NIGHT RISING by Chris Marie Green

Say--this sounds like my kind of story--mystery and suspense mixed with the paranormal.
NIGHT RISING by Chris Marie Green
Ace, February 6, 2007
0-441-01467-4

Welcome to Hollywood—after dark…

Stuntwoman Dawn Madison is a girl with attitude—and a lot of issues, mostly about living up to the legacy of her mother, a world famous movie star whose untimely death left Dawn to be raised by her dad Frank, nobody’s notion of single-father-of-the-year. Now that she’s grown up, she and Frank aren’t on the best of terms, to say the least.

Still, he is her dad, and when he vanishes while investigating the bizarre sighting—caught on film—of a supposedly long-dead child star, she comes home to Tinseltown to join the search for him. Working with his colleagues—a psychic short in stature but big in dreams, a beautiful Latina techno-geek, and the P. I. firm’s never-seen boss—she discovers an erotic and bloody underground society made up of creatures she thought existed only on screen.

They are devious. They are deadly. And some of them are dangerously attractive…



Book teaser link:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/395573/night_rising_vampire_babylon_book...

Cover:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0441014674.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V36092462_.jpg

Excerpt:

http://www.vampirebabylon.com/books_night_rising_excerpt.htm

ABOUT CHRIS MARIE GREEN

Chris Marie Green also writes as Crystal Green for Silhouette Bombshell and Special Edition, plus Harlequin Blaze. Her first vampire book, THE HUNTRESS, allowed her to indulge in her love of horror movies and novels. NIGHT RISING is book one of the Vampire Babylon trilogy.


REVIEWS

Night Rising – Vampire Babylon is the first book in a new trilogy set in the exciting world of paranormal Hollywood…. Described as a noir-mystery-fantasy series, it is dark, erotic and compelling reading – Amanda at Lovevampires.Com

Green's storytelling prowess is hitting on all cylinders in Night Rising: a brilliantly developed plotline; compelling, realistically drawn characters; and enough ghoulish antagonists, horrific murders and erotic encounters to satisfy fans of all genres. Regardless of categorization, Green's latest is pure, unadulterated storytelling gold. Highly recommended. -Paul Goat Allen, Barnes and Noble

Chris Marie Green does a wonderful job of bringing this gritty, dark novel to life…. If this is the first installment of the VAMPIRE BABYLON series, I can’t wait to see where [the author] takes the rest of the books. – The Best Reviews


Website http://www.vampirebabylon.com
http://www.crystal-green.com
http://www.myspace.com/vampirebabylon

PROTECTOR OF THE FLIGHT by Robin D. Owens

This looks like another great read from Robin D. Owens.


PROTECTOR OF THE FLIGHT by Robin D. Owens
Luna February 1, 2007

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY:

Fans of Anne McCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey will appreciate the novel's honorable protagonists and their lively animal companions.

The Story:

If horses could fly...

Then Calli Torcher might ride again. But a devastating accident left her in such pain, she thought the chimes and chanting in her ears were a hallucination...until she found herself transported to another world, and met the Lladranans who had Summoned her.

Lladrana was a parallel, magical earth filled with exotic creatures, noble humans and magic– all threatened by an encroaching evil.

And when the might volarans stopped obeying the Chevaliers, the flying horses' unexpected rebellion had thrown Lladrana into an uproar. In desperation, the sorcerers had sought help from afar - and gotten Calli. If she could fulfill this mission perhaps she would also finally find all she had longed for – a mate, a home, a family. But against this great darkness she had no battle experience, no strategy plans. She had only a bond with horses...

Cover:
http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/0373802641.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V47698873_.jpg

Excerpt: http://www.robindowens.com/reads/Protector.pdf

ABOUT ROBIN D. OWENS

Robin D. Owens has been writing longer than she cares to recall. Her fantasy/futuristic romances finally found a home at Berkley with the issuance of HeartMate in December 2001. She credits the telepathic cat with attitude in selling that book. Since then, Heart Thief was a launch book for Berkley Sensation in June 2003, Heart Duel was published in 2004, Heart Choice in 2005, and Heart Quest in 2006. Her Luna Books series includes shape-shifting fairies and average American women Summoned into another world to fight monstrous evil.

