Now that Christmas is over....

Now that Christmas is over.... By Maree Anderson (for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi all,

For me, Christmas the year was kinda summed up like this: three days before Christmas Day, I got an email from some retailer with the heading EARLY BOXING DAY SALE STARTS TODAY!

Huh? WTF? I rubbed my eyes. But noooo, I wasn't reading it wrong. The hours I'd spent at the computer on copy edits hadn't bleared my eyes. Sure enough, their December 26th Boxing Day sale was starting early -- on December 22nd.

But rather than skip for joy and rush out to take advantage of the early sale, all I could think of was Good Flaming Grief. How about we just make it through Christmas Day first, huh?

As it happens, I did make it through Christmas Day. And -- unlike my rather frenetic Christmas Eve -- a very nice, laid-back, cruisy day it was, too. French champagne, croissants, and baked bean bacon hash for breakfast. Baked ham, gourmet potato salad and fancy green salad for lunch. Pavlova, chocolate brownie pie and ice-cream for dessert. Great company, great food, great wine... You can't get much better than that.

So now that Christmas is over, what I'd like to know is this:

What's the best Christmas present that you got this year?

Or even, what's the best Christmas present that someone else got this year? (You know, the one that you secretly wish you were given, because it's so freaking awesome, and you covet it!)

In the spirit of sharing, here were some of my personal faves: a couple of really great designer t-shirts, book vouchers, and THE most divine chocolates.

One gift that I covet, because they're so darned quirky that they're catapulted into the realms of ultra-coolness, is a bundle of sox that DH's sister sent him from China. It's not until you take your shoes off that these sox show their true colors -- literally! So even the most conservative of men (like my dad-in-law, who also got a bundle) can wear these fun little numbers to work without raising any eyebrows.










Then there was the tiny remote-controlled helicopter that DH's other sister sent him from Australia. Boy, did we have fun annoying the cat, and trying to land that little thing on the cake stand (once we'd eaten the pavlova, of course.) Why is it always the boys who get fun stuff like that for Christmas?

There were books galore, of course. Gardening books, cookbooks, and a wide range of fiction to suit all tastes. With an author in the family, no-one gets away without a gift of books for Christmas *VBG*

And father-in-law even got a live goat -- one of those give a goat to a village in Africa deals.

Looking forward to reading about your favorite Christmas gifts -- I can always do with some ideas for next year!

And don't forget that you've still got a couple of days to pop on over to the Red Hot Red Sage Authors blog, and leave a comment on one -- or all, if you're really keen! -- of the Rock Around December with Red Sage posts. Prize pack will be drawn on New Year's Eve.

In the meantime, wishing you all a Happy New Year!

Hugs,
Maree

Merry Christmas to All!

Well it’s Christmas Eve, and most of the hustle and bustle is over. The presents have been bought and wrapped. The baking is done and the tree is up, sparkling with its lights and decorations. A brand new blanket of white snow on the ground outside gives the world that Christmasy feeling.

Tonight, I will go to Midnight Mass as I do every year. It’s been a family tradition as far back as I can remember. When I was a toddler, I used to curl up on the pew and fall asleep despite my protestations that I was a big girl. Now, I’m part of the choir and we spend the hour before Mass caroling. It is truly a magical feeling to be singing to the Christ child on his birthday.

Tomorrow, my eldest son will be home. He lives several hours away but always manages to come home for Christmas. My other son will be spending the holidays with his in-laws. My grandson, and a few of the neighbors will be here as well and I’ll cook a big turkey and a ham. Mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts with hollandaise sauce, gravy, cranberries, fresh buns, squash, pickles, cheese will all be on the table and we’ll all eat more than we should before we collapse in the living room to reminisce about Christmases past and catch up on all the news.

Christmas, for me, is a time for family and friends. I wish you all the best of the season, and hope the New Year will bring you joy and happiness!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

PS: Shortly after I wrote this blog, I found out that I have been nominated for a CAPA Award for my paranormal romance - Sex and Cocolate: Dark Kisses! How's that for a cool Christmas Present! Wish me luck, the final winners are announced on February 14th, 2011.

http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7136:paranormal-erotic-romance-category-the-nominees-are&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=54

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS! from Maree

Hi all,

It's midday Christmas Eve here in New Zealand.

So far today I've had a haircut, bought a last minute Christmas present, made one lot of chocolate pastry for tomorrow's Chocolate Brownie Pie, and one lot of sweet shortbread pastry for tonight's lemon curd tartlets. I still have the pie filling and the tartlet cases to bake, tomorrow's breakfast to prep, and a salmon quiche to 'whip up' for tonight's light dinner before we head out for Christmas Eve drinks with friends.

And I've just found out I have an unscheduled trip out to my mom's because it turns out she's not going to come over for Christmas day, and I hate the idea that she won't have her presents to open for Christmas Day -- only about a 40 minute drive each way through Auckland traffic. Happy Joy.

And in between all that, I've received the proof for my Feb release, Scent Of A Man, and I'm frantically trying to get the line edits done and away asap, while still playing host to my in-laws.

Sound familiar?

I bet it does! They don't call it the Silly Season for nothing. *eye roll*

One thing I don't have to worry about, though, is cooking the pavlova for dessert tomorrow. My husband and my son are the pavlova experts in our family. They make THE BEST pavs! Must be a guy thing, 'cause no matter how hard I try, and what recipe I use, I just can't top their efforts.

Don't know what a pavlova is?

This is a pavlova:

And the perfect pavlova is crunchy on the outside and marshmallowy on the inside. Mmm mmm!

So because it's Christmas, I thought I'd give you all a special Christmas present, and share my husband's recipe. It's a very old recipe, given to him a couple of decades ago by a family friend who is well-known for her down-home country cooking.

And how impressed was I, when I first met my husband, and he had his own recipe book full of hand-written recipes, including this pavlova? Pretty darned impressed, I'm telling you! There's nothing sexier than a man who cooks a meal for you from scratch on your very first date. (He cooked me Beef Stroganoff -- little wonder I ended up marrying him *VBG*)

So here's the recipe -- please share it with those you love!

