tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60050693244337990272024-03-13T13:09:34.842-04:00Cabal of HotnessMimi and Elias Play Learninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17746416897886374854noreply@blogger.comBlogger113125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-24672235220305358292014-03-10T00:30:00.000-04:002014-03-10T00:30:02.549-04:00My Writing Process<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Cross posted from my <a href="http://www.cristalryder.com/my-writing-process/" target="_blank">blog</a> </span> <br />
<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://tinachristopherauthor.com/" href="http://tinachristopherauthor.com/" target="_blank">Tina Christopher</a> asked me to be on this blog hop with her. Of course I said yes! Next week look for <a data-mce-href="http://www.serenashay.com/" href="http://www.serenashay.com/" target="_blank">Serena Shay</a>'s post on her writing topic<br />
So, my writing process. Here goes.<br />
<div>
1) What am I working on?</div>
<div>
Right
now I'm finishing up edits for my release with HarlequinE coming this
Sept or Oct. It's an erotic romance, menage. Set in a tropical climate.
Not only the weather is hot, so are the guys!</div>
<div>
<br />
2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?</div>
<div>
I
have no idea. We are all different. But to actually say how is
something I couldn't put my finger on. If anything though, my editor
says "your writing is on fire" :) meaning the sex scenes. *blushes*</div>
<div>
<br />
3) Why do I write what I do?</div>
<div>
It
was by fluke really. My first book was No Fantasy Required. I wrote it
without the intention of it being so hot. But, when it was accepted and
after edits, I started my second story, Being Ariana. It was also a hot
story and then it just seemed to flow organically and the rest is
history. Although a story I will be working on after the edits on She
Wants It won't be erotic. It will be hot though (can't seem to get away
from that :) )</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
My January 2014 release <i>Four For the Show</i>. An erotic adventure where our heroine is treated to sexual delights by three men and we have some male/male action going on too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG7Dk_pw5tbvDs8ysqPkaAjDCUQeOpXTdMb0P5ftMkmihTH-OcI7txPldY8xrLN8qRgJusz4JHgb8lGiqiTTYI6X3K_l1IYFOzDNcVqAGVw76iIhGWm0SmBUQ_h8z24RYLLZ74fwBI7M/s1600/fourfortheshow_Q_msr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNG7Dk_pw5tbvDs8ysqPkaAjDCUQeOpXTdMb0P5ftMkmihTH-OcI7txPldY8xrLN8qRgJusz4JHgb8lGiqiTTYI6X3K_l1IYFOzDNcVqAGVw76iIhGWm0SmBUQ_h8z24RYLLZ74fwBI7M/s1600/fourfortheshow_Q_msr.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
4) How does your writing process work?</div>
<div>
Again,
it's one of those things that never seems to be the same. When I have
an idea for a story, and I do have lots, I'll send myself an email with
the title or scene or whatever it was the popped into my brain.
Sometimes I can't let it go and have to write a few thousand words to
get it out of me. </div>
<div>
I try to write every day. Last year wasn't
that great though after my mom died and my writing just didn't seem to
be there. I'm getting back into the swing of things and hoping to get a
lot done this year. </div>
<div>
If I focus, I can write 1000 words on my
lunch. When I get home, I like to write from 2 - 6 for another 2000
words. Then I've accomplished 3000 words a day plus word full time. If I
accomplish this then I feel a little better and less guilty for doing
other things in the evening. </div>
<div>
I am a procrastinator. It's
really hard to shake too. Like I'm doing this blog at 4pm on Sunday when
I should have had it wrapped up days ago!</div>
<div>
<br />
So remember to visit <a data-mce-href="http://www.serenashay.com/" href="http://www.serenashay.com/" target="_blank">Serena</a> next week when she tells you about her writing process on 17th March.</div>
<div>
<i>Serena
Shay took to writing out her fantasies in a desperate bid to bring the
voices in her head to life and as a way to indulge her
paranormal desires.</i></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<div align="center">
You can find me at:</div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.cristalryder.com/" href="http://www.cristalryder.com/">www.cristalryder.com</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="https://twitter.com/%23%21/CristalRyder" href="https://twitter.com/%23%21/CristalRyder">https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://cabalofhotness.blogspot.ca/" href="http://cabalofhotness.blogspot.ca/">The Cabal of Hotness</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor" href="https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor">https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.jasminejade.com/m-771-cristal-ryder.aspx" href="http://www.jasminejade.com/m-771-cristal-ryder.aspx">Ellora’s Cave</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cristal+Ryder" href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cristal+Ryder">All Romance ebooks</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Cristal-Ryder/e/B005IGG2KS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1" href="http://www.amazon.com/Cristal-Ryder/e/B005IGG2KS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">Amazon</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/cristal-ryder" href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/cristal-ryder">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard">Goodreads</a></div>
<div align="center">
<a data-mce-href="http://sybariteseductions.com/" href="http://sybariteseductions.com/">Sybarite Seductions</a></div>
Cross posted to The Cabal of Hotness</div>
Shana Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06333638308135601113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-70082322541106971852014-03-05T06:30:00.000-05:002014-03-05T06:30:00.441-05:00My favorite book by @amgriffin<h2 style="text-align: center;">
My Favorite Book</h2>
<br />
The title makes it sound as if I'm about to write an essay, *snort* rest assured it's nothing that formal. I'm an avid reader (well, I used to be before I started writing and my TBR list grew from 10 - 200) so I have plenty of favorite books to share.<br />
<br />
When I first picked up a Johanna Lindsey book I couldn't put it down. Even after I finished it, I re-read it and then ran to the local book store and bought more. Even when I was in nursing school and my pennies got tight, I turned to checking her books out from the Library.<br />
<br />
The book that started it for me was <em>Love Only Once</em>. I was hooked into the Malory family the first time I started reading about them. And by looking at the Amazon ranking for this book that was released in the late 1980's or early 1990's I can say that I'm not the only one that her stories have had an effect on.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Only-Once-Johanna-Lindsey-ebook/dp/B00512LSAS/ref=wp_bs_1_B00CKD6FR2_kindle_edition">http://www.amazon.com/Love-Only-Once-Johanna-Lindsey-ebook/dp/B00512LSAS/ref=wp_bs_1_B00CKD6FR2_kindle_edition</a><br />
<br />
While Johanna Lindsey is my go to favorite for historical romance, Dean Koontz is my go to for paranormal. Anything Dean touches is gold. In my humble opinion, his shit don't stink.<br />
I'm digging his <em>Odd Thomas</em> series, but like I mentioned, I'll read anything he puts out. This is the book that I read, well listened on Audible, a couple of months ago:<br />
<br />
<em>Innocence</em> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Innocence-Novel-Dean-Koontz-ebook/dp/B00CQZ653S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393804533&sr=1-1&keywords=dean+koontz">http://www.amazon.com/Innocence-Novel-Dean-Koontz-ebook/dp/B00CQZ653S/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1393804533&sr=1-1&keywords=dean+koontz</a><br />
<br />
I could go on, but I'm afraid my post would span pages and pages, and considering the title is "My Favorite Book", I'm already going over my allotment. LOL.<br />
<br />
Happy reading!<br />
<em>-Griffin</em><br />
A. M. Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01332970625605687693noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-79937753246462709762014-02-28T06:30:00.000-05:002014-02-28T06:30:03.721-05:00Cajun Taking OverIt's been like...um, a long time since I blogged. Y'all can stand in line to spank me and I promise not to enjoy it too much ;)<br />
<br />
Life has been crazy. I mean, insane. Seriously. After October it seemed as though someone hit the warp speed button and I got caught up in living life and trying to put a new book out. <br />
<br />
That happened by the way. Not the warp speed thing, but the book release. The first book in a multi-author series, <em>Touched by Lightning</em>, came out on Valentine's Day. I like to call it a cross between <em>The Crow </em>and <em>X-Men</em>. It's dark. I won't lie about that. There's a lot of tragedy in the book, but there's also humor and hopefully, readers will get where I was going with the story. That there's hope and happiness waiting for us all. We just have to work to find it.<br />
<br />
But I'm not here to get all heavy and shit. This is the Cabal of Hotness blog, not the Danica Sometimes Feels Like A Broody Teenager blog. Heh.<br />
<br />
So what to write about? *ponders* Oh! I know!<br />
<br />
I've been asked by a few family members about me writing something without all that sex in it. I thought about it long and hard (pun intended) and realized I'm not sure I could write a book without sex in it. Sure, I could probably write something that isn't a romance at all and not have sex in it, but when I think of romance books, of characters falling in love, the physical side of that love is a big part of it for me. And sure, I could probably do a closed doors story, but where's the fun in that?<br />
<br />
You're more honest when you're fucking. Can I say that here? *looks for the police* Sex is intimate, of course. It's two, or more bodies coming together in the most basic of ways. It should be about losing yourself in the moment, forgetting about what society says is right or wrong, letting the real you surface and seeing the real person in your partner(s). That's what sex should be and that's what I try to convey in a romance. <br />
<br />
To me, the act of making love, fucking, sex, whatever you want to call it, should be the time when you're your most vulnerable and open. And not being able to see it when it happens in a book means you're missing out on something vital to the story, to the relationship between the characters. You're only getting a glimpse of what they've done together instead of each nitty, gritty detail. Does it have to be vulgar? You know, all graphic? Not really, but it sure is fun.<br />
<br />
And that's the problem for me. I want my stories to be raw, true. Life is messy. Sex should be messy and loud. So I guess I won't be writing a closed doors story any time soon.<br />
<br />
What do y'all think? I know most of y'all are erotic romance readers, but is it the sex, or is it the true connection between the characters as their relationship grows that draws you the most?<br />
<br />
Also, because I have y'all undivided attention *cough* I'm going to plug my latest erotic romance, <em>Touched by Lightning</em>. Out now!<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidexYs-UadhcJGSZGiy60Oy9nPaxnHd3Kysyc61cA1Q9RJLq5tZp-wxcwzIgIscnbnEN2fQhZYHMcG7RQ7TMclichGnR6Ed5U9fgg89bwtQcv6R4LCB08ezhmkSCW3bo00XNKnVLB5Rxc/s1600/Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidexYs-UadhcJGSZGiy60Oy9nPaxnHd3Kysyc61cA1Q9RJLq5tZp-wxcwzIgIscnbnEN2fQhZYHMcG7RQ7TMclichGnR6Ed5U9fgg89bwtQcv6R4LCB08ezhmkSCW3bo00XNKnVLB5Rxc/s1600/Cover.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a><br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">Book one in the Love’s Defenders
series.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">When
empath Gyda St. Germaine is rescued from a sex-trafficking ring, she vows
vengeance on her tormentors. Aided by two distinct personalities who bolster
her powers, she becomes a vigilante, hungry for revenge. Her path of
retribution tosses her into the arms of an Order of Themis Siphon and her world
is turned upside down. Fighting her past takes a backseat to her all-consuming
desire for the man whose honor and sense of justice go against everything she
believes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">The moment
electricity manipulator Brit Harper stumbled across a feral woman with a bloody
knife, his life changed. Black and white becomes gray as the scales of justice
tip. Fascinated by her strength and the darkness in her eyes, he vows to teach
her the true meaning of justice, and help her explore the passion sizzling
between them. But when the evil haunting Gyda’s dreams returns in the flesh, he’ll
have to choose between his beliefs and the woman he loves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua;">A Romantica® <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">paranormal erotic romance</b> from Ellora’s Cave<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/touched-by-lightning.html" target="_blank">Ellora's Cave</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Touched-Lightning-1-Loves-Defenders-ebook/dp/B00ID8M9YG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393506312&sr=8-1&keywords=touched+by+lightning" target="_blank">Amazon</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/touched-by-lightning-danica-avet/1118718422?ean=9781419990564" target="_blank">B&N</a></div>
Danica Avethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04129612632580681776noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-29010869038470902792014-02-10T01:00:00.000-05:002014-02-10T01:00:07.821-05:00Re-entryIs tough. Going away is one of my favourite things to do, but getting back into the swing of things is hard. While away I met a woman that has her masters in internet marketing. She gave some awesome tips which I hope to be able to use sometime.<br />
<br />
Since I'm still on island time, I'll post a few pretty pictures that I hope warms up your snowy and cold days. Not only is re-entry tough, but so is this winter.<br />
<br />
From this, ewwww.....<br />
<br />
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To this, ahhhh.....<br />
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<br />
We spent some time at the <a href="https://www.seabirdsanctuary.com/" target="_blank">Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary</a>. It is a wonderful place and you can get up close and personal to all sorts of seabirds. One day when we were there they released 17 pelicans. Quite amazing. <a href="https://www.seabirdsanctuary.com/" target="_blank">The Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary, Inc. is the largest wild bird hospital and bird sanctuary in the United States, based on the admission of up to 8,000 birds per year.</a><br />
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<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
You can find me at:</div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cristalryder.com/">www.cristalryder.com</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><a href="https://twitter.com/%23%21/CristalRyder"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;">https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span></div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span>
<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cabalofhotness.blogspot.ca/">The Cabal of Hotness</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor">https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jasminejade.com/m-771-cristal-ryder.aspx">Ellora’s Cave</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cristal+Ryder">All
Romance ebooks</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cristal-Ryder/e/B005IGG2KS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">Amazon</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/cristal-ryder">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard">Goodreads</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sybariteseductions.com/">Sybarite Seductions</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Shana Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06333638308135601113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-69620450964681021532014-02-05T05:00:00.000-05:002014-02-05T05:00:00.170-05:00Interview with Chocolate Hotness a.k.a @amgriffinbooks<u>
</u><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Hey ya'll,</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A little while ago I was interviewed while on blog tour, but it didn't get to the host in time and wasn't posted. It was a good interview and worth while, so here you go.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br />
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<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tell us 5 things that make you happy</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>Just 5 (LOL)? I would have to say personal peace is first. I think if
one has personal peace that everything else will fall into place, including
happiness. Hmm… When I originally saw this question I thought I would have a
list a mile long, but in reality I’m happy with only having one answer. Anyone
who has had a bout where their personal peace was ever disrupted will
understand where I’m coming from. Without personal peace everything else seems
to unravel. I think this is what makes some stories better than others. As
readers we tend to identify with the hero/heroine and when they become
unsettled (losing personal peace in some form or another) we identify with that
and we long for them to find it again (happy ending).</em> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="2" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What makes your perfect man, perfect? What do
you look for in a hero?</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I like strong, commanding men. I like for them to know what they want
and go after it. They also know when to fold when needed or regroup when
necessary. I like them sexy and handsome. They don’t necessarily need to be
model perfect. I like a man with some flaws and maybe a scar or two. I want
them to have been through some kind of struggle in their past—things didn’t
come easy. Whew! In a nutshell I guess I like reading and writing about
imperfect men. When you read one of the stories in the Loving Dangerously
series you will get where I’m coming from. In Dangerously Mine, Taio Xochis is
trying to stay out of his father’s shadow and in doing so has become rigid and
stuck to his ways. Kane Epps in Dangerously Yours is hell bent on revenge that
it takes him a while to recognize love staring him in the face. And Rasha from
Dangerously Hers gets knocked on his butt by a feisty human.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="3" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What qualities make up your least favorite
heroine? </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I don’t like heroines that a too stupid to live. We all know the type.
