4.5-Star review for MYTHS OF GODS 06/01/2011
My thanks to Keepers of the Underworld Magazine for taking the time to review Myths of Gods. From the review: "From the very opening of the book you find yourself captivated and don't want to put the book down. ... I do highly recommend this book to everyone." Read the full review here. Add Comment Rapture 05/21/2011
When I first heard about a fringe Christian radio host’s rapture prediction, which claimed that the end of the world was to come on May 21, 2011, my initial response was to laugh it off. There have been numerous predicted doomsdays in my time, and this was just one more. However, the more I thought about it, the more it upset me. This was real to the people who believed it—and that was no laughing matter. Good people with great faith, even faith misplaced, do not deserve our ridicule. They deserve our compassion—and they deserve a society that would not take advantage of their willingness to believe. People have given up their life savings, their personal belongings, and their pride over this most recent religious debacle. One must question not only the personal impact this is going to have on people, but the moral one. One must question how much money Harold Camping was able to make off desperate, scared believers through his supposed doomsday awareness campaign. According to CNN, he has received over eighty million dollars in “donations” since beginning the campaign. One must consider what is going to become of all those who gave up all they had, only to learn that they had been misled. I think of the people who will struggle financially now, while Camping is off living the good life with their money, and I shudder. My upcoming release, Myths of Gods, takes a critical look at those who use religion as a means of controlling the masses or accruing wealth. I respect people who practice religious beliefs, but I also think it is important for all religious people, no matter who they are or what they believe, to take a closer look at their dogma—and their leaders. Faith is not a bad thing, but faith used as an excuse to commit wrongs against others is immoral on so many levels. There are too many examples for me to choose one or two (and I don’t want this thread to turn into a religious bashing party), but they exist on every religious front. No exceptions. I know atheists who put down religious thought, saying that belief in anything so farfetched as any dogma warrants their scorn. I say belief is personal, individual, and an aspect to being human. I think it is something that should be respected—as long as no one is getting hurt. Of course, that’s just my personal belief. Language 05/13/2011
Having taken on the task of learning Italian over these past two years, I've found language has taken on even deeper meaning foo me. For any writer, words are like air or water; they are a vital component to one's daily life. Words represent communication, art, emotion, intelligence, and release. Learning a new language adds a whole new set of words to one's palate, but it also adds a greater dimension to the way one thinks about coloquial speach, word choice, and even grammar. Learning to speak a foreign language forces one to slow down and really think about what s/he wants to say--and why one chooses to say it one way, and not another. As a writer, one with a whirlwind of words dancing around in my head at any given time, I think I took for granted the ease in which I could find just the right word. I found that, when speaking in Italian, I had to search for that word a little longer. I had to think about my use of tense. It makes me think even more about the words I use more regularly. Learning a foreign language has also offered some fun insight on the use of coloquial language and swear words. One sees one'e coloquial language change over the years, with old words going obsolite and new words taking their place (when I was little, "totally," "rad," and "gag me" were common in coloquial speech in California, but more recently, words like "phat" and "dope" would be better received). When I think about the language cautions I learned regarding Italian swear words, I couldn't help but think about what makes a swear word; I concluded that social acceptance of a word's symbolic value is all that makes any word what it is. Strange, though, how we decide some words are dirty and others are sophisticated--and they are because we agree they are. I wish the U.S. had more dual emersion gradeschools, as I consider how differently I would view words now, had I learned a second language back when I was a child. I find it amazing that we don't teach our young multiple languages, as great as the benefits would be. Excerpt: BLOOD AND COFFEE 04/07/2011
