Meet the Draicon guys, werewolves with bite

NICOLAS, outcast and alone, from THE EMPATH









DAMIAN, Alpha pureblood pack leader from ENEMY LOVER

BAYLOR, loyal, brave warrior from BROKEN SOULS (Nocturne Bite)

RAPHAEL, powerful immortal from IMMORTAL WOLF

GABRIEL, the Raphael's charming brother, with a dark secret, perhaps the most dangerous of all the Draicon, from THE SHADOW WOLF

ALEXANDRE, mourning the death of his mate and child, who will fight to the death for his pack, and thinks he can never find love again

INDIGO, half-werewolf, half-vampire, outcast in both worlds. Adopted by the Robichaux pack, he's big, bad and fiercely loyal to the Cajun clan.

this is just too cute

By now, the world has heard of Puppy Cam, where the San Fran Shib Inu puppies are on Ustream.

Click here.

These 6 little pups make me smile when I really need it. Watching them at night really cracks me up, when they attack their bed, after sleeping in it all day.

They dig at the underside and gnaw at it, and tear up the foam.

It reminds me of Tiger, our Shih Tzu who is 15, and has had health problems. But when he was that age, he used to attack the underside of his bed and gnaw at the foam, until DH put a board at the bottom of the bed, so he couldn't turn it over.

Ah, puppies! They make a hard day less hard!

Hump Day Hunk

I chose him for his tattoo. The hero of the proposal I'm writing has a tattoo... actually a couple. One is in a very private place, as the heroine discovers.

:-)

Hurt my back Sunday while riding my bike through the park to see Christmas lights with DH. It was a lot of fun, but I'm paying this week. It's slowly getting better, though.

Reading is like sex

This weekend, I really tried to work on this proposal. It was a chilly 70 degrees in the Florida room as I sat there with my computer while DH was out with a friend. I tried, but couldn't concentrate. Too much going on.

So I gave up and decided to do something nice for myself.

I read.

I retired to the back yard with a book, an old Karen Robards RS that has recently been reissued. Ghost Moon. $4 in Walmart, and let me tell you, reissuing books at a very inexpensive price is a great hook and a very smart move by publishers. It enables you to try out a new to you author who is a lead, (her books are hardcover now) and see if you get hooked.

I was hooked. Great story. Just sat there, reading. Dolce was at the back door, barking for attention. Let him out, he sat on my lap while I read.

Then Tiger got jealous.

So he sat on my lap while I read. Seldom do I get a chance to read these days. Reading is such a pleasurable experience, that for me, it's like sex.

I finished the book and had that lovely feeling I get when I'm satisfied after a read.

It's like a "reading afterglow." You have the foreplay in the first few chapters, then it builds up and up and things are great, and POW!

Ahhhhhh

Then you finish, and there is the afterglow. ;-)

At night DH and I biked through our local park as they have the holiday fantasy of lights festival running, and had one special night for bikers only. It was scads of fun.

Now I'm in a lot of pain, again, from my back. But yesterday was a very good day. And I'm very glad I took a break to read.

I need more reading in my life. Don't we all?

My bucket list includes a clean house!

Haven't blogged all week as it's been a bit hectic. Between treatments for my poor, injured back, and taking Tiger to the eye vet, work, etc. it's been a trifle crazy.

This morning poor Tiger, who is 15, had a mini stroke. It scared us silly. He's had them before, and recovered, but it's awful to watch and hear the poor baby moan and howl. So I'm home keeping an eye on him and trying to get stuff done.

Such as clean the house. I have a proposal to write, now that edits are done on the April book,but my brain is filled with mind gunk. So I'm trying to clean the house.

Ever get caught up in a project, and then when you're done, it looks like you have NOTHING accomplished?

Anyway, I was thinking yesterday about a bucket list. The only things I know I'd like to do before I die include visiting Egypt and Ireland, and financially, that is out of the question now.

The other thing is I'd like a really clean, ORGANIZED, house. I swear, our stuff has sex in the middle of the night, and reproduces. Like bunny rabbits.

On another note, this week I had my 15 year anniversary of working at the day job. My department got a cake, and made a really nice card. Everyone said such wonderful things, I felt so emotional. They were really, really nice and I really appreciated it.

Blogging today over at the Chatelaines

On music and songs that make you go gahhhhhh!

Click here!

Excerpt from The Lady and the Libertine

Working on edits. It's beautiful outside, sigh. So I'm in the Florida room, enjoying the breeze. In the meantime, while I work away, here's a sneak peek at April's historical, from the first chapter. You might say the hero is an anti-hero. Definitely. :-)


The Lady and the Libertine
copyright 2008 by Bonnie Vanak

Khamsin camp, Eastern desert of Egypt, 1908

He would not be the virile groom tenderly deflowering her on their wedding night.

Her virgin breasts, hidden beneath the white kuftan, he would never caress, causing a sigh of passion to wring from her slender throat; the sparkling ruby dangling between them stood out like a blood droplet against a snowy bank. His hands, accustomed to stroking the skin of whores, were not worthy of touching her.

They were, however, quite capable of stealing the ruby. As they had swiped other priceless Egyptian antiquities.

Crouched beneath the shade of a cigar-shaped ben tree, Nigel Wallenford, rightful earl of Claradon, studied his prey as he clutched the oily rifle in his sweating palms. The silent woman picked up scattered seeds on the ground. Karida was her name. She guarded the ruby he needed to complete the key and locate the treasure of the sleeping golden mummies.

All week, during his visit here on the pretext to buy Arabian mares, he’d heard her relatives praise her virtue and honor as if she were not a living, breathing woman but a limestone statue. Nigel wouldn’t have cared if she was as corrupt as he; he cared only about the ruby.

Ben trees, acacia trees and yellow-green plants peppered the water source near the Khamsin camp. The burning yellow sun played off jagged mountain peaks and peach-colored hills of sandstone. A cooling breeze chased away the sultry afternoon heat shimmering off the tawny sands. Black mountains and endless desert ringed this part of Egypt’s eastern desert.

Jabari bin Tarik Hassid, the Khamsin sheikh, thought Nigel was currently at the water source to kill desert hares, but he had chosen the spot to pursue Karida. Each afternoon since his arrival she came here to gather seeds. Like a good hunter he’d learned her habits, knew her movements. Like a hare struck down by a bullet, Karida would never know what hit her. The ruby would soon be his.

Karida kept stealing glances at him. Her face, hidden by a half-veil out of courtesy to the visiting al Assayra tribesmen, was expressionless.

A good hunter knew how to disarm his prey, make them feel false security. Nigel set down the rifle and offered his most charming smile. He gestured to the bullet-hard seeds she dropped into her goatskin bag but kept his gaze centered on the ruby. His fingers itched to swipe the stone. Soon. “Are those for eating?”

Karida blinked, as if startled to hear a human voice. “Samna. Cooking oil.”

Like her Uncle Ramses and the rest of her family, she spoke perfect English. Yet her accent was odd, as if she’d lived somewhere other than here in Egypt.

“I’m marrying tonight. This will be my last time gathering the seeds.” She gave a little sigh, as if pondering her fate.

“Do you love him?’ Nigel blurted, then could have kicked himself. A rude question. But he was a foreigner; maybe she’d forgive him.

