#WriteTip - Sticky Notes and Storyboards by @ErzabetBishop, spotlighting her @DecadenPub #LesbianFantasy #Romance

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I'm delighted to welcome fellow Love Spanks contributer Erzabet Bishop here today. If you're a fan of smoking hot Lesbian Romance (aka FF Romance), she's probably already one of your go-to gals. Also, here's a little-known fact about me: my first manuscript (which has been trunked and will never ever see the light of day) was a retelling of the myth of Persephone. Once you read Erzabet's blurb, you'll know why I'm so excited. 

Let's get this writing tip out of the way, shall we?

Sticky Notes and Storyboards

by Erzabet Bishop

Every writer has that moment where the story sticks and you just have to knuckle down and figure something out when it doesn't flow the way you think it should. What works for me every time is an old foam-core poster board and a selection of colorful sticky notes so I can move plot elements around until they make sense again. And they always do. Eventually. Whether it's sideways or up and down, I twist the board until it fits what I need. Character arc, plot weirdness or just overall story. I have even used the back of my bedroom door. (Much to my husband's horror.) It's about what helps you get the story done. One plot bunny at a time...

Pomegranate

Myth and Magic #1

by Erzabet Bishop

What if everything you thought you knew was a lie?

Crafting spells, running her shop, and hanging with her lover, Hayden, was all Persephone Carraway wanted out of life. The future was filled with endless possibilities as long as it was with the girl of her dreams. But Hayden has a secret and, it turns out, so does Persephone.

One night in the Underworld will change things forever…

Demi, Persephone’s mother has developed a designer pomegranate, infusing it with her daughter’s blood. A single act of betrayal will craft war with the old gods and the Fae, leaving destruction in its wake. Persephone is drawn into a web of myth and magick where nothing is as it seems, even herself.

Myth. Magic. Pomegranates…

Excerpt

Persephone took a breath. Her mouth was dry and her skin slick with sweat. She was thirsty. So thirsty. Her eyes wouldn’t focus, and her heart was racing.

“You look like you could use this.” A woman in a black mask and unbuttoned tux jacket approached, holding out a bottle of water. The white dress shirt was halfway open, straining against her breasts. Every movement tugged against the soft flesh, hinting at the bounty buried beneath the fabric. Vest unbuttoned over leather pants and kickass boots, she made Persephone’s breath catch in her throat. The woman’s black hair was slicked back into a tight bun, her red lips plump and succulent.

Hands shaking, Persephone took the bottle. “Thank you.” What is wrong with me?”

“This is your first rave, I take it?”

“Yes.” She drank the cool water, each swallow bringing her more clarity. Soon the bottle was drained and dangled empty in her grasp.

“It can be a little much when they turn on the purple wave. Here. Sit.” The masked woman led her to a chair. Large and white, it faced an enormous fireplace. Green fire burned within. Persephone fell into the chair, her dress spilling around her. She watched the green fire dance, marveling at the images unfolding. Her mind was still muzzy but she saw...no....

“Faces...there are faces,” she gasped, trying to push herself up from the chair.

About Erzabet Bishop 

Erzabet Bishop is an award winning author who loves to write naughty stories. She is the author of Lipstick, Dinner Date, Crave,The Science of Lust, Arcane Imaginarium: Spirit Board, Holidays in Hell, Mallory’s Mark (upcoming 2016),The Devil’s Due (upcoming 2016), Charity Benshaw’s Enchanted Paddle Emporium (upcoming 2016),Tethered, Sigil Fire, Glitter Lust (upcoming 2016), Written on Skin, Club Beam, Pomegranate, A Red Dress for Christmas, The Black Magic Café, Fantasies in Red, Sweet Seductions: The Erzabet Bishop Collection, Holiday Cruise, Fetish Fair, Temptation Resorts: Jess, Temptation Resorts: Marnie, Taming the Beast, The Erotic Pagans Series: Beltane Fires, Samhain Shadows and Yuletide Temptation along with being a contributor to many anthologies. Erzabet has been a finalist in the GCLS awards for 2014 and 2015. She lives in Texas with her husband, furry children and can often be found lurking in local bookstores. She loves to bake, make naughty crochet projects and watch monster movies. When she isn’t writing, she loves to review music and books.

Follow her reviews and posts on Twitter @erzabetbishop.

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#WriteTip - Planning Ahead by @LandraGraf, spotlighting her @DecadentPub #BeyondFairyTales #Fantasy #Romance

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Fellow Decadent Publishing author Landra Graf has a brand new addition to the Beyond Fairytales series. It features a girl with a gun and a bounty hunter with an attitude—what more can a fantasy romance reader ask ? In addition to snagging a sexy excerpt from Raven Pirate Assasin Spy (which has my favorite Beyond Fairytales cover to date...yes, I'm jealous), I also convinced her to give me a writing tip. As a recovering pantser, it's nice to know all the plotting I have yet to do will eventually pay off. 

