Alien Invaders on my holidays?

I'm on holidays this week, and while we're not going on a vacation, we are taking some day trips, and renovating the house. While we had a babysitter, my husband and I decided to catch a movie by ourselves, something we don't do very often. On Saturday night, we saw the movie, THE WATCH. I really enjoyed this movie. Not only does it have three fabulous comedic actors, but it involves aliens. Woot! Let me just say, I cannot look at a Costco without thinking alien invasion. Drove past one yesterday, and wondered. LOL

So, here's a bit about the movie, THE WATCH:

Suburban dads who form a neighborhood watch group as a way to get out of their day-to-day family routines find themselves defending the Earth from an alien invasion.

And then on Monday, I went with my family to the Toronto Zoo.  We had a fabulous time seeing animals like the White Lions. They just sat up on their rock. The giraffes were so tall. We were all enamored by the swimming penguins, and even the polar bears. The huge male polar bear slept while the female swam her course over and over. And the cute, big baby polar bear played with balls, ropes, and large plastic bins.

But what caught my attention was this:

The sign discussed how non-native plants and animal species had been brought to Australia only to harm their native species. With the stories I write, I saw the word alien, and made a bee-line for the sign.

So, I've seen alien invaders at Costco, and the Toronto Zoo.

Have you seen "alien invaders" anywhere that surprised you?

Bio:

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.

Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Amazon

It's Boot Camp time!

Time for a little shamless promo. Have you gotten it? Have you read it?
Why not?

BLURB:

And courtesan boot camp starts now.

When Shay lands on Elatia, she knows she has one shot to be chosen as courtesan for a king and queen. Mess up—everything she was born to be, all she’s trained her entire life to become—will be lost. The alternative is unthinkable.

What a pampered priss.

Dayne’s first impression isn’t a good one, but he’s determined to turn the spoiled beauty into the next royal courtesan at any cost. As a Dominus, a master of all things sexual, he agrees to help a friend, his sovereign, and promises to do nothing to compromise her future.

 Except the promise may cause him to question his loyalty, friendship and honor. All he knows is on the line…when he falls in love with a woman who can never be his.

EXCERPT:

“Wakey, wakey, princess.” Someone slapped her cheek.

Shay knocked the hand away. “I’m not a princess.”

“We’ll you’re not an ornament for my transpod either. Get off. You’re drooling on my deck.”

Shay’s eyes snapped open, and she found herself face to face with the mud slug again. “Courtesans don’t drool.”

“You aren’t a courtesan yet, cupcake, and what do you call that puddle on the deck?”

She turned and her eyes widened. No, no, no. She’d committed the unforgivable. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth and chin, hopefully blocking the view of any spittle left on her face.

“Yup, Dayne’s going to have fun with you. What street corner are they finding you girls on these days?”

“They didn’t find me. They bred me for…why am I explaining this to you?” She kept her hand over her mouth, waiting for him to look away so she could take care of business.

He shrugged, dropped her bag beside the transpod, and headed for the front entrance to a large minnica spire.

     She used her palm to wipe her chin and watched him go. “Hey, do I go in there?”

If he heard her, he didn’t indicate that he had. He entered, leaving her to her own devices. Okay, she wasn’t some helpless flower. She could make the introduction herself and didn’t need Mr. Personality’s help.

      Shay reached into her bag, retrieved a mirror, and checked her face and hair. All evidence of the mishap had been wiped away, and without smearing her makeup. At least something had gone well. Once satisfied, she climbed to her feet with as much grace as she could muster, smoothed the fabric down on her overdress, and grabbed her bag.

      Sometime during the trip to her new home, her right ass cheek had gone to sleep. Combined with the missing heel, she hobbled like a crone. Not the most elegant example she wanted to put forward, but also not her fault. Too bad about the boots. The heels were hand-carved crystal, irreplaceable, and her favorite pair. If not for the fact she had to undress to reach the tops to unbuckle her boots, she’d have changed on the transpod.

She stopped in front of the tall door and stared at it for several seconds before she found her courage. Shay cleared her throat. “Open,” she spoke in her most commanding tone. Stepping forward on instinct, she smacked face first into the hard surface, which had failed to vaporize as expected.

Shay reached up and rubbed the tip of her nose. What kind of freaking planet is this?

She poked it and cleared her throat. “Open.” The door didn’t move. Shay glanced around for a button, or something, anything to activate the mechanism that opened it. Lever? Fuck. Nothing but a round thingy. She bit her lip again. Certainly nothing as primitive as….

You have to turn the round thingy, honey. This time Milos’s voice came through by brainwave, telepathy, or whatever he was using to annoy the shit out of her.

“Stay out of my head.”

Turn the knob. Open the door. It’s not rocket science.

“I know rocket science. I don’t need your instructions.”

“Of course you don’t,” the voice in her head said again.

“You’re an asshole!”

“Nice language.”

Shay lifted her chin to look in the face of…dear gods. Dark hair, green eyes, strong jaw and chin. The man standing in the doorway had looks that would melt a woman where she stood. And she’d just called him an asshole, or he thought she did. Her mouth dropped open.

GET YOUR COPY: 
Kindle:  http://www.amazon.com/Courtesan-Boot-Elatia-Series-ebook/dp/B008EMTYNK
Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/courtesan-boot-camp-dl-jackson/1111809100
Other:  http://www.decadentpublishing.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=D+L+Jackson&osCsid=s0e03v0e898at6jk1br2bqtdv6&button=search

WIN A COURTESAN BOOT CAMP T-SHIRT IN EITHER, MEDIUM, LARGE OR EXTRA LARGE.

