No matter how old a book is it’s always nice to receive a nice review.  So I was tickled pink when I opened my email yesterday and found a five star review for my erotic victorian title, THE MERRY WIDOW, by Night Owl Reviews.  Even better?  This is my first review by the site so I was even more estatic by their kind words, a five star rating and even a reviewer’s top pick!

(5 out of 5 stars) 7.23.09

I was pleasantly surprised by Ms. Brown’s MERRY WIDOW. I read in the author’s note that this was her first attempt at writing historical erotic fiction, well I say bravo. I hope we can see more historical erotic pieces from you Ms. Brown.

To read the complete review….

Want a peek? 

My pleasure:)

Diagnosed with chronic stress disorder, half-demon Gideon Scratch is ordered to take up a hobby. Initially balking at his shrink’s remedy, but faced with an eternity in solitude, Gideon signs up for ballroom dance lessons.
 

Just what the doctor ordered turns into another kind of hell when Gideon is partnered with the curvaceous Macy Beaumont. Avoiding human females for more than a thousand years, her dance moves evoke carnal images of sweaty bodies and tangled sheets. Unable to resist temptation, Gideon thinks a few nights of soul-searing sex will slake his lust for the human female. 

 
Wrong.

But winning Macy’s heart proves to be difficult, when all she wants is sex. Unwilling to be  just another hard body, Gideon sets out to woo her by doing the unthinkable…become her friend.

If any of you have ever used Twitter, you can understand my pain.  It’s hard enough to write a message of this length and still make sense.  Even harder to convey the entire plot of your book.  On top of that, you have to convince the reader to buy your book. And for an erotic novel, the sexier the better.

If only blurbs could be as easy as this:

Boy meets girl. Boy has hots for girl. Ditto for girl. Boy and girl get it on. Girl discovers boy’s secret while investigating child kidnappings. Girl runs screaming for the hills.

Will the children be home for Christmas? Will boy win girl back?

Or will boy spend eternit…y paying for his sins?

The End

The Lovings are a true American love story.  A white country boy who grew up down the road from a little black girl, fell in love with her and decided to marry her. Boy meets girl doesn’t get any better than that!But due to the fact that they found love in the 1950s, in the South no less, their marrying resulted in a felony charge and time in jail.

In order to bypass the Racial Integrity Act, which criminalized miscegenation, Mildred and Richard drove eighty miles from their home state of Virginia to Washington, D. C. to be married by a minister they’d picked out of a phone book.

Upon returning to Virginia, the happy couple settled back into life with their marriage certificate proudly tacked to their bedroom wall.  However, after less than two months of wedded bliss, an anonymous tip sent the local sheriff to the happy couple’s home where they were arrested and charged under Section 20-58 of the Virginia Code, which prohibited interracial couples from being married out of state and then returning to Virginia, and Section 20-59, which classified “miscegenation” as a felony punishable by a prison sentence of between one and five years.

After Richard spent one night in jail and a pregnant Mildred five, the Lovings pleaded guilty and were sentenced to one year in prison, with the sentence suspended for 25 years, if they left the state.  Heartsick but with no other choice, the Lovings packed up and moved back to Washington D.C.

After a few years and two children later, the couple became homesick and wanted to move back to Virginia closer to family and friends. But knowing they would be facing a jail sentence, Mildred sat down and penned a letter to Robert Kennedy who referred her to the ACLU.  Who on their behalf, filed a motion in the state trial court to vacate the judgment and set aside the twenty-five year sentence on the grounds that the violated statutes ran counter to the Fourteenth Amendment.

While preparing their motion, the couple’s lawyer, Bernard Cohen, remembers Mr. Loving advising him to, “Tell the court I love my wife, and it is just unfair that I can’t live with her in Virginia.”

Despite his honest declaration, the state courts wouldn’t budge.  Eventually, the Lovings  case went all the way to the Supreme Court. And after eight long years and many setbacks, the U.S. Supreme Court on a 9-0 vote decided in favor of the Lovings on June 12, 1967  !

For a list of Loving Celebrations in your area visit or to host a celebration of your own visit www.lovingday.org

So this morning, when I opened my email I was filled with both excitement and dread when I noticed an email containing the cover of my upcoming paranormal, erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Carnal Moves, I was rather leery when opening it.  But to my relief, I absolutely love the cover designed by Seneca because it’s the first time I’ve ever had a book where the couple is physically touching each other.  And considering the book centers around an interracial relationship, I think it’s extremely important.

