IOU Booty!

Aunty Cindy fired up her handy dandy Random Number Generator to find a winner for her post on the 18th. So without further adieu, the Generator says:

Treethyme!

You are the winner of the IOU for Aunty's September release The Treasures of Venice! CONGRATS!

Please send your snail mail into to cindymm18 AT gmail DOT com. Only 70 more days to wait!

Are You Ready For "Dangerous Lies"?!

by Anna Sugden

I'm delighted to welcome back my very dear friend and supremely talented author, Anna Louise Lucia.

You may recall Anna celebrated the release of her debut novel Run Among Thorns with us here in the Lair. As well as enticing us with her special guest, the hero of Run Among Thorns, Kier McAllister, she ran a contest to name the beer in her next book, Dangerous Lies and our very own Christine Wells won - with Sweaty Socks. I can tell you that this beer does indeed appear in Dangerous Lies. And a special tribute is paid to a certain golden feathered rascal too!


You'll have to rush out and buy Dangerous Lies to check it out! In fact, I may offer a fun prize to the first person to email me with the page number this info appears on! (email me at anna@annasugden.com )

Anyway, Anna is back with us today to celebrate the release of Dangerous Lies, which is already receiving well-deserved rave reviews - including an 'A' from All About Romance! And she has brought another special guest with her; the delicious hero of Dangerous Lies, Alan Waring.

Welcome Anna and Alan.
Anna: Thank you Anna, we're delighted to be here.

Alan, you've kindly agreed to answer some questions for the Banditas and BB's, so shall we get started?
Alan: By all means.

How are you related to Jenny and Kier McAllister?
Alan: Jenny’s my uncrushable little sister. I love her, so I’ll forgive her the lapse of judgement that made Kier my brother in law. No, I’m kidding. I’ve a lot of respect for the monosyllabic Kier, and I’d trust him in a tight spot. Plus I’m educating him on the true qualities of British real ales – it’s a project!

What do you do, Alan?
Alan: I own and run a landscape gardening company, but I do a fair bit of travelling, too. Mostly the Nordic countries, Sweden, Norway. I owe Jenny another postcard, I think. The last one was from the Sognefjord.

But Dangerous Lies is set in Morocco ... what is a ‘garden’ man doing in Morocco?
Alan: Ah. No, you must be mistaken, I…
Look, Kier vouched for you. He said I could trust the Banditas, although I didn’t know then what he was talking about. So I’ll level with you. I’m an agent of the British Government. A spy, If you like. While I’m in North Africa I travel as a ICT salesman, specialising in emerging markets. I’ve been in Rabat in Morocco for a while this trip, waiting for HQ to give me the nod to come home with… with something I’m carrying.

You know, if it turns out I can’t trust you… No. If Kier says you’re okay, you’re okay.

I promise you can trust us. You know, what's said in the Lair, stays in the Lair.
Alan: All right, then.

So, Alan, who is Marianne and how did you get involved with her?
Alan: Marianne is… an enigma. She’s just a tourist, travelling alone. She tells me it’s her first holiday abroad, and really I’m guessing she’s led a sheltered life. She was caring for her father for years, and then he died, and she decided it was time to live a little. I think she wants … wanted … Me to help her with that.

I was out and about in the backstreets, after a meeting HQ arranged went bust, and I saw her alone in an abandoned house. It was a striking moment, that picture of the dark haired woman with the lonely eyes, unmoving in that tiled courtyard, like the ghost of old Morocco… I should have walked on. But there was some unrest in the city and I knew she’d be at risk. I couldn’t just leave her, so I gave her my escort. It got… interesting.

You seem to have landed in a spot of bother – tell us about it.

Alan: A spot of bother! God, if it were only that. I’ve been criminally, indefensibly stupid and reckless, and Mari’s… she’s missing. We had a fling. She wanted it to end, she said she did. But it threw me, she’s so brave and generous and she’s got under my skin. I was off balance, disorientated. I put her at risk. I never meant to, I swear. Surely… it’s got to have been an accident.

But whoever it is who’s hunting me has got her. I don’t even know if…

No.

No, I’ll find her. Whatever it takes. Bloody hellfire, if I have to crawl halfway across the Sahara desert on my hands and knees, I will find her.

Excerpt

There was grit in her shoes, sand in her eyes and the mob and her blood roaring in her ears. We can’t outrun them, she thought, we can’t—

“In here.” Alan flicked a latch on a narrow gate of planks, paint peeling red and green, and pushed her through it ahead of him. It was little more than a narrow space between two houses. Not even wide enough to earn the name alley, just a gap, with a wavering channel running down the centre, where water would run in the rains.

He crowded in after her, bending close to the gate to close it, one palm braced on the splintering wood, one easing the latch into place silently. The mob passed, a shadow at the gate, a shouting and thundering, shivering a skein of sand from the back ledge of the gate.

The noise outside went away, the noise inside was only their breathing, her feet shuffling on the ground as she tried to edge her way to some personal space, somewhere she could breathe.

She was immediately half-blinded in the shadows and half-stifled in the still, hot air. She braced one hand on the rough-rendered wall opposite. With her back against the other wall, she couldn’t even straighten her arm. She dragged in hot, dusty air, choking on the racing of her own heart, and tried not to panic.

Looking around, she saw that the other end of their hiding place was blocked by piles of something like boxes. Oh, God. “Where—”

Alan whirled on her, plucking her close, wedging her between his chest and the wall, one arm immobilising her, one hand hard across her mouth. Outside there were shouts, a distant cacophony, unreal and distorted.

Everything was unreal. The shafts of light piercing the rickety door were like golden blades.
The dust motes that danced on them were gods and angels, djinns and genies. She was blinded with light and dazzled with darkness in one breath.

In the stuttering dark he was a wall of heat, pressing her back, holding her in place. Adrenaline surged in her, heightening her senses, making her want to shout against his hand, making her want . . .

One of those golden blades sliced across his throat, where the collar of his pale shirt was undone. It gleamed on his damp, tanned skin, and glinted on the bead of sweat that was travelling––now fast, now slow––down the rough stubble underneath his jaw.

Her breathing had steadied, but her heart was still racing. There was no sun, now, on which to blame her light-headedness.

He was golden, gilded, bright.

His palm against her mouth smelled of him, and of spice and heat. She dragged the scent in, her eyes fluttering half-closed. His skin would taste of salt, she knew . . . It would taste salty and hot and intense.

It would taste . . .

She put out her tongue, half-dizzy, half-dreaming, and tasted him.

