Viki Lyn

New Website Design

2012-02-12T05:36:00.000-08:00

Hi All. I'm having my website redesigned and updated by the talented Valerie Tibbs. I'm very excited to finally have a site that will look good on moblie devices and well as all search engines. So my site will be offline for a day or so.

But you can find out all my info here until I get my other site up and running!

Thx. Viki

Does your fridge door reveal who you are?

2012-02-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

This is what's on my fridge door - pretty clean and simple, right? So what does this say about me? I got to thinking (always a bad sign) about my friends fridge doors, and how they are all different. Some of my friends have tons of stuff taped to their fridge -- photos, children's drawings, reminders, magnets from around the world, Post-a-Notes...

Other friends have zilch on their doors. One friend's refrigerator is disguised as a cabinet - yeah, it's true.

I used to have magnetic letters and words all over my door - hundreds of them. Kind of cool - when I had friends over I would always find interesting poems or sentences formed across my fridge. I loved it. But after picking up the millionth letter from the floor, I put them away. Now I paste those suckers in my Journal!

So if you saw my door you'd say I probably like a clean house that's picked up. Correct! Yep, I do. I'm organized and efficient. (Sometimes). Anal...ah, well, not really. Then then look at the side of my fridge door! Oops.

This messy, chaotic hodgepodge of magnets, take-out menus, pics and business cards reveals another side of me. Probably the inside of my brain! Always thinking, hard to shut off and not very organized. :)

So what does does your fridge door say about you? Are you as schizoid as I am? I'd love to see a pic of your fridge door. Send me and I'll post it to my blog - viki.lyn.romance (@) gmail (dot) com.

Vik

Weekly Quote

2012-02-06T10:00:00.000-08:00

"The value of the personal relationship to all things is that it creates intimacy and intimacy creates understanding and understanding creates love." Anais Nin

My very first time reading erotica was way back when. I picked up a book by Anais Nin -- The Delta of Venus. I was amazed a writer of her caliber wrote erotica. It's written in a lyrical style, and the stories are lush, magical and imaginative. She takes you into the Parisian world of hat maker, opium dens, a secret trysts.

Viki

Weekly Quote

2012-01-31T07:34:00.000-08:00

I'm a little behind schedule for the weekly quote. I always seem to be lagging behind these days! I read this recently in a book I'm reading, and responded to it as a person who believes in nurturing one's creative spirit.

"Creative ideas, in my opinion, show their value in that, like keys, they help to "unlock" hitherto unintelligible connections of facts and thus enable man to penetrate deeper into the mystery of life."
--M.L. von Franz

I wasn't surprised to learn that Marie-Louise von Franz was a Swiss Jungian psychologist and scholar.

Lover's Trill and Blue Skye - Now Available

2012-01-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

Good Morning!

I have two books released today by Musa Publishing:

More Love Notes - a GLBT Anthology of love stories, and previously published, newly revised - Blue Skye - the first book in my Woodland Village series

Both books are available at AREs and Musa Publishing.

If you haven't read Blue Skye when it first came out it's now only 3.99. A great price :) And, I'm much happier with the story. I cleaned it up and well, what author doesn't like to get the chance to re-edit their work? It was my first entry into the m/m genre. It's now a tighter, stronger story, and I did change the last line in the final chapter! ;) I'm working on book 3 which has an April release date. The second book, Ryan's Harbor, will be reissued the first of March.

More Love Notes features my new short story - Lover's Trill. You can read about it at the Musa Blog!

And here are the excerpt and buy links:

Blue Skye
More Love Notes

Happy Reading!

Viki

Clutter in the Closet

2012-01-23T09:49:00.000-08:00

I love collecting cards of all sorts; tarot cards, angel cards, oracle cards, cards with quotes.. The artist in me enjoys the images and colors of each deck; each artist has a unique vision when creating a deck of special cards. There are days I like to pick a card and see if the meaning has any bearing on my life at the time.

I have the Angel Blessings cards by Kimberly Marooney. Since I'm working on a new paranormal series that features angels - I decided to pick an angel card for this week. I picked Shushienae (Purity).

The question I had to ask myself is what do I need to clean up and purify? This could be in the area of diet, personal space, relationships, lifestyle, work area, habits. So many areas to choose from.

What came first to mine was my diet - needing to bring in more fresh foods and rely less on frozen TV dinners! Last night while watching the melt down of the 49'ers, I ate my way through hummus and pita bread, tortilla chips and bean dip, almond butter and honey sandwich - yep, no green veggies or fresh fruit.

The second area is my office space. I walked into my office this morning and took one look at my files in small piles all over the surface of my desk. I lit a white candle and a small green candle that smells wonderful - and then proceeded to clean up my space. It's not perfect but at least I'm more organized to start my week. I made a list of what I want to accomplish, and have been diligently crosses off my tasks as I complete them.

Bad habits are a biggie. I have plenty of them - I love to procrastinate. And, goof around and watch a movie during the afternoon instead of working. And, don't even get me started on playing computer games, because talk about wasting hours - and then there's negative self-talk. A big, bad habit that gets me nowhere fast.

Nothing can bring on writer's block faster than negative speak. So that's another area in my life that I vowed to purify and clean up. I'm still realistic when it comes to my writing goals. I won't write ten books this year, or be on the NY Bestseller list, or even earn enough to retire on...but I can write the best of my ability, write entertaining stories, improve my skills, take and teach classes be kind to myself when I get a rejection or bad review, and give back by mentoring writers and encouraging them to follow their dreams.

Awesome Quote

2012-01-17T11:46:00.000-08:00

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Leo Tolstoy

News from Vik

2012-01-16T07:38:00.000-08:00

Good morning!

I want to give you an update of what I've been doing since the New Year. I have all sorts of ideas for stories and goals to meet. I'm working on a new paranormal series I hope to contract this year. Also, Vina and I will be finishing up book 2 of our Vampire in Exile series published by Liquid Silver – first book For The Bite Of It.

I'm very happy to announce that my Woodland Village series has found a new home at Musa Publishing. Blue Skye and Ryan's Harbor will be reedited and reissued – Blue Skye, January 27 and Ryan's Harbor, March. I have written the third book in the series – John's Match which will be released in April.

I have a short story, Lover's Trill, included in the anthology – More Love Notes. This book is also published by Musa Publishing and will be out January 27!

Here's a quick blurb:

Across battle lines, foolish games, and conflicting tempos, love always finds a way. From rock and roll to symphonies, modern day geeks to 19th century soldiers, this collection of sexy and romantic stories shows even the loneliest of moments can be made right when the perfect note is delivered. Let More Love Notes find a home in your heart, a reminder that love happens all over, any time, any place.

A wonderful read for Valentine's Day!

Read more about it at: http://www.musapublishing.com/

Have a great day!

Vik

Love Always Has Perfect Timing

2012-01-11T08:06:00.000-08:00

Love always has perfect timing.

Across battle lines, foolish games, and conflicting tempos, love always finds a way. From rock and roll to symphonies, modern day geeks to 19th century soldiers, this collection of sexy and romantic stories shows even the loneliest of moments can be made right when the perfect note is delivered. Let More Love Notes find a home in your heart, a reminder that love happens all over, any time, any place.

I'm very excited to announce the coming release of More Love Notes - a GLBT anthology of love stories. Published by Musa Publishing, this is my first anthology! I was asked to write a love story with the theme: love notes. What came out from that plot bunny was Lover's Trill.

Two protege's of a prestigious music institute fall in love with each other's music and each other.

Leo loves Andre but he has a passionate dream he can't give up, not even for love. One night he slips out, and leaves Andre a Dear John note. Leo makes it in the world of rock, having a glamorous life, but he even after ten years he wonders if leaving Andre was worth the price of fame.

Happy New Year! Ringing in 2012

2012-01-01T06:18:00.000-08:00

Good morning and Happy New Year!

I hope every one had a fun and safe New Year's Eve. My husband and I went out to an early dinner at one of our favorite Japanese restaurants. Then we drove to our coffeehouse and bought dessert to go. After that, we went home and watched the new episodes of the BBC series starring Inspector Allen. Exciting stuff! But for us, we like to spend a quiet NYE home. I can count on one hand the number of times I dressed up to celebrate the ringing in of the New Year. I'm pretty much a couch potato during the holidays!

Today we're having friends over and we'll toast to the new year. I decided on serving "The Hummingbird" - the signature drink on the St. Germain website. Here's the recipe:

The Hummingbird

2 parts

Brut Champagne or Dry Sparkling Wine

1½ parts St-Germain

2 parts Club Soda

Method: Stir ingredients in a tall ice-filled Collins glass, mixing completely. Think of Paris circa 1947. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Variation: Think of Sartre circa 1947. Be the lemon twist.

Happy New Year!

The Hunter Within now available at AREs

2011-12-27T07:10:00.000-08:00

The Hunter Within

By: Viki Lyn | Other books by Viki Lyn
Published By: Loose Id LLC
ISBN # 9781611185744

Word Count: 54433
Heat Index
Available in: Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket (.prc), Mobipocket (.mobi), Epub

About the book

Genre: LGBT Paranormal Shape-shifter, WWII Historical
Previous Book: The Tiger Within

Returning veteran Jack is shocked to learn his wife is engaged to another man. She believes Jack died during the war and has no idea he was altered into a soldier of superhuman powers to fight supernatural beings. Part of him wants to stay dead in her eyes and let her live her life, but part wants to tell Alice the truth. Jack deeply wants his old life back, to be normal again. Maybe Alice can save him from his crazy life and his newly awakened sexual need for men; especially his burning passion for a shape-shifter who claimed his body and now wants his heart.

Shape-shifter Antoine Fortescue travels to New York City to find out why Jack went AWOL. What he discovers disturbs him. Jack has traveled to California to spy on his wife’s fiancé. Is he going to confront Alice with the truth he is alive? And try to get her back? Or the real truth, that he is gay? Jack may yearn for a "normal" life, but Antoine will stop at nothing to capture Jack’s heart.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices, sex while in shifted animal form, violence.

An excerpt from the book

The file skidded across Jack Hunter’s desk, forcing him to catch it before it slipped off the edge. “Hey, what’s this?” He looked up at Frank Spencer while picking up the manila file and waving it at the agent.

Frank’s scowl deepened the hue of his green eyes. “New intel on your wife. Thought you should see it.” He picked up a thick white coffee cup, stained brown from use, and lifted it. “I’m going upstairs for a refill. Just don’t blow your cork over this one.”

A twinge hit Jack’s heart at the worried tone in Frank’s voice. “She’s okay, right?”

“Yeah, yeah…” Frank waved him off. “Oh, another news flash: Eidolon has vanished from Berlin.”

Jack fisted his hands. News about the shape-shifter always meant trouble. “Is he still in Europe?”

“Not sure, so watch your back.”

Frank slid open the steel door leading into a wine cellar with a flight of narrow steps. Even with all the renovations, a hint of wine permeated the walls. He paused and turned. “You want me to bring you a cup of joe?”

The restaurant on the street level served thick espresso that would put hair on anyone’s chest—the way Jack liked his brew. The food wasn’t so bad either, but he needed to step out of the confines of the stuffy office for some fresh air. “Nah, I’m leaving soon.”

Frank nodded and shut the door, blocking out the sounds of murmured voices and clinking plates and silverware. The diners had no clue secret agents were sequestered down in the cellar, going about their business of protecting citizens from the abominations that roamed the earth.

Jack lit a cigarette before opening the file. The last time he had news about his wife had been a few years ago. Alice had moved on. She had sold their Midwestern home and relocated to San Francisco to start afresh. Bits and pieces of information about Alice had made their way across his desk over the years. But once he had taken the oath to become a sentinel agent, he could no longer contact the people from his past, including his wife.

He removed a torn newspaper article dated last week, a black-and-white photo of Alice on the page. She appeared older and more sophisticated than he’d remembered. What hadn’t changed was her infectious smile. It still had a way of tripping up his heart.

When he read the headline, his chest grew tight: ENGAGED TO RANDOLPH SIMON.

A short bio of Randolph Simon followed: owner of RLS Plastics, from one of San Francisco’s oldest families, warranting news of his engagement in the Society section of the Chronicle.

A sorrowful laugh forced its way up Jack’s throat. He tapped the tip of his cigarette in the ashtray, his heart running at full speed. Alice had met another man, a man she wanted to marry. A successful, wealthy man, apparently.

He couldn’t blame her, exactly, but it hurt.

Jack dropped the article, and it fluttered to his desk.

From his back pocket he removed his billfold. He flipped it open and took out a dog-eared snapshot. He’d carried it through the war and afterward. The only object he permitted himself to keep after his “change.” A young woman grinned at the camera in front of a spanking-new convertible. A cascade of hair brushed her shoulders, her bangs swept to one side in the style of one of those movie stars. In dungarees and a striped shirt, she looked radiant.

The car had been a present for Alice’s twenty-first birthday. Jack had worked overtime at his dad’s hardware store to earn extra money to pay for it. It had been worth it to see her stunned but delightful expression. He traced the image of the girl, now a long-ago memory. Alice smiled back at him with joy in her eyes. His wife always shone from the inside out.

He looked down at the newspaper clipping again and read the word out loud: “engaged.” The word stuck in his throat, and he was startled by his intense reaction to the news. He’d left behind his past—all of it. His dad, his wife, and his dream of a family and home. Now another man carried Alice’s dream in his pocket.

He bent the edge of the photo back and forth. It had survived the Second World War, his capture by Eidolon, and his death and rebirth into a supersoldier living in obscurity. And what had his wife gotten in all this? She had received a telegram from the army, proclaiming him dead, and a gold star to put in the window of their home. Over seven years ago, and still the sharp pain of loss pitted his stomach.

He’d believed once that the right woman would satisfy him sexually, enough to prevent his perversion from surfacing. That was why he’d married Alice. If he hadn’t been captured in the war and come home whole instead, he’d still be married to her.

He shoved the picture back into his billfold and slapped it shut.

Maybe…

He tugged at his lower lip with his teeth. Maybe he should check out this Randolph. He’d promised to protect Alice, vows he’d taken to heart on their wedding day, and even afterward, he exacted a promise from his boss that Alice would be secretly guarded from the evil abominations he routed out and killed. How could this Randolph ever protect her from such creatures?

He picked up the article and scanned it for their marriage date. Damn. They were to be wed in two months. That didn’t give him much time.

He snuffed out his cigarette in the ashtray.

A plan of action formulated in his head. He’d have to go AWOL. X would not give Jack permission to pursue this, but his boss couldn’t stop him if he couldn’t find him.

And as for Antoine… What would Antoine think of his running off like some idiot knight in shining armor to save Alice from marrying the wrong man? Not that Jack planned to stop the marriage if he found out her fiancé presented no danger to her. He scratched his chin. All he wanted was to make sure she was marrying someone aboveboard. That was all. He wouldn’t even have to contact his wife.

Jack stood and filed the folder into a satchel. He slipped the strap over his head and grabbed his wool coat and hat on his way up the stairs. Frank sat at the counter and waved to Jack. Jack nodded and strode through the door, not in the mood to chew the fat with his friend.

