The official blurbage: Over time, the Magickals have learned to live in the company of humans and keep their extraordinary abilities a secret. But despite their vigilance, one lurks among them who will stop at nothing to obtain his dark desire. . .

A cop with the Seattle P.D., Selina Grayson is committed to both her job and her privacy. Few know that she’s a centuries’ old elf with a tragic past that continues to haunt her. Yet her body still craves the exquisite ecstasy of sex that is her birthright—and a night of complete sensual abandon is just what she needs. . .

A Special Agent with the FBI Magickal Crimes Unit, Jack Laramie is one of the few Normals who know Magickals exist. He’s wary of their power, but one touch from Selina ignites a fire within his blood. Hot with desire, he’s ready to succumb to her erotic spell. But working a serial killer case together isn’t quite as pleasurable—especially when the killer has a taste for humans like Jack. Now one wrong move could put out their heat for eternity. . .

And the excerpt I promised:

“You look hot, baby.”

A low wolf-whistle pierced the air, and Selina turned away from the window she stood at, her eyebrow arching high. The sight of a woman in a long, shimmery wedding gown and a leer on her face made her snort. Chloe Standish of the wealthy, influential Standish witch family was not your average bride. Chloe’s best friend, Tess Jones, chortled as she walked out of the bathroom to join them in the big bedroom.

When Selina spoke, her tone was wry. “Thanks, you’re going to make Merek jealous.”

If anyone besides Merek had asked her to be in a wedding, she’d have laughed in his face. But the big warlock used to be her partner in the Seattle Police Department’s Magickal Task Force. The years together meant she’d developed an unfortunate weak spot for the man. Which meant she was not only attending his wedding to a high-society bride, but she was in the wedding party. And wearing a damn dress. She hadn’t worn one in at least a decade, and this thing was tight enough to count as a second skin. She had no idea how women wore shit like this on a daily basis, especially considering the high heels were killing her toes.

Uncomfortable was something of an understatement for the day. Her boss, her boss’s boss, and his boss were all at the wedding. Along with every important Magickal law enforcement officer in the city, state, and country, the mayor and several senators and congressmen who happened to be Magickals as well as elected officials. And they’d all be watching her shimmy up the aisle because the way she had to move in this get-up couldn’t be called a regular walk.

Good thing they’d never tapped her to go undercover as a hooker in a prostitution bust. She’d never have pulled it off. Then again, coy flirting had never been her forte. Either a man wanted her or he didn’t. And she wanted him back or she didn’t. End of story. No need to beat around the bush with stupid little mind games. Modern courtship was for the birds. Most of her lovers in the last few years were older Magickals like her, who’d been around the block a dozen times and didn’t want to mess about with all this love and dating crap.

Even then, it had been many months since she’d bothered with sex. Too busy with work, but she’d gone through longer dry spells before, so she didn’t worry about it. If she wanted some play, she could get it. Her hormones decided to give a sharp wail at that moment, telling her that they damn well wanted some play, even if the rest of her was wrapped up in police work.

The bride shrugged, her grin widening. “Merek knows I don’t bat for the other team. But, since he’s a guy and that’s how they are, I wouldn’t put it past him to want to watch us together.”

Selina rolled her eyes, but didn’t deny that the other woman was probably right. Men. It didn’t matter their species–Normal or Magickal–they were all the same. “That is both disturbing and typical, all at that same time.”

Turning toward a floor-length mirror, Chloe checked her make-up one last time and straightened the little pillbox hat and short veil she wore. After her parents died, the witch had lived in her Aunt Millie’s mansion in Upper Queen Anne. Selina was pretty sure the old woman had been around in the 1800s when the palatial Victorian style home had been built. Mildred Standish was a mover and shaker in the Magickal community, representing the Witch Coven on the All-Magickal Council. Everyone knew her name and her fearsome reputation.

It felt more than a little odd to be standing in the woman’s house, but everything about this day was designed to throw Selina off-kilter, so she ignored it and went to help Tess straighten the back of Chloe’s dress.

Tess’s long red hair fell forward to cover her face when she bent down. “I’m just glad Merek didn’t add me to that little fantasy.”

“Oh, he so would. Three hot chicks going at it for his entertainment? Or maybe just the two of you, since he’s probably too possessive to share me.” Chloe’s hazel eyes sparkled as her reflection met Selina’s gaze. “Men. Can’t live with them, illegal to kill them.”

“Mostly illegal.” Selina winked.

“Yeah, damn. There’s that whole having a badge thing.”

She arched an eyebrow. “It has its trade-offs for the lousy hours and bad coffee.”

I’m on deadline so will make this a short post, but wanted to answer some questions I’ve been getting from readers. First of all, my story in the NIGHTSHIFT anthology is the first of a new series for the Aphrodisia erotic romance line from Kensington. Dream Catcher, which takes place in 1992, introduces MacArthur Dugan, a brilliant young post-grad student working on computer software at the dawn of the personal computer era. He meets a mysterious woman who will change his life–a woman from the future. DREAM BOUND, my first full length novel in the series, picks up in 2012.

