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Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Earth Hour

This Saturday - 28 March - at 8:30PM, we will be taking part in Earth Hour.

Earth Hour is something that started in Sydney two years ago. During 8:30-9:30PM, we all switch off our lights. Actually, during the whole hour you don't switch on anything - no computer, stereo, TV, lights. It's a wonderful experience, and I love to look out the window and see total darkness around us. It almost feels like a blackout, but one created by choice.

It's amazing just how much energy can be saved by taking part in this event. And this year, it's going to be huge, because according to their website they're hoping that 1 billion people will take part all around the world.

This is such a fantastic and easy thing to do for our planet, so why not take part? All it takes is a little darkness and silence. Some time with your loved ones, to connect, catch up, or just sit down and think about giving back a little to a planet that gives us so much.

I think that sometimes we tend to forget that.

So... will you be taking part this year? I hope you do.

If you'd like some more information, you can go HERE. Or just click on one of the pics to get you to the website with everything you need to know. :)


Yolanda
http://www.yolandasfetsos.com/

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Friday, March 20, 2009

That Writing Life...

Sometimes being an author is like riding a roller coaster. Thrills, chills, climbs, drops, and that horrible line you have to wait in to even get on the ride.

Lately, I seem to be waiting in line. Just six months ago, I was moaning about not having time to write...then one of my boys went to kindergarten and the other to preschool a couple of days a week. Silly me. I thought I would have hours of writing in the mornings and then snatching a bit of time to write or exercise in the afternoons. Well, what I didn't count on was that because they were getting older, they no longer need that nap in the afternoons! Did you hear the screech as my happy-go-lucky soundtrack came to a halt? Yep. I'm lucky to squeeze in four hours of writing a week where I used to enjoy six to eight. Plus, now that they don't sleep in the afternoons, I'm dead tired by the time they go to bed...so I spend my evenings in a foggy haze wishing I, too, could go to bed.

The only plus is that by this time next year, BOTH boys will be in kindergarten (one will be repeating) and I will have 4.5 hours A DAY without anyone here but me, the cat, and the dog (for whom I am his personal slave, don'cha know?). So, I feel like I'm just "waiting" in line for my time to come..

I am, however, able to do other things. I'm able to read a bit more (it's easier to put someone else's story down in the middle of an action scene). I can also edit (not my own work, but other's) while the TV is blaring and kids are shouting.

I envy women who can write a sentence or two between letting the dog out, getting snacks for the kids, making dinner, and...and...and... me, I have to have silence so that I can hear the voices in my head.

What about you? Can you write in bedlam? Or do you need peace and quiet? How do you write with kids underfoot? I know, I could just wait. But the anticipation of having time to write is killing me....

Have any ideas for me? Good time management tips? Anything???

Thanks!

Ericka

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Bits & Pieces

Firstly, I'd like to let you know that I'm taking part in the Fool For Romance Contest sponsored by Crystal-Rain Love. She's a fellow upcoming ImaJinn Books author and this contest sounds like a lot of fun. There are a bunch of prizes to be won from a whole lot of different authors. It's open until the end of the month, so if you take part, good luck!

I'm not sure if you've all heard the news yet, but Forbidden Publications will be closing at the end of the month. I know, it's really sad to hear that the reason is because of Rene's health. Rene's been great to work with and I'll miss FP, but I wish her all the best in the future and hope that she's able to get her health back on track.

That means that I'll have 7 homeless stories by the end of March - 4 already published and 3 contracted. The good news is that one of the contracted-but-not-published stories has been contracted by Tease Publishing. So, FOREVER THOR'S will be available as part of their Pantheon line sometime this year. :) Yay!

Not sure what I'll do with the others, but I think a few of them should be able to find new homes. At least, I hope they do. Lol.

Well, real life has offered a bunch of changes lately too. Hubby's work schedule has changed and we're back to early starts and home by mid-afternoon. I love it! It's so much better than the all day/night shift we've been living through the last year. I'm more productive when I get a chance to do writing-related stuff before my daughter wakes up and while she's at school.

This'll really help with the novel revision I'm currently working on. I've passed the halfway point and would love to get it done by the end of the month... which happens to be next week, doesn't it?

