BIBLIOPHILY

A Supernatural Interview--Check It OUT!!!!

2012-01-27T18:52:00.001-08:00

I must link to this. As a die-hard Supernatural (TV show) fan, I was super excited to see that Carina author Angela Campbell interviewed Emily Perkins, who has acted on the hit show as the character some fans (me) love and some fans (teenage girls) hate, Becky. Go on over and comment. How cool!

Here is Angela's blog link: http://angiecampbell.blogspot.com/2012/01/fun-fridays-q-with-actress-emily.html

Enjoy!

Bragging Rights, or Bragging Wrongs?

2012-01-26T09:02:00.001-08:00

I like to share my good news with others. Sure, I'm good like that. But often I don't. Is this wrong? I'm talking about writing news, of course, not those happy instances when I trip over a shiny new penny on the ground, face side up.

Lately I've been traveling around blogs/twitter/Facebook and catching bazillions of snippets about folks getting awards, getting good reviews, releasing books, etc. I mean, I encourage the positive outlets from others. Makes it nice to know there are good thing happening, but I notice it's the same few tooting their own horns over and over again.

Is this a good thing, since the more you read about a person, the more you remember them? I don't know. As a reader, maybe it would stick with me that this particular author is successful. As a writer, I tend to wonder how they have so much time to hit every board out there jumping for joy over a positive review.

I sound like sour grapes, but that's not it. I get plenty of nice reviews. I announced when I was up for series of the year, even have it on my website. But I'm not shouting it out to the heavens on every venue I have access to, and I'm wondering if I'm wrong in not doing this. But one, I'm busy writing and don't have a lot of time for sloshing through so much social media. And two, it just feels like bragging to me.

Then again, some would call it savvy marketing. I just don't know. I try to blog about topics I find interesting. Every now and then I post a good review or something pertaining to good news, but it's on my personal blog or Facebook page, where you'd expect to see news about ME. The info I'm talking about seeing is on publisher's loops, promo loops, reader loops, writer loops, and any of the many Yahoo groups out there devoted to anything to do with books, entertainment, and general tomfoolery.

Maybe the better question is, what's the proper etiquette for sharing good news? Because I have no idea, and I'm curious as to what others think. Is it bad form to brag? Is it perfectly legitimate to share good news, as long as you don't post more than X times a week? Or am I the only one questioning what is probably a dull topic?

Hell if I know. Now I need a cup of coffee before I get back to work. And a happy Thursday to you all...

I've been Favored by Fortune

2012-01-24T05:00:00.000-08:00

Loving this cover by the talented Anne Cain. AWESOME!!!

FORTUNE'S FAVOR, coming to Loose Id February 7th.

When a playboy joins forces with a straight arrow to find a murderer, more than secrets come to light, but an all consuming attraction between two opposites who definitely attract.

Ch-Ch Changes...

2012-01-23T16:14:00.000-08:00

(Yeah, I'm in changes up to my friggin' knee!)

It's strange how fast change can occur. In characters, it's normally gradual. The weak heroine grows a backbone. An immature hero learns depth and humility. When the change happens overnight, I have a hard time connecting to the characters and story. I've been having a problem with a story I'm working on, because one of my characters had grown stagnant. I've gone through and ripped him back open, planting the seeds for possible growth along the story. Now it's flowing better, and he's not such a pain in my *ss. Well, he still is, because he's a mindreader and he has an attitude, but that's part of his brusque charm.

I always know when something isn't working with a story. When I can't write because I'm stuck, nothing works but changing and smoothing out the rough patches. Then the words flow.

So what made me think of changes... I'll tell you. The other day my mother was nagging--er--asking me to go cross country skiing with her. I'm a cautious soul, and after reading about the mountain closing due to high winds, and then learning about tree wells (which I'd never before heard of), in which you can suffocate if you're not careful, I wasn't too keen on skiing without a few lessons. [Note: If you cross country ski on groomed trails, you're nowhere near tree wells, but I'm a punk and the snow freaks me out after living the past 13 years in the deep South.] Anyway, in order to get to the trails, we drove from my house toward Mt. Bachelor. We went from no snow to drifts and poor visibility in the span of ten minutes. Shocked the crap out of me. Take a look.

Needless to say, some changes I like. Others I'm still trying to wrap my mind around.

I'm a Twit

2012-01-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

Okay. So my friend has been bugging me for months about joining Twitter. Yeah, I've heard about it. I'm not a complete antisocial ostrich with my head in the sand. Then again, I am the type who got a cell phone years later than most people had theirs. I also kicked and screamed my way through MySpace (hated it) and latched onto Facebook (time suck) with dread. Because yes, I waste time looking through posts and funny captions when I should be writing. Although I read the funniest link to a Cracked.com article...

Anyway, so today I took the plunge and joined the millions (or billions) who tweet. 140 characters. I can manage that. And it's not like I have that much to say anyway. So I'm now on twitter. My address, I think, is @MHarte_Author. I have no idea what following someone or being followed really means, except it's another avenue of communications [social media] us technologically savvy authors should have. Uh, yeah. And since I make my living writing books, most of which start out electronically, you'd think I would have gotten on the Twitter bandwagon months/years ago. How the hell old is Twitter, anyway?

Website, check. www.marieharte.com
Blog, check. http://marieharte.blogspot.com
Facebook, check. https://www.facebook.com/marieharteauthor
Twitter, check. https://twitter.com/#!/MHarte_Author

I'm officially tapped out. I can't handle any more electronic socializing or my brain might melt. As it is I'm approaching meltdown. Now back to the WIP. Ack.

Cover Gladness: OUTFOXED

2012-01-20T15:56:00.000-08:00

I've been dying to share this new cover of OUTFOXED, coming out in March from Samhain. This story follows Grady Chastell, a cat shifter, as he tries to outmaneuver a foxy shapeshifter into taking him on. Silly cat. No one out-tricks a fox. But it's fun to watch him try... :)

To read an excerpt, click here.

Coffee--Good for You...?

2012-01-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Coffee drinkers, unite!

I came across this interesting link about coffee intake and diabetes, and am excited to think I might be doing myself more good than harm with my caffeine addiction. Sure, anything in excess is bad for you, but I really like my coffee. It wakes and warms me up. And heck, I just think it tastes good. Besides, it's part of my daily routine. Make coffee, drink coffee, write. My own holy trinity...

This is my coffee of the week. Raven's Brew -- Dharma Beans. It's low acid, really smooth. I like!!!

Snow!

2012-01-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

This is the house next to me. See the snow? Yeah, and now the wind has kicked up. I have to stop taking pictures with the door open! Freezing out there.

And this picture is my backyard. Note the snow is sticking. :) I was crabbing yesterday about it not snowing. Hard to sled and ski with packed stuff, vice fresh powder. Well, doesn't get fresher than this!

What a perfect day to drink coffee and write. Chow!

BODYWORK--Kindle Love

2012-01-13T18:01:00.000-08:00

I was fooling around with Photoshop and stuffed Bodywork into the Kindle. How life imitates art... or in this case, the other way around. :) Happy Friday!

BODYWORK

Their first meeting could have been better. He ran into her and her hot coffee, and raced off with a burn and a snarl. Their second meeting should have been better. He laid naked, face down on her massage table while she stared at him in horror. Being sexually attracted to Mr. Tall, Dark and Rude hadn't been on her agenda. She just wants him out of her massage clinic before he recognizes her or she says something obnoxious before jumping that sexy body. Not professional. Not at all.

But when Shelby Vanzant and Shane Collins meet again, the third time's the charm. Shane has found his match, a sexy, intelligent woman he can't stop thinking about. Shelby is scared, because she might grow to like this guy. The last guy she liked dumped her for someone hotter. She's willing to take a chance--maybe--if her flamboyant mother, Shane's macho best friend and his Casanova of a younger brother don't screw things up. With fate on their side, they might both have a shot at a love they'd stopped looking for.

Available at Amazon, B&N, and All Romance Ebooks

The R Word--Or, Bad Behavior Everywhere

2012-01-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

Here you have a predator and prey. So I ask you. Which is the author and which the reviewer?

I have no idea either.

I had to jump on the review bandwagon today as I recently read about more instances of author/reviewer craziness spewing through the web. I admit I had to work hard to read why one reviewer was so up in arms about someone disagreeing with her review. The guy, not even the author of the book, disagreed with her take. (Unless I missed some point where he insulted her, I was confused about her vitriol.) For that he was digitally tarred and feathered. A bunch of the reviewer's readers jumped on the bandwagon and ripped him and anyone who disagreed with the reviewer to shreds. It was like a shark frenzy, so of course I continued to read the comments. To make matters worse, other authors simply had to add their unasked for opinions on Twitter where they insulted the reviewer and the review, adding fuel to the fire.

sigh

Wait, there's more. Then I happened on Dear Author and a few other sites speculating about the role of the reviewer and how authors should handle things, as well as pointing a few fingers at authors behaving badly. And I have to tell you, one author let fly with what she really felt about reviewers and their effing reviews. Oh boy.

Bottom line: everyone has an opinion. It might not be the one you share, but they have the right to express that opinion in any way they see fit. Writers are told to shut up, sit back, and take it. Sure, you like the 5 star review so you thank the reviewer. So when you get the 1 star, you... thank the reviewer? Not sure about that, but I do know arguing about a review gets you nowhere. Though surely an author has the right to rebut dubious facts or personally critical comments, there's no point. The author comes across looking like a crybaby anyway he/she tries not to.

I've had my share of good and bad reviews. The ones that really annoyed me were points the reviewer completely missed in the book then had the nerve to mention as done poorly. I wanted to respond, pointing out line and page as irrefutable evidence I had not missed the mark. Yeah, and then what? The reviewer still had a bad taste in her mouth and I would have looked defensive. There's always the reviewer who hates erotic romance then takes one of my books and trashes it because it's...erotic romance. Um, then why read it? And other people simply don't like my voice or writing style. Yet that subjectivity is part of the fun of reading. What one person hates, another treasures. What can you do?

Well, if you're an author, you can ignore it. Ignore the bad reviews and use the good to boost your confidence when tough times hit. And if you're really professional, you can slog through the bad stuff and look for trends. Maybe you're not describing your characters well enough. Perhaps the world building isn't up to snuff. And maybe naming all your characters with apostrophes and numbers thrown in to shake things up is annoying.

I have to sit back and shake my head at so many emotional people reading into everything. Because what we write on the Internet has no inflection, it's easy to take things out of context. Of course, f*ck you means f*ck you no matter how you look at it, so that's an easy one to peg. But seriously, how hard is it to realize that in the review game, the authors aren't the point? Reviews help readers. Period. It's one person's opinion about a book. As an avid reader, I pay attention to what other people say. I think it's easy to understand if a book is worth reading from a blurb and a few reader reviews. If someone trashes a book because the heroine is small and blond, then maybe they have some bias against that type. I'm not going to ignore a book based on that kind of review.

Authors do have the right to comment on anything that's out there in a public forum, just as any reader can review a book and say pretty much how they feel, regardless of an author's feelings. I don't think personally attacking an author is smart or necessary, but it happens. And I don't think authors responding and jabbing at any negative comments on their books gives them any credibility or marketing savvy, but shows them to be idiotic in the extreme. Alienating readers is never a good thing, no matter the provocation.

All that said, I'm done my part in analyzing the reviewer/author relationship. I occasionally read over reviews, especially if they're sent to me. And I truly appreciate the time it takes, especially in this market with a bazillion books out there, for someone to read and give my book an honest review, whether she/he liked the book or not. But I've found it to be much healthier to focus on what I can control, and that's writing the best book I can.

Monday Love

2012-01-09T09:53:00.000-08:00

I can't say I love Mondays. I like the start of a new week but HATE early mornings. Today is even more special because my kids were crabbing at each other over a brush. Yes, a hairbrush caused this morning's grudgematch in which a six-year-old annoyed the crap out of his older brother and held onto his mad on his walk to school. The little sucker outlasted my attempt at peace too. Man, I can't wait to see what this kid is like when he's a teenager. Hormones plus stubborness. Hurray, me.

But all is not lost. I'm brewing coffee, have my notes in hand to start my new book, Flight of Fancy, and am 3/4 done Right Wolf, Right Time. But my Cougar Falls book is on the backburner while I write my psychic romance, which has a tighter deadline.

So far, so good tracking for 2012. Now I just have to add some sort of exercise to my day after meeting my writing goals, and I'm solid. Hope your Monday is just as swell.

NOTE: Swell: my word of the day. See if you can work it into conversation.

New Cover: JERICHO JUNCTION

2012-01-06T08:49:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share my latest cover. Very nice, eh? Jericho Junction, a shifter story, is coming to Total E-Bound in March. The guy is the bear, the girl is the mountain lion, and the demon...well, the red eyes bear a slight resemblance. :) It's a menage that's all-for-one and one-for-all hot. And to spice up your Friday, enjoy an excerpt (PG).

