Saturday Excerpt

Today I'm over at Slip into Something Victorian posting an excerpt from Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex and Subterfuge. (only $10.54 in print at B&N and $4.99 in e-book form)

Monday Excerpt: Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex and Subterfuge

Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge now out in papaerback from Red Silk Editions in bookstores here and here and online here and here.

Ahh, Lucien, how I adore thee. Hunky sexy magicker who's strong enough to love a woman more powerful than he is. Plus there's that sexy dining room table scene. *le sigh*

Pppssst...have you entered my Title Contest?

Excerpt:
Morgana waited until she couldn’t see David from her front windows before returning to her bedroom. Lucien was there, naked, by the window. The heavy curtain was pulled only slightly back, and she wondered if anyone could tell he stared into the morning from directly across the street.

What did he do before coming into her life? No simple English earl, that was for certain.

“What did he want?” Lucien asked as the curtain fell back into place. He turned and looked at her, his eyes unreadable.

“Me,” she said. Then shrugged and untied her dressing gown.

“Too bad,” he growled and before she blinked, he was before her. She was held tight against him, the hard length of his body. “You’re mine.”

Morgana barely had time to nod before his lips were on hers. Lucien gently pushed her onto their bed, one hand already finding its way underneath the damask dressing gown she wore.

“Your skin is smooth as silk,” he said. “I’ll never tire of feeling you under me.”

“Lucien,” Morgana breathed, unbelievably aroused at his words, his possessiveness. Shocked at her own need, her own desire to be his.

Monday Musings

Lots going on in the month of August. Finished up a blog tour for Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex and Subterfuge, went on vacation, and came back to 1 rejection and 1 request.

The rejection was very honest and straight forward, and didn't have anything to do with my writing or with the story, Paranormal Investigations. The rejection was to do with the market, and honestly I can accept that! Paranromals are a very crowded market. Personally, and OK I'm the author:) but I think that Paranormal Investigations is different than most. But hey, I'll keep trying.

Now, from the same editor, the request. It wasn't for Paranormal Investigations, but a story I'd started and set aside to work on the Egyptian contemporary. (Which is completely plotted and 3 chapters in, but alas.) So this new story, a very dark and different Regency, is the goal for this week.

For a limited time only on All Romance Ebooks, Dark Desires of the Druids: Murder and Magick is free. And don't forget to get the free Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure.

British nobility

For most of July I did a blog tour, so many blogs, so much desire to recycle them. For the remainder of August and probably much of September, I plan on using them. I'm blog-burned out for the moment, so this is the best I can manage. :)

British Nobility

My lord! My lady! My Lord in heaven, seriously-stop already! Tedious isn’t it? And yet as historical writers, we have to get it right. Not just right, but dead on. Because those who read historicals? THEY KNOW! And if you make a mistake, and it gets printed, forget it.

Peerage basics are actually fairly complicated so basics is a misnomer. There are sites and books who spell it all out fare better than I, but here you go. (If you want a much more comprehensive site on it, try here.)

My one pet peeve of historicals: Why are there so many dukes?

Still, don't forget the order from lowest to highest:
Sir and Lady/Dame and Lord (non hereditary)
Baronet and lady (hereditary but don't hold seats in the House of Lords)
Baron and Baroness
Viscount and Viscountess
Earls and Countesses
Marquess and Marchioness
Duke and Duchess
Prince and Princess
King and Queen

You probably figured out those last 2 eh? Yeah. So there you have it, the order of titles. More importantly, what can you do with all that formality today?

Different ranks and different family relations are addressed in different manners. Today, it's a lot simpler than Jane Austen, even Georgette Heyer. Trust me, that's a bit relief!

Your heroine can now get away with calling the hero by his first name, as would close family and his closest of friends. Strangers would still refer to him in the proper manner-by his last name or title. Isn’t it amazing what a little modern thinking can get you? And how intimate it makes everything?




Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge available now in bookstores. Free short Story: Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure.

Murder and Magick free!

For a limited time only on All Romance Ebooks, Dark Desires of the Druids: Murder and Magick is free.

Losing her virginity can mean ruin for a Victorian lady. For Raven Drake, it means freedom to explore her sexuality. As a magicker in hiding, Raven subscribes to her culture’s less prudish philosophy. She wants to experience every erotic sensation imaginable.

