Chat May 1 at The Romance Room

Join authors Camryn Cutler, Felicia Forella, Michelle Hasker, & Cheri Valmont, May 1st for an all-day author bash in The Romance Room!

The authors will be chatting with members, posting excerpts from their new releases, running contests, & giving away some awesome prizes!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/theromanceroom

Here’s a preview:

Take a trip down the Trail Of Desire, the 2nd book in the Felicia Forella’s Class of ’93 trilogy, to find out what FBI Agents Braedon Powell & Katrina Boyd are getting up to on the Appalachian Trail in PA.

The first book in this trilogy is Deadly Briefs. The third book is Call Of Duty and will be released August 2007 from Whiskey Creek Press/Torrid.



Michelle Hasker loves vampires and things that go bump in the night, so it's no wonder her creations are truly paranormal. While most people only dream of finding love, Michelle's characters find it, but in the most unexpected places.

Sheila’s Surrender and Dark God of Beltane – Celtic Love Knots Volume Two
Available May 1 from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid

Sheila’s Surrender by Michelle Hasker

Sheila attends her first Beltane festival and meets a man too good to be true. She's been hurt in the past; will Bryant be able to heal her wary heart?



Camryn Cutler will take you on fantastic voyage to the planet of Calthraca…

"Adama Fawkes, now Queen of Lyros, is far from home in a hostile land. Kidnapped by a ruthless bounty hunter and held prisoner for months, her throne and legacy are in jeopardy. To make matters worse, her daughter is missing. Adama's fate has been placed into the hands of her sister and now ruler, Eleana Draga, Empress of BasSalaam. Captive in her depraved and dangerous court, Adama must plan her escape and begin her search for her daughter, Princess Oma.

Kesim Trasain is a powerful sorcerer and Eleana’s personal physician. He is also a spy for Minalos, placed in the court of the warlike Basaltic Empress. Sent to aid Adama, he does not yet realize that she is the woman fated to be his."

In Torrid Teaser Volume 27 by Cheri Valmont, take a trip to the alien planet of Kazphyr from the technologically advanced country of Kantrer to the wilds of the forbidden country of Velorn.
In Equal Opportunity Seduction, Bradeon Gosh-Ere and his unit mate, Hankren Tereamin, search to find the perfect female mate. One who will accept them both before each male is forced to take a mate separately.
Aimee Syncire awakes to find herself a prisoner in the barbaric country of Velorn. But she soon discovers being Legion Commander JarrRon Ry Vere's prisoner can be a pleasurable experience, making her yearn to become The Commander’s Mate.

Check out our websites! You never know what answers to contest questions you might find there! *Big Hint*
http://www.feliciaforella.com
http://www.camryncutler.net
http://www.michellehasker.com
http://www.cherivalmont.com
That’s May 1st in The Romance Room!

NEW TORTUGA - Recommended by ME :)

Monday's Child
Jessica D. Russell
Genre: Science Fiction, Mystery
Price: $3.49

Available now

Ianna James's band is cursed. Several members have died in freak accidents. Returning to the lowtown area of New Tortuga, Ianna hopes to escape the curse put on her show but now she must reconcile her disasterous past, one she'd hoped to leave behind forever.

Excerpt:

He was dead and it was my fault.

I stared at the charred stage floor torn between horror and numbness. I preferred the numbness. Occasionally shudders wracked my body and I'd clutch the woolen blanket tighter around my body. Questions were asked above my head and all I could think about was Jhon. My beautiful Jhon.

I sat alone in the middle of a room full of people. No one but the gossip columnists and holo newscasters paid any attention to me. A thousand voices called questions from behind the cordon, but I couldn't hear them past the roar in my ears. Jhon was dead.

They'd taken his body already. I needed to call his life partner but somehow my body wouldn't move. Fog filled my mind and I welcomed it. Another death. Tonight's headlines would say something about my tour's curse. Fatal accidents followed us. I blinked. Me. They followed me. I clenched the bridge of my nose and fought off the tears.

My gaze fixated on the spot where Jhon had died. Where I should have died. Would the smell of burned flesh ever leave me? Why did it have to be fire? It had been my choreography. I made the call to switch up the moves. My eyes burned with unshed tears and I knew I had to get out of here before I lost it in front of the universe.

The media sweep cameras were trying to hover over the cordon. I shivered. No telling how much of Jhon's death they'd caught on camera. It had been our greatest performance in over a year. Guilt gnawed at my stomach. Godless law, I had to get out of here. I shoved the blanket off my shoulders and looked for the easiest way out.

