I’m so excited that Keeping Claire is finally coming out. This is the first book that I shared so much of in excerpts, especially with Excerpt Monday, before it was even finished, plus talking about it on the blog, so it’s the first book that I really had people waiting for. It makes me kinda nervous, but in a good way.

So, Claire. Claire was also the first book I wrote that kept turning on me, which I found confusing. I mean, aren’t these characters supposed to do what I want them to do? I started out thinking it was going to be a menage, and it took me a little while to figure out that just wasn’t happening. I still have some scenes that I really liked but couldn’t go anywhere because it turned out that Claire and Ryan aren’t the sharing type, no matter how much I wanted them to play with Jacob. Maybe I’ll put up some deleted scenes, one of these days, although I can’t help but think they’d be confusing and misleading to people who haven’t read the book. I don’t know, what do you guys think? Do you like outtakes?

Claire was such a strong voice in my head, I actually started writing the book in first person, with only her perspective. It took me a couple of chapters to stall out and realize that she was trying to keep me from Ryan, lol. Like I said, she’s not much for sharing. Once I gave Ryan his chance, he charmed me and found his place in the story.

I should mention that this book isn’t kinky. Erotic, yes. Kinky, no. Unlike Perfect Formation and Bound by Sunlight, I told my mother and my aunt that they could read Keeping Claire. So far, I’ve only let them read Alpha Turned. So, you know, that’s some added pressure, knowing that they’ll be reading it, but they love me, so even if they hate it, they’ll forget to tell me.

I hope those of you who’ve been waiting for this story love it as much as I do. And, of course, those of you who’ve never heard of it, too.

I thought you might also like a quick update on what I’m working on. I think it’s been a while since I did that. In what really is mostly coincidence, though of course part of it is simple timing, I’m working on stories that are set in the same worlds as my first book, Perfect Formation, and my second, Alpha Turned. I didn’t exactly plan it that way, but there you go. And who knows, something else might jump up and steal me away, but that’s where I am right now. The first already has some cameos with Taryn, Richard and Caleb. Emma, the heroine in this story, works at Taryn’s coffee shop. It will be a contemporary, and will probably have a menage element, but will not be a relationship threesome, like Perfect Formation. Unless things take a dramatically unexpected turn, which is theoretically possible. The second story I’m working on is set in the werewolf world of Alpha Turned. The hero, Adam, was mentioned briefly in that book as the teacher who was attacked by the bad guys and escaped, before the heroine was turned. Adam will be visiting Hillary and Zach’s pack, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that works out.

And, I should really get back to work on those. So, adios, and happy reading!

Wait, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, poor Claire. Anyway, I got the idea for a woman who sneaks into a Dom’s room, wearing her pajamas. Don’t ask me why, this is how my brain works. I had to figure out why. Turns out, she had a pretty good reason. So Kyriana came into being, but she needed just the right guy. Luckily for me, er, I mean her, Connul is the kind of Dom who knows exactly how to take care of a woman, and once she becomes his woman, stand back!

The book is set in a world exactly like ours, except that magic exists. Mages are not terribly common, but neither are they a secret. Like anyone else, they come in all shapes and sizes, and fill the spectrum between good and evil. I tried to come up with some names that would show the slight otherness of the world, without being too wacky. Kyriana’s name actually came from a character in my very brief college foray into roll-playing games. I think the original Kyr was an elf, but this one is just a human caught up in a situation that she has no weapons to fight against. Until she finds Connul. Connul’s brother Dain, and sister Sasha, make an appearance, and I might as well tell you now that I liked them a lot so I wouldn’t be too surprised if they start clamoring for their own stories soon. We’ll see how that goes!

So, I’m going to shut up now, and go buy a copy of Bound by Sunlight, because I’m just dorky enough to do that. I can’t help myself, I’ve loved buying books at Ellora’s Cave for a long time now, and this one has my name on the cover! That just never gets old.

Don’t forget that I’m giving away a copy at both Christine D’Abo’s blog and The Blackraven’s Erotic Cafe!

Alpha Turned is actually the first book that I wrote. I was about two-thirds of the way through it when I started Perfect Formation, which ended up getting published first. And the two books could hardly be more different. Alpha Turned is a paranormal featuring werewolves, while Perfect Formation was a contemporary threesome that included a fair amount of kink (yummy Caleb knows his way around a pair of cuffs, I’m just sayin’). Zach is a hot alpha werewolf but I’m afraid it would never occur to him to tie Hillary up, and I’m pretty sure she would cut off something vital if he tried. I’ll be really interested to hear how readers who loved (They sent me the emails, I’m not making this stuff up!) Perfect Formation respond to Alpha Turned. I’m guessing they’ll love Zach as much as I do – he’s a hottie who will do anything to make his woman happy, even if it means standing back and letting her do her thing. And Hillary really is ready to do her thing. It’s been four years since she was turned into a werewolf in a violent attack that left her wondering if turning furry would make her as evil as the crazies who attacked her. She’s been concentrating on making a life for herself and *gasp* making friends, but when a werewolf comes into her town she knows its time to deal with this aspect of herself that she’s pretty much been ignoring. Luckily that leads her to Zach and I’m sure you can guess that all sorts of yummy things ensue. Poor Zach has to fight his instincts which are screaming at him to take Hillary as his mate. But helping her to become comfortable with who and what she is takes a much higher priority. No, really, it does. Luckily the instincts are just as strong in Hillary and she let’s Zach’s calm strength lead her to a better understanding of her new life. Plus, there’s all sorts of yumminess – did I mention that?

For those readers who just aren’t into paranormal, I promise (you know, in case you were desperate to know) I’m working on a contemporary. Of course, I’ve also got a bit of Fae going on. And then, in a remarkably stupid move, I said to myself one night, “Well, at least I don’t do Sci-Fi”. All you writers out there are sure to understand that the Sci-Fi plot bunny was kind enough to make a visit the very next week. So far I’ve managed to hold the mangy thing at bay, but we’ll see. I like to think of it as offering a little something for everyone, as opposed to being mildly schizophrenic. You can decide for yourself and feel free to let me know what you think.

I hope you all enjoy Hillary and Zach as much as you enjoyed Taryn, Caleb and Richard. And if you haven’t read Perfect Formation, but want a little spicy contemporary for your weekend read, it’s gotten some pretty good reviews

I had a great time with Taryn, Richard and Caleb, though, despite the fact that they were normal . They really had a way of keeping me on my toes - I was honestly never quite sure what was going to happen next. I remember going into work one day and having to suppress the news that they’d gotten into an awesome fight, because it had been so much fun to write and I couldn’t wait to get home and figure out how they were going to make up (I hadn’t yet told the coworkers what I was up to with this whole writing thing).

So, I loved writing it, I miss the three, and I’m really proud of Perfect Formation. But, yeah, none of that changes the fact that I’m terrified! Only three people have read this story. Charlotte who was kind enough to critique it for me – my first critique which taught me so much. Klara, who read it and gave me a couple of ideas that made some subtle changes that I loved and told me it was great and to send it out, and of course my fabulous editor who chose to take it on. None of them had any reason to lie to me. Right?! I’ll calm down by the end of the day, I’m sure (see, this is me, making up stories, ’cause that’s what I do). I’m sure none of this has anything to do with the fact that the book is not just naughty but downright kinky, and I’m supposed to be the sweet and innocent girl next door. I’ve made my coworkers promise not to tell me they’ve read it unless I’m drunk.

Those of you I don’t have to look in the eye and wonder what scene you’re imagining, however, are perfectly welcome to come here and tell me what you thought of it!