Cajun Taking Over

It'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 ;)

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.

That happened by the way. Not the warp speed thing, but the book release. The first book in a multi-author series, Touched by Lightning, came out on Valentine's Day. I like to call it a cross between The Crow and X-Men. 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.

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.

So what to write about? *ponders* Oh! I know!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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?

Also, because I have y'all undivided attention *cough* I'm going to plug my latest erotic romance, Touched by Lightning. Out now!


Book one in the Love’s Defenders series.

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.

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.

A Romantica® paranormal erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

 

Ellora's Cave

Amazon

B&N

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.

EC Romanticon 2012: Reminiscing

This time last year I was biting my fingernails down to the nubs. I was packing and getting ready for my first author conference.

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.

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.

My only saving grace was that I had hooked up with another author as roomies. “At least I would have someone to talk to some of the time,” 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

I don’t know what I’ll experience this time around, but I can't wait to find out. Now, off to pack!

-Griffin

It's A Natural Talent

I think I'm wrapping up the month for the Cabal on the topic of what we would do if we weren't writers. Which is just an absurd topic. (Sorry Sasha) But I couldn't imagine not being a writer. I seriously remember being young...seven or so and writing a story for class. It was better than anything I'd previously read. In my own mind.

So to come up with jobs on par with my life as a writer? Pshaw!

Okay, y'all know I'm full of it right? Because I'm not a full-time writer. I wish I was. I can see myself now riding young bulls around the world in the name of research. Everything I did would be in the name of research.

Danica in Jamaica stuffing money into some sexy man's G-string and doing a little feel around. "What? I just wanted to see how much they can fit in there!"

Danica in England sweet talking a Brit out of his pants. "What? I wanted to find out if it was true that British men don't come, they arrive."

You get the idea.

But as a writer, I can expand my imagination to see life without putting words to paper. *thinks hard*

I'd totally be a talent scout. Not singing or acting, but erotic dancing. I'd have a lovely chair with my name in big, shiny letters, a cabana boy with muscles and very little clothing kneeling next to me feeding me chocolate while another massages my feet. Then, in front of me, man after man with muscles and beautiful smiles and sexy moves do a little show. Like this gorgeous man who happens to be a real dancer. Oh Chase...

And they would dance their little hearts out just for me in the hopes of making it to Danica's Dangling Dongs All Male Revue...

Sorry, I'm laughing at myself so hard I can't continue. Oh it would be a marvelous thing if I could pick my own job. Truth is, if I wasn't writing, I'd be a regular person who works five days a week, spends their weekends trying to catch up on sleep and reading as much as possible. That wouldn't change at all.

But life would be a lot more boring without my writing and my writing friends and all the hard, difficult, steamy research I'd have to do for my books.

If I Weren't a Writer....Brazen Style

With a name like Brazen Hotness, my "If I weren't a writer" should probably be a little racy with a side of full on titillation and maybe lots of cleavage. Ok it's me, so that would definitely be lots of cleavage.

I won't lie. At one point in my life I did want to be a Vegas Showgirl....mostly because they got to wear such awesome costumes with glitter and feathers and the shoes! There was a time period when I wanted to be a Bond girl. But only if Pierce Brosnan got to be my Bond (This was after Remington Steele was off the air but he had not yet become Bond) and after the movie would routinely call me just to ...chat.  I think the craziest idea I've ever had was wanting to be a dominatrix..again for the clothes and the shoes. 

On the less risque end, I wanted to be a bartender -- I had dreams of competing in the national competitions; a fashion designer -- oh those drawings were terrible;  a geneticist -- kinda hard when you're squeamish from blood; college professor -- English of course!; or the person who came up with the cool/pun names for nail polish.

Romances books weren't my first love (hello mysteries!) or even my second (hi there writing the story lines for video games) but I'd be lying if I wouldn't have found a way to dive, Scrooge McDuck style through those books.

If money were no object, I would be a book reviewer. There are few things on this planet that seem more amazing then reading books and then talking/writing about them non-stop. I had it all planned. I was going to be a middle school librarian by day, book reviewer by night.  With plenty of time to sip tea and shoot the breeze about my books while waving my latest review in the USAToday.

Occasionally I get twitchy and think what if....? But then I remember the wonder of writers cons and the joys of seeing my name on a book like my latest release below.  

Makes it all worthwhile. Though I do have to admit, I could go for a pair of dominatrix boots.....

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.

Did You Say Dessert Isle?

Because that sounds awesome.