REVIEWS

ROMANTIC TIMES:

Owens has an easy and engaging writing style which, when combined with her intriguing characters and interesting setting, makes for a fast and compelling read.

HUNTRESS REVIEWS:

This is among the most joyful series of novels in any genre...when the ending page arrives, YOU feel the Snap, pulling you reluctantly back to the real world. Ms. Owens has mastered characterization, interweaving the lives of previous main characters with those of the new expertly, so you meet new friends and catch up on the old. – Amanda Killgore, Huntress Reviews


Website: http://www.robindowens.com

Ozzie the Media Cat

Thursday I did something cool and fun. A new website called www.romancenovels.tv is launching on February 14. They came to my house to do an interview with me.

But Ozzie, one of my cats, decided that they’d come to do an interview with HER. She was a pregnant rescued cat who was fostered by a woman who called her Princess Ozma. I adopted her and one of her kittens and wanted names to go with Princess Ozma. The best idea I could come up with was Ozzie and Harriet (whom I call Harry). Harry’s the quintessential scaredy cat who hides when the doorbell rings.

Ozzie loves people, and she wants to be right there in your face. So while the crew was trying to interview me, she was clawing at my leg and pawing at their equipment. Then she showed off for them by frantically chasing a flashlight beam on the rug. (I hope that footage makes it into the interview.) And finally, when she couldn’t get their attention any other way, she threw up in the front hall. Since I was about to be on camera, my husband had to clean up the mess. Lucky for me. Usually I’m the one who has to deal with the messes.

I’m really excited about romancenovels.tv. Thursday, they did Mary Jo Putney in the morning. Then came to my house in the afternoon. I did one segment in the kitchen, where I demonstrated a Chili Con Queso recipe that I’d designed exclusively for them. We also did some shooting outside, with my husband and me walking down to the stream valley that’s near our house.

SURVIVING DEMON ISLAND, by Jaci Burton

This sounds like a fun and sexy romp!


She's all curves and combat boots.
He's six feet of lean, dangerous male.
Join them in a game of survival.
That's as real - and hot - as it gets.
What's America's top female action star doing on a tropical island shrouded in secrecy? To Gina Bliss, competing in a survival-type reality show is a nice change from fending off on-screen villains. Until she meets real-life action hero Derek Marks. A survival specialist in a tight black T and sexy stubble, he's arousing every bad-boy fantasy she's ever had...and testing her survival skills to the max.
Martial arts, jungle warfare - Derek's done it all. But his latest mission is more dangerous than a stick of dynamite. Try telling that to the sexy, adrenaline-pumped actress who's got his libido racing off the charts. As the heat rises between them and real-life violence erupts, suddenly Derek and Gina are on the run...and when they uncover a secret so explosive it could blow the lid of their so-called reality show, these two unlikely heroes are about to discover what surviving's really about....


Excerpt:
http://www.jaciburton.com/survivingdemonisland.html

Cover:
http://www.jaciburton.com/suvivingdemonisland_200.jpg


ABOUT JACI BURTON
Jaci Burton was born and raised in Missouri but now lives on an acre-and-a-half in Oklahoma with her husband Charlie. Jaci loves to write about passionate relationships with sometimes stormy outcomes but always a happily ever after. She’s a sucker for romance and a happy ending!


REVIEWS
Burton has an uncanny aptitude for intertwining the human and the paranormal so seamlessly that sudden demon attacks and labyrinthine underworlds are perfectly believable. Realistic dialogue, spicy bedroom scenes and a spitfire heroine make this one to pick up and savor. – Publishers Weekly

Big applause goes to Burton for succeeding in setting up a rousing & timely premise that is a real roller coaster ride. Not only does this book set the stage for further exciting adventures, it also delivers a great group of characters that have plenty of room for growth. Burton doesn’t skimp on the sizzling sex or romance either; this book has it all! Brava! 4 ½ Stars – Romantic Times BookClub

Fantastic reading is in store for paranormal fans with Jaci Burton’s new series about fighting demons. It’s a great good vs. evil story that will leave you breathless at times with the chills and thrills, and ready to take a cold shower at others as two of the neatest hero’s and heroine’s pull out all the stops as they get beneath the sheets, and behind their weapons. – Reader to Reader Reviews

Website: http://www.jaciburton.com

Why do I write?

