ReeseRyan

Guest Post: Take a Coffee Break or How to Have More Time to Write by Amy Denim

January 15, 2014 by ReeseRyan

I love Some E-cards because of the true, but snarky insight into the world, especially when it comes to social media. My own biggest social media fail? The space-time vortex of Facebook, Twitter, etc known as The Timesuck.(Dun dun duhhhhhhhhhhn)

Last year I’m pretty sure I wrote more words on social media than I did on my WIPs. Woops.

But I had to build my platform, right? Ugh. How to combine writing and being on social media…

Coffee Breaks.

Yep, you read that right. The key to getting both done was – no, not more caffeine, but taking ten to fifteen minute breaks in my writing flurry to let my brain have a break and get my online socializing done at the same time.

Here’s what I came up with.

The Coffee Break Mentality

Coffee Break Guide to Social Media for Writers — Need to make more time for your writing? Get your copy of *The Coffee Break to Social Media for Writers,* available on Amazon.

1. Pick one social media site and be really good at it. Only after you’re comfortable using that one (and doing it well, not being a spammer) pick a couple more to pop onto every once in a while.

2. Take Social Media Coffee Breaks. When you sit down to write, it’s a good idea to take a brain break, get up from your desk, grab a drink and stretch at least once an hour. When you do that take a few minutes of your break to check in on your favorite social media platform. Say hi to a few people, post a funny Some e-card and by the time you’ve finished your coffee (or Mountain Dew or Earl Grey) you’ve done a great job on social media and it’s time to get back to writing.

3. Focus by having a plan. It’s so easy to scroll through your Facebook newsfeed, stare at Twitter or lollygag at all the pretty pictures on Pinterest for hours. Well, you’re going to whittle that down to fifteen minutes (set a timer if you have to) but what can you do in those fifteen minutes that will be effective interactions?

You need a plan. I recommend the power of three.

3 scrolls. Whichever social media site you’re on, you probably have to scroll down a couple times to see what’s going on with your people. Limit that to three times and you won’t get sucked too far in.

Comment on three people’s posts. Remember, social media is all about being social. Talk to someone!

Make three friends. Follow or friend three new people. Don’t ask them to check out your website, Facebook page or book, just say hi. Take a genuine interest in them, Don’t be a spammer.

Don’t be a Some E-card meme. If you’re wasting time on social media try my Coffee Break Mentality. Start with those three ideas and if you want more, check out The Coffee Break Guide to Social Media for Writers: How To Be Successful on Social Media and Still Have Time toWrite.

Do you have questions about how to be successful on social media? Ask them here! One lucky commenter will win a copy of the book and one hour of social media consulting with me!

Meet Amy Denim

Amy Denim writes business books for writers and contemporary romance. She loves hot heroes (like chefs and cowboys) and curvy intelligent heroines (like chefs and cowgirls.)

She’s been a franchise sales coordinator, a lifeguard, a personal shopper, and a teacher of English as a Foreign Language. But now she spends her days reading and writing at her local library or in her book cave.

Amy started out her writer’s life scared out of her wits because she didn’t have a business plan, hadn’t yet created an online platform, wasn’t on Twitter, didn’t have a Facebook fanpage and had never even heard of Goodreads. She just wrote books. So she spent a year becoming a publishing industry information fiend and now does consulting for creatives on how to use take control of their writing careers. She started Coffee Break Social Media to help writers and artists learn to use SM platforms effectively (without the scare tactics) but still have time to create. She believes business plans and social media can be every writer’s friend, sometimes they just need an introduction.

Visit Amy on her author website at www.AmyDenim.com or for tips and tricks on the writing business at www.coffeebreaksocialmedia.com.

Michelle Miles: Countdown Release Party for A Knight to Remember!

January 13, 2014 by ReeseRyan

Hello! First thanks to Reese for allowing me to come to the blog today and talk about my upcoming release, A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER. I’m very excited about this book and looking forward to getting it into the hands of readers. I hope you love it!

A little about me. I’m Michelle Miles. I write contemporary, fantasy and paranormal romance. You can find my books online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Sony and other fine online retailers. What makes my fiction different? It’s a blend of romance, high adventure, fast-paced action, sassy heroines and sexy heroes.

Why am I here today? I want you to give my undying thanks to all my readers by giving away a Nook Simple Touch Reader. How do you enter? Come by the blog every day from January 4 through January 14 to the Countdown Release Party to enter! There are daily prizes as well as the grand prize. All you have to do is comment. Every day you do gets you another entry into the grand prize drawing. Isn’t that exciting?

