tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81112243061495731732024-03-05T22:31:10.973-06:00NLVTamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.comBlogger427125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-7043929018327463642012-10-05T00:03:00.000-05:002012-10-05T00:03:00.341-05:00Why Dragons don’t like Vampires<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x1lB-T7YybbFgPGsuw2QxsLqc2HXJ_w65IbyxzQJRm73E5v7wT7jRD_yzEd6c3raDpJufpGaVO-s2k8QR3GZkeGcyon5MO8N-9T3YdTDKUBeg-56QW0hcpJpKjc3Uk0wVHf6m8OAzfc/s1600-h/Zoe_Lionheart_100%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Zoe_Lionheart_100" border="0" height="100" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-1aWvGDzCW_g/UGyjbtSLFuI/AAAAAAAAArE/nmEqB82xRaY/Zoe_Lionheart_100_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="Zoe_Lionheart_100" width="100" /></a> As promised last month, I’ll also give you some insight on the Dragons’ point of view regarding Vampires. You may already have some clue from my last post, so I’ll start with the obvious:</span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">The rotten stink of a Vampire can truly spoil a Dragon’s night. Humans may not notice that smell, but a Dragon’s senses are too fine to be deceived.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons don’t like to be bitten and relieved of their blood. Of course, it’s impossible for a Vampire to penetrate a Dragon’s scales, but those futile attempts are still annoying.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Likewise annoying are attempts to hypnotize a Dragon or distract him with a human virgin. Worse, the insinuation alone that a Dragon might be interested to abuse or devour a human girl is abhorrent!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons don’t like it when “their” humans are bitten and turned into even more stinking Vampires.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">There’s one thing that may drive a Dragon mad – this ultimately stupid Vampire attitude of being superior to all other creatures because of their almost-immortality and their superhuman powers. First, Dragons are at least as long-lived as Vampires, second, they’re at least as fast and strong as Vampires, third, they can walk under the sun, so who’s the superior being? However, Dragons don’t try to bully other races and certainly don’t like to be bullied. Elder Vampires simply smell worse.</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: medium;">No, there are no further points. Dragons don’t need a multitude of reasons to dislike Vampires, those five mentioned above do. </span><br />
<pre><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><a href="http://zoe-lionheart.net/"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://zoe-lionheart.net</span></a></pre>
Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-20628610687211869842012-08-31T00:03:00.001-05:002012-08-31T00:03:00.613-05:00Ten Reasons Why Vampires Don’t Like Dragons<span style="font-size: medium;">The last months, since I started posting on this board, I’ve learned a lot about Vampires, and I shared it with you. I hope you enjoyed it, but I’ve almost exhausted my sources, and the only way to gain more insight on Vampire life for me would be to become a Vampire myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">I’m not all too eager to do that. Instead, let me start talking about my favorite subject, and let me start by relating it to the subject with which we learned to know each other.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Vampires aren’t fond of Dragons. In fact, they try to avoid any contact, and they have good reasons. Let me list just the most important ones:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons don’t agree with the superiority of the Vampire race. They won’t bow to an Elder Vampire.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons aren’t bothered by darkness. They can see, hear and smell a Vampire by day and night, and Dragons aren’t limited in their fighting abilities either.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons can’t be bitten. Their scales are a good protection against Vampire bites.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons can’t be hypnotized, at least not by Vampires. A virgin might help to distract them for a while – if you can find one.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons have an extremely well-working memory. They can hold their grudges against a Vampire for centuries. If a Dragon decides to hunt a Vampire down, the result is predictable.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragon fire reliably roasts a Vampire beyond hope for resurrection, only it works quicker than sunlight – a small relief. Vampire flesh will be turned to plasma like anything else by a flame of twelve hundred Kelvin, as I already mentioned in my “Ten Unusual Ways To Kill A Vampire.”</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons are faster than Vampires, if they want to be. Usually a Dragon is happy when a Vampire decides to leave, but if the Dragon is really annoyed, he might decide to come after the Vampire. There’s hardly any place where a Vampire can hide from a Dragon’s fiery breath.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">If the Dragon doesn’t right away roast the Vampire, he (or she) may decide to take the Vampire for a flight – either until dawn, or to drop the unlucky victim into a hot volcano.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">Dragons are easily annoyed by molesting their human protégés. Unluckily, you can’t tell if a human community has to be regarded as protected by a Dragon until you’ve bitten one of them – whereupon the Dragon may decide to eradicate any future threat.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: medium;">If their fire wasn’t bad enough, somehow their claws can serve the same purpose as a wooden spike.</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">You see, there’s not exactly a foundation for peaceful co-existence.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">Next time I’ll elaborate on the Dragons’ point of view.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-BHyIT6nTmEs/UDuefwS1tJI/AAAAAAAAAqc/Bbbx5imgEPk/s1600-h/Zoe_Lionheart_100%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Zoe_Lionheart_100" border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHkBr9CAnMFRzwW7QznoX5un3IqvWjezNFfiuZfygOGAEglScAoBYXHgl51XJZnh5CuXDq8uL3fd1EIGqlSd61htHtNKYVKpGkFH69OFtIPvgDtmV2Zk8CMhXYeqRq8BovVhEcgGPXZw/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="Zoe_Lionheart_100" width="100" /></a> Check out my books at <a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product/author&author_id=187">eXtasy</a></span>Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-46147411067484700412012-08-03T00:03:00.001-05:002012-08-03T00:03:00.354-05:00What do other creatures think of Vampires?<strong>Young humans</strong> think that Vampires sparkle in the sun. <br />
<strong>Not quite so young humans</strong> think that Vampire blood is good for sex, while the Vampires drink bottled blood. <br />
<strong>Mid-age humans</strong> think that Vampires can be controlled by a chip in their head. <br />
<strong>Older humans</strong> think that Vampires don’t like garlic and burn in the sun. <br />
<strong>Regular human</strong> readers of this blog think they know how to deal with Vampires. <br />
<strong>The Police</strong> won’t believe in Vampires, but they may consider having your mental health examined. <br />
<strong>Soldiers</strong> believe their gun would help against Vampires. <br />
<strong>Dogs</strong> don’t like the smell of Vampires. <br />
<strong>Cats</strong> don’t bother to tell me what they think. <br />
<strong>Livestock</strong>… come on, you don’t think I’d ask a cow for her opinion? <br />
<strong>A Werewolf</strong> recently admitted that there may be one or two nice Vampires, but that most of them were way too high-nosed. <br />
<strong>Elves</strong> don’t like the smell of Vampires either, but as they all carry a bow and wooden arrows, they feel safe. <br />
<strong>Dwarves</strong> place bets on how often they can decapitate the same Vampire before he gives up. <br />
<strong>Orcs</strong> didn’t answer to my inquiry for an interview. <br />
<strong>Ghouls</strong> know only two categories – dead, deliciously rotten food and not-quite-dead, moving food. Of course, rotten but moving food puzzles them. <br />
<strong>Harpies</strong>… well, one asked me if they come with cream. Another said she never plays by the rules, so she doesn’t care about Umpires. <br />
<strong>Sirens</strong> don’t know songs about Vampires. <br />
