Happy Friday, everyone!! I hope you are all gearing up for a great weekend. And, speaking of the weekend, author Kaylea Cross is here to kick things off in style for us. She’s sharing a great guest post & offering one lucky commenter a copy of her book, DEADLY DESCENT.  Welcome, Kaylea!

All In the Name of Research

Thanks to Cynthia for having me here on her blog today!

One of the things I love best about writing military romance is the research I get to do. Having never served in the military (because I’m a wimp) or experienced combat (thank God), I have to rely on other sources for my information. Books, mostly, and some info provided by the good old Internet. But sometimes I get to do something really cool that makes my inner geek cackle with glee.

While researching Deadly Descent, I had such an experience. An old softball buddy put me in contact with an Air Force Pararescue Jumper (PJ), which is no mean feat considering there are only 300-400 of them around. This same friend also hooked me up with a National Guard Black Hawk medevac pilot. I was beside myself with excitement. One simple e-mail, and I wound up with the two contacts I desperately needed for my book.

That was the fun part. The rest…not so much.

Since I was writing a book about a Black Hawk pilot, I felt it was my duty to bite the bullet and get on a helicopter to see what it was like. Problem is, I’m freaking terrified of flying. (I know! My characters would be so ashamed of me. *hangs head*)

Ever since a girl in my high school grad class was the sole survivor of a plane crash, I’ve been traumatized about getting on an aircraft of any kind. To me it seems about as risky as Russian roulette, and every time I have to fly it’s sheer agony for me and anyone unfortunate enough to be near me the day of the flight. I’m always shocked and relieved when I land safely, but still feel like I’ve dodged a bullet. And then I’m always aware that I still have to get back on a plane to get home again. But I digress.

No self respecting author of military romantic suspense can laud the accomplishments of their military heroes and heroines book after book, yet still be afraid of boarding a freaking aircraft. Since I write about Spec Ops guys fastroping from helos, and in Deadly Descent I wrote about a Black Hawk medevac pilot heroine, I had to put on my big girl panties and face my demons. I just couldn’t look myself in the mirror otherwise.

I should add that my father got his rotary wing licence last year and flies his helicopters every chance he gets, so I had ample opportunity to go up in a helo if I wanted to. Funny enough, I was always suddenly “busy” whenever he called to invite me to go up with him.

About two chapters into Deadly Descent, I’d had enough of my cowardly ways. I went up with dad’s instructor, who gleefully took me on a flight to “mimic inserting a group of SEALs on the beach”. Yee haw. I can’t even guess how many calories I burned on that two hour long flight. My heart slammed so hard during his dives and other scary aeronautical manuevers that I could feel it rattling away against my ribs, but I didn’t want to look like a total wimp so I bore it in silence and tried to pretend I wasn’t nervous in the least. From the pilot’s evil smirk, I’d have to say I didn’t quite pull it off.

To distract myself from the fear of falling out of the sky at any moment, I asked a continual string of questions about the helo, instrumentation, the scenarios in my book and everything I’d ever wanted to know about Black Hawks. Having survived that inaugural flight, I braved several more research flights (aren’t you so proud of me for my dedication to my craft?). After that I interviewed that Black Hawk medevac pilot I mentioned earlier, clearing up all my final questions about my plot, etc. Oh, and I interviewed a Canadian Navy pilot that survived a Sea King helo crash as pilot commander.

Thankfully I interviewed him after I’d finished my flights.

I want my writing to reflect the reality of what our soldiers do in the field, and I’m happy to say the PJ that helped me actually read Deadly Descent and e-mailed to say he thought I’d done a great job of portraying what goes on in the field. I’ll take that as a compliment.

I’m giving away a digital copy of Deadly Descent today, so please leave me a comment to enter the contest. Have any of you had to face your worst fears or phobias sometime in your life? Did anything help you overcome your fear? I’m never going to enjoy flying again, but hey, at least I got the details right in the book!

Kaylea Cross

Deadly Descent

Update: Thanks for the responses! It looks like I have some great volunteers, so I am going to close down the comments section now (at 28 comments–everyone who commented before the close will get a note from me).  And, just so you know…I’m busy planning a big release party for Monday. There will be lots of prizes, guest authors, and fun–I hope you can come back by!!

Hi, everyone! In just a few days (on 9/12/11), my latest paranormal e-novella, BOUND IN DARKNESS, will officially be available.   This book is an ebook only story, but if you don’t have an e-reader, you can still read the tale. You can download free programs like KINDLE FOR PC or NOOK FOR PC and read right on your computer. (I love these free programs.)

Here’s the blurb for the story:

Hunter…

When it comes to killing vampires, werewolf Cade Thain is the best slayer in the Northwest. So when a witch hires him to take out a pureblood vamp, the assassin thinks it will be just business as usual. One less vicious vamp on the streets…one more undead parasite gone from the earth. Then he meets her.