Plus, other authors are joining in the fun. Come meet authors Vicki Batman, Sylvia McDaniel and Misty Evans. I’m giving away books from the Realm of Honor series including ONE KNIGHT ONLY, ONLY FOR A KNIGHT and A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER. PLUS get a sneak preview of the fourth book, A KNIGHT LIKE NO OTHER!

What’s all the fuss about? If you love fantasy romance, then you’ll love this series. Here’s the blurb:

Henry Chase is desperate to find his daughter lost in the Highlands. When he steps through a stone circle, he’s transported to the Otherworld. With his human form hidden by glamour, he masquerades as a Fae knight. He’s instantly besotted by Queen Maeve and determined to break down the walls she’s erected around her heart.

In the aftermath of war, Queen Maeve’s kingdom has been destroyed. She must close the portals to the human realm and restore her lost magic. But before she can set things straight, her archenemy, the Goddess of War, attacks, seeking revenge.

When the goddess captures the queen, Henry offers his life for Maeve’s in the hope his bravery will earn the queen’s love. Discovering Henry is human and knowing she must send him back to his world, Maeve tries to fight her feelings for him. Now she must choose—life at court or life with Henry—before she loses him forever.

And now get a sneak peek of the book!

He must be crazy to even consider asking her to dance. She looked so bored though. As though she might die of it any moment.

Henry stood, his palms damp with sweat. No, he couldn’t do it. He sat again, picked up his tankard and took a healthy swig. Perhaps if he drank more, he would have more gumption to ask her. He took another quaff of the—what was this stuff? Mead? He liked the way it warmed his veins. He stood again. But his damn palms still sweated.

“Dad, what are you doing?” Maggie’s rough whisper came from his left. She tugged on his tunic. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.”

Yes, he was going to do this. He was going to ask the queen to dance. And if she rejected him, he would hang his head in shame and leave. She would never see him again.

“I’m going to ask the queen for a dance.”

“Are you mad?” Maggie jumped to her feet next to him, her hand on his arm, keeping him in place. “You can’t do that.”

“Why not?” he asked and it sounded more like a challenge than a question.

“B-because she’s the queen.” Maggie stole a glance at her before looking back at him. “And I forbid it.”

He nearly laughed. “You forbid it?”

“You…you can’t, Dad.”

“Why not?” he asked again, this time wanting a real answer.

“She’s….she’s the mother of my best friend. It would be…weird.”

“Mags, you’re a grown woman. Married. I seriously doubt it would be weird to ask her for a dance.” He paused, thought about his words when his daughter raised an eyebrow. “Okay, aside from the fact she’s a queen and I’m a…a…you know.”

“Human,” she whispered roughly.

“But she doesn’t know that.”

“Not yet!” She fisted her hands and perched them on her hips. “What if she says no? Then what?”

“Then I’ll look silly, won’t I?” He straightened his tunic. “Don’t worry, my little magpie. If she says no, I swear not to bother her again. But I don’t think she will. I may be old, but I still have some charms.”

Maggie scowled, looking every bit like the teenager he remembered. “Dad. Ew.”

“Hey, don’t look so disgusted. Your mother and I—”

“All right, all right. I get it. No need to explain.” She held up her hands in surrender. “But be careful. She doesn’t like humans.”

“Hey, who you calling human? I’m a Fae now.” He thumbed at his chest as he winked and Maggie laughed. “See you later, magpie.”

He headed for the front of the room, steeling his nerves. The delay with Maggie had made him nearly lose his nerve. But no. He was seriously going to do it. He wouldn’t let the fact she was royalty and he was…nothing, deter him. He stepped up to her, held his hand out across the table.

“Your majesty, would you do me the honor of this dance?”

The Elven king dropped his chicken leg in shock. Elyne stared at him wide-eyed. Derron clenched his jaw. Maeve’s expression hadn’t changed from bored and annoyed and he wondered if that was now directed to him.

“Sir Henry…?” Elyne asked, but her words waned and she didn’t continue.

“It would be my honor,” he said.

“And who are you, exactly?” Her silky voice caressed his senses.

He dropped his hand and gave a quick bow. “Sir Henry. At your service, my queen.” That sounded convincing, didn’t it? He almost believed it himself.

