Continuing the fight

Yes it's true I, J S Morbius, have returned from The Crypt once again.

First of all this month I would like to congratulate the people of Ireland for voting to legalize same-sex marriage. 

Now if only every country would do the same a lot, not all, of the world's problems could solved.

Right let's now get down to the real reason I am here. This month I was going to talk about sex, love and long-term relationships however, thanks to certain bigoted idiots, I have changed my mind.

Last night (Wednesday 28^th May) I was on Twitter, chatting with a few friends and having a good time when hate again reared it's ugly head. Not just any type of hate either but the sort of Transphobic hate I have been fighting against for a number of years.

Now I understand not everyone is going to agree with me, and not everybody is going to accept Transsexuals are real people with real feelings but, surprise, THEY ARE and they are part of our society and they are not going to go away, just because some people don't like them, whether you like it or not.

I am sick of saying this and I'm sure most of my readers, and followers, will agree with me when I say I shouldn't keep having to fucking say it.

Transsexuals, both Mtf and FtM, are some of the most beautiful, caring, thoughtful and intelligent people I have ever had the pleasure to meet, and talk to, and they are here to stay.

Which just leaves me to say to those who continue to spread evil hate...

Now I have finished my rant I must return to the darkness of The Crypt once again. So until next month...

J S Morbius

Query Letters - The Bane Of My Existence

Elizabeth Black writes in a wide variety of genres including erotica, erotic romance, and dark fiction. She lives on the Massachusetts coast with her husband, son, and three cats. Visit her web site, her Facebook page, and her Amazon Author Page.

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I'm currently searching for an agent, and I have battled with the dreaded query letter. I thought I did my research, but after attending the Boston writer's conference The Muse And The Marketplace, I discovered I had not written the damned thing correctly. I had written my introduction, named the book, gave the blurb, the word count, genre, and then my publishing history and a little information about my prior movie and TV work.

Turns out I left out an important item – why I am the best person to write this book. The Muse taught me the proper way to write a query letter, and thanks to the conference I did get my first request for a partial. Sadly, that resulted in another rejection, but at least she requested a partial.

I'm not giving up.

According to book developer and principle of The Scribe's Window Cherise Fisher, who gave the talk "The Perfect Pitch" at The Muse And The Marketplace, a pitch is "the transfer of enthusiasm from one person to the next. It's like a virus. You infect with your pitch." Books are meant to entertain, educate, and inspire/provoke. A pitch is the foundation for your proposal. It's your contact with an agent or editor. It's also about being as clear and concise as possible to the person you're pitching to.

My mistake was leaving out my backstory – why a have a passion for this particular story. I needed to personalize my pitch. The perfect book is the book only you can write. This includes your life experiences and your perspective, Reveal what is behind you for writing this book. Wny are you so driven to do it? What's the story, and why is it yours to tell?

If you want to see examples of successful query letters, check out Writer's Digest's Successful Queries page. Not only does the page include scads of very good queries, there are explanations from agents following each query as to why it was a good one. I've learned a great deal from reading those examples.

My next step is to subscribe to Publisher's Marketplace for a month, and find all the agents who represent erotica and erotic romance. Then, if I haven't already written to them, send them my updated query letter and anything else their submission guidelines require.

I'm well aware that this book may never find representation. That surprised and disappointed me, since I've always read about famous books that were rejected by hundreds of agents only to finally find representation and then go on to become huge successes. I had hoped that would be my path. It hadn't occurred to me that I may write to hundreds of agents and all will reject the book. I was advised by one agent to write another book if this one doesn't snag an agent, and look for representation for that one. I'm aware of one writer who now has an agent who submitted a half dozen books over a seven year period before she finally found representation. Apparently, that's a path I may end up taking. So, I have hope although I know I have a lot of work ahead of me.

If my head wasn't screwed on, I swear...