Energy buzzed around him the moment he stepped out to the sidewalk. Pedestrians hurried down the street, not making eye contact. Space was at a premium in New York City, and privacy was tightly guarded.

Freezing cold from the recent snowstorm, he buttoned his coat and slipped on a pair of leather gloves. The smell of grilled hot dogs wafted around him and led him to the street cart. He purchased a hot dog and made his way to Central Park.

Taking a green bench overlooking a grassy meadow, he sat and peeled back the thin wrapper. The first bite of the juicy beef frank always reminded him of the ballpark in his home town. Eating a hot dog on a park bench, he could be any normal man, taking a lunch break from the office.

In four bites he finished his frank and licked the mustard from his fingers. Antoine would have raised his nose at such a philistine meal. He laughed, and damn, he missed the pesky shifter. Missed him badly.

He knotted the wool scarf around his neck. Antoine had unwound the scarf and draped it around Jack’s shoulders before Antoine had stepped aboard the ship for France, telling Jack that he’d need a reminder of how much he’d be missed. Like Jack needed a reminder… Antoine constantly invaded his thoughts.

The fabric scratched his chin, and it smelled of his lover. Antoine and sex went together, like the ballpark hot dog and mustard. Couldn’t have one without the other. He understood Antoine was an indulgent sin, yet once Jack had given in to his baser desires, he couldn’t be denied. The need had been too great. And it still burned hot inside him.

Once Jack was forced to admit his attraction to the shifter, the confusing, maddening curse of craving Antoine produced many sleepless nights. Three months had passed since he’d seen him, and he’d thought the separation would cure him. Cure him of his desires for this particular man, but the memories of their lovemaking persisted as tenaciously as if Antoine were physically here.

A deep sigh stirred a puff of mist in front of his face. He checked his watch, storm clouds already dimming the sun. He started to rise, and a baseball skidded across the path and landed at his feet. A boy ran up, a wool cap rimming his bright blue eyes, and snuggled in a thick parka and high galoshes.

“Hey, Mister, can you toss the ball?”

Jack scooped it up and pitched it to the kid. The boy caught the ball, a mile-wide smile spreading across his face. “Thanks, Mister.” Then he waved as he trotted toward his mates.

Jack crumpled his napkin. The boy could have been Jack’s son if he and Alice had had a child before he’d left for the war—before he’d been turned into a freak.

He frowned as awareness of his surroundings came into focus. A group of children played tag, giggling at being chased. A father carried his daughter piggyback as she slept. A child tugged at her mother’s coattail.

He’d never have a child to carry on his name. Antoine couldn’t give him a family. Not like the family he’d imagined.

With his mind made up, he left the park for his apartment. He had less than two months to find out any dirt on Randolph Simon. Maybe he was a decent, upstanding man, but given Jack’s line of work, he knew everyone had secrets. Even if he couldn’t see Alice, he’d protect her from making a big mistake if he found out Randolph wasn’t aboveboard.

© Viki Lyn, October 2011
All Rights Reserved

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-23T11:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas Lights Desert Style!

2011-12-19T17:45:00.000-08:00

The other night, my friends and I decided we needed an infusion of Christmas spirit. We bundled up and drove to where we could take in Christmas lights - desert style! Here are some pics taken with my phone:

Strange circular glow around the lighted palm tree - a paranormal phenom? Or my flash! *g*

Love all the lights wrapped around the tree trunks, and hanging from the branches.

Party at Cassandra's tomorrow!

2011-12-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

I will be dropping in to chat with authors and readers. Last time was really a lot of fun! All you have to do is LIKE Cassandra's FB page - and you're in. See you there.

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

St. Germain - Antoine's drink

2011-12-04T16:02:00.000-08:00

I just discovered a French liqueur called St. Germain on my trip to San Diego. My friend and I were goofing around, shopping in Solana Beach, when we picked up a free magazine with an article on St. Germain. It's made from the blossoms of elderflower - and hints of passionfruit, lemon, grapefruit and pear. The elderflower is harvested for a few fleeting weeks in the late spring in the Savoie region of the French Alps. The flowers are beautiful white starry shaped blossoms.

I really wanted to try the liqueur after reading the article, so we went to the Poseidon (restaurant and bar on the ocean) and I ordered a St. Germain cocktail. I wasn't disappointed. It was very refreshing and had a hint of sweetness. Imagine Paris circa 1947 - or Antoine sipping the cocktail while sitting in his garden watching the sun set, with Jack drinking a beer or maybe scotch on the rocks. The drink would be too sweet and fou fou for Jack.

Here's the recipe:

The St. Germain Cocktail

2 parts - Brut Champagne or Dry Sparkling Wine
1 1/2 parts - St. Germain
2 parts - Club Soda

In a tall ice-filled Collins glass add Champagne first, then St. Germain, then club soda and stir completely. Garnish with a lemon twist.

Musa Publishing - check it out!

2011-12-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

Musa Publishing is brand new but not the staff behind the great company! I'm proud to be part of the slate of authors they represent - my first book with them is a novella which will be part of their Love Notes anthologies coming in January. Yay!

Musa Publishing Promotional Links for readers.

Buy 3 get one free http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=bigchooser_promo

Free Reads http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1

Gift certificates http://www.musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=18&products_id=87

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Jack joins Antoine

2011-11-26T06:28:00.000-08:00

Oh Jack is here. Hi, please sit down, yes, over by Antoine would be fine.

(Jack grumbles under his breath but sits next to his shifter. He takes off his hat and gloves. His straight back and relaxed hands in his lap giving away his military training. That steady gaze latches onto me. I’ve never seen teal eyes as brilliant. My heart does a little dance as Jack tentatively smiles at me. Oh wow, he’s really cute when he smiles, and there are dimples, oh, lucky tiger! I shift in my seat, a little uncomfortable from that penetrating gaze.) Ah, Jack, I’m thrilled you stopped by today. Are you and Antoine taking a break from fighting the bad guys?

(Antoine turns to Jack and gives him his 100 watt smile. Jack winces but the flush of his neck gives him away. So, the soldier has been frolicking with his tiger in the bedroom.)

Ah… (Jack fakes a cough.) We just finished a mission, and I paid a visit to Antoine at his chateau in France for some R & R.. (He sits back in his seat and crosses his arms.)

(Antoine cuts in) Jack, my khalid –

Don’t call me that in public!

(Antoine leans toward Jack and places his hand on the muscular thigh.) We’re among friends. Viki knows you are my khalid. There are no secrets we need to hide in her company.

(I nod and clap my hands together.) That’s so true. I love the two of you together!

(Antoine ignores me and prattles on.) You have such a difficult time relaxing, my hunter. I believe another month spent with me in the countryside will do you wonders.

(Jack mutters) Like hell that’s going to happen anytime soon. (He takes in a deep sigh)

(I better steer the conversation away from the present topic! Or there might be a cat fight soon.) So Jack, what do you like best about Antoine?

(His eyes widened from being put on the spot. I grin. I’m bad as Antoine wanting to see Jack squirm. He’s just so darn easy to tease.)

Christ! What kind of question is that?

(Antoine narrows his eyes at his khalid.) A simple one to answer.

(I patiently wait. I wonder if Jack's going to be honest. The man refuses to go with his emotions, refuses Antoine’s love, refuses so much of life, that I feel sorry for him. But not enough to retract the question!)

Well… (He taps his chin.) The man might look like a powder puff but I wouldn’t want anyone else watching my back.

(Jack smiles at Antoine and I can’t help but swoon a little at the love shining in the man’s eyes. What is it about these strong silent types? When they give a person a rare glimpse into their happiness, it’s as if they handed you the world?)

(Antoine sniffs indigently). Powder puff! (He flexes his arm.) Look at these muscles, and I can wrestle you to the mattress—

(Jack shoots up from the chair) Antoine! Too much information!

(I laugh.) Okay, okay, I get it. Jack you love your French Tiger.

Jack blushes an even deeper red.

Viki Lyn

http://www.vikilyn.com

The Hunter Within published by Loose Id

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-23T18:34:00.000-08:00

I found this quote online and loved the simplicity and beauty foung in these few sentences.

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~ Melody Beattie

Viki

Antoine and Jack - Guest Characters!

2011-11-15T06:08:00.000-08:00

I'm thrilled that Jack and Antoine from The Tiger Within and The Hunter Within agreed to be my guests.

It's early morning and I need to brew my espresso before attempting an interview, so give me a few minutes. While I'm doing that - Antoine will entertain you.

Merci, Viki - (preens his curly chocolate color hair, adjusts his lace cuffs and elegantly drapes himself in the nearest chair.)

For your readers that do not know me, and shame on you, I'm Antoine Fortescue. I'm from an ancient lineage of cat shifters. I shift into a beautiful white tiger... (looks on with those icy blue eyes - as if anyone would deny his claim!). I'm the last of my blood line and proud to be the alpha of the Francasis demense.

My incredible strength and powers of self-heal make me a formidable opponent but, merde, Viki always puts me in a vulnerable position, especially in my latest adventure with Jack, The Hunter Within.

(Clears his throat, his cheekbones slightly pink) You see, every year I go through the Ralentissement, and well, I didn't mention this to my stoic soldier. Its better Jack doesn't know. The man worries too much. He's a soldier and duty and honor are paramount. If he knew my powers were weak during this period, he'd leave me behind. I refuse to be treated as a woman, needing protection. I'm the protector and I'll give up my life for those I love. (Sighs) Oui, both of us are stubborn, but I will outwit Jack. I have hundreds of years of living behind me. (Now smiling, that wickedly sensual smile that melts Jack's resolve).

Thanks Antoine for filling in for me. But I have my espresso and I'm revving to go.

Oh, darling girl, you want me to leave?

(Blushing) Ah, well, yes, for now. And well, Jack will be here later.

Oh, then, I will wait. (He makes himself comfortable in the over stuff chair.)

My god, that man has the patience of a tiger waiting to pounce on his prey! No getting him out of that chair now.

(More to come...)
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Nuts Over NaNo

2011-11-10T05:05:00.000-08:00

Okay…now that I got your attention!

I’m the dirty birdie pulling out her hair over NaNo, and believe me; my hairdresser will be annoyed. She’d loose her once a month cut and color after ten years. Over something as trivial as not getting in a word count. But for a writer, word count is paramount to a noble knight searching for the Holy Grail. I’d love to have a story finished in a month’s time – even if I have to edit the crap out of it. Because I will. Last night I frantically wrote gibberish so I could break the 12,000 mark. This morning I’ll go over it and be horrified, and edit what I’ve written, and that’s my problem. I’m one of these have to edit along the way type of writers. I can’t just write my story straight through without looking backwards. My pattern goes like this…Two chapters forward, one chapter back, three chapters forward, two chapters back and so on…

Read more: Posted on Dirty Birdies site!
Word count: 12,055

Peace!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Guest on ParaYourNormal Blog Radio today!

2011-11-02T14:35:00.000-07:00

Join me at 3:30 PST and see what questions Kelli is going to throw at me! I'd love to have some listeners :) I love doing radio talk but ugh, the sound of my voice is...disturbing? You know what I mean. That's why I hate to record into a tape recorder! Here's the link: ParaYourNormal Blog Radio

Also they have my interview at their blog, and they are giving away one copy of The Hunter Within to a person who leaves a comment. ParaYourNormal Blog I believe my interview will be up for one week - so check it out and get a chance to win.

Viki Lyn

A new home for the cub..

2011-11-01T07:09:00.000-07:00

What an overwhelming response for the white cub! I wish I could give away a cub to each and every one of you, but alas, I haven't made the big time like J.K!

The winner is...drum roll...Johanna (The Jo)...(I will be contacting you by email soon).

I hope everyone had a fabulous Halloween and got lots of treats. I had one small Snicker's bar - so I didn't indulge too much :) Happy Reading! Viki

The Hunter Within is available - giveaway (closed)

2011-10-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

The Hunter Within is now available at Loose Id!

Returning veteran Jack is shocked to learn his wife is engaged to another man. She believes Jack died during the war and has no idea he was altered into a soldier of superhuman powers to fight supernatural beings. Part of him wants to stay dead in her eyes and let her live her life, but part wants to tell Alice the truth. Jack deeply wants his old life back, to be normal again. Maybe Alice can save him from his crazy life and his newly awakened sexual need for men; especially his burning passion for a shape-shifter who claimed his body and now wants his heart.

Shape-shifter Antoine Fortescue travels to New York City to find out why Jack went AWOL. What he discovers disturbs him. Jack has traveled to California to spy on his wife’s fiancé. Is he going to confront Alice with the truth he is alive? And try to get her back? Or the real truth, that he is gay? Jack may yearn for a "normal" life, but Antoine will stop at nothing to capture Jack’s heart.

Ah, so cute...and a giveaway, too.

2011-10-20T12:19:00.000-07:00

It's that time again, to give away a cuddly white tiger cub! The second book in my shape shifter series will be released October 25 at Loose Id - The Hunter Within! So I'm having a giveaway.

I'm not giving away books, or stories, or free downloads, or even bookmarks. I'm giving away something near and dear to my heart....a white cuddly tiger cub. It needs a good loving home, is house broken and doesn't eat a lot!

How do you win?

Simple. Leave a comment telling me what you'd name the cub. That's it. Who knows, if I write a third book in the series I might just feature this cute little cub, and I'll use the name of the winner. :)

Want an extra chance to win? Follow my blog and let me know you did! Or tell a friend about my giveaway and have her/him follow my blog and leave a comment. You and she/he will both get an extra chance to win.

Leave your email address in your comment. When I draw your name, I'll email you for your address so I can mail the cub to you.

And, not to be mean, but this drawing is valid only for Continental US and Canada. I will have another giveaway soon that will be open to everyone.

I'll pick a name around the first of November. The odds of winning depend upon the number of participants.

Who is eligible (other legal stuff!):

1) Residents of the United States and Canada only are eligible to win.

2) It must be legal to participate where you are.

3) You understand that there will be one winner, chosen randomly from all acceptable comments during the event period and posted on the blog after November 1.

4) By entering, you agree that Viki Lyn is not responsible for items lost in the mail.

5) No purchase necessary to enter.

6) Contact website administrator for more information.

Good luck!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

In search for the perfect cappuccino...

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

I boarded a river cruise in Budapest and floated down the Danube through Slovakia, Austria and Germany in search of the perfect cappuccino. What makes a perfect cup? Strong rich espresso with the just the right amount of creamy smooth foam. A cookies doesn't hurt, either!

The winner was the cappuccino from the renown Cafe Gerbeaud in Budapest, established in 1858. Not only was the cappuccino wonderful, so was the 'baked just right' crispy cookie and the arty form of the red and black cup.

During the communist era the state took over the cafe and it was renamed to Vörösmarty Cafe after the square it was on. In 1984 the Gerbeaud family managed to buy back the cafe and its original name, and by the 1990's it was back to all its splendor -- fine wood panelings, lavish brocade wall covers, marble tables.

We enjoyed sitting outside and people-watching while we tested the delights of coffee and pastries. Thank god I walked more miles than ate in calories!

