Another Immortal Council book out this week!

Mating Call: Immortal Council series book #4 will be released on September 1st from http://www.extasybooks.com/

A wolf or a voice can stake the claim, but it takes an immortal heart to seal the deal.

To celebrate this release, as well as another release from this wonderful author, check out her blog www.courtneybreazile.com/blog

Check out the wonderful book trailer:

His eyes settled back to brown and he shut the door. As he approached her to take the clothing, he breathed deep and his eyes once again flared to yellow.

Lillian stepped away quickly, knowing what that change was all about--he could scent the remains of her desire, the pleasure she had allowed herself to feel for him in private. She knew her eyes were wide, not from fright, but shame for him to know that she so desired him.

He stared at her for a moment, eyes narrowing slightly, hands clenched around the fabric of the borrowed clothes. He opened his mouth, as if he were about to say something, then shut it and walked to the bathroom.

She sagged with relief, falling into the nearby chair. This situation may be more than she was capable of handling. After gathering herself once again, she restrained her emotions and pushed all feeling aside. She sat straight and still in the chair, ready to tell him what she proposed.

Henry came out of the bathroom, his long hair dry now and floating around his shoulders, which were wide and pressing out at the seams of Lucas’s borrowed tunic.

She was going to have to find him some better fitting clothes. This was almost as bad as having him naked. She could see every line of his body and what made it worse, was she knew exactly what each line looked like without clothes. The image was forever burned into her brain and it was excruciatingly pleasant. “I have thought of something that might work well, a plan of sorts to find the traitor in my colony.”

Henry gave her a look clearly stating his doubt.

She almost stopped. He was going to hate the idea, but it was better than his lame idea. There was just no way any of the elves in her colony would buy that she needed him as protection. “I think that my idea is better suited to our situation and definitely more believable.”

“Uh-huh, right. So what is it?” He sat across from her and leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest and looking completely closed off to anything she had to say, as if he were merely humoring her with listening at all.

It grated on her nerves. “You know what, never mind. It doesn’t matter. You’ll just tell me it’s not as good as your idea, even though it is, stubborn male.”

He shot forward in his seat, eyes bulging out in shock. “I’m stubborn? Are you kidding me? You are the elf here. It doesn’t get much more stubborn than that.”

“Elves are not stubborn. We believe what we believe and we, unlike so many others, adhere to our beliefs. We don’t pick and choose when we want to follow our own rules.”

“Oh yeah, is that why you mated with a different species? Is that why you have a half-breed daughter out there?”

Greatest Passions

Hi everyone! I'm filling in for Tamara while she deals with Izzy. You know how that can be and since, I really don't get the chance to blog much...this is Tamara's blog after all, I thought I'd sneak in a few words.

I had the wonderful opportunity to strap a tank on this past weekend and it made me realize how much I truly love to scuba dive. For me, there is no greater feeling than laying down, looking up at the sky while watching my bubbles surface. There, I find a peace and calm, I can't seem to find any where else. For a few brief moments, I am transported to a miraculous place where I forget the troubles of the day, the bitches and bastards I've recently run into and just relax...uh...I love that!

If I had to name my greatest passion in the world - writing and scuba diving are tied for first place!

If you haven't done it, I highly recommend you try it, you never who you'll run into, heck! It might even be me sitting next to you on the boat getting ready to go out for a drift dive. Wouldn't that be fun?

I'd love to hear what your passions are...

E-Books at the Library

According to the Institute of Museum and Library Science, 66% of public libraries nationwide now offer digital books, with 14 million e-books available. In my home state of North Carolina, the Wake County Public Library system has shifted a portion of its budget to build a new e-book collection! As of last week, card holders can borrow downloadable e-books and download them directly from the library's website to their computers or e-book readers. 154 titles comprise the collection so far, with 770 e-book copies available. The Wake County Public Library even has a digital media specialist who reports that library users have “been clamoring” for e-books to check out, noting that requests had increased steadily since the first of the year. E-books are more cost-effective than hard copies and will be easier on the library system’s budget. While the current collection contains titles from the New York Times best-seller lists and probably not one smoking hot, sexy erotic title, but that’s okay because promotion of e-books in any fashion or venue benefits all of us. The library recognizes that the biggest e-book sellers are romances and is planning to expand its offering to the sultry reads. Keep your fingers crossed! Some of our work in e-book format might find it way to the local library before you know it!

