards from Silver Publishing and author Kylie Brandt. 

Romance in the Backseat



Join us and enter to Win a $100 Food Gift Card from Silver Publishing








Author Kylie Brandt is doing a special $50 Holiday Food Giveaway on RITBS

A Special Thanksgiving Event!

New Release: Rite Men for Maya

Rite Men for Maya
by Zenobia Renquist

Changeling Press

eBook ISBN: 978-1-60521-535-8

Paranormal, Interracial, Menage (m/m/f), Shapeshifter

$4.49

Maya is a half human, half merman who has decided to attend the fertility-virility rite and learn more about her merman heritage. The rite is meant to help mermen find their perfect mates, but Maya is only interested in using it as research.

Tam and Kessen are participants who are searching for their third. They are drawn to Maya and she to them. But she refuses to acknowledge the bond and runs. Tam and Kessen must pursue her through her dreams if they hope to make their love a reality and prove they are the right men for Maya.

BUY NOW

Read Chapter One

New Release: Rite Men for Maya

48 Hours of Halloween Event

Halloween Internet Event!!

It's time to read about bumping the things in the night.

48 Hours of Halloween
and
The All Saints' Day Event

***Where:
D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters
http://dreneebagbypresentsfirstchapters.blogspot.com/

***When:
30 Oct, 12:01 AM EST - 01 Nov, 10:01 AM EST

***What:
Every hour, one minute past the hour, starting 30 October at 12:01 AM EST the D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters blog will drop a new romance first chapter. Vampires, shapeshifters, witches, demons, angels, and other such Halloween creatures are the theme of this event.

***Prizes:
- Book Cover posters
- Free books/e-books

***GRAND PRIZE (only ONE winner for all three days):
- Those who comment on all 59 posts are entered to win a $50 e-gift card to Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, or All Romance eBooks (winner's choice).

***How to Win:
- Leave a comment. The more posts on which you comment, the more chances you have to win. (Note: Multiple comments on one post from one person only count as one entry.)

- Include your name and/or email on each comment for notification purposes.

- All comments received PRIOR to 02 November 12:01 AM EST are entered to win. Winners announced 02 November ON THE BLOG -- that means you have to check back to see if you won.

- Winners have TWO (2) days from the date of notification to claim their prize (deadline - 04 November, Thursday).


*** Permission to forward granted ***

48 Hours of Halloween Event

My Abandoned Love: Fantasy

Recently, I have been blessed with some really good news for my writing career. I have a new contract for my contemporary, interracial romance Inside Out coming to a bookstore near you in June 2011. I have a couple of novels The Prescription Playboy and The Builder with Lyrical Press, Inc, that I truly enjoyed writing and have been well received by reviewers. It's all very exciting and I am happy and grateful.

Now, though, the pressure is on (internal pressure applied to me by me, lol)to get back to something more dark and meaty and fantastic! My debut novel, Bright Star, is dark fantasy and it is twisted and it was a little sexy and I was in love with it. The follow up novel, Domina, however, is still here on my laptop, awaiting some final edits and tweaks. It's calling to me, beckoning even. And the longer I do not respond, the more it feels as if I've abandoned the line. I haven't, but, alas, I am swept up in a maelstrom of successful contemporary romance.

Don't get me wrong, I love my contemporary romance or I wouldn't write it. I adore it. But, I also adore dark and thoughtful fantasy. So, what's a girl to do?

Not sleep, I think. It's probably best that I stay awake as long as possible and perhaps cut half my day into contemporary romance and the other half into fantasy? Think that'll work? No? Not so feasible? OK, so maybe not.

My real plan is to complete one more contemporary romance then focus on completing Domina, getting it published. But first, you may want to read Bright Star to get prepared for the second book which delves deeper into a source of evil we can all understand: good intentions. Look for it next year!

Stop by and read about Bright Star here. Read more about me here. Hang out at my blog here. Friend me on Facebook here. Reply to this post if you share my dilemma or have a recommendation for me.

Grayson Cole

My Abandoned Love: Fantasy

Lynne's Love Triangle is now available for pre-order

Lynne's Love Triangle is now up for pre-order and it's one menage you don't want to miss. The fun just gets started after these three get together.

Just a little something about it:

Lynne had to videotape the supernova hot sex the night she landed two men in her bed because she knew it would never happen again. Kurt is sweet and sexy. Troy is dominating and masterful. Both of her new lovers fulfill her better than her deepest fantasy man. How could she pick just one? Will it make a difference that they are both over twenty years younger than her? Will the flames of their desire burn out after this single night of passion is over?

And more importantly, can her new lovers pull together when it really counts and protect her from a crazy stalker trying to kill her? Only time will tell.

Buy your copy here:

http://www.bookstrand.com/lynnes-love-triangle

I hope you enjoy reading your copy!

Lots of love to you all!
Missy Lyons
www.missylyons.com

Lynne's Love Triangle is now available for pre-order

Free Story by Missy Lyons

Do you subscribe to All Romance ebooks newsletter? You should! There is tons of free stuff in there, contests, new releases and a free read every Friday. Missy Lyons story 'Till Death Do Us Part' will be featured in it October 22 for Halloween.



If you miss out, or don't sign up in time--don't worry! Missy Lyons will feature it in her newsletter that month too. Sign up here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Missy_Lyons_Newsletter/

Thanks and I hope you can enjoy it!
Missy Lyons
www.missylyons.com

Free Story by Missy Lyons

Fire Pages Review: Eris (And Contest)

New review and it is totally worth sharing!