His body jerked against hers. His eyes were glowing in one of those brilliant beams from the broken door, all white and blue, like a clouded summer sky. They fixed on her, holding her more effectively in place than the hands that gripped her and the body that pinned her.

He ducked his head. The hair at her temple snagged on the roughness of his jaw, and his breath spilled down her neck. “Mari,” he whispered, a word of warning, but his grip on her changed, gentled. His thigh brushed hers, his chest pressed against her breasts. Outside, distantly, a crowd roared, but the sound of her blood drowned out their hate.

Anna: We have a question for all of you in the Lair. Alan and Mari have to weather a sandstorm in the Sahara, hunkering down behind some rocks with only some bits of a tent for shelter. What one comfort item would you take into the desert with you.... the one thing, apart from basic survival kit, you would HAVE to have with you?
One lucky commenter will win a copy of Dangerous Lies and some Moroccan Rose lotions from The Body Shop

Lorraine Heath prize winners

by Suzanne
We have 3 prize winners from Lorraine Heath's blog day. CONGRATULATIONS, Penny, Elaine C. and Caffey!

Please contact me at swwelsh2001 AT Yahoo DOT com ,(yes, there are 2 w's in that addy), with your choice of which of Lorraine's Scoundrel Of St. James or one of the Dark Guardian books you'd like to receive, as well as your snail mail addy. I'll be sure to pass the information to Lorraine.

Staying Viable in a Volatile Market

Today we welcome bestselling author Jennifer St. Giles to the lair. Jennifer's many awards include the Golden Heart, the Maggie, the Daphne, and the National Reader's Choice Award. She has written different sub-genres and will share her tips for adapting to a changing publishing climate. She'll also give us a peek at her Shadowmen series, hot paranormals from Pocket. I just finished Kiss of Darkness, and it not only has a different twist on vampires and werewolves but is smokin'! Welcome, Jennifer!



We all know that traditional publishing is feeling the bite of not only the economic downturn, but also the explosion of the e-book market. The options authors now have of getting their books before readers and even in print without going through the New York Publisher meat grinder is ever developing. Print on demand choices and worldwide distribution though mega sites like Amazon.com have revolutionized the publishing industry. All of these factors have both positive and negative affects upon today’s author.

The bad news first. Unfortunately, the unvarnished, ugly truth in publishing today is that an author is a lonely ship being tossed to and fro upon a turbulent sea with no control over their career no matter how much hard work and talent is put forth. Whether you sink, tread water, or sail gloriously to the top of the world all depends on a magical combination of market demand, capturing the elusive word-of-mouth phenomena, publisher support, and luck.


You ask what possible good news can there be after such a harsh reality? What can an author do amid such turbulence?

First realize that publishing is a business that must make a profit. It is not an art appreciation charity. As an author you are producing a product for the publishing business to sell. The publisher will buy what they think will sell. They will market it in a way that they think will best sell that product. If for whatever reason, your product does not sell according to their needs then they have to discontinue that product. Publishing and the decisions made are not personal, so don’t take it that way. You begin to take charge of your career when you begin to think like a business person that has a product to market.

Now the Good Part!

If a manuscript has been rejected by traditional publishers then take that book to a reputable e-publisher and see if they will take a chance on it or seriously consider print on demand self-publishing.

Next, if you are one of the lucky ones who land a traditional publishing house then do everything possible via the internet to support your book and develop a fan base. Prior to your book’s release, write a short, sexy prequel to your story as a free download from your website. Or write a sexy novella about a secondary character in your book and sell it to an e-book publisher. Even if you give this away free on your website, this will draw more readers to the release of your book and have them eager to buy it as soon as it comes out.

Don’t let a book rest on its review laurels. Get excerpts out to as many blogs as possible. Be creative in introducing your characters to readers. (I did this by interviewing my Shadowmen heroes as a reporter that works for Cosmos Paranormal Quarterly.)

Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Publish in multiple genres and mediums (print/ ebook). Even if you cannot contractually write for another house under your published name then do so under a pseudonym.

Make use of every inexpensive marketing tool available. Use Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter, but do so in a way that has readers coming to you as opposed to you trying to thrust your book in front of their face. Offer something unique for free on your website and invite others to come make use of it. Interactive websites are a great thing as well.

Be innovative in regards to the market. One thing I have done that I dearly hope turns out well is publish romance’s first graphic e-book. Wild Irish and Smooth Irish written under the name Jennifer Saints are for sale at www.betweenyoursheets.com. These books full length novels are light, spicy romances that contain 50 to 70 pictures of the cover models in different scenes throughout the book.

Well, here you have it. A short run down on some of the things an author can to do stay viable in the crazy world of publishing. I hope that you found some tidbit of advice that will spark you to think creatively about your career and to make strides that will help guide your boat through the stormy seas.





There are four books in Jennifer's Shadowmen Series to sizzle up our reading time, Touch a Dark Wolf, Lure of the Wolf, Kiss of the Darkness, and Bride of the Wolf. To see how hunky a warrior from the spirit world can be, check out this taste of Sam and Emerald from Kiss of Darkness:

Something was wrong in Twilight.

Sam had the limo’s license plate imprinted in his brain, which meant he could track down the bastards without having to chase them down. Good thing. He’d probably be as lethal behind a wheel as he was with the gun at the moment.

Dozens of questions about what Emerald had just done and what had just happened screamed through his mind, but he didn’t trust himself to speak to her, yet. Not until he had a firm handle on his temper, which meant the FBI--or Myra if she was lying--would get the brunt of his rage. Nice.

“Sam,” Emerald said. “I’m sorry. I didna mean to—”

“Later, Em. I can’t think yet,” he told her, still gulping in deep breaths of air.

“Come on,” she said softly, taking his hand. She led him up the steps of the station and into the shadowed recesses of the entrance. For once she kept quiet, as if she really understood how tenuous his hold was. Even the tinkling of her bracelets grated on him.

What had happened to him?

He tugged her back before she could open the door, intending to take a moment more to gather his cool. But when he looked at her, she had that lip thing going again and all thought and reason abandoned him. Seeing her teeth sunk into her lush bottom lip that was now all moist and wet snapped something inside him. All of the desire he’d kept a tight lid on for months meshed with all of the emotion roiling in him and he lost it.

Taking hold of her shoulders, he leaned down and kissed her, sliding his tongue swiftly over her plump lip then sucking the sweetness of it into his mouth. Her heady lavender and spice scent mingled with womanly arousal filled his lungs and set his senses on fire.

