Whiskey Eats

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION! To celebrate the Holidays and thank our many customers around the world, nearly seventy Whiskey Creek Press authors have contributed favorite recipes for our first annual WHISKEY EATS Cookbook. You can get a FREE ebook download of WHISKEY EATS, or purchase a paperback copy at a discounted price. But hurry! The cookbook is only available in ebook and paperback formats through December 31, 2008!

Contest

15 days
15 authors
more than 15 books

Click here to see the contest!

Contest started 12/8 and runs until 12/22.

Good Luck!

15 Minute Quickie

My writing partner and I love to do silly writing things to break our writer's block. I enjoy them so much I decided to share one with you today.

This story's ingredients: alien, pancake mix, a rubber


“What the hell are you doing?” Talya froze in the doorway. Robert had thought he'd figured out what the rubber was, and she could barely contain her laughter. he had filled the damn thing with pancake mix, cut a hole in the tip, and was squeezing out mixture onto the frying pan in the shape of silver dollars.

“What?” Robert turned and stared at her, his eyebrows wrinkling in that adorable manner he had of doing when he was confused. “I followed the directions.”

Talya burst out laughing. “And where on that box does it say you are supposed to use a condom to pour the batter into the frying pan?”

“Look, I'm not familiar with all your earthly cooking items. Back on my planet we have these things that spit out the exact amount of batter into a pan of oil and fry the cakes into perfection.”

Talya doubled over in glee. Great in bed and hysterically funny. What more could she want in a man? Tre convenient that he was also royalty on the Planet Ardraea.

“You are confusing me. You sounded angry. Now you are laughing. Are you okay?”

Talya gasped for air and wiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “I wonder what you will do when I ask for funnel cake.” She could see it now. The Daughters of Circe would be over for dinner and Robert would whip out a rubber, fill it, and start spreading the stream of batter into the pan.

Michelle

Maniac Monday

Today I want to devote my blog to helping out a stranger. Someone who's heart you can touch without much effort, just good will and friendship.

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1024.html

xerox will send a card to a soldier over seas.

You don't get to pick who it goes to, but you will make somebody's day!

Michelle

Rituals and Magick

A good friend wrote this article about rituals. What they mean, why people do them, and how to go about doing one. I found it to be very insightful and full of good advice. She also has other magickal articles on her blog as well.

Cynnara

Michelle

Changeling Press Gingersnaps and CONTEST

Our Fifth Annual Very Changeling Christmas Contest begins December 1st
with the first of 12 Gingersnaps:
Gingersnaps: Santa Paws Lena Austin
Gingersnaps: Canine Cop BJ McCall
Gingersnaps: Serendipity 5A Dawn Montgomery
Gingersnaps: Christmas Knight Alecia Monaco
Gingersnaps: Another Chance L. Shannon
Gingersnaps: Cupid Sierra Dafoe
Gingersnaps: Serendipity 7C Lexxie Couper
Gingersnaps: Sophie’s Present Anne Kane
Gingersnaps: Summoning Leila Brown
Gingersnaps: Sugar Plums Kate Hill
Gingersnaps: Pole Serpent Renee George
Gingersnaps: Christmas Party Moira Rogers

12 Changeling Gingersnaps, 12 Chances to Win!

Grand Prize: Free E-Books For a Year
(All Changeling 2009 e-book releases)

Five First Place Winners will each receive free E-books for a month
(All Changeling January 2009 e-book releases)

10 runners-up will receive Five Free Downloads of their choice.
Buy any Changeling Gingersnap during the month of December and you're automatically entered to win. Every purchase of a Gingersnap counts as a contest entry. Winners to be announced at our Changeling New Years Eve party, located at the Changeling Bar and Grill -- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChangelingPress
Who’s coming down your chimney this year?

The First three to release are:
Gingersnaps: Santa Paws Lena Austin
Gingersnaps: Canine Cop BJ McCall
Gingersnaps: Serendipity 5A Dawn Montgomery

I've already had the pleasure of reading Serendipity 5A and man oh man did I need to fan myself! With the added benefit of the contest - what winners!

Michelle

Wacky Wednesday

Every year since Harry Truman was in office, the president pardons a turkey.

President Bush pardoned Pumpkin the turkey (named by the American people via Web vote on the White House website) Wednesday morning.

So what happens then to a pardoned turkey?

It goes to Disneyland.

That's not a joke. The turkey really is going to Disneyland.

To see more read the entire article.

Man I love reading stuff like this. It makes the end of the work day seem that much closer!
LOL
Michelle

Tuesday Tidbit

I found an interesting article on yahoo about men and why they cheat.
What do you think?

