Support Judy!

How would you like to win a couple of my 34/60 challenge books?

If you'd like to try your hand at winning two of my recent 34/60 challenge books, Must Love Hellhounds and Katrina: The Beginning, please leave a comment here on my blog post. :-)

Due to shipping costs, this contest is only open to U.S. residents. Contest ends midnight, Sunday, May 1st, 2011.



Winner will be posted on my blog and also on my facebook author page Monday, May 2, 2011.

Good Luck!

Must be 18+ to enter. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. Contest void where prohibited by law. I strive to make my prize winners happy! However, as with all my contests, it is the participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails in order to claim your prize. 

 

Join My New Goodreads Book Club Group!

Cass at Trilla's lily pond in SL. Love the tats. One day I'll be brave enough to try it for reals. LOL

I've been a busy little witch, learning how to create a book club in Goodreads for my books. Sure, it's no big thing for most of ya'll since you can probably do all sorts of computer gymnastics with code and creating stuff, but for me, this was special since I did it all by myself. Kinda like the first time I figured out how to program the VCR. I felt victorious. :P

Anyway, if you are already a member of Goodreads and you'd like to join my bookclub group, click on the linkie below and it should take you to my group. There is no cost to join, and who knows, ya might even win some cool goodies from yours truly. :-)


http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/47126.When_Midnight_Comes

My 34/60 Challenge continues: On The Hunt with Gena Showalter & Co.

On the Hunt is an anthology consisting of four novellas, one each from authors Gena Showalter, Shannon K. Butcher, Jessica Andersen, and Deidre Knight.

In Ever Night by Gena Showalter, Rose Pascal is a swept into a dark, haunting world every year on her birthday – a world ruled by a warrior king who hunts her kind. Neither of them can deny the passion that soon consumes them both.

In The Collector by Shannon K. Butcher, demon hunter Neal Etan sets out to acquire a powerful artifact, but finds much more in beautiful Viviana Rowan. The antique dealer’s touch strengthens his magic—and her life may be in Neal’s hands if they don’t recover the artifact in time. 

In Crystal Skull by Jessica Andersen, archaeologist Natalie Albright’s dig gets shut down amid rumors she has awakened the local demons. But when the terrifying underworld creatures attack, Natalie must team up with her ex to survive. As they fight the ancient menace, they discover a destiny that binds them together—and threatens to tear them apart.

And in Red Angel, by Deidre Knight, Jamie Angel, leader of the deadly Nightshades, has tracked every kind of monster and demon that roams the darkness, but none of his experiences can prepare him for falling in love with one of the creatures he’s trained to destroy. 

• ISBN-13: 9781101477113
• ISBN: 1101477113

√  Finished.

4Fs...

In this case the 4Fs aka FFFF stands for Flash Fiction Friday on Facebook. :-) I decided to create an author fan page on Facebook, then realized my 1,000 plus fans on my regular profile would probably never make the commute to my fan page unless I gave them a reason to, so I decided to post some of my old flash fiction from the Midnight Moon Cafe. The stories are actually a little long for true flash fiction, but way too short to be called a short story, so I erred on the side of speed reading. :-)

The stories posted on my Facebook fan page can be found in the notes section. I've provided a few links here for those interested. I hope you enjoy these fun word nibbles.

The Wolf Wore Leather Pants by Cassandra Curtis

First Impressions by Cassandra Curtis

Fantasma by Cassandra Curtis

Witness by Cassandra Curtis

I have more FFFF to add, so check back. If you like my Flash Fiction, please considering "liking" my author fan page on Facebook. :-)

Until next time...
~ Cass

My New Pet...sorta

Had to go into SL briefly to pay on my rentals and got an IM from a friend who told me about this place with cool stuff.  The minute I got there, I saw one of the lucky chairs had a big ole "C" on it, so I sat down and won a pair or amber contacts (eyes). After wandering around the outdoor mall, I spied this very cool fat cat shoulder huggie.

I already have a shoulder pet, but the one I have, while cute, doesn't resemble a real cat. After some debating, I bought the thing.  He's a tabby and I named him Katt N' Nips. lol.

