Freya's Bower Author Circle

Happy New Years from Missy Lyons!

2011-12-31T07:06:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year's everyone!

It's time to end the year 2011, whether we are ready or not--and I am ready!!

I am finding myself looking back over the year and evaluating what I did well and what didn't work. I think 2011 kicked my butt and then turned around and did it again. My husband lost his eye this year and my babygirl underwent a her first surgery. My priorities changed and I began to deal with what was most important to me--family. I stopped writing for the first half of the year and then took it up again in Summer and Fall and I think my word count for the year ended up being around 80,000 words. Not bad for putting my writing on a back burner. It's been quite a ride. Now I can't wait for this year to end so I can take the reins back to my life and get this horse and pony show started. lol

In 2012 I already have two releases scheduled and plans to use my time more wisely. I have a few friends that have already written down a list of the books they plan to write. Me? I'm not so organized, but I will be writing.

What are your plans for the New Year?

Lots of love to you all and I hope all your hopes and dreams come true for 2012! Happy New Years!

Missy Lyonswww.missylyons.com

Tonight I plan to break out the bubbly and celebrate until I can't party anymore and then I'll be sleeping it off tomorrow just like this guy. lol Enjoy your New Year's y'all!

So you want to be a writer?

2011-04-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

I think everyone has a story in their heart. Something they may have waited all their life to find the time to get down on paper. I've talked to many of these people at conferences and events like my booksignings where they ask my advice. It's the same every time and I have to wonder why they choose not to just sit down and do it.

My advice is the same every time. I have three simple rules to becoming a writer.

1. Read.

Don't think it comes easy. You need to study the books you read. The plot, the grammar, the spelling, and the style it's written in, but not just the obvious things. Look at the best sellers and try to figure out why people are hooked on those books. You need to understand what people want to read and study other books in the genre you wish to write.

2. Write--but more importantly Re-write.

Your book will never get written if you don't sit down and write it. Make time to pound on the keyboard and try to keep your writing time sacred, but when you finally finish that story don't stop there. Now the hard part is editing and rewriting your story to make it a great story.

3. Look for opportunities to publish what you write.

It does you no good to write and then bury your work in a closet. You need to try to put your work out where the general public can see it. Whether you get paid for what you write or not is not important (yet). This will enable you to get feedback and see what you need to improve to begin living your dream.

Being paid as a professional writer.

So, that's my basic advice. Whether you choose to follow it or not is another story, but becoming a writer is simple. You can do it too.

Lots of Love,
Missy Lyons
Author of Magic, Seduction, and Fantasy
www.missylyons.com

Author of ONE ONE TOUCH ONE GLANCE at Freya's Bower

Available at:

http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=19&products_id=265

Free Read by Missy Lyons

2010-09-10T18:52:00.001-07:00

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

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

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

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

Edge of Sanity, new ebook release!

2009-05-14T05:23:00.001-07:00

Freya's Bower has taken the chapter book Edge of Sanity and put it all together into one ebook, for one low price!

Detective Jake Gilford is skeptical when he hears Joss Wheeler say she believes her newly inherited house is haunted. He's a man of facts and hard evidence, and ghosts aren't on his radar screen. He's also a man, and Joss is a beautiful, if somewhat nutty, woman. Won over by her charms, he promises to stay and help her unravel the mystery of the house--or whatever else she has that might need unraveling...

Rating: Tangy
Book Length: Category Novel
Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary/Interracial
Price: $4.99

Excerpt:

He pressed his mouth against hers. "I want to make love with you," he murmured, their lips touching.

She wrapped one leg around his butt, pulling his denim-covered erection closer to her core. "I want that, too. More than anything."

He lifted her from the floor, and carried her to his room. At the edge of his bed, he set her down. "Here we are." He deftly unbuttoned her blouse, and his mouth followed the trail his fingers left. He had no trouble freeing her breasts from the white bra this time. As soon as they bobbed loose, he sucked a puckering, air-chilled nipple into his mouth. "Mmm," he moaned softly. "Ever since that first taste of you, I've been dying for another."

She chuckled deep in her throat. "Still sticking with the story that crab and beer are your favorites?"

Jake laved his tongue over her nipple and watched it peak. "Oh, no. Not a chance. I have a new favorite flavor, right here."

She arched her back, sighed as he moved to her other breast. "That feels fantastic."

"Yes it does," he teased. Both nipples were now taut nubs. He rolled the first between his thumb and forefinger, nibbling the second until she squirmed.

"You don't know what you're doing to me!"

Jake smirked. "Oh, I think I do. I've only just begun. I intend to drive you absolutely crazy." Before the words were out, he regretted them. If he could have retracted them he would have, but it was too late. They hung in the air, and he exchanged glances with Joss. "I'm sorry—"

"Don't worry about it. I don't feel so crazy anymore. You've helped me get over that. Shall we see what else you can help me with?"

Relieved, he grinned wickedly. "Oh yeah. I have a few ideas."

Reviews:

"a wonderful story that sucks you in from the very first page...I can hardly wait to read book 2..."

4 Lips from Alisha
Reviewer for Two Lips Reviews

"This first installment is a treasure... From the first page to the last, Edge of Sanity, Book 1 had me glued to the pages..."

Rose
Reviewer for Romance At Heart

"With Jake and Jocelyn's relationship just beginning, I'm eager to find out just who or what is making those ghastly noises, and if their relationship lasts the distance."

4 Champagne Flutes from Sangria
Reviewer for Cocktail Reviews

Buy Now!

Contest!

2009-03-15T10:57:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody!
I wanted to let you all know that I'm running a contest at my Textyladies blog; it's very easy to enter. All you need to do is either buy a copy of my newest release with Freya's Bower, Puppy Love, or blog my contest on one of your sites. You can send me an email letting me know you've bought the book, or leave me a link to your blog at Textyladies in comments. That's it!

You can find more information and the list of prizes by clicking here.

Please help me spread the word! :)

~Jane E. Jones

***

Puppy Love got a great review (4.5 out of 5) from Night Owl Romance reviewer Diana Coyle, which follows:

"I found this to be such a charming tale that Ms. Jones wrote. The author tells the story of how two people, who were next door neighbors, didn’t hit it off very well from their first encounter together.

Sarah loves her dog, Casper Salt, very much and wants nothing to happen to him. Seeing how Michael took so well to the dog the first time he saw him and even picked him up to pet him, Sarah becomes neurotically overprotective of her precious dog. Unfortunately though, it was not as protective as she should have been because now Casper Salt is missing. Without even putting some serious thought into where the dog might be, Sarah immediately accuses Michael of stealing her beloved four legged friend.

If matters weren’t bad enough this far, when Michael leaves his house one night, Sarah sets out on a mission to break into his house to find and rescue Casper Salt. Little does she know the crazy kind of chaos she is going to cause by acting out her foolish scheme.

Ms. Jones did a wonderful job of entertaining me with Sarah’s wild antics. I immediately fell in love with Michael and felt terrible when Sarah accused him of being the dognapper just because he got along so well with Casper Salt. The author sprinkled humor throughout her story that made me laugh out loud. I thoroughly enjoyed this lighthearted story and I would definitely recommend it for others to read. Ms. Jones' story will not disappoint you!"

Buy Puppy Love

My Website

ebooks are here to stay

2009-02-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

At a recent small conference, I was talking about all my books, including my Freya's Bower electronic book. Folks there couldn't quite imagine an electronic book. I was shocked! Luckily I'd brought along my ebook reader which I passed around the workshop.

The market for ebooks is growing, but it was somewhat surprising in this day and age to run into a group of folks that had never heard of them. Some had heard about the Kindle concept, but that was as far as it got. I don't think I made any new converts though, as these were the kind of people who love to hold a book in their hands.

Change is hard for some people, impossible for others. Don't you other electronic authors just want to shout from the mountain tops that we are here to stay?

Maggie Toussaint
Seeing Red at Freya's Bower
a contemporary romance set at a Bed and Breakfast
www..maggietoussaint.com

The Eagle At Midnight by Ava James

2009-01-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

The Eagle at Midnight

Genre: Fantasy/Contemporary/Gods/GoddessesRating: TangyBook Length: Short StoryPrice: $2.99

http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8&products_id=144&zenid=ce1d762394d3984ab17b629e8ab0222d

For Deryn Philips' life has hit a record low. After losing her parents in a car crash, she follows their last request and takes a trip to Wales. But this is no ordinary trip, and there is more to her new mysterious male friend than she can believe. Then again, if you are in a medieval castle in a foreign country, what's wrong with meeting a knight in shinning Armani?

