Wednesday, December 17, 2014

I am officially a USA Today Best-Selling author!

There were times that I wondered if I would ever get to say that, "USA Today Best-Selling author." Well, it happened today and I am completely overcome. I'm not sharing the news here to brag, not by any means. I am really and truly humbled. I owe a huge thank you to Mandy M. Roth, and Michelle M. Pillow, who invited me to be a part of the Taming the Alpha boxed set. If not for them, I wouldn't be having this amazing moment right now.

I cannot believe that I can now put those words beside my name. I always wanted to. But the market goes up and down. You crank out another book, and hold your breath to see if readers will love it the way that you do. It' truly is a gamble. But, if it's in your blood, it's what you do.

I couldn't do anything else with my life. I am a writer and I always will be. Now, I feel like I might actually be a successful one. I am crying as I write this and I don't even care if that makes me sound crazy. LOL This has been such a long time coming and I am so grateful for this moment.

Today, one of my dreams came true.


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Taming the Alpha is up for pre-order

Featuring Tales from NYT, USA Today and National Bestselling Authors!
 
Limited Time Boxed Set!
 
When an alpha is too hot to handle, what's a girl to do? Simple...Tame the Alpha and make him purr.
 
From deliciously sizzling contemporary bad boys, to pulse-tingling paranormal hotties, you're sure to fall in love and in lust with any or all of these alphas. Over twenty fabulous authors bring their A-game to tempt your every desire.
 
Anthology Includes: Werewolves & Shifters, Demons & Devils, Paranormal & Urban, Military, Vampires, Genetic Engineering, Witches & Wizards, Contemporary, Special Forces, Dystopia, Romantic Comedy, Romantic Suspense, Special Forces, Dragons, Demons, Billionaires, Magic, Fantasy, Futuristics and so much more!

Preorder Amazon US
For Amazon Non-Us Search the ASIN: 
B00PMG53UY
More Vendors Coming Soon!


Update: Here are links to the other vendors. :)





Friday, November 7, 2014

The unfortunate trend of snark

First, I am not a fan of snark. (If you couldn't tell that from the title. LOL) I do not think it is clever, or funny, or cute. I think it is rude, often bitchy, and downright hateful. Unfortunately, it also seems to get worse this time of year.

Why am I blogging about this exactly? Because it bothers me. I do not understand the need to be harsh to a complete stranger unless they did something to me personally. Or attacked someone I care about for no reason.

Here is an example. 

I saw a woman walking down the sidewalk at a mall. She was wearing an outfit that I thought looked good, and she probably did too. Some snooty woman walked past her and said something to the effect of her outfit being a disgrace and she "shouldn't be allowed out in public."

I was stunned. I just stood there for a moment and starred. Then the woman on the receiving end of this started to cry. It broke my heart. Since I was right behind her on my way to the door anyway, I couldn't let it go. I told the snooty woman, "Why don't you do us all a favor, take your opinions, write them all down, and shove them up your ass. No one asked what you think!"

She looked pissed, but she left. The other woman thanked me and continued to cry. I asked, "Do you know her?"

She shook her head and said, "I've never seen her before in my life. Who does something like that?"

That is a very good question. Who does something like that to someone they don't even know? Not that knowing them would make it any better, but not knowing them sure does make it stranger.

Of course, this type of behavior is much more prevalent online. Most people who dish out what I call "Drive-by snark" or "Drive-by trolling" would never have the nerve to do this to someone in public. The internet gives anonymity to people who do this sort of thing for fun.

Being a public figure of any kind makes you more likely to have to deal with it too. I know authors who receive death threats in email because they didn't write a certain story the way someone thought it should go! (No, it wasn't me.) How insane is that?

I and many other authors have been the victim of overly personal and hateful reviews as well. Not liking something is one thing. Insulting the author or writing a deliberately ridiculous (for whatever reason) review is another.

It's difficult to imagine someone actually doing this sort of thing, but you'll find them everywhere. Regardless of topic, they are on many forums, all over Facebook, and of course, Goodreads.

People put this stuff out there on purpose, just to be hurtful. Just because they can.

Unfortunately, this is not real life. Well, it is, but not face to face, like the rude woman at the mall. If you voice an opinion here, you are "behaving badly." People form internet groups to organize attacks like this. Sounds unreal, doesn't it? It's true.

I'm getting sidetracked though. My point isn't to bitch about reviews. I wonder WHY people do this to each other. The example of reviews simply comes easily to me. By the way, I've had to stop reading reviews. I want to continue writing and that's what it takes for me. I had to shut that out of my life.

My point was, why do people treat each other so harshly over nothing at all. What purpose does that serve? It isn't funny. A human being with actual feelings is on the receiving end of that insult.

We've all been alive long enough to know that the world isn't full of sunshine and rainbows. No one expects that. However, there is a difference in giving an honest opinion and being an asshole. 

Am I perfect? Certainly not. If someone pisses me off, they generally know about it. However, standing up for yourself isn't the same as lashing out for no reason. I do my best to treat other people as I would like to be treated. It may sound cheesy or cliche, but it's true. It is also a valuable lesson that many people seem to have never learned.