I love being busy and having things to do, don't get me wrong. Makes the odd day here and there of just relaxing all the more, well, relaxing. But the day they really do invent those watch do-dads that project onto your wrist so that I could have a to-do list right in front of me. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
So I must apologise for missing a post or two recently, as well as this one being late. There has been a lot going on. I'm in the business end of my current uni subjects, having car issues (to put it mildly!) and then this box set has really been holding much of my attention recently. And that's just some of what's going on.
I'll tell you now, there's a strong chance of me being quite distracted for a while, because I have so much more to come these next 12 months. There's the anthology releasing end of next month, the third story in The Wolf Smitten Trilogy (plus another awesome surprise in relation to that!), Persephone, and a few other projects that I'm keeping under wraps for now. Not to mention coming ever closer to the end of my Bachelor's Degree! I will be very busy for a while, however I can promise, with the amount of work that will be getting done, it is going to be very much worth it!
And with any luck, I'll eventually get to start going out to signings etc ;) and yes, I will one day make it across the waters to attend an event or two in the US. All in good time!
Thanks for bearing with me, and hang in there, it will be an awesome ride as The Phoenix takes off!

In the meantime, don't forget to check out my released titles: Wolf Smitten books 1 and 2 (The Wolf In The Neighborhood, and Once Bitten Twice Shy respectively), and stand alone vampire novelette The Return Of Their Master.
Here's a taste of The Wolf In The Neighborhood, which you can buy as a stand alone, or in the best selling shifter romance box set Alphas on the Prowl.

“So what’s this for, Krissy?” he growled, the sound vibrating through his entire body and into hers. 
“Can’t a girl just have some fun?” Krissy playfully pouted, head tilted. He raised his eyebrow, so she continued. “What can I say? I didn’t get enough of you last night. I wanted to try the whole dish, not just a taste test.” 
“I do believe I was the one doing the tasting, sweetheart,” Derek replied with a grin as she put her hands on her hips. “I’m certainly not complaining about the wakeup call. I just don’t want it to be some kind of obligation after last night, or – well, you know – before.” 
“Let’s not talk about that right now. I just want to get as much of you as I can.” She leaned in for another deep kiss before he could say another word, grinding her hips as she did so. His moan in her mouth told her he was happy to forget about everything that wasn’t her on top of him. 
His hands moved around to her back, holding her close, barely giving her the space to move back one last time. “So when is this sheet going to be removed from between us? We can’t give in to ecstasy with it still covering your waist.” 
“You’re the one sitting on me, so I guess it’s up to you,” Derek replied, all sass and cheek. 
With a mischievous glint in her eye, Krissy backed her way down his legs, like a panther in reverse. Grabbing the sheet covering his groin with her teeth, she dragged it to the side, exposing him in all his hard glory. The gentle glide of the sheet prompted a quiet groan; she wished she had a feather tickler, guessing that it would send him wild. Gently kissing her way back up his legs, nibbling the tender flesh of his inner thighs, she made do with her natural tools: her delicate hands with manicured nails, her plump lips and tender tongue.
Shifting her ass around to give him something to keep his hands busy, she lightly ran her nails across his scrotum and up his shaft, reaching the highly sensitive head. His left hand grabbed the inner thigh of her right leg, clutching the smooth muscles like a life raft. Using her left hand for support, she gave him a clear view as she leaned down and gently licked her way along his length, followed by the gentle caress of her nails. Focusing their attention on his testicles, she reached the tip and flicked her tongue against it, enjoying his shuddering response.

Phoenix Johnson is a bestselling Australian author who has always had the passion for the written word. She had her nose in at least one book ever since she could read and would even scrutinize the back of the cereal box every morning at breakfast. It was only natural she take up writing.
After reviewing a few delicious titles for Naughty Nights Press as she wrote her first title, The Wolf in the Neighborhood, Phoenix was of one mind to submit it to NNP, and she hasn't looked back. The Return of Their Master and Once Bitten Twice Shy now join her first title for sale, and all three books are receiving great reviews. Phoenix feels that being invited to write for the NNP blog is a great honour, and loves being part of the team!

You can get in touch with Phoenix on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr or view her website here, or buy her books direct from Naughty Nights Press, or other good ebook distributors.

HURRY! HURRY! FREEBIE ALERT! ONE DAY ONLY! MAY 13th!

Kiki Howell's paranormal romance novel At War In The Willows will be free for ONE DAY ONLY on Amazon!

