Pain in the bum….

Are you aware that writers live life constantly on the edge? They are under great threat of debilitating medical conditions....

Numb bum syndrome – this happens when you have spent extended hours sitting in the one place pounding out a story on the keyboard. You feel nothing in your rear end.

Danger – Fat settles in one place and instead of having a rounded backside, you have a flat backside.

Cure – Chocolate and or alcohol to rearrange the fat globules – though if drinking a dry wine then may I suggest switch to chips.

Bum = fleshy bit you sit on

Dead foot Syndrome – you feel a tingling in your foot that becomes a numbness. What does that mean? No, you are not going to win the lotto or it’s going to snow. It means you have been stationary for too bloody long and you have to stand up and do the Mexican hat dance to get your foot working again.

Danger – stand up too quickly and you fall down

Cure – don’t stand up too quickly and you won’t fall down. Medicinal chocolate can be applied as there is calcium in it and it helps your bones and dancing burns up calories.

Limp wrist syndrome – this occurs due to incessant pounding away at the keyboard trying to finish writing that last 1000 words, of your best story ever, before you go to bed.

Danger – People may think your wrist hanging limply by your side means you are weak and they may pick a fight with you.

Cure – Carry a notebook so you can immediately write down all the action of the fight to use in another book.

Cheese lipstick syndrome – this is an eating disorder when you have trouble finding your mouth when eating things like Cheetos because you are concentrating on the keyboard and screen and not on making sure said Cheeto goes straight into your mouth without hitting your lips or chin first.

Danger – going out into public in search of more Cheetos or Twisties (Aussie) and people making fun of your orange lips. Please note especially bad, it you are still wearing your pj’s.

Cure – switch to chips or popcorn as they leave no visible trace of snack food debauchery. I would not recommend chocolate in this instance as it has the potential to smear and no milk drinking unless you want a moustache.


Zombie eyes syndrome – is the glazed look writers get when they have spent hours in front to the computer. It is a frightening and vacant stare that can make grown men shiver.

Danger – people may try to pour salt in your mouth and sew up your lips to rid themselves of a zombie

Cure – wear sunglasses around normal people. You are only safe amongst other writers.


Greta Garbo syndrome – wanting to be alone to write and ignoring the phone, the doorbell, your friends, your family, whatever it was you were cooking the stove and is now on fire all because of too much writing.

Danger – becoming an anti-social git or enjoying the tag ‘shut-in’ so much you have t-shirts made advertising the fact so you don’t have to explain yourself.

Cure – try and pretend you care as much as you care about getting X together with Y without A trying to kill them from your book. If that fails, learn to nod and smile vaguely saying ‘a-ha' a lot while you type while.

Anny and Kelly – what are they up to you ask? My understanding is that Anny planned to climb on her apartment roof and howl at the moon while Kelly was thinking of climbing on her roof and mooning the Howells next door. I could be wrong of course but check out www.annycook.blogspot.com and www.kkirch.blogspot.com.

May I suggest you go to http://sandracox.blogspot.com/ to see what your choice of dessert says about you? Then to http://www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com/ as it’s the last days of Molly’s contest as well as Anny’s on www.annycook.com – and Ms Rebel has a contest as well on http://vampsmut.blogspot.com/ - how can you lose? And just when you think the excitement ends there go and check out the blog rookie Mona on http://monarisk.blogspot.com/ - seek, read, win and buy. It’s all out there you just have to look.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

The Wednesday Interview

It’s Wednesday again and it’s time for the brilliant author interview. Molly Daniels graces us today with her latest release Love Finds A Way. Next week the talented Jean Hart Stewart will drop in to discuss her book Song of a Druid Princess.

Love Finds a Way -The Blurb

Can a blind date ever turn into a meaningful relationship?

Amy Callahan wants to find out

Three months before, she had agreed to go on a blind date with Matt Slagal, who was home on leave from the Air Force. Now, she can’t seem to get him off her mind. When she finds herself holding a free ticket to anywhere in the continental United States, Amy jumps at the chance to fly to California and see if the chemistry between them still exists.
Matt Slagal is ecstatic when he learns Amy is in California. But his past experience with the opposite sex has taught him not to trust women. And when one of his friends makes his move, Matt thinks his fears are confirmed, even though Amy hotly denies anything happened.

For her part, Amy is shocked and stunned at Matt’s attitude. She finally convinces him to see the truth, and learns the reason behind his mistrust. When her visit is over, the relationship is back on solid ground again.

But they soon discover that the miles separating them are just one more obstacle. Matt is still commitment-shy, and the fact his ex-lover still wants him drives a wedge between he and Amy. Finally, fed up with the fact her rival won’t leave her man alone, Amy takes drastic measures to ensure Matt’s fidelity. Will it work? Which one reigns…”Absence makes the heart grow fonder” or “Out of sight, out of mind”?

The interview

1. You have some sizzling sex scenes in your book. How hard is it to write sex and make it convincing?
I’m not finding it hard at all. The problem I do have, however, is keeping the scene fresh, and not repeating the same phrases over and over. In Love Finds A Way, Matt and Amy have already been together for six months, so they know each other well. I wouldn’t exactly say my scenes are sizzling, but I’m improving. In the third one, Forbidden Love, the scenes are a bit steamier. It’s sort of a coming-of-age story, where my virginal heroine meets the man of her dreams. My ex-agent said he actually blushed when he read it.

2. Romance and the condom. How hard do you find to slip it in or on when the action is hot between characters?
Again, it flows naturally. My series takes place in the 1980’s, when AIDS was still a mystery, and it wasn’t clear how it was transmitted. So a lot of my girls are taking the Pill. However, as the series moves into later years, condoms become more important than just preventing pregnancy.