“Are you new to the Queen’s Guard?” She still didn’t seem convinced as she looked him over, sizing him up.

“I am,” he said, feeling rather confident. She was going to say yes. He knew it.

“I see. And how did you end up here?”

Crap. A question he didn’t have an answer to. Thankfully, Elyne piped up.

“He helped round up some of the orcs and humans wandering the realm, Mother. He came to the palace yesterday.”

Not an untruth. Points to Elyne for thinking fast and offering an explanation. He liked the princess more and more.

Maeve’s gaze never left his face as she peered at him with something he couldn’t read. Not mistrust. She seemed to trust him. It was something else. Curiosity. Interest. She bit her lip as though on the verge of agreeing to dance with him. He held out his hand again.

“Do me the honor of a dance?”

“I don’t think that’s—”

“I will.” Maeve cut Derron off as she rose.

Henry’s heart leapt as he watched her round the table. Her grace and poise was impeccable. She was every bit the dignified queen she appeared to be. She took his hand, his fingers closing around hers. Her warmth penetrated him to his soul. God, she feels good! His heart hammered a happy cadence as he led her to the dance floor. The tune had been lively, upbeat. Now it was something slower. Softer. He cheered at the thought of holding her close and feeling her body press against him.

As he took her in his arms, he realized he had no clue what the dances were of the time or the realm. How did the Fae dance here? He did a quick cursory glance around the room. The others had practically deserted the floor to give way for the queen. A few brave couples remained dancing side by side, their fingertips barely touching.

Henry would not do that. He wanted her in his arms, next to him. He wanted to smell her beautiful, heady scent. What was it? Jasmine? Whatever it was, it was exotic. And she was ethereal. He was acutely aware of the gawks and stares from those around the room.

Had it been a bold move to ask her to dance? Because he was a lowly Fae knight did that mean he was not allowed to speak with his queen? Knowing she really wasn’t his queen made it okay in his mind. He slipped his arm around her waist, pulled her close, while holding her other hand shoulder height.

“What are you doing?” She flinched and for a moment he thought she might pull away.

He tightened his grip, keeping her firmly in place. “Where I come from this is how we dance. I’ll show you. All you have to do is follow my lead.”

“Where exactly do you come from?” An eyebrow quirked in question.

Ah, yet another question he couldn’t answer. “Across the realm.” Did that sound plausible?

“Hm,” was her response.

He led her through the steps, keeping her as close to him as possible. Then turned with her still in his arms.

“You learned to dance like this there?” she asked.

“I did.”

Actually, he learned before his wedding. Maggie’s mother had made him take lessons so they could dance together and not look like fools. Her words, not his. He had reluctantly agreed. He wasn’t for the ballroom dancing but now he was glad he had learned. Now he was with this lovely woman whose curves seemed made for him.

“I have never seen such a dance,” she said.

“Mayhap, your majesty, you should relax and enjoy it instead of questioning it every few seconds.”

She blinked surprise. Had no one talked to her like that before?

“I would remove the head of most who spoke to me like that.”

“Like what?”

“In that insolent tone.”

“Apologies, your majesty. I hope I can keep my head. For my lips are attached and they’ve yet to have a taste of you.”

“You are bold, aren’t you?” She tilted her head back, gave him a look down her nose that he suspected she’d perfected eons ago.

“Too bold for her majesty?”

“That remains to be seen,” she said. And her mouth quirked into almost a grin.

Henry’s heart thumped and for the first time he could acknowledge the attraction he had for her. His nerve endings tingled and even his buddy in his pants was in agreement.

“Too bold to kiss you here?” He knew he pushed it but he didn’t care. He wanted to see what she’d say.

Her face hardened. “Definitely too bold.”

He slanted his head, as though ready to kiss her. She licked her lips, as though ready to let him. His mouth was close to hers. Oh so close. He could feel her warm breath tickling his face.

“Tempting me, your majesty?”

How to enter the giveaway:
All you have to do is visit my blog and comment on the Countdown Release Party posts. That’s it! You will be entered in the grand prize drawing as well as eligible for the daily prizes. Hope to see you there. In the meantime, happy reading!

Michelle Miles frequently gets lost in the pages of a good fantasy romance and can often been seen daydreaming about knights on white steeds and princess who know how to save themselves. Check out her blog for fun stuff, follow her on Facebook and Twitter and sign up for her newsletter at her website.

