Syd's Blog

New Website, Blog and Contest

2009-09-01T12:54:00.001-03:00

Find all the details here:

http://sydneysomers.wordpress.com/

Fly By Excerpt

2009-06-23T08:07:00.005-03:00

Whatever It Takes is now available for preorder from online retailers. The eBook version is also available from Samhain. But since I don't like to play promo ho without a little payoff for you guys, here's an excerpt. :)

Tate craned her neck for any glimpse of flashing lights through the rear windshield. The only thing worse than fleeing a murder scene would be getting caught in the act.

“Turn left.”

Gideon jammed the pedal to the floor and shifted as they swung around the corner and up a narrow driveway.

“Around back.” She pointed to the far side of the white building without taking her eyes off the road behind them. Even if someone had noticed what direction they fled in, no one knew what car they were driving. Still, a car like this got noticed and it was just a matter of time before it garnered the wrong kind of interest.

When he pulled up alongside a parked tractor-trailer, she climbed out of the car and jogged to the small garage a few feet away.

She held the closed padlock in her hand. “Patefacio.”

When the lock disengaged, she pushed the double doors open and motioned for him to drive inside. With the car parked, he slid from the vehicle, no longer masking his pain as well as before.

She used the inside door connected to the clinic, pausing to enter the security code before proceeding.

“This is a vet’s office,” he said, scanning the pet care posters and shelves packed with vet-recommended food.

Tate shrugged. “I did suggest a real hospital, but you passed.”

He followed her into one of the rear exam rooms which had windows facing the ocean. Should anyone pass by this way they wouldn’t notice any lights on inside and get curious. Since the body count had doubled, she imagined few of Les’s men would be getting much sleep tonight.

“Take a seat.”

He didn’t move past the doorway, instead watching her root through drawers for the necessary supplies. “You pull a lot of bullets out of people?”

Unsure if he asked because he could see her hands shaking, she countered with, “Do you put that many in people?” She regretted the question almost instantly, certain she didn’t really want to know the answer. Talking might keep her from thinking about what she had to do, but there had to be smarter topics than his bullet-to-kill ratio.

He hadn’t elaborated on what he did for the government, so either he was lying about that to begin with or he worked for some branch of the CIA or another obscure agency.

As if the whole situation could feel any more surreal.

She motioned to the stuff she’d laid out. “What else do I need?”

“Besides a medical degree?” He surveyed everything with no small amount of skepticism.

“Take off your shirt.”

“How about we slow down for a second, Florence Nightingale.”

She scowled at the second crack about her on-the-fly nursing skills, but noticed he sounded more strained than before.

“Take off your shirt,” she repeated. “I’ll be right back.” She ventured down the hall until she came to the office. In its usual cupboard, she withdrew the bottle of whiskey Lena kept here for her husband. The older couple were friends of her father’s and the reason she’d fallen in love with living on the island to begin with.

She stopped, glanced at the phone. Hesitating another moment, she snatched it up and punched in Sawyer’s number.

“Not a good idea.”

She jumped as Gideon’s hand closed over hers. He replaced the phone, but didn’t back off when she turned around. She flattened a palm on the desk, needing all the support she could muster with Gideon breathing down her neck—literally. While she had always been able to hold her own with her brother and cousins, she didn’t know how much fight she had left in her tonight.

“If I don’t let my family know I’m okay, they’ll go on the warpath.”

He gave her a doubtful look.

“You don’t know my family.” Or the Tribunal.

“You can call them when we’re off the island,” he conceded.

“That won’t be until morning.”

“And there’s no way to know how long these guys have been interested in you. We can’t rule out the possibility they’ve already done their homework and know who in your family to watch.”

She frowned. “Now you’re talking like more than a couple guys are involved in this.”

“Maybe. Maybe not, but we’re better off not taking that kind of chance.”

“Okay,” she managed, though if a phone call was out, that meant she’d have to wait for an opportunity to make a personal visit without Gideon knowing.

He opened his mouth, but she shook her head. “If you’re about to say that I need to trust you, save your breath.”

A half smile caught the corner of his mouth, and she realized he had stripped off his shirt. The bandage wrapped around his biceps was dark red, and she couldn’t help but wonder how the night would have turned out if the bullet had struck another few inches to left.

“Hey.”

Between his soothing tone and proximity, she should have known better than to raise her head and meet his gaze.

“I’m sorry you got caught up in this, Tate.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll figure this out and you can get back to your life.”

“And pretend none of this happened?” Pretend her friend hadn’t been murdered today? The excitement of the last hour caught up with her, piling on top of everything else the last twelve hours had delivered, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

She reached up to brush it away, but Gideon beat her to it. Instead of his using his hand, he caught the tear with his lips.

A shockwave rippled through her, the sensation intensifying the longer his lips lingered against her skin. His mouth moved lower, but before he could reach her lips, a creak sounded in the hall.

Gideon whipped around so fast her head spun, his gun in his hand and pointed at the silhouette standing in the doorway.

“Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on in here?”

Proud Mommy Moment

2009-06-17T12:43:00.002-03:00

Today my 7yr old received the Principal's Award for most improved for the year. He didn't know he was getting it and his face lit right up when he jumped up to get his medal and certificate. I could barely see through my tears to take his picture.

Awesome morning!

Good day so far

2009-06-16T15:19:00.004-03:00

Shopped.

Cleaned.

Wrote 2 pages.

Set up Facebook account.

My day is now complete, or that's what I'm telling myself to justify the need to curl up on the couch and read for a while.

The worst thing about reading a really good book...

2009-06-11T15:18:00.003-03:00

...is knowing that it will eventually end. Even if you have enough will power to drag it out, to consciously slow down to try and make it last longer, inevitably you'll get so caught up in it again that the pages will fly by.

What is it that I'm reading, you wonder? Victoria Dahl's Talk Me Down. A really hot, hilarious contmporary romance that is just so much fun to read. And did I mention hot? :)

Gone to the dogs

2009-06-10T07:36:00.004-03:00

Well considering the viral infection turned ear infection in my 7yr old made for a rather interesting work week last week, it's no surprise I covered more ground in the last two days than I did most of last seven. There's just something about going crazy with index cards and scrawling nearly illegible scene ideas across them that get my creative juices flowing.

Of course the second my dog drops her oversized golden-retriever ass on those oh so cleverly organized cards(I won't talk about the time it took me to get all the scenes in order) it's amazing how quick those creative juices dry up and I'm left with nothing but thinking how cool it would be to turn the next bad guy in my book into a dog just so I can kick her ass.... I do write paranormals after all. :)

But instead I was left to reorganize my cards (again) and threaten to depreive my dog of her carrots the next day. Tough love I know, but sometimes nothing says "you plant your butt on my notes one more time..." like denying the carrot ho of her favorite treat.

Anyway, so while I'm working away on the fourth Destroyer book (having scrapped what I wrote months ago to start fresh) here's a pic of the carrot ho herself.

Make mine a Chris and Zach sandwich

2009-06-08T14:02:00.003-03:00

Went to Star Trek on the weekend and loved it. Although I've never hidden my love of Zach in Heroes as the wonderfully villainous Syler, Chris Pine has also now made my list of those I totally deserve to have stranded with me on a deserted island. :)

June Bug Dash

2009-05-26T22:00:00.002-03:00

I'm thinking of petitioning the Summer Olympic committee to add a new event for 2012. First person to sprint from the man cave (a.k.a the garage) to the front porch without getting a June Bug caught in their hair wins.

I just love this time of year. *snort*

Alex O'Loughlin Fans

2009-05-20T23:08:00.003-03:00

If you loved Alex in Moonlight, then you might be interested to know he's trading in his fangs for a scalpel in new CBS show, Three Rivers, slated for the fall. :)

When the lights go out...

2009-05-19T08:30:00.001-03:00

...(literally) I spend the next morning making up some ground on WIP. Ug. Luckily the baby is having an early morning snooze, giving me time to get caught up. Of course since yesterday was a holiday today feels like Monday, but since it really isn't, it now feels like I'm starting the week off a day behind. Double Ug.

Anyway, before I get back to working on revising Primal Hunger, I figured I'd also mention that I'm back in the Twitterverse again. If you're addicted to Twitter you can follow me HERE! If you don't get the hype about Twitter or are not in anyway inclined to use it, I only wish I was as strong as you. :)

My Horoscope this morning: Wake up in a trash-can again? Don't let your drinking get you down, go and have a beer. To the rest of the world, you are like brine shrimp. Fun, but ultimately useless and short lived. The only conspiracy theory you need to worry about is the one that involves you. You knew about that conspiracy, right? Oh....dear...God.

Mmmm Gerard

2009-05-16T11:54:00.002-03:00

LOVE romantic comedies. Rarely are they a let down. Action movies can sometimes fall short. Scary movies usually aren't that scary. Even full out comedies can be hit or miss. But romantic comedies usually pull off the romance or the comedy well, if not both.

On the hunt...

2009-05-14T08:59:00.001-03:00

...for a fast-paced paranormal romance. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm up-to-date on my regular auto-buy authors, but am always on the lookout for someone new.

The Smiley Face Factor

2009-05-13T09:58:00.002-03:00

I'm blogging over at Samhain this morning. Drop by and leave a comment for your chance to win a download from my backlist.

Monday Optimist

2009-05-11T08:58:00.004-03:00

The one thing I love about Mondays (most weeks) is that if last week sucked, the slate is wiped clean and you get to start over. If last week went pretty well, then this week I can challenge myself to do more, write more. And even if the previous week rocked and I really don't think anything could top it, I can lower my expectations (goals) for the week, and then it won't take much to beat them--which will be pretty kickass come Friday.

It's all about the glass being half-full right? :)

And just because Monday wouldn't be complete without it...

It's Friday

2009-05-08T10:45:00.005-03:00

Get your groove on!

Great dance scene from Love Actually.

Return of the Muse

2009-05-07T21:37:00.000-03:00

Dear Sydney

I know you want to make up for your complete lack of writing drive over the last six to nine months. But seriously, think of your wrists. Is it really fair to work them to the bone when you've let those pesky tendons to grow so weak with disuse?

Mia
Your ever faithful Muse

Dear Mia

And I suppose my "lack of writing drive" had nothing to do with an awol muse? Nice of you to worry over my wrists, though I'm surprised you noticed. I guess you finally got bored with working on your tan.

Sydney

Branded By Fire

2009-05-06T21:48:00.003-03:00

While procrastinating today I landed up on Nalini Singh's website. I've been looking forward to her next Psy/Changeling book and was psyched to find the blurb for the next book in the series up on her website. If you love paranormal romance and haven't read her books you are seriously missing out!

DarkRiver sentinel Mercy is feeling the pressure to mate, she savagely resists when Riley Kincaid, a lieutenant from the SnowDancer pack, tries to possess her. The problem is not simply that he pushes her buttons; the problem is that he’s a wolf, she’s a cat, and they’re both used to being on top.

But when a brilliant changeling researcher is kidnapped from DarkRiver territory, Mercy and Riley must work together to track the young man—before his shadowy captors decide he’s no longer useful. Along the way, the two dominants may find that submitting to one another uncovers not just a deadly conspiracy, but a passion so raw that it’ll leave them both branded by fire…

Short but Sweet

2009-05-04T21:20:00.005-03:00

Today's To-Do List:

Day One Couch to 5k - Check
Finish Chapter of WIP - Check
Ignore the Laundry - So Check

I'd rather be writing

2009-04-21T09:35:00.000-03:00

What is it about a pending visit from the parental unit that lights a fire under my ass when it comes to tackling the housework I've been doing my best to ignore? So while I'd love to be playing...er working on my laptop all day (looming deadline anyone?) I've got mountains of laundry to tackle and a serious dustbunny mutiny to crush.

