Welcome! Please note this site deals with adult themes.
This blog is the often amusing, sometimes dangerous den of two British writers of contemporary and paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. Most of our stories are based in the UK and our heroes and heroines are passionate Brits - yes, passionate Brits exist! Come on in out of the cold, pull up a chair and see for yourself...

Friday 28 June 2013

Hopping genres yet again.

It's no secret that I genre-hop, or cross genres when I write, and while I don't like to be labelled, I admit that it stresses me out when I think that readers might expect the same kind of writing from each of my books or series, when the reality is that they might get something different each time.

I do explain (briefly) what kind of book you're getting at the bottom of each book description (where I can). But short of writing "NONE OF MY BOOKS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME" in large letters across my website, there's not much else I can do.

Why am I mentioning this? Firstly, because I should really care less. But it is very hard to care less when you are also the marketing department for you own books. It's not just a personal niggle - it's me trying to ensure that I am marketing myself and my books correctly and that is not an easy task when you mix up your genres like I do.

Secondly, I have plotted out a potential book - a standalone novel - for 2015. It's a dark, paranormal chiller (yes, chiller), and when I say dark, I mean really quite dark. If it gets written, it's like nothing I'll have ever written before. The humour usually conveyed in my books will be a much less in this one, with the focus much more on the chill factor. Sort of like James Herbert crosses Richard Laymon. And the subject matter is a little controversial.

It's a long way off, so there's not much else I can say, other than I drafted a book cover and blurb for it last night to see how it sits with me. It's sitting good so far, even if I'm a little apprehensive about writing it - it's got to be done right. But hey, I love a challenge. I crave a challenge :)

It means I may have to change that section on my site so it doesn't read Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy, as this book would see a new side to my writing.

Anyway ... a dark, paranormal chiller, where the morality of what is right and wrong is always in question. It won't be a comfortable read. How does that sound to my current readers?

Do tell :)

Dianna xxx

 

Monday 24 June 2013

What is it about romance?

"Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic."

- Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle)

That has to be one of the most romantic lines I have ever heard. <3

~ * ~

What is it about romance? The movies and the novels, songs, poems etc what is it that makes - and I'm going to say - most women - because some women aren't in to it - crave it so much? Is it the fate factor? Is it the idea of someone loving you so passionately, intensely that it doesn't even make sense, but it feels right? Is it the idea that two people can be made for one another; that they are here on earth to find one another?

I sat down and watched "Sleepless in Seattle" yesterday. It was the first time I managed to watch the film from the very beginning to the end, because in the past I have missed the beginning or half of the movie and only caught the tail end.

It's a good movie, and the main reason is because despite it being a romance, and yes, I suppose a chick film, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan spend most of the movie apart. We weren't watching two people falling in love, we were a woman who didn't believe in fate following a connection which blossomed within her for someone who did believe in fate.

Do you believe in fate?

I always have, but not in the sense that I feel we have no control over our lives. I have always viewed life (fate) as a giant road map. Every route, pit stop, hitch hiker etc is planned out, but it is up to us which route we want to take. The inevitable destination is of course death. We're all heading that way no matter what, but I believe we choose our paths, but if there is something we have to do, if there is someone we have to meet, we will, no matter what.

Is that a romantic idea?

Possibly.

At the beginning of Sleepless in Seattle, Meg Ryan's mother is asking her how she and her fiancée met, and when Meg finishes explaining her mother states that it was "fate," to which Meg replies that there is "no such thing as fate. It was an accident." (or something along those lines.) She goes on to state that life is full of coincidences.

I for one refuse to believe that. I don't believe in coincidence because by definition that does mean an accident, which would mean everything in life from the smallest details to the massive world events are just random, there is no pattern or design. Although, I respect peoples views, and if people want to believe that, fine, but I can't believe that. I refuse to believe that everything that happens to us in life is an accident.

Now, I know that in the film, Meg goes through a phase of uncertainty in which she questions her beliefs in love and fate. She actually tests fate. Whereas Tom states that if he is suppose to be with someone he will just know. The line used by many in the film when talking about the moment they knew they were suppose to be with that particular person was "It was magic."

But if Meg hadn't turned the radio on and been intrigued by the son calling a radio shrink, and then felt that connection when Tom was speaking, well, she would have been none the wiser. You see, it's small things like that; turning the radio on, deciding to walk a different route home after work one day, simple things can change your life without you even realizing it.

