Chicks-n-Scratching

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There’s a reason they’re called plot bunnies. They multiply like bunnies for sure, at least for me. I have so many of the little critters I could write these stories for years. It’s really baffling.

I’m not sure where my plot bunnies come from – I mean, what provides the genesis that creates the little buggers in the first place. And the plot bunnies don’t arrive the same way. Sometimes I’ll get a setting first – an entire world fully built on one occasion. Sometimes I’ll get a character first. Trusting Destiny was that way – Eric showed up and just charmed me completely. Sometimes I’ll have a vague notion of a cool idea and things grow organically from that. Twice as High worked that way – I thought “What if the guys with wings aren’t angels. What if they’re ALIENS?!” The whole story grew from there. Sometimes I’ll get the plot first – though not usually. Will and Astrid (Work in Progress) came that way. Will’s character followed close behind the plot, so it was a strong idea. In a lot of cases, I’ll get a scene. A single scene that tells me there’s a story to be told. Dining In is one of those scenes, but This Fire also came that way. The first scene I had in my head for that one was the meeting room at the ball. Most rarely – only once so far, actually – the title comes first. This one is the only one I’m sure of the generating circumstance and idea, and I’m still hammering out the details of the story. It’s definitely the most unusual plot-bunny arrival method for me, as I usually struggle for titles.

What about you? How does your inspiration arrive?

First of all, fish are healthy creatures and make quite yummy dishes. One of the best meals I ever had involved a shark steak, a grill and a cold beer. You can dress fish dishes up with pasta, or salads and they are light and always appropriate. However, fish on pizza – not so welcome a sight for me.

But lets take fish out of water for a moment. Have you got a hold of it? Good. It might try to squiggle and get away from you. If you see it’s gills and mouth opening and closing, you might want to dunk it back in the water and give it a breath. Yes, that’s right – good. Now, on to the more interesting aspects of fish than just as a food source.

They’re cool to watch – Have you ever gone into a Dr’s office where there is a huge aquarium and tropical fish are all swimming around in their brightly colored bodies, gliding through the water so calm and serene? You actually start to feel soothed and a bit hypnotized. I could watch the little suckers for hours. The sound of the filters and pumps is also quite pleasant and makes you want to drift off to sleep…zzzzzzzzz…

What? Who? Oh, yes, we were discussing fish.

Another interesting thing about fish are they make awesome heroes – I see some of you making faces out there, but think about it. Hot, sexy hunky merman, saves a woman from drowning and it’s love at first scale. He has to decide if his love for the sea is greater than his love for a land-bound woman. Or there are other underwater heroes to admire - Patrick Duffy as the Man from Atlantis anyone? Then there are the water Gods. Poseidon comes to mind. How much fun is it to dream of taming a god and bringing down to a human level?

And the last reason, if fish are good enough for Douglas Adams, they’re good enough for me.  

(If you don’t know what I mean with that last line, you are not a true sci-fi geek.)

-Kate

In less than a week, after 7pm on June 28, Twice as High will release from LSB. In preparation – and celebration – I thought I might give you a little peek. A sampling of the succulent, hot delights awaiting you in this menage with winged aliens. Mmmmmm….

***

His name was Kyle. She didn’t know how she knew his name, but she did. Odd. She thought of Kyle as a name for someone dark, not for this dishwater blond with the body of an MMA fighter. It was her dream, so why was this not-dark hottie named Kyle?

She stopped worrying about it when she saw his eyes. Extraordinary eyes. The intensely blue rim of his iris faded to nearly white at the pupil.

His faced was carved in harsh planes, with prominent cheekbones and an angular jaw. His mouth, though, looked soft, even set into a stern line. He stalked toward her shedding clothes–shirt, belt, pants, shorts.

Oh, my. Okay, so her dreams didn’t usually include such a detailed visual of the manly goods, but in this case, she was glad her subconscious had made an exception. Dreamy Kyle’s cock was a work of art. Long, thick, and perfectly formed, the bulbous head flushed with color, with a ring of small raised bumps. What the hell? What were those? Whatever. Dream. Not real. The pale skin of his shaft showed the single vein snaking around his girth like a stripe on a candy cane. She wanted to lick it.

She moved her dream-frozen feet forward, stopping with a bare inch of space between her belly and his penis. Damn, he was tall. She had to crane her neck to meet his eyes. The heat off his body made her aware that her dream self stood naked, too. That was handy.

