Monday Musing August 31, 2009

The last day of August, fall is almost here and in a week the kids will be back to school. It's a bittersweet time of year.

Today is my grandma's birthday, I miss her very much. As of September 2 she'll have been gone from this world for 12 years but I still miss her like crazy. See my grandma helped raise me, it was always just me, my mom and my grandma-three women against the world. So I was really close to her. I wish she would have gotten to see my two youngest kids. She loved my oldest to death- he was her baby, such a grandma's boy. Hopefully she can see us all from the other side. Hope I am doing her proud.

Today is also my best friend's birthday. If she wasn't thousands of miles away from me in Texas we'd be going out for a drink or something. I better give her a call and wish her a Happy Birthday.

So onto happier thoughts, this week Kimberly Frost and Michelle Rowen will be joining us this week and giving away copies of their books. Woo Hoo! So in addition to Free Book Friday you'll have the chance to win two other books this week, too.

Did you watch the season finale of Being Human? George finally embraced his inner wolf. So cool. Looks like it is going to get interesting next season. I really hope it comes back-soon. I am so in love with Mitchell. Isn't he the epitome of the dark and brooding vampire? He's a little thin for my taste but so yummy, dark and dangerous- and Irish-do you hear the Irish accent sneaking out of him? Sometimes it is more obvious than other times but it is so there. Two accents that totally just do it for me are Scottish and Irish accents- not the whole leprecaun type accent but the slight Irish accent-like what Mitchell (Aidan Turner) has.

Vampire Diaries starts next week! I've heard mixed reviews about it. I am looking forward to it just because it's a vamp show. I already have the season set to record on my DVR. I am also looking forward to the new seasons of Bones, Castle, House and Dexter- and my secret guilty pleasures Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. And of course I watch CSI and Smallville (the show has started sucking but I have to see Tom Welling he is sooo drool worthy).

I want to thank whoever invented the DVR because before we had it I couldn't watch anything. Between the kids and my husband controlling the remote...I missed so much. Now I can watch my shows after everyone goes to bed or whenever I want. And the best part- fast forwarding through commercials. LOL.

Onto book news and writing related stuff.

I was checking out next year's RT convention and it is going to be in Columbus, Ohio. That's only five hour drive from me. See I don't fly and hate the thought of driving extremely far away. So one hurdle down- now I just have to figure out how to afford to go and who will watch my kids while I am gone.

Plus my daughter's birthday is that Sunday, May 2. I'll have to come home on Saturday and plan all her b-day stuff in advance or hubby will be dealing with tons of screaming girls Saturday all on his own, which would be fine because he is so much better with kids than I am. But the organizing and planning are what he totally sucks at.

I hope I can go for a few days, I have never went before so I have no idea what to expect but really want to go to some of the workshops and meet with all the writers I love. Don't they also have dances, Balls and themed dinners and stuff? Are those extra or part of the package price?

So those are my random Monday Musings everyone, now I am off to write.

Oh, my novella, Eternal Desire comes out in a little over a month-October 7th.

A Review of The Devil's Due by Jenna Black

The Devil's Due is the third book in Jenna Black's Morgan Kingsley series.

In The Devil's Due exorcist Morgan Kingsley is learning more about her past and her connection with the demon world while secretly hosting the king of all demons, Lugh, inside her. Lugh is gaining more control over her and choosing to interfere with all aspects of her life, even delving into her past, her secrets and her sexual needs.

A bizarre possession has Morgan playing investigator and getting hurt a lot in the process as she discovers there is much more going on than she ever expected- and it is all connected to her past and the demons. The demons have been playing with human DNA and genetics to create super human hosts with minimal brain function-this makes it easier for a demon to possess the host and they can do more with a super body. Raphael knows more about the creation of the super hosts than he's willing to let on but Morgan has to trust him even if she doesn't want to.

This series just keeps getting more complicated and Morgan's involvement is more complicated and tied into everything going on that the first book let on. I love how complex this series is getting.

There's a few things that have left me confused though- exorcism doesn't kill the demon-only demons and a few humans know this-like Morgan thanks to Lugh, yet it seems to be common knowledge that when a human host's body dies or fails the demon host can leave and go back to the demon realm.

The only thing that will kill both the host and the demon is fire. If people know the demons go back to the demon realm when the host dies why would they think that exorcism kills the demon-maybe the religious aspects of it? I don't know, just seems kinda weird that people know one thing but don't connect the dots.

Another thing that leaves me shaking my head is that demons are non-corporeal in their realm...this makes we wonder how they survive then if they don't have a body. I mean they must have some kind of real appearance so they recognize each other. For all the power struggles and overthrows they have to have some "form". Plus the demons reproduce, how do you reproduce with no body? Perhaps Black will explore this with more depth in future books. To me it's all loose ends. That's one part of her world building that is a big blank- and I suppose that's the point because our main character knows nothing about demons and their world or how they reproduce-though she obviously needs to get schooled.

Overall the series is pretty great and The Devil's Due really makes me want more of this series. The 4th book in the series, Speak of the Devil is now out and I can't wait to read it. I have to know where Black is going with the demon world and Morgan's unhappy ties to it.

Vampire Ball Donations

Thanks to all the authors who have so generously donated books and promo items for the 2009 Flint Vampire Ball.

I am hoping a couple authors will join us at the Ball, a few have shown interest but no one has confirmed yet. It would be so fabulous if any could attend.

Here's a list of what has been promised and/or donated so far. The stuff in red is what I have already received and have on hand.

Fang-tastic Books tote bag, t-shirt, and hat and a Blood Ties Season One DVD set, ebooks on CD, and signed copy of Paranormal Bedtime Stories from Roxanne Rhoads and Fang-tastic Books

A whole case of MINION paperbacks from L.A. Banks and St. Martin’s Press (unsigned)
www.vampire-huntress.com and www.leslieesdailebanks.com

UNDEAD AND UNWELCOME by Mary Janice Davidson (unsigned)
www.maryjanicedavidson.net

DEAD IF I DO by Tate Hallaway (unsigned)
http://www.tatehallaway.com/

Signed Books and Goodies from Mary Janice Davidson

NATURE OF THE BEAST, DEMON’S HUNGER, DEMON’S KISS by Eve Silver
www.evesilver.net

Books and Promo Items from Madelyn Alt
www.madelynalt.com

3 copies of MR DARCY, VAMPYRE By Amanda Grange (unsigned) and promo postcards (thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks)
www.amandagrange.com

2 copies of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER by Leanna Renee Hieber and some promo buttons (signed)
www.leannareneehieber.com

Books and ebooks from Cecilia Tan
www.ceciliatan.com

Books and goodies from Kristin Battestella
www.vampfan.blogspot.com

Signed book from Charlaine Harris (thanks Paula)
www.charlaineharris.com

2 signed copies of each: THE VAMPIRE SHRINK & DARK HARVEST By Lynda Hilburn and promo bookmarks
http://www.lyndahilburnauthor.com/

