Green is for Turf Gazing

One of my favorite pastimes is watching Major League baseball games, especially those played by my favorite team--The Baltimore Orioles. Recently my boyfriend and I attended their last game of the regular season. In addition to meeting and shaking hands with Boog Powell, watching Luke Scott in batting action, and being photographed with a celebrity, the day was filled with many inspirational and happy moments.

One of those blissful moments occurred as I filled my mind's eye with the glorious green of the turf and almost performed a dance of delight right there in the Club Section. Whether or not those avid fans enjoying beverages and ballpark treats would have enjoyed such an impromptu outburst will forever remain a mystery LOL

Usually I carry a steno pad to jot story ideas or character sketches during my travels. That day I used the backs of two promotional pages to record the ideas racing through my head. Baseball figures prominently in this romantic tale which may take more of a women's fiction or literary turn before the first-draft process is complete. This said since a week later we attended a fabulous World War II historical event. After hours of snapping photos and taking notes, I believe I've begun a special writing journey--a journey that may possibly encompass the brainstorming of two companion novels to make a trilogy.

Here's to those magical times when fun and creativity blend in the best way possible and give us authors and readers an ultimate gift.

Blessings and all the season's best,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

RomantiCon 2010 -- What a wonderful event!

I attended the second annual RomantiCon convention hosted by Ellora's Cave Publishing last weekend. The first one, held last October, was just an amazingly fun time. But this one... This one simply rocked the house. There's really no other way to describe it. Words won't do justice, but pictures might just show you all how much fun this convention is.

What everyone waits for -- the first glimpse of Ellora's Cavemen! This was Thursday night at the meet and greet. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'...

Having a wonderful time with author and friend, Samantha Kane.


Cover model Brooks. He made a nice chair... :-)


Friday night -- The Roaring 20's Party! The guys got all decked out, and so did most of the attendees. Nothing wrong with playing a little dress up!


Samantha Kane and that adorable pink fedora!


Me with author and friend, fiery red-head Mari Freeman before the 20's party.


Hugging on my shoe buddy (and friend!), author MA Ellis.


Let's get the party started!


Hands down, one of the best pics! There's just something about a man's back...


Brooks. 'Nuff said.

Here's me after I won and award for Getting Naughty!


I'm trying to slip off my shoe to show how tall Brooks is. Of course, the 4 inch boots he has on helped with that.

There's so many more pictures, I could go on and on. If you'd like to see them, check out my Facebook page ( www.facebook.com/authorkristindaniels ), there's a bunch up there, too.

Oh, and the videos! You can see the guys in action!

And we're going to do it all again next year! I'm already planning my trip, and I can't hardly wait to see all the wonderful readers, fellow authors, and EC staff!

Kristin
www.kristindaniels.com
www.facebook.com/authorkristindaniels
http://twitter.com/kristin_daniels

Hot Green

I love this week's topic because the very first erotic novella I wrote, Second Nature, is nothing but "green,"meaning pro-environment. It's about an activist, Claret McDaniel, trying to resist her attraction to the developer who plans to ruin the land that she loves. After a particularly close encounter with the enigmatic Graham, Claret decides to stage a protest to distance herself from him but lands right in his very capable and sexy hands.

This story had been fermenting in my head since a trip through the mountains of Virginia, and when it finally found its way out through the keyboard, I got to enjoy integrating my love of all things geologic and natural with one of the most base desires to ever drive man--passion. In this case, green passion.

Here's a sample...

"Claret, wait," Graham commanded.

She turned to face him, terrified now that they were alone in the parking lot of the restaurant. He must have seen the fear in her eyes, because his face softened and he stepped protectively toward her.

"I won’t hurt you…," he began.

"You’re damn right there, buddy," she spat and stomped on his foot.

A howl of pain and surprise burst out as Graham dropped deftly to his knee and grabbed his foot. Claret knew she should move, but she didn’t. Any other man would have doubled over or hopped around or something—maybe even hit her—but Graham looked like a knight kneeling before a queen, except he was furiously rubbing his foot and breathing profanity.

That howl had sounded as if it came straight from the wild. An odd feeling overtook her. She felt a sudden urge to reach down and take Graham’s head in her arms, to hold him to her breasts, to apologize.