And now that I've read all the Twilight books and seen the movie, I want to blog about that to. Will get to that once I feed the baby and convince my five-year-old that alphabet blocks do not an awesome obstacle course make. Not when mommy's vision is hindered by the loads of laundry I'm carting up and down the stairs. *sigh*

Feels like Monday

2009-04-14T13:42:00.004-03:00

Long weekends always mess with my routine, not that I've got much of one at the moment. I've got dreams of being a Flybaby, but Organized and I are currently on the outs. Apparently decluttering only counts when the stuff actually leaves the house instead of just finding a better spot for it. :)

On the writing front, I signed a new contract with Samhain for a novella. The first book (and hopefully others) centers around various factions of immortals (gargoyle shifters, fae, wraiths, enchantresses etc) all on the hunt for Excalibur. Whichever faction finds the lost sword will sway the outcome of battle when Arthur reawakens.

While I'm finishing up that novella, I'm also in research mode for another proposal idea I'm playing with for Harlequin Blaze. Since it's a contemporary (lots of action and suspense) I have to at least seem like I know what I'm talking about instead of just making stuff up. :)

If all goes well I should at least get a few pages of notes madly scribbled down for that this week--assuming I can remember to keep my notebook within reach and don't wake the baby (who is still lovin' sleeping on my chest) while reaching for it. Otherwise my hand will have to double for post-it notes so I don't forget my ideas--like the cool terrace-hopping scene through the streets of Monte Carlo during the Grand Prix. :)

Digging out the Rubber Boots

2009-04-08T11:10:00.004-03:00

Well you know spring has arrived when the flood watches begin. *sigh* My husband spent last evening getting everything up off the basement floor in case we start taking on water in the next couple of days. Forecasters are still hopeful the water levels will drop before we hit the flood stage. Seeing as we're pretty close already I'm not holding my breath. We were taken by surprise the first year we flooded, but since then have gotten used to what we need to do. I'm just grateful it's not so bad for us, or hasn't been so bad that we needed to leave our home. So many last year were not so lucky.

And as long as people don't assume they can just walk back and forth across my yard to check out the scene, or hang out on my front deck with other people I don't know, I'll be good. I mean seriously, the view from the street (about six feet away) was the same, but they still felt to traipse across my front lawn--the part that wasn't under water anyway.

Although my husband could canoe up our street last year, he's apparently planning on using the canoe for an ark (his words LOL) to protect his stuff in the garage, the inside of which got about thigh-deep last year.

I'm hoping it doesn't get as bad as last year(the worst in 30 years) otherwise I'll be packing up the kids and staying at my parents. It's way too hard trying to keep the boys out of the waist-deep lake that forms in the backyard when they think its the coolest thing ever.

Baby Pics

2009-04-06T20:06:00.000-03:00

Those who drop by regularly have probably assumed my baby girl's arrival (two weeks early) is why I've been so quiet lately. Seems as soon as I open my laptop, she wants to snuggle. :) She loves to sleep, which you'd think would leave me loads of time to write. Of course my chest is her favorite place to sleep, and since I haven't mastered typing with one hand while lying down yet...

But since she's actually sleeping in her bed at the moment, I thought I'd post a few pics of my little angel. :)

Mmmm Nathan

2009-03-03T22:07:00.000-04:00

So this is what I'll be watching next Monday.

Progress

2009-03-02T21:15:00.002-04:00

I finally turned in a new proposal to me editor this morning. I'd like to think that I'll have the project finished before the baby arrives, but I'm not holding my breath. LOL

On a different note my fabulous Samhain editor blogged about writers seeking and dealing with criticism. You can read her advice on the subject Here.

Oh and did I mention that it's snowing here--again? *sigh*

Spread the Word Winner

2009-02-27T20:59:00.002-04:00

Congrats to Caitlin! Your name was drawn to win $15 in Samhain eBooks and a download from my backlist. Thanks so much to all of you who helped get the word out about my latest release. I truly appreciate it. :)

Not enough time in the day

2009-02-27T11:32:00.003-04:00

The laundry piles have reached epic porportions, groceries need to be picked up so there is actually food to eat (not that I'm in the mood to cook much these days), the synopsis I'm writing is a monumental pain in the ass and I've got a date with my 7yr old at his school for an enrichment showcase. The latter normally wouldn't be a problem except that I feel as big and as graceful as a lumbering elephant.

I'd really like to crawl back under the covers and sleep until this baby decides she's ready to come out, but since I can't sleep on my stomach, I'll just have one more thing to whine about. LOL

In revision hell?

2009-02-26T22:13:00.002-04:00

Candy Havens is running her free Revision Hell Workshop. Even if you're not up for a revision challenge right now, she's posted some great tips that may come in handy when you are set to polish your book.

It's In His Kiss

2009-02-26T17:35:00.001-04:00

I'm blogging at Samhain today about my favorite Hollywood kiss scenes. Drop by and share you favorite movie moments.

Whatever It Takes - Now Available!

2009-02-25T21:22:00.002-04:00

Woohoo! My latest Spellbound book is now available from Samhain Publishing. Between finally seeing Tate and Gideon's story hit cyber shelves and catching myself grinning like crazy every time I walk by the baby's finished room, it's been a great day. LOL

But what release would be complete without an excerpt right? :)

WHATEVER IT TAKES
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/whatever-it-takes

“Why?” Not once, not in his letter or the information passed between their lawyers, had he offered any real explanation for walking out of her life.

His gaze locked onto hers, four years worth of intensity jam-packed into a single look that still had the power to make her stomach flip-flop. She crossed her arms, willing him back to the cool, unreadable man she collided with in the hallway. It was easier to face that man, a stranger she didn’t know, over the playful, teasing guy who had begged her to have a drink with him once upon a time.

“Why?” she asked again, wanting to be sure he’d heard her.

Gideon didn’t say anything, but stared past her to the ocean.

She shook her head. “I must have been out of my mind to think you ever cared enough to explain anything.” She turned away and managed three steps before he caught her hand, jerking her to a stop.

“I cared.” He softened his fierce grip, his fingers curling gently around her wrist. “I screwed up leaving like that, but it was the right thing to do.”

“Well, I’m glad it only took you four years to clear that up for me. The right thing to do. Right.” She laid the sarcasm on so thick she nearly choked on it.

“It’s in the past and best left there.”

“Didn’t mean to prick your conscience by bringing it up.”

“That’s not all you’re doing.”

The dangerous tone made her pulse jump. A familiar heat flashed in his eyes, and she stumbled back, saved from tripping over her own feet by the firm grip he still had on her wrist.

He drew her closer. Close enough their legs brushed and she could inhale the rich, masculine scent of him, reminding her how she liked to tuck her face against his throat, close her eyes and let the seconds melt into minutes, hours.

Liked—as in past tense. The only thing coming after him accomplished was stirring up feelings she thought had died the day their divorce was finalized. Unfortunately, the lulling sweep of his thumb along the inside of her wrist made it hard to manage any more than a weak tug to get him to release her. An effort he rewarded by clinging to her tighter.

He let out a frustrated breath. “If you don’t give me a second here, I can’t guarantee I won’t mess this up even more.”

“Like that’s possible.”

A glimmer of a smile caught the corner of his mouth. “Are you daring me now?”

She knew she shouldn’t ask, not when the answer might be more than she could handle. Everything from his playful tone to the reckless expression on his face reminded her of how they had ended up married in the first place. Still, she’d never been one to back down from a challenge—a serious character flaw she had spent the last four years trying to curb—and went ahead and asked anyway. “Daring you to—”

That was all she got out before he dropped his head and slid his mouth slowly over hers.

Too slow. Too soft. Too damn hot.

Way too much to handle.

Spread the Word Contest

2009-02-18T20:02:00.003-04:00

I'm incredibly excited about the next book in my Spellbound series Whatever It Takes and I'd love a little help spreading the word about its upcoming release. To be entered to win $15 in Samhain eBooks and a download from my backlist all you have to do is mention Whatever It Takes somewhere online (your Blog, MySpace, Facebook, Good Reads etc) and then post the link in the comments section. That's it! A winner will be randomly chosen on Friday, February 27th! Good luck!

Getting things done

2009-02-17T08:09:00.004-04:00

Thankfully this past weekend turned out much more productive than the last. On top of getting more baby stuff set up in her room, I also managed to crank out a few thousand words on a shifter novella I have on the go. Hopefully today I'll get another couple thousand done and may even make the end of the month deadline. Of course, if I hadn't left this one until the last minute...but then when I'm NOT pregnant my muse thrives under pressure.

And in case y'all forgot, Whatever It Takes releases next Tuesday in eBook (December 09 print release for those who haven't converted yet *g*).

Here's a favorite scene of mine.

Cursing under her breath for having the least bit of sympathy for him, Tate jerked her head at his arm. “Let me see it.”

“It’s fine.”

“If it was fine, it wouldn’t be bleeding.”

Surprisingly, he didn’t disagree with that, but took a step away from her. She arched a brow, watching without comment as he pushed the sleeve of his T-shirt up to expose the gunshot wound on his left arm.

“Shit,” she whispered, moving closer. As frustrated as she was with him—for a lot of things—the sight of the injury greased her stomach with a fresh layer of panic.

Gideon backtracked so quickly he bumped against his car. “It looks worse than it is.”

“It didn’t just graze you, did it?”

He held up his good arm to keep her back. “No way.”

She frowned at the nervous tone that crept into his voice. “Problem?”

“There will be if you even think about trying to poke or prod at it.”

She waved his hand away. “I’ve had first-aid training.”

He snorted and moved to the trunk. “Would that be the same first-aid training you had four years ago?”

“Yeah.” Training that had come in pretty handy when he’d split the bottom of his foot open on a broken beer bottle left in the sand.

“Stay there,” he warned as he dug through his trunk, withdrawing a small tackle box.

“What do you think I’m going to do to you?”

“Subject my shoulder to the same torture you put my poor foot through.” He shuddered. “I’d rather take my chances with rubbing alcohol and duct tape.”

She scoffed. “Be serious.”

“Oh, I am. Deadly.”

“Is that some kind of tough-guy, hitman humor?”

He glared at her. “I’m not a hitman.”

“Well, finally we’re getting somewhere.” Assuming she believed him of course. He’d certainly killed McCall with the kind of ruthless precision she imagined hitmen were famous for.

He ripped open a sterilized bandage and pressed the gauze to his wound. He never took his eyes off her as she peered at the back of his arm in search of an exit wound. There wasn’t one.

Feeling a little squeamish at the sight of the blood that continued to seep from the wound, she glanced at the tackle box. “The bullet is going to have to come out.”

He snapped the lid closed and shoved it back into the trunk. “Back off, Florence Nightingale.”

Unable to help herself, she smiled. Every time she moved an inch in his direction, he gave her a wary look. He started to wrap the gauze around the wound, but she shoved his good hand out of the way to take over. The longer they remained out in the open, the easier targets they made if Chalmers somehow managed to track them through the woods.

Her hands were remarkably steady considering the last half-hour. “And I wasn’t that bad in Key West.”

“I still have a pronounced limp on cold, damp days.”

She rolled her eyes, and he grinned. Too easily reminded of what he’d done with that mouth earlier, she focused on tightening the bandage.

His hissed out a breath. “We need someplace to lay low for a few hours.”

“And then?” She moved to the driver’s seat.

“Then we’ll get the hell off the island and figure this out.” He frowned. “What are you doing?”

“Driving.”

