Of Ink and Quille

The importance of researching for your book can't be understated or overstated.  I've started a new project, something very, very different to anything that I've tried before and while I'm enjoying the challenge, I'm also finding myself stumbling with what normally has come so easy for me. For years I've written almost exclusively in  the historical genre, because its what I love. I still love it with a passion but at the same time the last thing I want to have happen is my writing get stale or cookie cutter. To avoid this I'm exploring new genres, new heat levels, locations, even new characters that I've never really thought of before. Everyone loves an alpha be he a soldier, cop, werewolf or vampire, or a 18th century outlaw looking to steal a woman's heart. However, the werewolf, the vampire and the 18th century outlaw are a lot easier for me to write then the modern day soldier or cop.  I can see the character's development, know him, but...

Phantom Pleasure is now available for purchase. Come check it out at Phantom Pleasure . Can true love transcend death itself... Phantom Pleasure an excerpt Chapter One 1859, Bellantaine Plantation, Virginia From the edge of her four-poster bed, Frances stared out the window at the smattering of sunlight on the manicured grounds. From a distance, the echoes of raised voices, the crack of a whip, and the faint throb of singing from the slaves working the cotton field met her ears. With each passing moment, her attention flittered from one raised voice to the other like a bee in her mother's rose gardens. Which of those working had told her secret? Who would betray her so? Her father's incensed roar drifted up the stairs to her chamber-the tone enough to send a shudder of fear through her. "Why?" she whispered and plucked at the lacy thread of her nightshift. In the distance, the local church bell rang, drawing guests for the weddin...

Here's an article that I think everyone who thinks they're ready should read trhough. The lady who wrote it has some great points and I think its important to have an idea of what to do and what not to do. Carina Press Aquisitions

I'm ecstatic today. After weeks of uncertainty, I finally got the letters of rites reversals from Blade Publishing that I've been waiting for. With them in hand I can revamp my novels and resubmit them elsewhere. One I've already decided is going to go to Carina Press - a subsiduary of Harlequinne. With luck they'll enjoy the story and make me an offer. The others I haven't decided on just yet but I'm hopeful that all three books will find an excellent, and prosperous home that showcases the stories to their fullest degree! Thanks to those who have supported me and to those who are still awaiting a letter - keep your chin up, it'll get here. Just have to remember the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Yippeeee!! I'm so very excited to announce that my very first Paranormal romance, Phantom's Pleasure is set for release within the next few days. Join me in celebrating this release and enter to win a 'bling' package featuring plenty of Phantomly stuff!!! Can true love transcend death itself? http://www.passioninprint.com/future.html For Southern Belle, Frances McKenny, love has been as elusive as life itself. Now, she has a chance to have the man of her dreams...if love can prove victorious!

While I'm certain most have either seen or are aware of the growing negativity to do with the recent and very sudden closing Blade, I thought i'd take a moment to reveal a few things about my own experience. Am I pissed! You're darn right I am. I'm pissed that my fellow authors have been disrespected by the lack of contact from the owner. I'm upset that as of yet we still do NOT have our rites letter - something we do need if we're to sub elsewhere. More than that I'm pissed that this entire situation has been so horrendiously treated. I was one of the first authors with Blade and enjoyed my sales, the company etc until recently when tiny red flags started to pop up. Now, I can see what they mean and I'm willing to say that hindsight is better than foresight. This entire experience has been frustrating but beyond that, for those new authors who have either just recently contracted with Blade or been with them a few months but have had nothing done, i...

I'm so excited to be announcing that I'm being spotlighted on Ann Lory's blog this week. for a chance to win a copy of my upcoming book or some other bling please join me and Ann on her blog to talk about writing and more. You can find my interview here: http://annlory.blogspot.com/2010/11/in-author-spotlight-patricia-bates.html

Top Ten Things I Learned from Participating in NaNo Last Year First off, thanks Patricia for having me here! I’m super excited to be blogging today about the things I learned from doing National Novel Writing Month  http://www.nanowrimo.org/   last year. It was my first time to participate and as November is right around the corner, the topic is timely. The best part: the book I wrote during NaNo is a finalist in the Mills & Boon New Voices http://www.romanceisnotdead.com/Entries/104-Thigh-Noon contest! (If you have a moment to go vote for me, so I can move on to the next round in the competition, I would greatly appreciate it. It requires painless and free registration.) On to the list! 1. The key to having a great NaNo experience is preparation. I know you pantsers are cringing, but it’s 50,000 words in a month. If you regularly suffer from writer’s block or stare at the screen a lot, it’s critical to have a plan. I follow Alex Sokoloff’s NaNo Prep Series http:...