Dating 101

When you're dating a guy, you can forgive him for some indiscretions, but it's nearly impossible to turn the other cheek if he strays. Well, Cosmo did some investigating to ascertain the traits that may make men more likely to cheat, and some of our findings were surprising eye-openers.

But before you freak, realize that just because he possesses characteristics of a mangy scoundrel doesn't mean he's actually cheating on you. "You have to listen to your gut as well as read the clues," says Gary Aumiller, Ph.D., a psychologist and coauthor of "Red Flags! How to Know When You're Dating a Loser." Run through this list of wandering-eye warning signs to see if your partner is predisposed to prowl... and find out how you can deal.

They go on to list 4 factors and have links to other articles on men cheating.
I have to say that their list doesn't surprise me, and I'm thrilled my husband doesn't fit all of those things ;)

Michelle

Blogged

I blogged at LAW about finding the right publisher.


I hope you find my blog helpful whether you are just starting out as a writer, or have been one for years.

Michelle

Maniac Monday

Links.
I don't get it.
I write erotic romance. Why would I want to link with a game company? Or any of those other people who email me to ask me to link to them. Erotic stuffies and games. Unless they are sexual games, I just don't think we're compatible, hon.
I've turned down a couple that might have been good, but it was one of those things where I couldn't decide if I wanted to 'endorse' their products.

Guess I'll just keep an eye on my email and look for more offers of linkage.

Michelle

Maniac Monday

Well it certainly has been a maniac weekend. I wrote about 9k this weekend and am feeling really happy that I finished Leandros 3. Now I just need to edit it, and start working on my Jewelry series :) YAY.

Many people participate in NANO. I do as well. Every year I sign up, and every year I fail. I think it is just the knowledge that I have to write 50k or everyone will know I can't, that makes it so I can't. LOL Did I make sense? Well, I'm signed up again even though I know I won't write 50k this month. I can. I could. But because it is Nano I won't even come close.

Rules. For some reason they hinder my ability to write. If you are sitting there thinking that you aren't going to sign up for Nano because you can't possibly write 50k in a month, you should sign up. There is bonding, and speedwriting sessions, there are others you can talk to about writing and your short comings or successes.
Even if I don't win, I'll still be signing up for Nano next year. Winner or not, I enjoy the time I spend speedwriting and chatting with my writer friends.

Michelle

Working/Writing Chats

I found this great info in my email box today:

Realms of Love is having a block party launch! Saturday and Sunday for every weekend during NaNo at 8am, 3pm, and 7pm Eastern there will be a speedwriting, morale lifting, get that wip done or else party! We'll be posting word counts, chatting up writing, and having an all around good time. Who' s invited? You are! Just drop by the Realms of Love, log in, Click on Chat (Under "Explore the Realms") and play!

So all you writers who really want to make that novel happen... Come on by Realms of Love Saturday and Sunday November 1 & 2 and get that extra bit of support that just might help you make that dream a reality this year.

For more details about NaNoWriMo visit their site at http://www.nanowrimo.org/ I just got a "site overloaded" error when I tried to connect. Please be patient.

Upcoming Chats

We've got Laura Baumbach chatting in the Realms of Love Chat Castle, Monday, November 3. A couple other ManLove writers are "on the fence." Be sure to give your favorite author a push in the right direction.

Lizzie T Leaf and Raine Delight chat with you Monday November 10.


Hope to see you at any of the chats I can make :)

Michelle

blogged at LAW today :)

http://www.leagueofamazingwriters.com/wp/

I blogged about NANO and how I do every year.

Michelle

Erotic versus Romantic

Well, perhaps I'm not going to have a debate with myself, but I wanted to mention that I have several books that would be considered romance but not erotic. Because I do recognize that all stories are different, and some characters are more sensual than others.

What books do I have that might not be considered Erotic?

A Cruise to Remember
Witchy Woes: Tamara
Witchy Woes: Allison
Witchy Woes: Sandra
Heart's Desire - my contribution to the Anthology: Babes in Toyland II
The Moon

Have you read any of my books and disagree with me? Or perhaps I'm missing one that should be on this list?

Why are some of my books so graphic and others not? Sometimes it is as simple as depending on what kind of mood I am in when I am writing a story.

