Here's An Early Valentine!

I want to send everyone who visits Seven Sexy Scribes an early Valentine!

When I was a kid I used to love making Valentines. I got out paint, colored pencils, glitter, cut up old magazines and made a mess. There was something wonderful about making and sharing something special with friends and loved ones. I gave Valentines to absolutely everyone I knew and sometimes a few of those people were plain old confused. I'd get a look like, "Why are you giving me this?" It was because I loved LOVE.

As I got older, it was clearer to me why many people didn't enjoy Valentines Day as much as I did. Life can be pretty rough. Real love is the exception not the rule. True love is rare and I think that's what makes it even more beautiful.

Some people are all heart even if they don't have someone in their life who sees things the same way. If their Valentine is a best friend, dog, cat or a favorite child in their lives, it can still be a beautiful Valentines' Day because they're hearts and the world needs more love, no matter what shape that true love takes.

Having said that, here's a video of select Hugh Jackman kissing scenes. Holy hotness! If you're short on time skip the ad and go straight to the kiss in the bathtub at the 1:20 second mark : )

I wish everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day.

XXOO Kat

Editing

I'm currently editing my current wip to get it submitted by the 2/15 deadline...oh and I'm leaving to go out of town on the 14th. So only 2 days of editing.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

What Do Women Want?

Yesterday was Valentine's Day and I didn't get the chance to share my Valentine with you, so here it is. I hope you enjoy it.

I think we need more official "love holiday's" on our calendar.

XXOO Kat

Last couple of days to win Fran Lee's Valentine's Day Gift Basket!

Some lucky person is going to win a lot of goodies...

 

Of course, the gift bag (inside a gift box) will arrive a day or so after Valentine's Day, but the contents will still be edible, readable, and fun.  But then, if you already have tons of T-shirts, tote bags, boxes of candy, print books, etc. and you don't really want any more, it's totally okay if you choose not to enter.  I fully understand.  Sigh...

 

Hope you all have a marvelous weekend.

Hugs,

 

Fran Lee

http://www.franleeromance.com

Short shorts! Can you do 'em?

Oh be still my heart: to write a short story and have it be a complete piece of fiction!
Can you?
I did.
And when you read it, hopefully you will think I did well.
BE MINE is a bit of 5000 words. Coming soon from DECADENT PUBLISHING and a request for the girls in the TOYS-4-US gang of 7 from that publisher!  The stories, all 7, debut for Valentine's Day.

But on to the challenge!
We were to fulfill the requirements of a short story with LOTS OF HOT HOT HOT sex in 5K. Pant, pant.
Not easy.
Sure. You can write a scorcher of a sex scene, but that ain't good fiction. EVER.
I came up with a story line that I loved: a man who had a plan to meet the woman he had adored LAST year on Valentine's Day.
The 7 of us decided that the stories would be set in Georgetown in Washington, D.C. and that every one of the heroes or heroines had to walk into Valentino's gourmet wine and food shop in a blizzard!

Ever try to write a short short? With or without your buddies? For a series? The demand is growing.
So here's your challenge!
Give us a one-liner, then sit down and see if you can do it in 5 K or less!  Let us know!

The lover who didn't work out...and thank goodness.

 I think Valentine's Day provides a great moment to recall the Ones Who Didn't Work Out.

The one you thought was so cool when you began to date who...mellowed (I use the term loosely) so much he faded. Like bad wallpaper. And was just as exciting.

Or the one who was getting divorced. And wow, after a few hot and heavy dates, you decided that his soon-to-be-ex was RIGHT ON. He was a DUD. (Not a Dude. DUD.) Yes, ma'am.

Or how about the guy who treated you reaaaaaaally well. Had brains. Money. Spent it on you, too. Dinner.

Theater. Then proceeded to act like an ass and chased you around his living room. (Why did you/I go there in the first place? Ah. Well. Good question. Smart ass answer, too.)

Or the guy your mother adored?

And the one your father hated?

THEY HAD something there!

I count myself fortunate that I left all those bad duds in the dust.

And my honey is my Valentine every day of the week.

And the cover of I CAUGHT THE SHERIFF is lickable, no? Out tomorrow at EC!

Ciao, bella! Enjoy!

