Sourcebooks Casablanca Romance Authors

I didn't intend to go into a bookstore yesterday. It just sort of happened. Actually, I think my car is possessed by a evil entity which insists that I periodically check out my local Barnes & Noble and Borders to see if they have my books in stock. I say evil because I never know how this will make me feel. First off, my regular Tuesday morning riding lesson was canceled, so I had the time free to run a few errands. I needed new shoes--which is always a hassle--a few things that my DH asked me to get for a Boy Scout function on Thursday, a training collar for my new puppy, and some environmentally friendly dish soap, which is only available in two stores that I know of. It was chilly and drizzling, which isn't great for anyone's mood, and though I had little hope for the shoes, I did manage to find a pair of Nikes that fit most of my criteria. Trust me, having a wide foot is worse than having a wide you-know-what when it comes to buying things that fit. Most of my sho...

By Cheryl Brooks I've already written at least a dozen blogs about Rogue , and now that the launch date is finally here it seems that I have run out of ideas, so I'm turning this celebration over to someone who knows how to party, Dragus, a Darconian palace guard who wishes that Earth girls really were easy! Dragus: Thanks, Cheryl. I've never written a blog before, but then, I'd never met a human until I met Kyra. She is so totally hot, I'd really like to— Cheryl: Um, let's stick to the story, Dragus. Dragus: Oh, yeah, right. Sorry. But if I could have had just one night— Cheryl: Dragus! You promised to be good. Dragus: I know I did—and believe me, I'm trying!—but you know how it is when people of two very different species want to get together Cheryl: Like Queen Scalia and the Zetithians? Dragus: Yeah. Didn't work for them, did it? Cheryl: Which is something for which we can all truly be thankful. Cats and dinosaurs don't seem particularly compatibl...

It's no secret now that the March releases have been released in February, and since I received my author's copies at about the same time, many of my friends are now in possession of a signed copy of Rogue . When my friend Natalie got hers, she read through half of it in one night, and last night, another quiet one in the ICU, she finished the other half. She was a big fan of Slave , but had a little trouble getting into Warrior , but this one, she really enjoyed. That's the odd thing about this series, when books are written in first person, either you like that person's voice and personality or you don't. My sisters both preferred Warrior to Slave , while other readers have devoured every installment. While this is just one more example of the old axiom that you can't please 'em all, Rogue offers something a bit more risky than that initial foray into erotic science fiction romance; it has a threesome. Only one scene, but while some people absolutely love...

It's been an interesting Christmas season so far. My cards are going out late, people who've gotten presents from me in the past will find their stockings empty, and those gifts that I have bought aren't wrapped yet. Why? Not due to a lack of funds, but because nearly all of my spare time has been swallowed up by this crazy second job I've gotten myself into. However, in spite of the madness, some really cool things have happened. I received my very first Christmas card from a reader. Not an email, mind you, but a real card! She had won a copy of Warrior in a contest, and then utilized that return address label after I shipped it to her. This is something that I know I'll keep in my memorabilia box for a long, long time. In other news, Rogue has a dynamite new cover, and Lover now has a new title, Outcast , which I like very much. I've also started a new blog, which, though tons of fun, is also very time consuming. On a slightly bizarre note, Slave has been...

"May you live in interesting times." This is, I believe, an ancient Chinese curse. Our times are certainly interesting, but have we been cursed? Are we in a recession, or on the brink of another Great Depression? Not being politically or financially savvy, I wouldn't know, but hearing about upheavals in every industry, including our own publishing business, is unsettling at best. My plan in becoming a writer was to earn a living doing something I enjoyed. Not to get rich overnight, but to earn enough to be able to retire from nursing. Well, obviously, that's not gonna happen, at least not anytime soon. Fortunately, along with a lousy economy, there's a projected nursing shortage—which is nothing new. Seems like there's always a shortage of nurses—nurses who want to work as nurses, anyway—so I doubt that I'll be finding myself unemployed. However, I've given nursing more than thirty years of my life to date, and I'm ready for something different. Wr...

In the struggle for supremacy between me and Vegas, Vegas has won. I am defeated, exhausted, and more footsore than I've been in my life. It is now 1:25 PT, and I'm just getting back from a day that included a run to Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon, and the old strip downtown. One of the most fun things we did was a bus tour hosted by this guy, who, interestingly enough has written his autobiography. He gave me his card and told me we should swap books, but I haven't heard back from him yet. Last night my friend Angela and I went to see the Thunder from Down Under show, (male strippers for those who, like me, had never heard of it) and got my picture taken with six guys who could have posed for any one of our covers. Unfortunately, it isn't digital, so I can't post it. We've been to all the big casinos, or will have by the time our flight leaves tomorrow night. Got a few romance novel ideas while I was here, along with about a million pictures, including this one o...

I usually save these guys for Wickedly Romantic posts, but I had so much fun with the last one, I thought I'd give you a little early Thanksgiving/late Halloween treat! And treats are what my writing is all about. I give the nooky treats, the funny treats, the romantic treats, and the action/adventure treats! I love them all, and IMHO a book just isn't complete without a taste of each one. Now that I have two books in print, many have compared the two, and most reviewers have said that they are very different, which I think is a good thing. I could probably write the same book over and over again, but it would get boring eventually, and we can't have that! The main reason for the difference between the two books is that when you write in first person, that "I" persona comes through in the narrative. Tisana, the heroine in Warrior , is very different from Jacinth in Slave , hence the altered writing style. The third book, Rogue , is written in the voice of a rather...