New Release! For The Bite Of It - a new vampire series

2011-10-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

Vincent Esposito is an exiled vampire running a cupcake bakery in Arizona. When a car with a dead driver crashes through the wall of his shop, it also brings All-American, closeted cop, John Reeder into his life. Smitten the instant he sees John, Vincent must battle his attraction to the sexy detective. Bound to silence by the Vampire Council, he can never reveal his true self to John.

John Reeder cannot control his attraction to the sexy Italian baker. But as addictive as the sex is, can John overcome his fear of rejection for being gay and open his heart to a man with so many secrets?

Published by Liquid Silver Books - the book release is Monday October 10!!!

Also All Romances Ebooks has where you can pre-order the book today - and read an excerpt: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-forthebiteofit-612685-139.html

This will be the first book in our series - Vampire in Exile. It's campy, fun and very sexy...and was a blast writing it with my good friend and writer Vina Grey.

I'm very excited for its release and hope my readers enjoy it.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

It started with an angel...

2011-09-12T16:28:00.000-07:00

It started with an archangel - Razi-el - the Prince of the Thrones - the warrior class of angels. And his one weakeness:

The archangel Uri-el - the Prince of the Cherubim - record keeper and holder of knowledge. Two very different angels, both dedicated to serving their god.

The one prime directive all angels must follow, Thou Shall Not Kill - and even a Throne must guard against their blood lust, tempting as it is to use their sword to slay the demons instead of casting them back into hell.

In one moment, Razi-el and Uri-el love is forever altered when Razi breaks the directive to save his lover.

This is was the seed that started me on my new para fantasy - no working title as yet! I'm on Chapter 2 and already I see this is going to take some time in world building, but after writing Fighting Chance, I really enjoy this part of creating a story. So we'll see where it all goes...

A Birthday Party Celebration Sunday - September 4!

2011-09-03T06:29:00.000-07:00

Okay, now that I got your attention! Cassandra is having a birthday! Twelve authors (including me!) are going to be at her Facebook fan page on Sunday to help Cassandra celebrate. Here are the details:

WHO: Twelve authors, including me!

WHERE: Cassandra Carr's Facebook fan page

WHEN: Sunday, September 4th, 10am-10pm ET

Cassandra Carr Facebook Fan Page

Stop by whenever you get a chance to chat with the authors and enter to win our giveaways, including ebook downloads, Romance Trading Cards, and other fun prizes! Authors will be posting excerpts, deleted scenes, recipes, and more!

Participating authors include:

Kelly Jamieson

PG Forte

Kallypso Masters

Dr. Charley Ferrer

Leigh Ellwood

Cari Quinn

Viki Lyn

Asporina Lee

Margaret Ethridge

SL Carpenter

Stephanie Haefner

It should be a lot of fun! Viki

Sex On The Page workshop

2011-08-29T19:21:00.000-07:00

As an alumni of last year’s SEX ON THE PAGE workshop I wanted to let you know it will presented again in September!
September 1-30, 2011

"Sex On The Page: Understanding & Crafting Sexual Tension"

by Mary Buckham

$30 at www.writeruniv.com

How do you write great sexual tension? That's the question Mary Buckham posed to Linda Howard, Stella Cameron, Susan Anderson, Nancy Warren and more romance writers who write great sexual tension, from sweet to spicy hot. This workshop combines lessons from writers with the 12 stages of Intimacy from Desmond Morris' works and more recent findings on the amazing role biology plays in mate attraction and selection...findings that can be applied directly to creating powerful sexual tension. So if you want to learn how to increase the sexual tension in your work, don't miss this opportunity. Topics include:

* Sex versus Intimacy: the difference

* Using conflict to increase sexual tension

* The importance of certain details

* How to portray body language

* Maximizing biological differences between the sexes

* Analyzing those who write sexual tension well

* Exercises for your work in progress

Mary Buckham is co-author of BREAK INTO FICTION: 11 Steps to Building a Story That Sells and an award-winning Romantic Suspense author. She has hundreds of free-lance articles to her credit, a non-fiction book and is a former Magazine Editor. Currently she presents writing workshops online and around the country. Mary encourages you to visit her website at www.MaryBuckham.com for more information about her and her current writing project.

LASR/WC Chat Sat 27 and Sun 28

2011-08-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

I'll be hosting an hour chat at the LASR Whipped Cream Yahoo Group on Sunday, 28, from 2-3 EST, so if you're around, stop in and say hello! This is the end of the The Long and the Short of It 4th Anniversary Bash and there are cool prizes waiting to be handed out!

Here's the skinny!

Grand Prize:

Winner’s choice of a B&W Nook / WiFi Kindle / $150 Amazon or BN GC

Other Prizes:

Several $5 and $10 GCs, LASR/WC swag, books and more awarded throughout each day

On August 27 - 28, 2011, more than FORTY authors will be chatting on our Yahoo loops (each author will host one hour from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. EST). Every message you post on the loops will earn you an entry in the grand prize drawing AND the daily drawings (winning the smaller prizes does not affect your chance of winning the grand prize). http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm

Sunday Rambling and brainstorming

2011-08-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

Man, I'm bushed. I played 18 holes of golf and it's just too damn hot to enjoy it. I'm ready for cool weather, waking up and having to put on a sweatshirt. I know, a sweatshirt is not very sexy, but the pic below is!

Maybe I'll begin a first chapter with this image in mind...the character would have to have a very strong name like Jake, Grant, Tyler - and he's using ice because...

He just got through having the best sex of his life and he's on fire! OR...
He's in a sauna when a stranger walks in and begins to cool him off...

That's a woman's hand but since I write male/male romance, maybe he's tied up and forced into submission by a dominatrix and darn, he's having a difficult time getting hard, so she's punishing him for not being his type!

Silly stuff but fun to imagine. And that's kind of how I brainstorm with my critique partner...anything goes, and nothing is censored.

So what do you think is happening here? :)

Viki

FC Now Available at ARE!

2011-08-16T08:49:00.000-07:00

My book is now available for sale at All Romance eBooks!

Fighting Chance

By: Viki Lyn

Published By: Loose Id LLC

ISBN # 9781611184280

Word Count: 56887

Heat Index: Five Flames!

Available in: Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket (.prc), Mobipocket (.mobi)

Excerpt and Buy Link

Genre: LGBT Vampire Paranormal
Previous Book: Last Chance

Kresnik vampire slayer, Corbin Hamilton, has vowed to avenge his father's death and kill the prince of the Red Serpent clan. Instead, he's stuck with guard duty for vampire Johan Maier who is becoming human, thanks to a new serum. What's worse, the sexual attraction between him and his prisoner is getting harder to ignore.

Johan Maier's chance to regain his humanity is a dream come true. If he only he could get Corbin to trust him, they would have a chance at love. Yet, his vampire powers are getting stronger instead of weaker, his blood markers morphing into something that isn't quite human.

As Corbin hunts the prince, Johan insists on aiding him. He secretly vows to protect Corbin even if it means his death.

Pulisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual content, graphic language, and situations that some readers may find objectionable: male/male sexual practices.

It's FOOTBALL time!

2011-08-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

FOOTBALL! - getting out my red and white pom poms for the season is about to commence! I'm watching the first preseason game. Sure, it's sloppy, and it doesn't count, but there are a lot of new players I need to get to know.

I love football -- ever since watching the 49'ers on TV with my dad. I lived through the wonderful Montana/Rice years, and experienced "The Catch". Everyone was holding their breath because the 49'ers NEVER got past the Cowboys! But oh, that day, they did, and the legend of 'cool Joe' was born. Four Super Bowls later, and I was spoiled for life. :) Thank god, because neither of my fav teams are what you would call 'super teams'.

To celebrate the end of the strike, I went to the AZ Cardinals training camp this year. Yes, Larry Fitzgerald really is tall, muscular and an amazing athlete. The pictures of him do not lie!

Viki

http://www.vikilyn.com/

The Winner of my AMP Anniv. Grab-bag give-away!

2011-08-09T04:02:00.000-07:00

Pommawolf won the surprise grab bag! Congrats!

Thank you everyone who left a comment! I will be giving away more prizes throughout the year, so check back every so often or join my Newsletter to find out about my contests, new books and other cool stuff.

Happy Reading!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

AMP Anniversary Tour Closed - but there's still a party going on at LSRW!

2011-08-08T06:59:00.000-07:00

The AMP Anniversary blog tour is officially closed. It's been fun. Thank you everyone who commented on my post. I really enjoyed reading each and every one. I will be choosing a winner of my grab bag give away and posting it by tomorrow! Again, thx so much for supporting AMP authors.

The party's not over yet.

Don't forget all month LASR/WC is having a Scavenger Hunt!

It's started! Our month long anniversary party has begun. They're having a scavenger hunt and they're giving away a Nook Color! Then, on the weekend of the actual website anniversary (8/27 - 8/28) they're having a two day author chat on their yahoo loops and are giving away ANOTHER Nook/Kindle? $150 GC!!

I will be chatting Sunday, 8/28 at the WC Yahoo Site.

All the deets are here: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/promo.htm

Tell your friends. Your family. People you bump in to on the street!! Spread the word, near and far... LET'S PARTY PEOPLE!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

AMP Anniversary Post - Tour Guide to Woodland Village

2011-07-31T07:22:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for AMP's anniversary! This is a fun way to celebrate! And, AMP is giving away a Kindle! So be sure to check out the AMP Blog for details. And check out the page above that spells out the TOUR RULES - it's important!

AMP publishes my Woodland Village Series - contemporary male/male romances with each book featuring a couple from the Village. The first book is titled Blue Skye and introduces my first couple Skye Taylor and Drew Adams. The second book, Ryan's Harbor, was all about Drew's brother, Ryan, and Martin Pierson, Drew's architectural assistant.

Set in a fictional coastal town and a train ride from NYC, the village is a great place to relax for the weekend, and meet some very sexy men. Set sail from the harbor or ferret out the nude beach if you are so inclined! Relax with a cappuccino at the Coffee Zone or take a hike among the marshes and bird sanctuary only minutes from the Village.

There's a fun scene where Martin is sunbathing with friends, Skye and Drew, and Ryan shows up at the beach. A nude beach! Ryan strips to Martin's embarrassment, because, well, he is attracted to the guy, but the last thing he needs is to hit on his employee's brother!

Martin popped the top of the cooler open and got himself a beer. Before he could twist off the cap, a shadow covered him. His stomach flipped over as Ryan stared down at him. Without a hat, the sunlight lit up his face, and what a handsome face even with his sunglasses hiding his best feature. His sleeveless T-shirt stretched across his chest, showing off nicely defined pecs but his shorts were too baggy for Martin's taste.

Yep, definitely too baggy. He could imagine how strong those thighs were, and his ass—his ass was firm as those muscular legs. Martin moistened his lips as all that hard muscle aroused his cock. He grabbed his beach towel and clutched it in his lap.

"You want a beer?" He handed Ryan the bottle he'd just opened.

Ryan took the offer. "Yeah, thanks. It's hotter than Hades." He took a low swig from the icy bottle and then pressed it to his forehead.

Martin looked away, his skin burning and not from the sun.

If the beach isn't your thing, how about a gander through Carl William's art gallery. Carl is the gallery owner responsible for artist Skye Taylor's meteoric rise. The gallery was renovated by architect Drew Adams. He kept the old world feel of the warm brick and thick wood beams while giving the gallery a modern appeal with its large windows and industrial European lighting. Poor married Drew, he didn't know that his project would reunite him with his lost love - Skye.

Skye Taylor sauntered through the gallery door. Drew's lungs filled with an unexpected rush of air leaving him breathless. Breathless, as the ground shifted below his feet.

Drew glanced at the half-finished counter wishing he had let his crew do the last minute touch-ups, but he missed working with his hands. Too much of his time was spent behind a computer.

"Ah, I don't usually get my hands dirty but..."

"You always did love making things." Skye's smile widened into a dazzling grin.

A bittersweet ache rushed through Drew at the sight of that familiar smile. He inwardly groaned, gripping the edge of the counter, thankful it created a barrier between them. Any feelings for Skye should have been dead and buried. Buried miles underground along with Drew's past.

As Skye inspected the gallery, Drew studied him. He'd changed from the coltish teenager he’d kissed under a starless night so long ago. Now Skye showed up, six foot two inches of hard muscle, with ridiculously rich brown hair and those unforgettable gray eyes that were too seductive to be legal. Skye's crisp white shirt stretched over his broad chest, his muscular physique refusing to be held in by a mere shirt. Even from where Drew stood, a whiff of oil paint and clean soap invaded the air around him.

The first thing I do when in a new place is sniff out the local coffee shop. You only have to follow the aroma of their freshly roasted beans to find the Coffee Zone, one of John Kramer's favorite stops. John is VP and CFO of Fantasy Arts, Ryan's gaming company. And, hopefully, will have his romance in the next book (if I ever finish the darn thing!).

(Unedited WIP) John sat at corner table at the Coffee Zone reading the Wall Street Journal. The place hummed with customers, mostly locals with a few tourists braving the fickle weather. Even on a foggy day, Woodland Village was popular with the Manhattan crowd wanting a breather from the city.

The coffee house had been serving the residents for years, and the smell of their signature brew filled the room. John came here every morning for his usual and knew the two Batista's since they were teenagers. He liked the feel of community the owners nurtured. Residents gathered here to talk, play chess, argue politics, read. It was a homey place and comfortable with its unmatched furnishings and funky artwork on the walls. Even on a Saturday amid the tourists flocking in from the city, he recognized most of the customers.

“Ah, can I join you?”

John looked up and frowned.

Rob wore a pair of sunglasses despite the grey day.

John quickly looked past Rob. “Are you alone?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled. “I left the ogre at home.”

"Sure, sit.” John motioned him to pull out a chair across from him.

Rob tossed his sunglasses on the table. Now that John could get a good look at the son, he noticed his slim build, similar to his father’s, but his height a few inches shorter. The thousand watt smile and sky blue eyes transformed an almost plain face. Even after a night of drinking those eyes were lighter and brighter than his father’s sullen glare. His hair was buzzed short, the bristles golden brown in the light.

Rob dressed to entice, in a stark white long sleeve T-shirt and black jeans with studs around the pockets. Nice and tight, and yes, a great ass, too. John noticed the outline of a nipple ring and his mouth watered.

Quickly he stamped down any desire for this particular guy. Not with a father ready to shoot him on the spot. He didn’t need that kind of drama in his life.

There are other sights as well, and if you're of the gay persuasion, don't miss the Roadhouse, the only gay bar in Woodland Village. Just outside of the village, don't let its run down appearance deter you. There’s a fantastic bar, and the cute bartender pours a mean drink. Great dance music booms from speakers every night. Just ask Drew *wink*.

The Roadhouse survived Prohibition and the Depression of the 30's, reinventing itself until its last transformation into the only gay bar within sixty miles of Woodland Village. A rough-hewn wood facade added to the roughhouse ambiance far from the pretentious gay bars in New York City. The crystal clear sky and the full moon lent an eerie landscape to the scrub brush and gravel parking lot. The bar sat alone in a marshy field. The smell of wet grasses and the croaking of frogs fought with the booming base of the music.

Skye jostled and pushed and shoved, until he maneuvered to a quieter space on the edge of the dance floor. So far so good. Drew hadn't bolted or socked him in the jaw. Instead, he stood with his hands at his sides, a look of disbelief in his eyes.

