Saturday, June 6, 2009

Party, Party


Fans of Regency romance will know that when a society hostess had her ball or party voted a shocking squeeze or a sad crush, that she had received the ultimate accolade.


In Regency terms the Romantic Novelists' Association summer party, which took place last month, came very close. The lovely library at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, which overlooks St James' Park in London, was packed with authors, and people from the publishing world, all celebrating the start of summer (We live in hope) and the achievement of a group of new authors from amongst the RNA membership who had achieved publication during 2008/09 and were in line for the Joan Hessayon award for the best new novel - including TM's own Helen, who was there amongst the finalists for her debut novel The Magic Knot.

Sadly Helen didn't win, that honour went to Allie Spencer with her legal rom-com Tug of Love, from Little Black Dress, but we had a good time celebrating her place in the final and drinking champagne even so -

The picture gives you an idea of what the room looked like - that's Helen in black and white in the middle. The room was so packed that my attempts to get a photo of the line up when the prize was announced are too full of the backs of other people's heads to be usable. I have to thank a tall gentleman, standing on a chair, for this one. He was doing a brisk trade as people handed him their cameras.




Also unveiled at the party was the anthology of romantic short stories. Loves Me, Loves Me Not which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the RNA next year.

Published by MIRA, in hardback in the autumn and paperback in spring 2010, it has a lovely cover and an even better contents. With a foreword by Katie Fforde - the new Chair of the RNA for its celebration year- and an afterword by Jill Mansell, it has stories from Nicola Cornick, Rosemary Laurie, Carole Matthews and a host of others. A real chance to sample the talent of the RNA across the board, to read in a genre you don't usually pick up and maybe find out a few new names to try. Makes a good gift too for Xmas or Mother's day.

A great time was had by all - and many congratulations to Helen for being in that very special line up - even if I don't have a picture.









Sunday, May 10, 2009

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

That's the Title Magicians these days - with publication deadlines, edits, pitches to agents, contests and awards - the list goes on.

For this reason we've decided to change our blogging habits to a more irregular pattern. We'll still be here for big events and the occasional random thought, and we hope that you will still drop by from time to time, to see what's new in our world.

Your support, comments and friendship are valuable to us, so do keep coming by to check when there's something new we're bursting to tell.

See you soon.

Monday, May 4, 2009

X-rated blog ~ CHRONTROPOLIS, The Magic of Creation

Hi, Title Magicians, the bay city of Chrontropolis is the created home of my Superheroine, SlashFlame Kitten, and her Superheroes, The Dark Brothers in my latest release from Siren-BookStrand.
Hey, if they can do it in the comic books, think Metropolis, I’ll follow their writerly wisdom. I have to say, it was a challenge and a whole lotta fun to make-up Chrontropolis, to visualize this once proud and thriving city torn apart by weather wars and at the same time, reviving itself, due in large part to the constant efforts of the emerging superheroes and superheroines in saving the citizens and the city.
~~~


THE DARK VALOROUS BROTHERS - Supermen of Steel

I don’t know about you, but me and my girlfriends would occasionally remark and tittering-speculate on certain attributes a man of steel might possess in the bedroom. Actually, we were darn tame compared to this day and sexual age.
However, I won’t go into the lusty lascivious details of our libation-encouraged fantasies, since this definitely gets into the realm of the personal. Suffice it to say, I’ve had my share of superhero fantasies. Now, I get the extreme pleasure of exploring the rod of steel.

My heroes in HER INSATIABLE DARK HEROES, have survived the catastrophic weather wars on their world. About ten percent of the remaining population begin to have superpowers in conjunction with the arrival of the Harbinger, a blue star seen through the ash and haze of their devastated planet-world. This particular story was much darker to write than my previous books because in this world, the characters are struggling to survive and to continue the slow recovery of their bay city, Chrontropolis.
~~~

HER INSATIABLE DARK HEROES - Siren Menage Amour

Chrontropolis lives... yes, I am dancing-giddy-excited about the release of HER INSATIABLE DARK HEROES May 1 ~ from Siren’s Menage Amour line.