They always seem to be in trouble by doing, saying or going somewhere stupid. I
like my heroines smart, witty and sassy. They’re one step ahead of every once
else (or they think they are).</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="4" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Do you have any quirks? When writing, or
otherwise?</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>Quirks? Hmm… I don’t think so. I’m pretty normal and easy-peasy.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Do you have any hobbies that you take part in
when you aren’t writing? </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I love traveling! I’ve been on 5 trips this year alone and two of those
were out of the country. Wait, is traveling considered a hobby? *shrugs* I
don’t know, but I’m counting it as one.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="6" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">What do you like to read?</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I love science fiction, that’s why I write it. I also love paranormal.
I’m sold on anything with vampires, shifters, witches or faeries. But what
people are most surprised to find out about me is that I love historical
romance. I can read anything about a Scottish Laird or the life of “the
Ton”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually read more of those than
anything else. I don’t write it because I really don’t have the patience for
the amount of research that would have to go into it. And also because my
heroines tend to cuss too much to conform to the historical mode.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="7" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">If you had to pick one of your characters to
survive a zombie apocalypse with, who would it be and why? </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>All of my characters can survive a zombie apocalypse attack. They seem
to really love weapons and are quite trigger happy and like to see heads roll.
The men in my books are either royal guards which are highly trained warriors
or they are space pirates who have lived on gut and gumption. My females have
some type of martial arts or weapons training. So yeah, I’d be on their team.
LOL.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="8" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Tell us a bit about how the idea for your book
came about. </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><em>When I first sat down to write Dangerously Mine I knew my story would start at the end. The end of
life on Earth as we know it. I wanted strong female characters that would face
their futures head on without snivelling or cowering in a corner. I also wanted
to create an event where I could have endless possibilities to follow humans as
they move forward in their new lives on new worlds. I hope that one day when a
new sci-fi author is asked this question he/she will be able to say that one of
my books has opened their eyes to a different way of writing and scenarios</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="9" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Which of the seven deadly sins are you most
partial to? Which do you indulge in the most? </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>O.K. so I actually had to look this one up. I’m not partial to any of
them. I really hope this means I can get into heaven.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="10" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Who is the person who most inspired you?
Either in your life, or writing?</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I would have to say my mother. She’s a writer as well. I remember her at
her desk on her typewriter for hours at a time. She inspired me to get
published. That’s something she never inspired to do. She was afraid of her
work not being accepted or liked.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<ol start="11" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Do you have a favorite quote? </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>My late grandmother used to always say “Everybody has a little good in
them. Either good for something or good for nothing.” It would crack me up when
she would say it because it usually came right after someone would say
something like, “I have a good man.” Needless to say she was feisty.</em></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="12" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Can you tell us a little about your latest
project?</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I’m in edits with the fourth book in the Loving Dangerously series
titled Dangerously His and I’m one week from submitting the fifth book titled
Dangerously Forever. Dangerously His is about two people who want to be
together but are being separated by forces they can’t control. Dangerously
Forever is the story where Eva (from Dangerously Mine) and her best friend
Allysan finally reunite. It’s definitely not the end of the series. There are
still so many worlds and characters to explore.</em></span></div>
<br />
<ol start="13" type="1">
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Last but not least, if you could be anyone
else in the world, who would it be, and why? </span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><em>I really enjoy being me. I have a really good life. I love my family, my
husband and kids. It’s by far not perfect, but that’s what I tend to like
anyway.</em></span></div>
A. M. Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01332970625605687693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-87201424905633397482014-02-02T20:36:00.000-05:002014-02-02T20:36:27.301-05:00Behind the Scenes: 11 authors, 1 project #RedHotValentineOn January 18th, 11 authors each released a short story ranging from 10 to 20,000 words. The stories all had something to do with Valentine's Day, and we named the series Red Hot Valentine. Would you believe me if I told you there were no snags? If so, allow me to show you this lovely swampland in Florida.<br />
<br />
But seriously, considering how much there was no manage and navigate, the fact the Red Hot Valentine series went off with very few glitches is pretty remarkable. Here's how it happened:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Randi Alexander was the brains behind the project. She contacted me, gave me the details, and I was in. A FB group for the authors was created and we began to plan. That was in December 2013.</li>
<li>As a group, we talked about all the little decisions that come with a series the way we'd decided to do it. One thing that was true from the very beginning was each story would be offered for .99. </li>
<li>In the end, each individual author was responsible for their contribution, from cover to editing to uploading. This was a great choice since it didn't put the onus on one person. </li>
<li>We also decided to make a public FB page for the series so there would be one place for readers to go to find out more information about the series and the individual stories.</li>
<li>We started creating our covers and writing our stories, comparing draft copies of covers and snippets from our works in progress. Randi started a document where we each signed up for a cover reveal day. The cover reveals then happened every day or two up to release day on January 18th.</li>
<li>All of us uploaded our stories and waited for them to go live. A few authors had some glitches with uploading, but I think all eleven stories were up by 2-3 days after release.</li>
<li>Some strange things happened, like Amazon putting an adult tag on Desiree Holt's contribution, Quarterback Sneak. If you're familiar with Amazon, you know if you get the dreaded adult tag your book stops showing up in searches and other bad things. It took Desiree a few weeks to convince Amazon her story was not, in fact, porn.</li>
<li>The stories started selling, and personally, I'm really happy with my sales. This story is probably a little sweeter than some of my fans are used to, but they seem to be enjoying it.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Maybe this little behind the scenes vignette isn't that interesting, but I hope you liked hearing about the creation process for a series like Red Hot Valentine. For more information, you can check out our FB page at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RedHotValentine">http://www.facebook.com/RedHotValentine</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My story is titled Turnaround. The blurb:</div>
<div>
Becca and James don't date. Both are in their thirties and neither has found anyone they feel is potential spouse material. Becca attends a "We Hate Valentine's Day" party at a local bar where James is bartending. He knows from the first day they meet that Becca is someone special, but Becca's more cautious. James sets out to prove to Becca there really are happy-ever-afters.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's the blurb for the Red Hot Valentine series as a whole:</div>
<div>
All-new sexy stories from today's hottest romance authors, including Randi Alexander, Shyla Colt, Sable Hunter, Desiree Holt, Cassandra Carr, Graylin Rane, Michel Prince, Jodi Redford, Aliyah Burke, Christin Lovell, and Ty Langston. Don't have a Valentine? You do now! Eleven, to be exact.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
An excerpt from Turnaround - it's the "cute meet" scene:</div>
<br />
<div>
James hung another bunch of black balloons where they wouldn’t be constantly in his way while he mixed drinks at The Ale House’s annual “We Hate Valentine’s Day” party. The irony of having to work this <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_8cheDCyfc9BLPT-Uvt5_HQKJ4mQkp8ynIm9D_kgzr8TX69w9VSfBapeCZvo5RuN1Y7-JWXXqkT9px_ihehN47g8FUBNicTCiavJxwYuegSVBGnWOzivfrIgpgiCw3PYflfIppyBv66he3FM/s1600/Turnaround+FINAL+COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_8cheDCyfc9BLPT-Uvt5_HQKJ4mQkp8ynIm9D_kgzr8TX69w9VSfBapeCZvo5RuN1Y7-JWXXqkT9px_ihehN47g8FUBNicTCiavJxwYuegSVBGnWOzivfrIgpgiCw3PYflfIppyBv66he3FM/s1600/Turnaround+FINAL+COVER.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
particular gig when he actually loved this holiday made him shake his head, but work was work.</div>
<div>
<div>
Nice to have a day where it’s actually encouraged to tell your loved ones you care. Not enough of that in today’s world.</div>
<div>
He knew he sounded like a stodgy old codger, but simply because he was thirty-three and still single didn’t mean he thought love sucked. It was more a matter of finding the right girl. James didn’t want to marry just anybody. His parents had been a great example to him and his sister and James refused to settle, even if that meant he stayed single. Doing the whole flowers-and-chocolate thing was often derided by other men, but he loved doing all that stuff. His friends sometimes made fun of him for it but, hey, most of them were still single too, so he ignored them.</div>
<div>
“Hey, James,” the bar manager, Mick, said. “You got a copy of the drink specials?”</div>
<div>
James held up the black sheet of paper with the annoying white script font. His graphic designer sensibilities wanted to beg those around him to stop using that particular eye-bleeding combination, but this wasn’t his primary job, where people might care what he thought of a design, and he needed this second job–for now–so he kept his mouth shut. Why can’t everyone else see how hard it is to read? Ugh. </div>
<div>
“Yep. All set.” The specials, in keeping with the theme, were called things like Broken Heart and Love Hurts. Since they were expecting a crowd predominantly made up of women, most of the ingredients were geared toward them too–a lot of fruit juices and frozen drinks.</div>
