Laura Bacchi's Bits

EPIC Finalist

2009-11-17T18:51:00.003-05:00

Bonnie Dee and I learned this weekend that Butterfly Unpinned is a finalist in the erotica category. Yippee!

Guest Bloggin' at Erotic Muses

2009-08-25T07:34:00.002-04:00

I wanted to share this yesterday, but a virus/trojan thingee locked down anything Google on my PC. Anywho, visit Erotic Muses if you'd like to read about my recent art adventure.

Sexiest Song Ever.... and More Reviews for Butterfly

2009-08-01T22:22:00.004-04:00

Oh my God, I am so in love with St. Vincent's Your Lips Are Red from Marry Me. This has got to be the sexiest, rawest, most intense song ever.

Okay, now to collect myself...

Heather at Fallen Angel Reviews gave Butterfly Unpinned 5 Angels and a Recommended Read.

What a horrifying, powerful and beautiful story.... I was gripped hard from the very beginning and I couldn’t put it down until I’d read the very last word. This was so much more than I was expecting and it was a veritable whirlwind of emotions....

The contrast between the two different worlds represented in this novel was stark and clearly defined. It almost seemed as if I had been holding my breath for the first half of the story and then was finally able to breathe as it transitioned into the second half of the book, very skillfully and cleverly done! I have to say that I took a small break to recommend this book to a few friends before I was even finished reading it and I can’t give it a higher recommendation than that!

Also in is a 10 out of 10 from Kirsten at Book Series Reviews.

The first half of the book is exciting, titillating, emotional, and thought provoking. But it is the latter half of the book that makes this book so special. It's the reverse of most BDSM books, where a submissive is learning what it means to be submissive, is accepting that part of his or herself. In this book, we see someone who has been a 24/7 micro-managed slave with no safeword and no negotiation power walk back into the real world and try to find herself....

Butterfly Unpinned easily gets a 10 of 10. I'm looking through the two author's other books to see what else they have written. And should the two authors team up again I will probably automatically buy whatever they write. I loved the ending of Butterfly Unpinned, but I would still love to see more written about these characters. Or even about other characters we met in this book.

Thanks, Heather and Kirsten!

More Reviews for Butterfly Unpinned

2009-07-19T19:12:00.003-04:00

Bonnie and I were pleased to read these.

5 Cups from Regina at Coffee Time Romance:

This story does a great job of showing both the worst and the best of the BDSM world, and the line is very clearly drawn by the authors. They absolutely nailed life on the reservation, what it is like, as well as, how the Navaho are. I especially enjoyed reading about how Bryan's family accepted and even wanted to help Sylvia, even going so far as to include her in ceremonies which as a Native person myself, I thought was extremely appropriate and accurate given her background. I also really loved how Bryan treated Sylvia, how their relationship developed over time, and just how they loved each other. This is one you want to add to your keeper shelves, I know I am!

Smokin' - 4 Wine Glasses from Natalie at IReadRomance:

I recommend this book to anyone who would like to see inside the minds of those that live and play in the BDSM community. The psychology behind the decisions of each character is so intricate and overall the tale definitely opened my eyes. I learned many things reading this and was very pleased with the growth that the heroine and hero portrayed to create a believable contemporary relationship. A warning that the scenes are meltingly hot and an SM one even made me wince with its graphic detail. Kudos to both authors on this joint effort.

9 our 10 Stars from BookUtopiaMom at Uniquely Pleasureable:

The balance of Butterfly's fragility and Bryan’s savior complex is a careful one, as is the dark sensuality prevalent in the first half with the deeper, heart-stopping eroticism of the second.... When the end of the year rolls around, I wouldn't be surprised to see [Bryan] on my list of favorite heroes of the year. He is the real heart of this book for me, and pushes this darkly sensual, unrestrained romance into a keeper status regardless of my other misgivings.

And from Mrs. Giggles:

Do I believe that they are in love? I believe I do, yes. This story is very readable.... This one isn't just about the erotic jollies, it's also about the characters finding themselves in the process.

The reviews for BU have been very thoughtful and balanced, more so than most I've ever received for other titles of mine. Is that because it's longer? Not sure, but I was worried over how Butterfly's treatment by Gary would be received, but people seem to understand how this works in the story.

Amber Quill Press

2009-07-07T07:09:00.004-04:00

If you'd like to learn more about this great epub, head over to Reviews by Jessewave for an in-depth interview with Trace Edward Zaber.

Trace is one of the owners, the Editorial Director and the Creative Director for AQP. I love all the publishers I'm associated with, but AQP holds a special place in my heart for how fast (and thoroughly) they respond to questions, how whole-heartedly they embraced the MM subgenre, and how well the websites (Amber Allure, Amber Heat, and Amber Quill) are put together. The three sites link to each other seamlessly, offer user-friendly navigation, and have probably the most info per book (and author) of any site out there. At AQP sites, you'll easily find the author bios, author pictures, all books by the author, info on series, excerpts, reviews, and purchase info. I wish all sites were this comprehensive.

While you're there at Reviews by Jessewave, check out the left side of her blog. Eye candy galore... Heading back over for a second look ;)

A New Review for BU

2009-06-01T18:23:00.002-04:00

Another wonderful review for Butterfly Unpinned.

Chrissy Dionne at Romance Junkies gave it 5 Red Ribbons and says:

Laura Bacchi and Bonnie Dee tell an emotion driven story with BUTTERFLY UNPINNED... BUTTERFLY UNPINNED is an intense story that does have many scenes that are graphic in nature and disturbing. However, because of those very scenes Butterfly’s strength and Bryan’s fortitude shine and prove that love can conquer all – even when the whole situation appears hopeless. I have to confess, I’m morbidly curious about the other women left in the mansion. Their plight is just as worrisome as Butterfly’s so I’ve got my fingers crossed that they’ll break free as well.

Thanks, Chrissy, for the kind words about our story. You can read the entire review here.

Claimed Excerpt

2009-05-31T10:48:00.002-04:00

Here's a long excerpt from Claimed for a sleepy Sunday morning. Enjoy!

It was a spool of what appeared to be thick white thread.

He must've seen the question in my eyes. "For binding books...and other things."

My fingers gripped the desktop tighter. "Like my legs and arms?"

"I guess we'll see, won't we?"

Patience, Bailey. Patience. I watched as he spun a huge length of it into the valley between my breasts. Satisfied with how much he'd unwound, he bit it off with his teeth and wrapped the thread around my nipples until they were trapped in tight knots. Then he threaded it under me and brought it up again to crisscross along my upper chest and shoulders before continuing on to my upper arms, under and over me again and again. After tying my wrists together, he leaned down to secure the strings to something--the legs of the desk?--before bending over me upside down for a kiss.

I felt like a fly trapped in a spider's web. String tickled my nose. He tugged the bit of thread near my left nipple. The knot tightened around me. I squirmed in my netting and watched as he took the poor bud into his mouth. It was as if all my nerve endings had converged in that one nipple. Moisture slipped from between my pussy lips--whatever he'd left on his desk would soon be ruined with my dampness.

Next came my knees. He knotted the string to one, then fastened it to my wrists and slowly did the same with my other knee, his fingers teasing my thighs, stomach, and arms on the way up. When he was done, the string held my legs up, open and apart.

"Relax, Sibeta."

He massaged my thighs to make his point. The muscles there were tight--I was afraid to relax, afraid the string would hurt if I put pressure on it. He pushed on the length of thread between my knees, testing it. Testing me. I took a deep breath and let my legs do whatever they wanted. They fell to the sides, and the string did hurt. But just a little.

"Not too tight?" he asked.

I shook my head. His hand then cradled my pussy, fingers gliding over it. Through it. Deep inside. The fingertips of his other hand ran along the flesh constricted by the thread, dazzling my nerves with the barest of touches on the undersides of my breasts, the curves of my upper arms, my knotted nipples... It was as if every part of my body, every miniscule cell, sang for his touch. He knew it, too, because when he leaned to one side to suckle one engorged nipple, he grinned up at me and pointedly rested a hand on my panting chest.

"You like this."

"Yes. I like."

Teeth and tongue assaulted my breasts while my ass writhed to get his attention. He halted my movements below the waist with a firm cupping of my mound. A quick finger swirled in my slit, then--after a hasty exit--the same finger probed my ass.

Where I expected pain I got only pleasure. His mouth sucked harder. His finger went deeper. And his thumb--his talented thumb--fondled my clit with little sweeps from top to bottom. It stopped just once...to dip into the liquid heat dripping from my core...then returned to paint me with my own juices until the slipping and sliding undid me. My heart went wild, beating like crazy, only to stop when the pad of his thumb nudged the sensitive tab he understood so well. Sometimes he'd miss the perfect spot, but a miss only made the next hit that much more amazing, and finally I broke.

I heard the soft, wet sounds of my orgasm, the greedy mouth of my cunt clutching at air to entice his other hand into it. Into me. But I couldn't believe it was me, couldn't believe that I deserved such pleasure. Unstoppable sounds burst from my throat until he covered my lips with his palm, and bliss radiated from my pussy and ass. Filled me. Thrummed out to each fingertip and toe.

It would've been perfect--absolutely perfect--had he finished me off with a thrust of eager cock, and by the end of the climax, I was weeping for it.

He kissed my eyelids. "I would if I could. I swear it."

"Please? Kennar, I'm begging you."

Butterfly Notes

2009-05-29T06:50:00.003-04:00

Butterfly Unpinned made the top ten at MBaM! Bonnie and I also received a wonderful review from Victoria at TwoLips - 5 Lips, Recommended Read, and Reviewer's Choice for June. Here's what she had to say:

Bonnie Dee and Laura Bacchi create a BDSM love story which will haunt you long after you’ve read its last poignant word.... Butterfly Unpinned is a deeply dark tale which touched the recesses of my heart. There are not enough superlatives to talk about this beautiful story or the wonderful writing team of Ms. Dee and Ms. Bacchi. Bravo, ladies. It is my sincere hope you will collaborate again in the BDSM genre.

Thank you so much, Victoria!

Well Butter My Fly

2009-05-26T20:50:00.003-04:00

Ah, release day! Butterfly Unpinned is, well, unpinned. Here's my favorite scene from the book, co-written with the wonderful Bonnie Dee. It's a scene leading up to a party, but I don't think you can buy invitations at Hallmark quite like this...

The house was always silent, but today’s quiet made the hair on his arms stand on end. His breath was short. Ragged. Just like it had been at the end of last night’s run, his cock still hard in his sweats, his balls trying to crawl up into his body. Guilt entered the picture, too. What if she didn’t really want this? What if she gave herself to him or sucked his cock and that was it—the fantasy ruined? He felt like a fucking predator as he walked through the hallways, looking around corners and pushing open doors that weren’t completely closed.

You’re acting like a goddamn stalker—just forget it. You’re not getting paid to screw. He gave up the chase and headed for the study.

He should’ve looked here first. The key in his slick hand hit the floor. He closed the door. Locked it. Christ, the way the morning sunlight streamed into the study… She was so beautiful and lay so still, her limbs splayed on the massive desk and held in place with large red ribbons.

He just stood there watching the rise and fall of her chest. She didn’t seem afraid. The bottoms of those tiny feet were nearest to him. He crossed the room slowly, looking for a reaction. Every step closer increased the tempo of her breathing, and when he reached her and touched the lightly-soiled sole of each foot, she panted as if on the edge of orgasm.

His fingers wrapped around each slim ankle. The bows weren’t anchored to anything that he could see, but she stayed in position when he gave her calves a gentle squeeze. Pale blue blood vessels spidered just beneath her creamy skin—it was that translucent. He walked to her side and let his hands trace a path to where the invitation Gary spoke of rested between her thighs. The envelope had been tied with red ribbon to the ring peeking from the fleshy hood of her clitoris.

He bent down for a better look. And to breathe in her scent. When he exhaled, a spray of goose bumps dotted the tops of her thighs, to which he held tight in order to maintain control. Another deep breath and he was ready. He released her skin. Ten almond-shaped marks in a mottled pink were left behind on her white thighs.

“Sorry,” he said, rubbing them as if that would make them disappear. The texture of her body, like warm satin, made his cock throb. He wanted her off this hard table and somewhere soft.

He looked at her face. She didn’t meet his gaze, but her eyes were open, fixed on the ceiling.

No, hon. None of this coy shit. If he fucked her, he wanted to see her reaction. He wanted her to want this, too.

“Sit up.”

“I can’t, sir. The bows…”

So they were tied down. He walked over to where her head met the edge of the desk and felt under the curved lip of the desk’s top—a small ring held the bindings in place. He pulled one end of a ribbon holding her wrist, then untied the other. In the stillness of the room, the satin rushing through the knots sounded like a roar. Her nipples thickened, and their centers grew from dusky pink to a bright red. He heard her swallow.

He pressed his lips to her ear.

“How wet will you be when I pluck that pretty invitation from between your legs?” he whispered.

When she shuddered, he suppressed one of his own. He liked this—the set-up, her submissiveness, his struggle to stay in control and do everything slow and right. He liked it a lot.

He willed himself to stand upright and go back to her feet. She must have expected him to undo those ties, too; her toes gave the slightest wave. He ran a finger over the ones on the right. A rush of air left her chest. Better yet, she sat up.

Bryan put a knee on the desk between her feet and climbed up. His hands found purchase on either side of her hips and, although he stared at her eyes, she kept hers lowered. He dipped down to try to catch them, to lock with them and study the unusual green irises. Her eyes dodged his, and they made a game of it, him moving closer and crouching lower to make the connection.

She actually grinned.

He pressed his elbows to the desk, letting the weight of his body force her back down. He moved lower to place a fleeting kiss to the space above her belly; she still wore scarves there, just a twisted bundle of them hiding her abdomen. He skipped over the mass of silk, then kissed lower still, wetting his lips each time to make her wait until his feet were firmly planted back on the floor. When he reached her cleanshaven mound, he added a lick. She shivered. His nose trailed over the bare slope of her cunt and nestled against her clit. The muscles of her pussy clenched so hard, the sensitive ridge bumped him back. He inhaled. Heaven…

“So this is for me?” He looked up.

She nodded.

“I’m not talking about the invitation.”

She nodded again. Slower this time.

He gripped the edges of the desk to hold back. To keep from unzipping. He focused on the envelope. It hid her slit well, and he kissed the thick paper, forcing it close against her concealed lips. Then, with a flick of a finger, he unveiled her secrets—the full, ruffled lips, a deeper pink than her nipples. He parted them. A trickle of juice escaped, and he gathered it on his fingertip.

He looked up again. She had propped herself on her elbows, and her eyes didn’t shift away this time, not until he tasted her. Then all he got was the soft open o of her mouth and fluttering eyelids. He climbed back on the desk to capture her lips with his. She jumped, leaving him with only her bottom lip. He sucked it into his mouth—held it there—then pushed her back to the desktop to take the upper lip, too. She resisted and he let go.

“I want to taste all of you,” he said softly.

He tilted his head to place a kiss right by her lips. She turned to him, her eyes searching his.

“What?” he asked.

“You’re supposed to fuck me, sir, not…”

“Not what?”

“Not…not love me like this.”

His erection, coated in pre-come and dying for any kind of release, burned into his skin. Seared him like a fucking brand. His fingers itched to yank open his fly and find those goddamn condoms. He wouldn’t last three strokes.

But he kept his head. “What do you want, Butterfly?”

“I’ll do whatever you wish—”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I take pleasure in pleasing you.”

He crawled back down her body until his feet hit the floor and his lips hovered over her sex. It was wetter now, but he didn’t touch it. He took a thin sliver of ribbon between his teeth and made sure she watched. Her pupils were huge, her cheeks flushed. He pulled. The bow holding the invitation came loose and dropped between her thighs. He picked up the small envelope, careful not to touch her, then tucked it into his back pocket.

After untying the bows at her ankles, he offered his hand. She took it and let him slide her to the edge. But he didn’t let her get down. Instead he walked into her still-open thighs and forced them further apart. She leaned back on her hands. The bend of her legs cleared the far edges of the desk, and her eyes met his—this time in challenge.

He fingered the hoop at her clit and gave it a playful tug. “You going to be at this little party?” he asked.

She nodded.

He could barely wait.

He stepped back to let her go. She closed her eyes. In disappointment, he hoped. After what he’d just put himself through, she’d better be feeling something. When she slid off the desk, the smear of moisture she left behind was a small victory. But when she turned around on shaky legs at the door while he got his tools…that moment, the look on her face and the obvious lust there—hell, the fact that she even turned around—this was a triumph.

Beautiful Butterfly

2009-03-27T09:56:00.001-04:00

Butterfly Unpinned, that is. Scott's cover art for the novel Bonnie Dee invited me to write with her is absolutely gorgeous.

Slavery was her refuge…now it's time to fly free.

Navajo woodworker Bryan Lapahie can’t believe his luck. He’s been hired to create sculptures for a wealthy photographer’s wildly opulent mansion. Once inside, he finds his new boss is a man of many possessions—and an appetite for BDSM so extreme it makes Bryan's own Dominant tendencies look tame.

Of the four submissives enslaved at the mansion, it is quiet Butterfly who captures his interest. Her vulnerable beauty stirs his fantasies…and awakens his protective instincts.

Butterfly wanted only two things: to feel protected, and to satisfy her craving for hardcore kink. She found both…with the wrong guy. She'd almost forgotten how to be a normal person until a man with flowing dark hair enters the mansion. Suddenly, her safe haven is looking more and more like a prison, and all she can think about is breaking free—with Bryan.

To rescue her, Bryan is more than willing to lay everything on the line. But simply walking away isn't as easy as it seems…

Warning: Extreme masochistic tortures and degradation as well as joyful BDSM acts between loving partners.

Hopefully the warning won't scare you off. For an excerpt, click here and enjoy :)

Yes, I am a loser

2009-03-26T21:41:00.007-04:00

No more whining about real life. I promise. I had a new release at the end of January, but things being what they were I didn't have time to promote it. Better late than never, right?

I was really excited to write Bailey/Sibeta's story. She's a lot like me, I think. Here's a teaser and a blurb, plus a link to an excerpt. I'll be running a contest in a few for a download of the first story in the series, Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter.

New planet. New name. Same old celibate life...

Bailey McKenzie, now known as Sibeta, left almost everything she knew to travel across the universe and meet the man who’d invaded her head in the most delicious of ways. But a hasty marriage to the guy she thought was her telepathic lover leaves her with more questions than answers—and her unwanted virginity still intact. Mix in a man who loves her husband and will do anything to keep her away, well, Sibeta might never get laid. Good thing there’s a royal librarian right down the hall who may just be the real man of her dreams...

Commanded to summon a new bride for his galaxy’s leader, Kennar Descrie could barely resist the full-figured blonde once he’d entered her mind. Now that she’s here in the flesh, resisting is no longer an option. But Kennar crossed Sibeta’s new husband once before and received a punishment no man should endure—one that makes it impossible to love Sibeta in every way. Only a visit to the demon who created Kennar’s personal hell can grant the freedom he needs to be whole again.

But deals with a devil always come with a price. When Sibeta sneaks aboard for the ride to the underworld, Kennar’s brother is there, too, and he can do what Kennar can’t. Will Kennar remain Sibeta’s one true love? And which of her Earth friends will she have to betray to free the man who has claimed her heart?

Read an excerpt>>

Genres: Science Fiction / Futuristic / BSDM / Paranormal / Psychic Phenomena / Ménage (M/F/M) / Group Sex / Contains Some Bisexual (M/M) Content / Rubenesque / Series
Heat Level: 3
Length: Extended Novella (31k words)

A New Interview

2008-07-17T18:44:00.001-04:00

Rachel Kramer Bussel interviewed me for the Spanked blog. Check it out right here.

Thanks, Rachel, for doing this!

Spanked Trailer

2008-07-17T06:48:00.006-04:00

Spanked is out now! Check out editor Rachel Kramer Bussel's Spanked Blog when you get a chance. It's got hot pics, excerpts, interviews with authors from the Spanked anthology, and a lot of talk about, well, spanking ;) Rachel also made a trailer for this release, and a snippet from my tale, "Page by Page," is featured in it :) Enjoy!

Spanked and Hard

2008-04-05T08:45:00.006-04:00

Or should that be spanked hard??

What a lame blogger. Nothing since February... I should be spanked. Speaking of spanked, my tale "Page by Page" got publisher acceptance from Cleis for Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica. It's edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel. I'm stoked. Here's the cover:

And speaking of Cleis, Hard Hats is out.

Hard Hats
Gay Erotic Stories

Edited by Neil Plakcy

What is it about a hot guy with a tool belt?

With their natural brand of macho, the sheen of honest sweat on flesh, and the enticements of hammers and pneumatic drills, men with tool belts rank among the hottest icons in gay erotic fantasy. This collection of 21 stories celebrates those hardworking, hard-bodied hunks who construct our buildings, connect our cable TVs, and fix our furnaces. Ride to the top of an unfinished high rise for a raunchy steel-beam encounter. Head to the country where a road repair crew breaks in the new guy. Hang out with a lusty landscaper or sneak into the construction site RV for a quickie. Editor Neil Plakcy, a former construction site boss himself, has tapped the best of today's erotica writers for the steamy salute to those irresistible symbols of masculinity who keep the world tuned up—and turned on.

There's a five-star review at Amazon that has this to say about my story... "Former lovers meet for the first time in years, when they're helping a friend remodel his house. Original and poignant, this meaningful story gives us hints of their past, and hope for their future."

