Contest: Win A Copy of Indigo Spells by Richelle Mead

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch–a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood–or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

Thanks to Penguin books, I have ONE copy of 

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead 

to giveaway!

-You must live in the USA

-No P.O. Boxes allowed

-You must be 13 or older to enter

-Fill out the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win!

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Blog Tour: The Farm by Emily McKay

Life was different in the Before: before vampires began devouring humans in a swarm across America; before the surviving young people were rounded up and quarantined. These days, we know what those quarantines are—holding pens where human blood is turned into more food for the undead monsters, known as Ticks. Surrounded by electrical fences, most kids try to survive the Farms by turning on each other…

And when trust is a thing of the past, escape is nearly impossible.

Lily and her twin sister Mel have a plan. Though Mel can barely communicate, her autism helps her notice things no one else notices—like the portion of electrical fence that gets turned off every night. Getting across won’t be easy, but as Lily gathers what they need to escape, a familiar face appears out of nowhere, offering to help…

Carter was a schoolmate of Lily’s in the Before. Managing to evade capture until now, he has valuable knowledge of the outside world. But like everyone on the Farm, Carter has his own agenda, and he knows that behind the Ticks is an even more dangerous threat to the human race...

WEBSITE / AUTHOR INFO / GOODREADS / AMAZON

Q & A With Emily McKay

Lightening Round:
1) Favorite literary heroine? Lizzie Bennet
2) Vampires or Werewolves? Vampires
3) True Blood or Vampire Diaries? True Blood
4) The Notebook or Pretty Woman? Pretty Woman
5) Best way to spend Saturday night? Cuddling on the sofa with my family
6) Best way to spend Sunday morning? Eating at Café Brazil
7) How do you take your coffee? Light and Sweet … and caffeinated
8) If you had 3 things to take with you on a desert island, what would they be? My Nook, Chocolate-covered almonds and a satellite phone
9) If you won the lottery, how would you spend your money? I would buy a vintage Tesla, a diamond tiara and solar panels for all my friends.  And after that I’m pulling a J.K. Rowling and giving a ton to charity.

PREVIOUS STOP @ Katie's Book Blog

NEXT STOP @ Wastepaper Prose on Dec. 3rd

CONTEST

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of The Farm and a Vampire Apocalypse Survival Kit to give to one winner.  

1. Contest is open to the USA only.  ( your package will be coming directly from the publisher)

2. No P.O. Boxes (your package will be coming directly from the publisher)

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Tour & Contest with T.K. Richardson

 

Chamberton Publishing Proudly Presents

A Golden Light Anthology 5 Book Collection!

Thank you so much for hosting me on A Golden Light Anthology's Blog Tour! I'm so glad to be here and present to all of you our brand new releases! A Golden Light Anthology 5 Book Collection has been such a special project and I'm thrilled to be able to introduce the books to all of you.

A 5 book collections means that there is a book for just about every taste, too - from science fiction and fantasy to historical fiction, a young adult anthology, a children's anthology, and our Christian anthology. All are filled with some of the most talented authors around.  I'm sure you'll agree that A Golden Light Anthology series is something special.

Without further ado - the books!

*Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this post!*

A little about the books -

Gaslight: A Golden Light Anthology~

From the very first story by award winning author J.S. Dunn, to the last story in the anthology, readers will be swept away to various time periods with an array of characters - from ancient seafaring towns to the Ottoman Empire and everywhere in between. You'll find stories about World War I, The Civil War, and even a fantastic steampunk story - all wrapped up in Gaslight: A Golden Light Anthology.

Gaslight is an eclectic array of historical short stories that includes historical, historical romance, historical fantasy, and so much more!

I have to add that the authors contributing to this anthology are without a doubt some of the best writers of historical fiction out there. Yes, I may be biased, but I believe it's true. I think you'll agree, though, and once you read their stories in Gaslight I'd like to encourage you to check out their other books. You won't be disappointed.

Limelight: A Golden Light Anthology features tales of new worlds and old worlds and worlds yet to be. These stories twist and turn with adventure, intrigue, and wonder. This anthology of short stories brings science fiction and fantasy out of the shadows and into the limelight.

Authors Edward W. Robertson, John Grover, James S. Dorr, Ela Lond, Sergio Palumbo, Larissa Hinton, Jessica B. Zeidler, Katy Huth Jones, Alexandra Baker, Catriel Ceballos, Domyelle Rhyse, and Bill Blume spin tales of old and new, of fantasy or alternate realities. These stories wrap around the future, the unknown, and the fantastic. You may be surprised at where they’ll lead…

Take my hand and step into the light with Limelight: A Golden Light Anthology.

Spotlight: A Golden Light Anthology features young adult stories of hope. Themes of rejection and forgiveness, of loss and triumph, of loneliness and friendships, of struggles and determination, of betrayal and overcoming, lace each story.

Authors Deborah Prum, Sarah Meira Rosenberg, T.K. Richardson, Alexandra Singer, Tucker Cummings, Lynda Lee Schab, Jason Hinz, Carmen Tudor, and Lisa Marie Lopez offer stories grounded in reality or sprinkled with fantasy, but feature main characters that face real issues – issues that are often hidden in the darkness.

