Rednecks and Romance

New Book Out Today!!!

2012-02-01T12:55:00.000-08:00

Cowbell, Book and Candle is my newest paranormal series, featuring Lily, Sara May, and BJ -- three friends from Central Texas.

There are 4 more books currently planned for this series: Don't Mess with Hexes, Royal Witch, Hexy Lady, and Hex and the Kitty. :D They're a little dark, a little humorous, and I adore the universe. :D

Official blurb for Deep in the Heart of Hexes:

Lily really isn’t the shop-owner type, but she knows she has to go back home after college and take over her granny’s weird, wonderful store, just like she promised. The problem is that Granny wants her to get serious about things she’s not even sure she believes in. When Granny falls mysteriously ill after an antique shatters in the shop, Lily starts to think that the whole world is off-kilter.

Marc deals daily with the kinds of phenomena Lily is struggling against. He knows it’s magick, but he’s not sure how to convince such a beautiful, stubborn woman how to start looking for solutions of the supernatural variety. Lily thinks Marc is arrogant and amazingly handsome, but she doesn’t want to trust him. Can the two of them learn to work together in time to save all that Lily holds dear?

Excerpt:

“Granny? Are you sure these…wooden squirrels deserve a spot in the window?” Lily picked them up gingerly, holding them with the tips of her fingers. Good night, look at the dust.

“Of course they do. The nutcracker is a Texas antique, and every nutcracker needs a few squirrels.”

“Granny…” She shook her head. “There’s a lovely piece of stained glass that would catch the light…”

A year she’d been working here.

A whole year after graduation, just like they’d agreed to when Granny forked over her college tuition, and Granny had been like…like a boss instead of family. They’d tied it up about the inventory, the ancient pointless cash register, and buying every piece of worthless junk any old man brought in, saleable or not.

Lily had to spend one Saturday a month at the spa just to make sure she didn’t smell moldy. Or like chamomile. Or the weird-assed sage bundles Granny had in the old apothecary cabinet. Smudge-sticks, she called them. Lily still had no idea what was supposed to smudge. And then there was that stupid grandfather clock, ticking and ticking.

“Lilith Streigha…”

She closed her eyes and counted to thirty. Twice. “Granny, they need to be dusted at least.”

She could do it and drop them. Step on them. Hard.

“Gently. With a feather duster.” Granny waggled a finger at her, the green eyes that didn’t look anything like hers just dancing. Granny sure had her number. Sometimes it was like she just plucked thoughts out of Lily's head. Half the time she didn't even notice.

“Of course.” She stuck her tongue out at Granny, winked. “Bossy old bat.”

“Silly whippersnapper.” Granny eased down into the old wooden desk chair she’d lined with egg crate foam.

“Uh-huh. You forgot uppity.” She headed over to Granny, kissed her cheek. “I really think you should let me change the window display.”

“No. Not yet, baby girl.” Granny’s lips set in that thin line she was getting to know well and those eyes stopped twinkling. She was in stubborn mode. “You need to do a little reading this afternoon. Research some of the books, so when people ask questions, you can answer and sound like you know what you’re talking about. You’re taking on a big job with this place. Bigger than you understand.”

“But…” She wasn’t sure about all this witchy stuff. At best it was complicated, goofy and generally pointless, like Momma had always said. At worst, it was dangerous and she’d end up hurting someone. Granny had hundreds of books, pieces of paper, bottles and jars filled with weirdness. She knew some stuff—where to buy herbs, which vendors to buy candles from, which tarot cards were going to sell.

She’d even designed a neat altar piece—a triple goddess with a place for a stone in the center—that had sold out in only a week. Five of them. One set was ordered over the Internet from Dallas.

Still, it was weird, interacting with the more esoteric customers and…

Granny patted her arm, distracting her from her thoughts. “No. No buts, Lilith, my girl. You will do it. All I have will be yours someday, and I need you to educate yourself. There are things out there you don't understand.”

“Okay.” She sighed softly. One day. One day she’d be able to make the window classy, get rid of the old truly weird stuff. The junk. The pendulums and the crystals and the dry, dusty herbs. She would. Well, maybe not the crystals, those were pretty. “What do you want for lunch today, do you think?”

“I think we should grab pizza. I’m craving pepperoni.”

“Good deal.”

The bell over the door rang and Hedda, Granny’s best friend and fellow witchy woman, came in, followed by a pair of teenage girls dressed in altogether too many black clothes for the month of May. The temperature outside was already well into the upper 90s and would hit the century mark by late afternoon.

“Hedda! Come here, girl! How’ve you been?” Granny waved Lily over to deal with the customers, greeting her old friend, who looked worried or constipated or something. Not good at all. Sometimes she wondered what all those two got up to in the back room.

“Hey, y’all. How can I help you?”

One of them—who was obviously going for the look of the dark-haired girl in The Craft—smiled at her. “I. My friend. We heard that…I need to do a spell.”

Goodie. “What kind of spell, honey?”

“I…There’s this guy. He’s…”

God, she hated love spells. “I have a few good books on relationships…”

The teenager teared up. “You don’t under…”

“I told you she wouldn’t get it, Amy. Come on.” The other girl, who looked like a bucket of tar had been poured over her head, grabbed her friend’s arm. “Y’all are just posers.”

“No. No, wait.” Lily sighed. This kid was really upset. “Tell me what’s up, huh?”

“I don’t want him to…I just want him to leave me alone.” One stick-thin arm was held out to her, and Lily winced at the bruises. “Please. I just need some help.”

“Have you talked to your folks?”

“Her folks are just going to tell her to go to church, lady. We need real help.”

“Okay. Okay. Let me see what we can do.” She turned to ask Granny what to do, but the sneaky old broad was gone, along with Hedda, damn it. Personally, she thought they should call the police, but it hadn’t been that long since she’d been a teenager over at Dripping Springs High. She grabbed Granny’s big book and was incredibly grateful that the little Post-It tabs hadn’t been taken off.

Love spells. Having babies. Preventing babies. Health. Money. Depression. Protection.

That was it. The white tab right before the red one with ‘scary shit - don’t look here’ written on it.

Lily opened the book and looked quickly. Okay. White candles, a mojo bag with sandalwood, angelica, camphor, and bay laurel. One piece of onyx, one piece of jade. Some salt. No problem.

“We’ve got everything you need, honey.” No. No, Granny said names were important. “Amy, right?”

The girl nodded. “I’m Amy; this is my best friend, Roxy.”

“Hey. I need to put you a bag together. You’ll need to give me a few, okay?”

Amy had pretty blue eyes. “You think it will work?”

Lily nodded. “I do. I think it will work. We’ll make it work.”

Especially when she called to the school and talked to the principal, damn it. Kids shouldn’t be hurt like that.

She put the mojo bag together, anointed the candles with blessing and protection oil, and gathered the stones up, handing them over to Amy. “Okay. I want you to repeat after me now, then, when you get home, you light the candles and repeat the spell, every day until Saturday, okay?”

The girls looked at her, wide-eyed.

“What’s his name?”

Amy blinked. “What?”

“His name. Names are important.”

“Ricky. Ricky McAlister.”

She’d remember that. Asshole. “Okay, now. Love and light, surround me and my home. Let no one who wishes me harm come close. If Ricky comes with harm in his heart, turn him away. Protect me from harm. So will it be.”

The girls repeated it, twice, then she rang them up. Six dollars for two stones. “Come back on Saturday; let me know how it worked.”

“We will. Bye.”

“Bye, girls.” As soon as they headed down the street for the coffee shop, Lily dialed the number for Stella, the counselor at the high school and left a message. This shit was going to cease, now.

Buy here: http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/m8/421-201-107-465-6--deep-in-the-heart-of-hexes-cowbell-book-and-candle-series-book-one-by-ba-tortuga.html

Cover for Deep int he Heart of Hexes

2012-01-31T18:47:00.001-08:00

Coming Out February 8!

Country Don't Mean Dumb

2012-01-27T11:06:00.000-08:00

I'm stealing my post title from Stephen King today (it's my favorite quote from the Stand miniseries, actually).

I write a lot of Texans. I'm a Texan, through and through. My partner is a fine mix of New Mexico, Colorado, and South Carolina. I have known a ton of southerners, a ton of rural folks, and more cowboys than I can shake a stick at.

I'm here to tell you, we may not speak with perfectly grammatically correct English. We have weird colloquialisms. I write my characters as they speak -- internal and spoken dialogue.

This is a stylistic choice, absolutely. I try to tone it down when it doesn't fit a publisher's house style, but I tend very much toward tight, tight third person. My boys don't worry about the difference between who and whom.

I've been asked, does that make them sound dumb?

Not to me. I'm writing characters that belong in a particular time and space, with the voices they come with -- educated, not educated, brilliant, average intellect, challenged.

Did you know there are 7 distinct Texan dialects? For instance, I grew up in east Texas, but I've lived in central Texas for 15 years. In my home town, I sound like Austin. Here in Austin, they say I sound like east Texas. West Texas doesn't sound like me at all. ;-)

*shrugs*

There's also a difference between the Carolinas and Georgia. Western Colorado and Front Range. New Mexico and Arizona. Shreveport and NOLA.

I believe in letting the characters live in their skins, even when their skins don't sound like TV announcers.

Not only that, I love colloquialisms. I love that in the Ozarks, the answer to "What for?" can be "Cat fur, to make kitten britches." That in West Texas you can be plumb fool for a girl. That we're always fixin' to run somewhere. That we get mad as all get out or that it can come up a cloud outside. That the plural of y'all is all y'all (and only in Texas do you have all y'all ladies). That there is a particular brother in the family that is your bubba and that I'm Sister to my sister, Baby Girl, but Baby Girl to my daddy. That I have a Moma (not a momma) and a sister called Tootie.