3. Do you think romance just happens or do you make your characters work for it?
Both. There are some characters who are instantly attracted, and others for whom the romance develops later. I think if you have two characters who care about each other, it will eventually flow.

4. What is it about your hero that makes him irresistible to women?
He’s a typical ’bad-boy’ figure, and the fact he’s in the military and looks great in his uniform is a real attraction to the ladies he encounters. Matt’s also not afraid to speak his mind, as you’ll find out in later books.

5. Do you think readers want to escape or do they want to identify with a character?
Again, both. I’ll pick up a book and escape to another world, but at the same time, an author has to make characters believable. My series deals with timeless social problems, and if one reader can identify a potential problem in her life or knows someone going through the problem and helps steer the course, I’ll have done my job well.

6. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when writing romance?
You have to have characters who show the struggle. Love doesn’t happen overnight, and besides, that would be boring! Two people who would walk through fire for each other is much more interesting to read than two people who accept their lot in life and ‘yes dear’ each other to death. In my book, Amy is frustrated by the distance between her and Matt, while he is caught between the two worlds. He’s used to the fast-paced women of California, while she’s more practical and concerned about his commitment issues. Matt never dreamed he’d fall for a woman who had ambitions beyond just having fun!

7. What are you working on now?
I have a number of projects. I’m revising the third book in my series, Forbidden Love, dealing with the older man/younger woman issue; he’s 30; she’s 19. There are other factors involved, such as he’s in the process of getting a divorce and has a young child. Keri’s never had an adult relationship before, and she’s also trying to break the glass ceiling by being the first female mechanic to work on Indy racing cars. I am also working on number eight in the series, my interracial storyline, as well as working on an Ellora’s Cave submission.

Thank you, AJ! This was fun!

**Click on the cover to buy the book**

Anny aka the Zen Queen and Mary Ellen Walton due to her wise words has the blog serial today on www.annycook.blogspot.com. Will we learn what Matilda’s vow is? I suspect not as we never do anything the easy way. Evidence of this is Kelly aka Grasshopper and a lot of other names but if I told you them she would have to kill me – that is if she could catch me. Check out her blog www.kkirch.blogspot.com and the great writers of Resplendence Press. And as always – the blogs to the left are fascinating, funny, probing and sometimes downright odd. But read ‘em and enjoy a walk on the odd side.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

The Wednesday Interview

This week’s brilliant author is multi-published Bronwyn Green with one of her latest books, Ronan’s Grail. Lickable chest alert on this cover. Next week Molly Daniels joins us with her new release Love Finds A Way.

Ronan’s Grail - The Blurb

Six of Wands in the Torrid Tarot Series

Ronan, bastard son of Lancelot of the Lake and last of King Arthur's knights, has been charged with a quest -- find the Holy Grail. Merlin sends him forward in time to seek the relic, promising he'll know the keeper of the grail by a sigil. If he fails all is lost.

Morgan Foster bears the magical symbol in the form of an ill-conceived tattoo but has no idea what to make of this hot, possibly crazy man who lays siege to her body and heart.

Timeless magic and breathless passion bring them together, but is their love strong enough to survive when the battles of the past rip their fragile future apart?

Dedication/Acknowledgement
For Mama—if not for your bedtime stories of King Arthur and Athena and Arachne, not to mention the wildly inappropriate lullabies, I wouldn’t be the woman I am today. You mommed me good.

I’d also like to thank Brynn, Lacey and Carol—you guys keep me sane. Thank you to my critique group—Chel, Jen, Mary, Cheryl and Marti – you guys rock! Thank you also to my wonderful editor Helen, and to Matt, Mom, Cait, Manda, Margaret, Julie, Roxanne, Shannon and Kim—I’m so lucky to have you all in my life.

The Interview

1. You have some sizzling sex scenes in your book. How hard is it to write sex and make it convincing?

I don’t usually have a problem writing sex scenes, because the encounters evolve from the characters and their situations. I think convincing sex needs to be based in convincing emotions. If there’s no emotional connection for the characters there’s none for the readers and at that point, I might as well be writing porn.

2. Romance and the condom. How hard do you find to slip it in or on when the action is hot between characters?

It depends on the story, time period and characters. It’s obviously far more difficult in fantasy and historical stories than contemporary, but most of the time I find it a giant pain in the bum. My feeling is that I’m writing fantasies for adults, who if they’re smart enough to download a book and read it, they’re smart enough to use condoms in real life. But, that said, if it makes sense for the characters, I’m more than happy to provide protection for them.

3. Do you think romance just happens or do you make your characters work for it?

They have to work for it. If there’s no struggle or conflict then the story isn’t interesting. Who wants to read about Mr. Perfect meets Ms. Flawless and their special, special life?
B-O-R-I-N-G.

4. What is it about your hero that makes him irresistible to women?

Well, he’s hot, smart (stupid…so not a turn on) completely taken with the heroine – even when she drives him batty. He’s strong – emotionally and physically and he’d lay his life to save his woman. What’s not to love?

5. Do you think readers want to escape or do they want to identify with a character?

Yes. I think readers want both. It can be difficult for readers to escape if they can’t indentify – at least somewhat – with a character. For instance, I find that I can’t completely lose myself in a book if the heroine is an idiot or nauseatingly sweet and simpering. The same goes for a hero who’s a complete asshat with no redeeming qualities. Even if he’s all-alpha all the time, he has to have some hints of vulnerability or kindness that the heroine can see that makes him attractive to both her and the reader. Wait…what was the question again?

6. What do you think is the most important thing to remember when writing romance?

Emotion, emotion, emotion – as a reader, I want to know what a character is thinking and feeling. Without that in depth connection, the romance falls flat.

7. What are you working on now?

Guardian’s Challenge which is the sequel to Overlord’s Vessel fir EC and Solstice Seduction and Moonlit Magic for TEB.