THE FIRST PERSON TO REPLY WITH THEIR FAVORITE COURTESAN BOOT CAMP MOMENT WINS!

GO!

The Next Best Thing Challenge: Alien Adoration

I was tagged by Author Lorraine Paton to do The Next Best Thing Challenge.  Thank you, Lorraine! This was a lot of fun! 

Here's the idea: 

• Answer the 10 questions below

• Spread the fun and tag 5 awesome people to participate!

1. What is the title of your book / WIP?

It's called Alien Adoration, which is the first book in the Alien Next Door trilogy.

2. Where did the idea of this book come from? 

For the first book, I was inspired by the song, Spaceman, by Bif Naked.

3. What genre would your book fall under? 

Definitely Science Fiction Romance, specifically Alien Romance.

4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

Gerard Butler as Jake, and Anne Hathaway as Rachel.

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book? 

In the small town of Hanton, Rachel has fantasized about her sexy neighbor since the day he moved in, but will she still feel the same way when she learns he's an alien?

6. Is your book published or represented? 

Neither. I'm still writing it.

7. How long did it take you to write it? 

Not sure. Still working on it. LOL

8. What other books in your genre would you compare it to? 

Oh, I don't like to compare my books to other authors. I think I have a style all my own. Unlike most other Sci-Fi Romance stories, mine are heavy on the romance, and light on the science.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book? 

I wouldn't say any inspired this book in particular. I was cleaning my family room, listening to Spaceman when the idea popped into my head.

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book. 

Jake, the hero, came to Earth as a little boy. He managed to blend into the planets culture and become a licensed carpenter. Two years ago, he returned to the small town, Hanton, where he originally arrived on the planet. He remembers the little girl who comforted him the first night, but does she remember him?

Rachel fantasizes nightly about her sexy neighbor, anything to keep away the childhood memories of the day her life changed. But she doubts he'll ever change his playboy ways to look her way. When he rescues her not once, but twice from disastrous dates, he actually asks her out. Finally, her life in the small town becomes bearable, until she learns the truth.

And now, the five talented authors I'm tagging to share the fun. 

DL Jackson
Layna Pimentel
Monica Enderle Pierce
Kerrianne Coombes
Cassandra Dean

Thanks Everyone!
Jessica
http://jessicasubject.com

Nadia Scrieva blog tour: Book Feature

Drowning Mermaids

Deep under Arctic waters lies an ice kingdom carved into a glacier. Those who dwell within it possess magnificent biological secrets. Due to the dangers of impending war, the Princess of Adlivun is forced to flee her undersea utopia and regroup with her sisters in Alaska.

Captain Trevain Murphy is a successful king crab fisherman who has spent his life building his empire above the sea, and knows nothing of the empire beneath it. When he meets a mysterious dancer whose father has recently died, he extends kindness towards her, unaware of her unique genetics and royal lineage.

Trevain's attraction to the enigmatic Aazuria Vellamo will involve him in dangerous designs that will forever change his life, and his perspective on himself and his world. He embarks on perilous journeys in which he will need to release all of his insecurities and inhibitions in order to survive. 

Fathoms of Forgiveness

There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death—even if death comes in several centuries, and in that time your spouse happens to become your sworn enemy. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she has no faith in their feeble bond and knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged man would relish breaking her down and making her lose her sanity.

Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands; she will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior woman with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing? 

Author Bio

Nadia Scrieva was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, where she grew very strong from carrying heavy bags filled with books back and forth from the library. She attended the University of Toronto, graduating with a B.A. in English and Anthropology. She likes knives. Her writing always features powerful females and (mostly) honorable male characters.

Writing has been the most meaningful part of her life since she was a child. Nadia has an addiction to receiving feedback from readers, so do not hesitate to contact her with any of your comments or even just to say hello. 

Website / Twitter / Facebook

Can I Borrow a Cup of Hours?

With three blog tours coming up, the first kicking off next week, my schedule is about to get infinitely more crowded.

So, here I am, doing my best to work on the big story I’ve sworn to focus on, and get my interviews and posts together for the tours, and wham, I get a request for two more stories, and I've possibly found a home for the republication of two more of my novels I’ve gotten the rights back on. They have sequels, though not finished, and I desperately need to finish them. So that makes what, four more projects to add to the other irons in the fire?

So, of course I say yes, but inside I’m kicking myself because I made this promise to finish this novel. *sighs* I think my no filter is turned off. So, the big novel is on hold while I work on two more stories and wrap up writing another two that are sequels. Sometimes I just don’t feel like there are enough hours in the day to do all I want to do. 

Anyone else feel that way?

Help me kick off the insanity starting Monday morning at Coffee Beans and Love Scenes.
http://coffeebeanslovescenes.blogspot.com/

D L

Sneak peak at upcoming release, THE POWER OF THREE

Hey everyone! I'm excited to say that the release date for my paranormal erotica short story is just over a week away. The Power of Three will release July 20 from Decadent Publishing as part of their erotica line, The Edge.

Normally, I'd give you a sneak peak into the story closer to the release date, but next Thursday, I'm going to be interviewing Nadia Scrieva on the blog. Oh, and I think there's a giveaway. :)

So, here's an excerpt from The Power of Three:

“I’m from Wigbay,” he stated. “I’m not sure how to explain where that is except to say, it’s in another dimension. I was sent here, trapped as a spirit inside your gargoyle statues when I refused to take on another female lover.”

On the day he’d been sucked away from his life partners, Catalis had arrived at his shared home, shouting curses and calling him out for not taking her as his mate. Against their advice, he left Lianna and Lewis on the love platform, anxious to dispose of their unwelcome visitor. But she had other ideas.

