Books by Gracie C. McKeever

© 2007 Gracie C. McKeever

In This Issue:

-- Siren Appearances/Chats
-- Beyond the Books Interview
-- Rapture Publishing, LLC
-- The 20th Annual Independent & Small Press Book
Fair – December 1, 2007!
-- Night Owl Romance Articles
-- What I’m Reading/Recommended Reads
-- Book Video Trailers
-- Poetry Corner
-- New Reviews (Excerpts)
-- This Issue’s Essay: Mileposts on the Writer’s Road
by Maggie Toussaint
-- This Issue’s Novel Excerpt: Efflorescence by
Katrina Strauss
-- This Issue’s Author Spotlight: Katrina Strauss
-- This Issue's Newsletter Contest
-- Giveaways/Good Deals/Shameless Promotions and/or
Sites That No (Romance) Reader Should be Without
-- Odds and Ends

======================================================
Welcome back to this issue of The G-Spot!

Hope you’re all enjoying a wonderful fall and are looking forward to a beautiful and peaceful Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

So, what shows is everyone watching this fall season? Any new favorites out of the fifty new shows that premiered? Okay, so I’m exaggerating…a little. Me, I’ve added several to my must-see line-up: BIONIC WOMAN (originally for nostalgic purposes and to see how Isaiah Washington did post GREY’S ANATOMY), but the show is pretty good and I’m hooked. I also like MOONLIGHT (hey, it’s about a vampire…can’t lose, right); K-VILLE (cop drama set in Louisiana after Katrina. I like the chemistry between the two partners, the ensemble cast and the performances); DIRTY SEXY MONEY (modern day DYNASTY with more quirks and twists and I had to add one night-time soap to the line-up); and PUSHING DAISIES (quirky, funny fable, different enough to be good and, along with DEXTER and now DIRTY SEXY MONEY which both star alums of one of my all-time favorite cable shows, it fills that SIX FEET UNDER hole just a little bit). Of course, what with the writer’s strike, don’t know how much longer I’ll be enjoying original episodes of these new shows and my old favorites. So what shows are you guys and gals watching?

MOVIES/CABLE/DVDs:

30 DAYS OF NIGHT: Caught a matinee with my sister when this premiered, of course . It's been a little while since I was able to sink my teeth into a vampire movie that was worth watching and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT certainly was that movie. It filled the void of recent disappointments like THE COVENANT and SKIN WALKERS, having much better writing and directing than these movies by far and a more capable cast with viable chemistry.

Eben Oleson (Josh Hartnett) is sheriff in the small town of Barrow, Alaska, regular, approximate population of 500. But when this movie begins it is not a regular month and is in fact the last day of sunlight for thirty days. More than half of the town, in fact, leaves for other parts until the darkness passes, bringing the population down to an anemic 152.

Eben is having marital woes with his wife, Stella the town's fire marshal. Wifey is trying to catch the last plane out of town but is involved in an auto accident on the way to the airport. In desperation, she calls her estranged husband for a tow. Eben, tied up investigating some vicious animal killings at a local dog kennel, sends his deputy and friend Billy to pick up Stella. Billy, dutiful comrade who doesn't understand why his two friends aren't together and tries to do his part to reconcile them, takes his sweet time getting to Stella, and Stella, of course, misses the last plane out of town. Stella's being stranded in the town at a time when it is about to be overrun by an ancient and evil group of bloodsuckers, sets the stage for lots of romantic heroics and husband-and-wife teamwork as Eben and Stella lead a small band of survivors to short-lived safety.

Though this isn't anything we haven't seen done before, the set-up is functional and the action and plot is more decent than most (recent) movies in the genre. The acting was first-rate with stand-out performances from Hartnett, Melissa George, as Stella, Mark Rendell (as Hartnett's young, teen brother who through some violent twists of fate comes of age in the movie) and Ben Foster in his role as the fiendish and maniacal The Stranger.

Overall, a pretty good Saturday matinee!

APOCALYPTO: This movie directed by Mel Gibson is a perfect example of going where the Muse takes one. Definitely off the beaten path and not a “Hollywood" movie, but a more than winning and watchable tale that came out of nowhere to enthrall me from beginning to end. This sweeping movie tells the very personal story of one Mayan tribe that is massacred, enslaved and used for human sacrifice. One member of this tribe, a hunter and fearless warrior named Jaguar Paw is followed from his capture to escape as he tries to avoid this horrible fate. His attempts to stay alive and reunite with his pregnant wife and son are what great cinema is made of. The subtitles didn't deter from my enjoyment of this movie as I thought they might. In fact, I barely noticed them after the first frame. This is a movie I highly recommend for anyone into native mysticism, history, action/adventure and romantic storytelling.

CHILDREN OF MEN: Humankind has gone mad when the youngest man on the planet is murdered leaving millions hopeless in a war-torn world that is suffering unexplainable sterility and infertility. And you know what happens to a world when its inhabitants can no longer reproduce: it’s the end of the world as we know it. Clive Owens gives an excellent performance as a man forced to face his own personal and past demons amidst societal chaos and political strife while trying to get the world’s newest mother and her baby to safety.

DÉJÀ VU: Starring Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer and beautiful newcomer Paula Patton (who looks a lot like a young Halle Berry to me), this was one of those action/adventure, paranormal movies with a plot twist involving time travel and brain-teasing paradoxes that just have you knowing you’ll need to watch the movie again and again just to come away with a tiny idea of what it was all about. Fast-paced drama, nail-biting suspense, and a modest romance highlight this exciting and enjoyable movie.

DISTRICT B13: Caught this foreign (French) movie on cable one Friday afternoon off from work. Was channel surfing, happened upon the premise and thought it sounded interesting. Stuck with it even after I realized it was subtitled (yes, another one). Of course the fact that it was an action-packed, futuristic, urban drama helped my decision. The martial arts choreography and stunts of the two leads alone put this movie over the top for me and easily gave Jackie Chan a run for his money.

HARD CANDY: A fourteen-year-old girl has an elaborate scheme to punish a suspected pedophile. This is almost like a two-character play, and the interactions between the two leads are intense and breathtaking. Though you may be in doubt as to who is the “bad guy” through most of the movie you won’t be by movie’s end and you’ll understand the true meaning of the title. This is a powerful tour-de-force that left me with my mouth hanging open at the content, performances and finale.

WHY DID I GET MARRIED?: What should be a romantic and relaxing getaway for four professionally successful married couples when they take their annual getaway to a cabin in the snow-topped mountains of Colorado turns into a War-of-the-Roses like battle as the couples have their dirty laundry aired out and a pair of loose, bitter lips sink marital ships.

First there’s Terry (Tyler Perry) and his wife Dianne (Sharon Leal) who has recently made partner in her law firm and is, quite simply an ambitious workaholic who has lost sight of what’s important in live. Though she professes to loving the couple’s only child, she spends almost no time with her and is adamant about not adding to the family. Terry, a pediatrician, on the other hand wants a son and is constantly trying to share some romantic, quality time with his reluctant wife.

Marcus (Michael Jai White) and Angela (Tasha Smith) are the combative pair with lots of baby-mama-drama between them. Angela is opinionated and vociferous on the norm without the added advantage of alcohol, but the little matter of a drinking problem makes her a ticking time bomb when she’s put in mixed company at the retreat. Not to mention she is adept at verbally and publicly emasculating husband any chance she gets. Marcus is the ex-pro footballer and husband of Angela who mostly suffers her slings-and-arrows without complaint until, like Popeye and Albert Finney in Network, he can’t take it anymore.

Mike (Richard T. Jones) is the emotionally and verbally abusive, cheating husband of Sheila a sweet woman with self-esteem issues derived from her weight problems and her husband’s heartless criticisms of same. That he’s cheating on her with her best friend Trina is just the icing on this sorry SOB’s cake.

Finally, there’s the seemingly happy couple Patricia (Janet Jackson) and Gavin (Malik Yoba) who share a painful and dark secret that comes out during dinner at the couples’ retreat and threatens to tear this couple’s illusion of matrimonial bliss and perfection asunder.

The performances in this piece are excellent and special kudos go to Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, Michael Jai White and Tasha Smith. Richard T. Jones makes a wonderful character we love-to-hate, so convincing in his role as the cold-bastard husband who wants a divorce from his wife because she doesn’t turn him on anymore, I wanted to bash him upside the head with a bottle.

