COOL annnouncement!

Click on the image to see it full size!

Follow me on Twitter!!

Twitter Updates

follow me on Twitter

My YouTube Channel

Hey everyone! If you want to check out my book trailers, and other stuff I'm getting up to via YouTube, check out my channel over there..... Click on the Logo, or follow the link:

http://www.youtube.com/denysebridger

Let me know what you think, ok?

Happily ever after.... ANNETTE SNYDER

JULY 2nd: Annette's winner is COLLEEN LOVE

If there’s one thing I like, its romance and happily ever after. The other thing I like is Independence Day with all the fanfare and explosion of fireworks. I’ve combined these two events together in my latest release, Intimate Flames, which revolves around The Fourth of July. It’s a contemporary romance involving a fireman and a convenience store clerk. Bradie Carpenter holds dear only memories of love lost. Armed with determination after Grant Blain’s tragic death, Bradie moves forward in life with their son. Without the exclusive Blain family name or the advantage of the family fortune and, diligent to overcome the obstacles of single parenthood, she sets a goal of a better life in the picturesque town of Union.

Andrew “Amen” Packard married too young with an unrealistic view of the future. After a turbulent divorce stemming from pressure of his firefighter career, Amen chooses his heated profession over affection for wife, family and friends. Not until he meets Bradie does he rethink his decision to exclude love from his life.

Can Bradie discover that money doesn’t always extinguish love?

Will Amen allow a ready-made family near enough to bash towering walls of seclusion?

Is friendship and attraction enough to heal the lives of two souls charred from fate?

This heroine and hero create fireworks of their own while trying to stay independent.

You can pick up your copy of Intimate Flames right now at www.whiskeycreekpress.com and visit my site http://annettesnyder.atspace.com to find out more about my writing career. Make sure to check out the information on the monthly, online book club I host called Lost in a Good Book at Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction. The link is on my site’s Event’s page.

And, for Denyse’s blogger friends, and as thanks to Denyse for hosting me today, I’m offering a cool summer prize package. With your comment, you’ll have a chance to win a big book tote, great for stocking all your summer party supplies, sunscreen to protect you from the rays while you’re out lounging in the sun and an autographed copy of Intimate Flames, the perfect summer read. Good luck and thanks for stopping by!

Annette Snyder-Novelist
http://annettesnyder.atspace.com
Viveka's War--Available Now
Intimate Flames releasing July 2009
http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/
http://www.growneb.com
Lost in a Good Book--WRDF Book Club
http://blog.elceepublishing.com/

EXCITING new novel from Douglas Carlton Abrams

Well, most of you have already heard me talk very enthusiastically about this amazing man... he's not only charming and very handsome - he's a brilliant author, and his first novel was a huge success.... you all know that one - The Lost Diary of Don Juan.

So, it is my genuine pleasure to announce that Doug's next novel will soon be available to us! On AUGUST 4th, the novel EYE OF THE WHALE will be arriving in stores. The website is still under construction, but Doug's set up a MySpace page for you to have a look around and learn more about this special book!!

CLICK HERE

CATALOG COPY for EYE OF THE WHALE:

National bestseller Doug Abrams delivers a captivating ecological thriller about a marine biologist whose fate is altered after the unexpected appearance of a humpback whale sends her on a race to discover the meaning of its mysterious song and its implications for human survival.

Elizabeth McKay is a dedicated scientist who has spent almost a decade cracking the code of humpback whale communication. Their song, the most complex in nature, may in fact reveal secrets about the animal world that no one could have imagined. When a humpback whale swims up the Sacramento River with a strange and unprecedented song, Elizabeth must decipher its meaning in order to save the whale and ultimately much more. But as her work with the whale captures the media’s interest and the world’s imagination, many powerful forces emerge who do not want the whale’s secrets to be revealed. Soon, Elizabeth is forced to decide if her discoveries are worth losing her marriage, her career, and possibly her life.

