2010 Newsletter Archives Issue 70 - 73 Issue 70 Issue 71 Issue 72 Issue 73 Newsletter #70 CONTENTS: GREETING RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS NEW RELEASES RE-RELEASES UPCOMING RELEASES EXCERPT FROM BLOODY OR NOTHING: SUDSY REVIEWS GUEST AUTHOR: NINA PIERCE FREE READ LINKS CONTEST LINKS BOOK VIDEO LINKS POLLS Hi everybody! I'm sorry to be late with this newsletter. I'll try to be quicker getting the next one out. Nina Pierce is this month's guest author. You can find out more about Nina and her books below. Congratulations to Michelle from the USA, winner of the June Contest at this site. She won a sterling silver cat necklace. Check out the contest page on my website for details on how to enter the Sudsy contest. This month the first book in the Bloody or Nothing series is scheduled for release by Changeling Press. This series is set in the same world as Blood and Soul, Dangerous Cravings, The Elixir Maidens, Heart's Blood and The Masters. It ties together all the stories in the series and affects the entire vampiric world, from the oldest vampire, Ariel, to the youngest blood children newly created in Bloody or Nothing. You can find out more about the series at the Bloody or Nothing page. I hope you have a great month and if you have any questions or comments about my work or this newsletter, please feel free to contact me at katehill@sprintmail.com. Thank you and see you next month! Kate If you'd like to be included in my newsgroup contests, receive an email version of the newsletter, and also occasional posts about new releases and special events, please sign up below: Subscribe to katehill Powered by groups.yahoo.com RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES New website added for the Bloody or Nothing series. Visit the new site here. RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS Lena Austin and Tuesday Richards Berengaria Brown NEW RELEASES Prowleryns: Demitri's Devil (Erotic Shapeshifter) From Changeling Press. Patricia walks the line between life with her Prowleryn tribe and life with humans. Unfortunately times are desperate for her people and she agrees to mate with the leader of a foreign tribe that is far more traditional than her own. Demitri believes in discipline and expects those around him to obey his commands. His new mate is the most impossible female he has ever met, yet he can't resist her. Patricia can't understand how she can be attracted to such an unbearable man, yet no one has ever made her feel like Demitri. She soon realizes her arguments with Demitri are only mating games. When he's threatened by a power-hungry Prowleryn, nothing and no one will keep her from standing by him, regardless of the danger. RE-RELEASES Marriage in Moonlust (Erotic Vampire) From Ellora's Cave. Sacrificed to a family of vampires, Leona is rescued by handsome, powerful Narcisse Debray. In spite of her initial fear of blood drinkers, Leona is unable to control her attraction to the vampire lord. His lovemaking excites her beyond her wildest imaginings and he offers devotion such as she's never known. Unfortunately, their happiness is tainted by the wickedness of a jealous enemy. Narcisse's younger brother will stop at nothing to see the lovers destroyed. Publisher’s Note: Originally available in the Midnight Desires anthology. UPCOMING RELEASES Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy (Gay Erotic Vampire) From Changeling Press. Meet Sudsy Waters, drag queen, martial arts master and guardian of sinners and saints. Las Vegas life is wild, but when it comes to vampiric activity, there is a protector who not only enforces the rules, but makes them too. Sudsy Waters, owner of Bloody or Nothing, an exclusive vampire hotel, is an irresistible, ass-kicking beauty who put style in the dictionary and gave The Elixir Maidens their killer look. Usually Sudsy only gets involved with vamps, but when his path crosses that of a gorgeous singer in trouble, he lifts his "no mortals" rule. Julian never dreamed his affair with an up-and-coming mixed martial artist would end in disaster, or in a conflict with a new vampire bloodline. No matter how bad things get, he intends to pursue the music career he's worked so hard for. While embarking on a passionate love affair, Julian and Sudsy join the fight against an evil intent on taking over the world. EXCERPT FROM BLOODY OR NOTHING SUDSY Excerpt: Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy by Kate Hill (Gay Erotic Vampire) Coming soon from Changeling Press Julian rose and approached. He wore another simple black shirt open halfway down his chest. Sudsy longed to stroke those curly dark hairs dusting his pecs and take a closer look at Julian's interesting tattoo of roses. "Different look," Julian said, his gaze searching Sudsy's face, then sliding down his chiseled chest in the snug tank and lingering on the bulge in the front of his trousers. When he was in drag no one had a clue exactly how well endowed Sudsy was. "I like it." Sudsy cocked an eyebrow, as if to say who asked. This didn't seem to intimidate Julian in the least. The singer stepped even closer and added, "I like it a lot." "So the rumors about you are true?" "Which ones?" "The ones that say you swing both ways?" A few of the local gossip columns had made mention of Julian's bisexual tendencies. A smile tugged at Julian's adorable lips. The top one curved into a delicate bow, but the lower one was full and enticing. Sudsy longed to nip and suck it. "Partially true." "Oh." Sudsy stepped away and turned to the balcony where he looked out at the city lights. "I see." Seconds later, Julian's hand fell lightly on Sudsy's shoulder. Sudsy turned to him. Their burning gazes locked and this time Julian stood so close that their lips almost touched. "Playing along with the bi rumors helps my career. I have a fair share of female fans and women love to flirt, you know." Sudsy smiled. "Naughty boy." "I'll show you just how naughty I can be, if you let me." Julian's face dipped even closer, but Sudsy stepped back and placed a hand to the mortal's chest. He'd meant the gesture to stop any further contact, but that was a very bad idea. Beneath Julian's warm, hair-dusted flesh, he felt the mortal's heartbeat and its quickness told him the man was truly aroused, not just offering payback or prepayment for the business deal they'd discussed. Not to mention the scent of his lust didn't lie. Julian drew a deep breath and hesitation glistened in his eyes. "Is something wrong?" "I've had a long night, Julian, and you're still healing. Not to mention we need to talk business." "Yes. Business. If you think I'm trying to bargain for a better offer--" Sudsy narrowed his eyes. "You're good at getting what you want, aren't you, Julian?" At that comment, Julian laughed sardonically. "Yeah I'm great at getting what I want. I'm unemployed, unattached and recovering from a stab wound. Everything is going exactly as I planned." Sudsy folded his arms across his chest and sighed deeply. This guy got to him and that could be either wonderful or dangerous. "I'll be glad to help, if you tell me what happened because I don't believe for a second you were mugged." "Why would I lie?" Shrugging, Sudsy said, "People have lots of reasons to lie. I don't think you're into anything illegal." "I'm not." "Then maybe it's someone you care about--someone you're trying to protect?" The look in Julian's eyes and the sudden skip of a heartbeat told Sudsy he was close to the truth. Sudsy