24 December 2009
23 December 2009
Audio Anthology for Charity...please listen!
"On demand" for the next two weeks...and on sale afterward (for $3.50), please check out the Radio-thon files to benefit Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit (four, for a total of 7 hours). Consider donating to this fantastic cause or purchase the audio files. And don't miss the authors reading their stories on air to aid in the benefit. It's an audio anthology for charity...and a good one.
Included in this audio anthology are "The Stone Lord" from my Night Warriors series and "One-Hour Burial," a stand-alone horror comedy.
22 December 2009
21 December 2009
19 December 2009
NEW ART!
16 December 2009
15 December 2009
14 December 2009
13 December 2009
NEW COVER ART and SPECIALS!
12 December 2009
11 December 2009
10 December 2009
08 December 2009
NEW RELEASE and GUEST BLOGGING!
Working from Calls: Six Degrees of Separation at the Loose Ends Blog
AND
Introvert Remade? at Three Wicked Writers.
That's right...one of my rare contemp stories released from LooseId TODAY (Dec 8th).
All I Want For Christmas Is You- Two years after losing her fiancé Zach in a car accident, Robin is moving on. She's set her priorities, and one of them is following through with a life plan she and Zach made together...having a baby. It would be best if said child shared some of Zach's genes.
Enter David, Zach's older brother. He's Robin's best friend, her confidant, the one person who won't think she's crazy to do this...she hopes. Since there's no chance the ladies' man will fall for her, she hopes sex with him will stop the dreams where David takes Zach's place.
It's the invitation he's been waiting for, three years of watching Robin with his little brother, then watching her grieve Zach. If only she wanted David for himself and not a convenient sperm donor to conceive his brother's child. Then again, in such close quarters, maybe he'll be able to convince her to something more permanent...if his parents don't catch wind of the whole thing first.
HEA-yes, VIOLENCE-mild, LANGUAGE-graphic, SEX-erotic...BDSM overtones, anal sex
“I want to have a baby.”
“C-come again?” David managed to stutter out. Overall, it was a better response than she’d anticipated to the announcement.
Robin took a calming breath and prepared to explain. Despite how many times she’d rehearsed the speech, it deserted her in the heat of the moment, just as she’d feared it would. Just as it often had with Zach.
“Well…Zach and I had planned to have a baby right away.”
He nodded, setting his beer on the table between them. “He mentioned it.”
That would make things easier. I hope. “I still want to.”
“Have…a baby.”
Robin hesitated and then nodded. He thinks I’m insane. Then again, she thought she was insane some days. How many weeks had she argued this with herself? How many times had she reversed course? More than Robin cared to count.
David gulped down another few mouthfuls of his beer, seemingly steeling himself for something unpleasant before he answered. “Robin, I know you love Zach.”
And she loved David for phrasing it that way. Anyone else would have said “loved Zach,” marginalizing her feelings, dismissing them. Putting the nails in the coffin of her love for him. She winced at the pun.
“But, baby… Much as we both love Zach, he is gone.”
Anyone else would have ended up with a faceful of red wine at that blunt statement, but David had always been honest with her when no one else would.
“I know,” she replied with all the dignity she could muster.
“The plans you made together…” David sighed. “They were meant to be carried out together. I’m not saying you’re incapable of doing this without him,” he hastened to add.
“What are you saying, David?”
He darkened a notch. “Be sure, before you do something this…big. Be certain you’re not doing this just to hold onto a piece of what you and Zach planned.”
She stiffened, offended that he’d think her capable of it. “I’m not.”
“Just be sure,” he insisted. “Holding onto the past just to --”
“I’m not!”
A couple at a nearby table slid a glance at them at her outburst. Robin pretended not to notice it, and they went back to their conversation.
David took her hand, stroking his thumb over the back and his fingers in the bowl of her palm. With that little provocation, her body responded.
It seemed to be happening more and more often. Touches he intended to soothe her aroused her senses. Shared looks made her heart pound in excitement. Whispered words had her wet and aching.
His voice dragged her back to the present.
“You’ve thought this through, then?”
“For months.” That was no exaggeration.
David raised her hand and pressed a chaste kiss to her knuckles. “Then I’ll help you.”
Her breathing hitched. That simply? I ask the seemingly insane, and he agrees nearly without question. David was a rare man. Zach would have demanded weeks of negotiation on the subject. She pushed that thought away before she started second-guessing herself again. “Thank you.”
