Darklight on... ME!

Today I'm in the hot seat over at the Darkside Down Under blog, where you can discover all sorts of fascinating facts about me! (or not so fascinating, as the case may be!!!) Thank you to the ever-patient Eleni Konstantine for setting up the interview!!

And the party continues...

The party over at PW Beyond Her Book is absolutely phenomenal! Have you visited yet? Today would be a good day because the venue is a castle and the prizes range from contemporary, historical, erotica, e-book and audio books - awesome!! There are also several e-readers up for grabs. And since Forbidden and Captive fall in the historical and erotic categories, a copy of one of my books is also on offer!

Have fun!

Give me an 'O'

Over the last couple of weeks I've received several lovely emails from readers, and today I received a wonderful letter in the mail which absolutely made my day (month, really!). It's the most fabulous feeling to know someone has enjoyed your books that much and really does make it all worthwhile when you struggle through those less than wonderful writerly days :-) Thank you!

My dear friend Shelley Munro contacted me today to let me know Forbidden has been reviewed by Just Erotic Romance Reviews. I'm thrilled that the reviewer, Aggie Tsirikas, gave the book a Gold Star Award and an 'O' Rating (this stands for 'Orgasmic' !!!) JERR is a review publication, so I can't link directly to the review but hopefully it will be up on their website in a month or so.

Here are a couple of snippets:

"Ms. Phillips skill in creating sexual tension that simmers and explodes from the first meeting between Carys and Maximus is palpable. While their love scenes are filled with erotic passion and grace it doesn’t overpower the story, but rather enhances their developing love adding dimension to their developing personalities and relationship...

"It’s satisfying to find a new author whose debut novel is so impressive with attention to detail giving us a glimpse into the life of these Roman legionaries and Celts, but also wrapping it all up in a fantastical and engrossing story to give us a compelling and spellbinding romance. I’m sure I’ll be re-reading Forbidden many times. I highly recommend Forbidden and for these reasons I recommend a Gold Star Award."

PW 4th Annual Anniversary Bash

The wonderful Barbara Vey over at Publishers Weekly's Beyond Her Book is gearing up for her annual anniversary bash. This is a virtual party and it's going to run non-stop from Monday through Saturday, and there are the most amazing prizes to be won! Not only fabulous books but there are also 17 e-readers to be given away - and you can win just by leaving a comment over at the party.

Here's the scoop directly from Barbara:

Here’s the daily schedule, but e-readers will be given away daily, so get your comments in every day:

Monday, March 7th - Paranormal, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Horror, Urban Fantasy (Takes place in haunted house)

Tuesday March 8th – Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Adventure (Takes place at a murder scene)

Wednesday March 9th – Publishers, Editors, Bloggers, Librarians (takes place on an island)

Thursday March 10th – Inspirational, YA, Nonfiction (takes place at a shopping mall)

Friday March 11th – Contemporary/Historical/Erotica/E-Books/Audio (takes place at a castle)

Saturday March 12th – Romance Blowout (takes place at Niagara Falls)

I'll be there on Friday with a giveaway of a copy of either Forbidden or Captive. Looks like the party's going to be a blast!

Social Media

If you're a writer, what social media do you use? The chances are that, beside your website, you also have a blog, maybe a Facebook page and possibly use Twitter. How do you find time to juggle the social networking with everything else and still find time to write? Is it essential for a writer to have an interactive online presence? Which is your favourite and why?

I've recently set up a new Facebook Like page. I love chatting with readers online and hope this could be a way of connecting. I also have a Twitter account but to be honest I'm not too sure what I'm doing over there, which is why I often appear to fall of the edge of the twitterverse.

What medium do readers most like as a way of connecting to authors? Is it important to have that interaction and if so do you prefer if the author uses a blog, FB, Twitter or some other media? Or does it not matter to you?

Seductive Musings has a great post about the different social medias from a reader's perspective, and makes the point that for many readers it's the author's website that is the first and most important port of call when looking for up to date info. The post is long but is well worth reading and certainly gave me a lot to think about.