<div>
Mick called out, “Opening doors,” and immediately a stream of people burst into the cavernous space. Here in Austin, Texas, the temperature was in the 70s during the day and a little cooler at night so waiting outside wasn’t a big deal, but people sure seemed excited to get started on their own bitter version of “celebrating.”</div>
<div>
They kept James hopping for the first half-hour or so. He was turning back toward the bar after using the blender when he spotted her. The slippery glass nearly fell from his hand and strawberry daiquiri dripped down the side and slithered over his fingers. She watched it and licked her lips.</div>
<div>
Oh mercy.</div>
<div>
He handed the drink, still thankfully mostly full, to the woman who’d ordered it and then grabbed a towel. Focusing his attention on the lovely vision before him, James asked, “What can I get for you?” Brilliant opening salvo, dude. Sure, it was his job, but he could’ve thought of something more witty than that if his brains hadn’t been scrambled by her sudden appearance.</div>
<div>
She was clad all in black, so likely an enthusiastic attendee of this party, but there was something in her eyes that said maybe she wasn’t a lost cause. Bright red hair tumbled to her shoulders and was set off by her black, satiny top. Her skin was pale; her face dotted with freckles. His gut told him, despite her apparent distaste for Valentine’s Day, he needed to know this woman better.</div>
<div>
She tilted her head at the drink specials menu on the bar in front of her. “I’m not much for these fancy drinks. How about a Stoli and cranberry?”</div>
<div>
“A girl after my own heart.” Shit, I wonder if she won’t like me saying that? But a small smile appeared and he set about making her drink. “I’m James. You know, in case you need anything else.”</div>
<div>
“Becca.”</div>
<div>
“Well, Becca, I hope to see you again.”</div>
<div>
Dropping a ten on the bar, she smiled. “When I get thirsty, I’m sure you will.” </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Copyright 2014, Cassandra Carr</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For more information about me or my books, check out my website at <a href="http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com/">http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com</a>.</div>
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Cassandra Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11261191490396335404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-71815818194322340832014-01-15T11:34:00.000-05:002014-01-15T11:34:24.829-05:00Favorite Fictional Hero?Oh man, asking me that is difficult.<br />
<br />
There are just so many that I can't properly choose.<br />
<br />
I just can't do it.<br />
<br />
Especially when you're an author. I mean, how do you also choose from the heroes you write?<br />
<br />
As a writer you have to love each character you write about.<br />
<br />
In my upcoming Ellora's Cave book WILD RELEASE which is coming out January 22nd I pictured a big, brute of a guy, scarred up, shaved head and totally bad as Etienne.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd44bftqCxHjvGREzAzwtr8mITnZtYVxaaf8wvbapu7MkhBc9zx0Isoxm62Qv9PG4KeLafse2lKQqYHjALkeA30FWG6ZAWQ0a0WNTNNMV_wOwE7Vc2qbsBrLRFytk8E_HLRddw9arKQ/s1600/wildrelease_msr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTd44bftqCxHjvGREzAzwtr8mITnZtYVxaaf8wvbapu7MkhBc9zx0Isoxm62Qv9PG4KeLafse2lKQqYHjALkeA30FWG6ZAWQ0a0WNTNNMV_wOwE7Vc2qbsBrLRFytk8E_HLRddw9arKQ/s320/wildrelease_msr.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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For my Harlequin Medical coming out February 2014, I pictured Kevin McKidd from Grey's Anatomy to play the role of Dr. Gavin Brice. Who doesn't love a good looking Ginger man? I know Dr. Gavin Brice was very capable of Melting the Ice Queen's Heart. Dr. Virginia Potter didn't stand a chance.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XXxFXnSdIXR_dqb77lF1v5XWtILXg19s_TdBvUl8cr5vz-jFBg13jEv3Ff-51XQw2Gn5b8FsI9VRADewSdP-Z-Rb72JlFRhiHHmtxJQJi35fZ6QmdqSsKeHrtYWhKB1Sr8PXQh7V5w/s1600/MeltingGood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9XXxFXnSdIXR_dqb77lF1v5XWtILXg19s_TdBvUl8cr5vz-jFBg13jEv3Ff-51XQw2Gn5b8FsI9VRADewSdP-Z-Rb72JlFRhiHHmtxJQJi35fZ6QmdqSsKeHrtYWhKB1Sr8PXQh7V5w/s320/MeltingGood.jpg" width="202" /></a></div>
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I find when I'm working on a book I need visuals, so I create Pinterest boards to help me. It helps me visualize my characters more and they morph well beyond the actors I've chosen to be their own persons. Still each hero I write is different and in other books I've read, there are different reasons why I like a hero or even an anti hero.</div>
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I don't like just one flavor. ;)</div>
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I like Alpha's, Betas you name it.</div>
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I like them brooding and I like them joking.</div>
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So I can't really tell you who my favorite fictional hero is.</div>
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I like them all.</div>
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If you're interested in my Pinterest Boards you can find the board for <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/amyruttan/wild-release/">Wild Release</a> and<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/amyruttan/melting-the-ice-queens-heart/"> Melting the Ice Queen's Heart </a>by clicking on the titles.</div>
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<br />Amy Ruttanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02011874993120273623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-43125056580074165662014-01-13T00:30:00.000-05:002014-01-13T00:30:00.815-05:00Joe Who? Alcide that's WhoI rarely have a movie star in mind when I create my hero's. It ruins the fantasy in my head. And why I prefer not to have a 100% visible face on my covers - so you the reader can conjure up your own fantasy hero. But, my newest release that came out just last Wednesday with Ellora's Cave <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Four-Show-Cristal-Ryder-ebook/dp/B00HDGXM0O/ref=la_B005IGG2KS_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389537496&sr=1-4" target="_blank">Four For The Show</a>,</i> was a little different.<br />
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The hero name Joe popped into my head and then along came Alcide right on behind. Perfect, I say to myself. He is one smexy dude. So I lay the tracks, without actually saying Joe Manganiello or Alcide, for the reader to picture him as my hunky hero. You'll have to read the book to see how I accomplish this<i>.</i><br />
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In another story I'm working on, I picture the hero after a certain actor. One that I have adored for years. Not too well known, but I love him. Michael Biehn. You know, Kyle Reese from Terminator. Yes, him. They really do need to bring him back to the franchise in my opinion...anyway...<br />
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Blurb<br />
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<span lang="EN-US"> Spectator Sex. Intriguing. Risqué. The idea
of watching other people have sex excites Tara to distraction. She hopes Joe is
as eager as she to slip into voyeur mode so they can take another step in their
sexual adventures. The last thing she expects is to evolve from watching
ménages to being part of the show. Or for the two hot men who join her and Joe
to not be able to keep their hands off each other.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Inside Scoop:</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";"> In addition to being
with three men, our lucky heroine gets a little foreplay of the female variety.</span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US">An Exotika® <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">contemporary erotica</b> story from
Ellora’s Cave</span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">I
chewed my lip and read the tweet. Dare I?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">I
widened my eyes and read it again then sucked in a deep breath as I positioned
the curser over the words. Before I could change my mind, I highlighted,
right-clicked, saved and pasted it into an email for Joe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Get hot and wet @desireafterdark
Friday night w/#spectatorsex #sexclub #couples #singlewomen</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">My
heart pounded and after just a nanosecond of hesitation I hit Send then laced
my fingers together, clutching tightly, and rested my chin on them. How long
would it take for a reply? Sure I had work to do, but right now I was dying to
know what he’d say.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">We
were fairly new, a fresh couple who wasn’t really a couple. We’d met a few
months ago and had jumped in the sack pretty much right away. Our chemistry was
almost uncontrollable and the sex was great. No it was fucking unbelievable.
We’d just clicked, both in and out of bed. But we were not a forever couple and
had made it clear to each other right off the top. It wasn’t as if there were
anything wrong with him. Joe was incredibly hot and knew all my buttons. He’d
be a perfect forever partner, but I just wasn’t ready for that yet.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">One
thing we’d never discussed was going to a sex club. Hadn’t even talked
fantasies or desires, or secret wants. Yet. Now was the perfect time to start.
Holy shit. Well, this email would certainly separate the men from the boys.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Spectator
sex. Now that was intriguing. I hadn’t really given it thought before, but a
little twizzle of excitement made me catch my breath. It meant we could go
without any self-imposed pressure of having to join into any groups. Sit in the
back. Watch. Get hot, horny and wet. And fuck.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">I
sat up when a new message announced its arrival into my inbox with a ping. That
was quick. It hadn’t taken Joe long to reply and if that were any indication, I
knew exactly what his answer would be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Clicking
the message open, I smiled. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Guess who’s
going out to party tonight!</i></span></div>
<div class="AsteriskBreak">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">*
* * * *</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“Parking
is a bitch here,” Joe said, without a hint of frustration. One of the things I
liked about him—how he just goes with the flow. He wheeled the big truck
through the cramped parking lot. I glanced around and couldn’t agree more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“I
bet I can squeeze this beast into that spot there. Hop out because the door
will be up against that bush.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">I
grabbed my purse and after a brief contemplation of bringing in our gym bag
with our swimsuits, decided to leave it behind. We could always get it later.
The chill of fall was in the air and struck me after being in the warm truck
cab. The gravel parking lot was hell on my stiletto heels so I put my weight
onto the toes and hurried out of Joe’s way. It was frigging cold and goose
bumps rippled along my flesh. I wrapped my arms around my waist, trying to keep
my body heat close.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">I
was definitely still in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">summer mode</i>.
