New and Noteworthy

I'll admit it. I'm a youtube junkie. I spend far more time there than I care to admit. While browsing a few days ago, I found this amazing little video. I hope you'll take a few minutes to watch Sebastian's Voodoo.

Winner of May's Contest (Spell Broom Pen) is...

Rachie G. Congratulations, Rachie, you've won the Spell Broom Pen! I hope you'll enjoy many happy hours writing the spell of your dreams. Please contact us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail. com (no spaces) with your full name and mailing address so we can send your prize. :) Thanks to everyone who entered the contest. Next month's contest will start June 1, so watch for it and enter to win.

Last day to enter May's Spell Broom Contest!

Jumpin' the Broom! Today is the last day to enter for a chance to win the cool spell broom pen pictured below. If you commented on any post since May 9th, your name was tossed into the hat for a cool prize drawing. One comment equals one entry into the hat. So the more comments you made throughout the contest period, the more your chances to win! And the prize, you ask? A witch's broom and spell pen, hand-crafted by artisan Storm Eldermoon, commissioned by the Midnight Moon Café for one lucky reader! Storm's creations are one-of-a-kind (since no two brooms are exactly alike) and are uniquely crafted from clay. The really neat part is the handle of the broom pulls out and makes a pen. Perfect for writing out your witchy spells or just jotting down your grocery list! Contest ends midnight, May 29, 2009.So enter today! The winner will be drawn May 30 and announced here at the MMC blog. Good Luck! —Void where prohibited. We strive to make our prize winners happy! However, as with all our contests, it is the participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails in order to claim your prize. Any prizes that go unclaimed for 30 days after the close of a contest will be placed back into the MMC prize vault, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

Joy Nash Contest Winner is...

The Winner of Joy Nash's Contest is... Debora Congratulations! Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail .com (no spaces) with your name and mailing address so we can pass the information along to Ms. Nash so you can receive your prize. Please state in the email which of Ms. Nash's books you'd like: Celtic Fire, The Grail King, or Deep Magic.

Welcome Guest Author Joy Nash

Arrogant = Sexy? by Joy Nash If you read romances regularly, you’ve certainly come across scores of romance heroes who are described as “arrogant.” This used to perplex me. When I think of the real-life men I know who might be described as arrogant, I don’t exactly see them as potential romance heroes. As a rule, I don’t find arrogance appealing. Confidence, however, is another matter. I suspect that in a romance novel, arrogance is often a code word, in part, for confidence. Confidence is sexy. A woman can relax with a confident man. She doesn’t have to worry about saying something that will hurt his ego, and she can be free to be herself. But I suspect that’s not the whole story. There’s more to the description of an arrogant hero than simply a character who is confident. A hero who is happily confident on page one (along with handsome, thoughtful, bulging with muscles, and kind to children and old ladies) seems a tad too…perfect. I like my romance heroes flawed. I like them to at least seem like they might be real men. Arrogance can be simply that—arrogance. Or it can be a complex flaw worthy of a true hero. “Good” arrogance in a romance protagonist merges a positive quality (confidence), with the darker flaw of insecurity. How can a hero be confident and insecure at the same time, you might ask? The answer lies in the different facets of his life. A romance hero may be—and often is—confident in his wealth, his strength, his power, his sex appeal, his brains, and/or his competence in his job. What he’s often insecure about is his true worth as a loveable person. His arrogance is the protective shell he’s constructed around his (secretly tender) heart. It’s the heroine’s job to crack that wall, and tear it down, and to make the insecure and arrogant hero believe he’s worth loving. If she does that well, the hero will drop the arrogant act by the end of the book and become a guy every reader can love. I don’t specifically describe the hero of my latest book, A Little Light Magic (Leisure Books, May 26), as arrogant, but Nick Santangelo has a touch of that trait in him at the start of the story. Nick is very confident in his competence as a contractor and a business owner. He’s much less confident in his skills as the single father of a teenage daughter, and he’s never quite got over his wife’s abandonment and the feeling that there’s something about himself that just isn’t loveable. Nick, to protect his (secretly tender) heart, carefully keeps his social life separate from his home life, telling himself he’s doing it for his daughter’s sake. He puts the lion’s share of his energy and time into the sphere in which he feels most confident: his business--until the moonlighting job Nick’s doing for Tori Morgan puts his work life, social life, and family life on a three-way collision course. One of the most enjoyable aspects of writing romance is creating a hero with a touch of arrogance…and having him learn that being open and vulnerable to love is the better way! All the summer’s best, Joy Nash www.joynash.com A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC by Joy Nash from NiNi Corvo on Vimeo. ***Contest Time*** Leave a message and you'll be entered to win a choice of one of Ms. Nash's books from her Druids of Avalon series: Celtic Fire When Commander Lucius Aquila travels to Britain to investigate the murder of his brother, he encounters a beautiful Celtic woman with a mysterious psychic link to the dead man. The Grail King Will Owein help the daughter of his enemy find a magic grail? Or will he keep the powerful relic for himself? Deep Magic A beautiful Druidess wants Marcus to forge a sword imbued with Deep Magic. Will he let himself be used by the magic he abhors? Contest ends midnight tonight and the winner will be chosen at random and announced tomorrow here at the MMC blog. Good Luck!

Hump Day Hunk Shapeshifter Game Winner is...

Lyoness2009! Congratulations, Lyoness! Our snarling hawt shapeshifter was indeed a wolf! Please email us at midnightmooncafe @gmail. com (no spaces) with your snail mail address, so we can send your prize. Thanks for playing! If you liked the shapeshifter guessing game, you'll be happy to know that June is Shifters Month and we'll have more guess the shifter games in store for readers.

Hump Day Hunk: Guess the Shapeshifter

Can You Guess What Kind of Wild Shapeshifter Beast We Caught? Leave a comment with your best guess and you could win a cool author bookmarks and more pack. Contest ends tonight at midnight! Good Luck!

Tuesday Morning Wake Up Call

After a three day vacation break, it's difficult to slide back into the grind of work. But what if you've got a holiday sexual hangover? For the heroine in one of my upcoming stories, a short holiday turns into an orgasmic delight when she starts reliving the same holiday weekend over and over and over. Now, some of you might think that's not a problem. ::wink:: But after a while, I think you'd want to break free of the cycle. Imagine every day rolling into the next and nothing really changing, no matter what you do. Even a sexy 'groundhog day' would get frustrating and monotonous after a while. And what if you got so lost, that years passed? Ahh, now you see the dilemma. So would you try to find a way to break free and end the cycle? What would you do to solve the riddle and stop the 'reset?' Oh, and it's okay to admit that you'd just enjoy it the first few weeks. ;-)

Memorial Day

The strong. The smart. The funny. The handsome. The beautiful. The brave. The fallen. The silent. Individuals all. Centuries, decades, and years apart. Yet united under a common goal. To keep America safe and free. As a nation, we set aside a single day to honor those men and women who gave their lives so that we all might enjoy our freedom. Today is that day. We here at the Midnight Moon Café want to send out peace, healing energy, and love to all those who have lost someone dear to them. Blessed be all. Cass, Cora, Tempest, and A.E.

