"I slowly reach for the hammer..."

Yep, the Bull is back in town this week. Plus, I have a review for BLACK CAT BEAUTY from Night Owl Romance Reviews.
My goodness, the time slips madly away while my brain spins like... well, let’s see... how about with cyclonic force?
Yep, Independence Day is looming... and the fireworks are definitely happening in my current WIP ~ BRANDED BY THE TEXANS ~ not a shapeshifter tale, yet with lots of animals... horses, cattle, Dillon’s wolf hybrid dogs and a Maine Coon Cat, who is Dono’s pet. And, wildcats. A lot of them are half-breeds, domestic cats mating with Bobcats or Jaguarondis.
Sorry, off topic... my mind is a kaleidoscope of images and info at the moment. It’s been that kind of day, even though it started out in a nice organized way.
So, what would you do? If that handsome *bad boy* cowboy you refused to dance with the night before, is now standing naked before you, having shifted from being a longhorn bull?
~~~
For the beginning of this bullie woolie tail see my blog ~ There’s a New Bull in Town ~ and for the continuation see my prior blog ~ “What the hell are you?” ~ then: “A damn bull isn’t frightening, is it?”
~~~~~~

New Bull in Town

EIGHT
His gaze steamed like a cup of fresh hot coffee, then followed the length of my arm as I continued inching my hand toward the hammer.
“I’ll have to shift into a bull,” he croons like a seducing Lothario.
Crap! Why does his voice have to ring the chimes of my sex hormones?
“Good. You just do that. I’ll put a ring in your nose–“
His hand captures my wrist, interrupting my words. His hold is gentle, yet firm, and it feels way too good.
“Shelley, get to know me and I’ll let you put a ring wherever you want.”

NINE
“Typical male,” I accuse. “You’ll lie like a dirty dog. Or, in you’re case, a dirty longhorn, just to aim at my bull’s eye.”
I give him the fierce *don’t mess with me* eye as his gaze fully meets mine. Did I say steaming coffee before. Hell, his eyes are downright boiling for me.
Damn... something else boiled against me and it wasn’t his hand around my wrist. His cock brushed, then rested lightly against my hip. I gulp. It has to be the hottest largest hunk o’ beef I’ve ever felt, and its burning its way through my jeans.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivadauthor.blogspot.com ~
~~~~~~

Night Owl Romance Review for Black Cat Beauty
Hey, shapeshifter lovers, another wonderful surprise landed in my email box. The exceptionally kind Vivien Dean , an eppie award winning romance author, let me know about a new review for BLACK CAT BEAUTY.
Given the large numbers of romance books awaiting reviews these days, the I am absolutely grateful for this 4.5 review.

Night Owl Romance Reviews ~ Thank You, Vee

~ Black Cat Beauty is an entertaining, quick read. Its plot is complicated given the length of the book, but Ms. Kougar pulls it off. The erotic scenes were well done and fit in with the rest of the story. ~

For the full review claw-click on the button ~
~~~

~~~ Sable & Devon invite you to read their love story ~ will a black cat girl find happiness with a superhero? ~~~

BLACK CAT BEAUTY ... She has the claws and the cattitude to prove it... He has the super-powered strength and passion she fights, but needs... available from Liquid Silver Books ~ http://liquidsilverbooks.com ~ http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/blackcatbeauty.htm ~
~~~~~~

HAVE A WONDERFUL SHAPESHIFTING SUMMER

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Getting ready for conferences

It's June 29. Only a couple of weeks until the RWA National Conference begins in Washington, D.C. and I'm not ready. At all. I've paid my conference fee and my room is books, but I haven't really begun to plan what I'll be taking with me.

Well, that's not entirely true. I know I'm taking my laptop, my new cell phone and I have some things to transport for the Passionate Ink Chapter Party. But other than that - I've done very little planning.

I met with my roommate for National over the weekend. She had a color coded spreadsheet of what she's planning on attending and when various book signing will be held, etc. Boy I wish I were THAT organized. And it's not like I haven't attended a conference before either. I attended RWA National in 2007 and various library conferences too.

So if you're attending RWA National, are you ready to go? Do you have suggestions for what to see in Washington, D.C.? What should I take with me? Help? I'm not ready and I need some ideas for getting ready.

Primeval and the Evolving Happily Ever After

I'm a romance writer. I cut my teeth on the Happily Ever After premise and have come to expect one in all forms of entertainment. Sometimes I have a hard time watching a television show if they kill off my favorite character, or two or three. Which has been happening on a pretty regular basis on one of my favorite shows. So why don't I quit watching Primeval? Why am I showered and shiny-faced every Friday night watching my latest guilty pleasure, served up by the BBC?

Because they keep promising me with every little plot twist that everyone they kill off, might actually be existing in an alternate universe. Well hell, why didn't I think of that? It is by far, one of the most clever plot devices and one they don't actually have to follow through on because each new character they bring on board is so wonderful that you get caught up in their story.

The premise of the show is that evolution takes a nasty turn in the future and we're treated to a glimpse because they keep appearing out of anomalies. Lots of sparkly lights and the next thing you know, creatures from the very scary future come running through, smashing, slurping humans and creating mayhem. Lovely. The writers even brought one woman back that is a ringer for one lost in an anomaly as someone that no one but my favorite character, Professor Nick Cutter remembers as being someone else, someone they all knew. They bumped his cute Welsh fanny off too, but I have high hopes.

The lynch-pin in this whole piece, so far, is an off-beat wannabe couple. Both are brains but she's a Keds-wearing, kickass brain and he's managed to make nerdy, sexy. Trust me, it works. Did I mention the flying prehistoric lizard she keeps as a pet?

What makes this work for me is hoping that these characters are going to be able to save the world from a possible future that keeps popping through these anomalies like a grotesque chorus line and get their happily ever after. They have all the elements: an ex-cop, a rakishly handsome soldier, a lady archaeologist, and the above mentioned couple who aren't really a couple. Did I mention the uptight boss that I'm starting to think is adorable? I know, it's called character development. At least one of these couples is going to get a damn happy ending. I just know it! I watch for signs every Friday night.

They just keep dangling the possibility of another juicy relationship and I'm hooked. The story itself, save the world and fall in love is romantic. And there is that unspoken promise that the ones they've bumped off are living happily ever after in another universe, just the other side of an anomaly.

Maybe I'm just a hopeless romantic who devises a way for people to get a HEA, no matter what. It's the curse of being a romance writer but I think I can live with it. What's your favorite guilty pleasure? Come on, 'fess up.

Better run through the Jungle, er Minnesota north woods?

Location, Location, Location. One of the cool things about writing paranormal is world building. Would you agree? I mean because shapeshifters, vampires, demons and the like are figments of a writers fertile mind, we can put them into any world we want.

I got to thinking about world building as I wrote yesterday. The scene I'm working on involves my heroes(yep, that would be plural) chasing down my heroine through the woods at the edge of the lake. As I'm typing away I realize I have one hero making his way down a large rocky hill to get to the heroine.

This stopped me in my tracks.

