It'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.

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.

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.

Kaener Langford, Shoshanna Evers, and me, last year on Friday night

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.

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.

The Cavemen at the Sunday Night Bingo party. Yes, it's a pajama party.

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.

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.

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.

Friday night New Bollywood party with costumes, dancing, and Cavemen.

Saturday night Old Hollywood party and awards ceremony with costumes, dancing, Cavemen, and lots of lovely awards being given out.

Did I mention that the Cavemen perform? Three times? Oh yeah......

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.

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!

Sunday night Bingo! Look for the lavender basket sponsored by me, Cara Carnes, and Rebecca Royce!

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.

The totally awesome Cara Carnes and I at the book signing last year. Can you tell I have a raging migraine?

You can follow the Cabal of Hotness on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/CabalofHotness, Ellora's Cave at http://www.twitter.com/EllorasCave, or me at http://www.twitter.com/Cassandra_Carr. Then there's Facebook. My personal page (where I'll probably post pics since it's way easier from my phone) is https://www.facebook.com/BooksByCassandraCarr?hc_location=stream, Ellora's Cave is https://www.facebook.com/EllorasCavePublishing. Lastly, some authors, readers, and EC itself will be putting stuff up on Pinterest, Instagram...

Hope to see lots of you there! If not, attend virtually.

Ideas - the bane and lifeblood of every writer's existence

It's funny - I rarely remember exactly where I got the specific ideas for my books. They come from so many places. Some pop into my head as I'm writing the book and others are stewing in there for weeks or months. Additionally, if I was smart (and sometimes I am!) I might've written down the idea to get it out of my head.

Some writers are plagued with too many ideas and not enough time. I'm one of those. Others are plagued by the opposite problem - they finish a book and then say "Uhhhh, what next?" But no matter which camp you fall into, your ideas, or as they're known in writing circles, your "high concepts", can make or break your career.

When I decided to write about bull riders, I tried to come up with a unique angle. Other, more well-known authors were already writing about them and I didn't want people to pick up my book, roll their eyes and put it back down. I've mentioned this before but perhaps not here, so I'll go over the story behind my bull rider books again.

Collision, book 2 in the series, was originally book 1. I thought about the idea of two athletes together, but wanted to do something different than, say, a female barrel racer and a male bull rider. I wanted people from two different worlds. How about a figure skater and a bull rider? Bingo! And Collision was born. I wrote Impact, which became book 1 of the series, right after Collision, and honestly, my high concept wasn't as unique. But my readers seem to like the book, so I must've done something right. I have a feeling Conner, the hero, has a lot to do with that. Tall, dark, and smoldering. Yum.

The idea for my most recent release, On Display, didn't even come from me. Picture the scene: Ellora's Cave Romanticon conference, October, 2012. Just in case you don't know, Ellora's Cave hires hot guys to pose for their covers exclusively. They're called Cavemen, and let's just say they can be intimidating when you first meet them. Not because they're not friendly -- they are -- but because these guys are MELT YOU INTO A PUDDLE AT THEIR FEET GORGEOUS.

You can see where that might be frightening. But being the brave little soldier I am, I walked into the meet and greet Thursday night armed with an icebreaker question... "Tell me about something I can put in a book." Well, one particular Caveman, David, told me about two things, both of which are now in books. The first thing was a sexual position and ended up in Velocity, book 4 of my bull rider series, and the cover David is on. Yes, I knew that he'd be my cover model when I wrote the scene with the position he told me about. I ain't no dummy. It's called inspiration. ;-)

The other idea was a little more vague. He mentioned an encounter he'd had in the past against a semi-private fence. That idea festered, and I do mean festered, in my brain for months. Finally I knew I needed to get it out of there since it wouldn't leave me alone. These wonderful, irritating ideas are called plot bunnies. They're like an earworm, only an idea rather than a song. And they can drive a writer crazy. So I wrote On Display, which features a sex scene against a semi-private fence. I think I'm going to have to buy David a drink at this year's Romanticon. Hmmm, maybe he'll give me more ideas if I do...

If I Wasn't A Writer (Chocolate Hotness)

If I wasn’t a writer…

Let’s face it. I know I’m not normal and despite what my mother says, “Baby, you are so unique.” Or what my hubby says, “You are one in a million.” I know that what they’re really saying is, “You are one step away from a strait-jacket.” But hey, the crazy in me takes it all in stride.

