Talking Sex. Is Your Kink Out of Sync? #Erotic #BDSM

I’m reading a really hot BDSM novel where the heroine is discovering her desire for BDSM. The conflict in her relationship is intense. She likes to feel pain, to be spanked. Bondage excites her too. She wants her lover to make her feel the hurt to heighten her senses, break down the barriers, otherwise she doesn't feel the pleasure. Vanilla sex is boring.

Expressing these kinky desires to her lover is a risk, but she’s brave and she decides to tell him what she wants and needs. Her confession turns their relationship into a nightmare.

At first, she’s embarrassed and ashamed by these feelings because her current boyfriend thinks anyone into that stuff is sick. He thinks she has emotional problems. Friends and family, unaware of her troubles, tell her how lucky she is to be with the current guy who happens to be wealthy, but is a total jerk. Ignoring her attempt to reach out to him and express her sexual desires, he bullies her instead. He criticizes her, tells her she’d essentially be nothing without him.

She's working for one of his clients and arranges to get her fired. She doesn't need to work if they’re going to be married, he says. Her friends and family tell her he’s so generous. They don’t get he has taken away her chance to be self-sufficient. He doesn't abuse her physically, his abuse is psychological. Fortunately, this woman meets another man who recognizes her submissive nature and makes her see the confident, beautiful, self-sufficient woman she is.

This Dom helps her explore her sexual desires without guilt or shame. Helps her find a job and a friend of his helps her find a place to live.

When your kink isn’t my kink

This story got me to think about what couples would do when one partner’s sexual interests evolve to a more kinky adventurous side while the other doesn't doesn't change and is even resistant to change. If the couple is just dating, they may not go further into the relationship and end it. But what if the couple has been married for a while?

This is my opinion and I’m not a therapist, but I believe an individual’s sexuality evolves, changes and is shaped over the years. Many factors affect those changes like life experiences, number of lovers, social and cultural backgrounds, environmental, etc.

Loving communication, patience, a sense of humor and perhaps a sense of adventure are characteristics that would benefits couples struggling with a paradigm shift in their sexual relationship.

Try introducing small changes in the bedroom. Go at the pace of the most hesitant one, as long as both are trying to make changes.

If that fails, a good sex therapist is a good idea.

Steel Reflections is the title of a short story accepted by Cleis Press for a BDSM anthology that has a similar theme. The heroine goes to a BDSM club for a session with a Dom, at the suggestion of her boyfriend. She’s a submissive, he’s vanilla. They’re both hoping the session will get these fantasies out of her system. But will they? And what will this do to her relationship?

I plan to write more on this theme since I do like the struggle and conflicts it causes between characters.

#

FREE Until February 2^nd DESERT OF THE DAMNED

Hit #1 on the Amazon FREE Best Seller List

 

AMAZON      Barnes and Noble    Ellora’s Cave

FREE Demon Sex #eBook #eroticromance #Kindle

Demons need love too! 

Demons, shapeshifters, hunky bad boy demon on a Harley, an immortal and mortal war and a love triangle. If you haven’t had a chance to check out Damned and Desired, you'll find all those things.
FREE Demon Sex? Well, in eBooks. It’s FREE on Amazon, Barns and Noble and a few other vendors from January 20-February 2. Watch for the BookBub ad on the 21st.

There are lots of FREE reads out there, but it you’re looking for an erotic paranormal from Ellora’s Cave, I hope you’ll check this one out. (A blurb and excerpt is below.) Book 2, BTW, Damned and Desired was an EPIC Award finalist and Book 3, Damned and Defiant is one of my favorite books because Dante, the bad boy demon, really meets his match and if he manages NOT to destroy two worlds, he might find true love. 

BLURB for Desert of the Damned: Demons in Exile, Book One. One woman caught in a war between worlds and torn between the love of two men-immortal demon and mortal shapeshifter.

Dante Akanto lures research scientist Amy Weston into the desert to explore the dark side of her passions, pleasuring her in erotic ways she never thought possible with his bizarre sex games. And park ranger Jake Montag has a compelling mysticism and powerful sensuality that's HOT and impossible to resist.But the two men, demon and shapeshifter, are engaged in a supernatural fight between worlds. Amy and her high level of life force energy is the key. Dante's world and his immortality depend on claiming her as his own. The choice Amy makes between the two men will affect both her world and her future.Reader Advisory: Contains  scorching scenes of bondage.