Ah, another blank blog page to fill. You wouldn't think it would be that hard for a writer, but perhaps what I'm experiencing is blogger's block! Whoa! think I just coined a phrase there.... but perhaps I'm not the first. This blog will ramble, because that's what I do when I'm blocked. I just keep writing. You're seeing the process right here in black and white, I think . See, now I've changed the color! Might stimulate some brain cells. Though, as it happens, I prefer blue. Songs have been known to help when I'm writing romance novels, but blogging is another story altogether! A good, sexy man might help, let's see ...whoops! There he is!!!! He turned me rather green with envy for whoever gets to....well....do ANYTHING with him! I found him a while back and have been looking for a place to use him. Helps to have a stable of studs to help you out, don't you think? My hero!!!! I think I'll use this nice lavender for a while. Sort of roma...

One of the many things a writer doesn't know until she finally makes it into the ranks of published authors is just how much time you have to spend promoting your books. People ask: “Don't you have a publicist for that?” And the answer to that is, yes, I do, but mine is not the only book she has to promote. So, in the midst of blogging, answering on-line interview questions, visiting bookstores, endlessly checking my email, (I'm a bit obsessive about that, actually) and posting comments on the blogs, (I'm obsessive about that, too!) the time to ponder the next project sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. About a week ago, I was in the middle of promoting Warrior (Book 2), doing final edits on Rogue (3), and trying to write Fugitive (5) while my editor is reading Lover (4)—which I will then have to work on some more before the manuscript is accepted. Sound confusing? It gets worse. On Saturday, I got an email from my editor—right before heading off to work that night—te...

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy and Cheryl Brooks Yes, it's true! We have FIVE great books being released in October! So many that it will take us TWO FULL DAYS to properly launch them all! Of course there will be TONS OF FUN! Lots of prizes! Silly and serious moments as our authors share blurbs, reviews and intriguing tidbits of their new releases. So without further adieu, LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED! The Wild Sight: An Irish tale of deadly deeds and forbidden love by Loucinda McGary Aunty Cindy: My debut novel is a romantic suspense with paranormal elements. I'm tickled pink that it is the first romantic suspense in the Casablanca line and I'm even more thrilled that it is getting rave reviews, including a starred review from Publishers Weekly ! Here's the blurb from my website (http://www.loucindamcgary.com): Since he was a wee lad, Donovan O'Shea possessed a gift of clairvoyance that allowed him to see and hear people and things tha...

Hi there! This is Marla Elkhorn reporting. Due to popular demand, I’m interviewing Cat, the hero of Slave , and Leo, the hero of Warrior , this week. Marla: Cat, Slave has been out since April, and is doing well, I’ve heard. How do you feel about Jacinth writing such an intimate account of your adventures? Cat: (smiling wickedly) I enjoyed reading the book almost as much as I enjoyed living it. Marla: Ahem, I think I know what you mean. . . There have been questions from some readers as to your feelings since Slave was written purely from Jacinth’s point of view. Care to comment on that? Cat: I believe that my feelings toward Jacinth were very . . . obvious. Marla: Yes, being either naked or dressed in Statzeelian garb doesn’t give a guy much chance to hide his, um, reaction, does it? Cat: (purring) No, it does not. Marla: Y-You’re purring. Does that mean anything? Cat: Only that you are making me think about the first time I was alone with my Jacinth. Marla: And you . . ...

Marie's launch day post is certainly a tough act to follow, but reading what she wrote made me examine just why it is that I write paranormal romance. After some serious thought, I've come to realize that, while I've done plenty of other things to satisfy my need to create, writing seems to fit the bill better than anything else. It gives me a chance to share my imagination with others, and writing paranormals gives me the best opportunity to use that imagination. I dearly love dreaming up new worlds, new creatures, new names, new characters, and new gadgets! Fortunately, since this is fiction, I don't have to explain how things work! Another thing I enjoy is writing about a strong heroine. I think all of us are somewhat envious of strong female characters. They're always intelligent, always in great shape, always beautiful, and always capable of holding their own with the guys. So far, my heroines in the Cat Star Chronicles series have been women who are indepe...

Hello again! This is Marla Elkhorn reporting from somewhere between Earth and—what did you say that planet was called? Tisana: Terra Minor Marla: Yes, that's it. Anyway, as promised, today I'm interviewing Tisana, a witch from the planet Utopia and her horse, Morgana who are characters in the upcoming romance novel, The Cat Star Chronicles: Warrior , which is due out October 1 st . So, Tisana, tell me what your life was like on Utopia. Tisana: As you said before, I'm a witch, but primarily I'm a healer, specializing in herbal medicine. Marla: How fascinating! And where did you learn this? Tisana: From my mother, mostly. We witches pass on our knowledge from mother to daughter. Marla: What if there aren't any daughters? Tisana: (laughing) Wouldn't happen! We witches only have one child who is always female! Marla: Is that right? Amazing! Tisana: Yes, and though we may take any lover we choose, the choice of the father is with the gods. Only the right ...