The Streets of San Francisco

My dogs are barking! (Southern speak for: Ow, my feet hurt!) For any of you who might have wondered, it's not a good idea to walk around downtown San Francisco in pointy-toed, high-heel boots! Lesson learned.

I'm in San Francisco for the RWA National convention, and today I got out to do a little sight-seeing. I checked out Chinatown and the wharf where I bought lots of chocolate, and even rode a trolley. But the best time I had all day was the cab ride back to the hotel. The driver was jovial and decided to have a little fun with me and two of my friends (authors Jami Davenport and Allie K. Adams). He gave us a San Fran rollercoaster ride. At the top of a very steep street, he floored it. We went flying down the hill, slowed briefly for an intersection before we flew even faster down an even steeper hill. My stomach flew out the back window and I screamed. In Florida we charge at least $50 to even enter a place that offers that kind of fun. But here in San Fran, they'll throw it in for free with a $10 taxi fare. If you get the right driver. Anyhow, I'm safe back in the hotel room now, with a little more knowledge of the streets here in San Fran. They can do a number on your feet, walking two blocks can replace an hour at the gym, and they can make you scream like a little girl.

My sweet alter-ego has a new release! If you like coming of age stories, check out The Water Bearer by Wendi Christner available now at Bookstrand!

Wendi Darlin
www.wendidarlin.blogspot.com
www.wendidarlin.com

I'm now on Amazon.com!

I'm thrilled to announce that my books are now available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle, as well as SpankBooks, Romantic Spankings, and Lulu!

Right now, you can find The Cutler Brothers Series, Spicing Up Her Marriage, and The Magic Spell, but the others will be available at Amazon soon, so keep checking back!

To Visit Paige Tyler at Amazon Click Here!

For more on my sexy erotic fiction, including my upcoming releases, Animal Attraction, Protective Custody, and Librarian By Day, visit my website at www.paigetylertheauthor.com


*hugs*
Paige

"Stories os hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

Dark

By A.J. Llewellyn

Hi everyone,

A few weeks ago, I blogged about a singles mingle party I went to and how at the very end of the night I met a guy - I called him 'Steve' - and for the first time in a long time I met someone I actually liked. I had jokingly told him I was a nuclear physicist, but when I discovered he really is one, I was more or less forced to tell him the truth. That I did my best science work as a five year old when I got my first Ant Farm for Christmas.
Well, we had a fantastic talk but never exchanged numbers. My BFF kept trying to get me to give him my number but I was too [gun]shy.
Steve however, never left my mind. Last week, he tracked me down via email.
He had remembered the title of my book Phantom Lover after we talked at the party and unable to find me any other way, he googled me and found my website. He even found the blog where I'd talked about him (blushing).
His email was wonderful. "I enjoyed meeting you too and now feel encouraged to ask you out. "
So 'Steve' and I had a coffee date, then a dinner date and on Saturday he called me and invited me to dinner with his brother and his wife and despite my brain screaming "It's too soon for that!" I went. What if they hated me? What if Steve turned out to be a big raving clod after all?
Well, I already know I'm one, yet the guy keeps asking me out. My best male friend Gary told me to leave all my neuroses - and the Ant Farm - at home and have fun.
Fun. Oh yeah, I remember that...so where does he take me?
Dark. Yes. Dark.
A restaurant famed for its invisible food since all the waiters are blind and the meals are served in pitch black darkness, it is an unusual experience to say the least.
Steve's sister in law and I hit it off immediately, giggling like nine year olds and it was amusing to try and decipher the menu with minimal vision. Once you order - the seatings are all timed like clockwork - the place drops into total blackness.
There is an advantage to eating in the dark. You could pick my nose, your teeth, fumble in your partner's pants and for an extra bonus, not worry about how you look scarfing down your food.
Me, if they could have seen my face, they would have seen the big smile when Steve's hand reached across the table for mine in the dark.
It was a nice gesture. We held hands all evening and once we got used to the weirdness of the place, the food was great and we had already started building memories.
Then the fun began. The meal over, the lights came up, there was food all over the place and we all stared mortified at the messes we had made of ourselves and the table.
And I was not holding Steve's hand. I was holding the hand of some guy one very cramped table over who thought I was his date.
"Wasn't I playing footsies with you?" Steve asked me, perplexed.
"Holy cow...that was me," his brother said.
We had a good laugh about it, but I was bummed I hadn't held his hand all night. Goofy, right?
"Well, there is an upside to all this," Steve said, as he drove me home.
"There is?"
"Yeah. You can hold my hand now, if you like."
"I like." We drove north on the 405, enjoying that simple pleasure and his hand did feel nice. Very nice. I caught a look at his face, his smile was as giddy as mine.
Stay tuned.

Aloha oe,

A.J.

Midnight Seductions Summer Bash!!!

Titles

Okay I know we’ve blogged about “titles” before. But I have to say. They can be such a pain in the as$.
I love writing, and I love reading and yes, a great title and the cover art draw my attention in. The title “has” to correspond with what the book’s about. You can’t just pick one out of left field, which has absolutely nothing to do with the story.

I’ve recently resubmitted the first book I ever had published, and a publisher accepted it.

Cool Beans right!! I may have thought I’d have to change the title, but never gave it much thought. It’s one of those things I pushed to the back of my mind, until I had to.

That’s right, it’s time to change the title. So what did I do…

I called my best friend and asked her. “OMG hey, they want it, I just have to come up with another title for it. More sexy, and hitting on the paranormal aspects of it. Got anything?”

Yeah, she was like, “Hit me out of left field you idiot *snort*, and yeah, here are some.” YOU have got to love your best FRIEND!! We brain stormed for about forty-five minutes, came up with about five titles, and scooted on to the rest of the day.

