*

Winnah-winnah, chicken dinnah!

Thursday, June 27, 2013
Okay, thanks for everyone for playing in my latest giveaway! :)

Below is the list of winners. (What I do is go to random.org, plug in the number of comments not counting my own, and then pick numbers with the generator and apply it to the comments corresponding to the number.)

You have 48 hours to contact me before I pick alternates. And it's first-come, first-serve on the prizes based on email time-stamps. So the SOONER you email me, the better.

I have the following to choose from:

1 each in print of my books Red Tide, Placida Pod vol. 1, and Doggy Tales vol. 1. I also have 7 swag envelopes.

So the first three people to email me can pick one of the books, after that, it's all swag, baby. LOL

Email me at: tymberdalton AT gmail DOT com with "Contest Winner" in the subject line so I see it.

Winners:

Weaseldancr
Millionmph
noel.darling AT yahoo DOT com
Brandi_Davis24 AT hotmail DOT com
Lhartw01@gmail.com
Jennifer Bowen
andrina depalma
Karen (http://www.blogger.com/profile/16276220065339343016)
Sherri Vidal
sara_parks79 AT yahoo DOT com

So get those emails up and running! (Note: I'm going to be out later, so if I don't respond until tomorrow, don't panic. I'll be going by email time-stamps.) And keep an eye out for my next giveaway, coming soon...

Playlist for "Out of Smoke and Ashes" - Triple Trouble 5.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013
First of all, there's still time to enter my giveaway if you missed the original posting yesterday.

That being said, I wanted to post the playlist article I did for a feature on Siren-BookStrand's Facebook page about Out of Smoke and Ashes - Triple Trouble 5. (Also available on Kindle and coming to other third-party retailers soon if not there already.) I've included some YouTube links in this one, so you can easily find the songs. Enjoy! :)

Triple Trouble Tunes

I have an iPod that looks like someone with multiple personalities owns it. I have everything on there from classical, New Age, and jazz, all the way up to heavy metal. And everything in between. Music is an integral part of my writing process. Sometimes indirectly as background “noise” and sometimes directly, when a certain song meshes perfectly with a certain aspect of the book. I have a few playlists that are my “go-to” background music selections because there are a lot of songs in them making them perfect for repeat play, I know them by heart, and they tend to fade into the background for me to help even out the distractions of my tinnitus. I cannot write without music, or background noise of some sort, because of the tinnitus.

But for each book, sometimes certain songs definitely stand out as highlights. And here are a few from “Out of Smoke and Ashes” (Triple Trouble 5).

“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon (or the Jimmy Buffett version). This is just a fun, bouncy song. It’s one of my favorites. (And also, it has a little personal background I won’t go in to now. LOL) I know my shifters aren’t “werewolves,” but I always think of Brodey Lyall during the “aaaaOOOOOH” part of the chorus.



“Just Give Me a Reason” by Pink (featuring Nate Ruess). This one is an anthem for Liam and Carla. Although their backstory doesn’t match up with the song exactly, they’re both discovering “we’re not broken, just bent” and wanting to “learn to love again.” Especially the line about it being “written in the scars on our hearts.”



“Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On” by Jimmy Buffett. This one fits Elain, Lina, and Mai, all for different reasons. Mai because she’s becoming a mom to a child with special needs and worrying about the future, Lina because she’s a new mom, and Elain because she’s dealing with all of the craziness around her that keeps getting crazier by the minute. All three women are facing huge changes in their life due to their new roles not just in their families, but with their Clan as well.



“True Love” by Pink (featuring Lily Rose Cooper). This song cracks me up because it fits the totally whacked-out dynamic between Marston and Mercedes. (“At the same time I want to hug you, I want to wrap my hands around your neck. You’re an asshole, but I love you.”) I dare you to read the book, and then listen to this song, and not laugh when thinking about Marston and Mercedes. I know I can’t.



“Pacing the Cage” (Jimmy Buffett version). Elain is moving into an time in her life where she’s learning that “sometimes, the darkness is your friend.” The messages of maps being useless and not being able to see the future resonates in many ways. (There wasn't a good video for this, but you can find the song on iTunes.)

“Beam Me Up” by Pink. This one is heartbreaking. It’s an anthem for Liam, Elain, Carla, and Maureen. If you listen to the words of the song, it’s about wanting another minute with a lost child (or loved one). This song always brings me to tears.




So there you have it. I hope these songs give you a better insight to the story and some of the feelings going through me when I wrote certain parts of it.

Random giveaway time.

Monday, June 24, 2013
*** THE WINNERS HAVE BEEN POSTED!!! ***


Who loves a giveaway? It's that time again, for a random giveaway. Rules in a nutshell: leave a comment (one per person). It's that easy. Open world-wide, you must be of legal age in your area of residence, and void if prohibited where you live.

If Blogger wants to leave you anonymous, make sure to include your email address in your comment written like this (to avoid spam): email AT host DOT com

You have until sometime Wednesday (6/26), when I'll go over to random.org to pick the winners. Winners have 48 hours to respond before I pick alternate winners, so make sure you check back to see if you won, or better, go over to the link on the right and subscribe to my newsletter so you get an email when I post the winners.