“I do not know him.” Karida gave a little laugh, as sweet and musical as the jingling of gold bracelets. “I don’t know who has chosen me. But all the al Assayra warriors are honorable and noble, and so will be my husband.”

Her large, golden brown eyes, so exotic and mysterious, seemed to pierce him. “He will never lie to me or steal, and he will be admirable all his days.”

Nigel stared at Karida in sudden bleakness, feeling the shadows of old ghosts smother him. She was so damn perfect, an angel compared to the demon lurking inside him. His gaze dropped to his hands, and he rubbed them violently against his khaki trousers. Knowing he wasn’t fit to touch her.

You would never marry me. I can’t father your children. My own sire lied about my birthright because I was sterile, and though I was older I could not give him an heir like my twin brother. I wouldn’t give you my heart, but I could steal away yours.

Or worse. I could kill you.

It's almost enough to make you want to quit being an author

E piracy of your books.

I almost don't care about The Empath. That book is out of print. And now some yahoo has it for free in Spanish!

But I found a few sites with my new Nocturne, Enemy Lover.

Available for free download.

It's extremely depressing and disheartening. My new release is being given away for free.

I wonder how these people would feel if I went to their houses, siphoned gas out of their cars and used the excuse that hey, it's parked on a public street and I can't afford to buy gas, or some other lame excuse.

E piracy is stealing.

I don't make a heck of a lot of money by writing romance, and though it's not a topic openly discussed, neither do most romance authors. We work hard to bring you books we hope you enjoy.

For me, I do it because I love to tell stories and I love to write.

The money I earn usually goes back into the writing. Promotions, research, keeping up with computer software, websites, etc.

I work very very hard at my books. This weekend, do you know what I'm doing? Am I taking a vacation, a boat cruise or lying in the sun, enjoying the profits of my romance writing? No, I have edits due MONDAY on the next Egyptian historical that I just received. And I work FT, so it makes it challenging.

I've had to cancel plans to attend a friend's art show opening because I have a deadline I have to meet. That's the business. I accept everything that goes with it.

But e piracy is a challenge I never anticipated when I got my first book published.

If you can't afford to buy one, I understand. I'm struggling to make a living as well! There's the library, paperback swap, and other places to get the book.

Please don't resort to epiracy. It's stealing, plain and simple.

New blog, post on Harlequin's paranormal blog

Some news to report.

First, I blogged over at Harlequin's paranormal blog about Enemy Lover, and how I came up with the idea for flying werewolves. Check it out here.

And speaking of werewolves, I have great news - a release date for Raphael's book! That Nocturne is called IMMORTAL WOLF and will be out next fall.

Now switching to Egypt and historicals: THE LADY AND THE LIBERTINE is my next Egyptian historical. The hero is an earl who is a rogue, and a libertine and a thief. The heroine is a woman who was raised in an English workhouse, and then sent to live in Egypt with the Khamsin. The ruby necklace she wears is the key to a fabulous treasure, and the earl desires to steal it, and her virginity as well. But will she steal away his heart?

I'm blogging about Egypt next week for the new blog some fellow authors and I have launched. The Chatelaines features Emily Bryan, Cindy Holby, Jennifer Ashley, CL Wilson (Cheryl), Gerri Russell, Joy Nash and me!

Click here and let us know what you think of the banner. I think it's very clever and funny. I'm walking like an Egyptian!

This defining moment in history

"Americans sent a message to the world... we are not a collection of red states and blue states...we are and always will be... the United States of America."

President Elect Barack Obama
Acceptance speech
November 5, 2008

The Lady & the Libertine

Here's the cover to my April historical. It's the scene where he's trying to steal her necklace, which is the key to a fantastic treasure hidden in Egypt's sands.

On being an author

Today is the day, America. Go vote!

DH and I early voted. Saved time. Our polling place is a nursing home. Yup, a nursing home.

Good news: DEADLY TOUCH, my next Nocturne, has a release date of next fall! Woo hoo! This is Raphael's story, the Cajun, Harley-riding immortal werewolf. The title will change. I'll post the new title when I have it.

Recently I was talking with some friends about work. life and writing. It's not easy holding down a day job and being an author. It's not just the writing. There's promoting the book, keeping up with a website, dealing with copy edits, galleys, changes, proposals, etc.

I wouldn't trade it for anything.


For all the angst this crazy business can cause; from deadline stress to rejections to last minute changes and anxiety over worrying if a book will have good sales, there is one critical factor that always stands out.

When I walk into a bookstore and scan the romance aisle, and see my new release, it has my name on it.

My name. It's my book. It's something I created, sweated over, imagined, dreamed. For better or worse in the public's eyes, it's mine.

And no one can ever take that away.

That's why I get excited when I meet an author with a debut book. I know what it's like to obtain that dream, see the vision become reality.

There's nothing else like it. And maybe, never will be again.

For all of you who are newly published, enjoy every wonderful moment of the ride.

For those of you who are still aspiring, keep trying. This business is talent, skill, and style, but 80 percent of it is sheer luck.

The moment you see your name on that book cover for the first time is one you will never forget.

No one can ever take that away from you.

SALE!! Get Broken Souls for 89 cents TODAY!

This is pretty cool! Harlequin is having a special sale on ebooks each day this week from noon to 3 pm EST. Today they are featuring my new Nocturne BITE, BROKEN SOULS.

This means you can buy Baylor and Katia's story for only 89 cents!

She was forbidden by the Draicon to cast the blood-to-blood spell. But Katia was determined to find her father, and the spell was her only option. The Draicon had taken her into their pack when her own family had been destroyed by the Morphs. But Katia had never given up hope that her father was still alive, and refused to mate for life with her beloved Baylor until she found him.

Now Baylor had given her an ultimatum, and Katia was forced to take drastic measures.
But when Katia’s spell summoned a Morph claiming to be her father, nothing Baylor said could convince her of the danger. Baylor knew too well the cost of trusting a loved one who’d turned, and desperately wanted to save Katia the pain he’d lived with for so long. He also knew that if he spared the Morph, it would destroy Katia, but if he killed this evil being, he risked losing her love forever.


Click here to access the sale. There are lots of great deals on ebooks and keep checking back, as they will keep featuring different ones every day.

I love that four-letter word. SALE.

Halloween

Here's Dolce in the costume we bought him for Halloween. Notice how joyful he looks.

We didn't get as many trick or treaters as years past as it was raining, but enough to make him bark each time and run to the doorbell. He is a true Gator, showing his colors.

Booksigning at the Altamonte Mall went great! I sold out of Enemy Lover, and nearly out of Scorpion. Had a wonderful time sitting next to Nancy Robards Thompson. This is my favorite booksigning and it raises money for adult literacy as well. The members of the Central Florida Romance Writers are all wonderful, and it's always a pleasure signing with them.

Contest to celebrate release of ENEMY LOVER

My website is being updated, and while it still is, here's the link to enter my November contest for your chance to win a jewelry box.

Click here.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

I'm on my way to Orlando for a booksigning today at the Altamonte Springs Mall. I took a muscle relaxer for my back pain. Good thing DH is driving. I wonder if I'll sit there in my chair, drooping like a rag doll.

Happy November, all.

Ow

My back has been killing me all day. I was doing okay and then gave the dog his meds and something went. I could barely walk.

Between Tiger and I, our house is like a sick ward, lol. Tiger had an eye procedure this week and the poor baby has been in pain so I gave him his pain meds wrapped in a piece of cheese.