I love that our new nephew, Boo, is 3 months old and has 15 nicknames, all of which will stick his whole life.

I love that, in our family, there's a pappy, a poppy, papaw, peepaw, grampy, nana, granny, mawmaw...

This is where my heart lives, in celebrating the voice that fills my ears whenever I go outside.

Is it dumb?

You'd be a damn fool to walk that road. ;-)

A hell of a way to wake up

2012-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

We had a wicked bad storm last night and at 7 a.m., there was this sound like the earth was splitting -- my eyes popped open and there was flame, shooting balls of flame right outside the bedroom window as the transformer went kaboom.

Me, Julia, and the dogs popped out of bed like daisies from the snow. The lights were on in a couple of hours, the net and phone a couple of hours after that. Of course, one of the Macs blew up and we lost a switch, but we did not lose the file server.

I'm *so* grateful the transformer blew during a downpour and there wasn't a huge fire, so I won't even complain.

Except that my heart is still racing, 10 hours later. O.o

Challenges :D

2012-01-23T15:54:00.001-08:00

So, I'm doing this yoga challenge -- 30 classes in 40 days which, okay, not too bad.

Except...

Well, you see. Julia and I are considering moving to Colorado, so we're going up for a week in February so I can see how I handle the cold and...

Yeah.

A whole week.

So, I'm doing the 30 classes in 33 days challenge and my butt hurts.

My back hurts.

My hamstrings have moved to Mexico.

My neck... I'm pretty sure it's turned to Rice Krispies.

I'm 7 days in. I'm fairly sure by Feb. 24, I might die.

;-)

My Boys Touch

2012-01-18T14:50:00.000-08:00

There's been a little confusion going around and I figured I'd just be upfront.

I write gay romance. I write lesbian romance. I write het romance. I write threesomes -- lately I'm writing a *lot* of threesomes because they're what wants written.

I don't write m/f/m.

Now, am I saying I don't like it? Nope. I read it. A couple of my favorite authors write it and I enjoy it thoroughly.

Do I typically buy that 3 (or 4 or 5 or 6) people can all be in bed having sex and none of the same sex people in the bed are attracted to each other? Not usually, no, but that's me (and I can tell you, the only time it throws me out of a story as a reader is when there are 3 or more men and 1 woman and they have to take turns sleeping with her in twos because they might touch each other. That always makes me sad).

That's not even what it's about for me when I'm writing.

When I'm writing, I have be honest to *my* muse. To my characters. I love m/m. Love it. Love it enough that I started Torquere Press damn near 9 years ago to publish it because no one else would. In my mind's eye, characters fall in love and I have zero control over the sex(es) of the folk(s) they fall in love with. My boys fall in love -- with the girl, absolutely, but also with each other. Three people who are in love together and, damn it, they're going to be in love together at the end, too.

I'm a sap. I want my HEA -- reading or writing. And, yeah, if there's a menage threesome (or moresome, although I haven't done that yet and the pronoun confusion there sort of makes me dizzy), my boys will touch.

Reader beware. ;-)

10 Weird BA Factoids

2012-01-17T17:28:00.000-08:00

1. I'm left-handed. As in whoa freaky living in a right-handed world is hard left-handed.

2. I can fold my tongue 4 different ways.

3. Sean Michael is my best friend. Julia Talbot is my life partner. We really are three different people.

4. I do yoga a lot. I sort of need it.

5. My favorite food is popcorn.

6. My favorite author is Stephen King, with Dean Koontz a close second.

7. I am getting my Master Instructor Qualification in Crochet.

8. I love to swim; I hate to get wet.

9. My favorite color is pink. I refuse to be ashamed for it.

10. I eat kale, apples, and berries pretty much every day. Not at the same time.

Top Ten Things I'm Looking forward to this Spring

2012-01-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

1. Luke Bryan Concert

2. Chris Young Concert

3. Bluebonnets

4. RT in Chicago

5. Visiting Sean Michael for a week

6. Houston Rodeo

7. Austin Rodeo

8. Rodeo season starting

9. Planting flowers in the front yard.

10. Being one season closer to the Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney concert! :D

New Series Coming in February

2012-01-11T09:31:00.000-08:00

Hey, y'all!

It looks like the first in my new romantic paranormal series, Cowbell, Book, and Candle is coming out in early February! :D

The CBC series is focused on a New Age/Art/Antique store in Central Texas, and on three high school best friends. Lily St. Marc, Bobbie Jo McMillen, and Sara May Light have been best friends since grade school. They studied together, were on the drill team together, went to Texas State together, rushed Tri-Delts together, then graduation happened.

In Cowbell, Book and Candle: Deep in the Heart of Hexes, Lily really isn’t the shop-owner type, but she knows she has to go back home after college and take over her granny’s weird, wonderful store, just like she promised. The problem is that Granny wants her to get serious about things she’s not even sure she believes in. When Granny falls mysteriously ill after an antique shatters in the shop, Lily starts to think that the whole world is off-kilter.

Marc deals daily with the kinds of phenomenon Lily is struggling against. He knows it’s magick, but he’s not sure how to convince such a beautiful, stubborn woman how to start looking for solutions of the supernatural variety. Lily thinks Marc is arrogant and amazingly handsome, but she doesn’t want to trust him. Can the two of them learn to work together in time to save all that Lily holds dear?

The first book is m/f, the second is m/m/f, the third is m/f, and the fourth is m/m/f. I make no promises after that.

As soon as I have a cover, I'll make sure to share.

Happy birthday to Me

2012-01-08T13:10:00.000-08:00

Lovely day with Julia seeing the 2nd Sherlock Holmes movie and making gf strawberry cupcakes.

Everyone's been darling all day and I'm feeling not particularly Too Old. ;-)

New Ink!

2012-01-06T21:12:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

2012-01-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

*grins*

Oh, y'all! Happy happy! I had a lovely new year, restful and joyous. My house is clean, my heart is full, and my fingers are typing.

I resolved a number of things -- mainly to repeat my 100 books read in 2012, and I'm going to track them on GoodReads. I'm also backing away from processed food. Of course, I need to keep my word count up.

:D

What did y'all resolve this year?

Caramelized Mushroom and Onion Risotto

2011-12-30T22:08:00.000-08:00

OMG, y'all.

Julia and I were inventing recipes and we did caramelized onion and mushroom risotto.

I promised Thrace I'd get the recipe, so here 'tis. :D

2 large onions, thinly sliced
1 shallot, sliced
1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1/4 c. white wine
2 c. arborio rice
4-6 c. chicken broth
salt to taste
5 cloves garlic
1/2 c. shredded parmesan
1/2 c. shredded gruyere
fresh basil
olive oil
butter.

First, slice and caramelize your onions in 2T of olive oil and 1T butter (this takes forever, so be patient. Use low heat for 40 minutes or until the onions are nice and golden). Add shallots and mushrooms. Cook until mushrooms are caramelized, stirring often. :D

Move onion mixture to a bowl. Add a bit of olive oil to the pan and cook your garlic. Add rice and toast while heating your broth in a saucepan. Add wine to rice, stir til gone. Now add your broth, 1/2 c. at a time, stirring constantly, letting rice suck up the broth before adding more.

With your last 1/2 c. of broth, add your mushroom and onion mixture and stir until all the liquid is absorbed. Take pan off heat, and add basil and cheeses. Stir. Add a pat of butter. Stir.

Ta-da. :D

Risotto.

Also, Happy New Year, y'all!

Six Days Til Christmas

2011-12-19T14:34:00.001-08:00

And I still need to:

Wrap presents.
Finish mailing cards.
Make toffee and fudge.
Make tamales.
Clean my house.
Deliver gifts to my tattoo artist.
Deliver gifts to my nail girl.
Go grocery shopping.

O.o

How about y'all?

Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Blog Hop

2011-12-16T17:43:00.001-08:00

Hey, y'all!

Welcome to my blog -- I'm happy to meet folks and I invite you to take a look around.

I'm offering a Texas Christmas ornament and a signed print book (you can choose -- m/m, m/f, or m/m/f).

Happiest of Holidays, y'all, and peace to all.

BA

http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/

New Book Out! Needing To, A Roughstock Story (m/m, cowboys)

2011-12-16T15:41:00.000-08:00

Needing To: A Roughstock story

58 pages / 15000 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-731-1
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

Boone doesn't think he'll find much on his Reno hotel TV, but he's looking for a little something to brighten his day. Instead of adult entertainment, though, he finds an advertisement for the headlining act at the casino, rock star Gerald High. Boone doesn't know Gerald High from Adam, but he knows the man behind the stage name: his old high school buddy, Danny.

Lead singer Danny is a mess when Boone forces his way into the penthouse suite, not sure he knows what day it is, or even where he is. He remembers Boone though, the cowboy who got away all those years ago. Can Boone give Danny the merry Christmas he never expected to have?

Available at Torquere Press and All Romance Ebooks.

Author's Note: Yeah, Julia and I went to Vegas in October. Yeah, a Christmas story was born. Danny and Boone make me a little dewy-eyed and goofy, but isn't that what Christmas stories are for?

Dogs and Hot Cocoa

2011-12-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

Lord, y'all.

I had good intentions to blog Monday, but my puppies had a big fight and I ended up in the animal hospital all afternoon. Twenty bites, 5 antibiotics, 3 pain killers, two sets of destroyed clothes, and $400 later, we were all home. O.o

Now there's two grumpy sore pups, and lots of washing/E-collaring/medicating going on.

So, at any rate, those of y'all who know me know I have weird food allergies. Lots of them. So, eating normal fun holiday food is a challenge. Julia and I have worked on a white hot chocolate recipe we can drink. It's not healthy, but it's tasty and I enjoy it.