Blood roared in his ears, rushing south to his swelling erection. He could smell, taste, and feel her on a level he’d never experience before in his life. It was all consuming. Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her hard against his burning need. She gasped in response and his tongue invaded deep, sweeping the softness of her mouth and tangling with her tongue.

She moaned, angling her neck back to take more of him and he stepped between her legs, riding his thigh to the V of her hot sex. Her breasts brushed his chest and he had to touch her, had to feel their ripe fullness. Taste her. Suck her. Eat her. Thrust into her until nothing but mindless pleasure ruled them both.

“Sam, please” she said, splaying her hand against his chest, breathing as heavily as he was.

That was all he needed to hear. She wanted him as desperately as he wanted her. He’d known it forever. So why in the hell hadn’t they banged it up big time, yet? He couldn’t seem to remember why and wasn’t the least bit interested in thinking right now. He backed her to the wall and shoved his hand up her soft shirt to even softer skin and cupped her lace covered breast. Her nipple hardened and he groaned deep, shoving his arousal hard against her.

Emerald pulled back then suddenly smacked her fist into his chest.

He blinked at her, trying to see through his desire hazed vision. “Em?”

“I said please stop, you gack. Not please more.” She pushed at him again and he loosened his hold, surprised to find his hand palming her breast. Reluctantly, he slid his hand from her shirt and eased back from her, finally seeing clearly enough to realize they weren’t even in private.

Considering one could practically spit from one side of the town to the other, life in Twilight was like trying to lose oneself in a fishbowl. Anybody looking from the street or the parking lot would have seen them at least kissing, if not the full details of the kiss. And anyone exiting the sheriff’s station would have gotten an eyeful. Damn where in the hell was his mind?

“I canna believe you kissed me like that. After all this fooking time you up and kiss me now?” She glared at him, chest heaving with ire.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. I shouldn’t have—”

“Yes, you bloody well should have. But you should have kissed me months ago when it would have been you kissing me.”

A final note from Jennifer: I would love to hear from you either about your thoughts on staying viable in today’s market, or about my Shadowmen Series. You can reach me either through my website or email me at jenniferstgiles@yahoo.com.

Huge thanks for letting me share with you today.

What're your favorite story elements? If you could buy a book that combined a mix mystery, romance, paranormal elements, contemporary lifestyles, futuristic worlds, historical time periods, and/or different cultural traditions in any combination you choose, what would it be?

Jennifer is giving away a book to one of today's commenters!

Time For A Top Ten List

by Beth

Tomorrow is Father's Day here in the States which, for some unknown reason, has me thinking about some of my all-time favorite Movie/TV Dads! (I know. It's scary how my brain works. Let's just go with it, shall we? *g*)

So here, in no particular order, are my Top Ten Favorite Movie or TV Dads:

1. Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) of TV's Castle. So far I've only caught a few episodes of this show but the thing that struck me right from the beginning was Castle's relationship with his daughter Alexis. Alexis is actually more mature than her dad but their love for each other is clear *g*

2. Will Hayes (Ryan Reynolds) in Definitely, Maybe. I'm a huge Ryan Reynolds fan (and I can't wait to see him with Sandra Bullock in The Proposal!) and this movie about a single dad telling his daughter about his past was very sweet :-)

3. Jack (Michael Keaton) in Mr. Mom. Oh, how I love this movie! Jack loses his job and soon embraces his new role as a stay-at-home dad. Anyone else remember this scene where he's trying to get his son Kenny to give up his woobie (security blanket): "I understand that you little guys start out with your woobies and you think they're great... and they are, they are terrific. But pretty soon, a woobie isn't enough. You're out on the street trying to score an electric blanket, or maybe a quilt. And the next thing you know, you're strung out on bedspreads Ken. That's serious."

4. Sam Baldwin (Tom Hanks) in Sleepless in Seattle. As much as I love the romance in this film, I also love the bond between Sam and his young son Jonah.

5. Robert (Patrick Dempsey) in Enchanted. I can't get enough of this movie and Robert is such a cynical New Yorker but his love for his young daughter pushes him to bring fairy tale princess Gieselle home.

6. Seeley Booth (David Boreanaz) in TV's Bones. Seeley is a tough FBI agent AND a caring father. And he's easy on the eyes, too ;-)

7. Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) in TV's Friday Night Lights (one of my fave shows!) Love how sexy Eric is with his wife and how wonderful he is with his daughters. Plus, as a football coach, he's a role model/father figure to many of the boys on his squad.

8. John Winchester (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) of TV's Supernatural. Before JDM was in Watcher's, he played Sam and Dean's father and I have to admit, I fell hard for this tough guy who would do anything to protect his sons.

9. Daniel (Liam Neeson) in Love Actually. The story line of Daniel and Sam is my favorite of this fabulous movie. Seeing their relationship grow after suffering a huge loss is so bittersweet.

10. (TIE) Richard White (James Marsden) and Clark Kent/Superman (Brandon Routh) in Superman Returns. Young Jason White couldn't ask for two better Dads!

Who are some of your favorite Movie/TV Dads? Which star would win your vote as sexiest dad? I know we have a few Hugh Jackman and Johnny Depp fans out there *g* Let's hear it!

Catherine Spangler returns to the Lair.

Interview by Suzanne

Pull up a chair Banditas and Bandit Buddies! Today, we have a guest who had a blast her last time visiting with us, my good friend, Catherine Spangler. Cathy is not only one of my favorite people and writers, but a big hit with both my daughters, who just gobble up her paranormal romances! So please welcome, Cathy...

Suz: Cathy, TOUCHED BY LIGHT is a continuation of your Atlantean Sentinel series. Can you tell us about the series and how this new book fits into the series?

Cathy: The Sentinel series is about Atlanteans reincarnating into current-day earth. First, the "bad" Atlanteans (Belians who worshipped Belial, made human sacrifices, and caused the destruction of Atlantis) started coming in, attracted by the new technologies. They thrive on chaos, fear, and blood, and many are dictators, drug lords, serial killers, etc. The good Atlanteans (the Sentinels) are now reincarnating to stop the Belians. They track the Belians psychically. They have one edge-human conductors who can amplify their psychic powers. A conductor is always opposite sex of the Sentinel, and the tracking process (a conduction) raises sexual energies. There are currently three Sentinel books: Touched by Darkness, Touched by Fire, and Touched by Light. Each is stand alone, but they're also linked.

Suz: Adam Masters isn't a typical Sentinel. How does his bonding with Julia change the Sanctioned dynamics? How does his bonding with Julia change the Sentinel-Conductor relationship?