To give in to his desire.

Graham looked up as the last thought passed through her mind, and Claret gulped. Not a very feminine thing to do, but Graham didn’t seem to mind. In one smooth move, he stood and pinned her to her Chevy POS with his hard, muscular body.

He was of a commanding height, and held her gaze as his left hand pressed the small of her back toward him, inching her hips next to his.

Graham’s right hand slid down her leg in a light caress, finding the hem of her simple A-line skirt and then lifting it with ease. His hand explored her thigh, his fingers gently massaging their way toward the heated curls between them.

"We’re… in… the parking lot," Claret managed to rasp as Graham’s fingers slipped into her panties and found her soft curls.

She moaned and tried to think of how to resist him. But her body betrayed her as Graham’s finger slid easily between her swollen lips, his gaze still steady and now heated. His heady scent filled her nostrils, a mix of fresh pine and pure, clean spring water.

"The world is ours, dearest," he whispered.

This is also one of the first books I ever made a trailer for, and although it might be a bit amateurish, it was a great learning experience. If anything, there are some cool nature pics included. :)

Enjoy!

The Green of Scotland

One of the greenest and most beautiful sights I’ve seen is the Scottish hills and mountains in summer when the sun breaks through the thick cloud cover. This green was so bright, rich and velvety it hurt my eyes to look at it. I haven’t seen any place in the US with green vegetation of this intensity and shade.

I’m still in Scotland today, but likely the hills and mountains of the Highlands are not quite as green in the fall. I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures so I can show you when I return. This time we are driving ourselves, so if I see breathtaking scenery or landscape, I can slam on the brakes, get out and take pictures. :)

Where are your favorite green spots in nature?

Finally the Fantasy Becomes Reality

Every woman has an ultimate fantasy. Maybe that fantasy involves role- playing or a steamy getaway? Perhaps she's always dreamed of meeting a guy who's willing to do everything possible to make her fondest dreams and wishes become reality? Or maybe she's hoping to be swept away in mind-blowing moments of passion with a man she's secretly loved for many years--a passion that's grown stronger with each day that's passed since Dana last saw Jack.

Dana Taylor's a serious-minded businesswoman who's always put most of her energy into the Western-wear boutique she owns and operates. Free-wheeling Jack Dodson is a former rodeo champ who's tired of his glory days on the circuit and is bent on settling down and co-managing a ranch in Mesa Junction, Texas.

An excerpt from my erotica romantic suspense, ROUGHRIDER, occurs when Dana's fantasy never had a better chance at becoming reality.

“Jack’s sittin’ over there now.” He hitched a thumb toward the most delicious thing in this busy eatery. “Probably figuring how to deal with the woman you’ve become. As kids you two were tight as Harriet Lloyd’s pants.”

No sense telling Clyde that Jack was the main reason I’d come back. Clyde’s order could have been shipped but this visit-cum-vacation gave me an excuse to check out the guy of my dirtiest fantasies.

“Couldn’t stay away from Gloria’s fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits.” Wasn’t any of his business a far different appetite brought me back to Mesa Junction.

Placing his hands on his lower back, Clyde stretched. “Jack’s single. Wild as ever. Can’t say he hasn’t likely had his share of… Dated lots of women. But I’m betting you could set him straight.”

As long as I could set my childhood friend’s cock straight, that was first priority.
“You have my cell phone number. And the Mariana store’s number. Let Linc or me know if something doesn’t suit you all with the order.” And please let me get back to the late supper containing more calories than I’ve consumed in almost two days.

His arm came around my shoulders and the silver arrowhead on his bolo flashed. “Get on over there and kick some sense into Jack’s stubborn ass.” The palm slapped gently between my shoulder blades. “If he’ll listen to anyone, he’ll listen to you.”

A pivot of my feet put my both shoes in a semi-straight path with my lunch counter stool. “Nice talking with you today. Give my best to Trudy.” I peeked over my shoulder.

He walked away, stopped near the booth where Danny Noonan sat, and waved. “Sure will. Stop by if you get a chance. Ron Crawford still lives beside us. He never got over you.”

Never got over me? My feet paused over a crackling floor tile. I never even dated that nuisance who stuck cotton candy in my hair one summer at the county fair.

