The official blog for author Jacquelyn Frank

A Legacy of Words

2011-11-28T13:12:00.011-05:00

It is my great pleasure to Introduce the lovely and amazingly witty Jessa Slade! I had the honor of meeting her this last August at RomCon and she is such a blast to be around. Enjoy!

A Legacy of Words

The author of one of my favorite series died last week. Anne McCaffrey wrote the Dragonriders of Pern books about telepathic dragons linked to handsome men and brave women who fought together against dangers threatening their world.
The first book in the Dragonrider series, DRAGONFLIGHT, was the first fiction book written by a woman to win a Hugo award and the first book written by a woman to win any Nebula. The third book in the series was the first science fiction book by a woman on the New York Times bestseller list. What an amazing legacy!

And you know what? I had no idea about any of that when I picked up DRAGONFLIGHT when I was a kid spending my chore money. All I knew was that I was drawn to the book by the dragon on the cover, and then I was pulled into the world by the power of the story. I was flying on dragon’s wings!

Earlier this year, I gave a copy of another book in the series, DRAGONSINGER, to my niece. She loved it -- as I knew she would cuz I am the cool aunt! -- and she went out to find more dragon books. The legacy lives on.

As a writer, I’m compelled by the quest to write a story that dwells as deeply in the reader’s soul as those dragons do in mine. As a reader, I love love love sharing my favorite stories with my favorite people.

Writers and readers have a precious and symbiotic relationship where together we wield the power to build a legacy by sharing great stories, stories that intrigue us, delight us, make us feel. For example, the hostess of this very blog wrote a fabulous book called SEDUCE ME IN DREAMS that is one of those stories. Last summer I was doing a lot of traveling and feeling a little run down. But I had SEDUCE ME in my backpack, and for a few hours out of a frustrating airplane delay, I was somewhere else. Somewhere else with a very hot man ;)
(The story even inspired me to write a science fiction romance of my own that will be coming out after the new year. THAT is the power of a good book!)

When I got home from my travels, I had recommendations for (and a few hard copies of) wonderful books by marvelous authors to give to my friends and family. I was the hero of my tribe, swooping in on glittering wings, returning with brilliant treasure!

Since the gifting season is almost upon us, I will be giving my friends and family true little treasures, since I make jewelry in all my free time (bwa-ha!) but for certain I will also be giving the gift of superpowers, of other worlds and time travel, of passionate undying love, of a thousand other lives. All in stories.

I’m guessing most of you help build the legacy of stories you love. Share some of them with us here! Leave your reading recommendations (and maybe what sort of person the story would most appeal to) in a comment.

You’ll be entered to win the first three books in my Marked Souls series about demonically-possessed -- but still sexy! -- warriors, plus a pair of “Possession in Pearl” earrings, the Marked Souls romance trading cards, and a music download card which includes the “Seduced By Shadows” theme song.

May the stories live forever!

* * *

Book Four of the Marked Souls, DARKNESS UNDONE, comes out in March 2012.

The war between good and evil has raged for millennia,
and as a powerful new enemy ascends, the Marked Souls
are pushed to the ragged edge…

Sidney Westerbrook has always studied darkness and damnation from a sensible distance. Now, to earn his place as a league Bookkeeper, he must discover why Chicago is such a battleground of soul-linked warriors. But the research becomes personal when he finds himself over his head and under attack — and at the mercy of a waif with demon-lit eyes and a deep yearning in her heart.

Alyce Carver has been alone longer than she can remember, battered by the living nightmares that haunt her city. Cornered by yet another gang of demons, she unwittingly joins forces with a handsome scholar who can salvage her past, and she in turn may be the key to his investigations. But she won’t let him go until he shows her everything she’s been missing.

What begins as an experiment in possession becomes a trial by desire so powerful it threatens both their lives, even as it binds their souls.

March 2012 is forever from now! Which leaves you time to get caught up with Book s 1-3 ;)

Seduced by Shadows
After an accident left her near death, Sera Littlejohn is struggling to piece her life together again. But when a violet-eyed stranger reveals a supernatural battle veiled in the shadows, Sera is tempted to the edge of madness by a dangerous desire.

Ferris Archer takes Sera under his wing now that she is talyan, possessed by a repentant demon with hellish powers. Archer and his league of warriors have long risked their demon-shattered souls to stop darker spirits from wreaking havoc. But they’ve never fought beside a female talya before, and never in all his centuries has Archer found a woman who captivates him like Sera.

With the balance shifting between good and evil, passion and possession, Sera and Archer must defy the darkness‹and dare to embrace a love that will mark them forever…
Check out the entire first chapter HERE!

Forged of Shadows

Liam Niall has led the Chicago league of immortal warriors and their repentant demons for longer than he cares to remember. Four months ago, everything he thought he understood about the war against the Darkness was blown apart. Now, with the shocking appearance of a fiery new female talya, the world he’s supposed to save is about to change again. . . .Liam, meet your newest recruit.
To see more about Liam click HERE!

Vowed in Shadows
The war between good and evil has raged for millennia,
with the Marked Souls caught in the middle.
Now two lost souls will tip the precarious balance…

Possession by a demon cost Jonah Walker his faith, his humanity, and his wife. Once a righteous missionary man, he endures immortality with nothing but a body for battle and a bent for retribution. But his last devastating fight left him wounded beyond healing and his only chance to redeem his soul lies with a fallen woman.

Thrust into a wicked underworld of shadows and sin, Nim Hamlin can’t believe her wanton ways as “the Naughty Nymphette” enthralled a demon…and a damned saint. The world she knows doesn’t deserve deliverance. But the touch of this good man’s hand holds an unholy allure–and she’s never been any good at resisting temptation.

As darkness gathers in the sweltering Chicago summer, Jonah and Nim must conquer the demons of their past to face even fiercer monsters in one last assault. But first they must put aside their doubts and disbeliefs and let their passion for each other burn through the shadows to ignite their furious power…

Learn more about the Marked Souls and my upcoming science fiction romance novella at my website http://jessaslade.com

When I’m not writing, I’m probably goofing around online at Facebook or Twitter, Come say hey!

And if you’re the traveling type, come find me in real life at the RT Booklovers Convention in April in Chicago, or the Authors After Dark Romance Convention in New Orleans in August. Maybe I’ll have the next Jacquelyn Frank novel in my backpack for this trip too :)

Thank you for reading! And much thanks to Jacquelyn and Natalie for letting me play here today.

"Remember to leave a comment for your chance to win the first three books in my Marked Souls series, plus a pair of “Possession in Pearl” earrings, the Marked Souls romance trading cards, and a music download card with the “Seduced By Shadows” theme song!"

You wanna know what we've been up to? Check this out!

2011-11-15T09:41:00.024-05:00

Hey Y'all, how's it going? Most of you probably already know me. But for those of you who don't I'm Natalie, Jacki's left hand...aka her assistant :). I came into work this morning just like always and reminded Jacki that it was Wednesday. We always have a new blog on Tuesday's and since there was not a new author scheduled for yesterday and we didn't do one I suggested that she do it. She then smiled at me and said "Why don't you blog today? Tell them all about yourself and what you do here and everything that's been going on lately." I stood there in shock for a second that she actually wanted me to do this and then immediately started to jump up and down with delight. I am so happy to be here talking to y'all today this is freakin awesome!
I have never done this before so be patient with me LOL...

I want to begin by saying that things have been very difficult to bare lately in the Frank house. Jacki has lost three of her boys this year and two others that were not hers, but close to her heart none the less. If you have followed Jacki for any length of time you know that her boys mean everything to her. So that was quite a burden for her to bare. It takes quite a few people to run this household and keep it functioning on a daily basis with so much going on. I am here everyday and so is Jacki's housekeeper Donna. We are a unit...we work together like a well oiled machine. We have our malfunctions every now and then but for the most part everything is smooth sailing. These past few months have been hard on us all with the loss of the boys :(. So it's pretty much one day at a time.
This is Nikki. The oldest of her boys and the true alpha male. He passed away just this past week. You would not think that domestic cats would know the difference in ages and who has been around the longest. But let me assure you, after spending a year in a house with 10 male cats, I can promise you they do. I have actually seen several of the younger boys be in a huddle and break away from each other in order to clear a path for Nikki to pass through when he approached. I would never have believed this if I had not seen it with my own two eyes but If Nikki was lying on the bed and other kitty wanted to lye down too, the younger cat would come over and bump heads with Nikki. Showing him affection and almost like asking him for permission. It was an amazing sight to see, he was a good boy and I will miss him.

Please allow me to let you in a little secret. If you ever wanted to know what an amazing person Jacki truly is then look at it this way...Jacki lost somethings that meant more to her then the heavens and somehow among all the pain and all the sorrow she was enduring still managed to write ADAM! Amazing, what a woman!
Ok, now with that being said let's get this party started shall we??

OMG! Did y'all know that ADAM made the New York Times and the USA Today Best Selling Lists? Woot Woot! Oh yes my lovelies, ADAM not only made the list but he came in at...are you ready for this?

Hell yes! For those of you who are unaware, the Times list goes to 150! So 18 is simply rocking! And thank you all so much in helping to make that possible. Your purchases the week of Adam's release helped to secure his spot on the Times list and you have no idea how grateful we are for your dedication to the Nightwalkers series and your support for Adam. {{Cyber Hugs}}

Before I started this job with Jacquelyn I was just like most of you. I loved my novels, my novels were my life, my escape from reality that I needed to make it from day to day. We all have to have an outlet right? Well, I saw JACOB in a used bookstore in my hometown and the quote at the top of the back cover caught my attention "For 700 years he has resisted temptation, but not tonight." So he came home with me. I began his story right away and I was consumed after only the first sentence..."How ridiculously simple it would be to cause them harm." Wow! I mean who starts a book out that way? My kind of author that's who! Omg I was in love...I went out the next day bought Gideon through Noah, got some bread and milk and didn't leave the house for the next 4 days hahahaha! When I closed Noah and layed him down on the table I set in search for Jacki. I found her...asked her to lunch...became her friend...and the rest is history LOL. Just in case you were curious :)

We travel a great deal in order to promote her work and interact with her readers and we just recently attended Lora Leigh's R.A.W (Readers appreciation weekend) in Baltimore, Maryland. Let me just say that I hate flying! And when I say I hate flying, I mean I really really hate to fly. If the PTB intended for us to fly then they would have given us wings is all I can say. Anyway, It was an amazing event. I got to be in the company of so many spank hot authors like Angela Knight, Sylvia Day, Lora Leigh, Bianca D'Arc, Amanda Mcintyre, Lori Foster, Mary Wine...the list goes on and on. But the incredible part is the interaction with the readers and seeing the love of the art first hand. Men and women from all over the country so excited over the endless sea of books laid out before them just waiting to be consumed...*sigh* that's when I'm happiest. If you have never attended this type of event then you owe it to yourself to do so at least once in your life. They take place all over the country and the chances of one being held close to you sometime in near future are very good. Here is what we did at R.A.W! Book Signings during the day and Parties at night...what more could you ask for LMAO!
This is Lori Foster, Jacki and Cheyenne McCray during registration.

Author Introduction

Jacki doing what Jacki does best. Signing books and talking to readers! It's a thing of beauty to watch her in action. It really is.

So once all of the work was done it was party time and that is not putting it lightly. When I say party that is exactly what takes place LOL. Here are some pictures of the Masquerade All Hallow's Eve Ball on Friday night. It was lots of fun.

Here I am dressed as the kick ass now and take names later Charley Davidson. Private Investigator/ Grim Reaper! I love this character so much, she one of my all time favorites. First Grave on the Right is the first in an amazing series written by my friend the lovely Mrs. Darynda Jones. If you have not read this series then I defiantly recommend that you do, you will not be disappointed. Go meet Charley on her character page on Facebook! Stop in and say Hi while your reading.

This is Jacki and I with a fan that approached and wanted a photo. We all had a blast and can not wait till next year! So make sure you make a note to attend Lora Leigh's Readers Appreciation Weekend or RAW 2012!

One more thing before I let you go...Have you been to Jacquelyn Frank's Nightwalker World yet? What is this, do you ask? Well, Nightwalker World is the officially sanctioned (by Jacki herself) Role Play page where you get to see, meet and greet with all of your favorite Nightwalker characters. Have you ever wanted to introduce yourself to Noah? Or ask Gideon how it feels to be the oldest living Demon? Well now you can. Come interact with the characters and read about how life is going now that Ruth has been dealt with and Adam has returned. See how the Nightwalkers actually live everyday and how they spend there time, it's loads of fun. The President of the Nightwalker World page is my Best Friend and Soul Sister Melena Valerian. She operates it and interacts with the fans on a daily basis and does a fantastic job. She does Marvelous Mondays, Ticked Off Tuesdays, Hump Day Hunks...endless chances to win books and prizes, the list goes on and on. So be sure to stop by, "LIKE" the page and say Hi, and let her know how much we appreciate her. I hope to see everyone there!

I want to end all of my blogs with a quote if that's alright. I am a sucker for all types of quotes and you never know what I might come up with LOL, I hope no one minds<3

If you want to leave a question or comment, please feel free to do so.

So peeps, that's it for today. Until next time...

XOXO,
Nat

2011-11-03T09:25:00.005-04:00

I have loved Emma Holly for years. She's one of my favorite authors and I was once very honored to get to advance read some of her work and pass MY opinion on it for a quote!! Imagine that!! She's totally my idol and she wants MY opinion! Well, I wanted to be very fair...but when I found myself yelling at her publisher WHERE'S THE REST OF IT!?!?!? (It was a three part series I believe.) That's when I knew it was yet another gem by Ms. Holly. I'm so delighted she took the time to answer this interview and hope she will come back many times in the future. :)

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?
That’s too easy! I would be a cat, because cats are cool and slinky and – most of all – independent. It’s no accident you can’t teach a kitty to fetch your slippers. Well, maybe if you taped some salmon in them first.

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author
When I was still a newly published author, I met Nora Roberts at a Penguin party. Betina Krahn, who’s a real sweetheart, was kind enough to introduce me to her. I was all excited, until suddenly it seemed Betina was going to speak to someone else, leaving me alone with Nora. Nora was being perfectly nice - even funny - but this paralyzed me. How would I make conversation with the Great One all by myself? Was I allowed to leave if I couldn’t think of anything to say? Thankfully, Betina spied the panic on my face and guided me gently off.

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?
Like any reader, I enjoy a good juicy villain, but I prefer to write the hero. It’s like real life, I suppose. I’d rather spend time with someone nice!

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?
My heroes are combination of qualities I admire, plus a few scrapes and flaws to add dimension. Like a lot of writers, now and then I’ll borrow a villainous trait from some annoying person who’s crossed my path. Naturally, everyone close to me is far too wonderful to provide *that* sort of inspiration.

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?
Um, offer to lend him your copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover?

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat too much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.
I’m a bit of a TV addict (and also a Mike Holmes fan!) I’m a fan of expensive imported beer, not so expensive red wine, and too many kinds of sweets to single out just one.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?
Because I have neighbors I don’t want to horrify, I don’t. Not only do I have trouble remembering the words to things, I can only rarely carry a tune. If I were tone deaf, this would be less of a problem. My ideal situation might be a soundproofed shower with a waterproof radio that would always be louder than me. I hate to think I’d be too cowardly to sing at all!

Simon would tear me apart, I’m sure - or maybe just leave the room, shaking his head. I expect the expression on my face would be very poignant.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.
Nim Wei, the vampire from my Midnight series, springs to mind. She’s not the nicest character I’ve written, or the happiest, but I love how unapologetic and kick-butt she is. She’s always up for a new adventure, and that’s something I admire.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.
Laurell K. Hamilton’s first love scene between Anita and Nathaniel in her Anita Blake series is certainly one of my favorites. (I can’t remember which book, but maybe Narcissus in Chains?) That scene struck me as the perfect blend of emotion and hot yet poetic descriptions. And Nathaniel’s butt dimples! They were memorable.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?
To keep doing it better, of course. Mastering the art of cover design would also be satisfying. Now that I’m indie, playing with covers is my new hobby!

"Date Night"
Olivia Forster never dreamed she’d serve as queen of an enchanted city beneath the sea, something her three sexy husbands know. Though she adores her shapeshifter mates, she’s shy by nature, and they can tell the strain of always being “on” is beginning to wear on her. Sneaking away from their responsibilities won’t be easy, but come hell or high water, they’ll treat her to a night she won’t soon forget!

HIDDEN DEPTHS
James and Olivia Forster have been happily married for many years. A harmless kink here or there spices up their love life, but they can’t imagine the kinks they’ll encounter while sneaking off to their beach house for a long hot weekend.

Anso Vitul has ruled the wereseals for one short month. He hardly needs his authority questioned because he’s going crazy from mating heat. Anso’s best friend and male lover Ty offers to help him find the human mate his genes are seeking. To Ty’s amazement, Anso’s quest leads him claim not one partner but a pair. Ty would object, except he too finds the Forsters hopelessly attractive . . .

Hidden Talents
Werewolf cop Adam Santini is sworn to protect and serve all the supes in Resurrection, NY—including unsuspecting human Talents who wander in from Outside.

Telekinetic Ari is hot on the trail of a mysterious crime boss who wants to exploit her gift for his own evil ends, a mission that puts her on a collision course with the hottest cop in the RPD. Adam wants Blackwater too, but mostly he wants Ari. She seems to be the mate he’s been yearning for all his life, though getting a former street kid into bed with the Law could be his toughest case to date.

Emma has been gracious to enough to donate a copy of Hidden Talents to a lucky commenter. Make sure you comment below for your chance to win!!

Contact Emma on her Website
Facebook or Twitter

At Last! At Last! ADAM: Nightwalkers Book Six!

2011-10-24T19:03:00.010-04:00

I made you wait THREE years. Some of you are far luckier than those who followed me from the beginning and had to wait much less time. To be honest, I didn't think I was ever going to write this book. I thought, maybe in my old age I would amuse myself by finally doing something with that bitch Ruth. Heh. Well, I admit, I was feeling a little burned out at the time. I wrote those novels back to back, REALLY fast, (on average of 2.5 weeks per novel--unmedicated bipolar manic episodes--with minimal time in between) and I also had so many other worlds I wanted to write about now that I was officially a published author! I do confess to a bit of series A.D.D., but this time I am finishing what I started.

Well,...maybe ;)

I'm not trying to be coy. I'm trying to be a naughty biotch. Is it working? Hehehe.

Let's talk us some ADAM. Ahh..what can I say? Well, to be honest, not very much! I have bent over backwards trying to keep the plot of this book secret. Not that outside sources have helped much with that. But those of you who follow me on Facebook know about my pet peeves about reviewers who think its their job to blab out spoilers (it's not) and readers who like to spoil things for others, and websites that think misprinting parts of the lead in to the book is going to help you want to buy it. (It's not.) And bookstores that continually insist on slapping the book out onto shelves in advance of the release date like they are doing me some kind of favor. (They aren't.) Sigh. It's been an uphill battle really. And what's the big deal? Why work so hard? Well, first, that's my job. I work damn hard at crafting not just a story, but what I like to consider a total experience. That excitement when you read the back of the book, the anticipation when you wait for it to come in the mail (or download on your kindle:nook:etc), the fondling of the cover, the deep breath in before you crack that cover and start the whole experience....then the laughing, the crying...the fury...the sighing, the joy, the lust...oh, yeah baby, that's the stuff! And if I don't wrench all of that out of you, I have NOT done my job, dammit. THAT'S why I take this all so seriously. And when I take risks like I did in ADAM, I take them in order to craft the entertaining and emotional arc that you are spending your hard earned downturned economy bucks to get! For someone to come along and take that away from you...well, I'm the first in line to kick 'em in the balls. NO ONE is going to cheat my readers, dammit! Not while I'm still alive and breathing!

But now is the day. ADAM is here! The countdown is over! YAHOO! I just served you up a heaping plate of tall, dark and handsome with a side order of smoking powerful and deeply loyal manliness. Oh, and the dessert is that tart and saucy little minx of a Vampire you all know and love so well who is SO in dire need of meeting her match! Watch out Jasmine, here he comes! Available in audio, print and ebook!

A week after this debut, ADAM will make his appearance on my role-playing page on Facebook. If you aren't following me on Facebook, please do so! I'll give you all the latest and greatest and some really freakin funny cat pictures too. I also TWEET. Both links are in the sidebar or you can click to follow. Oh and keep an eye out for some fabulous updates on the webpage! Also, there's some work in store for JAX, my alter-ego. You'll here more about that just as soon as I do.

Now I may seem a little quiet these next few months as far as unblushing is concerned, but that's because I have HUGE HUGE plans in the works. Stay tuned. I'll let you know all about it as soon as possible. I think you'll be tickled to death. :)

Anyway, my assistant Natalie, my fan club president Melena (who runs the role-playing page) and myself are thrilled to have you with us. Let's have some fun. And please, if you like the book, post reviews like crazy. And even if you don't...post on Amazon and let me know why. I'm not above your opinions. Far from it.

Thanks for hanging in with me guys!

Hugs and Kitties,
Jacki

PS: Comment or ask me a question below to be entered into a contest for an AUDIO version of one of the earlier NIGHTWALKER books!

Kate Douglas With Her New Series Debut, Dream Catcher!

2011-10-18T13:05:00.005-04:00

New series debut—Kate Douglas

Thanks to the amazing Ms. Jacquelyn Frank for turning me loose on her blog for a bit. I do appreciate the opportunity, and a thank you to her assistant, Natalie for keeping me organized! It’s been one of those truly weird months where I’ve literally lost track of what year it is. Those of you who write for a living—or have kids (or cats) of any age—will fully understand. Sometimes life just seems to get ahead of you, doesn’t it?

Part of my problem is that I am really connected to the characters in my new Aphrodisia series, Dream Catchers, which means I’m leaving the real world behind every time I log on to my computer and pull up the story. I didn’t think it would happen so quickly after Wolf Tales, but I guess I’m more fickle than I realized.

I really love these guys!

I wrote the introduction to the series, a novella called Dream Catcher, almost a year ago. It comes out next month in the NightShift anthology from Kensington Aphrodisia, and introduces the new series, called Dream Catchers, which is one of the most bizarre I’ve ever done.

And my poor husband was there when it happened.

Often, I haven’t got a clue what I’m going to write when I sit down at my computer, but this one jumped out and bit me on the butt when I wasn’t anywhere near my office! Doug and I were up in the Sierras, traveling back roads and such, and we stopped in the tiny community of Hat Creek and took a tour of the Allen Array. Now, this is just the coolest thing—like a huge science experiment on steroids.

The array is a collection of high tech satellite dishes marching across a big valley, all pointed at the heavens and recording radio signals from space. It’s part of the SETI (search for extraterrestrial intelligence) project among others, but it’s much too involved for me to go into here—if you want to know more about the Allen Array, Wikipedia has a great article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Telescope_Array

There are now over 40 huge dishes—the ultimate goal is for 350—so completion is way off in the future, but so is the idea for my newest series, which has got more of a s/f twist than a lot of my work. The Dream Catcher novella actually takes place in the past, in the early 1990s when personal computers were just becoming popular. My hero is a young computer geek named MacArthur Dugan who literally meets the woman of his dreams.

Except Zianne is a lot more than fantasy. She owes her corporeal existence to fantasy—Mac’s, to be precise—and her story and the fate of her entire race of Nyrians will depend on the technological advances Mac can make over the next twenty years.

When I saw the huge dishes at the Allen Array, which are all receivers, the “what ifs” took control. I wondered what would it be like if you could send signals out as well. And what if the signals you were sending were sexual fantasies, and the energy in those fantasies could help bring a group of enslaved aliens to safety? (and yes, I really did get this idea while wandering through the array up at Hat Creek with my husband. And no, he didn’t bat an eye when I ran the idea by him...) And that, of course, led me to my first story and a young man at the dawn of today’s amazing technology. I decided that Mac would be the one to push science and computers to a point where he could build his own array and use those dishes to help save Zianne’s people.

But that, of course, is all in the future—in the book I’m writing now. The beginning of the story will be out in a few weeks, and I hope you’ll give it a shot. Dream Catcher is already leading me into story ideas that are so different from what I’ve done before, and yet in many ways the same. The novella will introduce you to MacArthur Dugan and his closest friend, Nils “Dink” Dinkemann. And you’ll meet Zianne, who is so much more than what she seems.

Mac and Dink have grown up together in the same foster home and are as close as brothers, though that’s not close enough for Dink. He’s gay and has always loved Mac, and while Mac loves Dink, he feels he can’t be the lover Dink needs and wants—Mac loves women way too much.

Zianne changes everything. She quickly becomes a lover and a friend, and she encourages Dink to join them when she and Mac make love. It’s something Mac and Dink hadn’t expected, and it’s a huge surprise to Mac to discover how much he loves having Dink in his bed. But it’s not all love and sex—Mac’s been falsely accused of dishonesty during the application for a grant to continue his graduate studies. His search for the truth lands all three of them in danger from a problem that’s much larger than just Mac’s application. And then there are the questions about Zianne, who is intelligent and beautiful—and obviously not quite human.
Dream Catcher is pure fun with a couple of gorgeous guys, a mysterious woman from another world, some good action and even more really hot sex. And, if you don’t mind waiting for your prize, I will send the winner of this blog a copy of NightShift as soon as my copies arrive. Just leave a comment to be entered—say hi, tell me what you’re reading now, what your favorite genre is, whatever you like and your name will be automatically entered to win a copy of NightShift. Or, if you’d rather not wait, you can choose from either one of my Wolf Tales or DemonSlayers books—readers choice (anything from WTVII on/Sexy Beast VI on or any of the first three DemonSlayers).
If you’d like to read the first chapter excerpt of Dream Catcher, you can find it in the “adults only” section of my website. http://www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance/id71.htm

You can find me at www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage or on Twitter @wolftales

A Brief Note:

2011-10-11T11:56:00.002-04:00

Dear Readers,

There have been some distressed letters from people who have been exposed to a shocking part of the first chapter of ADAM: THE NIGHTWALKERS on a website. This chapter is sans prologue and out of context. My only advice to you is to please...keep reading...and trust your author. ;)

USA Today Bestselling Author Nina Bangs!!

2011-10-11T09:45:00.006-04:00

Please join me in welcoming the lovely Nina Bangs to our blog this week. She is the USA Today bestselling author of three series: the Mackenzie Vampires, the Castle of Dark Dreams, and the Gods of the Night. Romantic Times Book Reviews chose Eternal Craving, the second book in her Gods of the Night series, as their best shape-shifter romance of 2009.
She has been gracious enough to answer a few crazy questions for your enjoyment, so sit back and relax. Be sure to leave a comment below because Nina has several great gifts to give away!

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?

I did some heavy thinking (about three minutes) and decided that I’d love to be the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie has it all. She wakes up each morning surrounded by the beauty of Scotland. She is a woman of mystery, pursued by many. Men have spent their entire lives trying to get merely a glimpse of her. She is the subject of conjecture and legend. Nessie doesn’t have to worry about facelifts or growing old because she just…is. Not a bad life.

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author.

My most embarrassing moments are inevitably when someone asks me to tell them about my books. My plots tend to be…unique, and peoples’ eyes generally glaze over when I’m about halfway through. I always hated trying to pitch my books to editors or agents in person. Their expressions usually said, “Where’s the nearest mental health facility? Get this woman some help.” Somehow, once I write the whole book it all makes sense. Usually. Sometimes. Okay, once in a while.

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?