I’ve just finished a “guy book” that upset me a lot. I won’t tell you the name of the book, but it was about a woman lawyer whose husband was accused of murder. She loved him and defended him at his trial. During the story, I got to know and like the heroine. Several times, she questioned whether her husband was really innocent. But she always regained her faith in him. After she won an acquittal, the author had the brilliant idea of having her find out that the guy was really guilty. Not just guilty, but a psychopath. When she confronted him, he tried to kill her. And she ended up shooting him in self-defense.

Sigh.

I’d gone through a deeply emotional experience with the heroine. I rooted for her to win the court case–in the face of a hostile judge and a lot of dirty tricks from the prosecution. She beat them, but at the end of the book, her life was destroyed. Why? I guess because the author thought it was a neat twist.

There is no way in hell I’d ever write a story like that. I put my hero and heroine through terrible trials. I test their resolve and their character and their love for each other. But I end the story with them happy together. Because that’s what I want to read. And write. There’s enough bad stuff going on in the world without inventing more.

But I think that’s not the only reason. When I write, I AM my characters. I’m totally involved with the good guys. I get to be THEM while I’m working on the story. So I write the ending that I’d want to have for me.

So is that other author a pragmatist–writing what he thinks the market wants? And I’m sucked into my own fantasy? Interesting question. And I don’t know the answer.

Rebecca

VENUS ENVY, by Shannon McKelden

Here's a book with a really cute title. I wish I'd thought of it. And it looks like a fun story, too!


VENUS ENVY by Shannon McKelden
(TOR Books, December 26, 2006)

Take one hunky firefighter, one stubborn "Cinderella," and one very reluctant fairy godmother and what do you get?

Rachel Greer wants no part of Venus's scheme to land Mr. March as her Prince Charming, but Venus is determined to do just that. She's only a few love-life fixes short of returning to her former goddess status, and she's not letting one mulish mortal stand in her way.

It appears the only way Rachel can get rid of the very un-Disney-like fairy godmother is to play along. So she follows Venus's plan to interview Luke Stanton's ex-girlfriends...which Venus believes will cure Rachel's relationship fears, but which Rachel knows will only prove her point that men are never what they appear to be.

But, when Venus's plan appears to work, and Rachel and Luke fall in love, does Rachel dare set aside her fears about happily ever? Or will betrayal send her back into relationship seclusion...this time forever?

And what happens when a goddess-turned-fairy godmother breaks the most important rule--protecting herself from human emotions?

Excerpt:

http://www.shannonmckelden.com/venus1.htm

Cover:

http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/0765315858.01._SS500_SCLZZZZZZZ_V62234549_.jpg


ABOUT SHANNON McKELDEN
Shannon McKelden has wanted to be a writer since she earned a coveted ‘A+++’ from her 9th grade English teacher. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her high school sweetheart, two kids, two cats, a dog and a crow.


REVIEWS
Witty, funny, and truly original, McKelden’s romance is a standout. -- Booklist

Sexy, clever and fun, Venus Envy is absolutely delightful from beginning to end. Author Shannon McKelden has talent to spare. –Jane Porter, author of The Frog Prince

Debut author McKelden is undeniably talented, milking a fun plot for all it's worth. 3 Stars. – Romantic Times


Website: http://www.shannonmckelden.com

"Come Moonrise" in UNLEASHED

As you know, I've been writing werewolf books for Berkley since 2003. Generally, I try not to read werewolf books by other authors because I don't want to be influenced by them. But I made an exception for Lucy Monroe's novella, "Come Moonrise," because it's in UNLEASHED with my own story, "Bond of Silver."

I really enjoyed Lucy's novella. I liked her take on the werewolf genre, especially the MacAnlup family dynamics. She made me want to curl up with one of my own werewolves, and that's a good thing.



“Come Moonrise” by Lucy Monroe featured in UNLEASHED
(Berkley, December 5, 2006)

Ty MacAnlup has seen the tragedy that a mating between a werewolf and a human can bring and he wants no part of it, no matter how much his body and heart ache for a taste of Frankie's softness. Frankie has loved Ty for years and while she doesn't know he's a werewolf, or even that such things exist...she does know that to her, he's always been more than a mere man. Ty's hidden beast wreaks havoc with his determination to stay away from Frankie when they are trapped together in a small cabin in the snow bound wilderness.