Well, I just thought I'd list a few things that have been going on in my life. I hope you all have a great day!

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Monday, March 16, 2009

New Release Countdown!


I'm counting down the days to my next release. Just over two weeks to go, and IMMORTAL DANGER will be on store shelves--and this makes me both incredibly excited and really, really nervous!!

I'm returning to my vampire roots with this book. The very first book I ever sold was a vampire story, but after that, I began writing about shapeshifters. :-) Well, this book combines my two paranormal loves--after all, I figure there is room for the vamps and the shifters.


Here's the blurb for IMMORTAL DANGER:

BEING BULLET PROOF SUCKS—LITERALLY

Once, Maya Black was a kick-ass cop patrolling the streets of L.A. She still keeps the city safe, but nowadays her bad guys of choice include demons, werewolves, and assorted nocturnal scum. Something Maya knows a thing or two about. She’s a vampire—and not thrilled about it. Payback meet bitch.

Adam Brody hopes Maya is as dangerous as they say she is. He needs her to help rescue his niece Cammie from a ruthless band of vamps, and he’s willing to pay—in blood. Trusting her is another matter. Adam has never met a vampire who doesn’t lie. Then again, he’s never met anyone like Maya, who fills him with a desperate need that ignites into explosive, no-holds-barred encounters…

***
So, I'm curious...do you have a favorite when it comes to paranormal creatures?

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Friday, March 13, 2009

Friday the 13th

Well...it's the second Friday the 13th in a row. How exciting!

I've never been superstitious, in fact, 13 is one of my favorite numbers and I adore black cats.

But we have our own Friday the 13th tradition. Scary movies. We rent out one or two, pop a tub of popcorn, and sit back and enjoy.

My favorites are ghost stories...An American Haunting, The House on Haunted Hill, The Haunting, and my all-time favorite, What Lies Beneath.

My daughter likes the cling-to-your-seat horrors...One Missed Call, Mirrors, The Ring, and The Grudge.

We no longer send my husband out for the "horror" videos, as he tends to come home with blow-em' up type movies -- Pitch Black, The Bourne Series, and anything with Vin Deisel (not that I'm complaining, I'd look at Vin day and night without blinking, but they aren't "horror")

So, for tonight, we're going to pick a movie done by the King of Horror. Stephen King. 1408. I'm rather on the fence about this movie. Many of the movies made out of his books just don't live up to the true horror of his words. However, I did enjoy Rose Red. However, the only words to describe Kingdom Hospital was puzzling and bizarre. I have high hopes for this one...the previews made us all go "oh!".


So...are you superstitious about the 13th or do you laugh in the face of things that could go wrong? Or do you, like us, hole up and watch scary movies?

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Sealed with a little excerpt

This week, I'd like to share an excerpt of my latest eBook release. I hope you enjoy it!

Here it is...

She released a breath in hopes of sounding calm. “Being chased and dragged into a dirty, dark stairwell is not cozy. Where the hell do you come from, that you’d think such a thing?”

He released her with a jerk.

When she turned to face him, she instantly noticed the flash of red inside his iris. It disappeared, flicking back to blue in an instant, but she’d seen it. Tamara knew what he was, and he definitely wasn’t human. Not that she’d spent much time around humans anyway, unless it involved random passionate encounters to soothe away the ache of desire. Before the warlocks had taken her five years ago, she’d been surrounded by witches. Her heart ached at the thought. Did her coven still look for her, or had they cut their losses and now pretended she’d never existed? They’d always held a degree of shame towards her.

She took a step back, releasing the strained thoughts. “You get the hell away from me, you hear me!”

The man lifted both his palms out in front of him. “Relax. I’m not here to hurt you.”

She stepped back into the door.

He rolled his eyes and took a step forward. “I just saved you from those warlocks, didn’t I? Why would I do that if my intention is to hurt you?”

“But you’re a—”

“Yeah, I’m of the demonic kind, so what?” He crossed his arms over his chest. The bulging biceps and triceps caught her attention. Even in the dim light around them inside this shabby doorway, she could make out every alluring detail about this tall man. His broad shoulders strained against the black T-shirt wrapped around his torso. His angular face shadowed by a sprinkle of dark stubble ended in a perfect jaw. The dark hair was mussed and longish with red highlights.

