This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Joanna Waugh

Once again it’s guest blogger day at the Tiki Hut. Joining us beneath the palm leaves is Regency author, Joanna Waugh. Joanna’s debut novel, BLIND FORTUNE, released in July from Cerridwen Press.

Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Joanna!

Thanks, DeNita! It’s great to be here. Author Island is a terrific place for authors and readers to connect and the Tiki Hut is an especially inspired idea! I’m grateful to be among the first authors invited here.

A little about me: I live in Northwest Indiana, just a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan and the beautiful Indiana Dunes. BLIND FORTUNE is my first published novel, although I did a lot of non-fiction writing prior to it; mostly political op eds, white papers and articles for specialty magazines. In the late 1990s, however, I returned to my first love—romantic fiction.

BLIND FORTUNE is based on my personal experience with my late husband. He lost his sight to diabetes and often misinterpreted conversations because he couldn’t see the speaker’s face or read his/her body language. It’s this kind of misunderstanding that lies at the heart of the relationship between sightless Lady Fortuna and arrogant Charles Lowden, the Marquess of Granville.

Here’s the blurb:

They say love is blind, but Lady Fortuna Morley doesn’t believe it. Sightless since birth, she can think of only one reason a gentleman would wed her—for the dowry and three thousand pounds a year her father will provide. She’s in London the spring of 1814 to help launch her younger cousin into society, but prefers living quietly in the country with her music. The last thing Fortuna wishes is to cross swords with the arrogant Marquess of Granville.

Charles Lowden, Lord Granville, has decided to take a wife. The bride he’s chosen is thirteen years his junior, but meets all criteria. What he won’t abide is interference from the girl’s impertinent cousin, the outspoken and opinionated Lady Fortuna Morley. The woman is determined to thwart the match. Charles is just as determined to charm Fortuna out of her disdain for him.

What neither expects in the ensuing battle of wills is to fall in love.

The book has been getting fantastic reviews. Here are just a few:

"...some of the best dialogue between hero and heroine that I have ever read. Dialogue bursting with intelligence and witticism with an aim beyond simply being that one last riposte."
All About Romance Reviews

"With skillful scripting, Joanna Waugh exposes the depth and personality of each of her characters...This is definitely a wonderfully detailed Regency romance that will woo historical enthusiasts…”
Romance Junkies Blue Ribbon Reviews

"BLIND FORTUNE is a wonderful historical romance...In one word, exciting. Ms. Waugh has a winner on her hands."
The Romance Readers Connection

To read an excerpt:
http://www.joannawaugh.com/Joanna_s_Books.php

Purchase Link:

http://www.jasminejade.com/pm-4525-423-blind-fortune.aspx

Be sure to stop by my website and check out my resources for Regency readers and writers: http://www.joannawaugh.com/ and my blog about British customs and holidays: (I’m currently doing a ten-part series about Regency Christmas traditions): http://www.joannawaugh.blogspot.com/

Don’t forget to “friend” me on Myspace: www.myspace.com/joannawaugh

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Buffi BeCraft-Woodall

Buffi BeCraft-Woodall, thirty-something mother of two, says that growing up watching marathon sessions of Star Trek and Dr. Who with her dad at night and daytime soaps with her mom pretty much clinched her style of writing. She started writing her first novel during sixth grade math until plummeting grades forced her to set it aside or be grounded from her favorite place, the library. But, hey the novel was going along good until then.

In 2000-2001, Buffi made a conscious decision to seriously pursue writing during a brief period in which she tried home schooling her children. "Kudos to teachers everywhere. They deserve more than a pat on the back. Try a standing ovation at the Super Bowl and it might come close." The kids, John and Angelique, who eventually returned to the capable hands of the Public School System, are her first and most loyal fans.

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Thanks for being our guest today, Buffi, and sharing this great post about monsters and why we love them!

What kind of monster do you like?

By Buffi BeCraft-Woodall

Are you a fan of the original ‘pure evil’ Vampires, wolfmen, and swamp thing monsters? Soulless creatures that jump out from behind the tree, chomping on hapless victims. The true hero being the human who kills the evil and returns light and happiness to the beleaguered townsfolk?