Enter the Love Me Not Blog Tour Grand Prize #Giveaway

January 9, 2014 by ReeseRyan

The Love Me Not Blog Tour has been great fun these past two weeks. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this wonderful journey! All of your tweets, comments and shares are greatly appreciated!

Since I can’t give you all a big hug (and I totally would, I’m a notorious hugger), I’m giving away a bundle of goodies to one lucky person. If you haven’t entered to win the tour grand prize, outlined below, you still have a few hours today and then all of tomorrow to enter to contest. If you have already entered, remember, you can enter each day by tweeting about the giveaway or commenting on a blog post.

GIVEAWAY

$25 Amazon, Barnes & Noble or iTunes Gift Card
$10 Starbucks e-Gift Card
Digital copy of Love Me Not by Reese Ryan
Digital copy of Making the First Move by Reese Ryan

Visit any of the tour stops listed below to get in your last-minute entries. Not sure which stop to visit? If you’d like to know more about the story behind Love Me Not, visit:

Just Contemporary Romance to discover why Love Me Not deals with some serious dysfunctional family drama.
Carina Press Blog to find out why I’m slightly obsessed with characters keeping secrets.
Dr. Pepper Diva where I talk about the perils of writing about not-so-perfect heroines.
The Pen & Muse to learn why secondary characters always play an important role in my contemporary romances.
The Brunette Librarian to find out what happens when a secondary character decides she has a story to tell.
Kwana Writes to discover why my characters tend to be a bit…complicated.

Wanna see what reviewers are saying about Love Me Not? Visit:

Want to get to know a little more about me? Grab a cup of coffee and let’s get acquainted. Visit author interviews at Characters Behaving Badly & The Pen & Muse.

See book highlights and excerpts at these blogs:

If you haven’t already, consider joining my mailing list (the form is to the right, at the top of the sidebar) to stay tuned for future giveaways and sneak peeks. I love hearing from readers, so if you have a question or comment about a character or an element of the story, feel free to contact me here.

Good luck on your entry and best wishes for a happy new year!

***The Love Me Not tour is being coordinated by Irresistible Reads Tours.***

Love Me Not Release Day

December 30, 2013 by ReeseRyan

I honestly can’t believe it’s finally here. The day I get to say that I’m a multi-published novelist. I’ve been grinning so hard that I think I strained a jaw muscle and I’m pretty sure I twisted an ankle breaking out my tragically-awesome Snoopy dance. (Picture Snoopy with a busted ankle and a lot more hips.) Today is release day for my second novel, which also happens to be the second book in my Bad Boys Gone Good series published by Carina Press.

When it comes to fiction-writing, I’m a bit of a rule-breaker. (Which is odd, because I cling fanatically to rules in other areas of life. But, c’est la vie. ) So in this series you won’t find syrupy-sweet heroines clinging to perfection with nary a broken fingernail. My heroines don’t always follow expectations, and in the case of Jamie Charles, the heroine of Love Me Not, they sometimes give established rules the finger. But these women are very human, deal with very real issues and find a way to be happy despite them. As P!nk would say, they’re wrong in all the right ways.

To celebrate the release, I’m doing the Love Me Not Blog Tour from December 30th – January 10th which includes a fun giveaway. Get details on the giveaway below. Check out the full tour schedule here. Then visit other stops for more chances to enter the contest.

Thank you to all of the wonderful readers and authors who have supported my journey as an author. Lots of love and Happy New Year to you!

About Love Me Not

Tortured artist, Jamie Charles’ life is a careful balance between flashes of brilliance and self-loathing. Her art is as dark and dramatic as her painful past. Her resentment of the biological parents—who were too preoccupied with their addictions to bother with her—fuels her ambition to succeed as an artist, but also takes a heavy, personal toll.

Miles Copeland climbed to the top of his advertising agency because he isn’t afraid of taking risks and because he has something to prove to the father who betrayed his family. But when he falls for a moody, Gothic beauty with zero interest in anything but a purely physical relationship, he finds himself in dangerous territory.

Jamie prefers living hard and fast without the complications of love, but finds it impossible to resist the stunningly handsome, yet incredibly sweet man who is determined to have every piece of her–including her heart. Miles shows Jamie the beauty of being loved madly and deeply, but is it enough to make her finally learn to love herself, and open her heart to him?

Love Me Not Excerpt

“You’re not the only person who can read people, mister.” She crossed her arms and stared at him.

“Okay, so maybe I can afford pricey shoes and—”

“A black BMW.”

