Happy Halloween!! And a Sexy Wolf...

Happy Halloween!

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm one of the winners of The Wild Rose Press's Got Wolf? contest! I won for my short novel, Blood Wolf. I'll post more details as soon as I know them. The full list of winners can be found at Dayana Knight's blog, www.dayanaknight.blogspot.com.

In the meantime, all of you NaN0-ers out there, enjoy your last day of freedom! Don your best costume, enjoy some tricks and treats, and have a wonderful Halloween!

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Costas Mandylor

The Wednesday hunks are going on hiatus for the month of November so I can concentrate on NaNo, so I thought, why not go out in style? My hunks over forty have been a great success, and I hope you all have enjoyed them as much as I have. Here's 46 year old broodingly sexy Costas Mandylor. Oh, if only he would smile...

And don't worry. I'll still be posting a hunk or two when I post my wordcounts. I just won't be spotlighting anyone in particular. So don't stay away in November!

MONDAY'S HERO -- Ben from Foretaste of Forever

Good Monday morning! Monday's Hero will be going on hiatus during the month of November so I can concentrate on NaNo, but that's okay, because I know today's hero will stay with you for a while. Please welcome Christina Phillips, author of Foretaste of Forever, which debuted Friday at The Wild Rose Press. Christina and I met on the Wilder Roses loop, and have been hanging out together in cyberspace for a couple of months now.

Hi Helen! Thanks for having me on your blog today to talk about FORETASTE OF FOREVER, a dark erotic romance with paranormal elements. I'm thrilled to be here!

I'm so glad you're here. I've been waiting for this one! Tell us a little about the story.

FORETASTE OF FOREVER was actually inspired by a vivid dream I had about eight years ago. All I knew about this couple who met on a storm tossed beach at midnight was they were desperately in love and destined to be forever apart. This dream haunted me for almost four years before it occurred to me to write it down and find out who these characters were. As soon as their story was on the hard drive, I no longer dreamed about them! But it took another few years before I revisited them with an eye to publication.

Blurb:
Elyesha, last surviving descendant of a line of powerful witches, finally finds the only man she's ever loved, the man who deserted her countless years before. But Ben is torn between desire and despair when Elyesha eventually penetrates his protective retreat. He knows what she wants, but the price for their love is too high. At midnight, on the beach, a battle of wills and erotic seduction ensues as each confronts the other's darkest fears.

Tell us a little about Ben.

Ben is tall, lean, black hair a little too long, intense and brooding. I honestly think my fabulous cover artist, Angela Anderson, crawled inside my brain and plucked his image from my imagination!! My cover captures my hero exactly. Dark, shadowy and mysterious.

Your cover is gorgeous! Angela did my cover for Seduced in Seoul, too. She is amazing. But back to your scrumptious hero. What does Ben want most in the world?

The thing he wants most is the heroine, Elyesha. She represents everything to him that he's lost and would do anything to regain. Anything but give her the one thing she demands from him. He is honorable, loyal and tortured.

Let's talk a little about the chemistry between Ben and Elyesha (love that name, by the way.) Why are they drawn to each other?

Ben is drawn to Elyesha's zest for life, the way she goes after anything she wants with single minded purpose. It's also something that drives him to despair. He's also irresistibly drawn to her because she's the only one who can make him laugh and forget about the demons that haunt his soul.

Elyesha was initially drawn to Ben because he was the sexiest man she'd ever met. But aside from the hotness factor, she loves his strength, both physical and mental, and while his sense of honor drives her insane, it's also something she deeply loves and respects about him.

Who or what inspired you to create this hero?

Well this might surprise anyone who knows me, but this hero wasn't inspired by Clive Owen!!! Ben literally haunted my dreams, and ended up haunting my days as well. I don't think I created him at all - he was always there and ended up getting very impatient for me to tell his story!

I didn't consciously base him on anyone I know, but having said that I always have a little of my husband in my heroes - can't help it, because he really is my real life hero!!!

I am so with you there, Christina. My husband, in some way or another, inspires every hero I create as well. What projects are you working on right now, and how can readers keep up with your work?

Currently I'm working on an erotic historical and am hopelessly in lust with my Roman hero. I don't have any releases in the pipeline at the moment, but my editor has another short story she's looking at right now. Readers can keep up with what I'm doing at my webpage http://www.christinaphillips.com, or over at my blog, which I try to update at least a couple of times a week http://christinaphillips.blogspot.com.