Signed books from Angela Daniels
www.angeladanielsromance.com

A FINE CAULDRON OF FISH By Cornelia Amiri
www.myspace.com/celticromancequeen

OBSESSION By Jean Roberta (signed)
www.jeanroberta.com

BLOOD, LUST AND REDEMPTION By Kiki Howell
www.kikihowell.com

2 signed copies of HAPPY HOUR AT CASA DRACULA by Marta Acosta
www.martaacosta.com and www.vampirewire.blogspot.com

HOT FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Angela Knight
http://www.angelasknights.com/

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE signed by Jeaniene Frost and bookmarks
www.jeanienefrost.com

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS A VAMPIRE & SECRET LIFE OF A VAMPIRE signed by Kerrelyn Sparks also sent postcards and bookmarks
www.kerrelynsparks.com

FROM THE DARK & HIS FORGOTTEN FOREVER By Michele Hauf signed and sent promo cards, business cards and bookmarks
www.michelerhauf.com/ and www.vampchix.blogspot.com

Promo items from Nina Pierce pens, sticky notes, bookmarks
www.ninapierce.com

e-books and promo items from Cinsearae Santiago (AKA Mistress Rae)
www.bloodtouch.webs.com

Products from UV Kitty and Creepy Queen Magazine

T-shirts, buttons, magnets and ebooks from Myristica
www.myristica-leftofheavan.blogspot.com

ebook THE TAROT CARD by JJ Keller
www.jj-keller.com

ebooks FANG SHUI & LOVE FANG by Susan Blexrud
www.susanblexrud.com

ebook HOLLY AND THE MILLIONAIRE by Margaret Tanner
www.margarettanner.com

ebook EDEN’S HELL by Dawne Dominique
www.dawnedominique.com

ebook THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT: BLOOD AND COFFEE, ebook THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT III: TWINS OF DARKNESS, signed print copy THE DARKNESS AND THE NIGHT: COSMIC ORGASM by Lisa Lane and bookmarks
www.cerebralwriter.com/

THE GHOST AMETHYST By Sherry King signed
http://sherryking-paranormalromance-books.com

Authors if you don't see your name on the list or you sent something and it is not in red please let me know. I am trying to keep track of everything as it comes in but I may have forgotten to write something down so please bring it to my attention so I can double check.

Again thank you so much to everyone who is making sure this is going to be a totally Fang-tastic event.

And if anyone would like to donate please email me at eroticroxanne @ yahoo . com and let me know.

A Review of The Devil You Know by Jenna Black

Four Fangs for The Devil You Know

The Devil You Know is the second book in the Morgan Kingsley series by Jenna Black.

In Morgan's world demons not only exist but some people worship them and offer up their bodies to become demon hosts. Demons not only possess human bodies, but it is legal to do so unless uninvited.

In this book Morgan realizes she's more deeply involved in the demon world than she ever imagined and now she's so far in she'll never get out her only choice is to fight what comes her way.

She still hosts the King of all the Demons inside her though her aura is so powerful no one knows she is the host except a trusted few of her "friends" and her brother Andy who awakens from his catatonic state. And though his mind is fine he's not willing to talk about some things...mainly Morgan's past and why she was really in the hospital when she was a teenager.

Add to all the drama going on now there's a sociopath demon hunting down Morgan because he wants to get to Lugh, the demon King Morgan hosts though everyone thinks she cast him into another host.

Morgan learns more about her past than she ever wanted to know and some family secrets break her heart but explain so much...

The Devil You Know is a wild ride in a demon infested world. Complicated, dark, and sometimes sexy this world gives us a look at what living with demons would be like.
Sometimes it kinda gives me the heebie jeebies thinking about demons running around infesting people. Ick. Can you imagine having your body hijacked and your mind still on but not able to control anything. So creepy.

This book wasn't as sexy as the first in the series though it did answer a lot of questions about Morgan- of course it opened up a whole new line of questions as well.

If you are looking for a wild ride of an urban fantasy series that offers something a little different (no vamps, wolves, or witches here) this is a great series to try.

A Review of Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost

5 Fangs for Barely Bewitched by Kimberly Frost

Kimbery Frost can tell a tale like no other. Barely Bewitched is another installment of her Southern Witch series that I devoured in no time. A totally fang-tastic read.

In Barely Bewitched Tammy Jo is still jobless and suffering the consequences of her misfiring magic when the World Association of Magic (WAM) sends a "wand-wielding wizard and a menacing fire warlock" to Duvall to train her for a mandatory challenge that she is supposed to face without the help of Bryn Lyons, who she is again forbidden to be in contact with.

First her family and now WAM, why is everyone so hell bent on keeping Bryn and Tammy Jo apart? Probably because they are a magical match to be reckoned with when they are together. Of course Tammy Jo needs his help now more than ever. She has never followed the rules before why should she start now, after all "rebellion is an old Texas tradition."

Tammy Jo faces struggle after struggle when once again it seems like the whole town is out to get her.

First the wizard and warlock that are supposed to help her seem more like they are not really on her side, even Aunt Edie the ghost seems to abandon Tammy Jo when she needs her help the most, then Tammy Jo gets cursed and accidentally spills pixie dust on the whole town causing normal sane people to go nuts, to counteract the spell Tammy Jo casts one of her own making things even worse, and to add insult to injury Tammy Jo gets shot and poisoned by an evil little fairy changeling and Bryn has to save her which may lead to his own demise.

The only one who is always on her side is Mercutio, her faithful sidekick Ocelot.

And throughout the whole story Tammy Jo is as always, torn between her ex-husband Zach the man she has loved her whole life and the man she seems to be destined to be with, the oh so sexy Bryn Lyons. What a tough choice, especially with the character growth that seems to be coming from Zach though Bryn and Tammy Jo have a connection that seems to be written in the stars.

I can't wait to see where this goes because right now I can't even choose which man is the best. Gosh if I was Tammy Jo I'd beg to keep them both. Zach the strong, loyal and ever loving Texas cowboy is such an All American guy, though he has his All American faults as well. Then there's Bryn, rich, sexy, wizard, powerful with a connection to Tammy that neither can explain but he's not running from it. Both men willing to give their lives for Tammy Jo.

The characters are totally engrossing, Tammy Jo is a gem, the guys are just breathtaking, and even the side characters are fun and enjoyable like Rollie the vampire, and Edie the ghost. You never know who is going to play a major roll and which way the plots and subplots are going to go. Full of twists and turns which always spell trouble for poor Tammy Jo.

But at least Tammy Jo learns a little more about herself and her magic in this book as does Bryn which also clues us in to why perhaps they are so well connected.

Wow what a wild joyride of a read! Totally engrossing from the first page to the last this is a book you will not put down until it's done and even then you are left craving more Tammy Jo.

Kimberly Frost has wielded magic by writing this series. I can't even compare it to anything else because it is so new and fresh. I am completely compelled to read this series.

