New Year, New Beginning

After taking a year-long hiatus from all things related to writing, my one and only New Year's resolution this year is to write more, so this represents my brand new start. Of course, this is a promise I make to myself often, that there will always be time tomorrow, but there are no guarantees, so I have to make time to do the things I love, or not get the chance to do them at all.

This year I read a lot, mostly on my Sony e-reader. The whole e-book thing has really taken off, with a huge boom in e-book sales this past year. The big-box stores now carry Kindles and Nooks at affordable prices, making them easy to own, and super convenient. The introduction of the Kindle Fire is a game-changer, as it appears to be able to do all the things an i-Pad does at a fraction of the price. Even in my own sales, I've noticed Amazon is head-and-shoulders above the competition, so even though I originally wanted a Sony reader so that I could open all kinds of files (not just Kindle-formatted files), I am a huge supporter of the Amazon Kindle. Hey, if such a device can encourage people to read more, I'm all for it.

I've been wading through my gigantic list of book freebies I've downloaded. Most of them are generally Christian romance. I'm not a huge fan of the genre, but I do like the uplifting message most try to convey. As long as they don't get too preachy (often a huge mistake in books of that nature), I like the simplicity of it. I tend to enjoy the historical/western ones that blend the Christian romance in. However, reading this genre doesn't do much for my own inspiration since I have no interest in writing those types of books. Maybe that's telling me something right there.

I've also spent a lot of time playing video games this past year. I tend to really enjoy the ones that are more story-and-character-driven (obviously). I definitely don't fit into the 'typical gamer mold,' but it's still something I enjoy. Unfortunately it's been cutting into my valuable writing time significantly (I'm looking at you, Dragon Age and Skyrim). I can't be content with a game that generally takes about ten to twelve hours to beat, oh no. I go for the monsters that can take anywhere between 20 and 100 hours (depending on how much side questing you want to do). Fit a full-time job in there somewhere and you'll get an idea of how difficult it can be for me to just sit down and write.

Last year around this time, I'd only been living in my new house for two months, so there was an adjustment period there while we settled in and got used to the rhythm of a new life. I'm not sure I've really found that rhythm yet as life just seems so uncertain these days. But I am definitely trying. Hopefully I'll have something to show for all this effort by the end of the year. Several somethings would be nice, but I don't want to overwhelm myself.

Here's to a happy (and hopefully productive) new year!

Time off

I realize it's been a long time since I've bothered updating my blog, but there has been very little going on in my little writing world lately. For whatever reason, my muses seem to have mostly deserted me. Don't get me wrong, the desire to write is still there. However, every time I attempt to approach the computer I start feeling slightly sick. I attribute this to the recent stress I've been experiencing. My writing can't support me, so I'm forced to work full-time, yet I find myself at a point in my life where I'm no longer excited or happy about the prospect of my job. I'm thinking a career change is in order, and as much as I wish I could just quit my job and concentrate on my writing, that's not really an option, at least not at this point in my life (and probably not ever).

There have been a few big changes in my life recently, and I think I'm about to experience a couple more sooner than I'd like. But know that I'm trying very hard to get my writing back on track. I've returned to working on the sequel to the rather popular The Prince's Knight. I can't give an estimated completion date since I can't predict the future at this point, but at least I'm trying. That's really all I can do.

May Scavenger Hunt--Character Interview

All month long, Purple Sword, Whimsical Publications and Astraea Press are hosting a scavenger hunt. Authors from all three publishers have created character interviews to let you get to know their characters a little bit better. This next part is important: If you want to participate you must email our publicist, Robyn White, at promorobyn@gmail.com. She will send you a list of participating authors along with the questions you will need to answer in order to enter to win.

Following is my character interview with Alecandros, the male lead from my paranormal romance, Tied to a Demon:

Thank you for joining us today, Alec. For those who might not know you, why don’t you start off with telling us a bit about yourself.

First of all, my full name is Alecandros. Very few people are allowed to use the shortened version of my name.

So sorry, Alecandros. I should know better.

Yes. You should. I’m a demon from the nine hells, though I haven’t always been a demon.

So how does one become a demon?