***

[Jericho meets his new partner, Lord Seino]

Anson walked beside a male surprisingly as large and brawny as Jericho. He had the same night-dark skin as the other athmae, as well as their long white hair and red eyes. The tips of his ears were pointed, and when he spoke to Anson, Jericho caught the flash of sharp fangs. Yet his build looked more bear-like than demon.

The athmae around him were tall and lean, strong, but not so muscular. Not like this guy.

“Lord Seino.” Liam grinned. His smile widened when the dour-faced demon sighed at him.

“Masterson.” Lord Seino wore a black vest and dark trousers, making him look almost naked since the colour blended into his skin. Cinched to his waist was a demon bone sword, a weapon that could cleave just about anything in two.

Jericho wondered if Lord Seino ever considered he wore a piece of his brethren’s bone , then wondered if the demon would care. Though Liam’s group seemed to have more than sexual feelings for one another, this creature looked positively malevolent.

Jericho released an involuntary growl, and the male’s gaze shifted to him. Pure power enveloped the gathering, and he noticed a few of the other athmae move closer to Liam and Anson.

“Who is this?” The deep voice sent shockwaves through him. An intimidating warrior who shouldered contempt for everyone around him, if Jericho read his frown correctly.

Liam shared a glance with Anson before replying, “Your partner, Jericho. He’s the liaison from the Great Clan Anson was telling you about--”

“Partner? This is intended as amusement?” His disdain made Jericho want to bite him. “A Protector hunts alone. What Kin warrior of any worth needs help from a human?”

“Try bear, *sshole.” Calling Jericho a human was as bad as calling a raptor a chicken. Not done. Not if one wanted to live.

“His name is Jericho Dark Walker,” Liam said softly.

The male opened his mouth to reply but paused. “Dark Walker?”

“Who the f*ck are you?” Jericho was done playing nice with a demon with no manners.

Anson and the other athmae grinned.

The stranger scowled. “I am Lord Seino, Protector of the Seventh Kingdom.”

“Yeah, great. I’m Jericho. Now let’s get moving. We have dead bodies piling up in our forest, Lord Annoying. So if you could take the stick out of your ass, we have an enemy to kill.”

“Oh, well said.” Liam chuckled. When Seino glared at him, he quickly coughed and amended, “About the enemy to kill, of course. We’ll leave you two to get acquainted. Sorry, but the Harvest Festival is in full swing. We have our work to get back to, and you have yours. Lord Seino, mother sends regards to Master Fel.”

Seino nodded stiffly. “I shall give him your respects.”

Anson waved to Jericho. “Good luck. You’re going to need it.” His glance at Seino spoke volumes.

The prince and his group left as one, disappearing into the night as if they’d never been. The moon chose that moment to rise overhead, illuminating Jericho’s companion. Good night, but this male had power. Jericho could smell it on him. Unlike the sexual vibes he’d gotten from the males accompanying Liam, this demon felt cold, controlling, demanding.

Another growl eddied in his breast. A need to show the demon his place rose up out of nowhere.

“Hmm.” Seino circled him, inspecting him like a prized stallion.

“Look, I’m not exactly crazy about partnering up with you either. I’m here to find out how to kill something that needs killing. We don’t have to be friends to do it.”

“Friends? An interesting concept.”

Ignoring the male’s feigned interest, Jericho snapped, “So are we starting in your neck of the woods or mine?” The lure of tranquility in the Great Forest sounded like heaven the more time he spent around Lord Seino. No fighting, dull sex with she-bears or wolves, and more of the same every-day awaiting his beck and call.

Or he could spend time with Lord Attitude.

He ignored his racing heart, the excitement in his breast, and told himself he reacted to the thrill of the hunt. Not some obnoxious demon with arrogance issues.

“Should I assume you are the best your Shifters have to offer?”

“Assume whatever the hell you want. I’m going to track down this monster and kill it. With or without your help.” Jericho marched into Seino’s personal space and met him nose to nose.

Seino didn’t blink. But something changed between them. A subtle sense of acceptance, maybe? In any case, Seino gave him a subtle nod but didn’t back away. So Jericho did, trying not to feel as if he lost ground by doing so.

“We should go to my land, so you can see what we’re dealing with there.” Seino blinked at him, his red eyes like ruby pools of promise.

Of promise? What the hell?

“Shall we go?” Seino held out a hand.

“What?”

“Grab my hand and hold on. Our portal to the Seventh Kingdom is difficult to traverse. But you need to see what we’re up against, Dark Walker.”

Jericho reluctantly put his hand in the large palm of the demon’s. It was cool to the touch...at first. But as he stared into Seino’s eyes, the demon gripped him tighter. Heat blossomed and traveled throughout his body, centering embarrassingly in his crotch. He didn’t have the nerve to see if Seino was similarly affected.

“Hold on, Dark Walker, and prepare to travel.”

The world changed in the blink of an eye.

***

Mark of Lycos, where the line between animal and man is a thin veil separated by the will of the gods. Don't miss the first books in the series--Enemy Red and Wolf Wanted.

Funny Goovin'

2012-01-04T11:33:00.000-08:00

I saw this on one of Yahoo's best music videos of 2011. It's hilarious if you're familiar with the Beastie Boys, and hey, it's the Beastie Boys. Some fun to break up the week and get you in the mood to groove (and me to tap that keyboard and write.) So Make Some Noise...

2012 Starts With a Bang

2012-01-02T13:39:00.000-08:00

Already into the new year and good things are happening!

Closing the Deal was #1 and is now #2 at Samhain Publishing
I'm back to writing and loving my new story, Right Wolf, Right Time
I've been nominated by Love Romances Cafe in three categories

Best Series of 2011 for my Dawn Endeavor series
Best Author of 2011
Best Science Fiction/Fantasy/Dystopian book for Journeyman's Ride

I hope 2012 continues in this vein. Joy, joy. Now if the Oregon Ducks win the Rose Bowl, it'll be a hat trick of good tidings. :)

#1...Into the New Year

2011-12-31T01:08:00.001-08:00

Not sure how long it will last, but Closing the Deal is #1 at Samhain on this auspicious last day of 2011. A good sign for the new year, I'm thinking. I'll take it!

Happy New Year to everyone, and may 2012 be a prosperous, happy, healthy year for us all.

Three More Days

2011-12-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

Just three more days until we usher in a new year. I can't believe this one has flown by so fast. Have I done what I wanted to do in 2011? Am I ready for 2012?

I've been through several life changing events this year. Since I've never considered change a bad thing, I'm pleased to say I'm happy where I am now, not only physically, but emotionally. Sure there are things I wish I did better, and others I hope to improve, but my resolutions are to stay strong and true to myself. Everything else will follow suit.

Writing has been my steadfast companion throughout my adult life, and I know I wouldn't want to live without it. A few friends of mine were discussing writing several days ago. They all write, so we have a common tie linking us together, aside from the camaraderie. And we all agreed. Paycheck or no paycheck, we'll write until we're buried six feet under. That's a resolution always in the making and in the doing. To continue to create, as much for others' enjoyment as for our own.

So to 2012, I say, bring it on. I'll still be writing, still listening to my characters and jotting down their stories. :) Any resolutions coming your way?

New Release: CLOSING THE DEAL

2011-12-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hurray! Today, Closing the Deal releases from Samhain. It's a fun, sexy contemporary featuring Derrick Warren and Sydney Fields, first introduced in the bestselling Enjoying the Show.

Here's the blurb, and a link to an excerpt follows.

When stubborn meets sexy, love is up for grabs…but one of them is playing for keeps.

Derrick Warren has lusted after Sydney Fields ever since he first spotted her, and after months of intense phone conversations, he’s finally got the delectable redhead all to himself.

All he has to do is let the old Warren magic do its thing…until an ex with an axe to grind shows up. Before he knows it, the perfect date ends with Sydney’s wine in his lap. Now she’s not taking his calls. To his utter shock, he realizes he’s going to have to work to win her over.

Thanks to her mother’s bad example, Sydney is determined to never need a man. Just when she’s moved Derrick to her “loser” column, though, she’s tricked into giving him another chance. To her surprise, he not only satisfies her deepest sexual fantasies, she finds herself actually craving his company.

But when she realizes they’re making love, not just having sex, her old instincts kick in. Because she’s starting to like the man, not just his body.

And that, more than anything else, scares the hell out of her…

Product Warnings:

Look out for a stubborn redhead who’s not afraid to throw her wine, her opinion, or her body at the annoyingly sexy architect determined to keep her for his own.

To read an excerpt, click here.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Have a very merry Christmas!

Contest--Hurry to Check it Out

2011-12-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

Ack! My post was all set to go yesterday, and yet it never arrived. In any case, I had a terrific interview at Book Reviews & More by Kathy. She also posted a giveaway for Closing the Deal, my newest release from Samhain that comes out right after Christmas, Dec 27th. You can still get in on the contest, I believe. For details, click here.

New Review: TALSON'S MATCH

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

A new review from JERR--Just Erotic Romance Reviews--for Talson's Match.

Title: Talson’s Match
Author: Marie Harte
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Reviewer: Elizabeth Charles
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Heat Level: H

Romy traveled to Port Chase to commence an undercover investigation of some problems at his family’s shipping yard.
Before he arrived, his Otra powers allowed his to connect psychically with a woman named Tara in a sexual wet dream.

When he arrived he discovered that Tara was an Otra female who thought she was human. And the manager he was investigating at the shipping yard thought Tara was his territory. Romy wasn’t about to let Tara consider any other man but him.

I have read a few of the Talson series, but Talson’s Match was my favorite. There is some back story introduced but it
is minor, and the book can be read as a stand alone because the author deftly catches you up on the world building.

Fans of the series will enjoy the opportunity to reacquaint themselves with past heroes. There is a brief amount of family interaction, but not too much, so the story does not turn its focus from the main characters. One of Romy’s primary characteristics is that he has a lot of Otra talents and continually develops more than the average Otra. Meeting Tara activates even more of his gifts. Despite some convenient powers during fight scenes, the author does a good job of
not overwhelming this story with a string of new powers. The relationship between Romy and Tara was great to watch develop. One of the reasons I enjoyed this book the best was the sex scene where Romy and Tara bonded. His power came in handy, when instead of having to bring in a second male to finish the bond, Romy’s powers allowed him to duplicate himself for a hot ménage scene. Talson’s Match is a sexy entertaining installment in the Talson series.

Today's the Day

2011-12-20T12:57:00.001-08:00

Today's the day! Go to All Romance eBooks for a free download of Bodywork. And ho ho ho!

Here Be Magic Today

2011-12-19T11:04:00.000-08:00

I'm at Here Be Magic today promoting the Twelve Days of Christmas give-away at All Romance eBooks. My book is free starting tomorrow, for 48 hours. As long as you have an ARe account, you can search my name or the book title to get to Bodywork, then download it for free in the formats offered: PDF, EPUB, HTML, PRC (kindle). This isn't just for those who celebrate Christmas either. :) Happy holidays, everyone. And enjoy!!

Edits and MORE Edits...A Good Thing

2011-12-15T11:50:00.000-08:00

I skipped posting yesterday, because I am finishing putting my new house together. Working oven. Check. Blinds. Check. Mounted TV on the wall? Not yet... But I'm getting there. Despite the house interruptions, I was ready to start my next Cougar Falls story, about Monty GrayClaw, the lone wolf in the Catamount Pride, when I received edits and proofs to finish. Poor Monty is waiting patiently while cat shifters and psychics with grudges are corrected and edited.

Good news though! I have the proofs for Outfoxed, my next Cougar Falls book due out in March 2012, and the book looks terrific. I love the story even more now...that it's finished, that is. haha Grady, Burke's brother (first introduced in Rachel's Totem) meets his match in a cat/fox Shifter. Lots of pranks in this story--fun.

And Fortune's Favor, my m/m psychic suspense in which rivals become lovers, is looking fantastic. Fortune's Favor is part of my PowerUp! series about psychics, a kind of spinoff from the Circ books, where I introduced the concept of government agents with psychic backgrounds. The book has gone through second edits. Then on to more corrections from the final line editor. Then proofs, more corrections... One of things I really like about writing for Loose Id is that they are extreme about edits. And that's a good thing. There's nothing worse than reading a book with spelling and grammatical mistakes every other line. It can be frustrating as an author, because it means a lot of work to make the book right. But that's what I, as a reader, want. So writers, get to work!

And now, since I'm a writer, I'm getting back to work. Happy Thursday!

Free Books!

2011-12-13T11:27:00.001-08:00

Today kicks off All Romance eBooks's 12 days of Christmas free book event. If you haven't jumped on this, you're missing out. The only caveat is you need to have an ARe account, which is free. So sign in and download a free book a day for the next 12 days. Bodywork, my contribution, is available for free Dec 20 and 21. Enjoy, and here's the link http://www.allromanceebooks.com/index.html.

The Fun, The Frisky, and the Fat

2011-12-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Though I'd F it up today, and considering it's a Monday, why the F not?

The holidays, they are acomin'. Fast. I recently put up our Christmas tree, a real one that didn't cost an arm and a leg. Living in Oregon is already showing its perks. We had fun yesterday decorating while I cleaned pine needles off the floor. The tree looks really cool at night, but alas, my camera is on auto flash and I didn't have the patience to adjust it. So I took the picture and hopped on the computer to download it.

