Love is the Ultimate Magic

Movin' and Groovin' but not Writin'

2009-06-25T17:21:55Z

I love to write, really I do. It's cheaper than therapy! And besides, it's so much fun to tell a story and fall in love with your characters. But sometimes, in order to tell a better story, you've got to take a step back and take a break and take care of yourself. I'm currently on a short writing hiatus from my daily word count goals, in order to get my health in order.

I live with a lot of challenges, though a lot less than some people. I have diabetes, thyroiditis and a whole host of other weird and strange illnesses and responsibilities that make me not the most ideal 9-5 type worker. But, I'm trying to fight back lately and control my diabetes better.

And that takes eating right, and exercise. I am not fond of exercise. Not just the effort of it, but the time it takes up. I could be reading, or writing, or playing with my five year old, or working on some of my many part-time jobs. But, I have to do it, and if I must, it might as well be fun.

So I've been traveling, assembling what I call my "global workout". I've got tapes of yoga from India, bellydancing from the Middle East, hula from Hawaii, and Latin dancing from Brazil. Not only is it a lot more fun than my stationary bike, but my mind gets to wander to interesting places while I'm sweating away.

I've already got key plot points squared away for a Hawaii story, which continues to grow each time I shake my hips. I've got a Brazil story percolating, and I'm sure the bellydancing will bear story-fruit soon. Probably before my abs stop aching from all those belly rolls and hip drops.

Now, if I could just forget the food cravings that go along with these places, the pounds would just drop away! Still, I'll be writing again soon with all this inspiration…and there's always that fantasy about my own personal trainer to explore!

Elaine Lowe

Too many manuscripts gives the author weird dreams.....

2009-06-06T20:11:13Z

I know I got halfway decent sleep last night because I had a dream. I dream a lot, and I tend to remember them. Especially the weird ones. Sometimes they are even inspiring.

This one was sad and happy and terrifying and thought provoking all at the same time. I woke up slightly shocked and trying to reshuffle the facts of my life back into place in their correct order. I think part of this dream was inspired by watching the whole season of Fringe a couple of weeks ago in a three day time span, and partially by working on three different manuscripts at the same time.

Basically, I was visiting my grandmother at her house in Geauga County, OH. She was pretty spry for 91, but my husband and I were helping to cook her some meals to freeze while Alex was running around banging on the piano. Only, I was looking at her mixer as I was baking something, and then I thought evilly, "I wonder if anyone will appreciate this someday when Grandma passes." Then the worst sense of deja vu hit, and I realized....she already had. In fact, she's been dead for ten years.

Then suddenly I was in in a bustling foreign city, with palm trees swaying in thick humid air. My husband was trying to shake me awake. Turns out we were visiting some friend of his cousin YY in Indonesia. And I asked suddenly, "Where's Alex?" And Larry began to cry. My son Alex had apparently died two years previously, and we'd been travelling ever since. I was filled with horror, and then I was back home, working in the garden and watching Alex swinging on his swingset and singing.

It was as though I had touched different versions of my life, and I could suddenly see all the possibilities laid out before me in terrifying reality.

It made me realize how happy I really am, and how blessed.

I hope I can simply turn this into inspiration. And hug Alex extra tight.

Location, location, location

2009-05-28T06:39:51Z

(Cross posted from TRS blog)

Location, location, location

In any ending there is a beginning. Even though the economy is looking up, I lost one of my many part time jobs a few weeks ago, and another one is on hiatus. So, pinching my pennies and looking for coupons, I decided to take a break for a while and concentrate on spending time with my son and writing.

It's been so worth it. In just these few weeks, I've gotten so much done. I've got two manuscripts in my own final editing stages ready to go off to my editor for a thumps up or down (up? Please up?). I've got another three manuscripts well on the way to solid beginnings, everything from erotic sci-fi to erotic historical.

I'm excited about writing again, and how much fun it is to tell a story!

But something I've been struck by is the role location can play in a romance. It can be a silent backdrop, a fun accent, or even another character in a story.

In some of my work, I start off with a clear story plan, and then time and especially place interfere, creating a different world than I ever would have expected. It's certainly true when a place is the complete invention of the author. In my Lithian Lusts series (including Seeds of Garnet, Sea of Pearls and Veins of Turquoise), I had so much fun creating the Planet Lithos that by the third book, the planet itself was definitely a character, and the boundaries between what was alive and what was rock became very fluid. I loved that planet so much I might just return one of these days to explore it more.

But even real locations can become characters in the story. Enchant the Dawn, the first book in the Passion Magic series, is set in New York City of 1926. I was focused on the excitement of the a flapper era and the tangle of magic between Daron and Sophia, but NYC couldn't be denied its moment to shine. The energy and vitality of the city pulsed through the plot, and I hope the reader can taste the kind of rhythm that the Big Apple can sing.

Washington D.C. played a part in the next Passion Magic book. The sense of purpose within D.C. is always there, but never more so than during WWII. The frantic energy and hope and fear all combine to give a special energy to the sexy magic between a speechless Brit Magi and a special intelligence agent who can understand any language under the sun. It's Christmas time and the city is split between holiday spirit and air raids. I just loved reading up on the geography of the city at the time and what were the landmarks and the feel of the place during such a hum of activity.

There are times when a location is so compelling, I have to find a story to be set there. I've just finished a manuscript set in the Italian Alps, tentatively titled Divine the Sin, and the heart of it is the beauty of the mountains. I have to say although it's set in the Alps, my inspiration is my beloved Sierra Nevada in California. I love the mountains, and Cassandra, my heroine in Divine the Sin has lived an ugly life, and the beauty of the mountains and the people who live there is her salvation.

One of the manuscripts I'm currently working on is another Passion Magic story, set in Hawaii. My family has some deep roots in Hawaii, and I love it there. I wanted to share some of the unique history of the Big Island, and so when I thought of a story that needed a setting full of horses and lonely stretches, the Parker Ranch in the north of the Big Island was the perfect solution. The magic and multicultural heritage of Hawaii have ended up being a huge character in the story, the lifeblood of the tale. Now -- if only I could afford some airline tickets to visit for "research".

Another place I would love to visit features in my April release Command the Wind. The Isle of Wight is the setting, and this is the one Passion Magic story I've written where I've never visited the locale. I had a great time looking at old maps, photos and travelers' descriptions of the Isle and its history. Again, I was looking for a place important to the invasion of the Spanish Armada, and what I ended up finding was a place whose beauty helps bring the story to life, whose shores become a key part of the tale. Someday, I dream of being able to visit the Isle of Wight and view some of the vistas I fell in love with from all my research. I think Cora and Marcus would love me to see the vineyard that inspired so much of the story.

