EXCITING NEWS!!!!!

Callum has been nominated for ARe's Hero Contest this summer! I am so excited. I do have a soft spot for my McLennans and especially Callum. There will be several rounds and it is for the entire month August!!!
I will post all the particulars as soon as it goes up!

Callum: FIVE DAY FREE DOWNLOAD

As I said, I wanted to try some different promotional things and for the next five days you can download Callum for free. If you already have it, please let your friends know. The more who download it the better. I would love to move up the lists for free books. Since this is a new genre for me, it might be hard. Tell your friends, your neighbors, your family, just tell anyone!

Callum in Print and Infatuation news

AMAZON CREATESPACE
Callum is now in print! It was such an easy process that I will probably do it like this more like this. I am not able to put the Harmless books in print because Addiction will not be out until May. It will take a few weeks to hit the other outlets.

Another thing is that Callum is in KDP select. That means it isn't available anywhere else. As I did last month, I am testing out the program, but with a different genre and a newer book. I also want to see how this works in a genre I am not known for.  I know that people with other devices will not be able to read it on them. I apologize for that, but I want to see what this brings me in sales. As a new self-publisher, I need to see what different kinds of promos will get me in the way of sales. Publishers rarely share this info with their authors, at least not with me.

I am not going to do this with all my books. Not unless Paypal makes me do it. But, I do have some other plans for upcoming books, including bundles. I have to get a few more books out before I can start doing that.

In Infatuation news, I have decided to put this in print. Now, it is a novella so I will be adding something to it to make it long enough, but that means Possession will be longer. So a win/win! I am going to be working on it over the next couple of weeks.

Short stories, parties, and surgery

Hello, everyone! It has been a busy week of writing and promo planning for me. I am about to finish up A Little Harmless Fascination rough draft today and will be diving into Possession next. They are my next releases, April and May. I have some updates on some things that will be happening.

As of right now, if you win a prize from me that must be mailed, it will be at least two weeks. My wonderful PA Brandy Walker had surgery on her arm and needs some time to heal. I am sure all of you will understand:)  Email from the contact on my website will also be slow during this time.

Harmless shorts are about to change. From now on, they will be offered free individually on a members' only kind of special. I am planning on having a members' only section on my new website, but it might be months before it is ready to go. So, Brandy and I will come up with something else before then. Jocelyn and Kai need their short story and I will have it out this spring. The only way you will be able to get it outside of that is in collections. I am going to start bundling my Harmless shorts and releasing them. They will be entitled Harmless Love. I am hoping to have the first one out in the April/May time period. 

Callum is about to be put in KDP select starting March 1. Since ALH Submission was so successful, I wanted to try test it with a fairly new book in a different genre and see what happened. So, if you buy from anyone but Kindle, make sure you get it by Feb 29th as I will be pulling it down the morning of March 1.  I want to see the difference in sales and borrowing for other genres. I am still learning this business of self-publishing so please be patient with me. I plan on doing some other promotions in the coming month as I test out some of my marketing ideas.  

 If you are going to AAD, the two public functions I am sponsoring are open to everyone, but a word of caution. If you don't sign up for the tickets you could miss out on promo stuff. I am basing my promo ordering on the number of people signed up for the event. While I understand that everyone can come in and I will be happy to hang out, I will have to make sure that I don't waste money on stuff. ESPECIALLY the huge things. Little stuff I will have a lot of, and I will be happy to buy 400 of anything for readers, but I am also working on getting this stuff there. While I am driving, I will have to haul all this stuff and I want to make sure there is a reason:) Make sure you go get your tickets if you are signed up for AAD TICKETS. Registration is completely sold out for the entire con but there is a wait list. 

That's it. I am back to writing hoping I can go ahead and finish up the fugly rough draft of the book so I can dive into Deke and Sam's book tomorrow morning.

The Cover Flat: Callum

Again, this is Melissa Schroeder is a lucky bitch party 90 bazillion. Is this not a great cover?! I just sent the files into review at Create Space:) Kendra The Goddess Egert is the cover artist of course. 

Callum is finally here!