was an excellent judge of character. He'd possessed that gift long before becoming a vampire. "Whoever it is, are you certain he or she is worth risking your life for?" Julian didn't reply and for several long moments they stared at each other, Sudsy willing the mortal to confess and Julian holding strong against the vampire's hypnotic gaze. Very few mortals could endure a vampire's probing stare without surrendering, but despite Julian's pretty boy appearance, he emanated underling toughness. He was a complex man and one Sudsy wanted to know better. "I've had a long night," Sudsy said. "And I need to get some sleep." When he headed for the door, Julian's long fingers curved snugly around his upper arm. Sudsy glanced at his hand then met Julian's piercing gaze. "Sleep here," Julian said, his voice soft but commanding. Another smile tugged at Sudsy's lips. Julian aroused him to a feverish level, but no one gave Sudsy orders. "Do you know what you're asking for, stud?" Sudsy asked. In reply, Julian tugged Sudsy closer and covered his mouth in a searing kiss. Damn. In his long, long life no one had ever kissed him like this. REVIEWS: FOR DEMITRI'S DEVIL There is a delicious romance developing between two people who think oppositely about the traditional ways, but slowly realize they aren’t as opposite as they believed. - S. K. Fero, Got Erotic Romance FOR PUPPIES BITE 4.5 Cherries All I can say is if you want a fun read with some fun role reversals, and absolutely hilarious and imaginative character names, this one is for you. - Holly, Whipped Cream FOR ROCK AND A HARD PLACE 4.5 Cherries The devotion between the two brothers is amazing to see: as twins, there is a special connection and we see how much Rock means to his brother when Rock is poisoned in a fight. - Holly, Whipped Cream FOR MARRIAGE IN MOONLUST The story has a bit of a Cinderella feel to it, but that is where the fairytale ends. The sex scenes are surprisingly hot and the action is fierce. - LynnMarie, Happily Ever After Reviews GUEST AUTHOR: Nina Pierce KH: What are you favorite genres to read and write? NP: I love romantic suspense. There’s this danger or mystery the hero and heroine are trying to resolve. There’s usually some really nasty villain looking to thwart their efforts. And of course there’s the tension of the lead characters not wanting to fall in love, but of course they do. Reading these types of stories keeps me on the edge of my seat. So much going on on the page. And writing it? Well it’s such a challenge to throw in those red herrings and lead the reader down the wrong path. It’s just fun for me. KH: Please tell us about your latest release? NP:A Touch of Lilly is a futuristic erotic suspense story released in June from Ellora’s Cave. This was a fun story to write. It takes place in deep space and so there was all kinds of world building including alien races. And the heroine and hero, well, they’re … oh, how about if I just let you read the blurb? Ex-Chicago detective Lilly D’Angelo is part of a secret alien race living on earth. With a gentle caress she can elevate the sexual energy of any male. Apprehending criminals lost in an erotic fugue is almost too easy—until she uses her gift on the wrong alien. Kidnapped and shipped into deep space, Lilly barely escapes with her life. Now she travels the galaxy alone working as a bounty hunter and hoping to find a soul mate unaffected by her touch. Agent Dallas Sawyer works for QAL—deep space’s version of the FBI. After a disastrous mission that left a president murdered, his team member executed, and Dallas near death, he’s determined to take down the assassin targeting government officials. When a sexy human female gets between him and his goal, Dallas and his alien partner find themselves on the receiving end of some wild sex and a proposition that may very well blow up in their faces. Because in deep space … true love can happen with just a touch. KH: To you what makes a great hero/heroine? NP: I really enjoy the alpha hero, but I don’t want him running roughshod over the heroine, which means she needs to be tough enough to hold her own. I fall in love with a hero who has the tough exterior, but the gooshy center. He has his faults, but deep down, he just wants to find his soul mate. And my favorite heroine is the tough woman whose heart is scarred. She’s a little jaded, but hasn’t given up on finding love. Of course she’s strong enough to put the hero in his place when he needs it, but soft enough to soothe his hurts and expose that tender center. KH: If you could meet one of your characters, which one would it be? NP: I think I’d really like to meet Cole, the wolf shifter from my “Shifting Bonds series”. (Bonded Souls, EC April 2010 and Bonded by Need, EC August 2009) He’s one of those wolf leaders who’s looking out for his pack and trying to figure out his own heart. Though he’s found his mates—and yes, that’s plural—he’s trying to help the pack settle the problems with the cougar shifter population all while trying to remain under the radar of the human population. Anyway, I’d just love to see him actually shift to his wolf and back again. It seems like it would be such a cool talent. KH: Do you have a website, newsgroup or blog where readers can learn more about you and your books? NP:I’m all over the web. You can find all my books with excerpts on my website http://www.NinaPierce.com. I also hang out at facebook http://www.facebook.com/nina.pierce and twitter http://www.twitter.com/ninapierce. I also LOVE to make book trailers and you can find them all at http://www.youtube.com/romanceauthor62 NP: Thanks! KH: Thank you, Nina! Also by Nina Pierce: Bonded Souls Bonded by Need FREE READ LINKS Changeling Press Encounters - Free reads by Changeling Press authors. Sporting Wood by Cindy Spencer Pape Gloria Oliver's free reads. Kate Hill's free reads. BOOK VIDEOS Changeling Press TV Latest books from Changeling Press. Berengaria Brown's Book Videos. Also check out Berengaria's Breathless Press books here and her book Intensity here. Gloria Oliver's Book Videos. Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy by Kate Hill From Changeling Press Silver Serenade by Nancy J. Cohen From The Wild Rose Press Out of Time by Pauline Baird Jones Tina Donahue's Book Videos. POLLS: This month's poll is: The results of the June poll question are: Which Prowleryn story interests you most? Eber's Angel (1) Kane's Courtship (3) Demitri's Devil (10) Total votes: (14) The results of the May poll question are: Which is your favorite Hot River cover? Sixty-Nine Sadie (7) Noodlin' for Nadine (6) Second Chance Charity (5) Triple Shot Tracy (1) Total votes: (19) Newsletter #71 CONTENTS: GREETING RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS NEW RELEASES RE-RELEASES NEW FREE READ: THE HALLOWEEN BALL UPCOMING RELEASES EXCERPT FROM SILVER CUFFS REVIEWS GUEST AUTHOR: KARI THOMAS FREE READ LINKS CONTEST LINKS BOOK VIDEO LINKS POLLS Hello, everyone! I can't believe it's the end of September already. Looking forward to Halloween! Don't forget to stop by the Halloween Page. Lots of authors are featured this year and while you're there check out the Halloween Countdown Contest. Kari Thomas, author of Spell Kissed, is this month's guest. In the interview below you can find out more about Kari and her books. Congratulations to Jackie from the CA, winner of the Sudsy Contest. She won the necklace that was pictured on the contest page. This month the second book in the Bloody or Nothing