**Click on the cover to buy the book!**

Last week’s Brilliant Author – Brynn Paulin and All Chained Up

Did you see Anny’s take on the blog serial on www.annycook.blogspot.com/? I just knew she would have to pierce something some time. On www.kkirch.blogspot.com/ Kelly is still paying penance for chopping the map of Australia in two. What riveting Aussie fact does she have for us today or did she pike out?

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Sunday reading...

Okay, once again, I present you great writers on a Sunday. Why? Because my Sunday has been so utterly boring – woke up, staggered out of bed, stumbled outside for the Sunday newspaper and wrote all day, while not changing from my pj’s or brushing my hair. Yes, it was a feral Sunday for Amarinda. Only those with a whip and a chair could approach me.

So I am on the point of losing consciousness with the non excitement of my Sunday and my backside is so numb from sitting. However this is a valid reason to keep cellulite. It cushions pain. I think the reputable medical journals should consider publishing my view on this. I’ll write them later. For the moment I am still writing in between contemplating whether I will paint my fingernails emerald green or trashy turquoise. Either will match with Monday’s assassin black ensemble. Ah yes, back to work. Oh how pukeable.

So, enough waffle from me – I’ll be back tomorrow to carry on where I left off. Remember to check out the ever delightful, toe tapping duo of Anny – www.annycook.blogspot.com and Kelly – www.kkirch.blogspot.com And now, the Amarinda blog is proud to bring you three published book authors and a published Poet. Can I bring you culture or what? All three writers are completely different and I think that variety is the spice of life for this Sunday. So settle back and read. ..there's one by the Jones girl at the end.... just a little, shameless hint



From Incognito by Lisabet Sarai – out now through Total-E-Bound
**Warning – this is an adult excerpt.

As in Chinatown, all the businesses on Charles Street were dark. The gas lamps made pools of golden light at intervals along the street. Miranda could hear her heels clicking on the cobblestone sidewalk, and a few paces behind her, the muted sound of the businessman’s leather soles. A mild spring breeze stirred her skirt and touched her naked privates underneath. She shivered at the touch, delicate but intimate, the fingers of some ghostly lover.
A few blocks up the street, Miranda reached the alleyway that led to her apartment. She ducked inside and stood with her back to the brick wall, breathing deeply.
Overhead, the moon shone cold and distant. Halfway down the alley there was a lamp, but the area near the entrance where Miranda lay in wait swam in darkness. It seemed a long time before the Japanese man reached the narrow passageway, and then, for a moment, Miranda thought that he was going to pass right by. But no, he turned abruptly as he caught sight of her. Before Miranda could move or speak, he seized her in a fierce embrace and had his tongue deep in her mouth.
Flirting, playing, teasing the man on the subway was one thing; his sudden physical presence was something else, shocking and foreign. He smelled of some men’s cologne, brash, almost bitter. He tasted faintly like liquorice. His tongue was agile and his mouth demanding. She was no longer in control. Miranda gave herself up to the kiss; it sent electric sparks shuddering down her spine to her sex.
He sucked her earlobe into his mouth, nipping at the tender morsel of flesh with sharp teeth. The brief pain was immediately overwhelmed by delicious spasms between her legs. Now he was nuzzling at her neck, his coarse, thick hair tickling near her collarbone. He held her with one arm and with the other, pulled up her jersey, reached behind and deftly unhooked her bra. The night air caressed her bared breasts as he pushed the bra out of the way and fastened his mouth on one swollen nipple.
Miranda’s knees grew weak. She loved his force, his strength. When his hand moved below her waist, she spread her legs wide, silently offering him her sex. But instead, he unzipped his trousers, releasing his straining penis.
He stood back for a moment, so that Miranda could see it. Smooth and pale, it seemed almost luminescent in the moonlight. His cock was elegant, slender and straight with a glans scarcely larger than the shaft, and totally hairless. Like ivory, Miranda thought. That thought disappeared as the man roughly pulled her legs apart and, with a single upward thrust, buried himself in her depths.
He was as hard as ivory, or bone, or stone. He worked her cunt with fast, furious strokes, leaving her little time to breathe. Miranda could only moan and clutch at his shoulders as his unyielding rod slid in and out of her. Her eyes closed. Other sensations mingled with the exquisite roughness of his thrusts. She smelled his sweat, dampening the armpits of his business shirt. The brick wall scraped her back. She heard a siren, blocks away, and it seemed like its keening rise to crescendo matched the progress of her arousal.
She was soaked, so wet that at one point he slipped out of her folds. He uttered what sounded like a curse in Japanese. With both hands, he grabbed her buttocks and raised her off the ground, settling her firmly on his erection. Miranda instinctively locked her legs around his waist. Their bodies thus coupled, the stranger resumed his thrusts, his penis now embedded tightly in her hungry cunt.
In their new position, Miranda had more control. She rocked her pelvis back and forth, seeking deeper penetration. There were always those aching places, too deep for any cock, that craved stimulation. Her partner growled and dug his nails into her hind cheeks. Wonderful pleasure-pain. She clamped her thighs more tightly. At the same time, she tensed her cunt-muscles, gripping the ivory rod inside her and grinding down fiercely. She teetered on the edge of orgasm, screaming inside for that one perfect thrust that would push her over.
He felt her insides clench around him, and exploded. He rammed her against the wall, tearing her jersey. Oh, that was what she wanted and needed, to be torn open! His cock pierced the balloon swelling inside her, and her climax took her like a hurricane. The gale rang in her ears, bore her aloft, battered and blessed her.
When the force of the orgasm faded, she realised that she was still entwined with the body of the Japanese man. She looked at his face, for the first time since the subway. He smiled, a bit sheepishly, and helped her to stand.
Miranda felt dizzy. No, giddy, overwhelmed and amazed by her own audacity. She pulled her bra and her tattered shirt down over her naked breasts. Brushing brick dust off her shirt, she watched the businessman stuff his now-limp penis back into his pants and close the zipper. She smiled, a secret smile that the stranger did not understand.
He had straightened his clothing and retrieved his briefcase from the pavement where he left it. With the same care he had used on the train, he extricated his eyeglasses and put them back on.
Then he surprised Miranda. He stood very straight, looking conservative and affluent, and bowed low. “Arrigato gozimus,” he murmured. Picking up his case, he turned and left the alley. Miranda could hear his soft footsteps on the sidewalk as he disappeared from her life.

