Music, Drinks & Dancing???

Who's up to some great classic rock music, drinking and dancing??

Yellow Brick Road - Las Vegas' Best Classic Rock band performing at Club Madrid in Sunset Station on Friday, Oct. 1 at 10 pm $5 admission at the door.
 http://www.ybrband.com/home  
This is not a HMK sponsored event, only a suggested group event located at the hotel/casino

Cover Reveal- Love Resurrected by Austyn Sherrie

LOVE RESURRECTED 

by Austyn Sherrie

Blurb:
Parker Davenport is the best actor in Broadway Theater. Although he’s achieved golden status as the romantic lead in various productions, he still aches for the woman he left standing at the altar eleven-years earlier. He accepts the lead role in a well-known revival as a way of winning back Julia Sloan’s heart.
Julia Sloan is an actress with the voice of an angel with a reputation for giving an emotional performance that leaves not a dry eye in its wake. She jumps at the opportunity to work with a famous director as a lead vocalist in a play. A barrage of emotional turmoil breaks loose when she discovers the man who failed to appear on their wedding day is the lead actor. Will she open herself to this second chance at love?

Release date Coming Soon

About the author:
Austyn Sherrie is the sweeter side of RM Sotera. Wow…what does that mean? For a strict Catholic girl growing up in the Northeast romance novels were not something she had readily available to her. The Bible, yes. Bodice Ripper novels. No. Needless to say, steamy romance novels didn’t exist in her world. Well, at least until her college years. It only took one Harlequin romance to jump-start her love of this form of writing. Thus she read everything she could get her hands on, finally deciding that something deep down inside of her wanted to write these same stories. Fast forward many years and the steamy writing of RM Sotera laid its foundation on the world. A few years later, and the sweet and sensual writings of Austyn Sherrie blossomed. One Woman, Two alter egos, Lots of writing!
When Austyn/RM isn’t busy penning a new story you can find her spending time with her husband, teenage son, and cat named Dracula.

Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Website 

2015 Schedule

2015 Schedule (subject to change) 

Thursday- Oct 1, 2015

6:00 pm - Registration
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm - Meet and Greet

Friday- Oct 2, 2015
8:00 am- 9:30 am - Breakfast
9:30 am - 10:00 am - Welcome
10:00 am - 11:00 am - For the Love of Erotic
11:00 am - 12:00 am - Travel Through Time and Space
12:00 pm - 1:00 - Lunch
1:00 pm - 1:30 pm - Should You? Could You? A New Author's Journey
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm - Plotting Process: Groping Your Muse
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm - Cover Model Pool Party sponsored by Dorothy F. Shaw, C.R. Moss and Beth D. Carter
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm - Free Time
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - HMK Sponsored Dinner
8:15 pm - 10:00 pm - Bollywood Event hosted by cover model Vikkas Bhardwaj


Saturday- Oct 3, 2015
8:00 am - 9:00 am - Breakfast (and intimate breakfast w/ Cover Model for raffle winners)
9:00 am - 10:00 am - Fight Club: How to Write Realistic Fight Scenes
10:00 am - 11:00 am - BDSM: Can You Handle the Truth?
11:00 am - 12:00 pm - Retrofuturistic Derivatives in Romance
12:00 pm- 1:00 pm - Lunch
12:30 pm- 1:00 pm - Set Up for Book Signing
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm - BOOK SIGNING 
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm - Book Signing tear Down
3:00 pm -  3:30 pm - Funny Bones and Other Ticklish Places
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm - Bad Boy BINGO
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm - Converting Your Book to Script
5:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Banquet Set Up/ Table Decorating
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Dinner Banquet/ Charity baskets
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm - BALL (Twisted Fairytales themed)
10:15 pm - midnight - PJ Party hosted by Got Fiction?

SUNDAY- Oct 4, 2015
9:00 am - 10:30 am - HMK 2016 panel: What's Coming for 2016

Ad Space

We have Ad Space Available in our program this year. 

Please contact us at hotmojaveknights@gmail.com 

if you are interested. 

1/8 page  $15   

1/4 page  $25

1/2 page  $50

Full page  $100

Program size 8 1/2 x 11.

Joining us today for a Guest Post is Lynn Peters author of Binding Elements: Discoveries

The lovely ladies of HMK have invited me to share some stuff with you! I thought we'd talk about things that have impacted my creativity. The very first instance I can remember of this was watching the Disney cartoon Sleeping Beauty. When the movie starts, and they give the credits with all the beautiful colors and scenery...then they have the beautiful jeweled book that opens the story...I was blown away. I wanted to create beautiful things too. It started a love of drawing and a definite love of colors. On a side note, I saw that jeweled book at Disneyland for the first time almost two years ago and I nearly cried.
 
My love of writing came from my fourth grade teacher Mrs. Walton. She made us journal everyday on whatever she put on the board. I still have that very first notebook and love to look at it. I piddled around with stories in high school and one summer wrote a thrilling twenty page suspense about me and my closest friends that has not seen the light of day and never will. I'd be giving eulogies because they laughed themselves to death over that poor thing. I have all kinds of stories started from that time (including a fun Mulder and Scully type story that revolves around the four corners) and in my early twenties that were never finished. It was maddening and it wasn't until years later that I figured out why I couldn't finish them.
 
