Friday, June 29, 2007

Lovely Covers, Contests, and Editors

I'm proud to say that I have a BRAND new cover. It's for Temptress and its so perfect, I'm busting at the seams with pride. The artist is Zuri. She's amazing!!!! You can check it out on my updated site.

On another note, I have a brand new contest for my Tidbits. I just realized I have over 100 members and I must CELEBRATE the occasion. So I'm giving away one of my e-books, any one of my e-books from the my backlist to the lucky randomly chosen Tidbit at the end of July. There is no need to enter the contest. I'll just throw the numbers in the my illustrious hat and pick one.

The winner will have to get back to me no later than a week after the winner is chosen.

On a third note, I love my editors. I have to say when I finish a story I'm always like "Blah, this is such crap." I always feel that the story would have been much better with a different writer. Then my editors come along and go, "Is this what you meant? Is this the emotion you were trying to convey?" or better yet, "Use this word here."

To all my editors, thank you for putting up with me. I appreciate it SO much! Without you ladies, my stories would not be what they are. Your time and effort makes all the difference.

Now that I've had my chick flick moment, back to my edits and WIPs...

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Glossy Winners

Winners! Winners! Winners! I've chosen winners for my Glossy Inspiration contest. Yay!

Jennybrat won for Wednesday's post about Kaelyn, so she will be receiving a copy of The Firm: Rogue and Dawnm won for Friday's post about Antonio, so she will be receiving a copy of Eve's Spawn.

The winners should contact me through their gmail emails that match their user names, since I can't access their profiles.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Glossy Inspiration: Antonio

Every author is inspired by the world around them, even if it's because they want or need to create something strikingly different from what surrounds them.

But some of us are fueled to put the things we see in the world into a story, driven to capture the intensity, the emotion, the lust, and the need on sheets of paper and into a genre we call romance, erotica, or erotic romance.

Jeanne Barrack is one such author and her painstaking (*wink*) adherence to her muse is evident in her work.

Below is Ms. Barrack's own words about the man who captured her heart (and maybe a region a little south) that inspired her to write the lovely, smoldering erotic romances she is known for.

Come and meet Antonio.



Antonio Banderas. Just say the name and you get all sorts of images from the beautiful sad-eyed animated Puss-in-Boots to Tom Hanks' lover in "Philadelphia". But I guess to most people, Antonio Banderas is Zorro and it was "The Mask of Zorro" that made me a devoted "chica" as we call ourselves.

The many roles of Antonio from his Spanish films created by Pedro Almodovar, one of Spain's greatest film makers, to Antonio's award winning role in the Broadway musical, "Nine" all prove his great diversity of talent. Madonna had the hots for him and that says worlds about his sexiness.

His beautiful eyes and sexy mouth go a long way to his appeal and that accent of his.....! But it's his personality that really clinched it for me. Here is a man who adores his wife and children - and I say children even though only one of the three who live with him and his wife, Melanie Griffith is his. He is a family man par excellence. His sense of humor is wonderful and his loyalty to friends amazing! But his generosity to his fans is incredible.

When he starred in "Nine", 36 of his "chicas" took over the theater after the show for 45 minutes while they talked with him, laughed with him, took pictures, hugged and sang with him. There were *no* cameras in view, no TV stations, no PR people. It never got reported in the trade papers. This was just Antonio being what he always is - a man who loves people, cares for his fans, understands how much he means to them and never forgets how he got to where he is.


Jeanne




Check Out the Excerpt and Blurb Below from: "The Collector 5: The Crystal Flacon"

BLURB:
Abby Foster, owner of Nannies, International, has been commissioned by the secretive Collector to obtain the Crystal Flacon, believed to have been in the possession of the infamous Lucrezia Borgia and to contain a magical aphrodisiac. But why should a nanny be set such a task? Seems Abby has secrets of her own. She also runs Finding Justice, an organization dedicated to returning art and other treasures lost during WWII to their rightful owners. With the specialized skills she's gained, getting the Flacon should be easy. She isn't counting on channeling Lucrezia through visions and dreams or falling for Antonio, duke d'Este, the present day owner of the Flacon.

Antonio d'Este, the direct descendent of Lucrezia Borgia, is a modern man with modern problems. A recent widower, he needs a nanny to take care of his five year old daughter while he prepares for the launching of "Lucrezia", the new scent for Borgia, the family-owned perfumery. Inspired by the stunning Crystal Flacon, Antonio focuses everything on making "Lucrezia" a success. He has no time for the distraction posed by the beautiful nanny or the strange effect making love with her has on him.

