Monthly Archives: October 2009
Simply Wicked by Kate Pearce
Publisher: Kensington Aphrodisia, October 2009
Genre: Historical Romance (Erotic)
Rating: 4.5 Kisses
Reviewed by Voirey Linger
In Simply Wicked, Kate Pearce once again takes us to the House of Pleasure where we meet Anthony, a young man whose history of abuse has skewed his perception of sexuality into something dark and damaging. Determined to put the violence he’s craved for so long behind him, he leaves his lover and the world of bondage and dominance behind him. When he is asked to act as social escort to Marguerite, a young widow with secrets of her own, he sees an opportunity to distance himself from the pull of submission and a much needed distraction from a lifestyle that is destroying him.
Marguerite isn’t sure what to think about the intriguing and sensual man her family has procured as escort. He brings to life desires which have laid dormant since her husband’s death and she quickly acts on them. But Anthony’s past may be more than she can handle, and when his former lover refuses to let him go, Marguerite is pulled into a bitter man’s vicious game of revenge.
Ms. Pearce has penned a story of sensual elegance so lush and appealing, I didn’t want to put it down. The two lovers battle their private demons, trying to lay the past to rest and move on with their lives. However, they discover their pasts aren’t as separate and private as they believe and must work together to set things right before they can move on.
I was drawn to Anthony early in the book because of his vulnerability, his desperation to leave behind a lifestyle which left him filled with shame and degradation. He didn’t know what he wanted besides change, and this lost quality left him floundering, searching for some elusive sense of happiness. Anthony’s attitudes were frustrating, though. He ranged from one who seemed to enjoy wallowing in victim mode to sulky bratty-ness early in the book, however as he learned to stand up for himself and make his own decisions he matured.
I was not as attracted to the character of Marguerite. While she was a very sensual character, I was never sure what drove her or why she made some choices. She was, however, very sensual and surprisingly open to new sexual experiences. Sexually, she was the perfect match for Anthony, firm and demanding, yet still the picture of soft, feminine sensuality. This fourth book in the House of Pleasure series left me wanting more. Ms. Pearce’s luxurious writing is a decadent delight and I cannot wait for book five and its unexpected hero.
Romantic Suspense Workshop
WORKSHOP! From Oct. 22-24 Romance Divas will be hosting a Workshop / Q&A with some fantastic Dark Romantic Suspense Authors
Come to the forums to find out more! Forum registration is free, but required to participate.
October’s Member News
Romance Divas would like to recognize our members for their good news!
Please congratulate them on their writing achievements and success.
**We’ll post updates as they come in for the month of October.**
♦ Belle McClain’s novel THE ROCK STAR’S RETREAT is available October 6th from Freya’s Bower.
♦ Crista McHugh was named as a finalist in the Emerald City Opener Contest. Her erotic ghost story, “Provoking the Spirit”, will be released on October 5th from Phaze Books. Her paranormal romance novella, Cat’s Eyes, will be released on October 19th from Liquid Silver Books.
♦ Dawn Halliday’s story WINTER HEAT will feature in A HIGHLANDER CHRISTMAS anthology with stories by Cindy Miles and Sophie Renwick–in bookstores November 3 from NAL Signet Eclipse.
♦ Eden Bradley’s erotic vampire novella, THE SEEKING KISS, Book One in her Midnight Playground series, will be available from Samhain Publishing October 20th. Her erotic novel, THE BEAUTY OF SURRENDER, will be available and in bookstores October 27th from Bantam/Delta.
♦ Eden Bradley has contracted a new four-novella series with Samhain Publishing. The Celestial Seductions series will debut this December.
♦ Elise Logan and Emily Ryan-Davis contracted their contemporary novella, This Fire, to Liquid Silver Books for December release in their firefighter themed anthology.
♦ Ella Drake’s erotic paranormal short, SCENT OF CIN, available from Cobblestone Press Oct 2, 2009. Her debut novel, THE FORBIDDEN CHAMBER (historical paranormal), releases Oct 27th from Samhain Publishing.
♦ Gwen Hayes signed with agent Jessica Sinsheimer at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency.
♦ Hailey Edwards has contracted Everlong, a dark fantasy novel, to Samhain Publishing.
♦ Kelly Jamieson’s contemporary erotic romance, IRISH SEX FAIRY, is available from Ellora’s Cave October 2, 2009.
♦ Kim Knox’s SF erotic romance novella, SATIN SPAR, will be available 20 October 2009 from Samhain Publishing
♦ Marisa Chenery’s erotic novella, ROXIE’S PROTECTORS-ROAN’S FALL, the first book in her new werewolf series, will be released at Liquid Silver Books on October 19th.