Maybe one day I'll have a true RL kitty again, or perhaps another Doberman. But for now, my life is in too much upheaval for a RL pet.

Edits, edits, and more edits...

I recently had an aspiring author/reader email me to ask how often they should do edits before they call it a day. Sugar, you may have asked the wrong person, because a day without edits is like a day without coffee. Not happening. lol. If I'm not editing my next book, I'm editing my grocery list, or my Facebook page. I am always in some degree of edit mode.

When I'm in the throes of my latest project, I usually start mental editing after the first sentence is written. I have to continually smack my hand to keep typing instead of backspacing, or I'd never finish anything. All this editing doesn't mean my work is error-free, and that's the saddest part of being a writer. No matter how often you proof, your bff critique partner proofs, your beta readers proof, your editor proofs, you will still find something you should have changed after the damn thing goes to print...err...digital ebook. It's like a messed up quantum universal law—probably developed by someone named Murphy.

So whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner trying to get published, never fear, we all go through the same hell of editing. A good friend (who actually likes editing) suggested I try to keep focused and creatively visualize the end product—a finished book, and the book's release party. It's good advice and has helped me to see the road ahead and that there is light at the end of the proverbial tunnel.

Eeps, excuse me, looks like I better get back to my wip. My characters are getting antsy for their next scene to get edited. :-p

Until next time...

~ Cass

Goodbye Old Friend...

While today was sad, it was also perhaps one of the most memorable and loving tributes I've ever witnessed. Several *clown friends* came dressed in full make-up and clown persona to honor Judy *Ju Ju*. It's a tight knit community, filled with love.

We miss you Judy.

http://www.whas11.com/news/local/Friends-family-celebrate-the-life-of-woman-known-as-Ju-Ju-the-Clown-120205029.html

My 34/60 Challenge: Must Love Hellhounds

Slowly whittling down my TBR pile in the 34/60 challenge, with my latest addition to the finished pile, Must Love Hellhounds, an anthology by NYT bestelling authors Charlaine Harris, Nalini Singh, Ilona Andrews, and Meljean Brook. I love anthologies and this is no exception. I think you'll enjoy the story mix.

In these four original novellas, readers follow paranormal bodyguards into Lucifer's realm, where they'll encounter his fearsome four-legged pets; seek out a traitor in the midst of a guild of non-lethal vampire trackers, one who intends to eradicate the entire species of bloodsuckers; find out why the giant three-headed dog that guards the gates of Hades has left the underworld for the real world; and embark on a perilous search for the kidnapped niece of a powerful vampire alongside her blind-and damn sexy-companion and a hellhound.

• ISBN-13: 9780425229590
• ISBN: 0425229599

√ Finished

Celebration of Spring Contest Winner

The winner of my 

Celebration of Spring Contest 

is...

Theresa Cole

 

Congratulations, Theresa! 

::pom pom swish::

Your name was pulled from among all the entrants in my contest. 

 

Since you provided your email in the comment, I'll contact you, so watch for that and reply with your info and I'll send your pendant and earrings, Secretariat horsie collectible, and the book by Shayla Black, Entice Me At Twilight!

 

 

My 34/60 Challenge: Katrina: The Beginning by Elizabeth Loraine

As a Vampire being hunted was nothing new.

Finding out that I had to save those that were hunting us was!

Katrina, a young royal blood vampire, chronicles her story from the 1800's when she was seventeen forward in the series Royal Blood Chronicles. She has received extensive training in sword play and self defense at the insistence of her father Fredrik. Now she understands why.

Katrina is thrust into something she never could have imagined growing up in the aristocracy of Europe. Once the fashion of the day and girlish gossip filled Katrina and her new friends days, but their lives changed the instant their race was threatened and they were chosen as the Five, the protectors of not only the vampire race, but all the peaceful races of the world!

√ Finished. Only 30 more to go.

Cup of Fate Leads To Faery Wing Shopping

Sherron Bluestar reads Cup of Fate by Cassandra Curtis. Red Dragon, April 13, 2011.