"Miss Ianna James?" A sharp-eyed detective in a standard issue green skin suit smiled at me. Almost any other time I would have appreciated the sight of a well-developed man, especially one that put all the right ridges and curves in that suit. I smiled a half-hearted smile. Yeah, what a helluva companion I'd be tonight.

"Yes, Detective?" I crossed my arms and planted my feet. He'd get a fight if he wanted one. I needed to get to my room and under the influence of a nice sedative.

I watched Mickey make his way toward me with the determination of a bulldog. Mickey, my hero and assistant, oh goddess I loved him. That man could make anyone sit up and beg. I smiled at the detective and relaxed my stance.

"Ianna, love, we have to go." Mickey swept me up into his arms like we'd been lovers forever, although we'd never made it past platonic.

I nuzzled his cheek and smiled. We played it very well. It kept the wolves and fortune hunters at bay. So far anyway. He set me down and gave me a tight hug.

The detective cleared his throat and I waited.

"More questions?" Mickey's smile fell. He kissed my forehead and sighed. "I'd wanted to get us to bed and away from all of this."

He pulled me close and slipped an arm around my shoulders. I closed my eyes and longed for my room like a drug. Another round of questions and I'd fall apart.

The detective cleared his throat.

"Ianna, he wants your autograph." Mickey's murmur shocked me to stillness.

I stared, incredulous. The bastard. Sure enough he held a pen and sheet of, oh how quaint, real honest to goodness Old Earth paper for me to sign. Images of a pen nib sticking out of his jugular flashed in my mind.

With shaking hands I jerked the utensils out of his grasp and scribbled a signature glaring my disgust. He had the decency to look uncomfortable.

I shoved them back at him and turned on my heel. Mickey fell in step with me blocking the waves of media and onlookers as we made our way through the cordon line. He held my arm and I slipped from his grasp.

“Miss Ianna, what’s this we hear about a curse?”

“How long until we hear the announcement of a wedding, Ianna?”

A voice rose above the questions pummeling her from all directions, "Wedding? How about an engagement first?" The crowd broke out in laughter.

Dear Sweet Mother of Earth, I needed a break from all this. Wedding. Curse. Gossipmongers and harridans, snakes and liars. My skin crawled and right now I hated them all. A tide of neediness flooded over me, threatening to suck me down into an overwhelmed state. Everyone wanted something. Even Mickey. I jerked my arm out of his hold again. For almost six months I'd considered a break. Maybe a vacation. The crowd shoved forward against the line and I felt the desperate need to escape. I ran.

Mickey bellowed after me but I couldn't hear anything over the roar of my heartbeat. Jhon was my friend. No, more than that. He was my family. His boyfriend was my family. Stage hands, fans, and now my own team were dying off one by one.

I shoved through the crowd of people, ignoring the hands touching me or trying to hold on to me. With a desperate cry I broke through and raced to my bike outside, thankful there were no hover bike restrictions on this planet.

With tears streaming down my cheeks I jumped onto the seat of my angel and gunned the engine. Her deep red paint reflected the lights in the alley. The dark scents of fuel and ozone filled my nostrils. I inhaled deeply, letting the familiar smells comfort me and wipe away the stink of death. I slipped on my ear piece and goggles. She settled to a purr and I was off, as high as the dome would let me.

I opened her up and let her fly. We ran the rim of the dome with reckless abandon. Gods above, I loved this bike. The wind ripped the tears from my cheeks leaving icy burns in their wake.

Nothing else flew in this dome. She brought me to the very top and I floated there, my sight drawn to the beautiful image of space. I took off my goggles and let go, let the horror and the pain tear its way through my soul. Only here did I let my tears fall unheeded. Sobs wracked my body and I pulled into myself, trying to remember, something, anything that could have stopped Jhon’s death. I wish I could remember every bit, but only flashes of stage set up were in my memory.

My mind went over the day in a loop. Every detail I could remember came in to a sharp focus. Everything had been normal, had felt normal. We ran through the show a hundred times. Everyone knew their positions. It had been practiced to perfection.

After the cameras had been set up for the show, Jhon had asked if he could switch positions in the finale. We'd worked together for so long we could switch positions without a problem. He wanted the flair of lights behind him for his string solo. I’d laughed. Dramatic had always been his flair. I should have stopped him. The pyrotechnics were too dangerous. Too many things could go wrong. Godless law, he’d been thrilled when I agreed.