<strong>Most Mermaids</strong> have never heard about such a creature. Those who did are dead. <br />
<strong>A Sphinx</strong> told me, “The last three couldn’t answer my riddle. Can you?” <br />
<strong>Griffins</strong> fight Vampires, but don’t talk about them. <br />
<strong>Phoenixes</strong> don’t care. <br />
<strong>Witches</strong> think male Vampires can be fun in bed. <br />
<strong>Warlocks</strong> think female Vampires can be fun in bed. <br />
<strong>Fairies</strong> think Vampires are entertaining. <br />
<strong>Dragons</strong>… well, as long as Vampires know their place, they can be tolerated.<br />
<br />
Latest Release on eXtasybooks (July 15th): Lioness Crusade<br />
<a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/lioness-crusade/">http://www.extasybooks.com/lioness-crusade/</a><br />
<em></em><br />
<em>Invaders beware—the Lionhearts are coming for you to kick some alien ass! </em><br />
<em><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLtEK0YwvU4v5OxsOxGkeCWrvFrF1FDDM32pceUfbi_EDQrtULyeJWr8Z_f_0eXTUqLs7cnnfO9Yfbb4k3heIBuo4iQWuxDgCKzOqwCs9Tg9PtcRCupcaNdVybLTdOV6mBitHt7P5N6sE/s1600-h/LIONESSCRUSADE%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="LIONESSCRUSADE" border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--UYw5xLcIyI/UBgIsbkjPcI/AAAAAAAAAqI/ioixEyBECkE/LIONESSCRUSADE_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="LIONESSCRUSADE" width="200" /></a> “If the invaders are the plague of this universe, then we’re the antibodies,” April claims. Together with her family, she starts a crusade against the overwhelming number of enemies. That she might need a few millennia to find them all can’t dim her determination. But then she learns she may have to die first. <br />
Is it hubris to venture on such a mission? Or is the mission’s failure already factored into April’s plans, is it just about suicide with guns blazing, about taking as many of them with her as possible to satisfy her hunger for revenge?</em><br />
<br />
<br />
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT<br />
<br />
“Why here?” Zoe asked that evening, while we were eating Dragon fire-roasted deer. “Why Yosemite?”<br />
“As a little girl, I came here with my father every summer. I thought I could find my way back to my roots here and become a bit more grounded. This Admiral here, Paladin there is right and important, but here in the forest I’m finally just April, that is, the old April. I have to remember.”<br />
“Then I have to thank you for including me,” my companion said. “I don’t belong to this part of your life.”<br />
“That’s wrong,” I objected. “Right here you belong first. I told you that as a child I’ve dreamt of a Dragon with green-and-golden scales, right after your first transformation. In my dreams the Dragon was living right here, in this forest, among these trees.”<br />
Zoe looked around, took her time to soak up the environment, tuned in to it. She tried to <em>grok</em> the forest, to understand it all around, to reach out with mind and feel.<br />
I can hardly describe it correctly, not to mention copying it. It doesn’t do to enhance your own sensual reception until you literally can hear a fir needle drop. It doesn’t do to finally see the forest among the trees, you need to grasp the complex system of life in its entirety. Nor does it do either to understand the eco system, to recognize how every part from microorganism to human interlocks or which purpose the dropping needle serves—it’s also necessary to understand the underlying motivation. Why is the system so complex? Why do needles drop? Why can the forest offer us comfort or fill us with fear? What’s the forest’s soul?<br />
But this time it was different. There was another sense calling for attention.<br />
“Zoe?”<br />
“Mmm?”<br />
“Can a forest have a signature?”<br />
She focused straight on my eyes. “But yes! April, you <em>grok</em> the forest?”<br />
It wasn’t comparable with my companion’s bright signature at my side. If every life form had a signature, some kind of immaterial radiation that still could be spotted by sensitive people, then the signature of a Dragon was million-fold brighter than that of a human, and the signature of a beetle million-fold brighter than that of a tree. However, it was present, a noise floor always around us, which we couldn’t sense because it was so natural and so little modulated.<br />
Nevertheless, it was there, and with some mental discipline it could be sensed, even if not measured.<br />
“Yes, I <em>grok</em> the forest.”<br />
She reached out an arm and put it around my shoulder. “I love you.”<br />
“Yes, I love you, too.”Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-80481256024030449332012-07-06T00:01:00.001-05:002012-07-06T00:01:00.971-05:00What do Vampires think of…<span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDC_h0ITtmIdvzeAutZ1eLZ4OnH5HBpX1B7MNOdXKglsX170X5suCm0JrIzbmj-X_-TIfl4w6_CL1iJ8CT34yPjuc57hRLuVcUjgwdPXkke5DZJ_sl1BSWCWuCKk1aX2UzvSPO0J_310/s1600-h/Zoe_Lionheart_100%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Zoe_Lionheart_100" border="0" height="100" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-2WU66a7HA_Q/T_G1G2uIodI/AAAAAAAAApw/v6swdYG3tMI/Zoe_Lionheart_100_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="Zoe_Lionheart_100" width="100" /></a> …Humans? Sometimes entertaining, sometimes boring, but in the end they’re all food. <br />
…Police? They have no clue. <br />
…Soldiers? Only wasting our food. <br />
…Dogs? A major annoyance, but not worth the effort to kill them. <br />
…Cats? Clever enough to get out of our way. <br />
…Livestock? A last resort for the weak, but their blood leaves a bad taste. <br />
…Were-creatures? Their claim for power can’t be tolerated! <br />
…Elves? Sweet taste, but hard to get. <br />
…Dwarves? Tough and fierce, but high nutritive value. <br />
…Orcs? The worst taste ever, and they don’t know their place. <br />
…Ghouls? Good for cleaning up behind us. They eat the empty corpses.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;">…Harpies? They’re crazy enough to attack even a Vampire, but nothing to worry about. <br />
…Sirens? Hardly a danger to Vampires, as we don’t travel the seas. <br />
…Mermaids? Nice sight but a fishy taste, and Vampires aren’t made for diving. <br />
…Sphinxes? Fierce fighters who may even win a fight. Avoid! <br />
…Griffins? Fighters as well, and able to fly. Avoid unless your clan needs exercise. <br />
…Phoenix? Immortal and sacred – do not touch. <br />
…Witches and Warlocks? Fun for a night, but still humans, see above. <br />
…Fairies? No substance, but nice to talk to. <br />
…Dragons? We go out of their way and hope they won’t notice us.</span><br />
<pre><span style="font-size: medium;">--
</span><a href="http://zoe-lionheart.net/"><span style="font-size: medium;">http://zoe-lionheart.net</span></a></pre>Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-43479976334027194822012-07-01T00:00:00.000-05:002012-07-01T00:00:10.461-05:00Celebrating Independence Blog Hop!<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-1510" height="320" scale="0" src="http://thspot.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/celebratingindependencebh-button5.jpg?w=226&h=320" title="CelebratingIndependenceBH Button" width="226" /><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just in time to celebrate freedom of speech, and the right to read, comes the Celebrating Independence Blog Hop!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There will be fireworks, BBQ, and if you're lucky, something extra special for you!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thebloghopspot.com/event-page/" target="_blank">Click Here</a> for the list of participating authors. Each author will host a contest on their blog. Make sure you visit all the stops on the hop, you won’t be disappointed!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Start at mine <a href="http://avril-ashton.blogspot.com/">http://avril-ashton.blogspot.com</a> </div>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Contest starts Sunday, July 1, 2012 and ends Wednesday, 2012 at midnight.</span></span></h1>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-31469709302474872102012-06-18T02:30:00.000-05:002012-06-18T02:30:03.904-05:00Why so quiet?This blog is deader than my dinner! Where the hell is everyone and what do I need to do to get some more interest and interaction around here?<br />
<br />
Any ideas? Suggestions? Requests?<br />
<br />