What are your thoughts?

Hot Cover Love

Today I'm over at the lovely VampFanGirl's blog, Lovin' Me Some Romance, where I'm talking about hot covers and what it is about them that we especially love? Pop on over and leave a comment to go into the draw for a giveaway of either Forbidden or Captive!

I've also set up a new Like page on Facebook, so if you'd like to join please click on the link below!!

Couple of Contests

I'm holding a contest to win a copy of Captive over at GoodReads for the next couple of weeks - just click on the link or the widget on the right sidebar to enter - it's as easy as that!

My good friend, paranormal YA romance author Amanda Ashby and her very clever husband have just launched her brand new website - and it's fabulous! Amanda is also holding a contest over at GoodReads for an ARC of her upcoming Fairy Bad Day (Amanda thinks up the best titles!) so don't forget to join in the fun because this book r-o-c-k-s.

Ancient World

Busy day today, not only am I having fun with the LoveCat girls, I'm also chatting about my ancient world of Forbidden and Captive over at Tote Bags n' Blogs ~ and there's another giveaway!

Peeled Grapes, Anyone?

My good friend Mel Teshco has interviewed me over at the LoveCats DownUnder blog today, and you can find out what exactly it is that Alan Rickman does for me every morning! And it might not be what you think!!! There's also a giveaway for one lucky commenter!!

Exclusive Excerpt of Captive

Today I'm having fun over at Seductive Musings where there's an exclusive excerpt of Captive and a teaser which I think gives a feeling of what the story is about. Love to see you over there - and there's a copy of either Forbidden or Captive up for grabs for one commenter who finishes off a provocative sentence!!!

A Sexy Dessert

Today I'm over at Book Lovers Inc, where the lovely Has asked me some fab questions. If you want to find out what dessert I think perfectly describes Bren and Morwyn's relationship then hop on over and have a look-see! And don't forget to leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning a copy of either Forbidden or Captive!

Captive at Borders True Romance

Today I'm being interviewed at Borders True Romance. Find out who I could see playing Bren and Morwyn if a movie was made of Captive!!

And there's a giveaway!

Winner of The Perfect Concubine!

And the winner of Michelle Styles contest to win a download of her Roman Undone, The Perfect Concubine is ~~~

Jena Lang

Congratulations, Jena! Please contact Michelle at michelle@michellestyles dot co dot uk (no spaces) with your details.

Big thanks to everyone for joining in the fun! And don't forget to check out Michelle's blog to find out who won of copy of either Forbidden or Captive!

Pleasure Me, Captive

Today I'm over at Monica Burns' Pleasure Me blog party, where not only is there a chance to win a *signed* copy of Captive but also to go into the draw for a Grand Prize of a Deluxe Spa basket worth $150! Would love to see you over there!!

Question Time

For another chance to win a copy of either Forbidden or Captive, I'm partying over at Not Another Romance Blog today, where the lovely Rita asked me some fabulous questions. Hope to see you over there!

Everything Erotica Spotlight at RT

I'm chuffed that Captive is being showcased on the Everything Erotica Spotlight over at the Romantic Times BOOK Review site. There's a message from me and also an excerpt. Fun!

I'm also over at my good friend Kaye Manro's blog, who writes sizzling hot sci-fi romance - and her series is called Forbidden too!! Check out Kaye's Forbidden Love and, coming soon, Forbidden Destiny!

Cool Forests & Ancient Magic

Today I'm over at RR@H Novel Thoughts & Book Talk chatting about my world of Forbidden - with a copy of Forbidden for one lucky commenter!

I found a lovely reader review for Forbidden over on the Australian Romance Readers Association blog yesterday. The reviewer, Nicola Smith, had this to say:

"I enjoyed reading Forbidden. It took me to another place of cool forests and ancient magic. The characters Carys and Maximus are strong and likeable. I also enjoyed reading about their cultures and the impact the Romans had on the Celt society."