Here's one more thing to think about. Everyone you meet is struggling with something. It might be their job, or finances, or a kid on drugs, or a crazy ex, or their physical health. Whatever it is, we all have battles that we fight. Just because you see someone with a smile on their face doesn't mean that smile came easily. Many such expressions (when they are genuine) are hard won. Who are you to take away their bit of hard-earned happiness? And why would you do it? Simply because you can? If so, you are a miserable person.

For all we know, they might be contemplating suicide. Maybe that hateful comment was the last straw for them? If you think that example is too extreme, think of Robin Williams. He always put his best face forward and look at what he was clearly struggling with.

No matter what face they present to the world, everyone is struggling with something. I would hate to know that I spent my time tearing another person down when I could just as easily lift them up.





Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Upcoming books and a new series

As those who follow my posts on FB know, I've been really busy. Since several people have asked what exactly my schedule holds for the rest of this year, and the new year, I thought I'd give a quick update.

Taming the Alpha - December 2014 - I'm very excited to be a part of this anthology. There are lots of amazing authors in this, including Mandy M. Roth, and Michelle M. Pillow. My novella in this set is called Once Upon A Full Moon.

After Dark, Lilith Mercury Book 7 - This is the final book in the Lilith Mercury series. It's scheduled for release January 6, 2015 and is available for pre-order now.

Pre-order your copy here.

Bound by Blood - This is the brand new series that I just finished writing.

This series still needs to go through edits, but here is the tentative release schedule.

Book One - Oriana's Curse - Feb, 2015
Book Two - Demon's Embrace - May, 2015
Book Three - Dragon Slayer Dreams - August, 2015
Book Four - Enter the She-Dragon - Nov. 2015
Boxed Set - Feb. 2016

The Eternal Kiss - This is currently part of a boxed set (Heaven to Hell) and will be released as a single short novella in April, 2015

Plus, I'm part of another (still kind of secret) series coming up next fall 2015. I can say that I will finally continue the story of Kurtis, the Dracula impersonator from Frank and The Werewolf Tamer. At least, that's the plan. This is still in the planning stages, so don't hold me to it.

I've written 5 books in just under 3 months. Yes, I'm tired. LOL As much as I love writing, I'm going to take a slight step back and focus a little more on me for a change. What does that mean? It means that I'm going to get back into a regular workout schedule, play some video games, and watch some movies on my list.

You may not realize (or maybe you do) how important this is for a writer. It's exciting to know that people want to read one book right after the other. But maintaining that kind of pace will drive you nuts, and quite possible shorten your lifespan from stress. LOL

Please know that I appreciate each and every one of you and I write as fast as I reasonable can. My wrists and hands hurt if I go faster physically than I do right now. Plus, I like to have time to let new ideas "percolate" for a while. I think it makes the characters and worlds more real when they finally make it onto paper.

I'll still be proofing and editing the stories mentioned above, plus sending them to my editor. So, I'm not on vacation or anything. I've just got to do my very best to rest my brain so that I can continue what I hope to be a long, productive, and successful career. :)

Having said that, I've already got a few ideas for another possible series. LOL




Friday, October 31, 2014

Help me make Something Wild Permanently FREE on Amazon


There's a trick to getting books listed as FREE on Amazon. ;) I'd like to offer Something Wild to readers at no cost, you know because you guys are awesome. But, I need your help to do that.

If Something Wild is reported as FREE on other vendors, Amazon will "price match" it, making it a freebie for everyone.


Here's how you do it.


1. Follow this link to Something Wild on Amazon.


http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P31L8OS


2. Scroll to the bottom until you see "TELL US ABOUT A LOWER PRICE," and click it.

3. A window will pop up asking where you saw the lower price. Select "Website."


4. Now, copy and paste either of these links from Smashwords and KOBO. Please be sure to put 0.00 as the price and 0.00 as the shipping price. 


https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/488903

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/something-wild-6



That's all there is to it. :) Then, we wait to see Amazon price match this bad boy and make it FREE.


Once it's price matched for FREE, be sure to download it! It's a short, sexy werewolf story with a few free samples thrown in at the end. ;)


Thanks for reading, and thanks for your help! 


Sunday, October 19, 2014

The power of positivity

I don't know about anyone else, but it's been one of those weeks for me. I'm not going to get overly personal, but I will share some random positive things. Why? Because it makes me feel better. Maybe it will help some of you out there, who are also stressed out, to feel better as well. Get ready for some ridiculous crap. LOL

These are in no particular order, and they aren't "about" anything in particular either. This is just a random collection of things that make me smile. I hope they make you smile also.

Because everyone needs to feel like a unicorn sometimes. :)


It's Batman on a unicorn. It needs no explanation.


We are now ready for the dookie apocalypse. LOL


Why am I posting this?


This is me in Target. LOL 


I love horror movies, therefore, this is funny. LOL


Hell, yeah! 


This is my mouse pad. Really. 


Because one does not simply stop making Mordor jokes. ;)


Anger management issues. LOL


I have laughed way too much at this.


Because unicorns are awesome. 


This is what I need to look at every day. 