When he met her outdoors, she waved her arms in wide circles, uttering an ancient chant. Her malicious words drew the air around them into a swirling mass. Without the combined power of his mates, he was weak to stop her. Catalis used an energy field to bind him then tossed him into the center of the twister. Lianna and Lewis raced out the door and launched themselves onto the sorceress, but they were too late.

“You were in our statues?”

Oscar blinked hard, returning his attention to his hosts.

Bo’s eyes grew wide, his face a mess of contradictory emotions.

“Another lover?” Delayna asked.

“I’ve been able to move amongst the gargoyles you own for the past year. It feels like forever since I’ve seen Lianna and Lewis—my mates, my lovers.” A wave of sorrow threatened to wash over him, but one glimpse of the sparkle in her eyes brought back his immediate need.

“You’ve been spying on us for a year?” Bo turned to his wife. “I don’t believe this shit about being trapped, but there could be hidden cameras in your statues. I swear, Delayna. I’m throwing every single one of them away as soon as we get this whackjob out of the house.”

“Please, Bo.” She whispered something in his ear and he smiled until he caught Oscar looking at him.

Bo stood up, letting the pillow fall to the floor. “Like what you see?”


For more information about The Power of Three and my other stories, please visit me on:

My website / Twitter / Facebook

The One Night Stand. D.L.Jackson's journey into a writing and reading addiction.

Hi, my name is D.L. Jackson and I have been addicted to 1NS for a little over a year now.

When I was first asked if I’d like to write a 1NS story by a friend, Rebecca Royce, I said, “I don’t know. I have so many projects.” At first I didn’t want to ask what the heck a 1NS was, feeling maybe this was something the savvy author was suppossed to know. Kind of like all that cute jargon more seasoned authors use that makes the newbies scratch their heads, like WIP, IMHO, Beta, Skiffy Rommers, urban fantasy, dystopian, etc., etc.  Not wanting to look stupid, I hesitated to ask. Then curiosity got the better of me. It always does. “What’s a 1NS?”

“It means One Night Stand,” she said.

At first I thought what? Really? I like to write erotic romance because of the HEA, and this sounded like straight erotica. “Um, I don’t know. I kind of like those happily ever afters,” I said. All I could think was okay, they want a single scene where the lovers get together for a tryst and then go their separate ways, never to again meet. Boring! At the time, I didn’t know how wrong that assumption was. Rebecca set me straight.

“They can have happily ever afters—many of the stories do. Here’s the link:  www.decadentpublishing.com. Check them out.”

So I did. There were a little less than thirty stories in the series at the time, which if you look at other publisher’s series, that’s not small potatoes, but for the 1NS series, it was only the beginning of the extraordinary collection that has over one hundred thirty titles now.

Vamps, weres, time travel, ghosts and aliens. Contemporary, military and it went on and on. It sure wasn’t that ho-hum theme I thought it would be:  Boy meets girl. They get it on. They part ways. No, this was so much more diverse than I ever thought it could be. Now she had my undivided attention.

 The next thing I noticed was the names of the authors who were writing the 1NS series. Many I knew personally, and some I knew by reputation. And believe me, I was looking at cream of the crop, wondering if I would ever get a story accepted, so impressive the list. There were several award winning authors, including a Prism award winner, a New York Times Bestseller, authors who wrote for the big pubs, first time published authors and veterans. And I said, “There must be something to this 1NS thing.” Yeah, there was.

Then I noticed the covers. If you’re a writer and you’ve ever gotten a bad cover, you’ll know why I wanted to do back flips. The covers were gorgeous. Not merely pretty, but stop you in your tracks, OMG I want that book, stunning.

Still not sure, I was ready to take a leap, you know, new publisher, new series.... Could I make another commitment to another publisher and keep my sanity? I checked out the submissions guidelines and fate slapped me upside the head and said “What are you waiting for?” One of my favorite editors was leading the charge with this series, and I knew my baby would be in no better hands. I didn’t leap—I dove in.

The rest is history. From there, Cinderella Wore Combat Boots was born. Following on its heels were This Endris Night, Seducing Liberty and my newest release, My Boogie Woogie Bugle Guy.

Now you know how I became addicted to writing and reading 1NS. So, if you’re looking for a series that goes on and on, is diverse, and inexpensive, you have to grab a 1NS. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. It’s addictive.

Go out and get your fix. Go on. I dare you. 

Okay, for the first giveaway on my blog to someone who comments, I have an e-copy of Cinderella Wore Combat Boots. For a second lucky commenter, I’m giving away a signed t-shirt with one of my 1 Night Stand covers. I have medium, large and extra large. And last but not least, for a third lucky commenter, a set of four romance trading cards, including Rebel Souls, Seducing Liberty, Courtesan Boot Camp, and This Endris Night. In addition, you get entered for a chance to win the grand prize of a Kindle Touch and a 2nd place prize of a $50.00 Amazon gift card. So be sure to leave a comment on each blog post to improve your chances, but only one comment will count as an entry per blog.
Once you comment click on the button at the top right of this blog to continue hopping.

Getting back to writing a long romance novel.

How hard is it to go back to writing romance when you've been writing erotic romance?

Not only do I have to retrain my brain to allow more in-depth detail to lengthen the manuscript, but I'm in chapter one and already I find myself struggling with not using grittier words and descriptions.

The need to get my couple together for a little one-on-one is almost impossible to ignore.

This experiment is proving to be more difficult than I imagined.

So, I often get asked what the difference between erotic romance and romance is. There is a fine line, but it's still there. Romance is a story with a couple falling in love. It is driven by a plot, and the main focus is not the sex. Sex is not as descriptive; sometimes it's what we authors call closed door. You are more likely to find euphemisms than blunt words to describe certain body parts.