Or is there another story? The poor misunderstood monster who was just defending himself from the torch and pitchfork bearing mob. Haters of anything not like themselves. The hero is the guy who’s different on the outside, but just as human on the inside as you and me. He could be furry, scaly, need some serious orthodontia for that fangy problem he’s got going on there, but when it comes down to it, Mr. Monster is just a sensitive guy who wants to be loved and appreciated for himself.

I’ve heard it from both sides. Moans from my friends on how the new ‘more sensitive’ monsters as heroes outlook has ruined the story. I’ve heard cheers that the monsters have been liberated from the evil stereotypes of the past. You know…they both work.

Me, I like an even stranger version. Think outside the box, or coffin as it were. Why make the story about simple good and evil when you have so many shades of gray to play with? When you have, love, lust, greed, jealousy, and every other demented emotion to explore? Daytime television does it all the time. Why not combine it all? Yes, my family thinks I’m weird too. I don’t disagree. I just smile and nod, folks. It pays to keep them guessing. Besides, I love The Soap Monster stories.

What? You don’t think that monsters and soap operas could work together. Bwhahahha! Trust me, it can and does. I’m hooked on several by some big name authors. After years of growing up, watching black and white Dracula, Werewolf, Godzilla, don’t forget Mothra. I loved Star Trek, Dr. Who, Days of Our Lives, Guiding Light. (True soap fans have these things timed so that they can watch the first half of one, then don’t miss out when they channel flip over to the second half of the show on another story.)

Growing up, I always wondered why we couldn’t we have the best of both. Okay, Star Trek doesn’t count since Kirk slept with anything female, whatever the species, then wound up with the secret kid who died. And Mr. Spock came back from the dead at least once. Remember V? The human/alien lizard love triangle did get a little icky. But, yay! A breakthrough! Not all the aliens were bad guys.

See, the monsters don’t have to be evil all the time. I wanted to know what would happen if were known that the vampire was really a good guy, working to take down the evil vamps. What if the evil vamp were the only evil vamp and the disgrace of the vampire world? What if Darth Vader was really Luke’s secret father? Oops. That one was a point for our side. I have to admit, I only saw the last movie (or was that the third?) a couple of weeks ago. I already knew the ending. Duh! Plus, George Lucas did such a good job making us love Anakin that I really didn’t want to see him fall.

So yes, is it any wonder that when I started to seriously write, I kind of went a little overboard on the werewolf thing? Weremones, PMSing, and Making Tracks, became sort of Werewolf Soap. Officially, that’s paranormal or fantasy romance. Depends on who you ask. But in the end a Soap is a Soap.

It’s the big, What If…

What if a werewolf suddenly inherited a Pack he didn’t want? What if his whole Pack consisted of a bunch of teenagers? What do you do about male horemones and a teen werewolf dating your girlfriend’s human teenage daughter? That was fun for my first book, Weremones like the rest of my werewolf books are from New Concepts Publishing. (http://www.newconceptspublishing.com/)

Then I got to thinking, what if you had identical twins, one with Alpha potential and one the former Omega. What if the Omega guy after years of being gone, decided he was tired of it all and wanted the girl after all? What if the girl is his adopted stepmom’s daughter he secretly loves? What if the daughter got herself into some real trouble and decided come home to hide out? The best part was bringing all the people back, years later. The book PMSing ended up as Monster Soapfest II.
Then my son and I started talking about what to do for book three. Hmmm. Yeah. Of my two kids, my son is the reader and the Para/SciFi fan. My daughter is the social outgoing one. So my son starts telling me what he’d like to see out of his favorite character, Mark the ADHD werewolf. O-kay. Before it’s all over with, Making Tracks had an insecure, colorblind hero who’s head over paws with a girl terrified of anything supernatural. We had a Fairy uprising, the evil dude from the past, and a seriously P.O.’d dragon.

And after a short break messing with Arthurian Legend, in a very Christmas themed Conjuring Cal, I’m back to writing about the werewolves. I heard you sword and swashbuckler fans perk up on that. Conjuring Cal is another fun what if…. What if Excalibur became human? Sound like fun? I had a blast writing it. And the Christmas theme allowed me to play with more than just Arthur and his gang.