The Southern Witch series became an instant hit from the moment I read the first couple pages of the first book, Would Be Witch. Now it is a can't miss read. I can not wait for the next book. I hope Kimberly types fast or casts a few spells of her own to get the next book out as soon as possible.

Make sure to drop by Fang-tastic Books on September 1st. Kimberly Frost will be here for guest blog and you'll have the chance to win a free copy of Barely Bewitched.

Free Book Friday: FAIR GAME by Jasmine Haynes

For this week's Free Book Friday I have a sizzling hot book to give away: FAIR GAME by Jasmine Haynes. This is third book in the Fortune Hunter Trilogy!

Blurb:

Josie Tybrook is holding her own—on her own—with a successful career and a bright future. Then she meets Kyle Perry in a professional tie that will bring them together again. And again. Now, in business and in pleasure, Josie and Kyle engage in a battle of wills. What begins as a hot diversion of power and domination turns into an intimate game behind closed doors.

Read an Excerpt Here!

Review Snippets of Jasmine Haynes Books:

Fair Game is a super-sexy and wonderfully emotional read from start to finish. I love, love, loved it!"— Bella Andre, author of Wild Heat

First there was Faith and Connor in The Fortune Hunter, winner of the 2008 Holt Medallion...

“This one is smoking.” — Night Owl Romance

...then came Trinity and Scott in Show and Tell.

“An erotic, emotional adventure of discovery you don’t want to miss.”— New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh

All you have to do to win this smokin' hot copy of FAIR GAME is leave a comment on this post. A winner will be chosen at random. US shipping only please. Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. I'll announce winners next Wednesday, so make sure you drop by Susan Squires post for your chance to win a copy of Time for Eternity since that contest is still open as well.

Susan Squires Guest Blog and Time for Eternity Giveaway

Fellow Friends of the Fang:

As I can see the approach of Autumn, my thoughts turn to vampires (actually, I think about vampires a lot--but Halloween always seems to give those thoughts a special "bite") I've been into vampires forever. First there was Barnabus Collins as a child (and yay! they are going to put out a remake!) My interest was reinvigorated by Frank Langella in the late 70's. The first book I ever wrote was an historical vampire romance, SACRAMENT. So vamps have been in my soul for quite a while. When I first tried to sell SACRAMENT, several publishers and agents just didn't want to hear about it, because the vampires are the good guys (well, most of them). SACRAMENT was published much later by Dorchester. I used the world I built in SACRAMENT to start a vampire series with St. Martin's Press, beginning with THE COMPANION set in Regency England.

I think what gives vampires such appeal is that they have both paranormal attributes and human problems, too. They have a foot in each world. My vampires have a parasite in their blood which gives them unusual properties, including eternal life and heightened sexuality, along with some pretty big down-side consequences. They are alienated from humanity, victims of boredom and cynicism who have to drink blood to survive and never see the day. If they don't go mad, they are tortured heroes and heroines who have sought meaning in their lives under difficult circumstances. 'So how different are they than we are, really? Some survive their struggle with soul in tact, some don't. One quality all my vampire heroes and heroines have in common is that they can be redeemed by love. One of the most interesting questions out there is how a person continues to believe in the power of love, even after they have learned all the worst about humanity. How do you continue to trust? All my books explore that, one way or another.

That's why I love Charlaine Harris's books--I've been reading them for years. She uses her books to explore big questions of morals and religion and prejudice, though she buries it in a darned good vampire story. And her vamps are characters who struggle with their nature, just like we all do. Then there's the "yum" factor.

Well, I've also always been a time travel fan. So, it shouldn't have surprised me when time travel started sneaking into my vampire books. I had a character I really liked in ONE WITH THE SHADOWS. Publisher's Weekly named that one a Best Book of the Year--really unusual for a romance, let alone a paperback romance. Donnatella was a woman who had lived since the Roman empire as a vampire. She regretted forever not making her one true love, a barbarian slave, vampire too. She watched him age and die. So in ONE WITH THE DARKNESS, I decided to give her a chance to go back and change her life. Of course, it's not as easy as it seems (is anything ever?) Her friend Leonardo daVinci gives her a wonderful machine, and she uses it to try to get what she wants.

I had such fun with that book (and it WASN:T just because of the barbarian slave--though I loved Jergan), I decided to use Leonardo's machine as the center of a series of time travel books. In the first, TIME FOR ETERNITY, out in September, Donnatella gives the machine to Frankie, a vampire bartender in modern day San Francisco, who hates what she is and wants nothing more than to go back to the French Revolution and kill the wicked duke, Henri Foucault, who made her a vampire and abandoned her. But once back in time, she merges into the sweet innocent Francoise she once was, and finds herself falling again for Henri's strange vitality. This time, with Frankie's experience, she begins to realize that Henri had secrets she never suspected. The problem may be to get out of Revolutionary France alive, since the mob is hot on their heels.

So, is time travel ready for a comeback? I hope so. It's been out of favor for a while. And vampires and time travel together? Why not?

Leave a comment telling me what you think about time travel and vampires to be entered for a chance to win one of two copies of Time for Eternity that I am giving away to a couple lucky Fang-tastic Books readers.

Susan Squires
ONE WITH THE DARKNESS, June 2008, St. Martin's Press
DEAD AFTER DARK, anthology, December 2008
TIME FOR ETERNITY, September, 2009, St. Martin's Press


Publishers Weeekly Gave Time for Eternity a Starred Review:


The heroine's dual nature is exquisitely executed, and Squires's lush writing skillfully entwines the dramatic story of an aristocratic smuggler's resistance to corrupt revolution with the romantic tale of lovers drawn together across time. (Sept.)

Publisher’s Weekly, July 20, 2009

Fighting Writer's Block with guest author Jade Twilight

As a writer sometimes I find myself stuck on a work. I run into a spot where the plot bogs down the characters refuse to cooperate. My muse balks and I have to bribe her with Coffee Heath Bar Crunch ice cream. Yup I’m talking about the dreaded writers block. So what’s a gal to do. I’m gonna share my secrets for over coming this situation.

Ÿ* First thing I try is taking a break. I get away from the keyboard for a little bit. Go outside, play with the kids, what ever works.
Ÿ* Next is Clean. Yup clean. Some of my best ideas have come to me while doing the dishes.
Ÿ* If that doesn’t work a try to relax. Work on some crafts, read a book, or take a bath. Stress and tension don’t go with writing, at least for me.
Ÿ* If all these don’t work I switch manuscript, usually a change of pace will help me snap out of it.


Well that’s it, hopefully one or all these little tips will help you through your next bout of writer’s block.

Coming Sept 09 from Lyrical Press, Inc.

Sisters In Arms Mistress of Tiethla Book 2

Alex once again heeds Tiethla’s call…and this time, she’s not alone

When Alex is transported to Tiethla a second time, she finds her nemesis scraping his way back into power. A prophecy says Alex must stop the Mastive once and for all, but how can she defeat such darkness alone?