Step out of the shadows and into the light with Spotlight: A Golden Light Anthology.

  

Nightlight: A Golden Light Anthology 

Do you remember those nights when you switched on your nightlight or flashlight and read books under the covers?

How about those memories of your mom, dad, or grandma reading your favorite story over and over again?

Yes, the sweet events of childhood that stay with us forever...

Nightlight: A Golden Light Anthology wishes to create these memories for the children of today. Filled with colorful images and stories that are both exciting and sweet, this anthology of children's bedtime stories is sure to leave a lasting impression. 

Stories of fairies and wizards, of summer camp and family vacations, and stories of family and friends fill this children's book. Imagine spending that extra few minutes reading to your child right before they drift off to sleep. Or letting them read Nightlight themselves while you listen to them.

The memories you share together will last a lifetime, encourage literacy, a love of reading, and most importantly you'll set aside that special time at the end of the day - when work and play are done - to just be together.

That's how I envision children reading Nightlight and that was the intention compiling this children's anthology. The stories, and the authors contributing to this ebook, are hands down some of the very best.

I hope you'll get a copy, switch on the nightlight, and read it with your child.

Lamplight: A Golden Light Anthology is filled with stories and poems of faith. From the very first selection by author Seth D. Clarke to the final poem titled Benediction by David Andrews, this Christian anthology reaches in and touches the heart, inspires faith, and is filled with hope.

  We live in a tumultuous world. The evening news is filled with more bad than good. War, hunger, and loss seem to be the headlines and sometimes (or daily) we need that little bit of something that is good, that sees the darkness around us and shines a heavenly light on life.

And that's exactly what Lamplight does - it shines a light of faith and hope. The stories and poems in this anthology are real, are touching, are beautifully written, and fill that darkness with a ray of sunshine. They're not fluffy or preachy, but rather these stories and poems are uplifting.

The scripture that really inspired this anthology - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light for my path."

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We hope you'll check them out!


Find our titles on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iPad, Copia,
Sony Reader, Kobo, and everywhere ebooks are sold. 

 

About Chamberton Publishing - 

Committed to excellence in book publishing, Chamberton believes the pillars of a society are founded on great literature and that each book leaves an indelible stepping stone for the future. We are currently focusing on publishing anthologies in a wide array of genres. Find our titles on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and everywhere books and ebooks are sold. Sign up for our newsletter to be notified of new releases!

Get to know the authors - 

For a complete list of authors in A Golden Light Anthology we invite you to visit our website. You may find even more of their books that are just right for you! 


 


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Blog Tour & Contest with Eden Summers

A Day in the life of a romance author

Hi everyone.
A day in my life isn’t overly exciting. I’m not a full-time writer so my days vary a lot. But when I do get a day to dedicate solely to myself, this is what it usually looks like:

5:40am - 6:30am – Wake up for the last time. My three year old is still in the habit of waking a few times a night and usually says “to hell” with sleep at around this time. If I’m lucky he will turn the television on and let me lay in bed for a while. During this time I like to plot story lines. Now if I wasn’t a writer this would simply be called “fantasising about strangers whilst laying in bed with my husband,” but because I’m a writer I can call it “plotting.”

6:30am - 8:50am – This is the mad dash to get the children ready for school. It involves a lot of repetitive shouting, growling and death stares. Very glamorous.

8:50am – I open the door to a silent house with a smile on my face. If I’m in an extra special mood I might giggle a little at how awesome it is to be alone. First stop is the bedroom where I get into my comfy, daggy clothes, then I make a coffee and sit in front of my life support – my fabulous laptop that I can’t live without.

9:00am – 10:00am – This is “start up” time and usually dedicated to PR and emails. I have three email accounts – my author email, a separate email for my RWA loops and another for my review/author promo blog (yes, I really need to consolidate). I action as many emails as I can, while simultaneously updating Twitter and Goodreads.

10:00am – 2:00pm – Writing time!! Or on a bad day – Procrastination time! Apart from taking pee breaks, I sit at the laptop and write or edit for four straight hours. Some days I can write a couple thousand words, on others I will only be able to edit three or four pages, which can be hard to take. I can get to 2pm with a sore back and strained eyes, and only have four pages of polishing done. It’s time consuming, but I’m very critical of my work and could spend years trying to perfect my stories.

2:00pm – 6:30pm – This is mad rush time. I get myself something to eat, tidy the house a little, then go to pick my eldest up from Kindergarten. While waiting in the car I listen to my kindle (text-to-voice) or make plot notes on another story (fantasising about more men). I then get my youngest from pre-school. When we get home I help with homework, cook tea and go over emails all at the same time.

7pm - 7:30pm –If the planets aligned my children will now be in bed and hubby is home from work. If I decide to have a night off I will watch television or a movie with my spunky man while doing more emails, research (looking up sexy men on Pinterest) or promo. Otherwise I put in my earplugs and sit on the couch to do more writing/editing.