Excerpt:
http://www.lucymonroecotm.com/excerpt_cm.htm

Cover:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0425212114/ref=dp_image_text_0/002-6782187-3030458?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

ABOUT LUCY MONROE
Award winning author Lucy Monroe sold her first book in September of 2002. Since then she has sold more than 30 books to three publishers and hit national bestsellers lists in the US and England. Her highly charged, sensual stories touch on the realities of life while giving the reader a fantasy story not easily forgotten. Whether it's a passionate Harlequin Presents, a sexy single title for Kensington or a steamy historical or paranormal for Berkley, Lucy's books transport her readers to a special place where the heart rules and love conquers all.

REVIEWS


Website:
http://www.lucymonroe.com
http://www.lucymonroecotm.com

INFERNO, by Vivi Anna

This book has got it all. A kick-ass heroine. A futuristic setting. And a lot of heat.



INFERNO by Vivi Anna
(Kensington, December 2006)

Vivi Anna's gorgeous, leather-clad heroine, Kat, is back in another wildly erotic adventure set in a future world where passion has no rules — and no limits ...

Kat needs to find a scientist rumored to have created an antidote to a deadly virus, but he's hiding out in the violent underground city of Inferno. Her one-time lover Hades will take Kat where she needs to go, but only if she promises to be his, body and soul.

Excerpt:
http://www.vivianna.net/inferno.php#excerpt

Cover:
http://www.vivianna.net/inferno150x225.gif


ABOUT VIVI ANNA
A BAD GIRL at heart, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her original unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in ancient Egypt, or in an apocalyptic future, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.

Once shot at while repossessing a car, Vivi decided that maybe her life needed a change. The first time she picked up a pen and put words to paper, she knew she had found her heart. Within two paragraphs, she realized she could write about getting into all sorts of trouble without suffering the consequences.

When Vivi isn't writing, you can find her causing a ruckus at downtown bistros, flea markets, or playgrounds.


REVIEWS
Combine two star-crossed lovers, a deadly virus, a passel of Dark Dwellers, and an underground nemesis bent on destruction and you get one heck of an adventure. This follow-up to Hell Kat will have you cheering for the good guys all over again — and laughing out loud while you do it! A fun, sexy romp that leaves you crying out for more. – 4 stars, Romantic Times

Website: http://www.vivianna.net

A great writer died today

This is a very sad day for me. Jack Williamson died. He was one of the giants of the science fiction field, and one of my personal inspirations.

Jack Williamson is the reason I'm writing werewolf books today. I read his DARKER THAN YOU THINK when I was a teenager. He made me want to BE a werewolf. I carried that story around with me for years. Then I read THE WOLF'S HOUR, by Robert McCammon, and I was enthralled all over again.

When I started contemplating KILLING MOON, paranormal was very much out. But I started thinking about a book with a werewolf detective who used his wolf senses to solve crimes. Even thought I doubted I could sell the story, it simply wouldn't let me go. Finally my friend Mary Kilchenstein, who writes as Mary Kirk, told me in her blunt way that she was tired of hearing me talk about the idea. So I should either write it or shut up. I accepted the challenge and started working on what became KILLING MOON.

There were many different directions in which I could have taken the story, but I stuck with what I love, romantic suspense. I was pretty sure that to sell single title paranormal romantic suspense, I'd have to write the whole book, not just do a proposal. So I worked on KILLING MOON around my Intrigue schedule. Cindy Hwang at Berkley loved the story and bought it. Then she asked me for more werewolf books. That's how I found myself with a werewolf series that I hadn't planned for.


Jack Williamson published his first story, "The Metal Man," in 1928 when he was 20. His last book, THE STONEHENGE GATE was published recently. He won the Hugo and Nebula awards for his work and lifetime achievement honors from the World Fantasy Convention and the Horror Writers of America. And he was named a Grand Master of science fiction by what is now the Science Fiction Writers of America. What a career! Few writers can equal him.
Ruth

Mad for Rutabaga

A long time ago, I made fun of rutabaga in a kids book I wrote. It was a Twist-a-Plot story called THE MISSION OF THE SECRET SPY SQUAD. In one plot line, prisoners thrown into jail were forced to live on a diet of rutabaga. That was before I’d ever tasted that vegetable. I was going purely on how they looked–big and ugly and covered with wax to stretch their shelf life.