White Hot Chocolate

1 bar organic, gluten free white chocolate
3 c. vanilla almond milk
2 T. instant espresso powder
1 t. vanilla

You take the chocolate, the espresso and whir it in the blender while heating the milk and vanilla on the stove. Once your milk is hot, pour it into your blender and give it a whir. :D

Ta da. It makes 3 nice big mugs and it's lovely for a holiday treat. :D

Working working, lalala

2011-12-07T18:33:00.000-08:00

Lord, y'all.

I have 3 major deadlines next week. One project is 1 1/2 scenes from done, one project is 3 1/2 scenes from done, and the other...

Well...

I'm working. Hard. Words, many words. :D

Decorating for the Holidays!

2011-12-05T16:07:00.000-08:00

Working on the Holiday Decorating

2011-12-02T19:49:00.000-08:00

In between the water heater leaking and making a huge mess.

Gah!

O.o

Send fans and plumbers!

Christmas Music Time!

2011-11-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

New albums so far this year?

Glee Christmas Vol. 2
Sing Off Songs of the Season.

:D

What am I missing that's new?

New Cover! :D Coming in December from Torquere Press!

2011-11-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

Trying to get ready for Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T19:14:00.000-08:00

Man, Julia and I went to Whole Foods today -- Lord, what a nightmare. Everyone else had the same idea. :P

Still, we got the nitrate-free ham we needed and the gluten-free pie crusts.

Tomorrow we have to hit HEB, Sprouts, and the UPS Store, cook cornbread and make meringues for my daddy. Then meet an old high school friend for supper, come home and write.

*grins*

I love my life.

Ahora Out Today!!!

2011-11-16T20:35:00.000-08:00

So, Julia Talbot and I were in Vegas playing the What If game --

What if there was this woman and she lived with two men?

What if the men were real boys -- forgot to put the seat down, ate all the peanut butter, made a mess?

What if they had a fight and then she got hurt and ended up in Vegas with amnesia?

What if they were all werewolves...

;-)

Tada! Ahora!

Here's the link for the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObJKqsPAdzw

About Ghost Pepper: Ahora, a Torquere Press Menage story

by BA Tortuga
47 pages / 10700 words

Tony and Adam are determined to get their girl back. Vicki has gone missing, and as volatile as she is, it’s not like her to just leave them, especially so close to the first moon. Finding her trashed motorcycle in the desert doesn’t give them a whole lot of hope, though.

Lost and unable to remember anything, Vicki doesn’t know what to believe. Tony and Adam are strangers to her, but she knows they’re hot as the elusive ghost pepper. Can the boys convince her to come home like they want to, ahora? Now?

Sample

"Who ate the last of the peanut butter?" Vicki slammed the cabinet door, the empty Jiff jar in her hand. Seriously? How fucking hard was it to throw the fucking jar away? Tell her. She'd made the fucking drive to town just yesterday for groceries.

"'Tonio did it," Adam said, not even glancing up from his magazine.

The magazine she'd picked up for him at the damned store!

"Did not. Adam's a fuckhead." Tony at least looked at her from over the pile of electronics he was systematically fucking up, dark eyes completely unconcerned.

She was going to kill them both. They were... lazy, insensitive, rude asshats!

Adam grinned at her finally, pushed the heavy mass of blond hair away from his face. "Okay, it was me. I forgot. Sue me."

She looked at him, then threw the peanut butter jar at his head, hard.

"Hey!" It barely missed him, possibly grazing his ear. "Are you fixing to start?"

"What?" She was going to bite his face off. Start? "Are you afraid I'll be in heat tomorrow and we'll get hung up?"

Lady save her from living with asshole males. Why she was the one who needed two frigging...

"You sure are bitchy for no reason, querida." Tony shrugged, looking so put-upon.

"No reason? No fucking reason? Y'all have been assholes all fucking day!" First there was the fact that she'd made a breakfast and no one had bothered to get their lazy asses up to even eat it. Then someone had dribbled all over the toilet seat and hadn't clean up after himself. Farts so bad that the bedroom smelled like a dog pen. Then her leathers had been crumpled up and... gnawed on.

Why the fuck did she get saddled with not one, but two mates?

Two shiftless, flea-infested, butthead mates. She was so out of there.

She flipped them off -- not that either one of the little shits noticed -- and grabbed her helmet and her leather jacket on the way.

Turds.

Fuckweasels.

Furbags.

She jumped on her Harley, slammed on her helmet. It was time to get the hell out of Dodge for a few hours, let the wind blow out her shitty mood.

Otherwise she'd just kill them both.

Buy Ahora here.

My Puppies!

2011-11-14T18:30:00.001-08:00

Sadie

Kissy

Sonny

What I'm Working On

2011-11-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

Right now I'm editing up my Christmas story -- a cowboy and a rock star. Yay! I'm neck-deep in Shifting Streams 2, which is still untitled, but I'm madly in love with Canyon. Also working on Coke and Dillon and a project with Kiernan Kelly.

I'm so tickled to be home for a few months, focused on writing and relaxing. Holidaying.

Reading.

Wearing socks. ;-)

New Ink Wednesday

2011-11-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

If you're really lucky, you find a tattoo artist like Sara Mae. She makes me laugh, she's one hell of an artist, and she can ink like nothing going.

I've been working on a full sleeve since January -- my inner forearm is done and I finished my upper arm today. Next we're working on the outlining on my outer forearm before starting my matching chest piece.

So, now I'm sore and swollen, looking at an amazing piece of work.

What I'm Reading This Week

2011-11-07T15:25:00.000-08:00

Oh, y'all. I try very very hard to read for a minimum of an hour everyday on something for pure enjoyment. (Also, I have a goal of 100 books annually, and I'm on number 80, so read read read)

This week I'm working on Home of His Own by TA Chase, Overlord's Chosen by Bronwyn Green, How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper, and The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Logan.

I'd love to hear what y'all are reading this week, and how you're enjoying them. :D

*snogs*

Getting new ink on Wednesday. Expect pictures!

Man, I had such plans

2011-11-02T20:43:00.001-07:00

I was going to blog about Halloween. I was going to blog about Vegas. Yeah, yeah.

I'm sorry, y'all. Julia and I were very very busy becoming great aunts.

I'm tickled to welcome C.L. into the world, four weeks early. Mom went into labor Halloween afternoon and Mr. C. was born on 11-1-11 (great birthdate, huh?).

We've been busily buying and sending and looking and doing stupid auntie things, but I swear, I'm back on track. ;-)

I swear.

*snogs all around and passes out fake cigars*

Bewitching Trick or Treat Blog Hop!

2011-10-29T18:44:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! :D

I'm tickled to be participating in the Bewitching Trick or Treat Blog Hop. There are more than 50 authors participating and there are some neat prizes to be had.

I'm offering a signed copy of my best-selling novel, Just Like Cats and Dogs, as well as a vampire piggy bank and some fun Halloween goodies.

Just comment here and I'll choose a winner on All-Saints Day.

Please don't forget to click on the graphic and see the other fun prizes my fellow authors are offering! :D

Thank Y'all SO Much!!!

2011-10-10T18:30:00.000-07:00

Three Best-Seller Stars for Just Like Cats and Dogs, Cereus: The Building, and The Mind's Eye!!!

You all rock my world!

*smooches all about*

As a thank you, I have Gus and Sam trading cards, just email me (batortuga at gmail dotcom) with your snail mail addy and I'll send you some! :D

*bounce*

*bouncebouncebounce*

New m/m/f paranormal out today! :D

2011-10-06T12:57:00.000-07:00

Climbing the Ladder (Shifting Streams, Book 1)

ISBN: 978-1-60735-416-1
Ebook zipped file contains - Adobe PDF, HTML, Microsoft Reader, and Palm file formats. BONUS: Sony(LRF), EPUB(OCF), and MOBI formats included in zip file!

Mesa has a lot on his plate since he became his pack's Alpha. With another clan on the brink of self-destruction, he knows he has too much to take care of to go running off, but he also knows what he needs to do in order to run his pack, and that's go get his mate.

Kody left Mesa years ago, knowing they could never be together the way Kody really wanted. Making a life for himself seemed like the best idea, and when he found Samantha, he knew he'd found the woman he wanted to marry. Kody never forgot Mesa, but it still comes as a shock when the big, growly man shows up on his Los Angeles doorstep.

Between Sammy's rage at what she sees as Kody's betrayal, pack politics hitting the boiling point and the amazing chemistry between the three of them, Kody, Mesa and Samantha have their work cut out for them. Can they climb the ladder to love?

Available at Resplendence Publishing.

Author's Note: Welcome to Shifting Streams! :D Mesa and Sammy and Kody were a blast to write and I'm working on book 2 right now. I love the wolf dynamic, especially when one of the pairing doesn't even know.

IT'S OUT! Just Like Cats and Dogs (m/m, paranormal)

2011-09-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

Just Like Cats and Dogs

203 pages / 50000 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-560-7

If there’s one thing Sam knows for sure it’s that you can never go home again. As a feline shifter who grew up in a family of wolves, he’s used to being a freak. He stays in the city and tries to get his family to visit him, but when a loved one passes away, Sam has to go back to the New Mexico desert for a last goodbye.

Gus only comes back to the pack at gathering time, once in a blue moon. He’s usually a wanderer, but he’s with the pack when Sam comes home. Gus and Sam have never gotten along, but this time around Gus is surprised by the attraction he feels for this new, slinky version of his high school nemesis.

Sam and Gus may not be able to resist each other, but finding time to be together and overcome their differences might be too much for them, especially when danger lurks just around the corner, and all around the world. Can cats and dogs live to learn together, or are Gus and Sam destined to fail?

