Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Three, Three, Three... the bunnies are hopping your way...


Pic by Caroline Young ~ http://carolineyoung.com ~

Today, Shapeshifter lovers, is a *three, three, three* day according to numerology. March is the THIRD month. The thirtieth day breaks down to a THREE [3+0=3]. And, this is a THREE year [2+0+1+0=3]. Voila!

Consider, also, the Full Moon was just yesterday. What does this mean in the simplest of terms? Communication and comedy are in the spotlight, and have three times the power, and all of it is for the good of humanity. Well, for comedy chuckles and brilliance check Pat Cunningham’s previous post, if you haven’t already.

Yep, the Easter bunnies are hopping your way and I’m betting some of those cotton tails will be bona fide shapeshifters. Keep a look out and report any suspicious rabbits you meet or see this week. Especially, if they attempt to snuggle up a little too closely. Or, eye your ‘eggs’ with too much interest.

Okay, truthfully, at the moment, I’m not feeling communicative or comedic. A case of life interruptus, brain fog and an over-use of words. Yes, it can happen to us writers, all too easily. We spill them out onto the screen or onto paper. Hey, you gotta go when the words of the story flow.

At times, you have to pluck words out like hen’s teeth. There’s an Easter egg joke in there somewhere. But the ole thinking noodle has gone limp, probably over-cooked by a whole lotta penning recently.

Finding the right word, the perfect name for your heroine, hero and secondary characters, is often like finding treasure or your muse goose lays that golden egg in your mind. That can happen with titles, too. Sometimes, they just pop and I write the story around them. However, with my recently-written short story, titled, THE TIGER’S MASQUERADE... nope, nothing really popped. Eventually, I had about six possible titles staring back at me from the monitor, all in different colors.

Now, the idea, the premise for Tiger finger-snapped in my head, and it became another pantsing adventure in writing. Though, once, Stacy and Zyrru revealed themselves, the story became character-driven.

Back to the bunnies, though. This is their time. Springtime and a young buck’s thoughts turn to love... making it with girl rabbits and making all those baby bunnies. But, what if there is a Rabbit shapeshifting race of humanoids... or, what if Bugs Bunny and the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland are real? And, somewhere, Peter Cottontail is hopping down the bunny trail?

Heck, maybe, there’s a rabbit warrior race... wouldn’t that be a fun erotic romance to pen?


Here’s a timely flash I wrote two years ago ~

Easter X-Flash-ing

He traced his tongue over the swell of her breast. “Soft as marshmallow,” he praised. His teeth gripped her nipple, tormenting with rhythmic tugs. “Pink as candy.”
“Mmmmm, your ears are so fuzzy for a were-rabbit.” She kissed the pointed tips, his silvery bunny fur sensuous against her lips. “But, what about your eggs?” she teased, sliding her hand down his robustly muscled chest, his sleek loins, around his dark glistening shaft. “Yep, hard-boiled and fuzzy,” she whispered, gently kneading. “And deliciously ready to fill my empty basket.”
“Hop on, we’ll mate like rabbits,” he invited, fisting her human tresses.

~~~~~~

The Kougar’s news and mews ~

Yep, it’s COMING FOR EASTER ~ The Bunny Hop Blog Tour starts this Friday, April 2nd through April 4th ~
http://kougarkisses.blogspot.com ~

Here’s the title of the Kougar’s bloggie... and yes-meowsers, there will be pics!

Bunny Hop Tour ~ Meeting the Highlander
~~~~~~

HAVE A JOYOUS EASTER!