Yay! Callum is loaded up and I am so excited by it. I am proud of the work, and I hope readers like it. I will warn my erotic romance readers, this is not erotic. I know that I will get reviews, as I do for my historicals, that say they are not erotic. They are not labeled that way, but people will still complain. It won't make me change it, lol. Not that there are not sex scenes in it, or sexual tension.

CALLUM
AMAZON
ARe
B and N
SMASHWORDS



Will desire be the answer or the ruin of an entire clan?


The Cursed Clan, Book 1


As Laird, Callum Lennon feels he has always failed to protect his cousins. Callum’s impulsiveness caused the death of his father and the experience has scarred not only his body, but his soul. From that point on, he made sure to always go with the more logical choice in every matter. When his younger cousin Angus finds clues that might help break the curse, Callum begrudgingly hires Phoebe Chilton to investigate. Callum doesn’t like bringing outsiders into their family affairs. Their life would become fodder for the tabloids if anyone were to find out about the curse. It doesn’t help that the instant he meets Dr. Chilton he’s attracted. But, he doesn’t really have a choice because she might be their last hope. 
An expert in archeology, Phoebe has always been dwarfed by her parents’ shadow. Their high standards had her in college by thirteen and earning a second PhD by twenty-two. But her career and her broken marriage have left her needing something more than just diplomas and degrees. She wants to prove that her interest in legends, especially Celtic legends, is as important as her parents’ work. When the Lennon family contacts her, she sees the opportunity to win a massive research grant. With a long-time rival breathing down her back, she jumps at the Lennons’ offer her, hoping it will ensure her the grant. But uncovering the Lennon family secrets, and her attraction to Callum, could prove more than she can handle. 
Forces outside the family are determined to ensure that they fail. When an old enemy threatens both the well being of the clan and the fragile new love, Callum will have to choose between believing his mind or his heart.


The sexy paranormal world of the Cursed Clan is so unique and compelling it's destined to enthrall readers and win hearts. -Shayla Black, NYT Bestselling author


Check out the Trailer:

Some Updates and What Not

Callum is just about done and should be going out tomorrow, hurrah! I wanted to let you know that I had to rework the schedule. I have talked about this before, but I wanted to give you a little heads up about how I will process from now on.
I have six more new releases planned for this year. That doesn't count the shorties I will be releasing for free, my rereleases, or my Kiera West or Melissa Schroeder Siren releases. That last bit is important. I have three more books due in for the Great Wolves series. To be able to do that, I have to space out my selfpubs. I also have two more Texas Temptations planned, so in order to get that done, I have to lighten my schedule.
I am also homeschooling now and we have decided to move on base. Well, we hope to move on base. Not sure if it will work out, but I think it will. So, I have a lot on my plate this year and I want to make sure I can give my readers the quality they expect.
Another little plug here and then I am reading through Callum one more time before formatting. I am going to start posting chapters on my Facebook Fan Page. You will have to LIKE it to see it, so make sure you do that so you don't miss out. I am presently working on a new website and there will be a member only area, so this is just getting us ready for it:)
Off to work and I hope everyone had a great weekend. Oh, and I guess we need a purty man?

It's just different

I am buried in writing and teaching, I know what is new, but I am happy as a clam. At least with writing. Teaching makes me do math and science and it might be Barbie of me to admit this, but I hate those subjects. They are hard. I am not good at them, which makes teaching them oh, so much fun. Luckily, my youngest is a math whiz, as is her sister and my husband, and Les is pretty good with Science.

I am moving along slowly in Callum. It is so different to write a big paranormal book. I have never done it before, and so it is a bit daunting. I have the whole thing plotted, which most people would see as a good thing, I do not. It is starting to hamper me a bit, but I will preserve. I am a pantzer for the most part. I write by the seat of my pants. A few years ago, I allowed one of my acquaintances to talk me into the notion that I needed to plot. Everything. It was a D I S A S T E R! Major. It was probably the most unproductive times in my career. During that time, I wrote the first 30K of Callum and plotted the rest. My main problem is if I come up with it, and write it down in the plot, it MUST happen. In my head, I cannot get rid of it in the plot. So I am struggling a little bit with that.  But, because I am too damned stubborn, I will prevail!