Alex is given some temporary hope by the unexpected arrival of Riley, who agrees to help in exchange for passage back to their home world. But Tiethla has a surprise in store for Riley, and there may be no going home once her true identity is revealed.

Content Warning: Explicit sex, graphic language, ménage a trios, sex with cat men.

Excerpt-
Cadhla set the candelabra down and walked toward her. “Let’s see if you’re worth fifty
thousand, Princess.” He grabbed her when he got within arm’s length, pulling her toward him. His mouth came down on hers hard, while one hand wrapped in her hair.

Behind them, the door creaked open. He didn’t seem worried, as his tongue invaded her
mouth.

A soft, familiar voice accused, “You didn’t say we were having company.”

Alex jerked away from Cadhla, spinning toward the voice. She couldn’t believe her eyes.
“Riley?”

The other woman gave her a suspicious look, stepping closer. The light illuminated her.

“Oh my God. It is you, Riley Lewin.” Suddenly Alex remembered how different she looked
now. “It’s Alexandra Konnor. I know I’ve changed a bit.”

“Alex?” Riley studied her for a moment. “How in hell did you get here? And what happened
to you?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

Cadhla cleared his throat. “So you two know each other?”

“Yeah, we went to school together.”

Alex felt a smile tug at her lips. Riley had been her college dorm mate. Damn, that had been
a wild time. Just before the end of the year, she had vanished. Alex had come back from a class and all Riley’s things had been gone.

Cadhla slipped his arms around Alex’s waist. “Do you think you could chat after we have
a little fun?”

“What do you say, Rye? Poor guy’s got a hard-on that just won’t quit.”

Buy Link- http://www.lyricalpress.com/sisters_in_arms
Website- http://jadetwilight.webs.com/
Blog- http://jadedvixen.blogspot.com/

Review of Destined for an Early Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Five Fangs for Destined for an Early Grave

Destined for an Early Grave is the 4th book in Frost's Night Huntress series and one of the best so far. Another fast paced, action packed, page turner- a completely sexy adventure that puts Cat and Bones in more peril than before...and perhaps this time they won't make it out alive...or together.

Frost never disappoints with Cat and Bones. This is one of the hottest supernatural couples out there. They fight, they argue, they beat the crap out of each other... but it's all done with love and lots and lots of heat. Their heat makes the pages sizzle.

In this installment of the Night Huntress series Cat and Bones are finally getting a little R&R floating on a boat all by themselves out in the Atlantic Ocean when bad dreams start plaguing Cat. She thinks it's nothing and just brushes it off. Bones suggests they take a real vacation and the first thing that pops into her head is Paris, what could be more romantic?

Paris should be romantic, too bad Cat's nightmares keep getting worse, then someone attacks Cat and Bones on the street in Paris.

Things just go downhill from there because it turns out the vampire in Cat's dreams is, Gregor, the Dream snatcher. And he declares he has a claim on Cat that precedes Bones's by over a decade.

It seems there's a time period when Cat was 16 that she can't remember because Mencheres erased her memory and imprisoned Gregor, but now Gregor's out and he wants Cat.

What's even scarier than an all powerful Master vamp that can invade Cat's dreams? A vampire she can't break the connection with. No matter where they go he finds them. Cat is faced with choosing between her life and Bones's life because this vampire may be even stronger and more deadly than Bones and Cat wants to protect the man she loves even if it means breaking his heart in the process.

The stress gets to them and before long Cat and Bones are doing nothing but fight. Will she be able to break Gregor's hold without breaking Bones's heart? Is this going to be the thing that finally separates her and Bones? Will she lose him forever? Will he give his life to save her? Will she give up her humanity to save them all?

It's a non stop roller coaster ride of danger, betrayal, excitement and wonder.

This is definitely one of my most favorite series. I am seriously addicted to Frost's books. The Night Huntress series is sexy, intense, and totally fang-tastic.

Cat is such a stubborn, kick ass, ballsy chick. I love that she's not all prissy and prudish yet she still struggles to retain her modesty and humanity. And Bones...he is such Alpha male to the extreme yet he is so giving and kind-yet still a take no shit type of guy.

It looks like there will be at least 3 more Cat and Bones books in the Night Huntress series but we might have to wait awhile to get them because the next two books scheduled to be released in Feb and Sept 2010 are set in the Night Huntress world featuring side characters like Spade (Charles) and Mencheres but they are not Night Huntress books, just spin offs so Cat and Bones will not be prominent characters (bummer).

The first spin off is First Drop of Crimson featuring Spade and Cat's friend Denise, it is set to be released in February of 2010.

Monday Musings: The End of Summer Looms Ahead

A restless night has left me thoughtful, melancholy and just plain tired. I think I'll have to pump twice as much caffeine into myself to make it. Perhaps I should just mainline the coffee and be done with it?

So perhaps my restless night has left me with evil humor today as well, don't know but the weird dreams and strange noises that kept me awake, or at least somewhere between restful slumber and wide awake, were so odd.

All night I was plagued with weird dreams of blood, tomatoes, and really strange music. I suppose I have been reading too much then my gardening comes to play in my dreams as well. The music, no clue.

At one point I awoke, or thought I did because strange music was playing, of course it could have been dream on dream. I know I woke up several times hearing odd noises that I think (hope) was just the wind but who knows.

Then the sirens...arg. I live close by two fire stations whose haunting wailing sirens sound very mournful and scary in the middle of a quiet night, especially when the air is just right. My daughter used to wake up terrified when she would hear those sirens. I know why because they scare me a little as well, the sound, it is just...odd. Anyway those damn sirens went off two or three times during the night adding to the weird atmosphere of my sleep.

It's all left me feeling off today.

Then I realized there's very little left to summer and that just depressed me. The end of summer looms- just there in the distance, so close, so sad.

I always mourn the end of summer even though Fall is my favorite time of year. The Celtic New Year, harvest time, apples, squash, Halloween...I am an Autumn child but summer ending always makes me melancholy.

So I am officially a sap today. Perhaps I can channel that darkness into something weird and frightful.

Hmm, enough about me.

So anyone watch Being Human? After the first episode I did keep watching and am now totally hooked and totally pissed this week will be the season finale already. What six episodes? They must have been testing the waters to see how we Americans took to it. I hope to see more.

My husband is thrilled Robin Hood is coming back. Blah never really got into it. It's like been there, done that in 100 ways, ya know? I liked Being Human because it was new and, of course, paranormal.

What is everyone reading these days? I am reading Jenna Black's Morgan Kingsley series right now, totally fab, on book 3. Sexy, hot, and with enough mystery and suspense to make me wonder what everyone is up to and why, I can't wait to see where she takes the story.

I finished Jeaniene Frost's Destined for an Early Grave the other night. I'll have a review up this week. I just have to say, wow. Frost never disappoints me. I love Cat and Bones they are a great power couple.