Review

Jane Davitt, author of Hourglass, writes: 'Just Like Cats and Dogs' is a fascinating look at racial tension and prejudice as expressed through the interactions of two types of shifters; panthers and wolves. I've read many shifter stories but this one really made me think about the political implications if we did have shifters around us living hidden lives but organized and structured ones too.

Sam, who shifts into cat form and was, quite literally, raised by wolves has never fit in. Openly gay, he lives in the city, working as a dancer and choreographer. On the death of his father, he returns home and clashes immediately with a childhood enemy from the pack, Gus. As adults, the two of them have more in common than they realize and the tenderness that Gus shows toward the bereaved and vulnerable Sam really comes through. There are some wonderful scenes with the men in their animal forms that really rang true.

Gus is content, more or less. He mines gems, travels, gets on with his family. Sam doesn't fit in anywhere and as the story unfolds we see how precarious his life is because his own kind, the cats, see him as tainted by the wolves, and to the pack he grew up with, he's the enemy, barely tolerated. The lines are drawn; the city is run by the cats, the wolves like the countryside. 'West Side Story' is referenced in the book and this story does have 'Romeo and Juliet' overtones, the classic forbidden love story taken to a whole new level.

The love between the two men unfolds beautifully, their doubts and reservations, their primal antagonism, swept away by a stronger force. As we see a new order evolve around them, as if they're the focal point for change, the reader's left optimistic that things can get better.

Definitely a story that stays with the reader, thought-provoking and compelling.

Sample

Gus watched his mom and brother packing up casseroles and soup bones and all manner of shit to take over to Mona's. Jesus, he couldn't believe that Pop Finn was dead. The man was a fucking fixture in their neck of the woods, and everyone loved the guy, even if they disagreed with him.

"Are you coming, Gus?" His mom pushed her crazy red hair behind one ear. She was that way as a wolf, too, with a deep, reddish coat and one floppy ear. Pete was just the same way, and it used to pissed Gus off, when they were kids, that he looked like Dad, all shaggy and brown and shit.

"I'm not sure, Mom." He smiled wryly. "I didn't always get on with all the Finns."

"You don't say." Her lips twisted in a half grin. "It's been fifteen years. You're coming."

"Yeah." He shook his head. This wasn't about his issues. Pop Finn had been a good man, a solid man. Hell, that family had adopted every fucking stray that came across their land for the last forty years, up to and including a bunch of rowdy pups who just needed a place to blow off steam. He wasn't sure turkey casserole was an adequate expression of how they all felt, but he guessed it would do. He helped his mom carry everything out to the truck, getting it packed so it wouldn't slide around and spill.

"I'll take my truck, too, in case one of us needs to stay or something." Right, because baby brother Pete had a serious hard on for Lizzie -- the second to the youngest of Finn girls.

"Asshole." He grinned when Pete flipped him off. Gus did love fucking with people when he was home.

"You two behave or I'll beat you both." Mom hopped into the truck. "Get your ass in here, son."

Gus climbed into the driver's seat, bumping off toward the Finn's place.

"I want you to be nice to that boy while we're there."

"What boy?" All of the Finn kids were too old to be boys and girls.

"Augustus..."

"What?" He grinned. "Oh, you mean the pussy."

"Augustus Fieri, I will beat your heinie!"

"Yeah, yeah. I'll be good." He would. Unless pussy boy was an ass. In which case he'd kick the lanky little fuck into next week. Yeah, the beating sounded like a good plan. He grinned, which made his mom pop him on the arm. "Ow!"

"Stop it. You have evil in your eyes. That poor boy was Pete's best friend, even if he was different."

"You know, I want to know why everyone assumes it was my fault we didn't get along." It was offensive. Really.

She just looked at him. A lot. With her eyes.

Okay, so he'd bitten Sam. Chased him. Growled. Treed the little fuck once. They'd been boys. Boys did that. Just like Sam had scratched his leg so bad once that he'd had to get stitches. Had shredded Gus' favorite jacket in high school.

And that didn't even count the time someone who'd never been caught had put Nair in his conditioner.

God, he didn't want to do this. He hated funerals and gatherings for funerals and planning shit like that. He could be in a tourmaline mine somewhere...

"Thank you for coming out with me. I can't believe Michael died during the gathering."

"Yeah." Gus rolled his eyes. The gathering. It made it sound like a movie. They all got together during the harvest moon, once a year. It wasn't sinister or anything; it was a damned family reunion kind of thing.

"Do you... You and Petey, you'd be okay without me, right?"

"Don't even think it, Mom." He wasn't going to ponder it too hard.

"It's going to happen sometime, son."

"I know, Mom, but I could just as easily get smooshed in a cave-in." He shrugged. "We'd survive, but I won't lie and say it would be easy."

She vocalized softly, petting his arm. "Well, I hope not. You ought to miss me a little."

"Stop it." Gus couldn't help but growl some. It had been him and Petey and Mom against the world for a long time. He'd miss her like a lost limb.

"I think we should go to Burger King after we pay our respects."

"I think that's a great idea." Meat. Ketchup. Yum. He even liked fried potatoes.

"Me, too. Pete will be busy sniffing after that pretty little girl, so we can duck out." Mom winked at him.

"There you go." He patted her leg, knowing she needed contact as much as he did. "I'd miss the hell out of you, Mom."

She nodded, sighed softly. "Poor Mona."

"She has all those kids, huh?" What, eighteen? Lord.

"Yeah. Sam sends money home to her, so do Gray and Helena."

"She'll make it." She had to. The greater pack really wouldn't know what to do without Mona Finn.

They pulled into the drive, the place filled with trucks and cars and SUVs. Everyone had turned out. Gus felt a little queasy, but Petey was right there in front of them, and he came to help their mom out of the truck. "I'll be along in a minute, okay?"

"Sure, honey. I'll be inside with Mona."

He walked around the side of the house, needing some air, something. He turned the corner and ran smack dab into someone, the two of them crashing together.

"Shit!" He stumbled, but instinctively tried to catch whoever it was. Gus knew he was big. He could do some damage. "Sorry."

"No problem." The voice was soft, slinky, pure sex somehow, making his hair stand up on end.

He stepped back to look at the man, because it was definitely a male, and his eyes widened. "Pussy boy?"

One black eyebrow arched impossibly over a bottle green eye, then he was flying, back hitting the ground before his fucking chin started hurting from the kick it had received.

Shiny black boots appeared by his head, only for a second. "Indeed."

Then they were gone.

Holy fuck. Gus sure didn't know where Sam Finn had learned to kick like that, but damn. That was something.

Kinda hot, too.

Somehow the whole funeral thing had just gotten a whole lot more interesting.

Man, it's been that long?

2011-09-23T13:28:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a novel-length m/m come out in how long?

Lord, have mercy. *grins*

Well, the wait is over. Just Like Cats and Dogs comes out tomorrow, it all it's cat and dogly glory. *grins*

Werewolves.

Werekitties.

Biting.

Snarling.

Kidnapping.

Sex.

Running.

Disneyland.

It's got something for everyone!

Wordless Wednesday (sparkles)

2011-09-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Co-writing, what the hell does Cereus mean, and what's next?

2011-09-19T21:40:00.001-07:00

Hey, y'all!

So, all y'all have heard me go on and on about Cereus: The Building for days (weeks, months...)

It's so neat, now that it's out and I can yammer about it. I had a ball writing Marco, Stephan, and Faelan. I loved the dynamic, I loved the kitty-tude.

Hell, basically, I just let loose and had fun. *grins*

The neatest part of this experience was the co-writing parts -- the parts where Julia, Sean and I got to work together, got to say, "Dude, my boy would *not* say that!", and just got to create an entire world that was all ours.

Y'all know that I love Julia's Bloodrose universe, so this is a huge honor to be asked to play inside it, to help develop a piece of it. (Hell, I get the whole kitchen staff. *boogies*)

For those that have asked, a cereus is a night-blooming cactus. It's kind of amazing -- you can see it in the cover -- and Julia is the one that decided that was the name of the resort.

We are all currently working on Cereus: Opening. I'm writing Donovan and Mik -- the werewolf and vampire heads of security. It's one of my favorite things to write, former lovers who are estranged. *Too* fun.

I expect much fighting, much biting, and a hell of a lot of snarling.

You can find Cereus: The Building at http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=3323

Interview with Tory Temple

2011-09-16T11:11:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all!

I couldn't be more tickled than to introduce Tory Temple, a great writer and one of my dearest friends. She agreed to do an interview for my blog. I love her deep knowledge of firemen, her details, and general hotness, so I'm pleased as punch to have her here today. :D

BA

I'd like to welcome Tory Temple, author of Fireline, Tabula Rasa, and Chasing Victory

Favorite celebrity couple?

My favorite celeb couple doesn't exist anymore, sadly. :( I was seriously on board with Brad and Jen before Angelina showed up as Homewrecker Extraordinaire. I'm still Team Aniston.

Dream vacation?

I want to take one of those six month round-the-world luxury cruises. A lot of people don't like cruise ships because they feel trapped, but cruising is my perfect vacation. If every trip for the rest of my life was aboard a cruise ship to a tropical location, I'd be in heaven.

Shoes -- an addiction or only a necessity?

I have 48 shoe boxes in my closet right now, and that is not counting my racks of flip flops and summer sandals. Or my gym/running shoes. Therefore, ADDICTION.

You have six free hours, $500 of fun money, and a teleporter. What do you do?

Oh man. Am I allowed to take other people with me? Never mind, it's my free time, I can do whatever I want. I'd teleport to a couple of different places and round up all of my favorite people, then whisk us all off to a poolside cabana in Vegas. Cabana boys would abound, naturally.

Do you use a playlist when you write? If so, how important is it?

I do not. I'm very visual (as opposed to auditory) and any other sound while I write is extremely distracting. I can't listen to music or watch television. That being said, I *do* have playlists that I've created for characters after the story is completed. I listen to those while I work out or when I'm in the car.

