The Argument
Today I’m re-blogging my previous post from Nights of Passion, about my experiences with characters who don’t want to play by my rules. 🙂
I’m a plotter. I have been since day one as an author. All the books I’ve written have been plotted, sometimes for years, so when I sat down to write it was all right there and flowed like wine downhill.
All except for one book.
Read the complete article here.
Welcome back to another week’s installment of Jenna’s 411! Life is busier than ever.
My medieval series, Time Enough to Love, is now back in general distribution. The first three books (Betrothal, Betrayal, and Beleaguered) are now available on Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Apple, Sony, and All Romance E-Books. And the fourth book, Beloveds, will be available this weekend once I catch my breath and add it to the website. It has only been on Amazon until now, so I’m very happy that everyone can enjoy this erotic novella with the characters from the series.
I am truly excited to tell you that I am part of the cast of my department’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. I’ve loved this musical ever since I saw the movie with Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. I know all the songs already and a lot of the dialogue. I’m only going to have a cameo role (I really don’t like being on-stage, but this was on my bucket list so I thought I should take my opportunity now) but I will get to sing my favorite song, “Skid Row” so I’m happy. 🙂
My husband just got invited to his high school reunion, which made me realize I’ve never attended one for my own high school class. I’ve never even been contacted by the committee. Of course, I could have gotten in touch with them, but I think I’ll just let it go for another year. 🙂
So, how’s your week been?
My New Releases! Click the picture for buy link.
Back in May, I’d been hearing that KDP Select was the way to go as far as sales were concerned and since my self-published books were in a slump, I thought a 90 day experiment wouldn’t hurt anything. So I signed up all my medieval series, including the brand new novella, Beloveds. I started to see some activity on the blue graph and thought this might not be half bad. When the statement came out for June I was very pleased to find a substantial increase in revenue from the books on KDP select. This was a great idea!
However, also in June, we all got the email saying Amazon was changing their payment scheme, so that now authors didn’t get paid by the book, but by the page READ. I couldn’t tell, at first, if this was a good thing or not.
It was actually quite exciting the first time I saw that someone had read 43 pages of Betrothal. I kept thinking, “Okay, so they must be about where they are talking in the table in the great hall.” And the day the blue line hit over a thousand pages read, I was elated.
Then I found out the royalty per page read that I would receive was approximately .006 cents. So I got out my calculator, found my books’ Kindle Edition Normalized Pages counts, and figured out that if a person in the program read my brand new novella Beloveds from cover to cover, I would be paid .44 for the book. Forty-four cents.
I went on to calculate (mind you I HATE to do math) what each of my books would make if it was read cover to cover. Only one book, the one with more than 350 KENPs, would make the same amount as if the book had been purchased at the regular Kindle store. I’d read early on that longer books would fare better in this new system, but seeing was believing.
Looking at statements for both months, I made about half of what I did in July as I did in June. Therefore, I decided when my contract with KDP Select was up at the end of August, I would not renew it. I’ve now gone back to the “traditional” self-publishing paradigm of selling my book for a set price and leaving it up to the reader as to when or if they want to read them. My books will soon appear on Barnes and Noble, iTunes, Apple and Sony once more.
Perhaps I’m not a big enough name to make this work well for me. Perhaps the books I put in the program weren’t long enough to make it worth my while under the new system. So, I’ll continue with what has worked in the past and chalk this up to an experiment that simply didn’t work for me.
Has anyone else out there made a decision to stay or to leave KDP Select ?
Today I’m beginning a new feature on my blog called Cover Spot, in which I am spotlighting covers of historical romance novels. I think romance novels have some of the most lovely covers and what better way to celebrate that than by putting them on display?
So I’ll start with one of my dear friends, author Ella Quinn, and the gorgeous cover to one of her forthcoming Regency romances, Lady Beresford’s Lover.