Cathy: Adam is actually a Sanctioned, and more powerful than a Sentinel. His job is to oversee the Sentinels and conductors in his region (Texas). He's not supposed to have a matched conductor or perform conductions, yet when he meets Julia Reynolds, he quickly realizes she is indeed a matched conductor for him-which is unheard of. When he's put in a position of tracking one of his own Sentinels (something he would never ask his other Sentinels to do), then he also realizes that he and Julia are supposed to be together. It doesn't really change the Sentinel/conductor relationship, but it does create big upheavals for Adam.

Suz: Julia Reynolds is no simpering miss to be used by Adam as he pleases. How did she get that way? And how does she change during her relationship with Adam?

Cathy: Julia has never fully recovered from a horrendous attack twelve years ago, when she was stalked, brutally beaten and raped, and left for dead. Her leg was shattered, and she must use a cane to get around. She's buried herself in a brilliant teaching career, seeking refuge in order and discipline and control in her life. She doesn't want Adam messing up her haven, and she certainly doesn't want a relationship with any man, much less Adam. He's like a god, far beyond a plain woman like herself. But as she works with Adam to track the missing Sentinel, she finds herself attracted to him, and realizes she's no longer dead inside and can still experience sexual desire. When she almost dies during their tracking, she decides to throw caution to the wind and enjoy a relationship with Adam-even if it's only temporary.

Suz: The Belians are the dark forces in you paranormal world. Are the Sentinels going to best them or are they too strong?

Cathy: The Belians are basically as powerful as the Sentinels. It could go either way, and sometimes the Belians win. As I've already mentioned, the Sentinels have an edge with their conductors (there are none for the Belians), but there are no guarantees.

Suz: Miriam is an interesting secondary character. How is she involved in the story?

Cathy: I love Miriam. Underneath the Goth makeup, multi-colored hair, and multiple earrings, Miriam is basically conservative and extremely intelligent. She also comes from a Gypsy heritage and has psychometric abilities, and can read auras and Tarot cards. She becomes involved because she's one of Julia's students, and when she sees Julia and Adam together, she checks Adam's aura (which isn't normal) and gets a read from money he gives her. She knows something dark and sinister is going on, and believes she's being guided to help in some way. So she follows Adam and Julia to San Antonio, and ends up helping them in their search for a missing Sentinel and a dangerous Belian.

Suz: You usually write paranormal books. Are their more of the Sentinel series or can we expect something different in your future?

Cathy: Right now, all my story ideas are paranormal. I love those elements so much, it's basically impossible to keep them out of my books. Currently, there are no more Sentinel books planned, partly because of the downswing in the publishing industry. I am working on a new paranormal series about angels, and dusting off my "Silly Aliens" series (you can read sample chapters from Cowboys and Aliens on my website at http://www.catherinespangler.com/fun.htm).

I also want to tell you about the fun "Mr. Right Sentinel" quiz I have on my website. You can take the quiz and determine which of the three ultra-sexy Sentinels is your perfect match (okay, so Adam is a Sanctioned, but he's included in the quiz). You can find the quiz at http://www.catherinespangler.com/fun_quiz.htm. And if you do take it, I hope you'll comment on the blog and share your match. It will be interesting to see which Sentinel is the most popular.

Are you getting tired of the most written paranormal themes (vampires, werewolves, etc.)? What would you like to see in future paranormal trends (angels, demons, magic, etc.)?Do you think we might get some good discussion with those questions? We can let readers know that they can chime in on the questions or take the quiz and give their results, and either way, they'll be entered into the drawing for the book. I'm giving away a copy of Touched by Light today, so jump in for a chance to win.

Thank you so much for letting me hang out here today. The Bandits are ultra cool! .

The Unseen Winners!!

by Caren Crane

Okay, the winners won't be unseen, but they are the winners of fantastic books from the author of The Unseen, Alexandra Sokoloff.

The winner of an autographed copy of The Unseen is...HOUSEMOUSE88!!

The winner of an autographed copy of The Harrowing is...LYNN!!

Congratulations, ladies! Please send your name and snail mail information to: alex @ alexandrasokoloff.com. Enjoy!

The Road To Romance

posted by Loucinda McGary aka Aunty Cindy

Next Tuesday I'm excited to be a guest speaker at the Solano County Library in Fairfield, California as part of their Summer Reading Program for Adults. The librarians asked me to talk about my experiences as a romance reader and writer and I thought I'd give you all a sneak peek at part of what I plan to say.

My mother is the one chiefly responsible for setting me on the winding path that eventually became my road to romance. She loved to read the great old gothic romances by Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney, and Mary Stewart.

Back in the day (all right, I'll admit it, I'm a child of the 60s) you could very definitely tell a book by its cover. If the cover had a house with only a single lighted window, it was a gothic! My mom always had a paperback or two lying around the house. She often traded them with her friends.

As a bored young teen, I started picking them up and reading them and--WONDER OF WONDERS!--I liked them! (In fact I liked them so much, that I wound up naming my son after a character in Mary Stewart's The Moonspinners!)

I say 'wonder of wonders' because in those days I was an avid science fiction/fantasy reader and an all-out LOTR fanatic! I read everything from Piers Anthony to Roger Zelazny and anything in between. In fact it was a fantasy novel first published in the late 1970s that convinced me I should try my hand at writing my own novel. That book was The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks and it was a complete homage to Tolkien.


I LOVED IT! I also decided that if some lawyer from Chicago could do it, I could too (ah, the blissful ignorance of youth). So I made my very first attempt at writing a novel. I wrote the first draft in long hand and typed the revised copy on a portable manual typewriter.

Yes indeed, it was a terrible trial and so was the story! After a few rejections (can't believe I actually had the nerve to send it out) it went into a very large box under the bed and somehow through various moves and a divorce became lost forever. Thank goodness and may it Rest In Peace!

Meanwhile, my rocky road to romance continued. In the 80s I discovered and devoured most of the 'bodice rippers' of the day -- Rosemary Rogers, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Patricia Matthews (remember her?). But contemporary romances pretty much left me cold and fantasy continued to be my genre of choice...

Until one day in 1992 when I was browsing the SciFi/Fantasy section of my local bookstore and I pulled out a book that had somehow been misshelved. I mean, one look at the cover (front and back) and I knew that in spite of its very odd title, Outlander, that this was a romance. My BFF's birthday was fast approaching and I knew she liked to read romances so I bought the book to give to her. Of course, I just couldn't resist reading the first chapter...