Fat Tuesday

2008-02-07T05:39:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a good Mardi Gras and is now ready to give up something for Lent. I'm not Catholic, but I've had to give up a lot of food lately on account of my teeth. Had oral surgery last Friday and braces put on the week before that. Not the most exciting news but what is pretty cool is that between eating less and exercise I've lost 18 pounds since November. Some days (like today) the numbers on the scales increase, but my clothes still get looser and looser. I'm really happy about that. Plus I finally started writing in earnest again. It's a little weird, like trying to get to know an old friend again, but it's coming back.

I'm also getting ready to begin edits on Butterfly Unpinned, co-written by B. D. Dark -- or should I say mostly written by her? BU was her idea, and she had to wrap up the ending on her own basically while I flaked out with real life stuff for the past few months. Hopefully I'll post some tidbit from it soon.

My Loco Vida & Giveaway

2007-12-13T07:34:00.000-05:00

Sorry to be such a bad blogger. Sometimes life takes a strange turn and everything else falls to the wayside. I'll be back on track soon. In the meantime, win a free download of Lustful Thoughts right here. This antho from Samhain features two of my stories, one MM and one about a chick with a thing for twins. Lustful Thoughts is put together by Sasha White, one of today's hottest writers, and includes stories by Beth Williamson, J.J. Massa, S. Desires, and of course Sasha.

I'll post an excerpt soon, and maybe a Friday Five. Plus I have an awesome interview with Eden Bradley soon to come. By the way, Lustful Thoughts broke into the top ten at Samhain on its first week. If you don't want to participate in the contest, you can buy it here. Careful... Scott Carpenter's wonderful cover is not exactly work-safe ;)

I Clean. You win.

2007-11-19T07:12:00.000-05:00

Pssst... Check out the Erotic Muses blog today to win some of my stuff. I've been cleaning closets out and came across CDs of my stories I made for a booksigning. No offense to those living outside the US, but I'll need to ship a package so you'll have to be stateside to win.

If I don't blog before Thanksgiving, have a safe and happy one!

Monday Morning Man-Meat

2007-11-12T07:06:00.001-05:00

Looking for something to drool over? Check out my post at Erotic Muses today.

Sorry to be out of action for so long. Real life has been messin' with me, but I'm getting back on track.

Linkage du Jour

2007-10-21T11:53:00.000-04:00

It's link time again. Check these out when you have a chance.

Rhonda Leigh Jones has an article up at Suite 101 called the Pitfalls of Writing a Sex Scene: Three Traps for Erotica Writers.

Erotica Readers & Writers Association gets you in the mood for Halloween with their La Petite Mort collection of sexy, spooky tales.

While you're there, check out Shanna Germain's Sexy on the Page column for this month called Finding the Perfect Market.

Enjoy!

A Very Good Day

2007-10-14T00:50:00.000-04:00

Ah, the joys of Googling oneself. Tara at Two Lips gave Paul and Darrien 4 Lips:

Any Ordinary Day is an anything but an ordinary book! Laura Bacchi packs humor, passion and adventure into this story creating a perfect tale... The love scenes between Paul and Darrien will stun readers with the intense passion between the men. There is an incredible scene where one of Darrien’s former lovers joins the two for a passionate interlude. That one scene will fuel my secret fantasies for years to come! I highly recommend Any Ordinary Day.

Feel free to check out the whole review here. Thanks, Tara!

And I recently sent Topping Tora to Sexy Reads where Victoria had this to say:

Topping Tora is an intense read. It is intensely BDSM, intensely sexy and in places intensely violent. I am a fairly sensitive reader and found the extreme violence horrific, however if you’re a horror film and book fan it probably won’t phase you at all... An intriguing read and a sexy one, too. Definitely worth a go if you can stomach some rather extreme violent scenes.

Yep. As readers have let me know, Topping Tora isn't for the faint of heart. Victoria was the first reviewer to catch something that bothered me after it was released -- I should've done more with Jovan while Tora was away. I did offer his side of things, but could've done more.

Last but not least, I got an email today saying that my spanking tale "Page by Page" has been included in Rachel Kramer Bussel's manuscript for the Cleis anthology Spanked: Red-Cheeked Erotica. It's a conditional, based on publisher acceptance, so wish me luck on that final round :) I'm really excited about this.

Oh, I realized this morning that I forgot all about my Friday Five this week. I suppose someone should spank me for that :D

Six with Beth Wylde

2007-10-08T20:00:00.000-04:00

Beth Wylde recently opened up her warm and welcoming loop to other authors for two weeks of fun-filled theme days. I enjoyed being there, and I was glad that she agreed to an interview so that I could find out more about her.

LB: I always like to hear about first sale stories. Tell us about yours. How did you celebrate? What things surprised you as you went from signing a contract to release day?

Beth: Sending out a submission is the hardest part of being an author. The writing is easy--it's the waiting to find out if it is accepted that's hard. I opened up my email after 3 months of waiting and found an acceptance letter and a contract. I think I just stared at it for about 10 minutes before I realized what it was. I was excited, shocked and nervous all at the same time. I ran into my room and jumped into bed with my hubby, bouncing up and down and shouting about becoming a published author. He kind of looked at me like I'd gone insane. I think it frightened him. LOL It was wild.

The editing was a surprise. My editor was tough and that's great but I just didn't expect it. I know better now and I'd rather have it that way. Behind every good author is an even better editor. They do a hard and mostly thankless job.

LB: Yes, they sure do. For me, editing a blurb is sometimes the hardest part... to get it just right. I love the opening to your blurb for Switching Sides: Girl meets boy - Boy dumps girl - Girl meets girl. Share with us the inspiration for this story and tell us what other f/f tales you’re planning.

Beth: I didn't start out to write a f/f story actually. I was in a grumpy mood and the story was really frustrating me. Elizabeth's date was being an ass. I got so mad and started man-hating a bit, Kara just showed up and said, "Kick out Brad, it's my turn." The story flew together after that. There is just something very sensous about two women being together. I have a sequel in the works for Kara and Elizabeth which will delve quite a bit onto the world of BDSM.

I have a submission in now that is bi themed. It's m/f/f/m but I haven't heard back about it yet. I also have a m/f werewolf short in the works and another hot f/f tentatively titled Love on the Line. I'll post the info on them when I get the acceptance or rejection notice to my yahoo group and website, http://beth-wylde.tripod.com. (The link to the group is on my home page.)

Below is a little taste of my foursome titled The Big Four-Oh!

I kept my eyes on my ass as I wiggled it from side to side, watching it sway in a sexy way that made me grin even more. "I look pretty good at forty, even if I do say so myself."

The water in the bathroom shut off as my best friend called out. "Abigail, are you talking to yourself? You know that's a sign of senility and insanity."

I yelled back. "No it's not. Forty is not old and you're only considered crazy if you answer back."

I heard her laugh and suddenly the door swung open to reveal Candice wearing nothing but a towel and a smile. She took one look at me and whistled her approval. "Dave is going to have a stroke when he sees you." She stepped up against me until my arm brushed against her full breasts. "You look good enough to eat."

She traced her right hand down my arm, lingering at the bend on my elbow where she knew the skin was extra sensitive. The look she gave me was full of sexual hunger and I shivered as I got instantly hot and wet. I moaned out loud, I couldn't help it, and Candice giggled like a schoolgirl at my reaction. It reminded me that she had more experience in the bedroom with both women and men and I knew right away she'd been the perfect choice as our third.

LB: Sounds hot! I hope you find a home for it soon. In a review for Switching Sides, Joyfully Reviewed notes, “If you have not read any female/female stories but are willing to try one, I would highly recommend this story as a great one to start with.” Erotic romance readers have embraced M/M with open arms. Is F/F getting the same buzz--and sales--in your opinion? Do you feel lesbian erotica gets a fair shake with review sites? What F/F titles would you recommend to someone wanting to try this genre [besides yours, of course ;)]?

Beth: I think f/f is often overlooked. A lot of the publishers, especially some of the bigger ones, will accept m/m but not f/f. I'd love to see that change. I love writing it. Most review sites have been very fair about Switching Sides, though some wanted the story to be longer. I was set to a certain length for the story though because originally it was only available in an anthology.

Jolie du Pre has a new book out that she edited titled Iridescence:Sensous Shades of Lesbian Erotica. It's an anthology containing some of the hottest and most well written f/f stories that I've ever read. I also like Lara Zielinsky and Megan Rose. There are a lot of good lesbian erotic anthologies coming out now. You just have to search for them.

LB: You’re also written a hetero werewolf novella called Full Moon Madness, which you’re now hoping to expand to novel length. Can you share any hints about the parts you’re reworking? Any future paranormals in the works?

Beth: I'm focusing a lot on the intro, trying to give the story a lot more depth and emotion plus some much needed background info. I have an adult fairytale I just completed that is Werewolf themed as well. It's an adult rewrite of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. Now I just have to proofread it and find it a home. I'd love to do a vamp themed story too.

LB: You’re stuck on a deserted island with only food, water, and five books. Which five books do you hope they are and why?

Beth: Only five? I might not survive. LOL
- At least one by Laurell K. Hamilton.(Anita Blake themed preferably because she kicks ass and the guys are delicious.)
- One by Diana Gabaldon (Anything in the Outlander saga. Yay, Jamie)
- Shelley Laurenston (Any of her Magnus Pack books. Shapeshifters and hot sex, who could ask for anything more?)
- J. D. Robb (Any In Death book. The outcome is always a shock and the action is non-stop. The fact that Dallas' man is a serious hottie is another selling point. ^_^)
- Charlaine Harris (Something from the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sookie gets into all kinds of trouble and Charlaine's writing is top notch.)

LB: You are given one year anywhere in the world to go write the book you’ve always dreamed of writing. Where will you go?

Beth: The place is easy. Scotland. Somewhere remote and away from any city where I could write in peace. I love Scottish highlander stories, any man that can pull off a kilt is the bomb. I'd love to stay in an old castle too, to add to the atmosphere. It would definitely be a ghost themed book but I have no idea about a title. I'm usually more than halfway through the story when the title comes to me.

LB: Thank you so much for letting me pick your brain! You can find out more about Beth at her website, where she offers Author and Publisher Spotlights (I'm in her Author Spotlight for October--check it out if you get a chance). Plus she's got a MySpace and of course her fun Yahoo loop.
http://beth-wylde.tripod.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bethwylde/
myspace.com/bethwylde
Email: b.wylde@yahoo.com

Beth: Thank you - this has been such an enjoyable interview.

Where I'm At

2007-10-08T09:44:00.001-04:00

Well, I think I'm home. Jesus, what a tiring conference. Bruises, sore back, aching muscles... I can think of much funner ways to get those ;) Is "funner" a word? See, even my brain is fried.

Anywho, I'm guest-blogging about my deer in the headlights eye candy experience at Slash and Burn today, plus I'm on at Erotic Muses talking about settings in contemporary stories.

Last but not least, I'm in Beth Wylde's Author Spotlight for October. (Thanks, Beth!) I had the pleasure of interviewing Beth last month, so I'll be posting that soon.

But I Just Got Here

2007-10-06T06:14:00.000-04:00

Man, I love this place! I'm having a blast. Great food, friendly people, sweet tea by default, great weather (well, some rain this AM but it cleared up), a lovely view from my hotel room window... I told hubby I could definitely move here. I had a mint julep on Pittypat's Porch while kicking back in a rocking chair, and I took a cool tour of CNN.

It's been wonderful :) Too bad I leave tomorrow.

Hotlanta...and Hot Reviews!

2007-10-02T05:55:00.000-04:00

I'm in Atlanta today until Friday and hope to get a chance to sightsee a bit. Unfortunately this is a work thing, not pleasure. I also didn't realize Gaylaxicon was happening October 5 - 7 there. Otherwise I would've delayed my return trip and attended the conference. I did take out an ad in their program:

Slowly getting the hang of Illustrator. Also had some new reviews to share:

"Any Ordinary Day is a lesson on how not to end up crispy fried. The love scenes are scorching and the dialogue is hilarious. Paul soon discovers his life is anything but mundane with Darrien. Darrien discovers Paul is the perfect submissive mate, and that he wants to spend the rest of his life loving Paul. Laura Bacchi exhibits a wicked sense of humor in this story that had me rolling on the floor laughing. The characters are unique and very creative. If you enjoy well-written dragon-shifter stories and want a good laugh, Any Ordinary Day is Joyfully Recommended and not to be missed." - Joyfully Recommended by Rosemary at Joyfully Reviewed

"Ms. Bacchi has taken tales of old and recreated them in a fascinating manner that brings to life magical creatures for the reader's enjoyment... Darrien and Paul’s love is quickly forged and tested in a way that most people never have to face. This is the first of Ms. Bacchi’s that I have read and it won’t be the last. Thanks go to Ms. Bacchi for an interesting read." - 4 Angles, Teresa at Fallen Angel Reviews.

Thanks, Rosemary and Teresa!

Friday Five: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me!

2007-09-28T21:57:00.000-04:00

I love that Cure song. I love kisses. Here are my five favorite places to get them.

On the neck. Especially right on the windpipe. Almost ticklish and very nice.

On my back during a massage. A trail from nape to tail. A tongue all along the spine.

On the backs of my knees. Little licks. Maybe some teeth.

On my heels and ankles. The scrape of teeth along my arch. A hot tongue between my toes.

On my lips, of course. Both sets ;)

Hope I didn't gross you out with the feet bit. I love that kind of thing. Where do you like to be kissed?

New Reviews for Any Ordinary Day!

2007-09-27T05:27:00.000-04:00

"Well, this book might be called Any Ordinary Day but I can tell you, it’s not an ordinary read.

Laura Bacchi engaged me in her story from the very start, I’d giggled out loud twice within minutes of starting to read and I was pulled into the plot almost instantly. By stimulating all the senses she brings the characters and scenes alive, making the sex scenes hot, sweaty and very real... If you love romance, fantasy and hot gay sex then this is a must read for you!"

- Victoria Blisse, Sexy Reads

The sexual tension in Any Ordinary Day was combustible... It was exciting to read and I found myself smiling on several occasions. Ms. Bacchi had a new twist on the classic vampire story that I found intriguing... I’ve always enjoyed Ms. Bacchi’s work and look forward to doing so again.

- Suni Farrar, JERR

Thanks to you both! Any Ordinary Day is available at Loose Id.

Friday Five: Wine, Whine

2007-09-21T19:10:00.000-04:00

Is it Friday already? Sheesh.

Since my tooth aches and I've had a crappy week, how 'bout some reds that are really good?

1. Big Red Monster.

Retails around $10

It's, um, big. And red. Fun label. Well-made mid-sized wine of indeterminant varietal. We don't know what's in it. We just drink it. You should too :) It makes a nice gift, fun for the conversation and hearty in the mouth.

2. Big House Red

Retails under $10

In between a Rhone Ranger and a California field blend. A fun little red to drink with just about anything. Randall Graham (Bonny Doon Vineyard) originally made this then sold it a few months ago to The Wine Group. Randall is a freak. Check out his website. Hubby says this is what happens when you give a philosophy major too much money. The site is gorgeous but hell to navigate.

3. Plungerhead Dry Creek Zin

Retails $15 to $20

A big old Zin from one of the best places in Sonoma that grows Zinfandel. Be careful because you may have a plunger on your head after tasting it... You can't stop with one ~~bottle~~, um, glass. The makers, Don Sebastiani & Sons, have a twisted sense of humor. Check out their lovely Smoking Loon label or their $50 Cab, Used Automobile Parts.

4. PoiZin

Retails, well, it depends.

Wanna impress your guests at your upcoming Halloween party? Have this stuff on hand. The bottle comes in "glitter pink" for you girly types and the larger sizes of the special juice is in the hundreds. The cheap bottles are $25 without coffin, or $60 with one. Come on, you know you want the coffin :) Armida, the maker, calls it wine to die for. Tee hee. Get it?

5. Mollydooker's Carnival of Love

Retail $50ish, if you can find it

Aussie winemakers like to have fun with naming their wines and making cool labels. A lot of Aussie wines are great. This one is exceptional. It gets high ratings so it tends to sell out fast.

Okay, you can stop reading now. Go get your drink on. I'll be doing the same, trying to kill the misery in my mouth. Oh, I finally got my dentist on the phone. They set me up for an "emergency" appointment on October 1. WTF?? And that's just to get the freakin' referral for the oral surgeon. Grrrrrr.....

Another Not-So-Ordinary Day

2007-09-20T07:53:00.000-04:00

Robin at Romance Junkies gave Any Ordinary Day 4.5 Blue Ribbons!

"This love story between a man and a dragon warrior is an action-packed, sexy adventure. The passion generated by Paul and Darrien in their love scenes is extremely hot and explosive. The underlying tender feelings between the two men will leave you breathless. If you do not already believe in love at first sight, this book will convince you that it really does exist. I know because I fell in love with both Darrien and Paul at their very first meeting... Pick up your copy of ANY ORDINARY DAY and be prepared to burn. This sizzling story will set you on fire, so be sure to have something cold on hand to cool you off!"

She also mentioned that she'd like to hear more about Torin. I was planning to write Shaum's story next, but maybe not. I dunno. If you have an opinion about who should get their story next--Torin or Shaum?--feel free to share :)

Oh Sweet Mother of Gaaaaa.....

2007-09-19T22:00:00.000-04:00

So I have this baby tooth that my crappy childhood dentist never saw fit to remove many, many moons ago. My dad still has a baby tooth. I figured it was a hereditary thing. Mine seemed to be doing fine through the years--a little ache here and there as the dormant adult tooth above shifted about just a tad. No big.

Well, not so anymore. At the moment I feel like some evil bastard has rammed a giant frozen ice pick up into my gums and is moving it around. My entire jaw is throbbing. My temples hurt. How am I supposed to write with this going on? Every time I type the word "smile" I whimper.

Ack. Sorry to whine.

Where I'm At

2007-09-17T06:00:00.000-04:00

Oops... forgot to mention a few things.

- I'm up at Erotic Muses today where I'm talking about my muses.

- I did a little slash flash at the Slash and Burn blog the other day. 300 words with some angst.

- I mentioned some promo tips at the EREC blog. The reciprocal linking with the sex toy company seems like a bad idea though. Check out the comments for more info.

Amber Heat & Amber Allure Contests for Writers

2007-09-16T13:53:00.000-04:00

Amber Quill Press is gearing up for their next author contest. I really enjoy being an AQP author and encourage you to enter if you think your work would be a good fit:

Contest Details

After the success of our four previous Amber Heat Wave™ Contests, Amber Heat (our erotica imprint) and Amber Allure (our GLBT imprint) has decided to repeat the process again, welcoming you to send us the hottest, steamiest, most sizzling fiction you can create! Think you have what it takes to win a publishing contract with us? Then submit your short Erotic Romance story (see below for content guidelines and word count) to AQP's Amber Heat or Amber Allure imprints during the first two weeks of January 2008! Apart from this annual contest, Amber Heat and Amber Allure (and its parent company Amber Quill Press) remain closed to all "outside" manuscript submissions throughout each year, therefore, this will be your single opportunity in 2008 to show us your writing skills and possibly become a part of the Amber Quill Press family of authors. Winning entries will be published in electronic format in June 2008 to coincide with our 5th annual Amber Heat Wave™ celebration.

To enter this contest, please carefully read and adhere to the following criteria, and also note, the rules and guidelines have changed since last year...

Dates Of Entry: January 1st through January 15th 2008.

Entry Fee: None!

Author Eligibility: Both published and non-published authors may submit. (Authors already under contract with Amber Quill Press or its imprints need not enter.)

Genre: Erotic Romance—all sub-genres are eligible...Hetero (Amber Heat) or GLBT (Amber Allure), Contemporary, Paranormal, Fantasy or Dark Fantasy (ie. Vampire, Werewolf, etc.), Historical (including Western), Science Fiction/Futuristic, Suspense/Thriller, Ménage, BDSM, Interracial, etc. (Basically, any category, genre, or sub-genre you see listed on the left-hand menu is eligible.)

Sexual Content: First, please view our Heat Level Info. Stories that fall into any of our three Heat Levels are eligible, although the hotter, the better. Please note: Certainly, we want stories that sizzle with sexual tension and contain explosive love scenes, yet we also want stories with strong and engaging plotlines and characters, stories that could stand on their own even without the sexual content. In other words, a story containing one-dimension characters or a flimsy plot wrapped around an endless string of meaningless sexual encounters will not impress us. Moreover, we are not looking to publish pure erotica, or stories containing hard-core BDSM, pedophilia, incest, bestiality (with the exception of Shapeshifter/Fantasy stories), bodily functions, etc. Each story must focus around a romance, whether Straight or GLBT. Even if the manuscript includes ménage or group sex situations, the romance between the main M/F or GLBT couple must be front and center throughout the story. We are also not opposed to stories that do not include a "Happily Ever After" ending, as long as it's warranted, although the majority of the work we publish does indeed have an HEA ending. For a clearer understanding of the types of stories we publish, we suggest you sample several of our erotica titles.

Word Count: Stories should be between 11,000 and 18,000 words (our "Extended Amber Kiss" length).

Judging Criteria: Each story entered will be judged on the following...

Plotline and Overall Story
Story Pacing
Characterization
POV (Point Of View) Focus
Genre Appropriateness
Descriptives
Dialogue
Writing Mechanics (Grammar, Punctuation, Sentence Structure, Etc.)
Originality of Writing Style

Final Note: Authors may enter as many stories as they wish, as long as they are not contracted and not under consideration with any other publisher, nor have they been previously published. Authors must have all rights to each story submitted. Sorry, there are no exceptions.