series was released by Changeling Press. Bottoms Up features Rory, who was introduced at the end of Sudsy. For more information, read the just released section below or visit the Bloody or Nothing page. Toward the end of October, Villain Tamed, the last book in the Bloody or Nothing series will be released by Changeling Press. In this one, Lao, who has been a villain in the Blood and Soul universe, will finally get to tell his side of the story. Have a fantastic month and I'll see you toward the end of October! Kate If you'd like to be included in my newsgroup contests, receive an email version of the newsletter, and also occasional posts about new releases and special events, please sign up below: Subscribe to katehill Powered by groups.yahoo.com RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES The Halloween Page posted RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS Nancy Lee Badger James Hartley Tina Donahue Beautiful Trouble Publishing NEW RELEASES Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy (Gay Erotic Vampire) From Changeling Press. Meet Sudsy Waters, drag queen, martial arts master and guardian of sinners and saints. Las Vegas life is wild, but when it comes to vampiric activity, there is a protector who not only enforces the rules, but makes them too. Sudsy Waters, owner of Bloody or Nothing, an exclusive vampire hotel, is an irresistible, ass-kicking beauty who put style in the dictionary and gave The Elixir Maidens their killer look. Usually Sudsy only gets involved with vamps, but when his path crosses that of a gorgeous singer in trouble, he lifts his "no mortals" rule. Julian never dreamed his affair with an up-and-coming mixed martial artist would end in disaster, or in a conflict with a new vampire bloodline. No matter how bad things get, he intends to pursue the music career he's worked so hard for. While embarking on a passionate love affair, Julian and Sudsy join the fight against an evil intent on taking over the world. Bloody or Nothing: Bottoms Up (M/M/F Erotic Vampire) From Changeling Press. Three hearts, one soul and a deal with the devil. Dana travels to Las Vegas to help a sister in trouble and discovers a vampire underground she never dreamed existed. For the first time in her life she unleashes her repressed passions with two very different men. An ancient vampire of youthful beauty, Rory lives according to his rules. As a mortal, his love for another man had nearly cost him his life. Now he's a much-loved vampire master. When he saves Dana from an assault, they recognize each other as kindred souls and enter a relationship stronger than friendship and deeper than lust. Then another man arrives who drives them both to distraction. Handsome and rugged, Jason has spent the past two centuries overcoming the degradation of his mortal life. Used and abused, bought and sold, he had no real identity until a vampire gave him a new life. Now while fighting against an evil reign, he is tempted by a fledgling vampiress and a man he has desired for two centuries. By denying his bisexual nature, he might destroy the greatest love of his life. RE-RELEASES Silver Cuffs (Erotic Werewolf) From Ellora's Cave. Entrepreneur Pierce Durant is a scoundrel in every sense of the word. With plans to bulldoze a mansion belonging to a hero of the American Revolution, he doesn’t hesitate in making brash advances on a member of the local historical society who’s trying to save the house. Tabatha Lane isn’t a woman lured by wealth and handsome looks, especially if the man has no caring in his heart. Whittle House is more than just a house filled with antiques. It holds the spirits of a courageous man-wolf and the woman who loved him. Like the Patriot who owned it, Whittle House will not go down without a fight! Publisher’s Note: Originally available in the Forever Midnight anthology. NEW FREE READ The Halloween Ball (Gay Erotic Vampire) Read here. After holding a grudge out of guilt, Jonah decides to make amends with his partner, Jeff, at the annual Bloody or Nothing Halloween Ball. The guys prove that even after two-hundred years together vampires still love to kiss and make up. UPCOMING RELEASES Bloody or Nothing: Villain Tamed (Gay Erotic Vampire) From Changeling Press. For centuries Lao has battled humankind and in doing so has made many enemies. Injured while fighting the dreaded new reign, he asks for refuge from Sudsy Waters. The last thing Lao wants is to fall in love with a human, but when he meets Tyler, the doctor at Blood or Nothing, a love ignites that will burn all barriers Lao has built around his heart. In the final battle with the Evil Master, the future of the world depends on Lao, but can love redeem the man feared almost as much as the devil? EXCERPT FROM SILVER CUFFS Excerpt: Silver Cuffs by Kate Hill (Erotic Werewolf) Re-release from Ellora's Cave The wolf growled, his eyes blazing and his teeth gnashing the cold night air. Ice and snow flew beneath his paws. His heart throbbed with the insatiable need for vengeance. Another more foreign emotion pulsed through him. Fear. A shot exploded. The wolf shrieked as pain ripped through his shoulder. With a mighty lunge, he pounced on the cloaked, musket-toting man fleeing in the distance. The wolf dragged the man onto his back and placed his paws on the heaving chest. Savage eyes stared into his captive's terrified blue ones. Unable to speak in words, the beast's look demanded its desire. Where is she? "I don't have her, you evil bastard. Look for Stratford. He's the one you want," the man bellowed. The scents of other people filled the air. Hoofbeats thudded across the snow-packed countryside. Then he caught it. Her scent. Turning in the direction of the woods, he saw her. The wolf left his captive panting in the snow and raced for the dark-haired, brown-eyed woman. As she ran for him, a storm of bullets pierced the night. The wolf's high-pitched cries of agony stunned his attackers. Those shrieks were far too human. Gunfire ceased. The white snow beneath the gasping wolf turned red with blood and his vision blackened. "No, no, no," she cried, her hands caressing his face. Opening his eyes halfway, the wolf saw through the dimness and blur of impending death that her clothes were stained red. He tried to speak, but the words would not come. Still, his emotions shone in his eyes. I love you. "I love you," she cried and buried her face in his thickly-furred neck. "I love you." REVIEWS: FOR BLOODY OR NOTHING: SUDSY Rating: 4.5 Diamonds Overall, this was a wonderful read. - Starla Kaye, Got Erotic Romance GUEST AUTHOR: Kari Thomas Kari Thomas Interview KH: What are your favorite genres to read and write? KT: I love the paranormal romance genre, but I read them all. Out of my 9 books published, only one -- a novella --isn't paranormal romance. KH: Do you prefer to write during the day or at night? KT: I'm an early morning writer. I'm the caregiver for my dad, so the rest of the day is usually taken up. If I don't get in those early morning pages, I usually try later... but it never works. KH: When writing, do you have full control of your characters, or at some point do they seem to take on a life of their own? KT: Finally! Someone else realizes that characters REALLY do take over a book! I'm one of those "pantser" authors, so I start with a basic idea and the characters. Immediately, my characters come to life and take over the story. I love that. But trying telling someone that explanation and they think you're