I'm not much of a water person, so I don't really see myself ever ending up near a deserted island. Sure, sure, I live in Bayou Country which means I kind of live on an island already, but I have modern conveniences here and I'm not giving them up without a fight.

But I'm a writer, I can make this shit up as I go along, right? Right. *cracks her knuckles*

Five things I'd take with me on a deserted island...My first question is, do I have a lot of money before I go? Like, can I buy whatever I need before I go? 'Cause that would change my answers. No? Okay fine!

1. A really long extension cord. Because there is no way in hell I'm going to be stuck out there without being able to charge up my Kindle or my laptop. The laptop is so I can write about my adventures on the island. Sure, I probably won't have internet service, but there has to be 3G somewhere around, right? Or satellites pointing in my direction. I can order books...and maybe send out a message now and then "Yo, send cookies" (can you tell I'm dieting?) and...if I had access, I could ask for help coudn't I? I'm so smart!

2. Which brings into mind my second most coveted item. With my super-savvy S.O.S, the U.S. Navy will catch my signal and dispatch a team of highly trained, highly sexy Navy S.E.A.L.S. to rescue me. They'll arrive with all of their survival gear, chocolate and solar powered equipment and then their boat will tragically sink never to be seen again. And then I'm left on the island with this:

3. Once my harem uh, heh, my rescuers are stuck, it's just a matter of time before they get to work preparing my our home. Nothing too grand, mind you. Just a little shelter to keep us out of the weather, to shield us from the sun...and worthy of my magnificence. Oh, and so they have plenty of room to spread out.

4. I don't think I'd need anything else after that. I don't want to seem greedy you know? The other deserted people would probably kick me out of the club for having excessive good fortune or something. All I'd really need is an endless supply of food and this and I'd be set for life:

And speaking of excessive good fortune, I had a book release this week. Dean's List, my EC for Men Quickie, is now out with Ellora's Cave. Check it out for more fantasies. Of a completely different kind.

A quick romp in his home office with his family upstairs. A roadside quickie in his car after picking up a stranded motorist. A dominating woman who uses and abuses him in the most delicious of ways. These are just a few things that make Dean McKnight the luckiest man alive. Top it off with a successful career, a wonderful family and a hot, adventurous wife, and Dean couldn’t be happier.

With the option of having a different beauty every night of the week, Dean’s list is packed with women who fulfill all his darkest fantasies. He just never knows which one will show up next.

An EC for Men contemporary erotica story from Ellora’s Cave

Ellora's Cave

And if you're interested in goodies, I'm holding a Scavenger Hunt for one lucky winner to claim a $50 Gift Card and a digital copy of Dean's List. Check it out!

Chocolate's Deserted Island

5 things I would bring on a deserted island

Normally I have a hard time coming up with things to write about, but this month’s topic is an easy one.

The three things I would bring right off the bat are my children. I know, not sexy at all, but that can't be avoided. The next thing would be my husband.

One, because I love him and if me and the kids are stranded on an island, he gets to suffer with us as well. No getting remarried and starting a new family for him. No way. We suffer and we suffer together. The next reason would be because I need someone to hunt, fish, build and fend off wild animals. So yes, there’s the manual labor aspect of it as well. Who else would let me sleep in, squeal at rodents and bitch and moan but my husband?

The other reason is the sex of course. I can't leave that luscious hunk of love’in at home. If the wild animals didn’t get me, the long nights tossing and turning, thinking about what I was missing eventually would. I even image how fine my man would look in his loin cloth, because unlike me, he doesn’t have an aversion to working out. I imagine how his primal side would come roaring out in full force and it makes me all gitty inside.

In this little scenario I also imagine that the lack of food and the change in diet would probably slim off the forty pounds I’ve been fighting to lose. And despite the lack of exercise, I am lighter, fitter and look totally hot in my jungle wear.

The last thing I would bring is a survival kit. I’m not stupid my sweets. In this kit would be a flare, shot gun, handgun, tons of bullets, knives, needle and thread, lighter and extra lighter fluid, tents (three to be exact), sleeping bags and of course a satellite phone with a GPS and back-up battery. The first thing I would do is call the authorities and give them our coordinates and ask them to give us two weeks so we could enjoy a nice family vacation. Then two weeks later, I would pack up our belongings and wait on the beach for us to be rescued by the luxury liner that would be sent to get us.

Like I said, I’m not dumb.

What am I looking forward to in 2013?

Tits

 

I’m talking about nice, round, perky DD tits.

