The End...

With the end of 2012 just around the corner I'd like to take a look back at the incredible year in writing it's been. Not just for myself but for everyone. In the twelve months we've seen many published novels and short stories within our critique group ( visit The Nuthouse Scribblers to see more on these authors! ). Some individual, some Anthologies.

But now comes a new era for some of us. With the release of "Wine and Nine" brought a few firsts out of the bag for us at the Nuthouse. It was the first time we created an Anthology idea from one of our meet-ups and it's also our very first self-published title. This was a giant leap into the unknown for us. Except we know with such a tight a group as ourselves that we made a pretty damn good team, and nothing is impossible!

Of course, I must give a special mention to a certain Ms Cherie Nicholls. I'm glad I gave up that "Queen Geek Crown" to you, because with you this wouldn't have been possible. I'm sure I speak for the rest of us when I say how much we appreciate your hard work. You're a badass...as simple as that. ;)

TNS, I love all of you brilliant and talented ladies. I look forward to a 2013 with you!

Now, without further ado, I bring you "Wine and Nine"

 

(Amazon)

Magic Mac and his Mystical tours, the brochure said. What it didn't tell the participants of this coach trip is that the quaint Scottish Inn they stopped at held a secret.

When you add women, wine, and men the outcome is never certain. Will it be happy ever after or is this just the beginning?

Find out in these nine scorching erotic short stories, guaranteed to raise a kilt or two.

And here is a very small peak into my contribution, "Ailsa".

"Oh…" She breathed, stretching her neck so he could continue. "But I don't even know your name."

"Jameson Parker." He growled the words. His hand reached across her chest, her nipples strained against her black lace bra, and he read her name from the tag aloud. "Ailsa Comyn. You're the most gorgeous creature I ever laid eyes on, and I can't stop thinking about bending you over this table."

Thanks for stopping by and have a...

THE ALPHAS

Blog hop extravanganza! Today marks the release of the first of three Anthologies "The Blood Bar Chronicles". The Alphas have arrived, and they are ready to take over you screens and your mind! I'm here to talk about my contribution "Perfect Timing"

"Perfect Timing"

Josie McNair may be all fire on the outside, but her lack of self-confidence has her insides twisted over meeting her writing group. She begins to realize there are more creatures in the world than she first suspected and finds herself thrown into a life where time has no meaning.

Time-traveling peace-keeper David Malm could never believe in love again. When Henri instructed him in 3042 to look in at the Blood Bar on this particular night in 2011, he didn't envision it turning into a supernatural disaster, let alone be in the throws of passion with a beautiful stranger. Josie reignited something in him he'd thought he'd lost forever, and he would do anything to keep her safe.

***

Now, this is exciting for many reasons. One being that this is my first release (excuse me while I pull myself down from cloud 9) and the other being that this isn't just your typical Anthology. Most Anthologies have an underlying theme, but each author does their own 'stand-alone' story within. The Blood Bar Chronicles is four stories in one that all connect to one another. From start to finish you'll see characters you recognise, and watch the story unfold further as you read. And it doesn't stop there at The Alphas. Breathless Press has accepted the other two books "The Protectors" and "The Enforcers", so watch this space!

Anyone that has spoken to me recently knows that I am part of the best critique group any writer could be a part of. When the group started over a year and a half ago not a single one of us were published (hence the name Up and Coming Writers). Now if you were to look into our group you'd see that almost all of us have or are in the process of being published. And for many (like myself) The Blood Bar Chronicles is the first. I'd like to think of the Anthology as a medal of honour for UCW and I can say that we all proudly wear it and scream it from the rooftops if anyone wants to hear (or even if they don't want to hear!).

Okay now back on point. The Alphas are blog hopping today because we each have a free e-copy to giveaway to one lucky person! So if you'd like to win a copy please leave a comment below and then hop over to Jorja Lovett, Cherie Nicholls and Doris O'Connor. If their posts aren't up yet, don't fret, they will be soon.

So now I leave you with an excerpt from "Perfect Timing"

***

Josie opened her eyes and they met with an almost bare chest. The skin was smooth and a splattering of blond hair lay across it. She pushed back from him and looked up. He was smirking.
 
She gasped and looked around. She was in an old house with antique furniture, yet it smelled like a new car. "Where am I?" She gasped as another wash of ecstasy rolled through her.
 
"I've brought you to my house where you'll be safe," he said. His eyes almost sparkled in the lights of the dining room. "Would you like a drink?"
 
"I'd like you to tell me what's going on. What exactly am I safe from?" she asked.
 
"Well, babydoll, I wish I knew. What I do know is that I couldn't leave you there salivating."
 