The villain is a lot more fun. He doesn’t have to be sensitive with an inner core of goodness. He can be as vile and miserable as he wants to be. And sensitivity is definitely not a desirable character trait for the truly evil. The best part? I don’t have to redeem him. He can go to his grave cursing and making obscene gestures. Yes, I love my villains.

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?

My heroes live only in my mind. Not that I haven’t known men who were hero material, but molding a hero in the image of someone I know makes me uncomfortable. I want my heroes to be their own men. I do admit, though, to modeling one of my villains after a real person.

I was a teacher for many years, and an official evaluator would sit in on one of my classes once or twice a year to decide how well I was doing. And of course he could tell that from a one-hour visit. Ahem. Anyway, every time he visited my class he delighted in nit-picking me to death. I took great pleasure in making him evil incarnate in one of my books.

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener. What naughty secret do you have to share?

Horrors! Shame on you! I can’t believe you’re telling me something so disgraceful. And I wouldn’t think of sharing any naughty secrets with you.

My advice is to avoid temptation by firing your gardener. Umm, and when you do, please send me your contact information for the hottie. I’ll tell him my naughty secrets.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm yummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.

I’m a slave to ice cream (any flavor). I can’t have it in the house. I’m not one of those people who can eat a few teaspoons and be satisfied. One teaspoon leads to a tablespoon which leads to a big honking bowl. Then, of course, comes the guilt. The punishment phase begins when I step on the scale the next day. It’s always been a mystery to me how one bowl of ice cream translates to three pounds of fat. Do the math.

My other sinful pleasure is “Coast to Coast AM”, a radio program that comes on at midnight in my time zone. They interview experts in many fields including the paranormal. Yes, I stay awake to hear interviews with people who believe aliens have visited Earth in the past and the latest research on time travel. The show had discussions on the 2012 ending of the Mayan long count calendar long before it came to the notice of the mainstream media, hence the idea for my Gods of the Night series.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?

I love singing in the shower or any other place where I won’t have an audience. As for Simon Cowell, he’d probably say, “I never want to hear that song again. I cannot stand it. I’m allergic to it.” That’s an actual quote from him, and I’m sure he’d break it out again for me.

Actually, I did sing publically for a short time when I was much younger. A friend and I went to Ireland and stayed for several years. It was tough to get regular jobs without a work permit, so since both of us played the guitar and had sung together for a while, we got gigs in Dublin pubs and hotel lounges singing Irish folk songs. Yes, there’s a great deal of irony in that.

My favorite song choice? Any song that doesn’t involve more than two octaves. I don’t have much range. “And the rockets’ red glare” in the “Star Spangled Banner” gets me every time.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.

I’d have to choose Sparkle Stardust. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be the queen of sexual chaos? Okay, so maybe I’m the only one. But let’s look at what it means to be Sparkle. She’s a cosmic troublemaker who’s lived for millennia, and during that time she’s brought thousands of mismatched couples together, watched them achieve sexual nirvana, and then experienced the joy of seeing their relationships wither and die. What fun! She’s utterly cool in every way. She has the sexiest wardrobe in existence, and she’s always willing to share her beauty and relationship secrets with her female victims…er friends. She’d share them with her male friends too, but most of them aren’t secure enough in their masculinity to accept her wisdom. Too bad for them. But the best thing about Sparkle is her unapologetic shallowness. She’s all about sex, sin, and her next victim. You have to admire someone that goal oriented.

Hmm, perhaps I haven’t made her seem particularly likeable. Well, she does have one weakness. She loves Ganymede, the cosmic troublemaker in charge of creating chaos throughout the universe. Perhaps in the end, love can truly redeem the irredeemable. Besides, she makes me laugh.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA?

This is a toughie. I’ve read so many wonderful books in my lifetime that it’s difficult to remember individual scenes. And everyone’s reading taste is different. What I find memorable might be very ordinary to someone else.

With that said, a scene that I’ve remembered over the years was from Body Electric by Susan Squires (published in 2002 by Dorchester). I won’t go into the plot, but the scene where Jodie Prime dies made me cry. Books don’t often make me cry. Movies are another thing. I was a child when I first saw Bambi. I never recovered from the death of Bambi’s mother.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?

I don’t think I’ll ever reach the pinnacle. Nora Roberts is already sitting there and she doesn’t seem ready to vacate the spot. I can almost see her waving down at me now. ☺

Seriously, I’d love to create a blockbuster series, preferably in paranormal romance or urban fantasy. By blockbuster, I mean books that millions of readers wait breathlessly for each year. No, I don’t expect a Harry Potter in my future, but I’ll keep writing each book with the goal of becoming a better storyteller. And maybe someday…

That said, if I never have a blockbuster series, I’m satisfied with the privilege of writing stories that people enjoy reading. There was a time when actually getting a book published seemed like an unreachable goal. Thank you to all the readers that made it happen for me.

Nina lives in Texas with her cat and a sexy vampire who never made it into her books. She’s joking about the vampire, but she assures me that she’d be open to the concept. The paranormal world fascinates her, and when she’ s not racing the clock to meet a looming deadline, she dreams about sneaking around old houses in search of resident ghosts.

Nina Bangs, offers the next installment in her popular Gods of the Night series.

The souls of ancient predators crouch within these men. Primal instincts and barely contained savagery drive them. But in a modern world threatened with chaos and darkness, they are…
Gods of the Night.

Utah knows all about vengeance. Vampires killed his brother, and that act demands only one response. He frees his beast and destroys every bloodsucker he finds. But he never expected to meet a leader of his immortal enemies who was so beautiful, bewitching…and mortal.

Lia understands her destiny. She has a duty to stop the rogue vampires who are intent on wiping out the human race along with any nonhumans that get in their way. But she needs help dealing with the shadowy power guiding the escalating slaughter. Utah would be her last choice for a partner. Once a deadly foe, he now becomes her ally and protector. Loving him will be more dangerous than anything she’s ever done. Because when Utah releases his soul, the ultimate predator will once again stalk the earth, and death will walk with him.
USA Today bestselling author Nina Bangs once again tempts readers to enter the wickedly sensual Castle of Dark Dreams—a playground where private pleasures and devilish fantasies come true, where the men who breathe life into women’s ultimate desires burn with their own supernatural fire…

As an angel, Passion prides herself on perfection. But some mischievous part of her always goes against the godly grain. After one too many attempts to enliven the heavenly halls, she’s sent to earth to tame her naughty nature. While human, she has to bring goodness and light to the most sinful of places, the Castle of Dark Dreams. Once there, she finds herself in the role of a virgin used as bait to trap a marauding demon. Passion thinks the game is harmless—until she sees the man playing the demon. His name is Edge, and Passion senses darkness in him beyond any she’s ever dreamed.

Edge may play a demon, but he is something much worse. His past is littered with pain and destruction—and that’s the way he likes it. Now he must prove to himself and others that he is what he’s always been—cold and emotionless. But as danger threatens and his need for Passion heats up, he finds himself balanced on love’s Wicked Edge.
The Castle of Dark Dreams series, Book 5 Releases March 6th, 2012!
Pre-Order TODAY!

Leave a comment below for your chance to WIN one of two prizes. Each winner will receive their choice of a signed set of either the Gods of the Night series or the Castle of Dark Dreams series, plus a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card. Wow, those are some great giveaways! Please thank Nina for being here and comment below :)

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http://ninabangs.com

2011-10-04T09:56:00.008-04:00

Please join me in welcoming the National Bestselling Author Sylvia Day!! I am so happy to have her here with us this week and cannot wait to see what she has in store for us. Enjoy!

Today is release day for me! For a writer, it’s always a momentous occasion when our books finally hit shelves and readers can see what we’ve been talking about in the many months that pass between the time we finish a book and the time readers can get it. But today is three times as special as usual, because I have THREE new books out today and I’m excited about each one of them for different reasons.

In A Touch of Crimson, Adrian is forbidden to fall in love. He’s punished other angels for the same offense–it’s what he was created for. When he falls for Lindsay, instead of angsting and beating himself up for it, he owns his feelings for her. He won’t belittle them by thinking of them as a mistake. He loves and he accepts that he loves. Lindsay’s returning love for Adrian is purely selfless. She will sacrifice everything–her happiness, her life, her soul–to keep him safe. That depth of love is a revelation for Adrian, who realizes he has a lot to learn from the mortal he’s fallen in love with.

My novella in Men Out of Uniform is part of a mini-series of novellas about deputy marshals. They’re so much fun to write. Each of the novellas so far (I’ve written three, although one won’t be out until next summer) feature tough, kickass deputy heroes who have deeply tender and highly erotic relationships with their women. In “Taking the Heat,” my novella in Men Out of Uniform, Brian has been in love with Layla most of his life. They were together once, but he let her get away, a mistake he’s bitterly regretted. When his career as a deputy marshal throws them back together, he’s determined to find a way to right his past wrongs, and reclaim the only woman he’ll ever love. Layla, however, makes him work for it. And in “Iron Hard,” my novella in Steamlust: Steampunk Erotic Romance, Annabelle lost her finance and learned to make a life for herself as an engineer whose work is quickly becoming well known. When she meets famous war hero and sky captain, Baron de la Warren, she realizes it may just be time for her to fall in love again. The Steamlust stories are short- there are thirteen stories in all-- which makes for perfect quickies of steamy fun and ingenuity.
So there they are... totally different genres and styles of stories, and all were a joy to write. It’s fun (if exhausting) to have them release on the same day. And since I’d love to share that fun with you all, I have two ARCs of A Touch of Crimson to give away today and two copies of The Promise of Love to give away on Friday. Just let me know which style of hero intrigues you most: the special-ops angel, the deputy U.S. Marshal, or the sky captain.

Sylvia

Click any Book Cover to purchase
www.sylviaday.com
Facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay
Twitter.com/SylDay

Book Trailer:

Be sure to comment below for your chance to WIN A Touch of Crimson or The Promise of Love! Also visit Sylvia's website to read an excerpt and enjoy the book trailer for SteamLust!! OUT TODAY!

Gena Showalter Is In The House!!!

2011-09-27T10:06:00.007-04:00

Well my lovelies, I have a special treat for you this week. The beautiful and greatly talented Gena Showalter has come for a visit. She has decided to answer my dorky interview questions like the good sport that she is! She is the author of the amazing Lords of the Underworld series that continues to capture and fascinate so many of us. Many credit it as the most original idea in paranormal romance today. I am very excited to have brought her here for you today!

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?
A leopard, because this gorgeous predator is strong, sleek, and sneaky. I would be the darkly mysterious (and shape-shifting) villain of a romance novel, and the super sexy alpha hero would discover my hidden vulnerabilities—of course—falling in love with me, and thereby saving me from my own downfall. After I clawed him up a bit.

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author.
I was at a writer’s conference and hit the hotel lobby early to meet my new editor. No seats were available at the bar, so I walked around the area until a table finally opened up. I went to smooth down my dress--and touched skin. That’s when I discovered the material had been tucked into my underwear since I’d gone to the bathroom about ten to fifteen minutes earlier.

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?
I prefer a hero with a villainous dark side, like Nicolai from Lord of the Vampires. He’ll do anything—and I mean anything!—to protect the woman of his dreams. Of course, he might hurt everyone else, but he would never hurt her.

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?
I get a lot of dialogue from my husband and his brothers. They have wry humor and sarcasm nailed. Maybe that’s why I love Strider from The Darkest Surrender so much. He is the embodiment of the men I adore. A little dirty minded, willing to do anything to protect his woman, and a little dirty minded. Wait, did I already mention that?

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?
If romance novel heroes actually came to life, I would be the biggest slut ever. Just sayin.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat too much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth: where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.
Books—they are my addiction. I have stacks and stacks and stacks just waiting for me to read. And TV—I could watch my favorite shows and never do anything else. Cougar Town, How I Met Your Mother, House, Castle, South Park, 30 Rock, Big Bang Theory, and a handful of others.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?
My singing voice would drive people to cut off their ears and leave them behind, just to stop the horror. Even myself. So nope, I do not sing in the shower.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.
I would pick Noelle in the Dark Taste of Rapture. Not just because she’s rich as hell, smart, beautiful, and her sharp sense of humor made me smile while writing the book, but also because she ends up with Hector Dean, a big, scary man whose arms can atomize into weapons, destroying everything in his path. He’s dark, brooding, and if he had to, he would raze the entire world to save his woman.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.
Kresley Cole has the best heroes of all time, and I want to marry each one of them. If I can’t marry them, I want to have affairs with them. If I can’t have affairs with them, life isn’t worth living. They are sexy, sizzling and would gnaw off their own limbs to reach their chosen. And yes, that is my favorite scene ever. When the leader of the Lykae Clan is chained and gnaws off his own limb to get to the half-vampire half-Valkyrie heroine.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?
My dream is to have one (or all, why limit myself?) of my books made into a movie. To see the characters come to life in that way . . . heaven!

The Darkest Surrender RELEASES TODAY!!!! CLICK HERE TO BUY

The Lords of the Underworld return in this enthralling tale of an immortal warrior determined to win and the beautiful seductress he can’t resist.

Possessed by the demon of Defeat, Strider cannot lose a challenge without suffering unimaginable pain. For him, nothing stands in the way of victory. Until Kaia, an enchanting Harpy, tempts him to the razor’s edge of surrender.

Known among her people as The Disappointment, Kaia must bring home the gold in the Harpy Games or die. Strider is a distraction she can’t afford because he as an agenda of his own – steal first prize, an ancient godly artifact, before the winner can be named. But as the competition heats up, only one prize will matter – the love neither had thought possible…
Dark Taste of Rapture Released August 23rd, 2011

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter captivates with a dark, tantalizing world of humans, otherworlders, and a powerful AIR agent consumed by his desire for a woman he can never have. . . .

With one caress, he can give unforgettable pleasure…or unending pain...

Hector Dean is shaved, tattooed, and totally ripped -- and he has a deadly secret. He is a walking weapon, capable of killing with a single brush of his fingertips. Little wonder he’s determined to remain on his own. But Noelle Tremain is a temptation like no other. She is beautiful and rich, with a party girl smile that hides a shocking vulnerability, and from the beginning his sizzling attraction to her is undeniable. For the first time, his stone-cold resistance is tested. But to be with her, he risks destroying her.

When a wealthy businessman is murdered in New Chicago’s seediest district, the two are partnered, and there’s no escaping what they both want: each other. Yet neither Hector nor Noelle knows what to fear more—the killer case, or their own lethal desires. . . .
Lord of the Vampires Released August 30th,2011

"Raw and dark and sexy, Lord of the Vampires sizzles!" New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with a need for vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.

Nicolai the Vampire is renowned for his virility, but in a cruel twist of fate “The Dark Seducer” has become a sex slave in the kingdom of Delfina—stripped of his precious timepiece and his memory. All that remains is a primal need for freedom, revenge—and the only woman who can help him.

When the wanton vampire summons Jane Parker, she is helpless to obey. She's drawn to his dark sexuality and into his magical realm. But for this human, all is not a fairy tale. For saving Nicolai could mean losing the only man she's ever craved...

BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN A AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE DARKEST SURRENDER!!!

Interview and Giveaway with Alexandra Ivy!

2011-09-20T10:02:00.010-04:00

Hello all, I hope everyone is just as excited as I am to have the lovely New York Times Bestselling Author Alexandra Ivy with us this week. Her short story Darkness Eternal was just featured in the anthology Supernatural with Larissa Ione, G.A. Aiken and myself. She is best known for her Guardians of Eternity series and has a new anthology due out in November called The Real Werewives of Vampire County! So here she is the lady of the hour...Alexandra Ivy
1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?
I would absolutely choose an eagle. Just imagine spending your days gliding above the world, swooping down to consume your prey before heading back toward the sky. It seems like the most basic form of freedom.

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author.
I don’t really have an embarrassing moment with a fan or author, but during one of my early book signings I arrived to discover the manager had no idea I was supposed to be there. They at last set up a tiny tray in the corner of the store with a bottle of water I had to pay for and I spent the next hour directing customers to the bathroom…ugh.

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?
The hero. I always fall in love with my heroes when I’m writing their stories and even though the villains can often be far more interesting and complex from a writer’s prospective, I still enjoy the thrill of creating that delicious man who makes my heart flutter and my palms sweat. I don’t think that will ever, ever get old!

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?
I usually combine bits and pieces of people I know into making a character along with a large dollop of make-believe. My heroes can have a variety of admirable qualities as well as flaws, but they all have an inherent kindness toward those weaker than themselves. My villains I try to make as complex as possible with a few hero qualities so they aren’t entirely evil. There’s nothing more boring than completely black or white characters.

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?
I love watching Hoarders. I don’t know why, it makes me crazy (not to mention my family who are forced to help me in my cleaning frenzy after I watch it), but it’s like a train wreck…I can’t look away.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.
Envy: I detest those people who can eat whatever they want and keep skinny. I have to do hours of sweaty, hideous exercise every day to keep my butt from spreading. Vanity: I can lay around the house in pjs, but if the Fedex man pulls in the drive I slap on make-up and put on real clothes so he doesn’t run away screaming in fear.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?
I sing when I walk (thank gods I live in the country) and Simon Cowell would have me shot to put me and the wildlife out of our misery. Truly, I’m AWFUL. I love punk and classic rock and pop and…hey, just because I can’t sing doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy music ☺

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.
Levet. The tiny gargoyle is a true snark and he gets to say everything I wish I could. I tend to be a nice person and even when I’m dying to say that truly nasty comment hanging on the end of my tongue, I usually walk away. Levet is my release valve…

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.
I loved Nalini Singh’s Branded By Fire, the very first pages with Mercy and Riley starts out with an explosive sex scene. It’s amazingly hot and while I usually enjoy the sexual buildup of tension that comes before the actual sex as we get to know the characters, I think she pulled it off brilliantly.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?
I’ve always wanted to finish my play and see it staged. I was a theatre major in college and I still miss seeing a story come alive on stage. Plus, I’ve harbored a secret dream for the red carpet before the Tony Awards FOREVER!!!
Be sure and pick of The Real Werewives of Vampire County! Out this November! I must say this is a great title and a spectacular cover, defiantly a must read!

Bound by Darkness is the next installment in the Guardians of Eternity series is hitting shelves worldwide on December 6th,2011!
BE SURE AND LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW. Alexandra has been nice enough to give a copy of both The real Werewives of Vampire County and Bound by Darkness to two lucky commenters!
www.alexandraivy.com

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INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE BARDSLEY AUTHOR OF MUST LOVE LYCANS!!

2011-09-13T11:13:00.005-04:00

Hi Everyone, I am so pleased to have Michelle Bardsley author of Must Love Lycans here with us today! Enjoy and be sure to leave a comment below for your chance to win a free autographed copy of Must Love Lycans!

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
JACQUELYN FRANK’S GUEST BLOG SERIES EVENT

As promised, a series of weird and seemingly pointless questions. But I am assured that these are the types of things readers are truly curious about.

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?

I suppose I would choose wolf. Wolves are strong creatures, smart and beautiful. And they’re pack animals, so they value family and rely on each other to survive.

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author.

The first time I met Charlaine Harris, it was at an RT convention in Daytona Beach, Florida. My friend and fellow author, Evangeline Anderson, made “we’re not worthy” worshipping gestures every time we ran into the woman. I think, at some point, she started to worry we were stalkers. Or maybe just weird. (Both were true. Ha!)

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?

I love writing both, actually, but as a writer and reader of romance novels, I do enjoy writing about the hero. I think because most of my heroes are flawed. They have to overcome their own wants, their own desires, in order to embrace love, relationships, and the woman they want more than their own ambitions.

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?

I do now. The Viking, whom I will be marrying next year (woot!), is a romance hero all the way. Honestly? I thought the men we write about in our romantic fiction were … well, implausible. I was wrong. I don’t really base my villains, or characters, on people I know. I might take characteristics or physical aspects from people I’ve met or known, but there’s never really been a moment where I thought, “I’m totally killing that dude in my next book.”

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?

I got nothing. Seriously. I have a total crush on the Viking, which makes me mushy and love-struck instead of naughty-secret-having chick. LOL.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.

There is a French dark chocolate that the Viking and I discovered at Central Market. I would eat it all day long if I could. And I like to laze around with the Viking on Sundays and watch movies and nap. It’s the best! (I mean, it’s a sin!)

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?

I sing in the car. Simon Cowell would eviscerate me, and I would totally agree with his assessment. Sometimes, you do things because it brings you joy and not because you have any talent at it. I like Evanescence. And I like singing Call Me When You’re Sober when I play Rock Band.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.

Jessica Matthews, the heroine from I’M THE VAMPIRE, THAT’S WHY. I’m most like her. Or rather, she’s most like me. I liked writing her a lot, and I’d love to see Broken Heart with my own eyes.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.

This is a hard question, but I do have one that comes to mind. There is a scene in Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz that made me cry. No, sob. When I realized what had happened, what he’d done, I just lost it. I actually had to put the book down and get out all the tears. It took a few minutes to get to the point where I could finish reading.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?

Well, I have the typical published author’s dream of making the New York Times and USA Today best seller lists. That would be awesome! I just want to keep writing, and writing. It’s a great job, and I feel very grateful that I get to do this for a living!

To purchase your own copy of Must Love Lycans click photo!
Since the moment Damien showed up-gloriously naked-Kelsey Morningstone has been having a hard time keeping her relationship with the clinic's latest amnesiac patient strictly professional. Even with her empathy abilities Kelsey's not sure she can get past Damien's anger to find the cause of his delusions. After all, falling for a patient is bad enough, but falling for a patient who thinks he's a werewolf is a whole other kind of crazy...

Be sure and comment for your chance to WIN your Autographed Copy!!

Pre-Order Now or Never HERE! In stores March 6th, 2012!!

SUPERNATURAL released! Ahhh...KANE's story is here!

2011-08-31T12:29:00.005-04:00

Ever wonder what happened that first night between Kane and Corrine? Sure you did. You know how I know you did? Cuz, you've been hocking me for it ever since JACOB came out in 2006. So, this story picks up where JACOB leaves off (at least as far as Kane and Corrine are concerned) and we get to see what happens when a Demon is under the influence of a Samhain moon and his Imprinted mate is comatose. Oooo.

I hope you like it. It's just a little taste to lead you into the release of ADAM on OCTOBER 25th!! WOOHOO!! Book six of the Nightwalkers at long last!

I was going to leave you a video blog, but I hate my hair. After it's fixed I will do so later. So, anyway, don't forget to join my FAN PAGE on Facebook where we have our contests all the time,updates on my life in general (if you care) and the ever-increasing in fame HUMP DAY HUNKS! and also on Facebook we have a ROLEPLAYING page! It's where people play your favorite characters and you get to see them all interact. And just to keep things interesting, the bitch we all love to hate shows up and does the most horrible things! Will our friends prevail?? Well, watch the page...and then read BOOK SIX!!

Darynda Jones Interview!! Need I say more? LOL

2011-08-23T09:35:00.020-04:00

Hello Everyone, today we have the great pleasure of Interviewing Ms. Darynda Jones *squeal*, author of First Grave on the Right and it's recently released sequal, Second Grave on the Left!! I have to say I had the pleasure of meeting Madame Jones in person earlier this year and she is by far one of the sweetest and most genuine, fantabulous people I have met in a long time. I just wanted to eat her up with a spoon and an itty bitty bit of butterscotch sauce. Mmm.

Anyway...

She is also my assistant's girl author crush, so I figured I ought to meet her. And read her. Besides, the shoes alone on that first cover were amazingly awesome and I was instantly stricken with cover envy. AND shoe envy. I wanted to hate her guts but, dammit, she's too sweet for that. I love her to itty bits and hope you will too.

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?
Growing up, I always wanted to be a panther. Sleek. Stealthy. Powerful. Now that I’m older, I think I’d love to be a bird. Probably something like a falcon because they’re cool or a crow because of all the folklore surrounding them and a group is called a murder. But I’d want to be a bird so I could travel more. There is so much I want to see, so many amazing places that I’ll never have the opportunity or honor of visiting. Which is a bummer.

J- Darynda my darling I have been DYING for a travel partner! We could do signings in fabulous foreign countries together! That is a genuine offer. Let's talk. :)

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author.
With my debut release, I had several amazing blurbs from some of my favorite authors like JR Ward and Kresley Cole, and another was Jayne Ann Krentz. I saw her that year at RWA National in Orlando, so I basically ran her down (she looked like she was in a hurry) and proceeded to thank her for the amazing blurb. She smiled graciously, inching away from me, nodded and took off. Sadly, the look on her face assured me she had no idea what I was talking about. In Jayne’s defense, the lobby was very loud and every sound echoed off the massive walls, so it’s likely she didn’t hear a word I said. Or that’s my hope.

J- That sounds A LOT like my first meeting with Christine Feehan. I was all gushing on her like we were best buds and she kept scooting away from me like I was a freaky little fan girl...which, I was. I did gush and ooze and squeal and all that. :)

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?
Oddly enough, the villain is easier to write. You don’t have to make him appealing or charming. (Well, depending on what type of villain he is, I suppose.) But the payoff in the end, that rush of heat every time the character walks onto the page, can only come with the hero. So I’ll have to go with the hero, even though he is 10 times harder to write.

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?
My heroes are always the dark, brooding types. It’s weird. And when I met my husband, he was just that. Dark, brooding, mad at the world. Now he’s just a big ole softy, but he did give me fodder for many-a-year.
My villains often take on characteristics of whoever has crossed me that day. LOL

Photo above courtesy of Tricia Schmitt aka Pickyme.
Photo below courtesy of Literal Addiction

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?
So, you’re my friend, right? And I’m obviously the wicked one. *grin* I can live with that. Unfortunately, while there is nothing better than real-life experience, I can only offer a healthy dose of empathy. I did have a crush on a bartender once. And there was this state cop with these huge brown eyes…
Right there with ya, babe.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.
Wow, we’re like twins! Those just happen to be mine as well. I love to watch TV and I can pick a series and watch the entire seven seasons in two weeks all the while eating popcorn and chocolate and washing it down with Diet Coke. That is heaven on earth, right there.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?
I do! And he would not be impressed. He would give me that scowl. It’s no accident all the letters in the word scowl are found in his name. Just sayin’. And for some reason, I find myself repeatedly singing Amazing Grace even though I only know the first verse.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.
I would be Charley Davidson in a heartbeat! True, she’s the grim reaper and people try to kill her way too often, but she’s got skill. And spunk. And a nice ass.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.
NOOOOO! There are so, so many. (Gideon, anyone? *fans self* Or how about that Zsadist?) I think because it’s the most recent thing I’ve read, I keep coming back to a scene in Jeaniene Frost’s book Halfway to the Grave where Bones is standing on the highway and lets the SUV that is taking Cat away plow into him. That scene took my breath away. But really, there are so many. That is totally an unfair question. It’s like asking which raindrop falling from the sky I like best. :)

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?
Two things actually. I have so many books I want to write, so many churning in my mind, I dream of having 50 published books under my belt. Maybe even 100! But I aspire to make the NYT list. That is my next major goal. It may not happen and that’s okay too. As long as I get to write for a living, it’ll all be good. But it would be super kewl if it did.

Thanks so much Darynda! I'm so happy to have you here this week. :) Third Grave Dead Ahead releases January 31, 2012!! Be sure and pre-order TODAY!!