More fun: A contest winner recently sent me her manuscript to edit, and for once I get to go over someone else's work with a fine tooth comb. So of course, I'm excited about the small break when my editor at Loose Id also hits me up with edits for Fortune's Favor, coming out in February. sigh. I was a leg up, and then not so much. Good news is my edits don't look too substantial...yet. So I'll be having fun with Author M's manuscript, a contemporary erotic novella, and I'll finish my edits for Ann without a sweat.

So where's the frisky, you might ask? Sorry to disappoint, but I'm talking about a frisky mind. My office is fully finished being painted and outfitted. Computer's hooked up, printer and Internet are working, and I have bookshelves that go to the ceiling. Yes, I'm in writer heaven. I also recently added my trusty cork board to the wall, where my pictures of Clint Eastwood, Garfield, myriad notes, title ideas, and my writing schedule for 2012 await. Joy! Seriously. These comforts help me work. I start Right Wolf, Right Time today. And after leading up to his story in Dean's tale--A Matter of Pride, which I just handed in to my editor--I can't wait to dig into Monty's love life.

Now for the fat part of my post...I have not been exercising in forever! I've got to stretch my legs a bit. Playing wall-ball with my kids over the weekend doesn't count. So my schedule today is to be available for a possible important phone call, get kids to school, perhaps take important call, exercise, write, write, and write. School lets out on Friday, which is great for the kids, not so great for my production. It'll be a busy, busy me for the next few days.

I'm also utterly behind on all my Christmas shopping (13 days left and counting) so if I'm sounding too perky for a Monday morning, fear not. I'm already playing catch-up on the holiday. Cheers.

Grayson's Gamble--Now At Amazon!

2011-12-09T05:00:00.000-08:00

Grayson's Gamble is now available at Amazon!

A Dawn Endeavor Story

Grayson Belle was born a Circ--a creature with the ability to shapeshift. He tolerates Sebastian, his new partner, more than alarmed when he begins to develop an odd attraction to the man. Unlike the artificially created Circs, he controls his desires. But soon he's wanting not only Sebastian, but a rogue female Circ he's been assigned to terminate. Things go from bad to worse when his inner beast takes an extreme liking to the pair. It acts on instinct, and Gray will have decide to listen to his head or his heart. Protect himself from a future he hadn't planned, or defend his mates when danger comes calling and his heart demands satisfaction?

Done...Almost

2011-12-08T10:42:00.001-08:00

Thought I'd share a few pics of the new office. It's still a work in progress, and I don't have all my books here yet, but look at their new home!

When Will It Be Done?????

2011-12-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

I had thought the process would be fairly simple. Create office space with handy carpenter. He builds desk and bookshelves. Handy crew my mom uses all the time installs it. Bam, office.

Except some pieces didn't fit, and the crew didn't know exactly how they were supposed to go together, and the guy, who does incredible work, kept showing up later than promised to deliver things.

It's all working out well, but man, I've been super stressed since last Friday, when I was hoping to have the pieces to get the crew in for install. Needless to stay, my house is still not put together, but I was okay with that so long as I had an office to work from.

I've been typing from the kitchen table, having to come back to my mom's for Internet. Bleh. But today, the cable guy comes out to fix that problem. And I just left the guys at my place finishing the office. Yippee! I can live without a fireplace mantle, but an office? It's a must have. I'll share pictures once it's done. Fingers crossed...

One good note: I'm ready to send in Dean's (Cougar Falls cat shifter) story to my editor. So that's done. Now on to Monty, the wolf.

House Happenin's

2011-12-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

This is my new house. It's an old picture, though, because there's now a house right next to it. So I'm in the house, and it's mostly finished. Except...NO INTERNET.

I'm typing this from my temporary residence, where I've been working since I moved out West. Here I have Internet service, cable, and entertainment in the form of television. The new place...nothing until Wednesday. ACK!

I hadn't realized how addicted I am to the computer and television until now. Actually, the television not so much. Internet? Well, aside from it being vital to my work, I really like to surf the net. Mostly I check out Facebook, email, IM and author blogs. But not having access to it except for my smartphone is a real PITA.

I feel like I've been gifted with an incredible present by being able to blog and Facebook and type again. I mean, I'm typing at the new house on my laptop, but it's not the same. My computer desk isn't there, the keyboard is much smaller, and like I said before, no Internet access.

So cross your fingers all goes well tomorrow and Wednesday. Tomorrow my office is installed, and Wednesday I get plugged back into the digital world. Hurray!

BODYWORK--It's Finally Here!

2011-12-01T16:39:00.001-08:00

BODYWORK is a brand new, 65356 word contemporary romance I've just released. The formatting has given me nightmares--or would have if I'd gotten any sleep last night. sigh.

But the story is solid, funny, sexy, and yes, again, sexy. It's available at All Romance eBooks and Amazon, and I couldn't be happier with it. There's a hot guy who likes to run, a sexy woman who's addicted to coffee, a best friend with man issues, another best friend with woman issues, a younger brother who thinks he's Casanova reincarnated, parents who interfere, read the stars, and rely on hoodoo to enhance love, and crazy, non-vanilla sex in a multitude of places.

Enjoy a blurb and an excerpt...

Their first meeting could have been better. He ran into her and her hot coffee, and raced off with a burn and a snarl. Their second meeting should have been better. He laid naked, face down on her massage table while she stared at him in horror. Being sexually attracted to Mr. Tall, Dark and Rude hadn't been on her agenda. She just wants him out of her massage clinic before he recognizes her or she says something obnoxious before jumping that sexy body. Not professional. Not at all.

But when Shelby Vanzant and Shane Collins meet again, the third time's the charm. Shane has found his match, a sexy, intelligent woman he can't stop thinking about. Shelby is scared, because she might grow to like this guy. The last guy she liked dumped her for someone hotter. She's willing to take a chance--maybe--if her flamboyant mother, Shane's macho best friend and his Casanova of a younger brother don't screw things up. With fate on their side, they might both have a shot at a love they'd stopped looking for.
To read an excerpt, click here.

Almost There...

2011-11-30T10:37:00.000-08:00

Just finishing up with Bodywork before its release. Polish, edit, polish, and then done...

Back In the Black: Or Just How Much Can You Make Writing Ebooks Part 2

2011-11-28T09:55:00.000-08:00

BACK IN THE BLACK: Just How Much Can You Make Writing Ebooks Part 2

In May 2010, I wrote a blog article about how much one might expect to make writing e-books. I used my own figures off what I made in 2009, just as Amazon’s Kindle was starting to have major impact on my sales and the publishing industry as a whole.

Fast forward to November 2011. In 2009, I earned $38000 from ebooks, publishing through several electronic houses. In 2010, I earned $64000. And in 2011, I have already cleared over $100,000 to date. How is this happening? And how can I make it continue to happen?

I can only go by my own facts and figures, and the reason I’m doing this is once again I have people asking me about writing for epublishers. Is it a viable option? Can you make any money at it? I have my own questions about self-publishing, that thanks to open and forthcoming authors, I’ve had answered. The more authors share, the easier it is to see what’s real and what’s fantasy. I didn’t make this amount of money with one release with a publisher no one but a tiny few have heard of, and I didn’t make it with my first release in 2005. It is and continues to be a lot of hard work, full of edits, challenges, rejections, acceptances, and try-again’s.

I have fifty-six--and by the end of the year will have fifty-eight--titles published since I started writing back in 2005. I produce on average ten new works per year. Some stories that I’ve put out are older titles I’ve revised, meaning less work for the most part, but most are new. I don’t write lengthy stories. Some are novellas, some novels, but most are category-sized, ranging from 40-50K (thousand) words in length. I write erotic romance in a multitude of genres, and I enjoy what I write.

I also write fairly fast. On a good day, I can write anywhere from 10-20K words. I didn’t say they were perfectly written. They’re draft, but they’re pretty close to what I keep after edits. On a typical day filled with distractions, kids, and messes, I’ll write around 5K words. So it doesn’t take me long to write a novella. I’m currently scheduled to finish one project a month to meet deadlines. I have so many ideas in my “Pending” folder, I'll never run out of projects.

As far as marketing and promotion go, I don’t do nearly enough, and I still can’t figure out what works. I advertise through The Romance Studio and Romance Junkies, two review sites that are very friendly to authors. I’ve tried to blog hop, have offered a few contests and chats, but I don’t see the return on my time, with the exception of guest blogging. Reader blog sites can help promote through word of mouth.

I publish through the “big three” romance electronic publishers: Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id and Samhain. My over all best seller is a novella entitled Enjoying the Show. For a history on the book, see my earlier blog post. In a nutshell, I wrote the book in 2006, had it published with Samhain in December of 2007, and watched the story move into Kindle’s top 100 bestselling romances in early 2011. In one month alone I made over $8000 with this one story. That’s incredible, and it shows what the power of Amazon can do for backlist. In all, Enjoying the Show has sold 34,734 copies since its release, and it continues to sell. Like my other releases, backlist contributes the majority of my royalties, courtesy of third party vendors (like Amazon, B&N, etc).

When a new book releases, that first week it’s at the publisher’s website, prominently displayed, earns me the most money. My royalty rates are between 35 and 40% and aren’t diluted by third party commissions. The first month my book is available, I’ll see nice revenue. And then it seems to trickle away, lost among the many other releases from the publisher. But at Amazon, B&N or All Romance eBooks, my sales accumulate. There’s such a large audience buying from these places that my book is exposed to more and more people all the time.

Which leads me to a new venue I’m recently exploring--self-publication. I’d hesitated for a long time because of the predominantly negative reaction to authors who self-publish (in the romance writer world), which is regrettable. There are many talented authors out there who publish their own work. Unfortunately, there are also many, many more that don’t care about edits, cover copy or art and simply wish to rake in profits off shoddy work. Only the reader can say which is which, but the chaff out there makes it harder for authors wanting readers to take a chance on self-published titles. (Hey, I’m a reader too. I totally understand about saving my money for those books I might find entertaining, from authors I trust. But I don’t mind trying out a newbie if the price is right.)

I took a revised work I’d put out with another publisher years ago, now having my rights back, and extensively revised it, because I didn’t want to give readers the impression that my old work is my new work. (Plainly said, I write better today than yesterday and don’t rely so heavily on adverbs and dialogue tags—ugh.) I published A Familiar Face August 28, 2011. I distributed the book through All Romance eBooks, Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and priced it at .99, since it was an older novella. To date, the book has sold 1952 copies, not counting November’s numbers. That’s not a lot of money to be made, considering I’ll only see anywhere from 35-40% on a .99 sale, but I don’t have to share with a publisher and my take is my own. I deduct a bit for promotion and the stock images I used to create a cover, and I’ve so far netted $813. Mind you, I won’t see this total amount for a while, as most of my distributors pay 60 days after the close of the month, but still. For an older book I retooled, this isn’t a bad take.

I won’t say I wouldn’t like to still find a NY print publisher for broader distribution of my work, but finding the right place has been tricky. Agents and publishers are being far more selective now than they ever were, and with the publishing model changing so much, they have a right to be choosey. But so do I.

I write ebooks, some of which go into print. I get paid monthly , though two of my publishers pay me quarterly. I don’t need to worry about earning out an advance because I don’t get one. I’m paid for what I’ve sold, and I like that. I write daily, as it’s my job. I also schedule releases by making sure I have product to give to my publishers. I’m not late on submissions or edits, and I keep a professional tone because this is my business.

When I first started getting published electronically, many authors still snubbed ebooks. An RWA chapter I used to belong to refused to allow me to list my accomplishments alongside traditionally published authors because they didn’t consider my book “real.” Well, now the big 6 in the industry are promoting electronic books, and I’m making a comfortable living writing them. It’s work, no doubt, but it’s satisfying. And the self-publishing aspect is freeing. I don’t worry about cover art matching the book or my voice being changed by my editor. I also have no one to blame if my books is crap, because I’m the writer, editor, artist, etc. Or at least, I’m responsible for finding qualified people to do those things for me.

I am very happy publishing with Ellora’s Cave, Loose Id, Samhain and Total E-Bound. I also enjoy creating stories and publishing them myself, when time allows. I do think it’s very possible to be successful in epublishing, but I think self-publishing successes happen more when an author has a following or writes that extremely rare breakout book that gets a lot of buzz.

My 2011 is nearly finished. I have a new title I’m publishing myself--Bodywork-- which releases in just a few more days. It’s a brand new, 60000 word contemporary erotic romance that I hope readers will enjoy. In December, my sequel to Enjoying the Show, entitled Closing the Deal, releases with Samhain. I can only dream that it will do what Enjoying the Show has done for my career.

In 2012, I have 7 books contracted for release. I intend to have finished, and hopefully released, 4 more. Lots to do and little time to get it done. But with time, enjoyment, and hard work, I’ll make my deadlines and enjoy the fruits of my labor. If I can do it, I know others can. I’ve heard of one self-published author making over $100000 on one book, and this from a romantic suspense author not published with a small or large print house, but by herself. I know of small press epublished authors making the same or more than I’m making, and I also hear of authors making much less.

