Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Football, Sex and Giving are All Wrapped up Together in And She Scores!

I can't wait for the Superbowl!  It was a hard road to get the season started, but it did, wss great and now it's about to end.  Once before I was sorry for it all to end and ended up writing an erotic romance about a player and then I passed it on to All Romance / OmniLit to publish as part of their 28 Days of Heart campaign where all proceeds go to the American Heart Association.

So, if you fancy some football, sex mixed in with some giving, then let me introduce you to:

Originally posted Feburary 22 2010

And She Scores by Tilly Greene is released today and here's an excerpt:

“Patrick Conway, defensive end and captain, is in top form, physically and mentally. He sounds ready to help lead the team to the ultimate game in February. First, they need to make it through their first match against last year’s winners. It isn’t going to be easy, but then again, there’s nothing effortless or painless about football. Next week, we’ll be in Denver, where we’ll see how the hunt for a quarterback is going.”

Sarah mentioned a few more items they’d be looking into and then formally signed off. When they made the final edits, the latter portion could either be kept with the final interview, or separated. There were specific time lengths she needed to adhere to and she would.

“Excellent work, everyone. Thank you, Pat, for sticking around to do the interview. We know you’re busy getting ready and really appreciate your taking the time out to do the interview.”

The producer passed on his thanks and then started to talk with Pat and the trainer directly. After stepping off the box, she walked over to the sound man, and returned the microphone before gathering up her papers. There was a bustle of activity and people talking as everyone took care of packing up their equipment. Kneeling before the bench, she worked on gathering her notes up, and putting them in some semblance of order before she put them back into the folder. She was so intent on what she was doing that she jumped with a gasp when she felt a hand touching her shoulder.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, I just wanted, um, can we talk?” Pat towered over her and when her eyes rose to meet his, she had to pass a part of his anatomy that she had fond memories of, and from the look of things, it seemed as if his cock remembered her as well. It wasn’t that he had a hard-on, but he was delightfully firm, and the stiffness tempted her to reach out and test its strength.

Looking around the locker room, she noticed everyone else appeared to be busy, and wasn’t paying them any attention.

“I don’t want to do this, Pat. These guys are the ones I’m working with for the next four weeks and don’t need to give them any ideas about us being connected in anyway, because we aren’t.”

“You have it wrong. I didn’t tell Charles to call you.”

“It doesn’t matter. Our jobs draw a line between us that shouldn’t have been crossed.”

“That’s not true. Have dinner with me tonight and I’ll prove it to you. We were good together.”

“No, we can’t be anything. I have a deadline. We need to work on the segment and send it off to the station.”

“Dinner, Sarah, that’s all. I promise nothing else will happen unless you want it to.”

“Ah, now I get it. You’ve been so intent on getting your leg ready for play, that now you want sex, and here I am. A guarantee lay. Well, no thank. I can get that anywhere and so can you.”

“You aren’t—”

“Not like that? I know I’m not and I won’t be treated like I am either.” She stood up with her folder in hand. “Goodbye, Pat, and thank you for the interview.”

Sarah wanted to cry, but wouldn’t, not until she was alone. As she passed by the producer’s side, calmly, she let him know she had some calls to make and would meet him back at the truck, then left the locker room without looking back. Stadiums were all fairly similar, which meant she knew if she followed the hallway in the opposition she’d arrived in, it would lead her to a place she could be alone. The field.

Once she made it to the end and walked out beneath the bright blue sky, she realized it wasn’t the most comfortable place to gather herself back together. It was hot, so she retreated back into the cool opening, and took her sweater off. Looking over the empty field and seats circling it, she had a new view of the massive structure. When full, the stadium was a hive of noise, with an air of excitement rushing through it and yet it somehow managed to feel intimate. As far as she was concerned, on game day, it was the place to be. Only there was no game being played and she wasn’t excited to be there, far from it, and tears silently slipped down her cheeks.

No matter how hard she tried to think otherwise, Sarah knew she loved him as much now as she had before his accident. Of course she couldn’t be happier to see he made it back to a place where he could physically play the game he loved. Unfortunately, it was at the cost of their budding relationship. By no means was what they’d had perfect, but they had been content to wait until things were easier. Or so she thought. Obviously he hadn’t been.

When the tears slowed down, she started to think about what he’d said about his agent, and accepted it could very well be true. Maybe he hadn’t asked the other man to make the call telling her to stay away from him, but he hadn’t sought her out either. She had to accept the fact that there’d been a part of him that hadn’t wanted her around when he was vulnerable.

