DFRAT – Georgie Lee Guest Blog and Giveaway

Rome, 41 AD

Livia Duronius is driven to seek out a gladiator after watching him triumph in the Colosseum. His touch arouses a sense of hope she hasn’t felt since Rome fell under the tyrannical rule of Caligula—and her late husband betrayed her. Though in danger of losing more than her heart, she vows to see him again, even after she learns her uncle has arranged her marriage to a senator.

Senator Titus Marius cannot resist indulging in a passionate encounter with the veiled woman who waits for him after the games, though he faces execution if his true identity is discovered. Bound by honor to wed another, and embroiled in a plot to free Rome from madness, he never expects to see the mystery woman again.

When the fates reunite them in the marriage bed, Titus vows to protect Livia at all costs—even from the lecherous eyes of the emperor…

~~~*~~~*~~~

Opportunity

My experience with digital publishing began in 2007. I was new to writing romance and I had just completed a traditional Regency romance. I was very excited about my accomplishment until I discovered that no one was publishing traditional Regencies anymore. I had recently joined the Los Angeles chapter of RWA and everyone there encouraged me to submit to Ellora’s Cave’s new Cotillion line. The line publishes traditional Regency romances digitally with a print version following a few months later.  At first I hesitated to submit because I didn’t know much about the romance publishing business, especially the digital end of it. However, with few other submission options available, I sent my manuscript, Lady’s Wager to Ellora’s Cave and within four days it was accepted.

Working with my editor at Ellora’s Cave was a valuable experience for a new writer. I learned the nuts and bolts of the editing process including revisions and copy edits. Before the book was released, I learned how to market, blog and promote. Once the book came out, I was encouraged to keep writing and to get more works published. It was a great learning opportunity and one I might not have had if it hadn’t been for a digital publisher.

Since Lady’s Wager came out in 2008, digital publishing has exploded, and with it a number of new opportunities for releasing historicals, category and novellas. I’ve taken advantage of many of these opportunities with Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Wild Rose Press, all of whom have been wonderful to work with. At this stage of my career, I tend to write short and through Ellora’s Cave and Wild Rose Press, I’ve written contemporary novellas that may not have otherwise found a publisher.

Digital publishing has also opened up new opportunities for romances set in non-traditional time periods. Through Carina Press, I was able to publish my ancient Rome novella Mask of the Gladiator. I’m currently planning stories set in ancient Egypt, Colonial America and early Georgian England. These are not typical time periods and I would probably have a tough time selling them to a traditional publisher. However, because of expanding digital opportunities, I’m confident these unusual historicals will find a home and an audience.

If I can’t find a publisher for them, then there is always self-publishing. I have yet to venture into this new opportunity, but I’m thinking about it. Every day I hear stories of authors finding success by publishing their own work. I know success isn’t a guarantee, but it’s nice to know that, like all the other digital opportunities, the option is there.

So readers, has digital publishing opened up reading opportunities for you? Writers, what opportunities have you discovered from digital publishing. One person who leaves a comment below will win a copy of my ancient Rome novella, Mask of the Gladiator. Thanks for stopping by and thanks to the Digital-First Read-A-Thon for having me.

 

Georgie Lee Bio

A dedicated history and film buff, Georgie Lee loves combining her passion for Hollywood, history and storytelling through romantic fiction. She began writing professionally at a small TV station in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles to work in the interesting but strange world of the entertainment industry.

Her traditional Regency, Lady’s Wager and her contemporary novella Rock ‘n’ Roll Reunion are both available from Ellora’s Cave Blush. Labor Relations, a contemporary romance of Hollywood is currently available from Avalon Books. Mask of the Gladiator, a novella of ancient Rome is now available from Carina Press. Look for her novel of love in the golden age of Hollywood from Avalon Books in 2012.

When not writing, Georgie enjoys reading non-fiction history and watching any movie with a costume and an accent. Please visit  www.georgie-lee.com for more information about Georgie and her novels.

Buy Links

Carina Press – http://ebooks.carinapress.com/1C1CE451-9420-4E12-8657-AE8CE6C6F330/10/134/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=561AB37C-9999-418D-A4DB-219BD27E7D11

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mask-of-the-Gladiator-ebook/dp/B006BC7J2S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335320847&sr=8-1

Nook:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mask-of-the-gladiator-georgia-lee/1107412438

 

Social Media Links

Website: www.georgie-lee.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/georgie.lee.96

Twitter: @GeorgieLeeBooks

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2985551.Georgie_Lee

 

Read Full Post »

DFRAT – My Adventures in Writing by Lynne Connolly

I first met Richard and Rose when I was looking after toddlers and wondering if sleep was a myth. I’d always written stories, but usually tore them up after I had the pleasure of writing the stories. After all, who’d want to read anything I wrote, right?

But when my children went to school, I found that I had an hour, two hours a day for myself, and I was getting some sleep. Someone gave me a word processor they didn’t want any more, one of the things that had green on black print and was DOS only. I was in heaven.

For years I’d been making up stories for a couple called Richard and Rose. He was a baron, someone at the lower end of the aristocracy who solved country house mysteries, in a time before a national police force existed and when the aristocracy tended to keep themselves to themselves.

One day I’ll write those books.