What are you playing for? I have three of my print books I'm giving away (Red Tide, Doggy Tales 1, Placida Pod 1) as well as several swag envelopes.

Good luck!

Snippet Saturday: More Than Make-Believe

Saturday, June 22, 2013
Today's snippet is from my mm book More Than Make-Believe. (I have plans for a prequel and sequel to the story as well.)

--

Travis closed his eyes as the water sluiced over his back and down the crack of his ass, where Marston’s cock was deeply embedded. First his fingers had prodded him, making him hard faster than had ever happened before. Again the brief question of Viagra versus vitality flitted through his mind before he shoved it away and simply enjoyed the experience.

It’s only make-believe.

It didn’t make him gay, just horny and broke. Wasn’t that the point?

After nearly an hour in the shower, where neither of them came although Travis got really close several times, they spent a long time drying off and Travis licked the water from Marston’s body before tumbling back into bed. Five minutes later, as he desperately kissed the man and hoped for relief for his hard cock, Marston patted him on the ass.

“Cut. That’s lunch.”

The crew stopped filming and left the bedroom.

Travis fell back on the bed, eyes closed, and groaned.

He jumped when Marston’s fingers closed around his shaft. “That’s good, kid. Keep it up, pun intended.”

Travis laughed and looked at the man. His playful smile couldn’t be denied a reply. “You said you started out like me?”

“Yep.” He released Travis’ cock and lay back. “Needed money for school.”

“How old are you now?”

“Almost twenty-eight.” He looked at him. “You?”

“Twenty-one.”

“What’s your major? Don’t worry, we’re off camera.”

“Engineering.”

Marston nodded. “Good choice. You’ve got a chance to pay your bills and not get stuck doing something like this.”

“Didn’t you graduate?”

He smiled, and Travis couldn’t interpret it. “Yep. Got my degree. Gainfully employed at an evil day job. But sometimes you need the kind of money that gainful employment won’t provide.”

Alex reappeared before Travis could ask him more. “You ready for lunch?” Alex asked.

“Yeah.” Marston climbed out of bed and went to the closet, where he retrieved a cell phone. Travis couldn’t help but follow him with his eyes. He acted totally at ease being naked.

“I need to make a quick call.” Without pulling on any clothes, Marston stepped out onto the balcony and closed the door behind him.

Travis sat up and fought the urge to blush when Tara appeared with the storage tub of his stuff from downstairs. He grabbed a pair of shorts out of his bag and pulled them on. “What’s next?” he asked Alex.

“When the star gets done with his call, we’ll get you some lunch up here. Since you’ll be up here all weekend anyway, I had her bring your stuff up. You’ll be sleeping in here with Mars, obviously. We’ll probably do some external shots on the grounds if the weather holds, but we might get rain this afternoon. All you have to do is what Mars tells you to do and enjoy yourself.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ll get them moving on your lunch.”

When Marston returned a few minutes later, he wore a slight frown.

“Everything okay?” Travis asked.

He nodded, his face immediately transforming back to bland disinterest. “Just had to check in. Lunch on the way?”

“Yeah.” He wanted to ask him more, about what he did for a living, if he had a family, things like that. Get to know him. Humanize him. He knew he couldn’t with the film crew now rolling on them. Then again, maybe he shouldn’t know all that.

It’s only make-believe.

--


Blurb:

[Siren Allure: Erotic Alternative Romance, M/M, ménage elements not involving the heroes, sex toys, HEA]

When you fall for a fantasy, how do you know it’s more than make-believe?

Travis Collins, a straight college student, finds himself in a financial bind. He’ll do anything legal, including going gay for pay and spending a weekend as “Craig Rocke,” with gay porn star Marston Cougar. Marston tells him to remember it’s all fantasy for the camera even though it feels like more.

Gary Carmeletti, also known as Marston Cougar, has a respectable day job. He started out making gay porn to pay for college. After getting his heart broken, he has a no-dating rule. Now paired with “virgin” Craig, he finds it hard to keep it make-believe when he’s losing his heart.

Gary’s niece needs surgery, and he almost has enough money to quit for good. But now that he feels a true connection with his fantasy costar, will he be able to find a happily ever after when he feels it’s more than make-believe?

NOTE: This book was previously published with another publisher.

A BookStrand Mainstream Romance

Tymber Dalton is a Siren-exclusive author.


Facebook Tip: How to selectively NOT share a post.

Friday, June 21, 2013
This is inspired by a friend of mine who had someone following her around on Facebook. She wasn't ready to unfriend the person, but wanted to be able to post stuff that person couldn't see.

Click on your profile link so you see your page. Click on your friends list.


When you click on your friends list, your friends will have a button to the right of their name. Hover over that button and a drop-down list similar to this will appear:


See where I circled in red "Add to another list..." -- click that.

You will then get another box, with any lists you might have already created. If you don't have any it (it might already have Recently Added by default) at the bottom of options should be something like "+New List" -- click that.

It'll give you a blank box to type in a list name.

Call it something you'll know what it means. (They can't see it.)

