All in a Day’s Work
I was meeting with my critique group last week, and I wanted some help with an incident in the plot of my next Berkley book. But first I needed to fill them in on the story.
I started off by explaining that my hero is a shape-shifting man/dragon. They more or less took that in stride. Then I told them his main food is blood.
“Let me get this straight,” one of my friends said. “He’s a shape-shifting vampire dragon?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t that a little much?”
“I don’t think so, and I already established his background in DRAGON MOON. So I can’t change it.”
I went on with the plot. “The heroine gets wounded. And his blood has healing powers. So he cuts himself and smears some of his blood on her cut.”
“Okay–so he’s a shape-shifting vampire dragon who is also a natural healer?” the same person asks.
“Um, I guess that’s right. I wasn’t thinking about it quite that way. I was just plotting the book and thought that cutting himself to heal her would make a nice scene. Then I thought–and hey, his blood also has aphrodisiac properties. So after he heals her, they are both really turned on, and they make love. That will also be a really good scene.”
By this time, questioner is taking notes. “So he’s a shape-shifting vampire dragon healer incubus?”
“No! He’s not an incubus. His blood just has aphrodisiac powers.”
“Anything else we should know about him?”
“Yeah, he’s not from earth. He’s a space alien.”
“Does he have to be a space alien?”
“Yes. I already explained, it’s established in DRAGON MOON.”
The original questioner asks, “Can I read DRAGON MOON?”
“No. I just turned it in to Berkley.”
“Okay, let me know as soon as it’s available.”
“I will.”
At that point, someone else says, “Rebecca, I’d like to be inside your mind for fifteen minutes.”
I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or a complaint. Do my fantasies seem weird to you? Or am I just your normal paranormal romantic suspense author?
Rebecca
Rebecca York (aka Ruth Glick) ** http://www.rebeccayork.com
ETERNAL MOON, Berkley Sensation, 4/09
MORE THAN A MAN, Harlequin Intrigue, 8/09
MAMMOTH BOOK OF VAMPIRE ROMANCE, Running Press, 8/08
Destiny of the Wolf by Terry Spear
By Teresa D’Amario
All she wants is the truth…
Lelandi Wildhaven is determined to discover the truth about her beloved sister’s mysterious death. But everyone thinks she’s out to make a bid for her sister’s widowed mate…
He’s a pack leader tormented by memories…
Darien Silver blames himself for his mate’s death. When her twin arrives in his town, he finds himself
bewitched, and when someone attempts to silence her, he realizes that protecting the beautiful stranger
might be the only way to protect his pack…
and himself…
I read Terry’s book on a plane from NM to NC, with a three hour layover. Obviously I had plenty of time to enjoy this awesome read. Those three hours sped by, which was much to my husband’s dismay, because I didn’t talk to him much.
I’ve hesitated to read Terry’s books, not becuase I didn’t think they would be great, but because reviews show some similar factors between her books and mine, and I was afraid it would “rub off” too much. While Terry’s world building is different than mine, it’s obvious both she and I have one thing in common – we both know our wolves. A MUST KNOW part of writing wolf shapeshifting stories. Kudos on your research Terry! It shows!
Now, on to the story. Darien is an awesome alpha – a male who doesn’t need to do more than offer a look to have his every command obeyed. That is, until he meets his dead mate’s twin sister. From the instant she arrives, disgusised with hair dye and dark glasses, she takes HIS table at the local bar, refusing to obey his every command. The sparks fly from the first glance to the last, keeping the reader entranced in this highly intense, dangerous game of “who dunnit.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this awesome read, and if you like shifters, wolves, or just love a good mystery, this is the book for you. 🙂 Kudos Terry! (oh wait, I already said that).
Oh, and not only do we have two books with the name Teresa in it (And uhm, we know what happened to HER in both books… oops) we also have a Larissa! How funny is that? Betcha can’t wait to see who she is, and what happens to her in Terry Spear’s Destiny of the Wolf.
Deeper Themes in Stories?
Why Semi-Immortal?
I’ve talked about this before, but there’s a deeper issue I don’t believe I touched on, probably because I didn’t realize there was one.
