12/29/11
by Livia Quinn
I say I have high hopes for 2012 but I held the same for 2011. Unfortunately, like that saying “we make our plans, God has the last word” things didn’t go quite the way I expected.
12/28/11
by Livia Quinn
I’m thrilled to interview one of our very own Musers, Alix Rickloff, whose book, Heir of Danger is being released today! Alix has been one of my favorite authors since I read Dangerous as Sin, and yes, she really is as nice as she looks.
Alix grew up with a family tree that included a knight who fought during the Wars of the Roses (his brass rubbing hangs in her dining room), and a soldier who sided with Charles I during the English Civil War (hence the family’s hasty emigration to America). With ancestors like that, who wouldn’t be inspired?
Alix turned this fascination with British history along with her love of storytelling to good use. She began writing, releasing her first historical-paranormal in 2007. Her books have been described as “sexy and intense”, “exciting and spellbinding” and “a universe you won’t ever wish to leave”.
12/24/11
by Hope Ramsay
It’s that time of year again, where I feel the urge to go parody some classic of holiday literature. It would not be Christmas if I didn’t write doggerel and share it. So here is my holiday contribution as the first blog for the twelve days of Christmas giveaway. (Actually my blog is the 13th day, but we won’t quibble over that, because 13 is not a lucky number)
Any one (muser or otherwise) who posts a holiday greeting will be automatically entered in a drawing for a bound copy of Small Town Christmas. This anthology is only available for purchase in e-book form, but I have one last precious printed copy. The anthology features stories by Jill Shalvis, Katie Lane and myself. It’s a great, short read.
Ya’ll have a merry Christmas and I hope Santa is very generous to you all this evening.
How the Muse Got her Groove Back
Every author in Blogville liked Christmas a lot
But the Muse, who lived just north of Blogville, did NOT.
The muse hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season!
Now, please don’t ask why. Does a muse need a reason?
It could be that Christmas was so darn inspiring
Authors found words without even perspiring.
But I think the most likely reason is simple
The muse enjoyed making all authors feel dismal.
But, whatever the reason, she hated the bloggers
As she brooded on Christmas Eve, sipping a lager.
For she knew every author down in Blogville could write
They just didn’t need her, and that just wasn’t right.
“And they’re getting published!” she snarked with a smirk
“Even at Christmastime, and that just doesn’t work.”
Then she flounced to her boudoir and put on her makeup.
“It’s time to get busy for a big Blogville shakeup.”
For tomorrow, she knew, all the bloggers would wake,
And hoist a few glasses and of feasts would partake
They’d do it without her. They’d be merry and bright.
And not a single sentence or word would they write.
They would drink and be happy and all would ignore her.
But I, the great Muse, I could play saboteur.
Why, they haven’t invoked me for centuries, now,
I need them to adore me again, but how?”
Then she got an idea! Of course she’s a muse.
Ideas are her thing, and this one was a doozy.
“I know just what I’ll do!” the Muse sighed without stress.
And she ran to her closet and pulled out her red dress.
Then she checked herself out in the mirror to see
If she still had her mojo. Then she chortled with glee,
“I’ll seduce all the authors and make them realize.
That they need me whenever they improvise.”
Then she sashayed into Blogville, right into the bar
Where the authors had come from both near and from far.
There were bold ones, and pretty ones, and a couple were meek,
And they’d all come together for a Christmas critique.
The Muse entered the bar and sat down on a stool
And arched a thin eyebrow and looked oh-so-cool.
She offered up edits to a few works-in-progress,
Doling out help like a queen with her largesse.
She stayed put for some time, giving help and advice
When at last a young author asked, “Hey what’s the price
For services rendered? Or are they all free?
And if they are, honey, will you come home with me?
At which point this young author found himself in a bind
Because ten other writers had the same thing in mind.
And you know what happened next, it’s a hackneyed old plot.
When the fists started flying at that watering spot,
The Muse slunk away with a nefarious grin
It had all come together. She had scored a big win.
Tomorrow she’d find them all weeping and whining
And when they invoked her, she’d be stretched out, reclining.
“Every writer in Blogville, the rich and the poor
Will soon be boo-hooing, they know they need more.”
So she paused and she waited to hear lamentation
Or maybe, just maybe a real invocation.
And she did hear a sound rising over the snow.
But no invocations! No. They were still making merry.
No, this couldn’t be so! How could they be merry? But they were. Very.
She stared down at Blogville! The Muse popped her eyes!
Then she shook! What she saw was a shocking surprise.
Every author in Blogville had called a big truce.
And they all blamed the Muse as their simple excuse.
Be it Christmas or not, they had all stopped creating.
For their muse, it would seem, they were all simply . . . waiting.
“They love me,” she thought, and the thought made her glad
“I don’t have to play favorites; that just makes them all mad.
“Screw invocations, I’ll just visit when I want to
“I’ll fade in and fade out and still ski in Vermont, too.”
“They will learn to adjust, and they’ll love me even more
When I don’t very often darken their door.”
And with that, she took off for a little vacation.
And from that day to this, she’s ignored all invocations.
12/22/11
Two “Fire” books coming soon to an e-reader near you!
For most writers the road to publication is not a smooth, four-lane highway. A dirt road with lots and lots of potholes would probably be more accurate. In my case, my writing career has been little better than a goat path up a rocky mountainside. However, the most important lesson I’ve learned in six years of actively pursuing the craft is perseverance.