The micro-mini and slips of fabric covering my breasts could hardly be called
suitable for this brisk night. But I knew the unwritten dress code here, having
been once a long time ago with friends for a pole dance night. Less is more. Skimpy
is in. Exposure is key. So, with my pussy and ass almost hanging out of the
mini, and my boobs pushing the limits of the top, I was set to blend in with
the rest of the crowd.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">Joe
had the truck squeezed in and prowled to my side. The intensity in his eyes,
dark and sensual, was enough to fire off all my nerve endings into a surge of
awareness. I needed his arms around me, for both the chill of the night but
also for the heat that flared deep in my belly.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“You’re
shivering,” he stated. Always the practical one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“Suffering
for the cause.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“When
the hell did you buy that getup anyway and where have you hidden it?” He
squeezed me and leaned down, taking the lobe of my ear between his lips. Gawd,
I loved it when he did that. Heat bloomed in my already excited libido. “You’ll
be the hottest bitch in the place.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">I
moaned when his lips moved down my neck. “Hardly. Wait ’til, ahh shit…um, you
see how they dress in there.” My legs wobbled when his hand swept down my back
and squeezed my ass in a tight grip. “Joe, stop.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">He
turned me and pushed me up against the cab of the truck. I yelped when the cold
metal shocked my heated flesh.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho";">“Do
you really want me to stop?”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<br />
<span class="st"></span><br />
<span class="st"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="st"><i><br /></i></span>Shana Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06333638308135601113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-25591652892884636362014-01-06T00:25:00.000-05:002014-01-06T00:25:00.565-05:00Mr. Darcy and Mr. Thornton - a throwdown - Favorite Fictional HeroThis month we're talking favorite fictional heroes. I have lots of heroes I love, but I keep coming back to Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice and Mr. Thornton from North & South. Yes, both are British, and yes, the accent makes me swoon, but that's not why I love these heroes.<br />
<br />
So why?<br />
<br />
Their passion.<br />
<br />
If you've seen these movies, you might be thinking, "Passion? These two are both stiff upper lip, not easy to know, pretty serious dudes." If you can think of men like Mr. Darcy and Mr. Thornton as dudes...<br />
<br />
Bear with me here. If you've ever heard the phrase "still waters run deep", it perfectly describes these two. And really, their heroines, but who wants to talk about women when you can wax poetic about men? Moving on... These men don't wear their hearts on their sleeves.<br />
<br />
Mr. Darcy is about as different from his best friend Mr. Bingley as night and day. Bingley falls in love easily and shows it. Mr. Darcy takes more persuading to really put his heart into it. In fact, it isn't until after he proposes to Elizabeth the first time that he really begins to realize this depth of feeling for her. When Elizabeth rebukes Mr. Darcy for behaving in an un-gentlemanlike manner, it cuts deep.<br />
<br />
Likewise for Mr. Thornton. Yes, he's in love -- he thinks -- with Margaret when he proposes to her after the incident at the mill, but he really isn't. It's not until he loses everything that he finally faces what his heart knew all along but his head refused to believe - that he won't be happy without Margaret. You might be wondering why he went to Helstone rather than pursuing Margaret in London, but really, it's simple. Like Mr. Darcy, Mr. Thornton has a lot of pride. He's a failure, or so he thinks. The woman he loves is his landlord now. What can he possibly offer her?<br />
<br />
Darcy is well aware of what he can offer Elizabeth in terms of money and property, but it isn't until he can offer her his heart without reservation that he proposes the second time.<br />
<br />
Yes, both men are not ones to wow women with flowery speeches, but the passion is there. You can see it in their eyes. And when they do speak, it's obvious, moreso in Darcy during his first proposal than his second, and in Thornton in his proposal. Both raise their faces, both pace, both stare at their heroines. And both are devastated, not to mention humiliated, when their heroines flatly refuse their proposals.<br />
<br />
You want an impassioned speech? Here's one, the proposal, and subsequent refusal, in North & South:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_FcSm1wUu0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_FcSm1wUu0</a> (I would've embedded it but Blogger wouldn't let me)<br />
<br />
I could link to Darcy's first proposal as well, but that one is better known, whether from the book or the BBC movie (the Keira Knightley one makes a mockery of the book IMO), so I decided not to. If you want to look it up, I'm quite sure YouTube has the proposal scene.<br />
<br />
What am I getting at? Both men have passion. It may be lurking below the surface, but it's there. And that makes both of them drool-worthy.<br />
<br />
To learn more about me or my books, you can check out my website at <a href="http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com/">http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com</a>.Cassandra Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11261191490396335404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-23186183565101422602013-12-20T08:00:00.000-05:002013-12-20T08:00:00.677-05:00Casting Come When CalledFor our December theme, the Cabal is casting real life actors as the characters of our books! All in fantasy, alas.<br />
<br />
Come When Called is a menage featuring Ford, Evie and Charley...and boy do these three heat up the pages of this book!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHGoudSvB_zbxikhwTbvV9bTfno-Iu6HvRcXU1GZMzcnrJLbamMP52flq-jYnn-4bkbGcS7Hl6ZPdwZpgu30aG3c6mXhU4NSHlTdmWnHEvH2uZfgPcb5M205rrM8obrbxXqq52RKIpz0/s1600/comewhencalled_HiRes+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHGoudSvB_zbxikhwTbvV9bTfno-Iu6HvRcXU1GZMzcnrJLbamMP52flq-jYnn-4bkbGcS7Hl6ZPdwZpgu30aG3c6mXhU4NSHlTdmWnHEvH2uZfgPcb5M205rrM8obrbxXqq52RKIpz0/s320/comewhencalled_HiRes+(3).jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
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<b>EVIE RADMIN: </b>Evie is a curvy, voluptuous girl with dark blonde hair, blue eyes and full lips. Oh, and she has sex with Ford and Charley on demand.</div>
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<b>FORD LACHANCE: </b>Ford has dark, tousled hair, going grey at the temples, bright green eyes, and dazzling
dimples. He’s athletic in a soccer player / crew-rower sort of way. Fit and
muscular without being too bulky, tall, suave,
sophisticated, confident, and very rich. He wears fine, custom suits. He is a
dominant and enjoys commanding Evie sexually. He’s very demanding, is always in
control, and always gets what he wants, but he’s a loner, and so is very alone in the world.</div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>CHARLEY BAKER: </b>Charley is
the exact opposite of Ford, and is Ford’s best friend. Charley has shaggy brown hair and sexy stubble. He
speaks in a Southern drawl. Charley is a very large and muscular biker, who
wears tight, worn jeans, black biker boots, and a grey fitted tee-shirt that
shows off his big chest. He is fun, boisterous, and outwardly loving and
affectionate. And he’s in love with Ford, from afar. But that "afar" doesn't last once Evie comes along and is determined to get the two together. He and Ford share Evie,
and Evie becomes the conduit that helps Charley and Ford have a...deeper...relationship. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><u>CASTING:</u></b></div>
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<b><u><br /></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Evie, I'd pick Scarlett Johanson. Evie is a badass in her own way, and has had a bit of a rough life. But she's also soft and vulnerable, and capable of a deep and accepting love. I think ScarJo could pull off the dichotomy of Evie's character brilliantly. </div>
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<br /></div>
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For Ford...I just can't. Ford's most defining feature--other than his nearly supernatural gorgeousness--is his dimples. I looked for dimpled actors, but none that I can find are quite right. Probably anyone considered right for Christian Grey would work for Ford too, except that Ford is older than Christian by a few years. And, by the way, Ford was written long before I ever met Christian. :) </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For Charley, this one's easier...Jenson Ackles (Dean from Supernatural), but with one change. (hey, this is fantasy!) Dean/Jenson's got the right amazing looks, fun, breezy attitude--nearly a big puppy dog--for Charley Baker, but I'd need a much larger, bulkier version of Jenson. Don't get me wrong, Jenson's built juuuusssttt fiiiiiinnnnee, but Charley is physically a really large guy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So there you go! My fantasy cast for Come When Called. If you have any suggestions for my brooding, dominant, dimpled Ford, PLEASE leave me comments!! I want to know. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<3 Piper</div>
Piper Tracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13264413887328094255noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-2948729694542910792013-12-18T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-18T00:00:15.886-05:00When the Cover Gods get it RightAnd I mean REALLY right. Especially since we're talking about casting characters, I pictured Cobie Smulders (Robin Scherbatsky from How I Met Your Mother) as my heroine in my February 2014 release from Harlequin Medicals MELTING THE ICE QUEEN'S HEART.<br />
<br />
Dr. Virginia Potter was the beautiful brunette from HIMYM.<br />
<br />
Except for the whole Canadian thing and the hatred of children. ;)<br />
<br />
I was worried about the cover. It's just me.<br />
<br />
And then I got sent this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tEZtLEQpB1gyZ5NwNB419kOCs4EgA-54geAU_eCWBzlIIjkWvWZexuHoVv5J17S3DB5VPkbA_uC_AFayysqtMmEA9pVA9IUBIzWz7lMsB78JoQTyVoZ568Pu-AgQLHh8VhyvCu227g/s1600/MeltingGood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0tEZtLEQpB1gyZ5NwNB419kOCs4EgA-54geAU_eCWBzlIIjkWvWZexuHoVv5J17S3DB5VPkbA_uC_AFayysqtMmEA9pVA9IUBIzWz7lMsB78JoQTyVoZ568Pu-AgQLHh8VhyvCu227g/s320/MeltingGood.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>
<br />
Perfecto.<br />
<br />
This is Dr. Virginia Potter Chief of Surgery, the Ice Queen, as she's known by the rest of the medical professionals in her hospital.<br />
<br />
I was swooning over this cover. I love it.<br />
<br />
And I LOVE when the cover Gods really, really get it right. I do know my Pinterest boards do help them too! ;)<br />
<br />
If you're interested in the rest of the cast you can see it <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/amyruttan/melting-the-ice-queens-heart/">here.</a><br />
<br />
And you can find out more about the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Melting-Ice-Queens-Heart-Ruttan-ebook/dp/B00EFPVCGM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1387333522&sr=1-1&keywords=melting+the+ice+queen%27s+heart">here</a><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
It started with a kiss… </div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Having left his humanitarian posting in Africa to raise his two orphaned nieces in San Francisco, Dr. Gavin Brice has enough on his plate without an inconvenient attraction to his new boss! The frosty Dr. Virginia Potter clearly disapproves of his maverick ways - but with one amazing kiss, the ice begins to thaw….</div>
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">You can find out more about Amy at her <a href="http://www.amyruttan.com/">website</a> or follow her on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ruttanamy">Twitter</a>.</span></div>
Amy Ruttanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02011874993120273623noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-57893030772318874122013-12-11T01:07:00.002-05:002013-12-11T01:07:33.050-05:00Looking for Mr. RightThis subject, who we would cast as the hero in the movie version of one of our books, is like the best. idea. evah...<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whoever came up with it... *smooch*</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I mean, come on, who wouldn't love the research involved in writing a blog post like this? When else can I enter search terms like, "Benjamin Bratt nekked" or, "Did Esai Morales ever do porn?" and not feel even slightly guilty? These are serious actors, but if one of them was going to play Xbal Montegro in the movie version of <i><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/jaguar-in-the-sun.html" target="_blank">Jaguar in the Sun</a></i>, book four in the <a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/series/unveiled-seductions.html" target="_blank">Unveiled Seductions</a> series, I'd need to know if they have... well... the goods to do the part justice. Xbal is the kind of man who'll take you up against a door or on his jaguar god altar if the urge strikes, so yeah, I'd have to break out the casting couch.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I said before, *smooches* to whoever gave me this line of thought. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But, on a slightly more serious note, I'm pretty sure Benjamin Bratt would fit the bill really well. Here's the description of Xbal, as the heroine Cassandra watches him approach:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i>Xbal
Montegro wasn’t exceptionally tall in the world of the fey, being just an inch
or so taller than Cassie’s five-foot-eight-plus-heels, but the way he carried
himself made that unimportant. And although he wasn’t handsome in the way so
many of the male inhabitants of the faie side of the Veil were, she found him
more beautiful than any other man she knew. The broad forehead, high cheekbones