Excerpt:
The tour group milled around on the lower floors and the castle grounds out of
consideration to the group members of an advanced age. Craving solitude, Deryn
decided to see the view from one of the towers. The gaggle of widows departed,
and she turned back to the gravel paths in the inner bailey. Each path led to a
different tower.
“So which tower is it going to be? Black, Chamberlain, Eagle, or Queen?”
“I suggest Eagle’s Tower,” a male’s voice recommended from behind her.
The smooth timbre and Welsh accent generated tingles down her spine.
Turning around, Deryn met stunning cerulean eyes set in chiseled features,
paired with heart-stopping good looks. Hot didn’t even begin to cover the essence
of this man. Her jaw slackened at the sight. Raw desire shot down her body. Her
eyes wide, she drank him in inch by tailored inch. He wore his light grey suit with
confidence, and his honey locks, pulled back from his face into a short ponytail,
brushed the collar of his black shirt. A seductive grin crept across his sensual lips,
and a sigh almost escaped Deryn’s lips.
Holy David Beckham! This man could be his long lost, even hotter brother. His
tawny skin, muscular frame, and blond locks were a triple threat. It was too
much…. He was too much.
“I….” I want you…. No, too forward. Damn, what was I saying?

Ava James
http://avajames.weebly.com/
http://www.avajamesromance.blogspot.com/

Join me at Coffee with Oly LIVE tomorrow at 4pm EST!

2008-12-06T12:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Olympias/2008/12/07/Coffee-with-Oly-Author-Adrianne-Brennan

Oly will be interviewing me on her pagan blog talk radio about my latest releases, upcoming works, and more!

Join us at 4pm EST/2pm CST.

Love & Magic,
-A

Blood of the Dark Moon, Book 1 of the Dark Moon series, is available now!

2008-12-02T07:23:00.001-08:00

Blood of the Dark Moon, Book 1 of the Dark Moon series, has been newly re-released by Freya's Bower!

ISBN: 978-1-935013-51-8
Genre: Vampire/Paranormal
Rating: Tangy
Book Length: Plus Novel
Price: $5.95

Originally published through Aphrodite's Apples Press, it went out of print when the publisher closed. Blood of the Dark Moon made the top five for Best Horror in the Preeditor and Editor's Polls of 2007, and was #1 bestseller at Aphrodite's Apples until its closing. It has been featured in Pretty/Scary, Geek Girls Online, and Realms of Fantasy Magazine.

Freya's Bower is its new publisher, and it is once again available! Mark your calendars and get some vampire erotic romance with a dash of occult intrigue in time for the holidays!

This book earned a WHOLE Bottle of Champagne review from Cocktail Reviews! Here's a quote: "Blood of the Dark Moon is a well-written, wonderful tale of intrigue, vampirism, love, tragedy, a thickening plot, and fast-paced action. I LOVED this book and was a little lost when it ended! Encore! Encore!" To read more of the review, go here: http://cocktailreviews.wordpress.com/2008/11/24/blood-of-the-dark-moon-freyas-bower/

For more reviews of this book from both readers and reviewers, go here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/reviews.html

This book has been nominated by REC for Best Erotic Romance - Paranormal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Romance_erotica_connection/surveys?id=12835874

Available for purchase from Freya's Bower: http://www.freyasbower.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=143

Blurb:

Blood of the Dark Moon

To read more about this release and others in the Dark Moon series, go here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/books.html

Love & Magic,
-A

First Review of THE WAGONMASTER

2008-11-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Wilga at Cocktail reviews has awarded THE WAGONMASTER a whole bottle of champagne + one flute, a rating reserved for the best reads!

She calls THE WAGONMASTER "an exceptional novel" and says, "I can’t praise this book enough. Astounding."

Read the entire review here.

THE WAGONMASTER is available today Freya's Bower!

Nita
www.nitawick.com

Bitch Muse

2008-11-21T10:49:00.001-08:00

Oh, so you think you have a difficult muse? Hehehehe...go meet mine over at Four Strong Women. She wields a bullwhip.

Four Strong Women

Vote for my FB sex scene

2008-11-17T07:52:00.001-08:00

I sometimes write as J. Emberglass. My Bedevilled series is full of hot sex, dark humor, the paranormal, and incorporates het and m/m. I'd appreciate it if you'd follow the link and check out my hottest sex scene enty. If you enjoy it, please vote for it. But be careful. The content will make your panties burst into flames!

http://msaendlessromancecontest.blogspot.com/2008/11/j-emberglassbedevilled-book-iii.html

Here's the voting link: http://midnightseductionsauthors.wordpress.com/vote-in-contest/

THE WAGONMASTER

2008-11-12T17:42:00.000-08:00

Coming November 25th!

Medical school taught Dr. Adelaide Jennings that there is no cure for her father's consumption. Determined to reach him in Oregon before the disease claims him, Addie will risk anything. Even her own life.

Joshua Reynolds escorts people along the arduous and dangerous Oregon Trail. He cannot force the members of the train to allow an unwed woman to join them. But the foolish doctor is determined to make the journey, even if she has to go alone. To protect the willful young woman, Josh agrees to marry Addie in name only. Together, they embark on a journey that tests their mettle, challenges their beliefs, and inflames their senses...but will they be able to resist the temptation to make their marriage a real one?

Excerpt:

“Damnation, woman! What happened?”

Tears threatened, but she clenched her jaw and answered, “I’ve stepped on something.”

He squatted beside her and grasped the foot she held off the ground. Addie placed her hands on his shoulders to steady herself. “I’m pretty sure it’s still in there. Can you remove it?” The initial shock of the injury began to recede, but she still couldn’t seem to catch her breath. His rough hand slid down her bare calf to cup her heel.

“That’s some splinter you got there. Hold still.”

Hold still? How could she possibly move? She tilted her head back and sucked in a strangled breath. The man’s hands sent a new kind of shiver through her.

He pulled the offending sliver of wood from the tender sole of her foot. “There.” His voice sounded strained, and she looked down into his dark brown eyes. The look they held both frightened and intrigued her. Her heart leapt as his hand glided back up her calf. He stood slowly, his hand continuing higher over her thinly covered thigh and hip. His palm settled in the small of her back. Her eyes never left his. She simply couldn’t look away.

“Woman, I warned you not to tempt me again.” He pressed her against his hard, warm body. She tried to speak, but her voice just wouldn’t work.

Any attempt to talk would have been futile anyway. His head lowered, and his lips slammed down on hers. This was no tender kiss like the one before. Her senses spun with the intensity of it. The pressure eased ever so slightly, and his tongue touched the seam of her lips. She stiffened at the unfamiliar act, and Reynolds’ fingers tangled in her hair and gave a sharp yank.

Addie gasped, allowing that sinful tongue to sneak into her mouth. And all thought vanished. She moaned, surrendering to the passion that gripped her. He answered with a groan. The sound sent a wave of heat through her. His tongue caressed hers, and she melted, seemingly boneless into his arms, the sensation exquisite. Never had she imagined such pleasure. His hands slid down her back to grasp her hips and pull them against his. The hard ridge of his arousal nudged her belly, but she couldn’t push him away. She had no desire to do so. She wanted to remain right here in his arms, pressed against his incredibly fascinating body. She wanted….

Visit my web site at www.nitawick.com for another excerpt! Sign up for my newsletter for a chance to win a copy!

Nita
www.nitawick.com

Featured Author at Simply Romance Reviews!

2008-11-05T18:10:00.001-08:00

I'm pleased to announce I've been selected as the November Featured Author at Simply Romance Reviews. Julie at SRR put together a lovely page for me and I can't thank her enough. Please check it out here!

Have a great week!

~ Jamie

Blood and Mint Chocolates received a GREAT first review!

2008-10-29T06:46:00.000-07:00

Mike Gleason, a reviewer of fiction and non-fiction pagan and occult books gave Blood and Mint Chocolates a great review!

Quick quote: "...the writing is excellent, the plotting is superb, and the erotica is top-flight. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I think you will as well."

You can read more what he has to say about my upcoming release here: http://adriannebrennan.com/bamc_gleason_review.html

For more information about this upcoming novella from Freya's Bower, go here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/bamc.html

Love & Magic,

-A

2008-10-28T19:36:00.001-07:00

If you haven't already, will you take a moment to read my story Moonlight Invitation and at least a couple of the other shorties and place your vote? My entry is at the following link and it's under 600 words.

http://playgroundmystique.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/entry-3-moonlight-invitation-by-faith-bicknell-brown/ (voting link below)

If you'd like to read all the stories, the Contest Entries link is posted on the 10/28 entry.

If you enjoy Moonlight Invitation, I'd appreciate your vote. Voting is here: http://playgroundmystique.wordpress.com/2008/10/25/462/

Winner is drawn on Halloween, I believe.

Jamie Hill's October News

2008-10-11T08:21:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! My October newsletter is now available and chock-full of news and interesting tidbits.