The blurb for DREAM BOUND reads: Mac Dugan has spent his entire adult life and millions of dollars creating the technology he needs to rescue his beloved Zianne–a creature of another world and another time. Now, he has his team of brilliant telepaths, his amazing array of satellite receivers and a plan. But is Zianne still alive, and will she and her people ever escape their captors?

When a man’s dreams are this big, anything is possible

DREAM BOUND is all about Mac bringing together his dream team of young men and women with telepathic abilities who will help him rescue Zianne and her fellow captives. The book I’m working on now–and the one I really have to get back to–is DREAM UNCHAINED. This story takes place over just a twenty-four hour period and covers the actual rescue. I’m really enjoying the writing process–the first book practically wrote itself, which is always a good sign. This one has a lot more tension and I’m doing my best to keep both the hotter than hot relationships every bit as engrossing as the rescue itself. Times like this I find myself sitting at my computer and just grinning at the screen. Damn I love my job!

I’ve also had people asking me about CrystalFire. Yes, it’s the final book in the DemonSlayers series, and if you’ve been reading the series, you’ve been following the trials and tribulations of Willow and Bumper. Willow is the tiny little sprite whose body got eaten by the demon king, but she managed to save herself by hiding her consciousness inside Bumper the dog. Bumper is a cross between a pit bull and a poodle. Not the brightest bulb in the box, but she’s got a good heart and she loves Willow so much she doesn’t mind sharing. But in the opening of CrystalFire, the demon king attacks and zaps Bumper. However, his magic goes awry and Willow ends up with a woman’s body with Bumper’s consciousness lodged inside HER brain!

The one who’s there to rescue Willow is SO not hero material–Taron is a scholar, a celibate by choice, who’s suddenly the one designated to fight the demon king, but he’s as busy fighting his suddenly awakened libido as anything else, when Willow sets her sights on the sexy Lemurian. This book was flat out fun to write, and I know you’re going to love what happens. Pre-order now, or watch for it in April, and I’ve got first chapters of all my books up at my website: www.katedouglas.com

And the last bit of info, which is really sort of old news but I announced during the holidays and a lot of you missed it, and that is that I’ve signed a contract for a new series, SPIRIT WILD, which is my second generation Chanku series. Yep, the kids are all grown up in a world that knows shapeshifters exist. The first book on the schedule is ‘TO LOVE A DARK WOLF’ which is Lily Cheval’s story.

Now, if you’ve got any other questions or comments, please leave a comment even if it’s just to say “hi,” and I’ll be choosing a winner for a book of your choice (if it’s one I have) or a stuffed critter. I’ve still got dogs and wolves, and I’ve now added squirrels to go with Dream Bound–that’s a picture of one up above. BUT, I need to get back to work, so I’ll check in later.

And that’s the update from me. Now I have to run around like a crazy lady to pack and get on the road for my next trip. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, or as they said to us in Hawaii “Mele Kalikimaka and Hau’oli Makahiki Hou”!

-Crystal Jordan

To help that happen, I’m going to give away an early copy of Simply Carnal. A box full of them arrived today on my doorstep, which was a nice surprise!

Here’s the back blurb.

Christian Delornay has observed so many illicit liaisons at his mother’s house of pleasure he regards sex as merely an enjoyable pastime, certainly not an act of love. So when a young widow arrives in search of work, Christian hires her as his assistant with the intention of instructing her in the ways of sensual seduction…
Desperate to escape her past, Elizabeth ‘Smith’ is happy to accept Christian’s offer of work. She is prepared to serve his every need, yet she refuses to reveal her most intimate desires. But in the hands of a master, it is impossible to deny her own wanton yearnings, and she soon succumbs to her secret longing for pure carnal pleasure.

It officially comes out at the end of January, so whoever wins will get your copy early.
Check out my website for more details of the books and the House of Pleasure series.

One commenter picked at random from below will win a signed copy of Simply Carnal.

Happy Holidays!
Kate Pearce x

Of course, if  we could read a person’s mind as easily as we read a book then letter writing might not be necessary. When it comes to literary characters we usually learn enough about their needs and wants in the course of the story that shopping for them would be a breeze. With this truism in mind I began wondering what some of our most cherished literary characters would have to say to Santa if they were to correspond with him?  In several incidences the hypothetical Santa letters were pretty easy to make conclusions about.  Or at least I think so..but I’ll let you be the final judge here as I present some of my “If famous literary characters wrote to Santa”.

Dear Sir Claus,

I hope this letter finds all well and prosperous in your kingdom and that you and your good wife are well and healthy. The following is my Christmas wish list for this year:

12 LARGE cans CAFFEINATED coffee

200 six-packs of energy drinks

2 dozen tins of Earl Grey tea.

