Princess Blog Party ends tomorrow!

Dearest Princess Party Goers,

Some of you are under the impression that the blog party is over.  Not true!  One final and very special guest will be here tomorrow!!  She's my twin.  Okay, not *really* a twin, but this author and I have sooo much in common.  Come by tomorrow to welcome her at our gathering and see what I mean!  :)

Now, I know I usually announce winners every Sunday.  Since our countdown party is almost at an end, I've decided to announce last week's winners, tomorrow's winner and the winner of the Grand Prize all on November 2nd. 

Oh, and on November 2nd, (release date of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED) I have a special announcement to make as well!

So see you all Monday and Tuesday!!   Happy Halloween!

3 more days!!! THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED! YAY!

THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED joins AWAKENED BY A KISS in the bookstores in 3 days!  

The FIERY TALES series

The Princess in His Bed

"The Emperor's New Clothes", "The Ugly Duckling", and "The Princess and the Pea", renamed and scandalously retold as "The Marquis' New Clothes", "The Lovely Duckling" and "The Princess and the Diamonds".

The author of the "luscious, sexy" (New York Times bestselling author Cheryl Holt) Awakened by a Kiss returns with a new collection of steamy fairy tales that give new meaning to the term bedtime story…

 

 

The Marquis' New Clothes: To search his wardrobe for a missing ring, Aimee will have to get very close to the seductive Marquis de Nattes, and soon finds that his clothes-and hers-are utterly forgotten...

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lovely Duckling: Joseph d'Alumbert will stop at nothing to peel away the inhibitions of Emilie de Sarron and reveal the beautiful swan inside...

 

 

 

 

The Princess and the Diamonds: Princess Gabrielle can't sleep. There is something hard in her bed. Not just the stolen diamonds tucked under her mattress- but the handsome marquis on it.

Three hot historical romances in one book.

First Date Conversations. . .Evangeline Collins!

First off, a huge thanks goes out to Lila for inviting me to her Princess Blog Party!

Mr. DiPasqua’s fab post and his awesome Notes to Self (NTS) got me thinking about my own Mr. Collins. Like Lila’s hubs, it didn’t take him long to figure out the unwritten rules of the romance writer husband. He’s great at wrangling the dust bunnies and has proven himself quite helpful in other areas…yet in other areas, not so much.

It doesn’t matter if he’s playing his latest shoot’em up computer game. All it takes is a “Honey, I need your help” and he’s game to do whatever I ask of him. He’s tossed me onto his shoulder, so I can describe how a guy does it and how it feels to be on the receiving end (not comfortable – hubby’s shoulder is darn hard). He’s staged a fake fist fight with me, sat next to me on the couch (I made him pretend he was driving a carriage), and held my hand countless times and in countless way.

I called on his help once again while working on the scene in SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER where the hero and heroine first meet. After enduring three years of a terribly unhappy marriage, James caves under the loneliness and goes to Madame Rubicon’s brothel. There he makes arrangements to spend the evening with Rose. And there I ran into a bit of a problem. I’m horrible at making conversation with someone I’ve just met, yet James doesn’t have that issue.

Hubby’s a social sort so I figured he’d have some good ideas for what amounts to first date conversation topics (something beyond the weather – I was able to think of that one on my own). I explained the scenario to him. His response? “Why would he want to talk to her?” (Have I mentioned he doesn’t read romance novels?) I smiled and explained the scene again, adding some backstory on the characters…though based on Mr. DiPasqua’s NTS, hubby was probably hearing crickets by that point.

Let’s just say in hubby’s brain, brothel=sex. That’s it. Nothing else. No conversation except for maybe a “where’s the bed?” I tried to explain it was only Chapter 2, there’d be plenty of smexing later, but hubby’s brain still refused to add conversation to the brothel equation. So I sent him back to his computer and was forced to kick the muse into over drive.

If you’re curious to see what the muse came up with, you can check out an excerpt from Chapter 2 on my website – www.evangelinecollins.com

QUESTION: What do you think makes a good first date conversation topic? One random commenter will win a signed copy of SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER.