Mrs Kerr's Pavlova

6 egg whites
12 oz sugar
2 teaspoons vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
2 teaspoons cornflour

Heat oven to 250 degrees F (125 degrees C)

Beat egg whites till stiff, then beat in sugar a little at a time.

Add vinegar, vanilla essence and cornflour and gently fold into egg white mixture.

Cover a baking tray with a piece of tinfoil, and scrape egg white mixture out onto foil.

Using a spatula, form the mixture into a circle about the size of a dinner plate.

Bake for 1 1/2 hours total -- turning oven off after 1 hour.

When cooled, decorate with whipped cream, and fruit or chocolate shavings.

How easy is that? Enjoy!

Have a wonderful Christmas, and I'll see you next year.

Hugs,

Maree

And I'm Spent

Yeah, Baby!

Sorry, I'm totally goofy right now, on cold medicine to get over the nastiest sinus bug I've ever had, trying to get through the week what with school events, making gingerbread houses, pajama/ movie days and finishing up my latest WIP.

But no fricking way was I gonna let this week roll on by without a post here at Writers Gone Wild, no matter how chaotic my life is at the moment. Why? Because I have not missed a single week since I came on board this year. Every other Tuesday, whether during a release week,vacation, illness, nanowrimo what have you, my butt has been here, because out of all the places I peddle, this stage is my favorite.

You've shared three new releases with me in 2010, Laundry Hag 2 in June, River Rats in August, and Redeeming Characters in October. I've gone on long, rambling tangents filled with obscure pop culture references and made up wacky lists, quizzes and contests. Got some people riled over cussing and flying doubt monkeys (hate those little buggers;-) And through it all, I've been looking forward to more.

Frankly, I'm surprised I had so much to say.


So here it is, my final post of 2010. Wishing you and those you love all the best in the new year, happy holidays and above all happy reading!

Oh and Santa, in case you're reading, here are some must have books for Jenn's 2011 Wish List, just to get a jump on next year's rush. (I'm thoughtful like that.)


Dreams of a Dark Warrior - Kresley Cole
Pale Demon -Kim Harrison
River Marked -Patricia Briggs
Breaking the Rules - Suzanne Brockmann
Aftermath - Sarantha Jax book 5- Ann Aguirre
Heart of Steel -Meljean Brook

Anything by my wild sisters here at WGW .

Did I miss any must reads? What are you looking forward to?

Going Gluten-Free, Yeah Baby!

Hello everyone and Happy Holidays!

I'm posting this a bit early because I think I have an upper respiratory infection and I'm not sure what condition I'll be in tomorrow. So, on with the blog post!

This is my favorite time of year. Family and friends visiting with one another and making memories to share. The food, dressing up for parties. Let's not forget the decorations and reliving the wonder of the season through a child's eyes.

Like many pet owners, Sparky Urban has his own stocking with a few treats and gifts. I told him Santa Paws was coming to visit. Anyone who knows Sparky can attest that he doesn't know he's a dog. My terrier probably believes he's a human with four legs, fur who barks his wishes.

Of course, my grandson's each have stocking right beside Sparky's.

I'm a foodie. Sparky is a foodie, too. The holidays are a time to make special desserts and food to share.

Being a vegetarian during the holidays hasn't been hard, its having to go the gluten-free route that has made things a bit challenging. However, my best friend found a recipe to make your own gluten-free mix similar to the Bisquick gluten-free.
I'm not fortunate enough to live close to Whole Foods, so making my own bread is the way I'm going. Most gluten-free breads are nasty and expensive.

With some planning on my part, I'll be able to have real bread, not cardboard crap.
Gluten free doesn't mean we should have to suffer with outrageous prices for products that don't measure up.

Here are some vegetarian and gluten free recipes I hope you enjoy.

Black Bean Frittata

Recipe from KitchenAid stand mixer recipe book

2 cups Fat free egg substitute or 8 eggs
¼ cup low fat milk
1 tablespoon oil
½ medium red bell pepper, chopped
4 green onions, sliced
1 can (16 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Place egg substitute and milk in mixer bowl, mix on medium speed about 30 seconds, or until mixed well. Set aside.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until oil sizzles. Add bell pepper and onions. Cook about 1 minute, or until slightly tender. Stir in beans. Cook about 1 minute or until thoroughly heated.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Pour egg mixture over vegetables. Cook about 6 minutes, or until almost set. As bottom of egg mixture sets, carefully lift edges with spatula and let uncooked egg run to the bottom of the pan. Cook, covered about 2 minutes, or until top is shiny. Sprinkle with cheese. Cook, covered about 1 minute or until cheese melts.

Yield: 6 servings

Alison's Gluten Free Bread
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Alisons-Gluten-Free-Bread/Detail.aspx

Ingredients

* 1 egg
* 1/3 cup egg whites
* 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* 1/4 cup honey
* 1 1/2 cups warm skim milk
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 tablespoon xanthan gum
* 1/2 cup tapioca flour
* 1/4 cup garbanzo bean flour
* 1/4 cup millet flour
* 1 cup white rice flour
* 1 cup brown rice flour
* 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select cycle; press Start. Five minutes into the cycle, check the consistency of the dough. Add additional rice flour or liquid if necessary.
2. When bread is finished, let cool for 10 to 15 minutes before removing from pan.


Vegetable Phyllo Pie
Ingredients

* 5 cups chopped mixed vegetables
* 1 egg
* 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
* 1 clove garlic, chopped
* 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
* 1 tablespoon melted butter
* salt and pepper to taste
* dried dill weed to taste
* onion powder to taste
* 8 sheets phyllo dough

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish with olive oil.
2. Place vegetables in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and cover. Cook until tender but still firm, about 2 to 6 minutes; drain.
3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl combine egg, 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, feta cheese and melted butter. Stir in salt, pepper, dill and onion powder. Fold steamed vegetables into egg mixture.
4. Lay 4 sheets phyllo dough in the prepared dish and brush with olive oil. Lay 4 more sheets of dough in the dish, so that the edges overlap in the pan but most of the dough extends beyond the sides of the dish.
5. Spoon vegetable mixture into dish and fold dough across the top. Brush with olive oil.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes.

