An excerpt of my upcoming release...A Winter's Grave

                                   
Ceres is a brand new Reaper and she’s going to meet her Hellhound for the first time…
Goofy stuck his nose under the bed and his large paddle of a tail started to wag hard enough to cause wind shear. There was a startling vicious snarl from under the bed and the big dog yelped pulling his head back and dragging the bed askew in his hurry to get away. Once freed he turned and trotted full throttle for his mistress with his tail tucked firmly between his legs.
Judging from the look on Stacy’s face, her massive Hellhound was usually a little bolder than that. She grabbed his thick leather collar and they both started to back towards the door. “It won’t eat you.” She gave me a nudge forward and nodded reassuringly. Her words of encouragement might have had more effect if she wasn’t shaking like a leaf. “Call him.”
“Here doggy,” I squeaked out of my suddenly dry throat. I didn’t know what to expect – a two hundred pound pit-bull… a Velociraptor… I just didn’t know. Anything that could scare a Mastiff-looking Hellhound named Goofy had to be pretty bad stuff right?
The dirty dust ruffle on the bed shifted and the tip of a shiny black nose poked out and sniffed, and then the whole dog came out and stretched as if we had just woken him from a very nice nap, but…
“What the hell is that?” I spun and looked at Stacy who was trying her best to cover her startled expression.
“What is that? A puppy, right? It has to be a puppy. Right?” I repeated loudly.
He pranced towards me and Goofy dropped quickly onto his back exposing as much of his flabby underside as possible, he was submitting dominance to – well to whatever kind of Hellhound I was supposed to have.
“They don’t come as puppies. That’s as big as he’s going to get.” Stacy had switched out her shocked expression for one of abject confusion.
“The only thing big about that dog are his friggin’ ears.” They were enormous for the size of his head. If I walked him on a windy day they could double as wings. They stood straight up from his tiny black head and were slightly rounded at the tips. “He looks like a friggin’ fruit bat!”
“Aw, he’s cute.” Stacy smiled and cooed but seemed to know better than to touch him.
“Yeah, but he doesn’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of the damned though, does he? I don’t know a whole lot about this Reaping thing but I’m guessing I’m not collecting Souls from nursing homes here.”
She finally failed at keeping her laughter silent and shook with the effort to gain enough composure to speak. “He’s got a heart on his hiney.” She pointed at the dog’s tiny rump and other than that quarter sized white heart; he was completely black; like some demonic Care Bear with glowing amber eyes.
“This isn’t funny. I’ll be ripped apart by the first machete wielding spirit I try to grab. I mean, no one wants to go to Hell when the Angel of Death comes for them, but I’m pretty sure they won’t be party at all to the idea of some lame chick and her pocket pooch being the ones to take them there.”
“I’ll… be… right… back.” She was back to laughing at me. She held up a hand in apology as she left the room with Goofy close on her heels.
I crossed my arms and looked at the twelve pound dog. “Hi, sorry, but there has been some kind of mistake apparently, so I think we’re going to have to return you.”
He sat down in front of me and put a tiny paw on my leg. He cocked his head to the side and looked up into my eyes, making his extra big and round.
I cleared my throat and looked at the ceiling. “Sorry buddy, we can’t get attached.” I looked down at him again. “Listen, unless you can cute some murderous fiend into the fiery pit of Hell, I think this is a no go.”

New Release Roundup

This week, I'm doing something a little different. I thought a New Release Roundup would be a fun way to check out what's fresh on the shelves --both virtual and physical-- as well as what's coming out soon.

1. Willing Sacrifice by Cree Walker 

 How much could you give up to save the ones you love?
Would you be willing to make a true sacrifice to an angel of death, a deal that could haunt you until the end of time?
In this story Sugar makes several willing sacrifices for her freedom and that of her Pack - some of which will haunt her forever, and one that puts her in debt to a Reaper.

Cree Walker's newest release is the second installment in the Sugar and Spice Series, and is now available in paperback! You can find book 1, Whisper on a Scream, at Amazon and the Naughty Nights Press eStore. 


2. Enchanted, an Anthology with contributions by Gemma Parkes

Four of the best writers of modern erotic fiction have created a different story of the magical enchantment of love and passion.