Please let us know!Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-91291698291863057872012-05-27T12:18:00.001-05:002012-05-27T12:18:20.956-05:00Join the Erotic Romance Scavenger Hunt<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipC8aFkg9Iaw-uMnFPTwZyMUR47boaUewqvYO-UCkqHtRunvNm0c5ZtjcdP_BpvTjxDVI0USR8wvQ3LiACo_1Nqok6xTu1nUkQb8um6XnmyIYMrJdyrv1ibwiaBxKeO8QsIHuUKU6fTcc/s1600/RSHunt_banner2_sm.jpg" /><br />
<br />
Today is the last day of the Erotic Romance Scavenger Hunt. It's a collaboration between m/m and m/f erotic
romance authors. The hunt will
feature exclusive bonus material from all 19 authors as well as clues for readers
to collect. Unscramble the clues to reveal a mystery phrase, and enter to win
<b>TWENTY</b> books.<br />
<br />
Start at <a href="http://avril-ashton.blogspot.com/2012/05/erotic-romance-scavenger-hunt.html" target="_blank">my blog</a> and follow the instructions to begin hunting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
***<span style="color: red;">HAPPY</span> <span style="color: white;">MEMORIAL</span> <span style="color: #0b5394;">DAY</span>!***Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-13662821473511815302012-05-21T03:00:00.000-05:002012-05-21T03:00:04.969-05:00Absence...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ddSvvq8P0OnoncDImgF0kZ9baFqLUd0TOjbJogEkPFKe0iyEz_DM7dteSPAjT9XZlF3jBx6ulP5v700v_J2ZgT642wOLzf_6zGQK-DVL9HqVB6tPid78Bbg5wCA1EolgMglH2HcTzCM/s1600/pics_from_nici_087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ddSvvq8P0OnoncDImgF0kZ9baFqLUd0TOjbJogEkPFKe0iyEz_DM7dteSPAjT9XZlF3jBx6ulP5v700v_J2ZgT642wOLzf_6zGQK-DVL9HqVB6tPid78Bbg5wCA1EolgMglH2HcTzCM/s320/pics_from_nici_087.jpg" width="210" /></a>I am certain I have been missed....I am even more certain I am sorry for my absence. Life, for humans and vampires has been particularly consuming lately. It happens sometimes, nothing wrong with a bit of reality here and there I suppose, just so long as it doesn't become a habit. I don't want my author running about as if I don't exist! That would be terribly wasteful of some damn good stories I have filled her head with and she has yet to write down.<br />
<br />
The next Immortal Council book is in the works..still! And she has almost finished the first in a delicious lesbian series that is not of the paranormal sort, but still good.<br />
<br />
I am thinking there will be something very great to celebrate when the next Immortal Council book comes out seeing as there has been such a large break, so watch for that. And hopefully I will be back on track here sooner than that even!Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-49985304993335256402012-05-20T12:18:00.001-05:002012-05-20T12:18:28.475-05:00Hop Against Homophobia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhkbOqW9mXo/T7kmQY5lZkI/AAAAAAAAA3U/HpWO19FUgys/s1600/Hop+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VhkbOqW9mXo/T7kmQY5lZkI/AAAAAAAAA3U/HpWO19FUgys/s320/Hop+2.png" width="240" /></a></div>
Over 250 M/M authors have banded together to take on <strong>Homophobia</strong> and the negative outlook on those of us who write <strong>GLBT Romance</strong>. The <strong>Hop against Homophobia</strong> started on May 17 and today is the final day, but you still have time to follow along and read some eye-opening posts on <strong>Homophobia</strong> and all things associated with it.<br />
<br />
Each participating blog has amazing giveaways relating to M/M romance so if you're a fan, stop by. <a href="http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/">http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/</a><br />
<br />
Start at <a href="http://avril-ashton.blogspot.com/2012/05/hop-against-homophobia.html" target="_blank">my blog</a> and go from there. I'm giving away copies of my M/M backlist.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-79355166568099781692012-05-04T00:00:00.000-05:002012-05-04T00:00:02.822-05:00Do Vampires read books?<a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-25ok5kWB-_w/T5126eURukI/AAAAAAAAApU/LA3_TpRtqss/s1600-h/Zoe_Lionheart_1002.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Zoe_Lionheart_100" border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvyxd0ZlYBTXz5dvd-duc7TuYdDZKWePZKcWQLQXudaKfNtArkhJ3v0eF7j2CYtXCWK7Vk-U5hWuOS0SGbcBOaYDnk1l-07i4etn43XCuy1MjFXtwP7uJl9siT-TdQLZYdE5LstkL5wuc/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px;" title="Zoe_Lionheart_100" width="100" /></a> Of course they do. Art in general, and before all, new music and new books are what makes their unlife bearable. In the last decades their access to this kind of goods has become much easier, as they don’t have to leave their homes in daylight to shop for books and music. Today they can mail order it or even download it. You may bet most high-ranking Vampires own a tablet computer nowadays.<br />
<br />
Why don’t they use an e-book-reader? The answer is simple – they need lighting anyway, as they can’t read in plain daylight. So the greatest advantage of “e-paper” is pointless for them. Oh, and maybe they think it’s cool, too.<br />
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This brings up the question – what do they read? You might think of old classics, but there you’re wrong. Every Vampire knows the old Bram Stoker book, of course, but they prefer to read something new, something unique. That means – it needn’t be about sex and violence.<br />
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Sadly market research cannot provide figures about top sellers for this audience. So I can’t show you a reliable list of titles that appeal most to the average Vampire. I can only guess, and this is the list I came up with:<br />
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“Tasty Blood” is a story about a young connoisseur trying to find the best recipe for blood. Which combination of vintage and terroir creates the most enjoyable taste? To find out, the Vampire has to kidnap and raise mortals all around the world. Then he falls in love with one of his “samples”. Tragic!<br />
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“Long Necks” is not about Giraffes, but about the preferred spot for a Vampire bite, and the narrator delves deep into the descriptions of the soft skin between shoulders and head. It’s a kind of fetish story.<br />
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“Crimson Liquid” is another story about a person addicted to blood. It describes inventive new ways to relieve a victim from blood without killing it right away. Not for weak stomachs.<br />
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“Sweet Orchid” is an erotic romance that tiptoes along the edge of purple prose, and as such the intended audience is the old-fashioned gentleman Vampire who likes to be reminded of the “good old days” of courting.<br />
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“Bite My Thigh” is pure steam! It’s about a woman who believes she’s found the perfect way to seduce a Vampire without being transformed or killed. She searches and finds her pleasure in the arms of multiple undead, until one day she goes one step too far… seems she’s read my previous guides, but didn’t take them to heart.<br />
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A last warning: If you don’t want to anger a Vampire, you better don’t mention certain stories about creatures sparkling in the sun… <br />
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<em>By the way, the book titles and blurbs are my imagination, and any resemblance with existing books is purely coincidental. If you’re a writer and feel inspired, go ahead! The maximum I’d ask for would be an honorable mention if you’re ever asked about the source of inspiration.</em>Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-75200041036975837612012-04-29T14:18:00.003-05:002012-04-29T14:18:47.563-05:00A Release Date at Last!<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got good news this past week, so thought I’d share with
you. Did I mention <span style="color: #e06666;"><strong>Till Surrender,</strong></span> book #2 in my PSC series with<strong> Total e Bound</strong>
releases May 7<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It does.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s LGBT too. And Para/fantasy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also releasing that same week, May 9<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> to be
precise, is <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Love the Sinner,</span></strong> another MM. This one with Ellora’s Cave. I’m soo
excited for readers to experience these two books, both so different, yet similar.
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">More info on these</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> books— blurbs— can be found on my website.