*I can't wait to try this dish. It looks like you can easily play with the ingredients to fit what you have on hand.*

I love sweets and desserts. Here's a recipe for Peanut Butter Fudge.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients:
• Crisco® Original No-Stick Cooking Spray
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine
• 2/3 cupPET® Evaporated Milk
• 1 2/3 cups Jif® Creamy Reduced Fat Peanut Spread
• 1 (7 oz.) jar marshmallow creme
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:
1. LINE a 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan with aluminum foil; spray with a no-stick cooking spray.
2. COMBINE sugar, butter and milk in large saucepan, stirring constantly on medium heat, until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
3. ADD peanut butter. Stir until well blended. Add marshmallow creme and vanilla. Beat until well blended. Spread in prepared pan. Cool.
4. CUT into candy-sized pieces. Store in covered container.
Yield: 3 pounds

Having health issues means I have to take a little more time and be a bit more creative in my approach to food and my lifestyle. Don't forget at your parties and events to have some goodies for those who are diabetic.

I wish all of you health and happiness!

Hugs,
Tambra

A Kiwi Night Before Christmas

A Kiwi Night Before Christmas (Maree Anderson for Writers Gone Wild)

Hi all,

I was cleaning out a bookcase last weekend and found a book called A Kiwi Night Before Christmas by Yvonne Morrison. This book features the most delightful illustrations by Deborah Hinde and it was a family favorite when the kids were little. As an aside, the poem in the book was inspired by the popular Clement Clarke Moore poem, A Visit From St. Nicholas (probably more widely recognized these days by the title 'Twas The Night Before Christmas).

According to one of the stores that stocks this book, Ms Morrison wrote this when she was overseas and, knowing she wasn't gonna make it home for Christmas, she got a wee tad nostalgic for home. (Here's a link if you're interested in other stories by the same author.)

So this is for for all Kiwis who won't make it home for Christmas this year.

And for everyone else, we hope you enjoy this little taste of our Kiwi culture -- and that you don't need to resort to Google to translate the Kiwi slang *g*

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all round the bach
Not a possum was stirring; not one we could catch.
We'd left on the table a meat pie and beer,
In hopes that Santa Claus soon would be here.

We children were snuggled up in our bunk beds,
While dreams of pavlova danced in our heads;
And Mum in her nightie, and Dad in his shorts,
Had just settled down to watch TV Sports,

When outside the bach such a hoo-ha arose,
I woke up at once from my wonderful doze.
I ran straight to the sliding door, looking about,
Jumped out on the deck, and let out a shout!

The fairy lights Dad had stung up round the door
Let me see everything, down to the shore.
And what did I see, when I took a peep?
But a miniature tractor and eight tiny sheep,

With a little old driver, his dog on his knee.
I knew at once who this joker might be.
He patted the dog, and in a voice not unkind,
cried, "Good on ya, boy! Now, GIT IN BEHIND!

"Now, Flossy! now, Fluffy! now, Shaun and Shane!
On, Bossy! on, Buffy! on, Jason and Wayne!
Up that red tree, to the top of the bach!
But mind you don't trample the vegetable patch."

So up to the roof those sheep quickly flew,
With the tractor of toys, Santa and his dog too.
As my sister awoke and I turned around,
In through the window he came with a bound.

He wore a black singlet and little white shorts,
And stuck on his feet were gumboots, of course;
A sackful of toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a postie just opening his pack.

His eyes -- bright as paua shell -- oh, how they twinkled!
Like an old tuatara, his skin was all wrinkled!
He had a wide face and round, fat tummy,
That looked like he'd eaten lots that was yummy.

He spoke not a word, but got down on one knee,
And placed a cricket set under the tree,
A present for Sis, one for Dad, one for Mum,
Then he turned and he winked and he held up his thumb;

He jumped on his tractor, to his dog gave a whistle,
And away they all flew, as fast as a missile.
I called out "Thanks," as he flew past the gate.
He called back: "Kia ora to all, and good on ya, mate!"

Interview With Anna Leigh Keaton

You guys are in for a rare treat today, because Anna Leigh Keaton is here. She writes very hot, emotionally charged erotic romance, and she writes it faster than probably anyone you've ever met. Seriously. At every RWA meeting she seems to collect at least two silk roses for her new sales. She's got over 40 books published already, and she's here to talk about two more coming out this month, plus some burning questions I've always wanted to know that answers to. Because the woman astounds me.

KC: You are a very prolific and disciplined author, and you write sequentially from Chapter One to The End without skipping around. How the heck do you do that, and how do you keep the words flowing when you sit down to write?


ALK: “Yes” to prolific, “If you say so” to the disciplined. *grin* First off, I am not disciplined unless I have a specific deadline. I write when I need to – this means when the little voices in my head are bugging me so badly I can’t get anything else done. And I write under deadline, though that’s rare because I’m e-published, and they’re pretty lenient unless I’ve turned in a proposal. I do better letting the characters do their thing rather than forcing them. Then it’s not real fun at all.

As for writing Chapter One to The End is pretty much my standard because I don’t plot. If I don’t plot, I can’t really skip around, or it wouldn’t flow. It would be a bunch of individual chapters that I’d have to try to string together with filler. (This was how my very first book turned out, and it was very bad.)

As for keeping everything flowing… Well… Hmm… It’s so true that everyone has their own way of writing, their own way of doing things, and I have a couple of different ones depending on my situation.