Submission Procedure: Manuscripts must be saved in either DOC (MS Word Document) or RTF (Rich Text Format) and emailed as an attachment to us at HeatWaveContest@amberquill.com only between the dates specified above. All other formats will be rejected, as well as manuscripts sent outside of the two-week time period. Again, sorry, there are no exceptions. Stories must be saved in a single file, and all stories where each chapter is sent in its own file will immediately be disqualified. In the "Subject" line of your email, please type THE FULL TITLE of the attached manuscript and its appropriate SUB-GENRE (example: Historical Erotica, Fantasy Erotica, etc.). In the body of the email, please list your NAME, PEN NAME (if applicable), full SNAIL-MAIL ADDRESS, and your EMAIL ADDRESS. Additionally, if sending more than one entry for consideration, please send each in a separate email.

What Not To Do: Please do not send us the first chapter(s) of a full-length novel and claim it's a self-contained short story in order to skirt the word count requirements and get your foot in the door--lying to us is hardly a good first impression and the contest entry will be rejected immediately. Additionally, please do not send us several paragraphs and ask for a critique—we will look only at manuscripts that are complete and that fall within the word count requirements. Finally, do not send us a manuscript that has absolutely no formatting—although we are not sticklers for specific fonts, font sizes, or line spacing, we absolutely insist on basic paragraphs. Our contest judges will not read a manuscript made up of one long paragraph, therefore, unformatted manuscripts will also be promptly rejected.

Prize: Winning manuscripts will receive our standard two-year contract for our Amber Heat (Hetero Erotica) or Amber Allure (GLBT) imprints. Each manuscript will be properly edited and copyedited by our staff according to our in-house style guidelines, then published in June 2008 to coincide with our 5th annual Amber Heat Wave™ celebration.

Winners will be announced on March 1st, 2008 and listed on our websites and authors of the winning manuscripts will be notified by private email!

Should you have any questions or need clarification regarding any contest details, please email HeatWaveContest@amberquill.com.

Good luck to all!

Six with Kate Willoughby

2007-09-14T07:57:00.000-04:00

I've pushed my regularly scheduled Friday Five to the wayside to share something way cooler... an interview with the talented Kate Willoughby.

I met Kate at the Romance Divas forum and I think she's got one of the most interesting blogs around. From her Thursday Three to her artist days to unique contests, Kate's blog is a daily stop for me. I'm thrilled to pick her brain today and hope you enjoy getting to know her...

LB: Every sale is important, but tell us all about your first sale to an epub: Carnal Devotions at Liquid Silver. And don’t leave out the details--Champagne, happy dancing in PJs, ticking off the neighbors with squeals of delight--we want to hear it all!

Kate: Honestly, I don’t really remember much. I recall at least one scream. Some rapid foot stomping as I picked up the phone to call my husband and critique partners. I’m sure we went out to dinner to celebrate, most likely to Macaroni Grill.

LB: This month you’ve got not one but two back-to-back releases from Ellora’s Cave. Tell us all about them. And what’s in store after that?

Kate: Back-to-Back releases... OMG, I’m so ridiculously excited!

When I saw a call to participate in a chain story for a free erotic story site seven years ago, I wrote a chapter for it. The heroine, Erica, experienced a shocking variety of sexual adventures, all penned by different people. I really liked what I had written and after a while, I pulled it from the site with the intention of expanding it into a full length novel. However, other writing projects became more important, and the chapter languished in my hard drive until recently. With Ellora's Cave in mind, I completely overhauled the original vignette and was ecstatic when they accepted A MAN OF VISION (release date 9/23) for their Ellora’s Cavemen Seasons of Seduction, Volume III. At last, bookstores would have a book with my name on the cover on their shelves!!!

For Cristoforo, sculpting marble is his life, but the price of creation is a libido that rides him like a demon. When he discovers his sculpting days are numbered, he hires a mistress to satisfy him night and day.

Modern-day courtesan Delphine arrives at Cristoforo’s villa prepared for the rigors of being on call 24/7. What she isn’t prepared for, however, is the intensity of her body’s response to Cristoforo. When she learns what is driving him so ruthlessly, she wonders if she can protect her heart…or if it’s already too late.

[LB: Sounds great! I'm a sucker for those artist types ;)]

Kate: My other September release is ALL IN. I had written it at the behest of my editor (the wonderful Mary Altman.) She urged me to churn out a Naughty Nuptial Quickie to get my name out to EC readers. Obediently, I did, but when we examined the result, we decided that the characters and story, while good, were rushed. My Quickie was too quick! The good news was that it lent itself very well to a series. Long story, short, we doubled the length and so was born the Be-Wished series!

When three close friends made margarita-fueled wishes on magical woven bracelets, none of them ever dreamed that their sexy wishes might come true. But then a real-life fairy appears with United Wish Federation credentials and a ludicrous claim that Mariah’s wish is her command. And before Mariah can say bippity-boppity-boo, old flame Tucker arrives in town... and in Mariah’s bed.

Life on the road is a lonely one, but when Tucker bumps into Mariah again, all that changes. Sparks immediately fly and it’s all he can do to keep his hands off her. As things deepen between them, he swears he'll be damned before he passes on a second chance to reconnect with a woman he never forgot.

But wishes aren’t always simple and Happily Ever After is never guaranteed. It will be up to Mariah to go all in and make her wish last a lifetime... or lose Tucker forever.

I’m currently working on the next story in the series, tentatively titled A WOLF AT HER DOOR. It's my first time writing a shapeshifter story and I'm having a blast.

LB: ALL IN is out today, so go get it, folks! Kate probably needs a break from writing, but my next question puts her right back to work... You’re given a one-year sabbatical to the perfect writing location--and a personal assistant to proofread and help with your research (no, not that kind of research! LOL). There’s only one rule: You aren’t allowed to write a romance. What will you write?

Kate: Oh, that is such an intriguing question. I’ve always liked ancient Egypt, but I don’t do well with heat. I’m tempted to go to England, because I adore Regencies, but Harry Potter is still saturating society. So, I think I’d get myself a ticket to Rome. I’d rent an apartment with a bedroom for my bilingual assistant, that way I could learn Italian (another thing I’ve always wanted to do) while writing a children’s novel. It would probably have some type of paranormal aspect to it, maybe time travel!

LB: Great answer :) I love how you offer so many cool extras to your readers… A contest that gives away your handmade wishing bracelets. "Artist" days on your blog. A "Behind the Scenes" page of your site that offers deleted scenes, websites used to research a story, and more. Tell us about your future plans for readers. Any other contests on the horizon?

Kate: Oh, yes! I’m always coming up with more goodies for my readers, material and otherwise. What I try to do is put myself in the reader’s shoes and try to do things that would appeal to Kate Willoughby The Reader. For instance, I love being able to write an author a fan letter and have them respond! (Nancy Warren and Eloisa James come to mind.) So, I always reply to readers. I’m also the type of fan-nerd who geeks out over the back flap info--where the author lives and how many dogs they have, etc. So my website bio page is jam-packed with personal info and I blog five times a week.

I also love love love epilogues. Sometimes I just wish a story didn’t have to end and epilogues keep it going for just a little while longer. Because of that, I recently started an Epilogue Blog for one of my novels. I had this idea that it would be fun if my characters started blogging! That way, readers could keep up with the continuing lives of their favorite couples. Finding It is written by Ben and Charlotte, the main characters in LOSING IT, my bestseller from Liquid Silver Books. I plan to start blogs for other characters as well.

Finally, as far as contests are concerned, in ALL IN, Mariah admires a millefiori pendant in an Italian themed store at the Las Vegas Venetian Hotel. I'll be giving away a beautiful necklace like the one she coveted -- here's a picture. The contest runs through 9/18. Visit this link for details.

LB: It's gorgeous! Just like your website... On the bio page, you mention that your Chinese-American heritage. Any plans to write a character with this same background?

Kate: I’m really such a banana – yellow on the outside and white on the inside. Seriously, when I’m in Chinatown, I feel utterly out of place. My family has been here in America for five generations. But, who knows? Someday maybe I’ll conjure up a mixed-race character.

LB: Who are your favorite authors, romance and otherwise?

Kate: My favorite authors are many! Romance: Mary Balogh, Linda Berdoll, Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, Suzanne Brockmann, Jane Austen, Laura Kinsale, Nancy Warren, Robin L. Rotham, Rachel Gibson, Dara Joy, Maggie Osborne, La Nora. Science Fiction/Fantasy: Orson Scott Card, Jacqueline Carey, Stephen King, Piers Anthony, Terry Brooks. Thriller/Suspense/Mystery: Perri O’Shaughnessy, John Grisham, David Baldacci, Michael Crichton. Historical: Philippa Gregory, Sarah Dunant. Children’s: Louis Sachar, Barbara Park, William Joyce, Robin McKinley, Arnold Lobel.

LB: And I'm sure you're on a lot of favorite authors lists as well :) Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions, and I wish you tons of sales on your new releases!

An Amazing Day

2007-09-13T19:34:00.000-04:00

After yet another crappy day at work, I came home to a package. A book-shaped package.

It was from Eden Bradley. I ripped it open. Inside was a copy of her next release, The Dark Garden, due out September 25th from Bantam.

I'd planned to buy it, of course, but this was a nice surprise. Then I opened it. Read what she'd signed. Then I read the acknowledgements. I saw my name.

Thank you, Eden. You turned a not-so-hot day into one I'll never forget. I'm truly touched. :)

Any Ordinary Day is a Top Pick!

2007-09-12T19:19:00.000-04:00

Here's what Danni from Night Owl Romance had to say about Any Ordinary Day:

A Night Owl Romance Top Pick - "Any Ordinary Day is an extraordinary read. This captivating story is full of strong, sensual sexy characters. Ms Bacchi is an excellent storyteller and weaves the details of this intricate plot with finesse and grace. This well-written, richly developed story is unlike any I’ve read before."

Click here to read the full review by Danni at Night Owl.

And here's another:

"Any Ordinary Day is definitely far from ordinary. This book has everything a paranormal lover could ask for, shapeshifting dragons, great battle scenes, and hot men. The men in this story are hot, sensual creatures with enough depth to make this an excellent read... Laura Bacchi has created a well crafted world of dragons that was truly captivating. Her writing style was truly unique and made for a different way of reading about dragons. I would definitely read more from this very talented author."

Click here to read the full review by Kimberley at Ecataromance Sensual.

Thanks, Danni and Kimberley, for making my day! Here's another taste of Paul and Darrien:

When seeking a mate, avoid the Jorgenis. They are a brutal lot with no respect for Palian laws. Avoid humans as well -- few can understand our ways or want to live below ground. But if you cannot resist, please follow the proper procedures listed below...
-- from “A Guide to Mating” in The Book of Palia

“You’re late.”

“Sorry, Torin. I lost track of time.” What the hell had I been thinking, going back to Paul’s like that? The minutes seemed to fly by when I was with him -- a good sign -- but I’d forgotten all about meeting my ex to take down the greens. If it hadn’t been for the clock by Paul’s bed, I would never have left him.

It stunk like shit here in the bowels of a tunnel Torin had discovered last night. He and I walked together, but we didn’t keep talking. Not because the Jorgenis might hear us, but because I was too obsessed with Paul, his tattoo, and the sinking feeling that I’d hurt him tonight with my strange reaction to his scar. The first oath of Palian mate-taking was a promise to look out for each other’s feelings, to be considerate and loving. I could blame my reaction on being stunned, but frankly that was the easy way out.

I’d hurt him, and for this I would have to apologize.

Torin broke the silence. “What’s up? You sense something?”

“No.”

Torin wouldn’t be jealous if I told him -- we were way past that -- so I blurted it out.

“I met someone today.”

“Me, too. Actually, I met a few ‘someones’ today.” His low laugh filled the dank space around us. “There’s a bar over on --”

“I don’t mean in a casual way, Torin.”

The crunch of his boots on the debris below stopped echoing through the tunnel. “You found a mate? A Top Lander?”

I nodded.

“Shit, Darrien.” He turned me to face him. “Are you sure about this? Think of the risks. You’d be taking him away from everything he knows. That is, if you can turn him.”

“I can turn him.” If he wants to be turned. I’d been memorizing the steps outlined in The Book of Palia and one thing was for sure -- I had a lot of explaining to do the next time I saw Paul.

Torin released my shoulders, a good thing because I suddenly sensed we weren’t alone in the tunnel.

“You feel ’em too?” he whispered.

“Yep.” And smell them. Jorgenis were stinky little fuckers.

“I count three,” he said. “About forty gher measures up ahead.”

I nodded and began to strip. Torin did the same. This time my heart didn’t pound when I saw his nakedness. And the upcoming battle had nothing to do with my frantic heartbeat either.

It had everything to do with Paul.

I said a quick prayer to the forefather gods and dug around in my jacket pocket for my amulet. It wasn’t there.

“Shit. It must’ve fallen out… ” I’d be okay without the amulet’s protection but I was used to it. I took comfort in wearing it around my neck while I fought, in seeing it change colors as the medallion made contact with my skin.

Torin leaned in close, his words barely audible. “What’s wrong?”

“My coin keeper is missing. I took off my jacket at the Top Lander’s place and --”

“Ah, so you’ve sampled him!” He laughed softly. “How was he?”

I ignored him and found the plastic bag nestled deeper in my pocket. We stuffed our clothes inside the bag, then did what we do best -- became dragons. The shifting was fast, probably due to the fear and battle-lust pumping through our bodies, but I held back for a moment and studied my changing form in the darkness. How much of the real me could Paul handle? Right now, I was half man, half dragon and it would be the most humanlike I could be while I turned him. Would he be frightened? Would he hate me? The fact that he’d decorated his body with one of my kind meant he could deal with what I truly was… Right?

“Come on, man.” Torin nudged me in the ribs. “What are you waiting for?”

I pushed myself into final form, and we trudged onward, the talons of my feet puncturing plastic bottles and who knew what else down below. Dragon skin was supposed to be impenetrable, and I prayed this was true given all the syringes littering the path. Our wings stayed furled -- flying would keep our feet clean but make too much noise. We’d save the airborne acrobatics for the fight up ahead.

The foul odor of the Jorgenis overpowered me -- they were near. Torin grabbed my arm as three pairs of glittery green eyes flickered open in the darkness. We all began to breathe, fast and heavy, stoking up our lungs to burn each other whenever possible during battle. When the heat inside me warmed my throat, I stepped forward.

“On behalf of the elders of Palia, I offer you this one chance to come back peacefully.”

“Fuck the elders,” one of them hissed.

“I’ll take it that’s a no.”

A line of flame went straight for my head. I ducked. Young dragons these days had no sense of humor.

They lunged for us, and Torin and I gave as good as we got. Soon the passageway was thick with gray smoke and the unmistakable smell of burning scales and whiskers. Even numbering three, the Jorgenis were no match for two older dragons. We brawled for what seemed like hours amid the ruins of the old tunnel, scorching walls and each other.

It wasn’t until near the end that I realized their advantage over us: they wanted this. We were just doing our jobs, but they wanted to be on their own, and their craving for human flesh was apparently out of control. I could smell the half-dozen fresh carcasses dotting the ground as we fought.

A green lashed out with his tail, catching Torin off-guard and slamming him into the wall. I heard the crack of bones and the soft moan that signaled the start of our retreat. Pulling in every bit of air I could, I shot it all back out and shook my head back and forth, spraying the greens with the best defense I had -- a wall of flame. They scrambled back. Lost their footing. I advanced with careful steps in case more waited in the darkness beyond.

Torin roused and joined me, but his breathing was labored. His tail, however, still worked fine. He gave them his ass, then an ass-whipping they wouldn’t forget in the few brief moments of life they had left. When we got close enough, I grabbed one around the neck. The snap of bone and the ping of scales flying into the walls reverberated through the tunnel. I dropped the lifeless green and ran for the next one, and the next.

Then Torin hugged me from behind as best he could considering the spiked tail there. “Three more down,” he panted.

I wasn’t a particularly religious being, but I said a silent burial prayer for the trio.

“Why do they risk it all?” Torin asked. “Jorgenis only have one life. It’s just not worth it.”

I clasped him on the shoulder. “I have no clue.” I scanned the dead humans around us. “Maybe these Top Landers are tasty critters.”

A naughty gleam shone in Torin’s eyes. “Well, I ate one today, and I must say he was delicious.”

* * *

I think Torin needs his own story. What do you think? :)

Contest at Erotic Muses!

2007-09-11T19:07:00.000-04:00

Today's the first day of the launch contest at Erotic Muses.

Yeah, we're gonna make you work for it, but hey it's five downloads from four great authors and, well, me :)

Go check it out or I'll send Sven to your house. Oh wait. You might like Sven. Hmmmmm. Here's a picture of him. What do you think? Maybe I should just keep him here with me instead...

There's a new blog in town...

2007-09-10T09:01:00.000-04:00

It's called Erotic Muses and I'll be there along with Bonnie Dee, Jayelle Drewry, Dee Knight and Veronica Wilde. Stop by the blog today, September 10th, for introductions. Then come back by on Tuesday the 11th for details on our launch contest. The grand prize winner will receive a download from each of us and will be announced on Friday, September 21st.

We plan to share excerpts, talk about the writing process, and more. I hope to do some interviews there as well as here. Drop by and say hello!

Linkage du Jour

2007-09-09T07:02:00.000-04:00

Tawny Taylor is starting a series of posts called the Seven Habits of Highly Effective (aka published) Authors. Here's her first post. Tawny's definitely got it going on, so I'll be sure to read these. Lord knows I'm about as effective as a broken shoelace some days.

Amie M. Evans discusses whether giving work away for free is "a good, bad, or ugly idea and why" in her latest column at Erotica Readers & Writers Association (ERWA). Freebies can be an effective way to promote, so this article is definitely worth a read.

Shanna Germain is up at ERWA too, and this month she talks about Taming Your Triangle. Nope, she's not talking about personal grooming habits... she's offering tips for revising your erotic stories. Great advice, as usual.

J.M. Snyder started a new review site exclusively for GLBT work of all genres. It's called Rainbow Reviews. If you write or read GLBT, you may want to check it out.

Stumble onto any cool, informative links? Feel free to share.

The Five Best Nights

2007-09-08T06:28:00.000-04:00

Man, I could've done this for a Friday Five... Lisa Andel tagged my booty for this blog meme so into that dark night we shall go with this 5 Best Nights meme:

List the 5 best nights that you can recall and then tag four other people and see if the meme can continue.

1. Some Halloween night in the '80s. This was the last time I trick-or-treated, whereupon a young man (BJC) lured me to his backyard and told me to be careful or he just might kiss me. I was twelve and I can't remember how I even got in his backyard. I do remember that I was dressed in an old evening gown of my mom's, which had an empire waist and, being addicted to Barbara Cartland novels at the time, I found it all very thrilling and romantic. I felt that little flutter or spark or whatever you want to call it--and it hit me hard. I think my cheeks (and other places) stayed warm for a whole week...until he finally did kiss me. Me and BJC got into lots of trouble after that.

2. The drunken threesome that wasn't. Me and some friends from VA Tech hiked up to Dragon's Tooth and drank like fish. We sang for hours and wondered who'd end up sleeping with whom. Good wholesome fun, that. I spent the night in a tent with two guys, both good friends, and in the end did not a damn thing. If I could go back in time, I swear I'd revisit that whole scenario and make a couple of changes ;) Anywho, that was the best college night ever.

3. My honeymoon, of course. We were beat as all get out, but I'd never had room service before. Slow, romantic lovin' until we fell asleep in each other's arms. I think I finally felt like an adult that night--a real hotel with valet service, free continental breakfast the next morning...a ring of gold around my finger, a new apartment to live in afterwards.

4. The night we decided to try for a baby. It was a little strange to do the deed knowing the purpose wasn't solely for pleasure. I remember thinking, "What I do tonight could affect me--us--for the rest of our lives." It's a terrifying thing, but in a small, subversive way it was an act of defiance in a world so frought with chaos. To choose to bring a life into this world, to say upfront I was going to be responsible for it, is tough for us pessimist types to do. I consider it my bravest moment.

5. Until I actually went into labor. Oh boy (or rather, oh girl), was that one long, agonizing night. I thought this had to be some kind of cruel joke--the Lamaze teacher said natural childbirth could be done, right? Had she been high on something? Anyway, the next day the kiddo came out--and she was amazing. And mine. Truly a magical night filled with worries and excitement and lots of love from my husband.

Okay, now to tag someone else's booty. Are you reading this? Consider yourself tagged :) Feel free to share your link so we can see yours.

Friday Five: GLBT Issues

2007-09-07T00:01:00.000-04:00

Writing about yummy man-love is fun stuff, but I don't just write about this because the idea of two or more guys is a turn-on for me. Like many other authors of GLBT erotic romance and that of the non-erotic kind, I believe same sex relationships should be celebrated and that certain issues should be eased into the story. So today's FF is all about organizations that try to promote understanding about GLBT individuals and issues.

1. HRC: The Human Rights Campaign. The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. In the opening scene of Any Ordinary Day, Paul mentions a ragged bumper sticker on his car, and hopefully most readers linked the description to HRC. Here in the Washington DC area, I see their logo often on cars and backpacks. From ending workplace discrimination to concerns about coming out, HRC is a great resource for GLBT individuals and the people who care about them. For an international perspective, check out the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC).

2. PFLAG: Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays. PFLAG's mission is to promote the health and well-being of GLBT persons, their families and friends by offering a network of support, education and advocacy for equal civil rights. God knows it's tough enough being a kid these days, but being gay on top of all that makes things even tougher. If you know someone who needs support in this area, PFLAG offers a Safe School resource section on its site. Out Proud is another organization doing its best to inform the public and support GLBT youth.