Then I went to take MY meds and I wrapped the pill in a piece of cheese and realized, "What am I doing? Should I also pat myself on the head and say, 'Good boy?!"

Tonight DH is carving the pumpkin for tomorrow night and the legions of kids we will probably get. I have a "hot" date with a heating pad, lol.

Blogging today at Midnight Moon Cafe

With those wonderful ladies. Stop by and leave a comment and have a chance to win an autographed copy of The Empath, my first Nocturne.

Click here to read.

In other news, I hurt my back, but I'm hoping the meds will help it heal. I also learned my May release, THE LADY AND THE LIBERTINE, has been moved up to April. I have the cover, but have to figure out how to upload.

Have a great day!

A tribute

Carol Anne used to be an editor at the paper where I worked.

She was colorful, outspoken, loved animals, and the environment, and wasn't afraid to state her mind. I always admired her for her gusto and passion for life.

She will be missed.

She was a writer for The Huffington Post. Click here to read the tribute.

Broken Souls, broken keyboard as well

Here's the cover to BROKEN SOULS, my Nocturne Bite out Nov. 1, same release date as ENEMY LOVER. Broken Souls is another Draicon werewolf book. Does the cover look familiar?Take a look at the cover to THE EMPATH. LOL!! Same setting different head.

Here's a blurb:

She was forbidden by the Draicon to cast the blood-to-blood spell. But Katia was determined to find her father, and the spell was her only option. The Draicon had taken her into their pack when her own family had been destroyed by the Morphs. But Katia had never given up hope that her father was still alive, and refused to mate for life with her beloved Baylor until she found him. Now Baylor had given her an ultimatum, and Katia was forced to take drastic measures.

But when Katia's spell summoned a Morph claiming to be her father, nothing Baylor said could convince her of the danger. Baylor knew too well the cost of trusting a loved one who'd turned, and desperately wanted to save Katia the pain he'd lived with for so long. He also knew that if he spared the Morph, it would destroy Katia, but if he killed this evil being, he risked losing her love forever.

I always wanted to write their story,and it fit well into a Nocturne Bite.

There's something funky going on with my wireless keyboard. I bought this computer about 3 years ago, and now the keyboard is going funky. I have to type on top of the desk. I don't know what the deal is.

Got some good news last week which I'll be sharing soon. In the meantime, it's back to writing, since I have a new project and a new deadline.

Surrender or Die!

Blogging today over at Unusual Historicals on this topic.

Click here to read.

Hump Day Hunk

Today's Hump Day Hunk is none other than the fab. Gerard. Since Halloween is fast approaching, I'm thinking vampires in addition to weres, and Dracula 2000, a very hot movie with an even hotter vamp.

Bite me.

Please.

Hump Day Hunk, reviews for Enemy Lover

For today's Hump Day Hunk, this is how I'd envisioned Damian, the hero of Enemy Lover, my November Nocturne. Not with the lion cub, though he does rescue Jamie's cat in one scene.

Got some cool reviews for Enemy Lover. Yay! And a friend, whom I gave an author's copy to, loves, loves. loves it! It means a lot to me because she adored The Empath and couldn't wait for Damian's story, and liked this one better. She sighed over Damian.

The books are connected, but you don't have to read The Empath before reading Enemy Lover.


CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

"Damian Marcel, Draicon of his pack, is looking for his draicara, his life mate.
After she tried to kill him, it’s a wonder he would want to find her for anything but revenge but he knows she is the one who is the other half of his soul. Now he has tracked her to New Orleans and longs to make his claim.
Jamie Walsh believes Damian killed her brother and fled after her attempt to kill him with a poison kiss spell led her to New Orleans. The last thing she wants is to see Damian again so she is none too pleased when he arrives at her door at the same time she is secretly thrilled.

Trouble is far from over when Damian discovers Jamie has been bespelled with the deadly granite spell. Her body is slowly turning to stone and any use of her magick only speeds up the dark spell. Damian and Jamie have one chance to save her – an ancient book of magick that contains a spell to save her. However, the Morphs want the book also, to put to use the dark black magick spells contained within. Time will tell who reaches the book first but that is the one thing Jamie doesn’t have. Unless the magick of the life mate bond can help her…

Damian and Jamie are perfect complements to one another, which made the enmity Jamie feels for Damian in the beginning so shocking. We all know they are meant for one another, as does Damian, but watching them fight the attraction provided plenty of tension. I love the bits of humor we find throughout which keep the story from becoming too dark. Jamie is a techno-geek who is addicted to gaming and Damian has been around so long he can’ even figure out something as simple as a basic cell phone. This made for some lively moments that bring you to chuckle. Add that to the usual conflicts between a very powerful Alpha male whose protective instincts are in full swing and a strong willed, stubborn and independent female and you know there is going to be more than one explosion.

The sense of impending doom is quite pervasive from the first page. The Morphs are growing stronger and bolder as well as more desperate as they try to stop Damian and Jamie. Of course the ever present stone spell leaching away Jamie’s life adds intensity as well. As if that wasn’t enough, we also find some very dark stories involving Damian’s brothers and Jamie’s distant family from her childhood.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Empath when I read it last year and I was intrigued by Damian’s story from the first moment I met him in the midst of the secrecy surrounding him. So I was quite excited to get his story at last in Enemy Lover and find out what really happened. In fact, I liked Enemy Lover even more than The Empath. The whole premise of Jamie’s plight was fascinating and I love the originality of the stone spell dooming her. When Jamie finally learns the truth about what really happened the day Damian killed her brother her emotions are quite powerful, especially in light of some of the other revelations about Jamie we discover. You will definitely want to pick this one up as soon as it is available. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed one bit by Enemy Lover."
Kelley A. Hartsell


Cataromance, 5 stars!

"The spellbinding interweaving of the supernatural, passion and emotion found throughout ENEMY LOVER bring out the innermost sentiments of the reader.

With compellingly fascinating scenes and numerous appealing characters, ENEMY LOVER delivers a superb story which will touch your heart and keep you totally engrossed. Bonnie Vanak has crafted a paranormal tale with masterful storytelling, where emotions are explosively expressed and desires are never far from the surface.

As the Alpha of a Draicon werewolf pack, Damian Marcel vows Jamie Walsh will be his one day, as he knows she is fated to be his mate even if she is human. Things did not go well for them when they met previously, as Jamie is now hiding from the man she tried to kill after she witnessed him taking part in the murder of her brother.

However, Damian has tracked her to New Orleans, his childhood home, and has learned some very disturbing news about her. It seems in her quest to possess some magick of her own, a stone spell was deliberately cast upon her by an enemy of the Draicons. This dark magic will cause her to physically turn into granite, where her mind will still live eternally.

Although she is drawn to the commanding werewolf, Jamie feels she can never give her trust or heart to the one responsible for killing her brother. When Damian says he will do what is needed to save her from this fatal spell, she finds herself closely working with him to find the very old Book of Magick which hopefully contains a healing cure. Unfortunately, the Morphs, former Draicons who use dark magic for self gain, also want the book for their nefarious purposes. As clues to the whereabouts of the book are discovered, Damian and Jamie begin to comprehend what destiny has in story for them.

