Perseverance--Another Lesson

I’ve had the privilege of working with four editors since I sold my first erotic romance in 2006. My first editor bought my first four books. During the editing process on book four, I was reassigned to my second editor who contracted my fifth book. Which was then assigned to a third editor who worked us both to ensure the language fit the time period. But that was a one-book, one-time cooperation. Finally I was assigned to an editor who rejected four or five submissions and I almost decided my writing career was done. But my latest editor kept giving me really valuable feedback and I kept revising and resubmitting and revising… Anyway, four sets of revisions later, we reached an accord.

It took fifteen years to sell my first novel; almost a year to sell my sixth. Which proves perseverance—on both the writer and editor’s part—pays off. So hang in, hang out, hang on. Good things happen when you keep trying.

Dee Brice

Gareth is here!!!!!!

Gareth's Gambit comes out today. Naturally I'm like any mother with a new baby. He's such a sweet hunk, so naturally I'm going to blog about him. He's the second in my new series, Songs of the Mages, and the first born son of Damien, the Earl of Sinclair who started the mage series. You can see a nifty trailer of Gareth at www.youtube.com/jswriter7. It's worth watching just for the beautiful music.

And here's an excerpt. A short one, but I hope intriquing. The real sex comes later, this is just a teaser.

She simply couldn’t resist. Never had she thought this man, the one she’d begun by detesting, could prove her wrong about so many things. Actually she was glad to be proven wrong when it concerned the miracle that was Gareth Townsend. She walked over to him and leaning over, kissed him sweetly on the lips.
“Thank you again, my lord Gareth. I’ll go start on my half of your assignment.”
She left a bemused Gareth starting after her, his fingers to his lips as if to keep her kiss there as long as he possibly could.
His thoughts were similar to hers. Never had he so misjudged a person. He wondered once more what her deep prejudice was against magicians of the kind she called charlatans. Maybe when she trusted him enough she’d tell him what her fears were all about. Something mattering to her a great deal, he knew.
Once again the temptation to read her mind flitted across his thoughts, and once again he put it aside.
He sighed. He managed little sleep, and every time this happened his shortened leg pained him more than he cared to admit. Oh well, he’d better go find Katie and take her out of the house for a while. He wondered briefly how Morgana would explain all the blood to her housekeeper. With both Amy’s wrists healed it might be more than puzzling.
Striving not to limp, he headed to find Katie.

Celebrating debut of new cherry with Contest and Excerpt

Celebrating my new menage, HER THREE-WAY MERGER out tomorrow from EC with a contest and a giveaway each day of 1 of my previous works!

To the 18th person to email me today AND tomorrow, I will give away 1 of my previous works!

Winners to be announced on my blog! http://cerisedeland.blogspot.com/

And of course, I will email you, too!

Do come to my blog, see which one you'd like and put that in your email!

Here you can see the cover for HER THREE-WAY MERGER, a story about a woman with a business proposition for the 2 brothers who used to live next door. But when Cord and Tate Ryder have a bigger offer Sienna can't refuse, she has to find a solution to her double problem!

Come on over to my blog TODAY too to get the AFTERNOON DELIGHT recipe for margaritas that Tate Ryder makes for Sienna and his brother Cord in HER THREE-WAY MERGER!