...And the rest, as they say, IS HISTORY! I couldn't stop, and finished Outlander in a 3 day reading binge. By the time I gave it to my BFF wrapped in pretty flowered paper with a bright shiny bow (to distract from the slightly cracked spine), I'd already stopped at the library and checked out the sequel, Dragonfly In Amber. And when I finished it, I ran to the bookstore and bought every time-travel romance in sight. Finally, when I grew impatient waiting for Diana Gabaldon to finish the third Jamie and Claire book, Voyager, I decided to write my very own time-travel romance.

This second effort wasn't nearly as bad as my previous sword & sorcery attempt. In fact, an editor at Leisure books actually requested the full manuscript, but didn't buy it. But I also knew I had a lot to learn and started reading a lot of 'how-to' books and taking online classes. I also kept reading romance! By now, I'm happy to say I was firmly on that road.

Eventually, I joined RWA and attended some regional conferences. I also kept reading and writing, and decided to go back to my 'roots' and give romantic suspense a try. My first completed romantic suspense manuscript finaled in the 2006 Golden Heart (sound familiar?). And in 75 more days, that book will be released as The Treasures of Venice! Just goes to prove that happy endings happen in real life too!

Now you all know a little of my story of my road to romance, so it is your turn to share yours! Who helped set you on your own road to romance? What are some of the books you remember most along the way?

Please share and at the end of the day, Aunty will pick one commenter to receive either an autographed copy of The Wild Sight (which just WON Best First Book in the More Than Magic Contest!) , or an IOU for an autographed copy of The Treasures of Venice when it is released on September 1st.

Summer Vacation

by Christie Kelley

The kids are done with school now so it’s officially summer vacation time. We live in a wonderful neighborhood that has access to a tidal river that feeds the Chesapeake Bay. In our common area, we have a spring fed pond for the kids to swim and white sand surrounds it. Without a doubt, it is the perfect place to spend a summer. Now that my youngest is 12, he can go down to the pond with a friend (as long as a lifeguard is on duty). He did it for the first time this week. It felt really strange letting my “baby” go. But it did free up my time for work so I was happy.

When I was growing up, my cousins had a heated in-ground pool that we usually had an open invitation to come over and swim. My father would take care of their house and pool while they went away for a month every July. So we would go swimming every day that was nice. But to this day, I wonder why they would have left their house for a month when they had a great place to spend their summer.

Summer for me was hanging out usually with a great book to read. It wasn't planned and organized with camps and other things to do except for our one week family vacation to the beach. I see so many kids that are in camps from the first week of vacation to the last and wonder if they really enjoy their vacation from school. But I was lucky that my mom worked for the school system and had summers off. My kids are lucky because both my husband and I work from home so they can choose a camp if they want to but aren't forced into it. My oldest is going to a college for a computer game design camp for a week and my youngest is taking afternoon sailing lessons. Both sound like fun for them.

In addition, this summer the kids are going to my mother’s house in upstate NY for a week while my husband and I spend 10 days in Italy. Now I just have to figure out things for them to do while we’re gone so they don’t drive my mother crazy.

So if you want to be in the drawing for a copy of Every Time We Kiss, tell me about you summers as a kid. What are your plans for this summer? Extra credit for ideas to keep the boys from driving my mother crazy!

Bandita Booty!!

by Anna Sugden
I'm sorry I'm late announcing this - totally my fault - life got so busy!

Without further ado, the winners for the signed hardbacks of the UK Edition of Eloisa James' Desperate Duchesses are:

Flchen1

Maija P

Chey

And as an extra bonus, because I was so late announcing the prize, I'm offering some genuine Cadbury's chocolate to:

Blodeuedd

Congratulations!!

Please send your snail mail details to me at Anna@annasugden.com and I'll ensure your prizes are sent out to you ASAP!

Alexandra Sokoloff Reveals The Unseen

by Caren Crane

I know there are those among the Banditas and Bandita Buddies who long for the chills from things that go bump in the night. I have a special treat for you, my terror-loving friends. My guest today is Alexandra Sokoloff, whose first book The Harrowing was nominated for both the Bram Stoker and Anthony First Book awards. Alex's latest release The Unseen deals with parapsychology, poltergeists and...well we'll get to all that shortly.

Welcome to the Lair, Alex!

Thanks, Caren and Banditas! I am thrilled to be in any lair, but especially this one.

I am the first to admit I am a big old chicken about reading scary books anymore. As a young woman, I read Stephen King and Anne Rice books at an alarming rate, but stopped somewhere in my 20s. So I was curious how my chicken-hearted self would take to The Unseen. I'm happy to report that I made it through without any night terrors or flying leaps into bed! Of course, I read it mostly in the break room at lunch. *g* What is that attracts you to the dark side of writing?

I actually think The Unseen is my "safest" book so far for those who are sensitive to that scary stuff. There are some good spooky chills, but it's more romantic and mysterious, too.

I always loved reading the darker, ghostly books - gothics, Anne Rice, the Brontes, Stephen King, Ira Levin. That all seems to start young. But I also did a ton of musical theater, so it wasn't all dark in my childhood! I guess I was always sensitive to the fact that scary things happen - I myself was almost abducted by a child molester when I was eight, but realized something was terribly wrong with the man and luckily, I got away. Others of my friends were not so lucky. So that was my first brush with true evil, and it started my obsession with the idea of a constant battle out there between good and evil. I love books and movies that acknowledge evil does exist, often in the form of people gone bad, but that have a strong theme of good people fighting it and triumphing. That's what I explore in my books.

Oh my, you learned that lesson far too young. It's easy to see why the good vs. evil theme is such a strong one for you. I was intrigued by The Unseen for several reasons. Much to my husband's dismay, I have long been fascinated by all things "woo woo" as Tawny would say. When I was a kid in the 70s, astrology and psychic exploration of all types were big, even without drugs! So setting The Unseen at Duke University (just down the road) which had a fully-functional parapsychology department for decades was a real hook for me. What made you choose Duke and the work done there as the basis for a book?

Just like you, I got hooked on the psychic stuff as a kid back in the 70's, which was, let's face it, all about that mind-expansion thing! I must have heard about the Rhine ESP experiments when I was just 9 or 10. I remember my little sister doing a science report about the Rhine experiments - she even made her own Zener ESP cards.