If you can't get enough of Charley, here is a Short Story you must read, just click on the link, register and enjoy<3
http://www.heroesandheartbreakers.com/forihavesinned/register
“The Best debut novel I’ve read in years! Hilarious and heartfelt, sexy and surprising…I’m begging for the next one!!”
JR Ward, #1 New York Times Bestseller, Author of Lover Avenged

“I am furiously envious of Darynda Jones and rue the day she came up with this concept, damn her eyes. First Grave on the Right kidnapped me from the first paragraph.”
Mary Janice Davidson, New York Times Bestseller, Author of Undead and Unwelcome

“First Grave on the Right is witty, darkly thrilling and oh, so sexy.”
Gena Showalter, New York Times Bestseller, Author of The Darkest Whisper

“First Grave on the Right is a phenomenal debut! This series opener has it all– rollicking humor, sizzling sexual tension and a spine-tingling mystery.”
Kresley Cole, New York Times Bestseller, Author of Pleasure of a Dark Prince

Meet Kerrelyn Sparks and the Sexiest Vampire Alive!!

2011-08-16T10:10:00.003-04:00

Hello All, today I have the pleasure of interviewing the lovely Kerrelyn Sparks. Author of The Sexiest Vampire Alive! I think you'll love her responses and her books. :) And no, she hasn't paid me to say that. Damn it.

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?
Tough question—at first I was going to say an eagle, because it would be cool to soar through the sky, and it’s always a good thing to be at the top of the food chain. But since I’m a night owl, I’m going to say owl. I could still fly and be at the top of the food chain (aka Night Huntress), and I could freak people out by turning my head halfway around. It doesn’t take much to entertain me!
2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author
Probably forgetting their names five minutes after I’ve been introduced. I’m terrible with names!
3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?
Some villains are just plain nasty, so they’re creepy to write, but others are delightfully naughty and twisted, and I have to admit to having fun writing them. (What does that say about me? I don’t even want to go there!) As for my heroes, I always love writing them. And I get such a kick out of watching the heroines give them hell.
4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?
All of the heroes are inspired by my husband and other heroes from movies or books—like Indiana Jones or Aragorn. My heroes naturally reflect what I personally find heroic—strength, honor, courage, dependability, responsibility, and a attitude of respect for the heroine. As for the villains—they reflect what I fear the most. They’re my worst nightmares.
5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?
Can’t think of anything too naughty. I fall in love with each of my heroes, one after the other, which is terribly fickle of me.
6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.
Blue Bell ice cream—it’s a Texan thing. Cookies and Cream flavor. And after finishing a tough deadline, when I really need to clean house, I just want to read one book after another for a week or so. And eat ice cream!
7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?
LOL, no, I don’t. I wouldn’t subject my family to such awful noise! Simon Cowell would have a field day insulting me! I would feel so wounded, I might be forced to eat more ice cream.
8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.
That’s really hard! I could always relate to Heather Echarpe the most, because like her, I’m from Texas, I’m overweight (must be the ice cream!), I have a wonderful child who resulted from a disastrous first marriage, and I would enjoy seeing my ex behave like a cockroach (not a far reach). But when you consider the gifts my heroines have, I would love to be Caitlyn and have her ability to understand any language and learn it within minutes.
9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.
Another hard one! I’m going to have to go with Karen Marie Moning and chapters 4 & 5 of Dreamfever when Mac goes from being a Pri-ya back to her normal self. Brilliant writing! And who wouldn’t want to be locked up with Jericho Barrons for a few weeks!?
10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?
I aspire to…steal all of Jacquelyn’s readers!! Bwahahaha! Seriously though, we all want to share our work with more and more readers, so I would be delighted to just borrow some of Jacquelyn’s readers for a few weeks whenever I have a new release coming out. And I hope more of my readers discover her! As for my dream— I would love to be able to write faster, but I don’t really see that happening, LOL. I would love for the writing to become easier, but that’s not happening, either!! So, I’ll just learn to be happy with myself and my turtle-like slow pace.

From New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks—

Book # 11 in the Love at Stakes series

Sexiest Vampire Alive!

Finally, it’s Gregori’s turn!

He was both a playboy and a vampire…and impossible to resist.

At the end of Vampire Mine, a terrible thing happened—a video was released that proved the existence of vampires. Now Vamps fear the worst, the Vampire Apocalypse! Will mortals start hunting vampires down and staking them in their death-sleep? At an emergency meeting, Coven Masters from around the world decide how to proceed. They need an emissary to open negotiations with the President of the United States. They want their emissary to be modern, safe, and harmless. A Vamp who has never bitten a mortal. A Vamp who has been entirely bottle-fed. Their choice—Gregori!

Now Gregori has the fate of the entire Vamp population on his shoulders. When he’s given a special assignment that involves the president’s daughter, will he succumb to his playboy ways and doom them all?

“An absolute delight!” -- Lynsay Sands

“I have long thought of these books as the Stephanie Plum series with fangs!”
-- Jenn J, Night Owl Romance
“The sheer entertainment value in the writing of Kerrelyn Sparks is amazing and well worth reading.” -- Delane, Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

For more information about the Love at Stake series, please visit www.kerrelynsparks.com. If you would like promotional items, please contact Kerrelyn at kerrelyn@earthlink.net.
SEXIEST VAMPIRE ALIVE
By Kerrelyn Sparks
ISBN # 978-0061958052
On Sale: 9/27/2011

Interview with Lila Dubois!!

2011-08-09T08:11:00.010-04:00

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
As promised, a series of weird and seemingly pointless questions. But I am assured that these are the types of things readers are truly curious about.

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?

I would transform into a dolphin, and not just because everything I own was covered in pink and purple dolphin and kitty stickers when I was 12. The depths of the oceans are off limits to humans. They’re, slowly developing the technology that allows for awesome HD TV specials, but for a person to really experience that themselves is dangerous and scary. (Did anyone else see that episode of MythBusters where they took an oldschool dive suit and proved that if you lose pressure yes, your internal organs would squish up into the helmet? No scuba for me, thank you very fucking much.) As a dolphin I could see the ocean, eat sushi, and live my pink and purple 12-year-old dream.

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author

Hmm, I’m rarely embarrassed, and am usually embarrassing other people. Though I must say I did want to die, when, at the past Romantic Time Convention my hubby, who I had running around getting books signed for me, proceeded to grill Shannon K. Butcher about what would happen in the next Jim Butcher book. I was chucking M and M’s at his back from across the aisle to shut him up (my signing table was across the aisle from Shannon’s).

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?

In erotic romance I love writing my heros, because, you know they’re having a very very good time. Even the “villians” seem to rarely stay bad. SPOILER! The bad guy in Lights, Camera…Monsters is the hero in book three of the series, Gone with the Monster, and he’s a freaking HOOT!

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?

I never model characters after whole people, but they will pick up characteristics of people I know—a particular phase, a way of standing, or a shirt they always wear. Having something in my characters that reminds me of someone I know helps keep them sounding like real people (or so I hope).

I have noticed that since getting engaged and then married my heroes have become more realistically bone-headed in some ways—not really listening, fiddling with electronics when they shouldn’t be, just generally being a little clueless. This has, nothing to do with my very sweet but occasionally absentminded scientist partner. Nope. Nada.

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?

Exactly how naughty are we talking? Cuz I have a couple…

Here’s my naughty secret: I’m an erotic romance author whose never had a threesome. I expect to be drummed out of the league of awesome erotic romance authors any moment.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.

Mine is overindulgence, which stems from the idea that anything worth doing is worth doing well and a lot. This usually leads to a host of other sins. I hosted a bachelorette on Friday night. I put up enough decorations to make my place look like a cheap strip club, bought ridiculous amounts of both food and booze, proceeded to consume huge amounts of both before hauling the party all over downtown. This night of drunken revelry lead to a Saturday spent lying on the couch amid the ruins of the decorations watching Hoarders and moaning piteously until someone brought me aspirin, water and a bean and cheese burrito.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?

I absolutely cannot sing and never since in the shower as a result. Dogs would howl.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.

Jane, my heroine in My Fair Monster is a successfully screenwriter in Hollywood. Not only is this a ridiculously cool job that I’d love to have but she’s one of those gorgeous women who doesn’t know how hot she is. This is not my problem, but I wish it was. Professional I think Jane’s life would be pretty sweet, and personally Jane’s hero, Michael, is seriously hot, sexy and inventive in the bedroom. AWWW YEA! Plus he turns into something really, really interesting!

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.

That’s an awful question, it’s like trying to pick a favorite at a Thunder from Down Under show. Instead I’ll describe the scene that made me realize I loved paranormal romance above all other sub-genres. This is old school, because this book was my mom’s battered copy that I got my hands on when I was 14 or 15—Dazzling Brightness by Roberta Gellis. I freaking love that book. There a scene in the beginning where Persephone (still called Kore—omg so good!) runs away from him through a narrow rock passage. Hades uses his power to force the rock passage open wide enough for him to follow. He literally moves a mountain to follow her. *sigh *swoon

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?

I recently finished my MFA in writing. As my thesis I wrote an Urban Fantasy. Publishing that book is my next great writing adventure.

Lights, Camera...Monsters
http://www.liladubois.net/Lights...Camera,_Monsters.html

Luke is desperate to save his people. A lifetime of sneaking in to human houses and watching movies has convinced him that if he can make a great movie about monsters, humanity will change its opinion of them. With his friends at his side, all in shiny new human bodies, Luke heads for Tinsel Town.

A rising Hollywood producer, all-business Lena knows a good story when she sees it. Luke? He’s just another amateur who wants to get famous. But Luke’s too gorgeous to pass up. And there’s something vulnerable about him that leads her to throw caution to the wind and invite him to dinner.

One night of incredible sex later, Lena wakes up next to the surprise of her life. She’s sleeping next to a monster. Literally.

Appearances aside, she finds herself wanting to help Luke save his people. But they’ve got more to worry about than just human prejudice.

Some of the monsters would rather stay in the closet—and to make them all stay there, they’re willing to kill.

Calling the Wild
http://www.liladubois.net/CallingTheWild.html

Destiny is waiting…

Moira doesn’t know who’s hunting her, but she knows why. In her youth she unleashed a deadly force that killed everything within range—a strange power she has vowed never to use again.

Needing protection, she risks a bit of the old magic to call for backup. She gets more than she asks for. A lot more. A proud, sexually magnetic, enraged centaur who’s far from a quiet, obedient servant.

Kiron at first tries to intimidate the witch into freeing him, but she possesses more backbone than the average human. When she’s attacked again, he realizes she’s not a real witch. In fact, she’s not even human. And the sparks flying between them have nothing to do with the magical shackles that bind them together.

Curiosity grows to admiration, then to a love that in the end may not be enough to protect her. Moira’s enemies are closing in, intending to harness her power to restore a dark kingdom that has lain dormant for a thousand years.

There’s only one, heart-wrenching way out—give herself over to the full extent of her powers hoping that her true destiny lies with Kiron, and not in fulfilling a prophecy of death…

Red Ribbon
http://www.liladubois.net/Red_Ribbon.html

Running into an old friend isn’t a big deal, unless you’re attending a BDSM mixer. When Liz, a woman who has it all—except a sex life—sees college pal Mark in the parking lot, she brushes off her embarrassment and agrees to go out for coffee to catch up.

Mark assumes Liz is a Domme, but when she reveals her red ribbon—a ribbon identifying her as a sub—he has to have her. He makes her complete a sex checklist that lists every toy, kink, position and taboo he might do to her, on her or with her.

Though desperate for this relationship to work, Liz cannot fully accept her desires or bring herself to submit passively. She wants Mark to master her, to dominate her. Mark is delighted by the way she challenges him, and with one touch, he knows she’s his perfect sexual match.

Now they face their greatest challenge yet, that forbidden territory that lies outside the bedroom… Dating.

Lila

Reinvention!!

2011-08-02T10:36:00.006-04:00

Reinvention By Tawny Stokes and Vivi Anna

First off I’d like to thank Jacki for having me at her blog. I’ve been a big fan since her first book! Now on to my post….
Ch-ch-changes…as David Bowie’s iconic song streams through my head, I think about all the changes I’ve made in the past year. There has been quite a few. Some small, and some major. Some personal like my continual battle with Pepsi addiction, but most are related to my writing career.
As probably a lot of you know, there has been tons of turmoil in the publishing industry, and unfortunately since I haven’t found huge success in the paranormal field, that turmoil has affected me, as well as tons of other authors I know and love. As with all strife, its how you handle it that makes the difference. And I’ve never been one to let anything get me down. I’ve been dropped by publishers even before this industry shakeup. Kensington dropped me after my disastrous showing in sales of my erotic post-apocolyptic book Inferno, the sequel to Hell Kat. And I kept going.
After my third book came out from Harlequin Nocturne, I did some soul searching, and realized I really didn’t belong in the current paranormal romance field, IMHO. I realized I had a strong voice for YA, so I wrote one, and sent it to my agent and she shopped it, and shopped it and shopped it. And unfortunately, it didn’t hit. So I wrote another YA, and sent it to my agent and she shopped it and shopped it and shopped it. We came closer with this one, so close it makes me cry just thinking about it. But through this all I realized that I LOVE writing YA.
Also through this shake up, I went back to my first love, writing screenplays. I actually started writing them before I ever wrote a book. So I’ve written a couple of scripts, and in the past year, I’ve secured a Hollywood manager, and a producer who loves my work and my voice and we have developed a TV show pilot together, (which is actually based one of my YA books) and it is currently at the networks being considered. Wheeeeeeee!! I have a few other scripts being read as well by various producers. I’m very excited about the future for me in movies and TV.
Oh right, back to books…. ☺
So through this all, and the rise of ebooks, and the kindle, I decided to selfpublish as well. I’ve already released a urban fantasy called GLIMMER, under my Vivi Anna name, and I’ve just released my first YA, called STATIC, under my alter ego’s name Tawny Stokes. I am still writing for Harlequin Nocturne as of this post, but will be self-publishing everything else I write. I’m very excited about the choices that authors have now. I’m excited about the future of publishing for authors. We have many paths to take to get to publication. It’s a brave new publishing world and I’m very excited to be part of it.
Praise for Static

“You’re going to love Static --- a deep, dark and sexy ride. This is a creepy and unique addition to the YA paranormal genre that goes a little bit further and gives a little bit more.” - Janet Gurtler, author of I’m Not Her and If I Tell, Sourcebooks Fire.

"STATIC is an edgy, dark, and delicious read! Tawny Stokes is a tasty new voice in YA fiction." –Michelle Rowen, national bestselling author of Demon Princess series

"Static is an edgy, unique, whirlwind paranormal story with great action and amazing storytelling. This one leads you down a path you won't forget. Don't miss it!" - Denise A. Agnew
award-winning author

During the summer before her senior year, 17 year old band groupie, Salem Vale, has been following her favorite punk rockers, Malice, from gig to gig hoping that one night she might get backstage and meet the sinisterly sexy guys. She’s been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It’s a dream come true.
Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday’s trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she’s changing…turning into something not quite human.
Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band’s roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he’s just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing…

Help him kill the members of Malice.

About the author:
Tawny Stokes has always been a writer. From an early age, she’d spin tales of serial killers in love, vampires taking over the world, and sometimes about fluffy bunnies turned bunnicidal maniacs. An honour student in high school, with a penchant for math and English, you’d never know it by the foot high blue Mohawk and Doc Martens, which often got her into trouble. No longer a Mohawk wearer, Tawny still enjoys old school punk rock, trance, zombie movies, teen horror films, and fluffy bunnies. She lives in Canada with her fantastical daughter, two cats, and spends most of her time creating new stories for teens.
You can visit her at www.tawnystokes.com or follow her on twitter @TawnyStokes
Oh, one more thing...be sure and leave a comment below. I am giving away an e-book copy of STATIC!!
Buy links:
http://www.amazon.com/Static-ebook/dp/B005ES6TXU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312133632&sr=8-1
www.smashwords.com

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES! TODAY!!

2011-07-26T11:25:00.010-04:00

Hey all! Guess what today is! Yeah, okay, so you don’t have to guess. :P It’s RELEASE DAY!! WOOT!!!! SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES, book two in the Three Worlds series, comes out today! YAY! Okay, so I am a little overexcited. What can I say? These past few months have been incredibly hard on me, so I am taking my excitement where I can get it.

For those of you who have been religiously following me on FACEBOOK and TWITTER, you know that I have lost two of my precious kitty boys, and my daughter B lost her boy kitty on Friday as well. It’s been a horrid streak of bad luck in our home. But they say things come in threes, and so that’s my three, thank you very much. I’m all done! **dusts off hands**

So I interrupt this announcement briefly to say goodbye to my two boys.

This is Damien…and squished beneath him is Magellan as a kitten. Damien had his own special way of showing his dominance, lol. My boys. I don’t have a picture of Max, but I know B will miss him as much as I will miss these two.

Thanks for indulging me. Now let’s get back to business.

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES!!!

I hope you all have been enjoying my guest bloggers. Natalie, my assistant, and I have been working hard to get you some of the best in paranormal romance for you to get to meet and know. Whether by a blog or my goofy little interview. I hope it’s useful and fun. And please continue to visit here every Tuesday throughout the release of ADAM on October 25th. There’s a lot of weeks and a lot of guests between now and then.

Oh don’t tell me you haven’t heard about ADAM! BOOK 6 in the NIGHTWALKERS series? Come on people, get with it! You’ve been dying for this release for almost three years! Look, I’m not teasing this time! I have the cover to prove it. ☺

Ain’t it purty? I love his chesticles. They are my favorite. ☺

But that’s not until AFTER the August release of KANE in the anthology SUPERNATURAL.

For those of you who have been dying to know what happened between Kane and Corrine that first Samhain night, I gave a little flashback into the experiences they shared. It’ll give you the warm and wigglies I promise! Don’t forget, Corrine was deathly ill that first Samhain night, and the Imprinting for a Demon doesn’t make room for weakness and illness. Mating is paramount. No matter what.

Intrigued? You should be. **smirk**

But what was I talking about before we went into future releases…? OH YES!!

SEDUCE ME IN DREAMS! The first book in the Three Worlds series. Oh…wait…we did that one already. Or at least we should have done that one already. This book comes before today’s release, but rest assured, today’s release does stand on its own. However, as I always say, the fullest experience of a series does come from starting from the beginning.

Now, all kidding aside, let’s get down to business.

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES!!

How about a little excerpt? Yeah, I knew you’d say that.

Fire burned everywhere. Cinders clung to long grasses that had been obliterated by it and now, by some miracle, still held together. There was the smell of accelerant still in the air because it had been poured on the field in such a massive quantity. Along with it was the unmistakable stench of char and smoke. Nothing could possibly have survived.
But in the dead center of all of that destruction, something stirred. There was a cough just before the young man sat up and spit. He was charred as black as everything around him, making him blend in perfectly with his surroundings. He took a breath, his first in what seemed like ages. Well, he thought, it shouldn't surprise him that they had tried to kill him. After all, he had accidentally exposed his power in the center of town square during a damned festival.
Shit. He'd kept it secret from everyone for all of his twenty-one years. And it hadn't been easy. Adolescence alone had been a trial for him, and he’d had something of a temper back then. Still, he’d managed to keep it all under wraps.
He ought to have known this was coming. There was no way a mutation such as he was could go an entire lifetime undetected.
But if it hadn't been for that girl...
Yet, how could he turn his back? She would surely have died at the hands of those self-serving sicko bastards...
He shook his head, shook away the memory for the uselessness that it was. There was a bitter taste in his mouth and it had nothing to do with the Axiom fuel they'd dumped on him in hopes of burning him like all the rest of the char and ash around him. He had let them think they were successful. What choice did he have? If they didn't 'kill' him to their satisfaction, they would keep on trying until they actually figured out a way to succeed.
Had he truly thought at one time that his hometown, full of his lifelong friends and family, would be the ones most likely to understand and accept him? How many times had he come close to revealing himself before, thinking they would love him anyway? He had been so naive. Such a fool. And yet, why did this shock him so much if he'd felt so driven to keep it hidden?
He looked around himself carefully before getting to his feet. It was dark now, the only light being the flames that burned so powerfully on the horizon. The damn fools had burned him, yes, but in the process had started a fire on the plains that had quickly raced into town. The screaming had long since died down. He figured they were all dead, if not mostly so.
His secret was once again a secret.
He brushed layers of ash from his bare skin, the remainders of his clothing no doubt. Now he was naked, disenfranchised, and utterly at a loss as to what to do next. Still, he began to put one foot in front of the other, began to move. He had learned new things about himself, he could say that much. But he wasn't sure if that made things worse or better. He was too angry, too hurt to care.
It would take him a very long time to get over both of those feelings.

Okay, it’s a very short excerpt. And it doesn’t tell you much. But you know me, I don’t like to give away the juicy bits. Guess you’re just going to have to buy the book.

Like…now.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

BTW if you comment below you are entered to win a copy. ;)

Hugs and Kitties,
Jacki

PS: For those of you going to ROMCON the first week of August, look me up! It’s in Denver Colorado and I’m going to be there! If you live in Denver, the signing is open to the public I believe. ☺

Finding your Inspiration!

2011-07-19T09:44:00.007-04:00

Hello there! Jess Haines here. I’m the author of the urban fantasy H&W Investigations series HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, TAKEN BY THE OTHERS, and the recently released DECEIVED BY THE OTHERS. Jacki was kind enough to invite me over to come meet you guys today.

Okay, so I had Chicago’s “You’re the Inspiration” stuck in my head all day today, so I figured I’d talk about some of my writing inspirations over the years.

I’m a huge fan of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV show. More than anything else, I think it shaped my expectations of what can be done with a paranormal rom-com-drama. It taught me that you can tackle serious issues in a completely unserious way. It taught me the value of long running jokes and even better one-liners. It taught me how important snappy dialogue and a realistic supporting cast can be.

It also taught me that evil can look damned good.

Yowza!

Ahem. So. Another inspiration for me was the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. He was not one of my first urban fantasy reads, but he was definitely one of the most inspirational. Harry has taken on some of the most incredible and difficult tasks imaginable while retaining his sense of humor, innate ability to snark, and his humanity. He is one of the most absurd and adorable fictitious heroes I have ever had the pleasure of reading, and again, has an amazing supporting cast to back him up—Bob the talking skull, Molly the mage-in-training, Mouse the loyal dog who might be just a smidge smarter than his master, Thomas the oh-so-sexy vampire—need I go on?

Though there were quite a few other books and movies that inspired me, I’ll wrap it up with a mention of roleplaying games. Anyone who has known me for more than five minutes generally has heard me spout some lame joke about EverQuest, World of Warcraft, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, or Vampire: The Masquerade, to name a few. I got my head start writing by roleplaying on AOL (“*GASP!*” I hear you say. “The horror!”) and it was in no small part responsible for my obsession desire to write. The possibilities are endless when you’ve got a d20 on your side.
So that’s part of how I found my writing inspiration! How about you guys? Where do you find yours? What drives you to read, to write, to tell stories?

You can learn more about my work in HUNTED BY THE OTHERS, or come visit me on the web:
www.JessHaines.com
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Fan Forum
Thanks again having me and the gang over, Jacki!

Vampire Instinct Is Here!

2011-07-12T09:11:00.004-04:00

Vampire Instinct is here!
By Joey W. Hill

One of the things I like most about writing the Vampire Queen series is each book gives me a whole new set of protagonists with personalities and stories to discover. While certain elements of the vampire world remain the same, the challenges they face differ, and the characters often take me by surprise. My muse seems to have a grab bag from which she pulls unlikely or unexpected settings, situations or pairings, and says “have at it!” That’s how I end up having books where two sexual Dominants fall in love (Ice Queen/Mirror of My Soul), an angel is saved by a mermaid (Mermaid’s Kiss), or a hardcore vampire hunter becomes the servant of not one but two vampires (Vampire Mistress). I sometimes think the muse sits back and smirks at me while I bash my head on the keyboard.

For Vampire Instinct, the newest release in the series, the surprise was both my hero/heroine and the setting. Mal is my first “made” vampire hero. Most of my vampires are “born”, the aristocracy of the vampire world. Mal is Cherokee, born right before the Trail of Tears, and was turned into a vampire as a young man. While he does not regret being a vampire, he has never had great aspirations of rising in the very political and brutal vampire hierarchy. Instead, mending some personal demons of his past, he runs a big cat sanctuary on an island off of the U.S. coast. I had the pleasure of visiting Big Cat Rescue in Tampa to research this part of the book. My past settings for this series have been an opulent estate in South America, 1950s Western Australia, a BDSM club, etc, so this was definitely a change of pace. To understand how the sanctuary figured into the plot, here’s a blurb about the book:

As servant to vampire mistress Lady Daniela, Elisa’s devotion is unwavering—until Lady D makes it clear that the children entrusted to Elisa’s care may be destroyed, if they cannot be integrated into the vampire world. Elisa’s young charges are vampires of such potent desires as to belie their youth, given to a reckless bloodlust that makes their assimilation nearly impossible. But Elisa has one desperate option.

His name is Malachi, a Native American vampire who is a legend for his work with rehabilitating feline predators. With his primal understanding of the rules of survival, he is the fledglings’ last hope. But it is Elisa who is feeling the heat of his irresistible animal instincts. Now, as Malachi struggles to control the children’s impulses, he opens himself up to those of Elisa—and the passion they all share for the night could seal their fates forever.

This gave me another research opportunity. I was fortunate that one of my readers was a child development specialist. She agreed to critique the book before submission and give me insights into how the vampire fledglings would react from the “human” side of their nature. Whereas Mal/the muse helped me with the vampire/animal side (wink).

Elisa is not your typical “kickass” heroine, but as the story unfolded, she became the type of heroine I probably enjoy writing the most. She might not have the ability to resist Mal’s will with physical or political strength, but she has a staunch sense of right and wrong, and she has built her life upon it. Therefore, she is able to influence and change those around her who have far greater power. As noted above, Elisa is basically a domestic, an Irish maid who has found herself part of a vampire female’s household, and now must travel with the fledglings and try to work with Mal, a wholly unknown quantity, to protect the fledglings she considers her personal responsibility. Whereas he, having a vampire’s typical sense of superiority over humans, endeavors to teach her what her role truly should be. And of course they both get a little off track because of the chemistry between thhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifem!

If you’d like to read an excerpt for the book, click here. That takes you to my website and the Vampire Instinct book page. However, if you’d like more of a taste, you might want to visit the JWH fan forum. There are two more exclusive excerpts there, and the graphics of the site have just been changed to celebrate the release of this book. If you’re already a fan of the Vampire Queen series and you’ve never visited, you’re in for a treat, because I write free vignettes for the site, shorts where I revisit characters from my full length works, and there are three vignettes there now, based on the characters from Beloved Vampire, Vampire Queen’s Servant and Vampire Trinity. And a couple of them are the length of novels! (Note: you do have to register/login to see the vignette areas, but it’s a quick process, only requiring a valid email to protect the site from spammers.)

Anyhow, hope you’ve enjoyed this short inside glimpse into the new book and that it will inspire you to try my vampires. If you’d like to take your first taste with Vampire Instinct, it can be read alone, though the background of the book would be enhanced by reading Vampire’s Claim first. If you visit the series page on my website, it will tell you what all the books are about, as well as if they can standalone or other books in the series need to be read first.

Now for the extra fun part. Leave a comment on the blog post and you’ll be entered for a drawing to win the book-of-your-choice from my current available titles! I’ll also be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thanks so much for letting me visit with you today.

Undead and Undermined Releases Today!!