It’s a long and painful process. Not something I would recommend. When I underwent the change, it was an experimental process, a method designed by perhaps the greatest wizard of his time and the leading expert on demonology, Reynauld. Essentially, the subject’s soul must be separated from his body. In my case, Reynauld had plans for me, so he needed my soul. After yanking it out, he stuffed it back in because he couldn’t have a soulless demon running around. I guess it worked out in the end, though I wish the process would have erased more of my memories.

So you remember most of your life before?

I remember a great deal more than I think I should. It’s strange. Becoming a demon felt like having someone remove the wool over my eyes. I could see things clearly for the first time. As a result, everything that’s happened to me since that moment feels more real, like my real life didn’t begin until I lost my soul. My previous life is a bit muddled and fuzzy. The easiest moments for me to remember occurred towards the end of it unfortunately.

These events you speak of. Are they the reason you chose to submit to the process of becoming a demon?

Yes. Before that I was a renegade wizard. I had so much power, I cared little for the consequences of my actions. My own experiments were everything to me, and I didn’t balk at the thought of taking human life if it furthered my research. Towards the end, I was being hunted, and sought refuge with Reynauld. It turned out he could use me, but by that point I didn’t care. I only wanted to escape the hunters.

So what were you researching?

Oddly enough, my studies weren’t that different from Reynauld’s. I just went about it in a different way. I was studying the way a human’s soul was connected to its body. I began with animals, but I could learn very little from them since they’re so different.

What made you take the leap from animal experimentation to human?

I grew frustrated. You’re probably looking for a more satisfying answer, but that’s all it was. Animals couldn’t tell me what I wanted to know, so I moved on.

Let’s do the same. What became of you after Reynauld turned you into a demon?

Well, I don’t want to give too much of the story away, so I will just say that he made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Instead of unlimited freedom, I found myself in the nine hells, awaiting my eventual release. Let me tell you, the hells are not a pleasant place. The seventh hell was my ‘home,’ for lack of a better term. I hated the place.

What does a demon do for fun then?

Most of my fellows dreamed up new ways to torture people. But I was stuck with my soul, so it was different for me. I moped a lot, in the beginning. There wasn’t a lot to do besides wait for the event that would finally set me free. And once I was free, there was no way I was going back.

Just a few more questions before I let you go. Shanna isn’t the first witch who’s summoned you, yet she called you forth from the nine hells. Care to explain that?

The  other witches all knew what they were doing. If Shanna had bound her circle properly, she would have been able to send me back, too. But once I broke free, there was no turning back.

Well, she did summon you accidentally.

Yes. And I used that to my advantage.

What did you think of Shanna when you first saw her?

I reacted badly at first, but being ripped from someplace and thrown into another is disconcerting. Once I’d adjusted to my surroundings, I realized Shanna wasn’t the all-powerful witch I imagined. She was struggling. I found her clumsiness adorable, but she’s just lucky I’m the worst thing she’s ever summoned.

Thank you for answering my questions today, Alecandros. One last thing. Are we thinking sequel?

I should think not. A prequel might be possible, but I think my adventuring days are mostly over now, and I prefer it that way. I’m quite happy with the way things turned out. Let’s just leave it at that, shall we?

An Update

Yikes. Life has really derailed my writing career lately and I feel horrible about it, but I just can't force myself back on track. I'm trying very hard to get my head back in the game, but unfortunately it hasn't been that easy. I've recently started working overnights, which can be hard on anyone, so my sleep has been suffering, and when I feel groggy/drowsy/tired, I just can't write. I worry about it constantly, but even approaching the computer will give me a greater case of lethargy. I cringe at the idea of even entering the room that houses my computer. Once my schedule settles down a bit, I hope things will get better. Even being able to write this blog post is a step in the right direction.


Here's another step:

ATTENTION ALL READERS: Who wants to join in some scavenger hunt mayhem and fun for the month of May? Learn more about your favorite authors, their work and their wonderful characters in our Character Interview Blog Bash! Great prizes to be won, as well! Please email Robyn at promorobyn@gmail.com if you would like to participate and she will put you on a contestant list!


Purple Sword is set to participate, so I am working on a character interview (and currently procrastinating over it). I've never written one before and just settling on the character I wanted to do it for took me about two weeks. But seeing as how I haven't even really touched my computer in those two weeks either, except to check email, I get sidetracked easily by everything that's been happening, with fellow authors, in the world in general, by this great news I just had to share. Well, I'd better get to it!

