NEVER BEEN BIT

It seems like a lifetime ago that Sorcha and Alec first stepped onto the pages in our second book – TALL, DARK and WOLFISH. Back then, Sorcha was a naïve lass, the youngest of her coven, controller of plants, exuberant and full of life. And Alec was head over heels in love with Caitin Macleod. Over the course of both our Westfield Wolves and Gentlemen Vampyres series, many things have changed with these two. And many things have stayed the same.

So we thought (much like the ending of a much loved television series often does with a montage to music) we’d revisit some of our favorite moments of Sorcha and Alec (without the music, however.)

TALL, DARK and WOLFISH

Alec tries his hardest to win the affection of Caitrin, much to his friend Ben Westfield’s chagrin. (There’s still not a ton of love lost between Ben and Cait – one of those things that hasn’t changed.)

Sorcha is the only witch within the Còig who accepts Ben as Elspeth’s husband. In fact, she’s the only member of the coven who attends the pair’s rather impromptu wedding. (And through the event, Alec is right beside her, supporting his friend.)

Sorcha becomes enamored with the idea of Lycans thanks to Ben Westfield, and decides right then and there that she’d like to marry a wolf of her very own. So when another Lycan turns up in their midst (charming rakehell Lord William Westfield) Sorcha considers slipping a love potion to the rogue in order to seal the deal. But coven sisters, as they are wont to do, put an end to those plans.

THE TAMING OF THE WOLF

After being rejected by Cait time and time again, Alec left Edinburgh for England. He can’t quite believe his luck when he stumbles upon her along the Great North Road. Hoping that providence is finally on his side, Alec pursues the lass with renewed vigor. Unfortunately he has a new rival to contend with – Dashiel Thorpe.

Upon meeting Dash and learning that he is a Lycan, Sorcha is nearly beside herself with glee – convinced that each member of the coven will end up with a wolfish mate.

After Cait chooses Dash, Alec is truly heartbroken, but gentleman that he is – Alec heads to The Highlands to check on another coven sister Blaire as Cait is nearly worried sick about the other witch. His final goodbye to Cait still makes us weepy.

IT HAPPENED ONE BITE

Upon his arrival at Briarcraig Castle to ensure Blaire’s safety, Alec finds himself surrounded by vampyres, both benevolent and not-so benevolent. Too late he realizes what he’s up against when he’s attacked and left for dead beside the shores of an icy loch.

Not long after, Sorcha first comes in contact with vampyres back in Edinburgh – an evil one who was involved in Alec’s attack, and a noble one who had fallen for Blaire. Always the sweetest of the bunch, Sorcha’s heart aches for the tortured, malevolent vamp; and she welcomes the other into the coven’s circle with open arms.

IN THE HEAT OF THE BITE

Alec struggles to adjust in his new life as a vampyre under the tutelage of his maker Matthew, who’d saved him beside the icy loch that fateful night. He’s not comfortable in his new skin, but there’s no going back now. Still a gentleman, he tries his hardest to protect Rhiannon from those of his kind (particularly Matthew), even going so far as to align himself with his one-time rival Dash in order to do so.

Sorcha thanks Matthew profusely for saving Alec from certain death, once again welcoming a newcomer into her midst.

Alec hits his lowest point when he realizes Matthew has changed for Rhiannon and he will have to face this dark world all alone from here on out.

At Rhiannon and Matthew’s wedding, Sorcha comes face to face with Dash’s three Lycan half brothers and she is certain one of them is in her future – the wolfish husband she’s always wanted.

And that’s where Alec and Sorcha are (metaphorically speaking) when NEVER BEEN BIT begins and their story starts to unfold.

Sorcha - a naïve lass, controller of plants, exuberant and full of life. And Alec - a vampyre, still heartbroken over the loss of Caitin Macleod.

We hope you'll join us (and Mr. Seamus Ferguson) in the celebration in honor of Sorcha and Alec and long awaited Happy-Ever-Afters.

A Brave New World... Or the Top 5 Things About Self-Publishing

So there has been a lot of talk about self-publishing lately. I have a few friends who are doing it. I have a lot of friends who are considering it. And I know a number of multi-published authors who are self-publishing their backlists after getting their rights back. In short - it seems to be all the rage.

I am currently under contract, writing the second in a Regency werewolf trilogy. So I haven’t dipped my toe in that ever expanding pond. But I have been polling my friends and acquaintances about their experiences in this realm. What follows below is a list of the most frequently replied answers to my question - “What is the best thing about self-publishing?”

ONE – THE MONEY

Contracts from most NY publishers offer royalties anywhere from 5-9% on print books, and 15-25% on e-books. Percentages are often higher for e-only publishers. But retailers like Amazon pay 70% on e-books and Barnes & Noble pays 65%. There isn’t a publisher out there offering those percentages.

“Self-publishing has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me…and to my former publisher! My first two books were released by a small press that I love dearly and am very grateful for. However, they didn’t have the marketing resources to get me where I wanted to be, both in terms of readership and money. I took a lead from the incomparable Ava Stone, and self-published the 3rd and 4th installments of my Wetherby Brides series. The next thing I knew, I had sold hundreds of copies of my books! But that wasn’t even the best part. I got an email from my publisher saying, “What are you doing?!?! Your sales (which had earned me a whopping $60 in all of 2010) are through the roof!” So while I’m making a great living for myself, I’m also helping a small publishing house thrive!” – Jerrica Knight-Catania

TWO – CREATIVE FREEDOM

How many times have you heard an author lament about the market? They want to write one type of book, but NY isn’t buying them? Self-published authors can write whatever they’d like, at whatever length and not have to worry about their story getting watered down or not contracted at all. The market of actual readers will determine if you make money, not an editor’s educated guess.

And how many times have you heard authors complain about an awful cover or title they got saddled with? I, personally, have lost count, if I was ever keeping track. Self-publishing doesn’t guarantee good covers or good titles, but there is more of a chance that the author is happy with the end product. Or they can keep tweaking it until they are.

