Romance in the News

It's fantastic to see romance being shown in such a positive light in the media recently, and on Saturday I was interviewed, along with several other WA authors, by our local state paper, The West Australian. We discussed romance, erotic romance and the impact 50 Shades of Grey has had on the market. Well worth checking out!

In other news I'm delighted that my good friend, Fiona Lowe, won a RITA award at the Romance Writers of America conference on Saturday night for her debut single title novel, Boomerang Bride! The RITA is the romance novel equivalent of an Oscar, so it's a wonderful achievement. Congratulations Fiona!

Also huge congrats to fellow Ellora's Cave and Berkley author Denise Rossetti for coming third in the Passionate Plume award (for Erotic Romance) with her latest release, Guilty as Sin.

And big congrats to fellow Dark Side Down Underer and Apocalyptic romance writer Kylie Scott, who won the unpublished section, At the Stroke of Midnight, with her book that has since been accepted for publication with Momentum, Flesh (with zombies!)

Go the Aussies!

Bloodlust Denied ~ Unveiled!

Here is the super-sexy cover for my upcoming Ellora's Cave book, Bloodlust Denied! The cover perfectly depicts a scene at the start of the book where Alexius and Morana first meet in a sordid London back alley (although Morana might not have been quite as naked in the book... however, my husband loves this cover and I think the heroine has a lot more to do with his opinion than the darkly brooding hero!!)

Bloodlust Denied

ISBN: 9781419940200

Lured by blood, driven by lust, Alexius is fascinated by the dark haired seductress who shows no fear and refuses to obey his every command. Entranced by such novelty he denies his rabid bloodlust. Instead he’ll keep her to warm his bed until he tires of her ready tongue and tempting body.

Immortal vampire hunter Morana has never mistaken her prey before. But the dark stranger mesmerizes her, enticing her to forget everything but the dangerous pleasure she finds in his arms, until reality intrudes and she flees his addictive embrace.

When Alexius unexpectedly find her again he’s determined to exact retribution for the way she vanished three years ago. Abduction, bondage and decadent seduction feature in his plans, but before the sun rises dynamics have shifted and he’s the one fighting the silken bonds of captivity.

But as they fall under each other’s erotic spell the past and present collide and unless they discover the truth behind the lies, Death will triumph once more.

Apocalypse, Battlestar Galactica Style!

Oh yes! It's been a while since I've mentioned one of my fave ever series and what better place to talk about it than over on the Romance Writers of the Apocalypse blog? I explain why this series so captured my imagination with its fantastic world building. Would love to see you over there!

Kick Ass Goddesses

I do love a kick ass heroine and that goes for kick ass goddesses as well. For my next book set in my ancient Roman/Druid world, Betrayed, it's the Moon Goddess Arianrhod who is the goddess who inspired the story of Nimue and Tacitus. On the surface of things, if you read her official legend in the  The Mabinogion, translated by Lady Charlotte Guest (Welsh legends collected in the nineteenth century in the Red Book of Hergest), it would be easy to dismiss her as a minor goddess who fell from grace and then had the good manners to drown shortly afterwards.


But there is so much more to Arianrhod than that. She was a powerful Moon Goddess and Weaver of Fates of both god and man. She didn't need a man to protect her and certainly didn't need a man to tell her what to do or how to behave. But the world changed and powerful female deities were no longer seen as a positive influence. After all, it might give women ideas that they, too, did not need to bow to the every slightest whim of man.


And so Arianrhod was reduced to that of a disgraced, powerless female and was no longer perceived as a threat.


For more on the legend and looking beyond and between the lines, join me over at the Historical Hearts blog today. I'd love your views on the 'divine feminine'.

Male Perspective of "Sexy"

There was much excitement in my inbox late last night! I saw the cover for my upcoming Ellora's Cave Twilight release, Bloodlust Denied. And OMG it's a scorcher! I love it. And yes I'm totally teasing you here because I won't be posting it just yet!!

I always drag my husband into my office to have a look at my new covers and he always makes appropriate noises of... well, of something and I'm pretty sure on the whole his response is simply to shut me up. However last night after he dutifully followed me to my laptop he said, "I like that. It's quite sexy."

I shall leave to your imagination why he decided this cover was sexy when I happen to think all my covers are not only absolutely fabulous but also incredibly sexy! Any suggestions?

Here's the blurb:

Lured by blood, driven by lust, Alexius is fascinated by the dark haired seductress who shows no fear and refuses to obey his every command. Entranced by such novelty he denied his rabid bloodlust. Instead he’ll keep her to warm his bed until he tires of her ready tongue and tempting body.

