WEEKLY CONTEST

Welcome to our weekly contest on The Deadly Vixens blog!

The winner will receive a choice of one of the following three paperbacks:

Simply Unforgettable by Mary Balogh
Playing with Fire by Gena Showalter
Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning

These are new books, never before read.

To enter, just leave a comment here in the weekly contest telling us something you like about our blog, what you would like to see change or a topic you would like to see us blog about.

One winner will be picked and announced on Tuesday, September 2, 2008. Be sure to check back and see if you have won.

If your name is drawn as the winner, you will need to email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with the title of the one paperbook you wish to claim as your prize. In said e-mail, please include your mailing address for prompt mailing.

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one week of drawing. There are no exceptions.

Best of luck!

The Deadly Vixens

The Power of Names

TGIF! I don’t believe I have thought that with such heartfelt emotion in many, many years. Today, I cannot begin to express how excited I am that it is Friday! Woohoo! Yowza! Hubba Hubba! Did that give you an indication how excited I am that it’s Friday? ;-) And for us in the States it is a long weekend, celebrating Labor Day on Monday.

What’s in a name? If you ask me a lot, namely power, identification and it can even define who we are to others. It can give us freedom or it can hinder flight.

Saddam Hussein. Those four syllables strike terror in the hearts of many. To me the name brings to mind pain, death, and ruined lives for one man’s bid at domination. And then I think of the broken man that was found hiding from military forces.

Mother Teresa. Those five syllables may inspire compassion, warmth and love. It is a name that leaves me in awe for the way she dedicated her life to helping others, total strangers.

Gracen Miller. What connotation does that name bring to mind for you? “General” for some over at Supernatural TV, but what am I truly known for? Hopefully not terror, but neither have I dedicated my life to helping total strangers. So, I'm not Saddam Hussein or Mother Teresa. I have two boys and a husband of 16 ½ years. I am an author, but not well known. I have many facets about me, but so few of them are revealed to anyone but my true friends. Tell me, what was your first impression of the name Gracen?

What’s your name? Do you like it or not? What type of names do you prefer? What preconceived impression do you think people have about your name?

Names identify us to others with preconceived and misconceived ideas. It could be because of those that have come before us with the same name. Their character attaches to a name and then it is up to us to change that polluted misconception if there is one.

So, when I write, the names of the characters are terribly important. If a name is not right, it will haunt me throughout the writing until I grasp the character’s correct identity. I have to be able to connect with it, feel its truth for my character before I can come to peace with it. Naming is one of the most important steps in my writing. And typically I do not like the average every-day household name. I like names with flavor and flair. Maybe that’s because Gracen isn’t the typical household name. I took the same concept when I named my boys and while they are not odd names, they are seldom heard or seen.

When coming up with names, it can be a brainstorm session with my girlfriend or my sons. Like Sierra and Sarah, I use websites to help with my creation. Some of those sites are:

http://www.20000-names.com/
http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/decades/names2000s.html

Sometimes I want a particular meaning for a character. Other times I want the strength of the name to carry the character through the storyline. What it all comes down to is the power I infuse into that name, whether real or conceived. It is my belief of the power the name holds that makes all the difference in my mind and in my storyline.

Share with me your thoughts about naming your characters. Tell me your thoughts about preconceived notions that particular names have attached to them and how that person may have differed from that misconception once you got to know them.

Have a great weekend everyone! Check in tomorrow for a paperback book giveaway!

This Week's Guest Blogger

I apologize for the mishap, but our guest blogger was unable to blog with us this week. Check back next Thursday to see who our next guest blogger is.

In the meantime, tell us what topics you would like to read us blog about. It doesn't have to be about the art of writing or a supernatural topic, but can be on any subject matter.

Tell us what we can do to improve this blog for you reading pleasure. Do you want more guest bloggers? More topics on writing or supernatural? Do you want the three of us to blog on different topics each week rather than the same topic? Tell us what you would like to see happen. We won't promise to change our format, but we'll consider it if enough of our readers want a change.

We look forward to hearing from you.

The Deadly Vixens

Character Names

One of my favorite parts of writing is naming the characters. Like Sierra, I use name websites a lot to help me with this task. Some of my favorites are: babynames.com, 20000-names.com, and behindthename.com.

When I name my characters, I almost always choose the names first by figuring out my character's ethnicity and country of origin (or ancestor's country of origin). Then I go about finding a name that matches a certain quality or trait regarding the character. For instance, if I were to have a character that was very much into protecting others, I would go with something like Alexander/Alexandra, which means "defender of mankind."

Sometimes though, a character will emerge with a name, and I don't have to worry about picking out just the right one. I enjoy either path, though it is nice when I do get to go through the lists of names. A lot of the time it gives me ideas for secondary characters, or even ones not related to that story.

How about you? What are your methods of naming characters? I'd love to hear your opinions. =)

CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to our winner from Saturday's contest...the winner of the ebook, Passion Minded Professor, by Natasha Moore.

The winner is...Eva S.

Congratulations, EVA!

We hope you enjoy your free ebook. To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again!

Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

What's In A Name?

Naming my characters is not difficult, but it is a long process. Not just any name will do. I f I name a character something that doesn’t fit right, the characters will let me know it. They will protest and not tell me their stories. Therefore, I have to make sure that I’m picking the right name or else I get stuck.

I use several online naming sites to help me pick the names. One site is for first names and I have a couple that I use for last names. I also have a site that gives random names, in which I can choose for it to give me both first and last names. Sometimes, I’ll find just one name this way but I’ll find gems that I can use for secondary characters as well.

