Release Day for Monica Kaye

Hey! That rhymes!

Yes, folks, my novella, 'Dirty Business' is out and available to the world. Head on over to Harmless Smut to read about the release and to read an excerpt. Plus, there's a contest (singsong voice)!

Later!

Whew!

Wow, it's been TWO months. You all must be wondering what the Vixens are up to! Well, I am here to tell you.

First, our very own lovely Tricia has finaled in the Heart of the Rockies contest (or the HOR which I think is an unfortunate name) in the spicy category!. We cannot be more proud of her. Unfortunately she and fellow Vixen Helen will be rubbing elbows with mad hotties at RomantiCon in Cleveland so yours truly will be accepting her award. She trusts me. Mistake.

Secondly, our very own Viola had her first release from Cerridwen Press, Angel Vindicated. I highly recommend this book not just because Viola is a Vixen but she also happens to be a wonderful writer. Don't forget that Bewitching You, Viola's paranormal romance, drops next month (10/30) from The Wild Rose Press. We'll let you know more about it closer to the release date.

Also, a friend of the Vixens, Lia Slater, has a new release out just this week, Fatal Exposure. If you like your danger and intrigue with some killer sex as well, this is the book for you. Lia also has a new contract with Ellora's Cave. She is super stoked and seeing as how I've read it, it is also a great read so we'll let you know when you can buy it. We love supporting our fellow writers!

As for Helen, she is a busy girl. Her newest release, Montego Lay, came out today from the Wilder Rose Press. At only $2 this is the definition of a steal. She has also recently signed her 2nd contract with EC, Loving Eve. Head on over to her blog to hear all the details.

As for me, I am please to tell you all that my very first book, Dirty Business, will be available from LooseId on 10/13. Check out my cover!

I am so in love with this that it is ridiculous. You can read all about my journey to publication over at Harmless Smut. Rest assured that I will be promoting the hell out of this over the next few weeks (come on, months) so stop by and bask in my shameless self-promotion.

So, that's it. That's us. We've all had busy summers and we're still recovering but we do appreciate all of you who stop by to visit us.

Later Gators

HA! You didn't think I'd let a Friday go by without a Guy did you. I don't think so. May I present to you...

RYAN REYNOLDS (and boy did I have a hard time finding pics of him shirtless!)

Incidentally, he's the inspiration for my newest story! I'm drooling!

On Hiatus

Hello Blog Followers,

As you might have guessed, the Vixens are taking a hiatus from the blog for the summer.  Helen is off on some exotic island, Viola is off on vacation, I just returned from Costa Rica, and Tricia just returned from Disneyland.  Needless to say, we are busy women and have decided to chill with the blogging for the summer until kids are back in school and things get back into a routine.  

That being said, we couldn't leave you without something to whet your appetite over the summer.  So behold the final TGIF of the summer.  I had to go with a newcomer to the Hollywood scene and the reason that I went to see the new Star Trek movie.

CHRIS PINE

  

YOU'RE WELCOME! 

Have a great summer and we'll see you again in August!

NEW COVER ART and Come Visit Me at Paty's

Current read: My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult




I'm thrilled with my new cover art for Blood Wolf. This is the story that won the Got Wolf? contest over at The Wild Rose Press. It will be featured in an anthology with the other long winner, My Lord Werewolf by Ria Ellis. The cover, designed by the wonderful Angela Anderson, is dark and gothic and suits the story perfectly. According to my lovely editor, Callie Lynn Wolfe, it's perfect for Ria's story, as well, which I'm looking forward to reading. Look for the book in October!

If you have a moment, drop by Paty Jager's blog where I'm chatting about The Outlaw's Angel, along with the other three authors in the Lawmen and Outlaws anthology. See you there!

Writer's Block?

This week I entered a writing challenge to write 15,000 words. I have no idea if I’ll be able to complete this gargantuan task, but I’m going to give it my best shot.