11/21/11
It’s November, which means I’m one of a gazillion who joined the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). For those of you who don’t know, NaNoWriMo is a yearly nationwide event (in fact, I think it’s international now) where writers of all stripes attempt to write a 50,000 word novel during the month.
11/11/11
Debut Author Carla Swafford and the Magic of Numbers
by M.V. Freeman
Carla Swafford was one of the first writers I met after joining RWA and a local chapter (Southern Magic). She has been tireless in her support of writers and writing.I wanted to be a part of her celebration of her first book, it is well earned!I hope you like her as much as I. –M.V. **all mistakes in uploading this is mine. So forgive me any errors**
Thank you, Mary, for inviting me. What a great blog! It’s always morefun to blog with others.
How long have you been writing?
Well, the first time I picked up paper and pen to write a story nagging at me was in 1985. But it wasn’t until 2002 that I truly became serious about becoming published. Before that, I’d thought only old men and women who lived in London or New York or on tropical islands wrote books. I love that image of old men and women in exotic places.
11/2/11
And the Winner of the coffin basket is…
by Livia Quinn
Musers….drumroll, please.
Diane Sallans!! Congratulations, Diane and thanks for blogging with us!
Here’s what Diane won:
Second place went to Julee J. Adams who won the e-books. Enjoy, Julee.
10/21/11
Lis’Anne Harris brings us Sweet Salvation
Lis’Anne Harris is a life-long reader of historical romance. She spends most of her waking hours dreaming up worlds filled with knights in shining armor, castles, and strong-willed damsels who aren’t afraid to fight for their happily ever after.
Lis'Anne Harris
Writing from medieval to Georgian, Lis’Anne spins tales that are funny, sweet, sad, happy—tug at your heart, yet make you laugh. Her current series, Castle of Dreams, takes readers from the busy streets of late 18th century London to the wild Cornish coast, the gorgeous Cycladic Islands of the Mediterranean to the wild, lush hills of Jamaica and the verdant green lands of Ireland.
Transplanted from a small Indiana town, Lis’Anne now resides in sunny Florida with her husband of twenty-six years, three sons, and a Chihuahua named Pinto Beanie.
She’s also an awesome critique partner and a fun gal to hang around with at medieval faires.
10/7/11
Every Witch Way But Wicked – with Giveaway!
by Dale Mayer
UPDATE – the winner of the giveaway for a free ecopy of Every Witch Way But Wicked is Marlo Berliner. Thanks everyone for commenting!
Hi everyone,
I’ve been blessed recently to join several groups of wonderful authors in creating anthologies where all proceeds are going to charity. I mentioned several weeks ago, Entangled, where all proceeds are going to Breast Cancer Research (BCRF). Today, I want to share with you the second anthology called Every Witch Way But Wicked. In this anthology, there are 12 authors involved and all proceeds go to Kids Need to Read – Nathan Fillion’s charity that promotes literacy and ignites imagination. At only 99 cents, buy a copy and help a child find joy in the written word.
Available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com
The cover and foreward are by Amanda Hocking!
10/4/11
Lady Sophie’s EARLY Christmas Wish by Lord Valentine Windham
Greetings, Gentle Readers,
There I was, in heated pursuit of the Happily Ever After I’ve awaited through both of my brothers’ books when Madam Author informed me that my younger sister, Lady Sophia Windham, was to see her story on the shelves before my own—which you will recall bears the brilliantly eponymous title, “The Virtuoso.”
Though I am the youngest son of Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of Moreland (I blush to suggest I’m their handsomest son as well), I am at heart if not exactly humble, at least mindful of the need to Put On The Airs of a Gentleman when Their Graces are nigh. My baroness has also suggested I Had Best Behave if I’m to enjoy all of the fruits of a happily ever after, which fruits, having been sampled well before page 150 of “The Virtuoso,” I am loathe to jeopardize. With those caveats in mind, allow me to share with you Madam Author’s description of “Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish” (Note Bene: Fraternal literary license in italics).
Proper, reliable Sophie Windham is trying to cadge some peace and quiet for herself at Christmas, a season when her family’s merriment grates on her delicate nerves. She’s arranged to have a few days of rare (and lamentably improper!) solitude at the ducal mansion, only to find herself left to care for a foundling. Sophie often takes in strays, but there’s a problem: She knows not one thing about caring for babies.
Fortunately for Sophie and little Kit, passably handsome Vim Charpentier does. Though it takes untangling Vim’s unhappy Christmas memories, some well placed mistletoe, (a few tots of grog) and dealing with Sophie’s three handsome, devoted brothers (who arrive from the East bearing impressive gifts, lest we forget there are other Windhams with worthy stories), Sophie and Vim do find their happily ever after.
To read an excerpt from this seasonal tale of true love and dirty nappies, click here.
To see what Eloisa James had to say about “Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish,” click here.
Madam Author is giving away three copies of “Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish” to readers who comment below or respond to the following query: What memories do you have of siblings or other family members at Christmas? (And fear not, dear readers, I will make Madam Author part with even more copies of my own tale, (that would be, “The Virtuoso”) when same 
becomes available on November first).
Ever most faithfully yours (except when my baroness has a use for me, which—God be thanked—is almost always),
Lord Valentine Windham (“The Handsomest One” or “The Most Talented One,” or…see the fine looking male specimen on the cover to the right)