Are there any places that you know would make a fantastic setting for a romance, but have so far been neglected? Drop me an email at elalowe@gmail.com or visit my website at www.elainelowenovels.com. I'd love to hear from you!

Elaine Lowe is a work-at-home mom in Silicon Valley. With a background in bioengineering and pharmaceutical chemistry, writing has long been a passion in which she didn't think she could indulge. Now, she's living out a bit of a dream with the publication of her novels, including Tears of Talent with Cobblestone Press, Match Made by Moonlight with Cerridwen Press, Nancy's Sweet Spelling Bee, Scandalous Profession, Lady Six Sky, Lithian Lusts (Seeds of Garnet, Sea of Pearls and Veins of Turquoise) and the Passion Magic series (Enchant the Dawn, Reveal the Heart, Command the Wind) with Ellora's Cave.

A new commitment to writing!

2009-04-30T05:37:51Z

Hello!

   Long time no see! It's been a while since i've posted, but I plan on being here much more in the very near future. One of my contract day-jobs is ending in mid-May, and I've decided to take the leap and devote a big chunk of time to writing, promoting and blogging about it!

I haven't been able to finish any writing projects for a long time, and now I've got plots running amok in my head, fighting to get their way into my word processing program. Some examples:

   1) About 3/4 done, a project in my Magi series, about a clairvoyant countess and the mountain Magi who she's really meant to be with. Set in war torn 1805 alps. Interesting things you can do on horseback abound.

   2) A sequel to Nancy's Sweet Spelling be about another of the Wakely Werewolves, Mary. Think about extending the Wakely candy empire to the West Coast, a dead sexy Tazmanian wolf who happens to be a master chocolatier, and a mystery regarding the fall of a San Francisco chocolate company. Did I mention running wild through the vineyards of Napa?

   3) Another Magi book, set in the 1880s on the Big Island of Hawaii. A Portguese baker with a magic touch, and the twin Magis who show her the meaning of lust and love.

   4) An interesting twist on time travel, with a couple of college students in the present who can't quite cross the boundary of friendship to lovers, and the physics experiment that sends one into the future, where he learns a needed lesson in the power of passion.

   5) An erotic Regency about a woman trying to hold her family's shipping empire together, and a reluctant earl trying to reclaim a family legacy he's not sure he even wants. A masquerade, abolitionist and an evil double cousin make the fireworks between these two ignite.

Sound interesting? I'd love feedback!

Updates!

2009-04-08T21:28:50Z

Hello everyone!

I've got some exciting news today! First of all, I'm blogging for the great site, Night Owl Romance, about writing and inspiration. Come see my article: http://nightowlromanceblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/inspiration-glory-and-bane-of-writer-by.html

Also, I have just gotten my first ever book in print! It's beautiful! I'm part of an anthology Tempting Turquoise, and Veins of Turquoise is in there in black and white print!

And coming up on Friday, the next book in my Passion Magic series is coming out. Follow the next Magi as he finds his mate in Elizabethan England!

Nancy's Sweet Spelling Bee

2009-03-02T00:30:30Z

I only just realized that I never posted an update about my Valentine's release, Nancy's Sweet Spelling Bee!

This is my first contemporary and my first shapeshifter! I plan on doing a lot more playing in this world, so look out for more adventures of the Wakely siblings in upcoming books.

Also, I'm making a commitment to write at least 500 words a day starting today, March 1. I really need to get back in the writing groove again so...

If you want to be on my WIP posting list for 500 words a day of my current WIP, please comment or send me an email at elalowe@gmail.com.

Happy March!

January Newsletter

2009-01-22T18:05:32Z

The rain has returned and boy does California need it. I know my garden does! Time for a cup of hot tea and to pull up my keyboard and get writin'! What do you like to do in on a cold winter day? The nights, cuddling (or more) with a partner is ideal on a chilly night!

I've just published by January newsletter, with info on my latest releases, Tears of Talent and Veins of Turquoise, as well as some other tidbits. If you want to receive my newsletter, send me an email at elalowe@gmail.com!

Happy Year of the Ox!

New Release and a New Publisher!

2009-01-09T18:09:07Z

I love Ellora's Cave, but I'm also very happy to announce my first book with another great publisher, Cobblestone Press!

Today one of my favorite books, with characters I love and an intricate, sexy plot is finally coming out. Tears of Talent was a labor of love, and I hope you read it and love it as well.

A hero, Rajan Azra, battles to subdue the forces of evil. But, in victory and its aftermath, what happens to his trusted sidekicks, two lovers trapped within an epic adventure. Iona Gabal, common-born Sense Mage, dreams of the death of her lover Lir Morgan over and over again.

Is it prophesy or simply battle terror from fighting an evil overlord? With the help of the symbiotic nanites that give them power of Talent, Iona will save Lir’s life, by trapping him in a portrait. But will life be worth living when he can’t touch the woman he loves?

I'm also happy to announce that my first ever print book will be coming out in Spring of 2009! Veins of Turquoise will be included in an Ellora's Cave print anthology called Tempting Turquoise. I'm so excited!!!!

Now, if my vertigo would calm down so I would keep working on the three books I'm juggling in my brain, I would be perfectly content!

Happy New YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-12-31T19:26:22Z

Start your New Year off with a bang! The third installment of Lithian Lusts is out TODAY! I am so happy with this series. I hope to revisit this planet and its fascinating people soon, and catch up with some of the couples I've loved to write. See how the ship DMTR and her crew are interacting with the hard bodies of Lithos in:

And don't forget the other books in the series:
and

I'm also very happy to be participating in the Night Owl Romance Web Hunt

Check out this fun contest at one of my favorite review sites and enter to win cool prizes (including a copy of one of my books, Reveal the Heart!)

Have a Happy Healthy Wonderful New Year. Best wishes and HAPPY READING!!!

Some Incredible Art and and Unexpected Release!

2008-12-22T01:28:57Z

Hello everyone! Happy Holidays!

I hope you are all having a wonderful winter. My Solstice Day has been full of lovely cooking scents and some great news on the writing front. The next book in the Lithian Lusts Series, Veins of Turquoise is coming out December 31 - a great way to start the New Year off with a bang.

he standalone sequel to Seeds of Garnet and Sea of Pearls.

Galita is full of discontent. The orgy rooms on the Tessnet don’t satisfy her anymore, and the windswept plains of her new part-time home, Lithos, call to her. Mardon, a huge, red, mysterious Lithian, haunts her thoughts waking and sleeping. For the first time, she wants to know what a man feels like between her thighs, not just in simulations, but a real hard, hot man.