Funny thing, once I actually sank my teeth into a rutabaga, I was hooked. I love the taste of this winter vegetable. And I cook with it frequently.

Probably you’ve grated carrots and put them into salads. You can do the same with rutabaga. They add a distinctive flavor and a nice crunch to the salad bowl.
One of my favorite ways to use rutabaga is in roasted winter vegetables. For an easy side dish or vegetarian main dish, just fill a roasting pan with a combination of cut up red-skin potatoes, carrots, celery and rutabaga. Then toss with some olive oil, Italian seasoning and salt.

Since the rutabaga takes longer to cook than the other vegetables, I roast them in the pan for twenty minutes at 375 degrees F. before adding the other vegetables and roasting for an additional 40 to 50 minutes, stirring them occasionally until all the vegetables are tender. Serve as an easy side dish on Thanksgiving. Or with meat or roasted chicken at any family dinner.

I also love to add chunks of rutabaga to the homemade meat and vegetable soups that are a winter staple in my house.

Ruth

James Webb Joins the Club!

Poor James Webb. (Sarcastic grin.) He’s finding out what it’s like to be a romance writer. Actually, he writes war novels, not romances. But he’s getting the kind of treatment we’ve "enjoyed" for years.

Webb is running for the Senate against George Allen in Virginia. And after the Fred Head/Susan Combs episode in Texas, someone on Allen’s staff decided to thumb through Webb’s books looking for steamy passages. They found some, pulled them out of context, and sent them out in a press release accusing Webb of writing X-rated books.

In the past, Webb has made some sexist remarks that made me question his attitude toward women. Ironically, now he’s getting lumped with a lot of women writers who dare to include sex in their books.

How many times have you had a guy pick up one of your novels and thumb through it looking for hot passages–then judge the whole book on those few pages. Sure, I write sensual love scenes. But they’re in the context of a relationship developing between a man and a woman. They’re only part of the story. In my novels, I’m writing about strong, sympathetic characters the reader can root for. I’ve got a plot with a lot of action and mystery. Generally, I’m writing about two people falling in love against a background of danger and suspense. In all of my books, my main characters make a commitment to marry and spend the rest of their lives together.

So why do some Americans object to the sensuality? Are they afraid to acknowledge the joy of a great sexual relationship? Is it our Puritan heritage? Are we afraid to see ourselves as human?

The men and women in my books always end up in a committed, loving relationship, where sex is only part of the equation. So I’m sitting here scratching my head and trying to figure out what’s wrong with enjoying a loving and committed sexual relationship? Or are we being criticized by people who are afraid of feeling any emotion–even when it’s in the pages of a book?
Ruth

Mulled "Cider" Recipe

Mulled “Cider”

It’s fall, and I’ve got a craving for hot mulled cider. Too bad that the amount of sugar in apple cider is off the charts. Plus, it’s not available everywhere.

Here’s a hot winter drink that tastes a lot like mulled cider–but with far fewer calories. It’s easy to double this recipe if you want to serve a large pot of this flavorful hot punch. And if you prefer, you can use sugar instead of Splenda.

7 Servings/ serving size 1 cup

6 cups hot regular or decafinated tea
1 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp lemon juice
3/4 cup Splenda, or to taste
½ tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp orange extract
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves

Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes to allow the spices to permeated the liquid. Ladle into mugs. Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator 2 or 3 days. Rewarm in the microwave.

HEART QUEST, by Robin D. Owens

Here's the next book in Robin D. Owens' wonderful Heart series.



Robin D. Owens is an absolutely sensational storyteller. -- The Romance Reader

Somewhere in Druida City of Celta, Trif Clover has a HeartMate. Impatient to meet him, she's actually going door-to-door with her charmkey to find him. What she doesn't know is that he has already found her. Guardsman Ilex Winterberry knows Trif is his HeartMate, but has reasons of his own -- and for her own good -- to keep to the shadows of her life. But there's a killer on the loose, stalking those with unstable psi power like Trif's. Facing his most difficult task yet, Ilex must reveal the truth of their destiny or leave Trif vulnerable to a vicious murderer...