Skye stepped forward, and put his arms around Drew's neck. He brushed a strand of hair behind Drew's ear, and placed a kiss beneath the lobe. A sensitive spot, Drew let out a whimper. Good. He wanted Drew to whimper.

Swaying his hips to the pulse of the music, Skye danced closer, slowly, until their groins met, seducing Drew into his arms.

"Relax, babe. No one cares here."

Tentative hands clasped Skye's hips then circled his waist. Skye chuckled as he hugged Drew until there was no space between them. He snuggled in, laying his head on Drew's shoulder, synchronizing their movements. He knew how Drew felt, tasted, loved. The memory of that day was never far from his thoughts.

Tonight, Skye wasn't about to let Drew drift away. He was snagged in by the hot spicy scent of Drew's skin, the stiff roughness of his starched shirt, the firm slender arms. All of these sensations turned his burner to high heat.

Lost in the rhythm of their bodies, Skye absorbed the warmth. Drew's breath moistened his neck when he nuzzled his face into the curve of his nape. Finally, Drew relaxed. Soft, smooth strokes glided down Skye's back, inching down but stopped before reaching the curve of his ass. They stayed this way, slow shifts of their bodies intensifying Skye's desire.

I hope you enjoyed the tour, and that you'll visit Woodland Village soon!

Buy and excerpt links: Blue Skye and Ryan's Harbor

CONTEST!

In celebration of AMP's anniversary - comment on the post about your favorite city or small town and why. You will be entered to win a surprise grab bag of goodies! For additional chances to win, friend me on Facebook and/or follow my Blog. Already a friend and/or follower, just let me know in your post. The winner will be posted on my blog on August 9.

Next on the blog list

- drum roll, please -

Grace Wen's Blog!

Viki Lyn

http://www.vikilyn.com

http://www.twitter/vikilynromance

https://www.facebook.com/vikilynromance#!/

Whipped Cream Blog Fest!!! July 30-31

2011-07-29T20:20:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

Stop by the WC Blog Site for the The Long and the Short of It 4th Anniversary Blog Fest. The kick off is July 30th and will continue through the weekend. Prizes will be awarded all day, every day! Grand prize is a B&N Nook/WiFi Kindle OR $150 Amazon or BN Gift Certificate. Cool, huh. Every comment left on the posts earns an entry. I will be posting on the Whipped Cream Blog (erotic) on July 30.

Every time you comment you earn an entry in the Grand Prize Drawing and you're eligible for the other prize drawings (winning the smaller prizes does not affect your chance of winning the grand prize).

LASR Blog Link

Whipped Cream Blog Link

LASR Promo Site

So don't miss out!

Viki Lyn

Sizzling Summer Read Chat!

2011-07-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

Good morning!

What a week! I returned from Santa California this week and went straight into editing for two books. I've never had to edit two before and it's craziness - especially when one of my hero's is named Jack and the other one John. Let's just hope when the final books come out the names are right ;) Whew!

I will be chatting tomorrow, Thursday, 7/28 at the The Romance Reviews Lounge - the Erotic section ;) I'll be there at 8AM EST to post and answer comments or just chat about my day. So stop by. You do have to be registered to enter the lounge.

I'll leave you with a picture of the Santa Cruz beach by the wharf. I walked the beach at 5:30 AM and no one was there! So serene and peaceful...

Happy Reading!

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com
http://www.twitter.com/vikilynromance

Karen Cote's Virtual Website

2011-07-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

It's the first time I've seen a virtual talking website, and Karen's is a real blast! She invited me to interview on her site, created my avatar and - voila - it's really cool!

Karen's Chaise Lounge

So click on the site to her Chaise Lounge and be entertained!

Viki

Should I feel guilty?

2011-07-12T08:57:00.000-07:00

Okay, I've been moping around the house for weeks feeling guilty for not writing. Since Fighting Chance was released June 21, I haven't written one word. Oh, I've been busy...doing promos and chats and interviews. But secretly I've been glued to the TV playing Dragon Age: Origins. Yep, see that chick in the picture. She's one kick-ass mage! I'm totally addicted. And well, its a diversion from my true fear - that I don't have another story within me.

I usually don't write multiple stories but concentrate on one while outlining a second one - usually a contemporary if I'm writing a paranormal. That's how I work. Until I come to a solid brick wall, and wham - all my inspiration is splattered against the bricks (kinda like when I slice a monstrous darkpawn with my big bad sword!). No guts, no glory.

So why do I play computer games? Because it sets my mind free, and stops the jabbering clogging up the lines.

I chose Dragon Age because I can have a m/m romance, and I thought that was really too cool.

I've been playing RPG's since the pixel days of the fabulous Ultima series. So, to have a main character that was gay, well, I couldn't pass it up, and the game is multi-layered and beautifully rendered.

And, it's kind of like doing research - since I want to write a fantasy next. Yeah, that's it -- research. And John Kramer from Woodland Village is the CFO and VP at Ryan's gaming company, and he's the main character of my next WV book.

I'm the Queen of Procrastination!

So should I feel guilty playing games and taking time off from writing? Should I enjoy the time off to regenerate my creativity? What do you think? How do you handle it when the muse takes leave without your permission? Join her on her trip or fight it all the way!

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Guest Author - Welcome Josee Renard

2011-07-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome Josee, it's great to have you here. Her new book, What's New Pussycat, is available from Cobblestone Press.

Summer sizzles when RenoGuy Theo finally gets his hands on the girl next door.

Versa couldn’t get that song out of her head, nor the man who sang it while renovating the house next door. Tall, built and tanned, he wore faded jeans and a toolbelt and his body drove her wild. Theo had plans for the girl next door. He’d spent all summer dreaming about her creamy skin and voluptuous body. He’d spent all summer with a hard on. Time to make his move. When Theo and Versa finally meet, the summer temperature turns up. Way, way up.

So, let's get to the first question! Who is your favorite male character, why, and what actor would play him?

I’d say that my favorite male character – and this is only for now as he changes pretty regularly – is Jules, the character who runs right through the serial I’m working on right now. Part Time Lovers is ten separate stories that’ll run from August through December. It’s great fun to write and one of the reasons is because I love Jules.

He’s the kind of guy who finds everyone fascinating. And attractive. He’s up for anything and anyone – women, men, triads, bondage. It’s hard not to like a guy who loves Jeanne Moreau (both the young and old versions) while at the same time having a crush on the tattooed hunk at the coffee shop around the corner. But the thing I really like about Jules is that he’s a nice guy, besides being incredibly attractive. He runs Part Time Lovers with his partner Mercy and they’ve been best friends (and sometimes lovers) since Grade One.

It’s easy to tell you who I’d like to play Jules because I have his picture on my bulletin board with Jules’ name beneath it. Mark Dacascos – martial artist, musician, the Chairman on Iron Chef America, gymnast, and actor. I love his face, love the way he moves (all that kung fu and gymnastics), and especially love his body. He’s Jules to a T.

When and why did you begin writing?

Unlike so many writers who knew when they were six years old that they were going to be writers, I started late. When I finally (at 30) went to university and started writing essays, one of my English professors told me I wrote essays like they were fiction and that I might think about actually writing stories. I tried it, and fell in love. When I published my first poem, my entire life changed. Twenty-five years later (I guess you can figure out how old I am, huh?) I’m still writing and loving almost every minute of it.

While your current book is m/f, you also write m/m. Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing m/m sex scenes?

Actually not. For me, sex scenes are all about caring for the other person so although the pieces might change, the ultimate goal doesn’t. I try to use all the senses in my writing so I want to show how it tastes, what it smells like, how the movement feels, how the skin moving across another’s body sounds, what it looks like – that doesn’t change no matter who you’re writing about. Alien, M/M, triads, whatever. But, if there was a place or a thing I found particularly challenging, I’d sit down over a glass of wine with one of my gay friends and I’d ask him about it.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Hmmm, do I have one? I’m a fogwalker – by which I mean that I walk off into the fog having no idea whether there’s a cliff or a tree or a lake or a bear. This means I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA about what’s going to happen in the next sentence, let alone the next paragraph or at the end of the book. I start almost always with a phrase (from a magazine or a radio show or a book or…) or a song title (both What’s New, Pussycat? and all the titles from Part Time Lovers are song titles) that has caught my eye. And then I just start writing. I actually seldom do any kind of preliminary work except perhaps, when I’m writing on proposal, a single paragraph about where I think the story might go. Sometimes it goes that way, mostly it doesn’t. So when I’m writing and people ask me what my book is about, I honestly can’t tell them.

Okay, now let's get personal! What was your favorite toy growing up? Now?

My favorite toy wasn’t an actual toy, but an imaginary horse. It often changed it name and was sometimes a stallion, sometimes a mare, sometimes a pony. I used Black Beauty/Prince/Queenie/Silverskin/??? depending on whether I was a princess or an elf or a jockey or… well, you get the picture. Silverskin would take me away from whatever was going on in my life to an adventure where I got to be in charge, where everything worked out well in the end, where no one got hurt and the world was always sunny and warm.

Now? It’s a toss-up between my favorite (or new) vibrator and my imagination, depending on what kind of inspiration I need and what kind of sex scene I’m writing!

Your best vacation ever?

Easy. When I moved back to Vancouver from Toronto, I took a six month vacation in Europe. Six months is the perfect length for a vacation. Once the initial learning to relax is over, it’s still a very long time before the “Oh, I have to go back to my real life in a week” stress begins.

I stayed in 16th century chateaux in France, drank in a 13th century pub in England, drove through the Alps from Switzerland to Italy (and let me tell you that the road is nothing like an interstate, more like a cowpath). I saw great art – from Rembrandt in Amsterdam, Michelangelo in Italy, Rodin and Van Gogh and Leonardo in Paris. I ate food so good that I’ve never since matched it; drank wine that cost almost nothing and tasted better than anything I’ve had since. I learned to drink real scotch in Scotland, eat great pizza in France (accompanied many nights in Paris by a world famous sumo wrestler), order almost any kind of food in French and Italian. I drove on the payee at 210 km an hour. I went – for the first and probably the last time ever – into a very deep cave. It was the perfect vacation.

What is your favorite TV show and why?

Glee – I love musicals and I love dance movies and Glee encompasses both of these things in a way I can’t resist. But the real reason I stick with it is because of the way the writers manage to capture the quick slide from ecstasy to agony of high school. One minute you’re passionately in love and everything’s perfect, the next it’s disaster. I often cringe watching the show because it’s almost too close to my teenage experience. The other thing I love is that the characters – even the villainous Sue Sylvester – are multi-layered. Think of Sue’s lover for her sister. I never miss an episode.

What athletes have the best bodies?

Soccer and tennis players. Not only do they have great bodies but – unlike football or hockey players – you actually get to see them. Those great muscular calves, the perfect pecs. And because I tend to like my men with a little muscle rather than long and lean, the perfect body for me might by Rafa Nadal’s. Yum.

Excerpt: Rated ADULT (explicit language):

Versa heard the humming before the deep, sexy growl kicked in with the words. He never sang any other song, only that one Tom Jones oldie, and she didn’t care. She’d spent all summer listening—and watching—and she was just about fed up with trying to ignore the need she felt. She had a desperate urge to march right over to the construction zone next door and…

She’d grab that face she’d been watching for months, pull those smiling lips down to hers, and kiss the hell out of him before she dragged him across the dirt and dust and trampled bushes of the yard next door, through her perfectly manicured lawn, and right on upstairs to her big shower.

First, she’d taste every inch of him while she washed the sweat from his glorious body. She’d seen it almost every day, dripping wet. He often stepped outside, ripped off his shirt, and ran the hose over his torso.

The sight of tanned, sculpted chest and back got her throbbing. When he threw back his head and laughed, her pussy started to drip. Every. Single. Damn. Day.

For almost four months. She’d lasted almost four months. Versa didn’t think she’d last much longer without giving in to her increasingly overwhelming urges.

Face flushing with anticipation, Versa tried to ignore her racing pulse and her aching nipples. She didn’t have the nerve for it. She’d been through too much in the past ten years. A bad marriage. A miserable two years trying to get out of it. And a failed and boring relationship trying to get herself back in the game.

Another man?

Even one as sexy, as tempting, as fuckable as Theo?

Not yet. Maybe not ever.

She wasn’t ready, might never be ready again. If she could convince him that it was just sex and he’d actually treat it that way… But no. In Versa’s experience, all men professed they weren’t interested in a relationship until their cocks took over, right after the first orgasm. Once that happened, their cocks convinced them a relationship was necessary.

Because their cocks had an agenda: sex, sex, and more sex.

Purchase Josee's books at: Cobblestone Press

Thank you Josee for being a good sport and answering my questions. Good luck on your new release!

http://www.joseerenard.com/
http://www.joseerenard.wordpress.com/
http://twitter.com/Josee_Renard
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#!/pages/Josee-Renard/163055307086304

Debby is the winner of the June Giveaway!

2011-07-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

I used my random number generator and Debby was chosen the winner of my June Giveaway! Congratulations Debby! You can email me your snail mail at viki.lyn.romance (@) gmail (.) com.

Thank you everyone who commented this month and joined my blog. You're all awesome. I will be hosting another giveaway soon, and when I do, I'll post it to the blog.

Have a safe and fun Fourth of July!

Viki

Fighting Chance has arrived!

2011-06-21T05:40:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time coming but finally the story of Corbin and Johan has arrived. Through trials and tribulations I have grown to love these two men. Conflicting and passionate emotions are played out on the mystical Kresnik island Alkas, and the desolate ruins of the Red Serpent vampire clan. My research of Slavic mythology led to the creation of the Kresnik world. My vampires are from different sects and have different abilities and weaknesses. Johan is a strix. But after taking the anti-vampire serum he's changing back to his human nature, or is he? And what about Corbin, a man desperately seeking revenge for his father's death. Guilt ridden, he must find Hor, the prince of the Red Serpent, and kill him.

Here's the direct link to read an excerpt!

You can read my interview on Silvia Violet's blog today - leave a comment and win a book from my backlist!

Don't forget to enter my June giveaway. ** Follow my blog and comment on this post and get a chance to win a pair of earrings. Details listed on my Give-away page listed above!**

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Welcome Silvia Violet!

2011-06-18T01:00:00.000-07:00

**Silvia has generously offered to give away one copy of Accommodating Desire to a commenter. Please add your email in your comment for ease of contact!**

Silvia, please tell us about your current release.

My current release is Shifter’s Galaxy: Accommodating Desire. This m/m/f BDSM Sci fi story starts a spin off series from my Shifter's Station Collection. I revisited those characters in a free short story and when I did, Marc Devlin, Captain of Shifter's Station, told me all about his old friend Lucy Vasilia and a couple of men he intended to send her way. Accommodating Desire tells what happens when merchant captain, Ian Hadley and his lover Connor Langley come to the Alkestis Market to do business with Lucy.

Shifter's Galaxy sounds very intriguing! How do you choose a setting for your stories?

Typically I meet my characters first and they tell me where their story is set. Occasionally I think something like “I’m in the mood to write a sci fi” but still the characters will reveal the details of the planet or space station where they live.

What's the craziest scene you’ve ever written?

