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Friday, August 31, 2012

It all started with...(aka Backlist Bloghop hehe)

A long long time ago...in a galaxy far far away...

click on this pic to find a slew of other yummy authors...hehe

Um...yeah—not buying that are you? *giggles* Okay, how about a long long time ago in a family room lined with wooden wall panels...I mean seriously—didn't almost all family rooms have those panels on the walls in the 70's? *heads desk laughing my assets off*

Well, back when I was a wee little girl I thought it would be cool to tell stories to my family. So what if my family thought they were tall tales to get out of the trouble they insisted I got into...to me they were dreams come to life...intricate webs of fantasy and fact blended together to...um...yeah get me out of the trouble I kinda always got into...hehe

But they started something in me—a desire to entertain people with words. I had to put this desire on hold awhile to take care of this pesky thing that got in the way...you may be familiar with my roadblock—it goes by the title of life...but I'm back, weaving my imagination into yumminess that hopefully others will enjoy to read as much as I enjoy to write.

But I just skipped and hopped a bit forward there...so take my hand and let us back these assets up just a tad.

Yes...yes I did start writing again about 4 years ago. And yes, I loved it...but (because trust me—there is always a butt when I'm around...lol) I never expected anyone to read what I wrote. I never thought about publishing anything...and blogging—oh what a foreign word that was to me.

Then I met this person who happens to be a tad firm in hand...and all heart. With them standing by my side I started a blog and fell into this amazing group called The Story Orgy...and the next thing I know I'm blogging like a mad woman and these prompt blogs are turning into *gulps* stories that people are reading...and evidently enjoying!!! *bounces up and down* Oh enjoy the view honey...that's what they are there for...lol

Which brings us to this Backlist Bloghop...

The Story Orgy Presents...And The Prompt Is...(points up & to the left) is the first thing I officially published in book form...it is a terrific anthology with me and four other authors who are ingenious in every sense of the word...my story is a little rough around the edges (it is my first ever release lol)...but I still hold it dear to my heart and am very proud of the collaboration that we did. And in honor of this blog hop...I'm giving away a copy of any one of The Story Orgy anthologies that we've put out...

So...I'm gonna hand this giveaway over to rafflecopter...be gentle with me and it—this is my first time using it and I try to be a slow learner...hehe


Friday, August 24, 2012

Breathless Press Birthday Blog Hopping...


*blows frilly paper horn and pulls string on party poppers* That's right...it's all about the party poppers...so there will be NO party poopers...*heads desk giggling* I know...corny and lame...but that works for me...*big silly grins* because we are here to have fun!!! To talk about birthdays!!! To win a freaking Breathless Press library of 50 books!!!

You guys don't care if I'm a tad bit corny do ya?? As long as your chances to win are still there right? *whispers* man I hope you don't care...cuz I ain't very good at being any other way...*giggles*

And you'll get your chance to win...I promise you that...but first—since this is a birthday party and I'm a stickler for the rules...you all have to get into your birthday suits! *waggles brows*

Hey! I was gonna say we have to sing to Breathless Press...but...um...yeah you don't want to hear me sing...my kicking chords are much better than my singing chords...*winks*

So I'm gonna make this nice and easy for you...for MY prize...all you have to do is leave a comment about the most interesting birthday gift you've received ~or~ given...and you'll be in the running to win any one of my books...I've got the Story Orgy anthologies that I am oh so proud of for you to look at...or my Synchronous Seductions series which is quite enjoyable...and if you need a sneak peek at my style...here is my birthday gift free read for you Lucky Night (you should so click on over and download that bad boy for free...along with all the other freebie birthday reads too! *big smiles*)


Well that is only my prize to you—Breathless Press has wrapped a mega prize up just for the winning...*hands mic over to the announcer*

Welcome readers to the Breathless Press Birthday Scavenger Hunt Blog Hop!

We have nineteen blogs participating, and each author is giving away a prize, books, swag...you name it!

BUT...It's Breathless Press's Birthday!

And have they got a gift for one lucky reader! Visit every blog in the hop, and locate the eighteen clues- blue letters. Create a list of each author whose blog you visit (Don't forget to leave a comment so your visit can be verified!) and the blue letter you found on their post, unscramble the message, and email the whole list to
Olivia<dot>ventura@breathlesspress<dot>com

(Note: You are only eligible to win if you visit & comment on ALL blogs!)

Your email makes you eligible to win a 50 BOOK LIBRARY! Fifty books of your choice from Breathless Press! That's approximately a $150 dollar value!

