Free Dareville and Fascination Street Christmas stories!

It is our pleasure to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season, and to thank you for four wonderful years. When Phaze Books launched in late 2004, we had no idea how quickly and how grandly we would grow, and we are grateful to all of you for your continue support. It is our hope to continue offering the best in erotic romance through 2009 and beyond, and we hope you will enjoy this free gift.

Several of our authors have penned holiday-themed “quickies,” sexy flash fictions based on available Phaze titles. So if you’d like to see what some of your favorite characters are doing during the Yule season, grab yourself an egg nog and a plate of cookies and cozy up to his special holiday collection. Click here to download and enjoy!

Peace and blessings,
Kathryn Lively
Publisher, Phaze Books

Included in the collection are "A Daring Kiss," a sexy Dareville freebie, and "My True Love Gave to Me" a Fascination Street tale by Bridget!

Black Friday sale at Phaze Books!

Now through Cyber Monday, December 1, check out the great discounts at Phaze Books! They've discounted several titles in their backlist, including all of our Surge, Snuggler, Shiver, and Samba HeatSheets, plus all of our Phaze Fantasies volumes, in eBook and print! Yes, that includes Phaze Fantasies - Volume I, which includes my novella "Service Recall."

Visit Phaze Books' Black Friday / Cyber Monday sale page at http://www.phaze.com/cybermonday.html for a complete list of discounted items. The sale ends Monday so don't delay!

http://www.king-cart.com/Phaze/product=Phaze+Fantasies,+Vol.+I+by+Alessia+Brio,+Leigh+Ellwood,+Bridget+Midway+and+Ann+Regentin/

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Black Friday sale at Phaze Books

Now through Cyber Monday, check out the Phaze Books Black Friday sale page. They have discounted most of the S HeatSheets and all the Phaze Fantasies volumes, plus a few select titles, including Phaze in Verse. Now is the time to stock up on our HeatSheet backlist, because if you hadn't bought them before, they are new to you!

You can get discounted prices on my HeatSheets, Jack of Hearts, Jack of Diamonds, and A Winter's Dare, and on the first volume of Fantasies, featuring my novella.

Wanted to Say: HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I wanted to say: Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day with family and friends, and most of all, with that special someone who makes your heart beat fast. Ands i am not talking about the turkey.

New Release - Excitable Gals at Loose ID

Now available from Loose ID: Excitable Gals! Click here to purchase this exciting eBook today!

Leading Lady
Cult TV star Dina Joseph doesn't mind working the sci-fi convention circuit, so long as every day of signing autographs ends with a night of out-of-this-world sex with a well-hung Mission: Jupiter fan. Naturally she's eager to take on two "elves" with phasers set to stunning, but when Kray and Lane reveal they actually are elves--come from an alternate universe to claim the missing link in their triad--Dina must decide between the adoration of many in this world or the eternal passion of two in a different reality.

Excitable
Nobody seems to believe Jenna McCoy's claim that her boss, Dina Joseph, was kidnapped. Private detective Jeremy Vanderkellen couldn't care less, either. He's concerned about becoming Head Wolf of his pack. When he's passed over he threatens to tear Toronto apart, but his superiors have a way of taming the beast. So Jeremy must learn to respect others as a good leader should, and find a love to sustain him. But, can the lovely Jenna be consoled by a selfish, obnoxious man who transforms during the full moon into a vicious, fang-bearing...Chihuahua?

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: Anal play/intercourse, ménage (m/f/m).

Read an excerpt now!

Blogging at Paranormality Universe Today-Chance to Win Unwitting Sacrifice DownloadS

I am blogging today at http://paranormalityuniverse.blogspot.com, giving away a download of Unwitting Sacrifice when it comes out next week from Under the Moon. Go to the blog and post a comment.

Romantic Virginia: Williamsburg

In between news and excerpts of hot new romances by Virginia authors, I figured why not showcase some of the most romantic locales around the state. Whether you're a native, transplant, or just visiting Old Dominion, Virginia is perhaps one of the most romantic travel destinations in the US. Mountains and beaches, vineyards and nature trails, there is so much to see and so much for couples to appreciate.