Sugar –sacks and sacks of it!

5 case lots of No-DOZ pills

I have been a good girl this year and pray, with all my heart, you can bring these items. Please excuse my sense of urgency but my 15^th birthday is next month.

Warmest regards,

Sleeping Beauty

Santa of Claus,

I have been nice boy. Please bring following: New sheath for my sword. Syrian steel battleaxe with blood-grove handle. Mace cudgel with poison-tipped studs. My Little Pony Tea Party Play Set.

You will find cookies and mead under the tree of execution.

Conan of Cimmeria

Dear Mr. Santa Claus,

This is my first time writing to you with a request, but Dad tells me boys round my age traditionally write you at this time of the year if they have a special gift request for Christmas. I’m not real choosy but have came up with a few ideas that may help in your holiday shopping. These are listed below.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Button

A subscription to Mechanics Illustrated

A Mila Kunis bikini poster

Tony Hawk autographed skateboard

A Playstation 3

A football

A bicycle

Legos castle

Box of crayons

Teddy bear

Trike

My First Elmo

Bloks

blanky

P.S. –  Mr. Claus, this is Benjamin’s father. A box of diapers for my son will be fine, if you make your sleigh ride really, really early this year. Otherwise, I wouldn’t sweat it.

Salutations Mr. Claus,

As previously requested and satisfactorily delivered, I am requesting the following items for my Yuletide seasonal wish list:

Morphine drip

Small metal spoons

A selection of Asian Blue Lotus plants

Syringes

Wide rubber bands

Charcoal

Saline nasal mist

Jamaican hemp

New hooka

A subscription to the Hallucinogenic Mushroom of the Month

3 bottles of Mezcal tequila

I would also very much enjoy  a copy of this year’s 1001 Best Dumb Doctor Jokes.

Thank you and warm regards for the Season,

Sherlock Holmes

Hello Santa,

I am currently enjoying practically everything a boy could ask for, including candy, cake and pet donkeys, but there are a couple of things I would appreciate for Christmas:

A can of Black Flag Full-Strength Cricket Killer Spray

A latex stretchable nose guard

Yeah, this should cover it.

Ciao,

Pinocchio

Dearest St. Nick,

I hope you are as every bit as happy and lively as you were last year. Let me again tell you how grateful I was to have been picked last year for a special visit to Santa’s wondrous home in the North Pole! The bright memory of that enchanting visit is one I will never forget.  I so adored everything I experienced – the Toy shop, the reindeer stable, the hot cocoa tavern and the candy factory. But I suppose, no -I know!- my favorite part was sitting with you before the cozy hearth and reveling in the warmth of your Yule log.

This year I have but a single request to make of you, my benevolent good friend. It is a wish I have thought out long and hard since I heard how your back went out after bouncing me on your knee all that last long, wintry Christmas eve. If not for the injury I would ask for you to spend the holidays with me in the countryside. But since you’re still in a brace what say we wait on that until next year? Thus my wish is this, dearest St. Nick, for the secret to making a wooden boy lie. And I don’t mean a little white fib, I mean big, grandiose WHOPPER fabrications! Oh, if you can confide this secret to me I will be the most ecstatic girl in the world!

Warmly, truly, damply yours,

Fanny Hill

Dear Father Christmas,

I have been an exceptionally well-behaved young woman this year and pray you can deliver me the following:

2000-count case of lip balm

Cliff notes for The Neverending Story, War and Peace and a plot guide for every episode of Law & Order ever aired.

If you are unable to bring these to me may my father and I just hitch a ride on your sled?

Thank you and well wishes,

Scheherazade

Greetings Father Christmas,

The list of my required necessities is relatively short this year:

20 new blades

10 new strops

Mens aftershave (fragrance optional)

Towels – as many as you can bring

A butcher’s hook

2 shovels

A new professional vivisection kit

As we both know you can see into the hearts of all men so I will not tire you with an attempt to convince you whether I’ve been naughty or nice this year. Have a pleasant journey and Merry Christmas!

Sweeney Todd

P.S. If you bring all the items on my Christmas list I will treat you to a shave and haircut – on the house!

From the desk of  Minerva McGonagall, Headmistress, Gryffindor House, Hogwarts

To Kris Kringle, Owner and Proprietor, Santa’s Toys and Candy Distributorship, Corp., North Pole

Dear Kris,

I was tickled to receive the announcement you are to be a father! Congratulations my old friend! I must confess you proved me wrong. I predicted nothing but heartbreak when you first said you had married an exotic dancer after knowing her only one night. I see now, however, that you and Fourchestia are well-suited. I realize also that you’ve indeed found the true love you’ve always sough. It is likewise evident your bride takes joy in making those long nights in the artic much warmer. And in time, surely, her cousin Rubeus will come round to accepting the marriage.