EXCERPT: The smell of smoke drew Amy Weston out of a deep sleep. As her mind fought through her grogginess, she stared at the orange shadows flickering across her stucco walls. The waving colors nearly hypnotized her back to sleep then logic shook her fully awake.

Fire.

She bolted upright in bed.

From the window on the opposite wall she could see that the fire was outside. A chorus of toads and crickets sang their night song as the desert breeze stirred her sheer curtains. She rubbed sleep from her eyes and inhaled deeply.

Not dreaming.

Hopping out of bed, she rushed to the window and peered out. The glow of a campfire shone behind the saguaro cactus and the mesquite bushes about fifty yards from her house.

The silhouette of a man stood beside the fire. Dante Akando was summoning her.

The digital clock read twelve a.m. The hour. She groaned as if complaining but between her legs the throb of her pussy gave away her desire. Thanks to all the subtle teasing at work and impromptu meetings in Dante’s office, where he’d described raw details of his sex games, her body hummed in anticipation.

He was good—very good—impossible to resist. And he was just what she needed right now—a man who had a taste for adventurous sex and was eager to explore the dark side of her passions. Like her, Dante didn’t want any emotional ties. She had been intrigued by his looks the day she was forced to transfer to the new division of Drake Diagnostic Labs and, since she didn’t plan to stay long, having a brief affair with her boss didn’t seem like a problem. The sexual chemistry had been immediate and bone deep. How could she say no? Someday she would find someone special and consider a more permanent arrangement but for the moment, she didn’t need the hassles.

As much as her body ached for Dante, she should resist him. She had to get up for work early and she was exhausted. Did she dare ignore his campfire call and curl back in her comfortable bed? Her hand reached beneath her silk chemise and slid over her breasts. Her nipples were raw and erect, sensitive to the touch. She squeezed them and imagined Dante’s hands on her then glided her hand down her flat belly, over the curly hair and patted her bud. In moments it was swollen and throbbing, aching for more. Oh, she wanted him all right. Damn him. I’ll never get back to sleep now.

What was the use? The dancing lights on her bedroom walls grew brighter, signaling his impatience.

Tugging the thin chemise over her head, she tossed it on the floor, then yanked the Indian blanket from her bed. Why did he affect her this way? She walked back to the window but there was no sign of him—only the silhouettes of the saguaro cactus with its outstretched arms. Stepping into moccasins, she grabbed a flashlight, then strode out of her house.

The night air was cool and she pulled the red, black and orange blanket tightly around her. Dante had bought it for her at the flea market, not the trading post, so it probably was a Mexican blanket and not Indian but it was beautiful just the same and a thoughtful gift. Still, it was a puzzling gift considering Dante Akando said he was part Navajo. She would’ve thought he would only buy native crafts. As she followed the path off her property onto open land, the light of her flashlight and the campfire lit her way. The sky was dark, millions of brilliant stars glittered like shards of crystal. Stepping around scrub pines and clumps of prickly pear cactus, she approached a large mesquite bush. On the other side of the spiny tree the campfire blazed.

Another Indian blanket lay beside the fire. Dante was nowhere around. But she knew he had to be close, watching her.

“Dante? I’m here.” She pulled her blanket up to her chin. A breeze swirled around her and under, teasing her moist pussy. She felt a growing heat and moisture between her legs. Where was he? Every nerve simmered with anticipation. “Dante, come on. I’m here. We have to work tomorrow. I can’t stay long.”

She wasn’t afraid of the desert night. He said the fire would keep her safe from the night creatures. Recalling his game of seduction, she dropped her covering and stretched out naked on the blanket, her body raw, exposed, vulnerable.

The flames crackled and sent sprays of sparks into the air. Peering into the dark shadows surrounding the campfire, Amy tried to spot her mysterious lover but saw no sign of him. She was supposed to wait.

As she closed her eyes, a shiver that was a slightly panicked feeling mixed with desire rippled through her body. Ignoring his instructions, she opened her eyes again and scanned the area. Still no Dante.

