Memorial Day Giveaway!

Win a copy of Buried Secrets and Darkness & Lies!

 Buried Secrets

How do you live with yourself when you don't even know who you are?

On a chill October night, a girl goes missing setting the small town of Oakridge on edge. James has spent the last five years running from a past that still haunts him to this day. Now he finds himself thrust back into a life he thought he left behind. Finding out his new home may be haunted and reconnecting with an old friend while being thrust into a murder mystery, James finds himself trying to figure out which end is up while questioning his own sanity. 

 

Darkness and Lies

  Explorer Cheyenne Oppenello lives for adventure and has made it her life’s work to seek out the world’s most notorious myths and legends, and she’s determined to make sure that nothing stands in her way. Accompanied by a colorful band of teammates and friends, their most recent hunt has brought them to Iceland where, up on a mountaintop lies a legend so great that, if true, could thrust them into the spotlight making all of their wildest dreams come true. Unfortunately they have no idea that this mission could very well be their last.

Erias is on a mission of his own. And this includes keeping Cheyenne and her teammates from sticking their noses where they don’t belong. Part of The Brotherhood, guardians to The Gate, Erias is charged with protecting the world from creatures bent on death and destruction and he will do whatever it takes to ensure they never see the light of day.

Can Cheyenne’s determination go up against a fierce man like Erias to get what she wants? Or will Erias prove to be the one adventure she wasn’t prepared for?

 

Enter to win your copy today!

For your chance to win a copy of Buried Secrets or Darkness and Lies, or both, all you have to do is enter your email address, specify which format you want, and answer into the rafflecopter..

 Winners will be announced on Tuesday, May 29, 2012.

This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL, as the copies of his book are in ebook/mobi format and will be given to the winners via email.

Now, leave a comment with your e-mail address and have a wonderful weekend!
And continue to SUPPORT indie authors!

 

 

 

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To Pen Or Not To Pen...

As a writer, I like to branch out from time to time and try my hand at different genres ranging from young adult (YA) to romance or mystery/thriller. I have very eclectic taste, which can be seen in my choices of reading, as well, though I tend to lean more toward romance (who doesn't like a strapping 800 yr. old man with bulging biceps who totes around a sword and is ready to lay down his life for yours at the drop of a hat?!). But what happens when you want to try something more risque?

Recently I picked up a book and found myself wide-eyed and twitchy over what I was reading. Turns out I had completely and innocently picked up an erotic romance (Totally by accident, I swear!). The thing of it was, it had some great material to learn from, scandalous though they may have been. I began to wonder if I could turn up the heat in my own stories. But there was a problem: my readers.

As I am sure many writers can relate, family likes to support you in everything you do, so it is no wonder some of us cringe if they pick up a story that has, let's say, less than wholesome aspects. I am one of these people. I don't think a story has to have graphic sex to be a worthwhile read. Rather, I think a book is a book and how it was written is the way it should be. I don't judge a book because of its content, but rather how it was executed. I want connection, I want romance, I want intrigue! And if that means lots and lots of sex to accomplish that, then I am willing to accept that.

So back to the point...
Would you consider a writing a racy novel if it meant you could change your name from that boring name your parents stuck you with and you always hated, like Jane Doe, to the name you fantasized about your whole life, like Fantasia Carmichael? I never really considered it before, but one day I was creeping around one of my favorite author's Goodreads profile and, low and behold, she had a pen name under which she wrote erotica. Color me surprised! Okay, not really. Her novels push the envelope, so it wasn't a far stretch of the imagination. So I got to thinking, how do you choose a pen name? How do you use a pen name? Can you use a pen name without legal ramifications? Is it easy? How do you choose one? There were so many more, but you get the idea and I won't torture you by listing them all.

I started with a Google search and came up with some pretty great (and surprising) results. Did you know there are name scramblers out there? Oh yes, and there are even some that will give you random names from countries all over the world! Very cool.

Something I was shocked to find: Did you know that Anne Rice, author of books such as The Vampire Lestat, writes erotica? This woman right here! --->  

My mind wanders to dark places of my own grandmother sitting at a desk with her quill, ink well, and piece of parchment paper (she's old, she doesn't know how to work a computer) her mind corrupted with thoughts of sex and debauchery and I shudder, grateful that she taught my mother, the virgin queen, better.

My search brought me to Amazon, where people say that it is very easy to publish under a pen name with just a few little details to be considered to make it work. This solidified it for me. I have since chosen a pen name and begun a series that will be released sometime this summer under said name. I am excited, but a couple of close friends have raised the question that begs to be answered: What happens if that pen name earns more success than your given name? Does it somehow sour the success you have achieved with your given name (assuming you haven't tied the two together)? Or should you rejoice in the success and go about your day? That is a question I am still trying to answer.

So what would you do: Tie the pen name to your given name and enjoy dual success, or keep it separate so no one knows the sordid details of your alter ego? Or would you resist the use of a pen name and write everything under your given name, because it doesn't bother you at all that you write children's books and have since segued into erotica, knowing it is just a matter of time before little Billy or Sarah pick up your version of The Dirty Dozen and are scarred for life?

Review of A Devil Named Desire (The Devil's Bargain #2) by Author Terri Garey

 4 Stars

Hope Henderson is in a state of despair over her sister's supposed death. After a series of unfortunate events throughout her life--her parent's deaths and running her sister off unintentionally--Hope blames herself for everything that has gone wrong. She is so depressed, in fact, that she attempts to kill herself, unwittingly calling upon the Darkness. And that is when Sammy Divine, the devil himself, steps in to save the day.

Sammy, always the Master of Deceit, has his own agenda. Give Hope the opportunity to see her sister again, and in return Hope will create a site for his followers to worship him and his minions, as well as her immortal soul. However, Archangel Gabriel, the Lightbringer, never the one to let a good soul fall into the abyss, notices the darkness shadowing Hope, and steps up to the plate, appointing himself her protector.

I really liked this story. Gabriel, as an angel, is historically forbidden to partake in sins of the flesh, otherwise risk falling the way of his brother, Samael. He holds himself to this high standard, looking down on his fallen brethren because he cannot comprehend his temptation as he has never been tempted. Until he meets Hope. Hope appears to be anything but attracted to him, which boggles his mind and captures his attention more thoroughly than whatever game the Devil is playing at.

I had a few problems with the wording. It seems the author has a style that can be a little backwards at times, but overall, the tone was perfectly fine. I also noticed a few typos, but that is nothing compared to the actual leaving out of words. That was my biggest annoyance throughout this book. In the end, I couldn't hold it against the author because there were some great passages that were beautifully written. Everything about it was dark and sensuous, temptation wrapped in pleasure that has the power to create a flutter in your belly as first love is recognized and acted upon. I loved the connection between Gabe and Hope, but I was attracted to Sammy's role in all of this too, curious to see how his life will play out in the end. Try as he might to be evil, there is no doubt there is a heart somewhere deep down beneath that clever, crafty, devilish facade.

If you like your romance wrapped in deviltry, pick up a copy on Amazon, today.