Fear of Being....out now...

Fear of Being...99 cents...go on...take a punt...

Spencer Grace is living her nightmares. No longer content to haunt her dreams, an evil creature called the red man invades her world and turns it upside down. He knows things about her no one else does. He feeds on her fears. He wants her for his own. Spencer is fighting for her life. She will not let this bastard win.

But this creature isn’t the only one new in her life. Two men, each with their own agenda, come to her. Both want her body and her heart. Both are prepared to share Spencer to allow her a long dreamed of desire. But in the end only one can have her. Who is stronger?

But can Spencer believe either man? Hot sex and fantasy’s one thing but trust is another. It’s no coincidence that evil and love have come into her life at the same time.

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fearofbeing-903024-340.html

Price gouging...

So, I have been taking back the rights to all my books and stories from the mainstream publishers. Why? Because I have learnt enough in the six years I have been doing this writing thing to know that I don’t agree with what they do. So, for me, it’s a case of put up or shut up. So many writers whine about publishers but the vast majority do stuff all about the situation they’re in because they’re scared to move away from the mother ships. Whatever. I’m an Aussie. We’re a little bit different. Our crap factor has a low threshold and we believe we can do anything we choose to do.

Anyway, I got the rights back to Fear of Being as of August 1^st and I was looking at it on the publisher’s page and I was astounded by the price they had on it. No, I’m not a writer who spends time starry-eyed looking at their literary reflections on the publisher’s page and squeeing so I hadn’t really paid any attention to the website. But this is a 40,000 and a bit word story and they were selling it at $5.99. That’s ridiculous. Who in this particular economic climate is going to shell money out for an ebook that essentially all the publisher has to do is bang it out in 6 – 8 formats and then set it up to be downloaded hundreds of times. It’s a rip off.  I absolutely believe 99% of publishers are screwing the book reading public over. While I get that they’re out to make money, seriously charging through the nose for an ebook is ridiculous.  

What will I charge for Fear of Being? I’m going to charge 0.99 cents for the first month and then I reckon $1.49 after that. Is this profitable? Yeah, I’ve seen that through the other stories I have taken back.   

Reading should be an affordable pastime for everyone – not just the rich.

Uh oh....

“…you’re buying a cold one.”

“Damn straight, Skippy. I’ve had the day from hell.” I placed the icy cold bottle of Aussie Chardy (Chardonnay) on the bottlo (liquor store) counter. I never buy cold. They know that. I drink a bottle of wine a week…a glass here…a glass there. Gone are the days when I was dumb and twenty and could drink people under the table…’probably still could…but I digress…the day had been shitful. Even best friend Ethel, across town at her job, added the word ‘scrotum’ into her email subject line that indicated how crapacious her day was. If Ethel uses ‘scrotum’ in a sentence, it’s a bad day.

Why was it bad? Because it was all my fault…no, really. At work, I try and balance/juggle money and banking all day and deal with people who’d rather balance a pen on their nose than consider for a moment what happened to cheques, or credit card payments or vital information I should know before I ring someone and find out an answer I should have known two weeks ago and now it will take hours to sort the problem out. Hence the wine….and the bag of chips…oh and the chocolate mud scone. And no, it’s not part of my diet. And no, I don’t give a rat’s bottom.

I saw this picture – see above and thought – yep – ‘should have been a stripper – probably would have been easier. Now, don’t get me wrong. I admire strippers. They are gutsy people who have seen it all and wouldn’t have to reach for the chardy and chips to de-stress. That’s why in my next life I’m coming back as a stripper. I have the attitude but not the body which probably accounts for not being a stripper in this life. I’m also very good with money so shove a hundred bucks in my knickers and I would bank it – not wait for some cranky person to ring to demand where it was.

Fear of Being – has been released – let the pigeons loose…

The blurb…

Spencer Grace is living her nightmares. No longer content to haunt her dreams, an evil creature called the red man invades her world and turns it upside down. He knows things about her that no one else does. He feeds on her fears. He wants her for his own. Spencer is fighting for her life. She will not let this bastard win.

But this creature is not the only one new to her life. Two men, each with their own agenda, come to her. Both want her body and her heart. Both are prepared to share Spencer to allow her a long dreamt of desire. But in the end only one can have her. Who is stronger?

But can Spencer believe either man? Hot sex and fantasy is one thing but trust is another. It’s no coincidence that evil and love have come into her life at the same time.

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com

Be daring...read an Amarinda book

Oh push off…

I have this terrible habit that is killing me. The worst part of it is it's a habit I've had since I was a kid. In fact all Jones women have the same habit. I see it in all the family photos. I never realized how bad this habit was until someone pointed it out to me. Now I’m paying for it and it hurts to go cold turkey and not do what I normally do. Add to that, there is an ongoing crap penalty if I do not break this habit.