This is a great wonderful dramedy that does everything it sets out to do, making the audience laugh, cry, gasp in outrage and cheer in triumph when each character gets his/her just desserts, comeuppance, and happily-ever-after, and is a movie I highly recommend to married couples and singles alike.

ON THE WRITING FRONT:

Changes with The G-Spot: This issue I’m trying something a little different for me (and I have to thank Katrina (Kitty) Strauss for being such a good sport and permitting me to use her as my guinea pig). The Author Spotlight this issue includes a complete author interview to go with an excerpt. I’m excited about this endeavor and am looking forward to continuing it in future issues. Also, each author interview that I do, I will also post to my MySpace blog.

ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT: ZARA’S BOIS 1 was released this past October and did well to land in the top three sellers at Siren its first few weeks out.

THE WOLF IN THE MANSION was released November 12, 2007 after a few additional rounds of edits and eventually landed in the number #1 spot at Siren it’s first couple of weeks of release so far...

I finally heard from Zane regarding CARAMEL FLAVA 2 and it appears that she is moving forward with this project after getting CHOCOLATE FLAVA 2 in production.

Check out my new video trailers for THE MATCHMAKER SERIES and IN PLAIN SIGHT in this newsletter!
That’s all for now.

As always, hope you enjoy this issue of The G-Spot!
======================================================

<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
AD: We have an excellent editing service for authors, literary agents and publishers. At BookInk.com you can trust that your manuscript is in good hands. BookInk.com manuscript editing service is both affordable and dependable. Check us out!

BookInk.com was formally known as Book Review.NU. New name; same great editing service
http://www.bookink.com
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

SIREN APPEARANCES/CHATS: For up-to-date information about upcoming Siren Chats and Appearances, see publisher homepage at http://www.sirenpublishing.com

<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>
AD: Meet the authors that make Awe-Struck tick, read the interviews, the articles, the inspirational stories behind the books, and find out what Awe-Struck Awe-thors are up to. But most of all, sign up for the Awe-Struck Flash, Official Newsletter of Awe-Struck E-Books http://www.awe-struck.net, and get Awed! If you'd like to become a subscriber (and since it only comes out every other month, why not?), send a blank message to awestruckflash-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*><*>

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
Available Now from Siren Publishing, Inc.: “As different as night and day, the only thing twins Zara and Zack Benjamin have in common are their genes and their love for Quincy Powers. Zara’s death in an unfortunate accident gives her brother a chance with Quincy. Except Zara hasn’t quit on the man she loves just yet.” ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT: ZARA’S BOIS 1, M/M Erotic Paranormal Romance (angels/interracial/light bdsm/reincarnation) by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/zatds.asp
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

BEYOND THE BOOKS INTERVIEW:

Welcome to Beyond the Books, Gracie! Can you start out by telling us whether you are published for the first time or are you multi-published?
First off, I’m glad to be here and thank you for having me!

To answer your question, I am multi-published in the erotic romance and romance genres with several books available from Siren Publishing, Fictionwise and Awe-Struck E-Books.

What was the name of your very first book regardless of whether it was published or not and, if not published, why?

My very first book was The Merry-Go-Round, a YA romance. It went through several different transformations and incarnations (including title and characters) before it was finally published as Miles to Go with Awe-Struck E-Books...

To read the complete interview, visit here:http://www.beyondthebooks.authorsabode.com

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc.: “Rescued from certain death when gifted psychic and wiccan Deja Hamilton pulls him naked and bleeding from the lake, shapeshifter Lincoln McCabe convalesces in the seclusion of his savior’s vacation cabin and comes to terms with the party responsible for the attempt on his life and his growing feelings for the woman who has rescued him.” THE WOLF IN THE MANSION an Adult Fable, Erotic Paranormal Romance (interracial/psychic/shapeshifter/wiccan) by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/twitm.asp
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~COMING SOON from Siren Publishing, Inc.: “Rendered almost incapable of painting after the death of a lover in a tragic accident, Keir Monroe is inspired after meeting natural-born submissive, Patryk Andrews. Keir soon realizes, however, that he’s caught a tiger by the tail and not the obedient submissive he thought when Patryk suggests becoming his agent.” INGENUE’S CHOICE: ZARA’S BOIS 2, M/M Erotic Paranormal Romance (angels/bdsm/ghost/interracial) by Gracie C. McKeever Available January 2008! Check out Jinger Heaston’s beautiful new cover for this title here: http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/gcm-ic.jpg
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~COMING SOON from Siren Publishing, Inc.: “Bad-boy Trevor Carmichael’s fast-lane life of partying and drugs comes to a screeching halt when he OD’s in the bathroom of Zara’s. Club bouncer Ramsey Logan comes to Trevor’s rescue and resuscitates him. But is it really Trevor he brings back or a former party-girl in need of redemption herself?” BOUNCER’S FOLLY: ZARA’S BOIS 3, M/M Erotic Paranormal Romance (angels/bdsm/interracial/reincarnation/suspense) by Gracie C. McKeever. Check out Jinger Heaston’s beautiful new cover for this title here: http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/gcm-bf.jpg
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~COMING SOON: from Siren Publishing, Inc.: “One hot and trendy gay nightclub, two bickering angels and three unlikely pairs add up to steamy nights between the sheets and emotional days of healing and revelation outside of them when the ultimate architect throws His hat in the ring to fix up three wounded souls with their mates.” ZARA’S BOIS Print Collection, M/M Erotic Paranormal Romance (angels/bdsm/ghost/interracial/reincarnation) by Gracie C. McKeever. Check out Jinger Heaston’s beautiful new cover for this title here: http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/gcm-zb.jpg
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
COMING SOON from Rapture Publishing, LLC.: Falling to a rare sentinel illness and separated from her charges during a retrieval mission Xevera Nanay encounters the biggest threat to her survival but more importantly her autonomy when paramedic Michael Constantine recognizes and imprisons her to exact revenge for what was done to his mother by her kind decades ago. SENTINEL’S HUNGER, a Sisters of Emsharra novella, erotic paranormal romance (African-American/bdsm/shapeshifter/urban fantasy) by Gracie C. McKeever and part of RAPTURE 1Anthology – Available in Mass Market Print Only – March 2008! http://www.rapturepublishing.com ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

RAPTURE anthology will be published by RAPTURE PUBLISHING, showcasing the best of erotic romance for women. Rapture, Volume 1 features the following hot romantic stories: In Lara Santiago's futuristic The Prosecutor Paramour [The Wives Tales], undercover enforcer Evie Marsh is dispatched to spy on the ambitious prosecutor, Zachary Valetta, only to fall in love and is betrayed by him as the radical Tiberius Group takes control of the U.S. and turns women into virtual properties in marriage auctions. In Emma Wildes' Regency Initiating Christian [Brothers of the Absinthe Club], the younger Christian Foster has fallen in love with an unattainable, scandal-shy woman. When Lauren DeSerre discovers the deliciously handsome brother of her former lover has a penchant for her, the temptation of initiating Christian might lure her astray. In Gracie C. McKeever's urban fantasy Sentinel's Hunger [Sisters of Emsharra], Xevera Nanay falls to a rare sentinel illness, then encounters the biggest threat to her survival when paramedic Michael Constantine recognizes and imprisons her to exact revenge for what was done to his mother by her kind. In Morgan Ashbury's contemporary The Enchantress [Song of the Sirens], Twyla Harper is very good at “recovering” valuables for a living. Then she meets Nicholas Coultrain who gets under her skin and into her heart. There’s only one problem: Nick is determined to bring down the Enchantress whose heist has destroyed his company.
Rapture 1 will be available March 2008 in mass market trade paperback. Rapture is accepting submissions for Volume 4.

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc.: "A man who wants to save the world one child at a time…a young teen looking for acceptance and a savior wherever he can find them…and a woman who wants only to save them both. Somewhere between darkness and daylight they will all find and save each other." BETWEEN DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT, erotic paranormal romance (psychic/interracial). An NCWA (New Century Writer Award) 2003 Novel/Novella Finalist by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpub.com/graciecmckeever/bdad.asp
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933563362/sirenpub-20
SIREN TOP SELLER! A HIGHEST RATED eBOOK AT FICTIONWISE ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

THE 20th ANNUAL INDEPENDENT & SMALL PRESS BOOK FAIR:
All Romance e-Books (http://www.allromanceebooks.com) will be appearing at The Twentieth Annual Independent & Small Press Book Fair, Saturday, December 1, 2007.
Featured at the All Romance eBooks dual display will be top-selling Siren Publishing author, Gracie C. McKeever. Gracie will be selling/signing electronic and print editions of several of her top-selling Siren titles, among them: Beneath the Surface, Terms of Surrender and In Plain Sight.

