The Midnight Brew presents Alexandra Ivy

Today's guest probably fell in love with books while listening to her mother read Dr. Seuss. She was barely old enough to cross the street by myself when I discovered the delights of the local library, and of course, Nancy Drew mysteries. Over the years she fell in love with Victoria Holt, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, and J.R.R. Tolkien just to name a few, and she's still an avid reader. Her tastes are still as varied, which explains why she enjoys writing regency historicals (which includes three vampire regency romances released in 2003: "My Lord Vampire," "My Lord Eternity," and "My Lord Immortality") under the name of Deborah Raleigh, as well as my contemporary paranormals as Alexandra Ivy. The Midnight Moon Café has the pleasure to present you Alexandra Ivy! MMC: Welcome to the Midnight Moon Café, Alexandra. When did you first become interested in writing paranormal romances? Alexandra: I’ve been toying with the idea for years, but not really with the thought of having them published. They were more for my own enjoyment than anything else. MMC: Let's talk a little about world-building in Guardians of Eternity series. How did you come up with your backstory for this fabulous series? And how does that setting affect your main characters? Alexandra: It evolved as I was writing When Darkness Comes... I wanted the vampires to be a part of a rich, diverse world that included a lot of different creatures, plus I wanted to have a few unique qualities to my stories. The main characters must battle more than humans or just each other, there are dark wizards, renegade fairies, imps, Weres... MMC: What was the inspiration for this series? Alexandra: Buffy!!!!!!!! MMC: There are 2 previous books in this series – When Darkness Comes and Embrace the Darkness. For those who aren’t familiar with these, tell us a bit about them. Alexandra: When Darkness Comes introduced the series. It’s the story of Dante, who is a reluctant guardian to the Phoenix (a Goddess of Light) who is the only thing that stands between the return of darkness. Embrace the Darkness continues with Viper who buys a rare Shalott demon from the slave trade only to be plunged into the dangerous world of vampire politics. MMC: The third installment in this series, Darkness Everlasting, came out from Zebra Paranormal. How does this story continues your series? Alexandra: Styx was introduced in book two. He was something of an enigma, and I couldn’t resist digging more into his character to see where he might go. In this book I also introduce the Weres who will play a role in future books. MMC: What challenges have you faced in the process of writing Darkness Everlasting? Alexandra: The world-building is always a challenge, not only to keep it all consistent, but also to make sure that its unique without being so weird that it jerks the reader out of the story. MMC: What’s your favorite aspect of the book? Alexandra: The humor! I love the combination of light and dark, terrifying and funny. I’ve tried to write the dark, brooding sort of vampires but for some reason it just doesn’t work for me! MMC: What do you like most about each of your leading characters? Alexandra: I like that each has a different aspect that is important to who they are. Loyalty, faith, integrity. Each approaches the world with different needs and weaknesses. MMC: What do you think is the key writing a truly memorable story? Alexandra: Always the characters. If the reader doesn’t find a connection to the people in the story, no amount of great plot is going to keep them reading! MMC: Who is your sexiest Guardian of Eternity to date and why? Alexandra: That’s really hard! I suppose I would have to say Viper. I like the sophistication that he uses to conceal his instinctive violence. MMC: Let's say you've just landed a movie deal, and you get to pick the actor who'll play one of your Guardians of Eternity, who would you pick and why? Alexandra: I did have a picture of Johnny Depp next to my computer while I was writing Dante’s story in When Darkness Comes! MMC: How about future releases, can you give us a preview? Alexandra: Darkness Revealed (Cezar’s story) is scheduled to be released March 09. Darkness Unleashed, Jagr’s story, is scheduled to be released December 09. MMC: Now to the fun questions. What's something that your readers may not know about you? Alexandra: I graduated with a degree in theatre and had dreams of making it big on Broadway!!! MMC: Do you have any obsessions? Collections? Alexandra: BOOKS! Oy, my house is over run with books. Everything from research books to TBR piles... I’m afraid sometimes I might not be able to find my sons in the clutter! MMC: When not writing, how do you relax? Alexandra: I love to read, of course, and I love to travel, especially overseas. Unfortunately my current deadlines means that I’m limited to an occasional weekend getaway lately! MMC: What’s your favorite guilty pleasure? Alexandra: Long, hot bathes... *sigh* MMC: Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books? Alexandra: Sure. They can find me at www.alexandraivy.com ---- Contest Time! Ms. Ivy will be giving away a copy of When Darkness Comes among those who leave a comment here. Blurb: Blurb: It's been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she's survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears. For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death. A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil—and a desperate race to save their love... Remember, this contest will end tomorrow (Friday) at mid-day.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Books I Can't Wait to Read this August 1. Sherrilyn Kenyon - Acheron 2. Christina Dodd - Into the Flame 3. Deborah Cooke - Kiss of Fury 4. Alexis Morgan - Dark Warrior Unleashed 5. Colleen Gleason - When Twilight Burns 6. Nancy Holder - Son of the Shadows 7. Jane Castle - Dark Light 8. Karen Whiddon - Dance of the Wolf 9. Susan Sizemore (anthology) - First Blood 10. Amanda Ashley (anthology) - The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance 11. Kat Richardson - Underground 12. Lisa Cach - Come to Me 13. Karen Chance - Midnight's Daughter

Hump Day Hunk

This is our 1,000 post!!! Can you all believe it? And to celebrate this occasion we're bringing you this bad boy. So bring your whips, canes, floggers, and paddles, and have some fun!

Alexandra Ivy in our next Midnight Brew!

With the anniversary month winding down and to help us celebrate it, we will be receiving the visit of author Alexandra Ivy, who will be visiting us to chat about her new vampire romance series, the Guardians of Eternity, and her next release in the series, Darkness Everlasting. Blurb: TWO MEN. Darcy Smith always sensed she was different from everyone else-if only she knew how different. Possessing a secret strong enough to end an entire race of demons, Darcy unwittingly becomes a pawn in an epic battle between the vampires and the weres as she discovers a new world filled with ecstasy-and dark passions. ONE DESIRES HER LOVE. Consumed with lust for Darcy, Styx - the Anasso of vampires - will do everything in his power to keep her out of the lair of Salvatore Giuliani, the deadly leader of the Weres. But protecting the woman he loves could cost Styx the ultimate price. THE OTHER.HER LIFE. Salvatore Giuliani knows time is running out for the Weres. Pushed to the brink of extinction, he will stop at nothing to make Darcy his ultimate conquest and queen - for she alone holds the key to his survival. But which of these men can Darcy truly trust? For all it takes is one bite to plunge her into a lifetime of servitude - or a lifetime of pleasure... The other two books in the series are: When Darkness Comes Blurb: It's been a hell of a day for Abby Barlow. In just a few hours, she's survived an explosion, watched her employer die, had a startling dream, and now she finds herself in a seedy Chicago hotel with the sexy, unearthly Dante, a man she both desires and fears. For 341 years, Dante has stood as guardian to The Chalice, a mortal woman chosen to hold back the darkness. A terrible twist of fate has now made Abby that woman. Three hours ago, Dante would have used all his charms to seduce her. Now she is his to protect. And he will do so until his very death. A terrifying plan has been set in motion, one that will plunge Dante and Abby into an epic battle between good and evil—and a desperate race to save their love... Embrace the Darkness Blurb: Is He Her Mortal Enemy- Lady Shay is the last of her kind. Half human, half Shalott, her blood is a precious aphrodisiac to vampires, who consider it more precious than gold. Though Shalotts are renowned assassins, a curse held over Shay lands her on the slave auction block, where her fate is uncertain. Or The Man Who Will Risk All. Viper, the beguiling chief of a deadly vampire clan, can't explain his longing to possess the beautiful Shalott who once saved his life, but now he is free to do anything he wants with her. Strangely, while he desires both Shay's blood and body, he wants her to surrender willingly. To Save Her Life? A hidden evil has been stalking Shay since she left the slave market with Viper. It is an evil that endangers the very existence of Viper's kind, and there's no reason he should court such danger just to protect a Shalott. But the love he feels for Shay is enough to make him willing to go to hell and back if it means spending an eternity with her in his arms.. Ms. Ivy will be giving away a copy of her novels. So make sure your calendars for this Thursday, July 31, at the Café.