3. Keepers of the past. According to its website, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Transgender Historical Society (GLBTHS) collects, preserves, and interprets the history of GLBT people and the communities that support them. The National Archive of Lesbian, Gay Bisexual & Transgender History is another resource in the U.S. They both feature online exhibits.

4. Butts out! Did you know that the GLBT community has the highest smoking rate of any minority group? This is according to the New York Times in 1999... let's hope that statistic has gone done since then. When I worked in a substance abuse library, one of my tasks was to find and archive articles about marketing tobacco products to different groups, and I was surprised to see exactly how tobacco companies targeted their ads to attract a particular audience. Hopefully groups like the Gay American Smoke Out [someone had fun doing their posters ;)] and Bitch to Quit are lowering the GLBT smoking rate.

Speaking of substance abuse, meth continues to be a big problem among certain populations of gay men. I'm currently grappling with how much of this to include in my WIP du jour.

5. When love hurts. According to the Gay Men's Domestic Violence Project, one in four gay men experience domestic violence. The rate of abuse among lesbian couples rivals that of hetero couples. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs is trying to address any kind of violence committed against and within the GLBT and HIV-affected communities. Back in college, my roommate got an internship at a battered women's shelter. After her first day, she returned stunned--she had no idea that so many of the victims there were hurt by other women.

I hope this didn't come off as too preachy or depressing, but I do think about some of these things when writing. And I often find it difficult to know how much reality to slip into a story, but it's good to know there are a lot of resources on the web for when I need to do this research and, more importantly, for the people who need them.

Poem: In the City of Men

2007-09-04T20:28:00.000-04:00

Mama warned me about men like him
when I began dating
and again when I started at the plant.
But I could handle myself.
I strutted to my locker at the end of the shift,
rolling hips smooth as pistons,
and ignored the whistles and yells
that followed even the ugliest woman
in this city of men.

That Wednesday, his gaze locked on me
from three lines away.
I knew he was trouble.
His thick arms,
slick with humid Carolina air,
moved like the machines we made.
I thought of his hips pumping inside mine
with that same rhythm.
The foreman docked my pay for
backing up the line.

On Friday, he had me like a cheap whore
in the back of his midnight blue Torino.
No movie. No dinner.
But his body slid along mine
the way the serpent did to Eve
and I screamed into the July night
with a rapture that shook me to the bone.

When he moved on down the line
to the next new tender girl,
I had my work to keep me sane.
The whistles and yells started back up
and I took my pick,
as any woman would
in this city of men.

Six with Rob Graham

2007-09-01T15:13:00.001-04:00

A male erotic romance writer is a rare thing indeed. Sure, there are plenty of authors who write under a male or ambiguous name, particularly for the M/M market, but women truly dominate the field.

So today I'm picking the brain of a guy (or "Diva Dude" as he's referred to at the Romance Diva forum) who breaks the mold. Let's find out all about him...

LB: There's nothing like a first sale story. Tell us all about yours. Do male writers scream and happy dance like we ladies do—or do you pump a fist in the air and make grunting noises?

Rob: The first sale I made was Discovery, to Phaze as part of their Fetish HeatSheet line. Didn’t scream. I did happy dance and pump my fist in the air. No grunting though, I chanted “Yes!” over and over. I’m a ridiculously articulate person, even when excited. ;)

LB: Your D/s tale, The Gift, was also published by Phaze. Why does writing about this lifestyle appeal to you? What kind of research did you do for this story?

Rob: There are two things that interest me about this lifestyle. First, I’ve always been fascinated with power, and power is an important part of D/s. The other, with The Gift at least, was me exploring the submissive mindset, something I didn’t understand at the time.

Research consisted of reading stories in the genre, determining what worked in the ones I liked and didn’t work in the ones I disliked. I also spoke a fair bit with people involved in the life. The closest I came to ‘proper research’ was reading a book by Erich Fromme, Escape From Freedom. I learned from that book that along with loss of freedom comes a loss of responsibility. That’s where the submissive mindset clicked for me. The sub doesn’t have any responsibilities but to enjoy what’s being done to them. That was a major breakthrough for me and really helped with creating my characters for The Gift.

LB: That's the cool thing about research--that "aha!" moment that supports your story and makes you love the writing of it all the more. Unfortunately, not all authors like plotting as much as research :) Are you a plotter or a pantser... or a little of both? Share with us the process you go through when you take a story from an idea to the finished work.

Rob: I’m mostly a panster with a little plotter thrown in. The clearest process I can recall was for a story I wrote called The Orange Slip. I was working as a janitor at a place here in Toronto at a place called The Distillery District. This is a cultural centre, a rather popular one. I went into one of the galleries there and I saw this painting.

Light (Housewife series) by J.T.Winik

I started wondering, “Who is this woman? Who is she smiling at? Why? What brought them to this point?” Answering those questions, and answering the questions that the answers raised eventually became the story. My creative process is sort of a Socratic dialogue with myself.

LB: That's a lovely painting--it would inspire me as well. Tell us about the details on your latest release, The Gift and any works in progress.

Rob: The Gift is the story of Charlene Raleigh. She’s a driven lawyer who has put aside pretty much everything in her drive to the top of her profession. She’s almost anhedonic, that is someone unable to enjoy pleasure. She meets a man by the name of Tom Jackson.

Tom sees something in her. Over the space of several weeks and several outings he draws this from her. He makes Charlene experience joy once again.

When she is ready, Tom takes her into his playroom and gives Charlene a gift. The gift of herself.

I’m very pleased with this one. When it was posted at Literotica I received nearly eighty pieces of feedback on it. Most of them quite complimentary.

My next release is an anthology of romances entitled Gillian’s Place. It will be available soon from Aspen Mountain Press.

This is what it’s about.

A lot of people pass through a bar. As they do, they leave small pieces of their lives behind in the form of stories.

Come and listen to the bartender at Gillian’s Place as he tells the stories of the patrons he’s seen over the years.

Here’s a short taste of it. This excerpt is taken from the story The Orange Slip, mentioned above.

Marian was standing in the entrance to the hall. She was dressed only in the orange slip from that day over two years before. Her hands were holding the hem as if to lift it and reveal herself to him. A small, wicked smile played on her lips.

“Good God,” Frank managed to choke out.

“I see you remember that day,” Marian noted, her smile growing a little.

“It’s never far from my mind.”

“I’ve remembered that time every day since. I saw you looking at me with that lust burning in your eyes. Ralph had never done it. It felt so good to be wanted so badly. If I wasn’t such an honest woman I would have had you take me right then.”

“For a second, I wanted to take you right there. But I couldn’t. You were my friend, and married. Troubled or not, I couldn’t let you risk that.”

Marian nodded. “That was my thought too. But it was so hard. That’s why I didn’t visit for a while. I didn’t think I would be strong enough to say no. If I hadn’t missed your friendship so much, I would never have come over again."

“But I did miss you. When I finally went back to your house for coffee, it was because I wanted my friend back. And I was prepared at that point to be your lover as well if that’s what it took. I was so relieved when you didn’t, and a little disappointed too. I saw you wanted me. I liked being wanted again.”

Frank felt himself relax, and his manhood harden. Marian’s honesty was allowing him to slip the tight bonds he had put on his feelings for so long.

“Marian, I did want you. But if I had followed my wants, we both would have regretted it. Neither of us thought adultery was a good thing. Sooner or later, our guilt over doing it would have destroyed our friendship. I would rather have had a friend forever than a lover for a year.”

Marian moved on bare feet towards him. “We don’t need to worry about that anymore.”

“But it will still change things.”

“I don’t care!” she replied with vehemence. “I want you, Frank. I want you now! We’ll survive this night. Changed or not, we’ll have each other, as we have all these years. As we always will.”

She sat on his lap, straddling his hips. For a second he could see the dark triangle between her legs. Reaching for his fly, she unzipped it, then pulled his stiff manhood from his briefs into the open. “I want a man who wants me,” Marian panted. “I want the man who wants me. It’s been too long and I won’t wait anymore.”

And at that, she placed him at her entrance and pushed herself down his full length.

LB: Great excerpt! Reading excerpts always makes me wonder about the dreaded editing process. So about editing your work before submission... love it or hate it? Any tips for fellow writers on revision?

I enjoy the revision process. It lets me both read and write at the same time.

As far as advice to my fellow writers goes, when revising, be cold. If a sentence, paragraph or chapter adds nothing to the story, delete it or redo it. If you get too attached to it and can’t make the necessary changes, your work won’t be as good as it could be.

LB: Very true. Speaking of fellow writers, what authors inspire you? What genres besides erotic romance do you enjoy as a reader?

Rob: For writing style I love Harlan Ellison. His stories ‘Repent, Harelquin!’ Said The Ticktockman and I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream are two of the finest short stories in the English language. If I ever write half as well as he does, I’ll be very happy with myself.

My favourite fiction genre is fantasy and speculative fiction. Fantasy is just fun while speculative fiction deals with a lot of philosophical ideas that I love thinking about.

My favourite non-fiction genres are history and political science. They’re all about humanity and I’m fascinated by my species and the trouble it gets itself into.

LB: Thank you so much, Rob, for taking the time to share a little about yourself. I enjoyed learning more about you and your work. And good luck with your next release! For more about Rob, visit his website, www.romantic-heretic.com.

Friday Five: Martini, Anyone?

2007-08-31T06:42:00.000-04:00

It's been a helluva week. Back to work after a not-so-relaxing vacation, working through lunch, staying late at work, drama at work... I need a drink. Maybe even five. And maybe I'll throw a little sex in at the end.

1. If you haven't tried Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur (750 ml Bottle/$22.99), go out and get some tonight. You can drink it straight, or use it for all sorts of exotic martinis.

THE CHAITINI
- 3 oz Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur
- Splash of Vanilla Vodka
- 1 oz Coffee Liqueur

Combine ingredients over ice in a shaker and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a few coffee beans.

2. Here's another with Voyant:

HAZELNUT CHAI HEAVEN

- 2 oz Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur
- 1/2 oz White Crème De Cacao
- 1 oz Frangelica Hazelnut Liqueur
- 1/2 oz Orgeat (Almond) Syrup
- 1/2 oz Aged Rum

Dip martini glass in chocolate syrup then into saucer with crushed nuts (preferably hazelnuts). Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake well and strain into rimmed martini glass. Garnish with a little whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles.

3. Here's a fun one from Martiniart.com, which bills itself as "your one-stop source for everything martini". The recipe below is mucho appropriate for me this week.

CRAZY IN DA COCONUT MARTINI

This martini concoction has a bit of a tropical island flair. If you can't seem to get away for a nice vacation, perhaps this martini will be a worthy substitute.

- 6 ounces of freezing Van Hoo vodka.
- 1 fresh Mexican vanilla bean. If you can't find the Mexican variety, you can use a Madagascar vanilla bean, which is most common.
- 1 tablespoon of cream of coconut.
- 1 teaspoon of fresh coconut flakes.

Add a few drops of the cream of coconut to 2 freezing martini glasses, and put them back in the freezer until called upon. Carefully slice the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the insides into a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice. Drop the vanilla bean into the shaker. The remaining cream of coconut goes into the shaker. A good full minute of shaking (stirring is not an option here). Strain your martini into the glasses in which you've added the cream of coconut. Top each glass with a few coconut flakes. Spin a good Latin rhythm and enjoy!

4. Since I love Voyant and autumn is around the corner, here's another from their website.

VOYANT PUMPKIN CHAI MARTINI

- 3 oz Voyant Chai Cream Liqueur
- A dash or two of Ground Cinnamon
- 1 oz Vanilla Vodka
- Add some Pumpkin Puree if desired

Dip martini glass in chocolate syrup then into orange sugar crystals and then chocolate sprinkles. Combine ingredients (including the ground cinnamon) with ice in a shaker. Shake Well and strain into the rimmed martini glass. Garnish with some ground cinnamon and a cinnamon stick.

5. And of course there's the recipe for a classic martini, which varies ever so slightly according to the sources I consulted when writing the short story "Martini Girl" for an erotica antho called Screaming Orgasms and Sex on the Beach. This book includes about twenty cocktail-related stories (recipes included!). According to editor Shanna Germain, "From the down-and-dirty Flying Fuck, Blow Job and Martini Girl to the sweet Rain Man and Beau Nouveau, these stories will arouse not just your body, but your taste buds." Look for it later this year in print from Pretty Things Press. Until then here's the recipe and a taste:

CLASSIC MARTINI

- 2 jiggers dry gin
- 1/2 jigger dry vermouth
- Olive

Put ingredients over ice in cocktail shake. Shake vigorously and pour into a well chilled cocktail glass

Martini Girl

A girl walks into a bar and the girl is me, and I really need a drink because it’s been a helluva day. Martini Joe’s is crowded tonight but I’m a regular so I wave the bartender my way and ask, “Can you make me a martini? A classic—none of that fruity crap.”

He cups his ear, but before I can shout out my order again, the hot guy beside me butts in. “I can make you a martini,” he says, “if you can take off your clothes.”

“Whoa, buddy. I just got here.” And although I’m desperate for a drink and hoping to get laid tonight, I hadn’t planned to move quite so fast.

He grins. “Believe it or not, I wasn’t talking about sex.” He extends his hand. “My name’s Jake. Jake Rice.”

Jake Rice. Jake Rice... I’d heard the name before, but can’t place it. He clues me in as my palm presses into his. “You may have heard my name. I’m a photographer.”

Ah. I’d heard his name all right. At the ad agency where I work, he’d been brought on to do design work on a national campaign for a new winemaker. The photos he came up with were the kind of naughty, freaky shit we could only place in magazines for men. We talked about that project for months after it was done...

“I’m Olivia Juarez.” His hand is warm and strong. He’d be a good screw. I don’t want to let go. “And I’ve seen your work.” He grins wider, so I add, “There’s no way in hell I’ll get naked for your photos.”

“Then can I paint you?”

I look away. The images he’d come up with flashed into my head. Naked women with perfect pink pussies. Dark drips of Cab or Merlot splashed onto pert pale asses. And grapes, of course. Grapes capping off nipples and clits. Whole clusters hanging from labia rings or draped over cocks being sucked by luscious red female lips...

When I’d described the pictures to my friends, they didn’t see the appeal. Then the ads hit the stands and I showed them. They all agreed: this was hot kinky stuff, the stuff of fantasies. The stuff of my fantasies. I still have the mags in my panty drawer—right next to my vibrator—to prove it.

“Buy me that drink, and we’ll talk.”

* * *

Cheers and enjoy your weekend!

2007-08-30T19:23:00.000-04:00

Check out this tat!

2007-08-29T19:16:00.000-04:00

Isn't this cool? Julie kindly allowed me to post her tattoo here. I really like it!

Thanks, Julie!

Oh, and here's another shot of Nunez from Miami Ink. I figured you all wouldn't mind another pic of this hottie. (Sorry, Rhet - maybe I should find a hot chick pic for you?)

A Cat and a Tat

2007-08-26T21:37:00.001-04:00

Here's a picture of my Birman, Andre. Ain't he pretty? Congratulations to Danette who won the Loose-Id tat contest! I've been poking around the web and think a butterfly will be at the top of my list should I ever go through with it.

And the best man for the job (okay, maybe just the hottest man for the job) is a cutie named Nunez from Miami Ink.

The only problem is that I'd probably be squirming too much under his talented hands for him to ink me ;)

As for a design, I like this butterfly. Maybe have more red and incorporate my child's name in the wings. Like Paul in Any Ordinary Day, I have a scar and would like to camouflage it by letting it be one of the eyespots on the wings.

Have a good week, everyone!

Tagged by Sasha :)

2007-08-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

The talented Sasha White tagged me for a fun "four" meme. Here goes:

Four jobs I've had or currently have in my life:

1. Prison librarian
2. Marketing Director
3. Writer
4. A really, really lousy waitress for one summer during college

Four countries I've been to:

1. Canada
2. China
3. The Netherlands
4. Singapore (okay, these last two were layovers)

Four places I'd rather be right now:

1. Scotland
2. San Francisco
3. NYC
4. Napa Valley, where hubby is taking a wine tour for his work. Lucky duck.

Four foods I like to eat:

1. Chocolate
2. Fetticine Alfredo
3. Lobster
4. Pears

Four personal heroes, past or present:

1. My mom
2. My dad
3. My sister
4. Too many throughout history to name

Four books you've read or are currently reading:

1. Sex with the Queen by Eleanor Herman
2. Lush by Sasha White
3. The Trouble with Allie by Lisa Andel
4. The Dark Garden by Eden Bradley

Four words or phrases you would like to see used more often:

1. Yes, dear. Right away.
2. Please
3. Thank You
4. Congratulations, Laura Bacchi! You've just won five million dollars from...

Four reasons for ending a friendship:

1. S/he lies to me
2. S/he uses me
3. S/he talks behind my back
4. S/he doesn't treat other people with respect

Four smells that make you feel good about the world:

1. Sweets baking in the oven
2. The way my kid smells after playing outside
3. The woods out back after a rain
4. Murphy Oil Soap

My question: Four favorite activities you did as a kid:

1. Making up stories
2. Drawing
3. Riding my bike
4. Fishing with Dad

That was fun. Time to tag someone else... How about Bridget Midway, Babe King, and Kristen?

Friday Five: Laura's Dream Tattoos (and a contest)

2007-08-23T17:16:00.000-04:00

And I do mean dream, because I'm a wus. Needles freak me out, but today's Friday Five is all about tats, and if you've read Any Ordinary Day, you know that Paul has an unusual one. Here are the five I'd get if I had the cojones. (Sorry - no pics. I couldn't find ones I liked on the Net and I didn't want to break out the Sharpies and the digital camera.)

1. I'm really into butterflies. I think one on the shoulder or lower back would be nice.

2. Always have liked the black Celtic armband thing. Of course, this look won't quite be the same on my flabby, pushing-40 arms, now will it?

3. A henna-look bracelet. Something delicate.

4. I've always been a big fan of paisleys. Maybe one that curls around my belly button on one side for an asymetric look.

5. A heart in a private area with my husband's name on it? I dunno. Unfortunately most people spell his name incorrectly, so I'll have to be real careful about this one...

Have a tat? Want one? Post a comment about the ink you have or want by 9 pm EST this Sunday, and I'll pick a winner soon after. The winner gets a $10 gift certificate at Loose Id to buy whatever they want. And if you've already read Any Ordinary Day and know about Paul's tattoo, email me off the blog at laura@laurabacchi.com with that info as well and I'll enter your name twice. Good luck!

Just Released: Any Ordinary Day!

2007-08-21T22:30:00.001-04:00

Today was no ordinary day for me... It's out! It's out! I'm so excited :)

Abandoned places have always fascinated me, so I used old subway tunnels as the setting for fight scenes in Any Ordinary Day. Since this novella, my first with Loose Id, released today, I thought I'd share some links that helped me get a feel for writing this MM dragon-shifter novella.

- Forgotten NY - Subways & Trains

- A site featuring Brooklyn Bridge platforms

- Although this is Rochester, this place had a gritty feel.

- And for architectural decay with an artsy flair, check out Ars Subterranea's photo gallery.

There are some places I'd love to visit in person when writing a story but, even though some of these images are beautiful in their own way, I'm glad someone else did the legwork for me!

There's a big excerpt from Any Ordinary Day up at the Loose Id website. Please take a peek when you get a chance, and if you like what you see, you can buy it here.

Tattoo You

2007-08-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

My eight-year-old informed me the other day that she won't be getting any tattoos. I said, "That's good to know. At least until you're eighteen, right?"

"Yep," she said. "I'll be using Sharpies til then."

Ack! We have a ton of Sharpies at home, so they're under lock-and-key now. Just kidding... I know their inks come off skin (eventually). So on Friday, I think I'll blog about the five tats I'd like but am too chicken to get, especially since tomorrow's release at Loose Id involves a half-finished tattoo on Paul.

Got ink? Care to share?

Friday Five: Is There a Doctor in the House?

2007-08-16T23:04:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately not at mine. But there is a naughty nurse. Just kidding. Kinda...

I was mucking through the archives at Savage Love and came across a post about medical fetishes. Medical kink is cool, so break out the latex gloves... Today's Friday Five is all about the twisted intertwining of lust and the healthcare profession.

1. I had my first gyno exam at 16. Nice doc, young, handsome, very professional. I get into the room and I'm nervous, as expected. Clothes off. Knock on the door. It's the sweet nurse and the doc. I'm ready. My feet find the stirrups. "Just relax." The good doc sits down and Tom Selleck comes into view. Yes, my doc had posted a pic of this sex symbol, apparently torn from a magazine in his sitting room. I couldn't help but see it. Tom was grinning. Grinning at my pried open legs. I never went back. This experience probably should've scarred me for life - instead the idea of medical play pops up in my fantasies every once in a while...

2. Which led me one night many moons ago to MedicalToys.com. This ain't your mama's BDSM online shopping. Not that your mom would ever be into that kind of thing, of course :) They offer the real deal here, so play safe with these toys. This site also offers a medical fetish library that features detailed explanations, safe play, and techniques.

3. Did you know that nurses are the number one male sexual fantasy according to a UK-based Budget Insurance poll? 53.9% of men surveyed had the hots for a naughty nurse. But I think the big question here is why the hell did an insurance company need to research this topic? Shouldn't they be asking people how many miles they drive to work each day or something???

4. So in the above poll, it appeared that uniforms were a big deal in men's fantasies: Men appear to be suckers for a uniform, their fantasy favourites are nurses (53.9%), maids (44.2%) and air hostesses (39.6%). And it's easy to see why. Every site I browsed had a variety of kinky nurse costumes, like these. Here's one costume guys might not like:

Hard to get any oral contact with that silly mask on.