As timely as today’s ecological challenges and as timeless as the whales themselves, this novel takes readers into the mysterious world of humpback whales and great white sharks. In writing Eye of the Whale, Abrams worked closely with leading scientists to uncover the shockingly true facts on which it is based. This powerful story will transform how readers see their relationship to other species and the fragile world in which we live.

Author Promo....

Stop by and check out this amazing new promotions site. They've just done a feature for me, and it's wonderful!!!

http://authorautobahn.webs.com/denysebridger.htm

http://authorautobahn.webs.com/interviews.htm

Legendary Lover Don Juan....

You've all heard me talk me about this book before, but it's such a wonderful creation, that I thought you might like to see the talented man who wrote The Lost Diary of Don Juan talk about that fabulous book! So.... Mr. Douglas Carlton Abrams....



Website: http://www.lostdiaryofdonjuan.com

Sensual Treats - More Goodies added!

For anyone who has been to visit the Sensual Treats website, and hopefully picked up our first issue - I've just added a new page with a special Treat - you can listen to Riccardo Foresi talk about his life and career now - check out our new VIDEO page!!! Hopefully, each new feature will enable us to bring you a video to go with it, be it travel or book trailer, or interview like this one.... I think seeing Riccardo and watching him at work, as well as giving him a presence you can see will be great, so let us know what you think of the new addition, ok? We've also added a new "treat" to the FREE TREATS page....

Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com

Covey Award Nominee!

The June Polls are Open

The June Polls are now open.

Polling will close midnight July 2nd.

Please vote in our Public poll - Most Eye-Catching Cover. This is the Cover that would make you stop and pick up the novel for a closer look.The poll is located at the top of the site on the left hand side. http://thenewcoveycoverawards.blogspot.com/

http://thenewcoveyawards.blogspot.com/

Then click on Cover Awards, that should take you where you need to be to vote!

WHOM GODS HAVE FAVORED is my entry, #4 on the list.....

If you are having trouble using the poll please contact us at thenewcoveyawards@gmail.com

THANKS SO MUCH!!!!
Denysé

GUEST: Richard Aaron

Today my guest is Richard Aaron, who has written a really intriguing and fascinating book - I'm into it now and will post a review once I'm done - but don't wait to hunt it down and buy it, because I can tell you now, this one is GREAT!!! So, over to Mr. Aaron....

RICHARD AARON lives in a cold, northwestern city with his wife, four children, and various dogs and cats. He has a university degree in mathematics and a masters in law. Neither have anything to do with his burgeoning career as a writer. He worked in the real world for two decades before realizing that he was actually meant to be a writer. Gauntlet was produced soon thereafter.

You can visit his website by clicking here.

CREATING STRONG CHARACTERS IN FICTION

I have been fortunate. Having been a lawyer for 28 years, I have met some of the most extraordinary characters. I’ve known everything from paupers to billionaires, illiterate people to scientists with the most complex of specialties, depraved people, spiritual people, psychopaths, idiots, and savants. I draw on that huge filing cabinet of characters, taking a few traits from here, a few from there, but always using a mix of several different people to build the most complex character possible.

In most cases, there is no such thing as pure evil, unless you’re dealing with the genuine psychopath who has zero empathy, who will never know right from wrong, and who will never be cured. Most of the bad guys I have met have streaks of good within them. Most of the good people I have met are flawed in some fashion. Remember this when you create a character. When we sat down in the editing process for Gauntlet, I was told that my editor loved the fact that my “heavy” had shades of gray, and we really tried to play that up. Richard Lawrence, a very good guy, is also a drug addict. Yousseff, the brilliant, scheming bad guy is actually kind of cool to be around. He helps out poor and disadvantage people, he is fair and kind to his employees, he’s honest. Within his boundaries of what honesty means. He is respectful, and only kills when it is absolutely necessary. I say that tongue in cheek, as it seems a nonsequitor, but characteristics like that make the people in your book stand out from the crowd, so to speak.