As to your question, yes I have been an extremely “good girl this year” LOL!! And if there is anything I’ve had my eye on it is an outfit I noticed in the latest Victoria’s Secret catalog. It is located on page 14, and is quite reminiscent of that cute number I had a long time ago. You remember that outfit don’t you, Kris? I was wearing it when you, Albus and Cyril the Cyclops popped in for a visit to my dorm room back in the autumn of ’61. Oh, now isn’t that an adorable memory? I’ll never forget how the three of you got me drunk on hard cider and we enjoyed the entire long and sweaty night together. Of course, while your attentions and those of Cyril were quite flattering I do believe I could have been out of the room and Albus would have been just as contented. Nevertheless he surprised us all with his aptness for mare breaking. I dare say if you hadn’t brought along that Vaseline we’d have never got his saddle off and I may well have spent the next decades confined to a wheel chair-

~continued page 2~

Dear Mr. Claus,

If history tells us anything it is that myths are birthed from the human need to put a face upon that which is unexplainable by ordinary human understanding. The educated comprehend this and in this enlightened state naturally become dubious of the exaggerated and sometimes ridiculously farfetched feats attributed to the subjects of myth. You, sir, are one of these subjects.

On the other hand, as an intelligent but needy man without resources or the influence to obtain what I need, I say what the heck, it can’t hurt to ask Santa! For some time now I have been trying to obtain permission from the Bishop of the Church of Ethiopia to enter the St. Mary of Zion at Axum Church. It is here that the Ark of the Covenant is reported to be held. My research into this artifact requires me to see and inspect it firsthand, but as you may have already guessed, the Bishop has turned down my requests. So if you would be so kind as to procure for me this official permission to see the relic I would be eternally grateful.

Yours truly,

Robert Langdon

P.S. If you are unable to procure the authorization there is woman, a model, whose telephone number I would like to have. I don’t know her name, but her photo can be seen in the latest issue of Victiora’s Secret. This is found on page 14, and she’s wearing a hot little leather corset with a feathered bodice and she’s kneeled and mounted with a saddle. Thanks so much –and yes, sad to say, I’ve been an extremely good boy this year!

~R.L.

Dear Kris Kringle,

Thank you for taking the time to converse with me via the neutral territory of the U.S. Postal Service. I have always respected your position among those who work to protect the working citizens of the North Pole and have the highest regard for your charitable organization.

However, it has come to my attention that you have turned down my wife’s nephew, Mario, citing him as unsuitable for employment at your toy manufacturing plant. While I concede Mario is young and inexperienced in making anything besides cement shoes, allow me to remind you of the favor I extended some years back when you needed help convincing a particular mountain climber that his oogling your wife was not appreciated. In consideration of the time my “staff” took in dealing with that problem it will behoove you to not only hire Mario but to compensate his patience with an advanced salary equaling two years cost of living increases and full medical coverage. I expect this request to be fulfilled as I’m sure you are a man who honors his obligations. And for the sake of future smooth business transactions between our families this matter should be settled within the week, as I hate to think of the disfiguring look of disappointment on the faces of your trusted servants.

Yours truly,

Vito Corleone

Dear customer,

As per your request: the notification of Resident Unknown status has been forwarded to your last mailer, along with the letter they sent you.

Thank you,

U.S. Postal Service

Greetings, brother.

Business associates of yours paid an unexpected visit to my abode last night. At least this is my assumption since you are the only person I know with friends who leave gifts of the like these people did. I will further assume it was left here because these people are under the impression that this is your current address of physical residence. Suffice to say, waking up to find a reindeer head in my bed isn’t my idea of a good morning.

Now I consider myself a patient man and have dealt with your history of pranks and irresponsible behavior for years, and to the best of my abilities have been a loyal and supportive brother. Remember it was my sharing of arcane knowledge that gave your reindeers the power of flight. It was my influence over the weather that allowed you to build that huge, expensive (and gaudy) toy factory way up in the middle of the freak’n North Pole. And let us not forget that it was me who used to sober up your friend Albus back in your college days AND provided him an alibi when the zoo cops were looking for that kangaroo they suspected he “borrowed”.

Despite all this you pay me back by deliberately involving me in your underworld activities. Worse, that reindeer head ruined the only satin sheets I had – sheets given to me by the only girlfriend I’ve had in three centuries. So guess what? You owe me a set of satin sheets, you owe me an apology and you damned well better get this situation straightened out and before Minerva arrives next weekend!  She’s bringing a saddle and Vaseline, and if your criminal activities mess up our plans then your poor reindeer isn’t going to be the only thing missing a head!!!

Sincerely,

Gandalf

————————————————————————————————–

I wish everyone a warm, safe and joyous Yule this year!