A warm welcome to the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Evangeline! :)  Evangeline and I are both with Berkley and have release dates on the same day---Both SEVEN NIGHTS TO FOREVER and THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED hit the shelves, Nov. 2!  I enjoyed your post, Evangeline!---and Mr. DiPasqua is going to be delighted by the mention! (The man now thinks he's a blogging phenomenon.)*smiles*

She has generously opened up her giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win Evangeline's giveaway you must:

1. Answer Evangeline's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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Druids . . .Donna Grant!

Thanks to Lila for asking me to visit today. I love celebrating book releases with friends! So congratulations, Lila, on another fabulous book!

I get asked a lot why I chose Druids for my Dark Sword series. I find the legend of the Druids fascinating. There are so many conflicting accounts. Some records show the Druids to be spiritual leaders who helped heal the sick and gave counsel to kings and other leaders.

The Romans would have us believe they were the basest of humans who routinely sacrificed humans and animals in order to appease their pagan gods.

So who’s right? I don’t think we’ll ever know. We all know that whoever writes history controls history, so I think it’s safe to say Rome may have exaggerated a bit. Or maybe not. ;)

It was the knowledge that the Druids could have been a mixture of any number of things that led me into more research into them. I find their culture fascinating, especially how it continues to this day.

In WICKED HIGHLANDER (Nov 2010), there are two different sects of Druids. I have the mies, or the good Druids who keep to their pure magic. They are one with nature. They heal, share their wisdom, and protect the innocent.

Then there are the droughs. The droughs are Druids who, upon their eighteenth year, undergo a ceremony where they give their blood and soul to evil thereby forfeiting all the good inside them. The evil takes over, and in doing so gives them a more powerful magic – black magic. Of course, the villain, is a drough.

So how can the mies combat the droughs if the droughs have more powerful magic? That is a good question, and one I visit with every book of this series I write.

Want to read an excerpt from WICKED HIGHLANDER, then click HERE .

I’ll be giving away a signed copy of FORBIDDEN HIGHLANDER, the second in the series to a commenter. Happy Reading!

To find out more about me please visit my website at www.donnagrant.com. To read more about the Dark Sword series, see pics of the Warriors, take the quiz, download wallpaper, search characters, and watch the book trailers, please visit www.donnagrant.com/darksword

hugs,
D

Welcome to the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Donna! :) 

She has generously opened up her giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win Donna's giveaway you must:

1. Leave a meaningful comment below.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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Fairy Tales -- The Quentin Tarantino Version....Kathryn Smith!

Fairy Tales. They've become stories for children -- fodder for Disney and Dreamworks and all manner of media designed for the under ten set. I have to smile when I read articles talking about the 'sexing up' of these stories, or when books are marketed as 'adult' fairy tales. I smile because the authors of these stories, like Lila, know that fairy tales were originally adult stories -- a lot sexier and darker than a singing lobster.

Here are a few examples: In Rapunzel, the prince visited the girl in the tower several times, and the evil witch never found out until Rapunzel complained of her clothes getting too tight. In this version, the witch -- realizing her prisoner is pregnant -- calls her a slut. In Sleeping Beauty, the prince did a lot more than kiss the princess to wake her up. In fact, in some versions she wakes up pregnant. Snow White's wicked queen wanted the girl's heart and innards (cut out by our once heroic, but now relegated to henchman, Huntsman) to put in a pie and eat. Makes me think of those old legends of ingesting a person to take their power. In this case, her youthful beauty.

Most of us are familiar with Cinderella and how in older versions the step sisters cut off bits of their feet in order to fit the slipper. That was the version my mother told me. Did you know that in those old stories, birds came and plucked the eyes out of the sisters and their mother at Cinderella's wedding to Prince Charming? Makes you look at the Disney version a little differently, doesn't it? Those singing cartoon birds suddenly seem Hitchcockian. It makes me wonder what really happened between Red Ridinghood and the Big Bad Wolf.