"...Renee takes pride in developing rich, three-dimensional characters that continue to grow at every turn of the page... I found myself stalking the novel, devouring each page, and craving to know what happens next. I was also incredibly impressed that there wasn’t a single grammatical error in the book, which is something I’m quite critical about when reviewing novels... I don’t do ratings, but if I had to categorize Eris, I would call it “Literary Perfection.”"
~ Zee, Fire Pages Reviews

Full Review:
http://firepages.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/eris-by-d-renee-bagby/

Along with the review is a contest: Absolute Chaos Giveaway
- Leave a Comment on the Review
- Leave a comment on the interview to be posted Thursday 19 August
AND
- Subscribe via email to Zee's blog

Prizes:
- $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon, or Bookstrand (winner's choice)
- e-copy of ERIS

Contest ends Friday 20 August

Good luck and have a happy!

~ Renee
---
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion
http://dreneebagby.com

Fire Pages Review: Eris (And Contest)

SLC Examiner Interview!

Fran Lee of the Salt Lake City Romance Novels Examiner interviewed me.

Check it out and leave a comment.

~ Renee
-----
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion
http://dreneebagby.com

SLC Examiner Interview!

5 Delightful Divas for ERIS

This one slipped past me, but I'm sure happy to see it. :D

5 Divas!
"If this were a movie, it would be a box office smash... So if you’re looking for a fast paced book with hunky immortals born in the thirteen century who find themselves captivated by a twenty first century woman, this book is definitely for you!"
~ Dakota, Dark Diva Reviews

Full Review - http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/eris-eternal-truths-series-by-d-renee.html


Eris by D. Renee Bagby

Genre: Fantasy Mainstream Menage (m/f/m), Interracial, Unorthodox Time Travel
Publisher: Siren Publishing, Menage Amour Imprint
ISBN: 1-60601-837-X
Length: 160,003 words (508 pgs PDF)
Format: eBook
Price: $6.99

BUY NOW

Read Excerpt
Read First Chapter

Eternal Truths Series, Book 1


Time is on their side and they can be together, assuming the truth doesn't ruin everything first.

Immortals born in the thirteenth century, Lucien Riordan and Ranulf Styr have waited centuries to be reunited with their love. Want for her cemented their friendship through time even as it tore it apart. She changed their lives, made them want better, and they plan to show her that. There's only one catch--she's never met them before.

Eris Brue is flattered by Lucien and Ranulf's attention but they are her bosses. She doesn't want to get tangled up in an office romance, especially not with two men. Their joint seduction overcomes her resolve and she gives in even though she knows they are keeping secrets that could doom their relationship.

Centuries of planning have finally come to fruition. Lucien and Ranulf have a short amount of time to make Eris love them, because once time has her, everything could come to an end.

Renee
-----------------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com

5 Delightful Divas for ERIS

Vote for ERIS at HEA (Book of the Month)

Eris is up for Book of the Month over at Happily Ever After Reviews!

Vote NOW

[Ménage Amour: Mainstream Ménage a Trois Romance, M/F/M, Interracial, Time Travel]

Immortals born in the thirteenth century, Lucien Riordan and Ranulf Styr have waited centuries to be reunited with their love. Want for her cemented their friendship through time, even as it tore it apart. She changed their lives, made them want better, and they plan to show her that. There's only one catch--she's never met them before.

Eris Brue is flattered by Lucien and Ranulf's attention, but they are her bosses. She doesn't want to get tangled up in an office romance, especially not with two men. Their joint seduction overcomes her resolve, and she gives in even though she knows they are keeping secrets that could doom their relationship.

Centuries of planning have finally come to fruition. Lucien and Ranulf have a short amount of time to make Eris love them, because once time has her, everything could come to an end.

Note: Contains no explicit sexual language. Contains physical violence against the heroine.
A Siren Erotic Romance

Vote for ERIS at HEA (Book of the Month)

Adrianne Brennan - romantic dark fantasy and science fiction writer: Why I chose the Boston Area Rape Crisis as my Blogathon charity

Please support Adrianne's blogging marathon funds- and awareness raiser.

Adrianne Brennan - romantic dark fantasy and science fiction writer: Why I chose the Boston Area Rape Crisis as my Blogathon charity

Visit, leave a comment, Tweet, even if you cannot donate.

Posted by Rowena

Adrianne Brennan - romantic dark fantasy and science fiction writer: Why I chose the Boston Area Rape Crisis as my Blogathon charity

LASR-WC Spotlight: D. Renee Bagby

The spotlight is on me again. This time I'm at The Long and the Short of It's Whipped Cream site.

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/index.htm

Stop by if you would like to enter to win a copy of ERIS. Or just stop by to leave a comment on one of my posts. The spotlight lasts from Monday to Friday with a new post each day. Don't miss out.

~ Renee
---------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion
http://dreneebagby.com

LASR-WC Spotlight: D. Renee Bagby

HEA Reviews - Eris Gets 5 Tea Cups

Eris has gotten a second review from Happily Ever After Reviews.


"I cried, laughed, had moments of incredible frustration, but in the end fell in love... This is a must read for anyone who likes time travel romance..." ~ Yadkny, Happily Ever After Reviews, 5 Tea Cups

Buy Now

Read the First Chapter

Eternal Truths Series, Book 1


Time is on their side and they can be together, assuming the truth doesn't ruin everything first.