~Anya

http://anyahoward.com

Their human form is ephemeral, but their sexual desire is endless. Enter the mysteriously sensual world of the shapeshifters and share in their erotic passion…

“Dream Catcher” by Kate Douglas

She comes to him at night in dreams of carnal pleasure. Real or imagined, Mac doesn’t know and doesn’t care. For his body throbs with a need that only his mystery lover can satisfy…

“Taken Between” by Crystal Jordan

Kira lives to protect her queen, but the king’s brother is the one who commands her desire. She longs for him with a feral sexuality and ferocious passion she can barely control…

“The Right Number” by Lynn LaFleur

Jay may have dialed the wrong number but the right woman answers. She is the mate he’s been looking for all his life. And when he hears the sexy purr of her voice, it arouses the hungry wolf inside…

Check out the video!

Read an excerpt from my story, Taken Between here.

Buy it here: Amazon | B&N | Chapters | B-A-M | Indiebound | Powell’s | Kensington Books

——-

CONTEST: I’m over on the Smutketeers for the next couple of days giving away some of my knitting to celebrate the new book release. If you want a chance to win (and to see exactly what I’m giving away), go leave a comment!

http://www.smutketeers.com/2011/11/29/nightshift-and-knitting/

It’s getting close. I don’t usually get all goony (my grandson’s description, which seems totally apropos) over the release of anthologies–for some reason, they usually seem to come out when I’m in the middle of writing the next book, and my attention is divided, but this particular anthology introduces a new series, and I’m really anxious to see what readers think of my whole concept. I mean, this is off the wall, even for me.

Dream Catcher, the story in this one, will introduce you to Mac Dugan, Nils “Dink” Dinkemann, and Zianne. Mac and Dink are best friends forever, but Zianne? Well, to begin with, she’s not quite human. WAY not quite human. Not only is she not from Earth, she’s not from Mac’s same time…and then it gets complicated.

This first story takes place in 1992 and is the set up for the next two novels. The first one, Dream Bound, will come out in July and I’m working on the second one now, which will wrap up the story line. Since I gave you a taste of Dream Catcher last time I blogged, I’m going to give you a look at Dream Bound, so you’ll get an idea of what’s coming next.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Dream Catchers Book 1–DREAM BOUND

The set-up: It’s 2012–twenty years after Dream Catcher takes place. Mac Dugan has brought together his “dream team,” a group of six young men and women with abilities even they aren’t aware of. The goal? To find his missing love and rescue the remnants of a dying race held captive aboard an alien star cruiser. This is the meeting where Mac introduces his new team members to each other, and explains just a bit of their purpose:

Sometimes a shared problem created its own camaraderie. “I finished my masters in computer science at Stanford the year I turned twenty.” Rodie sensed they wanted to know more. Was that why she felt a need to explain more than she would under normal circumstances?

But then, what was normal anymore?

“No one took me seriously. I didn’t know whether to blame my age, my gender or my indeterminate race.” She’d grown tired of explaining. No she wasn’t black. Wasn’t Asian. Wasn’t Hispanic. She was just a mutt. A perfectly happy mutt, if the idiots who needed a label would just leave her alone.

“Or all three.”

She glanced up at Morgan’s dry comment, unsure whether he was teasing or agreeing or just making fun. “Or all three,” she echoed. Screw him. She didn’t really care.

He stared at her a moment. One corner of his mouth was quirked up in what could have been either a smile or a smirk. He held her gaze a moment and then turned toward Mac Dugan. “So. Are you going to tell us why we’re here and the others aren’t?”

Mac had been quietly watching them. Intently, the way you might study a lab experiment, was Rodie’s first thought. The silent buzz in the room grew stronger.
Mac nodded toward Morgan. “I am. I’m guessing you’ve already figured out some of the main points in your favor. All of you are incredibly intelligent. Off the charts intelligent, if you want the truth. You’re all powerful type A personalities. Driven, creative, unafraid of trying new things. You’re all leaders, which could create a problem, except I’m the alpha wolf in this little pack and you will defer to me.”

“And why, may I ask, will we be doin’ that?” Finnegan’s question had a whole lot of Irish along with an obvious thread of steel running through it. Rodie sat back so she could better observe Dugan’s reaction.

“Because, Mr. O’Toole, this is my project and my money. My ideas.” Dugan grinned at all of them. Rodie almost laughed out loud at the feral, almost wolf-like look of the man.

“And because you signed a statement agreeing I was the one in charge and that all final decisions would rest with me when you filled out the original questionnaire. If you don’t like it, you’re welcome to leave.” He folded his hands on the table and his gaze slowly swept over each of them.

No one moved.

“You’ve also got creative minds and you’re physically healthy. That was important—no genetic health problems or weaknesses, no communicable diseases, venereal or otherwise. Your psychological profiles show no sign of major neuroses or other mental issues. Plus, the women have all agreed to implants for birth control, which you ladies will need to take care of by tomorrow. We have a clinic here on the main campus.” He shrugged at the surprised looks from the guys. “What do you expect? I’m not about to put six sexually active, extremely attractive young adults together for six months and risk unwanted pregnancies.”