His mouth gaped open. “How’d you—?”

“It’s a gift,” she said proudly, leaning in a little closer. “I could tell you were a BMW guy two minutes after we met. Took me another fifteen minutes to figure out you’d probably go for classic black, probably a high-end five series…maybe the six series. Definitely not the seven, ’cause that’d just be flaunting it.”

He let out a low whistle and ran his fingers through his hair. “No way. The valet must be acting as your secret informant.”

“Nope. I told you, it’s a gift.” She rested her elbows on the bar and leaned even closer to him. Her voice was a husky whisper. “Don’t look now, but the older guy coming in the door with the chick in the tiny sequin skirt who’s young enough to be his granddaughter…bet he drives a wee little Corvette in some wildly inappropriate color like lemon yellow.” She backed away from him and headed to the other end of the bar to refresh another customer’s drink. When she was done she returned to Miles and whispered, “So whadya think? You think I’m right?”

He had that ridiculously sexy grin plastered on his face again, the wattage decidedly turned up a notch. “That guy is staying at my hotel. You’re only half right, though. He drives a nineteen sixty-five Corvette Stingray, but it isn’t yellow, it’s Incredible Hulk green.”

Jamie shuddered. “Even worse. And the guy should be taken behind a woodshed and beaten for mutilating an American classic like that. Not to mention the fact that he’s corrupting a minor.”

“Agreed.”

They giggled like naughty schoolchildren making fun of the substitute teacher’s ten-buck toupee, and something about it felt good. Familiar. Like having an inside joke with an old friend.

“You’re a bad influence on me.” She swiped underneath her eye with the heel of her hand, careful not to ruin her makeup. “I shouldn’t be making fun of the customers.”

“You’re telling me you wouldn’t have slammed that guy’s superhero-inspired midlife crisis on wheels if I wasn’t here?” He smiled at her. “Then I’m really glad I came. Face it, you might not want to talk about it, but you needed a good laugh tonight.”

About the Bad Boys Gone Good Series

Love Me Not explores the story of Jamie Charles and Miles Copeland. When these characters were introduced in Book #1–Making the First Move–they were already a couple, and Jamie had undergone a transformation. In that book we were given glimpses of what led to that change. Love Me Not steps backward, to tell the story of how Jamie met Miles.

If you haven’t already read Making the First Move…don’t. Read Love Me Not first.

Comment on this post, follow this blog, or choose one of the other available options to enter the Love Me Not blog tour contest below for your chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card, a $10 Starbucks e-Card and both books in the Bad Boys Gone Good series to date–Love Me Not & Making the First Move.

Bio:

Reese Ryan writes sexy, contemporary fiction filled with colorful characters and sinfully-sweet romance. She secretly enjoys torturing her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets, and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a happily ever after.

Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Central North Carolina where she has happily declared herself a Bohemian Southern Belle. Visit Reese online at ReeseRyan.com. Follow her on Twitter @ReeseRyanWrites. Connect with her on Facebook or Goodreads.

Love Me Not Blog Tour Grand Prize

$25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card
$10 Starbucks e-Card
Digital copy of Love Me Not by Reese Ryan
Digital copy of Making the First Move by Reese Ryan

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Why Really Getting to Know Your Characters Makes Your Story Richer

December 27, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Today I’m the visiting professor over at one of my favorite blogs, Romance University. We’re discussing a topic essential to any story–your characters. My stories are character-driven. However, even in a plot-driven story, the main characters shoulder most of the load. If the character doesn’t feel real, the reader will quickly lose interest.

A character that isn’t fully formed is akin to a flat paper doll as opposed to a three-dimensional one that feels real to the touch and mimics the activities of an actual baby. Which one would the average little girl prefer?

Readers also prefer characters reminiscent of living, breathing human beings. The kind that will make them wonder what those characters are doing, long after the final page of the book has been shut.

So how do we take a faint idea, a general personality and a few physical traits and turn them into a well-developed character? I’m sharing a few of my tips for making the character feel more fully-formed in today’s Romance University post, Make Your Story Richer with In-depth Knowledge of Your Characters.

Come on over as I discuss a few techniques that enable you to breathe life into your characters and amp up your understanding (and the reader’s) of your character’s motivation. Then share your experiences and tips in the comments. I’d love to hear from you!