Williamsburg, Virginia, while known for its historical appeal, is quite a beautiful and inspirational place. The Colonial district in the spring offers ample opportunity for leisurely strolls down the cobbled streets of our founding families, and beautiful gardens alive with color. If you and your partner share a love for American history, you will definitely enjoy stepping back in time and experiencing first hand this way of life through the many costumed folk going about the day.

Other romantic points around Colonial Williamsburg: The Trellis Restaurant for a lovely candelight dinner for two; the famous Cheese Shop for picking up a bottle of wine for later; or head over to the Williamsburg Winery and get it from the source.

The stately Colonial Williamsburg Inn offers a restful respite for traveling couples, or for something more intimate you can try any of the local bed and breakfasts. Christmastime especially is prime visiting for the area. The foot traffic isn't as high as in the summer, and though some of the exhibits are closed for the season the historic district is authentically decorated for the holidays. You'll see every door has a beautiful fruit wreath, and you'll want to watch the events calendar for caroling and recitals at the Bruton Parish Episcopal Church.

Photo by B. Diehl

Please vote for Bridget Midway's "Walls"!

Whipped Cream Reviews has reviewed "Walls", a Phaze Books Sparkler story. And they gave it a wonderful review! Now it's up for Best Book of the Week by Whipped Cream Readers! This can certainly be an early Christmas present for me! To vote, go to http://www.longandshortreviews.com/WC/recentrev.htm You can vote today, Saturday, November 22nd and Sunday, November 23rd only, so don't delay!

Here's the blurb for "Walls": Some walls can't always protect you. A young woman learns that after confronting a man she's been watching, scoping, for a few weeks. Assuming an identity she finds on a business card, her interests are purely carnal as she walks with this handsome stranger along the Virginia Beach boardwalk on a hot July night. But when the watcher becomes the center of attention from an surprising viewer, will the realization bring down the very walls she's built up around herself or add another layer?

And if you want to read an excerpt, check this out: http://www.bridgetmidway.com/Walls.html

And here's the buy link: http://www.king-cart.com/Phaze/product=Walls+by+Bridget+Mid%20way

Thanks in advance for your support!

Stay sexy,

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Now available :: Boytoys by JM Snyder

NOW AVAILABLE

BOYTOYS by J.M. Snyder

Originally published in the anthology, Babes in Toyland.

Buy your copy today!

BLURB:
Jason's boyfriend Chad recently moved out, effectively ending their relationship. A few weeks before Christmas, Barry calls to invite Jason to a holiday party in the hopes of cheering him up. Turns out it's a sexy toy party, and when Jason's talked into helping out, the sexy host Nigel has something special in store for him after the party.

EXCERPT:

Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

"Hey," he purred, his voice intimate in the cold night. A good head taller than me, with a shock of wavy blonde hair that looked pale against his pale skin, he filled the doorway with his bulky coat and twin valises. He looked like a traveling salesman, carrying those bags, and whatever he was selling, I wanted to buy. When he smiled his teeth were straight, even, and white; his dark eyes danced in the porch light. "I'm Nigel," he told me, juggling his cases to offer me one gloved hand. I took it in mine, my fingers limp and numb in his firm grip. "And you are?"

I couldn't find my voice. "Jesus," I breathed.

Nigel laughed, a heavenly sound that made me catch my breath. "I never thought the Messiah would look so fine."

"What?" I asked, confused. His smile made it hard to think, and it was only with considerable effort that I managed to stop staring at him long enough to let him into the townhouse.

"No, I'm ~ my name is ... I ~" Nigel laughed again and I shook my head as if to untie my tongue. "I'm actually leaving."

"So soon?" Nigel set his bags on the floor and turned that million-watt smile my way again. "The minute I come, you walk out? So much for the afterglow."

My face warmed and suddenly the room was too hot, whatever chill that had followed Nigel in dissipated at his suggestive words. "This really isn't my thing."

Behind me, Barry's voice boomed over the music. "You must be Nigel!" he said, then laughed. I turned to find him pointing up at that damn mistletoe. "Look where you guys are standing."

"Barry ~" I began.