A werewolf chasing down a deer shifter in Savage Wolf. I love the idea of unusual shape shifters, and I had a lot of fun with that story and with the sequel, Sex on the Hoof that will be out in a few weeks.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

For me the hardest part of this or any of my stories is forcing myself to sit down and get the first draft done. I can see the story unfold in my head. I can talk to my characters (and yes I do this out loud a lot of the time) but I struggle to make myself actually type the words the I hear because I fear that I can’t make the written story as good as the one in my head.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I absolutely will not let myself go back and revise anything even typos until first draft of a story is done. I force myself to write all the way through making highlighted notes about things that I want to add or change. I’ve learned that if I don’t do this, I’ll just rewrite the first chapter over and over.

Now let's get personal Silvia!
Your best vacation ever?

My husband and I went to Savannah, GA for our tenth anniversary. It was the first time we’d been away from our kids for an extended time and having days to spend just enjoying each other was wonderful. We stayed at a very luxurious B&B and went out to some amazing restaurants. Good food and relaxation = perfect.

What is your favorite TV show and why?

Torchwood. Captain Jack Harkness drew me in from the first moment I saw him. I love his character and I love watching him kiss.

What do you consider a romantic dinner setting?

A quiet table with low lighting where you and your date can talk and feel like you are all alone in a paradise of good wine and delectable food.

What athletes have the best bodies?

Soccer players. Those scrumptious leg muscles make them look like they could go for hours.

Here's an excerpt from Silvia's wonderful release, Shifter’s Galaxy: Accommodating Desire:

**ADULT Excerpt**:

Shifter’s Galaxy: Accommodating Desire
May 2011, Changeling Press

Changeling Press buy link

Lucy Vasilia is the director of the Alkestis Market, a well-run trading center catering to both legitimate and black market concerns. She's not a woman who normally mixes business with pleasure, but shipping tycoon, Ian Hadley's dominating presence and cool control make her knees weak. When he matter-of-factly proposes a three way with his lover, Security Chief, Connor Langley, she decides to make an exception and give herself over to pleasure for an afternoon. But Ian and his dark, dominating lover want far more from her than a few hour’s dalliance. They intend to make her acknowledge their soul-deep connection, and they won’t be satisfied until they’ve claimed her in every possible way.

ADULT Excerpt:

Ian ran a hand over her hair. “I do believe Langley enjoyed the show. You may stand and turn so he can get a better look at you.”

Lucy did as he asked. Hot desire stabbed through her core, and her legs shook as she got her feet under her. Her pussy was so wet from the delicious taste of Ian’s cock that she could feel moisture on her inner thighs. She thrummed with need to look at Langley, but she knew what he and Ian expected, and she craved their mastery even more.

After several long seconds, Langley spoke. “Look at me.”

She raised her eyes slowly, taking in the supple leather boots that encased his lower legs, the powerful straining muscles of his thighs. The massive erection outlined so clearly by his tight leather pants. His flat stomach and wide shoulders.

Finally, she looked at his beautiful face. His long black hair was pulled back in a tight braid and his forest green eyes showed a combination of hot need and icy control that made her stomach flip flop. Ian’s dominance made her squirm, but this man might be able to touch her very soul.

Ian ran a finger slowly down her spine. She couldn’t help but arch into his touch. Langley smiled and she feared she might melt into a puddle. “You’re going to suck my cock now while Ian takes his belt to your delicious ass.”

Ian slapped her ass cheek hard, making her jump. Stinging pain bloomed across her skin, spiking her arousal even higher. Ian kneaded the buttock he’d slapped, letting his nails graze the smarting flesh.

A shiver of anticipation ran through her. It had been so long since she’d been spanked, and the thought of pleasuring Langley while Ian punished her ass had her so hot she could barely stand.

“Before we get started, Ian, I want you to come over here so I can thank you for setting up this little interlude in our otherwise excruciating day.”

Mesmerized, Lucy watched Ian walk across her office to his lover. Langley took his face between his hands. Once again, she imagined Ian on his knees swallowing Langley’s cock.

Langley leaned down and captured Ian’s lips in a kiss that was surprisingly tender. Ian brought his arms around his lover, pulling him closer. The intensity of their kiss increased until it looked like they would devour each other. Lucy let a whimper escape and braced a hand on her desk to help her stay upright. They were so fucking beautiful.

Silvia Violet's contact info:

Website: http://silviaviolet.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/silvia.violet
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Silvia_Violet

Thank you Silvia for letting me interview you! Happy sales.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Five Days until the Summer Solstice

2011-06-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

** Follow my blog and comment on this post and get a chance to win a pair of earrings. Details listed on my Give-away page listed above!**

Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. Throughout history, this day has been celebrated. My book, Fighting Chance, will be released on the Summer Solstice - Tuesday June 21. I'll take this as a good omen that my readers will enjoy the book!

Here are some fun Summer Solstice facts I found on this site. They even have a cool short video of a celebration at Stonehenge:

Pagans called the Midsummer moon the "Honey Moon" for the mead made from fermented honey that was part of wedding ceremonies performed at the Summer Solstice.

Ancient Pagans celebrated Midsummer with bonfires, when couples would leap through the flames, believing their crops would grow as high as the couples were able to jump.

Midsummer was thought to be a time of magic, when evil spirits were said to appear. To thwart them, Pagans often wore protective garlands of herbs and flowers. One of the most powerful of them was a plant called 'chase-devil', which is known today as St. John's Wort and still used by modern herbalists as a mood stabilizer.

Read more about this magical time at this BBC Site.

So what are you going to be doing on the longest day of the year? I'll be celebrating my book release with friend, appearing on Blog Radio and biting my finger nails!

Rarely do visual images live up to my imagination!

2011-06-13T17:30:00.000-07:00

** Follow my blog and comment on this post and get a chance to win a pair of earrings. Details listed on my Give-away page listed above!**

This is my plotting chart and visual candy for one of my WIPS. I don't use many visuals when writing because I clearly picture the characters in my head, and how they come across to other people. That's why I cringe when I get my book cover for the first time, esp the ones that feature full frontal images of my heroes - because they never live up to my imagination! Then I calm down, take a deep breath, salivate over the gorgeous bodies, and move on. I realize what readers see on the book cover isn't how they are going to visualize the characters when reading my book.

I have the same reaction when a favorite book gets made into a movie. Rarely does the casting live up to the images I've already formed in my head.

One book that stresses this point is Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire. I really didn't like Tom Cruise in the lead role. His looks were not at all how I pictured the sexy bad boy Lestat. The book was so rich in description and sensual imagery, and holds its place as one of the best vampire books I've ever read. The film - ugh.

Then again, I absolutely adored Viggo as Lord Aragorn in Lord of the Rings. He really brought forth the angst ridden soul to life on screen. This film brought Middle Earth to life.

British television does an excellent job of casting their Jane Austen heroines. I adored the latest BBC Sense and Sensibility filmed in 2008.

Do you have a favorite book to movie where the casting lived up to your expectations? Or a film where you wanted to throw rotten tomatoes at the screen?

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Chatting Today from 2-4:00 EST at LRC

2011-06-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

Stop by and say hello at Love Romances Cafe. I'll be there from 2-4 EST and will post a sneak peek of my new vampire book Fighting Chance! Love Romances Cafe

And don't forget to enter my contest by commenting on this blog in June. Any post and any time in June. Details at my website or click the Give-away tag above this post!

Viki

Nosferatu!

2011-06-06T12:27:00.000-07:00

** Follow my blog and comment on this post and get a chance to win a pair of earrings. See the latest June give-away details on my Give-away page listed above!**

Before we had films depicting the life of Count Dracula, we had the German film Nosferatu. And boy, did the vampire creep me out! Those gnarly hands, and the pale face with bulbous ears sticking out, yeah, totally creepy. Count Dracula couldn't live up to the genuine horror that Nosferatu evoked every time he showed up in a scene.

I have vampires on my mind because my second vampire book, Fighting Chance, is being released on June 21 at Loose Id. Now Johan, well, he's not anything like the German vampire although he's from Austria, and it can be argued of German descent. Johan is commanding, as is Nosferatu, but in a totally different way. My vampire longs to be human again. His human heart still beats. And he regrets his past.

Nosferatu is a German Expressionist film that was released in 1922. It was an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, with the names changed to protect the producers from plagiarism. The film holds up even today - with its moody black and white scenes and bold, stark imagery.

Germany was a happening place after WWI, and the German Expressionist movement reached it's peak in the twenties before inflation had the country reeling, and vulnerable. With the country still recovery from the aftermath of the World War, the film industry didn't have the resources to invest in lush, epic film making. So they developed their own style, of using symbolism and bold stark imagery to evoke moods and darker emotions. Art also took on the same style, or maybe it was the other way around? You only have to look at the works of Franz Marc - the founder of the German Expressionist art movement - Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) to see the same methods used in his compositions as a director would use in German films during that era.

Read more about the film here.

Don't forget, if you follow me on my blog and comment during the month of June, I will enter you in my giveaway to win a pair of beautiful Jasper and Mother of Pearl earrings. Visit my website for details.

Happy Reading!

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

New Giveaway for June!

2011-06-04T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm celebrating the release of book 2 of my m/m vampire series - Fighting Chance. Here's a chance to win these beautiful earrings made of Jasper and Mother of Pearl! It's easy to enter - follow my blog and comment on any post during the month of June - you can email me to let me know you posted a comment! Viki's Email

If you already follow my blog then just leave a comment. :) I will be drawing a name around July 1st!

Fighting Chance will be available on June 21at Loose Id!

Happy Reading!

Viki

Pride Month Starts Tomorrow! Beth Wylde's Yahoo Group!

2011-05-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Pride the month of June - yep, all month! There's a great list of GLBT authors who will be chatting and posting excerpts. You can view the chat schedule of participating authors at Beth's Yahoo Group. I will be chatting there with friends from 3-6 PM EST on June 23! So join in the fun!

New! Free Reads Posted to my Website

2011-05-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

Day in a life...vignettes
Now on my website - well, at least one is! I hope to write more over the summer when the mood strikes me.
These are snippets of a day in the life of my characters. I always think about what if...and sometimes a scene will pop into my head and I decided, why not write the scene and create a short read. My first one is a day in the life of Titan and Chandler featured in my novel: Out of Bounds. Fair Game - when a bet is lost!

I've also posted a short story on Smashwords. My first story is Guarded Hearts (old title: A Thousand Battles). It's a m/m fantasy that many of you read under the old title - A Thousand Battles. This is a free read, so if you haven't read it, please enjoy.

You can access my free reads on my website.

Viki

Erotica for All

2011-05-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'm featured on Erotica for All - a fun U.K. site. Check out my profile and this fun site where you can read all about the wonderful authors who celebrate the sexual nature in all of us!

Viki

McSorley's Old Ale House and Cupcake bakeries

2011-05-19T06:58:00.000-07:00

What do vampires, cupcakes, the Italian Alps and the Sonoron desert have in common?

More in the coming days about an exciting new series release co-written with Vina Grey!

For those of you who read The Tiger Within - do you remember this bar? This is where my Sentinel agents hang out after a long day tracking down vile creatures that snap in the dark! And, this is the bar where Antoine, the beautiful shape shifter tiger, first approaches stoic Sentinel agent, Jack Hunter.

I was in NYC and couldn't pass up taking a picture. It's still looks the same! Sawdust on the floor, and memories implanted in the wood bar and furnishings. Incredible.

Yesterday I turned in The Hunter Within to my editor and now it's finger nail biting, waiting to see if the story will be contracted. This is always the hard part of the writing business, for no matter if you've published one or twenty books, a story can always be rejected due to all kinds of reasons.

Happy Reading!

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Wanted to always write a romance?

2011-05-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a chance to try your hand at writing a romance! Or if you're already an author, you just might want to take a break from your WIP.

1PlaceForRomance is holding a Romance Story Writing Contest. The theme is SUMMER.

Published Authors and Rising Stars will compete in separate categories for editing and cover services, cash prizes and an exclusive sales contract at 1PFR. Finalists will be selected by the staff at 1PFR. The winners will be selected by the readers at 1PFR.

Story length is 5000-7000 words. Stories must be received by June 1, 2011.

See http://1PlaceForRomance.com/StoryContest for details and a link to the official rules. Questions? Send them to: Promotion at 1PlaceForRomance.com

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Winner of the Tiger Magnet!

2011-05-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

I had my DH chose a number from 1-38 - and the winner is Jean P! Please email me offline your snail mail at viki.lyn.romance (@) gmail (dot) com!

Everyone, thank you for following my blog. I will be having another giveaway soon.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Fellow Dirty Birdie - Daisy has a new book out!

2011-04-30T12:32:00.000-07:00

Take a sexy romp with the gods in this hilarious and hot ménage!

Over-extended - and closeted - charmer Mercury the Messenger struggles to accommodate all the factions of the Deities International Conference and Kibbitz. However, his skills at diplomacy stretch to the limit when the object of a chance tryst turns out to be his assistant, and his arranged fiancée arrives at the scene.

Dillon Rodriquez, Mercury's executive aide and a soon-to-be MBA student, refuses to be the closeted god's side-dish. But when an accident at the conference strands the god in the human world, Dillon agrees to act as his guide.

Traveling from San Diego down the Baha Coast to Cabo, Mercury experiences a side of life he never imagined, and he learns that if he wants to earn the love of the one man who matters, he has to stop trying to please everyone else.

Looks too good to pass up! I'll be putting this one on my TBR list!
Happy Reading.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Vodyanoy

2011-04-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

I'm getting excited for my new book release - Fighting Chance. It's coming out June 21 from Loose Id. I'm on my fourth round of edits with Sandra, and it's shaping up under her shrewd advice and wisdom. Much of the paranormal world is shaped form Slavic/Baltic mythology. I've taken some of the gods/goddesses and myths and gave them my own twist:

The shock of cold water trapped the breath in his lungs. This isn’t what he wanted. Odd, murky shapes formed in his line of sight -- ribbons of seaweed, a school of shiny fish wiggling by him. He struggled to break the surface, but a something slimy wrapped around his ankle. It took him a second to realize he was being pulled downward by a naked man with a greenish beard and long hair. The body was covered in black scales, and he had a fish tail. When Corbin met the gaze, his gut flipped over at the demon red eyes.

This strange creature is my version of the Slavic deity Vodyanoy. He drags people to his underwater temple to serve him as slaves. Now that would make an interesting twist to the story if he indeed captures Corbin *g*. Sex slave, maybe, but I'm digressing. Maybe in next book!

Happy Reading!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Song to the Siren

2011-04-25T07:04:00.000-07:00

Free read by Kelley Heckart at TDMRA Blog! And, Robert Plant singing Song to the Siren.

How will a Siren find love when her voice lures men to their deaths?

Free Read

My Free Read Live at TMDRA Blog

2011-04-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

A meddlesome sister, an ex-lover and a whole lot of trouble!

It's my week at Truly Madly Deeply Romance Author's blog - When I found out that our first free read would be based on a song, I wanted to choose a song performed by a gay artist. I love Whataya Want From Me sung by Adam Lambert - angst filled and emotional. My story is about two men who didn't get it right the first time around. It was a challenge to write a short story so I hope you enjoy peeking into the lives of Max and Rafe.