When you’re creating a character, look at the people around you. Look in the press, the people on TV, cyberspace, and what you’ve seen in history. Always make their characters consistent, and make sure that they stay true to themselves, regardless of what your plot’s doing. Do full character sketches of ALL your characters before you start the novel. And have good readers – people who aren’t afraid to tell you that your good guy has suddenly started doing things that he NEVER would have done in the last book. It’s incredibly important to listen to feedback like that, especially in regard to the people who are for all intents and purposes carrying out your orders in the plot of your making.

GAUNTLET blurb:

Six hundred sixty tons of Semtex is detonated in a massive explosion in Libya – the last of a deadly stockpile. The operation seems to have gone smoothly, but within minutes of the explosion, CIA agent Richard Lawrence discovers that one shipment of the explosive was hijacked en route to the destruction point. Days later, a glory-seeking “Emir” broadcasts to the world that he is planning a massive terrorist strike against a major U.S. landmark. And he gives a timeline of one month.

Now a desperate chase covers four continents, as the men bent on attacking the United States use every weapon at their disposal to evade the American authorities. Time and again they prove willing to destroy anything – and anyone – standing in their way.

But Hamilton Turbee, an autistic computer mastermind at the secretive and newly created TTIC agency, discovers a way to follow their tracks. His flawed genius gives the nation its only chance at stopping the attack … if the American leadership will listen. As the enemies near their destination, and an attack becomes imminent, it is up to the TTIC team, still without a true leader, to stop the massive explosion that could destroy the lives of millions.As the world watches in horror, the President asks TTIC two questions …

Where will the attack be?

And can it be stopped…

EXCERPT:

Richard saw that the leader was loading another RPG into his launcher. The Thuraya telephone was still with him, and still on.

“What the hell is going on?” asked Big Jack.

“We surprised them. We fired an RPG into a gas drum in the terminal just as the bastards were entering it. We’ve killed or disabled about half of them. The rest are regrouping. They’re getting behind their trucks. I can see at least one RPG launcher from here. They’ve got the high ground now. Where the f**k are those planes?” snapped Richard.

“We’re two minutes away,” said Sebatier over the communications link. “Look, we’ve got all kinds of armaments here. We’ve got Sidewinders. We’ve got AMRAAM’s, we’ve got Vulcan Canon. But how far are you from the enemy?”

“About 70 or 80 feet,” said Richard, quickly realizing the problem Sebatier and the other pilots were facing.

“This is not going to work. If we fire anything, you guys are at risk. We’re a minute away, but if we let go with missiles, if we fire anything, we’ll take you out with the bad guys,” said Sebatier. “You’ll be nailed by friendly fire.”

“Here’s what we do,” said Richard, “and we’ve got to do it fast. You’re coming up behind the terminal. The bandits are in front of the terminal and we’re on the other side of them. The four of you will make one hell of a racket if you go over the terminal at Mach 1.7. How low can you fly?”

“Well, it ain’t responsible flying, but the landscape is pretty flat. We can get down to 50 feet or so,” Sebatier answered.

“Do it,” said Richard, as he watched the leader of the Bedouin group casually attach a grenade to the end of his RPG launcher. “For God’s sake, do it now! Go max speed! Do it now!”

WIN: As a special promotion for all our authors, Pump Up Your Book Promotion is giving away a FREE virtual book tour to a published author or a $50 Amazon gift certificate to those not published who comments on our authors' blog stops. More prizes will be announced as they become available.

Brigit's WINNER

Hi there!

The winner of a free copy of RED'S WOLF is Conb00, so email Brigit and she will send you your book, ok? Thanks to everyone who came by - it was a wonderful, successful day - I have more great guests and giveaways coming up, so check back!!!

E-mail: brigitaine@gmail.com

May 2009 - Best Book Cover Award

This one blew me away.....

But I am SO proud of Justyn for creating such an evocative and gorgeous cover.....

Find the book here:

http://www.absolute-x-press.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=33&products_id=62

Pompeii lies complacent and decadent in the shadow of Mount Vesuvius, the populace thriving on their depravity and their hunger for blood and Games. Within the elite aristocracy, games of another type are being played, deadly secrets are a threat to more than status, and conspiracy is a way of life for those who are unhappy.