 The TRS treasure hunt is coming to a close, but the clues are still pouring in. My question was a simple one: In my erotic horror series, how do the vampires take their coffee? Make sure to stop by TRS to submit your answers--remember, there is an Amazon Kindle up for grabs. So, how do vampires take their coffee? Read the following excerpt from The Darkness and the Night: Blood and Coffee to find out: There was a knock at the front door the following night, not long after dusk. The same escort from the night before had come to invite Karen and Billy to John-Michael’s house for a cup of coffee before church. The two quickly followed the escort across the stone paths, to the other side of the commune. John-Michael and his wife, Vivian, sat beside one another on the front porch, awaiting Karen and Billy’s arrival. John-Michael had short, colorless hair, an unenviable face, and beady blue eyes. Vivian also had naturally pale hair and eyes, with long hair, fine features, and a thin, shrewd smile. She appeared to be about half his age. Her conservative, hand-sewn attire hardly seemed to suit her, just as she hardly seemed to fit beside John-Michael. Vivian was a goddess and John-Michael was a troll. Neither seemed to notice. The escort led Karen and Billy all the way to the porch, then disappeared back down the path as soon as John-Michael and Vivian acknowledged their guests. Four cups of hot coffee sat on a small glass table between two sets of wicker chairs. John-Michael and Vivian stood as Karen and Billy walked onto the porch and offered their hands in greeting. They both had firm, enthusiastic handshakes, and they seemed almost too excited to see their guests. The four sat as John-Michael and Vivian immediately picked up their coffee cups. “Coffee?” Vivian asked, pointing to the two other cups. “Thank you,” Billy said as he and Karen politely lifted their cups. They both smelled a strangely familiar, yet somehow hard to place, scent masked in the coffee as they moved the steaming cups up to their lips. Karen hesitated, but Billy went so far as to take a taste. They paused for a moment as Billy recognized the additional ingredient as soon as it hit his tongue. Blood. They added blood to their coffee? A regional preference, perhaps? Billy didn’t think too much about it, finding it added a fullness similar to that achieved by adding milk or cream, but Karen found it disturbing. Billy reminded Karen with a quick mental note that there was nothing strange about blood to these people. A food product was a food product; milk and blood differed only in that one came from a teat and the other a vein. Upon further consideration, Billy concluded that the idea was rather novel -- the boost of caffeine combined with a small snack -- and he wondered why he hadn’t thought of the idea before. Karen set down her cup, unwilling to try the combination. She didn’t care if John- Michael and Vivian thought she was rude, nor did she care that even an extra ounce or two of blood would be an ounce or two less she would need later. Whose blood was it? Some poor donor’s, perhaps, his wrist slashed and held over their cups, his value to these people no more than the value a human might place on a disposable milk carton? Vivian set down her cup, as well, playing the gracious host. A smile spread across her pretty face as she did her best to address Billy and Karen together, although her eyes found and fixed upon Billy’s far too many times for Karen’s comfort. “It’s such a pleasure to meet you. I’m so sorry I was unavailable last night,” John- Michael said between sips of coffee. “Jean-Michele tells us that you two only plan on staying for a couple of days,” Vivian added, her smile fading to a trite look of disappointment. Karen and Billy thought about the comment for a moment and, to Karen’s surprise, Billy began to reconsider his desire to leave as soon as planned. This place had its own history, its own culture, and in a strange, remote way it was the only real heritage he could claim. His people belonged to an underground society back in the “real world” and forced to hide who they were and remained scattered to avoid detection. Although no one in the Xavier bloodline had ever called this safe haven home, he knew deep down that these were still his people. They had a society to call their own, a place where they could build a real life -- they could safely raise their child here, if only they were willing to give the place a chance. “Our plans aren’t set in stone,” Billy said, smiling back at Vivian. “This coffee is really good, by the way.” He finished his cup, and then switched it with Karen’s. “You aren’t going to drink this?” he asked her aloud, although he already knew the answer. “Take it,” Karen said, feeling her face flush. She mentally asked Billy why he suddenly had such a change of heart, and he simply responded by telling her he knew what he was doing and she needed to trust him. She glanced over at Vivian and John- Michael, and the hair suddenly rose on the back of her neck as she noticed a startling look of contempt in both of their faces. “You really should try just a sip,” Billy said. “It’s very good.” He held the cup up, offering her a taste, but she pushed it away, intentionally knocking it out of his hand. The cup fell to the wooden floorboards, shattering and sending the hot liquid splattering in all directions. Bonus question: I'm offering an additional free copy of any of of my currently available novels to the first person able to answer the following question: Name the character living at the vampire commune who is based on a children's fairy tale. TRS Treasure Hunt! 03/31/2011