Regardless of the premise, the stories by Bonnie Vanak capture the reader’s imagination. There is always a memorable cast of characters, and the plot is constantly enthralling. For her second Nocturne book, Ms. Vanak continues with the intriguing saga behind her werewolf stories and brings it convincingly to life. The paranormal elements are smoothly blended in with what is considered normal, and every instant of the story seems entirely conceivable. Werewolves are one of my favorite supernatural beings as I admire their loyalty and the fervor which is shown toward their mates and packs, and this trait is portrayed to its fullest by this skilled author.

The determination of Damian to watch over the members of his pack plus the woman who is his mate is depicted with an unbending resolve, and the reason behind his doggedness is touchingly conveyed through several poignant scenes. As more comes to be known about this powerful werewolf leader and his destined mate, Jamie, their futures became very important to me, and the frequently heart-pounding incidents surrounding these two filled with both physical and emotional anguish made the outlook very uncertain.

Before the gratifying conclusion of this story, readers will be treated to frightening suspense, moments where potent feelings are expressed and even some blazingly hot love scenes. There are quite a few secondary characters who are extremely likable, and I hope they get their own story one day. The vivid imagery in ENEMY LOVER will make you want to believe every mesmerizing detail in this rewarding story." Amelia Richard

Filling the well

Now that I'm off deadline, I'm concentrating on filling the well, as Julia Cameron puts it. Reading The Artist's Way. I have the book open on my desk, my CLEAN desk, and read a little each morning before heading off to work.

So what did I do this weekend to replenish my creativity and get my muse inspired?

I cleaned out the linen closet.

I can actually find towels now, instead of putting out an APB when guests come over to use the hot tub. I think Elvis may have been living in said closet.

I also cleaned up the computer room. It feels wonderful to walk in here and see a real room! Instead of a jumbled mess. It's my space for getting away from it all, when the weather is still hot, like it is now.

Also going to catch up on reading. What a luxury!

Got some very nice reviews for Enemy Lover. I'll post in a separate blog entry.

Guess the pet over at Beyond Her Book blog

Fun contest over at Barbara Vey's blog! I'm there today with my dog, just match the author to the pet.

Hint: I'm the blonde. The dog is the one with the smile. His name is Dolce.

Go have fun and win prizes! Click here.

Adopt a Hurricane Ike refugee (pet)

The Broward County Humane Society has 20 dogs in need of good homes. These are dogs who were left homeless after Hurricane Ike hit Texas.

Adopting a dog is so much better than buying a puppy. It means giving a dog who needs love and affection a good home, and saving their life. Last year after our beloved Tia died, we adopted a Shih Tzu. Sadly, she was older than we had realized, and died one year ago on Halloween, but for the year we had her, she had a good home.

This year we took in Dolce, another refugee whose owner had to give him up. He's been joy in our lives. He greets us with a toy when we come home, likes to play, and he's just a total sweetheart. Even Tiger, our older Shih Tzu, gets along fine with him.

Please consider adopting a homeless dog.

Click here to see the adoptees.

Hump Day Hunk

Hooked on Torsos lately. Is that like being hooked on phonics?

This month I'm running a contest to celebrate the November release of my werewolf Nocturne, ENEMY LOVER. Pop on over to Fresh Fiction to enter, and you could win an autographed copy of my first Nocturne, The Empath, which is out of print.

Click here for the Enemy Lover contest.

Happy October!

Blogging today

over at The Wet Noodle Posse

I love that name!

Topic is stress and writing, and tips for reducing stress.

In celebration of the torso

My friend Pamela Clare sent me this. She has an historical, Untamed, out in November, same month as my werewolf Nocturne, Enemy Lover, is out. Untamed's cover has a very nice torso on it.

They look so innocent when they're sleeping, don't they? :-)

Dancing with the Stars

It's official, my 91-year-old father-in-law said, "Did you know there's a great new show on? It's called Dancing with the Stars."

He's hooked.

Just hope MTV's Parental Control or NEXT isn't next.

Or the new Paris Hilton show on My BFF where she holds a contest to select a new frenemy.

Reality bites

Last week I was in Tenn., alone in a cabin and finishing my book about a werewolf confronted with the duty to execute his destined mate.

today was my first day back at work.

I had to look at photos of dead children who drowned in Haiti during the floods.

Reality sux

sigh...

Cades cove

So glad I made this trip today before arriving at my current hotel. Flying home tomorrow.

Inn on hill

This is the inn from the walking path on the property.

photos

This is Laurel Falls, the waterfall hiking path where I saw the three bears yesterday.

Bare? No, BEAR

Today was my day "off" since I finished the book. I drove toward Knoxville to meet my brother, whom I hadn't seen in years. Work, and other obligations, living in different states, it's tough getting together. It was great seeing him. We sat and talked and talked. Then he had to leave to drive up north to work.

Got back to the cabin, then decided to drive to Smoky Mtn. National Park. A couple from Ohio I met here at the B&B said the Laurel Falls hike was a good one. Lots of people on the paved path, and since I'm alone and little wary of hiking by myself, I decided to try it.

Got there mid-afternoon, started up. And up. The "easy" hike was not so easy for me. I met a couple, Karen and Bernie, from Wisconsin. I passed them, they easily passed me.

Then about halfway I saw them heading back. "What's wrong, the falls are closed?" I asked.

"No," Karen said. "There's a bear cub up ahead in the trees, and we didnt' want to get between it and the mama."

So we hung out for a few minutes, talking. Then all three of us decided "safety in numbers" and ventured forth. No bear.

Got to the falls, nice water. Bernie and Karen left, I soon followed. Then I saw them standing in the path. Bernie told me they decided to wait for me because the bear was back.

And he brought friends. Three bears. Cubs, but fairly big. No sign of Mama Bear.

We cautiously made our way down the path, talking about wildlife. I prefer mine on TV or at a distance. A great distance. Like say, Seattle.

Then we rounded a corner and there was a couple standing looking up the hill. The woman said, "Shh, there's a bear up there!"

All three of us, Bernie, Karen and myself look at each other. Then at the bear, which was about 10 yards from the path. Then the woman's husband, in his shorts and his plaid shirt, snaps a photo of the bear.

The flash goes off. The bear charges.

My heart went still.

Fortunately it was a false charge and the bear remained on the hill, and didn't jump down to attack the guy. The three of us walked quickly past the three bears (just call me Goldilocks) and muttered, "dumb tourists."

It was all told, a 2.6 mile hike. Great exercise.

But next time, I'll take my walks without bears. It was a little too hairy (furry) of a close encounter for me.

Thanks Bernie and Karen, for escorting me down the mountain. I think I might have camped up at the falls rather than face a bear on my own.

Is finished? Is it DONE???

yesss, my precious, my precious manuscript, Deadly Touch.

is
finished!

YAY!

I can't believe it.

Well, the first draft, actually, now the editing begins. Still, I have a COMPLETED BOOK.

I wrote 9,000 words today. 36 pages.

Now I have to cut 3,000 more.

I wrote for five hours straight, and took a couple of breaks for a few minutes. Wondered why my butt hurt.

Well, duh, I was in a wood rocking chair, on the laptop.

Took an hour break, had some dinner, took a walk, made a few calls.

Then write some more, determined to finish.

I did.

I'm shocked i was able to finish. And very exhausted. All told, I wrote about 9 hours today. A very productive day.

