Finally getting some writing done

Hi ladies and gents.  It's been a while since my last post but if you've been following me you will probably notice that this wouldn't be the first time this has happened.  Work has been busy, busy, busy.  We were able to settle three of our largest cases and my boss has finally taken a vacation, giving me some "ME" time.  Last night was the first time in a few weeks that I had anything productive going on with my writing and I hope to continue on that streak.

I'm in the middle of writing a short erotic story for a side project/website that has been in the works with a good friend of mine.  As soon as I have further details regarding launch dates and such I will be posting the information.

In the mean time, here is a little unedited piece of what's bouncing around in my head at the moment.  This currently untitled short is about an author, Mollie Derbie and her neighbor/muse, Adam Morris.

If she stayed in front of the computer any longer Mollie Derby was going to get a damn tan.  Saving the latest draft of chapter fifteen, although she knew it wasn’t perfect, it was still better than the first draft.  And the second, and the third and who knows how many this was now.  “Ten, actually”, she sighed rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands getting a glimpse of the time displayed on her silver wrist watch.  

Five hours had gone by while she typed, reviewed, deleted, then followed the same routine over and over again in a vicious cycle.  Her head felt the way her waste basket looked at this moment, an overflow of balled up sheets of paper.  Chapter fourteen had given her some problems as well.  Writer’s block was hell.  Even more so when Mollie had little more than a month to turn in Her Heart’s Desire to her agent and there was only about two-thirds of the book done... 

Adam and Mollie look like:

 

(c) 2012 Ria Cruz

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Lover Reborn, Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book #10

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Lover Reborn by J.R. Ward

Expected Publication Date: March 27, 2012

Blurb:

In the darkest corners of the night in Caldwell, New York, a conflict like no other rages. The city is home to a band of brothers born to defend their race: the warrior vampires of the Black Dagger Brotherhood.

Now back in the Brotherhood - and unrecognisable as the vampire leader he once was - Tohrment is physically emaciated and heartbroken beyond despair. When he begins to see his beloved in his dreams - trapped in a cold, isolating netherworld - Tohr turns to a self-serving fallen angel in hopes of saving the one he has lost. When he's told he must learn to love another to free his former mate, Tohr knows they are all doomed . . .

Except then a female with a shadowed history begins to get through to him. Against the backdrop of the raging war with the lessers, and with a new clan of vampires vying for the Blind King's throne, Tohr struggles between the buried past, and a very hot, passion-filled future . . . but can his heart let go and set all of them free?

I pre-ordered my copy last month through J.R. Ward's virtual signing  and am not so patiently waiting for its arrival in my mailbox.  Very excited to read Tohr's story and find out what is going on with the rest of the Brotherhood.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Something About Witches

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Something About Witches by Joey W. Hill

Expected Date of Publication: February 7, 2012 by Berkley Sensation

Blurb:

As a witch, Ruby Night Divine knows better than most that magic can sometimes fail. Smith & Wesson is more reliable, and nothing beats the ability to shoot a few holes in things that tick you off. Like sexy sorcerer Derek Stormwind.

Derek has a history with Ruby, but right now, he claims he just needs her help training a coven that’s under attack by a demon. Ruby’s sure it’s just a ruse to get back in her heart—and her bed. The thing is, that’s where she wants him. Unfortunately, her bed’s already made, she’s this close to losing her soul, and she fears nothing can save her. Not Derek. Not even Smith & Wesson.

Book one in Joey W. Hill’s Arcane Shot Series, Something About Witches is a paranormal treat—hot, sensual and satisfying.

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Darker After Midnight

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian

Book 10 of the Midnight Breed Series has an expected publication date of  January 24th 2012 by Robinson Publishing 

Blurb:

In the dark of night, a blood war escalates within the hidden world of the Breed. After existing in secret for many long centuries, maintaining a fragile peace with the humans who walk beside them unaware, a single act of retaliation has put the entire vampire nation at risk of discovery. It falls to the Order—a cadre of Breed warriors pledged to protect their own and humankind alike—to stop Dragos, the power-mad vampire at the center of the conflict, before his push for domination can explode into catastrophe.