crazy! LOL! KH: Please tell us about your latest release. KT: My latest was released July 15 by Black Lyon Publishing. It's called SPELL-KISSED. The heroine is a "witch with a glitch" whose spells backfire when her emotions are involved. Imagine what happens when the sexy hero comes into her life! Then, she accidentally transports him, his brother, and herself into a parallel world where they end up fighting an evil Sorcerer. KH: What is upcoming for you? KT: I just submitted book #9 and I'm holding my breath for the acceptance/OR....! In the meantime I'm plotting out a 3-book series I hope to start soon. Another paranormal romance, of course! KH: If you could meet one of your characters, which one would it be? KT: Definitely Lyon and Kitlene from "Under A Shifter's Moon". They have been with me the longest, though their story was just recently told. I love those two. There is a lot of me in Kitlene....! KH: Do you have a website, newsgroup or blog where readers can learn more about you and your books? KT: Yes. My website is www.authorkari.com ; I don't have time for a blog but do try to send out a newsletter update once in awhile. Readers can sign up for it by writing to me at: authorkari@yahoo.com ; I also keep a running give-away going: Buy any book of mine, send me proof of the receipt, and I will send them my best seller Novella "HOLD ONTO THE NIGHT." Also, if readers are interested, I have two free stories, epilogues to my best seller "Temptation Unleashed" and all they need to do is contact me for copies. KH: Thank you, Kari! Also by Kari Thomas: Under a Shifter's Moon Hunter's Mat Temptation Unleashed Heart and Soul Prey for the Wolf Hold on to the Night FREE READ LINKS Changeling Press Encounters - Free reads by Changeling Press authors. Sporting Wood by Cindy Spencer Pape Space Slugs by Frances Pauli Gloria Oliver's free reads. Kate Hill's free reads. BOOK VIDEOS Rev Me Up by Adele Dubois From Ellora's Cave. Do Me Good by Adlele Dubois From Ellora's Cave. Changeling Press TV Latest books from Changeling Press. Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy by Kate Hill From Changeling Press Healer's Garden by Nina Pierce From Ellora's Cave Out of Time by Pauline Baird Jones Tina Donahue's Book Videos. POLLS: This month's poll is: The results of the June poll question are: Do you read free reads posted on authors' websites? Yes (16) No (0) Sometimes (8) Total votes: (24) Newsletter #72 CONTENTS: GREETING RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS NEW RELEASES RE-RELEASES UPCOMING RELEASES EXCERPT FROM MAXIMUM DESIRE REVIEWS GUEST AUTHOR: DEBRA GLASS AN INTERVIEW WITH MARI FREEMAN BY DEBRA GLASS FREE READ LINKS CONTEST LINKS BOOK VIDEO LINKS POLLS Hi! I hope everyone who celebrated Halloween had a great one. The talented Debra Glass is the guest author in this issue. Find out more about Debra and her work in the interview below. This month there is also an interview within an interview. Debra has included an interview she conducted with another wonderful author, Mari Freeman. Please enjoy both! The Halloween Countdown Contest is over and I hope you enjoyed this year's Halloween Page. The page will still be up for a few more days at http://kate-hill.com/halloween/halloween.php This month Maximum Desire is scheduled for release by Changeling Press. This book is set on the planet Amazurn, which readers of the Silver Iris and Double Time books will remember. You can find out more about this sci-fi menage under the upcoming releases section below. Currently I'm polishing up the second Alpha Delicious book, Silky's Master, and I'm also continuing work on Grigori de Forest's story from the Horsemen. Recently I submitted another Horsemen book about a handsome former Fighting Carrier who nearly loses his destined mate because of a misunderstanding. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this one will be accepted! I hope you have a great November! Kate If you'd like to be included in my newsgroup contests, receive an email version of the newsletter, and also occasional posts about new releases and special events, please sign up below: Subscribe to katehill Powered by groups.yahoo.com RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES Maximum Desire cover and excerpt posted RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS Nancy J. Cohen Donica Covey Nancy Lennea Jinger Jackson Nina Pierce Joanne Hall NEW RELEASES Bloody or Nothing: Villain Tamed (Gay Erotic Vampire) From Changeling Press. For centuries Lao has battled humankind and in doing so has made many enemies. Injured while fighting the dreaded new reign, he asks for refuge from Sudsy Waters. The last thing Lao wants is to fall in love with a human, but when he meets Tyler, the doctor at Bloody or Nothing, a love ignites that will burn all barriers Lao has built around his heart. In the final battle with the Evil Master, the future of the world depends on Lao, but can love redeem the man feared almost as much as the devil? RE-RELEASES Silver Cuffs (Erotic Werewolf) From Ellora's Cave. Entrepreneur Pierce Durant is a scoundrel in every sense of the word. With plans to bulldoze a mansion belonging to a hero of the American Revolution, he doesn't hesitate in making brash advances on a member of the local historical society who's trying to save the house. Tabatha Lane isn't a woman lured by wealth and handsome looks, especially if the man has no caring in his heart. Whittle House is more than just a house filled with antiques. It holds the spirits of a courageous man-wolf and the woman who loved him. Like the Patriot who owned it, Whittle House will not go down without a fight! Publisher's Note: Originally available in the Forever Midnight anthology. UPCOMING RELEASES Maximum Desire (M/M/F Sci-Fi Menage) From Changeling Press. Passion ignites when Maximus, a gladiator with a sixteen-year winning streak, meets Desirous, a former harem boy, in the combat. The one-time adversaries unite under the strict hand of Lace, Maximus' wife and trainer. With two hunky warriors and a headstrong Amazurnian woman, sweat and strain move from the arena to the bedroom. Despite his years as a sex toy, Desirous is looking for love. Does he have a chance for something permanent with Max and Lace, or is he just a side order? EXCERPT FROM MAXIMUM DESIRE Excerpt: Maximum Desire by Kate Hill (M/M/F Sci-Fi Menage) From Changeling Press "Like I said before, Maximus, you're a lucky guy." Desirous again picked up his glass and this time downed it in a single gulp. He closed his eyes for a few seconds than fixed his gaze on Lace. Warmth that had nothing to do with intoxication burned in his expression. That heated look slid from her to Max. "You know if I were you I don't think I'd want her working so closely with another man." The fierce expression in Max's eyes momentarily concerned Lace. He looked that way just before he stepped into the arena. "Do you think I'd let another man in here who I wasn't interested in too?" Desirous smiled, looking almost as predatory as Max. "Now we're getting somewhere. Honesty works best." Husband and wife exchanged glances. They didn't need spoken words to know they agreed on what to do next. Max rose and stepped nearer to Desirous. Curling his fist in the front of the blond's shirt, he tugged and Desirous stood. Lace remained seated, though she leaned forward slightly, her heart pounding with anticipation. Her gorgeous husband and the handsome blond stood so near their chests almost touched. Desirous