Be there on the 2nd Floor to meet Gracie and her fellow authors at the All Romance eBooks display, SATURDAY, DECEMBER, 1, 2007!
To learn more, visit the NEW YORK CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING here: http://www.nycip.org

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Fictionwise: "Old World Evil vs New Age Passion… Can their love survive an ancient vendetta?" A centuries-old Djinni betrayed...a modern career woman and wife bereft. Can this thoroughly mismatched couple find comfort and vindication in each other's arms? More importantly, can their love survive the ancient vendetta of one unforgiving and powerful demon Djinni, Kane's sworn enemy Ifreet? Find out that anything is possible when a devout and mystical djinni from the old-world joins forces with an urban-reared spitfire from the new.
DESERT DREAMS by Gracie C. McKeever – Paranormal Djinni Romance http://fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook30601.htm ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

EPIC's BOOKSTORE:
Epic's Ebook Store is Powered by Fictionwise.com
Fictionwise.com one of the most successful ebook seller on the web or
off has helped create a store for The Electronically Published Internet Connection (EPIC). It's a published writer's organization that has both ebook and print published members. It also has Industry members such as publishers and agents. Epic is the most recognized authority on epublishing. This bookstore will hope to sell ebooks by epic members that are on sale at fictionwise.
Visit EPIC's Bookstore - http://store.fictionwise.com/epic/

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Awe-Struck E-Books: RT 2002 Award Nominee – Best Small Press Paranormal -- “Sean Casey has convinced himself he's content with his blue-collar existence but at an emotional and philosophical crossroads in his relationship with his yuppie lawyer fiancee. When Echo Quinn--an adolescent flame, but now successful health club owner--suddenly resurfaces with their "gifted" and troubled ten-year-old son in tow, Sean is forced to confront his deadly past and find absolution. Watch the sparks fly when a pyrokinetic firefighter, and an alcoholic telepath--reunite in this "secret baby" story with a supernatural twist...” FLAMES PAST by Gracie C. McKeever, Contemporary Paranormal Romance http://awe-struck.net/AUTHORS20/flames.html Also available in Trade Paperback from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Flames-Past-Gracie-C-McKeever/dp/1587492547/ref=sr_11_1/102-5235251-9271348?ie=UTF8 and Earthling Press http://www.earthling-press.com ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

NIGHT OWL ROMANCE ARTICLES:

My article GIDDY UP! WHAT I LIKE IN MY COWBOY appears in the October 2007 issue of Night Owl Romance Magazine. Check it out here: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/media/magazine/2007issues/nor_oct_2007.pdf

My article WRITING STORIES WITH OLDER WOMEN AND YOUNGER MEN appears in the November 2007 issue of Night Owl Romance Magazine. Check it out here: http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/media/magazine/2007issues/2007_Nov_NORMag.pdf

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Awe-Struck E-Books: “Will a spoiled rich debutante get rid of the chip on her shoulder and stop wallowing in self-pity long enough to let her physical therapist rehabilitate her? Watch classes collide in this story of self-discovery and healing.” DANCING IN THE DARK by Gracie C. McKeever, Contemporary Romance available from Awe-Struck E-Book’s Ennoble Line http://awe-struck.net/AUTHORS6/ditd.html ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

WHAT I'M READING/RECOMMENDED READS:
Read my comments and full reviews at Shelfari http://www.shelfari.com/gwiz10 of the following books:

A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS by Khaled Hosseini: A poignant and triumphant story of the female experience in war-ravaged Afghanistan before, during and after the male-dominated Taliban regime. An enlightening and entertaining tale of two women and the most unlikely of friendships.

IM by Rick R. Reed: A serial killer is on the loose in Chicago and it looks like a “dead” man might be involved in the murders if not outright responsible.

THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini: A powerful and inspirational story about two young boys coming of age in Afghanistan just before and during the Russian invasion and the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.

THE VAMPIRE QUEEN’S SERVANT by Joey W. Hill: Haven’t read anything by this favorite author since MISTRESS OF REDEMPTION and, of course, this vampire erotic romance has the Femme Domme/male sub theme that I love so much, but with a sensual bloodsucking twist. I can’t wait for the conclusion of Lyssa and Jacob’s story in THE MARK OF THE VAMPIRE QUEEN! TVQS is a Berkley Heat book, available in print from major online and brick-and-mortar bookstores.

VISION OF LIGHT by Amanda Hilton: A wonderful erotic romance fantasy from http://www.sirenpublishing.com full of action, adventure, intrigue and hot sexy encounters between the equally-matched hero and heroine.

Other reads:

BEAU AND THE LADY BEAST by Morgan Ashbury: BDSM but not my favorite combo (Male Dom/female sub). However, after reading this story (and a couple of others by JWH) I may have to amend my views. In this May-December erotic romance Isadora and Beau are a great, sizzling couple and the driving force behind a fast-paced, hot story of redemption and getting what you have always wanted but didn’t know you needed.

UNDER TANNER’S THUMB by Sage Burnett: Tom Thumb was never as hot and sinfully seductive as rancher Tanner Clinton when his nephew shrinks him from six-feet to two inches with a magic spell. The only way Tanner can get back to his original size is to kiss a fairy princess. This is an adorable and sexy adult take on the popular fairy tale!

Both of these books are available from http://www.sirenpublishing.com

Currently Reading: BRITISH BAD BOYS by Nancy Warren. Still by my bedside more than a third read is BLOOD CHILD by Octavia Butler. I haven’t been able to get into this short story collection the way I usually get into all of Butler’s novels but I wouldn’t say it’s bad; DARK LOVER by J.R. Ward (yes, I’ve finally gotten on the Black Dagger Brotherhood bandwagon!)

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc.: Genesis has been on the run from her people for twenty-eight years, guarding the cambion Alex Ryan, who doesn't know she exists. But that's about to change when an attempt is made on Alex Ryan's life that leaves his father dead instead and Alex alone in the world….or so he thinks. GUARDIAN SEDUCTRESS: SISTERS OF EMSHARRA 1, erotic paranormal romance (interracial/psychic/shapeshifter/urban fantasy) by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpub.com/graciecmckeever/gs.asp
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

BOOK TRAILERS:

I’ve finally entered the 21st Century and have got myself some video trailers made for two of my books with more to come:

You can check out the trailer for THE MATCHMAKER SERIES here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmzxF_UrBsc

You can check out the trailer for IN PLAIN SIGHT here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCKi770l67s

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc: Montana Freeborn has been having visions of the "pony-man" since she was a child, her first live encounter with the centaur after a near-death experience when she was five and Seth Phoenix saved her from drowning. More than two decades later, the pair meet again and this time Montana's doing the saving. SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS, erotic paranormal romance (African-American/psychic/shapeshifter/urban fantasy), by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpub.com/authors-img/gcm-scis.jpg SIREN TOP SELLER! Now Available in Print! Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933563346/sirenpub-20
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

POETRY CORNER:

Platonic Masquerade
by Gracie C. McKeever © 1994

In the wings and shadows, stealthy
aggrandizement and self-promotion
an effusive wealth of kindness and
patience
your flattery knew no bounds

Perhaps this magnanimity
should have been my fist clue

Months and years flew by a whirl
and flutter of fraternizing and growth
years, a blur of needed self-discovery

Evolution – buddies to pals
companions to friends –
a relationship doomed to extinction

You buried your hidden agenda
beneath a well of wish-fulfillment
My own was entrenched in a ditch
of ignorance and denial

As Helen Keller I danced through
the phases of our affiliation
unencumbered by guilt, oblivious
to your needs and desires
unaware as I stumbled and tramped
upon the soil of emotional mine
fields

Fortitude and tolerance waned
floated away on an ebb tide of
frustration and unrealized hope
and promise