There's big news this month about a new venture I'm involved with, Custom Erotica Fantasies. Yeah, it's just as sexy as it sounds. Please check it out!

The final part of the free read Snowbound is included, I hope you've enjoyed this erotic, unusual tale!

I have another easy contest this month, this one concerning my new paranormal changeling release co-authored with Jude Mason. To find out more, read the newsie!

If you don't receive the newsletter in your email, you can find it in the files section at

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

Have a great weekend!

Time to introduce myself

2008-10-04T09:00:00.001-07:00

I thought I would take a moment to introduce myself for a moment. I was just accepted into the Freya's Bower family. My name is Missy Lyons and I have been writing romance and erotica for several years now. I started out writing sweet romances, and really enjoyed doing that, but the publishers seemed to want it hotter, so I catered to them.

I heard about a call for a sweet romance anthology and had a story swimming around in my head for years now--just waiting to be written. So I couldn't resist taking the opportunity to try for it. I have always been impressed with Freya's bower and the group of authors I know work here are people I look up to. I loved the Dreams and Desires anthology which was put out for a really good cause.

Wounded Hearts was written to help honor our fallen in the September 11 tragedy. I may not have ever come out and actually said how the father died, but I pictured him as losing his life saving others in the fire, and this story is about how his family honored his memory and yet still had to move on. The healing, that came afterwards and the pain and suffering.

I look forward to being here, and meeting everyone. Eventually I will tell you more about my story in One Touch, One Glance, as the anthology gets closer to publication.

Take care,
Missy
www.missylyons.com

Seeing Red wins best book

2008-07-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

I'm all a-twitter, if that's even a word. Long and Short Reviews just notified me that Seeing Red won their contest for Best Book of the Week. I blogged about their outstanding review earlier this week.

Be sure and check out Seeing Red at my website. I have the reviews posted, an excerpt, and the buy links. Click on over http://www.maggietoussaint.com/

Maggie Toussaint

romance.danger.mystery

http://www.maggietoussaint.com/

LASR reviewed SEEING RED

2008-07-26T13:57:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to announce a new review for SEEING RED. Gloxinia at Long and Short Reviews said "This is a great story that you won't want to put down and I recommend it to anyone wanting a sweet, nongraphic romance." For the full review: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/0708/SeeingRed-MT.htm

Happy Summer!

Maggie Toussaint

http://www.maggietoussaint.com/

Buy Seeing Red at Freya's Bower and at Fictionwise

Spotlight & Interview

2008-07-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

Paranormal Romance's monthly Paraphernalia Spotlight is on Faerie Tales this time.

Dee, the fantabulous coordinator of the spotlight, also interviewed me! FB's IN THE GLOAMING is mentioned in the interview. I hope you'll check it out.

Nita
www.nitawick.com

Sale on Edge of Sanity by Jamie Hill

2008-05-17T13:11:00.001-07:00

For a limited time, the Edge of Sanity chapter book series is on sale.

Buy all five of Edge of Sanity, insert the code "edge of sanity" in the coupon code box, and get $2.25 off of your purchase.

This is a limited time offer. The code is good until May 31, 2008. Be sure to get your copies today!

Enjoy!

~ Jamie

Erotic fiction that's "Simply Irresistible"
Visit my website: www.jamiehill.biz
Subscribe to my monthly newsletter: Simply Irresistible
Check out my authors groups: Phoenix Rising Authors
and Authors Who Dare
All contests, all the time group: J.E.R.K.

Seeing Red reviewed

2008-03-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Rita from Night Owl Romance recently reviewed SEEING RED, my contemporary romance about a woman who wants to change careers by remodeling the crumbling family home into a bed and breakfast.

Here's a snippet from the review: "This was a moderately paced story. The characters in Seeing Red were well written. Overall, it was a pleasant read."

To read more, click this link: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=1474

Maggie Toussaint
SEEING RED and just about every other color too...
romance.danger.mystery
www.maggietoussaint.com
www.myspace.com/maggietoussaint

In the Gloaming Review and Chat

2008-03-15T12:46:00.000-07:00

In the Gloaming, coming March 25th, has received it's first review!

Beth from Paranormal Romance says:

"In the Gloaming is a collection of amazing stories written by five very talented authors. Each story is so unique and well written. From finding true love to defeating evil, there is something for everybody in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I know others will too."

Read the rest of the review here.

Don't forget to join us for our release party! The authors of the faerie anthology, In the Gloaming, will be celebrating our release day at Brenda Williamson's Romance Party Yahoo loop. We'll be posting excerpts, and talking about our stories and the faerie lore that inspired them.

We'd be pleased if the entire FB family would join us on March 25th. We'll be posting throughout the day, so stop by any time and say hi. Help us throw some cyber confetti. There will be virtual champagne for everyone!

Wishing you a happily-ever-after,

Nita
www.nitawick.com

5 Angel Review for DRAGONS' CHOICE

2008-03-01T17:23:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited! Marci just emailed me a link to the Fallen Angels Review for Dragons' Choice!

LeeAnn gave Dragons' Choice 5 Angels!!!!

Here's a quick snippet of her comments:

The characters are beautifully crafted, and draw the reader quickly into their world. There is danger, adventure, humor, and you can feel the air rushing across your skin each time the dragons take flight. The plot moves quickly, and holds your attention with the special kind of magic I have enjoyed in Ms. Mumford’s previous works. I will be waiting for each new installment of this series as we discover the fates of all of Sorcha’s children.

Read the complete review here.

Buy Dragons' Choice here.

*happy dancing on the ceiling*

Yeah! Seeing Red is out now

2008-02-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

At long last, my romance is out from Freya's Bower!

I can hardly believe the book is available for people to read and buy. Thanks to my editors at Freya's Bower, this is a very powerful story about a woman coming into her own. And best of all, its the first in a series of three books. Those other faces on the cover? They belong to Maddy and Beverly Heartly and they have stories too.

Here's the blurb for Seeing Red:

Owning a bed and breakfast is Emma Heartly’s dream, but without a clear title she can’t afford the rehab of the abandoned family dwelling. To prove herself to her younger sisters, Emma moves in and begins renovating the two-story house.

Quentin Stone much admires the classic lines of the crumbling Victorian and its red-haired owner. Though Emma can’t afford to hire Stone Construction, he volunteers to help her after-hours.

Despite family interference, they lay the foundation for more than a B&B, but troubles follow. Can they overcome past mistakes to find happiness?

Buy this book at http://www.freyasbower.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=112

Maggie Toussaint

www.maggietoussaint.com

Come Join the Hunt!

2008-01-31T19:27:00.000-08:00

Essence of Erotica
Valentine's Day
Scavenger Hunt

begins February 1, 2008 and runs through midnight CST, February15, 2008.

Search the sites of the following EOE authors for this logo:

Send an email to essence_of_erotica@yahoo.com with the authors listed in order, and the page of their site on which the logo was spotted.

On February 16, all correct entries will be placed in an empty Valentine's chocolate candy heart, and winners will be drawn randomly, for the prizes listed in alphabetical (author by first name) order.

Find the participating authors and website links here

Good luck and

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mark your calendars!

2008-01-21T17:16:00.000-08:00

Coming March 25th!

Faeries come from all cultures and countries
and range in appearance from lovely to terrifying
to looking like an everyday person.
Some are benign, some malevolent.
Based on actual faerie lore, this anthology
incorporates the work of five spectacular authors
who have penned tales of iridescent ice beings,
fey men who love you into forgetfulness,
frightening creatures who wear caps of human skin,
enchanted lovers from a long lost era,
and the land of faerie dreams.
Step into the world of glamour where
the beautiful, the dreamy, the vicious,
and even a bit of the sexually bizarre
will captivate you--
but beware of the fey's beguiling ways!

The authors of the faerie anthology, In the Gloaming, will be celebrating our release day at Brenda Williamson's Romance Party Yahoo loop. We'll be posting excerpts, and talking about our stories and the faerie lore that inspired them.

We'd be pleased if the entire FB family would join us on March 25th. We'll be posting throughout the day, so stop by any time and say hi. Help us throw some cyber confetti. There will be virtual champagne for everyone!

Wishing you a happily-ever-after,

Nita

http://www.nitawick.com/

Yowser, I've been tagged!

2008-01-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

by Maggie Toussaint

Tagged! It's a bit like that game of chase when you were a kid. You feel that touch on the back and your heart sinks cuz now you know you have to be IT. In this case, being IT isn't so bad. Thanks to Chris Columbus, I got tagged today.

Since I was working on this tagging post anyway, I posted it here as well because we have so many wonderful writers at Freya's Bower. I stay so busy I don't get out and about as much as I used to. I hope this helps us to start getting better acquainted.