Cannibalism. Murder. Rape. Suicide. The original stories contained at least one, if not several of these themes, which the Grimm boys and their contemporaries toned down for child-friendly consumption. Think of them as the Tipper Gore of their day. Children were eaten. Lovers committed suicide over lost love, and throats were slit and bones ground to make bread with alarming frequency. I think of these original stories as the precursor to soap operas. There might have been a bit of a moral lesson, but these stories were mostly for entertainment, and dare I say it, titillation. There were about the darker side of humanity, and most of them were kept and passed on by women, which makes me wonder if gruesome tales like The Robber Bridegroom, in which a young girl is gotten drunk and then hacked to bits, isn't the equivalent cautionary tale to what we tell young girls who walk home alone at night -- only with more cannibalism.

QUESTION:  So what are some of your favorite 'fairy tales from the darkside'?

One random commenter will win a copy of BE MINE TONIGHT!
 

Great to have you at the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Kathryn! :)  I love your post---and you are absolutely right!  Fairy tales were originally written for adults and were definitely dark and in many cases twisted! 

She has generously opened up her giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win Kathryn's giveaway you must:

1. Answer Kathryn's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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SONG OF SEDUCTION...Carrie Lofty!

Thanks so much to Lila for inviting me to stop by today! I love a good blog party, especially if there's tequila to be had. (There is tequila here, right??)

This morning I woke up thinking about the next scene in my current work in progress. It's a side project I've been working on while researching my next historical romance. But this new story has taken over my October. Seriously. Everything comes back to it, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. To be frank, it's more than a little distracting!

I'm rationalizing my piles of laundry and missed phone calls with the promise that my temporary bout of creative insanity is actually a good thing. The story will come from a purer, deeper place--no contrivance and no self-consciousness. Or it's be an irredeemable hot mess. Either way, it's kept me entertained.

That thrill of creative overdrive is a theme I explored in my latest historical romance, SONG OF SEDUCTION. In it, a widowed violin prodigy named Mathilda begins a steamy affair with the composer she's idolized for years, only to learn he stole the symphony he's most famous for. The hero, Arie, is obsessed with composing a redemptive masterpiece. Something of his own. Something worthy of the praise he's unjustly received for years.

Turns out all he needed was the love of a good woman.

Suddenly all the false notes and forced motifs become more organic, coming straight from his heart and his places of deep fear. It's not a pretty process, believe me. But it forges not only a symphony that rocks the music world of the early 19th century, it binds Arie and Mathilda in a union that transcends their love of music.

Obsession, see? It'll tear people down or make them even better, even stronger. Because I love me some happy endings, I obviously prefer the latter!

QUESTION: What's floated your boat right proper of late? Something (or, hey, someone) you can't get out of your head? TV show? Particular song? Creative writing project that has you tied in knots? I'd love to see that I'm not alone in occasionally going a little crazy!

One random commenter will receive a digital copy of SONG OF SEDUCTION, which is available now from Carina Press.

Great to have you at the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Carrie! :)  Her giveaway is a digital download---OPEN TO EVERYONE!

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To win Carrie's giveaway you must:

1. Answer Carrie's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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Ten Things I Learned About Life from Fairy Tales . . .Sarah MacLean!

Thanks so much for having me over on your blog for the party, Lila!  I had a great time reading AWAKENED BY A KISS, and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED!

My next romance,TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD is out this month (Tomorrow! Eep!) as well . . . and I’ve got lists on the brain. Thanks to your sexy novellas, those lists are now fairy-tale themed. For kicks, I thought I’d share a fairy-tale inspired list with your readers in honor of the release of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED!

Ten Things I Learned About Life from Fairy Tales by Sarah MacLean

1. Hair care is extremely important. Don’t forget to deep condition. You never know when you might need a ladder in a pinch, and you wouldn’t want those split ends breaking while Prince Charming is climbing your tresses.

2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Unless you’ve accepted it from a warty old crone. In which case, you’re going to need that doctor. And if he’s a handsome prince, that just might be a two-for-one.

3. Never underestimate the power of a great pair of shoes. People say men don’t care about women’s footwear. Cinderella *obviously* proves that theory wrong.

4. Crumbs do not a good trail-through-the-woods make.

5. Don’t be last-to-leave at a party. No matter how good of a time you’re having, or how hot the guy you’re dancing with is, leave that party before it winds down. But don’t forget to leave something behind for him. Like your shoe. Or, if you’re less eccentric, your number.