9:30pm – 10pm – Aka the best time of the day, when I get to go to bed and “plot”. I go to bed relatively early so I can think about storylines, first kisses, the dramatic peak or a happily ever after. This is when plot issues get resolved and concepts deepen. Most of my ideas come at this time, when I finally stop stressing and let my brain relax.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the outline of my riveting life. If you would like to check out my latest release – Sneaking a Peek, here are the details:

An innocent peek could cause her to fall...Every hot blooded woman loves to drool over a sexy piece of man flesh. But watching from the shadows when the man in question has no idea you’re spying on him? Yeah, that’s totally illegal.

...right into the arms of the hottie next door.Tarney Jensen has been crushing on Ethan Reid, her best friend’s brother, since her sixteenth birthday. She knows acting on her attraction will ruin the friendship, but she can’t fight the temptation of his sweat-slicked skin as he does his weekly workout.
Spying may have been innocent, but the aftermath is anything but…  

Links:

https://twitter.com/EdenSummers1

https://www.facebook.com/authoredensummers

http://www.edensummers.com/

Giveaway

$15 Amazon gift card and 5 swag packs

GO HERE TO ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER!

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GOT A QUESTION FOR THE AUTHOR?

Leave a comment!

Contest & Guest Post with Kerrelyn Sparks

Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, I have the very talented Kerrelyn Sparks!!
Lets give her a warm welcome and stay tuned after reading her Guest Post for an amazing giveaway hosted by AVON books!

A Different Sort of Hero

By Kerrelyn Sparks

            Not every romance hero can be born a duke...or a werewolf.  That was the idea behind the hero of The Forbidden Lady.  Can a normal guy succeed as a hero without the benefit of a title-- or in the case of my usual supernatural heroes, without the benefit of superpowers or fangs?

            Introducing Quincy Stanton, the hero of The Forbidden Lady.  He’s a sea captain from Boston in 1769, a tense time in American history that climaxes with the Boston Massacre.  Quincy is recruited by the Sons of Liberty to spy on the British. Instead of shifting into a werewolf, he transforms into the James Bond of the American Revolution.  With no superpowers, he depends on some super gadgets—a carriage rigged with special compartments and a booby trap, a magnifying glass lined with phosphorescence so it glows in the dark, and a submersible for sneaking about Boston harbor. (This is based on the Turtle, an actual submersible used during the Revolutionary War).

            So Quincy is a different sort of hero—or is he?  Like all my heroes, Quincy possesses what I consider heroic virtues:  honor, strength, intelligence, and integrity.  He also has something else in common with my supernatural heroes—a second identity he needs to keep secret.  He can’t admit to being a spy.  It would cost him his life.  So when he falls in love, how can he gain the heroine’s trust without revealing his secret?

            It’s the same dilemma that some of my vampire and shifter heroes face.  In Wild About You, (releasing November 27^th), Howard Barr is trying to win the heart of Elsa.  Would any woman in her right mind want to fall in love with a guy who occasionally becomes a real bear?  A huge, grizzly bear to be precise. 

            Whether it’s a sea captain hiding the fact that he’s a spy, or a guy who played for the Chicago Bears hiding the fact that he’s a were-bear, it’s still a hero with a dual personality. He’s both the prince and the beast, and it will take a special heroine (or Beauty) to see past the beast and recognize the prince.  In The Forbidden Lady, Quincy becomes a very different sort of beast—an obnoxious dandy in lavender silk and a lavender-tinted wig.  Only another spy, the lovely Virginia Munro, will manage to see through his Scarlet Pimpernel-like masquerade.  And along the way, there will be a lot of laughs, some adventure and suspense, and of course, some glorious romance.

            The Forbidden Lady goes on sale in e-book form September 25^th, then in print form October 25^th. Originally published as For Love or Country, it has now been revised to be funnier and sexier than ever.  Wild About You, the thirteenth book in the Love at Stake series, releases November 27^th.  For more information, please visit www.kerrelynsparks.com. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kerrelyn Sparks’ first paranormal romance, How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire, zoomed out of the bat cave so fast it became Borders bestselling debut romance of 2005.   Each book in the Love at Stake series has become a USAToday bestseller.  When the fourth book, The Undead Next Door, landed on the New York Times bestseller list, even the Undead sat up and took notice, which made Kerrelyn a bit nervous. She lives in the Greater Houston area with her husband, children, and a house full of garlic.  So far, there are no vampires in her family. Werewolves are another matter entirely.

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CONTEST

Thanks to AVON/HarperCollins, I have:

5 copies of How To Marry A Millionaire Vampire (US ONLY)

1 $25 gift card to the e-retailer of winners choice (INTERNATIONAL)

RULES

-- Comment for your chance to win!

-- Please state if you are US or International so I know which contest to enter you in.

-- Leave an email address for me to contact you if you win!

-- Contest ends 9/30/2012

GOOD LUCK!

Quickie Blog Tour with Tessa Dare and Contest!

EDITED TO ADD:
The contest is now closed!!!
Winner is: Daph


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Today I am hosting the very talented Tessa Dare for a quick tour.  It is actually part of a progressive tour going on all day at different blogs at different times!  Tons of prizes to be had readers!!!