It’s no secret that my debut book Dangerously Mine was hatched because I kept having dreams about Earth being invaded by hostile aliens. The self-defense mechanism in my brain just happened to click on and think of a way that the alien invasion could turn into a good thing (being rescued by a hunky alien king and having lots of hot sex). Yay for self-defense mechanisms!

I was blessed with an over active imagination (yes, I see it as a blessing). While my school-age friends were dreaming about the boogey man, I was dreaming about vampires. By the time I reached junior high, my closest friends understood that the cross I wore around my neck wasn’t because I was very religious, it was to stave off a vampire attack. And even though they would laugh about it, whenever a bump was heard in the night, they would all rush to my side. Why? Because I was the only one prepared to fight off a vampire attack.

I would keep two Popsicle sticks in my pocket at all times. Why? You guessed it, so I could whip them out and form a cross at a moment’s notice. Ever since my mom caught me tearing the braches from the trees in the backyard and sharpening the ends on the sidewalk into points, the Popsicle sticks were my only defense.

By high school my vampire obsession hadn't subsided, but had to make room for aliens. I was convinced they were coming and they weren’t going to be happy when they got to Earth. Think about it, if you had to travel years to get to your destination would you be in a good mood? No. Exactly.

Luckily for me, writing provides an outlet for every cray-cray thought I have in my mind. Now, when I wake up in a cold sweat, I turn to my pen and paper and write the craziness down. I, like my family, is hoping that one day I’ll be able to make a living off my craziness.

I could ramble on and on about the inner workings of my mind, but I think you get the gist.

If I weren’t a writer, I would be on medication and sitting in group therapy.

If I wasn't a writer...

The crazy members of the Cabal of Hotness need keepers. This is something we know. But we do try to keep each other in line. One of the more organizationally-skilled members of the Cabal is the lovely Danica Avet. Danica, in her infinite wisdom, has provided the rest of us with themes for our blogging.

I love themes. They make blogging way easier. If I don't have to come up with a topic, I'm already ahead of the game. So why am I talking about all this? First, because I can. It's my blog post and I'll do what I want. *evil cackle* Second, because the theme of this blog is:

If I wasn't a writer...

Huh. If I wasn't a writer. I assume the biggest question here is "What would I be?" and I suppose "An unemployed housewife sitting around the house and eating bonbons" is an unacceptable answer. You people are slave drivers.

Okay, so what would I be? As boring as it sounds, I'd probably go back to what I was doing in my Evil Day Job - marketing/PR/media relations/event planning. Yes, I was a Jack (or more accurately) Jill-of-all-Trades, Master of None. I worked in my Evil Day Job during the Great Corporate Restructuring, when employees were being laid off, departments were being consolidated, and entire companies were being swallowed up. So even though I started out in a specific area - market research - I soon had to learn a lot of other skills.

I didn't hate the work. I hated some of the companies and most of my idiot bosses, but I liked the work itself. And I was good at it. I especially loved doing media relations and PR for the cancer hospital in my area. You see, I'm a cancer survivor, and that hospital is where I had my treatment. I literally owe them my life. After treatment, I worked at the hospital at two separate times doing two completely different things, but of the two positions, I loved doing the PR and media relations.

It was awesome work to tell people what a great place the hospital was. I'm sure some of you are thinking - it's a cancer hospital where people die every day. What's so great about that? It's true, of course, that people die every day there. But a lot of people live. And they live because of the great medical and research staffs the hospital employs. So why wouldn't I focus on that and be grateful for that?

So if I wasn't a writer, I'd hopefully still be working for that hospital, tooting its horn 'round the globe.

Now that we've gotten that serious stuff out of the way, have you seen my latest covers? Might want to get a drool cloth...

Yummy, no? For more information about these books or any of my others, check out my website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com.

-- Cassandra

2013 Ahoy!

2012 was a weird year for me and my family. The highs were stratospheric, the lows catastrophic. It was, in Dickens’ words, “the best of times. It was the worst of times.” So what am I looking forward to this year? Would it be a cop-out to say “Peace and Quiet”? Yeah, like that’s gonna happen, especially having joined the Cabal of Hotness…there isn’t anything peaceful or quiet about this lot. So, ruling that out, here’s my personal list of what I hope/plan/wish for in 2013.

I want to see the Fondled & Gobbled series enjoyed by lots of people. There are some crazy-funny people writing the shorts for these books, and I think they’re hilarious.

 In the hope/plan category, I want to have a few more books written and accepted for publication. At least two, maybe three more in my Unveiled Seductions series, plus some other works already underway.