Immortal vampire hunter Morana has never mistaken her prey before. But the dark stranger mesmerizes her, enticing her to forget everything but the dangerous pleasure she finds in his arms, until reality intrudes and she flees his addictive embrace.

When Alexius unexpectedly find her again he’s determined to exact retribution for the way she vanished three years ago. Abductions, bondage and decadent seduction feature in his plans, but before the sun rises dynamics have shifted and he’s the one fighting the silken bonds of captivity.

But as they fall under each other’s erotic spell the past and present collide and unless they discover the truth behind the lies, Death will triumph once more.

Romance Writers of the Apocalypse - Let the End Begin!

It's Friday 13th!! and you know what that means. Fun and games at the launch party over at the Romance Writers of the Apocalypse blog! And while you're there check out the awesome artwork from This he(ART) of mine.


Here's the lowdown, pinched directly from the blog itself 

We're discussing the Apocalypse and giving away sh*t. All of us and lots of it. More ebooks than you can poke an axe at and some paper and ink ones too. Comment on our blog any time from Friday 13 - Sunday 15 as many times as you like (though we'll mock you if you get out of hand - be warned). Adore us and implore us to give you stuff. You never know, it might work. We're impressionable like that. And unstable. But that's half the fun!

Marketing Summer Camp July 14th - 15th 2012

Need some ideas or information on the best ways to market and promo your books? Then read on!

Marketing Summer Camp is a free, two-day online conference designed to help authors learn the basics of marketing and promotion, and to fine tune skills already obtained. It will include guest speakers, pitch opportunities, prizes, top giveaways, and plenty of learning and fun. It will be held on the Yahoo group, Marketing for Romance Writers. Membership is open to published as well as non-published authors, editors, publishers, literary agents, author promotion services, cover artists, and virtual assistants. MFRW members are automatically signed up for Camp. If you want to take a particular course, read the messages posted with that title of the class. If you want to skip that class, don't read them. It's going to be that easy. Handouts and goody bags will be up for grabs once the conference begins. Giveaways include advertising packages, blog tours, and more. Discounts on services will also be available for all attendees.

PITCH APPOINTMENTS

There will be pitch appointments with multiple publishers for camp attendees. These will take place after camp so you don't have to miss classes.

Sign up by joining the group: http://is.gd/mfrwgroup

To learn more:
Website: http://is.gd/mfrworg
Paperli: http://is.gd/mfrwpaperli
Newsletter: http://is.gd/mfrwnews
Facebook group: http://is.gd/mfrwfb
Marketing Camp Schedule: http://is.gd/mfrw_camp_hours

The MFRW Friends of Romance Award is presented to companies seeking to aid authors with promotion at little or no cost, and to offer affordable programs. In 2012 they are: The Romance Studio, Romance Junkies, and CoffeeTime Romance. The award is one way we can help authors and publishers save money and obtain ethical and excellent service. http://marketingforromancewriters.org/friends.htm

Azrael, Archangel of Death

I finally finished polishing my second Archangel book last week and sent it to my agent on Friday. It's the story of Azrael, who makes an appearance in Archangel of Mercy. He was so certain he'd never fall that it just had to happen!

Here's the (unedited) blurb to give you a taste:

A hunter cursed by her tainted blood, an Archangel haunted by visions of death;

an impossible love that should never exist…

Archangel of Death

When dhampir Rowan Moreton falls for the hottest guy she’s ever met, she’s determined to protect him from the sordid reality of her life as a hunter of rogue vampires. Her dearest wish is to lead a normal life, but with enemies waiting in the shadows and destined to die young, love is something she can only dream of.

The Archangel Azrael, protector of the astral planes and slayer of dhampirs, is captivated by the enchanting Rowan–despite her fragile human heritage. One night is all he wants. Except one night is not enough. Her body tempts him, her eyes enslave–and the secrets she keeps intrigue him.

But when their past comes back to haunt them they discover a connection that challenges every belief they’ve ever held. And in order to survive they need to learn to trust their deadliest enemy. 

Each other.

Romance Writers of the Apocalypse

Isn't that a great heading?!

It's amazing the conversations you can have on Twitter. On Saturday night a few of the Aussie authors were discussing the apocalypse (as you do) and came to the conclusion that it would be an awesome thing to set up a blog to help prepare the world for the invasion of the zombies (or the aliens. Or vindictive gods and goddesses. Or even a big rock from the sky).

And so ... Romance Writers of the Apocalypse was born! Spawned? Whatever! It's now live and kicking arse, and this is the great motto that we all drink by:

Get Fit.

Be Violent.

Write Smut.

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