INTRO:
Sexy exec Sienna Galvan never mixes business with pleasure until she calls a meeting with the two hunky football stars who used to be her next door neighbors and her teenage fantasies. But Cord and Tate Ryder take one look at how sweet little Sienna has grown in to an irresistibly luscious lady and they make her an offer she can’t refuse--three-way negotiations on their sofa, their yacht--and their bed. Thrilling to their risqué explorations of her body, she revels in having them both at her command, together and separately. But when they drive a harder bargain than she imagined, she must find a way to do what’s right for her business and what’s best for her heart.
EXCERPT:
She began to jump up, afraid she wasn’t knowledgeable enough to handle two men at once. But she halted. How did a woman do that, anyway? And not die of ecstasy? The girl in her had wanted both of them at once. Did the woman?
Her pussy throbbed and she knew her answer was yes, oh yes, I want you both. Just like I always had. Any way you want me. In a small but determined voice, she laid ground rules for whatever came next. “But you have to know that whatever happens here my offer is the same as my real estate agent’s.”
“Fun first.” Tate inched closer, his tone all business but his gaze lush with desire as he removed her shoes. “Business later.”
Cord put his mouth to her ear and whispered, “We have to taste you.” And in her surprise, she dissolved in his hands as he lowered his demanding mouth on hers and probed her inner recesses with a spearing tongue. “Every inch of you.” He splayed his fingers in her hair, sent a few of her hairpins flying, then claimed her lips again while one hand covered her breast.
“Give me this,” Tate commanded and took her glass. “I want to show you where this margarita really tastes good.” And in a second, she felt his cold kiss on her kneecap while his cool fingers parted her legs and stroked up her thigh. He went a few inches more and threaded his fingers around the crotch of her thong. She bucked, trying hard to hang on to her sanity and not just come right now like a frustrated nun.
“Oh, Christ, bro,” Tate groaned as his knuckles grazed her slit and she moaned at his tantalizing nudge. “She’s sopping wet for us.”
“Open for him, honey,” Cord crooned to her, one hand cupping her head, his other undoing the buttons of her blouse. “Do it and I am going to kiss your pretty mouth again while he gets his fingers all juicy with you.”
She eagerly widened her legs but the damn tight skirt was such a hindrance that she whimpered in frustration. She undulated while Cord slipped his palm into her bra and lifted out a swollen nipple. She arched into his caress. “You both have a reputation. Worse than in high school. Ah, god, that’s great, Cord.”
Cord rolled her nipple between two fingers. “Did you pebble like this for me in high school?”
“Yes, yes! Kiss me there!” she ordered, shocked but proud of her demand.
“Should have told us, baby,” Tate said as he delved beneath her thong and caught a few curls of her bush to gently tug at her heavy lips. “We would have done you.”
She squirmed at how Tate’s pull made her give off a succulent sound and damn, if she didn’t want to hear it again. On a shaky breath, she argued, “No, you would not.” I was your fat little next-door neighbor. “I was your tutor.”
“We could have been yours,” Cord murmured. “I would have loved to initiate you.”
“Oh, Cord.” I’d have given you anything you wanted. (Copyright 2009, Cerise DeLand)
Now don’t you need a bigger taste????

Late but not lost

I have been very neglectful about writing my little essay for the Goddess blog but my life has been too hectic to do anything but deal with the hectic. I sold my home and moved into a small apartment in a beautiful retirement complex. I don' t have to cook if I don't feel like it. Now that's worth dealing with the chaos.

As for my writing. It has been on hold for a year or two as my husband's health declined. I have three finished romance novels waiting for editing before I send them out. They've been languishing on my computer pleading with me to get them up and going. They are 50,000 - 60,000 word stories. I have a long historical awaiting my attention and a new historical begging for attention.

All in all, I have a lot to do when my life settles down and starts running smoothly. My apartment faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca so I look out on the sea. In the distance are the Olympic Mountains in Washington. The sky is gorgeous when the sun is setting. To-day it's cloudy but the mountains are peaking through.

If you enjoy a page turning, romance suspense, have a look at my book, TOO YOUNG TO DIE. It's available from Cerridwen Press as an e-book. Here's the cover. Excerpts of all my books are available on my web site. www.anitabirt.com

I'll be back in my usual Goddess spot on September 30. Promise!

Anita

Shameless Self Promo

This week I'm featuring a different book every day on my blog. I thought it only fitting that I do the same here, today, on the Goddesses of Storytelling! :)
Today is an April release from Ellora's Cave Splashing Good Time. Look for Body Shots Dec 15th and Ignited, an Exokita coming soon.

Blurb:
Reece Collins is growing tired of her Wednesday rituals of masturbating to the sight of the so called “pool boy” and her battery operated friend is leaving her unsatisfied. She craves a no-strings-attached torrid sexual encounter. Problem? The only one offering is ten years her junior.

Nathan Donovan ha s lusted over his client forever. When he happens upon her in a very compromising position, his desires swell, as he plunges head first into the deep end to save her. One brief encounter leaves him yearning for more, but when she splashes cold water on his plans, will he walk away or spank some sense into her?