2011-07-05T10:47:00.004-04:00

Hi all, we are lucky enough to be here today with the USA and NYT Bestselling Author MaryJanice Davidson! She is famous for her Undead and Mermaid series. Book ten in Undead and Undermined Releases Today! So with out further ado...

Here as promised, is a series of weird and seemingly pointless questions. But I am assured that these are the types of things readers are truly curious about.

Yes! You certainly did promise weird and pointless questions. Um, congratulations? ;-)

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?

Oh my God. Seriously? You will never convince me readers give a tin shit what animal I would like to be. Mallard duck, by the way. They're gorgeous, they're plentiful (e.g. not hunted to the point of extinction), and can live anywhere in the Midwest. As can I!

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author

I threw up during a signing. Don't worry, I made it to the bathroom, and then after I rinsed my mouth and washed my face, returned to the signing. It was one of the Romantic Times Conventions...Dayton, maybe? Anyway. Too much coffee on an empty stomach and no sleep.

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?

Villain, for sure. I just like giving him/her different perspective (like a grumpy mermaid, say, or a secretary who loves shoes becoming a vampire). In one of my trilogies, UNDER COVER, I wrote 3 novellas. The villain of the first novella was the hero of the second novella...that was great fun!

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?

Yep! People on the planet Earth. But not any one person...my characters tend to be amalgams of people I know or read about (Sinclair, for example, is an amalgam of my husband, some old boyfriends, a villain or two...like that).

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?

The same one! Is your gardner's name Paul? Oh, and I'm 41. Other than that, we could be twins! Oh, and Paul is a part time fireman. And is, um, in really good shape.

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.

This is getting creepy. I like to loll around like a pissy walrus eating Skittles, and I'll watch FX all day long: It's Always Sunny; Louie; Wilfred; rinse, repeat.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?

Nope! I barely wash in the shower. I prefer my big Jacuzzi tub, and graphic novels I can read wherein.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.

Oh, Fred, natch. In fact, Fred sort of came to be when I thought, "If I was a mermaid, I wouldn't be one of those cute fluffy big-boobed ones who want to give it all up for a man. I'd be bitchy and I'd eat a lot. Yeah." Sha-zam! Ah, the power of literature.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.

When Anita Blake quit dithering and nailed Jean Claude in THE KILLING DANCE. I'm definitely a "classic Anita" fan.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?

Be a mallard duck who eats Skittles and belongs to a part-time fireman named Paul.
Remember book ten in the Bestselling Undead Series hits shelves TODAY! Feel free to contact MaryJanice Davidson at MaryJaniceDavidson.net

Yasmine Galnorn's Night Veil Releases July 5th!

2011-06-28T07:49:00.014-04:00

Hi, I’m Yasmine Galenorn, NYT, USA Today, and PW bestselling author of the Otherworld Series, and I’m here to be a guinea pig...err...guest on Jacqui’s blog today. I want to thank her for hogtying and dragging...err...having me here today and want to assure people that the pictures she’s threatened to expose are fake! Really! Truly! ~grins~

Seriously, I appreciate the chance to meet readers who may be new to me and my work, and say hello to you all. I write two series for Berkley—the Otherworld Series, and the Indigo Court Series, both urban fantasy. My books aren’t for everybody, but a lot of people seem to love them—they’re a little bit kinky and dark and filled with magic and mayhem and mythology. You can read about the Otherworld Series (which deals with the adventures of three half human, half-Fae sisters caught in a demonic war), and the Indigo Court Series, (which is set in a battle between the Vampiric Fae and true vampires) on my website.

My newest book, NIGHT VEIL, comes out July 5th—it’s book two in the Indigo Court Series and so far, feedback has been wonderful!

And with that, onto the questions.

Yasmine Galenorn

1. If you could transform into any animal, what would you choose? Please tell us, as only an author can, why you would make this specific choice?

One of my cats. My cats get the greatest treatment—they get loved, spoiled, fed yummy kitty food, petted when they want, they have plenty of space, lots of toys, kitty furniture, they go to the vet whenever they need to, and quite often end up there when they don’t and I just think something’s off.

If, however, we’re looking at wild animals…then we’re going with my black panther totem. Panther and I’ve walked together since I was a child. It would be only natural for me to transform into her. (And yes, that’s where Delilah’s panther self comes from).

2. Please share with us your most embarrassing moment with a fan or another author.

I honestly can’t think of any. I’ve had some odd moments with other authors or fans, but nothing particularly embarrassing. I guess a few signings where I was sick and had a scratchy voice that kept going in and out. Or where I have to politely ask they not take pictures because I am seriously photo-phobic. Working on getting over it, but it makes my stomach lurch when people want my picture.

3. Which do you prefer to write? The hero or the villain? And why?

LOL…both. Depending on the day. I’d rather write about my heroines than the heroes—since I tend to write urban fantasy more than paranormal romance, I find them more fun. The heroes aren’t window dressing, but they aren’t the main focus. I love writing about strong women who have odd quirks and flaws. But, having said that, there’s nothing like writing a nasty villain. The villains in my Indigo Court series are terrifying and almost inhuman. The villains in my Otherworld Series are just as nasty, but my main characters have a stronger base from which to launch counter assaults.

4. Do you have someone in your life that you model your heroes after? What about those villains?

No. Seriously, not. My heroes are modeled after the way I think heroes truly are: people (be they Fae or vampire or shapeshifter) stuck between a rock and a hard place, making difficult decisions, facing overwhelming odds, but still willing to fight for what they know is right—for what they know they must fight. Bits and pieces may be based on friends who I watch overcome incredible odds, but the characters themselves? Not so much, though ALL of my characters—villains included—have a little bit of me in them.

The villains: there are too many villains in this world, it’s all too easy to find inspiration when you look at the child molesters and rapists and serial killers and leaders with delusions of grandeur…just way too easy to find inspiration.

5. I am a woman who is 43 years old and has a crush on her 25-year-old gardener, what naughty secret do you have to share?

ROFL…well, I, too, have secret crushes but for the sake of my marriage, will keep those to myself. Fantasy is fantasy is fantasy. I once accidentally flashed the UPS man, many years back. Was wearing a sheer shirt, no bra, and totally spaced on it when I went to the door. Couldn’t figure out why he couldn’t stop grinning and his ears were bright red. After I took the package and shut the door, I glanced in the mirror and wanted to sink through the floor. He was always VERY NICE after that. LOL

6. I’ll go easy on you this time. What is your sinful pleasure? I have two. Gluttony: where I eat to much Ben & Jerry’s Pistachio Pistachio, and Sloth : where I laze in bed all day watching HGTV (Mike Holmes…mmm nummy!) or Farscape. Please be equally specific.

Well, on the diet I’m on (necessary), there isn’t much leeway, but caffeine is a major addiction of mine and almond milk lattes are high on the list. Quad shot, iced, almond milk lattes. I usually have 6-8 shots of espresso a day.

And video games. Dungeon Siege 2, Diablo 2 (when, oh WHEN is Diablo 3 coming out?), The Sims3, and puzzle games—Bejeweled 2, Drops 2, Tetris, Aquabubble, Bookworm. OH…and Plants Vs. Zombies. LOVE Plants Vs. Zombies.

7. Do you sing in the shower? What would Simon Cowell think of your performance? What is your favorite song choice?

No. Nobody wants to hear me sing. Trust me. I only sing when I’m all alone in the house and the music is high enough to drown me out. Simon Cowell would be appalled if I auditioned for American Idol and rightly so! But as far as if I could choose a song to sing (or that I attempt when alone)…hmmm…there are so many. Current faves for singing along to include: SAIL by Awolnation, I Like it Rough by Lady Gaga, and Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People. OH…and Vogue and 4 Minutes by Madonna.

8. If you could be any of your characters whom would you choose? Tell us why of course.

Camille from my Otherworld Series, because I love her fashion sense, and she’s most like me. And she has three gorgeous husbands who never let her want for attention. Who wouldn’t want to be married to a dragon, a youkai, and one of the Dark Fae? Plus she’s a witch. Not necessarily a very adept witch but she tries. And she’s got glamour. Did I mention the wardrobe? Oh—and her sisters are right there, for her. But she’s no Mary Sue character. To be honest, I wouldn’t like getting tossed around and bruised up by as many demons and the like as she does—that would be no fun at all. And with a father-in-law dragon out for your blood, life could get rather scary. All my characters get so banged up that I think the rewards of being them would be well-tempered with the hardships.

9. Who did it the best? Out of all of your favorite paranormal authors’ works, who wrote the BEST SCENE EVA? Explain.

It would be terribly gauche for me to say “a few of my own” but the fact is, I write some of the intense scenes I really want to read. But one of my favorite scenes of all time comes from my favorite book…it’s not exactly paranormal, but more what I would call from magic realism or fantasy. Watership Down by Richard Adams. Near the end, when they’ve reached Watership Down, and the rabbits are settled and have made their home, Hazel, their leader, is tired. He is resting some many springs after their adventures, when he realizes another rabbit is with him in the burrow.

“He raised his head and said, “Do you want to talk to me?”

“Yes, that’s what I’ve come for,” replied the other. “You know me, don’t you?”

“Yes, of course,” said Hazel, hoping he would be able to remember his name in a moment. Then he saw that in the darkness of the burrow, the stranger’s ears were shining with a faint silver light. “Yes, my lord,” he said. “Yes, I know you.”

“You’ve been feeling tired,” said the stranger, “but I can do something about that. I’ve come to ask whether you’d car to join my Owsla. We shall be glad to have you and you’ll enjoy it. If you’re ready, we might go along now.”

And Hazel realizes that the rabbit with him is the Black Rabbit of Inle, the ‘angel of death’ and that it’s his time to go.

Every time I read that scene, I’m weeping. Even now, as I write it out, I’m crying. The rabbits were so real to me, such incredibly balanced and realistic characters, and their journey was so great and their hardships so vivid, that by the time I finish the book—each time—I feel like I can scarcely breathe. Watership Down is one of the greatest books of all time, in my opinion.

10. You are now a published author, which some would say is the pinnacle for any writer. Now that you have achieved this goal, what is your new dream? What is it that you now aspire to do?

Well, actually, I achieved that goal 14 years ago, and it was always just the beginning of my goals. I’ve been a published author since 1997, when my first book came out. NIGHT VEIL will be my 27th book on the shelves, not counting four anthologies.

When I started out, my overall goal was to become a NYT bestselling novelist who consistently topped the charts.

But I knew I had to have intermediary goals. So my first interim goal was to get my fiction published—I had seven novels in the closet. I wrote eight nonfiction books before I got my first fiction contract with Berkley, in mysteries. Then, my next interim goal was to be writing two series at once. That happened rapidly. The next goal: switch to the genre I wanted to write in: urban fantasy. I managed that three years after my first book with Berkley came out.

Then I wanted to hit the bestseller charts—with the first Otherworld Book, I hit the USA Today chart. Next goal: at least place on the extended New York Times. Two books later, with Darkling—the third Otherworld book—I did that. Then it was to hit the short list on the NYT. That came at book six—Demon Mistress (though every book I’ve had since Darkling has at least hit the extended, if not the short). My goals now? To consistently hit the short list, and then—to hit #1 on the NYT. I want to expand my audience, to reach more readers, to create an online community on my website for my readers.

And that, is just the tip of the iceberg. ~grins~ I never lack for another goal to reach, another mountain to climb.

I want to thank Jacquelyn Franks for having me on her blog. You can find me on the web at www.galenorn.com, on Twitter: twitter.com/yasminegalenorn, and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/NYT-Bestselling-Author-Yasmine-Galenorn-Fan-Page/237705813865

Entwined by Fate

2011-06-21T10:32:00.004-04:00

Hello All!

When I was asked to do this guest post I was quite surprised, mostly because people know me as a con director, not as an author, but I guess that’s why it’s a good thing I agreed to do it right?

So my name is Stella Price and with my sister, I’m one half of an author team that writes what we have coined risk taking romance. What’s risk taking romance? Well, in our definition, its pushing the envelope with storylines and subject ideas that other have not tried yet.

Audra and I write demons, dragons, djinn, satyrs, unicorns, fallen angels, and we are the only ones out there to write weresnakes as a focus. Now a lot of those subjects others have written, but not like we have. Interested? Read on.

Our Weresnake series, called KNOSSOS WEST is three naughty novella’s Available from Total E Bound publishing, and follows the exploits of three cousins, all eligible bachelors looking for love…

Beyond the Vision of Dreams:

Remy Crane, a unmated were python, has been having some extemely erotic dreams for the past week about a woman hes sure dosent exist. Imagine his surprise when he wakes up one morning and finds the woman of his dreams standing just inside the front door of the Weresnake compound. He recognizes Chrissy Stanford as his mate, albeit instinctually only, and decides he needs to have her in his bed. Little does he know shes going to become part of his heart as well.

Surrender In Moonlight:

Reece Evans, the nest bad boy and only male Anaconda in the NY nest, is NOT looking for a mate, but he is looking for a wild ride. When he goes to Dry Ice one night he meets Carmen, a viper and a rogue, and the attraction is beyond hot. When she steals his motorcycle from under his nose and then calls him to bail her out, Reece sees his opportunity for a very satisfying tryst still within his grasp. He agrees, on the condition that she stay with him a month, and be his sexy plaything. Little does he know he’s sealed his fate, Carmen is exactly the snake he never knew he couldn’t live without.

A Gift of Daybreak:

When Andy Derelle went to Las Vegas to enjoy a wedding he never thought he would be propositioned by one of the most notorious nests in the country to audition its female members for a possible mate. But there he was, with six females to choose from, females that were coveted by their own territory's men.

Fajer Copeland, the only non-venomous snake of the southwestern nest, and their most sought after beauty is not looking for a mate, and is fine with being alone. Until the night Andy shows up in her bedroom doorway.

And the 4th in the series, Entwined by Fate, is an urban fantasy novel, about the same nest’s leader, Elise being reunited with the love of her life…

Thirty females of the Ophidian race have gone missing, most from the transient nest of Las Vegas, a rogue and unofficial nest run by the Saint, John Merrick. Believed to be dead by every Archon in the states, Merrick leads a quiet and unassuming life, saving those of his race that are lost and need it most. It's a solitary existence, one that he hates every day. He yearns for his mate, the woman he left over a decade before, and the woman who thinks him dead to this day.

When Elise Rizdon gets the official invitation to the Archon meeting in Ohio by the leader of a new Midwestern nest, she never expected to see the love of her life at the woman's side, a man she was told was dead and buried. She lost him once upon a time, and she never fully recovered. Focusing on the issues, and not the man that has always made her body burn is not going to be easy. A disturbing event is on the horizon, one that threatens all Ophidian's and their way of life. In order to http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifsurvive they will have to work together, give up old grudges and take chances on the things that matter most. Love, life and the continuation of their race.

So? Interested? Well I hope so. How would you like to win a copy of one of our books in e Format? Heres how…

Go to our website: http://www.stellaandaudra.com and read through our blurbs and then comment here on what book seems most interesting to you. That’s it. Jacki will pick a winner and they will win an E copy of any of our available books.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stella

Stella Price
Award winning best selling author
www.stellaandaudra.com

IF HE'S DANGEROUS!

2011-06-14T09:09:00.005-04:00

WHEN A CHARACTER DEMANDS HIS OWN STORY

Everyone admires a man with power. Such men are the heroes of fiction, movies, fantasies and, sometimes, real life. Shapeshifters, Vampires, and Demigods to Navy Seals, firefighters, and cops. They loom large in all forms of media from games to books.

Sir Argus Wherlocke, the hero of IF HE’S DANGEROUS, is a man of power. He is handsome(of course), in that sensuous, gotta-have-him way of most heroes, strong, intelligent, and gifted with the power to mesmerize. He has another trick or two up his elegant lace trimmed sleeves, but being able to get people to tell him all their secrets, to believe what he wants them to, and even – on occasion – do things they might not want to is a pretty powerful gift. It certainly helps Sir Argus in his work as a spy and an interrogator for his government. It also inspires the sort of envy that gets him into big trouble.

Sir Argus has skipped through some of the other tales of the Wherlockes I’ve written so I knew he was demanding his own story. When a character keeps appearing even when a writer hadn’t intended him to, that’s usually what that means. I tried to ignore him. His gift isn’t exactly an easy one for others to deal with. Sure there’s that attraction of the Alpha male, but one who can make you tell him everything and do whatever he wants? One who could take away all your will? Not one a woman would run to. More like run away from – very swiftly.

Then one day I was reading a a book and got stuck on the word resistance. Took me a minute to figure out why I kept looking at that word. I mean, really, it isn’t interesting at all. Not even slightly quirky or amusing. But I couldn’t stop myself from going back to that one word when I tried to continue reading. Then it hit me – that’s what was needed to get Sir Argus I-can-bend-you-to-my-will Wherlocke his own story. He needed a woman who could not be overpowered by his hypnotic voice and night sky eyes, at least not in the way others were. So was born Lady Lorelei Sundun – seventh child of the Duke of Sundunmoor, intelligent, independent, and just a tad eccentric.

Now I just had to figure out how to get these two people together.

Since Argus had been such a pest, whispering in my head, butting in where he wasn’t supposed to, I put him in prison. Had bad guys pound on him a little too. There was the first hole I wrote myself into. I’m good at that. So – Argus in a prison, bruised and battered. Nice for my revenge on him but a little tricky to get the heroine in that picture somewhere. It took a while but I did come up with a solution and thus begins the story of Sir Argus and Lady Lorelei Sundun. Argus wanted his lady – and I gave him one. I hope you’ll check out IF HE’S DANGEROUS just to see how hard a powerful man can fall.

The first chapter is available to be read on my website: www.hannahhowell.com
I also have a teaser in my notes section on Facebook.

VAMPIRES, SLAYERS AND ZOMBIES…TAKE YOUR PICK!

2011-06-07T09:04:00.008-04:00

I’m so thrilled to be here on Jacquelyn Frank’s blog! Being on a colleague’s blog is a great way for authors to get to tell potential readers about their books, and I love to chat with readers—cyberly (is that a word?) about paranormal romance!

So here’s my chance to tell you a little about myself, and the three paranormal series that I write...and I’m giving away one copy of the first book in each series to three lucky commenters today…so come up with some good questions or comments.

Although I’ve always loved to read ghost stories (particularly ones with hot, sexy heroes) I was never much of a vampire fan. But then the vampire craze began, back in 2005, and I started thinking about those fanged immortals, and mulling over ideas for a new twist on them. But I didn’t really find them sexy or compelling (I know! I know!!), so I couldn’t think of a way to write a book that included them…until a friend of mine loaned me the first season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

I got completely hooked and watched the whole season in two days, then went out and bought the next three seasons and watched them over the next month or two. I loved the show, because I loved not only Buffy and her strength, but also the take on vampires. That was something I could behind—having to slay the creatures.

Then one night, I was watching Cinderella with my daughter, and during the stroke of midnight, when Cinderella had to run away home, a thought struck me: What if she’s not leaving because of the magic…what if she’s leaving because she has to slay a vampire?

And that was how I came up with the historical urban fantasy series The Gardella Vampire Chronicles. It’s a five-book series about Victoria Gardella, a vampire hunter who lives during the time of Jane Austen. I figured it was fascinating enough watching Buffy try and balance her two lives…but how much more difficult would it be for a woman living in Regency-era England. The first book in the series, The Rest Falls Away, was released in 2007.

But by the time I finished the Gardella series, my thoughts about vampires had changed. I’d become a convert…come over to the dark side, if you will. And I recently finished a trilogy (out now) for a new Regency-era vampire romance series called The Regency Draculia. The Vampire Voss, The Vampire Dimitri, and The Vampire Narcise were all released in the last three months, and they are a completely different take on vampires…even though they are set in the same general time period as the Gardellas.

Whereas the Gardellas are about one woman—a superhero, really—fighting demonic vampires, and dealing with the three men who love her (the love story is resolved by book five), the Regency Draculia feature good and bad vampires. Sexy, tortured, compelling men who’ve sold their soul to the Devil thanks to their ancestor, Vlad the Impaler, aka Count Dracula.

These books have all of the elements I love about the Regency period—balls, manners, witty repartee and brooding earls and rakish viscounts—and mashes it up with what I love about vampire romance.

I had to come up with a totally different mythology for these vampires to make them redeemable (as opposed to the ones that get slain in the Gardella books). Those books are dark and sexy and each one is resolved with a happy ending between a hero and heroine.
As if managing vampires and building two worlds for them wasn’t enough, I’ve also dipped my toe into dystopian romance. I write another series as Joss Ware, which takes place in Las Vegas fifty years after the world was destroyed.

If you’ve ever seen The World Without Us or Life After People, you have a sense of what the world of my Envy Chronicles is like: an overgrown, green and lush urban jungle. My world has zombies in it, too, and some crystal-sporting immortal villains who turn out to be connected to what happened to the world half a century earlier.

My heroes are strong, sexy men who lived during our time and somehow time-traveled or were cryogenically frozen for fifty years and find themselves in this new world. They have the knowledge and experience from our time, and use that to help put the pieces together in this new world with what happens. They also each have a special ability that they acquired during their time-travel, which gives this series a little bit of a feel like Heroes.

In fact, I’ve often described the Envy Chronicles as LOST meets I am Legend with a little bit of Heroes thrown in. The first book in the series is called Beyond the Night. There are four books out currently, with a fifth coming next year.

So, as you can see, I think I can give almost any paranormal lover something compelling to read. ;-) I think the only thing I’m missing is shapeshifters…and who knows, maybe I’ll write a series like that some day!

I’ll be giving away a copy of The Rest Falls Away, The Vampire Voss, and Beyond the Night…so please comment and I’ll be popping in to answer questions and hear your thoughts on which series sounds interesting to you!

Thanks again to Jacquelyn Frank for having me here today!

Blurbs:

The Rest Falls Away (The Gardella Vampire Chronicles)

“Sophisticated, sexy, surprising! With its vampire lore and Regency graces, this book grabs you and holds you tight to the very last page!”—J. R. Ward

Beneath the glitter of dazzling 19th-century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil... .

Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long taken over the world.

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake.

But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous, moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her enigmatic ally, Sebastian Vioget.

And when she comes face to face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make the choice between duty and love.

The Vampire Voss (The Regency Draculia)

"In a world where every third title seems to be a vampire story, it's a pleasure to come across a series that is as unique as Colleen Gleason's. Fresh, unique, sassy, and fun, Gleason's Regency Draculia trilogy is one of a kind, and destined to become a classic. A must-have addition to the bookshelves of vamp enthusiasts everywhere." – Maggie Shayne, NY Times Bestselling Author of TWILIGHT PROPHECY, May 2011

Regency London – a dizzying whirl of balls and young ladies pursued by charming men.

But the Woodmore sisters are hunted by a more sinister breed: Lucifer's own.

Voss, also known as Viscount Dewhurst, relishes the sensual pleasures immortality affords. A member the Dracule – a cabal of powerful, secretive noblemen marked with a talisman that reveals their bartered souls – the mercenary Voss has remained carefully neutral ... until Angelica.

Angelica Woodmore possess the Sight, an ability invaluable to both sides of a looming war among the Dracule. Her very scent envelops Voss in a scarlet fog of hunger – for her body and her blood. But he is utterly unprepared for the new desire that overcomes him – to protect her.

Now Voss must battle his very nature to be with Angelica ... but this vampire never backs down from a fight.

Beyond the Night (The Envy Chronicles, writing as Joss Ware)

“Joss Ware's vision of the future is dark, complex and sharply original. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment in what promises to be a fascinating new series."
– Nalini Singh, New York Times Best-selling author of Branded by Fire

A man with no future...
When Dr. Elliott Drake wakes from a mysterious fifty-year sleep, the world as he knew it is gone. Cities are now desolate, and civilization is controlled by deadly immortals. Stranger still is Elliott's extraordinary new "gift" – he has the power to heal, but it comes with fatal consequences.

A woman with a past
Jade barely escaped the immortals and is now hell-bent on revenge. She trusts no one... until Elliott. His piercing gaze and tempting touch shatter her defenses, but the handsome doctor seems to have dangerous secrets of his own. Is it safe to trust him with her heart?

If they are to survive in this dark new world, Jade and Elliott must work together to fight the forces that takes them beyond danger.

Guest Blog Series!

2011-05-31T14:45:00.002-04:00

Hello my lovelies! I know, I know. Bad Jacki. Not blogging enough. But I promise to make it up to you!! I am starting a fabulous GUEST blogging series where there will be a wonderful new guest blogger every week for you! Every Tuesday to be exact! So far we have tremendous guests like Colleen Gleason (she starts us off this very next Tuesday, June 7th!), MaryJanice Davidson, Yasmine Galenorn and more!! Some will be writing about the paranormal genre in general, whatever it is that strikes them to say to you, and others will be answering a quirky little ten question interview I have put together. He he he! I don't ask run of the mill stuff. I ask things my weird little brain wants to know. I hope you will find them entertaining. And some of the authors are going to be kind enough to give away a copy of their latest and greatest, so you might want to pay attention. After all, who doesn't love a freebie? I'm also scheduled to show up as my own guest a couple of times in the series....and you know how much I love to give shit away!

I hope you enjoy. :)

Hugs and Kitties,
Jacki

PS: On April 25th, I lost lost one of my precious baby kitties, Damien. There is no way to explain how much this devastated me. Those of you who have lost close fur-babies know exactly how I felt, but what was so hard was that he was only 9 years old and the illness seemed to come out of nowhere. I bring this up to you because you all were so incredibly sweet and supportive and though it hurt so much at the time, every remark and comment you made to me found a place deep in my heart. Sharing my pain with you made it somehow...easier. I knew how wonderful you all would be, how supportive. It was no risk at all, sharing this deeply personal and tragic event in my life. Thank you so much, all of you, for holding my hand through it. For holding it still when things suddenly remind me of him and I share the feeling on Facebook. I am truly blessed with the best readers ever.

And I dare anyone to try to tell me otherwise!

The Nightwalkers Book SIX is DONE!!

2011-02-04T13:44:00.003-05:00

Book six of the Nightwalkers series is officially in the can! I finished the story January 31st and Kensington has slated a pub date of November 2011!!

Want to know the name??

Tsk.

You are just going to have to come to my PARTY at the RT Booklovers Convention on April 8th from 12:20 to 1:20, named AROUND THE WORLDS WITH JACKI FRANK and be there for the big REVEAL!! Everyone at the party will be the first to find out the name of the book and the name of Jasmine's hero!

I can't tell you how excited i am about all of this. I have to say, I took a few chances with this book, and I am really hoping you all like what I've done. It's going to wrap up a lot of those unanswered questions you all have been asking me in your letters. And as for Ruth...well, trust your author. ;)

I can promise you this, it's as exciting and as unusual as I could possibly make it. You know I don't like to be predictable. I hope I have succeeded!

Now I have to button up my final edits on Seduce Me in Flames from Ballentine. I got the cover flats today and they are GOR-GEE-US! Then I am sweeping into a couple of JAX books. My alter ego is in the mood for some wild, magical sex and lustiness. After that perhaps a short story by JAX and then right into the third THREE WORLDS novel from Ballentine.

PHEW. I am really going to need a vacation after this!

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

Happy New Year 2011!