Exploitation and self-indulgence
the foundation upon which we built
the shell

Destruction and release a forgone
and welcome conclusion

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc.: “One man wants to Dominate her; the other wants to kill her”...Two competitive and at-odds advertising executives are thrown together when a job assignment and a matchmaking New Age sister of one – who knows each better than they know themselves – decides they are soul mates and perfect for each other. While Dominant Nick Vega and submissive Slany Breeze come to the conclusion that Nick's sister is absolutely right, a serial killer is on the loose and has set his sights on Slany for his special “training program.” TERMS OF SURRENDER: THE MATCHMAKER 2, erotic paranormal romance (bdsm/interracial/suspense) by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpub.com/authors-img/gcm-tos.jpg SIREN TOP SELLER! ECATAROMANCE REVIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD WINNER 2006!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933563389/sirenpub-20
View the video trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmzxF_UrBsc ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~

~* ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc.: Embittered after her exile from Emsharra, LaMia Enlil meets her match in orphan empath Mateo Diaz, whom she kidnaps and falls in love with. But can he forgive her for causing the deaths of his family years ago? From ancient beings unaccustomed to asking for anything, much more begging for forgiveness, LaMia Enlil nonetheless wants just this from Mateo Diaz, a gifted and unique human male who makes her question the foundations of her Inanna beliefs. PREDATOR’S SALVATION: SISTERS OF EMSHARRA 2, erotic paranormal romance, (bdsm/interracial/psychic/shapeshifter/urban fantasy) by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpublishing/graciecmckeever/ps.asp
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

THIS ISSUE’S ESSAY:

Mileposts on the Writer’s Road
by Maggie Toussaint
The thing about mileposts is that they let you know how far it is to your destination. For many years my destination was To Get Published, and to get there I had to pass through Signing A Contract.

The roadsigns to Signing A Contract were conflicting and I kept taking wrong turns. Once I made the right turn, the signs were easier to follow.

Once I found To Get Published, I went in search of Sales. I traveled to the far-flung cities of Promotional Opportunities and Networking. I paid my dues in Yahell and rode the merry-go-round of Believing Your Own Hype.

Exhausted, I came home to bone up for The Next Book. Oddly, there were new impediments to this destination. I thought I'd remember the way to Signing A Contract, but new editors planted Detour signs in the potholed road. More wrong turns but finally Signing A Contract came into sight again.

I viewed this destination through a seasoned veteran's eyes. Reaching it had been harder. I'd stressed about The Next Book being better than The First Book, but each book is a city unto itself. Full of unique landmarks, peopled by diverse characters.

After The Next Book I needed a break from traveling and cozied up with an old friend. This friend wants to hit the road, but she needs a better wardrobe and a different map. And it seems that the remembered luster of the road is enough for now. I'll be heading out soon enough to accompany The Next Book through Promotional Opportunities and Networking.

I'd like to travel more places with The Next Book, but for now, I'm shoring up my old friend and catching my breath. There's a part of me that marvels that a small town girl from Georgia could make this journey at all.

Especially one as directionally challenged as I am!
AUTHOR BIO: Maggie Toussaint’s newest book, a romantic mystery about a horse rescue farm in need of rescuing, No Second Chance, is an upcoming release from The Wild Rose Press. She’s a member of Washington Romance Writers, First Coast Romance Writers, and Kiss of Death. For more of her articles on writing, please visit her website at http://www.maggietousaint.com. This article is reprinted with permission from Mavens of the Pen (http://themavensofthepen.blogspot.com/2007/10/mileposts-on-writers-road.html) where it was posted on October 8, 2007.

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing, Inc.: Dara Kelly and Samantha Taylor should not have died, but did. And now both women are on the trail of two men – one an abusive, cheating husband-turned-killer, the other a rival bounty hunter whom will not be bested by any woman. Each woman will have her revenge, but at what cost to Caution Foster, the man they both love? IN PLAIN SIGHT, erotic paranormal romance (interracial/reincarnation/ghost/suspense) by Gracie C. McKeever – http://www.sirenpub.com/graciecmckeever/ips.asp SIREN TOP SELLER!
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933563427/sirenpub-20
View the video trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCKi770l67s
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

NEW REVIEWS (EXCERPTS):

This one’s a nice treat, as you probably know how difficult it is to get a 4 from Romantic Times. You didn’t? Well, now you do. And here it is, a 4-Star Rating for one of my Siren babies!

BETWEEN DARKNESS AND DAYLIGHT:

“McKeever tells an intensely heated love story loaded with both blazing sex and sensitive family relationships. Plot twists will keep you guessing, and several subplots dovetail into a nail-biting conclusion.” 4 Stars, Donna M. Brown, Romantic Times http://www.romantictimes.com/authors_profile.php?author=8810

ETERNAL DESIGNS:
“...Eternal Designs is a story that will have you going, HUH?, with all the interesting plot twists and turns. Gracie C. McKeever delivers with a brilliant pen.” 4 Roses, Deb for Sensual Reads and Reviews. To read the full review, visit here: http://www.sensualreads.net/reviews/eternal_designs.shtml

MANIFEST DESTINY:
“...Gracie's writing is very well developed with her characters and her dialogue. The world building is wonderful. I was hooked after the first couple of chapters and will be going back to read the rest of the series now. It did take me a little while to understand what was going on since I had not read the other books yet, but her characters were so vivid and both Evelyn and Jason were so very different, there were immediate sparks. The story was fresh and drew me in quickly.

You want to see the couple get together, and neither seems to have any hope left, with failed relationships and ghosts in the past that still haunt them. I love seeing stories that show there is life after 40 and this is one of those. I think this is a must read and would recommend it to anyone of my friends who love a sexy cowboy story...” 4 Stars, Dirty Girl Reviews. To read the full review, visit here: http://dirtygirlreviews.blogspot.com/

PREDATOR’S SALVATION:

“...In PREDATOR’S SALVATION the predator becomes the prey. LaMia soon found that Mateo refuses to be a slave, and she cannot resist his aggressive behavior. Mateo feels empathy for LaMia, he understands her. The connection they both feel blossomed into an unlikely love. Gracie C. McKeever’s PREDATOR’S SALVATION is a pleasure to read.” To read the full review visit: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/reviews/September07/PredatorsSalvation.GCM.html
ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT: ZARA’S BOIS 1:

“This story plays from all different angles to build a strong and desirable piece. Twists of characters and events cause the reader to hold on and refuse to put it down. It gives you a look at how things are on the other side of the white light, and teaches that love pulls from all sides.

I couldn't stop smiling at Zack's character and personality. It is a typical male persona with all the right smiles. Quince is the perfect match for Zack's character and he makes you want to cheer for his drive for a life long partner.

The author does an amazing job using all her emotions in this story to evolve it to an ending that will leave you needing more.” 4 Roses and a Recommended Read, Cassie Rowan for Romance Erotica Connection http://www.freewebs.com/romanceconnection

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Siren Publishing Inc.: Even though both are Inanna, Genesis Enki and LaMia Enlil have varying views on how best to serve Emsharra.

When Kalika Enlil entrusts Genesis with the safekeeping of her outlawed child Alex Ryan before her death, Genesis' way is set to take up the New Regime's torch. Only one woman, the leader of the insurgents and Kalika's nemesis and cousin, stands in Genesis's way to protecting Alex from assassination: LaMia.

LaMia does not believe in the New Regime or its doctrines and is willing to do what she must to see it and the alliance between Emsharra and Gaiam fail. She will even go as far as kidnapping and enslaving Mateo Diaz who has already suffered at her hands in the past more times than a human should endure. It's Mateo's misfortune, however, that Genesis and Alex wish to recruit him in Emsharra's Harvesting Program….and Genesis and Alex are LaMia's mortal enemies. SISTERS OF EMSHARRA – Print Collection, erotic romance – bdsm/interracial/paranormal/psychic/shapeshifter/urban fantasy, by Gracie C. McKeever – http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/soe.asp
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1933563664/sirenpub-20
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

THIS ISSUE’S NOVEL EXCERPT: EFFLORESCENCE by Katrina Strauss

Excerpt from Efflorescence
Copyright 2007 by Katrina Strauss
Available from Freya's Bower
in A Rose of Any Colour : Maledom
http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/286/79/


Blurb:
In 1920, a Russian painter finds his greatest inspiration in a young model, his creation shaping them both as they discover the freedom and beauty of her Efflorescence.


