Monday Pick Me Up

Happy Monday!

Hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving. Mine was hectic with clean up from a wonderful day filled with family and friends. Now it's time to get all the Christmas stuff out of storage and switch gears for the upcoming holiday. Hope everyone had a safe Black Friday and got tons of deals.

I didn't get any writing done last week and have the itch to get back to my keyboard. So much to do and so little time to do it. I'm working on the second of the Knight's of Excalibur books. This is Colin's story who is Sir Kay reincarnated and as an Irish shape shifter he has been a blast to get to know!

I'm outlining Zeke's story, the third of the Dark Breed series and things are shaping up. Should be ready to get to writing it very soon. Tegan's story is slotted for a February release and expect edits any day.

I'm also gearing up to finish the first in a new series which, if everything goes as planned will be the first to go to print first, then paperback. I'm submitting it late winter / early spring 2012 so hope to have more information for you by then.

Well that's all I have for now, have a fantastic week and I'll see you again on Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving, Now Let's Shop!

He can cook in my kitchen anytime he wants Lol!


With the Holiday in full swing,  our magnificent bird and fixings will soon be nothing but happy memories. And if your like me you feel as stuffed as the Turkey you prepared. Promises to get to the Gym and work off all those yummy calories is on top of your priority list and what better way to do that than to shop?

Black Friday is upon us once again, luring us in with promises of incredible deals and sometimes it's not just hype. Oh the joy of retail! I would rather cut off my arms myself than fight a crowd of determined ladies who can punch with the power of a prize fighter. I commend those of you brave enough to swim in those shark infested waters.

For me, I'll probably take in a movie, there is a good possibility I can get into Breaking Dawn since everyone will be shopping. I may even be able to get some fresh popcorn with extra butter. Yeah, I know more calories to burn but for me so worth it.

So for those about to shop, I applaud your courage and pray you get back in one piece. For me it's the movies and back to writing. After all, no matter how hard I try these stubborn  books refuse to write themselvesI'll chat with you again on Monday and until then be safe, get great buys and have a blast!


Here is one more pic for the holiday for you to enjoy.

Amen to that!

Drum Roll Please...Results from the Blog Tour

I am overwhelmed at the wonderful turn out and fantastic comments I received from so many of you. If I could I would have given each one of you a special something. Instead I used my random number program and came up with three winners.

Third Place

Jess the Romanceaholic - won PDF of Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel

Second Place

imajicasnow - won PDF of Beloved Wizard: Knights of Excalibur One

Grand Prize

Michelle - won $25.00 Amazon Gift Card, PDF of Dark Passion Rising

and PDF of Beloved Wizard

Congratulations to all the winners and thank you for your passion for the written word. Without you there would be no stories to write.

Monday Pick Me Up

                                                        

Happy Monday!

    

Hope everyone is having a great start to there week. With Thanksgiving only days away we all are kicking things into high gear. I just wanted to let you all know how thankful I am to all of you who have followed my blog and read my books. Any success I have so far been blessed with is a direct result from you my readers.

I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter and of course great food! I will be back next Monday with all the news of my new releases and what I'm working on. Plus all the great contests coming your way.

Take care and have a wonderful holiday.

Six Sentence Sunday



Heres another six from Passion's Flight: A Dark Breed Novel
Coming February 2012!

The air caught in Tegans lungs as he recognized the strong scent of unwashed bodies and rotten meat. Mixed along with it was a tang of the sea. What the hell? Something unknown added to the mix of were-bears, wolves and a lynx. One thing for certain, there were too many to fight in his present condition.

They were so screwed.

               
                                                              See you next Sunday for another six!

Weekend Dirty Dozen

Happy Friday and welcome to another dozen!