Although my romantic life hasn't been fabulous I like the idea that there is someone out there for me; that there is someone who I will connect with in such a way that it almost seems crazy.

Do I honestly believe that? Yes. Do I think I will ever meet such a person, my soul mate or twin-flame as people do like to say? Yes. I have no idea when, but I believe it. I just have to wait and see. What is meant to be will be, and there is a time and place for everything. Am I a romantic? Definitely.

You see, I think women like romance so much because it is . . . magic. Love is powerful.

So, do you believe in fate? Do you believe in soul mates? Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Or do you believe that life is one string of coincidences?

Friday 21 June 2013

New is good! (And The Witching Pen playlist.)

Well, I have spent the last 24 hours trying to figure out how Windows 8 works. And trying to get used to the new keyboard on my laptop - you know how the keys are never exactly the same distance apart as they were when you change your computer (unless you buy the exact same computer again) and typing suddenly becomes slower as you get used to the change? That's where I'm at.

I was going to finish writing The Last Dragon on my old laptop, but ... hmmm ... the new one is NIIIIIIIICCCCEE! And there's something about how it's not so much and ending, but a new beginning... ;)

Short and sweet for today. I am leaving you with the playlist for suggested theme songs for The Witching Pen series, as chosen by readers. I'm definitely listening to all of these as I write The Last Dragon - sooooo helpful.

Have a great weekend, everyone :)

Dianna xxx

PLAYLIST:

Tuesday 18 June 2013

Finally we have jokes!

I swear I am not going to make a habit out of posting late. If it happens it is usually because I have been able to get online, or exhaustion from the day job, which is a little more naughty than the first reason, but some days my brain is literally a pile of much and I mean, you've seen my posts when it's not in that state of melting.

So, because this is technically a late post, and because I have to be up at the beautiful time of 4:30 am tomorrow I am going to post some jokes, which I promised to do the other week. Two are a tad rude, but they made me laugh, and to any blond(e)s reading this, I am a blonde so I'm not trying to insult y'all.



~ * ~

* A husband and wife are trying to set up a new password for their computer. The husband puts, "Mypenis," and the wife falls on the ground laughing because on the screen it says, "Error. Not long enough."


A blonde, a redhead, and a brunette were all lost in the desert. They found a lamp and rubbed it. A genie popped out and granted them each one wish. The redhead wished to be back home. Poof! She was back home. The brunette wished to be at home with her family. Poof! She was back home with her family. The blonde said, "Awwww, I wish my friends were here."


Blonde: "What does IDK stand for?"

Brunette: "I don’t know."
Blonde: "OMG, nobody does!"

The teacher asked Jimmy, "Why is your cat at school today Jimmy?" Jimmy replied crying, "Because I heard my daddy tell my mommy, 'I am going to eat that p*ssy once Jimmy leaves for school today!'"


What did the blonde say when she saw the Cheerios box? "Omg, donut seeds!"



~ * ~

Also, and on a completely different note, I've been interviewed by Julie over at Julie's Book Review where there is a fab rafflecopter giveaway going on. Lot's of goodies to win including a PDF copy of my erotic thriller, "Creak," plus I'm giving away a swag pack. Interested in winning? Just hop on over and leave an entry.


http://juliesbookreview.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/come-on-over-and-meet-elizabeth-morgan.html?spref=fb 

"Creak" was also awarded 4 stars. . . "Melt the pages erotica and then totally creepy and leaves you wanting your mommy, horror for the thriller." 

http://juliesbookreview.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/review-of-creak-by-elizabeth-morgan.html?spref=fb


~ * ~

* All jokes were found, laughed at, and borrowed from - http://www.laughfactory.com/jokes/

Friday 14 June 2013

The angel in the marble.

I am beavering away at The Last Dragon.

Over 21,656 words complete - a lot more still to go.

I've booked two days away in July, so I can stay in London City near Canary Wharf - the place where The Last Dragon will be rising ;) My partner will be looking after our daughter when I'm away, and I'm having one of those moments where I'm feeling so very grateful for the man in my life - his patience with my whole 'being an author' thing, lol. (We're not easy to live with, folks, are we?)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to two days of solid writing (well, as solid as possible). I don't believe I write as fast as many others, but I do know that I'm thorough with every single sentence I write, in its action and meaning. So here's to an action-fuelled, meaningful two days away :D

Up until then, I'll be chipping away at this book, shaping it into what I want it to be. On that note, I shall leave you with Michelangelo's words (very fitting for The Last Dragon, I'm sure you'll agree) -

"I saw the angel in the marble
and carved until I set him free."