Click on the cover and buy the book – you know you want to. Check out http://www.lisabetsarai.com for more of Lisabet’s hot and steamy erotic romances

Old Age

In a house all alone
It gets quiet at night
Hunger remains
Eating is a fight

Whispering past
With voices long gone
Families all grown
Alone life goes on

Rumble around on
Weak wobbly legs
A few paths through the house
Excercise today

Laughter of children
Whom grandbabies came
Holiday visits
Always hearts pain

His passage of love
Went to a black box
The fighting and hardship
Your memory blocks

Wondering just how long
Loneliness lasts.
Finding fewer and fewer
Things for time to pass

Looking for a grittier, darker kind of fiction? Then check out Jackie’s work on http://jackierogers.blogspot.com/


Love Finds A Way by Molly Daniels. It’s coming soon mid November 2007

"Slagal said you were cute, and for once he was right," remarked Troy, appraising Amy.
"Thank you," was the cool reply. "Is that your car outside?"
"Yes."
The four young people walked out to the dark-blue sedan. Don and Stephanie climbed into the back seat, leaving Amy no choice but to ride up front with Troy. During the ten mile ride, they got acquainted. It was revealed that Don was enrolled at UCLA, and Troy, the University of Illinois.
After arriving at the party, Matt was nowhere to be found. Troy disappeared into the house, so Don got each girl a cup of beer from the keg, and the three stood talking. Matt arrived with three girls on his heels, and Amy was noticeably upset. Troy came back and began flirting with her. Against her better judgment, she responded, and the two bantered back and forth, trading one-liners. A bonfire had been built; the four of them gravitated toward it. A while later, Troy went to see about getting another keg, and Amy noticed Don and Steph getting cozy, so she discreetly left. As she stood talking with some other guests, Matt came up and called her over.
"I've got one thing to say: Don't mess around with anyone here."
Amy's anger exploded. "You can't come get me, but you can leave to pick up three others?"
"Well, I'd already..."
"I know," she interrupted. "Would it make you jealous if I did?"
Matt gave her a strange look. "No, go ahead. Do what you want."
Amy softened her tone. "I came here tonight to be with you. The only man I’m interested in at this party is you. And when you get that through your thick skull, you know where to find me." She turned and went back to the fire, but Stephanie and Don had left. Presently, other guests joined her. Fifteen minutes had passed before the missing couple appeared.
"Amy," whispered Stephanie. "Can you show me where the bathroom is?"
"Sure." They excused themselves, went inside the house, said hello to Matt's mom, and borrowed the facilities.
"Where did you and Don go?" Amy inquired as she shut the door.
"Don't tell anyone," Steph pleaded. "But Don and I...well...sort of fooled around behind a bush. Does it show?"
Amy grinned. "That's what I thought. Of course it doesn't show!"
"I hope you don't think any less of me..."
"Don't be silly. I slept with Matt barely three hours after we'd met last year! And besides, last month, I went on the Pill. Matt doesn't even know yet."
"Really?" Steph was amazed. "How's it going with him, anyway?"
"When he's ready to talk, he'll come to me," Amy replied. "When he's through hitting on every other girl, he always comes back to me."
"And you put up with it?" Steph stared at her.
"Yes." Amy clearly did not want to discuss it. "Are you ready? Let's go back to the fire."
The two returned to the crackling fire, and Troy swooped on them like a hawk. "Amy, honey, " he said, his voice carrying over the backyard. "I missed you!" He hugged her, and she caught Matt's angry glare.
"Uh-oh," she thought. "Now I'm gonna get it. But so what? He's not paying any attention to me; let him know I'm not his personal property!"
But, she was wrong. Matt came over and said he wanted to show her something, so they left the backyard and went to the driveway.
"Of course! Your new Lebaron!"
Matt held the door for her, and she sat in the plush-covered bucket seat. Matt sat in the driver's seat and adjusted the seat.
"This is really nice!" Amy exclaimed. "Power windows, nice stereo, bucket seats...Matthew! Automatic transmission!"
"Yeah, well, my mom bought it," was the reply as he recalled his three previous stick-shift vehicles. "Come here."
She leaned towards him and he held her close. "You're not mad at me?" she asked.
"Hell no."She kissed him, then touched her lips to his sensitive neck. Matt led her hand downwards, then tried to pull her across.
"Wait...the gearshift...You know, this would be a heck of a lot more comfortable up on your waterbed," she said gently.
"You want to?"
"Yes."
"Is it safe?"
"Definitely," Amy smiled.“Okay."They climbed out of the car and walked hand-in-hand into the house."Go on up and get naked," he ordered. "I'll be up in a minute."
"I will not," she declared. "I will, however, be waiting for you."
She turned and went upstairs. Turning on the light, she discovered a suitcase and clothes spilled on the unmade bed. She sighed, kicked off her shoes, and took off her belt, earrings, watch, and ring. She had just placed the suitcase on the floor, along with the wrinkled clothing, and was making the bed when Matt waltzed into the room, locking the door behind him. He flicked off the lights and took the slender girl in his arms. They kissed, then Matt gently lowered her onto the bed. Carefully he peeled away her clothes and explored her body. Amy sighed, giving into the sensual feelings of his caresses. She undressed him, then heard him fumbling with something in the dark.
"Matt? What is it?""A rubber. Different brand."
"We don't need it."
"Why not?"
"If you'd read my last letter, you would know." Amy shook her head. "I...went on the Pill."
Matt stopped. "What for?"
"For my own benefit, and yours. Now, we're already protected."
Matt reached for her. "Then let's try it out."