Winner of Our "Wish You Were Here" Contest is...

Julie T. Congratulations, Julie! Please email us at midnightmoocafe @ gmail .com (no spaces) with your name and a mailing address so we can send your prizes. Thanks for playing everyone! More fun coming up, so stay tuned!

Wish You Were Here!

No matter how old I get, I can't shake that restless feeling I get when summer rolls around each year. I don't know if it's because of the whole mental training from years of going to school; that remembered anticipation we all faced as the term neared an end. Remember waiting for that final bell of the year to ring? The party on the last day of school? Remember how fresh that first week home felt after school had let out? And how it felt those last few weeks of summer, trying to cram in as much fun left as you can and dreading that first day of the new school year. Even though nothing much changes for me when school lets out these days, the thought of lazy afternoons, the beach, and a mai tai don't come amiss. I do love summertime. And if I could be anywhere right now, I'd go to a beautiful tropical beach. Just look at that water... Is there anywhere special you'd like to be right now? ::Win this stuff:: Leave your answer in the comments and you just might win a set of author bookmarks and a copy of Sexy Summer Reads, a paperback filled with excerpts from some of today's hottest authors. One person will be chosen at random from the list, and announced tomorrow. Good luck! pictures courtesy of www.webshots.com

Great News for eBook Lovers

Finally, a great excuse to justify that iPhone purchase! Check it out: If you have an iPhone and eReader, we want to know about it. Tell us your experiences with it and how well you like it by leaving a comment. How do you currently read ebooks?

Sunday Pop Quiz

Your Bedroom Personality: Healthy In the bedroom, you are open, honest, and giving. You are the ideal partner in many ways! Anyone is lucky to be with you. You see physical intimacy as an opportunity to grow and connect. You are up for experimentation, but you don't require it. What's Your Bedroom Personality?

Weekend Flirt: What Makes a Man Sexy?

What Makes a Man Sexy By Rachelle Arlin Credo What makes a man appealing? Is it his dashing good looks? Is it his rock-hard pecs and abs of steel? Or is it his smile and his personality that takes the top plum? In a society where everyone seems aesthetically astute, it's difficult to validate this question for sure. Sexiness is a very subjective matter and is very relative at that. It holds inconsonant views from each individual just as everyone squabbles over tastes in clothes and food. Hence, a universal answer to this blown-up question is an illusion. Nonetheless, having met men from all walks of life with radical tastes and personalities, I think I can provide authentic down-to-earth revelations regarding this subject. So what makes a man sexy? Take your whiffs off the following: 1. Masculinity There is more to a man than his firm butt and washboard abs. True, what a woman first notices is his anatomical assets but what lingers in her mind is not all that. It's his inherent masculinity. It's in the way he languidly struts across the room with a show of adequacy and grace and the way he flashes the glint in his eyes that ultimately creates the spark. It's also in the manner that he moves and talks that keeps women's eyes riveted at him. Being masculine does not merely suggest flaunting a large build or a protective quality but having this natural instinctive masculine self to trigger women's instinctive feelings of attraction. 2. Smile A natural sweet smile is one of the greatest attraction of a man. It exudes an aura of congeniality and establishes charisma presence. It also breaks a woman's resistance and communicates hidden messages without any verbal language. This is why a man who is generous with his smile is guaranteed to maintain a women-magnet profile! 3. Eye contact A man who knows how to have eye contact is a man who knows how to communicate. Women just like men are absolute attention seekers. They want men to listen and to take heed of the things they say. Thereupon, they demand affirmation. Eye contact is a way of ratifying. It makes a woman feel sufficiently attended to and cared for. Eye contact makes women feel so extremely special that they tend to sometimes melt right on the spot. 4. Confidence Confidence makes a man. There's just something about the appeal of wealth and power that women can't resist. Antithetical to how most people view it, giving off that commanding vibe isn't always dependent on one's bank account. Men can actually take on that aura of authority just by moving through life with an air of self-assurance and a boost of self-esteem. 5. Aromatic sense If a man is a making of a heartthrob onscreen and is a hunk on a ramp but stinks, he definitely goes down the cutthroat world. No woman likes a man who smells a bit too ripe like he just spent 24 hours locked in the bathroom. If a man looks good and smells even better, women are bound to swarm around him. 6. Sense of Style Some men just don't seem the type to go with the fashion trend. But it does not mean that they are passe. Some just have their own personal preferences and resist the lure of punked-up garments. Actually, it's not the clothes that make a man sexy. It's how he carries his apparel with confidence and ease that does. Clothes don't entice women, it's the man that makes those clothes look good in him that wiles them. 7. Communication skills Intellect is a factor in today's attraction equation. We are in such a competitive world that anyone without it is immediately slighted. But intellect without communication skills is not an attractive product. Conversational skills are necessary for any man to win the tilt. He must know when and how to start up a conversation and carry it on 'til it tapers off. He should not patronize women and is not so full of himself. It is believed that if a man is able to stimulate a woman's brain juices in a conversation, it is likely that he can stimulate her other juices as well. 8. Sensitivity Sensitivity is sexy but too much sensitivity is feminity. So where do we draw the line? When we talk about sensitivity on the right scale, it means having a sense of empathy, confidentiality and trust rolled into one. When a woman confides something, a man's initial reaction is to help her find a solution or fix it himself. This is not sensitivity. When a woman expresses her feelings, she just needs an ear to insorb the steam out of her being. A sexy man sees this through and gets women everytime. 9. Sense of Humor Laughter releases chemicals that create a sense of well-being, which is a wonderful turn-on. A man equipped with a good sense of humor automatically wins his points on the sexy scale with women. With the mighty use of his expression and wits combined, he becomes an addiction that women just can't get enough of. Women think that if he can evoke them with laughter in public, chances are he can also make them giggle in bed. 10. Oddity Extrinsic and intrinsic personal abilities and traits that are considered unique and superior by a woman's biology and also by the society to which she identifies with are, to varying extents, very charming to the female species. If a man has the gift of music or have potential fancy footwork or simply has art at his fingertips, he can charm his way anywhere. A mysterious facade that keeps her intrigued and guessing is also deemed bewitching. But a man's resistance to a woman's seduction is considered the prime. It's effects are naturally ingrained into the "sex" part of a woman's brain that it drives her motors purring all the time. What makes a man sexy is but everything about him and even more. Whether it be on the surface or skin deep, it's just a matter of projection. Every man is sexy in their own ways. They just have to feel that in themselves so the seething sexiness comes out of them naturally. © 2005 Rachelle Arlin Credo. All rights reserved. Rachelle Arlin Credo is an entrepreneur and relationship coach. She also works as an image consultant and part-time writer. Her literary works have been published in various magazines and online publications. For more info, visit her website at http://www.rachelle.co.nr

Gena Showalter contest winner!

The winner of The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld Series #1) is... Sashathestrange Send us an email with your address to: midnightmooncafe@gmail.com Remember to write "Darkest Night Winner" on the subject of your email. For those who didn't win, I'll be running a small contest in our Yahoogroup and will give away a copy of Gena Showalter's The Darkest Fire. I'll be putting more details this weekend. If you haven't joined the MMC Yahoogroup then click here or send an email to midnightmooncafe-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Cassandra's Book Release Party Winners...

I just announced the winners of my Book Release Party contests. Did you win? Go over to my website's blog and find out!

