Release Day: Leader of The Pack, Wolf Smitten Book 3

As my Wolf Smitten Trilogy draws to a close, I welcome all readers of paranormal romance to embark on this, the final chapter. The Wolf in the Neighborhood and Once Bitten Twice Shy have been building to this moment, where all questions are answered.

In this final installment of Phoenix Johnson's Wolf Smitten trilogy, Krissy and Derek are faced with additional challenges; some even more dangerous than anything they've faced so far. Can Krissy and Derek overcome the constant surprises being thrown at them? Will they ever get a happily ever after?

Ever since they first met, Krissy and Derek’s relationship has been tried and tested. They just want a normal life. Will they ever get that dream?
In this final installment of Phoenix Johnson’s Wolf Smitten trilogy, Krissy and Derek are faced with additional challenges; some even more dangerous than anything they’ve faced so far. When a wild wolf attacks Krissy, Derek never suspected he would come face to face with a former high school buddy. It’s not a happy reunion, though, and Krissy is fighting for her life. However things aren’t always as they seem, and Derek’s wolf is about to get some company.
When they finally return home, Krissy’s new status puts another life in danger, and then she’s thrown into dealing with a forgotten dinner date with her parents.
Can Krissy and Derek overcome the constant surprises being thrown at them? Will they ever get their happily ever after.

Limited time price of 99c!

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About Phoenix Johnson

Phoenix Johnson has always been intrigued by the written word. Even when she was a young girl, she usually had her nose stuck in at least one book, and her need to read would drive her to peruse the back of the same cereal box each morning at breakfast. Paranormal and fantasy captured her heart, with tales about dragons, magic, and fanciful creatures sweeping her away to a wonderful new world where she felt she truly belonged. While she dabbled in writing while in primary school, it wasn't until high school that she decided she should try her hand at writing her own book, and even gave poetry a try.
She wandered away from writing for a few years, but was soon encouraged to return and, within months of picking up the proverbial pen, Phoenix' first story, The Wolf In The Neighborhood, was accepted for publication by Naughty Nights Press. While working on the rest of the Wolf Smitten Trilogy, Phoenix decided to take on a university degree, and is now in the final stretch of her Bachelor of Art's degree in Professional Writing and Publishing, with plans to continue on to her Master's degree.
In early 2015, Phoenix was thrilled to discover she'd made two Top 5 lists with three entries in the Easychair Bookstore Awards. In June, it was announced she had placed first in Best Paranormal with Once Bitten Twice Shy, the second installment in her Wolf Smitten Trilogy, while The Wolf In The Neighborhood and Wolf Smitten placed third in their respective categories of Best Paranormal and Best Series.
With her inclusion in the Alphas on the Prowl Box Set in 2015, Phoenix hit the top 100 bestsellers lists across numerous distributors, number 1 bestseller on several Amazon lists, and this was quickly followed by the announcement of her achievement of number 1 bestseller for her publisher, Naughty Nights Press, for the full second quarter of 2015. The awards and achievements have only served to strengthen her ambitions, and she is now aiming at reaching the bestseller lists for USA Today and New York Times. 
Phoenix has been working hard to make 2015 her year, and has been busy organizing paranormal anthology Twisted Tales with seven other authors. Its release at the end of June was greatly anticipated, and she is extremely excited to see where her writing career takes her next. 
To follow other projects by Phoenix Johnson, please visit Phoenix Johnson Author. She can also be found on Facebook, where you can sign up to her newsletter, The Nest. She is also on Twitter..

COMING SOON! The Wolf Smitten Trilogy Book 3 by @Phoenix_Johnson

Available for pre-order soon, with a release set for early December, Leader of The Pack, Book 3 in Phoenix Johnson's Wolf Smitten Trilogy, is set to finish the exciting tale of Krissy and Derek. 

Ever since they first met, Krissy and Derek’s relationship has been tried and tested. They just want a normal life. Will they ever get that dream?

In this final installment of Phoenix Johnson’s Wolf Smitten trilogy, Krissy and Derek are faced with additional challenges; some even more dangerous than anything they’ve faced so far. When a wild wolf attacks Krissy, Derek never suspected he would come face to face with a former high school buddy. It’s not a happy reunion, though, and Krissy is fighting for her life. However things aren’t always as they seem, and Derek’s wolf is about to get some company.

When they finally return home, Krissy’s new status puts another life in danger, and then she’s thrown into dealing with a forgotten dinner date with her parents.

Can Krissy and Derek overcome the constant surprises being thrown at them? Will they ever get their happily ever after?

Leader of The Pack, Book 3, will be arriving just in time for Christmas! Plus, just in time for the 3 years anniversary of The Wolf In The Neighborhood, the ENTIRE TRILOGY will be available in print! Keep an eye out in early 2016 for when and where you can get Phoenix Johnson's Wolf Smitten Trilogy in paperback to hold in your hands!

Snippet and more details to come!

Buy One Get One FREE Offer!