On an eXtasy Books note, I'd be pleased if you'd take a moment to check out the newly published novella of my writing/critique partner, Ken Potter. His book, Walkin' Dusty Roads, is a romantic suspense love story set on the Carolina Coast and was released on July 15th. He also has a short, Ten Thousand Mile, available at eXtasy with another one due for release in December for holiday. Ken writes 'em hot but very romantic, and his stories kick ass.

Freeways Thoughts....

I think one of the most peaceful places to be at night is an overpass. I know it sounds weird but really it is. Its quiet, except the rhythmic hum of vehicles passing underneath. The lights along the freeway are bright and peaceful. Try it sometime, you will know what I mean...

Anyway I was relaxing on an overpass the other night, thinking about what to do about my parents. After I returned from hiding I found that my parents had settled into the idea of Tarquin and me. What really did it was them meeting Alexia, no one could know her and not think mine and Tarquin's mating was a good idea.

My father still hates Tarquin and my mother still thinks I make EVERYTHING difficult, but at least they don't want to kill Tarquin anymore. So now they have decided to stay for a while, get to know their granddaughter a bit. Great...except they are staying at my house and I am going crazy. I think they might be worse house guests than the werewolves. Or maybe I just have gotten so used to the weres that I don't realize how much they bug me.

So I spend a lot of time here...above the freeway and wondering where the cars are going, what kind of beings are inside. What would it be like to hop on top of one of the cars as it passed and go wherever it was heading. Somewhere where my mother didn't nag me about the dog hair on the carpet and my father didn't grunt disgustingly every time my mate growled at something, which he has been doing a lot lately. I think we both just need a vacation....

Oh me, oh my…

I wanted to give you a heads up!

In this crappy ass economy, All Romance (ARE) is going to have a 25% Rebate Sale staring September 10th. I’m giving you advance notice, so you can start saving your pennies to buy a few books.

Needless to say, I hope you buy my stories, but if not, there are plenty of other good books to purchase. Take advantage of the sale and load your bookshelf or ereader up!

Okay, that’s out of the way…now, we can proceed to the business at hand, me.

My author is driving me crazy! She keeps pushing me for more intricate details of my past sexual experiences. As if, Izzy is going to be okay with me sharing that info. Good Goddess! Now she wants to get me in trouble.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the human has convinced Izzy to have an adult party at my house! Yes, you read it correctly. An adult romance party with sample products!

It’s bad enough that I have shared my sexual endeavors for all the world to read, but now dildo’s and vibrators are going to parade around in my living room.

I may decide to join Zyra in hiding, then again, this might be fun.

I’ll let you know…

We got our fangs in Berengaria Brown’s, John Smith

My name is John Smith. I founded Smith Inc. and built it into a large and prosperous business. We own a multistory building in the heart if the city and have a wonderful relationship with all our clients.

Really, dying was incredibly inconvenient! That idiot Andrew was likely to take over the company instead of Amos, who was developing into a businessman nearly as astute as me.

“Intensity” tells this story. ”: http://www.bookstrand.com/intensity

Hi John, it’s great to have you here. I really do love ghosts, but tell us what makes you special? Do you have any special abilities?
I guess I’m just an average sort of ghost, but I was smart enough to hang around and make sure young Amos took firm control of the company. And I had to encourage him and Wesley to find their own happily ever after as well. As soon as I saw Keziah, I knew she was just the woman for them. Feisty little thing, quite determined to make her own decisions. I knew she’d keep my boys hopping!