He continued with his assessing gaze moving slowly over the six of them. “There’s another thing you all have in common. It’s probably the second most important ability.”

Now he focused on each of them in turn. Rodie held his gaze when he got to her. A shiver raced along her spine, a sense of knowing. Of some weird connection to the man, even though she’d never met him before.

And she knew. Just like that, as clear as glass, she knew what trait they shared. “You tested us for psychic awareness, didn’t you?” She almost laughed as Dugan’s smile grew. “I bet we all scored really high on the extrasensory perception part of that questionnaire.”

“You were just in my head, weren’t you? Telling me that we tested off the charts for ESP.” Cameron’s sulky attitude was gone. He laughed, staring open-mouthed at Dugan. “You just used telepathy with me.”

Everyone at the table was grinning, including Rodie. She almost snorted when Cameron’s head jerked one way and then the other, catching everyone’s amazed expressions. Then he narrowed his gaze on Dugan again. “You talked to all of us. You were in our heads at the same time. How?”

Mac Dugan leaned back in his chair and grinned right along with them. “The same way you’re all going to be able to communicate with each other. Each of you have strong telepathic abilities. You merely lack the training.”

“How does this fit in with the telescopic array you’ve built, assuming this entire process has to do with the array?” Rodie could still feel the mental touch of Mac Dugan’s words in her mind. It was a disturbingly intimate sensation. Maybe she wasn’t dealing with the assault or the boyfriend incident as well as she’d thought, but those things happened weeks ago. Why was she thinking of them now? “ESP and big satellite dishes? I don’t get it.”

“First of all, yes, this is all about the array. As I said, telepathic ability is the second most important trait you share. The first is more personal.” Once again his gaze caught each of them independently, and the corner of his lips tilted slightly. “You are all, to one extent or another, sexually active and sexually very creative, very free about your sexuality. Mr. Black lives openly as a bisexual. He’s had a number of short-term relationships with both sexes over the years. Kiera, you’ve been married, briefly. You’re now divorced, but you said you identify as lesbian, maybe bi. You, Mr. O’Toole, wrote on your application that you consider yourself entirely heterosexual. You also identify yourself, and confirmed it a few moments ago, as a sexual predator.” Dugan chuckled. “Pretty ballsy statement, if you’re serious. Point being, you all have robust sex lives and according to the tests we’ve run and the forms you’ve filled out, amazingly detailed sexual fantasies. With the telepathy, you have the ability to project those fantasies.”

Lizzie snorted. She covered her mouth with her hand and glanced at Rodie and Kiera. “And with the array, we have the ability to project those fantasies into space.” Laughing harder, she snapped her fingers. “Now that should bring any horny aliens in the universe racing our way. Wicked amazing!”

Laughing so hard she could barely catch her breath, Rodie glanced at Lizzie and started giggling again. This was so not what she’d expected, and it was obvious she wasn’t alone. All of them were grinning and cracking wise.

All except Morgan. She caught the frown, sensed his anger as he settled his chair back on all four legs and slapped his palms down on the table. A little shiver raced across her spine. Damn but the man was sexy. Even more so when he was pissed off.

“You are fucking kidding me.” He glared at all of them, growling in that deep, sexy voice of his. “You’ve pulled all of us together based on our ability to broadcast sexual fantasies? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Actually, Morgan, it’s not. Hear me out.” Mac Dugan shoved his chair back and stood up.

Rodie sensed the alpha wolf had just raised his hackles and growled. The laughter stopped. Every single one of them sat straighter in their chairs and paid attention. Rodie took a quick glance around as another shiver snapped across her spine. Even Morgan appeared to have backed off.

The easy smile was gone from MacArthur Dugan’s face. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and his gaze flicked from one to the next. And then, in a few terse words, he changed everything Rodie had ever thought about space and life on other worlds—and the power of the human mind.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

So, there ya have it. I’m already working on the second book in the series, but I do hope you’ll take a chance on the NightShift anthology. Besides–it’s not just my story in that thing–I’ve read the whole collection, and Crystal Jordan and Lynn LaFleur have written fantastic shifter stories that I know you’ll love. Leave a comment and you’ll have a chance to win a copy of NightShift. And in case you’re wondering if I really do give away a lot of books, I added up what I’ve mailed out so far this month, and it’s already at almost forty books to newsletter and blog contest winners–so your chances are damned good!

Enjoy!

Okay. I like to think I’m a relatively intelligent woman, but then something will happen to remind me that I ain’t nearly as smart as I thunk I are…

Those of you who follow my work might be aware of the fact that I write more than one series. Just this past week I did page proofs for CrystalFire, the final book in my Kensington Zebra DemonSlayers series, wrote another novella for my online Demon Lovers series, finished writing the first full-length novel of my Kensington Aphrodisia Dream Catchers series, and signed a contract for another series called Spirit Wild, which is also with Kensington, though I’m not sure yet which imprint. That one launches my new series of stories about the second generation of Chanku. And yes, for those fans of Wolf Tales, Lily Cheval’s tale is first.