So I submitted them, and decided to keep scourging my brain. I read the story again, went through all my material and research on it, and blanked my mind in the shower, hopping the golden title would pop out and hit me. It’s not that easy, but I came up with about ten more.

Titles in themselves can be the bane of my existence. Usually I go with the flow and whenever it comes to me, it comes, but when I NEED one off the top of my head…yeppers, they scatter with the wind.

I thought about asking folks on my yahoo loops for help, but I thought it’d be hard for them if they hadn’t read the book.

Well, folks, if you’ve read When Destiny Intervenes, and have any good ideas…Let me know.

That’s right When Destiny Intervenes is in the process of a facial. New title, several things switched around, and better than ever!!

I’m so jumping around like a giddy geek!!

Ohh baby you know you want me....SPAM

Don't you just hate spam? No I'm not talking about the meat that comes in a can....LO



I'm talking about the type of spam you get in your emails, blogs or web sites....The ones that tell you they have the magic pill to make you orgasm like you've never done before...


Don't you just love the one that say "with this one pill your girlfriend will never let you out of bed"...or the one with web cam chicks....


Give me a break.....I get so many of these spam messages in my email and about 50 plus on my web site. The people sending them have gotten so smart, they try to send them through blogs or comments...Will there ever be a way to block them all together...

It's not enough you get spam but they make it so long....

Have you ever received the email where its from some bank and you are the sole family member for some person who's left you millions of dollars....

Yeah sure I am...let me run and get my fortunes....

I know this is not the last that me and my email or websites will see of spam but i cant help but laugh at how ridiculous some of them are......

Tell me what kind of spam are you getting these days?

Do you have a secret weapon to keep them away?

Wishing you a spamless day..

Savannah
Bid For Love coming Aug 18,08 from Lyrical Press
Pleasure After The Pain coming soon from Red Rose Publishing

Satisfy Your Desire......Indulge The Temptation
http://www.savannahchase.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savannahchase/

A couple of things!

A have a couple of chats the next few days and would love for everyone to stop by and visit. This afternoon, I am chatting at REC with the Midnight Seductions authors. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Romance_erotica_connection/

On Sunday, I’m chatting at Love Romances Café w/ MSA.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LoveRomancesCafe/?yguid=276710990

Also, I just received a new contract from Cobblestone Press. Sin of the Past, a contemporary erotic romance, has been contracted. Release date TBD.

Now this is what’s been churning around in my brain the last few days.

My daughter is almost fourteen and starting 9th grade in a couple of weeks. She has reading projects to complete over the summer and she has been taking notes. I happened to glance at them and Yikes! Everything is abbreviated. I’m wondering with all the text messaging, MySpace chatting and so on, will the kids of her generation know how to spell?

Actually, she averages A’s and B’s in language but I can’t believe all the abbreviations and slang terms are productive for the future of our children.

I’m sure every generation looks at their offspring and wonders. I remember my mother saying, ‘ain’t is not a word.’

Do any of you have teenagers? They speak a language of their own.

I see some of it in chats. LOL, WTF, BTW –That’s about the extent of my chat speak. If you go beyond that, I get lost trying to figure out what the letters mean. I admit it.

Are you all up on all the chat speak or like me and hopelessly lost?

Have a great weekend!

Laura/LA Day

7 Year Itch

I’ve been married almost 15 years, so I’m not talking about that itch. I’m talking about the itch to MOVE! When I first got married, my dh was in the military. Between the Marine Corps and his first jobs in the corporate world, we moved every few years. We’ve now been in our current house seven years.

And I’m DONE!

I cruise the internet looking at real estate. I buy magazines with houseplans when I’m at the grocery store. My brother and a builder-friend who I grew up with are checking out property possibilities for me near the small town where I was raised.

The problem? It doesn’t make financial sense to buy a new house here in the city where I live. We have a nice house, and with the market the way it is now, we’d lose money trying to sell. We need to have a REASON to move.

The bigger problem? I don’t know if I can trade in the suburban lifestyle I’ve gotten used to for a trip back to rural north Florida. But I do know I’d love to be closer to my family. I would really love for my son to grow up with his cousins, grandparents and aunts and uncles nearby.

So I’ve been struggling with this decision, and then yesterday I got an email from a friend. A doctor in an ICU unit five hours away had called to tell her that her sister was in the hospital. And he didn’t know if she would survive long enough for my friend to get there. She left immediately, but she couldn’t make it on time.

After that I was looking at houseplans blurred by the tears in my eyes. So now I guess the question is, do we stay here and give our child all the things this city and our friends can offer? Or do we move to a place of lesser opportunity but a wealth of people we love?

Is this just a seven year itch? Or am I finally seeing what I didn’t want to see before? Anyone have any thoughts?

Wendi Darlin
www.wendidarlin.blogspot.com
www.wendidarlin.com

My Blog Received an Excellence Award!

I'm so flattered! Heather over at WordTrix has given my blog, Paige Tyler, Author of Romantic Spanking stories and Other Sexy Erotic Fiction an Excellence Award! Thank you so much, Heather!

By accepting the award, it means I have to give the award to other blogs, so come on over to my blog and see who I picked!

My Blog!