Tell us about your most current adventure.
Let me tell you about when Keziah met me for the first time. Of course, I’d been watching her for a while.

The door shut behind her, but the automatic lights in the stairwell had turned on when the door opened so it was as bright as day as she walked up the stairs to what she estimated to be one level.

At the top was another door. Excited, she swiped her keycard again, pulled the handle, and walked inside.

It was an average bedroom-sized room, with one window covered by a flat metal shade that allowed people to see out but no way to see inside. There was a deep, comfy chair in front of a TV turned on to a sports channel, a large bookshelf packed with books, a single bed, and a small table with two chairs.

Keziah’s mind was running wild with possibilities, so she walked over the bookshelf to look at a row of photographs there. She recognized a recent one of Amos and Wesley, and an older one of them aged maybe twenty-one or so. But the most fascinating picture was an old black and white one of two men who looked vaguely familiar but not quite right. Keziah picked up the photo and stared at it for a long time before placing it back on the shelf and moving a bit farther along. Here was another picture of the two men. They were much older now, and the picture was in color, though quite faded. The men had gray hair and with them stood a young woman holding a baby.

“I bet that baby is Wesley!” she exclaimed aloud. That’ll be old John Smith with Wesley’s grandpa and his mom.”

“You’re right,” said a voice behind her. “I knew all along you were a very intelligent woman and a perfect match for Amos and Wesley, and you have proven so today!”

“Shit!” screamed Keziah whirling around.

A ghost was sitting in the comfortable chair, his right ankle resting on his left knee.

“How the hell—who the hell—wait. You’re old Mr. Smith. You’re dead!”

Tell us a little bit about your author. Where can we find more of their works? And if you could offer your author advice, what would it be?
Berengaria Brown wrote my story. The woman thought she was telling Keziah’s story but I soon got her on the right path. This book is about ME!

In fact, she has written what she calls Tia’s story as well, a book called “Complexity” which is releasing from Siren BookStrand in September. But again, Berengaria may think it is Tia’s story, but really it’s the story of a young relative of mine, Gillian. Gillian is a much weaker spirit than I am, but I managed to help her so she could materialize to Tia and….. Likely I’d better not say more than that.

Berengaria Brown has a blog, http://berengariasblog.blogspot.com/, and a website, http://berengariabrown.webs.com/ She has seven books out, all erotic romances, and most of them are ménages like “Intensity” and “Complexity”.

There are a lot of very interesting people living and working at Smith Towers. I may have to let Ms. Brown into a few more secrets in future.

Indeed! So, are you happy with the way people perceive you?
It’s a shame people only see me as old. I don’t feel old. I remember being young, being in love. Of course, being older I had learned the skills I needed to stop that upstart young idiot Andrew from taking over my company. But I still appreciate a nicely rounded young woman. And I couldn’t help but see Amos, Wesley and Keziah making love. They were doing it on the kitchen table for goodness sake! I just happened to be sitting on top of the refrigerator at the time…..

Tell us a little bit about your world.
Most of my time is spent in the Smith Towers. This is a big city building with several levels of underground parking, two levels of shops, then a concourse followed by levels of offices, then apartments and finally a rooftop restaurant. The apartment dwellers and those who work in the offices can use the gym, spa, sauna, swimming pool and exercise rooms on the recreation level. For those who both live and work here, they really never need to leave the building. Which is fortunate as several of them are vampires. Oops, perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned that. That book hasn’t been released yet.

What kind of music do you listen to?
I don’t listen to a lot of music but I do love the sports channels on cable TV. I have a big flat screen TV and watch sport a lot.

Confession time, did you really do “it”?
Absolutely and frequently. I even tell Keziah about the two loves of my life.

As a ghost, do you think you are a superior being?
I don’t know about superior but it sure is good being able to listen in to other people’s conversations and advise them on various things. And there is always lots of things happening in the Smith Towers.