Thanks for having me at your blog today, Helen!

You are welcome! Foretaste of Forever can be purchased here: (http://www.thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=651) In the meantime, here's an excerpt (warning: graphic language and sex.)

Elyesha hooked her ankles around Ben’s waist as he strode through the castle’s crumbling entrance. For a fleeting moment, she wished it had retained its former glory, but her ancestors had allowed the magnificent stronghold to fall into ruins centuries ago.

Besides, it didn’t matter where she had Ben. So long as she had him. And soon – she would have him forever.

In the Great Hall, with its soaring arches and remnants of ancient grandeur in the carved four poster bed, he paused and she slowly slithered from his grasp. “What shall we do now?” she said, tilting her head to one side and allowing her long hair to tumble provocatively over her shoulder. She traced one finger over the hard ridge of his erection and hid a smile as Ben clenched his jaw.

“No suggestions?” She raised one eyebrow and trailed her finger over his groin and toward his chest. She didn’t know why he fought against her some nights. What did he hope to achieve? Sooner or later, she’d get her way and then he would see how foolish all his protestations had been. “Perhaps I’ll strip you naked,” she suggested, loosening the ties on his scarlet linen shirt.

He didn’t reply, except to give the merest grunt of a laugh. She tugged his open shirt from his britches and admired his perfectly sculpted chest, before sliding the shirt over his shoulders and along his finely muscled arms.

“Enjoying yourself?” There was a rasp to his voice, as if he tried to deny the rising desire between them.

She shot him an exasperated glance. “I intend to enjoy myself far more before this night’s over.” She tugged at the fastenings at his crotch, deliberately prolonging the procedure as she massaged his rigid shaft. Occasionally she found Ben’s inhuman self-control infuriating, but even that didn’t matter. Because, in the end, he always succumbed.

But sometimes, she wished for the early years. Before Ben had rebelled against their relationship. Before his misguided sense of honor had risen its unwelcome head and corroded their perfect world.

Impatiently she thrust the thought aside. She admired his honor, but had no intention of destroying what they had at its altar.

“So long as you’re enjoying yourself.” Ben’s sardonic comment penetrated her thoughts, and wet heat flared deep in her pussy at the look on his face. He was no longer rigid with self-control but lust, and his eyes glowed with rising desire. “I exist for your amusement, Elyesha.”

She ripped the last fastening free and dragged his pants down his muscled legs. “Never forget that.” Her voice was uneven, her heart hammering against her breast. How could he do this to her, after so many years? She had only to think of him to want him, had only to see him to desire him. And when he teased her, she knew in her heart she would willingly die for him.

If she was only given the chance

He hauled her to her feet. “And now it’s your turn to entertain me.” There was no hint of reluctance in his eyes now. Only love. For her. She wrapped the knowledge around her heart and knew it wouldn’t be long before Ben made the final commitment to her.

It's NaNo Friday...Here are my Wordcount Goals

I learned something about myself this year. Actually, I guess I learned it last year during NaNo, but it was reinforced this year when I joined the "Book in a Year" group sponsored by my local RWA chapter.

Deadlines work for me. And they work really well when I tell others about my goals and self imposed deadlines. Why? Because I don't want to look like the idiot who can't make her own goals ;). It's really all a vanity thing, isn't it, LOL. Hey, whatever works.

That said, here are my wordcount goals for the first three weeks of NaNo.

Week One: 25,000
Week Two: 15,000
Week Three: 10,000

Why, you may ask, am I making 50K my goal for three weeks, rather than the four I'm allotted? And why am I going for 25K right off the bat? Trust me, there is method to this madness. My dh will be out of town the first week of November. With only the boys and me at home, my schedule will be flexible, we can subsist on take-out (they'll love it) and I can write, write, write. 25K in a week is a new stretch for me. The most I've ever done in a week is 20K. So this will be a definite challenge.

As for why I'm scheduling only three weeks of writing, my family is heading to Las Vegas on November 24 to attend a football tournament in which my younger son's team is playing. We'll spend Thanksgiving there, and return on Sunday, November 30. So I doubt I'll get much writing done that week. (Two days later, on December 2, the dh and I head for Jamaica to celebrate our anniversary. We're going to an all-inclusive called Hedonism. Think I can write off the trip as research? Hehe.)