Beloved Wizard: Knights of Excalibur One

Available Now through Extasy Books and Amazon Kindle

Drawing energy from the earth, she channeled it up through her body, willing it to form. Her hands glowed, magic as hot as a stream of lava engulfed her. Her skin stung like the bite of a thousand fire ants as a small burst of electricity arched over her arms, snapping with pent up energy. The stench of ozone, hanging like a heavy cloud in the still air, filled the area. The force arched into Nimue, dropped her to the floor. Merci offered a feral smile while Nimue wreathed in pain against her magic. She bent down close enough for Nimue to hear her. "Since you don’t know me, I will explain this to you. You don’t fuck with what is mine. Drake, is mine."

Author Spolights Shirley Kennedy

Welcome Shirley, pull up a chair and grab a cup of coffee. Thanks for finding the time in your busy day to chat with us. I am honored to have known Shirley for a few years. We are in the same Romance Writers of America Chapter and find her insights into the business very helpful to say the least.

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?

Not really.  Writing is what I do, so I don't have to get in the mood for it.  When I get up in the morning, I make the coffee, put the dishes away from the dishwasher, feed the cats, drink coffee and read the newspaper.  While I'm doing this, I'm mulling over what I'm going to write today, so by the time I get to my computer, I'm ready to go, no writer's block ever. 

 Which authors inspire  your writing?

Phillipa Gregory inspires me the most.  I admire her impeccable research and her outstanding ability to bring  historical figures to life.  John Grisham is second.

 What is your favorite book, character and why?

It's almost a cliché to say my favorite book is Gone with the Wind and favorite character is Scarlet O'Hara, but it's true.  A close second are Herman Wouk's Winds of War and War and Remembrance.  (By the way, he's 96 and still alive!)  Currently I'm re-reading Through A Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen, a gem of a historical which packs more emotion per page than anything I've ever read.  She has a new book out:  Before Versailles,  which I can hardly wait to read.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?

Sweet, but times have changed.  In those little traditional Regencies I used to write, I could get away with a couple of kisses and maybe a quick feel.  Not any more.  When my agent told me I'd better "ramp it up,"  I took her word for it and started writing steamier stuff, although not what you'd call erotica.    

Which famous person, living or dead,  are you drawn to?

I admire  Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and the other brave women in the Suffragist movement who fought for women's right to vote. I'd like to think that if I lived back then, I'd be out there in my bonnet with my sign, marching, going on hunger strikes to get that precious right.  Can you imagine not being able to vote?  What's sad is, such is still the case in some parts of the world.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

     Doing what I'm doing now—selling my  books and counting the royalties (hopefully  ever-increasing).  Of course by then I would like to have sold a blockbuster best seller to Hollywood for a couple of million.  Chances aren't good, though.  Some upstart author named  Jane Austin has pretty much cornered the market for Regency movies.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when_______________?

That moment has come and gone.  It came when, after 7 years of trying, I got "The Call" from my agent telling me she'd sold my Regency to Ballantine.  Next to the births of my two children, that moment remains forever engraved in my memory.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

Decide in which genre you want to write. Read every book you can lay your hands on in that genre.  Write your book, following  the editors' guidelines exactly.  Do not write "the book of your heart"  until you're an established author.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

That's hard to say.  So far I've written in four different genres:  Regency romance, western romance, paranormal, and contemporary mystery.  I love writing in all of them, but my friends tell me Regency is my niche, so maybe I'll stick with that.

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?

I would travel back in time so I could talk to my mother and tell her I finally sold a book.  Oops, I'm getting all teary-eyed, so I'd better move on.

What time of the day are you at your best to write?

Eight a.m., after coffee and the newspaper.

And now for something completely different…

What was the most defining moment in your life?

On Oct. 5, 2000, at 2:05 in the afternoon, a surgeon looked me in the eye and said, "You have breast cancer."  I was Stage IIIA and had a 7cm tumor.  After 8 chemos and 35 radiations,  I am now an 11-year cancer survivor and grateful every day that I'm still here.

 Thank the good Lord for that, you are an inspiration to so many who battle that disease everyday.

Explain your perfect day.