Excerpt: http://www.robindowens.com/images/01HQ.pdf

Cover: http://www.robindowens.com/images/HeartQuest.jpg

Robin's Blog:
http://robindowens.blogspot.com/2006/09/heart-quest-is-out.html

Important Advice

I am just home from a nasty dentist appointment, and I have some important advice. DO NOT CHEW ICE. I used to do it all the time, and I cracked some of my teeth. If you have a tooth that’s cracked all the way down, they can’t do a root canal. (They only find this out after they’ve STARTED a root canal. ) If it’s cracked all the way into the root, they have to pull it. No fun. Then you have to figure out what you’re going to do about the missing tooth. I’m getting two implants. First they drill holes in your jaw and put in posts. Then you wait for three months and have screws put on the posts. Then you get the new teeth. This is a long process and no fun. But I’m now three weeks away from the actual new teeth. (Today they did the impressions. An ordeal ince my mouth is still sore from putting in the screws last week.)

Honk if you hate having your mouth worked on.

Ruth

My Cats

Since I have a picture of dh with his cat, I’ve decided to give MY cats equal time.

Here are Ozzie and Harriet. (I call her Harry.)

Ruth

party!

We're having a big party from October 16 to 26 over at Out of the Blogisphere. The link is on the right side of the screen. We're giving away prizes and chatting about books--and lots of other subjects. Please join us.
Ruth

SEDUCED BY MAGIC by Cheyenne McCray

Well, that applies to me! I love magic, so this is right up my alley.



SEDUCED BY MAGIC by Cheyenne McCray
(St. Martin’s; October 3, 2006)

DESIRE
Copper Ashcroft is an accomplished D'Anu witch, but the magic she wields is a potent force—strong enough to hurl her into a mysterious Otherworld when a spell backfires. Before Copper can escape, another being is pulled into her realm—Tiernan, a powerfully virile Tuatha D'Danann warrior. Blond, blue-eyed, and shamelessly seductive, Tiernan could be Copper's savior…and his touch sets her body on fire.

DUTY
Like others of his kind, Tiernan stands alongside the D'Anu witches to battle the demons of the Underworld. Obligation to his cause and his people cautions against any entanglement with Copper, yet each second spent with this beautiful, uninhibited woman stirs an insatiable hunger. Desire explodes into carnal bliss, but the visions that haunt Copper's dreams are growing stronger, and they foretell a terrifying evil waiting to be unleashed…

DESTINY
Saving the city will take more than brute strength…more than witchcraft. Only together can Copper and Tiernan find a way to overcome the dark forces—and seize a passion that has bewitched them both..


Excerpt:
http://www.cheyennemccray.com/books/magicseries/seduced-exc.htm

Cover:
http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/11340000/11344383.jpg



ABOUT CHEYENNE MCCRAY
Cheyenne McCray is the award-winning author of sixteen books and six novellas. Among other accolades, Chey has been presented with the prestigious Romantic Times BOOKclub's Reviewers' Choice Award for "Best Erotic Romance of the Year."

Chey has been writing ever since she can remember, back to her kindergarten days when she penned her first poem. She always knew one day she would write novels, hoping her readers would get lost in the worlds she created, as she did when she was lost in a good book. Cheyenne enjoys spending time with her husband and three sons, traveling, and of course writing, writing, writing.


REVIEWS

Her latest precious magical Ashcroft saga is a delightful torrid tale headed by a strong lead couple and supported ably by a horde of bad dudes. Fans who appreciate a strong fantasy will want to read the magnificent McCray mythos – Harriet Klausner

Website: http://www.cheyennemccray.com

DH with his cat

Here's a picture of dh with his cat. I took it this afternoon, and I love it. This is the way he carries her around, and she seems to like it.
Ruth

How Did I Pick My Genre?

Recently, someone asked me where my weird ideas come from. I guess she meant, why are you so into paranormal? Why do you write about werewolves and demons and monsters from another time continuum?