Blurb ~

How many Superheroes does it take to satisfy the one woman who dances like a fire goddess? Answer: the four Dark Valorous Brothers of Chrontropolis.
Before the weather wars destroyed her world, Wendra was the girl next door, except for her dancing talent and her desire to become a top performer. When she is rescued from her own desperate attempt to fly inside her flame by Dark Zavier, then Claimed by the four Dark Valorous brothers, she has no idea how to cope with their primitive insatiable sexual needs, or their passionate longing to bond with her.
On top of that, her own super power, the ability to use flame as a weapon, is becoming stronger by the day, even if it remains useless against the Dark Brothers’ determination to master her. Still, how does she make her own blazing mark, in the new world of Superheroes and Super Villains?
~~~

PG Story Excerpt ~

Zion fastened his gaze on the tornado’s advance, straight for the center of Chrontropolis. Already chunks of debris whirled in the funnel, with the larger pieces being hurled in every direction.
“What are they doing ” Wendy abruptly straightened. Her muscles tensed anxiously as he lowered them onto the chair. Riveted, she watched his brothers’ streaking flight toward the behemoth tornado snaking angrily over the ground.
Zion coded in the emergency, sending it to all of the Super Brethren. It could be too late. Whoever had created the weather monstrosity had known where to conjure it up and how to time its attack on Chrontropolis. He hoped like wild hell some of the Super Brethren followed behind his brothers, though he knew if they’d been anywhere close, the screen’s visual technology would have already shown them.
“Can they really stop that horrible thing?” Wendy’s breaths quickened in fear. “By themselves?”
Zion didn’t know which way to jump. Should he reassure her or tell her the truth? The force and size of the tornado as shown by the screen’s readouts required six supermen with the power level of the Dark Brothers to alter its course and lessen the destruction. Instead of answering her, he shut his eyes in concentration, communicating telepathically the current status to his brothers.
“My Great Aunt Minnie,” she swore. “Since you’re not answering, it must be bad.”
“Wendy,” he began. Yet what did he tell her?
“Why do you have to stay here?” she impatiently challenged. “Go help them.”
She moved restlessly while he refined the screen’s imaging capability and searched a wider perimeter for other Superheroes. Quietly he heaved in a relieved breath. The three Gallant Brothers flight-charged toward the tornado from another angle. Although their arrival would not be timely, the odds had just improved. Once again, Zion used telepathy to send the info. Next, he switched on the city’s alarm system. It was not fully effective in covering the entire metro, but still, lives would be saved if the worst occurred.
“The Gallant Brothers?” She leaned toward the screen.
“Yes,” he confirmed, desperately wanting solutions he didn’t have. Yet.
Zion studied the rough distortion at the top of the funnel. The precision of the matrix frequencies told him it was being manipulated by master scientists.
“Omygawd It’s growing.” She strained farther forward, her gaze locked on the boiling black twister.
“It’s doubling in strength.” Regretting his rash words, Zion connected mentally with his brothers, informing them.
“It’s too large. No ”
“Wendy...”
“Don’t bother with a lie.”
When he cupped her shoulder with his palm, she shrugged out of his hold. “You should have gone with them.”
His own anger surfacing, Zion seized her upper arms. “Don’t be a fool. Who would protect you if—”
“If they die,” she struck back.
He hesitated, but only for an instant. “Yes, Wendy, if they die.”
She froze, her spine stiff with dread. “It’s headed for the center of Chrontropolis, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Zion hauled in a large breath. “I’ve sounded the city alarms.”
“You can do that from here?”
“We have control over all the city systems from here.”
She slumped back a bit, and he knew she couldn’t take her gaze away from the screen. Neither could he. His brothers flew abreast at rocket speed, their outlines blurred on the screen. The tornado had developed into a distorted serpent, furious as it spun over the ground. Uprooted trees, enormous rocks and pieces from old structures orbited the eye in a bizarre chaotic frenzy.
“Good resolution.” She trembled. “I can see everything so clearly. Too clearly.”
He stroked her arms and shoulders, trying to comfort her. “Night vision advancements. Necessary for night patrol.”
“What are they going to do, really?” Her voice cracked and she shrank into the bend of his body.
“Use their flying speed to unwind the tornado’s spin.”
She shuddered, then flung her arm up to point at two more of the Super Brethren. “Who are they?”
“The Tiger Twins.” Zion’s heart jumped into his throat, not with fear, but with hope. The twins possessed a ridiculously high level of super strength, especially when combined. Yet, would they arrive in time? Their flight was slow compared to his brothers’ speed. He mind-sent the message of their immanent arrival.
“They’re getting close.” Wendy stilled, her body rigid, hands knotted together. “Please, oh, please,” she prayed.
Zion silently joined in with his own prayer. His brothers linked arms, soaring into the whirling force of the tornado. Their flight slowed, reduced by the horrific winds they battled. Forming a wedge, they neared the top third of the tornado. Like the tip of an arrow they shot forward with their combined strength, opposite the giant’s spin.
“They look like tiny birds. I can barely see them. On no ” she moaned. “They’re not moving.”
~~~~~~