I’m begging Santa to hear my Christmas wish *bats eye lashes* and deliver me to a plastic surgeon. I’ve been wanting new tits for a long time, but every time I was about to get them, something else always came up.

Sending the kid off to college

Car broke down and needed a new one

Paying for kid to enroll in a trade program

But not this year *laughs manically*.

The various heroine and hero's in the Fondled and Gobbled series (available now) got me thinking about how badly I want tits this year.

Now, I've never had really small tits like Steele in Cassandra Carr's spoof - Wild Fantasy Hero. According to Cassandra, Steele has got itty bit titties (poor girl) - or as my husband would say, "She belongs to IBTC - the Itty Bitty Tittie Committee."

But I always wanted titties so big that I’d knock over drinks, smother little kids when I hug ‘em and cause grown men to have wet dreams.

I can just see me now, I'd be like Danica Avet's heroine Holly in Cookie Bound with 36DD tits, walking through the grocery store with a tight fitting shirt, no bra, tight jeans and high heels. Oh, I won't be there to shop. I’d be there to show off my beautiful new rack.

Not surprisingly my hubby is very supportive of this tittie dream of mine. When I verbalize my dreams, he’s right by my side, voicing his opinion about how many drinks I’ll knock down, how he’ll have to buy me new bigger bra’s and how I’ll need to set my car seat to the furthest setting away from the steering wheel. I think he would prefer I had tits like Heather in Sasha Devlin's Special Brand of Lovin' who's like DDD. But I think with tits like those I would get in a world of trouble.

*sighs* He’s so great.

I hope 2013 brings you all what you wish for most.

Making 2013 My Bitch

Yeah, I said it.

Mostly for shock value. It's Thursday. This is not my usual blogging day, but I'm being greedy and blogging twice this week. What? You heard me, TWICE. Twice the Cajun spice, two times the sheer awesomeness that is moi. And now that I've inflated my ego, I'll float away to Cover Model Land where muscular men with an aversion to clothing feed me chocolate and rub my...feet *cough* all day while I write smut.

*dreamy sigh* I wish 2013 would be like that. Because that would be hardcore. In more ways than one. Bwahaha

But really, 2013 is looking to be a great year. The Cabal of Hotness has unleashed the Kracken once already and now that she's out, she's wreaking havoc on ze world! She's knocking down skyscrapers with her big boobs and snatching up all the sexy men for herself, the greedy bitch. The second volume of Fondled and Gobbled comes out tomorrow, volumes 3 and 4 are in the works and I'm gathering allies for another anthology (which shall remain secret).

In non-Cabal news, I have an upcoming release in Dean's List, a naughty EC for Men Quickie which comes out March 20. It's for men, but I think the womenz can read it too.

I also have a ton of books planned for the year. This is unusual for me. Normally, I do the four or five book goal, but this time there's so much to do, it looks as though I'll be aiming for at least nine releases this year. Providing my editors like my work *bites her nails* Oh and lest I forget, there are a ton of books I'm waiting to read. Oooh, so many that I'm going to have to start buying the cheap kitty litter to afford them.

And then there are the conferences. OMG, I'm so ready for another conference. I'm looking forward to RT in Kansas City. We are going to tear it up. I'm telling y'all, it's going to be wild. They're not going to know what hit them. Someone remind me to tell Kinky we might need to increase our bail money kitty. Then there's RomantiCon. If you haven't registered yet, you might want to get on that. Yeah, it's going to be epic. The Cabal is going to be there in full-friggin-force. Canton might need to expand to accommodate us for four decadent days.

What are you looking forward to this year?

A quick romp in his home office with his family upstairs. A roadside quickie in his car after picking up a stranded motorist. A dominating woman who uses and abuses him in the most delicious of ways. These are just a few things that make Dean McKnight the luckiest man alive. Top it off with a successful career, a wonderful family and a hot, adventurous wife, and Dean couldn’t be happier.

With the option of having a different woman every night of the week, Dean’s list is packed with women who fulfill all his darkest fantasies. He just never knows which one will show up next.

An EC for Men contemporary erotica story from Ellora’s Cave

Being a Writer is the Best Job in the World

The life of an erotic romance author: Here I am at Sexapalooza 2012, signing books in front of the EC Bus!

Well, perhaps the title is a bit of an overstatement. I mean I'm not curing cancer or feeding the hungry, but I am making all your panties just a little wetter and some dicks just a little harder. And doesn't that make it all worth it?