Excerpt:
“You look hot!” she told her reflection. “Irresistibly hot?” Only time would tell. Strolling over to the window she dared a peak outside. He wasn’t here yet. Would he come? Certainly Steve sounded convincing enough. The fifty dollar bill she planted in his palm was enough encouragement to make an actor out of him. She stood by his side while he made the call. If she hadn’t known better, she would have believed him. She sent him on his way after the call. No need for him to stick around for the fireworks—hopefully of a sexual nature.
The undeniable sound of tires crunching on gravel alerted her Nathan was here. And from the hurried sound of the truck coming to a stop, he wasn’t pleased. Silently she prayed her idea wouldn’t backfire. Hurrying from the room s he descended the stairs, hoping to greet him at the pool.
“What the fuck!” she heard him scream.
Too late. She wasn’t quick enough. Nathan knew and he wasn’t happy. Reese slowly opened the door and walked casually over to the pool where Nathan stood looking at the water, obviously trying to figure out where the emergency was.
Whipping around he demanded, “What s going on here?”
Lost for words Reese stood frozen in her spot. She hadn’t expected such anger. Yes, she tricked him into coming over. Maybe having Steve tell him the pool had turned an ugly color green that he couldn’t get rid of was a bad idea but she believed he’d be happy to see her. Boy was she mistaken.
“I-I-I put Steve up to it,” she confessed. “I didn’t think you would see me any other way.”
“Maybe if you picked up the phone you would have found out.” The disgust in his voice was evident.
He was pissed at her. Her plan was slowly crumbling before her eyes. She couldn’t risk losing him a second time. He couldn’t walk away out of her life. She loved him. God help her she loved him more than any man she’d ever loved in her life.
“Would you have come if I had ?” she challenged.
Looking away he shrugged.
“Then I was right to do what I did. I needed to see you, Nathan. You’ve been avoiding me. I’ve missed you.”
She watched him looking at the water. Was he searching for answers? Maybe there was hope for them after all.
Closing the gap between them, she touched his hand. “Please Nathan, look at me.”
He did as she asked and immediately her heart sank. Pain, deep pain, filled his eyes. Gone was the sparkle she loved so much, replaced with pain that cut to the core. Pain caused by her foolishness.
Touching his face she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“What’s done is done.” He tried pulling free but she refused to let him walk away.
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“I’m fine.”
“I wasn’t trying to compare you to Vince. It may have sounded that way at the time and I’m sorry. I love you for who you are, not because you’ve proven him wrong. It doesn’t matter to me what Vince thinks, or anyone else for that matter. The only thing that matters is what’s in here,” sh e said pointing to her heart. “And here.”She placed her hand over his heart.
She felt his heart beating rapidly through his tight black t-shirt. He covered her hand with his.
“Do you honestly believe you’ll be okay with what others think about us? Because as you’ve pointed out before I’m much younger than you.”

You can purchase a copy for less than $3 at http://www.jasminejade.com/

Until next month!

P.S. The winners of last months contest who still haven't claimed their prize are: Jean Hart Stewart and Mia Watts. If you'd like a copy of one of my releases hop over to http://amberskyze.blogspot.com/ and pick a title. Contact me at amberskyze@aol.com with your choice and I'll send you the copy!

Mercury in Retrograde!

Should I sign anything???

My sister called me the other day and asked, "Should I sign a contract? Should I get legal services? A friend just told me Mercury is in retrograde! What does that mean???"

I said, "I don't know what the hell it means, I don't even know if I believe this stuff. The only thing I know is that the last time someone told me Mercury was in retrograde, my life went to shit for thirty days...so whatever you do, don't sign anything until it's un-retrograde!"

I had my horoscope done once by a professional and yeah, it was amazingly accurate as far as predicting, not only my personality, but certain major life events, however, I don't read my horoscope. Just not into it. Yeah, I'm an Aries and I have an Aries (red-headed) temperament and I'm pushy and determined and impulsive and fiery and way bossy. But...can someone please explain what on earth it means when Mercury is in retrograde? I assume it means Mercury is spinning backwards and since Mercury is the God of messages, all messages get delivered in a big, incoherent jumble.

Open to suggestions readers...

Lost and Found

Lost - me that is. I was away on a short cruise and came home just in time to pack up and move to my new little apartment. I am living with a pile of boxes awaiting to be opened and put away. Downsizing from a large house to a small apartment has been and still is a challenge. Forgive me for neglecting my Goddess duties. Life got in the way!

In the meantime. When my friend, Soveig Mclarent were on the short cruise we planned a murder mystery on a cruise ship. Very interesting. How do you get rid of a body? I asked the captain of our ship for assistance. I asked. "What do you do when a passenger goes missing?" He was terrific. Explained in detail what is done and when they have to call in the FBI or the RCMP, depending in which jurisdiction the ship is when the passenger disappears.

We took pictures of where and how we'd dump the body. Very interesting. Watch for further developments. We are planning a series. When I have my head together and have time to sit down and write I will clue you in.

In the meantime, check my web site, www.anitabirt.com for information about my five books published by Cerridwen Press. My historical romance, A Very Difficult Man, is available in trade paperback.

Anita