What is this terrible Jones family curse? I have a habit of putting all my weight on one leg when standing - usually my left – then some on my right leg - then I swing my left hip out to the side and put my hands on hips. No, I didn't think it was so bad but my trainer Hugh says it is because I am displacing my weight incorrectly. I gave him my standard eye roll and too-bad-so-sad-who-gives-a-rat’s-behind look. His response - apparently for my own good – ‘can’t work it out how it is yet - he makes me do ten push ups every time I stand in my habitual manner. I frigging hate push ups. I have girl arms - not boy arms - and it's killing me. Sure, I'm getting good at them but they are pukeable to do. And yes, it's easy to say 'well don't stand that way' but it's traditional for Jones women. It's like saying don't flout authority, don't eat Tim Tams, don’t be bossy, don't buy junk that clutters your home. It's just what we do. We stand with attitude.

And you’re probably asking 'how' he makes me do push ups. He guilts me into it. First he tried – “do you want one leg more muscular than the other?” This got just a shoulder shrug from me. Care factor? Zip. Now he's says "if you’re not up to the incredibly simple challenge of changing your life by correcting the way you stand….." Bastard. I can’t ignore a challenge or a dare.

I forsee many more push ups in my future. I blame the first Jones woman for passing on the genetic tendency to stand like a hooker.

I’m also here today talking about Fear of Being...

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

Plots and knots....

My vampire romance - Run the Gantlet - yes Gantlet - not gauntlet – yes - god knows, gantlet is the correct term - trust me....is out today at Ellora’s Cave. Let the pigeons loose.

The blurb…

One thousand years ago Caitriona of Gaunt cursed a future kinswoman. Eloise is the last Gaunt woman standing. Her fate? To fall in love with a vampire and run a gantlet to prove her love. But will lust be good enough?

Eloise was determined never to cross the path of a vampire—until she met the hard-bodied and delicious Arrow and fell for the hot, sexy vamp. One minute she hates him and the next she’s in his arms. And that’s not her biggest problem. They have to pass seven challenges to stay alive—if they can keep their hands off each other long enough.

Running the gantlet is just a side issue for Arrow. His biggest test is making Eloise fall in love with him. He craves the taste of her innocent body and sweet blood. Seducing her with sin and sex is the answer and he’s not about to let any challenge stand in his way.

Go sin and sex….


Not only that….

I was only just mentioning a day or so ago I didn't have a cover for Fear of Being – and then whizz bang presto - I have one now. Isn’t it excellent? Thank you Whiskey Creek Press Torrid cover goddesses. The book is out on August in both e-book and paperback.

That blurb….

Spencer Grace is living her nightmares. No longer content to haunt her dreams, an evil creature called the red man invades her world and turns it upside down. He knows things about her that no one else does. He feeds on her fears. He wants her for his own. Spencer is fighting for her life. She will not let this bastard win.

But this creature is not the only one new to her life. Two men, each with their own agenda, come to her. Both want her body and her heart. Both are prepared to share Spencer to allow her a long dreamt of desire. But in the end only one can have her. Who is stronger?

But can Spencer believe either man? Hot sex and fantasy is one thing but trust is another. It’s no coincidence that evil and love have come into her life at the same time.

Spooky…

And also…

….in an attempt to de-knot-ify – I’m sure it’s a real word somewhere - and relax I went and had a massage. I was at the gym doing my usual circuit of hauling my arse around, feeling so tense that I could break into a gazillion pieces and it hit me. I need a massage. Actually it was a big flashy sign that came on the screen in front of me at the gym. "Need to relax?" Oh-bloody-frigging-hell-damn-for-god-sake-does-a-chicken-have-lips-yes-I-bloody-do.

Now, the concept of a massage is a really odd thing for me to think of as I am very, very picky on who touches me. I'm not a tactile person per se. Touch me without advance warning and I may just snot you...no seriously. It's just the way I am - yet I adore me.

So I went and got massaged. I apparently have lots of big hard knots in my shoulders, back and my calf muscles and funnily enough – well I found it funny – I have tight arse muscles. Oh, how that made me laugh. My arse is pure flab but somehow - what do you know - muscle has snuck into my fat buns – go figure. It was pointed out to me by the fantastic masseuse that I also have a problem with relaxing and lying still on the table – correct – I suck at that - and I am scary tight all over – correct – well, if you are going to do something you may as well do it to extremes I say. Yes, I’m going back. I need to. Even without her telling me that I knew it. Am I relaxed? No, I’m actually rather stiff and sore as hell. It will take some more work but I’m worth the effort. I just hope my tight arse muscles don’t disappears…what a bummer that would be…yeah, bad pun.