Only a cool breeze brushed over her skin, tightening her nipples to hard points. As she stared into the fire, her vision blurred. How long had she been there? She chuckled to herself. What if she fell asleep when Dante returned? How would he react? She suspected his ego wouldn’t handle that well. Was this a test to see how long she’d wait? Well, she wouldn’t wait for much longer. Damn, she forgot her watch. She had no idea how long she’d been out there.

Sighing heavily with impatience, she decided to go against his game and move. She stroked her breasts, drawing circles around her nipple with her fingertip. Maybe she could entice him. Her body sizzled with need, wanting his touch. He had promised to meet her. She wanted him on top of her now. She slid her hand across her breasts and squeezed each mound. Damn him, where was he?

The turpentine scent of the mesquite bushes and pungent earth drifted on the breeze. Her fingers pinched her nipples until they were sensitive and erect, then she slid her hand down across her stomach to her mound. She spread her folds, dipping one finger inside for a moment, then rubbed her bud until it swelled. She sucked in a breath.

“Mmmm. That looks nice,” said a husky voice behind the massive saguaro cactus.

The other two books in the series:

Damned and Desired    Amazon   BN

Damned and Defiant     Amazon   BN

Demons, Shapeshifters and a Little Alternative Universe #BDSM

Demons and shapeshifters in my Demons in Exile series will be partying it up on New Year’s Eve this week. These demons are unlike the average demon. Bad enough to be exiled from their home planet and now bad enough to possibly cause the destruction of another world—Earth. They're hot, sexy and insatiable.

Shapeshifters and mortals on Earth are seduced by their lustful ways. Their means of survival is by collecting the lifeforce energy of mortals through sex. And throughout the three-book series, they get in all kinds of trouble and develop love triangles out of this world--literally.

The presence of their alternative world is so close to Earth, it's disrupting Earth’s physical stability. One world will be destroyed if something isn’t done. Can the love between enemies, mortal and immortal, stop the destruction? 

How are the demons trained to collect this lifeforce energy? Their training is conducted by a Disciplinarian who uses a bit of SM (Sadomasochism) to educate the drone demons. Very hot and sexy to ‘watch’. They can participate in sex, cause their partner to achieve orgasm, but cannot indulge in that pleasure themselves. If they do, they’ll kill their quarry and lose all the energy they collected. Their world needs this energy to survive. 

What did the demons do that was so terrible that they were exiled from their home planet? That prequel story will be told in a future release: RISKY PLEASURES soon to be released at Ellora’s Cave. Release date: TBA.

Why are they partying? Besides New Year's Eve, Dante, the bad boy demon and favorite of this series, will see his book: DAMNED AND DEFIANT in print at Ellora’s Cave on 12/31/13.

Here's the series outline:

 

RISKY PLEASURES (coming soon to Ellora’s Cave) Blurb: Sakari’s desire burns deep for the hot and erotic moments Zorian provides in his private chambers. But to get him there alone, she must risk her immortal life and the wrath of the demoness. Sexual pleasures among demon drones are strictly forbidden, and she has defied the demoness by returning to Anartia without her offering. As a skilled Disciplinarian, Zorian will do whatever it takes to train her as a proper drone by testing her sexual limits before they can indulge their own wicked urges. Sakari’s darkest secret will be their greatest risk and test of their love.

 

DESERT OF THE DAMNED –Blurb: While working on an environmental project in the Arizona desert, research scientist Amy Weston finds herself caught in the war between two men. Dante Akanto lures her into the desert to explore the dark side of her passions, pleasuring her in erotic ways she never thought possible with his bizarre sex games. And park ranger Jake Montag has a compelling mysticism and powerful sensuality that's HOT and impossible to resist. But the two men, demon and shapeshifter, are engaged in a supernatural fight between worlds. Amy and her high level of life force energy is the key. Dante's world and his immortality depend on claiming her as his own. The choice Amy makes between the two men will affect both her world and her future. Reader Advisory: Contains scorching scenes of bondage. Publisher Note: This book is loosely based on a short story previously published elsewhere.

