Spotlight on: Viv Arend

She’s taking the erotic romance world by storm. Two days after Viv Arend’s first release, Wolf Signs, was published she shot to number one on the MBaM Bestseller list. She’s in the process of climbing several other bestseller lists even as we talk.

Viv, while writing six new books, editing two and rewriting one, cooked up the idea of our exciting new blog, International Heat. She has a tireless amount of energy and an incredible, creative mind.

I love her to bits and she’s become a wonderful friend. Please welcome the amazing Viv!

Jess

A Whirlpool of Wolves (aka my head is spinning!)

Jumping in here and taking over Jess’ blog for a bit, because she said I could.

Hi- I’m Vivian Arend and my first book, Wolf Signs released this past Tuesday from Samhain Publishing. Yes, I’ll tell you a little about the book, but what I really want to talk about is Jess AND my writing.

I had no idea what I was doing when I started this adventure. I just wrote. I had a blast learning about my characters as the story progressed. My heroine, Robyn, is deaf. The hero, Keil, is an Alpha werewolf and the sidekick, his younger brother TJ, is a dangerous disaster waiting to happen. Once I finished the story and realized I –liked- writing, I knew I had to start improving my skills.

That’s where Jess came in. I emailed her out of the blue and bullied her into letting me see what a real author’s synopsis should look like. Why her? I had read everything she had written and loved her work. I had ‘met’ her online at the Samhain Café, our mutual publisher, and she sounded approachable. She sounded fun.

Holy Hannah, Jess is a hoot! She’s smart and witty and has taught me so much over the past six months. Not only how to write a synopsis, but a few other really important lessons and I wanted to share two of them with you.

The first is to write what you love. When I read Jess’ account of the story behind Only Tyler and Steve’s Story I was so inspired. Jess can write. She can write like nobody’s business and her characters are alive, the plot exciting and the sex… have ice on hand, that’s all I can say. As evidenced by the phenomenal success of A Question of Trust, she can write in the hottest of erotic romance genre and shine with the big boys. She could easily sit down and write what I’d hesitate to say were formula stories, aiming solely at the hot market genres. (I hesitate, because knowing Jess there would be nothing cookie cutter or generic about what she wrote, since she writes so damn well.)

But she needed to tell the stories of Tyler and Steve and Katie. They are real people with real issues. The skill Jess brings to her writing makes me long to meet these characters, long to sit down and give Katie a hug, Tyler a shake, Steve a kick in the pants… Jess has inspired me to write what I love, no matter what, because writing from the heart produces stories worth telling.

The second thing she’s taught me is to enjoy the journey. I was nervous heading into release day. What if no one wanted to read my book? What if… Jess held my hand, hit me upside the head and told me to hang on for the ride, it was going to be worth it. Jess was the one who posted at our writer’s blog, International Heat, to inform the world that Wolf Signs had hit the top of out publisher’s bestseller list. She tracked me down to let me know I was #2 at Books on Board and the featured release. Yes, I’m grinning from ear to ear and Jess has been bouncing up and down along side of me. I can’t explain how it touches me that someone I’ve never met in real life can be so excited for me.

And I guess that’s part of the magic. We’ve learned to spin worlds and stories to share with others and in the process we share a piece of ourselves.  There is something inside Jess that is bright and shiny and when she shares, it lights up everyone around her.

So I’ll leave you with the blurb from Wolf Signs, but also with a big hug to Jess for everything she’s been to me over the journey. The wolves are howling right now with great delight and approval.

Vivian Arend

Wolf Signs

Talk about getting your signals crossed…

Available from Samhain Publishing

Robyn Maxwell doesn’t care that her brother has to cancel out on their backcountry ski trip. She can do it alone. The fact she’s deaf doesn’t make her survival skills any weaker. The chance to get away from it all and relax in the Yukon wilderness is just what she’s been craving.

Meeting wilderness guide Keil at the cabin starts cravings of another kind. Keil’s one hot hunk of ripped, tasty male. Now she has to deal with raging hormones as well as strange questions about wolves and mates and challenges to the death.

Keil was trying for a nice reflective retreat before challenging for the Alpha position of his Alaskan pack. He wasn’t planning on meeting the woman destined to be his mate, or finding out she’s not aware she has the genes of a wolf.

Between dealing with his accident-prone younger brother, a deaf mate with an attitude and an impending duel to the death, his week—and his bed—is suddenly full.

Far from the relaxing getaway any of them had in mind…

Warning: Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘talking with your hands.’ Includes dangerous use of sarcasm and hot nookie in a remote wilderness sauna.

http://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/wolf-signs
http://vivarend.blogspot.com/

Photo Opportunity is Releasing in Print

“Photo Opportunity PRINT” by Jess Dee

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Red Hots!

ISBN: 978-1-60504-151-3

Length: 224 Pages

Price: 12.00

Publication Date: March 31, 2009

Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Blurb:

Can friends become lovers…can lovers remain friends?

(A prequel to Ask Adam.)

Daniel Tanner’s through with being loved like the proverbial brother. He intends to make his best friend, Amy Morgan, blaze with the same desire he feels for her. The plan? Initiate a series of escapades that will have Amy falling into his arms—and into his bed.