In erotic romance, the story is also driven by the plot, the main focus continues to be the plot but the sex plays an important role. Sex is not necessarily in every chapter, but it's more descriptive and plentiful. Unlike romance, where the sex takes place usually around page 300, erotic romance might have sex in the first chapter. It usually has a happily ever after, but it can also be a happy for now.

Erotica is driven by the sex and the focus is on the sex, which is frequent and in every chapter. Happily ever afters not necessary, nor are happy for nows, but many authors do write them. And whoa, the words are blunt and to the point. Cock, pussy, cum, fuck. The author holds nothing back. The difference between porn and erotica. One has a plot--the other is just sex to stimulate.

Perhaps the best way is to show you.

Here are three scenes from my books. One is erotica, another erotic romance and the last is from my experimental novel. Tell me which you think is which. Okay, here we go.


Example #1.

"I want to do more than pick you up." He tossed his drink into the trash and slid his hands into her hair, swinging her around and pressing her against a wall. His mouth captured her lips, claiming them with a fierce passion.

Cass’s knees turned to mush. She opened her mouth to him and was lost. All her control slipped away, and she ground against his hard cock, riding him through his jeans like a cat in heat, rubbing her breasts against his muscular chest, sinking into the taste of him, the pure maleness that flipped her every switch. God, she could lick him from head to toe.

He let go of her hair and slipped his hands inside her top, cupping her breasts. Jolts of energy zipped through her, intensifying the need. Twenty-six fucking years. Twenty-six. Why? Her mind whirled and everything around her faded, until it was just Mike and what his strong hands and mouth were doing to her.

"So beautiful." He sank to his knees before her, slid one of her legs over his shoulder and grabbed her hips, burying his face in her soaked panties. The heat of his breath steamed her through the fabric.

"Mike." Cass fell back against the wall and gasped. Need coiled in her pelvis like a spring, winding her tighter and tighter.

"Let me taste you."

"Yes." The words hissed from her mouth as she attempted to fist his hair. Her clit began to throb again, begging for it, desperate for what he offered.

He pulled the fabric of her panties aside and slipped a finger inside her while he sucked her clit between his teeth.

"Oh, God." Cass whimpered and moved her hips in rhythm with his finger and mouth.

Example #2.

Iia reached down and grabbed an iron candle stick inside a niche in entry wall. Nicodemus watched her fingers curl around the blackened metal from out of the corner of his eye. With only seconds to react, he threw his hand up as she whirled around and swung. His forearm blocked hers and he slid his palm down her arm, hooking her wrist. He slammed her against the wall, pressing his body against hers to hold her in place.

Up and down her chest rose and fell. Anger radiated from her eyes. Each breath she exhaled washed over his lips.

“There’s no reason not be social. I haven’t harmed you.”

“You’ve forced me against my will.”

“To do what? Go home? You were doing that anyway.” Her heart beat in time with his, sending a tightness to his groin. Cherry lips beckoned him to taste, but that was not part of the mission, and not why he’d come. He pried the candle stick from her fingers, keeping his gaze locked on hers. “You don’t need that.”

Example #3. 

"When are you going to cut the small talk and finish what you started? I can’t very well give you your bonus if you aren’t naked." She leaned in. "Get this dress off me," she whispered.

Every muscle in his body tensed and Cori felt like doing a victory dance. She’d found the one man who could understand her scars, the ugly dip in her hip and thigh where skin had been grafted over a bone that had been pulverized and screwed back together like an Erector Set. But even her scars no longer seemed to matter. Never had she needed, wanted, the way she did now.

Since her legs were locked around his waist and freed his arms, he grabbed the hem of her dress and tugged it up her body and over her head, dropping it to the floor. She’d purchased a red lace bra and thong, knowing her normal skivvies wouldn’t do the dress justice, but she’d never anticipated her date might actually see them.

He released her wrists and reached under her bottom, yanking his belt off and tearing his fly open. He didn’t bother to drop his pants or let her down to remove her underwear. His fingers pushed the crotch of her panties to the side and glided into her slick folds. Stroking her inside. Her pussy clamped around him as orgasm threatened.


Did you guess which is which? The romance is pretty easy to pick out, but how about the erotica and erotic romance? Remember, both erotic romance and erotica are explicit, but the difference is one is driven by the sex, the other by the plot. Does one seem more focused on the sex and the other on why the heroine is there? Does one seem to be more than just a romp between the sheets, or against a wall?

Example #1 is erotica, from my short story Carnal Denial.

Example #2 is romance, from my unnamed WIP.

Example #3 is erotic romance, from my novella Cinderella Wore Combat Boots.

Though at times the lines may seem blurred, there is definately a difference between the three and all three can be a challenge to write. So the experiment continues. 10,000 words and climbing.

Thanks for stopping by,

D L

I LOVE blue aliens...

I admit it, I have a thing for blue aliens. When writing my alien romance stories, I could choose any other colored skin to give my extraterrestrial heroes, but I always wind up making them blue.

Blue is a relaxing color for me. It’s the color of my office, of jeans which I love to wear, of my bed sheets, and of the sky. Isn’t it relaxing to simply stare up into a clear blue sky?

But blue can also mean sadness and vulnerability. All of my blue aliens are vulnerable, afraid of not being accepted because they are so different from the women they long for.

And maybe I find blue to be sexy as well. ;)

It’s no wonder the alien heroes in Celestial Seduction, Satin Sheets in Space, and An Unexpected Return are blue. It’s my comfort color, and it makes them less scary for me.