When I’m writing alone, and I get an idea for a new book, and I’m in a position to start that book, I go to bed. Yes, you read that right. I go to bed. I lay in the dark and (I hate this word) – plot – the opening. Though, it’s really not plotting, because I write nothing down. In the dark silence, I close my eyes and meet my characters, see what they look like, envision my setting, and figure out what’s going to go wrong to keep my hero and heroine apart until later on in the story. And then I usually let the opening scene play out in my head like a little movie. Then I fall asleep (usually, because that happens when it’s dark and quiet) and when I get up the next morning, I start writing. I know my characters, what they look like, and the setting, but the words they exchange never turn out to be the same as the little mini mind movie I envisioned the night before, so it’s all new and fresh and fun to discover. Once I’m done with that scene, if the next scene has built in my subconscious I can keep going. When I get stuck, I go back to bed and figure it all out.

When I’m working with my co-author, we brainstorm, as she calls it. I think we actually plot. UGH! There’s that word again. This is pulling teeth to me, and I hate it, but she’s a die-hard plotter with charts and graphs and everything. Okay, this comes in very handy with our very long, multi-book series we tend to write, but I’m so glad she is the one who has to keep track, not me. But on the positive side, writing with her is so fast because the book is plotted, and when it’s my turn to write, she tells me what to write, and I do it. There’s little thought needed, really, because I already know the whole story. All it takes is going over what she’s written and then continuing on.

Then there is my short story writing. Those are fun. I come up with an idea – usually while doing the dishes. The kitchen seems to be the “New Idea” area of my house. For the short stories, I simply sit down and let it flow.

Huh. Guess I'm going to start doing more dishes then. What's your writing process like? Besides fast, I mean :)

I write when I’ve got time or when the characters are screaming to get out. And when I write, I tend to just sit down and get it done. I can write a short story in a day, a novella in 2 or 3 days, and I hate writing anything that takes more than a month. I’m an impatient person, so I don’t like long, drawn out processes. I will write 8-10 hours a day until I’m done, setting aside my job, my family, any form of life outside of the world I’m creating. Luckily I have a “day” job I work from home, so putting it to the side whenever my muse hits me is possible.

Of course, the world and life loves to intrude, so I can’t always do what I want. My family seems to think they need to eat, though I’m not sure why! *grin* But when I’m in the groove, I tend to stay there as much as I possibly can so that I can see my final product. Then I go back to taking care of the family and, well, myself.

What advice would you give to authors about how to consistently turn out stories?

Everyone has to find their own process. This is the only way anyone can write comfortably, and in my opinion you have to be comfortable with your process for it to work for you.

As a fan of your work, I'd have to say the thing that sets you apart from most other erotic romance authors is your ability to mine your characters' emotional depths. What do you think is your greatest strength as an author?

Exactly that! My goal in life is to make people cry. Or laugh. But I’m better at making them cry. I started out writing mainstream romance, but found there’s little market for it (at this time) in e-publishing. My mainstream romance was filled with heroes and heroines with serious life problems who had to scrape and fight and struggle to make it to their Happily Ever After. When I started writing erotic romance, I hadn’t read much of it. I frankly didn’t care for most of what I read because it was sex, sex, sex with no heart. So, I decided to do what I hadn’t seen, and it’s working. Sure, my erotic romances are filled with sex, sex, sex – or it wouldn’t be erotic romance, right? But they also contain deep characters that still have to fight and struggle to find their Happily Ever After. And in my humble opinion, that makes a really great book.

What's the secret to building heat between your main characters?

I think that the chemistry between a hero and heroine has to be real, believable, explosive, undeniable, unavoidable, and it has to be a little forbidden in some way. The push-pull of “I want him/her” and “I can’t have him/her”, no matter what is causing the problems they have with coming together. Although, I firmly believe that the problems must be believable to the reader, or the story doesn’t work.

You have two releases this December (What? Only two?). One is Midnight Mine, the latest installment of the fairytale series you're doing for Cobblestone Press and comes out December 13th. What new twists have you given the classic story of Snow White?

Midnight Mine is book 3 in the Once Upon a Time series available at Cobblestone Press. Book 1 is Midnight Hour, an erotic, naughty version of Cinderella. Book 2 is Midnight Moon, a sexy, slightly BDSM shape-shifting take on Beauty and the Beast, and Midnight Mine is a sweet, though very naughty exploration of Snow White.

This series is co-authored with Madison Layle, and we’re having a blast with it!

We’ve built an entire world around Everland, with the Princeton men as our heroes. The stories you’ll recognize from childhood, but these aren’t your kids’ bedtime stories. Hot sex, voodoo witches, black magic spells, and sexier than sin heroes. You can check out the map of Everland, the Princeton family tree, and excerpts from each of the finished books at http://www.onceuponatimeseries.com/

Blurb:
Sylvia White is ready for a change. Growing up as the only girl in a motherless family of seven boys, she filled the role of keeper of the home. Now, in her twenties, she wants more for herself, but how is she to step beyond the overbearing men in her world and make a life for herself?

Richard Princeton has returned to Everland to run the family mine and atone for the ill will he’d held against his parents for so many years. But bad things happen when he meets the woman of his heart and his mother doesn’t approve.
KC: Your other release is a paranormal romance, Falke's Peak, from Carina Press, due out December 20th. It's the first of the Puma Nights series, co-authored with your writing partner, Madison Layle. Tell us about the creation of this series and your call from Carina Press. (It was personally acquired by none other than Angela James, by the way.)

I’ll start with “the call” because being e-pub’d authors, we’ve never had our phone ring about a contract. We get emails. We expected an email from Carina either in acceptance or rejection, so when the phone rang early one morning, it was very, very exciting. Angela James, the executive editor from Carina, is a wonderful woman who answered all of our questions and concerns, and our editor Gina Bernal was very understanding with the fact Madi and I have published so many books under one kind of editing process. She worked with us, and it was all in all a fantastic experience. We so look forward to working with her again.

This series was Madi’s brainchild. She wanted to write a shifter series, and I was tired of reading about werewolves set in the Bayou. So, she picked the shifters; a set of 6 catamount (cougar) shifter brothers, and I picked the location; beautiful Leavenworth, Washington in the Cascade Mountain range.