*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY

By AJ Lllewellyn

Hi everyone,
I ran into my ex lover the other day. The one that got away. It was a surreal moment, since I hadn't seen -let's call him Jack - for several years. The last time I saw him, he was standing on a rainy downtown Seattle street trying to explain why I'd flown all the way to visit him while he was doing a play...and found another man with him in his apartment. Without getting too melodramatic about it, my opinion on these things is this. If you want to get caught, you bring your 'other man' home. If you don't want to get caught, you certainly do a better job of hiding your complete inability to keep your pecker parked in your pants.I will never forget the sense of relief or the complete desolation as the taxi took me away. On the plus side, I would no longer be dealing with the problems of his wayward nineteen year old daughter (fathered when he was a straight married man) and her three small children that had become his burden and by trickle-down theory, mine.On the negative side, I would no longer have the privilege of spending time with those same three children who had become a big part of my life, especially Jack's three year old grand daughter.I ticked off the positives in my mind as I zoomed back to the airport. I would no longer have to listen to him quoting chunks of dialogue from The King and I, his obsession. He was fond of shrieking "Who is King here?" and "In palace, in palace," whenever we came home. An ex cop, a waiter and an actor, damn, he was good in the cot.Okay, so maybe I went back and forth between the good and the bad. But I never went back except to get my things out of the apartment we shared in Los Angeles. His ex wife tried to talk me out of leaving him."He loves you. He's so much nicer to me now he has you."Yeah, well, except for that perambulating pecker problem which, up until the moment I caught him did not seem to be in the realm of possibility. He seemed such an honorable guy.Well a few days ago I saw him on a street in Malibu and I wished I looked better and wasn't holding an iced green tea frap with extra whip, but life is just a bundle of laughs, right?"You look great," he said and the old feelings just flared between us.After I went cold turkey and lost contact with his entire Fijian-Scottish clan I lost track of his movements. Turned out he'd gone and joined the circus. As a clown. Yup, that made sense. He was back in California and wanted me to come see his show."I don't support circuses that use animals," I told him, hoping he couldn't see my knees knocking together. I was petrified I'd throw myself in his arms. A good portion of my character Kimo from the Phantom Lover series was based on this guy and now in his mid fifites, he still looked incredible."No, not the circus. I've mounted my own production of The King and I. I'm finally playing th King."This, I had to see. Now happily banging his wardrobe guy (I think he was the circus freak once upon a time, but this might be wishful thinking) he started telling me how great life was between them, then he wanted me to run across the road and jump into a hotel room bed at the Malibu Inn.Yeah, right.I took the two tickets to his dinner show and had to drag one of my best friends to go with me. She was not happy that I was back in touch with Jack and wore pointy toed boots (on a hot day) so that "the ass kicking I give that guy when I see him really hurts." If that isn't true love, I don't know what is.We rolled up to a Swedish motel in Granada Hills and were suffled like sheep into a small banquet room, where we ate the worst Mexican food anywhere, ever."I found an acrylic fingernail tip in my salsa," my BFF moaned. "Think I got a lawsuit?"We took our seats for the worst version of The King and I - anywhere, ever - and for the first time, I got to see my ex actually playing the King. And he was horrible. It had never occurred to me that in the years he has obsessed on the character that he might forget his dialogue or that he couldn't actually sing. The costumes looked great except a couple of small children had pins accidentally left in theirs by Jack's circus freak boyfriend and wept on stage when they got poked. Their parents had to come out of the audience and remove them from the rickety stage.Anna, the lovely female lead would have been a revelation except that in the dancing seqence, as soon her back turned, her entire costume started falling apart.Shall we laugh? bom bom bom...We did stick around for the second half. I saw Jack's increasing desperation as even the King of Denial must have realized he was truly awful in his coveted role. I respect and admire anybody who can mount and produce a play. I know what it takes to do that but I found my mind windswept back to times when he and I would argue that he should not buy yet another prop once belonging to Yul Brynner, that we should pay the gas bill. I appreciate a man who can tilt at windmills, but that night as we, his friends and family suffered through the longest play in the history of creation, I felt sublime in the realization that I was the one who got away, not him. for years I'd tortured myself about my own inadequacies. Whatever I had done to cause him to cheat on me, he was never able to explain.I saw it all in a Swedish motel...and we weren't even naked. The man I'd loved was not the guy for me. Simple as that. I got a voicemail message from him yesterday saying, "I'm taking the show on the road. Everybody loved it." I didn't return his call. As always, he wasn't looking for a response, just a receptive audience. I deleted the message with his phone number on it, thankful at last to be the one that got away.

Aloha oe,

AJ

Writing Goals

There was a time when I had writing goals in mind. Then life stepped in and stalled some of those goals. I'm so far behind that I'll never catch up. Should I?

And that is the all important question. How many of us online authors are so incredibly serious about making it in the publishing world that we push ourselves night and day? I mean, what are the chances of us making it? What defines making it?

Will only a book on the NY Times Bestseller list satisfy you? Or would you be just as happy being able to be self-supportive through your writing and have the respect of your fellow authors?

Some authors have said to me that it's simply of matter of needing to write. They must write and it doesn't matter if they are published or not. Well I can't say that. If I'm going to write, I need to be published. I see no other reason to write otherwise. Sure, I'd still do the PTA newsletter. lol But no, if I'm not good enough to be published--hell no. This is work. And if you are published the promotional time is never ending.

I'd like to make enough money from my writing to pay for it at least. Will that happen? Who knows. I can honestly tell you though, that my loftier ambitions have cooled their jets. The publishing business is slow and fickled. You never know which way the winds are going to blow.

Two publisher closings left me reeling. No. I wasn't one of those who decided to quit. That's when my personal life went south and I had to work on some problems there. So didn't get to write very much at all. But the fact is, those closings left me with nothing to promote and I had to start over again. Many of us fell out of that boat. It's not fun and can really set you back.

So after publisher closings, personal issues with family and major health issues, here I sit. Pushing myself again. What are my goals? To sell a book today, post this blog, keep up with yahoo groups (to some degree), and write 500 words at least. Will I meet those goals? Well I just met one. This is the end of this blog. lol

Hope everyone has a great week! A J is here tomorrow.

