Where will you be this year?

Happy New Year! I'm so excited to get rockin' and rollin' on a killer 2011! 2010 was difficult for me in a lot of ways, and I wasn't the least bit sad to see it go. Believe me, I'm ready to start off fresh.

I'm not one to make resolutions because, quite frankly, I typically fail to keep them. But, I do have some goals for this year. One is to write. Write, write, write. I took most of 2010 off, and I really missed that creative outlet. I've found I need it. It's like dark chocolate to my soul. So, this week I've spent a lot of time putting fingers to keyboard, banging out the words. I love being back in the saddle. I just hope everything stays on an even keel so I don't get knocked off.

My second goal is to attend a few conferences this year. I'm looking at three or four, in hopes I can do at least two. RT and RWA Nationals are iffy, while Ellora's Cave RomantiCon is a given. I can't give up those Cavemen! Another I'm looking at is Lori Foster's 7th Annual Reader and Author Get Together. I've heard nothing but great things about this conference, so I think I'll give it a go.

Any other great conferences you've heard of or are attending? I'd love to hear where everyone will be this year!

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

Miranda Baker - Guest Interview

I’m so pleased to welcome a good friend of mine, Miranda Baker, whose first release debuted from Samhain on Dec 28th.


Miranda, please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a writer, a pastry chef, a teacher and a mother. But not in that order, I swear!

What would your readers be surprised to know about you?
I’m a daddy’s girl – which in my world means I’m a crack shot with a .22 pistol.

Wow! I never would have guessed! Your debut erotic romance, Bottoms Up, released Dec 28th from Samhain. Congrats! Tell us a little about it.
When Johnny Delcorral the hard-bodied Dominant owner of a private sex club challenges Destiny Blake, a fierce Domme herself, to submit to him for one night, the battle is on. Warning: the title says it all!

I can vouch for the fact that this story is very hot! What element of story creation is your favorite? (Character? Setting? Plot? Etc.) Why?

I love my characters! I have a feeling the plotters write faster, but my characters control the story. They do their thing and I have to figure it out and shape it up. *sigh*

I love my characters too. Do you have rituals you follow when writing?

I have a soundtrack for every story. Frequently one song will play in my head for weeks until I finish whichever part of the story is demanding that mood music. It’s a little annoying, but I’m not going to argue with inspiration.

Hey, whatever works, right? Most people think a writer’s life is really glamorous. What’s the least glamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?

Must I ruin the image? We work so hard to make people think that we lounge around in lingerie all day drinking champagne and writing sex scenes! Oh, fine… I wiped my youngest child’s bum this morning. Now you know. I could definitely go on, too…

A mom’s work is never done. :) What’s your advice for aspiring writers?

It’s a process. It’s a journey. I’m a goal oriented, instant gratification kind of girl, so this is hard for me to endure, too – but it’s a rare writer who can produce sellable work without putting in a few years whaling away at the keyboard and learning about the craft. Bottoms Up was my fourth finished novella – and the first one I sold. You have to want it enough enjoy the journey – or at least tolerate it.

What can we look forward from you in the future?

SoloPlay, the next book in the Come Again series will be released in the spring! It’s a sex toy story about a frustrated librarian on a sexual and emotional journey. I had great fun dreaming up new toys for Alisa and Mark to enjoy!

Where can we find out more about you?

On my website http://www.mirandabaker.com I also have a blog http://mirandabaker.wordpress.com I’m on Facebook, Twitter @Miranda-Baker and Goodreads! I like to connect with readers and writers, cooks and moms and kinksters, one and all!

Is there a question you’d like to ask our readers? (To help generate comments.)

What’s the least glamorous thing YOU’VE done this week? Fair is fair!

Natasha, thanks so much for having me on the blog today! You are my hero(ine), you know – and I’m honored to be featured on Fierce Romance. Thank you so much!

A True Sacrifice

What would you sacrifice for a friend's child?

This is a story that started on New Year's Day so it's a good basis for a New Year's Resolution.

Just a little backstory: I'm organizing a progressive dinner for the high school my kids attend. There are between 300-400 families at the school so it's a big project, and everything must be standardized. No individual requests can be honored due to the complexity of the event. All of the dinners are hosted in private homes, so headcount is important.

On Jan. 1st, I got a note asking if I could make an exception for one woman who was having surgery. She wanted to sign up for the dinner early, reserve two spots, and then maybe not attend if her recovery didn't go well. Plus she wanted to be assigned to a dinner with 1 of 2 friends.

This is a nuisance because we don't allow people to make individual requests as it gets too complicated. Jane wants to eat vegetarian and be with Suzi. Suzi wants to eat meat and dine with Renee. Renee announces that she doesn't eat any mammals, including rabbits. At this point, you want to start hollering that you aren't serving bunnies!

Deep breath. You can see the potential issues.

Her request was also a problem because the hosts don't want empty seats at their table, and we don't want to turn people away and then end up with empty spots if someone can't attend.

But, fortunately, I felt we had to make an exception for someone undergoing surgery and I told her we'd accommodate her requests.

Thank you, God, or Plato. In response to a question I asked about her "joint surgery", she wrote back, explaining she was donating her "extra" kidney to the son of one of her friends! I was flabbergasted. (The son also attends this school and his parents hope to attend the dinner as well.)