When the last explosion rocked the stage, the crowd had surged to its feet, stomping and screaming. I knew. I knew something had gone wrong. Jhon was behind me and the horrifying smell of burned human flesh sent me to my knees. The smoke cleared and the screaming started.

http://www.aspenmountainpress .com/new-releases/monday-39-s -child/prod_55.html

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things about Michelle Hasker
Edition #7 kids, kids, kids
Sleep poses, other than the one I posted for Wordless Wednesday:
When you make messes...you clean them:
Wait, that was an escape attempt!
Here comes trouble:

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Wordless Wednesday

The Bodyguard - Release Day!!!

I was so excited about my new release today that I poured ice tea in my cereal. Okay, maybe I was tired...hmmm.

So let me do my promo :)

The Bodyguard
Available now from Loose Id

Blurb:
Elena wants revenge. She'll give anything to kill the man who raped her. Her bodyguard Nicolas wants her safety...and her love. He's not about to let anything stop him. Not even the fact she's a vampire.

And a special, my blog only excerpt Rated R in case you don't know me very well ;)

Excerpt:
“Nicolas?” she whispered in his ear.

His heart pumped faster, and the knowledge that she aroused him to such a fevered pitch excited her.

“Nicolas.” She purred as she slid her hand on his thigh.

He jumped and smacked his head on the roof as he moved away from her. She followed him, sliding her palm toward the obvious evidence of his arousal as he rubbed at his head.

She wanted to forget Lucian and his crude abuse on her body. She wanted Nicolas to love her tenderly and show her that she was a woman, not an object, not something to be owned and controlled. Not something to be dominated and broken.

As she cupped his erection, he brushed her hand away. “We’re here. Just wait a few minutes for Nash to check that the house is still secure before we go in.”

“Whatever should we do while we wait?” She walked her fingers up his chest as she asked, “Nicolas, what do you plan to do to keep me in the car until he leaves?”

“Nothing.” His voice cracked. She fought back a giggle as he cleared his throat.

“We’ll just sit here and wait until the coast is clear.”

“Well, I for one am a little hot,” she said as she opened a button on her dress. She was glad she’d chosen the button-up sweaterdress. The red complemented her complexion, and he couldn’t doubt her statement since it was made of a heavy material.

Nicolas cleared his throat and looked at his watch. “Just a few minutes, then you can take a cold shower.”

“I don’t want to shower.” She opened another two buttons. “I want to relieve this aching, burning need right now.” And maybe forget all about a certain bastard in the process.

“Please, Elena …”

“Yes, Nicolas?” She popped open another button, then another. He turned to look and stared at the skin she’d exposed. Smiling, knowing he was ensnared in her spell, she trailed a finger down and opened another button. She shrugged, and the dress fell off to pool at her waist.

He gasped and swallowed. Elena watched his throat work as she shimmied out of her dress and leaned back on the seat. She had a good body, even for a vampire. Obviously Nicolas agreed because he shifted uncomfortably in the seat.

Elena slouched in the seat and spread her legs open, hoping he would see the glistening proof of her desire.

“You …” He stopped and swallowed again, his throat muscles working as he stared at her body. “You must have been really hot.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

Have a great day!
Michelle

Feast with the Daughters of Circe

Languishing at home when everyone is gearing up for RT?

Love Stargate?

Have a thing for Firefly?

Can’t get enough of big honking space guns and the men who handle them...?

Then the Daughters of Circe invite you to immerse yourself in all things sci-fi on 21 April at our Yahoo Group.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/daughters_of_circe/

Join us as we explore our love of books, TV and film, boldly going where no… oops… that’s someone else’s tagline isn’t it? *grin*

