Authors After Dark

HELP WANTED FOR #AADNOLA

2012-01-26T06:53:00.000-08:00

Wanted: Social Media and Media liaison for Authors After Dark

As AAD grows by literally leaps and bounds, we are now in need of a media liaison that will allow Stella to focus on the con, while ensuring her things are not going awry.

Duties to include but not limited to:

v Updating Twitter both before and during the convention

v Monitoring the forum for questions and new attendees

v Monitoring the blog for questions and comments

v Re-tweeting info about AAD

v Tweeting AAD Featured Author Spotlights and posting summary of spotlights to AAD blog monthly

v Monitoring AAD Facebook Page for questions and comments

v Fielding requests for interviews for staff

v Correspondence with TV/ Radio for city we are in

v Correspondence with specialty groups and events

v Liaison to visiting media at the convention proper

v Working with Hotel to ensure visiting media is taken care of

v Working with host city CVB for leads and scheduling

v On-site escort and liaison for visiting media during the Authors After Dark Convention

Applicants must have a sunny disposition, good people, organizational and networking skills and above all, TIME to devote to this. This is a full time endeavor, and the applicant must be online often to work this.

Applicant will work closely with Stella through the year till August, and at the con will be in charge of the visiting media (host city TV/ Radio/ Print). Applicant will be the face of Authors After Dark’s PR department for the next 2 years (NOLA and SAVANNAH).

Compensation: Perks package negotiable. AAD is non profit and no monetary compensation will change hands. Present your wish list for compensation during application.

All interested applicants: Letter of intent, including experience, hours online a day, number of hours a week you can devote to this endeavor, any pertinent credentials and compensation package.

Position starts Feb 20^th and runs till the end of Savannah 2013’s Event.

All applicants will be reviewed ASAP and a decision will be made soon after.

Contact: Stella Price- blueflamesabove@yahoo.com before Feb 3^rd.

I have received a few questions about this posting since it went up so I figured I would amend the listing so that all questions so far asked would be addressed:

Ideally we would like a blogger or reader to do this that has no ties to any other company in the industry or author because we feel only an impartial person can do this job in the spirit that AAD is intended.
YES, we are willing to train for this year, and YES perks would start for this year.
We would prefer a person that is not part of any other con's staff for this position, as AAD is a full time event and we cannot have split loyalties (split loyalties, at least in My (Stella's) experience lead to someone's important business being put on the back burner. You are either 100% committed to this endeavor, or your not.)
If you already work for a publisher, please do not offer your services. While its flattering, and awesome, it just wouldn't work. Publisher should ALWAYS come first and we respect that.
NO, I am not looking for someone that is an assistant, putting the work off on their own staff. This position is for ONE PERSON that is committed to doing the job and working with myself, and the AAD staff.

Thanks everyone!

the #AADNOLA final push contest

2012-01-15T08:18:00.000-08:00

So we are in the home stretch! AAD is VERY close to selling out, and we would like that to happen sooner rather then later. We had originally thought to do this contest in Feb, but with less then 71 spots left, we figured now was the time!

So welcome to the final push contest!

Here’s the deal:

Between today, January 15 and Feb 15^th, One month, we hope to acquire a SOLD OUT on our Event Brite page and start a waitlist. So we have come up with one HELL of a contest to get the job done.

So starting today, everyone that registered will get entered in to win one of our fabulous prizes—with TWO entries. (Note: all people already attending are entered to win as well… Authors, bloggers, book club people are industry).

Winners will be chosen at the Welcome event At AAD NOLA and announced therein.

So what can you win?

Grand Prize:

Registration for AAD Savannah 2013 (MoC MaryJanice Davidson)(does not include room or travel)

Other prizes include:

1 hour drinks with Leanna Renee Hieber for you and 2 of your friends

1 hour drinks or Coffee with Yasmine Galenorn

A prize basket of books from Jade Lee/ Kathy Lyons

2 Autographed Books by Lacie Nation

Breakfast with Stella and Audra Price at Café Du Monde

A gift package from PJ Schnyder

And others!

So get your registration in! that’s all you have to do! Spread the word and good luck to everyone!

News From the Front: AAD's 2013 Master of Ceremonies!

2012-01-13T05:58:00.000-08:00

So I know everyone has been really excited about NOLA, I am too, and all the planning is coming along nicely, so nicely that of course we have started doing prelims for the 2013 event... and wanted to unveil a sneak peek to you today!

So who is ready?

AAD 2013 will be held in Savannah, GA On August 15-18th 2013 at the Savannah Riverfront Marriott (Which we have amazing rates for including Cheap rates for EVERY suite in the hotel!). They are offering us some lovely perks including 10% of all spa treatments and early check in. We will talk more about the hotel and the awesome it is giving us soon though, so stay tuned.

Now... about that Master of Ceremonies...

The 2013 Authors After Dark Master of Ceremonies is none other than

MaryJanice Davidson!!!

We are SO excited to have MJD as our MoC (giggle) for 2013 and cant wait to talk about the awesome we are planning for Savannah! So? Who is excited?????

(ooh and just a little FYI: The Savannah board of tourism is coming to AAD NOLA on sunday to get you guys pumped for Savannah, order raffle prizes and Savannah goodie bags!)

AAD hotel room updates

2012-01-04T13:03:00.000-08:00

OK, in trying to keep everyone abreast of the events hotel issues, I figured I would give you guys the heads up on the hotel. We are close to selling out. heres the deal:

We have 107 spots left open for AAD NOLA in registrations.

In reservations we have this amount of rooms (by Day) available:

8/5: 2
8/6: 0
8/7: 0
8/8: 10
8/9: 61
8/10: 61
8/11: 61
8/12: 38
8/13: 17
8/14: 0
5/15: 0

Now what is left are ALL KINGS. This means that 2 people in one room will need to share a bed (and kings frankly are HUGE, I sleep in one and don't even realize Joe is in bed with me LOL). The reason for this is that the hotel only has kings LEFT in the hotel at all. We have sold out of Doubles.

So this means you NEED to get your room reservations in ASAP, and contact me with issues. Also, if you are reading this, and you HAVE reserved a double, only have 2 people and don't mind sleeping in a king, please email me ASAP. I can guarantee your "sacrifice" will be noted and rewarded. All kings will get a roll away if needed as well.

AAD Reading Challenge!

2012-01-04T05:51:00.000-08:00

the lovely Midnyte Reader has set up a LOVELY AAD Reader Challenge all on her own! its been amazing to see people jump on board for this, and we wanted to give YOU the option to do it as well... So heres the deal...

In anticipation of Authors After Dark 2012 in New Orleans, I created the AAD 2012 Reading Challenge. The goal of this challenge is to let readers, whether you are going to AAD 2012 or not, get better acquainted with some of the authors who will be attending this event.

Sometimes I go to conferences that feature authors who I am unfamiliar with. Then, when I read their books later I want to kick myself for not reading their work sooner, so I could have talked to them about their stories, gotten a book signed or just gushed properly.

I asked Stella Price, the organizer of Authors After Dark if there would be any issues with me hosting this challenge and she not only gave me the green light and is very supportive, but asked the AAD 2012 website designer Robin from RLD Design to to make me a button! Thank you Stella and Robin!

Guidelines:
•Although AAD 2012 takes place in August, this challenge will run from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012.
•Books must be read and reviewed in 2012.
•You can join at anytime during the year.
•Anyone can join (not just book bloggers).

To Join:
•Write a post about this challenge on your blog with a link back to this post.
•Include a list of the AAD 2012 books you hope to read in 2012. You can check out the authors on the AAD 2012 website HERE. (Then click on the authors link.) Please note that your list is not written in stone! You can change it at anytime.
•Grab the button and add it to your post or sidebar.
•Sign up on Mr. Linky below. Please enter the link to the AAD 2012 Challenge post on your blog, not your main blog page. (If you link to your main blog page, unfortunately it will be deleted.) If you do not have a blog, you can just sign up.

To post a review:
• This is just the sign up page, not where you will link up your reviews. To link up your Authors After Dark 2012 Reading Challenge reviews click HERE. When you write your review it would be great if you could mention that it is part of the AAD 2012 Reading Challenge.
•If you don't have a blog: You can link to Goodreads, Amazon, Shelfari, etc. OR, instead of linking to a review you can leave a comment below with your thoughts.

To find out more about Authors After Dark 2012 visit their website!

Check out Midnyte Reader on her blog and join up... and SHHH! not only is this an awesome challenge, but you could maybe get some sweet prizes from AAD itself for participating...

December Featured Author Spotlights

2012-01-03T04:33:00.000-08:00

Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop

2011-12-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you for visiting our stop on the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop. This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to LibraryLady on winning the AAD prize package!

Happy Holidays, everyone!

AAD 2012 in New Orleans is filling up incredibly fast. We're taking a breather from planning and preparations to celebrate the holidays and wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

In the meantime, Authors After Dark is pleased to offer this prize pack as part of the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop. Included is an exclusive Authors After Dark tote bag and various print books and swag from the fantastic authors of AAD 2011.

To enter to win, please leave a comment and let us know what's at the top of your holiday wish list. This giveaway is open to international entries.

Also, remember to visit the Contests page to enter to win the Grand Prize!

Thank you for visiting us on the blog hop. Have fun and good luck in the other giveaways!

D'Arc Side Doings...

2011-12-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

My turn to blog again! Yay! The past month has been a busy one. I had a new novella come out a few weeks ago, the first in a new series of very hot space opera romance called KING OF SWORDS. It's available now on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and in a few other places including Smashwords, which has a choice of formats. Within the next week or so, book 2 in the novella series will be released. It's called KING OF CUPS and picks up where the first book left off.

I've also been writing a bit. Working on a new Dragon Knights book for release sometime next summer. We're planning a re-release of all the Dragon Knights books, with new covers. The first two books in the series might also be lengthened a bit and re-edited. When they were first released in print form, they were short enough to be packaged together in a single print volume, but that's proven very confusing for readers. The re-release will hopefully alleviate some of that confusion and I might finally get the really sexy covers I've been hoping for! LOL.

I'm also in the middle of edits for two paranormal stories right now. The first is a novella called THE PURRFECT STRANGER that will be released by ARe sometime around Valentine's Day. The hero is a werecougar - a cousin of Matt Redstone, a popular character from earlier in my Tales of the Were series. The heroine is a failed witch. It's a very light paranormal with a few amusing bits and a whole lot of love. I hope it will bring you some smiles on Valentine's Day. ;)

The second thing I'm working on is my April release from Samhain, titled BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: WOLF HILLS. It's a paranormal novel focusing on the last of the study group friends featured in the other Brotherhood stories. We're just starting the editing process now and I expect to start seeing cover art soon. I'll post it on my site as soon as it's finalized.

Other than that, I'm working on a little surprise for my blog over the 12 Days of Christmas - which technically BEGIN on December 25th. With a little luck, I'll get it together in time and we can have some fun over on my blog during the festive season between Christmas and New Year. Come on over and check it out! :)

Bianca D'Arc
Come over to The D'Arc Side... www.biancadarc.com

BOOKCLUBS!

2011-12-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

Are you in a Book club and Coming to AAD NOLA? PLEASE FILL THIS OUT (Cuz Stella's Book club database she was creating on her compy went missing... and this is safer!)

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDlKNWRTOHRsaWlUbngxcnBHS1RXbUE6MQ

Thanks guys! This is going to be SO COOL!

A question that keeps coming up... Answered!

2011-12-09T05:39:00.000-08:00

So we have been monitoring the new form we put up and a question came up about “Authors attending AAD that aren’t Featured” and having a list of them. I figured I would address this early as it is bound to come up more and more.

Please note that every author that registered for AAD was sent an email explaining the responsibilities, commitments, and perks of Featured Authors at AAD and given the opportunity to become a Featured Author. It was their choice to participate as a Featured Author or not.

Because of this, the only attendees designated as “Authors” by the con are the ones that are Featured Authors, and will be designated as such with an Author Ribbon. Attendees that are not featured authors will not have a ribbon, but will have an AUTHOR designation on their badge so you will still be able to identify them, talk with them and socialize.

The Featured Authors are those who committed to attend AAD and contribute to panels, special events and activities, making themselves available to the readers. Thus, we can focus on promoting them based on their commitment and also their contribution to the great prizes, swag and books the attendees will enjoy at AAD NOLA. We do not have the same from other authors and would not be able to maintain an accurate list of those attending the convention due to cancellations, conflicts in schedule or other unforeseen circumstances.

Updates from Stella: AAD 2012!

2011-12-02T15:10:00.001-08:00

1. AAD is now full for featured authors! There is a wait list but with all the hubbub about being a FA, I don't think we will be dipping into it.

2. Balcony rooms: PLEASE NOTE: Join the AAD forum, where we will give you info on how to request a balcony room for 2012. ALSO PLEASE NOTE: Just because you asked for one when you got your reservations doesn't mean that you will get one. We have a limited amount of balcony rooms, and everyone that gets one MUST SIGN A WAIVER that states that anything thrown off the balcony, all fines and fees will be absorbed by the attendee in the room, not the convention. If you do not sign this, you will not get a balcony room. (And Just an FYI: The fines are around 5k for ONE PIECE OF MATTER thrown or dropped from any of the balconies...)