I’ve also been known to go through the phonebook and pick names. The problem with that is that some of the names are regional and not something that would work in a different state.

Sometimes I’ve been lucky enough that my characters will tell me their names flat out. That doesn’t happen very often, but it does occur once in a while. I also have to take into account whether or not the name is appropriate for a hero or heroine. Sometimes, names may be unique, but just not fitting for the character part.

I also don’t like to reuse character names, so I keep a list of the one’s I’ve used to prevent me from picking a name again. I just have to remember to keep it updated. If I get carried away with a story, sometimes I forget about everything else but it.

This is my method of naming my characters. Do you have a different method that you use? I’d love to hear it. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Guest Bloggers Needed!!!

If you're interested in guest blogging with us, we'd love to hear from you. You do not have to write paranormal or romance or even have a book out. We're interested in a diverse group of bloggers.

So, if you're interested, please contact us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com and we'll schedule a convenient blog date.

The Deadly Vixens

WEEKLY CONTEST

Welcome to our weekly contest on The Deadly Vixens blog! The winner will receive the Passion Minded Professor in pdf format by this week's guest blogger, Natasha Moore. Thanks again to Natasha for offering this great prize.

To enter, just leave a comment here in the weekly contest about Natasha's blog or about our topic of the week, Prophecies.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 26, 2008. Be sure to check back and see if you have won.

If your name is drawn as the winner, you will need to email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com to claim the pdf e-book, Passion Minded Professor. Include your email address within the email when you claim your winning e-book to ensure delivery.

New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one week of drawing. There are no exceptions.

Best of luck!

The Deadly Vixens

*WARNING* Some books may contain explicit material and are for persons 18 years of age or older. If you are not at least 18, please do not enter the contest, as we have no way of knowing your actual age. By entering this contest, you are accepting these terms and agree that you are at least 18 years of age. Thank you.

New Winner of Tigress by the Tail

Since I did not hear back from the second winner of Tigress by the Tail, we have a new winner!!!

The new winner is....KRISTY!!!!!

Congratulations, Kristy! We hope you enjoy your free e-book. To receive your prize, please e-mail us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again! Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

Gracen's Prophecies

Awesome Friday to you! I’ve got a sick child, my master bathroom is in the middle of reconstruction and my house is a disaster from the reconstruction. We could grow plants in all the dust covering my furniture. I’m ready to scream! So, I can’t say this is going to be a very long blog today. But with my wordiness, who knows. ;-)

Prophecies... They predate modern times and Biblical times. Coming from the South and being reared among devout Christians my first thoughts are Biblical. Most of us are familiar with at least the concept of Revelations and the fiery end times it prophesizes in Biblical terms. To be frank, that’s one end time scenario I do not want to live through. *shudders* Scary times.

Another prophet that comes to mind is Sylvia Browne. But is she really a prophet? She certainly has enough books out there about Angels, Heaven, Spirit Guides and a gazillion other topics. How can we be certain she speaks the truth? And truthfully, she’s damn near eclipsed Montel Williams in popularity.

Let’s consider for a moment some of the prophecies that predate Biblical times. Mayan prophecy… on December 21, 2012 (12/21/12) a new world age will rise. Some believe the Egyptian pyramid counts down to a new Golden age following a period of sorrow and obliteration. I guess we’ll have to wait and see on those prophecies. But interestingly enough on August 17-18, 1999, The Grand Cross arranged in the heavens, which is a powerful and fearsome configuration to astrologers because it involves the alignment of all the major planets (Except Pluto—but I thought my son just told me it’s a moon and not a planet as I was taught? I wish they’d get it straight—and two minor asteroids) in a fixed sign of the zodiac. Like the Mayan prophecy, The Grand Cross does not mark the end of times, but rather the crossing into a new age. All these prophecies aligning almost simultaneously can easily make one wonder if these prophecies have some substance.

I don’t have the answers. But this is interesting stuff either way. What are your thoughts? Anyone? Do you believe? Do you have your own experiences?

Have a great weekend everyone! *waves*

Please Welcome Author...Natasha Moore!!

Thank you for taking the time to interview with us. Natasha’s newest release is Bad to the Bone in Red Sage Secrets Vol 24, which came out in July 2008. The Ride of Her Life, her full length contemporary romance novel will be available in paperback September 30, 2008!

NATASHA AND HER BOOKS CAN BE FOUND HERE:
http://www.natashamoore.com/
http://www.natasha-moore.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/natashamoorewriter
http://www.eredsage.com/
http://www.ellorascave.com/
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/

1. When/how did you know you wanted to write?

NATASHA: I was writing in grade school. Yep, I’m one of those people who always knew they wanted to be a writer. Life got in the way a few times, but the need to write always pulled me back.

2. How long did it take you to become published?

NATASHA: More years that I want to admit. Probably at least ten years of seriously pursuing publication before I sold.

3. Many authors are doing strictly e-books, do you think this is just a trend, or does it spell the end of real books?

NATASHA: I don’t see it as the end of “real” books – please note that I consider e-books “real” books, the same as paperback and hardcover. I remember when we could first start renting videos and there was a big outcry that it would be the end of movie theaters. That didn’t happen. There’s plenty of room for both and I think that’s what will happen with books. More options are better for everyone.

4. How long does it take for you to write books?

NATASHA: It varies greatly. Some stories seem to flow so smoothly, I swear I’m practically taking dictation as my characters tell me their story. Unfortunately others seem to be wrung out of the beads of sweat that pop out of my forehead.