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~


All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls ~ In Print
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~ In Print ~
Branded by the Texans ~ Coming in August 2010 from Siren-BookStrand
~~~~~~

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Welcome to the 21st Century

By Pat Cunningham
(I know it's Saturday, but I'm not sure of my schedule so I'm posting this now. Pretend it's Monday, or wait until Monday and read it then. Either works for me.)

Last week I finally scraped enough pennies together, took the plunge and bought a laptop. No longer would I be a slave to library system availability! Well, maybe a while longer while I figure out the new programs. But I can send and check emails and play videos on YouTube, so we’re halfway there.
My foray into the modern age got me wondering how shifter species are faring in our increasingly technological universe. Would shapechangers, connected as they are to the natural world, find things like iPODs and Twitter a blessing, the work of the Devil, or just plain confusing?
I’ve already established my wolves as hardline traditionalists being dragged by the tail into a connected existence and howling and snapping every inch of the way. The coyotes, on the other hand, embrace all forms of change. Frankly, they embrace anything that gives them a leg up on the competition, that is, everyone else in existence. Coyotes were the first shifter species to install indoor plumbing. They probably stole the first Model T to roll off the assembly line. I can picture a coyote training to become a pilot, and a wolf gulping tranquilizers before he boards his flight. Different strokes and all.
I haven’t written extensively about other shifters, so I haven’t figured out how they feel about modern conveniences. I imagine werehorses probably revere Henry Ford; the car took a literal load off their feet and backs. And who wouldn’t go for a hot stud horse in a Mustang? I’m betting the big cats like fast cars. The better to run down the prey, m’dear. If wolves are going to succumb to any tech, it would be cell phones. They’re family oriented and like to stay connected. There must be entire packs on Twitter. The first thing a coyote would do with a computer is hack into the system and indulge in massive identity theft. For them, the message never changed, just the medium of delivery.
How about your shifters? Have they embraced the modern age or turned their backs on it? What gadgets can’t they live without and which ones do they despise? Who’s got the flat screen HDTV in his den? Who met his mate in a chat room? Or don’t they care about any of this because they’re too busy seducing human women? Okay, there’s a definite upside to unplugging once in a while.
Oh, and the above gave me the germ of an idea. Maybe it’s a horse and not a coyote who trains to be a pilot. The obvious title: “Pegasus.” I’ll let you know if it goes anywhere. If not, feel free to hijack.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Could Shapeshifter TV Be A Reality?


Good Friday morning!

So I've been thinking lately about the TV shows I've been watching. Most of my choices lean toward the paranormal/sci-fi (big surprise, lol), but I also found that I am currently watching two Reality TV shows. 8/

Reality shows have never been my favorite types of shows, but over the years I have watched a few...Survivor, Rockstar, The Amazing Race and now Undercover Boss (this one is for the hubby who really likes it.)

So I had an idea...Shape Shifter Reality TV. Could it work?

Well, let's see,

Undercover Shifter Boss - The leader of a pride/pack infiltrates the group to make sure everyone is happy. Um, this probably wouldn't work though, considering that leaders of the animal variety are usually known to the entire pack, or can be easily identified as such...

Rockstar: Shifter style - hmmm, do your shifters sing well? Moving on...

The Amazing Race - Shapeshifters pair up and race across the world. The tasks would be extreme(chasing of the prey, alpha stand-off and catch that scent) and if we really wanted to see some sparks fly, team shifters up randomly...think a jag and a wolf would work well together? Now this idea has some possibilities, although cooping our beasts up on an airplane for long hours might make for some interesting news...

Survivor - This one I think has the best shot at being a winner. Think of it, tribes are made up of each type of animal, coyote, jag, wolf, bear, horse, tiger...heck any thing you can think of and send them to an island together to outwit and outplay each other. LOL, just a thought here, if we make it during mating season, we'd have a whole new kinda reality show...one left best to cable. ;)

How about you, what reality TV would you change into a shifter reality show and would it work?

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Thursday Thirteen - What I'm looking forward to at RT!

I want to welcome Pat Cunningham to the Shapeshifter Seductions blog. I'm looking forward to her posts. I also want to thank her for swapping days with me. I was having some challenges getting my Monday morning posts up in a timely manner (bad blogger, no biscuit!). So today I want to try a new kind of post for me. A Thursday Thirteen.

What IS a Thursday Thirteen? Well, the concept has been around for quite a while and it's really simple. Each Thursday I'll blog a list of thirteen things. Could be almost anything. Maybe it will be favorite movies, annoyances at work, what I love about spring... You get the idea. So today is my first - at least here. Grin

Today my TT will be (see title of post...) What I'm most looking forward to about RT this year. RT is the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. I'm an RT virgin and RT is just about a month away now. My tummy is all aflutter in anticipation.


Thursday Thirteen #1

What I'm most looking forward to at RT 2010!

1. A road trip with Robin Rotham.
Not only is she a good driver, but she's a LOT of fun on the road. AND she stops when you have to go to the bathroom. Yaaaay Robin!

2. Meeting many of my online author friends in person.

Friends like the lovely Paris Brandon. She and I talk on the phone frequently. We exchange emails. She reads my stuff and I read hers. But I have yet to meet her in person and give her a hug for all her support. I'm really looking forward to that.


3. Cover Models.

Do I have to elaborate here? I mean....just look.


4. The Ellora's Cave "Paint the Town Red" Party.

I even found a new dress for the party...on sale. I'll get to walk across a stage to be introduced...while I'm accompanied by an EC cover model. Oh yeah.

5. Catching up with fellow EC authors that I met at Romanticon.

EC authors are FUN. They like to party and they are really supportive of each other. It's going to be great to see them again.

6. The book signings.

I'm participating in the e-book expo book signing on Friday night and the book fair signing on Saturday. I love meeting readers so I can talk to them and book signings give me that opportunity. I also enjoy the time schmoozing with my fellow authors while we wait for the hordes (at least I hope there are hordes) to arrive.

7. The parties and mixers.

I love to have fun. Dance. Mix with people and get to know them. It will be super to meet people when they aren't "on stage." Everyone will just be kicking back and laughing together. I love that.

8. The workshops.

I love to attend workshops to learn interesting things and hear agents, editors and my fellow authors share their knowledge. It should be a great learning experience.

9. The Mr. Romance contest.

Hunks on parade. Totally awesome.

10. Meeting editors.

Romanticon gave me the opportunity to meet many of EC's editors. This will be a great opportunity to renew the acquaintance. Also, I'll have the opportunity to meet editors from other publishers in a fun and relaxed setting.

11. Meeting agents.

I've always been a little scared of agents but this event will give me an informal sort of situation to mix with agents and get to know them a bit. I'm looking forward to that.

12. Meeting READERS!!!

I love meeting my readers...heck any readers. Readers are the reason I write. I want them to like my writing. This is a great venue for mixing with readers and getting to know them better. It's also a great place to ask them what they like and don't like about various genres of books. This is gonna be great...

13. Playing fangrrl and getting books SIGNED by my favorite authors.

I love to read and the authors of some of my favorite reads will be attending RT. I'm going to have to fight like the dickens to not squee like a teenage girl seeing her favorite movie star when I get book signed.

***

So are YOU going to RT this year? If you are, what are you most looking forward to? I'm an RT virgin. Is there anything about RT that I've missed?



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Can you tell I'm stalled?


I popped over to a blog this morning, following a link my new editor placed on her blog. (I’m a hopeless link follower) The blog was funny. Well written. Engaging. And the author had managed to do all this around his writing. I laughed out loud.

Then I thought, “why can’t I do that?”

Why is blogging so hard? You’ve read them, the humorous, charming, sharp-witted ramblings that keep you reading even though they don’t really have a specific point.

I thought to myself, his books must be really good. And then doubt crept in. “If I can’t blog this well, maybe I can’t…gulp…write very well, either.”

I never know how much or how little to reveal about myself. Writing under a pseudonym for secrecy complicates that. Should I keep it real, or err on the side of fantasy?  My life is boring. You don’t want to read how I fight the urge to eat a supersized snickers bar every afternoon, or found a giant pimple on my chin even though I just passed a birthday that had a four and…another number in it. So what do you find interesting?

What are some of your favorite blogs? And why are they your favorites?

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The Tiger's Masquerade and Sun Rocket's Interview


The image above doesn’t reflect my story. It’s just ultra cool.

Okay, my tiger shapeshifter short story is written and now I’m editing before I submit it for an anthology. I do have a concern the story won’t quite meet the Halloween theme requirement. But, we’ll see. And, if not, I think it will eventually find a good home.

So, just to let you have a taste, here’s a couple of *unedited* snippets, one featuring the hero, Zyrru, and one featuring, the heroine, Stacy.

From Chapter One ~

Zyrru slid his hand inside the pocket of his sharkskin evening jacket, palming his contact device. For privacy, he stepped outside, onto the mansion’s old-fashioned balcony. The flat side of the device adhered itself to the center of his palm and his sire’s visage appeared.

Even the miniature image of his father’s face on the rounded surface of his homeworld communicator was duly impressive. In point of fact, Zyrru had never known of an occasion when the Regent King of the Valparaiso Realm hadn’t been ferociously impressive.

Annoyed by the interruption, yet relieved his face couldn’t be seen, since he’d shifted to a human tiger version of himself, Zyrru lounged comfortably against the balcony’s stone wall. He’d let his striped skin pigments show for the Halloween Call of the Wild Masquerade ball he attended, and his big cat ears were on full display, a forbidden act while vacationing on Earth.

He touched the device on. “You hailed, father? I will hope all remains serene on the Flatland.”

“The Princess waits upon your proposal of marriage,” his sire intoned without preamble.
~~~

From Chapter Two ~

Stacy slipped her hands over her gown’s full skirts reveling in the feel of the shimmering pink satin. Picking them up as elegantly as she knew how, she moved toward the mansion’s ballroom.

Excitement pounded her heart. Expectation had shadowed her all day and now it heightened. For what, she wasn’t certain, except that her boss had teased her with promo pictures of the tiger men she’d hired for her Call of the Wild Masquerade ball.

Stacy paused at the arched entrance, sweeping her gaze over the huge room’s starry ethereal decorations, the ones she’d helped to arrange the day before. Not quite prepared for more than images of the Tame a Party Tiger men, Stacy came to a sliding halt on her dancer’s shoes.