But while I was doing an interview for the Climbing Rose for my psychic teen release, Deidre’s Secret, I realized that most of my teen works deal with bullying. Deeper down, I’ve had issues with bullying, both in my life and in my children’s. Please drop by and say hi! Have you ever been bullied? Or has someone that you cared about had to put up with bullying? I also discuss RPGs. If you love to play them, tell me which ones and what characters you like to play!
http://twrpclimbingrose.blogspot.com/2009/02/revealing-secrets.html
But back to the topic…just like with our characters who have deeper issues in our stories, authors oftentimes have deeper issues that they deal with that make the story real.
So why do I love semi-immortal characters? Maybe because I don’t like to see the ones I love die. Maybe because I want them to live on and on, healthy and happy, seeing all the new things the world has to offer while they live their longer lives. I’ve been trying to schedule blog posts, but my mother has been so sick, I haven’t had time to do them. And even today, my day off from work, I’m running her down to another hospital for more tests so I wanted to post this before I have to run.
So I truly am an advocate for semi-immortal lives. But we’ll use all the prayers we can get in the meantime.
I don’t advocate immortal status. No fun in living forever. Everything has to come to an end sometime. After a while, you’ve been everywhere, done everything, time to move on.
But it would be nice to tack on another hundred years of healthy living, don’t you think?
Why else do people look for the fountain of youth? The miracle facelifts to roll back the time? The freezing into stasis so they can be revived at a later date when technology has caught up with whatever that ails them and live some more?
Why not be semi-immortal werewolves?
Why can only vampires live longer lives?
I actually had a comment from one reader that asked what was up with the longevity of my werewolves. My world, my longevity. He wants to write about werewolves, he can make them live the short lives of wolves. If I wrote like that, my werewolves would barely have had time to live.
So nah. I’m sticking with semi-immortal beings. Long may they live!!!!
If anyone will be in Shreveport at the conference, March 6-7, I’ll be presenting Happy Hookers, so drop by and see me! J
And my question for the day~~have you noticed a theme in authors’ works, or your own if you’re a writer?
Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday! And please send your prayers for my mother! Thanks!
Terry Spear
Destiny of the Wolf (Available Now!), Heart of the Wolf, The Vampire…In My Dreams, To Tempt the Wolf (Sept), Deadly Liaisons (Mar 31), Deidre’s Secret (Mar 4)
http://www.myspace.com/terryspear
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=698072929&v=feed&story_fbid=130532720386
The Nameksake Contest
By Teresa D’Amario
Hi all, sorry it took me so long to post this – I was on a plane instead of being where I wanted to be on Monday, and was brainlessly exhausted yesterday.
So, for the Namesake contest, of what happens to Teresa in Pleasure Unbound and Kiss of Fate, our winner is Lillie Applegaerth. Congrats Lillie! Email me again at desertpetiri@aol.com with your address for your free copy of Tigress by the Tail!
DESIRE UNCHAINED RELEASES TODAY!!!!
Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . . .
Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn’t resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed. Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy.
A Seminus demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal torment, Shade hoped he’d seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm. But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever. As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts—or succumb to a madman’s evil plans.
YAY!!!! This is book 2 in the Demonica series, and though it can stand alone, there are a lot of characters and a complex mythology that will probably be more enjoyable if read after the first book, Pleasure Unbound. The third book, Passion Unleashed, will release back to back with this one, on March 31st.
So I’m happy to announce that starting today, Desire Unchained is available at all book stores, Wal-Mart, Target, and at online retailers. Hope you enjoy!!!
Twilight
Let me preface this by saying, I picked up the book, read the first dozen pages or so, and dropped it on the floor. That was about a year ago. For that reason, I never bothered to see the movie until now. Well, that and the fact that it hit my $1.50 movie theater.
After seeing Twilight the movie, I think I’ll dig out my copy again. However, I’ll be skimming everything that happened before Bella confronted Edward in the woods. With that being said, I felt it best to break up this review to give you my honest opinion, which is probably worth about $0.015 in your book. 😉
Pre-Vampire Reveal (D+)
This first half bothered the heck out of me. If Edward had stared me (or my sixteen-year-old niece) down like that, I would’ve been like, “What the hell are you looking at?” I could be wrong or maybe it’s because I grew up in a school where it was eat or be eaten or mind your business. But then again, I grew up in upstate NY and not the Northwest. What do I know about teenage life out there? Perhaps kids like Bella aren’t as direct in the little town of Forks, Washington. So, I’ll be nice and chalk this flub up to regional/cultural differences.
