Scarlett Sanderson

Read all about it...new contracts and Fourth Time's a Charm cover art

2012-01-25T08:33:00.000-08:00

First off, let me introduce my new Naughty Nooner cover for Fourth Time's a Charm...

What do you think? *grins* Fourth Time's a Charm is a very short story, I don't have a release date yet but I think you will like it.

Also I had some exceptionally good news - Wicked Game got accepted for publication. I don't have any other details apart from it tells Dominic's story (he featured in At Their Command). He is one of my favourite characters...and he rides a motorcycle *swoons*

The good news doesn't end there, my futuristic crime novel with a twist (the twist being it's extremely dark and sexy) has also been picked up by Ellora's Cave. It's tentatively called Shadows. Hopefully it will be part of their Aeon line. But the most exciting part is it's a full length novel! Very exciting times.

After Wicked Game and Shadows, I have a few other things planned. So just watch this space :)

Release Day! Get ready for OWNED BY THE NIGHT!

2012-01-13T08:23:00.000-08:00

It's finally here...

For centuries, Kyrian has searched for Allegra Augusta. She isn’t just the vampire who made him immortal—she’s his love, his life, his mate. He’ll stop at nothing to find her again, to claim her for his own.

Allegra won’t stop running. Kyrian is the one man powerful enough to own her, body and soul. If he finds her, she’ll have no choice but to submit, and she’s terrified of losing herself to the primal, shattering pleasure only Kyrian can give.

Publisher’s Note: This book was previously published elsewhere but has been revised for Ellora’s Cave.

You can purchase Owned by the Night here: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9806-owned-by-the-night.aspx

For your chance to win a copy of OWNED BY THE NIGHT, head on over to Good Reads Erotic Enchants group.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/763896-scarlett-sanderson-s-january-giveaway-contest-jan-13t

Things that inspire me...fantasy art

2012-01-08T08:15:00.000-08:00

I'm a visual person and nothing inspires me more than fantasy art. One of my favourite artists is Luis Royo. I first saw one of his pictures back in 2004 and have been a fan ever since. His work is raw, dark and erotic.

It calls to my repressed dark side (which I let free in my writing!). Of course, there are other fantasy artists I enjoy. For example, Nene Thomas. I adore her work but it is much 'softer'.

I just thought I would share some of my favourite Royo images...

If you want to know about Luis Royo, please visit his website: www.luisroyo.com

Happy New Year, Daleks and MI:4

2012-01-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

Let me first start off by saying a huge...

I wish you all a happy and healthy 2012!

I've had a busy period between Christmas and New Years. I found out my short story, Fourth Time's a Charm, has been accepted for publication by Ellora's Cave. It will be part of the Naughty Nooner series ;)

Me and Mister Scarlett went to see David Fincher's version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I did have my reservations. I didn't think a Hollywood version would be able to do the book justice. I didn't think Fincher would make it so graphic. It turns out I was very wrong. Kudos to Fincher and all the cast - it was amazing. Loved the soundtrack by Trent Raznor too.

We also went to visit the National Media Museum. It has an IMAX theatre and we went to see MI:4 (and got a bonus showing of the first 6 minutes of new Batman movie *geeky squee*). MI:4 was good fun - didn't take itself too seriously and we both thoroughly enjoyed watching TC hanging from the Burji. Edge of the seat stuff!

The thing that got my geek squeeing with exquisite joy was this:

The museum had a full size dalek from Dr. Who! I got very excited to say the least.

Now the holiday period is over it's back to work, and back to writing :)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T07:23:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays! I hope you all have a lovely time and see you in 2012!

I'm planning on resting, eating, drinking lots of wine and spending time with family. I hope you enjoy however you spend the festive period :)

Scarlett x

Join me over at LASR and Stuff Your Stockings today!

2011-12-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

Join me over at The Long and Short of It Reviews today and read about Christmas in England :)

http://wcguest.blogspot.com/2011/12/stuff-your-stocking-blogfest-scarlett.html

At Their Command is out now!

2011-12-15T08:17:00.001-08:00

My Christmas erotica novella is out now! I love Hope and Ethan's story :)If you are looking for a thrill for Christmas, this is the book for you ;)

All Hope wants for Christmas is Ethan St. Claire. She’s had a thing for him since high school, when he was the bad boy and she was the class geek. Now she’s older, wiser…and dying of sexual frustration. Fantasies of having Ethan and his best friend Dominic at the same time drive her wild with unsated lust.

Ethan has always loved Hope, and he’s finished waiting for her to realize they’re meant for each other. He’s taking command and giving Hope exactly what she needs. If she’s nice, he’ll give her a sexy spanking. If she’s naughty, he and Dominic will double her pleasure as an extra-lusty Christmas treat.

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9688-at-their-command.aspx

Excerpt:

“Something you want to get off your chest?” Ethan blatantly caressed her breasts with his gaze before turning off the stove and taking two steps toward her. He took the wineglass from her hand and sipped.

What the hell was happening here? Why had Ethan suddenly decided to ramp up the sexual tension? Was his seductive manner all in her head? Wishful thinking?

Hope decided to do what she did best—ignore it.

“Uh-uh.” She turned away, busying herself with some nonexistent cooking prep. She refused to give in to her desires.

“Sounds to me like you’re a little frustrated, Hope.”

Anticipation and desire pooled low in her stomach.

He molded his hands to her waist, caressed her hipbone. He rested his chin on her shoulder and licked her ear. “Are you frustrated, Hope?”

The wet heat from his tongue made her gasp. She imagined him licking another part of her body. His tongue rasping against her clit as he feasted on her pussy. A flow of cream flooded her core.

“Talk to me, Hope. Tell me what you need.” He dragged her back, flush against his groin. His erection pressed into the fleshy globes of her ass.

He was seducing her. And she was letting him.

Her heart beat wildly. A frisson of fear licked at the edges of her mind. Why now? He’d never given her any clear indications he was attracted to her. Had he?

Thinking back over the past three months, she focused on certain moments. Ethan tenderly brushing the hair off her face during a picnic, holding her at the movies as she cried at a Pixar feature, massaging her back after a tough day. He’d touched her at every available opportunity.

Jesus. Had she been blind?

She needed to squash her doubts. Ethan wanted her. His intense physical reaction was obvious. Time for her to admit what she craved.

“I need…”

“What do you need?”

His hands skimmed her waist. He cupped her breasts, tweaked her nipples through her sweater. A short burst of pain, followed by pleasure. Need shot from her breasts to her pussy and pulsed with a heavy ache.

A line had finally been crossed. She should be terrified. What if he only wanted her for one night? What if it was purely sexual frustration? What if he fucked her and she wanted more?

He pressed his lips against her collarbone and all rational thought flew. She let out a breathy moan.

“Let me love you, Hope. Please.” He nibbled her neck, drawing the skin between his teeth and gently tugging. The bittersweet caress electrified her body.

“Yes…” How could she deny him?

“That’s my cue to leave.”

Opening her eyes, she looked at Dominic. Heat flamed her cheeks. She’d gotten carried away by Ethan. Her reactions in front of another man embarrassed her.

What a slut.

His blue eyes shone with something she couldn’t identify. Not disgust. Lust? Desire? Longing? Whatever it was, it curled her toes.

“Stay.”

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas...

2011-12-12T08:27:00.000-08:00

Isn't he a handsome one?

If you are looking for something to spice up your Christmas, At Their Command is released in two days! I'm so excited :)

All Hope wants for Christmas is Ethan St. Claire. She’s had a thing for him since high school, when he was the bad boy and she was the class geek. Now she’s older, wiser…and dying of sexual frustration. Fantasies of having Ethan and his best friend Dominic at the same time drive her wild with unsated lust.

Ethan has always loved Hope, and he’s finished waiting for her to realize they’re meant for each other. He’s taking command and giving Hope exactly what she needs. If she’s nice, he’ll give her a sexy spanking. If she’s naughty, he and Dominic will double her pleasure as an extra-lusty Christmas treat.

http://www.jasminejade.com/p-9688-at-their-command.aspx

I'll be over at Rachel Leigh's blogspot tomorrow and with the Whipped Cream team on December 19th to celebrate my new release. I hope you'll join me.

Look out for more news about releases and my Christmas plans (including a visit to the best tea room in England!).

Work in Progress and eyecandy

2011-12-03T07:52:00.001-08:00

It's a cold December day and I'm locking inside working on my latest stories. The first is Dominic Sullivan's story. He appears in At Their Command (released December 14th) and I loved him so much, I felt he should have his own story. Much to the delight of my editor!

His story is called Wicked Game and he has an...interesting reaction to his heroine, Ruth.

I'm also thinking about my new novella - Bittersweet. I've been thinking about this for a while and the only person who fits the physical representation of the hero is Ryan Gosling in Drive *melts and swoons*

Can't wait to get started on this :)

Night Owl Reviews - Top Pick for Beg Me!

2011-11-30T07:24:00.000-08:00

Wonderful review from Sandiebuck from Night Owl Reviews! A top pick and 4.5 stars!

Tessa had always been curious about BDSM but never tried it and repressed her sexual fantasies, becoming a sex therapist and helping others with their problems. She one day wanders into a BDSM club and meets Jared, the owner who has shied away from any personal attachments, but he wants Tessa. They Make an arrangement to become Dominant and submissive for 1 month. No-strings attached. Together Jared gets the Dominant sex he’s looking for and Tessa the submissive experience she’s seeking. But neither of them expect to find love along the way.

I loved this short story! It was well written and had some sizzling heat between the two characters. I found myself fanning my face a few times with the racy, erotic BDSM scenes. But I was rooting for the relationship that was budding between Tessa and Jared, both of them finding it difficult to get past their pride to admit their feelings for one another. I’d definitely read more stories from Scarlett Sanderson as her book flows along with much more than just the erotica. It has wonderful characters!

http://www.nightowlerotica.com/nor/Reviews/Sandiebuck-reviews-Beg-Me-by-Scarlett-Sanderson.aspx

Winner of the 'Beg Me' Prize Draw

2011-11-21T01:34:00.001-08:00

I'm happy to announce the winner of the BEG ME prize draw giveaway is:

CATHY M!!!!

Congratulations, Cathy :) I will email you today with details.

Thanks to all who commented.

Six Sentence Sunday - from my erotic WIP

2011-11-20T07:57:00.001-08:00

Dominic Sullivan’s bike came roaring around the bend.

Relief flooded her system followed by a heavy dose of lust. Sitting astride his motorcycle, Dominic looked like a powerful god. He handled his machine with care and a little bit of love. She imagined his big hands caressing her skin with such reverence.

Lust ignited. Her body heated. Her nipples tightened, peeked, ached to be touched. Her strong reaction to his presence was irrational. She shouldn’t feel this way about a man who’d never shown her any sexual interest.

RELEASE DAY and Giveaway - BEG ME is here!!!

2011-11-16T07:20:00.000-08:00

FINALLY, release day is here! You can purchase BEG ME from Ellora's Cave:

http://jasminejade.com/p-9700-beg-me.aspx

Tessa fantasizes about being tied up and tantalized with pleasure. She longs for a man to take control, to drive her wild with lust. But she’s never been able to let go and indulge in her most taboo desires.

The second Jared sees Tessa, he wants her. Her fierce intelligence and repressed sensuality call to him, make him burn with a passion he hasn’t felt in years.

Jared offers Tessa a deal—for a month, they’ll play a game of dominance and submission. He’ll make her beg, make her moan, make her come harder and faster than she ever has before. In return? He just wants great sex. No strings attached. But when he can’t get enough of Tessa’s scent, her taste, her touch, he realizes what he really wants is her love.

Publisher’s Note: This story was previously published elsewhere under the title Devil’s Dance and has been revised for Ellora’s Cave. If you like smoking-hot spanking scenes, public naughtiness and determined alpha males, this one’s for you.

I love Tessa and Jared. They have been with me for a long time and I hope you enjoy their story as much as I enjoyed writing it :)

In honor of Beg Me's release, I am offering a free copy up for grabs. All you have to is comment on this blog post between now and Sunday 20th November, for a chance to win!

One day to go before BEG ME is released!

2011-11-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

Just one day left to go before Beg Me is released. I am so excited! To celebrate I will be running a give away over at Good Reads. Please check back in a few days for more news.

I'll leave you with a little taster, an excerpt from Beg Me...

The rest of his body was toned like his shoulders. A lithe, graceful torso rippled into a tapered waist, ending with strong thighs and legs. Despite being in a BDSM club where leather dominated the attire, he wore ripped denim jeans and a tight white T-shirt, his half-mask the only leather adornment.

“You okay? I’m sorry about the asshole.” He moved forward, cradled her hand in his. Gently, he rubbed the pad of his thumb over her racing pulse point.

The movement was soothing. Sheer, blissful pleasure slid through her blood. His thumb worked over her skin, creating ribbons of heat. Tessa bit down on her lower lip. She mentally fanned herself and prayed she didn’t melt into a pool of orgasmic harmony.

His thumb moved around and around in a lazy circle. She became mesmerized, watching it dance a pattern on her skin. Those electrifying zings reached an all-time high as her body readied itself for action. Her nipples peaked beneath the fabric of her shirt and moisture pooled between her thighs. She’d been turned on by Karl’s spanking but this was different. A deeper attraction on a base level. The deep-seated need to be fucked by someone stronger than her.

The physical action she craved would never happen. She didn’t do casual sex. Not with anyone from Inferno and especially not with the buff god standing less than a foot away. He was too dominating, too arousing.

Raising her gaze to his, Tessa blushed. A predatory confidence burned there, setting the green contours of his eyes alight with what she could only describe as sexual desire. When he grinned and touched his full upper lip with the tip of his tongue, she mentally bit down on her knuckles and groaned. Her masked savior was sex on a stick. And she knew exactly where she wanted to lick first.

“You seem a little dazed. Want me to repeat the question?” His voice, a rich timbre in her ears, held a slightly Southern lilt that made her desire more painful. She’d always had a weakness for a Texan twang.

She regained some composure and withdrew her hand from his grasp. “I’m okay. A little shocked and feeling a little stupid. I should have remembered my safeword.” She gave the guy a wry smile, feeling foolish for allowing herself to be so naïve.

He pushed a hand through his spiky hair. She followed the movement, fascinated by the length and slenderness of his fingers. “We pride ourselves on a safe and discreet environment here at Inferno. I’m sorry you had to experience that in your search for a Dominant.”

Tessa frowned. Just because she was on the receiving end of a spanking didn’t mean she was looking for a Dominant. How could he assume something like that? It wasn’t like she had it written on her forehead.

Lifting her chin, she stared straight into his arrogant, cocky eyes. “How do you know I’m not here looking for a submissive?”

Her words brought laughter. Not just any laugh but a throw-back-your-head-and-roar type of laugh. Her cheeks burned with humiliation.

Gritting her teeth, she asked, “What’s so funny?”

The guy took a deep breath and looked down. His eyes danced with humor and a mischievous glint, sending zings through her body all over again. Her cheeks now burned with something other than embarrassment.

“What’s funny is the thought of you coming here to find a submissive.” Leaning forward, he fingered her lapel intimately. His gazed burned into hers. “You don’t have a dominant bone in your body, lady.”

Tessa didn’t know whether to grab his tight, white T-shirt and beg him to kiss her or to be offended by his comment. He spoke with such conviction, such absolute authority, she knew he had a dominant bone, and more than one.

Still, it didn’t become a woman to let a man get the better of her. On second thought, that was exactly why she was here. To let a man get the better of her. The whole Dominant/submissive thing was really confusing.

“And how do you know I don’t have a dominant bone in my body? You don’t even know me, mister.” There, she’d told him. “In fact, I might be looking for a nice piece of ass just like yourself to take home. I’ll bend you over and spank those tight buns ‘til you scream.”

He raised an eyebrow and stopped rubbing her shirt. He just stared at her, as if looking straight into her soul. Then, wrapping his fingers around her arms, he gently pushed her against the nearest wall. Her back collided with the concrete and she let out a squeak. Whether from shock or excitement, she didn’t know.

He had her trapped, and Tessa loved every second of it.

Her breath hitched, her body cried out kiss me, kiss me, take me! A body could be a treacherous thing. Her lips parted in anticipation. Her pussy throbbed with delight.

The guy slapped one hand against the wall above her head. With the other, he stroked her hipbone. The guy was really into stroking.

“How about I just bend you over my knee right here and give you a spanking?” The tone of his voice was low, intimate, husky. The sounds of the club faded away. All she could hear was him, all she could smell was his spicy, woodsy scent.

His breath tickled her ear as he leaned into her body and whispered, “You’d like me to spank you, get those tight ass cheeks all red. You’d beg me and I wouldn’t stop. You’d beg me to fuck you.”

Stunned yet shamelessly excited by this rough talk, Tessa opened her mouth to speak but his lips covered hers in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was hard and brutal. Just how she needed it. Just how she’d fantasized millions of times in the past.

New Ellora's Cave Book Covers!!!

2011-10-27T01:34:00.000-07:00

As you can see I am very excited about my new book covers! Aren't they pretty?

At Their Command is due for release in December. It's a Christmas quickie with lots of steam ;)

I'm so happy to say Beg Me is due for release sometime in November/December. Actual dates are still to be decided. It will be my first book with EC *g*

More info to be found on my author page at EC:
http://www.jasminejade.com/m-772-scarlett-sanderson.aspx

Oh la la...Paris trip

2011-10-18T08:55:00.000-07:00

I recently went on a trip to Paris.

The city of romance, of love and culture...

I've been to Paris before and wasn't impressed, however it was literally only for one day. I decided to give it another chance. Unfortunately, I still feel the same. I just don't connect with the city :( It was a lovely trip though and Mister Scarlett had never been.