Did you really see a bright light when you died?
I saw the light but it was not time for me to move on. There was too much I still needed to do. I did go into the light at the end of the book though.

Can you touch things in the traditional way?
I can walk through walls and ceilings. It is really quite fun to drift through the furniture. Although I like to sit on top of things: the refrigerator, the bookshelf.

What’s the one thing that is difficult to get used to as a ghost?
So many people cannot see or hear me. That is very frustrating.

Do ghosts have a social calendar to adhere to?
No, my time is my own. But I cannot be in two places at once so I have to plan things at times, and it takes a lot of energy to leave the Smith Towers so I don’t do that very often.

Why can only certain people see you?
Their minds have to be open to the paranormal. At the end of the book more than one hundred people see me. That was fun. I think I shocked a lot of them and some of them are still talking about me even now!

Tell us something we wouldn’t typically know about ghosts.
Young people today think they invented sex and ménages. I do believe I educated some people about what happened in my younger days.


“Intensity” out now from Siren BookStrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/intensity
Berengaria Brown at Siren: http://www.bookstrand.com/berengaria-brown/

I'm hiding....

I'm not sorry about last week, because really why should I be? I have been a very reliable vampire so far...and yet my complaining author tracked me down and tried her best to make me feel bad about missing the blogging day. Of course she didn't have to look far, I chose to hide out in a familiar place, up here in Spokane Washington where mine and Tarquin's story, Blood Visions, began. This time of year its a beautiful place to visit as well, the river by moonlight is just gorgeous.

So I am sure you want to know WHY I am hiding up here...well if you remember back a few months ago, I decided to send a letter off to my parents, who I hadn't spoken to in a long while, not unusual for a vampire I assure you. Well they had no idea that I had married, let alone married a werewolf and produced a werepire daughter...I didn't exactly give them the details in the letter either...

So they decided to show up, unannounced...

There is nothing, that I have ever seen, that compares to the anger in my father that day. Which only made Tarquin go into full pissed mode and, well maybe that was worse than my father's anger I'm not really sure. My mother stood by, shaking her head, at ME! As if I was just horribly responsible for this whole fiasco...right!

So I took off, figured it was better than killing everyone and starting my family over. I spent a week and a half hiding out up north before Paxton found me. So I am going to return, not really sure what I will find when I do...

I will keep you all informed.

Recession…

I have heard just about all I can stand about the whining and whimpering of this nations economy. Here’s the truth people, recession is a disease and you can’t treat the symptoms hoping to cure it.

It’s not brain surgery. It’s simple common sense. First and foremost, other country’s are doing a hell of a lot better than America is, why? Because hundreds of thousand, if not millions of American money is funneled to them every year by outsourcing. I see a problem here.

You certainly wouldn’t give Joe Schmuck your last hundred dollars to pay his rent without making damn sure, your rent is paid first! Would you?

How much American money goes to help the homeless, the hungry and the poor in other countries, while America neglects it’s own? How many American jobs go overseas, while American unemployment rates rise? How many illegal's does America cater to, when America can barely sustain it’s own? It’s not a matter of what’s right and wrong anymore, it’s a matter of survival and America is drowning in a sea political correctiveness.

It’s time to put American money and American jobs back where they belong – in America.

It’s time to put aside the personal, petty differences and make America a super power again.

It’s time for America to stop dividing it’s people, did you read that? It’s people…gays…straights…blacks…whites…wiccans…Catholics…America needs to prove that above all else it stands united as one as it eradicates hunger, homelessness, prejudices, bigotry, hate-crimes, unemployment and outsourcing, here, before America tries to fix the rest of the world.

This message was approved by Matriarch Tamara Hightower, candidate for stop your whining, let’s make America better or kick some ass trying.

New Changes

First and foremost, I want to extend Zyra’s apology for not blogging yesterday. She will tell you all about it herself.