End of Days

Once in a while, when I find I'm at an impasse on a current project, I find it helpful to take a stab at something new. Royal Guard Book 2 is the project I'm currently working on, but considering the first book was the last thing I published, I've been finding it a bit difficult to dive right back into that world, so I found myself in need of a distraction.

I briefly entertained the notion of taking on a pseudonym to publish short, strictly erotica books, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Promoting books under one name is difficult enough. Just thinking about the logistics involved for two names made my head spin.

Still, I have decided to pen some shorter tales revolving around angels and demons. The basic premise has been done before, in certain ways. You might refer to my angels as valkyries for instance. But I've decided not to call my Armageddon Ragnarok. The end of the world is simply known as the End of Days, and while it fills the angels with dread, the demons are looking forward to it. Both sides are tasked with choosing their warriors. In the first book, which doesn't have a title just yet, Kieran's target is Samantha Jordan. He doesn't know why the demons want her, but he does know that the angels are after her as well. Yet, Kieran is the best at what he does.   There shouldn't be a problem, until an angel makes him an offer he can't refuse.

Purple Sword Blog and Facebook

Want a great way to keep track of Purple Sword's authors, their great new releases, and everything else Purple Sword?

Check out their wonderful, in-depth blog here: http://pspreleases.blogspot.com/?zx=23678a80cd0b4832.

Or become a friend on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Purple-Sword-Publications/107420692619430?sk=wall.

Tied to a Demon nominated for an award!

Tied to a Demon has been nominated for its second award, this time for Siren Book Reviews' Best Books of 2010, in the paranormal romance category.

Even better, Siren is entering all voters into a contest to win free e-books, so click on the link to go vote for me and get your name entered in the drawing:
http://sirenbookreviews.weebly.com/nominees-paranormal-romance.html

Voting lasts until Feb. 1st.

Their reviewer for Tied to a Demon had very nice things to say about it. She gave the book 5/5 Siren Stones. Here's a quote, though it was difficult to choose just one:

"Tied to a Demon kept me up until the wee hours of the morning because I was unable to put it down."

In my opinion, that's the highest compliment an author can receive.

Please, go visit the website to read the full review: http://sirenbookreviews.blogspot.com/2010/10/rachel-d-thompson-tied-to-demon.html.

Review for The Prince's Knight

Fallen Angel Reviews has given four out of five angels to The Prince's Knight.

"Watching Aric and Matthew's relationship grow and their need to protect each other was beautiful." --Teresa from Fallen Angel Reviews.

Here's the link to read the full review. She had a lot of great things to say about the book.

Yesterday, while I was trying to get some work done on the sequel, I found myself unable to concentrate. I'd just received an Advanced Reader's Copy of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness, so I pulled it out and soon found myself lost in a world of witches, daemons, and vampires. I haven't read too far yet, and it's a very big book, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. This book rekindled my desire to pull out my own somewhat finished vampire novel (Immortal Book 1: Blood Rage).


Now, after writing most of the book in first-person, I was having thoughts that I should switch to third. Personally, I had grown sick of the overabundance of first-person books clogging the paranormal bookshelves. Interestingly enough, A Discovery of Witches is written using mostly first person viewpoint (switching to third for certain chapters). So while I had rewritten the first three chapters of Blood Rage, I was no longer feeling the excitement. Of course, I had a copy of the original manuscript to refer to. I dusted it off, so to speak. Except for my notes, everything is electronic. And I began reading it, all the while thinking to myself: "Wow, this is really good."

I know I'm probably not exactly the most unbiased opinion when it comes to my own work, but I suddenly hated the thought of rewriting so much material when I enjoyed the first draft so much. When I first envisioned this product, I had a very clear picture of what I wanted it to be. Rewriting it would change all of that. I've decided to continue on with the project in first-person. I need to rewrite a major plot point, and hopefully add a lot more to the book in order to make it long enough for my ultimate publication goals, but I'm once again excited to work on the Immortal series. And I'd lost hope for that.

Oh, and A Discovery of Witches is set to release Feb. 8, 2011. I strongly urge anyone who likes paranormal books to pick it up.

Featured Author

Yikes! It's been awhile since I've been able to post anything. I don't have internet access right now, so I have to drag the laptop to the public library. Usually I have a list of things I need to take care of, and the blog is one of the last. My battery usually dies before I get to it.