Obviously being a published author is cool. I don't think I need to sell anyone on that point. But it occurred to me yesterday that being a writer may be the best "self-owned business" idea ever! So for all you wanna-be entrepreneurs out there, consider the following:

• Start-up capital: virtually zero. 
• You need to get your book written, but I suppose you could even do that on a computer at the library. Realistically, though, you'll need a computer. I started with a $250 netbook. Worked fine to write my first novel on. Other investments may include books about writing, some online writing workshops and the like. You certainly don't need a license, a building, a permit to do business, articles of incorporation, inventory, etc. 

• Be your own boss! 
• Things may become a little less casual for me someday, but right now I decide what I want to write and when I want to write it. I do it on my own time and at my own pace. This statement would change significantly if I was depending on my writing paycheck to supply my food money, or mortgage, or batteries for my vibrator. That shit's serious. I'd have to step it up then! 
• Sure I have an editor to answer to, and some folks also have agents, multiple publishers, etc., but even then, you are in business with those folks to put out a great product. They're your partners in the venture, not your boss. And that's pretty cool.

• FREEDOM. a.k.a. Be what you want to be.
• This is what dawned on me as the best part of being an author. If I'm in a paranormal mood, I can just up and write one! I don't need permission. I don't need acceptance. I don't need to get anyone's "buy-in". It won't mean I'll sell it, but if you have a decent publishing record, you can get a good idea of what you'll sell. If I was, say, an actor, and I was in the mood to work in an action movie, I'd have to wait for someone else to write it, then audition for it, then hope I get the part. Most likely, I'd audition for anything I thought looks like a good fit for me and I really would have no control over it. An actor can't think, "I'd love to star in a romantic comedy," and then go right out there and make it happen immediately and under his control. THAT's what's so cool about being an author.
• Now I'm talking in generalities. There are a lot of actor/writer/producers out there, and at some point, when they're in demand enough or rich enough, actors can call a LOT of the shots--or ALL the shots--I'm sure, but I'm comparing actors that are akin to my level as a writer.

As I finish this blog post, I'm now returning to my latest DIY project--constructing two ottomans for my oversized great room. In other words, I'm TAKING THE DAY OFF from my job. 'Cause I'm the boss. Of course, there's a catch. Time I "take off" from putting the right words on the page in the right order is reflected in my paycheck. You have to keep writing to grow and succeed in this business! That's the best advice you'll ever hear...how do you become a successful writer? You WRITE. And you don't stop.

Damn. I've gotta get to work!!

<3 <3 Piper, a.k.a. Naughty Hotness

What's *your* favorite thing about being a writer? (published or not...if you write, you're a writer!)

Reading, Writing and Conferences, Oh My



First book sold



It's hard to put into words what last year was like for me. Amazing maybe is the best way to describe it. I spent most of the year giddy and full of anticipation for the next great adventure. Many firsts occurred for me in the writing world. First book, first sale, first promotional stuff designed, first autographs to be signed, first conferences.... the list goes on and on.



First 'Bestsellers List'



Romance Trading Cards



This year? I'm looking for bigger and better things. More books, more conferences, more sales... and more fun. I've got about a million story ideas floating around in my head, some I've started, some I've just sketched out in a notebook. Some of those will get finished, I hope.



First EC's Romanticon



What else am I looking forward to other than making a bunch of money (yes I'm being facitious)? Perhaps hanging with friends at some of the coolest writer's conferences in the US? Yes, that's the ticket. I can't wait for Romanticon 2013 in October. I know, LONG way away from now, but I can't help it. Last year was a total blast and I had NO idea what to expect. This year. Oh, this year is going to be the year of the Cabal. We're taking over and beware anyone that is skittish or timid.

 So, bring on 2013. I'm ready. I've got my gear, my girls and my computer.


Geeky Hotness





Love is in the Air Giveaway Hop

Geeky Hotness is sponsoring the Cabal's involvement in this bloghop and giveaway. If you have any questions, concerns, etc. please contact her at LeaBarrymire at gmail dot com

Don't you just love the estrogen-laden lovefest that is February? Valentine's Day has become such an important day in the lives of every female from girls to older women. And, we're going to feed that need for love with a spattering of erotic, down and dirty, panty-wetting reads... 

ebook copy of Valentine Master

ebook copy of Fondled and Gobbled: Someone Had To Do It
Special Edition Read: Cupid Be Mine by Anya Richards *Only available for the winner of this blog!

  

To enter to win you can do a couple of things. Each will get your name thrown into the e-hat for a chance to win:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And don't forget to go visit other participants to enter to win more fabulous stuff.

 

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.