This concludes my randomness. I hope it helped. LOL

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Please do not send me your story/plot ideas

I realize that this is a given for most people. LOL I am thrilled to think that my words might inspire someone else. If that's the case, that's awesome. However, if you feel that strongly about the concept, I encourage you to write your own book.

I have taken bits and pieces of mythology and folklore and done my own thing with it. I will continue to twist things in my own way.

If I lived for 200 years, I could never write all the ideas that I already have. I have enough characters that keep me up at night.

For legal reasons, I cannot accept story concepts from anyone else. No matter how great they are, or how long they've been on your mind. That is YOUR intellectual material, not mine. I cannot write about your ideas. Sorry.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Not sure about the newsletter

MadMimi has a feature that allows me to keep sending the newsletter (in the hopes of it being delivered to everyone) without re-sending it to people who have already received it. That's pretty neat. The problem is, only 6 people have actually received it, and I've sent it out 4 times. Plus, I've heard from other people who never received a confirmation email.

*sigh* I'm seriously considering terminating this newsletter. I know everyone says that I need to have one. BUT, people can subscribe to my blog, and I always share any important (and some not so important) stuff here. :)

I'm going to leave it for now. But, I'm considering just telling people to subscribe to my blog instead of worrying with that glitchy newsletter. Just wanted to let everyone know. 

On a different note, the new series is coming along well. I finished book 3 a few days ago. Next week I plan to start the 4th and likely final book in this new series. :)

Friday, October 3, 2014

Getting lots of new stories lined up for next year

It's been a little while since my last post. That's because I've been writing. A lot. LOL My hands started to hurt again a few days ago. So, in order to write, I'm wrapped in ACE bandages and Tiger Balm.  In the past 2 months, I've finished the last Lilith book (which is huge), wrote another short novel for an anthology, finished the first book in a new series, and am almost finished with the second. No wonder I'm hurting.

This is my favorite month of the whole year. And as usual with the beginning of fall, I seem to come alive. As soon as the temperature drops, I feel like a million bucks.Right now, I'm listening to the sound of rain and anticipating the temperature drop in a few hours. Ahhh. I freaking love October. I've got my Halloween decorations out. All that's left to do is hang a few ghosts in my front yard.


Before I go, I wanted to share a little bit of what I'm working on for next year. Remember me mentioning the Bound by Blood series that I wanted to write? I've been making notes on it since 2012, but the books are finally happening. I've finished the first and will probably finish the second by this weekend. I'm hoping to finish the series sometime in January and have it be (hopefully) 6 books when complete.


Here are the covers for the first 3. We did a photo shoot specifically for this story. I couldn't find anything that I felt suited the look of the main character, and the mood/tone of the tale. So, I decided to create something original. With the help of my photographer, Stacey Mixon, here's what we came up with.






As I told someone recently, this one's got all kinds of stuff. Half-demon werewolf hunters, hot werewolves, witches, dragons, sorcerers, trolls, family curses, true love, miracles. LOL

Thankfully, the person I said this to is also a fan of The Princess Bride and got that joke. I can't wait to finish this series and share it with my readers. I think you're really going to dig it. :)

Thursday, September 11, 2014

I've finally got a newsletter!



TADA! There is now an email signup listed at the top of my Facebook author page. I have a newsletter! Yay! It's called The Harbinger and you can sign up here. I'll try not to send one out unless I actually have news to share. ;) I'm going to wait until I have several subscribers to send out the first one. I apologize for any glitches. It shouldn't take me long to get the hang of things. Shares are appreciated. :D

Click here to subscribe.

Friday, August 15, 2014

The Bleeding Heart is available for PRE-ORDER on Amazon!

I am so excited! I had no idea that Amazon allowed pre-order status for independently published books. :) Apparently, I've done something special to qualify for pre-order status. LOL At least, I like to think I'm special. The point is, I can now list my books up to 90 days before their release dates. This is awesome! That means that readers can go ahead and order them while they are thinking about it, and don't have to worry about remembering a release date. Plus, it takes a load off my mind about getting the books uploaded EXACTLY on time.

Most of my books end up being released about a day early. It's not that I'm wishy-washy or anything. When you upload to Amazon through KDP, you are told that it takes anywhere from 12-24 hours for your book to go live on the site. When I tell readers a date, I like to stick to that. I'm all about being on schedule. With this new pre-order thing, Amazon will make sure the book goes live precisely when it is supposed to. I am thrilled about that.

I'm so glad I had the cover art and everything ready ahead of time. :) Now, all I've got to do is be sure to upload the finished product by Sept. 21st. I'm almost finished with my final read-through now. So, provided that my editor/partner in crime doesn't make any more corrections, we'll be in business for the October 1st release date.

Here are all the details on The Bleeding Heart.



****This title is currently available for PRE-ORDER. The official release date is October 1, 2014.****

This is Book Six in the Lilith Mercury, Werewolf Hunter Series.

Lilith is finally coming to terms with who she is and the powers she's inherited. For the first time she accepts her scars, the ones you can see and the ones you can't. Her relationship with Dracula progresses as Marco continues to decide where he stands. Marco is slowly learning what Lilith already knows. He belongs with her, as does Dracula...and maybe Bade too.