In any case, I feel that if just one person enjoys the book I’ve written, I’ve been successful. The dollars help, because hey, I need to pay my bills, but I could make money working at a nine-to-five job. Writing is a calling and a passion, one I’m happy and lucky enough to enjoy. If you’re serious about writing and want to make a living doing so, don’t stop because someone rejects you. And don’t stop because it’s hard or you hate hearing try again. Suck it up, type the words, and listen to criticism. Write the best story you can, and believe it or not, the rest will come. And if not, you can always say I was full of crap. See? A silver lining, any way you look at it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T01:42:00.000-08:00

Enjoy your holiday, spend time with family, and give thanks!
From me, a big thank you to all my readers. Happy Thanksgiving.

New Release: GRAYSON'S GAMBLE

2011-11-22T01:55:00.001-08:00

Today, Grayson's Gamble, a Dawn Endeavor book, releases from Loose Id. It's a shapeshifter menage with lots of tension, wit, and snarky attitude between an arrogant Circ, his sexy, put-upon partner, and a rogue female both men know should belong to them.

BLURB:Grayson Belle was born a Circ--a creature with the ability to shapeshift. He tolerates Sebastian, his new partner, more than alarmed when he begins to develop an odd attraction to the man. Unlike the artificially created Circs, he controls his desires. But soon he's wanting not only Sebastian, but a rogue female Circ he's been assigned to terminate. Things go from bad to worse when his inner beast takes an extreme liking to the pair. It acts on instinct, and Gray will have decide to listen to his head or his heart. Protect himself from a future he hadn't planned, or defend his mates when danger comes calling and his heart demands satisfaction?

To read an excerpt, click here.

Grayson's Gamble, from Loose Id

New Cover: GRAYSON'S GAMBLE

2011-11-21T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've been dying to see this cover and show it off. Grayson's Gamble is the latest of my Dawn Endeavor books about an arrogant Circ (shapeshifter), his sexy, beleaguered partner, and a rogue female teetering on the verge of losing what's left of her humanity. I'm loving this cover by the talented Justin James. Check it out...

The Weather Outside Is Frightful

2011-11-18T11:07:00.000-08:00

I woke this morning to a bright white sky covered in clouds and snow flurries. A perfect day to stay home writing.

From outside of the front porch, this is what I see. And it's tons better now, at eleven in the afternoon, than it was earlier today, when the streets were white. Coming from Georgia, this is quite an awakening to the wintery weather of Central Oregon. And I'm loving it! My kids started the day throwing snowballs at one another. Reminder to self: buy gloves, boots, ski pants, sleds, hats, ice scraper...

So pretty, eh? This is the weather I had in mind when I wrote Whispered Words. And it's similar to the environment my Circs encounter in Grayson's Gamble--well, minus the snow. But the mountains are the same. :)

Happy Friday!

A Guest Blog and a Chance to Win Fallon's Flame

2011-11-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Wednesday! I'm featured today at Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies, Oh My! and giving away an e-copy of Fallon's Flame. I'm also talking about the Dawn Endeavor series and Grayson's Gamble, my upcoming release -- out next week -- from Loose Id.

Here's the link. Enjoy!

Another Monday, Here We Go

2011-11-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

Must...get...coffee.......

Now that I've had a cup and am working on demolishing a pot, an update.

1. My all wheel drive vehicle earned its price tag this weekend, when I hit my first snow storm outside of friggin' Portland. &^^%$#@@!! rain and snow.
2. Was behind on story, now on top of it. A Matter of Pride, a Cougar Falls story centered around Dean Chastell, is now 99.9% finished.
3. Working on edits for Outfoxed, my next Cougar Falls story centered around Grady Chastell. (Due for release from Samhain in March 2012.)
4. Once edits are done, back to work on A Matter of Pride and Bodywork--due to be released Nov 30th.
5. And now, more coffee.

Thank You

2011-11-11T08:38:00.001-08:00

Thank you to all who've served and continue to serve our country. In particular, I'd like to thank my friends Maria and Jake. :) Semper Fi.

236th Marine Corps Birthday

2011-11-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

Happy 236th Birthday, Marines! Semper Fi!

The Re-Read

2011-11-09T09:17:00.000-08:00

People--who don't read--think I'm crazy for having such a huge amount of books. It's not a collection, I tell them. Because it's not. My library does not just gather dust. I've read every book I own on those shelves more than once. More than twice. There are some I revisit more than others, like old friends, years after their release. I remember plots and characters, but going back is opening up those pages of joy all over again. The memory is there but fuzzy, so refreshing it gives me that happy buzz.

Some reads I need when I'm feeling blue, others when I need to just laugh, and others when I'd like something to steam up my windows. Series books make great re-reads because I can see familiar characters and lead-ins to their romances, one at a time. I don't have to wait months or years to know how the next hero saves the day. Not when I already own the book.

You'd think the advent of the Kindle or Nook would have changed my library and reading standards. But no. To me, a good story is a good story, no matter its medium. So I'm good reading on an electronic device or holding actual pages in my hand. I admit I like to keep a series in the same family type as I bought the first book, all ebooks, all mass market, hard back or trade, not some of each. But I'll also take what I can get. In this day and age, price matters, sad to say.

Right now I'm lamenting the fact that most of my library is back on the East Coast, alone and lonely, with no one to turn their pages. I won't be reunited with my books until next summer, when I go back to drag them out West. But hey, they're still there. And being so far apart from them guarantees me "fresh" reads when I set up my new library out here.

Some of my favorite rereads...
Shelly Laurenston's Pride series and dragon books
Jayne Ann Krentz's Arcane series and futuristics
Jose Litton's books, (wish the heck she'd write more)
Anything by Sabrina Jeffries
Feehan's Carpathian series
Jill Gregory's Thunder books (set in Wolf River, MT)
David Eddings Belgariad

Happy Reading. :)

Plugging Away

2011-11-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

Last week, I had a birthday. Yes, yes, another year older. But my mother surprised me by flying in a friend I hadn't seen in years. I opened a door and bam, there she was.

We spent a great weekend catching up. She brought New Jersey to Oregon, and I returned to the "what are you lookin' at" and "up yours" days of my youth. Our Philly meets Jersey smackdown ended amicably with lots of laughs, cake, beer, and well wishes.

This morning--at an ungodly hour--I dropped her off at the airport. She gets to spend the day flying back east. Now I sit at my computer once more, plugging away at my soon-to-be-due project. Nothing like pressure to get the creative juices flowing. That and coffee.

Today's Brew: Black Butte Gold, a local brew from Sisters Coffee Company. (Sisters, Oregon is a hop, skip and a jump from Bend.) And can I just say, YUM! Happy Tuesday.

Unveiling...A New Cover!

2011-11-02T05:00:00.000-07:00

I hadn't planned to show this off yet, but I'm scrambling to do some promotion and needed the cover like yesterday. It appeared briefly at All Romance eBooks and disappeared as quickly. The book won't be out until late November. But until then, here's a glance at my upcoming contemporary romance, Bodywork. Er, at the cover at least. :)

To read a blurb about it, go to my website, on the Coming Soon page.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Remember to enjoy this holiday. Don't be scared. If you're in danger, close your eyes and wish really hard. Then the super ninjas of death and their pet doodle* will arrive to defend you from peril. Truly. Try it and see.

* Doodle=poodle/golden retriever + demon mix

Funny for Friday

2011-10-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

I love the Far Side by Gary Larson. I wanted to cry when they stopped making the yearly calendars. This is one of my favorites. Enjoy, and happy Friday!

How Many Is Too Many...Stories?

2011-10-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

How many is too many? And no, I'm not talking about sexual partners. Disappointing, I know, but I find this an interesting topic. It applies to pretty much everything. Too many days volunteering with PTA. Too many projects taken on for family and friends. Too many directives at work that somehow landed on your desk. Do you do them all at once or focus based on priority due date, one at a time? The writing world is just as hectic, at least for me.

How many stories at once is too much? For some authors, writing two or even three stories at a time is par for the course. Some work on one during the day, another at night. Or they swap them every other day. I've gone to author websites and seen progress bars on the many works an author is working on, to show percentages complete.

Me? I have a hard enough time working on one story. I need to immerse myself in the characters and plot, and if the story is lighthearted, I tend to want everything I'm writing to be that easygoing. But lately, I've been experimenting. I have my schedule roughly fitted for 2012 already, so I know what I'm going to be working on and when. But there's another story I wanted to try, one that's different from anything I've done. I have three chapters of it written, in first person point of view, and for a young adult audience. Yeah, WAY different. And I like it. It's freeing me expand my writing, to search for better descriptions while at the same time keeping in mind the right tone and violence for a younger audience. Will I ever publish it? I don't know, but I do know it's something I would have loved to read as a girl. I've sporadically worked on it at night, because during the day I have other work to do.

Yet what do I do when I get stuck on my "day job"? Sometimes I muddle through a problematic part of the story, other times I might go to something completely different. And that's actually a great reason to have something waiting in the wings. So that when I'm at a standstill, I'm not wasting my brain. I can create in a different way for a different set of characters and unravel the knot keeping me from my problem story.

So for me, I'd have to say two is the magic number. Two stories to have available for work at any given time. And that's my Thursday tidbit. :)

It's A Deadman Day

2011-10-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Yeah, it's a Deadman's Reach kind of day. This is some stellar coffee (from Raven's Brew, if you're interested.) Organic, full bodied, and just yummy on a 34° day. It's AWESOME outside. Clear and bright and cold. Just the way I like it.

When I realized I'd hadn't posted since last week, I thought I'd share an update. I'm currently working on A Matter of Pride, a Cougar Falls story centered on Dean Chastell, a prankster and cat shifter first introduced in Rachel's Totem, the first of my Cougar Falls books with Samhain.

The story is really fun, and I'm having a blast writing it. That is, I'm having fun writing when I can find the time! Between carting kids to the dentist, volunteering to help with Running Club and math with 6-year olds, my calendar is getting full. Not to mention finishing up the business of buying a house. (What a huge pain.) But the house and the kids are worth it. Now, however, I have an empty house and blissful quiet. No more errands for the rest of the day. Time to get writing!!!

Here's a teaser of my current project, which I don't normally share, but I'm loving this story...

Cougar Falls, Montana

A door upstairs slammed. Swearing, snarls, and spitting hisses pierced the early morning quiet of what promised to be a beautiful summer day. Life in the Pride was never dull, but today looked to be especially interesting.

Whistling, Dean Chastell grabbed a cup of coffee and reveled in the love and gladness just being in the pride afforded.

“Son of a b*tch! I’m going to kick your *ss, Chastell!” Miles Bermin, fellow shapeshifter and current Catamount Ranch guest, had been using the shower upstairs because the water heater in his cabin wasn’t working.

At least, not since Dean had tampered with it.

“Miles?” From upstairs, Burke’s deep voice sounded rusty. “What the hell? It’s not even seven yet.” Great, now Burke would be in a bad mood. Dean’s oldest brother and pride leader wasn’t exactly pleased with him lately. Not after yesterday’s mess with the gray wolves.

The mangy bastards.

Dean decided it might be prudent to leave before he was discovered--and fast--and bumped into one such gray wolf on his way out the back door.

“Where are you off to so early?” Monty GrayClaw, the only wolf in the pride, yawned and stretched as he entered the house. “I thought today was your day off.”

Dean shrugged. “Just thought I’d get in a few--”

Burke’s laughter echoed through the house.“Holy sh*t. Is your hair blue?”

Monty blinked. “Your brother’s up early. This can’t be good. And who’s he talking to?”

“Yeah, it’s blue,” Miles roared. “I have business matters to attend to today, not to mention a date later this evening. And f*cking blue hair?”

Monty’s grin stretched across his lips. “Nice.”

Like Dean, Miles didn’t particularly care for the snotty cats from Miami. They tolerated the females well enough—mostly—but Miles was a huge pain the *ss at the best of times. It didn’t help that the women in town thought he walked on water and could do no wrong.

Dean did his best to look innocent, and failed miserably when Monty started laughing. Loudly.

Footsteps pounded overhead. Miles’s scent drew closer, robust with the heat of rage. Considering the guy had a few inches on Dean, as well as a surprisingly muscular frame under the stupid designer suits he often wore, Dean inched past Monty toward the door.

“I’d hurry if I were you.” Monty nodded for him to go.

Deciding avoidance made sense--because who wanted to fight so early on a gorgeous Friday morning?--Dean slipped outside and into his truck. He turned the key and shifted into reverse when the passenger door opened.

Christ, wasn’t one of them enough to deal with today? He stared in dismay at the most beautiful--and annoying--woman he’d ever had the misfortune to know. “Not now, Stacey. I’m late for work.”

“You have off today.” Miles’s sister just stood there looking finer than fine.

“Come on. I have things to do. Shut the door and move away.”

He inched the truck back. Any second now and Miles would be out the door…

“I need a ride into town.” She glanced behind her at the backdoor and frowned.