Midnight Brew presents Gena Showalter

Today's guest sold her first book at the age of 27. Four years later, is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirteen books, with eleven more on the way in a thrilling blend of genres. Two of these being urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, MTV, Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated in French, Italian and Korean. The Midnight Moon Café has the honor to present Gena Showalter! MMC: Welcome to the Midnight Moon Café, Gena. When did you first become interested in writing paranormal romances? Gena: Thanks for having me. I read Warrior’s Woman by Johanna Lindsey and Beyond the Highland Mist by Karen Marie Moning, and both books introduced me to the wonders of the paranormal. I was instantly hooked, stories of my own suddenly floating around in my head. MMC: Let's talk a little about world-building in Lords of the Underworld series. How did you come up with your backstory for this series? And how does that setting affect your main characters? Gena: My ideas come to me in pieces and those pieces begin to fit themselves together through the power of “What If.” I knew I wanted to write a story about the Grim Reaper. I knew I wanted to write a story about immortal warriors for the gods. I knew I wanted to write a story about a man who was murdered over and over again. I knew I wanted to write a story about Pandora’s box being stolen. Through “what if” I was able to combine them. What if the immortal warriors opened Pandora’s box? What if they are cursed to host the evil they unleashed inside themselves, and one of those demons is death? What if the warrior who kills Pandora’s is cursed to die every night exactly as he killed her? What if Pandora’s box is now missing and there’s a hunt for it? MMC: What was the inspiration for this series? Gena: I had never liked the myth of Pandora’s box, where one curious female was blamed for all the world’s misery. I decided to rewrite it and blame men. (But according to Author Talk, I did it because I hate men. LOL) MMC: There are 3 previous books in this series – Darkest Night and Darkest Kiss. For those who aren’t familiar with these, tell us a bit about them. Gena: Darkest Night features the warrior possessed by the demon of Violence. Maddox is the one who has been cursed to die every night only to awaken the next morning knowing he has to die again. His love interest is able to stand in one location and hear every conversation that has ever taken place there. Her arrival brings a powerful enemy back into the warriors’ lives. Darkest Kiss features the warrior possessed by the demon of Death, eternally doomed to escort souls to the hereafter. Lucien has an iron control and believes in duty and honor above all, and he has been ordered to slay the goddess of Anarchy, Anya. This goddess is wild and fun-loving...and determined to be his lover. MMC: There is a prequel – a novella - available in ebook format from Harlequin, The Darkest Fire. Why was Geryon’s story released as a novella? Gena: We had pushed the release of Darkest Night back by eight months to give me time to write the other two books in the series so that they could be released closely together. I didn’t want readers to have to wait that long so I decided to write a short story to give them a peek at how Pandora’s box came to be and exactly what evil was caged inside. There just wasn’t time to give Geryon a full-length book, not if we wanted the story to come before Darkest Night. MMC: Now Darkest Pleasure is the third installment in this series. How does this story continues your series? Gena: This book features the warrior possessed by the demon of Pain, a man forbidden to know pleasure. Actually pain is his pleasure. Reyes is in love with a mortal woman, Dannika, who as been marked for death by his best friend, the keeper of Wrath. In this book, more is learned about the box, the artifacts needed to find the box, the gods and the Hunters intent on killing the Lords of the Underworld. MMC: What challenges have you faced in the process of writing Darkest Pleasure? Gena: This was a very emotionally draining book to write. Reyes is by far my most tortured character, both physically and mentally, and delving into the darker aspects of his need for pain for were not always pleasant. But I did it because I wanted to show exactly what he goes through every day. MMC: What attracts you about the paranormal characters you write about? Gena: I love the possibilities. Anything I can think up, I can write. MMC: What do you think is the key writing a truly memorable story? Gena: Characters that come alive. Everything always boils down to characters. MMC: Let's say you've just landed a movie deal, and you get to pick the actor who'll play one of your Lord of the Underworld, who would you pick and why? Gena: I’m just not sure! I could name the actresses I’d like to see in the female roles no problem. But the men? They’re just so larger than life to me. MMC: The question that all Lord of the Underworld fans are asking is, would there be other books in this series? *g* Gena: Oh, yes. I plan to write a book for every Lord. In fact, I just finished writing Sabin’s story, The Darkest Whisper, a May 2009 release. Sabin is a man who places victory above all else, even love. At first I had no idea who to pair him with and wasn’t going to write his story until further down the line. But one night I dreamed his heroine and I was utterly fascinated by her. I had to tell their story next. And just to tease you...this book will finally delve into the lives of Gideon and Torin. MMC: You also have a short story in the upcoming anthology Mysteria Lane, which will be released in October. Tell us more about this story. Gena: My story features Glory Tawdry, a love witch who is given a magic pen. Anything she writes with it comes true -- and she’s out to torture Falon, once a prince of the Fae and the man who broke her heart. MMC: Now to the fun questions. What's something that your readers may not know about you? Gena: I can’t watch horror movies. Ever. MMC: Do you have a favorite food/beverage/music do you always have on hand while you're writing? Gena: I am addicted to coffee and water. I hate soda. MMC: When not writing, how do you relax? I’m not even sure I know what that word means. But when I’m not writing, you can find me on the phone with BFF and fellow author Jill Monroe, reading or snuggling up to my three dogs. MMC: What’s your favorite guilty pleasure? Gena: Chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven! MMC: Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books? Gena: I’m everywhere! www.genashowalter.blogspot.com www.genashowalter.com www.lordsoftheunderworld.net ---- Contest Time! Here is The Darkest Night (Lords of the Underworld Series #1). Blurb: All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member—a man trapped in a hell of his own. Neither can resist the instant hunger that calms their torments…and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction—and a soul-shattering test of love... Ms. Showalter is giving away a copy of it among those who leave comments. This contest will end tomorrow at mid-day.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Hot Reads from Gena Showalter 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

Got werewolf?

Our moon sister, Cora Zane, does! Check out her sexy werewolves... and the women who dared to tame them. Crossing Borders by Cora Zane Blurb: A lonely howl in the night draws Laney Parker out of her cabin. Determined to warn the rogue werewolf away from her pack’s territory, she heads into the wilderness unprotected. Little does she know, old wounds are about to be opened, and she will soon be forced to revisit her heartbreaking past. Two years have passed since Cole Holbrook was exiled from his pack. Now he’s back, determined to claim Laney as his mate, even if it means trespassing onto enemy territory to take her. Nothing will stop him. Not even his old rival--Laney’s pack leader brother, Seth. Read excerpt Bonding Experience by Cora Zane Blurb: When her pack leader issues a mating contract between herself and hotshot werewolf Luke Roman, Claire knows there must be some mistake. She doesn’t know Luke very well, but she can’t imagine two less compatible people being thrown together. Luke has loved Claire for years, and he isn’t about to let her undo what he’s worked so hard to put into effect. When she refuses to discuss the pact with him, even when he follows her home, Luke finds a silk scarf on her dresser and decides to try other, more creative ways of getting Claire’s undivided attention. Read excerpt Dominant Territory by Cora Zane Blurb: The moment Libby steps into the Moonlight Run with her girlfriends, she realizes they have made a serious mistake. One look at the clientele and she knows this is no place to have a ladies night out. The backwoods bar is isolated for a very good reason—they cater to local werewolves on the eve of the change. Drake never thought himself the type to consider a human for a mate. Then Libby shows up and crosses over into Werekind territory. One look at her and his heart is lost. He'll stop at nothing to claim her for his own. Read excerpt

The Lords of the Underworld are taking over MMC!

Keeping up with Midnight Moon Cafe's 2nd. anniversary celebration, we're having the sexiest and darkest Midnight Brew for you when paranormal romance author, Gena Showalter, will be dropping by to discuss those sensual immortals in her Lords of the Underworld series and her latest release The Darkest Pleasure. The Darkest Pleasure Blurb: Reyes is a man possessed. Bound by the demon of pain, he is forbidden to know pleasure. Yet he craves a mortal woman, Danika Ford, more than breath and will do anything to claim her—even defy the gods. Danika is on the run. For months she's eluded the Lords of the Underworld, immortal warriors who won't rest until she and her family have been destroyed. But her dreams are haunted by Reyes, the warrior whose searing touch she can't forget. Yet a future together could mean death to all they both hold dear... The other two books in the Lords of the Underworld series include: The Darkest Night Blurb: All her life, Ashlyn Darrow has been tormented by voices from the past. To end the nightmare, she has come to Budapest seeking help from men rumored to have supernatural abilities, not knowing she'll be swept into the arms of Maddox, their most dangerous member—a man trapped in a hell of his own. Neither can resist the instant hunger that calms their torments…and ignites an irresistible passion. But every heated touch and burning kiss will edge them closer to destruction—and a soul-shattering test of love... The Darkest Kiss Blurb: She has tempted many men… but never found her equal. Until now. Though she has lived for centuries, Anya, goddess of anarchy, has never known pleasure. Until Lucien, the incarnation of death—a warrior eternally doomed to take souls to the hereafter. He draws her like no other. And Anya will risk anything to have him. But when the merciless Lord of the Underworld is ordered by the gods to claim Anya herself, their uncontrollable attraction becomes an anguished pursuit. Now they must defeat the unconquerable forces that control them, before their thirst for one another demands a sacrifice of love beyond imagining.… As always there will be a contest to win one of her books. *wg* So mark your calendars for this Thursday, July 24, here at the Café.