Oh, and by the way, watch out for Mother…

Daughters of Circe

Spongebob Squarepants Pez Dispenser

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about MICHELLE HASKER edition 6 - 13 Things my kids do that make me melt: Last time I blogged about 13 things my kids do to drive me crazy, so I thought I'd do the reverse this week. 1. Crawl up in my lap and put their head on me and cuddle for no reason at all. 2. When my two year old grabs my hand and says "Come on, Mommy." He didn't talk until two months ago so for now at least, when he talks he gets the attention :) 3. When one of them just hands me a piece of artwork just because. 4. When they share their candy with me :) 5. When I say, let's all watch scooby doo together, and they all come in the living room and sit and watch with me. 6. My oldest wants to write books just like Mommy. We bought them a program that we put on the non internet computer and they can not only create pictures, but they can write stories too. Even the 4 year old does it. 7. When my 2 and 4 year old were playing Nintendo DS last night, or rather 4 year old was playing Princess Peach and 2 year old was laying next to her watching and laughing and making noises, and she just leaned over and kissed the top of his head and went back to playing. I am melting again....*sniffles* 8. When my 2 year old plays house and he has "mommy" and "butter" cause he loves peanut butter so my sister nicknamed him butter. Since he answers to it, we let him keep it :) 9. My husband unpacked his transformers and he has an original Grimlock Gremlock whatever. needless to say the 2 year wont give it up and even takes it in the tub. Carries it every where, even feeds it. And it kisses mommy :) 10. He just handed me a gummy worm. 11. When I pull out the gardening stuff and they all go for their gloves cause they wanna help me. 12. 7 year old and I had a screaming match last night and I won, but we were both crying and the 4 year old came up to me and hugged me and said I love you mommy. (7 year old likes to tell me I'm fat, calls me fat butt, told people I'm pregnant....you get the idea.) 13. When my husband is at work and it's bedtime and all 4 climb in my bed, get right into their spots, and we watch tv without fighting. Links to other Thursday Thirteens!

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And it just gets busier

Sorry I've not been in to post. I was guest blogger at Whiskey Creek Press myspace Blog on Monday, and I also blogged on Daughter of Circe. We had more children's activities Monday night and today one of my daughters stayed home from school sick. Needless to say, Mommy had a really bad day between picking up the fundraising stuff and dropping it off and coming home to a house that had literally been trashed. Toys and food all over my living room, my bedroom was packed with toys, my bed completely stripped and three of the four jumping on my bed. That's what happens when you let your brother babysit.

I'm getting really excited because my Loose release is coming up very soon. April 24th, weeeeeeeeeeee. I can't wait. I love the hero LOL. I also love the hero of a story I started working on this weekend. I wrote 12k in three days and it felt great. Til today when I wrote practically nothing.

There's always tomorrow right? After I go to the drugstore and sears for a new outfit for the dinner and make dinner for the monkeys and Aunt Kate. And a softball game if the fields dry up enough, course I'll miss that. But there is only so much I can squeeze in one day, LOL. Oh yeah, I need printer ink too.

Time for bed, they are all asleep and in bed and it's 10:30. A MIRACLE!! Or mommy screamed and yelled at the top of her lungs and one cried herself to sleep, two other got yelled at AGAIN, and the baby curled up next to miserable me and is asleep in my bed. AFTER he did the climb on mommy and kick her and pull her hair crap while watching Where's Gary fifty million times. Have I mentioned I can recite all the lines from all the characters from every episode on the disk? WIthout watching the disk.

LOL
Have a great week!
Michelle

Sleep, softball, scouts, blah

Burn out. It's coming, I can feel it sneaking up on me. I wrote over 3k yesterday but had to stop to take one daughter to dance class, and then husband had the laptop, which is where my stories were....so needless to say watched ghost whisperer then chatted online hehehe. Had so much to do today my head hurts. We had to be at the fields at 9:15 for Opening Day Ceremony (even though we already had games LOL) and They didn't even start til 10, but it was over by 10:30, but my first kid was late to her softball practice because her game was scheduled at 11 and we had to drive to the neighboring town for the game but she was there by 10:45 and we ended up waiting for the hometeam to arrive. Our girls won :) Then while that game was still going on hubby (who coaches for BOTH teams) had to leave with another daughter to get to her game, which they also won. And meanwhile the first game the next team to show up was from our hometown and they were short so two players, my daughter and another, both stayed and played with these older, bigger girls. They won also :) I didn't get home til about 3:30. Migraine like you wouldn't believe, although if you know me well you would believe it :) And scouts is tomorrow...1-4 and the oldest is working on her bronze award...aye caramba! LOL I just got in edits so instead of that nap I think I'll be editing. *sighs* Monday we have scouts and a meeting with someone from the Game commsions (We're building and installing bird houses around the township and maintaining them with bird feed in addition to cleaning the memorial at the one pond and planting and maintaining that, too. Parent teacher conference on monday....Tuesday is a free day... LOL then wednesday softball game and another practice, someone is gonna have to miss dance class...the dinner award thingy that night too. I need a sitter :) Thursday is another dance class and another softball game...Friday is more dance and then games on saturday...this is going to be so fun (arghhhh)
Michelle