Fuming because he had two choices—give in to the princess’s demands or suffer Miles’s wrath, he leaned toward her. “What did you say?”

When she leaned closer to respond, he grabbed her by the collar and yanked her inside. She yelped as she tried to right herself, while he gassed the truck and lurched back just as Miles Bermin tore through the front door of the house dripping wet and wearing nothing more than a towel and blue hair.

Happy Wednesday, and hope you enjoyed an excerpt from A Matter of Pride.

A Cool New Review: STORMING HIS HEART

2011-10-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

Just spotted this today, a great review for Storming His Heart, the second in my (romantic suspense/psychic) Westlake Enterprises series from Samhain.

STORMING HIS HEART

by Marie Harte

Genre: Erotic Romance, Fantasy, Romantic Suspense, E-book

RT Rating

Everything about this novella is extreme — extreme action, extreme paranormal elements and extreme heat! Storm and Rafe are explosive together. Even when they don’t like each other, they can’t keep their hands off of each other. Adding a great twist is the characters' psychic powers that keep the plot moving quickly. The reader won’t want to say goodbye to this world and fortunately with so many delicious secondary characters, there are sure to be more stories in the Westlake series.

To read more, click here.

Those Darn Distractions

2011-10-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

Every try to do something when your mind is in a million other places? Take yesterday. After a morning full of distractions because my mother is home from vacation--and yeah, it's terrific to reconnect--I had the evening to work. For an hour while my kids were otherwise occupied elsewhere, I had an entire hour to write, or brainstorm, or something. Instead I sat in B&N, drank coffee, ate a cookie, and read a book. The notebook I'd brought with me for notes had a few illegible scribbles. Nothing more,and nothing usable.

Later in the evening, I sat downstairs and talked with dinner guests and family after a wonderful meal. Fun. Not productive, but fun. Around ten, I went upstairs with a huge cup of coffee...and did some work for a friend of mine, stuff I'd said I'd do but hadn't quite finished. So great, commitment honored. Finally. And still, no work done.

Sure, the story is percolating in my head. My characters are giving each other (and me) a hard time about plot, wanting to go every which way, but I know they'll settle down, eventually. For me, a lot of writing is getting it right in the mind before it ever goes into words.

And then it's today, and I'm writing a blog post instead of working on my story. Yet as I type, my characters are whispering that they're ready to roll. As in, right now. Gotta go. :)

I Love Thor, er, the Green Bay Packers

2011-10-18T09:53:00.001-07:00

I love the Green Bay Packers!

Go Beast!

That's MY VOICE You're Messing With!

2011-10-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

This post is geared more toward writers than readers, but I think it's an interesting enough topic for readers as well. (Heck, I'm a reader too.)

There are all sorts of terms writers use in conjunction with their craft. Voice is one word that gets confused all over the place. What the heck is voice? According to Wikipedia: "Writer's voice is the literary term used to describe the individual writing style of an author. Voice was generally considered to be a combination of a writer's use of syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc., within a given body of text (or across several works)."

In other words, if someone is reading a book to me while my eyes are closed, I'll know it's an Author X book by the tone, the sentence structure, and the general way dialogue and character development pan out. For example, Shelly Laurenston is an autobuy for me because I absolutely LOVE her voice. She writes funny characters, witty dialogue, and fast-paced, action-filled plots. Oh, and her characters are crazy, which I adore. You could read me a passage from one of her books and I'd know she wrote it. That's VOICE.

But what happens when an author writes something and it gets edited to death? A great fear many of us (authors) have is that we'll lose our voice. Sometimes I write sentences that aren't sentences. I make up words in dialogue, and I leave off pronouns. Intentionally. It's my voice, a certain style that makes my book different from someone else's. Editing is a wonderful tool to clean up grammar and spelling mistakes, but at some point, the editor has to realize that the author has to state things her/his way. It's easy to change "a" to "the" for the hell of it, but a good editor knows when to leave it and when to change it.

I've had more than my share of good luck when it comes to great editors. And yeah, I've had one or two that made me bite my lip wondering why I bothered to write the book since it no longer sounded like mine. But from one author to another, I have to say, if your editor is editing out your voice, speak up. As a writer, you do have rights. That's not to say you shouldn't take criticism, because an editor has a job to do after all. But at what point do you sacrifice your work to be published? And yes, I know, a lot of times authors have no choice. You signed the contract, the editor and the powers that be aren't budging, and you're stuck. So when you finish your next book, take it someplace else. Somewhere the editor "gets you" and lets your voice shine through. There's nothing worse than an editor/author relationship that isn't working. Voice is important. And writing is a business. So be a professional, ask for help, and take it when it's offered. If not, walk far, far away.

And to Ann, Grace, Alissa, Mary, and Claire, you'll note I keep submitting. Thanks for letting me keep my voice. :)

Late to the Party: Airbender Lives On!

2011-10-15T22:25:00.000-07:00

I was goofing around on the computer and somehow latched onto this nugget of gold: Nickelodeon plans to release The Last Airbender: Legend of Korra in 2012. If you aren't familiar with the amazing cartoon that sparked the movie (which was totally underwhelming), Avatar: The Last Airbender was an incredible meld of eastern philosophy, natural elements and the people who command them. A great war is fought, and a group of kids with amazing power work together to stop it. But that's way too simple for this show. I won't go into more detail, because it was pretty deep and just wonderfully animated and written. Talk about creative! To dismiss it as a kid's cartoon sells the series short. I enjoyed the hell out of it.

Anyway, here's the trailer for Legend of Korra. And the city in which the story takes place has a supposedly steampunk feel. So even better! Check it out...

At Samhain Today...

2011-10-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

I'm at Samhain today blogging. And why didn't I mention this before? One, because I just found out I was blogging yesterday. Two, because there's a three hour time difference so I thought I had more time to share. And three, because I'm perpetually LATE. Argh. Anyway, a little tidbit about me having no patience and a brand new excerpt for Closing the Deal. Not to be confused with the excerpt on my website or group. Enjoy!

CLOSING THE DEAL...Sneak Peek

2011-10-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

I've been sitting on the cover for a while now, waiting to know when I could share it. But then I happened to see the book available at B&N and Amazon available for pre-order! Right Now! Shocker, yet a pleasant surprise. The book is finished, just waiting for its publication date, December 27th. A merry Christmas to me. :)

Quick backstory: Enjoying the Show is a short contemporary story that came out from Samhain in Dec 2007. The book was short, fun, and really caught on with readers. The hero of the story has twin brothers, and I've had many, many requests for the brothers' stories. So Derrick finally gets his chance at happiness in Closing the Deal.

Here's the cover and a short blurb. If you'd like to read an excerpt, click the link below. Enjoy!

Derrick Warren has had it bad for Sydney Fields from the first moment he laid eyes on her, back when his brother was courting her best friend. After three months of intense phone dating, he finally gets the delectable Sydney to himself. Except a chance encounter with an old flame during their first dinner date ends up with Sydney dumping his wine in his lap. Then he can't get the stubborn woman to take his calls. With the help of his interfering family and his soon-to-be sister-in-law, Derrick tricks Sydney into the dinner date they should have had.

But one night isn't enough. And soon, despite finally getting Sydney in his bed, he finds himself falling hard for the woman who refuses to need a man in her life. It'll take some tricky maneuvering to sell himself to the savvy businesswoman. But when push comes to shove, Derrick will do whatever he has to to close the deal and make Sydney his own.

To read an excerpt, click here.

It's All About Perspective

2011-10-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

I saw this picture on Facebook and cracked up laughing. All you Christians out there, don't be offended. (And for the record, I'm Catholic, and I think this is hilarious.) Please, take a moment and read this. Not saying it's true, just that from another perspective, it might seem to be. Oh wow, this is still funny...

Good News for Cat Lovers!

2011-10-06T10:12:00.001-07:00

A big Grover-hurray! I just found out Samhain has accepted my newest Cougar Falls story--Cats Are Wild. I have no idea on a release date yet, but I'm really happy to know the story has a home. Grady was first introduced in Rachel's Totem, in which he played a role helping his brother nab a mate. Gabby was introduced in Foxy Lady, as the heroine's sister. A lot of characters reappear in this story, but it, like the others, is completely stand alone.

Here's a blurb about Cats Are Wild:

Grady Chastell, Shifter extraordinaire, wants a cat to mate. Not just any cat, but the delectable Gabby Easton, new to the pride. She's sexy, kind, and can shift into two animal spirits. There's just one problem. Gabby won't take him seriously. He's at his wit's end trying to get her to go out with him when more problems arrive in the form of a rival cat and his sisters. Insert troublesome family, pranks gone wrong, and one whopper of a lie, and Grady finally has Gabby where he wants her, a heartbeat from being his forever. Until the truth comes out, hidden enemies surface, and Gabby, the love of his life, goes missing. It will take cunning, the help of the pride, and a good bit of trickery to convince his woman to forgive and forget. And more, to love him--the cat born to be hers.

Whispered Words Hits Amazon, ARe

2011-10-05T12:09:00.001-07:00

Whispered Words is now available at Amazon and ARe! Here's a short blurb...enjoy!

Chloe King has worked for the government ever since she left college. First as a cop, then as an agent, Chloe has been putting away the bad guys for more than ten years. A clairaudient who’s always been able to escape trouble at the last minute, she’s now part of a group of people who understand what it means to be different. No longer working for the government, she’s now with a private organization. She should be working less dangerous cases, trying to retrieve paranormal objects gone missing. Yet her luck has taken a turn for the worse. She’s just getting over being nearly murdered by a serial killer when a stalker nearly brings her down. The voices she’s heard more than half her life have disappeared, and she’s afraid her life is coming to an end. If she can’t hear those voices again, she’ll die. She can feel it. But she never counted on the voices being real. Or belonging to two strong, sexy men resolved to keep her.

For an excerpt, click here.

A MIRACLE!

2011-10-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

This is completely non-writing related, but I had to share. A year ago, on October 31st--Halloween 2010--my 6 year old, then 5 years old, lost his treasured Brownie. Brownie has been with him since he was a baby. This is Brownie...a stuffed Velvet Teddy Build-a-Bear, the first version when they were cuddly and really cute. He'd been washed a lot but still had that little boy smell of saliva and love all bundled into brown fur. And then he went missing.

My son cried for days, weeks, months. We searched everywhere. Even drove through the neighborhood, school, church, stores, any place we could think of that this bear might have been.
Only to find nothing.

It's a year later; the kids and I have moved. We live across the country now. Low and behold, the kids' dad sent a package for my little guy. And what should be in there? BROWNIE!

I can't wait until my son gets home from school to watch him open the box (I had to open it first and re-taped it.) I still want to know where the stuffed animal was, but I'm content that Brownie has found his way home. A friggin' Festivus Miracle, for all you Seinfeld watchers out there. I feel like a kid at Christmas.

Now I can only hope good news comes in threes...

Happy Tuesday!

A Funny, Strange Form of Flattery

2011-10-03T01:26:00.000-07:00

Well, this surely made my Monday. I was googling my name to see if I'd hit any new reviews for my books, in particular my latest Loose Id release, Whispered Words. And low and behold, I saw my name linked to Evolved Novelties Symphony G Harmony Bath Friendly Multi-Tempo Whisper-Quiet Vibrator. Apparently folks who bought that product also bough my novella, Enjoying the Show. A nice advertisement to indicate my book isn't too bland, eh? I had to laugh out loud.

Happy Monday.

Friday Funny

2011-09-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

I know this has been floating around Facebook, but it's too funny for words. I'm so looking forward to Halloween, even more now. I just need to find some pumpkins as fun as these guys. :) [They should be the new "Just say no" spokesmen.] Have a great weekend!

Goodbye September, Hello Newsletter

2011-09-28T22:45:00.001-07:00

Well, I almost missed it. But I managed to slip the September newsletter onto my website before the month ended. Check it out, especially since I included a link to a brand new, never before seen excerpt of my upcoming contemporary story, (a follow up to Enjoying the Show) Closing the Deal. It's sexy, fun, and funny. Hope you like it.

Fascinating and Disturbing, all at the same time

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

So last night, a friend of mine sent me a link to possibly the most messed up person I've ever read about. Seriously. The person blogging about the woes of her life has experienced homelessness, drug abuse, lies, deception, and a non-supportive family who has stolen from her and kicked her out of their homes and their lives. According to her, everyone has screwed her over, and it's not her fault that her life sucks. She continues to try to believe other people will save her, and when they don't measure up, she gives them the proverbial finger, shrieks at them through her blog, and rants about any and everything.

You'd think one post of that and I'd leave her site as fast as you can blink. But I didn't. I read another post, then another, and another. A half hour later I felt like a needed a shower to get her negativity off me. Yet I'd been glued to her ranting. Why? What is it about her train wreck of a life (her words, not mine) that I found so captivating?

I had to think about this for a while after trying to decompress from so much complaining. I think mostly I kept wanting to learn something good had happened to her. Then too, every time she had something bad happen, she linked to something else bad that had happened, so I was engrossed in her backstory.