2010-12-31T09:45:00.003-05:00

2011 is going to find me sitting cozy with my sister, my nephew and Miss Bianca this year in Connecticut. I made the last minute choice to fly up here so I wouldn't be alone! YAY! Upside, I'm no longer blue and weepy. Downside, I'm not going to make my deadline because it's impossible to work in this situation. Oh and to make it worse my power supply crapped out on me and my backup was at home. Anyway, I have a rare peaceful few hours by myself so I am going to get some work done but I thought I would drop you all a quick note to let you know I'm fine and the world of the Nightwalkers is moving along, albeit a bit slowly. I have so many surprises in store with this new book! My new assistant Natalie is a major fangirl and she's gotten some sneak peeks and she's squealing over the parts she's been shown (but wait until she sees what I haven't told her about yet!!)

Anyway I wanted to check in and let you know I was not alone for Christmas and won't be for New Years and my general mental health is very good...except for being stressed about this deadline. I don't want anyone to get mad at me! I'm working on it! It'll happen! I swear!

Surgery is scheduled for January sixth. That's going to put a crimp in things as well. But on the plus side it will force me to stay in one place long enough to focus on my work. Then after book six of the Nightwalkers it's on to book three of the Three Worlds series. Then...well who knows where I'll go next. ;) But I'll be sure to let you know. :)

But enough about me. Let's talk about you. I hope you are well and happy. I hope you are content and entertained. I hope those you love are equally so. I hope your soldiers come home safe and sound, that your parents' health improves and that the contentious jerks in your life suddenly buy a clue and decide to back off. I hope your children are safe and sound. I hope those they come in contact with are good souls with all the best intentions. I hope your health improves, that your medication is paid for and that you can more easily make ends meet this year. I hope this is the year you can finally take that special vacation or even just put a little something extra away in savings. I hope you get a nice fat, juicy tax return, or maybe even enough to take someone out for a nice fat juicy steak at a really nice place where they treat you with kindness and respect.

Whatever it is that you wish for, that you need or think you need, I truly hope this new year brings it to you.

And...

erm...

I hope you buy my books. :P

Hehehe.

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

A long overdue update!

2010-12-12T14:38:00.007-05:00

RELEASES MARCH 22 2011

LOOK!! New cover!!

RELEASES JULY 2011

Okay I am a naughty author. I've been slacking on my blogs again. Back to back deadlines have a way of doing that to a gal. Let's start with important information.

A. I am NOT hosting the Authors After Dark weekend this year. Stella has gone off on her own and is doing her own thing. I may or may not have something to do with it in the future, but that's all kind of up in the air. I am not on the list of attending authors and right now I am not certain if I am attending that convention. I can tell you this, she has great stuff planned at a tremendous looking venue. I am going to try to attend but I am already slated to attend RomCon in Denver and RT Booklovers Convention in LA. I am really trying to focus on conventions in areas I have never been before so my West Coast and Midwest/Mountain area readers have a chance to meet me and get their books signed by me. So if you are planning to attend the AAD Convention ONLY because of me, you might want to hold off. If I'm only a sliver of your considerations, then by all means, have at it. Stella throws a hell of a party and Larissa Ione is her Master of Ceremonies this year.

B. I am writing book six of the NIGHTWALKERS series as we speak. It IS Jasmine's story. It will be released in November 2011...but that's AFTER a novella in the NIGHTWALKER world is released in the October 2011 release of the anthology SUPERNATURAL with, once again, Larissa Ione. What's it about? Well, let me just say...did you ever wonder what happened that Samhain between Kane and Corrine? Well, your wondering will now be satisfied. :)

*SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT* *SPOILER ALERT*
If you've never read the NIGHTWALKERS or SHADOWDWELLERS series or are in the middle of them and don't want things given away (and your author hates it when you cheat, btw) everything in part C isn't for you! Skip this part! I promise not to say anything of interest to you!

C. I haven't decided on the title of the Jasmine story yet. I am still torn between titling it JASMINE and titling it after the male lead, keeping in tradition with the series. Those of you who follow me on Facebook know I've been tossing this back and forth with my editor/publisher. I'm sure they are going to want to do what they think SELLS best...or what will make it most readily apparent to my readers that this is 1. a NIGHTWALKER book and 2. Jasmine's story. We know you've been waiting for a long time for this story. And we know Jasmine is only part of what you've been waiting for. *SPOILERS* (I really mean it this time, if you are in the middle of the series, don't read this shit!) What about that bitch RUTH? What about Damien and Syreena, are they gonna be able to have kids?? And what ever happens to our prophesied children? And what about all that bad black magic? What about the unheard of idea of natural born witches being good? What happened when Valera did her magical mystery tour? Or has she even done it yet when this story begins? (Spoiler/sneak peek for those who HAVE read both those series) YES, it has happened already when this story picks up. I know, you're shocked. I NEVER give up information on my stories/universes. But hey, it's the Yuletide season. Consider it my gift to you. :)

D. My personal life. That's right, I'm about to talk about all that personal, hairy shit that's all about me. I am going to SHOW MY ASS (possibly even literally) so if you have a problem with that, don't read this part either! *eyeroll* I am officially all healed up from my circumferential abdominoplasty. And I look HAWT! I'm sorry, but I can't be humble. I have a flat belly! I weigh 142 lbs! Neither of those things have happened to me since I was 14 years old!! So maybe my tits are a little smaller than I expected (I call them tittles *thanks Peanut!*) but I'll take it! The next surgery, the thighplasty, is going to be in early January. I'd like to say the exact date, but the featherhead in charge of scheduling hasn't gotten back to me about it. I keep calling and she keeps swearing she's looking at my file right that second and waiting for the hospital to get back to her. Apparently everyone wants to schedule surgery before the end of the year because they don't want to pay a new deductible...yes but, I don't care about deductibles I am paying for this myself and I am not trying to get scheduled before the end of the year I want to do this AFTER the first of the year. (I do have a book to write after all) Then she pulls the babies with broken faces card on me. How they are the only surgeons who do emergent surgery on babies with broken faces and that bumps other surgeries. Well yes, that's great and, aww, those poor babies. But how does that affect your ability to schedule a surgery a month from now? A surgery you've been working on scheduling for the past three weeks? And why would you even bring up the babies if you weren't trying to keep me from going postal on you because you are aware that after three weeks of calls and waiting I have every right to go postal? After all, what kind of a bitch would i have to be to get mad now that you told me about the babies?? Well, I was nice because no, I'm not any kind of bitch who can get mad after hearing about the babies. But I mention it because I am very aware she was trying to play me and I chose to be nice in spite of that. Anyway...I'm sure I'll keep you posted.

Christmas is really hard this year. As some of you know, I have a foster daughter named Bianca. She stays with me every summer and every Christmas vacation. As a result of her behaviors this summer, I decided not to have her come this Christmas. I guess it's an effort to teach her a lesson. That she can't use people who love her for money. That the value of our relationship has nothing to do with toys and expensive bullshit. Perhaps it's my own fault. I spoiled her. I wanted to give her everything I never had when I was a kid...so she didn't appreciate any of it because it came so easy. Suddenly it was an expectation. It was almost like you could hear her saying, 'Yo bitch, cough it up and get me that.' It fact, 'Get me that.' was said more than once. The 'Yo bitch' was almost implied.

Anyway, she isn't coming. I will send her a few things, but nothing like the lush cornucopia of gifts she is used to. But it sucks.It feels like I've cut off my nose to spite my face. IT really sucks that there's not going to be a kid here to get excited with, to bake cookies with, to wake up to stuffed stockings with, to act goofy with...to drink hot cocoa with. I'm kinda all alone. No, not kinda. Exactly all alone. Money doesn't mean shit. I'd rather be poor with a Charlie Brown tree and a little girl who loves me hugging me around my neck telling me she loves me.

So Christmas sucks this year.

In other news, I hired a fan girl to be my new assistant. Her name is Natalie and she is all about the Jacki Frank universes. LOL. Well...she cheats on me with Stephanie Meyer and Sherrilyn Kenyon, but that's okay. I cheat on me too. Heh.

Hey you know how they say sugar will kill you? Well sugar is going to kill me. I worked hard to get skinny, but I've been sneaking a lot of candy lately. Now, I take some heavy duty meds at night and they make me fall asleep mid sentence or mid-Mafia Wars. The other night I was sneaking from my stash of Good N Plentys and apparently fell asleep mid chew. A couple of hours later I wake up and start coughing my head off. Apparently I aspirated some candy. Yes, I breathed in a Good N Plenty. All day yesterday, through yoga class and cooking dinner, every time I coughed I tasted licorice. My sister and I had this image of me going to the E.R. and trying to explain this...or them taking an X-ray of my lungs and trying to figure out what that capsule shaped thing was in the right lung...my housekeeper Donna was not amused by the idea of finding my dead in bed from an act of candy stupidity.

SO I mean it this time...as soon as I eat all the rest f this candy...I'm not buying any more. Well, no more Good N Plenty for a while that's for sure. My therapist says I am a sugar addict. That I need to twelve step it. She's right. I admit it. That's the first step. The next one...isn;t the next one 'Eat all the candy in the house'?

Ack.

Anyway. Enough of all that. I have to get back to work. Laters all!
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

DRINK OF ME

2010-10-28T16:05:00.002-04:00

Tuesday was the release of my new stand alone title DRINK OF ME. And please, let me clarify 'stand alone'. That means it is fully intended to be a one off title. There are no cliffhangers, nothing unresolved. Everyone will be completely satisfied from one cover to the next. Of course, I know you people...you're all gonna fall in love with this group of guys and you're going to start pestering me for more books and to make a series out of it. Well...I have learned to never saw never, so let's just say 'not at this time' and leave it at that, shall we? Heh. But really, don't you remember the good old days of non-series titles? Authors had to make up completely new worlds in every book they wrote? I kind of like that option in my repertoire. I like my series too, don't get me wrong. Where would the world be without NIGHTWALKERS and SHADOWDWELLERS??? But I think we all have room in us for the variety of the classic one off story.

DRINK OF ME takes place in an alternate world and alternate universe where things are very different, pre-industrial, and far from being unified and diplomatic. But I bring you into the world of the Sánge who are looked on universally as the scourge of their peers. Their strange practices make them feared and reviled. But you will see something very different from what those others see and I think the Sánge might just grow on you. :)

Here's your blurb:

DRINK ME

In a world where emotion can be a deadly weapon, one slight, battered runaway holds the key to a dark and twisted enigma…

Drink of me, she whispers, her silver eyes trusting, pleading. What female dares speak such words to one of the Sánge? His people are scorned by every race for their fierce sensuality, their fearful rituals. And as Prime, Reule is the most telepathically gifted of them all.

But nothing has prepared him for the intensity of emotion radiating from the outlander rescued by his Pack. Terrified, tormented, but beautiful beyond measure, Mystique shatters his legendary control. As she reaches for him in the steamy heat of the healing baths, he knows this blind need can have but one end…
In blood, in knowledge, in ecstasy.

On a more personal note, I had my circumferential abdominoplasty...also known as getting sawed in half...lol...well, almost. I came through super well and I look awesome!! I will post pictures after the hairiest scars are a little more healed. I have before and after...I have to get the courage up to show my flabby ass on here. LOL. Now all that's left is the thigh-plasty which rumor has it is even more difficult than getting sawed in half, and then my arms. I will then have the body of a 20 year old. Too bad my knees and ankles are already shot to shit. OTherwise I might go jogging in sexy shorts in the park or something I've always seen slender women do. Hah! Someone told me I'm too skinny! My GF tells me to go eat a fucking sandwich. :P I am eating Halloween chocolate unfortunately so I might just have a problem. *ulp* I wish I was allowed to exercise to burn it off, but the doctor says that's a no no for a little while longer.

Oh GREAT NEWS!! I am being published in the UK at last at last!! They will be printing BOOK SIX of the NIGHTWALKERS series in tandem with the US! Then they are going to go back and release UK versions of the series. :) I will keep you posted on the covers.

Anyway, that's it. I am constantly on Facebook holding giveaways and contests and such. Join my fan page and you will have a chance! Although I make you work for it with sneaky trivia. :)

Hugs and kitties
Jacki

Debut of my first JAX book, THE BID

2010-09-29T17:25:00.004-04:00

So yesterday was the debut of my first JAX book, an erotica paranormal/ fantasy/ futuristic romance called THE BID published under the Aphrodisia line at Kensington Publications. I really love this story. It's kind of a twist on the kidnapped and sold into slavery idea. It's also pretty steamy. I didn't really see why it might not fly in mass market format...I mean Rapture and the short story in Nocturnal both burned up the pages. But I like the idea of freeing myself up in future books from the conventional relationship format. There's lots of sexy possibilities in a non-standard relationship. But be assured, I'm all about the romance and the love and the happily ever after. No matter what you will always find that in my books.

We have established a JAX fan page on Facebook and you never know what I'll be giving away so it might be a good idea for you to sign up. Plus it can keep you up to date on all thing erotic from me.

The Authors After Dark 2010 event was a wild success. Don't take my word for it though. Go to the Authors After Dark blog and see for yourself. Stella Price has posted a blog and there are great pictures at Larissas Bookish Life, and other blogger sites. I have a few of my own but I am going to post them on Monday (ideally), the day before my surgery.

That's the other thing going on in my life. I am having my circumferential abdominoplasty on Tuesday. Also known as a lower body lift. Also known as a big ouch. I had hoped to have my second Three Worlds book done before then and am still working to reach that goal, but we will have to see how it turns out. So if you are wondering why I have been so quiet lately, there is your answer. Deadline!!!

I hired a new assistant. His name is George. So far so good. He seems to be fairly competent, which is a huge compliment coming from me. Lol. So if I haven't answered your emails there is hope for me yet! I do try my best, but since I have such a crappy memory... It goes something like this. Read email. Come up with reply in head. Go to hit reply button. Dust mote catches my attention. Have sudden urge to see how much rainfall they had in Belize. Ten days Later....

Such is life in Jacki's brain. Ah well. I shudder to think of how many awesome ideas were lost or don't end up in my books because of those damn random dust motes.

But they do fall in such a pretty way....

Guest Blogger and Bookmate Kate Douglas visits!

2010-09-07T10:16:00.003-04:00

Kate Douglas was kind enough to send me a few words about our co-release, NOCTURNAL, which is hitting the shelves TODAY!!! Thought I would share with all of you!

Hi Jacki—many apologies for sending this so late—I had planned to write it earlier this evening when I suddenly realized I had to be at a scheduled Aphrodisia Authors chat, and after the chat I started working on a proposal for a new series and had one of those OB-CRS moments, aka old broad can’t remember shit...

Anyway, today is the day! Nocturnal started popping up in stores a week ago, but it’s not officially on the shelves until today, and I’m really excited to see this one out and about. First, it’s very cool to share a spot with you—while we’ve both written for different imprints at Kensington, it appears we’re both guilty of crossing over to test the waters in a new sub-genre. Congratulations on your new Aphrodisia title coming out next month! I’m really looking forward to seeing just what kind of trouble Jax can get you into. Sometimes those alter egos can REALLY raise a ruckus!

For me, the switch was in the opposite direction when I sold The DemonSlayers series for the Zebra imprint. Still sexy, but not as over-the-top as my Wolf Tales, and really a lot of fun. The first book, DemonFire, released in February—a day I celebrated by running my truck into the side of a mountain and just about totaling the poor baby out. Mountain one...pickup zero. I’ve decided I’d much rather celebrate the release of my new books without any personal carnage or damage to expensive machinery. Therefore, I stayed home the day HellFire released last week. Much less costly that way! Today I intend to do the same. I’ll do my chatting about Crystal Dreams, my story in Nocturnal, online, thank you very much.

This was such a fun story to write. The muse really smiled on me and I wrote the entire thing in about three days. Once I had my heroine—Marigold Moonbeam Schwartz—the entire story fell into place. Wish they were all that easy! Mari is a straight-laced banker who’s just lost her job and is headed home to Evergreen from San Francisco. It has NOT been a good week. Besides getting laid-off, she’s caught her live-in boyfriend sacked up with another woman, discovered he’s spent most of her money, and now she’s got to take care of her mother’s crystal shop while her father recuperates from surgery.

Mari has a rather uncomfortable relationship with her parents—they’re old hippies who, she thinks, have smoked one too many joints. Her mother believes she’s a witch, and Mari doesn’t swallow any of that garbage—until she’s attacked by demons and rescued by a seven foot tall Lemurian warrior wielding a crystal sword. Life sort of takes a big flip-flop just shy of reality after Darius saves her life, but Mari definitely rolls with the punches, even though she’s in as much danger of losing her heart as she is of losing her life.

Finding out Mom and Dad aren’t so crazy after all is the least of her discoveries—finding out she’s a more powerful witch than dear old Mom is a hell of a shocker. If you’re at all interested in reading a bit, I’ve got the first chapter posted at http://www.katedouglas.com/home.htm Just click on the cover. If you go to www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance, you’ll find excerpts of my Wolf Tales and Sexy Beast stories, but over 18 only, please.

The series so far is DemonFire, HellFire and then Nocturnal/Crystal Dreams. StarFire releases in April 2011.
And thank you, Jacki, for letting me get a word in on your blog. It’s much appreciated.

Kate Douglas

www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage
www.twitter.com/wolftales

And thank you Kate for coming to visit!

In other news, I'm in desperate need of an assistant. I need to organize my emails, blogs, guest appearances, a mailing list etc. Someone who can work the online scene, tell me where to go and when to go there, etc. I just can't keep track of it all anymore. Holding contests, mailing books out after people win them, mailing ARCs to reviewers, chasing down pirates...HELP! The problem is, how exactly does one find someone to do these things? As we all know I SUCK at choosing people to clean my own home (finally landed a gem! TG!!) I am apparently a poor judge of character. So, I need help, but I don't trust myself to find anyone good.

*Looks around for her funny white coat with the 360 degree arms*
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

NOCTURNAL!!

2010-08-31T19:13:00.006-04:00

It's more than the way I live my life, it's the name of my latest release!! You all have been hounding me for new Jacki Frank, well I am going to overwhelm you with it! I have three books coming out in three consecutive months! ROCK ON! And then in February Ballentine releases the first in my new Three Worlds series, a fun scifi/fantasy romance with elite buffed out soldiers (HOORAH!!) and exotic aliens with extraordinary powers.

But that's then. Let's start with the now.

I am so thrilled to be sharing this anthology with the wickedly naughty Kate Douglas. She can write sex and lust and the paranormal like nobody's business. I also get to meet the adorable Jess Haines at my Authors After Dark event (only 16 days away!!) We'll be signing copies of the book together at the Harmon Meadow Holiday Inn on Saturday in New Jersey and the signing is open to everyone so PLEASE come and visit with me. I'd be very excited to meet you.

But let's talk about my story in this anthology.

Amara has been taken...stolen from her normal life because no one would miss her...because she would make the perfect lab rat. She is held captive, experimented on, tormented with captivity and the fear of the unknown. What are they going to do to her next? Then, the day she meets a fresh lab rat, a sexy beast of a cop, they are taken away for the experiment to end all experiments. When they come out on the other side of it they find themselves drawn to each other with animalistic need so ferocious it cannot be denied. The question is, where will the savagery end? Will they end up tearing each other apart?

This book releases September 7th. (officially anyway)

Then there's my new JAX book. I've been talking about it for ages and I am delighted to say RT Book Reviews gave THE BID four stars! WOOT!

Isn't this the hottest cover EVER? I can't get over how right Aphrodisia did me with this cover. I have never had such a perfect depiction of my characters before. It was like the artist was right in my head. Let me know if you agree when it comes out. This book releases September 28th.

Then there's DRINK OF ME.

This book release October 26th.
I thought I'd share the first few pages with you cuz you're all so awesome.

Sorrow.
It beat at him like a relentless drum, throbbing through his mind and vibrating into his soul until he felt it burning in his body as though it were his own. Stunned by the intensity of the intrusion, Reule actually hesitated several moments, distracting himself at the worst possible time. He felt the purity of the devastating emotion shuddering through him. Too pure, and too disturbing, Reule realized very quickly as he flung up well-practiced and powerful mental barricades, the imposing walls blotting out most of the wild despair that had stained his concentration.
Careless of him to let something like that intrude on such a crucial moment. Lines of disconcertion etched themselves into his forehead and around his mouth. The source of that unsettling intrusion was a mystery. It tempted him. But that, he realized, might very well be the point. It could be intentional bait.
Reule dismissed the idea straight away, confident he could tell the difference between deception and honesty, and while he’d never felt such a scope of sadness before in his life, it had been brutally honest. Pushing it all away to focus back on his goal of the moment, he lifted his head and sought the scents of the others, marking their positions in silence as they kept their mental communication minimalized. Their prey would sense their approach if they picked up on the power of their pursuers’ thoughts flinging back and forth along telepathic channels between them.
Reule marked the identifications and locations of the other males of the Pack. Rye, to the north along the stone wall in the underbrush. Darcio, to his rear by several yards, low against the trunk of a thick and ancient oak. Delano, of course, on point ahead of them and moving slowly along the perimeter of the hostile territory they sought to enter. Reule focused next on the house settled deep in the darkness, concentrating until his vision altered to pierce the veil of the brick walls, outlining the greenish-white blobs of movement that indicated life in one form or another. It was easy to differentiate their target; seated centrally and surrounded by others like bees buzzing over their precious queen. All of this activity took place on the second floor.
Reule turned his attention to Delano, watching the sleek speed the male used to breech the property line. In concert, the rest of the Pack moved forward, their senses sharply attuned to the rhythm it would take to succeed at their task. He could have closed his eyes and still known that Rye leapt the stone wall with ease, and that Darcio kept every step timed to match perfectly with his own as Reule advanced.
Each member of the Pack neared the structure with caution. Reule crouched low on the balls of his feet, sharply alert, and he became as still and invisible as shadows. His stillness was timed perfectly. His target came through the near door, so close he nearly tripped over Reule. When the unfortunate crossed in front of him, Reule struck with the speed of a cobra. His fangs exploded into full, glorious length as he attacked, but they wouldn’t taste of this repugnant creature. He could control the impulse, sparing himself the disgust of such an experience.
Instead, it was his extending claws that struck, and even that was conservative. Reule grabbed his victim over his mouth, jerking his head back and puncturing his shoulder with needle sharp nails right through his shirt, the cotton fabric no protection from the invasion. Reule’s muscles flexed as his prey struggled and fought, but they both knew it was a fruitless effort. Once the paralytic tipping his nails broke beyond the skin, it was only a matter of time. Still, Reule held him to keep him quiet until the drug took effect, using his mental power to stifle his victim’s so he could raise no alarms. When the male finally became deadweight in his hold, he released him. The body of his enemy dropped to the ground like a sack of rocks, thudding sickly as bone impacted earth. Reule kicked him away in contempt. The toxin wouldn’t kill him, but if Reule didn’t like what he found when he entered the house, he’d be back to finish the job.
Reule straightened and eased towards the door. He was vigilant for other stragglers as he sought for the heat and motion of others. They were all upstairs in that central room, and now Reule understood why. He heard shouts of laughter and cajoling, cheering and jeering, and he suddenly realized why there were insufficient guards staged to protect the place. He snarled low in loathing and the sound was echoed by his Shadow, Darcio. The others didn’t respond, but they felt Reule’s rage and he felt their agreeing emotion.
And that opened him up to the sorrow once more.
It slammed into him, stronger than before; a devastating sadness that stole his breath away and nearly stopped his heart. Chills rushed up under his flesh until it crawled with agonizing emotional response. Never, in all his many years, had he felt anything like it. He’d shared thoughts and emotions with his Pack for all of his existence, and never had they, his family, been able to project such powerful emotion into him. If he couldn’t feel such things from his family, who could force it upon him? More, what caused such agony? He was the most powerful, the most sensitive when it came to sensing these things, but surely one of his caste had felt deep, abiding pain before! What made this so incredibly intense to him? How did it invade him so easily in spite of his skill and power to resist such things?
Reule tried to shake off the sensations even as he fell back unsteadily against a near wall. Darcio leapt forward, instantly at his side when he sensed his distress. Reule quickly fended off his friend’s concern, recovering and pushing the alien anguish hard away from himself so he could project confidence and strength to the Pack. They were being distracted in dangerous territory and he’d be responsible if any of them were injured because of it. Reule silently realigned their attention with a powerful emanation and he felt them draw back to target swiftly. Only Darcio, who had seen him falter physically, hesitated. Reule ignored his concern and reached for the door.

I hope that puts me on your MUST BUY list. ;)
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki Frank

Had to share.

2010-08-26T02:20:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I'm a bitch. We all know this. But I have proof. 'Fan' letter received via my website (and I left the spelling and grammar as is...for effect) "I purchased the book Ecstacy in a local store because the back cover exerpt seemed interesting. Initially I enjoyed the book, but was soon quite discusted at the far too graphic sex scenes that were described. I was unable to finish any more of the book. I find it unfortunate that your book included this type of unecessary scenarios, as the basic story ;line seemed so interesting." My reply. "I guess this means you won't be buying me anymore. I write a lot of sex. Tons of it. The more graphic the better. I do love my fucking.Cest la Vie, chere. Hugs and Kitties Jacki Frank"
Like I said. I'm a bitch. ;)
Could have been worse...I could have been...you know...RUDE. I mean seriously. This is what i do. This is what I am good at and how i make a living. Do I go into the restaurant you waitress at and feel the need to say...you know, you would be a really good waitress...except for that whole thing where you serve people. All that serving...I just don't see the point! No. You know what I do? I don't go back if someone's 'serving' bothers me. I don't feel it necessary to tell them that the way they earn their way in the world just doesn't suit me AT ALL.

Bitch, please!

And that sound you just heard? That's my agent an editors collectively fainting.

Hugs and Kitties
JAcki

PS: If she thinks I'm bad...maybe I should send her a Lora Leigh book...for comparison. Hehehe.

I'm sorry....say what??

2010-08-23T17:47:00.003-04:00

You know, some things can make a bad day good. Like writing. It turned my Monday blues around and I was feeling peppy and zippy.

And some things can...

So I go to get my nails done. In a touch of irony just as I sit down at the table of the nail salon (I had never been there before) they are running a story on the news about how a nail salon in California charges a 5 dollar surcharge for anyone over 200 lbs.

I'm sorry...what? I must have missed the part in anatomy class where they tell you that fat people have bigger nails than everyone else. Or that there is a significant difference in the acreage of pudgy pods versus slender tiny Cinderella steppers. Therefore, it must take longer to do a pedicure. Or a manicure. Now granted, your feet ARE bigger when you are overweight. But that changes your shoe size. Not your nail size.

So they proceed to have a debate as to whether or not this is discrimination or does the salon have the right to do this.

YOU HAVE TO DEBATE THIS??? WHY is this even a question?? Of course it's discrimination! Jim Crow is dancing in his grave! What if it was a five dollar surcharge for being black? Would we be having this debate? No! We'd be fining those people, arresting them...whatever! The fact is, the woman was being charged for the way she looked. Period.

So the guy taking my polish off turns around to the girl behind him, laughs out loud and says, "That's a great idea! We should do that!" (Charge 5 bux for fat people).

Well. Now. I jerked my hands out of his and said, "That's not even funny! Don't even joke like that." Although, I think he was kinda serious. "I used to weigh 365lbs and I don't find that funny at all!"

He gives me that look that most people give me. Shock. You? 365lbs? Oh come on. You're kidding, right?

"365 pounds," I reiterate. He takes my hand and says, "Sorry, I didn't know what they were talking about. I made a mistake."
His mistake was taking a look around and seeing only slender people in the shop and thinking everyone would laugh with him...or agree with him. He knew exactly what they were talking about. He meant every word.

I took my hands back, got up and walked out.