Immortals born in the thirteenth century, Lucien Riordan and Ranulf Styr have waited centuries to be reunited with their love. Want for her cemented their friendship through time even as it tore it apart. She changed their lives, made them want better, and they plan to show her that. There’s only one catch—she’s never met them before.

Eris Brue is flattered by Lucien and Ranulf’s attention but they are her bosses. She doesn’t want to get tangled up in an office romance, especially not with two men. Their joint seduction overcomes her resolve and she gives in even though she knows they are keeping secrets that could doom their relationship.

Centuries of planning have finally come to fruition. Lucien and Ranulf have a short amount of time to make Eris love them, because once time has her, everything could come to an end.

HEA Reviews - Eris Gets 5 Tea Cups

Guest Blog at Nana Malone's

I did a guest blog at Nana Malone's about crying. No, no, no. I'm not crying. You just have to read the blog and see. :P

Take a look

~ Renee
----------
D. Renee Bagby
Building New Realms of Passion...
http://dreneebagby.com

Guest Blog at Nana Malone's

Horoscopes and Smashwords -

I uploaded a non-fiction book on Smashwords today. Considering my non-techie skills, it was easy. This is a quick guide to partytime fortunetelling, based on a series of articles I once did for Starcraft Horoscope Magazine. Smashwords is a new adventure for me!

The reason I mention it here is because this is a skill Claire the astrologer uses in my EPIC winning BookStrand Mudflat series.

- Phoebe Matthews

Horoscopes and Smashwords -

Crewkin Available in February 2011

Here's a introduction to the lead character in Crewkin, a scifi novel coming from MuseItUp Publishing in February, 2011

Renna heard the hatch open and a woman entered. Never raising her gaze, Renna noticed through quick side glances the woman looked alien, so very different from her crewkin. Yes, she wore Markham Corporation uniform, so they worked for the same company. Only she was shorter, plumper, her face, nose, and neck, even her fingers, too thin, her brown eyes and hair, the wrong color. She wore jewelry and makeup. Renna tightened her handclasp. Her training helped her blank her expression and emotions. She fell back on her kin's mantra: calm, professionalism, duty.

The woman sat in the chair on the opposite side of the table. "Well, Renna, this is a strange situation for you, isn't it?"

"Yes." Duty required simple straight answers, no embellishment. She refused to scream, "My ship and the rest of my kin are dead."

"Your crewkin went through a horrible experience. Most of them died. All those you shoved into escape pods only came here to die far from their ship. You didn't join them."

She sat here, so the answer was obvious, and she understood the words were an accusation. She kept her gaze on the table in proper crewkin submission; answer enough. The anger in her belly writhed like one of the reptiles shown in a learning tape she remembered from her childhood. The image always stuck with her because she felt the same knot-making movement inside.

"Medical gave them the suicide drugs." Renna carefully kept her voice clam, concealing her anger. She glanced at the woman. For an instant, she imagined a serpent's tongue flickered from the woman's too red mouth and looked away.
 
"Because we know your type. You cannot live without your kin." The woman paused. When Renna didn't answer, she continued. "What do you plan to do? You cannot join another crew. Unfortunately, there is no other place for you to go."

"There are other ships." She held her breath at her insubordinate, unkin-like response.

The woman laughed a soft, mocking sound. "You want to join one of the ships making runs to and from the few planets in the system? After the long hauls you and your kin made? You won't fit in. You are too different."

"I'm a speaker."

"Yes, you, of all your kin, were the only one to talk with outsiders. It's probably why you've survived here in the Markham hospital. Shortrun crews, though, aren't crewkin. They all have existing friends and family outside of their ship's crew. Even a speaker will be too strange for the norm crews to accept you. We only want to help you, and the truth is, you belong to your crewkin."

"Will you kill me?" Her defiance at asking a question nearly overwhelmed her. The serpent in her belly moved, her hands shook, and her jaw clamped tight. She wanted to scream, "I was never part of them." The thought startled her.

"No, we don't want to kill you. We want you to choose the correct path and join your crew. If you don't, your only choice is too leave. Markham Company cannot continue to take care of you." She recognized sympathy in the woman's face. The expression looked practiced, fake.

Leave. Alone. Outrageous, frightening words; her breath caught. She felt her body react. The slithering in her belly stopped. "Then I will leave." She nearly laughed at the woman's stunned look, but that would be unprofessional, and unkin. Inside, excitement glittered like stars.

Crewkin Available in February 2011

Dear Scott Turow, Allison Kelley, John Scalzi...

Open letter to the Presidents of RWA, SFWA, and Authors' Guild concerning copyright infringement.

Dear Scott Turow, Allison Kelley, John Scalzi,

Thank you very much for everything you do to defend authors' copyrights against copyright infringement. We very much appreciate having an address to which to send our complaints, and the comfort of knowing that you compile a database of the most egregious "pirates" and pirate sites.

Despite small triumphs, ignorance persists among honest readers; lies about the legality of "sharing" go unchallenged, and the problem is getting much worse.

Please Scott Turow, Allison Kelley, John Scalzi will you talk to one another, set up one powerhouse task force, meet regularly, share resources, engage your members, give authors one central "Go To" address where we can submit complaints, report piracy sites, blogs and yahoogroups, cc our take-down notices.