Anyway, Merry Christmas! Hard to believe Christmas is already upon us. I wanted to get a holiday story out for the season, but that just didn't happen. I'll shoot for next year. Instead, I've started working on Royal Guard Book 2, which I've titled The King's Consort. I think it's going to have a lot more action than the first book. And the way things are looking, the story might drag out long enough to warrant a third book. I want to tackle my plans for this book first before I start worrying about that.

Today, I am the featured author on one of my friend's blogs. Tied to a Demon took a spot on her Great Reads page, so my blog spot talks mostly of that, while giving mention to The Prince's Knight, where inspiration came for Tied to a Demon, and how I first got interested in writing. Here is the link: http://charleneawilson.com/2010/12/20/373/.

I've also joined Romance Junkies Holiday Contest to give away a free copy of The Prince's Knight. I don't have any extra info about that yet, but once I know what's going on, I'll try to get it posted. The info will at least appear on my website.

Thanks for reading, and Happy Holidays!

Deadlines

At this point, I'm really pushing to finish writing A Christmas Dream by the end of October. That gives me about two weeks. The deadline for submission to my publisher is Nov. 20th, so I'll spend at least one week revising and editing. I don't want to wait until the last minute to submit it, since it is a seasonal story.

I'm a huge procrastinator, so working under a deadline--even a self-imposed one--is challenging for me. But I think I do better when I work under that kind of pressure. It gives me a goal, something to shoot for. Otherwise, my books just tend to drift along, until I feel like working on them.

Once I finish up A Christmas Dream, I'll be starting work on Royal Guard 2: Untitled. I've started kicking around a few ideas for that, though I haven't gotten far in the brainstorming process. It was going to be this year's NaNo project, but with my holiday story taking top priority, I just don't think I can really commit to NaNo this year. We'll see how it goes.

Research

Never underestimate the importance of research. I've learned to love doing research. It helps add realism to any story, plus you can find just about anything you want to know on the internet these days. Sometimes I get so side-tracked by research that I have to pull myself away.

I plan for A Christmas Dream to be somewhere in the 15,000 to 20,000 word range, which isn't a whole lot. For those unfamiliar with that unit of measurement, in comparison a full-length novel averages about 80,000 words. So this will be a short story. I've hit nearly 7,000 words, but I've already researched 'Sandman,' quotes, spiders, dreams, different words for dream, including 'dream' in other languages, Cayden's boots, and pics for Cayden and Noelle.

I originally wanted to name Cayden Dream, but Neil Gaiman's Sandman is already named Dream, so I wanted something different. I thought perhaps I'd choose something in a different language that still meant dream, but I didn't really like my choices, so I settled on Cayden, and I'm glad I did. I love the name.

Yesterday and today I spent some time learning about spiders. I absolutely hate spiders. Too many legs, too many eyes, blech! But I wanted to write: The spider's mandibles clicked together, so I wanted to make sure I got it right. Turns out that what I thought were mandibles are actually called chelicerae--something completely different. So I thought: what else am I mistaken about? I learned that most spiders have eight eyes and their sounds are usually inaudible to the human ear. Interesting stuff. I also had to suffer through lots of ugly spider pictures. *shudder* I might never be the same. Not a pleasant research experience, but necessary nonetheless.

The Importance of POV

I'm working on Chapter 4 of A Christmas Dream now. Usually when I start working on a project, the first three chapters are a breeze, because the story is just starting out. It's still young, fresh, anxious to grow. As soon as I hit the fourth chapter, the struggle begins. Now, I am climbing uphill, fighting a difficult battle to reach the top and slide the rest of the way to the ending.

I started the book in Cayden's point-of-view. He's a unique character, and I always do well with those. I understand them better and their thoughts are very clear to me. He's somewhat of an outcast, or at least he feels that way. Alone and lonely. I relate well to him. He wants something he thinks he can never have.

Chapters 2 and 3 were told from Noelle's POV, to introduce the horror elements of the story. She has no idea what's going on around her, whereas Cayden does. But with the lack of understanding, it's easy to weave in the horror in her chapters.