On arrival, we had some romantic touches awaiting us in the hotel room:

We wandered along the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe...

Then up the Montparnasse Tower. The view from here is incredible. There are no queues and you get a view of Paris including the Eiffel Tower...

We took a trip to Notre Dame...

And went to the Louvre to see Mona Lisa...

Eventually, the highlight of the vacation - the biggest horse race of the year at Longchamp- the Arc de Triomphe..

Moving house...and new contract from EC!

2011-09-20T04:16:00.000-07:00

Apologies for being quiet for four weeks (has it been that long?!) I've moved to a different part of the country and things have been a smite bit surreal. I'm still searching for a 'day job' and settling in has been... difficult. I'm a creature of habit, of routine, and that's all been thrown to the wind. Fortunately, things are settling down now. Thankfully.

I've been frantically editing two manuscripts. One you know about, Beg me. The other is a new christmas erotica contracted with Ellora's Cave called At Their Command feturing a MFM menage. I'm so excited about this story! I love the characters.

I took physical inspiration from Juice and Opie from Sons of Anarachy (I love that show and implore anyone to watch it!)...

*sighs* Everybody loves a bad boy...or two...

I'm in a cave...editing

2011-08-22T08:27:00.001-07:00

Figuratively, of course! Edits have begun on Beg Me which means I will be locking myself away for the next few weeks. Nose to the grindstone and all that!

Words of Wisdom - Andre Dubus II

2011-08-18T02:55:00.000-07:00

Writings of Andre Dubus II:

"A first book is a treasure, and all these truths and quasi-truths I have written about publishing are finally ephemeral. An older writer knows what a younger one has not yet learned. What is demanding and fulfilling is writing a single word, trying to write le mot juste, as Flaubert said; writing several of them which becomes a sentence.

When a writer does that, day after day, working alone with little encouragement, often with discouragement flowing in the writer's own blood, and with the occasional rush of excitement that empties oneself, so that the self is for minutes or longer in harmony with eternal astonishments and visions of truth, right there on the page on the desk; and when a writer does this work steadily enough to complete a manuscript long enough to be a book, the treasure is on the desk.

If the manuscript itself, mailed out to the world where other truths prevail, is never published, the writer will suffer bitterness, sorrow, anger, and, more dangerously, despair, convinced that the work was not worthy, so not worth those days at the desk. But the writer who endures and keeps working will finally know that writing the book was something hard and glorious, for at the desk a writer must try to be free of prejudice, meanness of spirit, pettiness, and hatred; strive to be a better human being than the writer normally is, and to do this through concentration on a single word, and then another, and another.

This is splendid work, as worthy and demanding as any, and the will and resilience to do it are good for the writer's soul. If the work is not published, or is published for little money and less public attention, it remains a spiritual, mental, and physical achievement; and if, in public, it is the widow's mite, it is also, like the widow, more blessed."

More Books Monday welcomes Xakara

2011-08-15T00:55:00.000-07:00

Writing From the Middle : Bisexual Fidelity

Greetings, Kittens!

I’m Xakara, author of Bi/Pan/Poly Erotic Paranormal Fiction. Thank you for joining me for today’s Masters of Passion segment. I write polyamory and the spectrum of bisexuality to pansexuality, exclusively. I believe that both are underrepresented and need more positive portrayals. These stories speak to me the loudest and capture my imagination on the paranormal front like little else. Unfortunately, the combination of polyamory and bisexuality plays to the stereotype that bisexuals can’t be monogamous.

Indulge me a moment and let’s play state the obvious: not all bisexuals are polyamorous and by absolutely no means are all of those who practice polyamory, bisexual.

Polyamory is an individual choice, separate from sexual preference. It’s practiced by those who feel that responsible and ethical non-monogamy is a more natural relationship state and a paradigm in which they and their partners thrive. The specifics of each polyamorous relationship differ, its expression highly personalized to those involved, but they share the commonality of open, honest communication and full consent of all parties involved.

With such a broad and varied palette, I chose to paint my stories in the hues of polyfidelity. My characters come together and intertwine to build families, often creating households of committed individuals who go on to raise children. I wanted to show polyamory in the same light as other relationships—not to validate it, because it’s already valid—but to share what too often goes unseen and uncelebrated. Menages sell on the sex, and where I love the sexual and sensual scenes, I wanted my stories to stand on the depth of the relationships as well. So far so good.

I’ve been asked if I plan on writing bisexual characters that end the story in a monogamous relationship. Although most bisexuals I know are in monogamous relationships, the problem with putting that in book form, is that the characters read as either straight or gay based on the partner they end up with on the last page. For a character to begin and end as a visible bisexual, without the story being about bisexuality itself, they have to express Bi relationships on the page.

I’m not a fan of the love triangle and I don’t want all of the complexity of a characters sexuality erased when they inevitably choose the wrong person and are then judged by the gender of the one they chose. Poly relationships mean that I don’t have worry about that aspect.

I also have no desire to cover the struggle of bisexuality and bisexual visibility. I believe that there are already authors who cover this beautifully and my niche is to explore them as normal and give an idea of what that would look like. My stories are love stories and their strength is that they can focus on the relationships without spending time on justification, because they take place in worlds that have found their sanity on the issue.

In my PsiCorps World, (GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST and DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT), psychic energy is intimately tied to sex. As a result, psychic resonance has superseded gender and gender expression as the basis for attraction and relationships.

Resonance is best achieved with at least three people, but can be enhanced with even more individuals. This has allowed me to delve further polyamory and the concepts of intimate networks, metamours and blended families. It is still all within the context of fidelity to honor that concept, while exploring how new relationships are formed and expanding the intimacy, without necessary adding to the cast of characters.

The disregard for gender expands the bisexuality to pansexuality by current definition. I’ll get into the breakdown of those definitions in future posts, but for the for moment, the shorthand version is that bisexuality implies a gender binary to many, (I’m not one of them), while pansexuality acknowledges the grand variety of sexual expression and being open to finding beauty and long term commitment anywhere along the gender spectrum. I write along the that spread from bisexual to polysexual to pansexual to not only free the characters, but to free the reader.

I’ve been honored to speak with readers for whom I was the first menage author they read and my story was the first time they considered polyamory and bisexuality as natural expressions of commitment. I’ve been further honored to hear that while reading one of my stories, the gender of the characters faded away until it was just about the pull of emotion and the satisfaction of things finally working out in the end. That normality, that ability to transcend social artifice, that is a moment where everything is possible and that’s what makes it worth the effort that comes with writing from the middle.

This Ramble is done, Kittens!

~X

Xakara is an openly bisexual poly author and advocate. Her works include GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PAST (PsiCorps Volume 1), and new release DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT (PsiCorps Volume 2), out with Liquid Silver Books. SHIFTING PASSIONS ( A Therian World Novella), out with Samhain Publishing, A WAY TO A DRAGON’S HEART (A Therian World Novel), coming October 2011 by Liquid Silver Books, and BLOODSPRITE (A Therian World Novel/Dante Book 1) out summer 2012.

Let’s take a look at her most recent release DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT.

DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT

Blurb:

U.S. Marshal Mackenzie Matthews has spent the last six months on the most important witness protection assignment of his career--protecting PsiCorps’ own. The four agents under his care in the program have always had his admiration, but now, under such close quarters, they’ve earned his affections as well. Bonds formed after a dramatic showdown on Christmas Eve, and the concerted efforts in its wake to build a sense of normalcy around his pregnant charge, has Mackenzie the happiest he’s been in years and the most frightened.

To push for more not only questions his integrity as the lead marshal on the case, but it threatens the surrogate family that has engulfed him in a sense of home. Mackenzie is the only one that can see the danger in every step he takes--so he stands in place. He soon learns that he’s the only one not willing to move forward. In a whirlwind of revelation as the country celebrates the stars and stripes, Mackenzie is faced with what it means to truly be free. He’ll learn that sometimes no amount of caution can save you from what’s meant to be. Sometimes, no matter how deeply you bury secret desires in the darkness, it takes but a single kiss to reveal it all by the dawn’s early light.

Contains: Psychic Vampire seduction, all male ménage, M/F oral fixation and bloodless biting to spare.

EXCEPT 2
Mackenzie walked to the bathroom doorway in time to see Kincaid walk backward into the room, speaking out into the hall. Mackenzie was so caught up in the idea that the security cameras in the courtyard might have witnessed his moment with Quintus that he missed Ajay’s grand entrance. The second glance did equal justice as the young Agent walked in wearing only a towel, one that apparently couldn’t be trusted to behave as he held the ends bunched in a fist at his hip rather than tucked in place.

He didn’t realize he’d stepped further back into the bathroom until they headed into the walk-in closet without acknowledging his presence. Mackenzie walked to the bath-side closet door and stepped into the alcove that buffered the closet proper from any creeping moisture issues from the formal bathroom. Kincaid and Ajay entered from the other side and walked to Kincaid’s trove of T-shirts. He pulled out a deep crimson one only a few shades off from the one he wore.

“Here you go, sport. I hear it’s Riley’s favorite color.”

Ajay sighed. The small action managed to show off the significant definition months of working out with Torrin had carved. “You can aggravate me by using sport, or by reminding me I missed all the good stuff at breakfast, but to do both is just cruel.” He stepped closer to Kincaid. “Do you really want to be cruel to the young, impressionable Agent who looks up to you so sincerely?”

Kincaid leaned back on the dresser. “I guess that depends on what he’s doing when he looks up at me. I could be persuaded to be very nice indeed under the right circumstances.”
“Well, I’d definitely be sincere in whatever endeavor was on the table, Marshal.” He reached out and placed his free hand on the dresser. “Is there an approved list of activities that will get the best response?”

Kincaid seemed to hesitate and then he shook himself. “Right now the only activity you need to do is back your pretty little ass up and try on the shirt. And don’t go accidentally dropping that towel trying to entice somebody.”

“Yes, sir.” Ajay backed up. “No accidents involved.” He took off the towel and draped it over his shoulder. “Now that’s out of the way, do I get the same points for looking back over my shoulder that I do for looking up?”

Kincaid whistled. “Wow, I bring up one little conversation on being a vampire, and you just get all kinds of--”

“Cocky?” Ajay supplied.

“You do know I could take you, right, sport?”

Ajay reached down and ran a hand over his thigh, framing the partial erection. “I thought we were negotiating that very thing.”

“You are just too much today.” Kincaid undid his buckle and pulled his belt free.
“Am I getting lucky, or have I been naughty, daddy?”

Only the slightest pause gave hint of a reaction from Kincaid. He held the belt out to the light. The black on black embossed dragon shone at different angles. “You’ve seen me wear this all the time, right? It’s my favorite.”

“It happens to be where I’m most often looking, so yes, I have.”

Kincaid pressed his lips together and shook his head. “This belt is older than you are by six months.”

“Wow.” Ajay reached out and ran his fingers over the design. “Good to know you take such good care of your things, especially those in my age group.”

“Boy, you need to stop.” The laugh held an edge of frustration.

“But you’re the one that came to my workout session to watch me get all hot and sweaty. And you’re the one that stood outside my shower to talk to me while I was naked and wet and imaging what happened if you opened the door to come in.” He closed his hand on the belt and stepped closer to Kincaid. “You’re the one that’s been talking about my vampire nature for the last twenty minutes, teasing over what I missed while offering a taste of it every time you moved closer.” Ajay leaned forward, closed his eyes and inhaled. “It’s still riding just above your skin, I can almost take it in.”

It happened so quickly, Mackenzie missed the smaller details. One moment they were facing each other, the belt in both their hands and the tension between them threatening to take on physical form. The next moment Ajay’s upper body lay face-down across the dresser in the center of the closet. The belt cinched tight over his wrists, the end wrapped several times around Kincaid’s right hand.

“Don’t fight me, Ajay.”

It took several tries to form the panting breaths into words. “That would defeat the purpose.”

Kincaid’s left hand worked his shirt out of his pants and up over his head. “I instigated this, I’m going to make amends. Skin to skin contact, don’t push for more. I’m all out of extra luck and saintly patience.” He dropped down to the balls of his feet and dipped his tongue into the hollow at the bottom of Ajay’s spine. Over the course of a full minute, he licked his way back to standing, pausing at each chakra point along the way to drag his tongue in a clockwise circle twice before moving on. He stayed flush to Ajay’s body, sliding skin to skin until he reached the back of Ajay’s neck and lightly bit down.

Ajay’s entire body shuddered; the sounds torn from his throat almost ones of pain. It took three times before his words were clear. “No marks, no permission, so no marks.”

Kincaid released him now. “So you remember that I don’t have permission. Good, that’s very good. I’m going to undo your wrists and you’re going to remember that I don’t have permission and we’re going to stay like this until you have everything you need.” He slipped the belt free, unraveled it from his hand and pulled the shirt off that arm. He placed enough space between their bodies to secure the towel around Ajay’s hips. “Now come here.” He embraced him like holding happiness itself, fragile and new in his arms. “Be a good boy and I won’t have to tell that you set me up.”

More Books Monday - Three to Get Ready by Tere Michaels

2011-08-08T01:03:00.000-07:00

More Books Monday is happy to present Tere Michaels newest release: Three to Get Ready.

Blurb:
Chicago cop Nick watches his roommate, best friend and secret crush
Riley marry the intriguing Lily. He has no idea of Riley’s true
feelings for him, or the fact that Lily knows and accepts them.

Dominant Lily wants to give her beloved everything he needs in bed and beyond,even if that means quiet and controlled Nick. Deep down,she suspects that equally dominant Nick is someone she may need as well. Lily pushes a physical encounter and no one is prepared for the intensity of their feelings and desire.

Sex—in every combination possible—is the easy part. The conflict comes when each panics over their increasing emotional connection in their own way. Lily needs control, Nick fears commitment and Riley doesn’t feel he deserves two amazing lovers. And when a stranger threatens their relationship, their careers—and lives—Riley, Lily and Nick will need to rely on each other like never before.

http://www.jasminejade.com/productspecs/9781419934872.htm

Click here for the excerpt

"Three to Get Ready" was a novel that started as about five different this-isn't-working works in progress! The name changes alone were probably double that. It wasn't until Nick,Riley and Lily finally clicked into place that the story flowed. And at the end of the day,they might be three of my favorite characters ever.

Lily is so totally her own person she intimidated me! She operates
outside the norm but does it with love and confidence - small wonder
that Nick and Riley both adore her.

Nick and Riley were interesting to write because they had to be right
for each other - while being original in their own ways. Then be
appealing enough to be right for Lily! A menage is a complicated thing
to write, mostly from an emotional point of view.

Then there's the problem of making sure everyone's parts are in the
right place during the naughty bits!

I'm fortunate to have great beta readers and a wonderful editor, so
this book is something I'm quite proud of. And I'm looking to hear
from readers with their opinions and thoughts.

I'm fantasizing about...

2011-08-03T06:12:00.000-07:00

...ICE CREAM!!!!

It's so hot here the UK, I'm melting.

And fantasizing about a nice cold ice cream...

Yum.

Thursday Thirteen - Erotic Romances

2011-07-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

As well as being a writer, I'm a reader and I love nothing more than delving into some tantalizing erotic romance. Some of these aren't billed as 'erotic romance' but have enough fire to send my pulse through the roof!

In no particular order, here is are some of my favourite erotic romances:

1) Marly's Choice by Lora Leigh

Blurb:

Marly’s love for Cade has spanned her teenage years, and survived strong and intact into womanhood. Her fantasies and daydreams have sustained her, but she’s no longer content with merely imagining the touch of hishands, the taste of his kiss. It’s time to seduce the tough, sexy cowboy.She’s heard the rumors for years, the tales of his sexual preferences. She’s prepared herself to accept his desires. Prepared her body for his touch. But she wasn’t prepared for the choice to come…

Cade’s dark desires, his sexual excesses are based in the past. In a time when pain, shame, and blood stains his very soul. He carries a secret shared only with his brothers. A secret that has scarred the bond, the ability to be a brother or to accept the love of the men he was raised with. He knows the only way to prove his loyalty, his love for those brothers and Marly will be the key.She has a choice. She can surrender to Cade’s needs, his soul deep desires, or she can walk away. A choice only Marly can make. A choice that will change her life forever.

One the first erotic romances I read about eight years ago. The first in her Men of August series. *chuckles* I remember it also made me combust! Who knew you could get away with writing a series about a group of brothers who share their women?!!!

2) Menage by Emma Holly

Blurb:

When two handsome grad students move into Kate Winthrop's Philadelphia townhouse, the once-burned divorcee thrills to having two young admirers, at least until the evening she finds them in bed with each other! Sensitive Joe is mortified. Badboy Sean challenges her to join in. Aroused by their show, she accepts. The adventure that ensues is more intense than any of them expected, and more fun. But can three lovers live happily ever after . . . together?

3) His Submissive by Reese Gabriel

Blurb:

Linzee's little sister Traycee wants the very sexy Dominant, David Carlisle, to show her the ropes — BDSM style. Straight-laced Linzee is suspicious, even when the breathtakingly handsome, blue-eyed Dom tells her things will be strictly platonic. He offers to give Linzee a demonstration and that's where things go terribly wrong.It turns out that Linzee is a natural submissive with an overpowering desire to serve as a love slave to a strong man. David is that man and he knows it. Too bad Linzee hates him.

Passion and anger turn on a dime, with Linzee alternating between writhing with desire and screaming in anger. Can the seasoned Dom rein her in with the tenderness of his voice and the sting of his whip, or will both their hearts be broken in the struggle? Linzee is undoubtedly a submissive, but is she his submissive?