"I...feel..." She moaned. She sure as hell wasn't going to tell this fit-as-fuck stranger that she was close to having an orgasm, all because of some pretty boy. Now, the confident man in tailored clothes standing before her…he was her every fantasy. Hell, she was sure she'd written him into one of her books. She wondered what he looked like under his clothes, but snapped out of it.
 
"You and every other gal in that joint." He went to a small bar, poured whiskey into a glass, and held it up to Josie. She shook her head in refusal, still trying to keep the wine down. "He must have some sort of call." He sipped from the glass.
 
"How did we get here, and where exactly is here?" Josie asked, and sat back against the long table. Every sense was on high alert. Did someone slip something into my wine?
 
"Now that would be telling, wouldn't it?" His voice, low like a purr, sent shivers down her arms. She had hoped she would meet someone at the end of the night, maybe even go back to their place, but this was not what she had imagined. Of course, the man standing before her was pretty much her description of perfect, but something didn't feel right.
 
"What about my friends? Are they all right?" Josie's voice shook as she said the words out loud.
 
"Your friends are fine. I assure you." His words relaxed her, and he pressed his lips to the glass once more, and walked up to her. Josie held her breath, hoping that her amazing makeup was still intact, and watched his every move. Despite his height, he walked with a certain grace, and his eyes told of the many things he'd seen in his life. "And you're okay, thanks to me." He traced his fingers lightly down her shoulder. Goose flesh broke across her pale skin and she let out her breath.
 
"Who are you?" she asked, leaning into him.
 
"My name is David Malm." He smiled.

BUY LINKS : http://www.breathlesspress.com/alphas

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thealpha039s-780754-140.html

(Amazon link coming soon)

An Interview with Doris O'Connor

1   You've stopped by. You're here and you wonder "Who is this Doris O'Connor?" And I shake my head at you. Doris is not only a dear friend, but someone who writes some of the most exciting story's I've ever come across. She's a mentor, a guru and deserves all the success that will come her way. So, without further ado, I introduce her to you all... 

        Hi Doris, would you like to introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi Arya,

Thanks so much for having me here today J

I'm a SAHM of nine, have been married to my gorgeous hubby for the last twenty three years, and we live in the UK. I seem to have somehow drifted into writing Erotic romance and I'm told I do it rather well, write hot that is. Get your mind out of the gutter, folks. When I'm not writing I juggle family life and seemingly never ending mountains of laundry.

2     A little fairy told me that you have a 'naughty' nursery rhyme out for purchase. Would you like to tell us a little bit about how you got the idea?

Sure. It all started with one of my publishers putting out a submission call for a new line of Naughty Nursery Rhymes. I thought to myself, what a neat idea. Goldilocks and her three bears imediately popped into my head. I dismissed it originally because I was busy with other things, but those bears kept niggling. Then we had a brainstorming session in our crit group UCW and we were discussing this submission call. I said wouldn't it be fun if the three bears were shifter triplets and Goldielocks worked at a BDSM club. The general consensus was yeah, go for it, and it all evolved from there. Once I had some visual inspiration I couldn't stop writing!

3     If you could work with any author, who would it be and why?

Now there is a question. I'm very fortunate to belong to an excellent critique group of published and unpublished authors, who are a joy to work with. I have many favourite authors and I would be honoured to work with any of them J

4     When naming your characters, do you give any thought to the meaning?

I do in my paranormal stories, not so much in my contemporaries. I find the right name will come to me if I just listen to my characters. They're ususally right—well they would be, it's their name.

5     Do you use your own experiences within your stories?

*giggles*

Err, well I'm not sure I know that many vamps, or shifters. As for the other stuff, my lips are sealed… Well, an author has to have some secrets. I will say that hubby is generally speaking only too happy with the 'research'.

6     Who or what inspires you?

Everything and anything. It could be something I read, a film I saw, a picture, a piece of music, an overheard conversation or indeed a submission call. My muse is a strange little thing. I never know what may spark an idea but when it does… Heaven help me there is no stopping her.

7     What advice do you give to others who find a block in the road of writing?

If writing is truly your passion, then pick yourself up and keep going. I always say if I never published another book, I would still be writing, because I need to write as much as I need air to breathe.

It's not an easy path this writing lark, and the road to publication can be hard and paved with rejection and heartache. Trust me I had plenty in my time,  but it is a necessary part of the process. I truly believe that I learnt something from each rejection and ultimately became a better writer for it. I'm still learning and my writing is evolving day by day. Never be afraid to try something new. You never know where it may lead to. J

8     If you had to pick one book to take with you on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

Gone with the wind. I simply adore that book and have read it countless times.

9     What is your favourite word?

Pathetic, has such a nice ring to it when you spit it out with contempt, lol

1    What is your least favourite word?

Maggots, even the word gives me the creeps

 .   What is your favourite sound?