Funny, I suggested this to the male model on this very cover,  Jimmy Thomas, when he started up his website.

Not sure if many of you know this, but I’m an avid thrift store shopper.  I’ve even gone so far as to open my own website featuring a nationwide directory of second hand stores across the U.S. And I also blog about my travels to different thrift stores around the world. 

Anyhoo, I wanted to share with you a really nifty contest sponsored by The Green Music Group Challenge, which incorporates recycling with thrift store shopping and a chance to win a brand-spanking new Honda Hybrid like the one shown below. 

All you need to do is clean out your closets and take a picture of the items you plan on donating then submit your picture to the Green Music Group. Take this challenge by noon ET on Friday, May 21st and you could win DJ Hero PLUS a $300 Best Buy gift card.

 To get started, all you need to do is to find a Goodwill near you!

Gill Park, Chicago, Illinois

“What are you looking for in a man?”

Roxanne Simons’ eyes widened like a kid in a candy store. “I want him young, hung and full of cum.”

“That’s it. I’m out of here.” Leonidas slammed his laptop closed. “You can fill out your own dating profile.”

When he made a move to stand up, she touched his forearm to keep him from leaving.

“Wait, Leo!” She exclaimed. “You know I’m not a computer ner…I mean a computer gee…I mean computer genius like you. The only thing I’m good at is sending and retrieving email.”

Roxanne glanced at the park bench next to them to make sure the couple wasn’t eavesdropping. “Signing up for an internet dating service is out of my scope of knowledge. I might push the wrong button and end up with some balding, sixtyish divorcee with a predilection for collecting postage stamps.”

Leo pushed his black Buddy Hollyesque glasses up the bridge of his nose, magnifying the clarity of his baby blues. “If you’re so skittish about going online, why take this route? And why on Freaks Need Love Too? You’ve never had a problem meeting men.”

Roxanne squirmed on the wooden park bench.  After all these years Leo could always see through her. “Okay, okay you got me! I’m hornier than a sailor during Fleet Week. I haven’t had sex in over—”

“Nine months.”

A rueful smile twisted Roxanne lips. “I’ve guess I’ve told you the length of my involuntary abstinence so many times you know it better than I know the beauty mark on my upper lip.”

Leo nodded, sending the spectacles sliding back down his aquiline nose. He adjusted them again before answering. “You complain about your sexual drought at every opportunity, but I don’t think it’s the only reason why you’re doing this.”

Uncomfortable under his probing scrutiny, Roxanne pretended to study her french manicure. “Don’t give me that look,” she muttered.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he lied since he seemed to struggle with an irritating smirk.

“You know what look I’m talking about. You’re giving me that ‘I’m not buying your bullshit Roxanne Simons’ look.”

Suddenly filled with guilt, Roxanne jumped up from the bench when Leo didn’t say anything. His piercing blue eyes spoke volumes. She started to pace, back and forth, swinging between confession and abject secrecy. Unable to hold back anything from her best friend, she finally broke down. 

“My…”

I absolutely abhor edits.  They are time consuming and it always seems like you either missed somthing or you want to add even more which in turn leads to even more edits.  Such as in the case of my current manuscript where I’ve added a thousand extra words. 

But I see the light at the end of the tunnel, since my edits are due this Friday! 

Toodles!

J. Hali Steele's Rhythm of Love

To tell you the truth, I was so tired of this story having rewritten the whole thing over, management could’ve named it Pookie’s Adventures and I would have been fine with it.  But since the burden was left on my doorstep to submit three possible alternate titles, I decided to shift that burden to my Yahoo Group/Facebook friends. Hey, isn’t that what friends are for, to help you in a crisis?

So over the course of a couple of days, I sent out an APB for title suggestions and received about three dozen.  Some of the titles suggested? Dance with the Devil, Hot as Hell, and Dirty Two Step.  After careful consideration, I took my three favorites and submitted them to Briana St. James, my editor at Ellora’s Cave, and in quick order management, came back with an approved title.  Drumroll, please…

Carnal Moves

Personally, I don’t think the title is that bad since carnal moves pretty much sums up how the hero and heroine fall in lus…I mean love on the dance floor.   So, thanks to everyone for your suggestions.  A really big THANK YOU since I don’t remember who suggested it and it wasn’t on my personal list.