5. Is there any character in your books that you can really relate to?

NATASHA: Annie Shane in my novella, Bad to the Bone, that’s included in Red Sage Secrets Vol 24. She’s a good girl breaking out of her shell. And growing up, I was definitely a good girl.

6. Do you see yourself writing in the same genre in 10 years? If not then what?

NATASHA: I’ll always be writing romance. I love sexual tension, love the give and take between characters, love a happy ending. But I hope to write in various sub-genres.

7. What advice do you give to those who are just starting out or trying to become published?

NATASHA: Write. Learn all you can. Write. Research the market. Write. Submit. Write. Repeat.

8. Do you have any projects you are currently working on?

NATASHA : I’m working on a futuristic for Ellora’s Cave at the moment. The heroine is a captive on a sex slave ship and the hero is one of the guards aboard the ship.

9. Did it take a lot of rejections for you to finally get published or was it pretty easy for you?

NATASHA: Lots of rejections. If you want to publish you have to submit and then you run the risk of rejection. I still get rejections, even since I’ve published, because I’m still submitting. Luckily, I sell way more than get rejected.

10. Do you write your stories out with pencil and paper first or do you work straight on the computer?

NATASHA : I usually write straight on the computer, but sometimes, when I’m having one of those tough times, taking a notebook and pen and curling up in a chair seems to get things flowing again.

11. You just recently were published. How does it make you feel?

NATASHA : Awesome. My first release was less than a year ago, in Oct 2007. Since then I’ve released 2 full-length e-books (the first of those will be out in print next month) Two short e-books (one of which will be included in a print anthology later this year). And two short stories and two novellas released as part of anthologies. And I will have three more novellas out by the end of the year. I still find it hard to believe. But I’m enjoying every minute of it.

12. Getting back to your books coming out soon. Tell us a little about what to expect from them.

NATASHA: Lia’s Warrior will be released by Ellora’s Cave September 4th and is my first futuristic. Lia is Guardian of the Sapphire Moon, an ancient crystal globe which must bless all mates. Roark is a Warrior returning home to find out Lia is now forbidden to him

Smoke and Mirrors will be released by Ellora’s Cave in November. The hero is an illusionist and the heroine is his former assistant/lover.

Up To No Good will be included in Red Sage Secrets Vol 25 which will be out in December. The heroine is a journalist who tracks down the hero, a former nationally syndicated columnist, to find out why he stopped writing.

13. When and where can we purchase your books?

NATASHA: Check out my website at www.natashamoore.com or my publisher’s websites at:
www.eredsage.com
www.ellorascave.com
www.samhainpublishing.com



* * * * * *

Disclaimer (because we don't have a choice): The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.

CONTEST WINNER

Congratulations to our winner from Sunday's contest...the winner of the ebook, The Devil's Den, by Gracen Miller.

The winner is...Gillian.

Congratulations, Gillian!

We hope you enjoy your free ebook.

To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address and your choice of ebook format.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again!

Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

Prophecies

The first name to come to mind when talking about prophecies is Nostradamus. I personally couldn’t say whether or not any of his prophecies were true because I’m afraid I don’t know much about them. He certainly became famous, though. Apparently, many people believed in him while he was still alive.

I don’t know whether or not I believe Nostradamus was actually a prophet. I would need to know more about him and what he predicted before I could make that judgment. Do I believe it’s possible? Yes.

It would be difficult for me to say that I don’t believe prophets are real. Especially since I do believe people can have psychic abilities. Basically, to me, they seem like the same thing. A psychic predicts future happenings just like a prophet does.

I don’t believe that everyone who calls themselves a psychic is the real thing. But I do believe that there are many out there who are genuine. I’ve never had any experience with psychics in my life, but I would love to meet one sometime and see what they predict for my future.

Do you believe in prophets and predictions? I’d love to hear what you think. Please share your experiences with psychics. I’m always interested in hearing about them.

Weekly Contest

Sorry I'm a little late posting this weeks contest. It's been a little crazy for me lately. Since I'm posting this on Sunday, we will extend the contest to make up for the late posting. The winner will be announced on Wednesday instead of Tuesday this week. Without further ado...

Welcome to our weekly contest on The Deadly Vixens blog! The winner will receive The Devil's Den by Gracen Miller. Gracen's book is a dark paranormal and not for the feint of heart. If you're interested in winning this book, just follow the directions below.

To enter, just leave a comment to this post and tell us what you think of the Olympics this year. Have you been watching? What is your favorite sport?

Winners will be announced on Wednesday, August 20, 2008. Be sure to check back and see if you have won. If your name is drawn as the winner, you will need to email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com to claim your prize. Include your email address within the email when you claim the prize to ensure delivery. Tell us in the email which book you'd like to receive and which format.

New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one week of drawing.

Best of luck!

The Deadly Vixens

*WARNING* Some books may contain explicit material and are for persons 18 years of age or older. If you are not at least 18, please do not enter the contest, as we have no way of knowing your actual age. By entering this contest, you are accepting these terms and agree that you are at least 18 years of age. Thank you.

Gracen's Olympic Thrall

Happy Friday!!! I previously blogged about plotting on June 6, 2008, so I won’t bore you with that topic again. ;-) If you want to re-read that blog, here’s the link:

http://deadlyvixens.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html .