Have I got your attention? I sure hope so! 

Many of you should know by now that my latest book, Persephone, was released recently. Well, the introductory price of 99c is coming to a close this Thursday, 13th of August. To send that price out with a BANG!, my publisher, Naughty Nights Press, and I are offering my first novella, The Wolf In The Neighborhood, FREE to the first 100 people to buy Persephone and contact me with proof of purchase!
For those who have already purchased it, don't worry, you can still send me proof of purchase and I will send you the link where you can download your FREE copy of The Wolf In The Neighborhood!

You can buy your copy of Persephone here on Amazon (also available in Paperback). Then take a screen shot of proof of purchase and send it to me via email or via my Facebook page, and I'll send you a link to download your FREE copy of The Wolf In The Neighborhood. It's that easy! So what are you waiting for? Grab your 2 books for the low price of 1 now, before it's too late!

Persephone
Persephone takes her life and heart into her own hands when she meets and follows a mysterious stranger on a sweet summer day. However, tragedy strikes, and her lover, the mystifying Adrian, begs her as his life fades: Persephone, head to the sea. Honouring his request, she begins a journey where she discovers her true heritage and finds the family she always dreamed of. Persephone almost finds peace and happiness until her past catches up. She is not about to give up, however, and is determined to obey Adrian’s dying wish. 

But what is waiting for her at the shore? Will she find her destiny, or lose everything she had fought so hard to find? Can she become the Witch that her true parents wanted her to be, or will she succumb to the Darkness? 

The Wolf In The Neighborhood
What do you do when your past comes back to haunt you? 
Could a dark secret revealed by a new lover be something you could overlook just to have him? 
What kind of secrets could you learn to live with for true love? 

Krissy has a hunky new neighbor with a dark secret; Derek is a vet with an interesting past. They hit it off quickly but when Krissy’s abusive ex, James comes to town, Derek shows a side Krissy never could have guessed, but James refuses to give up. 

Can Derek’s secret save them, or will James have his revenge?

This is the year of the Phoenix

So, for those who haven't seen on Facebook, I have had some very exciting news come in recently. A few pieces, to be honest. Now which to start with...

I think I'll start with the box set that I'm a part of. Alphas On The Prowl will be published 28th April through Excessica Publishing. There are 11 authors in this box set, some of which are NY Times and USA Today best sellers, so you know the stories have to be of high standard. I'm very pleased to announce that The Wolf In The Neighborhood will be getting re-released by itself as well as in the box set. I honestly can't wait to reveal the cover, this is an extremely exciting venture for me.

But that's not all that has me walking on a cloud right now. The Wolf In The Neighborhood (as is, before the edits I'm currently doing for it) and Once Bitten have both made the top 5 Paranormal entrants for the Easy Chair Bookstore Awards, just as Wolf Smitten has made the top 5 Series entrants. I was over the moon when I found out I'd made not one but two lists, 3 times. Final winners aren't announced until 1 June, but just to make 2 lists, with 35 entrants in the paranormal category alone, and 14 in the series categories, is such an honour that I don't think I'll stop being excited about for a long time.

But wait, there's more! Seriously, I'm not just saying it. I'm also heading in another project, a paranormal anthology with a group of wonderful authors. While details aren't being announced until the end of May, I can tell you that it promises to be a wonderful group of stories, ranging in sub-genres, and will be 16+ friendly. I've made the cover already, because I'm just so excited for it, and the biggest piece of excitement for me is that it will be print-on-demand, as well as available on Kindle. Further details are being discussed, however there won't be long to wait at all until the cover is revealed and posters will be

shared. So stay tuned, there is plenty to come.

I've also entered another contest, one for works in progress, but it's only early days so I have no news I can share about that, except that it's so far so good! And this is all before upcoming news and projects through Naughty Nights Press, my publishing home!

One last bit of news, though. Only slightly related. I'm now able to see the light at the end of the tunnel that is this Bachelor's Degree, with 48 weeks to go, with a high possibility of getting invited to do Honours, for which I've already decided on what I want to do. On top of that, glutton for punishment that I am *wink wink*, I'm also considering going on to complete a Master's Degree as well. If I'm not crazy by the end of the BA, I'm fairly sure I will be after the MA hahaha.

So it definitely seems to be the year of the Phoenix. I'd love to hear how this year is going for you, as well. Feel free to share any great news you've had, things to look forward to, or even if things are going rough, I honestly want to hear. The comments are open!

Is this the real life? Or is this just fantasy?

Seriously, someone pinch me! The first two installments in my Wolf Smitten shifter erotic romance trilogy have been really well received so far. The latest reviews on them have left me walking on clouds.
One of the highest compliments a reader/reviewer can give an author, I believe, is that they felt the need to discuss it with someone. As a reader, I've felt that same need from my favourite books. I love discussing my favourite characters, reliving the best scenes through talking about them with like-minded people. So to see that someone has had that same reaction about my own books is... it's exhilarating. I can't thank A. P. Bullard enough for her wonderful reviews! I'm so thrilled to invoke in others the wonderful feelings that I get when I read my favourite books!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5DEFINITELY worth the download!