"Now I have a market for my short stories or those shorter stories about side characters that readers want to know more about, but I an't write enough about to fill up a book." – Laurel Bennett

“I love to write what I call Romantic Erotica – short, explicit stories that take place between committed couples. But in the real world, this genre doesn’t exist. In the Amazon and B&N self-publishing world, it does, because I made it so. And I’m so excited to see that what was turned away at publishing houses is quickly gaining a following.” – Chastity Lane

"I write historical western romance -- a genre that's been on the market decline for years, but I'm convinced that it's because of the lack of availability. There are people who love it, because I do. I now have the creative freedom to write in any genre I choose to with self-publishing. Any failures are mine as well as any successes, and that makes it worthwhile to me. I can write what I love and share it with others who love the genre as much as I do." – Suzie Grant

"I turned to self-publishing after seeing the success of my friends. I am not unhappy with my publisher because they have always been great, but I decided to give this avenue a chance and have not been disappointed. Besides my inspirational, I also write in two separate genres, under two different pen names. But because it took me so long to find a publisher for my inspirationals, as it does with most authors, I didn't want to have to go through the same process with my two new genres in hopes of seeing the books picked up and published sometime in the undefined future. My latest books will soon be published and I thoroughly enjoy the freedom of telling the story I want to tell in the way I want to tell it without being told that this type of book doesn't sell. How do we know it won't sell if it isn't available? Shouldn’t the readers be the ones who decide what sells?" - Amy De Trempe

THREE – REAL NUMBERS, REAL TIME

Authors do a lot of self-promoting. Blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, etc. We blindly hope that doing these things helps sales, but we don’t know for sure. I only get to see my numbers twice a year when my royalty statement arrives. But self-published authors can see their numbers all day, every day if they so desire. So if you wonder if that blog did you any good, you can look at your daily sales and find out.

“Having your sales available in real time can get addicting (“Oh look, another three sold!”), but in watching the trends in my short story sales I know immediately what the readers are buying. I can shelve projects that have a lesser potential and concentrate on what will earn better. As much as I’d love to just write the books of my heart, my writing is a business. Self-publishing allows me to get a jump on popular trends in a way other publishers can’t offer me.” – Roxy Jacobs

FOUR – NO WAITING

Most of the time you deliver your manuscript and then you wait. You wait for editorial notes. You then wait for the copy-edited version. Then you wait for the galleys. And then you wait some more for the book to finally be released. Self-published authors place their book(s) on virtual shelves as soon as they’re ready to do so. That book can start earning you money now instead of months or, in some cases, years from now.

"Being able to finish a book and publish it all in the same week is one of the huge advantages to self-publishing. I don't have to try to predict the market a year from now. Instead, I can create something fresh and see how the market responds today. I get a great deal of satisfaction from seeing instant feedback on my work. And as far as money goes, I have published three books in six months and already made more money than I would have expected to see from a typical advance. Seeing instant profit from my writing has truly changed my life." – Sarra Cannon

"Before I decided to self-publish, I had been waiting for two e-publishers to respond to my submission for over four months, a big 6 editor to respond to a requested full for eighteen months, and several agents for over two years. Best case: if they decided to offer me a contract tomorrow, it would be a minimum of another year before my book became available to readers. Worst case: my work would be buried in a 'requested' slush pile forever. It took less than one week from the time I made the decision to self-publish until I'd made my first sales on Amazon and Barnes & Noble." – L. J. Charles


"A week ago, I took a chance and uploaded my first novel to Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I wasn't sure if this was going to be the right career move for me or not. After all, there are no guarantees. But whereas with traditional publishing, I'd have to wait months, or maybe even years, to discover if I'd made a wise decision, by self-publishing through these venues I've been able to see immediate results. It is much easier to decide what to do from here on out, after analyzing the sales I've seen to this point." - Catherine Gayle

FIVE – COMPLETE CONTROL

You set your own price. You set your own schedule. You pick your own cover. You pick your own title. You write your own blurb. Once you’ve hit the button and your book is live - if you think your cover isn’t drawing readers, change it. If you find a typo on page 183, fix it. These are just a few of the options open to authors who are self-publishing.

"What I like best is I can put out however many books I want to in a year. With traditional publishing, you'll likely only be allowed one or two books, sometimes three if you have a three book series the publisher thinks they can capitalize on by putting them out a month a part. But then that's it. You have to wait another year before your next book comes out. With doing it myself, if I write six books this year, I can put all six out. Likewise, if I only write one book, I'm not in danger of breaking my contract and having to start the whole process over again." - Rose Gordon


“I love many things about self-publishing but mostly I love the control over when to publish. I like setting my own deadlines because the only pressure is what I inflict on myself. When the book is ready to share I can upload it.” – Heather Boyd


"I had a cover for my second book - A Scandalous Charade - that I really liked. In fact, it was my favorite cover, but it wasn't selling as well as the other books in the series. So I changed the cover and now the sales for that book are on par with my other titles. That just would never have been an option with a traditional publisher. If you get a cover that doesn't work, you're stuck with it. And even though I liked my original cover, it wasn't speaking to readers. Having the ability and freedom to make that change was priceless." - Ava Stone

"As of three days ago, my backlist has been available on Kindle and Nook, so I'm as new to this as it's possible to be. My vote so far? I'm in heaven. Having this much control is completely addictive. I love designing my own covers (the cover for A Kiss To Die For on the original book was a purple train); I love tweaking the content so that the book is smoother and sleeker; I love setting my own price; I love writing my own blurbs. I love everything about this new game in town!" - Claudia Dain

So there you have it from a number of self-published authors themselves. I’m not sure if it’s the path for me, but I am happy that others are enjoying their foray into this brave new world.