Lucius has long been exalted as a warrior without peer. Adored and covetted by men and women alike, he is blind to the plots that are thickening around him. While total control is his on the bloody fields of war, on the battlefield of the heart, as he is about to discover, even the strongest man can be deceived by his ignorance.

Watching over it all is the majesty of Vesuvius, sputtering smoke, promising retribution. In the midst of the looming destruction, an ancient evil emerges, and will claim not only a celebrated general of Rome, but the slave girl he has slowly grown to love and cherish. A girl who will follow him into hell itself?

Meet BRIGIT AINE

Today it is my pleasure to introduce you to someone very special. Not only is Brigit Aine a good friend, she's also a newly published romance author, and this is the first of what I am sure will one day be an impressive catalogue of books from her talented imagination. She was gracious enough to consent to an interview, so meet Brigit Aine.... I think you'll love her as much as I do!

MEET Brigit Aine:

You’ve chosen to write a series in which all your characters have special talents related to paranormal themes. The first one has ties to a childhood fairytale. Will they all be like that? Adult fairytales? (The book is great, by the way!)

Thank you. No they are not all that way. “Red’s Wolf”, the first in the series started from a 2 page short story that I had written that was an actual prompt: Turn a Fairytale into an erotic story. From there I expanded and created the town of Torrent and the idea of talents. The rest of the stories have just rolled from my brain as I created Torrent and the idea that a whole population has something unique about them.

How does it feel to have your first book published, and is this the realization of a long-term dream/goal for you?

Oh my goodness I can’t even tell you. I am over the moon. I have been writing most of my life, poetry, short stories that kind of stuff and being published gives me a sense of fulfillment. Even if I stopped now, which I have no intention of doing, I would feel like I had accomplished something. For me writing is a sense to tell the stories that are clamouring in my head. The fact that someone else thinks they are good enough to share is mind boggling.

Do you have a preference for what style of books you like to read most, and/or write?

I love Paranormal Romance. It doesn’t have to be erotic necessarily, I have even written a time travel that is romantic but not erotic. However, there must be paranormal. I have been reading Paranormal since I could read. From scary, Richard Peck to fun, Salman Rushdie. As an English Lit major in college I have collected and read some very interesting things. I love the Malleus Maleficarum which I collected in a class on witchcraft in early writings.

When I write I tend to write in the same style I would like to read. I have discovered that if I try to write something I wouldn’t want to read the story isn’t as interesting. LOL... imagine that.

Where do you want to be with the publishing side of your career in about five years? Keeping it small and manageable, or do you want to turn it into THE career?

Gosh... I can’t even imagine. I have a great career outside of my writing but it takes up so much time that I don’t get to write as much as I would like. I am very aware that most writers never get to the point where this is THE career and those that do are very very lucky. Right now I count myself lucky to be along the few who have a story others think is worth sharing or reading. If someday, I had the time, I would like to try writing on as a career, but until then I will promote what I do have out and keep working the day job and just enjoying the life I have.

How does you family feel about this exciting new venture, and were/are they supportive of this particular dream??

My family thinks this is fabulous. Even my dad has read “Red’s Wolf” and remember it is an erotic romance. They are so proud of me it makes me tear up thinking about it. My friends from high school that I am still close with are asking for autographed copies. My kids and husband and super proud and I even get actual writing time now at home from them. Which is pretty darn spectacular.

Anything you’d like to tell your readers about the rest of this special series, or would that be giving too much away????

Ahhh... the rest of this series. Well I thought it was only going to be 3 books... LOL.. does that tell you something. No actually book 2, Cassie’s Awakening, is with the publisher now and I am waiting on edits and then hopefully I can get a release date. Book 3, Kraig’s Kat, is just about done. And there is a book 4 already brewing around in my brain. Both Book 2 and Book 3 bring back Red and Ethan and there are some twists to the series in Book 3. Our heroes for right now are still shapeshifter wolves and our heroines are unique with their own talents but they may change soon.