My first release Binding Elements: Discoveries was almost shoved in the proverbial drawer. Frustration was high and it wasn't until I read the preface of Christine Feehan's Dark Desire back in 2006 that the light bulb clicked on. She stated that she'd had this characters story planned out but as she tried to write it, it refused to go where  she wanted. She fought him until finally she gave up and listened to him. The story came after that with all kinds of wonderful things she hadn't planned. This was a major eye opener to me. Super popular paranormal author had the same trouble I did? I'm not crazy? I know, quit laughing, I couldn't type that with a straight face. I did however do what she did and listened to my characters and not only did they tell me a story, they told me secrets and facts I hadn't known which spawned a second book before the first was finished and a third as I worked the second. A trilogy wasn't planned and it still amazes me that my "DAMN IT, JUST FINISH SOMETHING!!" project has become what it is. I can't wait to share those secrets with you in the upcoming books. They're fascinating...lol
 
I won't take up much more of your time and will spill some, not unknown but slightly lesser known, things about me. First, I'm a die hard pro wrestling fan. Bret 'Hitman' Hart to the death , baby! My dad took me to my first matches at the age of five and that was that. I had the, probably, once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in WrestleMania weekend back in '11 and all I can say and keep it short is...OMG, I'll never be the same. 
 
Next would be that one of my greatest inspirations to keep writing is JK Rowling. Yes, I'm an HP fan but it was an interview she did with Oprah that did it for me. If you have the chance to watch it, I highly recommend it. 
 
The LOTR extended edition movies are what I have in the background as I'm writing. They're so familiar they act as a sort of focusing agent for me rather than a distraction. The same with HP but not the Battle for Hogwarts...that rips me out of whatever I'm working on everytime...LOL 
 
My favorite color is green, chocolate is a necessity in life and I do not like walking on the beach in the moonlight, though I wouldn't say no to a walk in the moonlight to the nearest bookstore. Got a question? Shoot it to me! I'd love to chat with my readers and (hopefully) soon to be readers. Hugs and love! 
 -Lynn

  
Title- Binding Elements: Discoveries

Author- Lynn Peters

Series- Binding Elements Book One

Genre- Fiction/Paranormal…Romance/Paranormal

Release Date- 11/25/2014

Formats- E-book Kindle…Paperback (trade paper) coming soon

Blurb/Synopsis- Binding Elements: Discoveries

She thought it was over…
Five hundred years ago, Aurora lost everything…including Lucas, the love of her life, when he refused to let go of the past. After centuries of clashes with him, the peace she’s found in the small town of Summer Gate is shattered when Lucas finds her again. Now, she’ll need her control of fire to protect not just herself but also her best friend.
He’s going to show her it’s only just begun…
Lucas walked away from Aurora when she gave up on their quest for justice. Realizing he gave up the most important thing in his life, he went in search of her. Now, almost two centuries after their last fight, he’s tracked her down. With Aurora furious and fighting hard, Lucas will need every ounce of his ice powers to get what he’s after.
It’s here…
The battle brewing for five centuries is here. Before it’s over someone will be ruthlessly attacked, another gravely injured and more than one person will disappear. Enemies Aurora didn’t know existed will emerge from the shadows. It will take all of her Elemental training, and powers she’s kept hidden, to make it through alive

 Amazon Buy Link

About the Author: 

Lynn Peters is a native of Sin City and has been jotting ideas and pieces of stories down since the fourth grade. Binding Elements: Discoveries is her first published work and she’s looking forward to continuing sharing her fun imagination with the world. Lynn loves professional wrestling, crocheting and dragons. She is currently working 40 a week, raising her mini-me and teasing the dog.

Author links: 

Author Amazon Page ~ Goodreads  ~ Facebook 

Blog  ~ Twitter  ~ Pinterest

Costume Ball ideas for HMK 2015

HMK's 2015 Costume Ball will have the theme 

WICKED FAIRY TALES

I'm very excited about this theme because I love dressing up. Below are some quick ideas for a few costumes. I'll be added more throughout the year. Not all of them are from fairy tales but they are certainly dark and wicked. 

Wicked Bride ready for her groom?

Sleeping Beauty's dark queen Maleficent is perfectly wicked

 How about SINderella? 

Maybe a dark Angel? 

Snow White not so pure?

Zombie Snow White looking for some brains?

Wicked Queen looking for her Dark Lover?

Q&A with C.R. Moss (author) and Cassandra from A Wish Across Time

A look at C.R. Moss and Cassandra from 

A Wish Across Time

Hi everyone! I’m here today as one of the spotlight authors of HMK 2015 and am happy to tell you all a bit about myself and my most recent C.R. Moss release.

First a small Q & A about me…

1) Please tell us 5 interesting facts about yourself that readers might not know about you …

I used to crew for a balloon pilot. I watch most of the RHO_ shows on Bravo. I used to dance. I used to compete in twirling competitions. I’m planning on going for my Concealed Carry Permit.

2) What do you like to do in your spare time?

I read, crochet, play cards with friends and family and travel.

3) How did you get started writing and have you always wanted to be an author?
For a very brief period of time, I had ideas of becoming a teacher or an astronaut. Both occurred before the age of ten. But for the most part, I knew I wanted to write at a young age, as early as I learned to read. I was always cooking up stories to entertain myself in the rural area I lived in. Had to since there were no other kids around to play with. My defining moment came when I received an A in English in grade school. I was just shy of being a teenager when I had my ‘calling.’ Ever since then, most of my choices in life have revolved around my goal of becoming a full-time fiction writer and being published.