Baby giggles

1   What is your least favourite sound?

A baby's cry

1   What is your favourite curse/swear word?

If no little ears are present the good old F word. If they are it's usually flipping wotsits, or flip, or shoot, or blinking heck, lol. You get the idea!

1   If god exists, what would you say upon the arrival at the pearly gates?

Thanks for one hell of a ride!

Would you like a little tease of Goldie? Of course you do!

Take one very human girl. Add three bear shifters and one BDSM club. Shake well. What do you get? Lots of delicious fun.

When Goldie Lockwood receives an explicit note, signed by none other than the man she fell head over clit in lust with on first sight, there is only one thing she can do – obey.  After all she is dying to find out what goes on behind closed doors at the exclusive BDSM club.

Having his Goldilocks pounced on by his brother and sister had not been in Jason Stanhope's plan, even if the little human's responsiveness blows the triplets away. Porridge, chairs, beds, she tries them all.

But, can she be the sweet sub they need? Or will Goldilocks live up to her name and run away screaming?

Three pairs of identical, heavy-lidded, chocolate eyes settled on Goldie, and she backed away nervously until she bumped against the steel door. Its coolness served to confirm that she was indeed here and not in her cozy bed, having the most erotic CEO dream ever.

"She's not our sub, Jacob. She's mine!" Jason ground the words out through gritted teeth.

Jacob whistled under his breath, and Catalina narrowed her eyes. Jason, however, advanced toward Goldie with the lazy, long-limbed gait she'd admired in the office. Unlike at the office though, all his attention was focused on her. Goldie's body reacted with embarrassing predictability. Her nipples puckered against the thin satin of her dress, and she clamped her thighs together to stop the renewed rush of moisture from trickling down her leg. He stopped so close to her that their thighs touched. She dropped her gaze to escape the intensity of his and settled it on the intricate tattoo on his left shoulder. She hadn't gotten a close look at it in the office but now she could see it was two bears entwined. The image would have been extremely erotic had it been two humans.

Her body lit up under Jason's intense scrutiny, and when he leaned down and inhaled deeply, she closed her eyes again. For some reason, that really turned her on.

"Thank you for following my instructions so exactly. I hope you had a pleasant journey here."

His deep baritone washed over her senses, and she nodded. His smile of approval showed through the light kisses he dropped on her cheek, and she turned her head, desperate to taste his full lips. He withdrew, and she bit back her disappointed moan.

"Not so fast, Goldilocks."

"Wha—what? And that's not my name." She tried to inject some authority into her voice, she really did, but Miss Pornstar seemed to have reemerged, so she gave up and simply looked at him. The business suits he'd worn to the office ever since that first day hinted at the powerful physique underneath. Seeing him this close dressed in jeans and a black vest and those damn cowboy boots, not to mention having all his attention focused on her—well, she may just go into cardiac arrest. It was every secret fantasy she'd ever harbored times three. The man of her dreams, plus his equally wet dream-inducing brother, and their stunningly beautiful sister. Her gaze darted involuntarily to Catalina, and their eyes locked. Jacob chuckled. Jason took a step away from Goldie and looked over his shoulder with a sigh.

"Maybe our sub after all, bro." Jacob's amused drawl shook Goldie out her trance like state and heat stained her cheeks.

"I'm no one's sub." Her voice was still far too breathy, and she couldn't bring herself to look at any of them. But there, she'd said it. They would have to let her go. She knew that much at least. They couldn't keep her here against her will—they wouldn't.

The click-clack of Catalina's heels on the floor announced her stepping closer, and Goldie's nerves came back with a vengeance. She edged sideways until she bumped into Jacob. He drew her into his body with one arm, his breath hot on her neck as he whispered, "Oh yes, you are."

Catalina's whip whispered past Goldie's shoulder, and she shrieked and darted toward Jason. Jacob growled at Catalina, and Cat smiled.

"Such a lot of fuss. Well, I'll leave her to you two for now. You know where I am if you need me. And you will need me." Catalina turned to face Goldie, and she was grateful for Jason's reassuring warmth at her back and the strong arms holding her up. "I can smell you from here, little sub. When you're fed up playing with the boys, come and find me—you know you want to."

You can purchase Goldie and her Bears over at:

http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-goldieandherbears-769563-140.html

http://www.breathlesspress.com/goldie-and-her-bears

http://www.bookstrand.com/goldie-and-her-bears

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goldie-and-Her-Bears-ebook/dp/B007Q2BCUW/ref=sr_1_7?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333319378&sr=1-7

And contact the author herself at:

Website: http://www.dorisoconnor.com/

Blog: http://thetardisscribbles.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/mamaD8

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Doris-OConnor-Romance-Author/241366635885432

There's a first time for everything.

Ah, blogspot, you wonderful site. I don't know why it's taken me so long, but at last, here I am!