ByA. P. Bullardon March 19, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

*** Received complimentary copy from publisher in exchange for honest book 

review***

I started in on Phoenix Johnson’s Once Bitten, Twice Shy immediately after 

finishing the first book in the series, The Wolf in the Neighborhood. The latter 

was a decidedly quick read, but moved along with a fast pace with an 

intensity that belies the typical tropes of the genre.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy provoked expressions of astonishment. It spawned 

excitement and the need for me to have someone to discuss it with. I loved the 

way everything played out, and how the strength of Krissy was expounded on

 in this installment of the Wolf Smitten Series.

The tranquility of Krissy’s and Derek’s lover’s nest comes to an abrupt demise...

You can read both reviews in full on Amazon here (The Wolf In The Neighborhood) and here (Once Bitten Twice Shy), where you can also pick them both up to read for yourself, and maybe give A. P. Bullard the someone to discuss it with.

Winter Heat Blog Hop - Take care this holiday season

Over forty authors and bloggers have joined together to provide some great posts and giveaways at most every stop, The Naughty Pages included. There are even prizes on the main blog for awesome goodies including jewellery! For the details, just follow the link here, and go win yourself some awesome prizes!

I'm getting a little crazy with activities at the moment. I guess the holiday crazies are hitting me early, as I'm currently involved in two blog hops! This one, and Cranberry and Spice blog hop. But it's all in good fun, and is about supporting other authors, gaining new readers and bringing in the holiday season with cheer. 

So while I discussed how to help others in my Cranberry and Spice post, and asked people what their favourite part of the holidays is, I think here I'll talk about how busy we can get, and how important it is to take a moment, step back and try to remember the little things, in our rush to make this year the perfect year. Really, all we need for a perfect year is to be with those who are still with us, who can be with us, and remember those who can't, and celebrate what we have while we still have it. It's so easy to get caught up in the planning, the shopping and all the excitement. But make sure that you do take a moment to step back, appreciate what you have already, but most importantly, just breathe! Stress is another thing that's rampant this time of year. Try to avoid those holidays blues with some quiet time to yourself, breathe, and let your mind relax. Just a couple times a week, not even for more than 5 minutes if you're that pressed for time. Just be sure to do it. And even in the low temperatures currently hitting America with winter time, keep up your fluids, and don't skip a meal just to save time! It may be the silly season, but

we still need to look after ourselves!

So, on that topic, tell me: what is your favourite way to relax during the festive season? Reading is an all time favourite one of mine. Something I don't get to do anywhere near as much as I'd like to. Reading with a hot cup of tea or coffee (even in the often crazy summer heat we get over Christmas in Australia!), maybe some chocolate, and some peace and quiet. Or some of my music. Can't be beaten. Though swimming comes a close second!

Two lucky commenters will get a copy each of one of my books; The Wolf in the Neighborhood, or The Return of Their Master. Winner's choice. I would also love it if people could go like my Facebook pages, Phoenix Johnson and The Naughty Pages of The Phoenix. If I can hit 400 likes on Phoenix Johnson then I'll be giving another randomly chosen person a copy of their choice of one of my titles as well. So plenty of giving with Christmas just a month away!

Thursday Taster

This week I've decided to take a snippet from Once Bitten Twice Shy, second book in my Wolf Smitten series. It's heading to edits and will hopefully be out before too much longer. 

He opened the door and was almost knocked backwards as he was rushed by the tall brunette who proceeded to throw her arms around his neck and plant a kiss on his lips. Gently grabbing her by the hips, he stepped back and broke away from a second kiss. Watching her lips move to a pout he fought the urge to sigh in exasperation. He had spent seven years with this woman and had even considered proposal. They had only been apart for six months and he already found her tedious and overbearing. What had changed in that time? He knew the answer to that question; he had found Krissy.

“Darling, tell me why I deserve the cold shoulder? You aren’t still mad that I didn’t wait, are you? Well, I’m here now so we can just forget the past few months and pick up where we left off.” He had forgotten how much hard it was to get a word in once Aubree started talking. It was a quality he had once found endearing, but today, when he had something very important to tell her, it was something that irritated him beyond reason. As his former flame rubbed against his chest and tried to coax another kiss out of him, he glanced at the door across the hall, grateful that it was still closed. He was relieved Krissy had taken his advice and gone back to sleep, instead of coming over to meet his ex. 

“Aubree, please, we need to talk. There’s something really important I need to tell you.” He closed the door and directed her to the dining table. “Let me make us some coffee first, ok? You’ve had a long flight, I’m sure you could use the caffeine.” Entering the kitchen, he boiled the kettle. Buying himself a few minutes while he made their coffees, he wondered just how to break the news to her and decided to be upfront and direct. Putting the mugs and a plate of shortbread biscuits on a tray, he walked out to Aubree and sat down across from her. “I’m sorry, I only have instant coffee. I haven’t had the chance to unpack everything yet.”