I’m not sure how we screwed up and redid the topic again so soon. So, I’ve spent just about all week wondering, thinking, having long intense, angry talks with my tightlipped muse about what I was going to write about today. I’m a tad irritated with my muse right now. *glares hotly at her* She refuses to talk. I even envisioned her doing that little locks her lips sign language thingy and then tossing away the key. *glares at her again* In other words, she ain’t talking. If I could, I would so fire her butt. So, I was reduced to begging for topics from my friends. You want to know what I got? Nothing. Absolutely, positively, nothing…nada. *sighs long and loud*

So, I’m sitting here watching the Olympics Thursday night, mulling over my frustrated depression because I cannot think of even one half-hair brained topic to blog about. That’s when my muse whispers in my ear…”Olympics”. It has been staring me in the face 24/7 all week long, NBC conveniently spotlighting it for me, and suddenly I’m thinking, YES! And why hadn’t I thought of it sooner?

Now, when mentioning the Olympics, one cannot think of it without Michael Phelps swimming through one’s mind. There is a commercial that says Phelps is not part dolphin. Seriously? Do they really expect us to believe that bull malarkey? I don’t. Do you? I am continuously amazed how fast these swimmers (not just Phelps) are, breaking world records like it is cheap stoneware. As I write this, I’m sitting here watching Michael Phelps win a sixth gold medal in world record time again—for the sixth time—beating the silver Olympic winner by 2.31 seconds. WOW! Six gold medals and all six in world record times. He has 26 individual records, tying Mark Spitz. Tonight he was an entire body length away from the silver winner. Less than an hour later, he swam in a semifinal, his fifteenth out of seventeen events, and he placed first again. I am in complete awe.

I’m just as riveted by the beach volleyball duo, Walsh and May-Treanor. And I vehemently dislike volleyball. I’m not a sportsy chick—I wish I were, my waist line wishes I were too and my husband probably does too—but I’m enthralled with the Olympics. I’m too much of a daydreamer to put that much effort into anything physical oriented. Swimmer Rebecca Soni had my husband and I both screaming at the television—as if she could hear us (rolling my eyes)—tonight for her to beat out the fastest woman in the world, Aussie swimmer Liesel Jones. I’m cringing each time I watch the gymnasts because I’m terrified someone will make a mistake and seriously injure themselves. But I’m not cringing enough to make myself turn away. I’ve ate ALL my nails to the quick. You’d think I know these people, but I don’t. At the same time, I’m wondering how much chiropractic care these athletes need. LOL. I know that’s a strange thought, but sometimes my brain wanders to strange thoughts. It’s completely normal for me.

What is it about the Olympics that gets us so fired up? In my home, we’re like football addicts screaming for our favorite team. And here in the South, where I’m from, during football season, there is nothing more important than college football. If you doubt me, you might want to take notes. Football here is a religion. We don’t ask you if you’re a Baptist or Methodist. We ask what team you go for. LOL. And here in Alabama, it’s either the University of Alabama or Auburn University. You have to pick sides. We don’t care where you come from. If you come from Canada, you gotta pick a side. And whatever side you pick, that will define you forever in the eyes of other fanatics...um...I mean fans. Yeah, that's what I meant...FANS! *looks about making sure no one noticed my faux pas* YES, we are crazy...about college football.

The University of Alabama football stadium has just been expanded and seats 92,138 fans. Yes, I’m serious. Auburn University football stadium seats 87,451. Again, yes, I’m serious. On game day, there are NO empty seats. On game day, there are fans that will come from miles away (it’s called tailgating) just to party with the folks that actually have tickets to see the game. Tailgating is crazy and insane and I truly believe unless one grows up in the South, one just cannot begin to understand it. No one can even conceive how insanely crazy southern rednecks (I say that with loving fondness) act on game day until one takes the plunge and attends an Alabama or Auburn football game. Let me put it this way, when I schedule my youngest son’s birthday party, I have to make sure I do not schedule it on a big Alabama or Auburn football game day or no one will show up for the birthday party. Football here is just that important.

But, that crazy love of football reminds me of the obsession we have here in my house with the Olympics. My oldest son has me recording it with the DVR so he can watch it the next day after school. It’s enthralling and wonderful and so much fun watching awesome athletes battle it out to be on top. It’s refreshing and even though I’m not competing these long nights watching it are starting to wear me out. I think it might take me the full two years to recoup for the winter Olympics. ;-)

Give me your thoughts. Are you watching the Olympics? Are you as enthralled as my household?

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend!

Please Welcome Author...Katie Reus!

Thank you for taking the time to interview with us. Katie’s newest release is City of Secrets. City of Secrets, her full length romantic suspense novel became available in digital and print format in May 2008!

GIVE ME ALL WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN BE FOUND, WHERE YOUR BOOKS CAN BE PURCHASED, ETC.

www.katiereus.com
www.katiereus.blogspot.com
The Wild Rose Press – www.thewildrosepress.com
Ellora’s Cave – www.ellorascave.com

1. When/how did you know you wanted to write?

KATIE: When I finished Lauren Weisberger’s novel Everyone Worth Knowing, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Since I don’t want to spoil the end, I’ll just say that at the end of the book, the heroine motivated me to follow my dreams. I’ve always loved reading romance and had thought that writing would be fun, but I never had the motivation to actually try it until that book.

2. How long did it take you to become published?

KATIE: A little over two years.

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?

KATIE: I have many so I’ll narrow it down to three. Linda Howard, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Elizabeth Jennings (she also w/a Lisa Marie Rice). They all know how to write the kind of men women love.

