Sunday Book Video ~ Blue Light Special ~ Mysti Holiday

When Karin Lattimer moves across the country and her over-protective brother asks his friend Caleb Hawkes to keep an eye on her, she’s more than annoyed…she’s turned on. The attentive cop is a walking wet dream, but Karin knows he’s only hanging around out of a sense of duty. Acting on her crazy attraction would reveal more than the man’s buff body—it would also reveal her heart.

Caleb is well aware that Karin is all woman. He can’t keep his eyes off her and his hands itch to touch her. But she’s not one-night-stand material, and he firmly believes cops make lousy partners for long-term relationships.

Still, thinking clearly isn’t a top priority when Karin and Caleb finally touch. Sparks fly and barriers melt away as easily as their inhibitions, but can she convince him there's more to life than playing it safe?

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Surprise!

I love surprises... mostly. I'm not fond of "scary" surprises, like someone leaping out at me from behind a corner. And don't throw me a surprise birthday party -- I don't like feeling flustered AT ALL.

But, she wrapped gifts for me and put them under the tree, my daughter kept saying, "Don't peek!"

I never peek.

Part of the fun of Christmas is that anticipation... the build up... the, "Oooh... what's in that oddly shaped package?"

I'm also one of those people who carefully opens gifts. No tearing into the wrapping for me -- I've always been that way, even as a little kid. Used to drive my siblings BATTY because they'd have all their gifts open in a matter of a few heartbeats, and I'd take an hour to do mine.

I love that build-up. The little breaths of excitement as part of the package is revealed. The rattle as I shift it in my lap. The feel of its shape under my fingertips...

I find that I feel much the same way about writing sex.

I don't want my characters to see each other and then rip their clothes off and go at it. I want that build up. The tension. The little gasps of surprise at a small touch, the shivers of desire as the buttons on a shirt are slowly opened. The need pooling deep inside after a look of desperate craving.

Sometimes that makes it hard for me to write erotic romance, especially short erotic romance where there isn't a lot of time to have that kind of tension before the characters get to the act. It's one of the reasons why I've used masturbation scenes in both of my published stories (and probably will again). It adds sex (of a sort) to the story without taking away that underlying tension that my characters feel.

I'm actually toying with writing a hot mainstream story as my next piece instead for that reason... I'm on the fence, but I do wonder if a more mainstream story would ease that need to have my characters leap into the sack right away.

It's a thought.

What about you? Do you like surprises?

In other surprises, I got a very enthusiastic review for "Blue Light Special". It said, in part:

A totally amazing shorty with a sexy, hotter than Hell cop, a woman who wants him and some really REALLY hot sex scenes….okay fine only one actual penetration sex scene but plenty of foreplay and titillation. It ROCKED!!!! Do I recommend this hot, sexy short read? You bet your ass I do :) And it makes me want EVERYTHING by this author!!!! - Seriously Reviewed

It made me chuckle all day long.

Reviews...

So ... I got my first truly negative review a few weeks ago. It's taken the wound that long to scab over (I admit, I was picking at the scab a bit). I wasn't sure how I'd handle a really bad review. Now I know.

I admit, it was seriously demoralizing -- partly because it was the FIRST review for "Blue Light Special" (which has since gotten two good reviews here and here) and after all the work and excitement and whatnot, having THAT be the first feedback I received was really tough.

Still, I've *mostly* gotten past it. Will I remember it? Absolutely. It's oddly easier to remember the negative stuff. But will I let it affect me negatively? Nope. I'll look at it as a challenge -- and work at making my next story so vibrant and real that this particular reviewer will have to eat her words.

How do you deal with negative reviews?

Release Day, A Tour and Questions!

I'm so excited! Blue Light Special releases tomorrow. I'm celebrating with a Release Party at Goddess Fish Promotion's party pavilion -- and it kicks off my virtual tour as well. I'm giving away a $10 GC to your choice of online book seller, so come by and visit with me. I'd love to see you there.

One of my stops has asked me to interview my characters, and I'm drawing a blank on questions. Anyone have any ideas of what I can ask my hero (Caleb) and heroine (Karin)? All input is welcome.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with my new book video (YAY!) while I gear up for a crazy two weeks of touring.

New Cover!!

I got my cover for "Blue Light Special"! One step closer to release. YAY!

What do you think?



Now to finish final edits....

News!!!!

Okay, I've been about ready to climb right out of my skin, wanting to announce this, but I had to wait until it was official. My latest Wilder Roses submission, currently titled "Blue Light Special" HAS BEEN CONTRACTED!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!

Not that I'm excited or anything.

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In other news, I'm in the middle of a virtual for my release of "Shut Up and Kiss Me". If you've missed the first stops, you should swing by and catch up. I talked about dares, including a list I once made of public places I wanted to get naked with someone in, and why writing sex is harder than having sex as well as several clever interviews.

Even better -- I'm giving away a Wilder Roses gift certificate you can use to buy my story (or someone else's in case you already have mine *G*) to one person who leaves a comment during my tour. All my stops are listed below:

May 24: Whipped Cream Reviews Guest Blog
May 25: Wendi Zwaduk
May 26: Simply Sexy Stories
May 27: Amber Scott Project
May 28: Amber Skyze
May 31: Romance With an Attitude
June 1: Chris Redding Author
June 2: Jacqueline Paige
June 3: You Gotta Read Guest
June 4: Book Junkie
June 16: Happily Ever After

So come on by and visit. I hate to be lonely...

Editing, Writing and Submitting, OH MY!

Just got another round of edits on "Shut Up & Kiss Me" -- hopefully these are the last "real" edits... the next should just be typos, etc, and then we can get an official release date. I'm starting to set up the promo stuff as best I can without a release date. I'm having banners, a book video and a virtual tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions (want to host me? *G*), and am also working out outside interviews and what-not. I suspect I'm going to be exhausted by the time it's all said and done.

Anyone have any thoughts or secrets on promoting they want to share?

In other news, I finished and submitted another short story to my very patient editor (Lori LeBonde) at WRP, currently called "Blue Light Special". Hopefully I learned something from all the editing I did on "Shut Up & Kiss Me" and this story won't need quite as much work!

I'm also working on redoing another WIP to fit the "two rose" guidelines for WRP, because I was challenged by my editor to give it a go. *gulp* Wish me luck! Any tips on writing light bondage or menage scenes? I'll take anything you have.

Have a great rest of the week :-)