“Sarah?” She’d been so intent on trying to stop her tears that she hadn’t heard anyone coming up behind her. Pat placed hands on her shoulders and pulled her back to rest against him. The tears gathered again and freely fell. She didn’t want him to know how much he’d hurt her.

“Shhh, please, don’t cry.” He turned her around, held her head between his big hands, and she was lost in his beautiful grey eyes. There was so much she wanted to say to him, only anger and love were mixing around inside her head, robbing her of coherently threading them into a cohesive sentence. Maybe it was wishful thinking on her part, but she thought there was something he also wanted to tell her, only couldn’t put what he was thinking into words. Instead, they reverted to what had worked for them in the past. They made what was most like going to be a very stupid mistake, on many different levels, but that wasn’t what they were thinking about. Not when they were once again in each other’s arms.

Pat leaned down, placed his lips over hers so neither of them had to speak out loud what they wanted or needed to say, and kissed her. They were connected in a basic way and she couldn’t think of anything other than seeking the satisfaction only he could offer. In mere seconds, their passion took control of them both, and talk became useless. She’d much rather take his kiss full of desire for her and hold it close to her heart, than hash out the problems that rested between them.

Buy Book from All Romance / OmniLit and Apple iBooks - all proceeds go to support the American Heart Association.

February 3rd 2012 is National Wear Red Day - show your support for women fighting heart disease and wear red!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Naughty Thought for Monday


The pink splotches on these guys backsides say this chick has a firm spanking motion but I'm wondering whether it will sell fashion.

What do you think?

Actually, the jokes on us!  This is 1 of 9 ads from Steven Meisel's Fabulous Fakes campaign for W Magazine as seen on Homotography.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

It's Burns Night and that means it's time to address the haggis!

Originally posted January 25 2010


1.
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy of a grace
As lang's my arm.

2.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hudies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o' need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

3.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut ye up wi' ready slight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like onie ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reeking, rich!

4.
Then horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
'Bethankit!' hums.

5.
Is there that owre his French ragout,
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad mak her spew
Wi perfect scunner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

6.
Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As fecl;ess as a wither'd rash,
His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,
His nieve a nit;
Tho' bluidy flood or field to dash,
O how unfit.

7.
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread,
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll make it whistle;
An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned
Like taps o' thrissle.

8.
Ye pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,
That jaups in luggies;
But if ye wish her gratfu' prayer,
Gie her a Haggis!
 
What?  Oh, you need the English translation?  Not a problem, That and more can be found at the Robert Burns World Federation.
 
Sláinte.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

It's almost time to heat up your reads

Be prepared to feel the heat as you help when the Share the Love Blog Bash starts February 1st and will be held on Lisabet Sarai's Beyond Romance blog!  I'll be up on the 21st, but there will be one fabulous author after another sharing the love.

By the way, there's a Kindle Fire from Coming Together creator Alessia Brio and an ebook of the winner's choice from me to be won amonst other things!

Told you was going to get hot...keep your eyes peeled for more details :-)

Saturday, January 21, 2012

3 Must See, Do and Try in Munich are ...

... the Munchner Christkindlmarkt.

The month of December Munich is full of markets.  They're in the city center with lights and carolers, smaller squares and in parks.  What they have in common is plenty of stalls that sell glühwein [warm mulled wine], sausages, sweets and a plethora of beautifully handmade items.  I bought a scarf and a couple of pewter ornaments, but there were so many interesting items available it made a night of shopping, eating and drinking an event for family and friends to share together.

Something I noticed and enjoyed about this large city was that even though it was a bustling time, people were genuinely happy, full of the holiday spirit.  The beer halls are always a meeting place and this was no different.  Tables are often shared and makes for a great experience.  Not being a big eater I thought would mean restaurants would not be all that fun, but I was so wrong.

... Rischart is a must visit cafe.

It was snowing lightful and I fancied sitting down for a hot chocolate.  This place is on Marienplatz, overlooking the active center and an incredible offering of sweets.  One I wasn't so sure of that the cutie loved was called hausgemachter kaiserschmarrn and we shared a plate.  He was right, ryummy!

It's a pancake cut up, a few raisins and powered sugar sprinkled over the top, and an apple sauce dipping sauce.  Oh yes, this was a treat and a half!

... Marsyas at the Glyptothek.