♦ Mima will be signing Claimed at Authors After Dark Paranormal Weekend.
♦ Nadia Lee is serializing her paranormal romance novella A Happily Ever After of Her Own for free this month. Please check it out at http://www.nadialee.net/bookshelf/hea
♦ Natasha Moore’s novella, Bound by Design, released from Samhain Publishing Sept 29th.
♦ Nell Dixon’s Blue Remembered Heels is released as large print format October 1st from Ulverscroft.
♦ R. F. Long will be holding the book launch for the print edition of The Scroll Thief at Octocon, Ireland’s premiere SFF convention, on 10th October at 5.30pm.
♦ R.G. Alexander’s 4th book in her Children of the Goddess series, MIDNIGHT FALLS, will be available at Samhain Publishing October 20th.
♦ R.G. Alexander sold thr first novella in her Wicked series, WICKED SEXY, to Samhain Publishing, for January 2010 release.
♦ Sela March has been offered a contract by Red Sage for her novella, “HARD HARVEST,” part of the “Three Kinds of Wicked” ménage à trois series.
♦ Stephanie Adkins paranormal erotic romance short story, The Wicked Flame, debuts this month from Cobblestone Press.
Maria Geraci, Author of the Month
Maria Geraci was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised on Florida’s Space Coast. Her love of books started with the classic, Little Women (a book she read so often growing up, she could probably quote).She lives with her husband and their children in north Florida where she works part-time as a labor and delivery nurse by night and writes romance full time during the day (sleep is not an option). Her first book, Bunco Babes Tell All, a sexy, funny women’s fiction story debuted in May, 2009. The follow-up, Bunco Babes Gone Wild, comes out in November. Maria is currently working on a romantic comedy scheduled for an early 2011 release date. You can visit her website at www.mariageraci.com.
What inspired you to become a writer and how long did it take from the first draft to the first sale?
I’ll be honest, I really can’t say what inspired me, although I’ve always loved to read. One day, I dropped my husband off at the airport for a business trip and on the drive home, I decided to write a book and I’ve been writing ever since. Five years later, I sold my first book.
How many rejection letters did you get before you finally got the agent and/or the sale? Were you discouraged or what did you do to overcome them?
I don’t know how many rejection letters/emails I have, although I can honestly say that the majority of my rejections have come after getting an agent. I only queried a couple of editors on my own before I decided that I’d rather have an agent first. I was very lucky. I think I queried about 4 or 5 agents before landing my agent, Deidre Knight-although it took her about 6 months from the initial query to agree to rep me. The first manuscript she shopped for me was rejected by about 10 houses in NY, and the second manuscript (which eventually sold) was rejected by the first 7 or 8 publishers who read it. Recently, my editor rejected the first synopsis I sent her on my option book. I did sell her the book, but I had to come up with a totally different concept. So, even after being published, rejection is something you have to deal with.
Realizing that rejection isn’t personal is key to survival in this business. Whether it’s being turned down by an agent, or an editor, or even a bad review, you have to shrug it off, learn from it, and move on. Having a good support group is critical, I think, to helping you overcome the downside of writing. I know for me, without my friends, I’d be lost!
What is the most difficult part of writing and how do you get over “writer’s block” or something like it?
For me, the writing is the easy part. Occasionally, I have writer’s block, but I work through it and somehow the muse finds me again. The difficult part of being a writer is the lack of control you have over your finished product. From the cover, to the title, to even the way your book is packaged and sold, is totally up to the publisher. You have some input, but the end decision is mostly out of your hands (at least at this stage of my career). Maybe once I start hitting some lists, then I’ll have more input!
Are you a plotter or a panster? Do you have any daily ritual or writing routine to get you going?
I’m a combination of both. In a perfect world, I would be a pantser and sit at the computer and just let the story unfold naturally. But that would mean taking a lot of wrong turns, and since I write under deadline, I have to have some semblance of a plot, otherwise, I’d go around in circles until I found my way. My only routine to get me going is plugging in the coffee pot!
If you were an ice cream flavor, what would it be called and why?
What are you currently working on and what should be look out for in the future?
Right now, I’m writing another light women’s fiction story for Berkley, titled The Boyfriend of the Month Club (my editor really loves the title, so I’m hoping I get to keep it!) It’s due to my editor in January and will probably come out early 2011.
Any last words or tips for aspiring writers to help them get started?
If you hope to make a living from your writing then always remember, this is a business, so treat it like you would any professional endeavor. Work hard, don’t burn any bridges, and always follow the Golden Rule!
Interviewed by Jax Cassidy
Maria Geraci’s Website: www.mariageraci.com