Really, who doesn't want all those yummy alpha shifters, werewolves, witches, and vampires wrapped up in a sizzling hot, edge of your seat, scintillating tale of romantic paranormal suspense, right? We know what readers want! ;)

Be sure to grab your free copy of this spectacular paranormal romance today, May 13th, 2015, only! Don't be the only one to miss out!
Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon CA

And, because we know you will love this fabulous author with her ability to weave worlds you just want to "crawl" into with characters filled with such depth and emotion, we are sharing the buy link and synopsis information to Ms. Howell's newest, bestselling release (Top 100 on Amazon), Salem's Revenge (Book 2, Salem Series) and it's predecessor, the bestselling paranormal romance, Hidden Salem! 
Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Occult Horror

Salem's Revenge (Book Two, Salem Series): 
Amazon  or Barnes & Noble

Blurb:
In this sequel to the Amazon Bestseller, Hidden Salem, the story resumes one year later, another present day October, in Salem, MA. Filled with the same cross of pagan and paranormal elements, as well as suspense and occult horror weaved into Book One in the Salem Series, Book Two also contains touches of romance, giving readers a sweet addition to the spells and rituals.
Denise Daniels came to Salem, MA to be in her best friend, Makayla’s wedding, but her matron of honor duties find her confronting more than she bargained for. In her first moments in Witch City, she’s greeted by a corpse used in a gruesome reanimation ritual.
Without warning, the final week of wedding preparations becomes mixed with a quick introduction to Wiccan practices, including necromancy used to communicate with the dead, as attacks by a mysterious, new coven seeking revenge increase. Denise soon becomes immersed in things she never expected, including automatisms—drawing elaborate pictures of two women in red cloaks in the woods—a pretty impressive feat for a girl who has only drawn stick figures prior.
As Denise tries to find her place in this world of magic, she discovers her own connection to the Salem of 1692. And, while losing the battle to save her heart from a romance that can never be, she ends up fighting to save her life.

What readers have said about Salem's Revenge:
“This was a great witch story. More emotional and scary than the first book. While I was reading it was feeling a little overwhelming with the vivid narrations… Definitely, this was a book that you can’t put aside.” 5 Star Amazon Review

Hidden Salem: Salem Series Book One at a SALE price at:
Amazon  or Barnes & Noble

Blurb:

Amazon Top 100 Bestseller in Paranormal, Ghosts & Suspense 

Intuition alone brought Makayla to Salem, MA in search of a story, but her research has her confronting more than she bargained for. With her empathic gifts stronger in Witch City, she physically suffers, landing her literally unconscious in the arms of both Noah Ayers, local cop and Dylan Baines, local history teacher. Yet, it is Lauri, a witch who owns a local shop, who teaches Makayla about who she is and what she can do. 

Unfortunately for all of them, Makayla also stumbles upon a coven in the woods practicing a dark magic ritual. Now they are after her, threatening her life and the lives of those she has quickly come to care about. Immersed in things she never expected, like an old legend and necromancy due to residual hauntings, the race is on to stay safe from the coven and protect her heart from a certain sexy cop. 

But, is Lauri correct in thinking Makayla might just have encountered the only real witch in Salem in 1692? And, do they share the same bloodline? 

About the Author

Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

She has now had over forty stories published between eleven different publishers.  She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. She's also had three flash fiction stories win writing contests. In the fall of 2013, her novel, Hidden Salem, made the Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers Lists in Paranormal, Suspense and Ghosts; and in the fall of 2014, her novel. What Lies Within Us, made the Amazon Top 100 Best Sellers Lists in Gothic Fiction and Occult Horror.

You can find out more about Kiki at:

Website http://www.kikihowell.com/

Blog http://anauthorsmusings.blogspot.com

FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/kikihowell

FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kiki-Howell/22225069684?ref=hl

Twitter https://twitter.com/KikiHowell7

LAST CHANCE to get Bestselling Paranormal Romance Alphas on the Prowl For 99 cents!

Just got word that the price on Alphas on the Prowl will be going up soon! If you haven't bought your copy yet, grab it now while it's still this amazing bargain price! If you have a friend you can gift it to, that would be awesome.

The set has *NEW* stories and it's currently only 99 cents. 100+ fantastic reviews. 

#1 BEST SELLER in Paranormal Romance in multiple categories. Grab your copy before the price goes up! 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alphas-Prowl-Shifter-Paranormal-Boxed-ebook/dp/B00WS29VB2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431012943&sr=8-1&keywords=alphas+on+the+prowl

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alphas-on-the-prowl-shifter-paranormal-boxed-set-catherine-vale/1121846440?ean=2940151385008

Thank you! <3 <3 <3

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for your chance at $50, $25, $25 Amazon Gift Cards

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New release! Salem's Revenge (Book 2 in the Hidden Salem Series) by Kiki Howell is here!

