Monday, January 31, 2011

OLDIES, BUT GOODIES - THE DRAKHORN TABOO II

The Drakhom Taboo II
© Copyright Celia Jade
All Rights Reserved, eXtasy Books

Flame Rating: 4 Flames

Pages: 42
Cover Artist: Martine Jardin
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Contemporary, Vampire, Fantasy Ganmes

Excerpt:

“Do not waste your time with me, Devon. I’m not interested in your propositions—particularly the second.” She stood and gave him a curt smile. “To be honest, you are not my type.” Bianca walked out of the restaurant with as much poise as she could muster under the circumstances. She’d taken only a dozen or so steps when a firm hand grasped her upper arm.

“Bianca, hold on a minute.”

She turned and met his ebony gaze, her heart beating out an erratic pattern. There was no denying the man affected her.

“I didn’t mean to offend you. Look, you’re not my type either…but I want you. At least I can admit it,” he said in a thick voice.

She extricated her arm from his grip. Her blood was rushing through her body like an electric current. Yes, she wanted him, too. One night of unbridled sex would get the emotional build up out of her system. “Really? And what is your type, Devon Slane?” she purred, oblivious to the crowd that parted and walked around them.

A corner of his mouth lifted. “I normally stick to my kind.”

“Ah, the Drakhom kind. I had a feeling. Well…you’ve just confirmed that you really are not my type.”

“Why is that, Bianca? Do you prefer tamer men?”

Oh, he knows how to press my buttons. She smiled and placed her finger on the lapel of his jacket, pleased to hear his breath shift. “You couldn’t handle me,” she said softly. Mischief flickered in his eyes and he chuckled. His fingers caught a lock of her hair and twirled it, sending a frisson through her.

“We are a challenge to each other. You’d like to humble me and I’d like to have my way with you…release your fire. But I intimidate you.”

The velvety timbre of his voice provoked her dangerously. She tilted her head back to meet his gaze directly. “You’re so sure of yourself.”

He grinned. “Take me down a few pegs, Bianca. If you can.”

Her gaze fell to his mouth and she had the urge to erase its smugness with a wicked kiss. She rose on tiptoes and brought her lips within two inches of his. “Damn you, devil,” she murmured before turning around to hail a cab. She heard his low chuckle as she slid into the backseat and forced herself to look ahead.


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Monday, January 24, 2011

OLDIES, BUT GOODIES - THE DRAKHORN TABOO

The Drakhorn Taboo
© Copyright Celia Jade
All Rights Reserved, eXtasy Books

Flame Rating: 4 Flames
Pages: 36
Cover Artist: Martine Jardin
Genre: Paranormal, Vampire, Drakhorn, Romance, Fantasy Games, Fantasy

Excerpt:

Tanton Manning was damned if he let a woman like Kate simply walk out of his life. Within ten minutes of their first meeting, he knew he wanted her as sure as the sun rose in the east. Intelligent and feminine, late twenties or so, with looks any man would die for. Hair as smooth as silk…the kind of dark blonde that would be the color of honey if it were a shade darker. Arresting eyes—twin pools of sea-green and long lashes. A straight, delicate nose and deep pink lips so voluptuous they appeared bee-stung. Her heart-shaped face and perfect skin glowed with health. Although she was no taller than five-six or so, her womanly figure made impact, from her shapely legs and leanly curved hips, to her small waist and generous breasts…more than a handful.

She’d worked in his company for four days and each day he’d gone home physically aroused and frustrated. She had started the fire in his flesh and she’d put it out.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

OLDIES, BUT GOODIES - CAPTURED

Captured
© Copyright Celia Jade
All Rights Reserved, eXtasy Books

ISBN: 978-1-55487-379-1
Pages: 166
Flame Rating: 3 Flames
Cover Artist: Martine Jardin
Release Date: August, 2006
Genre: Historical Romance

Excerpt:

His words shocked her. What a callous rogue he was! She pushed at his chest with her free hand but he didn’t budge. Lord, he was built like a rock! Her heart beat madly and she felt her legs weaken again. “How forward of you! You have no manners--no respect at all!” she finally managed to blurt out.