And if you haven’t figured it out, her father Anton Cheval is a wonderful hero but he’s a real pain in the ass as father to an almost thirty year old woman, a powerful wizard in her own right.

But I digress…okay, so like every other busy author, I’m juggling a lot of stuff. There’re the website updates, the blogs I need to get written, the three to four hours’ worth of email I handle every morning, promo stuff for my publisher, Twitter, Facebook, and—oh, yeah—writing. But let’s go back a couple of weeks ago, to October 18…

I’m really moving along beautifully—Dream Bound, the first Dream Catchers novel, is half way done and due November 15 and I’m right on schedule. The story has turned out great, I’m in love with ALL the male characters and since this is Aphrodisia, they’re uniformly hot and much more fun to write than they really should be.

And then the contract for Spirit Wild comes and I’m reading through it to compare some of the terms to the contract for the Dream Catchers series. I pull out the older contract and happen to glance at the due date for the book I’m writing now.

Ever discover you’ve really REALLY screwed up? I mean, not just a little mistake, but one of monumental, “oh, I am SO fu&^ed” proportions? That feeling where the stomach doesn’t just flip over, it sort of takes a nosedive and hits the ground?

Right there, in bold print—due date says OCTOBER 15. Not November. It was, at the time, already three days late. And only half done. So I immediately contact my editor and relay my stupid move of the day, and luckily she’s running behind and said the November 15 date will work. But that means no wiggle room AT ALL for getting this sucker done.

But ya know, sometimes the muse smiles on those who are truly desperate, and this story took off until it was moving along at mach speed, and as long as I managed to keep track of which imaginary world I was working in (not all that easy when moving between worlds, ya know?) it went great. I think it’s going to be a terrific novel.

But the one that introduces Dream Bound is coming out in a few more weeks, on November 28 — Dream Catchers is my novella in the upcoming NightShift anthology. The setup for the excerpt below is fairly simple—Mac is the hero of the story, a computer geek who has fallen in love with a mysterious woman. His best friend, Dink, is gay—after a fight with a mysterious group of men, Dink goes to Mac for help. Mac knows his buddy has always loved him, but Mac’s not into guys that way…until he and Dink and Zianne spend an amazing night together. This scene is that sometimes but not always, awkward “morning after.”

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Excerpt from Dream Catcher in the Kensington Aphrodisia NightShift Anthology:

Mac heard someone moving near the bed and slowly opened his eyes. Dink had just showered. He had a towel wrapped around his slim hips and was going through Mac’s closet, obviously looking for something to wear that wasn’t covered in blood.

There was no sign of Zianne. “Where ya goin?” Mac shoved himself up and leaned against the headboard.

Dink smiled at him, and there was so much love in that look that it made Mac feel guiltier than ever. “I’ve got a freshman class to cover for the professor. It’s almost eleven.”

“Did you see Zianne leave?”

Dink shook his head. “She was gone when I woke up.” He sat on the edge of the bed next to Mac. “That was really something, wasn’t it?” His soft laugh was filled with a sense of wonder.

Mac swallowed back a flip answer. “Definitely.” Damn, he was so screwed. “Dink? You know I love you. You know I want to do this again, but…”

Dink tilted his head and shot a lop-sided grin at Mac. “I know, Mac. You’re never going to feel the same for me that I do for you. I get that. I’m okay with it. But last night…this morning.” Slowly he shook his head. “It’s more than I ever imagined. I do hope we do it again. You okay with that?”

“You know I am.” He smiled at Dink. Then he looked closer. Where were the bruises? The split lip? The black eye? “Dink? Do you have any idea how you managed to heal so quickly? I mean, you were a mess last night and now…” His voice trailed off as Dink quickly stood.

“It was Zianne. I don’t know how, but when she touched me last night…” He shrugged and moved away from the bed. “I dunno, Mac, but if you ever figure out her story, I want the details. Hey, I’m going to borrow some of your stuff, okay? I need to get moving or I’m gonna be late.”

Obviously Dink wasn’t ready to talk about it. Mac nodded. “Meet me at Sloan’s this afternoon, okay?”

Dink nodded. “I can’t get there ‘til after four. That work for you?”

“Yeah. That’s cool.” Mac watched as Dink grabbed a shirt and a pair of jeans and quietly slipped out of the bedroom. Then he flopped back down on the bed. Zianne. All the questions he had always came back to her, but why? And why, when she was near him, did he quit asking?

Shit.

She’d left last night to find something that was supposed to help him with the mess surrounding the grant, but she’d never mentioned a thing when she came back. Of course, none of them had done much talking. “Who am I kidding? The three of us didn’t talk at all.”

He sat there a moment longer, thinking of Zianne, thinking of Dink, but all of his thoughts merely confused him more. Finally Mac rolled out of bed and headed to the shower. His head was spinning, and it wasn’t from the sex. It was spinning around the mystery that was Zianne.