Go to the lovely Molly’s website to check out her books www.mollydaniels.citymax.com and www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com to have a chat.

And Because I Can…here is an excerpt from Because I Can – by the Jones girl – out now through Ellora’s Cave. Warning – this is an adult excerpt.

Miranda flashed her blue and yellow employee badge importantly like it was the key to her automatic entrance to anything Promptel. “Look important and you become important.” Or maybe that was, “Be pushy and get what you want.” Either one worked. She looked at the woman’s name plate on her desk.

“It’s okay Ellen. Justin is expecting me. You won’t get into trouble. I am well aware he is on a conference call.” Miranda pushed inside the Executive Suite. It was as she expected. Large, plush and it had Justin Hale pacing around an expensive looking desk. He looked pissed off and not in the mood to be distracted. Too bad for him. She was going to distract the hell out of the man.

“I don’t care what the profit margin is. Do it now or suffer the consequences,” he snapped out over the hands-free phone. Several disembodied voices in Melbourne immediately agreed with him. He hated dealing with people over the phone. He preferred looking them in the eye so he could see what they were thinking. He didn’t need “yes” men or women he needed people who could think for themselves and come up with logical solutions to problems.
Miranda shut the door and turned the lock. It had taken her an hour to work up the courage to come and see him. She had a plan. It was something she had never done before but she was ready to do now. Justin Hale was going to lose control. She was going to see to it. Vengeance thy name is Miranda.
* * * * *
Justin looked up to see Miranda. He was both delighted to see her and irritated to be stuck on the call. To have this woman come to him willingly was a surprise. Or was it? And why had she locked the door? That indicated something was about to happen that did not invite an audience to watch. He was intrigued as he watched her approach. She was still dressed in the same clothes. Yet by the look in her eyes Justin knew something was decidedly different about her. Attitude? Confidence? He tried to concentrate of what the people in Melbourne were telling him and not on the woman who approached but that was damn near impossible. He put the conference call on mute.
“Now is not the time Miranda.”
“Oh but it’s the perfect time for me.” Miranda ran a hand lightly down his chest. “I dare you to keep talking.” She reached up and with both hands ripped open his cool crisp white shirt sending buttons flying off in all directions. “I dare you not to move.” She ran her tongue down his bare chest, smiling as he tensed at her touch. She looked him in the eyes. “I dare you not to lose control, Justin Hale.”
Justin’s eyes widened in surprise and anticipation. This was the last thing he had expected from this woman and he loved it.
“Are you there, Justin?”
Justin snapped off the mute button as Miranda licked the hot skin on his chest. She pushed his hands away from her indicating she was in control.
“Yes, I’m here.”
“Well what do you think?” the voices asked.
“I have no idea what to think,” Justin murmured as he watched with fascination as Miranda’s hands moved down to his waistband and caressingly over his groin. He felt his cock stand instantly to attention.
Miranda reached down and pulled down his zipper freeing a mischievous penis who wanted to come out and play. The skin was smooth and soft and stretched to the limit. Perfect. He would not last long.
“I…ah…” Justin had no idea what he was saying as Miranda had hold of his cock. His eyes widened as she dropped to her knees and roughly pulled down his trousers to his ankles. She wouldn’t, would she? Here? Now? In the middle of an important conference call? He both prayed she would and hoped she wouldn’t.
“Don’t loose control now, Justin.” Miranda leaned forward and licked the tip of his cock.
“Oh god… I mean…ah…well yes, this, ah…financial year has seen some major challenges and…” Justin groaned as Miranda’s tongue flicked lightly over his hot, hard flesh. “We have to be prepared for…” Justin could not think straight. What did they have to be prepared for? How could any man prepare for a beautiful woman dropping to her knees and covering their cock in red lipstick?
“We missed the last bit, Justin. We must have a bad connection,” a disembodied voice said through the speaker.

Click on the cover and buy the book....go on, you know you want to...

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/

Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

What me worry?

"People talk about the meaning of life; there is no meaning of life--there are lots of meanings of different lives, and you must decide what you want your own to be." -- Joseph Campbell

My favourite question of all time is – How long is a piece of string? I also like “Can I join you?” Why? Am I falling apart? Or "Can I have a word?” Sure, I’m not using plethora at the moment. Yes, I can be a smarty pants.

The question that annoys me most – other than “when are you going to find a man?” Is one lost? – is “Where do you see yourself in five years?” Crap. I don’t know. I find this an inane question to ask. Yes, I know why people ask it. It’s to see where your ambitions lie, are you going to get married and pregnant and piss the company off with maternity leave or do you plan to do a runner as soon as a better job comes along? I have no ambitions when it comes to work other than to get paid. That’s a big God no to marriage and pregnancy. And hell yes, I am going to do a runner at the first opportunity. When I get asked this question I have a standard response that has worked well for years. Essentially it means nothing but it has always got me the job I was after. I say -“I don’t believe in restricting myself to a rigid plan as things change and I believe in being adaptable to those changes.” Which means I have not got a clue. But people like it so I keep it as part of my repertoire.

I don’t plan things. I tend to fly by the seat of my pants. I don’t make lists and I don’t keep a diary. I would like to say that my mind is so incredibly powerful that I can remember all the important appointments, etc, that I have to attend but that would be a load of crap. I can only remember trivia, past slights and plans for revenge. I am a Scorpio - say no more. When I go grocery shopping I know three things. I will buy carrots, chocolate and champagne. I wing rest. I plan nothing. How the hell am I supposed to know what I will be doing in five years from now? I expect I will be five years older, I will most likely be dyeing my hair an even brighter shade of intense red and I would like to be filthy rich and traveling the world. That’s the best I can do at this stage.

