Spooky Writer's Cave--Lex Valentine

Only spooky because one of Lex's caves (she has two--one at work and one at home), is by a cemetery, as you'll see why in her bio.

At her work cave, Lex pounds out about 700 words every lunch hour. The other cave is a corner of the master bedroom.

Lex has been writing ever since she could hold a pencil. She got into blogging and online serial stories a few years ago. The snippets she posted on her personal blog Sunlight Sucks drew the attention of author Jennifer Leeland who encouraged her to submit her writing to publishers. That led to her first contract in October 2008. Lex is now an award winning, multi-published PAN author who lives in Southern California with her daughter Nikki and a younger man - her long-haired, tattooed significant other, Rott. She loves loud rock music, builds her own computers, and has a propensity for having very weird vivid dreams about Nikki Sixx. Lex works full-time at a cemetery as the network administrator and has a love of all things techie.


Rock My World is Lex's Ellora's Cave contemporary novella. Release date is TBA.

Rock star Gia Santora is at the height of her career and tired of life on the road. At thirty-seven, she’s ready for more than a string of one-night stands. However, a frightening brush with a psychotic stalker three years before has her running scared. When she meets her sexy, young opening act, he pushes all her buttons, sexually and emotionally. Sin Carstens is twenty-nine and rock’s hottest new ticket. But he’s got priorities other than music, and one of them is Gia. Sin wants a relationship with the commitment-shy singer and he’s willing to do anything to have her. Then, Gia’s stalker is released from prison and their lives take a sinister turn. To protect Sin, Gia sends him away, but breaks her own heart in the process. It’s a battle of wills and guitars as Sin fights Gia’s fears in an effort to win himself the sexiest woman he’s ever known and prove to her that he can rock her world.

Common Ground - Tales of the Darkworld Book 5
Buy Link - http://pinkpetalbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=71



Werewolf Sair McCallan escapes the confines of her brother’s pack with the help of a mated werewolf couple who believe in open sexuality and relationships. With Weylyn and Keir Randall, Sair experiences freedom in all things for the first time in her life. When she meets her mate, she’s shocked to find he’s a boring, broody vampire. Uptight Marius Granville has his staid and orderly life completely shattered by the arrival of his bloodmate, a beautiful werewolf who steals his heart and expects him to join in her kinky play with the Randalls. Marius is forced out of his hum drum existence and opens himself to new sexual experiences to please Sair. As her new mate strives to give her everything she needs, Sair battles internal demons that threaten their fragile new relationship.


Check out her websites: http://www.lexvalentine.com/

http://www.sunlightsucks.com/

http://talesofthedarkworld.com/

The Frog Pond Writers Cave

Helen Woodall lives in Melbourne, Australia and is an editor for Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc. She edits for all lines and has quite a number of authors (frogs) in her pond. As a frogpond/EC author, I’ve learned some interesting idioms and colloquialisms between American English and Australian English. Translating edits and emails can be interesting and comical at times considering we write erotic romance. Sometimes she says, Huh? And sometimes I say, Huh? I remember one edit included the Australian term for unlocking a door that had me stumped for quite some time. Overall, I think Helen is helping me become a better writer.

Helen is fond of nature, most especially frogs. I also think her favorite place to vacation is a beach at the ocean—mine too! Her quote about frogs:

“Frogs are the most threatened group of animals on Earth. Frogs are bioindicators—dying frogs means endangered environment.”

Frogs follow her everywhere she goes. They must magically appear and multiply because new ones arrive constantly. They line her bookshelves, windowsills and desk. When she travels, frogs must accompany her. You can always tell an EC author who is a frog (one of Helen’s authors) because she will be wearing a frog pin.

Last year Helen came to RomantiCon, Ellora’s Cave convention in Richfield, Ohio and brought along many gifts and tasty treats to try. We tried Vegemite—a health food spread we put on baguette bread slices. Not bad, a bit salty, malty flavor with lots of B vitamins. The Tim Tams, a chocolate treat were yummy! The mini stuffed koala bear is in my office at work, and the pretty painted rock I keep at my writing desk and is use as a paper weight and for good luck.

This year at RomantiCon, October 7-10, 2010, Helen will again be joining us. You’ll know who she is by the frogs who are following her.

Writers Caves for Michelle Pillow

Ellora's Cave Author: Michelle Pillow's Cave

Michelle M Pillow, Author of All Things Romance, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. She was the winner of the 2006 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, nominated for the 2007 RT Award, a Brava Novella Contest Finalist and a PAN member of RWA.

She has a monthly interview column with Paranormal Underground Magazine and co-hosts a live radio talk show, Raven Radio, which was recently mentioned in Romantic Times BOOKreviews Magazine.