and slightly hooked nose were balanced by a firm, determined jaw and sensual
mouth, which had a deeply bowed upper lip and almost too-full lower. It was the
kind of mouth that on a lesser man would look effeminate. On Xbal it simply
looked delicious and gave his harsh, copper-hued visage warmth. Warmth that was
now echoed in his eyes as he came to greet her.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">See? The mouth might be a little off, but the rest is spot-on. I'd post a picture of him here, but somehow I don't think he'd appreciate it--not with the 'nekked' and 'porn' references above. Not until they're ready to cast the movie... then he'll thank me.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Hopefully on that casting couch...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Just kidding!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sort of...</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Anya aka Bootie Hotness</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Chapter">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Book four in the Unveiled
Seductions series.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Cassandra
Solinar has a bucket list and jaguar god Xbal Montegro is on it. About to
undergo an essential rite she won’t survive, she wants to wring every ounce of
pleasure out of the time left. Including discovering if Xbal’s sex magic
technique is as good as rumored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s
no hardship for Xbal to accept Cassandra’s invitation for one erotic encounter,
but far more difficult to let her go once he gets a taste of the explosive
passion between them. Now he’s determined to hold on to her, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Cassie
can’t tell Xbal the truth about what she’s about to do. It’s illegal, but
without her death the entire world will perish. It’s a job she’s been preparing
for from birth, but the loss will be greater now. For in Xbal she finds a
soul-deep connection she doesn’t want to lose, and the one thing she made a
point of <i>not</i> putting on her bucket
list—love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">
</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">A Romantica® <b>paranormal erotic romance</b> from Ellora’s
Cave<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
Anya Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07403006009807384703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-51503541752657966602013-12-01T21:11:00.001-05:002013-12-01T21:11:31.350-05:00A cast of characters for my books?The December theme here on the Cabal of Hotness blog is casting the characters of our books using real-life actors. But here's the thing: I purposely don't "cast" my characters. Maybe I'm weird, but I feel like assigning them to an actor limits me. I know what they look like, and I tell my readers enough so they know too, but also so they can form their own picture.<br />
<br />
If I said my hero looked like Gerard Butler, as a reader I would think you'd attribute certain personality traits to that hero based on what you've seen Gerard Butler do in the past, whether as himself or one of the characters he's played.<br />
<br />
Am I nuts in thinking that?<br />
<br />
Maybe. But in the spirit of the theme, let's imagine who could play Rob from Underneath It All. Here's the skinny on Rob:<br />
<br />
- professional hockey player<br />
- 5'9", 210 pounds (aka stocky)<br />
- olive skin tone<br />
- dark brown hair<br />
- brown eyes<br />
- Italian descent<br />
<br />
I found a guy for Rob's cover. This is him:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9jiFSgIdswWddTniYh99IO5LpJeA-HpfhH_VnuKx7cBnXUuqDykbNCsWMQzUYyIIsqvF8eSnDv74YZgYR2ZHw7x6d54p4NhnKc6Hk5aCIwQR3aIOMR29-I7kFS4E-0ythAlyZy1971HLVyQD/s1600/Underneath+It+All-FINAL+COVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9jiFSgIdswWddTniYh99IO5LpJeA-HpfhH_VnuKx7cBnXUuqDykbNCsWMQzUYyIIsqvF8eSnDv74YZgYR2ZHw7x6d54p4NhnKc6Hk5aCIwQR3aIOMR29-I7kFS4E-0ythAlyZy1971HLVyQD/s320/Underneath+It+All-FINAL+COVER.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<i>What do you think? How did I do?</i></div>
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The reason I liked this "Rob" was the facial expression. Rob, though a sweetheart, has a bit of "I'm hot and I know it" to him, and the eyes, the little smirk etc on this guy capture that perfectly. I can't think of an actor who would give me the same impression.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My heroines are even harder. I know what they look like, but I tend to describe my heroes more than my heroines. I guess the way I look at it, is -- most of my readers are female. They want to hear about the man, not the woman who's going to steal their book boyfriend away from them, as all heroines do.</div>
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Do you prefer, as a reader, to draw your own conclusions or do you enjoy having the author compare him to a real-life person when describing him in the book? I'm curious to hear your answers!</div>
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-- Cassandra</div>
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<a href="http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com/">http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com</a> </div>
<br />Cassandra Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11261191490396335404noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-11662987316639528602013-11-23T04:30:00.000-05:002013-11-23T04:30:00.406-05:00The Perfect Proposition?On The Second Day of Pre-Release...the author gave to me...The Perfect Proposition! Maybe...<br />
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How would you approach a man you find exceedingly attractive,
intelligent and downright sexy, especially if your sole purpose was to get him
into bed? Would you take the stealth approach, making your way with studied
nonchalance around the room until you’re within range, strike up innocuous
conversation and then reel him in with your wit, charm and the come-hither look
in your eyes? Or would you hit the dance floor and put on a show, telling him
with sultry glances it’s all for him?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The heroine in my upcoming release, <i><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/jaguar-in-the-sun.html">Jaguar in
the Sun</a></i>, book four in the <a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/series/unveiled-seductions.html">Unveiled
Seductions series</a>, available December 4, 2013, doesn’t have time for all
that. She’s on a strict timetable, and knows it’s now or never if she wants to
get a taste of Xbal Montegro, not to mention experience his <i>atraspa</i>, a special type of sex magic
that takes centuries to master.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cassie’s very clear-sighted about the whole thing:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Since she’d been distracted when
she left the temple, she’d forgotten to throw up a shield and the drizzle had
turned her previously sleek hair into a mass of waves but she didn’t care. It
wasn’t a big deal, just a small detail and one she didn’t think would really
matter. In her experience a man didn’t care that much about how a woman’s hair
looked when she was propositioning him.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And she’s decided on the direct approach… very direct. At
his office, this is the beginning of her proposition:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Cassie folded her hands on her lap
and crossed her legs, not bothering to adjust the edges of her skirt when they
fell open to mid-thigh. Xbal’s gaze remained on her face. A little
disappointing but not surprising. This was a man who didn’t ogle or stare, was
as cool as the proverbial cucumber.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“Another of your brainwaves for a
concert at the Midnight Café, needing to be put together at a moment’s notice?”<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Amusement added another layer of
richness to his voice and Cassie shifted, glancing down at her hands in case
the heat of rising desire showed in her eyes.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>“You could say that, I guess,
although I will tell you I’ve put a great deal of thought into this idea.” She
couldn’t help the answering laughter in her tone, knowing what she was about to
say. Looking at him through half-lowered lids, wanting to see his reaction, she
said, “I actually came by to see if you’d be interested in having sex with me
today.”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wow. Not sure I’d be able to be so bold, but there’s a
really good reason why she doesn’t have time to shilly-shally. And I guess you’re
wondering how she follows that up, and whether Xbal takes her up on the offer
or not. Let’s just say his reaction isn’t quite what she’s expecting, but that’s
not necessarily a bad thing!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What would your perfect proposition be? I’d love to hear, so
tell me in the comments!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tomorrow I’ll be at the <a href="http://darkertemptations.wordpress.com/">Darker Temptations</a> blog,
giving you a little peek more of <i><a href="http://www.ellorascave.com/jaguar-in-the-sun.html">Jaguar in the Sun</a></i>,
including the official excerpt, which will give you an idea of Xbal’s reaction to
Cassie’s proposition and where it leads. And for the next ten days I’ll be
here, there and everywhere on my Twelve Days of Pre-Release. Watch out for me,
and say hi!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anya Richards<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.anyarichards.com/"><i>Journeys Through Seduction</i></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoHyperlink">Follow me on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AnyaRwrites">Twitter</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="MsoHyperlink">Like me on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anya-Richards/198866786907326">Facebook</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<h3>
Jaguar In The Sun Blurb:</h3>
<div class="Chapter">
<span lang="EN-US">Jaguar
in the Sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ChapterSubtitle">
<span lang="EN-US">Anya
Richards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US">Book four in the Unveiled
Seductions series.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Cassandra
Solinar has a bucket list and jaguar god Xbal Montegro is on it. About to
undergo an essential rite she won’t survive, she wants to wring every ounce of
pleasure out of the time left. Including discovering if Xbal’s sex magic
technique is as good as rumored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s
no hardship for Xbal to accept Cassandra’s invitation for one erotic encounter,
but far more difficult to let her go once he gets a taste of the explosive
passion between them. Now he’s determined to hold on to her, no matter what.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Cassie
can’t tell Xbal the truth about what she’s about to do. It’s illegal, but
without her death the entire world will perish. It’s a job she’s been preparing
for from birth, but the loss will be greater now. For in Xbal she finds a
soul-deep connection she doesn’t want to lose, and the one thing she made a
point of <i>not</i> putting on her bucket
list—love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span lang="EN-US">A Romantica® <b>paranormal erotic romance</b> from Ellora’s
Cave<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQMx4Rsfujfl3kGRsCWyLfQ40mUdIrQC5Hxu1gBnk6nfJSSCc2w1M6quJvdfomlDKtrCw-aq0wO5nQ5ijxiuZho0CZ9DzMf-uILEuJyQSGJXVo41VS2q0-6TqdoubxCmhQ3q-vdoNvtA/s1600/USbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQMx4Rsfujfl3kGRsCWyLfQ40mUdIrQC5Hxu1gBnk6nfJSSCc2w1M6quJvdfomlDKtrCw-aq0wO5nQ5ijxiuZho0CZ9DzMf-uILEuJyQSGJXVo41VS2q0-6TqdoubxCmhQ3q-vdoNvtA/s320/USbanner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<i><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></i></div>
Anya Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07403006009807384703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-2439408133289712132013-11-13T03:30:00.000-05:002013-11-13T03:30:00.775-05:00I am Leo, Hear me Snore<div class="MsoNormal">
So, I had to look up exactly what my personality, as a Leo,
is supposed to be and all I can say is I want to be that when I grow up.
Apparently I’m supposed to be a confident, courageous and ambitious attention
whore, who likes to control everything, live large and dispense that largess to
all my friends. I should be constantly craving other people’s company and work
well in groups, of which (of course) I am in control of, and never, ever take
orders. If, for some strange reason, I find my life falling into a routine I
will create excitement and drama of my own…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yeah…that all sounds far to energetic for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I don’t know. I guess maybe true aficionados would tell me
that the description I looked at was just a guide, and my real Leo personality
depends on how the planets were aligned at the moment I was born. And, you know
what? I’m quite open to the possibility. I have no clue how the universe really
works, so who am I to say it’s all hooey? But there is one thing I don’t think
horoscopes can take into consideration, and that’s how a person is raised and
their experiences during their formative years. How can that not have an impact
on how a person’s character develops?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, the truth is, if I’m a lion I’m that sleepy one
lying under a rock, wondering if anyone else is going after antelopes today,
rather than the lioness leading the hunt. I’m more the Cowardly Lion than this
one:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpQvVe0sM5mtiWp2hGdOp7OmR2FlMDXOObXpRkQtlh3-TF_hMY1fzjjkjc6LAvxzFI9PHH6QwsdUsh7_puS9GWA1CPJHRex2WrjSqxD5KtpVNtCz2W0cwN4M9iDhY5aXj1JCXlqJjldE/s1600/Charging-Lion-800x1043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpQvVe0sM5mtiWp2hGdOp7OmR2FlMDXOObXpRkQtlh3-TF_hMY1fzjjkjc6LAvxzFI9PHH6QwsdUsh7_puS9GWA1CPJHRex2WrjSqxD5KtpVNtCz2W0cwN4M9iDhY5aXj1JCXlqJjldE/s320/Charging-Lion-800x1043.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
As for those control issues… my friends will tell you one of
my favorite sayings (said with my Jamaican accent) is, “Anyting dat yuh like.”