Then, when you go to post, you can control who sees what. To the left of the post button on your profile, there's a little option where you can control who sees a post. (I already have my profile set by default so that only my friends can access my my wall, but sometimes I post things that I set to be viewable by the public, like news links.)


When this window appears, you can assign the post you're about to share to only share with certain people, OR you can set it NOT to share with certain people. Either by person (if there's only one or two you don't want to see it) or by list.

Ah-ha!

HOWEVER, be careful how you're posting. In some cases, this can change the default mode you post. So pay attention when you post how and to whom it's posting. Also, this is for the web browser version. Phones, iPads, etc. might act differently.

Hope this helps!

Many Blessings (Coffeeshop Coven 1) now in print.

Woot! Now all three books in the Coffeeshop Coven series (the two prequels and book 1) are available in print from Amazon and other retailers!





You can also get all three books in e-book format from Siren-BookStrand, Kindle, Nook, and other authorized third-party retailers.


Blessed Solstice & Merry Litha!

Blessed Solstice, be it summer or winter in your climes, and Merry Litha! Love and Light, my sweet peeps! )0(





Guest Blog at Tara Rose's BDSM Blitz: Switches

I'm doing a gust post today over at Tara Rose's BDSM Blitz. Today I talk about switches (the people, not the implement LOL) and blow the common misconceptions about us out of the water.

http://www.tararoseromanceauthor.com/2013/06/bdsm-blitz-spotlight-tymber-dalton.html

Out of Smoke and Ashes (Triple Trouble 5) now available for Kindle.

Thursday, June 20, 2013
Woot! Out of Smoke and Ashes (Triple Trouble 5) is now available at the Kindle store. (Unfortunately, I don't know how long it'll take to hit other third-party outlets. Kindle usually goes live first because Amazon has their act together. LOL) You can buy other formats directly from Siren-BookStrand, however, if you don't want to wait for it to make it to other third-party outlets.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DIDADDK

WIP Wednesday: Pinch Me

Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Today's WIP Wednesday is from a mf BDSM story set in my Suncoast Society world, called Pinch Me. It's unedited, so please excuse typos.

Set-up: Laura Spaulding wakes up in the hospital after being attacked...with absolutely no memory of what happened--or even who she is. What her fiance, Rob, can't tell her yet, is that they are a Master/slave couple. Now Laura has to fight to get her memory back before the psycho who tried to kill her strikes again. And Rob has to win her heart all over again before he can even think about revealing the depth of their relationship to her.

--

Rob gave her another sad smile. She wondered if he always looked so sad, or if it was due to the circumstances. “I didn’t even think to ask if they were keeping you on a restricted diet when I talked to Tony earlier.”

“Who are they?” she asked. “The people coming to visit.” The older woman, Carol, she jostled a few memories, but they felt like very old ones. Very faded, disjointed, like she was a kid when they happened.

At least, she hoped they were true memories and not just wishful thinking on her part as they’d gone through photos together.

“Tony and Shayla Daniels.”

“How did I meet them?”

“You’ve known them for several years. They’re the friends who introduced us. You and Shayla are extremely close. Best friends.”

She felt like maybe he was holding something back, but it didn’t feel bad, or like he was lying.

She wasn’t sure how she knew that, or if it was simply more mental gymnastics courtesy of her battered brain, but she let it go for now.

“Why haven’t more people come to see me?” She feared the answer.

“Oh, sweetie, I’ve told people to stay away for now. You were in the ICU, and now…”

He didn’t finish.

He didn’t have to.

“Because I can’t remember them anyway,” she quietly said.

He let out a sigh as he nodded. “I didn’t want you to get overwhelmed. And…” She forced herself not to flinch away from him as he reached out and gently stroked her cheek with the backs of his fingers. “I knew you wouldn’t want a lot of people seeing you like this.”

“You’re seeing me like this.” She felt an instinctive urge to tip her face toward his hand, to nuzzle against it.

Familiar.

She closed her eyes and hoped more came to her, but it didn’t.

For now, she’d settle for that little beacon of goodness in the middle of the sea of black that still comprised most of her memories.

“That’s because I love you. You’re my life. Good luck trying to keep me from your side.”

“What about the couple bringing dinner? Would I want them seeing me like this?”

“They’re like family to us,” he said. “You wouldn’t care what condition they saw you in.”

The door opened again and the deputy poked his head inside. “Rob, there’s a couple here to see Laura.”

“Send them in.” He stood to greet them. Laura clutched at the sheet and waited for them to get all the way in.

They did feel familiar.

More importantly, like Carol earlier, they felt safe.

The man, Tony Daniels, was a little taller than Rob and had green eyes, dark hair, and a friendly smile. Even though he had his arms full of take-out bags, he accepted an awkward one-armed hug from Rob. His wife, Shayla, had hazel eyes and brown hair down past her shoulders.

She also noticed Shayla wore a gold necklace with a heart-shaped tag on it. Something about the look of it pulled a wistful pang from deep in Laura’s heart, and her hand flew to her throat again, helplessly fluttering against the empty real estate there.

I need to remember to ask Rob about that.

Tony put the bags down on the bed tray. “We come bearing food,” he joked.

“Thank you,” Laura said. “Rob told me you were bringing dinner.”