3. join the AAD forum! All the info on events, parties and special goodies will be talked about and announced there! THIS IS THE ONLY PLACE TO GET ALL THE INFO FOR THE CON!

4. we are about 75% full! If you know someone that is on the fence about going, let them know! We are filling up SO quickly, I thank everyone that's registered this year so far. We are now the fastest growing convention in Romance!

5. rooms are filling up quick! Dont forget to get your room ASAP!

Ok thats it from Stella... Im back in my packing hole to move!

Good Stuff Galore!

2011-12-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm halfway through holiday craziness and wanted to let you guys know a few things that you might find interesting.

First up, the Perfect Gift is a Book event and contest is on and there's still time to enter! Some of your favorite authors and those new to you are sharing their favorite books to give as gifts...a wonderful window into the person behind the book. Comment once or everyday and that's how many times your name is put into the bowl to win a fab bag from Rome that has something from all the places I'm spending time in this holiday season, including a gift certificate from All Romance [who have kept me in ebooks!]. I'm all about sharing the fun :-)

Also, go check out What Book is That - they are also taking part in the event above :-) I did an AAD Author Spotlight and it was probably one of the most fun interviews I've ever done :-)

In book news, Konnichiwa Cowboy [2nd installment in my Branded series and is a BDSM Contemporary Multicultural Erotica] was released, Highland Heat [BDSM Shapeshifter Erotic Romance] was chosen as a Night Owl Reviews Top Pick, Tied Up For Love [5th installment in my Mythological Messes Redux series and is a BDSM Paranormal Erotic Romance] was nominated as a BDSM short story for an AAD Bookie, and whether you're in a frozen clime or hanging out on the beach, Missing in Paradise [BDSM Contemporary Erotic Romance] is another recent release. Yeah, lots of cool stuff is going on!

Phrew, told you - it's a crazy time and all good :-)

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

Facebook│Twitter│Hot Thoughts Blog│ARe Cafe

November Featured Author Spotlights

2011-12-02T07:19:00.001-08:00

New Sci Fi Erotic Romance from Bianca D'Arc

2011-11-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I checked in here. I'm not really sure if this is supposed to be a blog just for the AAD convention or if we're still supposed to blog about other stuff when our day rolls around. Whatever! ;-) I got a notice to blog, so here I am! :)

I've been busy since AAD, working on new projects and celebrating a couple of new and upcoming releases. Finally! I know it's been a while since there's been new material from me. I'm glad to finally end the long dry spell.

Just lately, I've had a couple of romances in futuristic space-faring settings. First, a new novel that starts a brand new trilogy from Samhain Publishing, called HIDDEN TALENT. It released in ebook on October 25th and will be in print sometime next year. The second book in the series is titled TALENT FOR TROUBLE and the third will be called SHY TALENT. I anticipate those being released next year, but don't have exact dates yet.

HIDDEN TALENT is based on the premise that in the future, humans have developed and utilized certain kinds of psychic Talents. In some parts of the galaxy, gifted people share their strengths on a Council of those with Talent who rule over a group of planets. In other parts, people with Talent are hunted for their power. Jeri, the heroine of this story is on the run from one such place and she crosses paths with a StarLord, Micah, who is on a covert mission for the Council. He recognizes her abilities and takes her with him aboard his starship.

What happens then is an education for the shy woman who grew up very repressed by Council standards. Aboard the good ship Circe, pleasure is shared freely in pairs or multiples as a way to enhance and recharge Talent. Micah teaches her all about her abilities and how to harness them. He never bargained on falling in love with her, but there it is. They race to help an agricultural world under attack and together, they learn that they are more powerful than either one is alone.

KING OF SWORDS will be rereleased shortly in ebook formats. It is the first story in the Arcana series of novellas that ties into my Jit'suku Chronicles. Other books in the series include the Sons of Amber: Ezekiel & Michael. This story had been previously released as part of an anthology called FORTUNE'S FOOL, a couple of years ago from Phaze. That anthology is out of print now, so I'm reissuing this story in preparation for releasing the other stories in the series.

KING OF SWORDS is set in the Jit'suku universe, a few hundred years before the Sons of Amber stories. I anticipate having a number of related books set in this world, creating a generational saga that follows the consequences of human tinkering with soldiers' DNA, making them Enhanced, better than they were before and more dangerous to both races.

This particular story introduces a little bar on a space station called The Rabbit Hole, where information is passed back and forth to a network of spies working for the good of humanity. When aliens attack and try to subdue the station, it's up to a couple of retired soldiers turned spies and a clairvoyant civilian woman to repell the invaders. She teams up with one Enhanced soldier in particular. Together can they retake the station and find a love that will last for all time?

The second Arcana story is called KING OF CUPS and will be out in December. It follows the proprietor of The Rabbit Hole and his clairvoyant card dealer on an adventure into Jit'suku space. Few who have gone there have ever returned. They find themselves on an adventure of epic proportions simply by tryinig to help someone out of a jam. Trapped aboard an alien spaceship, they can no longer deny the attraction that has raged between them for months. Can they overcome their differences and find a solution to an intergalactic problem at the same time?

That takes me to the end of the year, but I have a lot more planned for 2012, so stay tuned! :)

AAD NY AUTHOR ACCEPTANCE IS CLOSED

2011-11-10T11:14:00.000-08:00

We have gotten all the NY authors Accepted as of Today (with two that will not be announced till after January). Thank you to everyone that is coming and to those that registered but never got back to us about being a FA- YOU ARE NOT A FA because you never contacted us back about being one IE: you probably haven't been checking your email). The Featured Authors for 2012 for NY authors will be up on the website as of MIDNIGHT Friday.

Thanks to everyone! We still have several small press spots open though. if you are a small press author, registered, and dont see your name on the website, you are NOT a FA. You need to contact us about that.

Thanks ALL!

S

Attention Book clubs!

2011-11-06T05:42:00.000-08:00

Are you attending AAD NOLA With more then 4 members?

Wanna set up a special book signing with 3 favorite authors attending?

How about a a special book club meet and greet with potential new to you authors?

How about helping us out with the book club panel and workshop?

Contact Stella ASAP with this information: Bookclub Name, # and names of the attending members, Book Club focus, Favorite Authors and where is the Book club set up! (blueflamesabove@yahoo.com)

in regards to questions I have been getting lately...

2011-11-02T17:54:00.000-07:00

Running a con is never an exact science. So many factors come into play for so many different subjects, it’s hard to be able to include everything. The key events for AAD 2012 are locked down way in advance and we're in full swing nailing down the details of the conference for you all.

We have been getting constructive feedback on the way things are run for 2012 and have already started putting plans into motion to address those suggestions in 2013.

For example, I can speak of the Strictly Self-Published authors out there and their involvement with the con itself. As of this time, AAD doesn’t have a precedence for SSP authors, or didn’t until we realized we needed to for the future cons. With AAD’s 80 authors list already locked in, we will not be accepting any SSP author for this year. In the past, we have never had a SSP author with us so it honestly didn’t cross my mind. Now that there's interest, I'm putting things into place to include them for 2013.

For 2013, SSP authors will have to meet several requirements to be a featured author. I’m working out the kinks on it now, but we are striving to make it fair and beneficial to all involved, especially the readers. I will be putting the requirements out for 2013 once everything is figured out.

October Featured Author Spotlights

2011-11-02T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Planning for Authors After Dark 2012 in New Orleans is in full swing and we're looking forward to having a great time with all of you.

In the meantime, our fantastic bloggers are already starting to do spotlights on the featured authors of AAD NOLA. Here's the spotlights from October:

Jae Lynne Davies at Red Hot Books: http://www.redhotbooks.com/2011/10/aad-author-spotlight-jae-lynne-davies.html

Megan Grooms at Red Hot Books: http://www.redhotbooks.com/2011/10/aad-author-spotlight-megan-grooms.html

Stephanie Julian at That's What I'm Talking About with Twimom227: http://www.twimom227.com/2011/10/aad-author-spotlight-stephanie-julian.html

Kristen Painter at Red Hot Books: http://www.redhotbooks.com/2011/10/aad-author-spotlight-kristen-painter.html

TJ Michaels is here... And she got FREEBIES!

2011-11-01T04:35:00.000-07:00

Squeeee really is a word!

Totally excited to bring you FREE STUFF! Carinian's Seeker, Vampire Council of Ethics Book 1, published by Samhain Publishing, is FREE from November 1, 2011 to November 14, 2011. This book was nominated for a CAPA award for Best Paranormal Romance of the Year by The Romance Studio and is one of my favorites. It's a bit of a different take on sexy vampires in that none of these guys are dead. But they are gorgeous, deadly and on a mission. Get it free from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for your Nook or Kindle.

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Carinians-Seeker-Vampire-Council-ebook/dp/B001DOHZ64/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319749541&sr=8-2

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/carinians-seeker-t-j-michaels/1100391658?ean=9781599983288&itm=1&usri=carinian27s%2bseeker

In addition, we're also celebrating the release of Egyptian Voyage, a paranormal tale with exquisitely evil bad guys, kick ass heroines and even more kick-ass heroes, all on a race of life and death across the Mediterranean. Use this code à AQ73D and get 35% off on this full-length book over at Smashwords.

Smashwords Buy Link: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/99031

Happy reading!

Cowboys Who Brand the Ones they Love

2011-10-30T12:14:00.001-07:00

I've been busy lately and things are about to even crazier, but I wanted to touch base with the AAD crowd about a few things.

First, keep your eyes peeled on Black Friday [November 25th] on the Hot Thoughts Blog - an events been planned it's happening there! Secondly, I wanted to tell you about what's been taking up my time lately - cowboys, chicks and Branded!

Yes, I'm talking about ranching cowboys, but no, I'm not talking the type of branding done with a red hot poker! That's for livestock, but I will say it's where I got the idea from.

So what am I talking about?

Cowboys are a special breed of man. They're tough and strong, and their approach to love and sex is often just as unique as they are. Branded is a series that follows a set of friends who share a dream of living the white picket fence lifestyle at the same time as maintaining their individual sexual preferences.

What gets them off sexwise is Domination/submission play mixed with bondage and a ménage thrown in here and there.

No fire is necessary because these cowboys create their own heat!

The second ebook in the Branded series was just released and is:

Konnichiwa Cowboy by Tilly Greene
Contemporary/Light Western Erotica + D/s

Matt Wilson, a cattle rancher from Montana, goes to Japan to discuss how to successfully export the Big W’s beef into one of the most restrictive yet lucrative markets. In preparation for the trip he’s spent months on the phone with Sakura Nakamura, discussing rules and regulations, along with some good natured flirting. That was fine over the phone lines, but in person, she makes him want more.

Sakura’s smart, funny and gorgeous, everything he wants in a woman, but can’t have, not if he wants to do business with her father. On his last night in Osaka, he decides to indulge in a fantasy — a naughty night with a geisha — and wishes the delectable made-up treasure in little more than a kimono was Sakura.

Is it a geisha or infatuated workmate who fulfills the visiting cowboy's fantasy?

eBook now available from Amazon│BN│Smashwords

The first ebook in the Branded series is also out and is:

Ride 'em by Tilly Greene
Contemporary/Light Western Erotic Romance + D/s, Bondage and Ménage
TRS 2008 CAPA for Best BDSM

At a young age, Sunflower Forever Free is put in a position where she must take control of her life. A gentle soul who never chose how or where she lived, decides to stay in a small town she stumbles upon and start over. Here she has hopes of finding her white picket dream.

Rehabilitated bad boy Courtland Dickerson returns to the town of his childhood, the last place he’d been happy. He starts his horse breeding business and settles on the normal path he’d always wanted, one far away from the destructive influences of his past.Besides hard work, kinky games are being played behind barn doors. After one particularly wild ride, Sunflower and Courtland discover how well matched they are and together, embark on a new path.

Is the dream of a white picket fence life possible for people who play kinky sex games?

eBook available from Ellora's Cave│All Romance│Amazon│BN│Sony Reader Store

Oh, and as for the Brand itself, that's an item the cowboys of Branded give their lovers to seal their connection!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

Facebook│Twitter│Hot Thoughts Blog│ARe Cafe

Room updates... I has them.

2011-10-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

For those of you on the fence... here's the deal...

We have this for rooms (As of 1140am on 10.28.11):

Monday the 6th:21
tuesday the 7th:28
Wed the 8th: 75
Thurs-Saturday:106 rooms available each day
Sunday the 12th:48
Monday: 13th:22

And they WILL be going VERY fast. So this means if you want something awesome for the holidays, Have hubby get you your registration and room for AAD 2012 because (And I hope I'm just paranoid) we probably wont have rooms left at the host hotel by Feb/ March at the latest.

NO, this doesn't mean that you can call in and get a room. They still will not take phone reservations for the con (and No, if you want a suite you still have to contact me personally). You MUST register first to get the links for your room reservations. No ifs, ands or buts.