Doing some writing—surfing the Net—talking with a friend on the phone—taking a walk—watching a Netflix (the British series, The Tudors, is my all-time favorite.)

What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to?

The Carnival Cruise's "Warm Chocolate Melting Cake" is to die for.  I just found the recipe on-line.  OMG!  There goes the waistline!

What key words describe you best?

Survivor



To learn more about Shirley Kennedy and her books you can find her at :

Shirley Kennedy

Here is her latest video on her new release Heartbreak Trail



Coming soon from Shirley Kennedy

 The Last of Lady Lansdown 

Published by Camel Press, Release Date June, 2012. 

Special Wicked Wednesday Update

           Thought I'd forget???                                                       

     No way, I'm just running behind with a Blog Hop running and my life gearing up for the impending holidays. I thought I'd offer up this beautiful man for your pleasure.                   

      I also have some great news to share. I have a tentative release date for Passion's Flight. Tegan's story will be out no later than February 2012. There is a chance it will release earlier than that and if so you darn well know I'll let you know all about it. This book has been quite a challenge to get done, but well worth it I think you will agree. There will be a lot of great contest's coming with this book plus a chance for you to meet the contrary were-panther and ask him some questions.

Until Monday have a fantastic week!

     

SAVE A TURKEY: GOBBLE A BOOK BLOG HOP!

Welcome to Save a Turkey: Gobble a Book Blog Hop!

Starting from 11/14 to 11/21 hop your way through wonderful blogs all have chances for you to win!

For entering my contest all you need do is follow my blog and leave a comment. Be sure to put your email address in the comments. What am I giving away? I'll be giving away 1 PDF of my Novella Beloved Wizard, 1 PDF Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel, PLUS a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card!

Good luck and happy hopping
Click the Link and hop to the other blogs and good luck!
Blog Hop Link

Six Sentence Sunday

Welcome to another Six from Passions Flight. This small bit is a bit on the hot side so fair warning to those who prefer their romance with less...um, spice.

Gods, you’re so tight! This will hurt, but only for a moment and then, sweetling, I promise you only pleasure.” He growled through clenched teeth, the muscle in his jaw jumping from the tension in his body to control his lust.

He impaled her on a quick thrust, pain blossomed and she cried out at the suddenness of it. Goddess he was so big! She felt stretched to the point of bursting.

See you for another six next Sunday!

Weekend Dirty Dozen

I have a new release this November and here is a bit about it.



Arthur and his Knights are back and ready to kick ass!

Merci Tramaine is not happy to be called back into service by her old boss Arthur, especially when she is charged to find her missing ex lover. Drake Monroe is Merlin reincarnated, with his powers bound by the Goddess Nimue he has become a skilled fighter, but no match for Nimue who kidnapped him determined to destroy him forever.

The bloodline of Morgan Le Fey taints Merci keeping her on the edge between light and dark, the Goddess’s wicked trap springs shut leaving both Drake and Merci racing against the clock. Passions ignite once again, but are they too late to plan a future or will they be torn from each other?

This time for eternity.

Available through:

Extasy Books

Amazon Kindle

Here is my Dirty Dozen and enjoy!

This is a colossally bad ideaMerci Tramaine entered the abandoned warehouse. Here she was sticking her neck out for a man who didn’t give a damn about her. Talk about irony. The rays of the full moon came through the windows, bathing the large room in hues of silvery blue. The air, thick with the smell of dust, unwashed bodies and urine, assaulted her senses.
The homeless in these parts were known to make use of the old building as shelter. Old mattresses and discarded clothing lined the sides of the walls. Several large metal trashcans used to stave off the night’s chill, their insides blackened and scorched, dotted the area.
Her low-heeled boots echoed hollowly in the eerie quiet of the warm May evening. She couldn’t detect a single soul in the warehouse and that made her uneasy as hell. Her skin prickled at the nape of her neck and her pulse quickened, her built in warning system, telling her something preternatural was nearby.


Be sure to check out all the great tidbits at Weekend Dirty Dozen..  

