Please Welcome Larissa Ione to NN!

And the winner is (Drum Roll)

Nina Pierce

Congrats!

I want to welcome everyone to NN. We are so excited about all of our events planed for this month but Larissa is center stage for us today. So this is how it will work. Larissa has been generous enough to give away a signed copy of one of her Demonica novels. I have listed them all below for you. You can pick the one you like. I know some have already read them and have a favorite. 

So anyway first thing is sign up for the blog. You can do that in a few different ways. Networked blogs which is facebook. Google friends which works with your google account. Or through email. You will find all these options in the right hand-side of the blog. Then leave a comment and be sure to leave your email. 

The winner will be announced tonight at midnight central time. You will have 24 hours to contact me or we will pick another winner. I will email you and post the winner on the blog as well.

 Please give Larissa a warm welcome. She will be stopping by tonight 6 p.m. central time. She loves to hear from her fans. 

Let the contest begin, Good Luck! Oh one more thing unfortunately bloggers on NN can't take part in the contest just to keep it fare. But feel free to leave Larissa a comment. 

And don't forget to visit Larissa at her website  http://larissaione.com/blog/

Important info:

For the comments to refresh you need to click on the title of the blog (Larissa Ione Giveaway).

This will take you to a screen that will show only this blog.

Comments will appear at the bottom.

Every once in a while just refresh your page and this will refresh the comments.

Unfortunately we have to do it this way because its not a chat site.

Contest is limited to the US and Canada. This is for shipping purposes. 

But we will be having ebook giveaways that are open to everyone.

Check our Celebration schedule for these dates.

http://tabithablake.blogspot.com/2011/05/nns-one-year-anniversary_05.html

In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life…

She’s a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure—but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.

Two lovers will dare to risk all.

Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his desire to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable—and let Tayla possess him, body and soul…

Pleasure is their ultimate weapon . . .

Runa Wagner never meant to fall in love with the sexy stranger who seemed to know her every deepest desire. But she couldn’t resist the unbelievable passion that burned between them, a passion that died when she discovered his betrayal and found herself forever changed. Now, determined to make Shade pay for the transformation that haunts her, Runa searches for him, only to be taken prisoner by his darkest enemy.

A Seminus demon with a love-curse that threatens him with eternal torment, Shade hoped he’d seen the last of Runa and her irresistible charm. But when he wakes up in a dank dungeon chained next to an enraged and mysteriously powerful Runa, he realizes that her effect on him is more dangerous than ever. As their captor casts a spell that bonds them as lifemates, Shade and Runa must fight for their lives and their hearts—or succumb to a madman’s evil plans.

Forbidden Temptations…

Serena Kelley is an archaeologist and treasure hunter—and a woman with a secret. Since she was seven, she’s been the keeper of a powerful charm that grants her health and immortality . . . as long as she stays a virgin. But Serena isn’t all that innocent. And when a dangerously handsome stranger brings her to the brink of ecstasy, she wonders if she’s finally met the one man she cannot resist.

Fatal Desires…

Wraith is a Seminus demon with a death wish. But when an old enemy poisons him, he must find Serena and persuade her to give him the only known antidote in the universe—her charm. Yet, as she begins to surrender to his seductions, and Wraith senses the cure is within his grasp, he realizes a horrible truth: he’s falling for the woman whose life he must take in order to save his own.

A Demon Enslaved…

Lore is a Seminus half-breed demon who has been forced to act as his dark master’s assassin. Now to earn his freedom and save his sister’s life, he must complete one last kill. Powerful and ruthless, he’ll stop at nothing to carry out this deadly mission.

An Angel Tempted…

Idess is an earthbound angel with a wild side sworn to protect the human Lore is targeting. She’s determined to thwart her wickedly handsome adversary by any means necessary—even if that means risking her vow of eternal chastity. But what begins as a simple seduction soon turns into a passion that leaves both angel and demon craving complete surrender.

Torn between duty and desire, Lore and Idess must join forces as they battle their attraction for each other. Because an enemy from the past is rising again—hellbent on vengeance and unthinkable destruction.