To set the week off, I’m going to share one of my favorite articles that I have printed and posted by my computer. Every so often, I take a peek at this list and it helps me remember to give myself a break and just write! Hope it helps you as well.

Eight Ways to Conjure Your Writing Genie

1. Shake off "Impostor Syndrome"

Everyone communicates, and a lot of people write, but few people dare to call themselves "writers". If you feel like an impostor, take a deep breath and remind yourself of your unique purpose and how important it is. Or take on a fictional persona and write through that mask.

2. Conjure Your True Voice

If you're at a loss for words, try meeting a friend for tea and talking your way through the material, or even talking out loud to yourself. Your spoken words might not be publishable, but once you've got 'em down on paper, you can edit to your heart's content.

3. Write it as a Letter

Submitting written work can be scary--especially if it's going to be read by The Powers That Be. But you don't have to think about those Powers when you're writing; in fact, it's probably better not to pay them any mind until the last few editing stages, after you've already squeezed out every last idea and captured it on paper. So when you're still writing, why not imagine you're writing a letter telling your closest confidante about your project? Try starting your work "Dear ____", and you might tap into a fountain of lovely, loose conversational prose.

4. Detach Your Ego

If stage fright derives from fear--the fear that if the work fails, we fail--we need to disconnect ourselves from the work. When I play pool, I don't care if I win or lose, because I'm not A Pool Person--but beat me on the air hockey table and I'll be grumpy, because I'm invested in the game. Realize that people reading your work are just as self-centered and will most likely not draw any permanent conclusions about you from your work.

5. Plunge Into the Scary Parts

What are you afraid of? Spelling poorly? Weak transitions? Well, go ahead and deliberately spell every word incorrectly, write without transitions, don't use any punctuation--do everything you're not supposed to do, and have fun doing it! Draw caricatures of your writing demons, put the dreaded failure behind you, and move on.

6. Lower Your Standards

There's really no reason to worry about editors, teachers, critics, bosses, and what they think until the last stage of revising. Until that time, indulge yourself. Don't correct anything; write in slang; write 3 pages in 15 minutes; leave notes to yourself, like ADD DETAILS HERE or FIX THIS LATER, throughout your work--anything that makes it easier to write.

7. Sidestep What Blocks You

Don't let one part of your writing stump you for long. If it's bugging you, just skip it and move on to an easier, more appealing task. If the introduction isn't coming, jump right to paragraph two, or page 23. If you can't think of anything to say in one section, just skip merrily along to the next part and let your unconscious work on the hard stuff for a while.

8. Stop When You're On a Roll

When writing is a struggle, you'll naturally want to stop. But if you do, you're rewarding yourself for not writing. Try sticking with it--and then quit when you're on a roll, so that next time you'll be eager to return to the work. Or start writing when you know you have to do something else in 45 minutes--as soon as the pressure's off, as soon as you say "well, i know i won't get anything done in this little bit of time" you're free to let your creative juices flow. Waves of inspiration will come and go; the trick is scheduling your work to take full advantage of the tides.

I found this list on the web at: http://www.transaction.net/web/tutor/text/dissolve.html

Have a productive week!

Viola
http://www.violaestrella.com/
Angel Vindicated – Available now from http://www.cerridwenpress.com/

TGIF-Unconventional Hottie

So, I believe myself to be a multi-faceted girl and I don't always go for the pretty faces, tight abs, and voices that can bring you to orgasm just by saying your name.  (Can you hear me Gerry Butler?)  There are also men that I think are hot because they have that something about them.  For my mom, in the 80s, it was Edward James Olmos.  Don't ask me why.  She just said he was sexy.  I.  Didn't. Get. It.  But mine is not to judge.  

So I decided to look at a man that I think is hot, but others' opinions may vary.  Plus, it's my birthday so I can do anything I want.

NATHAN FILLION!! 