 Who can resist a good treasure hunt? Especially when the treasure is filled with exciting locations, sexy heroes and heroines, and a lot of adventure and fun to filled the hours. We hope you have fun uncovering the characters and plots of the stories each author has provided a clue to. The rules: 1. Each day a group of authors will post the answers to their clues. 2. You must use the clues to find your way to the author’s blog/website or FB and find the answer to their question. Answers can be found in the excerpts/blurbs posted on the sites. 3. All the answers will be posted by Friday 04/08/11. 4. Once you have all the answers then you must go to TRS website http://www.theromancestudio.com/ and click on the Treasure Hunt logo to submit your answers. 5. All answers must be submitted by Saturday 04/09/11. 6. The person with the most correct answers wins the Kindle. In cause of tie, a random winner will be picked from the group of top answers. Other prizes drawn at random. 7. First prize is a Kindle. Other prizes include 10 print romance titles, many of the authors will be giving away a copy of their ebook to a commenter on their blog/site, and $25 gift card to Amazon. The Clues: 04/01 Friday’s Clues Passion in Print writer Jennifer L. Hart believes in torturing her characters in the fires of hell before they are allowed a happily ever after. In her latest release, Drue redeemed himself by working as an assistant to Dakota Whitmore, the woman he believes to be a thief. What does Drue think she stole from him? http://www.jenniferlhart.com/ Seleste wishes she could visit the Badlands to enjoy some "Ramblings and Romance" and maybe even end up Blood Kissed. Which sci-fi captain does Seleste think would sit down for a drink or two with Spencer Pierce, the hero of her steampunk romance Badlands? http://selestedelaney.com/wordpress/ Ryan Field, an openly gay romance writer for twenty years who writes for Ravenous Romance, wants to know what two very important topics does Luis want to discuss with Jase in the beginning of the book? http://ryan-field.blogspot.com/ 04/02 Saturday’s Clues Decadent Publishing author, Deena Remiel can be found where The Brethren like to play, at Deena Remiel's Place. Michael, Brethren Protector has a full-time day job. What does he do? http://deenar116.wordpress.com/ Urban Fantasy and paranormal romance writer, Vivi Dumas, resides at Delusions of Grandeur. Her heroine, Angel, true love is a hot demon name Jacque, but she has a second passion she loves almost as much. What is it? http://vividumas.wordpress.com/ While sitting on her Writer’s Block, author Kelly Yeakle enjoys all things with classic beauty and Timeless elegance. In both of her current published novels, this location has been used for either a portion or the entire novel. Name the place. http://kyeakle27.webs.com/ Rebecca Leigh, a straight-laced attorney by day who writes sexy erotic romance by night, wants to know what her two hot male vampires in Room Number Twelve like to role-play on Friday night at the Warehouse on Sixth Street. http://blog.rebeccaleighromance.com/?zx=9f7ac5e328b15b 04/04 Monday’s Clues Stacey Espino loves to escape into erotic romance. Whether it be futuristic, paranormal or western menage, she has you covered. In one of her menage romances, two wolf shifters are not too happy about sharing the human female they found by the side of the road. What is the name of the woman who has captured their hearts? http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com/?zx=9cd4776461d53fe7 Canadian author, Jean Roberta’s recent collection of stories all have something in common. What does each one have? http://www.jeanroberta.com/Books/obsession.htm Whiskey Creek Press author Cate Masters loves diving into her writing. When one of her heroes meets a real mermaid, what does she help resurface? http://catemasters.blogspot.com/ 04/06 Wednesday’s Clues Louisa Bacio enjoys traveling through some of the darker & wilder sides of the erotic. Bacio’s m/m/f paranormal release “The Vampire, The Witch & The Werewolf” is set in what historic U.S. city? http://louisabacio.blogspot.com/ Kilt Kilpatrick is a popular Ravenous author with a novel and several short stories to his name. Two of his short stories take place ouside of the U.S., which are they? Btw, if you can't find a blog for him, try looking for him face to face... http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kilt-Kilpatrick/160928497477 LaVerne Thompson loves a good mystery. Her hero Caine Hayden meets a mystery woman one night and his business associate the next. He falls for both. What are their names? http://isisindcblog.blogspot.com/?zx=504a36458bcde215 04/08 Friday’s Clues PJ Schnyder is an author of paranormal and sci-fi romance who believes home is where the heart is. One of her heroines, Carri, believes a man might only be a lone wolf because he was never given the option to be something else. Who is Carri's wolf and what is his nickname for her? http://pjschnyder.com/blog/ Author Jay Di Meo’s home has her name. Her hero James is a reincarnation of Egyptian god Seth, represented by a Jackal. His beloved Silver is the Falcon – which Egyptian god is he? http://jaydimeo.wordpress.com/ Trinity Blacio has been writing professionally for the last eight years. She has titles with several different publishers. Throughout the Running In Fear series what is the one thing Jaycee craved and wanted that she finally got in book 3? http://trinityblacio.com/blog/ Ravenous Romance author Lisa Lane has two series, an erotic horror trilogy and erotic, romantic space opera. In her erotic horror books, how do her vampires take their coffee? http://www.cerebralwriter.com/blog.html Good luck! Trailer: MYTHS OF GODS 03/23/2011
Due for publication this May: Book Review: THE SORCERER'S KEY by C. C. Bye 03/18/2011