NNP's very own Gemma Parkes contributes Patrick's Pendant for the anthology. When Katie ran away from a party in the middle of the night, she looked for solace in a small spinney and found herself embroiled in Patrick’s world and it was one she was reluctant to leave.

 For a steamy excerpt, check out her blog to read more, or get the book at Amazon!


3. A Winter's Grave by Cree Walker

Cree Walker's a busy bee in the month of March! She has another new release, A Winter's Grave, which is available to order at Naughty Nights Press and All Romance eBooks.

What would you do if you woke up in the snow with absolutely no memory of who you are or how you got there?

What would you say to your savior when she tells you that not only are you now dead, but you’ve been chosen to become a Grim Reaper?



4. Staged Whispers by Cassandre Dayne

When a horrifying accident nearly claimed Dylan’s life, Cole and Brandon were given a last request, one they were unable to refuse. As Dylan’s mysterious past finally became known, a serious of mysteries dragged them all into a private hell. The truth was far too damning.

This is a recent release by Ms. Dayne, available at all your favorite digital bookstores: Naughty Nights Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, B&N, and Kobo.



5.  Naughty Hot Shots - The Girl Next Door by Abby Hayes

 When Mandy moves into her new apartment she is surprised to so quickly and easily strike up a conversation with the man next door who offers to help her carry in a few boxes.

She is even more surprised, though, when they have her over for dinner, to learn Mike and his roommate, Kyle, have been experimenting with their own sexuality, with each other, and want her to join in on the fun and games.

When given the opportunity to play the dominant in their sexual games, should she take the golden opportunity or just walk away?

You can find Abby Hayes' new release at Naughty Nights Press, Amazon, All Romance eBooks, B&N, and Kobo.


Okay, my lovelies! That should tide you over until next month. There's always something exciting going on with NNP and our amazing authors! Feel free to leave a comment with links to your favorite new releases, and to authors' blogs featuring their releases, reviews, and spotlights! There's always naughty fun to be had!

-Ciao!

***

Writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration. That inspiration can carry you through the 90%, but only by understanding the tools at your disposal. Delena knows a thing or two about writing tools and how to make the most of your writing. Want her to prove it? Visit her blog The Printed Fox and check out her series For Writers, By Writers. Delena Silverfox is a historical erotic romance author with Naughty Nights Press.

Naughty Nights Press Shares News! - New "The Erotic World Of Paganism" will be accepting submissions soon!

NNP has just started another new line, one we are truly looking forward to. 

Thanks to Ms.Erzabet Bishop, a new author with NNP, and her Beltane Fires submission, for sparking the inspiration. *wicked grin*

So... similar to the Naughty Hot Shots erotica short stories line, we now have:

The Erotic World Of Paganism:

— These stories are considered erotic literature more than erotic fiction as they center on the Pagan/Wiccan faith, both ancient and modern day, and all the beauty it entails.  The editor for all stories within this line will be Cynthia Boudreaux.

The Erotic Pagans Series - A series of short stories (4500-6500 words), based on Pagan/Wiccan traditions, spells, handfastings, holiday rituals, etc., with an obvious erotica theme.

The Erotic World Of Pagan Romance  - This part of the line will consist of novellas, novelettes and novels where works are erotic romances, and the primary focus is on the romantic relationships of the characters and the defined categorical choice. These erotic romances can be any manner of couplings.

Must follow some sort of REAL Pagan/Wiccan traditions, cultures, spells, handfastings, holiday rituals, etc., made into stories of an erotic romance nature and contain all the other typical requirements for any of our erotic romance works. Each story MUST have HEA or HFN and fit into one of the categories listed below:

Amorous Pagan Traditions - stories based on Pagan, non-holiday traditions where the characters engage in some sort of romantic relationship but where the Pagan tradition is a primary focal point within the work.

Passionate Pagan Rituals - stories based on Pagan rituals where the characters engage in or further a romantic relationship. Perhaps a Pagan ritual for fertility, true love, etc. The ritual or rituals performed must be a primary focal point within the work. The expectation is that the ritual will be shared within the book and the source(s) quoted.

Sensual Pagan Weddings - stories focused on handfastings/bindings (weddings) where the characters engage in a romantic relationship before, during and/or after the wedding but where the handfasting is a primary focal point within the work. Vows can be original or traditional and will be listed within the story with source(s) quoted.