4. Many authors are doing strictly e-books, do you think this is just a trend, or does it spell the end of real books?

KATIE: I think that at least for the next century, the world will always have a place for paper and e-books. I think e-books are the wave of the future, but I think it’s a long time coming until paper books are considered a secondary choice instead of a first. This is just my opinion, but there’s such a problem with internet e-book piracy and I think this will motivate publishers to stay with print a lot longer, among other reasons.

5. How long does it take for you to write books?

KATIE: For a full length, 3-4 months. (not including editing, lol) I have a full time job and a full time husband, but I consider writing my second ‘job’.

6. Do you see yourself writing in the same genre in 10 years? If not then what?

KATIE: Honestly, I don’t know. I just know I’ll be writing what I love in ten years. I write romantic suspense because I love it. If that changes, then I’ll be writing something new.

7. What advice do you give to those who are just starting out or trying to become published?

KATIE: I say this in every interview. Don’t take rejection personally. Publishing is a subjective business. Sometimes I find this advice hard to take myself, but it’s so very true.

8. What is your favorite part of writing?

KATIE: I love writing internal conflicts between characters and adding life threatening external conflicts just makes the story that much more exciting. I majored in psychology so I love dissecting what makes people tick. The way people react under dangerous circumstances says a lot about who they are.

9. Do you have any projects you are currently working on?

KATIE: I just finished a category type romantic suspense and an erotic novella. I’m looking for homes for both of them. Currently, I’m about a quarter of the way through a single title romantic suspense.

10. Did it take a lot of rejections for you to finally get published or was it pretty easy for you?

KATIE: I have a thick file folder full of rejections. The first manuscript I submitted to the world is still gathering dust, and will probably never see the light of day. J All those rejections were my first real lesson in how tough this business is. I found a quote that I’ve taped to my computer as a reminder to keep striving toward my goals. “If you don’t get a rejection at least once a day, you’re not trying hard enough.”

11. Do you write your stories out with pencil and paper first or do you work straight on the computer?

KATIE: I’m a computer girl all the way! Sometimes if I get stumped or have a block, I’ll pull out a notebook and write longhand, but only until I get back into a scene. I type much faster than I could ever write.

12. Getting back to your books coming out soon. Tell us a little about what to expect from them.

KATIE: Running from the Past is an erotica novella that will be released from Ellora’s Cave September 10, 2008. Here’s a quick blurb:

Miami socialite, Emma Garcia has been running from who she is her entire life. When she witnesses a horrific crime, she goes on the run. In desperation, she answers an ad for a chef on a remote horse farm in the middle of nowhere Florida. It seems like the perfect plan until she figures out what to do with her secrets. The only thing she doesn’t count on is being attracted to the rugged cowboy who owns the place. Whenever he comes around the only thing she can focus on is his seductive voice and sinful body.

Retired Marine, Caleb Ryder hires Emma even though he knows she’s lying about her identity. He desperately needs the help, but he also doesn’t have the heart to turn away a woman so obviously in need. After being burned by a woman once, he doesn’t let that deter his mission to claim Emma’s body and heart.

Randomly enough, I also have another release on September 10 from The Wild Rose Press. Here’s the blurb from Trust No One:

World renowned singer Calista Kingston leads a charmed life, but when a sadistic killer marks her as his next target, she turns to an unlikely ally for protection. The one man ruthless enough to guard her is also the man responsible for the death of her best friend. Sexual sparks fly when circumstances force them to share a roof, and Calista can’t deny her growing lust for the last man she ever expected to want.

Retired CIA agent Dane Leven accepts the security job to protect Calista out of guilt. He thought he was prepared for anything, but he’s blindsided by his unexpected and unwanted attraction to Calista. A relationship is the last thing he needs, yet the longer he’s around her, being hers forever is all that matters. Unfortunately, he’s harboring a secret that could tear them apart. When this job is over, will she forgive his ultimate deception?

13. When and where can we purchase your books?

KATIE: City of Secrets can be purchased in digital format at www.thewildrosepress.com, or any other e-book provider such as Fictionwise. It’s also available in print on Amazon.

Trust No One will be available in digital format from The Wild Rose Press next month and soon after, will also be available in print.

Running From the Past will be available in digital format only from Ellora’s Cave.

Contest Winner!

Congratulations to our winner from Saturday's contest... the winner of a free ebook by Aislinn Kerry.

The winner is...pheebles.

Congratulations pheebles! We hope you enjoy your free ebook.

Don't forget to check out Aislinn's website to pick out which of her books you'd like to receive.

To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address and your book choice.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again! Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

Sierra's Plotting Process

When I started writing, I never plotted a thing. I would just get an idea in my head and start writing. Of course, I was never able to finish anything, either. I started so many stories that I never finished it wasn’t funny. I’d get about thirty pages in or so and it would all fall apart on me. I was aggravated because I could never get anywhere with my writing. This went on for years. Then finally, one day, I got an idea and sat down and plotted it out. Eureka! This was a breakthrough for me. I started writing and got to page thirty. No problems, I kept going. I reached page forty, then fifty, and sixty. I still kept going. Finally, I finished the whole book. I was thrilled. It was the first time in my life that I’d actually finished a story.

Since that time, I’ve written several more complete books. Every one of those times, I’ve plotted the story before I wrote it. I was afraid to try writing without plotting it first. Years of experience have told me that I couldn’t do it.