Thursday Thirteen Edition Five

Thirteen Things about Michelle Hasker TT edition #5 - Thirteen Things My Children Do To Drive Me Crazy 1. They wait until their third warning about bedtime to race to kitchen for a drink and snack when I'm not looking. 2. They leave their shoes out in an attempt to kill or injure me. 3. 2 year old son demands a 'TUBBY' (take a bath) no less than three times a day. 4. 7 year old won't sleep in her room even if I bribe her. 5. 4 year old won't keep her clothes on even with threat of beatings or bribes of treats. 6. Demands to use the laptop ALWAYS occure when I'm in mid-love scene and they won't go away. 7. Son watches a movie over and over until Mommy can speak the parts for the characters and doesn't realize she is doing it until someone looks at her FUNNY. 8. They all jump to help me with the dishes, but not one gets them clean. 9. Bedtime. I totally lost control like 5 months ago. Can't get them to bed even with threats of spankings and promises of doing something special. 10. Activities. Three dance classes, two softball teams, two girl scout troops, computer art club, after school sports, preschool, and next year it will be four dance classes, two softball and a T-ball, aye aye aye. Yes, I'm putting my son in dance class. 11. Fat. Why are children obsessed with looks, clothes, and size even in first grade? 12. Drinks. Everytime one goes in the living room they spill it. No matter who's it is. 13. Tv/computer. Why can't I get them off?

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New Cover for Celtic Love Knots Volume Two

and I finally get to be on top!!
*sticks tongue at Tina who was on top last time*

Guest Blogging

Today I'm the guest blogger over at Love Romances and More myspace blog located right here.
This month is Whiskey Creek Press Month and since I'm part of the Torrid side of that I am trying to behave ;)

I've had a few comments, from some great authors, and hope if you get a chance and you are reading this blog, that you'll stop over there and see what is going on. I love to talk so asking me questions is great fun!

Michelle

Thursday Thirteen edition 4

Thirteen things about Michelle Hasker
Edition #4 Thirteen things we do for Easter

1-Egg dying
2-This year two of my kids participated in a pretzel making class. The pretzels were terrible, I still can't get the taste out of my mouth.
3-Tea party
4-We had to put off the sleepover this year. I'm just miserable and pmsy. getting it twice a month will do that to a person.
5-Easter egg hunt -twice I do one with my kids and then my mother in law has one for them too.
6-easter basket rounds. we already received the baskets from lancaster, the ones from my dad are coming tonight, hand delivered, the bunny leaves baskets on Sunday, and of course always leaves baskets at my mother in law's too cause we don't have enough stuff going on that day we need to house hop too.
7-shop - grocery and flowers cause you know you never have enough food or gifts to give on easter
8-phone calls - call everyone we know and love Hey, weekends and evenings my long distance is free - heheheh
9-eat a huge dinner til we all feel sick
10-Come home and try and get rid of the cigarette smoke and worry that my asthmatic is having breathing issues. With her it's a constant concern at family gatherings. This year the house is smoke free, but other smokers will be there.
11-write -what would the day be without me writing?
12-clean, clean, clean
Next week I'll tell you all the ways I procastinate....well 12 of them, otherwise it's be like the Thursday million. LOL






Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Swirled Cheesecake Nibbles

I got this recipe out of the coupon pages, and I canNOT wait to get the ingredients so I can make these. I think they'll be great for the Easter dinner I'm going to and have to bring a dessert. (I also have to take pickles and olives--no surprise there, my kids are pickle freaks)

Swirled Cheesecake Nibbles
36 vanilla wafers 1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs 2 Tbs all purpose flour
1/2 c granulated sugar 2 pkgs softened cream cheese (8 oz each)
1 2/3 cups (10oz pkg) Nestle Toll house swirled real semi-sweet and white chocolate morsels, divided.

1-Preheat oven to 350F. Place 36 2-inch foil bake cups on a baking sheet with sides. Place one vanilla wafer flat side down on bottom of each cup. Place 5-6 morsels on top of each wafer.
2-Beat cream cheese, sugar and flour in a large mizer bowl until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla extract; beat well. Spoon heaping tablespoon of cream cheesemixture into each bake cup.
3-Bake for 15-17 minutes or until just set and not browned. Remove from oven to wire rack. While still warm, top cheeseckaes with remaining morsels. Morsels will soften but retain shape. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate.

Makes 36

I'm so hungry now LOL

Michelle