Sunday Pop Quiz: Stripping Down

You Are Observant in Life You are serious and stable. You are a bit of a perfectionist, and you like structure. You are happiest when you are inspired and creative. You like to live in the moment. You are sensitive and considerate. You are always putting other people's needs before your own. You are adventurous and constantly seeking. You feel like you still have a lot to learn about yourself. The Stripping Down Test

Winners of the Marilu Mann Changing Times Contest

The winner of the signed copy of Changing Times, a wicked awesome coffee mug, and a goodies pack is... Crystal GB! Our second winner, who gets a nifty coffee mug, and a goodies pack is... Flip! Congratulations to both CrystalGB and Flip from all of us here at the Midnight Moon Café! To receive your prizes*, please contact us at: midnightmooncafe @ gmail .com (no spaces) and include your name and mailing address. Please put Winner, Marilu Mann Contest in the subject line. Thanks! Thanks to all those who read the MMC blog and entered the contest. There are more contests on the way and more chances to win—and don't forget every comment you leave this month goes into the May Jumpin' the Broom drawing for a very special, unique spell broom pen! *Remember, you have 30 days to contact us before your prize is forfeit and goes back to the MMC vault.

Still time to enter the Marilu Mann Contest!

**********CONTEST TIME ********** Cai and Arwen are offering up a signed print copy of Changing Times and a coffee mug stuffed with recipe cards and some other fun stuff! Two winners will be chosen. Woot! To enter, leave a comment on their Midnight Brew post. Deadline to enter is Friday, May 22, midnight eastern standard time (USA). A winner will be chosen at random from among all entries and announced Saturday, May 23, 2009. Good Luck!

Friday Finds: Reunions, Hot Fur, Warriors, and Wise-Cracking Angels

Scythe by MK Mancos ISBN: 978-1-60504-533-7 Length: Novel Publisher: Samhain A hot chick. A golden blade. Dead bodies. It’s enough to make a cop crazy. Keely Montgomery doesn’t spend much time thinking about death. She’s too busy working toward a Ph.D. in social work—her ticket out of a low-rent apartment in a New Jersey urban center. Until an angelic courier delivers a scroll from the Office of Death and Dismemberment that could take her career down a new path—as one of Heaven’s Holy Assassins. Her? Become a Scythe? No thanks, not interested. But she underestimates how persistent Heaven can be. Detective Josiah Adler has seen a lot of weird things during his time on the force. A hot blonde wielding a golden blade, standing over a string of dead bodies? That’s a new one. So is the fact that her grisly deeds leave no blood or marks on the bodies. The woman’s effect on his libido is another new development. One that leaves him no choice but to nail her before she kills again. And before his heart no longer stands a chance… Warning: Contains wise-cracking heavenly bodies, sci-fi geekery and a bulldog named Pugsly. Buy from MBaM! Read An Excerpt Online Rekindled Fire ISBN: 978-1-60777-214-9 Length: Anthology * Publisher: Ravenous Romance *includes the story Feral Instinct by Cora Zane Rekindled Fire traces the stories of ten couples who lose each other, only to find their way back together once again. The love stories here contain two unifying elements: profound love and erotic, passionate heat. Whether the story is contemporary or features magic, vampires or shape shifting; whether it involves spanking, bondage, or simply pure, unadulterated sex; or whether the couples have been torn apart for several months or one hundred years; one question remains the same: Will these former lovers be able to rekindle the flame of love? Contributing Authors: Angela Cameron, Amber Hipple, Jen Bluekissed, Vanessa Vaughn, K. Ann Karlsson Nini Richou, Cora Zane, Janne Lewis, Louisa Bacio, and Elle Amery. Buy at: http://www.ravenousromance.com/modern-love/rekindled-fire-an-anthology-of-reunited-lovers.php Twilight Guardian by R. G. Alexander ISBN: 978-1-60504-529-0 Length: Category Publisher: Samhain Not even the Goddess can save him…but maybe love can. Children of the Goddess, Book 3 A Sariel guard, Kit has spent centuries fulfilling his people’s oath to protect the Trueblood Clan. Not Vampire, not Were, and certainly not human, Kit is something altogether…different. And when he is called back home to honor his obl igations one last time, he can do none other than obey. Jesse experiences life behind the lens of a camera. The only time she truly lives is in her dreams. For years she’s imagined a world filled with werewolves, vampires, magic. And him. When she realizes that not only is her dream world real, but the giant of her fantasies is in danger, she’ll have to jump in with both feet, and trust her heart. In Kit’s arms, she learns love is as infinite as time. But so is a bitter god’s thirst for vengeance. After a thousand years of duty, Jesse’s love is a gift from the Goddess. But for Kit, it might have come too late… Warning: Spanking, exhibitionism, giants being kinky…just good wholesome fun. Buy from MBaM! Read An Excerpt Online Moonlight And Shadows by Cora Zane ISBN: 978-1-60088-420-7 Length: Novella Publisher: Cobblestone Two Werekind packs teeter on the edge of war. Someone has killed the Istvaan alpha, and Sylvie won't rest until justice is served. Forced into a meeting with her greatest rival, she’s shocked to discover her mate is none other than the Dartega alpha’s right hand man—his assassin, Erik. Sylvie realizes she’ll never be able to claim her true mate, but there are other, more important things to do than mourn a broken heart. There's just one problem. Erik has waited a long time to find her, and pack affiliations mean nothing to a man on the hunt. Read An Excerpt or to Buy! Jaguar Night by Doranna Durgin ISBN: 9780373618118 Length: Novel Publisher: Silhouette Nocturne At dusk he prowled the Southwest, a huge, sleek black jaguar with startling blue eyes and a man's thoughts. A shape-shifting Sentinel, Dolan Treviño projected an intensely animalistic aura that hid the scars of his past. Yet as fierce as his pride was, this immensely powerful guardian needed the intuition and spirit of an innocent horse trainer to find redemption. The moment he set foot on her ranch, Meghan Lawrence rejected the shape-shifter's protection—but she couldn't turn her back on her family legacy. Her mother had died protecting a magical manuscript that the Sentinels' dark counterparts would now do anything to recover. With an unbreakable will and all-consuming passion, only Dolan possessed the strength to save Meghan. But was she strong enough to tame the beast within? Buy it Now!