Participants

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Raven's Regency Fetish...


How I research My Regency romances.

Raven McAllan

I never ever thought I'd write Regency romance. Or any historical story to be honest.

 Yes, I loved history,  (still do for that matter) but after researching for school and university, I thought that would be it. How wrong can you be?

For years I was the archetypical, I want to write a book someday person. Oh I did submit and get rejected (quite rightly so) a couple of times. But I didn't have my own voice.

Then one day I was chatting in my crit group and on a dare, my first book was started. I'd said I'd write Regency. First hurdle. Not only that it was going to be f/f/m.

Where to start? Well truly the internet is a wonderful thing. Anyone who didn't know me, and looking through my history on my laptop would freak. Who is the woman? From jade dildos to Beau Brummel. Women's underclothes and men's cock rings. All have been searched and read about. The trouble is, I look for one thing, and four hours later having had a great time reading, I still haven't actually found what I was looking for.

I live in a small village, and we have a mobile library van. Our librarians are great, and are used to me asking,…"Do you have a book about?" They search headquarters for me and usually come up trumps. They then like to keep up with what I'm writing.  And read some of it!

Once you look, it's amazing what you can find out. I still have an old laptop full of docs with titles such as... Sex toys C 1800, and Spies in China. I have notebooks with information jotted in, and a brain full of trivia. Now if only I could remember where I've put my frequent flyer card!

(I did see a very interesting jade carved object on a stall at the bottom of The Fragrant Hills in China. Sadly I didn't buy it, so I can't report if it worked!)

Reading other people's regency books is interesting. I resisted at first. I was scared stiff of accidentally plagiarizing. But to be honest, there are so many good (and not so good) books out there it would be silly to deny myself the pleasure. I don't when I'm writing though. I'm sure I read somewhere Georgette Heyer deliberately described things incorrectly so she could check up on copycats.

My 'bible' for a lot of things is the Oxford Dictionary of Slang. It gives dates of when words were used. So no 'pussy' in 1810, but you can have muff. The 'c' word which up until recently was frowned upon was in common usage. I cringed the first time I wrote it. Now it flows off the keys without a problem. In regency times it was a normal everyday slang word!

Names are easier. You can always find lists of what was popular when, but I also like visiting old churchyards. The names on the headstones are a perfect way of seeing who was christened what and when.

I do think in one way we have it easier now than when I wrote my first terrible m/s. (discounting where does chocolate come from, my award winning competition entry aged 8) I did have a computer but it was a million discs in and out to use it. And no internet! Now it's Google away!

On the other hand, all your readers can find it easy to check for mistakes!

My latest Regency, A most Unusual Mistress, is a slight departure for me. No ménage. But if you read it you'll soon understand why. Ash couldn't cope with another person in the relationship. Adriana is more than enough for him!

Blurb
Why be a wife if a mistress has more fun? All Adriana has to do is get Ashley to agree...

Finding her intended bollocks-deep in his mistress when she is trembling with wanting and suppressed desires does not impress Adriana. If being a mistress entails being part of such passion, then a mistress only she will be.

Ashley, Earl of Addersley, thinks otherwise. He wants a wife on his terms. Terms that would send this lady of the Ton screaming...or would they?

An agreement, a challenge, a single night of mind-blowing passion very well may determine the outcome. Wife or mistress? Which shall it be?