When I was in elementary school, the DC Public Library sent a “book basket” to every classroom every month. In fifth grade, when the teacher put RED PLANET, by Robert Heinlein, up on the eraser ledge, the cover illustration made me want to read the book. So I rushed up to get it before anyone else could.

Thus began a lifelong interest in science fiction and fantasy. That was a big part of my recreational reading for years, with adventure and mystery thrown in.

In the early sixties, I didn’t have a television set. I got a TV for one reason–so I could watch a cool new program that my friends were talking about--Star Trek.

So I come by my interest in the paranormal honestly. The first novel I wrote was a kids' SF story, THE INVASION OF THE BLUE LIGHTS, about a bad alien and a good alien that land in the woods across the street from my house. (Only I gave the house to a 12-year-old boy who was a lot like my son.) In the 80's, the big romance boom started, and a friend asked if I’d like to write one. I told her I hadn’t read any, so she brought me shopping bags full. And I discovered they were all about the subplot that I’d loved in the science fiction and adventure novels I read–the development of a relationship between a man and a woman.
At first, I wrote straight romances. Then I figured out I was better at romantic suspense. And after a few romantic suspense novels, I began incorporating SF and fantasy elements into my stories.

I can look back at some of the influences on my career. I think the first alternate universe book I read was THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. And a good early example for me of the universe that runs parallel to ours but is somehow different was an episode of the original Star Trek, MIRROR MIRROR, where there's an "evil" universe existing beside ours. Narnia is very different from our world. The univese in MIRROR MIRROR is recognizable to us. I think of the first kind as more fantasy and the second kind as more science fiction. Or--there are quantum physics theories to explain why the latter might be possible. So I went with that.

The first werewolf book I read was DARKER THAN YOU THINK, by Jack Williamson. He made me want to BE a werewolf. I read that book when I was fifteen, so I've been attracted to the idea ever since. Then I read Robert McCammon's THE WOLF'S HOUR. Those were two books that really excited me. But for ages I thought nobody would buy a werewolf book from me (since paranormal was not IN at the time). It took years before I finally started writing KILLING MOON. It’s set in our world, but there are things here that most people don't know about, like werewolves and monsters from another universe. After writing five books in the Moon series, I needed to expand my canvas. So for NEW MOON (which will be out in March), I came up with a parallel universe, where the society is quite different from ours. (It's a bunch of city states like ancient Greece, only the city states came from our gated communities.)

I also know that my readers have been used to my telling the story in THIS universe. So I start here, go there, and come back here–to keep the familiar elements yet expand my canvas.

Ruth

Blog Tour: SLAVE TO SENSATION by Nalini Singh

Wow. Does this ever sound like my kind of book. I can't wait to read it.



SLAVE TO SENSATION by Nalini Singh
(Berkley Sensation, September 5, 2006)

Dive into a world torn apart by a powerful race with phenomenal powers of the mind—and none of the heart…

In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of “rehabilitation”— the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was….

Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries of uneasy co-existence, these two races are now on the verge of war over the brutal murders of several Changeling women. Lucas is determined to find the Psy killer who butchered his packmate, and Sascha is his ticket into their closely guarded society. But he soon discovers that this ice-cold Psy is very capable of passion—and that the animal in him is fascinated by her. Caught between their conflicting worlds, Lucas and Sascha must remain bound to their identities—or sacrifice everything for a taste of darkest temptation…

Excerpt:
http://www.nalinisingh.com/slave.html

Cover:
http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/11350000/11359440.jpg


ABOUT NALINI SINGH

Born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand, Nalini Singh is an escapee lawyer who’s been writing as long as she can remember. She loves creating unique characters, loves giving them happy endings and she even loves the voices in her head.

REVIEWS

This book is a must even for those uninitiated in the paranormal genre. The story ends much too quickly, and the author’s magical writing conjures up sensual images and intense emotions that linger long after the last word is read. -- Romantic Times, 4 1/2 stars

…not easy to put down at bedtime; it kept me reading well into the night… -- Fresh Fiction

…one of the most convincing and beautiful romances I've read lately. It's got it all, both sexual tension so thick and hot it will curl your toes (and the pay-off! Those love scenes, oh, my!), and a lot of feeling behind it… -- Rosario’s Reading Journal

Website: http://www.nalinisingh.com