When I plot, I don’t go into huge amounts of details. I usually just write one sentence summary of each scene. It all fits onto one page. I know there are about as many differences between plotters as there are between plotters and pantsers. Some people go into huge amounts of details when they’re plotting. Some write it out in paragraph form and can write pages and pages about their story before they ever start writing the actual book. I don’t go into this much detail, but I do have to have something to guide me as I write the book.

I’m still learning and I’m starting to wonder if the reason I wasn’t able to finish those early stories is because I didn’t know what I was doing. Maybe because I didn’t know how to structure the story is the reason that I failed. I’m still not perfect at it, but I am better. I’ve even considered trying again, just to see what happens.

I’ve got a new story running around in my head right now that I’m considering trying it out on. I really want this story to be good though, so I’m a little nervous about doing it. But at least I know that if I get stuck, I can always go back and plot it out later.

What do you think? Have you tried both methods in the past? How did you determine the type of writer you are? Do you have some pearls of wisdom to share about how you plan out your stories? I’d love to hear them. Please leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Weekly Contest!

Welcome to our weekly contest on The Deadly Vixens blog! The winner will receive a free ebook by Aislinn Kerry. The winner will get to choose which book they would like to receive from all of her current ebooks. Thanks again to Aislinn, our guest blogger this week, for offering this great prize.

To enter, just read Gracen's blog post from yesterday and leave a comment.

Be sure to check out Aislinn's site to find the book you're interested in.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 12, 2008. Be sure to check back and see if you have won. If your name is drawn as the winner, you will need to email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com to claim your prize. Include your email address within the email when you claim the prize to ensure delivery. Tell us in the email which book you'd like to receive and which format.

New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one week of drawing.

Best of luck!

The Deadly Vixens

*WARNING* Some books may contain explicit material and are for persons 18 years of age or older. If you are not at least 18, please do not enter the contest, as we have no way of knowing your actual age. By entering this contest, you are accepting these terms and agree that you are at least 18 years of age. Thank you.

Do you Believe in Magic?

Happy Friday to everyone! Today’s blog is going to be short. My son’s 11th birthday is today and I’ve been getting ready for it instead of writing my blog. LOL. I know what was I thinking, right, picking my son over the blog? Well, I can assure you I haven’t been thinking much, but rather running around, doing a lot of housework and making plans. I did squeeze in a little writing yesterday, but the muse wasn’t chatting about the blog. :-( She rarely chats about what I want or need her to chat about.

Well, when I first read this week’s topic the lyrics to “Do You Believe In Magic” kept running through my head. I realize I can be a bit flighty at times and just one word can put strange thoughts into my head—or rather lyrics as the case may be in this instance.

“Do you believe in magic in a young girl's heart
How the music can free her, whenever it starts”

The song was written by John Sebastian for his group, The Lovin’ Spoonful.

“And it's magic, if the music is groovy
It makes you feel happy like an old-time movie”

And while the song isn’t speaking of magic, but rather the power of music to invoke happiness and freedom to both the maker and listener, it was still on repeat in my head after reading Sierra’s blog.

“I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul
But it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll.”

Okay, okay, I know, that’s enough of the lyrics. But, seriously, do you believe in magic? I do. Not the abracadabra type magic though. I need proof before I’m buying that. But I think it would be awesomely cool if we had a Merlin that could do that? Or ????? (insert name for me please) in Harry Potter that could. Please don’t stone me for this confession….*whispers to you all* I have never seen Harry Potter or read the books. YIKES! *ducks rotten tomato thrown at my head*

What I do believe in is the systematic practice of witchcraft like any Christian would practice their religion. Do I believe they can invoke spirits to do their bidding? Probably. Quite likely. But, once again, I see it relative to a Christian praying for assistance.

To you Witches and Christian’s please understand that I mean no offense to any of you. And if you’re insulted by my analogy, I apologize, but this is my thoughts on it. I know very little about witchcraft—mostly only how pop culture has shown it in television shows like Charmed, which I loved by the way…The Power of Three!!!—and a lot about Christianity because I grew up in the church and most of my family consider themselves Christians. I’ve written a book where the main character is a witch and she has the abracadabra type powers. She also mixes potions. But, that’s only imagination, all in my head, just fluff so to speak, and not an ounce of it is real.

So, really, if you want to stone me, please do so because I know so little about magic and witchcraft. And after you get through stoning me, tell me about magic and/or witchcraft because while I may not know much, the topic truly interests me.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend. For me tonight, I’ll have a house full of boys celebrating my son’s 11th birthday. YIKES! *ducks large amounts of testosterone*

Please Welcome Author...Aislinn Kerry

Thank you for taking the time to interview with us. Aislinn’s newest release is All that Glitters, which came out in April 2008.

http://www.aislinnkerry.com

http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/aislinn-kerry

http://loose-id.com/searchresult.aspx?CategoryID=412

http://www.freyasbower.com/content/view/230/102/

1. When/how did you know you wanted to write?

AISLINN: The real defining moment came to me suddenly in eighth grade. I had just finished reading The Sleeping Dragon, by Joel Rosenberg, and I said to myself, "I'm going to write a book like that!" And I did (except that it wasn't at all like that!). For a long time, I thought it was strange how abruptly the urge to write had come to me, like turning a switch. It wasn't until years later that I realized that I'd always enjoyed writing when I had the opportunity to do so in school. My mom still has a story that I wrote in kindergarten about a turtle!