Shayla hesitantly walked around the bed to the other side. The woman looked like she was on the verge of tears. “May I hug you?” she softly asked Laura.

Laura pulled back the sheet and turned to sit on the edge of the bed. Shayla tentatively wrapped her arms around her as Laura did the same.

She heard Shayla sniffle. “I love you so much, sister,” she whispered in her ear. “I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you.”

A wave of emotion Laura couldn’t process swept through her. She let out a sob of her own as she tightly clutched Shayla and they cried together.

Write Your Ass Off: Tuesday Topics

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

New post up at Write Your Ass Off, a list of various writing topics from amping up suspense to handling criticism, to dealing with backstory issues:

http://writeyourassoff.blogspot.com/2013/06/tuesday-topics.html

Come visit me at Flynn's Funny Farm!


I'm a guest today over at Joyee Flynn's Funny Farm. I'm in the hot seat and reveal a few interesting tidbits, like guilty pleasures and panty preferences. :)

http://joyeeflynn.blogspot.com/2013/06/tymber-dalton-in-hot-seat.html

Please feel free to drop by and say hi! :)

Scrivener: Labels.

Monday, June 17, 2013
I love Scrivener. Love love luuuurrrvve. Want to have its babies kind of love.

When I first had to give up SuperNotecard and move to Scrivener, mid-manuscript, no less, I was dubious.

I shouldn't have worried. Scrivener has quickly won my heart. And the split screen feature is a HUGE plus. I love being able to have two different views open simultaneously within the software.

One thing I've also quickly learned to love is the labels function. I use it in a variety of ways. For example, for my Triple Trouble series, which is growing into a massive project, I can use them to color-code characters. Like wolves one color, dragons another, jaguars, etc. Makes it easy when I'm looking for a character to find them that way.

Likewise, I use labels to denote a particular section's "doneness." I use bright pink with a "To Finish" label and make sure to set the color to be viewable in the binder, the corkboard, outline, etc. As I finish each section, I remove the label. Makes it super easy to see what I still have yet to finish.

You could use labels any way you like. (Yes, I know I could use the status function, but with the label, it's right there in my face.) But as you can see from the screenshot from my current WIP, what has yet to be done stands out like a sore thumb, no?

And the reason I have the [[ brackets is because it's an old holdover for me from years ago, before SuperNotecard, when I still used Word and Word alone. A friend taught it to me. It allowed me to skim through a manuscript with the Find feature to locate places quickly. When I moved to SuperNotecard, I used them for both chapter names/titles (so I could skim through the exported manuscript quickly for formatting) and to denote places where I still needed to fix, tweak, or check something. For example: [[finish scene, [[insert sex scene here, [[check spelling of that, [[check correct trademark. Those kinds of notes to myself.

And this file started out in SNC. When I exported it to Scrivener, I kept the bracket notations because as I split the resulting exported file into chunks again, I was easily able to find my "cards" in the .rtf file it exported and then split it back into chunks in Scrivener.

This is just one of the many ways I use Scrivener to work for me and make my workflow process more efficient.

Snippet Saturday: Bleacke's Geek (Bleacke Shifters 1)

Saturday, June 15, 2013
This snippet is from my book Bleacke's Geek (Bleacke Shifters 1) writing as Lesli Richardson. It's available on Amazon, Nook, Kobo, and at ARe.

Blurb:

When girl meets geek, the fur’s gonna fly.

Dewi Bleacke is a no-nonsense Prime Alpha wolf. As head Enforcer of the Targhee pack, she’s in charge of Florida. Her assignment is to kill a dirtbag who sold his daughter. She doesn’t expect to find her handsome, albeit geeky, soulmate in the process.

Dr. Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert lives a quiet, boring life. A professor at USF, he has no girlfriend, no car, and is a devout vegetarian. So when a mysterious woman with mocha eyes literally drags him out of his booth and then proceeds to have her way with him, it’s not his average night out. When she follows their sexy interlude by abducting him after killing a man, he suspects life has just taken a drastically odd turn.

Now Dewi, her partner Beck, and her surrogate father Badger, have to educate her new “grazer” mate on the ways of the Targhee wolves. “Ken” does his best to fit in. But an old killer lurks in the shadows--the wolf who murdered Dewi’s parents. Can she keep Ken safe, or will her mate prove to everyone that he’s a lot more than just Dewi Bleacke’s geek?

--

Excerpt:

The door opened into a large kitchen. He stood, stunned, as he looked around. Wide expanses of spotless granite counters, stainless steel appliances, and what appeared to be custom-made cherry cabinets. Someone with a lot of money and very good taste had designed this kitchen.

After setting his laptop case on the counter, she shrugged off her coat and hung it on one of a row of hooks by the door they’d just entered, where other jackets and coats were hung.

Then he spotted the gun on her hip. In his earlier shock, he realized he hadn’t actually seen it when they were in the bathroom. She’d undressed and dressed so quickly, he hadn’t noticed.

She watched him as she drew it, did something to it, and removed both the magazine and a chambered round. Laying them on the counter, she asked, “You ever handle a gun before?”

He shook his head.

She pointed at him. “Don’t. Touch. Not until after I have a chance to teach you.”