In accordance to the rules of tagging, I'm to tell 7 things about myself that you might not know. Here's my list of 7:

1. I’m shy. You probably can’t tell because I enjoy internet marketing, but in real life, I run out of things to say astronomically fast. (That’s why I R a writer)

2. My husband hates going to the movies with me because I talk back to the screen. We rent movies and view them at home now; sometimes he fusses at the characters who do stupid stuff too.

3. I teach yoga twice a week. This is a recent development, and it came along much like my accidental newspaper reporter career. I’m letting serendipity guide me in my choice of careers these days.

4. I have 3 sisters and I’m the baby girl. But my brother is the true youngster of the family. That leaves me 4th of 5 children, a person without a clear path, someone who meanders through life. Are we starting to see a pattern yet?

5. I think of myself as calm and placid, but I’m actually a fire sign (Sagittarius) and I get quite riled up by injustice. Lately I’m on the warpath against my neighbor with his four hunting dogs penned up underneath my bedroom window.

6. My feet grew when I had kids. Other parts of me grew too, but I try not to look down because it’s discouraging.

7. When I was growing up my friends dubbed me the fudge queen because that’s the only food I knew how to cook. When I got engaged my best friend threw me a recipe party so my husband wouldn’t have to eat fudge at every meal.

Okay, that's 7 personal things about me. Hopefully you already know that I had an upcoming release from Freya's Bower titled SEEING RED, as well as releases from other publishers.

Stop by my website and read more about me!

MAGGIE
danger ... romance ... mystery
www.maggietoussaint.com
consolidated blog at www.myspace.com/maggietoussaint

Jamie Hill ~ Simply Irresistible Newsletter

2008-01-11T10:40:00.001-08:00

January issue now available! Find out the latest news on what's coming, so to speak, and what's recently released! There's a new, easy contest, so don't miss out.

Click here to join, and be sure to check out the free read Snowbound, available one section per month. All six previously published sections
can be found in the files section.

Have a great weekend!

~ Jamie

5 Champagne Flutes Review!

2007-11-24T11:25:00.001-08:00

A Rose of Any Colour. Book 2: MaleDom Freya's Bower
November 7th, 2007

REVIEWED BY:

OVERALL SCORE:

Author: Multiple
Publisher: Freya's Bower

REVIEW:

I found the foreword on this book very interesting. Not being part of the BDSM lifestyle, I was grateful for the explanation to that lifestyle before reading any of the stories. The foreword and understanding of the lifestyle is a must, in my opinion, before tackling BDSM as your reading matter. The reason for this is because without that understanding, the stories may very well have come across as perverted or wrong in some way to those people, like myself, who had no previous knowledge of what some people practise in their lives.

That said, here is my review.

Story 1: On Bended Knees – Canice Brown-Porter

The Dominant Evan has been training the submissive Morgan for four months now. Morgan, along with growing as a submissive and learning all she yearned to know about the BDSM lifestyle, has found that she has developed feelings for Evan. Her training comes to an end and, though she is glad that she's been a good student, she is also saddened that her time spent with Evan has come to an end. Morgan offers Evan the gift of her submission—but will he accept it and become her Lord?

Evan sends Morgan back to her home and instructs that she records all her feelings and emotions in a diary. She must show him all of her in these writings and obey all the instructions he sets out for her. He will know if she doesn't. The time spent alone without Evan is hard for Morgan—her longings and emotions are particularly well-drawn by Ms. Brown-Porter.

I enjoyed On Bended Knees for the understanding way Ms. Brown-Porter portrayed the lifestyle. I also enjoyed having a story to read as well as erotic content. On Bended Knees is actually a quite beautiful love story. Don't let the BDSM theme fool you there. Again, this is where the foreword was appreciated.

(I am also the author of the Foreword which appears in both the BDSM Anthologies.)

A Rose Of Any Colour Book Two Now Available!

2007-10-30T07:06:00.000-07:00

Featuring "A Scandalous Arrangement" by Kayleigh Jamison

A well-bred lady and a rakish earl escape the ton and shed their inhibitions in A Scandalous Arrangement...

Sold into the service of a brothel madame to satisfy her brother's gambling debts, Lady Anna Boscawen finds herself catapulted into the scandalous, seedy underbelly of the ton when she is given a new name and her virginity is auctioned off to the highest bidder. Vere Fane, Earl of Westmorland is rich, powerful, and devilishly handsome, known throughout society for his carnal inclination and the pleasure and pain he inflicts upon the women he alternately ravages and worships. Bound together by unusual circumstances, Vere leads Anna through a whirlwind of emotions, teaching her to find the ultimate freedom - in submission.

Excerpt:

Anna heard the riding crop cut through the air a moment before the blow landed on the small of her back. Another struck her, this time lower, followed by a flurry of strikes to her buttocks and the soles of her feet. Her eyes filled with tears and she cried out; the pain radiated outwards from her abused flesh and warmed her skin.

"Why?" she shrieked, the harsh surface of the rope cutting into her wrists as she attempted to twist out of his reach.

"Why?" Vere repeated, slightly out of breath from the exertion.

"I did what you asked, milord!"

"You did," he confirmed as the crop landed with another thwack, "you did very well."

"Then I don't understand!" The tears ran freely now, cooling her flushed cheeks and splashing onto her breasts, her breathing erratic and labored.

"Your job here is what?" he asked patiently, circling around to face her. He removed his shirt and she took in the sight of his strong, muscled arms, the crafted perfection of his chest. Even bound and at his complete mercy, she found him heartbreakingly attractive. The tongue of the crop touched her chin and lifted her head, forcing her to meet his gaze. He traced her jaw with the slip of leather, but paused to brush a strand of hair from her eyes.

"To obey you, milord," she whispered.

"Yes, and what else?"

"To please you, milord."

"Precisely. And it pleases me to see you this way, sweet Rose." This time, the crop dipped lower over the swell of her breasts. He traced one nipple, then the other. The pebbled flesh tightened traitorously, causing her to shiver. "Does it not please you as well?"

"N-no, milord," she stammered. Liar, her heart whispered.

Vere leaned forward and murmured in her ear, "It will."

Buy it here.

Copyright 2007, Kayleigh M. Jamison

Jamie Hill's 200th Member Contest

2007-09-26T17:52:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone,

My monthly, no chat newsletter is almost up to 200 members, so it's party time! Whoever joins as the 200th member will receive his or her choice of one of my ebook downloads.

And just because I appreciate my current members, after I hit 200, I'll put 200 numbered ping pong balls in a playpen and have my son dive in and pick a winner! (Or something like that, he's 18 now and not as agreeable as he used to be...but one current member will also receive the free download of his or her choice, without having to do a thing.)

Subscribe to my newsletter here:

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

There's one newsletter per month--no spam, just news about my work, updates from my author groups, and a new contest every month! Don't forget to check out my current contest, running until Oct. 5. (They're always easy, I promise.)

Thanks for the support!

Jamie Hill
Simply Irresistible
www.jamiehill.biz

Edge of Sanity, Book 3, Now Available!

2007-09-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

From Freya's Bower and author Jamie Hill: Edge of Sanity, Book 3

"So, Jake and Joss are a couple now. They fit easily together, and while reading, it feels like they've been together a lot longer than they have. I do enjoy their banter.

Nice to find out a little more about Jake's past in this chapbook. I warmed to him even more. I mean, he's a nice guy, but it's his past that makes him so understanding in the present.

A nice coupling scene between Joss and Jake, and now I'm eagerly awaiting news on the charity and its founders. Have they got something to do with the weird noises and goings on at Joss' house? Come on! I need to find out who is doing this!

Jamie Hill is driving me crazy!"

4 Champagne Flutes ~ Sangria ~ Cocktail Reviews ~ Read review here

Another Saturday night with nothing to do?

2007-09-13T18:27:00.001-07:00

Join me and author K.M. Frontain for a loop chat! We'll be at the GLBT Promotional group:

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

Sat., Sept. 15 from 7-10 EST. There will be a contest or two, I'll be giving away a copy of my latest release, Deep Obsessions!

Hope to see you there!

~Jamie Hill

Good Things Come in Twos ...

2007-09-11T20:15:00.000-07:00

Of course, being a mother of twins, I've always known that doubles are wonderful, but this week has really been full of extra nice pairs ...

Two Great New Reviews:

Glass Magic received a 5 Sword review from Reviewed by Frost.

Frost says:

"a dual delight of tales... Ms. Mumford skillfully combines sensuous settings with romantic threads and unshiftable love..."

Read the full review here.

Rating: Tangy
Book Length: Bites (a duet of short stories)
Price: $2.00
Genre: Paranormal / Contemporary

Glass Magic is available here.

And ... Second Sight received a 4 Cup review from Krista at Coffee Time Romance!

"This book will keep you on the edge of your seat..."

Krista
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Read the entire review.

Rating: Tangy
Book Length: Novel
Price: $5.75
Genre: Paranormal / Contemporary

Second Sight is available here.