Contacting an alien consciousness and saving the planet from destruction are just distractions from the most amazing sex she could even imagine—and she’s got one hell of an imagination.

A while back, I contracted an incredible artist and friend to help imagine the couples from the Lithian Lust series. I'm posting a sample here, with the full image to come later. Venessa is amazing and she's going to go far. So I present Lithian Lusts: Pearl, Garnet and Turquoise

Please do not use this image for anything. Hey, I trust you guys.

I'm also happy to announce that on January 9th, I have my first book coming out with Cobblestone Press. Tears of Talent.

Tears of Talent is a labor of love, an experiement for me in a different style of writing. It's an erotic, epic science fiction about the sidekicks of a man who has to save a planet, and how they pick up their shattered lives after the great victory. It's about a love that can create magic, on a world where magic is science and an everyday event. Lir and Iona are some of my favorite characters, and I hope you check out this book and get caught up in the dense story!

I hope everyone has a Very Merry Holiday, and leaves some time on a quiet New Year's Day for a little light reading! You won't regret it!!!

Reveal the Heart!

2008-11-19T16:26:08Z

Hello everyone!

I did send out my newsletter last week, but I didn't get to do a blog post! Last week the sequel to Enchant the Dawn came out. It's a WWII erotic romance staring Hester Lowbridge (with cameos from her mapcap roommates) and Jack Powell. She's a codebreaker with a Gift for understanding languages, anything spoken or written she can crack. He's a Magi with a serious head injury, sent to the US to recover. He can only speak an ancient language no one understands, and Hester's called in to see if he's crazy or not. The first word he speaks to her? Ashavi - soulmate.

Check out the new improved Ellora's Cave and take a gander at Reveal the Heart:

She flashed her government ID at registration and stayed at the end of the corridor until she saw the ever present Nurse Johnson finally get up from her station. Then she walked quickly and confidently to room four sixty-five, hoping to heaven that nobody stopped and asked what she was there for.

When she stepped into the room, he was sitting on his bed, a board on his lap and papers strewn about him. When he looked up the smile on his face took her breath away and for a moment she couldn’t move, much less speak.

But she was flabbergasted at his greeting.

“Hello my baby, hello my honey, hello my ragtime gal…” His voice sounded like a rusty gate and whatever key he was singing in, it wasn’t the right one but oh it was nice to hear his voice. And to discover his eyes sparkling with laughter.

Jane hadn’t warned her about the singing. Maybe it was a new development? She giggled and stepped forward, charmed by the boyish grin and the unexpected welcome she received after running out on him the day before. When she was beside the bed, she licked her dry lips, reviewing the phrases she’d learned that morning and hoping they would help.

But she didn’t have the chance to try. Before she could gather her thoughts away from his smile and those long powerful legs revealed by that hospital gown, he’d stood up just inches away. She swallowed and looked up into his eyes. He may have been injured but he was certainly no invalid. She felt dwarfed by his presence, the magnetism that drew her closer and closer. Just when she thought she might simply pull him down and kiss him he stepped away, leaving her quaking with need.

But he didn’t go far. Walking to the wall, he pulled the curtain around his bed, surrounding them with a tempting cocoon of almost privacy. Then he vaulted over the bed, landing lightly on his feet an inch in front of her.

He smiled that swoon-worthy grin and began to sing softly, this time just slightly more in tune. “Yes you’re lovely, with your smile so warm…” His calloused hand cupped her cheek and she shivered, the want burning in her so hotly she thought she would catch on fire. “Got to love you…and the way you look tonight.”

Finally, he leaned down and kissed her and it was everything she’d never had before. Not dry or stilted or awkward, this was electric. Lips met with perfect pressure, tongues stroked with matched intensity. She wrapped her arms around his neck and abandoned herself to his seduction.

He backed her slowly into the cold green wall, somehow finding a niche between all the equipment bolted to the floor. First he pulled off her hat and her snood, scattering the floor with hairpins as he sank his hands into her long hair. His fingers rubbing her scalp made her want to purr in pleasure. Soon, his hands began running over her shoulders as his lips traveled down her neck. She sighed as his fingers stroked her breasts and she almost wanted to rip the offending garment away, letting him touch and stroke the skin that begged for him. But his hands drifted lower, over her ribs, her hips and before she could quite understand it, her skirt and slip were being raised and she could feel his fingertips brush over the skin of her thighs.

She should be frightened. Or at least offended. But her considerable brain wasn’t working properly at the moment. Instead of running, she arched her hips against his hand, wordlessly begging for more. His mouth found hers again as his fingers pressed against her nub through the damp cotton of her underwear and she shivered in his arms, biting down on his lip hard. He laughed roughly and his hips bucked against her thigh and she felt the impressive hardness of his erection, barely covered by the end of his hospital gown.

And here's the hidden graphic for the excellent Night Owl Romance Contest!!!

Also, I'd like to invite everyone to Heather Bennett's great site, Blaze of Beauty. She has some amazing candles and other home products, and some excellent contests that you can win! Please drop by and say hi! Tell her I sent you!

Map of Tyral System

2008-10-09T19:20:12Z

Thank you for reading Tears of Talent. Here is the map of the planet-moon Tyral:

Hello everyone!

2008-10-07T17:14:54Z

I hope you are all having a great fall!

My house smells of butternut squash soup and I'm thinking about what to make with the seeds of the pumpkin in my garden when it comes harvest time. I'm also thinking of making another batch of chile rellenos from my pepper harvest.

I've not been writing as much as I'd like to, but I hope to get a lot done during my vacation next week, when I don't have to worry about my "day jobs" quite so much. Of course, I still want to have some fun too! But writing is fun for me.

I just finished and sent in my entry for the Ellora's Caveman anthology series, and I hope I have some luck with it this year. I'm now working on revising my entry from last year and expanding it into a novella in the Passion Magic series.

Also, although I should not spend valuable time on playing with computer programs, I couldn't resist making another book flick! I do love to make minimovies, but my abilities do not match my ambition. Still, take a look:

Some more art and a new sale!

2008-09-16T16:51:54Z

Hello everyone! How's your fall doing? The weather is definitely getting cooler here in California which is a relief. I love fall weather and looking forward to playing in leaf piles and making stew and fresh bread and the house smelling from baking. My son is back to school and having a ball. My only problem at the moment is the occasional migraine, but overall my health has been good and I've been busy!

First of all, I've sold my first contemporary, which also happens to be a shapeshifter erotic romance, to Ellora's Cave. I'm very nervous to enter the world of contemporary and shapeshifter romance, but I think Nancy's Sweet Spelling Bee is a fun romp. It will be part of their February 2009 "Candy" theme.

