On this particular day, I wanted to recognize my fantastic friends: the Ladies of LAW. Our bond goes beyond friendship and I know no matter what comes my way, they’ll be there to support me. So while they may not be my mother….they are women who inspire me…fight for me…love me….just like a mother is supposed to do.
So….I raise my glass and thank the goddess, she sent such beautiful women into my life!
I just received my first review for Death by Delilah. 5 stars from JERR! This is a review site I respect and I tell you why in a moment. First. Read this, please!
Title: Death By Delilah
Author: Ashlyn Chase
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Publisher URL: www.ellorascave.com <http://www.ellorascave.com/>
Reviewer: Elizabeth Marie
Rating: 5 Stars
Heat level: H
What a fabulous read! A couple who have been attracted to one another for
many years, a military setting, ghostly involvement and complete fun! You
will enjoy this read, there’s no two ways about it. The characters are well developed and very likeable. They know what they want and will find a way to achieve it. Their chemistry is fantastic.
Elizabeth Marie
Just Erotic Romance Reviews
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/justeroticromancereviewsnewsletter/join>
I like the JERR review site (as well as TRS blue and FAR and a few others) for three simple reasons.
1) They review only erotic romance so they know what our readers expect.
2) They never criticize a novella for not being a novel. A lot of erotic romance is too intense to keep up throughout an entire novel. It tires the reader as well as the writer.
3) And speaking of readers, the third reason I love JERR is that its review staff is made up ONLY of avid readers. They are intelligent, well-written reviews, but no authors, editors or publishers work there, this skirting any issues of bias.
To fair and honest reviewers, I raise my glass in a virtual toast. It’s not an easy job you do, but when it’s done well, you are a boost not only to our egos, but also to our careers. Thank you.
Ash
I am so thrilled to share that I finally have a cover for The Sweet Flag, my m/m paranormal historical, vampire romance for Loose Id!
The artist, Marci Gass, really got the feel of the story and the guys are just about perfect!
The story is set during the 1860s and present day America. i did a slew of research for this story and hope to revisit the period again.
Check out my blog at http://jeanneworldsnewsletter.blogspot.com/ and let me know what you think.
Let me know what you think of the cover!
I happen to like that David Bowie song. At least the title. Occassionally, in my life, it’s applied to me. I’m quite happy to say that I’m in one of those periods now.
Late last year, we started renovating the house. Parts of it at least. First time in the nearly 10 years I’ve lived in the house that we’ve made major changes. Frustrating, annoying and expensive, yes, but the end result is something to look forward to and it’s not that far away now *crosses fingers* renovations will include a new office space for yours truly.
In December, I bought a new car. An ‘08 Mustang GT. Sweet! Bright orange that sometimes looks yellow. Gaudy and loud? yes. Impractical, yes, but what the hell? Read the rest of this entry »
What do I mean? I finally did my income taxes (I get a refund-finally!), I’m getting back on track with my writing, I’m helping set up some things that will let me play in various areas, and I found someone to help me with promotion work. This is a good thing for me. I’m forgetful. I have Blondeheimers, and rumour has it that it doesn’t get better with time. *grins*
April is a crazy month for most people. It’s tax time (if you’re in the US), it’s spring because it really starts to feel spring-like(unless you live near the Great White North– then I think you’re doomed to semi-eternal darkness), Mother Nature likes to change up the spring weather with rain followed by sun followed by gods only knows what they call it. Then there’s the start of convention season. This year, I’m bummed, I can’t do anything- but that said, I’m saving up for next year. I can do that now I got my refund and such. But convention season is craziness personified. If you’re an innocent bystander, you know that those people must be nuts to be talking about how much sex you give or not give, how much touching is good versus overdone. *grins* But once you find yourself caught up in it– conventions are a blast. (Try bartending for a small one sometime. You’ll never look at editors, agents, authors the same way again– I swear!)
April is the time of year when you finally get over the blahs of the deepest winter coat that Cerridwen, the Celtic goddess has tossed throughout the land. We’ve done the introspection, pared away the dead wood, and now we’re ready to start fresh. In some ways– this is truly our new year for those who are solar based. (I’m Celtic based– so come Samhain– I’m partying hard. LOL) This is the time when the need to be outside outweighs my need to keep my sinuses safe. I love starting back up on my walks. (I’ve gone out twice for short ones, but took two separate ways to get to them done.) Seeing nature bloom, even in the ever-blooming state of Florida is a joy. There are shades of any season, but April for me is when things truly come back alive.
This is a crazy month. Embrace it and do something totally zany at least once. Make a small change and stick with it until the end of the month. You’ll feel like you’ve truly accomplished something if you do. It’s the little things that make a huge difference. This is truly the time to embrace this changeable time-for if not now, when the world is changing its skin– then when?
Buy it now at Loose Id: http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=698
BLURB:
The legacy of the evil witch has left Meg with a heck of a lot of power and influence in the southwest United States. Much to her dismay, this means that just about everyone thinks she’s a shoe-in to be the next grand dame.
What they don’t get is that the last thing Meg wants is to be grand dame. She grew up watching her mother rule the paranormal community in the northeast US and it was enough to show her that she didn’t want that kind of responsibility.
Terrance B. Sharpe proclaims himself to be the man for the job, however. He’s even leashed the matriarch of L.A.’s very powerful lion’s pride as a display of his prowess. It’s through him that Meg meets an actor she’s panted after for years. One of the lions, Logan Lockhart, not only makes her girl parts happy, he also fills her in on a thing or two about Sharpe that she’d rather not know.
But what the heck is she doing paying attention to Logan when she’s already got two luscious shifters to call her own? Michael and Rudy are doing all they can to help her out, but Michael, as usual, has his own goals that don’t always mesh with Meg’s.