The Midnight Brew Presents: Marilu Mann

Marilu Mann brings the steaminess of the Louisiana bayous to her books and she doesn't stop there. Marilu's willing to travel to the frozen tundra of Wisconsin to heat up those northern nights and melt a little snow. She'll also circle the world to Wales, Ireland, Scotland and back just to bring you books that make you sweat. Currently residing in Texas, Marilu is an avid armchair traveler. Her sexy shifters will set your blood to boiling in no time. Owned by one Diva Teen and various animals, Marilu keeps busy writing the novels her readers beg for. Marilu is thrilled to be a part of the Ellora's Cave family and loves to hear from readers. The Real Scoop: Cai Smith and Stephanie Lynch met in 1975 at Indian Creek Girl Scout camp in Louisiana. They were both there to become instructors in the Red Cross canoeing course, but unfortunately everyone else was there for a basic canoeing course. So Cai and Stephanie were thrown together by the whims of fate, not to mention a buff, good looking teacher, to practice their strokes. Through a series of mishaps - including overturned canoes, a lopsided race, and a Three Musketeers candy bar (no, we will NOT go there!) - they discovered that they were living only a few streets apart and would be attending the same high school. Thus was born a friendship that has lasted through marriage/divorce/childbirth/and various and sundry other natural disasters. Cai and Stephanie kept in touch via phone and cards, but it wasn't until the advent of the Internet that they got serious about writing. Both have written all their lives, both have always wanted to be an author. One email series kicked off their first manuscript which they finished as a rough draft (VERY rough draft) in three and a half months. Stephanie attended the RWA National Conference in Denver in 2002, and had the opportunity to pitch that first novel to an editor who requested a full. Not bad for a first pitch, eh? Though it was rejected, they were started on a quest for publication. Cai and Stephanie both belong to From the Heart Romance Writers, an online-only chapter of Romance Writers of America as well as the special interest online chapter, FF&P (Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal). With their first completed manuscript, both Cai & Stephanie applied for and were granted PRO status with Romance Writers of America. Writing as Marilu Mann, they took the contest plunge in 2005. One manuscript placed in six contests and won two others. The winning manuscript was requested by two editors and two agents. This manuscript was bought by Brianna St. James at Ellora's Cave in October 2007. To see what they're up to now, visit their blog: Marilu Mann - Escape Into The Fantasy. The Midnight Moon Café is proud to welcome Marilu Mann, aka Arwen and Cai! MMC: Who influenced you the most in your writing? Cai: Wow, tough question. If you mean other writers, there are so many…Nora Roberts with her stellar characters; Sherrilyn Kenyon with her world-building & angst-y characters…There are really just too many to mention. If you're talking about other people throughout my life, I guess Mrs. Mehl, my high-school English teacher. It was her influence that caused me to take writing term papers seriously and her strict teaching that gave me the ability to focus on writing and telling a good story. Arwen: For me the very first romance I ever read has influenced me ever since. I can still remember feeling the desert heat and hearing the sounds of the bedouin nomads camp in Blue Jasmine by Violet Winspear. It was a Harlequin Romance. I also read (during the same time) my first science fiction, Dread Companion by Andre Norton. I guess I was destined to be a paranormal writer with that combination. My English teachers were Miss Jane Whittington (may she rest in peace) and Mrs. Joyce Mehl. They both instilled a true love of words in me as did my mother who read to me from the very start. MMC: What made you decide to write books with paranormal elements and characters? Cai: We've tried to write other things, and in fact, have written some novellas with no paranormal elements, but it just seems that when we start writing longer stories, the paranormal creeps in -sometimes in odd ways. Arwen: I love the paranormal. I am a professional Tarot reader. I watch “Ghost Hunters” faithfully. I love to go on haunted tours. I just adore it. I like the idea that there is more out there than meets the eye. MMC: Can you talk a little bit about what sparked the genesis for your stories? Cai: To be honest, I'd been sick and the medication I was taking caused me to have very vivid dreams. I've always remembered my dreams, but this time, I was dreaming about a super-sexy shapeshifter. All I really knew about him at first was that he was a were-panther and lived in New Orleans…I dreamed that he'd been injured and his friends brought him to a doctor - that eventually evolved into his friends kidnapping a doctor and bringing her to treat him. Thus Changing Times was born. In writing Changing Times, I totally fell in lust with Malcolm Slade, the bad boy in that particular story, and convinced Arwen that we needed to redeem him. That's how we started writing Changing Hearts. The third book in the Lusting Wild series, Changing Focus, is all about Micah Keeps Vigil. Micah appears in both Changing Times and Changing Hearts. Arwen: Yes, it's all Cai's fault! :) We both have been known to fall into character voice and discuss things with one another as our characters. So you might say they tell us where they want their story to go. MMC: Which would you say was your favorite character to write? Cai: That's a toss-up for me between Slade & Tante Kay! Arwen: I adore Joie for her tenacity and spirit. She doesn't take any nonsense from anyone…even a very Alpha shifter named Malcolm. And who can't love Tante Kay? Her voice really stands out for most of our readers. MMC: Can you tell our readers a little more about your latest book? Cai: Changing Hearts is a story of redemption and growth. Both main characters must face themselves, their fears, their disappointments and change their lives. Arwen: It's also a peek into the lives of those we don't see so much…the folk who live down deep in the swamps of Louisiana. Theirs is a vibrant, colorful culture and I hope you get a bit of a trip reading our book. MMC: What are you working on now? Can you give us a sneak preview? Cai: Changing Focus is in the editing phase - it's the story of Micah Keeps Vigil and Olivia Decatur. Micah is ready to settle down with a nice shifter female and start a family. Olivia is a lovely shifter female who doesn't know she's a shifter…Can you say instant issues?? LOL We've also completed a super-short that we'll be submitting to our editor in hopes of it becoming part of the Free Downloads offered on the Jasmine-Jade website - a Naughty Nooner - this one features a character from Changing Times that we thought needed a little more attention and at least a "happy for now" ending. :) MMC: What is something about you that readers might be surprised to know? Cai: Well, if they didn't know it before, they now know we're two people! Other than that, I'm a single parent with two grand-dogs, and I've lived in 8 states (Some of them more than once.) Arwen: I'm also the president of the American Tarot Association and am passionate about educating people to avoid being conned by fake psychics. (See Arwen's Tarot Talk article here at the MMC). MMC: Are you a 'pantser' or a plotter? Cai: SUCH a pantster! Drives Arwen nuts 'cause she'd much rather be a plotter. :) Arwen: True story! I am all about the outline and where are we going with this and how many words do you think. Cai just tells me to let her get where she's going and then she'll turn it over to me. We work very well together. MMC: Do you have a favorite food/beverage/music you always have on hand while you're writing? Cai: Funny you should ask. I love to have the TV on or music playing while I write. Arwen has to have complete quiet, though she's gotten to the point where she can have something going for a little bit. Arwen: I crave silence. I seek it out. I give people THE EYE for being noisy when I'm working. I'll ask them for ten minutes of quiet and be grateful for five! MMC: Do you set the mood for your writing time or just grab any available moment? Cai: I try to write every night, and I don't have to have any special place or time to do that. Sometimes I'll grab my phone or a mini-recorder and talk my way through a scene, then come back and write it down. Arwen: I write as I can. I don't need to get all set up. I have no specific ritual. I grab a Coke Zero and type! MMC: And finally, which is sexier: A vampire, a werewolf, a shifter, or a witch? Cai: Well…I guess that depends on what situation they're in. Though we haven't written about Vampires or Witches just yet, I don't see that they're any more or less sexy than Shifters. Still…there is something inherently sexy about a lover who can become something else or who can go a little wild from time to time, isn't there? I guess that's why shifters are so appealing. Arwen: Definitely the shifter for me. Vampires are sexy but I love the big powerful animalistic shifter. MMC: Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books? Cai: We're on MySpace, Face Book, and we have a Yahoo group - we only send announcements to the Yahoo group when we have big news, so we won't be flooding people's In-boxes. To join, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/marilumannfans/ We started a newsletter and have a few issues out, but we're not very devoted to keeping up with that. Our website is www.greatmta.com (that stands for Great Minds Think Alike). MMC: Thank you for participating in the Midnight Moon Cafe's Midnight Brew! Cai: Thanks, for having us! **********CONTEST TIME ********** Cai and Arwen are offering up a signed print copy of Changing Times and a coffee mug stuffed with recipe cards and some other fun stuff! To enter, leave a comment on this post. Deadline to enter is Friday, May 22, midnight eastern standard time (USA). A winner will be chosen at random from among all entries and announced Saturday, May 23, 2009. Good Luck!