I know the area I loosely based my story on and trust me there are no rocky hills there. LOL My second thought was who cares...this is my world and it can be whatever I want it to be! Thus, the Minnesota north woods now has a lake with a rocky shoreline of pretty good size. :)

But how big of a change is too big?

Maybe your demons are terrified of chickens, or your vampires thrive on sunshine but the moon is their enemy. Or maybe it's jungle cats who live in the Minnesota north woods. A pride of three hundred or so jaguar shifters hiding among the humans through below zero winters and barely seventy degree summers. I hope they don't revolt on me. :)

I don't think there is too big of a change, I mean that's the name of the game right..."world" building, not "exactly like the world is right down to the placement of each and every gas station" building. What fun would that be?

No, I'd rather read about interesting worlds and the unique characters in them. One being Curses Were Strange Beasts by our very own Savanna Kougar currently located in the Dorchester text novel contest. Pop over and take a peek at the story, it's wonderful.

Psst, ~behind the hand whisper~ you can vote on it too while you're there.

Another great example of world building is at the text novel contest as well, Gem Sivad's Cat Nip. A shapeshifter story set in the old west! Very cool, check that out as well.

So where is the coolest place you've placed your paranormal creatures? Or, what unique trait did you give your characters? Have you taken any world building classes you would encourage others to take? Do you have a story in the text novel contest...share, share! My inquiring mind is dying to know!

Have a great weekend

Welcome Nina Pierce!

This morning our guest is fabulous author, Nina Pierce. Welcome Nina!

How long have you been writing and who are your publishers?

I sat down to write my first novel in 2005. But it wasn't the first time I had written, I've been writing plays, short stories and poetry since grade school. In fourth grade I wrote a 20-page book report (both sides) and cried when the teacher told me I had to edit most of it out. (I mean, come on, I'd written a better version of the story than the author *vbg*) In college my writing turned to research papers which I absolutely loved. Writing novels just seemed a natural progression for my love of words. I am currently published with Liquid Silver Books and Ellora's Cave.

What led you to writing?

I've had multiple sclerosis for a very long time. In the fall of 2004 I could see the disease was progressing and I wouldn't be able to continue teaching Environmental Science the following year. I took a university class on "Writing Fiction" and made the decision to turn my love of reading romance into a love of creating romance stories. I dropped the chalk and picked up a pen and the rest, as they say, is history.

What do you enjoy most? Any writing hurdles that you were surprised by?

I write suspense stories, so figuring out a really good twist to the suspense part of the story is such a thrill for me. Hurdles? Gosh, isn't all of writing a hurdle? *g* I had NO idea that the wonderful stories I read had taken so much sweat and angst to write! Wow, now there's conflicts and goals and motivations and all the other little things an author has to worry about to make a story a page turner. I didn't know there was so much to think about before I began writing.

What are you reading now?

Breaking Dawn the fourth book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. I've read several books in between each book, but I just needed to read to the end to see how she finishes this series. I am both amazed by and in awe of her imagination.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Oh, I'd love to be a detective or FBI agent. Those careers totally fascinate me. But that's why I write suspense. I can live vicariously through my sexy characters.

Tell us a bit about your new release.

My latest release is a vampire/firefighter novella Shadows of Fire in the Hearts Afire-May anthology with Liquid Silver Books. I absolutely fell in love with these vampires. They're sexy, smart and alpha...what more can you fantasize over? And of course there's a suspense thread to this story and it was one of my favorite to write.

Do any of your characters from previous books appear in your latest?

Not in Shadows of Fire, but Cole and Jayda my shifters in Blue Moon Rising in the Furry, Fluffy & Wild anthology from Liquid Silver Books are kicking off a new series that I'm hoping will be available in 2009. But I don't have more information than that right now.

Have you written a series?

I did. It's not a paranormal series, but I absolutely loved writing the Tilling Passions erotic suspense series. It involves three sisters and their search for love. Each book stands alone, but there is a mystery that runs through the series that isn't solved until the last book. My new book Shifting Bonds which has recently been contracted with Ellora's Cave is the beginning of a three book series involving wolf and cougar shifters. I'm very excited with this series. It's always such a challenge to write three stand alone stories that are all related.

Do you have a favorite book or author that has influenced your writing?

Anne McCaffrey is a science fiction author who is known for her Pern series, but it's her Freedom series about a group of humans and aliens that are kidnapped and brought to a new world that captured my attention. She has such a gift for world building and creating character driven plots that suck you right into the story.

Which book did you spend the most time researching and why?

LOL! I absolutely LOVE doing research. A better question is "what book did you NOT do research for?" For instance, my newest story Shifting Bonds has a scene with necrospsy of a cougar. I contacted a former veterinarian assistant that had actually done a cougar necropsy just to get the correct procedure and terminology. I've done that kind of research for all my books.

Anything else that you'd like readers to know about you?

I'm a dare-devil at heart. I've innertubed white water, been skydiving, hot air ballooning, and helicoptered into the Grand Canyon. And even my disease isn't going to slow me down. I still have tandem skydiving and white water rafting on my life list. Of course it'll all be research for my books;-)

I'd like to thank Nina for dropping by today and letting us know what's been happening! If you'd like to find out more about Nina check out her locations! Nina, honey, I should have asked you when you had time to sleep!

website: http://www.ninapierce.com/

blog: http://www.ninapierce.com/romanceblog

YouTube(with book trailers) http://www.youtube.com/romanceauthor62

My Space: http://www.myspace.com/ninapierceauthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ninapierce

Buy links for books mentioned:Furry,

Fluffy & Wild: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/furryfluffyandwild.htm

Hearts Afire-May: http:www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/heartsafiremay.htm

Sam shifter!

As I’ve said before, I have season 1 of True Blood saved on my DVR and I’m nearly to the end. As I was watching the other night, episode 9 ended with Terry and Detective Andy out fishing one morning when they witness Sam Merlotte running naked through the woods. I thought that was really weird, but when episode 10 started and Detective Andy wanted to speak to Sam, I knew immediately he was a shapeshifter when Sam went back into the bar and the dog ran out. Later in that episode it was confirmed, when the dog fell asleep at Sookie’s feet on the bed, and she woke up with a naked Sam laying there.

I have to confess, until I learned this new reason to love Sam Merlotte, other than his adorably grungy good looks, I was kinda thinking he was the killer.

Seeing a shapeshifter on a popular HBO series was kind of a surprise. Outside the popularity of the romance subgenre, (other than vampires of course) shapeshifters aren’t something you see all that often in television, besides the B-movie (and sometimes C movie) action that usually has one of the lesser known Baldwin brothers J

Or am I missing something? I have to confess I don’t watch a lot of series, I have to seek out something to put on my DVR. How often have you seen shapeshifters? Because if there’s something I’m missing, do tell.

Welcome Nina Pierce!

This morning our guest is fabulous author, Nina Pierce. Welcome Nina!

How long have you been writing and who are your publishers?
I sat down to write my first novel in 2005. But it wasn't the first time I had written, I've been writing plays, short stories and poetry since grade school. In fourth grade I wrote a 20-page book report (both sides) and cried when the teacher told me I had to edit most of it out. (I mean, come on, I'd written a better version of the story than the author *vbg*) In college my writing turned to research papers which I absolutely loved. Writing novels just seemed a natural progression for my love of words. I am currently published with Liquid Silver Books and Ellora's Cave.

