Romance Author "Dyanne Davis"----LET'S TALK

2011-10-06T08:27:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/HITTING-THE-RIGHT-NOTE-ebook/dp/B005R2JBGA/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1317901018&sr=1-21

2011-09-26T18:47:00.001-05:00

This is going to be one of the best contests ever in the history of contest. Check out the list of authors below. Go to this link http://dreabecraft.com/events-2/ for the next stop on the hop. Then Please click on the graphic so that it will take you to the next page.

Drea Becraft * Lee Brazil * Avril Ashton * Kellie Kamryn * Elizabeth Black * Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy * Lacie Nation * JoAnne Kenrick * Daisy Dunn * Cassandre Dayne * Jessica E Subject * Sara York * Wendy Smith * Anne Holly * Lucy Felthouse * Kiki Howell * Julie Lynn Hayes * J.S. Wayne * Robin Badillo * Karen Erickson * Cari Quinn * Mahalia Levey * Dawn’s Reading Nook * Raine Delight * D.B. Moon * Kay Springsteen * Jillian Chantal * Cindy Jacks * Ashley Lucas * Rose Anderson * Eden Gleen * Beth Barany * D. Renee Bagby * S.L. Danielson * Ella Jade * Elizabeth Morgan * Rawiya & BL * Jean Joachim * Jambrea Jo Jones * Trinity Blacio * Debra Dennis * Natasha Blackthorne * S.J. Frost * Jaime Samms * Tabitha Shay * Sandra Sookoo * Kristyn Nicols * Roz Lee * Billi Jean * Dyanne Davis * Kharisma Rhayne * Erotic Diaries * Fiona McGier * Pender Mackie * Lily Sawyer * Roxanne Rhoads * Jodi Redford * Angel Martinez * Mary Absire * Sandy Sullivan * Kaily Hart * Dakota Trace * Lindsay Klug * Marie Rose Dufour * Stephanie Beck * Cara Bristol * B.A. Tortuga * Nicole Morgan * Missy Lyons * Secret Cravings Publishing * Marie Sexton * W. Lynn Chantale * Gabrielle Bisset * Karenna Colcroft * Lia Fairchild * Naughty Between The Stacks * Lelani Black * Wendi Zwaduk * Megan Slayers * Karen Marie Nutt * Kinley Baker * Paty Jager * Katherine Kingston * Beth D Carter * E. Jaime * Elizabeth Noble * Sarah Makela * Gracen Miller * Kerry Adrienne * Staci Brush * Cynthia Arsuaga * Kelly L Lee * Melisse Aires * L.K. Below * Selena Kitt * Ana Hart * Naughty Night Press * Kianna Alexander * Ami Blackwelder * Gabrielle Evans

Halloween Super Blog Contest

2011-09-16T04:30:00.000-05:00

It's beginning to look as if I only post about really big things happening. Then this is the post you have been waiting for. That's right, a super blog fest with tons of prizes and a group of authors waiting to thrill you with prizes and tempt you with stories of love, and of course for the occasion there will be stories that will scare the pants off of you. Keep dropping in for more details. You can of course go to the link below for more details on the entire contest.

But as to what I will be giving away you will have to come back. LOL. I'm lonely.

Dyanne

http://dreabecraft.com/Events-2/

Another Short Story

2011-05-21T17:18:00.000-05:00

I have a new romance short story

2011-05-19T07:04:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/

Three years ago I was one of the lucky authors to have my first short story appear in the Premier issue of New Love Story Magazine. That was a blast. Anyway the rights reverted back to me a couple of days ago, so I've put the story on Amazon Kindle. I think it's a nice short story, the beginning of a couple falling in love,(sorry, no sex) The price is also right. It's only .99

As to when my next full length romance will be out, I can say it will be in the next couple of months. I haven't been slacking off, but you know how life gives you different things to deal with from time to time. Well, I've been doing just that. For the past couple of weeks I have been putting up chapter by chapter views of my first vampire novel, In The Beginning.

Why, you ask? I'm hoping to have new readers fall in love with Adam Omega. We'll see.

2011-01-26T07:52:00.002-06:00

Something to think about

2011-01-26T06:06:00.000-06:00

The Charles Schulz Philosophy

(this is marvelous! Scroll thru slowly and read carefully to receive and enjoy full effect!)

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them.

Just read the e-mail straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4 Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are not second-rate achievers.

They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies.

Awards tarnish.

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier? The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the

most credentials, the most money or the most awards.

They simply are the ones who care the most.

Pass this on to those people, who have either made a difference in your life, or whom you keep close in your heart, like I did.

Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow inAustralia !

Be Yourself! Everyone Else Is Taken!

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2010-10-30T11:01:00.000-05:00

Night Owl Reviews Full Moon Web Hunt( lots of prizes)

2010-10-21T07:18:00.000-05:00

Enter to Win Prizes in the Night Owl Reviews Full Moon Web Hunt http://t.co/Ic1mZxw

Redirecting the Creative Flow

2010-10-12T07:24:00.000-05:00

2010-09-28T06:56:00.002-05:00

http://pamela-turner.blogspot.com/2010/09/tuesday-guest-post-f-d-davis.html

LaVerne Thompson-- Living On The Edge

2010-09-17T08:11:00.001-05:00

Check out this fantastic new trailer for LIVING ON THE EDGE a new paranormal shifter story coming Sept. 30th by LaVerne Thompson. Be sure to click on the link and listen to the music by friend and fellow author and singer Chaeya.

Do you trust your instincts?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvXHk_8ccdw

Here's a blurb for the story.

As one of the few female bounty hunters in the country and with a nickname like Edge, she enjoyed living on the edge and always got her man. One way or another. As an executioner for her shifter clan she was relentless, but finding a mate was not something on her radar, having to hunt him down and execute him even less so.

But could she trust her instincts?

Ethan Graves was a hunted man, not quite a man but a Leo of his kind. When he found out he was hunted by a sexy bounty hunter, he let himself be caught. He just had to convince her of his innocence before she killed him, then confess to wanting her as his mate.

But could he trust his instincts?

LaVerne

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Pamela Turner--- blogs on, The Many Faces Of The Angels of Death

2010-09-06T07:20:00.000-05:00

The Many Faces of the Angels of Death

by Pamela Turner

Although the concept of an angel of death has existed since Biblical times, such a being was not specifically named or described. According to Angels A to Z, “Only in postbiblical literature does the idea of an angel of death as such emerge. This ‘angel’ gradually developed into a demonic figure acting on his own initiative. According to the Talmud, the angel of death was identified with Satan, and the notion of the angel of death as evil was reflected in many folktales...”

Despite this association with the devil, angels of death are also among the holy echelons. The Talmud Baba Metzia mentions the angel isn’t necessarily evil and remains an agent of God. Christian belief cites Michael as a psychopomp who, according to A Dictionary of Angels, Including the Fallen Angels, “leads souls into the eternal light.”

Michael is also one of the memitim, a certain angel who, along with Gabriel, Samael, Sariel, and Malak Almawt (an Islamic angel of death), brings “about the destruction of those whom the guardian angels no longer protected.” (http://www.hauntedamericatours.com/ghosts/SaintDeath.php)

Rabbinic writings list fourteen angels of death: Adriel, Apollyon-Abaddon, Azrael, Gabriel, Hemah, Kafziel, Kezef, Leviathan, Malach ha-Mavet, Mashhit, Metatron, Samael (Satan), Yehudiah (Yehudiam), and Yetzer-hara. The Pirke Rabbenu ha-Kadosh lists six angels of death: Gabriel (young people), Kafziel (kings), Meshabber (animals), Mashhit (children), Af (men), and Hemah (domestic animals).

There is also, according to Eisenmenger (Traditions of the Jews), a hierarchy among the angels of death. Metatron is the supreme angel of death and his subordinates are Gabriel and Samael.

Metatron, Gabriel, Samael, and Azrael, along with Xariel (Sariel), are angels of death in my short novel, Death Sword. While Metatron oversees the angels of death, somewhat like a CEO, Gabriel and Samael are his seconds-in-command.

Azrael is the highest-ranking angel of death in Death Sword. In the story, he’s exiled himself on an island of apple orchards. A legend has Azrael holding an apple from the Tree of Life to the nose of the dying person in order to entice the soul from the body. In Death Sword, the fallen apples represent souls to be collected. Azrael delivers the names of these people to Metatron, who passes them on to Gabriel and Samael, and so on.

The supreme angel of death, however, is not without his challengers. Samael, an angel of death relegated to desk duty, resolves to overtake Azrael’s position. His plan is thwarted by the arrival of Karla Black, a half-human angel and daughter of the Grigori leader, Azazel.

Samael determines to destroy Karla before she can realize her destiny. His weapon is a venomous rapier that can kill with one drop of poison. Samael, whose name means “poison angel” is also considered to be the chief of satans. He’s described by the Talmud Abodah Zarah, 20, as “altogether full of eyes.” When he reaches berserker stage in Death Sword, these eyes are revealed. In legend, he is said to have had, before the Fall, twelve wings and a rank above the Seraphim. If this is true, then he could be equated with Lucifer. Like many angels, Samael is considered good or evil, depending on the source.

Xariel (Sariel) is one of the angels of death who takes his orders from Samael. Sariel (Suriel) is called the angel of death in the Falasha Anthology and was said to have fetched the soul of Moses. Among Xariel’s other duties are to act as a sort of angelic officer, being “responsible for the lot of angels that violate God’s sacred ordinances” (Angels A to Z).

Like Samael, Xariel is both holy and fallen. As one of the Grigori, he taught men the lunar cycle, formerly deemed forbidden knowledge. In Death Sword, this action results in him being cursed by the Seraphim. No sex on the new or full moons and he loses his angelic powers.

Although Xariel is under Samael’s command, he formerly worked for Gabriel until a misunderstanding caused them to part ways. Along with Michael, Gabriel is the only angel mentioned by name in the Bible, not counting the Apocryphal writings. While he is best known as the angel of the Annunciation, he is also an angel of death who destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. The Talmud Sanhedrin 95b describes him as someone who “smote Sennacherib’s hosts ‘with a sharpened scythe which had been ready since Creation.’”

In Death Sword, Gabriel wields a large scythe and doesn’t hesitate to summon it, even against Karla or Xariel. A warrior angel, he approaches situations with the mindset of a soldier. Although Karla irritates him, he admires her determination to stop Samael, even at risk of her life. Gabriel’s passion is chess and he despairs of ever teaching Xariel the finer points of the game. He’d also like for Xariel to quit drinking.

The angels in Death Sword operate under free will, controlled only by the machinations of three Seraphic angels. It’s a world where love is considered a weakness and the Seraphim rule with intolerance and fear. One of my goals is to challenge peoples’ preconceived views of angels as well as notions of good and evil. Whether or not I’ll succeed remains to be seen.

Pamela Turner is the author of the upcoming short novel, Death Sword (Lyrical Press, Spring 2011). A former Wisconsinite, she lives in Kentucky where the bugs are bigger and allergies aren’t an option but the law. She spends way too much time in cemeteries and catering to her cat’s every whim. You can find out more at her website and blog. She’s currently working on the second book in her Angels of Death series.

2010-08-06T05:07:00.002-05:00

As promised I've been asking some great authors to post on my blog. Why you might ask. Well, for one thing it gives yo a chance to learn about an author you might not be familiar with. For another, even I get tired of hearing myself talk. And the most important reason of all. I love love love hearing what other writers have to say. So without further ado I give you the talented and delightful Carly Carson

The Art of Flirting – D is for Dancing

Dancing comes in as many forms as there are cultures on the planet. But, in every form, dancing expresses emotion. Whether it's the joy of warriors after a successful hunt, the dramatic beauty of ballet, or the sexual display of couples attracted to each other, dance covers a wide range.

But I want to focus on dance as one of the best ways to flirt. It's romantic, intimate and fun.

The flirting starts before you're even on the dance floor. If you're the brave sort, you can always ask the guy to dance (just don't forget how much they like the chase). But if you want him to approach, you can't just sit there daydreaming. You need to establish eye contact (3-5 seconds; no staring) and give him a smile. Studies have shown that most men only approach women who've already initiated contact through subtle invitations like this. Even though the guys don't realize that's why they've decided to approach you. Yes, it's odd, I know. They think they are the brave ones.

Okay, you're dancing. I hope you have some sense of rhythm, even if he doesn't. Start your moves (and read my post on C is for Confidence if you're lacking in that department). It's here.

And here's a key element in cementing your partner's interest. Be sure you make periodic eye contact with the guy whose attention you're seeking. Don't let your eyes dart all over the room as if the place is on fire and you need the exit. If you look like you're scoping out some more appealing target, he may decide to do the same. You don't have to be brazen, but don't be shy, either. Let this guy know that these moves are for him.

Second, even though most dancing today is non-contact dancing, you can still use your dance moves to sneak in some flirtatious touching. Rest your hand lightly on his forearm to get his attention when you want to speak or point something out to him. Accidentally brush his elbow or shoulder when the opportunity arises. (No grabbing; no groping.) Touching him is flirting, even if it appears to be done accidentally. He will get the subliminal message. People touch people they like.

Now of course if you have the opportunity for some "slow" dancing, touching is taken to a new level. Now you get to experience that sublime sensation of his arms around you, his body close to yours. (Those prim Europeans who banned the waltz knew what they were doing.)

You get to decide how intimate your touching will be, and you can send all the messages you want. Obviously, the closer you allow your bodies to get, the greater the interest you are showing. But if you want to flirt, don't plaster yourself all over him. Give him a chance to smell your perfume, to feel your hand in his. Give him the thrill of the chase by not letting him pull you quite as close as he wants to. Engage his brain by making him strategize how he can succeed with you.

Most of all, have fun!!! Remember guys are visual. Dancing is a very visual way to attract him.

This month I'm celebrating the release of my new story, a futuristic romance called The Star Necklace. You can check it out here. My heroine lives on a planet with too many women, so she has to use all her moves to capture the heart of a reluctant warrior who wins her virginity.

My best flirter is Scarlet, who features in Scarlet and the Sheriff, which you can find here. I did a lot of this research to teach her how to bring the Sheriff to his knees and it was great fun.

Thanks for joining me on Dyanne's wonderful blog.

Carly

www.carlycarson.com

YA author Kathi Wallace, guest blogging

2010-07-14T11:39:00.002-05:00

Help me welcome Kathi Wallace. She's our guest blogger. My future aim is to entice authors of all genres to share their love of writing with you. Kathi writes for young adults, one of the hottest markets going. Please visit Kathi's website and check out her books.

Namaste

Dyanne

Teaching Children to Write Starts with Teaching Them Story-Telling

I really like kids. I enjoy the sound of their voices when they are playing. I love to hear their giggles and whispers but watching them discover something for the first time is just sheer joy. Turning my joy in children into a profession was a natural evolution and I spent twenty years of my working life as an early childhood educator.

One of the things I have always tried to share with children was my love of books, having been introduced to books at an early age myself. I can still remember the patience of my grandmother as she would agree to read me 'Just one more, please, Mamo!'.

When I learned to read myself, I devoured everything I could get my hands on and at times, my desires outstripped my abilities; I read Anne McCaffrey's Dragonflight when I was seven and not surprisingly, didn't like it at all. It wasn't until ten years had passed and my father gave me an omnibus of McCaffrey’s work that I realized - Wow! Needless to say, after that I gobbled everything of hers I could get my hands on.

It only seemed right to share this passion for reading with kids, not only my own, but the ones I dealt with on a day-to-day basis in my daycare center. Reading and telling stories were one of the day's highlights, not only for the kids but for myself and the staff as well.

As an educator, mother and writer, I feel very strongly about encouraging children to share their creativity and a great way to do this is through story-telling.

Children get validation when they are listened to; being listened to increases their sense of self and their importance in the scheme of things. There is no better way to get kids talking and others listening than to have them tell or write stories. Telling stories increases vocabulary and expands a child's ability to imagine and there is no better gift to give a developing mind.

When is a child ready to make up their own stories? When they can listen to a story, then repeat back some of the main points of that story, they are ready. I've had kids as young as three do this, but bear in mind that not all kids develop at the same rate and not all children listen in the same manner. Some kids process while they move, so that tapping or rolling around they're doing doesn't necessarily mean they aren't hearing the story, which is why they need to be asked what they've just heard.

One good way to get your child started telling their own stories is to first tell a few yourself. Sometimes kids don't really understand what telling stories is all about – and I totally get that. Understanding that a story is something created out of nothing can be a logical leap and one way I have helped children cross that first mental hurdle was to ask them to give me a prompt, modeling always being the best way to teach a skill.

"What would you like to hear about today?" I would ask. "Help me decide what to tell a story about." This lets the child know that you aren't just repeating something you've read or heard about, you are actually creating something. After a few times of this - the child giving you a topic and you making up a crazy little story from that topic - the light bulb turns on and the child is ready to try for themselves.

Don't expect too much at first – very young story tellers usually have very short stories, sometimes only a sentence or two. Just nod and repeat back to them what you've heard and if another child is present, include them as well. "Did you like that story as much as I did?" Eventually, the stories these children tell will become longer.

After a child is comfortable telling stories, they are ready to take the next step, which is seeing their words on paper. If a child is not yet writing themselves, then just write down their stories for them, making sure to do it as they tell the story. This lets kids get the connection between words that are spoken and the fact that they can have a one-to-one correlation to a written word. Because of this, it's important to write down the story exactly as it is told.