I am not a worrier. Stuff happens. What’s the point of worrying? Fix it or make up a fantastic lie to cover your arse and move on. Life is too short to worry. If I stuff something up that I cannot creatively hide I look the boss in the eye and say I stuffed up. What’s he going to do? Shoot me? I have a family member who worries every time they go away on holidays that something will happen to their house. I don’t. My house been standing for a long time without me and I expect it will be able to cope if I am not home. If it can’t then that’s why I have insurance.

We all know there are just some things we can do stuff all about. Take my friend – let’s call her Priscilla. She got bad news today. Something she worked so hard on fell through. It wasn’t her fault and it was beyond her control. What can you do about it other than to stamp your feet and swear? Yeah you can worry about what people will think about you and your credibility but in the long run what other people think is irrelevant. As for credibility, confident people are always credible. Priscilla is smart enough to swear colourfully and move on. I know she will do better anyway. May we all be as smart.

Have you checked out www.kkirch.blogspot.com for the latest in the epic saga of love, lust and teeth? No? Well wander over and have a squiz. Anny is interviewing two great authors on www.annycook.blogspot.com. Sandra tells me she will have a fascinating blog on http://sandracox.blogspot.com and as always wise Molly tells it like it is in the heartland of America on www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

A different point of view...

Today instead of myself or a writer on the blog, Cathie, an avid reader, from http://caffeys-reads.blogspot .com/ was gracious enough to answer questions from a readers point of view.

1. Is there any genre you think is done to death when it comes to books?
***This I had to think long about, because I tend to rotate what I read, meaning genres, authors, etc, so this rarely happens to me because of that.
At this point, no, there is no genre that I feel that has been done to death. I know many speak of there being too many vampire and paranormal books out, but that's what the fad reading is right now. That occurred for a time with other genres, too outside of romance, like Chick Lit, when there was a great many of them released and tables set up of them in Borders. It then tapered off and I still see the Chick Lit, but I also see other genres. A genre will always be one that will never go away. As I a reader I rotate what I read. I hope to see that the publishing industry does that as well as the authors, if its in there interest (that's another story for another day, but I always believe that authors go with their muse of what they want to write, rather than what others want).
2. Is there any genre you will not read?
***Horror. I think that if it had some romance in it, I wouldn't mind to read it if it was like vampire related on Halloween. But I can't tolerate reading graphic violence within books. For me, reading is to be something to enjoy, even when its paranormal reads, not one to dread.
3. Reviews are important but do you take them as gospel and avoid books with bad reviews?
***I have a very different thoughts about reviews than maybe others have. As someone who does some reviews, I find it a joy to share my thoughts and feelings regarding a book I have read, so that I can share that with other readers. Its one way I say that I can give back to the author by giving my thoughts to the book.
But my review is mine, its not generalized to everyone who will read it will feel or sense what I did from the story. So I find a review is more like reading some input from other readers about the book.
I also find the purpose for reviews for me is to find more reads in different genres, sensuality's, etc. I hope when I read a review, that I won't read word for word of what the blurb says, but it will say what the story is about. But more important as a reader, I'm looking for info on the sensuality. That's totally missing when you buy the print NY authors most of the time. You have no idea about the sensuality you are going to read in general. I've read reviews on RT that rated them 'hot' and I was thinking 'absolutely not, it was sweet to warm'. Yes its an individual interpretation, but its good to get from various readers (reviews) their take on the sensuality and other parts that the reader wants to know to decide on the book (genre, length, etc)
To put it all in a shorter answer, Reviews are:
1. Reviews by readers that will vary by each reader
2. Reviews are informative so that the reader can find new books/authors to read based on their interest (sensuality, genre, etc)
3. Reviews are a readers feedback individual to the author about the book they read, so that they may share this with others.
4. As a reader, what do you think is the most important thing a romance writer should remember when writing a book?
***Strength of the character (s) to make the story! There will be a great plot, but its up to the characters to make that plot work. Got to have the character fit the role, and as it being a romance book, prove the drive of the love between characters (tension, emotional, etc)
5. How much sex in a book is too much sex?
***Whatever fits the story! I've read a good book that had outstanding sexual tension between the characters. Through the story, you as a reader could feel the emotions thrown out by each character and the drive of them wanting to be together. Its up to the author (or they may say the characters) to fulfill that impact by bringing it out and together. It can be so disappointing reading a book full of excellent sexual tension and emotional tension of love, etc, and then there is the start of a kiss and the door closes. Its not because the reader didn't get to read the act between the characters, its because the reader didn't get to feel the satisfaction that the two characters met their needs for one another and that they belonged there. I have read traditional regencies, where the sexual tension was outstanding through the book, and their books are closed doors when it comes to the act, but this author could still bring out the emotion with the characters!
One last thing, if you reading a quote on the book, and this may apply to more likely print books, that says something like '"Ms. Author writes a smouldering story of two characters driven to be together with a sizzling outcome" and to be disappointed that we end up reading a sweet romance. I think its pretty easy to put books in four sensuality's, sweet, warm, hot, and anything more :)
6. Do you think the writer behind the book is just as important as the book? For example would you buy a book with great reviews if you perceived the writer was pushy?
***Yes and no. First there have been ebooks I have read where I've never communicated with the author because of no author site, blog, or never attends chats. So the information of what we as a reader know about the author may be nothing but their voice in their writing. That in itself may be enough for me most times. I want to see if the book I am reading is grabbing me to keep reading.
If the author did excessive promo as well as asked the reader "Did you buy (read) my book yet?" or mass deliveries announcement of a review to numerous site and does it daily,then that turns me away from the author. As a reader, I don't want to feel pushed. I have a good mind to be able to find the authors site, or review site, or talk with readers, to get input about the books. I don't need the reviews pushed on me, but rather that I seek it out myself. I have refrained from reading authors that have been pushy with books.
7. What is the best book you have ever read?
***Can't believe I have to name just one!
That would be ANNIE'S SONG by Catherine Anderson
Its more because I feel a personal connection with the character being deaf, but also that the author got it so right on about the communication and emotions, and so much more in a plot that also is emotional as well. This shook up me reading this book and I picked this based on that feeling of having a connection to the story.
But then I could also pick a best book I read that had me laughing and so joyous reading it (its a different author). So you just got me on a day that I thought of ANNIE'S SONG first
8. Don’t name it but what was the premise of the worst book you ever read?
***Note this is applicable to a HISTORICAL ROMANCE book. H/H fought so much to be together in the first book. Beautiful Historical romance as the spine says. Book two, spine says Historical ROMANCE. (Romance to me means HEA, love stories are much different than romances). So as this being a romance, reading the back blurb, I see the hero's name again, but not familiar with who they are naming the heroine. So when I start to read, I realized that the heroine from the first book, who had their whole story, is killed off. I could read no more.
First it should have been labeled Historical Fiction (not Romance), but after commenting about it, they would not change the spine to remove 'Romance' and I felt bad for others that were going to read right in the beginning, the heroine from the previous book being killed off.
9. What are you reading now?
***BONDS OF DARKNESS by Armond (Liquid Silver Books). My first time reading this author :)