With Mordred on the loose, Cal (Excalibur) is placed in Gennie Pendragon’s safekeeping. Unfortunately, his humanness comes with an expiration date.

What could Gennie possibly want for Christmas? Why Cal, of course. Good thing she’s friends with the guy in the red suit. Don’t forget a slightly forgetful Merlin, a houseful of sweet if overgrown wards, and her overprotective many great-somethings ‘Uncle Art’. (Head by Total-e-Bound to download a copy of this one. http://www.total-e-bound.com/)

What up next? Well… Lets’ see what we’ve got to work with this time,
Tank and Chase, the dynamic duo of the werewolf world, have a mysterious past. Bradley is working for the Fairies since the last book. Can we say ‘Conflict of Interest’ boys and girls? And then there’s the Van Helsing style Psychic Hunter who knows he’s saving the world from the supernatural scourge of the evil. Is the Hunter the hero or the villain? I mean, all monsters are evil, right? All his conditioning and all the traditional books and movies portray it that way.I’m a traditionalist only in that I like a happy ending. I’m a sucker for a Cinderella story. Bad monsters, good monsters, who’s sleeping with who, or even who’s staking who. I only fall on the ‘new and sensitive’ side when I write. For sheer reading escapism, it’s all good, so long as the story is worth hanging around for.

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Shirley Tallman

Even as a small child, Shirley Tallman, dreamed of being a writer. Now, this multi published, award-winning author dreams of having more time to write!

Shirley, who has ten contemporary romances published under the pseudonym Erin Ross and several television and movie scripts sold and in production with her screenwriting partner Nancy Hersage, is currently hard at work on her new historical mystery series for St. Martin's Press.

The Sarah Woolson Mysteries, which started with MURDER ON NOB HILL, have all the charm of a nineteenth-century Legally Blonde and have earned Shirley a good deal of acclaim. The second book in the series, THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS, sold out its first hardcover printing in just seven weeks and the third book, THE CLIFF HOUSE STRANGLER, has been chosen as a July 2007 selection by The Mystery Guild Book Club.

Visit Website *** Visit Blog *** Visit Myspace

Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Shirley!

Hi Everyone!

What a thrill it is to join you here today in the Tiki Hut. Author Island is one of my favorite websites! DeNita does such a super job of taking care of her readers, as well as her authors. There are always fun things to do and exciting places to explore on the Author Island website.

Today, I have exciting news! The first two books in my Sarah Woolson historical mystery series – MURDER ON NOB HILL and THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS – have been released as Trade Paperbacks. For those of you who are still confused about the difference between mass paperbacks and trade paperbacks, mass paperbacks are small, pocket-size books, while trade paperbacks are the very popular soft-cover versions of standard-size hardcover books.

But before I go any further, maybe I should tell you a little bit about myself. I started writing over twenty-five years ago with a weekly newspaper column titled, PENNY PINCHERS. It featured articles on how to feed your family well – and nutritiously – on a budget. After that came a hardcover book – written with a good friend of mine, Nancy Hersage – titled, PLEASE STAND BY – YOUR MOTHER’S MISSING.

While Nancy went on to write stage plays, I wrote ten Harlequin/Silhouette contemporary “Desire” romances, set all over the world. Then came yet another change as Nancy and I once again teamed up to write TV movies. Blithely unaware of how difficult (read impossible) this was to achieve, we sold movies to NBC, CBS, ABC and HBO. Our movie, THE BABYSITTER’S SEDUCTION, starring Keri Russell, Stephen Collins and Phylicia Rashad, did extremely well at NBC, and still continues to play regularly on the Lifetime Network.

As I said earlier, I now write the Sarah Woolson historical murder mysteries set in 1880s San Francisco: MURDER ON NOB HILL, THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS and THE CLIFF HOUSE STRANGLER. My heroine is a lovely and intelligent young woman who has always dreamed of becoming a lawyer. The trouble is, everyone believes women belong in the home, that it is against God’s will for them to seek a career. But Sarah is undeterred by the all-male legal establishment and their blatant chauvinism.