6. Boys make the best roommates. One might think that living with seven men might not be a great idea. False. They’re fun and funny and they’re always willing to give you good dating advice. Just ask Snow White.

7. Moisturize before bed. You never know when you might fall into a hundred-year long sleep and have to be awakened with a kiss. Nobody likes a girl with cracked lips.

8. Everyone needs a fairy godmother. Friend or editor, coworker or the lady who runs the dry cleaners, do not discount the women in your life. They can take a simple girl and turn her into a princess long before she meets her prince.

9. Always guess Rumpelstiltskin.

10. Nice girls always get their prince. Sometimes it takes a while. You have to grow out that hair ladder, or take a nap, or get hacked out of a wolf’s stomach. But in the end, he’s waiting for you. And it’s always worth the trip.


QUESTION: What's one thing you've learned from fairy tales?

One random commenter will win a copy of TEN WAYS TO BE ADORED WHEN LANDING A LORD!
 

Great to have you at the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Sarah! :) I totally LOVE the fairy tale theme to your post! ;)

She has generously opened up her giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win Sarah's giveaway you must:

1. Answer Sarah's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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This week's winners!!

Congrats to this week's winners!! 

(selected at random by authors who are part of the Princess Blog party)

Skhye Moncrief:

JOLENE ALLCOCK

Ann Macela:

SHEREE

Mr. DiPasqua:

K_SUNSHINE 1977

Anna Campbell:

YADKNY

Juliana Stone:

 JEANETTE8042

Winners please email me HERE with your snail mail address. 

PRINCESS BLOG PARTY continues tomorrow!
See you there!

Heating up those cold nights...

Think this is hot and sexy. . . ?

You should try this . . .

 

Winter is coming.You're going to want to buy something to keep you warm.

Blurb| Excerpt| Buy

Princess Blog Party continues Monday.

This week's winners announced tomorrow.

 

Brothers. Families. Siblings. . .Juliana Stone!

What is it about romance books that feature families, that we love so? Think about it. How many books have you read in the last five years that belonged to a series featuring siblings. Whether its sisters, brothers or both.

Why do we love them? Is it simply an easy out for the author? To link a series by blood?

I think it’s a lot deeper than that. For me personally, I love the interaction you get with siblings. Emotions tend to run stronger and most of the time there’s no sugar coating of emotion. Family is blood and that just means something more.

My series, The Jaguar Warriors, feature a family of shapeshifting brothers—The Castille’s. They’re wildly passionate and alpha men, who are not only bonded because of their unique shapeshifting abilities, they’re family. And family is everything. It matters.

And that’s good, considering my boys became embroiled in a fantastic and dangerous journey, starting with His Darkest Hunger and continuing with His Darkest Embrace.

In this second book of the trilogy, Jagger is at a crossroads but his world is about to be rocked in ways he’d never imagined. Here is the blurb:

A solitary hunter with no regard for the human world, Jagger Castille is a shifter living on the edge. It will take the woman who calls him enemy to give him a reason to live.

Jagger is a creature of the night—Skye Knightly soars in the sun. Natural adversaries, they have been joined by destiny in a mission entrusted to Skye’s family centuries ago: Nothing less than the salvation of the Earth.

Wounded and bitter, Jagger sought escape in the solitude of the jungle, driven by a need to disappear forever… until a mysterious shifter who calls to his soul and feeds a yearning long forgotten, pulls him from his dark path. A courageous warrior, Skye’s passion is equal to Jagger’s own—but can she trust a man on the edge? A man whose secrets are as devastating as her own?

Each is the other’s sole hope for survival. But a dark and twisted truth is leading them toward the ultimate sacrifice for a love they may never live to claim.
Jagger is going to have to overcome a lot to get his Happy Ever After and you can bet his family is going to do whatever they can to make sure it happens!

QUESTION: Tell me what it is you love about books that feature families!

One random commentator will a signed copy of either the first book in this series, His Darkest Hunger or the current release, His Darkest Embrace!