Readers and Listeners can contact her through her website www.michellepillow.com.

Annabelle

Annabelle sometimes hangs out in Michelle's office, mostly snoring while the author is at work.



Taking Karre, Book 4 in the Divinity Warriors series



Got to love the cover and blurb:



BLURB:
Sir Vidar of Spearhead is too busy guarding the borderlands to bother with the headache of selecting a bride. Ordered to marry by the king, he plans to grab a woman and get back to the warfront, never to think of it again. That is until he meets the alluring Lady Karre with her teasing eyes, lush lips and irresistible ways.

Known by many names, inter-dimensional thief Karre, has only one purpose—take down the company that ruined her life. When her luck runs out and she’s caught, Divinity Corporation condemns her to matrimony on a primitive, warrior-filled plane where Karre soon discovers there are worse fates than being the sexual prisoner to a man with insatiable carnal appetites.
Before long, days and nights filled with a surfeit of sexual bliss becomes something neither expected, and when Karre is taken, Vidar is forced to confront emotions a battle-hardened warrior never expected to feel.

http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-7422-139-taking-karre.aspx



Michelle has a cool website. Lots of fun stuff to check out:

http://www.michellepillow.com/biography.htm

Writers Cave for Debra Glass

The next Writers Cave of the Ellora's Cave authors is Debra Glass

Growing up in the south where the air is thick with stories steeped in legend and truth, Debra came by her love of romance novels honestly. Well…sort of. At an early age, she pilfered from her grandmother’s extensive library and has been a fan of the genre since.

A full time freelance writer, Debra especially enjoys combining history, mystery and a touch of taboo to weave stories with unforgettable, haunted heroes.

She lives in Alabama with her sexy real life hero, a couple of smart-aleck ghosts and a diabolical black cat.

Her sexy historical Badcock, was recently released at Ellora's Cave

Here's the blurb: When her fiancé trades her for an heirloom ring to a dashing highwayman who holds up their coach on a desolate country road, Sophia Astley is hurt and shocked. However, it soon becomes strikingly apparent to Sophia that she is the true gem Bad Jack sought. Intrigued, she willingly submits to every tantalizing taboo he metes out to her.

Dressed as a masked highwayman, Jack Badcock, Earl of Stafford, thinks he is acting out the fantasies of a woman he knows only through lurid letters. As Jack tames her with blindfolds, sensual spankings and an array of torrid toys, she plays her role as the abducted, submissive virgin convincingly—too convincingly. By the time Jack uncovers his fantasy lover’s true identity, it’s far, far too late.

To find out more about Debra and her books or to contact her:

Email: DebraLGlass@gmail.comWebsite: http://www.debraglass.webs.com/

Writers Caves of Ellora’s Cave Authors and Editors

Writers need their space to dream, plan, and even hibernate to produce those wonderful stories. Whether it’s a small converted closet, a corner of a bedroom, an attic, a kitchen counter, the dining room table (me) or a spacious office, writers need their writers cave to hide away for the creative mind to take flight.

I remember years ago, Ray Bradbury had a TV show and it opened with him in his attic writing room. An old typewriter was in the middle of a huge cluttered desk, surrounding him were stacks of books and unusual objects, things that would spark ideas. He’s one of my favorite authors and he always inspired me—his writing and that image of how writers write.

I’ll be sharing photos of Ellora’s Cave authors and editors and their Writers Cave over the next several weeks and talking a little about each author.

Jan Springer's Writers Cave

Jan Springer

Jan Springer lives in Ontario, Canada. She writes erotic romances on her four acres of secluded forest tucked away in Minden Hills cottage country. She enjoys gardening, hiking, reading and writing. Jan is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Passionate Ink and the Authors Guild.
You can find her books at http://www.janspringer.com/. Happy Reading!

Nice Girl Naughty by Jan Springer at Ellora's Cave

Blind since nineteen, Summer has blossomed into a famous wood carver, her talented hands giving life to erotic art. When her own life is nearly taken by a serial killer, she finds herself suddenly whisked to a secluded wilderness cabin by sexy bodyguard Nick.

Summer can’t get enough of touching Nick’s thick, powerful muscles and all those other hard, yummy male body parts. It doesn’t take long before the cabin’s every surface—horizontal or vertical—is marked by their scorching lovemaking.

For years Nick has stayed away from nice girl Summer. Now he’s back, and sweeping his gorgeous redhead into the naughty, erotic sex-fest they’ve been craving for years. With passion blinding him, Nick doesn’t realize their hideout isn’t safe—until it’s too late.

Plot Party and Brainstorming

Well, not this kind of party.