Aware she looked ridiculously awkward with her arms akimbo and her body leaning forward, still, Stacy stared, and practically panted. Thankfully, her mask didn’t impeded her breathing any, and she wasn’t wearing a corset, or she might have keeled over in an un-ladylike
faint.
~~~~~~

Coming this Saturday, MARCH 27th ~ Sun Rocket’s Interview at NAUGHTY LITTLE VAMP ~ http://naughtylittlevamp.blogspot.com ~

This will be Sun Rocket Kahoqua’s first interview from the future to our 21st century time. My, my meow, the revealing tale-tail she tells about herself and her times.

Here’s a little preview ~


Fried fish greetings, Earthers of the 21st century, my name is Sun Rocket Kahoqua of the Windgrass Clan. Because of my... yowls, he calls himself my husband... that’s a long eel of a tale... and, it’s the one my author tells in my first series story, RED LIONESS TAMED... meowsa, because of my Draxen’s strange orb, one he found while scavenging on an odd scrap vessel floating in an isolated sector of the galaxy... I can communicate with you from the future... what we on my homeworld, a Mars moon, say is the year, 3051.

And...

So many galactic devices, so little mewing time... the weirdest one I’ve encountered was what looked a milky lavender-tinged blob, about the size of my two fisted human hands. At the time, I was alone on an automated vessel ferrying between two spaceports.
Thinking it might be a form of dairy cream, one of my favorite foods, I shifted into my lioness woman form... approaching warily enough, I sniffed... there was a slight gel-like movement, so I licked... the thing grabbed my tongue and wouldn’t let go... well, you can imagine... I’m spinning about, trying madly to shake the thing off... I can’t even scream bloody murder yowls... my tail is slashing about wildly, slapping against anything in the way... I end up banging the ‘blob thing’ against anything solid I can strike... turns out it was a vessel cleaner and was determined to give my tongue a thorough molecular scrubbing.
Now, I can laugh... at the time, I tried clawing the thing to death... when I could shift to full lioness.

~~~~~~~

A BIG FURRY HUG OF WELCOME TO PAT CUNNINGHAM ~ she will be joining us at ShapeShifter Seductions and is planning to begin blogging on Mondays.
~~~~~~

HAPPY SPRING ROMPING AND READING!

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~


All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls ~ In Print
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~ In Print ~
Branded by the Texans ~ Coming in August 2010 from Siren-BookStrand
~~~~~~

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Self-Doubt


Self-doubt is the bane of any writer's existence. It creeps in when you least expect it and can stop you cold. I know it's stopped me several times and lately, I've been experiencing it a little more often than I'd like.

Believe me when I say, this is not writer's block. On the contrary, I actually have more ideas than I know what to do with and that seems to be the problem. I've written four new scenes. I love them all but either the order seems wrong or one of them needs to go.

Since this is the rough draft I should just cut and paste it to my deleted scene file for this project. Instead, I've wasted too much time dithering and have nearly lost the momentum that the original scene inspired.

It may be time for my little inner critic/internal editor to be locked in a closet. Hey Serena, I think I may have just figured out that a "green room" would be a lovely place for her. I'd make it so comfortable that she wouldn't want to come out for a really long time. Couple of months, at least. That would give me time for a little free-form scene writing.

Which, now that I think of it, is exactly what I've been doing. Writing scenes as they come to me. They don't need to be in order at this point, I just need to get them down. I'll Feng Shui them later.

Maybe it's overly simplistic to think that silencing my inner critic will completely do away with self-doubt but I think I might be on the right path. How about you? How do you deal with this problem?

Oh, come on. You know how nosy I am;-)
Hugs,
Paris

Friday, March 19, 2010

Is Your Mind - Green?


Huh?

Is my mind, green? I don't think so... No green beer for me this year, and I am indeed from this planet, but oh wait, I am environmentally conscious, is that the kind of "green" you mean?

Actually, the kind of green I'm thinking of has nothing to do with green beer, aliens or the environment. Nope, I'm wondering if anyone else out there has a Green Room in their heads to keep their characters happily waiting?

See, my stories always start with one or more characters waiting for a chance at the lime light. They come to me at the oddest times and won't leave until they've had their say...so I have to do something with them, right?

Thus, The Green Room...

This one just happens to be in my head, but I have to tell you, as waiting rooms go, this place is the bomb! It's dark, sultry colors pull you in and keep you in a sensual visual delight. Dark green, purple and red curtains and upholstery fill the room. Chaise lounges, oversize chairs and pillow filled couches are ready for idling away the time, alone or with a lover.

A large black grand piano sits in the corner where my classical pianist and her sexy Cajun cop play a mix of Mozart and zydeco music, yep my cop can wield one heck of a fiddle along with the piano. ~sigh~

Smokeless fires (hey this is in my head, so I can dream right;) keep the room warm, but not too warm, the body heat does enough of that on its own. hehe

Anyway, my green room is too me, a little touch of heaven inside my head. My characters are mostly happy there, though they would like me to pick up the writing pace, but that's a battle we will always have I'm afraid. :)

What about you...Do you have green rooms for your characters? If so, what do they look like?

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

New Sale!

I get to post about a new sale today. I even have a cover to show off! No, this doesn’t have anything to do with shapeshifters, but I will give you this little tip: my hero undergoes a transformation of the class type in the end. A spoiler? Well you know it’s a romance, so of course it has a happy ending. (Despite the characters who die and the characters who face social ruin and the characters who get sick…)

Claiming Lady Marianne will be released by Ellora’s Cave later this year. Isn’t the cover fantastic?  Here’s a little snippet:

After Marianne is caught en compromise with another woman, Viscount Cobham is fed up. He remands Marianne to the care of her beastly grandfather with orders that she take a lover- a male lover. She is to get herself with child by the time he returns from his travels in six months. He will have his heir, one way or another. Marianne’s grandfather charges his stable master with the task, and Marianne is bound to her bed every third night to await the burly man.

Michael Ainsworth is no stud horse himself, and Baron Thurlow’s task is too ghastly to consider. But Michael longs for a glimpse of the pretty girl who used to cling to the paddock fence to watch the horses, and when he finds her terrified and unwilling, his honor demands he protect her. While he knows the viscountess can never love a lowly servant, every day his feelings for her grow stronger.

With their brief six months together quickly disappearing, can Michael endure the day he must step aside and let the woman he loves return to the cruel viscount?

 

More information on my upcoming releases can be found on my website www.crystalkauffman.com. I hold a contest at each new release for one month, with winners drawn from the members of my newsletter list. There’s still time to sign up and get in on this month’s contest for the release of The Clash.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

WEARIN' OF THE GREEN... fur, scales, feathers...