I had no time to look into the museums in Munich before we left and to be honest didn't think I'd get a chance to go in any, but I did, and he was truly stunning.  There are not that many sculptures of this particular mythological character still around and many are in bad shape, but this was wonderful in his incompleteness.

There's no doubt I'll be visiting Munich again and I look forward to finding more gems.

Friday, January 20, 2012

3 Must See, Do and Try in Amsterdam are ...

... the Bloemenmarkt.

Flowers, copious amounts of flowers and while it wouldn't be easy to bring any back with you, it is a sight to behold and smell.  Each stall is a boat moored on the canal and the sidewalk belongs to the shopper.  There are stores and cafes opposite so this stretch is bustling with activity.

Now, we were there in November and there was only one stall with flowers, the rest held bulbs and stuff for the holidays, but the scent of that one stall was incredible.  It was truly beautiful.

Amsterdam is another city for walking, watch out for the bicylists - the tourist riders, the locals work magic on two wheels.  On one such walk we found a few wonderful places to eat and found

... De Bakkerswinkel [in Zuid]

Yum, omg, yum!

There's a kitty in the front window, bikes on the sidewalk and we were hungry.  It's a bakery, tea room, place you don't want to leave.  Some tables are for a few people, but we sat at the big one that sat in the center back with about 10 other people.  Met a lovely local family and the dad gave me a wonderful hint about stirring my hot chocolate*.  I had a croque monsuier which was lovely, the bread was divine but this wasn't a surprise it being a bakery and then we shared a scone with cream and lemon marmalade.  Oh man, I must go there again - it's just my kind of place.

... Old Woman [or The Prophetess Anna] by Rembrandt is one of many, many pieces of art that must be seen.

We went to both the Rijks Museum and the Van Gogh Museum.  The latter was my favorite for the entire trip, mainly because it was a surprise - a surprise for me, probably not for others.  That said, this is the painting that held me transfixed.

There are big paintings surrounding her that demanded more attention, but she quietly goes on reading.  The fabric of her headress and coat are incredibly renderd.  I appreciate Rembrandts work even more after seeing her, interesting that didn't happen when I came upon the oh so important The Night Watch.

Amsterdam may be the Las Vegas of Europe, but there is much more to it than drinking, smoking and red light district.  I can't wait to go back again and explore more and revisit what I've seen this time and enjoyed.

*=Look for the hot chocolate taste test I made through this entire trip in February!

Thursday, January 19, 2012

3 Must See, Do and Try in Venice are ...


While there is a great intro to the collection via the canal but it isn't available and so access is on land.  Trust me when I say this entrance gives no hint of the treasures you'll find inside.

Inside is a home with fabulous art, sculptures and paintings alike, and they are just right there.  I have to say this wasn't someplace I was chomping at the bit to see and, since going, have totally changed my mind.  Maybe it was the garden area with sculptures here and there, maybe it was the idea of a hidden gem people couldn't find and crossed off their list of must see's, and maybe it was the incredible art [Duchamp, Picasso, Magritte are just a few] I found there and hadn't expected to find.  Actually I think it was Peggy Guggenheim herself and her mindset to help artists survive during the war - I liked that, a lot.

While I fell in love with and would enjoy sharing the Silver Bedhead by Alexander Calder, a wall piece that was literally Guggenheim's headboard, it's another piece at the Guggenheim that is a must see and that is ...

... The Angel of the City by Marino Marini.

No, he isn't just about the penis, he's so much more than that, hence the pics below.


I opened the doors and saw The Angels back and was immediately drawn to the view - it is absolutely stunning.  I walked down the steep steps to take it all in and looked to the side and, hello hard-on!  It was funny how many people were taking pics of this and yes, I did as well.  As I was waiting for people to get out of the shot, another person also waiting filled me in on what makes this sculpture even more spectacular - his penis unscrews.  Yes, it is removeable!  Apparently when the nuns were set to float by, they would remove the penis so as not to upset or offend.  Totally Peggy Guggenheim was a great lady!

... while the vaporetto was good to ride, walking definitely offered the best view of Venitian life.  It was so easy to get lost and that was all right, the adventure of discovery was fulfilling.  Yes, St Marks Square is wonderful, but to be honest, it was the back streets that I loved.  I want to come back to Venice again and see what I missed by making a left instead of right, or the other way around.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

3 Must See, Do and Try in Florence are ...

... the Museo di San Marco.

This was a monastary and now acts as a convent and museum.  There was so much to learn about the life of a monk and the broader religious happenings back in the 15th C.  It was all so political.