Instead, when I came to write the stories down, Richard appeared. The oldest son of an earl, flamboyant, angry, a leader of society, and not a man to hide at the back of the room and observe. He just turned up and insisted I wrote about him.

I had no choice, dear reader.

So this month, the last in the series was released. “Lisbon” concludes the stories of Richard, Rose, Julia, Stephen and John. Gervase is happy with his partner, and Susan is waiting in the wings.

I wrote a companion book, but things started happening there, too, and it’s now a standalone. I haven’t sold it yet, I just keep tweaking and playing with it. It’s almost ready to go.

So after Richard and Rose got underway, an editor I knew approached me. “Can you write a paranormal for a series we have going? One of the authors had dropped out, and I really need someone.”

Of course I was flattered to be asked, but I said, “I’ve never written a paranormal.”

“Try it,” she said. “If it’s no good, you can always trash it.”

So I started writing “The Chemistry of Evil” and it turned into something I’d never have dreamed of. Things happened, and the story eventually morphed into my own, standalone series, the Department 57 series. Amazingly, to me, anyway, people liked it, and again, I entered a new genre. At first, I thought I’d use a pseudonym, but I didn’t really need one, and it does mean double the promotion. Less time to write!

I just kept writing, and that’s more or less what I do. After two companies crashed and burned on me, I found myself writing for the bestselling epublishing companies, Ellora’s Cave, Samhain, Loose-Id. I’m still writing for them today.

I’ve even ventured into self publishing, but so recently that I don’t know how that venture is going to go. We shall see!

I don’t know what will happen next, except that I write and I still love doing it.

***

Sophie Adams is engaged, but the second she sees sexy Evan Howell, she wants him. When her fiancé dumps her, Evan is there to catch her. And show her a passion she’d never dreamed of before, drawn from his dark experiments into sexual magick, a magick that has driven more than one man insane.

Evil follows them across the Atlantic. From Arthurian Cornwall to New York, Mordred, cursed son of King Arthur, stretches his evil influence to encompass Sophie, Evan and everyone they love. Evan has already lost his sister to Mordred and his supporters–he refuses to lose Sophie, too. It will take all his skill to save Sophie from the danger threatening to take her over, body and soul. All his skill–in the bedroom as well as out of it.

***

Excerpt

Screaming, Sophie sat bolt upright. Quicker than that, Evan sat up too. “What is it?”

Light filtered through the slit between the thick curtains at the window. She could see him. He could see her. “A dream. I’m sorry.”

“Do you get them often?” He pushed his hand through his unruly hair to get it off his face.

“Never. I suppose last night did it.”

“Probably. Come here.” He drew her down, one arm around her shoulders. “Tell me about it.” He felt warm, alive.

She didn’t resist; she needed his strength. A crease from his T-shirt pressed against her cheek, and she became aware of the hard body underneath. He was warm. She felt comforted. Unusually, the dream remained with her, and she remembered how Evan felt inside her. Her body heated and dampness seeped between her legs. Hurriedly she wrenched her thoughts away, and the dream drifted out of her consciousness. “I can’t remember exactly, but you were in it, and so was Archie.” She glanced up at his face. “I think it’s worry. I decided to break it off with Archie, although until last night I never had any cause to doubt him. But it had just died between us, at least from my side. I feel guilty about that. Very. But I can’t give my life to a man when I don’t love him. It wouldn’t be fair to either of us.”

“You’re right. You should be strong. But it’s been preying on your mind, hasn’t it?”

She jerked her head in a nod. “We just drifted apart, and it’s time to end it. But I’ve never seen him like he was last night.” She drew air with a deep gulp, as though drinking water after a long thirst. She lay back, just breathing, savoring the sensation. She looked up at him, to where, propped up on one elbow, he leaned above her. “I’ve never had a dream so vivid. I can’t remember the details now, but…” She remembered intimacy, someone touching her inside, but not Archie.

He reached out, traced the contours of her cheekbones with the tip of his forefinger. “I don’t think it was a natural dream. You were calling out before you woke, and I couldn’t wake you.” He paused, his fingernail just touching her skin. She shuddered. Immediately he drew back. “Those kinds of dreams can hurt you. I want to take you to Cristos.”

“What can he do?”

“Teach you how to protect yourself.”

What she saw in his eyes did look like concern. She stared at him, wondering if she should risk annoying her bosses by meeting the man few people met. They derided him in Bureau circles, but under the derision lay a fear as tangible as the face above her.

The face with the mouth. The soft, sensual mouth. The mouth that was kissing her. Better than any dream.

His body felt warm and protective, his kiss remained gentle, but roused something slumbering inside her. Responding with delicious languor to him, Sophie shifted a little, opened her body a little.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, his lips still resting on hers. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Then why did you?”

He drew back a bare inch. “Because something in you calls to me. Because I want to get to know you better.” He huffed a short laugh. “Now is not the time, is it?”

Sophie considered his question. He didn’t move, hovering above her, his eyes anxious, a small crease furrowing his brow. This close, she felt the presence of his erection, a wave of heat close to her leg, but he didn’t touch her.

She wanted him to. If Archie could be so cavalier about their relationship, why couldn’t she? “Don’t stop,” she whispered and hooked her arm around his neck, pulling him back to her mouth.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

For more information about Lynne and her backlist, visit lynneconnolly.com. And for a chance to win a digital copy of Chemistry of Evil, just leave a comment below. Good luck!

Read Full Post »