Thursday, October 28, 2010

New Menage Story in Taken


About Taken, A BBA Menage Anthology

edited by KIL Kenny, with stories by ND Drake, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, Giselle Renarde, and BA Tortuga
245 pages / 55600 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-081-7
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub, also available in paperback

The thrill of romance is something not too far from fear. The unknown sends a shiver down our spines, much more so when it's truly otherworldly.

In Josephine Myles' "In the Greenwood", woodland spirit Mirabelle falls in love with lonely artist Jay, but they cannot touch. She sets out to find Jay a friend -- and if she is brave enough, she might find something for herself, too. "Said the Spider to the Fly," by ND Drake, is about Elijah and Jamie, vampires and soulmates. When a woman sitting in a café captures Elijah's attention, Jamie is jealous, but soon discovers there is joy in the hunt.

In "Jolene," Giselle Renarde's heroine throws a bash to show off her new lover. When Wesley shows up with a boyfriend, all three are sucked into a situation beyond imagining. "Changeling," by JL Merrow shows that identities are fluid when Meg sets her heart on a boy who isn't who he says he is. Will the faerie queen unravel the riddle for the humans in her clutches?

Finally, in BA Tortuga's "Moasi," Tom has only weeks to live unless he accepts the offer of the mysterious healer Pax to abandon everything and find a cure. When Tom's wife, Jenn, shows up with divorce papers and a gun in hand, only Pax can guess how this scorned woman will ravish them all.

In Taken, five authors explore what it means to lose yourself in love.

Buy here

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Halloween Week! Eeee!

Oh, man. Halloween is my favorite holiday! Candy, movies, decorations, pumpkins, costumes -- it's all magic.

So, I'm a huge scary movie maven, especially when said movie has a monster in it. I love super-intelligent sharks, vengeful ghosts, toothy vampires, tortured werewolves, clever demons, zombies (although I prefer slow, shambling zombies to uber-quick zoom zombies), flying creatures, dripping creatures, ancient Mayan creepy crawlies, bandage-wrapped mummies, giant insects. Aliens.

*shivers happily*

So, I'm building a list of my favorite spooky movies ever.

Right now I have:

1. Deep Blue Sea
2. Shaun of the Dead
3. Ghost Ship
4. Haunting of Hell House
5. Halloween
6. Final Destination 3
7. Jeepers Creepers
8. Nightmare on Elm Street
9. House on Haunted Hill
10. Anaconda

Any suggestions?

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Men's Spanx? Really?

So I'm reading through my blog rolls, toodle toodle toodle, looking and laughing, innocently playing and then, BAM.

Spanx.

For boys.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm a middle aged woman. I own shapewear. Hell, I own *spackle*, but I don't advertise. (Although I have a great story about Julia Talbot and a powerslip in San Antonio. Ask me about it sometime.)

But honestly, do men need this?



Really?

Can you imagine Dillon going up to Coke and handing him power panties?

Or Sonny wearing a girdle because he's poochy?

MJ: Here, Sunshine. It'll help the bullet bounce off your prodigious pooch?

Ack. The blood would fly.

(Although, I admit, I can imagine Galen wearing them. Once. Before Shane sets them on fire...)

Friday, October 15, 2010

Where There's a Will...

Julia Talbot and I have this game we play where one of us looks at the other as says, what if there was this guy...

It's how many many of our books were born.

It's how these two ornery, hurt, angry, misunderstood boys were born, too.

Julia: What if there were two guys that were stuck together?

BA: Like with glue?

Julia: *looks*: Glue?

BA: Uh... like by a prison bracelet?

Julia: Been done.

BA: Well, it's got to be legal... how 'bout a will?

Julia: Well, you know what they say...

Voila.

Where There's a Will.

:D

Available here.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Desert Lobo



*grins*

Last year I wrote Wolf Bayou, and I have to admit -- I loved writing it. I mean, I'm a huge dog lover. Huge. Julia Talbot and I have 3 and we're on the waiting list for pup #4 (Sonny's Mom and Dad are having one last litter -- go Zoe and Fred). So writing shapeshifters is a good fit for me. Writing m/m/f shifters?

Uhn. ;-)

Too fun.

So I was thinking, why not write more, and make a series of m/m/f shifters that are all south/southwest and all linked together with the chiles?