Then read the child's story back to them and watch their pride and excitement in realizing what they've accomplished. Don’t be surprised if your own feelings of joy seem to be even greater than theirs.

Kathi Wallace is the author of Assiniboin Girl, a Young Adult book released by Drollerie Press (http://drolleriepress.com/) and available from Amazon. She has two more books that will be released shortly. Kathi can found most days on her blog http://kathi430.livejournal.com or on Twitter as Kathi430.

Interview with Sharon Pickrel

2010-07-06T09:02:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone,

I hope you and yours had a nice holiday and that you remained safe. As usual I am constantly in contact with super talented people, granted most of them are writers. But hey writers count big time and I love them. Here’s something you might not know about writers. They’re shy. Yes, I said it. They’re very shy and most times don’t want to talk about themselves. Writer Sharon Pickrel, proves my point. Just read her interview and see for yourself. She has a wicked sense of humor.

Dyanne: Sharon, can you tell the readers about yourself, family, job pets, hobby?

Sharon: The basics, huh? OK. I'm divorced, no kids or pets but lots of house
plants I find way too easy to kill. I have a degree in chemistry and
in a former life worked in environmental consulting. Now I work in
addiction research monitoring clinical trials so I spend a lot of time
on the road. I have a sister on the west coast and a brother on the
east coast.

(OK - so I send this off to Dyanne with a huge sigh of relief and that warm and fuzzy feeling I get when an uncomfortable task is done. Then, this morning - wicked, evil woman that she is - there's an email in my inbox wondering in the nicest, friendliest way if I want to add more to my answers. This includes a trick I use- namely sharing the information that I don't pay for blog space by the word so there's no length limit and closes with the rhetorical question "Now, was this painful?" - and I know, KNOW I'm screwed.

Hell yes, it's painful.

But see - I so hate to talk about myself. I mean really - I'm the boring-est person I know. I work, write and do dishes. Sometimes I do laundry (though as little of that as possible. I even bought extra bras to lengthen the time between laundry emergencies) and I read. I don't watch TV except to rent movies or stare at the local weather radar when there's even the smallest possibility of a getting snow day from work. (My rapt, undivided attention is a powerful motivator for the storm front to do an Emeril and kick it up a notch.)

So seriously - what's in there that makes for scintillating reading?

Dyanne: ROFL. Now tell me you don’t think Sharon is funny. And this is the thing about writers they are naturally clever and you can’t help but enjoy it when they’re ahh…on the hot seat so to speak.

So, Sharon, despite your protests to the contrary that you’re not a writer, I know there is a writer hiding inside of every reader tell me, have you found yours yet?

Sharon: Cripes - I doubt she was ever lost. I've always made up stories. It
just took a long time before I wrote any of them down.

(I used to walk to and from school (20 miles, early-blooming boobs clearing the snow out of my path) and I would write 'em in my head. I asked to go to the bathroom once in elementary school and was so engrossed in my latest story I lost track of time and the teacher sent out a search party. I got detention and more time to plot in peace. So see - there's an upside to everything.)

Dyanne: That 20 miles….is that for real or is that a Bill Cosby 20 miles? (smile) I’m playing arm chair psychologist here. I’ll bet you’re feeling that way. What is your worst fear about letting family, friends, church know you're a
writer?

Sharon: That they'd want to read my writing. Plus, once they know they have a
habit of asking about how it's going.

(Can we be honest here? Really? Good!

'Cause there's always this sneaky little part of me that knows NO fear whatsoever and pipes up with "Yeah, going good - wanna read it." Lord! How dare she? And how come I can't find her address to kill her dead? She's always doing stuff like that.)

Dyanne: LOL. I know the feeling. But guess what, it’s not gong to be your family friends or church who will keep wanting to read your work. It’s going to be strangers. Now think about that one. (smile)

Have you carved out a writing schedule for yourself?

Sharon: Nope, but I should. I do NaNo every year and that structure always
jump starts the writing because it's a sort of all my free time is my
writing schedule. It does away with the wondering when....

(Right now? Writing sucks. I can't plot to save my life. I've got dozens of ideas for worlds, characters, new life forms, decadent chocolate desserts - and guess what? They're all sitting there staring at me and snickering. When it gets really bad, they even do the neener, neener, neerer dance. I mean really! How rude can your imagination get?)

Dyanne: I hope your writng include some of your natural humor because you ARE FUNNY!! Flash…Story. Idea. A writer whose characters mock her. I think you’re the writer for that story. Now I want to share a not so secret secret.

I am very powerful and have the power to grant you your fondest wish. There
is just one catch, it has to be a wish for you and you alone. I t has to be
selfish even. What wish would you like for me to grant?

Sharon: Hmmm. I have lots of selfish wishes, from quitting smoking to losing
weight. Or being published just once before I die.

Dyanne: I’m going to grant two of your wishes. YOU will be published. You’ll have to guess on which of the remaining two I granted. Believe it or not there is a reason for the next question I’m asking you, crazy isn’t it.

Earth can no longer hold all of it's citizens so many are being resettled on
a planet of their choice, and yes you can make up a new planet. Tell me what
you planet looks like and what you're going to find when you get there.

Sharon: It has a beach in the front yard and a fresh water lake out back of
the magically, mysteriously naturally occurring house. And beyond the
lake are the mountains. High, snow capped and ending in the clouds.
The climate is never hotter than 75 degrees or colder than 50 degrees.

Dyanne: You have just proven my point. The creative mind of a writer can take anything thrown at them, make a story out of it and throw it back. Well done. I like your world.

Now since I know all writers are avid readers I'm gong to ask you some
reader related questions.   What genres do you in general prefer to read and why?

Sharon: Paranormal and sci fi with strong world building and characters I can
follow for the long haul. Why? Because of the magic inherent in
imagining other possibilities.

Dyanne     What is your take on e-books and e-readers?

Sharon: I love them. I travel a LOT and take my e-reader with me. So much easier than packing books.

Dyanne: Who are some of your go to authors, what is about their books/style
of writing that puts them in your auto buy category?

Sharon:   Lately? Patricia Briggs, Robert Crais and Phil Rickman. And it's
because they aren't trite - either in the plot layers or the character
arcs.

Dyanne: Have you recently discovered any new authors?

Sharon: Val McDermot - I started reading her after watching Wire in the Blood
on netflix.

Dyanne: Without naming names has a book ever left you feeling disappointed with

                the story, characters, or ending?

Sharon:    Oh yeah. I've thrown books across the room. I've tossed 'em in the
                 trash and sworn at them.

(I'm so BAD! I always read the end first. And if I don't like it, I don't read the book and they'd sit in my bookcases taking up space and expanding the cubic area that required dusting. Then I found this great site...http://www.bookcrossing.com/....and now I release books I don't want into the wild. Book Crossing is sort of a Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Books. They're very cool.)

Dyanne: I love that society. I’m going to check them out. But wait…does that mean that all the books they have are the rejects? Hmm. Sharon, how active are you in online author’s groups, social networking sites (i.e. Facebook, tweeter, Good Reads, etc)?

Sharon: I'm active in a volunteering sort of way with a couple of RWA online
chapters. I don't use social networking - just not my style. I do
write collaborative fiction with some friends on Quillings, a Yahoo!
group. I tell people I have no life and live in a cave - and it seems
to be true.

Dyanne: What do you think of on-line reviews? Do they influence the books
you buy?

Sharon: Nope. I never read them, actually.

Dyanne: My kind of Writer.   Are most of your books purchased from the Internet or from the
bricks and mortar bookstores?

Sharon: Online - I adore Amazon.com.

Dyanne: I haven’t bought an e-reader but with Amazon and the Kindle for pc I know have a huge assortment of books. With the rise of E-Books, would you say you spend less on the purchase of printed books now than you have in the past? Also do you think one day
printed books will be obsolete?

Sharon: Yep, I spend less but I've also been known to buy the ebook and then
decide I want the hard copy too. I don't know if they'll be obsolete.
My suspicion is yes, unfortunately. I wrote a story once where
owning paper books was a sign of wealth and the books were treasures.

Dyanne: That makes me wonder if you might be a little bit psychic. I’ll have to check into that and see. Is there anything that I didn't ask you that you would like to say?

Sharon: Nope, not really.

Dyanne: Do you have any advice for authors? How about readers?

Sharon: For writers - quit caring if you're good enough. Care about if you're
getting better at it.

For readers? Demand the best in story telling - not the available.

Dyanne: Seriously, I love your advice. Writers are always questioning themselves. You’d think with the being so sensitive trait writers would seek a new career. But then they wouldn’t be writers right? LOL. Sharon, can you give me links to where you hang out so your soon to be fans can reach you?

Sharon: I hang out at Savvy Authors (SavvyAuthors.com) and on Quillings
(http://groups.yahoo.com/group/quillings/) and I post my never edited
collaborative fiction at thelisteners.net

Dyanne: Thanks Sharon. This was fun.

Another great contest.

2010-07-01T17:14:00.003-05:00

RITA Nominees Giveaway by Forever Romance

ONE SCREAM AWAY
By Kate Brady
Best First Book & Romantic Suspense Categories
Mass Market, ISBN 9780446541527, US$6.99 /CAN$8.50

FOR THE LOVE OF PETE
By Julia Harper
Contemporary Single Title Romance Category
Mass Market, ISBN 9780446619189, US$6.99 /CAN$8.50

TO BEGUILE A BEAST
By Elizabeth Hoyt
Historical Romance Category
Mass Market, ISBN 9780446406932, US$6.99 /CAN$8.50

KNIGHT OF PLEASURE
By Margaret Mallory
Historical Romance Category
Mass Market, ISBN 9780446553384, US$6.99 /CAN$8.50

MY FORBIDDEN DESIRE
By Carolyn Jewel
Paranormal Romance Category
Mass Market, ISBN 9780446178242, US$6.99 /CAN$8.50

KILL FOR ME
By Karen Rose
Romantic Suspense
Mass Market, ISBN 9780446616935, US$6.99 /CAN$8.50

I've got 3 sets to give away, many thanks to Anna at Forever Romance (Hachette Books) for this fantastic giveaway!!

So This Is What You Have To Do To Get An Entry!
1. Leave a Comment +1
2. Follow Me +1 already a follower +2
3. Post this contest on your blog (can be on your sidebar or a post) +3

PLEASE put your email in your comments or no entry (no exceptions).
This is for the USA and Canada only please and no Po Boxes (publishers rule)!
Winners will be announced on July 28th 2010!

__._,_.___

Romancebooksrus Christmas in July

2010-06-29T10:16:00.001-05:00

HO-HO-HO! IT'S CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

No one wants to wait for Christmas to celebrate the holidays so we're having a Christmas in July Event! Great Prizes, to include a new Sony Touch eReader, hats, totes, tee-shirts, gift cards, and more!

To enter our BIG contest:
1. Join our yahoo group - and you already have!

2. Become a Follower at our blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com Check the right sidebar and click on FOLLOW and follow directions. If you have a problem with this, contact april@aprilash.net (aprilATaprilashDOTnet).

3. Click on each of the 20 RBRU Bloggers' Websites/Blogs listed on the right sidebar at the blog (under FOLLOWERS). Send a list of 20 authors' names and one book title for each one to: contests.rbrus@gmail.com (contests.rbrusATgmailDOT.com). If an author has two pen names, you only need to click on one. You'll need a total of 20 author names and 20 book titles.

Contest runs from 1 July - 31 July midnight ET. Sorry: we only ship prizes to US and Canadian residents. Others may receive an emailed gift card/certificate. Winners will be announced on our Yahoo group and blog during the first week in August.

Please note: If you join just to enter the contest and then leave the group, you won't be permitted to rejoin when we do another BIG contest. Like Santa, I'm "making a list and checking it twice" so will keep track of those who join and leave. ALSO: going NO MAIL happens to everyone, but please don't make this permanent. We want you to be a part of our group, hear all our news, and join in! I also check this "list".

AUTHORS SPONSORING ADDITIONAL CONTESTS: (This list of Authors and contest links will be in FILES. Each author will run their own extra contest so click on their link. Others may be added so check Files frequently for updates.

Marianne Stephens
http://www.mariannestephens.net
April Ash
http://www.aprilash.net
Tina Donahue
http://www.tinadonahue.com and http://www.tinadonahue.com/blog
Jean Hart Stewart
http://www.jeanhartstewart.com
Dyanne Davis
http://dyannedavis.blogspot.com or http://www.AdamOmega.com
Elaine Hopper
http://www.elaineannhopper.blogspot.com
Ashley Ladd
http://www.ashleyladd.blogspot.com
Cindy Spencer Pape
http://www.cindyspencerpape.com/contest.html
Gina Ardito
http://ginaardito.blogspot.com
Paris Brandon
http://parisbrandon.com
Renee Vincent
http://www.reneevincent.com or http://pasttheprint.blogspot.com
Nicole Morgan
http://www.nicolemorganauthor.blogspot.com

Don't miss out on this contest. You've figured out I'm a part of this right? LOL. I'm giving away two copies of In The Beginning. This one is so easy. For me you have to go to www.adamomega.com and sign the guestbook. It's that easy. The winners will be drawn on July 31. Looking forward to seeing you at romancebooksrus.

Namaste

Dyanne

__,_._,___

T

Last time. Sign guestbook. www.AdamOmega.com
Go to http:..groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus/ Join the group.

mention Dyanne sent you. That's it. Easy as pie right? Winners will be drawn July 31st 2010

Best of luck to all of you.

Namaste

Dyanne

Lest Ye Be Judged by F.D. Davis, www.adamomega.com

2010-06-24T05:46:00.000-05:00

Talking with Raven Kelly from VampireBooks.Ca

2010-06-21T09:09:00.001-05:00

Good morning everyone,

Please join me in welcoming Raven Kelly from VampireBooks.Ca

Hello Raven and welcome. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what is your background?

Raven: My name is Raven Kelly and I'm the webmistress for three websites. Vampiress.ca, VampireBooks.ca, and RavenKelly.com. I'm from Canada, and live in the beautiful province of British Columbia. I read and review paranormal and vampire books as a hobby, and I absolutely love it. My husbandand I have our own Internet company together. He truly is my soul mate, my best friend and the other half of me. I'm also the mother to four loving fur babies named Blacks, Bouncer, Priscilla Presley and Tili.

Dyanne: I love that part about being the mother of fur babies. When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up?

Raven: I wanted to be a psychologist and help children and adults with their problems. I met my husband and we decided to start our own Internet company, and I have never looked back.

Dyanne: Why did you decide to start your first website Vampiress.ca?

Raven: I have always been interested in Vampires, and Witches from a young age. I started reading Twilight (yes I know what you are thinking), and that ignited my interest in vampires again. I read a few books in the genre, and soon after decided that I wanted to give other Vampire fans like myself a heads up on good Vampire books to read.

Dyanne: We definitely have something in common. I loved Anne Rice and later L.A. Banks. So it wasn't long before my own vampire, Adam Omega came into being. Good for us. Raven, can you tell us your favorite season? Why?

Raven: I absolutely love the Fall Season. I'm a Fall baby, so I guess that is a part of the reason. I love the colorful leaves, cooler weather, all things "Halloween," and also I'm a Atheist witch so it goes all seems to go along. Dyanne: Who is your favorite Author(s)?Raven: WOW, that is hard question to answer. I don't want to be biased, but some that instantly come to mind are Lyndsay Sands, Katie Mac Alister, Lisa J Smith, Gerry Bartlett, Christine Freehan, Jenika Snow and Rae Lori are a few authors that I really enjoy.

Dyanne: Who is your hero? Someone you admire and look up to?

Raven: I have two people that I admire and look up to. The first person is my husband, I admire is drive, and patience. He is such a driven person in life and someone who works hard to achieve his goals. The second person I admire is Alex Jones, a lot of you may not have heard of him. He is someone who is passionate about liberty, which I am too. Our world right now is in trouble and we are going into some really hard times. Alex is so focused, and up on his radio show every day trying to get word out about what our governments (and the the people who control our governments) are doing to us. If you are interested in learning more about Alex Jones please check out his website www.infowars.com. As Alex will tell you, "Don't take my word for it, research it for yourself!" ..if you do a little investigating on the net you will be VERY surprised at what you find!

Dyanne: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?

Raven: I would live where I am now, in Canada, in the most beautiful province there is. My dream would be to one day live in big log cabin on some land with my 4 cats and husband. I would have chickens, cows, goats, and a few horses on my land. I would also have a massive organic garden with every vegetable known to man, and lots of fruit trees. I would also build my house by a nice stream so I can hear the water outside my bedroom window at night. I love nature and everything about it. I love the piece and quiet and, the smell of the clean air in the mountains. That would be heaven for me.

Dyanne: Tell is something interesting about yourself?

Raven: I was born on my mothers birthday and I am exactly half her age. I was also born on a full moon.

Dyanne: Raven, that is so cool. What interests you and what do you like to do for fun?

Raven: I love watching hockey I'm a huge Edmonton Oilers Fan. I love reading and spending time on my websites. I like aromatherapy, and nice hot bubble baths. I also like to workout and eat healthy.

Dyanne: Can you describe yourself in one word?

Raven: I can't describe myself in one word, but people always tell me that "I'm a nerd trapped in a beautiful body." LOL

Dyanne: How nice and what a great compliment. So tell me, Raven, what is your favorite food?