Last night I managed to pop into SL so I could attend the reading of my ebook Cup of Fate, at the Red Dragon sim owned by my good friend Sherron Bluestar. Despite Sherron's allergies ((hugs)) she managed to do a great job telling the story of Lugh ap Kernan, Lord Hawke, and the very misplaced but well-loved Bryn Tuttle. In fact, Bryn is so well-loved in the story that I dare say a few readers in attendance blushed. :D

Book reading attendee and new friend Debia tries on a set of wings. Tiny green faery is Robbin, and off to the side is Sherron.

Afterward, someone suggested (I think it was Robbin), we check out a place called Material Squirrel. They sell every imaginable kind of wing there is and specialize in faery wings. Well, after reading about the fair folk and faeries, it sounded like an excellent idea, so off we headed en masse, to the faery wing store. Yes, only in SL would this make perfect sense. In RL, I'd be carted away in a van with orderlies if I told them I went to a material squirrel for faery wings...well, unless I referenced and explained the RT conference and the faery ball. lol.

I have more of a love/lust affair with mermaid tails and boots, but I can see how faery wings could become a new passion. I finally settled on a pair of really pretty purple-ish butterfly wings that reminded me of Tiffany stained-glass.

Cassandra *Sharktooth* wearing new butterfly wings from Material Squirrel. SL.

We finally said our goodbyes as it was getting late, but I hope to attend more of these storytelling events, especially the ones where they read my stories. I think that is truly cool and I am so happy that people enjoy my naughty ebooks.

Until next time...
~ Cass

My 34/60 Challenge: Dying For Chocolate by Diane Mott Davidson

• ISBN-10: 9780553560244 • ISBN-13: 978-0553560244

The Caterer

Meet Goldy Bear: a bright, opinionated, wildly inventive caterer whose personal life has become a recipe for disaster. She's got an abusive ex-husband who's into making tasteless threats, a rash of mounting bills that are taking a huge bite out of her budget, and two enticing men knocking on her door.

The Dish

Now determined to take control of her life, Goldy moves her business and her son to ritzy Aspen Meadow Country Club, where she accepts a job as a live-in cook. But just as she's beginning to think she's got it made--catering decadent dinners and posh society picnics and enjoying the favors of Philip Miller, a handsome local shrink, and Tom Shulz, her more-than-friendly neighborhood cop--the dishy doctor inexplicably drives his BMW into an oncoming bus.


The Unsavory Killer

Convinced that Philip's bizarre death was no accident, Goldy decides to do a little investigating of her own. But sifting through the unpalatable secrets of the dead doc's life will toss her into a case seasoned with unexpected danger and even more unexpected revelations--the kind that could get a caterer and the son she loves. . .killed.

If you like culinary cozies, this is a great book. Since I like culinary cozies, I thought it was scrumptious. :)

√ Finished

Still Time To Enter My Contest!

There is still time to enter my

Celebration of Spring Contest!

Just click the link above and leave a comment on the contest post to enter for a chance to win. Oh and I'm going to add a little more to sweeten the pot... Shayla Black's paperback, Entice Me At Twilight!  

If you also subscribe to my low-volume newsletter, you'll receive two entries! Contest ends April 16, 2011. Good Luck!

My 34/60 Challenge: Dark Stranger by Susan Sizemore

My 34/60 challenge continues as I whittle down the pile.  Just finished Dark Stranger by Susan Sizemore. I am a very quirky type of reader, so what I love or like isn't always what everyone else adores. Keeping that in mind, I have to risk saying that I thought Dark Stranger was the best Susan Sizemore book I've read in a long time. It's got a terrific twist, engaging characters with actual depth to them, and a kick-ass premise that Ms. Sizemore delivers on. The thing is, I preferred her "book in a book" to all the books in her actual series combined. I'd love to read the sequel to this story.