Planning Ahead 

by Landra Graf

First up, thank you to Tara for hosting me today. It's always a blessing to have fellow authors give up their space.

Tara asked for a post on writing, so I'm going to talk about writing firsts. With my latest book, Raven Pirate Assassin Spy, there were several writings firsts shoved my way. The biggest around plotting. In the past I've been what the writer world calls a pantser. I didn't plot stories beyond a lose beginning, middle, and end. The details figured themselves out as they went. With Raven I actually plotted the whole book and did the fancy GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) thing. I call it fancy because at the time it was.

The best part - all the pre-work worked! Writing the story came easier, faster, and with fewer issues. The characters still went on their little tangents and I found some scenes required additional POV switches, etc. Overall the process became smoother. A first for me was writing a successful short-length novel without the rambling plot hiccups or the unraveling when I hit the halfway point.

Another first - researching on the front end. I typically research as I go, but in this instance I figured out all the character names, the setting spots, the machines and weapons. It was like a genius moment. There were still new ideas I'd have to research after the fact, but the majority of the hard work was wrapped on the front end.

Overall, I'd say this is my favorite book so far. I love all my creations, but this book combined all the things I love and took my writing abilities to new limits. The best of both worlds, and I hope readers agree.

What's been a recent first for you? 

Raven Pirate Assassin Spy

by Landra Graf

Once Upon A Time...

Sorella Corvino lost her brother to The Cursed years ago. Sorella is so determined to find him, she'll make any deal, rescue the outcasts and those like him, and risk flying into any port to rescue him. When her latest pirate efforts partner her with a bounty hunter who's too charming, sexy, and handsome for his own good, she knows she's in trouble.

Ian Marshall no longer believes in fairy tales…

Disowned and a marked criminal in the United States, this merchant turned bounty hunter, is one bounty away from freedom; and freedom's price is handing over one person to the most cutthroat gang in the world, The Cursed. Yet, he can't get to them without Sorella's help. Too bad she's gorgeous, aggravating, and a little trigger happy.

As the attraction mounts, the danger grows and the pair find themselves invading a skin trader den, the ballrooms of dictator-ruled Germany, and fighting battles in the sky in the hopes of getting everything they want. Only thing they didn't plan on... falling in love.

Excerpt

“Merci, mon petites.” The albino’s voice sounded like gravel in the cylinder-shaped microphone. “I’ll be breaking for a short time. Youse keep yourselves amused and stay out of trouble.”

“Remember…let me do most of the talking,” Ian said as soon as the crooner stood and started making his way to the edge of the stage.

The captain merely nodded, taking in the other members of the band, who didn’t leave their spots on the stage.

Instead, they started playing again, a perky jazz tune with a good measure of saxophone. A few of the couples positioned around the room came out to the dancing square positioned in the middle of the room and began swaying or grinding to the beat. Ian kept his expression neutral although his gut churned at the visual.

Their host grunted as he pulled back a chair, and, as a guest, Ian stood as manners dictated. The captain didn’t.

“Standing on ceremony as if you were still a gentleman?” Janken chuckled.

Ian sat and smiled. “Mama’s rules ne’er do disappear.”

“Mine did, thank God.” The albino tapped his long fingernails on the table top in perfect rhythm with the beat from the stage. “Who’s your friend? She smells like a garden.”

“Castoa--”

“Captain Castoa of the Liberté.” She’d cut him off and extended a hand in peace.

For a blind man, Janken saw remarkable things, and he grabbed her, leaning forward over the small table. He flipped her palm between both of his and sniffed at her wrist. Without rebuke, she submitted to his eccentricities while Ian experienced a sudden desire to throw the skin trader from his seat and put the captain’s fancy knife through him.

“Divine. Absolutely delicious.” Then he let her go. “Such a pretty scent for a woman around filth and dirt all the time.”

They all fell silent. Ian couldn’t find his words at the moment, a red haze of jealousy winding its course through him. Being jealous of a blind man seemed a bit ridiculous, but at the same time he wanted permission to touch her, to smell her—liberties denied him that Janken had taken without even bothering to ask..

Luckily, he didn’t have to produce the next piece of conversation; the albino did the work for him. “Now what does a marked want so bad he’s willing to darken my establishment with his sinful presence?”

Time for business. “I need to find Luther.”

“You’re not the only one.”

“I’ve got merchandise he’s requested, but a delay had me late to our meeting point. I know you can tell me where he’s hiding.” He’d bet his life on it.

The two illegal-dealing men weren’t friends, but information about anything and everything black market or top secret seemed to be in the albino’s possession. The Cursed were always in need of intelligence. Information allowed them to stay one step ahead of the authorities and determine who’d want their services.

“I may know something, but the rules still apply.”

Ian nodded. “Yes, and she’s got something good to share.”

A white eyebrow rose. “Eh? What could this marvelous woman who captains an airship full of foul-smelling, disgusting men have to tell me that would equal such a trade?”