Raven: CHOCOLATE, I love chocolate. Anything that has chocolate on it, I'm eating. My husband has to hide chocolate from me because I would eat it all day long. I hope everyone enjoyed learning a little about me, I enjoyed sharing myself with you all. You can check out my websites here by visiting these URL's below.http://www.vampirebooks.cahttp://www.vampiress.cahttp://www.ravenkelly.com

Thanks Raven, I can't wait to check out your books.

Namaste

Dyanne

2010-06-15T09:16:00.001-05:00

Midnight Omen Deja Vu ....Talking with Marti Melville

2010-06-15T05:55:00.002-05:00

DD: Today I'm interviewing Marti Melville, who just happens to be a fellow nurse.

Marti, your career has been as an Emergency Nurse. What caused you to shift to writing a novel?

MM: I’ve always loved to write. I have a collection of one-page stories that really are a journal of my life perspective on random events. Writing this novel however, was the highlight.

DD: So what was the motivation to write a full novel?

MM: I love history and the “story” that creates an individual’s life. I wanted to pass that love of history on to my children and grandchildren. This book was supposed to be the story of my great-great-great (keep going with the “greats”) grandmother but evolved into a different story.

DD: What caused the evolution into this story?

MM: There is some question as to the last name of one of my great grandfathers. I researched the name in question, looking for a sailor with that same last name, Philip. It was then I stumbled onto the not so famous pirate, Captain John Phillips of the Revenge.

MM: Why Captain John Phillips? Why not Blackbeard or another well-known pirate?

MM: Well, the first reason is his name which caught my interest. There’s something intriguing about the idea of having a grandfather who was a pirate. John Phillips’ story is just too good to pass up. I’ve said many times, “You just can’t make this stuff up!” His story was my novel waiting to be written.

DD: Your book has been called a paranormal romance and a historical fiction. So which is it?

MM: A little of both. I think the reincarnation piece makes the book slide into a paranormal genre. The history is in the story of the Revenge and her crew. All of the male characters, with the exception of Seth, are actual crew members who served under Captain Phillips. He, of course, is an actual pirate who had quite a reputation in the 1700’s Caribbean

DD: Are all of the characters in your book based on real people?

MM: No. The male characters really lived (except for Seth). However the female characters are all fictional. Morrigan and her sisters are based on ancient Celtic folklore.

DD: "Midnight Omen Deja vu" is an intriguing title. What does it mean?

MM: There is one part of the story in which an omen lies on the moon. Deja vu is something everyone experiences at some time or another. It’s the feeling you get when you are in a place or situation that feels keenly familiar, like you’ve been there before.

DD: I've experienced quite a bit of Deja vu in my life. Like right now I might add. LOL. I think maybe the question I should have asked you was if your title has more to do with an omen or with deja vu. Either way it's intriguing and I'm sure your answer which I'm willing to be was designed not to give too much away, (so I won't either) has captured the readers attention. Moving on. Your website mentions possible real people you know who your characters are modeled after. Who is Kathyrn?

MM: That is true for a few characters but not all. I suspect all authors write about what or who is familiar to them. I am no different. Kathryn is modeled after both my daughters. One daughter has mesmerizing sapphire blue eyes. The other has a feisty personality with long dark hair.

DD: Actually, I tend to use the names of people I know more so than their personalities. Though several people have thought I was writing about them when they were nowhere in my mind at the time. So, Marti, who then was your inspiration when you created the persona of Captain John Phillips?

MM: Ahhh...Captain Phillips’ persona is modeled after someone I know but just who that is will stay with me.

DD: With a nursing career, attending the university and being a single mother to five children, (My hat is off to you on all of this) how did you make time to write?

MM: I would walk my dogs in the early dusk. By the time we rounded back toward home, the sun would be set and the moon on the rise. It was during those walks that I would plan out each chapter. My laptop would come out and I would put those ideas into words late at night. Frequently, I would get up before anyone else in the house was awake and steal quite moments to write as the sun rose. I love those times!

DD: I totally agree with you about writing in the early morning. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

MM: Don’t waste time trying to be perfect at first. Just write, write, write! Get your ideas on paper (on your computer). Write something every day. Talk to other authors and attend writer’s conferences to glean from the experiences of the “experts”. Stay with it and don’t get discouraged.

DD: Thanks Marti. That's all great advice and can't be repeated to often. So, tell me where and at what events can the readers meet you?

MM: I will be sharing in the launching party for “Midnight Omen Deja vu” this summer in Salt Lake City (date to follow). On August 7^th and 8^th, I will be signing books at the Barataria Pirate and Faerie Faire in Sprinfield, Missouri. In September, I will be in Denver for the Buccaneer’s Bash and in October, the Tall Ship’s Festival on Catalina Island, California. There are several other local events in and around Salt Lake as well.

DD: How can the readers find out more about these events?

MM: All of the events and book signings are listed on my website (www.martimelville.com).

DD: Great. Are you available for public speaking engagements or book club meetings?

MM: Absolutely! I enjoy the opportunity to spend an evening with readers and authors alike.

DD: How is the best way to contact you?

MM: I can be reached through my website (www.martimelville.com) or by phone at 951-216-4411.

DD: Where can we get a copy of "Midnight Omen Deja vu"?

MM: Orders are now being taken directly through my publisher, PublishAmerica on their site. You can also order through my website (www.martimelville.com). Mention this interview in an email to me (martimelville@gmail.com) and receive an additional 10% off your order.

DD: Marti, I don't know about anyone else but I love a discount. Will there be more “Deja vu”?

MM: There will always be Deja vu moments. “Midnight Omen Deja vu” is not the last of Captain Phillips and Kathryn.

DD: Are you saying there is a sequel?

MM: Yes. The sequel is currently being written.

DD: Will Kathryn and her pirate Captain be reunited ever again?

MM: Perhaps. You never know what can happen in a lifetime (especially in a previous one). I suspect Kathryn will meet her Captain once again but when and how is something you’ll just have to read to find out.

DD: LOL. Marti, you've been really great. You've intrigued us and left us wanting more. Perhaps you'll consent to a brief excerpt and I can post it tomorrow. Tune in everyone to find out if Marti will give you a bit more of a taste. Until then.................

Namaste

Dyanne

Happy Memorial Day

2010-05-30T11:20:00.000-05:00

Good morning everyone,

Have a safe and happy holiday.

Namaste

Dyanne

Life continue

2010-05-21T11:59:00.000-05:00

Okay, I'm posting before rereading the last post and pulling it. Let me just say this: Life is so much better than it was. The plumbing is fixed and guess what: Billy has his job safe for now. So life is good. I'm even enjoying some success with Lest ye Be Judged.

Have a GRAND weekend everyone.

Namaste

Dyanne

Things going wrong?

2010-05-18T09:16:00.000-05:00

Are you ever supposed to blog when you're having a truly awful day? How about let's make that a truly awful week. Personally, I don't think other people want to hear your woes. But considering that I'm the only one who appears to read my blog what does it matter?

Shall I list the things that are going wrong right now today? Doens't matter I'm going to anyway. Plumbing problems and no, it isn't ordinary problems tht a rodding out will fix. We're talking major and prayers that it isn't aren't helping one little bit.

Then of course the television in the LR is on the fritz. Okay, maybe I can live without that but it sure the heck is inconvenient. Now throw in it's time to pay real estate taxes, and I'm not talking a few hundred dollars, let's go into the thousands. And then we have our son who has just learned that his job was bumped when someone else was laid off.

Aren't these enough things that I qualify for a bit of a pity party today. I'm actually going to post this and see if just the doing of it makes me feel better. When I feel better I'll delete it.

Namaste

Dyanne

Susanna's Heart by A.M. Wells

2010-05-17T08:49:00.001-05:00

Talented new comer, A.M. Wells, debut novel, Susanna's Heart is inthe number one position at Red Rose Publishing. YAHOO, For A. M.

Many congrats and many more sales.

Happy Sunday

2010-05-16T07:27:00.000-05:00

Yesterday Lisa G. Riley and I did our annual workshop for Mayor Daley's Bookclub here in Chicago. It's always a great time to meet old freinds as welas talk to the kids. Each year we're amazed at how gifted and mature the kids are.

This is especially hard for me, even I think I sound like an old fuddy duddy. The kids are reading books with sex and violence and I want them to read about bunny rabbits and fluffy clouds. Okay, maybe not that but when did all of the kids grown up so quickly.

There is a part of me that realize that they need to learn about the dangers of drugs, unprotected sex, guns and the likes but there still is a part of me that thinks we're chipping away at their carefree childhood, the pure innocence of being a kid.

Believe me I'm aware my wants are a bit backwards in today;s world. That however doesn't prevent me from wanting it. Oh in case I forget, Lisa and I did enjoy being a of the conference again.

Namaste

Dyanne

Lest Ye Be Judged by F.D. Davis, www.adamomega.com

2010-05-13T09:37:00.000-05:00

A. M. Wells, debut novel, Susanna's Heart

2010-05-12T08:59:00.000-05:00

My good friend A.M. Wells is nervously awaiting the debut of her book, Susanna;s Heart. It comes out tomorrow. Her blog link has an excerpt. Check it out.

Here's the link to purchase book, http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=321&products_id=780

Blog link, www.amwells.blogspot.com

Dyanne Davis guest host--Blogging with Donna Hatch

2010-04-29T06:05:00.000-05:00

Interview with fantasy character Kai Darkwood, knight and Sauraii warrior from my new fantasy novel, Queen in Exile

Walking toward the arena where the knights have just finished training, I wave to a tall, dark-haired knight who is handing his gear to his squire, and I call, "Captain Darkwood, may I have a moment?"

Kai turns toward me with his famous, heart-stopping grin, and lets his gaze rove up and down me as he approaches. "Of course, fair one. What would you ask of me?" he asks in his lovely, Darborian accent, faintly reminiscent of Irish. His brilliant blue eyes narrow as he comes to a stop within arms' length. "You are familiar to me. Have we met?"

I'd almost forgotten how handsome he is and I stammer, "W-Well, yes, I'm your author."

"But of course. You look more than ever. That gown is much more flattering than those strange leggings you usually wear."

"Yes, well, no one is supposed to look good in sweats."

He cocks his head to the side. "Tell me, why do you lock yourself away hour after hour?"

"Um, well, to write about you. And this interview is about you, not me."

"But you are so much more interesting than I."

"Now Kai, I know you are a very private person, but I promise I'll keep my questions general; nothing terribly personal."

His blue eyes twinle as he folds his muscular arms over his broad chest. "You already know everything about me."

"Yes, but my readers don't."

"Very well. I will agree to this interview. If I dislike any question you ask, I will simply kiss you to make you forget." A cocky grin tugs at his lips.

I blush deeply, unwilling to confess exactly how much I'd like to be kissed by the Kai Darkwood, and manage an outraged, "Kai! I'm married!"

"A pity."

"Don't try to turn your legendary charm on me, Kai Darkwood, I wrote you."

"Or did I simply tell you what to write?"

Refusing to admit how much I've dreamed about him, I take a breath to steady my knees. "Back to the interview. Would you please explain exactly what is a Sauraii warrior?"

"Very well. A Sauraii Warrior is highly trained in weaponry, battle tactics, and hand-to-hand combat. It takes most people several years to complete the course. Some never finish at all."

"But you finished it in record time."

Kai shrugs modestly. "My father did, as well."

"Please tell us why you're here in Arden, instead of in your native country of Darbor."

"My king commanded me to train the knights of Arden out of concern for his friend and ally, the King of Arden."

"Why?"

"Arden has enjoyed a century of peace and has developed an abhorrence to violence, even training in self-defense. Their knights train out of tradition, but not out of real desire. Their skills are very limited which makes them vulnerable to enemy attack."

"And they're in danger of enemy attack?"

"Our spies have told us the barbarians of Hanore plan to attack after spring thaw. We have much to do and little time."

"Tell me, what is your impression of Princess Jeniah?"

Kai shifts uncomfortably. "She is lovely, and has graciously forgiven me for our....misunderstanding upon our first meeting."

"She intrigues you?"

He stiffens. "She is royalty. There can be nothing between us. It's just as well." His fingers move unconsciously to a lock of braided hair hanging around his neck, and a fleeting, haunting look appears in his eyes. When he catches me looking, he masks the brief display of emotion.

Very softly, I ask, "Will you ever let down those walls around your heart?"

There is a brief look of alarm, then a devilish light enters his eye as his irrepressible grin slips back into place. "I think it is time I kissed you."

Reminding myself I'm married, even while I wonder if kissing a fictional character counts, I turn and run, almost tripping over the skirts of my medieval-style gown.

Kai's laughter chases my retreat.
Warm wishes,
Donna
~
Donna Hatch
Believe in Happily Ever After

The Guise of a Gentleman; Book 2 of the Rogue Hearts Series
Queen in Exile, a fantasy
http://www.donnahatch.com
http://donnahatch.blogspot.com/
http://historicalhussies.blogspot.com/

2010-04-27T12:15:00.001-05:00

I am trying my best, okay that's a lie. I'm trying to do better with the blogging and things like that. So why am I on here blogging today? Just want to start early letting people know that on Thursday I will have as my guest blogger Donna Hatch. Come by and leave comments. She's gong ot have a contest with a fabulous prize.

Dyanne

Just a Taste

2010-04-15T17:49:00.000-05:00

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Just+a+Taste+by+Dyanne+Davis&x=0&y=0

COME ON, I KNOW THAT THAT COVER IS MAKING YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S INSIDE.

I'll give you a hint the last story in the collections is very, very, very, very, not my usual. I might even call it kinda dirty. But since I wrote it I think I'll call it erotic. It's only $2.99 if you want to try it. You can buy it directly from my website: www.dyannedavis.com or you can go to the link above at amazon. Let me know what you think.

Dyanne

2010-03-31T14:47:00.001-05:00

Lest Ye Be Judged

2010-03-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

LEST YE BE JUDGED

F.D.DAVIS

I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore

Revelation: 1:11

LEST YE BE JUDGED

Ice formed in Adam’s veins and sent a chill through the room. His teeth were set in a firm, vicious line as he closed his eyes in concentration. The roar that wanted to break out and heap destruction on the world was abated by the freeze. He would not give in to the rage that seethed just beneath the surface.

Keeping his eyes closed, Adam raised both hands and stretched them in front of his body, turning to ice everything that came in contact with the energy that was projected through the tips of his fingers. He heard a gasp, a request to stop, but heeded it not. Better that a few sticks of furniture be destroyed or a few inconsequential vampires perish than the entire world. He cared for not one of them at this moment. His concern was for Eve, his wife, the bane of his existence, and the woman he’d forfeited his life for.

With but a thought Adam froze time. He needed a moment to ponder how his life had spiraled so out of control. Naturally his thoughts fell on Eyanna, his wife from more than a thousand years in the past, the wife who’d reincarnated into Eve’s body.

Drawing in a deep breath Adam could still see Eyanna. Anger threatened to overcome him as thoughts of exchanging his mortal life, hoping it would save Eyanna assailed him. Adam took in several more bottomless breaths as images flooded him. Him, being turned. Eyanna, being afraid for his soul, afraid of him, throwing herself in the town fire hoping to save him. It hadn’t. How could it when for over a thousand years he’d mourned her. And in his mourning he’d become the monster that she’d feared he would.

Only for a time had finding Eve brought joy to his life. Perhaps things could have been different if he’d not known her soul was that of his lost love. Perhaps his conflicting emotions toward Eyanna’s leaving him to suffer immortality alone could have prevented him from not showing Eve the physical side of love after he’d turned her.

A deep sigh filled his lungs and burst forward. That deed was not on Eyanna or Eve. It was his and his alone. His stubborn insistence to not bed a vampiric woman was because of Tarasha turning him and nothing more. But that was the reason Eve was now lying in the bed, dying of poisons she’d created. A deep shudder raced down his spine.

A witch.

A vampire witch.

He could almost, ‘not’ blame her for having fallen in love with Sullivan. But he did. He blamed them both and he’d promised Sullivan that should harm befall Eve there would be retribution.

Now his wife lay waiting for him as he sat beside her bed with the tubing running from his arm to hers, waiting to receive his life affirming blood. He could either save or release her.

With startling clarity Adam opened his eyes and snapped his fingers together softly, restoring time. A grunt of derisiveness fell from his lips making him even more aware of the reason Eve was once again at death’s door. His trying to be other than what he was, Adam Omega, ‘Vampire,’ had led them all to this moment of death and dying. Death would come sooner for some than for others.

No more trying to be, ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’ What nonsense! He no longer cared what foul names his wife called him. He would do as he’d done for a thousand years. He would right the wrongs that had been done to him. He was in charge. He stretched slowly and lazily, finally opening his eyes, allowing his gaze to take in each player in this macabre drama. Adam shook his head in disgusted remorse. Eve, his wife, was dying from a potion she’d made and coupled with the AB-5 Dr. Meah had invented. It had proven to be a deadly cocktail.

His gaze took in Dr. Meah, a previously loyal friend who’d have to be harshly dealt with. Adam had dozens of scientists working for him and could get dozens more. Dr. Meah’s time of service, at least to Eve, had come to an end. It was over, finished.