As a reward, I'm taking tomorrow off, to meet my bro, do a little hiking and some touristy stuff.

Tomorrow night, I'll start the editing, and continue Thursday.

I just might make this deadline after all. I think I can.

I think I can.

Working

This is my temporary "office," where I've been writing the past day. Yesterday I wrote 15 pages, plus cut and slashed and edited. I took a two-hour break, drove into town, and ate leftovers for dinner, then at night, cut and slashed some more.

Today's goal is to write 4,000 words. Getting there.

This week is very conducive to productivity, because, ah, there's nothing else to do! The weather is overcast, gray, and cool. Tomorrow I might go on a hike in the park, and I'm driving to meet my brother as well.

If DH were here, it would be less lonely, and we'd be happily tooling around in the antique stores in the afternoons, and visiting local haunts. He's not so I write.

I can understand now why FT writers, many of them anyway, need to establish a routine. A routine can be a very good thing.

Here I am

I'm sitting on the porch of my cabin, in a rocking chair, surrounded by a cluster of oak, maple and birch. The air is loamy with the scent of damp leaves, and insects are humming in the trees. The mountains are peeking through the thicket of forest, and gray clouds drift overhead, allowing intermittent rays of sun to peek through.

I'm alone.

It feels odd. I miss DH. Really, really miss him. If he were here, I'd be writing, but also going with him to visit antique stores, going for walks, investigating the local happenings.

This is the first writing trip I've taken alone in a long, long time. I took one years ago when I visited Colonial Williamsburg, and wrote a Rev. War book. I was unpublished back then, and just wanted to travel to see and feel the history so I could bring a touch of authenticity to the story.

Never did sell it. Probably never will.

At breakfast this morning, talked with a couple from Ohio, who were leaving today. Others from Ohio were talking about Ike, which has wreaked havoc on their hometown. Corn mazes were toppled, power is out. And gas prices have risen.

In Knoxville, before Ike, gas was about $3.80. Now it's $5 and some gas stations ran out.

It's easy to bury myself here, away from reality, which will come soon enough next week when I return to the "real job."

Not that writing isn't a real job. It is, but not my main source of income. So when I spend a week to come up here, and finish a book, and edit, it feels more like I'm on vacation instead of working.

I wrote 2,500 words so far today. Promised myself if I can make it to 62,000 words today, I'd give myself a treat this afternoon of a drive into town and touring around.

Guess I'd better get back to work and concentrate on Emily's internal conflict. It's shifted because events have drastically changed. But I think it will be okay. I'll just have to tweak her around some more.

Where am I again?

I think I'm at the airport.

Again.

Getting ready to fly out.

Again.

Three trips in less than a month.

Nicaragua trip for work was very productive, interesting. We drove north through the mountains, visited families living in crumbling adobe shacks, saw some heartbreaking stuff. While there, I was monitoring Hurricane Ike, which at one point was headed toward my area as a Cat. 4.

I loathe hurricane season.

Because of Ike, I shifted this trip back by a week. Thankfully, Ike missed us and went south. Unfortunately, it didn't miss Texas.

Anyway, I'm here at the airport, getting ready to fly to TN for my week alone in a cabin doing nothing but writing. I'm getting there, almost there. The book due Oct. 1 has only 7500 words left, and then editing. My goal this week is to finish and start to edit.

The good thing about this past crazy month has been my ability to write in snatches, and chunks of scenes. I wrote in the SUV in Nicaragua while we were on good stretches of pavement (you would not believe the roads we were on. Think of driving down a flight of stairs. That would be a smooth ride compared to the mountain paths, and rivers! we navigated through). I wrote in snatches and then downloaded the Alpha Smart when I had a hotel with A/C current. Note to self: BUY adapter and REMEMBER to bring it on next trip to Central America.

This week away is something I promised myself when I conceived of the idea for Raphael's story. Raphael is a Cajun, immortal werewolf who looks like a fallen angel. He's very powerful and the executioner for his people. He has a few dark secrets as well.

I like giving my heroes dark secrets. DEADLY TOUCH has turned out to be an interesting story. I'm also curious to see the cover for BROKEN SOULS, the Nocturne Bite I have coming out in November, same month as ENEMY LOVER.

DEADLY TOUCH.
BROKEN SOULS.
ENEMY LOVER.

If I were to write my story, I'd title it WEARY AUTHOR.

I went from the Dorchester deadline and turning in the next Egyptian historical in August straight to BROKEN SOULS and revising that one final time to DEADLY TOUCH. It's been a treadmill and I need this time away to get back in touch with my muse, who is saying, "whahhhh?"

I told myself if I sold more Nocturnes, I'd go to TN and write, as a reward and inspiration for the story. It's a working vacation, more work than vacation, but a change of scenery that will hopefully enable me to bring the book together for a finale.

As long as no more hurricanes are spinning out there in the Atlantic.

If I can pull this together, it means I actually was able to write an entire book in two months. While working a demanding day job. While traveling to Nicaragua for a last minute work trip to replace a sick coworker. While hurricanes and tropical storms buzzsawed out there, a potential threat to my home and the crappy insurance we now have.

Small wonder I'm taking October off. I might just retire the computer for a full month and not write. It would be an interesting experience.

This isn't funny, but you have to laugh

I'm flying out tomorrow to Nicaragua for a last minute work trip, while keeping a wary eye on Hanna off our coast. Praying for people in Louisiana that Gustav doesn't wallop them, and that everyone stays safe.

Hoping I can return to the New Orleans I love, and things will be the same.

Anyway, the laugh comes from this... the sheer unpredictability of storms during this time of year. I'm wary of Hanna but I just saw the projected pathway.

Here's my schedule: Fly to Nicaragua tomorrow, fly home late Friday, have one day at home with DH, and then on Sunday, flying up to...

Where it looks like Hanna may end up. HA!

Maybe Hanna is giving me the gimlet eye. "Bonnie, you can fly all over the damn place, but I will find you!"

I'm leaving a week from today to have a mini writing retreat alone, so I can write the book due in October. Hurricanes and all, I still have a deadline.

Maybe I should retitle the book from DEADLY TOUCH to Ha Ha Hanna. LOL.

Stay safe everyone on the gulf coast, Louisiana and my beloved New Orleans. I'll keep you in my prayers. I"m going offline and not blogging for a while.

Until later, here's to TOURIST SEASON instead of HURRICANE SEASON!

New Orleans

No, this isn't Hurricane Gustav. It's Katrina, three years ago this week as it approached the coastline. Katrina, that killed thousands. It's on a similiar track as Gustav.

This is the blog post I wrote three years ago.

"Katrina is a cat. 5 and heading for the Gulf coast. 160 mph. Predictable, with the warm waters stirring it up. But absolutely freaking scary. I saw what happened to Dade county after Andrew. Flattened like a pancake. Nothing left, no trees, roofs ripped off. A bunch of us went down there to help out afterward and it was like someone dumped a bomb on the region. But this is worse. Katrina is a bigger storm and the rain it will dump... the flooding... people south of me are still bailing out from when Katrina hit us. And if it hits New Orleans... o.m.g. Those poor people. I hope and pray they can all get out... or at least can reach higher ground. I love New Orleans. What a city. Hot and mellow jazz, the smooth, cool slide of a hurricane down your throat, terrific food...Will all that just be memories?"