Don't forget to enter the contest for a $75 Watermelon Festival Edible Arrangement found at the bottom of the post!

Now on with the show and meet the main characters from A Lady By Midnight, Kate and Thorne!

SUMMARY

A temporary engagement, a lifetime in the making...

After years of fending for herself, Kate Taylor found friendship and acceptance in Spindle Cove--but she never stopped yearning for love. The very last place she'd look for it is in the arms of Corporal Thorne. The militia commander is as stone cold as he is brutally handsome. But when mysterious strangers come searching for Kate, Thorne steps forward as her fiance. He claims to have only Kate's safety in mind. So why is there smoldering passion in his kiss?

Long ago, Samuel Thorne devoted his life to guarding Kate’s happiness. He wants what's best for her, and he knows it's not marriage to a man like him. To outlast their temporary engagement, he must keep his hands off her tempting body and lock her warm smiles out of his withered heart. It's the toughest battle of this hardened warrior's life...and the first he seems destined to lose.

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Kate: Oh, what a lovely blog, Thorne. It’s called My Overstuffed Bookshelf. Look all those beautiful books.

Thorne: What does she do with them all?

Kate: Read them? Just guessing here.

Thorne: *shrugs.*

Kate: For those catching, up, first we decided strong, silent Thorne needs a meme to make him cuddlier. At our second stop, we tried out a few famous memes for size. That didn’t go so well. But now I have a new idea!

Thorne, grumbling: Brilliant.

Kate: Have you seen these e-postcards? So much fun! You can create your own at the Some Ecards site.

Thorne: I don’t think I will.

Kate: But others might like to. And look, I made bunches. I’m going to tell the story of our courtship in postcards. Here you are, in your militia uniform, foolishly pretending that you care nothing for me beyond what’s required by duty.

Thorne: That is not me. What is with that hat?

Kate: Never mind the details. Here’s the second one, where you’re pushing me away to “protect” me.

   

Thorne: I don’t appreciate those quotes around “protect”. I was trying to protect you, no quotes about it. And that vest…? The ponytail? I can’t even. 

Kate: Oh, hush. We’re getting good now. Here’s where you’re kissing me and pretending it will never, ever happen again. But I knew it would.

   

Thorne: At this rate, this is going to take all day. 

Kate, riffling through cards: You were rather stubborn, but my main concern is that these cards are about to become rather NSFW. 

Thorne: NSFW? Should I even ask? 

Kate: Oh, Thorne. You don’t need to ask. NSFW is your normal state. And upon reflection… (blushes deeply at one particular image) Right, I think we need to find something more wholesome. Don’t miss the next stop… Kate and Thorne’s meme struggle takes a furry twist at the Avon Romance blog at 3PM EDT!

  Feel free to play around on the Your E Cards site and have fun making your own! 

CONTEST

$75 Watermelon Festival Edible Arrangement

 What is the best card (or gift) you’ve ever received or sent “just because”?

Just answer the above question in the comments with a valid email address to be entered!

Hurry! The contest is only open for an hour and closes at Noon!

Welcome Author Jillian Stone

1. Hi Jillian!

Can you tell everyone a little about yourself?

In 2010, my manuscript for An Affair with Mr. Kennedy won the RWA Golden Heart and I went from no agent or publisher to signing with Richard Curtis and being offered a three book contract by Pocket Books. That summer, The Seduction of Phaeton Black also won the erotica category of the 2010 Romance Through the Ages contest for and was offered a three book contract by Kensington Brava. Needless to say I have been busy writing books this past year and a half! I live in Southern California and I am currently working on a special Pocket Star e-novella for The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series.

2. Can you share with us a little background on your upcoming book?

I’m excited to share my latest release from The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series. A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis is a fast paced road trip adventure, with the hero and heroine on the run from Edinburgh to London by train, velocipede, landship and submersible!

As a film student, I studied all of Alfred Hitchcock’s work and I particularly admire the romantic suspense films: Rear Window, North by Northwest, and To Catch a Thief. Thrills, chills, adventure––perhaps there’s a mystery to uncover, or a villain to capture, but at the story’s core, there is a love story.

I had an idea that was based on a villain and his small private army of minions who are essentially anti-progressives. In 1887 England, that meant that they were anti-industry, anti-machinery, anti-invention. Today they would be anti-technology. I then came up with a string of grisly murders and a beautiful industrial heiress whose father has just been killed by one of his one machines––accident or murder? Scotland Yard suspects the darker of the two and sends a detective up to guard the young heiress. Then I added a complication for the romance––Rafe and Fanny have a past. 

Here’s the blurb:

When Fanny Greyville-Nugent's father suffers a gruesome death in the clutches of his own machine, mourning his loss is not the beautiful heiress's only heartbreak. Scotland Yard is convinced he was targeted in a plot to halt the rise of industry, and Fanny's former fiancé, dashing and dubious detective Raphael "Rafe" Lewis, has been assigned to the case.