Two Great New Additions to My Extended Clan:

My daughter and her husband just adopted two 3-month-old German Shepherd pups. Pretty cute, aren't they?

Edge of Sanity, Book 2, Now Available!

2007-08-29T04:52:00.001-07:00

Edge of Sanity, Book 2 is now available! This is the second in a series of five chapter books available monthly from Freya's Bower

Detective Jake Gilford is skeptical when Joss Wheeler says her newly inherited house is haunted. He's a man of hard evidence, and ghosts aren't on his radar screen. Won over by her charms, he promises to stay and help her unravel the mystery of the house--or whatever else needs unraveling . . .

Edge of Sanity, Book 1, was a hit! Sangria at Cocktail reviews said:

With Jake and Jocelyn's relationship just beginning, I'm eager to find out just who or what is making those ghastly noises, and if their relationship lasts the distance.

Rose at Romance at Heart said: This first installment is a treasure...this will be a series of shorts you will not want to miss. From the first page to the last, Edge of Sanity, Book 1 had me glued to the pages... Yup, Jamie has her literary talons in, and I won't be satisfied till I get all the answers.

Jamie Hill's August Newsletter Now Available!

2007-08-11T07:06:00.001-07:00

There's a new contest, and a new free read-- the erotic novella Snowbound begins this month!

And there are balloons! Who could ask for anything more?

If you're not a subscriber, join here:

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

Have a great weekend!

~Jamie

The Authors Who Dare

2007-08-05T14:41:00.001-07:00

... dare you to check out their August newsletter.

Find out what's happening with Jude Mason, Louise Bohmer, Ann Cory, Derek Musgrave, Jamie Hill and Michelle Houston by clicking here

Read a FREE Twisted Tale each month.

Find out how YOU could ask the Authors Who Dare sexy and kinky
questions ... and get their honest answers in the Truth Or Dare section of their newsletter.

It's all in the files section of this group, waiting for you to take a
peek.

Go ahead ... we dare you.

Phoenix Rising Authors August Newsletter now available!

2007-08-01T21:54:00.001-07:00

Jude Mason, Jamie Hill, D Musgrave, and Michelle Houston are proud to
announce the second issue of the Phoenix Rising Newsletter is now available. Please go to Infinite Possibilities,

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

and find it in the files section. : )

Congratulations to Stacie, who will receive a PDF copy of the new anthology, 413 Remembrance Lane, Diary of a House.

If you prefer reading an HTML document, instead of a PDF, swing by
the PRA website at www.isleofphoenix.com where there is a handy HTML
version as well.

If you would like to have the newsletter mailed directly to you,
just send a blank email to PRANEWS @ ISLEOFPHOENIX .com (without the
spaces) with the words "Subscribe Me" in the subject.

Enjoy!

The Phoenix Rising Authors
Jamie, Jude, D, and Michelle

My first Freya's Bower title!

2007-07-17T16:49:00.001-07:00

I'm very pleased to have my first title available with Freya's Bower, a paranormal/contemporary romantic suspense tale called

Edge of Sanity

Detective Jake Gilford is skeptical when he hears Joss Wheeler say she believes her newly inherited house is haunted. He's a man of facts and hard evidence, and ghosts aren't on his radar screen. He's also a man, and Joss is a beautiful, if somewhat nutty, woman. Won over by her charms, he promises to stay and help her unravel the mystery of the house--or whatever else she has that might need unraveling . . .
Read an excerpt here or be bold and buy here!!!

This is my first post on the FB authors blog, so I thought I'd tell you a little about myself. I'm Kansas born and raised, quite happy here even though we're in the middle of another scorching summer. I've been married 26 years, my husband and I have two sons in college, ages 18 and 20.

When I'm not writing or working at that other job to pay bills, I enjoy reading (what author doesn't?), freelance editing, tinkering on the computer, listening to country music, napping, and watching movies (especially scary movies) with my family! My guilty pleasures are cooking themed reality shows, (go gettem Gordon!) plus my other TV favorites: Dog the Bounty Hunter, King of Cars, Gilmore Girls, ER and House.

Find me at www.jamiehill.biz or www.myspace.com/authorjamiehill

Newly-wed and newly-reviewed!

2007-06-24T08:43:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! I've been lax on email, websites, blogging, writing, editing, eating like a human being, and doing laundry this past month, but I'm happy to announce that I am now firmly be-ringed, wedded, honeymooned out, and almost caught up on laundry! I've even managed a few website updates amidst all the chaos, with a few wedding/honeymoon pictures and writing news!

I came home to the awesome news that MATING CALL has been Joyfully Recommended! Niniri, the Joyfully Reviewed reviewer, said, "“Ms. Ryan-Davis has created a delightful, if reluctant, heroine in Cora….Mating Call sets the groundwork for what promises to be an intriguing tale of passion, self-discovery and mystery.”

I'm also running a contest through the first of July to celebrate the success of MATING CALL and May's release of DRAGON DANCE.

Visit my web site for details on the fab review, how you can win a $15 gift card to the online store of your choice, and, best of all, for pictures!!

2007-05-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Mrs Giggles reviewed 'The Facility Trip'.

She liked it, but thought it was too short...

http://www.mrsgiggles.com/books/vaughan_trip.html

Still, I suppose 78 isn't too bad.

Interesting news in the publishing industry

2007-05-25T09:31:00.001-07:00

Print book sales are down, while e-book sales are up!

From Reuters, May 23, 2007

Americans bought $24.2 billion worth of books in 2006, slightly less than the previous year, an industry group said Tuesday, reporting sharp falls in religious and audio-book sales but an increase in e-books.

The Assn. of American Publishers said total sales by U.S. publishers last year were estimated at $24.197 billion, down from $24.263 billion in 2005.

Religious book sales fell 10.2% to $745 million while audio-books dropped 11.7% to $182 million. Spurred by progress in digital technology, sales of e-books jumped 24.1% to $54 million.

Source: Los Angeles Times
http://www.latimes.com/features/books/cl-et-quick23.2may23,0,7831051.story?coll=la-books-headlines

Where the Sizzle Meets the Page...

2007-05-21T20:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Freya's Bower, for the invite to participate in your author's blog. I admit to being a bit...scattered, at the moment. Tomorrow is finals in Intemediate Algebra and then Thursday I have a final in Shakespeare and between here and there I have a final essay for Amer Lit. Let's just say my brains are leaking formulas and angst.

I am very pleased to direct any romance readers over to my dual stories "Of Lilies" which you can download and read at: http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/195/86/
I also have a paperback (The Bride of Gornoston ~ a naughty gothic romance) due out in late summer and I will be holding a few contests to give away copies, so please feel free to drop me a note here or on my literary blog at mallory_blog on LJ - Introduce yourself, I love to chat on blog.

Thank you Marci for being so patient over the past few months when I was swallowed by homework.

I hope to have my new website up an running during the summer since I'm only taking 2 classes :head desk:

Now, I need to get back to studying sigmas and that triangle thing (cannae remember naught)

Sunny skies and nesting birds

2007-05-21T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting at my desk and birds are flitting by my window. Lots of them. They're hopping in and out of the brush in the abandoned field next door. They're dancing along the fence rail. They're chasing rivals away from the feeder. And they're courting.

So this counts as work, right? Courtship and romance are universal.

All right. I will get back to my fiction, but the interlude was nice!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com
Seeing Red coming soon to Freya's Bower

Habitat for Humanity Rebuilds the Gulf Coast

2007-05-20T14:57:00.001-07:00

I'm back from a week in Mississippi, working with Habitat for Humanity building homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina. If you're interested in reading about my trip and seeing some photos, check out my blog here.

-KJ

Hello friends at Freya's Bower!

2007-05-10T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I've been away for a few weeks at writer conferences and visiting out of town family. I had a great time interacting with other writers and industry professionals, and of course seeing my relatives, but I have to say there's truly no place like home. I was really glad to sleep in my own bed with my own pillow.

My editor, Katherine, and I are hard at work polishing my upcoming release from Freya's Bower. Seeing Red is the first book in a sweet romance series about three sisters. In this book, the oldest sister is intent on turning the crumbling family home into a bed and breakfast but her sisters are dead set against it. Add a sexy rehab guy to the money pit house, construction mishaps, day job mania, and sisterly discontent to the pot and you get a fair idea of Emma's story. Plus there's the little itsy bitsy problem of her not knowing how to cook.

I'm looking forward to bring this book out and getting to know my fellow Freya's Bower authors.

Maggie Toussaint
Seeing Red, an upcoming release from Freya's Bower
www.maggietoussaint.com

Hello blogger (and blog readers!), I've missed you!