“That’s just fine, darling. Now, what is it you wanted to tell me? It sounds serious,” she replied, blowing on her coffee. 

Stay tuned for news on the impending cover reveal, and release date!
For other Thursday Tasters, check out these authors!

Muffy Wilson: http://muffywilson.blogspot.com
J S Morbius: http://morbiussworld.blogspot.co.uk/
Angelica Dawson: http://angelicadawson.blogspot.com
Ray Sostre: http://theafterdarkworld.blogspot.com/
Doris O'Connor: http://thetardisscribbles.blogspot.co.uk/
AuroraRose Andromeda: http://rollingmuseintheroses.blogspot.com/
DK ffrench: http://ffrenchkissing.blogspot.co.uk/
Naomi Shaw: http://www.eroticfantasies.weebly.com/blog


Dariel Raye - http://www.pendarielraye.blogspot.com

Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back!

 I'm wondering how many of you read the title to the tune of the Welcome Back Kotter theme song? I know I did, and I haven't even seen the show. I just know the tune. 

So I'm finally reopening The Naughty Pages after a hiatus of a year. Almost to the day, actually. Almost. It's taken me this long to get even close to back to normal after a family tragedy last year that is still taking its toll. It's just one of those ones that I won't ever totally "get over". So I do ask for patience because sometimes, posts may be sporadic. I will try my best, though, to keep posting regularly. 

This time around, I'll be doing things differently. I'll be doing 2-3 posts a week, sometimes promo for others, sometimes guest posts, maybe the occasional review, or snippets from WIP's, or discussions of interesting topics. I want to keep the content fairly relaxed. So I will be open for suggestions on what readers want to see. I will be trying to keep the days the same, however. That may take a couple weeks or so to sort out and settle into. 

To kick the blog back off, I'd love to talk about The Return of Their Master. My second title, it was released in April of this year. A first peek at a different world of vampires, it's a chance to dip your toe into new waters. The Return of Their Master is stand alone at the moment, and follows Angie, her three sisters and the man she wishes she didn't love, Jake. Angie doesn't want to put Jake in danger, yet her choice is taken when her Creator, Vitalis, tracks her and her sisters down. She is forced to tell him her secret, and it's not as simple as "I'm a vampire."
When Mary, the oldest sister, is taken, Angie and her two remaining sisters are forced to team up with Jake, who is also a weapon enthusiast, to take on their Creator and get their sister back. Things aren't as simple as defeating their dark father, however, and Angie gets more than she bargained for. Can she forgo her future with Jake, or will she throw caution to the wind and risk dooming vampires and mankind alike?

Phoenix Johnson is an Australian author who has always had the passion for the written word. She had her nose in at least one book ever since she could read and would even scrutinize the back of the cereal box every morning at breakfast. It was only natural she take up writing.
After reviewing a few delicious titles for Naughty Nights Press as she wrote her first title, The Wolf in the Neighborhood, Phoenix was of one mind to submit it to NNP, and she hasn't looked back. The Return of Their Master now joins her first title for sale, and both books are receiving great reviews. Phoenix feels that being invited to write for the NNP blog is a great honour, and loves being part of the team!
You can get in touch with Phoenix on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr or view her website here, or buy her books direct from Naughty Nights Press, or other good ebook distributors.

I have come to a decision...

So after some deliberation after a cruddy night emotionally last night, and now this morning, I've come to a decision. Those who already know about the blog can contact me about posts, and I'm not going to advertise availability for a little while. Just focus on me, and promoting The Wolf again because that was a horrid second quarter. So if anyone wants a date on The Naughty Pages, it seriously is 100% up to you to contact me and get the post to me on time. If it was just me the blog was for, I'd let it go into hibernation until I'm feeling better, but I'm willing to let it stay "awake" for those who do want a place to promo or whatever. But seriously I will not be asking if anyone wants a date, or chasing up posts etc. As soon as it's booked, it is up to the author to get the post to me asap, at which point I'll schedule it. I need to focus on me for a while, so will be fairly quiet until I feel a bit more normal. 

Apologies for any inconveniences, but after my personal tragedy recently, I need to take some time to focus on me and my family. 

Naughty Nights Press celebrates 2 years with a Blog Hop!

That's right, Naughty Nights Press has been around for 2 years already! And of course going strong. To celebrate, 30 authors, including yours truly, are participating in a blog hop with loads of goodies to give away. You can find the full list of those participating to the right side. Feel free to have a look around all of the blogs participating, leave some comment love and who knows, you could be a winner on any of them! 
Not to mention, NNP shall have one grand prize gift winner of a Kindle Fire, chosen at the end of the hop from the Rafflecopter Entries, and we shall also be randomly choosing one lucky commenter/entrant from both the blog comment section and Rafflecopter to win one of seven, yes, one for each day of the hop, one of seven titillating, erotic romance ebooks! (Titles can be seen in the picture further down this post.)