At The MMC's Next Midnight Brew…

We welcome paranormal romance author Marilu Mann to a little Midnight Brew. Marilu is actually the pen name for collaborative authors Cai and Arwen. If you like hot shapeshifting heroes, you don't want to miss this! One lucky reader will score a print copy of the amazing book that started it all... Changing Times. Plus, Cai and Arwen are giving away a hot coffee mug and recipe cards, and other goodies! So be sure to stop by tomorrow, Thursday, May 21st, read our latest Midnight Brew, and leave a comment to enter and win. New Orleans sizzles when Dr. Carly Chambers finds herself in the hands, or paws, of sexy shifter and antique dealer Tony Pantera. Though the memory of his murdered human lover haunts him, Tony can't deny the sensual scent of this doctor his friends kidnapped. Carly is now in danger because of his enemies. The Turn Skins are power-hungry shifters who want to expose themselves to the world and take over through fear. Tony and his friends stand in their way. Carly proves to be a tool for Turn Skins when they learn that Tony can't resist the attractive doctor. And Carly is happy to stroke this shifter's fur. Their erotic encounters hurtle them into the path of danger and death. Can Tony protect his human lover from the Turn Skins who don't care if she's hurt as long as they get their way? Click to read an excerpt.

Autograph Mania

Want to play Cass' autograph game? One lucky reader will win a copy of Vicki Pettersson's The Scent of Shadows: First Sign of The Zodiac, along with a Fourth Sign of The Zodiac: City of Souls magnet. All you have to do is comment on her Autograph game post at her personal blog: http://cassandracurtis.com/blog The rules and details are on her website's blog. City of Souls will be out July 2009, and Vicki will be our guest that month for the Midnight Brew. In the meanwhile, play the game and you could be a winner!

Available now at Ravenous Romance

Rekindled Fire traces the stories of ten couples who lose each other, only to find their way back together once again. The love stories here contain two unifying elements: profound love and erotic, passionate heat. Whether the story is contemporary or features magic, vampires or shape shifting; whether it involves spanking, bondage, or simply pure, unadulterated sex; or whether the couples have been torn apart for several months or one hundred years; one question remains the same: Will these former lovers be able to rekindle the flame of love? Contributing authors in this anthology include: Angela Cameron, Amber Hipple, Jen Bluekissed, Vanessa Vaughn, K. Ann Karlsson, Nini Richou, Cora Zane, Janne Lewis, Louisa Bacio, and Elle Amery http://www.ravenousromance.com/modern-love/rekindled-fire-an-anthology-of-reunited-lovers.php Cora Zane's Feral Instinct is part of the Rekindled Fire: An Anthology of Reunited Lovers ebook is available now through Ravenous Romance ! About Feral Instinct: During a moonlight run with her pack, Adriana Holt looks across the firelight and she can't believe her eyes. Since when is Caleb Brody back in town? He'd proposed a mating pact between them long ago, but then he'd left, saying she needed to grow up and get her priorities straight. Well, she's all grown up now, and not about to let him hurt her a second time. Little does she know Caleb has other things in mind. He's looking to claim, and tame, Adriana - the only woman who's ever held his heart. This story is only available in the Rekindled Fire anthology, available today at Ravenous Romance. Please note: this title contains explicit sex and language, and is intended for adults only. You MUST be 18+ to download/read this story! http://www.ravenousromance.com/modern-love/rekindled-fire-an-anthology-of-reunited-lovers.php Psst.... Want a sneak peek of my feisty heroine, Adriana? She's also in my free ebook Under A Midnight Moon! You can get a copy of Under A Midnight Moon at www.midnightmooncafe.com/downloads , so be sure to check it out!

Pop Quiz: What Type Of Car Are You?

You Are a Convertible You're playful and carefree. You are lighthearted in all aspects of your life. Life is short and you act accordingly. You don't worry, and you try to bring fun into other people's lives. You love feeling free, and you don't do well with rules or restrictions. You need to be able to do your own thing. You feel more alive than most people. You can really savor the little things in life, like feeling the wind in your hair. What Type of Car Are You?

Moonlight and Shadows Giveaway

With no further ado, the winner of Cora Zane's Moonlight and Shadows Giveaway is.... Brandy W Congratulations, Brandy W! You've won a Tshirt and a small flair bag filled with bookmarks, bookcards, candies and more! To claim your prize, email me at CoraZane [at] aol [dot] com with Moonlight and Shadows Giveaway in the subject line. Please include your snail mail address, and I'll send out your goodies asap! A special thank you to Cass for all her help, and for everyone who dropped by to celebrate the day with me. As always there will be more chances to win prizes coming up very soon, so keep checking in at the Cafe!