So those are my goals. In black and white. Posted for all my blog readers to see. That, friends, is my best incentive to achieve them.

On a different note, I'd like to contratulate my friend, Christina Phillips, on her Scarlet Rose release, Foretaste of Forever. It's available today at The Wild Rose Press. Meet Christina and her hero here on Monday.

I'd also like to thank Paty Jager for spotlighting me on her blog Wednesday. It was fun to hang out there!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Dougray Scott

Cari, if you're out there, this one's for you! And also for anyone who, like me, has a taste for handsome Scotsmen. Meet Dougray Scott, age 42, who is probably best known for charming Drew Barrymore in Ever After. He'll be 43 on November 25, which also happens to be the nineteenth anniversary of my marriage to my own handsome Scotsman. Enjoy!

MONDAY'S HERO -- The Vampire Julian

Greetings from a creature of the night, and welcome to Helen's blog. Today, you can find her at the lovely Dayana Knight's blog, http://www.dayanaknight.com/. Since she's busy over there, she asked me to fill in here. Something about being her hero for Monday.

Well, I hardly consider myself a hero. We vampires have taken a lot of abuse over the years. Now, though, we seem to be sought after as heroes in romance novels. Funny, how things change. The truth is, we're not that different from humans. We have the same needs for sustenance, rest, and the warmth of a loving partner. Yes, my sustenance includes blood as well as food and drink, and I don't react well to sunlight. But garlic holds no fear for me, and I can enter an establishment without an invitation. Those myths are, simply, myths.

I'm a writer, and I write by night, though I usually take a break to roam through the woods behind my cabin in the Rocky Mountains, listening to the comforting sounds of nocturnal creatures and soaking up the spicy fragrance of the evergreen trees. It was during one of these nightly walks that I met my beautiful Kira. There turned out to be much more to her than I first thought, which makes her all the more enticing.

From the heavy shadows of the dense evergreen woods, Julian watched the young woman impale herself on the thick pink phallus. Veiled in the light of the full moon, her skin glowed like fiery opals. Her rosy breasts, full and swollen, bounced as her movements became more rapid.

Beautiful. Her mahogany hair fell in waves around her milky white shoulders, her body covered in a silky sheen of moisture. Her emerald eyes pierced the darkness. God, yes. Absolutely beautiful.

Her crimson lips parted, and, “Ah!” Her voice, but a seductive whisper, carried across the night air to Julian’s ears. The blood flowed through her veins in a heady whoosh. He silently thanked God for his acute senses of sight and hearing.

And smell.

Oh yes. Smell.

The spicy musk of her heated sex slammed into him. What would she taste like? Sweet and creamy, like apricot nectar? Or tangy and spicy, like Granny Smith cider spiked with cinnamon schnapps?

Spicy. His lips curved upward. Definitely spicy.

You can read the rest of our story here:


http://pinkchairdiaries.com/2008/08/02/under-the-moon/#more-151

It's nearly sunrise, so I must close now. If you're ever visiting the Rocky Mountains, be sure to take a walk in the moonlight. You never know what you might see, or who you might meet.

NANOWRIMO -- and some good news!

Good news first, I guess ;). My NaNo project from last year, a contemporary western romance, just took second place in the Colorado Romance Writers Heart of the Rockies contest short contemporary western category. Its sequel, which I wrote in February, took third place, and best of all, one of my erotic novellas took first place in the spicy category and was requested by the final judge!

Needless to say, I'm thrilled, and I owe most of this to NaNo. If not for last November, the book and its sequel might not have been written. NaNo really picked me up out of my slump last year. I hadn't written regularly since May of 07. After NaNo, I completed seven more manuscripts (the sequel, a paranormal novel, a contemporary western novella, and four short stories -- two of which, Seduced in Seoul and Under the Moon, are currently available.)

This year I find myself in a similar situation. I haven't written regularly since June. I'm sure you'll all agree that it's difficult to keep to your goals during the summer. So much is going on, and it's easy to get sidetracked. I fear that's what has happened to me two years in a row now. Thank goodness for NaNo and the jumpstart it provides.