Pic from ~ http://theeestory.com/avatars/the-green-dragon-cross.jpg ~

Just for fun... if you were to write about a GREEN shapeshifter, who and what would it be? Think emerald, aurora shimmering shades of green, ice green, deep forest velvet green, the gemstones ~ peridot and jade, even green diamonds... how about mint green?

Admittedly, I’ve always had a weakness, yes, a deep fondness for dragons, whatever the color, and would love to pen a dragon shapeshifter erotic romance one of these days. I mean they are so splendidly and spectacularly fierce. They soar the skies magnificently. To ride a dragon, to be a dragon shifter... what a fantastic fantasy! And, the baby dragons are so darn adorable. I always want to cuddle them whenever I see an artist’s rendition.

Going shifter green... let’s see... okay, an easy hero would be the frog prince. How much fairytale fun would that be, concocting your own version of that romantic story?

Yes, snakes are hissing and slithering their way onto the erotic shifter scene, and there are green-colored serpents... in all shades of green, of course... how about a jungle green... your heroine or hero is easily hidden in the tropical rainforest... talk about sneaking up on the enemy.

Green fairies... I can’t leave them out, or the Leprechauns. Enchantment of every kind and magic is waiting just around the corner if you pen a fae shapeshifter.

Oh, what about those absolutely gorgeous Green Parrots flying in the Amazon forest? And all the other green, and partially green, species of birds? A smart bird-brained heroine or hero... Polly doesn’t want a cracker. Shapeshifting Polly wants the handsome man who has just inherited her from his deceased aunt. Although, I think I’d prefer to go with an Amazon forest meeting of the destined lovers.

Green insects... like some dragonflies... okay, this is for the very adventurous shapeshifter writer. Or, you can always go alien-extraterrestrial, the green insect humanoid alien grasshopper on a reconnaissance mission to Earth.

Aquatic... all the greens of a water world or an ocean world... Mermaid and Merman, wouldn’t I have fun with that myth-fantasy story set in the unknown ocean depths? There are green fish species. How about a turtle shapeshifter... can anyone say Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Okay, yes, I admit it, I like those guys. But then, I like tortoises and turtles.

Well, let’s not leave out the GREEN lizards, or the green-colored reptiles. Iguanas have their own special charm and talents. How about an alligator shapeshifter? Really walk on the different side of writing your shapeshifter romance. Plus, there’s tons of lore and personal accounts from those who have encountered humanoid lizards, including Native American accounts, if you’re looking to research a character.

More GREEN FEATHERS... the ducks, omygosh! There are beautifully feathered ducks in shades of iridescent green and teal. QUACK! QUACK! I’m here to save the day. Super hero or super heroine Duck Shifter to the rescue.

GREEN FUR... no, I didn’t find any actual green-fur mammals ~ that excludes mold, of course... not to say they don’t exist. Certainly in the mythical realms there are green and emerald-colored unicorns and all sorts of amazing magical creatures in every hue of green that can be imagined or dreamed up. This is an opportunity to create your own unique shapeshifter.

Yes, there are those who dye their pets’ fur green in celebration of the wearin’ of the green. While not a practice I recommend, unless the dye is natural, organic and harmless to all biological life... this could be a great St. Patrick’s Day shifter story. You know that standard poodle down the street... who is he really? And just why has he snuggled that close against you, after a wee bit too much St. Pat’s celebrating on your part? And, hey, he seems overly interested in tongue-kissing your cleavage, then in sniffing your crotch... hmmmm...

~~~~~~

The Kougar’s news and mews ~

Nara Malone, new Ellora’s Cave author, recently featured my RED LIONESS TAMED on her blog site, as part of her unique contest, an e-library on Tiger flashdrives... so I’m returning the favor. But not only that. Her book looks like an extraordinary shapeshifter read. And HER COVER is absolutely exotic-fabulous!!!


Blurb ~

Never quite fitting in, Marie has always struggled with her identity. Adam has shown her just how sensual she can be, but despite this awakening she still doesn’t feel complete. That’s because she’s not. Orphaned at birth and raised by humans, practical Marie has no idea of her dual heritage as tiger and woman, or the role she must play to save her species.

When Adam discovers that his alluring girlfriend is not only a Pantherian tiger but carries unique genetic traits that could save their species, he asks Ean to join them as the third partner in the traditional Pantherian mating triad. With the future of the species at stake, the sexy shifters have only one week to convince her that not only is she a tiger, but she must mate with both men to save the Pantherians from extinction.


Check out THE TIGER’S TALE at ~ http://jasminejade.com/ps-8215-50-the-tigers-tale.aspx ~
~~~~~~

At the National Geographic website, check out these SEVEN CAT SPECIES caught on camera that were not known to inhabit this particular area together.

Leopard Spotted
Photograph courtesy Kashmira Kakati


Caught by a camera trap, a leopard prowls under the dense canopy of the Jeypore-Dehing lowland rain forest in the northeast Indian state of Assam (map).
~
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/03/photogalleries/100312-cat-species-rain-forest-pictures ~
~~~~~~

LOOK FOR SOME GREAT NEWS ABOUT PAT CUNNINGHAM ~ I’d spill some beans, but I don’t want to jinx anything.

If you haven’t already, take a look at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham ~ Can a half-werewolf woman, unaware of her wolf nature, come to love the WereCoyote determined to free her wild side and make her his mate? ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~

ALSO available: BEST OF BREED by Pat Cunningham ~ “Confidence breeds beauty, no airbrushing required” ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~

AND! A LONDON WEREWOLF IN AMERICA by Pat Cunningham ~ “There’s no way the pushy wolf and the vegetarian witch can get along, or so Darinda tells herself.” ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~
~~~~~~

HAPPY WEARIN’ OF THE GREEN... fur, scales, feathers... HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Savanna Kougar