HAVE A MERRY MONTH OF MAY!

~ DANCE AROUND THE POLES OF THE DARK BROTHERS ~

Savanna

Savanna Kougar ~ Run on the Wild Side of Romance ~
~~~~~~


Siren Menage Amour - Quatre ~ released MAY 1, 2009

Wendy & the Dark Brothers ~ Zavier, Zent, Zion and Zotorro ~ invite you to read their love story ~
HER INSATIABLE DARK HEROES ~ what does it mean when The Harbinger arrives on a world devastated by weather wars...where super powers are given to a few... released from Siren-BookStrand ~
http://bookstrand.com/authors/savannakougar ~ http://bookstrand.com/product-herinsatiabledarkheroes-13865-200.html ~

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Inspiration


Writers can find inspiration in the most unlikely places, but a walk by the ocean is usually a great boost to the creative drive. For those who aren't so lucky as I am to live close to the sea, I decided to take the camera and share my walk this morning.
There was a blackbird singing, and as I neared the cliff path the only other thing I could hear was the sound of the sea hitting the shore ...

Friday, May 1, 2009

The Merry Month of May

The first day of May.

In the Northern hemisphere it’s traditionally a time to celebrate the arrival of spring and the herald of summer.

In the UK classic “maying” involves maypoles and dancers, the crowning of a May queen and possibly her consort, the May king, or maybe the Green Man, the lighting of bonfires and other colourful folk celebrations, although in Europe generally the day seems to have moved on, to one of workers’ marches and possibly political protest.

Authors have embraced the concept of celebration associated with May from the time of Chaucer, whose pilgrims did their travelling in May. There are frequent references to ‘doing observance to a morn of May’ in Shakespeare. An overwhelmingly rural society would have been much closer to the passage of the seasons, celebrating them and also remembering ancient rituals that once ensured fertility, good crops and healthy livestock.

Today’s innocuous folk celebrations have long and sometimes slightly sinister roots.

These days the Celtic festival of Beltane has been superseded by its spookier cousin, Halloween, particularly in paranormal romance. Perhaps it’s time for a change of focus - to a month traditionally associated with love? I’m sure there are spooky possibilities in long twilights and mysterious fires, lit on distant hills.

One that bears thinking about.

Friday, April 24, 2009

Big Day

Today is the day that the winner of the fifth and final American Title contest will be revealed at the Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention in Orlando.

To find out what the other contestants are up to now that the contest is over, check out
http://www.magicalmusings.com

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Write on Will

23 April is the birth date of probably the world's most famous literary figure - William Shakespeare.

Popular opinion suggests that if Will was writing today he'd be penning scripts for TV soap opera.

I'm not so sure.

Shakespeare is a master at human emotion - love, hate, jealousy, envy, lust - always staple food for the soaps - but his plays have other facets too that make him just as compatible with the current romance scene.

You wouldn't often find the following in a modern soap, but they're favourite Shakespearean motifs.

Identical twins
Storms
Magic woods and islands
Witches
Magicians
Mistaken identity
Prophecy
Ghosts
Magic artifacts - books, handkerchiefs, flowers
Love at first sight
Fairies
Sexy faeries
Journeys to exotic places
Remote and lonely houses with mysterious inhabitants
Castles
Riddles and treasure hunts
Battles and sword fights

Any of these sound familiar?
Bet you've read a current best seller with at least one of these in it in the last month.

So - maybe William in the 21st century would be topping the New York Times Best seller list?