Upon my ‘calling,’ I had written a story for a magazine. It’d been rejected, but that was my start. After that, I began studying the craft of writing. It started with working on the school newspaper in middle school to creative writing classes and Teens Art Festivals in high school. I received a BA in Communications, Information and Library Studies from Rutgers College with a strong concentration in English Lit/Writing and Interpersonal Communications/PR. Studying under the mentorship of Terri Valentine (author of ‘Sands of Time,’ a Zebra Historical Romance), I honed my novel writing skills. In the mid to late 2000s, I finally put my foot down, got over my nerves and took the plunge into submitting stories to publishers. I’ve been published since 2008, and as for the craft, I’m still learning things by taking the occasional online class, attending industry conferences, and devouring all the writing how-to books I can get my hands on.

4) If you for some reason couldn’t be an author, what would your other choice be?

I’ve worked as a massage therapist, real estate agent and as an office admin/executive assistant. Most of my choices in life have revolved around my goal of becoming a full-time fiction writer and being published. Writing is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid. It’s like breathing and eating. It’s intrinsic, a must do or I’ll go crazy type thing. I’m an author in my soul. But, if I had no choice and couldn’t be a writer, I’d probably fall back on what I’ve done in the past.

My bio: 
An eccentric and eclectic writer, C.R. Moss pens stories for the

mainstream and erotic romance markets, giving readers Worlds of Possibilities.

More about C.R. Moss:

So what does she write? She writes stories from the light and sweet to the dark and deadly with varying degrees of sexual heat. Writing as C.R. Moss gives her and her muses the freedom to explore worlds of possibilities when it comes to love. And where does the tag line “Love & Lust in the Wild West” fit in? Well, for one, she lives in NV. Two, her stories take place, either in part or in full, in and around the Las Vegas area. In fact, even this website sports “a look of home.” The background picture was taken in an area just a few miles west of Las Vegas and happens to be the inspiration for the setting of the Double D Ranch Tales saga.

She also has a passion for penning dark fiction. Writing under the name Casey Moss allows her to slate other stories under Horror ~ Paranormal ~ Suspense ~ Thriller ~ Urban Fantasy. Visit: Casey Moss website


My most recent C.R. Moss release is A Wish Across Time and the heroine wanted to share a peek of herself and her playlist with you all.

Hi! I’m Cassandra VanAlder. I was born and raised in Nevada, and with a friend, run a nice boutique serving the community’s mystical needs. You’ve seen glimpses of me and my feline familiar, Myrddin, in Evelyn and Julie’s stories, and now, in my story A Wish Across Time, you’ll learn how I became the woman I am today.
Ever been asked if you have a playlist for your life? Well, I have. It’s not necessarily a playlist for my whole life but for a particular of it, and I’m happy to share it with you today.

…A couple of songs I thought about when I encountered a man from my past…
10. Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar from the album, “In the Heat of the Night”

09. Over You by Ingrid Michaelson (feat. A Great Big World) from the album, “Lights Out”

…Which brings up what happened between us back then and songs I felt relative…

08. I Just Died In Your Arms by Cutting Crew from the album, “Broadcast”

07. Wicked Game by Chris Isaak from the album, “Best of Chris Isaak”

06. Separate Way by Journey from the album, “Frontiers”

05. Why Should I Cry for You by Sting from the album, “The Soul Cages”

…And now some songs that cover what’s going on between him and I in the present…

04. Just Breathe by Addie Hamilton from the album, “Heavy Hitters Music”

03. Stay by Rihanna (Feat. Mikky Ekko) from the album, “Unapologetic”

02. That Was Yesterday by Foreigner from the album, “Agent Provocateur”

01. Disappear 'Demo Version' by Mikky Ekko. It’s a single. 

You can find all these songs online. :) Happy listening!

Here’s the info for the story!

Blurb: Raritan Manor Ranch, 3
A woman once shunned. A man now changed. There’s a thin line between love and hate.

When Wiccan practitioner Cassandra VanAlder encounters a man from her past who’d broken her heart, she casts some spells to help herself while wishing karma would deal out some payback. The spells turn against her, and before she knows it, she finds herself falling for him again.

Ryan Keene finds Cassandra enchanting and feels he’s met her somewhere before. She and her best friend, Debi, won’t give him any clues as to her identity. He loves challenges and doesn’t plan to back off from her until he finds the answers he seeks. He's told he has three dates to win her over.

Will she close off her heart or will she allow herself to feel again?

Excerpt (Adult)

Moments later, he jerked out and away from her, then pulled her up from the floor. In a quick turn, he spun and thrust her back against the wall. His mouth claimed hers with unapologetic force. He fumbled with the fastens of her jeans, then when they were undone, tugged the material down her legs.

“Commando, huh?” Not letting her answer, he positioned his head between her legs and swept his tongue over her pussy.

Fleeting imaginings of her family and friends coming home and being welcomed by the sight of her and Ryan fucking at the foot of the stairs danced through her mind. If it happened, so be it. Getting caught only added to the heightened state of arousal she was already in.

His tongue and fingers stroked her. Her heartbeat sped up, as did her breathing. He seemed to have mastered the technique of cunnilingus if the way her nerves caught fire and flamed up from her pussy to the rest of her body were any indication. She panted. She clasped his head, ready to feel an orgasm rip through her body.

He stopped, stood, and reached into his back pocket. He pulled out his wallet, and from it, the all too familiar foil packet. Ryan held it up. “Yes?”

“Yes.” She nodded as well to emphasize the point.

In a few quick motions, he had himself sheathed and pressed up against her body. “You are one sexy lady. Anyone ever tell you that?”

She bobbed her head again and guided his cock into her pussy.

“Put your legs around me,” he demanded.

Supported by the wall and his hands on her ass, she wrapped one leg then the other around him and found the position to be quite enjoyable. Ryan pumped into her as he kissed and sucked her shoulder. She rode him, feeling the sexual energy build between them.