For the estranged ex-lovers, bringing the notorious assassins to justice proves as tumultuous as quelling pent-up desires. Fighting peril and passion at every turn of a dangerous journey from Edinburgh to London, they are pursued by an anarchist group hell-bent on destroying her father's mysterious entry into the London Industrial Exposition.

When an astonishing discovery about the couple's failed engagement surfaces, the sleuthing duo realize they can trust no one. Rafe confesses new details about his infidelity and Fanny risks all to avenge her father's murder. But will Rafe and Fanny triumph over the pain of their past?

3. What is one thing you have learned along the way that you wished you had known from the beginning about writing and publishing?

Writing to contract deadlines can be gruelling, so get your chops up now! I’m a slow writer so if I have a 2,500 to 3,000 word day, that is smokin’ hot for me, but other writers, particularly multiple contract writers can go 6,000 words a day.

Cultivate the biggest name authors you can. (It’s all about who you know.) You will need their blurb endorsement for your covers. I was shocked to discover that publishers/editors don’t necessarily get involved in acquiring endorsement blurbs for debut authors.

4. If you could pick the cast for your current book, who would play the main characters?

When my editor asked me for input for the cover art of A Dangerous Liaison with Detective Lewis I emailed her two pictures, one of a young Hugh Grant (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and a young Helen Bonham Carter (Room with a View).

5. Can you share with us what you are working on next? 

I am currently working on the synopses for three new Gentlemen of Scotland Yard books for Pocket and another sequel in the Phaeton Black, Paranormal Investigator series for Kensington Brava, The Miss Education of Doctor Exeter.

Website: http://jillianstone.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JillianStoneBooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946569.Jillian_Stone

Twitter: @gJillianStone

Thanks for the interview! 

 Jillian

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 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eden Bradley Blog Blitz & Contest

Fallen Angel
Author: Eden Bradley
SUMMARY
Haunted by a military mission that ended in personal tragedy, Declan Byrne still bears a soldier's scars. As a park ranger on the secluded Mendocino coast, he guards his heart while standing ready for anything. Anything except a beautiful, ethereal woman with a mysterious past, falling from the cliffs to the rocks below.
Angel, as Declan decides to call her, has no memory of what happened. But as her body heals, disturbing dreams emerge. In Declan's protective care, Angel feels safe to act on the undeniable passion between them, without the threats from old, unnameable demons. And, in time, she senses Declan needs her as desperately as she needs him. But when her past returns with a vengeance, Declan must decide just how much he's willing to risk in order to keep the woman he loves safe.

PURCHASE AT:

AMAZON

BARNES & NOBLE

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best-selling and award-winning author Eden Bradley writes dark, edgy erotic fiction. Her work has been called ‘elegant, intelligent and sensual’. Her debut novel, THE DARK GARDEN, has been praised as ‘a masterpiece’, and was a Romantic Times Top Pick, as was her erotic novel, FORBIDDEN FRUIT. Her novel THE LOVERS was called ‘…the thinking woman’s erotica…’.

Eden sold four novels and a novella to Bantam, as well as a novella to Berkley, before her first novel even hit the shelves, and Bantam contracted two more novels from her the moment her debut book was released. Several of her novels and novellas have been translated into German, Romanian, French and Japanese.

Eden has appeared regularly on Sirius Satellite’s Playboy Radio show, Night Calls, and has participated in round-table podcast and radio discussions. She is also a regular guest at the West Coast In the Flesh readings. Eden has conducted  a number of workshops and served on panels on writing craft and writing sex at several chapters of Romance Writers of America, at the RWA Nationals Conference, at the Romantic Times Convention and at library and independent writer’s groups.

Eden has published a number of articles on writing and has written both print and e-books for Bantam/Delta, Harlequin Spice, HQN, Berkley Heat, Samhain Publishing, Magic Carpet Books, Phaze Publishing, and New Age Dimensions Publishing. Eden also writes erotic romance for Berkley Heat as Eve Berlin. Her debut Heat novel, PLEASURE’S EDGE, won the 2010 Holt Medallion Award for best Erotic Romance.

AUTHOR WEBSITE

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CONTEST

Up for grabs is the winners choice of ONE of the following ebooks:

(covers are linked to the summary on the web)

To enter, just fill out the Rafflecopter below!

Contest is open INTERNATIONAL!

Guest Post & Contest with Carla Swafford

A Day in the Life of a Romance Writer: Wait for it!

When I was asked to write about my day as a romance writer, I laughed. One thing I do not do well, is talk about myself. I can talk about my books and the characters living inside of them, but talk about myself . . . well, people will find out how ADHD I am. But I thought what the heck!  I was kind of curious. Sounds crazy, but think about, how often at the end of the day you think, what in the heck have I done all day. So here we go.

I wake and stare at the window and wonder why it’s so bright at five a.m. and then realize it's six and I've been dreaming up scenes for an hour. So I jump out of bed. Wait! Why do people say jump? Did this start when beds were too high off the floor? They did look cool and it would be neat to need a stepstool to get in one. I write a note to have husband raise the bed. When he asks why, I’ll tell him I have a thing for trampolines. *Snort!*

After a fast shower I slap on my makeup. Wait! Why do people say slap on? It's not painful to apply. Well, it's better than without. *Shudder.*

After fighting traffic...Wait! Fighting? Why fighting? I'm not fighting anyone. That's called road rage and can get you killed in Alabama. Car behind me honks. Not the place to daydream or someone will want to fight.

