A mighty big welcome to my fellow Siren and Bookstrand author, Destiny Blaine. This little lady is so high energy I just cain't keep up with her.
Seriously, Destiny is an impressive multi-published author and has an absolutely amazing hand with promo. Her Yahoo group, Just Another Paranoromal Monday is fun, and a great opportunity for readers to find the books they want, and a great way for authors to show off their books with blurbs and excerpts, and, of course, the chance to answer any questions. While my loop cyber-social skills aren't too impressive, hey, I'm learning and having a good time. And getting a chance to, maybe, find readers interested in my e-novels.
If we're all really nice to Destiny, she may even offer us a gambling tip or two. Personally, I'm absolutely intrigued with her casino knowledge and background as a gambler. Not to mention the rest of her colorful life. Wow! Thanks for being with us today, Destiny.
I want to first thank Title Magic and Savanna Kougar for allowing me to join in and blog here today. I’m glad to have the opportunity to spend the first day of May with all of you! Savanna and I are fellow authors at Siren Publishing and we’ll both be published by BookStrand too!I’m really excited to blog with you today because I have some phenomenal news to share. Winning Virgin Blood just released from Siren Publishing on April 28th (http://www.sirenpublishing.com/destinyblaine/). Winning Virgin Blood, for those of you out there who like paranormal, actually motivated and initially inspired the concept of a new paranormal loop author Ann Cory and I just started. Just Another Paranormal Monday operates as a Monday-only chat loop for readers, writers, and pretty much anyone who loves paranormal.
Since writing in the paranormal genre is still somewhat new to me, I’ve been thrilled about the receptive audience to paranormal as well as urban fantasy because Winning Virgin Blood incorporates both urban fantasy and paranormal elements. For those of you who’ve read Bewitching Bite, you know the Bewitching series (Resplendence Publishing) also includes a few urban fantasy elements. However, the stories are definitely different.
Winning Virgin Blood combines my love of casino gambling (and a Las Vegas setting) with vampire paranormal elements. The series kicks off with Orlando Spenser, and while I love Orlando, I have to say, his brother just rocks my world! You’ll meet him in Winning Virgin Blood and that’s where your lust for him will begin—mine did!
The Winning Virgin Series was contracted by Siren Publishing (www.sirenpublishing.com) and the Spensers will go through a lot of trials and tribulations just to protect those they love. Naturally, they’ll have to win the affection of those they want first. That’s always the fun part.
If you’re a history buff, and I am, check out the Bewitching Series. Part of the Blending Bloodlines titles, Bewitching Bite was included in the Shivers print anthology and the concept of Matilda and Armand’s story was something I hope you’ll find a little different. An urban fantasy/paranormal, the story combines historical research into an urban fantasy while delving into the past life of one of the most notorious of all vampires—The Blood Countess (referred to as Elizabeth or Erzsebet Bathory).
Matilda and Armand will be transformed and revisit the past life of Erzsebet Bathory and the one vampire Erzsebet could never control, so to speak. I won’t ruin it for you because the story of Matilda and Armand’s hike into the past really comes into clear focus in the second story releasing soon—Bewitching Purpose.
I’m a fickle writer and love to write in all genres. Paranormal and western erotic stories seem to have my focus right now but I’m a gambler at heart. I’ll typically write something, at any given time, about casino gambling or sportsbetting.
Casino Player is a prime example. Whispers Publishing took a chance on this little short story and just this year, the story won the 2007 Best Romance Short Story Readers Poll Category at Preditors and Editors. Whispers also decided to take a gamble on the Unspoken Series and later this year, Unspoken Truths will release and I have to tell you—the ultimate bad boy alpha-male will be found there.
This brings me to another point. I love strong alpha-male heroes. I find, and I guess most of you who read and write paranormal would agree, some of the best bad boys in the world will literally leap off the pages of a paranormal romance but it isn’t the only genre where sexy-hot rogues are found.
I have to share a little secret with you—the other two places to find the strong alpha males we all love to dream about are often found in westerns and erotic gambling romances. I really believe they are and maybe I know from experience. I grew up on a farm and die-hard gambling runs in my blood too so I’ve met enough bad-boys to know that these two genres have them! I write those fellows straight into the bedrooms of any unsuspecting heroine who will have them. And sure, there are several who don’t want them there!
As a side note, today I believe the best of the "real-life" bad boys are found in a casino. I’m a recreational casino player who spends a lot of time in the sportsbooks and around the tables so believe me, I know what I’m talking about. Read Unspoken Truths when it comes out and you’ll see what I mean.
Until then, take a closer look at Orlando and Almonzo Spenser in Winning Virgin Blood and the Winning Virgin Series. Then, sprint to the nearest casino and listen in on some of the conversation. It’s the one place I’ll go whenever I need dialogue motivation for my characters.
Right now, most of my books and stories share one common factor—the alpha-male. I only have one western erotic story out now. In case you want to take a peak, sneak over to eXtasy Books at www.extasybooks.net and check out Beyond the Valley. It’s number six right now on their Best Seller list.
I’m still hoping someone, somewhere will tell me where I can ride, I mean find (yes, that’s what I meant), a cowboy who looks like Jonathan Woodwine. (Remember, if you do, tell him I have his rope or his saddle for that matter). Yes, I like to tease. You will too when you see him!
Thank you again for blogging with me today! I hope you’ll take time to stop by and visit my website at www.destinyblaine.com or stop in and visit with Catherine Chernow over at my blog today (http://www.destinyblaine.blogspot.com/). You will also find the lovely and very talented Savanna Kougar blogging with us on May 12th and 13th.
Until we meet again, keep looking sexy—and reading it hot!
Destiny Blaine
P.S. Enter my contest today! It’s easy! Since I want to be sure everyone has an opportunity to win one of the few free copies of Winning Virgin Blood, I’m running a contest here today. Post a comment here and let me know something about your favorite books or even a favorite alpha-male, and you’ll be entered to win Winning Virgin Blood!
I’ll draw one winner later today. Hurry! This will be one of the very few free copies of Winning Virgin Blood!
