Sharing Good News Today!

I'm so excited to tell you all that my vampire book, "The Lady's Not a Vamp", has been contracted by Ellora's Cave!!

You might remember from previous posts of mine that 'creative productivity' has NOT been my middle name for quite a while! The last book I contracted was back in June 2009. I was beginning to fear I had 'lost' whatever it was I 'had' a year ago!

The email with the good news also included the fact that I had to come up with a new title before the contract could be finalized. I immediately had a chest pain! In my opinion, the only thing more difficult than coming up with a title is writing a blurb!

I agonized, jotted down some words, crossed out words, researched other titles, agonized again, and then the lightbulb went off over my head, and I sent a cry for help to our own Katalina Leon!!! She not only recently experienced the same thing with "Owned by Rome", but has been my sounding board, cheerleader and overall support system for writing and subbing this story from the beginning.

We had a blast!! I sent my ideas and she countered with her own. We moved the words around, mixed them up, put them together and took them apart. And there was much silliness in the process - there are lots of vamipery type words that we tried just for the fun of it! "The Lady's Not a Vamp" is the hybrid of one of her suggestions and one of mine and was our first choice on the list sent to my editor!

Thanks so much for everything, Kat!

Tessie

http://www.tessiebradford.com/

Who says Latin is a dead language?

The Latin language sounds pretty lively to me!

After quite a bit of soul searching and a lot research in general I finally finished my first revision of my historical, “Owned By Rome” very late Sunday night.

I actually finished “early” my editor had given me until 5 a.m Monday morning… lol

I must admit it was a hard start, as I mentioned in a previous blog I was very reluctant to give up a few of my favorite everyday, hard-working, plow-horse, comfort words such as “Clit”, “Cock” and “Balls” but go they did. Not only did I find acceptable Roman-era substitutes, I found a few vivid, fun-sounding words that have crept into my private life. I’m thrilled to have more naughty words at my disposal and I hope a few of you will take them for a test drive as well.

If you do feel inspired to role-play with your significant other, may I suggest you take the role of the cunning, defiant Celtic slave and he play the tall, dark Roman magistrate who believes he has complete dominium over you. That’s right lure him in, let him think he’s the MAN until you’re alone together in the heart of a dense forest and then spring into action and show him what you’re made of. Be sure to give your loving Dominor a thorough soul pounding and turn his world inside out before you surrender to him and share the highest elatio voluptaria imaginable.

Need I say this advice is aimed at adults in stable, supportive relationships, who have heavy drapes on their bedroom windows and don’t live too close to their neighbors…

Remember, voices carry. “Writer’s research” can startle unsuspecting people. If you do get caught tell the neighbors you are using the Rosetta Stone language course or better yet “The Leon Latin Language Course for Lovers”… And for goodness sake, close the drapes.

I didn’t mention my new naughty words did I? Actually I don’t have them anymore. I had to basio them goodbye and send them all to my editor. She has them safe and sound but they’ll be back soon and I can share them with you when “Owned By Rome” gets a release date. lol

XXOO Kat

No Longer a Virgin

Conference Virgin that is. Yes, I attended my first writer’s conference this past weekend. The RWA-NEC conference. I’m a member of NEC and I must say there are a lot of EC authors! Friday my friend Donna and I arrived early. We met up with another friend for lunch. After we got settled in our rooms we registered.
The first workshop of the day was Brenda Novak. She spoke about emotion. This was a great two hour talk. The time flew by. During the Q&A someone asked if she was a plotter or pantser and her response struck a cord. She said she was a pantser. She said when she tries to write after plotting it feels forced because she feels in a lot of ways she’s already written the story. It was a light bulb moment for me.
I’m a self-proclaimed pantser, so this made sense to me. I like to let the characters explore and decide where they’re going. Looking back my rejected work has been plotted.
The food was to die for. At dinner my one friend H had the agent and editor sitting at our table laughing at her tales of drunken sluts in her books. This broke the ice for her agent appointment the next morning. She doesn’t really have drunken sluts in her books.
Dessert was a Q&A with Annette Blair. She is one of the sweetest women you’ll ever meet. I’ve known her for a little over three years and she continues to amaze me with her generosity and knowledge sharing.
The keynote speaker for breakfast was MaryJanice Davidson. OMFG, she is so funny. We laughed all through breakfast. Of course she received a standing ovation after her speech.
I attended a bunch of great workshops throughout the day including one given by fellow EC author Nina Pierce. She helped my friend H out with her workshop. H tends to write very long and Nina gave hints on how to write shorter.
There were free books and promo items galore. The conference ended with a book signing. I spent way too much, but that’s okay. That’s what it’s all about, right? Hopefully next year I’ll be sitting at one of the tables signing too.
I signed up for RomantiCon yesterday. Maybe I’ll have a print book for that conference. We’ll see.