Don't forget to scroll down and leave a comment on Michelle's post to be in with a chance of winning her fabulous Undone, The Perfect Concubine!

The Perfect Hero

Today I'm over at the Dark Side DownUnder blog where I'm talking about heroes - specifically, what makes a hero perfect for you? Or just pop on over and leave a comment or ask a question! There's a copy of either Forbidden or Captive up for grabs and I'll draw a winner next Wednesday!

And don't forget to leave a comment on Michelle's post to be in with a chance of winning a copy of The Perfect Concubine!

Captive & The Perfect Concubine *Giveaways*

I'm delighted to have my dear friend Michelle Styles visiting my blog today. Michelle writes for Harlequin Mills and Boon Historical, and after she sold The Gladiator's Honor back in 2006 I love to call her the trail-blazer when it comes to opening up the line to ancient historical romances :-)

I'm over at Michelle's blog today chatting about my world of Forbidden, so do please pop by there and say hi - there's a copy of Forbidden or Captive up for grabs for one lucky commenter!

And now it's over to Michelle...

When Christina and I realised that we both had Roman set stories out in February, we decided to do a blog swap. Christina is over at my blog talking about her latest release Captive and I am here talking about The Perfect Concubine.

I am so excited that all things Roman are getting more attention in the Romance genre.

The Perfect Concubine is an Undone and approximately 15,000 words as opposed to Christina’s full length novel. Undones are downloadable as e-books and occasionally they are grouped together in anthologies. They are Harlequin Historical sexiest offering and give authors a chance to explore their world more. But they are short and are meant to be in a lunch time. So they can be very focused . For me, it was a chance to revisit a world that I love.

The Perfect Concubine takes place shortly after Sold & Seduced and has a minor character – Piso the Greek as the hero. It is 68 BC and the Roman Republic has not yet given way to the Empire. The story focuses on the merchants of Rome, rather the soldiers. They built trading empires out of nothing and fought to keep them.

Rome, 68 B.C.

Valeria's life is in the hands of Piso the Greek—the very man who had risen from a common sailor to wealthy ship owner following their doomed romance. He is the only man brave enough to sail the dangerous seas to Alexandria to reunite Valeria with her missing brother and restore her family's fortune. But Piso demands a high price for his help: Valeria must become his concubine and share his bed once more....

Wherever good e-books are sold and on e-harlequin. E-harlequin is doing 14% discount until 14 February.

I have a free download to offer to one poster. It is supposed to be for the US and Canada only (or that is what I am told) as it is from e-harlequin.

Thank you Christina for having me.

CAPTIVE Release Day!

Today is Captive's official release date! It still feels a little unreal but I'm so excited that Bren and Morwyn's story is finally out there. I hope readers love Bren as much as I do :-)

If you see Captive on the shelf, I would love if you could take a photo and let me know!! It's not on the shelves here in Australia - yet - although I'm thrilled both Forbidden and Captive are being released by Penguin Australia on 2nd May *yay*!

I have a blog tour during February where I'll be giving away copies of either Forbidden or Captive - I'll post details here on my blog with links. Be sure to pop back to find out where I am!!!

She is a prisoner of her sworn enemy - and her own desire...

Having lost her faith when Roman invaders destroyed life as she knew it, Morwyn took a vow of celibacy to spite her goddess. But before she can join up with the rebels, she's captured by a Gaul mercenary whose animal charms and chiseled body will test her conviction... and make it harder to kill him.

Bren, pledged to the true Briton king, has spent three years undercover in the Roman Legion. So when his own unit attacks and brutalizes a fiery Celtic beauty, he saves her the only way he can - by claiming her as his prisoner. But unlike his men, Bren would never take the woman by force, no matter how obviously she burns for his touch.

As they near Roman headquarters, Morwyn resolves to honor her vow of celibacy - but if the Gaul were to ravage her, could she be blamed for enjoying his body? With just a hint of seduction, sooner or later the Gaul will succumb to his exquisite captive...

Excerpt

Amazon

The Book Depository

IndieBound