I soon as I arrive at work, I check the company email then sneak in a peek at my personal email accounts. Yep. Two accounts. With four names. They say authors have split personalities. So right.

After working at the day job for a few hours . . . lunchtime! Pull out my lunch bag and do one of two things. Play dominoes with co-workers in the break room or stay at my desk and work on current WIP.Deadline is looming. So of course, I play dominoes.

I return back to my desk, losing at dominoes again. .  I should’ve written on my manuscript. Nose back to the grindstone...Wait! Why nose and grindstone? Ouch! I switch over to Google to check that saying out and somehow find myself on Facebook where someone has posted a new picture of a cowboy with no shirt. I’m on horseback with gorgeous hunk of a man and we’re riding off—

Phone rings and I blink. Crap, where am I?  After I answer the customer’s questions, I check personal emails again. Boss walks by and I flip the screen to company email. *Smile innocently*

Finally, it’s the end of the day and if I’m caught up, I work on manuscript while it's quiet. Hit the door at five . . . Wait! Why hit? If I hit the door, I could break my hand. Why not a more gentle word like lean into the door. Nah! I want out of there fast.

Now I’m in traffic and why is everyone in my way? I've got a great idea for a scene I mustn't forget it. A state trooper eyes me and not in the good way. I take my heavy foot off the pedal.

When I arrive at home, I look at the treadmill and promise to get on it tomorrow. Wait! Why do people say tomorrow never comes? So I change into workout clothes and pull out e-reader for latest book in my virtual TBR pile.

I’m feeling good about myself and go to eat ice cream bar and then two no-bake cookies. Wait! Nothing. Just felt like I needed to type that, though some days I feel like it should be “Squirrel!” My little homage to the Disney/Pixar animated movie, UP. I so can relate.

While cleaning off the makeup I slapped on that morning, I check my email accounts, Facebook, Twitter and make a few comments and send out promos.

Then at 9 p.m., Crap! What was the great idea I had in the car? Oh, well, I'll think of a new one and try to remember to find the recorder that I bought for that very reason.

Time to write. Every 30 minutes: go to the bathroom, refill drink, (vicious cycle) write until 11-12 midnight.

Now time to brush teeth and then go to bed. As I fall asleep with smile on my face, I remember that scene. Surely, I’ll remember it tomorrow. I chuckle.

Before you start commenting, I’ll answer one question that’s probably on your mind. Do I really think about my manuscript and writing all day long?  Yes. It’s an obsession. So now you have a chance to win an e-copy of Circle of Danger for being a commenter.

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ABOUT THE BOOKS

As the top assassin at The Circle, a shadowy group of mercenaries, Olivia St. Vincent can hunt down anyone. She’s been trained since she was a teenager to kill without feeling, to interact with men without love. But when she’s kidnapped by the enigmatic leader of a rival organization, she learns she’s been lied to for years. She never worked for the good guys.
Collin Ryker believes the sultry woman he’s abducted knows more than she’s telling about The Circle and its plans for complete domination. Over time, as they work together, Olivia’s tenacity and vulnerability captivate him. But if he isn’t careful, Collin will fall into the biggest trap of all: caring for a woman who can betray him to his greatest enemy.

Marie Beltane, a lowly data entry specialist for The Circle, resents being treated like a little girl and wants to help by proving she's worthy of being a full-fledged operative. Disobeying Arthur Ryker's orders to stay out of the way, she accepts a simple fact-finding assignment—only to have everything go horribly wrong. Now she's been injected with the drug responsible for the deaths of four local women, a drug that puts her sex drive into overdrive.
Ryker wants nothing more than to keep Marie safe from the world. He's already killed to protect her from one madman, and he may have to do it again. While on a search for an antidote to her mysterious drug, he falls into a trap and must fight a new evil. Now he must become the monster he's always feared to save the woman he's always loved.

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Carla Swafford knows her personal life isn’t as exciting as her characters. She lives in Alabama and is married to her high school sweetheart. A third generation storyteller, she enjoys all kinds of romances and loves writing about the different paths taken to that beautiful happy ending. Circle of Desire and Circle of Danger are available now.

You can find Carla Swafford at

www.carlaswafford.com

www.carlaswafford.blogspot.com

www.romancemagicians.blogspot.com

Also on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest

***

CONTEST

Enter for a chance to win a ebook copy of 

Circle of Danger by Carla Swafford

CONTEST CLOSED!!!!!!

Guest Post and Contest with Zoe Archer!!

I’ve been spending a lot of time this week researching and looking at all kinds of awesome steampunk stuff.  While I was writing SKIES OF FIRE, my first steampunk romance in The Ether Chronicles series, I stayed away from surfing the net in search of steampunk, since I wanted to make certain that the vision I had for the series wasn’t influenced by other people’s ideas.  But now that the book is written and on (virtual) shelves, I’ve been having a great time Oohing and Ahhing over the incredible steampunk clothes, gadgets and images out there.