And now I understand why so many people love tortured heroes. You keep wanting that hero to win, to defeat his adversity and come out on top. We love an underdog, and so we watch the bad stuff hoping for the good stuff.

OR maybe it was that I didn't think any human being could be so oblivious to their own responsibility for the things that happen in life. Waiting for someone to save you instead of saving yourself is a recipe for disaster. Like using another person to make you happy, or having kids to save a marriage. If it isn't working, kids and boyfriends/girlfriends or spouses won't fix the problem. Because that one problem that's consistent is YOU, not someone or something else.

Good God. I'd share the link, but I honestly don't want anyone to read her narcissistic comments about herself or her hateful venom toward her family, her friends, and her enemies. Now I wish I could scrub my brain clean. Ugh, Cat. You owe me for sharing that friggin' link! I'm trying like hell to think of something nice now. Kittens and puppies, kittens and puppies. Make it stop!!!

SUPERNATURAL Season 7 is Back!

2011-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

What kind of fan would I be if I didn't tout the very first episode of Supernatural, Season 7? I admit, I was kind of hoping they'd go out with a great bang after Season 5. I mean, how do you top the apocalypse? But they did! And now there's an angel gone rogue and Sam remembers hell. Take a gander at a teaser for tonight's episode on the CW. I can't wait!!

Time is a Funny Thing

2011-09-21T10:53:00.000-07:00

When deadlines loom, the clock can't go slow enough to suit me. Yet trying to get feedback from others, whether it be house hunting, submissions, or call backs for appointments seems to take forever.

I'm not a patient person, and sometimes I wonder if this career is good for me. Then again, I wouldn't want to do anything else but write. A more type-A person would have a stroke waiting to hear back, sometimes months or even years later, on submissions. But I have a lazy string of DNA that allows me to mellow out. I read a book, watch a movie, or take a nap to take the edge off. Usually.

Lately I'm on pins and needles. I have a project sitting with a few people that might come to a happy conclusion. I also have a bid in on a house with people who don't seem to understand the meaning of the words For Sale. (You want to sell the house, answer my friggin' realtor!)

So there you have it. My day is already half over, and I have yet to do more than feed the dogs, get the kids to school, and hit an aerobics class that kicked my *ss. I haven't gotten started yet today on my current WIP, and I only have another month before it's due.

And there goes that clock ticking again.

Beginnings: Fortune's Favor

2011-09-20T09:05:00.001-07:00

Beginnings are exciting, fun, scary, bright. They introduce new worlds and thoughts and dreams. And they can bring new disasters as well. (Hey, it's early and I haven't had my coffee yet. I'm entitled to a small bit of negativity.)

Yesterday I finished the draft that's taken me a lot longer to complete than I'd thought. But I did it, and now it's done. Which leads me to my next project. I have the idea, the flesh of the plot, and the characters. And now I get to do what I love about writing. I mull.

I sit around and think about what these characters are really like. How do they react to certain situations, or to each other? What kinds of conflicts will push them closer or farther away from one another? I ponder, I dwell, and I add all kinds of ingredients to my story stew. Then I let them simmer while I write.

In Fortune's Favor, psychics Avery Holton and Nathan Kraft are heading down a dark road filled with secrets, lies and murder. Along the way, they'll find answers and a truth in each other. That's if they can survive the murderer bent on ending Nathan, once and for all.

Ooh. I love clear evil, and this baddie is pretty psycho. Even better, the heroes are intriguing. Sexy, frustrated, and fighting the attraction. I like a romance where the protagonists at first irritate each other, then gradually fall in love. And of course the irritation masks attraction.

Nathan and Avery were briefly mentioned in Whispered Words. But here they are, ready to get their own story. Good luck, guys!

From Whispered Words:

Nathan stopped and turned with Avery to watch Chloe, their hard-assed boss, giggling as her new boyfriends, lovers, hell, fiancés, dragged her out of the gym.

“They’re going home. To have sex.” Avery said it like it was an unknown phenomenon.

“Yes, Avery,” Nathan said slowly, as if to a dimwitted child. “That’s when a man puts tab A into a woman’s slot B. Get it?”

Avery turned and punched him in the gut, hard. His blue eyes gleamed with amusement. Not ice-cold like Jack’s, Avery’s eyes reminded Nathan of sapphires, priceless and shining with a wealth of feeling.

“You keep pushing me, dimples, and one day I’m gonna give you what you’ve been asking for.”

If only. Avery was so straight he could barely color outside the lines. “Whatever, Romeo. And quit calling me dimples,” Nathan snapped. The guy annoyed him like nobody’s business.

But he couldn’t make himself turn away from that fine ass as Avery strutted from the room like a proud peacock.

Annoyed? You Should Be

2011-09-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

I'm over at Here Be Magic today. I listed 10 annoying things I sometimes find in futuristic, fantasy and paranormal romances. Feel free to join me. :)

Could You Be Any Louder????

2011-09-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

So okay. I'm temporarily staying with my mother while I find a house to move into. Yes, I've moved from the Southeast to the Northwest, and I'm loving the change. What I don't love is the woman next door who talks so friggin' loudly on her cell phone that people in China can hear her. And lucky me, I'm trying to work inside, my window open to let in the nice air...and her VOICE. She has one volume. Loud. Talking, laughing, gabbing on her cell phone for two--yes two--hours. I'm not sure how to ask her to tone it down. I'm not afraid to, but this isn't my house, and she just moved in next door, so I'd rather be nice than nasty. I'm going to give it a few days and see if her habit of telling everyone about the state of her marriage, via the phone, is a trend. Man, do I really want to move into my own place! But you know, it's quiet right now, I'd better hurry with work...

In Memory, God Bless

2011-09-11T12:57:00.000-07:00

A Book Recommendation: BROKEN

2011-09-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

A book recommendation: BROKEN

I'm all about good bargains, and I love Changeling stories. By Changeling stories, I mean the actual publisher, Changeling Press (with whom I'm not affiliated in any way--hmm,maybe I should write a few short stories...) Anyway, their stories don't go over 28,000 words. And their prices are under $5. Most books are around $2 or $3, and the stories are fun. Short and sexy, they offer scifi, fantasy, and hot tales sure to curl your toes.

I've been following Malathix Souls. One, because my friend Ayla Ruse wrote the series, and two, because I like the books. It's scifi romance involving shapeshifters, so I'm totally in.

I just read Broken. Great story, and it was a complete standalone from the first one. Check it out...

Storming His Heart: A Review

2011-09-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

I don't often do this, but I figured, hey, why not share some nice news as I toil away on edits for my editor at Samhain. Ugh, toiling, toiling...

Here's a view for Storming His Heart from Fresh Fiction. See? I'm not the only one who liked the book.
Investigator Storm Buchanan did not expect her latest assignment to coincide with Rafe Savage's case. Rafe works for her family's rival agency, the Wakefields. The Buchanan's agency is family owned but both agencies have people with special gifts. Storm's gift of manipulating minds is hard on the love life until Rafe, whose mind she can't control, doesn't mind at all which is a good thing since she would love nothing better than to get him in her bed. Wishing won't make it come true; her family would have a fit if she took up with the enemy.

When Rafe's vision shows Storm in danger they begin a game of cat and mouse with someone who is determined to get their hands on both of them for reasons unknown to either. The escalating danger to Storm and Rafe has the agency's founders declaring a timeout. Now is the time to join forces if they want to keep everyone safe while they discover who and what is after their people.

Combustible tension and wonderful adventure provide for a steamy sexy romantic suspense with enough twists and turns to keep readers impatiently flipping the pages. From page one I knew STORMING HIS HEART would give me a few hours of entertainment and I was right. The Wakefield and Buchanan agencies are like the Hatfield and McCoy feud except Ms Harte's feud has passion, humor, suspense, and lovable people. I loved this story and look forward to reading more of this series from an author who never fails to deliver exceptional stories.

Reviewed by Darlene Kendall
Posted September 8, 2011

CELEBRATION

2011-09-07T15:11:00.000-07:00

School is finally back in session! My kids are being educated and I'm back on track to make deadlines. Writing during the day. YIPPEE!!!!!!

One More Day...

2011-09-06T15:53:00.001-07:00

One more day until the little darlings are back to school and I quit my self-imposed night shift. Up at the crack of dawn, then working during DAYLIGHT. The shock of normalcy might just kill me. But let's hope not. I have deadlines to meet.

Tick tock tick tock. The countdown is on...

Labor Day Blow-Out

2011-09-05T03:00:00.000-07:00

Is there anything worse than blowing up your first chapter and starting over? Hell. I'd written a great first chapter the other day, then got stuck. Why? Because I'd set up the scene all wrong. Too muddled and wanting to get words down, I lost myself in the muck of a deadline instead of staying true to where my muse (and I) want the story to go.

Long story short, I scrapped the first 2400 words and rewrote it. Which leaves me with a great 3400 words and places to go. As in, back to the story. So I leave you to write once more. Back to my novella, in which a bear shifter falls in with a demon hunter to rout an evil scourge killing demons and Shifters alike. Add in a smarmy feline, and there's one chaotic, confusing, aggressive threesome blossoming under my fingers...on the keyboard, you understand.

Now go blow up your own Labor Day. And have a good one.

Will I or Won't I?

2011-09-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Get up tomorrow, that is. Working at night rocks...until you need to get up the following morning. It's now 0105. Tomorrow is Sunday. Good person that I am, I have every intention of waking my sorry butt up and going to church. The question is, will my feeble brain function early enough to get me there? Or will I give in to the demon that is slumber? And why the hell do I even think any of this post will look good when I'm typing at 0106 in the morning?
Ack. See? Never work at night and share with the rest of the world. But alas, I'm too tired to know better.
Good news, I wrote 3400 words tonight. Hurray.

Good Vibes

2011-09-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

I sent back my cover input for Closing the Deal. Finally finished and submitted a Cougar Falls story for Grady, and reread my newest submission to Loose Id, Grayson's Gamble, a follow-on Dawn Endeavor (Circ) story. The great news is that Grayson's Gamble is even better, reading it now, than when I'd first written it. I can't WAIT until November when the story comes out. I really, really like it. :) Big smiles.

The Value of a Clear Head

2011-08-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

I published my first book yesterday. And what a trial. I entered data, pictures, and updated my website left and right. As the hour grew later, because I hadn't anticipated the book would go live so soon, I continued to work into the wee hours of the morning. [I had the kids all day, still not in school yet, so I'm working nights.] Well, let me tell you. My gray-skinned warrior turned out to be "gay-skinned." sigh A big thanks to Lindsey for catching that.

But it just goes to show me that I need a clear head before posting stuff on the Internet. My gray-skinned alien is not in fact gay. But if he were, I don't think I'd use "gay-skinned" to describe him. Geesh. It's funny, in an embarrassing, "I'm an idiot" kind of way.

UPDATE: A Familiar Face is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and All Romance ebooks. And the hero, in each instance, is gray-skinned. :)

A New Release, Really

2011-08-30T17:25:00.000-07:00

Now it's really here! Available from Amazon--A FAMILIAR FACE. To read an excerpt, click here. To see it at Amazon, click here. Note: The book will also be available in ePUB, PDF, HTML and .doc formats.

A New Release, Almost

2011-08-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

I took the plunge. I'm releasing an older title I own the rights to, freshly edited (thank God) with a stellar cover. It's kind of a paranormal meets futuristic novella, and it's .99. It should be up at Amazon and Barnes & Noble in a few days.

Take a sneak peek at A FAMILIAR FACE

BLURB: Trade witch Mallory West is a heartbeat from losing her rent-controlled apartment, susses spells for a living, and can't afford a decent familiar. In an effort to ease her financial hardship, she works part-time waiting tables. Late one night after working an unexpected shift, she receives an invitation from her boss to take a rest upstairs in the exclusive Lounge. Drawn to one of the mysterious black doors, she enters and takes a well-deserved nap. But the world to which she wakes is nothing like the one she left. The large, incredibly sexy gray-skinned warrior could be her boss’s twin, but he’s the War Leader of the Talians--a fierce race fighting desperately to survive a crushing enemy. Mallory’s sudden appearance stuns the wary Talians. And they don’t tolerate surprises or those they think might be enemy spies well at all.

EXCERPT: Four hours and a pair of throbbing feet later, Mal reminded herself how fortunate she’d been that Rattler needed help. The bills, remember the bills. Maybe with tonight’s take she could give herself a day off tomorrow. The tray on her arm wobbled, so she righted it and carried out another order, complete with a too friendly hand over her ass. She shot a subtle glance toward Rattler. Seeing him occupied, she mumbled a curse under her breath at Mr. Grabby Hands. The jerk would feel it tomorrow when he couldn’t stop scratching his balls. Considering his type, she thought it more than probable he’d pick up a disease from any skank willing to do him anyway.

She’d done her best to resist using her magic, but enough was enough. The human octopus didn’t seem to understand the word no. She returned to the bar to place her order.

“Everything okay?” Rattler asked. His fathomless black eyes narrowed on her.

She did her best to appear innocent of any wrongdoing. God forbid he caught her doing magic in his place. She couldn’t afford to alienate Rattler—literally.