How terrible I am thinking the same now? Heather Graham's conference was this weekend in New Orleans. Heather always puts on a great conference. In fact, her first conference the year after Katrina, I got the idea for ENEMY LOVER. I was roaming through Bourbon Street with Kathy Love and Erin McCarthy, bar hopping, and got this flash of inspiration about a werewolf slow dancing with his destined mate, the woman who tried to kill them.

Maybe I saw a big, muscled and hairy guy that night slow dancing with a woman who looked like she wanted to kill him, lol. I don't remember. I do remember loving that time I spent there, and being so happy to be in New Orleans.

I love that city. I set ENEMY LOVER, my November Nocturne, in the French Quarter. I'm heartsick at the idea of another hurricane masticating through the Gulf Coast and flooding that city, and others.

All we can do is pray and wait, and hope everyone prepares for the worst, and hope for the best.

I'm sick today... had to go to the clinic to get last minute meds as I am leaving Monday. Hanna looks like it could end up being a problem to my area late next week, meaning I may NOT be able to fly back to the US. I don't know. I'll just keep monitoring the reports.

On a brighter note, I finished final edits for BROKEN SOULS, the BITE coming out the same month as ENEMY LOVER. And I have now 38,000 words on DEADLY TOUCH, Raphael's story.

I think I'll retire to bed and cough up a lung. No more watching The Weather Channel. It's too disheartening.

WTH?

This is Tropical Storm Hanna, the biggest threat to my area. Not Gustav, which is going to slam into the Gulf Coast (sigh) sometime next week. I'm on the east coast, and Hanna is a threat more.

But look at the models. They're all wacky. Spinning around. This is how I feel during the height of hurricane season, like, uh, now.

I'm leaving the country Monday on a last minute work trip I did not anticipate. I hate hate leaving when something like this is lingering off my coast, as I have responsibilities and an elderly in-law, but have no choice.

In the meantime, this is what I'd rather be thinking of:

This is Raphael, the Cajun Draicon werewolf I'm writing about, whose story is due in four weeks. He rides a Harley, wears black leather, and, as I described him in Enemy Lover, my November Nocturne, resembles "An angel stumbling out of a Bourbon Street sex shop."

I'd rather be writing about bad boy biker werewolves than worrying about hurricanes.

Bad boy biker werewolves don't hurt innocents in my story, they just make very long, slow love, or very fast and hard, depending upon the heroine's preferences.

I hope Gustav stays the hell away from Louisiana and New Orleans. I think they've had enough. Go away Gustav!

I could get used to this

I'm here at the Colorado Railroad Museum. DH is happily climbing over locomotives and snapping pix, while I sit at a picnic table in the 80 degree temps.

It's so easy to wipe out everything when you're on vacation. What Tropical Storm Fay? Day job? Huh?

But I am still, sitting here at a picnic table, and writing, because I have deadlines, deadlines. Still, we are having a wonderful, stress-free time of it. Yesterday we went to a gold mine, on impulse, that someone recommended. We took a wonderful tour given by a grizzled, seasoned miner who still works the mine, which is owned by a third-generation miner. He was telling us how he got stuck once and it took him six hours to lift the rocks around him and get out.

As we came to an intersection in the mine, we saw a sign that read, 'PRIMARY ESCAPE ROUTE."

I asked, "Uh, escape route?"

He waved it off. "Oh don't worry. If anything happens, I know six different ways out of this mine."

Gulp.

But amazingly, my claustrophobia didn't kick in. I was having too much fun listening to his stories. He was amazing. We also saw the "lucky mining bucket" that is supposed to bring good luck to all who touch it. I touched it. I don't feel lucky, but I am having fun, so that's a good sign.

After we panned in the creek for gold and found a couple of microscopic sized particles. We struck it!

I could get used to this, writing in the sunshine, enjoying the cool weather, far away from all concerns at home. The stress has just slid off me like heavy coat.

Yes, we are crazy

We are leaving as Tropical Storm Fay churns through the Caribbean, and may take aim at Florida.

We are officially in... (music, please) THE CONE OF UNFORESEEABLE DOOM!!!!
No problem. I think.

We have a house-sitter, shutters and I am going to try to stay away from the weather channel and at least we will be away from the shrieking reporters who pay someone to toss palm fronds past the camera lens to make their footage more dramatic so they can get picked up on the national feeds.

In meantime, we are heading to an area where they are forecasting ... snow showers for tonight. Go figure. From a tropical storm to snow... how insane is that?

Acheron juice

Blame Carolyn Jewel (My Wicked Enemy, Grand Central). I was blog hopping the other day and she posted about staying up very late two nights in a row to read Sherrilyn Kenyon's Acheron.

Acheron is a book I'm dying to read, but have no time to do so. I have a couple of shorter paperbacks to take on vacation and Acheron is too heavy to lug in the suitcase. Plus I have to write while I'm gone. No way around that. So I told myself that, as a treat for finishing the Nocturne due in Oct., I'll buy Acheron then and read it.

But I couldn't get that book out of my mind and so last night, I had this dream.

I was in Kmart, where I seldom shop, looking at books and they had a very special Acheron display. The book was tucked into a box, and inside the box were two bottles of high caffeine, high sugar juice.

They called it Acheron juice, and advised readers to gulp it down before reading, so they could stay up all night long to read.

It was a very pretty display, featuring this macho, good-looking guy.

I woke and realized, wow, I really DO need a vacation... or I need to buy the book and read it and get it out of my mind...

Inside the scary mind of a romance author...

This weekend we are finally, hopefully, leaving on vacation to gorgeous Colorado. I'm running amok with things to do before vacation; pet arrangements, house-sitter, bills paid, camera chips to purchase, etc.

If a tropical storm/hurricane/CONE OF FORESEEABLE DOOM doesn't come our way. Yes, isn't it festive vacationing in the middle of hurricane season?

All this while working on a very important project at the day job on funding water projects for the poor. And while trying to get started on the next Nocturne, due in, oh, seven weeks.

Being inside my mind right now is a very scary place. Such as today, while driving to work, when I'm brainstorming Rafael's story and character ARC, while trying to navigate the Sawgrass and think of everything I need to do before we leave:

Ok, Rafe, he's an angel in leather, the Kallan, dangerous, dark, immortal, a loner, feels alienated. No real friends, even his family is a little afraid of him, hey, he's the executioner, the powerful one, Emily to Rafe, have you ever executed anyone close to you? Yes, a cousin, it made me feel even more isolated and alone, can't get close... oh CRAP! WATCH WHERE THE HELL YOU ARE GOING, YOU STUPID ######. oK, must call and find out car rental insurance, does the credit card cover CDW? Check that, ok, where was I? Rafe, yes, I'm lonely, it's not easy having all this power and hey, you are very sexy but I have to execute you or I forfeit my brother's life, yet you are my draicara, my mate, I am foresworn to protect you according to the rules of our pack... dogs, have to go to the vet to pick up more meds for Tiger, do that after work, no wait, they're closed by that time, maybe tomorrow at lunch, are we going to Best Buy after dinner or did Frank say let's do that tomorrow? NO, tomorrow is stopping by his dad's, and what if it rains, rain, water, how many children die of water-borne diseases each day? Check that fact and was it half a glass of water a day that woman gives to her children when she rations when the spring dries up? Check that in notebook... what if that system in the Atlantic turns into a storm? Should we shutter the house or take our chances, the last time we did we came home to a hurricane named Wilma. Damn am I getting my period and do I need to pack tampons hell i hope not because i hate hate having my period on vacation but back to Rafe, he thinks Emily is beautiful and he wants to have sex with her like now, but he has to prepare her for her death because he will sacrifice her with his sacred Scian, Scian, hahahaha, another term for a hero's youknowhwat, wouldn't that be funny, I AM THE HERO AND I WILL SLAY YOU WITH MY SACRED SCIAN OF LOVE, but be serious, he's dark and dangerous and lethal and and HEY! YOU JUST CUT ME OFF YOU #####

Scary, isn't it?