Falke’s Peak is book 1 in what we hope will be a 4-book series. Axel and Gunnar are the two oldest Falke brothers who, once meeting Dakota, realize they’re ready to settle down with their mate. The fun comes when the brothers have to reveal themselves to her and try to convince her to love not only two men, but two men who spend part of their time as big, furry kitties. *grin*

You can check out the series at http://www.pumanights.com/

Blurb:She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Stressed out ad-exec Dakota wandered into Catamount Outfitters in search of a guide for a wilderness excursion. She didn’t expect to be greeted by not one, but five of the most ruggedly delicious looking men she’d ever seen. Not to mention a live cougar guarding the shop.

The Falke brothers have more than just good looks in their genes.

Eldest brother Axel agrees to guide Dakota on her mountain trek. In cougar form, Axel’s twin, Gunnar, was there as a protection from predators – but he had his eye on the sexy client instead.

Into the wild…

While the rule with clients was “paws-off”, both Axel and Gunnar couldn’t resist Dakota’s seductive Native American beauty and determination. As cold days lead to hot nights in the cabin, Axel and Gunnar wondered if they finally found a woman strong enough to tame them….


Great hook! What else have you got coming up for readers?
I hope to have out a few more short erotic pieces, a couple novellas, and one or two novels at Cobblestone Press. Book 4 in Once Upon a Time will be out next summer: Midnight Deal – our take on Little Red Riding Hood. Also, we’re working on book 2 of the Puma Nights series right now, and hope that will be out sometime in the not too far future at Carina Press.

Anything else you'd like to add/share?
Madi and I have set up a new, combined site where readers can find us. And we’ve even started making a few blog posts. *gasp* http://www.laylekeaton.com/

And then there’s my individual site at http://www.annaleighkeaton.com/ where you can find my backlist, both co-authored and individual, along with excerpts from all of my books.

Thanks so much for this opportunity!

You're welcome, and I'm so glad I could drag you out into the public eye for a short while! And wow, an actual blog? I'm even more impressed.

So for all of you out there that love erotic romance, go read some of Anna Leigh's books and feel free to drop her a line. She's great!

Real Life Romance and Murder

Saranna says: Please welcome Noble Romance author and all around neat person Sarah Ballance to Writers Gone Wild. You guys are in for a treat.

The Story Behind RUN TO YOU: How Real-Life Romance Turned to Thoughts of Murder

By Sarah Ballance

It was a dark and stormy night ….

Hey!  Where are you going?  It really WAS a dark and stormy night, but not the thunder-and-lightning kind you'd expect from such a well-worn cliché.  Although lightning must have struck somewhere, as the husband and I actually managed to escape our sizable herd of five young children, not yet aware of the sixth one on the way.  (For some of you, that will be the scariest part of this story.  Please continue reading anyway.)

It was October of 2009.  I'd just finished and submitted my first novel to Noble and really wanted to write a romantic suspense.  But, story ideas?  Not a one.  Which brings us back to the dark and stormy night my loving husband suggested we take a walk on the beach. 

Um, what?

Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE the beach.  I've lived within minutes of the coast my entire life, and even though I've traveled extensively there's little to compare to standing on the edge of the world, witnessing the power of the ocean and the vastness of the sky.  It's where dreams are born … in the sunlight.  On a black night? Don't think so!

Here's a little secret I don't keep very well.  I can talk myself into worrying about almost anything.

Husband:  "Do you want to go get ice cream?"

Kids:  "YAAAAAAYYY!"

Me:  "No. What if I say yes and we end up in some horrible accident? It will be my fault."

Husband: "Yes, you are the controller of the universe.  Now get in the car."  (Note the sarcasm. He's all mine, girls!).

Needless to say, I wasn't THRILLED with the idea of walking down the beach that night. Any night, I'm worried about what could happen.  Stepping on seaweed (I know people pay for those treatments, but a cold, slimy seaweed surprise under a bare foot is screech-worthy), being attacked (as if a stranger could pose a greater threat than the hubster, who can merely look at me and knock me up … besides, he's packing more than super sperm), getting lost (it's really dark, everything looks the same … which dune is the car behind, exactly?), and an innumerable slew of similar worries.  But THIS night … oh, my.  I'd take the seaweed surprise over this any day, thank you.

A thick layer of clouds obscured the moon, but just enough light crept through to make the whole scene terrifying.  We had some sort of nor'easter blow through, and the waves were hideous. They crashed and boiled mercilessly, tossing salt-spun foam to the skies.  Said foam quite literally flew through the air and smacked into us.  (If you've never opened your mouth to talk only to have the universe toss gobs of sea foam into it, well, you're either living right or not living at all.)

The scant bit of moonlight was just enough to highlight the white caps,  flying wave regurgitation, and the occasional shadow of a sand crab screeching past.  Between the noise of the waves and the silence of the sand – the bits not pelting us without mercy, anyway – I had this creepy feeling gurgling in my throat that some lunatic meaning harm could be a step behind me and I'd never know it.  And it was there, in that moment, RUN TO YOU was born.  The beach.  A bitter night.  Murder.  THE plot I'd been searching for.

So, yeah.  My hubby takes me for a romantic walk on the beach, and I'm killing people in my head.  After more than 13 years of marriage, it's romance enough.

BLURB 

Mattie James can’t pinpoint exactly when she lost control of her life, but the moment she decided to take it back made the front page of the local paper. Desperate to dodge the fallout— and the tabloids—she jumps at the chance to spend an off-season week in a tiny resort community by the sea. Making the trip with her ex-lover is a complication she can live with; coming face to face with a dead woman is not.

The last thing Sheriff Wyatt Reed expected to find on the storm-ravaged beach was a beautiful blonde with a jealous sidekick, but one look at Mattie left him wanting more. Their first date takes an ominous turn when he gets the call that a woman was found murdered. With a killer on the loose and a troubling lack of suspects or motive, Wyatt has to put his feelings aside to focus on the case. But his vow not to become personally involved is shattered when he discovers Mattie’s life is on the line, and this time the truth leaves her with a deadly choice . . . and nowhere to run.

Saranna says: Want more of Sarah? I know I do. Use the linkies below to get another dose!