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

Odds and sods...

The cover gods sent me another beaut cover for I Don’t Think So. Again, it is exactly what I asked for. Big kiss to the Ellora’s Cave cover gods. What’s I Don’t think So About? A warlock who has to subdue a woman who’s not about to be put in her place.

Review…

Fear of Being is an erotic novel unlike any other I have read. With hot sex scenes, a paranormal twist, and a happily-ever-after, it’s a must read for 2009 – just be prepared to take a cold shower. Ms. Jones has created a book in which women can be found desirable regardless of their weight. It was a refreshing change to see a heroine who wasn’t a size 4. An action packed tale, Fear of Being is sure to have you turning page after page waiting to see what happens next.

Available August 2009 by Whiskey Creek Press Torrid
http://thenovelblog.com/

Yeah, Fear of Being is not due until August with Whiskey Creek Torrid – I'm awaiting the cover - but I got a review already and it’s a good one – evidence I don’t suck completely…at least not today…maybe tomorrow. So Fear of Being – what’s it about? It’s a ménage/romance/creepy book based on a recurring nightmare I keep having…yeah – weird huh? I never said I was normal…

A moment to vent…

Does it make you mad when you pour out your feelings to someone and they just don’t get it? You say things that are so intensely personal and make you want to cry and they just say something so dumb that you just want to scream. Do you just sit there and think – are you even listening? Did you ever listen? Was it all just an act for you? How dumb was I?

Do you notice that never happens in romance novels? I can see why people read ‘em. It’s because the hero isn’t as thick as two short planks and although he may be average and flawed he at least understands that the heroine just needs to get things out into the open and that it’s not always about him – it’s about her and her need to be selfish for five seconds and just say stuff so she can move on and breathe a little easier. Do you notice the hero never fobs her off? He listens. Why is that? Because the majority of romance books are written by women or by men who have a clue. They get women. They understand that not everything is an e=mc2 equation that has to be solved in an a-b-c-manner and that emotion isn’t always rational and that sometimes the need to just get something off your chest is more important then trying to keeping everything on a even keel.

I don’t hate men. I just understand them less and less as the years go by. I don’t want a man to solve my problems. I would just like one man, without an agenda, who listens and actually appreciates, and not necessarily agrees with, what I say. I am beginning to believe he only exists in romance novels. This probably accounts for the fact the less people marry and more people live alone – check your local census - and yet romance novels are always popular – it’s all because e=mc2 is not the solution to every problem. Actual listening is. So, when you want to scream, read a book. It’s easier than dealing with a brick wall.

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

Fear of Being...

So, I got word of a new editor – a male – yesterday. Hmmm, a male…that should be interesting. Never had a male edit my erotic romances. I warn him now to start stocking up on gin or whatever his favourite alcoholic beverage is as I am hell to edit – typos, split infinitives and I tend to make up words. My long suffering Ellora’s Cave editor will swear to this fact. I am a trial and a tribulation but hey I like me so I’m not changing any time soon.

The book that he will be editing is called Fear of Being – and yes I have a release date for this year so that was a heck of a surprise. The book is an erotic horror ménage romance – so basically it’s about orgasms and people screaming while the hero is all heroic and the heroine is her usually pissy self as some creepy guy tries to frighten the bejeezus out of her. This book is totally different to my others – sure, it has the same Jones style but it’s pretty creepy – hence the horror angle. It’s based on a recurring nightmare I have. I wrote it in some weird, existential hope that it would rid me of these night time visitations. It didn’t – bummer - but life goes and like all my books they are based on me in some way. Why? Is it a narcissistic complex I have? Probably - but there’s nothing wrong with a healthy ego – it keeps you hopeful and active and ambitious. Without an ego you’d probably sit and stare at a wall and want for nothing…actually, that could be good at times too. Hmmm…wall staring….anyway…writing from my own life is more the fact that I absolutely believe you have to write what you know. You have to live what the heroine has done and believe what she says.

This book is coming out through Whiskey Creek Torrid. Why? Because they wanted it and it’s a genre they are interested in. Will I write another horror? Depends if I have another nightmare that makes me wake up punching the air fighting off an invisible foe. Someone was telling me that the dreams we have now relate to our past lives and the things we should or could have done differently. I think that’s too much stress to place on yourself. My theory is that you and I will probably continue to stuff up our lives until we die and when we come back for the next shot at life I expect we’ll do the same. I think that sort of consistency is comforting. It allows you to accept the failures with a small shrug of your shoulders…c’est la vie baby.

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