Her ex had never been so passionate. In fact, their lovemaking had been so normal and ordinary he never would have considered taking her up against a wall, and especially not in a location where they could get caught. It was nice being with a man who exuded confidence and gave into desire, even if it was Ryan.

Buy Links: Evernight Publishing ~ Amazon US  ~ All Romance eBooks  ~ Bookstrand ~ B/N

Thanks for stopping by today and reading about me and my story. If you want to know more about me and my stories, visit my websites at CR Moss and Casey Moss See you at HMK 2015 in Las Vegas, NV!

C.R./Casey Moss

Guest Post by Johanna Riley

Guest Post by Johanna Riley

From the time I was little I wanted to be a writer. I was forever penciling stories in a beat up notebook while on the school bus. Instead of paying attention in classes—any classes—I would hide behind my school books and dream up a new adventure for my characters.

Legacy of Deception started off as a modern take on Sleeping Beauty. This story went through at least four variations and took over five years to complete. Frankie was supposed to be a stodgy attorney with a cameo appearance, but he very quickly shed the stuffy persona and burst to life in sequins and feathers. Through many critiques, tears, and hair pulling, these characters helped me shape this book into a story I am proud to claim.

Legacy of Deception

Blurb: Becca Mendelson finds a letter, written in her deceased mother's hand, describing events and circumstances so unbelievable, she travels thousands of miles to a strange country to discover the truth about her heritage. Gannon Tavish has one mission--to protect the royal family and his country at any cost. When a beautiful stranger, looking a lot like the queen, shows up in the country's capitol researching a twenty-five year old kidnapping, his instincts go on high alert. Can Gannon put aside personal suspicions and solve the cold case, or will the wicked unknown destroy everything Becca's searched for her entire life?

Excerpt:

“Excuse me,” she said in a soft timber. “I, um, I know this will sound weird, but, you look so familiar to me.”

He realized then she wasn’t talking to him, but her comment had been addressed to Derek.

“Hello, Becca. This is my friend—”

“Derk, right?” She shook his hand.

Gannon’s mouth dropped open. No one had used that childhood nickname in almost twenty-five years. And no one outside of the royal family knew it.

“Who are you?” Derek demanded.

Becca blinked. Her eyes flashed to a spot over Derek’s shoulder and she gasped. “I’m sorry. So sorry.” She turned on her heel and fled back to her table.

“Derek,” a familiar voice called out. Both men turned to see Queen Elsbeth and her entourage of four crossing the street toward them.

Good Lord. If she saw Becca, she’d have a million questions, questions to which Gannon didn’t have answers.

“What are you two up to out and about town?”

Derek cleared his throat and took a step closer to Gannon. “We were just grabbing a bit to eat. And Gannon was following up on a lead on a case.”

Curiosity sparked in her gray eyes. “Really? Anything interesting?”

Gannon shot a guilty look at Derek, and glanced back to Becca’s table. He did a double take. She and her friend were gone.

He needed to track this woman down and find out who she was before she got the whole country in an uproar.

About the Author:

I met my very own romance novel hero at the tender age of sixteen. Joe sat in front of me in Geometry class and it was love at first sight...poor guy. We married in 1998, and have been through our share of trials and celebrations, and I wouldn't have it any other way. My critique partners are greatful for Joe because he hides my chainsaw, and any other sharp objects I might try to play with. Not to mention keeping me satisfied with an endless supply of Dove Milk Chocolate and Riesling.

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads ~ Website

HMK Romance Readers Event- Oct 1-4, 2015

Spotlight price is $325

 This gives entry to the book signing, hosting of a minimum of one workshop/panel (currently no maximum), access to all events throughout the weekend, and an intimate encounter. And all provided meals.

 

Featured price is $275

 This gives entry to the book signing, hosting of one workshop/panel, access to all events throughout the weekend, a spot in the Author Speed Date, and all provided meals.

 

Readers price is $200

 They get access to all workshops/panels/events and all provided meals.

 

Panel/workshops/events proposal needs to be in by March 30.  This is the same deadline to let us know if their event will include alcohol. 

A character interview with Master Vampire Laurent Bovier from Dirty Valkyrie – The 3rd book in the Dirty Series published by eXtasy Books.

Interviewer – RM Sotera

Interviewee – Laurent Bovier New Orleans Vampire and part of the world of the Dirty series

RM: Hi there HMK Blog Followers. Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you the interview I did with Laurent Bovier, New Orleans vampire extraordinaire.

Location – RM Sotera’s Office – November 8, 2014

RM – Sitting in my home office across the desk from the man of the hour I’d cleared my throat. “Let’s start our interview today with your name.”

LB – His Lips twitched as he hid a Wickedly sexy smile. “Ma cherie you know my name. Do you not?”

RM – “Okay, let’s move past that. You’re right. I do know your name, Mr. Bovier.” The damned man had a way of making my body quake inside. The way he annunciated words, and the way the words rolled off his tongue made his talking x-rated.

LB – He leaned forward and then tossed back a lock of long black hair that had fallen across his chest behind him before he’d leveled me with an incredulous stare. “Call me Laurent, RM. Or else I shall have to address you as Ms. Sotera.” That lip twitching thing started again. “And please don’t forget that I can read your mind. X-rated, huh?”

RM – “How about we move on to the next question. I know in book three, Dirty Valkyrie, you married Jett Donivan’s twin sister Brandi. How is that going?”

LB – “My beautiful demi-goddess vampire wife is doing very well, thank you.” He studied me for a moment and then added. “We’ve been tossing around the idea of a playmate in the bedroom as of late, would this arrangement interest you?”