Author Spotlight's RM Sotera

I have the pleasure of knowing RM Sotera personally and was thrilled when she took time out of her busy schedule to do this interview. So grab your coffee or tea, sit back and enjoy meeting this very talented author.

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write? 

RM: Yes, I do different things for different scenes, however, music in my ear is a necessity for every scene I write.  When I’m writing a romantic scene (with lots of down and dirty sex) I listen to Barry White.  For lighter scenes I toss in Nelson or a mix tape.

 Which authors inspire your writing? 

RM: I would have to say that my inspiration comes in the form of many different authors.  I like YA authors, Rachael Caine and Cassandra Clare, as well as, women’s authors like Anne Rice, Alyssa Day, Jeanine Frost and Sherrilyn Kenyon.  I also love Tim Dorsey.  I’m very eclectic.

What is your favorite book, character and why? 

RM:  My favorite book that I’ve written is Cassadaga Moon – scheduled to release from Siren/Bookstrand in January.  I love the character of Mia Christini, a good Catholic girl gone wild.  I think she reminds me of myself in many ways.  Second choice would have to be Brandi Lui – heroine in my Dirty Valkyrie and Dirty Immortals on Holiday novellas.  She is a kick-ass woman and is sexy in every sense of the word.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet? 

RM: I prefer to write in-between.   I like the burning inferno mode.

Humm don't we all? But enough of that. Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to? 

RM: I would have loved to have met Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement.  His drive and determination to see change shows that when you push dreams can become reality.  This stands true in every area of life I believe.  And I know my next choice of a person is going to seem off the wall – but I would have like to have met the Marquis De Sade.  Yeah…I know. J

Now THAT is very interesting....

Where do you see yourself in five years? 

RM: I hope in five years my writing career is going strong, and that I am able to sit back and breathe a bit.  Ultimate goal would to see my name in print on the New York Times best-sellers list.  Just imagine…

Oh yeah, I'm right there with you on that one Lady.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when...

RM:  I can write all the time, and I’m making a living at it. 

What advice would you give aspiring writers? 

RM: Keep writing.  When every door is slammed in your face keep pushing forward.  Hell, break down that damned door if you must, just get through it!

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

RM Paranormal romance – it’s my thing, my niche.

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why? 

RM: If I had one superpower it would be—at this moment in time—to clone myself just so I could do all the things I need to do when they need done.

When you find out how can I use your superpower on me too? Lol!

What time of the day are you at your best to write? 

RM: I write the best in the early am hours.  We’re talking between 3-5 am.  It’s when my muse, Styxx, comes to visit and whispers in my ear.  The house is quiet and comfy.

And now for something completely different…

What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile? 

RM: I’m a hair person. LOL

Explain your perfect day. 

RM: My perfect day starts with sneaking into my son’s room and listening to his breathing before I start to get ready for work. He is my pride and joy and sometimes I still can’t believe he’s my child.  Then I head to my room to get ready for work.  After what I hope is a great day at work, I head home to spend the eve with my family – enjoy a family dinner- and then do it all over again!  Knowing those that I love are happy is what makes my day perfect! J

What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to? 

RM: Key lime pie!

Do you have a favorite holiday what is it and what makes it special to you? 

RM: My favorite holiday is Halloween.  I love the costumes and the scary movies. 

What key words describe you best? 

RM: Sensitive – Spunky – Compassionate – Humorous – Shy - Content

Alright everyone RM Sotera is having a giveaway!!!!

  I will give one special reader a set of my Dirty series, Dirty Dancer – Dirty Deed – Dirty Valkyrie – Dirty Immortals on Holiday.

How do they enter to win?  They can reply to this interview via Shannon’s site with what they think the initials RM mean in my name. Be sure to put your email address in the message. When will you be announcing the winner?  I will announce the winner via my facebook page and Shannon’s site.