To say I was speechless would be an understatement. Not only will she be short that kidney forevermore, she must also undergo a major, life-threatening surgery. I can't say that I would be able to make that kind of sacrifice. But I was so humbled by this woman's generosity.

And this brings me to Plato and my New Year's Resolution:

Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. (Plato)

I hope I can remember it.

Does anyone else have New Year's resolutions? Or tell us if you could make this kind of sacrifice.

Exploring Scotland

Today I want to share more pictures of Scotland. Instead of focusing on one specific, famous historical site, I wanted to share various views that I thought were interesting or beautiful but that are not as well known. These pictures are mostly from the Isle of Skye, Dornie and just south of Dornie areas.

One of those infamous one lane (or single track) roads on Isle of Skye. The sheep claim this one as their own little trail.

I don't know why, but I love this photo of Highland cows, with a house in the background. It seems very peaceful to me. Yet, it was only seconds after this that the farmer's dogs chased us back to the car.

A view of the Skye shore with cottages. What a lovely sunny day this was.

What a cute black-faced sheep making his home in Fairy Glen. He was very friendly. The black-faced sheep is the original type raised on Isle of Skye and in the Highlands.

Another view of the shore line of Skye, cliffs and cottages. What must it be like to live there?

This is one (above) I forgot to show you before. It's a view from Dunvegan castle. I believe this is a holiday cottage anyone can rent. (Me! Me!) MacLeod's Tables are in the background. I love the blue and green colors and the contrasting black of the tree limbs, etc.

I don't know the name of this spot on Isle of Skye but it is at the pull-off for the waterfall. Anyone know this location?

A distant view of the Skye Bridge. I love the mountains in the background, and the water in the foreground.

This is Dornie, a small beautiful, quiet village next to Eilean Donan Castle.

Even when I'm riding in a car (not driving, of course) I'm snapping lots of pics.

Hope you enjoyed this wee tour of some of the not so well known sites of Scotland. :)
Vonda
www.vondasinclair.com
 

New Cover! Laird of Darkness

I'm excited! I just got the final cover for Laird of Darkness, my upcoming March 21 release from Carina Press! I love, love, LOVE it! In addition to the hot hunk with yummy biceps and the cool sword, you will notice Eilean Donan Castle in the background. And the title is just stunning! I love Celtic knotwork and Celtic fonts.

What do you think?

Laird of Darkness:
Half-Fae Laird Duncan MacDougall is cursed. His nights are haunted by Otherworld creatures sent to kill him. The only way to stop them is to possess the magic bow currently in the hands of his enemy half brother, Kinnon MacClaren. In desperation, Duncan plans to take MacClaren's bride-to-be hostage and exchange her for the bow.

Lady Alana Forbes has never met her intended, but she hopes he is handsome—and a good lover, for Alana is no innocent virgin. On her way to Castle Claren, Alana and her escorts are intercepted, and she is kidnapped by a man with extraordinary abilities—and every attribute she longs for in a mate.

Duncan didn't expect the woman he thought of as a mere pawn to be so beautiful, and so arousing. Alana is drawn to him as well—but Duncan still needs the bow, and Alana is betrothed to another. How far will Alana go to save the life of the man she's come to love?

http://www.nicolenorth.com/

My First Series!!

I signed the contracts on New Year's Eve so I can announce that I will have a four story series with Samhain titled Paolo's Playhouse. All four stories take place, at least in part, at an exclusive fantasy playhouse.

Paolo’s Playhouse. A new playground for consenting adults. Playrooms for every interest or desire. Bring your own plaything or we can provide one for you. We’ll help your fantasies come to life.

The stories are erotic, of course, and feature exhibitionism, vouyerism, menage, and bondage. I loved writing these stories. The characters, each for their own personal reasons, need to live out a fantasy in one of the playrooms. In three out of the four stories, the couples are already together, but have a crisis they address during the story. Only one story, Paolo's story, features a couple who are meeting for the first time. To be honest, while the kink factor is an important part of these stories, the main focus is on the emotional conflict between the characters and the growth they undergo while at the playhouse.

The first story, Flaunt It, will be released this spring. I can't wait until I can share the cover - which is sooo awesome.

I'm so excited about this series and look forward to sharing more details later on. It's a great way to start the new year.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Time and Love -- Hang on to Your Hopes

One of the most prolific duos in Pop music sang of hanging on to your hopes. Time passes. Scenery changes. But Simon and Garfunkel warned one must hold on to hope and keep the faith, no matter how bleak the situation. When it comes to love--real life or a fictional romance that unfolds between a book's covers--many precious relationships wouldn't have had a chance to stand the test of time if the couple involved hadn't taken a leap in the name of love.

One of my favorite themes to read or write involves a reunion. A rekindling of passion. The confession of a childhood crush that's matured and found roots in all the possibilities romance has to offer. A moment when time takes a deep breath and awaits the first embrace along the path to a pair's forever. The passage of time may have changed the hero's and heroine's physical appearance, but the feelings held in their hearts have grown stronger with each turn of a calendar page.

Kimberly Taylor and Jack Dodson have lost track of each other since the first pangs of teenage passion held them willing prisoners. Now they are on a collision course set by Cupid. A course the proves true love doesn't fade over time.

Time is bent on being their enemy in ROUGHRIDER, but they refuse to lose track of it or each other ever again.

Here's a video bit from my Erotica romantic suspense from Ellora's Cave Exotika:



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