Secondly, I want to introduce some changes I’ve made to the blog. As you all know, I post interviews every other Wednesday. If you like what you read and don’t want to go searching all over the web to purchase the book, you can now look to the right of the screen and under the authors cover, you will find an Amazon “widget” which will take you directly to Amazons site where you can purchase the book. Easy huh? Yes, I figured it out all by myself.

Keep in mind, that this is providing the books are available at Amazon.

I try to make this a nice, comfortable place for all to visit. If you have any ideas you want to share, please do. I will not bite. Okay…maybe if you ask me real nice.

Gay Marriage...

The issue is not whether it is morally right or wrong. We all have our own opinions of what is acceptable.

Some people believe that immersing themselves in religion will save their souls, some believe that spirituality has transcended religious beliefs and yet, others believe in nothing at all.

However, I have recently heard some of the most UNBELIEVABLE, outrageous anti-gay statements ever!

Outlawing gay marriage will improve the economy, activist says.

Yes, that’s right! Because this economy couldn’t possibly benefit from all the gay couples who would;
a- apply and PAY for county, or state marriage licenses,
b- order and PAY for wedding accoutrements,
c- reserve and PAY for travel while on their honeymoon,
and d – plan and PAY for the biggest fucking party this nation has ever seen.

That’s right, keep lying to yourselves and keep believing that denying gays the right to marry would help the economy, but please don’t expect me to buy into your bullshit. I have better places to utilize my common sense and spend my money, and it won’t be at Target.

Target financed anti-gay candidate Come on…really?

As for me, the humans can kill each other off, for all I care. My kind would be better off without the politically corrupt system, humans have in place today, but this affects my human author and I really hate that she is treated as a second class citizen!

We sunk our fangs into Paty Jager’s, Himiin

I am Himiin, spirit of the mountain of the Lake Nimiipuu. I was put upon this mountain by the Creator to watch over all the creatures of the mountain. My brother, Wewukiye is the sprit of the lake and our sister, Sa-qan is the spirit to the sky. We were made spirits when our father was selfish and caused our band of Nimiipuu great loss. My story is the first of three books. You can find my story at:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/spirit-of-the-mountain-paperback-p-4175.html

Hello Himiin, tell us what differentiates you from your kind? Do you have special abilities?
I am a shape shifter with the ability to enter other creatures' bodies. When in their bodies I can heal or I can manipulate them to do what will benefit the other creatures. I cannot harm nor can I kill the creatures of the mountain. But I can kill the evil that comes to my mountain in the form of other spirits. Unlike my brother and sister who may roam the Nimiipuu land as they wish, I cannot step off the mountain or I will no longer exist. The Creator put this restriction upon me knowing I would go back to our birth place and try to rectify our father's wrong.

Tell us about your most current adventure.
After fighting with an evil spirit on my mountain, I was caught off guard by a young maiden who tended my wounds. She spoke of her upcoming marriage to the enemy Blackleg. Her caring touched a part of me that had not been touched since I became a spirit. I became determined to watch over her and soon found myself caring more for the one mortal than anything else- even my mountain.

Excerpt from Spirit of the Mountain:

Wren’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. “My gift is to save The People. The weyekin who came to me in my vision quest said this.” She wrapped her arms around herself as if staving off a cold breeze.

Himiin hated that they argued when they should relish their time together. He moved to her, drawing her against his chest, embracing her. The shape of her body molded to his. Her curves pressed against him. Holding her this way flamed the need he’d tried to suppress. He placed a hand under her chin, raising her face to his. The sorrow in her eyes tugged at his conscience. To make her leaving any harder was wrong. But having experienced her in his arms, he was grieved to let her go. Even for the sake of their people.

Her eyelids fluttered closed. Her pulse quickened under his fingers. Shrugging off the consequences, he lowered his lips to hers. They were softer than he imagined. Her breath hitched as he touched her intimately. Parting his lips, he touched her with his tongue, wanting to see if she tasted as sweet as she smelled.