Excerpt Option 3: Sorella Corvino only made promises she kept. So when she told the crumb in the next cell, “Once I get out of here, I’m going to kill you,” those were words of truth, not fiction.

The evil bastard leaned forward, mere inches from the bars, and grinned. “I prefer my bits handled by a gorgeous dish, but in a pinch, you’ll do.” His six yellowed teeth stabbing up through pinkish-white gums were a stark contracts to his soot colored skin and graying eyes, the gray no doubt a product of the drugs and rotgut sold on every corner in Pontevedre. No one escaped the filth and poison festering in the streets of every European city unscathed.

“In your dreams.” She stepped towards him, eyes narrowed. Maybe she wouldn’t wait until she got out.

“That’s what your girl is dreaming of tonight. Me and my co—“

She slid her hand between the bars and grasped the part of his anatomy he wanted to talk about in every other sentence, effectively cutting him off.

 

About Landra Graf

Landra Graf consumes at least one book a day, and has always been a sucker for stories where true love conquers all. She believes in the power of the written word, and the joy such words can bring. In between spending time with her family and having book adventures, she writes romance with the goal of giving everyone, fictional or not, their own happily ever after.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads | Pinterest | Amazon Author

 

#CoverReveal - Slumber by Cassandra Dean (@AuthorCassDean), a @DecadentPub #BeyondFairyTales #Romance

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Decadent Publishing's Beyond Fairytales line is really taking off. Here's a sneak peak at Slumber, an upcoming release by Cassandra Dean. 

Slumber by Cassandra Dean

A Beyond Fairytales Fantasy Romance
Coming soon from Decadent Publishing

 

The Tailor has been tasked to find the princess...

Upon decree from his king, Sebastian, Tailor to the entire kingdom of Dormiraa, embarks on the mission to fetch the Princess Thalia home, her seven year Royal Tour over. He didn't expect to find her working with clockwork and gears, encased within a coffin of glass. He did not expect the sight of her wild black hair to set his heart to pound, or the flash of her dark eyes would heat his blood. He did not expect he would want her so badly, not when he could never have her.

The princess must become the Queen...

Thalia has always known she must return to the capital to prepare for the throne. She did not expect her father to send the Tailor to fetch her, or that this man with his extravagant clothes and subtle cosmetics would intrigue her so well. There was something about him, something that spoke of danger and secrets, even as his wicked mouth and knowing eyes made her yearn.

However, not everyone desires the princess's return. When they are attacked, they can only turn to each other. Will they overcome status and secrets to discover a love for all time?

Excerpt

The discordant note of a missed strike rose from the coffin, followed by a terse mutter. By the Maiden, was the princess cursing

A sudden, terrible thought occurred. Was it the princess? Surely she wouldn’t curse as if she was a dockworker Maybe his source had lied about the gear worker being the lost princess. Maybe this wasn’t her at all, and he would spend another three months trying to find the erstwhile royal.

No. If it killed him, this would be her. He was not going to waste any more time on this.

So decided, he intoned, “Princess,” in the clear, strong voice he used to quell conversation.

The woman in the coffin—the princess, damn his eyes—started, and a loud clang split the air, immediately followed by one of those deliciously vulgar curses. Pulling out of the coffin, she glared at him.

His breath strangled in his throat. Heat stormed through him, his cock hardening in his too-thin breeches.

Thrice-damned god, but she was arresting.

Wild ebony hair escaped from the band holding it back while furious black eyes pilloried him, full lips pursed in displeasure. Her worker’s clothes revealed more of her form than they should, the homespun shirt opened to the middle of her breast bone. The undyed fabric seemed too rough for such fine skin, the dull off-white hue a contrast with her dusky flesh. The brown leather harness of her trade nipped in her waist and cupped her breasts, while trousers outlined full hips and long legs, the latter encased in knee-high boots of soft brown leather capped with steel.

Quite insanely, he wanted to taste the damp skin revealed by her shirt.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded.

She had to be the princess. Only royalty could deal such a stare.

“Doing?” he said.

She folded her arms beneath her breasts. He tried not to notice how her action plumped her flesh deliciously through the leather. “Do not come into a workroom and startle a gear worker, especially if she’s wielding tools that could harm her, the object she works on, and your fat head once she recovers herself.”

“My apologies, Princess.” He offered his most charming smile and ignored how the darkening of her scowl made him harder. “I am the tailor, and I have been sent to fetch you home.”

About Cassandra Dean

Cassandra Dean is a best-selling, multi-published author of historical and fantasy romance. Her latest novel, Silk and Scorn, is part of her popular Silk Series, featuring Victorian Era lawyers and their happily ever after. Her next novel, Slumber, will be available soon from Decadent Publishing’s Beyond Fairytales, and features Cassandra’s take on Sleeping Beauty.

Cassandra is proud to call South Australia her home, where she regularly cheers on her AFL football team and creates her next tale.

Website| Mailing List | Facebook | Twitter | Email: cassandra@cassandradean.com