See Acheron's book trailer!

Book Release Party - Black Magic Woman by Cassandra Curtis

I'm very happy to announce that my latest ebook, Black Magic Woman, is being released today and is available for purchase! Black Magic Woman by Cassandra Curtis ISBN-13: 978-1-60272-312-2 Paranormal Erotic Romance / BDSM/ Some M/M material Publisher: Amber Heat Part of the HeartSongs Pax V As co-owner and Mistress of New Orleans’ most exclusive and exotic BDSM club, Renata Jones can have any man she wants. Her secret gift of seeing auras allows her to adapt and control the intensity of a male’s orgasm, making her a very popular Domme. When her silent partner uses underhanded methods to buy out her share of the club, she is determined to make her last night memorable. Evan York isn’t at the Black Magic for sex. The handsome Air Force Captain is on a personal mission to find answers. But his plans derail when he sees Mistress Renata and is forced to acknowledge his innermost secret–a dark craving to be sexually dominated by a woman. That night, they share a passion which fuels the imagination, and may have unlocked a once dormant ability in Renata, a rare form of mind power. Is Evan the catalyst for her awakening? Or the test she must overcome to prove the ultimate in control? Read An Excerpt: HERE About the Story: I’ve always loved the music of rock guitarist Carlos Santana, especially the song, Black Magic Woman. When my publisher, Amber Heat decided to create several new Amber Pax anthologies with song titles as the theme, I knew just the song I wanted! An image immediately popped into my head, of a very beautiful dark haired woman, wearing a long, flowing gypsy-style black dress, high heels, and carrying a lit candle in one hand, a flogger in the other. She didn’t need fetish wear to show a man she was a dominant. Power glowed in her aura and in her essence naturally. Seductive and strong, the character needed a hero worthy of her. When I closed my eyes and envisioned the hero of my story, I pictured a self-assured, powerful man secure in his masculinity, but also afraid his need to be sexually dominated by a woman would ruin any vanilla relationship. Evan York embodied all the qualities I was looking for in a hero and I think he’s more than a match for my heroine, Renata Jones. I hope readers will enjoy this wicked little tale of domination and sexual submission. Contest Time: Win a $15 iTunes gift card! Hidden here at the MMC blog, on my website, and also on my publisher's group author erotic blog are three separate key codes, which unlock Evan from his handcuffs! You must have all three key codes to win! Once you find all three key codes, email me at cass@cassandracurtis.com with the subject line: Handcuffs Unlocked. Please include your name and mailing address. Winner will be drawn at random from all completed, correct entries. Contest deadline is midnight Thursday, July 24, 2008 with the winner announced Friday, July 25th, on my personal blog at my website. Good Luck!

Inspired by Santana’s Song

When I heard about the HeartSongs Pax V that my publisher was putting together, I knew I wanted in on it because I had the perfect song title. Every time I heard the song Black Magic Woman, I envisioned this incredible scene in my mind and I knew I had to write a story about it one day. I am thrilled that my wickedly erotic story will be released tomorrow. In the meanwhile, enjoy this video I found on You Tube: Carlos Santana...my guitar hero...May You Forever Rock On!

Join Cass for a Witchy Black Magic Party!

Join me this Sunday, July 20th for a witchy celebration when my book, Black Magic Woman releases on Sunday! I'll be blog hopping all over the web, starting with my personal blog, then at my publisher's blog: http://aqp_authors.blogspot.com, then here at the Midnight Moon Cafe blog this Sunday! That same afternoon I'll be at Novelspotters: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Novelspotters/ talking about my latest release, Black Magic Woman. Stop by any of these places and you just might win a copy! Woo-hoo!

Live Chat With The Moonmaids!

Chat with Tempest Knight, Cora Zane, and Cassandra Curtis, Tonight (Thursday, July 17, 9-10pm EST) "Live" at the Midnight Moon Cafe's Website Chat Room known as the 'Chat Pit.' Stop by and say hi and you may win a cool prize! ENTER CHAT PIT NOW

Thursday Thirteen

13 Songs that Put Me in the Mood to Write Those Hot Sexy Scenes 1. Salt n' Pepa with En Vogue - "Whatta A Man" 2. The Firm - "Satisfaction Guaranteed" 3. Melissa Etheridge - "I'm the Only One" 4. Marvin Gaye - "Sexual Healing" 5. Melissa Etheridge - "Your Little Secret" 6. Santana Featuring Chad Kroeger-Into The Night 7. Lita Ford - "Hungry" 8. Def Leppard - "Pour Some Sugar On Me" 9. Whitesnake - "Is This Love?" 10. Winger - "Hungry" 11. En Vogue - "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" 12. Britney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 U 13. Barry White - "Can't Get Enough of You, Baby"

Hump Day Hunk

Looking for a man who doesn't mind getting down and dirty? *wg* Milos is one hot dude, but he's more than he seems. He has a special paranormal gift. But what type of gift and talent? Ahh, that's for you to guess! Everyone is allowed two guesses and the first person to guess correctly is the winner of a goodies bag from the MMC prize vault. In the event no one guesses correctly, the prize will be put back in the vault for another contest. :-( So please activate your ESP and get your game face on and guess. :-) ::hint:: He is NOT a shifter, or a Vampire, or a Werewolf! He is a pure human, but has specific psychic talents!

The Would You Rather Game Contest Winners* Are:

Dawn M. and Sapphire P. Congratulations! Please contact us with your full name and mailing address. *please note: due to an error with the Blogger counter, we are awarding prizes to the last two people who commented. Thanks for playing!

Chat with the Moonmaids

Mark your calendars for this Thursday night from 9pm til 10pm (EST), when the moonmaids chat "live" at our new digs on the web: http://midnightmooncafe.com http://midnightmooncafe.com/chat We'll be giving away some nifty goodies and chatting about our books and our lusty heroes. Woo-Yeah! :) BTW, check out the contest on Vampire Wire for an audiobook of Jim Butcher's first novel, narrated by (yum) James Marsters. It runs through Friday night (7/18/08).

Would You Rather...? Game Time

We're still celebrating our anniversary here at the Midnight Moon Cafe all this week! And today we're playing, Would You Rather...? The game is similar to a meme, except that you post a comment and ask a question and the next person who comments has to answer and then post a question of their own. Be creative and crazy and fun! Three rules: you can't post and answer your own question, so no back to back repeaters, k? And second, saying "neither" is not an answer! LOL! All questions have to start with the words 'would you rather.' The 25th person who posts will receive a goodies pack from the MMC vault, so don't be shy, give it a try! Get your friends to play to up the tally so you reach the 25th post even faster! I'll start off... Would you rather trudge through a swamp in only your underwear or lick the back of a toad? ::you didn't think it would be easy did ya? Hee, hee:: So, which will it be? The toad or the swamp? ::wicked grin::

Song Title Mania Contest Winner is...

Heather! Although we really thought everyone had great suggestions, we loved that Sex at Six video and felt the lyrics were perfect for a fun erotic romance. Ooh, I already have a very hawt scene playing in my mind, ya'll. A sexy morning romp in bed between two very early risers...and one lucky, lucky woman! Woo-hoo! LOL Congratulations, Heather. Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail.com (no spaces) and make sure the contest title is in the subject line. Heather wrote: Hear it: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMkb6Y6zSI0 (Not an official Profits video, but at least you can hear how catchy this song is) We agree. :)

Twillight Fall Contest Winner is...