And I actually mean it! If there’s drama going down, I don’t mind watching, but
I try very, very hard not to create any. Although with my friends I feel safe
to throw the occasional hissy-fit, I also don’t like to do anything too
Diva-ish in public. I will swing my claws in defense of those I love, but it has to be a dire situation, worthy of the exertion!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I had that wad of cash Leos are supposed to have (because
we love swag, apparently) I certainly would share it with my friends, but guys,
don’t hold your breath waiting for me to get rich. Remember, I’m more like this…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx79MSwTDTxM9VVmrcErTXhLNsIBBSJvT1eWCdjMT7gnk537UOePI_NNBBS1t-uWSx8NiEJW4pGmxd0TTbMjwq76LWHDDpiP5pZEQE8Ivoy739Fd2CqKIN6G7TEHpiFI94mXPP7osmbw/s1600/sleeping+lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAx79MSwTDTxM9VVmrcErTXhLNsIBBSJvT1eWCdjMT7gnk537UOePI_NNBBS1t-uWSx8NiEJW4pGmxd0TTbMjwq76LWHDDpiP5pZEQE8Ivoy739Fd2CqKIN6G7TEHpiFI94mXPP7osmbw/s1600/sleeping+lion.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
…than like this…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkRkRSvFLWDMjwnJyUvN0dnxuC-lE8KUH9-LmQq_HZ7OdLtvGuVLRhojNrSs5OHhCdWIEDUcsYX-pbN_M80nMkTav2L5GO7M7WewLfW8_MBSfSdCTdCQ3JXuXUjCp3kA3GNh5ZE1G_Ic/s1600/9FFCF00Z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkRkRSvFLWDMjwnJyUvN0dnxuC-lE8KUH9-LmQq_HZ7OdLtvGuVLRhojNrSs5OHhCdWIEDUcsYX-pbN_M80nMkTav2L5GO7M7WewLfW8_MBSfSdCTdCQ3JXuXUjCp3kA3GNh5ZE1G_Ic/s320/9FFCF00Z.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
And of course, this is just how I see myself. One thing I’ve
learned is that perception is everything, and each of us sees things from a
different angle. But I still say, “I am Leo, hear me snore!”<o:p></o:p></div>
Anya Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07403006009807384703noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-59439507891401484202013-11-11T00:30:00.000-05:002013-11-11T00:30:00.248-05:00Love Signs<span style="font-size: small;">I'm an Aquarian and proud of it. Sure we are *unique* a little bit odd and can be way out there at times. But that's what makes the Aquarian so special. I'm told that I see things differently or that someone had never thought about a possibility until I mentioned it. I think it can be hard for others to connect with us and us with them. Even though we are very social, we tend to be somewhat inner focused. As they say, still waters. So when you do connect with someone or they "get you" you hang on to them with all your might.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"> <i> </i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Aquarius is not an astrological sign of duality,
consequently the Water Bearers were not, like Sag, born under the influence of
a "double" sign, although they're sometimes even more contrary and
contradictory than the Archers. Two sides aren't really enough for the
Uranus-ruled men and women. It's easy to be-come bored, just knocking around
with two of yourself. The typical Aquarian has a dozen or so personalities. It
would be mundane to possess only a couple, and Aquarius is a sign which is in
no way related to the mundane. Water Bearers defy mediocrity (and hate hypocrisy),
being more closely related to the marvelous, to all magic and madness. They
are, in a word, different.</i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>
~~~Goodman</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F55Rhu0Q8wQ12tcjFM04cHhgmxc-Wafyq7x3Y_yENQNEXSZY92koCcbH12vp5YxBABY68lQlK_6tk7HfIIWPvTThI4Jj-xqX0jFvvBjtaMOReYrnPX7ZFRmj06oSQex50QVpa7MsvFg/s1600/button-Aquarius.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_F55Rhu0Q8wQ12tcjFM04cHhgmxc-Wafyq7x3Y_yENQNEXSZY92koCcbH12vp5YxBABY68lQlK_6tk7HfIIWPvTThI4Jj-xqX0jFvvBjtaMOReYrnPX7ZFRmj06oSQex50QVpa7MsvFg/s1600/button-Aquarius.gif" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">It's also said that Aquarians are the most passionate lovers. Did you just snort your drink through your nose on that one? Really, can those computer analytical, black and white type Aquarians be passionate? Oh yes, once you get past all that fluff and stuff. You're in for a real treat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I guess being an Air sign suits us well. But don't ever think we're 'air heads' uh-uh. I'm in a relationship with a Fire sign, a Sag. We fit well. Yes, his fire heats up my air and sometimes it can be very explosive. We don't fight often but when we do...well no need to elaborate. I'm lucky his Sag ways accept my Aquarian ways.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">Love. Sun signs. Love Signs. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
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<![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="line-height: 115%;">Love
is man's and woman's deepest need. It's not the threat of illness or poverty that
crushes the human spirit, but the fear that there is no one who truly cares -
no one who really understands. We all reach desperately for love, no matter how
healthy, wealthy or wise we may be, because the alternative is loneliness</span></i></span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
~~~Goodman</span></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps my love of purple can be blamed on my stone. Amethyst. </span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO6tF6frq1hsOvnuwv2Aa0jGROUN3ycoZe9WuM0XZGR2zm947OtB1RMLtLYixM8rpU-AukTPkWqncKYSiHnFCMtD9fLShlf4JTUYIZZMkMbKE0OUxXhUCMoULMi-UdpyU7wFFmEdNrJY/s1600/amythest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmO6tF6frq1hsOvnuwv2Aa0jGROUN3ycoZe9WuM0XZGR2zm947OtB1RMLtLYixM8rpU-AukTPkWqncKYSiHnFCMtD9fLShlf4JTUYIZZMkMbKE0OUxXhUCMoULMi-UdpyU7wFFmEdNrJY/s1600/amythest.jpg" /></a></div>
I love flowers. All kinds of them, but the orchid fascinates me...and it is my flower.<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And, it's purple too. I also find it a very sensual flower.</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ilO-Kw4lFEHRO4ieVYQKGARhJA_yqisZeCVy4I6VdEWKh4_NgzvHrqoUVsDNtbo7BIaNvgm_ZDMJucQRnfcMBlvct_RvgDQ_Hh0RpB3rom_e3ZyVcSW-xZTigU9IHo1UtwbZcZwdE50/s1600/Orchid_Phalaenopsis_hybrid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ilO-Kw4lFEHRO4ieVYQKGARhJA_yqisZeCVy4I6VdEWKh4_NgzvHrqoUVsDNtbo7BIaNvgm_ZDMJucQRnfcMBlvct_RvgDQ_Hh0RpB3rom_e3ZyVcSW-xZTigU9IHo1UtwbZcZwdE50/s320/Orchid_Phalaenopsis_hybrid.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYA4xjqYddI5dfSnQ3pI6EGrfJfY2y3u1wbdrcnNO9kHBW5lr8kMx2Bk_S6e4CmD3dMauPb_y3hMGShym00y0ZnvinX9NzRhUGRTJwetMQzB-zIwrK0zIJbrBxzZwxfVF57gzdXqQVlcY/s1600/orchid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Have you ever read Linda Goodman Love Signs? It's a wonderful book that gives insight into the compatibility of each star sign. You can brows her book at this <a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060968960" target="_blank">link</a></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> ~~~</span></span></span><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.harpercollins.com/browseinside/index.aspx?isbn13=9780060968960" target="_blank"> </a></span></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Watch for <i>Four For the Show</i>, coming from Ellora's Cave. Another book set in Desire After Dark, an upscale sex club. <i>Plus One</i>, the first book, is available now. Bit of exciting news, my recent contract with Harlequin Digital for my erotic menage <i>She Wants It</i> with an anticipated release date of Summer 2014! Keep your ear to the tracks.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span> </span></i><br />
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You can find me at:</div>
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<a href="http://www.cristalryder.com/">www.cristalryder.com</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><a href="https://twitter.com/%23%21/CristalRyder"><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;">https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _GoBack;"></span></div>
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<br />
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cabalofhotness.blogspot.ca/">The Cabal of Hotness</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor">https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.jasminejade.com/m-771-cristal-ryder.aspx">Ellora’s Cave</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/storeSearch.html?searchBy=author&qString=Cristal+Ryder">All
Romance ebooks</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cristal-Ryder/e/B005IGG2KS/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1">Amazon</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/cristal-ryder">Barnes & Noble</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard">Goodreads</a></div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sybariteseductions.com/">Sybarite Seductions</a></div>
Shana Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06333638308135601113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-24830493462181031942013-11-08T06:56:00.002-05:002013-11-08T06:56:34.946-05:00I'm a taurus... and that ain't no bull... wait, it is!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I love the stuff websites and books say about the astrological signs. I mean, come on... you can't put all these generalizations on something as silly as a cluster of starts and expect me to believe... hm, wait... does that really say I'm a cuddler?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Taurus loves the rewards of the game. Think physical pleasures and material goods, for those born under this sign revel in delicious excess. They are also a tactile lot, enjoying a tender, even sensual, touch. Taurus adores comfort and likes being surrounded by pleasing, soothing things. Along these lines, they also favor a good meal and a fine wine. The good life in all its guises, whether it's the arts or art of their own making (yes, these folks are artistic as well), is heaven on Earth to the Taurus-born. (from http://www.astrology.com/taurus-sun-sign-zodiac-signs/2-d-d-66950)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Holy crap, okay so many generalizations are sometimes right. I mean yeah, that's pretty much me. Other than the whole excess thing. But have you seen me? Good meals and wine. Yep. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's more... and I'm starting to think these people interviewed me. Just sayin':</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>It's the Bull that serves as the Taurus's mascot, and along with that comes the expectation that these folks are bull-headed and stubborn. Yes, they are. They simply want to get things done, and it's that steady, dogged persistence that winds up being viewed as stubbornness. Bulls are actually among the most practical and reliable members of the zodiac, and they are happy to plod along, as it were, in pursuit of their goals. The good news for Bulls is that once they get to the finish line, they'll swaddle themselves in material goods. A self-indulgent beast? Perhaps, but if you toiled as laboriously as these folks do, you'd need some goodies, too.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, okay, maybe I'm a Taurus through and through. Stubborn, a planner, touchy-feely... Damn it, I hate it when non-science is right! :P</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Who else is a Taurus? Do you agree with the sign's overview?</span>Mimi and Elias Play Learninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17746416897886374854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-77930499037493187092013-11-06T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-06T00:00:02.228-05:00Aries Baby!<div style="text-align: center;">
ARIES BABY!</div>
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March 21 - April 19</div>
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Aries is the first sign of the zodiac, and that's pretty much how those born under this sign see themselves: first. </div>
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<em>Yeah baby! We're first because we're the very best.</em></div>
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Aries are the leaders of the pack, first in line to get things going. Whether or not everything gets done is another question altogether, for an Aries prefers to initiate rather than to complete.</div>
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<em>How did they know that I have a million things that I want to get done?</em> </div>
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Aries is a bundle of energy and dynamism, kind of like a Pied Piper, leading people along with its charm and charisma. The dawning of a new day -- and all of its possibilities -- is pure bliss to an Aries.</div>
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<em>Okay, sooooo I'm not sure with this one. I don't like people following me. It gives me the creeps. And the dawning of a new day? Hell, I still have stuff from <strong>this</strong> day that I didn't finish.</em><br /><br /> The symbol of Aries is the Ram, and that's both good and bad news. Impulsive Aries might be tempted to ram their ideas down everyone's throats without even bothering to ask if they want to know. </div>
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<em>Yes, yes. My ideas are the best. Even if I have to paint you a picture and make-up a song to get you to see reason. I will and you will. Why? Because I know best--about everything.</em></div>
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You're not likely to convince the Ram to soften up; these folks are blunt and to the point. </div>
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<em>I've been told that I don't have a filter. Why would I need one?</em></div>
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Much of Aries' drive to compete and to win comes from its Cardinal Quality. Cardinal Signs love to get things going, and Aries exemplifies this even better than Cancer, Libra or Capricorn.</div>
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<em>Did you read that? We exemplify and blah, blah, blah. We're better than those other signs.</em><br /><br />Taking a peek at Roman mythology, we find that Mars was the God of War. Our man Mars was unafraid to do battle, and much the same can be said for Aries. These folks are bold, aggressive and courageous. They can summon up the inner strength required to take on most anyone, and they'll probably win. Aries do not lack energy or vitality, and they can stay in the game longer than most anyone else. Now that's a winning edge. </div>
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<em>You know what my takeaway from this is? If you want a war call an Aries.</em></div>
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Sadly, Aries won't usually be around for the final victory (defeat? never). These folks will more than likely have bolted to the next project before the first one is done.</div>
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<em>Humph. I wouldn't say bolt. I would say, "Have moved on."</em><br /><br />Aries love physicality, so they won't sit on the sidelines for long, if at all. </div>
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<em>Huh? What? No sitting on the sidelines? Are we talking about Aries? I like to sit.</em></div>
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Making things happen is what it's all about to these folks. Aries are also unafraid of stepping onto new terrain. The challenge inherent in taking on the unknown is heaven on Earth for Rams. </div>
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<em>Great, now back to stuff that I know about. I can take on the world and am not afraid to do it! Who's with me!</em></div>
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Oh, and on the subject of arguing, it's the Ram who will have the last word, so save your breath.</div>
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<em>Of course! My hubby knows best. I can wake him up in the middle of the night to get the last word in.</em><br /><br /> Aries plays as hard as they work. These folks are happiest in a spirited soccer match or engaging in the martial arts. </div>