Before she could drop in front of him, he cupped her jaw in his big hands, tipping it up. Those oddly pale eyes searched her face for something. Whatever it was, he must have found it, because he lowered his lips to brush hers. In a stroke, his tongue invaded her mouth, taking possession. Startled, she tried to lean back, but his hands held her firmly. She felt the heat, smelled the damp earth smell of his skin. Her breasts flattened against his chest as she sagged into him, the drugging sweetness of his kiss draining her strength.

Eyelids drifting closed, she savored the weakness, glorying in the sensation of his muscled chest against her stabbing nipples. The smooth skin rubbed over her every time she took a breath. She managed to lift her arms and hook her hands over his elbows. She’d never been kissed like this. Slow and consuming.

Oh, she liked this dream.

Another pair of hands settled on her hips, palms hot and hard, long fingers resting along her hipbones. She juddered in shock, eyes flying open, but Kyle’s hands held her fast. Heat from another male body covered her back. The hard, insistent shape of a penis nestled in the cleft of her ass.

Julian.

The name came from nowhere, washing away her momentary fear. She closed her eyes and a picture formed in her mind’s eye. Shorter and slighter than Kyle, his body still conveyed strength. Hair so dark it seemed to absorb light and chiseled good looks that somehow soothed her. How odd. Like Kyle, though, his eyes carried the intensity of the man: streaked yellow-amber hawk’s eyes. Well, if you’re going to have an erotic dream, might as well make it a doozy.

Her dream self surrendered, tension sliding from her muscles. She allowed them to support her weight between them. Julian’s fingers tightened on her hips and Kyle finally drew his mouth from hers. His thumbs massaged her jaw and her eyelids fluttered open.

“Ours.” She almost felt Kyle’s smooth baritone on her lips; it rang like a bell in her head.

Happy Friday Chicks readers! Recently, I had the pleasure of a quick lunch with Liquid Silver’s very own executive editor, Tina Burns.

She is fabulous and we’re planning (along with other some other local writers and industry folks) a meetup/workshop sometime close to the end of this year. We’ve been kicking around a few ideas for speakers and breakout sessions.

If you would be so kind as to answer the following questions, it would really help us out!

As a romance writer (new or established), what subjects would interest you in a class or workshop?

What questions would you have for a published writer?

We’d like to possibly start with a meet and greet over coffee and breakfasty type things and moving into a two-classroom event, approx. 2-3 hours long. Within thise 2-3 hours, we’re open to suggestion.  Any and all ideas of what you’d like to see at an industry meet-up are welcome. What have you seen/been to at other events?

Bonus! One commenter will win a copy of BOTH recent “Dirty Laundry” series books – my newest Carina Press release, Coin Operated as well as an ARC of Talk Dirty To Me, co-written with Inez Kelley!

SALOME AT SUNRISE releases MONDAY!

1 – 326 pages for $3.99 ( a bargain!)

2 – Bryton is a redhead and do you know HOW freakin’ hard it is to make a red head sexy??

3 – I torture him… literally. Hot poker, anybody?

4 – There is a spoon in it that will make you sigh and go awwww. Yes, a spoon. Intrigued yet?

5 – The Villain. Karok. O.M.G. evil and sexy as hell. Evil. Pure unrepentant evil.

6 – Salome is a bird-shifter-wind-singing-magic-spell. Bryton plucks her.

7 – Per my editor: “I love Bryton. He’s the perfect hero: the super-honorable warrior with a wicked sense of humor and a filthy mouth, who loves passionately and wants to protect the weak.”

8 -The final in trilogy is being written RIGHT NOW!! Yet SALOME AT SUNRISE is a stand alone story! Can’t beat that with a stick!

9 – Have you seen this gorgeous cover art? 

10 – There is an invisible baby. Really. Not faked just invisible.

11 – Care for a little lyrical excerpt?

Their lips did not steal a kiss, did not take one or claim one. They shared one, as two halves of a whole. Words were useless, powerless, nonexistent for the union that formed. Not made of iron or silk, rope or vine, it joined their souls with an awesome force. It came from the strength of a man and the softness of a woman. It had no match. Love bonded them beyond magic.

12 – How about a little bantering smart ass excerpt?

She went too far by bringing Katina into the argument and he lashed out, shaking finger pointed toward her face. “Fuck you.”

“You did.”

His eyes bugged wide and his jaw dropped. “Excuse me? Who stripped bare-assed naked for who, birdie? It wasn’t my dick hanging out. I didn’t hear any complaints, either.”

13 – THIS TRAILER!!

MONDAY!