Probably one of my favourite BDSM books ever. I adore Reese Gabriel.

4) Dangerous Cravings by Evangeline Anderson

Blurb:

Some people need to be tied down to feel free. Tampa homicide detective Alex Reed is one of those people. On the job she is fiercely intelligent and tougher than any of the men in her department, handling her high-stress job with ease. Off duty, however, she explores her darker side through her highly erotic novels of bondage and submission. She hides her shameful desires behind a pen name, Victoria Tarlatan, and no one has any idea of her longings to be sexually dominated.

Detective Cole Berkley is Alex’s longtime partner and best friend. They have seen each other through her father’s suicide and Cole’s own devastating divorce when his wife left him. When things get tough on the street, Cole knows he can always trust Alex to get his back. What he doesn’t know is anything about her secret hunger to be mastered, but he’s about to find out.
Somewhere in Tampa’s urban sprawl a serial killer is working his dark magic, transforming wicked women into works of erotic art. The killer’s MO is always the same-- his hapless victims are found tied to the bed in classic bondage poses, strangled and tortured in unspeakable ways.
In order to crack the case, Alex and Cole will have to go undercover in the BDSM community, posing as Master and slave, Dominant and submissive. But can Alex hold on to her secret while being forced to play out her most private fantasies with her partner? And can Cole handle the change in his tough-as-nails partner from one of the guys to a woman with deeply erotic needs?

The friction between them will soon be the least of their worries. Because the killer has a list of intended victims, women who must be punished for daring to share their fantasies with the rest of the world. And the name Victoria Tarlatan is on it, making Alex next in line for the killer’s transformation.

5) Tempting Grace by Anne Rainey

Blurb:

Jackson Hill has been a good boy and stayed away from little Grace Vaughn. She’s too young, too innocent for the things he has in mind. But when the annual IT Expo hits Las Vegas Jackson suddenly sees an opportunity to get the smart mouthed princess away from her overbearing family—and into his bed once and for all.The problem? Once he has her there, he’s loathe to let her leave...

6) Strictly Taboo by Jaid Black

Blurb:

Three sexy, original stories of men who are totally off-limits. From the author of the sizzling One Dark Night-three highly charged tales of unexpected desire, from the faraway past deep into the distant future... Here are three beautiful, daring women who find themselves succumbing to the forbidden, overpowering passion ignited by their arch enemies. Set in three different worlds-the past, the present, and the future-these stories will take readers way beyond their wildest imagination and into their most sensuous fantasies.

One of my favourite erotic authors...and now, technically, my boss!

7) Passion by Lisa Valdez

Blurb:

In her second year of mourning, lovely young widow Passion Elizabeth Dare never dreamed she would be with a man again--and certainly not a complete stranger. But amidst the crowds of London's Crystal Palace, Passion finds herself discreetly, yet insistently, pursued by a sensual gentleman who awakens her long-supressed desires. After a loveless marriage of restrained propriety, Passion abandons herself to true bliss for the first time.

Intoxicated by his encounter with the beautiful stranger, Mark Randolph Hawkmore, Earl of Langley, cannot wait to see her again. As a series of rapturous rendezvous follows, he and his mystery lover find something rare and wonderful blossoming between them. But a blackmail scheme against the Earl threatens to destroy everything. As a scandal brews, each will have to choose between duty and desire...their love for their families--and their love for each other.

Technically, not an erotic romance. But I implore you to read it and not feel hot under the collar!

8) Virtual Reality by Joey W. Hill

Blurb:

Mark is a reclusive Dominant who confines his sexual interests strictly to the online world. On his routine afternoon ferry ride, he meets a woman who rouses the Master in him, and the line snaps between the virtual and real worlds. She begs for him to take her over, and bring them both fulfillment and healing. He wants to refuse her, but he finds himself agreeing to spend one day with her. It’s a mistake, because the anger he holds inside is fully capable of destroying a soul as rare and beautiful as Nicole’s. But no Master, not even one as strong and disciplined as Mark, can resist the offer of a submissive who wants only one thing – to be his forever.

Are you seeing a theme? I love BDSM novels :)

9) Jane's Warlord by Angela Knight

Blurb:

A sexy paranormal debut--from a fresh new voice in erotic romance. The next target of a time traveling killer, crime reporter Jane Colby finds herself in the hands of a warlord from the future sent to protect her--and in his hands is just where she wants to be.

10) Torrid Hunger by Tawny Taylor

Blurb:

Two vampires, dominant, dangerous, darkly seductive. And one woman who holds the key to sweet, luscious life for both.

Kaden, king of the Sons of the Twilight, possesses more power than most men could imagine, yet is imprisoned by his position and a crushing burden of guilt. Pierce, the strong dominant who can make submissives weep with pleasure, but is constantly reaching for the one thing that lies just beyond his grasp--Kaden. Pulling them together is The Hunger, a yearly ritual that drives the Sons to seek out a mortal woman for the blood-bond. Both men burn with a relentless need to sate all their appetites—for blood…and sex…and for each other.

When the search for a cure for a friend’s mysterious ailment brings Eden to Kaden’s door, a deal is struck—seven days and nights of dark, sexual pleasure with Kaden and Pierce in exchange for the rare drug. But unbreakable threads of emotion tie them tighter together. And when it’s over, none of them will be the same.

11) Two Masters for Alex by Claire Thompson

Blurb:

When Alex signs up to be Daniel and Liam's personal sex slave, she expects to be ravished and adored. Instead she finds herself in the middle of a very hot M/M love affair. To her chagrin, she is not the subject of their torrid passion, but the object, a girl toy expected to conform to the rules of the house or suffer the consequences.

Liam and Daniel, at first eager to bring another into their D/s play, find their carefully controlled world turned upside down by the sexy, eager but sometimes less than submissive beauty in their midst.

They are forced to deal with sometimes heart-wrenching, sometimes hilarious issues that arise when two become three. In the unfolding passion play each must confront jealousy, trust and their own understanding of the romance of a D/s relationship. Alex must look inside herself to discover if she has what it takes to remain in the arms and hearts of the two men she calls Master.

12 ) Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Blurb:

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the erotic Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master's spell. In the New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning's stunning new novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin's battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest-and most erotically charged-adventure of her life.

Definitely NOT an erotic romance, however...Barrons...sex...Barrons *fans self*

13) Lover Unbound by J. R. Ward

Blurb:

Ruthless and brilliant, Vishous son of the Bloodletter possesses a destructive curse and a frightening ability to see the future. As a pretrans growing up in his father's war camp, he was tormented and abused. As a member of the Brotherhood, he has no interest in love or emotion, only the battle with the Lessening Society. But when a mortal injury puts him in the care of a human surgeon, Dr. Jane Whitcomb compels him to reveal his inner pain and taste true pleasure for the first time- until a destiny he didn't choose takes him into a future that cannot include her.

Another non-erotica, however lots of BDSM. Not to mention Vishous is my favourite Dom EVER :p

So what are your favourite erotic tales?

Tuesday Teaser

2011-07-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a snippet from my work in progress. Enjoy!

“What in the Jesus H. Fucking Christ happened here?”

Joshua took the icepack off his cheek and moved his jaw from side to side. Pain moved through his head like a sharp blade. He might be immortal but even vampires needed a few hours to heal.

He rolled his eyes upwards and looked at his crew. Dominic ‘Doc’ Surlock, Zac and Sebastian Coe, Xavier Chavez. Not their real names of course. They didn’t use their real names and hadn’t done for centuries.

Four men who’d been with him to hell and back; men who’d been by his side no matter what; men who’d taken the dark gift from a Mexican ancestor of Xavier’s.

His fixed his gaze on Doc, answering his question. “Fucking Garrett happened.”

Standing up, he threw his ice pack into a corner. They had Ruby, now it was payback time.

Doc winced. “Put some clothes on, I don’t need to see your dick.”

Looking down, Joshua realized he was butt naked. “Fuck.”

More Books Monday - Chloe Neill and Harry Potter

2011-07-25T07:19:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Today is the start of 'More Books Monday', a chance to pick up some fabulous new recommended reading material. On some Mondays I'll be having guest authors drop by to tell us about themselves and their work (I'm so excited by some of the guests we have!). Some Mondays I'll be giving personal recommendations on what I've been reading.

This week's recommendation is the Chicagoland Vampire series by Chloe Neill.

Books in the series:

1) Some Girls Bite
2) Friday Night Bites
3) Twice Bitten
4) Hard Bitten

At twenty-seven, Merit is made a vampire . . . but not just any vampire. She's become one of the most powerful vampires in the world, and she's being initiated into Chicago's controversial Cadogan House.

Added to that, she's got a sexy but pretentious Master, a she-vamp with a centuries-old chip on her shoulder, and a best friend who has supernatural issues of her own. What's a vamp to do?

Hard Bitten is the latest release and the book I'm currently reading. I've been following this series from the beginning and do have quite a soft spot for the books.

If you like sassy heroines and urban fantasy, this is the series for you. It's pure escapism. Merit has to be one of my favourite female heroines. The only problem I have with the latest book is I accidently found a spoiler online and it's one of the biggest plot twists. I'm gutted.

One another note I saw the finally Harry Potter movie at the weekend. Although I found it a bit slow in places, I adored it. I even had a few teary eyes moments.

Kudos to all the cast and crew for making the last film so memorable.

I was a bit of a late convert to the Potter books but I'm so glad I was finally converted. Hogwarts, I shall miss you.

Exciting News - 'Devil's Dance' has been contracted with Ellora's Cave!

2011-07-21T02:44:00.000-07:00

I am extremely happy to announce that 'Devil's Dance', my previously published erotic novella, has been picked up by Ellora's Cave. Very exciting news!

The lovely Carrie Jackson sent me the email on Tuesday confirming they would love to have the story in their catalog.

Of course, it will undergo extensive revisions and changes. You will be seeing more of 'Tessa and Luc'. I know a lot of you will be thrilled at the prospect.

We are also hashing out new titles. I must say, I really like 'Beg Me'.

More news to come as the editing process unfolds.

At the moment I'm still in shock, and I'm still doing the virtual happy dance :)

BDSM and Zombies??! A new book by Portia da Costa

2011-07-19T03:35:00.000-07:00

A Walk on the Wild Side Books presentation

Blurb:

Portia Da Costa presents five short, sexy works that have also been published as standalones, all bundled together in a naughty medley offering over 40,500 steamy words at a super value price, half the cost of buying all the individual items separately!

This frisky erotic potpourri includes tales of BDSM, exhibitionism, m/m, m/f/m, an office lust/hate relationship... and zombies! Obviously not all those elements are in one story... but who knows, one day that might be one helluva project to tackle!

Here's the lineup:

The Efficiency Expert - erotic short story

Still stinging from a stringent management review at her workplace, office girl Susie encounters the very last man she wants to meet when she hits her favorite bar to relax and unwind. Gorgeous Noah Stevens is the ruthless company troubleshooter who's been making her life hell for the past three weeks, but after hours, he soon proves that his dedication to "efficiency" can work wonders in the bedroom.

Glint - short story of exhibitionism and voyeurism

While enjoying a lazy day at the beach, sexy holidaymakers Suzy and Gavin see a sudden glint of light flash from the headland overlooking their patch of sand, and realize that somebody's watching them through a pair of binoculars! Far from being alarmed, hedonistic Suzy finds the forbidden scrutiny deliciously exciting, and turned on by her own latent exhibitionism, she and Gavin decide to put on a titillating performance… and really give the distant voyeur something to watch!

Wesley and the Sex Zombies - erotic horror short story

Computer wizard Wesley Greensward is having a terrible day. His girlfriend is cheating, his best friend has let him down and he hates his job. Then, in a grungy motorway service café, a vision of unearthly loveliness walks into his life. It's the most beautiful woman he's ever seen... and the most beautiful man.But while Wesley weaves an erotic fantasy about these two mysterious and delectable strangers, Luciferia and Maximillian are plotting and planning too... and their arcane scheme might mean the end of Wesley's life!

Forbidden Treasures - BDSM novelette

When Alice Porter finds a chest full of vintage curiosa at an antique market, she little realizes how her discovery of the forgotten treasures of an Edwardian disciplinarian will change her life. The sexy hoard includes a punishment ledger and a well used rattan cane, and the bygone items intrigue her husband Julian too. Sharing and experimenting with the writings and the wicked implement, the lovers begin a voyage of forbidden sensuality that shocks and thrills them both, revealing dark secrets from Julian's past and bringing the two of them closer together than they've ever been before.

Power of Three - romantic/erotic menage novella

Sun-drenched days and lush steamy nights stir strange desires in singleton Laurie Jones. She's been betrayed by her philandering fiancé, but that doesn't mean her libido is dead, no way. In fact the rampant hedonism of the lovers' resort where she's spending her solo honeymoon only makes her feel hornier than ever; especially when she watches her raunchy neighbors cavorting in a blatant threesome.But relief is at hand for Laurie in the form of Ed and Denny, two gorgeous hunks sharing another nearby cabana. Golden boy Denny, and dark, enigmatic Ed are red hot for each other, but they also adore women too, and the sexy, generous pair quickly draw Laurie into a sizzling erotic ménage that not only expands her sexual horizons in a way that blows her mind, but also heals the pain inflicted upon her by her lost fiancé.

Author's note:

These stories contain explicit scenes of erotic activity and experimentation, including sex with multiple partners, spanking, caning, exhibitionistic sex and voyeurism and male/male lovemaking.

Excerpts of the individual stories are available at: www.portiadacosta.com/selfpublished.html

Available from Smashwords, All Romance eBooks, Amazon Kindle US, Diesel eBooks and Amazon Kindle UK.

Other vendors to follow.

Hotel Decadence - New Cover and Excerpt

2011-07-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

Pushing open the door, she got out and stared at the hotel. It really did live up its name. The elegant manor stretched out into expansive manicured lawns, the Doric columns added an air of grace.

She couldn’t wait to see inside.

Mounting the stone steps, she took a deep breath. Anticipation buzzed through her system. What did Mason have planned for her tonight?

Entering the foyer, she wasn’t disappointed. The decor was exquisite—walls lined with dark velvet patterns, drapes hung over doorways. Opulence and elegance. No wonder this place was called Hotel Decadence. They had gotten the balance right. Sometimes sensual decor could look downright seedy. Here it looked good.

A pretty brunette smiled at her from behind a black marble desk. When she stood, Gillian swept her gaze over the girl. She was dressed in professional black and white; a pencil skirt, stockings and high stiletto heels. The only thing that stood out in contrast was the black leather corset cinching her waist and pushing her breasts up and out. Gillian had done her research on corsets and knew that the black leather was an expensive item.

“Hello, welcome to Hotel Decadence. How may we help you today?”

Hotel Decadence - a short erotic story, now on SALE!!

2011-07-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

"Hotel Decadence. 2pm. Pack an overnight bag. Don't be late."

When Gillian Lowe receives a glossy black card from her Master she knows not to disobey his command. What pleasures await her at the Hotel Decadence?

Yes, Hotel Decadence is now on sale from Amazon Kindle!

Pricing may vary for US and UK customers but you can purchase them here:

Hotel Decadence from Amazon.com

Hotel Decadence from Amazon.co.uk

It's a New Dawn, It's a New Day...

2011-06-30T00:14:00.000-07:00

Hello,

It's been such a long time since I've posted here. A lot has happened since November.

The most important news is I've parted ways with The Wild Rose Press. I wish The Wild Rose Press, their team and their authors every success in the future. They are a wonderful e-publisher, but being a UK author caused some practical...annoyances. So, I requested my rights back and am looking for new homes for my stories.

Right at this moment, I have only two things on sale - Taboo (Phaze) and Ultimate Curves (Xcite).

The big news is that I'm embarking on the self publishing route. Yes, me! The world's most un-savvy computer person. Hotel Decadence is a very short erotic story that should be on sale with Amazon soon.

Please don't laugh at the cover :p It was my first attempt.

I hope to have a lot more news to cover over the next few weeks.

Who is your 'weird' crush?

2010-11-02T08:02:00.001-07:00

Who is your ‘weird’ crush? Who is the guy you are afraid to admit you lust after but secretly would like to spend the night licking hot sauce off his chest?

For me it’s…Seth Rogen.

He’s funny, he’s quirky, he’s creative and yes, I would like to lick hot sauce off his chest :p

He may not have the washboard, chiseled look of Brad Pitt, but Seth invokes a certain kind of earthy lust that makes me want to jump him.

So who is your weird crush?

Interview over at Rachel Leigh's Blog

2010-09-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

http://www.rachelleighromance.blogspot.com/

Check out my interview over at Rachel Leigh's blog.

A fellow Brit, Rachel also writes erotic romance. To learn more about Rachel, vist her website:
http://rachelleigh.co.uk/

Wars of the Roses and beyond!

2010-08-20T07:22:00.001-07:00

I've always been fascinated by the Medieval and Early Renaissance period of English history. The Wars of the Roses. Lancaster and York. The Tudors.

One structure that dominates everything during this time period is The Tower of London. Originally a fortress, it is a dark, forbidding place that came to be a prison for many nobility and saw many executions.

I'm excited to say I'm finally going to see it in the flesh, so to speak! I can hardly wait. It may have a gruesome history, but I'm still excited. Does that make me morbid? :)

Currently, I've been throwing myself into researching the period. I'm working on a historical novella - one set in Tudor times and I'm having a blast!

4 1/2 teacup review from HEA Reviews!