Truly Madly Deeply Romance Authors blog

So check it out and leave a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

Viki

Playlist To Get Me In The Mood

2011-04-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

Antoine as a cub!

I am on my final sex scene between Antoine and Jack - The Hunter Within is the sequel to The Tiger Within. When I'm writing a sex scene I like to listen to music. I've listed a few songs on my "GREAT SEX" play list:

Alone Together - Carly Simon
Another Sad Love Song - Toni Braxton
Avalon - Bryan Ferry
Building a Mystery - Sarah McLachlan
Collide - Howie Day
Come Undone - Duran Duran
Comptine D'Un Autre (from Amelie) - Yann Tiersen
Con Te Partiro - Andrea Bocelli
Dante's Prayer - Loreena McKennitt
Dreaming in Metaphors - Seal
Everybody Hurts - R.E.M.
Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
First Cut is the Deepest - Rod Stewart
Give A Little Bit - Supertramp
Hey, Soul Sister - Train
Love My Way - The Psychedelic furs
O Exercicio - Rodrigo Leao
Reason To Believe - Rod Stewart
Take The Long Way Home - Supertramp
Time To Say Goodbye - Andrea Bocelli
Under Pressure - Queen
Whataya Want From Me - Adam Lambert
Windswept - Bryan Ferry

Okay, a weird list but it works for me :)

Happy Reading!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

QR codes and all that jazz!

2011-04-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit to being a real 'dork' when trying to figure out what the latest computer frenzy fad is - and recently, I heard about QR codes for the first time from a friend and fellow author. Yep, I told you I'm behind the line when it comes to the latest and greatest marketing hype.

I just purchased an iPhone two weeks ago, okay.

Now that I'm hip with my new phone I decided to see what all the hype was about - and wow - I had no idea how fun it was to create these square computer looking chippy thingies. What to do with them is another story - one I haven't written yet! I downloaded NeoReader app to read the codes, and wow, it worked. I'm always surprised when something just happens too easily. But it was...

So for those that have the app to read these robotic looking squares, here's my first QR code! And I'm sure, many more to come.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Marzanna the Goddess of Winter

2011-04-02T07:20:00.000-07:00

The world surrounding my upcoming release is set on a mystical island - Alkas Island.

The world building is always a fun part of writing a paranormal. For Fighting Chance, I've taken certain myths and historical references and let my imagination fill in the blanks.

The krensik world is developed around Slavic/Baltic mythology and their languages. There isn't much written about their myths since they were orally handed down from generation to generation. Many myths were turned into fairy tales and meanings became lost. There is a pantheon of gods and goddesses - and it is around this pantheon that I created kresnik mythology.

One such goddess is Marzanna - the goddess of winter.

The tradition of burning or drowning an effigy of Marzanna to celebrate the end of winter is a folk custom that survives in Poland, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Typically taking place on the day of the vernal equinox, the rite involves setting fire to a female straw effigy, drowning it in a river, or both...This ritual represents the end of the dark days of winter, the victory over death, and the welcoming of the spring rebirth. Wikipedia: Marzanna

For our slayer, Corbin, when he confronts Marzanna he confronts his fears of losing his control and his heart. He meets up with her during his initiation and she tells him:

“You are arrogant, cold, not deserving of your rank.” She swirled around him leaving icicles in her path. “I don’t have to kiss you to freeze your heart. It’s already encased in ice.”

She laughed and the gravely sound got on Corbin’s nerves. It didn’t help that her words filled his head with doubts. He started to shiver. He had to get out of here, away from the goddess, the ghost of his illusions.

This story focuses on Corbin's inability to open up to people, to let in love without losing his edge as a slayer. And worse for him is the man that might be able to help him break the barriers around his heart is his sworn enemy.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

What's a Kresnik? Find out in Fighting Chance!

2011-03-17T07:19:00.000-07:00

I have kresniks and vampires on my mind! I'm editing Fighting Chance (aka Second Chance) and having a blast revisiting Corbin and Johan. Ah, my sexy vampire slayer kresnik and his thorn in his side, vampire Johan. The sexual tension between them is biting, frustrating and hot. But how can a man who was born to slay vampires fall in love with one?

Many of my readers have asked where I got my ideas for my world. I take myths and give them a twist. The idea of Kresniks is not new. I've seen a form of the word used in the Japanese anime Trinity Blood.

A Kresnik is a Slovenian or Croatian vampire slayer - and is born with a caul (membrane) over their face. They can turn into an animal form at night to fight off their enemy - the Kudlak or vampire. It's written that the krensnik is associated with the celestrial god - Perun who is associated with lightning and the eagle.

I have taken these myths and created my kresnik/vampire world using Baltic/Slavic mythology. There isn't much written on this subject but it gives me great leeway to use my imagination.

Corbin Hamilton is a kresnik, has a spirit totem (the fox) and believes his sole duty is to slay vampires. In Fighting Chance - he will have to question this belief and make some very difficult choices.

What are kresnik's powers?

In my world, Kresniks are immune to vampire powers such as glamour, and can't be turned. They are agile and powerful fighters, and can self-heal.

On Alkas Island (one of their sacred islands used for rituals) they mine a limestone that has an ingredient to weaken a vampire's strength and render them unconscious. Corbin's favorite weapon is his dart gun with arrows tipped in this limestone poison. Once a vampire is unconscious, he can plunge a heartwood stake into the creature's heart!

The question is -- will he stake Johan's heart?

Happy Reading
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Viki's News Bits - interviews, contests, blogs

2011-03-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

My interview is up on the - 1 Place for Romance Blog - the interview has been a while ago, so it doesn't feature my latest book - Out of Bounds, but I have a soft spot for Ryan's Harbor :)

Let's see...I am in the middle of edits for the second book of my vampire series - the tentative title given my LI is Take a Chance but it might change! Originally I titled it Second Chance but that title was already taken. *weep* I will be posting how I built the kresnik and vampire worlds on my blog for the next few months, so if you're interested please check it out.

I've joined two blogs recently and now they are both 'live'. Truly Madly Deeply Romance Authors blog has a new free read posted every Saturday for the entire year! I will be posting April 16 - the story of Rafe and Max from my Name the Two Joes contest. TMDRA Blog

The other blog is Dirty Birdies - Pervs of a Feather - a more raunchy blog featuring nine erotic and erotica authors. I'll be the most tame of the bunch, but it should be fun! There’s also a very cool contest posted on the blog – giving away a cool KOBO reader, too. Dirty Birdies Blog

I taught a workshop with my friend and author Donna at the Festival of Books in Tucson. We had over 85 people and standing room only! It went well, and we had a great time. While I was there I picked up a very nifty magnetic bookmark with a cool tiger on the front. I will be giving this away soon - and will post the contest on my blog and website. I finished The Hunter Within - and am in the editing process before I send it to my editor. This is Jack's story and his coming to terms with who he is and what he wants from life. The question is how does Antoine fit into the picture or will Jack choose to live in his past?

Happy Reading!

Viki Lyn

http://www.vikilyn.com

Dirty Birdies, TMDRA, Editing Workshop

2011-03-11T08:31:00.000-08:00

I was asked to join a new blog - Dirty Birdies - Pervs of a Feather! We will be go live next week. It should prove to be a hot time! Not sure how dirty are our birdies, but some of my author friends are live wires - and all of us write hot. We will be having a contest to kick off our blog - so I'll keep you informed.

And, don't forget, Truly Madly Deeply Romance Authors Blog posts a new free read tomorrow. For Your Eyes Only - by Suzanne Rock. TMDRA Blog

I will be teaching an editing workshop tomorrow morning at 10 AM in Tucson - if you're in the neighborhood check out the Festival of Books - on the UC Campus. Tucson Festival of Books

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com

March Free Reads at TMDRA Blog

2011-03-05T06:25:00.000-08:00

Here's a list of upcoming reads on Truly, Madly Deeply Romance Authors Blog.

3/5 - Two Doors Down by Liddy Midnight (Urban Fantasy)

3/12 - In Your Eyes by Suzanne Rock

3/19 - Into the Ocean by Missy James

3/26 - Weekend in New England by Jill James

All free and fun and fantastic!

TMDRA Blog

Happy Reading!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com

The Joy of Editing

2011-03-02T11:09:00.000-08:00

I've taken over my dining room table! It's good thing I don't have kids, or dine at the table. Papers litter the surface along side my laptop and highlighting pens. I'm deep editing two books - one book has been co-written, and the other is the sequel to The Tiger Within. At some point, as a writer, you have to stop revising, but I want to make the ms clean as possible for my editor. Last time, I dumped her with my vampire sequel without deep editing and well, I feel guilty for ever after!

Certain words I find and replace - those pesky airhead words such as 'that' and 'own'. I highlight with different colors the: back story, deep POV, emotional responses, dialogue, dialogue tags, description, and places where I might have too much of one color or not enough.

Then I go through the usual stuff - sloppy writing words - felt, seemed, appeared, looked...and see if I can't show it, show vs. tell, and so on.

Next Saturday I'm giving a workshop on editing with my writer friend Donna Hatch at the Tucson Festival of Books. It's always fun to teach this class because it's a good refresher course for me, and I learn from my audience. So if you're going to be in Tucson Arizona next weekend, check out the festival! You can visit their website: Tucson Festival of Books

Happy Reading,

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com

Strut!

2011-02-27T08:08:00.000-08:00

Check out the new free read at TMDRA blog - Strut by Denysé Bridger. Sheena Easton sang the title song, and there's a cool video that brings back memories!

Strut - An exotic dancer meets a sexy Native American. Check it out. TMDRA Blog

AGRA - Gay Rodeo

2011-02-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sunday I attended the gay rodeo. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain but me and my friends drudge through the mud anyway. I couldn't resist all those yummy cowboys in their Wranglers :) The weather permitted us from staying for all the events but we did see Steer Decorating, Pole Bending, Chute Dogging. Love those names! Can you imagine bringing down a 500 lb bull by the horns! Wow. Those men and women have some serious muscle.

If you'd like to check out the pics click here!

Viki

This Week's Free Read on TMDRA Blog

2011-02-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

Linda Mooney has a free read posted this week - a super hero tale - Fly Me To the Moon! Check it out here - TMDRA Contest #1 is closed but there is still #2 and #3 to enter:

Contest Information

Ponder on this!

2011-02-16T04:31:00.000-08:00

A kōan (pronounced /ˈkoʊ.ɑːn/; Chinese: 公案; pinyin: gōng'àn; Korean: gong'an; Vietnamese: công án) is a fundamental part of the history and lore of Zen Buddhism. It consists of a story, dialogue, question, or statement, the meaning of which cannot be understood by rational thinking but may be accessible through intuition. (from Wikipedia).

A friend emailed this to me the other day. So what is our true soul?

Chokan had a very beautiful daughter named Seijo. He also had a handsome young cousin named Ochu. Joking, he would often comment that they would make a fine married couple. Actually, he planned to give his daughter in marriage to another man. But young Seijo and Ochu took him seriously; they fell in love and thought themselves engaged. One day Chokan announced Seijo's betrothal to the other man. In rage and despair, Ochu left by boat. After several days journey, much to his astonishment and joy he discovered that Seijo was on the boat with him!

They went to a nearby city where they lived for several years and had two children. But Seijo could not forget her father; so Ochu decided to go back with her and ask the father's forgiveness and blessing. When they arrived, he left Seijo on the boat and went to the father's house. he humbly apologized to the father for taking his daughter away and asked forgiveness for them both.

"What is the meaning of all this madness?" the father exclaimed. Then he related that after Ochu had left, many years ago, his daughter Seijo had fallen ill and had lain comatose in bed since. Ochu assured him that he was mistaken, and, in proof, he brought Seijo from the boat. When she entered, the Seijo lying ill in bed rose to meet her, and the two became one.

Zen Master Goso, referrring to the legend, observed, "Seijo had two souls, one always sick at home and the other in the city, a married woman with two children. Which was the true soul?"

Happy Reading!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

10 Most Iconic Screen Kisses - Do you agree?

2011-02-14T04:12:00.000-08:00

I was browsing on my CNN app the other morning and found an article on the 10 Most Iconic Screen Kisses - they shared from InStyle Magazine. These are kisses that make your spine shiver with excitement, and make your toes curl - sigh.

Do you agree with their list?

1.Gone with the Wind - "You should be kissed, and often. And by someone who knows how." (Rhett) - now that's an alpha male to the nth degree!
2. Lady and the Tramp - kiss over a long strand of spaghetti. Never tried this myself!
3. Breakfast at Tiffany's - final scene in which Holly and Paul kiss in the rain.
4. When Harry Met Sally - New Year's Eve reconciliation kiss.
5. Pretty Woman - Fire escape kiss.
6. Ghost - we all know that scene!
7. Titanic - and this one too!
8. Spiderman - upside down kiss in the rain.
9. Slumdog Millionaire - kiss on the Mumbai train platform.
10. Twilight - Edward and Bella's first kiss.

So, what do you think? Do you agree with this list? I agree with a few of the movies listed, but they left off Brokeback Mountain - here's a video I found that shows just how romantic and angst-filled Jack and Ennis' kisses are - in this tragic but beautifully woven tale of forbidden love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6VcVQ1Xjm0

Happy Reading!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

First Free Read Now Live on Truly Madly Deeply!

2011-02-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's finally here - the first free read posted on Truly Madly Deeply by CJ England! Truly Madly Deeply.

Happy Reading!

Viki Lyn

A Good Morning Chuckle

2011-02-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

Received this in my inbox this morning, and wanted to share. I especially liked #5 and #24!

Truths For Mature Humans

1.. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history, if you die.

2.. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3.. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4.. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5.. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6.. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7.. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8.. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9.. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection... again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.

Happy Reading!
Viki

Le Tigre has arrived! And...it's so darn cute!

2011-02-08T12:14:00.000-08:00

This is Antoine/Le Tigre as a cub - ah...complete with those icy blue eyes. I will be donating this to the TMD gift basket - Contest #2. I will be sad to depart with Le Tigre, but it will go to a good home. Le Tigre will be part of the Contest #2 gift basket give-away. To win this lovely cub check out TMD blog for contest details, and read about the other contests and wonderful fun future plans!

Truly Madly Deeply Blog
24 Authors/Free Read Once a Week!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Contests Go Live Today!

2011-02-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

It's Contest Time at Truly Madly Deeply

Our first FREE READ goes LIVE in just one week! This fantastic short story will be the inaugural installment of weekly tales by some of the most creative and imaginative authors published today. Our first author, CJ England, has penned a sexy romantic story about acceptance, perseverance and a love so great it can literally take you up into the heavens, no matter what the odds. Truly, Madly Deeply is inspired by the Savage Garden song of the same name, touted as one of the most romantic songs of the last decade.

And to celebrate we have three fantastics contests! And to celebrate this first amazing story, we have three fantastic contests just for those who come and visit and read this blog. Truly Madly Deeply Blog

So what are you waiting for? Go to the blog for details:

Happy Reading!
Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Countdown to Free Reads - All Year Long!