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<em>Sure. In my head.</em></div>
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The Ram's color is bright red, a sure sign of the fire that breathes within.</div>
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<em>Umm, black. I'm breathing black from within.</em><br /><br /> The great strength of the Aries-born is in their initiative, courage and determination. These folks love to get things going and are fearless along the way. Their dynamism and competitive spirit add considerably to any of their endeavors.</div>
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<em>Yes! All Aries are great. We'll one day take over the world. Now where are my fluffy house shoes?</em></div>
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Information taken from: <a href="http://www.astrology.com/aries-sun-sign-zodiac-signs/2-d-d-66918">http://www.astrology.com/aries-sun-sign-zodiac-signs/2-d-d-66918</a>A. M. Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01332970625605687693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-79963277564592007092013-11-04T08:20:00.000-05:002013-11-04T08:20:17.276-05:00My life as a Virgo...<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This month we're talking about astrological signs. Mine is Virgo, and I always love these descriptions, because really, can't anyone reading this think, "Hey, that sounds like me!". Anyhoo, I pulled this from<span style="color: red;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.gotohoroscope.com/virgo-meanings.html">http://www.gotohoroscope.com/virgo-meanings.html</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> so let's see how true it is!</span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The emblem of Virgo, a virgin holding sheaves of wheat in her hands symbolizes wisdom, garnered in the fields of experience. Like the true virgin, most Virgos are shy and, like a virgin tend to wait to give herself to the perfect lover, Virgo is also idealistic. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wellll.....I can be shy, believe it or not. As to the other part. *cough* Not so much. And I don't think I've been idealistic a day in my life.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">With a Mercury as the ruling planet, people born under this sign are quick thinking and observant. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">People who were born in this period are as a rule generally successful in life. They have keen, good intellects, are very discriminating about those with whom they associate, and in all business matters they have good judgment, and are not easily imposed upon or deceived.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I am quick thinking. It sometimes seems to drive those around me nuts. Easily deceived - I'd agree with that. Mostly because even though I'm optimistic, I'm also cynical.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They are usually materialistic in their views of life, and analyze and reason everything from their own way of thinking outwards. These people are attracted to only that knowledge that can be applied usefully. They will happily share this information with anyone, if it confirms their own usefulness in the world, and brings them eagerly out of their shells. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Analytical? Me? Surely, you jest. *looks around for lightning to strike me down*</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">These people can become good literary critics, being quick to see the weak points. They are extremely fond of harmony in their surroundings, have excellent taste about their house and dress, and always want things in good taste, and elegant. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey look! Maybe I missed my calling. Perhaps instead of writing the books I should be reviewing them. Nah, that doesn't sound like as much fun. And why, thank you for the complement about my excellent taste and natural elegance. ;-)</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Virgos are usually fastidious about their personal appearance, have a great respect for rank and position, and are great supporters of the law and the law's decisions. They usually develop this skill to improve themselves and their surroundings as they place great pride in tangible achievements. These people may spend part of their lives heading off on detours and then suddenly emerge as someone with a remarkable sense of direction. They can adjust easily to change once they find a way of fitting the new situation into their routine. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Considering I have an MBA and have re-made myself over career-wise three times, I'll buy this stuff.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">They are inclined to become wrapped up in themselves and their own ideas, and often become selfish in the close pursuit of their aims. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Doesn't everybody become wrapped up in themselves?</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">These people are more capable of going to extremes in good and evil than any other type. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Surely I fall under the category of good, right? Right? *puts Mistress Hotness whip behind my back*</span><br /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">To people born under this sign love is not dramatic, emotional, or sentimental. Love for them is devotion and will include love of family, friends, and those less fortunate than he or she. There is no pretense involved in how they act or what they say. Marriage is a major commitment; they value their union as both a love relationship and a working partnership. A warm relationship brings out the best in anyone born under this sign because basically they are kind, devoted and very loyal. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This makes us sound like lap dogs.</span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: red; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Disappointment, however, can harden them into a cynic and a skeptic. Virgos consequently become quite critical with themselves as well as with circumstances, due to the effect of such disappointments on a sensitive and discriminating nature.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Okay, this one, I have to admit, is definitely true. I'm aware I can be quite critical. Sometimes I'm not nice or polite in my criticism, either. But I do try to keep others' feelings in mind.</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: red;">Friends</span></b></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: red;">People born under this sign have difficulty making friends. They won't make the first step until they feel absolutely comfortable with this people. Yet when they do make the effort, these people are capable of achieving extraordinary things.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I think the cynical nature of my sign has something to do with this, but I will say that I don't have a big circle of true friends. I don't consider this something I need to change in my life, either.</span><br />
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So there you have it. A snapshot of my supposedly personality...Are you a Virgo? Do you know someone (besides me) who is? What do you think of this assessment?</div>
Cassandra Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11261191490396335404noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-35678547788366294982013-10-20T22:00:00.000-04:002013-10-20T22:00:05.569-04:00Big Cocks and Broomsticks Giveaway Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Welcome to the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>Big Cocks and Broomsticks Giveaway Hop</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>We're at it again... and if you aren't scared by anything else THIS should give you goosebumps. :P All of us working together on something usually promises for talk of boobs, sausage, deep-throating and cumshots! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Fondled and Gobbled: Someone Had To Do It </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>The perfect man—with the imperfect cock and oral skills. The Dom who isn’t a dom, and the man who proves it to him. The alien with dessert-flavored semen and three cocks. The older man (a kajillionaire with a penthouse in Seattle…) who has limitless ability to come all night with his naïve little virgin. A woman on a diet who craves a feast of meat and finds herself five Broadshaft Brothers who can deliver.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>If you’re looking for the perfect romance with the perfect hero and heroine, this isn’t it! This is a series of spoofs, parodies, just-for-fun lighthearted take-offs. It’s for all us longtime, hard-core romance readers who can laugh at the clichés, purple prose and “suspend your disbelief” plot devices that haunt our beloved favorite genre.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><i>Prizes:</i></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>First Prize: $100 Amazon or B&N Giftcard</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Third Prize: $25 </b><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">Amazon or B&N Giftcard</b></div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Mimi and Elias Play Learninghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17746416897886374854noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-54110826517625230422013-10-18T22:19:00.001-04:002013-10-18T22:19:16.891-04:00Romanticon 2013--All the Dirt That's Fit to Print!I get to post the first Cabal post after Romanticon 2013! Ooooh, what should I tell first?<br />
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When I first got to Romanticon and saw my Cabal-mates, I ran to the room they were in and pressed my breasts against... Oh wait. I probably shouldn't tell that one first. <br />
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There was the first breakfast when Cristal and I discussed male/male spectator sex over a plate of sausage. Oh, that's probably not appropriate to bring up. <br />
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Then Danica got humped by a couple of--no, wait...<br />
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I made a bunch of women do terribly naughty with bananas. And Ann Mayburn told them they should put their fingers in--maybe I shouldn't elaborate. <br />
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We had a meeting over breakfast on how to incorporate cumshots into our... Wow. Turns out there's actually not a whole lot I can actually tell you about. <br />
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But you know what?? It was lots of fun and you can experience it next year for yourself! Seriously, it's so much fun. Ellora's Cave puts on a great show. The ladies are all so friendly and fun, and you'll have lots of stories you can't ever tell anyone either!<br />
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Doesn't that sound awesome?<br />
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But here are some pix I *can* share with you! <br />
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Here's what happened when I tried to write in the hotel bar at Romanticon: <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSV0Y9I_BS-i0EpWir-eJTrx7LbG5Ggp3z0z0SfUI8djjyLVIpecUJOTviM7WCsYmRlNVzbaus9vYi9Eusyglsl_n1dIxzyRaSGEOl79owFUqnM9lPJSnErxhxMM5Zc6xcF-a1egIGhc/s1600/IMG_20131012_131428_458+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSV0Y9I_BS-i0EpWir-eJTrx7LbG5Ggp3z0z0SfUI8djjyLVIpecUJOTviM7WCsYmRlNVzbaus9vYi9Eusyglsl_n1dIxzyRaSGEOl79owFUqnM9lPJSnErxhxMM5Zc6xcF-a1egIGhc/s320/IMG_20131012_131428_458+(1).jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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Here's me on my knees in my fancy dress sneaking sparkling wine to the Cabal at the awards ceremony!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiCgnO9ksU5CD2mAQMAPwQ3dRuE56MaJLrAl00OvtSHzx6sbRG9KKWLb9nA3MkKg6nkRsD2h2kjArCydh6z30mHfm8MHRKob2FpaQ0UUOWUSYWYh6ZrBTmgxpZTjAWRhNJZtAifJINUw/s1600/20131012_203347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiCgnO9ksU5CD2mAQMAPwQ3dRuE56MaJLrAl00OvtSHzx6sbRG9KKWLb9nA3MkKg6nkRsD2h2kjArCydh6z30mHfm8MHRKob2FpaQ0UUOWUSYWYh6ZrBTmgxpZTjAWRhNJZtAifJINUw/s320/20131012_203347.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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And finally, here's a story from Romanticon that I am PROUD to share! </div>
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The Cabal of Hotness (including our one male member, Justin Whitfield) won Ellora's Cave Superstar "For the Love of Romance" Awards for our Fondled & Gobbled books!! Here's us on stage receiving our awards:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBzYo5SB0B60twJgfoZpEjeHu2qs2z6J7PY2vkX4-nctRzkvUfE5CINvMLUz2-_CIlU1FHpbBwFsCr4EEeQFfnLbEQ1RM352oXb3JUHVirDLOvt1RPlUTL8v9NdayphJcY3_04PEg24o/s1600/cabal+award+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBzYo5SB0B60twJgfoZpEjeHu2qs2z6J7PY2vkX4-nctRzkvUfE5CINvMLUz2-_CIlU1FHpbBwFsCr4EEeQFfnLbEQ1RM352oXb3JUHVirDLOvt1RPlUTL8v9NdayphJcY3_04PEg24o/s320/cabal+award+2.jpg" width="291" /></a></div>
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Romanticon, until next year when we meet again!</div>
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Piper Tracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13264413887328094255noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-61490185417826370602013-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-12T00:00:02.346-04:00ROMANTICON! WOOT!And yes, it needed the all caps!<br />
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OMG I can't believe it's time for Romanticon. By the time this post goes live it will be two days into one of the most awesome conferences I've been too and I'll be doing the Clockbuster's workshop and then getting ready for the old Hollywood party. I'm in love with my dress for that.<br />
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Okay, so I've only been to one other one and that was RWA in 2008.<br />
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Still, Romanticon rocks. My first time there was in 2011. I was painfully shy, it was the first time away from my youngest and I was NERVOUS.<br />
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Though I got over my nerves fast. A few times when I was missing my baby Rodney made me laugh, because he found out I was just over the border from where he lived, so we shared border crossing stories, or rather he acted out a few which made me almost pee my pants and Angelo (RIP), well he caught me teary eyed on the elevator and cheered me up immensely and we talked about our children. I'm going to miss Angelo.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeaUCAYQwi562bdGHKFHAcgMaWhwVw9EKsKMyVPVI29rxweDfY8l7M-d-lja6tL3c_OiOF6EwerNVFWyU2PsHcQm_0KAfhOkPjgnb6g7rstbMMiJKvLT-0BfDnNUP7tUGVehTwW31XQ/s1600/Cavemen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFeaUCAYQwi562bdGHKFHAcgMaWhwVw9EKsKMyVPVI29rxweDfY8l7M-d-lja6tL3c_OiOF6EwerNVFWyU2PsHcQm_0KAfhOkPjgnb6g7rstbMMiJKvLT-0BfDnNUP7tUGVehTwW31XQ/s320/Cavemen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Besides the bit of homesickness, I met so many amazing people that I'm looking forward to seeing again.<br />
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I'm also going to meeting the Cabal of Hotness face-to-face. Yes, I haven't met any member of the Cabal except Anya Richards (Who's my neighbor and CP) and Cristal Ryder (who is my RWA Chapter mate and CP). I didn't go to Romanticon in 2012 when the Cabal was formed. Cristal Ryder invited me and it sounded crazy. So I emailed Lea Barrymire and she was like "Oh course! More the merrier."<br />
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I don't think Lea knew what she was getting in to! ;)<br />