Caffey! Ms. Caffey was the first to name not only all of the Darkyn books, but also all the tie-in, free Darkyn stories! Way to go! Congratulations, Caffey! Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail.com (no spaces) with your full name and mailing address, so we can send your prize, Twilight Fall by Lynn Viehl.

Guess the Favorite Drinks Contest Winners...

The winners of the Guess Our Favorite Drinks were: Robin S. who guessed Tempest's favorite drink: Sex On The Beach Maria who guessed Cassandra's favorite drink: Mint Juliep Carmen R. who guessed Cora's favorite drink: Hair of The Dog Don't forget to email us with your mailing addresses so we can send your prizes! The other two contests from yesterday (Twilight Fall and Title Mania: Song Edition) are open until Sunday morning, so scroll down and enter to win! Good Luck!

Happy 2nd Anniversary Midnight Moon Cafe!

Happy Anniversary, Baby! Today we are two years old! Wow, we've really come a long way – and so fast! Want to help us celebrate? Come on! There will be lots of fun, music, games, contests and prizes as we kick off our 2nd Anniversary Party. Oh and did I mention the free snacks and the tiki bar? :-) To start things off, as I mentioned, we've got a tiki bar, so leave a comment to order a free drink. If you order the same cocktail as one of the moonmaids favorites, then you'll get a neat bookmarks and more package from some of your favorite authors! If more than one person orders the same drink, then whoever can do the limbo the lowest wins! LOL (Nah, the first one who guesses right wins...but we got you worried for a second, didn't we? Hee, hee...) There are three separate bookmarks and more prize packages to win. One for each moonmaid, and you can enter multiple times. :) So what sort of drink do you think a sexy vampire writing Latina from Puerto Rico would order? And what about our smart and sassy werewolf writer from Louisiana? What do you think she likes to drink when she is relaxing by the bayou? Or a certain naughty red-headed witchy woman? Ahh, do you know what my favorite drink happens to be? And no hints and no peeking in the cauldron! LOL. So step on up and give us your drink order! What'll it be? :-) Remember to check back with us, because later we'll have more games, more prizes, music and fun and you won't want to miss out! Oh and don't forget to keep scrolling down for more fun and games! The party is just getting started! Hmm, now where did that luscious young cat shifter go? I have some catnip for him... ::wink::

Darkyn Down the Road...Twilight Fall

Here at the Midnight Moon Cafe, we love Lynn Viehl. She's so talented. And prolific! So we sat down and thought of how much we have enjoyed all her Darkyn titles. If you haven't read any of these great stories, you are soo missing out! Contest Time: If you can name all the books in her Darkyn series, you'll win a copy of her latest Darkyn novel, Twilight Fall. Leave a comment on this posted thread to enter and win. A winner will be chosen from all correct entries and announced later this coming weekend here at the Cafe. Good Luck!

MMC Anniversary Party Continues...

What's In A Name: Title Mania! One of the hardest things to do as a writer is to name your story. For instance, I'm still calling my crop circle story, Crop Circle Story! LOL. Now, I know before I sub that book to a publisher, I am going to need a working title better than Crop Circle Story. :P Sort of like naming your cat, well...cat. Pretty bad, huh? So I've devised this ingenious (or at least to me) method to name some of my books (not all mind you, just some) and it involves listening to the radio. Oh yeah, I'm talking song inspired titles. And I know I am not the only author who does this. Actually it's a lot of fun. Are there any songs you know that would make really good erotic romance titles? Think about the lyrics as well as the title and then leave a comment on this post with your best song titles and I'll pick a winner this weekend and post it here at the Cafe. This month is a celebration of song at my publisher, Amber Heat, with the Heart Songs Paxes, so the prize is a single free ebook download of any song-inspired title available at Amber Heat/Amber Quill Press! So put on your thinking caps and sing! :-) Remember to check all the contest threads and comments throughout the day to see if you've won.

The Midnight Brew Presents: Jennifer Armintrout

USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Armintrout became interested in the macabre at an early age. Raised in a large Roman Catholic family, she viewed too many funerals at a formative age. She lives in a small, rural community in Southwestern Michigan. The Midnight Moon Café is pleased to welcome author Jennifer Armintrout. MMC: Welcome to the Midnight Moon Café, Jennifer. When did you first become interested in writing paranormal romances? Jennifer: I started writing because I dropped out of college and I needed a job. A while before that, I had tried to write a contemporary romance, a chick-lit, and a Scottish historical. None of those worked, so I decided to write about monsters. It was kind of natural, considering I’ve always been interested in ghouls and goblins. MMC: Let's talk a little about world-building in the Blood Ties Series. How did you come up with your backstory for this series? And how does that setting affect your main characters? Jennifer: I was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the time, and it had some interesting locations, like Cyrus’s mansion, for example. I used to drive by that house and go, “Oh man, vampires have to live there.” So, choosing my setting was pretty easy. I didn’t want to set a book in, say, Portland, because people from Portland are going to know that I’m just talking about my ass, you know? That, and the fact that I wanted something interesting in a book to happen where I was, for once. As for other elements of the world, such as The Movement and The Sanguinarius, those are all based on things that really exist, in some way. The Sanguinarius is based off the medieval book for witch hunters, and the The Movement is a parody of an organization called The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. In terms of my vampire “rules,” I wanted to get to vampires actually being monsters. There are so many books out there where the vampires are sexy and seductive or tortured and really, truly good inside. I wanted my characters to have real flaws, to have the potential to be good or bad no matter what side they’re on, and for my vampires to be real monsters. I think the fact that my settings are based on real places that I am familiar with lends a realism to the story that makes the fantastical more easy to believe, and it makes my characters more able to react realistically in their environment. I don’t want to sound like one of those authors who thinks their characters are alive somehow, but you really do have to make a world that your characters can believe in, so they’re not like, “Wait, why am I reacting this way, when I am clearly in a fiction story?” MMC: For those who are new to this series, can you tell us a bit about The Turning, Possession, and Ashes to Ashes. Jennifer: Sure. The Turning is about Dr. Carrie Ames, a doctor doing her residency in a hospital emergency room in Michigan. She gets attacked by a patient who is a vampire and ends up becoming one herself, so The Turning is all about her acclimating to vampire life. One of the realities of vampire life is the existence of some pretty bad guys, like The Soul Eater, who wreaks some havoc in Possession. Carrie is forced, in that book, to take command and make some decisions for herself and for her friends to fight against the Soul Eater, who is on this path to becoming a vampire god. In Ashes to Ashes, the Soul Eater is gaining more ground, and Carrie and her friends are put into even more danger and the whole story is resolved in All Souls’ Night. I don’t want to give too much away, so pardon my vagueness. MMC: How did you come up with the character of Dr. Carrie Ames? Jennifer: I don’t know. That’s not a good answer. I knew I wanted the first scene to take place in a hospital, I didn’t want her to be a nurse, because nurses have this little society in the hospital, like a little clique, and I wanted her to feel very alone and isolated in the beginning of the book, so I made her a doctor who wasn’t from the area. It all sort of unfolded from her isolation and the personality ticks that come from surviving medical school. MMC: What was the inspiration for your books? Jennifer: I worked in a hospital, in a position that was kind of like being an orderly, but they called it some bizarre name. Part of my job was taking deceased patients to the morgue, and I would wonder every time I went down there, “What if this person was a vampire or something and attacked me.” The fight scene I built in my head evolved into the series. MMC: What sort of research did you do to bring this story to life so wonderfully? Jennifer: I researched a little bit of the “vampire” subculture and mentality, the kids who drink each others’ blood and stuff, because I didn’t really understand what it was or what the appeal was. I use that subculture in my books a little. I also did a sort of pick-and-choose tour of vampire mythology from different cultures, picking up what I wanted to use in my vampires and discarding what I didn’t want. Other than that, I just kind of started writing. It doesn’t take as much research as, say, a historical romance or a detective story. MMC: All Souls Night is the fourth book in this series, which came out in June. How does this story continue your series? Jennifer: This is the big finale. It’s all over after this. Carrie and company have their final showdown against the Soul Eater, so, yeah. You can’t get very much more final than that. There are going to be zombies and werewolves just ripping each other apart in the climactic finale. Gore and buckets of blood and such. Dripping puss and rotting flesh and all the trimmings of a fine Christmas goose. MMC: What challenges have you faced in the process of writing “All Souls Night”? Jennifer: Ummm... actually sitting down and being able to make myself write, rather than screw around all day. I have a real hard time doing my job when I would much rather be surfing the internet or going out with friends or just watching reruns of America’s Next Top Model on VH1. Tyra Banks is like kryptonite to my writing. MMC: What attracts you about the paranormal characters you write about? Jennifer: I like vampires. I’ve always been aware of them or drawn to them or whatever you want to call it. It just seemed natural that I would write about them. There is a witch in my series, and witchcraft and magic, but I refuse to think of that as paranormal. I desperately want to believe that Samantha from Bewitched is really out there. I added in werewolves, to be honest, because it seemed natural to have them if all the other ghoulies are running around. And zombies pop up in All Souls’ Night. I guess all supernatural creepies are equally fascinating to me, until you get into all of that were-rat, were-cougar business. That just gets weird and confusing to me. MMC: Let's say you've just landed a movie deal, and you get to pick the actress who'll play the heroine from Blood Ties. Who would you pick and why? Jennifer: At the time I wrote the first book, I imagined Naomi Watts. They would probably cast someone younger, though. I guess I’d be happy with Kirsten Dunst. She seems like she would do a good job. As long as Gerard Butler is Nathan, I’ll be happy! They can cast anybody else they want! MMC: For those not familiar with your work, which book would you recommend to read first and why? The first one. My books are like a tv series, but not like Law and Order, where you can sit down and watch it and really enjoy an hour with no back story filled in. They’re more like Heroes or Lost, where if you miss the first episode you have no clue what is going on for the rest of the season. MMC: Are there any future releases? Jennifer: Yeah, I’m leaving the Blood Ties world and working on a fantasy trilogy that will be released in Fall of 2009. I think it’s September, October, and November that the books come out, but to be honest, I can never remember which three months they are. The ones toward the end of the year. MMC: Now to the fun questions. What's something that your readers may not know about you? Jennifer: I can walk on stilts. Trufax. MMC: Do you have a favorite food/beverage/music do you always have on hand while you're writing? Jennifer: I’m a big believer in drinking heavily during the last few chapters of the book. Some critics will say, “AH! That explains everything.” I’m pregnant right now, so I’m having a hard time finishing the book I’m currently working on, ‘cause I can’t drink. MMC: When not writing, how do you relax? Jennifer: I like to chill out and have barbecues and such with my friends, watch tv, get into fights on the internet. Play video games, that’ s a big one. I’m all up on the MarioKart for Wii right now. MMC: Do you have any obsessions? Collections? Jennifer: I collect Little Apple dolls, wigs, tacky unicorn knick-knacks and books, dear lord help me, books. MMC: Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books? Jennifer: Yeah, you can go to www.jenniferarmintrout.com and get links to my blog and info and all that jazz. Leave me blog comments, because comments make my day.