In MURDER ON NOB HILL – the first book in the series – Sarah finagles her way into one of the most prestigious law firms in San Francisco, only to find herself embroiled in shady legal maneuvers, multiple murders, a daring Chinatown raid, and a secret and very scandalous sex club. In THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS, Sarah manages to become only the second woman in the city’s history to defend a man accused of murder in a court of law. No one, including the judge and prosecuting attorneys, are the least bit happy to see her there, and she ends up very nearly losing her life! THE CLIFF HOUSE STRANGER finds Sarah attending a séance at San Francisco’s famous Cliff House, only to discover at the end of the session that one of the participants has been strangled. Pressured into defending the accused murderer, Sarah becomes involved in a complicated murder plot involving ghosts, gypsies and City Hall.

All three books in the Sarah Woolson series have sold out their first two hardcover printings, and as I mentioned earlier, MURDER ON NOB HILL and THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS are now out in paperback. Yay!! To celebrate this great news, today I’ll be giving away a signed copy of MURDER ON NOB HILL or THE RUSSIAN HILL MURDERS. Your choice.

While I’m here in the Tiki Hut, I’d love to hear from as many readers – and would-be writers – as possible. My interests are varied – novels, mysteries, movies, newspaper journalism, publicity, and tips on how to get your writing career up and going. So please log on and let’s get a good discussion going!

Best wishes,

Shirley

PS Don’t forget to visit my website for more fun contests, and an opportunity to purchase SIGNED copies of my new trade paperback books at a great discount! You’ll also find special sale prices for the award-winning hardcover third book in the Sarah Woolson series, THE CLIFF HOUSE STRANGLER.

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Kimber Chin

This Tuesday's special guest at the Tiki Hut is Kimber Chin. Kimber writes sexy contemporary romances set in the business world. A business gal herself, she is tired of seeing business folks described as emotionless bores, especially as many of the people she works with are one step away from the looney bin. It takes a special type of crazy to spend days in a 100 square feet cubicle.

This cynical gal had her world tilted when she fell in love at first sight. 15 gloriously happy years later, she cautions single women that slick talking salesmen will do anything to keep their favorite customers satisfied.

Every week, Kimber Chin posts a short story and a photo of a man in a great looking suit on her website and every month, she gives away her favorite eBook read the previous month.


And since we have a holiday weekend coming up, Kimber is going to share a special romantic short story for us! Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Kimber!


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Thanks so much DeNita! I enjoyed writing the Halloween short so much,I thought I'd share a Thanksgiving one,an exclusive for Author Island readers...


LURED BY PUMPKIN PIE by Kimber Chin


It was a big pie.


And there was only one of her. Undecided, Elena stood in front of the display.


“Could I buy a slice?” she tried.


“No, Madame.” The dark eyed clerk shook his head. “It is a wonderful pie, too exquisite to hack into pieces.” He made jerky chopping motions with his hand.


It was a wonderful pie. The pumpkin filling browned oh-so-lightly. A few flakes of the pastry dotted the doily, a testament to its lightness. It would taste… her mouth watered at the thought.


But it was a big pie.


On the other hand, today WAS Thanksgiving. At least in the States. She always had pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. And she didn’t have to eat it all.


But to waste such a pie. That was surely a sin.


“Salute Marcel,” a deep voice rumbled from behind her. “Oh, good, there’s one left. I’ll take the pumpkin.”


The pumpkin? Her pumpkin? The clerk slid the wire rack out. “Wait.” She stopped him.


“Madame? You wish the pie?”


“Mademoiselle,” she corrected. Why? She didn’t know. “I…” She did want the pie, at least a taste but it was so big and this man, he… She should give it up.


But only if he was worthy of such a pie. She turned. To judge him. Big feet in black dress shoes. Long legs in black dress pants. A thin torso. Too thin. She frowned. Wide shoulders in a suit jacket. Firm lips pressed together, twitching. Her head tilted back more. Laughter lines etched out from brown sparkling eyes. Her toes curled.


Yes, he was most certainly worthy.


“Mademoiselle? You wish the pie?” the clerk repeated.


The handsome stranger tilted his head, repeating the question silently.


“I do wish the pie but,” she sighed, smelling the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, “Monsieur may have it.”