A note on Romance University: If you’re a romance writer, this tuition-free instructional zone is a wealth of information you can’t afford to miss. But don’t think it only has something to offer to romance writers. The information on creating characters, choosing setting, craft advice, author brand and marketing, industry news and how to accurately write about firearms can be useful no matter what genre you write. So don’t miss out on the great information available there.

Photo provided courtesy of merwing little dear. Some rights reserved.

Get a Taste of Eternal Night by Jade Kerrion

December 26, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Looking to feed your shiny, new e-reader with an engaging fantasy novel? Jade Kerrion’s newest novel, Eternal Night, just might be exactly what you’re looking for. Read an excerpt below and discover what makes her stories and characters so compelling.

***

“What makes Kerrion’s writing so compelling is the beautifully flawed characters that find themselves in unexpected relationships…these kind of character level conflicts make Kerrion’s writing so deliciously addictive.”—Noor A Jahangir, Author of The Changeling King

“Everything you want in a great story. Love, intrigue, action, betrayal, and understanding.”—Ch’kara Silverwolf, Author of Daughter of Light and Dark

Alone for a millennium, since a human murdered her beloved consort, Ashra, the immortal icrathari queen, rules over Aeternae Noctis, the domed city of eternal night. Her loneliness appears to be at an end when her consort’s soul is reborn in a human, Jaden Hunter, but their reunion will not be easy.

Icrathari are born, not made. If Ashra infuses Jaden with her immortal blood, he will be a vampire, a lesser creature of the night, a blood-drinker rather than a soul-drinker.

Furthermore, Jaden is sworn to protect his half-sister, five-year-old Khiarra. She is the child of prophecy, destined to end the eternal night and the dominion of the Night Terrors—the icrathari and the vampires.

As Ashra struggles to sustain her crumbling kingdom in the face of enemies without and treachery within, Jaden fights to defend his sister and unravel a greater mystery: what is the city of eternal night, and how did it come to be?

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

READ AN EXCERPT

With Tera beside her, Ashra strode forward. A wall of vampires parted to reveal the other two icrathari, Siri and Elsker. A dark-haired human slumped at Elsker’s feet, his wrists cuffed behind his back. Ashra stifled a chuckle. Surely Tera was overreacting; the human was by far the weakest creature in the chamber.

Tera knelt down, wrapped her fingers into the human’s hair, and pulled his head back. The human’s face was handsome enough—the slash of his cheekbones accentuated his perfectly proportioned, sculptured features—but taken as a whole, he was not compelling enough to justify the fuss.

Ashra shrugged. “You’re wasting my time, Tera.”

Apparently undeterred, the icrathari warlord shook the human hard. His eyes flashed open. They were brilliant green, the exact color of the emerald ring Ashra wore on the index finger of her right hand. His gaze was unfocused, and the reflexive narrowing of his eyes matched the clenching of his jaw, hinting of wrenching pain.

Tera looked up and met Ashra’s gaze. “Taste his soul.”

Ashra recoiled, her upper lip curling in disgust. She had no desire to taste a human’s soul. Over the centuries, humans had grown weak, their small lives consumed by superstition and fear. It was better to live on the edge of perpetual starvation than fill her hunger with the pitiful excuse humans called a soul.

“Go deep,” Tera said.

But why? Ashra’s brow furrowed. She glanced at Siri and Elsker, but the two icrathari shrugged, apparently no more clued in than she was. She looked back at Tera. The icrathari warlord known as Ashra’s Blade was the epitome of calm understatement. If she was so insistent, she must have had a reason.

Ashra knelt beside the human. Without flinching, she placed her hand against his muscled abdomen. It was bloody, his flesh ripped by a vampire’s talons.

The man tensed at her touch, and his eyes flared wide with agony when her soul-sucking powers leeched into him. His breath came hard and fast, his chest heaving with the effort as he twisted in Tera’s unyielding grip, trying to break free.

Ashra’s eyes narrowed. The human was weakened—tapped into his life source, she waded through his dazed thoughts and shivered from the echo of each spasm of pain that wracked his body—but still, he fought Tera on the physical plane and Ashra on the psychic dimension, denying her access to his memories and to his soul.

She frowned and slammed her will against his, tearing an anguished scream from his throat, but still, his will did not crumble.

Askance, Ashra looked at Tera. “Did you taste him?”

Tera nodded. “It wasn’t hard the first time; he didn’t know what to expect, but apparently, he does now and is doing a fine job of fighting back.”