Speaking of Frost, I read Kimberly Frost's newest, Barely Bewitched. Another big WOW. That review will also be up this week and Kimberly will be here guest blogging on September 1st and we'll be giving away a copy of Barely Bewitched to one lucky reader.

OK so I have nothing really fabulous to chat about so I'll be off to work for now and posting reviews for everyone soon.

Books for Vampire Lovers

These are a couple of books for serious vampire lovers. They have everything you need to know about vampires...well almost everything.

The Everything Vampire Book is a little more funny, kinda campy while The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vampires is much more serious and detailed.

However both are must haves for any vampire aficionado's bookshelf.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vampires goes into in depth research about vampire myths and legends from around the world and even covers close vampire relatives including witches, werewolves, ghouls and ghosts. You'll also find vampire like murderers throughout history and literary vampires, even Victorian vampires and of course a whole chapter of Anne Rice's vampires. This is a great book I am keeping on my reference shelf because it is full of all kinds of vampire facts, stats and detailed little trivia. (Is there a vampire Trivia Pursuit game, that would be so fangsome, I bet I would totally rock playing that game).

The Everything Vampire Book focuses mostly on literature, movies and legends but is also an invaluable resource for vampire facts and stats. Another keeper for my reference shelf.

Being such a huge vampire fan I have to admit I collect just about anything and everything about vampires that I can. So these books are added to my little collection of everything vampiric.

Someday I hope to get my hands on one of those authentic vampire slaying kits back from Victorian times but do you know they go for thousands of dollars? Wow. Maybe after I become a NYT Bestseller, right? :-) I'll also have a much bigger house with a whole room to devote to my vampire collections.

Anyway if you are a fang fan like I am these books should be on your must have list. Check them out, if nothing else they are entertaining.

A Review of Red Hot Internet Publicity

Five Fangs for Penny C Sansevieri's Red Hot Internet Publicity

So this isn't the type of book I normally review on this site but since we have a lot of writers and hopeful writers that frequent Fang-tastic Books I figured I would post the review here.

I have been reading this for the past couple weeks here and there and I have got to say this is the most useful resource about book marketing that I have ever come across. Full of fantastic and very useful advice to market your book online. Everything from press releases to blogging to making a book trailer to help promote your book.

Red Hot Internet Publicity: An Insider's Guide to Marketing Your Book on the Internet can be used by anyone who has a book. It doesn't matter what genre your book is, it doesn't matter whether it is an ebook or print book-this advice is for writers everywhere. You get advice on the best things to do and how to do them- picking a url, building a website, creating newsletters, using podcasts, and so much more.

I borrowed this book from a friend and now I don't want to give it back. I'm going to have to get my own copy now or buy her a new one since I have dogeared some corners.

You know I figured this would be another book full of hype without a lot of useful information for me. I've come across a few of these books before all hype but not Red Hot Internet Publicity this one is packed full of the best marketing advice you can find and it is directed at authors.

Of course Penny has first hand experience- she is one of the top book marketing experts around right now. She is one of the women behind Author Marketing Experts Literary Publicists. Plus she's an author herself, so she knows what works on both ends of the spectrum.

This is a book all authors should have on their shelves, permanently. This is a book you'll want to refer to often.

Free Book Friday- Child of the South by Joanna Catherine Scott

Up for grabs this week is an ARC bound copy of Child of the South by Joanna Catherine Scott.

I received it to review but never had the chance and it has been buried in my stack of books, lonely, waiting to be read so I figured someone else may have some time on their hands and enjoy it very much.

I am almost tempted not to give this away because the Civil War is one my favorite time periods for historical novels. When I was younger I was obsessed with the Civil War and the post Civil War south- movies like North and South and Gone with the Wind were my favorites. In 7th grade I even had the chance to go on a school trip to visit some Civil War sites- we stayed in Gettysburg. It was wonderful.

Anyway back to the book, Child of the South is the sequel to The Road from Chapel Hill.

From the Back Cover:

Joanna Catherine Scott
author of the acclaimed Civil War
novel The Road from Chapel Hill, returns with a gripping
tale in which loyalty, duty, and love collide in a devastated
South---where the war is over but conflict lives on.

Eugenia Mae Spotswood endured years of hardship and toil during the Civil War. Now she has returned to Wilmington to find out who her mother is---the white woman she called Mama or her father’s slave. Her search falters when the ongoing forces of racism and hatred almost break her spirit...until she is befriended by Abraham Galloway, the most powerful Negro leader in the North Carolina Senate.

Also driven forward by the tides of peace are the strong-minded ex-slave Tom and his former enemy and captor, Clyde Bricket. Tom spent the last years of the war working for the Union as a spy. Clyde, crippled from battle wounds, watches as his family farm slowly dies. Only when they work together do they discover that something good can be made of the chaos around them.
But as these four struggle to create a greater future. others struggle to bring them to destruction...

Sounds great doesn't it?

If you would like a chance to receive this free ARC copy of Child of the South all you have to do is leave a comment and include you email contact info. I'll announce a winner on Wednesday. USA shipping only. Thanks.

Book Trailer for Mr Darcy, Vampyre and My Own Attempts at Trailer Making

Check out the cool new book trailer for Mr Darcy, Vampyre

You know, book trailers are the hot new thing in book promotion.

I am playing with making one for Eternal Desire but I have no idea what I am doing and I'm afraid it is totally going to suck. It's not easy finding royalty free images or music that fit with the story line and than have it all fit together. Plus I have no idea how to manipulate photos and all that. It's like I only have half the software I need.

I think I might cave and get someone to do it for me, yet then I will feel defeated because I really like being able to do things myself. Oh well, sometimes you have to hand things off to the experts.

I am going to play around some more before I give up.

I found a site recommended in Red Hot Internet Publicity by Penny C. Sansevieri to get music from- Garageband.com. We'll see how that plays out.

Put Me On Your Kindle

Some of my ebooks, as well as subscriptions to my blogs, are available for the Kindle .

Please add me to your Kindle, I'll be so happy to be there. :-)

Monday Musings

So life will return to a state of normalcy this week hopefully. My mother is done with her surgeries and is doing great. And I am getting back on track with my work.

Of course I have a huge stack of review books to catch up on reading and another stack that I have read and just need to write the reviews for.

Plus I am working on collecting donations for the Vampire Ball and will start receiving entries to judge for an RWA Golden Rose competition soon...oh yeah and somewhere I have to slip in my writing jobs that I get paid for plus my fiction that I hope to someday get paid for.

OK so maybe things are not going back to normal, or else this is normal for me. I am always busy with a to-do list ten miles long...daily.

Oh well, I can't really stand being idle. Busy keeps me sane I suppose. I liek projects and I like having things to do-to a certain extent. Overworked makes me feel overwhelmed at times but it is all good.