Thanks Cathie! Check out http://caffeys-reads.blogspot .com/ today

On www.kkirch.blogspot.com Kelly left us with…

PJ shot a look at Emmeline for interrupting her. "Besides she's a virgin until the Goddess Festival. And even you, Leo, can't stop the Festival from occurring."

"The Coronation--" Leo protested.

"--is a wash, birdbrain." PJ dusted her short tunic. "Who did you think I was going to give your tail to when I got it? Duh, Emmeline. It will be her Coronation your feathers facilitate."

Leo clamped his eyes shut, covered his ears and began to hum Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

PJ and Emmeline screamed. "This can't be happening. Not like this!"

Row, row, row your boat? What the? My turn…

“Women! They scare so easily,” Sam snorted in derision as he watched them cower.

“But they are cute,” Leonardo murmured, his eyes on PJ.

“And you’re a pair of wankers,“ PJ snorted. “I’m sorry, I can’t pretend to be in awe of these men any longer, Emm. They’re dipsticks.”

“Yeah it was a stretch.” Emmeline lifted her peeler, set it to stun and both men dropped to ground. “That stopped the bastard humming. Hybrid, my arse.”

PJ dropped to her haunches and sliced off Leonardo’s tail. “Play with me will you, eagle boy? Ha!” She looked at Emmeline. “What now?”

“We need a man.” Her quills clacked together as she paced deep in thought.

“What for?”

“We set up a puppet king and rule this planet with a man as the front.”

“Great idea! But where do we get a man?” PJ looked dismissively at the two men drooling at her feet.

“I told you Max, I heard a noise,” whispered Gabrielle as they opened the door to the Leo’s chamber.

“You’re just trying to get out of sex.” Max saw the quilled woman and bounty hunter. “Who the hell are you?”

Emmeline smiled. Excellent. “We are you destiny, my liege.”

“What? Who are these women?” Gabrielle instantly went on the defensive.

Emmeline aimed her peeler at Gabrielle. “Is she important to you?”

“I love her but she won’t have sex with me,” Max responded in frustration.

“Ooh, she’s smart. We can use her.” PJ looked him up and down. “Take your clothes off.”

“Why?” Max backed away from the advancing women.

Will Max take his clothes off? What will they do when he does? Will Gabrielle change her mind about sex with Max? Check out www.annycook.blogspot.com tomorrow. And, as always swing over to www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com for her wise thoughts on every day life in Americana. Tomorrow Total E Bound showcases their new blog – Hitting the Hot Spot. Do you want to win some great prizes and check out some great reads? Then go to www.totalebound.blogspot.com and join in the fun Wednesday. Also while you're there, check out My Last Dark Day by Barbara Huffert and a couple by the Jones girl. See? So many great things to read and do.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Because we can...

An old friend rang today. When I say old, she is actually ten years younger than me, but as I am ageless, that means nothing. Katie, no not her real name, and I worked at Promptel together. Promptel, for those of you who do not know, is a made up name I use for a very real telephone I used to work for. It was a crap place to work but I made some really true friends there.

Katie hated me on first sight and she made no secret of it. Why? It was because she was in the call centre and I was in the complaints area. Unlike the call centre workers I was not bound by tight schedules (or I probably was, I just did not follow them) and I was not hooked to a headset like a battery hen answering call after call until you are so demoralized that you wanted to puke. The complaints area was no picnic either. You dealt with people who regularly wanted to kill you and everyone at Promptel, who were not going to f***ing pay their f***ing bill until you f***ing sorted their f****ing problem or people who regularly threatened to go to the media or another phone company. Fine – go I felt like saying - let me give you the phone numbers to call. The complaints area was considered glamorous as ‘they did not do any work.’ While it was true a lot of the complaints ‘team’ did stuff all and lauded it over the call centre staff, I never did. But mud sticks.

So when Promptel started to downsize, they threw all the complaints people into the call centre. This was mainly to shift the work elsewhere but also hoping that people would quit if forced to be a battery hen. It they quit, then Promptel did not have to pay a redundancy when the call centre closed for good. There was no way in hell I was leaving that rat hole without a redundancy in my chubby little fist. I earned it. It was mine.