5. And if you're still with me, I invite you to listen to my 1000-word short story "Bedridden" read by yours truly. I've often fantasized about a man in traction, poor, helpless fella... This is an MF FemDomme tale, and I hope you enjoy :)

Linky Winky

2007-08-15T18:54:00.000-04:00

Feeling lazy today, so here are some links to share...

Over at Jasmine's Grotto, my amazing crit partner is talking about sexual tension.

Speaking of critiquing, the talented Shanna Germain shares tips for getting feedback to your work.

And the lovely Lisa Andel posted a twisted quiz: Sex Toy or Baby Toy? It's just plain wrong, folks.

Finally (and NWS) is Sasha White's picture of the new towel racks she's considering for her bathroom. I could use a few new towel racks like that.

Go look. You know you want to ;)

The ePub Pond

2007-08-12T20:06:00.000-04:00

We swim in a small sea, at least in my opinion. We test the waters here and there looking for the best sales or to try something new. Reviews seem harder to get than two years ago when I first dipped my toe into the water. We all talk on forums about the best promo tactics, the best giveaways. I'm convinced there is no magic bullet.

Some authors feel the need to write fast because a new book is the best promo, in their opinions. I can't write fast so that one won't work for me. Plus, when you're a wild card, you can't necessarily expect sales from a core group of readers. It shifts, like the content of my work shifts.

Then there are big fish in small ponds and small fish in big ponds. I don't know where I fit in some days, or where I can hope to make a bit of a splash. So, after a few days of soul-searching and whining, I've decided to:

1) Quit whining to hubby, friends, or anyone who will listen. I'm going to write instead.

2) Try to write longer. I've got a few things in the works that will be longer than my normal extended short stories or novellas. Readers surveyed at one ePub of mine say they want longer stuff. Slow-poke me will try her best. Of course, I'll still write some shorts, which will slow me down and keep me from focusing on the longer work. I'm a short story writer at heart. What can I do? :)

3) Try for print in 2008. It's now or never in my opinion. The NY erotic romance market is flooded.

4) Keep doing what I love best--writing erotic shorts. These are my favorite things. Edits are quicker because the word count is lower. And I like the possibility of being in a small press antho with writers I admire.

5) Rethink whether I truly belong in the romance category. One day, I want to write a thriller with a lot of erotic content and perhaps a touch of romance. Maybe that's the direction I need to head in...

Until then, I'll tread water and stay proud of my sales whatever they may be. When you're doing something that you love, you stay in the water be it clear or murky, crowded or thinning out as folks sign with NY.

In other news, here's a new blog about epublishing called Loose Change created by Margaret Riley of Changeling Press and Treva Harte of Loose-Id.

Friday Five: Why Pirates Rock

2007-08-09T19:18:00.000-04:00

Hubby told me this morning that Pirate Master got cancelled. I don't watch much TV but this was one guilty pleasure I indulged in without fail each Thursday night and I'll certainly miss it. So in mourning of its cancellation, today's Friday Five is all about why I like pirates and would wanna be one...if ships had AC, showers, electricity, etc.

1. Pirates have the best bling. Ah, to run my hands through a chest filled with jewelry! Pearls! Rubies, emeralds, and doubloons!!!

2. The ships were full of hard-working, sweaty men. Okay, they probably stunk to high heavens and had nasty teeth and scurvy, but oh to be on board with a rough lot of horny men. *sigh*

3. Then again a ship full of horny men probably took care of each other's needs. Ah, to be a fly on the wall during a wild buccaneer orgy. If gay pirates float your boat (pun intended), check out my free MM pirate tale.

4. Not to be confused with pirate bling is, well, a pirate's booty. This guy looks like he's got a nice one, and I'm not sure if he's a pirate but who cares with that body? Just turn around, honey. Show Miss Laura the booty. Oh hell, go ahead and uncover the "jewels" before you do. It all looks good ;)

5. Last but not least, pirates are good campy fun. You've got puns and stereotypes galore to play with. Here's a 300-word flash of mine that appeared at Ruthie's Club during their Pirate Festival issue. Enjoy, matey!

Twenty Lashes

"Twenty lashes, and not one less for the thieving bitch." Captain Orangebeard fondled my tit, then gave it a pinch. "Unless you prefer more."

I spat in his good eye.

Never pick pockets while ill. One bloody sneeze, and I'd been caught by the worst pirate of the lot. He'd carried me to his ship and ordered his crew to strip me bare on the coldest day in December. I shivered with both chill and dread, and tested the ropes that spread my limbs wide.

Whatever they had in mind couldn't be any worse than starvation. I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer for my young brothers, still waiting at home for some bread.

A cheer rang out. Orangebeard dropped to his knees. I looked down in time to see his tongue wriggle over his lips like a hungry maggot.

"Count 'em out, Miss." He leaned closer to my quim. "And remember, I stop at twenty."

His hot tongue whipped across my sensitive flesh. When I didn't speak, he glanced up. "Well?"

I gritted my teeth and hid any signs of pleasure. "One."

When he reached ten, the moisture between my thighs betrayed me. He fingered me roughly, and I bit my lip to keep quiet. By fifteen, I was close. But the bastard waited longer between each lick, and the feeling inside my womb stalled. When twenty came, alas, I had not.

They released me. I threw on my dress and ran all the way home.

My brothers gathered 'round and hugged me tight. John called out loudest over the din. "They said you'd been caught by Orangebeard himself." He brushed away a tear. "Did he whip you, sis?"

"No whipping, sweet." I ruffled his hair while my sex trembled. "But I did get a good tongue-lashing."

* * *

Have a great weekend!

Cover Art for Any Ordinary Day

2007-08-08T21:45:00.000-04:00

It's here, and it's by the very talented Anne Cain :)

Unless things have changed, I believe this novella is slated for an August 21st release. Here's the blurb again.

On any ordinary day, a guy like Paul Murray expects more shit from his boss, a new car repair bill and another lonely night at home. But when his car dies during rush hour, he’s rescued by a man who might just make him experience something extraordinary...in more ways than one.

Darrien Avanti has an agenda, and it doesn’t include the sexy loser he picks up by a smoking Yugo on his way to Manhattan. Renegade dragons from his homeland have breached the Earth’s surface in search of their own territory--and human flesh. It’s Darrien’s job to take them out before more people die. This isn’t the time to think about sex, let alone take a mate, but everything about the Top Lander tells Darrien that Paul’s the one.

Paul’s day--and life--is about to become anything but ordinary.

* * *

I'm so excited!!

Six with Lisa Andel

2007-08-04T14:34:00.000-04:00

In the past, I enjoyed doing interviews so I thought I'd revive that bit of fun. I love learning more about erotic romance authors, what makes them tick, what we can expect from them in the future and of course any smidge of naughtiness they're willing to share with me. So, in light of the Friday Five gig, I'm calling the interviews Six with... whomever my ~~victim~~, um, interviewee may be. They get a bunch of questions and pick six to answer. My first brain to pick?

Lisa Andel

LB: You write some of the best first-person around. Why first? Ever tried third?

Lisa:I've written in third person. In fact I have several WIPs that are written that way. I started with first person though, because I really need to get into my heroine’s head, feel what she feels, think her thoughts. It’s easier for me to "become" the character, visualize the scenes writing first person.

Once I can get that same connection with my heroines in third person I'll complete some of those WIPs. But until then, I'm happier with the work I'm producing this way.

LB: Tell us about your first sale. Was there screaming? Naked happy dancing? All-night orgies with hot men?

Lisa: First sale. That would be Dead Again. I’d been waiting ages to hear from a publisher on another submission. I decided to submit Dead Again to someone else. Figured I’d have another long wait coming, so why not get it started? That was so not the case. I came home from work one day, read my email, and when I got to Liquid Silver's offer I just stared at it. I couldn’t believe it. And yeah, there was screaming after that. Maybe even a little jumping up and down. Was I supposed to get hot men? Was that part of the contract? I’ll have to talk to my publisher about this oversight. The, uh, naked happy dancing came later. ;)

LB: What writers do you enjoy reading for fun? Which have influenced you and how?

Lisa: My favorite author is Janet Evanovich (her Stephanie Plum series). After that? I read a lot. A whole lot. It's funny, but I don't read much romance, or erotic romance. (Relatively speaking). I have read you. I think everyone should read your books. [LB: Thanks, Lisa!]

Other authors I enjoy: James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, Robin Cook, Jack Du Brul, Kathy Reichs, Tom Corcoran. I've read some of Sherrylin Kenyon's work as well as Katie MacAlister's. Mary Daheim, Tami Hoag's later stuff, Linda Barnes. Hell, I've read thousands of books by thousands of different authors.

My favorite genres are action/adventure, medical thrillers or science fiction. I used to read a ton of science fiction. I didn't even list any of those authors. There were a lot of them.

Which have influenced me? All of them? I've got a brain full of information and ideas from all those book I've read. It just had to get out. I figured it was a lot less messy to write than to allow my head to explode.

As for the sex? Let's just say I've spent my life personally researching that topic. A...sport that I absolutely adore. :D

LB: Tell us about your recent and upcoming releases, and your current works-in-progress.

Lisa: Out in June was "Tia's Leash," which is part of the Three anthology with Bonnie Dee and T.A. Chase at Liquid Silver Books. Here's the blurb:

Tia West is the problem. Part human, she can't even shift, but she's loaded with enough sexual chemistry to drive the males of her pack crazy with lust. They can't keep their hands off her even as they fear accidentally mating someone so... human. The females of her pack just want her dead.

Unfortunately, whatever it is about Tia that's driving men wild is only getting stronger. When she starts taking lovers not only outside of the pack but outside of her species, Mason, her alpha, insists that she belongs to the pack. And they don't share.

But Tia is discovering that there's much more to sex than pure animal lust. Now she must risk the wrath of her pack if she wants to take a chance on two very different men who not only want to protect her... but are willing to share.

Contains M/F/M, anal sex, double penetration, shapeshifter sex... and more orgasms than you can, uh, poke a stick at.

Flame Angel released at the end of July at Ellora's Cave, and Demon Hunting from Liquid Silver is ready and waiting for a release date. It's the second book in the Orion Authority series, the first in the Ashley, IL subseries. Confused? I've got the Orion Authority set in three different cities in the U.S. Each city has its own series that progressively interact with the other cities' characters.

Here's the blurb for Demon Hunting:

The only good demon is a dead demon. True or False?

In Ashley, Illinois the answer is false. Only demons intent on harming humans deserve to die. That's a good thing, too, since their most powerful hunter, Dylan Vaughan, is full of the dark magic of the netherworld.

Savage heads the local hunters in this town, and a new one has just appeared that is determined to hunt on Vaughan's turf. Terri Peterson. The leader sees her potential though, and is willing to do anything to convince Vaughan to form an ... alliance with her.

Terri doesn't have a clue. Raised by a human family, kidnapped and taken to the netherrealm by her biological father at the age of fourteen, it's taken her nine years to make it back to the surface. Now her only goal is to stop her fathers demons from doing harm.

Find out what happens when dark and light magics, werewolves, and other supernaturals join forces to keep humans safe. And what the demons are doing in your town, when the sun goes down.

Here's the blurb for Flame Angel, a stand alone paranormal, though I’ve gotten several requests for sequels, so I’m considering this.

Little did Angie know she was about to attract the most dangerous man in town; Kraid Devon, the Dragon. Or that the attraction would be wildly mutual.

Angie has an affinity to fire. Especially the kind of fire she creates with a certain Dragon, despite the fact he's the scariest man she's ever met.

Devon intends to capture the fiery witch, and keep her as his own, no matter what it takes. It's been foretold.

See just how hot things really get... when fire meets fire.

Explicit sex, shapeshifter sex, multiple partners M/F/M.

As for what's in store, there are several. I'm a terror when it comes to starting new ideas. I've got over 100 WIP folders going right now. [LB: Eek!!!] The one's I'm trying to focus on though are; the sequel to Her Werewolf (EC), one called Assassin (WT) for EC, The V.W. Hunt Club, which is the third book in the Orion Authority series and the first book in the Dover Station, SC subseries (LSB), a sidequel to Dead Again (LSB), and the short story for the fairy tale anthology that I'm doing with Lila Dubois and T.A. Chase (also LSB).

Then there's the story that just spewed out of me a week or so ago. I just started writing and somehow ended up with 20K in two days. The other one that's also closer to completion than any of the ones I should be working on is a shifter book that I'll be submitting to EC, sometime in the hopefully near future.

LB: I'd ask what you do in your spare time, but it appears you have very little! So let's say you've just won the lottery. Do you still write? What would you do with all the dough?

Lisa: Of course I'd still write. (Remember, my head will explode if I don't). I wouldn't be able to enjoy all that dough if that happened. And with all that dough I could keep myself equipped with the latest laptops. Buy myself a great home somewhere warm with all kinds of cool conveniences to make my "office" area extra comfy. Hey, if I won enough I could even hire my own cover models. Yeah, I like that idea.

Not philanthropic enough for you? I'd like to say that I'd donate the majority of the money to a worthy cause, but I know good and well I'd never do it. I'd want to live for once, see something, do something, without having to worry about paying the bills.

LB: Do you think you'll ever step outside of the paranormal genre?

Lisa:I have several WIPs that are not paranormal. I even have a couple completed books that aren't. I've written both sci-fi and contemporary. Right now though, I'm just establishing my name as an author, so I thought it best if I stuck to the one genre. After I've been around for a while, I'll go ahead with the others.

LB: Well, whatever you decide to write, I'm sure it'll knock people's socks off... and other articles of clothing. ;) First-person is tougher to write, well, tougher than most people think. Lisa, you know how to do it right. Folks, if you like paranormal, Dead Again is a must-read. Check out the prologue and first chapter of this bestseller from Liquid Silver Books. Thank you, Lisa, for letting me interview you. For more about this talented author, visit her website, Liquid Silver Books, and Ellora's Cave. You won't be disappointed.

Laura's Friday Five: Why Hardware Turns Me On

2007-08-03T18:45:00.001-04:00

Everyone's doing those cool Thursday Thirteen blog posts and dammit I can never think of 13 things. So I saw some place talk about a Friday Five. This is more my speed. And for my first Friday Five I thought I'd blather on about something near and dear to my heart... the sexual appeal of hardware.

1. When my then-boyfriend/now-husband and I were impoverished art students, a trip to the hardware store was a date. We'd find whatever stuff we needed--wood for canvas, heavy duty staples, that kind of thing--and roam around Lowe's or HQ for a while afterwards just touching stuff and seeing if it would work for our 3-D class. I'd gaze lovingly at the large rolls of thick steel chain and wonder how much it'd cost if I bought enough for him to wrap me in it from head to toe. Hardware stores have some big-ass chain. I'm drooling as I type.

2. There are pervertibles galore in hardware stores. Nails poking out between knuckles can be scraped along the arches of your feet or the tender insides of your thighs. Not enough to break skin, but just enough to know it could happen. Pliers for nipples, spring clamps and vises... the list goes on and on.

3. In a crowded aisle, the scent of hard-working construction types lingers. Lean in close to ask their advice and breathe in deeply.

4. Those free wooden paint stirrers are good for a quick warm-up before a full-fledged paddling. Grab a couple because they break easily ;)

5. Two words: Cable ties. Wrists, ankles, nipples, cocks--the hardware store offers a variety of size to help you secure any body part needing a little constriction. As always, safety first; you don't to damage anything by restricting blood flow for too long.

Whew! I made it to five. That was easier than I thought. Tune in next Friday for whatever the hell I decide to yack about.

Prayer Flags

2007-07-29T12:57:00.000-04:00

Things are changing at our home.
Tiny bras now fill the line on wash days
And, when it rains, I find them sturdy plastic hangers,
Then leave them in the bathroom to dry.
My husband sees them as a sign to keep out,
Pretending not to notice the ways she grows.
Taller. Rounder. Moodier.
As I hang the bras of white and pink
And the one with cute frogs,
I tell him of my fears.
Will her heart be broken,
Or, these days, her body?
Don’t worry, he tells me,
She can’t date until she’s married.

I laugh at his joke, but we both know better.
A girl like her - like her momma - will chase
The boys as soon as they look her way.
So I keep saying my maternal mantras,
My worried prayers to the deities in charge of
Good guys, safe sex and curfews obeyed.
Some wait a lifetime for a response to their prayers.
Me, I’ll know the outcome soon.
Much sooner than I’d like.

Cleis Press, Robin Hood, and Jane

2007-07-20T18:04:00.000-04:00

I just got back from my first-ever trip to Philadelphia (I'll blog about that and share picutres later this week) and while there got an email that my MM tale "Glory Days" got editor acceptance for the Cleis Hard Hats construction worker homoerotic antho. Phillie is a very gay-friendly city so I thought that was a cool coincidence.

If you like naughty Sherwood Forest tales, Mat Twassel came up with the idea for a Robin Hood Ruthie's Club festival, and I have a short and a few flashers up. Mat's got a bunch of great ones, and tales by Cassie Exline, J.M. Snyder, Jeremy Edwards, and Sommer Marsden are up too. It's a fun issue with lots of merriment to be had so check it out!

Last but not least... I don't check my web stats as neurotically as I used to, but when I did the other day, they were through the roof--up, like, 800%! So I poked around... turns out Jane's Guide to adult websites had reviewed my site and reviewer Vamp says I'm "original" and "quality" I'd forgotten all about submitting my site there for review many months ago. She even compared my little doodles on the site to Aubrey Beardsley's work! Okay, mine are much simpler than his but I'm working on some bigger drawings... stay tuned!

Flying High

2007-06-30T21:17:00.000-04:00

Since I've been forced to hit the magical cough syrup once again (when is this crap ever going to go away???), I thought I'd share some cool pics of butterflies. I guess something about them matches my trippy mood right now. Clicking on some of the images give better detail.

Here's a nifty Life Magazine cover from the 1920s:

I've purchased the image below for my blog and MySpace avatar, and I hope to revamp my website with a butterfly theme this fall. Oh, and nekkid men too of course ;)

This composite image is pretty cool:

And here's a Warhol:

I don't want to think about how Damien Hirst makes his butterfly art, but I do like the end results. Visit this link for more like the two below:

Then of course there's the idea of a butterfly board, which fascinates the sadist in me. One day I swear I'll wrap up Educating Ian, a FemDomme tale (several chapters of which ran at Ruthie's Club). Here's a taste of what happens when a not-so-nice Domme gets Ian all tied up:

"Keep your eyes open, butterfly. I want to see everything you feel tonight."

Right now, he must be feeling anger. On her command his eyes had opened, then narrowed to thin, furious slits. His nostrils grew wider with every sharp intake of breath.

"Are you mad?" she asked. He couldn't answer of course. Not with the ball gag.

His head tilted to his right. He'd noticed the table. She hopped up onto the kneeler and stretched up high to kiss his wet chin. "The hammer and nails look pretty scary, don't they?" His head bobbed in agreement.

"And the fact that certain parts of you stick out of this costume, that's scary, too." No nodding this time. He looked a bit faint. "I bet you're wondering about the board and medical stuff as well." His golden eyelids fluttered like the whisper-soft wings of the Dainty Sulphurs and Southern Dogfaces she'd collected in her youth.

She switched off the microphone. "Trust me. I'm a nurse, remember? I won't do any permanent damage."

* * *

I'm up here, dressed like some budding drag queen in a twisted school play with my privates hanging out near a hammer—which I’m sure she’s gonna use—and she's promising no permanent damage?

Jesus, if she was trying to reassure him, she'd missed the mark by miles. Perspiration slicked the inside of his costume and pooled at his feet. He had to admit being wrapped tight with little wiggle room was a big turn-on. The fact that he was completely helpless and on display? Big turn-on there, too. But her collection of clamps, gloves, metal rods, nails, and the black wooden board with a strange hole in the middle? Those things scared him shitless.

# # #

I still need to figure out where to send this one off to. I had hoped to submit it for a Freya Bower's FemDomme contest but didn't get my act together in time. Story of my life...

Strangely enough, I'm really not a fan of needle play and the like, but the idea of pinning a willing guy to a butterfly board is a big turn-on for me. Oh, who am I kidding? Almost anything CBT floats my boat.

What a kinky boat that must be...

No, I didn't run off to Tahiti with a Stud

2007-06-24T21:30:00.000-04:00

But I wish. It would've been much more fun than the crap I've dealt with this month. Sick daughter, sick me. We're finally better now, but being doped up (it was bronchitis and the only way I can stop coughing when I get it is to take codeine cough syrup) keeps me from being productive. The whole house went to hell. I completely flaked on getting a critique back to someone. I didn't know what the heck I was doing at work... You get the picture.

So last weekend I took my daughter to Mom's for a week of fun and I didn't write a whole lot. This was a good thing. I watched Six Feet Under with hubby, ate out, drank great wine and actually had a life. Now I feel pretty refreshed and am making a commitment to myself and to my family to live a little more. Today I even cleaned almost the entire house :)

In Praise of Critique Partners

2007-06-03T10:20:00.000-04:00

Mine is tough. She's brutally honest and always pushing me to do better. She'll take a mess of a story and point out all its flaws.

Do I always want to hear these things? No. Do I want to make these changes, gut half a tale, and rethink something I thought was perfectly clear and interesting and working just fine? No.

Do I do these things? More often that not.

A good CP is worth their weight in gold. No, make that platinum. And I thank the powers that be for mine.

Jas, you rock.