Have you thought about self-publishing? What are your thoughts/comments/concerns about doing so? Hopefully some of the self-published authors I know will pipe up throughout the day to answer questions.




Originally posted April 29, 2011 at ladyscribes.blogspot.com

Real Life Vampire?

Several years ago on my first trip to New Orleans, a friend of mine suggested we take one of the local haunted history tours. I (the Jodie ½ of Lydia Dare) was up for anything. Since my friend really wanted to take the Vampire Tour, I went along for the ride – or rather walk, as it was a walking tour late at night in the French Quarter. I was struck by the amazing storytelling of our guide as he brought each tale to life as we passed the buildings where the stories were reported to have taken place. I still get chill bumps when I think about some of the things we heard that night.

One story in particular has stayed with me throughout the years – the tale of Jacques St. Germain.

In the court of King Louis XV, Comte d’ Saint Germain has the feel of a real life Portrait of Dorian Gray. A handsome, wealthy man with many friends who never aged a day. In fact, the comte claimed to possess the elixir of life. And though he was always at the right functions, with the right people, no one ever saw him eat as much as a morsel of food. He did, however, often carry around a wine glass from which he sipped fairly regularly. After tiring of court life, the comte moved to Germany, where it was reported that he died. However, many people throughout Europe claimed to have seen him years after his “death.”

Flash forward to New Orleans in the early 20^th Century. A handsome, wealthy man by the name of Jacques St. Germain claimed to be a descendant of the popular comte. And like his ancestor, St. Germain knew all the right people, attended all the right functions, and never ate a bite of food – though he did love to sip wine from his glass as reported by anyone who knew him. Jacques took up residence on Royal Street in the heart of the French Quarter and in addition to being one of the city’s elite, St. Germain was a true ladies man, always in the company of one woman or another… Until one night when a paid companion screamed at the top of her lungs and then leapt from the second floor balcony of his home to the street below in her haste to escape the gentleman. She told those who rushed to her rescue as well as the authorities that St. Germain attacked and bit her.

By the time the police arrived at the home on Royal Street to ask the gentleman some questions, St. Germain had vanished. However the investigators found some peculiar items left in his residence – rugs on the hardwood floors that all covered curious red stains and bottles upon bottles of wine mixed with human blood.

Jacques was never brought to justice, but there are still apparently sightings of the fellow in the French Quarter from time to time.

There is something about that story that I love. I will freely admit that it may have something to do with standing outside the residence on Royal Street as I heard the story and probably something to do with the flare with which the story was first told to me. And though I would never like to meet the comte or Jacques or anyone else in the St. Germain family, the tale does have a bit of mysticism to it. A creature reinventing himself every so many years and starting over.

When Tammy and I decided to write Regency era vampyres, we were able to do the same thing with our heroes. James Maitland, Baron Kettering, in IT HAPPENED ONE BITE and Matthew Halkett, the Earl of Blodswell, from IN THE HEAT OF THE BITE, have both reinvented themselves many times over the centuries. James is from the Elizabethan era and Matthew was a knight from the crusades. To hide the fact that they never age, they spend one lifetime in London and one at the respective country estates. They play both the role of both father and son for each generation, always keeping their fortunes and titles in safe keeping.

We loved creating these gentleman vampyres who are too noble to ever bite a lady without being properly introduced. And we loved setting them squarely in the middle of Regency England with balls, carriage rides, and witches who are their equals.

Which era do you think would create the most interesting vampires? And what would you most like to ask them about their lives?

Originally posted at Vampchix.blogspot.com March 13, 2011

Ah, to be a Lady of Leisure

I was so excited about this month’s theme – Pampering Yourself – because that is one of the things I do best! (The Jodie, very high maintenance ½ of Lydia Dare, anyway). If there is a way to pamper myself, I’ve done it. After all, life should be enjoyed, not simply endured.

I am convinced that in an earlier life I was a very well-to-do Regency lady. I can’t simply be this spoiled being brought up in a middle class family, born in the 20th Century, can I? Doesn’t seem likely. Those Regency ladies had it all.

* Stylish townhome in Mayfair

* Gigantic estate(s) in the country

* Beautiful gardens

* Housekeeper – to make certain household chores are complete and satisfactory everyday

* Maids – to do all the menial tasks we have to do ourselves these days

* Cook - to have fabulous meals, teas, and pretty finger food always available at a moment’s notice

*Butler – to be stoic and keep things running smoothly

* Lady’s maid – to dress you and your hair and make certain you are always turned out in your finest

* Nurse/governess – to help watch and care for your children

* A coachman – to take you wherever you need to go

* Clothes and then some – the finest material, shimmery dresses, kid slippers, pretty gloves *sigh*

* Fantastic social life – Spend the morning sleeping, the afternoon gossiping…er…talking with friends, and the evenings at one gala/soiree/ball or another

* Rides through Rotten Row

* Shopping on Bond Street

* Plays/Operas at the theatre

* Fireworks at Vauxhall Gardens

* Trips to the Continent

* Truly – the list is endless…

I could SOOOO be pampered like that these days. But I have to settle for weekly trips to the nail salon (where my nail lady knows me so well, she has an enormous pillow to place my laptop on so I can write while getting a pedicure.) Bi-monthly trips to the massage parlor. Yearly cruises to one fascinating destination or another.

However, unlike those Regency ladies of leisure, I work a full-time job, write 3-4 books a year, and I’m a single mother of a teenage boy. Whew! Just typing that out, I got tired. So I have to pamper myself, or no one else will, right?

Originally posted at Casablancaauthors.blogspot.com March 11, 2011.

Time to Sign Some Books...

I’m going to let you in on a little secret, and it’s not one I’ve ever heard published authors say. So I might be like the masked magician on the Secrets of Magic Revealed shows. But I’m willing to take that chance.