“So what’s it going to be? A sperm bank?”
Her face burned in embarrassment. Now comes the moment when he says I’m insane. Robin didn’t doubt that his offer to help was about to be rescinded.
“Robin?” There was an edge of steel in that question, and he stopped stroking her hand.
“I was hoping…” She couldn’t form the words. Damn! Why did I spend all that time practicing the logic if I can’t speak coherently enough to say it?
One dark brow arched at her hesitation. “Hoped?” he prompted her.
“To have…ah…a donation from someone who shared chromosomes with Zach.” She knew she was pleading with him with her eyes. Not so much for his agreement; it was unlikely she’d get that much. Robin would be lucky if he didn’t walk away and wash his hands of her.
The beer came up in David’s free hand, and he drained it. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and set the empty glass back on the table. After a tense moment of silence, his eyes opened, and he forged on.
“You want me to… What? Leave a sample with your doctor or something?”
It sounded horrid, when phrased that way. Besides that, it wasn’t what she wanted. She tried for humor, her heart aching. “If that’s the only way you will.” At least, she’d get the baby that way, which was better than not, she supposed.
His eyes widened, and dark patches of color bloomed in his face. “If… If…?”
She stared to speak, uncertain what would spill out. It had been too much to ask. It was time to let him off the hook and get therapy for her fascination with him.
He put up an index finger, an unmistakable order for a moment of silence.
Robin snapped her mouth shut while cursing herself for not dropping the whole idea. She’d argued it was crazy at least a hundred times. Why had she bothered to pursue it?
David dragged out his wallet and tossed a twenty on the table. A whirlwind of a moment later, he was ushering Robin out of Mik’s and into the crisp winter air outside. She zipped her jacket and, averting her eyes, anticipated the lecture to come.
He turned to her, and she looked up against her better judgment. His face was all harsh lines. Oh, yes. The lecture was coming.
“If that’s the only way I will?”
There was something manic couched in his tone, but he wasn’t shouting at her or suggesting a shrink. To her surprise, he seemed to want answers, so she organized her thoughts, seeking out the reasons she’d so carefully prepared.
“I’ve investigated every --”
“Robin,” he warned.
She stared at him, confused. What had he been asking, if not the reasons why he should consider a more intimate donation to the cause?
“Are you saying you’d prefer another option?”
04 December 2009
two GREAT new reviews in!
http://joyfullyreviewed.com/
http://www.logical-lust.com/
The Lady’s Lowborn Lover takes readers familiar with the Kegin series back to the universe where the Keen (and others) live, love, interact, and trade. Reading this story, I could appreciate the time and skill Brenna Lyons utilizes in bringing the Kielan to vivid life through her characters and their meeting day. Jaesin and Alia’s story is exquisite, intense and erotic while yanking ever so sweetly at the heartstrings. Ms. Lyons incorporates the magical beauty of romance in every sentence, as each scene recalls candid clarity in the quality of her writing through gesture, expression, caress and spoken word. There is no place she is unwilling to take her imagination whenever the alien worlds she’s created are at the forefront ready to take flight.
http://joyfullyreviewed.com/
http://www.logical-lust.com/
The Council of Worlds universe [as explored in Time Currents] just keeps on getting better! The narrative drew me into the labyrinthine secrets that proved to be pretty darn complex. Powers or no, the Kielan are their own worst enemies, caught up in systematic, stagnated tradition, lost to the hypocrisy of classism, and defenseless despite their psi powers. The vehicle of change is brilliantly illustrated in Brenna Lyons’ writing without crumbling the story’s herculean foundation supporting plot, premise, and structure. Did I mention the beautiful cover? Mysterious and exquisite, the image succeeds in drawing the eye as easily as the contents engage the mind. Time Currents is a tale that I won’t soon forget for a truckload of reasons. The main one being that I can’t get enough of the Kielan! In the meantime, I remain perfectly happy awaiting more stories about the Keen and discovering the Wolkin.
28 November 2009
HOLIDAY SALE
Now through New Year's Day 2010, when you shop directly from Mundania lines (including Phaze Books and Awe Struck), take 20% off your total order, including ebook and print titles! Enter discount code: SANTA at checkout to enjoy the savings!
24 November 2009
the new RWA black eye
I have to ask it. What do you think of the new RWA black eye brewing over not allowing Jane from Dear Author to remain an associate member?