Robert Wakely was completely infuriating! They were arguing again. Lost in the heat of the fight, the flashing green of his eyes and the scent of his aggression, Nancy couldn't even remember what they were growling about - something about where to spend Thanksgiving. It was early November and they were on the night from Washington D.C. to the upper reaches of Vermont, where Robert's eldest brother Jack would pick them up and drive them to the family farm across the border in New York State. It was time for the annual Wakely family hockey game, and Robert stood tall and imposing in their little roomette, already wearing the ubiquitous Wakely blue and white hockey jersey. Hockey was serious business for the Wakely Wolves.

Nancy hissed through clenched teeth, trying not to scream at full volume. "You are such a selfish mutt sometimes, Robert! I don't know why I put up with half of your inconsiderate thoughtless drivel!"

"Because you can't resist my beastly charm, woman!"

"Rrowr!" She roared in annoyance with him. Unwilling to admit to how much she wanted him, she spun on her heels and prowled toward the door, practically ripping the hinges as she made to step out. She was halted by Rob's powerful hands gripping her hips.

"Oh no you don't, little sheba."

The pet name she couldn't quite hate drove her crazy, just like his breath searing hot against the back of her neck. When she was mad at him, she also wanted him - he was ridiculously sexy when possessive and angry. How many times had she picked a fight with him jut so they could have hot, sweaty, angry sex involving an epic orgasm or three and the sweetest, softest kisses and apologies afterward?

This bout of angry sex promised to be particularly satisfying. His hold on her hips was undeniably fierce, his nails beginning to bite through the fabric of her skirt and dig into her skin. He bent her forward forcefully, so that she had to cling to the sill of the corridor window for support as one of his hands moved up to squeeze her breast and the other pushed up her skirt over her ass.

"Robert! I'm in the hallway." She hissed at him through clenched teeth, not knowing if she wanted him to stop of just get on with it.

"It's two A.M.. Is anyone coming?"

"No…but…"

"Well, shut up and you will be soon!" he growled and she felt her pussy flood in anticipation and resentment all at once. He yanked on her tights in frustration, "Why the fuck are you wearing these fucking things over your beautiful legs?"

"It's November, damn it! It's cold!"

"Not when you're with me it's not." With a long rip, her tights were shreds and her panties were pushed aside. The pad of his thumb stroked carefully over her clit, making sure she was playing her part and that she was ready for him. She arched her ass into him even as her eyes scanned back and forth along the corridor, terrified and titillated by the risk of getting caught with Robert's cock balls deep in her.

I also just got the artwork for Command the Wind, my Elizabethan Paranormal. I'm really pleased with the overall look and the windblown sexiness of it all. Tell me, what do you think?

Boy, I love new artwork!!!

2008-09-04T16:43:26Z

Ok folks, I've got another book coming out in the Passion Magic series in November, a sequel to Enchant the Dawn set in WWII. Reveal the Heart will have a touch of Christmas fun and a whole lot of HMS (hot monkey sex). But, looking at the cover I just got for it, I bet you'd been able to tell that:

This is a bit small, but there's a great line on the poster about "Buy War Bonds". Hee. Isn't Jack HOT!!!! I am so happy with this.

How is everyone? School has started and summer is almost over, alas. I love the crisp weather of fall though, and I'm having fun writing another story set in New York, this time in the fall. It's my first pure contemporary (no magic or shapeshifters, just regular folks...if you count a prince as regular folks). Rudy and Ronnie is the tentative title, and I'm hoping to make it into the Ellora's Cavemen anthology next year. Wish me luck!

I've also entered the EPPIE awards again this year, with hopes of going to the EPICon conference in Vegas this year. I love Vegas, and I haven't been in a long long time, so here's to hoping for a nomination this year!

Ok, enough with the shameless plugging. Tell me how you are doing, eh?

Lady Six Sky!!!

2008-08-25T16:24:09Z

Lady Six Sky is Available Now!!!

Hello everyone! It's been far far too long since I've posted, though I did manage to send out a newsletter last week! I'm on the mend from a long bout of breathing problems and my wonder whiney preschooler who's very bored will be going back to school later this week. That means I can go back to writing! Woohoo!

I'm slowly working on some new stuff, contemporary thi time, believe it or not, and I hope to make a lot of progress in the next couple of weeks. I promise, you'll be seeing more excerpts very very soon!

For now, here's an excerpt from my spicy, sexy Mayan adventure, Lady Six Sky:

She shivered as her mind plunged back into the memory of the night before. The village where they had feasted and had been welcomed with song and dance and plenty of good food was as serene and simple as a hundred such in the Petexbatun Valley of New Mutal. She had been sleeping in the mud-brick home of the village leader, comfortable on the finest of woven hammocks, when she had been jerked awake by the oddest sensation. Heat filled her sex and fired her blood and her nostrils flared open like a large cat tracking its prey. A noise drew her attention, something wild and untamed though it was just a muffled whisper. The sound drew her out of her comfortable hammock and out into the field surrounding the clustered buildings of the village. Those camped on the ground were soundly asleep. No one, not even the posted sentries were in a mood to impede her.
She had stepped into the forest a mere two zapals away, the waxing moon providing enough light to make the jungle full of curious shadows that made the imagination long to create monsters. The low, gasping sighs, the slap of flesh on flesh was growing distinct and part of her mind had known she should turn back. But her curiosity carried her forward, stealthily moving through the brush until coming to a clearing filled with beams of filtered moonlight. There were a man and a woman enacting the holiest and most profound of rituals, the glory of sex.
Both naked, brown skin turned silver in the moonlight, one of her ladies-in-waiting clung to a low hanging branch, bent over with a searching look on her face so intense, Chanil was unsure if it was pleasure or pain.
Ix Huk P’awil gave a low moan. “Hard, Yaxal, hard!” she begged in a soft voice. With a grunt, the man obliged and the moan became a long spiraling wail. Both warrior and woman remained ignorant of their audience and Chanil could not take her eyes off the couple. Chuc Yaxal was one of the sergeants of her company, a position far below the Lady P’awil but his naked body was hard and strong, all hard muscle and feral passion. He gripped P’awil’s hips with huge hands as he thrust hard enough to send her pendulous breasts shaking.
It was beautiful, it was frightening. Sweat-slick flesh shimmered and rippled as man and woman came together. P’awil’s wail broke suddenly into a scream and Yaxal arched his back and gave out a roar, pulling her ass against his hips with such force the branch P’awil clung to gave an alarming creak as though ready to break. But neither of the lovers noticed, lost in the peak of their pleasure.
Chanil had fled, making her clumsy way back to her hammock. In moments, her fingers had delved through the folds of her loincloth and circled her nub. She was the one clinging to the branch, a man embedded hard and hot inside her, the sounds of the forest mingling with moans and grunts and that alluring slap of flesh. She was so close to coming it was almost pain but she could not arrive. In her mind’s eye, she had turned her head and behind her, thrusting with vigor was no nameless, faceless fantasy male but none other than the memory of Tiliw T’ul, his grimace of sexual excitement somehow mocking and reverent all at the same time. It was then that she had exploded with the most amazing orgasm she’d ever experienced. She’d fallen into an exhausted sleep and slept so deeply that in the morning she was not at all sure her journey into the forest had been part of a dream or raw reality.