Malcolm, Lord Preston, desires her from the moment he sees her, and doesn’t allow society’s rules to stand in his way. More than happy to introduce Raven to the pleasures of sex, he doesn’t expect to fall in love with her.

Their tryst is a welcome distraction from witch hunters and political maneuverings. But can it overcome the weight of another man’s ring on her finger?

Sex and Subterfuge in bookstores now! And don't forget to get the free Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure.

Workshops

Why I like workshops.

I don't like all the workshops I attend, and have been known to walk out of them. It doesn't mean the speakers didn't go a good job on their topic, it just means that either I A) had to choose between two (or more) workshops and want to catch the end of another or B) thought it might help in my writing and then realized the speaker and I were coming from two different starting points.

But overall, I respect the people who get in front of others and talk about anything!

The best thing I ever learned in my writing was in a workshop: Every scene must count toward the overall plot. You'd think that, sure, but honestly at the time of hearing that I was still a fan of writing scenes I wanted to write. No longer! I was going to write to the plot, to the end, to the Happily Ever After!

Seriously, it was a revelation.

So even if I only go to a handful or workshops, they all have what I want. To learn more to further my writing. It's an evolving experience!

Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge on sale now at your favorite bookstore. And don't forget my free Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure!

Why I do RWA

There are reasons for and against it, but I'm being positive so will list the reasons why I am doing RWA this year. (In no particular order)

• Meet online friends!
• Have a drink with these online friends that you now know what they look like.
• Meet other writers in various stages of their career and get to know how they're doing, what they're doing, and what their career plans/goals are.
• 
  
• Pitch to an editor or agent! You never know who's going to like your book, it only takes one.

• Workshops-these are the best reason. Other conferences have them, too, so if RWA is too expensive or too far for you, try to go to any writing conferences and workshops. They're worth it.

More on workshops tomorrow as I travel to Orlando.

Today the blog tour is taking me to D. Renee Bagby Presents First Chapters! Want to read Chapter One of Sex & Subterfuge? Stop on by!

Getting ready for RWA

I leave in a day and am I packed? Nope. I'll get there, it's only a carry on and a few days, and the suitcase is right...there...mocking me with its open emptiness.

RWA: I'm really looking forward to going there, it's been a couple years and there are several workshops I'm looking forward to attending. Plus, it's a great chance to meet up with virtual friends!

Today I'm over at Simply Sexy Stories for Day 12 of Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge virtual blog tour!

Learn something new

Ture, I'm a librarian and deal with a lot of people every day, but it's also true that I learn something new. I like that aspect of my job, learning.

It's also true in writing. I may think I know what happened when, but once you get into the nitty gritty of it all, the real research, the facts of the matter, it's a different story entirely. My favorite? Taking X and making it into a story. Doesn't matter what X is (and no I won't be going into an algebra problem here!)

X is whatever you find fascinating. X is whatever you want to use for your story. X is whatever you wish it to be.

That's what makes writing and life! so fun. Learning. Once you close your mind, it's all over.

~By all means let's be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out.
Richard Dawkins

Virtually speaking, I'm over at Bad Girl (And Bad Boy) Writer's Block with DAY 11 of Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge's blog tour. And what am I talking about today? You'll never guess. :)

Traveling

Virtually traveling, I'm over at Diary of a Literary Goddess with DAY 10 of Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge's blog tour.

Physically traveling is another story. Last weekend I went to Washington, D.C. and had a great time. This brought up where to vacation next. Let's stick to the United States for the purposes of this blog. Otherwise it'd read something like I WANT TO SEE IT ALL!!!!!!!!

In no particular order:

Alaska has always been a dream. A nice (small) cruise up the coast with some time on land to really see America's largest state.

Hawai'i of course. Pearl Harbor, the beaches, that volcano you can climb, I can't remember the name. Pele? No, that's a soccer player. Or maybe it's similar.

The Grand Canyon. I went there once, 12+ years ago and loved it. Did the mule ride down the trail which was way cool, but hurt my derrière by the end!

The Great Lakes. I know very little about them other than the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, how they were made (History Channel of course), and how smugglers used them over the centuries. Yes, yes, I know parts of them are in Canada, but how cool would it be to take a tour along the coast of all the lakes?