2010-08-16T01:09:00.000-07:00

Wonderful review from LynnMarie at HEA Reviews:

Owned by the Night is a short, paranormal romance. I can only sum it up as a dark, sensual love story. Scarlett Sanderson developed her characters to completion in such few pages. Allegra is a strong, confident vampiress. She claims Kyrian as her own because she finds the druid worthy of being her life mate. He’s beyond desirable and the author makes the reader drool for Kyrian. When he develops into a strong, dominant druid vampire, she worries that he’ll try and control her. With a past riddled with painful memories, she fears reliving the same torment through her true love, so she runs. For centuries they live apart, only desiring to be reunited.The sensual, erotic world of vampires, their victims, and the strength of love between mates is evident in Owned by the Night. Scarlett Sanderson takes us on a journey through one vampiress’ struggle with her own inner demons as she seeks her happily ever after. Very entertaining, well written, paranormal romance novella.

4 1/2 Tea Cups!

http://hea-reviews.blogspot.com/2010/07/review-owned-by-night-by-scarlett.html

Owned by the Night - vampire erotica out now!!!

2010-07-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

I'm excited to announce my new vampire erotica is out now! The storyline was inspired by the Kings of Leon song - Closer.

Blurb:

Once enslaved by the vampire who turned her, Allegra Augusta finally has it all—her freedom and the untold power to keep it. Yet she craves the one thing missing from her immortal life—a mate. Stumbling across handsome druid Kyrian de’Tame in Dark Age England, she seduces him with the promise of power and immortality, confident she can control the feral wizard. As her mate’s power grows, so does his dominance. Each sultry encounter propels her closer to submission, forcing Allegra to spend centuries running from his enslavement.When Kyrian catches up with Allegra in modern day America, she finds herself unable to resist his seduction. Will Allegra refuse her mate or find herself Owned by the Night?

Excerpt:
Watching from the perimeter of the stone circle, Allegra’s gaze swept over the powerful druid performing the ritual. Wearing nothing but a coarse black robe, he knelt in the circle of stones, hands and face raised up to the heavens. The moonlight danced on the elaborate black and red tattoos that adorned his slightly golden-colored skin. The air around him crackled, sizzled with power as he chanted into the darkness. She adored the Dark Ages; people were so keen to embrace forbidden mysticism.

Allegra’s body tingled. Her nipples peaked, became turgid buds against the heavy velvet of her bodice. Her incisors lengthened. Her mouth watered—desire tasted hot and rich on the back of her tongue.

Yes.

Here was a man worthy of her companionship. She’d been a vampire for over a thousand years having been turned by her Master in Ancient Rome. She’d had lovers and fed from many humans—males and females, rich and poor. But throughout the centuries she’d never found a companion, one who made her body burn, her soul ache. One powerful enough to match her own abilities.

Until now.

Until him.

The Invitation - A Christmas Fairytale

2009-12-20T03:01:00.001-08:00

I love Christmas. For me it’s a magical time filled with goodwill to all and a deep seated belief that anything is possible. Looking out of my window here in England we actually have snow! Now, for anyone not in the United Kingdom, I’ll explain why snow five days before Christmas is so exciting. Every year we hope for a white Christmas and all we get is horribly damp, mild weather. The snow usually makes an appearance in January when everyone is back at work and causes chaos.

This is the first time it has snowed before Christmas in many years. I’m thoroughly excited!As I said...Christmas is a time for believing. It was this belief in the fantastic that made me sit down and write The Invitation — a Christmas fairytale.

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas!! And remember, anything is possible...

Blurb:

Evie Ward lives in her head. As a writer she weaves magical tales of timeless love, things that go bump in the night and seductive, charismatic heroes. When an invitation to the most prestigious Christmas Eve ball in the country arrives, Evie is stunned. Personally signed by the handsome, yet elusive, Gabriel Longthorn, she begins to wonder what a man like him could possibly want with her. Could it be her wildest fantasies of Christmas at Longthorn Manor are finally coming true? Whisked into a fairytale world where everything she can imagine is real, Evie must take a leap of faith this Christmas if she is to change her life forever?

When other little girls wanted to be ballerinas...

2009-11-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

...I wanted to be a vampire.

It's true. I hadn't really thought about it until this week. I'm finishing up a two story anthology which is about vampires and considering my obsession with all things vamp (at one point I almost got my own set of fangs made), I'm surprised I've never written anything about creatures of the night before now.

Speaking to my mother about all things dark, she smiled at me over a cup of coffee and came out with "You've always wanted to be a vampire. Even when you were little."

Even as a child I had an obsession with vampires.

Go figure one day I would end up writing about them.

On novels and things...

2009-10-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

And there you have it. The ultimate dilemma facing an author is the novel.

I've been working on the first draft of my novel for two years. Of course, I got sidetracked along the way (numerous other projects came to the fore), but today is the day I wrote those two wonderful words on the page...The End.

Finally.

First draft down, lots of work to be done, but the feeling of satisfaction is immense.

I remember now why I love to write.

Excerpt from untitled Angels and Demons fic

2009-08-13T02:53:00.000-07:00

Samhain Publishing are running a contest searching for the hottest Angels and Demons stories.

I gave a squee of delight when I heard about this. I've had an A/D story on the backburner for quiet some time. The contest gave me an excuse to dig it out, dust it off and jump back into the plot.

I'd forgotten how much I adore Raphael...my angel 'hero'.

Here is just a snippet:

Whirling around she swung the book, hoping to knock him off balance so she could run.

Too slow.

With unearthly reflexes, Raphael ducked.

“Look lady, you have two choices.” He peeked back into the archives and reloaded his gun with another magazine clip. Ava watched in fascination as his manly hands worked the cool metal. “You can either stay here and get gobbled up by asshole of the year. Or,” he raised his gaze to hers, forcing them to lock, “you could come with me and live.”

The heat in his eyes flared to life as he held out a hand to her. It was an invitation.

Rustling could be heard coming from the room behind her. Should she stay and face down putrid boy? Or should she place her hand in Raphael’s and go with him?

Life changing decisions are often made in the heat of the moment, in the blink of an eye. Yet time slowed as Ava stared at the outstretched hand. All thought, all rational reasoning, left her mind. Everything was silent. There was a slight ruffling her hair. Briefly, she wondered where the wind was coming from but only briefly.

Blinking, she licked her dry lips and made her decision.

“I’ll choose the man with big shiny guns over a sword any day.” Slapping her palm against his, she curled her fingers with Raphael’s.

News, news and more news!!

2009-08-01T09:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings all,

I have lots of news to share with everyone.
Last week saw the release of Ulitmate Curves- a collection of twenty erotic short stories by a variety of authors. My short story, The Photographer's Muse is featured in the collection. To buy a copy please visit Xcite Books.

http://www.xcitebooks.com/category-21/9781906373788.html

My erotic print romance novel, Devil's Dance, is once again number 3 on The Wilder Rose Press' best seller list despite being released last year!!! I'm so happy! Tessa and Luc are characters I loved creating, it's nice to see their story is still being read.

To read reviews or purchased a copy click here:

Buy, buy, buy

A Conqueror's Destiny (another one of my favourites) is still doing extremely well. If you love historical fantasy with a dash of erotica, you won't be disappointed! Once again, here is the blurb:

Hannibal Barca has waged a war against the Romans for countless years. Vengeance is his only path in life. As a fierce warrior, revered leader and feared general, Hannibal longs for a peaceful life; a family, a home and a loving wife. But fate has other plans for the man history has labeled 'the barbarian'. Cassandra is a mystic from the mythical realm of Parrius. Her homeland is the only barrier standing against the armies of Astra and the mortal plane. A peace loving race, if Parrius is to survive, Cassandra must journey through time and space to find a general worthy enough of leading her army. In a race against time Cassandra must convince Hannibal to return with her. What she couldn't foresee was the love she feels for Hannibal the Conqueror.

On this epic journey where the fate of the world rests in the hands of one man, Cassandra is forced to make a choice between love and destiny. There can only be one winner...

And finally, I've just finished a short erotic paranrmal fic called Closer. I'll be discussing that more in the coming days and am currently searching for a home for it. More on that later...

A Conqueror's Destiny Reviews

2009-07-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

A Conqueror's Destiny by Scarlett Sanderson

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Genre: Paranormal, Historical

Length: Short (52 pages)

Heat: Spicy

Rating: 4.5 Books

Reviewed by Fennel

Hannibal Barca has waged a war against the Romans for countless years. Vengeance is his only path in life. As a fierce warrior, revered leader and feared general, Hannibal longs for a peaceful life; a family, a home and a loving wife. But fate has other plans for the man history has labeled 'the barbarian'. Cassandra is a mystic from the mythical realm of Parrius. Her homeland is the only barrier standing against the armies of Astra and the mortal plane. A peace loving race, if Parrius is to survive, Cassandra must journey through time and space to find a general worthy enough of leading her army. In a race against time Cassandra must convince Hannibal to return with her. What she couldn't foresee was the love she feels for Hannibal the Conqueror.

On this epic journey where the fate of the world rests in the hands of one man, Cassandra is forced to make a choice between love and destiny.

There can only be one winner...

When love and destiny collide with Mortal history, then you have quite a mix. Beneath the hand of Scarlett Sanderson, you end up with a spicy concoction that will keep you warm, and your blood on the boil.

Mystic and spiritual warrior Cassandra intends to save her beloved Parrius from the marauding Tribes, and she knows just the man to help her. And Hannibal Barca is one viral man. Cassandra is torn between her loyalty to Parrius and her growing desires as a woman and the more time they spend together the less likely it is she’ll achieve her goal.

Hannibal’s sworn goal is to defeat his father’s murderers. Will the sudden appearance of the most beautiful and desirable woman he’s ever encountered distract Hannibal from achieving his goal? Hannibal and Cassandra face many conflicts and enemies, the biggest being their own ability to trust themselves and each other. Will Cassandra and Hannibal defy history, or are they destined to endure loneliness for ever?

This short story may travel across a few pages, but Scarlett manages to cover history and the emotions of Cassandra and Hannibal that many writers fail to achieve in stories four and six times the length of A Conqueror’s Destiny. This is a book well worth reading.

http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.com/2009/06/conquerors-destiny-by-scarlett.html

Promotion - Book Trailers with the wonderful author Carol Webb!

2009-04-20T09:17:00.001-07:00

As an author I’m always looking for new ways to promote my books. Book video trailers always caught my attention. They’re very much like a movie trailer, and like movies, books have a story to convey. With movie trailers having been around for years, it’s only logical that books would eventually follow suit. I truly believe with the tremendous growth of multi-media, book video trailers or commercials are not only here to stay, but will continue to thrive. Like a cover, a book preview is an enticement for a reader to think about purchasing an author’s book, and also just like a cover, a preview can be deterrent to a reader. So be careful what you put up on the internet as a visual promotional tool.

A good book preview runs for approximately one minute. If you have something two minutes or longer, you have a good chance of losing your audience. As authors we know just how important words are and nothing changes when it comes to a book preview. Actually, they’re even more important because you have less than a minute to catch a potential customer’s interest. Make sure your audience can also read the text with ease. We sometimes forget just how fast we read as writers.

The best trailers have a mixture of different visuals. Special effects, live action shots, voiceovers and still images can all add to a powerful book preview, and it doesn’t have to cost an excessive amount of money. Sometimes a simple, tasteful trailer can be even more effective than an expensive, detailed and highly technical one. One picture can have numerous scenarios imprinted into a person’s mind. They are visual works of art.

Advantages:
Attracting a younger audience.
Attracting a different audience.
With the right trailer, a buzz can start before your book is even out.
Generates more traffic to your web site.

Disadvantages:
A bad trailer can detract and lose sales.
The cost of investing in a trailer.
The time involved in doing it yourself.

I’d played around with doing trailers for a while with my own books, but then when author, Linda Andrews, asked if I would do two for her books, A Knight’s Tale and Dancing in the Kitchen, I decided to become serious about learning how to put a trailer together. After all, this wasn’t for me but someone who was counting on my ability to promote her work. I quickly found out how thoroughly enjoyable and hard they are to make and that like a full-length story, trailers have to have an emotional hook. With the right trailer, they’re a wonderful tool to promote your book. But unlike a two hour movie, a person doesn’t have time for a whole lot of pop corn to watch a book preview!

Can a book preview generate more sales for an author? The statistics aren’t out yet, but when you watch a movie trailer that moves you, makes you smile or makes you become deeply emotional in a matter of seconds, are you more likely to watch that movie?

I know I am.

I thought I’d share my latest book preview for Age of Fire, a true crime book. The author is a friend of mine, and the story is amazing.

For more information on Bella Entertainment, you can visit our web site.

Carol Webb

Promo with Author Ellen Dye!!!

2009-04-14T07:59:00.001-07:00

Good morning Everybody! Many thanks to Scarlett for the opportunity to post a bit about my new book, Three's The Charm, which is out now electronically with The Wild Rose Press at www.thewildrosepress.com and also in print at Amazon www.amazon.com

Three's The Charm is truly a story of my heart, set in the fictional town of Trenton's Forge, located in the wild and wonderful mountains of my home state, West Virginia. Populated with a cast of zany mountain matchmakers and good old-fashioned country folks, it was more fun than I ever dreamed to write. And it's been absolutely thrilling to see it published and then receive my very first review, which you can check out here

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/reviews/Review.asp?ReviewId=2332

And now for the official blurb...Heath Ransom is educated, successful, a brilliant Doctor of Veterinary Medicine---and completely miserable. In the process of making himself amount to something---a feat no Ransom ever achieved in Trenton's Forge, West Virginia---he'd managed to lose the only person who made his life amount to anything, his wife, Rachel.

And now he's home and determined to stop at nothing to win her back.

But Rachel has some very firm opinions where her ex-husband is concerned---and no way will Heath, with his golden-blonde, ruggedly sexy good looks change any of them. She'd vowed never to speak to him again, and that was that.

But when her beloved horse falls ill and Heath is the only Vet within three counties of West Virginia mountains Rachel begins to learn that some vows need to be broken.And perhaps, others are meant to be renewed.....

Now, one more bit....

Rachel had been so certain. And then a little something happened....

"There's nothing between you and I now."

"Are you calling that kiss nothing? Because it sure didn't seem like nothing from my point of view." Heath's tone was disbelieving and his deep blue eyes looked bruised.

"That was just a physical thing. We're just friends now. And you're Pansy's vet. That's all we are to each other." Rachel stepped cautiously around the runner this time and disappeared inside before Heath could comment further.

In her room ten minutes later, Rachel's heart rate still hadn't returned to normal. There could never be any further doubts about the sexual flames still burning brightly between her and Heath. Burning? That episode hadn't been a simple burning; it had been a raging four-alarm inferno. Oh yes, it had been.And oh boy, that could only be trouble.Now she's a lady with some serious doubts...

Interested? Here’s the link to download your very own copy of Three’s The Charm at The Wild Rose Press

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=932&zenid=0566b1f05c4f11dccea1211c18e3e6b1

Or just click here for a trade paperback copy

http://www.amazon.com/Threes-Charm-Ellen-Dye/dp/1601542909/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1239396925&sr=8-1

Thanks again for allowing me to drop by and share. And you all are most welcome to drop by and visit over at my corner of the web www.ellendye.com for fun and some seriously good down home recipes! Or drop me a line at ellen@ellendye.com I love hearing from friends.

Everyone have a great week! Ellen

Promo Monday with Keena Kincaid!

2009-03-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

About Art of Love

Abigail d'Alene has been sinfully in love with learning all her life. Now a widow, she has the means and freedom to indulge in her passion. Pretending to be Abelard, a fifteen-year-old boy from an outlying village, she heads to the Latin Quarter of Paris and the abbey schools that will one day change the world.

Shocked by her ineptitude at masquerading as a boy, Alain of Huntly Woods takes the young “Abelard” under his protection until she recovers her sense and goes home. But her audacity, intelligence and refusal to compromise spark enough friction between them to burn through his cold logic and carefully laid plans. In Paris as a spy for Henry II, Alain has sold his soul to the Angevin devil in exchange for the king's promise of an heiress, land and power.

As his good intentions bring him unexpected passion, he struggles to find a way to have it all. Then he discovers Abigail's uncle, confessor to King Louis VII of France, plots against the English king, and Alain must choose between protecting his king or the woman he loves beyond all reason.

ART OF LOVE is available in both print and e-book formats from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and other booksellers. ISBN: 1-60154-381-6. To read an excerpt, go to: http://www.keenakincaid.com/artoflove.php

Excerpt:
Abigail blinked against the cold, sickly morning that invaded the room. Frost coated the broken windowpane, and a draft eased its way inside, as unwanted as the dawn. The air that bit at her cheek smelled faintly of smoke. Pulling the blanket over her face, she burrowed into the solid warmth beside her. It shifted slightly, threw an arm around her waist and pulled her against hot skin and solid muscles.

Abigail jerked fully awake. Her stomach pitched as she remembered where she was, who she was with, and what they had done. Mon Dieu, what was I thinking? Lifting Alain’s hand from her waist, she edged away from his embrace and sat up. The frigid air rushed over her shoulders, shocking her skin. A sleepy groan sounded to her left, and the arm returned to her waist.

“Good morrow,” Alain said in a raw voice. He blinked at her with a warm, sleepy expression that invited her to repeat last night. “How did you sleep?”

“Well.”

Something in her voice erased the easy smile. Slightly more awake, he propped himself up on an elbow. The left side of his face was bruised, marred by the cut and traces of blue paste.

She looked at the wall behind the headboard, then at him. His intense silver gaze never left her face. “Abigail?”

“Nothing. Everything.” Her stomach knotted and twisted. She had a lover. She’d never had a lover before, and now she had one. She had no idea what that meant or why her thoughts kept tripping over hidden fears that this would end badly. Maybe not banished to a convent badly, but badly all the same. “We should not have done this,” she whispered, barely aware that she spoke as her mind tried to catch the supple fright that congealed her blood. “What were we thinking?”