What led you to writing?
I've had multiple sclerosis for a very long time. In the fall of 2004 I could see the disease was progressing and I wouldn't be able to continue teaching Environmental Science the following year. I took a university class on "Writing Fiction" and made the decision to turn my love of reading romance into a love of creating romance stories. I dropped the chalk and picked up a pen and the rest, as they say, is history.

What do you enjoy most? Any writing hurdles that you were surprised by?
I write suspense stories, so figuring out a really good twist to the suspense part of the story is such a thrill for me. Hurdles? Gosh, isn't all of writing a hurdle? *g* I had NO idea that the wonderful stories I read had taken so much sweat and angst to write! Wow, now there's conflicts and goals and motivations and all the other little things an author has to worry about to make a story a page turner. I didn't know there was so much to think about before I began writing.

What are you reading now?
Breaking Dawn the fourth book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. I've read several books in between each book, but I just needed to read to the end to see how she finishes this series. I am both amazed by and in awe of her imagination.

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Oh, I'd love to be a detective or FBI agent. Those careers totally fascinate me. But that's why I write suspense. I can live vicariously through my sexy characters.

Tell us a bit about your new release.
My latest release is a vampire/firefighter novella Shadows of Fire in the Hearts Afire-May anthology with Liquid Silver Books. I absolutely fell in love with these vampires. They're sexy, smart and alpha...what more can you fantasize over? And of course there's a suspense thread to this story and it was one of my favorite to write.

Do any of your characters from previous books appear in your latest?
Not in Shadows of Fire, but Cole and Jayda my shifters in Blue Moon Rising in the Furry, Fluffy & Wild anthology from Liquid Silver Books are kicking off a new series that I'm hoping will be available in 2009. But I don't have more information than that right now.

Have you written a series?
I did. It's not a paranormal series, but I absolutely loved writing the Tilling Passions erotic suspense series. It involves three sisters and their search for love. Each book stands alone, but there is a mystery that runs through the series that isn't solved until the last book. My new book Shifting Bonds which has recently been contracted with Ellora's Cave is the beginning of a three book series involving wolf and cougar shifters. I'm very excited with this series. It's always such a challenge to write three stand alone stories that are all related.

Do you have a favorite book or author that has influenced your writing?
Anne McCaffrey is a science fiction author who is known for her Pern series, but it's her Freedom series about a group of humans and aliens that are kidnapped and brought to a new world that captured my attention. She has such a gift for world building and creating character driven plots that suck you right into the story.

Which book did you spend the most time researching and why?
LOL! I absolutely LOVE doing research. A better question is "what book did you NOT do research for?" For instance, my newest story Shifting Bonds has a scene with necrospsy of a cougar. I contacted a former veterinarian assistant that had actually done a cougar necropsy just to get the correct procedure and terminology. I've done that kind of research for all my books.

Anything else that you'd like readers to know about you?
I'm a dare-devil at heart. I've innertubed white water, been skydiving, hot air ballooning, and helicoptered into the Grand Canyon. And even my disease isn't going to slow me down. I still have tandem skydiving and white water rafting on my life list. Of course it'll all be research for my books;-)

I'd like to thank Nina for dropping by today and letting us know what's been happening! If you'd like to find out more about Nina check out her locations! Nina, honey, I should have asked you when you had time to sleep!

website: http://www.ninapierce.com
blog: http://www.ninapierce.com/romanceblog
YouTube(with book trailers) http://www.youtube.com/romanceauthor62
My Space: http://www.myspace.com/ninapierceauthor
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ninapierce

Buy links for books mentioned:

Furry, Fluffy & Wild: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/furryfluffyandwild.htm
Hearts Afire-May: http:www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/heartsafiremay.htm

Top Ten Reasons He Might Be a Stallion Shapeshifter

Yep, partners, The New Bull in Town ~ my serial flash ~ is on hold for this week.

Since my erotic romance novel, STALLION OF ASH AND FLAME, is being published by Siren-BookStrand with an e-pub date of November 2009 and a print date of April 2010, I’m focusing on another one of my favorite shapeshifters ~ horses.
Being a horse lover since birth, I just can’t resist writing stories about them, or imagining *what if?*. I know some readers have questioned the size of a horse compared to a human when transitioning to each form. Knowing that frequencies, and how they are translated by genetics, by mind or magical powers ~ becomes the basis for any physical shape in a material world, it doesn’t take much of a leap of faith for me.
Besides, I figure, if it’s good enough for all the myths and legends in various cultures that have elements of shapeshifting in them, from changing into a dragon or into a dove ~ well, it’s good enough for me to spin those stories.
STALLION OF ASH AND FLAME is my very first story written only from the male POV. It’s the second stallion shifter story I’ve written for publication. I so hope readers enjoy it.

Top Ten Reasons He Might Be a Stallion Shapeshifter

So, you’re relaxing, hanging out at the local bar and dance club near the Heroux spaceport, before you head out on the next passenger transport, and return to your home world. Your assignment has been a rough one, but the intel you’ve gathered will stop one of the galactic crime syndicates from corrupting your government.
Leaning on one hip against the bar, an immense sleek structure that gradually curves along the shape of the dome structure itself, you sip on a red scorpion ale...bitter, potent, yet spiced deliciously...while watching the local inhabitants gregariously interact and dance with an eclectic mixture of other races. Given this is a sea water planet-moon, the humanoids are evolved from squid and dolphin genes. Their indigo shades of skin are covered with pearlescent hues of every color.
You’ve seen similar scenes, at least, a hundred times before. Yet it never loses its appeal or its fascination to your eye. Besides, there’s always something to learn that could save your hide in the cosmic badlands, or wherever you’re on assignment.
It’s no surprise when a handsome, looking-for-a-ride man saunters toward you, the wicked gleam in his eyes shooting toward you like a pulse weapon. From the looks of him he could be from your home world, except for his taller height, and his thick long mane of hair. And well, if your gaze lowers...there’s that obvious size difference.
However, is he an equine shapeshifter? Notorious for chasing a woman through the gates of any hell to possess her...like the powerful stallion he is...

Here it is, the help you need: The top ten reasons he might be a stallion shapeshifter.

10. As he approaches, his gait subtly alters to a studly prance, as if you’re a filly he’s scented.

9. He flashes his gaze over you, then slowly turns the corners of his mouth up in a bold you-want-me flirtation. And strangely, he seems to arch his neck in a demonstration of prowess.

8. When you glare a fierce warning that you’re not in the least interested, he grins with confident charm, leans against the bar and arrogantly props himself up on one elbow, just out of reach of your kick, as if you had hooves.

7. After ordering an oat molasses brew, he tosses his mane of hair magnificently, then flares his nostril in your direction.

6. When you pointedly ignore him, yet keep a watch from the corner of your eye because he could be an assassin on your trail, or a slaver after you for the sex market, he idly quaffs his brew, and keeps his own protective watch. Not to mention his entire posture is a warning to every male ~ stay away, or risk a savage kick to the groin.