Sarah Ballance

Buy Run To You

Sugarplums: Christmas Magic by Anne Kane

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love stories of elves and Santa Clause and fairies and reindeer and little kids with big smiles on their faces when they open their presents. When one of my publishers, Changeling Press, put out a call for stories centered around a theme of Sugarplums, I couldn't resist! The result was Christmas Magic, the story of an elf who decides that this year, she's going to get her true love for Christmas.


Series: Sugarplums
Title: Christmas Magic
ISBN : 8-1-60521-516-7
Genres: Paranormal, Hot Flashes
Themes: Christmas, Seasonal Themes, Elves, Dragons and Magical Creatures
Release Date: December 3, 2010
Author: Anne Kane
http://www.annekane.com/

Publisher URL Changeling Press - Erotic Fiction

BUY NOW!




BLURB:

Tali's been secretly lusting after Jax since the spring breakup, but he insists on treating her like a sister. Tonight, all of the adult elves at the North Pole will be at the Sugarplum Ball. It's a night of Christmas Magic and dreams come true, and if Tali doesn't wake up in the morning with a naked hunk of an elf in the bed beside her, it won't be for lack of trying.


EXCERPT:

And every purchase in the Sugarplum series get you an entry into Changeling's Annual Christmas contest! Check it out HERE!

Christmas really is a time for giving

CHRISTMAS REALLY IS A TIME FOR GIVING by Maree Anderson (For Writers Gone Wild)

Hi y'all,

Used to be that Christmas was my favorite time of year. I loved buying presents. I loved wrapping them, and imagining each person opening their gift even more. The prospect of cramped fingers from writing out a massive list of Christmas cards? Bring it on, baby. I was like a big kid, rubbing my hands in gleeful anticipation, counting down the days.

But after decades of being a family mediator and trying to keep everyone happy, one year it finally hit me that it's impossible to keep everyone happy. Trying to do so was only making me stressed and miserable. I said, "I'm not putting myself through this crap anymore." I quit trying to organise extended family Christmases. What was the point when family would sabotage my efforts with BS like "I'm not turning up if such and such is going to be there" and that sort of carry-on. Or worse, promise they would come, build up my hopes of reconciliations and bridge-building, and then not turn up.

Enough! No more wishful thinking, no more feeling sad that certain people in our lives choose to make themselves unavailable and my kids barely get to see them at all, let alone at this special time of the year. No. Freaking. More.

Only trouble with that brilliant philosphy is this: Years of pretending not to be affected by this stuff has slowly worn me down and sucked the joy out of Christmas.

Buying presents has become a chore to be endured. My Christmas cards are posted out later and later each year. Heck, this year I've found myself wondering whether anyone would care if I didn't send any out at all. And if one more person asks me what the kids want for Christmas -- argh!

As I always do when we're having people to stay over the Christmas break, I've made the offer for certain family members to come share Christmas Day with us. Because "Hey, we'll be here all day and there'll be plenty of food and you're always welcome." And, as I always do, I've pretended that the lame excuses why they can't come and won't be there if we try to visit, don't matter and that I don't mind either way.

But just between you and me, I do mind. I mind a lot. And I hate that I mind. Which means that this year -- again -- I just want Christmas to be over and done with so I can move past the wish-it-could-be-different sad stuff.

Except yesterday, that changed just a little bit.

I was rifling through a box of stuff in the kids' room and came across a bunch of books that my kids have outgrown reading. They were in excellent condition, and I toyed with putting them on TradeMe and selling them. Instead, on the spur of the moment, I looked up the number for the Women's Refuge, and rang them to offer the books to any kids who'll end up staying there over Christmas. They were rapt by the offer, and I must have sounded sincere and trustworthy, because they gave me the location of the safe-house in our district.

So I hopped in my car and dropped off a box of books. And you know what? When I handed over that box and got a smile and genuine thanks in return, it felt good. It felt really really freaking good. And I smiled all the way home at the thought of some little boy getting to open a parcel and discovering the Astrosaurs or Captain Fact books that my son had so loved when he was younger.

So yesterday, thanks to a box of books, I reached a turning point with my crappy attitude toward Christmas. Yesterday it hit me how lucky I am to have a husband who loves me, and great kids, and a roof over my head. Every year I get to spend Christmas with people I love and who love me. I am truly blessed.

And today? Well, today, the prospect of starting on those Christmas cards on my list is seeming like something I really want to do rather than "should" do. Today, the prospect of angsting over Christmas Day menus seems like something fun to do. Today, there's a little more joy in my heart. Amazing what the simple act of giving can achieve.

Cheers!

Maree

Absolution Giveaway

On Friday, the 5th and final book in my military romantic suspense series with The Wild Rose Press releases. Anyone that's read my books or blogs must know by now that Luke's my favorite hero, and I think his story is my best yet. I literally couldn't get the words down fast enough. I wrote the book so fast I nearly melted my keyboard, and I've never had a story come out that easily before or since.

To win a copy of Absolution, leave a comment for me here and I'll pick a winner on Saturday December 11th. Best of luck and I hope you love this book as much as I do!

Blurb:
A lifetime of regret…
After legendary CIA contractor Luke Hutchinson unknowingly trained the man who would become the world's most dangerous terrorist, he has no choice but to hunt him across the globe. Driven to complete that final mission, he fears his enemy has targeted the only woman Luke has ever loved. Unfortunately for him she's his ex-wife, and already facing another deadly threat he can't protect her from.

A lifetime of pain…
Emily always hoped Luke would find his way back to her, but she's finally given up on that impossible dream. Now that she’s fighting her own life and death battle, the last thing she wants is to get entangled with the man who ripped out her heart and left her to raise their son on her own.

One final chance at absolution…
Undeniable sparks fly when they’re forced to share a roof, but unless Luke can get Emily to trust him, they won't get the second chance they've waited over two decades for. And time is running out. The monster Luke created is on the move again, bent on destroying him and anyone who gets in the way.