2007-05-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

Computer issues over the last year had me believing I'd never get a chance to use blogger ever again, but a recent switch from IE to Firefox seems to have brought me back into the fold. And with good news!

I'll be participating in the Rose of Any Color anthology (with, from the looks of it, several new-to-FB faces!). I received the contract for a short novella titled "Amy's Imperfection" yesterday afternoon. I'm very excited. :)

Now, to get through revisions of my second Dragon Queen book!

-
Emily
http://www.emilyryandavis.com
(Soon with new un-aggravating design)

Raining

2007-04-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

It's raining here...finally. The 1/2" we are expecting isn't going to make up for a very dry winter, but we will take whatever moisture we can get at this point. There is a good possibility for thunderstorms this afternoon. I am looking forward to it. There is nothing like a good thunderstorm to clear the energy and electrify the imagination. :) If all goes as planned, my dau will be staying the night at Grandma's. she's there now, and even though I didn't have the alone time I had hoped for (me and the cats in the house -- grin), it's blessedly silent with no one to worry about but me since the hubby is currently indisposed. (grin) So, I'm playing. Well, I'm on the computer. What's new? Huh? But I am utterly carefree at the moment. It's simply lovely.

We are going to see a movie tonight. I am going to sleep in tomorrow, and, hopefully, sleep through the night as well. Gah! The last time I slept in was...pre baby. I suppose that's typical when you have children. Not that she isn't fun, but what I wouldn't give to be able to sleep in two nights in a row. LOL Little miss was up at 7 am this morning and began the day running. She didn't stop running even after I dropped her at Grandma's. For Grandma's sake, I hope this means she'll crash at 8 pm or so. She can get a second wind and go late. On other occasions, she's fallen asleep standing up. (Yes, that is true.)

Okay. We are off. Have a lovely weekend! I know I will. :)

Marci

Resurfacing

2007-04-18T04:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to have been so uncharacteristically quiet. I've been sorting out the affairs of my aunt, who died recently. I'm her executrice. (I love that word!)

I was also preparing for quite a difficult job interview for a senior post. I'm going to be doing the job for the next few months, starting on Monday. It's a big editorial and managerial one; so far all that's happened is that my diary has mysteriously been filled with about a hundred meetings. More hours of meetings, as far as I can see, than one working week will accomodate.

Worst thing is that I now have to get used to travelling on the underground in the rush hour, something that fills me with dread!

RIP

2007-04-12T06:49:00.000-07:00

When I was 5-years-old, my father invited me to sit down and watch a movie with him on TV. It was Slaughterhouse-Five, which had run in theatres a few years before in '72. I was fascinated with the random montage of the storyline. My father was impressed that I grasped it and didn't ask for any plot clarification. Looking back, I believe that to be the defining moment that destined me to a lifetime of leaning toward the odd and the different, of seeking out the intelligent and the messenger, whether in movies, literature, or music.

Enter adolescence. Being both a bookworm and the "weird girl", I naturally went on a Vonnegut run at the library at some point. I selected Slaughterhouse-Five from the shelf, thinking "Hmm, this sounds familiar." Just as I had at age 5, I fell into the story all over again, albeit with a higher level of understanding. I was amazed by Vonnegut's brilliance, how he took what might have been the typical "retrospective look at one man's life as representative of his entire generation", and turned it into something like you'd never read before.

As is often the case with genius, Mr. Vonnegut suffered from depression, and had attempted suicide in recent years. I hope he has found peace, and I hope he left knowing that he's left his immortal stamp on the face of 20th century literature. I just wonder...is Mr. Vonnegut really gone? Or did he get whisked off by his friends, the Tralfamadorians?

Rest in peace, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

~ Katrina S.

Happy Anniversary to Me...and Freya's Bower!

2007-04-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

I thought I was coming up on the anniversary of my affiliation with Freya's Bower, so I checked back through my LiveJournal posts and found this.

April 10, 2006 LiveJournal Post:
On another front, I found a call for writing samples from a small romance e-publisher and thought, "why not?" I sent a sample in yesterday afternoon, and this morning I received an email announcing that I'd been accepted, giving me my editor's name and saying that my assignment and contract would follow.

The cynic in me says, "yeah, right!" but considering I have my own personal contract adviser on staff, I figure I haven't got much to lose. The starry-eyed optimist says "Woo Hoo! This is going to be a blast!" Here's hoping the optimist is right ... I'll let you know what happens.

(BTW - the deal is for two related short stories, the combined word count to be between 6,000 and 8,000.)

A year later, I'm happy to report that the starry-eyed optimist was absolutely on target! (Don't you love it when that happens?)

Glass Magic turned out well. Sorcha's Heart followed, and the invitation to submit to Dreams & Desires was a dream-come-true in itself! And now, after a lot of hard work, Second Sight is nearing release!

Look at that progression: Bites to Novella to Anthology to Novel.

Not bad for my first year with FB.

Thank you, Faith and Marci, for the call for writing samples and for offering me the opportunity to have my work pubbed by Freya's Bower. You guys rock!!

Greetings! Yes, another newbie. ;)

2007-04-05T06:47:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am erotica and dark romance author Katrina Strauss, though my friends just call me Kitty. I am pleased to be one of the new additions to the Freya's Bower family. :)

I have been writing since childhood, and enjoyed a few short story publications in independent e-zines in the 90's. However, I did not try my hand at erotica and, subsequently, pen my first full-length novel until last year. My resulting experiment, which blends plot-driven romance with BDSM and paranormal elements, has evolved into the genre-busting, century-spanning Eldritch Legacy trilogy, currently available through another small but quality e-press. In addition to a few short stories also available through this other publisher, my 1920's BDSM short, Efflorescence, will appear later this year in FB's upcoming anthology, A Rose of Any Colour. I am thankful to have now found two quality publishers who are open to my more unconventional take on romance, not just in regards to subject matter but in variations on traditional formula.

When I'm not writing, I'm caring for my three children (two teenagers and one pre-schooler). I also enjoy sewing, cooking, and of course, my first love, reading. You can find out more about myself and my work at my author site listed below. I am excited to be here, and while I recognize a few faces (*waves at Kayleigh, yay!*) I look foward to chatting with those whom I have not already had the privilege of meeting. :)

~ Kitty S.
Explore the darker side of romance...
http://www.katrinastrauss.com/

Another Introductory Post

2007-03-27T06:03:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Another new FB author saying "hello." My short Regency, "A Scandalous Arrangement," has been accepted as part of A Rose Of Any Colour, an upcoming BDSM anthology with the Bower. I write primarily (but not exclusively) historical, sometimes with f/f elements, sometimes not. I have two novels and two short stories out with Aphrodite's Apples Press. I had a short story featured in the Fiction Friction section of Girlphoria's June 2006 issue. I'm also an editor for Aphrodite's Apples.

That's my "fun job." My day job is being a full time first year law student (though I am, thankfully, nearly done with the first year). I don't sleep. I currently live in Jacksonville, Florida, with my two precocious and spoiled cats. I turned 27 this past Saturday. I feel old.

I'm very excited to be on board and look forward to getting to know everyone.

-Kayleigh Jamison

Hello from newcomer, Maggie Toussaint

2007-03-26T01:25:00.000-07:00

Hello to the world of Freya's Bower Author Circle,

I'm new here, shiny like a freshly-minted penny. Heck, I'm new most everywhere to publishing. I have a romantic suspense out now with another publisher, and a mystery coming out June 2008, but I'm going to publish a sweet romance with Freya's Bower. You might say I'm versatile to write so many types of stories, or just plain crazy. The answer varies depending on the muse.

Seeing Red, the story of woman with a money pit of a home and a hunky contractor, is in the editing phase right now. This book is the first of a trilogy about the Heartly sisters.

I'm down in coastal Georgia. We have nice weather year round, though we seem to be chronically short of rainfall. We've got bugs like you wouldn't believe and the most beautiful ancient oaks you've ever seen. There's not a traffic light in our whole county, and most evenings my husband and I bike ride around our tiny town.

I look forward to meeting all of you!

Maggie Toussaint
www.maggietoussaint.com

What comes after The End?

2007-03-07T10:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I wrote The End on the second Dragon Queen book (one more to go). Ends are my real weak point, because I tend to rush and have a hard time slowing down and getting everything in the first time around. I imagine the end is what I will devote the most time to in the edits/revisions stage. That's some time to come, though, and I refuse - refuse! - to think about it. My brain has other ideas, and wants to think and continue creating; it's all wound up from the intense three weeks of writing that ushered in the majority of DQ Book 2. My brain is not the boss! I know better than to keep creating; this is wind-down time and refresh time.