Thanks guys and thanks for making this con SO DAMN SUCCESSFUL! I cant wait to put up the next actual con update (Maybe December, maybe January) for all the awesome that's going to happen!

News From Bianca D'Arc

2011-10-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

Not sure what's going on with this blog... Admittedly, it's morphed into something the founding members (of which I am one) never anticipated, but are very happy about. Stella's found her groove, so to speak, and taken the AAD conference farther than any of us could have imagined. Still, I'm not 100% sure if this blog is supposed to be soely for the purpose of con news or if we're still supposed to talk about other stuff here on our appointed day.

Nevertheless... I received a reminder that I was supposed to blog, and therefore, I shall. I haven't been very vigilant about blogging or even answering email for the past several months, but I'm trying to change my ways and get back to the responsible blogger and correspondent I once was. Bear with me while I try...

This month, I have a new book! (Haven't been able to say THAT in a while.) I know it's been a long wait, but I'll have a brand new novel out on October 25th from Samhain. It's called HIDDEN TALENT and it's a very hot futuristic that lives up to its warnings! :)

After that, I'll have a novella out in early November called KING OF SWORDS and it's sequel, KING OF CUPS, out in early December. I'm also getting things lined up for next year, including a new paranormal novella that will release sometime around Valentine's Day or slightly before. That story features one of the Redstone cousins, a werecougar who will really make you purr. ;-)

I've got a few more tricks up my sleeve for early 2012, including a new paranormal novel from Samhain called BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: WOLF HILLS, which will be out in April. Will keep you posted on all of this, of course, but for now...

Here's the blurb for HIDDEN TALENT:

While on an undercover mission to gather intelligence on the neighboring collective, Micah receives the shock of his life. A shy, reclusive horse tamer who possesses a level of raw psi Talent that nearly matches his own. Along with her pure, wild Talent, her beautiful spirit and innocence rouse him to take her on a voyage of discovery to the stars -- and the limits of her own, untapped passion.

All her life, Jeri has hidden her Talent, enduring the stigma of being "odd". Once aboard the Circe, Micah and his cousin Darak, a rogue of the first order, guide her through a world where those with Talents are revered, not hunted. Where pleasure hones and strengthens psi power to undreamed-of heights. Where love is a real possibility, not a distant dream.

When a defenseless planet is besieged by the collective's armada, the Circe races to the rescue -- only to discover a missing piece of Jeri's past on the wrong side of the battle. And that combining her formidable new powers with Micah's may win the day, but cost her everything...

I'm just so glad to finally have some new material coming out. It's been a while, I know, but it takes time to get things in the "pipeline" for publication. Finally, it looks like we're moving again -- in ebooks at least. As with most Samhain titles, HIDDEN TALENT won't be in print for about 10 months or so and the novellas are ebook-only for the foreseeable future.

For more information, as always, visit my website: http://www.biancadarc.com/, or look for me on facebook or the other places I hang out. ;-) I'll be posting more news as it becomes available.

Attention Industry: WE WANT YOU!

2011-10-13T06:47:00.000-07:00

And by industry we mean publishers, review houses and any business that works within the romance industry to provide a service of books, covers, reviews, etc.

WE WANT YOU at AAD 2012!

Did you know that AAD doesn't charge for a table? Nope we don't. We aren't in the business of making money off people, but we ARE in the business of promotion and getting things out to authors and readers.

You will reach 400 people in three days, 97% of which are readers and no other con of this size or larger in romance can say that.

Are you in the industry and want to lead a workshop or panel on what it is you do (and this doesn't count for genre panels as they are something else entirely)? We can work that out.

Perhaps you want to sponsor something, or throw a party to get your name out there? Our prices are the cheapest in the industry!

Contact Stella Price (stella@stellaandaudra.com) ASAP for information on how you can participate in the coming con and reach readers and authors that might not have known about you before now!

RESERVATION EMAILS GO OUT

2011-09-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

in 5 minutes to the already registered attendees. PLEASE NOTE: ONLY registered attendees can get their rooms at this time.

Give the email list TIME to send them out... if you haven't received one in 5 hours, the contact me personally.

Thanks for your patience and understanding with all of this!

S

Updates on authors for NOLA

2011-09-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

Hey all. I have been getting some odd emails about "author acceptance" for NOLA. I figured I would post about it here, to clear the air.

Author acceptance only happens once you have registered and gotten the acceptance email.

The Acceptance email states what we are looking for in featured authors. to date we have sent out 53 emails, and received 8 back. that is a HUGE difference. If you have registered as an author you got an email with the information.

Once you are accepted as a Featured Author, you will get links to Panel stuff, Book info and other information. This is the ONLY way you will be able to sign and be on panels.

So PLEASE... check your email if you have already registered. Odds are you have missed an email.

Room updates... the final ONE!

2011-09-24T07:23:00.000-07:00

CROSS POSTED FROM THE AAD FORUM:

Looked at the POG a few minutes ago.

they have yet to add the 7th and 13th to the list. Once they do we will be sending the link for the pog out to those REGISTERED, and the link will ONLY work through the registration email portal. DO NOT give the link to anyone outside of your registration email, BECAUSE
A: it will only work for YOU and ONCE.
B: We are attempting to make sure Only Registered people get rooms so we wont have the issues we had THIS year with people NOT attending the con using the room block.

THIS YEAR, YOU MUST BE ON MY RESERVATIONS LIST VIA THE ONLINE POG IN ORDER TO GET THE ROOM RATE. NO EXCEPTIONS.

rooms at AAD nola

2011-09-21T12:58:00.001-07:00

AAD NOLA has worked out a new deal with the hotel...

We have a good amount of rooms available now for our room blocks...

Tuesday the 7th:50
Wed: 150
Thurs: 210
Friday: 210
Saturday: 210
Sunday: 50
Monday: 25

So this means....

that there Are and will be rooms available for everyone for the time they wanna be there. I know you guys wanna stay at the hotel longer, and now your able to on the con price for the rooms!

The POG will be up tomorrow from what I was told just now so please be patient!

Info on AAD room reservations

2011-09-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone.

Thought I would clear the air...

PLEASE do not call and make a room reservation. it will not count towards our room block. The only way the rooms will count towards the block is to do it through the online POG (which we will be sending out the link via the registered list as soon as its open).

This past year we had 7 rooms credited to our room block that weren't rooms of people registered for the con, and that caused issues, and had people staying at other hotels. We are attempting to make sure that doesn't happen, so that is why the POG is so important.

Oh and FYI, After speaking to our Conference Liaison yesterday, we were told we had no rooms reserved to our block... and today I hard from three people that they reserved their rooms already... so those rooms wouldn't have been credited because they weren't counting them towards it, regardless of what they said at the front desk.

So if you have reserved a room already by phone PLEASE CALL AND cancel it and wait for the POG. this will ensure you get a room in the room block, for the right price and it wont be canceled because the numbers dont match up.

Thanks guys! POG info should be up today or tomorrow... so check your Emails!

Bookie Awards Polls Are LIVE!

2011-09-16T22:27:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

For those of you keeping track of the Bookie Awards, the nominees have been recorded and polls are now open. To access the site, click HERE. Voting closes at midnight on October 1st.

Congratulations and good luck to all the nominees!

Bookie Awards Nominations

2011-09-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to September!

First, we wanted to remind everyone that the AAD Yahoo group will close as of today. If you want to be informed of the latest news regarding the con, be sure to join the AAD Forum where we've been working hard to bring you some great features!

Now...for those of you who are interested in watching your favorites walk away with a 2012 Bookie Award, you'll want to make sure you've filled out the ballot by September 15th! That's right, only TWO WEEKS to nominate your favorites in over 45 categories! To access the form click HERE!

That's all for today. Don't forget...registration for AAD 2012 in New Orleans opens on September 6th! We're looking forward to the madness!

Registration opens SOON!!!!

2011-08-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Well us here at AAD central are working out asses off to get everything set for registration to open September 6th. Registration will be open at 3pm EST on Sept. 6th.

Registration is $190 and includes 3 lunches (because we are going to be leaving the majority of the night time for partying and exploring NOLA), One dinner and one light breakfast on Sunday morning.

We will have a Welcome event On WED night (so that means get in early to get the party going!)

AAD will run in 2012 from Wed at 7pm to Sunday at Noon.

Reservations will also open on the 6th. rooms are $119 a night Double Occupancy. We have the ability it have the price for the con 3 days before and 3 days after... so that gives you a total of 9 days on the con price to be in NOLA on bourbon st and rocking the Big Easy!

So who is excited? Dont forget to join the AAD FORUM and join in with the Book club, conversations and contests!

CHeck the website On the 6th for all the info!

Help us decide where AAd 2014 will be!

2011-08-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

So You all know AAD is in NOLA on 2012...

What you dont know is AAD 2013 is going to be in Savannah GA... and more on that soon...

But we are planning out 2014 now... and we need your help deciding!

So Please... where would you rather AAD 2014 be?

Help us by VOTING HERE!

Final Blogger list for 2012...

2011-08-22T05:37:00.001-07:00

Ok the full blogger list is as follows, and congrats to all the amazing bloggers that were accepted!

Mandi Schreiner, Smexy Books
Laurie garrison, bitten by paranormal romance
Jen Kimball, That's What I'm Talking About
Larissa Benoliel, Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rachel Rivera, Parajunkee
Jackie Morgan, Literary Escapism
Felicia Sparks, Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
Lexie Cenni, Poisoned Rationality
JoJo, JoJos Book Corner
Bobby D Whitney, BookWenches Reviews

Jen Martin, Red Hot Books
Pam Spaz Web Elliott, Wicked Little Pixie

Damaris Cardinali, Good Choice Reading
Julie W, Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks
Tori, The Book Faery
Emily, What Book is that?
Patti, Book Addict
Ali F, Simply Ali
Susan C, My Vamp Fiction
Elle C, Limecello- A little bit tart, a little bit sweet

So congrats and make sure you join the Forum so we can get you set up as an official blogger!

With 2011 over... 2012 is on the way!

2011-08-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much to everyone that attended and had a good time! We know there were lots of issues with the hotel, and we are pursuing levels of action to deal with them and we need your help to ensure no one has to deal with any of this in the future. So if you have ANY grievances about the HOTEL and their treatment of you or the con, PLEASE fill out this FORM to help us build up detailed list of all the issues we have had to deal with.

Next... with 2012 on the way, we are would like YOU to give us feedback via this FORM on what we could make better and what you would like to see via panels, workshops and events. Please remember, AAD is only doing ONE masquerade ball next year so the attendees will have more time to explore the Big Easy.

In September I'll be going to see our 2013 property to work with the hotel to make sure nothing like this happens again. We are REALLY REALLY sorry about all the issues people had to endure on the hotels part, and we, meaning myself and all the staff are sorry that a lot of the programming got shifted to and fro. Luckily we dont have that problem next year as we have all the rooms available for the convention and are the ONLY EVENT in the hotel for the duration of the convention.

Truth is, no con is without its share of issues and problems. Nothing ever runs smoothly, no matter how much both sides think they are on the same page. I can only thank my amazing staff this year for making sure things worked the best they could. Thank you all again for helping to make this year a success, and I hope that we will see you in NOLA!

Bookie Awards Winners!

2011-08-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

The first annual Authors After Dark Bookie Awards was a HUGE success!

I'd like to take a moment to thank the authors and bloggers who presented awards during the ceremony. You ladies ROCK!

For those of you who weren't able to attend the event in Philly, the winners are as follows:

Anthology of the Year: Burning Up by Angela Knight, Nalini Singh, Virginia Kantra, and Meljean Brook

Publisher of the year: Samhain Publishing

Cross Genre Novel: The Wolf Next Door by Lydia Dare

Most Accessible Author: Larissa Ione

Erotic Romance Novel: Wicked Enchantment by Anya Bast

Reader voted star of tomorrow: Lara Adrian

Contemporary short story of the year: A Damsel Without A Dress by Rita Sawyer

Erotic short story of the year: Making the Man by Yvette Hines

E-book only novel of the year: Slave To Pleasure, Eliza Gayle

Online Community of the year: Midnight Breeds Forum

Fantasy Short Story of the year: Here There Be Monsters, Meljean Brook

Western Romance Novel: Unridden, Cat Johnson

Biggest Friend to Romance: Stella Price

Steampunk Short story: Here There Be Monsters, Meljean Brook

Debut Author: Lydia Dare

Werewolf Novel: Sin Undone by Larissa Ione

Author of the Year: Joey W. Hill

Demon Book of the Year: Kresley Cole, Demon from the Dark

Lifetime Achievement Award: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Vampire Book of the Year: J.R. Ward, Lover Mine

Western Romance Short Story of the Year: Cheryl St. John, Christmas in Red Willow

Paranormal Menage of the Year: Joey W. Hill, Vampire Trinity

BDSM Short Story of the Year: Joey W. Hill, Honor Bound

MC/IR Novel of the Year: Lena Matthews, Better to Eat you With

Series of the Year: J.R. Ward, Black Dagger Brotherhood

Vampire Short Story of the Year: Laurell K. Hamilton, Flirt

Author Website of the Year: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Shifter Story of the Year: Laurell K. Hamilton, Flirt

M/M Book of the Year: Joey W. Hill, Vampire Trinity

SciFi Book of the Year: Ava Gray, Skin Tight

Shifter Non-Wolf Book of the Year: Beast behaving badly Shelly Laurenston

Blog of the Year: Smart Bitches trashy books

E-book Only Short Story of the Year: A Slave to Her Passions by: Jessica Coulter

Historical Romance of the Year: Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant

Romantic Suspense Book of the Year: The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks

Steampunk Book of the Year: Steamed by Katie MacAlister

Demon Short Story of the Year: The Darkest Angel by Gena Showalter

Erotica Novel of the Year: Joey W. Hill, Vampire Trinity

Fantasy Novel of the Year: Sherrilyn Kenyon, Born of Ice

Paranormal Short Story of the Year: The Phoenix Project, Jacquelyn Frank

Single Author Anthology of the Year: Tempted by Lori

Want to make the 2012 ceremony in NOLA even more special by nominating your favorites in the above categories? Well, you're in luck! The Bookie Awards ballot is now LIVE! Once you've completed the ballot, simply click submit to record your votes. The nomination polls will open at a later date, once the votes have been tallied.