A sudden compulsion to leave the weapon alone washed over him. He’d thought about maybe trying to grab it, use it to make her give him her phone so he could call for help.

Not that he’d ever held a gun before or even knew where he was to ask for the police to rescue him, but now he couldn’t even think about touching it.

“Go ahead and try, if you think you can,” she called over her shoulder at him as she walked across the kitchen to the large fridge.

Taking her up on it, he found if he tried to step forward with the intent of grabbing the gun, he couldn’t.

She turned from the fridge with a carton of milk in her hand and a smile on her face. “You and I will get along just fine.” Then she screamed, startling him. “Badger!”

He flinched, then flinched again as an answering roar rumbled from somewhere upstairs. “Hold yer britches, kiddo. I’m comin’.”

He heard before he saw the large, squat man descend the stairs. His solid bulk seemed to make the whole house tremble as he grumbled under his breath all the way down to where they stood in the kitchen. His left eye was gone, the sunken lid crossed by a thick, gnarled, twisting scar that started above his eyebrow and descended nearly all the way to his chin.

A few inches shorter than him, but taller than the woman, the man looked him up and down. Wild, curly red hair liberally threaded with grey framed his stocky, grizzled face. His remaining eye, a bright crystalline blue, carefully looked him over with keen interest.

He spoke with a thick and distinctive Scottish brogue. “Eh, what’s this? This yer surprise?”

“Promise not to laugh?” she asked.

“I make no such promise, Dewi.” Well, at least he had a name to go by now. “Fess up.”

She took another drink from the carton. “He’s my mate,” she mumbled.

“He’s yer what?”

Her gaze fell to the floor as her face reddened. Seemed something could make her blush and crack her composure after all. “My mate,” she softly repeated.

The older man looked stunned as he stared at him, then back to her. “Claimed and all?” he finally asked.

He couldn’t stand them talking about him as if he wasn’t there. “What’s going on?” he asked, fully aware his voice bordered on a shrill, girlie shriek. “I’d like some answers!”

The man he assumed was named Badger pointed a finger at him. “Shut up. I’ll deal with ye in a minute.”

That boiled his blood. If he was going to die, he would show at least a little chutzpah before they took him out. Pulling himself up to his full height, he glared at them. “You two listen to me. I was minding my own business, eating dinner and working. Then I got abducted, raped, and forced to flee with a murderess. I deserve some answers!”

Badger stared at him before he burst out laughing and turned to her. “Ye already claimed him then, girlie?”

Her face turned a deeper shade of crimson as she nodded.

The man’s laughter roared out of him as he held on to the counter for support. “Holy Goddess, ye picked yerself a fine one, didn’t ye? And despite his scrawny looks, he does seem to have a right fine pair of bollocks hiding in there somewhere.”

“Now listen here—”

“Shut up!” both of them ordered. His mouth clamped shut, although he suspected based on what he’d already experienced that it had more to do with her command than Badger’s.

Badger scrubbed his face with his hand. “Well, what’s his name, girlie? Or are we calling him ‘Shut Up’ for life?”

Now beet red in the face, she mumbled, “We haven’t got that far yet.”

No thanks to you,” he thought, unable to voice it.

Her head snapped up as she glared at him. “I’m sorry you were at the right place at the wrong time, but would you rather me let a man who’d whore out his own daughter go free? Especially when he had three younger than her at home he planned to sell off, too? I had my orders.”

He glared at her.

She shoved the carton of milk back in the fridge and growled, “Fine. Say whatever you want.” She slammed the fridge door shut.

Badger cackled and turned back to him. “Well, laddie? What would ye have us call ye if ‘Shut Up’ ain’t to yer fancy?”

He took a deep breath. “My name is Heathcliff.”

Her eyes widened. “Fuck. Me. No way. Please, Goddess, tell me you’re busting my balls.”

“My mother loved Wuthering Heights. If you make a joke about the cartoon cat, I’ll…” Well, he’d already seen her kill a guy. “I’ll be really pissed off if you make a crack about the cat.”

That amused Badger immensely. “Heathcliff? Oh, lassie, I can’t wait for the next pack Muster.”

“Shut. Up,” she growled at him.

Badger grinned. “Not quite. So what’s yer full name, boyo? First, middle, and last.”

He’d go out with at least a little dignity. He threw back his shoulders. “Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert. Doctor,” he added, although that last part sounded a little lame, even to his ears.

She let out an audible groan and leaned over the counter, her head hung low. “Nooo.” It almost sounded like a mournful howl.

Obviously delighted, Badger slapped her on the back with a pleased cackle. “Well, Heathcliff McKenzie Ethelbert, let me formally introduce ye to yer mate here, Dellis Tadewi Bleacke.”

“Mate?”

Badger grinned. “Mate. Welcome to the Targhee pack, boyo.”

“Pack?” He felt his mind close to shattering. He decided to focus on the one thing he could comprehend and deal with. “Wait a minute. Your name’s Dellis, and you pick on me for Heathcliff?”

Her head snapped up. “You will call me Dewi. D-E-W-I.”

“Well, you can call me Heathcliff.”