A gurgling sound caused Adam to focus on Mark, the only human in the room. The mortal was turning a ghastly shade of white as Sullivan’s

fangs sank deeper and deeper into him. The mortal would be but another casualty in this little war. There was no pity in him for the mortal. Mark should have obeyed Adam’s commands. Adam turned his attention to Sullivan, the pale faced, blue-eyed vamp who’d thought he could come in and so easily take his wife. Adam sank his own fangs fiercely into Sullivan’s neck. Eve had only been on loan. Now he was calling in that loan.

A hiss of air, a strangled garble, as Mark fought for his last breath. Adam heard the mortal’s heart slow, then stop completely. Sullivan’s hand fell from around the neck of the corpse and he shuddered as Adam continued to drink from him. Dr. Meah was trembling, his fear snaking through the room and scenting the air with its foulness.

Finally it was done. Dr. Meah had drunk her blood. The poison was gone from Eve; now the healing could begin. The little witch should have left well enough alone.

How long had it been since he’d called her, ‘Little Healer?’ She should have just accepted her role as mistress of the vampire kingdom, wife to Adam Omega.

There had been no need for Eve to go rooting around trying to become what she’d been in a long dead past. But she had ventured into her past, learning, picking up new skills along the way, thus forcing Adam to acquire those same skills, skills he’d abhorred, skills he’d considered sacrilegious.

A shudder of annoyance braced its way up his spine and he wondered what other things Eve had been working on before succumbing to her own dire handiwork and thought he knew.

He had a surprise for Eve. If his wife chose to be a witch, then he would match her powers. The only difference would be that they would draw their powers from different sources, hers from light, his from darkness.

Adam smiled to himself. The darker arts yielded more power and worked far quicker, much to his delight. He continued gazing at Eve. The huge amber ring Adam wore on his left hand glowed with life. The rich honey hue deepened as did his thoughts. She would not know something that he did not. He would not allow it.

“Adam, stop it. Freezing us and everything in this room is doing no good. It’s not going to help Eve.” Sullivan growled.

In a deadly slow move Adam turned on the chair, pausing for just a millisecond to gaze at the furnishings and vampires encased in ice. Something primal was fighting to take him over, an urge to kill, maim, and destroy, to end it all. But there was something he had yet to do. Still in slow motion he turned back toward Eve, surprised to see her blanket was a sheet of ice. He stared at her body for a moment, sighed, and then moved a finger over the area around her, turning the ice back into a thin cover, drying it in the process.

Blood danced on the tips of Adam’s fangs, Sullivan’s blood. As a drop fell away he glared at Sullivan, the cause of all of this, and sank his fangs into his flesh again, this time with unadulterated fury. He didn’t drink. His actions now were not for feeding but for inflicting pain. He pierced through vessels, and bones, clamping his jaws together. A silent tremor from Sullivan caused him to relent and he began to retract his fangs from their merciless grip.

Again Adam lifted his eyes to survey the damage. For the first time in a long while he allowed the blood tears to flow from grief, grief at what he’d allowed to transpire. He should have never been moved by Eve’s tears, nor her pleas to live a life apart from him, to be allowed to love Sullivan, to live with him. Sullivan’s hand knocked Adam’s to the side startling him. A bemused expression crossed Adam’s face.

“I think you’ve had enough of my blood,” Sullivan said, moving from Adam toward the bed to check on Eve.

Adam gave a low growl as Sullivan attempted to move closer to the bed, closer to Eve. Adam was having none of it. He growled louder as his fangs lengthened and his eyes changed color.

“Don’t come any closer.” He sent the words with a snap to Sullivan. “I’m taking my wife back. I’m taking her back, right here, right now, and in your bed.”

“Can’t we make sure Eve has survived before you throw your silly tantrums?” Sullivan asked, ignoring Adam’s lowered fangs and the growl. Adam would have to kill him here and now to prevent him from checking on Eve.

“I’m going to kill you, Sullivan.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve got it. Haven’t you tired of threatening me? You’ve given Eve your blood and if she makes it, I will thank you for that. But you will not have Eve. Nothing has changed, Adam.”

Adam chuckled. It was time to take control again. He should never have allowed a woman, his wife, control. He should not have allowed her to sully his love.

“Sullivan, Sullivan, Sullivan,” Adam repeated. “How I want you dead. How I wish at this very moment I had the time to make it so.” His fist twisted as he applied pressure to Sullivan’s heart without even touching him. Then he took in a deep breath and released it and Sullivan. Whatever he decided to do to the vamp he wanted Eve to witness it.

“I’m taking my wife back.”

“Just you try it,” Sullivan hissed as his own fangs descended. Energy shimmered in waves, casting a silver glow around Sullivan’s body. Fear for Eve coupled with his anger at Adam’s arrogance in thinking that after two years he could just come back and reclaim the woman he hadn’t wanted. The gall of it made Sullivan a bit more forceful than usual. He was breathing hard, trying not to rub his chest. That more than any of the feats Adam had accomplished made Sullivan envious. How he wished that he could tighten his fist and cause Adam’s heart to cease beating. If he could cause Adam pain without even touching him, it would be one long, continuous torture session.

“While you try to take Eve from me, where do you think I will be, Adam? And do you think it will be that easy? She loves me as well as you.”

“Are we really going to do this dance and pretend that you have a choice in the matter? Don’t worry, when I decide to take her, which is right now by the way, you’ll be right here. In fact, I insist that you have a ringside seat.” Adam stared hard at Sullivan, not blinking, not moving a muscle.

“I gave you one chance to keep her safe. You’ll not get another.” Adam’s voice gentled and the rough edges were swept away as he turned his attention to Eve.

“You should have known better, Sullivan.”

Sullivan’s pain was palatable. He regretted the things that had happened to Eve but still his regrets made no difference. He could have cost Eve her life. Adam was right, he had known better. Acute shame washed over him.

“Adam...” Sullivan sighed, then called his name again. “Adam, will she be okay? She’s so still. She looks to be dead. Her heart is no

longer beating.” He stared at Adam. “Did it work? Did your blood save Eve?”

“Why don’t you link with her and find out,” Adam taunted.

Sullivan blanched, his skin losing the little color that it possessed. His blue eyes filled with moisture at having to admit that his link with Eve wasn’t strong enough. He’d already tried to reach her. It would have to be Adam to bring her back to this side of life. Adam had made her, only he could go in that deeply. He stared at Adam, not wanting to ask another thing of him, hating that he couldn’t give Eve the things she needed. He felt powerless. He couldn’t even penetrate her mind enough to know if she were still in there. He’d once again have to rely on her crazy husband.

Sullivan’s skin crawled with revulsion and he bit back the snarl that threatened to slide across his face. To get anything from Adam he would have to crawl, make himself humble, and bow before the almighty Adam Omega.

Anger rose and he swallowed that also. He had more important matters to contend with. Eve was the only important thing in his life and he had to know if calling Adam to save her with his blood was going to be worth the look that would surely be in Eve’s eyes if she survived.

“Adam, check on her please,” Sullivan pleaded, his eyes remaining on Eve.

“You want me to check on my wife for you?” Adam shook his head, chuckling a little as he did so. “Sullivan, you never cease to amaze me.”

“Is allowing Eve to linger in that twilight state part of your plan? Do you think your actions will cause me more grief than I already feel? They can’t.” Sullivan tried for a different tactic. “Surely you’re as concerned as I am to know if your blood was strong enough to bring Eve back from the brink of death.”

“You think using logic and appealing to my vanity will turn the tide in your favor, cause me to…what?” Adam tilted his head slightly to study Sullivan. He shook his head, causing the locs on his shoulder to move about. With one hand he pushed the long hair from his face and secured it in a purple binding. His movements provided the few seconds he’d needed to distract Sullivan. Killing Sullivan no longer held the urgency it had but scant hours ago. A different plan was forming, one that might prove to be a lot more fun than just killing Sullivan outright as he’d promised. Oh, he’d still kill him, but maybe he’d have some fun with him

first, payback. Who knew in the end how long he’d allow Sullivan to continue living?

Adam’s gaze followed Sullivan’s and both vampires stared at Eve. Then their eyes met and held. It was Adam who broke the connection and turned once again to look at Eve. Maybe it was time his fledgling wife graduated. He’d bring her back to life and when she learned his plans for her she’d wish even more that he hadn’t.

“You enjoy having this power over us, don’t you?” Sullivan hissed.

A smile graced Adam’s lips. He wouldn’t deny that he enjoyed the power he had. Being in control of the world was a high. Only one Being that he knew of was higher. And that Being hadn’t deemed the affairs of the world important enough to get involved in. Yet. And if the day came that it changed… well then, Adam would deal with it then.

He glared at Sullivan, then softened his gaze as always when he turned to look at his wife, so still, so corpse like as she lay there with his blood flowing through her veins. He turned the ballcock, removed the needle from his vein, waved a finger over the puncture mark, and unencumbered by tubings, moved closer to Eve.

Entering Sullivan’s mind Adam scanned his thoughts. The tormented vamp was right about one thing. It was time that he made a mental lock with Eve. He had no doubt that she would pull through. Whether she wanted to was a different matter. Still, it was time, he thought as he ran his finger gently over her face, sighing deeply.

Ignoring Sullivan, Adam rose from the chair and crawled into the bed and pulled Eve into his arms, holding her, planting kisses on her still form. Then he leaned his head back and roared the ancient cry of warriors.

When the last echo died, he brought his head up slowly and stared hard at Sullivan for a long moment. “Like I said, I’m taking my wife back, right here, right now, and in your bed. Holding Eve in his arms, turning her so that she was facing him, he gazed on her, the memory of every moment he’d spent with her filling him. His thoughts from a thousand years in the past caused him to shiver. He pressed his lips to Eve’s carotid artery and sank his fangs gently into her, going deep into Eve’s psyche and connecting with her thoughts.

“Eve, you know that your time with Sullivan has ended.” He waited. When she didn’t answer he went deeper, caressing her with his thoughts. “Eve, I know you can hear me. I will not let you die.”

“Go away, Adam. I’m having the most beautiful dream and you’re spoiling it.”

He couldn’t prevent the mental chuckle. “So you think you’re dreaming?”

“I have to be. I haven’t seen you in some time. You don’t know what’s happened to me and I don’t want to be around when you find out. You’re going to be upset.”

Adam’s first thought was to remind her that she’d seen him, talked to him, told him she loved him because she couldn’t help herself, but loved Sullivan because she wanted to. Apparently she’d forgotten all of that or maybe she viewed it as a dream. He decided to not press the issue. “Upset?” he asked.

“Okay,” Eve whispered softly. “Let me say it. You’re going to be truly pissed.”

Adam chuckled again. “Then tell me what you’ve done, wife.”

The amber ring on his finger suddenly blazed to life. He could feel an electrical charge and a burn from the gold as it seemed to become welded to his skin. The gift had been a gift from his bride when she was Eyanna and loved him and him alone. He smiled to himself; something in her spirit loved him still.

The ring had not bothered to alert him to Eve’s feelings in many months. It was hard to believe that on the brink of death it was he she thought of. But then again, she seemed to have a habit of allowing herself to love him when she was at the brink of death. Adam shook the thought away. Eve would not die, he’d seen to that.

“Eve,” Adam whispered again, allowing his words to caress her. “Eve, talk to me, tell me what you’ve done.”

“No, I want to dream.”

“Tell me what you’ve done, Eve, or innocents might pay for that which I imagine.”

He waited, knowing that threat more than anything would penetrate Eve’s defenses. The thought that Adam Omega, monster that she thought him to be, would harm innocents…. He sighed. She would not be able to allow it. She’d talk.

“In all this time I have not fed in the way you ordered me to do.” Eve hesitated. “No one knew, not at first, not Sullivan and not Dr. Meah. As for Mark, he thought I was feeding from him. I implanted memories of

the feedings.” She sighed. “I couldn’t go through with it, Adam, not even with your threats to me.”

“What else?” Adam asked, already knowing the entire tale but wanting to force his wife to tell him. This he knew she would resist when she fully recovered. Now in this state she would not lie.

“I used my crystals to try to find a cure, a way to return to being mortal. I…I…coerced Dr. Meah into allowing me to be the trial subject for his new drug, the AB-5. It worked for a time but so many things went wrong. This time I’ve succeeded in doing what I’ve always wanted. I will die an almost mortal death. I have a virus of sorts.”

“Do you really believe I will allow you to die?”

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t.”

“What else is there? You said you dreamed. Tell me your dream.”

“That I’m mortal and God has forgiven me my sins.”

The ring burned more fiercely and Adam felt his heart lurch. He hesitated a moment before answering, then spoke very softly, almost whispering. “I will forgive your sins, Eve.”

“I know you think you are my love, but you’re not God, Adam.”

Adam caressed Eve’s face and dropped a kiss on her head. “Then I will take your sins on my shoulders and grant you absolution.”

For a long moment there was silence. Then Eve spoke. “Why are you just now entering my dreams, Adam? Why haven’t I heard from you before now?”

“You only had to call me, Eve. But you were too busy making nice with Sullivan.”

“He loves me, Adam.”

“As do I.”

“I love him also.”

“As much as you love me?”

“I could never love anyone as much as I love you, and you’re very well aware of that. But you’re also aware that I have no plans to grovel for your affections. With Sullivan there is no groveling, just reciprocated love and respect, Adam. If you’d been able to provide the things I needed you wouldn’t have to return now and play the hero and bully, both of which you will surely do.” Eve sighed, realizing what she’d just admitted. “This isn’t feeling so much like a dream anymore. Is this real, or am I dreaming?”

“It’s real.” Adam heard Eve’s sigh and waited.

“Then I’m dying and you’re here to do what… cause Sullivan pain? Make him feel the guilt that he shouldn’t?”

“No, I’m here to make sure you don’t die…and…” Adam couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re accurate in your reasoning. I’m here to make sure that Sullivan feels pain. This time he’s gone too far. This time I will kill him.”

Silence.

“Eve.”

When she didn’t answer Adam pressed harder, knowing the connection was still there. “You can hear me.” he said.

“Of course I can, but I’m trying very hard to blank you out.”

Adam chuckled and moved to nuzzle Eve’s neck. Taking in a deep breath, he was more than a little surprised. This time it wasn’t just a vague fragrance he caught. Eve’s entire essence was scented with the fragrance of fresh lemons, as though it were originating from her basic DNA. He ran his tongue along her carotid artery, feeling his blood as it flowed through the veins of his wife.

“It is time, Eve,” Adam whispered into her mind, “time for you to return. The poison is gone and your spirit has returned. My blood sustains you now.”

“Can he hear us?”

“You speak of Sullivan?” Adam asked. “Not this deeply. Why?”

“Because I want you to think about something. If you just kill either Sullivan or Dr. Meah, what joy will you receive? None. You like the game of cat and mouse too much. I know you. You enjoy threatening Sullivan and even me.”

“This time it’s no threat.”

“I’d like to make you a wager, Adam.”

This easy time with Eve before she returned completely to her body was a pleasant diversion. Now they could be civil. Now he could be magnanimous about her foolishness. He could tease her, because now he knew she would survive. His heart lurched again and he swallowed the gratitude for having made it to her in time. At least the fool had not been so unwise as to not reach out to him for help. Sullivan had caused him many problems and from the tone of Eve’s voice, he could tell her wager would concern him. Another problem.

“You’re forgetting, Eve, that usually when you want to wager I win.”

“Hear me out. I’ll wager that you will get more joy from allowing both Sullivan and Dr. Meah to live.”

“How so?” Curiosity forced Adam to continue listening to yet another insane plan of his wife. But, Eve, being alive and presenting insane plans was a thousand times better than Eve being dead.

“You want to make them both fear what you’re going to do, right? Give them, say a month, and tell them you will kill them in a month, or two months. The waiting will drive them crazy with worry. Then when the time is about to run out you can give them an extension.”

Adam laughed aloud. “I think the crystal potions you took affected your brain. Do you really think you can manipulate me in this manner?” He laughed again. “It’s time for you to wake now, Eve.”

Feeling Eve’s resistance Adam braced himself, then heard the softly murmured words of an incantation. His obstinate Eve. He’d have to give her credit for trying. He applied a bit more pressure. “Wake up, Eve.”

“I don’t want to,” Eve insisted stubbornly, trying her best to wield her magic. The magic she possessed was something that Adam Omega did not control. “I think I’ll remain here a bit longer. I think just the thought that I can control my fate will make you rethink what I’ve said. You’ll begin to worry about me…maybe not about me, but that I can defy you even in my dreams. The great Adam Omega, whose blood is not strong enough to undo what his poor, silly, fledgling of a wife has done.”

“It’s not going to work.”

“What will it hurt, Adam? We all know you’re going to kill them. I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to make them suffer first. That would be more to your liking, I would think. Make them afraid of what you’re going to do every moment that they live. Surely you’re not afraid that I’ll find a way to stop you.”

“Of course I’m not afraid and you very well know it.” He kissed her gently and felt her probing his mind, trying to access his plans. “Stop that,” he reprimanded her as he ran the tip of his tongue over her lips, tasting her, feeling the steady burn of the ring.

“Why are your thoughts blocked from me? Why won’t you share your plans with me? There is nothing I can do to stop you, or so you’ve told me, Adam. Tell me your plans for Sullivan…and for Dr. Meah,” Eve pleaded,

“Don’t trouble yourself with that. You know who I am. I keep my word. I warned both you and Sullivan what would happen to him if he allowed harm to come to you. He allowed harm to come to you. Now he will die.”