Excerpt:

When Hannah next returned to the studio, the roses had begun to open, the veins of the petals gone purple where they had absorbed the blue-tinted water.

In her new satin pumps, her feet ached.

"Let us try a similar experiment as before," Pavel said.

Hannah complied as he tied her wrists behind the chair. Recalling her reaction from their previous session, the feel of the jute incited her arousal as it wrapped against her flesh. In an attempt to allay further stimulation, she relaxed the small of her back and slouched down, transferring the pressure of the maple seat against her sex to the plump cushion of her rump. Her shoulders melted against the slight curve of the spindles, lending her further comfort.

Her wrists secured, Pavel knelt to her side as he bound her left ankle to the baluster-turned chair leg.

"Your feet are swollen," he observed. He loosed the ribbon that held her shoe in place, then slipped the shoe off her foot. As his fingers gently enclosed her ankle, a pleasant shiver ran up the back of her leg and thrilled through her spine. She wiggled her pinched toes in gratitude.

"The silk stockings, they are nicer than cotton," he commented, "but I liked your boots better." He followed suit with her right foot, the effect of his touch upon her no less scintillating.

Her feet relieved, she relaxed her calves, then her thighs, which in turn eased the weight on her buttocks, deepening the curve of her spine. Her breasts thrust forward, straining at the buttons of her dress.

Hannah had recently tried on her slimmer sister's brassiere, but the undergarment had proved too binding and uncomfortable. She had resigned herself to a bust bodice, as her mother wore, the whalebone seams lifting and shaping her bosom rather than compressing it as her orchid dress had been cut for.

Pavel took note of her predicament. His eyebrows arched a moment, though he maintained his composure. "May I?" he asked, levelly. "Only one or two." He wetted his lips with the tip of his tongue, then quickly added, "I will pay more, of course."

"Yes," she murmured, the heat growing between her parted thighs.

Pavel reached out toward her breasts, then drew back. He pulled the paintbrush from behind his ear.

"My one sable brush," he explained. "I have never used it. I am saving it for my masterpiece."

With the tapered end of the wooden handle, he popped the first two buttons of her dress free. The top of her breasts swelled forth.

Tied, unable to get away, she closed her eyes. She leaned her head back, resting the base of her skull against the arc of the chair.

"Yes, like that," Pavel said excitedly. "You are a natural model." He stepped around her.

The tension on her scalp dissipated as he removed the two tortoiseshell combs from her topknot. Lock by lock, her curls tumbled free of the tight coil. Languidly, Pavel raked them with his fingers. The scent of elder flower oil enveloped her.

That past Saturday, she had taken advantage of the warm weather and washed her hair. She had then reclined on the settee under her bedroom window and read Kipling's The Years Between for two hours while her locks hung out the window to dry. With much of the collection influenced by the loss of the poet's son to The Great War, she had paid particular note to his lamentation, "Russia to the Pacifists". Afterward, she had used the fragrant elderflower oil to smooth her curls where the soap had left them parched like dry wool. Overwhelmed by Kipling's imagery of the horrors of war, she had shifted her thoughts and considered that perhaps it was time to brave the barbershop and request a Castle clip. Enough women did it now that the barbers no longer refused them service.

"Your hair brushes the floor," Pavel said, his tone one of admiration. "It is good you do not cut it like many of the girls do now."

Hannah stifled a gasp. It was as if Pavel had seen into her very thoughts!

His touch lingered against her scalp, and she felt his gaze upon her, knew that he stared down her bodice where he had unbuttoned her dress.

"Perfect," he murmured. "We will make beautiful work today."

As he painted, she began talking, no longer lending credence to the rules set forth by her employer. Her speech drifted, slow and languid, reflecting her mellowed state as her repose deepened.

Inadvertently, she mimicked his speech pattern. "The other girls, they say you are a Marxist."

"Yes," he answered. "Does this bother you?"

"No." She meant to lie, so as not to offend him; but as she answered, she realized that no, Pavel's political leanings were truly of no consequence. "I have wondered, why have so many Marxists left Russia and gone on to Europe or America?"

He did not answer right away. As the sunlight danced on her eyelids, she heard him dabbing and mixing the paint, followed by quick strokes against the cloth of the canvas.

"We do not agree with the Bolsheviks," he finally said. "We were to declare rule by the people. Instead, the Bolsheviks declared a new order. They are nothing more than little tsars in disguise."

"So you are an anarchist?" she asked.

"You ask many questions today."

"I'm sorry," she mumbled.

He chuckled softly. "I do not mind, Hannah. No, I am not an anarchist. I am an artist first, a Marxist second. We were told we must devote our work to the new State. I wish to create of my own…how do you say in English, to act of one's own will…"

"Volition?" she offered.

"Yes. Of my own volition." He pronounced the short i with his usual ee. His tone grew tense. "I have a friend back home, a poet. I do not even receive half of her letters now. When I do receive her letters, she speaks of how difficult it is for painters and writers in the Motherland. They are no longer granted exit permits because of the émigrés who denounce the Bolsheviks from abroad."

"And you are free here in America to paint as you wish?" she asked.

He waited a while to answer again. "No. I paint now to survive." She sensed the discord in his voice, heard the brush tap impatiently against the palette. "Though I enjoy my work with you. It is true to my vision."

Her scalp suddenly warmed, and the light brightened. Infused by the solar onslaught, the scent of elderflower cloyed around her.

Pavel gasped. "The Muse smiles upon us today, Hannah. Wait a moment longer, I must add a new layer of pigment to your hair."

Eventually, her face cooled, the sunlight having passed over, though bright spots still danced in front of her eyes. She heard Pavel's footsteps approach, detected his shadow where it passed her. Opening her eyes, she stared up at him a moment. He stood above her, tall and lofty, as she sat in a position of vulnerability. A brief vision played through her mind, of Pavel stroking her hair once more, then leaning down to kiss her.

With a surge of alarm at such wayward musings, she tilted her head forward. Her curls, still warmed, caressed her flushed face like a curious lover.

She waited patiently while Pavel unknotted her wrists. He came to kneel between her knees. As he unbound her ankles, he seemed to focus deliberately on her feet, ignoring the way her legs parted and her skirt rose. His breath tickled against one calf, sending a thrill through her, heating her further.

Mutely, one tortoiseshell comb pursed between her lips, she twisted her hair back into place and then she followed him to view their work for the day.

She stared at the image in awe. The sun had rendered her curls a lustrous shade of titian, and lent the visible flesh of her scant profile a radiant peach. Pavel had detailed the taut sinews of her arched throat, her skin pale and smooth where the deft stroke of his brush dipped down to the ripe swell of her breasts. She flushed at the hint of pink where the rounded edge of her nipple lay exposed. Her blush deepened at the peak of her nipple outlined between the whalebone and against the sheer fabric of her bodice. The slight inclination of her face rendered the subject unidentifiable, lending the image a mysterious, secretive feel.

As she walked out onto the street, she thrust her bosom proudly. Her stance did not go unnoticed. She laughed at one gentleman who walked straight into a lamppost, so intent was he on studying her unfashionably plump form.

Author Site: http://www.katrinastrauss.com/

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/katrina_strauss

The Eldritch Legacy:
http://www.aphroditesapples.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=26

My titles at Fictionwise:
http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/KatrinaStrausseBooks.htm

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW: Divorced and love-crossed Evelyn Vega gets more than she bargained for when she receives a two-week vacation package to a dude ranch as a birthday present. She thinks gorgeous cow boss Jason Makepeace will be the perfect vacation fling, but Jason has wife, kids and picket-fence written all over him. MANIFEST DESTINY: THE MATCHMAKER 3, erotic paranormal romance (contemporary/May-December/light bdsm) – Also a spin-off of SPELLS CAST IN SHADOWS, by Gracie C. McKeever – SIREN TOP SELLER! http://www.sirenpub.com/md.asp
View the video trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmzxF_UrBsc
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW: “Chris is a talented and rising young track star who wants to make it to the nationals and break world records. He'll get these both if he can shake the specter of a crack-addicted older brother and the more clear and present danger of a steroid enhanced teammate with a mean score to settle. Tori is an intelligent non-conformist skirting the fastlane and hiding secret pains behind a wall of foul-mouthed bravado and false indifference. She hates jocks but wants to show Chris that there's more to life than running. Innocent and courageous, embittered and sexually precocious--together Chris and Tori will discover that they have miles to go... “
MILES TO GO by Gracie C. McKeever, a Byte^Me teen novel http://awe-struck.net/AUTHORS8/mtgo.html ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

THIS ISSUE’S AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT:
AUTHOR BIO: Katrina Strauss discovered her love of romance with sneak peeks at her grandmother's "bodice ripper" collection. Years later, she would fall sway to the goth & fetish scenes and discover a darker brand of erotica. Inspired to pen her own twist on the timeless genre of romance, Katrina explores the darker side of love – or, "Romance for the Black Coffee Crowd". When not immersed in writing, Katrina enjoys music, anime, and entirely too much yaoi.