My Best to Everyone!
Tess MacKall...writer with goals

Wedding Etiquette

I went to a wedding last night for one of my co-workers. Now, I know diversity, and different parts of the country do different things. Like here, its horse country, hot, and humid, so 90% of the women don’t wear hosiery. Now some Northern raised women (uh-hum) *pointing to self* was taught, no matter what, you always wear hosiery to formal events. So yes, even with the air conditioning, I was sweating my AS$ off. Stupid nylons.

But folks, there are just some things you DON’T do at weddings…

· Mix pain pills with alcohol
· Drink so much, you don’t realize what you’re doing until the father of the 16 year old you’re hitting on, comes up to hit you, and you’re a 50 year old man.
· Embarrass your family from drinking so much, that people are whispering, “how does she stay with him,” and “oh those poor kids.”
· Stay for the ten-minute wedding, drink the free booze as pictures are being taken, and scoot out ten minutes after you’re done eating.
· Walk out to leave during the toasts or cutting of the cake.
· Rev your engine by the front door as the Father, Daughter dance is happening.
· Gather up the left over alcoholic drinks on your table to make two full glasses, then go to the bartender for a white wine, and carry all three out for the hour trip home.

Yes, folks, these are just SOME of the things that happened last night. My honey and I were not drinking last night, maybe that’s why we saw a lot more of this.
We had a few laughs, put on a brave face, and took those “poor kids” out for a spin around the parking lot in his hot little sports car.

(Yes, okay that was us, we didn’t mean to, we forgot to shut the front door) SORRY!! But the kids had a ball and were laughing with huge smiles on their faces.

SO what wedding stories do you have? Was it yours? A friend of yours? Someone you didn’t now, but was going to support your honey?

Come on people SPILL!!

Don't Forget, the Drawing for my JULY GIVEAWAY is being held on Friday July 25th at the Midnight Seductions Author Chat, hosted by The REC.

For info on the gifts, and how to enter, go to: www.freewebs.com/casalo

Who's Head Are You In????

I bet you you are wondering what on earth I am talking about? No I'm not wonky and hearing voices....LOL..

I guess I should start at the very beginning...This past week I have been working on edits and I might add that it's taken a bit longer then I wanted them too..Why??? Migraines would interrupt me and things would just not be going right....

My biggest struggle has been that I tend to switch POV (point of view) or head hope when I shouldn't. I know that this is something that not only I struggle with. I know that I have to perfect my craft and all I can do is learn from my mistakes.

I know that switching pov in stories is something that I don't do it on purpose, I think it's because I want to tell each characters side of the story...All the characters want to get their stuff out in the open....

Does anyone else head hop?

I know after this week I know what points to watch for and where to keep a closer eye on things...

As a writer what's the one thing you struggle with? What's the one thing that always gives you trouble.

I look back at my writing when I first started and all I know is that a lot has changed, I have learned so many things that have affected my writing...I think of it this way....I'm like a sponge that will always absorb new lessons.....

Wishing you a safe and happy weekend

Savannah

Bid For Love coming Aug 18,08 to Lyrical Press
Pleasure After The Pain coming soon to Red Rose Publishing

Satisfy Your Desire......Indulge The Temptation
www.savannahchase.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savannahchase/

Do you like to read your romance or watch it?

Romance books vs. romance in movies

Obviously, I’m a huge fan of romance novels and I read a bit of everything. I love paranormal and sci-fi erotic romance and m/m erotic romance. I also read a lot of mainstream contemporary romance, romantic suspense and I even read erotica. There is not much I won’t read and enjoy. You would think this taste for romance would translate into the movies I enjoy but it doesn’t.

I love sci-fi, paranormal, action adventure, horror and western movies. Some of them have romance in them but I wouldn’t classify them as romance movies. I don’t go to see them for the romance anyway. Most recently, we’ve gone to see or rented, Hancock, One Missed Call, The Mist, The Bucket List, & 10,000BC. Some of my all-time favorite movies are Alien, Alien vs Predator, Pitch Black, 300, Lord of the Rings, Race with the Devil, Rosemary’s Baby, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, I’m sure you get the idea. There are a few classic romantic movies I’d have to put on the list. To name a few: Gone with the Wind, Love Story, Brian Song, Sweet Hostage & The Way We Were. However, I watched all those as a teen.

The odd thing is I like TV shows that are held together by the romantic relationship. I loved Moonlight and was sad to see it go. Bones is another favorite and I was a huge Buffy and Angel fan. Okay! I know three out of the four are paranormals and Bones has David Boreanaz (Angel) as the hero. So do I watch them for the paranormal aspects or the romance?

I’m wondering do you all watch movies that would be classified as romances. If so, what are some good ones? I might be missing out. Remember though, I like an alpha male, so no wimpy hero’s.

The Beach was a BUST

I'm home early from what was supposed to be a week at the beach. I'm a beach lover. I swear there's saltwater in my blood, and when I was a little girl I was convinced I had been a mermaid in a previous life. So why am I home early???

It sucked! Ok, the beach didn't suck. The beach was beautiful. Very natural. Not overrun by highrise condos. Not overrun by anything. AT ALL. And that was the problem.

We have our favorite beaches, but this year we decided to try someplace new. It's the off-season here in Florida, and at the places we usually stay that just means you miss the crowds. At the place we stayed this past week, it means you miss EVERYTHING! All the shops were closed. Almost all the restaurants were closed - two of them were open for lunch. There was nothing to rent. No jet skis. No...well, NOTHING!