“You will have to kill me if you kill Sullivan.”

“Maybe I will, but it will be when I tire of you. It will not be today.”

“Adam, I am no longer just Eve.”

“I know that. I have long sensed the reemergence of Eyanna within you. I feel your power, but it is nothing compared to mine.”

He heard a soft chuckle. Could Eve be laughing at him? “Do I amuse you, wife?”

“I believe you’re afraid of my magic. I think in this case my magic is stronger.”

“Ah, so it’s a test of powers that you want, my powers versus your magic? Who do you think would win?”

“It could be fun to find out.”

Again Eve spoke words of an incantation and Adam muttered words too softly for Eve to hear and counteract. Forcing the psychic to teach him the dark arts had been well worth the fear he’d instilled and the burly body guards he’d killed. And his brave, silly Eve, so insistent on trying to control him, had not even sensed his magic. Or perhaps she had and thought it was the power of his being a vampire that stopped her. Adam wanted to laugh. He’d missed his wife. It was high time she returned home. He had more than a few surprises for the mistress of the vampire kingdom.

“I’m not afraid of you, Adam.”

“Then the poisons must have affected you more than I thought.”

“We are necessary to each other. I know that now. I am your Achilles heel as you are mine. You may shout and throw around your lightning bolts, but in the end you will not kill me.” Eve laughed. “I feel what you feel, Adam. Tell me, does the amber ring I gave to you not burn you at this very moment?”

“What of it? That does not make your magic stronger than my powers.”

“And from where I am it seems logical that I am stronger, that I would win any wager we entered. After all, I have had the ancient powers of nature within me for many, many generations. Mine was a birthright.

Yours was but darkness thrust upon you. That you didn’t want, I might add. Yes, you’ve harnessed that power and made it stronger, but it’s not embedded into your basic DNA, not like mine, and yours is not as old as mine. As for your ability to control the elements, I can control the elements also, though not to the extent that you can. But I can do things that you cannot. I can command the power in crystals to do my biddings. Can you?”

Curiosity was getting the better of Adam. Would Eve remain this defiant when she was fully awake or would the bravado leave when she left the nether regions of unconsciousness?

“If you’re so brave, so powerful, wife, why did you run and hide? Why did you protect yourself with crystals to block yourself from me?” He couldn’t stop his smirk at knowing Eve would never again be able to use her crystals against him. He too possessed the knowledge of the stones. Lucky for him that he was one in a handful that the stones talked to.

A rare gift, the psychic had said. Rare, he’d thought. He was rare. He was Adam Omega. Why would the stones not talk to him? He was the first and the last of his kind. There had been none like him in the past and there would be no more after him. Of course there would always be vampires, but there would never be another him. He was the alpha and the omega. He’d tried to tell Eve that and she’d not understood.

Adam shrugged. Eve’s next lessons would not be ones of gentleness. He would have to be ruthless to force her to comply. But comply she would for she must. He would not leave her dependent on others. She must know how to feed. Then when she chose not to, that would be her choice, but still she must learn it and he would not stop until she could do it with skill and efficiency.

Placing kisses at the corners of her mouth, he nipped his finger, drawing a bubble of blood and stuck it into the warmth of her mouth, closing his eyes in ecstasy as her lips closed around the finger and suckled it gently.

“You have not changed, wife. With everything that’s happened to you you still defy me. You believe your powers equal to mine. You genuinely believe that to be true?”

“I do.”

“Why?” Adam asked softly, running the pad of his finger across her lip.

“Because, Adam, had the situations of our lives been reversed I would have been stronger. If it had been me who had been turned and waited a thousand years to find you, I would not have turned you. But if I had, I would not have abandoned you. You’re a coward where I’m concerned. In all your decisions pertaining to me, Adam, you’re a coward. Yes, you can kill others without a thought. You can even sit in church

picking out the parishioner you will help. You will defend the weak with your last breath but you’re too much of a coward to be without me. So you have chosen to control me instead. That makes you a slave to me, Adam, my slave, and that makes you a coward.” With those words Eve pushed Adam from her mind with a jolt.

Chapter Two

Adam blinked several times in disbelief. As his vision cleared, his gaze focused on Sullivan, who was watching him warily. For a long moment Adam just stared at the vamp, giving himself time to allow his confusion to clear. Eve had shoved him out of her mind and it hadn’t been a little shove. It was powerful, one that befitted the mistress of the vampire kingdom. “Or a witch,” a little voice whispered. He couldn’t believe it. For longer than he cared to admit he was truly stunned. The blood, he thought, his blood had given her this.

“What happened?” Sullivan dropped his cool veneer, rushing to Adam clutching Adam’s left arm in his hand. “Tell me, is Eve in there?”

Again Adam stared into the blue eyes of his rival and a small smile came. “Oh, she’s in there alright.”

“So your blood worked, you’ve healed her?”

“I think so,” Adam nodded, “but there are a few minor adjustments I think I need to make.”

“Adjustments? What the hell do you mean, adjustments? Eve is not a car or an appliance. I don’t want you messing with her mind.”

All playfulness left Adam as he glared hard at Sullivan. “What you want is of no importance. You have no rights here. You remain here out of my graciousness. Eve is my wife, understand, not yours and even if she were….even if she were, she would still belong to me. You have tried my patience once too many times. I do not have the time to bother with you and your wants. Unless you want me to remove you from your own home do not bother me again.”

“Damn you, Adam.”

“Damn me all you like, just stay the hell out of my way.” Adam glared at the other vamp, then at the doctor. Eve was right about one thing: Others he could kill without a thought. Only lingering emotions of times past, of friendships that once existed had kept Sullivan and the good doctor from being incinerated the moment he’d returned to find his wife at death’s door. He gritted his teeth in impatience, then said to Sullivan,

“You have no choice but to wait for me to bring Eve back, so wait!” He raised his hand and slammed Sullivan into a chair. “Stay,” he ordered.

“No,” Sullivan shouted back as he came up from the chair, “I will not stay. I am not an animal that you can issue orders to and expect me to meekly obey them.”

“I could care less if you obey them meekly, though I would prefer it. It would be easier for you that way.” Adam smiled as Sullivan’s hand came up and shot a bolt of electrical energy at him. Adam did not move, merely smiled at Sullivan and the stunned look on the vamp’s face. “Want to try again?” he asked and repositioned himself so Sullivan could take better aim. When this volt also failed to penetrate, Adam stopped smiling. “My turn,” he announced in a voice filled with ice. He raised his hand and his eyes narrowed into slits. He released a charge so powerful that the house shook on its foundation as the bolt found its mark in Sullivan’s body. The vamp went back so hard he knocked out a good section of the wall.

“Would you like for me to take my second shot now?” Adam asked.

This time Adam raised both hands. He noticed Sullivan did not cower or attempt to cover himself, but instead did as Adam had done and prepared himself for the next volley Adam would send. Only this time Adam didn’t discharge the volt. He looked upon Sullivan for a long moment, then held out his hand and helped him up.

“Tell me, Sullivan, three years ago you were not this brave. You would have never thought to take me on one on one. Plot my demise, overthrow me, yes, but hand to hand combat? What happened? What is it that makes you stand up to me now?”

“Eve,” Sullivan answered without blinking. “I have something to fight for, someone. I was completely unprepared for the power she’d have over me, the way she’d sneak into my heart and own it and my soul. She does own them, Adam, and I will not so easily give her up. I will not stand by and allow you to make adjustments to her mind. I can imagine the adjustments you’d make, the commands for her to stop loving me, to be your obedient little robotic wife.”

“Don’t be a fool. If that’s the way I want things, then that’s the way it will be. But I have no wish for a robotic wife. One who simply hates me is more than enough.”

Again the vampires locked gazes until Sullivan spoke. “But we all know that in spite of her hatred for the things that you’ve done, Adam, it’s not hatred she has for you.”

“But it’s your bed she’s been warming for the past two years. That does not speak of love to me. And if you know she loves me, you should not have fallen in love with her. That would make you a fool.”

Sullivan sighed. “Don’t you think if I could have made myself not love her, knowing that she will always love you, that I would have? She loves you and we all know it. But she loves me also and I make her happy. You don’t,” Sullivan said with bluntness, “And with my last breath I will fight for her.”

For what seemed an eternity the room was silent. Adam chuckled as he waggled his finger in front of Sullivan’s face. “That little story you just told, why did you feel the need to share it?”

“I wanted to give you fair warning.”

“You’re warning me…you’re warning me? This has got to be a dream. You’re warning me? You can’t beat me, Sullivan. If I was having my worst day, and you were having your best day, you’d still be unable to defeat me. Now enough talk. Sit there and be quiet.”

Before Sullivan could even think to protest Adam had once again slammed him into the chair and this time he could not move. When he went to speak he could make no sound. Adam smirked as Sullivan finally got the picture. “Magic,” Adam said, twirling his finger. “It’s heady stuff, almost as intriguing as vampiric powers.” He laughed again and finally turned away from the glare Sullivan was giving him. Sullivan’s glares did not matter.

Now it was time for him to deal with Eve, to reenter her mind. So what if she’d managed to shove him from her mind. No matter, she was still a fledgling.

Cautiously, Adam reentered Eve’s mind, intrigued by his wife’s newfound powers. She’d actually found a way to make him work to get to where he wanted to be. This time he had to go in even deeper, past all the barriers she’d set to guard her thoughts.

“So you’re back,” Eve heaved a sigh. “This is getting tiresome.”

“No one has ever called me a coward, Eve. I don’t believe even you have ever done that. You’ve always called me a bully.”

“I can’t remember if I’ve called you a coward before or not but it doesn’t matter. A bully is always a coward. Kiss me, Adam, and let’s see how strong you really are.”

“Do you think I will become aroused and turn tail and run?” Adam smiled. “I can assure you, dear wife, that nonsense is over with.”

“Want to make a bet?” Eve inquired.

“To bet would, as I said earlier, still be foolish on your part.” Adam gave a casual shrug of his shoulder. Though Eve couldn’t see it he knew she felt it. “I am right and…” He stopped. “What are your plans for me this time, Eve? Your potions didn’t work so well on you. So what makes you think you’d have any better luck with them working on me? Your incantations have no power where I’m concerned. Surely you must know that.”

“Make love to me right here, right now, in Sullivan’s bed with Sullivan standing there ready to slit your throat. Even you can’t be in here with me and protect yourself fully from an attack. Sullivan is not the weakling that you think him to be. He will not allow you to harm me, that I’m sure of and yes, Adam, he will even go against you to protect me. But he won’t have to, for you will defeat yourself. So, go ahead, Adam, try it and let’s see which of us is the most powerful.”

“Another challenge?” Adam’s hands moved over Eve’s body as easily as his thoughts moved through her mind. “Do you think you can resist me? You never have been able to. Let’s see if you can now.”

He sent white hot heat, sealing it with a kiss of passion. Eve moaned out her pleasure, her arms coming upwards to curl about his neck. He took her lips. Stopping for less time than it took to take his next breath, Adam opened his eyes to glare a warning and point a finger toward Sullivan, freezing him in his seat, then sealing him in ice.

Eve was not fully aware yet. She thought she was in a dream. As her body arched to move to him, her hands ran over his body, pulling at his clothes. Her tongue battled his and her moans of pleasures were ragged and real. Adam tore his lips from hers to taste the blood, his blood. As it flowed into him, a quick spasm of pleasure ran the length of his body and he drank from her.

In an instant Sullivan was up from the chair rushing toward Adam, pushing him from Eve. “You will not touch her, and you will not violate her.”

“She is my wife.”

“In name only.”

“How did you release yourself?”

“Does that matter now?”

“Yes, it matters.” Adam shrugged. “I’m going to have to adjust the time and keep you incapacitated for a much longer period. Ready?” Adam asked.

Sullivan was furious. His body trembled with rage and before he could stop himself his hands were around Adam’s throat. “Die, die, die, Adam, damn you. Just die.” Sullivan growled as his hands pressed even harder against Adam’s throat.

“Stop it, Sullivan.” Dr. Meah ran into the fray, trying unsuccessfully to pull Sullivan away from Adam. “Think of Eve. Only Adam can return her to us. Let him go.”

“No, Adam has no plans to return Eve to us. He’s only toying with us and with her.”

“Still, Sullivan, she is his wife and…and…don’t make me say it. Look at him. Does he look worried? If you wish to see if Eve survived this, I would suggest you let go of Adam,” Dr. Meah said softly, looking from Sullivan to Adam. “I’d let go of him now.”

Dr. Meah’s words penetrated his brain and Sullivan sucked in a much needed breath. The blood fever retreated slightly and Sullivan released his hold on Adam, angered that Adam had not tried to stop him, had put up no defense, and even now stood staring at him as though he were a worthless insect. One day he would wipe the smirk from his face, kick his ass good and proper. But Dr. Meah was right. He’d have to allow Adam to bring Eve back. Then he would take her and run, but not before kicking her husband’s ass. That one was a given. He wasn’t afraid of Adam, not any longer. And he’d be even more damned than he already was if he stood by and allowed Adam to paw Eve as though he were not in the room.

“You forced her to respond to you,” Sullivan snarled, moving away, knowing in his heart Adam had used no force.

“Do you truly believe that? You’re not a fool, Sullivan.” Adam smiled. “Then again, maybe you are. Remember, I went to the core of her existence, where her feelings are not hidden from me nor masked in fear for what I might do to her…or to you,” he said pointedly. “But I don’t worry now for a different reason. Eve will not remain with you even if I were to allow it. You killed Mark, betrayed her.” A laugh fell from his

lips. “She will not forgive your killing the mortal.” He shrugged. “You were supposed to be her savior from the likes of me, but you are me, to a certain extent.”

Adam ran his hand over Eve, tracing her breasts, moving over her hips, daring Sullivan with a glare. He moved to within an inch of her mound. As he gazed at his wife several unbidden tears found a path down his cheeks. You would seek death and leave me alone again, he thought angrily. You need to know how it feels, wife. Several more tears followed the path of the former ones and he shook his head and blew out a breath. Enough of this nonsense. He was about to inflict yet more pain on his wife. It too would be part of her training. He leaned over her and took her earlobe into his mouth, suckling her gently.

“You would do this to her now, Adam, defile her in front of other men? Are you now that depraved? Are you doing this to hurt me, to show me that she loves you still? I already know that and I know that I would not do to her what you’re doing to her now. You’ve taken everything from her, Adam. Must you now take her dignity?”

Adam lifted his eyes, ignoring the blood tears that stained his cheeks. He felt the weight of what he’d done clear to his soul. In fact, it was his soul that was crying out for him to stop. Images of what he’d stood for in his long distant past resurfaced. If it were a matter simply of his sinning, perhaps he could deal with that as he ought. But it wasn’t. It was the life of his wife. He’d never be able to let Eve go.

His gaze took in the scene before him as he lifted his head high as though in prayer and tilted his face so that the muscles in his neck corded with tension. Then just as quickly he ended what he was doing and stared into nothingness. He allowed the blood tears to run under his chin, staring as Sullivan faced him, his hate-filled glare lethal. Sullivan was of little consequence. Eventually he would be dead. Adam would kill him as he’d promised.

“Eve,” Adam called out, snapping his fingers. “Awake now, Eve.” Her eyelids fluttered briefly. She was still fighting him, trying not to return, but it was all for naught for return she must. “How do you feel?” He growled low as Sullivan once again made a move toward the bed. Not this damn time, he thought and sent a message telepathically to Sullivan. “She is my wife and I will check on her condition.”

He’d commanded Eve to return and he’d been generous in speaking it aloud so that Sullivan might witness her acquiescence. But Eve hadn’t

done as he’d ordered. She was going to make him crazy with her defiance. He shook his head and established a mind lock with his wife.

“Eve, I know you’re fine. I can feel it in my body. Remember, our bond does not lie.”

“What are your plans now, Adam? Will you use this to take control of my life? I don’t have many friends and I don’t want to lose them. If you harm them, it can never be the same as it once was between us.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’m sure we can work something out.”

“Are you once again offering me your body, or would it be your soul? How far would you go to keep them safe, wife? You’ve played many roles with me: the whore, the witch and the unfaithful wife. I care for none of them. But I will grant you this: You are brave beyond belief.”

“I think I’m the braver of the two of us, Adam. I’m not afraid to make a wager with you and see it through.”

“But you lost, my darling. You desired me. You have given me no reason to give either Sullivan or Dr. Meah longer to live. What will I get?”

“The sheer joy of knowing you control them.”

“Then return to your body and bargain with me from a position of power.”

“What will I find?” Eve asked softly, a slight tremble of fear tingeing her voice.

“Return and find out,” Adam challenged. He narrowed his eyes and looked around to see what Eve’s first impressions would be. The amber still burned, a good sign, but would it lose its glow when Eve returned?

He’d not tell her more. She needed to return and deal with whatever she found. Of course she wouldn’t like it but that was neither here nor there. Mark was dead, that much was obvious. Adam felt no remorse for his death. It would have happened eventually anyway. He stared long and hard at Eve. Besides, who knew when his wife’s sentimentality would have gotten the best of her and she’d think of turning Mark just to give him a fighting chance. Adam couldn’t have that. He refused to allow even Eve to disobey him totally.

