Captain Jack and Emmy Lou...

I got a curious email from another writer - let's call her Emmy Lou - about the cover of Shiver Me. She asked me was I aware how much the cover looked like Captain Jack Sparrow? Why yes, I am. Emmy Lou indicated to me in less than subtle terms that I was ‘cashing in on’ the popularity of Jack Sparrow. Uh-huh...

This is curious to me because you could paste the 'cashing in on' label on every genre that is being written or published right now from vampire to doctor/nurse romance. There ain’t nothing new under the sun when it comes to books. In fact you could say, if you wanted to argue the point, that every romance writer is ‘cashing in on’ the phenomena of love. How so? We're writing about a universal desire that people have to be wanted, needed and cherished. We crave love and desire. Or you could argue that people like to read romance books as a hobby and a form of relaxation and therefore ‘cashing in on’ is a load of codswallop. Or you could just enjoy the books without analysing it all too deeply because life is too short for all that shite.

As for covers? You could say writers ‘cash in on’ the fact that women want to see naked male chests, bums, thighs or just a handsome face. Hmmm...so where do we draw the line Emmy Lou?

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Shiver Me Timbers…

Violet Rose is stunned at the gift bequeathed to her by her aunt Zeta. Shiver me timbers, it’s a pirate! The hot and sexy swashbuckler makes his intentions clear. He wants Violet—and he’ll do anything she desires. Despite all the reasons she shouldn’t, Violet begins to fall in love with the charming rogue.

Pirate Nathaniel Dreadnought has been waiting two hundred years for his true love to release him from his lonely hell. The lovely and very sexy Violet is everything he wants in a woman. To win her love he will fight the fiends of hell.

But an old foe has been waiting for the awakening of Dreadnought, and he’ll stop at nothing to come between the two lovers.

I never actually set out to write a pirate book. It just happened. I came up with Violet and thought ‘what’s Violet’s story?’ She’s like women we all know – struggling, trying hard in life but getting nowhere fast – and then her Aunt dies and bequeaths her the strangest thing and Violet thinks “what the?” and “why me?”

I’m a great believer that things – even weird-what-the-hell-is-this-stuff - happens when you least expect it and even though you can’t work out why a new fresh hell is visiting you, there is always a reason and a lot of the time it turns out to be just what you need.

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Shiver Me is out today at Ellora's Cave. Click on the cover to buy.

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www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

You’ve got mail…

Before I delve into the mail….look at this luscious cover I got from the Ellora’s Cave Cover Gods for my pirate romance – Shiver Me – it’s amazing. These gods never disappoint.

Mail…

It’s been an interesting day mail wise…I woke up to one email that indicated I basically sucked but they were willing to help me if I worked very hard. They also expected more from me than other people did but if I worked with them my life would change. Hmmm…. well, this is how I see it – if I really ‘sucked’ why are you bothering to email me and offer help ? The effort to make me as you would like me to be would just frustrate the hell out of you, as while I can certainly adapt to new situations - I’m not going to change to fit your tight little mould. I emailed back very politely - No thanks, I have had other offers that indicate I don’t suck. But if later on if I do begin to suck badly then I will consider your generous offer to de-suckify me. Okay – maybe de-suckify is a made up word but I like it.

The next morning email was from a male I used to know… men, are so funny sometimes with what they think you need or are feeling. I was quite amused at the ideas, albeit it misspelled, including my name - Amarrinder – gee, how well you know me. I emailed back a missive that basically said ‘go away and have a nice life.’

Then at work, I got inundated by emails about someone who had written a blog about how pissed off they were at someone else. Now all the people that emailed me told me they believed it was me that the pissed off person was referring to. Probably. I have that habit. Anyway, they cut and pasted the blog and all the comments and sent it to me - dozens of times. Now whether it was about me, I don’t know as the people involved were smart enough not to name me for I am sure they would know I would have to refer the matter to my solicitor. What was it all about? Well, from what I read some ladies were cranky that I, allegedly, no longer had comments on my blog at www.amarindajones.blogspot.com. I haven’t for quite a while now as most people email me if they are pissed off with my opinions and that’s fair enough. And yes, I always reply. Now last time I checked, whether I had comments or not was my choice - you know - freedom to choose what you do without following everyone else. Anyway - please note, due to these alleged cranky ladies, I have put comments back on www.amarindajones.blogspot.com - so go ahead – comment. Let’s see what they have to say - if they were indeed referring allegedly to me. For all of you on Facebook, Myspace etc where I post as well – if I get comments I will let you know and you can go see what all the fuss is about.