My NaNo project this year is going to be a second sequel to last year's novel. I already have a title and my hero and heroine. Again, that's about all I have, so I'm in the same place I started last year. I know some of you have been plotting or story boarding. This is wonderful. I probably won't do it. I didn't do it last year, and the process worked for me. I'm not much of a plotter. I may, however, do a very rough skeletal diagram using my friend Karen Docter's W plot technique. It's a great plotting system for pantsers. If you're not familiar with it, check it out at http://www.karendocter.com/.

What are the rest of you doing to prepare for November 1? I'd love to hear about it.

And here's a little incentive for you romance writers.

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Hugh Jackman

Sexy Aussie Hugh barely made it into my hunks over forty month. Born October 12, 1968, he's been forty for all of three days! What do you think? Beard or no beard? Ahem...shirt, or no shirt?

MONDAY'S HERO -- Roman from Love Thy Neighbor

Today I'm excited to welcome my talented critique partner, Monica Kaye, to my blog! Monica writes contemporary, interracial, and erotic romance and romantic suspense. She's going to tell us about her erotic short story, Love Thy Neighbor, which is available free (yes, who says you can't get anything for free anymore?) at http://www.pinkchairdiaries.com/.

Monica, how did you come up with Love Thy Neighbor?

The idea, of course, came from the Pink Chair*. But the root of the story lies with me and my cousin. For several years, she has worked in the 'Adult Toy' industry and for years has taken great pleasure in embarassing me with the various tools of her profession. So, for my eighteenth birthday, my cousin decided to take it one step further. I'm sitting in my living room, with my family (i.e Mom, Dad, younger brother) and in walks this 6-foot pink inflatable cock. I was MORTIFIED! She made it dance and sing. My parents and brother just laughed. And unfortunately for me, I did not have a sexy neighbor to comfort me. So, when I saw the Pink Chair, it reminded me of that moment and I thought 'What if Yolie also had a cousin (like mine) who reveled in embarassing her? And what if there was a sexy neighbor on top of that?' Now THAT'S a story.

BLURB
Yolie has been lusting after her neighbor, Roman, for years. When her cousin sends her an interesting plaything for her birthday, delivered by Roman, Yolie is mortified. But is it possible that Roman is attracted to her as well?

*The pink chair can also be found at http://www.pinkchairdiaries.com/. It's an inflatable chair with an (ahem) attachment. Said chair is featured in most of the stories on the site.

Tell us about the hero of your story, Roman.

Unfortunately, we don't get to really know much about Roman because 'Love Thy Neighbor' is an erotic short, but now I have the opportunity to let people know how I 'see' him in my mind. Roman is tall with glossy mahogany hair, frost blue eyes, and a full, sinful mouth. The type of mouth that stops a woman's heart. He's a fireman and the things that he wants most out of life are a comfortable home, good friends, and a great woman to come home to each night. He's a simple, down-to-earth kind of guy. He has a love for life and a good joke, especially a dirty one. He's smart, funny, and sexy.

I've read the story, and can say first hand that he and Yolie are hot together! Tell us a little about what they see in each other.

Roman sees something in Yolie's eyes that hints at a wildness. He knows that beneath her prim skirts and upswept hair, there's a wild woman wanting to come out. That type of woman appeals to his sense of adventure and that sense of fun and love of life he has. For Yolie's part, Roman is everything that she believes she's not. Her life is very orderly and safe. He's a man with a dangerous profession and carefree manner. But she also knows that he makes her feel safe.

Who or what inspired you to create Roman?

I based his physical description on Gerard Butler. I am totally in lust with that man. He makes me shiver so that's where my mind goes when I think about fantasy sex. But I didn't really base him on anyone in my life. I try to think about my characters as separate people. I think about which traits would attract which traits. I may take a bit of this person or that but if I do that too much then it's like I'm writing about them and them having sex and that freaks the shit out of me.

Sorry, I stopped listening at Gerard Butler... Just kidding! What projects are you working on right now?

I'm currently working on a romantic suspense. I'm really pleased with it and I'm almost done so that makes me super happy. I MAY have a newrelease coming out. I will keep you all informed. If you want to keep up with me, you can check out my blog: www.monicakayesharmlesssmut.blogspot.com OR the blog I do with my CPs www.coloradovixens.blogspot.com. I TRY to update as much as possible and I will be more diligent in the future. I just get very focused on my current WIP and sometimes let my blog fall to the side.