- Contest host is not responsible to misrepresented/mistyped email addresses, spam filters, mailer daemons, and other internet wackiness that may crop up at the time of winner notification.

- Winners are final.- Contest Starts 00:01EST February 7st, 2013 and Ends 11:59EST February 14th, 2013 and open to International participants- Winners will be notified via email, twitter, or facebook no later than 12:00EST Feb 16th, 2013 -Respond by date to collect prize is 14 days from notification date.

   

2013 is going to be a kick-ass year!

When we were choosing themes for the blog, and the theme of "What are you most looking forward to in 2013" came up in discussion, I thought it was an intriguing idea. There are so many ways different members of the Cabal of Hotness could answer the question. We're all at different points in our writing careers, and some of us have personal things going on in our lives that we also might be looking forward to.

As for me, well, I'm looking forward to September when my daughter starts full-time preschool. Now, I've heard it all from other mothers, "Cherish this time, they won't be young forever" and "You have plenty of time to write later - take this time with your daughter!", amongst other things. Allow me to refute these points. First, we should cherish the time we spend with our kids, but shouldn't we cherish it no matter how old they are? Yes, I know it's hard to cherish teenagers, but you get my drift. Then the "plenty of time later" discussion? Actually, no, I don't have plenty of time. Publishing is notoriously fickle, and if I decide to take five years off to spend with my daughter full-time, I might very well back to a career that's in shambles, unable to be revived.

Before you start thinking this whole post is going to be a downer, let's talk about some of the other things I'm looking forward to. I'm going to three conferences this year, starting with Naughty Sleepover later this month, then to RT in May, and back to EC's Romanticon in October. I'm also doing a weekend-long writing retreat in September. I love going to conferences. Not only do you get a chance to stop staring at a computer screen day in and day out, but you learn; you meet readers and agents and editors and reviewers. And you get to party with all the authors you admire. What could be better?

I'm also looking forward to releasing the first book I ever wrote, Should've Known Better. I love the hero, Sebastian, and I sooo wanted his story told. Now it will be, with the help of a great small press called Twenty or Less Press. I've published with their erotic arm, Sybarite Seductions, before, and I love them. I will be putting out at least two more bull rider books for my Buckin' Bull Riders series, as well as my first male/male story.

And of course, there's all the cool stuff the Cabal of Hotness is doing. Stay tuned, because Fondled and Gobbled has hardly even scratched the surface of the talent of these writers.

So yeah, I'm looking forward to a lot in 2013. I fully expect it will be a kick-ass year. I'm so grateful to have all of you along for the ride. You're the reason we do this - the reason we write. So thank you for reading. Without you, we'd be nothing.

If you see me at a conference, please do come introduce yourself. I'd love to have the opportunity to meet you and thank you in person!
-- Cassandra

For more information about me or my books, check out my website at http://www.booksbycassandracarr.com.

In Which 2013 Becomes My Boyfriend

Anyone who has spent more than 30 seconds with me, knows that I have no love for 2012. While I thought it would be a year of Awes-tastic-Fantabulous, it proceeded to show itself to be a shrew and junk punch nearly everyone I know and love. The details of which would write about a dozen sad country songs, easily.

So I'm beyond ready for 2013. I want to cuddle it up to my bosom and make cooing noises and play kissie face and tell it, that it's been the year I've been waiting for all my life, and ....

I'm easily excitable.

On the writing front, I will be editing up a storm and getting out many of the projects I wrote last year. I have a few book releases coming up, including the Fondled and Gobbled: Going Back for Seconds spoof as well as some other delicious naughtiness. More details to come

The Masta Plan involves appearances at a few conferences: RT in May and Romanticon in the fall! RT was a great experience last year and I will be more focused this year. (No really, stop giving me that look) and I wouldn't miss Romanticon for the world. It gets bigger and better every year and I can't wait to connect with my peeps.

I can admit that the fangirl in me is looking forward to some of the book releases 2013 will bring. S.E. Jakes,  Gena Showalter and a new IAD book from Kresley Cole! So many good words there I could Scrooge McDuck through them. *shivers*

And the movies! The Rock and Bruce Willis in the new GI Joe movie?! Bruce Willis in a new Die Hard in theaters?! *falls down*  Can you tell that I love Bruce Willis? I'm also looking forward to Hansel and Gretel, Jack the Giant Slayer, and I've heard a rumor there will be a Pixar release this summer. I suspect I will be spending plenty of time in the theater.

I'm salivating just thinking of all the goodness this year can bring. So pucker up 2013 and come give me some sugar.

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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