I know you've co-written Happy World (with Kiernan Kelly) and By the Numbers (with Chris Owen). How did that work? Is cowriting something you'd do again?

Both experiences were great, although different. Kiernan and I traded chapters and POVs back and forth and we sort of shared characters. Chris and I wrote together in Google docs and kept strictly to our own characters. I loved both ways and would happily write with either of those ladies again. I visited Chris this summer and we fleshed out an outline for the sequel to our book, so I'll get my wish soon enough.

When did you start writing professionally?

The summer of 2005. I didn't submit anything until later that year, but I clearly remember the time and place where my first story started to form. I was in Toronto airport, on my way home from visiting friends after Toronto Pride, and I started making notes in the back of my address book. A month later, the story was finished.

Tell us about your newest release and/or what you're working on now.

My last release was a short story with Torquere, Priorities. [http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=79_93&products_id=3107] It was a little glimpse in the life of my rodeo cowboys, Teagan and Cash. I liked visiting with them and may check in again soon. My next book is the co-written one with Chris and that's coming out at the end of September for Torquere Press' anniversary month! So excited about that. Fireman and a computer geek try to make it work. Oh yeah, along with six puppies. Fun times!

Thank you for the interview opportunity!

You can find Tory Temple at http://www.torytemple.com/

Thank you for stopping by sweetie! -- BA

TRS Release Party Tomorrow -- Win a Kindle!!!

2011-09-13T21:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/

Go. :D Look. Have fun.

I have goofy kitchen stuff to give away.

New Book Today!

2011-09-07T08:05:00.000-07:00

I'm so tickled -- the next few months I have some great new stuff coming out. :D

The Mind's Eye is a fun little romp -- brought about by a long discussion about the lizard brain, handguns, and waffles in a coffee shop in Vegas. :D Hot and sexy, with a nice bit of fighting. This one wrote itself. :D

Available here. :D

Blurb:

Jake likes Vegas, but it gets a little hot when he wins too much at one casino. So Jake has a choice; he can go to the middle of nowhere and try to kill this guy some mob boss wants dead, or he can die himself.

Keye is on vacation and minding his own business when Jake shows up. As a hitman, he thinks it’s pretty damned funny that Jake is the man sent to kill him, at least until he starts to figure out what talents Jake has going for him. Can these two band together and stay alive?

Excerpt:

Keye sat in the back booth, the one on the side of the diner with no restrooms and no windows. He liked to be able to watch folks come and go, to know that he had nowhere to run. Being backed into a corner made him sharper, smarter. An easy escape route made for a lazy Keye.

The people coming in and out were regulars, for the most part, having coffee, saying hi, and eating chili sizes and hash and eggs. Normal. Easy. Good. He approved.

The guy walking toward him wasn't a regular. Keye knew it like he knew that he could crush the man's windpipe with one squeeze. His neck was only so big.

Of course, when said skinny little wild-haired freak sat down, looked at him with one light blue eye, one dark brown one, and said, "I'm supposed to be here to kill you. Weird, huh?" he knew he was absolutely right.

Keye sat back, hands flat on the table, and stared. "You want some coffee?"

"Absolutely." The little guy waved down the waitress, ordered a coffee with a smile, then turned back to him with a bright smile. "So, there's this guy -- Gianni de Marco? You know him? Ugly, broad, lots of nice hair, but way too much pomade? He's in Vegas. He has all my money and he's a big asshole -- wanted to cut my fingers off, what a turd, huh? Anyway, he's hiring people to kill you. Well, blackmailing me to kill you, but I always figure if a guy's willing to blackmail one man, he's willing to hire someone else. It's like a slippery-slope deal. Anyway, I thought about it, because seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money, but if I won it once in Vegas, I can win it a couple three times in Shreveport, and I have the weird feeling that murder would lead to blood and puss and stuff, so no. I decided to warn you instead."

"I think he needs to switch to decaf, honey," Keye told the waitress. She left again, and Keye stared at the guy some more. "De Marco, huh?"

"Uh-huh. He's a fuckmonkey. You're very broad. I was surprised, you know? All I had to work on was this little memory deal and a fuzzy picture like from the TV. All pixelated and shit from the security cameras. I guess that's what the hat was for, though, huh? Hiding your face?"

"Well, I wear a hat occasionally." Hell, he was from Texas. He wore a hat a lot, cowboy or gimme cap, whatever. "What's a fuckmonkey?"

The guy's laugh rang out -- and how it wasn't purely insane, Keye wasn't sure, but it wasn't. "I haven't the foggiest, but it's a great word, isn't it? Fuck. Monkey. Fuckmonkey. It's like asshat, but with more flinging poo."

Lord, have mercy. Some days a man just had to go with what was put in front of him. "So, you're not gonna kill me."

"God, no. That's creepy." The man drank deep from his coffee, then smiled. "I mean, I found you, which is good, I guess, but I'm a tracker, not a hunter. Did you really get that scar on your chin from falling out of a barn? I don't know that I've ever been in a real barn."

Keye kept his face immobile by force of will alone. How the hell did this guy know where he’d gotten his scar? "You been talkin' to my momma or something?"

"She died three years ago. She was..." The guy's nose wrinkled, one long finger sliding on his hand. "Oh, man. Yuck. I'm sorry, that sucks. Bad memory, huh? Let's not go there. That's bad. And you dealt with it all and I'm really glad my name's not Lionel, because you just... you don't like that name at all."

Keye felt his brow furrow, which meant this guy was really something. He didn't know what. His voice came out pretty even, though. "How do you know this shit?"

Praying for rain

2011-09-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

25000 acres burned.

Over 500 houses lost in 24 hours.

None of the fires are contained and 2 new ones were just reported.

There is smoke everywhere when you go outside.

Please everyone, be so careful. Watch. When you evacuate, let someone know you got out.

And pray for rain.

Torquere Press Anniversary Celebration!

2011-09-02T19:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, y'all!

I'm a participating author in Torquere's 8th Anniversary joy (duh -- it would be weird if I wasn't, huh? ;-) ).

We're giving away a Kindle, gift baskets, free ebooks, all sorts of fun stuff, so please, head over to http://www.torquerebooks.com/contest/contactmain.html and go play!

*bounces*

8 years, y'all!!!

New Book Coming on Wednesday, September 7

2011-08-31T20:18:00.000-07:00

What happens when a mind-reader walks into a cafe and tells an assassin, "Somebody sent me to kill you..."?

Find out next week!

Blogging Over at the TRS End of Summer Bash through Sunday

2011-08-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

There are some fabulous prizes to be had, along with books, excerpts, etc.

Come visit -- http://www.theromancestudio.com/party

Wordless Wednesday!

2011-08-24T11:12:00.000-07:00

Burning hands. Peppers. Fiery heat.

2011-08-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Made gazpacho and processed Hatch green chiles today and my hands are on FIRE.

FIRE!!!

*whimpers*

Man, Julia told me halfway through to wear gloves...

Authors After Dark Con Report

2011-08-19T19:39:00.000-07:00

Oh, y'all. I had a blast.

Julia Talbot and I got into the heart of Philly on Thursday. Straight away we ran into ZA Maxfield and got hugs, then we got to sit next to Jean Murray and hear all about her Egyptian thriller, Soul Reborn. (Julia got a little squeaky).

Joy from Joyfully Reviewed was in the Tease Tea Tasting when we got our badges, and it was fun to sit and visit, jabber a little and touch base, before heading up to the ARe Cafe to visit with Bronwyn Green, Elise Hepner, and Stella Price for a bit.

Then we set the Torquere Press table up with goodies -- I brought the winning goodie for us -- bandage holders with my logo!

Julia and I walked to find supper, which was a good deal because we had to come back for Karaoke with Jennifer Armintrout and friends. OMG -- what a blast! We sat with Carol Lynne and conned all the wonderful ladies (Bronwyn, Mia, Brynn, and others) to sing Kung Fu Fighting for us. Oh, y'all, what a blast.

I admit that we went back to the hotel room and crashed like lead balloons and didn't wake up until 11am Friday!!! So we added fun goodies to the Torquere table and then went sight seeing -- gluten free breakfast, the liberty bell, and a carriage ride around the city. Fun stuff!

Friday afternoon we hung out around publishers' row, visiting with Arielle from Dreamspinner and the gals from Ravenous Romance before heading to the Mythos Masquerade. Lorna and I went as the Lone Ranger -- after all, that's our mythos, right? Got interviewed for a documentary and had a long, fun discussion with our tablemate.

Saturday morning I remembered to set my alarm because I couldn't miss the Resplendence breakfast and getting my chance to talk to Jess. It was an amazing spread and, I swear y'all, you've never seen books disappear so quickly. :D

Saturday afternoon was totally taken up with the book signing, where I got to meet Ethan Day, hang with Carol some more and then, the most fun part of my job -- meeting fans! *Grins* Not only that, but I got to sit next to Julia, so we could enjoy each other and pimp each other's books.

After the book signing, Julia and I had to pack and run like fiends because the Torquere chocolate party started *right* after. We were so scared no one would come, but the party was an absolute hit. Tons of people came, two people won $100 gift certificates, books were given away and chocolate was devoured en masse. :D

The Steampunk Ball was the last event we attended. Julia made me a wild west costume and she was my saloon girl. We had a blast, danced a little, visited a little, but we couldn't spend near as much time as I wanted because our flight left for home at 5am. (and I tell you, the Philadelphia airport is insane in the wee hours!

So, we had a ball and met *so* many neat people. I've been adding them on my Twitter account all week as I slowly unpack and dig through the con bag. Free books. Eee!

Next time, I hope all y'all can come too!

New newsletter coming out tonight!