Then, way later, several years ago, my screenwriting partner and I were doing a movie assignment, adapting a book about a famous poltergeist experiment, and we decided to set the story on the Duke campus because of the whole history of the parapsychology lab, and I took a research trip to North Carolina to check out the campus and just fell in love with it - it's so Gothic and spooky - actual gargoyles! - and that great chapel. (By the way, that was the film assignment that drove me to write my own first novel, The Harrowing.)

But the spark that, uh, lit the fire of The Unseen, was my significant other handing me an article in the paper about a lecture on the Duke campus called: "Secrets of the Rhine Parapsychology Lab". He told me - as he is wont to do - "You should go to this." And he was right. At that lecture I learned that when the lab closed down in 1965, seven hundred boxes of original paranormal research files were sealed up and stored in the basement of the graduate school library, and were only just opened up after 40 years.

Now, is that a story or what? What the HELL is in those boxes?

So I pitched that to St. Martin's as my third book and they flipped for the idea, and there you go.


I would love to know what's in those boxes, too! It was a great idea that you turned into a riveting book. I loved the feeling of uncertainty throughout The Unseen. The heroine is quite a skeptic about the paranormal activities she sees (or doesn't) and she is also not sure who to trust. A big theme in The Unseen is what the characters want to believe. This seemed to include not only the paranormal stuff but also what the characters believed about each other. I am always tempted to rush to answer questions in my books, which is a suspense killer. *g* Was it hard to write a book where you had to leave so many questions open-ended as to what really happened or who could be trusted?

It was hard, thanks for asking! Because the thing about a poltergeist is that there is no concrete explanation, really. It could be the psychic projections of a troubled adolescent, it could be an aspect of a traditional haunting, it could be extra-dimensional entities, it could be sheer human fraud. So I had to create a situation which could be any one or all of those things, and as usual, I wanted to keep readers guessing all the way through about what was really going on (an author friend of mine calls my books "whatdunits") - while providing a great roller coaster ride - and then resolve the mystery in a scary and satisfying way.

And of course, on the human side Laurel is very damaged from her recent experience with discovering her fiance cheating on her, so it's difficult for her to trust anyone. That whole issue is what she has to resolve personally in order to grow. She wants to believe in psychic phenomena, and believe in people again, but is protecting herself, possibly for good reason.

Now that everyone's curiosity is piqued for The Unseen, what other spooky projects do you have in store for readers?

I just turned in my fourth book for St. Martin's, Book of Shadows, which I just love - it's about a Boston homicide detective who has to team up with a mysterious and of course very sexy witch from Salem to solve what looks like a Satanic killing. Again, crossing real life with the paranormal! I'm doing a paranormal trilogy with Heather Graham and Deborah LeBlanc for Harlequin Nocturne, and an anthology of four interconnected novellas with Heather, Sarah Langan and Sarah Pinborough. All three of my first books, The Harrowing, The Price, and The Unseen will be available in England, Canada, Australia and New Zealand starting in October. And I'm just finishing up my Screenwriting Tricks for Authors book, based on the story structure methods I teach on my blog. Hmm, no wonder I'm tired!

I'm tired just hearing how busy you are. It's a great thing for us readers, though! Any last thoughts for the Banditas and BBs?

The Unseen explores psychic phenomena like hauntings, poltergeists, precognitive dreams, and crisis apparitions (seeing a loved one at the moment of death or extreme trauma). I treat the subject very realistically (and even stayed in a notoriously haunted mansion in North Carolina for a week to add that extra layer of realism!)

So my questions for our readers today are all about that. Have you - or someone you know - ever had a precognitive dream or experience? Some kind of visitation from a dead loved one? A ghost or haunting experience? Experience with ESP or telepathy? Let's hear it!

We'll pick two commenters randomly to win a signed copy of The Unseen and a signed copy of my first spooky ghost story, The Harrowing (inspired by a poltergeist experience I had when I was 16).

Thanks for having me here, and thanks for sharing!

For an extra chance to win a signed copy of The Unseen, just sign up for Alex's newsletter at her website: http://alexandrasokoloff.com, where she gives away a book a week.

Colette's winners

Thanks so much for all the comments on Colette's post today. The three winners are as follows:

Gannon -- Bound By Honor
Drew -- Unmasqued
RachieG -- Master

E-mail me at trishmilburn AT yahoo DOT com with your mailing information, and I'll forward it to Colette.

Colette Gale is Seducing the Classics

Today, I'm very happy to host talented author and good friend Colette Gale, who is making a name for herself in the erotic romance world by retelling classic tales with, shall we say, a bit of a spicier twist. And Colette is giving away not one, not two, but all three of her published novels. So today, we'll have three lucky winners -- so be sure to ask Colette questions, make observations, etc. Maybe even tell us what classic tale you'd like to see given an erotic twist.

Q. Your third "Seducing the Classics" release, Bound by Honor, just came out last month. Tell us a bit about this erotic tale of Maid Marian, Robin Hood and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

A. I am a particular fan of love triangles, and I always thought it would be wonderfully fun to do the Marian/Robin/Nottingham love triangle in a "seduced" way. In fact, I've wanted to do this particular love triangle as an erotic novel for years, because I had a certain take on the story in mind, and was dying to try it out. It took me almost two years to convince my editor that Robin Hood wasn't just a kid's story (a la Disney's foxy Robin) and that this love triangle needed to be told.

But with the popularity of BBC America's Robin Hood series and the upcoming film with Russell Crowe as Nottingham, we finally agreed that the time was right. And in my book, you'll see a very strong-willed Marian, who is a woman bound by her honor to do what her liege orders her to do. She's smart and beautiful, and a very confident romantic heroine.

Robin of Locksley, aka Robin Hood, is a charming rakehell, who's very brave and a little egotistical. He's fully aware of his affect on women--the masked bandit who might sneak into the castle to steal a kiss before slipping off into the shadows. But he's also a little lost, looking for the right woman to love--even though he doesn't quite realize it. He's been displaced from his lands, and forced to become an outlaw as he tries to figure out a way to get them back.

William de Wendeval, the Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, is a dark, angry man who once upon a time was an honorable knight. But now he struggles between his desires and that bruised honor, between what he knows is right, and what his liege demands of him.

Nottingham is the right-hand man of Prince John, who is a lecher and repulsive in his own right. John holds his own "Court of Pleasure" most every evening, inviting and at times demanding that the women of the court participate. Between his own version of chess, and the night of the "living statues," John is clearly a most lascivious, depraved man.

However, despite the erotic scenes in my books--which do push the boundaries of a "historical romance" novel, because there are sex scenes with characters other than the hero and heroine, and because they are sometimes intimate with others--at the heart of each one is a true love story. A real romance.