So Free Book Friday will return this week. Yay! I know. It seemed weird not posting my normal Free Book Fridays or Winner Wednesdays but this week it all comes backs. Not sure what book I'll be giving away yet, I'll have to sort through my stack. I'll try to get a few reviews posted this week as well.

A couple great sites have featured my news about the Vampire Ball including Marta Acosta's Vampire Wire .

Vampire News posted a quick link and Stef at Night Time Romance Reviews was also kind enough to post the news. Creepy Queen Magazine posted info as well.

Thanks guys, you are great. (Hugs and Fangs to you all)

And speaking of the Vampire Ball, I figured out how to put pdf ebooks on a CD. I have never even attempted this before so I had no idea how to do it, all I have ever put on a disk before is photos so I was thrilled that the whole process is the same.

Woo Hoo, this means I can collect ebook donations for the ball and transfer them all to a CD (or two depending on how many I get).

So that's all for now.

Have a Happy Week!

Updates on Authors Donating Books for the Ball

The list of authors contributing to The Vampire Ball is growing constantly.

A huge thank you to all of the wonderful authors offering to send in signed books and to the publicists, agents, and PR people who are also sending books. This is fabulous.

So far Mary Janice Davidson, Madelyn Alt, Angela Knight, Marta Acosta, Lynda Hilburn, Cecilia Tan, Leanna Renee Hieber, Susan Blexrud, Kiki Howell, Cornelia Amiri, Jean Roberta, Kristin Battestella, Angela Daniels, and myself (Roxanne Rhoads) are all donating signed books and Kaitlyn from Penguin Books has promised to send a package of any vampire and paranormal books she has in her office, Paula who represents Charlaine Harris will be sending some of Charlaine's books, and Danielle from Sourcebooks is sending a couple copies of Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange.

Again a huge thanks to everyone that is donating books, it is greatly appreciated.

The Vampire Ball 2009

Calling All Vampire Authors, Publishers, PR people for Vampire Authors, and Publicists for Vampire and Paranormal Authors

Hello all vampire authors (and your reps) would you be interested in donating a copy or two of your vampire/paranormal books (or your clients books, signed if possible) and perhaps some other promotional items (T-shirts, hats, bookmarks, keychains, etc) to the Flint 2009 Vampire Ball to be used as prizes.

The Vampire Ball is a charity event that raises funds for the Flint Farmers Market. This is its second year.

As you may know Flint, MI is an area that has been hit the hardest by the poor economy especially since we are "Vehicle City", the center of GM and the auto industry. Sure the corporate offices are in Detroit (which gets all the media attention) but most of the factories are in and around Flint, factories that now sit empty as do many homes and businesses.

Flint is an area that once employed over 80,000 workers in the automotive industry but now employs less than 1,000. Our unemployment rates are one of the highest in the country as are foreclosure rates. Entire neighborhoods are becoming ghost towns.

One of the remaining gems in Flint is our fabulous Farmer's Market which provides local farmers a place to sell their goods. This year will be the second annual Vampire Ball and we are hoping to make it bigger and better than last year's event.

It would be wonderful if you could donate a signed copy of your book to be offered as part of a prize pack. We are hoping many vampire/paranormal authors will participate.

So far Angela Knight, Marta Acosta, Lynda Hilburn, Kiki Howell, Cornelia Amiri and myself are all donating signed copies of a couple of our books and Kaitlyn from Penguin Books has promised to send a package of any vampire and paranormal books she has in her office.

The ball is October 24, 2009, if you are planning on being anywhere near Flint please come join us. Tickets can be purchased in advance at http://www.vertigotheatrics.com/. Purchase them early because last year the Ball was sold out.

If you are interested in joining us and setting up a table to sell and sign your books (we would be so thrilled to have you) please contact Ilona Curry at ilonacurry@hotmail.com she is handling all entertainment and promotions for the ball.

I will be at the ball this year selling and signing some of my books. It would be great to have some other authors there as well.

Last year Colleen Gleason, Michigan author of the Gardella Vampire Chronicles, was at the ball selling and signing her books. It would be wonderful to have a couple authors this year.

If you are interested in donating any books or promo items they can be mailed to me (contact me directly for address). Just be sure to include a note that the books or other items are for the Vampire Ball. Any donations are greatly appreciated.

If you need any more information feel free to email me with any questions at eroticroxanne at yahoo dot com.

Updates: A couple more authors have signed on to send books including Cecilia Tan, Jean Roberta, and Kristin Battestella and some Charlaine Harris books are being sent our way(unsigned but that's still fang-tastic).

On another note, a few ebook authors have expressed their interest but since their work is only in e-format they feel they can't participate. I have solved that, I will put any ebooks sent for the Vampire Ball onto a USB drive and include that as part of the prize pack.

Guest Blog and Giveaway with Dahlia Rose

My World with Vampires!

What kind of world would it be if vampires really existed? We have been brought into the cult following of watching the HBO show True Blood. There vampires are known to the public and it is met with both acceptance and hate. We find them sexy but they are truly predators, stronger faster and more of a hunter than any animal in the wild. Yet they are human just like us. They want love even though they feel they are not deserving of such an emotion. They want to find a connection with someone which we all at some point are looking for. So would they be really any different from us if they did exist? They are hunted and hated because in the world of fiction humans have become secondary on the food chain of life. The act of blood drinking is about feeding and retaining an essence for food. But when we read about that bite it becomes something sexual and passionate and we wish within ourselves we could experience it. So what if vampires were real would you be one of those lining up to take that immortal plunge into never ending life?

My name is Dahlia Rose and I like to think of myself as a fabulous freak of nature but I am also an author. I write interracial romance in genres from paranormal to contemporary. But what I am here to talk about today is... you guessed it, vampires. I love my vampires and I’m here to tell you about two of my books. In all my books I try to make my hero and heroines find that intense connection. The one that holds on to your heart and never lets go. My hero or heroine vampires are tortured souls looking for something to stave off the cold endless nights. Yes some of my vampires are females and they are no less dangerous even more so.

The Collette Trilogy is three novellas I wrote for Phaze publishing. Each stood alone but together they formed three vampire sisters who were entrusted with a quest no vampire would ever want…to save the human race. Sola, Luna and Willa were freaks of nature even to the vampire world. Born of an undead mother and father but perfect vampires all the same. Each had to find one piece of an amulet which would give vampires the ability to walk in the daylight. They were betrayed by one closest to them and loved by those they brought into the fold. Together they fought against the one enemy that would kill human and vampires alike for the sake of drinking blood and together they would win or lose. Each sister formed a bond and had to learn to get past years of being alone to trust someone else with all they held dear. I think that is what made the reviewers love this series and I hope you will too. The Collette trilogy is still on sale at Phaze (http://www.phaze.com/) in print and e-book and as one reviewer said get on the roller coaster and enjoy the ride, it never lets you go.