RM – I’d almost swallowed my tongue at his rather bold comment, but instead cleared my throat for the second time in less than five minutes. “Brandi doesn’t seem like the type of woman that would want to share you.” Hell, I’d written her and I knew she wasn’t. Had my characters been holding out on me?

LB – He laughed, it was a sexy sound that lit up his gorgeous features. “We are vampires, ma cherie. Our sexual appetites know no bounds. You should know that.” By this time he’d risen and walked to the other side of my office fumbling through the books on my bookshelf. “I can take you places sexually you’ve never been, if you’d consider giving yourself to us.”

RM – I was definitely not prepared for this sort of interview. But yet, I should have been since I had designed the man standing in front of me or rather in front of my bookcase. “How about I think about it and we move on with the interview?” Was I insane? Think about what? The man was a figment of my imagination…right?

LB - “Ask away your questions, RM. “ He’d thumbed through my many books and then pulled a specific book and stopped at the places I’d paper clipped for quick reference.

RM – “If you had a free day and your only mission was to enjoy yourself, what would you do?” At this point he closed the book but didn’t take his finger from the page he was reading.

LB – “I’d take my wife, and you if you’d agree, back to the Cayman Islands for a weekend of fine dining, water activities, and endless nights of love making. I’d make sure neither of you would ever want to return. I’ve been told through the centuries that I make a very good lover. Brandi knows that I am. Would you like me to show you?”

RM – I was sure the temperature in my office had risen several degrees when the sweat on my brow started slowly dripping down my cheeks. “Although accompanying you and Brandi on a romantic retreat sounds enticing, I’m going to have to pass. I do have a husband and a child and I’m sure they’d miss me if I just vanished for a few weeks.

LB – “Perhaps.” A wry smile curved his lips. “You could say that you are attending a writer’s convention. This could be Tropical Romantic Con in January. It does have a nice ring to it.”

RM – Changing the subject was in order. “When you wake up in the morning what’s the first thing you do?” Probably the wrong question to ask from the snort he gave me.

LB – “The first thing I do when I wake up is reach for my lovely wife. I ravish her completely once and then a second time before she’s even completely awake. You know, as I told you earlier, vampires have very sexual appetites. Always.”

RM - He ran a hand down his thigh and of course I looked and then gasped at the site. It was more of him than I should have taken in on a Saturday at noon. I had to change the subject fast so out of left field I asked, “Do you think you've turned out the way your parents expected?”

LB – With that question he tucked my book under his arm and came back to take a seat in front of me. “Probably not. I am dead, ma cherie.”

RM – “Yeah, about that. How did you die?” He’d stared at me in only what could be described as total disbelief. “What?”

LB – “That is a story in itself. One that you have yet to write. I’m afraid we don’t have enough time for me to go into that fiasco, since I am a bit in the dark when it comes to my existence. However, I do know that the dark gift was given to me centuries ago. At least that is what you’ve led me to believe.”

RM – Yeah, I knew that I really did need to get my butt in gear and start writing his book. I glanced back at him and once again he was examining the book he’d pulled from my bookcase. “Do you regret being given the gift, Laurent?”

LB - He flipped the book open to one of my tabbed pages. “Regret is a waste of time. Why do you have this specific section tabbed?”

RM – All of a sudden I was in the hot seat again. The interviewer up against the wall. Figuratively speaking. The page he’d opened was the part in the story where the hero bound the heroine during sex with rope.

LB – “Not exactly with the regrets.” He glanced at the open book and then at me, again. “But I can arrange the action in this book if you so wish it.” He grabbed my wrist. “I do have a lovely collection of rope.”

RM – An uneasy laugh left my lips as I attempted to break free from his grasp. “Tell me about your best friend. How did you meet?”

LB – “And we change direction once again. Well, as you are well aware my best friend is Jett Donivan, the character you so flawlessly designed in Dirty Dancer. Although he was a pain in the ass in the beginning, we have turned out to be great friends.

RM – “Well you do need to give him a break. I mean you did try to bed his woman and then you went after his sister. He was a bit gun-shy when it came to you.”

LB – That’s an understatement. He’d wanted to slice me open, but unfortunate for him I’m already dead.”

RM – I’d managed to get him to free my wrist. He grabbed the stapler on my desk and started fiddling with it. “But it all ended well. I mean you did marry his sister and gave both his sister and his wife the dark gift.”

LB – “Yes. I did. Would you like me to give you the dark gift?”

RM – “I’m flattered, but no.”

LB – “My. My, Rm. You know that to experience an event is much more potent that another telling you about it.”

RM – Once again I’d managed to look away from him and gather my wits. “What are you most ashamed of in your life?” At my question is gaze turned sad. It was the first time during the interview that I’d seen vulnerability in his eyes.
LB – On that question he set my book on the desk. “I regret the way I killed my wife, Brandi.” His eye color shifted to a dark black, and to be quite honest scared the crap out of me. “There was no gentleness in the way I took her life. My bite was hard, deep and full of rage. I was beyond the point of animalistic. And if you remember, she did not want the dark gift. She was still battling with her Norse heritage and her place as a valkyrie.”

RM – “But you were driven to that state. As I recall you were kidnapped by your nemesis and bled out. And then Brandi was put into the cell with you. You were vulnerable.”

LB – “Bull-shit. I know the semantics of what happened, RM. But knowing them still does not change how I feel. If I could change the way I’d taken Brandi’s life, I would.”

RM – “But you two are happy now, and that’s what matters.”