Excerpt
He leant toward her. “Later, my love, I will introduce you to a much better way of tasting champagne. For now I suggest you sip it. Slowly.” For Adriana was gurgling and choking on her first sip. He patted her solicitously on her back. “Oh dear, did it go down the wrong way? ‘Tis bad when something does that.” He paused. “One needs to learn the correct way for anything to slide down your throat.”
Her face reddened, but she held her peace. How, he knew not, for he could tell she had a ready retort. He let his hand slide slowly down her spine, feeling the shiver she gave as he did so.
Suddenly, he could not wait until that part of the evening ended. For the sooner he escorted her home, the sooner he could join her and begin her slow sensuous introduction to seduction. She might say she wished to be his mistress, but Ashley had no doubt she would soon balk at some of his more extreme preferences. However, until he reached her refusals, he intended to enjoy all she was prepared to offer him. He was sure she would not be over- accepting of his demands, and once her limit was reached, her agreement to their marriage reinstated, and the ceremony over; he would return to the kind, considerate, and respecting husband a wife should receive. His more extreme proclivities would remain shrouded until such time he needed to unleash them. Then he would do so in the body of someone other than his wife. Someone who would accept and receive his ministrations without expecting either heart to be involved. He could not subject Adriana to his dark side. Well, he pondered, not all of it.
He realized his companions were looking at him quizzically. He essayed a smile. “Your pardon. I was wool gathering.”
“Wishing you were elsewhere?” Adriana asked archly.
 “Wishing we were elsewhere,” he corrected.
“Well, that is easily achieved.” Adriana stood and shook out her skirts. “I am ready to leave.” She laughingly made her farewell to their companions, ignoring their knowing looks, and paused for Ashley to do likewise before moving toward the cloakroom.
He slipped her cloak around her shoulders as they awaited the arrival of her carriage. He accepted that his body was on a knife-edge. Strung out with all his senses heightened, it almost seemed he could feel her heart beat in time with his, their blood swirling around their bodies and their breathing as one. Fanciful, but very stimulating. As the carriage pulled up in front of them, he was punctilious in his manner, guiding her inside and helping her be seated to her satisfaction. How long had he to begin his campaign? Scant minutes, unfortunately, but enough for the initial skirmish. He waited until the carriage had begun to lurch over the cobbles, setting up that familiar thrum in his rod, before lifting her onto his lap, making sure her skirts were not trapped between them. His now-rigid tool, which he had swiftly released from its confines, rubbed deliciously along that warm enveloping hollow between her cheeks. Her gasp reverberated into the very area of his body that strained to feel more than the echoes of movement that a mere gasp elicited.
“Soon, my cock will be more than just rubbing your arse,” he said crudely into her ear, as he brought one hand to her clit and squeezed it firmly, eliciting another hiss of breath. “I will have it buried bollocks deep inside it, my balls on your mound and my dildo in your cunt. You will know not which is pleasure or pain, so great will be the depth of ecstasy you experience. As I come and fill you with my seed, you will cry out your completion and shudder around me as I shudder in you.”
She was silent. Had he gone too far? For in truth, he had not measured his words and had spoken from his soul.
“And I, my lord? What will I do in return?” Her voice was breathy, the arousal unmistakable.
“You, my love, will enjoy. For I will have you spread-eagled, tied, and captive, to receive all I choose for you to partake. Until we are both sated.” Gad, the picture he was painting was painful. All he wanted to do now was pick up his brush and begin to paint. Her. Over and over until he was satisfied his vision had nothing comparable. He felt the coach lurch around the corner, looked out of the window, and identified from the many houses on the opposite side of the square, that belonging to Adriana. Reluctantly, he lifted her onto the seat adjacent, ignoring—with difficulty—her soft moan of protest.


A Most Unusual Mistress is available from
and amazon,
as an ebook or in print along with Wallflowers Don't Wilt, and To Please A Lady, in one volume entitled Rogue Scandals
Raven can be found at
and Rogue Scandals has a facebook page as well

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Lee Brazil: Simply Naughty...


Good morning everyone! I'm Lee Brazil, author of mm romance with Breathless Press, The Story Orgy and Silver Publishing. Most of my work is contemporary, but I have at times ventured into the realms of paranormal and historical fiction. *sips coffee* Help yourself to some coffee...*snags coffee and enjoys* Don't mind if I do...and they already know who you are, Lee...I talk about you all the time *cuddles*...*raises eyebrow at my muse* yes, well...and pastry, if you don't mind sweets in the am. That is the delicious aroma of orange chocolate chip muffins drizzled with a dark chocolate glaze. *eyes muffins and smiles* and this is why I storm your house on a regular basis...always the best yummies...*licks lips and stuffs muffin in mouth...motions for you to continue*

*chuckles* Hav's not kidding. Really, I love to bake and at least twice a week I do muffins. They make a handy breakfast or snack. Anyway, did you know according to some people today is National Tell A Joke Day? Honest. I saw it HERE when I was searching for blog topics. So, what I'm going to do is tell a joke. *blinks* I can do that, right? *sips coffee* 

I'll let you finish chewing and you might want to put down that coffee cup. I don't guarantee hysterical laughter when I tell a joke, but I can always hope, right? First, you should understand that I am not a naturally funny person. I don't make jokes up, and I don't have natural delivery. Sometimes my punchlines fall completely flat and people are like, what? That's it?

Anyway, this joke is Nursery Rhyme themed, to go along with my release of It's Simple, Simon this month.

Ready? I know, after all this lead in, this better be a damn funny joke, huh?
Here goes:
THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL
Who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
And when she was good,
She was very, very good,
But when she was bad,
She got a fur coat, jewels, and a sports car.