~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~

Author of ~


All Shades of Blue Paradise
Red Lioness Tamed
When a Good Angel Falls ~ In Print
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~ In Print ~
Branded by the Texans ~ Coming in August 2010 from Siren-BookStrand
~~~~~~

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Gotta Have A Sparkly!


I'm sort of a girly girl, at times. I love dressing up. I haven't been to a conference in several years so I'm pretty excited that this year I'm going to attend the Romantic Times convention for the first time as a published author.

As exciting as I find that, I realized that I'm probably not going to be able to get by with popping in the same old earrings every day (as I usually do). I may actually need to accessorize. But what if my luggage got lost? What is the one "pretty" that I couldn't do without?

Which of course, led me to thinking: what kind of sparkly would my jaguar shifters be attracted to? Well, Kira was a take no prisoners, no-nonsense kind of girl but she couldn't resist a street vendors hand-made,bracelet. She'd never had the opportunity to enjoy something just because she thought it was pretty.

What about your shifters? Would an emerald choker "collar" amuse them or are they more the earth mother, hippie chic kind of girl who might like a leather wrist band or a macrame` necklace? If your male shifter wore a watch, would it be a Timex or a Rolex? Oh, come on. You know how nosy I am:-)

Hugs,
Paris

Friday, March 12, 2010

Is It Coffee or Coffffffeeeeee!


For many, many years it was swill to me, but as with many things in my life, that too has changed.

~info dump of the small variety~ I grew up in a family where coffee was king. Most of you probably know what I mean, picture a day of meals with grandma and grandpa. Pancakes, bacon and eggs for breakfast. What to drink? Coffee. Lunch... soup and sandwich, drink - Coffee. Dinner... Roast, potato's, veggie and a good bread, hey don't forget the applesauce and Coffee. Shall we have desert? Cookies and COFFEE!
~dump over, ;)~

Yes, coffee was king, but I was the court jester. Why? Because I hated the stuff.

One taste of that nasty, bitter brew would burn my tongue and turn my stomach, though the smell was always pleasant.

Somewhere along the line, my tastes changed however and now the coffee(bleck) has changed to cofffeeee(more baby) Is it age? or maybe it's the sweet goodness of the milk and sugar substitute I put in it, or even the rush it gives me once consumed...yeah, it's probably the last one. LOL

That rush has helped me out many a day, for sure. I've used it to get more writing done, get some cleaning done, even sparked a desire in me to dance around the living room when I really should be working, but that's okay, I'll call it exercise.

As I finish this cup of coffee, I'm starting to wonder, do my shapeshifters drink coffee? I mean, the question has really never come up in our interviews. I'm sure the human in them may or may not like coffee, but how would it effect the animal?

Hmmm, I might have to follow that train of thought in an upcoming story, coffee - aphrodisiac in a shifting world? Maybe. :)

How about you out there? Yay or nay on coffee and does it cause any surprises in your shifters?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Whirlwind Affair hits the front page


Hi all,
Whirlwind Affair released today and is on EC's front page. I'm so excited by this new release. I had great fun developing the concept with Paris and working with Ash and Delilah to make the series come to life. It was great fun!

This has been a pretty darn good week too. Not only has my latest work been released by Ellora's Cave, but I found out on Monday that my book, Seeking Truth, WON an EPPIE in the historical erotic romance category. I've been dancing on air all week. It feels so good to know there are readers out there who evaluated my work and liked it enough for me to final, let alone win an award. Woo hoo!

And even better, I get to top off my week by attending an author breakfast and book signing on Saturday. Life is going pretty well right now. grin...

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Living with My Black Wolf Shapeshifter


So far, so good... fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed... whatever it takes, I’ve been living with my Black Wolf ShapeShifter, Duke, and I’m making some good progress on his love story with my heroine, Sondra.
A successful script writer in LaLa land, Sondra is burned out and has taken refuge at her best friend’s isolated house on the edge of Custer National Forest in Montana.
And, howls to the first quarter moon, do I hope the penning of their story continues at a steady pace.


This is where I am currently ~

Duke, my black wolf hero shifter, has been through a life-threatening chase while in his wolf form. Now, he’s trying to find any kind of safe place to recover. Meanwhile, Sondra is wired and can’t sleep. She’s being lightning-jolted by some unknown force among other creepy happenings. Plus, her intuition is zapping her, letting her know her life is about to undergo a major change.


Unedited snippet from my WIP ~ THE BLACK WOLF’S PROPHETESS

Surprised by the light beaming from the window at this late hour, Duke moved into a limping trot letting the slice of radiance lead him as if it were his own personal invitation. Detecting only one human with his nose, he concentrated on reaching the house so he could shift--the closer his proximity, the better his chances for survival.

As he neared the house, Duke slowed to a painful amble, and sniffed deeply again. Instead of scenting whoever was inside, a metallic stench burned the inner flesh of his nostrils. His muscles bunched powerfully in reaction, readying him for battle.

The goblin emerged in full form, it’s hide a dull shine as it nearly jumped from the misty ethers. Grinning menacingly, the disgusting creature stood directly in his path.

Duke focused on the meatiest portion of the goblin’s scrawny body, so he could sink his fangs in and shake the creature until it’s bones rattled.

With it’s red eyes glowing ever more brightly, the goblin advanced, a tiny mocking fist on it’s skinny hip.

Flattening his ears, Duke growled ferociously, and prepared to hurl himself at the flesh-
eater.
~~~~~~

The Kougar’s news and mews ~

BRANDED BY THE TEXANS ~ Sliders meets Bonanza, then meets The Three Star Republic of Texas or Kylie and her three cowboys, Dillon, Dono and Dash ~ is scheduled to be e-released in August 2010 by Siren-BookStrand and then print-released in February 2011.

~~~
A Shout Out for my own Aristocratic Fantasy Erotic Romance Novel ~ ALL SHADES OF BLUE PARADISE ~ this is the two year anniversary ~ here’s a snippet in the book about the setting of Baron Zaggry and Lady Sheridan’s love story.

World of the Blue Pearl Moon – A world of lush erotic decadence, where the fiercest passions between a woman and a man need never be denied. A world of potent seductive arts, where every appetite is served in the salons and the lavish entertainments. A world of wicked and resplendent pleasures, where the love between a man and a woman is a sensual lusty affair, soaring up to the radiant blue vault of sky.

~~~~~~

If you haven’t already, take a look at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham ~ Can a half-werewolf woman, unaware of her wolf nature, come to love the WereCoyote determined to free her wild side and make her his mate? ~ http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~

ALSO available: BEST OF BREED by Pat Cunningham ~ “Confidence breeds beauty, no airbrushing required” ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~

AND! A LONDON WEREWOLF IN AMERICA by Pat Cunningham ~ “There’s no way the pushy wolf and the vegetarian witch can get along, or so Darinda tells herself.” ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~
~~~~~~

HAPPY SHAPESHIFTING MARCH!

~ MAY YOUR BRIGHTEST, MOST ROMANTIC 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 ~ In Print
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~
~~~~~~

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Are We Being Fair?


The hero in my last novella was not perfect. I don't mean he was wounded or flawed emotionally. I mean, physically, he was a man pushing forty and comfortable in his own weathered skin.

I can't tell you how many drafts I did trying to figure out Rhys Vincent's character. All I know is that one day I looked at Rhys and figured out that at his age, he wasn't built like a slim-hipped twenty something and never had been. He played college ball and had the banged up physique to prove it. He was very solidly built. Just like any good line-backer--you know, the guy on the field that has to assess what's going on in an instant and take care of business. A little thicker in the neck, waist, ummm, you get what I mean. That was Rhys.

And for this story, Head Over Heels, I found that sexier than any model-pretty male I'd ever drooled over since adolescence. Which of course, made me start to wonder if we're being fair to our heroes.

If you've been reading romance as long as I have you can remember when the only heroines you could find were willowy beauties with flowing blonde/black/red locks and perfect figures. And don't forget the perfect teeth/smile. I always found that one a little odd, considering what must have passed for dental hygiene in medieval times--but I digress.