Ella Quinn’s bachelors are quite sure of what they want in life—and love—until the right woman opens their eyes…
After a painful heartbreak, Rupert, the handsome young Earl of Stanstead, has decided that when it comes to love, avoidance is best. Until he meets a woman who makes him forget his plan—and remember his longing for a wife and family. Yet he senses that she too has been hurt, though she attempts to hide her feelings—and more—in the most baffling and alluring way. Intrigued, Rupert is willing to play along, if winning her is the prize…
Crushed by her late husband’s scorn, Vivian, Countess of Beresford, believes she is monstrously undesirable. Sadly childless, she has moved to London resigned to a solitary life. Still, when she encounters Rupert at a masquerade ball, her disguise as Cleopatra emboldens her. Convinced he doesn’t recognize her, she begins an after-hours affair with him, always in costume—while allowing him to innocently court the real her by day. But when Rupert makes a shocking choice, will Vivian be able to handle the truth?
Lady Beresford’s Lover Buy Links
Kensington http://bit.ly/1Ea6UJU
Amazon http://amzn.to/1HcQ1NV
Re-blogged from Nights of Passion:
Last week I asked the question, “Do you write reviews?” And it seemed to me that many authors don’t, in fact, write reviews, although readers seemed to want to share their thoughts on books somewhat more consistently.
This week I’m kind of asking the flip side: Do you read reviews?
To continue reading, click here.
About the book: They’ve got to find a cruel serial killer, but their attraction might be deadlier.
Detective Jase Striker doesn’t want a partner on the job, and when he’s saddled with Angelica Piccolino—a rookie in the homicide division—he’s more than a little annoyed. But his irritation with his sexy new partner soon morphs into a blistering passion, and though he fears what mixing work with pleasure will do to his crime fighting abilities, she soon proves irresistible.
Despite her diminutive size, Angelica is no stranger to the streets, and at twenty-six years old she’s tired of being treated like a kid. Yet somehow, when her attitude pushes Striker too far and he takes her over his knee for a bare bottom spanking, it merely leaves her desire for him burning even hotter.
Forced to work together as a team, Striker and Piccolino must race against time to hunt down a serial killer whose only calling card is a white rose left with each victim. Can they bring the white rose murderer to justice before another victim turns up?
Publisher’s Note: Striker is an erotic romance novel that includes spankings, sexual scenes, and more. If such material offends you, please don’t buy this book.
Amazon US * Amazon UK * Barnes & Noble *All Romance eBooks
About the Author: Patricia Green is a full-time fiction writer specializing in erotic romance. She provides the reader with love stories that emphasize fun characters with quirky personalities. Patricia is the author of more than 30 published novels and novellas as well as an ever-growing collection of short stories.
In her personal life, Patricia is married, and the mother of twins. When she’s not being the angel of domestic harmony and a semi-crazed creator of fictional friends, she loves to read, crochet, knit and watch hockey.
You can reach Patricia Green in the following ways:
Email: pig (at) patriciagreenbooks (dot) com
Website/Blog: http://www.patriciagreenbooks.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/Patricia.Green.Romance
Twitter: @PatriciaIGreen
Google+: http://plus.google.com/+PatriciaGreen
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Patricia-Green/e/B002RCB0IK/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4541511.Patricia_Green
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/patriciaigreen/
Excerpt (R-Rated):
The next morning, I realized it had been a huge mistake to allow my partner to drive the police vehicle to the scene of the latest murder. She was reckless and completely unconcerned about other cars. Sure, we had our flasher in the window and the siren on, but we were in an unmarked car. People were slower to get out of the way than they would be for a marked police car. “Geez, slow the fuck down!”
She grinned at me and slewed the car on the wet road. A moment later, she was back in control, but her grin was a little false. I gripped the oh shit bar above the window and held on for dear life. Even a seat belt and air bags wouldn’t be enough if she lost control at this speed.
“God damn it, Piccolino! I said slow down!”
“Grow some balls, Striker!”
“I mean it. You’re going to kill us both. Now cut it out!”
“Or what?” she mocked. “You’re going to spank me?”
Where she’d gotten that, almost reading my mind, kind of threw me for a loop. But if a person ever deserved a spanking more than Piccolino, I couldn’t think of one.