In November 2010, I released my fourth book THE TAMING OF THE WOLF. There were various book signings set up, and the booksellers who hosted me were more than kind. But on more than one occasion, not only did patrons not approach the table I was at, they also avoided looking me in the eye. Maybe I’m intimidating in person (I truly don’t think this is the case). Or perhaps people are just uncomfortable approaching an author they don’t know. Or maybe they’d rather not have their neighbors seeing them talking to an author whose cover has a naked male torso on the front.

Whatever the reason, I haven’t seen a ton of success with book signings.

Stock signings on the other hand…well, that’s an entirely different matter. I talked to a couple of booksellers who said that if a book in a shelf with an autographed sticker on the front, it has more of a chance of being sold. So my take away was that people do want the signed books, they just might not want to talk to the author to get one.

Since then, I’ve made it a point to tour all of the bookstores in my area whenever a new book comes out and sign every copy they have on hand. And now, I do the same when I travel. Over the holidays, I visited my family out west and spent one whole day visiting all of the book stores within a 30 mile radius. And yesterday, I visited bookstores in the Tampa and St. Petersburg areas and did the same thing.

More importantly than signing books for readers, is talking to booksellers while you’re standing at the information desk signing the stock. If you’re pleasant and gracious, they might remember you when someone asks for a recommendation. Or they might even point out that an author was recently in and signed books. Talking to bookstore staff is one of the most important things an author can do, in my opinion.

Next Tuesday, my latest release IT HAPPENED ONE BITE will hit shelves. And you can bet that I’ll be making a grand tour around all of the Raleigh/Durham area bookstores to sign whatever stock the store has on hand – giving readers a note and signature and getting the chance to talk to booksellers.

Originally posted at LadyScribes.blogspot.com 2/25/2011

First Kiss, First Bite - THE TAMING OF THE WOLF

Most first kisses come after all sorts of build-up and sexual tension. The characters know each other and either can’t deny their desire for the other or are terrified by it, but give in anyway.

Neither of those scenarios are true for Dashiel Thorpe, the Earl of Brimsworth, and Caitrin Macleod, our hero and heroine in THE TAMING OF THE WOLF…

On bare feet, Cait padded along the hallway and down the main staircase. The last place she remembered having her book was in the duke’s study.

She turned the corner into the study and stopped short. Standing behind the duke’s desk was a tall man, one she’d yet to meet. Most of him was hidden in shadow, but his face was lit by the moonlight that filtered through the drapes. He was a blond Adonis, tall and lean. A vague memory of him, maybe from one of her visions, created unease within her.

A small gasp escaped her throat when he turned his amber gaze her way. “I’m sorry. I dinna ken anyone was up at this hour.” She turned to leave.

“Don’t go,” he said. Then he closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. “You needed something in Blackmoor’s study?”

“Aye, I left a book in here yesterday when I came ta find Her Grace.” She glanced quickly around the room, though she didn’t immediately see her copy of Maria Edgeworth’s Patronage. “Perhaps I left it in the library.” Perhaps I should run quickly from this room.

“Having trouble sleeping?” he asked, his tone amazingly familiar. As though he’d known her for a lifetime.

“Aye. At times, I canna get thoughts out of my head.” Why had she told him that? He probably didn’t care to hear how her visions played in her mind at all hours of the day and night, preventing her rest.

He walked around the desk and perched a hip on it. His hips were narrow, his shoulders broad. Stop ogling the man’s body, Cait. His eyes narrowed at her, as though he knew she had a secret. She closed her eyes and tried to get a vision of him, something to tell her who he was. But her mind was blank, which was more than disconcerting. Her mind was blank? That had never happened before.

“I canna tell yer future,” she muttered under her breath.

“Pardon?” He raised an eyebrow at her.

“Ah, there’s my book,” she said, smiling at him, hoping he’d believe she hadn’t a care in the world. She picked up a small, black leather book that lay on the desk behind him. It wasn’t hers, but it would have to do.

Before she could turn around, he reached out and grabbed her by the waist. She couldn’t even utter a gasp as he drew her body flush against his. Her breath stilled.

“What are ye—” she began, but he covered her mouth with his, his lips hard and urgent.
She shouldn’t let a man she’d never met before take such liberties. But he smelled so good. Felt so good. Tasted so good.

Her tongue rose to meet his as a whimper of pleasure left her throat. Her heart beat wildly as he tilted his head and deepened the kiss.

Cait had been kissed before, but never like this. Never so thoroughly that she couldn’t think straight. Never so expertly that her legs threatened to buckle. Never with enough passion that she could drown in it.

A tug to her hair sunk into her consciousness. He pulled her head back and looked into her eyes. He gently tugged, guiding her head until it leaned to the side, exposing her neck. She nearly jumped when his lips brushed feather-light down the side of her jaw as he trailed a kiss down her throat. He pulled at the neck of her wrapper and night rail until they opened, baring her shoulder to his gaze. She shivered.

When he reached the place where her neck met her shoulder, he sucked at the tender spot and then nipped her gently. It was the most sensual thing she’d ever experienced. Light-headed, she heard a moan escaping her throat. More. More, please.

He nipped her again, then opened his mouth wide and bit through the tender skin of her shoulder, jerking her instantly from the passion-induced haze.

“Ow!” she cried and smacked his shoulder. “That hurt!”

Unbeknownst to both Cait and Dash, that first meeting, first kiss, first bite – has sealed both of their fates. And what follows next is a mad dash (no pun intended) across Britain, into Scotland, complicated by other witches, werewolves, and an old suitor who still carries a torch for the beleaguered Caitrin.

Have you ever kissed someone without having been introduced?