bent his head slightly and Max met him halfway. Max's chiseled lips and Desirous' full, pouting ones met in the sexiest fucking man-on-man kiss Lace had ever seen--and the longest. She thought the kiss would go on forever. Max and Desirous' lips parted and their tongues searched each other's mouths while their hands roamed roughly over each other's bodies. Lace rose slowly and circled them. She stepped nearer and placed one hand on Max's shoulder and the other on Desirous'. Their lips parted and their burning gazes turned to her. Sliding an arm around her, Max tugged her closer to his side and nuzzled her neck. Desirous' blue gaze lingered on them and he lifted a hand to brush a wisp of hair from Lace's cheek. "Want to go to the bedroom?" she asked, her heart racing and nipples straining beneath her clothes. Desirous glanced at Max who jerked his head toward the archway leading to the hall. "This way." His arm still around Lace, Max headed for their room. She glanced over her shoulder at Desirous and took his hand, bidding him to follow. REVIEWS: FOR BLOODY OR NOTHING: SUDSY 5 Hearts I just loved this book. It had drama, romance and action not to mention steamy love scenes. - Ana, The Romance Studio FOR DEMITRI'S DEVIL 4.5 Hearts The characters of this story are well written and the storyline flows with both excitement and sexual chemistry which Ms. Hill has woven in quite nicely. - Margo Arthur, The Romance Studio GUEST AUTHOR: Debra Glass Debra Glass Interview KH: What usually comes first for you, the plot or the characters? DG: Usually, the plot. Sometimes, it's the title and then I plot around it. Those seem to be my best stories. There's a local furniture store named Badcock and it occurred to me that it would make a great character's last name. John Badcock was born and then I wrote the book to fit his name. He's one of my favorite characters so far! KH: Do you find it easier to write your heroes or your heroines? DG: I used to find it easier to write heroes. All my heroines were flat while my heroes loomed larger than life. After living a little life, having hardships, kids, and a divorce under my belt – not to mention finding a real life hero – my heroines now seem stronger than my heroes. KH: If you could meet one of your characters, which one would it be? DG: Thomas Benton Smith. He lived during the time of the Civil War and I based the hero of Gatekeeper, the first romance I sold to Ellora's Cave, on him. Dashing. Dark. Tall. Tortured. Did I mention dashing? I'd love to hear his Southern drawl in real life. KH: Please tell us about your latest release. DG: My latest release is Twice the Novice, my first book released in the Taboo line with Ellora's Cave. It's set in a very fairy-tale-esque part of the Bavarian Alps and is about a dyslexic English woman who is contracted to marry a count. She understands she will have to go through some sort of training. What she doesn't expect is her attraction to her trainer, the count's diabolically sexy nephew, Axel von Sommerhalder. (oops, did I just give away that Vampire Diaries hottie, Ian Sommerhalder inspired my hero?) I always like my characters to have a reason for tolerating, enjoying (or needing) bdsm. To me, there's something very sensual about reluctant submission, about a character learning to voice their desires. Too many women never speak up about their sexual needs and instead, go through life unsatisfied. Another KH: Would you tell us about your book Shadowkeeper? DG: Shadowkeeper is the second book in my Phantom Lovers series and takes place in my hometown of Florence, Alabama. Blurb: Amy Drew was once a damn good psychic until past catastrophic events stripped her of her psychic powers. Now, a year later, she has moved to a quaint, quiet southern town to help her brother restore a decaying plantation house. The house is hauntingly familiar, and when the skeleton of a Native American is discovered in the cellar, Amy senses danger—and much more. From her very first meeting with the ghost of William Red Feather, Amy sizzles with desire for the sexy spirit. But mysterious past-life secrets separate them. As Amy loses herself in lust-filled nights with her spirit lover, more secrets become known to her, and she soon realizes mysterious deaths at the plantation—both past and present—all point to William. Can she trust this beguiling spirit with her life the way she does with her pleasure? Amy must be certain, because giving him her heart may result in her death—again. Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-4940-408-shadowkeeper.aspx Shadowkeeper is available in both print and digital formats. KH: Speaking as one of your characters, describe in a sentence or two what makes your partner irresistible. DG: As William Red Feather - "Amy is utterly irresistible, not only because of our past life link, but because her spirit led her back to me. I would give my soul to be in a body again so that I would finally be free to love her." KH: What is upcoming for you? DG: I'm working on a Civil War paranormal and also an early Regency based on one of my favorite shows, What Not to Wear! I also have some print books coming out soon at Ellora's Cave. Watchkeeper, the third book in my Phantom Lovers series, is set to release this fall. In 2011, Scarlet Belles will include two of my Civil War historicals, Rebel Rose and Bought and Paid For. Behaving Badly will include Badcock and Bad Kitty. Bound and Determined will include Restraint and Twice the Novice. My ‘sweet' quickie, Death by Chocolate, will be a part of a larger anthology that is yet to be titled. I've also got a young adult paranormal romance, Haunted, set to release from Champagne Books in April 2011. I'm excited about this one because my daughters can read it! KH: Do you have a website, newsgroup or blog where readers can learn more about you and your books? DG: Yes! http://DebraGlass.com and please join my newsletter for free giveaways, excerpts, author interviews and other goodies! http://eepurl.com/JuP9 KH: Thank you, Debra! Also by Debra Glass: Death by Chocolate Lucid Watchkeeper Bad Kitty Bad Cock Bought and Paid For Find more books by Debra at her http://debraglass.com/. AN INTERVIEW WITH MARI FREEMAN BY DEBRA GLASS Twice the Novice is the story of an English woman who is contracted to marry a mysterious Bavarian count. After her sister scandalizes the family by running off with a rake, Anne has little other choice but to accept the count's offer. Becoming a governess is impossible for her since she is dyslexic. And while she doesn't wish to be a burden on her family, she agrees to do whatever she must to secure the count's hand in marriage. She isn't prepared, however, for the attentions of the count's devastatingly handsome nephew, Axel von Sommerhalder. In researching the book, I talked to several friends who suffer from dyslexia. One is a fellow Ellora's Cave author, Mari Freeman, who graciously consented to allow me to interview her so readers might know what it's like to be dyslexic. Thanks, Mari! When did you first discover you were dyslexic? That's really two questions. The first is when did you notice you didn't quite get things like other people? It was probably by 6th grade that things really got hard. Teachers were more particular about spelling, sentence structure and basic grammar, all of which I could verbalize an understanding of, but often couldn't demonstrate on the written page. Mind you, this was far before the days of MS Word and the red