Anyway, the building itself is really not much to look at from the outside, but inside is a wealth of subtle beauty.  We'd be walking down a hallway, go into a room, and it was massive and the next beyond small.  Best way to put it, we never knew what we'd find and that includes when we moved into the museum part.

The museum was on an upper floor and it was the living quarters of the monks.  Not horribly exciting, right?  So very wrong.  Each room possessed a fresco by the artist known as Fra Angelico, who also happened to be a friar who lived in San Marco when it was first built.  I was not a fan of his work before this visit and now I have a new appreciation for his work.

Now, while we went in the fall and not the best time for gardens, I imagine the inner courtyards are stunning so I'll have to go back again.

Thank you to The Pilgrim Project for the beautiful picture of the Cloisters above, it does the site justice.

... David by Michelangelo 16th C.

Let me clarify that by saying  while I absolutely enjoyed seeing this large sculpture in person at the Accademia Gallery and being able to walk all the way around it, I preferred the copy amongst other statues in its original location on the Piazza della Signoria.

One of my favorite our haunts was on this piazza, two turns away from our hotel.  We'd sit there at the end of the day, sipping whatever we fancied that day - often it was a chianti - and relax, take in the sites and sounds of Florence.  A few steps to the right is the Uffizi, which had 2 sculptures of Marsyas.  They sat on opposing sides of a corner that I was not expecting to see - what a joy - and now one of my all time favorite museums to visit, ever.  Yeah, it's that kind of great, but this copy of David caught and held my attention, go figure.

Pictures were forbidden in the gallery, as they were in most of the museums throughout Italy, but here is the real David on Wikipedia.  He is rather spectacular and his toes, they're huge!

... the Ponte Vecchio, actually, it's the walking, shopping and socializing that made Florence a truly magnificent city to visit.  They haven't wiped away their history which makes every step and turn interesting.  There were so many piazzas to visit, each with a different feel and they own set of shops and cafes.  They varied in size so it was easy to pick what suited the mood.

We stayed in the historic center where it was mainly pedestrian only and cobbled.  Despite this being where the tourists flock to see the sights, it actually didn't feel crowded.  There were a variety of markets and stalls, gelato shops - a true treat for the eyes, and all conducted at a fabulous pace of life for a city.

Maybe it was going in November that made this trip not all that crowded and therefore easy to enjoy walking around.

Yes, I'll absolutely be visiting Florence again.

Monday, January 16, 2012

3 Must See, Do and Try in Rome are ...

... the Pantheon!

Yes, the Colosseum, Vatican, all the unique little piazza's and so much more were all wonderful places to visit, but the Pantheon stopped me in my tracks.

The proud, strong yet wonderfully quiet presence of historical architecture built in 118-125AD is located on the small Piazza della Rotunda.  There's a fountain in front and I was eager to walk between the columns that still stood before going into the Rotunda with its magnificent coffer ceiling.

Space is very limited in this piazza, but the mood was great.  There were two restaraunts with outdoor sitting, perfect place to sit back and enjoy the view.  It looked like the other buildings higher floors that overlooked the Pantheon were residences - how wonderful would that be to live there.

Inside was dark and spare of sculptures, but that was okay, the ceiling was where the magic was for me.  Reminded me why I love reading the ancient texts and enjoying the art.

My pictures of the Pantheon didn't turn out so I borrowed the external shot from Virgin Media and the one to the left from Italy Guides.

... the Belvedere Torso [1C BC] in the Vatican Museum.

Powerful.  That's the word that comes to mind when I walked up to this glorious figure.

He sits in the middle and center of the Room of the Muses floor with his back facing the entrance [he's missing his backside and there's a bit of a lion skin draping down the pedestal] and there's no hint of what you'll find on the other side.

I'm not someone who takes the crotch shot on purpose, but in my defense, I was so surprised he didn't have a fig leaf covering his bits and pieces, I clicked!

The Vatican Museum was full of incredible pieces, including one of Marsyas, and had gorgeous outdoor space to explore, but if asked what my favorite museum was in Rome, it would be the Galleria Borghese.  If you ever go to this wonderful city, definitely visit both of these institutions.

... the Grottee del Teatro di Pompeo.

A first stop on the day we arrived was a smallish restaurant tucked in a nook off of the bustling Corso Vittorio in the Centro Storico section and, even though their time to serve lunch was over, they still cooked for us.  We shared a bottle of their wine and prepared to see Rome.  After all the meals we shared throughout Italy, I think this one was my favorite and, unfortunately, I don't remember what it was called but I know it was some sort of gnocchi with spinach and cheese and a light sauce dribbled over the top.  Yeah, yum!