He watched as Eve’s eyelids fluttered and she fought to return fully to the here and now. She ripped the needle from her vein and stared for a moment as though disoriented. Then her eyes found his and she frowned, knowing that he was once again the reason for her existence. It

was his blood flowing through her, giving her life, giving her strength.

His strength.

In giving Eve so much blood in order to save her life, he’d

risked not being at his best. For a few hours Eve would be nearly his match perhaps, but Adam had no intention of letting her know that vital piece of information.

***

Eve didn’t want to fight the heaviness that was clinging to her but she couldn’t remain in a twilight state with Adam as her only companion. She needed to know what had happened in her absence. Her senses had alerted her to the strength flowing through her veins. She didn’t need anyone to tell her any longer that she would not die. How could she? She carried Adam’s blood in her veins and apparently enough of it that the poison had been pushed from her system. Still, she felt foggy as she tried to remember the details leading up to this moment.

‘Return now, Eve.’ She heard the sound of Adam’s voice and could no longer resist. Her eyes fell on her husband and love fought with hate. He was dressed in purple silk. Eve didn’t miss the message Adam was relaying. He was royalty. He’d always thought that, hadn’t he? Her eyes roamed over him and she hated to admit that she’d missed him, his beautiful eyes, his slow, easy smile, and his straight even teeth, so white they appeared to gleam. Her eyes traveled over the contours of his face. Every line, every quiver of his lips was etched with power. She took a moment and concentrated on his lips, full, luscious and tantalizing. At that moment he gave her a secret smile before using the tip of his tongue to caress his top lip. Her hands clenched the silk sheets, knotting them more than she’d already done in her twilight state. They were damp, evidence of her writhing showing clearly. She knew it wasn’t just a fever that had brought it on. Then again, perhaps it was, a fever named, Adam Omega.

As her eyes moved over his massive chest, Eve became acutely aware of other beings in the room and groaned guiltily, wishing she could pretend Adam didn’t affect her. But what was the use? He did. She could only try now to minimize the damage to Sullivan’s ego.

“I don’t believe you did this to me again, Adam.” She shot him a quick look, pleading with her eyes for him not to give away her innermost

thoughts and feelings. For an answer he smirked then gave a slight shrug unseen by Sullivan.

Frowning slightly, Eve pushed herself to a sitting position. They were all staring at her as though she’d returned from the dead. Oh, she thought, she had. She looked around the room. “Mark,” she whispered. “Adam, you found out I hadn’t been feeding from Mark and you killed him.” She shook her head as she sank back on the pillows. “Now you pick on mortals?” she asked. “Why not?” she answered her own question.

“I did not kill the mortal.” Adam shook his head slowly and stared at Eve, his gaze never wavering.

“Then who?” Eve glanced toward Dr. Meah, dismissing him. The doctor would never do it. The words, ‘I’m sorry,’ drifted toward her and a knife twisted in her heart. “Sullivan,” she whispered, “tell me you didn’t.”

“I weighed my options and was left with little choice,” he answered.

Eve’s head snapped up. It was as she’d thought. Adam had been the driving force behind Mark’s death. “Your bargain to save me?” she asked. She didn’t like where this was heading. “Sullivan…” The hurt clung to her. The one good deed she’d done had been undone in… she looked at the clock. “How long have you been here, Adam?”

“Awhile.”

“Long enough to kill, I suppose.”

“No, long enough to save your life,” Adam retorted.

“Why, Adam? Why did you do this once again? Why did you force Sullivan to kill Mark? And who the hell do you think you are?”

“Who the hell do I think I am? I shall tell you who the hell I am. I’m your husband,” Adam answered. “And I need no other reasons for doing the things that I do. I gave you life and only I can take it away. As for forcing Sullivan to do my bidding, I did nothing of the sort. The things that were done in this room were done of free will. I gave my blood to you, Sullivan gave his blood to me and Mark of course provided nourishment for poor Sullivan. Tell me, Eve, how was I to save your life if I didn’t have a means to replenish my own blood? As I said all of us were willing participants.”

Adam looked toward Dr. Meah, raised a well shaped brow, then shrugged. “Well, on most of our parts anyway. As for the simpering mortal, he wanted to be used to save you. Who were we to deny him the ability to do something useful for once in his meaningless life?”

“It was a life. Mark was trying to protect me.” She laughed harshly. “From you, I might add. I know that you harmed him before.” Eve swallowed, closing her eyes as she did so.

“How pray tell was that mortal to be your protector?”

“I had finally convinced him to give up being fodder for vampires. I was giving him a chance to have a new life and you took that from him,” Eve continued as though Adam had not spoken. Her eyes snapped open. “You didn’t have to force Sullivan to Kill Mark. You could have found another way to replenish your blood. We’re all aware that it was done to teach me a lesson. I’m tired of your lessons, Adam.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, darling, but this time the lesson was not yours to learn.” He smiled coldly up at Sullivan. “I will not be judged by any of you. Who do you think you are to judge me? You don’t have that right. None of you are any better than I am. None of you know what you will do until you’ve faced such a situation. Sullivan needed to be faced with that situation in order to know how it felt.”

Eve’s head swiveled back and forth between Sullivan and Adam. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you know?”

“If I did I would not have asked.”

“Eve, it is lucky for you that I love you or I would sever your head from your neck,” he raised a finger, “or maybe just cut out your tongue.” He smiled. “But for now I will do neither. I am too relieved to see you and believe it or not, pleased to hear your insolent tone. So, I will tolerate it for now because it pleases me.”

“Adam, what are your real reasons for my not finding more bodies lying dead on the floor... Why are Dr. Meah and…” She glanced at Sullivan and stopped. “What are you up to?”

“You have many lessons to learn. It was foolishness on my part to think that I could trust you enough to want to live, that you would do the things necessary in order to survive. There has never been a vampire made that did not ingest fresh human blood, whether offered freely or taken by force. Do you think I would have stayed away so long if I’d known the danger you were in? You’re a very silly woman, Eve, and for your sake I must do what I foolishly trusted you…,” he sneered and spat, “you and your consort to take care of. I will not have you defenseless or dependent. You have lessons to learn and you will learn them.”

“I did have human blood, just not the way you wanted me to take it. Besides, I told you, I’m sick to death of your lessons.”

“That may be,” Adam said to Eve, sitting next to her, running his hand down the side of her arm, ignoring her slapping his hand away. He replaced it each time until they stared into each other’s gazes and Eve stopped. “I will make sure that your education is left to me. I will be assured that you will know how to feed.”

“Your coming back changes nothing. You are not the master of my fate. I am. You cannot order me around.”

Eve pushed Adam’s hand from her arm, ignoring Sullivan’s warning, his mental image of the last time she’d challenged Adam in that manner. “Go ahead and try if you think it will work.”

“Didn’t I just prove that to you? Your time of playing the vampire whore has come to an end. I did tell you that when I was ready to reclaim you I would. Eve, I’m ready.”

“And what if Eve isn’t ready to be reclaimed by you, Adam? We both owe you a debt of gratitude but nothing more.” Sullivan moved closer to Eve and sat on the opposite side of the bed, taking her hand in his and kissing it, holding on tightly and not releasing his grip until she winced. “Welcome back,” Sullivan whispered to her. He turned his gaze at last to Adam, who was watching him with a strange glint of amusement in his eyes. It was time to get this over and done with.

“Well, Adam, you didn’t answer the question. What if Eve isn’t ready to be reclaimed by you?”

Adam’s left arm was propped on the pillow besides Eve. First he allowed his hungry gaze to settle on his wife. Then he kissed her lips lightly before trailing his tongue down the side of her neck. As she shivered, he moved slightly away. With his thumb and forefinger he slowly rubbed at his temple, then worried his chin in an even slower and more deliberate manner. He studied Sullivan through narrowed eyes, amused that the vampire truly thought to take him on.

What strange universe is this? he wondered as he’d wondered in the past. None of this should be happening. He’d been much too lenient with all of them. He brought his gaze from Sullivan to land back on his wife. He ignored the pleading in her eyes not to harm Sullivan, not to kiss her again in front of him. He gave her a hard look, saw the petite flutter at the base of her throat and leaned down and suckled it. Eve’s gasp of pleasure filled the air.

“Do you think Eve’s not ready to be reclaimed? You were but a brief interlude, Sullivan. Your time is over. Be thankful that you even had it.”

None in the room could have missed the deadly intent behind Adam’s words. He was unfazed by Sullivan’s rage. The calmness with which he spoke belied the true nature of his emotions. Adam was the most dangerous when he seemed calmest.

Rubbing his palms together slowly, interlacing his fingers for several moments, Adam almost appeared unconcerned, sleepy even. He

sighed as though bored with them all. “Sullivan, perhaps you should inquire of Eve her intentions.”

***

Had she truly thought that Adam would give in to her silent pleas? She wished now as she had many times in the past that she could have them both. Truth stayed on the fringes. For what she truly wished was that Adam wanted her in the same manner that Sullivan did. As her gaze landed on Sullivan, she looked away; fully aware the kiss she’d shared with Adam in her twilight state had not been a dream. It had been real and if she admitted the truth of things, it was Adam’s kiss more than anything that made her fight to return to her body. She had been fully conscious when Adam had trailed hot kisses from her lips to her throat. Stopping him hadn’t been an option. It never had been when he’d touch her. She’d been drawn under his spell as always, from the moment he’d looked at her with love in his eyes.

In that moment all in the room had ceased to be. Knowing that Sullivan had witnessed it, Eve wished even more that she could find an anti-love potion. She’d never been able to resist Adam’s kisses and apparently she never would. She dropped her eyes in embarrassment and took in a breath, sensing the odor of death, mortal death. This she could deal with. Her feelings for Adam she could not.

Instead of saying anything to Sullivan, she directed her comments to Adam. “Why did you do it this way?” she asked again. “Mark didn’t have to die.”

Eve turned her head and stared at Dr. Meah. She saw the fear in his eyes, read his thoughts. She remembered all that had come before, Adam forcing the vamp to drain the tainted blood from her body. She trembled at the remembered pain of Dr. Meah’s fangs piercing her flesh. He now had Eve’s tainted blood. Panic rushed through her.

All the people she loved were in this room, embroiled in this nightmare, even Adam. She’d once sought to save him. Now there was no longer any possibility of that. Biting her lips, trying to find a way to address the situation with Sullivan, she took in a deep breath.

Adam was watching her, his look issuing a challenge to her, telling her, she was afraid to confront Sullivan with what he’d done. And the truth of it all was that she was. She didn’t want to not be in Sullivan’s life, to not be loved by him, to not be held in his arms. A small tremor of fear moved over her. This was not going to be easy but she had to deal with it.

“Sullivan, you made me a promise.”

“This wasn’t up to Sullivan, Eve. Your life is my gift to you and I will continue to make sure you live until you learn to respect that gift and choose life for yourself.”

“I wasn’t talking to you,” Eve screamed. She could feel the haze of anger clouding her vision. “This is the gift you’ve given me, Adam? This?”

She glared. “Dr Meah was trying to help me. I wasn’t trying to defy you or to die. I just didn’t want this. I never wanted to be a vampire and I still don’t. You say I don’t respect life but you’re wrong. It’s you who have no respect for life or the desires of others. I have loved you through many things, forgiven you for the unforgivable. But you will not tell me this is a gift, that I don’t respect the privilege of being alive. I do. I just wanted to feel like me, mortal, human.” She shivered.

“Don’t any of you contradict me. I’m well aware that I’m no longer mortal. I know that. Still, for a time my illusion remained intact. Sullivan and Dr. Meah were able to help me with that illusion. And you would kill the two of them for that?” She bent her head, resting her hands on her knees and groaned in agony.

“Adam, you, my love, have taken everything from me. Do you want to make me suffer? My being with Sullivan was never a threat to you and you knew that. Still, you’ve made it impossible for me to be with him. You were aware that I loved him, that he made me happy. You took that away from me. I don’t think I will ever be able to forgive that.”

Tears coursed down her cheek and she wiped then away. “I swear, if it’s the last thing I do, I will find a way to rid myself of these blasted blood tears. If I have a need to cry I will at least cry real tears.”

The knowledge that she couldn’t cry real tears made Eve cry even harder. She didn’t want to give up the one man in her life who had loved her unconditionally, who’d done nothing but protect her. She’d taken so much from Sullivan and given so little in return, she thought. All the time they’d had together had always been in the shadow of Adam. It was no different now.

It was with a heavy heart that Eve turned to look at Sullivan again. She loved him beyond reason and felt the burden, swift and unrelenting, that she would no longer be able to reside with him. His betrayal hurt worse than Adam’s because she’d expected more from Sullivan.

“Sullivan, I didn’t expect any better from Adam to have disregard for human life, to kill Mark, just to prove a point. But I did expect better from you.” She heaved a breath, looked at the three vampires in the room, closed her eyes, lay back on the bed and wished for death.

“Why him?” Adam asked.

“Because he has honor, because he knows the meaning of love.”

“How the hell do you think I knew what was happening? Don’t you wonder? I had shut my mind to you.”

Eve bolted upright. It couldn’t be true. “Sullivan,” she said, her voice one long agonized sob as she rose from the bed and made her way to him. “I told you that I wanted to end it. Please tell me Adam’s lying, that he just came and you saw a way to help me. Tell me you didn’t call him.” Sullivan’s gaze was on her and it was so filled with pain that she knew the answer.

“I love you,” Sullivan said, looking at her and doing his best to ignore Adam. “I didn’t want to lose you, Eve. I couldn’t imagine living for an eternity without you.”

“That’s so touching,” Adam laughed. “Because only one of you will be living for an eternity. You’re no different from me, Sullivan. You with your high and mighty attitude about my rights. Did you have the right to come to me, to go against what Eve wanted? Did you? She wanted to die. Why didn’t you let her? Isn’t that what you asked me, why didn’t I allow my wife to die?” Adam pointed a long, slender finger in Sullivan’s direction.

“Judge not. ‘Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye.’ Matthew 7:5.”

Sullivan turned to face Adam, his fangs bared, a sneer on his face as he spoke. “You think you still have the right to throw scriptures at me?”

“Apparently I do.” From the corner of his eye Adam saw the doctor moving away and he squeezed his hand, feeling the beating of the vampire’s heart. He narrowed his eyes toward the vampire. “You will stay where you are, Doctor, and see how this all plays out.” Adam applied a bit more pressure to the beating heart.

“Sullivan, I did warn you many times, first for sleeping with my wife. But neither of you chose to listen. Now you will have to deal with the consequences of your actions.” He shot Eve a look. “Don’t say a word,” he ordered in a deadly calm voice, “or I will kill him where he stands.” He turned again to Sullivan. “I told you if any harm ever came to Eve I’d kill you and I meant it.” He glanced toward Eve. “Harm came to her. She almost died.” A lump lodged in Adam’s throat and he had to force his words around it. “Sullivan, I wasn’t kidding.”

“I didn’t think that you were.”

Studying Sullivan, Adam had to give him credit. There was a time the vampire would not have waited around to have his sentence meted out. Adam stretched his arms out and yawned. He truly was feeling a bit tired. He’d given so much blood to Eve, it had been necessary. Still, he could feel the toll it had taken on his strength. No matter, none in the room was aware of that fact except him.

“Adam, do you mind if I check on Eve?”

For a long moment Adam stared at Dr. Meah. “She is well now, Doctor, no thanks to you.” When the doctor cringed, Adam smiled. “The three of you tire me. I want to know everything that has happened in my absence.” He turned his back to Sullivan. He could feel the hatred for him coming off the vamp in waves. “Don’t even think it,” he said, then laughed. “Now as I was saying, fill me in.”

Adam deliberately kept his back turned to Sullivan to taunt him. He knew the man was worried about Eve’s displeasure with him. Eve’s displeasure should not be what was uppermost in Sullivan’s mind. Retribution for the harm that had befallen Eve should be what he worried about. Adam would deliver punishment in his own time. He would do nothing before Eve was fully aware of what had transpired? No way. He stretched once more, then turned slowly toward Sullivan. “Start talking,” he ordered and snapped his finger. He sank into the overstuffed chair he’d conjured and waved his hand around the room.

“Your tastes in furnishing leave much to be desired. How my wife has tolerated living here is beyond my imagination.” Adam stretched, making himself comfortable as he listened to Sullivan’s tale of his ineptness in caring for Eve. The more Adam thought about Eve’s suggestion to make Sullivan squirm a bit, the more he liked it. He knew Eve had her own reasons, more than likely to whip up some spell that she thought would keep Sullivan safe. Well, no such luck, Adam thought and twined his hands together. He laughed out loud and watched as fear became etched on the faces of Sullivan and Dr. Meah. This was going to be fun.

Chapter Three

Before Adam could blink an eye Eve was standing in front of Sullivan, her stance definitely protective. He folded his arms across his chest and studied her in amusement. “After allowing me to make love to you in front of his face you now seek to protect Sullivan? How foolish. He’ll appreciate this gesture less than an apology for allowing me the kiss,” Adam assured her in their private conversation. He’d have to give her credit, though. She didn’t flinch. She’d come a long way; he was pleased. Still, this wouldn’t do. His blood that was giving her strength and power would not save Sullivan, not this time. “Just take a look at his face,” Adam whispered into her mind. “He can’t decide with whom he’s more furious, me just for existing, or you for loving me.”

“Can’t you behave just once, Adam?” Eve gave him a scathing look and repositioned herself. She hated to admit that Adam was right but Sullivan’s anger was creating an unwelcome frisson.