I'd love to see every state in the Union. I'm not sure what I'd do in Kansas, but there has to be something I'd be interested in!

Day 6

I had a FANTASTIC time in DC. It was hot, but it was a great time. Did the train to Union Station, nice Westin in downtown, then did the Smithsonian (both Air & Space museums), the Mall, the Good God it's hot why did I pick a weekend in July?! And overall had a wonderful time. I want to do it again, there's so much I never got to see. And just walking around there were signs for even more things to do. I'm definitely planning another trip!

DAY 6 BLOG TOUR is over at Domestically Challenged Momma. What genres do you love to read, but most importantly, would you read a book by a favorite author in a totally different genre?

And don't forget, Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge is in paperback now. And my free short, Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure.

Day 5

Wow, it's early today! Never stay out late with friends on a work night. I guess my mom knew what she was talking about when she tried to drill into my head "Never stay out late on a school night!" 6:15 came early, and the day looks very long before me!



I'll survive. Lots to do to get me through the day, work, plotting, and Day Five of the Virtual Blog Tour. Today I'm at Romantic Journey talking about alternate history and how fun it is to play.

Day Three!

Today I'm over at a favorite blog, You Gotta Read Guest. I've met a lot of wonderful authors there, and have read a lot of great reccomendations from this site.

Sex & Subterfuge virtual blog tour.

Available now in bookstores, and for whichever e-reader you own!

Day two

Today I'm over at Alisha Paige's blog, a super cool place to be. Why? It's all about the scifi baby. I'm a total geek when it comes to that, but strangely haven't read scifi romance. I don't know what I've been waiting for, but plan to change all that now.

Come read Lucien's interview. :)

This week

Today is DAY ONE of my blog tour and I start it off at Cherry Mischievous. I have to say, I adore that blog. No, I didn't know about it until I signed up for this tour, but combing it over this morning, it's my kind of reading.

Thanks, Cherry for hosting me!

Blog Tour

Monday starts my Summer Blog Tour for Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex and Subterfuge. I'll be giving away lots of prizes, so be on the look out. I hope you'll join me!

Monday July 12: Cherry Mischievous
Tuesday July 13: Alisha Paige
Wednesday July 14: You Gotta Read Guest
Thursday July 15: Romance With an Attitude
Friday July 16: Romantic Journey

This blog tour has been kindly arranged for me by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Sex and Subterfuge

Today's my release date for Dark Desires of the Druids: Sex & Subterfuge! To kick off the release, I'm throwing a blog tour from July 12-August 6. Once I have all the locales, I'll post them here. If you follow the tour, at the end is a pretty prize!

In addition, I have a FREE short story, a Dark Desires of the Druids: Choose Your Own Adventure. Remember those from way back when? Or am I dating myself? Anyway, it's not nearly as long as those, man this was hard enough to make sure everything flowed! But it's a fun little adventure in the depths of London with a Druid couple.

Very soon I'll also have a free short story up about this couple, Duncan and Elizabeth, and how they came to be in London.

Countdown!

I'm counting down the days until Sex & Subterfuge is released in paperback through Red Wheel/Weiser. I'm giddy with excitement! :) (Desert and Destiny will be released September 1, 2010)

Plus, dig that new cover!

Right now I'm finishing one final (how many times have I said that?!) edit of my paranormal contemporary tentatively entitled Paranormal Investigations, plotting 2 historicals--1 paranormal 1 slightly-not, and planning a huge month long blog tour for Sex & Subterfuge with prizes galore!

So check back here starting July 1, 2010 for the whens, wheres, and whatfors.

Dark Desires of the Druids II: Sex and Subterfuge

The second in my Victorian Druids series. Looking back, there are things I'd change and add to the story, but at the time, well, I don't know why I didn't add/change them in the first place. Hindsight and all.


This is a very different story than Raven's story. Morgana is a very different character. Stronger, older, more experienced. And Lucien. I have a special place in my writing-heart for him. He's a man who doesn't take no for an answer and one who knows his worth.

Sex & Subterfuge: Philadelphia, America, 1882 Lucien and Morgana's first meeting:

“My parents were murdered not six weeks ago,” he said flatly. “By a magicker.”