Salem’s Revenge: Salem Series, Book Two, by Bestselling Paranormal Author Kiki Howell

Genres: Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense, Occult Horror

Blurb:
In this sequel to the Amazon Bestseller, Hidden Salem, the story resumes one year later, another present day October, in Salem, MA. Filled with the same cross of pagan and paranormal elements, as well as suspense and occult horror weaved into Book One in the Salem Series, Book Two also contains touches of romance, giving readers a sweet addition to the spells and rituals.
Denise Daniels came to Salem, MA to be in her best friend, Makayla’s wedding, but her matron of honor duties find her confronting more than she bargained for. In her first moments in Witch City, she’s greeted by a corpse used in a gruesome reanimation ritual.
Without warning, the final week of wedding preparations becomes mixed with a quick introduction to Wiccan practices, including necromancy used to communicate with the dead, as attacks by a mysterious, new coven seeking revenge increase. Denise soon becomes immersed in things she never expected, including automatisms—drawing elaborate pictures of two women in red cloaks in the woods—a pretty impressive feat for a girl who has only drawn stick figures prior.
As Denise tries to find her place in this world of magic, she discovers her own connection to the Salem of 1692. And, while losing the battle to save her heart from a romance that can never be, she ends up fighting to save her life.

Buy Now:
Salem’s Revenge is available at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X371GN2 or Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/salems-revenge-kiki-howell/1121858843

What readers have said about Salem's Revenge:
“This was a great witch story. More emotional and scary than the first book. While I was reading it was feeling a little overwhelming with the vivid narrations… Definitely, this was a book that you can’t put aside.” 5 Star Amazon Review

The Amazon Bestseller, Hidden Salem: Salem Series Book One can be purchased at a SALE price at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F2RRPUE or Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hidden-salem-kiki-howell/1121858837

About the Author
Ever since she was young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.

She has now had over forty stories published between eleven different publishers.  She could not be more thrilled or grateful to see her creations polished and out in the real world. In May, 2011, Kiki was chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder. She's also had three flash fiction stories win writing contests. In the fall of 2013, her novel, Hidden Salem, made the Amazon Top 100 Bestsellers Lists in Paranormal, Suspense and Ghosts; and in the fall of 2014, her novel. What Lies Within Us, made the Amazon Top 100 Best Sellers Lists in Gothic Fiction and Occult Horror.

You can find out more about Kiki at:
Website http://www.kikihowell.com/
Blog http://anauthorsmusings.blogspot.com
FaceBook http://www.facebook.com/kikihowell
FaceBook Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kiki-Howell/22225069684?ref=hl
Twitter https://twitter.com/KikiHowell7

Giveaway! Enter to WIN 1 of 4 Paperback copies of Bad Things: Hunger by Cassandre Dayne!

Enter to WIN 1 of 4 Paperback copies of Bad Things: Hunger by Cassandre Dayne!

Buy ebook on Amazon

Blurb
Book One In The Bad Things Trilogy

**** Warning: Dangerous Were-tigers are on the prowl in this kinky BDSM environment with a powerful Female Domme, male slaves, and some female on female play. The elements of consensual sexual punishment and torture contained within the pages of this Trilogy could leave you worked up, trembling and begging for more. It's addictive! ****

Be very afraid…
There truly are bad things in this world…
Monsters rule the darkness…

If you had a chance at immortality, would you take it? What if it meant giving up all you know and your very humanity?

There are horrible acts going on behind closed doors that should never see the light of day. After all, creatures rule the night, praying on our every fantasy, our every weakness. They consume what doesn’t belong to them. Sex is power after all. Be very afraid…

For influential Domme, Anastasia Lucard, the world as she knows is about to change. Bad Things, a well-known kink club in Charleston, South Carolina, is embroiled in a nasty fight with the Healing Souls - a haughty group of Christian faith believers. But, the powerful men aren’t the sons of God. They are monsters fighting to regain control of not only the entire town, but also Anastasia and her Were-Tiger Pride. And they will stop at nothing to get what they want – including slaughtering innocent humans. Brutality and blood is what they crave.

Can Anastasia stop them before an ancient curse annihilates mankind? And at what price?

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