An excerpt from <strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Love the Sinner</span></strong> is up on <a href="http://bit.ly/ImoN94" target="_blank">Ellora’s Cave website</a> so you can get a
taste of what them boys are about. That excerpt also happens to be part of one
of my all-time favorite scenes. Ever.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read it, you’ll understand why.</span></span><br />
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I'm also talking my love for Male/Male Romance over at <a href="http://rainingmenamen.blogspot.com/2012/04/welcome-avril-ashton-to-irm.html" target="_blank">It's Raining Men</a> today (April 29).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-57913462531025923002012-04-22T12:37:00.000-05:002012-04-22T12:37:53.324-05:00Interview and Gveaway!I'm over at <a href="http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/2012/04/giveaway-and-interview-with-avril.html" target="_blank">Close Encounters of the Night Kind</a> with an interview and giveaway of <strong><span style="color: red;">Far From the Usual.</span></strong><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7DslVokRxU/T5RAa9-jsKI/AAAAAAAAAvo/lX5wQcaDdWg/s1600/FFTU-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v7DslVokRxU/T5RAa9-jsKI/AAAAAAAAAvo/lX5wQcaDdWg/s320/FFTU-M.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Close Encounters also gave FFTU an awesome review. Check it out <span style="color: red;"><strong><a href="http://closeencounterswiththenightkind.blogspot.com/2012/04/review-far-from-usual.html" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red;">Come say hi and enter to win!</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://evernightpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Evernight Publishing</a> is having an Earth Day sale</span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://evernightpublishing.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="earth-day.jpg" class="__mce_add_custom__" height="115" src="http://www.evernightpublishing.com/product_images/uploaded_images/earth-day.jpg" title="earth-day.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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GO GET IT!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-82514339482334869312012-04-09T02:00:00.000-05:002012-04-09T02:00:03.597-05:00The Realm of Passion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0iQnDWKnoJLGl6KZu-GuOGscDWHTwt92kAuY6iBw042HAlJKQIrWj8W2_mVhjMuE9dQ7mWAyLJp0dq2AVDddReLIkLhyphenhyphenFeD4qxCtaHNR0kQcm6ShP8QNH_ohLhHFJRyG-AvdK9DJ6wc/s1600/RealmofPassionsSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0iQnDWKnoJLGl6KZu-GuOGscDWHTwt92kAuY6iBw042HAlJKQIrWj8W2_mVhjMuE9dQ7mWAyLJp0dq2AVDddReLIkLhyphenhyphenFeD4qxCtaHNR0kQcm6ShP8QNH_ohLhHFJRyG-AvdK9DJ6wc/s320/RealmofPassionsSmall.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
A new lesbian fantasy is out today at www.total-e-bound.com The Realm of Passion: Irresistible magic in a tempting body.<br />
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<span style="background-color: #fbfbe5; color: #4b3076; font-family: Tahoma, Arial; font-size: 13px;">Callie’s body is the perfect hiding place for the magic of the fairy realm. Malia is the perfect guard for her body against the demons determined to have the magic for themselves. Malia can’t resist the magic-it calls to her and Callie’s body is as close as she can get to it. Surprised to find the body so welcoming, Malia refuses to give it up once she has it.</span><br />
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Is their attraction enough to break the rules of the fairy realm</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvRC4SisAIl_ImF9Js9ubUs7N_t_JpOSztqpVhuFm703QlWp_C3St4rfO1MnihDJ5rn8NnNmu_lrBHxEJo_Vb82z7yExixUDmmLz3GZryD_LfToGBpQH99695IvpD7hjvxNOTrr7QbLo/s1600/Web+Resize1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvRC4SisAIl_ImF9Js9ubUs7N_t_JpOSztqpVhuFm703QlWp_C3St4rfO1MnihDJ5rn8NnNmu_lrBHxEJo_Vb82z7yExixUDmmLz3GZryD_LfToGBpQH99695IvpD7hjvxNOTrr7QbLo/s320/Web+Resize1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-71867320245339418032012-04-08T12:05:00.000-05:002012-04-08T12:05:34.139-05:00Hoppy Easter!!<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="rg_i" data-src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDGPfAKUkNRdl1qtVygECLB0yz2rZgyDkYm7hymi8D2huMkkviu4IDisabBA" height="145" name="rNf0Nv1CF2-zzM:" src="https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQDGPfAKUkNRdl1qtVygECLB0yz2rZgyDkYm7hymi8D2huMkkviu4IDisabBA" style="margin: -4px 0px 0px;" width="148" /></div><strong><span style="color: #f1c232;">Happy Easter!!</span></strong><br />
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I hope you awesome peeps--heh, get it? Peeps--have a wonderful time of it with the family and the eating...<br />
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And the eating.<br />
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When you're finished that, and need a little down time, come visit with me over at <strong><span style="color: #e06666;"><a href="http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/forbidden-fruit-is-there-any-other-kind-2/" target="_blank">Coffee Time Romance's blog.</a></span></strong> I'm talking Forbidden Fruit.<br />
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The kind we like.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-84226841800049815072012-04-06T09:43:00.000-05:002012-04-06T09:43:34.169-05:00Vampire Dental Care<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8y0g6XeHf800yR3l1srHYGUa3i3nC-FZ3L-XDaQ2y2tjJkdhsNR4bIrhYn8L4ugvUxX5lXJVgy5pQ82cTs4wShqs8KF_meJzy8d62p7V1Qv90nZpo7F_QnXgse2nGjG9t2RUBs9x7Dio/s1600-h/Zoe_Lionheart_100%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Zoe_Lionheart_100" border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOekuw7nBZcWYPd79yarJTdM2P1hrtmhCT1z3Q9Sh8JZJN5RreiQfojkBvVO6vHans9E9LxezD98QBHH9irWuKstHmGsEG0kdBN96yyvQhNwpY8bWAnuIpTTxetQiyjhB-nEHBcrOZRk/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="Zoe_Lionheart_100" width="110" /></a> You can imagine how embarrassing it must be for a Vampire to go to a dentist. Here you are, a virtually immortal creature, and have to submit to a humiliating procedure to have your fangs fixed? Unthinkable.<br />
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It’s so out-of-the-question, that it probably has never happened so far. At least no dentist ever reported about a Vampire visit, and there are no medical care reports about the respective billing either. So if it’s not in the books, it didn’t occur, the accountant’s proof. (By the way, you’re invited to prove me wrong. Just leave a comment.)<br />
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There are three possible reasons. The obvious first is, Vampires know how to cover their tracks. The other two are more likely, however: Vampires just don’t visit dentists, either because they don’t dare to, or because they don’t have to.<br />
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Probably no Vampire would want to suffer this ultimate humiliation, to visit a dentist. Probably they rather suffer all the pain coming with tooth decay and all kinds of periodontitis. Would you believe that? Imagine a Vampire losing his/her fangs to cavities? No.<br />
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The simplest, and thus most probable explanation is: Vampires don’t have to visit a dentist. Oh yes, they are immortal and can extraordinarily well recover from injuries, but does that mean they can’t have trouble with their teeth? No. They still can suffer just as we do, can have painful cavities, because teeth and bones take the longest to heal, so it’s a permanent battle of bacteria against Vampire healing. Guess who would win in the long run?<br />
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Of course, Vampires don’t eat a lot of sweets, which is a part of the trick. But the real secret is their dental care. They had to invent it centuries ago, long before the rest of mankind came up with toothbrushes*, long before the tooth-drawers evolved into dentists. They had a strong motivation to do so, because Vampires without fangs are doomed to starvation. So, even if Hollywood never showed it, Stephenie didn’t write about it, and Tamara probably wouldn’t admit it, Vampires regularly clean their teeth very thoroughly. I wouldn’t even put the invention of interdental brushes past them, but of course they could rely on dental floss. Vampire dental care is important especially after feeding, and it also helps preventing a telltale bad breath.<br />
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*I don’t want to mislead you: toothbrushes are a few millennia old. <br />
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Now Available at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjeNKs-3inNuzQmAh2vG-m7YrRKDi8eb3iZ7WkAokzlZW6cwhnY1TTD9jp-SwK9ycUdgWJVfPJTCV5fam0EzR2vbeC_XHUYYrfR-YyQ_IydJTdjMumxVcYaXFzetEAPzmUAw0anxqt5w/s1600-h/LONESOMEANGEL%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="LONESOMEANGEL" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi39DoWhUzpGGuMdTdGFggok_HC7RPvRjkqW0Poj3k0vKWwGes41P25yeeZ5pzb-vrLVNzKheKzN1JOU2oeCF39rYo7xUJuruRvyX2XvMnCwieaVxnwZkLv00V_tUV4ysP-i0Ygq7abt4M/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="LONESOMEANGEL" width="200" /></a> <a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/lonesome-angel/">eXtasy Books</a><br />