5. Irritation firing through your veins, you hiss a loud sigh, and partially face him, then scowl like a reptoid demoness. He takes that as an invitation to join you, his demeanor utterly virile as he moves beside you.

4. When you demand he leave in galactic vernacular, he merely leans closer and it suddenly feels like he’s snuffling your face. Gently.

3. As you reach for your side weapon, disguised as a tiny payment clip, he nuzzles along your neck, and involuntarily your fingers let go. Then while blushing wildly, you try to contain your silly heaving breaths.

2. In an effort to save yourself from his seduction you begin to shove away from the bar, but he nips your shoulder sending frissons of pleasure to your core.

1. When you protest in your own language, murmuring, No ... he nuzzles the rim of your ear passionately, and whispers, Want to take me for a ride?
~~~
While this is not an actual scene in my novella, Tangerine Carnal Dreams, it was certainly inspired by my stallion shapeshifting hero, and my kickassitude heroine.
~~~

Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivadauthor.blogspot.com ~
~~~~~~

HAVE A WONDERFUL SHAPESHIFTING SUMMER

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~

Katta & Zio invite you to read their love story ~
TANGERINE CARNAL DREAMS...a fire-shooting fierce woman...a shapeshifting prince of a stallion...and the tangerine aphrodisiac winds on a world far away...Available from Aspen Mountain Press ~ http://tinyurl.com/6vu6hm ~ http://aspenmountainpress.com ~
~~~~~~

I Digress

Normally, I love posting about the shifters and all their problems and how difficult it is to get a happily ever after, even when you're different. This morning, the shapeshifters I'll be discussing are electronically published authors.

Yeah, you know them, toothy babes, fang and claw at the ready, defending themselves because no one knows enough about what they do to make an informed decision as to how to protect them. And why would they need protection, anyway?

E-publishing has come a very long way in the past ten years and it's still evolving. Some companies are bigger successes than others, some are still folding or being bought by other electronic publishers--that's business. The same thing has been happening in New York. The bigger houses bought up smaller houses and the competition became an asset as soon as the papers were signed.

As the places to sell our work became fewer and the mid-list, where new authors were allowed to acquire a following dissolved, new authors had fewer opportunities. Electronic publishers offer really nice royalties. Really nice royalties, we're talking 35-40%.

New York publishers are starting to issue e-formats of their author's work. I think you can even get a major publisher's series titles in digital a full month before they come out. What royalties are they paying? Since it will be a secondary right, because print is their medium at this time, my guess is that it will be well below your print royalty. So what happens in ten or fifteen years, when we've presumably gotten used to the "green" movement and many more people are reading digitally?

What happens if no one is paying attention to the concerns of e-published authors now and lets this contract model standard become the standard? If print is still your first right, the print runs could dwindle and your digital copies could become your main source of income. The publishing house would have a lot of money flowing toward them and less flowing toward you.

Digital rights are something every author should be concerned with because whether they want to admit or it not, it is the future. What kind of future is being decided right now so I urge you to make your voices heard and push for some education and understanding among those who might not understand how important this is.

Start the ball rolling, talk to people, write letters, sign proxies, whatever you think will get this subject in front of those decision makers who don't seem to think this is important.

Paris

Man that must hurt...

One of the clearest memories in my head about shapeshifting was the movie American Werewolf in London. Remember this show? Two guys backpacking through Europe, told to beware the full moon, but don't, then get chewed on by...shock...a werewolf.



I love this movie.



Horror, comedy, romance...it had it all, but why did the shift have to hurt?









Check out this picture...pain right




And this one, ouch my hand hurts just looking at that.




But really, why do the movies make shifting hurt? Couldn't the transformation be a pleasurable one? An erotic one? A full on groove fest for the shapeshifter in question? No, I guess that would ruin the horror effect of the movie.

Or maybe there has been one and I've just missed it. I will admit my drive-in nights of American Werewolf in London movies have turned into matinee showings of High School Musical 1,2,3000.

So let me know, have you seen a shapeshifter movie with a pleasing transformation? I could use a good show to watch this weekend.

Welcome Adele DuBois

Welcome Adele Dubois!

Thanks for stopping by Shapeshifter Seductions and letting us know what's new with you!

Tell us a little bit about your new release.
I love DESERT WILD (Is it okay to say you love a book you've written?) The characters in the story are some of my favorites, including hero Sonny Wild Horse Hendricks of the Tohono O'odham Nation (formerly called Papago Indians). This is the first time I've written about a contemporary Native American character. I found the research involved fascinating. I hope readers love Sonny as I do.

Do any of your characters from previous books appear in your latest?
Yes, the lead characters from DESERT FEVER play secondary roles in the stand-alone sequel DESERT WILD. The quirky and endearingly kinky GPS navigator "Guy" also makes his return in my new release. Guy isn't exactly a genie, but has the power to locate whatever the heroine needs most. Who wouldn't want a GPS navigator like Guy?

Have you written a series?
My Desert books that include GPS navigator Guy are planned as a trilogy. Book three is tentatively titled DESERT QUEEN and is still in the works. I have another book coming out beforehand. The third book in the series will be a 2010 release.

Which book did you spend the most time researching and why?
My new release DESERT WILD required the most extensive research of any book I've written to date. I learned after months of study that the rare species of plants and animals found in America's most hostile desert are also some of the most unusual and beautiful in the world.

One plant in particular, the Queen of the Night, became a symbol of love in both DESERT FEVER and DESERT WILD. The Queen of the Night blooms only one night each year around midnight and dies at the first light of dawn. The plant lives in the American deserts, home to Tohono O'odham Nation, and the childhood home of DESERT WILD hero, Sonny Wild Horse Hendricks.

What's the craziest thing you ever did to promote a book?
I can't think of anything crazier than dressing up in costumes during book conventions, dancing with a bunch of other female authors, and then singing karaoke tunes after downing a few drinks. Don't know how many books I've sold following conventions, but I've sure had fun.

DESERT WILD by Adele Dubois

Summary:

Sonny Wild Horse of the Tohono O'odham Nation is a danger to a woman's heart. Though he lusts after Caitlyn Spencer, his desire to live inside two conflicting worlds--the Sonoran Desert of his youth and the California coast where his future as a photographer is assured--tears the lovers apart.

When Sonny disappears inside America's most hostile desert, Caitlyn borrows an unique Thunderbird convertible and embarks on a desperate search. The car is equipped with a powerful but endearingly kinky GPS navigator that grants wishes. Though not exactly a genie, "Guy's" new system locates whatever his driver needs most.

And Caitlyn needs to connect erotically with Sonny. Again and again. If only she can find him in time.

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-7333-50-desert-wild.aspx

DESERT WILD by Adele Dubois
Copyright Ellora's Cave Publishing, 2009

Excerpt:

"Don't go," she murmured, standing on tiptoes to nuzzle the side of his neck with her nose. He smelled of raw feral sex, damp sweat and crushed linen, and the primal scents sent shivers along her skin. She inhaled him deeply, pressed the small points of her nipples against his flesh and then opened her mouth to taste him as she laid kisses against his throat. Her tongue lapped the steady rhythm of his pulse and then dragged along his collarbone, drinking him in. Her mouth found the hard muscles of his hairless chest and moved down to lick and suck the dark circles of his areola in turn. His nipples hardened inside her mouth and the pungent taste of salt and musk wet the back of her throat. "Be with me," she whispered against his breastbone.