That's how Desert Lobo was born.

There's something special about the desert, something that people either love or hate, and I'm a lover. I adore the landscape, the weird artists, the shapes of the cactus.

Jesus and Mariposa are nomadic artists, roaming pack-less through the desert, painting, selling their work and just trying to survive together. Jonah is in environmental work -- tracking and tagging wolves for the government. And for his own reasons.

When the three of them hook up, there are fireworks, because Mari's been the sole Alpha for a long, long time and Jonah? Well, Jonah's ready to make them his.

I hope you give it a try. :D

Available here.

Friday, October 8, 2010

Happy October!

Oh, man...

So busy. So happy.

Busy busy. *grins*

Two releases out tomorrow -- Desert Lobo which is a m/m/f werewolf story set in the New Mexico desert and Where There's a Will... a cowboy novella that had run on Turn of the Screw.

*grins*

*bounces*

I'll post links in the morning. Until then, I admit I'm sitting and watching The Devil's Bride on AMC.

Christopher Lee chewing the scenery.

Hooray!

Look for a Halloween contest, starting on Monday!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Eagle of Ice, Scorpion of Fire released today!



For centuries, Katharine has been making her own rules, flying above base human complications with an icy outlook, feeding and living on the poor fools caught in the flames of passion. Beautiful and chill, she runs her love life like she runs her master’s business – with the steel grip that only someone with an eternity’s experience can wield.

Years ago, Jared Aquino had been one of Katharine’s pets, a toy for the vampire to feed from, to play with. He left with his skin intact and now he’s back with a secret and a plan to get what he always wanted from Katharine. The question is, will Jared’s fire blaze hot enough to melt Katharine’s will and expose her vulnerable heart?

Excerpt:

She loved the sound of her boot heels on the tile, the sharp, quick click-clack a warning, a promise, a threat. Katharine had a closet full-ankle boots for jeans, calf boots in supple leather for the office, for under her business skirts. Thigh high, six-inch stilettos for play, the vinyl ready to be nuzzled, licked, worshipped.

Her blonde hair was pulled up into a tight bun, makeup carefully applied, protective glasses on as she walked into the board meeting for Intensity Incorporated's quarterly stockholders update. The men stood as she entered; the two women glared. It was Hell to be the competition. If they only knew.

"Hello Frank, Eddie, Rick. Are we ready to begin?"

From milk maid for a toothless witch on the Viking coast to whore—to secretary—to Queen Bee with a hefty amount of power and voting percentage and a corner office—Katharine was proof positive that a woman with a little sense, a lot of talent, and an enormous amount of time to spare could make it in the world.

And make the men she stepped over to get there kiss her boots and thank her.
Sweet boys.
"Actually, Katharine, we're waiting for someone." Frank gave her an apologetic smile from behind his horn rimmed glasses, pushing his graying hair back into its tidy comb-over. "Would you like Anne to get you some coffee?"

"Cream, no sugar." Coffee. At least it was exceptional coffee. What she really wanted was a pretty man, stretched and nude at her feet, neck stretched and arched and offered over to her hunger. She sat down, laptop on the table. Eddie stood and hooked her into the secured network with a quiet smile which she answered with a nod. "Who are we waiting for?"

It wasn't as if these were open meetings.

Frank cleared his throat and looked at Eddie, who in turn looked at Rick. Finally it was Aleene who spoke up, looking pleased as punch.

"Our new shareholder, Katharine. The one who bought Artie out when he retired. The transaction was finalized last week. Didn't Frank tell you?"

It would take more than a new shareholder to rattle her—after all, no one knew that the owner of this company was her own sire and that she was simply playing, occupying her time—and she arched one eyebrow up, deflating Frank with a look. "It must have slipped his mind. I hear that happens in later middle age."

"Well, it's a good thing you're getting some new blood in here then, isn't it?" The voice was smooth, urbane, and the man who used it matched perfectly. Expensive suit, good shoes, a two-hundred dollar haircut...and a face she'd hoped she would never have to see again in his lifetime.

Jared Aquino placed his briefcase on the table and sat opposite her, smiling all around. "Thanks for waiting. I apologize for the delay. Shall we begin?"