The Interview:

GRACIE: I’m excited to have you here at The G-Spot, Kitty! Please tell us a little about yourself and how and when you got into writing?

KATRINA: Well, I'm excited to be here, and I have to say that I love the name "The G-Spot"! I caught the writing bug back in first grade, after my teacher praised me as the best "creative writer" in class. I come from a family of artists and bookworms, so my desire to write was encouraged and never frowned upon. I had a few short stories published in 'zines back in the 90's, though my work was mainly depressing, literary-styled slice-of-life vignettes. After suffering writer's block for nearly 5 years, I decided to stop being so "serious" and just write for fun. I dipped my foot in the fanfic waters for a couple of years, where I not only found my Muse again but discovered I had a knack for penning erotica. Then I received two emails in the same week – one from a newspaper columnist friend who suggested that I consider e-publishing as a venue for my envelope-pushing fare, and then another from writer HS Kinn announcing that she was starting -- guess what – a new e-publishing company and that she'd love for me to pen her a dark BDSM romance. I took those two e-mails as an omen, and well, here I am!


GRACIE: Is there any one thing or person in your life that inspired your writing? Any one thing or person that influenced the genre you write in?

KATRINA: I'd say there are three primary influences, and they are all connected so I can't really reference one without mentioning the other. My grandmother's old paperback romances – and mind you, she read the raunchy ones! -- left an indelible impression on my young psyche. Later, I discovered Anne Rice's vampire novels, and from there was lead to read her Beauty Trilogy. I admired the fact that she, as a woman, was not afraid to explore taboo themes of dominance and submission, and I took note that erotic themes could be presented in a beautiful, intelligent, and prosaic way. In my search for more work like this, I discovered Anais Nin, whose work in my opinion is the guidepost for all modern women's literature, be it erotica or any given genre.


GRACIE: What do you know now about writing and the publishing industry that you wish you’d known before you started?

KATRINA: I wish I'd been more prepared for all of the self-promotion that is involved. I did expect to do some, but didn't grasp to what extent of my time and energies it would require! Of course, self-promo comes with being at small indie and e-presses, though I've been both surprised and comforted to learn that, due to tighter marketing budgets, many print authors with big-name New York houses are faced with the same challenge nowadays.


GRACIE: Why don’t you share some of your current titles with us and give us a little story behind the story for each?

KATRINA: My most recent releases are two short stories. "Sanctified" is a paranormal contempo, available as a stand-alone "Petal" from Red Rose Publishing. It's lighter and sweeter than my usual fare though still bears a "dark romance" vibe, with a rather graphic war flashback, and allusions to Our Lady of Guadalupe as the intercessor who brings my two characters together. My other recent release, "Efflorescence", is a 1920's bondage piece available in the Freya's Bower BDSM anthology, A Rose of Any Colour – Maledom. I would describe it as "light bondage" – so again, not quite as graphic as my usual work, but still with my definitive touch, with a guest appearance by a young Anais Nin to help spur my characters on.

My big series right now is the Eldritch Legacy, available through Aphrodite's Apples Press. It's a dark erotic/romance trilogy that blends BDSM with the use of magick. The story arc explores one family line that spans three time periods in an alternate universe not unlike our own. Secrets Revealed opens in an early medieval setting and is my take on the classic "bodice ripper" of the 70's -- like the ones my grandmother's house is stacked with and that lead me down the road to ruin in the first place! I used that theme to explore capture/bondage and dungeon fantasies, and I do not sugarcoat things. My lead female develops Stockholm Syndrome as a coping mechanism, though by the end of the book she finds her own strength and voice, given her situation, and establishes power in the relationship. The second book, Lessons Learned, is my ode to the classic "Regency", except I took my cue from Byron and the Shelleys rather than Jane Austen. I busted the parlor doors wide open and took a look at what was really going on beneath the veneer of polished manners and witty teatime discourse. The "urban noir" finale, Fates Fulfilled, draws on my days in the punk and goth scenes with a quartet of streetwise "goth kids" in their late teens/early twenties. The book is split between two separate relationships which get equal billing before all four characters come back together for the climax, not only to the book but the whole trilogy. In addition to BDSM, these characters partake in the dark occult and bloodletting, but then with family roots in a medieval dungeon, they are not exactly into knitting or Bingo!


GRACIE: Of all the books you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?

KATRINA: My favorite would be Lessons Learned, the Regency installment of the Eldritch Legacy that I've just mentioned. For starters, it made for the most amazing writing experience ever. I was very in tune with the Muse when I penned that one – the prose just flowed, and I completed the first draft in under two months. If only they could all be so easy! And then of all the worlds I've created, the manor house in which Lessons Learned was set is my favorite place to return to in my thoughts when I'm feeling stressed and need to wind down at the end of the day.


GRACIE: Which of your heroes/heroines is your favorite and why?

KATRINA: That awesome experience with Lessons Learned left me with Stefan Eldritch, my personal favorite character to date. I wove Stefan around my ultimate fantasy man – the brooding-yet-playful Byronic rogue with silver tongue, tousled black hair, loose cravat, and a sharp wit to match his good lucks. He proved so irresistible, I've never quite been able to shake him, and there is a little bit of Stefan in every lead male I've crafted since.


GRACIE: What about your heroes/heroines makes them unique and why?

KATRINA: I've always preferred the villains in black and the anti-hero rogues to the typical Prince Charming on the white horse "hero", and so my lead males always qualify as the "bad boy", in a few cases only one step removed from the actual villain of the story. In turn, their lovers are the men and women who are attracted to the bad boy type. They know damned well what they are getting themselves into and are willing to take that wild roller coaster ride because hey, the bad boy is always hot and the best in bed! That, and I'm an honest writer. I don't sugarcoat things. My lead characters are not perfect, and they generally think in terms of "gray" rather than in "black and white". They do not always make what would be considered by some to be the "right choices", but they are the right choices for *them*, given their circumstances and the context of the situation. I think this makes them more real and believable, and I've had several readers tell me that because of this, my characters stick with them well after they've finished the book.


GRACIE: What is your favorite aspect of the writing process? Your least favorite?

KATRINA: I enjoy creating new characters and getting to know them as they reveal themselves to me. I also enjoy exploring new worlds courtesy of research -- different time periods, places I have yet to visit, cultures both past and present, not to mention I've discovered some great recipes while cooking up relevant food dishes for my characters to eat! My least favorite aspect would have to be galley edits – that is when you do one last fine-combed run-through of what looks like the "finished product" that will be released to the public. Depending on the length of the book, and how short the deadline is to get any corrections turned in, I have been left with my brain the consistency of scrambled eggs, literally seeing white spots for days after staring at white pages with black text on the computer monitor until three in the morning.


GRACIE: Are you a pantser or do you outline?

KATRINA: I'm mostly a panster who follows the whims of the Muse, though with my last few books, I've created what I jokingly call the "kinda/sorta outline-ish thingie". Rather than write around the outline, I revise the outline around the story and use it more as a way to keep up with chapter pacing and such. Even with some advance plotting, I still don't know how the story is going to end until I'm about halfway through the first draft, and it never ceases to amaze me what curveballs the Muse will throw my way!


GRACIE: If you weren’t a writer, what other profession would you have chosen to pursue?

KATRINA: Well I've spent equal time in the white-collar corporate world as an administrative assistant, and the self-employed starving artist world as both a photographer and a clothing designer. I finally came to the conclusion that my first love of writing was the "other profession" that I truly wanted to pursue!


GRACIE: Who are some of your favorite authors and why? Name some of your favorite books. What are some of your favorite genres and why?