Love’s Eternal Bite is my second vampire and this book will debut with Sugar and Spice Press on August 22nd 2009! (http://www.sugarandspicepress.net/). This book is a complete turn around from the trilogy because this time my hero was to the point that eternity was more than he could bear. He didn’t want to pass on his gift; he missed the human existence he had even though it was five hundred years in the past. But then he met Alana, a witch with more power than even he realized. He saved her life by making her immortal but instead of thanking him she cursed him. Learning about her new immortal life showed Alana’s naivety and Christopher’s patience to teach her. But something was coming that they would have to stand together and fight. His sire carried something dark and evil inside him and this timeless evil thing Alana. In this book I showed how destiny and immortality combined to make a couple who would do anything for each other. They were vampires but still allowed to have a soul mate and not having to walk the world alone.

I hope these two books tinkled your intrigued button and has sent you careening into worlds where vampires exists. Love, erotic sexual encounters, danger and passion pours from every page and leaves you gasping in its wake. As I wrote these I found myself having take breaks because of the intensity of the relationships formed in the book. I hope it does the same for you too. But I will not leave and not give a little gift with my departure.

I will leave a contest for the reader of this fabulous blog. Visit either http://www.phaze.com/ for The Collette Trilogy or http://www.sugarandspicepress.net/ coming soon page for Love’s Eternal Bite and tell me the names of my hero’s and heroines in each book.

Email me with the words I Want To Be A Vampire in the subject line and you will be entered to win a decadent goodie bag plus a signed copy of each book! Email me at Dahliarose29@aol.com and on the day of Love’s Eternal Bite debut I will announce the winner here at Fangtastic Books!

Thanks for reading my blog and have a bite on me
Dahlia

Monday Musings

So it's Monday again and I have loads of work to do to catch up on everything I haven't done in the past four days.

My mom made it through her first cataract surgery like a trooper, no problems. We go again this week for the second eye. She's doing great so far, vision is still a little blurry but no pain. Thank goodness. I didn't sleep the night before her surgery because I was so worried, I had no idea what to expect and well...I am just a compulsive worrier when it comes to my family.

My weekend was busy as far as family things go. It stormed practically the whole time then was hotter than hell yesterday for the first time all summer and wouldn't you know it it's the one day we had plans to be out all day. My family and some friends went to Crossroads Village and had a lot of fun but damn was it HOT!

The next couple of weeks I don't have too much planned here at FB.

Tomorrow we do have the wonderful Dahlia Rose dropping by for a fun guest blog and goodie bag giveaway.

Then I don't have any more authors dropping by until August 26 when Jade Twilight will be stopping in for a guest post and then on August 27 Susan Squires will be dropping in to talk about her newest book Time for Eternity.

I will try to fill in with reviews, news, and Free Book Friday events but can't promise anything since I have assignments, edits, and a few stories that need to be attended to plus I am going to try my hand at making a book trailer. This will be a first and I have no idea what I am doing or if I'll even be able to do it. I am a hands on type of girl, a total DIYer at heart but I am not so good with the technical stuff, so we'll see.

I am open to having authors drop in for guest blogs, book promo days and contests. If any author is interested in joining us here at FB for promoting their paranormal or urban fantasy book please contact me, I have plenty of openings throughout the month of August and still some openings in September. This offer is for print or ebook authors.

I already have some fab authors joining us in September and October including: Kimberly Frost (September 1), Michelle Rowen (September 3), Terry Spear (September 8), Evie Byrne (September 24), Chloe Neill (October 6), and Linda Wisdom (October 23). And the schedule is still wide open for more. Whether you have a new release or an old one it is never too late to promote yourself and your work.

This Fall we are going to have a lot of fun at Fang-tastic Books between all the authors dropping by for guest blogs, giveaways and more and my newest release, Eternal Desire, will be out in October plus I just love Halloween and will be sponsoring several events around the web to celebrate my new release and Halloween.

I've been stocking up on a few Fang-tastic goodies plus I am seeking sponsors if anyone would like to contribute books, DVDs, and any other vampire/paranormal goodies to the giveaways. Anyone who donates prizes will get links and promotion to their websites and books/products.

Stick with me through the slow time this August and be ready for this Fall because it will be Fang-tastic!

Destined for An Early Grave Book Trailer

Here's the book trailer for Jeaniene Frost's Destined for an Early Grave

Enjoy!

If for some reason it doesn't load here go to YouTube

Guest Blog and Giveaway wit Linda Mooney

He’s tall, well-built, devastatingly handsome, and he flies. No, he’s not Superman.

Rion is an angel. Or, at least, that’s what we here on Earth have been calling his kind for thousands of years. Actually, Rion is a Lord of Thunder, an elite group of trained warriors who travel through "rifts" that appear between our world and his whenever an enormous storm occurs. Their job is to spy on us. To watch us and our developing technology, because they know that one day someone from Earth will find a way—either purposefully or accidentally—to travel through the rifts and land on his world.

When and if that should happen, the civilizations of two worlds will be forever changed.

But something goes very, very wrong on his next mission, and Rion is nearly killed when he plummets to the ground. It isn’t until a young woman named Annie finds him that he finally realizes he has a reason to live...and love.

Lord of Thunder is an erotic fantasy romance novel, and Book 1 of the "Thunder" trilogy now available from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

The premise for the series is: Annie Mayall was a young bride, brought to Montana in 1940 by her new husband to start their new life together...as soon as he struck it rich in the promised silver mines. Abandoned for three long desperate and lonely years, Annie was forced to survive by herself in the wilds of the mountains. Until one stormy night brought a severely wounded stranger to her tiny one-room cabin. A stranger both mystical and fascinating. A stranger who not only brought her happiness, but a kind of love she never knew existed.

A stranger who was not of this earth.

Warning: This book contains mutilation, abandonment, total isolation, harsh and unbearable weather, blood-letting, attempted homicide, attempted angel-cide, snoopy but concerned neighbors, close confinement, promises kept, and unusual uses for a feather.

Book 2, Passion of Thunder, debuts September 15th. The final book of the trilogy, Wings of Thunder, will be available December 15th.

Anyone up for a freebie?

I will be giving away a copy of LORD OF THUNDER to someone who comments on the blog. :)

For more information and excerpts, please visit my website http://www.lindamooney.com/

Winner Wednesday

Debs Desk is the winner of a copy of The Family Jewels, congrats.

The Barbara Bretton, Laced with Magic contest is still open. If you want a chance to win one of the 5 copies please leave a comment on that post.

I will not be having Free Book Friday for the next two weeks as I'll be taking my mother in for cataract surgery, one eye each week. I'm not sure how she'll be so I am clearing up my schedule to be able to take care of her.

If there are any authors having contests or would like to give away a book let me know and I'll post that in place of Free Book Friday.

Do not fear, in three weeks Free Book Friday will be back.

Follow the Butterflies

The first edition of Emerald Tales, Follow the Butterflies, is now on sale.

You can go here to order a print or pdf copy for just $5.00.