squiggly line. I fumbled through high school covering up and finding ways around my learning difference. I didn't realize I was creating my own system of reading and writing at the time. I chose to participate in theater in school because it was an activity where I could excel. Verbalization was my strong suit. I didn't need to spell or get the comma in the right spot to recite lines of a play. High school theater is where I fell in love with the story. I could master the beauty of language as long as I could do it out loud. The second question was when exactly did someone tell me exactly what was different about me? I was TESTED and given the diagnosis of moderate dyslexia around the age of 27, after I'd returned to college for a second attempt at a degree. On the first go ‘round, the lack of ability to spell had been too large an obstacle to deal with for me at 18 years old. In Twice the Novice, Anne is ashamed of the fact she cannot read. Since my story takes place in the 1700s, nothing was known of dyslexia. Anne goes to great lengths to hide her dyslexia. Have you ever tried to hide your dyslexia or were you ever ashamed because reading didn't come as easily to you as it did to non-dyslexics? I am fortunate that my dyslexia is not so bad as to prevent me from reading at all. I love to read now. I may see the text in an incoherent jumble on the page, but my coping mechanisms have enabled me to anticipate danger spots and correct what I see. I get close enough. Writing or typing is not so easy. My brain can't simply fill in the blanks and correct the spatial issues as I go, as it can when reading. I must type and then re-type. But I am still, even today, after several published books and a successful corporate career, making efforts to hide my difference in public situations. I have almost all public posts proofread by someone. All my ms submissions, pitches, basically anything public facing, are proofread. I pay for some of those services. Twitter and Facebook, I have to let go if I want participate. Like your character, I'm very often ashamed, even though I know I shouldn't be. I fear those who read my transposed twitters or mangled Facebook messages will think I have no business writing books because I can't spell or keep a comma out of a period's place. Why wouldn't they? The late Stephen J Cannell, who was dyslexic, said something like, "I didn't need to spell to tell a good story. I just had to prove it to someone." I have to remind myself of that all the time or I would quit. I can tell a good story. I just can't spell a good story. I'm lucky my editors work with me pretty well. It takes more effort and patience, but I hope I make it worth it. My readers seem to think so. In Twice the Novice, the hero patiently works with the heroine to look at the whole word rather than at the individual letters. How did you overcome dyslexia in order to be a multi-published writer? And how does it affect your writing? I think this is exactly how I work. I'm a very big picture thinker. In one of my past incarnations I was a project manager. I used intricate software to help me manage details, but the big picture of a large software development project was easy for me to juggle. It's the same for my writing. I type every sentence I write about four times to get it as close as I can to correct for grammar and spelling. My EC book, Birthright, has 21 characters and two subplots. It's a big, long book. That added up to about 400,000 words typed (and deleted and typed again) to get that first draft finished. Buddy, were my fingers tired. Don't worry. It's nowhere near that long finished. Characters, the story, those process seems to be similar to most non-dyslexic authors. Getting all of it down on paper is the Hell of it all. You don't have to go back to the regency period to find people who suffered terribly over their learning difference. I feel for people even in recent history. What great storytellers did we miss out on because there was no real understanding, no assistance? I was stubborn. My parents believed I could do anything I wanted, even if it was hard. I was expected to succeed in everything. I believed I could succeed because they did. My mom helped me master reading and struggled through a ton of math with me. Later in life, when I decided I was going to write ‘with the intent to earn a living,” I believed that was possible too. I have help now as I did then. (Although my Mom does not read my erotic books. Lol) I have proofreaders, an editor who also believes in me, and a fabulous critique partner. You will never see five books a year from me. I can't. It just takes me longer. I've tried methods like voice to text, but the tedious business of getting the words on the page correctly is part of the creative process for me. It is what it is. If you have dyslexia or another learning difference, do not sell yourself short. Use your full vocabulary. No matter what your occupation happens to be, use the rich language that is in your head. Don't choose simpler words because you can get them on the page easier. You can fix your spelling in the second draft, with help if needed. Mari Freeman's Plan for Pleasure is now available! It's an anthology that includes her books Beware of the Cowboy and Love Doctor. Buy it from Ellora's Cave - http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-8734-334-plan-for-pleasure.aspx About Mari ~ Mari Freeman lives, disguised as a normal suburbanite, in central North Carolina. When not penning romantic erotica, she enjoys horses, hiking, traveling, good food and friends. An outdoors girl at heart, you can often find her at the lake with laptop fired up, fishing line in the water and her imagination running wild. In her previous lives, she's held an interesting array of occupations. She's been a project manager, a software-testing manager, sold used cars, pumped gas at a truck stop and worked in a morgue. Mari's favorite stories include Alpha females in love with even more Alpha males. She finds the clash of passionate, strong-willed personalities fascinating. She writes contemporary, paranormal and a little science fiction/fantasy. Email: marifreeman@bellsouth.net Website: www.marifreeman.com FREE READ LINKS Changeling Press Encounters - Free reads by Changeling Press authors. Kate Hill's free reads. CONTEST LINKS Pauline Baird Jones Contest Kate Hill Contest BOOK VIDEOS Changeling Press TV Latest books from Changeling Press. Punishing the Art Thief by Shoshanna Evers From Ellora's Cave. Ginger Snap by Shoshanna Evers From Ellora's Cave. Love and Protect by Naima Simone From Ellora's Cave. Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy by Kate Hill From Changeling Press Tina Donahue's Book Videos. POLLS: This month's poll is: poll_process(77); ?> The results of the Issue 71 poll question are: Are you interested in another Horsemen book? Yes. 24 No. 2 Maybe. 