Weekend Flirt: Recession Proof Your Relationship

Relationships Need 'Recession - Proofing' Too! by Todd Bavol A spell of unemployment, or even just a cut in salary for one or both partners, can put the most unbearable strain on a relationship. In an attempt to come to terms with all the feelings associated with being laid off, the series of disappointments which comes with the subsequent job search and the financial constraint that inevitably follows, it becomes the easiest thing in the world to lash out at your nearest and dearest. Even the simple logistics of being ‘under one anothers feet’ all day can lead to even the closest of couples and families driving one another crazy. So, what can a couple do to make sure that they get through such fearful and uncertain times? Don’t play the blame game This works both ways – neither blame your partner nor yourself. Unemployment or financial insecurity has not come about through the deliberate choice of an irresponsible partner, it has arisen as a consequence of world events. If you ever feel tempted to play the blame game, just stop and think whether either of you would have wished for this situation and then resist the temptation to strike out with hurtful words. At the end of the day, you both still want the same things, but blame will only pull you apart. Support one another They say that ‘no man is an island’, and in fact, no man wants to be. Having somebody to believe in you, and whom you believe in, is a basic human need and when times get tough a united front becomes all the more important. Support one another – it is you two against the world. Communicate Men in particular are renowned for not talking about their feelings, but at times like this it becomes all the more important to let your partner in and to ask for help. It is so easy to behave distantly when your mind and your heart are full of fear, but unfortunately distance engenders mistrust. Your partner might understand rationally what is causing the new behavior, but when faced with it day in and day out, it becomes all too easy to fill in a different interpretation of events. Keep talking! Be patient However hard it might be to see your partner apparently doing nothing more than sit around watching daytime TV and failing to pitch in with the household chores, try to be patient. The feelings associated with losing a job are akin to those of bereavement. Try to be patient and have trust in the fact that when he or she has worked through whatever it is that they need to work through, they will find the strength and courage to get back out there. Give hugs If either of you can feel yourself getting stressed or irritable, stop and reach out for a hug. The close physical contact and comfort of a hug helps to make us feel safe and secure and not only does it reduce the feelings of stress, but it also reminds us of what is really important in life. Switch off from your job search When you have done what you can for the day, switch off the computer, tidy away your resume and that pile of business cards that you have been wading through and try to relax and spend some quality time with your partner. Spending every waking minute of the day on your job search will not only leave you feeling mentally and physically exhausted and stressed, but will leave your partner feeling pushed out too. Change your lifestyle/spending habits Just because there is less money coming into the household does not mean to say that you cannot still enjoy yourselves. They say that the best things in life are free, and this is a good opportunity to reunite yourself with the simple pleasures in life. Cuddling in front of the television, playing a board game, a walk along the beach or through the countryside or park all cost nothing. A simple picnic beside a river can be one of the most romantic activities a couple can enjoy and a night (or an afternoon) of exquisite passion between the sheets will not only bring you closer together but will make you feel like a caveman (or woman), ready to go out there and take on the mammoths of the job market the next day. Treat yourselves occasionally Money might be tight, but if possible, try to put a little aside for an occasional treat. A nice meal out somewhere, or even a takeaway meal at home in a candlelit room can work wonders to lift your spirits and give you a feeling of togetherness. Never forget that when the recession has passed (which it will) and life is looking rosier (which it will), the last thing you want is to be looking back and realizing that you have lost the most important thing of all – your relationship. Be kind to each other! ~ ~ ~ • ~ ~ ~ About The Author Todd Bavol is committed to providing people quick access to job search and career information. Over 20 years of experience in the HR and Career Coaching field has given him a vast amount of information and resources to share with you. His natural curiosity and desire to be on the leading edge of EVERYTHING, brings value to you as a blog participant because he will keep you informed of updates, changes and innovations that will assist you in finding the job. Visit the author's web site at: http://www.integritycareertransitions.com/blog Article Source: http://www.articlecity.com/articles/relationships/article_2156.shtml

Moonlight and Shadows Available Today at Cobblestone Press

Moonlight and Shadows is being released today from Cobblestone Press! What do you do when your greatest enemy is your one true mate? Two Werekind packs teeter on the edge of war. Someone has killed the Istvaan pack alpha, and Sylvie won't rest until justice is served. As the new Grand Dame of the Istvaan pack, Sylvie is forced into a dangerous meeting with her greatest rival, and soon discovers her mate is none other than the Dartega alpha's right hand man - his assassin, Erik. Seeing Erik face to face, Sylvie realizes pack politics will never allow her to claim him. But there are other more important things to do than mourn what can never be. There's a killer on the loose, someone she fears might be looking to take her out next. There's just one problem. Erik Dartega has no intention of walking away. He's waited a long time to find his true mate, and Sylvie needs him. Pack affiliation means nothing to a man protecting the woman he loves. Erik will stop at nothing to track down the killer. And when he finds him, there will be no mercy. ♥ ♥ ♥ Moonlight and Shadows is being released today at http://cobblestone-press.com/catalog/books/moonlight.htm . The book contains graphic sex, language, and violence. You must be 18+ to download. :::WIN THIS STUFF::: To celebrate the release of my latest book, I'm giving away a Cora Zane T-shirt and a small flair bag containing bookmarks, bookcards, candy, and more to one lucky winner! To be entered to win, all you have to do is post in the comments. Names will be tossed into my high-tech, never-fail gold fish bowl and one winner will be drawn at random. The winner will be announced here on the blog Saturday May 16th! Good luck everyone!

Blog Party Planning

So, for those of you who don't know, Cora's wicked awesome book, Moonlight and Shadows, is coming out tomorrow and Cass has been busy with party prep and planning. She is working the staff hard. Or maybe just Jardin, our newest staff member. ;-) For more about Cora's book, check out her website and blog. We hope you can come by tomorrow and join us for some fun. There will be drinks and yummy treats, also some cool stuff given away.

Hump Day Hunk

What having nipple rings says about a man... 1. Adventurous 2. Daring 3. Dangerous What do you think? Have you ever dated a man that had nipple rings?