One forceful industry voice could shut down an entire account and insist on a hosting site complying with their own TOS where their TOS has been repeatedly violated, instead of individual authors taking down one file at a time.

Thank you.

Rowena Cherry (IWOFA)

Permission granted to forward, share, repost, or use as a template for other open letters.

Dear Scott Turow, Allison Kelley, John Scalzi...

First Review: Eris by D. Renee Bagby

FIRST REVIEW!!!

Eris has gotten it's first review from Rites of Romance.

5 lyres and a recommended read

"I was so taken in by the characters I loved, yes loved this book... The characters came to life for me, they all had flaws and imperfections and that’s what made them real to me."
~ GJM

Read the full review

Buy Now
Read First Chapter

First Review: Eris by D. Renee Bagby

About zombies -

Saw a lot of them at Crypticon this weekend in Everett, WA. What an amazing range of costumes! Super decorations and lots of panels and activities. And zombies everywhere, as well as vampires and other scary types. Okay, I went to do research because I am working on a new urban fantasy series for a RPG publisher. The sci fi/fantasy cons are also a great way to meet people who write, edit, or read the genre and I met all of the above. Crypticon is more of a fun party type con and included games, dancing, live performers, and also people who made jewelry and costumes and even makeup to go with costumes.

From Mudflat's Claire here's today's fortune cookie: MONDAY, LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR BRINGS ANNOYING WORK CHANGES BUT GOOD EMOTIONAL VIBES. Rest of the week is posted on the Prediction page at http://phoebematthews.com.

About zombies -

SciFi, Folklore and the Future

One reason I like to write science fiction is because I see the genre as folklore of the future. Some writers see the future as apocalyptic, and I tend to agree we will probably come close to ending ourselves with or without the help of space aliens. However, I tend to think that if we learn responsibility as a species, we might become seeds to the universe. The problem is the duality of our natures. We contain both good and bad: generosity tempered with avarice and self seeking, xenophobia combined with an adventurer's desire for exploration. You can come up with more examples, I'm sure. To make matters more difficult, sometimes our good traits result in disaster, and our worst characteristics save us.

In my new novel, Crewkin, corporate leaders, though only indirectly mentioned, are just as greedy and ruthless as some few are today. To create ship crews which won't succumb to the rigors of long-distance space travel the corporations develop specialized crews.

The concept is simple. Raise children from birth who exist only within their own society. Provide nurses who care for but never develop relationships with their charges. Develop leaders and make sure everyone else submits to their leader's rule. Control the genome; make sure they have superior genes, select for disease resistance, strength, a certain look to make sure your crewkin look very similar, this will also emphasize their difference from other human beings. Educate them with information reinforcing the 'rightness' of their isolation and their ultimate superiority. Teach duty and dedication as their sole focus. Finally, use punishment to subvert any independent thought or action. However, no one should call these groups slaves, for they are crewkin, and as far as the general public and government know, choose to live together, even die if kept apart. Then, to increase that perception, brainwash your crews to suicide if the crew can no longer function, make sure the general public believes this myth, and there you have your perfect crew.

Perhaps, in the history of crewkin, there might be one who doesn't fit. What happens when she chooses not to die? What happens if she has the courage to seek life outside the confinement of crewkin indoctrination? Can she survive? And if she does, what type of danger does she pose to the corporations?

Look for Crewkin from MuseItUp Publishing in February.

SciFi, Folklore and the Future

A quick note to readers -

June free Summer Reading Trail is up at http://www.voireylinger.com/index.php?p=1_12_Trail-Head. Voirey lists books by type. It's a fun way to discover authors you haven't read before.

Phoebe Matthews
Award-winning Mudflat urban fantasy series

A quick note to readers -

Lori Foster Conference in Ohio

I plan to attend the Lori Foster reader and author get together this weekend in Manchester, Ohio. If you happen to be attending too, I can't wait to meet you, and if you are anywhere near the area feel free to stop by on Saturday for the booksigning. It's free and open to the public 2-4 PM.

For more details about the conference check out the website here:
http://www.lorifoster.com/community/readergettogether.php

Friday, June 4 — Sunday, June 6, 2010
Cincinnati Marriott North at Union Centre, West Chester Ohio

There will be lots of food--lots of fun and lots of great new friends to meet. Can't wait to see you there! And if you aren't nearby don't worry, I plan to take plenty of pictures!

Lots of love!
Missy Lyons
www.missylyons.com

Lori Foster Conference in Ohio

Keeping Track of Characters

Every writer struggles to develop their own style of writing. One of the first decisions you have to make is how to keep track of your characters. The first short story I wrote has a paper list of twenty-five names on it. That’s it just the character names. I quickly discovered more was needed to track descriptions and other important ideas. I took classes, downloaded every template I could find, and didn’t like any of them.

While trying out some different plotting/writing software, my husband suggested I try a mind mapping software program called FreeMind. He liked this program because it was free and being Java based could run on any platform.

I’m still learning the program, but it’s going good. You’re also supposed to be able to organize research, so that would be a plus when I need it. You can add notes (like meaning of names or story ideas), insert links, and add pictures. You’re able to collapse and expand trees as you need them. Here is an example from a novella WIP I’m working on:



The pen and pad icon represents nodes with notes and the red arrow means you have a link tied to the entry. I’m only tracking characters and places right now. You can add other entries like plot points or outlined scenes.