When her trusted buddy suddenly turns up the heat, Amy finds it impossible to resist his sexy advances. But as his best friend, she knows a thing or two about Daniel. While he may be charming and gorgeous, he’s also commitment phobic. If she trusts her heart to him, she’s sure he’ll leave it—and their friendship—shattered in a million pieces. This book has been previously published and has been revised from its original release.

Warning: Contains smoking hot love scenes between two best friends who can’t seem to keep their hands off each other.

Jess

New Blog Launch

I am very excited to tell you about a brand new blog we have just launched.

It’s called International Heat, and it features a host of erotic romance lovers – from all across the world.

International Heat is the brainchild of Viv Arend. She’s roped fellow authors Mari Carr, Jambrea Jo Jones, Lila Dubois, Rhian Cahill and me into joining her in this cool new venture.

But wait! There’s more. See it’s not only about authors. It’s about Artists (Valerie Tibbs), Editors (Sherry Ricardo) and Reviewers (T) too.

So what are you waiting for. Hop on over to our new blog and say hi!

Jess

Three’s Company Cover

When the Menage and More Anthology is released in print in August, it will be called Three’s Company.

Pretty hot cover, don’t ya think? (Yep, another Scott Carpenter masterpiece.)

Jess

Insane Bestselling News

I’ve just heard the most insane yet exciting bestselling news.

Three’s Company (the print version of The Menage and More Anthology), which releases in August – that’s five months time – is now number 7 on Amazon’s Romance Anthology Bestseller list.

The list changes hourly, I know, but no 7! Even if it just for an hour. Wow. I am blown away.

Jess

Eye Candy – True Blood

Damn! I am addicted to True Blood! Can’t get enough of watching. And yes, half of the appeal is the male cast. Hot, hot, hot!

Sam Trammell should be illegal he is so gorgeous!

Ryan Kwanten has a perfect body:

Stephen Moyer has mastered the dark, smoldering look:

Altogether, a most dee-licious combination!

Jess

Winner of Steve’s Story ARC

Well, as promised, it’s Sunday night, US EST, and it’s time to pick a winner for the ARC of Steve’s Story.

CONGRATS to Kaz

Your name was randomly chosen from all the entries.

Please contact me at: jess@jessdee.com so I can arrange to get the book to you.

Happy reading!

Jess

Win an ARC of Steve’s Story

In honour of eBook week, I am giving away an ARC of Steve’s Story.

This is the Second book in the Circle of Friends Series, and releases from Samhain on the 28th of April. So yes, you will be the only one to get an exclusive preview!

All you have to do to win is tell me why you love eBooks. Post your answer in the comments to this post, and you will go into the random draw to win the ARC. It’s  that simple.

I’ll announce the winner on Sunday evening on the blog (US EST, not Sydney time).

GOOD LUCK!

Steve’s Story

When love is threatened by truth, every moment counts…

Circle of Friends, Book 2

Steve Sommers is having a gut-wrenching week. His fiancée has left him, the woman who broke his heart is back in town -  and they’re all gathered at the bedside of his best friend, who’s in a coma. The emotional ties between them are strained to the breaking point. Like it or not, it’s up to Steve to find the strength and compassion to support the four of them through the toughest ordeal of their lives.

In the midst of the turmoil and trauma, passion unexpectedly flares anew between Steve and the woman he loves. Suddenly the future he’d believed lost lies within his reach. But she still carries the secret that once tore them apart, and determined to protect Steve from the truth, she fights their rekindled relationship every step of the way.

Now the fragile bond they’ve developed hangs in the balance, threatened by a reality that love may not be strong enough to overcome…

Warning: This book might just make you cry, but it’ll make you smile as well. The story will probably get you all hot and bothered too. It contains naughty activities in the car, sex on the kitchen counter (and up against the wall), a quickie in the garden, a little experimenting with scarves – oh, and some hot loving in the bedroom.

Curious to find out more? You can read the first chapter of the book right here.

Jess

BoB celebrates eBook Week

In celebration of ebook week, BooksonBoard, recently named the largest
independent Ebookstore, is offering a variety of promotions on your
titles. On top of our already great prices, we are offering 30% Rewards
on all ebooks and audio books PLUS 21% off list on all pre-release titles.

GIANT EBOOK WEEK BLOWOUT SALE

*30% Rewards on eBooks AND Audio Books*
* Rewards Dollars can be used like cash*
* Offer ends Friday, March 13 at 11:59pm CST
* To redeem, simply email your receipt to rewards@booksonboard.com
* Your account will be credited between Monday, March 16th and
Wednesday, March 18th
* Offer not valid towards titles priced under $3.99

2009 EPPIE Award Winner

I just heard from the lovely Jayne Rylon that The Menage and More Anthology won the Complete (Romance/Erotica) Anthology Award at the 2009 EPPIES this year.

That is super duper fantastic news. I’m utterly thrilled.

The anthology, edited by Angela James, was released in September last year, and features three books:

A Question of Trust, by moi.

Nice and Naughty, by Jayne Rylon, and

Wicked Garden, by Lorelei James

Thanx to Angela, Jayne, Lorelei and to all the readers who deemed this anthology worthy of an award.

The Menage and More Anthology releases in print as: Three’s Company in August, 2009.

Jess