 A warm welcome to the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Juliana! :)  Great to have you here!  She has generously opened up her giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win Juliana's giveaway you must:

1. Answer Juliana's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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A Fairytale Romance. . .by Anna Campbell!

Hi Lila! Thank you so much for inviting me to be your guest today. As you know, I absolutely adored AWAKENED BY A KISS and as I write this (back in September), I’ve already got my order in for THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED.

I love the way you take those fairytale themes, shake them by the scruff of the neck, add dollops of spice and a leavening of heartfelt romance. And voila! We have a hot Fiery Tale to enchant us! 

There are a couple of reasons I’m utterly delighted to be here. One is I loved Lila’s debut – oh, I told you that, didn’t I? LOL! The second is that it gave me a chance to spend far too much time looking at beautiful Victorian fairytale illustrations. I hope you enjoy the ones I chose for this post! The final reason is that while the connection between fairytales and my stories isn’t as overt as Lila’s, I definitely write fairytale romance too!

Except I seemed to be stuck in a fairytale rut (Ruttlestiltskin, perhaps?).

My first five books were variations on Beauty and the Beast, which I have to say is still one of my favorite stories. I love that Beauty has to be brave and smart and steadfast to survive and that she falls in love with her Beast before she realises he’s really a prince. I love the fact that the Beast is your classic tortured hero. If any of you have read my books, you’ll know that tortured heroes R us over in Campbellandia.

In my latest release MY RECKLESS SURRENDER, Beauty in the person of my heroine Diana isn’t quite as pure of heart as the girl in the fairytale. In fact, she’s got a lot of difficult learning ahead of her once she sets foot in the Beast’s lair. But the story still follows the basic shape of the fairytale.

And then we come to my next book which is out in May 2011 – yeah, I’m right in between releases here! MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION has been in many ways a departure for me. Not least because it’s the closest I’ve ever come to writing a classic Regency romance. The heroine Antonia is a paid chaperone with secrets to hide. The hero Nicholas is a rake out to do no good. When she steps in to prevent him fulfilling his planned revenge against his worst enemy, sparks fly and an unwilling love awakens.

While that description mightn’t make it obvious, this story has definite touches of Cinderella, not least that a lot of the action takes place in ballrooms! Cinderella and The Ugly Duckling too. Not a Beast in sight!

Because we’re so far ahead of release day, I don’t have a blurb or a cover for MIDNIGHT’S WILD PASSION up on my website yet. But you can check out excerpts and information about my other five books there: www.annacampbell.info 

QUESTION: So what was the last romance you read and was there a fairytale connection? My favorite answer wins a signed copy of my most recent Beauty and the Beast romance MY RECKLESS SURRENDER. Good luck! 

 Great to have you at the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Anna! :)  She has generously opened up her giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win Anna's giveaway you must:

1. Answer Anna's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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They Call Me Mr. DiPasqua -- A transformational journey from a regular guy to the husband of a romance author.

Hi, folks. The guest scheduled today couldn’t be here. I asked my wife if I could step in. Her reaction was, “Ah, what are you going to blog about?” ---Yes, she was initially worried.  But I guess I answered her question to her satisfaction, because here I am!

I’m delighted to be the first and only male guest at the Princess Blog Party.

When my wife and I were engaged to be married, we debated whether she should keep her maiden name, DiPasqua, or take on my last name.

I never expected the day would come when I’d be taking her last name....Well, kind of.

So imagine my surprise when the bookstore manager hollered, “Hey Mr. DiPasqua, where do you want me to set up the table for your wife’s book signing?”

“Who the hell is he talking to?” was my initial thought. “Oh, he’s looking at me.”

Note To Self (NTS): Your wife is now officially a published romance author, and you have just taken her last name. I’m seriously okay with this. In fact, I’m thrilled. I’m famous, in a secondary hanger on sort of way…I wonder if the paparazzi will get me in any pictures…Look my sleeve around my wife’s waist looks good. Maybe next time my shoulder or even my ear is in the photo.”

All kidding aside, I couldn’t be happier!

My journey started several years ago when my wife first told me she wanted to be a romance author. I knew she was passionate about books and writing, so really it wasn’t a big surprise.