“Oh, fuck me, no way in hell.” She straightened and turned to face him. “McKenzie, huh? I’ll call you Ken. I like Ken. I already have a cousin named Mac. No way in hell am I introducing you to my family as Heathcliff.”

Badger laughed again. “Peyton and Trent are gonna shit themselves.”

She glared at the older man and jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t you dare call them!”

He held up his hands. “No, no. I’d rather see the shock on their faces at the next Muster. This’ll be a scream.”

“If you can tell me what I’m supposed to call you,” Ken said, “why should I settle for Ken? Which I hate, by the way. And who says I’m staying here? And…what is this pack you keep talking about?” Maybe he shouldn’t have asked that last question, but he was more than a little curious.

Badger looked at Dewi. “Ye get to do the honors, young lady. He’s yer mate.”

She stared at him, those beautiful mocha eyes melting him. Despite the crazy situation he felt his cock stiffen in his pants. He shifted his position around the corner of the counter to conceal that fact.

Dewi’s eyebrow twitched, revealing her apparent amusement. Somehow, he knew she realized why he’d moved. “I’m an Alpha wolf shifter,” she said. “Targhee pack out of Idaho. I’m one of their Enforcers.”

“She’s a Prime Alpha, actually,” Badger chimed in. “Lone wolf. And not just one of their Enforcers. She’s the Head Enforcer. She’s too modest. Usually she don’t take to others very well. Count yerself lucky, boyo.”

“I don’t count myself lucky!” he yelled, near the end of his tether. “You people are crazy, and I want to go home!”

* * * *

Dewi sensed him drawing dangerously close to a mental breakdown. Despite her irritation and trying to wind herself down to settle her hunt instinct so she didn’t accidentally hurt her new mate, she stepped closer to him. She hated how he flinched away at first.

“I’m not going to hurt you,” she said, forcing her voice to stay soft and gentle. She reached up with her right hand and palmed his cheek, her eyes never leaving his.

He let out a soft moan as his eyes dropped closed. He nuzzled her hand with his lips.

“See?” she said. “It’s instinctive. We’re mated.”

“I don’t understand any of this.” He kissed her palm, setting off a flurry of desire in her core. She needed to quickly get some food in her—preferably really rare steak—and then she could take him upstairs and spend the night getting to know him better.

Much better.

“You don’t have to understand any of it. I’m a shape-shifter. Wolf pack. We’re not just legend. I’m sorry about how this happened, but I couldn’t let you get away when I found you.”

“Wolves mate for life,” Badger chimed in. “When they find their mate, if the person’s not already taken, they claim them. Especially a Prime Alpha like Dewi here.”

She felt Ken’s resistance—she refused to call him Heathcliff—drain from him as his lips traced her palm. He grabbed her hand and held it pressed to his mouth so he could kiss and lick her flesh. “Don’t worry,” she assured him. “We’re going to spend the next couple of weeks right here getting to know each other. And I’ll have plenty of time to tell you everything.”

“I can’t,” he gasped without opening his eyes.

“What do you mean, you can’t?”

“I’ve got to work.” He finally opened his eyes. “I’ve got classes to teach Monday morning and papers I haven’t graded yet.”

Badger cackled. She shot him a dark look. “I think I’m gonna have to re-estimate him,” Badger joked. “He’s got a bigger set on him than he looks.”

“Shut up,” she said.

“Oh, no ye don’t, girlie,” he teased. “Little Miss I-Don’t-Need-A-Mate has found her match. Despite his looks, I have a feeling he’s gonna teach ye a thing or two. Mebbe give ye a run for yer money.”

If she leaned in and kissed Ken’s delicious lips, she would end up ripping his clothes off and fucking him right there on the kitchen floor despite Badger’s presence. Instead, she captured his hand and gently squeezed before letting go. She was painfully aware of how fragile his fingers felt in hers despite the fact that he was a man with a little substance to him.

“I have to eat dinner,” she explained. “If I don’t, we’re going to have a serious problem. I’m sure you’ll probably want something, too, since I interrupted yours.” She stepped away even as Badger dove for the fridge and pulled out a couple of huge steaks from the ready supply he kept for her.

“How ye want yers, Ken?” he asked.

She didn’t miss his sarcasm.

Ken blinked. “Um, no. No thank you. I’ll just have a salad.”

Her mouth watered at the sight of the steaks as Badger fired up the gas grill built into the stove top. He knew she needed to eat to help sate her urges after a hunt, especially when she made a kill. “No, you have to eat,” she said. “Trust me. You’ll need more than salad for the night ahead of us.”

He slid onto a stool in front of the counter. “No, thank you. I don’t eat steaks.”

She sensed Badger turn to look at him. “Well, what do you eat?” he asked.

“I don’t eat meat.”

“Ye what?” She winced as she heard the laughter threatening to break through Badger’s voice again.

“I don’t eat meat,” Ken said. “I’m a lacto-ovo-vegetarian. I eat dairy and eggs. Every once in a while I’ll eat fish and shellfish, but that’s the only meat I eat.”

She grimaced, her shoulders tensing. Aaaand here it comes…

Badger burst out into gales of laughter. “Let me get this straight. Yer a vegetarian?”