Now to people we no longer require on the planet….

A Texas woman has been convicted of capital murder for the death of her two-year-old daughter, who was whipped with belts, dunked in cold water and thrown onto a tile floor to teach her manners.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/5298158

Please leave immediately. Where are you going to go? Who cares?

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

Okay...

….Sunday…not much happening…’sent another book off to torture my editor with. I am the queen of typos and purveyor of split infinitives and she gets a headache from banging her head on the desk as she reads. But it’s gone. I can do no more – win, lose, draw. Other news…got word back on two Ellora’s Cave contracts going through – Shiver Me – a pirate story and Running the Gantlet – the next chapter in the vampire series…okay, it’s a series but it’s not…I’m not that methodical. And yes Mr Black, I expect the covers, when they come, will have men with no visible chest hair…and no, I like chest hair on a man….

Remember to get your entries in for our contest. What contest? Scroll down to the next blog entry and take a gander. Go on – enter – what the hell – you may just win. One of those two books in the contest is called Linked by Barbara Huffert. What’s it about? Check it out….

Linked – the excerpt….

“Why did you come here tonight?”
“I told you on the phone. I was sleeping and then I wasn’t. I woke up and couldn’t shake the feeling that you were scared. Did you have another nightmare? Is that why you turned on all the lights?”
“Yes.”
“Want to talk about it?” She shivered. “You don’t have to, Tori. I’m sorry. I don’t want to upset you.”
“What?”
“You started trembling when I asked if you wanted to talk about it.”
“Oh.” Tori blushed and fought the urge to hide her face in his shoulder. “It’s not that. I’m just a little cold. Or the part of me that’s not against you is. The rest is nice and warm.”
Guy hid a grin. “Yeah, now that you said that it does feel chilly in here. Maybe I should check your furnace.”
“No. I turn the heat down when I go to bed because I like lots of covers. You called before I turned it up and then I got sidetracked.”
Guy was rubbing his hands over her exposed skin. “And your nightwear isn’t designed for warmth although I must say how much I like it.”
Tori glanced down at her shorts and tank top and realized how well-defined her stiffened nipples were in the flimsy cotton of the tight pink shirt.
“Oh God,” she groaned.
“Christ, could I have said anything more inappropriate? Hey, at least I haven’t lost my mind entirely or I’d be touching them instead of just wishing I were.”
At his declaration, Tori felt the peaks tighten even more. She watched his glance drop and knew he’d seen the change. When his gaze returned to hers, she saw that his eyes had darkened. Wordlessly, she caught one of his hands and drew it to her breast, pressing herself against his palm. For a long moment, he cupped her.
“Guy.” Tori made his name sound like a plea.
With a sigh, Guy slid his hand to her shoulder and rested his forehead against hers. “You could tempt a dead man.”
“But not you, huh?”
“Oh, I’m plenty tempted. If you don’t believe me, shift your hip and you’ll be able to feel just how tempted I am. As much as I hate to do it, I’m going to beg you to go put on a robe or some sweats or anything less revealing, not that it’ll do much good now that I’ve seen you like this.”
“But—”
“No, Tori, don’t. I know it would be pure heaven, spending the next month exploring your body, after which we’d spend the following year making love in every way imaginable but that’s not something we can start tonight.”
“Not even if I tell you I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone?”
“Oh Christ.” Guy ran his thumb along her collarbone. “Don’t do this, Tori, please. I’m trying to be decent and not take advantage of the situation. You say you want me now but what about tomorrow? You’re the one who questioned my attraction to you, remember? I won’t do something that you may regret later. You’re too important for me to chance that.”
Tori studied his eyes and saw more emotions than she expected. “All right, Guy. You wouldn’t be taking advantage but okay. I won’t beg you to show me if those big strong hands of yours feel as good as I think they will.”
“Tori.”
“Just trying to make you feel better by not being the only one who says inappropriate things.”
“Thanks, I think.” Guy stood her on her feet. “Go put on more clothes and stop looking so damn desirable.”
“You’ll be here?”
“Until you tell me to leave.”

That’s it – enjoy Sunday….

RIP – never forgotten – ever.

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