My opponent’s left hand plays with the tip of his moustache. His crimson vest looks worn-off, just like the rim of his tricorn. The epee in his right is perfectly clean, the freshly polished blade glistens just like mine. The morning air is cool and humid, the fog hasn’t cleared up yet. Dew wets the grass at our feet, makes the ground slippery. The town’s outer wall towers darkly above the crowns of the large beeches.<br />
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“You can at least fence a little,” he praises. “That’s good, so there’s at least a little honor in stabbing you.” With the hope of successfully having distracted me, his attack follows immediately. I parry his thrusts, back off a little, test my steps without moving my glance away from his eyes. The ground is barely noticeably uneven, not equally soft everywhere. He is a damn good fencer and his aptitude matches his reputation. During the last three months, he’s said to have killed a dozen men, although honor duels are banned.<br />
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Today is easy game for him. A young girl in male clothes. He’s seen through the disguise, thought he could blackmail me, his goal obviously my body, I refused. His honor was hurt, so he challenged me. His idea was clear—I would chicken out, drop my disguise, be at his service, sacrifice my honor to save my life.<br />
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I didn’t chicken out.<br />
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Now we’re facing each other, and confident of his victory he forces me backward. A little bump tests my balance, his blade tests mine again and again. The thought of letting myself be pierced is uncomfortable, but I don’t feel fear. The thought of having to thrust my cold steel into his soft flesh fills me with disgust, but this is our reason for being here. He has many men to answer for, good friends, poor bastards, who never thought of having to use their epee. He’s stolen the innocence of too many of my girlfriends and that way ruined their life in this bigoted society, which lets men get away with anything and condemns their victims. I’ve met him deliberately, let him discover my secret, lured him here.<br />
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Just as I now lure him after me. He thinks I’m backing out for fear or lack of skill, and let him believe I have a hard time parrying his thrusts.<br />
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His foot stumbles over the bump, for one tiny moment the rhythm of his attack breaks. There’s the opening for my riposte! His face shows puzzlement, when the tip of my epee slides between his ribs, opens his right heart chamber. His glance breaks before his legs give in, his bladder empties, his body slowly glides from my blade to the ground.<br />
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There’s no honor in dying.Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-45735779154237344682012-04-02T02:10:00.000-05:002012-04-02T02:10:00.904-05:00April Fools<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplrXkVHI6ZvdS9aIz9Aip856_UjOlghz5TJinevihNvrshdZhwnweMYOUnHvVeG_aQ3qyiXVqLIpvLU70c8YcwbE2uLTxlP0ajqhvd2LLhB_brIC3OU7xA3_7t6EifihJcbBMDjPsfWs/s1600/pics_from_nici_087.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplrXkVHI6ZvdS9aIz9Aip856_UjOlghz5TJinevihNvrshdZhwnweMYOUnHvVeG_aQ3qyiXVqLIpvLU70c8YcwbE2uLTxlP0ajqhvd2LLhB_brIC3OU7xA3_7t6EifihJcbBMDjPsfWs/s200/pics_from_nici_087.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726670979717694386" /></a><br />This seems to be a holiday celebrated by humans every day...foolishness. I can't understand them, no matter how much time I spend with them, which is limited. They do the oddest most horrible things to themselves and to each other, at least today they are honest about their dishonesty. They post radical lies online and play elaborate jokes in the name of this fake holiday. Celebrating foolishness...why would they do this? April is a wonderful month, it is getting warmer, things are growing, summer is coming though slowly. Why begin it with such a celebration? Or maybe it IS the perfect time, because humans are too foolish to appreciate what is right in front of them anyway so on this cusp of wonderful weather and change they can't do anything more than complain and distract themselves with lies...foolishness indeed. Too bad they won't live long enough to learn how to appreciate the world around them.Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-3120604122204640292012-04-01T14:33:00.000-05:002012-04-01T14:33:59.696-05:00Get Your Copy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0z1ofGRMsk/T3isEROkLqI/AAAAAAAAAus/MIa99nRf5d0/s1600/MMB-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0z1ofGRMsk/T3isEROkLqI/AAAAAAAAAus/MIa99nRf5d0/s200/MMB-M.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Make Me Burn</span> is an<strong> <a href="http://amzn.to/Hr9HN8" target="_blank">Amazon</a> Top 100 Bestseller</strong> <em>and</em> an <strong><a href="http://bit.ly/HETmmL" target="_blank">ARe Bestseller</a></strong>!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Want a copy?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Come on over to <a href="http://wickedlysexywriters.wordpress.com/2012/03/29/are-you-down-with-the-man-love/" target="_blank">WickedlySexyWriters</a> and tell me your thoughts on GLBT Romance.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-80900473373153441042012-03-25T11:30:00.001-05:002012-03-25T11:30:02.294-05:00A Taste of Make Me Burn ~M/M Coming March 28<strong>Make Me Burn</strong> releases on Wednesday so I thought I'd share the blurb, that delicious cover (yes, again) and an excerpt.<br />
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Remember, although I've written M/M for publication, <strong>Make Me Burn</strong> will be my first solo project. I cannot begin to tell of the butterflies so please, be gentle with me ;D<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5M6ii-WynPY/T245frn-o3I/AAAAAAAAAuU/BScmFu0dsmI/s1600/MMB-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5M6ii-WynPY/T245frn-o3I/AAAAAAAAAuU/BScmFu0dsmI/s320/MMB-M.jpg" width="213" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: #666666;">It’s been months since Wes Dumont laid eyes on Jayce Santana. Since Jayce kissed him and then left town without a word. Wes tried hard to put the tattered pieces of his heart back together, but another failed relationship makes it clear he’s nowhere near over Jayce. Now Jayce is back, once again tilting Wes’ world on its axis and setting his blood boiling. All the anger and resentment doesn’t hide the hunger, but Wes has been burned before and he’s grown wary of Jayce’s intentions.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span><span style="color: #666666;">Jayce has been running, from Wes and himself, denying the future he sees in the depths of Wes’ eyes. His past still haunts him, but he’s back, ready to fight. Ready to claim Wes the way he should have. Only Wes isn’t making things easy. Both men just may go up in flames before Jayce convinces Wes he’s playing for keeps.</span></span></div><br />
<br />
EXCERPT<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Wes hopped out the cab, shoulders hunched as he fished his keys out his pocket. Behind him, the driver sped off, burning rubber. He hurried up the driveway, looking forward to an evening spent in a hot bath since he had the house to himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Even though his best friend, Ever, hadn’t officially moved in with her man, Simon, she spent most of her time over at his house. After years of it being only the two of them, Wes actually liked the peace and quiet of his suddenly mundane life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He unlocked the door and stepped inside, flicking on the light as he kicked the door closed. “Freaking cold.” No matter how long he lived in The Windy City he’d always complain about the brick weather. “Freezing my nips off out there.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Is that so?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Wes stumbled backward, crashing into the closed doorway with a stifled scream. His heart pounded like a thousand drums in his ear as he clasped a hand to his throat. “What the fuck?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Hello, Wes.” The tone of those two words matched the mockery in the stormy gray eyes perfectly. Seated in Wes’ favorite chair repositioned to face the front door, swathed in black, Jayce Santana watched him with a smirk on those way-too-memorable lips and a gun on his lap. His hair was longer. The scruffy beard and cut above his left eye was new, but nothing else about that cowardly bastard had changed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Not even Wes’ body’s reaction to him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“Get out.” His voice shook, so Wes tried again. Louder. Clearer. With more conviction. “Get the fuck out of my house, now.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Jayce barked a laugh that didn’t reach anywhere near his eyes. “No.