Halloween Treats!

Halloween is  one of my top holidays. I love it! This year my Halloween decorations went up in late September. I have a "Zombie Triage" planned for Thursday afternoon, which means I order a pizza and paint my son and several of his friends in very gruesome zombie make-up and set them loose in our neighborhood. This year I got smart and bought a cheap black eye pencil to work with. Last year a beautiful Lancome eye pencil got grabbed by mistake and ground down to nothing. That hurt.

On Saturday we are attending a huge, beautiful Dias de los Muertos celebration at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. This version of the Day Of The Dead is a full-blown art, music and cultural spectacular. I always parade in honor of my late mother who's birthday was October 27th. I like to hide little items of hers on my costume and bring her with me to the parade. A couple years ago my husband paraded as an Inca king with a huge gold and feather headdress. We drove for hours in traffic and only realized as we were stepping into our costumes that the cameras were charging at home... I almost cried. My husband's costume was so grand and he got stopped so many times to be photographed it was almost impossible to move through the crowds. This year he's wearing plain clothes and a camera around his neck. The cemetery is the final resting place of Valentino, Joey Ramone, Jane Mansfield, Mel Blanc (his grave accumulates Peppy La Pew stuffed skunks) and many others. My favorite graves are the Russian crypts with beautiful cameo portraits of the occupants embedded into the headstones. I check in with one particular Russian gentleman every year and say hello.

Also this Thursday on Halloween of course, join Sheri Fredricks and Paranormal Cravings for some super fun paranormal book hero SPEED DATING! Meet 25 great authors as they pimp their hunky preternatural heroes to you and give away great trick or treat bags (There's an Amazon gift card and an ebook in my treat bag!) So please join the fun and meet tall dark and Lycan Aubert Marston from Loup-Garou For You.

It's not too late to win a $100 Amazon gift card from Lord Griffin! Join the Scavenger Hunt now!
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Pages/Articles/Halloween-Scavenger-Hunt-2013

Loup-Garou For You will be the Halloween guest of honor in Paranormal Cravings Shifters & Were's Event. Character interviews and prizes too! Don't miss it.
http://www.paranormalcravings.com/

Do Vampires Have Birth Certificates?

Okay...I admit I like an occasional vampire story that's not too bloody. I'd rather read a good vampire romance book than watch a vampire movie. Too much bloody stuff for my viewing pleasure (?)  isn't for me.

I started to wonder about vampires and everyday life. Yes, we suspend disbelief for most of this stuff in order to concentrate on the "real" story...that of the romance and passion between the hero and heroine.

But let's talk about some "real life" issues a vampire might face. They can't all be rich, can they? Live in mansions, own expensive cars, never work? Right?

So...how does a vampire get a birth certificate? A driver's license? Social Security number (in the US)? Does a vampire pay taxes?

Maybe there's a secret central Vampire Identification Unit that works solely on providing necessary documentation like fake passports, licenses, birth certificates. And, now in the age of advanced technology, these could be updated quite easily.

Surely a 300-year-old vampire can't provide an original birth certificate. In fact, a new one would have to be issued every 30 + or - years to keep the vampire in question "looking" close enough to be in a particular age bracket. With eternal youth at whatever age a vampire was first bitten and "turned", you could only say, "I've had plastic surgery" so long before people would get suspicious.

Now that I'm dwelling on all this, what about resumes? Do vampires get phony ones? Would anyone do a background check and start asking questions?

I guess moving every 30 or so years would help, but new "ID proof" would surely be needed even then. What about voting? Can vampires register? And, here's another question from a far-off tangent from the inquisitive side of my brain...what costume does a vampire wear on Halloween?


Sigh.

I'm thinking way too much about this. I should sit back and enjoy a vampire romance book at face value...as a romance without pesky "hows" getting in the way.