At the center of the Order’s quest is Sterling Chase, once a morally rigid enforcer of Breed law, now a warrior fallen from grace, whose biggest battle is the one he wages against his own savage nature. With addiction beckoning him toward eternal darkness, Chase’s path to redemption has never seemed more out of reach. But when his eyes meet those of Tavia Fairchild, a beautiful witness who identifies him at the scene of a mission gone terribly wrong, Chase finds himself drawn to the woman—and convinced she is something much more than she seems.

Pulled into a vortex of intrigue and danger she can neither resist nor understand, Tavia is uncertain whom to trust. And while everything sane and logical warns her against getting close to Chase, she cannot deny that the handsome, deeply haunted male stirs something primal and ravenous within her. But even as she surrenders to her cravings, nothing can prepare her for the shattering truth of who—and what—she truly is.

As the Order’s enemy mobilizes for the battle of the ages, Dragos and his Minions unleashing a hell on Earth like nothing ever seen before, Chase and Tavia are thrust into the heart of the violence. With time running out and the streets running red with the blood of innocent lives, both Breed and human, together Chase and Tavia must find a way to defeat Dragos once and for all—or die trying.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Bound by a Vampire Queen by Joey W. Hill

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Bound by a Vampire Queen by Joey W. Hill

  

Book number 8 of the Vampire Queen series has an expected publication date: December 6th 2011 by Berkley Heat 

Blurb: 

Sworn to obedience, compelled by loyalty, and threatened with damnation for betrayal, Jacob entered Lady Lyssa’s servitude as a human servant. Now he is a vampire, but still bound to Lyssa, who has found herself struggling with the capricious powers that have come alive in her paternal Fae blood—and challenged by two enemies…

While the Vampire Council threatens to take away Lyssa and Jacob’s newborn son, the Fae Queen has ordered Lyssa to appear before the Otherworld court to face inescapable charges. The Fae have nothing but contempt for vampires, but to serve her, protect her, nourish her, and pleasure her, Jacob will follow his lady into hell itself. No one—neither Fae nor vampire—will compel him to break the oath he made to serve a vampire queen forever.

"Waiting On" Wednesday : Captivated by Lauren Dane

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Captivated by Lauren Dane

Book three of the Phantom Corps Series has an expected publication date of May 12, 2012 by Berkley Heat.  

I love Lauren Dane and this series and I know it will be just as good as the rest.

Blurb:

Vincenz Fardelle, exiled son of the Supreme Leader of the Imperialist Universe, has spent much of the last ten years working to stop the threat his father poses. But he’s not alone in his quest. Julian Marsters has lost his best friend and countless others in the war and has made vengeance his only goal. In each other, Julian and Vincenz find not only like minds, but kindred spirits.

However unexpected their relationship, everything changes for Vincenz and Julian when Hannah Black comes into their lives. Having been captured and held in near total isolation by imperialist troops, their immediate response is to protect her.

Emotionally shattered but resilient, Hannah rebuilds herself. Because of the warm safety she finds in the arms of Julian—and Vincenz she becomes someone harder, stronger and bent on preventing the Imperialists from harming anyone else.

For the two men, wrestling with their passionate feelings for Hannah is only the beginning. War is about to send all three into harm’s way and an equally dangerous secret could tear them apart.

"Waiting On" Wednesday: Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Under a Vampire Moon by Lynsay Sands

Expected publication: April 24th 2012 by HarperCollins Publishers 


Christian Notte's story, the sixteenth book in the Argeneau series is set on an island paradise called St. Lucia. After a bad relationship and an even worse divorce, Carolyn decides to go on a long overdue and much needed vacation with the 'girls'. Only the rest of the vacationers didn't get the memo. Around every corner there seems to be another couple celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary and the few single men she does see are far too young to even consider, including an irresistibly attractive rock violinist she meets. It's really too bad he's so young but in the end it doesn't matter because according to his cousin, Giacinta, women in general aren't Christian's type. But there's a catch, Christian needs Carolyn's help. He needs her to be his beard (to play the part of his fake girlfriend) for the week to appease his 'machismo' family. Carolyn just can't seem to say No and decides to help Gia's cousin. The only problem is that being around Christian and acting like they are a loving couple is wreaking havoc on her emotions. Carolyn's thoughts keep drifting back to places they shouldn't, like kissing his full lips or feeling his broad shoulders under her fingertips... good lord, she's in trouble.