KATRINA: As I've mentioned, Anais Nin, Anne Rice, and good old-fashioned "bodice rippers" have played a pivotal influence on my writing. I read a little bit of everything, with the common denominator being that I lean toward the dark side of things, whether in romance, erotica, horror, science fiction, or fantasy. I also like certain comic and manga series, from The Sandman to Death Note. So long as it stimulates my imagination with well-developed characters and can take me to a different world for a little while, then I'm there. I read different authors in stages, though, so I'm hard-pressed to list a "favorite". Recently I've been devouring the In Death series, which Nora Roberts originally penned under JD Robb. I'm not normally into La Nora's brand of romance, but she's allowed her darker and grittier side to emerge with the In Death books, with lead male Roarke who is this perfect blending of alpha and rogue male in one delicious character. She has also painstakingly built this very believable futuristic world, combining a well-described "cyberpunk" scenario, yet you can still recognize and identify with this world in that human nature will never change. Oh and I did mention that Roarke is delicious? I've also been indulging in entirely too much Japanese yaoi, with my favorite yaoi manga series being Viewfinder (also translated as "Target in the Finder") by Yamane Ayano. Viewfinder reads a lot like my grandmother's old bodice rippers, only it's a hapless-but-feisty male "uke" instead of a hapless-but-feisty maiden who is getting kidnapped, tied up, and molested by a hot alpha male, or "seme", every other chapter! I can't help but admire that Yamane Ayano, who is this prim-and-proper looking young Japanese woman, would have the guts to explore such taboo and hardcore themes, and with highly graphic illustrations at that!


GRACIE: What are you working on now? What should readers be looking forward to from you in the future?

KATRINA: My m/m yaoi novella series, Blue Ruin, has recently been contracted with Loose Id. Blue Ruin classifies as "hard yaoi" and explores BDSM themes in an urban contemporary setting, with a rather raw, gritty take on things and a dash of violence. All that, and it's still romantic, with two very beautiful men to boot! The first installment, Some Kind of Stranger, is slated for release in January or February of 2008. I'm nearly done with the first draft of the second installment, Close to Me, with one of the aforementioned "kinda/sorta outline-ish thingies" laid out for books 3 and 4. As if that is not enough to keep me busy, I've also started an offshoot series pairing two secondary characters from Blue Ruin in a lighter, softer relationship, played out in a smaller, quieter town and centered around paranormal themes.


GRACIE: Do you have a website and/or how can readers contact you?

KATRINA: Yes! My website is located at http://www.katrinastrauss.com and readers may drop me a line on my website via the email page listed under "Contact".


GRACIE: Where and how can readers purchase and/or read samples of your work?

KATRINA: My titles are for sale directly at each of my publishers' websites, with featured excerpts included on the purchase pages. My work and excerpts may also be found at outlets such as Fictionwise and All About Romance E-Books. All available venues for each of my titles are listed at my author site which I've noted above, so readers can find everything listed in one convenient place and then click the links from there.


GRACIE: What advice do you have for beginning writers?

KATRINA: Forget word count goals, don't be afraid to deviate from the outline, and remember that it's called the "first draft" for a reason. Just *write* the story that demands to be written and get it all out. Then set that first draft aside for around four to six weeks and ignore it. Pull it back out when you can be more objective and, at that point, you can worry over technicalities, plot holes, syntax, etc, and then tweak, refine, and polish your work from there. It's also good to find a few crit partners whom you can trust, not only to be honest but that understand writing and will point out more than just spelling errors. In turn, grow a thick skin and learn to accept constructive criticism. Finally, Stephen King says that the second draft is the first draft minus ten percent of the word count, and I've found that his formula works. Between striking unnecessary adjectives, cluttered verbs, etc (or what my writing partner Kayleigh Jamison calls "word killing"), streamlining tedious transitions (you don't have to describe every little action between points A, B, C, and D when points A and D will suffice) and deleting backstory that honestly, your readers really don't need to know, you'd be amazed at how much you can cut and the story will not only make sense, but will read as a tighter and stronger piece.


GRACIE: Anything else about yourself or your writing you’d like to share?

KATRINA: Just that I write books that I, myself, enjoy reading, the types of stories I'd like to see more of in the bookstore. I truly love crafting my stories, with characters that are very real and dear to me, and it is my hope that this love and connection transfer to my readers.


GRACIE: Thanks so much for taking time from your busy schedule, Kitty, to share yourself and your work with us at The G-Spot and giving us a little insight into your writing and the writing process! We’ll let you get back to writing those wonderful books you write! All the best!

KATRINA: Thank you for having me, Gracie! It was my pleasure!

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW: A young wealthy philanthropist is critically injured by a spiteful friend-with-benefits when, after a bitter break-up, she runs him down with her car. Only a kiss and a little bit of sensual and erotic care from a dedicated and empathic young nurse can bring him out of his resultant coma. Can soul mates David and Aziza find justice as well as eternal love? NINE INCHES OF SNOW AND THE EBONY PRINCESS, erotic paranormal romance (bdsm/interracial/shapeshifter/urban fantasy) by Gracie C. McKeever – A Siren Adult Fairy Tale – SIREN TOP SELLER! http://www.sirenpublishing.com/graciecmckeever/nios.asp ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW! Siren Publishing, Inc.: "Gale Sinclair is a marriage counselor who has broken the cardinal rule of psychotherapy and fallen in love with one of his clients. Dying in a head-on collision and returning to life in the body of Zoelle Sutherland's estranged husband turns out to be the least of his worries.” ETERNAL DESIGNS, erotic paranormal romance (reincarnation/interracial/suspense), and a NCWA (New Century Writer Award) 2002 Novel/Novella Finalist, by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.sirenpub.com/graciemckeever/ed.asp ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~
AVAILABLE NOW! The fix is in when older sisters Angela – a New Age practitioner who shares her brother's telepathic abilities – and Evelyn decide to play Cupid and hook their brother EJ Vega up with Evelyn's personal shopper. From here, what starts as a professional relationship will gradually escalate into something much more when the free-spirited, "gifted" author preparing to go on his first national book tour, enlists the services of the uptight and skeptical Tabitha Lyons. BENEATH THE SURFACE: THE MATCHMAKER 1, erotic paranormal romance (contemporary/psychic/interracial/light bdsm). http://www.sirenpub.com/graciecmckeever/bts.asp SIREN TOP SELLER! ROMANCE EROTICA CONNECTION 2006 STORY OF THE YEAR! (Tabitha Lyons – REC Choice Heroine 2006!) #8 On SIREN’S ALL-TIME BESTSELLER LIST! Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933563184/102-5235251-9271348?n=283155
View the video trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmzxF_UrBsc
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~
AVAILABLE NOW from Fictionwise: A young black man is shot down in the streets in a drive-by. But a mistake has been made. Kelly shouldn't have died. So he's returned to Earth…in the body of a young comatose white woman married to a hot looking Latino narc cop. Can Kelly resolve the questions surrounding his death? What will happen to Amire, the woman he loved in his previous life? And, most important, can he resolve his marriage – now that he's a woman named Dagny – to another man? NEW LIFE INCOGNITA: New Age Paranormal Urban Romance (interracial/psychic/reincarnation/sex-switch/wiccan) by Gracie C. McKeever http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook36736.htm
~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~* ~ ~

THIS ISSUE'S NEWSLETTER CONTEST: I’m offering an electronic copy (PDF) of last month’s release ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT: ZARA’S BOIS 1. To enter for your chance to win this SIREN TOP SELLER, just send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to gwiz10@optonline.net with ZACK AND THE DARK SHAFT in the subject line. Contest runs until December 20, 2007. One entry per e-mail address, and per person. Refer a friend, however (who e-mails me with his/her request to subscribe and naming you as their referral), to the newsletter before the deadline, and you get an additional entry. The more friends you refer, the more times you're entered. (Referred friend will automatically be entered in the current newsletter contest once). AUTHOR SHALL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES THAT PREVENT TIMELY RECEIPT OF AN ENTRY AND/OR RESPONSE. IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE, THEN THAT MEANS I DID NOT RECEIVE YOUR ENTRY. Author reserves the right to publish winner's name on blog, webpage(s) and/or in the newsletter. September/October 2007 winner of ETERNAL DESIGNS was Amy Toohey! Congrats Amy and I hope you enjoy your prize !!
GIVEAWAYS/GOOD DEALS/SHAMELESS PROMOTIONS and/or SITES THAT NO READER SHOULD BE WITHOUT:
AWE-STRUCK E-BOOKS – “Publishes ebooks in Romance, SF, SF Romance, Regency, Western Romance, New Age, Inspirational, Teen Fiction, and Historical, and we are unique to the reading world with our Ennoble titles that feature heroes with disabilities. All our ebooks are available in HTML, PDF, Palm, Pocket PC, Rocket; some titles are also available in eBookman, and Hiebook.” http://www.awe-struck.net

BLACK LITERATURE.COM – Your home on the web for books by, for and about Black people. http://www.blackliterature.com

BOOK-REMARKS – The website that promotes books written by or about African-Americans. http://www.book-remarks.com

EARTHLING PRESS – If you haven't checked it out yet, zip on over to Earthling Press http://www.earthling-press.com, your source of fine books in print. EP is an imprint of Awe-Struck E-Books, Inc. and brings to you the same great stories—and great giveaways and sales—from your favorite Awe-Struck Awe-thors…only in print! "Earthling Press—books from your home planet."

