Book Vid for Blaze of Glory

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Cowboys, Spaceships, Horses, Lycans, Motorcycles and the NEW Old West

I have always had mad love for old school sci fi shows/books. I mentioned in a post prior, in memory to my father, that he hooked me on all things sci-fi and paranormal. Now its time for a shout out to my stepdad who has also been a big influence in my life. My step father is a HUGE (Not sure this words is written big enough here) lover of all shows old school western so I also grew up watching re-runs of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, anything John Wayne, Wild Wild West (old TV show), and the list goes on and on. Also, he was big into any of the movies they’d replay. I’m telling you even my children have seen this stuff from hanging out at my Mom and Stepdad’s. LOL. Anyways, what do you get when you take cowboys, spaceships, horses, motorcycles, the Old West mixed with the future and a big helpin’ of the paranormal? Why my brain, of course.

Seriously though. I’ve been getting emails asking about my newest series Cowboys and Supernaturals. Most want to know if there is another book and when is it coming out. Yes, there is. Right now its working titles is Parker’s Honor. It’s Jonathan’s brother’s book. You meet Parker and Lynnette in book one. You’ll get to read their story in book II. Right now its slated for a January release. I’ll keep you posted if that changes.

Someone asked if my idea for the series came from the movie that is out, Cowboys and Aliens. Nope–haven’t seen this yet and I started this series years and years ago for Angela James actually when she was still at Samhain Publishing. She said once–I really wish I could get my hands on a good space opera. I said, oooo I’m working on one of those. Well, life happens and people change jobs, writers get busy with other projects and so on and so forth. To make a long story short, Blaze of Glory, the first in the Cowboys and Supernatural book was only just able to see the light of day. I couldn’t be happier to have it out and available to the public and I also can’t thank everyone enough for making this book such a big success for me. Oh and Rory Michaels *cough, cough*

BUY LINKS and more Info

:flash:

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Sinfully Sexy Shifters

I’m blogging at Harlequin’s Paranormal Romance Blog today. Please stop back, comment and say hi! I can’t be sure but I’m thinking if they see I’m liked, they might be more inclined to keep me around *snicker*

http://paranormalromanceblog.com/2010/07/20/sinfully-sexy-shifters-by-mandy-m-roth/

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Inside Jokes & Dark Nights with Author Patti O’Shea

Sometimes I wonder if other writers include inside jokes in their books? Is it just me? Some of them are inside enough that only the people involved would know them. For example, in one book, I referred to “sloths” because another writer and I had a challenge going to see if we could both work the word into our stories. :-)

Other jokes, though, are long term and something that my regular readers might notice. Mika Noguchi was the heroine in my third book, and for a couple of stories after that, I tried to slip in her surname. It’s in the epilogue of my fourth release and if you’ve read the first book in my Light Warrior series, one of Deke’s old partners was named Noguchi. I retired that afterward.

The biggest inside joke with my readers involves baseball. It started in my first book as an aside, an overheard conversation, but ever since then I’ve tried to work in some reference to the sport in each of my stories. I even had one book where nearly every minor secondary character was given the name of a baseball player. The bad guys had names from players on teams I didn’t like and the good guys from players on teams I did like. ;-) If you’re a savvy baseball fan, you’ll know who I was rooting for in the 2005 playoffs!

No matter how much I try, I don’t always manage to get the baseball in, but I did in my new release, In the Darkest Night. Guess what? The hero, Kel Andrews, is a Cubs fan! As he and the heroine are in downtown Chicago, he talks about making pilgrimages to Wrigley Field as a teenager. He also mentions catching a preseason match up with her on television.

I like to think of Kel and Farran going to a baseball game or two together after the close of the book. She knows nothing about the sport, but Kel would fill her in. I also like to think that Farran will enjoy it, but I’m not sure of that. Maybe Kel could teach her to appreciate it, too. He’s taught her a few other things. :-)

To find out more about In the Darkest Night or any of my other books, please visit my website.

It’s fun for me to slip things in and even more fun when people email me to tell me they caught one of them. :-) Writers, do you put inside jokes in your stories? Readers, do you like it when you pick up on something like the baseball references?

Patti O’Shea

Nationally bestselling author Patti O’Shea has won twelve awards for her writing and been nominated for many more. Her books have appeared on the Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks, and Borders bestseller lists and have earned starred reviews in prestigious publications such as Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

In The Darkest Night

Releases TODAY! To read more about it click here!

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Book signing this weekend in OHIO

I’ll be signing books this weekend in Ohio! Shiloh Walker, Susan Gable, Holly Jacobs, Tori Carrington, Carol Ann Erhardt, Tom Schafer, Georgia Evans, PJ Grondin and Sandy Wickersham-McWhorter will be there as well!

Multiple authors signing books Saturday at Book Exchange downtown!