Anyway, I don't do this often but it was very handy to do so, here's a tip for someone who plans to see this large city and doesn't want to drive - no way was I going to do that!  We bought a ticket for the hop-on hop-off buses and used it like a taxi!  It was a great way to see the all the sights and not have to deal with trains or taxis.

I am in the Spotlight at That's What I'm Talking About!

Today I'm in the spolight as an Authors After Dark 2012 [registration is still open] author over on That's What I'm Talking About.

Come on over, read what I reveal under the hot lights, ask a question or comment and you could win a copy of Missing in Paradise!

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Ready to take a trip?

This past November through December I traveled and amongst all the trips, two were to places I'd never been before.  The weather was great, seasonal without much moist stuff.  The timing also made it possible to experience more of these places than if we'd been there in peak tourist time and that made a big difference.  Anyway, I thought I'd share some of my favorite parts - you never know, they might show up in a book sometime.

So, next week I'll take you to Rome, Florence, Venice, Amsterdam and Munich - all without having to pack, deal with airports or airplanes.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Books, eBooks, Gift Certificates and More, Oh My!


Massive Book Giveaway time, and I mean massive!

I'm giving away a copy of Konnichiwa Cowboy and also a gift certificate to All Romance.

All you need to do to enter is go to The Romance Studio and sign up - that's it...so easy...but you have to do it by January 31st, so go! 

Go Now! 

Enter and you might win, nice!

Friday, January 13, 2012

17-20 of the Strangest Sex Laws



An interesting list I found on Are The Most who shared 20 Strangest Sex Laws and I'll be sharing the rest of the list throughout the week.

Does this mean #18 was done?  Might have try that one in a story, although I won't have it located in Newcastle, Wyoming.  If I ever visited there, they might have changed the law to include writing such a scene.  Then again, I'm all about bucking the system :-)

Click for bigger image - it's worth it to read these laws.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

13-16 of the Strangest Sex Laws



An interesting list I found on Are The Most who shared 20 Strangest Sex Laws and I'll be sharing the rest of the list throughout the week.

#13 makes me think the costume isn't really all that necessary for a Nevada legislator to resemble a penis - just saying, and #15 is down right thoughtful.

Click for bigger image - it's worth it to read these laws.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

10-12 of the Strangest Sex Laws



An interesting list I found on Are The Most who shared 20 Strangest Sex Laws and I'll be sharing the rest of the list throughout the week.

If these three weren't so absolutely ridiculous, they'd be even funnier.

Click for bigger image - it's worth it to read these laws.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

7-9 of the Strangest Sex Laws



An interesting list I found on Are The Most who shared 20 Strangest Sex Laws and I'll be sharing the rest of the list throughout the week.

I'd like to know how #8 works, seriously.

Click for bigger image - it's worth it to read these laws.

Monday, January 09, 2012

1-6 of the Strangest Sex Laws





An interesting list I found on Are The Most who shared 20 Strangest Sex Laws and I'll be sharing the rest of the list throughout the week. Click for bigger image - it's worth it to read these laws.

I found #3 more than wrong and #5 plain old worrying.

Click for bigger image - it's worth it to read these laws.

Sunday, January 08, 2012

Authors After Dark 2012 Reading Challenge

AAD 2012 Reading ChallengeThis August I'll be going to New Orleans for the 4th annual Authors After Dark Readers Convention.  I've been to them all and each year it gets even more exciting than the last.  Besides all that, I've never been to NOLA and am looking forward to spending a little extra time taking in the city.  By the way, I heard through the twitter-vine that it's almost full so if you're thinking of going, best get signed up.

In the meantime, Midnyte Reader, a fellow attendee, came up with a readers challenge and I wanted to do it.  I shall read the following books for this fab challenge:

Summer Surrender by Bronwyn Green [bought]
Branded Sanctuary by Joey Hill [bought]
A Rush of Wings by Adrian Phoenix
Power Play by Eliza Gayle
Destined Mate by Katie Reus [bought]
How to Dance with a Duke by Manda Collins
Battle of the Network Zombies by Mark Henry

Hopefully I'll be able to add more as time goes on, but this is a list I know I can do - watch here for the reviews [something I never do].

Hey, whether you're going to this event or not, join the challenge - you can do that anytime through the year as it is running from January 1 - December 31.