Easy to download and install, give it a try the next time you get stuck. Let your mind develop different tree structures and see what develops for you.

Keeping Track of Characters

DO ME GOOD by Adele Dubois, New Release!

In Norse pre-Christian times mortals worshipped gods and goddesses, and angels were called Light Elves. These handsome immortals, "fairer to look upon than the sun", interacted with both mortals and gods, and lived in the place between heaven and earth, called Alfheim.

My new release DO ME GOOD is the story of a Nordic warrior who becomes a Light Elf, but tests immortality for his love of a mortal woman. I hope readers enjoy this paranormal erotic romance novella as much as I enjoyed writing it.


DO ME GOOD by Adele Dubois

Summary:

Penny throws her hot, but worthless mooch of a boyfriend out on her front lawn with his clothes, and vows never again to be a bum magnet. Exhausted by overwork and mountainous debt, Penny pleads for divine intervention.

Gunnar, a rebellious Nordic warrior cast into servitude by an angry god to learn humility, answers. While Penny sleeps, the celestial arrives to complete her chores, but she awakens and finds him. The handsome immortal kisses her, sparking a passionate, forbidden sexual encounter.

Dark forces seeking vengeance for Gunnar’s past misdeeds mark Penny as a target. To protect his lover, Gunnar tests immortality in a death battle using a god’s magical sword. But the strength of Penny’s love might be what saves them both.

Excerpt:

He smoothed the hair at her temple and then rubbed a thick tendril between his thumb and forefinger. “I am Gunnar.” He pronounced the name “Goo-nar”.

A coarse brand of the sun, surrounded by a circle on the back of his hand, and covering the areas between his thumb, index knuckle and wrist caught her eye. His hand looked muscular and powerful beneath her gaze.

She touched the scarred skin with the tips of her fingers while he held a length of her hair, recognizing Freyr’s sacred insignia from her textbooks. “The pain must have been excruciating.” Without thinking, she lifted the old wound to her mouth and laid four kisses against its perimeter before pressing a fifth to the emblem inside.

A low tremor vibrated across her lips as they touched the ancient symbol on the white, extended hand. The brand grew warm and then hot on her mouth, though it did not burn. Her lips tingled and her body hummed with the pleasant sensations. She ran her tongue over the thick scars to erase the heat and then licked the center with the tip of her tongue in a tiny swirl before lifting her head.

His gasp of surprise was the last thing she expected as he released her hair and leaned away.

“Have I offended you? I’m sorry.” She searched his face for clues as to what to do next. Behind his shocked expression she found desire and longing and something completely unexpected.

Thankfulness.

Penny waited for his reply without letting go of his disfigured hand. She could tell his next words didn’t come easily.

“Kindness isn’t something I’m used to finding. Perhaps you’d be less inclined toward compassion if you knew what I’d done to deserve this brand of servitude.”

She reached out and hooked her arm around his neck to bring his face closer to hers. “I am Penelope. And if you are from Alfheim, I know who and what you are. I just don’t understand why you’ve come.” How could she deserve his rare, benevolent gifts? She was just an ordinary woman, barely scraping by.

“Sometimes we get what we need, simply because we ask. That’s the beauty and power of the unexpected.” His warm breath grazed her cheek in shallow rushes, lifting goose bumps across her skin. His wide, firm mouth smelled of sweet ground parsley and fresh-picked mint.

Their gazes locked and held, assessing, appraising.

Searching.

Gunnar’s eyes were like pools of deep blue water speckled with light that pulled her in and down. Down. Her breathing slowed as the sound of her heartbeat intensified in her ears and the inside of her mouth moistened. She licked her lips and became intensely aware of every nerve ending shimmering along her body. Her muscles tensed as if waiting for something unexpected to happen.

As if meeting a Nordic Light Elf in the flesh wasn’t amazing enough.

Just when she wondered how his mouth would taste, he brought his lips to hers and kissed her. An explosion of kinetic energy shot vibrations through her body that prickled every fiber and muscle, held her taut and then released, leaving her breathless.
**

Buy Link: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-8301-50-do-me-good.aspx
www.adeledubois.com
www.adeledubois.com/blog

DO ME GOOD by Adele Dubois, New Release!

April Fool's Day

Today is April 1st and lots of pranks are sure to be played.

The origin of the day is uncertain but it does date back to the 1500's, which maybe the time that the day originated. They changed calendars, moving New Year's to January instead of April 1. Some refused to honor the new calendar and were ultimately regarded as fools. source

One of the best April Fool's pranks (IMO) was a TV show on the BBC in 1957 about Switzerland experiencing an early spaghetti harvest. *blinks* yes a spaghetti harvest.

Enjoy the day. And don't be an April Fool.

Mechele Armstrong
www.mechelearmstrong.com
www.melanylogen.com

April Fool's Day

Write, Read, Print an eBook

March 7 through 13 is Read an eBook Week. With the week "officially" closing tomorrow, I wanted to encourage readers and writers to keep the spirit of saving trees and promoting technological advances in publishing alive, with the caveat that we not forget the majority of the audience out there.

A fellow author friend (Henry Hermann) has researched some eBook stats for a book on publishing, and shared with me that "saving 3 billion trees a year just from the publishing field alone is a good reason to promote eReading." I'd say I have to agree!