I started to think, as I did my investigation, what of all the steampunk stuff I found would the hero and heroine of SKIES OF FIRE like?  What might they find useful or be drawn to?

The heroine, Louisa Shaw, is an intelligence operative for the British Navy, so she’d want cool spy gadgets.

This spy ring, for example, would be perfect for her:

She might also like this spyglass necklace:

(BTW, my husband and fellow author Nico Rosso gave me this necklace when I finished writing SKIES OF FIRE.)

Though Louisa is often on dangerous assignments in the field, as she is in SKIES OF FIRE, she’d also want to look pretty for her former flame, Captain Christopher Redmond of Her Majesty’s Aerial Navy.  When dining at the captain’s table, Louisa might wear one of these dresses to catch his eye:

Pretty but tough, just like her.

Now, Christopher’s steampunk needs are different from Louisa’s.  For one thing, he’s a Man O’War, a hybrid between man and machine, which means he’s stronger and faster than an ordinary man, and has heightened senses.  He doesn’t need a spyglass when he can see over a mile away unaided.  He might, however, like this steampunk rifle (here modeled by a lovely young woman):

Perfect for using against enemy Hapsburg snipers in airship-to-airship combat.


In the world of The Ether Chronicles, they don’t have computers, but I’ll bet that Christopher would love to have this steampunk laptop on his airship Demeter.

Makes communicating with naval headquarters that much easier, especially if you’re stuck far behind enemy lines, like Christopher and Louisa are.

Proper outerwear is essential when you’re the captain of an airship.  A coat like this might suit Christopher (though he’d probably wear a longer version):

Even though Louisa broke Christopher’s heart years ago, the attraction between them is impossible to ignore.  Chances are, they’re going to need this:

So, my question to you is: what elements of steampunk style do you enjoy?  

Leave a comment, and I’ll pick a winner to receive a copy of SKIES OF FIRE! (Print copy for US/Canada, PDF for international.) Last day to enter is Sunday, April 8th, 2012!

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Captain Christopher Redmond has just one weakness: the alluring spy who loved and left him years beforewhen he was still just a man. Now he's superhuman—a Man O' War, made as part of the British Navy's weapons program—and his responsibility is to protect the skies of Europe. If only he could forget Louisa Shaw.

A most inconvenient desire

Louisa, a British Naval Intelligence agent, has never left a job undone. But when her assignment is compromised, the one man who can help her complete her mission is also the only man ever to tempt her body and heart. As burning skies loom and passion ignites, Louisa and Christopher must slip behind enemy lines if they are to deliver a devastating strike against their foe . . . and still get out alive.

Excerpt

Buy links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powells, All Romance eBooks, Books-A-Million

Zoë Archer: website, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series and the paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. Zoë and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, live in Los Angeles. Nico’s story in the world of The Ether Chronicles will be available in July 2012. Please visit Zoë on the Web at http://www.zoearcherbooks.com/

(Blog Tour) Guest Post with author Tessa Adams

Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, I have the pleasure of having author Tessa Adams on the blog!! Tessa agreed to share with us her thoughts on the perfect male hero.  What can be better than talking about what we enjoy in the perfect male? So sit back, relax and enjoy the fun!  There might even be a surprise for you at the end! Take it away Tessa!


First off, I want to say how excited I am to be here today.  I love this blog and it’s a thrill to get a chance to guest here.  Plus, when Amy gave me my topic, I knew it was a match made in heaven.  She asked me to write about how I see the perfect male hero and well, let’s just say that’s a topic I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about, LOL ;)  And to sum up my feelings on this topic, I’d have to go with the famous quote from Lady Caroline Lamb in reference to George Gordon Lord Byron.  “Mad, bad and dangerous to know.”  


It’s probably been fifteen or twenty years since I first heard that quote Byron and it still has the power to send shivers up my spine.  But then, anyone who knows me will tell you that I love bad boys.  Dark, twisted, angst-ridden, vaguely psychotic—bring them on.  I love to read about these heroes and love, even more, to write about them. 


But what is it about bad boys that makes them so interesting to read about?  To study? To love? 
 
I once heard a presentation by thriller writer, Jeff Abbott, where he commented that the villain is the hero of his own story.  When I heard that, everything inside of me went aha!  Not because that was such a revelation, but because it got me thinking about my own characters—and the characters I’ve loved for years—the Gothic villain heroes, men who usually skate along the edge of right and wrong, often falling on the wrong side of the line. 


Villains, as Jeff explained, do terrible things, because they believe they are entitled to something.  Or everything, depending on the villain. Very rarely do they go around thinking, I am a terrible person and I deserve to rot.  Instead, they think, I deserve this so I’m going to take it, using any means necessary.  Sound about right? And of course, a hero is also the hero of his own story. 