Still, Edward freaked me out. I find nothing intriguing or lovable about a guy who stalks his love interest, but then, he turns around and says stupid stuff like “If you’re smart, you wouldn’t be following me around.” What the f***?! Jackass, you’re the one who’s following her! Did you get hit with the stupid stick? Can we say walking contradiction? For those of you who read the book, please fill me in on what the heck he was thinking when he came up that line.
When Bella sees her friend from childhood, Jacob, and says, “Are you stalking me?” I gagged on my popcorn. Bella wouldn’t know a stalker if he floated outside her window every time she opened the curtains. But then again, maybe teenage girls are into that stuff and think it’s sexy. *shrug*
There was another TSTL moment (dark alley, alone at night), but I think I’ve said enough about the first half of the movie. As you can see, I didn’t like it. Bella’s father was the only bright, steady light throughout the movie, which is why I’m not giving it an F. Not because he was an adult, but because he kept it real. In a way, he made it easy for those who interacted with him to keep it real, too.
Until now, I hadn’t bought in to the love between Edward and Bella. IMHO, Bella looked at Edward like he was a novelty item. In turn, Edward saw her as a chew toy (no pun intended). He’d play with her a bit, then grunt and walk off with an attitude, leaving her forgotten. I don’t call that romance. I call that teenage hormones. After almost 100 years, I thought Edward should’ve had a handle on that by now. Or are those frozen in time just like the rest of him? Not to mention, he and Bella seemed to have fallen in love in one afternoon. Is this realistically possible?
Also, vampires without fangs? Did I miss something?
Post-Vampire Reveal (A-)
Things picked up and a huge way. We got to hang out with Bella and Edward without the drama. And yes, to me, Edward came off as a drama queen in that first half. Bella seemed so mixed up and confused at times that I wondered how she even functioned in everyday life. For some reason, I felt like the actors’ emotions were forced as much as their lines. By the time we get to this point, everyone seems to have relaxed into their character and are able to let things flow naturally, especially Bella and Edward.
I LOVE the Cullen family! The baseball game scene got a huge thumbs-up and called out to the tomboy in me. 😀 I thought it was great that the Cullens pitched in to protect Bella because they considered her part of them. Who wouldn’t want a cool bunch of relatives like that? 😉 I thought it was both cute and hilarious they were making lunch for her with large pieces of pork frying in a pan without knowing the kid was a vegetarian.
Also, I thought it was very noble for Edward to tell Bella he wanted to “officially” meet her father. Given the small town, I thought they would’ve known each other before then. But hey. He’s an old kid. Maybe they did things like that back in the day.
I hated what Bella did and said to her dad, but I understood why. Although, had I been James, the bad guy, I still would’ve went after her father because he’s still her flesh and blood. Just because you tell off a family member, that doesn’t always mean you cut ties with them. Blood is thicker than water, so the kill–or threat of–would’ve been worth it. But then again, Dad wasn’t James’s primary target. Bella was.
Also, I got a much better sense of Bella and Edward’s love for each other. With her life was in danger, seeing Edward struggle with leaving her in his brother and sister’s hands was thoroughly refreshing. It was also nice to see him struggle to get her seat-belted into the car to get her to safety. Those were points where I really started to buy into their romance.
Edward redeemed himself big-time with me when refused to bite Bella. He loved her enough that he wanted her to enjoy her teenage life more than he enjoyed his. After all, he was sort of dying when he was seventeen. That has major suckage written all over it. Not every story has to end on a good note with a bite to the throat to solidify a relationship.
Side note: AWESOME soundtrack!
So there you have it. My review of Twilight. My friend, Kathy Calarco is in the middle of taking a Fiction to Film class and she clued me into something I had completely forgotten about the two entertainment industries. She said so much money is shoveled into a movie that the writers can’t afford to have the story appeal to just the fans of the book. They have to appeal to everyone. As a non-reader of the book, the last half of the movie appealed to me so much that I’ll be dusting off my copy of the Twilight…assuming I can find it. And since a second movie is in the works, I’m planning to see it, though I can’t promise it won’t be at the discount theater. At $6.50 for a matinee showing, nomovie is worth that. 😆
What did you think of the movie? What about the book? What about the hype?