Thanks so much, Monica! Here's an excerpt from Love Thy Neighbor. Read the whole story at http://www.pinkchairdiaries.com/. (Warning: Graphic language and sex.)

"Come on, love, let's have a look, shall we?" His warm cinnamon scented breath feathered over her cheek as he spoke.

Goosebumps exploded over her skin and her nipples tightened into diamond hard points. When he spoke like that, Yolie doubted that there was anything that she could deny him.

She blew out a defeated breath. She was well and truly caught.

"Come in." She opened the door wider and kept step behind it. She closed her eyes and held her breath as he stepped inside. It was only a matter of time before he saw it.

"Now, there's a love. If I didn't know any better, I would think that you didn't like me. In fact—Good Lord, is that a prick coming out of that chair?"

If the ground opened up and swallowed her right then, it wouldn't be soon enough. Yolie's feet dragged as though encased in cement as she shut the door. Once closed, she could do nothing more than lean weakly against it.

"Yup."

"And it's here? In your living room?"

"Apparently."

She heard his footsteps as he moved further into the living room. She kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see the disgust, or worse yet the laughter, outlined on his face.

"Well, I must say that it is an impressive bit of thing. It's sure to be the hit of your next party. Don't forget to send me an invitation."

The shock in his voice had eased its way back to amusement.

Yolie bit her lip to hold back the explanations that threatened to tumble out. It was none of his business if her entire apartment was filled with gigantic neon pink dildoes.

"Yolie?"

"Huh?"

"What are you doing?"

"I'm waiting." She resisted the urge to bang her head against the wall in search of sweet oblivion.

"Waiting? For what?"

"Death. I figure that in addition to this being my birthday, it's also the single most humiliating day of my life so death is the only viable alternative to living this down. I didn't really want to live past thirty anyway."

Her eyes were still closed as she contemplated death, her ears deaf to everything. So it was with some surprise when she felt a wisp of air cross her cheeks. Her eyes snapped open. Roman had crossed the room and was now standing in front of her. His arms bracketed either side of her head, effectively caging her in. Heat poured off his body in waves. Yolie felt an answering heat in her own body. Her nipples hardened even further, their tips almost brushing the front of his shirt. A small shift and she would be flush against him.

Her heart stuttered in her chest. This was the first time that she and Roman had ever been this close. The experience was heady and she felt a bit light headed. Her breath quickened.

"What are you doing?" She knew it was a stupid question but couldn'tstop the whispered words.

Roman's icy blue gaze blazed with undisguised lust. How was it possible for a person's eyes to appear cold but burn at the same time? She felt another moist gush explode from her pussy at the hungry look.

"You know, in all the times that I imagined us together, never once did I contemplate the use of sexual aids. I prefer to be a bit morehands-on.

"What? He had imagined them together? Yolie's heart almost burst at the admission. Never once had he ever let on that he felt anything for her other than friendship. She never really believed that she was his type. He seemed to prefer tall, sultry blondes in need of a good meal.Yolie was short, brunette with more than enough meat packed into her compact body. Not that she was fat, but she was more than cushioned in some areas, namely her ass and her breasts.

She didn't know what to say to that. Her tongue flicked out to moisten her suddenly dry lips. Roman's greedy stare followed the movement.

"Has anyone ever told you that you have amazing skin? All beautifully brown and toasted. The color of almonds. I've always wondered if it felt as soft as it looks. May I?"

She nodded, unable to push any words past her constricted throat. Roman removed a hand from the door and used his fingers to trace a delicate path down her neck until it rested in the hollow of her throat. Her pulse beat a rapid tattoo, the sound filling her head until all she heard was the sound of her wildly beating heart and her own labored breathing. Her eyes fluttered closed.

"Mmmm…" he purred. "Soft and warm. Just like I thought. Are you hot, Yolie?"

She shivered at the double entendre but she didn't answer.

"Hmmm. You're a little moist, too," he said as his fingers gathered the dew that pooled at the base of her neck. "Are you wet, Yolie?"

Yolie couldn't stop the moan that shuddered past her lips.

Roman's finger ventured lower until it flirted around the edges of her blouse, running along the upper swells of her bosom.