Rain started again, pelting the windshield with big, drooling drops. She flicked the wipers on, but didn’t slow down in the least. We rounded a corner and fishtailed, but once again, she got control after a heart-stopping moment.
“You sure as hell need a spanking, you little brat.”
“Good luck with that. I know karate.”
“Not that it would do you any good.” We swerved and I saw my life flash before my eyes. “You are out of control, woman!”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” The car screeched to a halt, well, almost to a halt, just as it sideswiped a parked vehicle a block away from our destination. Piccolino’s mouth opened and shut a few times, and then she squeaked, “Oops.”
“Your ass is grass, Piccolino,” I told her. “Get out of the car.” My door was pinned closed against the crunched driver’s side door of the BMW she’d hit. Silently, her face pale, Piccolino got out of the car, and I awkwardly moved across the seats and got out behind her. There were no pedestrians and few moving cars along the street, probably due to the rainy weather. That was fortunate for my partner, because it was going to be bad enough reporting this MVA to Donati. Accidents happened when pursuing criminals, but we hadn’t been in pursuit, so there was no excuse for it this time.
I straightened my fedora and stared down at her, my brows drawn together.
“I’m sorry.”
I remained silent.
“Really. I’m sorry. I should have listened to you. I’ve just never been so excited. Rolling to the scene of a homicide. I felt like I was in the big time, you know, like… I don’t know…”
“Starsky and Hutch.”
“Who?”
“Never mind. You crossed the line. This was no little fender-bender.” I pointed to the Beamer. “That guy’s paint job alone is going to cost a thousand bucks.”
“Do we have to say it was my fault?”
“It was your fault.”
“Well, kinda. And kinda not.”
“You want me to lie?”
“Lie? No. Just… don’t say anything about how fast I was going. If you don’t say anything, Donati will never know this was more than an unfortunate skid and crunch due to the weather.”
“I’ve had it about up to here with your attitude, Piccolino,” I told her, gesturing to the top of my head. “You deserve whatever you get from Donati.”
She bit her lower lip. “Do I deserve…maybe…a spanking?”
Last week on Nights of Passion I asked the question of readers and writers, Do you write reviews? If you didn’t weigh in then, please let your voice be heard now!
Do you write book reviews?
I ask this of both authors and readers and wonder how different the responses will be.
As a rule, I don’t write reviews unless I am simply blown away by a book and want to share my experience with others. These have, unfortunately, been few and far between.
Oh, I’ve written reviews because I’ve been asked to do it, and I have no problem with that, as long as the person asking understands that it will be my opinion, good or bad. But reviews that come spontaneously from me are usually few and far between.
Usually, if I write a review, it’s 3 stars or above. Mostly because I know reading is such a subjective business. Just because I didn’t like it won’t mean that you won’t. (Of course, just because I did like it won’t mean you will either, but I don’t mind putting the positive…
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Welcome back to another week’s installment of Jenna’s 411! Life is busier than ever.
All my writing this week has focused on the third book in The House of Pleasure series, Only A Mistress Will Do. I’ve been inspired by some images I found on Period Image, but I can’t show them because I haven’t bought them yet. So the image at the right isn’t quite right, but will do for now. I hope by next week I’ll be able to give you a peek at the hero, Tristan Marshall, Viscount Trevor. He’s a good friend of Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, the hero of Book 1, Only Scandal Will Do. For fans of Duncan, I will tell you that he does make a cameo appearance or two in book 3. 🙂
Yes, the time has come. Tomorrow morning I fly out to Memphis, TN taking my daughter and six suitcases to college at my alma mater, University of Memphis. I’m looking forward to this much less than I would say a root canal without Novocaine, but I’m still excited for my daughter, who will pursuing her dream of a career in Musical Theatre. This week she taught me how to Skype, so I will not have to wait until Christmas to actually see her again. But it’s going to be an adjustment for all of us. Wish us luck!
My favorite drink, when I drink which isn’t very often, is a Miami Vice. I’d never have known about this drink except one of my students mentioned it in a play he was writing in class. It’s a pina colada and a strawberry daiquiri combined. YUM!