The Book Exchange at 136 Madison St, Port Clinton, Ohio

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Behind the Story:VEXING THE VISCOUNT by Emily Bryan

Buy Link

Vexing the Viscount is a tale of misadventures and mistaken identities. Our heroine Daisy Drake has been smitten with Lucian Beaumont, Viscount Rutland since they were children. Unfortunately, Lucian’s father bears a grudge against Daisy’s uncle that is unrelenting. Lucian has discovered some Roman ruins on his father’s estate and hopes the clues will lead him to a cache of Roman treasure. Daisy has to masquerade as a French courtesan in order to trick him into letting her help him.

Vexing the Viscount was a treat to write because Daisey wasn’t constrained by the usual restrictions on historical heroines. In the guise of Blanche La Tour, woman of pleasure, Daisy can be as outrageous as she wishes. Unfortunately, though she’s read up on the subject, she’s not very experienced in the arena of sensual pleasures. When she agrees to give Lucian love lessons, it’s like the blind leading the blind.

Good thing Daisy and Lucian are both quick studies!

The idea of a quasi-courtesan heroine came to me after studying these unusual women. During a time when a woman was measured by the rank of her husband, these independent ladies of the night shunned conventional marriage. Can’t say I blame them. A married woman’s status during the Georgian era was on par with a child or a mental incompetent. A woman couldn’t hold property, vote, manage her finances, or even have the definitive say in the rearing of her own children. In the eyes of the law, she belonged to her husband as surely as his horse or his hound. However, a courtesan retained ownership of herself along with the possessions she accumulated in the course of her career.

A top-tier courtesan was much more than a prostitute. She was a consort, a hostess, an ornament to her patron’s arm. She spoke several languages and could entertain in any of them. She might hold salons for important artists and philosophers. She’d count the poets and playwrights of the day as her intimate friends. She might bed down with royalty and bear state secrets. A few courtesans were suspected of espionage. Her wit and exquisite taste were as eagerly sought after as entry to her boudoir. She was a rock star and the tabloid press and cartoonists (Georgian paparazzi!) loved her.

If you’d like to know more about the backstory of Vexing the Viscount, please visit my Courtesan Club. You’ll take a peek into a courtesan’s closet (wait till you see the shoes!), read a little from a “bird of paradise’s” memoires (she had plenty to remember!) and time-travel to Roman Britain (part of Vexing the Viscount takes place in 405AD!). Enjoy!

Emily Bryan

Thank you for having me today, Mandy. In closing, I’d like to offer a signed copy of Vexing the Viscount to one lucky commenter. I’ll be popping in to answer questions, so please have at me! The drawing for the book will take place tomorrow and I will post the winner’s name here. Please check back to see if you’re the winner and then drop me an email through my website  to let me know where to send your prize.

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Behind the Story: Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera

Forever My Lady by Jeff Rivera

Buy Link:

Forever My Lady is my first novel. I wrote it because the story hit me right at the heart. In fact, when it came to me I could see the whole thing. I feel what everyone would be feeling once they read it too. I was homeless right before the story came to me. And I say came to me because it was if it was a gift. Having been homeless right before this it was as if God was saying, see? I never left you.

Forever My Lady is the story of a boy who everyone has given up on, he’s been completely abandoned by his own mother. There’s only one girl that has stayed by his side, his childhood sweetheart, Jennifer who needs him as much as he needs her. But then he ends up getting wrapped up in gang activity as time goes on and lands himself in prison boot camp. He promises her he’ll change his life around, that’s he’s in love with her and that if she doesn’t leave him he’ll marry her. She promises but when he gets released he discovers she has plans on marrying someone else.

Jeff Rivera

The first 5 people to comment on this post will have a chance to win a copy of the book.

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Behind the Story with Taige Crenshaw

Seducing a God By Taige Crenshaw

Seducing a God, was my first book with Ellora’s Cave and I’m taking you into how the story Seducing a God came to be as well as a little about the hero and heroine.

I’ll be honest I hadn’t ever thought of doing a theme story before and never imagined to try for one at EC. After making a tough decision concerning with the path my writing career was taking I was surfing the various publishers for something spicy to read. While at EC I decided to check out the submissions. As I sat there reading the call for submissions and came across the Naughty Nuptials theme my mind started to race and heart started to pound. I went to bed and my mind still raced and I could not sleep. The story was unfolding so fast in my head and I know I had to write it down. So I got up and fleshed out the story for what ended up to be Seducing a God.

My hero Markus M’ar Riage, The God of Matrimony came to me first. He epitomizes everything that love, relationships and marriage is all about. He is strong, gentle, and all out sexy. I knew he needed a woman who although seemingly shy she would knock his socks off.

My heroine, Paula Stroker made her presence know from the beginning. Although she is slightly unsure around me she knows when she sees Markus she wants him. Also she has a unique profession. {You’ll have to read the book to find out}. Paula is a smart; take charge yet vulnerable and sensual woman.

These two characters compliment each other. Yet they face an obstacle Paula has an aversion to marriage and Markus being the God of Matrimony cannot help but believe in all it entails. They led you on a wild ride of sensual pleasure and discovery. Also there are a few other surprises thrown in.