Thursday Thirteen

13 Men of Summer 1. Daring... 2. Nothing small here... 3. Packing some heat... 4. Spanking hot... 5. Very wet... 6. Muy macho... 7. Devilish sweet... 8. Seriously sexy... 9. Twice delicious, double the fun... 10. Peek-a-boo... 11. Down under... 12. 70s flahsback... 13. Veddy nice...

Our Werewolf Wednesday Winner is...

SashatheStrange! Congratulations, Sasha. ::confetti toss:: Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail.com (no spaces) so we can send you copies of Cassandra's books, The MIdnight Effect and Black Magic Woman. Note: In an exclusive interview with Cass last year, she mentioned that if she had to pick someone to play the sexy, young Javier, she would choose Eduardo Verastegui to play her latin lobo. Antonio Banderas would play Javier's sexy policeman uncle, Sanchez, and the alpha villian of the rival pack would be a great villian role for dark and dangerous Benecio Del Torro. Everyone, thanks for playing! More contests and more fun headed your way, so stick around and who knows, you might be our next winner!

Werewolf Wednesday

The Midnight Effect by Cassandra Curtis In the Central American jungle, animal habitat designer Allison Caufield sees a rare sight–a wolf thought to be extinct. What she captures on her camera is pure myth, a dark legend brought to life–but this is one myth that could destroy her. Javier López is used to the shadows. To save his people, he must stop the one woman who can prove his kind exists. Her sweet scent and lush curves call out to him even as duty to his pack forces him to lie and steal. Cast into the role of rescuer by the hand of fate, Javier must now bring all his considerable skills and heightened senses into play if he has any hope of saving Allison before the midnight effect. Contest Time: Can you guess which actor Cass would pick to portray her hero Javier in a movie? If you guess right, you'll be placed into a drawing to win a copy of her ebook, The Midnight Effect. Also, you'll win a copy of her upcoming ebook, Black Magic Woman, once it releases on July 2oth! Nifty, huh? The choices are: 1. Benecio Del Torro 2. Antonio Banderas 3. Eduardo Verastegui Post a comment with your guess now. Contest ends midnight tonight and the winner will be announced this Thursday, July 10, 2008. Good Luck!

Haunted Roads and Highways

Road ghosts - Are these haunting spirits to blame for car accidents? By Katy Lassetter For centuries tales have been told of the ghosts that haunt Britain’s roads. A tragic history of death and murder and the lost spirits trying to find their way home. So-called road ghosts have caused of a number of car accidents on country lanes throughout the country and over the years have inspired tales in the press of phantom hitch-hikers, bridesmaids, soldiers and even animals. Most cases have involved lone motorists travelling late at night, navigating their way along country lanes in poor weather conditions when suddenly a figure appears in front of them. But just as the driver believes they’re about to feel an impact, nothing happens and when they get out of the car to check if the person is ok, they are unable to find a body. One couple from Hampshire had such an experience in 1976 and were lucky to avoid sustaining serious personal injuries in a possible road accident. A woman driving though foggy Hulbert Road in Waterlooville was forced to put her foot on the brake after her husband saw a young girl appear in front of the vehicle. He called out to his wife to stop and closed his eyes at the inevitable impact but nothing happed. There was no loud thud, no damage to the car; the girl had just disappeared. The man discussed the incident with friends and work colleagues and was told that other people had claimed seeing a girl in the same spot. The girl allegedly came from a housing estate called Leigh Park and had been killed as she tried to hitch-hike her way home from Waterlooville. He also heard a similar story from somebody who had been stopped by a girl on the same stretch of road. The man said it had been raining that evening and was giving the young girl a lift back to her home in Leigh Park. When he arrived at the address, he found the girl had vanished from her seat, leaving only a wet imprint as evidence that she had been in the vehicle. Bad weather appears to be a running theme throughout many road ghosts encounters and motorists travelling on the A38 Willand to Taunton Road have repeatedly stumbled across a grey-haired man waving a torch in foul weather conditions. In 1958 a long distance lorry driver claimed he met the man on three separate occasions and had given him a lift home. He said the man had a cream mackintosh and was always discussing the car accidents that had taken place along the stretch of road from the Blackbird Inn along the A38 to Beam Bridge. On the last occasion the man asked the lorry driver to wait for him at the usual dropping off point at the bridge while he collected some cases to drop off further down the road. After waiting 25 minutes for the man to reappear, the driver decided to continue on with his journey. Three miles down the road he was stunned to see the grey-haired man waving a torch and shaking his fist at him, there was no possible way he could have walked the three miles in such a short time. He tried to drive past the man but he jumped out in front of the vehicle. When the driver got out of his car the man was standing in the road again. There had been no impact and he hadn’t been hurt. The driver then recalls the man turning his back to him and vanishing. A similar road accident claim was made years later in 1991 when a female driver came across a man waving a bright torch along the A38, causing her to crash her car into a ditch. When she got out of the vehicle to have a word with the man, there was nobody there. Some motorists have claimed feeling an impact as they hit an apparent ghost with their vehicle. Coach driver Ian Sharp’s account of a ghost sighting on the A229 as he drove home one evening grabbed the media’s attention with headlines such as, ‘Bridesmaid ghost haunts highway where she died’ (The National Enquirer, 15th December 1992). The 54-year-old claimed a woman suddenly appeared in front of his car and ran towards him, looking him straight in the eye just seconds before falling underneath the vehicle’s bonnet. As he felt an impact he slammed on the brakes and jumped out to see if the woman was ok but failed to see any sign of her anywhere. He told reporters, “I honestly thought I had killed her. You can imagine how it felt. I was so scared to look underneath, but I knelt down and looked straight through - there was nothing there.” The site where Ian Sharp saw the woman’s ghost has been plagued by a number of sightings over the years and locals believe he drove into the ghost of a young bridesmaid tragically killed in a serious road accident in 1965 in Blue Bell Hill. The A229 running through Blue Bell Hill was listed in recent years to be the most likely place to encounter a road ghost. The list of Britain’s most haunted roads also included the A616 in South Yorkshire, the A75 in Dumfriesshire and the A361 in Somerset. Sightings have never been caught on video or captured in photographs but people still believe in the unexplained tales of road ghosts haunting our country lanes. It could be possible that these spirits were killed at the scene of such sightings and are trying to finish their last journey home. The fact that similar tales have been told so many years apart tells us there is a supernatural phenomenon about the tales and we can only imagine that such sightings could be blamed for further unfortunate car accidents in the future. Katy Lassetter: Online personal injury compensation claim specialists, with a 97% claim success rate. Call 0800 197 32 32 or visit http://www.the-claim-solicitors.co.uk for more details. Article Source: http://www.free-articles-zone.com/author/3830