So, how’s your week been?
My New Releases! Click the picture for buy link.
“…hilarious.” – Shelly on GR
“Crosby was sooo droolworthy.” – Michelle on GR
“Pickles. Boobs. Smokin’ hot man body.” – Melissa on GR
“…had me laughing so hard I thought I was going to pee my pants.” – Niki on GR
“…so many one line favourites that this reader couldn’t pick one.” – Talking Books on GR
FIVE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT YOU (Chase #1)
Five things to love about NYC. But she only needs one…
California landscape artist Estelle Donovan hates big cities. Between the grime, the smell, all the drab concrete, and the suffocating summer heat, how can anyone breathe? Housesitting her brother’s New York apartment, complete with broken elevator and smoking air conditioner, is her kind of hell. It’s only for two weeks, though. What could possibly go wrong?
Dumping a jar of pickles on the hot girl at the grocery store wasn’t Crosby Chase’s finest hour, nor was getting bitten in the butt by the demonic cat on her fire escape. But he is going to change her mind about his beloved city, damn it. In fact, if they could just make it five minutes without falling into bed, he bets Estelle he can find five things she’ll love about New York.
Falling in love wasn’t part of his plan. And with an entire country between them, Crosby realizes he doesn’t need five reasons to make Estelle love New York.
He needs one big reason to make her stay…
Find it @ Entangled Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | ARe | Amazon.uk | Amazon.ca | Google Play | GoodReads
EXCERPT
He rolled over, taking her with him without breaking a single point of contact, then reluctantly relinquished his hold on her breast so she could straighten. She straddled him, fully impaled, and with a cat-that-ate-the-canary grin, started riding him at such a coy, measured speed that he just knew she was fucking with him.
“You think you can do that to me,” she said, “and expect me to take over up here?”
“That’s kind of my point,” he argued. Probably against his best interest. “I did that to you. Figured I earned a moment of respite.”
“If you want respite, I can just…” She moved one leg like she was headed for a dismount.
He closed his hands on her legs and locked her down. Nope. “You can just ride me,” he ordered. “Hard.”
She flattened her hands on his abdomen, then traced a fingertip across his chest. And made no move whatsoever toward speed. He kicked up his hips a little, nudging up the momentum.
She smiled, all smoky blue eyes and flushed skin, as she sweetly braced herself and foiled his efforts. Her blonde, sweat-darkened hair hung in soft waves.
“You look amazing,” he said. “Especially like this.”
“Just like this? Because I thought you wanted a little more action.” She increased her speed just a little, but it was a Richter scale kind of difference, with each uptick of intensity measuring ten times the one before it.
He moved his hands to her hips and plied her into the fast lane. “Until it cripples you,” he said.
“Charming.”
“Will be,” he sputtered. Because she’d kicked it into overdrive, sliding back and forth in short bursts, grinding against him, driving him hard from every angle at once. The explosive friction between their bodies made an unbearable contrast to her heat. He was buried, balls deep, in an inferno. She was wet, her skin hot and slick, her hair flinging all over the place while she worked him like she had a road map to his fucking soul.
The edges of his vision darkened, and for a brief moment, he wondered if the sun had imploded. Then he realized it was him. Radio static crackled in his ears. He was somehow numb and at once blissfully aware of the pleasure that roared through him while he involuntary jerked like a fire hose. He prayed the latex would hold under the force of his orgasm. Prayed he’d survive. And considering her inevitable departure, prayed he was wrong about what she’d done to him.
Ruined.
Even though he knew damn well it was the truth.
And he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Find it @ Entangled Publishing | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iBooks | ARe | Amazon.uk | Amazon.ca | Google Play | GoodReads
About Sarah Ballance
Sarah and her husband of what he calls “many long, long years” live on the mid-Atlantic coast with their six young children, all of whom are perfectly adorable when they’re asleep. She never dreamed of becoming an author, but as a homeschooling mom, she often jokes she writes fiction because if she wants anyone to listen to her, she has to make them up. As it turns out, her characters aren’t much better than the kids, but nevertheless, you’ll find her writing sexy contemporary romance for Entangled Publishing until they throw her out.