Cool lips kissed the corner of my mouth and silenced me. When I looked at Nigel, he leaned in again and I thought he was going for a full-on kiss this time, but he had his arms behind him caught in his coat. "Give me a hand with this, please?" he asked, indicating the coat.

I helped him slip out of it. As I folded it over my arm, he asked, "Barry?" At Barry's nod, Nigel raised an eyebrow and appraised me. "Jesus, right?"

"Jason," I corrected, my cheeks flushed. I held out his coat, but he didn't take it. "Who is leaving. Nice to meet you."

"What are you running off for?" Nigel wanted to know. "The fun's just about to start."

Before I could answer, Barry informed him, "He's here alone."

"Thanks, asshole," I growled beneath my breath. Barry gave me a clueless shrug and I shoved Nigel's coat onto him. "I'm out of here."

Nigel caught my arm. "C'mon, Jason. Stay. I don't have a partner either."

Something in the way he said it made me think he didn't just mean for tonight's party. Still, I didn't want to be won over so quickly. The hand on my arm found its way across my shoulders and Nigel pulled me close. "How about you be my Vanna White this evening?" he asked.

"I don't think she sold sex toys," I answered, but that arm fit comfortably and the smile below those chocolate eyes made it hard to say no.

Buy your copy today!

--
J.M. Snyder
http://jmsnyder.net

Get Bridget Midway's Phaze Books titles for 25% off!

On Friday, November 21st and Saturday, November 22nd, Phaze Books is offering all of their ebook and print titles for 25% off! That's right! You can get my newly released print-only title LOVE MY WAY for 25% off!

To take advantage of this great sale, use cart code:

BIGFOUR

Stay sexy,

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Win free books!

Just a reminder that I run a contest each month to give away one free copy of my latest release. I have 1 more e-books coming out this month, so that means you have one more chance to win!

• Boytoys (release date 11/21)

To enter, just send an email to me at contest@jmsnyder.net

AND ...

I have an AWESOME contest running through Author Island ~ you can win a signed copy of ALL THREE of my "Vic and Matt" paperback books! That's right, you'll get:

• The Powers of Love Book 1: Origins
• The Bonds of Love
• The Positions of Love

All who enter also receive a fun goody bag. For more information and instructions on how to enter, visit http://tinyurl.com/authorisland and scroll down until you see J.M. Snyder's contest on that page!

Personal Demon released today

Attention fellow lovers of religious erotica! I. M. Cupnjava’s short “Personal Demon” is available through Freya’s Bower.

"Personal Demon"

Temptation in an alb...

Those of the most devout faith face private struggles. When the man inside the priest fights carnal desires, the priest can only pray he has the inner fortitude to resist. Eve succumbed to the serpent. Adam succumbed to the apple. Now, Father Blake Krey stands in a private Garden of Eden, tempted by his own Personal Demon.

Genre: M/M Contemporary

How do you write a novel?

How do you write a novel?

That has to be most common question asked of me. It’s pitiful of me to say this, but I’m not exactly sure what people are really asking with that question. My response is, “One word at a time.” I don’t mean to be snippy or snarky with that reply, but “one word at a time” is the only way to write a novel, short story, poem, or an essay.

Sometimes I think people who ask that question are really asking about the creative writing process. Somerset Maugham once said, “There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are.” Wise words. Wise words, indeed.

The creative writing process is something unique to all authors. In Newport News, Virginia there is a writing group that meets for moral support, a few laughs, and food. During one of these meetings, I met a gentleman who uses the old index card process where every paragraph is hand written on an index card and then filed in the appropriate scene inside a card box. Editing is handled via pulling select cards and rewriting them. After speaking with this man, he laughingly told me that he’d been working on his novel for at least twenty years. He’s the only person I’ve met who still uses that system.

Other authors will do what I call “puzzle writing”. They write whatever scene is holding their muse hostage and then knit the disconnected scenes together. I can’t do that. It makes my head hurt just thinking about it.

I write sequentially…strictly sequentially. I start with “Chapter One” and I work all the way through to “the end” without skipping a single line of dialog. I use my muse’s urges as motivation. The few times I have skipped forward to write a must-write-this-now scene, I’ve killed the novel and it rests in peace incomplete on my hard drive.