Henry and I share the same publisher, who releases all titles in hardcover. It takes an act of God (or a call from someone high up on the food chain at Borders) to get a title moved to paperback with this publishing house, thus marketing is a wee bit complicated for Henry and I. Try selling a few thousand units of a $30 book in this economic environment. Along came digital literature and the floodgates have opened.

By releasing our titles on Kindle format, our publisher has given our characters new audiences. Our publisher has saved some trees. Our publisher has given us a chance to market in a whole new realm.

If you're a writer seeking a publishing contract, consider the importance of both print and digital rights. I can't imagine a publishing house that doesn't offer both in this climate. Consider the audience(s) that lines both sides of the aisle. There are rabid print-book fans who refuse to discuss eReaders. Then there are rabid digital fans who are selling off their print-book collections to anyone who'll take them (and their bookshelves) to open up the space in their once-stuffy dens. Personally, I would weep for days if any of my books went missing from my beloved bookshelves, whether I had purchased them in digital format or not. I'm still miffed at my ex for taking my Lord of the Rings set, which I bought with my allowance money when I was in junior high.

My point is you want to accommodate both sets of readers. Only 3 to 5 percent of book buyers purchased and downloaded eBooks last year. That means the vast majority of readers are still comfortable with the physical book. Of course that ratio will shift as events such as Read an eBook Week catch on and more people sit on airplanes with their Sony eReaders, Nooks, iPads and Kindles and discuss their merits. As the ratio shifts, savvy publishers and authors will be there to fill whatever need the audience expresses.

From Sandy Lender
"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
Tags: ebook, ebook week, ereader, sony, amazon, kindle, nook, ipad, Lord of the Rings, trees

Write, Read, Print an eBook

Feeling Green?

Green is breaking out all over and not just because of spring. It's closing fast on St. Patrick's Day. We were in New Orleans last weekend and St Paddy enthusiasts were practicing for their upcoming parades. Apparently it takes practice to find 22 bars--after the first ten. Green beer is the drink of the day and green is the color to wear. 


I thought it was a funny coincidence that The Mystery of the Green Mist not only has green in the title, but lots of green on the cover. And it has a short story by me, that isn't about St. Patrick's Day or any holiday for that matter. But it is in a green book. And this month, it is all about green.


If you'd like to try to win a book that isn't green, stop by the cyberlaunch for The Mystery of the Green Mist and leave a comment for a chance to win. 


Have a little fun and a lot of blarney!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

Feeling Green?

A day to say, Yay!

A little off topic but tomorrow is Dr. Seuss Day.

Did you grow up listening to the rhyming stories of a man who had a wicked imagination (any book LOL)? Who was environmental before it was "cool" (the Lorax)?

I sure did. Loved Green Eggs and Ham. If I ran the Zoo. Horton hears a hoo. Horton hatches the egg. The Cat in the Hat. The Grinch who Stole Christmas. The latter remains one of my favorite Christmas specials.

As an adult, I love Oh, the Places You'll Go and its inspirational message.

For years, he's been inspiring younger generations to read and making it wacky fun.

I take off my red striped hat to you, Dr. Seuss. A train, a car, and a fox and a box indeed.

Mechele Armstrong aka Lany of Melany Logen
www.mechelearmstrong.com
www.melanylogen.com

A day to say, Yay!

The Authors Show

The Authors Show

The Authors Show

Who Moved My Buy Button

WMMBB

An Authors' Guild project to keep authors informed when Amazon with deadly silent stealth removes buy buttons to bully publishers into paying Amazon more, and authors less.

Who Moved My Buy Button

Addicted to reading?

I am addicted to reading, can never find enough SF/F books, and I have nightmares about waking up in a world where no books are available. My other problem is a limited amount of time free to browse bookstores.

With limited time to browse, an eBook reader has been the answer for me. Here’s why. I go on the various on-line sites and lo and behold, in their eBook listings they allow customers to download samples free. So I find my favorite genre (fantasy, duh) and then go through the lists of authors I haven’t read before and download samples. These are usually the first few pages of a book, enough to get an idea of content and style.

At my leisure I can read through the samples. What happens to me then is exactly what happens when I browse a bookstore’s shelves. Out of every dozen samples, I find a couple books that grab me. So then I buy the eBook on-line.

Sure, I buy 3 or 4 print books every month. Those are books from favorite authors and usually I have been waiting anxiously for their next book. My only complaint about the easy ebook availability is that I am now adding more favorite authors to my list and I am going to have to cut back on other addictions, like eating and paying taxes.

Phoebe Matthews, Mudflat series

Addicted to reading?

Stubborn Muse? No Problem

Is your Muse snoozing?

I used to teach an online class on this subject but haven't for some time. What I did discover is that many writers suffer from a stubborn Muse. My personal opinion is writers have tender spirits that need extra nurturing. We pour ourselves into the characters we create which is why I made the former statement.

Through the years I've discovered what make my Muses unhappy. Yep, that's right I have two. One female and the other male. Chocolate works, but balancing my life and removing stress are the major bugaboos I have to watch.

When I sense problems looming ahead, that's time to take corrective measures. If I ignore the signs it only makes things worse and can add to the length of time for me to get back to where I need to be.

One of the biggest hurdles I have to overcome is overextending myself. I'm taking the last three classes for finish my degree. They are kicking my ass and I haven't had a chance to escape homework long enough to write or edit.
May can't get here soon enough.
In the meantime, I'm dealing with pain from my spine so bad I'm nauseous. I'm no quitter, I'll take the laptop to bed with me. Writing isn't a chore, it's a joy most of the time. A good attitude and flexibility help.