Warning: This book contains graphic violence, graphic language, and sex. Plus several sexy werewolves, and one smoking hot vampire.




On a side note, thank you so much for everyone who has written to ask about the next book in the series. There will be one final book after this one, After Dark. That one is coming in January, 2015. It does my heart good to know that a story that I love so much is also loved by so many others. :)



Tuesday, August 12, 2014

The world keeps turning

Isn't it strange? One of my favorite comedians, Robin Williams is dead, yet the world hasn't stopped. It feels like it should, doesn't it? It's so crazy to think that this is what happens when someone amazing leaves this world.

I never would have thought that one of my favorite funny men also battled depression for many years. Having fought the beast off and on I can say that I understand. I've never been quite that low, but I've gone awfully dark before. For those who have never experienced depression, be grateful that you don't understand. People from all different walks of life go through depression. It's not just something that happens to poor people, people who are sick, or people who have been abused. So often, those are the stereotypes that go along with depression. You tell someone you're depressed and they say, "But you're not broke," or, "You had a good childhood." That has crap to do with it.

Even when everything is going right, that big black hole can swallow you up, out of nowhere. Sometimes an event can trigger depression, like the loss of a loved one. Other times, you can be on top of the world, yet unable to shake the "funk" that settles over you, and you don't know why. It is a scary and helpless feeling.

One of my neighbors, a friend of the family, committed suicide several years ago. I was in the car with my mother and my son when we drove by his yard and saw him lying there. He shot himself. Another neighbor had just arrived also. It was too late to keep my son from seeing him. For the purposes of this post, I'll call him Jack. Jack took his life with a borrowed gun for reasons that to him seemed dire. He was good looking, and always had a smile on his face. No one even knew he was fighting depression. When I close my eyes, I can still see him lying there beside the pampas grass. It felt like the world should stop then too, but it didn't. Someone new lives in his house now. The last I heard, his family, ex-wife, and ex-girlfriend are all doing fine. If you didn't know better, you'd think nothing bad ever happened on that pretty green lawn. The body of a broken man was never there. Only he was ... and none of us saw until it was too late.

So, I understand why Robin Williams might have felt that he had struggled too long, or that the fight was beyond him to continue. I get it.

But it's something I don't believe I could ever do. No matter how dark my depression has been in the past, giving up is not in me. I will fight to my last breath, no matter the struggle. It's who I am, and it's what I do.

Maybe I shouldn't post this. I'm sure some of you might wonder why I did. Maybe it's to connect with other people who might not realize that they are not alone. If you're struggling with depression, you are not alone. You're not weird. And people who tell you to "snap out of it" need to be kicked in the balls.

Seeing that depression could affect someone like Robin Williams put things into perspective for me. He must have felt so alone ... just like so many of us have felt before.

Depression doesn't strike because you are alone, or because no one loves you. That's not the way it works.

One thing I've learned, that has worked for me, FIGHT IT. Tell yourself that everything is going to be all right because you are the only one who can say that to yourself and make it happen. When you say it, it might feel like a lie. That's okay, just keep saying it. Take B vitamins and exercise. Expose yourself to something funny, repeatedly. Laughter really is like medicine to your soul. Fake it until you make it, as the expression goes. And one day, when you wake up the clouds will be a little brighter. It's not sudden, but it is a change. And it will get better. Find someone to talk to.

I keep asking myself, "Why am I writing this? Why am I opening up like this to complete strangers? Is this wise?" Who knows? But I feel like I should. I feel like someone out there needs to hear it.

You are not alone, and given time, things will get better.





Thursday, August 7, 2014

What is a romance novel?

Ever since I first got published, I keep hitting this brick wall. What wall is that? The wall people throw up when they hear that I write romance. This coming Monday, August 11th, is my publishing anniversary. It has been 7 years since my first book came out. :) While that's awesome, I can't believe I'm still talking about the same misconceptions.

Here's the thing, "romance" does not mean fluff and sex. That is what almost everyone assumes when they hear the word. So, let me break it down for those who are confused about the subject. Romance, just like any other genre, can be nothing but crap. That isn't an isolated type of thing. There are bad books everywhere, regardless of the subject matter.

Romance is also not an all encompassing category like it used to be. It doesn't necessarily mean women with their bodices torn open, wearing ridiculous dresses while being man-handled by pirates. (Although, it could.)

Most romance novels are NOT all about the sex. Books that revolve around sex are called erotica NOT romance. And no, that is not the same thing as porn. If someone is going to judge a genre, they should at least get their categories and terminology straight. Oh, and while we're on the subject, I am very offended when my work is called smut. Smut is like a filthy magazine full of nothing but pornographic images with no story ... maybe not any words at all. I do NOT write smut.

There are many sub-genres within romance. Here are just a few that are on Amazon.

Paranormal
Vampires
Werewolves & Shifters
Demons & Devils
Witches & Wizards
Contemporary
Science Fiction

You get the point, the list goes on. What does this mean? It means that these are all stories that just happen to also contain a romance within the plot. If John Conner's father had lived, Terminator could have technically been sold as a Science Fiction Romance novel. See what I mean?