I started writing Chapter 4 from her POV as well, but started struggling at the start of the very first paragraph. I was no longer feeling the story. I wanted to continue the horror elements where I left off in Ch 3, but it just wasn't meant to be. Noelle was no longer speaking to me and I couldn't force her to. I can always tell when I've started writing a bad scene -- one that I'm going to need to go back and rewrite, which seems wasteful to me. I'd rather get it right the first time. But then I thought, why not switch back to Cayden's POV and see what happens?

So I did, and the story started flowing easily once more. Cayden needs to tell this chapter, to share some of his insights with the reader.

I know I talk as if these characters are living, breathing people. I'm not crazy -- I know a lot of writers are like that. The good writers are. If you can't hear your characters speaking to you, then you're just not listening clearly.

Building a Character Part 2

I was working on A Christmas Dream the other day, when I became stuck trying to describe the hero, Cayden. I wanted a description that would serve to bring him to life, but aside from describing the basics, hair/eye color, perhaps physique and height, it's hard for me to go in-depth. I hate descriptions involving lists of a character's physical attributes. What I really wanted was a way to describe the guy's profile (cheekbones, nose, that kind of thing). I've read descriptions of such things, without completely knowing what they meant. For instance, I like the sound of an aquiline nose, but wasn't completely sure what that meant. After looking it up, I decided that's not what I wanted at all.

So I decided to do something I haven't really done before. I hopped online (the internet is useful for so many things in my writing) and searched for an appropriate picture for the look I was going for. I just wanted a handsome face that would give me an idea of how to describe it. What I found instead was the whole character -- I even ended up changing Cayden's hair color to match the picture. Since I found the pic on a stock photo site, I won't post it here, but I can post the link if anyone wants to check it out:

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-26150902/stock-photo-young-handsome-man-thinking.html

I would love to somehow incorporate this picture, or at least this model, into the cover art, somehow. I don't know if that will be possible, but we'll see.

While I was at it, I also found a pic for Noelle:

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-34904140/stock-photo-portrait-of-a-young-and-beautiful-business-woman-thinking-in-something.html

I just thought it might be interesting to post some of my processes as I continue to work on this story.

Building a Character Part 1

I've started working on my first holiday novel, A Christmas Dream. At first, I was having trouble coming up with ideas for the plot, but I think I've figured out the problem. It was hard for me to connect with my characters until I actually sat down and forced myself to write the first chapter. All I knew about my hero, Cayden, is that he's a Sandman, charged with delivering dreams to people. Well, how was I supposed to take that and expand it into an entire story? How did he meet the heroine? What were his intentions, interests, and goals?

I know plenty of authors prefer to sit down and map out every aspect of each character's personality, but I've never been able to work that way. Often, that means inconsistencies pop up during the first draft that I have to alleviate during re-writes, but I've never found plotting things out to be successful. For me, writing is very fluid. Things change from one moment to the next. Even if I decide I want my character to behave a certain way, that's really up to him in the end.

So I sat down and hammered out the first chapter, focusing on what I wanted to introduce in the story. Cayden's character would fall into place, and it has. I can see him clearly now, when I couldn't before. The boots helped. I wanted a distinguishing look for him, something Noelle would notice right away, something that would make her think Who is this guy?

The boots are a bit much for my taste, but they're unique and set Cayden apart. They'll also serve to give Noelle pause. After all, any guy that wears spikes on his boots could be automatically classified as a bad boy. (His black clothes and leather jacket don't help.) Such things make it hard for Noelle to trust Cayden, which is fine with him, since it makes it easier to keep his distance.

Once I had Cayden figured out, it was much easier to come up with Noelle's characteristics. In the first chapter, we're in Cayden's viewpoint, so we see Noelle through his eyes, which might be a bit biased. In the second, which is almost finished, the story takes on a bit of a horror spin, with Noelle fighting for her life. Now I'm looking forward to working on the rest. While Demon's Torment had horror-themed elements to it, it wasn't really as scary as I wanted it to be, since I focused so much on the romance. Hopefully things will balance out nicely in A Christmas Dream.

New Contest

Life for me has been crazy busy lately, since my husband and I have been house-hunting. That still isn't resolved, so I'm not on the computer as much as I'd like to be. This makes writing a bit difficult, but hopefully things will be ironed out no later than the end of November. Fingers crossed.