Sighing and trying to appear pathetic, she didn’t have to fake her yawn. “Sorry, but it’s been a long day. I wasn’t prepared for tonight.” She glanced down at her stained jeans, cropped t-shirt and beer-covered mocs. Normally when she waitressed, she wore her snakeskin boots, waterproofed and comfort-lined.

“Damn. I hadn’t though beyond replacing Becky. I’m sorry, Mal. Your feet are probably killing you. Why don’t you head upstairs and rest a few minutes?”

She gaped at him, she couldn’t help it, and automatically glanced at the imposing, guarded entrance to the Lounge’s stairwell. She’d only once before served drinks in the modern loft area, accompanied by Palace security. No one knew what was up there except Rattler and a few select guests. From what little she’d seen, the Lounge sat between the low wall visible to the downstairs and three black doors spaced evenly against the inner wall.

A black floor, hot pink walls, neon lights and a disco ball made the place garishly attractive when active, a rare occurrence in itself. The lights and hot pink paint made the three ominous black doors even more arresting.

She’d been dying of curiosity about those mysterious doors since she’d first seen them, but damn if she’d ever had a chance to investigate. Exposed to the familiar within her, her feline senses ached to see, to know. But she’d have to use magic to work around Rattler, and she respected him too much to violate his trust. A harmless spell here or there hurt no one. But she’d never violate his one rule to working at The Python Palace—never, ever go upstairs without Rattler’s express permission.

“Mal?”

“Go upstairs? Sure.” She paused, waiting for him to say more. He didn’t, and the look on his face made her uneasy. “What?”

“Nothing.” But he was smiling. “Go on up. Don’t worry about it, Mallory. You need some time to regroup, even the ‘slave master’ that I am can see that.”

She flushed. “You heard that, hmm?”

He raised a brow. “You said it loud enough to be heard three blocks down.”

“Yeah, but that was a week ago and to Becky.” She turned and headed eagerly toward the stairwell and muttered under her breath, “You have ears like a bat.”

“I heard that too,” he shouted and laughed. “See you when I see you.” And with that, he turned to help another customer.

The massive bouncers positioned at the stairway entrance nodded her through. As Mal climbed the steps to the second floor of The Palace by herself for the first time, she wondered why she suddenly had a feeling that facing those three black doors might be a huge mistake.

She paused at the landing and took a deep breath then let it out. Her imagination ran rampant when she grew tired. The Lounge was empty, unless Rattler had a secret passageway through which he smuggled privileged customers. Walking through the entrance, she noted the cleanliness and order in the oversized loft. Magazines tidied, vids scrubbed free of smoke, the black lacquered floor a study in clean. But those three doors captured her eyes like magnets.

Her nose twitched as she stared at them. What the hell lay beyond those doors?

Approaching them, she studied each one. Of average height and width, black with gold knobs, they looked standard. Normal. The same. So why did the familiar within her guide her to the middle door?

Almost as if in a dream, she watched her hand grasp the knob, felt the cool glide of metal under her palm, and listened to the quiet click as the catch released. She entered the room. A dim overhead light illuminated the space.

Huh. A plain, average bedroom. Same lacquered floor as the lounge, white walls. A king-sized bed with black sheets and a white downy duvet. No other doors or windows, and no furniture. Hell, not even a mirror. The door closed with a soft click, and she couldn’t help turning back to Rattler’s suggestion. The duvet looked soft, inviting.

The bed seemed as close to heaven as she might ever get. Without another thought, she lay down and sighed at the feel of silk under her tired and aching muscles. She closed her eyes, and in seconds sank deep into the comfort of sleep.

Minutes or hours might have passed when a noise interrupted her rest. Shouts and moans, what sounded like fighting and impossibly, sex, increased in volume until she couldn’t stand it. That curiosity again. But at least she felt refreshed. She mentally thanked Rattler for her small nap.

A loud thunk rapped the wall outside the door, and she heard what she imagined to be cursing and threats in a foreign language. Opening the door, she came face to face with a man who could have been Rattler’s twin. He had shoulder length black hair, gray skin, and a snake tattoo curled around his muscular body. A leather kilt wrapped around his waist, over which a thick belt rested. Straps crossed over his chest and attached to the belt. She could make out the hilts of crossed swords behind him, caged in a back harness, she guessed.

All in all, this guy looked like a hunky hero from the historical romances she liked so much. But none of them had ever featured gray-skinned warriors.

She had to clear her throat. Unlike his twin Rattler, nothing about this guy felt comfortable or safe. He easily could have passed for security, as big as an ox and wearing a mantle of menace over those brawny shoulders. Her blood heated and her heart raced, in fear and surprising arousal, and worried her more than she liked. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d even fantasized about sex.

“Um, Rattler said it was okay to be up here.”

His eyes widened and he stared down at her—way down—his gaze first suspicious, then bolder. His study moved from her face, lingering over her lips, to her breasts and the slim expanse of abdomen showcased by her cropped shirt. She had an urge to cross her arms over her chest, doubly so when her nipples peaked under his regard.

“Cuwenicu,” murmured throughout the crowd, and she was momentarily distracted by the foreign word.

Without warning, he latched onto her wrists and pulled her from the room. The minute the door closed behind her, he let her go, and the Lounge fell into complete and utter silence.

“Hey buddy, what the hell is your prob…lem?” She trailed off as she watched his eyes turn into something she’d never before seen. As a witch, Mallory knew all about the otherworldly creatures in existence—the vampires, ghouls, shifters and mages that wandered her neighborhood. But this guy… He didn’t fit into any category she knew.

She glanced nervously around her and couldn’t help gaping at what looked like a Rattler family reunion. Every single male in the place had height, muscles, and gray skin. Several had hair, but none sported any body piercing that she could see. She turned back to the one responsible for pulling her out of her safe haven. Good night, but his eyes! Moonlight and fairy dust, this guy wasn’t human. Wasn’t otherworldly, either. But what he was, she didn’t yet know.

His eyes, at first a vibrant gray-green, changed, the pupils thinning and elongating as the irises took over the whites of his eyes. His teeth lengthened, not just his incisors like the fangs of a vampire, but his entire mouth, and his skin started hardening, resembling iridescent scales more than flesh. He didn’t transform into a snake. And no shifter that she knew of could remain between forms. You were either human or animal, but not both. His teeth didn’t look like they belonged to any vampire she’d ever met. Besides, this guy was gray and now shiny, but not white. The language he’d been speaking hadn’t been anything she recognized.

He hissed at her, and the rumbling all around her returned to normal.

“Look, I’m not sure what all this is about.” She paused, listening to herself, and frowned. She understood the meaning of what she said, but the words themselves were completely foreign. She sounded like him.

“Cuwenicu.” He scoffed. “I didn’t think so. The Phrellian spy regains her tongue, eh? Perfect, we’ll have so much fun together now.” He smiled, his teeth still wickedly sharp.

Phrellian spy? By the look on his face, fun might mean something entirely different in this place.

This really was the Friday from hell.

A Familiar Face
www.marieharte.com

Shout Out

2011-08-28T12:45:00.000-07:00

Turning 8 rocks. Especially if you're a boy into Pokemon. Who'd have thought those annoying creatures would be around for so long?

Swtching Up: Fair or Not Fair?

2011-08-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

I was reading an interesting article on a blog site dedicated to m/m (male/male) romance. On it, one reader mentioned liking one book but not another in a series because while one book was m/m, the other was a "het" (heterosexual) romance. The reader was peeved that the author wrote it that way.

Interesting, because I've found myself mixing it up a time or two. I'd never thought about the romance leads's sexualities being a problem.

I know people have different tastes, and I can understand selectivity as a reader, but I'm not wearing that hat when I create. The characters speak to me. They're as gay or straight or bi as they're...well, made. Sounds bizarre, but trying to make a gay character straight is a nightmare, and vice versa. There's nothing worse than reading an intimate scene in a story that feels unnatural or forced because the character isn't true to type.

I like to write about diverse characters. Some are straight, some are gay, some white, some not, and some aren't even from this world. Personally, a setting where every couple is straight is as odd to me as a setting where every couple is gay. It just doesn't ring true because people aren't wired the same unless they're living in forced environment. So when I wrote my Dawn Endeavor series, about men made into creatures that needed sex with others like themselves, a natural bisexuality was built into what would normally be straight military men. Mostly. Because one of those same military men wasn't straight to begin with, he was gay.

I hadn't thought about alienating readers when I wrote it. But I didn't set out to write a story for a particular person. I wrote characters who came alive. I thought about having a protagonist of Hayashi's Hero interact with a peripheral female, but it didn't work. My guy was gay. Not playing at gay; he was gay.

I don't have a problem reading gay or straight romance, so long as the story is good and the characters feel authentic. So I'll follow a series and its characters no matter what. It hadn't occurred to me until I read that post that other readers might not feel the same. Stupid of me, but then, I'm thinking with my writing hat on most of the time.

My biggest gripe about authors is when they switch genres during the same series. Going from romance to urban fantasy or mystery with little to no romance drives me nuts. The gender bending, not so much. Or have I completely missed out on what floats a reader's boat?

Curious...

Can There Be Too Many?

2011-08-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

It used to be, ménage was risqué. But it's become so commonplace in erotic romance that half the time it's a given one woman will have two lovers at some point in the story, even if she only ends up with one hero.

Lately though, I'm reading a lot of stories about one woman with many heroes--3 or more men. (As if one wasn't enough, right? *grin*) But I'm intrigued at what I see as a growing trend, because many of these stories aren't set in future or alternate worlds where the norm is many men, one woman. The polyamorous romances I'm seeing are contemporary, set in today's times and set against today's values. In many of these stories, a woman falls in with a group who don't mind sharing, and the multitude makes it permanent.

I don't know how I feel about that. On the one hand, if the writing is good, I can handle the many partners. But on the other, at some point, my disbelief overcomes my enjoyment of the story, especially if all the pleasure is centered around the woman. I mean, come on, all the guys are patiently waiting their turn for their special time? Or they're afraid to touch because that might come across as gay? Seriously? More than one dude, I'm thinking some body parts will have to touch, won't they? Unless they are getting intimate via a computer and 1000 miles between them. And if the group is as highly physical as they often are, won't the woman eventually get a headache? Because even if she makes all there of them super happy, and she's super happy, when they're raring to go again, she's gotta get tired, because she's the only one consistently busy.

I'm not against polyamory at all. I just wonder if I'm the only one questioning why this trend seems to be so hot right now. And if you doubt me, take a look at Siren Bookstrand's recent bestsellers, or Samhain's, or Ellora's Cave's... Should I go on?

To show I DO enjoy them, however, I'll list a few of my favorites:

Colter's Woman by Maya Banks
Just Right by Bronwyn Green
Namesake by Marie Harte [Oh, come on, you know I had to throw this one in here.]

Your thoughts?

Who's Right? I Am.

2011-08-22T09:54:00.000-07:00

Another Monday. So last night I dreamed that my brand new car was smashed. Let's hope that's not a euphemism for my latest WIP going down the drain.

I like to have a lot of things going on at once, and while I'm working on a current project, I'm also constantly dealing with ideas on something new, because my muse is a busy guy. Those I tuck into my pending file on my computer. While that's brewing, I have another big, completed project out there floating through agent land.

It's an interesting process. In the old days I would have been floored every time I heard the word--or should I say form letter :)--NO. Now I take it with a grain of salt. This project I've done works. It's fun, and it's damn good. I know it. I feel it. So if it doesn't gel with a particular agent, that's okay, because that's not the best person to represent my work. Honestly? I'm the best person to represent it, because I believe in it.

The great and awful thing about being a writer is having the belief in yourself--your writing--constantly questioned. Since writing is such a subjective thing, it's hard to know who's right, if anyone really is. What I think is terrific another thinks is so-so, while yet another person wants to change it all into something else. So I'm sticking with the story I wrote. I'm open to criticism, of course, and the story has already gone through a major revision and massive edits. But the characters speak to me, and I'm going to continue speaking for them. Once I settle this first book, there are three more, and a novella or two, to come.

My fingers are crossed that I can share this at some point in the near future. Ack. I hate waiting. Almost as much as I hate Mondays.

Same Author: Different Story

2011-08-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

I wrote both of these stories. So you might expect the same tone, as the themes are similar. Both stories are about shapeshifters, though Namesake clearly states it's polyamorous in nature--three heroes, one heroine. And the love is flowing among partners.

Yet the books are very different. Namesake is a sexy take on the future where beings from alternate worlds arrive on Earth and stay. Ravagers, in particular, are shapeshifers who need a lot of sex. The series is darker in tone, sexy, and more serious than my Cougar Falls books.

In Foxy Lady, a Cougar Falls story, there are shapeshifters who are part of everyday society, though their natures are hidden from typical humans. The books are light-hearted, not full of angst, and not too serious. I envisioned a town I'd want to live in, kind of Mayberry with Shifters and clan drama thrown in for fun and funny situations.

Both are shapeshifter stories, but both are very different reads. Same author, different stories. And just wait until my next book releases in November... Another shapeshifter story, more serious, sexy, and dark. Not Ravagers or Ac-taw Shifers (Cougar Falls) but Circs--miltary experiments. Just more shapeshifters to love.