Originally posted at casablancaauthors.blogspot.com on February 6, 2011

Ten Things I'm most excited about in 2011

Charles Caleb Colton said “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

With that in mind, I’m going to borrow the idea for this blog from the Editor of Vogue magazine, of which I am not a usual reader as my fashion sense would scream if you were to meet me in person. However in the salon this week, I picked up the January edition because Natalie Portman was on the cover, and I’ve been a fan of hers ever since she was twelve in The Professional. I would tell you the editor in question’s name but the message was signed with a signature that I couldn’t quite read. I’m sure if I was a regular reader, I would know the editor’s name, but we’ve already addressed my lack of fashion sense. So I digress...

Anyway, here goes – paraphrasing the Vogue editor – instead of writing a message about the beginning of the year and resolutions, she talked about the ten things of 2011 she was most excited about. My blog today is supposed to be about “beginnings”…. So I’ll start my Ten Things I’m Most Excited About in 2011 list beginning with…

1. Lydia Dare’s presentation TODAY at Heart of Carolina Romance Writers

That’s right. TODAY. So, if I don’t comment on the blog as much as I would normally, you’ll know it’s because Lydia Dare (the writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson) are presenting Team Writing : Are Two Minds Greater Than One? Or Do Great Minds Think Differently? Together we’ll discuss tips for writing with a partner as well as the ups and downs of team writing. If you're in the Raleigh NC area, stop by!

2. The March release of It Happened One Bite

2011 is the year of vampyres. At least for Lydia Dare, anyway. We have a new Regency vampyre trilogy out this year starting with IT HAPPENED ONE BITE, set in a picturesque crumbling castle in the Highlands.

3. RT Convention in April

After attending RT last year, missing this convention seems unthinkable. Faerie Balls and Vampire Balls. And lots and lots of readers.

4. My agent, Melissa Jeglinski, speaks to my local chapter in May

Anytime we get the opportunity to listen to Melissa is amazing. I can’t wait to hear what advice she’ll impart to the group!!

5. RWA Conference in June

I love the RWA Conference. It is the one time of year that I get to see all of my critique partners in person, or most of them, including Samantha Grace who will have her debut with Sourcebooks later this year. Being an online group, we have members in every corner of the country and even as far away as Australia. AND... Of course, there's always the opportunity to bond with our fellow Casa authors.

6. The July release of In the Heat of the Bite

The second book in our trilogy hits shelves in July and we are super excited about each one – however IN THE HEAT OF THE BITE offers a unique vampyre hero – an earl who at one time was a real knight in shining armor.

7. Authors After Dark Conference in August

Lydia Dare is up for four Bookie Awards which will be presented at theAuthors After Dark Conference in the city of brotherly love. And we will be on several panels. We can hardly wait!

8. The September release of Never Been Bit

Our final vampyre book will be released in September. I can’t reveal anything about the hero at this point, as it will be a spoiler alert. But I will say that writing this particular character’s story arc has been one of the highlights of my writing career.

9. Heart of Carolina Romance Writer’s October Workshop with Cherry Adair

Every year I look forward to my local chapter’s all day workshop in October. In fact, it was at one of these workshops that the two of us who make up Lydia Dare first decided to collaborate on a project. This year’s presenter the enchanting Cherry Adair is always fascinating and listening to her is always inspiring.

10. Finishing up a wolfish trilogy for 2012

Finally, the last thing I’m looking forward to this year is completing a new wolfish trilogy that is contracted for 2012. The three Lycan heroes have been rumbling around in our brains for quite a while and it will be nice to have their stories completed. And only then will we be able to decide what is next for Lydia Dare.

I’ll end this blog with a great big thanks to the editor of Vogue for giving me such a wonderful idea to borrow! And now I'll ask you - What are you most looking forward to this year?

originally posted at Casablancaauthors.blogspot.com 1/8/2011

What's Your Favorite...

I love polls. Well, I love some polls. I'm not a big fan of political polls or product polls or marketing polls. Which, now that I think about it, is most polls. So maybe I don't really love polls at all. Hmm...

Ok - let me start over. I love polls that I create and that fans get to take. How's that? The idea is not as far-reaching, but much more accurate and truthful.

Over the last few weeks, I've created a couple of polls. The first one stars the wolfish heroes of my books, asking which of four Lycans was their favorite. The second poll features the five witches of the Còig and asks readers which witch's power they'd most like to have. Now I don't want to influence anyone's answers, but it's always a little surprising to me when I periodically check the results. I usually find that my preferences, as far as wolfish men and witchy powers goes, is fairly different than those of my readers.

Something about that strikes me as strange, especially as I've created the characters. I just assume my favorites would come through in the books and readers would feel the same way. I guess it's a good thing really, that not everyone feels the same way I do. At least I know that all the characters have core group of fans.

So now, it's your turn to have your opinion heard. (Though I can't possibly reveal my answers - I'm dying to know what yours are.)

Westfield Brothers Series - Which noble Lycan is your favorite?

The Còig Witches - Which witch would you like to be?

It's never really THE END

More than once this year, Lydia Dare’s Facebook status has read “My two favorite words in the English language are ‘The End’.” The update is usually followed by a heavy sigh, a super feeling of contentment, and brewing excitement about what’s coming next.

However, we’ve never actually typed “The End” at the end of any of our books. We think readers can tell the end has come for two very important reasons. (1) There are no more pages to turn, which is always a fabulous clue. (2) After finishing 400 pages, readers should be thoroughly satisfied that our hero and heroine will now live happily ever after. “The End” will never happen, because the story will go on and on and on, despite the fact that it’s officially over.

Besides, that’s what epilogues are for, right? The reader (and the writer) gets to take a quick peek into the future. It might be a few months or a few years later. It’s usually just enough for us to make certain there is still happiness in paradise. Ah, the epilogue – where we get to be our gushiest. (The Jodie ½ anyway, the Tammy ½ does NOT do gushy. But that’s why there are two of us.)

Yesterday, Robin’s post made us tear up. (Well, the Jodie ½ anyway. Gushy, you know.) We can’t imagine packing away all of our research and photos from one book in a box and saying good-bye to all of our characters. The very idea is so incredibly heartbreaking. Therefore, we’ve always taken the coward’s way out. We NEVER say goodbye. Never.