“No.”

She held her hand out for the keys. “You’re hurt and you don’t know your way around the island like I do.”

“You’re not driving my car.”

“I drive or I don’t get in.”

“Passenger seat or the trunk. Pick one,” he growled.

Forced to tip her chin up, she matched his determined gaze with one of her own. “There’s no way you could have been such an asshole four years ago.”

“Well, you sure as hell were this stubborn.”

The only three words

2009-02-14T19:34:00.001-04:00

...that a woman really needs to hear today.

Go on, you know you wanna to play it again. :)

Some favorite scenes

2009-02-13T09:03:00.004-04:00

With Valentines Day tomorrow I thought I'd post a couple of my favorite scenes from Call Me Cupid. And just a heads-up, both contain some adult language. :)

CALL ME CUPID
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/call-me-cupid

She's getting a second chance with the right man. Again. And again. And again…

On the day before her wedding, the last thing AJ needs is the ex she never truly got over showing up to complicate things. But when fate throws a curve ball and she wakes to relive the same day over and over, the only person who may know what's going on is the one man she can never trust her heart to.

Cooper thought he wanted closure. Seeing AJ again proves he's anything but ready to let go. With a Greek god in his corner he's got all the time in the world to convince AJ that she still loves him—if such a bold move doesn't push her straight out of his arms forever.

EXCERPT

In his hotel room, Cooper stared at the ceiling. "Enough is enough, Eros."

"Funny, you don't sound like a guy who kissed the woman he loves for the first time in over two years last night."

Cooper whipped around, unimpressed by the sight of Eros lounging in the corner chair. "I want you to stop this."

"Can't."

"You mean you won't."

Eros stood up. "No, I mean I can't. It has to play itself out now."

"What has to play out?"

"I don't know that either. I'm not psychic."

"So we're just supposed to keep going through the same day over and over."

"Pretty much."

Cooper sighed. "And it stops when?"

Eros shrugged.

"That's the best you can do? You started this whole thing and you're just gonna sit back and watch the show?"

"Which reminds me, I need to pick up some of that caramel covered popcorn that Psyche likes. A good do-over day really works up her appetite."

"So glad we could entertain you two," Cooper ground out through his teeth.

Eros grinned.

"I'm assuming only AJ and I are aware the day is repeating itself. Any other rules I should know about?"

Eros nodded gravely. "Just keep an eye out for your other self. If the two of you meet, it will bring about an apocalypse of epic proportions."

Cooper stared at him slack-jawed.

"Nah, I'm just fucking with ya."

EXCERPT 2

"How many drinks have you had?"

"Not enough." She motioned Cooper to pick up his glass.

He complied.

AJ grinned. A thickening tingle hummed in her middle as she let her gaze pause on his mouth.

She set the glass down, forgetting her urge to take a drink.

Right now there was something she hungered for far more than alcohol. And seeing as how Cooper wasn't going to remember a thing tomorrow, she let the last of her inhibitions die a real quick death.

His eyes flared as she straddled him, the rise of the paneled wood above the booth hiding them from the bartender and anyone else who might stroll into the bar. Then again, she was pretty much past the point of caring what anyone thought.

The muscles at the back of Cooper's neck bunched under her palm. He shifted beneath her, lifted his hips so his arousal rubbed against her sex.

Her insides clenched, and he settled his hands at her waist.

"Think this is a good idea?" He didn't particularly sound like he was complaining.

She lowered her face to within an inch of his mouth. "Considering how the last few days have gone. I could be doing much worse."

He pushed his hand into her hair, settling it at the nape of her neck. "We need to talk."

"Later," she murmured and slanted her mouth across his.

Her blood ran hot, firing her bloodstream as butterflies of the need-sex-now kind back-flipped in her stomach. AJ rocked against him, seeking the delicious friction that would feed the craving burning between her thighs.

His arms tightened around her, his chest hard against hers. Her breasts felt full and heavy, her nipples aching. The thought of his mouth and tongue wrapping around the hard points, his hands sliding over her bare skin, stroking the folds of her sex, sent her entire system into complete meltdown.

She shuddered in his embrace, the kiss deepening as their tongues tangled. Cooper moved from her mouth, down to the sensitive flesh just below her ear. He nipped it with his teeth, passed his tongue over the same spot and pulled it between his lips.

AJ caged his face in her palms, tipping his chin back even further. She needed to taste more of him.

Groaning, Cooper drew back. "We need to stop."

"No." She kissed him again.

"If you don't, I'm going to take you right here."

AJ smiled. "Good."

He shook his head, and slammed his eyes shut when she arched against his hard length. "You've had a lot to drink."

With a laugh, she trailed her hand between their bodies. "The alcohol, I can honestly say, has nothing to do with my wanting you right here, right now."

"Then what's it about?" He clenched his jaw as she cupped his erection through his pants.

Since he wouldn't believe her anyway, she shrugged. "Well, if you want to know the truth. I'm reliving the same day over and over and tomorrow you won't even remember this." She leaned forward to capture his mouth once more.

"The same way you think I don't remember dancing with you the other night?"

"Exactly," she whispered.

"Or kissing you the other night?" Cooper added.

AJ's eyes snapped open, and she froze.

Aspiring Writers Q&A Part 2

2009-02-12T23:07:00.001-04:00

How long should I wait after my first draft before starting revisions?

This is definitely one that depends on the individual author and may take some experimenting to find what works for you. Some people need a week or two, others longer. For me, I tend to give myself that cooling off period after the second time through more than the first. By the time I’ve finished the first draft, I’ve usually already filled a few pieces of paper with notes I jotted down as I went along. Most of the time I’m too eager to get back in there and flesh things out to put it off for more than a couple days after finishing the first draft.

What is a query letter?

This is a letter sent to the editor you’re pitching your book to. Depending on the publisher’s current guidelines, it may or may not also be sent with a proposal or a complete manuscript. In your query letter you’ll need to mention the title of your book, genre, length and the line you’re targeting. Condensing your book into a few sentences (like a mini back cover blurb) will probably be the hardest part of the letter to write, and the most important. Before closing you’ll want to mention any previous books or work you’ve had published, writing organizations you belong to or contests you’ve placed in. And don’t forget to thank the editor for their time and consideration.

You can find many query letter templates online, as well as a number of articles on how to write them, some from bestselling authors.

How do I get an editor?

Editors are usually assigned once you’ve contracted a book with a publisher. Most of the time that contract offer will come from the editor you submitted to or are assigned to work with, but not always. Beware of ads on the internet that involve paying someone to “edit” your book. If you’re looking for some feedback before submitting your book, think about joining a local or online critique group.

If a publisher/editor asks for revisions, what can I expect?

Like a lot in the publishing business--it depends. Requests for revisions can run from general suggestions regarding pacing, characters or problems with the plot etc, to specific requests to trim word count, cut or lengthen scenes or maybe starting the book in a different place. Sometimes an editor will offer a lot of guidance or suggestions for what they’re looking for, or they may just give you a couple general ideas and let you run with it.

I think I've touched on all the writing questions I've received so far, at least at the most basic level. I do plan to blog a little more thoroughly on some of those areas, but if anyone has more questions about the subjects I've talked about so far, or ones I haven't, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me with them any time.

And I am going to try and blog about writing on the same day every week, but that might not happen until after my little one makes her big appearance. :)

Only two weeks...

2009-02-10T22:31:00.002-04:00

...until the release of Whatever It Takes! I'm sooo excited about the release of the next Spellbound book, and more than one Calder has already started yammering away in the back of my head about having their story told next. :) Now all I need is to build that cool writing machine from the Tommyknockers that just taps into my brain and writes the story while I'm sleeping.

Blah Mondays

2009-02-09T21:26:00.004-04:00

So being sicks sucks. Worse when you're pregnant, even worse when you have proofing to finish before a book goes to print. And then throw in a baby shower and having hot flashes while trying not to fidget while a bunch of people are watching you open presents for the baby...

Yeah that's how my weekend went down. It's no wonder I haven't accomplished a lot today then, huh? *sigh*

Getting through the first draft

2009-02-05T21:46:00.002-04:00

Writing is hard work. Finishing a book—harder. But there is support and strategies out there to keep writers motivated, especially if you’re struggling to meet that daily word count or get past those first few chapters. Not every writer is a good fit for the two strategies/workshops below, but if you’re looking for a little help in getting that book done, then check them out and experiment a little.

Fast Draft – Candace Havens has a great workshop for pounding out a rough draft in two weeks. I’ve used this strategy a few times when I’ve had deadlines looming.

If two weeks seems too short, check out 70 Days of Sweat.

Hello Vin and Paul

2009-02-02T21:06:00.002-04:00

Just one reason (or is that two?) that I'm glad I watched the Superbowl last night. Otherwise I might have missed the preview for the new Fast and Furious movie. In between touchdowns and cool commercials I even managed to figure out a way around a few plot holes with the next Destroyer book that I've been obessesing about.

Three Days to Enter

2009-02-01T09:03:00.003-04:00

The Samhellion Swag Hunt! From now until Feb 4 at 8am you've got nine chances to win a fabulous eBook from a great bunch of authors. I've got a winner's choice eBook up for grabs in this round of the contest. Check out all the details HERE. Happy Hunting!

ARC Contest

2009-01-30T19:09:00.002-04:00

To be entered to win one of 3 ARC's of my upcoming paranormal romance Whatever It Takes answer the following three questions. (All answers can be found on my Website.)

1. What is the name of the hero and heroine from Whatever it Takes?
2. In the excerpt for Whatever it Takes, what is too much for Tate to handle?
3. Name the first two books in my Spellbound series.

Send your answers to sydneyATsydneysomers.com with "Spellbound ARC Contest" in the subject line. All entries must be received by midnight February 10th. 18 and over only please. Void where prohibited.

Enough Already

2009-01-29T19:25:00.002-04:00

Another 25 cm of the white stuff. *sigh* The only upside to all this snow is my big belly preventing me from having to actually go out and shovel. :)

Aspiring Writers Q & A

2009-01-27T11:24:00.005-04:00

Since some of the questions I received were about different parts of the writing process, I didn’t want to make those also interested in the “after the book is done” parts to wait too long without getting a little feedback.

Do aspiring writers need a degree or courses in creative writing?

The short answer: No.

I’m pretty sure if you asked around, you’d find more published authors who haven’t taken courses in creative writing than those who have. That said, with the right teacher, a creative writing class could never be a bad thing. To me writing is a three part skill. One part natural storytelling ability that can’t really be taught (some might consider this your writing “voice”). One part technical ability (understanding story structure, hooks, sagging middles, grammar etc). And one part motivation and determination to do the best you can to constantly improve the first two.

How do I deal with self-doubt?

Make friends with it. Okay, not really. So good news first—every writer deals with it, even those with numerous published books under their belt. Bad news—it never really goes away.

I’ve written over twenty-five novels and novellas and EVERY time I sit down to start a new book I think I won’t be able to do it. That I won’t be able to finish it, the story will be dull, the characters flat or that the whole thing will just generally suck. I worry that my best work is behind me and I won’t be able to recapture the magic that I did in previous books.

No matter what stage you’re at, you’re going to have good days and bad days. Sometimes it’s easy to shove doubt back into the closet or wedge it under the bed and get on with your writing. Sometimes it’s hard as hell. I wish I could say there was a hard and fast rule for dealing with it. For me, if I can’t shake those nagging doubts, I do something that always motivates me to write. Listen to my book’s playlist and just brainstorm. Pop in a great romantic comedy or pluck a keeper from my bookshelf.

How can I improve my grammar skills?