"Ah," he breathed, closing his eyes as she loved his body with her lips and tongue and stroked the silken skin on his hips with her fingertips. "I am here." His fingers closed on the crown of her head and entwined in the layers of her hair as she dropped to her knees to bury her face against his abdomen. "Don't you know you're the only reason I come back?"

http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-7333-50-desert-wild.aspx

Adele Dubois is a former journalist who writes erotic romance that receives consistent outstanding reviews. Titles include DESERT WILD, DESERT FEVER, INTIMATE ART and DREAM TRAVELER. Look for additional titles in 2009 and 2010. Please visit Adele on her website at http://www.adeledubois.com/

Shapeshifter Books I'm Enjoying Now

She absorbs her new powers by having sex. What’s not to like about that? In book one, sex with hunky Sawyer gives Elizabeth Phonex the power to shapeshift into an assortment of creatures.

I’ve always enjoyed Lori Handeland, and while the Phoenix Chronicals are a little darker than her werewolf books, I’m enjoying the series.

The First book, Any Given Doomsday, is about Elizabeth Phoenix, an ex cop who once used her unique skills as a psychic to help in the Milwaukee Police Department's fight against injustice. But when Liz's foster mother is found viciously murdered—and Liz is discovered unconscious at the scene—her only memory of the crime comes in the form of terrifying dreams...of creatures more horrific than anything Liz has seen in real life. What do these visions mean? And what in the world do they have to do with her former lover, Jimmy Sanducci?

The Second Book, Doomsday Can Wait, continues with Elizabeth on her quest to rid the world of the malevolent forces that have tried to wipe out the human race since the beginning of time. She battled these beings in book one, thwarting Doomsday but losing most of her soldiers in the massacre. Now she must replenish her troops quickly-because the supernatural war isn't over yet.

The second book wasn’t as action packed, but was still a lot of fun. Typically I don’t like complex sci-fi where you have to learn a glossary of new terms because I have a hard time keeping it straight. And book two had a lot of explaining of things, which got a little tedious. I’m still not clear on whether Elizabeth can shapeshift only wearing a special robe Sawyer gave her, and by touching one of his tattoos, or both. In the second book she carves a tattoo of a bat into her arm with a knife, and then can shapeshift into it. But I’m still enjoying the books, and can’t wait for the third to come out. If you haven’t tried Lori, pick up one of her books. You won’t be disappointed.

"A damn bull isn’t frightening, is it?"

Imagine if you will, you have crossed that invisible boundary into the twilight zone. But wait! This isn’t a gloomy doomy, terribly twisted tale. No! It’s a bullish on the American West sort of love story.
Okay, yours truly is kinda slap happy because it’s late, late. So, the words are tumbling forth.
And with all the unexpected interruptions that went on... well, this post almost got lost.

For the beginning of this bullie woolie tail see my blog ~ There’s a New Bull in Town ~ and for the continuation see my prior blog ~ “What the hell are you?”

New Bull in Town

SIX
“Being a bull has its advantages.” His gaze glitters with obvious meaning. Sex and more sex. That’s what he’s offering.
“I was right not to dance with you. Obviously, my instincts were right on target.”
“Target.” He winces a bit.
“Bull’s eye!” I triumph.
“Bull’s eye,” he croons suggestively. Like a slow hand lover his gaze travels down my body, even at this close range. “I’m bettin’, pretty woman, you have a beautiful bull’s eye just waitin’ for my aim.”
“Shoo... get out of here. Go chase cows... or whatever. Practice your ‘aim’ elsewhere.”
“My aim is only for you.”