~Marcia Colette
Shift-appeal, sex-appeal-Why do we love hunky beasts?
The idea of being more than mere mortal has been with man since the beginning of recorded history. Our fascination with the paranormal has its seeds in the ancient tales of gods and goddesses and superbeings and is woven again and again into the fabric of our culture through story. So what draws man to the idea of being more? Sometimes I think part of the allure is an excuse to give reason to evil behavioror an excuse to give free reign to all aspects of a base nature. Because, after all, it isn’t the man killing, it is the beast within the man doing the dirty deed. No one likes to think or admit that man can and is capable of such atrocities. And is the beast is driving the needs beyond a man’s control, then the man is blameless for the deeds. But mostly, and especially in paranormal romance, I think the draw to being more than our mortal-selves stems from the desire to transcend our own skin and fallible nature in order to accomplish a goal greater than our humanity will permit.
Enter our shapeshifting hunky heroes with unforgettable sex-appeal.
A being that is part beast must have more strength of body and more heroic determination in his soul to overcome not only human nature, but also animal nature to battle evil and attain love. And how much more gentleness is required for so great a being to so loving a partner? The shapeshifting hero makes the perfect tortured soul to grip a reader’s heart and take that reader on a journey into the realm of miracles and change. He gives hope that no matter how bad things seem, that no matter how dire circumstances are, evil will be defeated and good things will come.
At least, I find those elements at the heart of all of my Shadowmen Shapeshifter stories and most of the other paranormal romances I read. When you boil away all of those entertaining and enjoyable aspects of romance what is left of the story, but the universal quest to see good triumph over evil, to see love bring salvation and fill all hearts to overflowing, to know that no matter what may come everything will eventually be good. I invite you to check out my Shadowmen, shapeshifting warriors from the spirit world who battle against the darkness in the world and within their own beings. Touch a Dark Wolf and Lure of the Wolf are on the shelves. So check them out and be ready for the next to explosive books in the series —Kiss of Darkness coming March 31, and Bride of the Wolf out April 28th. And tell all of your friends to make a shapeshifter sensation in the publishing market be reading and demanding more stories about hunky beasts!!
What about you readers and writers out there when you boil things down to the nitty-gritty, why do you love shape-shifting, sexy, beasts?
happy reading
jennifer st giles
February Shapeshifter round up…
by Lori Devoti
I sat down with my RT magazine and searched for February shapeshifter releases. If I missed any, make sure and add them to the comments. And if you are particularly looking forward to any this month, let us know that too. We all like a good recommendation. This is for February; I’ll post March in a couple of weeks. I got behind this month..sorry…
(WARNING NOTE on links…some of these take you to the Kindle editions. Make sure you know what you are ordering if you are inclined to buy them through these links. 🙂 )
Science Fiction
Madman’s Dance 
Shadow Queen by Christine McKay. Another Top Pick! DRAGONS.
Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy
Kiss of Fate (Dragonfire, Book 3)
Coyote’s Mate (Coyote Breeds, Book 2)
Night’s Pleasure
Would-Be Witch
Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand (Kitty Norville, Book 5)
Bone Crossed (Mercy Thompson, Book 4)
Mortal Sins
Men of the Otherworld
Pride
Wow! There are some great ones this month. What did I miss? Which ones are you looking forward to or have you already read some of these and can give us a quick rec? Let’s hear from you!
I’ll post March releases in a few weeks….
Review: Kiss of Fate by Deborah Cooke
Haunted by dreams of a lover who takes the form of a mythical dragon, Eileen Grosvenor searches for the truth. She never expects to find a real dragon shape shifter, let alone one who who awakens her passion and ignites memories of her own forgotten past.
Erik Sorensson is focused on leading the Pyr to triumph against the Slayers at all costs, even the sacrifice of his own life. When an ancient relic that can turn the tide of the battle reveals itself again, Erik knows he has to retrieve it from Eileen’s possession. But he’s shocked by an incredible firestorm when he tries to claim the relic — a firestorm that forces him to confront the truth about Eileen’s identity. Her presence touches him in unexpected ways, reminding him of mistakes he’s determined to not make again, and Erik is forced to make a choice…duty or love.