I can’t say I had the strongest grammar skills when I started out. I used to massacre the comma on a regular basis. One of my critique partners thankfully had stronger grammar skills than I did, which helped me a lot in the beginning. After that, my editors have played a huge part in improving my knowledge base.

You can try a couple places online that help with grammar, especially if you’re worried your skills aren’t up to par. Editors expect to see some mistakes, but if every page is littered with common grammar mistakes, it can definitely influence their impression of the story and the author.

I’ll have a post in the next while about the more common grammar mistakes beginning writers can make. Until then you can check out Grammar Girl or Daily Grammar for some more tips.

I finished and polished my book, now what?

Well, it depends. :) If you’ve already done some homework, you might have an idea about who you want to submit to based on your genre, the length or your dream publisher. While some people argue that you should write your book first and worry about where to submit later, there are those who argue in favor of knowing who you want to submit to and writing the book to those guidelines instead of having to revise later to make a book fit a specific length etc.

If you’ve written a shorter length romance 10,000 to 60,000 words, then you may be thinking about subbing to say Harlequin or a small press or epublisher. Most traditional NY publishers (Avon, Berkley, Pocket etc) are looking for books that are closer to 90,000 in length. I think most publishers have all switched over to using the computer word count.

It also depends on the genre. At Harlequin a lot of lines are specific to contemporary, suspense, paranormal, historical etc, so you need to make sure you’re subbing your book to the right line. Some publishers are only looking for specific genres and most have this information posted on their websites.

If you want to submit to a traditional NY publisher, then you might want to consider picking up a Market Guide. The RWA (Romance Writers of America) has a market section in their monthly magazine for members. If you’re thinking about looking at epublishers, you’ll find most submission information online, but definitely read up on that particular publisher before submitting. You can find a great article on epublishing here.

I’ll have more info on the submission process in later posts.

That wraps up this batch of questions. If I can elaborate on anything, just leave me a comment below.

A little peek at Gideon

2009-01-22T21:07:00.002-04:00

I've got a little writing Q&A to post tomorrow, but since I was reading over Whatever It Takes today, I thought I'd post a little scene from Gideon's pov. Like the tagline says, The best laid plans can come back to bite you in the ass…

“What are you doing here?”

The question killed the last of the buzz tearing through his veins. There was a reason he’d left Tate four years ago without saying goodbye, and answering her question now meant shoving the door wide open on a subject he hadn’t planned on talking about. Ever.

He added another foot of space between them, hoping like hell that it would calm the chafing need to slide his hand beneath her chin and angle her mouth up to meet his. “Looking for a friend,” he settled on, cringing inwardly at how lame that sounded.

Then again, judging by the handful of furious communications she’d passed between their lawyers after the way he’d left things, anything short of him whimpering while crawling across shattered glass would probably sound lame to her.

Her gaze darted over his shoulder. “You’re looking for Penny?”

“You know her?” He knew there had been a damn good reason to turn right back around the second he drove off the ferry. His concern for Penny had overridden the nervous apprehension twisting his insides, the sensation promising things could only go from bad to worse.

Tate nodded, gesturing to the door with an envelope crushed in her white-knuckled grip. “I was just headed over to see her.”

Christ, they were friends? If Karma were an island, he was definitely on it. The way his luck was running, it was probably getting ready to sink into the ocean any moment.

I've got a hot date tonight

2009-01-21T18:48:00.005-04:00

...with Sawyer. Try not to be too jealous, k? And don't tell my husband. :)

Things I miss

2009-01-20T22:05:00.002-04:00

1. Being able to sleep on my stomach.
2. Walking without waddling.
3. Writing after midnight.
4. Not needing a nap after writing only a couple of hours.
5. BEER!

Getting Organized

2009-01-17T12:07:00.005-04:00

I feel a little weird writing this, giving any kind of advice on writing a book really, especially lately. My own productivity is way down, and though I tell myself it’s because I’m pregnant and its screwing with more than just my hormones, part of me worries that I’m making excuses for myself. Making excuses for not writing is something a lot of writers excel at. We’ve got busy families, day jobs, we had a killer day, we have a headache…

The list goes on and on really, and it’s just one of the ways we’re our own worst enemies. But if you really want to write that book, you’ve got to find a way to get past all those reasons that pop up and make you procrastinate, especially if it’s your first book. Once you’ve got that first one under your belt, at least then you know you can do it.

There are a lot of writers who spend an obscene amount of time on the same three chapters, or bounce from project to project without completing anything. I know how easy it is to fall into that “perfecting and polishing” routine. It took my four years to finish my first book. Three of those were spent (not seriously committed) rewriting the first five chapters over and over. It wasn’t until my first son came along that I realized I needed to finish it more than it needed to be perfect.

Before I ramble on any more, I’m going to jump right into some tips for starting and hopefully finishing a book.

1. Finish this sentence: What if…

What if a witch got roped into playing the girlfriend of a sexy detective who’s a serious pain in her family’s butt? (Say You’re Mine)
What if a demon slayer came face to face with the man who died in her arms? (Unbreakable)
What if a woman was saved by the city’s mysterious vigilante and didn’t know he’s the sexy neighbor she can’t stop thinking about? (Waitin’ on a Hero)

Your “what if” probably might not be as condensed as this starting out and that’s okay.

2. Characters. Every romance needs a hero and heroine. Some authors spend a lot of time fleshing out their characters before they start to write, others just dive right into the story and discover who these people are as the story unfolds. I’m a little of both. I like knowing the basics—physical descriptions, their job, their GMC (more coming). When I wrote my first couple of books, I did fill out the character questionnaires you can find online, but have since found it’s easier to get to know them as the book goes along when I don’t bog myself down with too much information.

3. Plot. The process of brainstorming your plot and executing it really varies by author. I started out favoring index cards. I just turned on some music and just wrote random scenes that flashed through my mind down on the cards. It made it really easy to shuffle those scenes around until I had the beginning, middle and end, complete with the turning points, cliffhangers and climax in between. The more books I write, the less thorough plot I need to see me through to the end. But I’m still a plotter. I’m open to surprises and scenes I never saw coming, but I still need to have a couple jotted notes about what is going to happen before I write each chapter. I have no idea how people sit down and write by the seat of their pants, but that works for a lot of writers. A lot of authors write start to finish while others tackle the scenes they’re inspired to at the moment and shuffle them around to fit later.

The key is figuring out what method works for you, and the best indication of that is whatever method gets you to The End.

4. GMC. Goals. Motivation. Conflict. Every character has something they want, a reason they “need” it and the obstacles that are preventing them from having it. They are a must. Otherwise, you won’t have much of a plot.  I’ve read a ton of articles on GMC, but in my opinion, the best way to learn about it is to read. Look at your keeper shelf and pull out your favorites. Look at what the hero and heroine are after (besides each other). A lot of the time their goals conflict with each other, creating that awesome thing we call tension. Your favorite books no doubt have a lot of external forces keeping the couple from getting what they want and from each other, and they probably have internal forces, which are usually even harder to overcome.

I’ll definitely be asking my editor to talk more about this in a future blog post. I know that every time we talk about GMC for a particular book, I come away with a stronger understanding of executing it. I guess that means you’re on notice, Lindsey. :)

5. Determination and Discipline. So you’ve answered that “what if” question, you have characters with concrete desires and motivation to get what they want. You’ve got lots of obstacles for them to overcome, lots of tension and conflict and you have an idea of where it’s all going to end--assuming you’re a plotter. 

But having all these notes and ideas does not a complete book make. This is where the hard part comes. The part that actually means plunking your butt down and writing. Some people need to do that first draft by hand, some wouldn’t dare try it without their keyboard. Whenever I do get stuck, I find the words do come easier with pen and paper. Or maybe that’s just because it’s harder to hit that “inbox” icon to check my e-mail when I’m using a notebook. 

You can research until you’re blue in the face and take a dozen creative writing classes or workshops, but at the end of the day, it’s your own determination and self-discipline that ultimately makes it happen.

6. Support. Every writer needs it. Even on a good day after achieving a killer word/page count, self-doubt still sneaks in now and then and cripples creativity. Tagging a writing friend or group online can help get you past those low moments and inspire you to push harder to reach your goals.

7. READ! The books you’ve fallen in love with can be just as useful a tool as any writing article. Instead of just reading about building characters, GMC, turning points, sexual tension and black moments, you can see how it’s done. It’s hard when you’re caught up reading a book for the first time to see how all the pieces fit together, but when you’re looking to see how specific elements come together, reread a favorite.

Hope that helps and good luck with starting and finishing your book. Feel free to leave a comment or question below if I can elaborate on anything for anyone.

E-publishing workshop

2009-01-13T21:29:00.002-04:00

Samhain's executive editor Angela James is giving a three day workshop at Romance Divas. It just takes a few minutes to register for their forums and you're in. If you've been wanting to learn more about e-publishing, here's your chance. I believe she will even have a Q&A session for anything she doesn't cover at the end of the workshop.

Well Jack

2009-01-12T23:23:00.003-04:00

There really is no one to blame but you for my lack of productivity the last two nights. Although I have to say it was nice not to see you getting your ass kicked through the first hour and then pulling one of those miraculous recoveries you're famous for. Not that it's ever stopped me from tuning in. I'm a complete sucker for the angsty covert-types out to save the world.

But now that I have a week to go before the next turbulent hour of 24, I'll have to actually get back to working on my latest work in progress and preparing for my February release. Hmmm, now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure my love of spy/covert operation tv shows and movies definitely influenced part of the plot for Whatever It Takes.

Only 43 Days until the third Spellbound books hits the cyber shelves. :)

Is it February yet?

2009-01-08T09:55:00.003-04:00

With one kiss, he knew she'd be his queen...

From New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole comes this spellbinding story of a demon king fighting to reclaim his crown and the wicked sorceress who dares to use his most secret desires to thwart him.

His obsession: the enchantress who surrenders her body,
but not her heart.

After Sabine, the Queen of Illusions, lures and traps Rydstrom Woede in her lair, the ruthless warrior fights to resist her seduction.But his fierce demon nature lusts for her delicate body and won’t be denied. Even as Rydstrom plots to escape, he still intends to claim Sabine as his own—on his terms.

Her downfall: the battle-scarred demon who vows to keep her at all costs.

When Rydstrom breaks free, her abducts Sabine, turning the tables. Now she’s the one struggling to resist his delicious torment. With each relentless encounter, Sabine hungers more for her merciless adversary.

They were never supposed to want each other this much…

If they can defeat the sinister enemy that stands between them, will Sabine make the ultimate sacrifice to save her demon? Or will the proud king lay down his crown and arms to keep his sorceress?

I'd post a link to an excerpt, but there isn't one up on her site yet. *whimper*

Seriously?

2009-01-07T21:05:00.005-04:00

more animals

A Scottish vampire? Srsly?

When I grumbled about stalling on the next Destroyer book, Mia, I somehow expected you to inspire me past the block, not come up with a new project to distract me. And hiding the "ideas" folder in order to compel me to actually work on it--tricky freakin' muse.

This is what I get for complaining about your preoccupation with Gerard, isn't it?

Goal Setting

2009-01-06T14:35:00.006-04:00

Although I didn’t get any questions about setting goals, I figured I should start here, if only because they're pretty damn important. Whether you’re three chapters in, finishing up that first book, thinking about querying publishers or agents, looking over the stack of rejection letters you’ve started collecting or are just plain overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, goal setting is key.