I can't be the only one going through everyday normal crap like this, so here are some thoughts and positive things of action we can do to get our arses in gear.

WHAT CAUSES YOUR MUSE TO SNOOZE?

With the stresses of day-to-day life taking its toll on a person physically, mentally and emotionally there’s no doubt the muse runs off to hide until the mess is clear.

When you’re exhausted in all areas of your life, how can you write? You can’t. If you push yourself and your muse, you’re either not going to like what you’ve put down on paper, or the frustration of not getting anything down at all will make things worse.

Once you’ve contracted a story with a publisher, you must deliver. You have no time for writer’s block. But what happens if it does come and takes up residence?

Knowing the source of what is causing your muse to take a hike can be the first step to getting everything under control. Or at least manageable.

Physical: If there’s a physical problem hindering you, go to the doctor. Nagging pains, blurry vision etc., can signal something bigger. Having physical aggravations reduces your capacity to concentrate and zaps precious energy.
I speak from experience. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue so I must adjust my schedule and writing activities accordingly. This is a neuro-muscular disorder, in the same class as MS, so I never know what condition my muse will be in from one day to the next. It makes every day a surprise.

Consider your writing area. Is it comfortable? Do you need adjustments to your chair, a footrest to ease back stress or a change of table height so your arms are less stressed? Is the lighting too bright or not bright enough?

Many office supply stores can assist with these areas. If you have a spouse or significant other, they might be able to help, too.

If the area you’re writing in doesn’t make you happy it will affect your attitude before you sit down and put words on the page. For example, in my writing room, I write paranormal romance so I have three Twilight posters hanging on the wall, a stuffed bat (cause I love my vampires), a stuffed wolf (cause I love my wolf shifters.) LOL It makes me happy when I walk in my office. And candles. I usually have a candle lit and the fragrance is soothing.

You don't have to spend a lot of money, just surrounding yourself with things that make you happy. I know this is sounds trivial but it does have an impact.

The goal here is to remove as much stress as possible to open yourself up to the creative flow and energy needed to create. For those with children, maybe you could take them to a Mother's Day out program at a local church or day care. Find another writer and watch each others kids. My kids are grown so I'm limited on my suggestions.

Emotional: This area is the most difficult. Family, jobs and friends all vie for a piece of you and your time. When can you find the time or energy to write? By doing for others, but not ourselves, our creativity is blocked by the guilt people rain upon us. Taking the time you need to recharge yourself, will make you happier and in turn productive.

Learning to say no is tricky. Those who really care about you will make an effort to understand that you must limit your activities to achieve your goals as a writer. You must choose what is important and how you need to manage your time.

As writers, we tap into ourselves to bring forth a wide array of emotions in creating our characters and plot. If your emotional tank is dry, how can you dip into something that isn’t there?

Don’t heap criticism upon an already tender, bruised creative self because you didn’t do this or that. It’s okay to take a day or two to replenish and nurture yourself. I think women are especially bad about sacrificing so much for others, that by the time they do stop, there isn't much much left over.

SUGGESTIONS AND ASSIGNMENT

If you haven’t tried one of these, then that is your assignment if you chose to accept.

* When writing in a genre, I read in one that is different than what I’m currently writing in. This will keep you from accidentally taking something from another author and will give your mind something fresh to ingest.

* Try or do something creative that isn’t writing. Paint, knit, crochet, garden etc.

* Walk a nature trail. Take a notebook to jot down anything that appeals to your senses. You can use the notes later in your work.

* Try a new recipe. I write Scottish/Celtic themed stories. I make a wonderful batch of shortbread and shepherd’s pie.

I hope you find something helpful in this post.

May your creativity and your Muse(s) flourish!

Hugs,
Tambra
Wicked Pleasures now in Print
from Red Rose Publishing

Stubborn Muse? No Problem

Can You Sell Your Back-Up Copy Of An EBook?

No, sorry, you cannot. Not Legally, anyway.

In the light of the formation of a new task force to combat copyright infringement, it might be a good time to clarify the most common misconceptions about what copyright means for an author and a reader. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1224904520100212

Copyright and Digital Files

---

Can I backup my computer software?

Yes, under certain conditions as provided by section 117 of the Copyright Act. Although the precise term used under section 117 is “archival” copy, not “backup” copy, these terms today are used interchangeably. This privilege extends only to computer programs and not to other types of works. 


Under section 117, you or someone you authorize may make a copy of an original computer program if:

• the new copy is being made for archival (i.e., backup) purposes only;
• you are the legal owner of the copy; and
• any copy made for archival purposes is either destroyed, or transferred with the original copy, once the original copy is sold, given away, or otherwise transferred.

You are not permitted under section 117 to make a backup copy of other material on a computer's hard drive, such as other copyrighted works that have been downloaded (e.g., music, films).

It is also important to check the terms of sale or license agreement of the original copy of software in case any special conditions have been put in place by the copyright owner that might affect your ability or right under section 117 to make a backup copy. There is no other provision in the Copyright Act that specifically authorizes the making of backup copies of works other than computer programs even if those works are distributed as digital copies.



Is it legal to sell backup copies of computer software (in online auctions or on website)? Is it legal to buy and use a backup copy of software I already own?
 