Only by unlocking the secrets of the past can Erik and Eileen fulfill the final prophecy of the Pyr – but can they face their deepest fears and claim their destined love in time to defeat the Slayers?
I read Deborah’s first book with a little skepticism. Dragons? How on earth can dragons be sexy? Prior to this I’d not read any real dragon shifters before. Books with dragons, yes, but 
not where they shifted to human form. Yet within the pages of Deborah’s books, the impossible becomes real. You can smell the sulphur, feel the beat of their wings, and burn with the sensuality of their love.
So Friday I got my copy of Kiss of Fate, the newest installment of the Dragonfire Series. What an awesome book this was. Original and exciting, this book drags you across the ocean and back again, from one continent to another. The richness of the prose in London is so clear you can almost smell the city streets, visualize the buildings and feel the wood beneath your feet on the historic bridges above the rushing water. The same can be said once you reach back across the waters into America, the contrasts in the two cultures noticeable to one who has seen both.
But more than scenery, is the intensity and danger within these pages. For me, I love a good romance that makes your heart beat in fear, terrified something horrible will go wrong. And 
when it does, feeling the pain, the fear, and even crying a tear. But also cheering when something goes right, when history doesn’t repeat itself, when our Hero and Heroine manage to do the impossible.
Deborah has done that and more. I found myself turning page after page, determined to make it to the end in time to bring you this review today, rather than waiting till I come back from today’s scheduled trip (I’m off to never never land, errrr, New Mexico). Erik and Eileen prove that love has no bounds, through time, space and distance. Wrongs can be righted and pain can be soothed.
If you love a good romance, filled with good hot sexual tension that literally sparks of the page, mixed in with danger and intrigue, this is the book for you. Two thumbs up!!! Great job as usual, Deborah!
Now, I have a contest for you. One which is just a little different than most of ours. And, the contest has a story of sorts.
Deborah Cooke and Larissa Ione both have books with one thing in common. They both use MY name in their books. I would like to say I was the reason they used the name, but after reading about my namesakes, that idea gives me shivers. The Scary king. But, just for grins, we’ll say it’s my namesake in each of these books, and I inspired each to such greatness (just kidding!)
So the contest is this:
Send an email with your name to desertpetiri@aol.com,. When you send me your entry, tell me what happens to Teresa (my namesake) in both Kiss of Fate by Deborah Cooke, and Larrissa Ione’s Pleasure Unbound.
We have to do this in email because I certainly don’t want to ruin anyone’s enjoyment of the books in question.
One lucky winner will receive a print copy of Tigress by the Tail. (No sense in me giving you their books, because to win, you have to have already read them!)
And due to the nature of the contest (Having to read two books) I’m going to give you TWO FULL WEEKS to send me your answer! So on Monday, February 23rd I will chose one lucky winner to receive Tigress by the Tail.
Happy reading, if you haven’t read them already!
Amazon Ink cover is here…
Meet Mel: Business owner. Dedicated mom. Natural-born Amazon.
It’s been ten years since Melanippe Saka left the Amazon tribe in order to create a normal life for her daughter, Harmony. True, running a tattoo parlor in Madison, Wisconsin while living with your Amazon warrior mother and priestess grandmother is not everyone’s idea of normal, but Mel thinks she’s succeeded at blending in as human.
Turns out she’s wrong. Someone knows all about her, someone who’s targeting young Amazon girls, and no way is Mel is going to let Harmony become tangled in this deadly web. With her mother love in overdrive, Ms. Melanippe Saka is quite a force . . . even when she’s facing a barrage of distractions—including a persistent detective whose interest in Mel goes beyond professional, a sexy tattoo artist with secrets of his own, and a seriously angry Amazon queen who views her as a prime suspect. To find answers, Mel will have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: embrace her powers and admit that you can take the girl out of the tribe . . . but you can’t take the tribe out of the girl.
Order: From Barnes & Noble
From Powell’s
From Amazon
p.s. This is the “secret/somewhat spoiler” of a shape-shifter book. Shhhh….
Shapeshifter Romance 