Photos: Flickr: Design Haus, Robin Hutton, and kevandem's photostreams. 


http://www.mariannestephens.net
"Anything You Can Do" is now available as an ebook at: http://www.breathlesspress.com.
http://www.aprilash.net
JOIN A NEW YAHOO GROUP: ROMANCE BOOKS R US at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
Lots of fun, contests, information! No spammers allowed!
TWO BIG CONTESTS! Go to http://www.mariannestephens.net for information!

Clean Your Closet Week: What's Hidden In Yours?

(It's FABIO'S Birthday! Visit http://www.fabioifc.com for info about and photos of FABIO!)
Before I start this blog, I'm announcing a NEW YAHOO GROUP you can join: ROMANCE BOOKS R US, at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus  Authors and readers are welcomed...check the schedule on the Home Page!
And: TOMORROW is the last day to vote in the Book Boost's BEST FIRST LINE CONTEST! Go to:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HHC8TC2  I have two entries:
 "Your dog ate your underwear." (from "Gone to the Dogs" by Marianne Stephens)
 AND
"I'm upping the ante. Bring underwear." (from "Strip Poker for Two" by April Ash)
Would appreciate your vote for either one!

BLOG:

I've put this off as long as I could, but now that an official week is dedicated to doing this, I guess I should boldly go where no one has gone before...namely my closet.

Oh, I've tried "weeding" out stuff over the years, but other stuff just gets added to the mess and seems to multiply what's inside my closet. Where did I get it all from? Why do I keep it all?

The where is easy...sorta. I buy stuff. Shoes. Lots of shoes. Also have enough medications/pharmacy items in drawers and on shelves to rival drug stores. Then, there are all the promotion items I save to give out. And, my handbags. And, clothes. Lots of them. All sizes. All colors. For all seasons.

The why isn't easy to answer. I'm...a shopaholic? Love to buy things? Use my closet to store stuff because there's no other room in the house to put things? Holding onto my clothes has been ingrained in my being. What if I gain weight? Lose weight? Styles change? Styles that were out are now in again?

Sigh.

I have a dress from the 60s/70s. Wore it for a retro party. Held onto it all these years, although I was finally able to fit into it last October. But, damn. I had that hanging in my closet for decades and wouldn't part with it.

Another confession. I have a Dr. Kildare shirt from the 60's (anyone remember that TV series?) that will never fit me...but yet, I've been unable or unwilling to part with it.

Could I sell it on eBay? Is it worth anything? That might get me motivated to part with it.

When we first moved into this house, there was only one master closet...for the two of us and all the medications and all the towels and sheets since the only linen closet was on the second floor and our bedroom is on the first floor. Since then, we've added a closet (for my husband and I kept the larger one), and also added a first-floor linen closet.

And yet, I still don't have enough room. And probably never will...until I clean my closet to make room for future purchases.

In "Gone to the Dogs", my heroine, Katie, spreads out all her closet items on the floor as she sorts through to look for "something to wear". You know that feeling. Full closet but "nothing to wear". I didn't have the heart to make her throw out what no longer fit (she had some pounds to lose) so maybe I put something of myself in her character?

Are there any treasures hiding in your closet? How will you know if you don't clean. Anyway, that's the mantra I'll be parading through my head as I gear up to do battle with my closet. Never know what I might find!

You have a better chance of "finding" a treasure if you enter the TWO CONTESTS I'm running at my website to celebrate my latest book, "Anything You Can Do". Go to http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for information about the contests and my mainstream contemporary/paranormal romance books.
Visit http://www.aprilash.net/ for information about my erotic contemporary romance books.
"Gone to the Dogs" is available in ebook and print format at:
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx

"Anything You Can Do" is now available at: http://www.breathlesspress.com/
Photos: Flickr: debcil, Praveen Rajan (Marketing.com), slurpiesandstraw's photostreams. 

It's Working Woman's Day

What a hoot! Isn't everyday a "Working Woman's Day"? Like, we don't work all the time, either at home or somewhere else? I don't know about you, but my days are always crammed with things to do!