For those who've missed it...and I don't usually read DA, but this one caught my eye. National sent an e-mail to Jane Little at DA, stating that her "general" membership would not be continued (she's not a general member...she's an associate member), since she has no intentions of writing. She never did, which was why she was an associate member, to begin with. They further stated that, while they would typically extend an invitation to become an associate member (what she actually is), since she's been critical of RWA on her blog and fosters the #romfail, she obviously supports neither RWA nor romance authors. Therefore, she is not welcome to be an associate member.
This has many connotations that interest me.
If you're critical of RWA, you don't support them? The RWChange list and movement belies that fact. People who don't believe RWA has value aren't wasting their time suggesting how it can be improved. Why would they bother? Member or not, a lot of people want RWA to change with the times and improve. There's something wrong with that?
And secondarily... I'm not the biggest supporter of DA. I don't appreciate #romfail. But, 99% of the time, I'd have to say DA MEANS well, in its attempts to cover industry news. Are they perfect? Far from. But they do support the industry, though they also tear down individuals. Saying any one of the Janes/Jaynes doesn't support the romance industry is rather ridiculous.
NEW RELEASES in Nov!
VERIEL'S TALES II: LOSING REGANA- Century after century, Jörg searches for Regana, finds her, and loses her again.
HEA-atypical, VIOLENCE-high, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX- erotic
Cover art created by Kendra Egert
To purchase VERIEL'S TALES II: LOSING REGANA from Phaze...in e-book...
Includes:
Feirce Ilona- She's a human Warrior in her own right, hunted by an army of her enemies. She's of his blood but far removed, but despite his best intentions not to lay claim to her as his mate, Ilona has other thoughts on the matter.
HEA-no, VIOLENCE-high, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-lightly erotic
FAIR CAITRINA- Once upon a time, Veriel turned a woman he loved to save her life. What was life like for the Fair Caitrina?
HEA-no, VIOLENCE-high, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-erotic
SWEET JACQUINE- She was left behind, at the mercy of the Warriors after Caitrina went beast. The reality of what Jörg der Schmeidt was left her open to nearly any possibility, but could she trust the rough men who told tales of the demons that would now pursue her?
HEA-yes, VIOLENCE-low, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-lightly sensual
REMEMBER ME- In "Fair Caitrina," you were introduced to Jörg and his quest to safeguard his mate. In "Remember Me," Jörg has another chance at that goal. Yzabeau de Cambion is as bold as any of Regana's souls, but Jörg has made an awful musing that the Stone decides to take him up on. What if Regana's newest soul came to him with full knowledge of him sexually and nothing more? Could she survive the madness such a situation would drive her to? When Jörg saves Yzabeau from a brutal attack by her brother's enemies, he finds himself caught in a firestorm of passion with Regana's newest soul. Taking her in that condition is wrong, and he knows it, but Jörg has never been able to boast self-control where Regana is concerned.
HEA-no, VIOLENCE-graphic, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-lightly erotic
FREEDOM- The original epilogue to CROSSBEARER TURNED... See what happens to Veriel at his death.
HEA-atypical, VIOLENCE-moderate, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-none
EPIC's e-Book Award Finalist 2010!
MATCHMAKER'S MISERY- Eve wants a man who is seen by Keen nobility as unsuitable as a mate for a re-bred. Pilar is pursued by a man who wants position -- until he meets her. After her near-brush with death at her first mating, Eve doesn't ever want a man in her life. Will these three women find what they really need in life?
HEA-yes, VIOLENCE-moderate, LANGUAGE-moderate, SEX-erotic
To purchase MATCHMAKER'S MISERY from Phaze...in e-book or print...
CLAIMING A LADY- From my Night Warriors series... In Crossbearer turned, I talked about the first cursed lords taking their mates, but I didn't go into detail on them. In fact, aside from Gawen talking about how crazy he was for Bavin, the only comment I made about it was: "The other warriors were called forth one by one and chose their mates with no interference from another. Predictably, all announced that they were content to wait for the joining to take their chosen wives into their homes. By the sixth, they stood hand in hand with their mates: Gawen with Bavin, Ditrich with Anabilia, Cunczel with Lela, Ger with Ingela, Wil with Evfemia, and Olbrecht with Lenne. Regana had been right on every match. [snip] Six amulets appeared in unison. Six men placed them lovingly over the heads of their chosen women, gave their blessings, and sealed the match. Some sealed it passionately, some in a chaste exchange. The one who worried Gawen was the one who sealed no one to himself that night."