“No, no,” the man protested. “You were here first. It is yours.”


She WAS there first but “I can’t eat all that. All I wanted was a slice.”


“Then that is decided.” Feeling the loss, Elena didn’t appreciate his cheerfulness. “Marcel, wrap it up.” He approached the counter, pulling bills from his wallet.


Elena stepped towards the door.


“Wait, Mademoiselle.” A big arm wrapped around her shoulders. “You can not go before you get your slice.”


“Monsieur Largent, you wish me to slice?” The clerk’s bottom lip communicated his disapproval.


“I wish Mademoiselle to slice. Tonight. At my parents’ table.”


“I couldn’t.” It was tempting. To taste the pie. To not be alone on Thanksgiving. “I don’t know you.”


“Marcel knows me.”


A dark head bobbed. “Monsieur Largent is the finest of men. He buys many pies.”


“Thank you, Marcel.” The man laughed. “For vouching for my pie buying abilities. I’m sure Mademoiselle…”


“Elena,” she supplied.


“Elena,” he made it sound even more musical, “is suitably impressed. She will not be able to resist me, my offer, or especially the pumpkin pie. What say you, Elena? Yes?”


It was insane. She didn’t know him. He could be lying. He could have no parents. He could…He opened the box, and the wave of spices hit her.


“Yes.”

$

For more Kimber Chin short stories, contests, and men in suits photos, visit her site http://businessromance.com/ .

This Tuesday at The Tiki Hut - Marion Webb-DeSisto

This week's special guest is Marion Webb-De Sisto who is currently celebrating her brand new release - CRYSTAL COMPANIONS: The Use of the Mineral Kingdom within Modern-day Metaphysics. This new book is a must-have handbook for anyone fascinated by crystals and New Age practices.

An innovative look at how crystals and crystal skulls are being incorporated into various modern-day metaphysical pursuits by the author and other practitioners in order to improve their performance. The effect crystalline energy has on therapies, spiritual pursuits and divination techniques is highlighted in this book, together with brief outlines on the histories of these various practices. Such disciplines as Past Life Regression, Reiki, Yoga, Shamanism and Crystal Therapy are documented and discussed in detail. Divination strategies of the Tarot, the Runes, Scrying and Dowsing are also combined with the properties of the mineral kingdom, and the resulting outcomes are explored. In addition, helpful exercises, recommendations and crystal ‘know-how’ are included for both the professional and the novice. The author is a qualified Crystal Healing practitioner and her examination of various crystal-enhanced procedures is a valuable handbook for anyone interested in discovering the powerful crystalline world and its impact on healing, spirituality and divination.

Buy the Book

Read the Excerpt

Apart from a print copy of CRYSTAL COMPANIONS being on offer in the Book of the Day contest today over on AuthorIsland.com, one lucky person can win an Adobe PDF version of it just by blogging their comments here at the Hut to Marion. She'll draw that winning name at the end of the day.

Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Marion!

Thank you, DeNita, for inviting me into the Hut today. It's really good to feel those tropical sunbeams warming me. It's really chilly and blustery here in the UK right now.

I'm very excited about my new book. I love sharing information on the mineral kingdom and how it can help us achieve a more positive way of looking at life. My home is filled with crystals and crystal skulls and I'm fortunate enough to have a husband who loves these beautiful Earth-gifts as much as I do.

Telling people about the crystalline world is a 'must' for me and it appears to be a welcome read for others. I gave the title Crystal Companions to my latest book because it examines in detail how crystals and crystal skulls can be used to enhance whatever we are doing. The mineral kingdom works as a helping friend that aids us with many different things. The book looks at various interests and not just healing, which is usually associated with crystals. If you practice Yoga, are fascinated by the Tarot and Runes, or would like to Space Clear your home, then I believe my book will grab your attention. Are you curious about Past Life Regression? Well, that's in there, too.

At the end of each chapter there’s an exercise for the reader to try, and as a little 'taster' the following is the exercise from the chapter about Pendulums & Dowsing. Do have a go even if you've never used a pendulum before, and I would love to read any feedback, or answer any questions, that you might have.

Thanks again, DeNita, and have fun with the exercise everyone!