To access the ballot click HERE.

NOTE: Books and authors nominated must be published between August 2010 - August 2011 to be considered for an award.

Voting closes on September 15th!

Jae Lynne Davies
http://www.jaelynnedavies.com/

2012 Blogger Acceptance

2011-08-16T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well this is the list, though its not the full list we are still waiting on emails from several. if this is you, PLEASE contact us by the 31st and you will be added. If not, the list will remain as it is here.

Mandi Schreiner, Smexy Books
Laurie garrison, bitten by paranormal romance
Jen Kimball, That's What I'm Talking About
Larissa Benoliel, Welcome to Larissa's Bookish Life

Rachel Rivera, Parajunkee
Jackie Morgan, Literary Escapism
Felicia Sparks, Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
Lexie Cenni, Poisoned Rationality
JoJo, JoJos Book Corner
Bobby D Whitney, BookWenches Reviews

Jen Martin, Red Hot Books
Pam Spaz Web Elliott, Wicked Little Pixie

Damaris Cardinali, Good Choice Reading

we have 7 spots left. Check your emails... Bet you missed the acceptance email! Congrats to the bloggers and DONT FORGET to join the AAD Forum!

Up for some fun today?!?

2011-08-13T03:30:00.000-07:00

Are you in or near Philadelphia?

Then come to the Doubletree Hotel [237 South Broad Street, Philadelphia] today!

Saturday from 2-5:00pm at the Authors After Dark event there's a big booksigning open to the public and then, starting at 8:30, you can come into the Victorian Steampunk Ball for a $20 charge at the door. The Olde City Sideshow are the band, there's photos, another signing, vendors, psychics and an Absinthe Party to check out as well.

A great way to spend a Saturday - hope to see you there!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
http://www.tillygreene.com/

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Do you know the Green Fairy?

2011-08-05T06:30:00.000-07:00

Still Life with Absinthe
by Vincent Van Gogh, 1887
hanging in the Van Gogh Museum
Amsterdam, The Netherlands,

In historical literature it was called "la fée verte", the "green fairy" by the French, but it's more commonly known as Absinthe.

While the spirit originated in Switzerland, it's popularity as an alcoholic drink was achieved on the heels of French artists and writers, which helped the opposition strive to ban its consumption. Even though it did not contain the hallucinogenic properties reported to possess, the United States took it off the shelves by 1915, but 2007 saw it once again legal.

Augusta Li and Eon DeBeaumont are hosting an Absinthe Tasting table at the Steampunk Ball in Symphony on Saturday at 9:00pm.

See you there!

Tilly Greene

Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.

http://www.tillygreene.com/

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Three sisters, Their Fated Mates, Journey of Love, Redemption & War

2011-08-01T10:49:00.000-07:00

We are just a week and half away from AAD Conference. I’m so excited to be attending as an author this year and introduce my debut novel , Soul Reborn from Crescent Moon Press.

What makes SOUL REBORN different from the usual paranormal romance? It is based on Egyptian Mythos in present day. Who doesn’t love a hot soulless underworld god, an undead army and a malevolent goddess that just won’t die?

In come the Carrigan sisters, Lilly, Kit and Kendra. Lilly is the Commander of the Nehebkau huntresses and is humanities last defense against the goddesses’ revens. What are revens you ask? Revens are cursed humans created when the goddess was released from her tomb. They crave the blood and flesh of their previous form. Asar, the god of the underworld, knows the goddess all too well, as she cut his soul from his chest leaving him with an empty shell of hatred and the all consuming desire for revenge. Asar has no problem using Lilly to get what he wants, but his desire for her is a serious distraction from his pursuit of vengeance.

I welcome you to delve in the dark and mysterious realm of the Egyptian underworld. These gods are benevolent, but by no means saints. The Carrigan sisters have awakened their most primal desires and are the key to their salvation. The fate of the world hangs in the balance. Failure is not an option.

I would love to meet new readers and authors. I’ll be in the Egyptian Goddess costume at the Mythos Ball. One lucky winner will have the key to unlock the Egyptian Chest with fabulous grand prize.

MY AAD schedule, please stop by and say hello. Prizes abound!

E-Book Authors
Light Paranormal
Blogger Sleep Over
Spontaneously Paranormal
Food and Clothing in Romance
Mythos Ball - ** featured author**
Book Signing – Crescent Moon Press Table

Follow three sisters and their fated mates on a journey of love, redemption and war.
www.jean-murray.com
www.wickedromance.wordpress.com

Soul Reborn reviews:

RT Book Reviews: 4 stars/Scorcher, “Murray’s debut effort is an ambitious undertaking …” review by Karen Sweeny-Justice.
Read more here: RT Review of Soul Reborn

Bitten by Paranormal Romance: 5 alpha howls/Hot, “I was blown away by this book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series.” Review by Ollie
Read more here: BPR's review of Soul Reborn

THE HUMAN REALM, HIS BATTLEFIELD.
Asar, the Egyptian God of the Underworld, has been tortured and left soulless by a malevolent goddess, relegating him to consume the very thing he was commissioned to protect. Human souls. Now an empty shell of hatred, Asar vows to kill the goddess and anyone involved in her release, but fate crosses his path with a beautiful blonde huntress who has a soul too sweet to ignore.
DEADLY SECRETS BETTER LEFT UNEARTHED.
Lilly, fearless commander of the Nehebkau huntresses, is the only thing standing in the way of the goddess' undead army unleashing hell on earth. But Lilly has a secret—one she is willing to sell her soul to keep. If the Underworld god discovers her role in the dig that released the goddess, she will lose everything, including his heart.

Bookie Time!

2011-07-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Bookie Awards are unique because nominees and finalists are selected by Author After Dark attendees, which are mainly readers, authors, and bloggers. Those folks going to AAD2011 in Philadelphia will be able to attend the first ever ceremony and also be able to nominate titles for the 2012 awards to be held in New Orleans.
The ceremony will be on Friday in the Symphony room from 12-2:00pm.

Categories are varied and if you'd like to check out the finalists, go here, otherwise, here they are in alphabetical order:

Anthology of the Year
Author of the Year
Author Website of the Year
BDSM Short story
Biggest Friend to Romance
Best Shifter Short story

Blog of the Year
Contemporary Short story
Cross Genre Novel
Debut Author
Demon Novel
Demon Short story
E book only Novel
E Book only Short story
Erotic Romance Novel
Erotic Short story
Erotica Novel
Fantasy Novel
Fantasy Short story
Historical Romance Novel
Lifetime Achievement Award
GLBT: M/M Novel
MC/IR Novel
Most Accessible Author
Online Community of the Year
Paranormal Ménage
Paranormal Short story
Publisher of the Year
Reader Voted Star of Tomorrow
Romantic Suspense Novel
Scifi Novel
Series
Shifter Non Wolf Novel
Single Author anthology
Steampunk Novel
Steampunk Short story
Vampire Novel
Vampire Short story
Werewolf Novel
Western Romance Novel
Western Romance Short story

Shall be a fun time!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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Seduce Me in Flames! TODAY!!

2011-07-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

Hey all! Guess what today is! Yeah, okay, so you don’t have to guess. :P It’s RELEASE DAY!! WOOT!!!! SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES, book two in the Three Worlds series, comes out today! YAY! Okay, so I am a little overexcited. What can I say? These past few months have been incredibly hard on me, so I am taking my excitement where I can get it.

For those of you who have been religiously following me on FACEBOOK and TWITTER, you know that I have lost two of my precious kitty boys, and my daughter B lost her boy kitty on Friday as well. It’s been a horrid streak of bad luck in our home. But they say things come in threes, and so that’s my three, thank you very much. I’m all done! **dusts off hands**

So I interrupt this announcement briefly to say goodbye to my two boys.

This is Damien…and squished beneath him is Magellan as a kitten. Damien had his own special way of showing his dominance, lol. My boys. I don’t have a picture of Max, but I know B will miss him as much as I will miss these two.

Thanks for indulging me. Now let’s get back to business.

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES!!!

I hope you all have been enjoying my guest bloggers. Natalie, my assistant, and I have been working hard to get you some of the best in paranormal romance for you to get to meet and know. Whether by a blog or my goofy little interview. I hope it’s useful and fun. And please continue to visit here every Tuesday throughout the release of ADAM on October 25th. There’s a lot of weeks and a lot of guests between now and then.

Oh don’t tell me you haven’t heard about ADAM! BOOK 6 in the NIGHTWALKERS series? Come on people, get with it! You’ve been dying for this release for almost three years! Look, I’m not teasing this time! I have the cover to prove it. ☺
Ain’t it purty? I love his chesticles. They are my favorite. ☺

But that’s not until AFTER the August release of KANE in the anthology SUPERNATURAL.

For those of you who have been dying to know what happened between Kane and Corrine that first Samhain night, I gave a little flashback into the experiences they shared. It’ll give you the warm and wigglies I promise! Don’t forget, Corrine was deathly ill that first Samhain night, and the Imprinting for a Demon doesn’t make room for weakness and illness. Mating is paramount. No matter what.

Intrigued? You should be. **smirk**

But what was I talking about before we went into future releases…? OH YES!!

SEDUCE ME IN DREAMS! The first book in the Three Worlds series. Oh…wait…we did that one already. Or at least we should have done that one already. This book comes before today’s release, but rest assured, today’s release does stand on its own. However, as I always say, the fullest experience of a series does come from starting from the beginning.

Now, all kidding aside, let’s get down to business.

SEDUCE ME IN FLAMES!!

How about a little excerpt? Yeah, I knew you’d say that.

Fire burned everywhere. Cinders clung to long grasses that had been obliterated by it and now, by some miracle, still held together. There was the smell of accelerant still in the air because it had been poured on the field in such a massive quantity. Along with it was the unmistakable stench of char and smoke. Nothing could possibly have survived.
But in the dead center of all of that destruction, something stirred. There was a cough just before the young man sat up and spit. He was charred as black as everything around him, making him blend in perfectly with his surroundings. He took a breath, his first in what seemed like ages. Well, he thought, it shouldn't surprise him that they had tried to kill him. After all, he had accidentally exposed his power in the center of town square during a damned festival.
Shit. He'd kept it secret from everyone for all of his twenty-one years. And it hadn't been easy. Adolescence alone had been a trial for him, and he’d had something of a temper back then. Still, he’d managed to keep it all under wraps.
He ought to have known this was coming. There was no way a mutation such as he was could go an entire lifetime undetected.
But if it hadn't been for that girl...
Yet, how could he turn his back? She would surely have died at the hands of those self-serving sicko bastards...
He shook his head, shook away the memory for the uselessness that it was. There was a bitter taste in his mouth and it had nothing to do with the Axiom fuel they'd dumped on him in hopes of burning him like all the rest of the char and ash around him. He had let them think they were successful. What choice did he have? If they didn't 'kill' him to their satisfaction, they would keep on trying until they actually figured out a way to succeed.
Had he truly thought at one time that his hometown, full of his lifelong friends and family, would be the ones most likely to understand and accept him? How many times had he come close to revealing himself before, thinking they would love him anyway? He had been so naive. Such a fool. And yet, why did this shock him so much if he'd felt so driven to keep it hidden?
He looked around himself carefully before getting to his feet. It was dark now, the only light being the flames that burned so powerfully on the horizon. The damn fools had burned him, yes, but in the process had started a fire on the plains that had quickly raced into town. The screaming had long since died down. He figured they were all dead, if not mostly so.
His secret was once again a secret.
He brushed layers of ash from his bare skin, the remainders of his clothing no doubt. Now he was naked, disenfranchised, and utterly at a loss as to what to do next. Still, he began to put one foot in front of the other, began to move. He had learned new things about himself, he could say that much. But he wasn't sure if that made things worse or better. He was too angry, too hurt to care.
It would take him a very long time to get over both of those feelings.

Okay, it’s a very short excerpt. And it doesn’t tell you much. But you know me, I don’t like to give away the juicy bits. Guess you’re just going to have to buy the book.