Impassioned Pagan Holiday Traditions - stories focused on Pagan or Wiccan holidays and traditions for a specific holiday where the characters engage in a romantic relationship but where the holiday tradition is a primary focal point within the work.

Seductive Pagan Potions & Sex Spells - stories focused on potions, blessings or spells used within the story to assist the characters in engaging in or furthering a romantic relationship, but where the spell and/or creation of a potion is a primary focal point or necessity within the work. The expectation is that the spell or potion will be shared within the book and the source(s) quoted.

So, polish up those research skills and lets make some magick start covering the pages of your word processor. We can’t wait much longer! 

Blessed Be!

PLAN? REALLY?

 freedigitalphotos.net

 "Pencil On Paper" by digitalart

   'IT WAS ALL A DREAM...'

Hi all, I’m delighted to be back here on the Naughty Nights press blog.

Something l was talking about with my daughter the other day got me thinking about how we authors write and how different that can be from the way we were taught to write.

I still work with teenagers on their written work and l teach them, as do my colleagues, to always plan their stories. This is something that l hardly ever do and sometimes as a consequence l am left wondering how the hell I’m going to end my latest Wip.

So how many of my fellow authors actually sit down like at school, and plan a beginning, a middle and an end before they start? Oh l know it never works according to the plan, but the idea is that you don’t get too side tracked.

However as l was condemning myself for not following my own advice l suddenly realised why we teach children to plan in the first place. If they are writing a narrative for an exam they usually have around 20 minutes to do it. If they do a rough outline of four or five paragraphs then they’re likely to stick to the point and complete it in the given time. It’s different for us isn't it? We have (unless there’s a deadline) as much time as we like to go with our story. We also use a hell of a lot more words. So if we intended our character to be a hard ass, independent person and then can’t resist letting them fall in love, we still have plenty of time and space to think about what to do with them next!

The only problem is l sometimes don’t know what to do with them next because the half idea l had as l was beginning to write has gone off on a tangent, swept away by my emotive mind and now my characters are staring up from the page saying “You put us here, now what?”
Even worse is the completed sex scene, a hot menage where limbs and tongues have been all over the place and l have paused several times to...cool down. Oh yeah it's really hot! My readers have been on the journey with me as every touch and shiver has been explored and revealed. But now the characters are flat out on the bed or somewhere more exotic, spent and panting. What can l do with them now? Will one of them go off and make a cup of tea? Will they all fall asleep? 
For me It's like waking up from a beautiful dream when l reach that part of the story. Like a furtive voyeur, l just want to sneak away whistling.

Please tell me I’m not the only one!

Below is the worse ending l ever wrote:

‘For Tom, Nathan and Alice it was a beautifully exhilarating experience and one that they were to share again and again.’

I promise l rewrote it, but only after my daughter laughed till she cried!

Live, love and write with passion,

until next time,

Gemma Parkes

http://gemmaparkes.blogspot.com/

Feminism and erotica...

An interesting concept and something that came as somewhat of a revelation to me this past week. Feminism. The scary 'F' word. It conjures up all sorts of bra-burning images and non-shaven legs and the like. All horrific stereotypes in all honesty, and well, I liked to think of myself as an enlightened woman, a feminist in all ways, with a good life and equal status in my everyday roles. Then, a few things happened.

I realised my husband was actually a feminist.

Which made me realise, much to my horror, that I wasn't.

There was a long road leading up to this, and a lot of soul searching and realisations. How can an educated woman, who writes erotica, and happily supports all of her friends and family in equality and progress, not actually be a feminist? In a number of ways actually, and although I have addressed them now, and I have changed how I think, it's not an easy road to really understand the depths of how we are conditioned by society and the affect others have on you throughout your life. The issue I was discussing with my husband and others was this.

Random men, some I had passing acquaintance with, others I have never met before, slapping my bottom.

Simple. Laughable. It's nothing really is it? It happens to me and other women quite frequently. Standing on the train, close proximity with a slow brush and squeeze which makes you freeze up. Or walking down the street and a quick 'slap' which makes you gasp in shock, or even in nightclubs or bars when you're dressed up to the nines and the touches are much more lingering as a sign of 'you're attractive', but you just think 'oh they're drunk' and just shrug like nothing happened. I used to think this was normal. Even, if you're chatting to someone and they brush your hand, or arm, and everything about that touch makes your skin crawl. They're just touching your hand right? That's not sexual assault. Or is it?