Happy Tuesday.

Interviewing a Romance Hero and Heroine

"Anything You Can Do" now available at: http://www.breathlesspress.com
Diana Coyle, Night Owl Reviews: Reviewer Top Pick: 5 STARS!
Top 7.5% Best Selling Romantic Comedy at http://www.allromanceebooks.com
 
I've done romance book character interviews before, but this time I'll do both the hero and heroine at the same time.

Today I'm interviewing Allison Minetti (A) and Jeff Ryan (J), the hero and heroine from " Anything You Can Do".  To give you a little background, Allison wants Jeff's company to become a partner with her childcare facility. It sits directly across the street from Ryan Industries and all her clients work for Jeff's company. When he calls what she does "babysitting", she challenges him to spend a week in Ryan's Rugrats with her. I'll let them tell you more.

Q: Why did you make/accept the challenge?
A: I really needed funding for the center. I was annoyed when Jeff called what I do "babysitting" and thought he needed to see what goes on in a childcare facility. Throwing in the part about him losing and considering helping financially seemed like a plus. I never expected him to make it through the week. (She shifts in her seat and frowns) I didn't expect Jeff to add that part about spending the weekend with him if I lost, but it kinda thrilled me.
J:  She surprised me. Hey. Kids in daycare? I figured all they did was play all day. How hard could that be? She surprised me by daring me to spend a week with her. But, I wanted to get to know her better anyway so I figured, sure. I could do it. And, get her to spend the weekend with me when she lost.

Q: That elevator episode sounds interesting. What happened?
A: (Pink blush stains her cheeks). We, uh, fell together when it jerked into motion. I landed in Jeff's lap, and, well, we kissed. Kind of a-
J: Instinctive move on both our parts. Allison wanted it as much as I did. We hugged and-
A: Kissed. Yes. But it stopped and the elevator door opened.

Q: Did you make things hard for Jeff?
A: (sits up straight in her seat and gets defensive) Certainly not. He just got to experience what I do every day. Of course, he had it easy since some of the kids were missing.
J: (frowns) Hey. That wasn't my fault. I did pretty good the first two days with all the kids. Mostly, anyhow.

Q: Moving on, Jeff...did you give Allison a hard time?
J: I couldn't keep my mind off her and wanted to touch her all the time. She kept enticing me with her looks, great body, sexy voice, loving comments-
A: Sure. That's all I had time for. Enticing you. You drove me crazy. Always within reach, so wonderful with the kids. I couldn't resist your charming charisma and how you kept drawing me to you.

Q: Any passionate episodes at work?
A: (blushes again) A few encounters away from the kids. Couldn't let them see or hear us. It wouldn't be professional.
J: (runs a finger along Allison's cheek) We couldn't stay away from each other. The need to touch, kiss, desire to hold each other, all exploded at times. But, she's right. We had to be careful with the kids.

Q: Tell me about the weekend.
J: Glorious. We finally had time for just us and could let our passion loose.
A: (rubs her hand on Jeff's thigh) We spent most of the time exploring ways to satisfy each other. I never felt so wanted.

Q: You two ran into a "black moment". What happened?
A: (serious look on her face) Someone interfered in our challenge. Things got very confused.
J: (leans forward in his seat) Can't tell you everything, now can we? Let's just say a series of events happened and made us rethink our relationship.