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">“You son of a bitch!” Wes advanced on him with angry steps. “You have no right. None. This is my house and if you don’t leave I’m calling the cops.” Six months. One fleeting taste of heaven and his body still hardened in remembrance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Jayce leaped out the chair at the mention of the cops, stalking Wes with the gun in his hand. Wes braked, fists clenching and unclenching. He didn’t think Jayce would shoot him, but he wasn’t taking any chances. Hard, gray eyes pinned him in place and Jayce stood inches away.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">His musk of heat and the hint of a woodsy cologne reached out and touched Wes in his throbbing groin.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">He shifted. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%;">Jayce grinned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Bastard.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://evernightpublishing.com/">http://evernightpublishing.com</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://avrilashton.webs.com/">http://avrilashton.webs.com</a> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-7975712746374367272012-03-19T12:22:00.002-05:002012-03-19T12:43:36.231-05:00Author interjection<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gjcW-XgHpTfYpLyp65GfAWN_zwOn7m4vF55xEPwv3PGlppng99htJ5tMNcMG_Lp4wVEbCJDJjjjDs9B4tpgvTXTh3L9TOJHjLd5vyl8Stpf6bxafE3YUVgH4aUlKvpBrxtixmJCki7o/s1600/Web+Resize6.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gjcW-XgHpTfYpLyp65GfAWN_zwOn7m4vF55xEPwv3PGlppng99htJ5tMNcMG_Lp4wVEbCJDJjjjDs9B4tpgvTXTh3L9TOJHjLd5vyl8Stpf6bxafE3YUVgH4aUlKvpBrxtixmJCki7o/s200/Web+Resize6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5721665229662132930" /></a><br />So Zyra is lost somewhere, probably hiding out along with the plot to my newest story. I will hunt them both down soon and make them get their pretty assess to work. Zyra needs to blog and that plot needs to start making sense! I am usually a pantser, I don't plot and plan then write. But lately when I sit down and expect the plot to reveal itself to me it just doesn't! I don't know if its becuase I am trying too hard to get to an end that I have in my head or if the story is just starting out wrong. I love the characters, as usual and I want them to have their happy ending but it seems as if getting there might be impossible. <div><br /></div><div>It will happen though, no worries #7 will be out before the end of the year! </div>Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-18348929657168424642012-03-18T11:30:00.008-05:002012-03-18T11:30:02.770-05:00The Good News Keep on ComingWonderful news on all fronts this week. Thursday brought the release of my interracial novella Far From The Usual, which is already an ARe Bestseller and is on Amazon's Top 100 Bestseller's list!!<br />
<br />
Say what?!?<br />
<br />
Yep, we be killin' em.<br />
<br />
Should you feel the need to see what the fuss is all about, <a href="http://evernightpublishing.com/" target="_blank">Evernight Publishing</a> is having a <span style="color: lime;"><strong>St. Patrick's Day</strong></span> sale, today being the last day to get ALL ebooks at 25% off. One lucky shopper also gets a $25 Evernight credit.<br />
<br />
Get to shopping, today is the last day for that sale.<br />
<br />
<strong>Far From The Usual</strong> is available at <a href="http://www.evernightpublishing.com/far-from-the-usual-by-avril-ashton/" target="_blank">Evernight</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Far-from-the-Usual-ebook/dp/B007KDARYO/ref=sr_1_8?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1331810454&sr=1-8" target="_blank">Amazon</a> <a href="http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-farfromtheusual-753065-149.html" target="_blank">ARe</a> and <a href="http://www.bookstrand.com/far-from-the-usual" target="_blank">Bookstrand</a> <br />
<br />
You can read Chapter One on <a href="http://avrilashton.webs.com/farfromtheusual.htm" target="_blank">my website</a>.<br />
<br />
Barnes and Noble coming soon.<br />
<br />
Now, if that wasn't great enough, I find out Friday that <strong>One Wicked Night</strong>, bk#2 in my 'The Wicked' series with eXtasy Books, has been nominated by <span style="color: red;">The Romance Reviews</span> as Best Multi-cultural/Multi-Racial Romance of 2011.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3ktRbam0bg/T2Us5DNP9II/AAAAAAAAAtI/pMr5rqoH6sw/s1600/OneWickedNight200x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I3ktRbam0bg/T2Us5DNP9II/AAAAAAAAAtI/pMr5rqoH6sw/s1600/OneWickedNight200x300.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
WHAT?!<br />
<br />
I even got a nifty graphic to show<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmIgiWi-Tds/T2UsLnJ0M4I/AAAAAAAAAs4/_zc8d7XgKS8/s1600/2011nominee.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmIgiWi-Tds/T2UsLnJ0M4I/AAAAAAAAAs4/_zc8d7XgKS8/s1600/2011nominee.png" /></a></div><br />
I think you should go here <u><a href="http://www.theromancereviews.com/bookvote.php"><span style="color: red;">http://www.theromancereviews.com/bookvote.php</span></a> <o:p></o:p></u><br />
scroll down till you get to the <strong>Multi-cultural/Multi-Racial</strong> category and vote for <em>One Wicked Night</em>. Do it for Justice, the hero. Do it for that Goddamned HAWT cover.<br />
<br />
And for God and country...<br />
<br />
Heh. Nah, vote if you wanna.<br />
<br />
Should you also get the itch to find put what's so delicious about One Wicked Night, it's available for your <a href="http://tinyurl.com/6htqtye" target="_blank">Kindle</a> <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/one-wicked-night-avril-ashton/1104545522?ean=2940033035632&itm=3&usri=avril+ashton" target="_blank">Nook</a> and at <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3e7tmhl" target="_blank">ARe</a><br />
<br />
Or, read an excerpt and check out all the starred reviews on <a href="http://avrilashton.webs.com/onewickednight.htm" target="_blank">my website</a>.<br />
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Now, go show that tasty cover some voting love. Damn it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-69054900454221301482012-03-12T00:27:00.000-05:002012-03-12T00:27:00.629-05:00A look at the beginning....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyvTTYxHZeyX5UIG1cgTYEaZLiG9hjjUehRJ5AmFnsEp-6sNCnQE-6wc2rARJTvSjhn9xwfn8V6R1OuC-lGqHl3JTai5NRNetae_ELmGdb26zS13tQNmXINL3iD51AVeP_aAeDEh9hrE/s1600/BloodVisions5.25-72dpi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 131px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbyvTTYxHZeyX5UIG1cgTYEaZLiG9hjjUehRJ5AmFnsEp-6sNCnQE-6wc2rARJTvSjhn9xwfn8V6R1OuC-lGqHl3JTai5NRNetae_ELmGdb26zS13tQNmXINL3iD51AVeP_aAeDEh9hrE/s200/BloodVisions5.25-72dpi.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5718864674088494626" /></a><br />The Immortal Council Series is growing, the 7th book being written now and so I thought it was time to take another look back at where it began. <div>Blood Visions</div><div><br /></div><div><div>Paxton awoke just before dawn and sat up cautiously. He frowned down at the cuddled pair next to him. They looked so damn happy together, he couldn’t stand it. He had come to her tonight to prove that she needed him, but it hadn’t ended up that way. The only thing he had proven was that she needed Tarquin more. She was lost to him now. He knew that even if he could never accept it.</div><div>Paxton stalked away from the hotel room. He wanted death, he wanted destruction and he wanted that dog’s lifeless body. But he wouldn’t, he couldn’t do anything that would hurt his Zyra. So he would take this violent anger out on someone else, happily.</div><div>He saw a group of human males up ahead, leaving a bar. He slipped easily into the covering shadow and followed them. As if sensing the danger lurking behind them, the group sped up and one even looked over his shoulder, searching <span style="font-size: 100%; ">the shadows where Paxton blended.</span></div><div>The man’s human eyes would never be able to see him, but he did seem to be looking right where he was standing. Odd.</div><div>The group continued on and a couple of them entered an apartment building, leaving two to continue on, one was the man who seemed to sense Paxton.</div><div>Paxton kept following, waiting for his opportunity and enjoying the smell of fear rolling off the man. They turned a corner and entered another apartment building. Paxton waited outside a moment, letting the prey get comfortable.</div><div>He entered the building and followed the smell of the man. He didn’t bother knocking on the thin door. He pushed it open, breaking every lock the man had thrown in place.</div><div>Such fear, such excruciating fear paralyzed the man as Paxton approached, eyes swirling red, hypnotizing. Paxton grasped the man close and sank his fangs deep, drawing fast and hard to satisfy his need for violence.</div><div>Paxton dropped the man to the floor, blood red eyes wide with shock. He had experienced a Blood Vision at last. He had seen his mate’s face, and she wasn’t a vampire. She was a fellow member of the Council of Immortals, not that such a thing existed, yet.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Get it here: <a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/blood-visions-8/" style="font-size: 100%; ">http://www.extasybooks.com/blood-visions-8/</a></div>Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-70428504947038605422012-03-11T12:00:00.005-05:002012-03-11T12:00:01.944-05:00More New CoversThought I'd brag a little. Show off my brand new cache of delicious covers.