Now, being that it is a blog hop to celebrate the second anniversary of Naughty Nights Press, I want to take this chance to show my appreciation as an author published by NNP. As regular readers of The Naughty Pages know, I recently made my publishing debut back in January, and have had not only the sequels to that first novella, The Wolf in the Neighborhood, accepted by NNP, but also a novelette, which is currently in edits, with a novel recently submitted and plans for another 3 novels and another short story all eager to call NNP home. The support I have felt from fellow NNP authors as well as the people who work there butts off to polish up the musings of this fledgling author, is what keeps me going. Well, of course support of family and friends and the positive reviews I've had so far

also keep me going, but I want to talk about the support from the NNP side, since it is a blog hop about Naughty Nights Press. 
I want to give a very quick history about how I came to submit to NNP. It actually goes back to me liking Quentin Tarantino's fanpage on Facebook. A random (at the time) person added me, and we quickly became friends. Johnny Francis Wolf (find him on Facebook here!) has become a great friend of mine, and eventually, through him I got to talking to Penny Peterssen, through whom I then met Gina Kincade. This was before Naughty Nights Press was created. I came to know these two ladies as tell-it-straight, honest and reliable women who I came to trust. They were very supportive of me when I started writing again, and I was very excited when plans for Naughty Nights Press were announced. It only seemed natural that I submit my first novella to them, and I was thrilled to receive my acceptance email only two months later. Since then, I've gleefully submitted 5 more stories to them, one of which only recently so it's still early days for that one, but I'm hopeful. I have a WIP that I'd considered submitting elsewhere for a few reasons, however the more I thought about it, the more it just didn't feel right to submit it somewhere else. So I've happily made the decision that all my stories, if accepted, will call Naughty Nights Press home. I couldn't be more thrilled with the hardwork and dedication shown by Gina, Penny, the editors and of course the fantastic Shane Willis. 
And so, without further ado, happy second anniversary Naughty Nights Press, and may we grow stronger in the coming years! 

The Wolf in the Neighborhood, Book One of my debut trilogy of novellas, Wolf Smitten. 
Blurb: What do you do when your past comes back to haunt you? 
Could a dark secret revealed by a new lover be something you could overlook just to have him?
What kind of secrets could you learn to live with for true love? 

Krissy has a hunky new neighbor with a dark secret; Derek is a vet with an interesting past. They hit it off quickly but when Krissy’s abusive ex, James comes to town, Derek shows a side Krissy never could have guessed, but James refuses to give up. 

Can Derek’s secret save them, or will James have his revenge?

Excerpt:
A shuffled footstep and a deep, yet quiet “ahem” shook her out of her reverie and she immediately sat up, looking for her robe. An unusual wind gust earlier had blown it out of reach and as its fluttering caught her eye, she finally saw the gorgeous body that belonged to the voice responsible for interrupting her tanning session. Her eyes travelled up his long legs hidden behind faded denim, paused at the bulge behind the zipper and kept crawling up his torso, enjoying the sight of the defined muscles stretching his black tee shirt provocatively. His large tanned hand held out her robe, the sun making the red satin shine. 

“I’m sorry,” the stranger said, his deep voice rumbling across the rooftop. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I’ve just moved in and wanted to check out the view.”

Krissy couldn’t quite determine his accent. It seemed to flow between a Texan drawl and a classy clipped British brogue; a combination she did not expect to hear intermingled. It was very attractive and she found herself wanting to know what kind of life brought these two contrasting accents together. His muscular body only enhanced her growing interest.

As he stepped towards her, waving the robe to catch her attention, she remembered that she was standing in front of a total stranger wearing nothing but a smile, a tan, and a growing blush.

One lucky commenter from anywhere in the world will be receiving a free digital copy of The Wolf in the Neighborhood at the end of the blog hop on the 3rd of July. I may be making my debut with werewolves, but I have many more stories to come about vampires, angels, witches, wizards, demi-gods and many other assorted paranormal creatures. So please, feel free to tell me what is your favourite paranormal creature? If it isn't something that is already on my list then maybe I'll write a story involving some of those suggested in the comments. 

Hump Day Hook 3 April

Another Wednesday rolls around and so too does another Hump Day Hook! Last time I managed to get on to the HDH, I posted from Leader of The Pack; this time around, I shall once again. 
To read Hooks from other participants, check out the list here.



Derek kept stealing worried glances at her as she clutched his torn, now bloody shirt to the gaping wound in her side. The blood flow appeared to have slowed, but Krissy’s skin was pale, covered in sweat. She wasn’t doing too well.

He swore and punched the throttle again, no longer caring about caution. Throwing the little hatchback around a street corner, he didn’t pause to think about the people fleeing out of his path.

“Holy shit!” Neal mumbled in the back seat. “I forgot how much of a crazy you were behind the wheel.” Derek glanced at him in the rear view mirror, letting out a slight chuckle at Neal’s white knuckled grip on the seats.