The anger left her, replaced by compassion and understanding. “I’m
sorry,” she whispered, her fingers reaching out to squeeze his hand. The show of sympathy startled him, denting the wall of grief he’d built in the weeks since the murder. Since he’d been forced here when he should’ve seen to his duties – and Isadore, his beloved sister – at home.

“We’ve all experienced tragedy,” James said, not unkindly, but with very little of the understanding his cousin showed. Morgana stepped away from him and it felt as if the world went with her. The hand that momentarily held his lay gently on Blackthorne’s arm.

“We’ve had similar problems,” she said in answer to his earlier question. “Certain volatile ingredients have surfaced. Problems with false elixirs and blatant lies of magickal remedies.”

“Any leads on a collector?”

“No,” she said after a short pause. “None.”

Blackthorne stepped between Lucien and Morgana. Raising an eyebrow at the protective gesture, he wondered from whom Blackthorne protected his cousin.
“We’ll be sure to contact you in a timely manner should we learn anything.”

Lucien acknowledged the insult with another quirk of his eyebrow. Morgana stepped around James with an impatient huff.

“James, please host Lord Granville,” she said, her gaze holding his steadily.

“If you insist,” Blackthorne said curtly.

“Thank you, James,” she replied softly, and Lucien had the feeling there was more to that exchange than simple courtesy.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Helston interrupted. The man had been quiet nearly the entire time. Whatever his position in Morgana’s world, she obviously trusted him enough to hear his reason for being here. “I have an appointment, Morgana.” He kissed his hostess’s hand and nodded to Blackthorne, who seemed to like Helston even less than Lucien. Maybe he wasn’t trusted, then, but tolerated. “Lord Granville, a pleasure.”

Without a word, Blackthorne followed Helston out.

“Lord Granville,” Morgana slipped her hand around his arm. “I’ll have my man, Takoda, show you to James’s house in a bit. I’d like to hear more of London.” She smiled up at him, the look in her eyes anything but businesslike. Her scent, lilacs and woman, surrounded him and he wanted to taste her fragrant skin. Was it as silky as it appeared? He’d have bet his steamship that it was.

4.5 Cherries from Whipped Cream Reviews: The characters are all well defined and multi-faceted. I also appreciated the research that must have gone into this book to make everything so true to the time period.


4 Nymphs from Literary Nymphs: Isabel Roman had done a wonderful job of telling this story about how strong the female line was in the American Blackthorne family. The simple fact that Morgana put everyone else before her...told me she had a great concern for others.

4 Stars from Manic Readers: The second installment of the Druids series is just as interesting a read as the first. There is danger, treachery, romance and passion aplenty.


3.5 Tombstones from Bitten By Books: Overall, though, this isn’t a bad continuation of the series. I will definitely continue reading...

Bitten by Books reveiws

This weekend I received 4 reviews from Bitten by Books. Three for my Druids series, Murder & Magick, Sex & Subterfuge, and Desert & Destiny, and one for Shadow State, my 1934 German werewolf story.


Shadow State first, because my wehrwölfes hold a special place in my heart. 5 Tombstones: My only complaint is that the story was so short; the people and surrounding periphery were intriguing, and I would have loved to get more of it all. I hope Ms. Roman has more of these stories in the works as I’m bound to gobble them up as well. Be prepared to devote all your time to completing this one - it was hard to put down!


Now onto my Druids series. Jennifer reviewed the first 3 so far. Here's what she has to say:

Murder & Magick 4.5 Tombstones
Love and responsibility battle in this beautiful, historical tale of suspense. This was well-written, and the characters are extremely well-developed; the author does a wonderful job of creating strong leads that are still capable of showing emotion for one another.







Sex & Subterfuge 3.5 Tombstones


Now I admit, this isn't my strongest story, but I'm still pleased with her review:
Overall, though, this isn’t a bad continuation of the series. I will definitely continue reading, and hope that the third book goes back to the intensity and quality of the first.








Desert & Destiny 4.5 Tombstones
These books just keep getting and better with each installment. It’s wonderful how the author continues to build upon the characters and situations from book to book, and the romance develops so naturally. Especially when considered how the foundations were purely physical, Ms. Roman does an excellent job of developing the passion into true romance.






About Temptations & Treachery she says: I look forward to reading the fourth in the series!