I don't think that people who turn up their noses at romance really understand what is out there. Don't judge the whole genre by one or two books that made headlines. That's as ignorant as judging an entire race of people by one stupid person. LOL

Most of what is out there is well-written, and researched material. We're talking good, solid writing, not just a bunch of fluff. Romance novels have something that other genres often lack, genuine emotion. I love horror, but I've read horror novels before and not given a damn when main characters died. Why? Because they were not portrayed with any emotion. I didn't know anything about him/her. All I had was a handful of facts. Facts are cold and hard. They do not "tell" you who the person is. Their actions and reactions paint that picture, and that is what most romance novels provide.

So, what is a romance novel? It is an adventure in any established genre where a romantic relationship between at least two of the characters is involved in the plot or subplot.

While I'm on my soapbox, one more thing: I write about vampires and werewolves because I LIKE IT. I have never written about the paranormal because it is popular. Anyone who actually knows me understands what I'm talking about. I've always been into anything macabre, mythology, horror movies, you name it. That's my thing, and that is why I write about it. I am sick of people insulting me because I write about vampires. I'm tired of comments like, "Oh, how original." Really? How was that called for?

It all comes down to this, I'm doing what I love, and making a living at it. If you don't like that, please feel free to keep your snark to yourself.







Sunday, July 27, 2014

I'm doing very well

I haven't blogged as much about myself lately. I've been sharing new release/sales news and such, but hadn't given an update on myself. Thanks to the people who cared enough to send me a message on FB or Twitter and ask. :)

I'm doing very well. My pumpkin garden is bigger than ever this year and so far we are getting enough rain that we don't have to carry 5 gallon buckets of water to it. LOL That's always a good thing. Seeing those little pumpkins grow reminds me of fall and how much I love it.

I'm well on my way to being in better shape than I have been since I was a cheerleader in high school. Yes, I was a cheerleader. A captain. LOL And I was good at it. I was a regular little Buffy the Vampire Slayer in my teens.

Speaking of Buffy, I'm having a great time reading as many of the old books as I can get my hands on. Some of you already know, I'm a big fan of the TV series. (Even though I didn't start watching it until a few years ago.) Now, I'm looking to collect all of the season 8 comics (the TV series ended with season 7) so I can see what happens to Willow and Xander. I love them. Not that I didn't care about Buffy. She was beginning to redeem herself in the end. Between seasons 5 and 6, she was just such a raging bitch that I found it hard to sympathize with her character. I'm a raging bitch sometimes and I haven't been through everything she had though. So, to be fair, I probably would have taken over the world and found a way to resurrect The Master to make porn movies, IF I'd gone through everything she had. Maybe she didn't deal with it as badly as I thought. Ha. Ha. Ha.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I'm just now getting some coffee today, so I'll blame it on lack of caffeine. I've started back with cross training 4-6 days a week (depending on my energy level) and added in swimming. I've never been a strong swimmer. In fact, I was downright terrified of water for most of my life. But here's the thing about me. I don't like being afraid of anything. Living in fear is unacceptable. Therefore, I swim 2-3 days a week for 1-2 hours at a time and I'm getting pretty damn good at it. The place where I go has an Olympic size pool and I can breast stroke across the middle, then immediately turn and do a hand over hand stroke all the way back without getting tired. No other exercise has ever worked my back so well. I'm very pleased with the results so far. Not to mention, swimming is great at reducing stress, something that I'm still working on.

I've got something special planned to help promote the last 2 books in the Lilith Mercury series, and I happen to need to be in great shape to pull it off. LOL I'm not going to say more now, but it's a big deal to me and will be a huge accomplishment once I get there.

My brain is beginning to feel slightly refreshed. I've been reading everything I can get my hands on (that interests me, of course) and catching up on TV shows. Believe it or not, bombarding my brain with stories that have nothing to do with mine actually HELPS me write. I love reading horror. It's like an energy drink for my brain. Ha. Ha.

I'm planning to take a bit more time off from writing (I'm still promoting, so I'm not just sitting on my butt), read some more Dean Koontz, and jump back into the Lilith series in September.

Okay, that's all for now. I'm off to workout. :)



Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Werewolf Hunter Series Is On Sale

Books 1-3 in the Lilith Mercury Werewolf Hunter Series are on sale right now for 99 cents each. The details for each book are below.

Books 4 and 5 are also available now. :)

Book 6 in the series, The Bleeding Heart, is coming October 1, 2014. Book 7, the final in the series, is scheduled for January 2015.

Books 1-3 of this collection are also offered in a boxed set. (Lilith Mercury, Werewolf Hunter Series Boxed Set, Books 1-3)



This is Book One in the Lilith Mercury Series. 

Dr. Alfred Moody saved her life, but the werewolf, Marco may hold the key to her heart. She's torn between the man who saved her humanity and the one who makes her want to embrace the beast.

NOTE: This series gets hotter as it goes. However, Book One is NOT erotic. Someday Lilith will have a happy ending, but this is only the beginning.

WARNING: This book contains graphic language and graphic violence.