So, with it being plotted, which is actually a good thing since this is a huge paranormal, and because of the fact it is a HUGE paranormal, it is like I am more of a newbie author. I am having those doubts I always do with the writing of the book. (FYI, I had serious doubts about Submission). So, I might not be as visible the next few days as I hunker down to finish this.

I am off to do a little writing before the kiddos roll out of bed. Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

Book Spotlight, Callum

We are over a month away from the release of Callum the first of The Cursed Clan series and I am already wanting to scream with delight. This is the book that finalled in the Romance Junkies Reader contest several years ago, and landed me an agent for a short time. Sadly, NY kept telling me that no one knew how to market it. I still find it absurd that a MARKETING department tells me they don't know how to market my book. Seriously? Anyway, with the self-publishing market opening now, I can do it myself. And, I decided to give you a little preview because it is a bit different from other things I have written.
The Cursed Clan is a five book paranormal series that tells the tale of five cousins, four men and one woman, who are trying to break a curse that is hundreds of years in the making. I will warn you, the beginning of the series starts off lightly on the paranormal side, but it will grow, I promise. Lots of magik and villians, especially from the clan who had the Lennons cursed in the first place.

These books are going to be sexy, yes, but they will not be considered erotic. I know the Harmless series has given me a reputation of writing light to medium BDSM but these, at the moment at least, will not have that. What I am excited about that to me, they are just as sensual, and much longer than my other books. I am aiming for about 80K for these books because there is a lot of story in them. It has a special place in my heart because I started with this idea almost FIVE years ago. Thankfully, now I don't have to wait for a publisher to tell me if it is good enough or not, and seriously, I just HAD to write these books. Poor Phoebe and Callum had been waiting for me to finish their book. I stopped right before their first love scene, lol.
I hope to have an ARC out to reviewers NLT Dec 20th, with a release date of January 17th, or there abouts. Here is a little tidbit and you can see that our heroine and hero are off to a bumpy start during their first meeting.

Unedited Excerpt (c) Melissa Schroeder

Callum Lennon was another story altogether.

Before coming to Scotland, she had researched the Lennon family, especially their leader. It was her way. Any smart woman would do the same before embarking alone on a mysterious trip like this. Other than the fact that he headed up one of the most successful corporations in the UK—if not the whole bloody world—Phoebe found precious little else. No pictures, no personal information. A man with this sort of money usually took pains to be seen out, a beauty on his arm, attending benefits, galas and whatnot. Truthfully, though, she doubted any photo could have lived up to the flesh and blood man standing before her. And what beautiful flesh it was.

From his expression to his dress, black suited him. Ebony hair, peppered with bits of gray, was cut ruthlessly short. Like his office, he was dour, and more than likely, predictable as a schedule. Where his cousins seemed approachable, Callum’s demeanor was a red light. 

The only thing appealing about him, other than the fact that he possessed one of the best bodies she’d ever seen, was his eyes. The shape of them would be considered bedroom sleepy, seemingly half-closed. The lazy sensuality was belied by the vigilant alertness she sensed in his study. This man missed nothing, but that wasn’t their most amazing quality.

The color held her almost mesmerized. Blue, a completely boring description, would not do justice to their beauty. They were almost unworldly in the shade of blue, but when light struck them in just the right manner, there was a hint of green. She’d sigh over them, if it wasn’t a completely adolescent thing to do. She’d just have to wait until she was in her room alone. With the lights turned out.

 “First, we need to talk contracts.” The burr in his voice had thickened since she’d first heard him speak, making her belly flutter. When his words registered, she sighed in regret. Such a beautiful man, completely out of her league, but she’d hoped they’d work on friendly terms.

“No. First, we need to talk about what you want me to do.”

He didn’t respond for a moment, clearly taken back by the fact someone disagreed so openly with him. There was a flash of irritation and something akin to admiration—which was an odd combination, to be sure—in his gaze.

“There is no discussion of anything until you sign a contract. We, meaning Lennon Enterprises, must protect our name.”

He crossed his arms over his broad chest and gave her what she was sure his most intimidating stare. Silly man, didn’t he know anything about her? She was handling professors who were just as intimidating when she was barely thirteen. And nothing would stand between her and the grant she needed to complete her most important work ever.