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lR7X4Tl4lM0/T1v_kwppWuI/AAAAAAAAAqc/PUJPd3aVgKo/s1600/MMB-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lR7X4Tl4lM0/T1v_kwppWuI/AAAAAAAAAqc/PUJPd3aVgKo/s320/MMB-M.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Make Me Burn</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bringing the Heat #2</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coming March 28</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">from </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Evernight Publishing</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*****</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9_jYYvOJpE/T1wAwCFDIbI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Oboda2qoo8w/s1600/lovethesinner_msr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a9_jYYvOJpE/T1wAwCFDIbI/AAAAAAAAAqk/Oboda2qoo8w/s320/lovethesinner_msr.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: red;">Love the Sinner</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coming Soon</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">From</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ellora's Cave</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-29074022904307929382012-03-09T00:03:00.001-06:002012-03-09T00:03:00.784-06:00A sneak peek into Book 7 – Magik Master<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-mRiir39mnq8/T1lIPEONuyI/AAAAAAAAAoc/1pLFVfocHKw/s1600-h/canstockphoto1214424%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="canstockphoto1214424" border="0" height="207" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CkUlpg2t1jQ/T1lIPkBHo9I/AAAAAAAAAok/WVvwmXNY--o/canstockphoto1214424_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="canstockphoto1214424" width="130" /></a> Okay here it is…an unedited sneak peek into my next book where you’ll meet Samantha’s ghost who is none other than Izzy’s dead best friend.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">_____________________________________</div><br />
<br />
That’s the thing about magic. It’s always so damned unpredictable and in my opinion, it makes those who practice magic, fucking nuts. If I’ve done no other good my entire life, I’ve done one thing – I’ve stayed away from mages, witches, wiccans, practitioners, or whatever the hell they call themselves - that is until recently.<br />
<br />
You’d think I’d been intelligent enough to stay clear of anything related to Izzy’s witchy drama but oh no. I just had to get involved. It would have been easier and less stressful if I had ignored Samantha instead of acknowledging that I could see her but it’s not every day that a ghost appears in the over-the-bed-sex-mirrors and starts talking to me when I’m having sex. Granted, vampires see ghosts all the time but we ignore them - it’s what we do, but she scared the hell out of me. My pupils contracted while my eyes changed to Ice Blue and my fangs dropped down. It was a domino effect, Samantha scared the vampire into me and I scared the hell out of my hired uh, let’s call her, help.<br />
<br />
Once Samantha realized I had seen her, there was no convincing her otherwise even though I tried ignoring her. She showed up in my mirrors, hid my stuff, pinched people’s asses as I walked by and scared all of my dates. I swear her favorite thing became waiting until I was intimate with someone then show up claiming to be my murdered ex girlfriend seeking revenge. As you would guess, that didn’t go over so well with my companions and thus, after a year of celibacy caused by persistent ghost nagging, I had to get laid. So, I gave in and agreed to help her. I figured it couldn’t be any worse than her randomly showing up and talking at me for hours on end. She was getting in the way of my getting laid and feeding.<br />
<br />
“Tam?” Ash gently shook my arm. “Did you hear a word I’ve said?”<br />
<br />
“Yeah.” I lied. I’d been lost in my own thoughts trying to ignore Samantha pestering me.<br />
<br />
“Are you sure she can’t see me?” Samantha asked for the quadrillionth time while she made funny faces at Ash.<br />
<br />
Ignoring Samantha, I leaned toward Ash and sighed. Ash had agreed to meet me to discuss how Izzy’s dreams were still affecting me. <br />
<br />
“Izzy refused to admit <i>she</i> plagued me with the dreams of us being lovers.” I slapped the table for effect and noticed the patrons of the quaint, little coffee shop went quiet as all eyes focused on us. Ash raised a brow and nonchalantly shook her head showing her disapproval. I knew better than to draw attention to us. Once you got the look from her, you’d never forget it or its meaning- trust me. She has this way of scrunching her brows while raising one side and just slightly puckering her lips. Not a pretty face.<br />
<br />
I blamed it all on Izzy. It was because of her that I had to find a new coffee bar, and I had a pain-in-the-ass-ghost that made me swear secrecy about trying to find her killer.<br />
<br />
“She insisted the dreams were mine, and that <i>I</i> put them in <i>her</i> head,” I continued. “Can you believe that?”<br />
<br />
“Yes. Yes I can,” Samantha blurted out. “Izzy’s my best friend and all but she is stubborn and shit!” She snapped then her form suddenly started to dissipate as her words trailed off into a depressing tone.<br />
<br />
Oh Good. Maybe Samantha would finally leave and give me a break from her yapping. I leaned back in my chair, took a sip of coffee and continued. “The other day, Izzy walked by me at the mall and whispered, <i>in</i> <i>your dreams,</i> as she passed me. I’ve done my best to stay away from that witch, but in spite of my best efforts, <i>she</i> seems to show up where ever I am or vice versa.” I cradled my hands around the warm cup and took a long deep breath inhaling the fresh smell of French Vanilla Coffee.<br />
<br />
Ash sat stoically staring at me. <br />
<br />
“What the hell am I supposed to do?” I paused, then whispered. “She’s everywhere! The mall. The clubs. The bank. I’ve even seen her stopped at traffic lights. Hell…” I looked around taking in the older more upscale clients this coffee house attracted. This wasn’t one of my usual hangouts. I typically hung out with the much younger college crowd where nothing short of murder would draw attention to you that is except for Izzy walking by where I was seated and screaming <i>liar</i> every time she saw me. So I found a new coffee bar on the opposite end of town, practically in a different county before I felt comfortable sitting out in public for an extended period of time.<br />
<br />
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she walked in here!” As the words left my lips, Samantha rematerialized in good spirits and I quickly turned to glance at the front door. Damn it! I thought I’d be done with the ghost for a short while.<br />
<br />
“Really, here?” Sam beamed with joy. “Today? You think so, really?” Her translucent figure ecstatically zipped around the table. “Really?”<br />
<br />
Ash giggled and I snapped my gaze to her.<br />
<br />
“Okay. Okay. I hear you.” Ash uncrossed her legs and leaned forward breaking open a sugar packet and pouring the contents into her cup. “This is only a suggestion, but have you thought about asking her out?”<br />
<br />
“No!” I barked as Sam immediately stopped zipping and shook a threatening finger at me. <br />
<br />
“I’ll cut you if you hurt my Izzy,” she warned.<br />
<br />
<em>Oh, please. You’re dead witch!</em> I thought. Samantha was lucky Ash was sitting across from me it’s the only reason I held my tongue. <br />
<br />
“She’s already dreamt of us having sex in every position under the sun, and the moon for that matter.” I looked at Ash and hoped Sam would pick up on the fact that my answer was intended for her as well. <br />
<br />
“Tamara, I said, <i>ask her out</i>, not <i>screw</i> her. Jeez!” Ash snickered. “Will you ever stop thinking with your dick?” For years, Ash had referred to my clit as an undeveloped penis. “Anyway, you know the old vamp tales,” she said, stirring her tea.<br />
<br />
Ash had gotten Samantha’s full attention. She leaned in close to hear every word.<br />
<br />
“Once we meet our soul mate,” Ash continued. “Which I think you have, not only can that bond never be broken, but fate will continue to put the two of you together until you relent and accept each other as lovers and...” Ash laid her spoon on the folded napkin, took a sip of tea, smiled and added. “…I’m sure Izzy’s probably feeling the same way about you, too.” <br />
<br />
Samantha stood straight up, puffed her shoulders out and using her index and middle finger motioned from her eyes to mine several times mumbling, “I’m watching you,” then she huffed and disappeared. I guess she didn’t like what she’d heard.<br />
<br />
One of our vampire folklore claims that once a vampire finds their true love, an unbreakable bond forms between them and the vampire, that would be me, would do anything, even face true death to protect their soul mate. Well, considering the fact that I faced true death in several of the dreams Izzy forced upon me, I wasn’t keen on the idea of <i>her</i> being <i>my</i> soul mate.<br />
<br />
“I thought <i>it</i> would never leave,” Ash whispered while nonchalantly pointing to where Samantha had stood only moments ago. “<i>It</i> has been following you for weeks. Really, I don’t know how you do it, Tam.”<br />
<br />