Here are some excerpts from my stories that have blue aliens:

Celestial Seduction:

(celebrates one-year book birthday on July 1)

He smiled, some of his confidence back while his human image flickered for a few seconds before completely disappearing. Unsure what to expect, she tried not to judge until she’d set eyes on his entire figure. Long, spindly fingers intertwined with hers. He tried to let go, but she held them tight. His body appeared taller and leaner than before. She saw the same black eyes, a less prominent nose and barely visible ears. His hair became jet black and appeared longer and curlier than before. Underneath luminescent scales, his skin shone a light blue.

“So, what do you think?” His mouth quirked, revealing his uncertainty.

Except for their color, his lips were the only thing that didn’t change. She leaned towards him, wondering if they would still feel the same. She had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach him, but wrapping her arms around his neck helped. The feel of his skin surprised her. Perhaps he didn’t have scales, but the pattern lay beneath his skin.

He’s beautiful.

Satin Sheets in Space:

She shivered at the sound of the deep, sexy voice. Spinning around, she gazed up at an enormous, captivating man. Very rarely did she meet a guy so much taller than herself. His black velvet justacorps fit tight across his broad shoulders, but not too snug. And the silk shirt lining his wide chest matched the color of her dress. Almost as if they were made for each other. I can only hope.

Flowing down his back, his long, thick, dark mane appeared to have feathers throughout. In the dim lighting, his hair, and even his skin had a faint blue glow. She couldn’t help but be enthralled by his presence; was sure she stood in front of him with her mouth hanging open.

An Unexpected Return:

Walking into the silky rear-end of an oroke, she came to an abrupt halt. The creature had been walking at a steady pace and then stopped. She’d failed to notice in time. Wiping fluff off her face, she turned around and walked into another hard body. “I’m so sorry.”

Hands clamped down on her arms. “Are you all right?”

She stared up into deep brown eyes. Chewing her bottom lip, she nodded. If this man hadn’t been holding on to her, she would have fallen to the ground. The word swoon held no meaning for her until now.

Am I only like this because of the eletin I inhaled back home? Or was there something more she found heart-racing about the blue-skinned, well-muscled hunk of an Otarian who held her up?

No, she couldn’t feel anything for him. Their races had been sworn enemies for years. Everyone across the galaxy knew that. Yet here she was, standing face to face, gazing intently at him, with no will to move.

Website/Blog / Twitter / Facebook / Amazon Author Page

It's the SFR Brigade Mid-Summer Blog Hop.

I’ve been thinking a lot about seasons recently, but not just that. I've also been thinking about the movement of planets and how the alignment plays a role in not only the way people act, but the way it could affect other worlds. Things like tides, and the length of the days and nights, have been on my mind. I’m writing a planet bound story that will be science fiction romance when finished. Everything in this story revolves around the seasons and the ability to grow crops to sustain an expanding population. In yet another story, the planet is affected by the rotation of the world and the moons off-world, called the Three Sisters. The homes are in tidal areas, buried under oceans at night and on the beach during the day. The reason: Nocturnal humanoids that are cannibalistic hunt the land at night and cannot swim. Because of their translucent skin, they don’t tolerate the light from the radiant star and therefore living under the oceans at night in dome-shaped houses and living on the surface during the day is a matter of survival. In another story every major event is planned and timed by the seasons for religious reasons.

In writing these stories, I went back to my primitive roots, where man worshipped, planted his crops, and harvested by the phases of the moon and stars.

Not only did he track the stars, he built monuments in celebration of the heavens. There are markers all over the world from Stone Hinge to the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Pre-Columbian star observatory in South America.

What does someone from another world think when they look up at the stars? How do the seasons govern their lives? Here is an excerpt where one possiblity came to mind. 

Excerpt of Moon Crazy:

Jace cracked an eye. Warm morning starlight streamed in through the glass behind him. The light illuminated Tara. She looked so innocent while asleep, and truth be told, he could watch her for hours when she was like this, but it wasn’t safe. Sometime during the night, he’d made the mistake of drifting off in her bed, and was damned lucky she didn’t wake up first.

She’d had a room built into her dome, just for him, when he came over on occasion. After they’d had their fill, the idea was he went to his room to sleep off the night, until the ocean receded and it was safe to leave.

Her eyes fluttered open and stared back at him. Beautiful aqua irises glowed in the light. Their almond shaped, accentuated with a thick fringe of lashes. She silently studied him back,  her lips slightly parted and swollen from her activities the night before. Her platinum hair practically glowed around her like a halo, taking his breath away. How he missed waking up next to her. It had been a long time since he’d spent the night in her bed, and this time, only by mistake. A smiled tugged at the corner of her mouth.

Perhaps she wasn’t upset about him staying in her bed. There always was a first for everything. No reason not to be social. “Good morning.”

The heel of her palm struck him in the breastbone, sending him reeling backward off the tall platform, all flailing arms and legs, tangled in the sheet. Jace hit the floor with a thud. “What the fuck.”

“What did we decide about you sleeping in my bed?”

“That’s a little harsh for a man who rocked your world all night.”

“That’s why you have your own room.”

He sat up and rubbed the back of his head. Yeah, that. Tara may be human, but she’d taken up residence on this world after relocating for employment, and had adopted the moon-crazy attitudes of the locals. The solitude suited her and she didn’t like to share. Anything. Beds. Blankets. Body heat—if she actually had some.