Purchase your copy HERE.



This is Book Two in the Lilith Mercury Series. 

There was a time when the battle lines were clearly drawn and there would've been no question, no doubts, but that time has passed. Though Lilith is still drawn to the wolfman, Marco, she cannot deny what she feels for her partner, Alfred. She remains torn between a man who was once her enemy and one who is becoming much more than her friend.

WARNING: This book contains graphic language, graphic violence, and graphic sex. No werewolves were harmed in the making of this book.

Purchase your copy HERE.


This is Book Three in the Lilith Mercury Series. 

Lilith's reputation as the best in the business has spread, and not just to the lycanthrope population. She's been hired to find the original vampire. The vamps want what everyone else wants, equality. However, she will soon realize that the original vampire isn't simply out for blood, or the return of rights to his people ... he wants Lilith too.

Warning: This book contains graphic violence, graphic language, and sex with BDSM elements including autoerotic asphyxiation.

Purchase your copy HERE.

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Brand spanking new release

Are you ready for a Beautiful Nightmare? Today my short story, Beautiful Nightmare, has been released along with the rest of the smokin' hot stories in The Naughty Box 2 collection.

My story is about a witch named Isabel who is about to get a second chance to make things work with The Boogeyman. Yep, you read that right. LOL

Here is the info on all the stories in The Naughty Box 2.



Naughty. Exclusive. Almost too hot to handle. "The Naughty Box 2" is bursting with brand new, never read before content from some of today's hottest, best selling romance and erotic authors. It's guaranteed to excite your senses and satisfy the naughty reader in you. There's something for everyone inside including contemporary romance, erotica, paranormal romance, and even some spicy M/M action. There's never been a better time to get naughty. 

Josephine Ballowe - HELL ON HEELS 
The music was loud, so loud that the bass thumped like a metronome in my chest. The smoky haze of lights shone upon his dark hair and eyelashes. There was no talking, but conversation wasn’t what I wanted anyway. I went with one purpose - to find someone. Someone who wouldn’t text me the next day, making me regret they existed. Lasting relationship? No thank you. Not again. Never again. Want and need? Two halves of the soul, but very different realities. 

Cambria Hebert - BLANK: A paranormal short story 
My name is Vance and I work for the United States government. And that’s all I know about myself. Every other detail about my life, my friends, about me is blank.I have no idea how I ended up stranded and unconscious in a war torn country or how Rachel managed to get me back to her tent. But I’m here, and so is she. All I have are literally the clothes on my back.But when her emerald eyes look at me, I feel like I have more.I feel like being blank might be a gift. I feel like maybe it’s a relief to not know who I am for a while.We get one night together. One night of pleasure I know I will never forget. And then I remember.Sometimes reality bites. 

Tracey H. Kitts - BEAUTIFUL NIGHTMARE 
Isabel's first date with The Boogeyman didn't go according to plan, but she's about to give it another try. 

Piper Kay - INVICTA: SANCTUARY 
What is your sanctuary? For Mickey, he never needed one, he was his own, until now. By accident, he ends up at Invicta, the hottest new male go-go dance club in town. Sometimes sanctuary can be found in the strangest of places. 

Seductive Poetry by Pyxi Rose 
Your sweetness like crystalline honey, that is the taste you leave on my lips. I am addicted to you, your sweetness, your savageness. I am not myself without you. That is why I invite you in. I invite you in… 

Rue Volley - SURRENDER 
Fay is trying to finish up her last year of college and the secret erotic book she is writing. All she wants is to graduate and find a good job in her field. Everything is going to plan until Keegan shows up, and with his arrival her hidden desires are exposed. The lines between her book and reality blur, but all she has to do is Surrender. 

Roxie Elms -CHERRY POP 
Cherry is on the prowl again. Finding the right person to ramp up her nights shouldn't be too hard. Cherry's misadventures are steamy, hot and in your face. Nothing will stop her from getting exactly what she wants, when she wants it. Finding the perfect guy to keep her satisfied should nothing short of fun and easy, but who will be ultimately seduced in the end? 

L.P. Dover - TURN OF THE MOON 
Not wanting to leave her pack, Bailey Whitehill flees from her home – and from the cruel, 
overbearing alpha who she’s been promised to – only to be drawn back into the 
world she thought she left behind. It just so happens that not only is her 
promised mate hunting her down, but another is trying to find her as well. 
Secrets soon become unveiled, and what Bailey once thought was right ends up being 
nothing but lies. Time is of the essence. At the turn of the moon she has a 
choice to make, but in doing so, she will either seal her fate or become a slave to it. 


Click here to purchase your copy for only 99 cents.


Sunday, June 22, 2014

I'm giving away goodie bags again!