SALOME AT SUNRISE

MOTHER NATURE IS COMING… and she is pissed!

Available now at Amazon!.
Emily Fenwick, former NYPD, is now reluctant defender of 1890 New York. Unfortunately for Emily, who hates “the creepy stuff,” she ignored her inner voice, went to a carnival in Central Park, and entered a Victorian tent in hopes a psychic would have some encouraging news about her woefully boring love life. The guarantee she receives of meeting a tall, dark, and handsome stranger comes with a huge catch–he lives in an alternate dimension of the past.

Jack Pettigrew leads a quirky band of lost souls in a battle to save New York circa 1890. Nightmares have come alive and threaten to terrorize a fragile era. Jack leads the “punks,” who have been sucked back in time through a vortex. Each has a fleeting memory of their own death–or near death–and must determine for themselves why they have been chosen for this mission. Is Steamside their Purgatory? Could an Egyptian obelisk in Central Park be the cause of the time rift, or is Emily herself to blame for the goblins, zombies, and other nightmarish scenes plaguing them?

If the Punks want to return to 2010, they must ensure there’s going to be an 1891. If they conclude they’re really ghosts, then it might be time to party like it’s 1999.

Dear Reader, Please note that while this book has some adult content, it is not ultra steamy romance. If you prefer hardcore gadget laden steampunk–look away. While this book has some steampunk elements, it is primarily a fantasy romance. Best wishes!

Greetings, chicks readers! It’s been forever. I have been abuzz with activity lately. From a lengthy bout of company descending on the Glass household to the bustle of real life GROAN-up jobs to the flurry of activity surrounding the Carina Press launch and the publication of two books, I have been a bouncing Gin! Whew. Add laundry (not the fun/dirty kind – that comes later), a batdog that chewed a hole in the door of a hotel room last weekend (if she wasn’t so cute, I would have murdered her), a few rounds of unplanned car repair and various and sundry other small catastrophes, let’s just say I am a pooped little writer.

I have also been neglecting all of my lovely chickies. Let’s catch up and remember that though I’m the one typing these words, the other ladies here are VASTLY talented and need some of your love!

Neith – http://scorchedsheets.com/elise-logan/
‘Nez – http://inezkelley.com/
Kate – http://www.mystickat.com/

Go check them out and find out what they are up to in the world of writing. And buy something, won’t'cha?

Me? I have a little book coming out in THREE DAYS called “Coin Operated”!

Here’s the blurb:

When Elijah Elliot leaves a cushy job at a prestigious Atlanta advertising firm to strike out on his own, he recruits co-worker Beatrix London as his business partner. She’s smart, capable and, turns out, mouth-wateringly tempting. Now Eli has to keep his hands to himself, despite the very vivid daydreams he has involving his deliciously attentive associate. Daydreams that involve less administrative duties and more “yes, sirs” – less clothing and much more personal “activity reports”.

Bea’s attention to detail has only part to do with her work ethic. From the moment she first laid eyes on Elijah, Bea has had some pretty lathered-up fantasies about her brooding coworker. When a racy new advertising campaign sparks a test of their boundaries, Bea pushes Eli to cross the line he’s drawn between them – the one that keeps him from doing all the hot, sinful things she imagines he’s capable of.

A kiss that could ignite a cubicle’s carpet leaves Bea wanting more than Eli is willing to give. Eli’s reticence isn’t strictly an objection to a little office hanky-panky; his desire for Bea runs to the darker side of vanilla, and the gentleman in him just can’t seem to embrace the inner beast. But during a sexy showdown in a laundry room, everything comes out in the wash– hot, steamy and coin operated!

Carina launch is just around the corner. I will be appearing all over hell for interviews, I have several reviews out or upcoming and while you’re at my website, why don’t you enjoy a top-secret, super-hidden excerpt from Coin Operated?

No, not a secret baby, don’t start rumors.

Even better news, the cover for the second installment in the “Dirty Laundry” series,”Talk Dirty To Me”, cowritten by myself and the fanfreakingtastic Inez Kelley, will be out in July! Want to see the cover? Of course you do!

The blurb, you ask? I shall provide:

“Tell me what you want. Talk dirty to me.”

No, not vampires, I love vampires. JR Ward’s Wrath could chow down and I would lay there all weak and sweaty, begging him to do it again…and again.

MOSQUITOES! Gah! These things are like Japanese kamikaze bombers. I walked out to the car last night and got swarmed. A literal visible swarm hit me. They were in my hair, my face, down my shirt, up my skirt. I don’t even know these insects and they are getting down right personal. I have bites on my boobs, my butt and my arms are covered. They didn’t even buy me dinner first.  Then my husband informs my only the females bite. This is girl on girl action I could do without.