I think if I’d taken goal setting a little more seriously when I started out, I may have gotten to this point a little quicker. Almost every writer wants to be that author who nails a three-book deal and impressive advance with their first book. The odds of it happening, however, are pretty slim. That’s one of the reasons it’s important to set goals that you have control over. Setting a goal to earn a contract in the next six months might not be as attainable as saying you’re going to send your manuscript or a partial submission out to ten publishers in the next six months. You actually have control over the latter.

But let’s start from the beginning. Think about where you are in the process right now and then pick a daily(or weekly) goal, a short-term goal and a long-term one. Start out small! There are a lot of things to discourage writers and we can be (and usually are) our own worst enemies. Setting a goal that’s too high and not reaching it will leave you frustrated and finding excuses not to write.

If you’re just starting out then think about what you want to write. A paranormal romance? A romantic suspense? Maybe not even a romance at all. Maybe a novella to start you off (which comes with its own issues) but that’s a later topic. If you’ve finished a project recently, set a goal to deal with revisions. Finished revising? Think about querying publishers. Waiting to hear back from a publisher an/or agent? Start working on that next book.

I’ll give a few examples in a minute, but I’m gonna share my writing goals with y’all first. I’ve had to lower my goals a bit since I’m pregnant (which my muse doesn’t always agree with) and I know a baby is also going to mean less writing time for a while. That said:

Syd’s daily goal: To write 800 words a day.
Syd’s short-term goal: To finish an urban fantasy novella and revise it before the end of January.
Syd’s long-term goal: To turn in 4 new projects to my editor by the end of 09.

Example of an author starting on his/her first book:

Daily goal: Brainstorm plot, characters etc and write 300 words a day.
Short-term Goal: Finish three chapters by the end of January.
Long-term Goal: To have a fully polished book to submit by the end of the year.

Example of an author in the revision stage:
Daily goal: To revise 10 pages a day.
Short-term goal: To have revisions complete by the end of next month.
Long-Term Goal: To query and submit revised book within the next six months.

An author in the querying stage:

Daily goal: To spend 1 hour working on a kickass query letter.
Short-term goal: To send out ten query letters in the next three months.
Long-term goal: To send out another query every time a rejection comes back.

I can’t stress this enough: Set challenging goals you can reach—with a little determination and discipline. If feels waaaay better to reach and surpass those goals than to be constantly missing them. Every writer is different. I used to have a daily word goal of 2000 words. Right now that’s not working for me, so I’ve lowered it significantly. Sometimes that bothers me, especially when I know there are other writers who can do a lot more than 800 words a day. But those writers are not me, and my goals probably aren’t going to work for a lot of other people.

And trust me, the sooner you can figure out what works for you and stop measuring your productivity against another author’s, the happier and more productive you’ll be.

So just to recap:

Set yourself a daily, short-term and long-term goal, be it a word, page or a time goal. Make sure the goals are reasonable, but still challenging. Once you’re consistently reaching and surpassing those goals, then think about increasing them, or lowering them if you’re just missing the mark. And remember that your goals do not have to match another writing friend or author.

So grab a pen and at the top of a piece of paper write, GOALS. Then post it somewhere you’ll see it a lot to keep you motivated.

That’s it for this topic, but with this and any writing subject I ramble on about :) if I mention something that brings to mind another question (or a few *g*) leave a comment. And there is no such thing as asking stupid questions. Starting out I knew squat about writing, but asking questions was the only way I knew how to learn. If the answer to your question is brief, I’ll reply in the comments or let you know I have a longer post on the subject in the works.

Good luck with setting those goals.

Happy Dancing!

2009-01-04T10:52:00.002-04:00

There's nothing better than starting the New Year off in such a great way. First Storm Warning has been nominated for Best Paranormal Romance of 2008 from Love Romances and More. Special thanks to those reviewers who nominated it.

And the Romantic Times gave Enslaved a fantastic four star review! Here's what they had to say:

"Somers ramps up the chemistry between her characters, and the heat is tangible. A wicked blend of unflagging conflict and erotic tension will keep you on the edge of your seat."

Now Available in Print

2008-12-31T19:33:00.003-04:00

Woohoo! Stripped Away is now available in print. Check out your local bookstores or favorite online vendors so you can oggle a copy of your very own. :) Seeing as I was celebrating its release earlier on my publisher's chat loop, I thought I'd post a little Stripped Away Trivia and an excerpt.

First the trivia:

1. The title for Stripped Away came to me before I even had much of the plot figured out.

2. It's book two in my Shadow Destroyer series, but can be read as a stand-alone.

3. The Dolphin's Cry by Live was the song I listened to the most while writing Stripped Away.

4. I wrote it in just under two months (not counting editorial revisions *g*).

5. A telepath Destroyer named Darcy caught me by surprise in Stripped Away. Her story will be the last in the series.

Stripped Away
http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/sydney-somers

Nothing gives Quinn a rush like hunting and vanquishing the very demons that changed her life. But lately something is off. Way off. Nightmares she can’t explain, irrational fears surfacing at the most unexpected moments. And when her twin sister vanishes, Quinn’s world starts to come apart at the seams.

Since becoming an agent for the Shadow Destroyers, Braxton has excelled at playing by the rules. Until, in a moment of weakness, he let his common sense desert him for one night in Quinn’s arms. A night she doesn’t remember. For weeks he’s kept their relationship strictly professional, but seeing Quinn so edgy and lost puts his telepathic abilities—and his restraint—to the test.

As the search for her sister intensifies and everything Quinn thought she knew comes into question, Braxton seems to be the one true thing she can hold onto. Until she discovers he’s been keeping a very big secret of his own.

One that may destroy her trust just when she needs him the most.

Excerpt

“Something going on with you lately?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she said without looking at him, stabbing the still unlit buttons just for good measure.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. How long until this death crate moves?”

“They said a few minutes.”

Might as well have been a few hours. She needed to focus. All around her she could feel the four walls creeping closer. Her heart thundered like a Kentucky Derby thoroughbred tearing up the track.

Braxton lifted a hand and she instinctively pulled back from his touch. She snapped her gaze to his, fighting not to lose it.

“I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I know.” And she did know it, but hell she wanted out of this box. She eyed the ceiling tiles again.

“You’re not thinking about—” He caught her hand this time. “You’re shaking.”

The warmth from his hand spread over her wrist and up her arm.

“I don’t like this.” Admitting even that much was hard.

He started to let go of her. “Don’t like what?”

She grabbed hold of his hand—an anchor for her now. Distraction. She needed to focus on something until the elevator got moving. The clicks and snaps of the maintenance worker ticked in her eardrum like a bomb. Braxton was all she had and the adrenaline whooshing through her system brought the first thought right to her lips.

“What did I do?”

He frowned.

“What did I do that you suddenly found it hard to be around me?”

When he didn’t respond right away, she tightened her grip. “I want to know what changed things. Why we can’t be in the same room anymore without you glaring at me and meaning it?”

“I didn’t mean it before?” The teasing comment was a transparent attempt to avoid answering the question.

Another loud creak up the shaft had her closing her eyes. A wave of nausea hit her hard and she pressed her lips together. She had to get out of here. She moved away from him and into the corner of the elevator where she could use the railings to give her a little boost up.

“Don’t.” Braxton reached for her.

She pushed him away. The walls eased closer and she could hear her own panicked whimpers in the back of her mind. “I can’t stay in here.”

“Slow down. Talk to me, Quinn. Tell me what’s going on?”

“I don’t know. I can’t breathe, I can’t think in here.” Her back hit the wall, the smooth finish almost hot against her rapidly cooling skin. She splayed a palm against the wall, cringing at how close it felt. Her knees quivered, threatening to give out and dump her to the floor.

“Easy.” He lowered his voice and for a moment the soothing tone penetrated the thick fog that made it impossible to think beyond the fact it was dark and she couldn’t move more than a few feet in any direction.

What was happening to her?

Braxton slid an arm around her back, drawing her closer.

She bit her lip against the sigh of relief that tore through her, and buried her face against the strong column of his throat. His arms locked around her, making her feel safe. Protected.

That should have been a laugh. She’d been on her own long enough that she hadn’t thought she needed to feel protected.

“It’s okay,” he murmured against her hair, the gesture so familiar she might have dreamed this before. He rubbed her back in lazy circles. “Tell me what’s happening with you Quinn.”

“I don’t know,” she managed, her throat too tight to get any more words past without making it obvious how close to tears she was.

The lights flickered on full and the elevator resumed its climb. Her heart slowed, but she didn’t loosen her hold on him, didn’t let him back away either.

The doors chimed and slid open on their floor, but she didn’t move. Nothing should have stopped her from flying straight out of there and embracing a wider space. Nothing save how good it felt tucked in his arms.

He didn’t force her away, and her pulse ticked off the seconds as she waited for exactly that. Waited for him to act as though holding her was the worst sort of chore. Instead, he slowed the lazy circles, but didn’t stop.

Quinn tipped her face back, her breath still fast and shallow. His finger brushed her cheek as he tucked her hair behind her ear. She could feel each plane of skin and muscle pressed intimately against hers, feel it warming her straight through.

“You okay?” The question slid out in a tone she didn’t recognize. His dark amber gaze traveled over her face, nothing resembling the customary cynicism that he reserved just for her lately present.

“I’m better now.” How could she not be? She was in his arms, and not there just long enough to be tossed right over his shoulder from their sparring days.

She studied the shadowed jaw he was content not to shave more than every few days. Full lips parted, his breath warm on her cheek. Her insides knotted but for completely different reasons than moments ago. The palm against her back tightened, his fingertips sinking into her skin with enough pressure to make her aware of the way his attention had dropped to her mouth.

The urge to close her eyes and push up on her toes to meet his lips swirled through her.

“Sorry about that.” The unfamiliar voice pushed them apart as the maintenance guy studied his clipboard as they stepped hastily onto the main floor. Quinn wasn’t sure if she imagined the soft squeeze of Braxton’s fingers over her hip before he put distance between them.

With no further explanation, the man disappeared into the elevator, leaving them alone once more. Her gaze wandered to the overhead numbers lighting up as the elevator descended. What had happened in there? She had never freaked like that before, never felt so vulnerable.

“Tell me what’s going on with you.”

She didn’t need to look at him to know the tender side had vanished back under his usual detached demeanor, and she allowed herself a moment to mourn the loss. Then she squared her shoulders, buried the need to go back to how they’d been seconds ago, and spun on her heel.

“I’ll see you at the debriefing.”

Aspiring Writers

2008-12-30T20:26:00.004-04:00

After the new year I want to start blogging a little bit about writing, aside from what I have on the go. The thing is, I could talk about writing for hours, rambling on and on and on... So what I need is a little direction. I'm basically looking for questions on any writing subject that all you aspiring writers out there are looking for answers to. And having been where you are (hell, I'm still there LOL) I know there can be a never ending stream of industry or craft related questions you might have. That doesn't mean I have all the answers or even the right ones, but I've been extremely fortunate in my career so far, and if I can help even just one other writer out there, that's enough for me.

So e-mail me or add a comment with all your writing questions. Don't be shy, and please don't make me beg for them. :) And since my awesome Samhain editor just might drop in now and then to contribute, feel free to send along some questions for her to.

A Demon Slayer for Christmas

2008-12-29T20:13:00.002-04:00

My holiday short, A Demon Slayer for Christmas is now available for download as a PDF. This free read is a stand alone story, but offers a taste of my Shadow Destroyer series for those who've been curious about the series and want to take my writing for a little test drive. And if you're new to eBooks, here's your chance to take a short walk on the wild side. :)

http://www.thesamhellion.com/ebooks/Somers_demonslayer.pdf

Happy Reading!

Contest 4 Winner/Happy Holidays!