“Thinking does not accompany passion if you do it right.” He sat up and raked a hand through his tangles. The blanket pooled around his hips. He was naked. As was she, she realized. His gaze felt like a beam of light on her bare body, exposing legs, breasts, and belly. She reached for the blanket, still soaked with his heat. “Really, Abigail, there is no need to blush like a virgin.” His eyes went from warm to icy. “Obviously, we have both done this before.”

About the author
Keena Kincaid is author of ANAM CARA and ART OF LOVE from The Wild Rose Press. Her only house rule is no talking before she’s had her first cup of coffee. You can learn more about the book and its author at http://www.keenakincaid.com, as well as MySpace, FaceBook and Twitter. You can find her books at The WildRose Press (http://www.thewildrosepress.com) Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Art-Love-Keena-Kincaid/dp/1601543816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237339570&sr=8-2 and http://www.amazon.com/Anam-Cara-Keena-Kincaid/dp/160154409X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237397467&sr=8-8) and other booksellers.

I’m the author of three books with The Wild Rose Press. ANAM CARA and ART OF LOVE. The third, TIES THAT BIND, will be out late this year.

Her only house rule is no talking before she’s had her first cup of coffee. You can learn more about the book and its author at http://www.keenakincaid.com, as well as MySpace, FaceBook and Twitter. You can find her books at The WildRose Press (http://www.thewildrosepress.com) Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Art-Love-Keena-Kincaid/dp/1601543816/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237339570&sr=8-2 and http://www.amazon.com/Anam-Cara-Keena-Kincaid/dp/160154409X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237397467&sr=8-8) and other booksellers.

Note from Keena:

I'm also giving away a copy of my latest release, ART OF LOVE, in a random drawing. To enter, email me at keena@keenakincaid.com with the subject line: ART OF LOVE CONTEST. I'll announce the winner March 31.

On Writing...

2009-03-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

Writing is an art, a craft that needs to honed, toned and yes, learned. Like any other skill it is best when you practise, after all practise makes perfect.

I find the process of writing intensely personal. I write from the comfort of my office chair, or the chair in my study. I create worlds and characters that don't exist apart from in my mind. It is a solitary process - just you and the voices in your head.

I don't share my work with anyone - I can't. Not at first. The story, the characters are mine and mine alone. Why would I want to share? I'm on an adventure with them and until that adventure ends, I can't share it with anyone lest it end abruptly. Does that make me insane? *smiles* Possibly. Probably.

Would I change the fact that I have this ability to create? Not for one single second. Not even when the ideas for characters and stories are driving me nuts.

I'm a writer...and I'm proud.

Promo Monday - Michelle M. Pillow

2009-03-23T01:36:00.000-07:00

Divinity Warriors by Michelle M. Pillow
Coming from Ellora's Cave, March 25, 2009

About Divinity Warriors:

In one of the many universes parallel to ours, Divinity Corporation has discovered the secret to moving between the planes. This has given them the power to do pretty much whatever they want without consequence or regulation. Whether it's to ship unwilling brides in trade for minerals rights, to control everything from entertainment circuits to governments to academia, or simply gain that which every greedy corporation wants--Power.

Welcome to the new world, Divinity's World.

About Lilith Enraptured:

Sorin of Firewall lives in a land forever at war. In fact, the Starian men are so busy fighting, their marriage ceremony has been reduced to a “will of the gods” event where they simply pick a woman out of a lineup and claim her as a wife. With women becoming scarce, it’s necessary to trade the offworld Divinity Corporation for brides. Duty-bound to attend the ceremony, he has no intention of picking a bride, let alone one from another dimension. That is, until he sees Lilith, the bewitching woman sent by the gods to reward—or punish?—him.

Lilith, a data analyst for Divinity, is betrayed by the Corporation and wakes up in a primitive, uncharted dimension filled with warriors who only know war and duty. But her initial fears of becoming a sex slave to a big beefy knight become all too real when a warrior of god-like proportions claims she’s his new woman. As Lilith discovers, there are worse fates than being the focus of Sorin’s skillful and earthy seduction.

Publisher - Ellora's CaveEbook Released - 3/25/2009
BUY LINK: http://www.jasminejade.com/m-139-michelle-pillow.aspx
LEARN MORE: http://www.michellepillow.com/divinity.htm

The Confessional...

2009-03-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

I confess.

I wish...I was Lara Croft.
Deep down, I have this strange yearning to be the ultimate tomb raider - Lara Croft. She calls to my sense of adventure, of kick ass femininity, of not answering to anyone and to the thrill of solving some of the worlds greatest mysteries. Go, Lara!

Plus she gets to play with some cool weapons all day!

"Lara is consistently depicted as a highly confident, independent, and headstrong person. She is also very brave, rarely showing any sign of fear in very dangerous or lethal situations."

Ahhhh, Lara Croft. Unfortunately the only thing I have in common with the lovely Lara is being a Brit by birth. I suppose at least one thing isn't bad!

So that is my confessional this week - I wish I were Lara Croft.

Now, dear readers, is there anything you wish to confess?

Thursday Thirteen - Historical Figures

2009-03-19T02:30:00.000-07:00

Following on from yesterday's post, I've created a list of 13 historical figures I would LOVE to sit down and chat with :)

1. Elizabeth 1

Something about her strength, her determination and her unwaiving loyalty to country makes me adore her. Yep, Lizzy is my heroine :)

2. Julius Caesar

3. Hannibal Barca (Hannibal the Conqueror)

4. Henry VIII

Henry the Eighth, I am, I am....Henry the Eighth I am!

5. Ramses II

6. Cleopatra

Was she really as beautiful as the texts make her out to be? Or was she just a bold and daring woman?

7. Anne Boleyn

8. Dante

Where on earth did he come up with his ideas for The Divine Comedy?

9. Leonardo da Vinci

10. Tutankhamun

11. Mary, Queen of Scots

12. Oliver Cromwell

13. John F. Kennedy

Which historical figures would you like to meet and why?

Historical Wednesday - Hannibal Barca

2009-03-18T01:58:00.000-07:00

As you can tell from the title, Wednesday's are going to be Historical Wednesday's on the blog. Why? Because at heart, I'm a big history geek. Nothing makes me happier than learning about the past, and a lot of the time historical figures will crop up in my stories.

Today is dedicated to Hannibal Barca - or Hannibal the Conqueror *cue freaky music* Yes, A Conqueror's Destiny IS the tile of my next release! Shocking, isn't it?! And *gasps* yes, Hannibal Barca is the hero of my book. So let me take you on a journey through the life of Hannibal and explain a bit more about why I chose him as my hero...

Hannibal Barca

Hannibal, son of Hamilcar Barca,[n 1]
commonly known as Hannibal (in Punic: Annobal[dubious – discuss], meaning
"Ba'al has given me grace";
248–183 or 182 BC)[n 2][4][5][6][7] was a Carthaginian
military commander and tactician who is popularly credited as one of the most
talented commanders in history. His father Hamilcar Barca was the leading
Carthaginian commander during the First Punic War, his
younger brothers were Mago and Hasdrubal, and he was
brother-in-law to Hasdrubal the Fair.
Hannibal lived during a period of tension in the Mediterranean, when Rome (then the Roman
Republic) established its supremacy over other great powers such as Carthage, and
the Hellenistic kingdoms of Macedon, Syracuse,
and the Seleucid empire. One of
his most famous achievements was at the outbreak of the Second Punic War, when
he marched an army, which included war elephants, from Iberia over the Pyrenees and the Alps into northern Italy. His first few
years in Italy, he won three dramatic victories Trebia, Trasimene and Cannae and won over
several Roman allies. However, after 17 years, a Roman counter-invasion of North
Africa forced him to return to Carthage, where he was decisively defeated by Scipio Africanus at the Battle of Zama. Scipio
studied Hannibal's tactics and brilliantly devised some of his own, and finally
defeated Rome's nemesis at Zama after previously driving Hasdrubal, Hannibal's
brother, out of Spain.
After the war Hannibal successfully ran for the office
of suffete. He
enacted political and financial reforms to enable the payment of the war
indemnity imposed by Rome. However, Hannibal's reforms were unpopular with
members of the Carthaginian aristocracy and Rome, and he fled into voluntary
exile. During his exile, he lived at the Seleucid court, where he
acted as military advisor to Antiochus III in his war
against Rome. After Antiochus met defeat and was forced to accept Rome's terms,
Hannibal fled again, making a stop in Armenia. His flight ended in the
court of Bithynia, where he achieved an
outstanding naval victory against a fleet from Pergamum. He was afterwards
betrayed to the Romans.
Hannibal would later be considered as one of the
greatest generals of antiquity, together with Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Scipio, and Pyrrhus of Epirus. Plutarch gives
that, when questioned by Scipio as to who was the greatest general, Hannibal is
said to have replied either Alexander, Pyrrhus, then himself,[8] or, according
to another version of the event, Pyrrhus, Scipio, then himself.[9] Military
historian Theodore Ayrault
Dodge once famously called Hannibal the "father of strategy",[10] because
his greatest enemy, Rome, came to adopt elements of his military tactics in its
own strategic arsenal. This praise has earned him a strong reputation in the
modern world and he was regarded as a "gifted strategist" by men like Napoleon Bonaparte
and the Duke
of Wellington. His life has been the basis for a number of films and
documentaries.
He has been attributed with the famous quotation, "We will
either find a way, or make one."[11]

Taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannibal (Got to love Wikipedia!!)
Hannibal should be the kind of hero I dislike - after all, he stood up to the mighty Roman Empire and any one who knows me will tell you I have a fetish for all things Roman. Yet, Hannibal fascinates me.
Vengeance, loyalty, a deep sense of familial values, a fierce warrior and clever tactician...maybe even some megalomania towards the end...as a historian I find it fascinating.
As a writer, I've taken some artistic licence (don't we always?!) and delved deeper into his personality. Take away the warrior and what do you have left? Take away the hero, the god like status and you have a man, a man with desires for a family, a home, for peace. Yet circumstances were always against giving him his dream.
In A Conqueror's Destiny, Hannibal gets his dream...but not in quite the way you might think *grins*
I has such fun writing A Conqueror's Destiny. At times it literally broke my heart, but it was an amazing experience to be transported back to Ancient Carthage, to have the spirit of Hannibal guiding me to tell another story.
Of course, the Hannibal in my head looks more like this:

Vin Diesel on the left sporting a lovely breastplate *swoons*
Here endeth the Historical Wednesday post.

Taboo- 4 Cherries Review from Whipped Cream!

2009-03-14T02:17:00.001-07:00

Tiger Lily over at Whipped Cream Reviews has just labeled Taboo 4 cherries! This is my first review for Taboo. Many thanks to Tiger Lily for taking the time to review :)

Here is the review:

http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/

Have you ever wanted to try something, but didn’t have the nerve to do it? Have you ever needed to be close to someone only to succumb to the fear that the other person will push you away? Maybe it’s time to face the Taboo.

Enter the world of Cameron in Decadence. She’s got the man of her dreams in her arms and loving best friends in her life, but she seeks something a bit more. In Darkness, Mia has an ordered safe life, but she yearns for the topsy-turvy life of habitual thief Dylan.The reader can totally relate to the desires coursing through Cameron’s veins. She wants to try group sex, but not just with anyone.

I enjoyed the steaminess of both stories, but found the illegality of Darkness a bit too risqué. I applaud Ms. Sanderson for allowing her imagination and storytelling to flow to places where others don’t always venture. The boldness makes the story interesting and captivating.If you enjoy ménage stories with a twist of adventure, then the novella Taboo is for you. I give this work 4 cherries.

My own romance novel...

2009-02-13T02:06:00.000-08:00

She didn't know which was more dangerous....
....the case that had
brought fiery Scarlett to New York City, or the six-foot-three adventurer,
who was far too sexy for anyone's good. Everything about Quinn screamed Warning!
Danger! So why was Scarlett—an award-winning writer—letting her guard down with
the handsome heartbreaker?
Quinn didn't think he'd ever know the truth about
his father's death—until the hopelessly romantic showed up. Scarlett was
willing to risk her life to uncover the truth.
Quinn had to show her he, too,
could take some risks. Because he'd found the one woman who could touch his
heart...and he wasn't about to let her go....

*laughs* Now why can't I write that?!
What is your romance novel?
http://www.harlequincelebrates.com/mystory.php

Interview at The Book Nook

2009-01-24T09:05:00.000-08:00

The wonderful ladies of The Book Nook have taken the time out to interview me. You can read the interview at their website:

http://z13.invisionfree.com/The_Book_Nook/index.php

I'll post the interview here, but if you would like to ask more questions, please drop by The Book Nook!

What made you want to be a writer?

I know writers get asked that question a lot – what made you want to be a writer? *laughs* Honestly, I don’t actually know the answer to that one! As a child books were the one constant in my life. I remember I loved watching movies, but there was a time when my parents had to sell the tv and vcr. Books were always there to escape into. The worlds were richer, the characters more developed. I’ve always had a vivid imagination, but if there is one defining moment it was reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. When I finished reading that, I wanted to create a world. I may have gotten off track over the years, but I always wanted to write. I always wanted to create worlds for people to escape into.

Was there a moment when you knew this is what you've always wanted to do with your life?

I guess I answered some of that in question one didn’t I? Recently, over the last few years I had the ‘epiphany’. I’m not saying this is true for all writes, but for me it was. I’d just finished editing The Invitation, I was writing Devil’s Dance. Professionally, I was working in a bookstore, selling other people’s books. Books make me happy, I cannot deny that *smiles* but I wanted it to be my book on those shelves. I realized I was happiest when I was creating, didn’t matter what I was writing as long as I was writing. That’s when I knew writing was something I had to do with my life. It’s when I got ‘serious’ about things.

How do you describe your writing process?

My writing process isn’t a pure science. I never follow a set formula. Usually a story starts out in my head as a scene. For example, Devil’s Dance grew out of the opening scene with Tessa being pinned to the wall by Luc. I didn’t know anything more about them at that point – just the fact she was looking to explore her submissive side and the initial intense heat/attraction between them. From a scene, the story grows, the characters reveal more about themselves, but usually this part of the process is conducted in my head. I’ll jot a few things down on paper and then I’ll start to write. Each week I try to take one afternoon to sit down and write. I’ll sit at my computer, pull up the word document, read through the last few paragraphs I wrote in the last session and just start typing. Like I said, for me I don’t have a winning formula, I’m too lazy for that!

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Ohh, I’m a pantser. I have a very rough idea of where I want the plot to go, the final outcome and maybe one sentence of what happens in each chapter, but I like to just write where the stories and characters take me. In the past this means the story has ended up in a completely different direction to where I originally envisaged it.

Who were your personal influences?

The biggest personal influence on my writing has to be my best friend. We met through a message board in 2003 and we’ve been friends ever since. She is my biggest supporter, my inspiration, my critic. She never fails to push me further into a story than I ever thought I could delve. She’s the one person I can lean on, can call up and say “hey, I’m stuck. My character won’t do this and this, and I need them to do it”. I can discuss anything with her, no matter how dark and she doesn’t think I’m crazy. *laughs* That is always a plus. Plus she is an amazing writer in her own right.

Which authors/books are on your keeper shelves?

You had to ask about books, didn’t you?! Seriously, there are so many! But the ones that stand out are J. R Ward’s Brotherhood series, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter books, Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series and anything, and everything, by John Connolly. I have a huge literary crush on Mr Connolly. His work is intense, passionate, gritty and complex – I love him. On a side note, Tessa Connolly from Devil’s Dance, her surname was homage to him.

Do you feel you are more creative in the morning or the evening?

Definitely the morning. That is when most of the ideas come into being. However, I do most of my writing in the afternoons. Evenings are not a good writing time for me, once it starts to get dark my creativity stops flowing. I’d never make a good vampire!

Have you ever wanted to go back and change something after it has already been published?

Ahh, a difficult question. No, not really. I’ve never wanted to go back and change the storyline or the characters, or even the outcome. Once the story is published it’s complete. The characters have been through what they need to experience and are at the point where they need to be. The only things I would change are structural.

Can you see yourself living in your world?

Yes. I’m working on an urban fantasy crime novel at the moment. It’s set in the future and I would love to live in that world! It’s Bladerunner meets Firefly. And although it can be a brutal world, I would love to live in it.

We know all characters are special to a writer, but there's usually one that stands out more than most. Which character of yours holds a special place in your heart?

Lanie Reilly. You haven’t met her yet, but you will. Lanie is the character that burns bright in my heart and the more I get to know her, the more I admire her, the more I love her. She is the darkest character I’ve written – she’s bold, ballsy, violent, morally ambiguous, tenacious, and not afraid to kick ass. But she also has this inherent vulnerability. Stripping away the layers makes her the darkest, most complex, character I’ve written but she will always hold a special place in my heart.

If you could is there a character from another author's series that you would steal in a heartbeat?

Vishous from J.R Ward’s Brotherhood series. *smiles* Purely because he is one of my favourite characters and I honestly wish I’d have created him. He’s sex on a page…not to mention the fact I just want to lock him in my closet! On a more serious note – Anita Blake. If I could steal her, I would.

What kind of paranormal creature would you be?

Vampire. Party all night, sleep all day. Plus they are just very, very cool.

What can we expect from Scarlett Sanderson in the future?

I have an erotic short story coming out here in the UK on February 16th. It’s called Dear Sir and can be found in the Cliterature section of the March edition of Scarlet Magazine. After that, in April, my time travel novella, A Conqueror’s Destiny is released with The Wild Rose Press – I’m pretty excited about that one! There are a few short erotica’s I’m working on. In October I’ll be attending the Leeds Erotica Festival. After that…who knows? Hopefully you’ll be seeing Lanie Reilly in a bookstore near you by the end of the year, I can’t wait for everyone to met her.