Now I'm trying to keep it from ruining all the rest of my day.

All Aboard!

2010-08-19T17:02:00.003-04:00

Well, for those of you who don't follow me on Facebook, life has been...interesting. Who was it that said something like 'May you live in interesting times...' While a less educated person may perceive this as a blessing, it is in fact meant to be a curse. If someone says that to you, they are wishing you a life full of upheaval and chaos. Well, it's safe to say someone slapped me upside the head with the 'interesting times' curse. There was the whole bit with my daughter (I'm sorry, blood or no blood, hurt or no hurt, this child is now and will always be my daughter.) I won't rehash that except to say she's been home for two weeks and the only reason I know she made it off the plane alive is because I saw pictures of her at the fair two days later on Facebook. (I had to go looking...it wasn't as though they were shared with me directly or even indirectly.)

Around about this time I realized that my luggage had been robbed on the way home from Hawaii. ALL of my shoes (cept my flip flops and a pair that had been zipped up in hiding), my Adidas Sneakers, all my Sephora makeup, and my prescription Versace glasses. All my skin care products (ladies, do I have to tell you how much that can add up to? I think not.) I wrote to U. S. AIRWAYs ( did you get that all right? U S AIRWAYS. Let me say it again...U S AIRWAYS) the moment I realized it had happened. Do let me share with you their response: (Since they were ever so polite about it.)

Ms. XXXX,

Thank you for contacting the Central Baggage Resolution Office at US
Airways.

Regrettably, when a customer receives his/her property and does not
report the occurrence of this type of baggage irregularity within 24
hours, we cannot honor any subsequent claim.

We appreciate this opportunity to address your email.

Respectfully,

Clay Hues
Central Baggage Resolution Office
US Airways

That unexplained smoke you saw on the horizon yesterday? That was coming out of my ears. I wrote back. *smirk* I was ever. so. polite. I swear. No, really. But I did sign the response: One Very Pissed Off Woman Who Spends A Lot Of Her Time In The Public Eye. *smirk* Let's see how polite they are this time around. I do hate to throw my weight around (since there's so little of it anymore) but sometimes, man, you just gotta show them that they don't have all the power in this world. I mean I had to PAY to have the luggage on the flight in the first damn place, and then they let it get ROBBED??? The least my money can do is protect what's in the thing! I mean, UPS does it. Why can't they??

Then I stood up and broke my damn foot. (Only I could possibly manage this.) I had been writing for about an hour an a half (good on me!! I'd been having trouble finding the muse for months, but boy was it flowing that day! Deadlines can be very inspiring!) and apparently my foot fell asleep. I say apparently because there was no tingle or pins or needles. It just clocked out. I didn't even realize it was numb. So I stood up (kay, so I more likely flung myself up out of my chair. I never do things slowly anymore! Getting skinny gives you bounce!) One foot worked and the other folded and I unknowingly put all my weight on it (all what, 147 lbs of me? I mean c'mon! How did this not happen 175 lbs ago??) and heard a loud snap. I didn't fall or collapse or feel pain or anything (I was numb remember.) So I sat down on the coffee table and started repeating the same phrase over and over again. "Oh shit. Oh shit! OH SHIT!" (So sue me, even a writer can't be eloquent in a moment like that!) The worst part about that moment was realizing that I was alone. I mean really alone. If not for my dear friend and neighbor next door, I had no one to call for help outside of 911. And I loathed calling my neighbor because she had ben sick all day. Even when I did call her I said, "Donna, I'm so sorry to bother you...but i think I broke my foot."

I'm one of those people who hates to leaves a large needy footprint on others. Yet, somehow, I always manage to do so. Poor Donna's been working overtime taking care of me since I can't bend over or reach up or stay upright (nothing to do with the foot, actually. I'm a friggin' klutz with or without crutches. Just ask anyone who came to last year's Author's After Dark)...or the EMTs that carried me off that Saturday afternoon as I apparently skipped like a broken record and asked over and over again 'Where's Bianca?" So, in under a year that's a concussion, several broken toes, a broken foot...anyone remember anything else? Do complications from surgery count?

Then I found out the hard way that Mac's PAGES (their version of WORD) does not have an autosave feature. WTF?!?!?!? What the hell kind of a word processing program or any kind of program that deals with data management these days does not have an autosave feature???? PAGES, that's what kind. All this time all my corrections, all my work, if the battery ran down on my computer it was completely lost. I never realized it...not until I lost three thousand words. That's three thousand words of Nightwalker nirvana you all will never get to read because...let's face it, I can't remember what I had for breakfast this morning. I don't remember what is in my own books!

Sigh.

So, this is my interesting life. I don't know if my professional life can top that. Do let's hope not!! I'll be happy and content with reasonably successful. :)

I am about to release three successive books.
NOCTURNAL

DRINK OF ME and

THE BID

Okay if you aren't up on all thinks Jacki....that last book, yeah, that's me. JAX. It's me...sexified. Hey, is too a word! Imagine what I could write that's too hot for my regular books... (Yikes! After the short story in NOCTURNAL, I'm not sure they drew that line soon enough!!) Well, the JAX name is all my uber sexified work. Okay, I'll call it erotica if I must. ;) It's the only one scheduled for the moment. We'll see how it does. :) So that's September, October and November releases. Save your pennies, chicks. Oh and I really would love any and all feedback you have about these latest works. Just submit and email through the website or directly to jackifrankwrites@gmail.com.

I'll write again soon. With AAD coming up there should be a lot to talk about. Thanks for listening to my interesting life. ;)

Oh and don't forget, if you are in the NY NJ CT area, Authors After Dark is opening their signing to ALL COMERS so you can get all your books signed! Go to my site to check on details. The author list is dated though. Let me try and get it fixed for you. You can even buy NOCTURNAL right there and have it signed by both me and JESS HAINES...and we have signed bookplates from Kate Douglas since she tried but couldn't make it. Next year's author line up is looking really hot if everyone who says they are going to come comes! And we have some super cool surprises planned.

Night everyone!
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

The Day After

2010-08-07T19:16:00.002-04:00

There was an apocalyptic movie named The Day After, and somehow that feels apropos. I want everyone to know I am okay. Relatively. Auntie Depression has come for a visit. I am overwhelmingly sad every time I see the littlest thing that reminds me of B. I pull in the garage, her bike is there, I open the pantry, that stupid ramen noodle soup she thinks is more than adequate nutrition for a growing girl is there. A sentence you never thought you'd utter: Ramen noodle soup made me cry.

And then I brought Snickers, the kitten I rescued three weeks ago, to Brother Wolf so she could be properly fostered and then adopted. So that was a heart ache on top of what I am already feeling. I keep wandering the house aimlessly, as if my body knows it's supposed to be doing something: Making dinner, playing Connect Four, riding her ass to take a bath...but there's no B here and no longer a need to do all of that.

I don't even know if she made it home. I have to assume she did. No one called me and there's no way of calling there. I took B's phone away because if she can Skype with her mother while she's here then she can damn well Skype with me while she's there. I'm not going to pay for a phone for all of them to use. Like I said, this gravy train has come to a full and complete stop.

I sent a letter home with B, suggesting to her mom the things I felt were urgently needed in order to see B was cared for, and explaining why I sent her home and wouldn't be bringing her back any time soon. I've not gotten a response and I won't be surprised if I don't get one. Why should she let me talk to her kid if she's not going to get anything out of it any more? I guess I feel like I'm never going to see B again.

I'm catching a little flack for 'oversharing' my personal life on the internet. That it's somehow going to hurt my career. Well. Gee. Okay. And welcome to the land of I don't give a flying fuck. I write. I write pretty damn good too. You should buy me based on that. If you don't want to know what I'm like as a person, don't follow my blogs. Don't trail my personal account on Facebook. It's your finger doing the clicking on that mouse, not mine.

For those who do follow me, you know I'm usually a pretty happy, ebullient person. I share the good and the bad, the professional and the personal. I share it all because clearly you want to hear it. And I share it because on days like yesterday, your support rolls in and surrounds me, comforts me like a great big hug, buoys me up when I think I am going to shatter into pieces. I wish I could return the favor to all of you. It's special. It's precious. It means the world to me.

Thanks guys.

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

A glimpse...

2010-08-06T21:43:00.001-04:00

You have had a glimpse of me and I of you. The previous post has been taken down...for many reasons. I am not afraid to over share, and my readers have treated me like a friend or family, so naturally I do the same. Time and again you all have expressed to me how much you appreciate how 'real' I am and how connected you feel to me. When I wrote that post I was upset, my mind reeling, my spirit torn to pieces. Perhaps that is a bad time to try and compose clear thoughts and express oneself, perhaps it is the best time.

I am human. I'm just a girl who writes. Writing is now and always will be how I express what is inside of me. Sometimes that is painful and glaring, and as I said, I am not afraid of that. Moreover, I will treasure the responses I got from you. They meant the world to me.

However, in the interests of protecting the child involved...

I'm sure you get my point.

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

I Hate My House I Love My House

2010-06-08T11:43:00.001-04:00

Soo...if any of you have been following me on Facebook or know me as a friend, you know I have been struggling with my writing. The truth is I haven't written anything of consequence in a dog's age. (Don't worry, I have enough backlog in books to keep you in fresh material for a long time to come.) Now, it might be professional suicide to share this with you, but I have committed suicide before and am still here to tell the tale, and I have always shared everything with you all and I am not about to start pulling my punches.

Truth is, all writers go through writer's block...or periods of feeling drained of their creativity. What I speak of is not new phenomenon. Some of the most famous authors you know were plagued by the writer's block beast. But for me it's not so much a block as it is...my inner child wants to play not work not ever so nah!

I am 170lbs lighter than I was. I can wear gorgeous clothes and shoes. I can get on planes and fit in the seats. I can travel everywhere. I can do just about anything! Why oh why would I want to sit here, in front of the computer, in this seat that I was trapped in under fat and infirmity for DECADES in this dark spot in my house?? I existed in that spot, unmoving, unliving, uneverything. Now...I loathe it. I loathe sitting in one spot. I loathe being in my house. I loathe this computer screen I have stared at for every single day for so damn long.

I want to PLAY! I want to shop! I want to go out and go dancing and run on a beach and do things people do to have fun. I want to conquer my fears and do some crazy ass shit while I'm still young enough to do so. Because, you see, it snuk up on me so fast last time. One day I was young and healthy (albeit overweight. Have been since I was 15) and then the next...(so it seemed) I couldn't even climb a set of three stairs. I couldn't walk through a store. I had to go to Wal Mart or Target only because they were the only ones who had electric carts. I had to buy a one story house (I have a 'bonus' room though which is up over the garage. I lived in this house for almost 2 years before I was able to even see it!)

The point is, I feel like I've wasted so much time and, despite the weight loss, I am still not all that healthy. (People marvel at how much meds I am on. Granted it's a few less now than before...) What if I spend all this great time sitting on my ass and suddenly...bam! It's all gone again?

But like I said in my title...I hate my house....but I love my house. I want to keep it. I want to keep my car. I want all those little things that come with a paycheck. So...this girl's got to work. It's not as though I want to be irresponsible. It's not that I want to quit and never write again. I love to write. I love to make up stories. I like to create unique worlds that blow your socks off. :) (My agent and my editors and publishers are going to be very glad to hear this part) So here's the thing. How do I write and stay focused when my inner child is whining that it wants to go out and play?

On top of all of this, I'm stuck in my own head. Or maybe even my own ego. I sit here thinking whatever I do next has to be UTTERLY SPECTACULAR!! It has to outshine everything I have ever done before AND it has to be strides ahead of the tremendous talent that is out there in my genre. (And those who aren't tremendously talented but somehow popular just the same). I have to write a NYT Bestseller that outdoes myself...and can do battle with everyone else. And then once I do that..OMG I have to do it again! And again!

And crap, I gotta pay taxes, too.

Not too much pressure, eh? This is the essence of writer's block. A writer who gets stuck in the pressures and minutiae in their own minds. All of the above mentioned crap AND the daily list of things in their personal and business lives that they swim in.

But I think I found a solution. For me anyway. I'm taking it Old School. I'm leaving the laptop at home, leaving home at home, and with nothing but a wire bound journal and a favorite pen, (well, ok so i do take my cell) I am going out and finding quiet nooks and crannies where I can sit, enjoying the OUT THERE out there, and yet focusing completely on writing. This is how I did it when I was a kid. Back when teachers thought I was the most diligent notetaker in class? That was me writing reams and reams of stories, perfecting what would one day become a craft. The spiral notebook was my original laptop. I had forgotten how much I love the feel of pen drawing over paper. There's sometimes a few moments that it takes to write a word vs. typing a word that allows your brain to jump to the next thought.

Now, the downside..no delete key, no backup files (save me if I drop today's gel inks--my favorites--in a puddle), and I have to retype the whole thing over again eventually anyway. So this is strictly for creative purposes only. Perhaps just to get me started. I am considering an IPad...strictly for the purposes of being able to carry it in my purse everywhere at all times without having to lug a laptop hither and yon. The laptop isn't big, just...inconvenient. But I don't know if an IPad is easy to type on. Still, it can't be any slower than using a pen, right?

Maybe I'll stick with the low tech solution. For now it feels good. I can't tell you how many words I've written...for some reason the damn journal refuses to tell me!

Hugs and Kitties

Jacki

PS: So far Barnes and Noble and the Library have been tried out. B and N is nice, but there's a lot of pressure in those bookshelves. The library has no pressure because they don't have a single damn book in my genre from what I can see, but it was really freaking noisy after 2pm. Any other suggestions? I need a chair that's comfy that I can cross my legs in and prop the journal on my knee. Oh, hey! My therapist's waiting room was nice. Wonder if they'll let me haunt it. :P

Mother's Day for Demons...

2010-05-09T11:12:00.001-04:00

...and other things we don't think about.

I think one of the things the I always asked myself when reading paranormal romance was...and where did these people's families disappear to?? Granted, if you are turned into a vampire you have a choice, bury all your relations throughout the years or turn them and take 'em with you. Werewolves always seem to be more family oriented. Dens. Packs. Inbreeding and in-fighting. Okay, so sometimes there's such a thing as too much family.

I took a slightly more traditional approach to family when I created the Nightwalker breeds. They are family-centric, (although without the incest, tyvm) and that seems to me to be one of their most attractive traits. After all, didn't you just melt when you saw Noah playing with Leah? Didn't you just want him all wrapped up in a bow? Can't you just imagine him on Mother's Day with Kestra bringing her flowers and brekkies in bed?? (Well, had she not been...you know...) Doesn't it just kill you to think those genes aren't going to be spread into the future generations?? Aren't you just dying to know if the Vampire and the Lycanthrope are ever going to be able to reach across their racial chasm and perhaps, maybe, one day, make a baby together? What about the Lycanthrope and the Demon?? Or the Vampire and the...oops. Wait. That would be telling. ;)

I think this stems from my difficulties in the world of family. I had a brutal childhood, and although I have four sisters, we aren't what I would call uber close. I'm not blaming anyone. It's a pretty selfish day and age and we all get so wrapped up in our own crap that it seems family has fallen to the wayside. I am up front and guilty of it myself. As I get older I seem to long for the family touch more and more. After all, someone needs to take care of me one day when I am old and sick. :P Just kidding. I already was old and sick. I'm in my new thirties now.

But it always amazes me that, even if we lack for genetic family, we throng together to make families of our own. At my signing this weekend I spent fabulous time with this adorable family. They are called the Blood Lust Book Club. There's the gay male matriarch, the hippy dippy female father figure who runs War Hammer games, the gay male's wife who has a rockin tattoo and, erm, bite marks...and all the little kidlets that sit around and hug all the time, share meals, share hurts and woes and are probably more there for each other than most traditional church-going families ever will be. It's times like this I think we might actually have hope in our future as a society in general.

For now, I like making up my own societies. The good guys are good and the bad guys are dead...eventually. I swear....EVENTUALLY!! (Then again, eventually is true for all things in a thermodynamic universe...) In my new title Drink of Me (Zebra, Oct. 2010) I take a relatively orphaned group of males and make them into one of the tightest family units I've ever written. The blood drinking and all that...well, it's just one of those family quirks. But far be it from me to judge the non-traditional family. In fact, I celebrate it!

So imagine Mother's Day in Noah's castle. All your favorite characters are there. Doesn't it warm the cockles of your heart? Or, like me, can you see the sadder hearts that would be there? They have their HEAs, their one true love, but suddenly we realize that it's not all about that, is it? Are we selfish for wanting more? For wanting it ALL??

Meh. Not to worry. I'll see that we all get what we want one way or another. Even if we don't quite realize it was what we were really asking for all along.

Keeping it Real

2010-04-17T12:50:00.002-04:00

So, there's this thing out there in the author world about 'over sharing' information about yourself. I've been heavily criticized for talking openly about my life, the things I do and the people in it. Basically, I over share. (According to some critical others.) But what they call over sharing and TMI, I call keeping it real.

I'm sorry, but the world has enough stuck up, holier-than-thou assholes in it. I am not going sit up on some NYT Bestselling throne looking down my nose at all the little peons come to worship at my feet, keeping the air of mystery, playing the entitled diva. Frankly, I'm not entitled to squat unless you, the readers, feel like giving it to me...and I am grateful enough as it is for your pocket change when you decide to buy my work. If you go beyond that, if you come to me with an email or follow me on Facebook or any of that stuff, I assume you are doing it because you want to get to know me a little better. You want to know something other than if I can write a good story.

So, I am happy to give you...me. My weight loss journey. My boob job. My struggles with my kid. My puddles of insecurity, my tears when I see someone trash talk me...the list goes on. And I'm not going to give you a shinier version of me. Just the me of me. Now, mind you, I will keep things to myself in certain ways. Like, my real name. Where I live. Some of ya'll are freaks (if you are offended by that reference, then...urm...you're probably a freak. Clearly even you think so!)and I am going to protect my kids and family.

There are those who say it's a matter of professionalism. It's unprofessional to talk about how, ever since you hit forty, you have the worst time trying not to fart in public. Oh c'mon. You're all women out there! (Men have never cared about when and where they fart, so...)You all have bodies! And frankly it always gives me tremendous comfort to know someone else goes through this and is willing to talk about it! What would be unprofessional is if I tried to put that tidbit into a conversation between one of my heroes and heroines. That is not romantic. (Although, it's funny shit so another writer who does comedic romance might get away with it). You come to my writing to suspend reality. You come to me to keep it real. If you don't like what I have to say, stop following me! Resign from the blogs and mailing lists and etc. Right? If you want mystery between us, by all means. I can do that. So long as you don't read my blogs or my Facebook posts. I call it the 'head in the sand' approach. I don't cope well with bad reviews, so therefore I avoid them like the plague. I stick my fingers in my ears, shut my eyes and yell "La! La! La!" Voila! As far as I am concerned, I never get a bad review. (Okay, well, I do come across them accidentally once in a while. In which case, I need a fifth of scotch to fix the problem. And don't get me started on reviews. Did you know there are people out there with NOTHING BETTER TO DO than to go on Amazon and trash talk other people's books in order to raise up the authors they like?? Can you believe that?? Oh, but we're not supposed to talk about that, too. And we're not supposed to answer back. I am not making that up. According to RWR magazine, that is known as 'shooting yourself in the foot' professionally.)

I understand. It serves no purpose to waste energy engaging an idiot in a battle of wits...especially when the poor dears are so unarmed. It's basically grade school all over again. Bullies. The popular girls make themselves feel better by whipping others to shreds. Oy. Grow up and get a life. But the fact is, it still wounds you if you are a sensitive human being. I am not going to pretend otherwise because, frankly, I am proud of being a sensitive human being. I am proud to over share. I love nothing more than when a reader writes to me and says how 'down to earth' I am. How real I am. How much they appreciate my touchable approach. I will be ashamed of myself the day I look down my nose at someone and deem myself too good to be honest with them.

If I want to be professional, I call my agent and cry hysterically with her or get mad and stomp my feet with her and then let HER call my editors or publishers or whoever has ticked me off and communicate my...erm...discontent with the current situation. Unprofessional would be to call them directly and curse them out like the New York gal I am with no regard for my future contracts. That, after all, is why she earns the big bucks. She is a tool. A buffer. An ambassador. A very talented one. A priceless one. What, are you shocked to hear I can behave like a child on occasion? You mean you don't? Not even deep down on the inside? If you are able to keep that under wraps, I envy you. Perhaps it is because I am bipolar, perhaps it's because I never learned how to suppress all of that emotion...perhaps I'm a child now and forever. Flaws. A ton of them. And I have them like crazy!!

Don't you?

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

New Website Has Launched!!

2010-04-15T16:40:00.002-04:00

Hi all! Welcome to my new website!! We worked really hard to make this hugely user friendly and to make it easy for you to get answers to all your questions. Where am I signing? What is AAD? Who is JAX? Are you coming out with a new Nightwalker book?

You can write me easily right from the website. Sign up for alerts to these blogs and a newsletter if I release one. You can see what is scheduled. What hits the shelves when. You can read first chapters or teasers from the backs of the books. I have fancy little flashes to entertain you and oh so much more!! Come. Play around. Have FUN!

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-24T18:24:00.005-05:00

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy holiday, whatever you may celebrate! I have my beautiful daughter with me for the holiday and I am so thrilled. I hope all of you are curled up warm and cozy with someone you love, drinking egg nog or hot cocoa, wishing for snow and Santa to come.

I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the goings on in my world. My new Gatherers series debuts December 29th with the arrival of HUNTING JULIAN. It's pictured here below with it's lovely revised cover. I think it's beautiful.

This new series travels to worlds you won't expect and for reasons you have to read to believe. It's a departure from my Nightwalkers and Shadowdwellers, but I hope you enjoy it equally.

Then, this spring will be the follow up story, book 2, STEALING KATHRYN. I have the cover art for that as well and it is equally beautiful. :)

So, my dears, I wish you a prosperous New Year, a Christmas full of riches, a festive Yule or Kwanzaa. Whatever way you celebrate, whatever it is that gives you family comfort and and that warm special spirit of the season, know that I am wishing it for you in spades.

Hugs and Kitties
Jacquelyn Frank

Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend

2009-11-06T17:45:00.009-05:00

Well, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I heard people had a really good time!! YAY!! Although, some of you may have heard that a certain author *cough cough* tripped over her own feet and gave herself a concussion. Alas, much to my dismay, I missed the entire last half of my own weekend! I was in a crappy hospital where all the bathrooms smelled like pee and my roommate was a total nosy mouthbreather. I ended up with a headache that lasted a bajillion (okay, so it was sevenish) days. Needless to say that part of the weekend totally sucked...for me anyway. But the parties went on without me and the pictures say everyone had a great time! I admit, though, I feel horrible and so guilty for those who came so far for the signing only to find out I was flat on my face in the hallway getting carried away by some uber hot EMTs. Sucks to be all of you who didn't have their hands all over them! Sucked to be me with the exception of those five minutes of EMT dreaminess.

Anyway, I do have some pictures to share of the event. This first one is of the tables before everyone was let in. Yes, those are green cobwebs on the chairs and tables. Our first party was the pajama party/candy and ice cream party. Those cauldrons are full of candy plus the tables were covered in treats. I gave away brand new sleep shirts for the Gatherers series and the first of the tons of books we were giving away.

These next pics are of the many baskets we raffled off for Pets Alive and the Animal Compassion Network!

There were something like ten tables filled with this stuff. And thank you SO much for the authors and others who donated these excellent gifties and helped us to raise a total of 1,400 dollars to be split between the two charities! I am so delighted!!

Even though I wasn't there, I do have some pictures of the masquarade. They are a little dark! The little red queen is my B!

Anyway, I wish I had more. It wasn't perfect because of the accident and me missing such important parts of the event, but I hope everyone had a fabulous time. I promise to be more careful next year!! Although, Tilly Green's husband said I fell quite gracefully. :) Personally, I felt myself bounce. One of the pleasures of having a nice rack. I come with my own airbags!!

Kate Duffy

2009-09-28T19:47:00.002-04:00

Kate Duffy died today. I hope with all of my heart that she knows how much she meant to me. If not for her not a single word I write would be seen by another living soul. She was more than just an editor at Kensington to me. She was the roof over my head, the bed I sleep in, and all these other comforts I now enjoy just because she saw something in three little pages of sample work from me and thought I was worth a closer look. I can't help but feel an era has just passed by and I didn't get to enjoy it nearly as much as I could or should have.

I will miss you so much, Kate. I know you're up there having a smoke with the goddess and kicking back with a good book.

All my love,
Jacki

PLEASURE!

2009-08-18T15:08:00.003-04:00

As you know, PLEASURE is releasing this coming Tuesday August 23rd. What some of you may not know is that this is two stories in one. First will be Sagan's story then will come Malaya's story. You will finally get to see what happens between Malaya and Guin. I know a lot of you have been anticipating that. After PLEASURE releases we're going to revamp the entire website in anticipation of my new series, The Gatherers, the first book of which will release January of the coming new year. Keep in mind that I am in the process of writing the sixth Nightwalkers book which will be Jasmine's story.

Right now I am on vacation at Topsail Island, NC, enjoying the ocean (for the most part....a close encounter with an angry jellyfish has left me quite wounded) and hoping for new inspirations. Who knows what's going to come out of that jellyfish experience!I am going to be making an appearance in September at the RAW party and, of course, we have my party in October! It's going to be so much fun and I already have my costume picked out for the masquerade.

Well, back to the beach for me. See you all soon!
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki Frank

Greetings!

2009-07-07T17:50:00.001-04:00

And salutations!

Well, it has been a wild sort of a week for me. On the one hand I am still under the spell of a new medication that makes me fall asleep, on the other hand, RAPTURE came out last Tuesday!! YAY! The response from readers has been really awesome and I thank you all for that. It's really exciting for me since I feel this is my best work to date. It is a personal favorite of mine.

I am so excited about the release that I am going to give away an ARC of PLEASURE both here and on my home site to anyone who comments on RAPTURE and what they thought of it. You can get picked if you even have less than enthusiastic things to say about it. I prefer the truth to ass kissing, thank you very much. I think it makes me a better writer in the long run.

There's been some confusion as to the release date for PLEASURE. The official date is August 25th, 2009. It is NOT in 2010. That was a misprint in the RAPTURE excerpt. I also wanted to let you know that I am still working on the sixth Nightwalker book so it will be some time before it goes into production and you all get to see it. Starting in January you will see me taking leave of the Nightwalkers altogether in order to introduce the Gatherers, an interdimensional romance series that I think you will like a great deal. After that you will see me doing a sci fi romance series with Ballentine Books. Wild huh? A LOT of exciting stuff, new and interesting to be sure. But you will eventually get to see your favorite Nightwalkers again, never fear.

On a personal note, Bianca is here for the summer! It's a little crazy with a nine year old in the house, and such a change from the boring quiet I am used to. I can't get much of anything done, but I don't mind! It's great to have hugs and stories and such. :) We're headed to the beach in August and I think we'll all enjoy that.

So, anyway, tell me what you thought of RAPTURE if you want some PLEASURE! I'll be happy to mail you out your prize! And don't forget, we are going to have some wild fun at my get together in October and I really hope to see you there. Don't forget to get yourselves registered now because the price goes up after the initial cut off date because of the hotel rules. C'mon, it's worth it just for the DJ and the masquerade!

RT Convention Cometh!

2009-04-06T18:13:00.000-04:00

Howdy all! How are things by you? Things are pretty awesome over by me. I just got a new car and I've lost a total of 70lbs since my whole weight loss saga began. I had to go shopping for all new clothes. And what's really awesome about that is in a few months I'll probably have to do it all over again!