“Apologize!” he insisted, pulling her close. “Look at me, Miss Marquez,” he ordered, pronouncing her family name with mocking dislike.

She unwillingly looked at him, meeting his furious glare while tears pricked at her eyes. Once again he had managed to frustrate and humiliate her.

Alina regretted her recklessness. She should have known better than to poke at the beast. Or had she goaded him on purpose--hoping to get some sort of passionate reaction from him? She closed her eyes at the thought. Impossible. She wasn’t like that. Didn’t even like the man. She swallowed with difficulty because her throat had gone dry. “I--I apologize for what I said…I just want my family to know I’m alive.”

His expression softened a fraction and his grip slackened. “Yes, well, like I explained from the start, that will happen soon enough. You must learn not to be so stubborn.”

She raised her chin defensively but chose to remain silent.

Ramon stared thoughtfully into her eyes for a moment and then his gaze moved over her tense face, stopping at her mouth which was just as inviting now as it had been last night.

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Monday, January 10, 2011

OLDIES, BUT GOODIES - HER WARRIOR LORD

Her Warrior Lord
© Copyright Celia Jade
All Rights Reserved, eXtasy Books

ISBN: 1-55410-820-9
Pages: 250
Flame Rating: 4 Flames
Cover Artist: Angela Waters
Release Date: December 1, 2007
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Excerpt:

"It seems as if you've lost your way, young lady," said a voice from somewhere.

Kyla gasped and looked nervously about but saw no one. "Who's there?" she called out anxiously.

From behind a thick tree appeared a man with long black hair and an angled face that was strangely charming. Kyla swallowed nervously and took in his long, black coat that covered what seemed like a sinewy frame. He stepped over a thick root with his black boots and came up alongside the horse to peer up at her. She was taken aback by the blackness of his eyes and a mouth that seemed oddly wide. And it grew even wider when he grinned.

"Now how did you come this way?" he asked in a gruff voice.

Kyla was perturbed by his odd look but thankful that at least he was human--well, looked human. She cleared her throat. "I meant to go to Gosforth. Unfortunately we encountered a snake on the way and my horse got spooked and ran straight into this forest," she explained, hoping the man would show her the way out.

He clasped his hands before him. "Snakes. Such nasty creatures, aren't they?" he said in a nonchalant way that made Kyla more wary of him.

"Could you--would you mind showing me the way out of here?" she asked, almost holding her breath for his response.

The man took a step forward and placed a hand on her leg. "Now why would I do that, my dear?" he replied as Kyla gasped and stared into his eyes, which had turned blood-red and her scream caught in her throat before she lost all consciousness.

She came to some minutes later and found herself tied to the trunk of a tree. The man reappeared right before her making her cry out in fear. But he wasn't a man anymore. She stared into the face of a horrible wolf-like creature with red eyes, a rough beard and two protruding fangs on its lower jaw.

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Monday, January 3, 2011

Author spotlight with Annette Shelley

 Hello Annette and welcome.

Tell us, what has been your biggest influence on becoming a writer?
For years, I would have various kinds of jobs, but I would not keep them for more than about three years at a time. I’m the kind of person that once I understand something, I need to move on. Despite my years working for newspapers, magazines, etc., I only began calling myself writer a few years ago. I went to my first Romance Writers of America convention and I couldn’t believe that there were other people like me with multiple interests and I felt more at home there than any place ever. I now write full time and I know this is the one career I will never leave because within the confides of fiction writing, I can live out all my fantasies and be whoever I want for however long I like. It’s the greatest feeling in the world!

I know the readers are curious. How do you categorize yourself: pantser or plotter?
No doubt I am a panster all the way! I write like I read. I get a thrill out of seeing what will happen to the characters so if I know in advance, it spoils all my fun. I made myself attend one plotting session to see how it worked and I still never completed the project I offered to that group. My philosophy is to entertain myself first and then hopefully others will like it, too.