2011-02-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's all year. Every Saturday Madly Truly Deeply will have FREE READS from many different genres and heat levels. There are twenty six of us, including m/m authors Z.A. Maxfield and Elizabeth Silver (and me!). Stories to entertain, tempt and titillate...

Paranormal, Sci-Fi, GLBTQ, Contemporary...the list goes on, and all ROMANCE.

The first theme is SONG TITLES
Twenty-six stories will all have stories inspired by song titles.

The launch starts on the most romantic day of the year - Valentine's Day. So the first read will be posted on February 12th written by CJ England. It's called Truly, Madly Deeply in honor of this brand new endeavor. It's a Urban Fantasy, a sexy, romantic story that will take you flying into the very heavens...

But FREE READS aren't all you get. How about contests, free e-books, gifts and fun monthly prizes? Yep....that's right. And we're going to launch this brand new blog by giving you three fantastic ways to win.

But more of that coming soon!

Happy Reading!

Viki Lyn

http://www.vikilyn.com

Interview for the Tucson Festival of Books

2011-01-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

I'm co-teaching an edit workship at the Tucson Festival Books March 12. I'm very excited about it, the festival a real fun time for readers and authors.

Amy Bright interviewed me for the Examiner and here's the link:

http://www.examiner.com/romance-novel-in-tucson/az-author-vicki-gaia-to-bringing-erotica-romance-to-tucson-festival-of-books

Oh, the word is out on my other pen name under which I write 'straight' romance :)

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Coming Soon: Truly Madly Deeply - new free read blog

2011-01-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning!
Coming soon is a new blog that will feature free reads every week!

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Over twenty-plus fabulous romance authors will be participating. Every Saturday, a new free read will be posted to the blog - all romances with HEA or HFN - all sub-genres and pairings.

Our first theme is song titles.

There will be a fun launch and when we figure out how we're going to celebrate, I'll let you know!

You can sign up now to receive notification when a new story is posted:
http://trulymadlydeeplyromanceauthors.blogspot.com/

I'm looking forward to reading all the wonderful stories throughout the year!

Happy Reading!

Viki
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Last Chance nominated for Best Book All Around! Please Vote :)

2011-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

I was thrilled to find out Last Chance has been nominated for BEST BOOK All AROUND for LR Cafe's "Best of 2010" Awards.

If you enjoyed my book I would love your vote!

Here are the rules:

**PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THESE RULES CAREFULLY**

VOTING BEGINS SATURDAY, JANUARY 22ND, 2011 TO JANUARY 30TH, 2011 ONLY! No early voting

Winners to be announced on the LR Café Loop on January 31st at Noon EST.

Voting will take place on Dawn's Reading Nook Blog. Each category will have a separate post and to vote, comment your choice in the comment area.

Link to Dawn's Reading Nook Blog is: http://lovesbooksandmore.blogspot.com/search/label/Best%20of%20awards

There are many great books listed and authors to vote for - I'll be voting today!

Happy Reading!

Viki Lyn

New Year's resolutions...or not.

2011-01-04T17:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's already January 4, 2011 - four days into the new year and I still haven't sat down to get organized for the upcoming year. Did anyone make any resolutions this year? I made four - hopefully one's that are obtainable, and no lose weight goals except to get into a pair of jeans I bought off the rack last month. They're a smidge too tight. Not surprising - but still - I THINK I can make this weight goal - maybe! My downfall is sweets, and you'll notice I usually have one of my character's with a desperate sweet tooth.

The other two goals are writing ones - I'd like to publish four books this year - so we'll see if I can do that. Sure, that means actually getting in front of my laptop and writing, but hey, it's bound to happen sooner or later, hopefully not much later. My vampire story is contracted so that will be out in the springtime. Another vampire campy mystery romance was submitted but I haven't heard back from the publishing house. That one is co-written. I have two WIP's - both about a third written, and of course, my fantasy which just is that, a fantasy in my head.

The final goal is to improve on my golf game. I'd like to shave a few more points off my handicap. That means taking lessons again, or going to the course and practicing my short game, which at times is so SAD. It's a very unforgiving game.

That's it. I kept to the KISS (keep it simple, stupid) rule this year. I hope to simplify other parts of my life as well. And of course, keep writing cool stories that you all want to read.

The book cover is from Yugi Yamada's Open the Door to Your Heart. A great yaoi I just picked up at my local comic book store. It's fantastic like most of her books. I love when I get my hands on a real great yaoi story that I just can't put down and I want to read over and over. This one is a keeper on my bookshelf.

I hope everyone had a wonderful New Year's Day.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com

Ryan Adams Interviewed

2010-12-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

Ryan Adams (from Ryan's Harbor) was interviewed by AMP - check it out :
Ryan Adam's Interview

Out of Bounds got an awesome reveiw at Reviews by Jessewaves! Out of Bounds review

The contract has been signed and mailed! The second book of my vampire series will be published by Loose Id - publication date TBD. I have to come up with another title since Second Chance has already been taken - so any ideas? The first book is titled Last Chance - so I was keeping with the 'chance' theme. But maybe I'll have to rethink the title :)

Viki

Rainbow Award Winner for Best Gay Paranormal

2010-12-10T08:19:00.000-08:00

I'm a Rainbow Award Winner!

I just found out that my book Last Chance placed first in the Best Gay Paranormal category.

I'm thrilled and honored to be listed among such wonderful authors.

To read more go to Elisa's Live Journal Page

Viki

Guest Authors, K. Piet and S.L. Armstrong

2010-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome Kris and S.L.! I think it's always fascinating when two authors can work together to create a wonderful book. So, please tell us about your current release.

For over 250 years, the use of the tarot for divination has been a mainstay of mystical and occult practices. The themes and forces represented by the cards are said to govern our lives and our destinies. Whether you believe that or not, the story of the cards is nevertheless the story of our lives – the accomplishments and the pitfalls, the path from soaring joy to crushing defeat and back again. Cast the Cards is a collection of six all-new short stories that explore moments along that story for some remarkable individuals trying to make their way along that path.

Edith, a woman who has been burned too many times to play the Fool again. Jason, a young man whose bisexuality has made him feel like a Hermit. Sjofn the witch, on a quest to free herself from the control of the Hanged Man. Aaron, a dominant soul stuck in an ivory Tower. Bea, a mind reader weary of battle, but still with the Star in her eyes. Caleb, courted by a god beneath a dream of the Moon.
The path the tarot set before us is never easy, but by facing it with strength and determination, the rewards it promises are worth the risk.

Our current release: Cast the Cards is an anthology based on cards from the Major Arcana in the tarot. Six stories are included in the anthology: two M/M, two F/F, and two M/M/F. They range from contemporary to fantastical, but they’re all lovely short stories filled with the promise that the tarot offers. It’s taken us a year to produce, but we’re very happy with it, and we hope those who purchase the book will be just as pleased. It’s available as an e-book or a print volume.

That sounds fascinating. I've always loved Tarot Cards for their mystery and art. When and why did you begin writing?

[S.L.] I’ve been writing since my childhood. It was natural to me. I wrote little stories for school and my family, and then poetry when I was in junior high school. I didn’t seriously begin writing until 10 years ago when I dipped my toes into fanfiction. I wrote fanfiction for perhaps six years before I shifted to original fiction. Once I made that shift, I never looked back. I love other people’s worlds, but I love my own more.

[K.] I wrote strictly for school work for quite a while, just essays and research papers aside from a couple really bad fanfiction pieces that never saw the light of day. I began role-playing online, and a few years back, S.L. asked me to role-play one of her original characters for fun. We found our writing meshed nicely, and she showed me what it was to write an entire story. I haven’t been the same since! ^_^

Do you have a specific writing style?

[S.L.] No. I pride myself on having no particular writing style. I write whatever comes to mind, hopping genres and sexual pairings in my romances. I use First Person or Third Person, horror or fantasy or speculative, M/M, M/F, and any permutation my mind can conjure. I feel I write stories, whatever those may be, and enjoy the freedom of not trapping myself in one particular style. In fact, I’ve just recently begun writing my first non-romance fiction novel, and I’m excited to see how it turns out. I hope it means that if someone looks up my books that something I’ve written will appeal to them.

[K.] Like S.L., I like to keep my options open as much as possible and just write whatever story is there to be written, whether it’s First Person M/M horror or Third Person F/F western. It all depends on the story and specific characters, so I’m quite fluid on style.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging when writing M/M sex scenes?

[S.L.] Ensuring the sex serves a purpose. I think, in many M/M romances, that the sex scenes just feel thrown in there without them adding anything but titillation to the storyline. I come from the school of thought that nothing in a book should be gratuitous; everything should serve a purpose and further the plot and development of the novel. Sometimes, I have to have a serious look at a sex scene and ask myself what it accomplishes in the greater scheme of the plot, what does it add? If it adds nothing but sex, then I need to rework the scene.

[K.] I sometimes get a bit wordy when it comes to M/M sex scenes, as S.L. can attest to. XD It’s a problem that’s very much related to ensuring the scene serves a purpose. If there’s unnecessary action going on or too many little details, chances are it could be tightened up quite a bit and still have those points that will affect the plot or character development.

Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?

[S.L.] Everywhere. A quote, a snippet of a song, a news statement, or even when I read a book that I’m disappointed in. My head never shuts up. Even when I have dozens of projects on the board, my head will still come up with a dozen more I’ll feel I have to fit into the schedule somehow. *laughs* It drives K. batty sometimes.

[K.] It does drive me batty sometimes, but most of the time it just keeps us engaged! I tend to get my ideas from S.L. because she has such a fount of them! My own ideas are much slower to form, though they usually come from songs I hear or random musings as I sit around in my rare spare time.

Now, let's get personal! What was your best vacation ever?

[S.L.] The very first time my husband and I went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee back in 2003, I believe. It was an amazing trip. We rented a cabin in the mountains, it snowed, we played with our dogs out in the cold, and we had a blast in Gatlinburg. Though we went back two more times, the subsequent holidays were never as wonderful as that first one, though we still keep trying to recapture that perfection.

[K.] I’ll stick to my adult life, since a lot of childhood vacations are a bit blurry for me. I’d say the first big trip that I paid for all by myself, which was a trip to Las Vegas for CirqueCon 2006. Part of it was the build-up, since I’d worked on five special drawings for the convention group. I got to see the five Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas and do a bunch of behind the scenes activities that made my inner kid just squeal and bounce up and down with excitement. That was a great time and inspired me a great deal.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

[S.L.] An artist of some kind. For the longest time, I had this vivid, romanticized idea of being a starving artist in New York surviving on cheese in a crappy loft. When I was about sixteen, though, I seriously began to focus on writing, and by the time I was in my mid-twenties, I knew writing was my calling. Writing was what I kept coming back to, and it’s been one of few steady things in my life.

[K.] An artistic athlete of some sort. I went from gymnastics to cheerleading to baton twirling to figure skating relatively quickly. I always had the dream of being in the Broadway show CATS, too. While I still take occasional dance classes (mostly modern and jazz), I’m glad I never got too serious in those sports. I’m quite happy being a massage therapist and writer now.

Who would you want to be stranded on a desert island with?

[S.L.] Mykel Hawke and Ruth England. *laughs* They would keep my ass alive and be cute and amusing as hell as they did so.

[K.] Shane Dawson, both to document it and make me laugh, and, since Mykel Hawke would be busy saving S.L… MacGyver. He’d get Shane and me off that island. Somehow.

If you could have dinner with anyone, who would it be and why?

[S.L.] Neil Gaiman, no doubt. He’s been an idol of mine since I was fourteen and first read The Sandman. I still remember my heart breaking when the finally published the last of The Kindly Ones and how it took me a few months before I’d mustered up the courage to buy The Wake. It was also the first piece of fiction to move to write my own fiction based on the world and characters. I’d love to sit down with him and relate that and ask him how the hell he manages to write as much as he does alongside all the commitments and traveling he has each year.

[K.] Andrew and Kevin Atherton. This will sound silly, as it’s rather fangirl-ish, but when I saw their duo straps act for Cirque du Soleil’s show Varekai, I was left in tears. I thought it was that beautiful. It started me down the path of my college and vocational education in kinesiology and massage therapy. While I’ve continued to exchange e-mails with them every so often and received very kind responses, it would be really wonderful to finally meet them in person and chat, even though I’d probably be so annoying, blabbing on about my writing and how much I’ve come to love that as well.

Here's an exciting excerpt from their current release: Cast the Cards, Rating: R
Excerpt from Oneiros by S.L. Armstrong in the Cast the Cards anthology: Caleb turned his head toward the door. Leaning against the jam, in all his naked glory, was Morpheus. Caleb took his time looking, eyes sweeping from head to toe, lingering on the lax sex resting against hairless skin. "Is this real?" he asked, voice rough as he raised his eyes to meet Morpheus'.

"It is as real as I make it."

"Why are you here?"

Morpheus smiled, the expression soft and indulgent. "You are lonely."

"There are millions of lonely people out there," Caleb said as Morpheus stepped into the room. "Why am I different from them?"

"Why is anyone drawn to anyone else?" Morpheus stopped at the edge of the bed, his arms folded, and looked down at Caleb. "I have always been a part of your dreams, Caleb. The only difference between then and now is that you are aware of me as you were not before."

Caleb's heart began to race, color rising to his cheeks as he stared up at Morpheus. "Are... you going to hurt me?"

Morpheus shook his head, unfolded his arms, and cupped Caleb's face. "No. Never would I hurt you," he murmured.

The touch was so real. His skin was soft, warm and smelling of rain and moist earth, against his overheated face. Those hands drew his face upward, and Caleb whimpered when Morpheus' lips touched his. It wasn't the desperate passion of the night before; this was something sweet, something tender. Caleb parted his lips, his hands resting atop Morpheus' as Morpheus slid his tongue into Caleb's mouth.

It was just a kiss, Caleb told himself. A kiss shouldn't make him so hard he hurt. It shouldn't make his pulse pound in his ears. It shouldn't make him feel so weak, so needy, but it did. The kiss made him want to let the god take away all the worries he felt when he was awake, all the fear and self-loathing and sadness. This was all a dream, something his mind conjured to ease his own loneliness, and even if it was a lucid dream, it really was just a dream.

So, why didn't it feel like just a dream?

"Dreams are the gateway to the self," Morpheus whispered into his mouth. "Dreams are what give heroes their courage, kings their bravery, and the common man a reason to believe. Dreams are made of the stuff of legends, Caleb, and I am the maker of those dreams. Dreams are not 'just' anything."

Caleb shuddered, his breath short as their lips teased lightly at one another. "I'm tired of being alone," he said. "I miss being touched."

"I know," Morpheus breathed, pressing Caleb back against the mattress.

Give-away: K. and S.L. have generously offered a give away - one PDF copy of the anthology! All readers need to do is leave a comment and they’ll be entered into a random drawing for a free PDF copy that we will deliver via an email to them. They do promise not to use your email address for anything but delivery of their prize.

Cast the Cards can be bought here:http://stormmoonpress.com/books/Cast-the-Cards.aspx

The Keeper can be bought here:http://stormmoonpress.com/books/The-Keeper.aspx

Social Media Links:

K. Piet’s website: http://www.kpiet.net/
K. Piet’s blog: http://kpiet.wordpress.com/

S.L. Armstrong’s website: http://www.slarmstrong.net/
S.L. Armstrong’s blog: http://slarmstrong.wordpress.com/

K. and S.L. thank you so much for spending time with me and my readers!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

BlackRaven's Reader's Poll - Vote!