Jeannie Lin will be arriving soon. Please collect you questions and such as she'll be here on the 24th of October. I hope everyone will give her a warm welcome!

I hope everyone has their questions lined up! We've got a special guest dropping by this month and again in October. September 23rd, Harlequine author Jeannie Lin will be popping by to answer questions, share tales of her writing, and showcasing her talent. I hope everyone will join me and her to have a lot of fun. As well, with each day that approaches we'll be holding a special promotional event. Come join us for lots of fun, excitement, and learning!

Recently, I had the unpleasant experience of having my work put down by another person whom I have never met. Now normally this would not bother me to the extent that I'd want to bash my head against the wall, but this time the problem wasn't so much what I had done...but what I had failed to get done due to a glitch in timing. Needless, to say, it put me in a bad mood for a few hours. Until I realzized that no matter how hard a person tries there are always going to be people out there willing and eager to step on your toes. To crush your spirit and wallow in your misery like a sponge soaking up spilled coffee. There are two means of dealing with this event.... 1. Wallow in my anger and frustration and possibly send an email that I will come to regret as soon as I hit that send button - or shortly thereafter. This will garner me one result and one result only - the total amassed satisfaction of doing the na-na-na-nana before I come to my senses and realize I'm a grown ...

Welcome David, thanks for stopping by and answering some questions about you and your book. http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/beautyandthebastard.htm 1. How did you come up with the story idea? I daydreamed the opening scene. Well, I say daydreamed, but actually I was lying in bed waiting for sleep to come, when the scene played clearly in my mind. It was as immediate as watching a movie. It's a short scene featuring Saul the Bastard, a fallen angel who works as a bounty hunter. It imprinted itself in my mind because I felt his private agony. No way was I going to sleep with this vivid scene playing over and over in my head, so I propped myself up on one elbow and watched the night sky through my bedroom window while the story unfolded some more. Next came Rebecca. She's a modern-day demon princess whose family pretty much runs her city, but more importantly she is a successful fraud investigator and a self-sufficient woman. Which is why she's very pisse...

http://a-writers-circle.blogspot.com/  is my latest venture and it goes with http://www.writerscircle.freeforums.org/ . We're open to new members and hope that you'll come out and join us as we celebrate the beginning of an ongoing promotional party featuring some pretty hot talent. Have questions for an editor? A publisher? Or maybe one of your favourite authors? Come over, join the fun, and have a blast. We'll be giving away prizes, gifts, and a chance to get some quality time with a publisher, editor, graphic designer, and or author! For more details you can go here. www.romancealley.suzannahsafi.com/TreasureMaze.html and get the full scoop. To join the loop/forum go to http://www.writerscircle.freeforums.org/ and fill ou the simple registration form. takes two minutes and opens the doors to a world of creativity and fun!

Evangelina la Reina Herrera Ortega was a beautiful, but spoiled Spanish prize. Her marriage to Hernando Santiago, the son of one of her father’s investors, would secure her family’s future. However, once she met her fat, arrogant betrothed, Evangelina couldn’t imagine being wed with such cold calculation. Why weren’t her feelings being considered? And what about her strange attraction to Adam Butler, the handsome, brawny Australian ex-convict working in the garden? When Santiago attempts to rape Evangelina, Adam rescues her from the plump, pompous fool and flees with Evanagelina into the countryside. The pair find shelter in a tiny, derelict cabin in the woods and set about fixing it up. Patiently, Adam explains the most mundane tasks to the pampered Spanish lady and Evie takes great pride in her accomplishments. The two are constantly thrown together and their mutual affection soon turns to love. However, when a tree falls on Adam, Evie must make a terrible choice - remain by A...

I am over the moon right now. On July 2, I recieved to my delight the contract for my latest book Phantom's Pleasure... Don't have a release date or cover yet...but as soon as I have more details I'll post them for everyone

As hard as it is to believe, I'm proud to say that I've made it to a milestone in my writing career. I've got a book out that's been out for two years - I know because the publisher is celebrating their second anniversary this month and its so wonderful to be part of such an organization. In todays world of flash and bang publishers, it seems a new one is popping up almost daily. Its great to see one that's been around for some time. One that is consistant in the sales, royalties, and of course quality authors and staff. Blade opened in June 2008 and has built a stable of authors who show talent, professionalism, and an amazing amount of creativity and I count myself blessed that I've been included in their ranks. To celebrate this momentous occassion Blade Publishing is hosting a celebration. Find the link on my sidebar and click on it...it'll take you to the publisher's site with details on what you could win. As well keep your eyes posted as I...