So they placed me beside Katie. She gave me the evil eye then ignored me. Whatever. I wasn’t about to fall apart if she didn’t like me. I surreptitiously watched Katie and soon discovered that we had a lot in common. We were both very good a manipulating the system to our own advantage. Any call centre worker worth their salt knows how to cheat on the phones to cover up anything else that they should not be doing. All I will say is the ‘transfer’ button can be your best friend and not for the reasons it was designed for. We also discovered we were fighting the same battles in the call centre and joined forces to kick arse. From an I loathe you beginning we became great friends who stood side by side in every pissy little battle with management and we cheated the system something chronic - and yes, we both praised all the gods we had been praying to the day redundancies were announced. I am sure those gods don't expect us to keep any of our wild promises due to getting the redundancy...

I believe some of the strongest friendships are formed under fire. Katie and I don’t see as much of each other now, but like true friends we keep in touch. We know everything about each other and we are not upset if two weeks go by without a phone call from the other as we know we can pick up exactly where we left off. May everyone have a friend just as good.

To all the call centre workers. I admire you. I know what you put up with. It’s not an easy job to do. So next time you feel the need to take out your frustration on a call centre worker, remember they are human beings trying to earn money just like you or me and all the swearing in the world is not going to get you what you want.

NB – A reviewer remarked how well I researched call centres for my book Because I Can. I believe in writing what you know as readers are smart enough to know what’s real and what’s not.

The blog serial returns Monday on www.kkirch.blogpot.com. For Sunday words of wisdom please visit Anny on www.annycook.blogspot.com, Molly on www.mjdaniels.blogspot.com and Kelly on www.kkirch.blogspot.com. They are all extremely wise and zen like today - it's actually quite frightening. I expect them to snap out of it Monday.

www.freewebs.com/amarindajones/

Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?

Size O? Get the hell out!

“These mortals are boring me.” Queen Zahara’s finger hovered over the universal destructo button. She was tired of watching their silly game playing through dimensions.

“You can’t kill them,” warned Beaky Sprott, her man in waiting.

“Oh why not? I expected Emmeline to have had sex at least once by now.” Was the girl slow witted?

“This is more than just about sex. A world is at stake.” Beaky was only too aware of the Queen’s restless libido.

“’Still boring.” She licked her lips and looked at the tall, lean man. “Let’s have sex again Beaky.” She might even let him come this time. Maybe. It was dependant on her mood.

“You know I can only have sex on a Tuesday…this is Friday.” Even if he could, Beaky wouldn’t. The woman’s thighs had scraped off most on his phallax scales. “We could always hasten Emmeline to her Khaleena.” He saw her magenta eyes light up.

“I was told I could never…” The thought of what he was suggesting intrigued her.

“We can but only if no one knows.”

That would almost be as good as sex. “You mean we can...”

“Yes, let’s evoke the 97th rule of dissolution.”

“Hot damn! Please may I ring the bell?” She was hot all over thinking about it.

“Be my guest, they are your sons after all.”

“Rafe and Shade take after their father – they are phallax ready but no imagination.” Her hand grabbed at the bell “Do you think the old rumour is true about the descendants of the Kinross?”

“That they turn into twins after sex? Well Emmeline is a direct descendant let’s see.”

I asked author Molly Daniels to give us a fresh character – hence Queen Zahara. Thanks Molly D. Check out her great website and books –
http://www.mollydaniels.citymax.com/page/page/4324227.htm

So what will Anny do on www.annycook.blogspot.com tomorrow? Whatever it is it will be good and Kelly will kick it up a notch further on Monday on www.kkirch.blogspot.com.

I was exercising this morning – puke, spew – and I was watching a delayed American broadcast from one of those perky early morning shows. I don’t do perky…I cannot even manage bouncy unless is if physically so and then I could put an eye out. Anyway they had this report on actresses in Hollywood being considered normal at size 0. What the?? What the hell is wrong with these people? Size 0? Isn’t that a size you give to babies? Why are we allowing Hollywood and fashion and so called experts tell us what is normal or what is beautiful? Why can’t you be a size 8 or 14 or 22 if you are healthy? Who says you can’t be happy at size 10 or 16? Who are these nitwits that advocate fashion trends? I lost weight because I wanted to be healthier when I am a little old lady tearing up the retirement village. I don’t give a rat’s arse for fashion. I care about me and what’s important to me. Stick your perfect measurements in your ear I say. This is what I believe:-

- you are unique and beautiful regardless what size you are
- looks fade but personality lasts forever
- sex appeal is all to do with having a good imagination and knowing you are hot even if you are a size 22
- he/she will love you because you are the bomb in their eyes

Okay, that’s as sappy as I get but you get the drift. Stuff what the so called fashionistas say. Be who the hell you want to be and live like you mean it.

Dear Amarinda, this is your horoscope for Friday, August 24th:Scorpio,With a good dose of determination, you'll manage to have your way in both work and romance, attributable mainly to a very clear outlook. Tip: be more uninhibited.

These are good stars. They mean that I will be able to write my next book at work today without work getting in the way. The clear outlook means that my email problems at work – outlook – will be fixed. Just as well as Ethel had a stress attack yesterday when I did not answer her emails. She had to – gasp – work at work! She did message me several times on my mobile indicating her rage at the company I work for not being able to get the email working. Yes, it is rude of them.

There will be no blog tomorrow. Yes, I know, you are all devastated…okay, at least pretend to be will you? I am heading up to the mountains to the retirement village to see what my father and his crazy cohorts are up to. You know, after seeing them doing what they want when they want, I don’t understand why people fear growing old or retirement. Age is just a state of mind. Be hell when you’re young and be hell when you are older…that’s my plan.

www.freewebs.com/janetdavies
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?
amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au