0 Total votes: 26 Newsletter #73 CONTENTS: GREETING RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS NEW RELEASES RE-RELEASES UPCOMING RELEASES EXCERPT FROM SILKY'S MASTER REVIEWS GUEST AUTHOR: TRACEY H. KITTS GUEST AUTHOR EXCERPT: TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN BY TRACEY H. KITTS FREE READ LINKS CONTEST LINKS BOOK VIDEO LINKS POLLS Hello and happy holidays! I hope you're enjoying the season. The weather is getting cold here in New England, but that means the wood stove gets a lot of use, which is fine with me. :-) Tracey H. Kitts is the guest author in this issue. Find out more about Tracey's sexy and romantic paranormals in her interview below. If you've stopped by my site lately, you've probably noticed a few changes. I hope you like the new style of the site. If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please feel free to contact me at katehill@sprintmail.com. This month Silky's Master was released by Changeling Press. This is the second Alpha Delicious book and you can find out more about it in the new releases section below. An excerpt from Silky's Master is also included in this newsletter. January will be the start of a new series called Rough, Tough and Tumble. It's a sci-fi, time travel menage and the first stop is the old west. Don't forget to stop by my contest page for this month's contest. I hope you have a fantastic December! Kate If you'd like to be included in my newsgroup contests, receive an email version of the newsletter, and also occasional posts about new releases and special events, please sign up below: Subscribe to katehill Powered by groups.yahoo.com RECENT WEBSITE UPDATES Website facelift! RECENT GUEST BLOGGERS Shoshanna Evers Marcia James Paige Tyler Vee Michaels Frances Pauli Naima Simone NEW RELEASES Alpha Delicious 2: Silky's Master (Erotic Sci-Fi) From Changeling Press. Undercover in the royal palace of Amazurn, Silky, a reporter, tries to gather evidence of abuse suffered by Princess Voluptia's harem boys. Invited to the Princess' secret sanctuary where men are used as sex slaves, she meets the former gladiator Shawn-Dan Dawn who has been imprisoned there. The passion between Silky and Shawn is stronger than an exploding star, but dangerous to them both. When the Princess abducts the Queen's lover, Silky risks arrest to free Shawn and expose the secret harem. Alpha Delicious 1: Maximum Desire (M/M/F Sci-Fi) From Changeling Press. Sexy gladiators Des and Max give tag team a new meaning. Passion ignites when Maximus, a gladiator with a sixteen-year winning streak, meets Desirous, a former harem boy, in the combat. The one-time adversaries unite under the strict hand of Lace, Maximus' wife and trainer. With two hunky warriors and a headstrong Amazurnian woman, sweat and strain move from the arena to the bedroom. Despite his years as a sex toy, Desirous is looking for love. Does he have a chance for something permanent with Max and Lace, or is he just a side order? RE-RELEASES A Changeling For All Seasons (Erotic Anthology) Previously released in paperback, A Changeling For all Seasons is now available as an ebook. From Changeling Press. Ten unforgettable erotic tales to warm your nights and keep you in holiday spirits all year long! Angela Knight - A Vampire Christmas Sahara Kelly - A Christmas Pageant Judy Mays - Jingle Balls Marteeka Karland - Sealed With A Kiss Kate Douglas - My Valentine Shelby Morgen - Changeling Willa Okati - Elven Enchantment Kate Hill - Jolene's Pooka Lacey Savage - Chemistry to Burn Shelby Morgen - Troll Under The Bridge Filled with the unexpected, A Changeling For All Seasons offers something to savor for every palate. From humorous to magical, from Christmas to St. Patrick's Day to the 4th of July, these stories are alight with unbridled lust, sensuous passion, and hot, hot sex, guaranteed to entangle your senses and leave you breathless. UPCOMING RELEASES Rough, Tough and Tumble 1: Hung at Dawn (M/M/F Sci-Fi, Time Travel) Coming in January 2011 from Changeling Press. Rough—Sefu, a hunky pro fighter in the Aspectian arena where contestants battle in a variety of forms, faces death after being gored by his latest opponent. Tough—Tiago, a mysterious career criminal, awaits execution in a high security prison where his shapeshifting powers have been neutralized. Tumble- Zandra, a pleasure shifter who has mastered the art of seduction, entertains a dangerous client who wants more from her than sex. Dr. Apriyn brings together these three seductive shapeshifters for a time travel experiment that hurls them into the old west where sex and violence reign supreme. While defending a town threatened by outlaws, the trio discover each other’s talents, in bed and out. EXCERPT FROM SILKY'S MASTER Excerpt: Silky's Master by Kate Hill (Erotic Sci-Fi) From Changeling Press She edged closer, draping a leg over his and placing a hand on his hard, warm chest. It was very smooth, yet she had remembered him having a decent amount of sexy black chest hair. She noted his legs were also smooth. Only his wiry pubic hair remained untouched. Many women preferred their harem boys hairless, so most likely Shawn and the other slaves waxed regularly. Or perhaps Voluptia had forced him into permanent hair removal. Silky hoped not. She was a rare woman who found a little rough hair on men arousing. Hair or no hair, Shawn oozed masculinity like so few Amazurnian men did. She knew from his fight stats that he wasn't a full-blooded Amazurnian, but half Taurothish. That not only explained his physical stature, but his aggressive nature. Again she whispered in his ear, "I want you to take pleasure in me, but only if you want to." He turned to her and after several heartbeats cupped her face. Narrowing his eyes, he said softly, "I don't understand you. You surprised me in the petting zoo and you're doing it again. Is this a joke to you? Do you want to use kindness to break me because cruelty hasn't?" Silky tried to tell him with her eyes that she wasn't like the others. Saying too much put them both in danger. "That's it, isn't it?" he said, then gave a snort of humorless laughter. "What the hell? I get pain anyway. I might as well take pleasure any way I can get it. All right, lady. I'll fuck you. It's been a long time since I've done it my way." He moved onto his side, grasped both of her wrists in his and held them above her head. With his free hand he caressed the tops of her breasts visible above her black bra. "You don't look like most Amazurnian women," he said. "No. I'm the runt of the litter." He gave a little laugh--this one genuine. Most Amazurnian women were tall and voluptuously built. Silky stood only five feet six inches and was slender by popular standards. Though she had an hourglass figure, her breasts and hips weren't pronounced enough to be considered beautiful on Amazurn. "I like runts," he said and covered her mouth in a kiss so hot and deep that Silky forgot about everything except the taste and feel of this magnificent man. His firm, moist lips felt so wonderful against hers and every stroke of his tongue sent a jolt of passion through her. Moaning softly she arched her back, pressing closer to him. Shawn pushed down one of her bra cups and her breast popped into his hand. His calloused palms caressed her soft flesh and teased her nipple to a straining peak. He broke the kiss only to nuzzle her neck. His tongue tickled her collarbone, then he took her earlobe between his teeth and nibbled gently. "Oh, Shawn," she murmured. Every kiss and caress sent waves of passion through her. Thoughts of the harem and her assignment faded and she lost herself completely in this magnificent warrior. In a world where woman controlled everything, she longed for a dominant man. The vile princess had tried to emasculate him, but now more than ever he lived up to his name, Shawn-Dan "The Master" Dawn. REVIEWS: FOR BLOODY OR NOTHING: SUDSY 4 Hearts BLOODY OR NOTHING 1: SUDSY is a fast paced fun ride that will leave you eager for more. - Dawn, Love Romances & More FOR BLOODY OR NOTHING: BOTTOMS UP 4 Hearts There are some very racy