Yay We've made it two years. We're super excited to be celebrating our second year with such a wonderful publisher. Starting today Blade Publishing's stable of authors has put together a little something special to celebrate our 2nd Anniversary. Join us on a Journey through our pages and find the banner to the left - on our author blogs and websites just leave a comment or send an email to be enter to win some really cool prizes. And don't forget to stop over at www.BladePublishing.org for more fun.

The Long and Short Reviews is having a wonderful celebration of Easter. Please join us for their Easter Egg Hunt.

Whipped Cream Erotic Romance Reviews: The Viscount's Prize by Patricia Bates I am so very happy that I got this review - this was one of my favorite stories to write...my only wish is that the story had been longer and I could have expanded on certain aspects of it.

Wow where does the time go? Please join me in the coming weeks as I celebrate the release of my fifth full length novel - and sixth release. In The Hands of A Stranger is part of Blade Publishing's Handyman Series novels. C onvicted of murder, Adam Butler spent two hellish years, being slaved out to settlers for a few shillings a day, until he could buy his way to freedom. After months at sea he’s finally on dry land – unknown and a pauper – but free. When he saves an older, finely dressed Spanish gentleman he’s offered employment as a handyman in repayment. The daughter of a wealthy land owner, Evangelina La Reina Herrara Ortega has been groomed from an early age to wed a man of her class and further her father’s business dealings. Betrothed to Don Luis Santiago’s eldest son, she journeys from her home in the small, wealthy city of Caceres to the Santiago estate near Madrid to marry only to find a bone melting attraction to a man forbidden to her. The frosty Spanish beauty,...

Super Exciting Submission Call Summer Romances Series for our expanded Romance line. ***Permission to Forward granted*** The hot summer nights are meant for romance. A summer vacation in an exotic location, a trip back home – let love blossom. eTreasures is currently seeking submissions for our Summer Romance themed anthologies due out in late August, 2010. Each must have the following elements: • Active writing, fast paced, with a solid plot. • Well rounded, fully developed characters the reader can relate to. • Must have a HEA • Completed manuscripts, 20,000 to 25,000 words, with complete submission package. Put “Summer Anthology” in the subject line. We're looking for a story that will make you laugh, cry, and want to pull out the bikini and tanning oils, and a great book to relax with. Stories the reader can relate to in all aspects. We are not looking for erotic fiction at this time. Send your submission package - including a query letter, synopsis, an...

BRUSH STROKES by Jax Cassidy Release date: January 10, 2010 Publisher: Amber Heat ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-627-7 (Electronic) *Heat warning: erotic, explicit sex scenes, language For Sage, attending the Parisian sex club, Plaisirs Sombres , was the ultimate fantasy. So when the conservative gallery assistant is cloaked behind the velvet mask, she never expected to be the object of the club owner's desire. Spurred on by D.S. Gregoire's erotic and sensual brush strokes of the exclusive club, she gives into a brief liaison that leaves her breathless and wanting. For Damien, known to the art world as D.S. Gregoire, his art has always been an adrenaline rush. But when an exotic and mysteriously uninhibited 'sex club virgin' enters his establishment, he is willing to break his club rules for another taste of the dark pleasures she brings him. Author Bio: Jax Cassidy followed her dreams to Paris, then Hollywood to pursue a film career but managed to fall ...

Today is release day for my first m/m/f interracial menage a trois, Double Dare from Loose Id! BUY HERE! What could be better than waking up next to a hot guy? Waking up sandwiched between two of them. Quinn Preston, a financial analyst, is not happy when her friends dare her to pick up a handsome stranger at a wedding reception. What better reason to give up men when her previous long-term relationship had not only been lackluster in the bedroom but he had cheated. Logan Reed, a successful farmer and business owner, can't believe that he's attracted to the woman in the ugly, Pepto-Bismol colored bridesmaid dress. And to boot, she's more than tipsy. After turning down her invitation for a one-night stand, he finds her in the parking lot, too impaired to drive. He rescues her and takes her home. His home. The next morning Quinn's conservative life turns on its ear when Logan introduces her to pleasures she never even considered before. And to make things mor...

Please welcome Kareena to the fold so to speak. She's been very generous enough to join us today to share a bit about herself and her writing. What inspired you to begin writing? Truly, I don’t remember. I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember (which is back to age 2, at least), and I started writing them down as soon as someone showed me how to make those squiggly little letters. For each writer their genre is the one they’re comfortable with. Why did you begin writing within yours? I actually write in a number of genres. In addition to erotic romance, I write YA urban fantasy, and I’ve written a couple of mainstream fiction manuscripts that will probably never see daylight. I’m also working on a paranormal novel. But… since this interview is about my erotic romance, I’ll answer that, I guess. I started writing it because a friend challenged me to write something that showed sex as a positive thing. What was your initial reaction when you got that...