I realize that we write fiction. We want to imagine a handsome man falling in love with our heroine, who is definitely not perfect. But have we gone too far?

What do you think?

Paris

Assassin's Kiss
5 Stars Just Erotic Romance Reviews
5 Blue Ribbons Romance Junkies
4 Stars Romantic Times Reviews

Friday, March 5, 2010

Springtime's Creative Embrace


Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!
~Sitting Bull


Good Friday Morning!

I don't know about where you live, but up here in the long winter's north, I've been treated to the sun all week long and with it has come some new ideas! Weeeeeeee

One such idea is about bear shifters.

Do they hibernate through the winter and if so where? In a cave or a log cabin tucked away from civilization? Do they sleep away the winter only to rise with the springtime sun, refreshed and ready for love? Perhaps they are required to spend each winter alone, only to greet the spring and their mates?

Questions, questions, questions.

Clearly, this idea is still in it's infancy, but just like the warm weather and sunshine it shall grow. Hopefully, into a new story.

What about you, does springtime spark your creative spirit?

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Achieving the Dream: Random Thoughts by Pat Cunningham


Achieving the Dream: Random Thoughts

By Pat Cunningham



This is it – after more years than I’ll admit to, I’ve achieved the dream and published my first novel. Not the first I ever wrote or marketed, by a long shot. I’d put it at #8 or #9 on that list, and that’s not counting all the books I started that went stale and ended up in the closet. This is the first one that got written, finished, sent to a publisher and got itself a contract. Better yet, BookStrand assures me they’ll issue a print version later this year. That’s PRINT, folks. A book with my name on it that I can hold in my trembling, sweaty, dry-skinned little hands and shelve next to my Stephen King hardcovers. I’m doing cartwheels in my head because my body’s so massively out of shape, but I’m sure you understand.

Since I can’t come up with a regular blog, I’m just going to jot random notes. There will not be a quiz and this does not count as part of your grade.

Inspiration: Stuff happens, and that includes books. Sometimes they just come out of nowhere. I was doing rewrites on “Coyote Moon” and trying to think up fresh descriptions for a couple of werewolves. For some reason Warren Zevon’s “Werewolves of London” popped into my head. This segued into memories of director John Landis’s “An American Werewolf in London.’ Twist the title around and voila, suddenly I’m writing a novel. And yes, my hero’s hair is perfect.

The Perils of Pantsing: So I had the situation: English werewolf comes to America. Why? What happens to him here? I think the marriage idea came first, followed closely by the murder plot. I was three chapters in before I figured out who the killer was. Two chapters after that I got an even better idea, and had to go back to make sure I had all the clues and red herrings filled in. This is why pantsers probably shouldn’t try to write mysteries.

In-jokes: I do this to make myself laugh and keep me interested during those long, dry stretches when the words just don’t want to come. Originally Darinda was the granddaughter of Darrin and Samantha Stevens, hinted at but never named directly. I later chickened out and had her named after the character instead. Gotta watch out for those pesky lawyers. Apparently quoting movies is okay, because the editors left in both of my movie references. “The Wizard of Oz” quote is obvious, but brownie points go to whoever spots the reference to “Planet of the Apes.” I love this job.

Revenge is Sweet: I sent this book to Nocturne first. They bounced it in two weeks. I didn’t think the tone was right for them anyway, but I figured I’d take the chance. I doubt if they liked my playing fast and loose with the conventions of the genre either. The alpha male having to be guarded by the love interest? Hey, why not? In a lot of ways she’s tougher than he is. I had a helluva time coming up with situations in which she’d have to be rescued so he could keep his hand in. As for publishers, it found the home it was meant for. Lesson learned: keep sending stuff out until someone says yes. One editor’s reject is another’s sale.

Off the subject, I’m waiting for Harlequin to publish a book called “The Millionaire Vampire’s Secret Baby.” Somebody please tell me when this happens.

Your Turn: How did it feel when you sold your first book? When you held your very own copy of your first published book? What’s it like for you when inspiration hits out of nowhere? Do you sneak little “Easter eggs” into the story to give your friends or just yourself a giggle? Inquiring minds want know! Wishing you all good writing…

~~~~~~

In the mood to vote? Press a paw toe? If so, check out the latest Dark Diva Best Book poll...and if you’re so inclined vote for Pat Cunningham’s BEST OF BREED ~ http://darkdivasreviews.webs.com/bookofthemonthpoll.htm ~
~~~~~~

A LONDON WEREWOLF IN AMERICA
by Pat Cunningham


Blurb ~

British werewolf Roderick Chase has been sent to Philadelphia to get married. Instead he finds himself the target of werecoyote assassins. His only hope: Darinda Lowell, a witch with a low tolerance level for arrogant alpha males. She agrees to act as his bodyguard and use her magic to find out who’s trying to kill him.

There’s no way the pushy wolf and the vegetarian witch can get along, or so Darinda tells herself. However, love tends to work a spell even a witch can’t ignore. Can she claim the wolf who’s won her heart, or will she lose him to a murderer?

"I like comedies. I like murder mysteries. I like paranormals. I like an evenly-matched hero and heroine engaged in snappy dialogue. And I just love me an English accent spoken in a deep sexy voice. I had a blast writing this book. Hope you have as much fun reading it." ~Pat