Like…now.

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???

Hugs and Kitties,
Jacki

PS: For those of you going to ROMCON the first week of August, look me up! It’s in Denver Colorado and I’m going to be there! If you live in Denver, the signing is open to the public I believe. ☺
4 comments

Dark Wine & Dangerous Cheese: What Authors Do After Dark

2011-07-24T15:19:00.001-07:00

Greetings! Just a quick announcement that I will be appearing at the 2011 Authors After Dark con, Aug. 11-14 at the Philadelphia Doubletree. Registration is officially closed, but the booksigning will be open to the public.

If you're signed up to go, here's my schedule:

Thursday:
3pm, Assembly E, Historical ROmance
4pm Assembly F, Myth and Magic

Friday:
11am, Concerto A, Behind the Scenes of the Average Author
4pm, Assembly D, Spontaneously Paranormal

Saturday:
11am, Assembly D, Author Blog Fail
2-4pm, Ormandy Ballroom, Booksigning

-----

On Friday, join me, Dana Marie Bell, Bianca D'Arc and J.C. Wilder for "Dark & Dangerous Wine & Cheese" from 4-6pm, Hospitality (2nd Floor).

Trust me, as an avid fan of "Suspicious Cheese Lords", I lobbied hard for "Dark Wine & Dangerous Cheese" as the title, but I guess everyone was afraid that no one else would get the reference. [grin] Oh well.

We'll have gourmet cheese and nibbles and a cash bar, and we'll be handing out goodie bags and holding a drawing for prize baskets and a FREE NOOK!!

Hope to see you there!

Authors After Dark is SO close!

2011-07-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

So I figured it was time *I* came in and gave you my set up for the con. See, I might be the director, but I am there, first and foremost, as an author.

Since Audra wont be able to attend this year, everything is on me, but WOW do we have cool stuff. Lots of goodies and gifts. You will be able to hangout with me in several ways, and several days.

So here's my schedule:

On thursday I will be part of the Tease Tea tasting in the Hospitality suite from 1pm to 3pm. You wanna stop by, we have tons of AWESOME goodies and books for the first 100 people, and you will get lots of awesome tea, mugs and some limited edition bags too! the first 100 people will get tons of goodies!

I'm also one of the Court authors for the steam Ball! I will be giving away some awesome goodies including a hardcover Jules Verne collection, and possibly even a modded steampunk gun.

Looking to see me at panels? I'm on a ton:
Thursday:
1pm: Cover art panel, Assembly E
2pm: When the ending isnt HEA, Assembly F
3pm: Worldbuilding, Assembly F

Friday:
10am: Putting the steam in steampunk, Assembly E
11am: Writing with a Partner, Assembly C
3pm: Odd Paranormals, Assembly C
4pm: Sexy Shifters, AssemblyF

Saturday:
11am, Demons, Assembly E

I will also be rocking the booksinging on Saturday from 2-4 pm in the Ormandy Ballroom. Ill be selling several books but I will be promoting the Weresnakes print and Forever Shadow! Stop buy and support some authors if your able to! The Booksigning is open to the public!

And if you stop by and see me during the signing, and pick up one of our books, you will be entered to win something extremely awesome. Wanna know what it is? Well pop by and buy a book!

Counting down the Days

2011-07-20T07:51:00.001-07:00

I'm sooooo excited for the upcoming conference and the opportunity to meet so many readers!! I've been busy ordering some new swag and preparing for my panels. I'm also trying to figure out what I'm going to wear and more importantly how I'm going to get it in one suitcase...hmmm. That's still a problem that's going to take some work. I'm also excited because I just received some 'fresh-off-the-press' ARCs for BOUND BY DARKNESS. I hope to bring a few and give them away (depending on the whole suitcase thing :))

What are you looking forward too?

Panels a Plenty

2011-07-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

There are so many interesting panels/workshops for everyone - be they reader, writer, or the curious - to enjoy.

I have been trolling through the schedule and have highlighted many I want to attend and three of them are 'When Bad Covers Happen to Good Books' offered by Raelene Gorlinsky of Ellora's Cave, 'Branding' by Eliza Gayle, and 'Publishing Legalese' with Kayleigh Jamison, Caridad Pinero, Bianca D'Arc, Louise Fury and Lori Perkins.

Those are entirely different than the ones I'm going to be sitting on: 'Myth and Magic', 'BDSM', 'Food and Clothing in Romance - Details', 'Sexy Shifters', and 'Menage and More'. And there is the beauty of Authors After Dark, variation, something for everyone, however you want to put it, there's a plethora of subjects to mine.

Now, here's the thing. I know what I want to hear at the panels/workshops I'm attending, but am curious what others want to hear from the ones they plan on going to.

So, here's your chance - SPILL - what's the stuff you want to come away with!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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Bianca D'Arc Book News

2011-07-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

Lots of news since I last posted here... First, the last of my military romances with zombie bad guys from Brava is coming out on July 26th. It's called DEAD ALERT and right now, for some odd reason, the print book is actually cheaper than the ebook on Amazon. Not sure why, but if you're interested in print, it's a good time to buy. LOL ;-) Here's a little bit about it:

For Emily Parkington, the thrill of flying charter planes for Praxis Air has lately been tinged with dread. Mysterious cargo flights and a high number of fatal crashes lead Emily to suspect something sinister behind the scenes. And if her new colleague is involved, Emily won’t hesitate to turn him in, in spite of Sam Archer’s sexy charm and irresistibly easy confidence.

Enemy or potential ally? Sam can’t be sure of anything where Emily is concerned, except how much he wants her. Immune to the zombie virus created through military research, Sam is working undercover to find out if Praxis is trafficking forbidden technology. It was a potentially deadly assignment even before he found himself distracted by a woman he scarcely knows. And when a “controlled” experiment goes horribly wrong, there will be no limit to the danger they both face…or how far he’s willing to go to save her…

There's more news... I have a new erotic SF trilogy starting on October 25th at Samhain Publishing. The first book is called HIDDEN TALENT and it follows the adventures of the psi Talented crew of the spy merchant ship, Circe. I'll give you a hint - pleasure shared among those with psi Talent increases and renews their power. ;-)

I'm also in the process of signing a contract for my next werewolf book that ties in with the BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD novellas. It'll be called BROTHERHOOD OF BLOOD: WOLF HILLS. It's the story of the last of the college friends, Sally, and Jason, the werewolf Alpha we first meet in the novella PHANTOM DESIRES. A lot of people have been waiting for this book, so I'm glad to finally get it in the pipeline to get it out there for your consumption!

A few other things are happening behind the scenes that I can't quite talk about yet, but suffice to say there's a lot in store for readers of The D'Arc Side! :D Hope to see you all at the AAD conference in a few weeks. I'm certain it'll be a blast!

Bianca
Come over to The D'Arc Side... www.biancadarc.com

When is it Tea Time?

2011-07-14T05:30:00.000-07:00

If you're British, anytime is time for tea*.

Right?

No, because to those who drink tea - like my cutie, Tea is the evening meal [dinner to me, but his dinner is what we call lunch], and a cuppa is the beverage, which is had all day.

For the history buffs, trivia lovers and the curious, the first noted example of tea being used as a drink was in 10th C BC China and they have the honor of giving the world the name. And in America, 80% of tea consumed is cold, as in iced tea*.

Already a tea lover or not sure where to start and want to taste a variety of teas? Maybe partake in a discussion of loose leaf vs bagged or pot vs cup? Then note down the Tease Tea Tasting at 1:00pm in the Hospitality room on Thursday. Author After Dark attendees will take home a bag of various teas - my offering is nicknamed the 'champagne of teas' - and goodies to enjoy at your leisure.

See you there!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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Warning Labels for Romance?

2011-07-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

Kit Marlowe here! I'm still trying to wrap my head around the news story I read this morning in the Guardian with the provocative headline, "Mills & Boon blamed for sexual health problems."

Wha?! Yeah, that's right:

Blaming romance novels for unprotected sex, unwanted pregnancies, unrealistic sexual expectations and relationship breakdowns, author and psychologist Susan Quilliam says that "what we see in our consulting rooms is more likely to be informed by Mills & Boon than by the Family Planning Association", advising readers of the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care that "sometimes the kindest and wisest thing we can do for our clients is to encourage them to put down the books – and pick up reality".

Okay, it's really just another attempt to slam women who read and write romance. Like the LDS "Life Coach" who claimed that women were "unbalanced" by romance, it's another sensational pile of hogwash disguised as "concern" about women. In our childlike simplicity, we're just not capable of distinguishing between fantasy and reality. Poor lost souls!

Of course, the scholar in question refers to 70s era classic Mills & Boon bodice-rippers as her "evidence" for this. Yes, books from decades ago: obviously nothing has changed in the forty or so years since then. Or has it?

While Quilliam admits that more recent Mills & Boon novels are truer to life, with female characters holding jobs and addressing challenges such as disability and domestic violence, as well as enjoying "many and varied" sexual activities, "still a deep strand of escapism, perfectionism and idealisation runs through the genre".

Shock! Shock! Because I'm sure that's not a problem in any other genre! Why, there are no elements of "escapism, perfectionism and idealisation" in -- oh let's say -- superhero narratives or spy novels or military thrillers (you know, the genres generally perceived as appealing to male readers). There's no crazy, unrealistic and condom-free sex in books made to appeal to the boys!

No, it's only women who must have a finger shaken (not stirred!) at them and told to be good and realistic and above all, not to image wild and improbable sex. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

Nah, me either.

The Romance Relief Auction

2011-07-06T06:10:00.000-07:00

Ahoy Everyone!

So many of you know that L.A. Banks is quite ill and the romance community has banned together to help her with her ever mounting medical bills, and AAD is no exception. We have offered up a hotel room for the convention in NOLA next year...win the bidding and assure your spot in the most sought after convention of 2012!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Authors-After-Dark-2012-Hotel-Room-NOLA-/170663250523?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27bc528a5b

So bid early and bid often!

AAD craziness, goodies and special things!

2011-06-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

OMG we are SO close to the convention its getting INSANE! I have been getting tons of packages from places sending us giveaways and other cool things, and today I got a GIANT package from Hips and Curves dot com. They were extremely generous for giveaways this year, and sent us 3 corsets, (which are freaking RAD!), 3 50$ gift cards, and some AMAZING steampunk hats! Yes H&C is doing steampunk stuff for full figured gals, and their corsets are droolworthy! I cant wait to give them out!

And if you were thinking about coming and missed the cut off? guess what? Due to some last minute cancellations we didnt expect to have we have some spots open, both for the con and for rooms! Thats right! So you should SERIOUSLY consider coming! What do you get for the 130$ price?

BOOKS! we are giving away about 5000 books this year from a TON of amazing publishers including Pocket Books, Random House, Sourcebooks, Ellora's Cave and Grand Central Publishing
All your Meals for the weekend!
Prizes and Goodie Bags
Intimate hangout time with the authors attending! No other con is as focused on he reader as AAD is!

Interested in coming? We do have some spots left for authors too btw...

Email stella: stella@stellaandaudra.com with AAD registration spot in the subject.

Hope to see you in August!

The answers for Who am I?

2011-06-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

Can't leave you hanging, wondering, so here are the answers for the Who am I? brain teasers from last week.

Tuesday - Hephaestus
Wednesday - Priapus
Thursday - Apollo
Friday - Cyclopes [specifically Brontes (thunderer), Steropes (lightning) and Arges (brightness)]

Hope you guys enjoyed and are as eager as me for the Mythos Masquerade! Remember, I'll be hosting a Greek mythology contest at dinner with a fab prize on offer.

See you all there!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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Mythological Messes Redux series backlist
Hephaestus Lays Down the Law [ebook/print]
Together Again? [ebook only]
Cyra's Cyclopes [ebook/print coming soon] - Nominated for an AAD Bookie Award in Fantasy short story category!
Double Punch [ebook/print] - Nominated for an AAD Bookie Award in Erotica Novel category!
Tied Up For Love [ebook/print coming soon]

Who am I? #4

2011-06-24T05:30:00.001-07:00

We were born from Gaia [earth] and Uranus [sky] coming together. From the beginning we were big and strong, so much so, our father feared us and what we were capable of, and chose to lock us away. Eventually a relative released us to help him takeover power and we supported his endeavor. There is nothing handsome about us, but we are physically powerful, all of which encourages people still fear us by sight.

We are a primordial race with 1 being our thing but 3 of us being the most well known - who are we?

Hiya everyone!

I'm not sure, but today was the hardest to write. Fingers crossed you guys can guess from the mix of very general and tricky hints. All of this has been a fun way for me to think about the Mythos Masquerade, which I can't wait to attend.

Some of you I know, but for those I don't yet know, amongst other things, I'm a Greek mythological fiend. In fact, I have a series called Mythological Messes Redux that takes mythical characters who had a duff storyline, and write them a new one with Tease Publishing is the publisher. Now you see why I've enjoyed dropping these hints and hosting a contest [think crossword puzzle], with a fab prize during the Mythos Masquerade dinner - I love Greek mythology.