So much for not writing :(

2007-06-02T11:18:00.000-04:00

I got a lot done this week - finished some stories and sent them off, finished my proofing Friday night. The kiddo is out camping in the wilds, so it's just me and hubby... a weekend of hot monkey luv and drawing and shopping and home improvement - you get the picture. I told myself I needed a break from writing, so I start the weekend off with a refreshing walk this morning in the park beside my home and came back in. Got naked (not a pretty sight) and decided to pluck an annoying hair sprouting forth from my neck before I got into the shower. So I yanked out the hair (aren't you glad I'm sharing all this? LOL) and started gazing off into the bathroom's reflection in the mirror, thinking about this killer (pardon the pun) assassin story I proofed last night and how I wanted to write a sci-fi assassin tale.

Did I then take my shower? Nope. I ran upstairs and fired up the computer I swore I'd ignore all weekend. An hour and one thousand words later, I'm all fired up.

Ain't being a writer grand? If you have any idea when I might expect to get a real life back, please let me know.

What I need...

2007-05-30T23:05:00.000-04:00

There's a fun new meme going around. Google your first name and "needs" and see what pops up. Here are mine:

1. 25 cents and 2 fingers are all Laura needs.
Damn, I'm cheap. I do need a cock occasionally, and that will cost you a buck.

2. Laura needs some post-toddler love.
Yes, I do. Especially now that I'm a full-grown woman.

3. Laura needs to get out more.
So very true. What a pathetic lonely life I lead...

4. Laura needs a new cell phone.
Actually mine works quite well now that I finally figured out how to use most of the settings.

5. “You know full well that Laura needs—” “Oh, yes, I know. Laura needs more attention. Laura needs more love. Laura needs more praise. Laura needs everything ...
Wow. I like this one. It's got passion and angst. Yes, I am a very needy girl.

6. Laura needs 2 more votes.
And if you give me those votes, I promise you we will withdraw our troops from Iraq.

7. Laura needs to play a show associated with shoes. and then whamo!
Not sure what the writer of this statement was smoking, but I would like some.

8. Laura needs a Good Book to Fight Coal Plants from Dallas.
Again, there were some drugs involved...

9. Laura needs to stay on topics where she has "working knowledge" of the material.
Which is why I try to stick to writing sex ;)

10. Laura needs two things that are extremely important.
And those two things would be...?

11. Laura needs a spanking one hundred times a day.
Um, can we stop at about 50?

12. Laura needs her own theme music.
I've been saying this for years. Finally someone is listening!

13. Laura needs constant attention from everyone as she has trouble controlling her impulses.
How very true. They say I'll go blind soon if I don't stop.

But what exactly does Laura want?

1. Laura wants to drape her leg over the shoulder of the boy in front of her, to show off her bruises.
Yep, I do. Especially if said boy created those bruises.

2. Laura wants to have sex in the dining room.
Actually any room is fine. I'm easy.

3. Laura wants a piece of Emily's necklace.
Just one pearl, dammit!

4. Laura wants some go-go boots.
Shiny day-glo pink ones, please.

5. Laura wants to concentrate on her work, but Alisha just wants to take off her clothes.
Darn it, Alisha! I'm tired of your little games. You want this shirt off?! Here, take it. How about my skirt? Panties, too? Oh, you little slut! [Then there's a cat-fight, lots of hair-pulling, etc. etc.]

6. Laura wants revenge against Hellsing.
Damn straight I do. Watch out, you, you... What kind of name is Hellsing?

7. Laura wants to have at least six children.
Um, wrong Laura there, folks.

8. Laura wants to help you get started on your organizing, staging, and home decorating by offering some free tips for you!
I couldn't organize my way out of a paper bag.

9. ...all Laura wants is a bit of rest.
Ah, that's no lie. I think I'll end here and get some shut-eye. Nite!

The Dark Garden Contest

2007-05-29T21:01:00.000-04:00

The lovely Eden Bradley is a dear friend with a huge new release on its way to a bookstore near you and she's got an awesome contest lined up. Check it out...

COUNTDOWN TO THE RELEASE OF MY DEBUT PRINT NOVEL!!!

Watch the countdown as I wait for the release of my debut print novel, THE DARK GARDEN on June 1st, and be eligible to win a signed Advance Reader Copy of my second novel, THE DARKER SIDE OF PLEASURE, plus a few other goodies! The ARCs of my second novel were just shipped and it hasn’t even been reviewed yet, so you may be the very first to see it!
This is all you have to do:
1) First, check with your local bookstores and make sure they have copies of my book available-do it now! It takes 2-4 weeks for them to order books! If they haven’t already ordered it, simply tell them you and a few people you know are interested in the book, and they’ll put in an order.
2) Then, after the book is released June 1st, go to the bookstore and photograph yourself and/or your friends or family with the book, and send the pictures to me here:
eden_bradley@yahoo.com
Two prizes will be awarded, and there are two ways to win:
~Take the funniest or most unique photo. I'm not going to tell you what to do here-feel free to use your imagination! Just don’t break any laws.
~or~
~Take the photo with the most people in it. You’re welcome to drag-uh, ask- other bookstore customers to join in your photo-they don’t have to be people you know.
3) If you have a blog , you can paste this code into your sidebar or in a post to join in the countdown to the release of my book-and invite others to do the same!

Countdown until release:

Don’t forget-all photos must include someone holding THE DARK GARDEN, or it must be on the bookshelf, or otherwise prominently displayed. (THE DARK GARDEN will most often be shelved in the literature section, but some stores may carry it in romance).All photos must be taken between June 1st and June 15th, and submitted by midnight PST on June 15th. Winners will be announced on June 20th.