"I bet you have beautiful breasts. I've given a lot of thought to them. I know they're large. I imagined that they would be tipped with large brown areolas, darker than your skin. I imagined how they would come to life when I took them into my mouth, worried them with my teeth, lapped at them with my tongue. I imagined how you would beg me to suck them, how you would squirm and plead with me to pet your pretty pussy. Have you thought about that? Do you ever wonder what it would be like to have my cock pounding into your tight pussy, my mouth on your tight nipples?"

"Yes," she moaned. She had. She had thought of all of that and more.

NaNoWriMo -- Procrastination is Evil!

I know what you're thinking. Since I "won" NaNo last year I must be some heavy-duty motivated go-getter who runs charging into every new situation with a "damn the torpedoes" attitude.

Right. I hear my wonderful husband laughing in my head right now. My mother, too.

I happen to be the world's biggest procrastinator. Or as my esteemed CP and fellow NaNo buddy, Monica, would say, "I'm lazy as shit." LOL. There is always something that seems to be more important than getting to my writing. Strange, isn't it? Writing is what I've always dreamed of doing. What I love doing. What I feel I was put on this earth to do. So why is it more important to answer my email? Or run to the store? Or surf the internet looking for hunks for my blog? See, I've been procrastinating again...

Seems I'm not alone. NaNo founder Chris Baty himself says, "When I introduce novel writing into my schedule, I actually seem to have more time, for running errands and goofing off."

Here are some of Chris's suggestions for combating the evil that is procrastination.

1. Bragging. "Nothing makes it more difficult to back down from a task than having boasted about it." Baty, p. 53. Do you want to be the big loser who didn't make the 50K goal? I think not.

2. Betting the bank. Chris recommends finding an organization you absolutely hate. Write a check (enough to hurt, but not to leave you broke), seal it in an envelope, address it, and give it to a friend with strict instructions to return it to you when you complete your 50K in a month. If you fail? You got it. Your friend mails the check.

3. Chore based betting. Agree to scrub a friend's kitchen floor should you not meet your goal. Or anything of that basic nature.

Can't say I've tried any of these, but Monica and I helped each other along by providing motivation. Hook up with as many writing buddies as you can and watch each other's progress. You'll find yourself wanting to keep up. Competition is a magical thing.

What are some of your tricks for fighting procrastination?

For some quotes for inspiring creativity, head on over to the Vixens' blog, http://www.coloradovixens.blogspot.com/.

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Clive Owen

Continuing with hunks over forty, and today's is for you, Christina! And of course, for all the rest of you ladies out there who love this gorgeous Englishman. Born on October 3, 1964, Clive just turned 44. Yes, 1964 was a very good year -- it gave us Clive and me, who can top that? LOL.

The King Arthur shot is my favorite...

MONDAY'S HERO -- Nick from Guilty Pleasures

Welcome back, Renee Knowles! You all know Renee from her previous blog post about her spicy Regency, Courting Trouble. Today she is talking about her Siren release, Guilty Pleasures, which is the first in her Pleasures, Inc. series.

Tell us about Guilty Pleasures, Renee.

The Pleasures series is all about fantasy. Pleasures, Inc. is a male escort service. I asked myself, what if the hottest men fulfilled your steamiest fantasies and they were there for your pleasure only?

Think of the erotic possibilities! Who wouldn't want a hot man to satisfy all our desires?

In Guilty Pleasures, the heroine, Diana, gives into her hidden passion. In the process, she learns to trust. She has been one of my favorite heroines to write.

BLURB:
After his parents' death, Nick Duvane gave up freelancing and took a job at the local TV news station to stay home and care for his younger sister. Now that she's grown, he's desperate to get back to the work he loves. However, his boss blackmails him into one final assignment: go undercover at a male escort service and expose it as legalized male prostitution. No problem. Except once he begins an affair with the owner, sexy, hard-headed Diana Grady, how can he deceive her and destroy her business all for an exposé?

Diana Grady's failed marriage and financial struggles drove her to make her escort business a success. She's poured all of her energy into Pleasures and ignored her personal life. But when intelligent, steamy Nick Duvane enters the picture, she gives in to her passion. Yet Nick has a secret, and it just might shatter her…

Sensuality Rating: SCORCHING
Genre: Erotic Contemporary Romance
Length: 43,000 words

I've read it, and it's hot! You know we're all about the hero here, so tell us about Nick.