~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Dream Catcher is a stand-alone story, but it’s also the introduction to the new series. It takes place in 1992, at the dawn of the “personal computer” craze—the series starts off in the present.

Now, I’ve spilled my guts about my latest dumb move—I want to hear one of yours. C’mon…dish! You know you’ve got something in your closet! Winner will be selected from those leaving a comment—you’ll have your choice of the new NightShift anthology as soon as I get my author copies, or one of the very few ARCs for CrystalFire that just showed up a couple of days ago.

My personal Facebook page is now full, so if you get a chance I’d love it if you’d “like” my author page. It’s at http://www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage and you can follow me on Twitter @wolftales

Daughter of a forest woodsman, Roselyn’s life has always been simple and routine. But everything changes after Roselyn’s stunning sister accepts the marriage proposal of kind

Prince Michael. Enduring the dour courtiers at the prince’s castle is definitely not Roselyn’s idea of fun, but soon she becomes friends with a pair of attractive and lively young men who are as bored with Michael’s court as Roselyn is. When the three venture secretly to a fair outside of Michael’s dominion, Roselyn witnesses sensuous sights that remind her of the frustrated desires she has always ignored. That night Roselyn is introduced to the Mummer King, a forbidden masked figure whose duty is to carry petitioners’ requests to the old pagan gods. In the presence of the Mummer King Roselyn dares confess her secret and passionate needs.

But upon returning to Prince Michael’s castle Roselyn is confronted with an ancient evil that has been unleashed on the court. Hope of defeating this monstrous force arrives in the most unexpected source; one that will challenge Michael’s reign, and more so, Roselyn’s reluctance to trust her desire for love.

Erotic Romance, Ménage à trois, discipline

99 cents in NOOK, Kindle and other ebook formats

Find out more!

~Anya

I’m sitting in my office writing, listening to the rain coming down outside while working on the first novel for my Dream Catchers series. I’m just back at it after taking a break in the middle of the project because I felt like I needed to step away. The characters weren’t talking to me the way I like, and I didn’t feel that connection to them that usually makes my stories come alive for me.

So I took a week off and wrote another of my short Demon Lover stories. They’re just for fun–short and sexy reads about a trio of demon hunters. Jett and Locan started out as demons thousands of years ago, but they were changed by their first fulcrum, a woman who kept them from killing each other while they went about the business of killing demons on Earth. In the first story, UNBALANCED, their fulcrum is killed, but she manages to bite an unemployed accountant before she dies, thereby transferring her abilities to a totally unsuspecting Addie Logan. I had NO IDEA where I was going with this, and still don’t, but during my week away from the novel, I wrote the third story, UNMASKED. It should be up for sale as an ebook in another week.

The really cool thing about taking time off to write the novella is that when I went back to the WIP (work in progress) I realized I missed the characters. Maybe it’s the changing season, the fact that it was almost 100 degrees and hard to concentrate in my top floor office, but now that I’m back and working on it again and it’s raining and cool outside and toasty inside, the connection is there. Rodie is a real woman, and Morgan and Mac, Cameron, Finn, Kiera and Lizzie all have personalities and problems and feelings and enough issues to give me my story.

I think you guys are going to love it. I know I’m beginning to get really excited about where this one is going. Finally. Yes…I know. I mentioned that already.

It’s set in the northeastern part of California, high on a plateau where MacArthur Dugan has built a huge satellite array, much like the Allen Array that’s up at Hat Creek, in the California Sierras near Mt. Lassen, only instead of using his array to search for extraterrestrials and map the stars, Mac Dugan is looking for his lost love, Zianne. You’ll meet her before he loses her in the NightShift anthology coming out in November. There’s a lot written about the Allen Array, My husband and I have been up there and taken the tour–it’s really amazing, and it was the inspiration for my new series, Dream Catchers. (The photo of my husband will give you an idea of the size–he’s 6’4″ and the entire plateau is covered with these big dishes.) We wandered around the Allen Array for an hour or more and I kept thinking that it would be so cool if, instead of just receiving signals from space, what if we used the dishes to send them…and what if those signals were made up of sexual fantasies from a group of brilliant young people with telepathic abilities–and what if that’s what it would take to bring Zianne and her people home to Mac, the power inherent in sexual fantasy? Have I told you how much I absolutely love my job?

Anyway, that’s what I’ve been up to. Well, that and thinking about my new Chanku series that we’re seriously discussing now with my editor, and getting ready for a trip into the Sierras to see the fall colors and check out the area where Dream Catchers takes place. And, because you all know that I love to give books away, if you’ll leave a comment about your plans for the Fall or what you’ve been up to or just say hi so I know you’ve been here, I’ll add your name to my contest to win either a copy of one of my Wolf Tales or Sexy Beast books, or one of the DemonSlayers. Thanks for coming by!