Honey.

She tasted of sweet honey straight from the bosom of a bee tree.
One taste was not enough. He pulled her closer, moving his lips across hers, tasting and savoring the feel of them.

Her mouth opened and she sighed.

His body came to life. The sensations transcended anything he’d experienced before. How could one woman make him feel powerful and vulnerable at the same time? Why did he wish to crush her to him and never let go and yet feel compelled to treat her with the tenderness one would give the tiniest of creatures? He couldn’t continue this way.
To hold her, to touch her soft skin. He would never be able to let her go.

He must.

Tell us a little bit about your author. Where can we find more of their works? And If you could offer your author advice, what would it be?
My author grew up in the land of the Lake Nimiipuu. She rode her horse on a mountain two ridges from mine. We met once as she daydreamed on the back of her horse. Today she lives 300 miles from my mountain and has raised four children. She is loyal to her mate of thirty-one years. My story was her first attempt at paranormal. Her other books are historical and contemporary westerns. You can learn more about my author and see the lake where my brother resides at her website. http://www.patyjager.net

My advice to my author…Keep researching and you will find many more stories to write.

Are you happy with the way people perceive you?
There is only one way for which people see me. That is my wolf form-I am not allowed to show myself to mortals in any other form. Though I break the Creator's rule and show myself to Wren who sees me as I wish to be seen, a caring man who would do anything for her.

Is there a message you want to get across in this interview?
The Nimiipuu have a deep seated love of the Wallowa country. It did not happen overnight, it was grown and nurtured through the ages.

Have you ever lost control? And what was the outcome?
I lost control once when I first became a spirit. There was a confrontation with a zealous warrior. His blood is on my hands and will forever remind me to never lose my control again. I was fortunate the Creator understood I had yet to learn all my spirit capabilities and gave me a second chance.

Do you think you are a superior being?
I am a spirit. I watch over the Lake Nimiipuu. How can I be anything but superior when I can outwit all creatures.

How do you feel about being a spirit?
I have over the many seasons roamed the mountain enjoying the freedom and helping the creatures. It fulfilled me until Wren touched my life. Her conviction and caring toward her people humbled me.

How old are you?
It is my guess that I am over a hundred but less than two hundred years.

Does shifting hurt?
No, I transition from body to body in a wisp of smoke. But I cannot remain in the human form for long periods of time. It requires more power than slipping into an animal and drains me.

Have you ever unintentionally shifted? And if so, how did you deal with it?
I have always shifted how or when I wished, but I have not liked some mortal vessels I slipped into. Especially the Blackleg, Hawk who hurt Wren.

Marina blogging today

Hey its me, Marina, I took over the blogging for Zyra this week. The council is meeting at her house and she is busy staying out of our way. I told her I would be happy to help make things easier by doing what I can, she suggested many things I would rather not mention...then this and I said an emphatic yes! Its fun to get on here and talk to you people.

Since my book release I have been having so much fun. All my clan sisters are chitter chattering about how they just HAVE to have their stories told. I smugly suggested they find love first, then go talk to the author about it. Of course they have to go through Zyra to get to her, and most of them are afraid of her. So who knows if any of them ever will, even if they do find their mates. Which I truly hope they all do.

Also in July the wonderful author held a contest on her blog www.courtneybreazile.com/blog to celebrate the release of my story, Wet Glamour. It was a fun contest, full of great seaweed recipes! I encourage you all to go check it out and try some, I am sure you will find something you like. I know I did!

Okay and since I am here alone, checking over my shoulder for anyone who might be watching............Okay looks like I'm clear.

Okay there is some major news being revealed in the next book and I just happened to see it because I was poking around Zyra's computer, okay I was snooping whatever! Anyway BIG BIG news coming Lillian--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HaHa, like I wasn't going to check this before it went out. Stupid mermaid. Anyway, those secrets are not hers to reveal, so they are safe, for now.