Ken nodded.

“Ye don’t eat red meat?”

“No. Why?”

Badger turned to her. His grin split his ruined face from ear to ear. “Oh, Dewi, please, ye got to let me be there when ye break this to yer brothers! Their big, bad Prime Alpha baby sister is now mated to a grazer!”

--

You can buy Bleacke's Geek (Bleacke Shifters 1) from the following retailers:

Kindle | Nook | Kobo | ARe | Smashwords | My Site (MadMumbler Designs)

Writing Tip: Editors - They're not your maid, or your mommy.

Thursday, June 13, 2013
The one where I rant blog about an editor's role:

Trainwreck in the making -- an author arguing with reviewers.

What NOT to do as a writer...

http://writeyourassoff.blogspot.com/2013/06/one-more-timedo-not-argue-with-reviewers.html

Seriously, do NOT argue with reviewers. I learned this hard lesson early in my career. Believe me, it NEVER ends well, and the author in this case is not only arguing with reviewers, but is doing so ARROGANTLY.

*smh*

If you can't handle getting negative reviews, DO NOT BECOME A WRITER. I don't care if they LIE about what's in the book, believe me, I learned you cannot argue with reviewers. Period. Full stop.

WIP Wednesday: Two Geeks and Their Girl

Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Technically a WIP, even though it's contracted and looks like my release date is 8/2. :) I say that because we still have to go through edits and that means it's still "in progress" LOL. This is from Two Geeks and Their Girl (mfm) and I even have blurbs for you:

Short version:

What happens when an emotionally wounded, technophobic investigator is assigned to protect two handsome computer geniuses? Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

Medium version:

Extreme technophobe and undercover investigator, Amanda “Manny” Croyle, unfortunately can’t refuse the assignment to protect Korbin Temple and Rhys Gilyard—and their highly classified Artemis project. As the three get to know each other, their bonds deepen. But when the bad guys strike, will Manny lose her men before she gets a chance at happiness?

Full version:

Amanda “Manny” Croyle hates technology…and it hates her right back. Which is why it annoys her when she’s assigned to an undercover investigation and protective operation for two computer geeks. But it’s not like she has a life. Just a wounded heart and PTSD from her time in the Middle East.

Korbin Temple and Rhys Gilyard are resigned to the fact that Artemis—a top-secret cyber-security project—is the only “woman” in their life. Then they’re assigned an administrative assistant. They’ve learned not to trust sexy women, especially once they suss out Manny’s true identity, but there’s something sweetly haunted about her and they wouldn’t mind a chance to brighten her world.

Manny knows getting personal is a bad idea, but the two men soon win her heart. Unfortunately, unknown criminals want their hands on Artemis. Now it’s a race against time to see if Manny can unravel the mystery before time runs out for one of her men.

Coming 8/2 from Siren-BookStrand!

(Set-up: Rhys is from England, Korbin the US. They were roommates in college and now work and live together since Rhys' last break-up. A lot of "odd" things have been happening to Rhys and Korbin lately. Including the brakes going out on Rhys' car. We're about to find out that these two geeks might be smart, but one of them definitely isn't mechanically inclined...)

(Also, this excerpt is unedited, so please excuse typos.)

--

Excerpt:

Rhys kept his mouth shut during the drive to the mechanic where he’d had his car towed late yesterday. He could tell Korbin’s temper still flowed strong and fierce. When his best friend got like this, the only thing he could do was keep his mouth shut and ride out the storm until it passed.

He’d been doing it since college, so he was in expert in Korbin Temple meteorological readings.

They pulled into the parking lot. Rhys wasn’t sure Korbin would follow him into the office, but he did. The woman behind the counter asked them to wait while she told the mechanic they were there.

She returned a minute later with the mechanic, who carried a clipboard. “Let me show you what we found,” he said as he motioned for them to follow him.

He led them through to the shop to the third repair bay where his car sat, hood open.

“Your brakes went bad because of water in the system.”

Rhys frowned. “How the bloody hell did that happen?”

The man pulled the cap off a reservoir on the driver’s side of the engine compartment, up near the firewall, and dipped his finger in. Milky tan fluid coated his finger. “That’s supposed to be clear. The entire system needs to be flushed out. Also, I highly recommend doing the calipers and discs on all four wheels, as well as the master cylinder. If we don’t, I can’t guarantee the work. The seals could be shot. And I won’t know until I get into it, but we might have to replace brake hoses as well on the front wheels.”

Heat immediately filled his face. “Eh, what is that?”

“What?”

Rhys pointed to the thing the mechanic had just opened.

“This is the master cylinder. Your brake fluid is full of water. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He laughed as he screwed on the top. “Well, there was a woman once who thought it was her washer fluid reservoir. Man, did her husband chew her a new—”

“Right. How much to fix it?”

“Well, without brake hoses, you’re looking at over eight hundred.”

“Fine. Do it. Whatever it needs.” He wanted out of there.

Immediately.

“Okay.” The mechanic handed the clipboard to Rhys and a pen. “Sign there for me for the estimate that you’re okaying it.”

He hurriedly scribbled his name and practically shoved the clipboard back at him. “How long?”