Line of the Day

2009-01-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

From my work in progress, Shadows...

“Open your eyes, Lanie. I want to see your eyes when I make you come.”

*shivers* Oh my, Galen is just...very alpha. I almost envy Lanie.

Taboo - Available for purchase from Phaze Publishing!

2009-01-04T02:22:00.001-08:00

Once again, it's release day!!! I'm so excited to have Taboo published with Phaze. If you are looking for a quickie to steam up your cold winter's day, you cannot go wrong with Taboo.

Taboo – two tales of dark, forbidden pleasure…

Decadence - Group sex is a forbidden fruit, a social taboo. Cameron knows her lover, Vince, has experimented in the past, and she is increasingly turned on by thoughts of sex with more than one person. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Cameron forms a plan with her best friend – one night of unbridled, no holds barred, sexual experimentation. One night that will bring two couples closer than they’ve ever been.

Darkness - Mia is a criminal psychologist who has fallen in love with professional thief, Dylan Benjamin. They share a violent childhood, and Mia finds in Dylan understanding and acceptance, as well as a craving for rough sex. After helping him escape from prison, Dylan comes to claim what is his and Mia finally succumbs to her hidden desire for forbidden lust.

http://www.king-cart.com/Phaze/product=Taboo/exact_match=exact

Merry Christmas to all!!!

2008-12-24T08:35:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!!!!

Scarlett x

"Dear Sir" Contracted with Scarlet Magazine (UK)

2008-12-24T08:28:00.000-08:00

I am extremely happy to announce my short story, Dear Sir, has been picked up by an amazing UK women's magazine Scarlet.

Although the story is only 1,500 words in length, Scarlet deemed it just the right sort of fiction they are looking for. To say I'm overjoyed is an understatement!

My story will be in the MARCH 09 edition. On sale February 19th!!! Please don't miss it!!!! :)

Release Date for A Conqueror's Destiny

2008-12-08T08:09:00.001-08:00

April 22nd 2009!!!!!!!!!

Hannibal Barca has waged a war against the Romans for countless years. Vengeance is his only path in life. As a fierce warrior, revered leader and feared general, Hannibal longs for a peaceful life; a family, a home and a loving wife. But fate has other plans for the man history has labeled 'the barbarian'. Cassandra is a mystic from the mythical realm of Parrius. Her homeland is the only barrier standing against the armies of Astra and the mortal plane. A peace loving race, if Parrius is to survive, Cassandra must journey through time and space to find a general worthy enough of leading her army. In a race against time Cassandra must convince Hannibal to return with her. What she couldn't foresee was the love she feels for Hannibal the Conqueror. On this epic journey where the fate of the world rests in the hands of one man, Cassandra is forced to make a choice between love and destiny. There can only be one winner...

The Leeds Erotica Festival Lowdown

2008-11-14T00:34:00.000-08:00

Greetings all,

I do realize it’s been almost two weeks since I arrived back from the festival and there has been nothing but silence on my part. Shame on me, I know. In summary the festival was a foray into the wickedly sensual world of burlesque, erotica and hedonism. As you can probably tell from that last sentence I had a great time. Sit back and relax while I take you on a journey through the Leeds Erotica Festival…

The Burlesque Strip

Although the festival started on Thursday Oct 30th, the first event I attended was The Burlesque Strip. Taking place over four venues, Saturday night in Leeds was transformed into a glamorous night of burlesque shows and cabaret acts (and I don’t mean the tacky kind!). Stumbling (see the part about my killer heels further down) from a taxi into The Lounge Secret Garden, I was transported back to the 1940s – an era of glitz, glamour and tea ladies. Yes, you read that right – tea ladies. But these were unlike any tea ladies I’d ever laid my eyes. These were buxom beauties that were guaranteed to whet your appetite for a succulent piece of… cake.

After grabbing a drink, I chatted to a few people. Thank to the lovely gentleman who gave up his seat and the woman who offered to stash her cigarette lighter down my cleavage – believe me, it was the best offer I’d had in a while *laughs*

Despite the sensory overload, I’d missed most of the early shows and decided to stumble over to Subculture (an alternative club located in a darkened basement). And again, I do mean stumble. When one is attending a burlesque evening, heels are a must. Now, I don’t wear heels that often and certainly not heels that are between 4-5 inches high, so ‘stumbling’ is the word to use. A two minute walk took more like ten. I’m sure all the revellers I passed thought I was extremely drunk. Needless to say by the end of the night I ended up in nothing but stocking feet…and I wasn’t the only one!

The atmosphere at Subculture was more to my taste – dark, seductive, a hint of humour and a bevy of burlesque beauties performing a variety of routines. Performed by The Slippery belle burlesque troop http://www.myspace.com/theslipperybelleburlesque, if you ever get a chance to catch shows by these artists, please do!

The Erotica Literature Day

Come the following morning, it was time to slip into my ‘Scarlett’ persona and perform my own ‘act’. Arriving at Sela bar early, I had a mad panic that I’d got the wrong place; that the day was cancelled, that no one was going to turn up (whoever said being an author was full of glitz and glamour lied!). Fortunately that wasn’t the case!

Meeting up with Amy Minns (the organizer) and fellow authors Victoria Blisse and Becky Cheriman was a wonderful experience. We all have such different styles of writing, but it was fascinating getting to know them. In no time at all we were chatting away like old friends. I was still terrified (this was, after all, my first public appearance), but somehow being among people who understood the fear was a huge help. Shortly after, Miranda Forbes – editor and owner of Xcite Books- joined us. Miranda is one the most interesting women I have ever met. She’s sharp, funny and delightfully witty- not to mention gorgeous! (Miranda, you really didn’t need the fetish model ;))

When it came to show time, we all gathered around a small table with our excerpts and notes. Fortunately my readings went well (one of the things I was most terrified about, I hate public reading!). I’ve had some encouraging emails from people who really enjoyed the excerpts – so thank you to everyone who sent emails recently.  I can recommend both Victoria and Becky’s work for any erotica lover – they are extremely talented authors. Unfortunately, Miranda had to leave early but she left some amazing pieces of advice for the people who were attending the workshop, and also for us.

After a few more breaks, it was time for a Q&A session. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this part of the literature day. It was nice to share my knowledge and my own experience of being an author and the road to publishing. Finally, it was time for us authors to relax and listen to the Leeds erotica resident poet, Alison Brumfitt. Her poetry is astounding – humorous, thoughtful and emotive.

And then it was all over. I just wanted to add a huge thanks to both Arthur and Charlene who attended the workshop and came over to the authors at the end of the day – it was wonderful to meet you both and I do wish you every success!

Here are some photos of the day (big thanks to Victoria Blisse who sent these over!)

I’m the one in the middle.

Pictures of the people who attended:

As you can see, I had a blast. It was so exciting to see erotica getting good press – it’s not all about sleeze. :) it’s about sensuality, embracing your sexuality and not being ashamed of who you are.

One last thing, I would like to say a huge thank you K who put up with my constant phonecalls and texts when I was wondering the streets of Leeds lost, when I had a blinding panic that I wouldn’t be able to do the reading and for generally just being supportive. Thank you, K.

My First Appearance - November 2nd: Leeds Erotica Festival!

2008-10-19T00:46:00.001-07:00

Leeds Erotic Literature Day - November 2nd, 2pm till 6pm, Sela bar, Leeds.

Come join myself and other authors such as Victoria Blisse, Miranda Forbes, Becky Cherriman, and Alison Brumfitt for four hours of readings, chat and general erotica discussion!

It's going to be an intimate gathering over some wine - tickets are £3 and can be purchased here:

http://www.leedserotica.org.uk/leeds/events_litday.asp

We'll have goodies and promotional items to give away.

I'd love it if some of you could come to the event. If you would like further details, please don't hesitate to drop me a line.

New About a Potential Appearance!

2008-10-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

That's right, you read it correctly - there is a possibility I will be coming out from behind my computer screen and taking part in a reading here in the UK.

I may be appearing as a reader at the Leeds Erotica Festival on Sunday November 2nd.

Keep your eyes peeled for further details as I get them :)

Nominated for Book of the Week

2008-10-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

It is the greatest honor to have been nominated for Best Book of the week by Long and Short Whipped Cream reviews! I was so surprised to get an email considering Devil's Dance has been out for months!

If you would like to drop by and vote for me the link is as follows:

http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/recentrev.htm

Good luck to everyone nominated!

Excerpt from A Conqueror's Destiny

2008-09-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

The edits for A Conqueror's Destiny are complete and it should be on its way to galley any day now...I'm so excited. I want to say a huge thank you to Fran (a Wild Rose editor), who has been a wonderful source of encouragement, not to mention she tightened my script to epic proportions! In honor of the galley here is a quick excerpt:

Half dragging her into Hannibal’s tent, the guards manhandled her, pushing her down onto a wooden stool. Directly in front of her, the General towered over her demonstrating his authority.
A wistful smile played on her lips. This was the kind of man Parrius needed. Commanding. Powerful. Beautiful. And, he was magnificent. Like one of the glorious wild stallions roaming free in the wilds of Parrius. Like him, they were untamed. She saw the same look in Hannibal’s eyes as she did in those stallions. A look of challenge. Defiance.

She drew her attention away from him, turned, and surveyed the room. The heady scent of passion lingered in the air. Her gaze drifted to his rumpled bed, and she wondered what had become of the women. Looking back at Hannibal, it was her turn to raise an eyebrow in question.

“What happened to the two females you lay with earlier?”

Cassandra knew, as a warrior, Hannibal could control his expressions, and would give nothing away on his face. There was no indication her words had affected him except for a slight twitch in his jaw.

A laconic smile replaced the twitch as he perused her body. “Did you enjoy being a voyeur? If you had made your presence known, you may have joined us. I would have enjoyed discovering if your hair is naturally red.”

She blushed in spite of herself. Images of her body wrapped around Hannibal’s assaulted her senses. She refused to look away from him, no matter how much his gaze burnt into her. “I can assure you, General, everything about me is real.”

“Care to put that to test?”

The guards muffled a lewd laugh and Cassandra straightened her spine. She had not come here to be the brunt end of some crude, manly joke. In her world, she was a woman who commanded respect.

Yes, but you want him to take you. You want him to strip off your gown and find out what lies beneath. With him, you want to be a woman.

She could not deny the her internal desires or the random thoughts roaming through her mind. For some illogical reason, with him, she did want to be treated merely as a woman. For many years, she had been strong for Parrius. She fought for the city, fought to retain peace with the other kingdoms. She was tired of the constant battle. Now, faced with a man who shared the same burden, she wanted to put aside her duties and feel for once. In Parrius’ greatest time of danger, all she could think of was Hannibal’s smooth caramel colored skin and the way he had taken the females with such dominance.

“Why are you here, wench?” His gruff voice broke into her silent revere. Gone was his playful tone, in its place was the warrior, the commander.

Cassandra sighed. Her plight would not be as easy as she once assumed. His attitude, his stance, the look in his eye told her Hannibal suspected her of being a spy. Although she did not fear death, if Hannibal removed her head from her body in execution style, even she could not survive that. In addition, Parrius needed her. “I come seeking you, General Barca.”

He folded his arms over his broad chest. The movement raised the cloth of his tunic slightly, exposing the crisp hairs dusting the thick muscles of his thighs. “What do you want of me?” he asked.

“A mere moment of your time, General.”

Doubts began to set in. Had she arrived at the wrong moment? How could she convince a steadfast General the fate of mortal Earth, both present and future, rested solely on his ability to believe in the fantastic?

“Are you their latest weapon?”

Cassandra smiled. “I have been called many things, but never a weapon.”

Hannibal threw back his head and laughed. “Ahhh, very good. They taught you well. Make me believe you are but a weak and feeble woman. Play on my mercy as a just man and what…? Bury a knife in my heart while I sleep?” He stepped closer, crouched down onto his heels so he was finally eye level with her. “Do your leaders think me so foolish? “

The fire and contempt burnt passionately in his dark eyes.

“If I had wanted you dead, General, I could have completed the job easily and quickly while you were…” her eyes moved fleetingly to the bed…“occupied earlier.”

How to kill your victim

2008-09-21T02:09:00.000-07:00

Join me over at Once Upon A Crime.net today. I'm blogging about my top five ways to kill a victim...

Sometimes being a writer is wonderful - I get to think about inventive ways to kill people without being arrested.

Enchanted Reviews gives Devil's Dance 5/5 enchantments!

2008-08-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

Luc Campbell is a stunningly handsome Texan and the hunky male dominant who owns the ritzy BDSM club Inferno.

Dr. Tessa Connolly is a sex therapist who works with patients on a daily basis, trying to help them figure out their problems and their sex lives. But she is so busy she has no sex life of her own, and she has also begun to suspect she is a submissive.

This is a story about an overworked doctor who is searching for her sexuality and finds it as a submissive with dominant Luc Campbell.

This was a fun story, literally steamy graphic sex from cover to cover. There are romantic scenes throughout as Luc and Tessa discover each other, and as Luc teaches Tessa the proper role as a submissive. Luc cherishes Tessa - these pictures are lovingly painted throughout the story, and through the rules of the BDSM lifestyle Luc and Tessa find perfection in one another and their relationship. This is a different type of story than I usually read but I loved every bit of it. Ms. Sanderson creatively and graphically paints a lifestyle that is sexy and erotic.

Desiree de Cleves
Enchanting Reviews

Want to know what MY secret desire is?

2008-08-29T08:14:00.001-07:00

Want know what my secret desire?

Then hop over to the The Wilder Roses blogspot and find out! I'm blogging over there today, so stop by and find out my secret desire...

31 Sultry Nights Update - Blogging Tomorrow!

2008-08-27T23:44:00.000-07:00

31 Sultry Scarlet Nights!

It's still Hot in the Wilder side of the Garden,

so don't miss your chance to Win a

$75.00 online gift certificate from

Frederick's of Hollywood

If you love Erotic Romance,

join the Scarlet Rose authors for the remaining days of August

as we continue give away more scorching hot downloads

from Scarlet Rose - the erotic romance line of

The Wild Rose Press.

Each day two downloads from the Wilder Roses catalog will be given away. Check the calendar in the Wilder Roses yahoo loop to see which title will be given away on a select day.

For your first chance to win, stop by the Wilder Roses blog and post a comment on the day's topic.

For a second chance to win, stop by The Wilder Roses Yahoo loop.

Each night two winners will be drawn, one from those who commented on the blog and another from those who posted on the loop during that day.

Everyone who participated throughout the month will be entered automatically in a drawing for the Grand Prize, a $75.00 online gift certificate from Frederick's of Hollywood courtesy of:

The Wild Rose Press, Wendi Darlin, Lara Dien, Samantha Gentry, Devon Gray, Helen Hardt, Janna Lee Hayes, Liza James, Jane E. Jones, Darah Lace, Mary Martinez, Anita Philmar, Allie Standifer, & KyAnn Waters

It's easy to enter for the daily giveaways and the grand prize. Your participation will automatically enter you.

~*~Staff of The Wild Rose Press is not eligible to win~*~

I will be blogging over on the The Wilder Rose Press blog tomorrow, and offering you a chance to win a $10 gift certificate, so please drop by! But until then check out some of the other blog entries by the talented erotica authors at TWRP. You won't be disappointed!

When an author becomes emotional...

2008-08-27T07:21:00.000-07:00

Ahhh, I know what you thought when you saw the title of this blog post - Scarlett's going to be whining about herself again *winks* Actually, I'm not, which makes a huge change. The title of the blog post was merely to convey the tone of the post - how an author feels when writing.

Depending on the tone of the work in progress I'm writing, it affects my mood. If I'm writing something light, erotic and playful, my mood tends to be very playful and lighthearted. If I'm writing something intense and dark, my mood seems to match the work in progress. My sincere kudos to an author who isn't affected by the characters they write.

Usually, I don't mind-I love the ups and downs, the emotional uphevals my characters go through- but my latest work in progress, Shadows, is very heavy on my emotions. It's dark, it's intense. It crawls through the minds of criminals and convicted killers. It's ambigious and at times down right scary.

The 'hero' is a convicted killer, an assasin for hire who has an unhealthy fascination with my leading heroine, a cop with a determination to see criminals brought to justice - whatever the cost. The setting is a future darker than we could imagine, seedier.

At times it wears on my emotions. All the intensity and darkness...

Will I give Lanie and Galen up? Never. After all it allows me to indulge my own dark side...*smiles*

My question to you all, is does the emotion make your writing better? For me personally, I feel that level of emotion makes me a better writer. Answers on a postcard please...

Taboo cover art

2008-08-21T09:41:00.000-07:00

The very lovely and talented Stella Price sent over my cover art for Taboo earlier today. Here is the finished product:

I'm completely in love with it :) And it's exactly the tone and mood I wanted for the book.

Once Upon a Crime.net goes live!

2008-08-20T01:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.onceuponacrime.net/

Once Upon a Crime.net is a joint collaborative venture of published and aspiring action-adventure, crime, mystery and romantic suspense authors. Authors include:

AJ Chase
Cynthia Justlin
Jennifer Bianco
Jennifer McKenzie
Kristal Singletary
Lisa St. James
Scarlett Sanderson
Susan Lynn Moline
Valerie Bower

We opened our doors...or should that be secret crime files... yesterday and I do hope y'all drop by!