Krissy moaned in the passenger seat, sobering the mood.

“You don’t have a first aid kit in this tin can, do you?” Neal sombrely asked.

Keeping his eyes on the road, Derek reached over to the glove box, pulled out a white bag with a red cross on it and handed it to Neal who then sat back to inspect the contents. “You know what you’re doing?”

“Of course I do. I was supposed to be a doctor remember, until…” They both knew exactly what Neal meant; the party that had changed both of their lives. “I may spend most of my time as a wolf, but the knowledge is still up here,” he continued, tapping his head.

Hump Day Hook March 13

Once again, I will be posting a hook from Wolf Smitten. Last week, it was from Once Bitten Twice Shy, book two in the trilogy. This week I'll post from Leader of The Pack, the final book. Next week, I'll be back to The Wolf In The Neighborhood... To check out other authors participating, check out the list here. This link even includes my guest of last week, Lilly VanHorn! That's right, our joint Hook last week enticed her to become a part of the ever-growing fun!

“You know It doesn’t like when you’re upset. We’ll stay if you need to talk.” He knelt before her and put his hand on her knee.

This time her smile was genuine, although only small. “It’s fine. He wouldn’t be able to sit for long.” Derek ducked his head in shame; although Krissy had no problem referring to the Wolf as another male presence, he wasn’t able to because he didn’t want to share Krissy with another male, even if it was part of him. He knew he shouldn’t be jealous of the Wolf but he wasn’t ready to share. In truth, he didn’t know if he ever would be which was one of the reasons, the main reason, that he was almost ready to say yes to the ‘cure’.
“I have the radio with me if you need us to come back. Don’t hesitate to use it.” He stared her down until she nodded in agreement.

“I’ll be alright, I promise. I might go for a little walk soon but I need to concentrate on this novel. Just go, do what you need to do.” He didn’t move so she leaned towards him, cupping his face with her warm hands. As she looked in his eyes, he knew it was both of them she was speaking to. “If you come back before you are ready today I will kick you out of camp. Go figure out what you want to do.”

More Common Questions Asked of Authors, with Phoenix Johnson

Another month is under way and we're back to me for Author Chat Friday. Last time I covered three of the most common questions asked of authors; "Will your book be in print?", "What happens in the next one?" and "Being an author must be so awesome, you get to stay at home all day!".
This week, I have another three doozies authors are asked or may overhear readers saying. What I'm aiming for with these posts is to let readers know that the obvious questions are questions we are tired of hearing, and there are some that are down-right rude and disrespectful. So please, next time you get the chance to talk to an author, be they friend, family, or your favourite author of all time, just stop and think before you speak. You'll be doing everyone involved a huge favour!

"I love *insert favourite character here* from your book. I'm thinking about writing my own novel, do you think I could use *aforementioned favourite character*?" 

Derek: please don't "borrow" him!

Yes. Sure. Because we love having the characters we worked so hard for to be "borrowed" and, in a lot of cases, not credited back to us. (Sarcasm, by the way) NO! Fan art can be great, I will admit, but when it starts to make money and become famous, then there could be a problem. Copyright. The author who originally wrote that character/storyline has legal ownership of that character/storyline, and if it can be proven that the now-famous-fan-art has indeed used said character/storyline without accrediting it to the original author, the fan-art author can find themselves on the wrong end of a law suit. Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but when we're talking about intellectual property, then it's called theft. So please, if you're interested in writing your own story, put the same amount of hard work and thought in to creating something original, just like your favourite authors have done. Sure, the fan-art thing worked for some authors, but many others would face law suits. So play it safe, and create your own. You'll find more satisfaction from creating your own worlds, characters and stories anyway, believe me!

"What is the wildest/weirdest thing you've done in the name of research?"

I get that, with erotica especially, it's a natural reaction for a reader to be curious. Has the author tried those positions? Is this what the author enjoys sexually? Now, while the want to have those questions answered is natural, please, PLEASE do not ask us. What we write and what we do in private are often completely different. What we write is supposed to be fairly wild to get your attention; what we do in private... well, that's private. Think of it like this: would you ask your siblings what they're craziest sex-capade is? More than likely not. So please, when it comes to our sexual lives, think of us as a sibling; too much information! 
As for non-erotic... well, that comes down to the author, if they want to share or not. I know myself, after seeing the first Saw movie wondered what the heck made the writers think of those storylines. And I did wonder if they'd tried any of that for real... Then I thought I really don't want to know... So for the non-erotic authors, you could probably ask, but I wouldn't promise an answer. It's an irksome question!
Now, this leads on to the next question...

"Have you done everything your characters do in the story?"

Well for some stories, it's physically impossible. I mean, there are some characters that fly, for crying out loud, or, like in Wolf Smitten, there are werewolves or other paranormal creatures. Just not possible, though it can be fun to pretend. However a lot of authors live vicariously through their characters. What they write is what they'd love to do but don't have the courage or time to. Thinking that authors do everything that their characters do, out of research or just because authors write what they know, is a little naive. Some authors are able to actually live their books; most of us have to settle for less. Doesn't mean we're not happy, we just don't all have the crazy, dreamy lives that we give our characters. 