And then the rain came. We made it out to the beach briefly between showers and picked up some pretty shells, but then it was back inside the condo. I really needed the break, and I could have curled up and slept for a week. But my young son needs a little stimulation. After we lost count of the number of Sponge Bob episodes we'd watched and my 1000 piece puzzle was 3/4 of the way done and we'd read all the local pirate lore we could get our hands on, we decided we could probably eat better food at home and save a few hundred dollars by picking the dogs up from the kennel early.

So here I am. At my desk. When I'm supposed to be at the beach.

Wendi Darlin
www.wendidarlin.blogspot.com
www.wendidarlin.com

Cowboy Games - Siren Publishing
Rough & Ready - BookStrand
Hired Hands - The Wild Rose Press (Wilder Roses)

SQUEE! I got my cover for Protective Custody!

I got my cover for Protective Custody, my hot contemporary erotic romance coming soon from Liquid Silver Books! Not only is the cover absolutely smokin', but it fits the book perfectly! I think the artist, the very talented April Martinez, did a fantastic job!

For a sneak peek at Protective Custody, visit my website at http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com/

*hugs*

Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

Apples and Oranges: Bisexual Marriage

By A.J. Llewellyn

Hi Everyone,
My new book My Hawaiian Song of Love: Phantom Lover Book 4 was just published at midnight. I have been very excited and nervous about this book because it is my most complex and most controversial one.
I write M/M erotic novels, but this is the first one I have written that is narrated by a woman. Katie Garrison is an optomistic young woman who moves to Hawaii and is quickly pursued by not one, but two hot Hawaiian guys...not knowing these two men are a couple in search of a woman to complete their picture of domestic bliss.
Before the purists start jumping down my throat, I want to stress that this scenario is based on an actual, true story. I met the three people involved and was surprised how happy and cohesive their union was.
The woman in the relationship is Australian and had moved to the Hawaiian Islands with her husband. Being an Australian man obsessed with Hawaii, some mutual friends thought we should meet. On a trip to Maui a couple of years ago, I looked her up and she invited me and my BFF to visit her. Married with three kids, I was surprised how young, gorgeous and full of energy she was. She came to greet us at the edge of her property on the edge of a huge tropical rainforest with her youngest son astride his pony.
We walked back through her private piece of paradise where she introduced us to her husbands.
Yep. Husbands.
Now, I am a guy that doesn't do well sharing food, let alone my men.
My BFF and I kept exchanging meaningful glances. Together 11 years, this happy trio seems to be um...well, super-hot and super romantic and the kids all seem to be well adjusted, well loved and actually, they remain the most amazing kids I have ever met.
The real "Katie" bubbles with enthusiasm and over the two years I have come to know her is a positive life force you just want to be near. How wonderful she is...you know how there are just some people who make you feel fantastic just standing near them? Well, that's how she is.
The real "Katie's" story is different from mine. Her men, who were in a relationship for years and were her best friends so she knew when they approached her about having a baby that they were a couple. They badly wanted kids. So did she. They discussed all their options and she said, "Hey, let's just jump into bed" and here they are 11 years later three people very, very much in love. Her parents are a little...confused by the arrangement but it's not something they sit around and talk about much unless nosy people like me ask them about it.
The two men who love each other and who love her, are doting partners. They are not swishy guys. If you didn't know they were a couple they don't act it unless you are in their home. Then it becomes obvious that they adore their wife, and one another and their kids.
I asked one of "Katie's" husbands about the arrangement one night after the kids were all tucked into their beds.
Flat-out, I asked him, "Do you prefer sex with women or men? Honestly?"
"Honestly," he said - and I will never forget this - "I love them both. How could I choose? It's apples and oranges. I love them both." He admitted he was bisexual when he met his man and that he'd become comfortable in his relationship with him. His partner had been married to a woman before and had a grown son but preferred sex with men, as much as he enjoyed close friendships with women.
"We like women...we discovered we liked sex with our woman. It works for us. She always has a man around the house and to be honest, the sex gets hotter. I couldn't even imagine cheating. I have two partners who are just so fantastic."
He smiled at me. "I have the best life ever."
Dang.
I admire and respect this family because they are being true to themselves. There is such an ocean of aloha when you spend time with them but I know for me, it's not something I could do. Not that they are suggesting I should.
I like men. I would be happy with one. And I know I could not share him.
The real "Katie" laughed and told me she always felt that too. As they say, never say never. But I still have to ask, could you share your man?

Aloha oe,
A.J.
http://www.ajllewellyn.com/

Attention All Authors

Some of you know that I'm a member of the Midnight Seductions Author Group. There are 30 of us and we promote together. But there's a lot more to it than that. We also show our support for pretty much anything that goes on in our lives. We've become a very close knit group and very successful.

August 1, 2, 3, and 4 we will be hosting our First Annual Summer Bash! All authors are invited to join us for those four days and promote 'til their hearts are content. Just stop by our group home and sign up for one, two, three, or even all four days. Up to you. One contest per author, per day of promotion please.

To blink or not to blink...that is the question

Okay let’s talk Turn Signals.

We all have them on our vehicles, but do you know what they’re for and how to use them?

Now I was born and raised in Massachusetts, and I was taught, that the stick thingy on the left hand side of the driving column is what’s called a “Turn signal”. That’s right folks, it’s the BLINKER.
It’s not there to bring the vanity down, or to play with while bored, it actually has a use.

When you push down, this little light comes on in the front and back of your vehicle that signals, you’re turning LEFT. When you push it up, you’re turning RIGHT.
You’re supposed to USE it every time you make a turn, or change lanes while driving. So the other drivers on the road “know” where you’re going.

I saw this bumper sticker that read...