Regardless of the creative process all novels are written one word at a time. I think the next time an aspiring author asks me that question, I’ll answer with, “I write one word at a time. But, the better question is how do you write a novel? What works for you?”

I.M. Cupnjava is a guest blogger who lives in Hampton Roads, Virginia. She’s a new author published by Freya’s Bower and has a short story included in the “Coming Together: With Pride” anthology published by Phaze.

Dare to Dream, 25% off at All Romance eBooks next week!

I'm pleased to announce the latest Dareville novel, Dare to Dream, goes on sale at All Romance eBooks starting 11/17. Starting Monday through the end of the month, you can save 25% on this eBook download when you buy it from ARe.

Save this link for Monday, and be sure to join me on 11/20 when I chat with ARe Book Club readers about my latest book!

Richmond Book Signing

If you will be in the Richmond, Virginia area tomorrow evening, Friday, November 14th, please stop by the Chesterfield Towne Center Barnes and Noble Sammie Jo Moresca will be signing SMOLDER and MORE, MORE, MORE! alongside her chaptermates from the Virginia Romance Writers: Mary Burton, Pamela Kinney and Donna Dalton!

Take home some autographed Virginia romance

Just in time for the holidays, you can purchase a signed, personalized copy of any of Leigh Ellwood's available print novels, including the first three Dareville romances and the anthology More, More, More!, featuring Leigh's short, "Daringly Delicious"!

Visit Leigh Ellwood's site today to order. Paypal and Google Checkout accepted.

Beautiful Disaster by JM Snyder

NOW AVAILABLE

Beautiful Disaster by J.M. Snyder

Buy your copy today!

BLURB:
Twenty year old Corey Evans is one-half of 2ICE, the biggest duo on the radio at the moment. Pronounced twice, they're number one on the Billboard charts this week with their latest single. And number one in download sales, with two albums that have already gone platinum, to hear their manager tell it. And currently on their second U.S. tour, which has sold out stadiums across the nation.

Despite this, there's an emptiness inside him which Corey can't seem to fill, no matter how many groupies he takes to his bed. He sees this same emptiness mirrored in the eyes of his band-mate, Ian Coltraine, who drowns his evenings after each show with a bottle of whiskey. Ian's the one Corey turns to when he wakes beside an unknown fan, still asleep in his bed and needs help evicting her. He's Corey best friend, the only person on the tour he can confide in, who he really trusts ...

The one, Corey finally realizes, with whom he is madly, deeply, terribly in love. And he suspects Ian might feel the same.

But his recent string of one-night stands makes Ian cautious about Corey's true feelings. He's wanted Corey for so long, and has watched him go through countless fans in search of ... what? Ian doesn't know. And he doesn't yet believe Corey when he says Ian might be it. Ian hopes so, but can't bring himself to believe Corey's fickle desire won't be gone in the morning.

Can these two young men somehow move beyond Corey's past and Ian's pain to embrace a love they both so desperately desire?

Buy your copy today!

Virginia is for Luvvahs

After much tinkering with Paint Shop Pro, and in anticipation of the new Dareville site, I've been poking around CafePress, making all sorts of promo goodies. You can see a preview of the Dareville shop via Phaze's CafePress store. I have a few designs up now, but in the future I plan to have some buttons and bumper stickers made for RT and other signings.

I'm really looking forward to doing more with the series. I wrote another thousand words at lunch today, bringing the total for The Dares That Bind to 2500. The target is HeatSheet length, around 10K, but I have a feeling it will be a bit longer. I realize in order for the kink to be believable there should be some interaction between the characters that doesn't involve the whips and chains. In reading some feedback on erotic romance, one common gripe is that stories often work like this:

"Hi," she said.
"Hi," he said. "Wanna fuck?"
"Okay."

Well, not like that, but you get the idea. In this age of hotter, faster, sexier we may tend to ramp up the sex at the expense of the story. Of course, readers buying an erotic book expect erotica, so you can't leave them hanging too long to the point that they are checking their watches as they read. With this story, I will try to maintain that balance between spice and reality.

As real as one can get with nipple clamps, anyway.