This new literary journal contains my poem "In the Clearing".

Barbara Bretton Guest Blog and Laced with Magic Giveaway

I'm starting to think longingly about the Federal Witness Protection plan.

No, I haven't been secretly forging a life of crime here in the home state of the Sopranos. It's a whole lot scarier than that. Laced With Magic hits the stands tomorrow and I'm plotting my escape!

You would think I'd be used to it by now, wouldn't you? I've been down this road almost fifty times over the years and it never gets easier. Oh, I'm not complaining. Pre-publication jitters are a very small price to pay for the privilege of seeing my name on the spine of a book but that doesn't mean my stomach doesn't do a double back-flip every time a new title is released. Writing and publishing a book is like being strapped into the front car of a roller coaster, one of those loop-di-loop coasters that pull a 360 at 80 miles per hour while your entire life passes before your eyes.

And we keep coming back for more!

A few months ago I had the pleasure of visiting with all of you and sharing a little of the story behind Casting Spells. Laced With Magic is the sequel, a continuation of Chloe and Luke's love story with more magic, more love, and more knitting than ever before. I'm delighted to tell you that there will be even more Sugar Maple stories to come: I just signed a two-book deal for books #3 and #4 in the Sugar Maple Chronicles.

See? I'm so excited that my words are running away with me. Okay, Bretton. Take a deep breath. Center your thoughts. Back to Laced With Magic. Publishers Weekly awarded it a coveted starred review which definitely put another one of those smiles on my face. But you know what? Putting a smile on your face is what's really important and I hope Laced With Magic will do exactly that.

We pick up the story a few months after Casting Spells ends. Chloe's newfound magickal powers grow stronger every day . . . and so does her love for Sugar Maple's resident human, Luke MacKenzie. They/re teetering on the brink of taking their relationship to a more permanent level when Luke's ex-wife shows up in town and Chloe discovers that the residents of Sugar Maple aren't the only ones keeping secrets: it seems that Luke has been keeping a few of his own!

I'm giving away five copies of Laced With Magic to five lucky readers. All you have to do is leave a comment and I'll choose five winners at random on Sunday. Winners' names will be posted here and on my blog at http://bmafb.blogspot.com – I look forward to hearing from you.

Drop by my website http://www.barbarabretton.com/ or knitting blog romancingtheyarn.blogspot.com and say hello! There's always a contest going on.

A Review of Where There's A Witch by Madelyn Alt

I just love Madelyn Alt's Bewitching Mysteries. They remind me of the Nancy Drew type books I read as a child. Fun, quirky, sweet female characters thrown into a "wholesome storyline" with a dash of mystery and hints of romance thrown in.

And in Alt's case a dash of the supernatural tossed in, too. I like to call her and Shirley Damsgaard's books witchy chic lit or maybe witch lit.

There's a little bit of romance, a hint of sexiness but no hot sex scenes and definitely nothing "objectionable" as far as sexuality goes. These are books I can share with my mom and my ten year old daughter.

In book 5 of the Bewitching Mysteries, Where There's a Witch, Maggie attends a church carnival with two fellow N.I.G.H.T.S members, the teenagers Evie and Tara.

There she encounters a strange and angry woman arguing with a young man. Then comes a across her again after hearing an argument in the church and the young woman runs out crying.
The church carnival is cut short soon after when the construction groundbreaking ceremony digs up a secret room buried on the church grounds.

The whole thing leaves the girls feeling a little creeped out and they all go back to Maggie's place.
Later that night while hanging out at Maggie's, Marcus shows up. Marcus is another member of the N.I.G.H.T.S (the local ghosthunting, Wiccan, paranormal group), Tara's cousin, and the man of Maggie's dreams (even if she refuses to accept that yet). After eating pizza and playing with the homemade Ouija board Tara discovers she is missing her cell phone the last place she had it was at the carnival.

So they head back to the carnival grounds and discover...a dead body in the hole of the unearthed secret room. And not just any dead body but the body of the young woman involved in not just one but two arguments at the church earlier that day.

Every thing seems to be tied together somehow and the spirit that was released from the room is trying to Maggie what's going on but she can't figure out the cryptic messages plus a newspaper article and op-ed piece out Liss and Marcus as witches and Maggie along with the rest of the N.I.G.H.T.S as ghost hunters which is a very bad thing in a small conservative Indiana town. This leaves the whole crew feeling agitated and uneasy and Liss's store empty.

It also upsets Tom, Maggie's kinda sorta boyfriend, the Officer in charge of the new task force to control all the unseemly behavior that's been going on in the once quiet small town.

I don't think Tom has ever been the right guy for Maggie, he has never accepted her and is such a tight ass jerk. Honestly Marcus has always been the one.

Will Maggie ever realize that? You'll get the answer in this book.

And of course Maggie will unravel the mystery of who killed the woman at the church. With a little help from a spirit.

I am glad a few things were finally (sorta) settled in this book however I feel this book didn't go into as much character development as the other books. It really focused on Maggie and just Maggie. We didn't get a lot from anyone else. Liss didn't even figure predominately in this book nor did Marcus though he was there and a few important things happen for his and Maggie's relationship.

I missed the character interaction and learning more about the characters that have made this series so wonderful and thoroughly enchanting.

I was also disappointed that it ended so quick, but mainly that's because it was such a quick read. I devoured it in just two nights. (My mom read it in one.) I can't wait for book 6. When? Sometime in 2010, January maybe? I heard it will be released in hardcover for the first time then in paperback later in the year. I can't wait to see where Alt takes Maggie in the next story. Will Maggie finally have a love life?

Sunday News

Barbara Bretton will be here at Fang-tastic Books tomorrow chatting about her newest release, Laced with Magic and offering 5 free copies.

That's right 5 lucky FB readers have the chance to win a copy of Laced with Magic.

Make sure you drop by and leave a comment on Barbara's guest post for your chance to win.

Other news:

There's a new interview with moi up at Night Owl Romance

Plus I have my very first VampChix post now ready to read

And I was featured in All Romance Ebooks newsletter this week. First I had an inspiration quote via twitter posted about the strangest inspiration for a story plus my sizzler short, Kaylie's Fantasy is the free read.

You can read the newsletter here to see my strange inspiration and read Kaylie's Fantasy.

If you haven't subscribed to the All Romance newsletter yet you should. It is always full of fun interviews, hot book picks, contest info and free reads.

An Author's Guide to Using a Pen Name

Lately there has been some backlash about pen names. Suite101 announced that all of their writers that use pen names or other pseudonyms must change their account and write under their real names. This is supposed to increase the professionalism of Suite101.

Personally I think that just alienated many writers. Many, many professional writers use pen names. Kim Harrison and Nora Roberts are two NYT Bestselling Authors that instantly come to
mind.

For years I have written under both my real name and a pen name. At times it was really confusing, especially in the beginning when I had no idea when I should use both names and when I should just use my pen name.

Want to read more? Click here.