2008-12-24T09:10:00.003-04:00

Congrats to Julie R! The awesome Random.org drew your name to win the print copy of Stripped Away. Just e-mail me (sydneyATsydneysomers.com) with your snail mail addy and I'll get that into the mail right after the holidays.

Thanks to everyone who entered! I've really enjoyed reading everyones comments over the last four weeks, some I still need to reply to.

I'm about to embark on a day of last minute cooking and cleaning my mother needs help with, but I hope everyone celebrating this holiday season has a wonderful time and gets to enjoy it with family and friends. And if you're stuck working, I hope you'll crack open a book when you get off work and tune the rest of the world out for a while. Lord knows I'd like to. :)

Holiday Contest Week 4

2008-12-22T09:41:00.002-04:00

Today is the final week of my Holiday Contest. The prize up for grabs this week is a signed print copy of Stripped Away.

Stripped Away (Shadow Destroyers Book 2)
http://samhainpublishing.com/coming/stripped-away-print

Nothing gives Quinn a rush like hunting and vanquishing the very demons that changed her life. But lately something is off. Way off. Nightmares she can’t explain, irrational fears surfacing at the most unexpected moments. And when her twin sister vanishes, Quinn’s world starts to come apart at the seams.

Since becoming an agent for the Shadow Destroyers, Braxton has excelled at playing by the rules. Until, in a moment of weakness, he let his common sense desert him for one night in Quinn’s arms. A night she doesn’t remember. For weeks he’s kept their relationship strictly professional, but seeing Quinn so edgy and lost puts his telepathic abilities—and his restraint—to the test.

As the search for her sister intensifies and everything Quinn thought she knew comes into question, Braxton seems to be the one true thing she can hold onto. Until she discovers he’s been keeping a very big secret of his own.

One that may destroy her trust just when she needs him the most.

To be entered to win, leave any kind of comment at all. Mention a good book you’ve read lately, a movie you enjoyed, that work-in-progress that’s driving you crazy. Whatever you want to say.

Contest open until midnight tonight. 18 and over only please.

And be sure to check back tomorrow for the contest winner announcement.

Samhain wants to hear from you!

2008-12-22T09:24:00.002-04:00

Samhain Publishing is putting together some "Best of" lists for 08. If you love Samhain's books (and their authors *g*) and have a few minutes to spare, check out their survey and share your favorite books.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=cx0Pt6VHI_2fJ4m5lSThk8Qg_3d_3d

A note from my Muse

2008-12-19T12:21:00.001-04:00

Dear Sydney,

I know you’ve had revisions hanging over your head (love what we did with those by the way), presents to be wrapped, a free novella to finish getting ready, a baby name to decide on, a Christmas tree to protect from toppling, blogging, e-mailing, and brainstorming (we never run out of ideas, do we?), but I really would like to know when we’re gonna get back to working on the next Destroyer book.

Yours truly,
Mia (your frequently Missing-In-Action muse)

Dear Mia,

Since you come and go on a whim, loathe deadlines and generally avoid any method of organization that you think stifles your creative vision, I’ve come to the conclusion that one of us needs to make a few compromises or this partnership is in serious trouble. And here’s a hint, it’s not me. If you want to see some serious progress, you can’t drop by for a hour here or there, or in between tanning appointments. You can’t settle in to work, and then five minutes in, start whispering about another great story idea. And you really have to try to curb those late-night cravings. Snacking is not an acceptable method of treating muses’s block. Trust me, both our asses will thank you for it in the long run.

P.S. No matter how hot you think Gerard Butler is, he cannot be the model for every hero we dream up.

Sincerely,
Sydney (your frequently ignored writer)

What my six-year-old taught me about writing

2008-12-17T12:15:00.003-04:00

I'm blogging over at Samhain today. Drop by and say hi!

Week 3 Contest Winner!!

2008-12-17T09:03:00.002-04:00

Congrats to Ann Marie! The awesome Random.org drew your name to win the download of Storm Warning. Just e-mail me (sydneyATsydneysomers.com) with your prefered download format and I'll get that right off to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared their wishlists. I hope you escaped Santa's naughty list and will find a treat or two under your trees this year. And for those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you can treat yourself.

And don't forget to drop back here next Monday for my last holiday giveaway. :)

Holiday Contest -- Week 3

2008-12-15T07:30:00.004-04:00

Today is the third week of my Holiday Contest. Each Monday (until December 22nd) I’ll be offering up the chance to win an eBook or print book from my backlist. The prize up for grabs this week is a download of Storm Warning.

Storm Warning (Shadow Destroyers Book 3)
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/storm-warning

Journalist Blair Murphy is on the trail of a hot lead when she meets an even hotter stranger. Charmed by Drew Reid’s sexy smile and intrigued by his evasive answers, Blair puts aside her undercover investigation of a corrupt politician for an under-the-covers investigation of every inch of his incredible body. But even after Drew satisfies her in every possible way, he refuses to satisfy her curiosity. Especially about the mystery woman who keeps calling his cell phone.

As a burnt-out demon slayer, the last thing Drew needs is an inquisitive woman complicating his life, especially when she turns out to be the one woman who’s strictly off limits—his partner’s sister. He knows firsthand why it’s important to keep loved ones at a distance, yet the fierce desire Blair arouses makes it impossible to stay away.

Just as Drew prepares to hang up his sword for a normal life, a vicious attack on Blair awakens a storm of powers inside her that rage beyond her control. As her emerging abilities become increasingly unstable, their searing passion could be her salvation—or destroy them both.

To be entered to win, just leave a comment sharing a gift that's on your wishlist this holiday season. Contest open until midnight tonight. 18 and over only please.

And be sure to drop back next Monday for one more chance to win.

A teaser from Enslaved

2008-12-12T08:53:00.002-04:00

ENSLAVED

Dominion sentinel Kaela Garrett will go to any lengths to gather evidence against a suspected traitor, even if it means auctioning off her body to the highest bidder. Posing as a slave should have been the perfect cover to gain access to an exclusive gala. Only she hadn’t anticipated a sexy treasure salvager with a grudge outbidding everyone—including her mark—to possess her.

Lorcan Hunt can’t believe the very sentinel who had him arrested six weeks ago is on the auction block, completely at his mercy. What better way to get even—and pass the time until his next job—than force her to submit to every new and wicked revenge he can imagine? His every demand for her submission, however, comes with a price: a burning need that slides under his skin and grows stronger with every concession she makes.

When Kaela finally gives in to the fierce desire between them, Lorcan finds himself hopelessly caught in an impossible choice. Honor the commitment binding him to his next job—or hold onto the one woman he can never have.

EXCERPT

Men continued to filter through the tunnel. “They’re going to search the ship.” She pulled up more visual footage, tracking the progress of the first rebel soldiers already sweeping the ship. “Five of them will reach this floor in under two minutes.” Pulling up the ship’s schematics to find a way to bypass them would take time she didn’t have.

“That’s a shame,” he drawled, terminating her access with a stabbing keystroke before stepping away from the AI console.

“You’d just hand me over to them?” She searched his eyes for the truth.

He shrugged. “If there’s something in it for me.”

Had she really expected anything less? Within hours of their first meeting she’d discovered stolen artifacts. He’d bought her off the auction block purely for spite and planned on rubbing elbows with Varek. “So, you bought me, refused to sell me back at the spaceport, and now you’re eager to wash your hands of me?”

A calculated gleam shone in his eyes, and in the space of three heartbeats, she realized she hadn’t given him enough credit.

“What was your mission objective? Why were you so eager to auction yourself off?”

On top of stealing and associating with suspected criminals, she could add blackmailing to the list. “You know I can’t tell you that.”

He nodded at the doors. “I know you have a hard choice to make.” He crossed his arms. “Tell me and maybe I can be persuaded to keep quiet when they come to search this room.”

She shook her head.

“Then there’s nothing I can do. Having the Dominion breathing down my neck at every checkpoint is enough. I don’t need to piss the Battalia off too.”

Nothing on his face betrayed any hesitation. The only chance of salvaging her mission was to remain on board, whatever she had to agree to, with the exception of revealing mission details.

“I’ll make it worth your while.”

He scoffed. “Is this where you promise you can make all my Dominion troubles magically vanish again?”

“No.”

“Then I think you’re pretty much out of bargaining chips, Kaela.”

Not even close, not when he went out his way to make it impossible to forget the way he looked at her, touched her—wanted her. “There’s one thing left that might be of interest to you.”

“And that would be?”

The offer nearly stuck in her throat. “Me.”

Surprise registered on Lorcan’s face.

“You wanted a slave in every sense of the word…” she paused to be sure her meaning was crystal clear, “…you’ve got one.”

Want to read more? (you know you do *g*) Pick up your copy of Enslaved HERE!

Stephen King Commercial

2008-12-11T09:08:00.001-04:00

If you've been hit with yet another winter/ice storm in the last day or so, maybe this will make you smile a little.

Sports Center King
by bsap11

Chanton--out. Jakken and Curly--in

2008-12-11T08:29:00.002-04:00

No they aren't characters from any work in progress. They would be my 4 year-old's imaginary friends. Where he came up with their names, I have no idea. He also dreamed up the name Cagle when he heard he'd have a baby sister in March. He gets rather offended whenever I say that we're still thinking it over.

Anyway, Chanton came to live with us about a year and a half ago. My son was just learning to draw family portraits and out of the blue started adding a fifth member to his artwork. For a while there Chanton was such a tight member of the family, I couldn't help but wonder if my son was really seeing someone. :)

But as of yesterday, Chanton has gone to live with another family and Jakken and Curly are his two new live-in best friends. Curly is a girl with gold hair (like our Retriever) and red eyes. RED eyes. I guess if doors start randomly slamming around here, then I can worry.

Today's To Do List

2008-12-09T08:58:00.003-04:00

more animals

To Do List

Find some of the above
Shop
Pretend I actually have something to blog about today :)
Pick contest winner
Revise hellish chapter from Whatever It Takes
Shop
Make the house at least look like I cleaned it
Limit hair tugging while revising said hellish chapter
Try to sound like I’m listening to husband when he calls to see what I’m up to later
Shop
Read over revised chapter for mistakes randomly inserted by typo gremlins
Cook something the whole family might actually like to eat
Relax for a whopping five minutes
Wrap
Sleep

Week 2 Contest Winner

2008-12-09T08:47:00.002-04:00

Congrats to Tasha. The awesome Random.org drew your name to win the copy of Night Spell. Just e-mail me (sydneyATsydneysomers.com) with your snail mail addy and I'll get that right off to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered and shared their favorite holiday treats. I had to Google a few of them to add to my list of things to try making.

And don't forget to drop back here next Monday for my next giveaway. :)

Holiday Contest Week 2

2008-12-08T10:58:00.003-04:00

Today is the second week of my Holiday Contest. Each Monday (until December 22nd) I’ll be offering up the chance to win an eBook or print book from my backlist. The prize up for grabs this week is a print copy of Night Spell.

Night Spell (Novella Anthology)
http://samhainpublishing.com/print/night-spell-print

Say You’re Mine

There are two things Violet Calder knows. Magic. And that cops and witches don’t mix. Fantasizing about one sexy detective in particular doesn’t help matters, certainly not when her own clumsiness lands her in the middle of Reece Prescott’s undercover assignment. But the only thing worse than pretending to be Reece’s lover is knowing that not even magic will save her from falling for the one man she shouldn’t.

Call Me Cupid

On the day before her wedding, the last thing AJ needs is the ex she never truly got over showing up to complicate things. But when fate throws a curve ball and she wakes to relive the same day over and over, the only person who may know what’s going on, is the one man she can never trust her heart to.