New Interview for Sapphire Phelan

I have a new interview out today. You can read it at Andrea Jackson's, the Paperback Reader's blog at http://www.pbdiva.com/.Just scroll down to the link for her blog to get to the blog to read it.
Sapphire Phelan

Bridget Midway's Midway Lowdown newsletter now posted!

I said what in that interview? Bridget Midway has a contest going on now? Wait! What books are no longer going to be offered soon? For answers to these questions and more, join my newsletter group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/midway_lowdown/

This is not a chatters list.

BridgeT
www.BridgetMidway.com

Life in Dareville: Dare to Dream Trailer

I have Mike Viera to thank for the wonderful music accompanying this promotional trailer for Dare to Dream, the latest in my Dareville series with Phaze Books. I will try, going forward, to create trailers for all of my novel length works. They are challenging to make, I tell you, especially if you don't want them to appear amateur. Of course, I am limited in what I can do with Movie Maker, but I enjoy it.

Life in Dareville: New Covers, New Friends, New Reviews

Aren't they just freakin' gorgeous!? Truth or Dare and Dare Me are getting print cover makeovers, just in time for the release of the fourth book in the series, and the pending launch of the Dareville site. This is something I had wanted to do for a while. Mind you, it's not that I didn't dislike the original covers - the occasional blog snark aside. Quite the contrary, when I sent Stacey King the ideas for the first two books she gave me what I had envisioned. Though the debate rages on over Poser-like covers versus photography and artwork, I still look back to when I first saw those two books, and I smile.

So why the new look? To be truthful, there were a few reasons. For one, now that Dareville is four novel-length works long, I wanted to bring a continuity to the series that extended to visual presentation. When you look at other series books, you might find they are cut along a similar template: Rita Mae Brown's mysteries have the large cat silhouette, the Kinsey Millhone books have the letters emblazoned huge on their covers, etc. I would like for the Dareville books to be as recognizeable.

Which brings me to the other reason: customer attraction. I've been doing quite a few signings lately. I plan to do more. Over the few years I have worked stores and festival booths, I have noticed one thing about the present Dareville covers: they get quite a reaction. Unfortunately, it isn't always the reaction I want. Erotic romance is hot right now, and the books sell well. One reason I think they sell well is because they can be purchased with discretion. Now, this is just my perception of things, based on experience, but when I display the original Dareville covers on a table I see double-takes, widened eyes, and the occasional embarassed chuckle. What I don't see is anybody coming closer to pick up the book. While a reader of romance may pass my table and show some degree of interest, I wonder if the idea of being seen holding a book with a naked man concealed only by a bass guitar is too much. I mean, what if a string of nuns should happen to walk past?

So wonderful Debi of the Phaze Books art department designed these replacement covers. Both are sexy and tasteful, and hopefully will draw more readers to my table than inspire what I call the "fearful crabwalk" - when a shopper is obviously trying to get away from you lest you whip out the silver lasso. Look for them soon.

Whip it Good!

I'm on a sugar high right now, mainly because of this review of Daringly Delicious (a Top 20 Bestseller from Phaze Books) from Whipped Cream Reviews. Four cherries on top, don't spare the wet nuts (HA! I kill me). If you read the review, you'll notice some interesting points I'd like to clarify. For one, unfortunately, the reviewer mistakenly identifies Dom as Lupe's husband. He is actually her father in law, Robbie is the husband. You'll meet all three in Dare to Dream. You have bought it, right?

Second, the reviewer didn't care much for the character of Lola, calling her the "obligatory office slut." Now, some authors might bristle at that, thinking it a swipe at their characterization abilities. I, however, don't mind. In fact, that was part of the plan. If you read Delicious and Dream and find Lola sort of one-dimensional, it's because she is. She has a one-track mind, sex and lots of it. She doesn't care where or with whom, so long as she gets off. If you don't like her, that's okay. I suppose in the back of my mind I arranged it for her not to be wholly liked, because I would then have the challenge of helping her be redeemed.

It is my intent to see Lola through a transformation, from a spoiled young lady to a focused, selfless lover. When Dare Devils is finished and released, I hope you will see and appreciate the results. Until then, read the other books.