ENCHANTED RAMBLINGS – “Our review section is continually updated, reviewing the latest offerings from both print and e-publishers…We also play host to authors in our virtual bar - The Rambler's Inn. Feel free to drop by and enjoy an e-soda, while reading the latest interviews.” http://www.enchantedramblings.net/

EUROREVIEWS: “To bring WORLDWIDE attention to both print and e-Books, whilst encouraging the interest in Dutch publishers in the American reviews industry.” http://euroreviews.eu.funpic.de/index.php

FALLEN ANGEL REVIEWS – New Releases, Reviews, Interviews, Contests, Authors Pages, What the Authors are Saying! Author Extras http://fallenangelreviews.com/

FICTIONWISE – “Excellence in e-Books” http://www.fictionwise.com

JUST EROTIC ROMANCE REVIEWS: “The sensual side of romance” http://www.justeroticromancereviews.com/home.html

MIND LIKE WATER E-Book Directory: http://www.mindlikewater.com: Free ebook directory and marketing

NEW AND USED BOOKS: http://www.newandusedbooks.com – Features new releases, reviews, interviews, and contests. Don’t forget to check out their new format!

NIGHT OWL ROMANCE: http://www.nightowlromance.com –“Let your imagination take flight.” Romance, Erotica, Book Flicks, Reviews, Authors Corner, Merchandise, Amazon Store, and Message Board.

PAMELA TYNER BLOG: This blog was set up for readers to locate information about e-published authors’ new releases and/or contest information: http://ebooksreleasesandcontest.blogspot.com/ Readers, this blog will be updated on a regular basis. Add it to your favorites and visit often.
PARANORMAL ROMANCE (or PNR): “New Worlds Are Our Oyster…Join us if you dare…” http://www.paranormalromance.org

RACHELLE’S BLOGSPOT: Daily author Q&A, excerpts, and an easy monthly contest to win cool books and other great prizes! http://zyphe.blogspot.com
RAPTURE PUBLISHING, LLC.: Erotic romance for women http://www.rapturepublishing.com

R.A.W.SISTAZ (Reading and Writing Sistaz): Literary Group and Online Book Club. One of Writer’s Digest 101 Top Websites for 2006! From the Website: “…main goal is to provide information to the African-American Literary Community regarding books, authors, events, and other industry news. We offer our services and our sites free of charge, as avenues to promote literacy, to encourage our authors to continue following their dreams and to facilitate the open exchange of literary information; basically connecting both readers and writers.” Check them out at http://www.rawsistaz.com

READERS READ™: Do you like to read a chapter of a book before you buy it? Stop by http://www.readersread.com/excerpts/ to read excerpts and first chapters from the newest books. Check back frequently.

ROAD TO ROMANCE http://www.roadtoromance.dhs.org/index.htm -- For Readers and Writers of romance fiction. Reviews, interviews, contests links, and much more! Also -- FREE BOOK offers from http://roadtoromance.dhs.org/freestories.htm The Free Stories Feature has been updated and given its own page. It used to be on the contest page. These are author stories and are linked to their sites, where you can either download them or read them online. Lot's of free reading here! Follow the links offered with each.

ROMANCE JUNKIES – The name says it all. For readers addicted to all kinds of good romance…check out your favorite authors, contests, reviews, interviews and up-to-date romance news. One of Writer’s Digest 101 Top Websites for 2006! http://www.romancejunkies.com

ROMANTIC TIMES BOOK REVIEWS – The Magazine for Fiction Lovers – Books, Authors, Magazine, News, Resources, Message Boards http://www.romantictimes.com

"SHADOW OF LOVE" Paranormal Romance – FREE Novel Download from Awe-Struck E-Books http://awe-struck.net/FREENVLTTE/freeshoflve.html
SHELFARI – Create a virtual bookshelf to show off your books. Connect with your friends. Discover exciting new titles. Voice your opinion. All for FREE. Read. Share. Explore! http://www.shelfari.com Sign up and don’t forget to add me as a friend . http://www.shelfari.com/gwiz10!

SIREN PUBLISHING, INC. – “Quality erotica romance for the sophisticated reader” http://www.sirenpublishing.com

SPECROM: Want to find out: What Science Fiction Romance is, anyway, and why does Science Fiction Romance deserve its own newsletter and website? Wellllll…you guessed it, another newsletter. But, if you're really into the genre and want to keep abreast of what's coming out and going on with your favorite sfr authors, then this newsletter IS a must (I know, that's what they all say). The newsletter, which hosts the yearly SAPPHIRE AWARDS for the best works in the genre, has been in publication since 1993/1994 and has had an active website since 1996. Visit Speculative Romance Online http://www.specromonline.com/ Click "Join SPECROM", then "Become a Member" to subscribe/gain access to the newsletter.

THE DREAM WEAVER – "For those who believe in the magic of dreams". It's easier than ever to read the Dream Weaver online! www.earthlycharms.com/dreamweaver.htm Or send a blank email: DreamWeaverNewsletter-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe and be automatically entered in the bi-monthly drawings.

THE ROMANCE STUDIO – “The romance genre today”. Latest romance news, contests and information about your favorite romance authors and the latest romance books. http://www.theromancestudio.com

THE ROMER REVIEW – “A diverse and proactive mix of resources, book reviews, and literary works to inform the African-American Community” http://www.theromerreview.com

WRITERSPACE – Stay informed about lots of your favorite writers (and regular monthly contests) in one monthly newsletter, and consider subscribing to Writerspace-News, where you'll be kept up-to-date on Janelle Denison, Jayne Ann Krentz, Elizabeth Lowell, Stella Cameron, Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Geralyn Dawson, Susan Wiggs, Diana Palmer, Marilyn Pappano and more. To subscribe, visit http://www.writerspace.com/news.html

ODDS AND ENDS:
Please feel free to share this newsletter (in its entirety and/or including the proper credits when/where necessary) with a friend or two...or a hundred! Encourage them to sign up. Or they can just drop me an e-mail expressing their wish to subscribe to the newsletter and I'll sign them up. Want to preview the newsletter and see if it's to your liking? Check out past issues of The G-Spot (formerly known as Gracie's Gazette) at http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewnewsletter.asp?AuthorID=623

If you've ever read any of my books and enjoyed them (I hope, I hope, I hope), why not consider hopping on over to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or Fictionwise.com and rate or write a reader review. I'd be ever so grateful!

Thoughts and comments on the newsletter and/or its contents? Drop me a line (especially if it’s a compliment ) and let me know what you think. Seriously. I’d like to hear from you. Who knows? Maybe I’ll create an Op-Ed/Reader’s Comments Section just for that. Hmmmm, that’s an idea…
And if you get a chance, don’t forget to visit some of my and my publisher’s sites below.

GCM—
http://www.graciecmckeever.com
http://www.myspace.com/graciecmckeever
http://blog.myspace.com/graciecmckeever
http://www.shelfari.com/gwiz10
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SirenBooks
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awe-somereaders

Thanks for subscribing and see you next issue!

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." –Steve Prefontaine (1/25/51 – 5/30/75)

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'" -Erma Bombeck (2/21/27-1996)