A BookStrand Mainstream Romance
~~~

EXCERPT ~ A LONDON WEREWOLF IN AMERICA

She set her shoulder bag on the dresser and began to pull vials and drawstring packets out of it. The smug seeped out of Alfie’s face. “Hey. That better not be poison. I got rights.”

“Don’t worry. I’m brewing a truth potion. One good sniff and you’ll tell me everything and be happy to do it.” She smiled. “I would have gotten far less with the touch, but you had to insist on the hard way.”

“Hey. Hey, wait a minute—”

“Too late.” Darinda took a small clay bowl from her bag and poured the contents of a vial into it. Green liquid pooled in the bowl. Into this she sprinkled ground herbs from a pouch. A soft, smoky mist arose from the bowl, thick with the smell of mint. “You’d better wait in the hall,” she told Roderick. “This can have a powerful effect on people with sensitive noses.” She beamed evilly at Alfie. “Just imagine what it can do to a were.”

His imagination was working just fine. She could tell from his worried posture and the way he flinched from the bowl. She swirled the liquid in the bowl, and its steamy billow increased. Anyone other than the spell caster who caught a whiff of it would be compelled to speak the truth. She extended the bowl toward Alfie and watched his eyes glaze over.
And only then became aware of Roderick hovering far too closely over her shoulder. “I said wait in the hall. This stuff’s dangerous.”

“And leave you alone in the room with that?” He thrust his chin at Alfie. His voice slurred over the consonants, and his eyes didn’t seem to be focusing. “He’d kill you the second I turned my back. Fine mate I’d be if I allowed that to happen.”

“Whoa. She’s your mate?” Alfie said in the same fuzzy voice. “Dog, your pack’s standards have fallen.”

“Roderick,” Darinda said, “please wait in the hall. I’ll be all right. He can’t—”

Roderick shouldered her aside to confront Alfie. “You will not speak in that tone to my mate.”

“Holy scat, dog. She’s not even shifter. Don’t you teabags have rules against messing with the lower orders or something?”

“Bugger the rules. Bugger the pack. I never even wanted control of the pack to begin with. Bloody treacherous low-rankers fawning all over you, right before they go for your throat. Rip out your guts soon as look at you. Forget the upper ranks.” He snarled. “Lift your leg too high and it’s taken for threat. You can’t relax for a second. And this is your family. Think what outsiders are like.”

“Dog, that’s rough.”

“This trip is the first chance I’ve had to breathe in years. You are so fortunate,” he said to Darinda. “Free to be whatever you want, mate with whomever you please. I love this country.”

“I’m touched.” She tried to steer him toward the door and away from the misty cloud hovering over the bed. “Roderick, please—”

“I always wanted to be a cowboy,” he said dreamily. “Out in the wide open spaces with no damned pack trailing after you. Like that Eastwood fellow. He’s one of us, you know. A wolf. If he isn’t, he bloody well should be.”

“No way,” Alfie said. “He’s a coyote. Gotta be. He’s got a sense of humor. No wolf on the planet has a sense of humor. That’s why you mutts are doomed.”

“This is all fascinating,” Darinda said, tugging at Roderick’s arm. “However—”

“It would never work,” Roderick said. “The cowboy thing. Horses don’t like me. The predator-prey dynamic.” His wistful smile disappeared, and he seized Darinda’s shoulders. “You like me, don’t you?”

“Um—”

“I wouldn’t blame you if you hated me. You’ve put your life on hold and yourself at risk to protect me, and I’ve been such a perfect brute. I’m a—what’s the Yank word?”

“Putz?” Alfie suggested.

“I was going to say ‘ass,’ but I suppose yours works. Darinda, you’re a lovely, brave, patient woman who’s been kinder to me than I deserve. I’ve never met a wolf I wanted to stand at my side more than you.”

“Roderick you don’t know what you’re saying.”

“The hell I don’t. I’m in love with you.”

“Whoa, dog,” Alfie said.

Darinda got as far as “Rod—” before his mouth closed over hers and smothered all objections. She couldn’t stop her own response. She’d been attuned to him from the beginning, and the emotions that flooded her now through the contact washed away any objections. The female in her surrendered to instinct and rose up to match the male. The cards never lied. This arrogant, overbearing, meat-eating wolf was her perfect mate.

But not here, not now, not under these circumstances. Reluctantly she broke the kiss. “We’ll talk about this later,” she promised him.

“I get her when you’re done,” Alfie said. Roderick snarled, and Alfie recoiled. “Hey. Just asking.”

Darinda turned Roderick’s head to face her. “Do you really love me?”

“Of course I love you. You’re the only she I want.”

“Would you do something for me?”

“Anything, darling.”

“Open that window, stick your head out and take deep breaths.”
~~~~~~

AVAILABLE: Tuesday, March 2nd ~ http://bookstrand.com/a-london-werewolf-in-america ~
~~~~~~
If you haven’t already, take a look at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham ~ Can a half-werewolf woman, unaware of her wolf nature, come to love the WereCoyote determined to free her wild side and make her his mate? ~ http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~

ALSO available: BEST OF BREED by Pat Cunningham ~ “Confidence breeds beauty, no airbrushing required” ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~
~~~~~~

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

It’s finally here! Today marks the third and final release of the Guardian’s Realm trilogy: The Clash. Robert and Cvetelina first met in The Combat, and did not part as friends. This turbulent relationship just wouldn’t leave my writers’ mind alone, and I knew theirs was to be my third story.

Not only did I put a jaded human Vampire Task Force agent together with a six-hundred year old vampire female, but I gave her money, beauty, and prestige. All things Robert resents almost as much as he does vamps.

Robert learned to hate all vampires when his son Matthew was turned almost five years ago. When Robert learns his son is in Bucharest, he needs Cvetelina’s help to find him. She’s already irritated at being threatened into assisting the Vampire Task Force once and being recruited a second time -and having to work with the World’s Most Annoying Agent- is low on her list of fun things to do.

I dragged Robert halfway across the world to an unfamiliar, unfriendly territory where he doesn’t speak the language, has no idea where he’s going, and hates the food. Almost immediately he’s dosed with the vampire drug and finds himself bound to the bed in Cvetelina’s country manor, where he faces (or rather, faces away from) a mischievous house guest with a big pink butt plug.

Yeah, you could say I’m wicked to my characters, but I promise I always let them have their happy ending and The Clash is no different. I hope you like Robert and Cvetelina’s story, out today from Loose Id.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Red Lioness Returns to Hold Off the Wolves


Shapeshifter lovers, my space opera novella, RED LIONESS TAMED, is now two years old and was my very first release on March 3, 2008.
In celebration here’s a little x-scene I wrote during the year, 2008, that occurred after the e-published story ended.

Oh yeah... Sun Rocket Kahoqua, my red lioness heroine, has granted me permission to tell you that Pat Cunningham’s A LONDON WEREWOLF IN AMERICA is being released today... info below.


Ice on Mars ~ Growls and Giggles

Sun Rocket giggled loudly, her un-shifted shifter fur tickled over what she’d just read on Draxen’s instructional screen. She’d been perusing the history archives of early 21st century Earth, the USA news section. Always good for comic relief during a long day of space travel.
Just for more grins and to quell her growing disbelief, she leaned forward, re-reading the press release.

Phoenix lander confirms ice in Martian soil
From Associated Press
July 31, 2008 3:25 PM EDT
LOS ANGELES - The Phoenix spacecraft has tasted Martian water for the first time.

The robot heated up soil in one of its instruments earlier this week. Scientists say the chemical test confirms the presence of ice near the Martian north pole.
Until now, the evidence for ice has been circumstantial. That was based on photos Phoenix took of a hard splotchy area near its landing site and changes it saw in a trench.

Phoenix landed in the Martian arctic on May 25 on a three-month digging mission. NASA on Thursday said it was extending the mission an additional two months.


Yowling another laugh, she reared back and slapped her thigh. “What a stinky fish meow of a joke,” she muttered derisively, then laughed louder and longer, her head thrown back, one hand on her belly.

“Sun Rocket Cub,” Draxen affectionately spoke, then grinned a teasing leer the instant she gazed at him. He swaggered inside the commerce communications area of his ship, ignoring her momentary scowl.

Standing behind her, he gripped her shoulders with a lover’s tenderness, and looked at the screen.

Sun Rocket erupted with another chuckle, pointing at the primitive news someone had forgotten to lose over the centuries of time. Inside, she became still as claw-captured prey, the niggling memory of her grandmother’s stories of what she’d endured and the horror circumstances her ancestors had lived through on Mars came to the forefront of her mind, large and vivid as a hologram re-enactment.