“Oh, we might have it done before lunch. Definitely by the end of the day.”

“Brilliant. “We’ll be back for it then, if not tomorrow morning.”

He practically bolted through the large bay door leading outside instead of walking back through the office, and was waiting for Korbin at his car when he caught up.

“What’s wrong?” Korbin asked.

“Nothing! Just open the blasted car and let’s get to work.”

Korbin’s gaze narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“We’re going to be late for work.”

“I can stand here all day and do this.” A slow grin creased his face. “Wait a minute.” A long, loud laugh escaped him, a relief because it meant his friend’s emotional storm had finally passed.

And it upset him because he knew Korbin had figured it out.

“You thought that was the washer fluid reservoir?”

Rhys yanked at the door handle, which Korbin still hadn’t unlocked. “You’re not exactly a master mechanic, my good friend. If I recall, a female Highway Patrol officer helped change your flat last week.”

Korbin scowled. “I’d never changed a tire before.” Rhys heard the click as Korbin hit the button on his key fob to unlock the doors. “But I’m smart enough to read the labels on the caps under the hood before I do something stupid like that.”

Rhys yanked the door open and got in. “I don’t wish to discuss it.”

He let out a snort. “Yeah, I guess you don’t.”

“Well can you blame me? It’s right there by the blasted wipers. It’s logical to assume that’s where it goes!”

“Dude, don’t pick on me for a flat tire. I’ve never done something like what you did.”

“It’s my first car. You know that. I didn’t grow up with cars like you did. We didn’t need them in London. If we went on holiday, my parents hired one. You taught me how to drive in college, if you’ll recall. Perhaps I should blame you for the lack of education.”

Korbin still wore a smile as he pulled out onto the highway. “Your car came with an instruction manual. Did you ever think about reading it?”

“It’s a car. You get in it, you turn the key, and you try not to hit anyone or anything while making it go. How difficult can it be?”

“Apparently more difficult than I thought.” Korbin shook his head and laughed. “I think we can rule out someone sabotaging your car, at least.”

--

Oh, here's another hint: Rhys is adopted, but has a certain famous novelist as an uncle. You might be familiar with him... *weg*

And another tidbit: A certain Dom makes a cameo appearance in this book. Manny goes to him to get a crash course in computer data centers... *weg* (No, nothing about BDSM. LOL This is a contemporary with mystery/thriller notes.)

--

You can find all my Siren-BookStrand releases under all my pen names on my author page at:

http://www.bookstrand.com/tymber-dalton

Winners redux...

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Okay, the two winners of the paperbacks are Cheryl M and Patches. Please email me at tymberdalton AT gmail DOT com with your names and snail mail addresses!

And now...


For the spring cleaning swag contest, I needed to repick seven winners.

The seven new winners are:

Yarmac
Ashley
Janet Hobbs
Emily (http://www.blogger.com/profile/13368133640589713936)
alwyznice
Denise (http://www.blogger.com/profile/15968672691614045263)
Kat Saveal

You have forty-eight hours to contact me by email at tymberdalton AT gmail DOT com to claim your swag envelopes or I'll repick more winners. :)

Congratulations, everyone!

Hungry?

I admit I'm posting this because a) it made me giggle like a juvenile, and b) for some reason, Fb will NOT let me (or others I've sent it to) post the damn thing. Grr. So I'm posting it so I can share it with my BDSM Bibliophreaks group.


Fuck you, Stephen King.

Monday, June 10, 2013
Dear Stephen King,

Fuck you.

Yes, you read that right.

Fuck.

You.

You have apparently decided only you know what's best for your readers, so you've decided to indefinitely put off releasing an e-book version of Joyland. Who gives a shit if we really WANT the e-book version, you make more than enough money you don't care if you're basically taking a huge dump on a large number of people who've faithfully bought books over the years.

You know what, Stephen King? Some of us have come to PREFER e-books over paperbooks for a variety of reasons, the least not being the unsustainable and completely wasteful traditional book publisher distribution mode, where books are basically sold on consignment to bookstores and unsold books are shredded.

Some people don't live near bookstores and will order from Amazon in print -- how's THAT helping them get into a local bookstore?

In my case, it's too little house and too many books. I have to downsize. E-books means I can forever keep my "keeper library" and NEVER have to get rid of another book. EVER.

Well, except for Joyland, because apparently I won't be buying it.

So you know what? I guess I'm just not reading this one, unless I happen to make it to the local library (which is, frankly, a pain in the ass and I rarely go) or put it on my wishlist on PaperbackSwap.com and wait to see if it ever comes available that way.  I'm sure I'm not the only person who will take this path.

Unless, of course, you change your mind and choose to put it out in e-book format.

Instead of making a sale to a willing reader, you've lost a sale. I would have gladly paid, even horribly overpriced the way traditional publishers are screwing readers, for an e-book version. (No, I will NOT download a pirated copy.)

And, oh yeah, if you think print-only will discourage pirates, ask J.K. Rowling how that worked for her. The Harry Potter series was heavily pirated before she finally agreed to have it put into e-book format.

Regards,
Tymber.
(A really pissed-off reader who doesn't like one of her favorite authors treating her like crap.)