HER TOUCH IS DEADLY

As the only female Seminus demon ever born, master assassin Sinead Donnelly is used to being treated like an outcast. She spent decades enslaved, and now vows she’ll die before she’ll relinquish her freedom again. Then Sin’s innate ability to kill her enemies goes awry: She creates a lethal new werewolf virus that sparks a firestorm of panic and violence.

HIS HUNGER CAN’T BE DENIED

Half-werewolf, half-vampire Conall Dearghul is charged with bringing in Sin to face punishment for the plague. And she’s no stranger: He’s bound to her by blood, and the one sexual encounter they shared has left him hungering for her raw sensuality. Worse, Sin is the underworld’s most wanted and Con soon learns he’s the only one who can help her . . . and that saving her life might mean sacrificing his own.

Don't forget to check out Larissa's latest release Eternal Rider.

They are here. They ride. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

His name is Ares, and the fate of mankind rests on his powerful shoulders. If he falls to the forces of evil, the world falls too. As one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, he is far stronger than any mortal, but even he cannot fight his destiny forever. Not when his own brother plots against him.

Yet there is one last hope. Gifted in a way other humans can't-or won't-understand, Cara Thornhart is the key to both this Horseman's safety and his doom. But involving Cara will prove treacherous, even beyond the maddening, dangerous desire that seizes them the moment they meet. For staving off eternal darkness could have a staggering cost: Cara's life. 

Larissa Ione, a former Air Force meteorological technician, EMT, and professional dog trainer, is the author of sexy contemporary and dark paranormal romances. Published with Red Sage, Samhain, and Grand Central Publishing (formerly Warner Books) under her own name, she is also one half (along with Stephanie Tyler) of the writing team of Sydney Croft, whose erotic paranormal action-adventure novels are published by Bantam Dell. Larissa currently resides in Virginia with her Coast Guard husband and ten-year-old son.

Thank you so much Larissa I can't wait for the next book in your Lords of Deliverance Series. I am sure I'm not the only one chomping at the bit to get my hands on the next one. It has been a pleasure.

Happy Reading and Writing,

Tabby

Please Welcome Guest Blogger Rachel Firasek to NN

Why I Read & Write Paranormal and Urban Fantasy Romance

I remember reading romance novels in high school, tucking them in the seams of my chemistry book in the hopes that everyone would think I was studying and not losing myself in the throes of someone else’s passion. The novels back then were riddled with Pirates, Indians, and hard bodied Sheriffs. Yes, I was snatching my mother’s historicals and plundering the pages, feeding my young mind fantasy and romance.

I wrote my first short story in high school. It was a historical-fantasy set in the times of Rapunzel and unicorns. My hero was a dashing knight that fought the evil army for the hand of his fair maiden. The fire-breathing dragon then ate said hero. My teacher said she wasn’t quite sure how I thought this was a romance. I told her that romances could be tragedies-Romeo and Juliet. She laughed and gave me an A.

Years passed and I didn’t write. I grew a family and worked on my career. In 2008, my husband took a position as a civilian contractor in Kuwait. It was hard but we survived. In the meantime, I was still reading, but I had progressed from the western historical of the late 80’s and 90’s to contemporaries. This wasn’t quite the genre for me at this time. I needed to escape from reality and contemporaries were too close to home.

So, I found Lyndsay Sands. Her vampire series was light, funny and so different from anything that I’d ever read. She made me laugh and brought me out of the depressing mood of missing my hubby. This style let me forget how stressful my days were and allowed me to laugh when my husband wasn’t there to make me smile.

I devoured her series, then moved on to Laurell K. Hamilton, such a different kind of read and not necessarily a romance, although there are some romantic elements in the series. Her book spoke to me in ways that I can’t explain, but I’ll try. They were dark and twisted. The bad guy wasn’t always bad and the good guy didn’t always get the girl. This was just what I needed to pull me away from that place in my heart that wanted to scream at my husband, “What are we doing this for?”

It gave me an outlet for the pain. I loved them. So, I began writing.

In my opinion, this is why so many readers love the paranormal/sci-fi/fantasy genre. We can escape our realities, however bad they are at the time, and lose ourself in a completely made up world with its own set of rules.

Those stories gave me hope that someone would like my twisted sense of humor and ideas. I write dark Urban Fantasies with hardcore heroines that just want to find the light, kind of like me--or at least the woman I strive to be.

