Aphrodisia Authors :: Blog

Hi all! Deanna Lee is letting me fill in for her today. I’m Shelli Stevens and as of Monday, a brand new Aphrodisia author! I am totally excited to be among such fantastic friends and fellow writers.

Though working with a New York publisher will be new to me, being published isn’t. I’ve written many books for two epublisher, from sexy contemporaries to scorching futuristics. My upcoming books with Aphrodisia are going to be scorching futuristics.

You know, I can confess to not being the biggest sci-fi/futuristic fan, but shows like Firefly (Serenity the movie) certainly caught my interest. Or was it just that really, really sexy captain on Firefly. Yummy. Intrigued by this genre and watching and reading more of it, I decided to write a book in a futuristic setting. And while it’s set in the future, I’ve been told it still has a bit of a contemporary flare.

So one of my favorite premises in a book is Capture/Abduction. I love them! Love them, love them, love them. They may not be politically correct, but they are so delicious and the perfect breeding ground for conflict and good hot lovin’. And that’s exactly what you’ll find in my book. Publishers Marketplace summed up my book as:

On a planet where females are on the endangered species list, a woman who has spent her life in erotic servitude to the three wealthy and powerful men who own her finds freedom and passion in the arms of her abductor, a man who should be her fiercest enemy.

Capture isn’t my only favorite premise. I also love the friends to lovers, premise. Life in danger, needs protection, premise. There are just so many great premises out there, and honestly, I love reading them in any genre or time period. Historical, futuristic, paranormal, contemporary. The theme is timeless.

So what are some of your favorite premises in a book? Share, share, share! I’ll draw a name later and the winner will receive a copy of one of my ebooks off my backlist!

In the mean time, if you want to know more about me (Shelli!) feel free to drop by my website at http://www.shellistevens.com.

Exposing Casey will be my fourth book with the Aphrodisia line and I recently agreed to a 2 book deal that will bring my total of books with Kensington to SIX!

Exposing Casey is a two novella collection about two women and how they deal with exposure, sex, and love. It also marks the end of the “gallery trilogy” that began with Undressing Mercy and continued with Barenaked Jane.

All three books center on the lives of women and the men that change them– for better and worse. What I really enjoyed about writing this series was discovering the strength and individuality in each woman that I put to paper.

Mercy was soft but strong– determined to overcome a tragic past and very ambitious about her career. She needed a man who could lead the way with gentle strength and make her feel safe. I believe that Shamus Montgomery filled that role very well.

Jane was a woman smacked down by circumstances beyond her control and her life had become about taking that control and the cost of it mattered little to her. In Mathias Montogomery she found a man she never could have planned for and a love she’d grown to never expect.

In Exposing Casey– Casey in the novella “Watching Casey” is a woman who is ready for love and committment but she has a man in her life who wants no part of it … with her. She makes the brave step to move on without him and despite her misgivings about a new relationship finds the lure of her sexy new neighbor more than she can resist.

The final novella in Exposing Casey is “Seducing Lisa” and it tells the story of Lisa Millhouse, a woman I introduced in Undressing Mercy. Writing Lisa’s story wasn’t easy. Since her divorce from an abusive husband she’s done everything she could to push others away… including James Brooks. James is a man who’s always gotten what he’s wanted and he’s very tired of waiting on Lisa… the result is a seduction and a hard passion that neither one of them expected.

I hope my readers enjoy Exposing Casey and that it proves to be a satisfying end to the series.

My next book for Aphrodisia is currently called “The Games Girls Play” and is a 3 novella collection.

Happy Reading,
Deanna Lee

Well, a new year always comes with changes and new challenges! I pride myself on being able to take change as it comes and move on quickly with new ideas as quickly as possible.

2008 promises to be a great year for me and I’m seriously excited to get started. I have two books coming out with Aphrodisia this year:

Sexy Beast IV, March 2008
Pre-order on Amazon: Sexy Beast IV –Ship Date February 26th

My novella in Sexy Beast IV is called “Abundance“:

Kayla Michaels, daughter of General Augusta Michaels, is bound for an arranged marriage on Fourth Colony when the ship carrying her is attacked and her stasis pod is ejected during the melee.She awakens on a small jungle moon aptly called Abundance. It is uncolonized and had been deemed uninhabitable by New Earth long before she was ever born. With her pod damaged beyond repair and the locator beacon offline, she realizes that she is on her own. The relief of escaping the arranged union is dampened only by her somewhat dire circumstances.

Jude Aroca is the son of a human scientist and the leader of the native population of the Yaw on Abundance. The arrival of a human female on his world is a violation of the peace treaty New Earth signed nearly thirty-five years before. The humans promised to leave the small jungle moon alone in exchange for technology. Now there is a woman tearing around in the night only feet from his dwelling… and she’s wrecking havoc with all of his senses. No woman—none among his own kind—had ever smelled so perfect, so right. The beast he carries inside of him, a gift from his cat-shifter father, agrees.

Exposing Casey, April 2008
Pre-order on Amazon: Exposing Casey –Ship Date March 25th

This novel is actually a two novella collection:

Exposing Casey

Casey Andrews loves sex… but she wants to be loved as well. Of course, being blessed (or cursed?) with abody that renders men speechless isn’t exactly conducive to post-coital cuddling, much less the possibility of commitment to anything except… more sex. Then Shawn Tranner comes into her life at the moment when she needed someone most. The perfect gentlemen and the perfect lover, Shawn could be the man of Casey’s dreams. But with someone bent on turning her dreams into nightmares, trusting the wrong person could be the last thing Casey ever does…

Seducing Lisa

Lisa Millhouse has run from James Brooks for more years than she can remember. He’s everything she thinks she doesn’t want…. filthy rich. When he sets out to prove to her that he’s everything she needs… she’ll find herself in the middle of a seduction so consuming that nothing but his touch will matter.