2011-08-16T13:17:00.000-07:00

New newsletter releasing tonight - sign up here This month there will be the start of a new exclusive m/m story, a recipe for a quick summer supper, and a contest to win 2 signed print books! :D

I'm still in a con fog -- I swear. I had a ball and I got to meet truly neat people.

I promise to do a con report on Friday and drop names like a mad thing. :D

Y'all stay cool.

Heading to Philadelphia this Week

2011-08-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Which I've never done before -- should be fun.

Julia Talbot and I are heading to the Author After Dark Convention, both as authors and publishers. We're hosting a chocolate party immediately after Saturday's book signing (and giving away $100 gift certificates, books, Torquere playing cards, and other goodies).

I'm looking forward to getting to visit with my old friends, excited as all get out to meet new faces, and honestly ready for a little fun.

I did make a Steampunk costume for the ball and I do have a masquerade costume as well. Pictures to come.

This is the beginning of a busy con season for me -- AAD, the Erotic Authors Association Convention in Vegas, then GayRomLit in New Orleans (one close enough to drive to, yay). I do hope, if y'all come to one (or more) of these cons, that you come say hi to the pink haired Texans.

We'd love to chat. :D

How do I love my Sonny? Let me count the ways...

2011-08-05T14:37:00.000-07:00

Wordless Wednesday! My Ink!

2011-08-03T15:26:00.000-07:00

Running a Contest!

2011-08-01T07:54:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all!

I have finally found myself a facebook fan page and I'm trying to get folks there so I can share. :D

I decided to run a contest that will give the person that refers the most fans to my fan page a new Kindle and $20 worth of my books! The info is all here: http://www.facebook.com/BATortugaBooks?sk=app_190322544333196 -- and I hope y'all play.

Good luck!

Colorado Ho!

2011-07-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all! I'll be scarce for a week; I'm heading to the wilds of Colorado to cool off, hike a lot, eat gluten free pizza and sink up to my neck in inspiration. There's nothing like a few days in a new area to make my muse wake up and demand adoration of the word count kind. :D

Y'all be nice while I'm wandering. I promise to bring back pictures and stories.

Guest Blogger -- Julia Talbot

2011-07-20T08:41:00.001-07:00

Boo! Hi, there. Julia Talbot here, taking over BA's blog for the day.

She kindly let me hijack her blog today to do a post about my new book, Under the Moon

Under the Moon is a werewolf tale about Jamie, who doesn't date other weres, and Ty, who thinks Jamie ought to reconsider. There's an annoying roommate, a German shepherd named Rufus, and some hot, bitey sex…

You can find it here:

http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=78_91&products_id=3228

As you can see from the cover, there's a strong roleplaying game theme to the book, and I thought it would be fun to give you some character stats from the book, gaming style. (All character attributes are based on a scale from 1-20, 20 being high, 10 being average.)

Jamie - Main character – Werewolf- Lone wolf type

Intelligence – 17

Charisma – 12

Strength – 8

Dexterity – 12

Sanity- 16

Specialities- languages, reading, ignoring his roommate

Ty – Main Character – Werewolf – Alpha male

Intelligence – 13

Charisma – 18

Strength – 15

Dexterity – 15

Sanity – 15

Specialties – being buff, wolf sanctuaries, dorkiness

Anton – secondary character – human – game master

Intelligence – 15

Charisma – 10

Strength- 6

Dexterity – 8

Sanity – 0

Specialities – game mastering, social anthropology, annoying his roommate

Grins. Man, that took me back. Thanks for hanging out, y'all, and check out Under the Moon when you have a chance!

Busy Week Coming Up!

2011-07-18T12:08:00.000-07:00

Howdy, y'all!

This week is a busy one -- I will be hosting a Free Fic Week on my livejournal all week long, as well as hosting the Torquere Social LJ on Tuesday.

Wednesday, I'm tickled to have guest blogger (and my partner), Julia Talbot promoting her new m/m paranormal release.

Thursday I'm pulling double duty, posting at the Romance for the Rest of Us Blog and TRS' Rainbow Studio Blog.

Then Friday I'll be doing the Flashback Friday on the Romance for the Rest of Us Blog, and I'll be giving away a prize pack, including a signed copy of one of my older novels. :D

Why so busy? Hell, y'all, it's blistering hot here and Julia are fixin' to head to the mountains for a week, cool off, ogle river guide, hike, and feed chipmunks. Also, we have rooms in not one, but two haunted hotels (I've got a ramble about those planned for Friday.)

Y'all have a great week.

*kisses all around*

BA

10 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me

2011-07-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

In no particular order:

1. I have enough music on my iTunes that I can listen for 19 days, sixteen hours, and 43 minutes and never hear the same song twice.

2. I am chronically left handed.

3. I have a severe, anaphylactic allergy to wheat.

4. I am currently 380 pounds lighter than my heaviest weight.

5. I have 5 brothers and 4 sisters.

6. I am terrified of clowns.

7. My partner, Julia Talbot, used to be a professional clown.

8. I'm really, weirdly good at Rock Band.

9. I am a weight-lifter.

10. The Wizard of Oz is my all-time favorite movie.

Cutest Baby Boy Basset Ever!

2011-07-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

You know what...

2011-07-11T20:05:00.001-07:00

Tim McGraw makes me happy.

Bone deep.

To the soul.

Just sayin'.

Happy Fourth!

2011-07-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone celebrating is safe and happy. :D

Much love!

BA

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Things About Austin

2011-07-01T17:47:00.001-07:00

1. It's the Freak Capitol of Texas

2. 5th Street Whole Foods (the flagship store)

3. SoCo

4. Ginger's Needlearts

5. Barton Springs Pool. :D

Wordless Wednesday -- BA's Desk

2011-06-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

New Project, New Newsletter :D

2011-06-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

So, Julia writes this series featuring a BDSM club called the Blood Rose wherein vampires and werebeasts and critters that go bump in the night have wildness and spanking and other happy-making joys. I'm a fan. She knows this. (She ought to, I live with her and nag about getting more -- right now I'm all over the boys in Lean on Me -- go. Go read it. I'll wait. It's okay. They're blistering hot.)

She decided that the boys needed more room to roam and so she invented a spa-type getaway in the mountains, somewhere biting and kink could happen for longer than one night. Somewhere maybe more than one author could play.

I have to admit that Sean Michael signed on before I did, for lo, Sean's way more versed in the kinkverse than me, but when Julia turned those baby blues on me, I had to give in.

The first book in the series is releasing in September -- my part of the story is about Dorian, a demonic mixologist who is charged with keeping the wild children in the kitchen under control. Keir and Kris are, unfortunately for Dorian, as in touch with their wolves as they are with their palates. Not only that, when they're not cooking or humping, they're gnawing each others' ears off. Dorian is going to find out that training two strong-willed pups is a full time job on its own, and possibly harder than creating the perfect Type-A Martini.

Also, just a reminder -- my new newsletter is out tonight. There is a giveaway, fun stuff, old books, new books. If you'd like to sign up, the direct link is here, or you can come visit the front page of my site, here.

*kisses*

BA

New Newsletter!

2011-06-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

Dude! Y'all! I got a new newsletter set up and I swear to you that I am going to get them out regularly. This first one's got a giveaway for a gift certificate for Resplendence Books. If you'd like to sign up, you can find the link on my website (www.batortuga.com) or you can just click here.

Positing at therainbowstudio and TRS' Release party today!

2011-06-23T12:42:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow? Julia Talbot and I have a gift basket to give away at the Dead Man's Party at http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/. Come see us!

2011-06-20T15:20:00.000-07:00

About Just Another Day at the Office

by BA Tortuga
20 pages / 4000 words
Ebook zipped file contains - html, lit, Adobe and Sony optimized pdf, prc, epub

What do Coke and Dillon do when they’re on break from the bullriding circuit? They go to the rodeo. Neither one of them is very good at letting go of their jobs, though. What happens when their night off turns out to be another day at the office?

Sample

Coke leaned back, chuckling as another text came in from Nattie.

He still bitchin?

He looked over at his clown, who was watching the entertainer at this little event in Waco with alternating expressions of horror and fury.

Coke texted back, uhhuh.

Then he snapped a quick picture of the local clown in the fat suit and the purple sparkly wig, followed immediately by a shot of Dillon’s face, and sent them both to his best friend and the best bullfighter he knew.

This was fun.

Dillon turned to glare at him a moment. “He’s using a live armadillo. This is so not funny.”

“No, sir.” It was hilarious. Not the dude on the arena floor, but Dillon. Damn.

Nattie’s name popped up, along with LOLOLOL.

Dillon took the phone from him and tapped something rapidly, hitting send before handing it back to him. He had a feeling it was probably bad. It was. Dillon had typed, Just ur type, Jerome.

He snorted, waited, and sure enough, his phone buzzed. Tell clownboy to kiss my butt. Whos working.

Buy Coke and Dillon's new short here!

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Places to Watch Bullriding

2011-06-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

5. Alburquerque, NM -- killer event, great fans.

4. Stephenville, TX -- great indoor arena, general seating.

3. Las Vegas, NV -- The Finals, Baybee.

2. Wimberley, TX -- Every 4th of July weekend, Julia and I are there.

1. Decatur, TX -- JW Hart's event is a highlight of my year.

Roughstock: City/Country

2011-06-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

257 pages / 60000 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-248-4
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub, print

Emmy doesn't really like cowboys. She might be from Texas, but she's a city girl, truly invested in keeping Austin weird, just like the slogan says. With her corsets and tattoos, she stands out at the western bar where she ends up after being abandoned by her friends. That might be why she catches the attention of Cotton, who's a bullrider by trade, and definitely a cowboy. Cotton thinks Emmy might be the most fascinating girl he's ever met. She's not a cowgirl, and she's not model skinny, but she's beautiful and smart and he wants her like he's never wanted anything before.