RED'S WOLF: Red is grateful to be able to come back to Torrent where everyone has a talent and she isn’t looked on like a freak. What she doesn’t count on is Ethan.

Ethan knows the minute he sees Red on her way to her Grandma’s house that she is his mate, now all he has to do is convince her.

Read an excerpt HERE

BUY IT HERE

Visit Brigit's website: http://www.brigitsworld.bravehost.com/

PS: Our lovely Brigit is also going to do a random draw later and one of you lucky folks will get a FREE copy of her fabulous tale as a prize.... so, keep those comments coming.....

SHIELA's WINNERS!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to the lucky winners!!!!

Colleen Love won the tote and JackiesJunkie won the t-shirt!

They can email me at shielas@shaw.ca with their home address and Jackie her shirt size...

Thanks so much for having me Denyse. (MY pleasure entirely, it was a lot of FUN!!! We'll do it again, I'm sure!)

Afraid of the Dark?

Hello, my name is Shiela Stewart and I’m a Romance series addict.

Yes, you read that correctly. I am an addict. And it’s getting worse by the moment. Yesterday I went into a local bookstore to bring some of my books in to sell on consignment. While I was waiting to be helped, I browsed through the store. I would pick up a book with an interesting cover or title, flip it over and read the blurb. The instant I recognized it was not a series, I quickly put it down. I went to the next, same thing, and on and on until I realized, I’m addicted to series novels.
I thought...No biggie, so I like to read series over stand alone novels.

It was then that I realized, I write mainly series novels. OH NO!!!! I really am an addict. Help me…wait, that’s not so bad. Okay, so I like reading and writing series novels. It’s not the end of the world, unless of course I write about it being the end of the world but we won’t go there. So I sat back and had a good look at myself. Why do I write series novels? Why do I prefer to read series novels? I thought, maybe I have issues with letting go, parting, saying goodbye ending things. But if that were the case, I would never end a series I write and I can say goodbye to loved ones when they visit and I do say goodbye when talking on the telephone so that can’t be it. Is there an “I’m addicted to series novels anonymous” I could attend? Maybe they could help me understand my addiction.

I take a look at my writing history and even before I was published I wrote in series. I have the Demon series, the Spiritual series, the Best Friends series. And since being published I’ve released The Passion series and The Darkness series. Oh sure, I have stand alone novels as well. There’s Kidnapped and Secrets of the Dead…wait…the Spiritual series is a spin-off from Secrets of the Dead. Oh Lord, I only have one stand alone…wait, make that two again. Until Death do us Part, coming soon from Absolute XPress publishing is a stand alone book. For now. I could always do a spin-off of one of the secondary characters, the heroine’s sister. She really is begging to have her tale told. Darn it! There I go again, planning for a series. I’m hopeless.

Why am I like this? Why do I write series romance? The only thing that comes to mind is…it’s in my blood. I’m like those people who can’t just eat one chip. I can’t write just one story. I can’t leave the secondary characters hanging without a life to continue on with. How cruel is that to introduce a secondary character and then at the end of the book they’re forgotten. It’s like creating two children then ignoring the second one. I just can’t do it. I must create more, I must give them life.
I can’t be alone in this, though. There must be others out there like me who would much rather pick up a book if it belongs to a series than a stand alone? I know there are other authors who write series. Are they as addicted as I am? Readers? Are you like me? Are you addicted to series romance?

If you are an addict like me, then you’ll want to check out my Darkness series. It’s a vampire series with plenty of twists and turns and not everyone comes out of the fight against good and bad unscathed.

Want a taste? Here is the blurb and an excerpt from the first book in the series, Seducing the Darkness.

Addicts Unite!

Blurb:

An outcast by her kind, Trinity Ford has learned how to live on her own. And it isn't easy doing so, considering she is a Vampire.