Excerpt:
Raw anger and resentment swirled in her eyes, and they gave him hope. If she had enough spirit to fight with him, then she had enough strength to face this. “You have no right,” she hissed between clenched teeth. “No right to talk to me like I’m a two-year old.” This time when she yanked her head away he released her, but she nailed him with a look of pure murder. “Do you think I want to die?” she flung at him, crossing her arms across her breasts, hands balled into fists. “Because I assure you I don’t. I’m doing everything I can to stay alive, but guess what, Luke? Sometimes medicine and will are not enough.”


Unacceptable. He refused to even go there in the hypothetical. “Choice is yours, Em. Warrior or coward? Which is it gonna be?”

“You bastard.” For a moment she regarded him with utter loathing. “Which one of us is the coward, Luke?”

The words hit him like a knife in the heart, along with an avalanche of guilt. He deserved that, and maybe it was time they finally had this fight. If she needed to rip him to shreds, he was more than willing to be her punching bag as long as it helped her. So he pushed. “Meaning?”

Her eyes, normally so warm and soft, were like bottle green shards of glass that cut him with a thousand blades. “Which one of us took the coward’s way out and took off when things got hard? Which one of us was too scared to stick around and work things out? Which one of us left his wife and ten year old son without a backward glance and never came back because he was too goddamn afraid of himself?” Her voice shredded on the last word.

A searing pain hit Luke’s chest, deep inside like he’d been shot with a hollow point slug. She was dead on. A fucking bull’s eye.

His stomach was so tight it hurt. The fact that she’d sworn twice within the last minute showed him just a fragment of the unforgivable pain he’d inflicted on her. “And look what happened.”

Emily swallowed and glanced away, hurt and sadness replacing some of the anger in her expression.

“You don’t think I’ve regretted what I did to you every single day of my life?” he asked tightly.

She met his eyes, and the emptiness in hers scared the hell out of him. “Just proves my point that it doesn’t matter how much we want something. Some things are out of our control, no matter how much we wish they weren’t.”

Because she’d wanted him back, always.

He’d known that since the day he’d left, which was why he’d been so careful to stay away. And he’d still known it when she’d stubbornly stayed the night in his hospital room, but he hadn’t dared take the comfort she so obviously wanted to give him.

Unfortunately, nothing had changed. He couldn’t reach out to her now, not after everything else. Tehrazzi was out there, and he wasn’t going away. Luke was the only one that could make that happen, and until he did... It didn’t matter that he wanted to be with Emily, or that he’d dreamed of it since the day he’d left her. It didn’t matter that his last sight of her had been in his rear view mirror, collapsed in a sobbing heap in the driveway of this same house, hands in her hair as she screamed his name. Begging him not to go.

And yet he had. Driven by the knowledge that not only was he a threat to her and their son, but that he wasn’t good enough for her. She was the fairy-tale princess and he was a lowly soldier, destined to dream about her sitting by the warmth of the fire burning in the castle grate while he shivered outside in the cold, staying out of sight but close enough to protect her. For more than twenty years he’d been doing that. But now, he wasn’t sure he could stay away from her anymore, and that meant he had to go.

He needed to go, yet she was so vulnerable standing there with that deep-seated fear in her big green eyes. It was killing him not to touch her, not to be able to do anything to ease her in some way. His resolve weakened.

He shouldn’t touch her; he knew better. Touching her was both heaven and hell, but tonight even the bittersweet pain it always brought wasn’t enough to deter him. Nor was the fact that the last time he’d reached for her had been in this room, and a few seconds after that they’d both been naked and all over each other. None of that mattered in light of the fear and need he read in her eyes. Right now, no power on earth could keep him away from her any longer.

Luke stepped closer, close enough to catch the warmth from her body and for her light vanilla scent to torment him with a thousand bittersweet memories. She knew what was coming, he could see it in her guarded expression. But she didn’t turn away when he lifted a hand to skim his thumb across her cheekbone, light as a sigh. The brief contact sizzled over his skin, and just that fast he got hard. She’d always had that effect on him.

His eyes went to the faint scar beneath her left ear. Her pulse beat hard and fast below the delicate skin where he could so easily have severed her jugular vein. A few more ounces of pressure or a wrong move on her part and he would have. The knowledge sickened and shamed him. He’d rather have slit his own throat than ever harm her in any way, but it had happened nonetheless.

First that accidental nick when she’d snuck up on him in the kitchen. Right from the start he’d warned her not to startle him, but she’d come up behind him with the intention of being playful. When she’d touched him, he’d had her pinned up against the fridge with the knife below her jaw before he’d even realized it was her. He still had nightmares about the stricken look in her eyes as she’d stared up at him, like an animal caught in the jaws of a trap. But that wasn’t the worst of it.

The whole time he’d been pressing his shirt against the wound to stop the bleeding, he’d already made the decision to leave. He’d run from her and the damning knowledge he was a trip wire waiting to be triggered, and broken her heart. The ironic thing was, she didn’t seem to realize he’d left his behind with her.

Luke’s hand trailed over the velvet softness of her cheek until his fingertips caressed the pale line of the scar. A thousand words of apology crowded his throat but he didn’t want to break the spell between them by speaking. His other hand touched her shoulder and crept up to the nape of her neck where the hair lay in silky whorls, and squeezed his fingers around it gently. Her swift intake of breath made him glance up into her face, and the stark desire that had her pupils expanding hit him like a body blow. A fine shiver passed through her as he drew her closer to him with the grip on her neck. Her elegant hands fluttered up to rest on his shoulders, making the muscles tense beneath her slim fingers.

Closing his eyes, Luke lowered his head to nuzzle her temple and fought back a groan when her fingers dug into his skin in response. She was so damn perfect to him, still gently rounded but firm, her scent a heady mix of innocence and sin. His beautiful Em.

He gently rubbed his cheek against hers, careful that his short beard didn’t chafe her smooth skin, and slid the hand at her jaw down her shoulder and arm to her waist. His fingers flexed against that firm flesh, wanting to explore so much more but holding himself in check. Luke dropped his head until his mouth brushed beneath her left ear, right over the scar he’d given her. She tensed in his embrace, a nervous swallow making the muscles in her throat undulate beneath his lips. He paused without moving away, teasing her with that light touch and the warm caress of his exhalations. When it was clear she wasn’t going to pull away, he pressed a lingering kiss there and squeezed his eyes shut.