But enough about that. I have a winner from last month's comment contest. The winner gets an ARC of my new book RAPTURE. This one may be my all time favorite written book and I really hope you guys like it to. Remember it hits shelves June 30th. Okay the lucky winner needs to email me at jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com with their full name and address.

And the winner on the AAD blog is: Kim S. Congrats Kim!
And the winner on my home blog is: Whitney

Now, the Romantic Times Convention is just around the corner! Yay! Anyone who is going has to remember to come to my Sunrise and Shadowdwellers Morning Mixer! You wouldn't think those two things would go together, but I assure you they do. We're going to have lots of fun and I spent a fortune on my goody bags! I want you all to leave very happy :) Also, me and my gf's are all going to be wearing saris in honor of the Shadowdweller women's favored mode of dress. I hear Stella Price's is gorgeous and I know mine is stunning. I only hope I do it justice.

Now I'm feeling generous, so I'm going to give away two more ARCs. Same rules as last time. All you have to do is comment either here or on my home blog site. Or heck, do both if you like! Good luck! And don;t forget to check out the Authors After Dark Event. I know I must have some tri-state area fans out there somewhere!

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

Come One! Come All!

2009-03-09T17:20:00.001-04:00

Howdy! I have soooo much to tell you! I am having a party! Allow me to officially introduce to you the Authors After Dark Event! This will be a fabulous private party with you, the readers, and us, your favorite paranormal writers! That's what makes this weekend so special...it's all paranormal and it all going to be great fun! We're going to have a Candy Shop Pajama party the first night, and a dinner and a masquerade the next! We'll be blowing out both nights with a DJ and dancing and you will be rubbing elbows with all your favorite authors the whole time!

I know there are a lot of events out there these days, and I know the economy is making things rough, but if you want to spend a fun weekend with us we promise you won't regret it. And besides, we're having an author signing event you won;t want to miss where you can get your books signed by favorite authors like Sunny, Rosemary Laurey, and, of course, me! The registration is as fair as we could make it and we got a real cheap room rate for hotel rooms considering it is going to be during the fall in beautiful upstate NY.

All of the information is on the site when you follow the link. So is the paypal button you can use for quick and convenient registration. If you don't like paypal, no worries! We have instructions for that as well! :)

I really hope to see you there. I love nothing more than meeting my readers, and I am certain the same is true for the other authors. And hey, maybe you'll be introduced to some you didn't realize were out there!

Now for new business. Or rather, old business! I realized recently that I promised a copy of Ecstacy, signed, to one of my commentors on the blog before my surgery. Well, you can imagine why I forgot about it, but it's still no excuse. I wanted to let you know that I have chosen a winner! Marni, I know you are a Kindle gal, but would you like a paperback book signed from me? Send your name and address to me at jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com.

As for the rest of you, I just got in a BIG box of RAPTURE ARCs!! I am going to give away two of them. One to one of the commentors on the AAD blog, and one to one of the commentors on my home blog. Best let me hear you all! What do you think of my party? Whose coming? Anything you want to say!

See you soon!
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

I'm Back!!

2009-02-06T22:59:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know it's been a whole month since I said I was on my way into surgery, but it's kind of taken this long for me to recover enough from the whole ordeal to focus on writing two words together.

For those not in the know, I went in for gastric bypass surgery. Well, let's just say it wasn't as routine as we would have liked. Sometime after surgery I threw a clot that went into a bad place. Of course we didn't know this until my blood pressure bottomed out and my insides ruptured. Even so, they couldn't figure out what was going on so they rushed me into surgery to seek out the problem and...luckily for me my surgeon is a flippin' genius. So he fixed me up and after a blood transfusion and almost a week in the ICU I was finally able to come home.

But wait. Don't think the gal my surgeon has nicknamed 'Trouble' is done. No. About 10 days after my release I wake up with screaming pain in my back and I can't draw breath for my life. The verdict? You got it...pneumonia/pleurisy. Can I just say it FREAKIN HURTS! Anyway I could barely move until about two days ago. Now I am finally able to breathe and move around and basically feel normal. That's why I am late doing my blog here. It's going to take another week or so before I am healed up so I ask you all to bear with me if you've written me email. I will get around to it eventually, I promise! Just give me time :) For those of you who sent me well wishes, I thank you. As you can see, I really needed it!!

Hugs and kitties
Jacki Frank

GB-Day

2009-01-05T11:45:00.003-05:00

Well, the day has come. Surgery (for those not in the know, I am having Gastric Bypass Surgery) looms tomorrow morning at 11 am. I can tell you one thing, I am more nervous and excited than I have been about anything since Christmas morning when I was a kidlet. Time has started to crawl, so I figure that's the excitement. If it was nerves it would start flying by...or at least that's how I see it. I'll be in the hospital for two days, if all goes well, and my assistant Ryanne and my good friend Susan will be with me. I don't exactly have the kind of family where you'd expect them to show up and all that, though to be fair my sister is in Connecticut and she would be there if she could. I will try to log on as soon as I get home and will let you all know how things went.

I haven't heard anything about how Ecsatsy is doing out there in the wide world. Not that I am paying much attention. I have other things on my mind as you see. I have gotten some feedback from some of you all and I want you to know how much I truly appreciate that. After all, you are the ones that matter and you are the ones I want to hear from. So maybe you'll be kind to me and leave me some comments about Ecstasy. I only got 4 stars from Romantic Times Magazine this time. I guess that is still good, but I want to know what cost me that half a star. Am I just being too hard on myself? Maybe that's the nerves. Who knows! Anyway, I'll give away a signed copy of Ecsatsy to one lucky person who comments on this blog in any way about anything. I could use the entertaqinment while time tick tocks away. Sigh....it only took me five minutes to write this. Now what will I do??

Hugs and kitties,
Jacki

I'm in Hell.

2008-12-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

A lot has gone on since the last time I blogged. The main focus of my life at the moment is food...or rather a lack thereof. And I don't think it's a situation that's going to change any time soon. I am currently on a liquid diet in preparation for my bariatric surgery. Today is day three and believe me, be very glad you don't live with me because boy howdy I am a bitch! Cranky as the day is long drinking these diet shakes and going postal if something so much as blinks at me the wrong way. I feel bad for my cats because they are the only critters around here at bitch central.

On the business end of things, ECSTASY is slated to hit the shelves December 30th. It's book one in my new series and I think you are going to enjoy it. And I am going to announce something here and now just to all of you all. I decided to wrap up things a little better in the Nightwalker series and am 1/3 of the way through book six. I wanted to stop at book five and deal with Ruth much later down the line, but the feedback from you all, my adoring readers, made me change my mind. Besides, I got this great idea! And, of course, we needed to give one last person a romance...just to teach her smart ass a lesson. Can you guess who it is?

I am in negotiations for a new contract, I am selling a series that has nothing to do with the Nightwalker world and a couple of novellas to boot. You won't see any of these for a year yet, but I thought you might want to know.

Back on the home front, one of my kitties had a seizure. It was awful. I have never seen anything like it. I was a total wreck! I've seen adults have seizures, and to me it was no big thing because I know it's temporary and it's not hurting them and all that other medical logic, but the minute it was one of my babies I was utterly hysterical. His blood work was basically normal when I took him to the vet the next day and now I have to bring him to a specialist just to check and make sure there's nothing else going on. Needless to say, I am a very overprotective mommy these days. Plus, I'm finding it hard to kick him off when he's up in my face and being a mooch for attention, even if I am working.

I am not getting much work done. I've discovered the World of Warcraft. Which is good, believe me. I need something to distract me from the hell of starving to death. And it's only going to get worse after the surgery! At least I get one sensible meal right now. After surgery its nothing but clear liquids for at least three weeks. You may ask why I am doing this to myself...the answer is simple. I want to live. In every sense of the word. Longevity wise and quality of life as well. I can barely walk across a store the way I am now and it's only getting worse. My joints have had it. Goddess only knows what I am doing to my heart. But even though I have my mind and heart and body set on this course, it doesn't preclude me being grumpy about it. But I'll hang in there. Just you wait and see.

Meanwhile, how are you all doing? Leave me a little feedback. I am expecting ARCs of RAPTURE, book 2 in the Shadowdwellers series, in a couple of weeks. Maybe I'll give something away to a commentor!

Hugs and kitties
Jacki

Howdy All!

2008-11-10T13:56:00.002-05:00

First order of business, someone who commented on my last blog has won a deck of Nightwalkers cards. PEIRCED FREAK, if you could send me your name and snail mail address to me in an email at jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com, I can send that deck off to you.

Well, I've been a writing fool lately. I am hardly popping my head up to say hi. But I am working on some great new stuff...non Nightwalker I'm afraid...but I am sure you'll love it just the same.

Now, to make sure you are paying attention...

I was watching True Blood yesterday. Le Sigh. I love this show!! I wish there was a Nightwalkers show like this. So that gave me an idea. I am going to give away an new ARC of Ecstasy to the person that thinks up the most clever title for a Nightwalkers show. Besides, of course, "The Nightwalkers". Leave your offering in the comments section. LEt's see how your brains work, hehehe.

Hey, would you watch a Nightwalkers show? Just curious.

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

Signing!

2008-10-17T13:07:00.003-04:00

I have been totally lax. I wanted to let you all know that I am having a book signing! Here's the information :

November 1, 2008: Book Signing 1-3pm

Waldenbooks #0789
324 Columbia Place Mall
7201 Two Notch Road
Columbia, SC 29223

I hope all of you who are local will come by and see me. :)

Woe and Damnation...yet in a happy way!

2008-10-15T16:02:00.002-04:00

I know. That's pretty confusing. But the thing is I am pretty confused as well. Or, I should say, suffering from mixed emotions.

I just came back from my first appointment with my bariatric surgeon and I walked out with my surgery date! January 6th, thank you very much, and thinness sits on the horizon, warmly beckoning me forth into its scrawny little embrace! Awww.

The bummer? I'm not allowed to travel for 6-8 weeks. I am supposed to go on the Florida Romance Writers' Cruise With Your Muse cruise January 22nd 23rd and 24th with my two best gfs and a bunch of other authors and fans and fun-loving people! Now I have to cancel. Oh and I was going to have a book signing in Coconut Grove after the cruise and I can't do that either. My friends are going to have to cruise without me while I am stuck home making other dreams come true.

And yes, I could have scheduled the operation post-cruise, but I have been waiting in line for this surgery since MAY and I am so not going to push back my turn. Not a full three weeks. I love fun in the sun as much as the next gal, but there isn't much fun in it for me anyway these days. My back and neck are screwed up, I'm tired all the time, I'm hauling around so much me it's exhausting.

So you can see why I am willing to nix going on this cruise in trade for starting my new life as a skinnier person. I am sorry to disappoint others, but I hope they understand. On a waiting list like this one to get one of the best surgeons in the states to do your surgery, you just don't say 'no' or 'maybe later' when your turn comes up. Besides, dreams of buying off the rack are already dancing in my head.

And then I want a boob job.

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

The Voting Thing!

2008-10-07T14:09:00.002-04:00

I have three....count 'em THREE nominations for Best Paranormal romance in the Night Owl Reviews Awards!! Everybody quick! Run and vote for your favorite. Elijah, Damien and Noah!!! I am shamelessly and totally trolling for votes!!

Now, I promised a winner of an Ecstacy ARC on the Authors After Dark blog, and here you are:

Congratulations Kim (the wild two) on winning a copy of Ecstacy. Please email me your name and snailmail at jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com and writh I WON ECSTASY in the subject line :)

Don't forget that anyone can order a signed copy of any of my books from Fireside Books. We'll be putting a link up on each book page :)

And don't forget the voting thing!

Hugs and kitties!
Jacki

Chat Tonight

2008-09-09T18:48:00.002-04:00

For those of you who do not know, there is a chat tonight over at Coffee Time Romance. I'll be live and in person with Stella Price and Cynthia Eden from 9 to 10 PM. I hope to see you there since I'm going to be giving away a full signed set of my books to some lucky winner. :) All You need to do is be present to win and perhaps answer one of my tricky trivia questions. You know how I can be sometimes. And I bet the other ladies will be giving away some stuff as well. You really can't lose!! Just follow this LINK to the chatroom, type in a name and voila! You're good to go. You might want to test it out beforehand though to make certain all your java is up to date and all that. Hope to see you there!!

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

Light My Fire!

2008-08-29T10:45:00.002-04:00

Woohoo! I just got two boxes of shiny new copies of NOAH!!

So of course that means I have to give one or two away. Yay! Contests! I love contests!

Oh, speaking of...I have a winner for my Spanish version of JACOB. Mariana A, if you would please send me your full address (or your mom's since you said it was for her) and who to sign the book to to jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com I will get JACOB out to you. :)

Now, back to NOAH. If you want 500 plus pages of charbroiled goodness, all you have to do is send me a photo of NOAH on the shelf of your local store! Now see, that has to be the easiest contest I've ever held. :P Just send the photo to jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com. The contest ends next Friday. I'll give one copy to a random entrant and one copy to the prettiest picture I get. Hehehe.

Have fun!

Hugs and Kitties
Jacki

Check Please!

2008-08-20T00:44:00.002-04:00

It's well past time for me to check in with you all. I know I have been terribly quiet, but keep in mind that silence usually means I'm writing up a storm. That is certainly the case at the moment. I can't say on what or who or where or anything like that...and even if I could I wouldn't hehehe...but it is never my goal to disappoint you. So rest assured, it's going to be GOOD.

Some housekeeping...ahem...if you would like to pre-order an autographed copy of NOAH, I am signing all pre-ordered stock through Fireside Books and they will ship to anywhere in the world. The King is here at last and we are going to celebrate with a huge PAR-TAY at Fireside Books on the release date, Sept. 2nd, from 5-7 pm! Or later if it runs that way, heh. I believe they are holding a contest and the winning fan gets to have dinner with moi afterward. I thought it was a great idea. Contact them if you are local and want to take a crack at it! But if you can't make it, you can get a signed book anyway :)

Another 'in person' event is the book signing at Lora Leigh's RAW this year. It's at a hotel this time. Right HERE. That site has all the information, including the times for the book fair (Sunday the 21st!). You can get signed copies of Noah there or I'll be happy to sign my backlist as well. :)

Okie doke, now you can't say I didn't warn you about the up and coming live me. Not that I'm all that exciting, but it could be fun ;) !!

Guess what I am looking at? No c'mon, guess! Hardcover editions of JACOB in ESPANOL! Yay!! Jacob has been fully translated into Spanish! Now, for my beloved Latinas, I absolutely have to give a copy of this away. Anyone who writes me at jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com and puts the word Spanish in the topic of your email gets a chance at convincing me why I ought to pick YOU to win this gorgeous edition. I'll give you all a week to work on it :) Oh, non-Latinas can enter as well. No discriminating here.

I guess that's it for now. I gotta go get back to work! Or bed. One of those! Hehehe.
Adios!
Abrazos y Gatitos
Jacki

Scatterings of Thoughts

2008-07-20T17:36:00.006-04:00

I wanted everyone to know that I am mailing out baskets and books to the winners this Monday. Unfortunately time has gotten the better of me once again and I am sorry for the delay. I have one basket winner who also has not gotten in touch with me and hasn't given her address to me.

Dominique Harris, can you please email me at jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com or if someone here knows Dominique from this board or another please tell her she won and I need her info!!

I admit, I am overwhelmed lately. Things seem to keep coming at me in huge waves and I am trying to ride them out. There is nothing traumatic really, but everything feels very intense because it keeps rushing at and over me all at once and I feel like I can't get my feet under me. Part of the problem is my jackass shrink screwed with my medication and it made a basket case out of me. Plus I fired him for being, well, a jackass. I started writing a new book, then Bianca showed up. Then my personal assistant, who was a live-in here at the house with her hubby, moved out suddenly. I lean on her so much and I feel a little lost without her immediately at hand. I am hoping things level out. I need a little breather.

I think I have overextended myself in a lot of ways both professional and personal. I spread myself too thin...I've lost track of commitments (destroying my laptop by falling asleep with hot cocoa in my hands didn't help) and am afraid I have forgotten a few things along the way. I hope I haven't let anyone down. After the mailing this Monday I should be all caught up at last, my laptop is all fixed and I finally have my schedule back in hand. Phew.

I wanted to remind you guys I have two appearances coming up very soon. Despite my better judgment and my fears about doing a signing close to home, I agreed to do one at Fireside Books. Here is the address.

Fireside Books & Gifts

2270 Hwy 74A Byp., Ste. 509

Forest City, NC 28043

(828)245-5188

The date of the event is from 5pm to 7pm September 2nd the debut date of Noah! I will be signing copies of Noah for all comers and I hope to do a reading for you as well. Please don't leave me hanging alone!! It's a party to celebrate the release and I hope you come! Plus the incredible Kay Hooper, whom I worship, is potentially going to show up that day. You have to watch me go gaga over her. LOL! I am hoping that a bunch of us can go out to dinner afterward...so if you hang around long enough you might get swept along.

Then there is the wonderfully fun RAW event thrown by Lora Leigh. You will see that posted in my news and events section. Sunday September 21st from noon to four, EST, at the Pullman Plaza 1001 Third Avenue Huntington, WV 25701 1-866-613-3611 in the Mezzanine area for the open to the public book signing and I would love to see anyone of you show up that day. It promises to be fun.

I have been waiting for a website update for you guys...something fun we came up with to show you the excerpts for Damien and for Noah. Please be patient and check in here. I'll tell you when the challenge is up for you to take :)

Anyway, time for pizza with B. Talk to you guys soon.
hugs and kitties
Jacki

Against the Law

2008-07-15T02:42:00.002-04:00

Well, I wasn't going to take time to write until after Bianca had arrived and settled in (my ward and daughter of my heart for those not in the know) for the summer....however I had an experience today I absolutely felt the need to share. I'm not whining or bitching or anything, but I am flabbergasted and utterly appalled.

To cut to the chase, I was a witness to the most blatant and stupefying in-this-day-and-age act of discrimination I've ever seen. It was utterly shameless.

My personal assistant and her husband of her heart are looking for an apartment or house to rent. The woman said right off that she wanted a nice clean couple, no drinking no drugs, that sort of nonsense was not welcome. Understandable. Landlords do have to be discerning. She said she didn't run credit checks and didn't have time for all that nonsense and we should have known then that it was a too-good-to-be-true situation. Just the same they drove out to see the little farmhouse for rent and I figured I would go with them to be a live and in person reference. Anything to help the kids out. Despite going through some ups and downs of life lately, these two are good young people, in their thirties, holding down good jobs. One is ex-navy and the other is by far one of the best women I have ever come to know. Dedicated, loyal and fiercely protective of what she loves, I find those all to be great qualities.

We caught on right away, moments after arriving, that she was a seriously Christian woman. Okay. No problem. But we did make sure to park and drive so my "Get a Taste of Religion: LICK A WITCH" bumper sticker wasn't seen. Not that I care for myself, but knowing how narrowminded some people down South have proven to be about that sort of thing (already someone tried to deface this same sticker by crossing out LICK and writing in PRAY FOR...not to mention how often Ryanne gets accosted when she runs errands...so forgive me for being leery) we had Greg do a body block of the sticker at one point. Heh. So not funny, but certainly shake your head and laugh so you don't lose perspective. Regardless, I didn't want them being penalized for my beliefs.

I should have known this was a losing battle though when after looking at the cute little farmhouse in question we sat down to this woman's idea of an interview. Right out the gate...she began to preach to us. I get irked when people try to force their beliefs on me, but I kept very calm by tuning her out and humming "The Christians and the Pagans" in my head. It reminds me to be tolerant. I think it was a reasonable tactic to curb my own impulses toward intolerance. I don't hate Christians. I don't think ill of them in the least. I find all religions beautiful in their own way. Unfortunately, there are too many out there that can't say the same. She quoted the bible and, in order to be conversational, I quoted it right back. She lit up like a Christmas tree...until I told her I wasn't a Christian. Then it was "Oh. Well, I want to talk to you about that one day." (Read: Preach and try and force you to think like I do) But that was okay. I was there for other things and just figured I wouldn't be visiting my friends too often if they ended up hanging around this woman. The goal here was to obtain the cute little farmhouse for my friends.

But I daresay when the topic came up about what I write, she was just delighted by my success...until I told her they were Demons. She adopted a look like I'd stuck a poker up her ass. But hey. That's cool. Everyone has a right to like or dislike me. Like or dislike my books. Whatever their reasons. (I already lost a born-again friend because of the nature of my work. I realized then that I wasn't the one with the problem and that moment was no different.)

Mind you I am not bashing Christians. Everything I am saying is to set you up for the kill...the twist in my story. The turn you don't expect.

So she is grilling my friends about things that, frankly, I felt was often going over the line. You have to expose yourself to gain a rental home to some degree, but this was getting a little too personal and had no bearing on the business at hand that I could see. Then, it happens. She starts to ask them about their marriage. (Okay so I am leaving out the part where she bashed cats for ten minutes...and no, i didn't sit there and agree with her. I love my friends, but I won't do that for anyone.) Back to the marriage thing. When were you married? What date? Where?

Excuse me?

WTF???

Tell me what that has to do with a rental deal. Please. Someone. Anyone.

Being honest, Ryanne says, "Actually, we had a commitment ceremony. I was in a bad marriage for years and--"

"What?? You're not married? Oh honey, I don't rent to unwed couples!"
And then she proceeds to tell us that 'cohabitation' between unwed couples is against the law in North Carolina. That landlords are breaking the law when they rent to them.

There was a clang as my jaw hit the floor. Ryanne starts to bristle, starts to explain again why she won't legally marry anyone ever again. The woman actually says "It's real cheap you know. Doesn't cost you hardly anything."

"Until the divorce," I said, getting to my feet. As far as I saw, this was the end of the interview. Anyone who thinks they can say something like that and get away with it...well...there's no reasoning with them and I wasn't about to let my friends talk her around it in what would amount to groveling. I managed to keep my tongue, but I was horrified and I was so offended on behalf of my wounded friends. Their devastation, their shock and their outrage was palpable. We tried to laugh it off, but there was no way around it. This woman had just discriminated against my friends based upon their familial status.

And btw, NC State Law and the fair housing act says that no one may be discriminated against for age, race, sex, religion, or familial status. This woman had treated them like they were trash. Dirt. Lower than methheads in full tweak.

I told them to sue the bitch.

Raffle WINNERS!!

2008-06-28T18:54:00.006-04:00

And the winners of the fabulous raffle baskets are as follows!!

The BBQ basket goes to BROOKE Neilissen!

The Sinful Shadowdweller basket goes to Dominique Harris

The Freakin Fantastic Basket is for Stacey Lindsay

The breathtaking Queen Siena necklace and all the books included goes to Meshelle Dominnguez!

The spectacular Princess necklace goes to Renee Meyer!

Congrats to all my winners! And thank you from every corner of my heart for being so generous. I made my goal and then some. I am going to revel in handing this check over...you have no idea!
All winners please e-mail me your snail mail address using the subject line to name your prize (so I know what you won), wait one week for me to finish my manuscript then I will ship out the books and such. Thos who won actual baskets will get that part of the deal before the rest comes, no doubt, since I am sending books media mail in order to save more money for the kittehs and puppehs!

Congratulations to all my good friends and fabulous fans for reaching out and winning with every single ticket you bought in ways you may never fully comprehend. ACN and I thank you so very much.

Spotlight:: The Lycanthrope/Vampire Princess's Necklace!

2008-06-27T19:42:00.008-04:00

Here we are at almost the last day of ticket sales for my raffle baskets and two are sold out and the third and fourth are so close behind!! The one that isn't selling so much is the one I am spotlighting tonight and I want you to know I am SO not settling for that. So...I saved all my best for the very last! Best jewelry, yes, but by far the BEST books you ever saw in one basket! Brimming with Brava, Aphrodisia, and Kensington authors as well as others...(can you say Yasmine Galenorn? I knew that you could!!) this is going to be the best three bucks you could ever spend in order to reward both yourself and the animals of ACN! I am determined to reach goal, people. So help me out!!

Let's start with the pretty little bauble...Syreena's collar. Made by the ever-so-talented Serena from www.serenedreaming.com and fashioned of pure moonstones of varying color, a gorgeously designed medallion as the center point, it is 15.5 inches long making an excellent choker but also a pretty drop into the hollow of the throat if you don't want or like it so tight. As seen in this picture of Laura wearing it at the Romantic Times convention.

Now....woman cannot live by necklace alone, so I have STUFFED the basket with our second favorite thing...BOOKS!! Books galore!

Featuring:

YASMINE GALENORN

Synopsis

Meet the D'Artigo sisters: half-human, half-faerie, they're savvy-and sexy-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But their mixed-blood heritage short-circuits their talents at all the wrong times. Delilah shapeshifts into a tabby cat whenever she's stressed. Menolly's a vampire who's still trying to get the hang of being undead. And Camille is a wicked-good witch, except her magic's as unpredictable as the weather, as her enemies are about to find out-the hard way.

Publishers Weekly

The first in an engrossing new series about conflict in the magic modern world as told by the half-human, half-Faerie D'Artigo sisters the latest from Galenorn (One Hex of a Wedding) is a whimsical reminder of fantasy's importance in everyday life. Narrator Camille is a good witch with unpredictable powers who runs a Seattle bookstore while working as an Otherworld Intelligence operative, sent Earthside to keep an eye on things. When an operative from the Wayfaerer, a human/Faerie hangout, is killed, Camille springs into action with her sisters Delilah, a werecat, and Menolly, a freshly minted vampire. Tracing the murder back to evil demon leader Shadow Wing, the sisters find evidence of a far-reaching plot, but the Otherworld Intelligence Agency offers no help, stifled by bureaucratic red tape and a nasty Otherworld battle. Galenorn's gallery of rogues is an imaginative delight, each species and personality carefully crafted. Though the plot can drag, effusive characters and pretty writing ("I whispered, and the stars heard me from behind their cloud cover and answered") will lead readers through to the much-anticipated final battle. (Oct.)

Now comes Changeling-again featuring Camille, the good witch, Menolly, the vampire, and Delilah, a feline shapeshifter. They're the D'Artigo sisters, half-human, half-Faerie supernatural agents who are now enlisted to find the fiends responsible for slaughtering the weres of Rainier Puma Pride.

The D'Artigo sisters, Camille, Delilah, and Menolly, are half-human, half- Fae operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. When humans begin to go missing, then turn up as newly born vampires, Menolly- an acrobat extraordinaire-turned-vampire- must face the demons haunting her memories.

Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden

SYNOPSIS

Emily Drake’s patients tend to be a little unusual. Instead of the typical therapist’s caseload of midlife crises and mother fixations, Emily treats vampires with blood phobias and sex demons looking for meaningful relationships. But her gift for recognizing and healing the Other–those creatures of the night that most humans don’t even know exist–requires a few house rules. First: Never trust a shifter. Especially not one like Detective Colin Gyth, whose gold-flecked eyes and predatory air make Emily realize how much she’s been longing to lose control.

Colin can’t believe the doctor he’s been assigned to work with on the Night Butcher murder investigation is the one person who could expose his true identity as a wolf shifter. Smart, sexy, and stubborn as hell, Emily brings out the alpha male in Colin, unleashing a wild, heady desire that takes them both over the edge.