RULES: To be entered to win, just leave a comment letting me know what your favorite holiday treat is, or your favorite all-around treat if you don't have a special holiday you're celebrating this December. Contest open until midnight tonight. 18 and over only please. Void where prohibited.

And be sure to drop back next Monday for another chance to win.

Favorite Romance Heroes from 08

2008-12-04T11:29:00.000-04:00

I know I'm probably forgetting some, but here are a few of my favorite romance heroes that I fell in love with this year:

Christian Hawkins - from Tara Janzen's Crazy Cool
Ethan McCabe - from Meljean Brook's Demon Night
Cade - from Kresley Cole's Dark Desires After Dusk
Judd Lauren - from Nalini Singh's Caressed By Ice
Lucien - from Gena Showalter's The Darkest Kiss
C. Smith Rydell - from Tara Janzen's On the Loose
Dean Robillard - from Susan Elizabeth Phillips Natural Born Charmer

Who are some of your favorite heroes that you discovered this year?

Two reasons to smile today

2008-12-03T11:24:00.003-04:00

Okay this one I smile at every day. I've got this pic up on my fridge so I see it first thing in the morning when I'm getting my oldest off to school. Not that I need the visual reminder when she kicks good and hard now. :) She's looking right at the camera in this pic. That's her alien impression. Little more than five months along and already she's talented, huh?

And the second reason...my author copies of Stripped Away arrived. It's like Christmas getting to open that box and run my fingers all over the shiny covers and unbroken spines. Just awesome! Stripped Away releases at the end of the month in trade paperback and is up for preorder at most online vendors, or you can go in your local bookstore and ask them to order it in for you if they won't be stocking it automatically.

A Little Bit of Everything

2008-12-02T14:57:00.003-04:00

It's been a while since I've mentioned what I've got on the go. My sexy futuristic romance, Enslaved, released last week. Yay! Thanks to everyone who picked it up or added it to their wishlist. I hope you enjoy reading about Kaela and Lorcan's butting heads and getting all hot and bothered every step of the way. I don't think I've ever written a story where the subject of revenge is tackled in such a...demanding way. :)

I have two free reads that will be available in the very near future. Wicked Harmony (my newsletter story) will be up on my website by Dec 15th if not sooner. I don't yet have a date for my free holiday story, A Demon Slayer for Christmas, but I'll let you all know as soon as I hear something.

Reviews for Storm Warning have been really fantastic and I wanted to share a couple of my favorites. After such great reader/review feedback on Quinn and Braxton's story (Stripped Away) I really stressed about Storm Warning holding its own. In the end it turned out better than I could have dreamed. Here's just a few quick snippets:

"Storm Warning is well-written, fast-paced and filled with interesting and intriguing characters determined to save the world from the clutches of the demon horde bent on destruction and domination." Literary Nymphs

"I loved everything about this novel! It’s jam-packed with thrilling action and a super-hot melt-in-you-mouth type of passion romance." Fallen Angel Reviews

"This is one fabulous story that will keep the reader engrossed in the story until the thrilling climax. The chemistry between Drew and Blair is so hot the pages practically smolder." Cata Romance

"Storm Warning has all of the suspense, romance, humor and SEX that I like in a story. From the first page I was captivated with this story and didn’t want to stop reading." - Just Erotic Romance Reviews

And lastly, here's an short excerpt from Enslaved to tempt those of you who haven't yet added it to your TBR pile. :)

“What the hell?”

Kaela had heard the same heated exclamation a dozen times in the last five minutes. The last two of which she’d spent watching Lorcan, and with his every bid, she’d felt the chance of nailing a top priority assignment and promotion slip further and further away.

If only her anger and frustration burned as hot as her awareness of how close he stood. Instead of being grateful she didn’t have to face that cocky smirk, the inability to see what was coming left her at a disadvantage and just a bit nervous.

“Fix this, Kaela.”

A direct order, though how her commanding officer expected her to fix anything escaped her, especially when she stood in the middle of a stage being appraised up close and personal by her new prime.

She closed her eyes. Being purchased by Varek’s dealer had been part of the plan, the end result of donning little more than scrap material and a brand on her hip. She’d be damned if putting herself on display and marking her skin was all for nothing. Unfortunately, Lorcan outbidding the dealer was so far off her list of potential variations to the plan, it didn’t even register. Not even with him at her back, his fingers trailing slowly up her backbone until he reached the nape of her neck.

The sweep of his thumb along the top of her shoulder made it hard to think about how much he’d just screwed everything up. Hard, but not impossible.

“Withdraw your bid,” she hissed, ignoring the caress of his hand at the small of her back.

He laughed, the rich, dark sound just loud enough for her. “Or what, you’ll have me arrested? Oh wait, you already did that.” The bells at her waist twinkled softly as he ran his finger along her hip, dipping beneath the silk.

“You’re interfering with an ongoing investigation—”

“You interfered with my business.”

“You—”

“Saved your butt from rotting on the Outer Rim.” He circled around her. “But some people have funny ways of showing their gratitude.”

“There’s no profit in this for you.” Not with the outrageous sum he’d bid on her. A fact in and of itself that worried her. Doubling his bid hadn’t been necessary. Varek’s dealer had already withdrawn and the felon with the scar—she’d glimpsed the skull and lightning bolt tattoo of Dadelus penal colony on his biceps—had been ready to follow suit. Lorcan had offered almost as much money as she made in a year, and if that wasn’t enough to signal how serious he was…

“This has nothing to do with making a profit.” He tipped her face up, his long fingers gently spanning her throat. “And everything—” his lips whispered across her cheek, “—to do with revenge.”

Week 1 Contest Winner

2008-12-01T22:16:00.001-04:00

Congrats to Tara W. The awesome Random.org drew your name to win the download of Caged Desire. Just e-mail me (sydneyATsydneysomers.com) with your preferred download format and I'll get that right off to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered and for giving me more great book choices to add to my own wish list. And don't forget to drop back here next Monday for my next giveaway.

Holiday Contest - Week 1

2008-11-30T20:27:00.004-04:00

Today is the first week of my Holiday Contest. Each Monday (until December 22nd) I’ll be offering up the chance to win an eBook or print book from my backlist. The prize up for grabs this week is a download of Caged Desire.

Caged Desire
http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/talons-caged-desire

Locked in a cage for almost fifty years, Logan has had nothing but time to plot his revenge on those who wrongfully condemned him to spend eternity in the deepest regions of a South American rainforest. But with one look the alluring vampire who holds his freedom in her hands, revenge becomes the farthest thing from his mind.

Eve Blake is puzzled by the wooden crate delivered to her door. Even stranger is the large golden eagle inside. But it doesn’t take her long to realize the majestic creature is far more than he appears. Finding a man in the cage that previously contained the feathered animal gives Eve every reason to suspect the shifter was locked away for a reason. Can she trust him when he promises not to harm her if she releases him? Or will her decision cost both of them more than they bargained for?

RULES: To be entered to win, just leave a comment letting me know what book is on your wish list for Christmas this year. And no, it doesn’t have to be one of mine. :) Contest open until midnight tonight. 18 and over only please. Void where prohibited.

And be sure to drop back next Monday for another chance to win.

Just Released - Enslaved

2008-11-26T07:58:00.003-04:00

ENSLAVED

Dominion sentinel Kaela Garrett will go to any lengths to gather evidence against a suspected traitor, even if it means auctioning off her body to the highest bidder. Posing as a slave should have been the perfect cover to gain access to an exclusive gala. Only she hadn’t anticipated a sexy treasure salvager with a grudge outbidding everyone—including her mark—to possess her.

Lorcan Hunt can’t believe the very sentinel who had him arrested six weeks ago is on the auction block, completely at his mercy. What better way to get even—and pass the time until his next job—than force her to submit to every new and wicked revenge he can imagine? His every demand for her submission, however, comes with a price: a burning need that slides under his skin and grows stronger with every concession she makes.

When Kaela finally gives in to the fierce desire between them, Lorcan finds himself hopelessly caught in an impossible choice. Honor the commitment binding him to his next job—or hold onto the one woman he can never have.

EXCERPT

He upped the bid, never taking his eyes off her, amused when she clenched her jaw so tight a muscle ticked in her cheek. Her eyes glittered dangerously, her chest rising sharply with every annoyed breath, straining the silk tighter across her breasts. His gut churned as he recalled the memory of them crammed against his chest. She’d been angry then too, angry he had her pinned to the ground for pulling her fusion pistol on him.

When their eyes had locked—and before he’d realized how much trouble the sentinel was—all he’d wanted to do was kiss her. A long, slow, deep kiss that he’d been imagining from the moment she first smiled at him, when he’d stumbled across her, stranded outside a trading settlement on the Outer Rim.

The distraction had cost him, however. One second he’d been staring at her mouth, feeling her go soft beneath him, dragging him closer, her parted lips a breath from his, and the next he’d been cold-cocked from behind.

The reminder served to cool the lust that curled down his backbone, that and Kaela’s death glare. The bells at her wrists chimed, and as though suddenly realizing her behavior sabotaged her efforts to appear agreeable, she stilled. The bidding continued and what could only be interpreted as panic flashed in her eyes when he showed no signs of backing off. A moment later her expression turned unreadable as the slave dealer withdrew from the auction, at which point she stopped looking at Lorcan altogether. Defeat settled on her shoulders and she closed her eyes.

A cruel man would withdraw and let the only other interested party have her, a feral-looking guy with small features and a jagged scar running from eyebrow to chin. He doubted Kaela cared either way, but would sooner win her and sell her to the slave dealer than see her wind up with scarface. The vibe the other man put off bordered on hostile. If anyone was going to take his frustrations out on a woman, it would be Lorcan, and the carnal images of how he planned to work off said frustrations made his blood run thick and hot.

Impatient to have the auction over with, he doubled his bid. Kaela’s mouth fell open, the shock on her face almost worth the hefty price he’d paid for her. He preferred to look at the sum as an investment for his next job, and being perfectly honest, a damn fine way to spend the time leading up to it.

The bondskeeper closed the auction, announcing Lorcan the successor. Pleased, Lorcan wove through the crowd to reach the stairs. Kaela followed his every move, lifting her chin defiantly when he stood opposite her for the final inspection. The top of the sentinel’s head came to his chin, her long honey-blonde hair falling in thick waves down her back. Hard green eyes stared back at him, daring him to finish what he’d started.

As if there was anything stopping him now.

Trying not to grin, he circled her, satisfied when his proximity triggered a six-inch retreat before she held her ground. Her bare shoulders dropped, a relaxed tension radiating from her. Prepared for anything—anything but him winning her on the auction block. Operating under the assumption that maintaining her cover—and not twisting around to throw him over her shoulder—was a priority, he paused behind her, brushing her hair to one side.

He threaded one hand through the ends and leaned in. The sweet smell of her filled his head, pushing his heart into a faster rhythm. He wanted to blame the exotic scent on the bondskeeper but knew better. She’d smelled this good the last time he had her within arm’s reach.

“And here I worried all the good sentinels would be taken,” he murmured against her ear.

Want to Read More? Pick up your copy of Enslaved HERE!

Enslaved ARC Winners

2008-11-21T08:41:00.002-04:00

Congrats to my three Enslaved ARC Winners:

Cheryl - cheryl.mcinnis@...
Dave - f150eng@...
Melanie - arafel1962@...

Thanks to everyone who entered and stay tuned for my holiday contest that starts next week!

Ten Things I Adore about my eReader

2008-11-18T09:06:00.004-04:00

1. It's backlit so I can read in bed without needing to have a light on. This little feature comes in super handy when we're staying at my inlaw's summer place and sharing the one-room bunkhouse with the kids.