“It’s been longer than that and that is Izzy’s dead best friend, Samantha.” I rolled my eyes. “I’m ready to slit my wrists.” I knew Ash could see Samantha but I wasn’t about to give away that secret. Oh, no. Ash would have to tell her or Samantha would have to figure it out on her own. Can you image what life would be like for us if ghosts knew all vampires could see them? We wouldn’t get a moments rest and we tend to live very long lives.<br />
<br />
“The two of them are very much alike,” I continued. “I can see why they were best friends. They’re each in their own right probably thinking how else they can make my life miserable. Samantha’s complication is that she’s dead and she doesn’t want Izzy to know she’s come to me for help.” I cocked a brow making a funny face. “She probably can’t help herself being dead and all, but Izzy’s a cold-hearted witch. I should have left her with the damn <em>Were</em> and let him have his way with her,” I mumbled while the makeshift security bells hanging over the door jingled.<br />
<br />
“Speaking of, what did you do with the puppy?” The puppy was a snarky way of referring to a Werewolf. “Shall we add another notch to your scabbard?”<br />
<br />
Ash was the only person alive that knew my darkest secrets and one of them was that I notched my scabbard after a kill. Vampires are extremely sentimental and delicate beings. One of our weaknesses is that after years of blocking out our conscious, the ghosts of those we killed start relentlessly tormenting us until we go crazy. In an effort to avoid insanity as an elder, I’d decided to remember every kill, now. <i>Fuckers.</i><br />
<br />
“Oh, heavens no.” I snickered. “I let this one live. I waited until he changed into wolf form then captured his mangy ass and had him neutered.”<br />
<br />
“That’s diabolical.” She laughed. “The pack will never accept him if he can’t produce cubs,” Ash paused. “You’ve outdone yourself, Tamara.” <br />
<br />
“Oh, my God!” A familiar voice screeched over our laugher. “This is too much!” An invisible energy crawled at my back. I immediately knew who it was. I didn’t need her power trickling down my spine to announce her presence. Trust me. I couldn’t forget her damn high pitch, eardrum busting, rat-repelling squeal if my life depended on it.Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-38887907076556507082012-03-05T05:23:00.000-06:002012-03-05T05:23:00.359-06:00Spring Fever...?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtuLXQ7TwQJathplooJYvM1Gxax4kw_uwdMinmXxLqNu4dwlFC3LFSscD3dMJSET3AefQ4trOfuBW7_GfVgOE30Hrk2Q9xuTil3su9SxxgKt06CbdYKPJdBhpQ2jndMD5GcHpZEDk_30/s1600/pics_from_nici_087.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 132px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHtuLXQ7TwQJathplooJYvM1Gxax4kw_uwdMinmXxLqNu4dwlFC3LFSscD3dMJSET3AefQ4trOfuBW7_GfVgOE30Hrk2Q9xuTil3su9SxxgKt06CbdYKPJdBhpQ2jndMD5GcHpZEDk_30/s200/pics_from_nici_087.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5716312785296154914" /></a><br />I appreciate the changing of the seasons as much as any other creature. Its nice to smell the warmer air of the coming spring at night. Pretty soon I will start working on my nocturnal gardens. There is such a give at take this time of year. I hate to lose more available play time outside as the days get longer and the dreadful sun slips slower and slower out of sight. But I love the warmer nights and the way Tarquin's fur smooths out, its so much softer in the summer than in the winter. Of course that's why he could survive for days and days in sub zero temperatures if necessary, a handy trick for sure. <div><br /></div><div>So happy March...It better be a good month or I will be letting loose with my killing rage that's been building lately...maybe that's just vampire spring fever though. </div>Zyrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14796085265621297756noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8111224306149573173.post-5996301477516474582012-03-02T00:03:00.001-06:002012-03-02T00:03:00.179-06:00Confessions of a Vampire Gourmet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-OdpTGRY7LBHhOWYYLJmrNFjO95eG7iKyPG0h7iaf9LpZmgHRuugwQoPwDYBOteSqf8EzAfVe3XT6xS-Zmx_NguzHi8ayaCd7mMC6QYf54a-I5F_iZvCdG0Cxd3sYwYYiBvrzvEDEt_E/s1600-h/Zoe_Lionheart_100%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="Zoe_Lionheart_100" border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig8WlvUvTcPxJLRhAOvh2FqogDnvjRCxyq_4OyEvj3ALvaP_-APg7fyJdIJuEV-fUkLT9fH5cPFsURHa42T8wedciP2I1z86zW88XoQEq1vbqa3b4CbCWhwqJxZC1jJt7cwdyUfa92U-I/?imgmax=800" style="border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px 15px 0px 0px;" title="Zoe_Lionheart_100" width="100" /></a> I had a date with a Vampire recently. No, it was just for dinner, and I wasn’t on the menu. We had some “True Blood” and red wine and a nice evening talk. We avoided politics, briefly touched the subject of sports, then I asked him about wine. This led to his very interesting confession of being a Vampire Gourmet, and what that means.<br />
<br />
You probably thought the same as I did: A Vampire simply tastes blood, what does that have to do with being a Gourmet? But he enlightened me about the manifold factors that can influence taste.<br />
<br />
For you, this can also be good advice – how to taste good or bad to a Vampire. But read to the end before making the wrong decision. I’ll step back now and let him explain.<br />
<br />
Thank you, Valerie, for your patience with me.<br />
<br />
I’m but an old guy, who doesn’t have much fun in Unlife, except for the occasional enjoyment of a decent meal. During the centuries I’ve sampled so many different tastes, and if your readers are truly interested, as you claim, I’ll happily share some of my experience with you and them.<br />
<br />
Let me start with a few obvious factors that can spoil the pleasure. It all starts with the presentation. Looks and smell are important, just as the process of dining itself.<br />
<br />
Of course we prefer pretty, healthy people. Oh, the sweet, soft skin of a young girl’s neck can be so tempting! What difference to the crinkled skin of an old man. That’s more like drinking wine from a cardboard cup, if you get my meaning. But it’s still better than having to rely on animal blood, eventually from a very hairy creature. No, that may help you overcome your craving, but let’s not talk about taste in this context.<br />
<br />
Dirty, smelly people don’t appeal to us either, that goes without saying. But neither do clean people who overly intensely smell like soap or perfume. This can so ruin the taste, but After Shave is worst, and no, if you ask, I really prefer female blood. It may be due to the estrogen in the blood, although there’s little difference in taste.<br />
<br />
As opposed to that – and here we’re back at the wine – the last meals and beverages consumed do have a major influence. Some alcohol in the blood can really amplify the taste of it. For example, the Shiraz you’re drinking adds a nice flavor to your blood – oh, sorry, I didn’t want to trigger fears in you. No, I didn’t? Glad to hear that. Where – ah, alcohol, yes. White wine creates a different taste, and beer admittedly doesn’t enhance taste. Schnapps is another thing – nothing to be said against a good cognac or whisky, but people on cheap booze simply taste awful, not to mention their smell. I’ve met a friend from Russia once. His clients drink vodka, and I asked him how he could stand it. He said, yes, you have to be used to it before the transformation, then it’s bearable.<br />
<br />
You surely think eating garlic might spoil the taste, do you? You’re right, and you’re wrong. Freshly consumed garlic, especially in combination with a good wine, is a delicacy. Only after some hours it becomes a problem, when it starts evaporating through the skin.<br />
<br />
People on certain diets are a problem. The blood tastes pale, so to say, when certain ingredients run low. Or, if the people use acetyl-salicylic acid, their blood runs thin. That’s even worse if they have heart problems and consume anticoagulants like Warfarin, you might know it as Coumadin. Can you imagine? That’s been developed as rat poison originally. No, it’s like if you water down your wine.<br />
<br />
Luckily you rarely run across someone with blood cancer. But diabetics are a no-no as well. Instead, if you want some nice dessert, try an athlete, preferably a cyclist. Steroids, Erythropoietin and such spice up your meal and are a lasting pleasure, believe me!<br />
<br />
I’ll have to thank – okay, no names – for his explanations, and that I’m allowed to post them here.<br />
<br />
Back to you, my readers. If you think you’re better off with smelly skin, cheap booze and garlic, go find a bridge to live under, as your community probably won’t understand. Yes, you’ll be safe from becoming a Vampire gourmet dinner. But that doesn’t mean you’re not bitten. It only means it will be a fast, painful and final dinner, and no one will really miss you.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, if you’re clean and tasty, your Vampire predator will not only make sure that it’s an enjoyable process for both of you, with candles, nice music and all, perhaps including some amorous play, but he or she will also be interested in keeping you alive, so that there can be a next time. Consider that.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Cheers, <br />
Valerie<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=187">Click here to visit Valerie at Extasy Books</a>Tamara Hightowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17512366064821945668noreply@blogger.com0