He is hot, tall, lean with dark blond hair and provocative gray-green eyes. Truly, he’s based on a gorgeous Hugo Boss model who was doing a commercial in Asia while I was living there for a couple of months. God! He made me melt. So, he was the original basis for Nick Duvane. But, as always, Nick took on a life of his own. He is sensual and educated.

And hot! I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, LOL. Clearly, your heroine, Diana, thinks he's hot, too. What draws him to her?

Nick is drawn to Diana because of her strength. She is tough as nails, having lived a difficult life, and she has closed herself off from love for a long time. Something makes him want to break through that tough shell and teach her how to let go.

What draws her to him?

Well, outside of the melting panties he incites ;), she is drawn to his sensual nature and openness. She sees a kindred spirit in Nick, someone who has been through a lot like she has, but made it through. She wants to taste the fire that explodes between them.

What's going on with you these days? Any new projects?

I always seem to have a lot of projects going on at once. Must be because I am a Gemini! But I am currently working on the second part of the Pleasures Series, For Her Pleasure Only. Here is a teaser:

Josie Reynolds doesn't believe in love anymore. Until she begins a steamy affair with sexy, mysterious Mitch Kendrick. But Mitch isn't who she thinks he is. When his past as a homicide detective catches up to him, can Josie forgive his deception and help save his life?

I’m also working on the sequel to my historical romance, Courting Trouble. This time, I’m writing about Anthony’s best friend, Hartwell Colmes. I like my historicals steamy! And this one is going to be a hoot to write.

I currently have two other releases, Going Topless, which is a chick lit/women’s fiction that showcases three women who take an impulsive trip to Europe where they find love, and ultimately, themselves. This is a book of my heart. Okay, maybe they all are! But in Going Topless, the main character, Susannah, meets a sexy, younger man who reawakens her sexuality. It was a primal attraction between the two characters and it was so much fun writing a woman who gets back her mojo. Readers who love Sex and The City will enjoy this one.

Also, I have a hot historical romance from The Wild Rose Press, Courting Trouble. This book has been so well received, receiving fabulous reviews and numerous reader e-mails. I love these characters. Anthony and Lily are childhood friends who become lovers. They are the perfect match, but first must go through tons of obstacles to reach their happy ending.

How can readers keep up with your work?

My website is the best place. It is constantly updated. Readers can visit it at: www.reneeknowles.com.

Renee, it's been great having you again! Guilty Pleasures is a wonderful read. For those of you who haven't read it yet, here's a steamy excerpt (warning: graphic language and sex):

It couldn’t have been much later when Nick was awakened to Diana’s lips sucking on his nipple. The light from the moon still shone into the room, and her full, glorious breasts rubbed against his belly as she continued to take his flesh into her mouth.

His cock was stiff and dying to be inside her. He moaned as she sucked harder, nipping with her teeth. Desire filled him again, and he pressed his erection against her. Moving his head to the side, the moonlight shone on a group of long scarves hanging from a hook on the front of her closet door. He remembered the long, silky scarf she’d worn at the office, and all the naughty things he’d imagined he could do with it.

“Diana,” he whispered, a fantasy taking hold, “do you want to have some fun?”

She looked up at him, her wavy hair tousled and sexy. “Haven’t we been having fun?”

He laughed. “Hell, yeah. But this could be even more fun.”

“What did you have in mind, Duvane?” Her voice was throaty, and his desire crested further.

Nick rolled out from under her and rose, walking to the closet. His hard cock hit his lower belly with every step he took. He reached up and grabbed one satiny scarf from the grouping on the door and came back to the bed. “Do you like to play games?”

Eyeing the fabric warily, she stretched out on the bed. “Some games. I like the ones where I’m in control.”

A small laugh escaped him. Of course, she did. He straddled her and brushed the scarf over her tits, letting the sensation of the silken material harden her nipples. Then he bent to take one juicy tit into his mouth and suckled.

Straightening back up, Nick wrapped the scarf lightly around one of her wrists. Heat surged in his veins as he envisioned her bound and aching for him. Writhing as he brought her to the brink and then made her wait. His cock nearly trembled with anticipation.

“Maybe, Ms. Grady, it’s time for you to let someone else be in control.” He tightened his hold on the fabric at her wrist.

Her eyes grew wide. There was no doubt she understood his meaning.

“The question is: are you ready?” he asked. “Or are you still afraid?”