I intend to finish making and mailing my wedding invitations, quilt a square or two for my block-a-month quilt project (haven't done Feb yet or picked up the March block), and get in some reading. I don't read fiction right after a book, though; once my muse accepts the fact I'm not giving her free reign anymore, at least for a time, she curls up and retreats. I think that's part of the reason I have difficulty with the early portions of a new book, but I digress. Reading-wise, I turn to nonfiction instead of fiction. I especially enjoy diet books. Is that bizarre? I'm by no means a chronic dieter, but I like to get back in touch with my physical side after spending so much time with my mental side during the course of a book.

Currently, I'm reading Bob Greene's The Best Life Diet, and have designs on re-reading DQ Book 1 (how's that for narcisstic?) to prepare for edits on DQ Book 2. In between the diet book and the self-written book, I'll TRY to squeeze in a just-for-pleasure novel. I keep eyeing Patricia Briggs' new Mercy novel, which has been sitting on my bookshelf for the last 6 weeks, and last night I picked up Melanie Jackson's Writ on Water. Let's not talk about the books I've forgotten I have, and leave them for another time, shall we? Makes me feel less guilty that way. :)

What do you all do after you finish writing a new book, or even after you finish a (fiction) book for pleasure? Does your brain need a time-off, cooling-down, recharging period?

Setting the Stage

2007-03-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

The other night, I watched the Academy Awards. I'm not really a big fan of them due to their political nature, but there wasn't much else on. What did I have to lose? Besides, I was curious to see what Ellen would do as host.

One of the first awards I saw was for costumes. As each movie and its costumes were shown, music from the movie was played. I don't remember the name of the person who won, but I do remember the award went to the designer of Marie Antoinette costumes. The costumes were sumptuous. (How could they be otherwise?) The music was, um, the wrong period. LOL The piece they played was by Vivaldi, a Baroque composer most famous for his Four Seasons. Matter of fact, I think the music played at the Oscars was from Four Seasons. Um, if I remember correctly, Marie Antoinette was born after the Baroque period ended (1750). And trust me, one of the most famous Baroque composers of this time, Bach, wasn't known by the general public, including the courts, until the mid 19th c. At which point, he was "rediscovered" due to Fanny Mendelssohn and her brother, Felix, and their performance of his "St. Matthew's Passion". Bach's fame was secured at this point, for obvious reasons.

Now, I know this is nitpicky, but, honestly, there were many well-known composers of the time that appeal to current audiences. A few I can name off the top of my head: Mozart, Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, although he was much later than the first three and more of an early Romantic period composer...

Okay, am I losing you yet? LOL Yeah, I tend to get too technical when I start talking about music.

I do believe their choice came from the structure of Vivaldi's music more than the timeliness of it. In Hollywood's mind, they equated Louis XVI's court with the rigidity of Baroque music. Classical period also had a great deal of structure, but the Classical composers used the Baroque masters as their springboard for innovation in music, testing, and breaking, the rules set by the church, society, etc. However, the director's choice of music does make sense when you look at the dances, the manners, and expectations of one another of this time period.

My point is this: They had plenty of famous contemporary composer to choose from and they picked someone who had died more than a decade before Marie Antoinette was born. I have nothing against Vivaldi's music. It's glorious, full of tension and resolution, but the likelihood of the court listening to something from 30 years in the past would have been slim to none. People were moving forward, looking to the future, not concerned so much with the past. And while Vivaldi influenced many composers, like Mozart, his burial was modest.

On another note: My dau, who is 31 months old, is brilliant. LOL Not that I am biased, or anything. LOL Why do I say this? Well, because she is constantly surprising me. For instance, today I wrote down her name. I know she can read her name, so I asked her what it said. Predictably, she told me. Then, I spelled out "mommy" and asked her what it said. She glanced at the word and said, "Mommy." I did the same with "daddy", "cat", and "dog". Now, we have worked with her on all of these, but it's been a month or more since we did anything. However, that she can recognize these words is pretty amazing. Of course, I have nothing to compare this with, so I could be completely wrong. LOL

It's a beautiful day here, so those of you in miserable weather, I wish you sunshine and warmth.

Marci

Rain, rain, rain

2007-02-22T15:54:00.000-08:00

Well, it's about time. We've had freezing temperatures like we rarely see. Then a taste of spring came to tease us. Finally, the rain has come. Rain we can certainly use at this point in the season. I don't mind it, other than people driving like maniacs despite the slick roads. I just grab a cup of cocoa and snuggle up with a good book or my laptop for a session of writing. I'd rather avoid the roads with so many people either driving like they have to win the Indy 500 or so slow you wonder if you'll make it the last mile before your bladder bursts.

Alas, for me, I wish it was fog. Strange comment. Well, yes, but it would set the mood for me to write on my present WIP. The setting is almost gothic, but set in modern times. Yes, I like to live on the edge. LOL

So, a quick question for all of you: Do you ever find a certain type of weather is more conducive to your writing depending on the story? For instance, does sunshine do more for you if you are writing lighthearted material or stormy weather for something that is heavier? Or does the weather matter at all?

And for readers, do you find that the weather influences what you read or how much?

Kit

Hot time in the old town tonight!

2007-02-14T15:57:00.000-08:00

Okay. Well, this all depends on baby. Last night, my DH had a dozen red roses delivered. I love red roses. I hadn't planned on doing anything for him, but then, I thought perhaps I should... beyond the chocolate cake I baked. So, I'm nattering on the phone with my mother this morning, and she suggests I go to a sex shop for lingerie and a "few other things". (grin) (My mother is in her 70s, btw.) What a great idea, I think. I call my MIL to see if she can watch my dau while I go. (Um, sex shop and baby don't mix in my book. LOL) I'm thinking this is going to take me 15 minutes tops.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Um, no. I wanted to buy some of the toys, but I have no experience with toys. None. Yeah, I edit erotica, but I've just never tried them. First, I feel like you have to trust the person if you are going to play with someone else. Second, the thought of buying a toy never proceeded beyond the thought... until today.

Two and a half hours later and a long conversation punctuated with "Oh, my god", "did you know they had these", "is that what I think it is", "18 inches? Can I cross my legs now?", and so on, I left the store with a neatly wrapped bag for my honey. No lingerie. I have some. Why waste money on more when I can spend it on toys? LOL

So, tonight should be interesting... if the little one decides to go to sleep. We shall see. LOL

I hope your Valentine's Day is spicy and fun... or whatever you are looking for.

Marci

snow again, snow again

2007-02-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

Tuesday is one of my days off, and instead of sleeping in this snowy morning, my brain woke up wide-eyed and alert at 8:30 a.m. with a scene firmly in mind to finish the short story I'm working on for the Romance Divas e-book challenge.

Snow anywhere else? Anybody else writing? Is it just me and the vanilla chai against the world?

Online Stalking Tips on Boom! PR Solutions for Authors

2007-02-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

I was interviewed by the owner of the Boom! PR Solutions for Editors blog:
www.boom-pr-for-authors.blogspot.com

I recently wrote an article on how to protect yourself online from harassers, and the owner of the Boom blog was my editor for the magazine that published the article, so she invited me on to talk about how to protect yourself.

Check out the interview! I hope you learn a little something...and while you're there, show me some love in the comments section...

A Whole Inch? Gee!

2007-02-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that I'm fortunate to have a ay job that's super flexible. Since I work for the federal government, I can't work more than 80 hours every two weeks (try getting a deal like that in a law firm--HA!). And the agency that I work for is allows us to choose when those 80 hours are (I could work 13 hours a day for 6 days straight and then take the next 8 days off and only take 2 hours of vacation if I wanted).

So I work 10 hours a day Monday through Thursday and then have 3-day weekends every week. It's lovely. Perfect opportunity to get lots of writing done.

Anyway, since I don't work on Fridays, I've taken to doing my grocery shopping on Friday afternoons, so I can get it all done without dealing with the rush and chaos that is the store on a Saturday or Sunday. Only today, the aisles were packed and the lines snaked and wrapped around and around.

What the heck?

Sadly, people were out to do their run on eggs, bread, and milk that always happens whenever we get a forecast for snow. Never mind the fact that we're only expected to get an inch, if that. What if we get trapped in our house without eggs, break, or milk?! Oh no! We might not be able to dig out for days!

*shakes head*

We're supposed to get 1 inch, people! 1 inch!

DC is arguably the most powerful city on the planet, yet one loudy inch of snow throws everyone into a tizzy and panic and completely incapacitates us. Pretty darn pathetic.

Pet Peeve in romance

2007-01-29T00:37:00.000-08:00

I recently picked up a historical romance book that had me gritting my teeth. I couldn't finish it. Why? Because it contained rape and portrayed it as, if not necessarily acceptable, something the heroine enjoyed because she found the man extremely attractive. Even though he tied her down against her will, she still managed to be excited about this.

This is a major pet peeve of mine. I do not think rape has any place in a romance novel if portrayed in a light that shows it as anything other than what it is: a heinous crime. Not in this day and age or ever. I also feel strongly that this perpetuates the myth that when a woman says, "no", she really means "yes", even giving this message to women.