I’m so sorry, Em. He sent the words to her through the caress of his lips and the careful but desperate grip of his hands. So damn sorry.

Emily swallowed again, then slowly tipped her head to the side to allow him greater access. He took it, tightening his hold on her and moving his body in close so that it brushed against hers, opening his mouth to let his tongue stroke across the mark, tasting her exquisitely soft skin. His erection pressed painfully against his jeans.

“Luke,” she quavered, her voice full of confusion and need.

He cradled the back of her head with his palm and reluctantly stopped what he was doing, bracing himself for the inevitable moment when she withdrew from him. But she surprised him by threading her hands into his hair and just holding on, leaning into him slightly.

Luke raised his head, and the breath got stuck in his throat. Emily’s eyes were wide and uncertain as she stared up at him, fingers tangling in his hair to rub against his scalp. A cat flexing its claws. He answered with a low growl of enjoyment and pressed back against the caress, watching her through lowered lids. The hunger was there as it always was; a pool of gasoline waiting for a match strike. It pulsed between them in the quiet and licked over his skin like flames. His gaze went to her lush mouth, just inches from his. The full lower lip tempted him to bend closer, closer to brush that satin curve...

Emily jerked back with a gasp, squeezing her eyes shut and shaking her head. But her hands remained in his hair, a stark contradiction between her first reaction. She was fighting this, just as he was. But she was hungry. She wanted him every bit as badly as he wanted her. God help them both.

*end excerpt*
 
You might need a Kleenex or two while you read this one, but I promise you it's worth it!
 
Happy reading,
Kaylea :)

Do You Have a Theme Song? Win $15 iTunes giftcard!

I don't often listen to music when I write. My writing time is usually first thing at the butt crack of dawn or when everyone else is out for the day. When I'm deeply entrenched in a WIP though, I create a playlist, something to keep me in the mood of my story when I'm walking or driving or doing more mundane chores.

I'll give you a few examples. For my first Laundry Hag book, the theme song was Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al. I love the duality of that song, the peppy upbeat tempo and the darker questions and images in the lyrics. The video with Chevy Chase is absolutely priceless too. I'd add it here, but I'm already getting off topic.


For Redeeming Characters, I had to search for a bit to discover the heart of that book. And when I say a bit, that's like calling the Nile River a stream of dog pee. After a few false prophets I finally really listened to the lyrics for Matthew Sweet's Sick of Myself.


Here are the lines that caught my breath, then made me shriek, and this is a direct quote, "Nailed it, you bastard!"

Off 100% Fun album by Matthew Sweet

...the choice to leave you
I'll throw away a chance at greatness, just to make this
dream come in to play.
I don't know if I'll find a way
'Cause I'm sick of myself when I look at you
something is beautiful and true


That was the best day and the song will forever bring a smile to my face. Incidentally on the very same album is the theme song for Cosmic Balance, the second book in my Stellerverse series, We're The Same. As soon as I finish my current Lusha projects, that one will be played to death.

So, now I want to hear from you, writers and readers alike. What are your favorite songs and why? Best answer wins a $15.00 iTunes giftcard. And since this is a stop on my Redeeming Characters Blog Tour I'll let you know right now that if you check out http://www.jenniferlhart.com/ you can also enter to win the grand prize, a $50.00 Amazon.com giftcard!

Rock Around December With Red Sage!

ROCK AROUND DECEMBER WITH RED SAGE!

Midday already? Where did my morning go? I'm so late with this post it's barely worth posting!

Okay. Deep breath. And another one.

Right, here goes --

Thought you might appreciate a heads up on a really fabulous holiday contest over at the Red Hot Red Sage Authors blog:

“This holiday season, the most wonderful, beautiful, talented, sexy, brilliant authors on the planet—your very own Red Sage authors—have put together a contest for our readers.

During the month of December, keep your finger on the pulse of the Red Sage Blog, and leave a comment on any post to be entered to win a prize pack. We’re talking signed print copies of the Secrets Anthology, a list of the hottest freakin’ e-books on the market, some e-books that haven’t even been released yet, and goodies galore. You might even find some delicious chocolate showing up on your doorstep in addition to the eye candy our book covers provide.

So follow the blog. Comment. It’s that simple. The more comments you leave, the more times your name is dropped into a hat. The contest runs from December 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010. On New Year’s Day, a winner will be announced, so please check back if you aren’t comfortable leaving your email address along with your comment. We’re so excited to present one lucky reader with a new year of reading material and other fantastic items. So tell your friends. And if you retweet any post, let us know and we’ll throw in an additional chance under your name! Good luck~”

Sure wish I was allowed to enter!

Oh, and a link might be good, right? Here's the link. (I think I need some coffee!)


:-)

Maree

What Makes It Erotic?

Since I've just sold my first erotic romance story (a novella to be published under a different name), I wanted to poll you romance readers and writers out there about what makes a story erotic. For me it's the buildup of heat between the characters, and the emotion behind it. If there's no emotion, I'm not interested in what's happening between them. But then I guess that's why I read romance :)

In my opinion, a story doesn't have to be an erotic romance to qualify as erotic. JR Ward's books are mainstream, but still steamy. Rhage's and Zadist's books were very hot, and if you've read them I sure you know what I mean. If you haven't read them, you should! Gennita Low, too, wields a very steamy pen in her romantic suspense. And I'm a huge Lisa Marie Rice fangirl because of all the emotion she packs into each scene. I love how deep she gets into her characters' POV.

Do you have any favorites? And what is it about the writing that makes the book erotic? Maybe it's the push-pull between the hero and heroine. Or the eye contact during a kiss or love scene. Words like tremble, or luscious during a scene. Each author has their own way of injecting heat into the story, but other than using graphic words, what tricks your favorite authors use?