"If you can't operate your turn signal...what makes you think you can operate the rest of the vehicle?"

During Driver’s Ed, in high school, if we were told to turn right, and we hit the left blinker and turned. A big fat R was written on our right hand, so we remembered. Yeah I know, some may say “a little over the top” but hey, it worked! Driving’s a serious thing here people.

I am an avid Blinker user, what about you?

And please, *on knees with hands clasped together* after the turn, turn the blinker off, instead of driving down the road for 2 miles with it going.
(While following my mom, I’ve actually called her on the cell, telling her to turn the damn thing off.) *Grins* Just a bit OCD’ish on some things.

Now for some other news...

I'm holding a JULY Giveaway. The winners will be announced on Friday the 25th at 2:00 PM EST, at the Midnight Seductions Chat hosted by The Romance Erotica Connection.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Romance_erotica_connection

All you have to do to enter is send me an email to: Authorcasalo@aol.com

with "July Giveaway" in the subject line.

The prizes include:

1st - A copy of my new release The Devil Himself

2nd - A copy of A Slave's Way Out

3rd & 4th - Copies of my erotic bdsm short story, A Night to Remember.

For more info, head on over to my web site: www.freewebs.com/casalo

Thanks all and good luck!!

Name That Book

What came first the book title or the book?

Sometimes for me the first thing I write is the title of the book and go from there. For some reason when i have named the books things just flow better...My muse works in weird ways...LOL

I'm not saying the title will stick by the time the book is done by most of the time it does.

I think a good title for a book is just as important as the book. The name is what goes on the cover and what catches the readers eye apart from the cover itself.

What do you think of book titles, do they make a difference in when you are choosing a book to read?

I think they do because a title can be memorable and stick out, intrigue you...You might not forget it and it might lead you back to the book so that you do read it.

The book I'm currently working on is called Unwrap Me. I must admit the title came to me while I was jotting down ideas. It fits the story very well since it's a holiday themed one.

So tell me, have you ever come up with bad names for books and looked back at the name and said to yourself what was I thinking?

In case you are wondering, yes I have done that....But it's all part of the journey to finishing a book 100%

Wishing you a great Saturday

Savannah

Satisfy Your Desire......Indulge The Temptation
http://www.savannahchase.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savannahchase/

Warriors in Time coming to print!

Warriors in Time is a duet containing The Last Warrior and Warrior of the Past. It is on the summer print list at Ellora's Cave and should release by October.

In other news:
Greek Temptation has a cover.


It doesn't release until December but I love this cover. What do you think?

First Loves

I'm an aunt again!! Yesterday, one of my sisters had a beautiful little girl. Both mom and baby are doing great.

I've got another baby coming soon, too. THE WATER BEARER (written as Wendi Christner), a coming of age story that I wrote a couple of years ago has finally found a home at BookStrand, and is scheduled to be released July 30th. THE WATERBEARER is not erotic, and really is the "book of my heart." My grandparents' relationship inspired the story. They were first loves who grew old together, raised kids and grandkids, worked hard, and never lost that gleam in their eyes. They truly were in love, and that love carried them through some tough times.

My sister, who just had a baby, is also married to her first love. They were high school sweethearts, and this is their third child. So this morning I'm sitting on my parents' porch in rural north Florida, and thinking about relationships. I'm lucky. Plain and simple. I've got one of the best marriages I've ever encountered. My husband is supportive, understanding, and a loving father. But best of all, we have a strong commitment and deep love for one another. I know that's not easy to find, and I'm certain, it's even more difficult to find the first time around. But some people do. My grandparents. My sister. There are others in my immediate family who are happily married to their first loves, too. It's more common to settle down early in rural areas than in the urban world. Here the world revolves around family. Maybe because there aren't as many distractions. Maybe because of the cultural mindset. Whatever it is, and however it looks to people on the outside, there's something to be said for a quiet life surrounded by those you love.

Last night my step-brother was excited about a new recliner he got. Not because he could do his man-thing and fall asleep in front of the tv, but because it was big enough to rock both his babies in. I think that touched me deeper than anything I've heard him say before. Maybe it's this country air, and the fact that I can't hear any traffic, unless some of my relatives are making their way up the driveway. Maybe it's just because new babies make you remember what life's all about. Whatever it is, I'm feeling a little lucky this morning to have grown up where I did, and have the family that I have. I hope all of you are as lucky as I am.

Wendi Darlin
www.wendidarlin.com

SQUEE! I got my cover for Animal Attraction!

I got my cover for Animal Attraction, my hot, paranormal romance coming out with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid in September! Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but it fits the story perfectly! I think the artist, the very talented Rika Singh, did an amazing job!

For a sneak peek at Animal Attraction, visit my website at http://www.paigetylertheauthor.com/