Once a fragile girl, taken by a powerful vampire prince, Trinity had relied on Basil for support. But finding him in the arms of another woman was more than she could take. On her own, she has decided to protect her city from the predators of her kind that prey on the innocent. Another tough thing to do when you're heart is broken. She's had to learn fast, how to be tough, how to survive, how to stay alive. And she's doing a pretty damn good job of it. Until Basil walks back into her life.

Basil Hawthorn has been the reigning prince of vampires since banishing his father to the Realm of Darkness decades earlier. When his father comes to him in a dream, threatening Trinity’s life, he knows the only way to save her is to push her away. Doing so is not easy, especially when she is the only woman he will ever love.

Rumors in the underworld talk of raising the vampire King and blotting out the sun. Basil knows that if his father rises, he will be put to death for his betrayal. Trinity knows that if the King returns, no human would ever be safe again. Despite the betrayal and the threat, neither can stay away from the other. But can the two work together to stop the Ritual before the King is resurrected?

Or will the darkness capture them both?

Excerpt:

That damn itch she’d been having lately was back, and it was driving her nuts. Rolling her shoulders, she watched two redheads staggering from the bar’s exit and towards a dimly lit street.

Here we go again, She kept to the shadows as she followed after them. Uneventfully, they made it to their car and drove off. She hoped the cops were out tonight and those two were hauled in to sleep off their drunk.

Turning back to the club, she waited and watched for the next two hours and was glad nothing had happened. So far. But the night was still young.

“Can you smell it?”

She didn’t jump, but slowly looked over at Basil who appeared next to her. She hated when he just appeared out of thin air, but she knew he loved that entrance the best. “Your stink? Always.”

He didn’t sneer at her but slowly lifted his hand and lit the cigarette between his fingers. “The blood of a human. Does it still draw you in, make you hunger, make you want?”

“I’ve got a strong will.” Deliberately, she shifted away from him. It wasn’t only the smoke that bothered her—and always had—but his scent. It pissed her off that he could still make her ache.

She waved the smoke away annoyingly and shifted just a bit farther away. “Why are you skulking, Basil? Because if you’re following me, I am going to so kick your ass.”

“I was in the neighborhood.”

She glared at him and growled her response. “If you’re here to drink, let me warn you now that I won’t allow it.”

“Who am I supposed to drink from now that I no longer am nourished by your blood?”

She chose not to answer that. “Why does it seem that you’re always around, lurking in the dark, around places that aren’t your usual hangouts? Unless….there’s a reason?” The thought stabbed into her, and though she didn’t want to believe it, she had to ask. “Are you trying to take more females of your own? Are you the one abducting young girls?”

With one quick and easy flick, he tossed the cigarette into the darkness. The red tip glowed as it flew through the air before landing on the gravel to bounce and spit out a cloud of red sparkling fireworks. “I will not even dignify that with an answer.”

“It’s so obvious, now that I think about it. I was young when you took me, made me yours. Is that what you’re doing, Basil, making another mate?”

His icy blue eyes narrowed dangerously as he stepped closer. “I have a mate and to think you would even have such a thought sickens me.”

“You don’t have me, Basil.” Her voice grew dangerous. “If I’m so wrong, then do explain to me why you’re always out in the darkness, skulking near all these young girls?”

“The very same reason you are, my dear.” He ran a finger along her face, making her scowl.

She snorted, stepping away from him before he decided to do something stupid, like kiss her. “Please, I hardly think you’re out here looking to find the person or persons responsible for taking four innocent girls.”

Leaning against the building behind them, Basil looked off into the direction of the bar and the people waiting in line to be allowed inside. “You think so little of me and that’s a shame. But I suppose I’ve done it to myself. Yes, Trinity, I am looking to find out who took those young girls, as you are. And why you might ask?” He shifted towards her, sliding in nice and close and making her pulse speed up. He laid his fingers on her cheek, then slowly slid them along her face. “Because I have a feeling I am connected to the reason they’ve been taken.”

She had all but a moment to open her mouth to respond when he closed it with a mind numbing kiss, then pulling away, turned into a dog and scampered away.

Now what the hell did he mean by that?

Visit Shiela: http://www.shielasbooks.ca