Quadraxians lived in domes beside the ocean and in the shallows. Every night the tides came up and anywhere from fifty to a hundred feet of water would cover the domes. During the full phase of the Three sisters when they were in alignment, the domes remained covered for several days, but that was never an issue. Each home was self-sustaining. Special processors extracted air from the oxygen rich sea water. Fish-like creatures were the principal diet, but many Quadraxians had indoor gardens that thrived in the miniature biospheres too. They could go for years without coming out of their domes if necessary, and Jace surmised that could be the reason for their moods. Who wouldn't lose it trapped in a dome for extended periods?

The domes were only the tip of the Quadraxian homes that sometimes bored into bedrock several levels below the surface. Tara’s had three levels. Her bedroom she kept above ground—his below. The sides of her home were wrapped with glass while the top was made from a concrete like material that was stronger and lighter than the Terran version and air and water tight when she shut the vents.

She had a room the level below, where she could free dive if she chose. Open to the sea, she need only jump in to go for a swim. Diving rooms were common accessories to a Quad’s home, as they were both avid swimmers and athletic. Since Quads had gills, Tara improvised with several breathing apparatus. She was never stranded or stuck, but then again she wasn’t stupid. Nobody went ashore at night.

The domes served two purposes. The first was protection from the violent storms that plagued the planet. The round shapes resisted high winds. Hail bounced off them and water washed around them and over them like stones in a river. They were also anchored deep and created in a manner that they were air tight and submergable. This was the other reason the communities were built on the oceans and beaches.

The second was to avoid the other residents of the world, carnivores, who were strictly nocturnal because of their translucent skin and inability to stand the light from the radiant star. And they enjoyed humanoid flesh. Terran, Quad, they didn’t care. They also couldn’t swim. Since light was coming in, he could leave now. Probably should.

Then again, the Three Sisters were full and everyone was a little batshit crazy. No one would blame him for using poor judgement.

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to click on the button to be taken to other links for the blog hop, but only after you comment if you want to get in on the prizes. I'm giving away one e-copy of Rebel Souls, my latest science fiction erotic romance, released June 1st. One set of four Romance Trading cards that include, Rebel Souls, Courtesan Boot Camp, Seducing Liberty and This Endris Night. And one large size tee-shirt,  signed by me, of one of my erotic science fiction titles. So leave a comment and get in on the e-readers and book bundle the Brigade is giving away, and get a chance at one of the additional prizes I'm giving away. Tell me about what crazy behaviors you've heard people, or maybe even  you yourself have blamed, on the moon.

Be sure to leave an email so I can get in contact with the winners, and good luck.

Best,

D L

Beneath the Starry Sky is FREE!

Hey! I just wanted to let you all know that BENEATH THE STARRY SKY will be FREE on all Amazon Kindle sites starting tomorrow, June 22, until Tuesday June 26, 2012. This story is a contemporary romance, not sci-fi romance, but it does have a hero who is a former sci-fi television star, and characters who make guest appearances in some of my other stories.

Beneath the Starry Sky:

Left at the altar with bald patches on her head and her self-confidence stripped away, Tamara Johnson must pick up the pieces of her life and face her Alopecia Areata, the autoimmune disease causing her hair to fall out. She is convinced no man will date a bald woman and arranges a one-night stand through Madame Evangeline’s popular service, 1Night Stand. With her new wig held firmly in place, Tamara arrives at the Castillo Hotel in Las Vegas for a night of passion and pleasure. Anything more than one night would mean exposing her bald head, and she will never do that to any man again.

Running into the Castillo Hotel, away from the paparazzi constantly at his heels, Josh Summers wants to spend his next few days locked away from the flashing lights and screaming fans. When he finds an incredibly sexy woman lying on his hotel room bed in nothing but lingerie, he thinks management has made a mistake. Leaving her behind, he heads for the lobby to get the situation rectified. But an unexpected text from Madame Evangeline sends him back to his room. Though unsure whether the woman on the bed is really his perfect match or just another fan believing him to be like his character on television, he knows he must find out, even if it means he must risk telling her his own secrets. If Tamara can handle his imperfections, she just might be his ideal woman.

You can download it for FREE starting tomorrow here:

Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.de / Amazon.es / Amazon.it / Amazon.fr

Beneath the Starry Sky excerpt:

Shit! I can’t go anywhere without someone getting out their camera. He raced with Tamara in tow, trying to keep her from the intrusive life he lived. He wasn’t ready to bring anyone into the spotlight with him yet.

But he had to get out of the hotel first. He unlocked his car and held the door open for her. Even when trying to beat the paparazzi, he still believed in chivalry. After shoving her inside a bit too roughly, he muttered an apology, closed her door then rushed around to the driver’s side. Throwing the car in reverse, he squealed the tires in a rush to get out of the parking garage. How much time did he have? He didn’t know, but if the paparazzi followed him, he’d have to pull some fancy maneuvers to lose them before driving to his destination.

They made it to the street before he was temporarily blinded by the first flashes. Tamara shrieked when someone knocked on her window, right before another flash of light.

Fuck! I have to get away from this, get her away from this.

Pulling onto the Strip, he expected them to stop, leave him alone. But another photographer jumped onto the hood. Josh closed his eyes so the upcoming flash wouldn’t leave him sightless and slammed on the brakes. The man flew off. He made sure the crazy paparazzo was out of the way before taking off. The last thing he needed was to be sued by some maniac with a camera.

When he’d finally made it off the Strip and onto darker streets, he released the breath he’d held.

“Who the hell are you?”

Her words were mixed with fear and anger. With a glassy stare, she waited for his answer. Would the truth ruin what could have been? If he didn’t tell her, she could Google his name anyway.

“I told you I’m an actor, or at least I was, and a former model. The show I’d been on for two years was recently canceled.”

Her eyes softened. “But why are people following you? Are you really that famous?”