Tarot Talk: Secrets and the Seven of Swords

Hello, Midnight Mooners! I want to first thank the ladies here at the Cafe for inviting me to hang out here today. I suppose I should introduce myself. I'm Vivienne Westlake and I write historical, paranormal, and erotic romance (sometimes all three at once). One of my big projects is a historical romance set in Victorian England called Secrets Uncovered. An American widow goes to London to find a man she thinks is her real father. Of course, on the way, she gets entangled with the most notorious rake in town, a wealthy earl who is bent on making her his mistress. Initially, this was a novella, but I'm now planning to turn it into a full-length book. I got this idea because I'd heard about a contest for stories based on the tarot. I used to give professional tarot readings on the side, so I thought this would be perfect. I looked at the list of cards available to write about and somehow, I got stuck on the 7 of Swords. Traditionally, this is a card that gets a negative reputation. People tend to associate it with deception or theft, but it actually goes a lot deeper than that. My keywords for this card are: secrets, deception, distrust, walking in faith/into the unknown, sneaking around, stealing or re-claiming what was lost or stolen. It's a card about moving through the darkness to claim something. Or, having to cover up a secret in order to acheive a greater purpose. On a spiritual level, it can even be a dark night of the soul. When you see the card shown here, you're not quite sure if the figure is escaping something, stealing something, or if he's spying and preparing to launch a surprise attack. In Secrets Uncovered, Elena has been misled her whole life into thinking her father was a certain person, only to find that her mother had lied. Now, she has travelled to England to find the man who she thinks is her real father, but in order to do so, she must cover up her background and pretend to be vacationing with a friend who is looking for a husband. At the same time, the hero, Jamie, is hiding deep hurts behind a facade of indifference and womanizing. In order to heal their pasts, they must come together and learn to trust eachother. The problem is that they are both incredibly self-reliant individuals and they harbor a natural scepticism based on personal history that makes it difficult for them to want to take things beyond an illicit affair. There's also a little blackmail thrown in to make things interesting! So, given the theme of the 7 of Swords, have you ever had a deep secret that you either had to discover or that you had to hide because it would be dangerous for everyone if discovered? About the author: You can learn more about Vivienne by checking out her website HERE.

The Origins of Jumping The Broom

Some may think the origins of 'Jumpin' the Broom' started in Africa and came to the southern part of the United States, due to the slave trade. But the custom and practice began long before then. British Gypsies settling in Wales and Scotland also used the custom, however non-church weddings in Wales occurred long before the appearance of gypsies. In Wales, a besom (broom) wedding can be dated as far back as the middle ages. Until recently, this form of marriage was considered legal in Wales. The 'jumping the broom' is a ceremony in which the bride and groom, either at the ceremony or at the reception, signify their entrance into a new life and their creation of a new family by symbolically “sweeping away” their former single lives, former problems and concerns, and jumping over the broom to enter upon a new adventure as wife and husband. Often this ritual is performed at pagan handfastings (marriage unions lasting a year and a day that can be renewed each year). A birch besom was placed aslant in the open doorway of the house, with its head on the doorstep and the top of its handle on the door-post. First a young man jumped over it, then his bride, in the presence of witnesses. If either touched or knocked it in any way, the marriage was not recognized. In this kind of marriage, a woman kept her own home and did not become the property of her husband. It was a partnership, “cyd-fydio,” rather than an ownership. A child of the marriage was considered to be legitimate. If the couple decided to divorce, they simply jumped back over the broomstick again, but this could only be done in the first year of marriage. If a child had come, it was the father’s responsibility. The association of birch with love in Welsh poetry and lore is also of significance, and one wonders whether the element llath, “wand, staff” in the term llathlud in the Welsh Law, may refer to the practice of stepping over a rod, especially as a bent rod is a chastity test in the tale of Math. A Caernarvonshire custom, for which no source is given, is thus described: “When the parents consented to a marriage, the oldest man in the district was called, and the young couple was asked to leap over the besom, made of oak branches, which the old people called ysgub dderwydd. The folklore and ritual has retained popularity in the neo-pagan and Wiccan communities, and in recent years, gained interest in the gay and lesbian communities as a form of marriage, especially in states that do not allow gay marriage. May is a popular month for handfastings and jumpin' the broom, since May also ushers in Beltaine. What better time for love and new beginnings? Side note: The greenwood marriage is a term sometimes used interchangeably in some circles, meaning a handfasting and the ritual of jumping the broom .

Happy Mother's Day

To all our readers who are moms and to our own mothers Cora, Tempest, A.E. and I wish you a

Jumpin' The Broom! **Contest**

Jumpin' the Broom! Saturday, May 9 - May 29 Comment on any post starting today through May 29th, and your name will be tossed into the hat for a cool prize drawing. One comment equals one entry into the hat. So the more comments you make throughout the contest period, the more your chances to win! And the prize, you ask? A witch's broom and spell pen, hand-crafted by artisan Storm Eldermoon, commissioned by the Midnight Moon Café for one lucky reader! Storm's creations are one-of-a-kind (since no two brooms are exactly alike) and are uniquely crafted from clay. The really neat part is the handle of the broom pulls out and makes a pen. Perfect for writing out your witchy spells or just jotting down your grocery list! The winner will be drawn May 30 and announced that same day. Contest ends midnight, May 29, 2009. Good Luck! —Void where prohibited. We strive to make our prize winners happy! However, as with all our contests, it is the participant’s responsibility to check the blog to see if their name is announced as a winner, and/or to respond to winning notification emails in order to claim your prize. Any prizes that go unclaimed for 30 days after the close of a contest will be placed back into the MMC prize vault, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

The Great White Shark

In the Shifting Tides trilogy by Cassandra Curtis, readers are introduced to a variety of aquatic shapeshifters: selkies (seals), mermaids, dolphins, and in her next book, Soul of The Sea, we get to meet a very different kind of heroine...a Great White Shark. Jill is most certainly a man-eater...because when she first lays eyes on Garde Botoa, she knows she wants him. But will Jill's deception, pretending to be something other than what she is, cost her the love and the life of her soul desire? Fans of Ms. Curtis' books know she is an advocate of marine mammals, and of the seas. When she happened upon the website of Mr. Jost while doing research for her upcoming book, she realized the danger sharks face from a current commercial trend for a supposed delicacy—shark fin soup. The post below is reprinted courtesy of Mr. Jost and Article City. The Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias): Is it nearing extinction? by Klaus Jost "They come up with the energy of an express train and they hurl themselves right out of the water." It's late in the afternoon. The water is dark and an especially large amount of plankton reduces the underwater visibility to a minimum. Some time ago it occurred to me that with such poor underwater visibility I could probably forget about the object of my visit, to take underwater photos of the Great White Shark. Like many previous occasions, I am sitting at the boat's stern between the two 80 HP outboard engines, the camera leveled. Through the viewfinder I am watching the neoprene seal-dummy which our little boat is pulling behind it on a fishing line. I support my arms on my knees, to ease my tense muscles. In the past I have often had to remain in this position from the early afternoon until sunset, through heavy swell, rain and storms, just to take the picture of my dreams - a breaching white shark, leaping for prey. Until now, all my efforts have been in vain. Dyer Island is located six nautical miles off the coast of Gansbaai (170 kilometres south-east of Cape Town), on the opposite side of which is the small island known as Geyser Rock which is home to an estimated 60,000 South African Fur Seals (Arctocephalus pusillus). As long as the seals stay ashore, they are safe. But when they leave for the open sea to catch fish, they have to negotiate a dangerous shark-infested channel between the islands called "shark alley" which, not surprisingly, is reputed to the best place in the world to watch white sharks. The sharks patrol mercilessly here, and there is no way to escape them. The seals run the same gauntlet when they return to the island, and those swimming alone, and very young seals swimming close to the surface, face the greatest threat. This is the scenario we have attempted to reconstruct in this case, with the hope of luring a white shark to reveal itself to the camera. For hours I have been keeping my lens pointing at Koekie, the artificial neoprene seal bobbing along behind the boat. Suddenly, a huge and very heavy body is rocketing out of the water like a torpedo. It has "Koekie" in its mouth. Everything happens in a split second. It's a precise attack with a fatally perfect timing. Every single square centimetre of this exquisite creature is vibrating energy. An unforgettable sight. The incredible dynamic of the leap is captured in the picture. The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) has been around for at least 3.5 million years, but now it is acutely threatened by extinction. It remains to be seen whether the species is already "genetically extinct" - in other words there are so few individuals left that the survivors are genetically very similar to one another and are less likely to be able to withstand other insults that nature can throw at them. The number of sharks, of all kinds, caught every year is estimated at 100 million. Half of it is 'bycatch', which is thrown away. With this overfishing the shark population is irreparably damaged. Due to the decimation in their numbers, which has lasted for decades, and their low reproduction rate, the prospects for the great white shark do not look good. I’d like to focus my efforts on helping the sharks because they are really under threat now. Shark’s fin soup is a Chinese delicacy that is becoming more affordable as people become richer in the Far East. So there is a thriving and growing export trade of shark’s fins to the Far East. The worst thing is that the sharks are caught, their fins removed and they are thrown back into the sea alive to only die a terrible death. No animal should be subjected to that. So through my work I’m trying to draw attention to this to stop it. Otherwise in in few years some species could be extinct. About the Author Klaus Jost is a nature and underwater photographer. You can see Klaus's photos and learn more about his work at his website http://www.jostimages.com. You can view photos of breaching great white sharks here: http://www.jostimages.com/galerie/sharks/breaching-great-white-shark.html