This should be called "Every Woman's Day" since working happens without needing to be mentioned. Then again, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there are some women out there that don't work...ah, but they're called "the rich and famous". And, they probably have to "work" at staying that way.






I propose a "Take the Day Off Day" for all females not in school...gotta keep the kids in school and getting their education. So, let's combine the two: "Working Woman's Day" with "Take the Day Off Day" and honor women everywhere. Period.

Ladies, go pamper yourselves. Enjoy the day. Relax. Be catered to. Forget your daily stresses and focus on pleasure. Kudos to all working women...and that means every woman reading this!

Another suggestion: read a romance book to "whisk you away from it all". You know...Fantasy Land. Where you can drool over the hero and forget it's snowing outside, your preschoolers are screaming, your boss is bitching, your clothes are pinching and hinting you either need to lose weight or buy new clothes, or people are asking, "What's for dinner?" as soon as you walk through the door.


"Work" at something different on "Working Woman's Day". Work at pleasing yourself and have a great time!

And while you're doing something for YOU, enter the two contests that I'm running at my website to celebrate my new book, "Anything You Can Do": http://www.mariannestephens.net. I've got lots of goodies to give to two lucky winners!

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net for information about my mainstream romance books.
Visit http://www.aprilash.net for information about my erotic romance books.
"Anything You Can Do" is now available as an ebook at: http://www.breathlesspress.com.
"Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print at: http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
Photos: Flickr: NIOSH, kharind, juliejordanscott's photostreams.

Share a Sexy Smile Day!

Okay...I cheated a little on this...I added the word "SEXY". But, hey...what else would a romance author do? Gotta get those hormones going and using the word SEXY will do it every time!
How often do you walk by people and (1) look away, (2) look down, (3) look up, (4) stare straight ahead as if you don't see them? We all do that...some of each of the above.


Sometimes my mind is whirling a mile a minute as I "head write" pages for a book or try to focus on my busy schedule. At those times, I may not even notice someone I pass, except in the vague recesses of my crowded mind.

 

Today, make a difference. Take the time to SMILE at someone. Doesn't have to be one of your famous SEXY smiles, just a casual one will do. People normally smile back...don't you? Look at these handsome guys and their winning smiles. You ARE focusing on their faces, right? Wouldn't you smile back?

In writing romance books, we tend to have our heroes and heroines smile. I have them do it frequently...and try very hard to come up with different ways of expressing that action. There's the full smile, the quirk to one side smile, the closed mouth smile, the teeth showing smile. The smile that curls your toes. That sexy smile, combined with eyes full of passion that gets your heart thumping and pounding in your chest.


Save those smiles for someone you love! For everyone else, the casual smile will be contagious. Try it. Smile. See how many people return the smile to you!


You'll be smiling if you're one of my two contest winners! Lots of goodies for two people will be given as prizes. To celebrate the release of my latest book, "Anything You Can Do", you can find two contests at my website: http://www.mariannestephens.net.

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net for information about my mainstream romance books. "Anything You Can Do" is now available at http://www.breathlesspress.com as an ebook. "Gone to the Dogs" is now available at http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
Visit http://www.aprilash.net for information about my erotic romance books. Ebook and print versions available at http://www.jasminejade.com/m-441-april-ash.aspx
Photos: Flickr: SSCusp, lucias_day, vividBreeze's photostreams. Rockshots.com

"ANYTHING YOU CAN DO" is Now Available!

My latest book, a contemporary romance "Anything You Can Do", is now available as an ebook from http://www.breathlesspress.com
To celebrate its release, I'm running two contests at my website: http://www.mariannestephens.net. Lots of goodies for two lucky winners!
VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSho7Mus4zo

 SUMMARY/BLURB
What happens when you mix a childcare clueless hero with babies and preschoolers? Jeffrey Ryan, CEO of Ryan's Industries, isn't prepared for all the chaos he encounters when he accepts a challenge to spend a week at Ryan's Rugrats from the daycare owner's, Allison Minetti.