m/m and m/f/m in the book, which are well written and go with the story. - Ana, The Romance Studio FOR MUCH MORE THAN BLOOD The story has a steamy plot throughout and does not leave you wishing for more simply because she delivers each scene perfectly. - Angela, Paranormal Romance Junkies GUEST AUTHOR: Tracey H. Kitts KH: What are you favorite genres to read and write? TK: My favorite genre to write is paranormal romance. Strangely, my favorite genre to read is horror. lol KH: Do you prefer to write during the day or at night? TK: I don't have a preference as far as night and day. But I do prefer to write when it's quiet. KH: When creating a story, what usually comes first for you, the characters or the plot? TK: It could go either way. Sometimes the title of the story will be the first thing, other times the characters or the plot. It depends on the story. KH: Please tell us about your latest release. TK: My latest release is called Sex Symbol. Sex Symbol is the story of Lucy Harper, an ordinary woman who suddenly finds herself in extraordinary circumstances. Not only is her new boyfriend a werewolf, but her new tattoo might be more than a picture of her favorite flower. According to the local werewolf pack, it's a "sex symbol." KH: What is upcoming for you? TK: I've got two upcoming releases. The first, Till the break of Dawn is scheduled for Dec. 24th with New Concepts Publishing. Thanks to a bet with her best friend, Dawn is about to get involved with the undead love of her life for the second time. So what if he's immortal. It could work, right? The second is a release with Ellora's Cave called Fate's Embrace. Release date is still TBA. Between a hot wizard, a talking snake, and a werewolf, Raina has her hands full. Through the use of a protection spell she accidentally awakened her guardian, Aleric. Aleric has been preserved as a statue for three hundred years. He brings with him a hot body, great sex, and enough magical knowledge to protect Raina from the danger she's about to face. She thinks that danger is Michael, the alpha werewolf who wants her as his mate. But, she might be wrong. KH: Do you find it easier to write your heroes or your heroines? TK: Neither. lol It's easiest for me to write the villain most of the time. However, I don't find writing the hero or heroine to be difficult or really different from one another. Some characters (like some stories) just flow and other's don't. The villains are normally easier because they want to brag about what they've done. lol Although I do get other characters that won't shut up. Like Percy, the cursed wizard turned snake in Fate's Embrace. KH: Do you have a website, newsgroup or blog where readers can learn more about you and your books? TK: My website is www.traceyhkitts.com If you get a chance, join me on Facebook too:) http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Tracey-H-Kitts/73968579374?ref=mf KH: Thank you, Tracey! TK: Thanks for having me:) Also by Tracey H. Kitts: Find more books by Tracey at her www.traceyhkitts.com. EXCERPT FROM TILL THE BREAK OF DAWN BY TRACEY H. KITTS Coming soon from New Concepts Publishing When I crawled up onto the platform, it was only a matter of minutes before the lake was still again. A million stars reflected on its perfect black surface. It looked like I could reach out and scoop up a handful of stars. The moon was nearly full, casting a soft glow over everything around me. I'd never seen anything so peaceful. "Why couldn't I just tell him what I'm thinking?" I wondered aloud. "Why couldn't I just ask if he still thinks of me?" I sat there for a few more minutes, knees curled up underneath my chin, practicing what I would say to Marcus. Finally, I sat up straight, closed my eyes and pictured him in front of me. I had to find the courage to say what was in my heart. Maybe a rehearsal would help. "Every time I think of you, I have to stop and catch my breath. Not a day has passed that I haven't thought of you and wondered if you were out there somewhere thinking of me. And if you were … what did you feel?" "My heart starts beating again." Marcus' voice brought my attention back to the bank. At first when I opened my eyes I thought I was imagining things, that I'd gone too long without sleep. But he was definitely real. His long hair floated on the wind like a dark cloud. He was standing underneath the big oak tree, propped gracefully against its trunk. His feet were bare and he was wearing a dark t-shirt and black pants. There was a glimmer in his eyes I'd never seen before and even from this distance it was unmistakable. He hungered for something. Whether it was me or my blood, I couldn't say. "You called?" His voice was soft, but it carried easily on the wind as if he were using a microphone. "Not exactly." "Sure you did, you just didn't use a phone." He stood there for a moment, looking like every erotic dream I'd ever had. His hair blended with the night, like darkness crystallized, my most beautiful nightmare come to life. "Mind if I join you?" He held up a bottle and waved it in the air as he spoke. "Are you going to levitate over here?" His slow grin was wicked. "Would it scare you if I did?" "Probably." He laughed. "Then I'll swim." Marcus pulled off his shirt and I felt every muscle between my legs jump. He was a work of art. He tossed the shirt aside and jumped into the water with perfect form. In an instant he was beside me. When he broke the surface of the water it was like time stood still. He shook his head, sending wet strands of hair flying and clinging to his throat and back. I'd never wanted anyone so much in my life. FREE READ LINKS Changeling Press Encounters - Free reads by Changeling Press authors. Kate Hill's free reads. CONTEST LINKS J. Hali Steele Contest info: December is filled with lots of prizes! In celebration of J. Hali Steele's December 31, 2010 release of Protected, book 3 in the Shepherd's Watch series, December 1st thru 31st, use the code Watch01 when you buy any J. Hali Steele book at ChangelingPress.com, and you'll get a 10% discount on your entire order. Your name will also be placed into a drawing on January 1st for a box of goodies, including books and swag. And that's just the beginning! J. Hali is December's author-of-the-month at Selena Illyria's: http://selenaillyria.com/about/interview-archive/interviews/. They talked about life experiences, and if they play out in any of J. Hali's stories. Pop over and see her answers. Each Friday, at A Sovereign Spot, J. Hali will post tiny peeks into the Shepherd's Watch, and how they came about. She'll ask a question that involves an answer that can be found in the interview. The first person to respond correctly via email to jhalisteele@yahoo.com will receive a PDF of choice from any of her Changeling backlist. So, get ready for some fun, goodies galore, and best of all--SURPRISES for the Holidays! Shepherd's Watch-Serviced video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObXWJ_nktJQ Kate Hill 2011 Holiday Contest BOOK VIDEOS Changeling Press TV Latest books from Changeling Press. Bloody or Nothing: Sudsy by Kate Hill From Changeling Press Daughter of Egypt by Tula Neal Tina Donahue's Book Videos. POLLS: This month's poll is: How many books do you prefer in a series 2-3 No more than 5 It doesn't matter as long as I'm still interested in the series. I don't like series books. poll_process(78); ?> The results of the Issue 72 poll question are: Do you use Twitter? Yes. (3) No. (21) Total votes: 24