Tuesday 11 June 2013

I suck, so here's a sneak peek at "Let Me In."

I suck. Yesterday my shift was changed and by the time I got home I had a million things to do, which lead to brain meltdown. So . . . I kinda forgot to post. Many apologies.

Now due to the lovely fact that I have to be up at 4:30am tomorrow I am keeping this post simple and sharing an unedited excerpt from my WIP "Let Me In." This is the project I started in October - which I think I have mentioned in a previous post - and I am slowly adding word to it at every opportunity I get.

So, it's in the very early stages, subject to change, so on so forth. Enjoy, and I hope you all have a lovely week.

~ * ~

Excerpt from Chapter One:

Paige rolled the tumbler between her thumb and index finger. “And this extra shot”-she waggled her finely plucked eyebrows-“a purposely chosen sweet cherry is to, Lia. May tonight be filled with some sexy fun, all of which will propel you in to a tomorrow full of some sort of renewed hope rather than regret.”

“Thanks, I guess.”

Following her direction I lifted the shot glass – the last of six – and knocked the sweet liquid back. My eyelids fluttered as the final hit of “liquid courage” ran down my throat and heated my insides to another degree. A shudder ran the length of my spine, and with one slow and deep breath, I shook off my previous tension.

The bang of glass on wood forced my focus back to the ladies sitting around me.

“Right, you know the rules girls; peruse the crowd and find yourself a man.” Paige lifted her fingers and pointed to her eyes. “Make eye contact, and if he gives you a smile, a “come hither,” or basically eye fucks you; you get your ass over there and tell him he is going home with you tonight.” She pulled ten dollars from her cleavage and placed it on the table. “If he is susceptible to that fabulous idea, then whoever is unlucky tonight gets to keep your ten dollars for another couple of rounds and a cab ride home.”

“All is fair in love and war, baby.” Michaela stood up and threw a ten dollar note on to the table. “And that blond is mine, all mine. Wish him luck, ladies, because he is going to need his strength tonight.”

We watched with amusement as Michaela prowled toward the blond. A coy smile curled his lips as she pushed up against him and whispered in his ear. Her hand landed on his chest, lingering, before she pulled away and walked into the crowd. A sultry glance over her shoulder, and the blond handed his beer bottle to his mate and followed without hesitation.

“God, she makes it look so easy,” Cindy commented with a shake of her head.

“It is that easy.” Paige leant across the table. “The main reason people come to clubs is because they want to hook up with someone for the night.”

“Silly me, I was always under the impression the point of a club was to come dancing and have fun.” I replied.

She cocked her head to the side. “Oh sweetie, you are not that naive. And playing dumb is not going to get you out of the game.” Paige glanced over her shoulder. “So, on that note, who is the lucky guy going to be?”

“No idea.” I shrugged, and looked out at the mass of bodies crowding the club. “This may take me a while.”

“Oh, I’m in no hurry for you to pick.” She twisted round, and draped one leg over the other. “I have a backup plan in the form of the sexy ass bartender.” She folded her arms and shot me a smile. “So, I’m good to wait.”

“Remind me again, how does putting myself out there to be used for one night actually help my self-esteem?”

“This isn’t about self esteem. This is about fun; sexy, dirty, orgasmic fun.”

“Oh, so I have fun and then continue to feel like crap once it is over? Right, now I remember why this is a really idiotic game.”

“Just pick or I will pick for you.”

“Go ahead and pick. I’m not going up to some stranger and saying, “hey baby, wanna get in my panties, so I can feel like shit in the morning.”

“Now, the first part might actually work. Just stop talking after the word panties, push your tits together, and bat your eyelashes. Simple.”

Grabbing the twenty dollars from the table, I stood up. “I’m getting a drink. Anyone who isn’t interested in feeling cheap in the morning want one?”

Cindy raised her hand. I glanced at Loretta who nodded.

“You use to be fun.” Paige sighed, and stood up. “Shaun has really-”

“Done enough. So, please stop reminding me.” The words felt like gravel in my mouth as I bit them out. Twisting round, my shoulder met with a solid wall of muscle. Stumbling to a halt, I looked up and an apology died on my tongue. Amber eyes looked down at me from the sexiest face I had ever seen in my life; high cheekbones, a roman nose, and a fine layer of hair covered a well angled jaw. His skin was the richest tone of copper, and his dark hair fell back in waves and stopped just under his ears.