Why, you ask? How can we get away with never saying good-bye?

Well, because that’s the glory of a series!

Photo courtesy of Heather Boyd

Our characters can always come back to visit or cause conflict or maybe just be a shoulder to cry on. They all live in the same world, after all. Four Lydia Dare books hit the shelves in 2010. Three more are scheduled for 2011. And another three in 2012. In those 10 books (with the first seven completed) we have a few characters who always seem to turn up. The hero and heroine of Tall, Dark and Wolfish make an appearance in It Happened One Bite (coming in 2011), and the hero and heroine in The Taming of the Wolf are characters in In the Heat of the Bite (another book for 2011). Nothing could make us happier.

We’ve spent so much time with these characters, we want just as badly as readers to know what has happened to them after the pages have been read and the cover has been closed. They also make for some darn fine comedic relief and, since their trials and tribulations are over, they can cause quite a bit of mischief without changing their story at all. That’s always fun.

While “The End” may not be our actual favorite words, the concept behind the words is one of our favorites. Finishing one book means we’re starting the next, growing our world, telling new stories and meeting new characters who may just pop up in some future book somewhere down the road.

Originally posted at casablancaauthors.blogspot.com 12/8/2010

Whopper and Fries For Thanksgiving?!?!?!?

By the Jodie 1/2 of Lydia Dare

I’ll never forget Thanksgiving dinner 1983. Never.

No, we weren’t at my grandparents’ cozy house enjoying turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. No, those holiday dinners all tend to blend together, don’t they? And this particular dinner still stands out in my mind. Why, you ask? Because Thanksgiving 1983 we dined at a Burger King in the middle of nowhere, Indiana.

That’s right. Thanksgiving dinner at Burger King. And, no, they didn’t offer turkey, mashed potatoes, or pumpkin pie. Who even knew they were open on Thanksgiving, right? But it was a good thing they were.

You see, my family was in the process of moving from the Rocky Mountains to the Midwest. So there we were - four children and our parents in an ugly brown van with splashes of wild color on the sides (it was the 80s and at the time we thought it looked cool) driving across the country.

But I digress.

We were in a strange state we’d never been to before. We had no family (other than ourselves) and no friends to invite us over. No, we were on our own for Thanksgiving, and the prospects weren’t exactly promising. Oh, there were some nice restaurants open, but none that my father would stop at. I recall hearing repeatedly from the driver’s seat, “I’m not paying $20 a head for food.”

Never mind it wasn’t just food, it was Thanksgiving!! (And it was the 80s so $20 a head for food was a lot in those days. Especially if four of those heads were ten years old or younger.)

So we kept driving (and those who know me well will tell you I got my overly frugal ways from my father). And we kept driving. And it started getting dark, and off in the distance down the twisty, turny road we traveled – we saw a sign for Burger King.

It was like a beacon.

Not that we wanted to feast on whoppers or cheeseburgers for Thanksgiving, but it was food that wasn’t going to cost my father $20 a head. And by this time, we were really hungry. So we inhaled the burger and fries my parents put before us (and the cup of water, because no one was going to pay good money for a soda).

And in the back of my mind, I told myself that it wasn’t Thanksgiving. That it was just another night along the road and there was nothing special about it.

But that wasn’t really true.

Oh, it was most certainly a non-traditional holiday dinner, but we all had each other which is what Thanksgiving is really all about. And in the months that came after that night, we needed each other like we never had before. Leaving everyone you’ve ever known to embark on a life in a strange town, in a strange state, with people who aren’t remotely like you is a very difficult thing. Especially at that age. But we always did have each other, whether it was for Thanksgiving dinner at Burger King or at any other bump along the road.

Have you ever had a holiday dinner that was less than traditional? And is that why it sticks out in your mind?

Why Werewolves?

When we first starting writing Regency werewolf books, a number of our critique partners asked, “Why werewolves?” This was a valid question, as everything up to that point had been written without any sort of paranormal element. However, I asked them to keep an open mind and give our wolfish men a chance, and I am happy to report that since that time, they’ve all been converted into lovers of our historical wolves. So, if you’ve ever wondered, “Why werewolves?” we thought we’d give you the top ten reasons why wolfish heroes are the best, ala David Letterman…

10. You never have to worry about your teenager sneaking out in the middle of the night, since the beasts can hear everything.

9. There’s no excuse for not to get up with the baby at night, since he’ll hear the cry first.

8. Your bill for heating fuel will go down, since he’s a furnace all on his own.

7. You never have to worry about being lonely, since his pack will always be around.

6. You don't have to worry about leftovers, since they eat everything and then look for a snack.

5. You get to redecorate often since they’re tough on furniture.

4. A scratch behind the ears will excite them more than a season pass to see the Yankees play.

3. He can never complain about your PMS, since his is just as bad as the moon grows fuller.

2. Unlike most men, sit and stay are words in his vocabulary.

1. He will always come when called.

So what about you? Do you enjoy werewolf romance? And if so, what is your favorite reason?

Originally posted at Fresh Fiction 11/18/2010

Guest blogger: Lydia Dare

Today’s guest, and our sister blogger, Lydia Dare, writes historical romances with a wild streak. She is the paranormal historical writing team of Tammy Falkner and Jodie Pearson, two very funny and hardworking ladies. Both Tammy and Jodie are active members of the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers and live near Raleigh, North Carolina. Lydia Dare’s latest release from Sourcebooks, The Taming of the Wolf, was released November 2nd, 2010.

Regency England has gone to the wolves!

Welcome Lydia. Tell us a little about The Taming of the Wolf, your fourth book from Sourcebooks.