A Dowsing Exercise with a Ring Pendulum

· Decide upon a number of questions that you or someone else would like to have answered.
· Choose a silver or gold ring. Even if it has no gemstones, it was created from a mineral.
· Tie a piece of thread to the ring. It should be no more than 7” long.
· Sit down comfortably and practice holding your ring pendulum in your dominant hand {right if you are right-handed, left if you are left-handed}. The official position is known as “the eye of the cobra,” which means holding your forearm in an upright position and slightly away from the body. The end of the thread is held between the thumb and first finger with the other fingers following the curve of that finger. The pendulum should be hanging straight down and parallel to your arm.
· Take time to establish how this pendulum will indicate “Yes” and “No” answers.*
· When you feel ready, give the pendulum a slight swing.
· Now ask your first question and wait for an answer.
· Once it is given, hold the ring still for a moment, and then give the pendulum a slight swing once again.
· Ask the next question and wait for an answer.
· Continue in this manner until all of the questions have been asked and answered.
· Thank the ring and cleanse it by visualization.**

* If a pendulum is being consulted for “Yes” and “No” answers, you will need to establish, before you begin to dowse, how your pendulum will show you these answers. For some people a pendulum will swing clockwise for “Yes” and anti-clockwise for “No.” For others it will show the affirmative by swinging up-and-down, and from side-to-side for a negative response. Take time before attempting any dowsing exercises to become familiar with how your pendulum indicates its answers to you.

** Imagine Divine golden light is radiating throughout the ring and its beams transform all negativity into positive energy.

N. B. If the ring pendulum should become still when you ask a question and does not indicate a “Yes” or “No” answer, then you are being told that it is not right to be given an answer at this time. If it appears undecided, in other words, it keeps alternating between clockwise and anti-clockwise, or between up-and-down and from side-to-side, then consider this to be a “Maybe” answer.

This Tuesday at The Tiki Hut - Sam Cheever

This Tuesday, I'd like you to meet award-winning urban fantasy author, Sam Cheever.

Sam Cheever writes fast paced fantasy and romantic fiction with feisty characters who deal with life's little challenges in unique and often hilarious ways. As a reader Sam is very impatient. She quickly loses interest if a story doesn't have a good pace and snappy dialogue. Sam's inability to focus in a backwash of human angst and subtleties works out well for her readers, since she writes the way she likes to read.

In her real life, Sam lives on a hobby farm in Indiana with 10 dogs, 4 horses, 2 barn cats, 2 daughters, and one husband. Not necessarily in that order.

To learn more about the author and her work, visit her website at http://www.samcheever.com/ and her blog at http://tweenyouandme.blogspot.com/ or come friend her at http://www.myspace.com/samcheever.

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The following appeared in the Monday morning edition of the Chicago Tribune.

Pithy Prose from the Perky Poppy Pelham

The recent surprising rash of head bashings, dog poop flingings, and excessive Tarot card readings in Grooster Indiana are stark reminders of the frail architecture upon which a small town is built. As a survivor of these events, the Perky Poppy Pelham, pithy news babe for Grooster Indiana’s Grooster Rooster, is in a good position to do a post mortem on them.

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Gentle Readers, you are all no doubt aware that Grooster Indiana recently underwent some truly astounding events, which rocked the very foundations of our formerly innocent little town.

Not since the Habidary twins decided to host a clothing optional church social have the citizens of Grooster been quite so outraged. Even the sight of old man Warner’s wrinkly Mr. Winky, newly released from his tidy whities and wobbling dangerously close to the punch bowl in the church basement, failed to provide the level of horror brought on by recent events in the park. Grooster’s unsuspecting inhabitants have taken a rhetorical slap upside the head with the painful resurrection of the violent Ding Dong incident from 20 years ago and the infiltration into our formerly pristine little town of drugs and Satanism, along with a series of vile kidnappings.

It’s been almost too much to bear.

When one of our citizens takes up with thugs and indulges in thuggery, that is reason for great concern. But when that thuggery spreads to cloud the innocence of our unblemished youth, that is a truly frightening occurrence. Not only did recent events drag a fair number of Grooster’s youth into debauchery and unlawful dealings, they also spotlighted the more craven among us, giving rise to a new fear among the populace of what lies behind the familiar faces they pass on the street.