LB – The tenseness in his shoulders settled as the color of his gaze shifted from black back to brown. “Yes. We are extremely happy. So happy and content with each other that we are looking to bring a third person into our bedroom escapades. My offer still stands.” He ran a hand over the book on my desk. “Perhaps we can bring your fantasies into reality.”

RM – I really had thought we’d moved past his infatuation with my reading material. “Well, it looks like we’ve run out of time. Is there anything else you’d like the readers to know about you?” LB – He laughed and leaned back on his chair. “I see that I’ve stumped you once again, RM. As you recall, I am dead so I have all the time in the world. What do I want your readers to know? Just that once they have met me, they will find it hard to forget me.” He pushed himself forward until the front legs of the chair were touching the ground and then he stood. “And that goes for you too, ma cherie.”

RM – Before I could open my mouth in reply his lips touched my ear. His vampire speed made it impossible for me to see him move, I only knew that there he was his breath on my neck. “There are two things from you that I want. I want you in my bed and I want my own book. Preferably in that order.” And with those two declarations Laurent Bovier was gone. After a few moments I’d let out the breath I was holding, took a glance around my office and headed out into the safety of my living room. My characters really did have a life of their own.

And damned if I didn’t write quite the character with Laurent Bovier. His own book? His bed? I’d sent a mental shout-out to my muse, Styxx. A little conversing was in order. 

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog ~ Extasy Books ~ Amazon Author Page ~ Bookstrand ~ Evernight 

The Dirty Series - Extasy Books ~ Amazon

Reading Order

Dirty Dancer- Book 1

Dirty Deeds- Book 2

Dirty Valkyrie- Book 3

Dirty Immortals on Holiday- Book 4

Joining us today is our own RM Sotera

When the Muse Decides to ‘get up and go’ and You Think Your Writing Career is Over – There Can Still Be a Somewhere Over The Rainbow!

By: RM Sotera

Sometimes life sucks. The past year has been both positive and negative for me. I am so blessed to be a founding member and Vice President of the HMK (Hot Mojave Knights) Reader Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. To be quite honest, it’s been my saving grace. Without it, the writing dry spell, new book proposal rejection letters, and sudden reverting of one of my published book rights back to me from a company because of my low sales, could have possibly broken me. This is the first time in my life, I’d seriously thought about walking away from the business. The first time I truly felt like a bonafide loser.

Over the years, I’ve heard people say many times that in writing and publishing the good times can be out of this world and the bad times can knock you down to the point that it hurts every inch of your body to get up and face the music again. I can honestly say that I can relate.

So…how did it happen? Well, first of all on the writing side my muse disappeared for quite some time. As my day job began to take every ounce of my time, I’d pushed my muse to the background hoping that he’d wait in the wings until I could etch out some time for him. The more I’d pushed the more of him disappeared until finally I didn’t hear him anymore. With his absence came the negative thoughts, the ones that made me believe I wasn’t a true writer, and that the eight books I’d published were all flukes. As I battled with losing my creativity the publishing world shifted around me and I’d felt lost in the movement.

And so that leads me to where I am today. After some serious soul searching my muse, Styxx reappeared after a long hiatus and I’ve embraced him. I’ve learned to give him the time when he’s knocking. I’ve finished two novels and one novella. All three of my new books are with editors as we speak. I’ve learned with the shift in publishing that hiring an editor before the submission process is a good fit for me, and that advertising and promotion is another avenue that I must show diligence. Since I don’t have the time to do most of the promotions I’ve hired someone for that too. I’ve finally realized that investing in my writing career – spiritually, emotionally, creatively and financially – is a must if success is in my scope.

With the love and support of my writing friends I’ve survived and I’ve come back stronger than before. These awesome friends in my writing community were my ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ and I thank God every day for them.

In closing what I hope you’ve learned from my experiences is never give up and when the muse is knocking let him/her talk. And…keep your eye on the publishing field because it changes rapidly from one year – even one month – to the next. Do what is best for you and your career! 

Visit me at www.rmsotera.com to view my book list and my links.

Keep a look out for my newest releases on the HMK blog.

All the best,
RM Sotera

HMK Writer's Group

Guest Post- When the Night Comes- THE HUNTED by Shannan Albright

Life, Passion and Writing.

For those who know me already, it’s no surprise to them that I work best when I’m busy. The fact I get panicky with too much free time on my hands, it is something which can work against me.

Case in point, my latest release due out by October 31st. It is a perfect example of a Shannan moment. In August I went to a conference in NOLA and met up with one of my friends, Seraphina Donavan, who offered me a spot in her upcoming paranormal anthology When the Night Comes.

Well, hell, it’s not every day when you get an offer from a successful author like that. It would be a stupid to walk away from a higher profile project which could further my career right? I could squeeze in the time, after all it was only a short story. Easy as pie.

Wrong.

Now, taking into account a full time day job and organizing the second year of Hot Mojave Knights- a reader/author event which was only a month away…yeah, what was I thinking? My mind screaming no while my mouth said yes! I knew it would be a hell of a battle to get it done before I even put my first word on paper.

So, I got to work, outlining the basic premise of the story and started writing…and struggling…and deleting.

Frustrated and feeling the sharp edge of panic I went over my premise and found it solid. Why wasn’t it freaking flowing? Then I finally asked that same question in my head, picturing my characters sitting with me in a board room. Boy, did I get an earful and there went my whole story out the window. Now I had three weeks total to get at least fifteen thousand words on paper and I had only two.

Chapter One. 

Yippie!