*Disclaimer: Photos may be posted on my blog. By submitting photos to me, you agree to have these photos posted or used at my discretion.

~~~~~

Wishing you many, many sales, Eden. You're a talented lady who deserves the best!

Sold!

2007-05-20T10:37:00.001-04:00

Loose-ID accepted my MM dragon shifter novella Any Ordinary Day! I'm tickled pink. Or maybe red. With scales and wings and a long spiky tail... At any rate, writing about dragons was very different for me and lots of fun. Many thanks, Mat and Jas, for the read-through and thoughtful feedback :)

On any ordinary day, a guy like Paul Murray expects more shit from his boss, a new car repair bill and another lonely night at home. But when his car dies during rush hour, he's rescued by a man who might just make him experience something extraordinary...in more ways than one.

Darrien Avanti has an agenda, and it doesn't include the sexy loser he picks up by a smoking Yugo on his way to Manhattan. Renegade dragons from his homeland have breached the Earth's surface in search of their own territory—and human flesh. It's Darrien's job to take them out before more people die. This isn't the time to think about sex, let alone take a mate, but everything about the Top Lander tells Darrien that Paul's the one.

Paul's day—and life—is about to become anything but ordinary.

According to Mrs. Giggle's Paranormal Drinking Game, this story could get you a little tipsy. Martini anyone?

Get the dirt on... me!

2007-05-11T17:59:00.000-04:00

Okay, getting the dirt on me isn't as exciting as getting the dirt on say, the president or Paris Hilton, but I do promise to talk about sex in an interview conducted by the lovely Eden Bradley. Oh wait, I always talk about sex... Anyways, check it out at Eden's beautiful blog. She's a kick-ass writer of kink, so be sure to check out her available and upcoming releases.

Meanwhile I've been tagged three times in the latest fun round of blog tag. Thanks to M.L. Rhodes, Lisa Andel, and Roxy Harte, you can find out eight (hopefully) interesting facts about moi. I tagged my victims on my MySpace. Mwahahahahahaha!

1. I have amazing luck finding four leaf clovers. I've found 64 in my lifetime, and I'm not an outdoorsy person. So far my eight-year-old has found 43.

2. I still have a baby tooth. My father still has one too.

3. I don't have any tats.

4. I was an awful nail-biter as a child. I still bite my nails when I'm nervous.

5. I rarely watch television.

6. But I use our new big-screen TV to play Katamari obsessively.

7. My writer's knot is on my ring finger, not my middle one. Luckily I didn't have nasty teachers who smacked my hands for writing funny.

8. Hardware and power tools turn me on.

Got any interesting facts you want to share?

Great reviews for my "Man"!

2007-04-23T23:02:00.000-04:00

5 Stars - "What a wonderful, sexy, erotic and loving story!... I felt pulled right into the story. As Imari and Cas fell in love, I fell right along with them. Ms. Bacchi has an incredible ability to describe her characters and make them true to life. The plot in this book was flawless. Her secondary characters were equally well-described and perfectly placed in the story. Another terrific story for her fans from Laura Bacchi!" - Marcy Arbitman, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

4.5 Kisses - "Laura Bacchi continues to prove herself adept in the realm of alternative romance with this spicy offering... There are royal intrigues, a heinous murder, dark secrets, and the emergence of truths that will forever change their lives. This futuristic successfully combines a well-crafted story with a powerful affair of the heart. The characters grab your attention, and you quickly become involved in twists and turns of their lives The plot is intense, fast-paced, and always keeps you guessing. Ms. Bacchi has real insight into the thoughts and feelings of her heroes." - Anne Marie, Romance Divas

Thanks, Marcy and Anne Marie, for your kind words!!

Birthday Giveaway!!!

2007-04-04T21:45:00.000-04:00

Yep, I'm 29 yet again this weekend. To celebrate, I'm giving you a gift... Post about your all-time favorite birthday present, the one that's kept you smiling throughout the years, and your name goes into a drawing for a download from my backlist. All entries must be posted here by midnight EST on Monday, April 9th.

Although my latest, The Heart of a Man, isn't up for grabs, you can take your pick from anything else listed on my website. If you like MM, check out my free reads page while you're there.

My favorite gift? My daughter Heather. She came a few hours shy of my 30th birthday but it was close enough in my book :)

The Heart of a Man is out!

2007-03-25T12:06:00.000-04:00

Isn't he hot? Thanks, Trace, for giving me another great Amber Quill cover :)

The Heart of a Man is my second futuristic MM. If you read my short The Heart of a Hunter (MF), this is the tale of Asher's brother, Imari. It has a special place in my own heart because my father was a "bomb doctor" for the Virginia State Police. Growing up, I heard all about the damage caused by homemade devices--often to the people creating them--and how nerve-wracking it was to render the bombs safe. I'm not sure what dear old Dad thinks of me writing yummy man-love (okay, he knows I write erotic stuff but I haven't shared the MM part...) but I hope he'd be honored that I snuck a bit of his life experience in this story.

This tale is available on its own or as part of the Allure AmberPax, which includes work by talented authors M. L. Rhodes, Adrianna Dane, Deirdre O'Dare and Cassie Stevens.

Here's the blurb:

As High Commander of the inner realms, Imari Ter-Berron knows all about the burden of responsibility. When one of his citizens is falsely accused of a heinous crime, he travels to the outer colonies to personally stop the execution. Imari is prepared for the animosity of the barbaric colonial princes, but not for his reaction to the newest royal—Prince Casvian is everything Imari has ever dreamed of in a man. And the fact that his telepathic powers don’t seem to work on the young royal have him even more intrigued.

Casvian Temuri has a few burdens of his own. Ascending to the Lower Council throne as a replacement for his psychopath brother, Cas wants to reform colony law and improve the lives of his people. And if that wasn’t enough to deal with, he also knows that the man Imari plans to save is truly innocent. But will sharing all his secrets drive Imari away…or bring them closer together?

And here's a steamy excerpt. I'll post another soon.

Happy (and horny!) reading to all :)

Spreading the Love

2007-02-14T07:23:00.000-05:00

Hi all! I'm blogging today, Valentine's Day, at the Liquid Silver Books blog: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/blog/?p=532 Post about the wackiest, naughtiest, or most romantic V-day gift by 8 pm EST tonight and your name goes into a drawing for a free download of your choice from the LSB library of great books. Check out the latest releases here.

I'll announce the winner at 9 pm EST. Please drop by... It's much better than getting an arrow in your butt today, right?

Hope to see you there!

Desdmona’s 2007 Titillating Tattoo Story Contest

2007-02-01T07:51:00.000-05:00

http://www.desdmona.com/contestsubmit.php?RoomID=642

We are eager to see sexy stories from talented authors that include any kind of permanent body adornment: a tattoo, a piercing, or whatever else your perverted mind can come up with.
Desdmona’s 2007 Titillating Tattoo Story Contest is an erotic short story contest. Stories must be 3500 words or less. There is no entry fee. Only one story is allowed per author. Stories must be received by Sunday, April 1, 2007. Prizes will be awarded to the judges’ three favorite stories:

First prize: $500
Second prize: $250
Third prize: $125

Honorable mention prizes of $40 will be awarded at the discretion of desdmona.com and the judges.

Winners will be picked by our judges and will be based on quality of writing, erotic appeal, originality, and adherence to contest theme. Please, be imaginative! The winning stories and honorable mentions will be displayed on desdmona.com on Sunday, April 15, 2007.

Contest Rules:

1. PURPOSE. To promote the art of erotic literature on the Internet.

2. AWARDS. $500 First prize — $250 Second prize — $125 Third prize. Honorable Mention prizes of $40 may be awarded at the discretion of Desdmona.com and the contest judges. Prize money will be awarded in US funds, in the form of a postal money order or a bank draft drawn on a US bank. Alternative payment methods will be permitted if agreed to by both Desdmona.com and the winning author.

Winning authors agree to have their winning stories published at Desdmona.com indefinitely. Stories that do not win a prize will not be displayed at Desdmona.com.

3. ENTRY FEE. None.

4. ELIGIBILITY. Entrants must be at least 18 years old. Employees of Desdmona.com and their families, and contest judges and their families, are not eligible to enter this contest.

5. SUBMITTAL. Stories must be submitted by email. We can accept Microsoft Word documents (.doc or .rtf files) as attachments, and we can accept plain text. Plain text entries should be single-spaced with a blank line between paragraphs. Other formats will not be accepted.
Only one story is permitted per author.

The subject line of the submission should include the words “2007 Titillating Tattoo Story Contest.” The submission email must include a valid reply address. Upon receipt of the story and acceptance by the contest pre-screener, Desdmona.com will email the entrant that the story has been received and accepted.

IMPORTANT! All entries must include the ENTRY TEXT which appears at the end of these rules. Copy this ENTRY TEXT and paste it into the body of the entry email. Entries without this text will not be accepted.

The entrant must be the story’s author. The author must own the copyright of the story. The submission must include the author’s name or pseudonym to be used should the entry become a winner. The submission must include an email address at which desdmona.com can contact the author.

The story must have a title.

The story must be 3500 words long or less.

Our provider does not permit child pornography; please, no underage sex.

The story must not have been published, in whole or in part, prior to the contest deadline. The author agrees not to publish the story, or permit the story to be published, before the winners are announced on Sunday, April 15, 2007. After the announcement of winners, all entrants, including winners, are free to publish their stories in any venue they desire.

Stories must be received by 11:59 PM EST, Sunday, April 1, 2007. No late entries will be accepted.

6. JUDGING. A pre-screener will check all stories for adherence to contest requirements. The pre-screener will remove the author’s name and format the story as an HTML document before passing the stories to the judges.

The judges will decide the best stories based on each judges’ estimation of the story’s worth, use of the contest theme, and erotic appeal. The decision of the judges is final.

7. NOTIFICATION. The prize money will be awarded by Desdmona.com in accordance to the decision of the judges. Desdmona.com will notify contest winners by email prior to Sunday, April 15, 2007 in order to verify author information and to make payment arrangements. If a winning author can not be contacted prior to Sunday, April 15, 2007, the winning story will be published at Desdmona.com and it will be the author’s responsibility to contact Desdmona.com to make payment arrangements.

All contestants will receive an email on Sunday, April 15, 2007 (or as soon as is practical afterwards) announcing the winning stories. In addition, the winning announcement will appear at http://www.desdmona.com. The winning stories will also be published at http://www.desdmona.com.

8. ADDRESS. Email stories with your name, email address, and the following ENTRY TEXT by Sunday, April 1, 2007 to contest@desdmona.com.

ENTRY TEXT. (must be included in contest entry email):

I am the original author of this story. I own
this story's copyright. I am legally entitled to
enter this contest. I confirm that this story
has not been previously published, online or in
print. I agree to withhold the story from all
publication prior to the announcement of the
contest's winners on Sunday, April 15, 2007.
If this story wins a prize, I agree to allow the
story to appear indefinitely on the desdmona.com
contest pages.

END ENTRY TEXT

These contest rules may be distributed and re-posted without the permission of desdmona.com.

Two New Releases!!

2007-01-31T22:54:00.000-05:00

Two, count 'em, two releases this week! I'm so excited!!!

Domination or submission? Ménage a trois or man on man? What about voyeurism? A tease? A taste? Sink your teeth into this collection of erotica short stories from six top erotic storytellers.

Everyone has them. Those secret thoughts that bring forth your hottest dreams and desires. The ones you don’t share, the ones that make your heart pound and your blood heat.

What do you fantasize about? In the Secret Thoughts: Erotique collection, you’ll find all sorts of deliciously erotic scenes from the naughty minds of Beth Williamson , J.J. Massa, Nix Winter, Sasha White, S. Desires, and yours truly. A huge thank-you to Sasha for putting this anthology together!

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, D/s, light bondage, ménage a trois, hot nekkid man-love.

The only thing better than a romp through the stars is a romp in the sack, and Afterburn delivers both.

Previously available only in electronic format, these four tales of futuristic erotic romance have now been combined for a paperback anthology. Included are the tales…

Relic of the Heart
A strange volunteer on a new dig makes an archaeologist want to get out in the field…and into his pants.

Chella’s Quest
A chemist will do anything to find the stolen formula of a powerful new narcotic—even sleep with the prime suspect.

The Heart of a Hunter
A man sent across the universe to find his brother’s bride wants to keep her for himself.

The Andumi Effect
Two male spies struggle with their government’s betrayal—and their desire for each other—while hiding among the stars.

I just got gang-banged (and I loved it!)

2007-01-21T13:06:00.000-05:00

Okay, get your minds out of the gutter! Hubby just brought home Return the Gift by Gang of Four. Remember them from the good ol' '80s? I love a man in a uniform... is now permanently stuck in my head. If you aren't familiar with them and saw Marie Antoinette, then you heard my current favorite song, Natural's Not In it.

For my current paranormal WIP, I'd like to mention this song by title, but wonder if readers know the tune. If they don't, will that annoy them?

Here's the blurb and a snippet of that WIP, an MM entitled Any Ordinary Day.

On any ordinary day, a guy like Paul Murray expects more shit from his boss, a new car repair bill and another lonely night at home. But when his car dies during rush hour, he’s rescued by a man who might just make him experience something extraordinary...in more ways than one.

Darrien Avanti has an agenda, and it doesn’t include the sexy loser he picks up beside a smoking Yugo on the Brooklyn Bridge. Renegade dragons from his home planet have arrived in New York City and it’s his job to take them out before more people die. This isn’t the time to think about sex—-let alone take a mate—-but everything about the Earthling tells Darrien he’s the one.

And Paul’s life? It's about to become anything but ordinary.

“Please fuck me,” I whispered.

He’d been holding back because when I stood up he grabbed me. Turned me around and pushed me into the fridge door. Not hard enough to hurt but enough to start to scare me. My heart slammed faster in my chest. Hell, every pulse point in me throbbed in time with my heartbeat. The awareness of it heightened my fear, but my blood was singing as he yanked my hips back toward him. Tomorrow, I’d have five bruises on each one—-ten almond-shaped reminders of tonight splayed out on my flesh.

His thumbs went deeper. I opened my mouth to speak, to say no, but I didn’t really want to stop. I wanted the fucking to be fierce. Sweaty and rough. I wanted the kind of guy-on-guy sex that would leave me aching for days and my ass sore for a whole goddamn month.

And I had a feeling Darrien wouldn’t disappoint.

~ ~ ~

A little rough (in more ways than one), but writing this scene had me on the edge of my seat as I typed. *sigh* Now where's my husband...?

Secret Thoughts Blog-a-thon at Sasha White's

2007-01-19T07:39:00.000-05:00

Sasha White has put together one hawt anthology, and I'm proud to have been included. The authors who are part of Secret Thoughts: Erotique coming January 30th to Samhain were invited to blog, and today's my turn!

Come find out how working in a prison helped my writing at Sasha's blog. And while you're there, check out her revamped website! It's amazing :D

Come See Me Tomorrow!!! (I'll have chocolate)

2007-01-12T08:48:00.000-05:00

I'll be taking part in another fun booksigning at the Pink Banana in Virginia Beach, Virginia, along with Bridget Midway, Shara Lanel, and Leigh Ellwood. I'm sooooo excited!!!

If you're local, I hope you can stop by. The Pink Banana is at 352 N. Newtown Road and the signing is tomorrow (Saturday, January 13th) from noon to 6:00 pm. We have a basket of goodies to give away, and the Pink Banana has a fine selection of adult toys.

I hope to see you there!!!

Up in Flames

2007-01-11T23:29:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite Divas from RD has a release tomorrow! Check out Emma Sinclair's Up in Flames from Cobblestone Press:

Kat Ashbrook has two things on her mind -- catching a murderer
and sexy new boss, Connor Mercer. She never expected his
come-hither looks, but she’s betting she can resist if she keeps
her mind on the job. Too bad a prank leads to her surrender and
possibly their deaths.

Emma is a big cheerleader for other writers at Romance Divas -- when they make a sale or great review, she's right there waving her virtual pom-poms and sharing the joy! So stop by tomorrow and check out her "hot" new story. You'll be glad you did!

Two Awesome Reviews for TOPPING TORA

2007-01-03T21:40:00.000-05:00

Topping Tora is a Recommended Read at Fallen Angel Reviews! Here's a snippet of what reviewer Rachelle had to say:

"...Ms. Bacchi exemplifies the word gifted! I'm not sure where she got her creative insight for this story but I hope the juices continue to flow with additional works of art that not only thrill but astonish readers. This is a book that not only exposes some of the spiciest parts of the BDSM world but also shows how if you don’t respect the world and basic rules you can soon find yourself in a painful situation where all hope seems lost."

For the entire review, click here.

I also received my first ever review from Two Lips Reviews. I love their rating system for heat levels...

1 hot pepper = "just a little slap and tickle"
2 hot peppers = "wild as a game of naked twister"
3 hot peppers = "requires a diagram" (and that's meant in a good way LOL)

Tora got 3 peppers and 4.5 kisses. And reviewer Tara said these nice things:

"...The journey that Tora travels is graphic and not for the faint of heart. On the other hand it is well written and pulls you into the story without letting you go. Topping Tora exposes how important safety and trust are in this lifestyle that most are curious and fantasize about. I recommend reading Topping Tora and taking to heart how easy it is to trust the wrong person, how important safety is and more importantly one needs to make sure someone knows where you are at all times. Laura Bacchi brings not only her characters to life, but will make your heart beat faster and make you feel that you are right there in the scenes she creates."

If you haven't had a chance to buy a copy of Topping Tora (or any of my other titles) and you live in the Virginia Beach, Virginia area, swing by The Pink Banana on Saturday, January 13th from 12 noon to 6 PM. I'll be hanging with great group of authors, namely Shara Lanel, Leigh Ellwood, Bridget Midway, Adrienne Kama, Cara North, Monique Lamont, Diane Merlin, Crystal B. Bright and Denise Jeffries.

There will be a raffle for a basket full of goodies. There will be chocolate. There will be naked men. Okay, I'm lying about that last bit, but the rest is true. If you're local, I hope to see you there!

Oh, Beck Baby

2006-12-30T13:49:00.000-05:00

*sigh* I'm in love. I got Beck's latest under the tree this year. The Information is getting mixed reviews on Amazon, but I personally think it's his most cohesive album. There's danceable parts and deep-thinking, mellow parts, but the flow really works for me. The DVD portion was disappointing--I felt like a bunch of people got high and goofed around, then handed the recording over to a first-year art student so they could add in some not-so special effects. But, hey, I didn't buy it for the images. I bought it for the sound.

And the sound doesn't miss a beat :)

Cover Snark, SEXing, and Samhain

2006-12-22T19:28:00.000-05:00

---> Woo-hoo!! Topping Tora made "Hot Cover of the Week" at Dionne Galace's blog. Dionne said great things about cover artist extraordinaire April Martinez -- check it out if you get a chance.

---> I'll be blogging at the Liquid Silver Books Blog tomorrow, December 23rd. Stop by to say hello and get entered to win a story. Your story. Just tell me what naughty toy you want for Christmas and your name goes into the hat. Or stocking. Or some young stud's underwear. It may take me a loooooooong time to pick a winner if I use the latter ;) If you win, you'll get a personalized short story up to 2500 words featuring the toy of your choosing and as many warm bodies as you'd like. ;)

---> I'm so excited... Three of my kinky tales will be in a super-hot Samhain anthology next month. Talk about starting the new year right!
Secret Thoughts: Erotique
Genre: Erotica
Publisher: Samhain
ISBN: 1-59998-492-X
Length: Novella
Price: $3.50
Publication Date: January 30, 2007
Cover art by Scott Carpenter

Domination or submission? Ménage a trios or man on man? What about voyeurism? A tease? A taste? Sink your teeth into this collection of erotica short stories from six top erotic storytellers.

Everyone has them. Those secret thoughts that bring forth your hottest dreams and desires. The ones you don’t share, the ones that make your heart pound and your blood heat.

What do you fantasize about? In the Secret Thoughts: Erotique Collection, you’ll find all sorts of deliciously erotic scenes from the naughty minds of Beth Williamson, J.J. Massa, Laura Bacchi, Nix Winter, Sasha White , and S. Desires.

Squee!!! I'm in an anthology with Sasha White!!!

Is that your final answer?

2006-12-19T21:45:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess it is because today brings the final question(s) in my "Pick Laura's Brain" contest. This was funnest contest I've held so far this year -- thanks to everyone who participated! I had a great time :)

Today Rachelle asked: 1) How do you come up with a unique title to every story you write? And 2) Do you write even when your muse is on vacation? lol

Titles are hard to think up sometimes. Usually something either comes to me right away -- before I start writing -- or eludes me till the very end. Often I try to find a line in the story that kind of resonates with me (The Heart of a Hunter and Taming the Tiger) or I may find an object (Relic of the Heart) to wrap it all up. I seem to use a character's name a lot too (Topping Tora, The Andumi Effect, Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter, Lucky in Lust, and Chella's Quest).

And I've found it helps to pick titles starting with letters early in the alphabet -- those stories are at the top when certain reviews are announced ;)

For your second question, yes, I write whether the muse is sitting beside me filing her nails or whether she's out shopping. When she's gone, I find that chocolate and a hearty glass of red wine can work as good substitutes. She doesn't like to hear this, but, hey, a gal's gotta write. I tend to write lousier stuff when she's gone though, and it feels more like a job than fun.

Thanks for your questions, Rachelle! Now it's time to put all the names in a hat and pick the two winners... hold on... got one... and now the other.... Debby and Glenna!!! I'll be contacting you both tomorrow night (US EST) to see which title you prefer. Congratulations!!!

Romance Book Cover Fun

2006-12-15T07:26:00.000-05:00

How Did I End Up On The Cover Of This Romance Novel?

Next up... What's next?

2006-12-13T23:47:00.000-05:00

Today's questions come from D who asks, "Is there something you want to write but just have not had a chance? What is next?"

Deep inside, there's a historical wanting to come out. The title will hopefully be Relentless, and the setting is Regency-era London. I started plotting but little else. Here's what I have for the blurb thus far: When Emma Chatsworth discovers her betrothed desires the kind of marital relations she cannot possibly perform, let alone enjoy, she turns to her future brother-in-law James Duncan for advice—and instruction. Together, they journey through the seedy London streets in search of dark pleasures to prepare her for the inevitable wedding night... but how can James let the woman who can fulfill his own fantasies marry another man?

This will definitely have a BDSM theme, and I may try to query print pubs for it.

Up next is another futuristic MM. I'm at the half-way point and it's due to Amber Quill by January. Better get movin' on that! It's titled The Heart of a Man, and there's a murder and sex and action and sex... Hot, sweaty man-sex. I also have the last two tales of a futuristic trilogy I keep dragging my butt on. It's not MM, but there's the potential for a menage in the second book. I'm really excited about that ;)

Thanks for playing, D, and good luck in the drawing!

New Question, New Review

2006-12-11T22:09:00.000-05:00

Today's question comes from P:

Many men are surprised to find out that women enjoy male/male romances, so I’m curious to know what the men in your life (hubby, brothers, etc) thought or said when they first found out that you write male/male romances.

Well, there aren't many men in my life (just in my head!) -- no brothers or other close male relatives except my father. Dad knows I write erotica, but will hopefully never find out about my new interest in writing man-love. He's a pretty conservative guy, and homosexuality is not something he tolerates well.

My husband, however, is fine with it -- he even shared my guy-on-guy pirate story with his gay co-worker, who shared it with another... No one's gotten into trouble. Yet ;) In the art department where hubby and I attended college, many of our friends were GBL, so he's very accepting of this subject matter.

By the way, the pirate tale is up as a free read on my website. Click here to read it and get ready to see some booty get plundered. Okay, stop groaning :)

Thanks for the great question, P! If any other M/M writers want to chime in on the subject, feel free.

Got a cool new review for The Heart of a Hunter. And I really like the reviewer's upbeat style while conveying the gist of the plot. Thanks, Sinclair Reid!

"Multiple O's!...Author Laura Bacchi does a wonderful job of enthralling the reader and giving her characters depth and life. Plus, the sex isn’t so bad either. *wink* Go buy your copy of THE HEART OF A HUNTER today."—Sinclair Reid, Romance Reviews Today Erotic

The final issue of Secret Thoughts

2006-12-10T19:04:00.000-05:00

They say all good things must come to an end, and Sasha White's Secret Thoughts eZine was a darn good thing. Catch the final issue here and enjoy a free kinky short story from Sasha herself.

Sasha is an author who gives back to aspiring erotic romance writers. She's given workshops at Romance Divas and offered exposure to other writers via various venues. Secret Thoughts was classy and professional. Now that she's hit the big-time with Avon, Black Lace, and Kensington, edits and writing need to take priority in her life at present.

Thanks, Sasha, for letting me play a small part in this endeavor. You're a gem. (She's also a hotter than sin writer. See why at www.SashaWhite.net.)

For those of you who missed the past year of hot reads, here's some great news: Samhain will be publishing a collection of short stories that first appeared in Secret Thoughts. And thanks to Sasha, three of mine will be in the anthology.

Thanks again, Sasha, for making this possible... You rock!

Finders, Keepers!

2006-12-05T20:57:00.000-05:00

The answers to today's question might surprise you. D would like to know what's on my keeper shelf.

On the naughty side of the shelf is... (okay, no surprises here)

5. Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty series. Not too keen on the plot, but the OMG kinkiness of it, the holy shit, did she really write this?! factor. I believe it damaged me for life :-O

4. Warrior's Woman by Johanna Lindsay. I've always had sci-fi fantasies: Big alpha guy from outer space says I'm his and he takes me. Yep. My kinda book.

3. The Oath Series by Marly Chance. The first one in this series was my very first ebook purchase (and my first taste of erotic romance). You should've seen techo-idiot me trying for hours to use Microsoft Reader.

2. The Switch by Diane Whiteside. I had no idea people wrote romance tales about Dommes. Well, switches. Not a clue.

1. Menage by Emma Holly. Jaw-wide-open, drooling-all-over-myself hot hot HOT stuff. Lucky for me hubby picked it up for possible reading material before going to the bathroom. He didn't come out for a long, looooong time. That night we, um, had a very nice evening. And the next night, and the next... ;)

My TBR pile is huge but near the top of the heap is Natural Law by Joey Hill. I've read excerpts, and I'm sorry to say it might bump Emma out of the number one position.

On the sweet to sensual side however...

5. My Dearest Enemy by Connie Brockway. Such angst and tension.

4. Kissing Casanova by Crystal Bright. Crystal's a friend of mine, and I served as her beta for this one. A hot wrestler and a socialite find true love. It's special to me because I like how Crystal tells a story.

3. I love Amanda Quick. Perky heroines. brooding heros. Fun plots. I've read all of them and think Mistress, Desire, and Ravished are my faves.

2. The Proposition by Judith Ivory. A linguist and a rat catcher. Weird, eh? My God, what a well-written story.

1. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. I lent this one out (along with the above) and need to send in my posse to get it back. Such a great story. Sexual tension up the ying-yang, a hero who had my heart.

Thanks for the great question, D! Now it's your turn. What's on your keeper shelf?

Weather and Witches

2006-12-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

Got a great question in today from GD: Do you find that the seasons and weather affect the way you write a story?

Yes, now that I think of it, I believe these things do influence me.

I like snow. A lot. Not necessarily the getting out in it and freezing my butt off parts, but the looking at it through the window part. My novella Taming the Tiger has a blizzard in it, and early in the writing of it I enjoyed a snow day. I took breaks from writing to gaze out the window and enjoy the scenery, and I think this helped me get more descriptive and stay in the mood.

I worked on Topping Tora during the summer in our hotter than Hades loft/office, and this novel takes place in summer. I could really get into describing the heat and humidity because I was sitting in a pool of sweat and experiencing it first-hand. Come to think of it, the same thing happened with Relic of the Heart. I think I probably used a lot more sensory detail in these stories because I felt hot or saw the flakes wafting down from the sky. I guess this is something to remember for future tales :)

Interesting question, G. Thanks for asking it! Maybe if I try writing hot when I'm cold or the other way around, I'll be more comfortable, though :)

Do you want a shot at winning Topping Tora or The Andumi Effect? Ask me your questions, I'll tell you no lies. Hopefully...

"Weather" you're cold where you're at or burning up, here's a new release from a fellow Romance Diva author sure to warm your heart:

The Goblin, The Witch, and the Single Girl

Five years after losing her parents in the 9/11 terrorist act that toppled the Twin Towers in New York City, Caitlin realizes she needs to take control of her life again and start fresh. Even if it means giving up the most eligible bachelor in the City.

Trips to Montreal as a young girl with her parents had taken her through the quaint, quiet little village of Rouses Point. Perched on the northernmost shores of Lake Champlain in New York state, the old Clabo Victorian home had been vacant even back then.

And now, here she stands in the middle of the foyer of her new home, grinning like a Cheshire cat. Will her life be as sweet as she foresees? Or will the other occupants in her house throw a wrench in her plans?

Rating: Sweet
Book Length: Novella

Price: $4.75

Genre: Paranormal/Contemporary

Click here to read an excerpt... and enjoy!

Today's question

2006-12-03T02:12:00.000-05:00

(I just realized it's 2 AM, so I guess that makes it yesterday's question -- sorry!)

It takes two to tango, as the saying goes, and those of us who enjoy getting tied up need someone to do the tying. A, now single, liked to indulge in mild to moderate bondage play, and she'd like to know what -- as a "singleton" -- can she do to simulate the feeling of being bound and helpless, while still leaving at least one hand free to pleasure herself, beyond a vivid imagination and reading in the genre beforehand.

[Please don't open these links with minors around :)]

This is a toughie but I have some thoughts, thanks to my favorite BDSM retail site, Extreme Restraints.

The Doggy-Style Spreader is kinky as hell. Yeah, $188 isn't cheap, but just imagine the thoughts one could think while... *sigh* Just leave one hand free and have a blast.

I'm not too sure if I'd like this one: The Self-Bondage Time Lock - my bladder's the size of a pea (no pun intended). I'm thinking you could cuff an ankle to a wrist and hope to God the ice melts.

This cuff and tether kit allows for a lot of movement and is cheap, but you would have to use safety-release cuffs. Heck, you could use scarves as tethers and watch some porn -- and force yourself to keep your hands behind the chair until the last 15 minutes of the movie. That way you've got a psychological component thrown in there.

Thigh cuff sets could work. You'd have to keep the cuff part toward the center insides of your thighs, not the outside. I think you could use velcro cuffs and still be able to unfasten them if your opposite hand was close by.

This hog-tie kit when used in this position (I'd cuff my hands under the knees), might work. Cheap too.

You'd have to leave one hand out obviously, but this locking fiddle might let you "fiddle" around solo.

At over $600, this ain't cheap, but it's incredibly cool: The Trap Bondage Device. I'm pretty sure you could manage locking yourself up in this. You'd have to be flexible and lay out the wrist cuff though, and you'd want to lock in your neck after pulling the leg stocks up.

I'm wondering if a some sturdy neoprene-style cuffs that can come apart would be your best bet. Cuff a wrist to an ankle, or ankle to ankle then up to the bedpost where you hook in the wrist cuff with your free hand. Or maybe lie on the floor and tie your ankles to either side of your bed's footboard. You'd have the sensation of being forcibly spread wide.

Another thing to possibly rig up is a hammock. String it up over your bed and crawl underneath. Feet find holes -- maybe twist up in them good and tight -- then your spare hand finds a hole. Depending on how low you set it up, you'd have the sensation of being trapped plus the ropes rubbing against you. [I'd go for soft ropes ;)]

Whatever you do, you probably know to check the Velcro, etc. in a test run to make sure you can get out before doing anything that could put you in any kind of danger. I'd also suggest you check out a local BDSM group with a excellent reputation for upholding the Safe, Sane, Consensual creed... Then maybe you can find a partner who enjoys bondage just as much as you do!

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

Let the interrogation begin!

2006-12-01T20:49:00.000-05:00

Here are the first questions for my holiday contest--and they're good ones!

From V: I took a look at your artwork on your site. Very nice. How long have you been *dabbling*? Have you had any commercial success with your art?

Thanks! I've been drawing since I was a child but actually have a BFA in Studio Art (Printing and Painting), so I guess I've been at it semi-seriously for twenty-plus years--don't do the math ;) Although I've won a few awards in local shows and made a few bucks in outdoor art festivals, I haven't made much more than some extra spending money. My husband, also a painter, is getting back in the groove of making big ugly paintings again (well, his aren't so ugly), and I'm getting the itch to paint. Maybe now that we're living in a more cultural area, I can get something shown in a gallery and earn some cha-ching. We'll see...

J has two questions: 1) What qualities do you feel all your hero and heroines should have? 2) If you have the power to bring to life one of your characters, who would it be and why?

Hmmmm. Good questions. 1) I hope all my heros and heroines have the capacity to grow. I want them to be real and sometimes indecisive and maddening and quirky... kinda like me :) I also like to make them more aware of what their partner needs emotionally as the story progresses. Last but not least, I like them to make mistakes. Perfect heros and heroines make for boring stories IMO.

2) This one's easy -- I'd bring Brogan from Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter. He's the first "fantasy" guy I really brought to life by writing a story for him. Alien, nice cock, the strong, silent type... Yeah, definitely Brogan!

From fellow Amber Quill writer Jennifer Colgan: Of all the sexy hunks you're written about, who do you think is the ultimate lover? ;)

Hi, Jennifer! Without a doubt, Jovan from Topping Tora. A hot guy with a dominant streak who really wants to please a woman. He knows what he wants and he'll work hard to get it.

Speaking of lover boys, check out Jennifer's hunks on the book page of her gorgeous websites here and here (writing as Bernadette Gardner). I have a feeling Molten Man would have a lot of stamina :D

This one's from C: If you could have a dinner at your house with five of authors that inspired you from the present to the distant past, who would you invite and what did they do to inspire you in life/writing?

I saved the hardest question for last.

1) Randall Kenan, author of Let the Dead Bury the Dead. I love short stories, and he knows how to do things right. Awesome characterization. Tight, surprising, and full of twists. For those of you looking to write short, he's a great example to study.

2) William Faulkner. Want to get deep inside your characters' heads? Four words: As I Lay Dying. I think this is the book that made me want to write.

3) Eleanor Herman. I recently finished Sex with the Queen, and although I found it tragic, I loved it just as much as Sex with Kings. She proves that non-fiction can be as funny and sad and enthralling as fiction. If you need to do a lot of "telling" in your story, her writing can show you how to make it interesting.

4) Jeffery Deaver. Suspense tight as a drum with more twists than a Chinese acrobat. I'd give anything to be able to write a thriller the way he does. The problem is I get so into the story that I can't step back and study him.

5) I saved the best for last... my buddy Bridget Midway. She's a machine and can crank out stories -- good stories -- amazingly fast. She's always been a cheerleader for me when I need one; whenever I'm down about my writing, she slaps some sense into me and forces me to keep going. Plus she's serious about her craft and funny. I just hope she won't poke me with her fork under the table if I indulge in too many martinis :)

This was fun, and I hope to answer more deep, dark, probing questions soon! Bring 'em on!!

Interviews, Reviews, and a Holiday Contest

2006-11-30T11:15:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving is over, but I wanted to share some recent things I'm very grateful for.

> A new interview. I had a great time answering thoughtful questions from Miranda Heart at the Alternative Writers Association. The Alternative Writers Association also named me Author of the Month for November. :D

> Two new reviews for Topping Tora. Natasha from Romance Junkies wrote "...In-your-face erotic, this story has a D/s aspect that is very intense and satisfying. Laura Bacchi threw in some suspense and bad guys and my afternoon reading a great book was complete!" (4 Blue Ribbons). LT Blue from JERR said "...Topping Tora was an excellent story... I plan to add Ms. Bacchi as one of the authors to look for in BDSM stories. (4 Stars; Heat Level "O" for Orgasmic). Thanks, Natasha and LT!

> Two great reader comments. Reader feedback always makes my day. Here's what two people had to say about my futuristic, The Andumi Effect: "Thank you for the lovely read... Hope you will write more M/M romance." Another wrote, "I just finished this and let me tell you I loved it! ...Thanks again for such a great story." Getting comments like these are better than reviews IMO :)

> And finally, a new contest. Want to win a copy of Topping Tora or The Andumi Effect in December? My brain is yours for the picking. Goofy, tough, strange... just email me at laura@laurabacchi.com or comment here with your questions and I'll answer them on my blog as I receive them. Then on December 20th, I'll draw the names of two lucky winners who participated!

Good luck and happy reading!!

Great new releases from Liquid Silver!

2006-11-29T19:12:00.000-05:00

LSB has a ton of great talent. Here are two recent releases by very talented (and funny) "Liquid" ladies that you should check out :)

UNTIL NOW
By Rose Middleton
ISBN 1-59578-292-3
From Liquid Silver Books

Macy Jackson moved to Melbourne to follow her dream of being an actress, but one stupid mistake turned that dream into a nightmare. Now Macy is wondering whether she made the right choice; her reality of tending bar and pulling beers until the wee hours of the morning stinks to high heaven. But Hell will have to freeze over before she admits that to anyone. Especially the hound dog her brother has sent after her.

When his best friend asks him to bring Macy home, Lucius Devon senses that success will earn him some serious brownie points. Maybe he’ll be able to ditch the “town rebel” tag once and for all and win over the town’s mayor, Macy’s father. But the minute he sees the dangerous curves Macy has developed, his plans go out the window. Miss Smart Mouth has no intention of going back, so perhaps he can uncover her secrets and find something to lure her home with.

I love this part:

The corner of Macy’s ruby-red mouth quirked upwards. In a flash, she slammed a small shot glass down in front of him and poured it full of amber fluid. “Cheers to your cause.” As she bent to return the bottle to its home under the counter, Lucius heard her mutter, “I hope you choke on it.”

Want more? Click here.

THE TROUBLE WITH ALLIE
By Lisa Andel
ISBN 1-59578-303-2

Allie is a total failure as an elf.

She doesn’t look right, she can barely do magic, and the final straw? A group of vampires accosts her, only to turn away in disgust because of her foul taste.

Desperate to find out what she can do with her life, she sets out on a quest with a dangerous, sexy werecat named Rainth and his pack of Rangers.

Rainth and his men think the curvy little elf is nuts. Flawed or not, they can’t believe she doesn’t know she’s an incredibly sexy and endearing woman.

But Allie won’t be dissuaded. She knows exactly what she is. She did, after all, grow up hearing daily from the other elves of House Ta’Daanior that she was an unattractive, useless individual.

Little does she know the truth about her life.

Or why someone would be willing to kill to keep it a secret.

This has got some funny, funny stuff in it. Here's the prologue:

My heart pounded in my chest as he lowered his fangs toward my neck. His arms, like steel bands around my body, held me trapped. I felt the long, slow glide of his tongue along my skin, then the slight pinch of pain when he pierced my flesh.

I jerked as he started drawing my blood into his mouth with sensuous pulls. My vagina fluttered, the beginnings of an orgasm starting to ripple across my groin.

“Ptthtp!” The vampire flinched away from me, and spat onto the ground. “That’s just nasty!” He wiped his mouth on his shirt sleeve. Anger flashed red in the depths of his black eyes. “What kind of elf are you anyway?” He shoved me into the brick wall at the side of the alley where he’d trapped me.

I blinked stupidly at him, unable to form any words. I was as surprised as he was that I tasted bad. Okay, so part of me was pleased that he found me distasteful. I hadn’t asked him to suck on me anyway. But another part of me, the part that I was becoming all too familiar with these days, was only downright disgusted that I was proving to be a failure in just one more way.

“What you got here, Darius?” Two more vamps approached.

“Hey, is she an elf?” The taller of the new arrivals eyed me appraisingly.

“Taste her.” The first vamp pointed at me. “I think she’s spoiled or something.”

The tall one raised an eyebrow at this statement. Shrugging, he advanced, looked me in the eyes, then lowered his head to my neck. The now familiar swipe-sting of the bite did little to reassure me that I would make it home tonight, after all. Hell, if they got enough curious vamps to “taste” me, I’d still be bled out, one mouthful at a time.

“Blick!” The tall vamp spat my blood on the pavement. “Arno, you’ve got to try her.”

The third vampire was short and stocky, with a surprisingly beautiful baby face. He moved in close to me, tipped my head the other direction, and sank his fangs into my neck.

“Shit!” He muttered as he spat and spluttered. “What the fuck is that? I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

“What’s your name?” Darius asked me in a commanding tone.

I looked at him for several heartbeats, trying to determine if it would be better for me to tell him or not. Finally deciding that it didn’t matter, I relented. “Allie.”

“Well, Miss Allie, from now on, you will warn a man before he bites you that you taste like shit.” His tone was imperious, his features drawn into a grimace.

My face creased in a frown. “Get out of here. I’m not going to do any such thing. In fact, many men have found me quite tasty, thank you.” So it was a big fat lie. Who cared? This guy had been planning to drink my blood, and who knew what else, without my permission.

The three of them laughed. Great belly laughs. They took several minutes to wind down from their mirth. “You’ll forgive us if we have a hard time believing that,” the tall vamp said to me, a grin still on his face.

“Like I care,” I muttered to myself, as I pushed off the wall, and started walking away from them.

I had more important problems to think about than the way I tasted to a bunch of vampires. In fact, I had nothing but problems.

I was, after all, above and beyond the worst elf that had ever been born.

Want another taste? Catch the first chapter here... and enjoy!

Freaky stuff

2006-11-27T22:51:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this pic is two years old and heavily Photoshopped. And I'm wearing more make-up than a drag queen, but this MyHeritage.com thingee is kinda cool:

Try it yourself here

Like your romance dark?

2006-11-26T16:08:00.000-05:00

Fellow Romance Diva H. A. Fowler has a new release from Cobblestone Press. If you like futuristics, you'll want to check this out...

The barrier between Earth and Hell is about to fall...

THE VEIL

by H.A. Fowler
ISBN 978-1-60088-060-5
Futuristic/Dark Fantasy Romance
Cobblestone Press/October 27, 2006

Five hundred years ago, a terrorist group launched a fearsome anti-matter weapon and tore open the fabric of reality, revealing a world of nightmares on the other side. After decades of war, death and destruction, a union of wizards and witches came forth with the magick to build a barrier and keep the monsters in their rightful home.
They called it THE VEIL.
Detective Devon Harrigan is a hard-nosed skeptic, no fan of magick or its users -- an ironic stance for a vampire who was human when the Veil first fell. But he is a cop first, so when a serial killer stalks his home city of New Denver, Colorado, he'll do what he has to do to stop the carnage. Including play babysitter to the killer's sole living witness, a pampered high priestess of the most powerful witches' organization in the world, the creators of the Veil itself.

High Priestess Lady Helene Du Solaire has lived a sheltered life, and she has never met anyone as anachronistic -- or as fascinating -- as her new bodyguard. There is no denying the immediate attraction between them, or that giving into it could lead to devastating consequences. Not to mention it's a distraction from the matter at hand they can scarcely afford -- that Helene is the killer's target because she is the key to a ritual that, in only a few days time, will destroy the Veil and unleash Hell on Earth once again.

Helene and Devon must race against time and resist their growing feelings, put aside prejudices and painful pasts, and discover the identity of the being that threatens both Helene's life and the fate of the world.

Read an Excerpt

Click here to purchase.
~~~~~