The Endless Chase Midnight Brew Contest Winner is...

rjlebeau Congratulations! Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail. com (no spaces) and let us know which ebook format you prefer. We'll forward your information on to Ms. Walters. You are going to love this story!

The Midnight Brew Presents: N.J. Walters

N.J. Walters worked at a bookstore for several years and one day had the idea that she would like to quit her job, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown, and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the bookstore and her hometown and settled in for another seven years. Although she was still fairly young, that was when the mid-life crisis set in. Happily married to the love of her life, with his encouragement (more like, “For God’s sake, quit the job and just write!” ) she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel, Annabelle Lee, and life would never be the same. N.J. has always been a voracious reader of romance novels, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen, and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks—all vie for her attention. And she doesn’t mind a bit. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it. The Midnight Moon Café is proud to welcome romance author N.J. Walters! MMC: Who influenced you the most in your writing? NJ: Strangely enough, my husband. He's always encouraged me to write. Without him, I don't think I would have written my first book. He's also the first to read every book I write. He's deadly with a red pen. MMC: What made you decide to write books with paranormal themes? NJ: I've always been fascinated with the paranormal and things that go bump in the night. I actually lived in a cemetery in my late teens—well in the caretaker's house. I board there for almost a year while I went to school. My bedroom window looked out onto the headstones. The only side of the house not surrounded by headstones was the one facing the road. It was actually a very cool place to live. MMC: Can you talk a little bit about what sparked the genesis or the beginning of The Dalakis Passion Series? NJ: The Dalakis Passion series began with Harker's Journey. One day I was thinking about the character Jonathan Harker from Bram Stoker's Dracula, and I starting thinking "what if." What if Harker had a modern-day descendant who had to travel to Transylvania to visit a mysterious client just as he did? Johanna Harker sprang to life and so did her mysterious client, Cristofor Dalakis. MMC: Which would you say was your favorite character to write? NJ: That's hard. I love all the Dalakis brothers but, if I had to choose, it would be Stefan. He is the youngest of the brothers and was supposed to provide some comic relief to the series. But Stefan had other ideas. He ended up being the most intense and brooding one of the bunch. He's tortured and oh so alone after his brothers find their mates. I couldn't help but love him. Laurel Rose, the woman who wins his heart, is a very special woman. MMC: Can you tell our readers a little more about your latest book in the series? NJ: Endless Chase seemed like a natural book for me to write. Readers will remember Chase Deveraux from Lucian's Delight. He's all grown up now and makes his living as a sculptor. The series has come full circle, returning to Dalakis Castle and the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, where Chase meets Katya Markova, a woman with many secrets. Loyalties will be tested. Love, vengeance, betrayal and honor all come into play in this book as the entire Dalakis family is threatened from enemies from without and within. MMC: What is your next book after this one and when will it be released? NJ: My next book will probably be Amethyst Dreams, a spin-off from my novella, Amethyst Moon. This is a fantasy/ménage a trois that really sizzles. An archaeologist travels through time and space, ending up in another world, and in the arms of two hunky men. I don’t have a release date yet. Keep checking my website. I'll post it there as soon as I know. MMC: What are you working on now? Can you give us a sneak preview? NJ: Right now, I'm working on a spin-off from my Tapestries series. In Threads of Destiny, the latest book in the series, I introduced two futuristic assassins, Tienan and Logan. It's 2133 and they're back home on Earth, ready to fight the Piedmont Corporation and the Ruling Council that created them. They are more than men. They are Alphas. Genetically enhanced, they are stronger and faster than normal men. The microcomputer in their brains makes them smarter, more analytical. They have been trained their entire lives to be nothing more than cold-blooded killers. Now, they're fighting back. This will be a three book series, with Tienan and Logan each getting a book. Then there will be one final book to tie everything together. I've got a hero in mind for that one too. Hopefully, when they're done, my publisher will like them. MMC: Is there a genre of book you've never tried writing, but might try someday? NJ: Writing for Ellora's Cave and Samhain, I've been able to indulge myself. I've written contemporary, paranormal, vampire, time-travel, as well as ménage a trois. I've written a short erotic/historical piece that I just sent out to a publisher. I also have a werewolf book I haven't finished, as well as about 100 ideas for more books. If the mood strikes me, I'll attempt just about anything. That's what helps keep the writing fresh and exciting for me. MMC: Are you a 'pantser' or a plotter? NJ: Mostly a pantster. I know my characters before I start writing—who they are, and what motivates them. I also have an idea of the situation they are in and where they'll end up. I usually have a few ideas for scenes, which I'll jot down. I don't start writing until the first scene is absolutely clear in my mind. Once I start writing, the book takes on a life of it's own and I follow it. MMC: Do you set the mood for your writing time or just grab any available moment? NJ: I prefer to write first thing in the morning before my mind gets busy with other things. I need quiet to write. After breakfast, I'll fire up the computer, slide into my chair and start. On a good day, I'll write for 2-3 hours straight. I use the afternoon to answer emails, do promotion, that kind of thing. I can edit in the afternoon and evenings, but I do my best writing in the morning. MMC: What is something about you that readers might be surprised to know? NJ: That's hard to answer. I'm a total homebody. That's part of the reason I love to write. It allows me to stay home, yet make a living. My mind, however, takes me to all sorts of strange places. LOL That probably won't surprise anyone. MMC: Do you have a favorite food/beverage/music you always have on hand while you're writing? NJ: Nope. I need quiet in order to write. I keep a large mug of water on the floor by my desk (it's so small there's not enough room on top of the desk for it), but most of the time I forget to drink anything. Once I start writing, everything else sort of fades away until I'm done. I'll look up and discover that an hour or two has gone by. MMC: And finally, which is sexier: A vampire, a werewolf, or a witch? NJ: A vampire, followed closely by a werewolf. They're both powerful creatures, driven by primal instincts. They follow their own rules, which aren't necessarily ones we humans would agree with. The really sexy ones have their own code of honor, which they uphold at all costs. MMC: Do you have a newsletter, blog, or website where fans can read about you and your books? NJ: Sure. Readers can check out any of these sites: http://www.njwalters.com http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakening desires/ (My monthly newsletter group.) Thank you so much to the Midnight Moon Café—Cassandra, Cora, and Tempest—for inviting me. This interview was fun! Read excerpts from the Dalakis Passion Series HERE. View all books from Ms. Walters! Endless Chase by N.J. Walters Released: Wednesday, May 6, 2009; Available now from Ellora's Cave. Vengeance is at hand for Katya Markova and nothing will make her stray from her chosen path, nothing, that is, but Chase Deveraux. She's spent the past year of her life searching for the person responsible for the bloody murder of her parents. Her quest has taken her around the world and into the dark world of blood cults and murderers, finally bringing her to Transylvania and the Dalakis family. From the moment Katya first sets eyes on Chase, the emotional and sexual connection between them explodes. She wants him to the point of madness, risking everything she's worked for to spend stolen moments locked in his heated embrace. But Katya is enmeshed in a world of lies and deceptions, which now includes Chase and his family. Love, vengeance and honor are tested, and sides must be taken as the entire Dalakis family is now in jeopardy. ~~~•~~~CONTEST TIME~~~•~~~ Leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Endless Chase, book 5 in the Dakalis Passion series by NJ Walter! Contest deadline: midnight tonight! Winner will be chosen at random and announced Friday, May 8, 2009. Good Luck! Void where prohibited. Must be 18+ to enter.