Was that grudging respect she heard in Tera’s voice? “Does his soul really matter?”

The icrathari nodded again.

Ashra’s shoulders shifted with the motion of a silent sigh. His resistance left her with little choice. She leaned forward and glided her lips over his in a whisper of a kiss.

Human myths spoke of succubi and incubi—demons that, with a touch, could stir lust in their unwilling victims. All myths were based in reality. The maddening beauty and soul-sucking powers of the icrathari had spawned the legends of succubi and incubi. With a touch, the icrathari could lure their victims into a state of sexual ecstasy, bending the will and baring the soul.

The human tensed against Ashra, resisting the intimate contact. She almost recoiled. Had the centuries dulled her innate powers? Surely she had not forgotten how to lure a man.

She closed her eyes and remembered love.

As always, Rohkeus’s fine-featured face—those beautiful gold-flecked green eyes, so unusual for an icrathari, and teasing smile—came to the fore. With a dreamy half-smile, she deepened the kiss, driving the memory of love before her like a sharpened stake.

At last, the man relaxed, succumbing to the kiss. She leaned into him, heedless of his crimson blood staining her white gown. He was warm, feverish even. Just skimming over six feet, he had more than twelve inches on her, but his physical strength, compared to hers, was puny. She was well aged; over four millennia old, she was the oldest of the icrathari and the strongest. She could have broken his neck with as little effort as a human child snapping a twig.

Her hand trailed across his muscled torso. He made it easy for her to be gentle. His body trembled as if he longed for her. His mouth was hungry for her kiss. He arched up against her, as if craving more. His need was like a living creature, wild and aching for her touch.

Eyes closed, Ashra shivered. Only one other person had desired her as much.

And he was dead.

She forced her way through the memories of pale bodies tangled upon cool silk sheets. When her soul-sucking power leeched out, it found no opposition. Images of the human’s life rewound in a blaze of vivid sights, sounds, and sensations.

Ashra looked up at Tera, her smile little more than a barely perceptible curve of her lips. “He fancies himself the protector of the child of prophecy. Was she among those taken tonight?”

Tera nodded.

Ashra chuckled, the sound without humor. “It’s a pity her genetic heritage wasn’t sufficiently superior to prevent her from being culled.”

“There’s more. Go deep.”

She pushed past the blackness at the start of his memories, expecting deeper darkness. Instead, the colors shifted into shades of ochre and gray. Memories, older than his body, resided in his soul; memories of an Earth long since lost to them—a planet surrounded and nourished by water; images of tall buildings glistening beneath a benevolent sun, and of thriving cities filled with the bustle of humans; memories of quiet and intimate conversations beneath a silver moon, the same silver moon that now graced Malum Turris with its light, though a thousand years older and viewed only from beneath the protection of the dome.

She saw herself as he must have seen her, a much-younger icrathari, still hopeful for the future, never realizing that the Earth they had all known and loved was irretrievably lost. Had she ever looked that vulnerable? Had her smile ever been so beautiful, so filled with love as she looked upon—

“Rohkeus?” Oh, blessed Creator, was that stricken whisper her voice?

~*~

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Love Me Not: Snarky, Sexy, Emotional

December 18, 2013 by ReeseRyan

We’re less than two weeks away from the release of Book 2 in my Bad Boys Gone Good series. Squee! The lovely Tynga made the graphic above for me. It sums up these two characters perfectly. Here’s what early reviewers have to say about Love Me Not:

I’ve waited impatiently for this book since I learned it was going to be Jamie’s story and it far surpassed anything I was hoping for…Miles was sexy, romantic, sensitive and an incredible lover (be prepared for some serious, serious steam) and had enough imperfections to keep him real. I loved how Jamie’s transformation unfolded and developed, as well as the realism regarding her romance with Miles. ~ Jonetta (ejaygirl), The Book Nympho

I really enjoyed this story and all the multiple layers to both Jamie and Miles… I don’t want to give too much away because I think that Reese Ryan reveals elements of her characters so beautifully. You really need to read the book to appreciate who these characters are and what they go through in order to be together. At the end, you will believe that they are meant to be. ~ Contemporary Romance Writers

Read the summary and an excerpt here. To read the first two full chapters, subscribe to the newsletter list below:

Cover Reveal: Love Illusion by Chineka Williams

December 3, 2013 by ReeseRyan

I’m thrilled to participate in the cover reveal for Love Illusion by Chineka Williams. Isn’t the cover gorgeous? Here’s a little glimpse of what you can expect from the February 3, 2014 release.