When someone attacks the perfumery, destroying property, disrupting projects in an attempt to ruin the company and killing innocent people, they both need a change of plans. Together, using Abby's skills honed while working for Finding Justice, they must find the saboteur, before everything they love is lost.


EXCERPT:

Abby spoke with Antonio that evening on the phone after he talked with Lucy. Their murmured conversation served only to arouse her passion.

“Bella, are you alone now?”

“Yes.”

“Bene.” His voice sank to a whisper. “I’ve shut the door to my office and my assistant has gone home.” Abby heard him take a deep breath. “Where are you?”

“In my room. Now that you’ve spoken to Lucy, she’s snug in her bed.”

“Molto bene. Now, listen well, bella, after all I am your master.”

Abby giggled. “Si, maestro.”

“Are your doors locked? If not, lock them. I want no interruptions.”

“They’re locked. I’m at your command.”

“Eccellente! Strip. Lie down on your bed. Now, moisten your finger and wet your nipples. Circle them until they tighten.” His velvet voice caressed her over the phone. “It’s my lips on them, bella. Suckling them, biting them, licking them. You taste like honey, like wine. You intoxicate me and make me hard. Very hard. Do you want to touch me, too?”

She could barely breathe, much less speak, but she tried. “Yes. Touch your cock for me. Cup your balls.”

She listened hard and heard the sound of his belt unbuckling and his zipper unzipping. His breath hissed and she knew he had his penis in his hand. “Should I continue to touch my nipples, Antonio?”

“Are they hard yet?”

“Oh, yes.” She moaned. “And you, stroke the underside of your prick and pretend my hands are fondling you.”

“Bene. Your hands, your soft hands. Dio, you’re moving them faster, squeezing and stroking me.” His breath came harsher. “No, no more. Take your hands; put them between your thighs, between your lips. Are they wet? Are you damp there?”

She panted. Her heart raced. Images crowded her mind. Antonio was with her. His hands clasped her thighs; his curly head lay between them as he thrust his tongue to lick that soft nubbin. Her hand dropped to her aching pussy. She was wet. Tender. Sensitive to the touch of her own fingers. As they teased the swollen knot of flesh, she moaned again.

“Are your fingers wet? Are you creaming there? Take your fingers and taste the cream. Do you like it? Tell me.”

She whimpered. She throbbed. As if she had no will, her fingers moved to her mouth. Her lips parted and her tongue darted out to taste the moisture.

“Well, tell me.”

“It tastes… exciting. Oh, God, Antonio, I want you here. I need you here.”

“I am there with you. I can see you. You’re like a pearl. You glisten. Your scent is like no other.”

Abby’s hand moved within her. Antonio’s voice urged her on to go faster, harder, deeper. She complied, coming closer and closer to reaching her climax.

“I want you come with me, darling. Close your eyes and pretend we’re together, Antonio. Our naked bodies pressed so close, not even a whisper of air can come between us. You’re in me deep, so deep, so…oh, God.”

He heard that little shudder in her voice and knew she’d climaxed. It sent him over the edge to join her.

But it wasn’t enough.



Not satisfied? Then check out the links below...
Visit at: http://www.jeannebarrack.com/
The Collector 5: The Crystal Flacon
http://www.loose-id.com/detail.aspx?ID=410http://www.collector-series.com/
The Collector series - a journey to magic and romance
http://www.leagueofamazingwriters.com/index2.html


Please check out "The Crystal Falcon." Thanks to Ms. Barrack, I've fallen in love with Antonio. Won't you join our affair?


One random commenter will be selected this Friday and this commenter will win: A Copy of my Loose ID release, Eve's Spawn, to support my follow author.

Remember: READ! COMMENT! WIN!





Both the Wednesday and Friday Post Winners will be chosen Friday midnight Pacific time so you still have time to comment!

Is the JD Worth It?

There's nothing quite like Law School to make you doubt your dreams and goals. Lately, I've been asking myself is it all worth it? Is this hell really worth having a J.D.?

See my problem is I'm an overachiever. I do everything and I try my damned hardest to excel at it. When I don't do as well as I believe I should have, I try harder, study harder, work harder, but with law school I'm finding that it doesn't necessarily correlate. And I'm not the only one.

There are people here that I know are smarter than me, but not harder workers or vice versa, and we're all looking at our grades thinking, "What the hell?" Some are depressed, some are happy, and some are just full of acceptance.