Website Facebook  Twitter Wild West Weekend Blog RM Sotera's Blog

LVRW: http://www.lvrw.org/lvrw/index.htm

 Information on her book can be found here:

Book Blurb with Buy or publisher link

Dirty Series

http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product%2Fsearch&option_id=1&keyword=R.+M.+Sotera





Pick Me Up Monday and GIVEAWAYS!!!

Happy Monday!
The weather outside may be frightful, but holly cow! It sure is sweltering looking at this!

Hope everyone had a great week. I am putting the finishing touches on Passions Flight then off to Evernight it goes! You may have noticed I've got a lot of activity going on these days on my blog. I've started Author Spotlight Thursday and Lilith Duvalier gave away her latest book out on Friday last week. Congratulations Ju Dimello!

This Thursday we have another give away with my guest RM Sotera so be sure to stop by and leave comments.

I have also started giving snippets of my books on my blog on Friday and Sundays so you can have a little taste of what is coming next.

I also am in a blog hop starting Monday 11/14 through 11/21 called "Save a Turkey: Gobble a Book" I will be giving away PDF's of Dark Passion Rising, Beloved Wizard AND a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card so be sure to leave LOTS of comments to win!  I also will be on The Romance Studio's Thanksgiving Day Party where you have another chance to win a PDF of Beloved Wizard. That starts 11/19/11 through 11/22/11.

Whew, and it isn't even December yet! Well, back to work everyone have a fantastic week!

Six Sentence Sunday



It's Sunday and time for another Six from Passions Flight!

Moisture pooled between her legs, her dry throat made her voice sound breathless, barely more than a whisper in a strong wind. “Why, you don’t like me.”  She repeated, some part of her mind refusing to let it go.

His mouth lifted showing a flash of straight white teeth and her stomach did a strange flip. “Not the problem, never was.” His voice dropped low, his words swam in her head making her feel dizzy with a light giddiness that took her completely by surprise.

Be sure to see all the tatalizing six sentences at

http://www.sixsunday.com/



Weekend Dirty Dozen



Here is another 12 from Dark Passion Rising: A Dark Breed Novel

Things go from bad to worse for our hero Marcus as he grapples with the knowledge that Tambra could very well be his Consort. His mussings are short lived though when he walks right into an ambush.

six figures moved out of the shadows to face him. He saw two vampires among the Weres as they circled around him. Ferals, he thought with disgust. Crouching low, he prepared for battle, knowing he was outnumbered, which was how he liked it. His lips twisted into a cold smile as he nodded at one particularly

large Were. pulled one of his daggers free of its sheath. There was no more time for talk as the Weres attacked with a flash of teeth and claws.

Enjoy all of the Dirty Dozen excerpts at Weekend Dirty Dozen

 He would not even think it. Fate could not be so cruel as to give him a Consort he could never have. Tambra belonged to another and that was the end of it. A movement out of the corner of his eye drew his attention in time to see a figure duck between a house and vacant lot. Curiosity made him move forward until he stood looking down the long walkway between the house and the lot. At the end of the walkway,

Author Spotlight's Lilith Duvalier

I want to welcome Lilith Duvalier to my blog today. She has a wonderful giveaway in store for you today. There will be a bit more on that in a while. Right now lets grab our coffees, settle into your comfy chair and chat with this Eclectic and talented Lady.

Do you do anything to get you into the zone to write?

      I work in my room, so I tidy it up, make my bed and sometimes light a couple of candles. There also has to be music. I go nuts in the quiet.

Which authors inspire your writing?

     It doesn’t come across at all in “The Promise of Silk”, but the authors that inspire me most are Terry Pratchett and Joss Whedon. I’m hoping to bring some of that style to the book I’m working on now, “All About The Dress”.

    

What is your favorite book, character and why?

     Lancelot DuLac from “The Once and Future King” because he’s the most perfectly        written imperfect character ever. TH White gives him this tragic self loathing as his motivation for trying to be the perfect knight and manages to write every single character, even someone as evil as Mordred, as a real human being with reasons to feel bad for them, even when they are doing evil.