Early on I learned that this writing business was going to be tough to keep straight in my head. I’m a pretty linear thinker, and this romance stuff was taking so many twists and turns, it was like being on one of those spinning rides at the amusement park.

So, with my wife’s debut novel on the shelves---and yes, I read every word of AWAKENED BY A KISS, offered my male point of view and loved every sensual passionate story in it----and her second, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED about to be released, I’ve made a list of the things I’ve learned to help other husbands of romance authors and future romance authors along. (Guys, in all honesty, you’ve just got to try a romance novel. They’re great. I may be a bit bias in saying this, but try my wife’s books, because they are top shelf!)

Okay, so here are my Notes To Self (NTS)---Guys, are you ready?

NTS 1 –
When your wife is under deadline and you see your kids running around chasing something fluffy---and you know you don’t have pets---it's time to step it up around the house and get those dust bunnies. Mr. Fluffy and friends have to go and it’s your job to see it done.

NTS 2 –

This sign is not a suggestion.

Also, it’s not okay to ask where all the toilet paper went.


NTS 3 –
Don’t ask, “How’s the writing going?” after she’s spent the past 7 days agonizing over the same 15 words. In fact, saying “Hi” is probably a bad idea under these circumstances.

NTS 4 –
“Will you read my love scene?” is not an invitation. It actually means, “Will you read my love scene?” ...Nothing more.

NTS 5 –
If she asks, “What did you think about the heroine’s blah, blah, etc...” and you hear crickets echoing in your head, ask her if she’d like a Coke, Starbucks, foot rub… You want to be supportive and help by doing something that will compensate for the fact that you have no clue what she’s talking about.

NTS 6 –
Suggesting that she call the publisher to ask them to print the book in Comic Sans---yes, it’s my favorite font!---to improve readability is not considered a helpful suggestion.


NTS 7–
If she’s deep in thought sorting out plot details, do not distract her, no matter how much you want to tell her how proud you are, how very talented she is, or how much you love her… If you want to get her attention when she’s under deadline, you need to put it in writing on a blog/tweet/FB post/website/YouTube etc. Then and only then do you have a chance that a Google Alert picks it up and let’s her know.

I hope you enjoyed my list.

QUESTION: Any husband/boyfriend stories out there?  Guys need all the help we can get, so if there’s any “Notes to Self” you want your husband/boyfriend/partner to note when you’re working, relaxing, doing something you love, please share. Or you can simply leave a meaningful comment.

One lucky random commenter will get a *signed* copy TALL DARK & FANGSOME and UNBRIDLED.

*shaking head; can't believe I've posted this*  FYI...dearest readers, hubby did not take my last name. One time someone called him Mr. DiPasqua in a bookstore and he still talks about it. Silly man....but he's definitely a keeper. :)

Thanks so much for joining in the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, honey...er....Mr. DiPasqua. :)  He has generously opened up his giveaway WORLDWIDE.

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To win you must:

1. Answer Mr. DiPasqua's question(s) below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be announced on SUNDAY--selected from a random commenter on this post.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN! You *must* be a follower/subscriber (through GFC) to this blog to be eligible to win!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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Magic in the Book World . . . Ann Macela!

Hi, all,

Congrats, Lila, on the publication of Awakened by a Kiss and A Princess in His Bed! Folks, Lila and I met at an RWA National Conference a bunch of years ago. It’s always so much fun to get together with her in person, even for a few minutes, at the next one. Sometimes, e-mail just doesn’t cut it like face-to-face communication!

Anyway, what to talk about here? How about magic?

I write contemporary paranormal with magic. My stories are “light,” set in a contemporary world without the darkness of vampires, shapeshifters, demons, or creatures with gods-given powers. I love to read those, but I can’t write them. Not my voice. Not my crazy thinking process.

I came up with my magic world in bits and pieces, by asking what-if questions and seeing where they took me. I started all this before paranormals became a Big Thing in the romance genre.

Almost everyone knows or has heard of someone with a tremendous talent or skill or knowledge. We usually call these people prodigies or geniuses. Whether it’s the ability to play an instrument or think up a theory of the universe or build a building. We know we could never do what they do so effortlessly, and we stand in awe of them.