So take a seductive journey with Paula and Markus and let yourself be seduced.

Seducing a God is available at Ellora’s Cave.

Buy Link:

ISBN=9781419911453

Website: http://taigecrenshaw.com

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Behind the Story with Nikki Watson

BtS with Nikki Watson

I don’t know when it was that my interest in the fantasy genre became a little bit more particular. I remember it wasn’t that long ago that I couldn’t conceive of a workable urban or mythical fantasy story. It was like the perfect vampire story. I’m intrigued by the idea of writing an epic vampire novel. I just don’t think that what I could put out there could compete with the multitudes of vampire fiction already in circulation. Maybe one day…

Read more…

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LB&LI Cover Art: From Form to Finish Part IV

I’m back again to share with you some concept to final peeks at a few of the covers I’ve worked on. Today, we’ll start with Twice the Night by Dawn Halliday. This was the first cover I’d been handed that specifically requested a dark fantasy/urban fantasy feel. I have to admit, that made me giddy right there.

Title – Twice the Night

Author- Dawn Halliday

Paranormal Red Hot

Dawn did a great sum up of her story. She provided details on all her characters and embedded pics of covers she really likes to help set the tone of what it was she was hoping for. (She offered examples from NY and Samhain)

"Maybe Tamara and Cole embracing with Duncan in the background reaching for
her? Something like that might be cool."

 

1. I received the cover art form and got to work right away on what I envision. (First person who laughs at my concept sketch has to listen to me sing Poison songs for two days straight).

(Like the head with no face in the background *snicker*? Hey, I was in a hurry and really excited.)

2. The hunt for just the right stock photos was on.

The window was the first pic I found that I fell in love with. It had the grunge element already there and from the second I read Dawn’s form, I wanted the other man looking in–that out in the cold feel. The man was the next pic I found. (He did not win man of the year award from author or editor… snicker… but he was one of the easy fixes artists love). The couple was the third pic I found and I fell in love with the pose. It was opposite what I’d first envisioned and offered a lot more of their bodies, which I hadn’t planned to show, but the overall feel of it was too "right" for the cover to pass up on it.

3. I don’t have all my comps for this one, mainly because I did a cleaning of my files before the idea of sharing all the steps came to me. This comp is VERY close to the first comp. What was the sticking point was the man in the background and finding just the right look for him. Dawn and her editor, the lovely Sasha, had (I think) one other change request which was for me to increase the size of the word "the"– (done by this comp already).

The next comp was the third man’s a charm winner. He fit the feel of the character more and also gave the expression needed to pull off the overall look.

4.  After a few minor adjustments…. The FINAL high res

Twice the Night by Dawn Halliday, coming soon from Samhain Publishing

(side note– I think the web guy might have boo booed on the cover artist name. It was only me, I swear. LOL)

~***~

Since I’m running out of days for the workshop and talk too much, I’m including another start to finish in today’s session.

Bound by Steel by Kirsten Saell. This was tricky because its the third book in the series and the first two were done by the same artist so they would have an overall different feel in the end than my style. I opened my email from Scott (Art Director at Samhain) and dug into the art form.

Title of Book- Bound by Steel

Author- Kirsten Saell

fantasy romance

Kristen summed up her story nicely. She gave great details about each of the main characters.

She offered this as possibility of what she might be looking for…

"I was thinking a view from above– a bed with rumpled sheets, the hero’s and the second heroine, Kaela’s naked legs tangled together, shown from mid-thigh down. And the heroine Lianon, lying on her back partly covered by the sheet with her head at the foot of the bed alongside their legs, eyes closed, head turned toward them so her nose is almost pressed against their calves, with a secretive little smile on her face."

1. I instantly dug into making this cover without a sketch on hand. The first version I did never saw the light of day let alone went to the author (hey, that happens too… you think you have it, get the comp all done and BAM you have a case of WTF was I thinking so you do it over again without embarrassing yourself by sharing with the author/editor or the world. This should also prove I work much better when I take that 2 mins to sketch something out.)

2. I did a NEW comp. model pics

Here is the first comp the editor/author was given.

3. Feedback comes. Oops… wrong kind of sword. Kristen really fell in love with the font used on her first two books in the series and wondered if I could use the same one. I put a call out on the Samhain artist loop and Christine (who did books 1 and 2) answered instantly, telling me which she’d used. She also asked if it would be possible for me to put the goatee thingie (like my tech terms here) on the hero.

4. Approval from editor/author arrives with a tiny request that they actually feel bad asking me (I always think that’s cute). The author has a sword in the book that’s a blend between two types of swords and wondered if I could adjust the handle to reflect that.

After some minor tweakage… The Final high res

Bound by Steel by Kristen Saell, coming soon from Samhain Publishing

~***~

Be sure to join me for Part V of the workshop where I’ll walk you through taking your final cover and making a static banner ad.

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