*hugs*
Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

Spiderman

By A.J. Llewellyn

Hi everyone!
This is my first post as a permanent fixture here at Nice n' Naughty and I am feeling especially naughty today. I had a date last night. Yeah, I know, don't fall over. I already did. Unfortunately, it was pretty horrible, but this is my point in mentioning it.
The gods and goddesses of first dates were on my side last night because I got my revenge immediately! As in right there at the dinner table!
Yes, I, A.J. Llewellyn am still laughing my ass off!
So, here's how it went...
You know, there are just some dates that are so bad you should, man or woman, get up and leave the table before the menus even arrive. Unfortunately I was hungry and I had a blog to write and I think I was fascinated that anyone could be so...obnoxious.
He was one of those guys - and you know what I mean by this, but gay or straight - there is one type of guy you just cannot ever have a decent conversation with. I am talking about the Know-it-All. He didn't seem so bad over the phone and Lord knows our mutual friends have been trying long enough to get us to meet. He picked a place I love in the Hollywood Hills so I figured, what the hey?
Yeah, right. He's a wanna be everything this guy.
Before the garlic bread rolls even arrived, he made it clear that he knew more about writing erotic fiction than I did. He knew more about my home country of Australia than I did, despite the fact he's never been there. He knew more about freakin' everything than I did.
I was starting to get agitated. Unfortunately I have started measuring time by how many words I could have written in the time I took away from the 'puter to do something really stupid.
Then, bliss.
He was eating his pasta, talking with his mouth full and telling me what a dunce I was for thinking that writing erotic fiction was a worthy pursuit. I took offense at first, especially since I have met (e-met) some awesome people through my work and I love what I do. I love my characters too, who are very real to me. And I swear, it was like an invisible crack of thunder boomed and I noticed something black and furry at the bottom of Know it All's pasta dish. I stared as he kept shoveling more and more of what I realized was a great, big, hideous black spider into his mouth.
And he's telling me, "You're stupid. You know nothing."
By now even the waiter was staring in mute horror at the grotesque meal Know-it-All was shoveling down his flapping jaw. He happened to glance down at the precise moment he was about to dig in and finish off the last remaining hairy legs and the look on his face is one I wish I could bottle. He ran screaming and barfing to the restroom.
Our meal was comped and Know-it-All made such an ass of himself I will never have to worry about running into him again in that place...not that I am in a hurry to go back and sample spider in sage butter sauce.
But to the little angels who had my back last night, I owe you one.
Aloha oe,
A.J.
PS. The talented and divine Miss Paige Tyler asked me to tell you that her Tasty Tuesday is now on her blog http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

How to Find a Good Editor

I have a book releasing tomorrow, July 8 from Freya's Bower. My Gabriel's Ride Series is a re-release and the first two books are included in one download. The books have been totally revised and edited. And I must say I loved the editing process. It was hard and I learned a lot. So for anyone who has never been through a hard editing process, either you're the perfect writer or you have never been through proper edits. Yep. I said it.

I've only been writing for a year and ten months and I can tell you honestly that after two publisher closings I now know the meaning of the words edit and editor. I’m on yahoo groups quite a bit and read so many excerpts and I’ve learned to spot a few things as I read.

Here’s a list of my pet peeves. Using the word he or she to begin sentences several times in each paragraph. Misspelled or the use of the wrong word—it’s vs. its or your vs. you’re. A break in word flow. And number one on my hit list—HEAD HOPPING.

If a book has undergone proper edits, the things I mentioned above will never see the light of day. Unfortunately, too often I see those exact things. And a lot of times the author is none the wiser too. I wasn’t. I thought I was clipping along just fine until I found a good editor. So if you’re a newbie, don’t despair. There is hope.

So how do we determine where those good editors are? Well first you need to read excerpts posted on groups or on publisher websites. Look for quality in those excerpts. Sure, an occasional mistake is made, but not on the scale I see a lot of times. And how do we know what to look for? That’s the big question.

There is more to writing than just coming up with a killer plot line and tapping it out on the computer. That’s where the mechanics of writing comes into play. You must hone your skills as a writer. You must have a good working knowledge of punctuation and grammar-- a feel for style and voice. These are the tools of your craft. Use them to show off that killer plot. Learn everything you can about writing so you'll know what to look for in a publisher.

After you’ve worked on your writing abilities, sub your manuscript to a publisher that showcases the most perfect excerpts possible. Those are the publishers who are in business to stay. The ones serious about helping you as a writer to grow.
In the meantime, pick up a copy of Gabriel’s Gun. It’s one hot read and as close to perfect as possible thanks to my editor at Freya’s Bower, Faith Bicknell-Brown. To read an excerpt, click here.

Paige no longer posts the Tasty Tuesday hunks on Nice n’ Naughty. We have a wonderful addition to our bloggers here. A J Llewellyn. And he’ll blog each Tuesday. A J is a funny guy with a big heart. I love his books. So check back tomorrow and read what A J has to say.

Kisses,

Fireworks, kissing, and a great Giveaway

I hope everyone had a wonderful fourth!!

So who woke up with the hangovers going on, still full bellies, burned fingertips from both the BBQ and those snappy little firecrackers, and hearing loss from letting those whistlers go to close to the ears.

Isn’t celebrating GREAT!!!!

Well, I can say, I saw fireworks when my man kissed me.

Yeppers, had a wonderful evening all alone, he cooked dinner, I’m talking nice big rib eye steaks, baked potato, and a salad, how more yummy can you get?

(The man can cook people, the man can cook. ) Then a movie and some wine. Mmmmm hmmmm, I’m telling you, NOW that’s a way to celebrate. *Grins*

So what did you guys do? Drive the crowds looking for a place to watch the firework show, BBQ at your house and light your own, head to the beach with the millions of others to see the sparkly spinsters, or just have a quiet evening at home like me, watching a movie and kissing on the couch like a couple of teenagers?

Now that we have the giggling & kissing is out of the way. LOL.

July is the month that my new release The Devil Himself has published with Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.

So in honor of that, and keeping the celebrating going from the fourth *Grins*, I’m having a GIVEAWAY.

The Prizes...

4 gifts for 4 entrants ~

First Gift - A copy of The Devil Himself

Second Gift - A copy of A Slave’s Way Out

Third & Fourth Gift - A Copy of my erotic short story A Night to Remember

The Announcement...

At the Midnight Seductions Chat -

Hosted by The Romance Erotica Connection

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Romance_erotica_connection

Friday July 25th at 2:00 PM

How to enter…

Email Authorcasalo@aol.com

With “July Giveaway” in the subject line.