She tried not to think about how soft it felt when it had tickled her cheek. Stop it, she thought. He’s a demon. He can take on any guise he wants. But deep down inside, they’re all the same—ugly and deranged, with horns, a tail and leathery skin. She’d seen it enough times. It wasn’t fantasy. While other children had feared fictional monsters on TV, she’d been forced to learn about the real ones—demons.

Her spine sizzled with a spark of energy, tracing around the circular source of magic beneath her top. The buzz singed her skin, and she squirmed uncomfortably. It was his power reacting to hers. Either from his arrogance or frustration, maybe even anger. But it felt like a surge of heat that filled the space between them in seconds, almost suffocating.

She wanted to go to him, but resisted.



You can read more about SEALED WITH A DEMON'S KISS here.

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Friday, March 6, 2009

Song of Seduction


Can she save him from the siren's call?

I have a new release this week from Cobblestone Press! The title is Song of Seduction (hence the post title) and if I must say so myself, it's hot, hot, hot!

There's an island in the Pacific where tropical flowers bloom, birds chirp, and deadly sirens sing. It's an island that charter boat captain, Yoshiko Moto, wishes she could forget. Two years ago, the entire crew of The Orpheus was lost. Visions of their dead bodies haunt her dreams.

Now, a research crew has hired her to take them to the island to catch a siren. But she knows no man can resist the creatures' deadly charms. But the trip leads to more than danger, it leads to love. Can she save Nico Eliopoulos from the spell of the sirens?

**************

My flirtation with the sea has existed for as long as I can remember. When I was growing up, I wanted to be a marine biologist...the sea called to me and I listened (even though I lived in Illinois!). Unfortunately, by the time I grew up and had the opportunity, I couldn't afford the tuition to go to the University of Florida. Sigh. Instead, I took a degree in biology at the University of Illinois. Luckily, I did manage to sneak in one marine biology class.

Now, I live in the high desert of California, where we are about 2 hours from the mountains and 2 hours from the ocean! We try to go beach camping every year, and last year, I looked out at the sun setting on the horizon and Song of Seduction was born.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Ericka Scott

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Body Image - Curves are the new skinny?

I put up this post on my personal blog yesterday about body image and thought I would share it here.

These women are only part of the reason that curves are 'In'. But I wonder what caused the transition from "stick is it" to "curves galore"?

But here are two women who command the red carpet when they walk down it - Beyonce and Shakira. Others are Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry and Gabrielle Union. I used to include Angelina Jolie in that category but for some reason she's almost down to twig size. Now is anything wrong with being really thin? Nope. But for a good long while the media made those of us with curves feel as if we were big fat unattractive blobs who should be running to Weight Watchers to get rid of our hips.

And what really gets me is that when someone else (Hollywood? TV? Who?) decided that hips were in, suddenly folks were running to the butt surgeon to have fat pumped into everything from the lips to their backsides. I for one don't allow anyone to label me or tell me how I should look, act or feel. They can all kiss my big 'ole...well, you know ;D

My grandma used to say, "Baby, as long as you're living in the beautiful skin of yours, that booty ain't going nowhere." And the woman was right, thank the stars. Those words stuck with me while I was growing up and because of my gran-gran, I learned a long time ago to accept my hips, my lips and all the rest as perfect. Besides, I could slim down to "knock me over by the next stiff breeze" proportions and my ass would still be the biggest thing on my body! Everything on me is where it's supposed to be (even if it's beginning to head South now ;D).

Watch this video and tell me what you think. Hips don't lie and these women look FABULOUS, big booties and all! (Ignore the commercial. Damned Yahoo.)


Beyonce and Shakira Dancing Together
Click HERE if you can't see the embedded video


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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sealed with a Demon's Kiss

The warlocks need Tamara’s power to conjure and bind a demon.

Tyler is the demon sent to protect her… but what are his true intentions?

Is it just me, or is it starting to feel like I've been blogging about new releases every week? Lol. Don't worry, after this one, I don't have any set dates for my upcoming eBooks. :)

SEALED WITH A DEMON'S KISS is the story of Tamara and Tyler. It's a dangerous story in a world where witches, warlocks and demons co-exist with the humans.