“You have a problem to take care of, Eve,” Adam said. “You’ve not yet dealt with Sullivan. You keep becoming distracted, scattered. Concentrate, Eve,” he instructed and laughed, giving her an air kiss as he took her by the shoulders and gently turned her from him to face Sullivan.

For several moments Eve could only stare at Sullivan. Dealing with him was much harder than dealing with Adam. She and Adam yelled and cursed, sometimes even hit. With Sullivan there was hardly any such drama. That was what was making it so damn hard. She loved him, and in the deepest part of her, she understood his motives, but understanding and being able to live with him were two different things.

Eve shook her head slowly. “Not you, too, Sullivan, not you.” She pressed her lips together to keep from saying more, all the time watching as sadness filled his eyes and he reached out for her. She took a step away and saw the immediate pain that came into his eyes at her actions. “Why?” she asked.

Sullivan reached once again toward Eve, then dropped his hands. “I don’t expect you to forgive me, Eve. I knew the consequences when I asked Adam to come and save you. I knew what would happen.”

“But why Mark? He had nothing to do with this. He wasn’t involved in this madness. Why did you take his life?”

“I had no choice.”

“You did. He didn’t play a part in this.”

“He did, Eve.”

Sullivan turned from her to glare at Adam. “Mark was my payment. I would have drained a thousands mortals to save you.” Anger filled him and he looked away. “I don’t expect you to forgive me. I know you hate what I’ve done. I feel it. But what I did, I would do again.”

“You’re sounding just like Adam,” Eve said in a sad little whisper.

“Maybe I’m more like him than either of us thought. I know now why he turned you. I would have turned you also if it meant you would live.”

“Sullivan!” Eve stared at him. “Now I have no one I can trust.”

No one she could trust? Adam closed his ears against the painful words. There was one thing about him Eve could always trust and that was that he would love her throughout all eternity. “Eve,” Adam called out to her, speaking softly.

“Leave me alone,” she roared, her voice fierce, shattering the glass in the house. “I’m talking to Sullivan.”

Adam made a move to stand and Eve sent a volt of pure electrical energy toward him. “What the hell,” he roared, this time truly annoyed.

“Adam, I’m talking to Sullivan.”

“Eve, don’t.” Sullivan moved to stand between Eve and Adam.

“Don’t what?” Eve asked, moving away from Sullivan. “Don’t get Adam angry? What will he do? Will he kill someone else? Will you?”

“Eve.” Her name slid from Sullivan like a plaintiff moan.

“There you go… ‘Eveing’ me again. I loved you, Sullivan. I trusted you. You gave me back my life and now you’ve taken away everything else. I was happy with you and could have lived the rest of this wretched existence with you by my side. How am I going to live this life without you?”

That did it for Adam. His blood or not, he was not going to listen to any more of his wife’s pathetic murmurings of love for another man. “Please, Eve, no more, you’re boring me.” He walked toward them and

lasered Mark’s body, incinerating it instantly. He gave a slight shrug as he felt cold hatred washing over him. Surprisingly, it wasn’t coming from Eve, but from Sullivan. The only emotion he sensed from Eve was anger. He paused, suddenly sensing something else, relief. At last, he thought, his wife was happy to be alive whether she admitted it or not. The circle was complete.

He watched as she rounded on Sullivan, putting her arms out to deflect Adam’s rage. He grinned at her and shook his head slowly in amazement.

“So you’ve chosen, Eve.”

“Yes, I’ve chosen.”

Adam stared silently as Eve did a slow half turn in Sullivan’s direction before glaring backwards, her gaze lethal. She was trembling with anger and indignation but her skin was warming from his blood.

Adam had to smile at the irony. If not for him Eve would be dead twice now. He’d given her life. He loved her with every fiber of his being, had loved her forever and had given her this dark gift that she didn’t want. Now she wanted to use his gift to save her lover. If one lived long enough, one saw amazing things and Adam had lived quite long enough. Eve belonged to him. She was his wife, his love, and it was time that she understood that.

“Stop glaring at me, Eve, your disgust will not deter me.” He looked toward Dr Meah. “Doctor, I will not kill you immediately” He shrugged and gave Sullivan a smile. “Nor you, Sullivan. I think I will make you both sweat. Eve suggested it and it does have merits.”

Adam opened his arms wide and looked at the three as a parent would look at his insolent children. “The three of you bear close watching. You try my patience and it tells me I must remain in close contact with the three of you until I can decide what punishment each of you must receive.” He shook a finger as all opened their mouths to protest. “Don’t thank me, not yet,” he said sarcastically.

“Thank you? Adam, you’re crazy.” Eve laughed in genuine amusement, wondering what Adam was planning, trying to probe his mind without detection.

“Haven’t I told you to stop doing that?” Adam locked gazes with Eve and sat in a chair near her. “You make me tired, my love, you truly do. But playtime is over. I will take you home and I will give you one week to rest. Then you will learn to do as you should have done two years

ago. I will no longer trust you to behave like either a vampire or an adult. You will drink if I have to force the fangs from your gums and shove them into a mortal. If I have to I will hold you in place until you’ve fed.” His voice was calm. He sat in his chair and waited for Eve to make the next move.

***

She’d have to bide her time, play this slowly, pretend that nothing was wrong. Adam was probing her mind. And she’d have to remember to keep up a barrier against his probe. She toppled and nearly fell dismissing the three ready to assist her. “No, don’t,” she moaned. She was the only one in the room who knew her weakness was false. She stared at Adam and saw the weary expression on his face. He didn’t trust her but he loved her beyond all reason. She was his weakness, she was totally aware of that. He had gone quiet, an air of anxious apprehension about him. His probe became stronger and she sent him images of her fainting. He blinked, still not sure, and she was aware that his love for her was clouding his judgment just enough for her to do what she wanted to do.

“There is no reason for you to feel faint, Eve,” Adam said calmly. “I sense deception on your part.”

“No deception, Adam. I just need to take a moment. I’m not used to having so much of your blood in my veins.” She smiled sweetly. It has a powerful kick,” she said and looked into his eyes. “Thanks, and I really do mean that.”

Holding on to the poster of the bed Eve slowly made her way to the head of the bed, trying with all her might not to will the drawer to open, not to demand her crystal to come to her. But this one crystal was a special one she’d prepared many months just for Adam. She had no idea if it would work or not but she knew this much: She had to try. She sat on the bed and sighed heavily in the silent and still room. They were all watching her, that much she knew. Eve leaned her head against the pillow but kept half her body off the bed. She had to time her next move carefully.

“Adam, I do have some thoughts on the lessons that you’re insisting that you’re going to teach me. I will not feed directly from humans. You lied to me when you told me that you wanted your best

scientists to find a means for vampires to live without a need for human blood. But the moment I tried it you became enraged.”

“You were never meant to be a lab experiment.”

“But who better than I?”

“Anyone. Sullivan could have tried the concoction, the good doctor. I don’t care who, just not you.”

“It worked, Adam,” Eve declared, knowing Adam as well as he knew her, and knowing her statement would get a rise out of him. Just as expected, Adam was up from the chair and pacing across the room, sparks of electricity flying from the tips of his fingers. And he wasn’t even trying. Eve shivered, imagining what Adam could do if he were trying. She shivered again. She didn’t have to imagine. She’d seen the power Adam wielded. He’d almost destroyed the world. Adam turned from her and quicker than she could have thought she quietly opened the drawer in the small stand next to her bed and palmed the crystal. The moment she held it Adam turned back to her with a knowing smile.

“So, my beautiful, treacherous wife, you feel you’re well enough to defy me openly.” He smiled. “Did you think it impossible for me to master the parlor tricks you’ve learned?”

“They are no tricks, Adam, they are my birthright,” she said, standing.

“Then perhaps they’re mine also for your magic has no effect on me, nor do your crystals.” Adam took a stone from his pocket and held it in the palm of his hand. He tossed it to Eve. “Go ahead, try.”

“Will you do as I asked and spare Dr. Meah and Sullivan?” Eve said, taking the conversation into Adam’s mind to keep it private. She palmed the stone Adam tossed her.

“There is no guarantee that I will. I might and then again I might not.” Adam gave her a hard look and narrowed his gaze. “Half the time even I’m unaware of what I might do. So, I’m afraid I can’t give you any promises, my love.”

“And you’re determined to force me to drink directly from humans? I can’t change your mind?”

Adam laughed.

Eve laughed but hers was a laugh of supreme conviction. She glanced down at the crystal Adam had given her before tossing it on the bed. She smiled as she stared into the eyes of her husband. Determination

fueled her spine as she walked with strength and stood directly before Adam. “One last chance, Adam, don’t make me do this.”

“Go ahead, baby, take your best shot.”

“Remember, you asked for this.” She cocked her head a tiny bit to the left. “Remember, I’m just doing as you asked.”

Adam Omega, Grand Master Vampire, be gone now from my sight. Let your very essence be sealed in flight. Go now to a time and place before I ever looked upon your face.”

Eve smiled and pointed the crystal that was in her palm toward Adam, who was looking at her as though she were crazy. There was not a trace of fear in him, but she’d not expected there to be. What did the great Adam Omega have to fear from his fledgling of a vampire wife, or of the powers of the ages that ran through her bloodline? He didn’t fear her and that was to Eve’s advantage. “Are you sure, Adam, that you want me to take my best shot?”

“Do it,” Adam said calmly, the softness in his tone speaking volumes. He waited patiently.

Then Eve raised her hand and clapped three times. And just like that Adam was gone. Eve waited for a moment to see if her incantation had really worked. She didn’t sense Adam. She tried to connect with him in her mind and couldn’t. She laughed. It had worked. She’d sent the great vampire back in time.

Sullivan and Dr. Meah were staring at her. For a long moment neither moved. Then Sullivan touched her. “Eve,” he called to her. “What did you do? Where’s Adam?”

“I don’t really know. I sent him back into the past but I can’t tell you how far back, not really.”

“Since when could you send anyone into the past?”

“Since never,” Adam answered as he appeared back in the room. He walked up to Eve, opened her hand and removed the crystal. He arched a brow. “Really, Eve, did you think it was going to be that easy? You should know you can’t just put a hex on a vampire. And especially not on me. You wouldn’t be able to do it even if I were asleep. I’m protected.”

Eve stared at him. “What if you weren’t protected? Do you think it would work? Would I be able to send you away?”

“That really doesn’t sound like what should be coming from your mouth. I should be hearing about your gratitude and your words of love.”

“Didn’t I say thank you?” She gave a short laugh. “Thank you, Adam. I’m grateful. I would be more grateful if you’d stop threatening everyone. This was all a mistake. The fault was mine.”

At her words Adam’s head snapped up and without trying, his eyes became red. He walked away from the woman he loved, circled the room, picking up objects and tossing them to the floor. No rage was involved; it was simply annoyance. His emotions were raw, too raw to engage in a battle of wills with his wife. There was one thing she had wrong. She was not to blame. The fault was his. He took in a deep breath, expelling it slowly.

“The fault was not entirely yours, Eve. Yes, you should have fed as I ordered and no, you should not have mixed chemicals. Still, some of the blame is mine.” He moved toward her, allowing the red haze to leave. Adam reached his hand out to touch her, felt her tremble and then felt the burn from the amber ring. He closed his eyes and drew Eve into his arms. As his arms closed around her he breathed in her essence. “I don’t know what I would have done if you had died. You gave me quite a scare. I have to admit that,” he whispered.

“I know,” Eve answered, holding him tightly, closing her eyes to block out the sadness in Sullivan’s eyes as he watched them. This moment was not for fighting, but for telling the truth for once. She loved Adam Omega. And she was glad to be alive.

Join Adam's Blood Donors

2010-03-27T16:06:00.000-05:00

http://adamomegavampire-fddavis.grouply.com/members

What am I doing?

2010-03-26T06:07:00.000-05:00

Have any of you who read my blog, and judging by the number of comments I get I'd say no one reads this. Anyway Amazon used to have a blog and fo course I was a part of that. but like most things I hadn't blogged for awhile. I've been trying off on and on for months to get back on sending messages and stuff like that.

Now this is apparently what happened" Amazon merged with Blogger. I would imagaine that they send soem word out but hey, I missed it. Anyway I kept contacting customer service and insetead fo telling me that I could no longer log inot my Amazon accuont that it was now merged withy my blogspot they kept giving me the run around and telling me stuff that meant nothing.

So what did I do? Naturally I tried to register again and was told I couldn't because I already had an account. Then something happened I don't even know what and I saw something about blospot. Okay cool. And this is what I noticed. When I come on here to post there is a little box on the side that says Amazon Associates, I think the gist of it is that I'm supposed to advertise products from Amazon. A little more info would help because at the moment I'm more concerned with getting the word out that my third installment of Adam's vampire chronicles is available. Lest Ye Be Judged.

See, if anyone but me was reading this I probably wouldn't have just written what I did. It sounds kind of self serving. But since I'm the only one reading this, what the heck? Just in case anyone is reading this....Happy weekendSearch Amazon.com for F.D. Davis Search Amazon.com for F.D. Davis

Namaste,

Dyanne

Chatting with Lisa G. Riley and Roslyn Holcomb

2010-03-22T16:59:00.002-05:00

Lisa G. Riley

Biography

Author Lisa G. Riley’s work has been called “character and issue driven; exciting, passionate and thought provoking.” The author of several multicultural novels and stories, Ms. Riley writes in several genres including romantic suspense, erotica and paranormal. Her latest story, Do Me Right, is an erotic contemporary suspense novel available at www.loose-id.com on April 6^th, 2010. Her first foray into historical paranormal romance, Given, was written with Roslyn Hardy Holcomb and is also available at www.loose-id.com. Ms. Riley resides in Chicago where she is hard at work on her next project, Give Yourself to Me, a paranormal erotic contemporary set in New Orleans. Please visit her at www.lisagriley.com or at www.lisagriley.wordpress.com

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb, is the author of the best-selling novel Rock Star. Her most recent books are Pussycat Death Squad, Morning Star and Santa Baby which are available from Loose Id. She was born in North Alabama and has had a disparate career and varied interests. Her lifelong devotion to needle arts led to a stint on the editorial staff of Oxmoor House, the publishing division of Southern Progress, Inc. where she wrote instructional copy for craft publications. Regular volunteer work and a passion for child welfare inspired her to leave that field to pursue an advanced degree and a career in social service. Specializing in teens and adolescents she worked at Job Corps and in the Independent Living unit of a child welfare agency, where she helped teen foster children transition into self-sufficiency. Shortly after her young son was born, she decided to become a stay-at-home mother and pursue a writing career fulltime.

2010-03-22T11:19:00.000-05:00

Search Amazon.com for Dyanne Davis

Adam Omega

2010-03-14T11:21:00.000-05:00

At last long book three of Adam Omega's misadventures is now available on Amazon. YEAH!!

LaConnie Taylor Jones

2010-03-08T04:37:00.007-06:00

Award-winning author, LaConnie Taylor-Jones, a native Memphian, is a health educator consultant and holds advanced degrees in community public health and business administration. The mother of four and resides with her family in Northern California.

For over twenty-five years, Ms. Taylor-Jones has been an avid romance reader. In the summer of 2003 a challenge from her husband made her seize the opportunity to blend her enthusiasm for teaching health, social responsibility and social justice with her love for reading the genre. Her experience as a health educator sparked a multitude of storylines and her romance, which she defines as the spirit of adventure, played a pivotal part in her road to publication. In a little over four years, she’s authored three full-length novels. In 2008, Ms. Taylor-Jones was the recipient of the 2008 Romance Slam Jam Emma Award for Debut Author of the Year for When I’m With You. Ms. Taylor-Jones is an active member of the Contra Costa Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the African American Community Health Advisory Committee, Black Women Organized for Political Action, and the San Francisco Area and Black Diamond chapters of Romance Writers of America.
For more information, visit her online www.laconnietaylorjones.com

IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN

Tinsel Town is about to learn a few lessons from a Southern doctor with the courage to win the heart of a man who swore no woman ever would

If it doesn’t have a scientific basis, Dr. Laney Olivia Houston doesn’t believe in it —and that includes love at first sight. But she meets Raphael Baptiste. One encounter is all it takes; and she realizes her life is changed forever.

Jazz musician, Raphael Baptiste is no stranger to women or their beds. When an illness strikes, his life is thrown into turmoil. But a quiet Southern belle sees beyond his past and bitterness. She sees a man who could love. . .

IF I Were Your Woman is a book about imperfection,
trust and unconditional love.
.

Welcome LaConnie,

LaConnie is doing a blog tour and I'm one of the lucky authors to participate. If you leave a comment and go to Redrose to purchase LaConnie's book, "If I WERE YOUR WOMAN", you will receive a copy of, "Destination Romance," as a FREE bonus download. Remember that all of the authors, editors and the publisher received no money for Destination Romance. The proceeds have gone and will continue to go to help women fighting AIDS .http://redrosepublishing.com/bookstore

LaConnie Taylor-Jones has asked me to put myself in her leading lady’s (Dr. Laney Houston) place in, IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN and respond to this question:

You have just met a man and your relationship with him is like . . . nothing you have experienced before! Without a doubt, you know this man is your soul mate, yet not long into the relationship he learns he has a life-threatening illness. He shares his news with you and even wants to break off the relationship because he may, or may not, survive. What do you do? Do you stay, or do you walk away?