This past weekend Pocono Lehigh Romance Writers had their annual Plot Party at one of the member’s homes—Diane Sismour. The drive to her house was over miles of rolling hills and beautiful open Pennsylvania farmland. Upstairs in a gorgeously remodeled carriage house, eight of us ate salads, quiche, and snacks and drank tea and coffee while we discussed our current books or asked for help on plotting new ones.

Colm Toibin

We selected names and each person got their chance to ask questions or discuss their book. I had questions on the final book in my series, wanting to make sure all my plot points sounded solid, and that my story had no plot holes. I also wanted to brainstorm my black moment and tweak it. I knew the ending, just wanted some ideas on the best way to get there.

Others wanted help with goals for their characters, or felt their story wasn’t working or was stalled and wanted to know why. Another writer had a basic idea and premise for a new story and wanted help brainstorming it to get her jump started. With everyone throwing ideas out, I discovered we all have different strengths. Even if an idea won’t work, that idea can open up a new perspective or an alternate possibility for the story.

David Starkey

Plotting groups are different than critique groups. A plot group can discuss or hash out specific plot elements, goals, motivations and conflicts of characters, or brainstorm scenes or turning points. Plot holes are found and repaired, new life is infused into a dying story and enthusiasm sparked when writers have lost direction.

Haworth Parsonage -Bronte sister writing room

Creative energy feeds off itself and new ideas are considered as others are discarded. The plot group should be arranged as a brainstorming session and not a critique. Critiquing can come at another time. Just get the ideas flowing and write them down or tape them. It’s also a good idea to have a timekeeper so each person has a set amount of time, so the session doesn’t go on too long and the group gets tired.

Kevin Crossley-Holland

And plan for food and drink, probably not alcohol, to keep your minds sharp. To save time it’s a good idea to come with the outline of your story, a list of questions of what you need help with or a basic idea or premise for the story you want brainstormed.

This morning I was up at 5:00 am reworking two synopses on two novels I’m writing at the same time. Even though I only discussed one book at the plot party, the group gave me fresh ideas for both stories.

Alissa Nielsen

After the Plot Party where is your writing space? I posted a few photos of authors' writing spaces, from the spacious, to the cluttered, to the cramped. I couldn't imagine working inside a closet. Where do you write? What would be your dream writer's space? I write on the dining room table, but I have my eye on a spare bedroom as soon as we get a large enough desk.

UFO or Hoax

On July 3th my husband and I were hanging out on our pool deck at about 10:30 pm. He was reading a book and I was on my computer. He looked up from his book and pointed to three or four red lights in the Northwest sky moving in a line toward the Northeast. Believe it or not, I had been Googling ‘UFOs—metal spheres with spiny projections’ (but that’s another story). And my husband was reading The Shimmer by David Morrell. This book is in line with Roswell with mysterious lights and an isolated research facility.

I shrugged and said, “They’re planes. ABE (Lehigh Valley International Airport) must be busy with flights for the holiday weekend.”

“Now look. And I don’t hear any planes. We usually hear them,” he argued.

I looked up and there were at least twenty of them. Some were in clusters and others in a line. They continued to move across the sky, and more came. “What are they?”

“Don’t know. They’re not planes.”

I ran inside and grabbed the camera.

A neighbor came out and he was checking out the red lights. He was stumped too.

[The photos didn't come out well but you can see faint dots of light above and to the right of my husband in the white tee-shirt]

The light show lasted about twenty minutes, and there were around 50 of them. I searched “red lights in the sky” on Google and found several instances—one in New Jersey six months ago that was never explained and also an incident in Ohio. One suggested it being a hoax, a prank. I know it wasn’t fireworks. They seemed to be moving about the speed of a small plane or helicopter. BUT, if someone wanted to do a prank, how would they do this? Searching around on the Internet I found one possibility which seems most logical for what we saw.

Tying red flares to small helium balloons and releasing them could work. Hopefully, the flares wouldn’t land and set anything on fire. But I guess the flares would go out before they landed. But if someone launched 50 of the fake UFOs, they would have to land sometime and someone would find the remains. Wouldn’t they? As much as I would like for them to be real UFOs, most likely this was a holiday prank.

[This photo I tried to inlarge a bit. I also tried a different setting (longer exposure) that's why you see the double image. I was probably shaking the camera.]

My husband was going to play a joke on my neighbor and make a foil hat to wear at the pool today. I shook my head. What is it with the foil hats? Don’t people know that if there are really extraterrestrials, their technology for probing minds would be advanced enough NOT to be stopped by mere foil hats?
My husband leaned back in his lawn chair and said, “You have to use Heavy Duty foil.”