So, in joyous, super duper, fantabulous news that is just smothered in awesome sauce, I sold a new three book deal to my Aphrodisia editor in the last month, with the help of my truly talented agent, naturally. (Squeeeee!)
It was basically a deal of sequels, which is cool. I’m doing the sequel to On The Prowl first. For those who read the original, the two stories in this book revolve around Miguel’s cousin and his mate, and Enrique’s (the villain in the last OTP story) younger sister, who now has to find a mate and redeem her family name. No pressure, right?
Then I have the sequel to Every Witch Way (which is going to be renamed, but I don’t know what the new title will be. Stay tuned!). This one has werewolves and vampires and serial killers, oh my! Plus, some seriously wicked naughtiness going on between an elf and a human. You’ll have to check it out to learn more, but it’ll be fun, I promise!
The last one is the sequel to Untamed, and the first story is about Pierce’s cousin, who also has a thing for boys and girls. Must be a Vaughn family trait. Hee. The second story gives you a little more conclusion to Breck and Tam’s story. What, you didn’t think I’d leave you hanging with them, did you? Naaaah!
Oh! I almost forgot! I also got an offer to be in a new shapeshifter anthology, and my novella for that one will be the sequel to my Sexy Beast 9 story, which comes out in August. This one is about Elan’s younger brother Max. He needed to get his comeuppance, and my editor agreed. Can’t wait to write it!
For those who don’t get the Nina Simone reference in the blog title, here’s a sneak peek of her awesomeness. She’s got a voice that can just rip my heart out.
@Karenknowsbest twittered this morning about a sign she saw on the freeway. It said: “Kelly I love u, pls come back!”
The collective Awwwwwwww was heard ’round Twitter. I know I awwwwwwwww’ed and I’m about as close as you can get to a cynic. I mean really, other than the gooey mushy closet romantic center that is my heart. But please, don’t tell anyone. I’ll just deny it.
But it got me back to thinking about something I’ve been thinking about for a while and that’s themes writers address in their books. And I’m talking as a reader AND a writer. For the most part I try not to think too hard when I wear my reader hat or get too scholarly about what I read–I read purely for enjoyment (unless it’s self-help LOL)….
In Hater by David Moody (not a romance), the main protag was an ass for like 1/2 the book, the stuff going on around them was horrifying (people appear to be infected with “something” that makes them attack the people around them) and the Protag is very judgmental/hateful of the attackers….until the end when the big reveal comes. Granted Hater is very much a horror novel in the tradition of classic twisty horror and not for the faint of heart but what did I realized when I was done? I think the author deliberately didn’t want me to like the Protag. and in the process took me on an exploration of the different facets of Hate.
And in Ann Aguirre’s Blue Diablo…well, where do I begin? First off, if you haven’t read it, why not? Yes, I’m a total fan girl and while BD isn’t “technically” a romance, I think it’s worth looking at because Blue Diablo tackles a theme I see a lot in my own work (believe it nor LOL)…and that’s Redemption and not just with Corine who I think seeks/wants/needs some form of redemption regarding her mother’s death, but with Chance, who redeems himself in Corine’s eyes by showing her (and the reader) a more vulnerable side, and even the alleged baddy who joins them at the end (whose name I can’t remember); I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers regarding him but I thought it was a really cool twist.
I picked both of these books because they left a strong impression on me. Like I said, I see a lot of redemption though mostly in my non-erotic/less hot work. And of course, as a closet romantic, I think “Love” is the ultimate redeemer.
So what are some of your favorite themes? Is it also redemption? And do you have any favorite redemption books/redeemed heroes or heroines?
I’m going to make this a super easy post for me and a super duper easy contest for you. I now have my author copies of On The Prowl in my hot little hands, which means I want to give some of these (autographed) goodies away. What do you have to do for a shot at the book? Just leave me a comment on this post and on Friday I’ll choose from the entries and announce the winner in the comments section.
Go forth and say something witty!