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. Each year I try to find a unique way to say I love you to my husband. I’m not a flowers and candy type of girl. Buy me something as simple as a CD and I’ll get more excited. Don’t get me wrong. I think flowers are beautiful, but they don’t last very long.
The first year the DH and I celebrated Valentine’s Day we’d only been together for 5 months. He’d make trips to NY to see me and I made trips to RI to visit him. We decided to keep the limit under $20. I think we both broke that limit, but not by much.
Personal Creations has some really cool gifts for under $20. That year I bought him a message in a bottle. I wrote him a message from my heart. I gave him a box of chocolates, because the man loves chocolate, along with Lindt’s chocolate. The message in a bottle still sits on his desk after seven years.
He gave me the most adorable stuffed dog, chocolate and cute pajamas. The most memorable part of that morning was he ran out to the market to get stuff for us to make breakfast. When he returned he had a large steaming cup of French Vanilla coffee from Dunkin Donuts. You’re likely saying coffee? Big deal. It was a big deal to me.
The DH doesn’t drink coffee, didn’t have a coffee maker and I can’t live without my daily dose. I didn’t mention it to him, nor did I ever. I normally grabbed my coffee when I headed home back to NY. BUT he knew. He even got the order correct. I’ll never forget that because it’s the little things to me. He knows I’m not about the extravagant.
I’m not sure what this year will bring and truthfully I haven’t got a clue what I’ll do for him. Either way I know we’ll both be happy.
Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone. Hope your day is exactly what you want.

7 days to prep for your Valentine. Need help?

Want to stay in for your Valentine's Day celebrations?

I've got goodies for you.

One a day.

Kind of like vitamins. But better. YUMMIER. Easy to do, too. Honest.

Come over and get your One A Day Valentine from moi.

Where? To my blog:

cerisedeland.blogspot.com

Release Day!

My Everything!

Coming today from Cobblestone Press:

http://www.cobblestone-press.com/

Blurb:

Security consultant Ben McCall is alone. His wife and unborn child are dead, victims of an assassination attempt meant for someone else. Grieving, he disappears. When his best friend is in danger, Ben resurfaces only to find his friend isn’t the target of a murderer, he is along with his sister Angel. On the night of his return, Ben unexpectedly comes face to face with a woman from his past. She needs his help. He learns that he needs hers even more.

Grace Adams is one of the walking wounded. Her husband died two years ago. One night she is incapacitated. A man comes to her aid. He’s the man she fell in love with years before, Ben McCall. As the passion between them reignites, Grace too becomes a target of the madman who stalks Ben. She, Angel and Ben must use their wits to stay alive as they fight a man desperate for revenge.

Sorry, no excerpt yet - should have it soon! In other news, Romance Junkies is holding a Valentine's Contest. It runs through March 31st. Here's the link to my offering -

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjvalentinescontest/JuliaRachelBarrett.html

HUNKS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

Yeah, I can't let this opportunity go by without posting some wonderful guys for you to drool over. After all, Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and we all need a "lift", right?
Maybe you'll be someone who gets a stuffed bear, like the one shown in this photo. Oh...if you're lucky, the guy holding it will look just like this hunk and come aptly dressed (or undressed) when he presents you with his gift.
Notice his bulging muscles, the strategic position of that teddy bear...and the bear's little hat.
Are you wondering what's behind that bear? When you grab for the teddy, will you "find" something else, waiting for your caress?

Candy and flowers are the usual choice of gifts for your sweetheart to give you, but wouldn't you love something that keeps giving, and giving, and giving... Of course, recharging is necessary, but dream and fantasize all you want! What's under that bag? Use your imagination and place a face for this mystery man. And, what's under that box of Valentine chocolates? After you eat all the candy, will you find another wonderful surprise to enjoy?

Now, the message with this photo tells it all. What a luscious satin pillow for you to lay your head on. Comfy, smooth, surrounded by hot, sizzling male flesh. You get to fantasize what comes next! And...is that your hand holding up the pillow? How quickly can you move it aside to peek at what's behind it?

Valentine's Day is for lovers of all ages. Enjoy the day with someone you love...in any fantasy way you desire!

Photos: Rockshots.com

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for information about my mainstream romance books. "Anything You Can Do" will be released on 19 February by www.breathlesspress.com.

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSho7Mus4zo

"Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print.

Visit http://www.aprilash.net/ for information about my erotic romance books.

Some of these books are now available in Kindle format!

ALSO: Don't miss the multi-author, all-day, Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press chat on Thursday, 11 Feb. at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe. You must join the group to participate.

Tearing My Hair Out!

I'm Hopeless!

Even with professional, hands on, personal guidance, I am useless when it comes to working with technology. I'm about as tech-savvy as an infant!
All right...so...coming soon, Julia Rachel Barrett's new website. You'll be able to sign up for a newsletter, contests, freebies, and lots and lots of fun.

Get ready for announcements galore with all the books coming out next year! Edits are finished on my story, You Might Just Get It, for The Cougar Book with Logical-Lust, arriving on Valentine's Day. Yay!

Once the website is up and running, at least reasonably well, you all will be the first to know!