Thank you very much. Please, leave me a joke of your own, I like to laugh. Oh, and here's a glimpse of my contemporary take on the Nursery Rhyme, It's Simple, Simon.


It's Simple, Simon
By Lee Brazil
M/M contemporary romance
Breathless Press's Naughty Nursery Rhymes

Blurb:
Simon Carter has achieved unimaginable success and he owes it all to a man from his past whose scorn set fire to his ambition.

"It's Simple, Simon. You lack ambition."

Chase Garvin's jibe had sent Simon Carter on unexpected paths and brought him unimaginable success. No longer a penniless musician, the highly paid investment banker is going home for the first time in years. He plans to rest, relax, and spend a little time rubbing his ex-lover's nose in his success. A visit to the Renaissance Fair brings this not-quite-so-simple- Simon nose to nose with his past and somehow revenge doesn't seem quite so attractive.

Chase Garvin, Denver, Colorado's very own Pie Man, is still incredibly handsome. What's more, the more mature Chase is very appreciative of Simon's talents.

When the old attraction flares between them, Simon and the Pie Man get caught up in tasting the wares, and neither counts the pennies.

Excerpt:
He sniffed the golden pies. Mmm. Chase had always been talented in the kitchen. The aroma was intoxicating. Delicious. As he ate, savoring the flaky crust and rich fillings, he contemplated the man who'd treated him to the pies. Chase was one hot baker. He'd always been sexy, but there was no way that hunk of beef could fit into his old Renaissance garb. Chase had put on muscle. His shoulders had broadened, his biceps bulged, and mmm.... The rest was hidden behind that voluminous apron, but Simon doubted that it had changed much.
Best of all, Chase still seemed to find him attractive. That was just icing on the cake. The sugar on the pie? He chuckled softly. Whatever it was, he liked it. Liked the idea that Chase might still be interested in him sexually. As he licked the sugary filling off his fingers, he contemplated abandoning his plan. After all, Chase hadn't meant to hurt him years ago, and he'd certainly seemed welcoming enough, even though to all appearances Simon hadn't changed over the years. Yeah, there really wasn't any reason to prove to Chase how successful and ambitious he really was. He should just come clean.
On the other hand, he felt like enough of an idiot for hiding his success in the first place. He bit into the next pie, feeling the juice trickle down his chin. He licked at it, chewing and swallowing, scrabbling absently for a napkin to wipe his chin. It would be horribly embarrassing to go back to that booth and offer to pay for the pies, to tell Chase why he hadn't wanted to pay in the first place.
"Here, I'll get that for you." Chase grabbed his napkin. To his surprise, Chase drooped down onto the grass next to him. Instead of dabbing his chin with the white paper napkin, the man leaned forward, his breath a warm buttery scented breeze as he hovered close for a moment before gently licking the juice off Simon's skin.

Find It's Simple, Simon at Breathless Press

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

BP's Birthday Bash...

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday dear Breathless Presssssssssssss...Happy Birthday to you...and many moooooooooooooooooore...


Alrighty then...Breathless Press (or BP for those too lazy to spell it out all the time *rolls eyes and giggles*) is celebrating their birthday this month...halibut yeah!

And you know what...their having the birthday but we're getting the gifts!!!
*Quagmire neck roll* Giggity!

That's right...mark my words...not only are they having a sale this month
30% off
on their Breathless Press website...

*whispers in your ear* perfect time to get my Synchronous Seductions series! *winks*



But they also got together with a few *blushes and ducks head* okay a whole lot more than a few...
they've got 12 free short reads that have never before been published...just for you!!!
Sha-wing on over *hip bumps* and check them out...you can get my story Lucky Night...
but I'll warn you...it may be a lucky night for Tino...or Levi...or even the whore and cashier...but it is not a lucky night for the minor...*giggles*...you gotta read it to find out...hehe


Excerpt:
Tino is drawn to a force he's never encountered before. Levi is minding his own business running an errand. Tino, meet your force to be reckoned with.

Tino's a vampire uninterested in his existence. It seems to be the same thing over and over, nothing excites him anymore. Until one night during his feeding when he feels a pull that takes him on a journey. A journey to the one thing he didn't think he would ever want, his own human.
Levi just wants to stock up on some snacks and survive his high school reunion, in that order. But when a walking talking sex-on-a-stick suddenly appears in the gas station and clears the place out with just a few words, he realizes that tonight just might be lucky for him.