 

DAMNED AND DESIRED –Blurb: 2011 EPIC Award Finalist. Stand-alone sequel to Desert of the Damned. She's a demon, he's a shapeshifting leopard. From their first meeting in the Arizona desert, passion ignites and trouble begins. As a demon, Sakari Lock must harvest lifeforce energy through sexual seductions to sustain her exiled world. But when Sakari meets Brad, she breaks the number one rule of Anartia--don't get personal with your quarry.Physician's assistant Brad Montag is drawn to Sakari's lustful advances with a blazing desire he can't explain, unaware of how dangerous she is. No matter how enticing, she's a complication he doesn't need until he can conquer his past and regain control of his shapeshifting abilities. Sex this wicked and good can only lead to disaster.When immortals from an alternate dimension try to free their exiled world, Brad is caught in the middle of a battle that could destroy not only him, but the land he loves.Reader Advisory: This book offers a bit of bondage for your BDSM pleasure, as well as secondary characters getting down with a little M/M/F fun of their own.

 

DAMNED AND DEFIANT –Blurb: Though a stand-alone story, we suggest reading in sequence to fully enjoy. Mortal women surrender to Dante’s seductions. He is a Drone, an immortal who feeds off their lifeforce energy—the chi that keeps his kind alive. When his dimension is on the edge of destruction, Dante must seek the help of one special woman.Haley Moore is a Sha Warrior—a mortal with excess lifeforce. She’s always been drawn to Dante. When they meet again he thinks luck is on his side—his quota of chi energy would be obtained after one scorching scene with this mortal. The problem is that he is overwhelmingly attracted to her and once with this woman won’t be enough.

Haley tries to draw out the man buried deep within the demon. Their fierce, undeniable passion unravels his plans and threatens her life. But Dante is destined to leave Earth forever. He must choose whether to return to Prygos or give up his immortality and share his future with Haley.

PRINT book release for DAMNED AND DEFIANT on 12/31/13!!!

Excerpt: The skinwalker—part man, part coyote—shifted into his human form as he gazed upon the young woman, his quarry. She removed her clothes and dropped them onto the cool, desert sand. She gave him a lustful glance as if she was the one controlling the seduction. “Nice trick with the coyote. Are you a magician?” Her words were slurred. But the trance hadn’t taken hold.

“Something like that,” he answered. He felt a flush of heat on his face. How the hell was she still aware? Something wasn’t right. This Kithra was different than the others, and he wasn’t sure why. He slid his hands over her arms and sparks skidded across her skin.

“I love the desert at night,” she added as her eyelids flickered. The air around her body crackled with electricity, her short, blonde hair stood out from the static. Not his usual choice for Kithras. He preferred ones with long, dark hair like the Drones from Prygos. It had to be her level of energy that drew him to this one.

“Yes,” he murmured, then waved his hand over her face, deepening the trance with little effort. He extended a finger and ran it down the side of her cheek, her neck, between her small breasts and cut diagonally across her flat stomach to her narrow hips. When his finger skimmed close to her pubic area she shivered and moaned. She was a slight creature with an athletic build. He preferred his Kithra to have a few more curves but she would provide adequate chi for his needs. Pointing to the blanket, he smiled when she complied and stretched out on it, her arms and legs spread.

Dante Akanto gave her a knowing smile, stepped back and paced around the naked woman. He watched her hands slide over her breasts and rub her pussy. “Fuck me, Dante.” She writhed on the Navajo blanket, deep in the sexual trance, almost ready for the offering. A rush of hot, sexual sensations surged through him and his cock hardened. No! He had to fight his urges or he’d risk killing her during the collection.

Beside her, a campfire blazed, keeping away the night creatures of the Arizona desert. She moaned, teasing him with her sultry movements and her scent. The look she gave him made him ache with a desperate hunger. The woman’s sexual appetite could yank her out of the trance if he wasn’t careful. Dante swirled the energy field around her, easing her deeper into his spell. Her eyes glazed over.

Better. Finally, this Kithra was becoming receptive to his influences. Her energy level was high and hard to manage. Probably a Sha Warrior. Lucky for him to pick a mortal with so much lifeforce. He’d meet his quota after this collection. Moving over to his Harley, he removed the rest of his clothes, cowboy boots, leather pants and hung them over his bike.