Lydia/Jodie – The Taming of the Wolf picks up the same night the previous book – The Wolf Next Door – comes to an end. Werewolf Dashiel Thorpe, the Earl of Brimsworth, under the power of the full moon shares a heated kiss with a Scottish lass and bites her, “claiming” her as his mate. Unfortunately, the Scottish lass in question is a powerful witch who isn’t too keen on having been “claimed”.

Lydia/Tammy: Dashiel Thorpe has been raised to believe that he’s a monster, an anomaly, an abomination. He can’t help that his real father was a Lycan, that he never met him, or that his mother cuckolded the the Marquess of Eynsford, the man Dash has always considered to be his father. It’s not until he meets the Westfields that he realizes there are others of his kind. Unfortunately, Caitrin Macleod lands directly in his path and he claims her without even knowing it. Now he’s left with two options, to go and get training as a Lycan, or go after Caitrin who is Scotland-bound. Perhaps he can do both.

We are always fascinated by an authors writing process, and since there are two of you it must take some juggling. How does a typical writing week go for you two ladies?

Lydia/Jodie – There is no typical. It depends on the book and what else is going on. What revisions are due, what copy edits, that kind of thing. We like to get about 1500 words written a day and exchange the book back and forth for edits.

Lydia/Tammy – Our first three books each took two months to write. We find that it’s more difficult to keep that schedule up now, but we still aim for about five pages a day. When I get the pages from Jodie, I read what she wrote, make any edits I think are necessary, then write my five pages. Then it’s off to Jodie again!

What is your favorite form of procrastination, apart from getting lost in research?

Lydia/Jodie – For me, I’d have to say the internet or television. I’m a little addicted to Vampire Diaries.

Lydia/Tammy – Work is a terrible distraction! I also get bogged down in internet searches should I need to look something up. Even if it’s just looking up the spelling of a word, it gets me off track.

We know The Taming of the Wolf is about to be unleashed, but what are you working on now, and what was the last scene you wrote on the story?

Lydia/Jodie – What we just finished working on was book seven in this series, Never Been Bit. So the last scene was the epilogue, which is always one of my favorite scenes to write. I love seeing what has happened months or even years later to the couple in question and realizing that they still love each other as much as they did at the end of the final chapter.

Here’s our question for you – Have you ever had to tame anything? An unruly child? A pet? Your grandmother who likes to yell obscenities out the car window? Anything at all? If so, we’d love to hear about it. A copy of THE TAMING OF THE WOLF will be sent to one lucky commenter. Please include email addresses along with your comments so the winner can be contacted. **Available for only US and Canada residents.

The Lady Scribes would like to thank Lydia for allowing us to pimp her next fantastic romance novel today. Stop by her website at http://www.lydiadare.com/.

Advice for new writers

At least once a week we get asked, together or separately – what advice we would offer aspiring writers. Incredibly, we give the same answer – and if you knew how differently we are in real life, you would appreciate this rarity even more. So what IS the answer, you’re asking?

The best advice we give is to surround yourself with other creative people. Find a group or organization where you can meet other writers, preferably with members who share your interests. The reason we so adamantly spout this advice is that following this path not only led to publication for us, but it also led us to each other.

We live more than an hour away from each other, and even though we write together – we never see each other. Well, we DO see each other at our local RWA chapter – Heart of Carolina Romance Writers. And we DO see each other at various publicity events, but if we hadn’t met through HCRW, Lydia Dare would have never been born. Our paths would have never crossed.

Our local chapter currently has 140 members, but there’s usually 50 or so at any given meeting. And when you first join a chapter that has impressive NYT Bestselling authors, it can be a little intimidating, no matter how nice they really are. So, the newer members generally have a way of finding each other. And that is exactly what happened to us. We both joined the chapter within a few weeks of each other and introverts that we are - we tended to sit quietly in the back. Eventually we became friends and then later writing partners.

But two more different people you aren’t likely to find, which in our case is actually a benefit. We balance out each other’s strengths and weaknesses – or at least we hope we do. Tammy is very plot driven and Jodie is very character driven. Tammy tends to write a little spicier and Jodie focuses on the historical aspects. And hopefully, when we’re done, we have a well-rounded story that readers will fall in love with.

Because we rarely see each other, we don’t write in the same room or we’d never finish any projects. Instead, we converse through email and Skype on a regular basis. We have a goal of 1500 words or so a day. And the way that works for us is one will write the words then send the pages to the other, who then edits those pages and then starts writing where the first one left off. When we finish a chapter we post it to our online critique group and see what edits, revisions, suggestions those ladies offer. And we continue in this vein until we type “the end”.

When we first decided to embark on this journey together, neither thought we’d be sitting her two years later with four books on the shelves and six more on the way. We were fortunate to find each other at the right time.

Have you ever decided to collaborate with someone on a project? And if so, was the person similar to you? Or did you have a different way of seeing things?

Originally posted at Deb's Book Bag 11/16/2010

A sit down with Còig witches...

Lydia Dare: I’d like to first thank everyone at Night Owl Romance for having all of us today. (Yes, there are several of us crowded in this blog right now) So before the sisterly bickering begins, I should introduce everyone to my coven of Scottish witches – the Còig, in case you haven’t met them yet. Actually, on second thought, ladies, why don’t you each introduce yourselves instead?

Sorcha: Honestly, Ms. Dare, no one really cares about any of us right now. Well, except for Cait that is. (The youngest witch rolls her eyes.)

Caitrin: Sorch! That’s no’ true. I’m sure everyone would love ta ken all about ye and the others.

Lydia Dare: Fine, fine. I’ll do the introductions. The Còig is made of up five talented witches, each with their own special abilities. Elspeth Westfield has the power to heal the sick. Sorcha Ferguson communes with plants. Blaire Lindsay can fight better than any warrior. Rhiannon Sinclair’s emotions control the weather. And Caitrin Macleod—

Sorcha: Caught a Lycan for herself after vowin’ that she couldn’t abide the beasts.

Elspeth coves her snort into a monogrammed handkerchief.