New Cover for A Conqueror's Destiny

2008-08-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

This book has been a long time in the making, but I'm pleased to say A Conqueror's Destiny should be published with The Wild Rose Press in the next few months. As soon as I have a release date/schedule, I'll make a post here.

In the mean time, please feast your eyes on this beautiful piece of artwork:

The story is a historical, time travel novella and the central character is Hannibal Barca. He's always held a fascination for me - the warrior who defied an empire, and the Roman empire at that! Look out for more historical facts on Hannibal in the coming weeks. But for now I'll leave with a blurb:

Hannibal Barca has waged war against the Romans for countless years. Vengeance is his only path in life. A fierce warrior, revered leader and feared general, Hannibal longs for a peaceful life; a family, a home and a loving wife. But fate has other plans for the man history has labelled 'the barbarian'.

Cassandra is a mystic from the mythical realm of Parrius. Her homeland is the only barrier standing against the armies of Astra and the mortal plane. A peace loving race, if Parrius is to survive, Cassandra must journey through time and space to find a general worthy of leading her army. In a race against time Cassandra must convince Hannibal to return with her. What she couldn't foresee is the love she feels for Hannibal the Conqueror.

On this epic journey where the fate of the world rests in the hands of one man, Cassandra is forced to make a choice between love and destiny. There can only be one winner...

What I'm...

2008-08-13T00:16:00.000-07:00

Reading:

Yes, that's right! After four years...four years I hear you cry! Yup...it's FINALLY here! I was so excited when it dropped, and I do mean dropped (it's huge), through my door on Monday. For the past two days I've locked myself away and sat sobbing into a pile of tissues and I'm barely half way through. Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series has reaffirmed it's place in my heart. After four years I finally understand...

Watching:

Hitman. I know it go panned by the critics, but I loved it. It had everything I try to put into some of my sci-fi stories - guns, explosions, assasins, tortured heroes, did I mention pretty, shiny guns? *points at the poster* do you see the guns? Purrdy.

Listening to:

One of my fave (if not the fave) bands. I was excited to learn they released a new album this year and it doesn't disappoint. I also found out they are coming to my hometown in October *squeals* But no one I know in the UK likes them...*grumbles* Maybe I should go by myself...*panics*

Four Lips Review for Devil's Dance!

2008-08-11T00:57:00.001-07:00

Rating: 4/5 Lips

Spending weeks wondering whether she is a sexual submissive, Dr. Tessa Connolly decides to take the plunge and go to a BDSM club. While at Inferno, Tessa runs into a Dom who won’t leave her alone, despite her refusals. When Luc Campbell notices her plight he swoops in to save her from this man’s advances. But Luc immediately becomes attracted to her which leads him to investigate her background and learning that she’s a sexual therapist. Booking an appointment with Tessa, Luc arrives in her office with a unique proposition. Will Tessa take Luc up on his offer to be her Dom for a month’s duration?

Fans of the D/s genre will enjoy Devil’s Dance by Scarlett Sanderson. Tessa is a wonderfully uninhibited woman wanting to explore dominance and submission in the bedroom. She longs to know if she will experience ultimate sexual satisfaction by submitting to a partner. When Luc proposes a month-long D/s relationship, Tessa jumps at the chance to explore her desires with someone she’s sexually attracted to. As Tessa and Luc get involved in some steamy play, it allows Tessa to come to terms with her submissive nature. I liked that Luc was a patient Dom, helping her realize her limitations.

My only problem with Devil’s Dance was that I felt the story was too short which leads to an abrupt ending. Although I was satisfied with the resolution of Tessa and Luc’s relationship, I wonder if Ms. Sanderson is planning on a sequel featuring another couple, Lydia and Ben, who I found very intriguing as secondary characters.

A huge thank you to Victoria for the review!

Man Candy of the Week - Christian Bale

2008-08-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

A thoughtful, intelligent actor who looks yummy in the batsuit...'nough said *grins*

31 Sultry Nights at The Wilder Rose Press

2008-08-05T23:41:00.000-07:00

It's Hot in August in the Garden.
If you love Erotic Romance, join the authors of the Wilder Roses for
31 Sultry Scarlet Nights!
31 days of scorching hot downloads from Scarlet Rose - the erotic romance line of The Wild Rose Press.
Each day stop by the Wilder Roses blog and post a comment on the day's topic. A winner will be drawn each night to receive a digital title from the Scarlet Rose catalog. http://www.wilderroses.blogspot.com/
For a second chance to win, stop by The Wilder Roses Yahoo loop. Each night a winner will be drawn from those who posted during the day. www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses
There will also be a grand prize at the end of the month. For everyone who participated throughout the month, you will be entered into a drawing for a Frederick's of Hollywood Gift Certificate! It's easy to enter for the daily give-a-ways and the grand prize. Your participation will automatically enter you.
http://www.thewilderroses.com/
More information will be available August 1 on the website.

There are some great authors taking part and some wonderful prizes, so please drop by for your chance to win :) I'll be blogging over on the Wilder Rose Press blogspot on August 29th, hope to see some of you there!

You can take the girl out the geek, but you can't take the geek out of the girl...

2008-08-01T07:15:00.001-07:00

And in my case there has never been a more correct phrase!

Taking part in the Romance Divas Not Going to the Conference Conference, I was delighted to read a workshop with Paula Guran, acquiring editor for Juno Books. Juno is a publishing house I was looking at for my urban fantasy crime thriller, Shadows. In true 'me' fashion, I missed the workshop in real time, but read through her pointers at a later date.

In true geeky fashion, I sat reading and marking down pointers. I have two published books and two publications awaiting release, but like any craftsman I'm always finding new ways to hone my skill.

I never want to stop learning new things. Period.

Now this brings me to the geeky part of this blog entry. Scribbling down pointers made me laugh at myself because I literally got so excited...it made me think about what else I get 'geeky' over. So here is a list of 'Thursday Thirteen' (on a Friday, I know, I'm a day late!) things I get geeky over...

1) Books

A very, very obvious one, but it has to be top of my list. If you've ever seen me in a bookstore, you'll understand. I'm like a kid in a sweet store. I love the way books smell, I love the way they feel and nothing makes me happier than being surrounded by paperbound books.

2) History

Any historical periods, except Victorian. Talk to me about history- ancient, medieval, modern and this sappy grin comes over my face. I'm in pure heaven. While other females I know prefer to talk shoes and purses, I would rather be discussing broadswords or battleships. I'm not even going to go into the fuzzy feelings I get inside a museum or an exhibition *ahem*

3) Coffee

Specifically Starbucks Cafe Latte. Yup, I'm addicted. I cannot walk passed a Starbucks without being drawn inside...

4) Lord of the Rings

The books are so rich and vibrant, but the movies, oh my, the movies just touch me in so many ways.

5) Books

Did I mention books?

6) Stationary

Pens, pencils, notepads. I love them.

7) Tortured heros/ The Bad Boy

Batman, Richard B. Riddick, Dean Winchester, Zarek from the Sherrilyn Kenyon Dark Hunter books, Vishous from the J. R ward series...if the character is a bad boy or a tortured soul, I'll get geeky over them. I'm a sucker for a bad boy.

8) The Tudors/ Rome

Not in the historical sense (although they are two of my favourite historical periods!), but the tv shows. Rome blew me away the first time I saw it, and The Tudors...well...I scoffed at Jonathan Rhys Meyers - a dark haired skinny boy- playing Henry Tudor, but I'll be damned if I'm not hooked on the sex and scandal. The new season of The Tudors is about to start tonight, so Friday's 9pm are booked for the next 10 weeks.

9) Terrorism

Now before I have tons of messages about this one, please just hear me out. It's a highly emotive subject, but terrorism is one of my key areas of research. It fascinates me on levels people cannot begin to understand. Hopefully my research will help build a safer, better world...

10) Books

You know, those things with pages and words...

11) New York

My favourite city in the world. Vibrant, full of life and culture, full of charm and character. I cannot wait to go back one day. Someone only has to mention New York and I get my geeky silly grin.

12) Supernatural

The tv show...yep, another tv show (I really do need to get a life!). This has to be one of my favourites on screen. Love the characters, love the plots. Okay, okay, yes, I'll admit I wouldn't kick Dean Winchester out of my bed for eating crackers. In fact, I might just offer to lick them off his chest...

13) Books!

Not Going to the RWA Conference?

2008-07-27T23:52:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, this year I'm not going to be attending one of the biggest conferences for Romance writers in the US. However, my calendar is marked for Washington D.C. next year! But who says staying home means you miss out on all the fun?

The Romance Divas annual Not Going to Conference Conference will make you feel a bit less deprived!

Amazing workshops, a star-studded guest list and awesome giveaways, all on the Diva forum! Don't miss it!Here's a bit of a schedule update for the Q&As and Workshops...

Wednesday, July 30

Paula Guran, Editor, Juno BooksQ&A on Creating Kick a** HeroinesLaurie Rauch, Editor, Samhain PublishingWorkshop on What Happens After the Contract (aka Editors are People Too!)*

Thursday July 31

Joyce Hart, Hartline LiteraryQ&A on Inspirational Romance Stories and the Inspy MarketSandra Schwab, Historical Romance AuthorWorkshop on Historical Accuracy and Anachronisms

Friday, August 1

Yolanda Sfetsos, Author of Guarded by StoneQ&A on Paranormal and Urban Fantasy World BuildingKatie MacIver, KatieDidDesignWorkshop on Website Design and Color Selection

Saturday, August 2

Joey W. Hill, Erotica AuthorWorkshop on Plotting Erotica and Erotic RomanceRhonda Stapleton, Editor and AuthorWorkshop on Style and Voice

Excited yet?

How about if I list some door prizes?

What Gwen said" mug donated by Gwen Hayes
3-chapter critique of a YA by Simon Pulse author Rhonda Stapleton
3-chapter critique of a YA, chick lit, or rom com by Golden Heart Finalist Amanda Brice
An ebook of your choice from Nell Dixon's backlist
An ebook of either Second Sight (paranormal romance) or Dragons' Choice (fantasy romance - dragon-shifters) from Debbie Mumford
Ten dollar Amazon gift certificate from Jodi Henley
Lush stuff from Seeley deBorn
e-book copy of Chasing Shadows from Erin Richards
Paperback copy of Iron Horse Rider OR Smiling Eyes from Adelle Laudan
Book thongs from Angeleque Ford
3 chapter critique from Sela Carsen
winner's choice of ebook copy of "Not Quite Dead" or "Heart of the Sea" by Sela Carsen
e-book copy of HEATWAVE by Eden Bradley
e-book copy of BREAKING SKYE by Eden Bradley
a box of goodies, trade and paperbacks, bath products candles, etc... All for a fun and relaxing home spa day treat. courtesy of The Midnight Moon Cafe
1 download each of Natasha Moore's Samhain books, The Ride of Her LIfe and The Passion-Minded Professor
a copy of "Painted Soul" by Mary Quast
e-book copy of HER CINDERELLA COMPLEX by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
e-book copy of PAR FOR THE COURSE by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Samhain
e-book copy of FOUND by Jenna Bayley-Burke - Wild Rose Press
e-book copy of NIGHT OF INSPIRATION by Jenna Allen - Phaze
e-book copy of ON AGAIN by Jenna Allen - Phaze
$10 gc to Amazon from Kendal Corbitt
ebook Vampire Oracle: Harmony by MG Braden
Ebook ARC, Art of Sensuality by Jax Cassidy

Plus a lovely bar of wonderful Chagrin Valley hand made soap, Caramel Pralines jar candle, handmade jewelry, Tarot readings, a Lush box for European Divas/Dudes, a $10 fictionwise gc and much more!

New Novella Contracted with Phaze Publishing

2008-07-24T02:50:00.000-07:00

After taking part in the erotic workshop with Tina Burns over on Romance Divas, I was encouraged to send in one of my erotic novellas that has been looking for a publishing home. If you've been reading my blog or my posts, you'll know it was rejected from one publisher for being *ahem* too steamy...well one week after my submission to Phaze, I received a delightful email telling me they would love to pick up the novella!

I'll have more details shortly but here is a synopsis of Taboo -

Taboo – two tales of dark, forbidden pleasure…

In Decadence, group sex is a forbidden fruit, a social taboo. Cameron knows her lover, Vince, has experimented in the past, and she is increasingly turned on by thoughts of sex with more than one person. Deciding to take matters into her own hands, Cameron forms a plan with her best friend – one night of unbridled, no holds barred, sexual experimentation. One night that will bring two couples closer than they’ve ever been.

Darkness is set in the not too distance future. Mia is a criminal psychologist who has fallen in love with professional thief, Dylan Benjamin. They share a violent childhood and Mia finds in Dylan understanding and acceptance, as well as a craving for rough sex. After helping him escape from prison, Dylan comes to claim what is his and Mia finally succumbs to her hidden desire for forbidden lust.

Submission of my 'Muse'

2008-07-16T02:28:00.000-07:00

After spending a number of months editing, re-writing and more editing, I'm finally back to doing what I love to do - write. Over the past few months something has been missing, and yesterday I discovered what that was - the joy of creating. For the first time in weeks I sat down and wrote. Ten pages flew from my fingers with no struggle at all. My muse is back where she belongs - in submission- and I feel at peace.

Ahhh, I hear you ask what ten pages those were...

Everyone meet Jared MacKenzie...

(Yes, I know it's really David Duchovny, but go with me here!)

He's going to be the man to turn Erin MaClaine's world upside down in more ways than one. And make note of the leather pants... ;) Hopefully, you will be meeting him shortly.

Devil's Dance goes Global!

2008-07-14T23:46:00.001-07:00

This week sees the release of Devil's Dance on Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, at Barnes and Nobles and through all major distributors such as Gardners and Ingrams.

I'm so thrilled! Tessa and Luc go global...wait, that could be a title for another book...*ahem*

So mark your calendars ladies and gentleman. The release date is 17th July.

Free Author workshop - Erotic Romance vs Erotica

2008-07-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

I'm just snatching this from Jennifer Leeland's blog as this is a workshop I'm excited about and thought others might be interested too:

Am I hot or not? Erotic Romance VS. Erotica. Q&A with Liquid Silver Acquiring Editor, Tina Burns.

All day today July 12th at Romance Divas beginning at 10am Eastern Standard Time.

Featuring:Tina Burns

How do you know if you’ve crossed into the Erotica zone? Get a professional’s opinion. It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register. The workshop will be in the “Steamy” section of the forum which requires permission from the admin. Details are HERE.

Harrison vrs Brendan?

2008-07-11T00:29:00.000-07:00

As a romance writer, my days are filled with dashing, handsome heroes who think nothing of walking through the fires of hell for their heroine. These heroes are all in my head of course…

But there are characters on the silver screen who live up to that image – Indiana Jones and Rick O’Connell (The Mummy) spring to mind. Let’s compare the two. Both are sexy, adventurous, wicked and wild, and to be honest ladies (and gents!) we’ve all thought the sex would be pretty hot with either of them or both… *ahem*

I love The Mummy franchise. Brendan Fraser was perfectly cast as Rick. If I ever wrote a historical, tomb raiding novel he would be my perfect eyecandy. I’d always been told that Indiana Jones was the original Rick and not seeing those movies (don’t throw things at me!) I was missing out. Sooooo finally pushed into the watching the Indie movies, I settled down, switched on the DVD player and began to watch…

Needless to say I was disappointed. For me, Indie was all wrong and the problem is Harrison Ford. I can just imagine all the messages I’m going to get about this! *laughs* But just hear me out. You have this geeky professor who is a little uncomfortable with his sexuality by day, and by night he turns into a sexy hunk wielding a whip and wearing leather – my kind of guy! And yet, there is NOTHING going on behind Harrison Ford’s eyes – no inherent sexuality, no wildness, no nothing that should make a whip wielding tomb raider as sexy as hell. I felt cheated. The packaging was there but the spark was missing.

Am I missing something? Am I wrong? Is Harrison Ford sexier than Brendan Fraser?

Devil's Dance receives a 5 angel review from Fallen Angel Reviews!

2008-07-09T23:15:00.000-07:00

Devils Dance - 5 angels

Just because Tessa Connelly is a sex therapist doesn’t mean she’s experienced in sex. She might know plenty thanks to her patients but when it comes to actually practice Tessa’s never indulged her own desires. When a visit to a local sex club has her meeting a sexy guy, Tessa can’t control the desires suddenly rampaging through her body. After a sizzling kiss she flees, scared by her own need to give this stranger anything he asks for. But when Luc seeks her out and offer a month of sexual mastery she can’t resist her hidden need to submit. Will Luc be able to fill her every desire and will she be able to walk away after a month of sexual fulfillment?

Tessa is a strong independent woman with a secret desire to submit in the bedroom. None of her previous lovers have ever satisfied her like Luc does. He knows everything she needs and he gives it to her, holding nothing back. He dominates her completely in the bedroom but out of it treats her as an equal. It’s no wonder Tessa falls in love with him. Luc is a little jaded when it comes to relationships, he’s also been out of the game for a while but as soon as he sees Tessa he has to have her. These two turn Devil’s Dance into one scorching hot read. Scarlett Sanderson has you wishing for a little hot action of your own. Luc is a guy any woman would want to submit to, Tessa is one we can all identify with, and their sizzling encounters have you reaching for the ice water. If you’re after a short, hot read pick up a copy of Devil’s Dance. You won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by: Rachel C.

http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/2008/June/RachelC-DevilsDance.htm

When I had the email through, I was so excited. This is my first review, and what wonderful comments my book received.

I have some other news about the release of Devil's Dance in other stores...so please keep watching for the blog for more news in the next few days!