2. How long did it take you to become published?

AISLINN: About eight years. But bear in mind -- I was thirteen when I started! I think part of the reason it took so long is that, when you start that young, it's not just your writing skills that need developing, but also the complexity of your ideas. And there's no way to gain that except through time and experience. The novels that I wrote when I was a young teen were an awful lot of fun, but quite terrible, for all that I thought they were brilliant at the time. I look at what I wrote then, and what I'm writing now, and there's no way I could have even conceived of a plot like this when I was thirteen, much less written it.

I've got no complaints about the way I went about it, though. Being able to write in the margins of my notebook saved my sanity in many a high school class. And while it did take me many years to achieve publication, the flip side of that is that I have three books published, and I'm younger than many writers are when they first start writing at all.

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?

AISLINN: Jacqueline Carey. I just love the richness of her world and the complexity of her plots. C.E. Murphy writes an urban fantasy heroine who kicks butt without being a stereotype, and I adore her Negotiator trilogy. Emma Bull absolutely blew me away with War for the Oaks. She makes me want to learn how to play guitar, just so I can experience what Eddi does when she plays.

4. How long does it usually take for you to research a book?

AISLINN: I write fantasy (both contemporary and secondary world), so my books don't require as much research as, say, historical romance. Usually I weave my researching in with my writing, digging up information as I discover that I need it. The book I'm currently working on, though, is a bit of a departure for me. Its based on biblical mythology and the Book of Enoch, so I spent several weeks researching information in those areas before I felt my premise had developed to something rich and complex enough to begin working on. I can't see spending much more time than that on it, though. I'm a total magpie when it comes to writing. A shiny idea will catch my interest, and I just want to run with it as fast and as far as I can before my inspiration runs out.

5. How long does it take for you to write books?

AISLINN: It depends on the length of the book and how hard the muse has gripped me, but I'm generally a quick writer. All that Glitters is a novella that took me about a month to write. On the other hand, my current project, tentatively titled Egregore, is probably going to end up at about 120,000 words, and I'm looking at about three months for that.

6. Do you see yourself writing in the same genre in 10 years? If not then what?

AISLINN: I can't see myself not writing fantasy, or romance. Ever. Even when I try not to write those genres, they slip in! I finally thought I might have found a romance-free project with Egregore, but nope -- romance snuck in on that one, too.

7. Where do your story ideas come from? Do you use people you know as characters sometimes or even sometimes a certain event from real life happenings?

AISLINN: I've only once intentionally based a character off of a real person in my life, when I modeled a heroine's mom off of my own. Sad to say, my characters' lives are usually much more exciting than mine.

I get a lot of my inspiration from mythology. In All that Glitters, the antagonist is a monster from Welsh folklore. Psyche is a modern-day retelling of the Greek myth of Psyche and Eros. Egregore is inspired heavily by myths about fallen angels. I just love the idea of taking something old and familiar and making it new and different.

8. What is your favorite part of writing?

AISLINN: My absolute favorite part of writing is when my characters step up to the mike and surprise me. I do a lot of plotting and outlining before I start writing, but I love it when my characters take the story into their own hands and start directing me, instead of the other way around. Some of my favorite scenes are the ones that my characters came up with all on their own.

9. Do you write your stories out with pencil and paper first or do you work straight on the computer?

AISLINN: Up until the past two months, I did virtually all of my writing directly onto the computer, and only wrote longhand when I didn't have access to my laptop. 90% of Egregore has been written longhand, though, during my lunch breaks at work. It's definitely been quite a change for me.

10. You just recently were published. How does it make you feel?

AISLINN: It's surreal and amazing. For so many years, the only people who have read my books have been family and friends. The idea that there are complete strangers out there reading and enjoying the stories that have come out of my head is just awe-inspiring.

11. How do you feel about fans doing fan fiction and/or roleplaying on the web based on your or other author's works?

AISLINN: It would probably make my entire week! There have been a handful of books and TV shows that have inspired me so much that I've wanted to write fan fiction based on them, and as far as I'm concerned, if anyone is similarly inspired by my work, they're more than welcome to.

* * * * * *

Disclaimer (because we don't have a choice): The views expressed by the guest blogger do not necessarily reflect those of The Deadly Vixens.

A Poetic Offering

Hi everyone! I'm really sorry, but this week is so hectic for me. As my gift, I'll offer y'all a poem instead of a blog. I know it's not as good as listening to me talk about my opinion on witchcraft and magic, but... *sigh* Maybe in the future I'll revisit the subject. =) Enjoy and let me know what you think of the poem!
----

Viking Maiden

The feminine voice flowed through the speakers
holding a mixture of feelings
to it. Innocence and purity poured through

like a virgin on her wedding night.
Sadness splashed from her voice
like tears falling from tender eyelashes.
Sexiness was like a caress against my eardrums.

Loneliness reached out like a hurting heart.
Her voice held a calling for more
that couldn’t be quenched. Accompanying her

was the hard, pounding beat of drums
like a heart pulsing to survive
and the ripping sound of guitars,
like nails scraping a chalkboard. The combination

seemed odd, but together they held power,
beauty, and anguish.
She lured me into her world like a siren, and told

of a foreign land, tales of love, and sea voyages
of long ago.
It took me back to the time of the Vikings,
and made me experience the Norse saga.

New Winner of Tigress by the Tail

Since I did not hear back from the first winner of Tigress by the Tail, we have a new winner!!!

The new winner is....Phoebe Jordan!!!!!

Congratulations, Phoebe, we hope you enjoy your free e-book.

To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again! Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

Posted by Grace

Winner of Weekly Contest

Congratulations to our winner from Saturday's contest... the winner of a free ebook by Linda Mooney.