What’s a girl to do when she’s been handed a lion’s share of power on a silver platter?
I’m in the middle of the 70 days of sweat. It’s a writing motivator that’s kind of like nanowrimo (national novel writing month-write 50K words in 30 days). With the 70 days of sweat, you have a personal goal to make. For me it’s 1200 words a day. I don’t make it most days. Is it an unattainable goal? No. It’s just harder for me than it was before.
You see, I didn’t take into account my toddler suddenly decided every moment was B and Mommy time. It’s an amazing thing to watch him become his own little man. I also didn’t count on an increased workload at the day job OR my normally amazingly supportive husband missing me so much he’s asking me for a non-writing vacation.
It pulled me up short (which doesn’t take much, as I’m a little over 5 feet…it’s okay, I won’t continue until your done groaning at the bad joke…*drinks a bit of tea* Good? Okay). My husband misses me and my toddler is wanting Mommy and B time. Even my dog is showing the strain of not enough pats on the head.
I’m currently in deadline (what else is new LOL) and working to get books to my editors by the middle of the month (one this weekend, the other next weekend). After that I’m taking my 70 days of sweat goal and shifting it.
Write something every day. My goal is to just write, when I can, but do it either later at night, at my lunch break, or with snatches of time during my hours home from work. If this works out and I’m more productive, it will be my ritual. If it’s not more productive, come middle of May, I’ll ramp up my routine again.
Sometimes it’s good to take time off and relax.
What about you? Do you ever take a vacation? And what do you do to relax after the strain of a deadline?
Have a great week!
Dawn Montgomery, Angel of LAW
The venue and dates for the Australian Romance Readers convention have been announced…
It’s so exciting! We have MaryJanice Davidson, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Stephanie Laurens confirmed as key notes!
Go to the blog and find out where and when…
It’s arrived! It’s finally here!
Spring has finally arrived. For those of you who are still in the frozen wastelands of the North, you have my sincere condolences. Here in the lovely South, spring is here. And all the pollen that will stir up my allergies, but who cares? The windows are open, the wind is blowing, laundry is drying on the line and the birds and children are noisy. I have never been more excited to see spring’s arrival as I have this year. This winter was tough on me (and the other ladies of LAW), physically, mentally and emotionally. But the warm weather has calm and peaceful and in the mood to clean. That’s right… clean. Spring cleaning is in full force here. I’ve already packed my trunk and backseat with stuff to take to the thrift store and filled up one of the outside trashcans.
Being of neo-pagan persuasion, I love recognizing the turning of the seasons. Most pagans claim Samhain (Halloween) as their new year. For me, Eostre (Ostara or Vernal Equinox) is the beginning of the year. This time of the earth’s renewal and the return of the migratory birds fills me with joy and happiness. My ritual to welcome this wonderful time of year begins with spring cleaning. After which, I’ll smudge the house with sage, renew the protective wards and make my resolutions for the coming year. I’ll pull out eggs and let my kids decorate to their hearts’ delight. Finally, I’ll prepare a light spring feast for my family and friends, and the adults will hide eggs for the children to find.
Now you know how I celebrate this beautiful season. How do you celebrate?
Sometimes being a superhero is a tough gig. Seriously. Sometimes, just like everyone else– you get burned out, tired, and bored. People tell you how wonderful it must be to be you, yet you wonder what part of delusion they ride on. Yet, let’s be honest– the ideal of being a superhero appeals to us all. Why?
There’s the idea of righting wrong, taking care of the things that as regular mortals we can’t, and the idea of someone looking up to us in admiration. (I admit it– I write cuz I do and the fact that people like my stuff keeps me going!) Yet there’s more to that. Sometimes in life, we feel that we aren’t strong enough, aren’t good enough, just…aren’t enough period to make a difference in one person’s life much less many. So, we think that if we had super powers, we could use them to benefit so many people.
Growing up, I always knew I was different. Reading comics such as X-Men, Justice League, and others helped me to feel more accepted internally since externally I was an outsider. In my own way, I began emulating the superheroes I read about. Their ups and downs and mine followed a similar path as I grew up. But there was more–I realized they truly made a difference in the world and still–I felt helpless.
Then in 80s, Band-Aid and Live-Aid came about and in that moment, I had an epiphany that’s lasted every year since. Give to charities that can do the bigger things while I do the smaller things to make a difference. So began my 2 decade gifting to organizations that truly are superheroes. In fact, seeing famous people also giving of their time and effort reinforced the fact I was doing what was right for me.
Then as everyone knows, my first muse- my mom passed away in January of this year. But my mom was also a superhero. *smiles softly* She took care of those less fortunate. Volunteering at her local senior center and even while ill with lung cancer, Mom helped out others by taking them grocery shopping when they had no other way and by listening to those who just needed a shoulder to lean on. My mom, the superhero. Growing up I didn’t see her uber-human abilities, but I always knew she had strength beyond that which I comprehended. Through the years, I saw my mom both as human and more than human. The past seven months with her fight against the lung cancer that finally conquered her lungs, I saw the true power of my mom. She wasn’t afraid of dying, she wasn’t afraid of living, she just wanted us to be loved and taken care of. At her passing, she was still a superhero.
How do we live the superhero life when we’re limited by our lack of superhuman skills? We help those unable to help themselves, we fight for what’s right for mankind, we take the hard path because it’s the right one, and we remember that even superheroes enjoy themselves in those moments of peace and prosperity.
Be a superhero– stand up for what’s right. Help others. Read a book to others or read one for the pleasure it gives you. Stand up and be counted. Acknowledge the blessings and gifts you were born with. Sometimes what we consider a curse is truly a superhero power in disguise.