Here’s what all the fuss is about:
Meet the Cruz brothers. They look human—except for the golden sheen their eyes take when they’re aroused beyond control…and the way their claws come out when it’s time to play rough. They’re Panthers, ancient shapeshifters, and their survival depends on mating to bring out their wild sides…
UNDENIABLE
When Antonio, the strong, sexy new leader of the Panther pride, meets luscious Solana in a dark alleyway, their passion lights up the night. But she’s an outcast, an impossible mate—and her touch makes him lose all control…
IRRESISTIBLE
Ex-model and businesswoman Andrea doesn’t need anyone—until she meets Miguel, who tempts her mind with daring games and teases her body with dark, forbidden please she can’t resist…
INDESCRIBABLE
Wild twins Ricardo and Diego do everything together—and their women appreciate the teamwork. Until shy Isabel takes refuge in their pride, and both want to claim her. Of course, sometimes two mates are better than one…
On November 7, my Unwrap Me co-author Melissa MacNeal mentioned holiday themes, and how they can inspire you. Well, when Kensington asked me if I wanted to contribute a novella to the next Christmas anthology, I had my theme cut out for me, so to speak.
Hmm. What kind of sexy romance could I write that had something to do with Christmas? I brainstormed about all the things I associate with Christmas and ended up with a spicy mix indeed.
Lots of people love Christmas, right? Well, that would be my hero, Nick Buchanan (named after St. Nick). But others pretty much hate it. That would be my heroine, Jude Benedetto, who’s been abandoned on Christmas. Twice!
How would they meet? Well, how about a Secret Santa gift? Jude’s girlfriend rigs the Secret Santa draw so she can play matchmaker, and she gifts Jude with a hot firefighter (the girlfriend’s brother-in-law).
How’s a guy who loves Christmas going to persuade a Grinch to get in the holiday mood? Hmm. Remember the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas” (a.k.a. “A Partridge in a Pear Tree)? When Nick realizes he met Jude exactly 12 days before Christmas, he has the brilliant and sneaky idea of giving her a special gift each day, themed to match the song – but so cleverly that anti-Christmas Jude won’t catch on.
Day 1, the partridge in the pear tree is Nick himself, her Secret Santa gift. For Day 2 (two turtle doves), he gives her two orgasms that have her cooing (well, more like screeching ) her pleasure. I had so much fun thinking up gifts for each day. Some were pretty obvious, like five golden rings (specialty condoms, of course!). Others were more of a challenge, like seven swans a-swimming. (If you read my novella, see if you can pick out all 12 gifts.)
Anyhow, suffice it to say, much fun was had by my hero and heroine, and by me too, as we progressed through those very sexy 12 days. And as Nick slowly persuaded Jude to open her heart and trust in him, and rediscover the loving spirit of Christmas. And that, after all, is the most fundamental Christmas theme, isn’t it?
Do you have a favorite Christmas-themed book or movie (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa themed)? What kinds of lovely (or not so lovely) things do you associate with December holidays? To get us all in the holiday spirit, I’ll give away an autographed copy of Unwrap Me to one of the people who comments.
By the way, if you’d like to read an excerpt from my novella, “Unwrap Me,” check it out on my website at http://www.susanlyons.ca.
There are no two words that are prettier to an author than The End. We like it, we love it, we want some more of it.
Unfortunately for most of us, getting to The End is an eternal pain in the backside. Some of us write a million drafts, some of us sculpt and hone one draft. Any way you look at it, the process is one of pain, misery, and tears. You lose sleep at night and your blood has a higher caffeine concentration than a latte from Starbucks with fifteen espresso shots. And that’s when things are going well. That agony is balanced by this scary, overwhelming drive to finish. If the characters are talking to you and the world building is working, it’s a rush that’s right next door to orgasm. (Nothing ever actually beats an “O” face. Not even chocolate. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)
When we get to The End, it’s a time of joyous celebration and end zone dances that put the NFL to shame.
Why am I blogging about this? You guessed it. I just put a full-length novel manuscript to bed last night at 1AM. I’m a bit loopy, but grinning from ear to ear. Is it wrong or weird to pet a manuscript while it sits on your desk awaiting the UPS delivery guy?
So, in joyous, super duper, fantabulous news that is just smothered in awesome sauce, I sold a new three book deal to my Aphrodisia editor in the last month, with the help of my truly talented agent, naturally. (Squeeeee!) 