With a new premise before me, I started writing.Using every spare moment I had. Hubby started grumbling and the dogs never left my side, whimpering for a walk or the smallest scrap of affection only to be denied. I wrote with a single minded ferocity only those under the gun could have. Finally, I finished. Woot! I felt as if I ran a marathon and crossed the finish line still on my feet – Okay, crawling over the finish line- but still I made it.

So here it is. The Hunted from the paranormal anthology When the Night Comes. And you’re the first to read the teaser for it. I hope you enjoy.

“This is barbaric.”

He blinked in surprise as the druidess stepped in front of him. Her scent swirled in the air as her hair brushed up against the stubble of his chin in a soft erotic glide. He breathed in her heady aroma of vanilla and green grass deep into his lungs, his willful body hardening in response to her nearness regardless of what his mind thought.

“I will not just stand here and let you abuse this man.”

“Can you truly be that naive? That is not a man, it’s a demon. A beast with no soul. It lives only for the chance to destroy us, should we be foolish enough to give them the chance.”

“Enough!” The Polariate’s voice whipped through the arena bringing a heavy science in its wake. “Stand aside Leigh. Now.”

Disbelief held him immobile. Never in his life could he remember anyone ever coming to his aid before. Yet this woman, Leigh was willing to save him from an assassin’s blade. It confused him, made him wary and wondering what she held in store for him. For this surely this must be just another form of torture.

I have a special book blast on October 29th on

FACEBOOK

There will be prizes and fun. Meet the other authors and chat with us. We love answering questions, really we do.

HMK 2015

Coming Soon- Information regarding HMK 2015

HMK2014!

Things are heating up here in Las Vegas!

We are busy preparing for the September event, adding an extra day AND shuttle service to the airport after the event!

We still have a few openings and its first come first serve with Featured and Spotlight openings. We are also looking for bloggers to round out our event. If you blog about books, review them then we are interested.

This years them is all about the military, historical or contemporary it makes no difference. After all we consider all soldiers to be Knights under a different name.

We are excited to have some return authors and some new ones. Kathryn Le Veque and Emerald are just a few returning authors. 

Be sure to check our website www.hotmojaveknights.com often for updates, specials, workshops and events we are setting up. If you have something you would like to see for Hot Mojave Knights we would love to hear your ideas.

Until next time,

Hot Mojave Knights Committee.

Valentines Special!

Limited tickets are available. Get yours today! Just go to www.hotmojaveknights.com and click registration. You will find the special listed below.

 



Sharknado, Alpha men, and Hot Mojave Knights by ML Guida

Hello Everyone,

I’m M.L. Guida and I’m so excited to be on the Hot Mojave Knights’s blog. Can you believe it? The conference is only a couple weeks away.

Do you like things that go bump into the night? Or drawn to scary movies? Or even campy Syfy movies? Yes, Sharknado is one of my favorites. Have any of you seen it?

Alpha men rule my family. I’m Italian. So, it’s no wonder I write about them. Supernatural’s Dean and Sam Winchester are the epitomny of alphas. I’m a Sam girl. And you?

I love the supernatural and grew up reading mysteries and horror. Alfred Hitchcock used to write a children series called Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators and I read everyone of them. The Mystery of the Green Ghost was a big hit in the third grade.

I write paranormal romance and it leans toward the dark side. I like to torture my characters before they reach their final goal.

Recently, I released a new series called Legends of the Soaring Phoenix. The first one is called A Pirate’s Curse and I will be bringing copies to Hot Mojave Knights.

Here’s an excerpt from A Pirate’s Curse:

Captain Kane O’Brien peered through his spyglass aboard the deck of the Soaring Phoenix. “Bloody hell.” 

The waxing moon and blazing firelight lit up the black ocean. The cursed Fiery Damsel loomed over a burning, half submerged flute ship, slowly circling its broken mast. Water spilled into cannonball-size holes. Fire licked the white sails, and wood crackled and snapped.

He gritted his teeth. A red-headed giant towered over the terrified sailors. His beard hid his face and his eyes burned red. Quinton Palmer. The sailors had the same look of horror when he met Palmer. ’Twas during the Irish Confederate War. He’d have been sixteen years old, a whelp, when Quinton Palmer forced him to become a man.

Kane’s hero had always been his father, Finn O’Brien, an honorable and courageous man. And Finn O’Brien relished freedom. When the British approached their home town of Wexford, burning their fields and homes, taking their livestock and raping their women, Finn rallied the men in the village to fight.

Kane and his father had hid behind an overturned wagon. Shells exploded around them. Kane shrank. Smoke stung his eyes.

He peered around a spinning wagon wheel. An Irish setter limped out onto the road. A beast of a British soldier, Palmer, held a bayonet in his hand and a sick smile crossed his face. Ten years old, Michael O’Shay, ran over to the dog, screaming. He wrapped his arms around the dying dog’s neck.

Palmer stabbed little Michael in the shoulder. Michael yelped, releasing the dog. Blood streamed down his chest. The dog snapped and growled. Palmer flicked the bayonet, slicing the dog’s throat and the animal collapsed onto the road, blood pooling around him.

Palmer’s cruelty had sickened Kane and bile rose up his throat. He gripped his sword, but his legs refused to move. His heart pounded and sweat drenched his back.  

“Kane,” his father ordered. “I want you to remain here. Do you hear me, lad?” He gripped Kane’s shoulder and shook him. Kane nodded as shells exploded around them, ringing his ears.

Kane had swallowed his fright. “Aye, Pa.”

Raising a cutlass over his head, Finn O’Brien charged Palmer.