Do werewolves howl?

Dancing with Werewolves: Delilah Street, Paranormal Investigator by Carol Nelson Douglas Blurb: It was the revelation of the millennium: witches, werewolves, vampires and other supernaturals are real. Fast-forward 13 years: TV reporter Delilah Street used to cover the small-town bogeyman beat back in Kansas, but now, in high-octane Las Vegas—which is run by a werewolf mob—she finds herself holding back the gates of Hell itself. But at least she has a hot new guy and one big bad wolfhound to help her out...

Writing Into The Void

I suspect most authors still use pen and paper to jot down their ideas, maybe even write out plots and characters. But when it comes time to flesh out the bones of their story, they turn to a computer. I found it fascinating when a friend told me J.K. Rowling wrote in longhand, in spiral notebooks, most of her books, then typed them up. I didn't know anyone still did that. When I am writing into the void, creating something from nothing but a spark of an idea, I always start first on paper with pen in hand. I make tons of notes, but I then transfer those skeletal outlines and notes to a computer and I back up constantly. I also email my own work in progress to myself many times over the course of a story's evolution, so I can always refer back to what I had in case I don't like the path I created in a later version. Such is the life of a pantser/plotter hybrid. ::grins:: If you are a writer or an aspiring writer, do you have a method or approach when first writing into the void?

At The Next Midnight Brew...

At the next Midnight Brew we welcome author NJ Walters. Ms. Walters is the author of the Dalakis Passion series of books from Ellora's Cave. Her latest, Endless Chase, book 5 in the series, comes out this Wednesday. Endless Chase Book 5: Dalakis Passion by N.J. Walters Vengeance is at hand for Katya Markova and nothing will make her stray from her chosen path nothing, that is, but Chase Deveraux. She's spent the past year of her life searching for the person responsible for the bloody murder of her parents. Her quest has taken her around the world and into the dark world of blood cults and murderers, finally bringing her to Transylvania and the Dalakis family. From the moment Katya first sets eyes on Chase, the emotional and sexual connection between them explodes. She wants him to the point of madness, risking everything she's worked for to spend stolen moments locked in his heated embrace. But Katya is enmeshed in a world of lies and deceptions, which now includes Chase and his family. Love, vengeance and honor are tested, and sides must be taken as the entire Dalakis family is now in jeopardy. One lucky MMC reader will win a copy of Endless Chase, so remember to mark your calendar and stop by this Thursday, May 7th for a bite and a drink. ;)

X-MEN Origins: Wolverine

How many of you have seen the latest X-men flick? Well, hubby and I went yesterday and loved it. I liked the way it explained how Logan (Hugh Jackman) became the guy we all know as Wolverine and how Logan knew his nemesis Stryker. Hubby loved all the action, and I got to enjoy the view that is Hugh. Whew! A small spoiler alert..... (scroll down if you want to know... ... ... ... that Hugh has a couple luscious scenes sans clothing... and movie goers will get a glimpse of his verra fine assests! :D ) Now, no more spoilers for you. Go see the movie! ;)

Pop Quiz: What is Your Supervillain Name?

Your Supervillain Name is Toxic Bullet Muhahahaha! What's Your Supervillain Name?

Celebrate May At The MMC!

May is one of my favorite months. Flowers in bloom everywhere you look. Nature in her green glory. And love is in the air...also under the stars...and in homes, on the floor, against a wall, and in the bed! LOL. A lot of handfastings are done in May and couples will 'jump the broom,' so we are celebrating this special month with happily ever afters and more than a few very happy in the moments. MMC Moonmaid Cora Zane has a few wonderful surprises in store for readers this month and the staff have been hard at work decorating the place for a May party or two. We also have a great line up of guest authors blogging and participating in our Midnight Brew series.* We'll have a few special contests of interest too, so we hope you'll stop by this merry month of May and join us for some frolick and fun. Slaínte! Cass *for our schedule of events, check out the calendar at our website's home page: http://midnightmooncafe.com

The Winner of Isabelle Santiago's Surfacing is...

Fantasy Dreamer! Congratulations! Please email us at midnightmooncafe @ gmail .com (No Spaces) so we can have Ms. Santiago send your prize. Please indicate what file format you prefer as Ms. Santiago's book is an ebook. Enjoy!