See you at the ball!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

Facebook│Twitter│Blog│ARe Cafe

Mythological Messes Redux series backlist
Hephaestus Lays Down the Law [ebook/print]
Together Again? [ebook only]
Cyra's Cyclopes [ebook/print coming soon] - Nominated for an AAD Bookie Award in Fantasy short story category!
Double Punch [ebook/print] - Nominated for an AAD Bookie Award in Erotica Novel category!
Tied Up For Love [ebook/print coming soon]

Who am I? #3

2011-06-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

Zeus our father. I have a twin and am considered the ideal kouros, a beardless youth. That means all those Greek statues of naked athletes you see in museums and books are based on me. I know just about everything, even how to divine the future, and continue to monitor various fields advancements such as medicine. Something I will not stand for is competition. There is no one better than me in any field I choose to master and will dispose of all challengers as I see fit. That includes my love life. I'm not married, have children who have gone on to do great things, and play with both men and women.

Basically, I'm a smart diverse Olympian who loves both sexes, and am sometimes seen with a snake or lyre - who am I?

Hiya everyone!

Hope you're enjoying these short who's who treats because I'm definitely enjoy writing them up. Remember, this is all to get you ready for a contest during the Mythos Masquerade dinner.

Okay, can you guess who it is above?

Think Greek!

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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Who am I? #2

2011-06-22T05:30:00.001-07:00

I get little respect for me or all that I do for humanity. There is no major worship sessions for me other than an occassional ass and agriculture goods. I'm a minor rustic god, but I'm very important. Despite my mother - at least the one I claim today - being beauty incarnate, I'm not much to look at, but a part of me is huge, and always appreciated. I'm a guardian, protector, and the harder I grow, the more things grow around me.

I'm an ugly god with a sarcastic and lusty attitude who never hides his most important attribute - who am I?

Hiya everyone!

It's hump day, keep that in mind when deciding who it is above. Hope you're enjoying these short who's who treats because I'm definitely enjoy writing them up. Remember, this is all to get you ready for a contest during the Mythos Masquerade dinner.

Okay, can you guess who it is above?

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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Who am I? #1

2011-06-21T05:34:00.000-07:00

While I don't have a birth certificate, I consider Zeus and Hera my parents, and am a god. While mother and father are both hot tempered, I'm much more calm, peaceful, and think before I act. I'm not an immortal who sits around and looks pretty, far from the latter. Despite my physical limitation, hard labor is how I spend my time, and I do it very well. Many of my bretheren request my expertise. My work keeps me fit and yet my gorgeous wife strays.

So, I'm an Olympian that isn't perfect, but am married to beauty - who am I?

Hiya everyone!

I am so excited Authors After Dark in Philly is just around the corner! Stella has given me a thumbs up to host a contest [think crossword puzzle], with a fab prize during the Mythos Masquerade dinner and thought I'd start getting your heads in the game.

Can you guess who it is above?

I'll give you a hint for the contest: Greek mythology

Tilly Greene
Scorching romances full of twists, turns and ties.
www.tillygreene.com

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UPDATE: My mistake! I accidently deleted the posting, but it's back - sorry :-)

AAD 2011 registration places are OPEN!

2011-06-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

Ok so due to the fact that we had people cancel, AND never get back to us about attending, we have almost 20 spots now open for the event, and we would like to have them filled before the 15th.

What does this mean for you? It means... that you can get on the list to go and have fun with the rest of us! (this includes all goodies, baggies and meals!)

Now, we WONT be picking anyone from the list (and it will be a first come first serve) till Monday, but YOU can get on the list NOW!

Please note: we do not have any spots for authors (meaning signing authors, if your an author and just want to attend please let us know!)

Please fill THIS FORM OUT ASAP! we start contacting people MONDAY!

Thanks! And Spread the word!

Blogger applications for 2012...

2011-06-01T16:40:00.001-07:00

Are now up. They will be LIVE on the 2012 website, but tonite, you will be able to do it early...

FORM HERE.

Please note:

AAD 2012 is doing applications because we only have 20 blogger spots. Bloggers will be chosen on several criteria, and will be notified of their status by email before AAD 2012's registration opens in September.

Why are we doing this this way? because it makes it fair. Publishers want their ARC's and books to go to active bloggers that reach a LOT of readers... so this was the easiest way to be able to make decisions.

Any questions, dont hesitate to Contact us!

Wanna win a free room for AAD 2012?

2011-05-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

Ahoy boys and girls!

So we here at AAD central have been getting all wild and wooly over 2011 and 2012 and we have decided to get some things going we KNOW you are going to be interested in.

So first, how would YOU like to win a free room at 2012? I knew that would peak your interest. Well AAD has a forum, and in order to win, you have to join the forum! Here’s the info:

Join the AAD forum HERE.

Post 50 posts (IE: Become Active on the boards. this doesnt mean 50 posts over 2 days either.)

Once you have 50, you will be automatically entered for the drawing for a free hotel room in NEW ORLEANS for 2012!

This Contest runs from now until September 2011, that’s when we start all the crazy for 2012! We will be announcing the winner of the free room the day before we open registration and reservations!

Now that the REALLY awesome has been taken care of… We have some other cool stuff to mention! For 2011… AAD now has an APP that goes live next month! We will be talking about it soon, So stay tuned to the blog to get all the info. For you smart phone users and tablet people, this is going to make AAD even more interactive and has been a BITCH to set up!

Next, For those of our attendees that are full figured gals… HIPS AND CURVES, the sexy website, has donated some awesome stuff to AAD this year to be given away as a basket and door prizes… and for you Makeup addicted chicks, LIME CRIME is sending a basket of goodies to be used as well! You guys got HOOKED UP this year!

Finally, and this isn’t anything awesome…. But I know there’s a bunch of people out there that registered and wont ever pay… and that’s ok… But PLEASE contact me DIRECTLY to let me know, so someone else will get a chance to go! Next year we wont have this problem….

Wanted: Giftbaskets for AAD!

2011-05-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

Calling all authors, groups, publishers, and industry!

Authors After Dark is looking for gift baskets for their charity auction for the 2011 convention this August in Philadelphia PA! Our charity, Pets Alive, a no kill animal shelter from upstate NY, is our longtime charity, one we feel is more than deserving of our auction!

Pets Alive is an animal sanctuary in Middletown NY that houses around 500 animals monthly and works hard to find them loving and forever homes. They take in animals from all over the country (and Puerto Rico!) and have shut down over 190 puppy mills in the US in the past 3 years! They are working with the Puerto Rican Government to clean up Dead Dog beach, a horrible place where animals have been left to die or tortured. Thanks to Pets Alive, these animals have a new shot at life with people that will care for them.

You can check out all the awesome on their website: petsalive.com

So how can you help? AAD wants YOU to not only help a worthy charity, but help yourself with some amazing promotion! Send us baskets for our charity auction (And send us promo for the goodie bags!) and even though you couldn’t make it this year, you will be there in spirit!

We are looking for anything you are willing to send, Promo goodies, A themed basket of books, An E reader, Gift cards, gift certificates, critiques, ARC’s Anything you think someone will want!

Here are the particulars:

Everything MUST be to the appropriate destination by July 5^th 2011.

All donations MUST come with a business card and way for the winner to contact you.

Interested? Please contact Stella Price at blueflamesabove@yahoo.com for info on where to send everything, and THANK YOU for considering!

*permission to forward granted!*

Questions about AAD 2012: Answered.

2011-05-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

hey all! I have been getting some questions recently from authors about AAD 2012 and while a lot of the info is in the website FAQ, Some of it needs a bit more elaboration so it seems.

So my most asked question is this: How do I get registered early?

My answer to this is this: Get your publisher to commit to some sort of promotional for the event in 2012. Books (which are preferred), parties, book launches, sponsoring something like badges, bags, glasses (for the welcome mixer). Each publisher that commits gets 4-5 authors guaranteed.

See, AAD is about the readers, about keeping them happy and exposing them to authors in order to have their money spent not on meeting authors and hanging out with them, but on buying books and helping support the authors they love, so we can all keep doing what we do. Which is why AAD is so cheap, so they can spend the money on books, in any format they want. Happy attendees are key, and AAD like to keep them happy with freebies and goodies. And the only way I can be assured that we will have the freebies and goodies is to make sure publishers are on board.

To that end, there's another reason. I don't want there to be too large of an influx of authors from ONE publisher. in the past we have had a HUGE amount from one publisher or another, and that publisher hasn't done anything. That's not fair, because the ones that do participate are being cut short. So this is a means to rectify that.

Now if a publisher is participating, out of the 4-5 accepted they can guarantee only 2 (meaning they can say THESE PEOPLE ARE COMING) and ONLY if they are doing a Book launch or a party for the author/ series. Books do not guarantee any one author anything, unless its 400 copies of ONE BOOK (which we would rather not do... we want people to buy books).

So if you NEED to know you have an early spot, get your publisher to sponsor in some way. Have them contact me (NOT YOU, your publisher, I'm not taking hearsay as conformation)and we can get the ball rolling.

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET AN EARLY SPOT BEFORE REGISTRATION OPENS!

Registration opens in September 2011. If you would like the advance Notification, and are an AUTHOR, please click HERE.

For those in the Area later this may...

2011-05-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

In Piscattaway NJ May 20-22 the SteamPunk World's Fair is happening at the Crowne Plaza! Why is this interesting to YOU? because a TON of us AAD authors are going to be there! Myself, (stella, duh), Leanna Renee Hieber, PJ Schnyder, A.L. Davroe and several more!

Not sure what we will all be doing, as we havent gotten our schedules yet, but I do know that the Library will be having a release for Leanna's new book!

Now, I know you wanna come and hangout with us, as we are going to be wild and drinking like fishes! So you wanna meet up with us? maybe catch us reading some books, and pick up some books you wouldnt be able to get till AAD Philly? well you can!

So If you wanna meet up and hangout, we are getting a group together, Post here and I'll get in touch with you about when!

Happy to be MC because...

2011-05-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

Why am I delighted and hugely flattered to be Master of Ceremonies for AAD2012? Because it’s all about the readers! Under the FAQs page of the new site, the very first question states the focus of AAD as: “The reader-author relationship through education of titles, genres and books in general. It is a true reader con, putting readers’ wants and needs at the forefront, and caters to all types of readers of romance, fantasy (including urban fantasy) and horror.”

They mean that shit.

Excuse my language, but I felt the quote that’s been used in various movie venues with such great effect applied perfectly here. When the first AAD was launched a couple years ago, I attended with moderate expectations. I knew it had good people organizing it, but it was a first year conference, and that’s often fraught with mishaps and disorganization, just because it’s part of a new con’s growth process--figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I was amazed to find myself at an incredibly well-organized event with a plethora of panels, events and giveaways, almost all of which were reader-focused. As an author, when I’m deciding how to spend my annual con budget, that’s the quintessential element that determines where I’ll go and how those dollars will be spent. I want the opportunity to spend time with new and existing readers, get to know them better, be inspired and guided by their insights and love of reading.

What’s the icing on the cake about AAD? This type of con tends to attract authors who are also very reader-centered, which means it ends up being one big love fest for books, where I come away with wonderful new friends, a lot of happy fuzzy time with old friends, and a creative adrenaline charge that will spur my writing for the next three manuscripts.

At AAD 2009 and 2010, not only were huge amounts of books and prizes given to the readers, the panels were arranged and themed according to reader interests – vampires, werewolves, historical, BDSM, military romances, et cetera. Readers were given the entire panel time to ask whatever questions they wished about the panel authors’ stories, the genres themselves, etc. That was a lot of fun for me as an author, and readers seemed to love having the chance to play 100 questions with the authors. Ask me to prepare a presentation, and honestly, if I passed out Nyquil at the beginning of the workshop, it would have the same effect. Plus, so many of us authors have trouble with public speaking (hell, if we could speak worth a damn, we’d probably be in politics or sales, not writing – laughter). But answering freestyle questions about my work, satisfying readers’ curiosity about the how, why, when and what’s next, and getting the chance to hear the reader’s perspective as well – that’s a blast. And a big plus – I don’t have to throw up in my hotel bathroom right before, like I do when I have to get up and string together something meaningful for 30-45 minutes.

Now, on top of those panels, AAD throws in some great parties and chances to socialize with these same authors and other readers in a very relaxed, informal environment. We get to play dress up, drink and eat badly, so it’s like a weekend long slumber party.

So in short, when I was asked to be MC at AAD 2012, I took about two seconds before saying yes, despite my horror of public speaking or actually being noticed in public at all (laughter). You all will help me get through, I’m sure. I fully expect this AAD to be the very best yet. For one thing, being held in New Orleans, how could it be bad, even taking into account the stammering MC who has no public speaking skills? And even that will be kind of fun, because you’ll get to heckle and fluster her more - lol.

Okay, obviously we’re still in the early stages, but here are some things planned for 2012. Even if they change a bit as we go on, they’ll be evolving into even more fantastic ideas which, since they’re already pretty amazing, only means more wonderfulness.