Palmer took a step back, but whipped out his pistol and fired. His father staggered, but regained his step. Palmer was almost a head taller than his father, but Finn O’Brien never shied away from a fight.

Palmer fired again, but this time, Finn spun around and fell on his knees.

Palmer raised his bayonet. 

Kane had forgotten his fear. He screamed a war cry, running with his sword high over his head. But his legs failed to move fast enough. The blasts of cannons blocked out his yells. Sweat dripped in his eyes and bile burned in his gut.

 Palmer stabbed his father in the heart. Eyes wide open, Finn collapsed onto his back. Palmer smiled and threw his bayonet onto Finn O’Brien’s lifeless body.

He jerked out the embedded sword and lunged at Kane, knocking Kane’s sword out of his hand. Kane clenched his fist and swung, but Palmer grabbed him and threw him down next to his dead father. He raised the bloody sword. Kane sucked in his breath. He was dead.

“Something to remember me by boy,” Palmer promised. He slashed Kane’s face. Pain slid over him. He’d never forgotten Palmer’s promise, or his cruelty, or his smile.

Kane fingered his bumpy scar on his left cheek. Hate boiled inside him as Palmer spoke to a man. The terrified lad shook his head. Angered, Palmer slammed the man into the nearest mast. The poor fellow slapped at Palmer’s hands, but Palmer crooked the man’s head to the side and sank his bloodstained teeth into his throat.

Kane shoved the spy glass back into his breeches. “What the devil are you up to Palmer?” 

“Och, may the devil take Palmer, but I don’t have to tell you that Capt’n.” Kane’s best friend and boatswain, Sean Mallory, slapped the railing. He’d been with Kane through the Irish Confederate War. Despite his angelic face and long blond hair, his towering stature intimidated Sassenachs, like an avenging archangel. 

“He wants something.”

“How do you know?”

Kane gritted his teeth. “Because Palmer never asks his victims anything before he kills them. Prepare to board ‘er. Ready the guns.”

 “Aye, aye, Capt’n,” Sean called over his shoulders. “Ready the guns. Prepare to board ’er.”

Footsteps pounded on the deck as Kane’s crew rushed to their stations. Kane gripped the bow railing. Acid pitted in his gut. “Revenge is mine, Palmer.”

The Soaring Phoenix sailed steadfast and true, the crew ready to board the Fiery Damsel. Kane pulled out his sword and pistol. “Fire!” Kane shouted as the Soaring Phoenix closed in on the Fiery Damsel. Cannons thundered and hit the hull of the Damsel’s starboard side. The circling bats sped toward the Phoenix, but then landed on the Damsel, changing back into men.     

 “Ahoy, Capt’n, off the starboard bow. ’Tis a lad and a man!” Amadi shouted. Kane glanced up at the crow’s nest where Amadi pointed. Night or day, he swore Amadi possessed eagle eyes whether man or vampire. Amadi pointed at some broken wood, but Kane peered closer. Two figures clutched two pieces of drift wood. Palmer must be losing his touch.

Palmer ran to the side of the sinking ship. He jumped into the air and dove toward the man and the lad. Without thinking, Kane called upon his vampire powers, leaped into the air and the condensing sensation of his body shrinking, his muscles contracting and his bones shortening, shot through him. Kane’s arms transformed into wings, his vision grew keener, and his body shifted into a large bat.

Lucky he was able to transform. Sometimes the waxing moon allowed him to use his vampire powers. If it had been a crescent moon or a half moon, he’d never been able to call forth his powers and the victims would be good as dead. Although he was immortal, he didn’t have the ability to fight Palmer when Palmer was at full strength. 

“Capt’n,” Amadi yelled. “No.”

More crewmen joined in the protest, but Kane ignored them. He wanted to foil Palmer’s bloodlust.

He sped toward Palmer. The lad ducked under water, but the larger, swag-bellied man remained slumped over a piece of wood. Inches away from the man, Palmer skimmed the water and soared into the sky. As he whirled around, Kane collide with him, wrapping his wings around Palmer’s body, trapping Palmer’s wings. Kane bit the back of Palmer’s neck. Palmer screeched and arched his back, but Kane held on. The ocean, night sky and ships swirled around as they plunged into the warm water the way sea eagles clash over prey. Palmer arched again and broke free. He whirled around and bit Kane’s wing, tearing his flesh. Pain seized Kane and he sucked in sea water.

Palmer soared out of the water. Ignoring the blinding pain, Kane darted into the air and pursued him. Cannons thundered. A cannonball whisked toward him. Kane darted to the left, narrowly missing the shell. 

“Captain,” Amadi shouted.

“What the blazes are you doing?” Sean cried.

Others joined Amadi and Sean into yelling at him to return to the Soaring Phoenix.

Palmer glided toward the Fiery Damsel. Blood dripped onto the ocean. Damn! If Kane chased him onto his ship, Palmer’s men would not hesitate to sever his head and he’d join the floating corpses.

A movement in the water caught his eyes. Damn sharks.

The pain throbbed in his wing. He turned around and headed back to the Soaring Phoenix. Kane spread his wings wide, landed on the deck, and transformed back into a man. He half smiled at the holes marring the hull of the Fiery Damsel as she turned and headed back out to sea.  

Sean stood there with his arms crossed over his chest. “Capt’n, what the devil were you thinking?”

Kane rubbed his throbbing shoulder. “Denying Palmer his pleasure.”

Yes, Kane is my version of an alpha male and hope you liked the excerpt. I look forward to meeting all of you at the conference.

ML

About ML Guida:

You can contact me at my website: http://www.mlguida.com.