Does Behavior Affect Sales?

2011-08-17T10:11:00.008-07:00

I'm curious about this topic for many reasons. Least of which is that I'm a writer. Every now and then, an author will seem to lose her mind on the loops, ranting in public or frothing at the mouth about her publisher, editor, etc. As a reader, how does that make you feel? Do you dismiss the rantings as nonsense? Or does it impact the way you buy books in the future?

Kind of like the Mel Gibson factor. He goes off the deep end publicly, and it hurts his marketability and movie sales. But I'm not talking about a racist or sexist author. I'm talking about an author who discredits those she works with, and in effect, her own work.

I know when it comes to actors disparaging their movies, it makes me like them less. Hell, if you can't stand behind the movie you made, why should I go see it? And if the producers and directors were that bad, why would anyone want to see it?

I've always been taught you reprimand in private and praise in public. I've had some terrific publishers I can't say enough about. And a few I wanted to run far, far away from. I would write long, scathing posts about them on my computer, then delete them later (without publishing to the public), knowing I'd just be burying myself by spreading negative words. (Though I will admit getting my feeling out by writing them down helped.)

As an avid reader, when I hear about an author complaining about her sales, her publisher, or a negative review (and that's another topic worthy of discussion), it just makes me want to avoid her and her books altogether. But that's me. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Curious.

Is My Bout with the Night Shift... Over?

2011-08-16T10:47:00.003-07:00

I've spent many a night writing, my days ensconced with children doing all manner of things to keep them from fighting or being bored. So now that school is rolling around again, I'm trying to slowly train myself to write during the day.

It's sad to say I'm tired at night, so I'm not getting as much done. Of course, if I had deadlines, I'd push through it. But right now I'm a bit between projects, so I'm being lazy.

But today I wrote while my children played Wii (yeah, great mothering skills, but hey, they're happy, and it's only an hour or so), and I'm feeling really good. I don't know about other writers, but when a day goes by that I don't write, I feel weird. Not right. Off kilter. Having written however, I'm on top of the world.

And now I can take my youngins to swimming lessons and not feel lazy for not having done anything work-wise. Hurray for writing during the sun hours again. And here's hoping I can put that dreaded nocturnal work to bed. Literally.

Remiss

2011-08-14T10:23:00.003-07:00

Sorry I've been so absent lately. This has been a very busy summer for me, and I've spent the past month preparing to move, which has been a HUGE time drain. But now I'm here in Oregon, where the weather is fabulous, the humidity way less than I'm used to, and the mountains are screaming at me to come on out and join them.

I'm still waiting for the myriad boxes I mailed myself to arrive (yeah, the move is coming in bits and pieces until the whole of it is here), to include my computer and precious keyboard. So I continue to use my laptop for everything. But at least I have my trusty dictionary, thesaurus, and CMOS (Chicago Manual of Style) for company. But I'm still waiting on my coffee cup to arrive. Hey, some things I just can't do without.

But after much traveling back and forth between coasts and a hectic summer, I'm winding down to normalcy. Now I just have to find a car and I'm set. :)

More tomorrow, when I'm "back" again.

Marie

New Release: Whispered Words

2011-08-08T20:30:00.002-07:00

WOW! Where has the time gone? It's nearly August 9th, but close enough for Whispered Words to now be available from Loose Id.

This story is part of my psychic series, PowerUp!

In Whispered Words, Chloe King, a clairaudient with attitude, meets the men behind the voices she hears--twin hunks with secrets of their own. She's being stalked. They're targeted for death by a man with an axe to grind. Together, the three of them will have to defeat their enemies by trusting one another. Dealing with the twins shouldn't be hard. Except she can't take her eyes, and soon her hands and lips, from them. With Josh and Xavier, it's all or nothing. And if they're not careful, the enemy will take their choices from them.

To read an excerpt, click here.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable:anal sex, menage (m/f/m with no m/m sexual contact), voyeurism.

New Cover: WHISPERED WORDS

2011-08-04T05:00:00.001-07:00

Here it is! The new cover for Whispered Words, coming August 9th to Loose Id. I love what Anne Cain (the artist) did with the story details. The heroine looks EXACTLY the way I'd pegged her, surrounded by the two hot heroes of the story. Yep, twins. :) I can't wait for this book to release. It's another psychic, romantic thriller. With twins. Ahem. Can't help repeating that part.

Pins and Needles

2011-08-02T05:00:00.001-07:00

I was given my new cover for Whispered Words, coming out from Loose Id next week. I'm on pins and needles waiting to share it, but until it gets final approval, I have to wait.

If you ever wondered about cover art, I'll clue you in. Of course, each publisher is different, but by and large, this is what I've experienced with most of my publishers, who are small presses dealing with both electronic and print books.

I fill out a form giving details of my book and what I'd like to see on the cover. Is it part of a series? Do I have to have a wolf or moon on the cover? What's the tone? Sexy? Lighthearted? Then I give short blurb or summary so the artist has some idea of the book for which they are creating the art.

So that's my input. Then I wait. And wait. And bite my nails and wait. I kind of hate this part, because if I hate the cover, I don't have that much leeway to fix things. (And I've had a few covers that gave me serious fits!) If the guy is ugly or the woman all wrong, I have very little latitude to ask for changes. Unless she's a blond when I clearly stated she was brunette, I'm stuck.

I'm always crossing my fingers. But I have to say the artist nailed it with Whispered Words. It's terrific, and I can't wait to share it. You can bet that as soon as I can, I will. :)

Grayson's Gamble--Getting Clean

2011-08-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

I finally finished and turned in the manuscript for Grayson's Gamble, my fifth Dawn Endeavor book. A great send off for Ava's arrogant yet sexy brother [see left --yum]. The book is due out in November from Loose Id. Now I sit on pins and needles and hope the story is clean enough not to need too many revisions. (Don't you just love how I tied in the picture to this post?)

Loose Id edits the crap out of their books. While it may be frustrating at times, I wouldn't have it any other way. There's nothing more annoying as a reader than to read a poorly edited work. And nothing more embarrassing as a writer to see there instead of their and compliment instead of complement. Misspellings and grammatical issues aside, I go crazy when I read about a character sitting on a bed who in the next sentence is suddenly standing ten feet away in the dining room having glass of wine. Huh? How'd he get there? So consistency is another sharp editing tool we authors need more of.

Yep, a good cleaning for the story, and maybe more wonderful pictures of Grayson, if I can find them. :) Happy Monday.

Cowboys & Aliens: A Movie Review

2011-07-29T02:44:00.003-07:00

Cowboys & Aliens Grade=A
Starring Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford
Directed by Jon Favreau

No spoilers, just a slightly biased opinion of the movie in general. You already know, just by the title, the movie is about aliens and cowboys. Plot. Check. And man, is this my kind of movie.

But there's so much more to this picture than action and CGI, though don't get me wrong, the aliens are very cool. Harrison Ford and Daniel Craig lead an all-star cast of recognizable actors in this film that is so much more than cowboys and aliens.

There's character depth, and Ford is terrific as a hard-*ssed father and rancher. Craig is a mystery. Who is he? How did he end up with that thing on his arm? Why does the law seem so interested in him?

Direction (by Favreau) was terrific. Set design and graphics were killer. The dialogue and plot original and fun. This is a summer blockbuster that's perfect for the teen or adult to watch. It might be a bit scary for younger viewers, though. (I won't be taking my 7 and 6 year old to see it.)

And yes, I saw the movie at 12:02 AM, opening night, along with a predominantly male audience. And my mother. It was one hell of a ride, just pure fun. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who like action, character, cowboys, and aliens. The movie gets an A from me.

An Update

2011-07-26T01:02:00.003-07:00

Sorry I've been so behind on posting. Between one thing and another, I've been looking like this guy to the left. Yep, sour puss and all. haha

I'm moving soon, and I've been going crazy looking at houses and figuring finances, best schools, and what will fit my family, all while working my tush off to finish a story.

Good news: I may have found a house.
Great news: I finished Grayson's Gamble!

Now I'm just editing and reediting. Some polishing, more polishing. And then I'll send it off to my editor. So as least I have that going for me. I really like this new story, which tells Grayson Belle's tale. Gray is Ava's brother, the heroine from Gunnar's Game. So technically, this is part of the Dawn Endeavor series for Loose Id. But if you've never read a Circ book before, you'll still understand this one.

I'll post an excerpt tomorrow...er, Wednesday. Now I'm off to bed. Yeah, West Coast time. Still taking me a while to get used to being three hours behind my usual clock.

Congrats...

2011-07-21T21:55:00.002-07:00

Congrats to Tania C. of Australia who's won 5 ebooks. Thanks to all of you international readers who entered, and look towards a new contest coming in the fall to celebrate the new school year--and more writing time for me. :)

Last Chance Contest

2011-07-21T13:11:00.001-07:00

This is your last chance to enter if you're a reader outside the U.S. Simply follow the instructions here and enter to win 5 free ebooks from my backlist.

Contest ends tonight! Good luck.

New Release: TALSON'S MATCH

2011-07-20T10:10:00.002-07:00

Talson's Match is now available from Ellora's Cave!

Romy is the last of four brothers to find a mate, and he's in no hurry to do so. He has enough problems controlling the powers surging with him. So when he's offered the chance to escape his meddling relatives, he jumps at it. But his mission to clean up some family business on Earth isn't what he'd expected. Because there he sees the woman in his dreams, a supposed human with Otra eyes. She may not know it, but she's in Selection -- female heat. And she's his.

To read more, click here.

International Contest--Win 5 Books!

2011-07-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what happened, as this was supposed to post yesterday, but I don't doubt I could have mistakenly input the date of it. (I've been pre-posting the night before.) Sooooo, without further ado, the contest for international readers...

What do do=If you're a reader NOT living in the United States, to enter, just send a message to marie_harte@yahoo.com, subject line, EBOOK CONTEST. In it, put where you live (again, this contest is just for non-US residents, since the print contest I held throughout June was for US residents) and a valid email address to accept a prize. If you don't provide the info, you're not entered in the contest.

The prize= 5 of my backlist in ebook format--your choice of books. The winner will get to select what she/he would like from my bookpage on my website.

Deadline=The winner will be randomly drawn July 21st, at 10PM PST. Good luck!

5 Star Review for RetroCog

2011-07-13T05:00:00.001-07:00

5 Star Review from Just Erotic Romance Reviews. Check it out!

Title: RetroCog (A Power Up! Story)
Author: Marie Harte
Publisher: Loose Id
Review: Stefani Clayton
Rating: 5 Stars
Heat Level: O

Noah First is psychic and until recently he was part of the governmental agency Psychic Warfare Program. Unfortunately, now that the program has been dismissed, he’s found himself working in the private sector. His latest job is to find a missing painting that has been stolen. Noah thinks it is an easy job until he tracks the missing art to a town that features an ex-bordello and a woman he can’t get out of his head. Lara Graham runs the Lady Fine Inn, and despite the history of the place, she feels connected to it in some way. When the surly stranger takes up residence, Lara finds herself embroiled in sex, lies and murder. Some old, some new, and Lara discovers her life is intertwined in the outcome. It’s going to require Lara and Noah to get past the sexual chemistry to find a killer before the killer finds Lara.

I’m a huge fan of paranormal stories, but it is hard to find a good paranormal that doesn’t include shape shifters and werewolves. RetroCog (a Power Up! Story) manages it, and well I might add. Lara is a great character. She is a bit confused at times, but that stands to reason. Noah is amazing and is not your usual psychic. Noah can see into the past and some of his visions made me chuckle. There were several secondary characters, all of whom were interesting enough to carry their own sequel and I suspect I will be looking forward to more in this series, as well as looking back at the previous stories. Despite this being an awesome story with great characters, there was a wide array of amazing sexual scenes all of which were orgasm worthy. May I suggest you have your significant other close at hand. You will defiantly find that you will be in the mood for some of your own lovin’. All in all, RetroCog was a great erotic romance and certainly worthy of adding to the top of your list.

Contest Heads Up

2011-07-12T11:36:00.002-07:00

Well, it's been a month and I STILL have yet to post the information about my contest for international readers. (The print contests finished up June 12th.) I truly apologize for the delay. I've been on a summer excursion about the Northwest and I'm in somewhat of upheaval. The good news is I'm giving away some ebooks to one or two lucky international readers (no US applicants please). The bad news is I have to figure out what I'm giving away!

Come back tomorrow for details. It'll be an easy contest and a big thank you to those readers of romance not in the US. :)

Thanks!

New Cover--Loving It!

2011-07-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Here's my cover art for Talson's Match. I love it and had to share. The book releases from EC on July 20...just around the corner.

Savings!

2011-07-08T01:22:00.007-07:00

Today Total E-Bound is celebrating its birthday. So to reward readers, they're offering their books 25% off all day on July 8th.

Stop on by and pick up a book. It's good for all ebooks on the TEB site all day Friday. Don't miss out!

And that's my tip for the day. Have a great weekend.