There will be a masquerade, the Echoes of New Orleans, where you can come as a character from your favorite New Orleans-setting story, or a past historical figure or ghost of New Orleans – any thing inspired by this sensual city that fairly screams pleasure, intrigue, danger – all the best aspects of paranormal romance, and romance in general. Let your imagination run wild.

The entire con will have the whimsical theme of “Authors After Dark Summer Camp”, with a macabre Dark Carnival flare, because of course this is New Orleans. A small group of authors will be your “counselors”, offering events and parties, and field trips. Your counselor might take you to a special bar in New Orleans, do a cemetery tour, visit a jazz club, etc – giving you a chance to enjoy the culture of the city in the company of an author(s) and fellow readers. Throughout the weekend there will be smaller “getting to know you” parties hosted by other authors. We’ll of course have a book signing, and there may even be a pool party, since the hotel has that as well. And yes, there will be tons of giveaways and opportunities for informal discussions with authors and other booklovers galore.

Did I mention that, because we reached a certain level of bookings at the hotel, the whole place is OURS?! No worries about disturbing other guests or having hotel security come down on you for your room party that goes into the wee hours. How awesome is that?
So let’s recap – an exclusive venue for our event, reader panels, reader parties, reader outings, lots of giveaways, lots of interaction with your favorite authors…have you signed up yet? It’s going to be a total book-high, offered in one of the best cities to celebrate romance. Can’t wait to see you all there!

Today is the day! the AAD 2012 unveiling!

2011-05-01T07:12:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! Today is a grand and glorious day as today is the day we unveil the new Authors After Dark 2012 website, forum and twitter!

so first... If you haven't yet... Start following @aadconvention on twitter! its out AAD informational twitter that will be giving updates for this years event, and hints about next years!

Second... Join AAD's new Fan Forum! We will be taking the Yahoo groups out of the equation for 2012, because so many will not join one and don't seem to get all the information they need so a forum is a one stop shop for everything, including interaction with authors and attendees!

Last but not least... Authors After Dark have a new website from Now on, and it will start with the 2012 year for our new incorporation! The company site will be online soon, but for the convention... may I present the AUTHORS AFTER DARK 2012 WEBSITE! I know you guys have all been waiting to see it... and I'm so excited we are able to show you now!

ooh and an added bonus... our fantastic and amazing Master of Ceremonies for 2012, Ms. Joey W. Hill, will be blogging here today! That's right shes got some stuff she wants to tell you guys that will get you all excited! So? Who cant wait?????

Why AAD?

2011-04-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

For the last few years, my travel and appearances schedule has been pretty heavy. I'm away from home about three months of the year altogether. Because I'm in California and most events tend to take place on the other side of the country, I've had to be careful not to live half the year in a plane. So what made Authors After Dark one of my must-attend conventions? Lemme tell you. :)

I wasn't able to attend Authors After Dark the first year I was invited, but I did get it worked out last year and I'm so glad I did! I can really gush about this event and since that's the purpose of this blog post, I will.

* Personally, I'm going because there were so many opportunities to sit down with other readers and talk about books and how much fun we were having. Every meal found me at a new table, with new table-mates. I talked with new readers in the hallways, at breakfast, in the elevator... everywhere. Because of the intimacy of the event, it was so much easier to connect with others than I've experienced elsewhere.

But overall, here are the some of the things that really impressed me about AAD:

1) I have no idea how Stella pulls it off, but AAD was the best coordinated event of this size that I've attended. It was very much like one of the larger reader conventions on a smaller, far more intimate scale. Basically, all the benefits and far less of the detriments.

2) There were a TON of books there. I came home with more books from AAD than I did any other convention last year.

3) The food was really good. No rubber chicken or congealed WTF-is-that? stuff anywhere. From the rolls to dessert, I was impressed with the quality and quantity of the food.

4) The presentation was stunning. From the banners in the hallways to the beautiful themed table centerpieces, it seemed like every small detail had been carefully considered.

5) There were authors everywhere. I met so many new-to-me authors because of AAD, and I was able to spend time with them while they were relaxed and having fun.

I'm really looking forward to AAD this year, and I already have AAD-2012 on my schedule. It's a really wonderful time. I look forward to seeing YOU there! :)

Sylvia Day
www.sylviaday.com

Twitter: @sylday
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay
Goodreads: Sylvia Day

Authors After Dark Share the Love

2011-04-29T01:00:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! I’m Susan Hanniford Crowley author of the Vampires in Manhattan series about vampires, shapeshifters, and rare supernaturals. I write steampunk and mythos romance as well.

What do I love most about the Authors After Dark Convention? It’s the ability to share the love. Of all the events, I love the authors’ raffle baskets most. All the money raised goes to an animal rescue. My adorable Buffy and Bella came from a cat rescue, and I have to tell you those volunteers work tirelessly to give those sweet creatures more than just food and water. So when the time comes for buying raffle tickets, think of the homeless cats and dogs and buy! Buy! Buy! Share the love with animals that really need it. My basket will be especially cozy and romantic this year.

Last year I went to my first Authors After Dark Convention. It was the most outrageous fun I’ve ever had at a convention. I love that it’s dedicated to the enjoyment of readers. There’s an intimacy to the panels, workshops, parties, and other events that I’ve never seen anywhere else. It’s a bit like joining a village for a festival. Everyone gets to know everyone else and have a great time together.

I love all the freebies at my plate at each meal. I love meeting new people and having fun on the panels. Learning new things at the workshops. The parties are amazing. This year I am especially looking forward to the Mythos and Steampunk balls. The vendors rock. A friend of mine wants to cheek out the tattoo artist wearing the kilt. He rocks too. LOL There will be unclassifiable events of fun. Ah, the mystery. I can't tell you everything where would be the fun in that. I want to try to bellydancing. I’ve heard you can get thighs of steel.

This Authors After Dark is special to me because most of the Nights of Passion blog crew will be there with me. C. Margery Kempe, Cara North, and a.c. Mason will be there. OUTRAGEOUS FUN! Mason and I are two of the hosts for a Chocolate Party. YUM! Find out more about our passionate crew at http://nightsofpassion.wordpress.com/

I’m planning a lot of impromptu giveaways. I’ll be on panels and at the booksignings too. Be sure to ask me about Vampires, and I’ll give you a little gift until they run out. I’m ecstatic about Authors After Dark, and I’m sure you are too. I love talking about writing and reading---vampires, steampunk, and mythos romance.

To find out more me and my books, visit Nights of Passion blog or my website http://susanhannifordcrowley.com/. Twitter me at http://www.twitter.com/SHCrowley
Share the love on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Susan-Hanniford-Crowley/629298868

See you there! Absolutely say hi!

The Draws of AAD

2011-04-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

Over the past few years, I’ve attending a variety of writers’ conventions, from Detroit’s ConFusion all the way to WorldCon. It’s given me a taste of a variety of sizes and styles of cons. When Authors After Dark came on my radar, I will admit the size made me a little nervous. I can be shy and sometimes prefer to lose myself in crowds. Plus, I knew I’d only be able to attend two conventions this year since there weren’t any local ones that really hit my radar.

Basically, I had to choose really carefully.

However, I do love connecting with readers, and because of the size limits, attending as a featured author was a huge opportunity. Too huge to pass up. Plus, I’m always on the lookout for a new convention to fall in love with and I haven’t been to Philadelphia since I was a kid. Then I found out that both Nat and Pam from Wicked Lil Pixie were going to be there (along with several other book bloggers I adore), and I was sold.

I’m on three panels, which I’m very geeked about. Though I will admit to being a bit nervous about the erotica panel. I’ve made jokes about why, but they were just that. The reality is I’m just not a morning person, and considering I know some of the people on the panel with me, I have a feeling much fun may be had at my expense. It’s okay though—laughter is always a good icebreaker.

Then there are the parties and the outings. As excited as I am for all of that though, I’m mostly excited about meeting some people I’ve only had the opportunity to talk to online and others I haven’t ever talked to before. I hope to see you there, and if you attend the erotica panel…please pass the sleepy chick a red bull or something.

Seleste deLaney (aka Julie Particka)

www.selestedelaney.com

www.julieparticka.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SelestedeLaney

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001203081398

Staying Up Past Our Bedtime - Why We're Attending AAD

2011-04-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Reesa. I write space opera/sci fi romance with my partner, Michelle Moore.

We wanted to attend Authors After Dark 2010, but we just couldn't get it together in time to make the registration cut off. At the time, we would have been attending as readers, and we were looking forward to meeting authors, bloggers, and fellow fans.

This year, we're attending as authors, and we couldn't be happier to join the ranks of the other creative people who are dedicated to making Authors After Dark a great experience for readers.

AAD won't be our first con. That will fall to Balticon 45, our local science fiction and fantasy convention, but AAD follows it up in a way that's uniquely appropriate for our books. We write science fiction romance (the Ylendrian Empire series, to be exact), and it's really important to us that both aspects of the story are given the same amount of care. It makes it great that we can attend a sci fi con and subversively add a little romance to the panels, and then turn around and get people's heads in the stars at a romance con.

Our main decision was made for us in the Authors After Dark tagline- for us, it's all about the readers, and we can't wait to hang out with everyone in Philadelphia!

First Time at AAD by Nancy Holzner

2011-04-25T04:54:00.000-07:00

I'm the author of the Deadtown urban fantasy series, and this will be my first Authors After Dark. I'm very excited to be included!

I can't say exactly when AAD first crossed my radar. I remember some of the bloggers and authors I follow on Twitter talking about what a great time they were having last year. I saw references to it on some blogs I frequent. And when I went to Albacon in Albany, NY last October, people were still buzzing about it there.

What I heard was that Authors After Dark was a reader-centered conference that had great panels, great parties, and tons of opportunities to talk with readers, bloggers, and other authors. This sounded exactly like the kind of conference I was looking for. I love going to science fiction and fantasy conventions, but so often what I'm there for—the chance to talk about books and writing—is one track out of many. It's easy to get lost. AAD focuses on readers, and I can't wait to get there and talk books with people.

I work at home (I'm a freelance writer and editor), and sometimes I really NEED to trade my work PJs for some real clothes and get out of the house. Heading off for a weekend of socializing and talking shop with people who love the same kinds of stories that I do—that's guaranteed to get me to comb my hair and pack a suitcase. I'm looking forward to being on and attending panels, hosting a hospitality breakfast with other UF authors, being at the book signing, and checking out the balls. Most of all, I think, I'm looking forward to the casual conversations that an event like this allows—a chance meeting in an elevator, a discussion that begins in a panel discussion and then continues in the hall, as dinnertime conversation where you discover a common interest with someone who was a stranger half an hour before.

I've loved reading the posts this month to see why people are going to AAD. If you haven't chimed in yet, why are you going? If you've been before, what's your best memory? Or if this will be your first AAD, what are you most looking forward to?

See you there!

Nancy Holzner

http://nancyholzner.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Holzner/163746834500?ref=ts

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NancyHolzner

What I Love About AAD by Jess Haines

2011-04-24T03:09:00.000-07:00

Authors After Dark was the very first author convention I ever attended. Actually, it’s the only author convention I’ve ever attended. Not knocking the other conventions out there, but many of the others I researched were either too small and expensive, or too big and therefore too likely to lose me in the shuffle. Having some experience with overwhelming cons—and, in my experience thus far, nothing beats Anime Expo—I wanted to have a chance to meet people instead of be pushed around by the tide.

All that said, Authors After Dark was a blast! I had a ridiculous amount of fun last year meeting crazy/funny bloggers like JoJo (link: http://jojosbookcorner.blogspot.com/), Larissa (link: http://www.larissaslife.com/), Joy (link: http://www.joyfullyreviewed.com/), Ali (link: http://simplyali.blogspot.com/), etc. I met the lovely Leanna Renee Hieber, Jacquelyn Frank, Stella Price, KT Grant, and many other authors—too numerous to mention. Many of these people have become good friends and stayed in touch since then. My fancy-schmancy business cards and new series logo came courtesy of Robin (link: www.rldprint.com), who gave me her card at AAD. I took a truckload of books home with me.

We did fun things like charity raffles (which are always near and dear to my heart), I both sat on and attended interesting panels on everything from writing sexy shifters to interracial romance, got to drool over some amazing costumes at the ball, and I had loads of fun dancing like a dork until the wee hours on Saturday night! The atmosphere was relaxed and all about having a good time. What isn’t to love?

The best part of going to Authors After Dark was getting to meet my fans. Getting to know readers, not bloggers or authors (though they are also awesome, and often started out as readers), always makes my day.

I’m talking about the people who came because they love our books, they love us, and they wanted to have a chance to rub elbows with their favorite authors. It was an amazing opportunity to get to know people I might otherwise never have met. Twitter and Facebook and email are great ways of contacting and staying in touch with fans, but it makes all the difference in the world when you get to shake their hands, give them a hug, or swap naughty stories over dessert. Where else will you get to pop by the hotel bar at any hour of the day and not have to worry about imposing if you stop by to say hello to one of your fellow attendees—no matter their occupation?

I’m looking forward to more of the same in the coming year. Come say hi to me—I promise I don’t bite—and get ready to have a great time! Panels, parties, and swag await!