Piracy Sucks...

As an aspiring author it really hurts to see that published authors that I admire and have shelled my own hard earned money to read their books both in print and e-books (either PDF's or via Kindle) have to suffer through book piracy.  Lena Matthews has started a campaign to fight e-book piracy.  In her blog she goes over exactly how much an author can lose by what some people think is harmless when they upload an e-book to a share website (some of these were on term paper exchange sites).  I urge everyone to take a minute to stop by her page and if you happen to stumble across any pirated work, please contact that particular author and send them a link so they can do something about it.

And to all those who may be participating in these activities I have three words for you, "Boo Bitch Boo"!

"Waiting on" Wednesday: Lord of the Abyss

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: Lord of the Abyss by Nalini Singh

Expected publication: November 22nd 2011 by Harlequin

Once upon a time…the Blood Sorcerer vanquished the kingdom of Elden. To save their children, the queen scattered them to safety and the king filled them with vengeance. Only a magical timepiece connects the four royal heirs…and time is running out.…

As the dark Lord who condemns souls to damnation in the Abyss, Micah is nothing but a feared monster wrapped in impenetrable black armor. He has no idea he is the last heir of Elden, its last hope. Only one woman knows—the daughter of his enemy.

Liliana is nothing like her father, the Blood Sorcerer who’d cursed Micah. She sees past Micah’s armor to the prince inside. A prince whose sinful touch she craves. But first she has to brave his dark, dangerous lair and help him remember. Because they only have till midnight to save Elden.

Waiting on" Wednesday... What Happens After Dark by Jasmine Haynes

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is: What Happens After Dark by Jasmine Haynes

Expected publication: November 1st 2011 by Berkley Trade 

Blurb:

She's pushed all the limits-but can she finally free herself completely?

Bree Mason wants more out of life, but she is ruled by fear and controlled by her secrets. And there's one great secret she's hidden for years, even from herself. But now a tragedy is causing her carefully constructed world to unravel...

Bree is like no other woman Luke Raven has ever known. He's always given her what she's asked for. But now he craves more-a lot more. Luke wants a relationship outside their strictly sexual affair. But can he help Bree exorcise her demons and free her from her abusive past?

Sample of "Untouchable"

Hi ladies and gents.  Just wanted to share a brief sample of a story I am currently working on.  Feed back is welcome.

Normally men didn’t make her a nervous wreck but Rick wasn’t like the men Michelle usually encountered.  Normal men didn’t stand at six and a half feet tall with broad shoulders and bulging biceps or have wicked smiles that sent shivers up her spine.   Normal men didn’t cause goose bumps with the sound of their voice.   

The not so normal man was currently nowhere to be seen.  Twenty minutes ago was a different story, he’d been seated in front of her.  Throughout the entire night the heated glances he sent her way wreaked havoc on her hormones.  She tried to focus on her surrounds.  The dark night brightened by a full moon and silvery stars.  The private beach of white sands painted the perfect post card image of Florida.  If you ever want to make a friend or loved one feel miserable you could send them a picture of the view from Diego’s vacation home on Melbourne Beach. 

The place was breathtakingly beautiful but not enough to distract having a sexy, single, straight man dangled in front of a woman who hadn’t had sex in over a year.  Add to the facts that know she was being asked to interact with him out of her element.  Work.

At work was casual.  Professional.  Brief.  To the point.  She never socialized with him outside of the office until now and thanks to her boss celebrating his fiftieth birthday and inviting some of his closest friends along with his three business partners and their wives, Rick and Michelle were now out here for a long weekend of fun in the sun.  It was only their first night there and Michelle was beginning to regret ever hopping on the private plan that picked them up a few hours ago.

"Untouchable" (c) Ria Cruz, 2011.