Okay, so I understand that some women may fantasize about being forced and that this is fiction, after all, but I can't condone it.

I feel you can create a compelling, satisfying story that doesn't need to include such, well, crap.

So, I ask all of you, what are your thoughts on this subject?

Marci

Music?

2007-01-20T01:42:00.000-08:00

I was having this conversation with some friends, so I thought I'd ask it here. What sort of music inspires you to write? I don't mean what do you play while you're writing, because that's different. I personally can't write with music in the background, only speech, which is weird.

But there are certain songs, certain artistes, which set my creativity going. For example that Beatles' song 'I will'.

And some others I'm too embarrassed to mention, but I will if everyone else does!

Cleaning Machine

2007-01-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

I don't care to clean. My house is not immaculate. I do not suffer from OCD, but there are times I wish I was just a little bit. Take today, for instance. I couldn't stand my shower any longer. It was disgusting. Now, we've had a few people come in to clean in the past few months, but they just don't clean the way it should be. Our shower is not easy to clean. Let me rephrase that: the shower ceiling is not that easy to clean. It's an eight foot high ceiling (old house) and a minuscule shower. Putting two people in the shower is a tight squeeze. So to reach the shower requires one of those sponge mops, but it won't really do that good of a job because the shower is so small that you can't maneuver. Or you have to have a small step stool, which we now have.

Needless to say, the shower ceiling has been neglected for, well, months. I knocked down most of the mold (yes, mold) with one of those sponge mops. Then I brought in the step stool, a sponge, and an old toothbrush. With a concoction of castille soap (with peppermint oil), white vinegar, and oregano oil, I spent the better part of two hours later getting the upper half of the shower to a relatively clean condition. It's not perfect, but it's better than it was. And I didn't die from chemical asphyxiation. LOL

Now, all I have left to do is... too much. Man, I hate cleaning! LOL

Marci

Coffee blech.

2007-01-03T07:16:00.000-08:00

I measured it out. Seattle's Best, 3 tablespoons to 3 6 oz. measurements of water. THAT'S WHAT THE PACKAGE SAID, I SWEAR.

WHY oh WHY does my coffee (if I make it at home) always have the strength of motor oil? WHY?

Why can't I have a decent cuppa at home? Dunkin' Donuts is permanently Out with me, after (last Saturday - Saturday before last?) my fiance went to grab a coffee for me, brought it back, and, upon taking the first sip, I realized I have never in my life had something so vile inside my mouth. NEVER. No, not even THAT was this vile. They must've used rotten coffee with rat turds, and sweetened it with rancid yeti urine, then topped it off with VERY-long expired milk. It was disgusting. Dunkin' Donuts, you're dead to me now, nevermind that I have about $20 in dunkin donuts gift certificates.

And Starbucks? I can't do their regular drip coffee. It tastes like cigarette ashes. The coffee shop at work? I can only stomach their flavored coffees. WHY has the coffee world brought me to this point, WHY?

So now I sit here, sipping the remnants of my motor oil, and reminiscing about the days of old. Just like a Duke.

If anybody has coffee tips, please share them. :(

New Year's Resolutions

2007-01-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

When did it become trendy to decry resolutions? The whole point of starting a new year, clean slate, calendar with no marks in it and no crossed-off days, is dreaming up ways to fill in those blank calendar days. I like New Year's Resolutions. I don't come to the end of the year and kick myself for not meeting them or forgetting about them; I come to the end of the year with the intention of trying again. In fact, it kind of seems to me that foregoing the resolution aspect of the New Year is a very bitter and jaded thing to do.

I'm a writer; I don't get bitter and jaded (much). Every new day brings a new idea and a new proposal, a new "This is it!" idea.

This year, I have a few different resolutions (unfashionable though they may be). I unapologetically resolve to lose weight, to go to water aerobics more regularly, to focus on writing and knitting and my loved ones.

What about you?

Fog...

2006-12-28T15:28:00.000-08:00

It's been an odd couple of weeks. There was a family crisis and on several days I had to belt up and down the motorway between London and Wales -- a round trip of about 350 miles. On the Friday before Christmas, I came back in the early evening, and there was thick fog all the way. Once I got back into London, there was terrible traffic congestion, and I turned off the motorway to try to cut through to my home in the north of the city. It was almost impossible to recognise familiar roads. The fog was thick and greeny-yellow, reminiscent of the famous -- or notorious -- pea-soupers they used to have in Dicken's day. And the smell was terrible.

Anyhow, it's all cleared away now. I was working on Christmas day, but my family had kept me some food which I had at eleven at night. I really enjoyed it though!

I'm also working on New Year's Day, a shift which means getting up at 0530, so I don't think I'll be attending any wild parties the night before!

How?

2006-12-28T09:10:00.000-08:00

How did it happen... how did it get to get 2007? How did I get to be this 41yo woman who moans about the passage of time? How did I get to be the mother of a son who is almost 14 and at 5'9" towers over me? When did my 11yo daughter want a Dooney & Bourke bag and Uggs for xmas? At least my 5yo remains a baby still. I think I'm going to cling to her childhood, letting her make me feel young - that is, until I visit her kindergarten classroom and realize I'm one of the "older moms".

I'm doing a lot of reflecting right now. Wondering if I'm where I thought I'd be. Thinking about where I'd like to head. And wondering whether I'm happy with the person I am. I don't know what put me in this pensive mood, but I'm trying to shake it free. As my mom always told me - I'm dangerous when I'm thinking. lol

Home for the Holidays in West Virginia

2006-12-27T19:06:00.000-08:00

I know we have a couple Appalachian writers out there lurking. I'm not sure if I've outted myself as one before, but I'm doing it now. :) I grew up in the Harrison and Lewis County areas, graduated from highschool at Lewis Co. High, did six weeks of college in Athens WV and a year at Fairmont State before moving on to farther and wider reaches. I moved to Atlanta in 1999, then to Massachusetts in 2000, and only went home to visit mom twice between '99 and this year.

Anyway, now that I no longer live in Massachusetts, and the trip home isn't as harrying and/or expensive as it used to be; and now that I have a fiance to show off, and who wanted to meet the people he was marrying into, fiance and I went home to visit my mom for Christmas. We left Maryland (where I currently reside) on Sunday morning, and struck off across I-68, stopped in Cumberland for a fantastic lunch and wandering around. There was a bagpiper to serenade us because we arrived at lunch hour, and apparently there's always a bagpiper in downtown Cumberland at lunch hour. News to me.

When fiance and I got to Clarksburg (where my mom lives), we stopped at the hotel for check-in before heading off to meet mom. I left the driving directions in the room, though, but I figured I could find it. I knew she lived next door to, or behind, my grandfather, and I knew where HE lived. So that's where I went. Except I couldn't find the street name that was on the directions, and the street my grandfather lived on wasn't the same as the streetname my mother gave me for mapquest. I asked about a dozen people if they knew where Camden Street was, and nobody had the faintest clue. Oh, and did I mention that T-Mobile apparently has no service at all in West Virginia? Because it doesn't, and I was cell phone-less, and nothing was open, and I couldn't find my mommy. I went pounding on my grandfather's front door, getting more and more angry with him for not coming to the door, and finally found somebody with a cell phone who let me use it. Nearly in tears by the time I got ahold of my mother - who told me my grandfather didn't live in that neighborhood anymore, and hadn't for years. I felt ridiculous, almost 30 years old and couldn't find my mom.

The rest of the holiday was wonderful, though, once I found everybody! And on the drive home, I kept pointing out different houses set out in the middle of nowhere, gorgeous fields and views of valleys, and saying to my fiance, "I want to live in THAT house."

He finally said, "That would be nice, but I think we're too social of creatures to be happy there for long."

So I resigned myself to leaving the rural peace and quiet to Zinnia, and just visiting once in a while.

And now that I'm home, I can get on with the business of getting my e-book released. ;)

Welcome!

2006-12-25T00:06:00.000-08:00

To the chatting authors of Freya's Bower. We come here to just shoot the breeze. No talk of business. Just fun. We'll share stories, maybe chat about writing issues, but primarily have fun.

My daughter is not quite two and a half. She's sort of starting to potty train. When I say "sort of", many of you who are parents know this, it's a start/stop process. She's used her "throne" three time. The other day, she was in the bathroom sitting on her throne to go pee. I was in the living room editing an MS when I heard this little voice yell, "I did it again!" She'd peed in her throne. LOL I cracked up. There was such glee and pride in her voice, I couldn't help but smile.

I can't wait to see her reaction tomorrow when she sees the presents from Santa in her stocking. Perhaps I will post some pictures of tomorrow.

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful, peace-filled holiday!

Marci