Learn more @ Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Today I have the great pleasure to interview Ray Andrews, hero from Dani Jace’s sensual romance, Hot as Blazes. What was your first impression of your writer? Thanks for having me, Jenna. Dani likes spending time at the beach when not at her day job or writing. She and I share a love of whiskey. **Smiles** She’s a Jack girl and I enjoy Scotch.
How did you and your heroine, Jo, meet? I became friends with Jo’s brother, Bobby after my mom and I moved to the Outer Banks. I was ten and she was eight. She was already a better surfer than me. I knew her talent would take her far from our little sandbar.
What is your greatest strength? Greatest weakness? How have they shaped your life? I’d say patience is my greatest strength. Jo is my weakness. We’ve always been close friends and though I wished for more than friendship, I wasn’t sure she felt the same. When she returned from college and her semi-pro surfing tour in California, I finally told her.
What first drew you to you to Jo? She’s casual and easy going. No pretense…and she’s beautiful. I get lost looking into her eyes.
If you could be in any profession, what would you do and why? I kinda fell into my profession as a firefighter but love the job. Can’t think of anything else I’d rather do.
So, in your story, what was the most memorable moment for you? That would give away one of the most climatic scenes. The second most memorable moment was with Jo on top of a fire engine. **Winks**
What do you do for fun? Four wheeling on the beach and surfing with Jo. I also enjoy working out to stay fit. Guy time is playing golf, but I don’t find chasing a little white ball very fun.
Would you like Dani to create a sequel for you? Why or why not? I’d be okay with it as long as Jo and I are together. Or she could make a series and write Harley’s story. Hook him up with Jo’s friend, Tami, a.k.a. the Black Widow. **Laughs deviously**
What is your greatest fear? Another spoiler if I told you, however, I lived through it in the novel.
What are you proudest of? I saved someone’s life.
What’s your favorite thing to do on a rainy afternoon? **Raises a brow** Well, that all depends who I’m spending the afternoon with.
What’s your favorite animal? I’d love dogs, but I’m gone so much, so it wouldn’t be fair.
Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo, what would it be and where? I have one encircling my bicep. There’s a story behind it, but you’ll have to read the book.
What is most attractive to you about the opposite sex? Jo would say I’m an ass man. I actually like a woman who is independent, but doesn’t mind, using my shoulder or other parts of my body when she’s had a tough day. **Smiles**
What do you wear when you go to sleep? If Jo is with me…my birthday suit.
Great meeting you, Ray, and thanks for stopping by. Thanks for having me, Jenna and I hope your readers will check out Hot as Blazes. Firefighters at the beach…can’t get much hotter. **Winks**
BLURB FOR HOT AS BLAZES:
When the Heat Gets Started
JoAnn Mercer was on the verge of surfer stardom when her career took a nosedive thanks to a backstabbing ex. Now she’s back home in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, staying clear of men, desperately in need of a job. Joining the local firefighting squad seems like the perfect solution, until she realizes one of her coworkers is an old crush…
It Will Never Stop
Ray Andrews never runs away from a fight. He served his country in Iraq, and he’s battled more fires than he can count. But what he can’t fight is the desire burning between him and JoAnn Mercer. He’s wanted Jo for as long as he can remember, but a promise made years ago has kept them apart. Finally free of obligations, Ray is ready to prove he’s the only man for Jo. But after the trauma of her past, can he convince her to love again?
EXCERPT:
The dated Shaker-shingle beach house brought Jo Mercer to tears. She’d doubted ever seeing it again. After parking, she wiped her eyes and patted the dash of her dad’s classic Bronco her brother, Bobby, had left at the airport for her.
As she stepped out of the truck, a warm Outer Banks sea breeze kissed her cheeks. Dune grasses waved in welcome. Home. The only sweeter thing would have been a husky Dahlin’ from Bobby’s best friend, Ray. Unfortunately, her stealth homecoming prevented opportunity. Ray was the last one she wanted to know her big California surfing dream had ended like a movie of the week crime drama.