Tamara's need to stay alive and away from the clutches of the warlocks who want to use her power, drives the beginning of the story - which then evolves into an unexpected love story.

I'm extremely proud of how this story turned out. It was fun, freaky, dangerous, fast-paced, filled with suspicion, sensual... there was a bit of everything. And when I edited this story, my editor - waving to Lana - helped me make it so much deeper and stronger that my love for these characters and their world deepened. So much that I've been toying with writing another tale in this world.

Anyway, isn't this cover beautiful? It was made by Cris Griffin. It's one of those cover that I just can't stop looking at. I was amazed at just how well she portrayed Tamara and Tyler. They're exactly how I imagined them. I *love* the cover. It's stunning!

If you're interested in checking out this witchy tale of mine, it'll be available from Cobblestone Press this Friday. :D

Have a great week!

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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

What if...

...the hero of your fave romance novel came to life?

That's one of my favorite themes to explore in my writing. I have written a few books about fictional characters coming to life. But in my latest release, Wicked Beast(Aphrodisia), it's given an interesting twist.

The premise of the story was the product of a casual conversation between some friends who happen to be not just book enthusiasts but book fanatics. They were discussing the heroes of various novels when the topic of whether they would want to be married to their fave characters was raised. Interestingly enough, all my friends were in agreement--the qualities that made a romance novel’s hero so appealing would also make him extremely difficult to live with in the real world.

The seed of an idea was planted in my mind.

What if a woman was faced with her secret ideal, a man who couldn’t possibly exist in real life? But also a man who represented something she was absolutely petrified of? Would the darkly sensual, powerful, alpha man of her dreams turn into the monster of her nightmares when he stepped out of her fantasies?

Wicked Beast is the story of Cailey’s journey into the erotic world she’s created in her imagination, where man and beast share one glorious body, and her deepest fears force her from the safe world she’s known. A woman who is cat-phobic facing a man who shifts into a lion.

TAKE ME. TEMPT ME. TAME ME.

Cailey Holm is definitely not a cat person--in fact, she's terrified of felines in al forms. Creating a sexy were-lion as the hero of her latest erotic romance was supposed to help her overcome that fear, but suddenly the tall, dangerous, domineering alpha-cat of her darkest dreams is standing in her living room--and then carrying her back to his world, demanding to explore her most erotic fantasies...

Set free from Cailey's story, Lander Cornelius, King of the Werekin, now has a mind of his own--not to mention a magnificent, muscular body specially designed to make his mistress ache with desire. At first Lander's only motive is to protect his people by controlling Cailey's magic. But now, he intends to bring them both to the peak of ultimate ecstasy, showing her the intense pleasure of total submission, and unleashing a pure, animal passion that has no limits except in their wildest imaginations...

Now, I ask, what sort of fictional character would turn your life upside down? If a hero from a romance novel could come to life for you, do you have any fears or issues that would make a certain kind of character hard to deal with in real life?

Tawny

Monday, March 2, 2009

Bite Me

I love vampires. I think I had my first vamp crush when I saw the old Dark Shadows show years ago. Since then, I've read hundreds of vampire books, watched way too many vampire movies--and I still love the undead master of the night.

Why? Well, here's my 5 reasons to love a vampire:

1. Immortality, baby. Young and handsome--forever. How can you not love that?

2. Strong = sexy. And vamps are very, very strong.

3. Spike. Yes, he is one of my continuing reasons for enjoying vampires.

4. I love the nightlife. :-)

5. Vamps make for some really kick-ass heroines and heroes.

What about you? Do you enjoy the vampires? Why?

And here's a link to a contest I'm running on my site for my new vampire release, IMMORTAL DANGER. Just click "Enter Today" to see the full details!


Immortal Danger, In life, Maya Black was one tough cop. In death…well, once bitten, twice the bitch. Creatures of the night-be afraid. www.cynthiaeden.comThe BookEnter Today!Share Image

Thanks!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
IMMORTAL DANGER--Available 3/31/09 from Kensington Brava

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