Michelle

NOR nominations

I am so happy that the wonderful people at Night Owl Reviews nominated not only one, but several of my books in their 2008 Fall NOR Awards.
Under Best Contemporary Romance - Fall 2008 :
A Cruise to Remember (Aspen Mountain Press)

UnderBest Paranormal Erotic Romance - Fall 2008:
Witchy Woes: Allison (Whiskey Creek Press Torrid)
The Bodyguard: Nash
The Bodyguard: Sorin
Witchy Woes: Macy
Witchy Woes: Candace

TO vote for the first category:
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/NORAwards/fall2008norawardsromancebooks.asp
And the link to the second although you can find both in links on either page:
http://www.nightowlromance.com/nightowlromance/NORAwards/fall2008norawardseroticebooks.asp

Even if you don't vote for me, please check out the contest and vote for your favorites :) I have a lot of friends on those lists.

Michelle

Interviewed!

The delightful Lexxie Couper interviewed me!
You can find my answers to her fun questions here!

Thank you Lexxie!!!

Michelle

TAGGED

Thanks, Adele! A fellow member of Authors of Erotic Romance, and a great writer tagged me for this:

First, here are the rules for the Tag, You’re It! game with other authors:

1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. List 6 unspectacular quirks you have.
4. Tag 6 bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each person’s blog to let them know they’ve been tagged.

Six Unspectacular Quirks About Author Michelle Hasker:

1. I have a turtle familiar. (I know. Hey, we can't pick our familiars, they pick up. Besides, I have no complaints, although my hubby is kind of weirded out by how attached to me this turtle is.)

2. I had a friend bring us a new bunny and didn't tell my hubby until after they'd arrived with the bunny so that he couldn't tell us no.

3. I clip coupons and shop around to get the best prices I can. Sometimes I even amaze myself at how much I can save on a shopping trip. It becomes a competition.

4. I go halfway insane without internet and my Tina fix.

5. I don't enjoy reading historicals.

6. I'd rather have fruit than candy.

Thanks for reading along. I chose to tag:
Aline de Chevigny
Dawn Montgomery
Kim Rees
Tina Bendoni
Selena Illyria
Cynnara Tregarth

I blogged at AOER

http://www.authorsoferoticromance.com/?p=183

If you're interested in learning how I came to the decision to make writing the priority in my life once more.

Michelle

Tuesday Tidbit

National Dog Day

When : Always August 26th

National Dog Day has two goals: to honor dogs, and to rescue dogs from homelessness and abuse. It's an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the value and importance of dogs in our lives.

This day is intended to honor dogs for all that they do for us. In addition to giving love and companionship, dogs help us out in countless ways. They are watchdogs for our safety. They lead the blind. Dogs aid in search and rescue, and they seek out bombs and drugs.

The second goal of National Dog Day is to rescue dogs in need. On occasion, dogs need us to save them from homelesness and abuse. The goal of the National Dog Day foundation is to rescue 10,000 dogs a year. Lend a hand to help a dog in need today, or any day.

Origin of National Dog Day:
National Dog Day was created by the National Dog Day Foundation. Their motto is "Saving 10,000 Dogs - One Day at a Time".

President George W. Bush, a dog owner himself, sent a letter to the foundation in support of National Dog Day.

Visit: here to learn more

In honor of National Dog Day and our dog-owning customers, select Sonic Drive-In locations in Texas will be offering FREE Doggy Bags with purchase to the first 100 customers who bring their dogs through our drive-thru on Saturday, August 23. What can you expect from our Doggy Bags? Look for a treat, some fun Sonic-related merchandise for your pet’s safety, and more! The event will start when we open at 6:00am and continue while supplies last. Customers who arrive after all Doggy Bags have been handed out will still get a treat for their pet, plus a coupon for coming out to support this great event!

Howloween in the Bark
October 25th - 10AM - 5PM (in the park)

Exact Orange County CA location to be announced very soon!

National Dog Day has officially changed it's date! Due to a large majority of Dog Day fans expressing that the heat in August is just too much for them and/or their dogs to bear, we have changed the date to October 25th annually.

This year will be the last of the events during August and we'll celebrate our new date with this event in Orange County, California.

Maniac Monday: Obtainable Affirmations

I know this is one of those SPAM emails that you get from everyone you know twice, but it made me laugh so hard I wanted to share it with people who may not have seen this.

Obtainable Affirmations

1. As I let go of my feelings of guilt, I am in touch with
my inner sociopath.

2. I have the power to channel my imagination into ever-
soaring levels of suspicion and paranoia.

3. I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.

4. I no longer need to punish, deceive, or compromise
myself, unless I want to stay employed.

5. In some cultures what I do would be considered normal.

6. Having control over myself is almost as good as having
control over others.

7. My intuition nearly makes up for my lack of self-
judgment.

8. I honor my personality flaws for without them I would
have no personality at all.

9. I am grateful that I am not as judgmental as all those
censorious, self-righteous people around me.

10. I am willing to make the mistakes if someone else is
willing to learn from them.

Michelle