Running Wild Excerpt/Teaser
March 6th, 2008
So, I had to pick out an excerpt for Running Wild’s RT Debut and thought I’d share. I think this one will do. What do you think?
Running Wild Excerpt © Reprinted by permission. All Rights reserved.
He kissed her hard, his tongue sliding over hers, stealing her protest, leaving only a soft exhale of his name in its place. He pulled back. This close she couldn’t miss the power emanating from him, or the glow in his eyes. The glow that marked him as something other than human.
“Later I’ll explain everything to you, but you will obey me now.”
“No.” Of the hundred fractured thoughts and words scattered through her mind, that was the only one she could get out.
He pulled her into his chest, against the body she’d made love to the night before. The inhuman body.
“I can handle this, seelie.” Donovan’s hand stroked down her back. The gesture was hauntingly familiar in the surreal landscape of her thoughts. So was the confidence in his voice. “I’m a Protector. It’s what I do.”
Car doors slammed, snapping her out of her paralysis. Her hands balled into fists against Donovan’s shoulder. Men were coming to kill them. She didn’t need to deal with anything more devastating than that right now. She pushed away from Donovan’s embrace. Feeling strangely calm, oddly detached, she asked, “Can you handle them?”
“Yes.”
She bit her lip as shadows crested the hill, slithering over the snow, growing with every heartbeat. They only had seconds to come up with a plan. “What are you going to do?”
His eyes glowed. He touched the bruise on her cheekbone in a feather-light caress. “I’m going to kill them.”
The difference between Erotic romance, Erotica and Porn
March 6th, 2008
I think this is one of the most reoccurring discussions in the romance world. To me as a writer it’s crystal clear because there’s a huge difference in structure and well, Romance is a genre and every genre has rules that must be followed. Since I’ve weighed in so much on the subject already, I’m going to be lazy and repost. 
Too often I think what makes a romance a romance gets overlooked in discussions on whether erotic romance is romance, erotica or porn. As in real life, the speculating on what the H&H could be doing, might be doing or shouldn’t be doing seems to have a high distractability for the participants drawing them away from the bottom line: The level of heat in a novel has absolutely nothing to do with the romance of a novel. They are two different components of story structure. A well done erotic romance can steal a reader’s breath the same way a sensual romance can because those breathless moments don’t come from the love scenes. They come from the characters and how they interact. And more importantly, from the author’s skill in handling that interaction.
Obviously, reader preference as to what heat level they prefer to have their breath stolen will vary, but there is no direct correlation between heat level of a novel and a novel’s breath stealing potential. That all takes place within that perfect dark moment when characterization, conflict and plot collide hopefully with enough emotional impact that the aftershocks linger in the readers minds long after they close the covers of the books.
In my opinion, erotic romance and erotica can be separated by content/structure. To me, as a writer, there’s a huge difference between erotic romance (which adheres to the rules of the romance genre) and erotica. This is not to say there can’t be a woman’s fiction book with erotica elements, or erotica with women fiction elements (blending genres is very common) but I’m just discussing the difference between straight erotica and erotic romance and not defining beyond those boundaries.
Erotic Romance- the book is 100 percent romance with all the elements, plot, pacing, conflict, characterization, dark moment, and the Happily ever after ending. The only difference is the loves scenes are more descriptive. Erotic romance still must conform to the genre rules of romance. Within the previous categories you will have the growth of each character, the growth of the relationship, revelation of the deeper conflicts, the expansion of the plot, and the steady pacing all building to the Dark moment which resolves into the Happily ever after. In an erotic romance, you could remove every love making scene and still have a kick butt story as the love scenes enhance the story
but are not the story. (the acid test)
Erotica- The love scenes are the story and convey whatever it is the author wants to say. There can be romantic elements within the story, but if you pulled out the love scenes, there would not be enough leftover material to make up a story. In Erotica, everything in the book is there to support the love scenes which are the thrust of the story. Characterization, plot development, etc are all minimal as they are restricted to boundaries of the message the author wants to get across. Everything that is not a love scene has been written to give the sex scene a reason to be, so if you take them out there will be very little left of the book, and that little bit would clearly be sitting there saying, “Bring my love scenes back so I have a reason to
be.” Does that makes sense? It can be well written and emotive, but it’s not genre romance. There does not have to be a happily ever after ending. The hero and heroine do not have to be heroic. The story arc does not follow the genre rules of romance.