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This year it's going to be crazier. I know it.<br />
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No hiding in a corner for me. There may be some home sickness, but not that much. I've been on deadlines all this year, fighting some illnesses I won't get into here, so I'm looking forward to letting loose and having a blast!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABIrbImmjQ0c4_4UsK6iQ0oXCY-d_nbUQbIczZzyU1dCDs1G6n6ORfuk9WMmmYkg-FOHPCBehoBXOIeknwhZFYtlbwrt3lgC2TZw4DXC3JNOlQZfPtxT1GJphMjLvA90bn6cBm86mWw/s1600/DSCN0995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABIrbImmjQ0c4_4UsK6iQ0oXCY-d_nbUQbIczZzyU1dCDs1G6n6ORfuk9WMmmYkg-FOHPCBehoBXOIeknwhZFYtlbwrt3lgC2TZw4DXC3JNOlQZfPtxT1GJphMjLvA90bn6cBm86mWw/s320/DSCN0995.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Oh, and a Happy Anniversary to my DH who is home alone with three kids. Yep, today is also my 11th anniversary. Almost forgot about that! ;)<br />
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<br />Amy Ruttanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02011874993120273623noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-11480264559297948252013-10-07T08:09:00.000-04:002013-10-07T08:09:49.170-04:00It's Romanticon Madness week with the Cabal of Hotness!Mornin' all! I'm leaving for Ellora's Cave Romanticon early on Wednesday, as soon as I drop DD off at school. I've never come in this early for a convention - it doesn't officially start til 7pm on Thursday, but I think I'm going to like getting there and settled before the masses descend.<br />
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If you've never been to Romanticon, here's what it's all about: fun, and celebrating the genre we all love so much - romance! Sure, the Cavemen are there, and hey, they're hot, but Romanticon isn't about the Cavemen. It's about Ellora's Cave and their books, it's about the authors, and it's about the readers. It's a three-plus day celebration of all that us publishing/reading types hold dear. And that's why it's so awesome.<br />
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Last year was my first Romanticon, and I'll admit to some nerves. I didn't know what to expect. But now I do, and I intend to have a great, relaxing time. I know a lot more authors and I hope to meet lots more readers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_V9F10XYvbZCeFgFQ7Lv0lnt_ti604VgTJcmMZBwlsGYWIwuNwAj5Umkl4Q1YmAdbiH_c-o4rpKuM2TKb733qGeXdKF9tJxOTEBGyC3XMJ9JW3OZGtAk4zehThyphenhyphenn8ug_1ZGXSf4R3cZAaqEM/s1600/0+2012+RomCon+PHOTOS+138+Kaenar+Shoshanna+CassandraCarr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_V9F10XYvbZCeFgFQ7Lv0lnt_ti604VgTJcmMZBwlsGYWIwuNwAj5Umkl4Q1YmAdbiH_c-o4rpKuM2TKb733qGeXdKF9tJxOTEBGyC3XMJ9JW3OZGtAk4zehThyphenhyphenn8ug_1ZGXSf4R3cZAaqEM/s1600/0+2012+RomCon+PHOTOS+138+Kaenar+Shoshanna+CassandraCarr.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaener Langford, Shoshanna Evers, and me, last year on Friday night</td></tr>
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I want to talk to the publisher, the awesome Raelene Gorlinsky, to find out some of the marketing endeavors Ellora's Cave has coming up. With my background I'm always interested in what the publishers are doing to push our books in this crowded marketplace. I recently did a promotion in conjunction with Ellora's Cave where the first book in my Buckin' Bull Riders series, Impact, was free for two weeks. It was downloaded thousands of times, and I'm hoping to snag some new readers after they read the book. I'm grateful Ellora's Cave gave me the opportunity to do that.<br />
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So let's see...what are the highlights of the conference? Don't go by these times, I could be wrong about some of them. I could probably look them up, but I'm running on five hours of sleep, it's 7:45am, and I'm not a morning person.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXtVP1BYy97zgdcdD17XU3gYWuvj8mJNtkDQwHLMc6wAOq-doV0shAV3CtjZXF-EIUMzoj18LHuLLgtBDPhT0vaJVoMqWGHv9h8DULnbf5z2i6RNRh-ajMJPDsqNqO-VUt5bvGKzz9bZc69Gi/s1600/2012-10-14_19-57-06_376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXtVP1BYy97zgdcdD17XU3gYWuvj8mJNtkDQwHLMc6wAOq-doV0shAV3CtjZXF-EIUMzoj18LHuLLgtBDPhT0vaJVoMqWGHv9h8DULnbf5z2i6RNRh-ajMJPDsqNqO-VUt5bvGKzz9bZc69Gi/s1600/2012-10-14_19-57-06_376.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cavemen at the Sunday Night Bingo party. Yes, it's a pajama party.</td></tr>
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Thursday, 7pm Meet and Greet - this is the first official event of Romanticon, where all the authors, readers, and Cavemen mingle. There's karaoke, but I'm self-aware enough to know I can't sing and nice enough not to subject people to listening to me.<br />
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Friday, 1-2pm Cover Model Shoot - pick two Cavemen, wrag your arms (and hey, legs) around them, and the awesome EC Art Director Syneca Featherstone will snap some pictures. This event is repeated on Saturday at the same time.<br />
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Friday, 3-3:50pm Ann Mayburn, me, Cristal Ryder and Piper Trace present Zero to Hero, How to Make Your Hero a Hero in Bed. We're hoping to get some good discussion going here. And Piper is bringing bananas. We can't tell you why.<br />
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Friday night New Bollywood party with costumes, dancing, and Cavemen.<br />
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Saturday night Old Hollywood party and awards ceremony with costumes, dancing, Cavemen, and lots of lovely awards being given out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr6c9dT9ICs1HbhqzJElKhmak4oxim_mEa1pwf0vdkH56hHm2w4iaJd5VMcpVApm_Ji16Ng9lNf9mc-RNDmZzj6mXXNg0ve4jmXqv7zfqBH9TsxkMXCl8Yec2pWitnQCR4SoOME21hYLAwcxJ/s1600/9220_10151124540051748_507423182_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPr6c9dT9ICs1HbhqzJElKhmak4oxim_mEa1pwf0vdkH56hHm2w4iaJd5VMcpVApm_Ji16Ng9lNf9mc-RNDmZzj6mXXNg0ve4jmXqv7zfqBH9TsxkMXCl8Yec2pWitnQCR4SoOME21hYLAwcxJ/s1600/9220_10151124540051748_507423182_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention that the Cavemen perform? Three times? Oh yeah......</td></tr>
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I'm not big on costumes, but I love the ones I have for these parties. I can't wait to see what everyone looks like. And whose saris stay together. I didn't get a sari for New Bollywood night. Knowing me, I'd trip over it and we'd have a dominoes situation. It wouldn't be pretty. People are talking about a really wide variety of costumes for the Old Hollywood party, and they sound really cool.<br />
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Sunday, 12-4 Sexporium (aka the big book signing!) with all the authors. I think I'll have two different print books there this year, plus cover flats for three more. Plus, I just might have some special swag for readers who buy a book (or an ebook) that day!<br />
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Sunday night Bingo! Look for the lavender basket sponsored by me, Cara Carnes, and Rebecca Royce!<br />
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Whew! Then we all drive/fly home on Monday and collapse. Not likely to happen, unfortunately, since many of us have evil day jobs, kids, homes, pets, and husbands (or wives - hey, I'm equal opportunity). We'll sort through our pictures, keeping some for blackmail - did I say that out loud? - and posting some on our websites, blogs, and social media.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bWt3toeerYq5-9iRiljm5v5CRMjQ0r_K2YEce8Wn1hVwaJN8FEA3lr2yzsE2rjerPLKpWCyQY0Q1zZJwy8q1rV4OzSX8NyKVN6pYMDolUxuwTP7VVqwRHwcYGry0qcqdEQjV8xQI2LBm9CyU/s1600/IMAG0146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bWt3toeerYq5-9iRiljm5v5CRMjQ0r_K2YEce8Wn1hVwaJN8FEA3lr2yzsE2rjerPLKpWCyQY0Q1zZJwy8q1rV4OzSX8NyKVN6pYMDolUxuwTP7VVqwRHwcYGry0qcqdEQjV8xQI2LBm9CyU/s1600/IMAG0146.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The totally awesome Cara Carnes and I at the book signing last year. Can you tell I have a raging migraine?</td></tr>
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You can follow the Cabal of Hotness on Twitter at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/CabalofHotness">http://www.twitter.com/CabalofHotness</a>, Ellora's Cave at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/EllorasCave">http://www.twitter.com/EllorasCave</a>, or me at <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr">http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr</a>. Then there's Facebook. My personal page (where I'll probably post pics since it's way easier from my phone) is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BooksByCassandraCarr?hc_location=stream">https://www.facebook.com/BooksByCassandraCarr?hc_location=stream</a>, Ellora's Cave is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EllorasCavePublishing">https://www.facebook.com/EllorasCavePublishing</a>. Lastly, some authors, readers, and EC itself will be putting stuff up on Pinterest, Instagram...<br />
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Hope to see lots of you there! If not, attend virtually.Cassandra Carrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11261191490396335404noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-57326245989992951432013-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-02T00:00:01.027-04:00EC Romanticon 2012: Reminiscing
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This time last year I was biting my fingernails down to the
nubs. I was packing and getting ready for my first author conference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The reason for my angst? I didn’t have a book out yet, so I
was applying the title “author” very loosely. I had a book, but I was
entrenched in edits and it wouldn’t be released in time for the conference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My other worries? I was going to another state to spend the
weekend with a bunch of people that I didn’t know. I would be forced to make
(gasp) new friends. And since this was my first ever conference I didn’t know
what to expect or bring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My only saving grace was that I had hooked up with another
author as roomies. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“At least I would have
someone to talk to some of the time,”</i> I thought to myself. Lea Barrymire
was a newbie author like me and this was also her first conference. So, putting
on my big girl panties, I packed and headed out to Ohio to Ellora’s Cave
Romanticon 2012.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I can honestly say I left a scared and timid woman and came
back with new found confidence. I was able to meet a bunch of other authors who
were just as crazy and quirky as I was. I danced and I laughed so hard that I
cried a couple of times. I was even mistaken for a superstar by Danica Avet
(and no, I will never let her live that down). Lea and I were walking by and she mistook us for some other authors and called us over. We've all been buddies ever since. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But I think the funniest meet was Piper Trace. True story: Lea and I are sitting at a table and writing and Piper comes over, happy to have some authors to write with, reaches into her computer bag, pulls out a diaper and cusses. She then sits her computer on the table and says, "I want you bitches to guard my laptop with your life. I'll be right back." What else could we say but "ok". She didn't come back for 45 minutes LOL.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not only did I have a blast, but I joined a group of smexy
authors and we’ve since become a force to be reckoned with! As the Cabal of
Hotness, we’ve put out 5 anthologies called Fondled and Gobbled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Writing can be a very lonely world, but luckily I now have
friends to bounce ideas off, exchange crits and yes, even participate in plots
to take over the world. LOL. It’s been wonderful. And I’ve loved every minute!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t know what I’ll experience this time around, but I
can't wait to find out. Now, off to pack!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Griffin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
A. M. Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01332970625605687693noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6005069324433799027.post-31212483889711125802013-09-27T06:30:00.000-04:002013-09-27T06:30:02.019-04:00The Cajun Hotness Theme Song MontageWell, it isn't really a montage because I'm not clipping things together, but I couldn't think of a better word. I happen to adore music, in case you didn't know that already. I do a What's Playing Wednesday blog post where I post songs I'm listening to or I follow along with a musical theme and I just recently started Freaky on Fridays where I post songs that get me ready for the weekend.<br />
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So when I saw this was the blog theme for this week...I could barely contain myself. Because really, I can't pick just one song. There are too many that appeal to different parts of my personality. Like this first song appeals to my geeky side. I love 70s rock, grew up listening to it all and this one is just like...I don't know, it's a perfect one when I'm feeling all groovy and cool...well, in my mind<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ln8-Y-fIbqM" width="420"></iframe>
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Love me some Blue Oyster Cult. It was actually one of the first albums I owned. It wasn't this one but Fire of Unknown Origin...okay, you didn't want to know that...Moving on!<br />
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If I'm feeling angsty and like I want to take on the world? That's when I bring in my heavy metal stuff. It could be anything from old school Black Sabbath (Paranoid is a fantastic album and I learned to play the title song on bass) to modern day Slipknot or Avenged Sevenfold. But for today's post, I'm going with A7X (Avenged Sevenfold). "Bat Country" is just...well, it's a great metal song and I think the video is kind of fun. And if you can't look at M. Shadows (the lead singer) and see cuteness, then we need to get your eyes checked, sha!<br />
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But I'm not always all hardcore. I like to get groovy, or pretend to at least. I'm not much of a dancer and if you listen to Griffin, I pseudo-dance...you know, stand there and shake particular parts of my body in what I think (or hope) is a rhythmic fashion. I feel like that guy in the Dos Equis commercials. "I don't always dance, but when I do, I try to pretend I know what I'm doing."<br />
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As for what I listen to...hm, one song guaranteed to get me off my butt and moving is probably Jay-Z's "Can I Get A"...It's because the song came out when I was in college and when we used to go drinking, it was what usually played.<br />
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I could keep this up all day. There are songs I have to listen to when I'm driving (and those I can't listen to if I want to avoid a ticket), then I have woe-is-me-I'm-so-depressed music (usually hair band power ballads), or I'm-writing-so-fast-I-can't-even-think music. And then I have songs that just make me feel kind of happy and bouncy.<br />
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Like the last one. It's by the Bouncing Souls and we used to sing at college football games. Okay, yes, I was a band nerd. I was in band from fifth grade until my 3rd year of college with only a short break in 10th grade. I'm a band nerd and I'm proud of it. And "Ole" is lots of fun.<br />
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So, what kind of music mood are you in today?Danica Avethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04129612632580681776noreply@blogger.com1