He laughed. “Obviously not if you’ve never heard of me. But when you’re an underwear model, you get obsessive fans, and then I was on Searching For Earth on the sci-fi channel. Don’t you follow the tabloids?”

“No, I have better things to do, but I may have to start watching the sci-fi channel if all the actors are as hot as you.”

All tension from the encounter with the paparazzi diminished when he saw her smile. He reached over and squeezed her thigh. “Maybe you shouldn’t. They’re all known to be players.”

She placed her hand on his, making him want to touch even more of her. “Yourself included?”

He heard the playful tone of her voice, but he wouldn’t make her think he had a big ego. “Maybe at one time, but things changed after the accident. I’m sure you understand.”

Remember, you can download it for FREE starting tomorrow on these sites:

Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.de / Amazon.es / Amazon.it / Amazon.fr

And if you don't have a Kindle, you can download FREE Kindle Reading Apps for your PC, Smartphone, Tablet and more.

And don't forget to come back tomorrow for the SFR Brigade Midsummer hop where you can win a Kindle or a collection of sci-fi romance stories from over 20 authors, and more. DL Jackson will be posting here on Backward Momentum, and I'll be posting on my own blog: http://jessicasubject.com

Happy Reading!

Jessica

Writing The End

I'm in the middle of writing the last chapter of the second book in my Mark of the Stars series. And things are s-l-o-w-i-n-g down. It's been a long journey with this WIP (work-in-progress), as I wrote it three years ago, and edited and revised it many times since then. With this last round though, I decided to completely rewrite it. I've learned a lot in the last year, since I received my very first contract, and my writing style has changed a bit. I know I still have so much more room to grow as a writer, but I always have my mind open to knowledge.

So, I'm writing the last chapter, and where the previous two chapters seemed to jump onto the page, this one  is taking forever. My characters are indecisive, and aren't moving fast enough to the point where I can say my first (new) draft is finished. I know I have several rounds of revisions to go before the story is ready to submit, but why can't I finish? I already have another WIP started that I'm just as anxious to work on.

Does anyone else ever have this problem with big projects? How do you overcome the slow progression toward the end?

Maybe if I stare at my inspiration for my hero, Nathan Fillion, that will help.

The Experiment

When I first started writing, I wrote romance novels. Great, big, fat romance novels. And they were wordy. I know that I’ve learned a lot by e-publishing, the biggest thing is how to tighten a manuscript. But with the good comes the bad. One thing I’ve noticed is that my stories have grown shorter and it’s almost impossible for me to go over fifty thousand words now.

I have this switch in my brain that says, done! There are a couple of reasons this has happened. The first is that my publishers wanted smaller stories, so I gave them what they wanted. The second is that by writing shorter stories, I have trained myself to write everything like a short.

This is a habit I need to break. Yes, it’s good that I know how to cram a lot into forty thousand words and make it work, but I need to work on pulling out of this to write a bigger novel. With ninety thousands words, I have a lot more detail I can expand on and I can only get there if I retrain the brain to embrace the detail. I can get into character backgrounds deeper, explore secondary plot threads fully, but the moment I start, that switch flicks and it says cut, cut, cut.

For the next six months, I’m getting back to my roots and writing a full novel. So far, it has not been easy. My brain wants to prioritize details so I can fit a smaller word count. If I’m going to break eighty thousand words, I need to break this habit. So, as I write this story, I’ll post updates on my progress.

See, I’ve noticed more and more people wanting longer stories. They love my shorts, but wish there was more of that world than I gave them. It’s a comment I hear often. I listen to my readers, everything they say, good and bad, and I won’t apologize for saying it is why I feel reviews are as much for the authors as they are for the readers. I’ve been called on that, and I’m still standing my ground. Reviews are helpful to the authors too.

I certainly can accommodate everything you're asking for, but I ask you to please be patient while I spin you a big ass story you can immerse yourself in. I’ve written one hundred and ten thousand word manuscripts before, but I’ve been writing novellas and small novels for seven years, and it’s a process of relearning how to expand.

This I will promise. It will have an unusual premise, that could happen, even on Earth. This will be an otherworld dystopian romance. You will see the same freaky world building you’ve told me you love in my stories. It will have high stakes (very high), and I’m packing on the sexual tension even though this will not be erotic romance. It will have sex scenes, but there will be less than in my erotic romances.

There will be some dark and scary stuff that happens. I’m taking my time building this relationship between my hero and heroine and it won’t be all fluffy bunnies and fuzzy kittens. As I said before, I’m an evil author and I’m putting them through their paces before I let them have that happily ever after. If you don’t finish reading it feeling a little bit freaked out about something happening on our world now, I won’t have done my job. My aim is to plant seeds of doubt and insecurity.

I have five thousand words and I’m off and running. A lofty goal to be sure, but I’m excited about this project. I’m in love with the premise and hell, I’m going to blow some things up. That in itself has me squealing.

Wish me luck.

D L

 

Spacemen and Motorcyles

Right now, I'm working on two stories. One of them is All Grown Up, which is the second book in my Mark of the Stars series, which is almost finished. The second is a completely new series which I've been thinking about for months. I'm not going to give away titles, but I am so excited about it.

Here's some of my inspiration for the new story:

Hero - Gerard Butler

Revealing Hamilton blog tour: Interview with author Sarah J. Carr

Welcome, Sarah J. Carr to Backward Momentum! Can you tell us about yourself? 