The winner is...Molly Daniels.

Congratulations Molly! We hope you enjoy your free ebook.

Don't forget to check out Linda's website to pick out which of her books you'd like to receive.

To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address and your book choice.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again! Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

NEW WINNER OF VOODOO BONES!!!!

Since I did not hear back from the first winner of VOODOO BONES, we have a new winner!!!

The new winner is....Cathy!!!!!

Congratulations, Cathy, we hope you enjoy your free e-book.

To receive your prize, please email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com with your e-mail address.

Thanks for participating in our blog and congratulations again! Don't forget to check back each Saturday for a new contest!

Please note: New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one (1) week from today's drawing.

The Deadly Vixens

Is Magic Real?

I've always believed that magic is possible. Or at least, I've always hoped it was. I have no proof that it exists, but that doesn't mean that it's not real.

I don't know much about witchcraft. I have always been interested in learning more about it though. Do witches really have power to perform magic? I don't know, but it's interesting. I do know that they perform spells for different things. Is this magic? I think it is.

The problem with magic is, that although most people are good, there is always a few that aren't. In any group of people, you have a few bad seeds. I don't care if it's witches, Christians, nurses, or teachers, you always have a few bad people who don't follow the codes that the group as a whole believes in.

Witches have a code (I'm not sure if this is the right word) that they believe in, to harm none. I believe that most of them follow this code and I believe that most of them are good people, but I know there are a few out there that don't follow this principle. As with any group, it is this minority that brings scorn to them as a whole. This is not right, but unfortunately, it seems to be the way the world works. It's like the Catholics that get bad publicity for the few terrible priests that have molested the children in their parish. Most Catholics are good people, but it only takes a few bad ones to make them look bad.

The point of my ramblings is that although most who practice magic are probably good, there are a few out there who are not and practice black magic. You have to take the bad with the good, or do without completely. I'd hate to think that we miss out on all the good things in life because of the bad things. Do we avoid the city because it is more dangerous than the country? Many people do, but at what cost? Do they never see the museums and zoos? Never get to shop in the best malls? What about all the history the big cities have to offer? Do they never get to experience that either? I would personally hate to miss out on everything this world had to offer because of fear.

If magic does exist, I think it's a good thing. I would love to believe there is a place such as Hogwarts. I'd hate to realize there really is a Valdemort, but look at all the wonderful things you'd have to do without. Besides, I'm a firm believer that good wins over evil.

I hope I haven't offended anyone with my thoughts today. If I have, I apologize, that was not my intent. It's my personal belief that we should accept the differences in people. If we were all the same, how boring would that be? I like to learn about different people and cultures. I don't believe there is one right way to live your life. I think everyone should try to be the best that they can be, no matter which way they try to do it or which path their life takes.

What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment and share with me.

Weekly Contest!

Welcome to our weekly contest on The Deadly Vixens blog! The winner will receive a free ebook by Linda Mooney. The winner will get to choose which book they would like to receive from all of her current ebooks. Thanks again to Linda, our guest blogger this week, for offering this great prize.

To enter, just read Gracen's blog post from yesterday and leave a comment.

Be sure to check out Linda's site to find the book you're interested in.

Winners will be announced on Tuesday, August 5, 2008. Be sure to check back and see if you have won. If your name is drawn as the winner, you will need to email us at thedeadlyvixens@yahoo.com to claim your prize. Include your email address within the email when you claim the prize to ensure delivery. Tell us in the email which book you'd like to receive.

New winners will be chosen from the remaining entries if prizes are not claimed within one week of drawing.

Best of luck!

The Deadly Vixens

*WARNING* Some books may contain explicit material and are for persons 18 years of age or older. If you are not at least 18, please do not enter the contest, as we have no way of knowing your actual age. By entering this contest, you are accepting these terms and agree that you are at least 18 years of age. Thank you.

SEX! SEX! SEX! Have I got your attention yet? ;-)

Let’s talk about sex. Yeah, I know, touchy, almost taboo subject. So, go ahead and get the cringing over. I’ll wait. I don’t mind…

*waiting*

*still waiting*

Okay, is everyone finished? Good. So, let’s talk S-E-X. To me, it’s a natural, beautiful act and I personally do not understand why it is such a hush, hush topic. My mother reared me to be open and honest about it, but upon becoming an adult she doesn’t want to talk about it—ever—and would rather pretend it doesn’t exist. She doesn’t want to discuss it in passing, not in jest, and certainly not seriously. This attitude from a woman who embraced the 60s? I am seriously flummoxed and have no clue what happened. But her attitude is similar to many attitudes I find here in the South. I love the South, but at times we’re rather prudish.

So, I ponder the question “why?” Is it because we still don’t understand what we’re doing when we have sex? Do we still feel uncomfortable having sex? Is it just another marital chore that I hear so many women talk about?

Well, for me, it’s none of those. And writing sex scenes comes naturally to me. Sierra and Sarah are right, sex scenes is more than just the mechanics. It should be steamy and brazen and hot. I write sex scenes hoping that the reader is feeling it, living it, as much in the moment as if they are the characters. I want them hot and all bothered after reading one of my scenes. If they’re not…well, then I failed miserably.

I’m not one of those folks that skim through or skip the sex scenes in a book. I have no problem with anyone that does that, but I want the sex in a romance. Sex is important in our own lives with our other halves, so to me it’s important in a romance as well. I just don’t want it on every page. There’s got to be storyline, preferably a riveting storyline. ;-)

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend. Stay safe.