Protector…

Allison Gray isn’t the prey that Cade expects. Beautiful, innocent, she stirs a dark desire within him. Allison hasn’t transformed fully into a vampire, not yet, and it’s Cade’s job to make sure that she never does. Allison thinks that he’s at her side to keep her safe, but Cade is supposed to pick the right moment—and kill her.

Lover…

Killing Allison is soon the last thing that Cade plans. As she begins the transformation that will turn her into a vampire, her bloodlust and their desire merge in an explosion of need that neither can control. But Allison’s enemies are closing in, and the coming battle will take Cade and Allison beyond life, beyond love…and into a deadly darkness that waits to claim them both.

Bound in Darkness.

***

Right now, I’m hoping to find a few folks who might be interested in reviewing the story.  You can post the review any place you’d like–your blog, Facebook, Twitter, B&N, Amazon, etc.  I’ll give the first 25 reviewers who respond a coupon code so that you can receive a free copy of BOUND IN DARKNESS from Smashwords (you can choose the format).  When you post, please just give an honest review. (And there is no timetable on the review. I know people have busy lives–just post when it is convenient for you.)

Thanks so much!!  Hope you all have a great day!

Bella’s back!! I’m very happy to have awesome author Bella Andre back at my blog. I love Bella’s stories (and I hope you do, too!) Bella has a new release, and she’s dropped by to chat with us about the tale. Welcome, Bella!

I’m so thrilled to be a part of Cynthia’s blog today to celebrate the release of my new contemporary romance, FROM THIS MOMENT ON, about the Sullivan family – 6 brothers and 2 sisters in a close knit family.

For thirty-six years, Marcus Sullivan has been the responsible older brother, stepping in to take care of his seven siblings after their father died when they were children. But when the perfectly ordered future he’s planned for himself turns out to be nothing but a lie, Marcus needs one reckless night to shake free from it all.

Nicola Harding is known throughout the world by only one name – Nico – for her catchy, sensual pop songs. Only, what no one knows about the twenty-five year old singer is that her sex-kitten image is totally false. After a terrible betrayal by a man who loved fame far more than he ever loved her, she vows not to let anyone else get close enough to find out who she really is…or hurt her again. Especially not the gorgeous stranger she meets at a nightclub, even though the hunger – and the sinful promises – in his dark eyes make her want to spill all her secrets.

One night is all Nicola and Marcus agree to share with each other. But nothing goes as they plan when instead of simply tangling limbs, they find a deeper connection than either of them could have anticipated. Growing emotions – and sizzling attraction – keep drawing them closer together. Close enough for them to wonder if stealing one more secret moment together can ever be enough?

***

One of the reasons why FROM THIS MOMENT ON was so much fun to write is because my heroine is a pop star. I never became a star 🙂 but I did spend ten years recording CDs and touring around the world before I began to write romance. And every day while I write, I pop in my earbuds and listen to music – everything from Joni Mitchell to Justin Bieber to the songs from Glee.

I’m having an absolute blast with my Sullivan family and can’t wait to tell every single one of their love stories! The first book – THE LOOK OF LOVE – came out this summer and the next – CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE – will be out in December.

I’d love to know what some of your favorite careers for heroines are? I’ll happily give away a digital copy of THE LOOK OF LOVE (Sullivans #1) to one of the commenters.

Happy reading!

Bella Andre

Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KB9WJO

Barnes & Noble Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1105070172

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85528

All Romance Ebooks: http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fromthismomentonthesullivansbook2contemporaryromance-599161-149.html

Apple iBookstore: http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9780983720263

Kobo, Google eBookstore and Paperback coming soon!

THE LOOK OF LOVE (Sullivans #1) ~ Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Smashwords, Goodreads & AllRomance

FROM THIS MOMENT ON (Sullivans #2) ~ Kindle, Nook, Apple, Smashwords, Goodreads & AllRomance

Sign up for my newsletter for upcoming release info!

www.BellaAndre.com

Hi, everyone! I’ve been asked to participate in a new blog with some writing buddies, and to keep off the fun, we’re having a Scavenger Hunt (prizes, ahoy). You can read the full details of the hunt on the Darker Temptations blog site.

We’ve got some bad weather heading here, so I may not be around too much this weekend. I hope you enjoy your Labor Day!

It looks like I am going to have another release available soon. Like–very soon. I’ve been working on another novella that I wanted to release as a .99 ebook, and I wanted to share the blurb and cover with you:

Here’s the blurb for this story:

Hunter…

When it comes to killing vampires, werewolf Cade Thain is the best slayer in the Northwest. So when a witch hires him to take out a pureblood vamp, the assassin thinks it will be just business as usual. One less vicious vamp on the streets…one more undead parasite gone from the earth. Then he meets her.