On a more personal level, this reporter has learned what it means to be beslimed, besmirched, and beleaguered as I engaged the enemy in the park and used my considerable reporting acumen to single handedly uncover their ugly deeds for all to see. It remains doubtful if the local police or the DEA, led by a truly yummy male specimen who favors cowboy hats and tight jeans, could have solved this case without my invaluable help. Holding that knowledge close, I retain a certain proud aspect to my step and a satisfied tilt to my chin.

But alas, I do bear a few scars from the experience.

Accosted by dog poop, having my wardrobe insulted by the spandex wearing lispy types who frequent Homo Haven, and losing a few inches of my dignity after being talked into not only buying but also wearing a head scarf made of gently used men’s underwear, I am like a wobbly old war veteran, a bit tattered and torn, but still feisty and forging onward with determination.
All of us in Grooster, in fact, are stronger for having survived the recent events in Grooster Park. And although I suspect we’ll greet each other in passing now with a slightly more reserved manner, the camaraderie built on mutual survival creates a bond that will carry us through the healing process nicely.

Unfortunately, though, as I gaze at the bottom of my new sneakers, splotched disgustingly with a brown and smelly mash that was no doubt acquired as I traversed Dog Poop Alley on my way to work this morning, I’m reminded of poor Ben Fecious, whose stint as park pooper scooper was cut lamentably short by the application of a baseball bat to the side of his head. Making me realize that, alas, there are still a few loose ends to be gathered up.

As always Gentle Reader, I’ll keep you posted.

Poppy Pelham, Rooster Crime Scene Correspondent, back in all my former glory to report the news to Grooster, Indiana.

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Title: Dancing With TadAuthor: Sam CheeverPublisher: Red Rose Publishing ISBN: 978-1-60435-203-0Buy Dancing With Tad

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He pulled her through an exit and dragged her to a small, red, sports car. The car bleeped as he unlocked it. After opening the passenger door, he pushed her gently into the seat. “Get in and buckle up.”

Clancy scowled at him and as soon as he started around the car, she grabbed the door handle and jumped out. She didn’t get far.

Thadeous grabbed her arm and pushed her back against the car, holding her there with his body. His eyes were filled with hostility and something deeper — scarier.

Lust.

Clancy didn’t like the hostility, so she did the only thing she could think of to get rid of it. She leaned forward and placed her lips on his.

Thadeous responded immediately and passionately. His lips crushed hers as his long, hard body pressed her into the car. His arms slid around her shoulders and one large hand cupped the back of her head, holding her against him as his mouth ravaged hers.

Clancy gasped as he forged a heated trail down her chin, then back up to her mouth. He forced her lips open and subjected her mouth to a demanding and sexually charged assault with his tongue. Clancy moaned and lifted one leg to wrap it around his thigh, pressing herself into him like a dog in heat, helpless against the tide of lust that swamped her.

Suddenly he pulled away, nearly panting, and swore softly.

Clancy drooped visibly as his hot, hard body left hers, taking with it something that she hadn’t felt in years. Something, she decided in that moment, she’d desperately missed. “What? What’s wrong?” Her voice was breathless, too.

He shook his head and touched her swollen lips with a gentle finger. “I’m not going to do this while you’re under the influence. When it happens, I want to be sure you know what you’re doing and have made the choice willingly.” He gently nudged her back into the sexy little car and Clancy sat.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head back against the seat, and took deep breaths as he walked around the car and got behind the wheel. They drove to her house in silence, both of them lost in their thoughts and trying to deal with the Tsunami of emotion their kiss had stirred up. When he pulled up in front of her house, she dragged herself out of the emotional daze enough to be surprised. “You know where I live?”

They climbed out of the little car and he came around to her side. “I know lots of stuff about you.” He told her with a secretive kind of smile. Clancy frowned. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”

He cocked his head at her and leaned close, his lips mere centimeters from hers. “Why? Do you have something to hide from me, Clancy Rogers?”

She exhaled slowly and carefully, her hands finding his waist almost against her will. Shaking her head, she leaned into him and met him halfway. This time the kiss was sweet and gentle, filled with promises that neither of them intended to honor at that moment.