Continued growth in my editing business, Grammar Goggles, would be awesome too, since editing is right up there in my “favorite things” category and I’m meeting some of the most amazing writers doing it too. I’m pleased with how well it’s already doing, but have started dreaming of quitting the EDJ to be able to concentrate fully on writing related work.

I may, MAY, dip my toes in the turbulent waters of self-publishing, but the books I have in mind need the kind of extensive editing other people hire me to do nowadays, so I may not have the time right now. You know how it is, the shoemaker’s children never have good shoes…

RomantiCon 2013, bay-bee. Cavemen and readers and the awesome Cabalites and Cavemen and other authors and Cavemen. Oh, and what about those Cavemen? If Rodney’s there I just might turn back into the shy, blushing girl I was at twelve…

I think that’s a lot, really, for a person who tries desperately not to plan too far ahead, despite knowing it’s one of those traits grownups are supposed to cultivate. I never really had much ambition to be a grownup but it’s been thrust upon me *sigh* so I might as well add some fun to the plan…like Cavemen.

Did I mention Cavemen?

Cajun Spice Is Nice

Sometimes. Okay, I'm hardly ever "nice". I much prefer being naughty. And why wouldn't I when there are beautiful men to ogle and pretend you're going to lick but then fake it out and ask them for an interview. I didn't do that, by the way. It was all a conference-induced hallucination. I would never lick a complete stranger. No mater how muscular and half-naked they are with their dimples and jeans barely clinging to their butts...


I'm sorry, I got a little sidetracked there. Uh...I didn't try to lick Taylor Cole. It was actually Nick Sota I didn't try to lick, but that isn't the point.

Right. Introducing me. Who is me? Me...I mean, I am a multi-published author with books available through Siren Publishing, Evernight Publishing and Ellora's Cave. It's funny how quickly I transformed from a budding, blushing romance author to raunchy erotic romance writer. Well, maybe not completely raunchy. That didn't happen until I came into contact with the other Cabal members. They sort of influenced my inner raunchy...person. But in six months, I went from blushing while writing sex scenes to writing spoofs of sex scenes. I think Crystal Meth has that kind of reaction time. I don't know for certain, but I'm almost positive the Cabal might be bad for my health.

Okay, fine! I'm a dirty woman! It isn't easy being this naughty, you know. But one day, when I'm a little old lady with a handsome, muscular orderly sitting on her lap, I'll be the one all the young girls envy and want to be like. Why? Because this much awesome doesn't go away over time. It only increases.

Not really.

The truth is, I'm a good bullshitter. I can tell the most absurd statements with a straight face. (Ask those who were present during the sex position readings at RomantiCon 2012.) I like to laugh and have a good time. Drama and I are not friends, unless I'm purposely mocking my teenage relatives. I've lived in south Louisiana all my life and couldn't imagine living anywhere else despite the oppressive heat, the mosquitoes, the hurricanes and the abundant wildlife that can eat you (that's why I don't venture into the swamps alone...I want a 50/50 chance of survival). I love to read, I love to write, I adore ogling mostly naked men. Did I say that already? Damn. Did I mention I've also managed to interview some hotties? Not the street team hotties, either, but this kind of hottie:

Yum.

*looks around* Is this post almost finished? Can I stop yet?

Other than the upcoming Fondled and Gobbled: Someone Had To Do It where I write about bad sex and massive vibrators which comes out February 6, I have an upcoming release with Ellora's Cave for their EC for Men line. The working title is Dean's List and it's h.o.t. Yowsa! Unfortunately I don't have an official cover or blurb or anything yet since it was just accepted last week, but as soon as those details are available, I'll share them with y'all. Because I expect some serious pimping.

*sings Big Pimpin'*

I have lots of other books as well if you want to check them out. Head over to my author's page for more deets. In the meantime, welcome to the Orgy of Insanity, folks!

Oh and before I forget, we're giving away a $100 Amazon gift card this month. Just comment on blog posts and subscribe and...well, there's some official stuff you can read for that.

To enter to win an awesome Amazon gift card($100.00), subscribe to our blog and comment on any or all of our posts this month. Each comment equals one entry. Subscribing equals two entries. Make sure to leave your email addy on your comments

The winner will be chosen at the end of the month and contacted via email.

Here's the legal mumbo jumbo:

- Entering this contest means you have read, understood, and agree with all rules and regulations stated.- Entrants must be 18 or older (or age of majority in your country) to enter and to win.- No purchase necessary.- Void where prohibited.- All stated rules are subject to change without notification or reason given.- Chances of winning vary widely based on the number of entries received.- Prize is as stated. No substitutions or exchanges.