Q: How does this story end?
A: (laughs) We can't tell you. Readers have to buy the book and find out.
J: (nods in agreement) Lots of stuff happens throughout the book leading up to our final page. Some of it is funny, some serious, some sexy encounters. Guess you'll just have to buy the book and read our story. (smiles at Allison)

Q: One last question. I heard something about a second elevator episode. Can you talk about that?
A: (smiles and giggles) Nope. Read the book.
J: (laughs loudly) Let's just say we know how to make use of elevators for other things than just riding up and down.

You can find out the missing pieces of Jeff and Allison's story by buying "Anything You Can Do" at http://www.breathlesspress.com.
Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net for information about my contemporary/paranormal romance books.
Visit http://www.aprilash.net for information about my erotic contemporary romance books.
TWO BIG CONTESTS! Lots of prizes for two lucky winners. Visit http://www.mariannestephens.net for information!
JOIN A NEW YAHOO GROUP: ROMANCE BOOKS R US AT:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus
Lots of fun, contests, information! No spammers allowed!

Older is sometimes better...

I nearly swallowed my tongue when I learned that this hot and hunky cover model is over 50.

O-M-G!!!

I wonder what he would think if he knew this old lady was lusting over him! LOL! He would most likely head for cover and beg for asylum in some foreign country until I am in my grave.

I could be this guy's Cougar! Except I don't think Cougars are over 60. Not sure what they call us really old farts who lust after younger men...(dirty old ladies, maybe?) There is a term for us, but I prefer not to hear it. :P

Seriously, this year I will be officially "old". But I feel like I am still somewhere in my late thirties. Too bad my body doesn't look like it's still in it's late thirties. I could genuinely handle that. I could live with that. Yeah...

I have set a goal for myself to lose 30 pounds before I go to Romanticon this October. Now if I could just convince my taste buds that chocolate tastes like cow pies and whipped cream taste s like whipped rutabagas...and carrots taste like nougat and beets taste like strawberry shortcake...

Anyone got any ideas that would help this hedonistic old fart to make that goal? (Besides wiring my jaw shut?)

Let me know...

Fran

I am too dang tired to write a dang thing.

So here are some of my favorite things -

Lets Go On A Date!

Spring is in the air! Little flowers are coming up in my garden, buds are on the trees and there are enough birds in my back yard that I feel like I’m in an Alfred Hitchcock movie! Squirrels, bunnies and chipmunks are bouncing around happily and the geese flying overhead loudly announce their return. Tis the season for renewal and of course, love.

So what subject do my thoughts naturally wander to? How in the hell do young couples these days go out on a f*cking date? Here in Michigan, they’re lucky if one of them has a job. Filling up the gas tank of a mid-sized car will be $30 or more. I shudder to think what it costs for one of the Hummers whizzing down the road. Going to the movies on a Saturday night can set you back $40 if you get crazy and want a pop and popcorn. A visit to the Detroit Zoo runs $30 without including food or beverage. The Detroit Science Center will cost the lovebirds a whopping $50.00!

One of my favorite things to do is attend a live performance at one of the many venues in the metro Detroit area. I think it is very romantic to be listening to music or watching a play with the one you love.

Spring here also means that the summer concert schedule is released for DTE Energy Music Theater. Back in the day, this was one of the most economical things to do on a date. Tickets were extremely affordable and you could bring a cooler filled with goodies of your choice.

I just bought tickets to see Iron Maiden in July. Let us breakdown what this evening of watching a band that had their heyday thirty years ago will cost, shall we?
Ticket - $42.00
Facility Charge - $3.00
Convenience Charge - $10.55
Order Processing Fee - $4.75
Mailing Fee - $5.00
One small, warm, skunky beer - $8.00
Two more beers - $16.00
T-shirt - $25.00
Grand Total - $114.30 *PER PERSON*

No wonder my daughter and her boyfriend spend Friday nights eating at the dining room table with hubby and I and then watch a movie on TV!!

Tessie

http://www.tessiebradford.com/