He left her after demanding dinner the following night. “I need to find out about this.” He held up the drug filled condom she’d given him in the mall.

Clancy sighed and nodded. “Seven o’clock then. You might as well come here. I’ll cook.”

He gave her that slow grin. “Be still my heart. A home cooked meal.”

Clancy shook her head and turned to let herself into the house. “Don’t get too excited. You haven’t tasted my cooking yet.” She heard him chuckle as she closed the door behind her.

Bears, Otters, & Wolves -- oh my!

I'd like to introduce our first "Tuesday at the Tiki Hut" guest blogger, Amanda Young!

Amanda Young is a multi-published, erotic romance author. All of her books are steamy and not for the faint of heart. Since she tends to write whatever strikes her whimsy, all of her novels fall into various subgenres. Among her titles you'll find contemporary, manlove, and paranormal.

Basically, she writes stories about men and women who love indiscriminately and wholeheartedly. Her characters are never perfect; they're flawed and oftentimes troubled. Which makes it that much more satisfying when they receive the happy ending we all deserve. No matter what genre her books fall into, she can guarantee they'll end with a happily ever after. In her opinion, it's just not a romance without one.

Amanda's latest release is RECKLESS SEDUCTION (just released last Wednesday!)

Visit Amanda's Website - Visit Amanda's Blog - Visit Amanda's MySpace - Sign up for Amanda's Newsletter.

Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Amanda!


Thanks DeNita, happy to be here!

One of my favorite things about writing M/M romance is the ability to write outside the box. The characters don't have to be the typical alpha male found in other genres.

In my opinion, the idea of physical beauty in this day and age is a little skewed. Instead of smooth, flawless skin and gym-toned bodies, I've always been drawn to a different sort of man. The kind of man who's built like a brick sh*thouse and covered in hair. That's right—Bears. There's nothing sexier to me than a hairy chest and a solid masculine body. Michael Angelo's David be damned, I want to explore the allure of brawny men who can bench-press their own weight plus that of their partner.

For my next series, I'm planning to focus on big strapping men with even bigger hearts. There will be Bears, and Otters, and Wolves—oh my. For those of you who don’t know the terminology, I thought I would share some definitions (as I understand them) with you. If these are wrong in any way, or if you have any to add, please feel free to leave a comment.


Bear - a hairy man with a stocky or heavyset build and facial hair. Can be clean shaven
and of any age.

• Cub - a younger (or younger looking) version of a Bear, typically but not always with a smaller frame. The term is sometimes used to imply the passive partner in a relationship. Can be hairy or hairless.


• Gobi - A male, often heterosexual, who is often in the company of bears. Likened to a Goldilocks.


• Daddy bear - is an older guy sometimes looking for a daddy/son relationship with either a younger Bear, Cub, Otter, Wolf or Chaser.


• Goldilocks - A female, often heterosexual, who is often in the company of bears (a bear's fag hag).


• Leatherbear - A bear with a leather fetish.


• Muscle bear - a muscular version of a Bear. A muscle cub is a younger or smaller, yet muscular, version. Can be hairy or hairless and of any age.


• Otter - a man who is hairy, but is not large or stocky - typically thinner, or with lean muscle. Slimmer version of a Bear with little pockets of fat like love handles or a tiny gut, but not as lean as a Wolf.


• Panda bear - a bear of Asian ethnicity. A panda cub is younger version. Usually hairless.


• Pocket bear - A short Bear.


• Polar bear - a silver- or white-haired Bear.


• Wolf - A lean, masculine gay man who is attracted to bears and involved in the bear scene.


• Woof - A greeting often used when a Bear spots another Bear in public and wants to express physical attraction. He might make a growling noise ("Grrr!") or say "Woof!"

Amanda Young
http://www.amandayoung.org/

Stay Tuned For A New Guest Blogger Each Tuesday

Tuesday's at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut will feature a very special guest blogger stopping by to say hi and to tell us a bit more about themselves, their work and the writing life as they see it.

Help yourself to a frosty drink, complete with a pink umbrella, and check back each Tuesday to spend the day getting to know a new writer each week.