Contest Winner - Faerie Garden Chimes

The winner of the faerie garden chime is.... Beth Caudill Congratulations, Beth. Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail.com (no spaces) with your name and mailing address so we can send your prize.

Magickal Gardening

How to Grow a Faerie Garden By MotherHerb Have you ever been working in your garden and caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of your eye? A quick flicker of perhaps wings, shimmering and far too jewel-like to belong to anything but your garden variety faerie? The fair folk are still with us and their wee cousins, the winged faeries, abound if you know where to look. If you keep a wildflower garden, its likely you’ve attracted one or more of the whismsical and impulsive fellows. Starting a faerie garden couldn’t be simpler. Select healthy plantlings that are pleasing to the eye and fragrant to the senses. Some good examples are: Borage (Borago officinalis), Chamomile (Chamaemilum nobile), Tall False Foxglove (Agalinis aspera), Sweet Melissa (Melissa officinalis/aka Bee Balm), Maidenhair Ferns (Adiantum), Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum), Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus) and Wild Violets (Viola papilionacea). Space plants several inches apart and not too deep. Water (about an inch’s worth) to settle the roots, then allow the faeries to do the rest with aid of their magick. You may find you won’t need to worry about weeding if you have wee ones in residence, as they tend to like decorating their new home as they please. Once all plants are in the ground, a simple dedication in their honor will arouse their interest. The best time to do this is at twillight, when the door between the realms is partially open. You may write your own words for the dedication, as long as they are welcoming and jolly. I also place a small lid full of beer nestled among the plantlings after I finish saying the dedication. Soon, you’ll have a lovely faerie-friendly garden, sparkling with magick. @2000, MotherHerb All rights reserved. This material may be copied and distributed freely as long as you keep the copyright information with the recipe or article. Contest Time! Did you know that faeries love the sound of wind chimes? Well they do. We happen to have a cute little set of wind chimes perfect for a faerie garden. Leave a comment and let us know your favorite flower or plant to enter. We'll pick a poster at random and announce the winner later. So check back to see if you won!

Working With Runes Workshop

Working with Runes Workshop with Mima Date: Monday, July 7, 2008 (All Day) Hosted by: The Paranormal Workshop Group Location: Online at the Paranormal Workshop Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paranormal_Workshops/ (Please note you must join the group in order to attend the workshop) Tools required to participate: If you want to do the exercises, you’ll need a set of runes. The instructor will be working with the Elder Futhark. There are lovely handmade sets available online for under $40 (just google “rune sets”). If you want to play with the feel for working with runes, you might prefer to create a temporary set out of driveway stones and a marker. Actual stones are preferred (as an organic material) over the plastic sets sold in stores. Notes: The workshop will not be an overview of each rune. This website has mnemonic and visualization tips for memorizing the futhark: http://www.runes.info/pieces/runepiece09.htm It is by no means required. There are dozens of books out there if you want a physical reference to hold. About the instructor... Heilsa! Mima has studied runes and used them for divination and reflection for over 20 years. Her website is www.mimawithin. com. An erotic fantasy author, Mima is published with Liquid Silver Books (www.LiquidSilverBooks.com) and Samhain Publishing (www.SamhainPublishing.com). Her hobbies are perennial gardening and playing Guild Wars.