SJC: My name is Sarah. I’m 32 and I live in Washington State with my wonderful husband and adorable son. By day, I work in radiology billing and I’m a novelist by night. I went to college to become a massage therapist, interior decorator and I’m an ordained minister. In my spare time, I like to do sprint triathlons and splash in mud puddles.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

SJC: Not always. When I was a child, I wanted to be a tightrope walker in a circus. Oddly, I’m afraid of heights. I have no idea what I was thinking.

What can you tell us about Revealing Hamilton? 

SJC: Here’s the back cover blurb to give you a taste of the story:

A conversation with a stranger changes Amelia Hamilton’s life forever. When she learns her grandfather faked his own death, normalcy slips from Amelia’s grasp. To make matters worse, he is coming for her in less than seven days. What she hasn’t determined is why.

Amelia’s grandfather, Marius Benedict, once headed The Physician’s Coalition, an elite group of doctors who threw the Hippocratic Oath out the window. Years ago, they used a low-risk medical research study as a front to their experiments. Without their consent, innocents were injected with JackRabbit7, a hazardous substance used to alter their DNA. The victims were left with less-than-desirable super-human powers or excruciating death. Years after he disbanded the group, Marius has a new plan and is reforming The Coalition.

Max, a mysterious stranger from the Insurance Agency, offers to help keep Amelia safe. He introduces The Agency as an underground government organization that contains and eliminates those who intend to harm the world. To protect The Agency, the truth of their activities are concealed and replaced with sugar-coated stories in the media.

Over the course of the next week, Amelia has to accept the truth and learn who can be trusted. At midnight on her 23rd birthday, a contract between The Coalition and The Insurance Agency will expire, giving Marius full rein to approach his granddaughter and finish the project he started with her so many years ago.

Which author would you like to meet most? 

SJC: It’d have to be Laurell K Hamilton and I actually met her in 2010. I’m not the type of person to be “star struck”, but I’ll come clean. I was fortunate enough to sit in the audience of a talk show and I met her during a commercial break. Instead of saying anything intelligent, a big “I love you” tumbled from my mouth. The studio audience expressed a heartfelt “Awwww”.

Do you have a favorite scene and why?

SJC: I do! Each time I read a particular part of the story my heart races and it grabs me as if I’m reading it for the first time. It happens when Amelia has a major “realization” and puts together some massive puzzle pieces. I’d elaborate, but I don’t want to spoil the surprise for anyone.

If you were to cast your characters in a movie, who would play the major roles?

SJC: Keep in mind, I’d need a time machine to adjust the ages accordingly, but here’s my vision: Amelia would be cast as Amy Lee from Evanescence, Max would be played by Michael Wincott and Nick’s a cross between Milo Ventimiglia and Adam Levine. Marius would be played by Christopher Walken and Donovan would be cast as the late Brandon Lee.

What’s the hardest part of writing?

SJC: Finding enough time to write.

What’s the easiest part of writing?

SJC: The ideas seem to flow non-stop so I’m never at a loss for words.

If you had to pick one song, which would fit your novel best? 

SJC: This is a difficult question. The playlist for Revealing Hamilton is 660 songs long. If I had to choose one of the 660, I would say My<Dsmbr (Mickey P. ft. Kelli Ali) from Linkin Park’s Reanimation album.

What’s are the craziest actions you’ve taken for research? 

SJC: A couple of weeks ago, I went on a tour of a morgue. If I need a character intoxicated, I’ll step in and drink and then write. Last go ‘round was tequila shots. Yuck! Also, Jeeping on icy trails at Mount Rainier made for some interesting (and realistic) writing.

List three things most people don’t know about you.

SJC: My middle name came from a naked doll my dad carried around as a child, I performed a wedding in rhyme (specifically, Dr. Seuss-style) and I’ve given a dolphin a vaginal exam.

Can you share an excerpt from Revealing Hamilton?

Something felt wrong.

In the living room, an ottoman rested on its side and a magazine lay open on the floor. A colorful article advertising Las Vegas blared from the pages. From the corner of my eye, the screen of Connor’s cell phone caught my attention. I watched it periodically blink, communicating new messages awaited. 

I went to the kitchen next and found the latest stack of mail on the island. The top envelope made me cringe when I saw the return address. It was another letter from the State of Washington. This one was addressed to Amelia Brooks.

My identity had been an issue for years. Since age 18, I submitted multiple requests to change my last name from my grandfather’s back to my parents. With each attempt, the paperwork came back denied, stating my name was Amelia Benedict or another obscure surname starting with the letter “B”. Double-checking each field, I clearly filled out the forms to read Amelia Hamilton, but was contradicted every time. I determined it a sick way for my grandfather to haunt me from the grave. The latest correspondence would have to wait.

A broken wine bottle and bandage wrappers were on the counter next to the refrigerator. Droplets of dark fluid created a path from the bottle to the sink, making me shudder. The room began to feel too warm and nausea flooded my stomach. I grabbed a rolling pin from the island, gripping it so tightly my knuckles hurt. 

“Calm down, Amelia,” I said. “There’s a logical explanation and no one is going to hurt you.” I forced my mind away from childhood memories of a basement.

Swallowing hard, I tiptoed across the living room to the bedroom. As usual, the door was cracked open. I held the pin over my head, ready to attack in an instant. From where I stood, I couldn’t see more than the corner of the dresser and a beam of soft light. I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. A flashlight rested on the nightstand, pointed toward the ceiling. As I scanned the room, my jaw dropped and my heart paused.

“Connor?” I dropped the makeshift weapon at my feet. 

Where can readers find you?

SJC: My website is www.sarahjcarr.com. I’m also on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/authorsarahjcarr and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/@sarahjcarr1

Would you like to add anything else?

SJC: Thank you for interviewing me! I enjoyed answering your questions.

Thank you so much for visiting with us, Sarah!