I've signed on to be a part of LASR's Halloween Scavenger Hunt. The Hunt will last for two days, Oct. 30th & 31st, and one lucky winner will receive a free copy of Tied to a Demon. Visit their site for more details by clicking on the banner below:

I admit I'm struggling on writing anything right now. I'd like to get a Christmas story completed for my publisher by the end of November, but it's been hard for me to find the right motivation. I've never been a big fan of Christmas stories in the first place, and this could be a part of the problem, but as long as the story has strong paranormal elements to it, I should be able to cope. I've settled on telling the story of a Sandman, someone who travels the world, bringing people good dreams. He's become fixated on Noelle, a woman who literally doesn't even know he exists. He can tell she hasn't enjoyed an easy life, but he's determined to show her the meaning of Christmas, a holiday he's always enjoyed.

The Prince's Knight

Royal Guard Book 1: The Prince's Knight is now available at Purple Sword!
Genre: Fantasy Erotic Romance
Price: $4.99
Warning: Book contains m/m erotic scenes and one m/m/f scene


Blurb:


Becoming the prince’s bodyguard was supposed to be easy. No one warned him to guard his heart...


After receiving a crippling injury, Sir Aric finds himself reassigned to the crown prince’s royal guard. He thinks it will be an easy job, but Prince Matthew turns out to be a spoiled brat, too used to getting his own way. Within the first week, the prince disappears and almost gets himself killed in his desire to be a part of the ongoing war effort at the southern edge of the kingdom. Matthew’s brief taste of battle is more than enough, making him ready to settle down and attend to matters of state. Marriage tops the list of those, but in the meantime, Matthew and Aric find themselves drawn together by irresistible forces. Until Matthew’s chosen bride arrives.

Excerpt:


He scanned the visible windows, not seeing anyone. One little kiss couldn’t hurt, could it? He’d given her the ring, asked her to marry him. There was no taboo against one little kiss. Besides, he’d already kissed her once. This wasn’t much different; there were just more potential witnesses.


“All right,” he agreed. His hands rose to grasp her upper arms.


Before he could change his mind, he leaned forward, his lips brushing against hers. So soft! He deepened the kiss, pulling her closer, dragging her against his suddenly hard length. He was attracted to her—there was no doubt about that.


“Am I going to have to pry you two apart?” a deep voice asked.


Matthew released Jessa abruptly. She stumbled against him before regaining her balance.


Aric stared at them from two feet away. Every muscle was taut with anger. Or jealousy. He took two quick steps forward. “I know your decision,” he hissed. “You don’t have to taunt me with it.”


“Aric,” Matthew said with a clear warning in his voice.


“What? Afraid Jessa might guess your dirty little secret?” The knight sheathed his sword and turned away to pull his shirt on.


“Shut up! You will respect your king!”


The cold look Aric gave him sent shivers down Matthew’s spine. The knight stepped closer, his tone dropping to a dangerous level. “The same way you respect your lover?” He shot a glance at Jessa.


“Actually, I already g-guessed.”


“Ah.” Aric leaned back. “Well, let’s get everything in the open then. Your groom is a jackass.”


“You’re the jackass right now,” Matthew sniped back.


“S-stop it!” Jessa’s raised voice stopping them both in their tracks. Both men stared at her, wide-eyed. “You’re both behaving l-like children.”


Matthew sighed and ran a hand over his face, taking a step back to gather himself. “Aric, you know how I feel about you. What will it take to make this easier on you?”


A sly look appeared on the knight’s face, and Matthew knew he was in trouble.


“I think it’s only fair I get a kiss, too.” Aric’s gaze slid from Jessa to Matthew.


“Absolutely not!” Matthew exploded. “That’s completely inappropriate.”


“Not from her.” Aric sidled closer. Now his expression could only be considered smoldering. “From you.”


Matthew retreated from the knight’s advance. “You’ve kissed me plenty of times,” he mumbled.


“Then it shouldn’t be a big deal.”


Matthew glanced at Jessa, but there was no help to be found there. “I th-think you should. I don’t want to come between you two.”


A triumphant smile lit Aric’s handsome face. He reached out, his hands fisting into the fabric of Matthew’s tunic. Displaying his strength, the knight dragged him back into a corner created by one wall of the castle and a towering turret.