No. The Copyright Act does not permit anyone to sell backup copies to third parties separately from the original copy of the software. If you lawfully own a computer program, you may sell or transfer that lawful copy together with a lawfully made backup copy of the software, but you may not sell the backup copy alone.

We have been made aware of websites that are offering to sell “backup” copies of software via download over the Internet or in a custom-burned CD-R format, under the guise that section 117 permits this. Section 117 does NOT permit the sale of backup copies. Again, section 117 does not allow you to sell backup copies to someone else except when such backup copies are sold together with the original lawfully owned copy. It does not allow anyone to solely distribute “backup” copies to the public. In addition to being a violation of the exclusive right of distribution, such activity is also likely to be a violation of the terms of the license to the software. In many cases these sites appear to be a front for distribution of illegal copies, which is copyright infringement. You should be wary of sites that offer to sell you a backup copy.

And if you do buy an illegal backup copy, you will be engaging in copyright infringement if you load that illegal copy onto your computer, i.e., the unauthorized reproduction of the infringing computer program into memory. Lesson: if you want a backup copy of a lawfully owned computer program, back it up yourself.

Can I copyright my website?
 
The original authorship appearing on a website may be protected by copyright. This includes writings, artwork, photographs, and other forms of authorship protected by copyright. Procedures for registering the contents of a website may be found in Circular 66, Copyright Registration for Online Works.

Can I copyright my domain name?
 
Copyright law does not protect domain names. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a nonprofit organization that has assumed the responsibility for domain name system management, administers the assignation of domain names through accredited registers.

Is it legal to download works from peer-to-peer networks and if not, what is the penalty for doing so?

Uploading or downloading works protected by copyright without the authority of the copyright owner is an infringement of the copyright owner's exclusive rights of reproduction and/or distribution. 

Anyone found to have infringed a copyrighted work may be liable for statutory damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed and, if willful infringement is proven by the copyright owner, that amount may be increased up to $150,000 for each work infringed. In addition, an infringer of a work may also be liable for the attorney's fees incurred by the copyright owner to enforce his or her rights.

     Whether or not a particular work is being made available under the authority of the copyright owner is a question of fact. But since any original work of authorship fixed in a tangible medium (including a computer file) is protected by federal copyright law upon creation, in the absence of clear information to the contrary, most works may be assumed to be protected by federal copyright law.
     
Since the files distributed over peer-to-peer networks are primarily copyrighted works, there is a risk of liability for downloading material from these networks. To avoid these risks, there are currently many "authorized" services on the Internet that allow consumers to purchase copyrighted works online, whether music, ebooks, or motion pictures. By purchasing works through authorized services, consumers can avoid the risks of infringement liability and can limit their exposure to other potential risks, e.g., viruses, unexpected material, or spyware.

     For more information on this issue, see the Register of Copyrights' testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

Source:

http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-digital.html#p2p

Can You Sell Your Back-Up Copy Of An EBook?

Last minute Valentines Book Bargains at EBookisle

Readers:
For their Valentine's PROMO, Book Isle is highlighting 'sets' and in many cases offering special pricing.

For example, just to get you there:
http://www.ebookisle.net/si/1712.html

For all your online book needs please visit http://www.ebookisle.net/ for personal service with real life, all-American, knowledgeable book lovers who read and review and support small press authors.

If you have questions about http://www.ebookisle.net/, please contact Cy Korte at
admin@ebookisle.net.

Book Isle Paperbacks
2212 Division Street
Stevens Point, Wisconsin 54481
USA


Bookisle / Ebookisle are regularly at the Romantic Times convention. This author can vouch for the fact that ebookisle pays royalties to authors regularly and fairly. EBookisle can work with you, as Amazon cannot.

Please support legitimate online booksellers with your business.

Rowena Cherry

Last minute Valentines Book Bargains at EBookisle

President's Day Sale on Lulu.com

Many readers may find themselves wishing for great deals to increase the TBR pile. Lulu.com is making that a little easier this President's Day weekend. This was brought to my attention because I have a short story in a fantasy magazine that's available on the site. Therefore, I'll provide a link to the magazine, Winter's Night, below. But I'll also give you the link to Lulu in general for your weekend shopping ease.

Here's the scoop! To get a 15% discount on your order, enter the code WASHINGTON when you're checking out.

http://www.lulu.com/wintersnight

http://www.lulu.com/

From Sandy Lender
"Some days, you just want the dragon to win."
http://www.authorsandylender.com/

Tags: sale, fantasy, lulu, president's day

President's Day Sale on Lulu.com

A Little Steampunk and a Transmogrification Machine

I was trying to write a short story for my writers group's new anthology. After some false (and lame) starts, I got an idea, using Colonel Carey from The Key. It should have been straightforward science fiction romance, but it lurched into steampunk when the heroine strode onto the scene: out of her transmogrification machine.

I commissioned a drawing from an artist friend and she produced this for me:

I think she captured the sense of fun in the steampunk part of the story. Anyway, my short story turned into a novella, but one without a title. After draining my brain, I came up with zip. So I decided to have a "Name the Novella" contest. At stake is a cool steampunk necklace, which can be seen on my contest page. There are also links, an excerpt, and my research booklist (which has got to be my weirdest collection ever!).

And while you're there, check out the contest for my upcoming release, Girl Gone Nova. 


Here's hoping your new year is filled with great science fiction romance and chocolate!
Perilously yours,
Pauline

A Little Steampunk and a Transmogrification Machine