SEVEN
“You arrogant piece of beef. I should make steaks out of you. No, hamburger. How do you like that?” I stomp my booted foot for good measure and scowl like a demoness. At least, I hope I look pissed off enough to scare him away.
“Shelley,” he purrs, long and low... in that male tone that says ‘you know you really want me’. “Give a man a chance to show you heaven in his arms.”
“Beneath your hooves, you mean, Mr. Longhorn.”
“Mm... mm, you did smell like sun-kissed blossoms, so female juicy...”
“Shut up.” I slowly reach for the hammer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivadauthor.blogspot.com ~
~~~~~~

HAVE A WONDERFUL SHAPESHIFTING SUMMER

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~
All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes

The Logistics of Shifting - Is Anything too big or too small?

As I write my shapeshifters I begin to wonder just what the limits are for shapeshifters. Are there any limits that would make a reader go "Huh?" when it comes to shifting into an animal far larger or smaller than human.

Could a human shift into a creature as large as a humpback whale or as small as a mouse? What would stretch a readers belief in your world? Is there a point beyond which writers shouldn't go?

I've mentioned that there are writers that have written about their humans shifting into dragons. Now dragons are darn big - but they are "magical" creatures to begin with. To believe in a dragon you have to suspend your disbelief before you begin. So imagining a human becoming a dragon isn't outside this particular shapeshifter trope.

But what if you write more mundane sorts of animals, like I do? Would someone buy it - literally and figuratively? I've considered expanding my shapeshifter world but when I thought about my humans shifting into something the size of a whale, for instance, it seemed too big. How does a normal human male (weighing approximately 200 lbs) morph into a mammal that weighs 25 to 40 tons - that's 50,000 to 80,000 lbs, kids. Would anyone believe that? I know it comes down to writing but it would take a lot to make that believable.

And how about going in the other direction. Could you make a 200lb muscled man shrink down to the size of a domestic cat (10-20 lbs) or even smaller - to a mouse weighing in at a groundbreaking 20 some grams.

JK Rowling made it work in her world with some of her animagus animals and creatures that had been transfigured. But would it work in urban fantasy/paranormal romance? Let's hear it folks. Weigh in on this weighty issue important to all writers of shapeshifters!

Why a Silver Bullet?

Every once in a while the Sci-Fi channel will run an old series that I didn't catch the first time around and I'll finally get to see it. I was watching an old vampire series last night and hubby started shaking his head and asking me why, with all the paranormal romance books out there didn't this chick know the guy she's friends with is a vampire.Well, maybe she doesn't read them. That was plausible, for me. He just shook his head again. He mentioned a couple of other plot holes and I finally had to tell him, "Honey, you aren't the demographic they're after."

Do I think men are smarter than women? Of course not. What I think, is that anyone who reads a paranormal novel, above all needs the imagination to cope with a world outside the norm. As long as you give us some very good reasons. I'll admit, I've read some books out there with some pretty slim explanations for the world that's been created.

If I like the characters enough, sometimes I'm able to overlook it but they have to be compelling and the plot has to move fast enough so I don't notice a plot device explained as, that's just the way it is. Of course, it could be a mystery that's solved down the line, in say three or four more books. Grab my attention and you just might hold it.

I've always wondered why Lon Chaney, aka the Wolfman, could be killed with a silver bullet. Even as a kid watching the late show, the question bugged me. Did some Hollywood writer influence generations of movie-goers and readers just because he needed something that would kill the beast and make everyone safe? Does anyone remember that being explained?

The Dreaded Stall...

Happy Friday!

I thought it would be fun to chat today about what I do when my story stalls.

When I wrote The Challenge, the initial meet between my h/h stalled me for a bit. I knew where they met, how they met, I knew why the heroine was there, but I was still unclear as to the actions of my pride leader hero. Bastian is part adrenaline junkie that's for sure, I mean what alpha male shape shifters aren't, but would he risk himself by going on a mission that had a potential for danger just for the rush?

Probably, but he has responsibilities to the pride which I know he knows. So why tempt fate? Thing is, if he didn't go he would miss out on meeting his mate. I knew he had to go, but he didn't know Marina would be there and he went anyway. I needed a reason why...

I've found the best way for me to work through something that stumps or stalls me is to interview my character. So that's what I did.

Meet Bastian...

Me: Good Morning, Bastian. You awake?

B: Grrrrr

Me: Yikes, no need to be snarly, not enough sleep last night?

B: My mate needed me last night and I provided. Now what the hell do you want.

Me: ~sigh~ What I want and what I need are totally different states of mind my dear. ~pant, pant~

B: Ha! ~snickers~ What do you need then, sweets?

Me: stay on topic, girly. Ok, I need to ask you some questions. First, what the heck were you doing at the casino, the night you met Mari?

B: Shit, only good thing to come from that night was Mari. I was there tracking a rouge shifter. The ass munch got baked on some ganga he’d grown on the Den’s acreage and decided it would be a kick to walk down main street in his cat suit or so say his friends, but being as high as he was, he couldn’t find main street, thankfully. Like we need that kind of exposure. Anyway, he ended up at a local farm, harassing the livestock. The farmer didn’t take kindly to the nuisance and shot at him, but claims that he only got him in the hind quarters. Stoner boy made it all the way to the fricking casino with shotgun pellets in his ass… go figure.

Me: Well that explains what the enforcers were doing, but why were you there?

B: Boy you are noisy aren’t cha. The enforcers were there, I just happened to be with them. And before you ask why, well, I was bored.

Me: You were "bored” so you put yourself at risk? And your guards allowed that?

B: Watch your tongue little one, I'm the leader and I do as I damn well please.

LOL, Though he never really answered my question, he did give me a wealth of attitude and personality to work from and it got me past my stall. Amazing how that works, huh.

So, what ways have you found to move out from those dreaded stalls?

Have a great weekend!!

"What the hell are you?"

Courtesy of ~ byronwolfepaintings.com ~ Byron Wolfe, The Outlaw That Doesn't Run - Texas Longhorn Bull, Watercolor, c. 1960 ~

Yep, I bet a lot of merely human heroines and heroes have asked that question when confronted with the reality that their lover or protector is obviously NOT merely human, but partly a beast of some type and species ~ as Shelley, my heroine, did last Tuesday.
Greetings from ShapeShifter-landia. Since I find promo-ing no fun at all, at least most of the time, I’ve thrown aside any attempt to appear like a professional author.
Instead, for today’s bloggie, I’m continuing my Serial X-Flash.

For the beginning of this bullie woolie tail see my prior blog ~ There’s a New Bull in Town ~

New Bull in Town

FIVE
“Shelley, why don’t I explain inside –“
“No!” I glare my wrath. “You’ll explain here and now. Or I’m reaching for that hammer and using it to pound –“
“I get the picture,” he interrupted, flinching just a tad. His gaze remained steady, though, and rampaged for me.
“It’s not my fault you’re standing here in your birthday suit.” Slamming my fists against my hips, I lean forward thrusting my chin.
“Yes, it is”
“It is not.”
“You refused to dance with me, pretty woman.”
“So, you... you turn into a bull to get revenge?” My temper had come to the rescue.

SIX
“Not revenge, Shelley. I have to shift to my bull form to stay healthy.”
I stare into his dark glittering eyes, assessing his truthfulness. “Yeah, you were just in the prairie neighborhood, right?”
He grins, such a wickedly satisfied grin, I scowl. Yep, I’m about ready to swing for his jaw no matter how handsome his features are.
“You know you can’t resist me, pretty woman.”
Okay, his bull-gravelly voice is messing with my sex hormones. “I did last night.”
“I must have frightened you. I’m sorry, Shelley.”
My cheeks burn. “Gee, being a damn bull isn’t frightening, is it?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shapeshifter lovers, check out CAT NIP. It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad ~ http://gemsivadauthor.blogspot.com ~
~~~~~~

HAVE A WONDERFUL SHAPESHIFTING SUMMER

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~
All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes

What Species are you?

As you can see by the varied avatars of our regular contributors, shapeshifters come in many furred, hoofed, and other varieties.

Most of my characters are wolves. The hero of my first published short story was a wolf, the hero of my first novel was a wolf, and the hero of my current WIP is a wolf.

However wolves are not the sole critter type in my universe. In my short story, Alpha v Alpha, my hero Damien Blackwolf is a lawyer. His partners include Kenyon Whitehawk and Chase Goldbear. One of Serena's business partner's is Lea Redcat. In Protect and Defend, Diar and Mikaela's real estate agent is Kate Blackbear. So yup, there are other possibilities.

I've started several stories with other animal shifters as the protagonists, but I just haven't gotten there yet. I haven't completely made up my mind about all the animals in my world yet. Right now, I have land animals and avians, but so far all my shifters are predators. There are other possibilities and I may explore them.

I considered dragon shifters, but they seem very popular right now. There are also several excellent authors already tackling that subject matter. Shana Abe has some fab books - The Smoke Thief and The Dream Thief. Deborah Cooke has also written some sensational dragon shifters. So for now, I'll leave the territory to them.

What's your favorite shifter species? Are there any species that aren't being written about currently which you'd just LOVE to see?

People Will Stare?

I read an interesting article on inter-racial dating this morning listing some of the obstacles of dating outside of your race. How about dating outside of your species? Most shapeshifter novels deal with the problems of shifters falling in love with humans but I had a "well-duh" moment this morning when I read the list.

According to this author the reasons people gave for not dating outside your race ran the gamut from being legal forbidden to being stared at. I suddenly realized that the character's in my shifter novel faced many of the same obstacles.

My hero and heroine, in the most literal sense of the word, aren't dating, unless you count running for their lives through the jungle, a date. Personally, if I had to wear mosquito repellent for a date the guy would have to be really cute and able to communicate in more than hisses and snarls. And there would have to be more than raw meat on the menu. Oh, and if he was "all that and a bag of chips" I'd like to be able to have sex without it killing me. I don't think I'm being picky here.

Yes, I can see where dating outside your species could and probably would present you with some juicy conflict. If it didn't, I'd probably be writing something else!

Have a great week-end,
Paris

Are we mated?

How does one Shapeshifter/Were-Animal know if the other is their true mate?

Is there an explosion in the sky-on the third Sunday of the month after the first meeting? Do bells ring? Lights flicker? Do you grow an unexpected appendage out of an unexpected body part?