A twist of fate made Zoe Pappas heir to the Byzant throne. Bound by duty and devotion to keep the Empire safe, Zoe is captured while on a secret diplomatic mission and sent to an underground prisoner-of-war camp. In this strange, shadowy place, residents are governed by fellow inmate General Matthias "Doc" Raven, whose powerful magnetism rouses an urgent desire in Zoe. But the intensity of her attraction is matched by her surprise at discovering that Doc has a secret of his own: he is a vampire.

Zoe's presence puts everyone in the camp in danger. Doc knows it, and knows too that Zoe's royal status makes it impossible for her to bond with a vampire. The only way to save her is to help her escape, and lose her forever. But some fires are impossible to quench, even when following your heart is the ultimate taboo....

√ Finished!

Making the Man of Our Dreams

Come on, be honest. If you're a woman writer, especially a romance writer, you gotta fess up. We dream about our heroes. Yep. We all do. Figure out the percentage of time we spend–days and nights, making the man of our dreams real.

I figure I spend several sleepless nights writing about the perfection of my hero's chiseled jaw, the thick, corded rope of muscles that play along his biceps and shoulders. The tight, curve of his...hmmm, getting a little hot in here. ;)

If I'm in the beginning stages of story development, I pay special attention to the men I might see at the mall, the grocery, the gas station, etc. And I take notes. When I get home, I throw them in a specially marked box. Later, I'll go through this box and pick a few attributes to give my hero. I always try to replace a note I pull with another, so my box is never empty.

The other day, I went through my box and, for fun, pulled out three new attributes at random to give to my latest hero. Then I went into SL and made some adjustments to my male character avatar.  Can you guess what new physical attributes I gave my hero? Well, sure that ONE, but can't see it since he's wearing clothes! heehee.

34 Books in 60 Days!

This is an insane goal for me, given my schedule, but I really want to try for it. I bought 34 books the other day at my local Borders (which is closing and this is their last week open). I'm giving myself 60 days to read them all. Each time I finish reading one of the books, I'll check them off in a post here on my blog to keep record. I'll also post the cover and the blurb, but not necessarily a review.

So without further ado, here we go... Shayla Black's Entice Me At Twilight!

Dangerously handsome Simon Northam, Duke of Hurstgrove, and his uptight barrister brother hardly get along, but crashing Mason’s wedding and stealing his fiancée take sibling rivalry to a new level. Duke’s family knows nothing of his magical prowess or the Doomsday Brethren, so how can he explain that mankind’s fate lies with the beautiful, tenacious bride he longs to seduce for himself?

Felicia is an Untouchable, a rare human whose presence disables magic—even the impenetrable forces surrounding Morganna le Fay’s tomb. The evil witch’s malicious powers could propel nefarious wizard Mathias to ultimate world domination . . . if he can resurrect her. To conceal herself, Felicia must heed her simmering desires to mate with Duke, but he risks binding his life—and sanity—to a lover whose loyalty may be forever torn. He faces a terrible choice: betray his brother for ultimate survival . . . or lose the woman who tempts him beyond control.

√ Finished!

To Wit

I've always admired authors with a talent for writing great dialogue. Especially sexy and witty banter between the hero and heroine. The chemistry literally zings between the characters and you can almost smell the phermones coming off the page.

But how do you write sexy banter? There has to be a smooth rhythm, right? I mean, this is verbal sex. Not necessarily crude, crass, or dirty. More like fun, playful, and hot.


So, to the readers out there: Do you like sexy banter in a book?

And to my fellow writers: Do you write it and how the heck do you pull it off without sounding too silly for words?

Loving Massage

Nothing is more relaxing than a massage. After a stress-filled day, wouldn't it be great to come home to a clean house, kids at grandma's and your man half-naked holding a bottle of massage oil?

He takes your hand, leads you into the bedroom and strips off the rest of your clothes and with them, all the hassles of the day fall from your shoulders. You lay down on the bed and give yourself up to the sensation...ahhh.

The tightness in your shoulders melts away. You close your eyes. His hands are large and warm as they glide down your hips and lower back. At some point, the pressure changes, his touch more insistent.

Would you: A) return the favor, B) Do nothing, or C) turn over and wait for his next move?
Tell me.