“No. As I discussed at length with Angus before I traveled here, I made it very clear that once I arrived I wanted information up front. I will sign a confidentiality agreement, but I will not sign a binding contract. I understand the need for secrecy, but I assure you there is no problem. I have a reputation that far exceeds even your vaulted standing in the business community.” One ebony brow rose in aggravation or respect for her snooping. “All I know is that it’s a serious matter dealing with an artifact you found and need help translating. We will work much better together if I understand what I am dealing with.” She offered him her best business smile, the one she used on interviewers and donors.

“I’ll no’ risk my family name, our honor, to be sold to the highest bidder. The information you could gather would be more valuable on the open market.”

Her temper wasn’t quick to ignite, but was a dangerous thing once it did. And Callum Lennon was perilously close to burning.

She took a deep breath. Then another. “Are you questioning my integrity? That something in your twisted logic thinks I would take what information you give me and sell it, my reputation be damned?”

By the time she finished her voice had risen almost to a shout, but the moment she stopped talking, deadly silence filled the room.

Callum’s eyes flashed and narrowed. “I doona know or care about your reputation. I have a policy for dealing with this situation. I willna have my family used.”

She counted backwards from ten, then did it twice more. Questioning her honor, was he? Granted, she wasn’t being completely honest with him, but she knew if she rolled over on this one, he would either be suspicious of her motives or think he would win every argument.

Phoebe pushed herself to her feet even as she told herself smacking a six and a half foot broody, totally delectable Scotsman wasn’t a good idea.

 “Phoebe.” She didn’t even flinch when Angus tried to interrupt. “Dr. Chilton.”

She ignored the worry in the younger cousin’s tone. Locked into stare-down with his cousin, Angus’s voice didn’t completely register. The room, and everything in it faded away, until only she and Callum remained. Fire leapt in his eyes, showing his barely-controlled temper. His rigid stance bespoke his command over his emotions. He probably hadn’t said even a tenth of what he was thinking, and she was already offended.

She was no coward, but she tended to work with people, negotiate. Her parents had taught her from an early age to be diplomatic. So, it was complete surprise that the urge to push him further, question his integrity, and make him slip over the edge of control, almost overwhelmed her.

Before she could stop herself, she stepped closer to the desk. His expression shifted, turning from anger to something that resembled…lust? Her heart tripped over itself, and her nipples tightened against her cotton bra. His nostrils flared. A charge filled the air, drifting over her, heating her. Bloody hell, every drop of moisture in her mouth evaporated.

Something primal that she’d never experienced before leapt in her blood. Her breath tangled in her throat. All she could think of was touching him, moving her hand over his flesh. Bare flesh. Thankfully, before she could embarrass herself, Angus interrupted her thoughts.

“Callum.”

The rebuke in his cousin’s voice reached the dark leader. He shook his head as if to clear it, and that was enough to bring Phoebe to her senses. She needed to keep her head straight or she would surely give herself away.

Drawing in a deep breath, she dropped back into the chair, her body still humming from the confrontation.

Back in the saddle

Or so to speak. I am back from what I called a hellcation, and it truly was. The kids had a great time and we actually got pics with more characters this time around. I am happy that they had this experience, and glad we could give it to them, but I am done with Disney for years to come. I have already warned them about it. For me, it is kind of a pain because of the damaged disc, I can't ride all those great roller coasters and scary rides. So, it is kind of a boring just walking around to watch other people ride rides. I did get those great pics and I plan on posting a few later this week.

But, I'm back to writing. I'm sending off the first half of Callum to my editor this weekend and Sunday and Monday I will be working on A Little Harmless Gift. I hope to have it done by the 13th. For a reminder, this is Micah and Dee's short story. I am really excited to finish it up and have my editor proof it for me. I know Micah has gathered as many admirers as Evan:)

I will be very busy over the next few weeks getting ready for the holidays, teaching, and writing. It may take me a couple days to get back to you if you email, so please be patient. Know that I am trying to get ahead of the game so I can bring you more stories, Harmless and otherwise, to read in 2012.

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, or weekend if you don't celebrate the US Holiday of Gluttony, lol. Oh and because I used the cowboy reference:

Trading Cards for Callum

I wanted to do something special for my Cursed Clan series. So, I thought it would be cool to do three different trading cards for all the books and the wonderful Kendra Egert has outdone herself again!