Paranormal opened up a world of make believe to readers across the world. It’s a huge genre now, and from the industry news, it’s not going anywhere. I’m glad, because neither am I.

What is it about the paranormal world that draws you in?                                                           

By: Rachel Firasek

BLURB:

It's an empath thing...

Using your "powers" to help the Dark Hills Police Department hunt down serial killers doesn't leave much time for dating. Not that Piper Anast is complaining. The last thing she needs is some guy brushing up against her and pumping his pornographic thoughts into her head.

When she meets Bennett Slade, a sexy, tormented vampire, Piper stumbles headlong into a telepathic connection with his missing daughter. She can't leave the kid to the evil surrounding her unwanted visions, nor can she resist her draw to Slade. He's the first guy she's been able to touch vision-free in, well, forever.

As she and Slade close in on the evil creature holding his daughter, Piper's powers morph into a deadly fury. To save Slade's daughter-and herself-Piper must face down demons she never knew she had and trust the one thing she keeps from everyone.

Her heart.

Thanks for guest blogging on NN Rachel. I was a joy to have you!

Tabby

Please Welcome Guest Blogger S. E. Holden

A Converted Pantser by S.E. Holden

Hi, my name is Scott, and a month ago I was a pantser. I wrote by the seat of my pants. Now I don't mean that I sat on the keyboard and whatever keys my two cheeks happened to squash at any given moment turned into a story. I mean that with only a germ of a story idea, I sat down at the computer and let the story unfold. I'm fairly new to this writing for publication thing so I thought this was the style that worked for me and it did. It was great. It was fun. It got me published.                   I managed to pants my way through three short stories and started working on my novel, but that's where I hit a snag.

                  

For me, writing without a definitive plan worked on the smaller scale. In a short story, the plot, by necessity, needed to be relatively small and achievable within around fifteen thousand words. It was fairly easy for me to conceive of the few twists and turns needed to bring the story to life in my head.  Like in The Hunt for Red October, when the Russian sub driver tells the diving officer that given a stopwatch and a map he could fly the alps in a plane with no windows. I think of writing from the seat of your pants in the same way. Give me a basic idea and some cool characters and I'll write a kick-ass short story without using a plot chart or an outline.

                  

But as I mentioned before, I tried this same approach for my first novel. I developed cool characters and a super neat-o keen idea (I may be a bit biased on this). I knew where I wanted the story to start and how I wanted it to end; therefore, based on my formula for success in the shorts, I was ready to go. I wrote the first chapter and things were going really well. I wrote the second chapter, which turned out to be a little harder than the first, but still rockin' and moving forward. Then I got to the third and hit a wall. I knew where I wanted the story to end, but after three chapters I wasn't ready to end it. I mean, geez, this was supposed to be a novel, not a supped up short story. What am I going to put in between the exciting beginning and earth-shattering ending? My characters shrugged their digital shoulders at me when I asked them what was next. So…I rewrote the first two chapters. I edited the first two chapters. I thought about rewriting them again then I realized I needed some serious help.

                  

One of my favorite fantast writers, David Farland, is also an uber creative writing teacher. He's taught at the collegiate and professional levels. Well, he was giving one of his last outline classes before locking himself away to write the screenplay for his best-selling Runelords series. The timing was perfect and I jumped in. Thank goodness I did. The class opened my eyes to the possibilities of actually planning out your story/novella/novel before you actually write it. What a concept!

                  

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, I took some creative writing courses in college. Time is a harsh mistress and I forgot some of the basics to good story telling that are essential to building a great novel. The class refreshed those concepts for me and unloaded many, many, many new ways to look at the entire story concept from setting to character to plot. On the cool side, I did get some validation on the basics that I was naturally including like building three dimensional characters and the importance of the right setting so I didn't feel like a total schmoe. But, more important than my tiny ego boost, was that I got the direction I needed. From the basic plot line, to try/fail cycles, to inciting incidents, to time bombs and crucibles and the hourglass of evil, I was able to push past my wall. By the end of the week-long workshop I had documented, scene by scene, 90% of my plot. I know where the story needs to go and my characters are going to be sorry they ever dissed me before.< Insert writer's maniacal laughter here.>  

                  

The moral of this story is that if you find yourself stuck and struggling, find the help you need. It might be as simple as some online brainstorming with a friend or group of friends. Or maybe you just need someone to read over your work and offer some constructive criticism. Maybe you need something more structured like an online workshop or class. For me, I needed a quest to find my plot, which took me from sunny Florida to surprisingly sunny St. George, Utah. Not only did I find that plot, but I brought home a host of new writing tools and techniques. Good luck on your own writing journeys.   