2. I can usually read a full book and/or a few novellas before I need to recharge the battery.

3. An eBookshelf takes up a lot less room on my reader than my traditional TBR pile, and there is no one grumbling about books lying around.

4. Since I don't have an iPhone, palm pilot or even a particularly cool MP3 player, I can at least dazzle some people with one cool toy that's a little more cutting edge than the norm.

5. When I finish a book early in the evening and want to dive straight into another, I don't have to move from my cozy corner of the couch (cause once I get up I just know someone will need me for something) to browse my books.

6. Unlike some of the rather pricey Sony or Kindle readers (which I still seriously hunger for) the eBookwise only cost me just over a hundred bucks. (Not counting stupid border-crossing fees *grumble*)

7. I can upload my own drafts and make notes or catch typos that I miss while proofing on my laptop.

8. eBooks are cheaper. Paperbacks tend to run from 9.99 to 20.00 for trade size in Canada. I can usually buy the same books for anywhere from 3.50 to 7.50 in eBook.

9. I can re-read my favorites as often as I want and never have to worry about it falling apart.

10. Did I mention it's backlit?

New Cover Goodness

2008-11-17T08:08:00.002-04:00

Check out the new cover for the next book in my Spellbound series. Didn't the awesome Scott Carpenter do a fantastic job?

Here's a peek at the blurb too. Whatever It Takes releases in February 09!

Government Operative Gideon Bishop thrives on high-risk situations, but even his most volatile mission is nothing compared to coming face-to-face with his past. He’s spent the last four years trying to forget Tate Calder and their scorching affair, but the only way to get the information he needs is to keep her close—and keep his hands off her. Because the only thing riskier than protecting a woman who insists on hiding the truth, is giving in to the attraction that still crackles between them.

All Tate wants is a quiet holiday with zero interruptions from her family, and even fewer from the witch’s council bent on recruiting her. Instead, she finds herself on the run from lethal mercenaries and the police with the one man she never expected to see again. To protect her family’s secrets, she’ll do whatever it takes to keep Gideon from learning the truth.

Even if it means risking her heart to seduce him—over and over again.

Dear Parker

2008-11-13T10:17:00.003-04:00

I realize that you and I just started to get to know each other in Storm Warning, but if you haven’t caught on yet, I’m the writer and you’re the hero. Sure, I’m going to make you do stuff you don’t want to do and you’re probably going to take a turn or two that I never saw coming, and that’s okay with me. That’s how this whole writing thing works.

What doesn’t work is continuing to play the mysterious card with me. I need to know what you’re thinking and what you want, otherwise I can’t make life difficult for you. Maybe you think you’ll get the girl faster if you don’t give me anything I can use to push you to your limit later, but you’re seriously wasting your time and mine. Because I will get you figured out--one way or another--and then I’ll really have you jumping through those emotional, gut-wrenching hoops you alpha males aren’t particularly fond of.

So how about you just play nice and work with me, k?

Some days ...

2008-11-11T23:07:00.002-04:00

...are just meant to be spent curled up with a book. I planned on blogging about how things are going with the next Shadow Destroyer book, but since I totally procrastinated today and read Linda Howard's Up Close and Dangerous instead, that update will have to wait until tomorrow. It's been a while since I read one of Linda Howard's books, and although it wasn't a favorite (like say Mr. Perfect) I still got caught up turning the pages. But sometimes there's just no better way to spend the day than to tune the rest of the world out and lose yourself in a book, no?

Enslaved ARC Contest

2008-11-06T08:52:00.002-04:00

Win an ARC of ENSLAVED

Coming November 25th from Samhain Publishing

She's got him right where he wants her.

Enslaved by Sydney Somers
Genre: Romantic SciFi-Futuristic, Red Hots!
ISBN: 1-60504-257-9
Length: Novella
Price: 3.50
Cover art by Natalie Winters

ENSLAVED

Dominion sentinel Kaela Garrett will go to any lengths to gather evidence against a suspected traitor, even if it means auctioning off her body to the highest bidder. Posing as a slave should have been the perfect cover to gain access to an exclusive gala. Only she hadn't anticipated a sexy treasure salvager with a grudge outbidding everyone—including her mark—to possess her.

Lorcan Hunt can't believe the very sentinel who had him arrested six weeks ago is on the auction block, completely at his mercy. What better way to get even—and pass the time until his next job—than force her to submit to every new and wicked revenge he can imagine? His every demand for her submission, however, comes with a price: a burning need that slides under his skin and grows stronger with every concession she makes.

When Kaela finally gives in to the fierce desire between them, Lorcan finds himself hopelessly caught in an impossible choice. Honor the commitment binding him to his next job—or hold onto the one woman he can never have.

CONTEST DETAILS

To enter to win an ARC of Enslaved just read the excerpt posted on my Website and then answer the question below. E-mail your response (include "Enslaved ARC Contest" in the subject line) to sydneyATsydneysomers.com by November 18th. Three winners will be drawn and announced on my Website and Blog by November 20th.

Question: In the excerpt for Enslaved, what does Lorcan insist he saved Kaela from?

Good Luck!

The Return

2008-11-05T09:22:00.002-04:00

Wow. I have no idea where the last two months have gone, which is just about as long as my last WIP held me hostage. On top of finishing a book that needed to be dragged out of me word by freaking word (although I have to admit I'm incredibly thrilled with how Tate and Gideon's story turned out)I was way more tired than I expected to be for this pregnancy. As in an insane amount of napping and no more late night writing sessions. Which seriously sucks when I've come to depend on writing late as my only guaranteed uninterrupted writing time.

Anyway, Whatever It Takes is finally done and now I'm happily working away on the next Destroyer book(Rae's story). So far the story (and Rae and Parker) have cooperated with my highly fetal-influenced Muse. I just wish I knew how long I could count on that to last.

I will have a newsletter out later this month for those wondering. :) And I've also got a new ARC contest for Enslaved running. I'll be posting all the details here later, but if you want a peek, it's already up on my Website.

New Release and Excerpt

2008-09-09T10:46:00.005-03:00

Storm Warning is finally available. Squee! I've been looking forward to this release since Stripped Away hit the cyber shelf and I can't wait to hear what you all think of it.

STORM WARNING – Shadow Destroyers Book Three

Journalist Blair Murphy is on the trail of a hot lead when she meets an even hotter stranger. Charmed by Drew Reid's sexy smile and intrigued by his evasive answers, Blair puts aside her undercover investigation of a corrupt politician for an under-the-covers investigation of every inch of his incredible body. But even after Drew satisfies her in every possible way, he refuses to satisfy her curiosity. Especially about the mystery woman who keeps calling his cell phone.

As a burnt-out demon slayer, the last thing Drew needs is an inquisitive woman complicating his life, especially when she turns out to be the one woman who's strictly off limits—his partner's sister. He knows firsthand why it's important to keep loved ones at a distance, yet the fierce desire Blair arouses makes it impossible to stay away.

Just as Drew prepares to hang up his sword for a normal life, a vicious attack on Blair awakens a storm of powers inside her that rage beyond her control. As her emerging abilities become increasingly unstable, their searing passion could be her salvation—or destroy them both.

Excerpt

"Let's go."

Blair jumped at the dark shape that paused in front of her before grabbing her hand. "How do you do that?"

"What?"

"Keep sneaking up on me like that. It's weird."

He moved slower this time, seeming to have no trouble at all navigating through the woods. Whatever field he worked in, it had to deal with some kind of nature or survival skills. How else could he move so effortlessly and without appearing to be hindered by the dark or the terrain?

She was grateful when the trees thinned and they emerged at the edge of a path and a staircase leading down to the beach. At least out in the open she didn't need to rely on him to lead the way. The threat of discovery seemed to have passed, but Drew didn't relinquish his hold on her. Her hand warmed in his grasp, and she took a step closer to him.

His head snapped up. "Damn, they're persistent." He motioned for them to take the stairs.

There wasn't time to confirm they were still being followed. He tugged her down the steps after him and up the beach.

He stopped and faced her. "Still with me?"

Hearing nothing, she frowned. "Uh…yes?"

Drew dropped to the ground, taking her with him.

Clearly yes had been the wrong answer.

He rolled at the last second, pinning her beneath him. His body has taken the brunt of impact but she'd still been knocked breathless. Trapped beneath him and reminded of her earlier daydream, she couldn't be sure that was entirely because of his maneuver.

His shoulders tensed under the grapple hold she had on his shoulders, but his smile remained devilish. "Here they come."

And that was all the warning she got before he slanted his mouth across hers.

Warm and soft, his lips molded to hers. Her blood heated on contact and she couldn't tamp down the faint whimper that slid up her throat the moment his tongue slipped across her bottom lip and pushed into her mouth.

One of his arms was trapped beneath her, his hand and fingers caressing the nape of her neck. The possessive hold tightened as the kiss moved from slow and tentative to dangerously explosive. She felt a groan rumble in his chest, and the answering wave of heat that swept through her at the primitive sound made her arch beneath him.

Blair draped her arm around his neck, dragging him closer. The man kissed the same way he flirted—sexy, playful, and when you let your guard down, he moved in for the kill. In under five seconds she'd gone from every muscle locking up at finding herself thrown to the ground to wanting to wrap herself around every inch of the powerful frame pressing her harder into the sand.

Storm Warning is now available from Samhain Publishing. Buy it Here!

Win an ARC of Storm Warning

2008-09-08T10:34:00.006-03:00

In case you didn't know, Storm Warning releases from Samhain tomorrow! So how about a quick contest for a chance to have a copy in your hands before it hits the cyber shelf?

Entering is easy. Just leave me a comment below about why you want to win the ARC. For instance, did the blurb or cover catch your eye? Are you new to my Shadow Destroyer series? Enjoyed the first two books in the series and looking forward to the third installment?

Contest closes tonight at 9pm est so check back later this evening to see if you've won. Only one entry per person please. Good luck!

*** Edited to add ***

Congrats to Raonaid. Your name was drawn a la random.org for a download of Storm Warning. Just e-mail me sydney(at)sydneysomers.com with your preferred download format and I'll get that right off to you.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I enjoyed reading your comments.

Enslaved

2008-09-05T18:00:00.000-03:00

Yay! The cover for Enslaved has been approved so I can finally show it off!

Enslaved releases in November from Samhain Publishing! Here's the blurb:

Dominion sentinel Kaela Garrett will go to any lengths to gather evidence against a suspected traitor, even if it means auctioning off her body to the highest bidder. Posing as a slave should have been the perfect cover to gain access to an exclusive gala. Only she hadn’t anticipated a sexy treasure salvager with a grudge outbidding everyone—including her mark—to possess her.

Lorcan Hunt can’t believe the very sentinel who had him arrested six weeks ago is on the auction block, completely at his mercy. What better way to get even—and pass the time until his next job—than force her to submit to every new and wicked revenge he can imagine? His every demand for her submission, however, comes with a price: a burning need that slides under his skin and grows stronger with every concession she makes.

When Kaela finally gives in to the fierce desire between them, Lorcan finds himself hopelessly caught in an impossible choice. Honor the commitment binding him to his next job—or hold onto the one woman he can never have.

New Look

2008-09-04T17:41:00.002-03:00

While I loved my old blog, I wanted a less cluttered one that would be super easy to maintain and would show all the comments properly. It was easier to start from scratch than try to revamp the old one, so here we are. You can still find posts from my old blog HERE! I'll still be updating my Myspace blog, but this will likely be the first place I post porgress reports, cover art and anything else newsworthy.