It took all of her hard-earned control to not gape, not stare. The little bastard looked like he'd done well for himself. Katharine wondered exactly how many women he'd left, and owed money, in the last ten years to be able to afford that suit.
Frank nodded, starting a PowerPoint slide show on the corporation's third-quarter profits, the projected returns for fourth quarter. She cued up her new line—a series of custom pheromone perfumes, very exclusive, very expensive.

It was going to make them a fortune.

It was going to make her a fortune.

Rick and Aleene were always her naysayers, and today was no exception. Rick started with, "That seems awfully chancy, Katharine."

Aleene followed with, "Have you researched this fully?"

"No, Aleene. I was wandering aimlessly down the boulevard last night and thought, 'my, wouldn't it be charming to risk millions of dollars on a whim'." Stupid twat. It took a concentrated effort not to bare her teeth and growl. "If you had read through the information disseminated Monday, you would have discovered all of the R&D reports.

"The project is a sure thing. And, as we don't produce the product until the individual pays for it, all the capital we're investing is a very specific advertising campaign, packaging, that avenue."

She'd been working with Carol and Olaf in the chemistry lab for months. The concept was stunning. And, given the reaction of her latest pets, completely effective.

"I think it's a sound idea. People are very into that sort of product right now, and I can only say that if Katharine thinks it's effective, it will be for sure. She has a nose for these things." She got a long, slow look as Jared spoke up for her. There was something dangerous in those dark eyes that hadn't been there all those years ago.

"I appreciate the vote of confidence." She tapped a few notes into her laptop, long nails clicking. As soon as this meeting was over, she was calling Silvestri. Jared was the only one of her pets to voluntarily leave her, the only one that might have been a lover in time. Hopefully he wasn’t looking for trouble. It got harder and harder as time passed to hide desiccated bodies. "Tell me, what is your area of expertise in the industry?"

"Well, I started in research and development, but I found I was much better at the marketing aspect of it. In the last five years I've done very successful turn around campaigns for places like Chanel and Dior, and I've been a consultant for a dozen more. My references are available, if you'd like to look them over some time."

The way he lounged back in his chair like a big cat made her grit her teeth.

Buy it here

Monday, October 4, 2010

Answering Your Questions :D

Jase asked: mmm...coffee! Do you like flavored or iced coffees or do you like your coffee more traditional? :)

In the mornings I just want coffee. Straight up, black, strong. After noon, though, I love iced lattes. Unfortunately I am allergic to dairy and soy, so I have iced dark chocolate almond milk lattes every night as my pre-bed snack. :D

Liz asked: how'd you fall into the whole writing gig? And what was the most useful advice anyone's ever given you (for writing, or anything else)?

Believe it or not, I was a poet, first (which, let me tell you, does *not* meet my coffee budget), and publisher before I was a writer, professionally. My first full length novel was written in... 2006? I think. *grins* Julia Talbot, my partner, is a fabulous writer and she encouraged me to try my hand at romance. I was sold.

The most useful advice I've ever gotten is from my daddy, and it's my basic life motto: Don't be any dumber than you have to be.

Barbara asked: When will we see more of the Roughstock series?

Coke and Dillon's second novel is due out in early 2011. There are two m/f Roughstock novels coming out in 2011, as well. Jason and Bax will have their second book, the Brazilians will have their third, and the first in a trio of Taggart triplet novels are in the works. :D

Oh! And there's a m/m/f that I'm *this* close to finishing...

Kathy asked: Do you find it difficult to switch back and forth between writing m/m and m/f? Do you prefer one genre over the other?

I don't. In my head, the characters are what they are -- gay, straight, omnivorous -- I write their stories. (Although I admit, my editors have to *really* watch my pronouns, especially in the m/f. ;-)

I honestly don't prefer one over the other -- writing or reading. I grew up reading traditional romance, and I will always enjoy those books. That said, I have read a metric ton of m/m and I love it as well. I will say that contemporary western m/m/f is a delicious challenge right now, if for no other reason than it's work to discover how, in a cowboy scenario, the relationship works.

:D

*asks Julia to pick a number from one to four*

3!

Congrats Barbara! You won! If you'll email me at batortuga at batortuga dot com, I'll get your gift out. :D

Y'all have a fabulous day!