* * * * * *

In my spare time, I updated my website with a new design :-). I’m really liking this one a great deal. It’s sexy and reflects the passionate feel of all of my work.

http://www.deannaleebooks.com/

My new paranormal suspense is moving along very nicely and I’m pleased with the progress that I’ve made on this new character. Developing a character and “world” with series potential is pretty hard stuff these days on my limited schedule.

Happy Reading,
Deanna Lee
deanna@deannaleebooks.com

Recently I received a note from a reader who let me know that Sexy Beast IV and Exposing Casey are now available on Amazon for pre-order. How exciting is that? As I prepare for my third and forth releases from Kensington I’m reminded of how this all began and how very thankful I am for my agent, Jessica Faust, and my editor at Kensington- Audrey.

I’ve a full plate next year and I’m really looking forward to digging right into it!

Sexy Beast IV
Ship Date February 26th

Exposing Casey
Ship Date March 25th

Next year I have contemporary and suspense projects planned and I’m so very lucky that i have a supportive husband who not only “gets” my dream but gives me room to pursue it. I’ll have been a full time writer as of March 08 for one whole year. I never thought I’d be able to pull it off, honestly, and certainly wouldn’t have without him.

Happy Holidays!!
Deanna Lee

Coming April 2008

Exposing Casey

Casey Andrews loves sex… but she wants to be loved as well. Of course, being blessed (or cursed?) with abody that renders men speechless isn’t exactly conducive to post-coital cuddling, much less the possibility of commitment to anything except… more sex. Then Shawn Tranner comes into her life at the moment when she needed someone most. The perfect gentlemen and the perfect lover, Shawn could be the man of Casey’s dreams. But with someone bent on turning her dreams into nightmares, trusting the wrong person could be the last thing Casey ever does…

Seducing Lisa

Lisa Millhouse has run from James Brooks for more years than she can remember. He’s everything she thinks she doesn’t want…. filthy rich. When he sets out to prove to her that he’s everything she needs… she’ll find herself in the middle of a seduction so consuming that nothing but his touch will matter.

So the cover for Sexy Beast IV came in the mail with my edits last week!

My novella in Sexy Beast IV is set in the distant future far from Earth… and is currently titled “Abundance”.

Kayla Michaels, daughter of General Augusta Michaels, is bound for an arranged marriage on Fourth Colony when the ship carrying her is attacked and her stasis pod is ejected during the melee.

She awakens on a small jungle moon aptly called Abundance. It is uncolonized and had been deemed uninhabitable by New Earth long before she was ever born. With her pod damaged beyond repair and the locator beacon offline, she realizes that she is on her own. The relief of escaping the arranged union is dampened only by her somewhat dire circumstances.

Jude Aroca is the son of a human scientist and the leader of the native population of the Yaw on Abundance. The arrival of a human female on his world is a violation of the peace treaty New Earth signed nearly thirty-five years before. The humans promised to leave the small jungle moon alone in exchange for technology.

Now there is a woman in his jungle… and she’s wrecking havoc with all of his senses. No woman—none among his own kind—had ever smelled so perfect, so right. The beast he carries inside of him, a gift from his cat-shifter father, agrees.

__________________

I’m really excited to be apart of this anthology with Kate and Dawn. I snagged the cover from the model’s Myspace page. Thanks to Crystal Jordan for spotting it!

All the best,
Deanna Lee
deanna@deannalebooks.com
www.deannaleebooks.com

Good afternoon all!

Yesterday I totally had a plan about what I would blog about, today not so much. It’s interesting how yesterday’s great idea is today’s “blah”. I have plenty of great things to blog about…

My life is full. I have my writing, my publishing company (which wouldn’t be nearly as much fun and rewarding without my business partner, Sable Grey), a very supportive husband, an arrogant (and yes spoiled) dog, and we’re currently planning and certainly putting forth our best effort in the reproductive process.

I published for the first time in 2004 and that filled a hole in me that I hadn’t realized was there. It’s interesting how you can send your whole life writing (since I was 12) and not fully grasp how important validation is until you’re sitting on top of it. Validation comes in spades these days. I’ve got 2 releases upcoming with Kensington (the third in my gallery trilogy- currently titled EXPOSED and a novella in the very popular anthology series SEXY BEAST). BARENAKED JANE came out at the end of April and the response has been absolutely wonderful!

“The sex simply sizzles and it proves how in tune they are with each other both physically and emotionally. Barenaked Jane proves to be a very entertaining novel that delivers in all aspects, the interesting plot, the engaging characters, good pacing, realistic dialogue and Mercy making appearances.”
5 Stars, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

“The second book in a trilogy that began with UNDRESSING MERCY, BARENAKED JANE steams up the pages right from the start. Mathias and Jane are strong, stubborn characters, well fleshed out. The writing is seamless and sensual.”
Jennell, RRTerotic Reviews

Other News:

• I’m starting the re-write on my Kyra Moray futuristic series– that’s proved interesting and more fun than I thought it would be.
• I have a few new ebooks planned- short stuff but it’s currently all up in the air.
• Next month I’m hosting a BIAM challenge on Cobblestone Press’s forum Main Street. All are welcome to join me- starts August 1.

BUY BARENAKED JANE HERE.

Hope everyone has a great day!

Deanna Lee

http://www.deannaleebooks.com/