So hopefully I've helped enlighten you some more on what authors hate being asked or hate overhearing. We're people too, just like you. If that question might annoy you, then it will probably annoy an author, so think before you ask. I would also like to thank Delena Silverfox, Angela Castle and Imogen Nix for helping me with the questions this week!
Thank you!

Hump Day Hook Special

This week, I'm doing something different. I'm posting not only a hook from my own work, Once Bitten Twice Shy (sequel to The Wolf In The Neighborhood), I'm also posting a hook from Valkyrie Slumbering by  Lilly VanHorn. So you get double the fun, and double the authors! I do hope you enjoy, and don't forget to check out the other authors participating in Hump Day Hook!

Once Bitten Twice Shy:

Derek awoke the next morning in a haze, the previous night patches of blurred color and thumping noise. A vivid dream had woken him, a dream of old times in England with Aubree. He had dreamt of one of the many times they had gone on a pub crawl, to come stumbling home in the early hours of the morning and land in bed, hot and heavy. They would always wrestle over who was on top, but she would always win. The dream left him with such intense feelings, he swore he could still feel Aubree riding him. As his eyes fluttered open, shock rippled through him, to be swiftly replaced by the fury of the Wolf at the sense of betrayal. It wasn’t just a dream; she had taken advantage of his deep slumber to satisfy her own needs at his expense.
“Oh my god!” A loud exclamation by the door chased away the last of the cobwebs and shock. Krissy was standing in the door frame, the look on her face matching his own feeling of shock and betrayal. A roar exploded from within as the Wolf fought to break free and take its revenge upon this despicable female daring to take her own pleasure from this flesh promised to his Alpha female.


Valkyrie Slumbering:

Grím straightens and closes my fingers tight around the few precious coins I hold. “Well then, I have two horses. Ye may ride with me,” he says as he bows his head low, his long lashes sweeping dramatically.
It is just as likely that he wants someone to warm his furs at night as it is that he truly wants to assist me. And Odin help me, that thought isn’t at all unpleasant. But distractions are dangerous. Regardless, horseless and nearly copperless as I am, I am in no position to refuse him. “I couldn’t impose upon you,” I insist, not wanting to seem too easy.
“Nonsense. We half-elves should stick together,” he insists.
For several moments I stare deep into his startling blue eyes, searching for something in their depths. All I see is honesty and mirth. Deep down, I realize, I’m not ready to let him out of my sight. Finally, I ask in a guarded tone, “What would you require in return?”


Steamy nights in ancient Iceland, a search for vengeance, and creatures from Midgard complicating the whole matter. Rich in Viking lore, this fantasy novella will appeal to those who enjoy romance, fantasy, and erotica.

You can find Valkyrie Slumbering at the following locations:

Goodreads / Amazon / B&N / Smashwords

You can find Lilly VanHorn at the following locations:

Blog / Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter / Pinterest


Of course, you should all know where to find me, plenty of links here to buy and follow, but let me know if you're having trouble finding any links!

Hump Day Hook February 20

I know last time I gave you a hook from the short story The Return of Their Master. But I will leave that one until closer until it's released to return to it. For the time being, I'm going to focus on Wolf Smitten, with Book One out for just over a month now. This week is a taste from Once Bitten Twice Shy, Book Two. Keep in mind, this is unedited. 

“What is so funny,” Aubree asked as she tucked in to her slice of pie.

“Oh, just thinking,” Derek replied.

“Of what?” she demanded.

“Of me,” came Krissy’s voice from over Aubree’s shoulder. “Good morning, darling,” she then directed at Derek as he slid across to give her room next to him. They greeted each other with a tender kiss, longer than necessary.

Pulling out of the kiss, the couple looked across to the intruder who was fuming. “Jealousy is not a good look on you, honey,” Krissy contritely quipped, gently smiling at the woman who thought herself a competitor.

For the third time in only a few minutes Darla returned to the table with the coffee pot, a clean mug and another plate with Krissy’s own piece of pie. “Oh thank you, just what the doctor ordered.” Derek silently applauded Krissy’s composure in the face of Aubree’s clear fury.

“The pie is especially good today, sweetheart,” he told Krissy, winking at the pleasure on Darla’s face. Turning to Aubree he decided to make the introductions, however obvious and pointless may be. “So, my dear, here is my former lover from England, Aubree. You know the one who stomped on my heart when it was in need of some comfort. Aubree, this is Krissy, the woman who is currently giving my heart all the tender loving care it needs and then some.” Wrapping his arm around Krissy’s shoulders, he sighed with content. 

Author Chat Friday rehash

Ok, much like I began my first Author Chat with an apology, so too do I start this one. This time, due to unfortunate life circumstances, Delena Silverfox, who was scheduled to post today, will be unable to do so. And due to my own life circumstances, I lack time to write up an all new post. 