Naked and fully aroused, he stood over her and stroked his cock. The woman was quite beautiful. Was she purposefully downplaying her appearance by wearing worn jeans and a baggy T-shirt? What struck Dante the most was her eyes. Large and golden brown, they shone with intelligence, but also appeared dark with despair. Like a polished jewel that had lost its sparkle. He sensed a toughness within her, a fear maybe, brought on by a life of tragedy or loss.

Don’t get personal with your quarry.

He’d seen her walking along the highway alone. Young, attractive, fearless and carrying a backpack. A traveler? Homeless? He didn’t know. She was the perfect Kithra or quarry. She accepted his offer for a ride, with a little telepathic influence on his part, and he’d driven her out into the desert. No one would see them here.

She’d laughed when he’d swung the bike off the road, heading into open desert. While he made a campfire, she’d taken his Navajo blanket from the saddlebag and spread it out by the fire. Now naked and in trance, he craved to take her as a mortal man would take a mortal woman, but he couldn’t. She didn’t need to be naked for the collection. And tonight it was making his task more difficult.

Dante had to make his quota of human lifeforce energy to the demoness of Anartia. The immortals needed his offering to maintain their world. If he failed, he’d be replaced—destroyed—by Gwyllain, or her consort Tarik, the rulers of Anartia.

The woman watched him with hunger and lust in her eyes. The need to climax was great. His cock ached. But he’d have to wait until the offering. Stay in control. The more he teased and prolonged her orgasm, the better the harvest of chi.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!!! 

May 2014 be the best ever. Wishing you all good things for you in the new year. Thank you for your kind support and being a part of my writing dream.

Damned and Defiant: Out Now!!

Release day today! Damned and Defiant at Ellora's Cave

 

Shapeshifting demons with seductive powers and one hunky demon who is torn between two worlds-mortal and immortal and the forbidden love of a mortal woman.

Three women have their sites on Dante Akanto and for various reasons: Haley Moore, a mortal woman who is trying to draw the man out of the demon and make him stay on Earth. Of course he must give up immortality and leave his world forever. Natessa, a Drone from Anartia with the power to shapeshift into a wolf. She's a seductress and the most dangerous demons want her. But she has her eyes on Dante for a specific reason. To help her with a treasonous act. And Gwyllain, the most evil of all the demons and ruler of Anartia. She wants Dante to be her consort and commit one tiny deed: murder her husband, the ruler of planet Prygos, once they're free from exile.

From the series: Demons in Exile

Dante has made quite a journey though these three books Desert of the Damned and Damned and Desired. He's faced with his biggest challenge in the third book and has to make his toughest decision.

Once you read the book, let me know which of the three women/demons (Haley, Natessa, or Gwyllain) is the one standing behind Dante on the book cover.

Keep watch here and on my website: www.kathykulig.com for Blog tour dates and locations. I'm giving away lots of prizes including an eBook download at every blog stop, two $20 Gift Certificates from either Amazon/BN/or Ellora's Cave, winner's choice and a Cool tote bag of HOT books including Desert of the Damned, Desert of the Damned, Dial B for Bondage Anthology and Something Wicked This Way Comes, Vol. 1 Anthology. (See photo for picture of tote bag.)

Blog Tour Coming soon:
http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/08/virtual-book-tour-damned-and-defiant-by.html

September 10: Blisse Blog
September 17: Bodice Ripper Novels
September 24: Books & Other Spells
October 1: The Bunny's Review
October 8: Romance with an Attitude
October 8: REVIEW ONLY Reviews by Molly
October 15: TBQ's Book Palace
October 22: Long and Short Reviews: Erotic Romance Guests
October 29: Ramblings From This Chick

 

Lex Valentine has a new book Mating out today too. Check out her interview tomorrow.

Road Trip--RomantiCon

RomantiCon is just days away. October 7-10th https://www.jasminejade.com/romanticon/index.html
I’m packed—sort of—I have way too many shoes, but what the heck. A 1920’s flapper dress? Yep. Yeah, well that’s the theme party for Friday night. Should be fun, but I can’t do the Charleston to save my life. Promo material is boxed up and directions for the 7 hour drive are printed. I also went over my lecture notes. I’m giving a workshop on Screenwriting Tools for Building a Novel on Saturday afternoon.