I am coating everyone in bug spray, doing foggers and even resorted to a yard spray. Sadly, I think I will still lose. So I sit and try not to scratch(fail at that) and my poor kids look like they have the played connect the dot in pink marker on their legs.

Anyone have any tried and true anti-bloodsucker remedies?

With A & E. I used to love this channel, but here lately it seems to be a storm drain of depressing reality shows. Where’s the Arts and Entertainment in that? Used to be they would make original movies that became classics – Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth anyone? The Scarlet Pimpernel series starring Richard E. Grant? Or what about those great Agatha Christie mysteries they used to show? There’s nothing like that anymore.

Now, while I enjoy Bill Kurtis and his American Justice and Cold Case Files shows, I’m thinking and entire marathon of 48 Hours, that takes up the amount of time it’s named after is a bit much. If they want to have one day of their programming devoted to reality tv, that’s one thing. But everyday of the week? Bad. Very bad. With the exception of Gene Simmons Family Jewels. Love that show! But then Gene is cool no matter what.

And while I’m on the subject, what does Pawn Stars and American Pickers really have to do with the History Channel? (I mean I understand there is history behind the items being found) But both these shows are time sucks. I tell myself I’m absolutely not going to watch and what happens, they come on and I find myself watching them and unable to look away. I get sucked into the abyss.

Which brings me to all the really super uneccessary shows on E. Like Kendra. And the Kardashian sisters. I mean really. Who cares? Makes me shake my head in wonder. I firmly believe that every time one of these shows are viewed, the collective IQ of the entire country goes down by at least 20 points.

I think this is where my programming snobbery really comes out. As a devoted documentary junkie, I will watch anything from the mating cycle of the gnat to how to make rubber stamps. I find these programs terribly fascinating. And the best part is I’m learning something I didn’t know before. It’s a win-win. I’m also a devotee to old movies. Just last night the hubster and I watched Akira Kirasawa’s The Fortress (1958) – and while I’ll admit, I didn’t like it as much as I adored Seven Samurai, I did like it very much.

Other shows that capture my interest, The Universe (History Channel), Naked Archeologist (History International) – (sadly we don’t get this channel anymore so I’m bereft of Simcha’s company on Tuesday nights. Also, the Food Network has taken up a large part of my time lately. Diners, Drive-ins and Dives rocks!

Netflicks has become an addiction. You can get just about anything on there, from old monster movies to modern Manga. It’s really quite awesome. Now you can also do instant videos through your computer or PS3 and not have to wait for the mail to deliver the DVD’s. How cool is that? I’ve gotten hooked on the short-lived series, Moonlight, where sexy vampire Mick St. John (played by the delicious Alex O’Loughlin)  protects the innocent of L.A. I never got a chance to watch this while it was on television, but now I’m catching up…and boy am I pissed that series was cancelled. It’s just damn hot! Netflicks is also going to be my window into seeing the very first episode of Farscape. (Which I haven’t seen to this day) Not to mention all the episodes I missed there in the middle after Zan left the show, or was killed or whatever happened. See, I missed so many of them I don’t even know. But shhhhh, don’t tell me. I want to watch them all in order from beginning to end. And then there are all the BBC shows that I love like Last of the Summer Wine and others I’ve seen an episode of here or there but want to see the entire program for, like Monarch of the Glen and Ballykissangel.

So, what do you want to watch? Are there certain channels that the programming gets under your skin so bad it’s an automatic skip on your remote?

Let me know, I can’t be the only one annoyed by what’s on the tube.

-Kate

Yesterday was my 14th wedding anniversary.

Fourteen years. Seriously? How the hell did that happen?

Anyway, it made me think a bit about love, marriage, life, and all that jazz. What is it about love and romance that makes me want to write it? Makes me want to live it?

I think it’s the hopefulness of it, the life-affirming idea that there is continuity, stability, acceptance. That we are each one of us a worthy and wonderful person, and that somewhere there are people who recognize that.

I am not an easy person. I’m bitchy, moody, stubborn. On the plus side, I’m smart – really smart – and often funny (in a snide, sarcastic way). I’m sure this is big news to all of you – because this kind of thing NEVER comes through in my posts or writing. [hey! you could sprain something rolling your eyes like that!]

But I think, at the core of it, this sums it up. I am a world class HOPEFUL romantic.