Protector…

Allison Gray isn’t the prey that Cade expects. Beautiful, innocent, she stirs a dark desire within him. Allison hasn’t transformed fully into a vampire, not yet, and it’s Cade’s job to make sure that she never does. Allison thinks that he’s at her side to keep her safe, but Cade is supposed to pick the right moment—and kill her.

Lover…

Killing Allison is soon the last thing that Cade plans. As she begins the transformation that will turn her into a vampire, her bloodlust and their desire merge in an explosion of need that neither can control. But Allison’s enemies are closing in, and the coming battle will take Cade and Allison beyond life, beyond love…and into a deadly darkness that waits to claim them both.

Bound in Darkness.

***

BOUND IN DARKNESS is a vampire/werewolf romance–one that takes place in the same “world” I created with BOUND BY BLOOD. I want to thank all of the wonderful folks who read BOUND BY BLOOD and emailed to ask for another story.  I’ve wanted to write the plot for BOUND IN DARKNESS for a while–this story is actually my twist on the Snow White fairy tale. It’s Snow White…with vampires and werewolves. My hero, Cade? Well, in the Snow White tale, he’d be the guy who was originally supposed to take Snow White into the woods and kill her. Only…as we all know, that hunter didn’t kill Snow White.

In my tale, my hunter doesn’t kill her, either. Cade falls for her.

Right now, I am planning to release BOUND IN DARKNESS on September 12.  Guess what that means?

DOUBLE RELEASE DAY!!!!!

On September 12, the paranormal romance anthology, ENTANGLED, will also be released.

ENTANGLED is a charity anthology, and all of the proceeds from this book will benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  Want to see the blurbs for all of these stories?  Here you go:

HALLOWEEN FROST by USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Estep (author of the Mythos Academy, Elemental Assassin, and Bigtime series) — It’s Halloween at Mythos Academy, but Gwen Frost and her friends are in for more tricks than treats when they run into a mythological monster intent on killing them.

THE FAT CAT by Edie Ramer (author of Cattitude, Galaxy Girls) — In a battle for the souls of seven women, a wizard has the god of war on his side; all the witch has is a fat, black cat.

MEDIUM RARE by Nancy Haddock (author of the Oldest City Vampire trilogy) —What’s spooking the spirits of St. Augustine? As the witching hour of Halloween approaches, ghost seer Colleen Cotton must team with a by-the-book paranormal investigator to locate the one ghost who can save the city’s specters. If she fails, her own great grandfather’s spirit may be lost forever.

SWEET DEMON by Misty Evans (author of the Witches Anonymous series) —When Chicago’s vampire king insists Kali Sweet join his empire, the vengeance demon must rely on her ex – the half-human, half-chaos demon who left her at the altar three hundred years ago – in order to escape the vamp’s clutches.

SIAN’S SOLUTION by Dale Meyer (author of the Psychic Visions series) — When a vampire discovers the human man she loves has been captured and hung in a blood farm, she goes against her own kind and risks everything to save him.

A BIT OF BITE by Cynthia Eden (author of NEVER CRY WOLF and ANGEL OF DARKNESS) — A killer is stalking the streets of Crossroads, Mississippi, and it’s up to Sheriff Ava Dushaine to stop him. But when suspicion falls on werewolf alpha Julian Kasey—Ava’s ex-lover and the man who still haunts her dreams—Ava knows that she’ll either have to prove his innocence…or watch the whole town go up in flames.

SINFULLY SWEET by Michelle Miles (author of the Coffee House series) — When Chloe bakes a little magic into her pastries, she attracts the attention of Edward, the sexy half-demon, half-witch, who’s come to warn her those who murdered her sister are now after her.

A NIGHT OF FOREVER by Lori Brighton (author of A Night of Secrets and To Seduce an Earl) — Who is Aidan Callaghan? Mary Ellen James is intent on uncovering the truth about the mysterious man, but as she soon finds out, some things are best left buried in the past.

FEEL THE MAGIC by Liz Kreger (author of the Part of Tomorrow series) — Jenna Carmichael’s magical attempt to rectify Jessica Manfield’s birth identity takes an unexpected turn when the past comes back to haunt her.

BREAKING OUT by Michelle Diener (author of the Tudor-set historical suspense novel In A Treacherous Court) — Imprisoned in a secret facility, powerful telekinetic Kelli Barrack and two other ‘special’ inmates grab a chance to escape, only to confront their worst nightmares on the outside.

GHOSTLY JUSTICE, an all-new Seven Deadly Sins novella by New York Times bestselling author Allison Brennan (author of the Seven Deadly Sins series) — Demon hunters Moira O’Donnell and Rafe Cooper are dragged into the dangerous world of nocturnal predators to find “Ghostly Justice” for a virgin sacrificed to an ancient blood demon.

***

Oh, but there is plenty of paranormal fun to be had!  (Tell me I’m not the only one who LOVES to stock up on paranormal romances during this time of year.  Back to school…Halloween is just waiting to sneak up on us…)