Porn- Rarely any attempt at an emotional component. Pretty much slot A tab B sex without any embellishments beyond the imagination put into positions and situations.
Now what do I not understand?  What is the difference in romance between urban fantasy. fantasy and paranormal subgenres.
Sarah 
Sam’s Creed’s And Running Wild’s covers
March 1st, 2008
They’re up on my website.
Sam’s Creed-Spice  did a couple last minute tweaks to Sam’s Creed that have made it even more stunning.  Along with the design, I just love that eye popping color. Must be the Aries in me. Drool away! 
Sarah 
Heads up!
March 1st, 2008
I noticed that Ellora’s must be switching over printing of Promises Linger and Promises Keep from Lightning Source (which meant they were never out of stock) to the same printer who does Promises Prevail which means they will likely start becoming difficult to find if past history holds, so if you want them and you see them, it might be good to grab them.
Sarah, who somehow killed off all of February’s entries yesterday and endured a website doing all sorts of funky stuff which she must now fix. Bad website! 
WOOT! Sam’s Creed is up for Preorder on Amazon!!
January 30th, 2008
Never seems real until I see him some place official.
Sarah 
How did you do?
January 28th, 2008
I didn’t do a lot of reading last year. I was too busy writing, and most of my reading was from 2006 catch up but as I was looking over AAR polls, I was struck by a feeling of loneliness. A couple of the series just didn’t attract me the way I wanted them too and I couldn’t get into them. Some of the books I thought were super, weren’t on the list. And a couple of my “Goals” didn’t happen 
So, folks, what were you’re reading related meant to’s last year. Did you make them or not? Here were mine.
I felt left out not glomming the brotherhood so I was determined to try the series again a couple books in. Didn’t because of the furor when LU came out. Just didn’t seem “The one” to hook me. Maybe I’ll start the series with the next one.
I wanted to catch up with the Singh series. Did. Loved the second book. Waiting on the upcoming.
Wanted to stay caught up on Liu. I’m a book behind, but I have it.
I have collected all of Christine Warren’s books. Was determined to find the time to sit down and read them back to back. A special treat to myself as I rarely get to do that.  Still have not found the time. Am still saving the books and adding to the pile as the series comes out. I might be missing one. I think she released one in an anthology? (putting find that out onto the to do list)
Wanted to promote the Bronze Horseman. Loved that book. Uhm, forgot to do that.
Wanted to rebuild my keeper shelf of the books I lost years ago. (This is a loooong time item on the to do list.) I did start that. Refilled my Sharon and Tom Curtis inventory. Some of the older Liinda Howards. A couple Garwoods. The Sandra Canfield book Night into day. Still working on the list though.
Wanted to delve a bit deeper into the Urban Fantasy phenom, because pretty much, I don’t have any on my TBB or TBR list. Hmm, did you know they are mostly in first preson? Well, I didn’t which explains why I don’t have a huge TBR backlist of them. Just don’t enjoy that POV. I know, not realizing they are mostly first person qualifies as a DUH! moment, but I’ve been a bit distracted. At least I now understand why I don’t have a any in my pile despite KNOWING I’ve looked into tons. So, does that mean I can check that off or have to keep it on?
Wanted to start a new list for 2008 before 2008 got here so I could participate in the what are you waiting for discussions. Didn’t. Have absolutely no idea what’s coming out this year beyond Maureen McKade’s Reason to Sin. Must move that up on the to do list otherwise I’m going to get behind.
Wanted to get through my recommended list collected over the year to see if I want to buy or not.. Haven’t but I still have the list (It’s a piece of paper in my purse so that’s a big yeah!) and I did order one. Second Time Around by Marie Ferriella. Waiting for it to arrive.
So, there’s my list. And I haven’t even started one for 2008. *sigh* Are you all doing better than I am?