So, first off I'd like to say the coming week is an exciting one for myself and the Alpha girls. The Blood Bar Chronicles, Book 1: The Alphas, is due for release April 6th, 2012. That's only six days away, and I couldn't be more excited! We all worked very, very hard on it and hope that the readers enjoy our characters as much as we do.

The ‘Wicked Ladies Of Fiction’ monthly meet up is always a time to remember, and this month the location is The Blood Bar in the dark streets of Edinburgh, Scotland. There is a new element amidst the shared laughter and catching up of news this time, and the ladies of WLF find themselves in a night filled with adventure, danger and lust.

Now, on another note, I'm coming back to 'first time for everything'. At 26 years old I'm discovering the teenager I left in high school that loved writing above anything else. I let her drift after graduation while I did some other things, but that part of your soul never leaves you. No matter how far you lead astray, you'll always find the path back to where you were. Here I am, with a book about to be published and another story already in the works.

Those who know me well know that I am new to the Romance genre. Horror, Supernatural, Transgressive and Fantasy had been my interest for as long as I can remember. I'd never read Mills & Boon, or anything of the like. Thanks to an old co-worker, I joined a crit group. Now, I know of the horrors of crit groups. Arguments happen, unfair judgement grows, but UCW is nothing like that. The girls are fantastic, and I really am very lucky to be a part of it all. We all started out unpublished and now over half of the group have had stories accepted. It's a wonderful thing and an incredible achievement! We are meeting soon, and we all deserve the wine and choccy's we'll be consuming! <3

Anyway, back to the point (s'cuse the rambling), the girls all dared me to step outside my niche and try Erotica. "Write explicit sex? Whaaat?" Was more or less my answer, but once I gave it a try I realised I had great fun doing it. Now I've taken it a step further and have started on a new story, featuring two sado-masochists. No Dom or Sub, not permanently anyway, but just plain lust, excitement and pain. I wondered how it would come across, so after getting the first chapter out and sending it to a friend, she told me that I had to continue.

So I leave you with a very small (and somewhat unedited) taste of CRAVE, my newest WIP.

She slammed her hands on the large pane window, spreading her fingers hard as Ezra fucked the girl from behind. She groaned, and her body reacted to his, but every breath from her pretty little mouth had been one annoyance on top of another, and irritably overdone. She couldn't have been much over the legal drinking age, and had been more than willing to spread her legs for him, but he was having trouble keeping his dick hard enough. It was best he didn't look at her.

Every now and then she'd spread her legs further, lifting her ass high, and swirl her long red hair around, like she was a bombshell in an eighties rock video. Ezra thought about grabbing it, near the scalp, and showing her what a real orgasm felt like, except he knew he had to play nice. But every time she screamed like a porn star, it only made it worse. He needed to feel alive, and right at that moment, he'd never felt worse. He felt void of emotion, like his soul had turned black as night.

He slid his cock from between her legs, pulled the condom off, and stepped back. Rebecca, as she earlier called herself, swished her hair one more time and pouted her lips, resembling that of a fish attempting to be sexy. Ezra's stomach turned, but he imagined himself holding her in place and having his way with her. His cock hardened a little more, and she giggled.

"You want more, big boy?" She asked, licking her lips and dropping to her knees. She ran her hands down his length, twisting and looking up at him expectantly. He closed his eyes, fearing the erection wouldn't last much longer if she kept looking at him.

Her lips wrapped around him completely, and he ran his hands through her hair, grabbing lightly. He waited for a reaction. One he was used to. A shocked look, and a temper tantrum as clothes are gathered and they vacate his flat. But, instead, she leaned into his hands. He wrapped his fingers around until they pressed into his palms and he pulled her towards him. Her throat closed, and she coughed. He let go, stepping back and she held her neck, and swallowed.

"Give a girl some warning, next time," She said, "You're not exactly lacking in inches, are you?"

"No." He replied and looked down at her. "I think you should leave."

"But…" She pressed her lips together and bat her fake eyelashes, "You invited me back here, and…"

"And I'm asking you to leave. Nicely." He ground his teeth, "Now I suggest you go, before I forget my manners."

"Arsehole!" She spat and stumbled to her feet, gathering her small dress in her arms. Ezra walked towards her, and she backed away from him. She glared, her browns eyes dilated, and flinched when he reached an arm over her. He opened the front door.

"Thank you." He said and raised an eyebrow, looking out at the hall.

"Can't I get dressed first?" She screeched, trying to duck under him to hide but he stepped in her way. 

"No. That's what the hallway is for." He said. She wobbled on her too-high heels and turned her toes in, as she looked doe eyed at him. It was the last thing he saw before slamming the door shut, and just like that, she was gone, from his eye and from his mind. Rebecca who?