But what if their talent or skill came to them because they can use magic? What if they used magic in their everyday jobs? What if each person had “specialized” magic, attuned to their profession and they could cast spells to help them do their jobs?

That was the start of The Magic Series and my world of magic practitioners.

And, wow, did the world get complicated after that.

It got so complicated that I had to write it all down and develop rules about how it worked. What my practitioners (they had to practice their magic skills) could do and couldn’t. What limits they have and how did those limits work in the story. Was the magic logical and consistent? If you want to read my rules, go to my website and under articles is “A Theory Of Magic.”

Now, you can say that this is all make-believe, so why worry about logic or consistency or rules?

First, because I’m a logical kind of person. I obey the rules of physics—sort of.

Second, I’ve read books where the magic holds no rhyme or reason and wizards do whatever they want—cast the spell that’s needed at the moment, but with no prior hint they have the power. Wait a minute, how did they do that? Why didn’t I, the reader, know they had that power to get out of this tough situation? And where did the power come from?

Third, if your magic doesn’t have limits and costs, then your magic beings are omnipotent and can crush any opposition, and you have no conflict, no story. The limits are almost more important than the actual powers, as they help provide conflict and excitement as the characters have to overcome them or get around them or figure out a way to use them. Even Superman has kryptonite.

Fourth, I wanted to be able to develop the magic itself from book to book. It gets more complicated, more dangerous, more exciting with each story. Until finally the magic will save the world from great evil!

QUESTION: So, after all this, what kind of magic and paranormal world do you like? What works for you in a story? What turns you off in the paranormal world? What books are your favorites for how the paranormal world works?

I will mention three recent books where I loved the development of their worlds and the use of magic—as well as many other aspects of the books.

Blood Born by Linda Howard and Linda Jones involves vampires in a present-day world that really works for me and gets past the “undead” problem that I have with vamps.

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber creates a Victorian London unlike any other. A fascinating fantasy.

And especially Jayne Ann Krentz’s (and her pseudonyms) Arcane Series and worlds. All of them.

I’ll give away one copy of your choice of my books: The Oldest Kind Of Magic, Do You Believe In Magic?, Your Magic Or Mine?, or Wild Magic. Or the non-magical contemporary, Windswept.

Happy Reading!

Ann Macela

WEBSITE

Welcome to the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Ann!

CORRECTION----Everyone, her awesome GIVEAWAY is WORLDWIDE!!!

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To win you must:

1. Answer Ann's questions below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

**. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be selected from a random commenter on SUNDAY.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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

Time Guardians....and Haunted Hearts....Skhye Moncrief!

Hi, I'm Skhye Moncrief. I pen tales of adventure and romance, a little off the beaten path, set in the past, present, or future. Classified as "extremely sensual," my Time Guardians span time and space by bridging the future with the past. That's right. My Time Guardian series was set up to allow me to write about any time and place, because I couldn't just pick one! I'm a frustrated archaeologist and geologist by formal training. So, I like to visit many places in my stories. We'll just say my Time Guardians series is what I jokingly call extreme world building. i.e. speculative romance where time travel meets fantasy romance with loads of paranormal stuff. Think fairies, soul mates, Celtic gods, dragons, druids, freemasons, numerology, Tarot, witches, magic, time travel, fairy time-travel keys (swords), and kilts with my Time Guardians. Did I mention the kilts?

Time Guardians:
A war wages among the Gods. Two Celtic time-travel orders from the future intermarry to safeguard history. Paradox is but a stolen heart away...
 
Read an excerpt HERE

So what Time Guardian tale should you read in October? Into psychic vampires? Check out my Time Guardian Halloween tale as an ebook or in the print anthology HAUNTED HEARTS...

SACRIFICIAL HEARTS: Alone, Twila Deeds tries to find her lost brother and stumbles upon a cult she believes is preparing to sacrifice her in a Valentines-Day sex ritual. Gerard Abercrombie can't seem to convince Twila that his time-travel brotherhood has only her welfare in mind before his patience wears thin. Time-travel Code will save him because only the fairies know what the future holds as the Gods send two SACRIFICIAL HEARTS racing toward their destiny. 

NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE: A demon stalks Druidess Aron MacKintosh, trying to use her to gain control of the timeline in present-day Scotland. Time plows toward Samhain when the doorways open between the Now and the Happy Otherworld. She finds herself in a strange alliance with an unusual time guardian, Cowboy. The duo struggles to defeat the demon. If Cowboy can't earn her trust, the integrity of the timeline could be endangered. Only Cowboy's charm and southern idea of chivalry has what it takes to leave an ancient evil bound NAKED ON THE STAIRCASE. 

Today, I'd like to give away a tin of WICKED mints (just purchased at Walt Disney World!) and an autographed paperback copy of HAUNTED HEARTS to one lucky commenter.

QUESTION:  Tell me, what's more interesting evil fairies, vampires, or werewolves? 

And anyone who'd like the chance to win a Time Guardian fan kit can enter by joining my yahoo group.  I give away one fan kit to a group member each month. You're notified of other contests as well as my publishing news --- and no chatting to clutter up your inbox! ;)

Thanks for having me over, Lila!  May the Great Pumpkin bury everyone's house in Halloween candy. Except mine. Bwa ha haaaa. ~Skhye

Where to find Skhye:
http://skhyemoncrief.com
http://timguardians.com
http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com

A warm welcome to the PRINCESS BLOG PARTY, Skhye! Folks her awesome Giveaway is for North America *ONLY*.  Comments by those residing outside North America will not count for Skhye's giveaway but will count for mine. (See the NOTE in the pink box below for details).  So feel free to join in and comment, regardless of where you live!!

Please indicate if you're outside North America in your comment.

*******************************************************************
To win you must:

1. Answer Skhye's questions below in your comment.

2. You MUST be a follower/subscriber of Lila DiPasqua's blog (through Google Friend Connect).

3. You must reside in North America.

**. You do NOT have to repeat any extra points you've earned if you've already stated them in prior posts for this blog party.  Only post NEW points as in new tweets/facebook comments about the Princess Blog Party.

* Winner will be selected from a random commenter on SUNDAY.

NOTE: The more you comment on the posts during the month-long PRINCESS October Blog Party, the more points you earn toward winning a signed copy of the next in the sexy Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED...plus SIGNED copies of Nora Roberts' BLACK HILLS and Eloisa James' A DUKE OF HER OWN!

Read a yummy EXCERPT of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED HERE.

Ways to increase your odds of winning are found at the very bottom of this blog.

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

This week's winners!

Congrats to this week's winners!! 

(selected at random by authors who are part of the Princess Blog party)

Michelle Rowen:

VICTORIA

Eve Silver:

CAROL L.

Christina Phillips:

JODER

Miranda Neville:

ROSIE HONG

Monica Burns:

 ELIZABETH

Winners please email me HERE with your snail mail address. 

 

PRINCESS BLOG PARTY continues tomorrow!
See you there!

Dearest Princess Blog Party Goers....

It's been a great week!  Thank you to my honored Princess Blog Party guests and party goers for dropping in to celebrate in this countdown to the release of my next in the Fiery Tales series, THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED (out Nov. 2nd, Berkley Sensation, Historical Romance).

Love a good Regency-set historical romance, but looking for something a little different and fresh?  I hope you'll try THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED.  It has all the elements we adore about that time period, with a decadent dose of salaciousness. *winks*

Set during the very time Charles Perrault (creator of The Tales of Mother Goose) first brought the world fairy tales, I've taken The Emperor's New Clothes, The Ugly Duckling and The Princess and the Pea, renamed and retold them in The Marquis' New Clothes, The Lovely Duckling and The Princess and the Diamonds.

Three steamy romantic stories. Three hot historical heroes, who are "carnally-gifted"---"and strong-minded heroines you can relate to"--(Fresh Fiction) who make these bad boys lose their hearts---all between the covers of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED!


Read an excerpt of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED here.

Or a scandalous excerpt of book one in the Fiery Tales series, AWAKENED BY A KISS here.

The Princess Blog party rests today....but the party will resume Monday with a new week of wonderful guests and more awesome GIVEAWAYS!

Tomorrow our week's winners!