It is time to see the stories of the six lords besides Pauwel (the one who sealed no one to himself that night), starting with Gawen and Bavin.
To read CLAIMING A LADY in e-book, download it from Phaze today!
17 November 2009
EPIC e-Book Award Finalists Announced!
#A Dash of Expectation: Poems of the Classroom
#Coming Together: Pondering the Indelible
Children’s and Young Adult (Non Fiction/ Fiction)
#A Talent for Quiet
#Cowgirl Dreams
#Dead End Street
Non Fiction
#Parris Island: A Woman’s Memoir
#Promises Kept
Anthology Fiction and Contributors
#Bizarre Bipeds
#The Meruk: Episodes I-V
#Vampires, Zombies, Ghosts and Other Things
Contributors: Connie Neil, John Hornor Jacobs, Heather S. Ingemar, Jason Bickerstaff, Nick Santa Rosa, Tim Mulcahy, Joely Sue Burkhart, Quinn Zukas Belhorn, Glynn Custred, Kathryn Magendie, Olga Zilberbourg, Skadi meic Beorh, Eric R. Lowther, and, Berrien C. Henderson,
Anthology Romance and Contributors
#Magical Kisses
#Men of Moonstone
Anthology Erotic Romance/ Erotica and Contributors
#Bittersweet: Stories of Tainted Erotica
#Coming Together: Against the Odds
#Sapphistocated
Adventure Fiction
#On the Good Ship Caligula
#Quanty
Erotica
#Butterfly Unpinned
#Ravished by the Pirates
#Sinful
Fantasy and/or Paranormal Fiction
#By Darkness Hid
#Mudflat Toy Boy
#The Dragons of Hazlett
#When Lightning Flashed
Historical Fiction
#Missing Sticks
#The Flame
#The Portrait
Horror Fiction
#Out of the Darkness
#Scars on the Face of God: The Devil’s Bible
Mystery and/or Suspense Fiction
#Killerbyte
#No Sanctuary
#Second Time Around
#The Pot Thief
Science Fiction
#Starfire
#Sunrise Destiny
#The Y Factor
Spiritual and/or Metaphysical Fiction and Romance
#Preacher Man
#Prognosis
Mainstream
#Finding Hope
#The Proviso
#When Women Were Warriors (Book 1)
Contemporary Romance
#Butterfly Tattoo
#Cross Country Chaos
#Movin’ Up With J.J.
#Murphy’s Law
#The Truth About Fairy Tales
#Venus in Blue Jeans
#VGL Male Seeks Same
Fantasy Romance
#Duality
#Hedda’s Sword
#Ilfayne’s Bane
Historical Romance
#More Than a Wife
#Paging Miss Galloway
#Shadows of a Southern Moon
#The Substitute Bride
Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Romance
#Cast A Pale Shadow
#Chasing Secrets
#Deadly Secrets
#Free Falling
Paranormal Romance
#Dark Immortal
#Do You Hear What I Hear? Book 1, Hoofbeats and Heartstrings
#Out of Her Dreams
#Secret Wishes
#The Ghost Downstairs
#They Call Me Death
Science Fiction Romance
#Endurance
#Immersed
#Lady of the Stars
Western Romance and Erotic Romance
#Fire Eyes
#Intimate Strangers
#Paxton’s Winter
Contemporary Erotic Romance
#Club Shadowlands
#David’s Dilemma
#Liberating Lacey
#Nameless Surrender
#St. Nacho’s
#The Reluctant Dom
#Tigers and Devils
Fantasy Erotic Romance
#Matchmaker’s Misery
#The Real Mother Goose
#Time Currents
#Zoe’s Gift
Historical Erotic Romance
#Command the Wind
#Seeking Truth
Horror Erotic Romance
#Angels of the Deep
#Sacrificial Sex
Mystery, Suspense, and/or Adventure Erotic Romance
#Do You Trust Me
#Mexican Heat
#The Pleasure of Sin
Paranormal Erotic Romance
#Being Familiar With A Witch
#Crave
#Desert Fever
#October: Trick of Silver
#Three Wishes
#Warriors At Heart
Science Fiction Erotic Romance
#Belle Starr
#Pandora Project: Runaway Star
#Surrender Love
#The Sarran Plague