“Prove to me you don’t want me,” Aric challenged, and then his lips descended on the king’s. Matthew’s thoughts dissolved. No longer did he worry about their audience, or whether or not anyone could see them from a castle window. The kiss was rough, bruising, but he only wanted more. His wilting erection grew hard and firm, pressing against the thin leather of his trousers.


He took over, pushing Aric hard against the unforgiving stones of the castle wall. Had he thought he could live without this passion? He’d been so wrong.


Finally, Aric pushed him away with a smirk on those beautiful lips. Matthew was breathing hard, and when he glanced at Jessa, ashamed that he’d lost control so easily, he saw that she didn’t look entirely unaffected by the display.


“I want love like that,” she said, breathless.


Aric turned away from Matthew to throw a companionable arm around her shoulders, steering her towards the front of the castle. “Then you’d better hurry along those wedding plans, my dear. It’s inappropriate for Matthew to kiss you like that.”


“And doubly so for you.” She ducked under his arm and skipped to the front door, laughter trailing behind her.


Both men stared after her for a moment, perplexed.

Tied to a Demon review

Romance Junkies has given Tied to a Demon 4 blue ribbons.

"Rachel D. Thompson creates delightful characters."

Read the full review.

Contest and Contract

It's August already! That means LASR's scavenger hunt has started. Three lucky winners will win Nooks at the end of the month, and all you have to do to enter is find the hidden Nook on a participating author's website. Easy. Check out LASR for full rules and details.

I've also signed a contract for my next book, a gay erotica fantasy romance. Yeah, it has a lot of labels. (I feel the need to warn people that it's not strictly gay romance, as it contains one menage scene.) It's called Royal Guard Book 1: The Prince's Knight, and it's releasing Sept. 1st at Purple Sword. Hopefully people will enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Here's the official blurb:

Becoming the prince’s bodyguard was supposed to be easy. No one warned him to guard his heart...
After receiving a crippling injury, Sir Aric finds himself reassigned to the crown prince’s royal guard. He thinks it will be an easy job, but Prince Matthew turns out to be a spoiled brat, too used to getting his own way. Within the first week, the prince disappears and almost gets himself killed in his desire to be a part of the ongoing war effort at the southern edge of the kingdom. Matthew’s brief taste of battle is more than enough, making him ready to settle down and attend to matters of state. Marriage tops the list of those, but in the meantime, Matthew and Aric find themselves drawn together by irresistible forces. Until Matthew’s chosen bride arrives.

Oh! And the cover art:

I plan on penning the sequel in November, but in the meantime, I'm working on a vampire book, tentatively titled Demon's Tattoo. I'm three chapters in so far, but I think I've just started hammering out some of the plot, and I'm pretty excited to get more work done on it once I've got that all figured out.

New Submission

I've submitted my latest completed novel to Purple Sword. While I'm waiting to hear back, I've started working on an untitled vampire book. I'm currently two chapters in. I expect this one to hit around the 30,000 word mark, as most of my recent interest has been in creating enjoyable novellas. But I don't really have the details of the book worked out yet. Generally, when I start something new, I jump right into the first chapter and think about plot later, as the book comes together.

I look at each chapter as having a plot itself, so by the time I reach the end of a chapter, I know how I want it to end. I settled on the last line of the first chapter before I had completely gotten to that point. I like crafting hooks that make the reader want to stay with the story rather than putting it down and moving on to other things. This is very important to me, so I hope that in most cases I succeed. Now, I've got a tentative plan in place for chapter 3, which I hope to sit down and write within the next few days. Progress has been good so far, though I also plan on working on Immortal Book 1: Blood Rage, when I'm not working on this new book.

I want to wait until I hear from my publisher to mention more about my latest submission (I'm a little superstitious like that). But if it's accepted, I plan on tackling the sequel during November, as part of National Novel Writing Month. After last November, I had decided I wouldn't participate this year. The stress always wears me out, especially during the holidays. By the time July rolls around though, I'm usually ready to gear up for the challenge. I'm not sure I'll be shooting for 50,000 words this year. I will be happy if I hit 30,000, which I expect will be enough to finish the planned sequel. We'll see what happens after that.

My Coffee Corner

I've just opened my own forum over at Coffee Time Romance, to more easily communicate news, announcements, and contests with readers. Click on the graphic to go check it out.