Suffering him for several weeks each summer was more than enough torture.

Jack disliked that mama’s boy as much as I. Sexy Jack gulped some of his soda and glanced in my direction. I swallowed a laugh. At my request, he would have helped me hogtie that little snitch years ago, then toss Danny into one of his daddy’s rusted-out fishing boats and shove him out of sight.

Footsteps came from behind. “Don’t ever let those stars in your eyes fade.” Clyde’s whisper hit my left ear.

A shake of my head sent the childhood memory back where it belonged. “Perhaps blood vessels from lack of sleep but hardly stars.” And it was time to end those sleepless nights and satisfy the hunger that consumed me.

The hunger for Jack Dodson.

While my recent dreams had him served up hot, naked and covered in blond hair on those cool white cotton sheets back in my king-sized bed in Mariana, I could accomplish the same on his bed here in Mesa Junction.

The place didn’t matter. The sexy man did.

Wishing you all many happy reading moments,

Shawna Moore
TO HELLE AND BACK AGAIN -- Ellora's Cave
TORMENTED (Recommended Read) -- Ellora's Cave
ROUGHRIDER -- Ellora's Cave
HELLE IN HEELS -- Ellora's Cave
Shawna's Myspace
Helle's Myspace

Fantasy Romance

I love to read and write fantasy stories, so it’s no surprise that I have one published. For me, the best fantasy comes from playing the “What if?” game. As a true romantic, I always want a happy ending, so when I heard about a horrible practice in ancient times, I had to write the tale where this terrible event would take place and then end happily.


The custom I read about was this: On the eve of her wedding, every woman had to sit by the side of the road and offer herself to the first man who came along. This took place, I think, in the area of Greece. I can’t remember if the “victorious” man had to make an offering to the local temple, but I do know that many such customs sacrifice women to the benefit of someone else. So I put that financial spin in my story.

I couldn’t get the image of these unfortunate women out of my head. Imagine – whoever comes along gets to deflower you. Hmmm, not pleasant. Of course, we all know a similar custom that took place in Europe in medieval times called the droit du seigneur wherein the local Lord also had rights to a bride on the eve of her wedding.

So this tidbit stuck in my head and I had to do something with it. I could hardly make it a contemporary story. I don’t write historical. So, that’s the beauty of fantasy. You make up your own world with its own rules and then you spin the tale within them. It’s fun for a writer, and hopefully for the reader as well.

This fantasy takes place in the future, on a far distant planet. Galatea wears the Star Necklace for one year, the sign of her countrywomen’s faith in her ability to improve their lives. But tonight her virginity is being auctioned in an important religious ceremony. She must do her duty – but Ronan, an off-planet warrior appears, determined to save her though his own life may be forfeit in the attempt.

Here’s an excerpt from The Star Necklace:

Galatea’s heart leapt in her breast—with fear, with incredulity, with an emotion she couldn’t name. Standing on the dais in the midst of pandemonium, she fought to remain calm and to silence this unknown emotion quivering deep within her. She’d tried to accept the idea of Sheckel winning, of feeling his thin, seeking body assaulting her tonight.

But this fortune offered by Ronan, the Otherlander, simply defied comprehension. What game did he play, one man alone in a hostile land? She’d seen the intelligence in his eyes and the wariness in his every move. But apparently he didn’t know the fate most Otherlanders suffered on this planet.

Certainly, the Temple priests would never let him have her. As much as his bid represented a fortune they wouldn’t let slip away, his life would be forfeit.

As if he’d heard her thoughts, Sheckel leapt to his feet.

“Seize the Otherlander! He doesn’t have ten thousand marks. He mocks our sacred rite!”

Galatea’s heart froze with the certainty that Sheckel was right. No one had that much money.

She braved a glance at her bidder. He looked calm but tense, his mouth an unyielding slash in his granite jaw. He’d shaved his beard and the strong lines of his face showed a stark beauty like that of a nighttime thunderstorm. Unknowable, uncontrollable, but electrifying in a heart-stopping way. His gray eyes watched coldly as half a dozen armed men approached him.

The guards hesitated, none wanting to be first to lay a hand on him.

The Otherlander’s lips curved up toward his hard eyes, carving his face in a mockery of a smile. Slowly, he withdrew his hand from his pocket and opened it.