As one date turns into months of seeing each other in between bullriding events, Cotton starts to think that Emmy is the all-important One. Cotton's friends and family might not be so sure, though. As Emmy's life starts to unravel around her, Cotton has to fight his fears and his confusion to prove to Emmy that city and country might just be able to work after all.

Available at All Romance Ebooks and Amazon.

Author's Note: Have you ever been taken over by a couple who didn't want to hear how there weren't any het books in the Roughstock series? No. I have. I couldn't be more proud.

LOOK!

2011-06-15T18:15:00.000-07:00

I'm updating ye olde website as I speak (sorry for running late -- it's my Julia's birthday and I had to celebrate the fact that she's older than me for 6 months. I am now tired from shopping and full from sushi). But I wanted to let y'all know City/Country is available!

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-roughstockcitycountry-562616-144.html

Official blurb: Emmy doesn't really like cowboys. She might be from Texas, but she's a city girl, truly invested in keeping Austin weird, just like the slogan says. With her corsets and tattoos, she stands out at the western bar where she ends up after being abandoned by her friends. That might be why she catches the attention of Cotton, who's a bullrider by trade, and definitely a cowboy. Cotton thinks Emmy might be the most fascinating girl he's ever met. She's not a cowgirl, and she's not model skinny, but she's beautiful and smart and he wants her like he's never wanted anything before.

As one date turns into months of seeing each other in between bullriding events, Cotton starts to think that Emmy is the all-important One. Cotton's friends and family might not be so sure, though. As Emmy's life starts to unravel around her, Cotton has to fight his fears and his confusion to prove to Emmy that city and country might just be able to work after all.

Coming Wednesday!

2011-06-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Country Singers

2011-06-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

1. Tim McGraw
2. Luke Bryan
3. Trent Willmon
4. Chris Young
5. King George

:D

See! I did it! I picked just five...

So, I have two surprises for y'all today!

2011-06-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

The first is that my novel, Chasing Flame, is now available in print! (Eeeee!) I loved writing Nate and Lacey with a fiery burning passion and I'm tickled as anything to have them in my hot little hands.

This is a sweet romance that is full of and hope and I just love it. If you get a chance to pick it up, it's available here

The second surprise is that I'm going to start publishing the het novels in the Roughstock world through Torquere's BBA imprint. City Country will be coming out on June 15, and I can't wait for y'all to meet Cotton and Emmy. They were one of the pairs that wrote themselves and I admit to being a little in love with them.

My Sonny Man

2011-06-06T15:10:00.000-07:00

My Sonny Man.

Man, y'all, I can't express how happy this puppy has made me over the last 2 years. He's my boy, my soul basset, my snuggle buddy, and one of the best parts of every day. Today was his 2nd year vet visit and he's at 58 pounds, has a bit of an ear infection in his right ear (typical for bassets), and is stupendous, according to Gary, the vet of joy.

I know, what does this have to do with writing/romance? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Sometimes a girl just has to share her puppy.

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Things to Eat at the Beach

2011-06-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

*grins* Can you tell I just got back from Galveston?

No?

5. Ice cream. There is nothing yummier than cherry nut ice cream on the Seawall.

4. Fudge. Have you noticed that they have fab fudge at the beach? We shared chocolate and peanut butter this time.

3. Margaritas. What? They're food. Right?

2. Cantaloupe. Oh, damn, y'all... Huge and sweet and slick and uhn. Uhn... (And I don't usually like cantaloupe).

1. Shrimps! Fresh, bug-eyed, vaguely terrifying gulf shrimp right off the boat. We made shrimp with gazpacho, paella, blackened shrimp, shrimp salad...

Oh, here's a cackle -- me and Julia looking like the big Southern aunts that we are, heading to the beach!

Boardshorts and Cowboy Boots

2011-06-01T10:33:00.000-07:00

Man, Julia and I went to the beach last week to recharge, relax, and write.

I goofed off a lot – cribbage games, bbqs, more shrimp than I could shake a stick at (and I can shake a stick). We spent a lot of time people watching and walking on the beach, ogling cowboys and surfers, fishermen and the cutest babies ever.

I did not sunburn; Julia did. I did some writing – not as much as Julia did. I did a lot of sleeping and recharging my batteries.

And winning cribbage games. I did a lot of that. ;-)

I’m considering revamping and redoing my newsletter, sharing news that way – because, y’all, I’ve got some news. :D A shared universe here, a new trilogy there.

Het westerns.

;-)

Beach Writing Retreat Coming Up

2011-05-20T08:46:00.001-07:00

A week of quiet and writing and reading.

I hope. :D

I'm ready!

Boys in the Band rereleased!

2011-05-11T17:38:00.000-07:00

Boys in the Band

Guitar player Spud is the go-to guy for the band, giving comfort and aid whenever and wherever he can. All that changes when the new guy, Caidon, comes aboard. Caidon wants to tour and play and he wants Spud, and he’s not afraid to go against the band to do it.

The guys in the band are not so pleased with the idea of Spud going monogamous, and they’re not sure they need Caidon interfering with any of the other band politics. Can Caidon and Spud get together to play beautiful music, or will they hit a sour note before they ever find common ground?

Originally published as the Chaser series Boys in the Band.

*grins* This one is a touch angstier than I usually write, but I loved these musicians with a fiery burning passion.

Buy here.

Hey Jealousy!

2011-05-06T09:27:00.000-07:00

grins

Someone asked for a little kink, a lot of hot, and some fighting.

Here y'all are:

38 pages / 10000 words
ISBN: 978-1-61040-215-6
Available file types - html, lit, pdf, prc, epub

JW thinks he’s missed his chance at a romantic relationship with his best friend Rory forever, all because of a stupid moment when he was much younger. Rory wants JW desperately, but he knows his buddy just isn’t into the kind of games Rory likes to play, let alone into long-term relationship with a guy. When JW comes home from a long haul on the road, though, and finds Rory in a compromising position, he knows he’s found the way to correct his youthful mistake. Will Rory believe JW’s jealous response?

Available here.

Author's Note: *grins* Little spanking. Little bondage. Little fighting. Lots of fu... Well, y'all know. ;-)

What I did this spring. Part 1.

2011-05-02T13:14:00.001-07:00

Tory Temple came to see me and Julia and we all went to see this fine ass in concert.

Why? Is that Tim McGraw? I do believe it is!

Uhn.

Uhnuhnuhn.

And almost, yummy.

Sounded good, looked better.

We three gals were in palpitations. ;-)

Y'all. What a week!

2011-04-27T15:58:00.001-07:00

It's been busy and amazing and I promise to sit down this weekend with pictures and start organizing.

Right now? Another deadline. O.o Sometimes owning the publication company sucks, because you have to write to fill holes when other authors drop out. Good thing I had a little kink story to work on -- spanking. There's spanking afoot.

Wait, not spanking feet.

Spanking butts.

Or really, one butt.

But two cheeks.

No feet, though.

Heading to the Ranch

2011-04-18T07:40:00.000-07:00

Going to take Julia and see Daddy. We have Luke Bryan tickets, we're going to Billy Bob's and the Stockyards. Going to see a bullriding. There's going to be BBQ, salsa, cold beer, and lots of music.

I'll be back in two weeks!

Yeehaw!

Roughstock: And a Smile -- Coke's Clown

2011-04-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Hey y'all!

Coke and Dillon just won't shut up -- starting immediately after Roughstock: File Gumbo, Coke's Clown shows the aftermath of Sam Bell's injury, of Coke's guilt, and brings up questions about Coke's past.

This is the first in a trilogy of books focusing on Coke and Dillon, outside the Jason Scott arc. It wrote like a dream and they're already clamoring for book #2.

They're going to have to wait for Adam Taggart, though.

;-)

***

Official blurb-type stuff:

Bullfighter Coke is having a rough time in the Roughstock universe. When his dear friend Sam Bell is injured at the finals of the bullriding season, he takes that, and his injuries, pretty hard. His very own clown, Dillon, is determined to take care of Coke, which is tough when Coke is usually the one to care for everyone. Can Dillon get Coke to take a little downtime and recover?

Get it here: http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3117

***

Excerpt:

"We shoulda got to him, Nattie."

"I know, Hoss."

Coke blinked at the tumblers, then at the mostly empty bottle of Jack. There was a third, for when they finished this one. It took some blinking, but he got the booze in the glasses, the image of Sammy Bell bloodied and broken and convulsing in the chute clear as a movie in his mind.

"We shoulda got to him. Why the fuck didn't we get to him?"

"Because we're human, Gramps."

Coke Pharris snarled a little, glaring at the little Aussie. Fred was a dear, but he was fucking annoying and a little goddamn stupid. "We cain't be fucking human. We gotta be better. Gotta be bigger, damn it."

The whiskey burned all the way down.

"So, what, you're going to be monster, Coke?" Dillon appeared, looking washed out, almost transparent.

"How's Sammy?" He tried to stand up, stumbling into Nate. He could see Tracy behind Dillon, fluttering a little.

"He's out of surgery. They say that part went well." Dillon took him when Nate passed him over, hands on his arms.

"I want to go back to the hospital, then. Sit with the Cajun. Pray."

That bull'd come around and tossed Nattie like a bag of potatoes. He hadn't even seen Sammy drop into the chute.

"No." Dillon's voice was flat, a little hard. A lot exhausted. "No, you need to rest. You have to work tomorrow. All of you."

"I c'n work. What 'bout you, Nattie?" He didn't need nobody to tell him what the fuck to do. He didn't...

"Hoss. We done drunk two bottles. My lady needs me." Nattie's face was a little blurry-like.

Damn. Even Natty was letting him down. Dillon's fingers tightened until Coke felt them dig in.