How about a fun, easy contest? :D :D :D ALL THE DETAILS ARE ON MY AUTHOR PAGE. This drawing is for a goodie bag promoting the upcoming release of the 6th book in the Lilith Mercury series, The Bleeding Heart (OCTOBER 2014). (Four winners will be drawn WEDNESDAY, JUNE, 25TH) Each goodie bag contains a silver bat charm, and a mini cover flat for The Bleeding Heart AND After Dark (the 7th and final book in the series, coming January 2015), PLUS a "GRAB LIFE BY THE FANGS" bracelet. The large charms shown in the pictures here will be for another drawing, closer to the release of book 6. ;) But, the rest of the package is the same. Oh, I almost forgot! EVERYONE WHO SHARES THIS INFO GETS AN EXTRA ENTRY!! :D :D :D :D

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tracey-H-Kitts/73968579374





Monday, June 16, 2014

I'm still alive!

I've got nothing but good news to report. First, and most importantly, my stress level has decreased dramatically. I'm taking time off from writing still, and from most everything online. I still check social medial a couple of times a day, but mostly, I'm getting away from the computer. :) It's one of the best decisions I've ever made.

My wrists are also much, much better. But I'll still keep this post brief in the interest of not aggravating them since they are not fully healed yet from all the writing I did just a short while back. 

Everything is still on schedule as far as my upcoming releases go. Beautiful Nightmare is still on track for next month as part of The Naughty Box 2. I'll be doing a contest associated with that release, so check back for more details later. 

The Bleeding Heart, Lilith Mercury Book 6 is in the hands of my editor/co-conspirator and will be out October 1, 2014.

After Dark, Lilith Mercury Book 7 (The final book) is on track for release this January 2015.

That about covers it. Oh, and I got my pumpkin garden planted! Almost every seed came up. Now, if they all survive, this is going to be the biggest, most awesome pumpkin harvest in years. 



Tuesday, May 20, 2014

The Final Lilith book is finished and I'm taking a break. :)

I finished drafting the 7th and final book in the Lilith Mercury series this past Saturday. So, why am I just now blogging about it? Because my wrists hurt like hell. In fact, I'm going to make this post brief so I don't further aggravate them as they are recovering well.

The 6th book in the series, The Bleeding Heart, is still scheduled for release in October. Amazon can sometimes put things out early or a few hours later than intended, depending on when it is approved after being uploaded. But, I'm shooting for October 1, 2014.

After Dark, the 7th book, is scheduled for release January 2015. I had to write the last 20,000 words of this one with pen and paper because it hurt too much to type.

My plan is to take a few months off, and finish typing the end of the book in September. ;) After that, I'm going to let it sit until December. Why? So that I can look at it with fresh eyes and be sure it is everything it needs to be before it goes out in January. This is the end of the series, and I don't want to leave anything out.

In the meantime, I'm not typing anything except a few brief messages in email or on Facebook. :) If I feel like my wrists are doing REALLY well, I might blog again in a week or so.

This is the first break I've had between books in just over 4 years. I think I more than deserve it. Of course, that doesn't mean I get to sit on my ass. I just won't be writing. LOL

Here is a link to my Amazon Author Page Tracey H. Kitts.

If you click "like" in the upper right corner, you will get an email alert every time I publish a new book. That way, you won't miss anything.


Monday, May 12, 2014

Why I do this, and my current goals

It's no secret, I've been under a lot of stress. For those who just read my blog or occasionally see a Facebook post and detect anger, you're not wrong. LOL But, it's not about stupid reviews, or sales data, or even a heavy workload. Although, some of those things might be the trigger, they are not the root cause.

I'll try to sum it up without over-sharing or looking like a whiner. My stress levels have been extremely high for about 6 straight years. We've had several deaths in the family, along with other issues. About the time I got my first publishing contract, I lost my job to budget cuts. Honestly, it was one of the worst jobs I'd ever had, highly stressful, but it paid the bills. I was able to briefly find other employment, but lost 3 more jobs due to budget cuts. Needless to say, this took a toll on me emotionally and financially. It put a strain on every aspect of my life.

Writing was my dream, but that dream quickly became a must. I had to sink or swim. There was no in-between. So, I wrote like hell. Don't get me wrong, I didn't churn out books just for money. Hell, I only recently started making enough to live on.

I wrote what was in my heart. I poured pieces of my soul onto the paper and I sold it off, bit by bit.

I've put in many long days and nights and more hours of advertising and promo than I could ever add up. It is damn hard to make a living as a writer. I had to do it, as there were no other job options in the rural area where I live. But I had an advantage. This wasn't just for money. This was what I WANTED. It's who I am and what I am meant to be. So, I've worked my ass off.

It wasn't difficult for me to get my first contract. I didn't struggle with a pile of rejection letters. However, I did struggle to get my books in front of readers who would enjoy them. That has been my biggest challenge.

All that work did not begin to pay off until October 2013, when I finally made the Amazon Best Sellers list and began to reach a larger audience.

For the first time, I was connecting with people on a huge scale. My vampire menage collection is still in the top 20 in Dark Fantasy, and spent a whole month at #1. I am thrilled with this. :)

The unfortunate downside is, that creates a lot of pressure to hurry up and put out another book. LOL Yes, it's a downside that I'll gladly live with. I'll take earning a decent living for my hard work ANY DAY over nearly being homeless, working my ass off, and not getting paid.