Nathan who? You might ask.  Well, you may remember him from the TV shows 'Firefly' or the creepy reverend dude on 'Buffy' or the loveable husband on 'Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place.'  He was also kick-ass in the movie 'Serenity' (GO WATCH IT!!!!)

Anyhoo, here he is.

Oh, and since it is my birthday and since I am such a giver, the first Non-Vixen person to comment on the blog AND wish me a happy birthday (because I'm not vain at all) will win a ARC of the new Jeanne Frost book due out July 28th.  Sorry, I don't have the name right now but I think it's 'One Foot in the Grave' or something like that.

Hasta Luego!  (That's an hommage to my trip to Costa Rica which I'm leaving on tomorrow.)

Flash Fiction Challenge

Current read: Miner in Petticoats by Paty Jager

Have you ever tried flash fiction? Basically, a flash piece is a complete story (with beginning, middle, and end) in 1000 words or less. It's a wonderful exercise in brevity and precision. Last year, I wrote the following piece for a 500 word Halloween Mini Tale contest. My tale took second place, and is exactly 500 words. Did it start out at 500? Nope. I had to cut it down and make every word count. I learned a lot from doing the piece. Making every word count is essential in longer works as well, so writing a flash piece can be great training for paring down longer works to the bare essentials.

So here's my 500 word flash piece. Do you have one you'd like to share?

Onyx fur vanished as Logan emerged from wolf form. My breath caught at his silky black hair, his muscled chest.

“Mary, my love.” His baritone voice cracked as his vocal cords adjusted. “It’s been so damn long.”

“We can’t waste time talking,” I said. “Each Samhain you change a little sooner. Take me to bed.”

He trailed his finger down my cheek, tracing my jaw line. Sparks erupted on my skin. “Let me look at you through my own eyes.”

“But you see me all year.” I needed him. His lips on mine. His body inside me. We had so little time.

“It’s not the same, Mary. Please.”

He pushed my lace robe from my shoulders, his calloused fingers lingering on my naked flesh. I cupped my breasts and held them out in offering.

“So beautiful. So ripe and full.” His golden hands covered mine and his thumbs circled my nipples. Fire shot through me and landed between my legs.

“Logan.”

He leaned toward me and covered my mouth with his.

His heated tongue slithered over my lips and plunged inside. He groaned and squeezed my breasts, then moved one hand upward, fisting it in my hair and urging me closer. The kiss was hungry, firm, drugging. He tasted of vanilla cream, of musky man.

Of sweet memory.

We devoured each other for precious moments, until I ripped my mouth away. I panted, breathless, as I pierced his warm blue gaze with mine. “You. Inside me.”

His eyes smoked. “You’ve never looked lovelier, Mary. Your nipples are like pebbles of carnelian.” He pinched one, then the other. I shivered.

“Are you wet for me, love?”

Wet. Gushing. “You know I am. Make love to me.”

He lowered his head and his firm red lips, swollen from our passionate kisses, encircled my nipple. He sucked, gently at first, then harder, until he tugged and bit me. “Ah, yes, Logan. Just like that.”

He swirled his tongue over the plump flesh, licking and nibbling, until he seized the other nipple and suckled. Juice trickled down my inner thigh.

“Logan. Lover. Please.”

He swept me into his arms and carried me to the bed. The bed that had once been ours. His body covered mine, wisps of black chest hair tickling my tender nipples. My sex throbbed. Ached.

“Look at me, Mary. Look into my eyes, and remember who I am.”

“I always remember, Logan. I never, never forget.”

He entered me in one smooth thrust. Sweet joining of bodies, of souls. He surged, claiming me, loving me, and my body shuddered, exploding into nirvana as he plunged, his golden muscles tensing when he spilled into me.

“Mary. I love you. Always.”

“And I love you, Logan. Forever.”

He released me, and within minutes my ebony wolf returned. He left the bed and settled in his usual spot by the door.

“One day, Logan, we’ll break this damned curse.”

I closed my eyes, recapturing my lover’s warm caress, praying I spoke the truth.