New from Robin Schone and Allyson James!

Lookie what is now out!!!

Robin Schone returns with a very hot erotic romance anthology with three other authors; Allyson James (The Black Dragon, Berkley Books), superstar Claudia Dain and Shiloh Walker.

Word is Robin's story is dark and emotion, Allyson's is a romantic historical, Claudia's is mainstream and Shiloh's is paranormal.

Here's a blurb from Allyson's story: In "Decidedly Devilish Duke," a widow's fate is now dependent on a game of cards with the wicked duke she spurned ten years ago. Will Michael take his vengeance? Or show Amelia just how wicked he truly is?
"The Decidedly Devilish Duke" in Private Places

click here to read an excerpt of Allyson's story.


Click here to order from Amazon
Click here to order from Barnes and Noble

Panther and the Pyramid German cover

I really like this cover. This is what Graham and Jillian would look like. I think the male model is John DeSalvo, but I'm not certain.

The German covers are very sexy. Ok, I confess, I like clinch covers. I've been outed. Yes, this from the woman who did not hesitate to hide Sandra Hill's Sweeter, Savage Love with the very sexy John DeSalvo cover while on a work trip with a bus full of priests and nuns. Heh.

Guest interview with author Emily Bryan

Hi! Today I'm featuring a very special interview with Emily Bryan, author of the sensual historicals, DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS and this month's NEW release, PLEASURING THE PIRATE.

BV: Readers really love your DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS, the tale of an artistic duchess and an aristocratic spy. But in your newest book, PLEASURING THE PIRATE, I hear your characters don't move in such exalted circles.

EB: That's right, Bonnie. In PLEASURING THE PIRATE, my hero is . . well, a pirate. A prodigal pirate to be exact. He was born the son of a gentleman, but when his naval vessel sank, Gabriel Drake was given the choice to turn pirate or claim a watery grave.

He decided to live and piracy came naturally to him, so in no time, he was voted captain and became the scourge of the Spanish Main as the Cornish Dragon. But his old life called to him. So when he won a royal pardon, he returned home, hoping to square things with his indomitable father. Unfortunately, his father and older brother are now dead and Gabe's suddenly lord of the manor with all the responsibility that entails. Including riding herd on a gaggle of orphaned nieces and marrying well to benefit the estate. My heroine is no lady, but she longs to be.

Jacquelyn Wren is the bastard daughter of a courtesan. Well-educated, but without pedigree, she serves as governess for the Drake orphans and soon finds herself trying to train the piracy out of her new lord. But try as she might to be the prim and proper lady, she can't escape the passion that's her birthright.

BV: DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS was more sensual than your previous novels as Diana Groe. Is PLEASURING THE PIRATE following in that vein?

EB: With a title like PLEASURING THE PIRATE, it about has to! But I didn’t set out to write a sexier novel. My aim is always to tell a compelling story and everything that happens, including the sex scenes, must serve the story. The premise of PLEASURING THE PIRATE lends itself to a bit of sensual adventurism. I hope readers find my love scenes aren’t just side trips along the story’s journey. My goal is to advance the story, to deepen the characters with every scene.
Compared to the world of erotica, my stuff is tame (though RT BookReviews rates it HOT!). However, I do want to move my readers. I want to give them a wonderful love affair to relish. We aren’t just physical beings. We are mind, body, heart and spirit. A true act of love engages all of what it means to be human. Love is my theme. Sex is only plumbing without it.

BV: Did you do any research for PLEASURING THE PIRATE?

EB: Lots! I research the historical period I write about quite heavily. Romance readers are very sophisticated. If I make a mistake, someone will let me know. What I’m looking for is what I call "women’s history," the little details of how people lived their lives. In addition to making myself the bane of my local librarian, I visited a pirate museum in Nassau, Bahamas and I’ve also been fortunate to visit England a number of times.

I’ve spent countless lovely hours in their museums and walking the streets of London, soaking up the history and listening to the stories in the cobblestones. DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS was set in early Victorian times, around 1850. Since piracy in the Caribbean died out around 1723, PLEASURING THE PIRATE takes place in 1720, during the reign of George I. The Georgian era was much bawdier than later periods and my story reflects that. Of course, my husband likes to help me, too. He keeps threatening to have a T-shirt made that reads: MY WIFE IS A ROMANCE NOVELIST. THE RESEARCH IS KILLING ME! (Of course, he always diplomatically adds, "What a way to go!").

BV: How long did you write before your break in publishing with Dorchester (Leisure Books)?

EB: I started writing seriously in 2001. After some fits and starts, I began to win some writing contests. The contest wins attracted my agent, who sold MAIDENSONG (under my real name Diana Groe) to Dorchester in 2005. It takes about a year to bring a book to market so my debut was May 2006.

BV: Are you now concentrating solely on the more light-hearted side of your writing? Or are you also writing as Diana Groe?

EB: My next Emily Bryan book is VEXING THE VISCOUNT, slated for March 2009. It was such fun! Adding comedy to my writing was a reach, but I love it. After VEXING THE VISCOUNT, I’m contracted for a 2009 Holiday anthology as Emily Bryan. The light-hearted, sexy stories are a delight to write and so far, the reading public is receiving them warmly. I would love to write more Diana Groe stories, too. In fact, I have a third "song" book all finished to round out my MAIDENSONG and ERINSONG series. I hope readers who enjoy my Emily Bryan books will try my more serious Diana Groe tales as well. Then perhaps, my Diana Groe title list will continue to grow. I used to sing professionally. My Diana Groe books are grand opera, all angst and drama and passion. Emily Bryan is more Gilbert and Sullivan with a bit of naughtiness thrown in. Light or dark, serious or silly, we all need both to stay balanced.

BV: How easy was it for you to write PIRATE? Did you have to revise anything before sending it off to the publisher? It reads as though you really enjoyed writing it.

EB: I thoroughly enjoyed writing PLEASURING THE PIRATE. I’m glad it shows. That said, I always revise. A lot. There are so many ways to tell a story. I want to make sure I’ve settled on the best one. Revision is actually the most fun for me. Fixing my prose is easy. Ploughing the virgin page is hard.

BV: Given that you had DUCHESS out in March, PIRATE in August and VISCOUNT early in 2009, how long does it take you to write a book? How long is your writing day when you’re working on a book?

EB: I usually play with a story in my head for about a month. I research the period. I flesh out the characters till I know them well enough to tell their story. Then I write a synopsis so I have a road map and it’s off to the races. I write full-time now, so my page goal is 10 a day, 5 days a week. I can have a first draft in two months and plan on taking another month to polish my prose till it sparkles. That’s if everything goes well. Right now, I just turned in VISCOUNT, so I’m fishing for my next cast of characters to take to the Christmas Ball for the Holiday anthology. But I’m heading for RWA Nationals soon, so that means a brief writing hiatus. But my subconscious is still working on the story so when I return to the computer, I’ll be primed and ready to go.