Blaire: Ye’re just jealous, Sorcha. Ye should let Ms. Dare have her say.

Sorcha: Of course I’m jealous. I’ve been dyin’ for a Lycan of my own ever since I learned about them. Playful. Loyal. Handsome. What’s no’ ta want?

Rhiannon: Flea bitten mutts. (All eyes turn to the normally quiet weather-witch who shrugs.) I’m only quotin’ Cait. How many times has she said that?

Elspeth: Among other unflatterin’ terms, usually directed at my husband.

Caitrin grins unrepentantly.

Sorcha: Exactly. And then she goes out and snares one for her very own. It’s just no’ fair.

Caitrin: I wouldna exactly use the word snare. I dinna mean ta catch Dash. In fact, I tried my hardest ta avoid the beast all together. (She smiles wistfully) He did grow on me, though.

Elspeth: Just be careful, Cait. The man has a sordid past. He’s dangerous.

Caitrin: I am well aware of his past.

Sorcha: I think he’s charmin’. (She sighs dreamily.)

Blaire: (under her breath) Ye doona think at all.

Sorcha: There’s no reason ta be bitter, Blaire.

Rhiannon: She’s not the one who sounds bitter, Sorch.

Sorcha: (scowls at her sister witches) I’m no’ bitter. I just want what Cait has – a handsome Lycan who adores her. That’s no’ so much ta want, is it?

Rhiannon: I think Cait is amazingly fortunate. No’ everyone finds a man who adores her the way Lord Brimsworth does. I doona even dare hope for such a thing myself.

Blaire: Me either.

Sorcha: (scoffs) Why no’? Goin’ after yer dreams doesna cost ye anythin’.

Caitrin: Sorcha’s right. And I can see happy endings for each of ye.

Lydia Dare: I suppose now would be the time to tell everyone out there that Caitrin’s special power is that of clairvoyance. Since you’ve all gotten a chance to meet the witches of the Coig, I’d like to open the floor up to all you. Do you have a question for any of these ladies?

Originally posted Night Owl Romance 11/10/2010

Tradition with a Twist

By: The Tammy Half of Lydia Dare

As you may or may not know, I live in a house over-run by members of the male species. I have a husband, sons, and the sons’ friends at any hour of the day or night. I even got a couple of girl dogs, just so that I could balance some of the estrogen and testosterone. It didn’t work, because both those dogs hate me and wouldn’t take a dog treat from me if I wrapped it in bacon. But they love the boys.

I used to be a believer that gender played some part in food consumption. Well, not in amounts, but in the way it’s consumed. Then I had my second child. And my two boys are as different as night and day. My youngest is six and he only eats peanut butter and jelly. And broccoli. Yes, broccoli. Odd, isn’t it? My oldest is fifteen and he eats everything that won’t eat him first. With him, the only thing you have to worry about when it comes to feeding him is how to keep yourself out of his way. The boy could take an arm off and you wouldn’t even see it coming.

Thanksgiving at our house is usually a free-for-all. My sister and I go to our parents’ house and the food is set up buffet style. I do some cooking, my mom does the ham and turkey, and my sister is a whiz at deviled eggs, which I have never, ever been able to make worth a darn. Even the dogs won’t eat them. But there’s an annual tradition that’s a little odd, which I started a few years ago. I don’t eat meat so my staple at Thanksgiving is eggplant parmesan. I know, there goes that odd thing again…

It has become somewhat of a tradition for me to make it and then hide it, because it just happens to be my sister’s favorite food on earth. MY eggplant parmesan, that is. She swears she can’t make it, although it’s fairly simple. So, every Thanksgiving, she calls me a few days before to remind me to buy the eggplant. And I always tell her I’m not bringing it, that the stores are out of eggplant. They’re not. But I kind of like the game we’ve set up. On Thanksgiving day, it’s the very first thing she looks for, then she sulks when she can’t find it, then she starts to search the house until she does. It’s kind of like an Easter egg hunt, only at the wrong time of year and with the wrong participants. Even my boys get into the act and send her to misleading places where they “think they saw it.”

My eggplant is nothing fancy, and is just an adaptation from the Moosewood Cookbook, the fattening one before they came out with the low-cal version. If you like veggies, I highly recommend it. So, in honor of Thanksgiving, and in hopes that my sister will read this blog and at least try to make her own damn eggplant parmesan, I’ll share it with you. (I kind of hope hers sucks, because I’d miss the game we play if she did come up with a decent version of her own.)
My six-year-old will be eating peanut butter and jelly, and my sister will be dodging my oldest lest he take off an arm. But you, you could be having eggplant parmesan right beside your turkey. (Lucky you!)

Ingredients:
2-3 large eggplants, peeled and sliced into one inch layers
3 eggs
½ cup of milk
Italian bread crumbs
Olive oil
Cheeses of your choice (I like mixing cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan) (And I like LOTS of cheese.)
Tomato sauce
Garlic Powder
Rice to serve it over

Once you’ve salted your eggplants and left them to sit on paper towels for a few minutes (it makes them less bitter), rinse them well.

Beat the egg with the milk. Put it in a bowl right beside your bread crumbs. Dry your eggplant slices, dip them in the egg mixture, then in the breadcrumbs, then drop them into a hot pan of oil. Brown them on both sides on a medium heat until they’re crispy on the outside. Drain them on paper towels.

Layer the eggplant slices in a large baking dish, alternating between eggplant, a layer of cheese, enough tomato sauce to cover the layer, and sprinkle the tomato sauce with some garlic powder. Repeat until your pan is full. Top with lots of parmesan cheese. Bake until bubbly. Serve over rice. Hide well. Taunt your sister if she really likes this stuff. And your recipe is complete.

Do you have an odd recipe that has become a staple at family gatherings? If so, what is it?

Originally posted at casablancaauthors.blogspot.com 11/7/2010