News-o-rama!

2006-11-15T23:00:00.000-05:00

First off, I'm thrilled to share that fellow Liquid Silver author Kate Willoughby picked my brain with some very interesting questions. Check out her blog to find out what my name would be if I were a Bond Girl :)

Thanks, Kate, for the interview!

Secondly, I just got word that a short erotic tale of mine made the editor's cut for a print anthology! The story's called "Martini Girl" and I just hope the publisher goes for it as well. Wish me luck!

Finally, I got around to posting some erotic drawings on my website. Please enjoy, but not when the kiddies are afoot. :)

Lovely Stuff

2006-11-12T10:45:00.000-05:00

I'm making good progress with my current guy-on-guy novella, but a little inspiration never hurts. Fellow Liquid Silver writer Lisa Andel directed our attention to photographer Jan Kruml. Anyone know where I can get me one of those man trees?

Yum. :)

Kink at Kinko's & A New BDSM Site Chat

2006-11-07T22:57:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I went to Kinko's last night to get my PDF of Topping Tora bound for possible review at RT. Couldn't get my memory stick to work in the public workstation so I could print the damn cover in color. So I trot back up to the guy at the main desk--the place was pretty dead, fortunately--and he offers to do it his station.

A burning blush creeps up my neck and settles into my cheeks. "All I need is the first page."

What I want to scream (or maybe whisper) is, "Don't scroll down!!! Stay right on Page 1. There's a riding crop and a nekkid chick on stage being auctioned off... Oh, God, please don't scroll down!"

"Just Page 1, please," I meekly say.

He's looking right at the cover page. "So is this a cover for a CD or something?" he asks.

"No, it's a, uh, book cover."

"Your book?"

"Um, yeah. But I only need the first page."

"What kind of book is it?"

How do you answer that one? "Oh... well... It's probably not your thing..."

"You never know."

"It's erotic romance."

"Really? How do I get a copy?"

Oh, shit. A possible sale. He prints the page. "Okay, kill the document," I want to yell.

"It's an e-book. And it's, uh, pretty rough stuff, so you probably wouldn't like it..." Talk about how to promote yourself. What a chicken-shit I am.

He walks up to where I'm standing. Points at the screen. "So you wrote that?"

Nope. Not really. My evil twin did and she's a real horny... "Yes," I mumble. Is he gonna turn me into the PTA or something? I can just see the headlines now: LOCAL MOM WRITES SMUT. Eek!

"How do I get a copy?"

"Well, I don't have a business card on me..."

"You should. You should always carry 'em." He hands me a pen and scrap of paper. "Write down where I can get this. You should be proud of what you did. My fiance really likes this kind of stuff."

Holy shit! I made a sale at Kinko's. And his co-worker--who I swear to God was built like Jovan with a very similar skin tone--kept walking back and forth looking at the cover. Hell, maybe I made two!

And he didn't charge me for the copy ;)

~ ~ ~

Miranda Heart, the reviewer who gave me that awesome review for Topping Tora invites you to an informational chat tomorrow, Wednesday, 11/08/2006 at 10pm EST/9pm CT/8pm MT/7pm PT at AlternativeWriters.com

This is a chance for authors, publishers, editors, lifestylers, and readers to ask questions and find out more about AWA and what services are available to you. She's says everyone is welcome, and I hope to stop by and check it out myself. Maybe I'll see ya there!

An Amazing Review for Tora and a Re-release!

2006-11-05T17:34:00.000-05:00

Sending a book out for review is just plain scary. Yeah, the ePub shoots your stuff out to their auto-send list, but you as an author don't have to feel the agonizing dilemma of whether a certain site will "get" your baby. You don't feel the pain of hitting "send" with the eBook attached. So I was shaking in my boots when I sent Topping Tora to Alternative Writers.com. One of the missions of this new site is to "...give the discerning reader a place to find BDSM novels published by those knowledgeable in the lifestyle."

Could I measure up?

Well, I'm completely overwhelmed by the review Miranda Heart gave me. Moved to tears in fact. Here are just a few of the wonderful things that she said:

"...I finished this book some hours ago and I'm still baffled as what to write. To say this book was the best book I've read in five years would be putting it mildly. Laura has a talent that is far above any writer I have probably ever read. The best part about her writing is how it relates to us as individuals...

" ...The other part that made these two [Tora and Jovan] so believable to me was the dialogue. Ms. Bacchi must have truly gone over their dialogue a thousand times out loud to have determined exactly what would have been said... And her visuals. At times they had me running for a cold shower and others they had me clutching my stomach. All I have to say is read the scene with the fly. Amazing. Utterly amazing. Last but never least was the way she drew me in emotionally, in several places through out the book I just wanted to cry...

"...Laura, I hope to see more from you, you are truly an exceptional author that stole my breath away with Topping Tora. I can only hope this review does justice to what you have written. Thank you."

The review was over a thousand words, which is why I posted so much of it. That and the fact that it made me feel like all the heartaches and headaches of being of writer are worth it.

I'm still reeling from this.

For the entire review, click here.

If you write anything related to BDSM and want a quality review, visit AlternativeWriters.com. I was amazed at the depth of Miranda's review and highly recommend this site.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Heart Of A Hunter
by Laura Bacchi
$3.00
ISBN-10: 1-59279-633-8 (Electronic)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59279-633-5 (Electronic)
For purchase or to read an excerpt, click here.

Winner—Over the Moon Award of Excellence from May Reviews!

He claimed he was an alien. Asher's mission is simple: locate the Earth woman named Raine Thompson and bring her back to his home planet. Raine's lush body and aptitude for passion make her the perfect mate for his older brother, Imari. But Asher can't resist the sensual woman he's sworn to escort across the galaxy.

She claimed his heart. Raine has a mission of her own: to sleep with as many men as possible before she turns thirty and forget her ex in the process. Things look pretty grim until a hot guy from outer space shows up at her favorite bar. Raine just wants a night of uninhibited sex, but when an Earth woman on the rebound and an honor-bound Turmian male travel through the cosmos, anything's possible. Maybe even love…

(Please note: this story was previously published under the ISBN: 1-59426-520-8. This reissued version has been expanded and reedited.)

Genres: Science Fiction / Futuristic
Heat Level: 2
Length: Extended Amber Kiss (11k words)

"5 Angels!...A wonderfully written short story about risking one’s heart for one moment for a chance at blissful romance. Ms. Bacchi has done a superb job at earning 5 Angels!”— Jessica, Fallen Angel Reviews

"5 Stars!...SUPERIOR...Over too soon, this enjoyable read is written with smooth style.”—Deb, MayReviews.com

"4.5 Stars!...A short hot read that will have you clamoring for more...If you want a story that will keep you engrossed, The Heart of a Hunter is the book for you.”—Trang Black, Just Erotic Romance Reviews

A New Discovery

2006-11-04T08:49:00.000-05:00

Here's a new (to me) writer with an amazing line-up of future releases:

The Personal Assistant
Erotic Romance/Suspense
Whiskey Creek Press
1-59374-710-1(electronic)

Morgan Thomas is MAC Music’s latest “it” girl. With the onset of her successful debut, Morgan is showered with money, parties, and fame. Although she can buy whatever and most often, whomever she wants, she finds herself isolated and alone, unable to trust anyone in the dog-eat-dog world of music. At this level of success, Morgan is a product to be packaged, marketed, and sold.

But to her personal assistant, Tyrone Miller, Morgan is more. A childhood friend, Tyrone’s sole goal is to keep Morgan safe, happy and successful. Yet, when she mysteriously disappears while in New York recording her follow up album, Tyrone discovers that his love for Morgan goes far beyond platonic...to passionate.

When you get a chance, check out RaeLynn Blue's Blog She has something coming out in December called Speed Demon, which looks very intriguing.

Officer Quindalin Barnes is fed up working the night shift, patrolling New Mexico's Highway 9. She spends most nights racing her cruiser, feeling its rush and relishing the passion speeding gives her. One night, a mysterious black mustang rips down highway 9, leading Quinn on a high speed chase. But no sooner does she slap on the flashers, does the mustang pull over. Expecting to ticket the driver, Quinn is swept up into an otherworldly race by the demon Drannon, not only for her heart, for her soul--to bound to him for all time.

Can someone plug in a fan and get that yellow smoke to move out of the way? I wanna SEE!

Topping Tora is out! Plus Tawny Taylor's latest release...

2006-10-30T18:16:00.000-05:00

I guess you can call this a "double T" post :)

Topping Tora
By Laura Bacchi
ISBN 1-59578-294-X
Available now at Liquid Silver Books

It's out!! It's really out!! My first full-length is out, and I can't tell you how excited that makes me! And nervous... It's much "rougher" than any of my other tales in terms of the sex. Plus there's a kidnapping and some fairly brutal scenes connected with that. Oops--I guess I'm supposed to be making people want to buy the book, not trying to scare them away. Maybe it's best if I focus on the sex ;) Contains: D/s, multiple partners, M-M-F, F-F, heavy spanking, light bondage, anal sex. I think I got it all in there.

Tora Wolff craves domination, and at Club Xotica, she expects to get it. When the man who tops her at work shows up to top her at play, Tora can’t believe her bad luck. And she hasn’t even found the dead body yet...

Jovan Creel wants a woman who’s willing to submit, and not just any woman. He wants Tora. But after all the fun and games are over, will she want him?

When Tora decides to explore her submissive side with another man, someone more experienced--and much more dangerous--Jovan soon discovers it's not a question of Tora wanting him when she returns to Atlanta. It's a question of whether she can return at all.

For an excerpt, click here.

~ ~ ~

Touch of the Beast by Tawny Taylor is available now at Ellora's Cave. This shapeshifter erotic romance is Book #2 of her Animal Urges series.

Buy at: www.ellorascave.com
Read an excerpt at www.ellorascave.com

Here's the blurb:

Katie Spenser is looking forward to some R-and-R with her best friend Abby when she makes the loooong trip from Chicago to Alaska. Unfortunately, rest and relaxation are not what she gets. Intead it's:

A missing best friend...
Men who turn into bears...
Bad guys shooting guns.

The only part of Katie’s so-called vacation that’s pleasant is Raul Zant. She simply cannot resist a guy so sexually dominant that a mere glance produces delightful tingles and quivers of anticipation. And the sex... Two words: Mind. Blowing.

Security Officer Raul must turn over his renegade best friend to Omega, or his brother will die. He loves his brother, but handing over his best friend, regardless of the reason, isn’t exactly painless. And speaking of pain, his desire for Katie is so relentless and intense it’s agonizing. She will surrender. He must have her.

Together, with assassins at their heels, and fiery lust driving them into each other’s arms, Katie and Raul must rescue their friends, uncover who is behind Omega, and learn whether there is a cure for Raul and Tarik’s unusual “ailment.”

The trick will be staying alive.

~ ~ ~

I hope you get a chance to check both of these out!

No tricks, just treats - CONTEST!

2006-10-26T21:58:00.000-04:00

I'm knee-deep into the writing of Book II of my Quantar Trilogy. It's called Claimed: The Submission of Sibeta, and this novella promises more cock than a field full of naked rugby players. There'll be a cock that doesn't care what hole he hides in, and a cock who only wants another cock. Then there's a cock in a lock. (Don't open this link with kiddies around; graphic pic) The hero ends up in something like this, poor guy. But he'll still have some fun while he's tracking down the key ;)

I don't have a release date yet, but I'm hoping for early 2007. If you want to be ready for it, I'm giving away a copy of Book I, Chosen: The Chronicles of Winter this Halloween. For your shot at this title, simply comment on this post with your feelings on M/M erotic romance. Love it? Hate it? Somewhere in between?

Post your response by 9 PM EST on the 31st and good luck!!

Out and proud!!!

2006-10-09T09:11:00.000-04:00

For some reason I thought The Andumi Effect would be released around the 20th of October. But it came out this weekend, and I'm really excited because this is my first guy-on-guy erotic romance. Just two boys (and I mean that in the over-18 way) drifting through the stars, taking each other's clothes off, licking, sucking... *sigh*

Here's the blurb:

Minot Tvargot thought he knew his place in the universe until his double-crossing government makes him the possession of a Damurian slaver. Now this seasoned spy must figure out why the govs betrayed him -- and fight his growing attraction to the man who owns him.

Legendary spy Ky Andumi is no slaver, and the disguise he wears can't hide his desire for the young spy on his ship for long. He wants Minot badly, and when the Unias Government takes away his soul mate, he'll do anything to get him back.

It's almost novella length at 17K and was a lot of fun to write. Here's an excerpt:

“Can I buy myself?”

The slaver leaned him against the console and grinned. “No, my spy. That rather defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?” He removed both boots and Minot’s pants.

“Then mark my sale Unias Primary. One of my own will bail me out,” he said, but the slaver shrugged, unconvinced. “It’s happened before, you know. The Unias Government sends someone in to pose as a buyer and get their people back from guys like you. Hell, I’ve done it myself.”

The Damurian grinned. “Really?”

Minot rolled his eyes. The slaver had to realize this little game was played all the time. “Yep. Of course, you don’t care as long as you get paid.”

The slaver considered Minot’s words. “This is true, but I’m sorry to tell you that won’t be the case for you.”

He didn’t seem sorry. A wicked gleam in the slaver’s eyes made Minot’s heart work twice as hard. Blood roared through his pulse points, and chill bumps scattered over his flesh.

“Why not?”

“Two reasons.” The man bent down between Minot’s legs and unhooked the length of chain hobbling him, then added a set of longer links. At least this gave him more freedom to move if another opportunity to escape presented itself. But the slaver didn’t stand when he was done. He stayed there, mouth at the same level as Minot’s prick, hot air teasing his swelling purple head with every breath. His balls grew tight. Not good.

“Spread your legs for me.”

His cock flexed at those words as he entertained the idea of getting blown by a man. He’d been too busy to get laid during the last two months. Hell, he hadn’t even had time to jack-off while running from moon to moon in search of the Hybri Codex. If he closed his eyes, he could imagine the man huffing on his dick being someone like him. Someone with a desire to taste firm flesh like his own. His full lips would be soft. His mouth warm…

But the man didn’t lean any further in. Minot grew flustered and impatient. “Is this part of the inspection? You wanna make sure all my parts are in working order or something?”

“Think of it however you like.” Then, suddenly, silver lips wrapped around his cock, and a slippery tongue helped work it in even deeper. When his captor’s nose hit the fuzzy outcropping of hair framing his prick, a groan rumbled in his chest. One agonizingly slow suck later, his penis was free—and harder than it had ever been in his entire life.

I have to admit, the anal scene later in the tale had me slipping and sliding in my chair so bad I had to walk away and find my husband. But don't take my word for it -- go buy the... Oh, crap. I'm sounding like a marketing chick again. Which I guess I am. In fact I got a promotion the other day: Director of Marketing. Pretty cool, eh? Let's just hope I can do the job...

More good news: all my futuristic shorts will be released in a paperback anthology this January. I can't wait!!

And speaking of out, Cassidy Kent has a new release. Check it out:

Raleigh in Rio
eBook ISBN: 1-59426-498-8
Published By: Phaze
Release Date: October 2, 2006
Written by: Cassidy Kent

Raleigh Campbell just learned that her five year marriage was a sham. Not only did she find her husband in their bed with a co-worker, but he has been carrying on the affair for four years! To cheer her up, Raleigh’s friends take her to Rio during Carnivale to celebrate her 30th birthday and pending divorce.

Little does she know that her soon-to-be ex has cheated his company more than her. Private investigator Cristo Santiago has been assigned to watch Raleigh’s every move in search of twelve million dollars of embezzled corporate money and that’s landed him in the hot waters of obsession. His love for Raleigh is sealed under the starry Rio sky, but can he find the missing money without losing Raleigh’s trust?

Looks like a great read!