BV: What authors do you like to read yourself? Are you someone who reads only in your own genres, or do you also read thrillers, fantasy etc.?

EB: One of the pitfalls of being a writer is that I rarely read strictly for pleasure. I’m dissecting the book as I read, going to school on how another author handles all the elements of story. When I find a writer who makes me forget I’m a writer too, I treasure them. In historical romance, I enjoy Jo Beverley and Madeline Hunter. I recently read Shana Abe for the first time and was mesmerized by her lyrical romantic fantasy. This year I discovered CL Wilson, Joy Nash, Marjorie Liu, and of course, your Egyptian romances, Bonnie! Outside romance, I enjoy Neil Gaiman, Wilbur Smith and Mary Stewart.

BV: Many romances, yours included, have cover art that is absolutely stunning. Are you consulted about the cover art for your books? Who did the cover art for PIRATE, and will the same artist do VISCOUNT?

EB: Eye-catching covers are so important. Who can resist that gorgeous PIRATE? DISTRACTING THE DUCHESS was the first of my titles to make it into Wal-mart. I credit the cover with its placement in this important outlet. Dorchester sends its authors a questionnaire about each book, asking us to describe the hero and heroine, any plot point that might lend itself to cover treatment. I can’t tell you the name of the artist, but I love all my covers. I just received my cover for VEXING THE VISCOUNT (Click here to see it ) I think it’s hard to beat my handsome, bare-chested PIRATE, but my VISCOUNT has a Colin Firth-ish look about him. A sort of ‘repressed-sex-is-the-best-sex’ impression that’s very appealing. Of course, when my editor sent me a jpg of MAIDENSONG’s cover (my debut Diana Groe title), I though it was so beautiful, I wept.

BV: What kind of books were you brought up with as a child, and which author in particular (if any) inspired you to be a writer yourself? Do you still have any of those books in your collection?

EB: I’ve always been an avid reader. I used to sneak books into bed and read by the narrow strip of light that shafted in through the crack in my door. I remember being fascinated by Madeline L’engle’s A WRINKLE IN TIME, Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN and the Trixie Belden Mysteries. One of my treasures as a child was a first edition of Bulfinches’ THE BEAUTIES OF MYTHOLOGY. Not only did I drink in those seminal stories of antiquity, it was filled with eye-popping ancient art. I still have it.

BV: You’ve started selling rights for foreign editions of your books. Do you think your books will get different cover treatment elsewhere?

EB: Undoubtedly. Each house uses its own covers. They know their own market well enough to choose something that will be appealing. I’m delighted to know my work is traveling the globe. I’ve posted my German MAIDENSONG and Italian ERINSONG (Click here to see them). I haven’t seen the Dutch covers yet. SILK DREAMS recently sold to Moy Mir, a Russian publisher. Wonder if they’ll feature a half naked woman and a big snake, like your Russian book, Bonnie. LOL!

BV: Finally I’d like to ask what five books you couldn’t do without on a desert island? Series count as one choice, of course – they’re part of the same story!

EB: This is a tough question, but I’ll try. I adore THE FAR PAVILIONS by MM Kaye, The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The complete plays of Shakespeare (I’m trying to sneak them all in as a series!) and the Bible. (I might have to sneak in my BEAUTIES OF MYTHOLOGY as well) Great literature is a treasure to be revisited again and again. If I had those, I’d have stories to keep my mind busy for quite some time.

Thank you so much for your kind words about PLEASURING THE PIRATE, Bonnie. I’m delighted to be a guest on your excellent site. And while we’re on the subject of websites, I’d like to invite your readers to visit mine.

Click here to visit Emily's website.

There are excerpts of all my work, contests, writing advice, and a way to sign up for my newsletter and contact me.

Thanks so much, Emily! Wishing all the best for your new release, PLEASURING THE PIRATE!

Great post on writing by PB writer

We went out for Indian food last night, great time and today I'm paying for it...why did I have to drink so much red wine? Soaked in the hot tub a bit and I'm trying to find some energy to write this proposal.

I have to go to the day job tomorrow, and tomorrow starts my marathon "I will write this book in two months" quest. I already set my cell phone ringer to "Mission Impossible."

Then I came across this terrific, inspiring post by PB Writer, who blogged on the realities of the writing life, and everything from how spending too much time on the internet in the wrong places can be a drain on your creative energy to the "rules" in writing.

One of my favorite parts:

"The more I learn about writing, the more knowledge I acquire, which translates into the practical energy I need when I try something new, or different, or risky. A small but significant drain on practical energy are running into the rule-makers.

These are people who have such a rigid attitude about some aspect of writing or the biz that they immediately instill doubt in you, especially if you're already doing something different.

Very often our writing instincts will throw up a warning flag about this sort of thing. If someone offers you an idea to try with your writing, you'll probably feel curious or interested. If someone tells you how you should be writing, you'll likely feel defensive or a sense of doubt.

To my knowledge no one has ever been named the absolute authority on writing. Until God appoints a paragon to this position, no one can tell you how you should be writing (including me.)

Another threat to your practical energy is when you compare yourself to other writers. You read a great book, but instead of enjoying it you compare your latest work to it and feel inadequate. Or, you see another writer you don't think is as talented as you are, but they're more successful than you've been. It all comes down to envy, the most efficient vampire in all of Publishing.

It's human nature to envy what we can't or don't have. It's why I've always wanted to be a tall blond -- because I've always envied my older sister, who is. In some cases, it drives us to achieve more with what we do. But in writers, envy is never a good thing. It poisons the joy you take in your work, and the satisfaction you feel for what you do accomplish. Nothing is ever good enough because someone else has more than you do.

I can't get rid of all the industry awards, the bestseller lists, or the blog traffic counters, so I'll give you the next best thing: narrow the field down to one. If you really want to compete with someone and have a chance at beating them, go look in the mirror. There's your competition looking back at you. That's the only writer you should be trying to beat. And when you do, you both win"

Click here to read the entire post. It's long but very much worth it and includes links to some great workshops she's hosted this week by other authors.

Thanks PB Writer!

I am a real person

Blogger finally allowed me to blog again, seeing I'm a real person and not some spam robot.

I'm so relieved this week is over. It's been challenging, personal family stuff going on, stress, etc. But my ARC's for Enemy Lover are DONE, and DH turned on the hot tub for me so guess where I will be later?

I've been going a million miles an hour since last weekend, when I rushed to get The Lady & the Libertine into the mail to my editor. It's time to fill the well a little.

One trick I have learned about writing, when you're working a day job and other stuff pops up that stresses you out, and you find you just cannot write, is to shift gears. Being flexible comes in very handy, but for me, it's a necessity. I could not concentrate to write the proposal I needed to write, so I did promo stuff that isn't writing ... I formatted ARC's and printed them out.

Today it's reading for a little while, catching up on other stuff, and then later today I'll start to write again.

I'll be thinking of Linnea Sinclair tonight, hoping she wins another RITA.

Stay tuned Monday when I'll have a special interview with Emily Bryan, author of the very sensual PLEASURING THE PIRATE.