And here it is....

Okay, this comes with the disclaimer from editor. First, it's not finished. Second, by the triscale emblem on the gate, they're putting book 1 of....

And it's not going to be book 1 of the Annwyn Chronicles, because marketing feels we should change it to make it very clear to readers that it's a paranormal. They're hoping to having something with shifter and otherworld in there, but frankly, I suck at titles! :)

So, anyone got any good ideas to replace Annwyn Chronicles as the series title?

Well, without further ado, here it is...he reminds me so much of Bran!!!
Enjoy!

The Cover Art Gods Strike Again...

I JUST got the cover for Velvet Haven and let me tell you, I'm SO happy with it! The guy totally reminds me of Bran!!!
Anyhoo,once I get the okay from my editor, I'll post.
OOoh, just so excited about this!!!

Freebies!!!

Anyone got a hankering for some hot Norman Knights? My friend, writer Karin Tabke has a free read for download over at Simon Schuster. It's a short story in the vein of her Bloodswords series. The third installment of the Bloodswords series, Master of Craving releases next week and it has my fav Bloodsword, Stefan as the hero. So, if Karin is new to you and you'd like to her a try, you can at no cost to you!

Check her out, I think you'll love her!

Karin Tabke free download.Okay, well back to Annwyn where Bran is seriously kicking my butt. Geesh, this guy is the hardest hero I've had to write. Getting to know him is like pulling teeth! Grrrrrrr
Have a good one!

Down To The Wire

Hi everyone!
This is just a quickie post to let you know I'm going down to the depths of writing hell, which is otherwise known as Deadline line time! lol!

If I get any new or interesting tidbits, like cover art, I'll be sure to post them. Other than that I'm going to be MIA for a bit. Gotta get you guys the best book I can!

So, to tide over you faithful hussies, my friend Barbara sent me this heavenly gift!






Mmmmm, me likie.

She knows how I have a thing for Fallen Angels. I even inculded one in Velvet Haven. His name is Suriel, and he's a bad boy....
Thanks, Barabara, I've been casting hussy glances at him ever since he arrived in my inbox. For all the other hussies out there, look, but no touchie. And please, try not to leave drool marks in your wake!!!

See you soon!

Tomorrow's Treat

Just thought I'd dangle this carrot for interested munchers. Tomorrow, May 1st, I'll be over at the Quill and Inkwell (my Charlotte Featherstone blog)giving away a few deets about Sinful and Lord Wallingford.
So if you're interested in that guy, come visit me tomorrow.

In other news, Velvet Haven is FINALLY coming together. Interestingly, I've been writing alot of sexy scenes for it this week. And a creepy scene with the Soul Steeler (he's a bad, bad magician!) I think, (keeping everything crossed) that I'm actually going to meet this deadline! Whoo Hoo!!!

Okay, till tomorrow, hussies! (said affectionately, of course!)

The Muse

So many things can inspire an author. For me, it's mostly just things that pop into my head. I'm not really sure where the ideas come from, there must be some well in my brain that periodically shoots up some strange thought! I never really lack for ideas. If anything,I have too many ideas that cannot rationally be coalesced into one book. This happened with Velvet Haven, which then turned into The Annwyn Chronicles.

For this series, I've been heavily inspired by the darker aspects of my research. I've also been inspired by music. Primarily, the first 60seconds of Loreena McKennitt's The Mystic's Dream. The tone is perfect for the darker aspects of the book, like magick and the sinister side of death and sex magick. In the chronciles we have Celtic shapehsifters and a Celtic goddess who rule in the Otherworld, Annwyn. We have a fallen angel who is creating chaos in the mortal realm and three human friends, who unbeknownest to them, make a sacred trine. One of them is an oracle, who's ability is needed in both Annwyn and the mortal realm. There's a quest for an amulet and a flame, as well as a Soulsteeler who is looking for a new apprentice. This apprentice is a magician who will be seduced by the Dark Arts and will either be able to save, or destroy both worlds. So, lots of conflict and little allegiance. Each side is searching for the amulet and flame for their own purposes.

This one minute of music was so inspiring, that its tone and sensuality, balanced with the dark feel vs. the singer's hauntingly beautiful voice inspired the entire first book, Velvet Haven. It always amazes me how something can do that. I mean, the whole book? But there you have it, pretty much the entire plot, as well as the overarching quest that connects the books.

So, I thought I'd might share the song with you. Here's a link for a youtube video of the song. Keep in mind it was primarlily the first minute of the song that inspired me, but the rest of the song is great, too. It's Loreena McKennitt's, The Mystic's Dream. The video has some wonderful fantasy images in it as well!

On the flip side of Loreena, the other songs I've been playing over and over while writing Velvet Haven are...

Magic Man by Heart
Control by Puddle of Mudd
Away from Me by Puddle of Mudd
Leader of Men by Nickelback
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting by Nickelback
Never Again by Nickelback
Addicted by Saving Abel

Is anybody currently listening to anything? Anything put in the mood?

Getting Steamy With Velvet Haven

So, I've been busy writing the first draft of Velvet Haven (or VH as my my editor and I refer to it) and it's coming along well...finally. It was a bit of a trial to get Bran down. I wasn't sure about him and getting to know him was like pulling teeth. So, I sat down and did a stream of conscience writing. It's this exercise I do when I'm stuck trying to figure out what do with a character. It's a way to get to know him. Basically, I just write whatever the hell comes to mind. I become the character and just blurt out whatever he says or does.

So, I put my head down and started writing. He brought me to Annwyn, to a grove where he was doing a divination ritual. He was aroused by this vision he kept getting, and man, everything just fell into place. That bit of writing has now become the opening pages of VH.

Thankfully, I now have Bran. Interestingly, my heroines are usually the ones who give me a hard time. But Mairi, Bran's heroine has been an open book. Easy to get to know, easy to write and the perfect woman for Bran who is possessive. I Luuuuuuuv posessive males!
I envisioned Mairi looking a bit like Amy Lee from Evanescence.
I'm now at the point in the book where I know both characters well enough to write the sex. And let me tell you, their love scenes are really hot, and very emotional. There's a good connection between them. Lots of emotion and angst, too!

So, that's the update on Velvet Haven. It's coming along and once I get the okay from my editor, I'll sneak you a little bit of one of their steamy scenes, cause I know we got some hussies lurking around this place!

Have a good week. You'll find me back in Annwyn for the remainder of the week.