S.E. Holden Bio

Since he was a kid, S.E. Holden wanted to be an author and explored many genres through high school and college. After greasing the gears of the corporate machine for many years, he escaped the Information Technology vortex to focus full-time on his writing dream. A romantic at heart, S.E. loves to write about committed couples struggling with and overcoming life's obstacles only to emerge stronger. The fact that they have steamy, mind-blowing sex along the way makes it even better.

S.E. lives with his wife and two children on the west coast of Florida.

S.E.'s Contact Links:

Email:  seholden@verizon.net

Web:  http://www.seholden.com 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001173999283&v=wall

Twitter: @seholden25

Back on Track Blurb

Julie and Ray, a young couple, trying to bring some semblance of normalcy back to their lives after the birth of their son, are finding it exceedingly difficult. And while Jayden is the type of child young parents dream about, his arrival has created a potentially devastating rift between his parents. Will their love and commitment to each other be strong enough to bridge that gap and get their intimacy back on track?

Back on Track Excerpt

"Turn it off? Turn what off?" Julie exhaled loudly, her hands settling on her hips. Realization hardened her expression and added a cold, crispness to her tone. "I thought we were past this, Ray."
"Maybe you were past it, but seeing him reminds me of…everything. I can’t go from devoted dad to loving husband to hot lover that quickly." Shoulders slumped in defeat, the words caught in Ray’s throat as he fought back his frustrated growl. "I’m sorry. I know that’s what you want, but I can’t help it, Jules. I’m trying." 
"We went through all this in counseling months ago, Ray, remember?" Voice softening, she wrapped her arms around him. "We are allowed to be a couple too, not just parents. In fact, Dr. Richards said we needed to be a couple." With a tender yet firm grasp, she cupped his face and pulled him down for a kiss. It started sweet, an innocent press of soft lips, but intensified as he relaxed into her. She pressed her body tight against his; her full, round breasts crushed eagerly, desperately against his muscular form. 
On autopilot, his tongue slid out to meet hers for a quick caress before he pushed her gently away. "I’m sorry. I’m not in the mood." He turned and walked down the hall. "I’m going to get on the computer for a while. Don’t wait up." He imagined her face, expression rife with disappointment and confusion, tracking him to the door. He didn’t dare look.
"I thought I had you this time." 

Back on Track Buy Links

Breathless Press - http://www.breathlesspress.com/erotic/romance/back-on-track.html

All Romance eBooks - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-backontrack-512081-144.html

Amazon Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/Back-on-Track-ebook/dp/B004MDLP8M/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1298498579&sr=8-9

Thank you so much S. E. Holden for joining us on NN. It was a joy to have you.

Tabby

Happy Birthday Patsy Ann!

I'm not sure everyone knows but Patsy is my mother and an amazing one. Today is her birthday and I wanted to express to her how much she means to me. We have an extremely close relationship. We talk daily and share everything. She is the best mom anyone could ask for and I wanted to tell her that today. Hope you enjoy this poem mom.
Love Tabitha

A Sonnet for My Incomparable Mother

I often contemplate my childhood, Mom.

I am a mother now, and so I know

Hard work is mixed together with the fun;

You learned that when you raised me long ago.

I think of all the things you gave to me:

Sacrifice, devotion, love and tears,

Your heart, your mind, your energy and soul--

All these you spent on me throughout the years.

You loved me with a never-failing love

You gave me strength and sweet security,

And then you did the hardest thing of all:

You let me separate and set me free.

Every day, I try my best to be

A mother like the mom you were to me.

By Joanna Fuchs

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday MM! I hope you had an amazing day. You deserve it with all the hard work you put into Rom.
Tabby