“Sorry.” The words fell from my lips too silent for the stranger to have heard me, but his lips twisted at the corners.

His large hand came to rest on the small of my back, his fingertips hot, and rough against my bare skin. He leaned in, pressing his mouth to my ear. “It was my fault entirely.” His breath skated down my neck causing goosebumps to rise over every inch of my flesh A shudder racked down my spine. “And I’m happy to take the blame.”

My mouth watered at the scent of his spicy cologne. A blush claimed my entire body as he pulled a breath away and gazed down at me. His focus slipped further, resting on my breasts which felt restricted in the idiotic and binding dress.

“Have a drink with me.”

My mouth fell open. Amusement stretched across his face.

“I-er-” seemed to have lost the ability to form a coherent sentence all of a sudden. Embarrassment caused my skin to flush a shade darker. I was standing in front of possibly the sexiest man I had ever laid my eyes on, and I was acting like a bumbling idiot. The floor really needed to open up and swallow me within the next ten seconds.

“She would love too.”

My focus swung to Paige who appeared beside us. She placed her hand on my shoulder and gave me a gentle squeeze. “She likes white wine.”

“I do?” I looked back at the man. “I mean, yes, I-I do. And I would love too. Have a drink, with you.” Nervous laughter bubbled in my throat as I gave him a polite smile. “Thank you.”

“It would be my pleasure.” He slipped his hand from my back and nodded. “I shall be right back.”

The stranger turned and I found myself angling my head to the side in order to admire his fine form. And boy what a form he had. Built in the upper area, solid shoulders, broad hips, well built thighs, and an ass that any sane woman would want to chew on.

I shook my head and looked at Paige. “What the hell just happened?” 

She slipped her arm round my waist. “You hit the jackpot, Sweetie. And I am so fucking jealous.”

“I can’t have a drink with him.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why?”

“I-I don’t know him. I don’t even know his name.”

“And that would be why you’re having a drink, because daddy likes what he sees, baby, and by the way he was looking at you I think he plans to take you home and do wicked things to you with those hands of his.”
Shivers ran down my spine at the idea of his hands all over my body. The small of my back still burned from the heat of his palm. “I-I can’t?”

“Are you seriously telling me that you wouldn’t want to wrap your legs around that” - she pointed to the stranger - “and let him take you for the ride of your life and every damn way you can think of? Are you seriously going to tell me that you aren’t interested in finding out what that yummy mouth of his can do?”

My core clenched at the ideas. Needless to say my body was as hungry for the answers to those questions as Paige was, but . . . . I had been with Shaun for six years; it had been a long time since I got naked in front of another guy, let alone sleep with one.

“If you say you’re not interested then single women everywhere will like drop dead from universal shock. I mean, that is a man, Lia. A wicked, sexy, man of every woman’s fantasies, kind of man. And he asked you to have a drink with him.”

“But why me?”

“Who cares why? The man is smoking hot.”

I twisted round so he was out of my line of view. “Paige, I’m so out of practice with this shit.”
She cupped my cheek and stared me in the eyes. “Let him lead. All you have to do is follow. That is how simple this is.” She grabbed my bag from the table and handed it to me. “Go. Have a drink. Have fun. Have sex, and then call me tomorrow because I want to know every dirty little detail.”

I glanced over my shoulder.


“Forget about that dickhead, Shaun. Just go have fun.” She turned me round by the shoulders and gave me a gentle push. “You deserve some fun.” 

~ * ~

And let me tell you, she has fun. Life changing with major consequences kinda fun, but fun nevertheless. ;-P

Hope you enjoyed that little tease. I know I mentioned that I would fill this weeks post with jokes, but hopefully you will forgive the lack of cheese, because I could always throw them at you next week. ;-D

Saturday 8 June 2013

Worth Writing About

I was sitting in a coffee shop today, thinking people are so interesting. We come in all shapes and sizes, we have different senses of humour, we all love and dislike different things, some of us are very, very bad people, and some of us are compassionate beyond belief. That's magic, right? Real magic. That's what magic is - something uncontainable, something you can't fit into a shape or label, something you can't put in a box.

I can't put people in a box. Just when I think I've got them figured out, they turn around and surprise me by doing something wonderful and kind, or something awful and atrocious.