What is so fascinating, then, about the true bad boy, the gothic villain-hero, is that this is not the case.  A villain-hero is the villain of his own story.  He believes he has done something or is something so terrible, so horrible, so awful that he is irredeemable.  And for much of the story, the reader wonders the exact same thing.  Can this man be redeemed?  Just the other day, in fact, a friend of mine read the synopsis for one of my new novels and  she said to me, “How are you going to do this?  That man is such a bastard that there is no way you can redeem him.  Eighteen months later?  Maybe eighteen years later, I’d be willing to talk to him.  And that’s iffy.”  


Those are your villain-heroes.  Men who live in the shadows because they belong there or think they belong there.  They’re certainly more comfortable there.  And these are the men I love to write about—and the men that lend themselves so well to Paranormal, fantasy and futuristic romance.  Villain-heroes like Anakin Skywalker, Angel, Severus Snape, Batman, Q, Terminator 2, Edward Cullen, Zsadist, Zarek.  Quinn in my new Dragon’s Heat novel, Hidden Embers.  Kona in my first paranormal YA, Tempest Rising. 


These are not your golden gods.  These are the men for whom being good is really, really difficult.  And really, really boring.  This is why so many people confuse them with villains.  Because these men don’t like being good.  And yet one of the many reasons they aren’t villains is because they have a very strong moral compass, a very rigid belief in right and wrong that is often unshakable.  Villains believe they are right—or rationalize that they are because it gets them what they want.  Villain heroes know what’s right and sometimes chose to do it and sometimes don’t, but they are very clear on what is acceptable and what isn’t.

It is this darkness in them that so often draws heroines—and romance readers— to them.  So how about you?  What do you think of the bad boy who revels in being bad?  Do you like to read those stories or do you prefer a different kind of hero? 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tracy Wolff/Tessa Adams/Tracy Deebs collects books, English degrees and lipsticks and has been known to forget where—and sometimes who—she is when immersed in a great novel. At six she wrote her first short story—something with a rainbow and a prince—and at seven she forayed into the wonderful world of girls lit with her first Judy Blume novel. By ten she’d read everything in the young adult and classics sections of her local bookstore, so in desperation her mom started her on romance novels. And from the first page of the first book, Tracy knew she’d found her life-long love.  Her first novel, A Christmas Wedding, appeared on the scene in November of 2008 and since then she has sold twenty-one novels—including Erotic Suspense and Paranormal to New American Library, Contemporary Superromance to Harlequin, and Paranormal Young Adult Romance and Contemporary Young Adult Romance to Walker Books.  Now an English professor at her local community college, Tracy lives in Austin with her husband and three sons.  She was a 2010 Rita nominee.

www.tracywolff.com

www.tracydeebs.com 

Hidden Embers—available April 5, 2011 
Deep in the New Mexico desert there is a secret race on the brink of extinction—the pure-blood shapeshifters of the Dragonstar clan. And they have one last, desperate hope for survival…  


Quinn Maguire is a powerful Dragonstar healer at a tragic loss, unable to cure the insidious disease killing off his people. Yet even in such dire circumstances the conservative Quinn is secretly disapproving of the alternative: Dr. Jasmine Kane, enlisted by the head of the Dragonstar clan to help abort the virus. She is a wild card.  She is an outsider. She is human.  


Decked out in black leather and a tough attitude, Jasmine clashes with Quinn in more ways than one. And when destiny chooses her for his Mate, he doesn't know whether to rejoice or rebel.  Because while Jasmine makes him burn hotter than any woman--dragon or human-- ever has, their differences make a relationship impossible.   
But when a rival infiltrates the clan and attacks Jasmine, Quinn becomes desperate. Jasmine is now the first human to be infected with the disease—and Quinn must do everything he can to find a cure, and save the woman he has grown to love.

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CONTEST CLOSED:

Thanks to author Tessa Adams, I have ONE copy of Dark Embers which is the first book in the series!

Plus, the author even mentioned that there possibly could be some swag thrown in to the package as well!

SUMMARY:

King Dylan MacLeod is one of the last pure-bred dragon shapeshifters in existence—and ruler of a dying race, the Dragonstar clan. It falls to him to protect his people—and their ancient magic. He has one more duty: to provide an heir.

Like all dragons, Dylan can only procreate with his destined mate—for whom he’s searched for five hundred years. His dark, rampant sexual appetite has earned him quite the reputation, all in the pursuit of his one true match.

But his search is delayed when a deadly disease sweeps through the Dragonstars, and Dylan must venture to the human world to find a cure. He tracks down renowned biochemist Phoebe Quillum, never imagining the beautiful scientist will be the mate he’s been seeking for centuries. But no sooner do they meet then Phoebe and Dylan are besieged by an obsessive, overpowering sexual desire.

Their passion turns to something truer—and they know in their souls and bodies that they’re in too deep to get out. And when Phoebe is kidnapped by Dylan’s oldest enemy, he must risk everything to reclaim the only woman he’s ever loved, or his clan will be wiped out forever.

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RULES:

1. This contest is open to the USA only.

2. No need to be a follower, but I would love it if you would!

3. Leave a comment with an email address to contact you with if you win. 

BE SURE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION IN RED ABOVE!

4. Contest will end on 4/2/2011.

 

GOOD LUCK!!!