Jess Haines

http://www.jesshaines.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/Jess_Haines

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jess-Haines-HW-Investigations/199575306328?ref=search&sid=100000426805820.1600836246..1

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jesshaines

a.c.Mason, who am I and why Authors After Dark?

2011-04-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

Who am I?
I should start at the beginning. I was born. Mayhem followed.

Hi yall, I’m a.c.Mason! Everyone calls me Mason and I hope you will too.

I love spending time in the strange worlds I create and hiding in my writer lair. I’ve got hot men tied up in there. Shhsh. Don’t let word get out.

I should give you the lowdown on me and what I write.

In 2009, I released my first short novel fantasy mainstream fiction Aequitas I Betrayal and the sequel Aequitas II Punishment followed in 2011. This year so far I have three romance novellas coming out.

From Decadent Publishing http://www.decadentpublishing.com Available
Surrendering to the Right Man, Book 1 of the Soul Food Diner Series,

From Lyrical Press, Inc http://www.lyricalpress.com
Chocolate Damsel, Wolf-Spirit Series Book 1, coming May 2nd, 2011
Chocolate Temptation, Wolf-Spirit Series Book 2, September 19th, 2011

Why am I going to Authors After Dark?

A fellow author Susan Hanniford Crowley attended Authors After Dark 2010 and was telling me how great it was. After a little arm-twisting, Susan agreed that I should go too. lol. That’s the version of the story that I’m sticking to. I had heard there was a male tattoo artist in a kilt. I’m not against seeing that. I wouldn’t mind a Philly steak and cheese. My other more risky plan is to have either Daniel Craig or Joshua Jackson as my roommates for the conference or both. I'll share with my other two author roommates of course. Wink.

All right, enough of that for a moment, not that there can ever be enough of either one of those fine men. Lol.

I absolutely couldn’t wait to connect with readers. My pps. As much as I love writing about the strange worlds in my head, I adore when authors can carry me away to theirs. So I know what it’s like to be on the other side “a reader”. I’d love to pull aside some of my favorite authors and get a chance to find out where the idea for a character I connected with came from. How did they think up the world for a book I love?

I’m also being granted the opportunity to be on the following panels Erotic Historical, The Digital Revolution, Motivations For Writing, Choosing a Publisher.

I look forward to connecting with you at the conference.

If you want to learn, more about a.c. Mason go to http://www.acmason.com/.

Mason
a.c. Mason
Darkness ♀♂ Desires
www.acmason.com

Why Im going to AAD by Jean Murray

2011-04-22T05:45:00.001-07:00

I am proud to say I’m an AAD veteran. I attended the very first conference in 2009. I was so thrilled. I met so many fabulous authors and devoted readers, like myself. The food and entertainment was killer. It was such an intimate setting to get to know the authors behind the fabulous stories I had read. I was forever inspired by the experience. At the time I was just beginning my writing journey, never once thinking the next time I would be attending as an author.

This year I’m an AAD author virgin. So be gentle J All kidding aside, I’m so excited to introduce my debut novel, Soul Reborn. It just released this month. I chose AAD to launch my book because of the fabulous people that will be there. I’ve never met such a diverse and friendly group of people willing to give support and encouragement. And by coming, I’ll be able to reach out to the readers and introduce myself. I’m going to participate in the great paranormal panels and am a featured author at the Mythos Ball. What better place to show off the theme of my book than going dressed as an Egyptian goddess!

The other reason I like AAD – it’s twisted. I love the unusual and unexpectedness of the panels and workshops. Where else can you learn to belly dance and strengthen your love muscles or get a tattoo. If you get a chance, stop by my website for a visit. I would love to meet you before the conference. See you in August!

Jean Murray

www.jean-murray.com

www.wickedromance.wordpress.com

Why I’m headed to Authors After Dark

2011-04-20T03:15:00.000-07:00

Easy. This is a reader con. I want to hang out with people who love the same kinds of stories I do. Books are my passion. I live to read and to write. Nothing, aside from my family, captivates me more. And to get to play with others like me? I am so there.

When not wrangling kids, I’m lucky to spend my day in a book—either the one I am writing or one from my formidable TBR pile. For the most part, my passion is solitary. I often spend hours in the quiet listening only to the voices in my head (crazy, I know). A book, some chocolate (hazelnut) and I am good to go. During one stressful period of my life, I remember begging my sweet and enduring husband for the weekend to spend in bed and READ. I figure there might be one or two (or all?) at AAD who understand and can relate. If I weren’t a writer, I’d be wild about AAD anyway.

But I am a writer. I’ve got a book coming out this fall, so I’m also hoping to have my cake and frost it and then eat it with ice cream and chocolate sauce. In other words, I hope readers discover my books. I hope they dig my Shadow world and snatch up my romance trading cards. And then I just want to hang out and have fun with everyone.

I heard about AAD last year, but too late to come. When I saw the excitement online for this year, I said… YES! I can’t wait.

Readers, and by that I mean everyone, I’d love a chance to hear what you’re reading. I write dark paranormal/urban fantasy, so to lighten things up, I’ve been digging into some historicals. And I’ve just discovered steampunk. Why--I cry to heaven—did it take me so long?

So what are you reading? What’s on your must-read list?

Erin Kellison

A New Kid on the Block...Headed to AAD

2011-04-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

Last year was my first experience at AAD, and one I’ll always remember. I attended as both a reader and an aspiring author, and didn’t know what to expect.

Upon arrival, my friends and I were greeted by the wonderful conference staff, eager to assist in any way possible. When you’re told this conference caters to readers, BELIEVE IT!

The panels were informative and entertaining, the parties were unique, and the vendors had a wonderful selection. Did I mention the number of free books? Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love FREE books?

But what impressed me most, was how authors, editors, agents, and readers intermingled. For example, my girlfriends and I hosted a party after hours in our hotel room. While providing refreshments for our guests, I stepped back and surveyed the area. Among the crowd stood Stella Price, Leanna Renee Hieber, Joey W. Hill, Eliza Gayle, a talented tattoo artist, an agent, an editor, several bloggers and readers…just to name a few! At the end of the event, I walked away with dozens of books, and new authors I’d just met, who I couldn’t wait to add to my ever-growing TBR pile.

Now, for you aspiring authors: As the event approached, I completed my first manuscript and scheduled live pitching opportunities with several editors from various publishing companies. I left AAD with a number of successful pitches and a lot of submitting to do! In October, I signed with Tease Publishing and released my first novel, MYTHIC, in February (available at All Romance ebooks). I’m still celebrating! So, I’m sure you can understand why AAD is dear to my heart, and why YOU should consider attending.

This will be my first year attending AAD as an author and I’m honored to be among such amazing talent. I look forward to meeting other authors, speaking with and gaining new readers, and having a wonderful time.

During the convention, I’ll have the distinct pleasure of participating in the following panels:

Myths and Magic (alongside Stella and Audra Price, Stephanie Julian, Carolan Ivey, Tilly Greene, Jennifer Armintrout and Erin Kellison)

Behind the Scenes of the Average Author (with Carolan Ivey, Judy Fennell, Diana Marie Bell, Rosemary Laurey, Misty Burke and Lydia Dare)

When the Ending isn’t HEA- Bending the rules and still being considered romance (alongside Stella and Audra Price, Jennifer Armintrout, PJ Schynder, Dahlia Rose and Yvette Hines)

If you’ll be in attendance, feel free to stop by and say hello. I’ll have prizes and swag to give away and I don’t bite…usually. I hope to meet you all at AAD in 2011!

Jae Lynne Davies
Adding a Little Spice to the World of Romance
http://www.jaelynnedavies.com/

5 reasons why I love going to AAD

2011-04-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Oh man, there are a multitude of reasons why I love going to AAD, but I think I'll give you five to get you started, and then you can discover the joy that is Authors After Dark for yourself.

Charity Raffles—there are always so many fabulous bags/baskets to try and win, I don’t even think how I’d get it home if I won them.

Panels—are relevant, interesting, informative, and a great exchange of ideas and insights between readers and writers.

Parties—always unique and a total blast, plus panels don’t start too early the next day you can’t enjoy the evening stuff to the wee hours.

People—a pleasure to meet new folks and old friends, and then there's those I get to meet in person who otherwise I only get a chance to talk to online.

And, last but not least, I eat—the food is always light and very edible for me, the pickiest of the picky.

All this and so much more is why I'm eager for Authors After Dark in Philadelphia, and already have New Orleans on my schedule. See you all there and be sure to bring your camera - there's always exciting stuff happening at AAD!

Tilly Greene
WARNING! Red hot romances ahead!
www.tillygreene.com

Facebook│Twitter│Blog│ARe Cafe

Authors After Dark on the Con Schedule

2011-04-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

I'm no stranger to attending conventions. They come in many different forms and flavors, all with their strong points and disadvantages, temptations and pitfalls.

The Day Job Cons:

I've spoken in front of between 50 and 250 people at conventions for the day job. These are venues full of suits and science, cutting edge technology and the latest in government guidance and requirements.

The food is good, the alcohol flows as a trap for the non-business savvy. You learn to drink with the big dogs and how to accurately gauge how much you can have to be effective in networking while avoiding making an idiot of yourself.

The Anime Cons:

Fun filled land of the otaku, anime conventions are packed with cosplayers and Japanese cartoon-lovers. I trade in my biz suit at these cons for cat ears and plaid Japanese school girl skirts, scampering around watching the latest fan subs and anime music videos, meeting Japanese directors and rocking out to J-pop concerts.

These are full of relaxation and shenanigans, with a touch of bouncy cuteness thrown in on the side. I'm a yearly attendee at Otakon and Anime Boston. I've been to Sakura Con, Anime USA, Katsucon and NY Anime Fest.

The Literary Conventions:

Romance, sci-fi, any genre on the shelves are covered in these conventions. They are the places to meet authors, agents, editors and publishers. There are tracks on both the craft of writing and the business of it, as well as the promotion and marketing of a writer's work. Workshops and panels cover every aspect of the writing world and beyond.

For me, these are an interesting mix of business and fun. I've attended Romantic Times, WisCon and PhilCon, sampling a taste of the differences in focus at each.

This year, I will be attending Authors After Dark for the first time. As a newly published author, the key reason I'm attending is to meet readers. I'd be tickled beyond imagining to meet readers of my work, definitely, but I'd also like to meet readers of the genres I write. Heck I'd like to meet readers just to enjoy with them the excitement of being at a convention to not only meet their favorite authors but to discover new ones (like me!).

I'm looking forward to getting a feel for another literary convention. Plus, there's always budget to consider. AAD is in Philly this year, allowing me to commute to the con from home. There's little you can argue when the con fee covers food and you have no airfare or lodging expenses. Plus I'll be lucky enough to speak on several panels, very huge opportunities for me.

Finally, AAD was scheduled at the right time. RT hit during a challenging time of year for me personally. Lori Foster and Balticon are the week of my little brother's wedding and family must come first.

Often, it's the timing as much as anything else that plays a roll in where you end up in life.

I do hope you'll all stop me at AAD to say Hi. I'm looking forward to meeting new people, be they readers or industry or fellow authors. To make it easy to find me, I'll be on the following panels:

"When the ending isn’t HEA"
"E book Authors"
"Guess the book from the Sex Scene"
"Author Blog Fail"
"Food and Clothing in Romance: DETAILS"

I'm also on the Steam Ball Court and joining a group of authors in hosting at the hospitality suite from 4pm to 6pm on Saturday with lots of prizes and swag. :)

~ PJ Schnyder

www.pjschnyder.com

What Authors After Dark Has That Others Don’t From Theresa Meyers

2011-04-15T03:15:00.000-07:00

I’m skipping the big conferences this year. You know, Romantic Times, RomCon and RWA national convention, but I’m making sure I go to Authors After Dark. Why? Because this year AAD is offering me something the others can’t. A chance to get to me you, really meet you, not just say hi as you pass by a signing table in a crowded ballroom.

I’ve never been to AAD before, but from everything I’ve heard from others, it’s one of the few conferences where you get to actually have fun and just hang out with others who love the same things I do—books!

Oh, I probably should have gone to some of the bigger conferences. I had my first print Nocturne, The Truth About Vampires, out in March and my second, The Vampire Who Loved Me comes out May 24^th. I also have my first book in my steampunk romance trilogy, The Hunter, coming out from Kensington in late October. But there were other things I had to think about. Did I want to be just one of the crowd? Did I want a chance to really sit down and mingle? While I’ve been to RWA’s national conference many times and spoken there frequently since I joined in 1993, I’ve always found it to be more about building up my craft as a writer and making business connections.

This year that’s not my goal. My goal is to meet more readers. Have fun with them. Get a chance to hang out and really enjoy the people who love to read paranormal romances featuring hot, sexy vampires and those who are into steampunk as much as I am. And since I live in Washington, I’ll get a chance to meet people I have only “seen” on Twitter or Facebook.

All in all, I’m really looking forward to AAD. I hope you are too!

Theresa Meyers

ETA: Theresa's Editor said that her Steampunk story will be out in NOVEMBER instead of October!