Do you prefer to write erotic or sweet?

     I prefer to write erotic. Sex is a transformed force and I like exploring the way it changes characters and how they interact with each other.

Which famous person, living or dead, are you drawn to?

     I am so jealous of and impressed with Chris Colfer. He’s just ridiculously talented and incredible and, at three years younger than me, has accomplished everything I ever want to do in life, while still seeming to be pretty well put together.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

     In five years I would like to be a full time freelance writer, and maybe teaching some kind of community or adjunct class. Or I would like my part-time theater job to go full-time. Or I would like to be in grad school.

Finish this sentence: I know I’ve made it when –

     people leave me reviews like “this isn’t my thing, but I liked it anyway.

What advice would you give aspiring writers?

     Read. Write. Read some more. Write some more. Write for fun, write for practice just keep writing. I also found this nano exercise that I love where you write a list of things that you love in books, and a list of things that you hate in books, which is a nice way to get a grip on what you want to write about.

What do you see yourself writing in the future?

     I have an m/m historical western nearly done and the project I have lined up  after that I’m calling a “gender-queer” romance, and it’s about a few heterosexual people who find themselves in situations where gender and sexuality get a little fluid. The alpha male character has a secret and the another character finds himself embarking on a somewhat unconventional relationship. It’s a contemporary and a little bit of a comedy.

If you could have one superpower what would it be and why?

     I want to be able to teleport. Commuting is the worst thing in the entire world.             Also, then I could sell my car and not have to take the bus.

What time of the day are you at your best to write?

     From 11-2 at night. I can double a whole days worth of writing in those three hours.  I am constantly exhausted.        

                                          And now for something completely different…

What do you look at first with an attractive man or woman, face, body or smile?

     The thing that makes me go – oh wow- when I guy walks into a room is definitely his eye brows and cheek bones, preferably with black hair, but the thing that makes a guy continue to seem attractive is his smile and his laugh.

Explain your perfect day.

     A snow day, preferably with at least one friend snowed in at my place. Then a whole day of Buffy and cookies and wine. Possibly a nap and some writing.

What is the most decadent desert you can’t say no to?

     I had a friend at one point who would randomly show up at my apartment with             pans and ingredients and make things, like some sort of pasta and booze elf. He once showed up at midnight with a blender one time and made us these amazing chocolate, rum, khalua shakes that we have never been able to recreate.

Do you have a favorite holiday what is it and what makes it special to you?

     Christmas. I like doing the family and food thing.

What key words describe you best?

     Daydreamy. Tired. Analytical.


Here is a small taste of her book The Promise of Silk

Blurb:

An airship pirate who ran away from his soul crushing London life, finds himself at an infamously decadent carnival out in the English countryside. A fellow pirate does his best to convince him to go and sample the lovely women of The Row, but Buck isn’t sure he ever wants a woman again.
That is until a mysterious woman in a red dress and mask sits down across from him, entrancing him instantly. He follows her back to her red silk tent, where she puts him through his paces, whetting his appetite for more erotic delights. Each time he returns, she brings him further beyond his boundaries, while learning that he can help her break her bonds.

Excerpt:

A small white hand appeared to one side of the tent flap and pulled it aside. The masked woman stood, still and silent, with the red silk of the tent flap draped over her arm. She said nothing.

            She did look like a demon now, with deep shadows carved into the ruches of her dress by the far off carnival lights, her mask rising over her head like devil’s horns. Buck hesitated under her stony gaze, and then, with a gulp, he stepped out of the light and into the black interior of the tent.

            A spicy, sweet smell filled his lungs the instant he stepped inside. He wondered why he hadn’t been able to smell it from the outside but continued in, shuffling carefully in the darkness. The woman walked behind him, the fabric of her dress making a soft sound as it moved over the ground.