Ten round coins gleamed blackly in his palm, their smoothly shiny surfaces giving no hint of the power they represented. The number one thousand winked in silver splendor on the face of each coin. He flexed his hand and a rainbow hologram danced across each number, decorating his palm with color.

A long sigh swept through the audience. Virtually none of them had ever seen a one thousand mark coin, and the fortune represented by ten of them seemed incalculable.

“Is Galatea mine for the night?” Ronan’s strong voice rolled through the hall like a thunderbolt from the heavens.

“Seize him!” Sheckel called out again, a thin note of desperation snaking through his voice. He raised his arm in command. “Seize the Otherlander!”

The Star Necklace

Fantasy Romance - Lia's Warrior

I love that there are so many sub-genres within romance. Contemporary. Historical. Inspirational. Paranormal. Erotic. Futuristic. Fantasy.

I've written in several of these, but most of my romances are contemporary. And most are erotic. Only one (so far) has been a fantasy.

As part of the monthly Jewels series Ellora's Cave had a couple years ago, I wrote a story for September, where a major element in the story had to be a sapphire. I came up with the idea of of the sacred Sapphire Moon and the Guardian who watches over it. It's a story of forbidden romance, one of my favorites.

Here's the blurb:

As Guardian of the Sapphire Moon, a crystal globe with a sacred sapphire embedded in the center, Lia must witness couples mating after they receive the Moon’s blessing. But she can never enjoy the pleasures of the flesh herself.

Weary warrior Roark has come back home to try to forget the horrors he’s lived through. He always believed Lia was his true mate and his body heats with desire for her. Then he’s told it’s forbidden to mate with the Guardian. How can he ignore the lust rising between them?

But a warrior doesn’t take no for an answer.

Writing a fantasy romance is a lot of fun. You get to create your own world, make up your own rules, and come up with as fantastic a situation as your imagination can create. But no matter how unreal your world may be, the characters in that world must be believable, and their emotions every bit as strong as yours or mine.

And a short excerpt:

Lia turned then and feasted her eyes on the returning warrior. He’d grown taller, broader, harder since she’d seen him last. His skin was tanned dark. She’d heard that two suns heated the desert world where the war had been waged.

As he stood there staring at her, he appeared to be carved from stone and polished smooth. She almost reached out to brush her fingertips along his high cheekbones, but she couldn’t indulge in such weakness. She straightened her shoulders and braced herself against the foolish attraction she felt for him. “You have to go, Roark.”

He nodded, but he didn’t move. “I didn’t know it was you. When I heard the shouting and came in. I didn’t know.”

She swallowed hard. Her throat still hurt, but not as badly as her heart. “I thought you were dead. The reports said you died in battle.”

The lazy shrug couldn’t hide the pain she saw in his eyes. “Not quite.”

Oh that he could touch her. If only she could touch him as well. Feel those hard muscles beneath her fingers. Feel his mouth on her skin. A shiver ran through her, sending tingles along her skin and concentrating between her legs.

If the news of his death hadn’t arrived just before the Council came to her with their offer, would she have agreed to become the Guardian? She and Roark had grown up together, become closer as the years went by. She’d dreamed that he would be turn out to be her true mate. When her parents broke the news of his death, grief had paralyzed her. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t imagine her life without him in it. She’d grasped the chance to be Guardian as a way to live out the rest of her life without her mate.

Now he was back. But it was too late.

Tears pricked her eyes. “You must go. Before someone from the Council comes.”

Roark looked as if he was about to say something, but stopped, tightening his jaw. He bowed stiffly. “It was good to see you again.”

“Thank you for your help.” She almost reached out to him, but grasped the folds of her robe to stop herself. “I’m…I’m glad you survived the war.”

She felt her tears slide down her cheeks as she watched him walk away without a backward glance. His stride was sensual, his movement lithe and graceful, like a wild feline. Her body shook with longing and regret. He was a healthy male in his prime. How soon before he came back with a pretty young girl to seek the Moon’s blessing?

Lia's Warrior is still available as a download. And if you prefer print, it is part of the print anthology, Sappire Sizzle.



Do you enjoy fantasy romance? If so, please share your favorites. I'm always looking for a good fantasy.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com