I really look forward to these conferences and especially meeting with the authors and readers I chat with on the loops. Seeing the Ellora’s Cave staff is a treat too. They’re a great group of people who work so hard and are so good to their authors. I don’t know how they manage to do all they do. My editor Helen Woodall will be coming out from Australia—a 30 hour flight for her. Yikes! Just the thought makes me tired. But I’m so glad she can make it. She’s such a sweet and supportive lady, not to mention a fabulous editor.

Cris Anson will again be traveling with me—Thank God. Someone to help navigate and keep me company. We can brainstorm a book or two on the way. http://www.crisanson.com/

EC authors: Cris Anson & Kathleen Coddington

Ellora’s Cave is celebrating their ten year anniversary. Wow. Hard to imagine it’s been that long already. I’ve only been with them for three years but they’ve grown quite a bit. EC has a cool blog run by the editors if you haven’t checked it out, you should. http://redlinesanddeadlines.blogspot.com/
Another EC blog worth perusing http://sextalkforwickedwomen.blogspot.com/

So, if you’re going to RomantiCon, please look me up and say hi! If not, try to go next year. It’s really worth going. I’ll be signing Desert of the Damned and Damned and Desired and also cover flats of Dragon Witch.

See you there.

Summertime HOT Reads

Head for the beach, the pool or a cool spot on your porch, grab a tall glass of iced tea and something hot to read. Whether you prefer your Nook, Kindle or a paperback there are lots of great books out there. Check out Romantic Times Magazine for some ideas or peruse Ellora’s Cave for all their sexy titles.

*Please share what you're reading this summer and don't forget to check out the CONTEST at the end of this post.

If you like sexy paranormal romance, hunky guy pics, interviews and reviews there's a cool site called Bitten by Paranormal Romance. They'll be posting a review and interview for Damned and Desired soon. So stay tuned. As you stack up your summer to be read pile, I hope you’ll consider my books:


DESERT OF THE DAMNED
Book One in the Demons in Exiled series from Ellora’s Cave
Available in print and ebook at Ellora’s Cave and Amazon


In the Arizona desert, while exploring the dark side of her passion, a woman is torn between two men, but discovers she’s caught in the middle of a war between demon and shapeshifter. And one is an ancient evil intent on possessing her soul.

“This is a hotly erotic tale of skin walkers, shape shifters, old legends, and new desires.”
~5 Stars, Bitten by Books

“...the steamy sex scenes will leave you panting for more.” ~ 4 Stars, Romantic Times Magazine





DAMNED AND DESIRED
Book Two in the Demons in Exile series from Ellora’s Cave
Available in ebook at Ellora’s Cave and Amazon

She’s a demon, he’s a shapeshifting leopard. From their first meeting in the Sedona desert, passion ignites and trouble begins. When immortals from an alternate dimension try to free their exiled world, Brad Montag is caught in the middle of a battle that could destroy not only him, but the land he loves. If Sakari Lock chooses to save him, she stands to lose everything, unless…





“Very entertaining. I couldn’t stop reading, wondering what was going to happen next. I recommend this book as one you must pick up.” ~4.5 Cherries, The Long and the Short of It

“I would highly, highly recommend this book to you if you like paranormal erotic romance. Really, an amazing book.” ~5 Stars, The Pen and Muse

“Kathy Kulig has a vivid imagination and a wonderful writing voice to make it come to life.” ~4 Cups, Coffee Time Romance.



WILD JADE
Cerridwen Press
Available in print and ebook at Cerridwen Press and Amazon

An ancient supernatural mystery returns to the sultry jungle, igniting dangerous obsession and untamed passion. When an archaeology student and her director uncover a 1,300 year-old tragic love story, one in which they were directly connected in a past life, a new menace threatens their project and their lives. Will history repeat itself?

“I found that the exotic locale and the potential for danger make WILD JADE captivating.” ~ Joysann, Beyond Her Book Blog, Publishers Weekly

"Kathy Kulig tells Lauren/Cimi and Deven/Kayab's tale with such passion and fervor that I was completely captivated by them...” ~ Blue Ribbon Rating: 5 ~ Chrissy Dionne, Romance Junkies







****CONTEST: Still need some more books? Don’t forget to check out my website for details on how to WIN a tote of HOT books. http://www.kathykulig.com The drawing will be on June 22nd.