            “Who are you?” he asked. She didn’t answer. There was a light scraping noise and a match flared in the darkness, illuminating her face and throwing the edges of her mask into sharp relief. She lit a candle, shedding light on nothing more than a stretch of red silk and the corner of a table, then stepped forward and lit another candle, bringing a muddled shape of something standing on the table into view. She walked farther into the room, lighting another candle every few steps. Buck stood by the tent opening, heart throbbing as though he were still running. Bit by bit, the room came into view.

            A rug was spread out over most of the bare ground, grass peeking around the edges of it. A large wooden box sat on top of it, occupying the entire middle of the tent. A small wooden vanity, with a large round mirror attached, stood against the back wall, directly across from the box. A few trunks were neatly arranged in a corner. The table with the statue of the woman on it, incense burning in front of it like it was an Eastern idol, was near the tent entrance. 

            The Red Lady stood across from Buck, eyes drilling into him just as they had at the pub.

            “Tell me your name.” Her voice was soft, deep, and steady.  It was like a river speaking.

            “Buck.”

            She tilted her head, the corners of her mouth tipping upward in contrast to the dripping points of her mask. “Tell me your real name.”

            “Alaric,” Buck admitted. He hadn’t used it since that last day at the factory. Alaric was a clerk and a doormat. Buck had some status, even if it was only among criminals. He had gone out of his way to make sure none of his fellow pirates ever found out he wasn’t called Buck. Not that pirates bothered about a man’s real name. 

            The Red Lady’s expression returned to blank beneath the mask.     

            “What’s your name?” Alaric asked.

            “I haven’t decided what you’ll call me yet.”

            His heart beat picked up again, and a tremor started in his legs.

            “Why did you follow me here, Alaric?”

            He shrugged, not sure of the answer. “Well…this is The Row isn’t it?”

            “It is.”

            “And you’re a woman on the Row right?”

            She didn’t reply. Alaric felt his face heating, a faint prickle starting in his cock despite it.  This was worse than in China, when that beautiful girl pretended to react to his clumsy fumbling and then tried not to laugh when he paid her for an hour and only lasted a handful of minutes.

            “Look, my ship’s just back from a long tour. I can pay you.”

            “We’ll see,” the Lady said, a small smile quirking her lips up. “You’ve accompanied a prostitute before?”

            “Of course.” He pointed at himself with a touch of bravado. “Pirate.”

            The Red Lady let a silence land there, stretching out before him.

            “Just once.”

            “It didn’t go well.”

            Now she was reading his mind. He should go, simply turn around, leave, and never see a prostitute again. Maybe she really was a demon. Maybe the mask was hiding the demon parts of her face. 

            His mind was trying to move his limbs, turn his feet, push him out the door, but his body was entranced. The tremor in his legs climbed up to his groin, making him very aware of the way the dim candle light moved across her rounded body.

            “No.”

            “Why didn’t it go well, Alaric?”

            His mouth was starting to go dry. His hands were beginning to shake.

            “She laughed at me,” he told her, dropping his eyes to the floor.

            “Why?”

            “Because I…I couldn’t, I didn’t…,” He stopped, gulped, wondered again what magic he had run across.

            “Look at me when you speak, Alaric.”

            He lifted his gaze up from the pattern of pomegranates running along the border of the red rug and met her shadowed eyes.

            “I couldn’t.... I barely got inside her before….”

            The Red Lady didn’t reply. Alaric suffered a terrible moment of fear she would throw him right back out of her tent and let him find a lower class prostitute who would welcome a quick trick like him between the carnival crowd.

            “Fortunately, that won’t be a problem here,” the Red Lady told him, a smile spreading over her red lips. “Undo your trousers, Alaric.”

Available through Evernight Publishing : The Promise of Silk

                                                        Now for the Giveaway! 

Lilith has graciously offered a copy of her new release The Promise of Silk

How do they enter to win?

Simply go to Lilith's blog Look on in Lust leave her a comment under her "enter to win" post. She will announce the winner on Friday 11/4/11.


Good Luck everyone and have a great day