“There were already black ops troops, top scientists and colonists from Earth crawling all over the surface of Mars, most of it, ” she muttering-growled.

“Top Secret had become Top Syndicate Control of the Earth masses by then, my beautiful one.” His fingers lightly caressed the nape of her neck. “And you and I, or our ancestors, we’re either created by experiment, or were being created in the warehouse labs.”

Sun Rocket turned her face, rubbing her cheek against his arm sensually. “Meow-wow...can’t complain about how you were genetically enhanced.”

“The order of the universe eventually rights all wrongs.” Draxen slipped his palm beneath the loose gossamer-like blouse she wore. With absolute possession he gently claimed her breast. Casually he flicked his thumb over her rising nipple.

“Bad Captain,” she complained, then languidly lightly bit near his wrist. “You’re tempting the lioness to come out and play with that beastly cock of yours. And you’re too busy taking care of the ship.”

“The Dendryff did take a toll on one weapons’ system.” Draxen rolled her plump nipple between his fingers, a delicate finesse that only teased, but didn’t inflame her to raunchy ride-his-handsome-hide, no matter what the danger was, demand. “I have to return, check the progress, put in more restoring calculations, my woman.”

Sun Rocket growled low in her throat. More often, her lioness nature emerged with him, even when in her full human form.

His hand deserted her breast, then cradled the side of her face with a sweetness she was gradually becoming accustomed to from him. Bending down, he caressed a long kiss on her lips, his kiss warming her, charming her, and enchanting her.

“We arrive on the Outer Station soon, my Sun Rocket. You will wear your collar.”

Before she could hiss properly and swipe him with the cut of her words, he had spun around and was nearly through the archway.

“If you don’t purr my pussy to contentment, Captain, your balls are mine to bat, claws promised!”
~~~

Intro ~

If yer partial to a futuristic adventurous romp of lust and love on the high celestial seas of space...if you have a yen for those cat shifter types, lament no longer...
And watch out if yer a bad kitty shifter roaming the galactic ports, there’s a kick-ass Lioness on your fleeing furry tail.
Year 3051, the Earth calendar used on Terra-Mars, a terra-formed moon orbiting Mars, the home world of ‘Sun Rocket’ Kahoqua of the Windgrass Clan.

Blurb ~

What does a lioness shifter do when she's suddenly trapped in an unknown space cruiser's cargo hold? Then, despite her ability to savagely defend herself, she's trapped beneath the handsome human Captain. And next, cat-scratching ridiculously, she finds herself carnal-trapped, and meow yowl! bound by leather straps in his bed?
Answer: She fights tooth and claw. Problem: The loner Captain is nova-hot at seducing her.
~~~

Sun Rocket & Captain Draxen Z invite you to read their love story ~
RED LIONESS TAMED ~ Lioness shifter lost in space with a loner captain who will do anything to keep her, even seduction by leather ~ *5 Flowers* from Book Cravers ~ Available from Liquid Silver Books, Molten Silver ~
http://liquidsilverbooks.com/books/redlionesstamed.htm ~ a spicy sci fi ~ http://liquidsilverbooks.com ~
~~~~~~

Howling Congratulations are in order to Pat Cunningham.

BEST OF BREED ~ Rated 5 Delightful Divas and a Recommended Read by Autumn!

From DARK DIVA REVIEWS ~

Summary: It started out as a joke: a werewolf entering a dog show. Adele Chase has always believed herself ugly, with her doggish wolf form and non-shifter blue eyes. But in the show ring she’s discovered a place where she can be beautiful.

Now, poised on the brink of her biggest win, nothing can deter her-–not even the presence of Bowie, the notorious werewolf hunter. He’s stalking the show in search of a werewolf and found what he thinks is a woman. Adele realizes he could be her destined mate–-or, if he uncovers her secret, her death.

With Best in Show within her reach, she plays a dangerous game with a man who might either love her or kill her…with neither aware of the enemy who’s out to destroy them both.

"I meant to write a funny story–-werewolf undercover at a dog show–-but low self-esteem and bad body image aren't laughing matters for too many young women. Adele proves strong enough to find her own beauty, and triumphs over the ugliness around her. Confidence breeds beauty, no airbrushing required." ~Pat~

A BookStrand Mainstream Romance

Autumn’s Review: Best of Breed is an awesome read! Pat Cunningham combines suspense, paranormal and romance, with great results. From the beginning, Ms. Cunningham grabs your attention and doesn't let go; making you wonder, will Adele (Heidi) win Best in Show, or will Bowie catch her and her brother? How can a were-hunter be Adele's destined mate? Why does Bowie have a beef with were and just what is he hiding? With all these questions, I couldn't put this book down. I had to know, and Ms. Cunningham didn't disappoint. She weaved a story that had me on the edge of my seat, and not only on the suspense, but on the romance aspect as well.

I loved Adele; while she’d been beaten down her whole life, she still believes in herself enough to think she can win Best in Show. Bowie is a were hunter, who’s also destined to be Adele’s mate, not that he realizes it. He also has a thing for Adele before he knows that she’s a were.

The whole story comes together, leaving you satisfied and happy.
~~~~~~
THURSDAY, March 4th ~ Pat will be blogging about her latest release.

A LONDON WEREWOLF IN AMERICA
by Pat Cunningham


British werewolf Roderick Chase has been sent to Philadelphia to get married. Instead he finds himself the target of werecoyote assassins. His only hope: Darinda Lowell, a witch with a low tolerance level for arrogant alpha males. She agrees to act as his bodyguard and use her magic to find out who’s trying to kill him.

There’s no way the pushy wolf and the vegetarian witch can get along, or so Darinda tells herself. However, love tends to work a spell even a witch can’t ignore. Can she claim the wolf who’s won her heart, or will she lose him to a murderer?

"I like comedies. I like murder mysteries. I like paranormals. I like an evenly-matched hero and heroine engaged in snappy dialogue. And I just love me an English accent spoken in a deep sexy voice. I had a blast writing this book. Hope you have as much fun reading it." ~Pat

A BookStrand Mainstream Romance

AVAILABLE: Tuesday, March 2nd


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If you haven’t already, take a look at COYOTE MOON by Pat Cunningham ~ Can a half-werewolf woman, unaware of her wolf nature, come to love the WereCoyote determined to free her wild side and make her his mate? ~ http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~

ALSO available: BEST OF BREED by Pat Cunningham ~ “Confidence breeds beauty, no airbrushing required” ~
http://bookstrand.com/pat-cunningham ~
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HAPPY SHAPESHIFTING MARCH!

~ MAY YOUR BRIGHTEST, MOST ROMANTIC 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 ~ In Print
Tangerine Carnal Dreams
Murder by Hair Spray in Gardenia, New Atlantis ~ In Print
Black Cat Beauty
Her Insatiable Dark Heroes ~ In Print
Stallion of Ash and Flame ~
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