By the dunes sat a black H1 Hummer, chrome surf rack glittering in the afternoon sun. It displayed a firefighter license plate. Probably one of Bobby’s friends. She climbed the steps to the house, unlocked the side door, and stepped inside.
The fragrant cedar aroma drew her into a familiar bare bones décor consisting of a big screen TV, over-sized recliner, and sofa with a couple of end tables. She skimmed her fingers along the worn flagstone fireplace mantle before reaching her father’s flag. So hard to believe he was gone.
Outside, the shower door slammed. Jo secured her sunglasses and headed down the deck stairs. Broad back muscles stretched the Nags Head fire department logo on the man’s shirt as he racked his surfboard. Behind a pair of wraparound shades, he eyed her. “Bobby’s gone for the weekend.”
Her dad had been a captain for Nags Head. “Yeah, I know. How were the waves?”
His smile seemed familiar. He whipped off his shades and closed the distance. “Jo!”
“Ray?” She nearly toppled from her platform flip-flops as huge biceps wrapped her in a bear hug that left her toes dangling. His touch shot through her veins like straight whiskey.
“Bobby didn’t mention you were coming home, Dahlin’.” His pale blue eyes held her captive and his southern twang brought her home faster than a jet from LAX.
The sexy sound of her pet name made her stutter. “Ahh, it was last minute.”
Well over six foot, her high school surfing buddy had grown into a man with a body rivaling most NFL tight ends. He squinted and cocked his head.
With her lifelong fantasy standing so close, coherent sentences failed her. She poked the firefighter seal over his rock hard pectoral. “So what’s this?”
“I thought Bobby told you?” He smiled lazily, running a hand over his close-cropped hair. “Couldn’t play lifeguard forever.”
She might be if her luck didn’t change. Nobody had told her Ray became a firefighter. Guess he didn’t want to worry her after he made it back from Iraq. The same reason she didn’t tell him about her trouble in California. “Awesome, Cappy would have been so proud.”
At her father’s nickname, hurt flashed over his handsome face. He flipped her sunglasses to the top of her head. “I was beginning to think I’d never see you again.”
“Me too.” She avoided his gaze as tears welled.
He tamed a wavy strand of her hair with gentle fingers. “Figured you would have cut it by now.”
The sensual gesture set off a resurgence of feelings she didn’t want to revisit. Hope welled in her chest, but she crushed it with memories of past heartache. He’d never see her as a woman. “Nope, still Bobby’s tomboy sister.”
“I never saw you that way, Jo.” His gaze softened with his tone.
He’d always had the ability to strip her of pretense with barely a word. She fought for control. “ Okay, your surf buddy then.”
“Always.” He smiled then checked his diver’s watch. “Damn, I’d love to stay and catch up, but I’m picking up a partial shift. You’re here for a few days, aren’t you?”
Guilt heated her cheeks. She hadn’t wanted him to know of her arrival and now he wanted to spend time with her. “How about some cools ones after some waves?”
A little boy grin lit his tanned face accentuating his stubble. He winked a sexy blue and pecked her cheek with a kiss. “Sweet.”
As his beastly SUV disappeared from the driveway, her heart finally slowed to a normal rhythm. He never knew how much she’d loved him during high school nor would he ever. Besides, how would he feel when he learned the truth as to why she’d been kicked off the surfing team? She slipped her cell from her pocket and dialed a California number.
“Santa Cruz probation office,” a receptionist answered.
Links:
AUTHOR BIO:
Dani Jace lives in coastal Virginia and enjoys writing headstrong, flip-flop casual heroines and everyday heroes who work with their hands―and other body parts. Claiming the Outer Banks of North Carolina as her second home, she includes the scenic and legendary chain of barrier islands as a setting for many of her tales.
When not working on her next novel, she’s dipping her toes in the ocean, reading or checking out the newest action flick. Her husband, son and many imaginary characters make life complete.
You can find Dani on the web at www.danijace.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaniJaceAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Dani_Jace and
Subscribe to her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bbxwpP
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