"Come on, babe."

He growled, stumbling a little through the unfamiliar sitting room. Shit, he didn't even know where the fuck he was.

"Steady." Dillon led him out into the hall and he remembered. The hotel hospitality room in the convention area. Shit. He was sloshing.

"I need to go back to the hospital and see Sammy. Tell him I'm sorry."

"Coke, he's not awake. They're gonna keep him under until the swelling goes down." Dillon sounded like he was talking to a child.

"I got his blood all on me. Jase didn't bleed none."

"No. No, he didn't. Sammy's scalp peeled back." Dillon had blood on him, too. Coke vaguely remembered Dillon pulling him off Sam when the EMTs came.

He nodded, or tried to. Jesus, there were sore spots. Bone. There'd been bone. And so much fucking blood. And he should've got to Beau, to Sammy.

"Coke. Damn it, babe, would you listen to me?" Dillon stopped by the elevator, shaking him a little.

"Whut?" He frowned up at Dillon, trying to focus.

"You need to pay attention. One foot in front of the other." Man, Dillon was multiplying.

"I think I oughta sleep here for a few minutes." He couldn't keep a bunch of Dillons happy. He didn't have enough cocks.

"No, babe. We need to sober you up a bit before you sleep."

"Sam Bell got hurt bad. We tried to get to him." He was tired of not saving 'em.

Oh, y'all --

2011-04-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

I have so so much to tell you and I will. I swear.

But I have a deadline looming for Friday that's fixin' to eat my brain.

I swear to you, though, after that -- I have stories of visiting, of Tim McGraw, of bluebonnets and of new stories.

But right now?

Damn, y'all.

Pray for me.

Sad news today

2011-04-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

Julia and I are spending the evening with our Lily dog, whose 14 year old pit bull body is giving up after years and years of being our hero. Tomorrow afternoon we'll be mourning her and loving on the Sadie and Sonny dogs.

Y'all tell your beasts you love them for me.

Super busy

2011-03-30T16:46:00.000-07:00

Pretty happy, though.

Editing a Roughstock book, finishing a werewolf book. Spent the morning working with Julia in the yard. Tomorrow is my writing only day -- but Friday afternoon I'm buying new rose bushes and, hopefully, a rose agave.

:D

Man, I'm having a rotten day

2011-03-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's gray and cloudy. I'm grumpy and cold. People have been mean.

*kicks things*

Grr.

Arrgh.

BAZILLA!

Recommend me some music?

2011-03-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

I'm an iTunes whore.

Seriously.

In that I have a 3 terrabyte drive just for that.

I love Red Dirt music, 80s, grunge, baroque, show tunes, and singer-songwriters. I have everything George Strait, Tim McGraw, Jason Boland, Trent Willmon, Rob Thomas, Counting Crows, and Roger Creager have ever done.

Today I opened up the iTunes store and NOTHING said "Buy Me!"

So, rec something to me. :D

Blistering toward an end line

2011-03-09T08:46:00.000-08:00

Man, the last few chapters of a book just fly, don't they?

It's like the characters finally see the promise of their happy ending and they start running like fools.

:D

What's new, y'all?

2011-03-07T07:33:00.000-08:00

Good lord and butter.

So, tons of fun going on here.

Tons, I tell you.

I have a traditional romance (m/f) in the Roughstock universe coming out in April. A contemporary novella in May, as well as the next Coke/Dillon book. A novel in June (*whispers* Taggart....)

O.o

Then I have a brand new shapeshifter series coming this summer from Resplendence and I have another cat shifter series that I'm going to be shopping around.

Busy.

Busy busy and happy. :D

When did it become March?

2011-03-02T15:36:00.000-08:00

No, really.

When.

*sighs*

I'm never going to catch up. ;-)

Working hard

2011-02-28T16:13:00.000-08:00

Which is way better than hardly working.

I'm booking along in the first in a m/m/f werewolf series for Resplendence. There's some slap and tickle, some growling, lots of biting.

Oh! And the next Coke and Dillon book is coming out as a High Ball in April. :D

Details to come!

Spring!

2011-02-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

It's spring!

Flowers. 80 degree weather. Open windows. Sunshine.

Dogs.

Colts.

Houston rodeo.

Eeee!

Just finished the next segment of Coke and Dillon

2011-02-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

And now I get to start the Taggarts.

:D

:D :D

Chris Young has a new song out

2011-02-15T09:08:00.000-08:00

Now, for those of you who don't know, Chris Young sings songs that scream Coke Pharris to me. I don't know why, but he does.

Tomorrow is the title of his new song -- I've only listened to it and cried about 30 times this morning... so I had to share.

:)

(The Man I Want to Be is Coke's theme song and features hugely in the Coke/Dillon playlist).

Man, was last week weird or what?

2011-02-07T09:16:00.000-08:00

Snow.

Ice.

Sickness.

Business.

New books sold.

Life's just been crazy here in central Texas.

Weather

2011-01-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

So, 80 degrees yesterday.

78 today at 2pm.

It's supposed to be 50 at midnight.

32 by 7 a.m.

15 by 7 p.m.

O.o

o.O

New ink!

2011-01-26T13:27:00.000-08:00

Just a quick peek!

Been internet-less

2011-01-25T17:30:00.001-08:00

Ack!

Ack ack ack!

:D

ACK!

Better now.

Look!

2011-01-18T13:43:00.001-08:00

Blogging at the Rainbow Studio today! -- http://therainbowstudio.blogspot.com/

TV shows and DVRs.

2011-01-17T15:05:00.000-08:00

I spent a lot of my Christmas vacation cleaning out my DVR.

I got caught up on NCIS, NCIS LA, Criminal Minds, and Castle. I still have An Ordinary Family and Blue Bloods left to watch.

I gave up on Detroit 187 early on – it’s too gritty for me and none of the characters called my name.

Hawaii Five-O was the new show that we watched in real time this fall. The McGarrett character makes Julia a little stupid.

I’ve just started watching Glee – haven’t decided where I fall yet. Not yet. Let me mainline a little more…

Cons!

2011-01-14T15:58:00.001-08:00

whistles happily

So, who’s coming to LA to the Romantic Times Convention in April?

I’ll be there.

So will Julia.

There will be books.

Margaritas.

Goofiness.

We need to start plotting our redneck costumes…

Also, I'll be at Authors After Dark in Philly in August and GayRomCon in NOLA in October. :D

Stock Show Season.

2011-01-12T20:05:00.000-08:00

Oh, y’all.

Do you feel that? That in the air?

You know what it is?

RODEO!

Bull riding. Roping. Denver. Ft. Worth. San Antone. Houston. Austin. Bronc riding. Barrel racing. Clowns.

Concerts.

The beginning of regular rodeo series.

Ropes. Wranglers. Chaps. Cowboys.

C.
O.
W.
B.
O.
Y.
S.

I.

Are you ready?

I’m ready.

Rednecks and Romance

New Book Out Today!!!

Cover for Deep int he Heart of Hexes

Country Don't Mean Dumb

A hell of a way to wake up

Challenges :D

My Boys Touch

10 Weird BA Factoids

Top Ten Things I'm Looking forward to this Spring

New Series Coming in February

Happy birthday to Me

New Ink!

Happy New Year!

Caramelized Mushroom and Onion Risotto

Six Days Til Christmas

Stuff Your Stockings Christmas Blog Hop

New Book Out! Needing To, A Roughstock Story (m/m, cowboys)

Needing To: A Roughstock story

Dogs and Hot Cocoa

Working working, lalala

Decorating for the Holidays!

Working on the Holiday Decorating

Christmas Music Time!

New Cover! :D Coming in December from Torquere Press!

Trying to get ready for Thanksgiving

Ahora Out Today!!!

About Ghost Pepper: Ahora, a Torquere Press Menage story

Sample

My Puppies!

What I'm Working On

New Ink Wednesday

What I'm Reading This Week

Man, I had *such* plans

Bewitching Trick or Treat Blog Hop!

Thank Y'all SO Much!!!

New m/m/f paranormal out today! :D

IT'S OUT! Just Like Cats and Dogs (m/m, paranormal)

Just Like Cats and Dogs

Review

Sample

Man, it's been that long?

Wordless Wednesday (*sparkles*)

Co-writing, what the hell does Cereus mean, and what's next?

Interview with Tory Temple

TRS Release Party Tomorrow -- Win a Kindle!!!

New Book Today!

I'm so tickled -- the next few months I have some great new stuff coming out. :D

Jake likes Vegas, but it gets a little hot when he wins too much at one casino. So Jake has a choice; he can go to the middle of nowhere and try to kill this guy some mob boss wants dead, or he can die himself.

Praying for rain

Torquere Press Anniversary Celebration!

New Book Coming on Wednesday, September 7

Blogging Over at the TRS End of Summer Bash through Sunday

Wordless Wednesday!

Burning hands. Peppers. Fiery heat.

Authors After Dark Con Report

New newsletter coming out tonight!

Heading to Philadelphia this Week

How do I love my Sonny? Let me count the ways...

Wordless Wednesday! My Ink!

Running a Contest!

Colorado Ho!

Guest Blogger -- Julia Talbot

Busy Week Coming Up!

10 Things I Bet You Didn't Know About Me

Cutest Baby Boy Basset Ever!

You know what...

Happy Fourth!

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Things About Austin

Wordless Wednesday -- BA's Desk

New Project, New Newsletter :D

New Newsletter!

Positing at therainbowstudio and TRS' Release party today!

About Just Another Day at the Office

Sample

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Places to Watch Bullriding

Roughstock: City/Country

LOOK!

Coming Wednesday!

Friday Five -- My Five Favorite Country Singers

So, I have two surprises for y'all today!

Man, I had such plans

Wordless Wednesday (sparkles)