Weekend Flirt: Types of Kisses 2

Types of Kisses 2 Butterfly Kiss - With your faces less than a breath away, open and close your eyelids against your partners. If done correctly, the fluttering sensation will match the one in your heart. Cheek Kiss - A friendly, "I really like you" kiss. Often the preferred kissing method of a first date. With your hands on your partner's shoulders, gently brush your lips across her cheek. Earlobe Kiss - Gently sip and suck the earlobe. Avoid louder sucking noises as ears are sensitized noise detectors. Eskimo Kiss - With your faces less than a breath apart, gently rub your noses together. Eye Kiss - Hold your partner's head with both hands and slowly move their head in the direction you wish your kiss to go... then slowly kiss up towards your partner's eyes and give them a tender kiss on top of their closed eyes. Eyelid Kiss - While your partner is resting/sleeping with eyes closed, very very gently kiss the spot right below their browbone. A very intimate kiss. Finger Kiss - While laying together gently suck on their fingers. This can be very seductive and pleasurable. Foot Kiss - An erotic and romantic gesture. It may tickle, but relax and enjoy it! To give a toe kiss by gently suck the toes and then lightly kissing the foot. It helps to gently massage the base of the foot while performing the kiss. Forehead Kiss - The "motherly" kiss or "just friends" kiss. The forehead kiss can be a comforting kiss to anyone. Simply brush your lips lightly across the crown of their head. Freeze Kiss (or Melt Kiss) - Experiment with this fun kiss. Put a small piece of ice in your mouth, then open mouth and kiss your partner, passing them the ice with your tongue. It's an erotic and sensual french kiss with a twist of cold. French Kiss - The kiss involving the tongue. Some call this the "Soul Kiss" because the life and soul are thought to pass through the mouth's breath in the exchange across tongues. Surprisingly, the French call this "The English Kiss". Fruity Kiss - Take a small piece of fruit and place between your lips (juicy fruits such as grapes, strawberries, small pieces of pineapple or mango are ideal). Kiss your partner and nibble one half of the piece of fruit while they nibble the other until it breaks in half, allowing the juice to run into your mouths. Hand Kiss - Gently raise her hand to your lips. Lightly brush your lips across the top of her hand. Historically this kiss was performed with a bow, which showed deference to a lady. Hickey Kiss - The object is not to draw blood, but to gently leave a mark that will prove your interlude was not a dream. This is often included in erotic foreplay. Hostage Kiss - Cover your lips with tape and get your love's attention. When they come near, make noises like you're trying to tell them something and motion as if you can't get the tape off. Once they remove the tape from you to hear what you're trying to say tell them: "I've been saving my lips all day just for you!" Then kiss your love passionately! Hot and Cold Kiss - Lick your partner's lips so that they're warm, and then gently blow on them. The sudden cold blast makes for a sensual explosion, and they will often try it on you next, as well as get very passionate. Mistletoe Kiss - Surprise your lover by capturing them with a gentle holiday kiss under the mistletoe. This is also a good method for shyer individuals to steal a kiss from a potential lover. Letter Kiss - Send your lover a kiss in a love letter by writing the letter x several times in a row at the bottom of a letter such as XXXXX. Lick Kiss - Just before kissing, gently run your tongue along you partners lip whether it be the top or bottom one depending on the position of your lips. Very sensual. Lip Sucking Kiss - When kissing gently suck on their lower lip. This can be very exciting. Neck Nibble Kiss - Gently nibble up and down your partners neck. End with a gentle kiss on the lips. Nip Kiss - This kiss can create a very erotic sensation. While kissing your partner, ever so gently nibble on their lips. You must be very careful not to bite to hard or hurt your partner. When done correctly, this kiss ignites wonderful sensations. Reverse Lips Kiss - It involves standing above your lover and kissing them from over their head. This way, each kisser can take the hyper-sensitive bottom lip of thier lover in their mouths, and GENTLY draw blood to the surface of the lip by nibbling and sucking. A very sensuous, connecting kiss. Searching The Cavern - Use the lips and tongue to gently tickle and kiss your lover's navel. Vary speeds and stroke to change sensation. Invigorating and intoxicating. Shoulder Kiss - Simply come from behind, embrace her, and kiss the top of her shoulder. This is a sensual, loving kiss. Sip Kiss - Take a small sip of your favorite drink. Leaving a little bit of it on your lips, kiss your partner. It is a unique way to create a sensual feeling and your partner will enjoy it. Talking Kiss - Whisper sweet nothings into your partner's mouth. If caught in the act, simply say as Chico Marx, "I wasn't kissing her. I was whispering into her mouth." Teaser Kiss - Starting on the forehead, a sweet short kiss on lips, then move up the arms up to her hand, kiss her hand, then come back up her arm, to her face and then lightly kiss her lips till she wants a passionate kiss. The Buzzing Kiss - Gently place your lips against your lover's neck , behind their ear. Now, send a shudder through their skin by gently growling and humming, vibrating your lips and cheeks as you do so. Move up and down the neck, over the bones of the face and lips. Stimulating and erotic when done correctly. The Whipped Cream Kiss - Dip your finger into some cool whip or whipped cream of your choice. Lick it off slowly, then embrace your partner and kiss them deeply letting their tongue slip over yours for a wonderfully sweet kiss. It's very seductive and passionate. Tiger Kiss - Quietly sneak up behind your partner making sure they do not know what you are going to do. Out of the blue, grab them and gently bite their neck. Make sure to get a few good growls in too. This will surely surprise them. Trickle Kiss - Take a sip of a favourite drink and trickle it slowly into partner's mouth while kissing. Tongue Sucking - A variation of the French kiss. During an open-mouth kiss gently suck on your partner's tongue (not too hard because it may hurt). Very sexy :-) Quickie Kiss - When you're in a rush. Often the nose gets it rather than the lips. Vacuum Kiss - While kissing open-mouthed, slightly suck in as if you were sucking the air from your partners mouth. This is a playful kiss. Wake Up Kiss - Before your partner awakes lean over and kiss their cheek and move over giving soft kisses until you reach their lips. Definitely a more than pleasant way to wake up! Virtual Kiss - For Internet lovers. Send an e-card or a kiss via email with this symbol: :-*

Happy 4th of July!

To all our American friends, Cassandra, Cora, and I would like to wish you a very happy 4th. of July! And to all our other friends and blog visitors from other countries, well... enjoy the view anyway. *winks*

TK's birthday bash winner

Thank you all for the well wishes! I had a great day yesterday. I'm still grooving, chicas! Hehehe! And yes, there was a lot of cake involved. And also a lot of presents! But none of the gifts compared to the ones sent by Monica D. (She thought they were too risky to put the link to them so she sent me the pics to my email. But nothing is too wild for us so I'm posting them here.) Monica D. sent me these three things and said "use your imagination." Ah yes... that bad boy is sooo dirty. He needs to be handcuffed to the bed and spanked for being so naughty... er... *coughs* See?! My imagination is a very dangerous tool, especially when over stimulated like it is now. Hahaha! Chica, you won a copy of Karen Harbaugh's Dark Enchantment. Send me an email to: tempest@tempestknight.com with your address.

Thursday Thirteen - Slips and Slides

13 Things A "Mature" Woman Shouldn't Do (at a 4th of July Family Gathering) 1. Show my three year old great-niece how Slip N' Slides work. Ouch. Guess I should have checked to make sure the water was on first, huh? 2. Attempt to ride a unicycle. On the plus side, you won't need that GYN appointment now. 3. Get involved in a Tofu hot dog vs. Beef hot dog debate with my cousins. They are sneaky and use mustard and ketchup as weapons. 4. Sit next to the guys when they're reenacting the bean eating scene from Blazing Saddles and accept when they challenge you. 5. Give hubby a box of poppers. That's just inviting trouble. Snap! Snap! Snap! 6. Jump on a tire swing. ::I hope the firemen they send to get me outta this thing are cute. lol :: 7. Hop on your great-nephew's skateboard and do your best Tony Hawk impersonation. Pads? Nah, that's for sissies. OUCH! 8. Spike the punch. Then sit back and enjoy the show! ;) 9. Deliberately make a mud puddle with your cousin's grandkids and then splash in it while the neighbors watch with disapproval. ::sticks tongue out at neighbors:: 10. Run around catching fireflies and then let them go. 11. Entertain everyone with some impromptu karaoke with your sister's dogs as vocal back-up. :: I totally wail!:: 12. Have a water hose fight. 13. Smear or spill ice cream on your blouse/down your cleavage and when your hubby or boyfriend points out how messy you are, tell him if he doesn't like it to lick it off! Say it loud enough so the whole family can hear and watch him turn red! LOL. 14. Bonus: Do a burlesque routine with sparklers. This is best done when the family has gone home and hubby has a very special firecracker he wants to show you. hee, hee... Have A Happy 4th of July, Ya'll! Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Happy Birthday, Tempest!

Our own moonlady, Tempest, is celebrating her birthday (and she asked us not to say how old she is - ha!). So we'll be having strippers all day and lots of Bloody Marys floating around. *winks* As you can see, we've got a colt...er... *coughs* I meant, we've got Colt, one of our bartenders, popping the...er...coming out of the cake. *wg* And to help Tempest celebrate her birthday, we would like you to come up with ideas of what could be that perfect/crazy/original present for her. Leave in comments a link to the pic, so we can check it out. The one who sends the most original pic of what she/he thinks is the perfect gift for Tempest will win a copy of Karen Harbaugh's Dark Enchantment. But hurry! This ends at midnight!

Animal Totem For July: Dragonfly

The Dragonfly No bird or insect has the flight maneuverability of the Dragonfly. They can twist, turn, change directions in an instant, hover, move up or down, and even fly backwards. The power that dragonfly brings to the tapestry of life is skill. They are experts at what they do and do it relentlessly. Dragonflies spectacular colors sparkle with iridescence in the sunlight. These colors take time to develop reflecting the idea that with maturity our own true colors come forth. As newly hatched nymphs, dragonflies live on the bottom of ponds and streams. As they mature and go through metamorphosis they move to the realm of air. Since water represents the emotional body and air represents the mental, those with this medicine will often find themselves trying to maintain balance between their thoughts and emotions. Children with dragonfly medicine are often very emotional. They feel things deeply and respond to situations with great passion. As they reach adulthood, and through experience, they learn how to balance their emotions with greater mental clarity and control. This gives them the compassionate quality necessary for any type of work relating to healing or counseling. Dragonfly has the ability to reflect and refract light and colors and is often associated with magic and mysticism. Just as light can bend and shift and be adapted in a variety of ways, so can the archetypal forces associated with dragonfly. It conveys the message that life is never what it appears to be. By helping a person see through illusion dragonfly awakens ones true vision. Flying at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour they can spot movement forty feet away. Flying into and around things from different angles, they challenge rigid awareness and prompt the energy of change for anyone who holds this totem medicine.