* * * *

She was terrified. Along with the fear, tingles of expectation sprang up in the very marrow of her bones. Diana had never done anything so wild. Her sex life had been pretty tame. She always did things the way they should be done.

But then, nothing about her relationship with Nick was about what should be. The forbidden was part of the excitement. Her womb burned, wet and slick at the thought of being tied up by him.
Although a bit of panic lingered. “I am afraid,” she admitted. The confession was a huge one for her.

Nick brought his lips down to hers. “Do you trust me?”

She could feel the warmth of his breath, and she lifted her mouth up to meet his. But he didn’t kiss her. His lips just hovered a tantalizing inch above hers.

“Because,” his voice became a mere whisper, “if we play, you would need to allow me complete control. You would need to let go.”

Fear seized her for a moment. She wasn’t good at letting go. Yet, this whole night had been about release, about living in the moment. Josie would tell her to stop being a wuss and live a little already.

She also knew the reason she’d wanted Nick to stay at her house was because she didn’t want to face the demons she knew would hit her if she thought too much about her mother being sick.

“Hmm. And what do I get if I let you take over?” she asked. The fantasy was beginning to eat at her reluctance, and her core heated further. She squirmed a little. Traitor, she silently scolded her body.

“Pure, unbridled pleasure.” The smooth timbre of his voice reverberated right down to her pelvis.

Could she trust him? Could she give herself over to this man? Did she dare? Her body told her yes, but her reason balked. She chose to listen to her body.

“Yes, Duvane. Let’s play.”

© Renee Knowles 2008

Gearing Up For NANOWRIMO

November is National Novel Writing Month, known affectionately as NaNoWriMo, or simply NaNo. My critique partner and friend, Monica Kaye, and I participated in this for the first time last year, and it was a wonderful experience for both of us. I came out with a 50,000 word contemporary western romance, which is currently a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Heart of the Rockies contest. In addition, the full was requested by Silhouette at the RWA National conference this summer. I have two wonderful online CPs who are helping me get it polished, and it should be out the door by the end of this month.

My NaNo project introduced the middle brother of a trio of brothers, and sparked a sequel starring the oldest , which I wrote in February as part of a Book in a Week project. This one is also a finalist in the same contest. My NaNo project this year will be another sequel featuring the youngest brother. I also have stories in mind for other characters.

Suffice it to say: NaNo has been very, very good to me.

What's the secret, you may ask? Some amazing new plotting device? An innovative meditation to get the muse singing? Nope. What you need is spelled out very succinctly in Chris Baty's (the founder of NaNo) book No Plot? No Problem.

What you need to write a novel, of course, is a deadline. Baty, p. 26.

Here's what I had last November 1:

1. My genre: I knew I would write a series contemporary romance of about 50,000 words.

2. The names for my hero and heroine

3. My basic premise: The story would revolve around a rodeo, with the heroine, a female bull rider, wanting to ride the hero's bull.

That's it. All I had. All you plotters out there are probably gnashing your gums, LOL. You know what I had a month later?

A BOOK.

Granted, it was a first draft, but it was done, and done by the deadline.

So here's my plug. If you haven't tried NaNo, think about it. Seriously. Find me at http://www.nanowrimo.org/ and we can be writing buddies. We'll help each other along. My NaNo ID is Helen Hardt.

Use October as your time to finish up current projects (or at least get to a point where you can stop for a month). Think about what kind of book you want to write. The NaNo goal is 50,000 words. If you're a romance writer, like I am, series contemporary is the perfect length. It's also a great length for young adult fiction. Or you can do what my friend Monica did. Write the first 50,000 words of a romantic suspense. Monica took a few months off after NaNo, and is now finishing up her story, which is over 100,000 words. There's really only one rule: It has to be a new project as of November 1.

Are you with me? Please leave a comment about your NaNo project. I'd love to hear about it!

HUMP-DAY HUNK -- Viggo Mortensen

At the request of my good friend, Paty Jager, today's hunk is over forty. In fact, I've decided that all of my hunks during October (or Cocktober, as we call it on the Wilder side, LOL) will be over forty.

And who better to start with than Viggo. He was born on October 20, 1958, which means, in 19 short days, he will actually be fifty! Those eyes... And that gorgeous cleft in his chin... Enjoy, ladies.