2010-11-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

I just found out that Out of Bounds received a Recommended Read from BlackRaven's Reviews. I don't search for my reviews preferring ignorance - but I was emailed that I'm also part of BlackRaven's Reader's Poll this weekend! Yikes. I'm never mentioned in a poll - but since I received a RR review, I'm listed.

Now I need votes...or at least a few votes, since last I checked no one voted for my book. So I'm getting the word out - and I'm with a group of great authors, too. If you read Out of Bounds, and enjoyed it, you can vote here, and read my review, too!
http://www.blackravensreviews.com/polls.php

Sexiest Man Ever

2010-11-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

I thought this was a lot of fun. You can on online and vote for favorite sexiest man ever. I just did. :)

The men are listed by People's Sexiest Man Alive covers - and spans several years. I noticed that a few stars are listed more than once! (Brad Pitt, George Clooney...)

Here are my picks: *drum roll please*

Round One Jude Law
Round Two: Pierce Brosnan
Round Three: Johnny Depp
Round Four: Hugh Jackman
Round Five: John F. Kennedy Jr.
Round Six: Johnny Depp (voted for him twice because well, I just don't think Mark Harmon is the sexiest although he's attractive, and Nick Nolte, well...)

My over all winner: Johnny Depp!
Here's the website: http://people.com/sexiestmanever

I'd be curious who you chose as the sexiest man EVER!

1 Romance Ebooks name change!

2010-10-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

In the next couple weeks, 1RomanceEbooks will become http://1PlaceForRomance.com . The same great romance stories, the same great romance authors and publishers, the same great customer service... they're just changing their name.
1PlaceForRomance is our new website name: http://1PlaceForRomance.com

1PFR has a Facebook: http://facebook.com/OnePlaceForRomance

1PFR is on Twitter: http://twitter.com/1PFR

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

National Coming Out Day!

2010-10-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

Today is National Coming Out day - and Loose Id has a special collection of 'coming out' stories to celebrate. Check out this wonderful collection at Loose Id:

http://www.loose-id.com/Special-Collection-Coming-Out-Day-2010/

My current release - Out of Bounds is part of this special collection.

Titan Douglas has a brilliant NFL career of legendary statistics until he blows out his knee. For two years he mourns the loss of his career, status and lifestyle -- until the day he wakes up with a strange man in his bed and realizes he needs to go home. Slowly, he rebuilds his life, keeping his sexuality safely secret.

After a painful breakup, Chandler Stowe leaves behind Los Angeles with all its memories and returns to his hometown to take care of his parents' estate. Then Chandler meets Titan and his heart leaps back to life. But a relationship with a closeted gay man is risky. When the town folks turn against Chandler and want him to leave, Chandler’s not so sure his lover will get his back.

Titan must determine what his heart truly longs for -- and if he willing to step out of bounds for a chance at true love.

What is National Coming Out Day?

National Coming Out Day was founded by Robert Eichberg and Jean O'Leary on October 11, 1988 in celebration of the second gay march in Washington D.C. a year earlier. The purpose of the march and of National Coming Out Day is to promote government and public awareness of gay, bisexual, lesbian and transgender rights and to celebrate homosexuality.

I salute to tolerance and diversity!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com

Bit of news...

2010-10-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am the guest blogger on CJ England's blog - check it out:

http://cjslivingdreams.blogspot.com/2010/10/switch-hitting-changing-from-hetro-love.html

I also was interviewed by The Romance Studio in celebration of my new m/m release: Out of Bounds
http://theromancestudio.com/blue/who2.php

Don't forget to check out The Romance Studio's Party site - they are giving away tons of prizes all month. I also have been posting there almost daily - and you can check out my posts by clicking my name on the right hand side bar.http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/

Just out! Out of Bounds

2010-10-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Cover by April Martinez - isn't it gorgeous!

Viki Lyn's Out of Bounds

ISBN: 978-1-60737-864-8

Genre: LGBT Contemporary

Length: Short Novel

Celebrating "Coming Out Day" 2010

Titan Douglas has a brilliant NFL career of legendary statistics until he blows out his knee. For two years he mourns the loss of his career, status and lifestyle -- until the day he wakes up with a strange man in his bed and realizes he needs to go home. Slowly, he rebuilds his life, keeping his sexuality safely secret.

After a painful breakup, Chandler Stowe leaves behind Los Angeles with all its memories and returns to his hometown to take care of his parents' estate. Then Chandler meets Titan and his heart leaps back to life. But a relationship with a closeted gay man is risky. When the town folks turn against Chandler and want him to leave, Chandler’s not so sure his lover will get his back.

Titan must determine what his heart truly longs for -- and if he willing to step out of bounds for a chance at true love.

Excerpt and buy link:

http://www.loose-id.com/Out-of-Bounds.aspx

October Events!

2010-10-04T08:17:00.000-07:00

My October Schedule of Events! Lots of fun events and cool prizes being given away!

Interviewed at TRS Blue! http://theromancestudio.com/blue/who2.php

I'm participating in TRS Spookapalooza! It's an event party that will last all month at TRS's party site. Authors will be promoting and chatting each day and there will be prize give-aways. TRS is giving away a Kindle to one lucky reader selected at random at the end of the event. So, post and chat and have fun! Check it out! http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/

Chatting Thursday, October 7 - join me and the authors of Loose Id's special book collection: National Coming Out Day! It will be 7-10pm Eastern Standard Time at Coffee Time Romance erotic loop site! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/karendevinkaren/

Thursday, October 21 - The Romance Studio Release Party - will be giving away a digital ebook!
http://www.theromancestudio.com/party/

LASR/WC Halloween Scavenger Hunt - October 30 thru October 31 Spend Halloween with LASR - lots of great prizes! http://www.longandshortreviews.com/

September 28 Releases

2010-09-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

This weeks "Coming Out Day" releases with Loose Id!
Tuesday, September 28:

Check out these titles!

Public Lives, Private Pleasures by Adrianna Dane

Almost Heaven by Kimberly Gardner

Electric Melty Tingles by K. Z. Snow

http://www.loose-id.com/

Happy Reading!

Viki

Celebrating National Coming Out Day at Loose Id

2010-09-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Loose Id will be publishing several 'coming out' stories to celebrate National Coming Out Day (October 11 in the the US, October 12 in the UK). Fresh new stories, from historical to contemporary! Starting Tuesday, September 21, so mark your calendar!

September 21:

Maxxed Out by Treva Harte
Moonspun by Lee Benoit

September 28:

Public Lives, Private Pleasures by Adrianna Dane
Almost Heaven by Kimberly Gardner
Electric Melty Tingles by K. Z. Snow

October 5:

The Station by Keira Andrews
Out of Bounds by Viki Lyn
Back to Normal by Wren Boudreau

October 12:

Blaq/Bleu by Belinda McBride
You're Invited by Roxy Harte

Coming out of Hiding

2010-09-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

I've been in hiding since last Monday - sequestering myself in a condo with another writing friend. Our goal was to finish our WIP's and I'm happy to say I finally wrote "The End" at 5:45 am this morning. I had to get away from my environment, away from family and friends, and household obligations. I write at home, and usually I can get it done, but lately, I've had a hard time concentrating. It might be because of "mercury in retrograde" screwing up communication. But probably it was my procrastination because I didn't know how to end the story.

Second Chance is about 'second chances' in love. I thought of the title first - keeping with the 'chance' theme, and somehow it worked out. Usually the title comes later for me. Titles are difficult, and when you write a series, you have to be even more clever because you already committed to a word theme. For the third book, I now need to use chance again, and well, I kind of ran out of ideas :) Any ideas???

Now that I finished the draft, I'm going to take a break from editing, and plot out my new book. Not sure if I'm going to start on a sequel to The Tiger Within or plot out my fantasy. And, I have to write my free read from Name the Two Joes give-away. My writer friend and I came up with a very fun paranormal m/m mystery series, and we will be taking another week off in November to write it. So I'll be letting you all know about it as it progresses.

Happy Labor Day!

Viki Lyn

Winner of Name the Two Joes

2010-08-24T15:13:00.000-07:00

Name The Two Joes Giveaway

Okay, I'm a little late but my laptop zapped out on me (my NEW laptop!) and so I had to transfer my files to my other laptop and well, you know the drill :) I'm just happy I didn't loose my files or my latest version of Second Chance. So on to the announcement of the give-away winner:

Now I had a very difficult time deciding between the entries - and, if I ever use anyone else's ideas for a new book of mine, I will give you a free digital copy when it's release! Deal? The emails will be put in my 'Story Ideas' file, so thank you all for participating.

*Drum roll, please* - Cathy M.
I will be emailing Cathy with the news and her digital copy!

The brunet is Rafe - an ex-cop who owns a bar and the blond is Maxwell and architect! I will be writing a short ficlet featuring these two characters, and if it goes well, just maybe, a book at a later date :)

Viki Lyn

Morning Ramblings

2010-08-18T17:24:00.000-07:00

Friday morning around 4AM I went outside and stood in my backyard. Looking up at the sky, I witnessed a meteor streaking across the inky blackness, bright and beautiful, and trailing a green tail behind it. It made me feel very connected to the universe at that moment. A wondrous feeling that I don't get to experience too often -- this feeling of expansiveness in a finite world.

Peace!

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

Digital World of Books

2010-08-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

I just read this morning in The Economist that Barnes and Noble is up for sale. The article went on to say one of the attractions of going private is it'll be easier to "make a big bet on electronic books." This comes on heels of the news that Dorchester is going fully digital and print-on-demand. As my readers know, my m/m books are digital, and so far, none are out in paperback.

I don't mind that. My readers have several options for downloading my books - and it's not as expensive to buy them as it would be if they were in paperback. It's not to say I won't ever have any of my books in paper format, it's just not a concern.

When I bought my Sony eReader a few years ago, I didn't think it'd ever replace my beloved paperbacks. I was wrong. Now I prefer to download a book because I can purchase what I FEEL like reading at the moment. I can also try new authors without investing in a lot of money. And the writers I do love and who have a back list, I can devour in the time it takes me to download a book! It's just plain fun. And, saves trees.

A very efficient and green industry which is a plus for me.

I'm even thinking of buying an iPad so I can read manga -- one of my favorite manga-ka is going digital in the U.S. - and the iPad has the best graphics for comics and manga, far surpassing Kindle and Sony's readers. Now I have to store over 300+ mangas in my closet!

As a writer, I love writing for digital publishers. I have great 'tough-love' editors that really force me to polish my work. And the ease of communication is wonderful. Also, digital publishers are willing to take chances with different genres - transporting the reader to new and exciting worlds.

The world of publishing is changing rapidly and its exciting times for a writer. What's your preference - digital or paper?

Happy Reading!
Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com

Been a while...

2010-08-06T10:15:00.001-07:00

I just returned from vacation - spending days walking the beach in Santa Cruz, climbing the hills of San Francisco (my fav city in the world!), and just enjoying spending time with family. The foggy mornings were a treat. I ate too much, drank too much, but loved every minute of it! When I go on vacation there are no rules :) Went to a crazy bar - The Burritt Room - named after the Nob Hill alley just off Bush Street that was the scene of the murder in The Maltese Falcon. Great cocktails. I'm going to feature this bar in Second Chance - perfect for a vampire hang-out in SF :)

So, I've been back a week and had my head buried under edits for Out of Bounds...lots of revisions but it's a better story. I'm nervous about it because it's my first traditonal gay romance for Loose Id and I'm always jittery with every new story I write. I really like Titan and Chandler, both good people caught in an unpleasant situation.

I'm addicted to gay murder mysteries lately and just purchased three today. If you ever want to browse great GLBT books, visit the GLBT Bookshelf! It has a great selection of books and excerpts and websites of many of the best gay authors. http://bookworld.editme.com/
1. Uncorked by Andrew Grey
2. Stone Canyon by AKM Miles
3. Geography of Murder by P.A. Brown

I've read stories by Andrew Grey but not Miles or Brown, so I look forward to reading their books. Have any of you read these and if so, what's your take on them? Love to hear from you.
Remember my contest is still going on - Name the Two Joes - so if you haven't entered you still have time! Go to my website for details - http://www.vikilyn.com/contests.htm

Out of Bounds

2010-07-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

I just got word from Loose Id that I can use my new title for my coming out story - Out of Bounds. I'm in the middle of edits and pretty much blurry eyed. I've been that way for the last three days - but it's going to be a better story once it gets done. Writing a traditional gay romance is difficult because you can't rely on the paranormal elements or the special effects to carry your plot. It's all about the two main stars of your 'show', and their emotional inner lives that carry the story along. This means you better damn well know your characters - and deep POV becomes crucial to telling the story. You can read more on OOB at my website.

So, here it is. July 22 - the summer is slipping away. I pretty much stayed holed up in my house avoiding the heat for the past couple of months. I'm one of these early risers - and I mean early - 4:30 AM early! Crazy I know but I prefer to be outdoors in the summer watching the sun rise then watching it set. So what have I've been doing??? Writing, golfing, reading...writing, golfing, reading...pretty much that's it. I've read a couple of Michael Nava books, a recent Anthony Bidulka book (really loved Aloha, Candy Hearts - the romantic confession is really really fun!)

Just yesterday I downloaded four ebooks on my eReader, mostly gay mysteries:

1. Lily White Rose Red by Catt Ford

2. Shadows of the Past by Lisa Marie Davis

3. Good Thief by James Buchanan

And a real HOT sexy free read (from ARE) Caffeine for a Marine by Kiernan Kelly...Nine pages of sexy, hunky man-love...I'm envious of writers like KK that just seem to get HOT SEX just right. OOB was a real challenge because I doubled the sex compared to my other four books. I had to buy 2 GI Joe's so I could get the positions right (see my contest on my website).

The last gay romance I read one of the main characters dies in the end. What!!! You say...or at least, that's what I shrieked out, as my heart sank. I was bummed. I guess we can't call it a romance without the happily ever after. So I hope the new books I downloaded have a HEA. I want to be swept into a world of fantasy love and HEA's.

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com/

New yaoi review

2010-07-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hey, I posted a new review on my Yaoi Rose site - Calling by Miu Otsuki. You can read it at http://www.yaoirose.blogspot.com/

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the romance between shy business, Kazuaki and openly lovable porn star, Kira.

Other news, I finished my 'coming out' story for Loose Id - Forward Pass (title might change). Now, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that mgt will like it. If all goes well, the release date will be early October. This was written from a synopsis and that's a first for me. I'm a panser when I write, but following a guideline made it easier to reach my deadline date. I just might try it for future works. Usually I start out by writing three or four chapters, then go back and loosely outline chapter by chapter.

Forward Pass is HOT - so hot that I have twice as many sex scenes in this book compared to all my other m/m romances! My hunky closeted ex-NFL player can't get enough of his beautiful, sexy sculptor, even though he knows it won't go anywhere outside the confines of his walled-up world. Or will it?

Viki Lyn
http://www.vikilyn.com