The biggest challenge I'm facing at the moment is that my wrists are totally worn out from all the writing. I don't have carpal tunnel syndrome or anything serious. This is more of an issue of overuse. Like, consecutively writing about 4,000 words a day for months and months without a break. The most I've rested between books for the past 4 years is probably 2 weeks. I'm exhausted. I'm also typing this very, very slowly so as not to further aggravate my hurting wrists.

Currently, I have 3 things on my "To Do" list. 1. Finish After Dark. (That's the 7th Lilith Mercury book.) 2. Take time off. 3. Read some books. LOL Really, that's it. Simplicity helps me.

Since it hurts so much to type, I'm writing out the end of After Dark by hand. The book will still be out by it's scheduled release in January 2015.

So, if you see a post that seems as though I've flipped my wig, just consider that I'm really, really tired and I'm probably taking things too seriously at the moment.

I appreciate my loyal readers very much, and just wanted to give everyone an update.


Friday, May 9, 2014

I have reached my limit

That's right. I've reached my limit on crazy, self-righteous lunatics and their rude comments to me personally and about my books.

Why would they ever think it is appropriate to insult me on a personal level? If you don't like the book FINE. The book is a product. I am the creator of the product. Insult the book if you must, but leave me out of it.

What provoked this rant? I just had some idiot complaining about my menage collection AGAIN. This is someone else who is offended by the leading lady having multiple lovers. Are you freaking kidding me?! The book has MENAGE in the title. There is a warning label that says MENAGE. There is also a woman with TWO MEN featured on the cover. This collection is clearly marketed for what it is. I didn't lie about anything, nor did I try to hide what the content truly is. IF YOU ARE OFFENDED BY MULTIPLE PARTNERS DO NOT READ A MENAGE NOVEL.

People know from the beginning what content they find offensive. If they buy a book anyway, KNOWING that it contains offensive-to-them content, they have no right to complain. They are the ones who chose to go there. It's not like I tracked them down and shoved it in their face. But what do they do if they don't like it? Oh, they track ME down and shove it in MY face!

I just had someone say that I needed to team up with someone who has a moral compass. Oh, and they spelled moral wrong. Seriously? You do realize that these stories are FICTION, right? I'm not writing about myself!

I GET SO PISSED OFF WHEN PEOPLE ASSUME I AM WRITING FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS. Do they make the same assumption when someone writes about an axe murderer?

Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a threeway with Dracula and two werewolves scheduled at lunch today.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Sex is not evil

I am continuously amazed by how many people are offended by sex. It's been around as long as we have. Ever since people first arrived on the scene, they've been doing it. So, why after all this time are people still offended by sex? Your guess is as good as mine.

Here's the thing that gets to me. The violence in my books is much more graphic in many cases than the sex. Yet in 6 1/2 years of being published, only ONE person has ever mentioned the violence. Still, that wasn't really a complaint. She simply mentioned that it might offended more sensitive readers. No one minds that heads are ripped off, hearts torn out, people are shot, dismembered, you name it. No one cares about any of that, just whatever you do DON'T HAVE SEX. That is crossing the line. Ha. Ha. Ha.

You've got to be kidding me!

But, this isn't just about my books. I've also noticed this disturbing (and stupid) trend in discussions about popular television shows. I'll use Game of Thrones as an example, because I like that show. No spoilers, I swear, but I will discuss season 3 in general and give a few examples without names.

The main complaint that I hear about Game of Thrones is that there is too much sex and nudity. Seriously? That is what bothers people? Children are murdered, people are gored and tortured in various ways. In season three, one person was horribly mutilated and left alive to deal with the aftermath. Not to mention the big slaughter scene that blew up the internet for about a week. The slaughter scene is the only exception I can think of, where people actually complained about violence.

I'm not saying that we should all be outraged by violence. I'm simply saying that it's ridiculous to watch someone get brutally murdered and then say, "Oh, how could they put boobies in this?!"

That's so stupid it's laughable. Besides that, the show comes with a content warning. At least, it did where I purchased my copy. My books also come with a content warning. And for the thousandth time, THEY ARE NOT FULL OF SEX. Just because a book has sex in it, does not make it erotica. If the entire book is about sex, THEN it is erotica. Most books DO have sex in them, they just don't always describe it as fully as the rest of the story. I choose to describe it, people ignore the warning label, and are offended.

Having sex in the story doesn't make it porn or smut either. Do all the rated R movies get a porn label for having a sex scene or two in them? No, of course not. They get a "Rated R for sexual content" label.

Yes, this has turned into a rant. It's just so ridiculous! I could understand if it was rape. That is horrible and offensive on so many levels. But consensual sex between adults who care about each other, THAT is what offends people? What about when the villain got his heart torn out and bled to death? No takers huh?

That's just wrong. If you don't want to read a book that has sex in it, then don't. People know what offends them and what doesn't. When something is clearly labeled, why go there? Personally, I don't want to watch anything with rape or childbirth in it. If a movie is labeled for rape, I will not watch it. If it even remotely sounds like it's going to have a horrible birth scene in it, I won't watch that either. That way, I'm not offended. It's that simple!

CORRECTION: In season 3, TWO people were horribly mutilated and left alive to deal with the aftermath. ;)