 Jack Lightfoot has a family history that makes him unique to our world. His father is a sorcerer from Eden, an alternate world to our own, and although Jack was raised on our familiar Earth, the sorcerer blood runs deep in his veins. When an Eden bounty hunter tracks down his family, hired by the high sorcerer Morgan, Jack learns that he holds the key to both worlds--and the power to take on Morgan himself. Bye offers an intriguing take on the classic hero's journey, meshing bibilical myth with Dungeons and Dragons-style sorcery to create a story that is as provocative as it is exciting. I enjoyed Bye's take on the Eden myth and its connection to modern day Earth, and the story's fast pace made it a quick read. His voice is strong, his dialog smooth, and with one exception, his style is flawless. I did find an overuse of "be" verbs, which was the only issue I had with this book, but it was a small fault to an otherwise exceptional story. I highly recommend THE SORCERER'S KEY to fans of high fantasy. It is a fun and adventuorous tale that readers will not soon forget. I give this work an enthusiastic four stars. THE SORCERER'S KEY is available through Amazon here. Finding Purpose through Words 03/14/2011
As a writer, I find that words consume the better part of my days. Not only do I use them in ways many people might not, but I can't help but to consider their deeper meanings, their collective place in this world, their power. Words inspire, relay ideas, break hearts, and give hope. They define cultures, start and end wars, and relay the most complex of ideas. They affect people in ways that only actions might prevail and take our minds to places both abstract and profound.  For the writer, words are the fundamental building blocks for creation. Not much compares to taking a blank screen and transforming it into something tangible and real to the mind's eye, one word at a time. A peer recently compared it to playing God. I disagree. Writing does not make one god-like; it makes one an artist, a vessel of the muses, a spokesperson for both the beauty and evils of humankind. I can't speak for all writers, but I truly know I write because I must. I write because there is much unsaid in this world, too much, and someone needs to fill in the missing piecess. I believe that, through literature, mountains can be moved, people changed, and minds affected. Through words, writers have purpose. Through words, anything is possible. Animal Lovers: Read and Share 02/11/2011
REPOST Special thanks to Dana Fredsti for sharing at http://www.danafredsti.com/blog/?p=561 SF Bay Area Peeps! URGENT Call for Adoption! Must Rehome ASAP (Everywhere) Date: 2011-02-10, 7:57PM PST Reply to: comm-yjbak-2208342570@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?] Please help! After two long years of being on a waiting list for a dog, we have been notified by breed rescue that, at long last, our number has come up and … WE ARE HAVING A PUPPY! We must get rid of our children IMMEDIATELY because we just know how time consuming our new little puppy is going to be and it just wouldn’t be fair to the children. Since our little puppy will be arriving on Monday we MUST place the children up for adoption this weekend! They are described as: One male — his name is Tommy, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), light blonde hair, blue eyes. Four years old. Excellent disposition. He doesn’t bite. Temperament tested. Does have problems with peeing directly in the toilet. Has had chicken Pox and is current on all shots. Tonsils have already been removed. Tommy eats everything, is very clean, house trained and gets along well with others. Does not run with scissors and with a little training he should be able to read soon. One female — her name is Lexie, Caucasian (English/Irish mix), strawberry blonde hair, green eyes quite freckled. Two years old. Can be surly at times. Non-biter, thumb sucker. Has been temperament tested but needs a little attitude adjusting occasionally. She is current on all shots, tonsils out, and is very healthy and can be affectionate. Gets along well with other little girls and little boys but does not like to share her toys and therefore would do best in a one child household. She is a very quick learner and is currently working on her house training. Shouldn’t take long at all. We really do LOVE our children so much and want to do what’s right for them. That is why we contacted a rescue group. But we simply can no longer keep them. Also, we are afraid that they may hurt our new puppy. I hope you understand that ours is a UNIQUE situation and we have a real emergency here! They MUST be placed into your rescue by Sunday night at the latest or we will be forced to drop them off at the orphanage or along some dark, country road. Our priority now has to be our new puppy. $10 rehoming fee but price is very negotiable. PS - If you laughed or understood the seriousness of this posting, please repost it in other areas of the country as well as continue to repost it. It doesn’t matter how quickly it was flagged the point is that SOMEONE SOMEWHERE will have read it and thought about it for minute. Last Day to Vote in the P&E Readers' Poll 01/25/2011
The Predators and Editors Readers' Poll is winding down, and I want to thank those of you who have taken the time to show your support for my erotic space opera, Pandora's Hope. If you have not yet voted, there's still time--but the polls are closing soon! You can cast your vote at http://critters.org/predpoll/novelerot.shtml. Scroll down to view the poll. Pandora's Hope was nominated for best erotica novel in electronic format, and I'm excited just to be in the running. The previous book in the series, Lust in Space, made the top ten list last year, and it sure would be nice to see Pandora's Hope follow suit. Again, my thanks for your readership and support! | ArchivesFebruary 2012 CategoriesAll |
RSS Feed