What makes a book great in your eyes?
A great book has characters who we cheer for, tons of intricate mysterious details that all get neatly resolved in the end.

What is the biggest piece of your advice you can give a beginning writer?
Don’t give up! If you have the dream, work on it. You won’t become great overnight. It’s all part of the journey. In college, I had the opportunity to become editor-in-chief of my college newspaper because I was a great businessperson and the paper was in a financial mess. The problem was I couldn’t string more than a few sentences together at a time and I was responsible for writing two editorial columns per week. My staff taught me how to do that on the job, and today, to think the girl of so few words has written over thirty books and novels now is amazing. I worked really hard and still do. I only began writing fiction three years ago and I love it because it is so challenging for me. I’ve had to completely relearn how I was taught to write, but with every project, I believe I’m learning more and growing, and that is what life is about. I love it and I have so appreciated everyone at eXtasy Books! They have the best editors I’ve had the honor to work with so far.

Name one thing readers don’t know about you.
My non-fiction name is Shelley Kaehr (www.shelleykaehr.com) and I am a real-life past-life regression therapist and energy healer. I get a lot of my sci-fi/horror material from my clients and some of the places I’ve lectured in that capacity. One of the best was when I was invited to present at the Roswell International UFO Festival. I rode on the Alien Autopsy float. What a kick! Many of these experiences will be trickling out into my work at some time or another.

What are you working on now?
My next one is a story based on the Hermit card in the Major Arcana of the Tarot for eXtasy Books. I’m writing a vampire, only this guy doesn’t drink blood because he isn’t from Earth! Stay tuned to find out!

Who is your favorite all-time author?
No doubt—Dean Koontz. I think he is a master storyteller who seems to continually work on his craft. A lot of the big names break in and don’t seem to refine themselves anymore. We all have to follow rules to get in, but even Koontz’s later works reflect that he is keeping up with the current trends in fiction writing. Plus as a fan of the macabre and the spooky, I love his stuff!

Are love scenes easy/difficult to write?
You would think as much dating as I’ve done over the years this should be easy for me, but it isn’t. I find it challenging to come up with new ways to describe body parts, etc. I am pleased to say that I no longer wonder what my parents will think when they read it. They’ve read all my books so far and I know they’ve read other racy material so it doesn’t faze them.

Do you write in one genre or several different ones? And why?
I enjoy writing across genres under both pen names and my non-fiction name. I think it’s because I have a sort of ADHD *LOL J* or curiosity about things. When I first decided to write fiction full time,, I wrote everything from Sci-Fi, Western, Romance, Paranormal, etc. to get a feeling for what I enjoy writing. I don’t think you know what you like until you do it. Now I’ve found several characters I really enjoy and who I wouldn’t mind spending more time with in series formats. Among my favorites are my Sci-Fi characters in my forthcoming 2012 series. They’re from Venus and I will be doing a lot more with them over the years. I think of my fiction as an art form so it’s important for me to express my artistic self in the areas I love the most. Life is supposed to be enjoyed and I am doing just that.

How do you deal with the dreaded writer’s block?
Since I decided to do fiction full time, I expect myself to produce material or edit material every day. The fact is, sometimes that doesn’t happen. I’ve come to understand that stories are born, especially for a panster like me. I believe I work on stories in the deep part of my subconscious mind even when I’m doing the dishes or working out at the gym. All things come in their time so I give myself a break and know that as long as I understand what the deadline is, I will get it done. If there are breaks along the way, so be it.

Do you have another career besides writing? What is it?
Yes, I am a hypnotherapist/past-life regression therapist and also write books on the healing properties and lore of gemstones.

If you had the opportunity to say one thing to your readers, what would that be?
Thank you for reading books! I’ve come to believe that fiction allows us all to escape from the real world and enter into unknown places. By doing so, I think it helps us solve our problems, rest, regroup and gain the perspective that all things are possible in our lives, no matter what struggles we may face. None of that would happen without the readers so I thank you so much for supporting the artistic endeavors of writers.

Visit Annette online at www.annetteshelley.com