What Paranormal Creature Are You?

Recently I was a featured author at Fang-tastic Books http://www.fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/ (February 2, 2010) and offered a contest for those who left a comment and said what paranormal creature they would like to be. The prize was a Free ebook of my new release Damned and Desired. I received some interesting responses. Check out Fang-tastic books, they have great interviews, contests and more. A very cool site.

Congratulations to Rosie who won the copy of Damned and Desired. I hope you enjoy the book.

The large cat family seemed to be the most popular. Maybe the sleek, sexy and powerful body of a leopard, lion, or jaguar is appealing. In Desert of the Damned, my hero Jake Montag is a mountain lion shifter. In the next book Damned and Desired his brother Brad is a leopard shifter. A number of people liked the idea of being a wolf shapeshifter. But most said they wanted to be able to switch back to human form at will.

One reader liked the idea of being Sam in the True Blood series. Hmmm. Another intriguing suggestion was a unicorn or a horse. I don’t think I ever read a story that had either of those.

My heroine Sakari in Damned and Desired is a demon but she’s also a falcon shifter. This is a form I would like because of flying and the speed. I also like the idea of being a sea gull. Flying around the beach, standing at the shoreline watching waves all day, having little old ladies toss popcorn at me doesn't seem so bad. Another reader liked the idea of a bird shifter but thought an eagle would be better because their speed, fierceness and ability to see at a great distance.

Another choice was to be a witch with all her supernatural powers. Those who liked the idea of immortality preferred to be vampires. Vampires will always be hot. I enjoy a good vampire story.

Who would you be?

Featured Author/Blog Tours

FEATURED AUTHOR TODAY

As a result of my blog tour during the week of my release for Damned and Desired, I was asked to be a featured author on Erotic Romance Crush Junkies reviews. Check it out if you like. Interviews are a challenge. It’s hard talking about yourself. I’d rather talk about my books. More on the results of my last minute Blog Tour below.

BLOG TOURS

When I was notified I only had a week before the release of my novel, Damned and Desired, I scrambled for the best ideas to set up an emergency promotional plan. I’d just sold the book in November and hadn't expected such a quick turn around. It was a pleasant surprise, but I was also panicking. I put a call out on a couple writers loops asking to do last minute guest blogs. Fortunately, I had five responses for the week of my release. I had just set up my first Blog Tour. Ashlyn Chase has a list of bloggers interesting in hosting blog tours.

What do you usually include in a blog tour when you’re invited to be a guest blogger?
Ask the owner of the blog first. Usually, they like a short article (one to two paragraphs) on a topic related, more or less, to your book; your book cover with buy information, links and ISBN; a short blurb of the book and a short excerpt—about 500 words or less. Ask the blog owner if they prefer a PG rated excerpt before you submit a hard core sex scene. Also include your website and/or blog links.

Since I was blogging at five different sites within three days I wrote up five slightly different mini articles. Yes, it takes more time, but if you post the same article on each site people will lose interest.

On the day that your guest blog is posted, announce it with the topic on Twitter, Facebook, other social networks and loops, and provide the link.

After your guest blog is posted, check it regularly and respond to comments. That helps to keep the conversation going. It also helps to include a question in your post or comment to encourage more comments.

Check the blog a few days after for late comments.

Offer to return the favor to your host on your blog or in your newsletter.

You can also offer a give-away contest during your guest blog to increase traffic. Mention in your post the freebie (a book or other item) and when the name will be randomly selected from those who commented.

If you have more time to plan, advertise your blog tour schedule on your website or blog weeks in advance.

How effective was my blog tour? As with most promotional plans, it’s hard to measure. I did receive a request from a review site to review my book. Most authors will tell you how hard it is these days to get your book reviewed. I also was invited by another review site to be a featured author, AND they offered to review the new release and the first book in the series. That book Desert of the Damned only received two reviews. I hadn’t contacted these sites before. One author, Adele Dubois, did track the hits on her site for the day I guest blogged. We only had about fifteen comments which I thought was pretty good. But she said the number of hits were over 10, 500!!

If anyone has other suggestions or wants to share their experience or expertise about blog tours, please post a comment.