It's out! Sea of Pearls is now Available!

2008-06-25T17:32:57Z

The next installment in the Lithian Lusts series that started with Seeds of Garnet, Sea of Pearls is available today from Ellora's Cave!

Blurb:

After a company shakeup, cast-iron bitch Ivani Gorl finds herself powerless and on the edge of a nervous breakdown. Time for rest and relaxation. Saving Lake Silith on planet Lithos presents a beautiful challenge.

Hydrologist Garom Sesh is also at the lake. But he doesn't just live for the water, he breathes in it. A merman, Garom resents being chained to this planet. Though the water is silky, the pearly pebbles stuck in his gills are driving him mad!

Nothing lots of steamy, wet sex won't fix. And Ivani is more than willing to work very, very closely with him.

Quick yum!!!

2008-06-07T02:19:59Z

Ok, I've still trying frantically to finish two books by July 1, but I had to share my wonderful, beautiful covers.

First up, for my science fiction book coming out on June 25 (nice birthday present for me!).

It's a generic cover all the "Pearl" books share, but I love it. Sea of Pearls is the sequel to Seeds of Garnet. More on that later!

And I just got this in an email, my cover for my August release, Lady Six Sky!

Isn't Tiliw T'ul gorgeous!
Overall I'm pretty darn pleased!

More soon, I promise!

An excerpt from latest WIP

2008-06-01T04:23:48Z

Well, rather than moaning about my life (thanks to folks who responded to my last post via email and cheered me up), I decided to give you a taste of the two WIP I'm working diligently on to finish by July 1.

These boots were not made for walking. No, the swollen maggoty excuse for a cobbler responsible for these cursed leavings of a diseased impotent bull that some would call boots no doubt thought he was doing a service. The cobbler supplied the boots for half the officers of those calling themselves the British Navy and a fair number of privateers and merchantmen. As such, the ripe-smelling sot had supplied boots made for clinging to the surface of a ship's deck, not for walking across half of Christendom. Ten miles between Ryde and Sandown should not have been such a trial, but no carts had passed that would offer such an odd looking character a ride - and truth be told Marcus Mares was a miserable horseman. Not that there had been a horse for sales, without draining his purse dry.

So, Marcus approached the village of Sandown, the first point at which he was to reinvigorate the ancient watch fire system. It was also the village closest to the Culver Cliffs and hopefully home to the mysterious pair of gray eyes that still tortured him night after night. It had been three long days to prepare documents and obtain funding and proper seals. Three days far, far too long. Another day walking his feet raw on muddy roads that sucked him down to his knees in the muck.

Now that he was close - God's blood, he must be close by now! - he should go to the Captain of the Guard at Sandham Castle and perhaps then the local magistrate, post his bills and find recruits for the fire watch. He should set up shop in the pub and make nice with all of the boys and men who would be of use, perhaps even convince one or two of the benefits of entering her Majesty's serive.

What he wanted to do was go door to door, a vagrant in search of his heart - good God! He was turning in a mealy mouthed puppy, spewing forth romantic drivel worthy of the ha'penny stage! Fie, she would be his for a lifetime - perhaps longer. He should damn well be able to keep his sanity intact, his cock at bay and his priorities straight. Duty first!

A rustle of leaves to his left, and his hand went instinctively to his saber. It was half out of the sheath when a gust of wind whipped past him, battering him with dry leaves and cherry blossoms and sand. He gave thanks to his lucky stars that he'd gone for the sword rather than remove his dark spectacles - otherwise he'd be blinded by now and a sure mark for any enemy.

But the air held no scent of malevolence and there was nothing in the forest to indicate an imminent attack. Hell it was probably the Isle's famed red squirrels, tormenting him for the fun of it. So, instinct fighting judgment, he returned the sword to the scabbard. As the wind died down to nothingness, he took a risk and slowly removed the darkened glasses he wore to protect his sensitive eyes and searched the nearby brush on the landward side of the road.

There - a flutter of green darker than the new leaves growing on the low trees, the flush of pale skin peeking from between branches. He focused more closely, and he could tell the fabric was fine, but not too fine, the skin kissed by the sun in summer and grown pale only in the enforced idleness of winter rains. That and that smooth skin most definitely belonged to a woman.

"Who goes there? In yonder wood? Make yourself known!"

There was the slightest shift of the woman in the trees, and Marcus feared that she would simply flee. There was no way he would be able to follow a figure through unfamiliar woods in sodden boots on bleeding feet. And he had to know who it was - something in the way she moved, the sudden gust of wind that had startled him. Who was she?

A low feminine voice emerged, "And why should I come out? What right does a traveler have to order me about on my own land?"

The voice held confidence, tinged with the slightest quiver of fear. But the sound of that voice still sent blood pounding straight to his cock, his mind to imagining the sound of that voice moaning his name in the throes of pleasure.

He swallowed and tried to marshal his thoughts toward luring the woman out of the brush, rather than what he wanted to do to her once she was willing. "I have no right, my lady mysterious. Only curiosity to see a dryad in the flesh, to know what creature would have a voice so lovely."

"Fie, sirrah…do you think you have a velvet tongue, to try and coax a woman with such drivel as that? My voice is a voice, nothing more nothing less, the birds sing much sweeter than I ever will."

Still, she may not be impressed with his pathetic attempts at the poetic, but she had moved closer. The curve of her breast was visible, the elegant length of her neck as she tried to look at him without being spied herself. When he caught a glimpse of gray eyes, he knew he need look no further. She was the one.

"Ashavi." He whispered, the sound leaving his lips like the soft breath of a spring wind.

"What? What did you speak?" She stepped out from behind the bush and he could finally see her face in full. Dynamic features set off by pink lips he wanted to kiss until they were swollen and huge gray eyes he wanted to see alight with passion. Her hair was covered by the hood of her cloak and he wanted to see if it was the thick black cascade he had dreamt of covering both of them as she collapsed, sated, on his chest. His hand reached toward her without his will. She drew back, fear suddenly evident in those stormy gray eyes.