LOL...Probably not.

But the idea of how my jaguars would know they'd met their mate troubled me when I started writing The Challenge. I've read so many cool that's my mate stories -- Kenyon's shifters develop a temporary brand on their palm, Feehan's Carpathians males can finally see in color(cool) and Ward's brothers put out an awesome scent.

~sigh~ Could I be that creative with my characters?

Turns out my idea was ~IMO~ creative in a "swim little guys" kinda way. It just took writing, editing, writing, editing and the honesty of a heck of a CP to clarify my thinking. I'm very glad I went with it.

So how about it, which authors do you think rock the "how do you know your a mate" question in their stories?

Have a great week-end!

Wish I’d Thought Of That!

I love getting attached to characters in television series, and there’s nothing I like better than a series marathon. Thanks to my Direct TV DVR, I can record a season’s worth of series and gobble them up in a week or two. Mmmm, twenty-four hours of Sawyer. Yum.

But LOST comes next week. The series I’m currently enjoying are Lie To Me, Fringe, Reaper (of course, already blogged about that, and sadly the series finale may be the last I ever see of it as it is rumored to have been cancelled) and Dollhouse.

The latter being the subject of my bloggy today. I was instantly captivated by this series about an underground organization that uses operatives called Dolls who have had their personalities wiped clean so they can be imprinted with any number of new personas. (and instantly adored all the characters. The jury’s still out on Agent Dunham on Fringe) Kudos to Ms. Dushku, who is also the producer. I just finished the last of season one and I can hardly wait for a new season. It better not get cancelled. (Didja hear me, Fox?)

It occurred to me, as I was tingling from the conclusion of the finale episode, that these “Dolls,” are also shifters, of a kind. The shift is done in the mind. After all, what we are is what we perceive ourselves to be, is it not?

I like to think my WIP, tentatively called Last Rights, has a similar twist. Set in the future, it’s about cloning, and the government’s secret use of cloned super-soldiers. Secret, because clones are used only for re-growing organs for their donor, and are believed to be mentally comotose, vegetative lumps of flesh that cannot speak or learn.

I call it Last Rights, because the First Rights law decrees the donor has first rights before their clone. So when the donor needs a new heart, the clone gives his up. But the truth is clones are as human as you and I, and the government has used a high-tech brainwashing technique to imprint the memories of one of its earliest human soldiers onto their clone warriors.

The tragic memories of that first soldier are what drive the clones to be the most aggressive fighters, fearless and determined to exact revenge. The hero is a cloned soldier (who doesn’t know it) and the heroine is a private detective hired to transport her nephew’s clone home so he can donate a life saving heart transplant. They are targeted by a fanatical cult who wants to prevent the transplant, even if they have to kill the clone to keep it from happening.

Along the dangerous journey, my heroine must decide which child to save: her nephew, or the adorable clone whom she’s learned is as bright and intelligent, and as real and alive, as any five year old.

I wonder if Josh Whedon would be interested? : )

There's a New Bull in Town

What better, during this Chinese Year of the Ox or Bull, than a bullie woolie shapeshifter kinda guy?
Yep, think of all the fun-in-cheek possibilities that immediately pop up ~ all that bull, bull crap, a whole lotta bull, bullsh*t and bullhorn ~ plus, many more such expressions I’m not thinking of right now.
Some time back I wrote the following Flash Fiction for Liquid Silver SEx blog’s Flash Fiction Sunday, where everyone is welcome to come, hang out, write flashes or simply enjoy writerly creativity as it pours directly from the fount.
That particular Sunday was a wild, anything goes, create your own shapeshifter cow day... with other shapeshifting beings making an appearance, of course.
For today, I’ve added the next 100 words to the evolving story. Oops, a big bellow, it’s an x-rated flash.

New Bull in Town

ONE
Damn! Like this is how I wanted to spend my Sunday. On stupid repairs. I pounded the third nail into the loose middle board of my old corral. I wouldn’t have bothered, except I needed it fixed for my new Arab colt.
Ouch! The hammer smacked my thumb. Damn it to effing hell! Worse! Now sweat beaded on my forehead, threatening to sting my eyes.
I bent over, pounding the stubborn nail. Damn! I stilled. A large snout snuffled, pressed against my crotch. Sniffing, blowing loudly, the animal’s muzzle pushed upward, snuggling.
None of my horses were in the corral.

TWO
I whirled around, the hammer poised like a weapon. The huge coffee-colored eyes of a longhorn bull met me. His coat was a shiny healthy liver red. His immense spread of white horns gleamed beneath the noon sun. From what I could see, flattened against my corral post, with my heart thundering, he was all sleek ferocious muscle. And beating him with the hammer would most likely have only enraged him. Calm in my panic I merely stared back at him, then asked, “Have a home?”
My answer. His nostrils flared. Stepping closer, he thrust his muzzle against my loins.

THREE
Blowing loudly, he slowly rubbed his muzzle up the zipper of my jeans. Almost delicately, he snuffled the thin hugging fabric of my tank top. My sweat-damp tank top.
“I’ll bet someone’s looking for you,” I crooned softly, half-mesmerized by the look of rut glinting from his hooded eyes.
Surprised when his muzzle shoved between my breasts, my belly leaped as if a bullet had struck.
Omygawd! Naked as a jaybird, the cowboy I’d refused to dance with last night stood pressed against me. I dropped the hammer, reached back to clutch the post. My breath poured out in gusts.

FOUR
What the freakin’ hell, ran a race around an oval track in my head. What was I supposed to say? Wouldn’t it be better if I screamed to high heaven? Maybe I should just faint. I closed my eyes to help that process along. Yep, when I came to, he’d be gone. A strange figment of my sun-baked imagination.
“Shelley.”
The naked man hadn’t gone away. My eyes popped open at his, dare I admit it, bull-husky voice speaking my name. In the depths of his eyes he pawed for me, a bull in rut.
“What the hell are you?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, all you shapeshifter lovers, check this out! It’s a free read by erotic romance author, Gem Sivad. Here’s the intro from her blog. For the first part of the story go to ~ http://gemsivadauthor.blogspot.com ~