Summary

Lucy is a confident PR professional who is fearful of her troubled ex-boyfriend Charles. He is in denial about their breakup. With issues of alcoholism and abandonment, he spirals out of control.

Meanwhile, Lucy’s best friend Jade has found love and is about to get married. She is a loyal friend who is there for Lucy every step of the way.

Feeling trapped, Lucy is determined to fight back against Charles, but it won’t be without complication. After great debate, she optimistically accepts a new job offer miles away. Lucy soon embarks on an uncertain journey all connected to love.

About the Author:

Chineka Williams found a love of reading and writing early on as a child. She is a graduate of North Carolina Central University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. Books and Stilettos is the blog that she maintains for all things women’s fiction and writing updates. Outside of reading, her hobbies include baking, playing the clarinet, and photography. She can always be seen with a cup of tea close by. Love Illusion is her debut novel.

3 Reasons to Write the Premise BEFORE You Write Your Novel

November 20, 2013 by ReeseRyan

As writers, we get so absorbed with the storyline and characters, writing, and a myriad of creative reasons not to write that we forget about the business side of being a writer.

We lose sight of the fact that once we’re done with writing, editing, revising (rinse and repeat), we’ll need to talk about the book. In a way that’s interesting, intelligent and concise.

Cue the deer in the headlights footage.

It’s embarrassing when someone asks, “What’s your book about?” and you stand there staring at them like a deer caught in the headlights. It can be absolutely disastrous if it happens when you’re on the elevator at a writing conference and your dream agent is the one asking.

I’ve been there before.

Not on the elevator with my dream agent. But let’s just say my deer-in-the-headlights face has gotten pretty damned good thanks to some hard core practice.

What I have since discovered is that writing the premise of your story first is the key to never having this happen to you again. Today I’m over at Contemporary Romance Writers–the blog for my RWA online Contemporary Romance Writers Chapter enumerating the this and two other reasons why it pays to write the premise before you write your book.

Listen to the little diddy above (because it will seriously make you happy for at least the next three hours) then I’d love it if you popped over to the Contemporary Romance Writers blog to chat about whether you write your premise first and when your last deer-in-the-headlights experience occurred.

5 Ways Introverts Can Succeed Without Forcing Themselves to Become Extroverts

November 15, 2013 by ReeseRyan

You probably won’t find this shocking, but I’m a bona fide introvert.

Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking

Many writers are. The quiet, solitary nature of writing appeals to introverts.

I have often referred to myself as an introvert masquerading as an extrovert. The feeling that, as an introvert, I must conform to a more extroverted personality in order to succeed, is a belief that many introverts hold.

Yet, it simply isn’t true.

As introverts, we have strengths which we can leverage. We need to recognize this and stop feeling guilty and apologetic about our natural temperament.

Recently, I’ve seen some pretty awesome info online about introverts. There was this enlightening, thoughtful post that dispels ten myths about introverts. For instance, we don’t dislike people and don’t always want to be alone. However, we draw our energy from within and need some quiet downtime to recharge our batteries. When we’re not allowed that–or are made to feel guilty about it–we can turn into a Ms. Cranky Pants of a magnitude you never, ever want to witness.

Trust me on that.

On the other hand, give us a little fair warning about a social event and some time to recharge before and after the event, and we can be the life of the party. You won’t be able to shut me us up.

Then there was this awesomesauce post on Buzz Feed about 27 Problems Only Introverts understand, which is hilarious, mostly because it’s also quite true.

Today I finally got a chance to watch a video by the funny, insightful and always inspiring, Marie Forleo, over on MarieTV. Networking for Introverts with Susan Cain. I love Marie’s videos! She shares information, encouragement and resources that help entrepreneurs make money and live a life they love. The advice and observations she shares are usually applicable to creative professionals, too.

Susan Cain is the author of the award-winning book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. This video discussion between Susan and Marie highlights five fantastic tips to help introverts cope in a world where they seldom feel appreciated. Not to mention the comfort that comes from knowing you aren’t alone (or an anti-social freak). The video is lengthy at a little over 20 minutes. However, it’s well worth it for introverts and the people who love them, but who don’t always get them.

Are you an introvert or an extrovert? What challenges have you faced either being an introvert or in dealing with people who are? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below.

Photo of Susan Cain courtesy of the American Library Association. Some rights reserved.