The world is a constant source of cliffhangers and surprising plots - it's certainly something worth writing about.

Dianna xxx

Monday 3 June 2013

Why can't life be easy?

If it's not family problems it's money problems; if it's not money, it's work, or the house, or the garden. Why can't life be easy?

To be honest I decided to write this post after reading Zee Monodee's post today at her blog. She mentioned the line between "too much" and "too little" when writing posts for readers. I feel a lot of the time that I have nothing interesting to say, or that my posts are boring. I don't want to bore my readers, but I never know how much is too much. I mean, we are all strangers linked through books. You're on this site, reading this post because well, you want to, but because you're either a fellow writer or a readers and you have read either mine of Dianna's work, or you just know and think we're awesome and like to read our ramblings.

How much do you want to know about a writer? Well, about another human being. Do you prefer to just read about work, or does it mean something to hear about every day annoyances and fun stuff?

This is a post about me, I guess. I suppose you could say I have nothing interesting at the present moment to share with you in regards to work. So, I'm just writing what springs to mind; what's been going on with me at the moment.

Question, is it really bad that I would like to tell everyone to bugger off and then crawl away in to a hole and just concentrate on writing?

For those of you who are crazy enough to read my posts, you know I'm going through a slow period/dry spell. Dianna talked about stagnation in her post last Thursday and I have to say that it just plain sucks. Since last summer I have personally felt that I have come to a resting period in my life, and I have to say I hate it. I hate that it feels like my life isn't moving forward. I hate that it seems like everyone else is rushing ahead of me. I hate that I feel like nothing is waiting for me; nothing is round that corner. And although I understand we all have our own paths and speeds, and reasons for what we do etc. I just feel so irritated by it all.

Like Dianna mentioned, change is a good way to break the stagnation. I have said myself on many occasions to others that if they aren't happy - and it's not that I'm not happy - they need to make a change in their life.

My problem is I wouldn't even know where to begin. What about my life do I need to change? I don't know, because my life is okay at the moment. Nothing is really wrong, I just can't help wondering what is going on. I guess my problem is that I'm a deep thinker. Most people might never even have such thoughts about life, but I can't seem to switch those questions off at the moment.

Naturally this form of thought process is not helped by everything else going on around me. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day and although I am trying I can't get on top of everything. It also feels like writing is practically impossible at the moment because everything else is just falling in front of me and refusing to move.

I thought it was all me. I have spent the last couple of months thinking something is wrong with me. I've become lazy. I've been stressing that maybe I am losing both interest and the creativity to write because maybe I'm not supposed to write. Maybe I was just kidding myself. . . and then I found out that lack of interest was actually a symptom of depression.

I have depression. I don't tend to talk about it very much. I'm not someone who suffers from severe depression, but I swing between mild to moderate. I hate that I have it, and have had it since being a young teenage. I have had bad stages of it on an ongoing time scale. These last couple of years I have been better, but these last two months have been horrid. It has seriously been kicking my butt.

I haven't wanted to leave the house, and I hate that feeling. I don't want to go to work. I hate that I get out of bed most days and want to cry. The last two months I have woken up and just felt like I can't breathe, or that there is a hole burning in the middle of my chest. I feel so empty and alone sometimes, and I loathe that the weight that accompanies my depression makes me feel like the entire world is caving in on me.

I feel pathetic. I guess I might even sound pathetic, and ridiculous, and today I can write that without tears swelling in my eyes, because today I am okay. Today - despite the small amount of stress that occurred - I feel okay. I can talk about this because life is okay.

So, why can't life be easy? Why can't it flow and make sense?

Every time I hear someone say that my automatic response is, "Because it would be boring if it was simple. If we all got everything we wanted there would be no lessons, no comparison between the good and the bad. Life would be rather pointless if it was straightforward."

Not exactly what you want to hear when you're feeling down, but it's the truth. I've had to get to this point where I accept that I have depression and it isn't going anywhere. It will effect me and I will just have to deal with it. I can't stress out about things because I'm not going to help myself, and that I will write, slowly, but it's better than nothing.

Maybe this is too much information. I apologize if it is. I usually wait to post last thing because if I am stuck for a subject, something usually happens and inspires me. Naturally, it isn't always the case as with today. I'm hoping next week I will have heard back about submissions and might be able to share some news in regards to books etc. either way, I promise next weeks posts will be light and full of pictures or cheesy jokes. :-)

Hope you've all had a nice Monday.