Sarah
The McCarty Mobettes NEW Mascot
January 23rd, 2008
This is Lillian. The Alphas new companion and mascot.  Lillian is the one who caught the eyes of the most mobettes and the one we will be sponsoring. She’s a wonderful kitty staying at Tabby’s Place. This is a phenomenal cage free shelter (more like a palace) where cats on death row in shelters, often with life threatening issues (diabetes, cancer, abuse, neglect, etc) come to live, get healthy and get put up for adoption. Lilly is doing great after a set back in December.
Cancer was found in her ears. Her ear canal had to be removed, along with her ear flaps, but nothing gets this sweet girl down. After a brief reorientation, she recovered nicely, and a big exciting plus happened! She’s been moved up out of the sun room into the lobby! She is now an official greeter and since she’s a total lap cat, charms everyone who meets her. (though if you sit too long, after you take her off your lap to get up, she’s right back on.) And why not? Humans are there to serve and she has so much love to give.
Seriously, anyone looking for a wonderful shelter where the animals live a very sweet normal life and where their donation makes a huge difference, check out Tabby’s Place It’s a very impressive place! (Impressive website too.) No cages, but lots of love sunshine and open air. A great place to support.
Sarah
Happy New Year to Everyone!
January 1st, 2008
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year!
Sarah
You know it’s been a rough year in epublishing when…
December 29th, 2007
I was tired yesterday, my mind half engaged due to the fact I’m hosting relatives by day and editing at night. Dear Author had a post regarding Samhain’s change in focus for submissions. Natch, my post came out ass backwards. Meant to imply I was the third person glad to see proactive behavior. However, the fact I typed three instead of third gave a whole new meaning to the sentence.  This is why I should not post on blogs when I’m tired. It would help  if I remembered that when I am tired.
However, after reading over the posts, it occurred to me the announcement didn’t really require this level of excitement. In a normal year, no one would have even noticed because shifting to accepting submissions in all genres as long they have some type of romantic element is not much of a shift from what is currently being purchased, and really not news worthy but the level of relief that I and others felt that an e publisher made a simple PR announcement is indicative of just how pessimistic the events in the e world over the last year of so have made many of us.
While I know Samhain’s refocus will be disappointing to some authors, and while I feel for them, I am still going to allow my out of proportion happiness to continue because after a year of disasters, it is refreshing to see a business behaving in a business like manner in regard to their business.
But you know, it’s really been a rough year in epublishing. Just watching from the sidelines, I’m exhausted. I hope 2008 brings a positive change for publishers and authors alike and that this is just the start of a fresh new wave of positive energy. 
Oh, and the thread has an interesting discussion regarding the definition of Urban Fantasy and how it’s evolving. Pretty interesting.
Remember when…
December 29th, 2007
I’m stealing this post idea from Denise Agnew over at the Bradford Bunch. Going in to the New Year it’s good to look back and see where you’ve been. In that vein, here are my top “remember whens” What are yours?
Sarah
I remember when the back of station wagons were playgrounds for long trips.
I remember when dogs went with their owners everywhere
I remember when the no 2 pencil ruled
I remember when not handing in your homework in a class was an automatic two hour detention.
I remember when the Eagles defined the feel of summer.
I remember Walter Cronkite who brought me the world and through the nuance of his voice prepared me for the good and the bad.
I remember watching the news, catching glimpses of a strange country called Vietnam and straining to see if I could find my neighbor in the devastating shots.
I remember crying when the Cronkite announced the soldiers were coming home.
I remember horror when they did and not everyone cheered.
I remember when we only had three channels on the TV. Two of them fuzzy
I remember rushing to get my chores done by 5:30pm on weekdays so I could watch the Bugs Bunny Roadrunner hour.
I remember flower power and Volkswagon beetles.
I remember Roe vs Wade (though it was a few years before
I understood it’s importance)
I remember the excitement of getting into college followed quickly by the confusion of just what did I intend to do once I got there.
I remember Intellivision, Space Spartans, and Stampede
I remember the myth of the home computer.
I remember the mystery “plague” of Aids.
I remember thinking what was the point of the world wide web.
I remember thinking nothing exciting would ever happen in my lifetime.
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