In my mind, what makes these erotic versions different from sexy romance novels is that the relationship between the hero and heroine grows and develops and is shown mainly through the sex scenes. Each sex scene, believe it or not, has a purpose in the development of the relationship, and that's how we see the relationship grow.

Q. I'm curious how the idea of retelling classic stories with an erotic twist came to you. Was it a deliberate effort or did the idea just come to you?

A. My first "seduced classic," UNMASQUED: An Erotic Novel of the Phantom of the Opera, was something I just started to write for myself. I am a fan of erotic novels, and I was always fascinated by Andrew Lloyd Webber's take on the original story. He romanticized and, dare I say, eroticized, the original in such a way that I was furious when Christine didn't stay with the Phantom at the end of the play/movie.

So I decided I wanted to not only know what happened down in his lair during those days she was there, but that I also wanted her to stay with the Phantom. So I wrote my version of the story, which was my first shot at writing an erotic novel. My agent loved it (although she confessed that it made her blush to read it), and we sold it to NAL. After that came a whole discussion about what classic I should do next. I wanted to do Robin Hood/Marian/Nottingham, but as I mentioned above, my editor wasn't as keen on the idea.

But when she suggested that I do a version of The Count of Monte Cristo, I jumped at the chance. It was a perfect book to write a "dirty" version of--the behind the scenes, what really happened when the doors were closed aspect.

In fact, unlike my version of The Phantom of the Opera, I followed the story line of Dumas's original classic very closely. I wrote much of the book from Mercedes's point of view, but there are actually three love stories in Master: An Erotic Novel of the Count of Monte Cristo, and I must say that I'm very proud of that book. Each relationship is very different, and again, as I mentioned above, each sex scene in that book further develops not only the hero and heroine's relationship, but also character.

The main story, that of Mercedes and the Count of Monte Cristo, is built around his desire for revenge on her for the wrong she's done to him. There's another subplot with a female slave who is the agressor in a relationship with another male slave. And the third is a very sweet love story in which the hero and heroine have a fence between them at all times.

Such fun I had with those three plots! I really loved that book. Throw in the fact that in the original Dumas there were not only orgies and hashish, but danger and a fascinating plot, and voila! The perfect idea for a "behind the scenes" look at the story.

Q. The covers for your books have been beautiful. I'm particularly partial to Bound By Honor. I love the colors. Do you have input into the covers, or are you totally surprised each time you see them?

A. I love my covers. And thank you for the compliments! I love them all, but when I saw the cover for Master, I thought it was the most beautiful cover I'd ever seen. But when I saw the cover for Bound by Honor, I had to change my mind! The art department really outdid themselves on it, didn't they?

I can take no credit for anything regarding the covers. The conception was all from the designers at NAL, and they're absolutely perfect. I just love them.

Q. Who are some of your favorite erotic romance authors?

A. I have always loved Anne Rice's Sleeping Beauty series; in fact, after The Story of O, that was my first foray into erotica. I also love Bertrice Small's Skye O'Malley series--and I think she did wonders (Ms. Small, I mean) for helping to push the boundaries of romance into erotica, way back in the '70s/early '80s.

Q. What are you working on now? What tales do you hope to give an erotic twist in the future?

A. Right now, I'm not working on anything as a seduced classic. In order to do another one, I have to have the right idea, and I simply don't have an idea that has the right "feel." I have a couple of ideas in mind and we'll see if they pan out.

Part of the reason I'm waffling is because in each of my books, I generally write twenty chapters or so. And my goal is, because it's an "erotic novel," that there is at least one sex scene per chapter--i.e., someone's going to get off. Somehow, some way. ;-)

So that's a lot of sex scenes (60 in my eroticas alone), and, quite frankly, a lot of ways to have to describe an org*sm. Yannow? I want to keep the scenes fresh and erotic and titillating for both me and the reader, and I don't want the quality to suffer because I'm doing too many or rushing them. That's why I can only do no more than one erotic novel per year, at the most.

However, many of you know that I also write under my other name, which is a not-very-well-kept secret. I recently released the last in my Gardella Vampire Chronicles series, and I have a brand new series coming out in early 2010 that doesn't have vampires in it (it has zombies) and it isn't set in the past (it's set in the future). So I've been busy working on the first three books in that series, and hopefully Trish and the Banditas will have more information about that when the time is closer. ;-)

Q. Anything you'd like to ask our lovely blog visitors today?

A. Simple: Robin Hood or Nottingham? And why?

Don't forget to comment today for your chance to win one of Colette's steamy reads.

One of These Things...

by Tawny

Did you ever watch Sesame Street? If so, do you recall that little song, One Of These Things Is Not Like The Other? There was always a selection of somethings and given that the show targeted preschoolers, the something that didn't belong usually stood out pretty easily. For instance, Foanna's Tempt The Devil, Madame's The Dangerous Duke and my own Going Down Hard... They are all Bandita books, so that gives them the common ground. But Fo and Christine's books are both historicals and both are single title. Then there's mine- categoryand contemporary. One of these things is not like the other, right? And yet, they are all romances, all well written (well, I think so *g*) and all Bandita books.

Are you humming the song yet?

What put this in my mind was that I'm moving and to sell my house, I have to paint all my walls a neutral shade of vanilla. I have to remove all photos and personal items and create a blank slate to welcome potential buyers. I totally understand this in theory, I undestand why I need to lose the purple dining room and tortoiseshell hallway. I get that my framed bookcovers might not resonate with certain people and that they'd be a possible distraction from letting them imagine themselves living in the house. And honestly, I wouldn't want family pictures and photos of my kids on display for strangers anyway. So good girl that I am (don't laugh!) I have painted and packed and stored all the personality away in my house. And sighed.

Then yesterday my brother stopped by. Now, I hear quite often how alike my brother and I am. We look alike (if you've ever seen my cartoon avatar, he jokes that he drew a picture of himself with longer hair - really, we look that much alike). We have the same basic personality traits -smart alek, opinionated and a smidge neurotic. He's a graphic artist, I'm a writer. We both love to express ourselves. The list goes on and on. So he comes in, looks around at my neutral home and claimed for the first time ever- "Wow, the place looks great. I love it."

I almost hit him. But it really drove the point home that as much as we're alike, we're still vastly different. He likes neutral. He thrives on white walls and black furniture with glass and chrome accents. I live for color, plants and wood. People are always surprised to see how completely opposite we are in the home we surround ourselves with.