Shifting Shapes

by Gem Sivad

Even someone who loves writing western romance, can take a walk on the wild side. Besides, who says shifters didn't live in 1881 New Mexico Territory. Here's my take on the paranormal. Cat Nip will be serialize in daily posts during the month of June at which time I'll bundle it up, put a cover on it, and post it as a free download for those faithful readers who have enjoyed.
~~~~~~

HAVE A WONDERFUL SHAPESHIFTING SUMMER

~ MAY ALL YOUR READING DREAMS COME TRUE ~

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~
All Shades of Blue Paradise

Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes

Seeking Truth released on Friday, May 29!

Welcome to Monday! I had an eventful week last week. My seccond book, Seeking Truth was released by Ellora's Cave on Friday, May 29.

Even though there are no shapeshifters anywhere to be found in ST, my blog mates have encouraged me to tell you about my new book. Thanks ladies!

Seeking Truth

Release Date: May 29, 2009

ISBN: 9781419922190

Available now from Ellora's Cave Publishing

Baron Eaduin Kempe, a man of intense passions, seeks a healer at a nearby abbey. When the abbess introduces convent-raised Lady Vérité de Sauigni, he knows he’s hellbound for desiring her. He wants to tie her to his bed until she sobs with the pleasure of his touch.

Eaduin offers Vérité marriage in exchange for easing the pain of his dying foster mother. Years ago, Vérité secretly watched Baron Eaduin arouse a lover and has dreamed of him ever since. She desires him enough to risk exchanging the imprisonment of convent life for that of marriage. On their wedding night, Eaduin craves dominance and Vérité submits with enthusiasm. Each heated encounter thereafter binds them closer together.

When Vérité’s father accuses her of witchcraft because she won’t use her psychic gift of seeing truth to aid him, she begs Eaduin to kill her so she doesn’t suffer. Instead, Eaduin challenges her father to trial by combat, determined to save her because she owns both his passion and his heart.

*****

Eaduin is the hero who started out life as a villain. I was sure he was a handsome sociopath - for months he told me I had him all wrong. In this previous story, I could not write him acting truly evil. I tried. Repeatedly. When I was more attracted to Eaduin than my hero, I knew I had a problem. He kept telling me to look deeper... He was just misunderstood. Well, in the end he was right because he's an honorable, decent man who loves his family and would die for his people. I'm so glad I finally listened to him. So now, for a sexy excerpt! :-)

By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.
An Excerpt From: SEEKING TRUTH
Copyright © FRANCESCA HAWLEY, 2009
All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

She moaned when he dropped featherlight kisses over her face. His mouth covered hers softly, growing more forceful and intimate with each successive kiss. He teased her mouth open, dipping his tongue inside her parted lips. Vérité jumped, her eyes opening as his tongue explored her mouth. As he lifted his head, his dark eyes seemed lit with an inner fire.

“Do I frighten you?”

“Nay, I’ve just never been kissed this way.” Vérité’s eyes unfocused as desire filled her.

“Have you been kissed in other ways?” His expression darkened, and she saw the glow around him change slightly.

Vérité blinked as she realized she could read his soul, though she hadn’t concentrated on her gift to do so. His spirit reddened with passion, but as he asked his question, parts of the spirit halo surrounding him darkened. She didn’t know whether to feel pleasure or dismay at seeing the jealousy flash through him.

“Only chastely by my brother.” The glow of his aura lightened to a brighter red again, indicating the strong desire he felt for her.

“And your father?”

“Nay, my father never showed me affection.”

“I’m very sorry, Vérité. I understand. Truly. My father never showed me any affection either, but I’m heartily sorry for the lack in your life.” He kissed her and again his spirit lightened, reflecting a glow of gold and white at his genuine concern.

She didn’t understand how she saw his glow without consciously focusing on it. She saw very few people’s spirits without effort. Only her mother’s and her brother Falc’s. Ah, but there had been two others—she’d forgotten. The spirits of Lord Osweald and Lady Annys had all but assaulted her, which is why she sickened in their presence. Perhaps it was the Kempe bloodline that spoke to her, though Eaduin did not make her sick, quite the opposite.

When Eaduin kissed her neck, her thoughts stilled in favor of the sensations surging through her. His mouth teased her skin while his rough cheek sensitized her. The contrary textures increased her need for Eaduin’s warmth. His touch. His possession. She wanted more but didn’t know how to ask him for it, so she clung to him reveling in the exploration of his mouth, her gasps quickening with excitement.

“Eaduin. Please…”

“Please what?”

She drew back to look up into his face. “I don’t know. I just know I don’t want you to stop.”

He smiled. “Good, for I don’t want to stop any more than you want me to. Come, let us remove your garments.”

Eaduin unbuckled her girdle, letting it fall to the floor, then he released the lacing at her sides to loosen her kirtle. Vérité swallowed hard as he gathered the voluminous fabric of her overdress into his hands, lifting it upward over her head. He tossed it onto a nearby chair as he stared at her then he groaned, shifting his hips.

Though she still wore her underdress and shift, she felt naked and vulnerable before his desire. Heat rushed into her face. Eaduin licked his lips, his hands clenching and his muscles tight while his gaze made a leisurely tour of her from head to foot. If she questioned his hunger before, seeing him thus erased all doubt. Fire filled his eyes as he fought to control his need for her. All those years ago, he’d looked at Mistress Emma similarly, but never had she hoped he might look upon her with such need. Vérité exulted in it.

She walked over to him with more confidence than she felt. “And you, my lord? We should make you more comfortable as well.” He caught her hands as she reached for his belt, her gaze flew to his.

“My lady, I stand on the edge of a knife. Push even slightly and I’ll tumble, taking my feeble control with me. I have no wish to frighten or hurt you.”

“Has it been so long since you’ve had a lover, then?”

“I have been alone far longer than I care to admit.”

“I wouldn’t think a man like you would spend his nights alone.”

“A man like me?”

“A handsome, powerful and wealthy baron. Any one of those traits might incite lust in a woman.”

“Do you think so? Is it my power and wealth that attract you?”

“Nay.”

“My pleasing features, then?”

“Nay.” Vérité blushed at the lie, her body always betrayed her in some way when she told a total falsehood and this was one of those times.

“Truly, my lady? Your blush belies your denial.” She shivered as his finger brushed her cheek.

“Well, I must admit your handsomeness appeals to me but neither power nor wealth can sway me. Wealth and power can be a blessing or a curse. It depends on the use made of them and position is the same.”

“True enough. I accept you enjoy the way I look, for I must admit I feel the same for you. Your beautiful hair is but a fitting crown for your luscious form.” He pulled his red velvet bliaut over his head, tossing it to where her gown rested, leaving behind a fine white linen undertunic.

“There. Now we are equally bare.”

“Ah, but I have on one more layer than you, my lord.”

“So you do. Your underdress is a lovely golden color but let us remove it.” Eaduin helped her ease it off so she stood before him in only her shift. She trembled under his gaze. “The linen of your shift is so fine I can see your tight, pink nipples and your red nether hairs.” She shivered with excitement listening to his soft murmur.

His fingers traced her skin along the neckline of her shift, dipping between her breasts so her nipples strained toward him. Vérité whimpered, waiting for him to finally cup her breasts, but he didn’t. Instead, he drew close to her, dipping his head so his lips could follow the tingling path his fingers had left in their wake. His arms encircled her to pull her against his hard body while he pressed his hips into the curve of her thighs. His erect manhood thrust against her lower belly, so she spread her limbs to allow him nearer.

Vérité moaned. Her eyes closed and her head fell back as she wrapped her arms around him. She lifted her leg to hook around his, groaning when he ground his pelvis into hers. He cradled her bottom to hold her in place and hissed with pleasure, his breath tickling her sensitive skin. When his tongue snaked out to taste her, she nearly collapsed in his arms. He kissed the curve of each of her breasts as their hips undulated together, her breath harsh with need. Vérité clenched her fingers in his undertunic, dragging him against her. She wanted his lips pressed to her breasts, his mouth open as he sucked her nipples. More. She wanted everything.

*****

So there you have it. hot, Hot, HOT! Please leave a comment to let me know what you think!