So I'm once again sharing my post on the importance of a good relationship between publisher and author. I'm also including snippet and blurb of The Wolf in the Neighborhood, which you should all know by now has been released and has cracked Naughty Nights Press's BestSelling list after only 4 days, and remains there still!

To get on with the post, I'd love once more to discuss the important relationship between author and publisher. Something many people don't think about, either because they aren't one of either, or they are but just don't see it as quite as important. But I can tell you know, neither would be able to succeed without the other. So it's very important that an author and publisher see eye to eye, and are both willing to meet in the middle when there is an issue. If the author has an issue with the contract TALK ABOUT IT to the publisher BEFORE signing. 

(Disclaimer: I might use a fair bit of capitalisation in this post, I'm just trying to really make a point here.)

Once the contract is signed, both author and publisher are bound to THAT EXACT contract. That's it. READ IT. Make sure you know what you're signing before you sign. 

So now we've signed the contract, and maybe time is dragging a little. Keep in mind something before you go off the deep end: publishers look after MULTIPLE authors, editors, artists, and numerous other staff. Things come up (and no, they don't HAVE to tell you unless it directly involves you! Some do, though, out of COURTESY), and so instead of wasting their time with your petty tantrums, let them use that time to sort out the issues! They're humans just like you and me. 

Now you're on to the editing process. They're not there to tell you what a great job you've done in writing the story. Their sole purpose: CLEANING IT UP. Any little error, big error, gaping plothole... any issue that might be in there, it's their job to point it out to you. If you don't like it, well that's pretty much too bad. If it's something, say, like capitalisation of a word that normally isn't, (for example, in certain scenes in my Wolf Smitten series, I capitalise Wolf when referring to Derek's Wolf), then don't get shitty if they request it changed. Just leave a comment stating that it's integral. If it's a legit grammatical error or plothole, or something that is just purely difficult to believe even given whatever strange circumstance your story might be set in, LISTEN TO THEM. They're trying to get YOUR story to the best state it can be so that the readers (who PAY YOU) don't feel that they've wasted their money. They aren't your friend, they are your editor. It is important to have a good working relationship and trust with them, yes, but FIRST AND FOREMOST: they are your EDITOR. LISTEN. 

Cover artist has now done the cover. Maybe it's not quite what you thought it would be. Or maybe there's a small detail not quite right. Again: BEFORE going off the deep end, consider: is it INTEGRAL? Maybe the eye colour is wrong. In which case send a CALM message saying "whoops, Character A's eyes are actually red, not purple. Great job though!" If it's way off, for example wrong city skyline, and maybe some readers wouldn't notice but a lot would, again, send a CALM message pointing it out. If it's not absolutely integral, however (maybe the hero is standing when you wanted him to be sitting? Or he's facing left with hand on hip, but you wanted him facing right with his arms crossed), then just LEAVE IT. THEY know what sells and what doesn't. TRUST them. 

All through the process, make sure you always take a breath and THINK before sending a message. Is it IMPORTANT? Can it wait? And ALWAYS make sure you're calm and respectful. Obviously if they aren't respectful when you genuinely have been, then you might get annoyed. But don't see that as an invitation to be disrespectful back. Maybe it was just a swamped day, and they didn't have time for the usual courtesies. You don't know. Unless there are serious red flags going up, then just bear with it. Publishing companies are looking after numerous other authors, all eagerly waiting to get their book out there. But they can't all go out at once. It just doesn't work like that. 

My main points are to READ the contract, SHOW and EARN respect, BREATHE, THINK and TRUST. Not something that is easy these days, but without any trust, society is just going to go to hell. I trusted, respected and, I believe, have earned respect by breathing and thinking and not being a tantrumy, impatient toddler. And now, I am about to see that all pay off with my debut release next week. I can tell you, it is worth every single second of waiting!

Excerpt of The Wolf in the Neighborhood, get your copy HERE. And feel free to leave a review, every little bit helps!

After a few more moments of sniping from him, Krissy finally convinced Derek that a nap might help him feel better, so she helped him off the couch. He pushed away her efforts to help him to her room, stating, “I sure didn’t need the help last night; I think I can make it today,” with a wink that made her giggle. She was astounded at how well she had taken this new aspect of him in her stride. She guessed it was just the exposure to werewolf novels and movies that had her desensitized.

Once they reached her room, she directed Derek to lie on his stomach so she could try to massage out some of the knots in his shoulders, tense from the double transformation. His breath groaned out of his chest as her hands – delicate yet strong – worked out some of the bigger kinks and she felt the vibrations through his back, making her recall his groans of pleasure from last night when she clawed his back.

She frowned in silent thought, wondering whether that had been man or beast enjoying that bit of pain, before she realized Derek had fallen asleep with one last groaning sigh. Krissy smiled as she watched his face, finally peaceful and frown-free.