At this point I'm just wondering how I can go through another year of an unrelentless emotional roller coaster. And I'm the one in my family and friends who is supposed to have the psychological equivalent of a steel spine.

So, I'm asking myself is it really worth it all? Is the J.D. all that freaking important? Too bad I'm an overachiever who's never quit anything in her life...

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Glossy Inspiration: Kaelyn

As a reader of fiction, I am always curious about the creation of the story. What exactly inspired the author to create the characters, write the novel, and the tell the story that is told?


When I became a writer I found that I was not the only one who was curious. Suddenly fans were emailing me questions about my stories, telling me how much they liked or loved the characters and asking me how I came up with the hero. Evidently, every one is curious about the hero. Wonder why? *g*


Kaelyn Lionheart was my first hero and for some time I could not quite get him right on paper. I felt like a woman who was dating him, trying to figure out his secrets, but as an author, I wanted to be his wife, know some, but not all of his secrets, but enough to tell his story. It took me many tries to "marry" him. Every draft was better than the last, but none was perfect. That is until I sat down and watched "Remember the Titans."


I love "Remember the Titans." I've seen the movie way too many times to admit to, yet it was like I was watching it for the first time, because when I sat and stared at the screen it was Kaelyn Lionheart I was seeing.


Kaelyn was birthed from the character Ronnie "Sunshine" Bass, played by Kip Pardue. See, Sunshine had Kaelyn's wicked sense of humor, sensuality, sexuality, playfulness and he was smoking hot too!




So Kip is my Glossy Inspiration for Kaelyn Lionheart. So those of you who have read The Firm: Rogue should reacquaint yourself with the character and fall in love with Kaelyn and Kip Pardue all over again, because in my mind they are ONE gorgeous man.


Haven't Gotten the Chance to Meet Kaelyn? Check out the Excerpt Below for a Peak. Remember that commenters will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win The Firm: Rogue

* * *

"He’s probably never seen a helper that looked like you," Santa said with a wide smile.

Nicollet was instantly angered. She knew she didn’t look like the typical helper, but there was no reason for him to comment on it.

"Doubt there are many black people on the North Pole," she said snidely. She was exhausted and starving. On top of it all, being around him was starting to make her feel sexually needy.

And she was never good when horny and irritated.

Damn. She was really starting to hate Christmas.

"That’s not what I meant," he said, glancing around. Kaelyn had seen that look in Nicolett’s eyes before. She was livid. Usually, an angry Nicollet meant quickly settled cases, but he wasn’t so sure he wanted her to settle his case so soon.

"What did you mean?" she asked, folding her arms beneath her breasts.

It took Kaelyn a moment to concentrate. Her new stance pushed her breasts up so they sat above the scooped neck of her red shirt. He immediately felt his cock stir. His mouth watered with the need to tongue those gorgeous mounds.

"Is it because I’m bigger than all the other helpers?"

"What?" he damn near yelled at her. How could she think she was fat? How could she think he believed she was fat? He had to stifle the urge to growl the truth at her. Unlike the rest of the female attorneys at the firm, Nicollet Edenton had the kind of body he could spend hours inside without fearing he would break her.

"I didn’t mean that either," he whispered as he darted a glance around. People, children included, were beginning to throw curious looks their way.

"Then what exactly did you mean?" she asked, tapping her toes. The seconds seemed to drag on forever as she waited for him to dig himself out of a hole.

"Promise you won’t sue?"

"What did you mean, Mr. Lionheart," she said in such a monotone voice that for one second he wished for the anger. At least then you knew what you were dealing with.

Kaelyn’s indigo blue eyes heated with stark desire. He started at her black leather knee-high boots and allowed his gaze to roam up her body, making sure he stopped at the delicious points in between. When he reached her face there was no doubt in either of their minds what he meant.

"Oh," she said breathlessly.

Not once in her twenty-seven years had anyone ever looked at Nicollet the way Kaelyn Lionheart had just looked at her. As if he wanted to feast on her and spend an unheard of amount of time tasting her erogenous zones.

"Behave yourself," Nicollet said as she felt the heat creep into her face. "Santa is supposed to be nice, not naughty," she warned, shaking a finger at him. The rogue had the nerve to wink at her.

http://www.changelingpress.com/author.php?uid=89

Check Back Thursday and Friday for new posts. This Friday's post will be another Glossy Inspiration. This one from Jeanna Barrack. Come find out which sexy Spanish superstar inspires her fabulously wicked stories.