Marcus pulled his hand back, cursing himself for a fool. Whoever his mate was, she was a gently bred woman. He had to be careful…

Without warning, she ran through the bluebells covering the small hill separating the woods from the road and launched herself at him. It was so completely unexpected that it took him a solid minute to respond to her fervent kisses. But finally, his arms wrapped about the warm, sweet body in his arms and his mouth opened to hers, his tongue licking her lips. When she opened her mouth, he lost track of when and where he was, in broad daylight on a busy road. They were alone in the world, a matched par made whole after a lifetime apart. His cock was hard enough to bend steel, and his codpiece was tied far to tightly to accomidate the swelling pressure, especially as she was pressing the long length of her body against him with enthusiasm.

She was tall, perhaps an inch shorter than he, and their lips and bodies aligned in the most wondrous manner. Her hands tangled in his hair, pulling his hat off while she deepened their kiss. His tongue explored the sweetness of her mouth while his hands caressed the curves of her waist and up her ribcage toward the lush bounty of her bosom.

A horse neighed loudly in the distance and the clatter of a cart pulled them out of their daze. She did not speak, but shock warred with amusement in her eyes when she pulled away. She turned suddenly and ran for the woods, but he was hot on her heels, plowing into the dense underbrush to follow her, leaving his hat and spectacles where they had fallen.

"Do you make a habit, madam," he paused for breath in his sprint after her, pushing aside the branches that whipped into him with punishing blows, "…of kissing every visitor to Sandown, or should I feel honored?" Although the line had been calculated to anger her and get to her stop her headlong dash, a flare of jealousy coiled within him. That was no kiss of an innocent. She had known the touch of a man. Well, henceforth she would know no other but him.

"And what if I do, sirrah!" her voiced called back to his derisively. "Perchance you should take your greeting and continue on to see what you may be gifted with in the next village!"

She put on a burst of speed, and though he could see the swish of her skirts far ahead, he knew he did not have a hope of catching her - yet. He pounded after her, losing sight of her for a moment in the dense woods. But just as suddenly, she appeared, again, leaning casually against a thick hazel tree. He had to slow suddenly and double back, sweetly confused by her actions.

But talk seemed unnecessary as he stepped close. Her lips were rosy pink even in the shade and swollen with his kisses. He should speak with her, he should explain all within his heart, the history and magic that bound them as one. But instead, he took her lips again, pinning her against the rough bark of the tree. Her hands slid around his waist and her hips angled against his with ease. He cursed the layers of fabric separating them, the tight confines of her bodice that disguised the feel of her shape and prevent him from freeing her beautiful breasts so he could taste them. His hands moved from the tree to cup her breasts as best he could, and she moaned against his mouth, sucking his tongue hard into her mouth and thrusting her hips into him, almost begging him to push up her skirts and fuck her against the tree. He was almost convinced, but he hestitated, wanting to be able to take his time and worship her, learn everything about her pleasure before joining them as one. He drew away, trying to return some blood from his cock to his brain, and she smiled mischievously, ducking under his arm and escaping once again, forcing him to run after her - not an easy task with a throbbing erection.

"Give me only your name, sweet one, and I will be contented!" He yelled, hoping for that boon, though it was enough for him to know simply the knowledge that she was real, that she existed and tasted like the sweetest of fresh water to a man dying of thirst.

Nothing filtered back to him but the sound of her laughter. He stopped, his feet throbbing and his face aching from a thousand tiny scratches. He couldn't stop the smile which broke through though - she was a whirlwind, and he was ready for the ride of his life.

"Ruby? Jane you home? Crap, it's freezing in here!"

Hester Lowbridge closed the door to the apartment she shared with two other girls and shivered in the December cold. The other girls were from upstate New York and Minnesota, and they thought the D.C. weather to be balmy and fair all the year through. Hester swore under her breath as she checked the blackout curtains and then turned on some lights. She went over to the radiator, giving the old thing a good kick and with a puff and hiss, finally the thing emitted some much needed heat. Hester squatted next to the ugly pipes and warmed her hands greedily. For a child raised in the hot deserts of Arizona, Arlington Virginia in early December was goddamn cold!

Finally warm enough to think straight, she realized that the lights and heat were off not because Ruby or Jane had finally managed to sneak some men past their vigilant landlady, Mrs. Bizel, but because the girls really weren't here. It was a Tuesday, not usually a date night, and for both of them to be gone was certainly strange.

Taking off her scarf and gloves and unpinning her hat, Hester shook loose her long blond hair from the tight chignon she'd worn all day and decided to check on what might still be eatable in the kitchen. It was there she finally found the hastily scribbled note.

Ruby's been hurt. Gone to pick her up at the hospital. - Jane

All thought of food fled and Hester ran out the door, clomping down the stairs in her sensible shoes in a mad rush to get to the single phone in the building. Fortunately, there was no line, and she dialed up the operator. She was trying information at the second hospital when the front door opened and in walked tall, raven-haired Jane, followed by a hassled looking Ruby balancing her petite frame on crutches, her dyed-red curls shaking with frustration.

"Ya think I have enough to worry about, what with teaching a pack of possessed third graders and organizing the Christmas pageant this year. Oh no, that's not enough don't ya know. I got to go break my leg by slipping on the damn ice!"

Realizing she was still holding the phone and the operator was chattering at her, Hester hung up the phone. "Oh no! Ruby, I'm so sorry! Here, let me help!" She stepped up to take one of the bags Jane was carrying.

Jane opened her mouth to say something, but Ruby wouldn't let her get a word in. "Help! Oh, you better believe I need help! Either that or I'm going to go insane. Can you imagine, no dancing for a whole two months! The horror!"

Hester bit her lip to keep from laughing. To Ruby, dancing was practically as important as food or air. "What are you going to do about teaching?"

Ruby sucked in a breath as she maneuvered the crutches to take the first step up to the apartment. "Fuck teaching at the moment. That's the principal's problem. She'll find somebody to fill in." She gave another gasp, and without a word, Jane and Hester took the crutches and ducked under Ruby's short shoulders, half supporting, half-carrying her up the one flight to their landing. The door was already open from Hester's mad dash down the stairs, and all three of them collapsed on to the faded green sofa with a thud and a sigh.

Ruby grimaced again. "Oh, this is my punishment for taking on the damn Christmas pageant. Everybody told me the thing was cursed. Something bad always happens, every goddamn year. But I didn't think a Minnesota girl could fall on the ice in damn Virginia and manage to break my leg! Oh, my brothers are going to tease me something rotten, don't ya know."

Hester laughed softly and stood. "Can I get you anything Ruby? Something to drink?"

"Scotch, straight up."

Hester pinned her with a look that boded no good.