An update

2008-06-27T07:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone! It's been months since I posted here, and I am so grateful for all the messages of support and 'missing you' I have been receiving. My news was fairly good - I do have a tumour in my ear, but it's a glomus tumour, and it's NOT cancerous! I am taking meds to swain away the vascular tumour and all is well :) So again, I just want to say a huge thank you to everyone.

On the writing front, well, I have a very short erotic story which I'm currently looking to find a home for. Experimentation is 3,500 words and pure erotica. Here is a little excerpt:

Taking a slow sip of red wine, Cameron looked over the rim of the glass with hooded eyes.

She looked at him.

Vince stood in a dimmed corner talking, laughing, with some slut. Occasionally he would glance at

Cameron, smirk and turn back to the woman. He would touch her. His hand rubbed her arm, his fingertips stroked her cheek.

Every caress sent ribbons of jealousy surging through Cam’s system. Deep down she knew it was all a game. He played it well and often. A game meant to drive her insane, to add spice to their relationship. Her usual response was to leave, throw some jealous fit and end up having a heated argument. The make up sex would be violent and wild. Just the way they both liked it.

Tonight was different. Cameron had a plan of her own.

Eyecandy of the month for me still is and always will be - Dean and Sam Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki).

Please excuse me while I go drool...

Feeling my own mortality

2008-03-15T02:09:00.000-07:00

Over the last few days I've been feeling my own mortality. You go through life worrying about things - enough money to pay the bills, getting the right job, supporting your family. Most days you don't worry about your health. Well I don't - or didn't. I went along thinking I was 'immortal'. Oh, I knew one day in the future, many years from now, my body would fail me, but that was a long way off.

Then Thursday I was hit with a glaring realization. It seems my body as already begun to fail. I've been diagnosed with Menieres Disease. That, in itself, is not life threatening. It's a balance thing. My inner ear doesn't work right, so I feel dizzy, the room spins, I blackout. The consultant gave me some meds to help with the pressure, but they are exhausting me to the point where all I want to do is sleep.

But that wasn't the worst part. The worse part was the fact I had a hearing test and I'm loosing my hearing in my left ear. The Doctor is almost certain it's a tumor. He assured me they are usually benign, but if it is, he won't know until it's been removed. So the next step is a MRI. I have that MRI appointment in a few weeks time.

It's come as a huge shock. I'm feeling my own mortality more than ever...

Me, Myself and BDSM

2008-03-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

The most recent question I've been asked is "Why do you write about BDSM?" It's often accompanied by a strange look, a grimace, a curling of the lips and a wrinkling of the nose. Why on Earth would a normal person like me write about depraved acts of sexuality?

Simple. All aspects of BDSM fascinate the hell out of me. From Dominance/submission, to controlled orgasms, and whips and chains. The whole nine yards. For me it's a fantasy. It's THE ultimate fantasy. You know the one I'm talking about, the one that curls your toes and sends your hormones into overdrive. There is just something intensely wicked and erotic about kneeling at your Dom's feet and placing total trust in that person. Because that is what BDSM is all about - trust. Mutual trust. You can have the power exchange, but that comes at a price if you don't trust the person you are with.

Now don't get me wrong. There are some extreme aspects of the 'extreme' lifestyle that even I'm turned off by, but for me, the fantasy of submission is a potent one.

So my question to you is: what's YOUR fantasy? :)

White Rose Author Showcase - Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter

2008-03-10T04:54:00.000-07:00

Today's White Rose author is:

Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter

Cottonwood Place

$6.00

“Where do you go when there’s no place left to go? If you’ve been everywhere and done everything and aren’t satisfied, come discover the mysteries of Cottonwood Place Bed and Breakfast Inn and the captivating American Southwest.” Cottonwood Place Brochure

Megan MacCloud knows before meeting Ian Hunter that he's the neediest of the many troubled guests her inn has helped. Estranged from God, neither she nor Ian believe that He can bring them the harmony and love they need. Ian says he couldn’t resist driving across the country to her after her face on a brochure “hypnotized” him. Because of past abuse, her attraction to him is dashed when she learns he drinks. She resists loving Ian, but her family and almost-human pets frustratingly bond with him immediately, proving he’s good. Megan, her Grandma, and pets resolve to help Ian stop drinking and be a doctor again. He helps solve major problems with guests and saves several lives as Megan and her mysterious Navajo-and-White family show him religious and lifestyle philosophies that are foreign to him, yet truly American. When Megan’s kidnapped by a guest for unknown reasons, Grandma says that to find Megan and have the life with her that he dreamed of, Ian must first “find himself.” What does that mean? Can God use Megan’s family, their Navajo ceremonies, and the police to find Megan and help her and Ian “walk in beauty” before she’s lost forever?

Rose PRINT ISBN 1-60154-114-7(280 pages) Sweet

White Roses Month Author Showcase - Cindy Green

2008-03-09T01:02:00.000-08:00

March is the White Roses month at The Wild Rose Press. The White Rose line is an inspirational line of books. I'l be showcasing some of the White Rose authors this month. I hope you'll join me in celebrating the talent of the White Roses.

Starting today we have Cindy Green

Blurb:

Associate history professor, Kari Montgomery, has carried the feelings of loss and inadequacy ever since she broke off her engagement. As she attempts to make it through a rain storm the day of her cousin Emily’s wedding, her feelings change when she looks into a pair of steel blue eyes. Even though Kari begins to feel compelled toward this inexplicable man, she isn’t sure if she can love again or if she is even worthy of his love.

Youth pastor, Randy Steele, has a sense of humor, a pair of remarkable eyes, and a desire to serve God which attracts most of the women he meets. After meeting Kari, he endeavors to help her see her own worthiness and ability to let God heal her heart. But can he reach Kari and show her how wonderful life can be with God in control of their futures and their hearts?

About Cindy:

Cindy was born a California native; although, she now resides in North Carolina with her husband and two young sons. Growing up, she loved reading and writing, but her heart always lay in teaching. After graduating from college with a degree in history, Cindy taught Jr. High for four years in just about every subject. After the birth of her second child, she was able to stay home and focus on her writing as well as homeschool her children. In her spare time, she loves reading, photography, scrapbooking, Period Dramas, and spending time with family. Cindy writes Inspirational, Contemporary, Suspense, Young Adult, Fantasy and Historical – from sweet to sensual.

You can reach Cindy at :

www.cindykgreen.com.

She is also starting a newsletter which will go out in April. You can email her at newsletters@cindykgreen.com to receive it.

Telephone tagged!

2008-03-09T00:42:00.000-08:00

Yes, I've been tagged - telephone tagged by Gwen Mitchell ((big hugs and thanks to Gwen!)). My American sisters call this telephone tag, Gossip or Rumor. In England it's refered to as Chinese Whispers.

The ring leader will tell a “secret” to one person. That person turns to the person on their left and whispers it. Each person hears the “secret” on one side and tells it on the other until it goes all the way around the circle. The last person says out loud what they were told, then the ring leader says what everyone started with. Most of the time it isn’t the same thing, and can be quite funny.

Using the power of the Internet, let’s give it a try.

I’m going to write a paragraph. Your job is to make a change. It can be as little as one word or as big as twenty words. You can change names, plot and setting, but don’t change it so much that we can’t tell how it relates to what (Alice) started with. Post your paragraph on your blog with a link to Alice’s post. She will link back to you. Then, pick three people to whom you will “whisper” your modified version. Let them know they are up next. Link to them and to the person who passed it to you (me).

This is my paragraph:

“Jocelyn and Will went up Knob Street to find some privacy in a tavern room. Jocelyn fell down and knocked her brow and asked Will to kiss it better. Will was happy to oblige Jocelyn’s innocent desire without further bruising, but his kisses weren’t enough. If he hadn’t already lost his innocence to Jocelyn, he would have that night.”

My whispers go to...
Lee Morrison
L. Rosario
Marly Matthews

You can still play this game even if I didn’t tag you. Anyone can play if you follow the rules. Come back in a month and see what happened to our little rumor.

~~~~~~*****~~~~~~
The rules for this meme:
1. Change something in the paragraph you received; a minimum of 1 word, a maximum of 20 words.
2. Link to the post at http://aliceaudrey.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/alice-calling/ and leave a comment so we can keep track of what happens to the paragraph. Alice will link back to you.
3. Link to the person who tagged you, preferably to where ever they posted their version of the paragraph.
4. Tag three people you think might enjoy this game. Let them know they’ve been tagged. Link to them.
5. Include these rules in your post.
View Other Participants Here
Have fun!!

In honor of 70 days of sweat...

2008-03-03T23:11:00.000-08:00

Some eyecandy to keep the inspiration flowing...

Ahhh, the very toned Vin Diesel. His Riddick character just fascinates me. He's so ambiguous it drives me crazy.

As for 70 Days of Sweat, so far I'm averaging 1,200 words a day. For me, that is a wonderful achievement. I haven't written anything solid for months. How is everyone else doing? Please drop by and leave a message.

70 Days of Sweat Begins...

2008-03-01T00:21:00.000-08:00

I've just signed up for the 70 Days of Sweat writing challenge over at: http://www.70daysofsweat.com/wordpress/

The whole point of the challenge is to get writers (or in my case procrastinators!) to get into the habit of writing daily. The challenge - writer 850-1000 a day for 70 days. Hence 70 days of sweat.

I'm intended to work on shadows, and push it past the 25,000 mark!

Wish me luck.

Any other writers out there taking part?

What kind of Spice are you?

2008-02-29T23:54:00.000-08:00

You Are Cilantro

The bad news is that there are some people who can't stand you.
The good news is that most people love you more than anything else in the world.
You are distinct, unusual, fresh, and very controversial. And you wouldn't have it any other way.

What Spice Are You?

I saw this posted somewhere and had take the test. I really wanted to be ginger. I have no idea what a Cilantro is. Anyone know?!

The 'Introverted' Writer, Career Planning and The Tudors

2008-02-26T23:40:00.000-08:00

Greetings and salutations!

Lynda Hilburn made a very interesting post over on her blog. The theme: The Introverted Writer. From the points she made I've determined I'm an introvert. *grins* Well, this is something I've always know, but many people refuse to believe I'm shy! I'm terrible at networking - in real life and online.

Shock horror!

After all, a writer's life is partly promotion. How can you be successful if you cannot promote efficiently? Fortunately help is at hand. There are numerous workshops, articles and other authors to share the woes with. One of my career goals is to achieve better promotion for myself by the end of the year.

Which brings me to the second issue in today's blog post. Career planning. *takes another huge deep breath* Something else I've been extremely slack with. Yep, I'm a lazy planning when it comes to my writing. Very strange. In other areas I am meticulously organized. The lovely Jaci Burton has been giving a workshop over on the Romance Divas forum all this week, and some sound advice she has given.

Sooo, Scarlett's career goals for the year:

1) Finish full length urban romance Shadows by the end of the year.
2) Start planning next full length novel.
3) Start querying agents.

Check back in December to see if the career goals have stayed on track!

And finally to The Tudors. Not the tv show (although that held me enthralled for an entire two weeks over the Christmas period). There are a lot of period movies/books being released on the Tudor period of history. This is something that has always fascinated me.

We've had The Tudors tv show, Elizabeth the Golden Age, and upcoming is The Other Boleyn girl. It's wonderful to see such a vibrate age brought to life on screen.

Devil's Dance Release Day!

2008-02-15T07:40:00.000-08:00

*blows cobwebs off my blog* Whew, it's been months since I posted here. Fortunately I've been working on edits for Devil's Dance, and what do you know, release date it FINALLY here! I was so excited to find out that not only is it out in ebook, but also in print! To say I'm estatic is an understatement *grins*

Just for you all, here are the blurb and purchase link:

How far would you go to fulfill every sexual desire?

As a sex therapist, Tessa Connelly is no naïve wallflower when it comes to sins of the flesh. Listening to her patients deepest, darkest desires, she knows there is something missing from her own mundane sex life. That something is a dominant, alpha male. Tessa’s most secret desire is to lose some of her tightly held control and be dominated by a handsome hunk.

Her devilishly handsome hunk appears in the form of Luc Campbell. After a chance meeting he offers her a deal - one month of sexual mastery. In return all she has to do is be his willing partner in anything he has to give her.

But accepting the offer from a green eyed devil is just the first step of her journey…

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=601&zenid=3f4c8ae048ed295b69842243081eaca6

New Cover for Devil's Dance

2007-08-13T23:39:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I've just had my new cover for Devil's Dance appear in my inbox. OMG! *fans self*

Whew! Look at my lovely Luc Campbell on that cover!

Once I've recovered from drooling, I'll be back to post a blurb ;)

International Author Chat at The Wild Rose Press!

2007-08-03T23:57:00.000-07:00

Join the international authors at The Wild Rose Press today for a chat at 10am ET. It is our first international chat, and it would be wonderful to see some of you there!

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/chat_room.htm

Hope to see y'all there later!!!

First Stage of Edits for Devil's Dance and blooming of Wild Rose

2007-07-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

Less than an hour ago I finally finished up my first round of edits for Devil's Dance. Whew! The elation is overwhelming. I adore writing, editing is a process I could live without. However, this time I am extremely pleased with the outcome, and this is only the first round of edits! Diana from Wild Rose created a wonderful editing sheet to help authors who are self-editing. Yep, even we literary folk need help! The outcome is a tighter manuscript. *bows down the patient editing Goddess Diana*

It was a struggle for me to make that final editing 'push'. The day job inevitably got in the way, as did a million and one other things! Fortunately, I took advice from fellow author, Carol Ann Erhardt (you can visit Carol at http://carolannerhardt.blogspot.com/) -edit during your lunch hour. Ding! The tiny lightbulb in my mind finally got switched on as to how I could find more time to edit. And there you have it - that final push into a finished round of edits.

In other news, I have another story under consideration with Wild Rose. The Photographer's Muse is a story of only five pages. Here is the blurb:

As a curvy woman, Cathy has always been too shy to embrace her sexuality. Answering a "model wanted" ad in the local newspaper, she ends up modelling an exotic piece of lingerie. Pushing aside her inhibitions, Cathy begins to welcome her femininity, realizing that curvy women can indeed become the photographer's muse...

Finally, I just want to say I'm very excited about the new Wild Rose line of books - books for young adults entitled the Climbing Rose line. The first releases are going on sale in the next few weeks and they have a great line up!

You can get a sneak preview here:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/stores/climbing.htm

I wanted to wish all the authors much luck with their respective books. It's wonderful to be creating new opportunities for younger readers.

A long period of absence, edits and more edits!

2007-07-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Greetings my friends.

I come bearing gifts of roses! I've been away from the blog for...gosh, almost three months. Shame on me! Just to let you on what's been happening during those three months.

I have four stories in various stages of completion:

The Photographer's Muse - a short, contemporary of what happens when a curvy woman tries on her first piece of lingerie.

The Devil and Darcy Jones - a parnormal romance with a twist.

Redemption - what happened to the fallen angels when the war in Heaven was over?

and finally,

Shadows - a futuristic crime thriller with an edge.

As for edits, I'm working on the edits for Devil's Dance with the lovely Diana from Wild Rose. Hopefully it should be avaliable from the Scarlet Line before too long.

Hope you are all having a good summer - it's proving to be a wash out here in England!

Scarlett

On my book shelf at the moment and chatting

2007-04-23T07:27:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I am taking time out of writing to work on my edits, I'm reading a lot.

What is on my shelf at the moment? Take a walk with me and I'll show you...

Yesterday's Tomorrow is a new release from Rochelle Rae Hensler. As those of you who frequent the Triskelion Publishing site know, Rochelle is loosing her battle with ovarian cancer. Her release dates are being bumped up so she can see her dream come true in her final months. I was given this e-bookto review for A Romance Review. All I can say is wow, I throughly enjoyed this romantic ride through both contemporary times and Elizabethean England.

If you get a chance, please drop by Triskelion and purchase this book. You won't be disappointed!

I'm also reading Demon Moon by Meljean Brook.

For some reason it's been taking me weeks to read this book. Don't get me wrong, it has everything a paranormal romance should have - a dashing hero, a fiesty heroine, a superb plot. I just feel something is missing...

Finally, seeing as I'm feeling dark, violent and full of murder (only in my psyche of course!) I'm also reading Shadow Man by Cody McFadyen. This is a thrilling, gripping read and he ranks up there with Thomas Harris and John Connolly. His heroine, FBI Agent Smoky Barrett is a perfect tragic figure. Another great find.

On the news front, I'm going to be chatting at Destiny Blaine Romance on Tuesday 24th April - that's tomorrow! I'll be chatting, answering questions and posting a very raw excerpt from Devil's Dance as well A Conqueror's Destiny.

If you want to ask some questions, show some support or just drop by, here is the link-

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/destinyblaine_romance/

That's all for now folks.

Let me know what y'all are reading!

Self Belief

2007-04-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

One of the hardest things for an author is the continued self belief. You have an idea, the characters formulate in your mind, you plot - or just start the writing, then five chapters down the line you begin to doubt.

Is this corny?

Has it been written before?

Can you put a new spin on things?

Am I using too many "-ing" and "was" words? (Something I am inherently guilty of!)

Everyone goes through a crisis of faith - any artist; any person who lives life day in, day out.

One of my favourite quotes is "Never forget who you wanted to be."

Some days that is a struggle, some days that is an easy moto to live by.

My advice, never give up the dream.

Happy Easter and Devil's Dance contract

2007-04-07T06:10:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter weekend, whatever your plans, whatever faith, may you have a wonderful fews days. And *points up* what a wonderful way to start the weekend with some eyecandy ;)

In other news, I have received my third contract with The Wild Rose Press. This time for my erotica novella, Devil's Dance. It's wicked, witty and longer than my previous books. So be on the look out for that title in the near future!