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- Winners are final.- Contest Starts 00:01EST January 1st, 2013 and Ends 12:59EST January 31st, 2013 and open to International participants- Winners will be notified via email, twitter, or facebook no later than 12:00EST Feb 3rd, 2013 -Respond by date to collect prize is 14 days from notification date

Sticky Sweet on Honey Hotness

Honey Hotness checking in. Yep that’s me. I’ll be here on the Cabal blog the 2nd Monday of each month. Same bat time, same bat channel – oh oh, did that give away my age? How many folk remember that expression? 

You may be wondering how we all got our own unique Cabal names? Maybe some have shared or not, but I’ll bet you could work it out of us. That is if you want to. Maybe if you corner one of us at Romanticon this year, coerced us somehow, we might give it up.  Or, ply us with drinks, which could work a little better as we might like the coercion a little bit too much. Rest assured, The Cabal of Hotness will be in full force at the conference this year.

Oh, did I mention I’m also an Angel? That name was bestowed upon all of us in the stable of my Ellora’s Cave editor, Grace. I lurve her. She is my girl crush. So not only am I Honey Hotness, I’m an Angel too *blinks innocently* This pic is yours truly and taken at Romanticon12 - not the best angle of the Angel, but it'll do. Notice the angel wings? So do angel wings and hot, sticky honey go together?

I am a mama, of two early twenty something, gorgeous men. Wow, weird to think of my baby boys as men, but they certainly are. Yes, I love my offspring dearly, they know what I write and haven’t asked to read anything. They could find it if they really wanted to and I'm glad they don't. They tell me they don’t want to know the sexual workings of their mother’s mind. But they do hope I get rich. So do I but I’m not holding my breath lol.

It’s quite possible, I’m the Cabal matriarch. Remember though, being older also means wiser, experienced, and .... best leave it at that I think. Find me at Romanticon and we can discuss this in deeper detail. If you’re a Caveman, come on over big boy.

Who belongs to this back?

January 4 my tenth book came out. Plus One with Ellora’s Cave. A smexy ménage which took some research to get the details right. If you want to know what kind of research, you gotta read the book.  I do believe my editor was a little O_o when she read it. I’m also published with Sybarite Seductions and Lyrical Press. My books are contemporary that should please the foodie, cowboy lover, threesome dreamer and the naughty of bdsm, voyeurism, and femdom. 

The Cabal has a flurry of great books with great authors coming up. I’m thrilled to be part of such an awesome group of authors. We met at Romanticon12 and realized there was a unique specialness to us all. We came together and stuck...yes like sticky honey :)  My contribution is in Fondled and Gobbled: Going Back for Seconds. Keep ‘em Coming. In my story, a certain Ellora's Cave Caveman was my inspiration for one of the characters. Can you tell who he is by looking at the pic above? The next anthology I hope will have my dream lover story in it. So stay tuned.

By-the-by...I totally agree with Bootay Hotness that ice is best in a glass of rum rather than underfoot. 

Here's a snippet from Keep em' Coming:

Ravyn’s head was spinning. She had used her boobs to get on stage and now she stood here in her bra and tight jeans about the get a lap dance. Penis. Cock. Schlong. Dong. Dick. Oh god...Cockzilla! would be dangled, wiggled and flapped in her face. Could she survive it?

Yes, she would. The penis is her friend.

Steve and Nick prowled up to her and she swore she could hear them growl low in their throats. Ravyn purred and stared back at them, her dark hair falling over her face. She began to tremble and the closer they got to her the more she shook with anticipation. Within seconds she was meat in a man sandwich.

  

For a taste of Plus One, my most recent release....here's a temptation:

A girls’ night out for a pole dance workshop at her friend’s upscale sex club takes a wild turn for normally timid Karen. She knew what to expect, but not how far she’d be willing to go.
Rob comes to Desire After Dark as a plus one. His only expectation is visual stimulation, not participation. But that soon changes when he spots the buttoned-up-to-there beauty hanging around on the sidelines.
Thrown together, Karen and Rob find the sexual heat between them undeniable. Surrounded by twosomes and moresomes, they step on an unexpected and steamy path. But when another joins in, they have a plus one of their own.

An Exotika ® erotica story from Ellora’s Cave

 

You can find me at:

www.cristalryder.com

https://twitter.com/#!/CristalRyder

https://www.facebook.com/cristal.ryderauthor

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