Ruby snorted. "Fine, fine, Miss Prissypants. Water. Gimme some water. I thought Janey here was the nurse and you the secret agent, not the other way around."

Hester walked to the kitchen and came back with a glass of tap water. "I told you for the hundredth time, Ruby, I'm not a spy. I just work in the SIS building."

And she wasn't a spy. She just tried to catch them. She was a codebreaker for the Signal Intelligence Service up in Arlington Hall, but she didn't want it widely known, given her security clearance. It was easier to just be a secretary who worked in the building. Since all the stupid men in her department always made her get the coffee, she might as well be a damn secretary.

Jane let out a snore suddenly and Hester rolled her eyes. Great, two patients to take care off. Jane was a nurse at the Army Medical Center in Washington and between all her shifts and taking the unreliable bus to this apartment in Arlington, Jane was asleep on her feet half the time.

"Janey! Wake up or you are going to drool on my cast!"

Ruby laughed when Jane bolted awake with a, "Yes, Nurse Johnson, I'm awake Nurse Johnson!"

"Lord, I hope I never have to deal with Nurse Johnson!" Ruby laughed until she tried to move her leg and groaned in pain. Hester decided someone needed to take command.

"Jane, go get some shut eye, will you? I'll watch over Rollicking Ruby here until I can get her to sleep too. You've done plenty."

"Yeah honey, thanks for the lift. I promise I'll pay you back for the taxi soon."

Jane mumbled something under her breath and yawned loudly. "Ok, Sergeant Lowbridge, I yield the field. I'm going to sleep." She stumbled across the room and into her bedroom, closing the door behind her without a backward glance. She didn't even bother to turn on the lights, probably just collapsed on the bed as usual.

"Sergeant? Thought you'd at least have made lieutenant by now, what with those hours you put in!"

"You should have called me at work Ruby, rather than make poor Jane get you. I could have gotten you with the car."

"And waste precious government worker gas rations? You've got to be kidding. We need those to get us into the nightclubs once my leg heals up! Unless the damn war is over before then." Ruby heaved her leg up on the sofa and grimaced at the pain.

"Are men the only thing you ever think about?" Hester had returned to the kitchen, binding up her long blond hair in a loose bun, she stuck a pencil in it to keep it in place and rummaged through the cupboards looking for something to feed to Ruby.

"It's either men or how to teach geography to a bunch of third graders. Which would you rather think about, honey?"

Coming up from under the countertop victorious with a can of soup in hand, Hester answered nonchalantly, "Given my luck with men, I'll take the third graders!" She wrinkled her nose. Just thinking of that bastard Chuck Lerman made her blood boil. The cheating asshole that she had to face every damn day at work was not something she wanted to think about while trying to relax at home. He was bad news and bad in bed. Not that she'd ever had anybody who impressed her, but with a vast wealth of experience of three men, she supposed she shouldn't write off the entirety of the male species.

"Will you?" Ruby asked, her eyelashes on maximum flutter.

Hester wondered what she had missed while lost in thought of how sad her love life was. "Will I what?"

"The pageant. All the other teachers won't touch it with a ten foot pole, and I've got fifty first, second and third grader who've struggled to learn five songs. Somebody has to conduct them, and I know you can sing. Please?"

Hester blinked, lost for words. "You want me to direct a Christmas pageant."

Ruby nodded hopefully.

"With two weeks notice."

Ruby frowned. "Well honeybunch, if I would have known I was gonna break my leg, I would have sent you a memo back in July."

"you've got to be joking!"

"Well, who am I gonna ask? If I was back in Minnesota, there's the ladies of the Council of Lutheran Women who would come in a muck up the whole thing royally. But I don't know anyone around her who would do an equally bang up job, so it's either you or Jane and she's working double shifts this month so she doesn't have to think about Johny."

Johny, Jane's fiancé, had been shot down over the Pacific sometime in October. He was probably dead, but Jane clung to the slightest chance that he was alive somewhere in a Japanese prison camp or on a desert island somewhere. Hester didn't know if she could ever take that kind of pain.

Hester pushed a tray with lukewarm soup and stale crackers in front of Ruby. "Fine."

"Fine?" Ruby shoveled in the watery soup with gusto. Of course, she inhaled anything and was still thin as a reed. Hester would never be the ethereal beautiful like her mother June was. If it wasn't for sugar and gas rationing and all the walking she had to do, she'd still be the chubby kid she was as a teenager in Tucson.

"I'll do it. But on one condition."

"Name it? You can even have my firstborn child."

"Ha! What would I want with a bratty kid. Because there's no doubt about it, you would produce one humdinger of a troublemaker. No, once that leg of yours heals good and tight, you do my laundry for two months solid."

"Done!"

Oh gods, what have a gotten myself into?

Remember this is raw and unedited, so feel free to cut to ribbons.

Enchant the Dawn is out!!!

2008-04-30T16:28:10Z

Hi Everyone! I'm so happy to announce the release of my fourth book, Enchant the Dawn. It's a spicy romance set in the sizzling 1920's between a cynical flapper and a mysterious man reared as a gypsy. There's a fair bit of flapper flare, some hot jazz, some fascinating magic, a rescue, and a cast of odd characters. Daron knows that Sophia is his ashavi, his soulmate, but it takes a lot to convince a woman who's given up on love. In fact, it takes magic to Enchant the Dawn.

Watch the Book Trailer!

A HOT excerpt:

Sophia was warm and comfortable. In fact, she was warmer than she could
remember being in a long, long time. Not the sticky, sweaty heat of a New York City
summer, or the muggy breathlessness of an Ohio August heat wave. This was the
happy kind of heat that welled up from inside and kept your soul warm and toasty.
This was her heartfire burning brightly, a cheery blaze that made her feel as though she
was home.
But she’d never been here in her life. Deep in a forest she’d never set foot in,
surrounded by the tallest mountains she’d never set eyes on, she felt completely at
home. A brook rippled over rocks at her feet, splashing and bubbling filling the air with
soothing calm. The dim half-light of early morning swirled visibly around her as the
chill of the morning made her breath into clouds. But she still wasn’t cold.
He was here. This had been his home.
His smile was tender, but the heat in his eyes had been the tinder to set her aflame.
There was only a few feet separating them, and yet it was suddenly an untamed river of
swirling depths. The stream had become a ravine a thousand feet deep and dark. Only
the bravest adventurer could make such a crossing.
He wasn’t terribly tall, or terribly broad, but he held a quiet strength within that
called out to her. Skin like old wood polished to a luscious gleam and long dark hair
that caught the red tint of the coming sunrise. And from head to toe, he wore only that
gentle smile. The muscles of his chest called to be touched, the trunks of his thighs
begged to have her wrap around them. Dark hair led in a tantalizing path from his
navel to the pulsing cock that thrust toward her, weeping with want.
Tearing her eyes away from his body, she looked down at herself and found that
she was equally nude, wrapped in nothing but a long curtain of brown hair, a style
she’d left behind long ago when Jimmy had died. She was nothing special, nothing
alluring like the mysterious man on the other side of the water. But somehow, she knew
he wanted her.
He held out a hand, beckoning her to cross, and she resisted, sure she would fall to
her death. But the hand intrigued her. Beautiful, sensual fingers would be fascinating
enough, but these were glowing. Threads of light entwined around his skin, light that
she knew she recognized, but her mind fled from why. She only knew that she was
afraid to get any closer.
Then he took a step toward her, and she threw herself forward, desperate to stop
this man from falling to his death, even if it caused her own. She had to protect him!
They met in the middle, bare feet sunk in the icy cold of the babbling brook. There
was no chasm, no rapids, no real risk. Her pounding heart slowed slightly, terror and
panic subsiding with the feel of the pebbles beneath her feet. But the man in her arms
would not let her heart rest for long. He blew softly in her ear, and though he spoke
only a word, his breath carried a thousand promises. Safety. Happiness. Fulfillment.
Love.
She didn’t believe in love anymore. But she couldn’t deny the feel of his lips on her
neck gave her goose bumps, and the warmth flooding her body was welcome after
years and years of cold. Her arms wrapped around his ribs, her breasts were crushed
against his chest and it felt like this was the way she was supposed to be. His hands
roamed over her back, cupping the curves of her ass with firm possession. He felt so
damn good.
His cock pressed hard against her stomach, and all she wanted was to have him
inside her, to see the hard planes of his face tense with his orgasm, to see his eyes—oh
those green eyes. She was lost for a moment, held suspended over the chasm once again
as those eyes pierced her soul. Green wrapped around her like the strongest vine,
pulling her forward almost against her will.
Then his lips had captured hers and her own eyes fluttered closed. She ceased
trying to understand or trying to fight. She was bound to this man. Her hands moved
up his back, burying themselves in the thick lushness of his hair, pulling him closer to
her, unable and unwilling to let him go.
The kiss was hot and wet and unending. Quick breaths for air were the only
interruptions to the dance of tongue and teeth, the teasing of lips and the torture of nips
and bites and sighs and low, deep laughter. His hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs
drawing tight circles over her nipples. Soon, her knees seemed to shake beneath her and
he knelt, bringing her with him.
The cold water of the stream shocked her heated skin, adding another layer of
sensation to her already overwhelmed system. The smooth slide of their flesh was
merely aided by the water, and before she could quite understand it, he was kneeling
between her thighs and he was holding her ass in his hands as his thick cock pressed
against her clit. She wriggled and writhed until he was poised at her entrance, she
wouldn’t accept anything less than the full measure of him within her.
He slid inside and she hissed in satisfaction, clamping her thighs around him as she
wrapped her legs around his ass, allowing him to take her weight in his arms as she
bucked against him, feeling every glorious inch of him within her tight sheath. His lips
captured her nipples and she keened her approval, her hands clutching his biceps hard
enough to leave welts. Deeper and deeper she impaled herself, until she knew that the
warmth filling her soul would never go away again. Pleasure cascaded through her as
she heard his deep roar, the sound of his voice triggering her own climax. She would
never be cold and alone again.

Updates and Coming Soon!

2008-04-24T00:35:47Z

Well, I've just sold the third installment of my Lithian Lust's trilogy, Veins of Turquoise! Yeehaw! That means I've sold 8 books so far, 3 this year, which is halfway through my 6 books a year goal. I may just be a working writer yet!

Also, I'm very very excited about the upcoming release of Enchant the Dawn, the first in the Passion Magic Series. I've had fun making a youtube video for it, and now I've done a promo banner (feel free to steal it if you are interested!)

And here's an excerpt!

Don't forget to check it out April 30th at Ellora's Cave!!!

My garden

2008-04-13T07:26:02Z

I have recently realized in a fit of self analysis that I seem to put an awful lot of plants, flowers, herbs and herbal lore in my books, whether it's a science fiction romp like Seeds of Garnet (pomegranates) or a Regency tale of long distance lovers like Match Made by Moonlight (the herbal expertise of Marianna Sanderton gets her out of a few sticky situations). So, I thought I'd share some pictures of my garden here in sunny California!

Cherry Blossoms and my house

California Poppies

Rockrose

Sunrise Tequila Columbine

Blooming thyme

Blooming sage...and yes, I have parsley and rosemary as well...along with tarragon, winter savory, cilantro, and I'm trying to grow a bay tree

One of my many rosebushes just starting to bloom

a bed in my front yard with salvia, santa barbara daisy, orange wallflower, blanketflower and spanish lavender

Up close on those cherry blossoms

My pride and joy, a lady banks rose that covers a section of the backyard fence in yellow roses

strawberries in just a few more weeks!

And my first tomato blossom!

A large pot with tomato plant, nasturium and marigold (the flowers help attract good insects to the tomato)

And of course, the bane of gardening...weeds!

Weeds and all, I still love Spring! Happy Spring and check out Enchant the Dawn, coming 4/30. It's set around the coming of Spring to Ne York City in 1926.

My latest attempt at a trailer

2008-04-03T03:34:06Z

My health has been doing better, and edits for Veins of Turquoise are coming along. I've started my next book, with is a Magi book in the Passion Magic, same universe as Enchant the Dawn. This one is set in Elizabethan England on the Isle of Wight, and magic helps stop the Spanish Armada.

My garden is in bloom and that makes me happy. I love going out and weeding or planting seeds or checking on my newly planted tomatoes. When I'm too tired to be out in the garden, I've been trying my hand at more book trailers, this time for Seeds of Garnet. Enjoy!

A great review that made my day!

2008-03-30T22:53:07Z

I'm still slogging through edits for Veins of Turquoise, in order to make it shipshape to send to my fabulous editor, Helen. Oh, and trying to chase after my four year old of course. But my day is made a bit easier by getting a wonderful review from Fallen Angel Reviews:

Five Angels!

Woohoo! I needed that. Thanks to Sonya and the Fallen Angels team for finding my book!

Enchant the Dawn Book Trailer

2008-03-20T05:00:45Z

Well, after taking a couple of courses on "Book Flicks" at EpiCon, I've decided to try my hand at making Book Trailers to post on YouTube. So, here's my first try at a Book Trailer for my upcoming novel, Enchant the Dawn. Tell me what you think! I would appreciate any critique or ideas for future videos.