Luca has lived a long and sheltered life. Dubbed by many as “The Jersey Devil”, he resides peacefully and alone in the Barren Woods, where no one can find him. It’s a lonely existence, but necessary for one such as he.

Until photographer Chandra Burke comes along. After saving her life, Luca feels obligated to keep her with him until she heals. But as hours with her turn to days, and then weeks, he finds he wants to keep her for an entirely different reason—for him.

Can Chandra and Luca overcome Luca’s view of himself, a pesky wizard, and a possessive demon to be together? Or will the Fates allow love to slip past Luca once again?

All Over The Place

Good day to everyone. For my U.S friends I hope you had a wonderful and safe July 4th.

In case you are wondering what the title of today's blog is all about let me tell you. For the past few weeks I have been plotting a lot of new stories. The last week I have been under the weather so there has been even more plotting then writing. I have noticed that my story ideas all, well, they are all over. I'm not sticking to one genre or one area of erotica. Currently my stories have angels, vampires, ghosts, mermaids, race card drivers, assassins Greek Gods, and so on and so on....

It made me wonder, are readers open to reading about different things by their favourite author or do they like to see one steady genre?

I myself as a reader love to see my favourite authors mixing it up and writing about different things. It's more interesting and there is a variety.....

I'm one of those authors who gets brand new ideas pretty much every single day so you can imagine how at my last count I had started writing 63 new books. I never use to plot as much as I do now and I guess it's because I keep getting new stories floating around in my head and I don't want to loose them.

For the authors out there, do you like sticking to one genre are you one to branch out and try new things?

One genre which I have yet to try to write a story in is Historicals. Those are ideas that have not come to me yet. Not ruling out that they never will....LOL

So tell me do you like variety as a reader?

Do you like variety as a writer?

Before I do end off this blog I wanted to invite you to a party going on today at the Midnight Seductions Authors Reader Loop. We have a special guest joining us....

Siren Bookstrand will be spending the day at the loop.....Looking forward to seeing you all there

Join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MidnightSeductions/

Last Call

Ok, we all know that alcohol and automobiles don't mix. But I think there should be stronger warnings on the dangers of picking up the phone after you've chugged down one too many. What got me started on this, you wonder?

I have a deadline today, and another one on Monday, so after an entire day on my computer, I stumbled to bed bleary-eyed last night. I must've been asleep the second my head hit the pillow. No doubt I would have slept through the night, and woken up this morning bright eyed and bushy tailed (maybe TMI?).

But then it happened...

At 1:40 a.m. the phone rang. Caller ID said it was my ailing grandmother. I PANICKED! Heart pounding, I grabbed the phone only to hear a giggly voice ask, "Is Jesse there?" Who in the hell is Jesse? There's no Jesse in my family. My half-asleep response was to say "no" and hang up. Of course, I couldn't go back to sleep. Who was calling from my grandmother's house at that time of night? Why were they there? Was she ok? Was someone robbing her blind? So I call back to discover one of my young cousins was "crashing" there with a friend. And DRUNK mis-DIALING me. Grrrr....

Ok, I'll admit, drunk dialing isn't always bad. A few weeks ago, two fun-lovin' writer friends got together, hit the sauce a little hard and gave me a call. We were laughing so hard, I don't even remember what we were talking about. But I was ready to jump on an airplane and fly across the country to join them.

But then there's calls like the one I got a couple of years ago. I roll over in the middle of the night and answer the phone. An unknown woman on the other end says, "Put my husband on the phone!" My response, "He's not here." I looked over at my husband, still sound asleep, to make sure. Yep, he's mine. The rest of the conversation, goes something like this:

"I know he's there. Now put his lying ass on the phone!"
"You've got the wrong number." I hang up.
Phone rings again.
"Put him on the damn phone! I know he's there!"
"I'm sorry your husband's not where he needs to be, but he's not here. Do you want to speak to my husband?" (I'm a little pissed that he can sleep through a ringing phone, while I'm getting yelled at by some woman I don't know.)
"He really ain't there?" She's confused now, and I hear ice clink.
"Not here."
"Where in the hell is he? I thought he'd be with you."
"I don't know you. Or your husband." Yes. I should've hung up, but honestly, I felt sorry for the woman. Nothing's worse than being cheated on, right?
"But I got your number," she says.
"It's a wrong number."
"If he's there I'm going to kick his ass!"
"He's not here, but I hope you find him. Goodnight." I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night. I wanted to start calling around myself to see if I could help her find the $#!+head.

I don't think I've drunk dialed anyone since college, but apparently, my number's a magnet for swaggering fingers. What about you? When's the last time you woke up thinking, I hope I didn't really make that call? Or are you usually on the receiving end like I am?

Now, I'm off to take a power nap before I tackle the last of those edits due today.

My latest erotic novella Rough & Ready released July 1st. Check it out at BookStrand!

PLEASE: Keep an eye out for motorcycles on the road this weekend. All those sportbike riders aren't rude young men looking to cut you off or pop a wheelie two feet in front of you. One might be my husband. :)

And REMEMBER:

Wendi Darlin

Changes at Nice n' Naughty!

Just wanted to let you know about some changes over at Nice n' Naughty! We have two new authors joining us, AJ Llewellyn, who will be blogging on Tuesday, and Wendi Darlin, who will be blogging on Thursday! Welcome to Nice n' Naughty, guys!

As for Tasty Tuesday, I'll be posting those yummy hunks on my blog at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/ so be sure to stop by!

*hugs*

Paige

"Stories so hot, they'll make your cheeks blush!"

Tasty Tuesday!

So, who is else is feeling patriotic?!

*hugs*

Paige