So here goes:

If I were your woman you'd no longer be afraid to admit you're afraid of the unknown, afraid of dying. But baby, from the moment we're born death is inevitable. There is no escaping it. It's what we do in between that counts. My very soul sings when you're near. Now you may chose to lie but I know you feel it too because I feel your soul answering mine.

Don't be afraid to accept my love, it's the balm you've been needing. Aren't you aware that true love dulls any pain, slays all dragons and put a smile on your face? Feel my caress. there it is i felt the flutter in your heart. were you aware that even in your sleep you react to my touch? I love you because I do. My love is not so fleeting a thing that you have to worry about human frailty, silly things like losing your hair, tossing your cookies or being irritable because of the lack of answers. You can let go of the worries for we will put a lifetime of loving in each moment we're here, we'll cherish it all the more, every touch, every breath we'll transmit our DNA and we'll find each other again. But for now let me be your strength I am your gift from God, you are free to love me as I love you for as long as the Creator gives us..

If you enjoy contemporary romances that – make you laugh out loud, tackle sensitive life issues with compassion and grace, and introduce you to passionate couples who make you feel . . . love really does conquer all -- then join me in the celebration of LaConnie Taylor-Jones’ new release, IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN!

For a limited time today --12 NOON – 4 PM EST-- visit LaConnie Taylor-Jones’ website - http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/blog/ - to purchase a copy of IF I WERE YOUR WOMAN and use my promotional code name (DYANNE) to receive a download of my latest ebook, (Destination Romance), absolutely FREE! In addition to receiving a FREE download of my book, your purchase enters you in a drawing for a FREE Amazon Kindle to be given away on Saturday, March 13, 2010 @ 12 NOON PST/2 PM CST/ 3 PM EST via LaConnie’s official blog website at http://www.laconnietaylorjones.com/blog/

Interview with Jayne Ann Krentz

2010-02-01T06:01:00.007-06:00

Jayne Ann Krentz

Jayne Ann Krentz, is the author of a string of New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ uses three different pen names for each of her three "worlds". As JAYNE ANN KRENTZ (her married name) she writes contemporary romantic-suspense. She uses AMANDA QUICK for her novels of historical romantic-suspense. JAYNE CASTLE (her birth name) is reserved these days for her stories of futuristic/paranormal romantic-suspense.
"I am often asked why I use a variety of pen names," she says. "The answer is that this way readers always know which of my three worlds they will be entering when they pick up one of my books."

In addition to her fiction writing, she is the editor of, and a contributor to, a non-fiction essay collection, DANGEROUS MEN AND ADVENTUROUS WOMEN: ROMANCE WRITERS ON THE APPEAL OF THE ROMANCE published by the University of Pennsylvania Press. Her commitment to her chosen genre has been strong from the very beginning of her career. Each year at the annual convention of the Romance Writers of America she participates in a special day-long workshop for librarians and speaks on the importance of the romance genre.

"The romance genre is the only genre where readers are guaranteed novels that place the heroine at the heart of the story," Jayne says. "These are books that celebrate women's heroic virtues and values: courage, honor, determination and a belief in the healing power of love."
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries. She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

******

FIRED UP (Jayne Ann Krentz)
Book One of the Dreamlight Trilogy
An Arcane Society Novel - Book #7
Hardcover - 352 pages (January 2010)
Putnam; ISBN-10: 0399155961
ISBN-13: 978-0399155963

The New York Times—bestselling author presents her latest Arcane Society novel and introduces the first book in the Dreamlight Trilogy—the story of a curse that spans generations, and the love that can heal it. . .

More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man's decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations.
Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts—just the beginning, he believes—of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can't do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp's dreamlight.

Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. Her talents for finding objects and accessing dream energy are what will save him, but their sudden and powerful sexual pull threatens to overwhelm them both. Danger surrounds them, and it doesn't take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.

****

Who doesn’t know Jayne Ann Krentz, no matter the pseudonym she uses. We love her as Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick and as Jayne Castle. I am thrilled beyond belief to bring you my interview with Jayne. You know how long winded I am. But this time (and no she didn’t tell me I had to keep the interview brief) I kept things brief for two reasons. I have been given permission by Mrs. Krentz to repost an article that touched me, gave me hope and has inspired me to continue in this writing career no matter what is thrown at me. I’m sure it’s had the same effect on countless writers. That’s why I wanted the chance to reach more people with her personal triumph.

Secondly, I’m aware that she’s extremely busy. You have no idea how many questions I wrote down to ask. Some were just plain nosey. LOL. Okay enough of my thoughts. If you haven’t skipped down already I’m ending my diatribe. I give you now one of the greatest writers of all times. Jayne Anne Krentz

Dyanne: Jayne, welcome and thank you for agreeing to visit my small corner of the reading world. Now that you're at a comfortable place in your career and futuristic paranormals are readily accepted would you ever consider attempting to bring, Crystal Flame, Sweet Starfire and Shield's Lady, back for another chance with readers?

JAK: Funny you should ask! As it happens, all three books are, indeed, being reissued this spring. Sweet Starfire is already available in stores. We'll see how readers react this time around.

Dyanne: Fantastic. I’m wishing you all the best. I’m thinking this time the stars are properly aligned for the reissue of the books. I've read comments from readers who've read, Crystal Flame, Sweet Starfire and Shield's Lady and loved them. Even though your first paranormals slowed your career for a moment, are they still the books of your heart? Are the books still available?

JAK: I answered part of this above. Regarding the "books of my heart" thing, I was never hung up one way or the other on the futuristic elements, what always intrigued me was the psychic stuff. For me, adding that element to a story brings a whole new dimension to the relationship. Since I can now do that as much as I want in my Arcane Society novels I'm a happy camper.

Dyanne: I am pulling for you for several different reasons. Some of it is simply because I’ve always admired you. The other reason is because I have a psychic trilogy. I keep hearing no one is buying stories about psychics. Like you I love anything having to do with the psychic world. I’m sending all good psychic vibes for the success of your books.

You said that you can't give writing and publishing advice but I think you just did both very nicely. Perseverance is the one common thread that I believe ALL authors share. During the down times in your career what did you do to persevere? Did you ever seriously want to give up the voices?

JAK: I considered quitting all the time. But here's the thing with writing: If you can quit, you probably will quit. If you can't quit then you just keep writing because you have no choice. Writing is an addiction; a compulsion. Quitting just isn't an option. Even if I never sold another book I'd keep writing.

Dyanne: Your answer to that question can never be repeated enough. At least once a week I give those, or similar words in pep talks to friends. Perhaps they’ll listen to you.

I won't ask which sub-genre that you write in is your favorite. But I will ask if there are future plans for yet another pseudonym?

JAK: No, please, no more pen names!!!!! I never set out to create three careers but that is what happened to me. I do not recommend that approach to the business, believe me.

Dyanne: (Smile) If I don’t ask you the next question my readers are going to think someone has taken over my body. (LOL) Can you give us your take on the current market?

JAK: The market is as unpredictable as ever. I think savvy booksellers, who are the ones on the front lines, are the people to ask about trends. For what it's worth, I've been hearing more and more about "steampunk romance" lately. Wikipedia has a pretty good definition of steampunk. In the past it has not been a romantic genre but I think that may be changing.

Dyanne: I am just now hearing about steampunk. As a former librarian are there any tips for writers on how to get their books into the library?

JAK: As for getting books into the library, librarians generally have to justify the purchase of a book and the most common way to do that is with reviews. Librarians who care about romance generally use PW and RT as review sources.

Dyanne: Jayne, I want to thank you once again for the interview and the opportunity to repost the article. Where can your fans reach you?

JAK: Thank you for inviting me here and best of luck to you in your writing! Readers can reach me at, http://www.jayneannkrentz.com/current.html

Dyanne: Without further ado, I bring you Jayne Ann Krentz on,

Surviving in the Writing Biz

When it comes to writing and getting published, I’m not the best person to ask for advice. I’ve shot myself (and my career) in the foot more times than I can count. I have, however, survived in this business so it struck me that the one subject I can speak to with some authority is reinventing yourself. Unfortunately, from the start of my career, I’ve had a lot of experience doing just that. Here are my handy tips for survival:

DON’T GET TOO FAR AHEAD OF THE CURVE: Trust me on this. I’ve been there and done that and it rarely goes well. Back at the beginning of my career I tried to do a futuristic/paranormal. That very first manuscript had all of the elements that I now work with freely: romance, suspense and a psychic twist. I can’t tell you how many rejection slips the manuscript garnered. They all had the same theme: “Really enjoyed the writing but unfortunately there’s no market for this kind of romance”.

Never one to learn from my mistakes, I tried more futuristic/paranormals again a few years later. By this time I had my Jayne Ann Krentz career up and running. But I killed it stone dead for a time when I finally succeeded in publishing those dang “books of my heart”: my futuristic/paranormals. Anyone remember Sweet Starfire, Crystal Flame and Shield’s Lady? Those are the books that did me in. Folks lined up around the block NOT to buy those books. My printruns crashed and burned.
With my Krentz career on life-support, I decided to retreat to a new pen name and a sub-genre I knew had an audience: Regency romance. That was when I fired up my Amanda Quick career.

The next time I tried the futuristic/paranormal genre I wised-up and did it under a name which had no bad printrun baggage attached to it: Jayne Castle (which just happens to be my birth name). This time it worked.

The takeaway lesson here is that it is very risky to be the first writer in a brand new fictional landscape. Editors look at the books and worry that there won’t be an audience. Readers look at the books and find the backdrops too strange and unfamiliar. It takes time and usually more than one author to create a new fictional landscape that a lot of readers will find comfortable. Today we are all at ease with alternate realities and futuristics that feature vampires, werewolves and the supernatural but it was not ever thus, believe me

KNOW YOUR CORE STORY: (and where it belongs!) My career has experienced several other harrowing near-death experiences but I’ll spare you the grisly details. What you probably want to know is how I survived.

The answer is that I followed one simple rule: Each time I found myself standing on the edge of the abyss, I went back to my core story and looked for a fictional landscape that could accommodate it.

Example: After my futuristic/paranormal career went off a high cliff I took a look at the basic story that I was trying to tell. I realized that if I stripped away the otherworldly settings, the exotic animals and the space ships what I had left was, essentially, a marriage-of-convenience plot. I realized right away that there was a natural home for such stories: Regency romance. That was the start of my Amanda Quick career.

The very best advice I can give you is to know and understand your core story. The themes, plot elements and the kinds of characters you love to work with will show up again and again in your books. They are the source of your power. There is usually more than one market for your core story but you may not realize that if you don’t recognize and comprehend the raw fuel that drives you.

DON’T GIVE UP ON YOUR SPECIAL WORLD: Yes, it took me a long time to publish the psychic and futuristic stories that I longed to do from the very start of my career but eventually I got where I wanted to be. I am now writing my books the way I have always wanted to write them.

I took a few detours before I reached my destination but I loved the journey at every stage because, when you get right down to it, regardless of the sub-genre in which I was working, I always found a way to tell my core story.

Check out Seressia

2010-01-21T12:12:00.001-06:00

Author's Spotlight: Seressia Glass

Dyanne: Seressia, Happy New year. I'm thrilled to be catching up with you and bringing the readers a taste of the first book in your brand new trilogy. Shadow Chase has such a beautiful cover and since I know what a fantastic writer you are I know the story is going to be truly amazing. Can you please give us some insider info on the other two books in the series. Also, please tell us where we can buy the books.

Seressia:Thanks, Dyanne! Shadow Blade releases 01/26/10 and Shadow Chase releases 07/27/10. They're available in both print and electronic format, so I can give you the Amazon link. As for what the first two books are about, the blurbs explain them much better than I can!

Here's the blurb for Shadow Blade:

For Kira Solomon, normal was never an option.

Kira’s day job as an antiquities expert, but her true calling is as a Shadowchaser. Trained from youth to be one of the most lethal Chasers in existence, Kira serves the Gilead Commission dispatching the Fallen who sow discord and chaos. Of course, sometimes Gilead bureaucracy is as much a thorn in her side as anything the Fallen can muster against her. Right now, though, she’s got a bigger problem. Someone is turning the city of Atlanta upside-down in search of a four-millennia-old Egyptian dagger that just happens to have fallen into Kira’s hands.

Shadow BladeThen there’s Khefar, the dagger’s true owner-a near-immortal 4000-year-old Nubian warrior who, Kira has to admit. looks pretty fine for his age. Joining forces is the only way to keep the weapon safe from the sinister Shadow force, but now Kira is in deep with someone who holds more secrets than she does, the one person who knows just how treacherous this fight is. Because every step closer to destroying the enemy is a step closer to losing herself to Shadow forever. . . .

Dyanne: Seressia, Do you have a blurb for Shadow Chase?

Seressia: LOL. Of course I do. Thanks for asking. Here's the blurb for Shadow Chase:

In a job like this, one mistake can cost you everything.

As a Shadowchaser, Kira Solomon has been trained to serve the Light, dispatch the Fallen, and prevent the spread of chaos. It’s a deadly job, and Kira knows the horror of spilling innocent blood. But now she has a new role, as the Hand of Ma’at, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Order, and an assignment that might just redeem her.

A fellow Shadowchaser has gone missing, and so has a unique artifact imbued with astonishing magic. Unless the Vessel of Nun is returned, it will cause destruction beyond anything the modern world has seen. Kira’s got a team at her back, including Khefar, a near-immortal Nubian warrior who’s already died for her once. But as complicated as her feelings for him are, they’re nothing compared to the difficulties of the task she faces. And the only way to defeat the enemy is to trust in a power she can barely control, and put her life—and her soul—on the line.

Dyanne: How in the world did you ever come up with this concept?

Seressia: I wanted to create a world in which the Universal Law is about Balance, Light and Shadow, Order and Chaos, and that everything--humans, demons, gods and goddesses--are arrayed somewhere on the Universal Balance. This mythology also explains the many fantastical creatures humans have claimed to see throughout history, and that not all demons or non-human magical beings are bad.

As for what's next, I'm working on the third Shadowchasers book, Shadow Fall. I'm also working on some romance proposals, both contemporary and paranormal. Nothing's sold yet, but if there's any news to share, I'll be sure to announce it on my website, Facebook and Twitter pages!

Dyanne: Seressia, thank you so much for this follow up interview. Where can readers find you?

Seressia: You're welcome, Dyanne. Readers can find me at

Seressia Glass
www.seressia.com
SHADOW BLADE, 01/10
SHADOW CHASE, 07/10

2010-01-12T10:02:00.000-06:00

Chatting on RAW

2010-01-06T09:44:00.004-06:00

Please join me tomorrow for a comment chat

The "chat" is scheduled for Thursday, January 7th from 10AM-8PM EST and takes place via the comments section of the site, not via a chat room, so if you have some time, check out the recent ones: http://www.rawsistaz.com/blog/black-book-talks. http://www.rawsistaz.com (and click on Black Book Chat w/Dyanne Davis link at 10AM EST. ()

Please don't think you have to stay glued to your desk all day and chat for 10 hours straight. You don't. You can come in and out as your time allows between 10AM EST - 8PM EST

Thanks

Dyanne

Donna Hill's Tips to Writers

2009-12-12T08:33:00.004-06:00

Francis Ray to visit

2009-09-12T05:38:00.003-05:00

Good morning,

I'd like to invite you to send in your questions for NY Times bestselling author Francis Ray. She'll be stopping by soon to answer questions and blog. This will happen in Oct but I want o get you ready now. Go ahead and send questions for her.

Have a fantastic weekend.

2009-07-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

In Blood We Trust

2009-07-05T15:42:00.003-05:00

The Good Side of Evil

2009-04-16T11:43:00.002-05:00

Did the title catch your eye? I hope so because it's the title of my latest work. I was asked to be a part of the anthology, Carnivale Diabolique. When I learned that the character I was going to write was a demon I jumped up and down with glee. What do you think that means? LOL. Anyway I loved the story and I loved writing Vulcan. Like the rest of you I have no idea about the other stories but I can't wait to read them.

Namaste

Dyanne

News

2009-02-16T04:03:00.002-06:00

Good morning,

Guess who's coming to Chicago? Give up? Okay, I'll tell you. L. A. Banks/Leslie Esdaile. And she's coming to Bolingbrook while in the area to film my local cable television show. I"m thrilled to have her back again. You are aware she's finished with her vampire series. The lady is so busy that I have no idea what she's up to next. But don't worry I'll find out.

For some reason this morning I feel really great and can almost sense a change in the weather is about to come. Now you wouldn't know this by the fact that I have a small heater sitting on a tray blowing on my shoulders as I type. Why do I have a mini heater you ask? Well, everyone else is sleeping and you know you can't sleep when the hose is too hot so I'm just keeping myself warm. Besides, I require more heat than Bill and Billy.

I hope you all have a wonderful week

Namaste,

Dyanne

Let's Get It On

2009-02-13T06:42:00.001-06:00

2009-02-13T06:37:00.001-06:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7eTOnNBwYUjavascript:void(0)

2009-02-13T05:58:00.000-06:00

What I'm doing today

2009-01-22T07:50:00.002-06:00

Okay,

We have a new president who is giving the nation hope. Of course I watched the entire day but now I must work. I am writing a novella where my star is a demon. Yes, you heard me correctly, a demon and I am having a ball writing about Vulcan. More on that later. Hope all is well in your world.

Dyanne