One of these things is not like the other...

and that is definitely a good thing.

How about you? Is there someone you're so much alike - a family member or friend -that you're usually compared to, and yet in some vital way you're completely different? Does it surprise you? And just out of curiousity - are you a color or neutral wall kind of person?

A View of The Lair Through a Cabana Boy's Eyes

posted by Joanie T

The place was a mess.

Not a surprise since his employers had held another one of their launch parties, Ricco thought, as he lifted another batch of margharita glasses from the industrial dishwasher. He set them down on the far end of the bar, picked up his Egyptian linen cloth and began polishing. The Banditas were very particular about spots.

Morning duty was a mixed blessing really. Lots to get in order; sweeping up debris, blender checks, chandelier repair. All work and little fun. He knew there was lots of exciting stuff going on in The Lair. Had to be with these creative types. Their imaginations are limitless and a little scary. He'd seen the looks on the party event staff's faces; befuddled, euphoric and occasional out right shock. Yep, those crews had the hardest job. Keeping the Banditas and their Buddies well stocked with an endless variety of alchoholic concoctions was a challenging task. Not to mention snacks, music, dancing lessons. Those conga lines were killers.

Maybe he should have taken that job at the post office.

A smile tugged at his lips. Nah, that would have been the polar opposite of this job. Day in day out sorting of envelopes vs. constant partying and never knowing what would happen next, which Bandita would require personal assistance. To be called by one of the Banditas? THAT was a coveted job.

Ricco glanced down from the bar situated on the mezzanine level of The Lair. He’d been told when hired by that fiery red headed Bandita JoMama that this was a club for a sedate, demure ladies group.

Hah!


There was more to it than that and his suspicions were being proven everyday. He was a second level cabana boy. He supposed he should be offended by being called a boy but when that Cassondra said it—purred it—he didn’t mind…even when she sashayed around all armed and ready. He knew weapons and that Bandita was lethal.

The required uniform…if black pirate pants and loose cotton shirts could be called that…and the daily mandatory workouts supervised by the Bandita known cryptically as AC were a bit much but hey, he liked keeping in shape.

He barely kept the Waterford flute in his hands from crashing to the floor at the loud crack coming from the exercise room. Ok, so that crop was concerning.

Nope, the Lair was definitely not your average club. For one thing it spread out in multi levels deep into the earth, up a mountain and he suspected had secret tunnels to the ocean. You had to be high level among the crews to descend into the depths. He swept his gaze over the gauze draped party room below. Oh, yeah, he wanted to advance.

Several of the third level guys were sweeping the floor which was a challenge as there were still Banditas and BB’s recovering from the last launch party for “Dark and Deadly.”
Ricco laughed out loud. Yeah, that about summed it up the world of The Lair.

The central floor area had a handful of silk covered chase lounges in a rainbow of colors. He recognized Duchess Hotdayum and Duchesse Snorkdom from the uninhibited way they were sprawled on the furniture with their pinkies crooked out. No etiquette involved there rather it was their trademark “C’mere cabana boy” signal. He smiled to himself. He’d been privileged to that before.

In the far corner that tall guy, Sven was working on his eighteenth massage. Poor guy looked exhausted but Ricco didn’t miss the heat in his eyes when he looked at that Aussie Christine. Even from up here, he could hear her murmur something about a "Wicked Little Game." It didn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Sven's frequent “Da’s” didn't just mean "Yes, Mme."

Ricco heard a rumble of thunder and cast a wary look to the balcony suspended in the air by what looked like clouds. He’d never figured how they did that but he wasn’t about to ask the goddess who was stretched out on it—on a cloud? This Bandita meant business with a capital B. He made a hasty check of the sangria, breathing a sigh of relief when he found the cabinet well stocked with her favored tropical blend. A shiver of excitement shot down his spine when he found her studying him with those midnight blue eyes. Not always good to gain her attention, not with those mammoth gladiators guarding her like Ft. Knox gold.

Caught in her gaze, he almost missed the one named Demetrius lifting his shield in silent salute to the Duchesse. The subtle nod they exchanged made his brows raise.

“Are you ready to par-tay?”

Ricco’s attention snapped back the hallway. No Hank Williams Jr. but a trio of Banditas rushing into the bar. Susan, Beth and Kirsten. Sweet, angelic smiles…and a glint in their eyes that set his nerves on edge.

“Plenty of wine, strawberries, mangos for the margaritas?” This from the one called Tawny or “Blaze” as she was nicknamed sauntering in behind them. Ricco cleared his throat at the sultry look she sent him, almost losing another glass.

“Don’t forget the appetizers,” called the Texan Bandita Suz. Ricco narrowed his eyes. Was that a rope she was twirling? Her avid gaze swept over him. His mouth went dry.

“Mimosas,” trilled Kate as she swept by with her witchy friend. “Don’t forget the mimosas. And appletini's. My guest needs appletinis!”

Ricco’s eyes widened at the woman riding a small dragon swooping in from the doorway. “Diet Coke for me,” called Nancy. She waved at Trish who’d just driven in with another multi-contracted deal with Donna and Christie. Those two called most of the cabana boys “Duke.” Strange.

The boys below were scurrying to finish the clean up directed by a tall, lithe Bandita with a brilliant smile and a gorgeous Chico’s jacket. She glared up at the goddess. “Don’t even think about it.”

Man, they were all here. Anna with those hockey hunks which he could take in a minute if it weren’t for those sticks, the other Anna from Oz who could barely carry all her awards but was still calling for a scotch on the rocks and cherry ripes and Tim Tams. Dang, the shipment of those hadn't arrived yet.

He was jotting down a note to rememdy that when a sultry voice asked, “Got anything, cold?”
Ricco raised his head at the murmured voice to stare at the elusive KJ. “I’ve just arrived from an expedition and..” She raked him with her hot gaze. “I’m thirsty.”

Ricco gulped.

“I’ve got turtles!” chirped frequent guest PJ.

“Eat ‘em fast,” said the dude in BDU’s as he checked the perimeter. “Me and my boy gotta get the place fastened down.”

He shook his head at the rooster following the guy around with a rucksack strapped to his back.

A flash of light caught Ricco in the eye as more guests began to arrive. It was a never ending party in this place, he mused as he broke out more ice. No other job like it.

“Cabana boy?”

He looked down at the Duchesse who crooked her finger at him.

Ricco grinned. Nope, no other job like it in the world.

While Ricco is busy…er, at his job. Who else is arriving today for the party? Any other cabana boys out there?