Their bet? If he makes it through the week, she'll stop sending partnership/funding requests she needs to keep the facility open...one his employees use. If he doesn't, she'll spend a friendly weekend with him touring Kansas City.

Instant sparks of mutual attraction make their bet more interesting as the week progresses. Flirting, kisses, and embraces, all lead to a desire to take their relationship to a more sensuous level. Can they both win, have their weekend, give in to lust and passion, and have a future together? Or, will someone's interference in their bet create trust and betrayal issues that threaten their relationship?

One incident in the book came from my own kindergarten teaching experience. Every morning, one little boy would come into the room, I'd sit him by a plastic-bagged trashcan, and within minutes he'd puke. Then, he'd get up and go for a school-sponsored breakfast. Imagine the hero in my book going through the same experience his first day on the job!

EXCERPT:
   Allison loved the city view at night. "I't's so beautiful out here. Real quiet and peaceful," she commented as Jeff parked the car overlooking the Kansas City skyline.
   "I guess we're not the only ones who think that." He pointed to a white Ford truck parked to their left. "I wonder what they're doing in there to make it shake like an earthquake's centered under it."
   Probably something like this." She ran her hand up his thigh and pressed it into his crotch, rubbing her palm over the already bulging area.
   "Lord, honey, you don't give a guy a minute to relax. Good thing I'm all rested up."

   Jeff slipped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him. He angled his head to reach her lips and traced his tongue along each one. As she continued massaging his zippered area, a catch in his breathing turned into a moan of desire.
    At first, his kiss entailed lips on lips only. When she opened her mouth, his tongue darted inside. Allison closed down slightly, giving him a narrow area to dart his tongue in and out of, mimicking the ultimate consummating act of love.
   When his hand reached out to fondle her breast, a wickedly naughty thought popped into her head. She pulled back and asked with a purr, " Just what kind of shape are you in?"
   Jeff whooshed out one long exhale, and a glazed look accompanied his response. "Like I've been telling you, anything you can do, I can do."
   Her hand returned to his zipper, and she eased it down in minute movements. "Can you do this?" She skimmed one fingernail along his skin under the unzipped area.
   Clearing his throat, Jeff moaned, "That's something I only want you to do. Am I in the right shape for you now?"
   "Hmm, actually this shape is fine. But that's not what I meant."
   Jeff grabbed her hand, pressing her palm on him. The slacks front pulled open, and she relished the bulky feel of his arousal in her grasp.
   "Tell me now before I go insane from lack of oxygen."
   "You'll do what I say?" Dictating orders gave Allison an unashamed sense of her own sensuality and control. 
   "Tell me."
   "Get in the backseat."
   Heavy breathing filled the air between them. Without another word, he pushed away, opened his car door while holding his pants with one hand, and exited the car. He peered at her through the driver's side window.
   "Are you joining me? I don't wanna play by myself. You're much more interesting and friendly."

Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net/ for more information about my contemporary/paranormal romance books. "Gone to the Dogs" is now available in print at:
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-310-marianne-stephens.aspx
Visit http://www.aprilash.net/ for more information about my erotic romance books.

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

Oh My Gosh!

Things were so crazy yesterday I forgot to blog!

My kitty is sick, my hubby totaled his car, yiiii!

So the good news is you can and should get yourselves involved in two contests.
Over on my website: http://juliarachelbarrett.net/
I'm running a give-away - a copy of F.U. by Mia Watts.
Leave a comment on any post that includes the words - Enter me! Enter me now! I'll draw a name at random on Monday and announce the winner.

But the bigger news - sorry Mia - I have my own contest going on at Stumbling Over Chaos - head over there and leave a comment. You can win a copy of my coming release, My Everything, with Cobblestone Press. The contest runs through the 11th, the book comes out on the 12th.
Hurry over and leave me some love!
http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/?p=5864http://

See you there!