But in the shadows, the Night Butcher waits…eager to spill Emily’s blood and taste her terror. And he’ll use any means to destroy her, including the one person she has grown to trust…

Superb and Sexy by Jill Shalvis:

Synopsis

When you want to fly the best, you fly Sky High Air. And when you want spectacular adventure and scorching seduction, Jill Shalvis's tantalizing, talented pilots Noah, Shayne, and Brody will get you there-fast, slow, or any way you want it.

BUCKLE UP. IT'S GOING TO BE QUITE A RIDE.

Despite his brooding bad-boy attitude, Brody knows life has treated him pretty well. His luxury charter airline, Sky High, has given him financial security and the means to take to the skies whenever things on the ground get complicated. And lately, things have become very complicated, thanks to the insanely passionate, or perhaps just insane, kiss he shared with Sky High's gorgeous, wisecracking concierge, Maddie. He's tried to keep his distance, but now Maddie desperately needs help, and it's triggering protective alpha-male urges Brody didn't even know he had.

For months, Maddie hid her crush on sexy, exasperating Brody behind a cool, kick-ass exterior and then blew that to smithereens by jumping him in the lobby. Yeah, real smooth. She's tried to break her ties with Sky High, but Brody won't let her walk away-especially now that he knows that Maddie and her twin sister Leena are in big-time trouble. To save Leena, Maddie and Brody must pose as husband and wife, and Maddie is amazed that the man she thought was oblivious to her existence knows her very well indeed. But that's nothing compared to the way she's about to get to know him-intimately, in depth, and over and over again.

And some Aphrodisia!!

Sweet and Sinful by Jodi Lynn Copeland

She's On Top by Susan Lyons

Synopsis

They call themselves the Awesome Foursome-four girlfriends who share everything except their men. Three have found the ultimate in lust and love and now it's Rina's turn.

PLAY ME

Music is Rina Goldberg's passion and she can never forget the sensual rhapsody she experienced in the arms of Giancarlo, her first lover. Ten years later, Giancarlo is sexier and more romantic than ever. His masterful fingers still know how to create the most intimate melody of pleasure and he understands every nuance of a woman's sensuality. And Rina is the only woman he wants. Their passionate encore takes her to a glorious, unforgettable climax and there's more where that came from. Much more.

Black Silk by Sharon Page

Synopsis

DANGEROUS SEDUCTION

Maryanne Hamilton had expected to be shocked, but the wanton orgy she finds in Mrs. Master's salon makes her wonder if she has walked into hell. Desperate to escape, she comes upon the master of sin himself-Lord Swansborough. Fascinated by his nakedness, she longs to touch every inch of his long, hard body. And when he bids her come near, she quickly surrenders to his wicked promises of carnal pleasure and sensual ecstasy.

And any other damn book I come across will get thrown in as well. So buy tickets!!!

Now, about a little thing called my MARATHON CHAT taking place this Saturday!! Woowoo!

Here's the roster I have...and don't forget that every last one of these ladies is giving away their latest and greatest works during their hour in the sun!! So simply show up to the party on Saturday by going to my website and clicking on VISIT THE CHAT ROOM on the top of the forum page.

My lovely guests :)

10:00 – 11:00: Patrice Michelle

11:00 - 12:00: Alexandra Ivy

12:00 - 1:00: Gena Showalter

1:00 - 2:00: JJ Massa

2:00 - 3:00 Lauren Dane

3:00-4:00 HelenKay Dimon

4:00-5:00 Lara Adrian

5:00-6:00: Cynthia Eden

6:00-7:00: Jeri Smith Ready

7:00-8:00: Meljean Brook

8:00-9:00: Shelly Laurenston

9:00 - 10:00: Yasmine Galenorn

All right? Now shut up and buy tickets! (Hehehe can you tell I am addicted to Deadliest Catch??)

Spotlight:: The Queen's Necklace

2008-06-26T20:42:00.008-04:00

First, I have to start by saying that the BBQ basket and the Jacki Frank Freakin' Fantastic Basket are both SOLD OUT!! YAY!!!! If you sent money for tickets for that basket I have emailed you asking where else you would like it put.

Now, to continue so we can sell out all the remaining prizes before Saturday!!

The Lycanthrope Queen's Necklace!

Designed by the ever talented Serena from www.serenedreaming.com, this is a one of a kind piece designed by her with my guidance for the representation of Siena the Lycanthrope Queen's necklace.

Serena used real moonstones in this piece, a gorgeous milky blue and white color the way I always dreamed they should be. I am including pictures of my GF's Tanya and Laura wearing the necklaces at one of this year's Romantic Times convention's costume balls.

Serena learned how to chain link just for these two pieces. How's that for dedication to the truth of my vision?? This is why she will always do my pieces for me from now on. In fact, Serena is working on pieces for me right now that I will be wearing to the RAW Masquerade at Lora Leigh's shindig! And every time I mention Serena's name here you can click on it and see a new and fascinating piece of her jewelry. :)

This piece is a 16 inch choker...adjustable to smaller as needed.

More pics:

This is Tanya wearing the Queen's collar.

And Laura wearing the Princess's collar :)

Now....woman cannot live by necklace alone, so I have STUFFED the basket with our second favorite thing...BOOKS!! Books galore! Including Ready, Willing, and And Able from the FABULOUS and generous Lucy Monroe. I spotlighted one of those in a previous basket, but this is the whole set. And also:

Noelle Mack:

WILD:

1st in the sexy steamy series!

Synopsis

Kyril. Marko. Semyon. Brothers like no other, sworn to lead the Pack of St. James and defend the English crown, though the blood of Russian wolves runs in their veins. In 1815, every woman in London has heard of their legendary passion for seduction-but no one knows of the supernatural powers that raise them far above the ranks of mortal men.

DANGEROUS LOVER

In pursuit of a priceless treasure stolen from his homeland, Kyril commands the Pack to gather in secret. A rash act by one woman-one extraordinary woman, the sensual and utterly alluring Vivienne Sheridan--has put their ancient clan in peril. He vows to find her-and find out her every secret--before it is too late.

Hidden in a ruined mansion, concealed by the shadows of a moonlit night, Vivienne comes forth, drawn to Kyril by a mysterious magic she is unable to resist. In his powerful embrace, Vivienne senses the wild nature beneath his gentlemanly fa‡ade--and she surrenders to his intimate touch. Whatever he wants, she will give.with all the passion of a woman mesmerized...

Praise for Noelle Mack and her novels.

"Hot sex.sizzling and innovative."—Romantic Times on JUICY, a Top Pick! 4 /12 star review

"A truly sensual story that will titillate and captivate readers."—Romantic Times, four-star review of THREE

"The queen of seduction meets the king of rakes. Sensual, sexual, stupendous."—-Harriet Klausner Reviews on THREE

WANTON:

This book has yet to be released!!!

Synopsis

Kyril. Marko. Semyon. Brothers like no other, sharing an ancient blood bond and descent from Russian wolves. Sworn to lead the Pack of St. James and defend the English crown, their seductive charm is legendary among the women of London. But no one knows of the supernatural powers that raise them far above the ranks of mortal men. In WANTON, the second book of her compelling trilogy, Noelle Mack presents Marko's story.

A DANGEROUS PLEASURE

In the year 1816, the Pack of St. James meets in secret in their London lair. An unknown assailant has begun to prey upon the women who consort with the men of the Pack-two have already died in mysterious ways and a poisoned communication threatens still more. With Kyril Taruskin and his love Vivienne away in the far north, attending to the clan's business in the Russian port of Archangel, his brother Marko begins to investigate-and finds the trail leads to a scandalous beauty known only as Severin.

One of the victims was Severin's half-sister, but that alone is not enough to explain her intimate knowledge of the strange case. Well aware how a clever woman can hide more than she reveals, Marko employs all his powers of sensual persuasion, barely able to resist the allure of her amber eyes and softly seductive voice. He has never been outwitted by a woman. But Severin is different from all the rest-very different-and loving her is a dangerous game indeed.

Shelly Laurenston and Cynthia Eden!

Newly released!

Synopsis

Two of paranormal romance's bestselling authors combine their extraordinary talents and set the pages on fire with an after-dark anthology featuring Alpha males so hot, so wild, and so bad, they may just be the best you've ever had...

SHELLY LAURENSTON

Miss Congeniality

It's those damn stockings that get me every time. They have this sexy little line down the back and I can't help but stare at her legs ... constantly. And you'd think she'd be all over me like every other female in the Seattle area. I'm young, good looking, and one day I'll be Alpha Male of my family's Pack. But Professor Irene Conridge acts like I don't even exist. How is that possible? Now she's got enemies coming out of the woodwork and I have to protect her. Why? Because that's the kind of man I am. Yes, I am that amazing. Of course, it doesn't hurt that while I work to secure her safety, she'll be hanging out at my house. That's hours ... days even that I've got Irene Conridge right where I want her.

CYNTHIA EDEN

Wicked Ways

I'm too dangerous for her. I know it, but I can't get my sexy new neighbor out of my head. When I hear her scream one night, the absolute last thing I expect to see is Miranda Shaw-star of my hottest fantasies-being attacked by a vampire. Now the undead jerk is after her, and I'm the only thing standing between the beautiful lady and a killer who just won't stop. Well, too bad for him, because that vamp has just made the worst mistake of his afterlife-he's tangled with a shifter. And Miranda, well, she's so busy watching out for him that she won't see me closing in on her-not until it's too late-and I'm about to show her just how wild I can get.

Plus Jill Shalvis, more Cynthia Eden, and Susan Johnson...and more!

This is easily 60 to 70 dollars in books! All for a three dollar ticket. You can't beat beefing up your TSPB collection for a price like that!

Spotlight:: Jacquelyn Frank Freakin' Fantastic Basket

2008-06-25T11:29:00.005-04:00

Hello again! I don't mean to flood you guys with blogs, but ...well, okay...I do mean to. But that's because of how important this is to me. I wanted to spotlight the next basket but keep in mind, Kensington just donated a buttload of books that I am spreading out across the board! Whatever you see posted is just the beginning as far as books go.

This cordial assortment of Godiva milk chocolate coca, sesame crackers, Portlock smoked salmon, Ghirardelli coffee, Mrs. May's strawberry cashew crunch, herb cheese mix, Sorrento candies, Ahmad tea, sour cherry drops, pickled green asparagus, whole olives, caramel cookies, Brown and Haley almond roca, Mamma Mellace's cinnamon roasted cashews and matching serving dish fill this embossed burgundy tin. The variety in this basket guarantees there will be something for everyone.

And, of course that's not all! the ENTIRE Nightwalkers series, beginning to end and signed by me personally to you! That includes a NOAH ARC.

But how about a list of those random Brava and Aphrodisia books? Let's start with:

Shannon McKenna

Synopsis

EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE...

Surveillance expert Seth Mackey knows everything about the women that his millionaire boss toys with -- and tosses aside. Raine Cameron is something different. Night after night, Seth watches her on a dozen different video screens. Her vulnerable beauty haunts him and her fresh innocence stirs a white-hot passion that he can barely control. Raine is pure temptation, but Seth has something more important to take care of first. He's convinced that his boss, Victor Lazar, is responsible for his half-brother's murder. He cannot put his secret investigation at risk, but he can't stop wanting her -- craving her -- and soon he knows he can't let Victor have her. For Raine may be Victor's next victim...

EVERT BREATH YOU TAKE

Raine knows she's being watched -- but no one can see the secrets in her heart. She has reasons of her own to seek revenge on Victor Lazar, and she will, despite her fear -- and the distracting presence of Seth Mackey. Though Raine has little experience with men, Seth's fiercely masculine good looks and animal sensuality stir her most erotic fantasies when she's alone...and lead her to a bold plan. Offering her body to him, surrendering totally to his ruthless desire might well push her beyond all emotional limits -- and beyond fear itself.

Synopsis

Shannon McKenna's first thriller, Behind Closed Doors, brought readers a passionate, intense hero like no other: Seth Mackey. His dark sensuality and thirst for revenge concealed the secrets of his past -- secrets that only his mysterious partner, Connor McCloud, understood. Like Seth, Connor has been scarred by betrayal and tested by searing desire -- for a woman who tempts him beyond reason...a woman who is now the bait in a deadly trap Connor is unable to resist....

Ex-FBI agent Connor McCloud can never forget the day he was set up to die at the hands of trusted friend and fellow agent Ed Riggs. Hard justice and loyalty to his badge have cost Connor what he wants most -- Ed's shy, studious daughter Erin. He can never have her now, but her beauty still haunts and torments his every waking hour and his most fevered erotic dreams. But now that his old enemy Kurt Novak has returned, Connor is prepared to do anything to protect the vulnerable young woman from a killer who has vowed a brutal payback...a killer with a predator's lethal patience.

Erin has been harboring secret fantasies about Connor McCloud since she first laid eyes on him -- but that was before his testimony sent her father to jail. Her world is falling apart and it's all she can do to hold her family together. But now Connor is knocking on her door, telling her she needs his protection, whether she wants it or not. He won't give up and he won't stay away. He's sworn to guard her life with his own and his fierce protectiveness awakens long-buried feelings -- and a fiery sexuality deep within her soul...

Susan Johnson

Synopsis

From New York Times bestselling author Susan Johnson comes a tantalizing new novel of hidden secrets and passionate desires.

UNTITLED

Hugh D'Abernon, Marquis of Darley, was in Sevastopol for one reason only— to reconnoiter the town for the British Secret Service. So if he encounters a woman of unparalleled beauty in need of his help, he will do his duty and smartly escort her back to town-then continue on his way. He will not consider being diverted from the task at hand. No matter how tempting the lady.

Aurore Clement was unaccustomed to being so susceptible to a man's good looks. From afar, it was simple enough to be prudent, but in close proximity to this handsome Tatar, it was quite a different matter. She would have to keep her distance and focus on more important concerns-like her work with the French command and caring for her wounded brother, a soldier with French forces.

But Hugh and Aurore both have reasons for wanting to escape the reality of this fearsome war. And when the two meet again, there is no stopping the fierce passion that ignites between them...

"Susan Johnson knows how to make the pages sizzle."—Romantic Times

There. That's what I have (I am saving some of the better ones for the necklaces since they are selling out the slowest!!)

Good Luck!!

Hugs and kitties

JAcki

PS: Don't forget about the marathon chat!! This Saturday!!

Spotlight:: The Sinful Shadowdwellers Basket!

2008-06-23T13:28:00.013-04:00

This luxurious gift basket is filled with Godiva dark chocolate almonds and pretzels, milk chocolate cashews, sesame crackers, cabernet black pepper cheese spread, Mariani dried fruit mix, white chocolate amaretto cookies, olives, Mrs. May's cranberry almond crunch, assorted Lindt hazelnut, peanut butter and dark chocolate truffles, fresh baked thank you cookie, toffee wafers, serving dish and more. A great way to recognize those who have helped.

More details on basket contents:
Berry bonbons, 50z. Brown and Haley buttercrunch toffee cookies, 3oz. Brown and Haley cashew Roca, 2 pieces. Cheese Spread, "Cabernet Wine and black pepper" cheese wedge, 3.75oz. Ghiradelli Cocoa, double chocolate. Ghiradelli Coffee, 2oz. Lady Whalton's White Chocolate Amaretto, 1pc. Mama Mellace's Cinnamon Roasted Cashews, 2oz. Mariani Fruit Medley, 1.9oz. Ahmad Tea, 10. Bali's Best Latte Candy, 3oz. California PAntry Crackers, sesame, 2oz. Monaco "Thank You" cookie, 2.5oz. Mrs. May's cashews, 4oz. Napa Valley Whole Olives, Dry weight 4.6oz. Baptiata's chili citrus flat crisps, 5oz.

Yummers!!

Now I am also including...you guessed it...books!

The Bad Boys Guide to the Galaxy by Karen Kelley.

This book won't be released until July!!

Synopsis

Take me to your leader. Come to think of it, just take me.

Planet Nerak was perfect-no disease, no darkness, no hunger-until an expedition to Earth brought back an unwanted guest. Enter one talented Nerakian named Lara, sent on a special fact-finding mission in the vast region called Texas. Fortunately, a warrior (he calls himself a "cop") named Sam Jones has offered to help. Unfortunately, Sam's skill at sex is quite distracting-as are plenty other earthly delights, like the dangerously addictive substance called chocolate. Temptations such as these could seriously compromise Lara's-ahem-research...

Crazy, that's what Sam is. What sane man would voluntarily isolate himself in the Texas woods with an alien, not to mention a female one with a superiority complex, legs that won't quit, and a penchant for walking around buck naked? Between bragging about her home planet and levitating, Lara wastes no time getting on Sam's last nerve...and even less time getting into his bed. Talk about going where no man has gone before. Of course, when you're from Texas, nothing-not even an entire planet-is going to stop you from getting what you want.

"Fun and romantic with the perfect blend of spice!"—Gina Showalter on Close Encounters Of The Sexy Kind

Also:

Willing by Lucy Monroe

Part two of the Ready Willing and Able series by the talent Miss Lucy!

Synopsis

They’re the good guys fighting the bad guys. They’ll get the job done -- if the price is right and so is the cause. Meet three sexy men who individually are READY, WILLING, and ABLE to go the distance -- and together, are unstoppable...

Josie McCall has been raised to be a soldier, and she could be the best -- if she wanted it. Instead, she left her dad’s mercenary school behind for a normal job in computers. But now that someone has torched the school and her dad is MIA from the hospital, Josie’s going to use every bit of her merc training to find him and hunt down the culprits who took him. Josie knows a lot about explosives, hand-to-hand combat, and tracking. What she doesn’t know about is sex. She has no idea what to do with the volcanic attraction she feels for her dad’s new partner, Daniel Black Eagle. And that feels more dangerous than any bomb...

Daniel knows exactly what he’d like to do about that attraction. The brooding explosives expert can’t get within five feet of Josie without wanting to touch, taste, and protect her -- even if he’s sure she would happily drop-kick him if she knew one sizzling moment of his fantasies. But he’ll save it for later. Right now, he’s got his hands full figuring out who set that bomb and took Josie’s dad. Daniel’s sure of one thing, though -- he’s not letting Josie McCall out of his sight for a single second. Convincing the cutest, most desirable trained soldier he’s ever met that she needs a bodyguard isn’t going to be easy. But if she’ll let him, he’ll show her he’s willing to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, and along the way, he’ll make her feel every inch a woman...

Oregon author Lucy Monroe’s books have hit national bestsellers lists in both the US and England. Her highly charged, sensual stories touch on the realities of life while giving the reader a fantasy story not easily forgotten. Lucy’s books transport her readers to a special place where the heart rules and love conquers all. Visit her Web site at www.lucymonroe.com and read about all her upcoming books, or e-mail her at lucymonroe@lucymonroe.com.

Hotter After Midnight by Cynthia Eden

SYNOPSIS

But in the shadows, the Night Butcher waits…eager to spill Emily’s blood and taste her terror. And he’ll use any means to destroy her, including the one person she has grown to trust…

I have TWO of this book :) I am going to put the other one in the BBQ basket cuz its "HOT!" lol!!!

Here is a list of other books featured in this basket:

Noelle Mack:

And Shannon McKenna, Cynthia Eden again and Shelly Laurensten!

But you will also be the VERY VERY first to be promised an ARC of the first book in my new series! The first Shadowdwellers book ECSTASY arrives in January of '09, but three months before then I will be getting ARCs and you will be the first to get one! And of course a deck of my infamous Nightwalker cards in NOAH colors. :)

Now, about a little thing called my MARATHON CHAT taking place this Saturday!! Woowoo!

Here's the roster I have so far. Any blank hours will be filled by MOI, though I am hoping to get one more response :)...and every last one of these ladies is giving away their latest and greatest works during their hour in the sun!! So simply show up to the party on Saturday by going to my website and clicking on VISIT THE CHAT ROOM on the top of the forum page.

My lovely guests :)

10:00 – 11:00: Patrice Michelle

11:00 - 12:00: Alexandra Ivy

12:00 - 1:00: Gena Showalter

1:00 - 2:00: JJ Massa

2:00 - 3:00 Lauren Dane

3:00-4:00 HelenKay Dimon

4:00-5:00 Lara Adrian

5:00-6:00: Cynthia Eden

6:00-7:00: TBA

7:00-8:00: Meljean Brook

8:00-9:00: Shelly Laurenston

9:00 - 10:00: Yasmine Galenorn

Spotlight:: Fire Demon BBQ Basket

2008-06-21T02:43:00.010-04:00

Good morning! Today we start my version of the Shopping Network! I wanted to showcase, in great detail, each of the baskets up for raffle over the next few days. Remember, the kitties and puppies are depending on me to lure you all in my web...and since I am drawing on June 28th during my marathon chat, I haven't got much time to coax you to help me.

I thought I could make each basket increasingly tempting as well. Don't get complacent. Though I have a nice start, I am still a long way off from matching the donation from last time...and even further than that from my dream of doubling it.

The basket itself is adorable, as you can see by the picture. To relist the contents:

This sizzling summer classic is perfect for the weekend griller or barbecue enthusiast. A durable barbecue apron, oven mitt, shish kebab basket, wooden skewers, corn holders to hold four corn on the cob and four sturdy bamboo paper plate holders are welcome additions for both the griller and their guest. Barbecue basting brushes, barbecue sauce and wine-aged grilling chips, will turn a casual barbecue into a gourmet feast. Chili citrus flats, mozzarella cheese swirls and more round out this assortment, packed in a large jute basket.

Below is a detailed accounting of the basket contents:

Baptista’s Mozzarella Cheese swirls. (3 oz) Cabernet and Black Pepper cheese wedge (3.75 oz), Mama Mellace’s Cinnamon Roasted Cashews (2 oz), Wood BBQ Grilling Chips (8 oz), Baptista’s Chili Citrus Flat Crisps (5 oz), Brazos Legends Stampede BBQ Sauce (12oz) Mrs. May’s Cranberry Almond Crunch (1.5 oz) Napa Valley Whole Olives (4.6 oz), Napa Valley Stone Ground Mustard (7 oz), BBQ Bamboo Paper Plate holder, BBQ Sausage Grill Basket, BBQ Cloth Apron Khaki, BBQ Plastic corn holders, BBQ Mittens, BBQ brushes, BBQ Wooden Bamboo Skewers, dark wood handled cheese knife.

Now, that's just the basket. Which, btw, you can have sent anywhere in the United States. I'll even fill out the card for you if you prefer to give it as a gift. I am shipping it directly from the manufacturer of the basket and separately from what comes with it. What comes with it? Why, one red hot Fire Demon. An advance copy of NOAH!

Now I know you think that is enough, but I don't think so. Since I posted the original blog I have been working on expanding each basket in order to make it more and more tempting for you. In the case of this particular basket I got a bunch of books for ya!

I thought that besides NOAH (picture and blurb below) I would throw in a little HelenKay Dimon. She is a fellow Kensington author and just the titles of her books get me all hot and bothered!! I am going to include HARD AS NAILS and RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW in the basket. They aren't signed, I'm sorry to say. But HARD AS NAILS hasn't even been released yet, and won't be until June 24th, but I have it to give to you! Below you will find summaries to both books. Since these are trade size, you'd be getting 23 dollars worth of steamy pages for the price of a 3 dollar ticket! Not to mention all the other goodies in the basket. Oh an hey, I'll even toss in a limited edition deck of red NIGHTWALKER playing cards :). They look like THIS:

Now tell me those don't look hot!

Teasers of books in BBQ basket:

Synopsis

The Nightwalkers have lived in the shadows of our world for centuries, gifted with abilities few humans can comprehend. For Noah, duty is all-until he meets the woman who is his destiny.

She Will Take Him
Beyond His Wildest Dreams.

As Demon King, Noah is dedicated to protecting his kind from their human and Nightwalker enemies. Yet for six months he has struggled with vivid dreams that threaten his very sanity. Every night he's tormented by images of a woman both achingly real and tantalizingly beyond his grasp. And his bone-deep need leaves him no choice but to force her to leave the life she's known and enter a world beyond her imagining.

Every day, Kestra risks her life in perilous missions that veer just shy of the law, but she instinctively knows that the imposingly sensual figure before her is a danger unlike any she's ever faced. Kestra has sworn never to trust or need another man, but Noah's lightest touch scorches her with fevered desire, branding her as his mate, blinding them both to the terrifying truth. For within the ranks of their own people lies an adversary growing in number and power. And nothing and no one will be safe again.

Desire awakens at night.

Synopsis

What's better than a man who's good with his hands? Try a trio of hard-bodied hunks who'll be happy to flip your house, your heart...and anything else you have in mind...

This Old House

Architect Cole Carruthers's mission is simple-visit his company's latest rehab project and cajole the sweet old lady who once owned it into vacating the premises. But the sultry, sledge-hammer-wielding woman he finds is far from old, nor particularly sweet. For reasons she won't reveal, Aubrey Matheson refuses to leave the house she claims is her birthright. As far as Cole's concerned, there's only one thing to do with this squatter: hunker down with her and discover every single one of her sexy secrets...

All About Adam

The last meeting tough-as-nails Becky Carter took with sharp-witted, wicked sexy lawyer and

real estate rehabber Adam Thomas culminated in a scorching-hot game of kiss-and-run. Becky was the one running, and she's regretted it ever since. Now Adam's back to do some actual business...or so he says. If Becky has her way, this weekend of negotiation will speed from boardroom to bedroom-and stay there...

Man at the Door

After finding herself famous for all the wrong reasons, artist Erin McHugh just wants to fix up her house, open her art studio, and settle down out of the spotlight. Then job foreman Ray Hammond walks through her door and Erin recognizes broad-shouldered trouble. Hot, young, and always in the news, Ray is everything Erin wanted to avoid. The challenge is how to resist a guy who can build anything, fix anything-and make Erin feel everything...

Synopsis

IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S ME.

For Gabby Pearson, being dumped in public before the dessert course has to be the lowest of the low-especially when it's the old, "It's not you, it's me" speech. Honestly, how about something original— "I have five minutes to live" (very possible); "It's not you, it's the voices in my head" (thanks for the warning); or "I am such a powerful sexual being I could put you into a coma with one kiss" (wishful thinking). Not that Gabby would ever know since Reed Larkin never bothered to take her to bed. Why does a girl bother (to shave)? The only thing left to do is offer the guy a goodbye-forever drink.on his head.

IT'S ME WANTING YOU COMPLETELY.

Damn. Reed did his job-he walked away from Gabby rather than drag her into his unstable life and danger. Now he's wearing her full glass of wine instead of throwing her onto his sheets. It doesn't help that the woman is smart as hell and could stop a man's breath with that wide smile and those shapely curves. Gabby has it all, and Reed wants every inch of her. And now the joke's on him, because new intel says Gabby has just become his assignment— He has one day to win her back, get information from her she may not know she has, and somehow protect her at the same time.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW. PROBLEM?

The stakes are high. The odds are impossible. And the mutual attraction is as hot and strong as Gabby's anger. And Reed can only hope his next speech-"It's you, baby, it's definitely you."—will be the start of something wild, something crazy, something dangerous, something wonderful.

Well there you go! There's only six days left to buy tickets for this basket and all the others. Please step up and help me hand over a nice fat check to ACN. I am almost a third of the way to my goal. I will continue to list each prize the next few days in detail and I will continue to add massive extras just to tempt you!

I also want to give a quick run down on how easy paypal is. You got to your account (or create one), click on SEND MONEY then enter jacquelynfrank@hotmail.com in the receiver's part of the form! Voila. Done!

Look forward to hearing from you!
Hugs and Kitties
Jacki