Where is the respect in such contact? Would I dream of touching anyone else in that manner without their permission? The answer is a resounding no. Male or female, the answer would still be no. As good friends and my husband asserted 'how dare they do that?' and at first I laughed as I thought they were overreacting. And then I saw the look on his face, and the weight of the words. An epiphany. My body, my value as a person was worth more than being viewed as a desirable object or piece of meat. Misogyny as such, is viewed as an old fashioned concept, but actually, in olden times, respect by a gentleman for a woman, wouldn't have found such behaviour acceptable. So why has it changed now? A couple of articles which may give cause to think are listed below... I urge you to read and think about them... It has been something that I have had to re-educate myself in in recent weeks, perhaps it's something that needs addressing more openly now...

A satirical article, but valid look at the flipside...

A shockingly accurate article on how we perpetuate our own image as women...

So how does this affect my writing as an erotica writer? It certainly makes me think more about what I write. I can't change the stories and thoughts in my head, however, I have a feeling these revelations will change what I put down on the page now. We all have fantasies, and of course, that's the point. Equality in today's society, even with our own self-imposed restrictions in some ways, at least allows most of us, this one thing. Freedom of choice. We are allowed a chance to have the dreams and hopes that we harbour within ourselves, even despite hidden barriers that we may not even realise are there until something, or someone stops us and makes us think.

That's what true feminism is about. Not belligerence and fighting which is often lauded by the media, but the strength of respect and freedom. And that goes for everyone, male or female, trans or gay or lesbian. Everyone deserves respect for who they are.

.

Quick Read This! New Releases...Get Yours Now!

Naughty Nights Press (NNP) is very proud to announce that we have two new releases today and invite you to purchase your own copies at all good ebook stores.

Don't forget that our authors love to have their books reviewed by you the reader. So if you would like to leave a review, we ask that you do so on the NNP eStore site or at Amazon and let others know what you think of the book!

NAUGHTY HOT SHOTS - THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

Author: Abby Hayes

Genre: Erotic, Bi-Sexual, MMF, Female Domination, Kink, Light BDSM

Publisher: Naughty Nights Press

Ebook:  All ebook formats

Pages: 20

Release Date: March 2^nd 2013

Purchase: NNP eStore | All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Smashwords | Kobo

Coming soon to:Barnes & Noble | Diesel | Apple Books

Book Synopsis:

What woman could say no to two sexy as hell, bisexual and experimental men asking her to join them? What happens when they want her to dominate them both in their new found sexual games?

Having run from vicious rumors her ex spread about their deviant sex life back home, when Mandy moves into her new apartment she is surprised to so quickly and easily strike up a conversation with the man next door who offers to help her carry in a few boxes.

She is even more surprised, though, when they have her over for dinner, to learn Mike and his roommate, Kyle, have been experimenting with their own sexuality, with each other, and want her to join in on the fun and games.

When given the opportunity to play the dominant in their sexual games, should she take the golden opportunity or just walk away?

STAGED WHISPERS

Author: Cassandre Dayne

Genre: Erotic, Ménage, Gay Male,BDSM

Publisher: Naughty Nights Press

Ebook: Available in all formats

Pages: 98

Release Date: March 2nd 2013

Purchase: NNP eStore | All Romance eBooks | Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Kobo | Smashwords

Coming soon to: Apple | Barnes & Noble | Diesel Books 

Book Synopsis:

When secrets and tragedy threaten to destroy three lives, will the friends and lovers learn to face their personal demons or succumb to the horror of tragedy? 

Cole Dumont, Dylan Wyler and Brandon Foster were old chums who decided just out of college to open Forever Green Lawn. Their business catering to the wealthiest families in Fort Lauderdale, their pristine reputation afforded them every indulgence. Unable to disclose their gay lifestyle, they sequestered their dark desires, sharing passion as well as their lives. Terrified to admit their needs, they all hid behind a mask. The reasons were too damning to admit – at least for one of the men. 

When a horrifying accident nearly claimed Dylan’s life, Cole and Brandon were given a last request, one they were unable to refuse. As Dylan’s mysterious past finally became known, a serious of mysteries dragged them all into a private hell. The truth was far too damning.