A Book, a Tee Shirt, and a Gift!

July 1st, 2009

Hello one and all!

I’m stopping by today to announce an exciting contest that’s going on right now at Coffee Time Romance! Check out the following link, answer the questions provided, and you could win, yes, an autographed copy of Seductive Persuasion, an EC tee shirt, and a Barnes and Noble giftcard! Here’s the link: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ContestPage.html

It works great! And I’d like to thank CTR for helping with this contest. BTW, Seductive Persuasion is the first book in my Panthera series, Rhiannon’s Pride, Book 2, is also available, and I’m currently working on edits for Book 3, titled Sea Captain’s Ghost! Soon, I should have more news about that story, which is set during the Golden Age of Piracy!

Stay tuned for details, and please, check out the contest! Again, here’s the link: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/ContestPage.html

Until next time, write well and read often,

Frances Stockton

Upcoming Events with Coffee Time Romance!

June 22nd, 2009

Hello and greetings everyone!

I wanted to remind you all about two exciting events coming up with the lovely ladies at Coffee Time Romance.  Tomorrow evening, starting at 9pm, there will be a live chat featuring Heartfelt’s Divine Writers Summer Splash. As one of their author’s, I’ll be chatting live about my books, writing, inspiration, and hosting a contest, of course. Stop by Tuesday 23, 2009 starting at 9pm EST, and have your name entered into a drawing for a download of either Seductive Persuasion or Rhiannon’s Pride, winner’s choice!

Tuesday’s Chat with Coffee Time Romance can be found by following this link: http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/Chat.html

On Wednesday, June 24, 2009 I’m scheduled for an all day blog event with Coffee Time Romance, in Coffee, Books and a Blog.  Here are a few links to follow to get you there:  http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/  or  follow this link for Coffee, Books and  a Blog http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/?cat=75

This even is casual, laid back, featuring introductions, blurbs, excerpts, two contests, and I’ll be dropping in throughout the day to post comments and responses. The big contest will feature an autographed copy of Seductive Persuasion and I’ll post a question during the blog day, so stay tuned and check back often for your chance to win!  Also, anyone who leaves a comment on the blog Wednesday June 24, 2009 will have their name entered into a drawing for an EC deck of playing cards and an Ellora’s Cave Publishing tee shirt.

I hope to hear from you all and I’m looking forward to Tuesday and Wednesday with Coffee Time Romance!

Keep reading and writing,

Frances Stockton

 

 

 

Coffee, Books and a Blog!

June 16th, 2009

Hello everyone!

I wanted to let you all know that on Wednesday June 24, 2009, I’ll be blogging at Coffee Time Romance’s Coffee, Books and a Blog! I’ll have the whole day to post about Seductive Persuasion and Rhiannon’s Pride, the Panthera, the inspiration behind my books, share excerpts, and yes, there will be a contest!

Stop by on June 24, 2009 throughout the day and leave a comment and you’ll be eligble to win an autographed copy of Seductive Persuasion, here’s a link: http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/?cat=75

In addition to the first book in the Panthera series, I’ll include some fun items and a deck of EC playing cards, winner’s choice of 2009 or 2008! So be sure to stop by and leave a comment. I love to interact and post with readers, learn about what you like and what you’d like more of, and share the wonder of imagination.

I’ll post again in a few days to remind everyone about next Wednesday June 24, 2009.

Peace to all and hope to see you then,

Frances Stockton

Lions, Tigers, Shapeshifters, and More!

June 11th, 2009

Hello and greetings, one and all!

In this post, I thought I’d talk about Paranormal Romance and why I like to write it. As an author for Cerridwen Press, I find it fun, imaginative, and a way for me to think that the hero and heroine will not only have that classic HEA (Happily Ever After) conclusion, but that they’ll have that HEA for hundreds of years, into another lifetime.  Most paranormals contain an element of longevity or near-immortality for the shapeshifters, mage, vampires, or demons and angels.

In my case, I happen to have a fascination and appreciation for big cats, specifically, leopards, lions, jaguars and tigers. That’s not to say that I don’t like pumas (cougars or mountain lions, depending upon your preference), cheetas, and snow leopards. But there is a classic difference in definition of a ‘big cat’ and a cougar. Leopards, lions, tigers, and jaguars are all panthers.  For example, lions are known scientifically as panthera leo, tigers as panthera tigris, leopards as panthera pardus. Early in history, people thought leopards were part lion and part tiger.  I honestly know more about these three than I do about jaguars, but that’s not to say I’m not researching. Perhaps a jaguar will be introduced to the Panthera series in the future. For right now, I wanted to concentrate on leopards, lions and tigers.

In the case of cougars and cheetas, they also cannot roar. Whereas the panthers cannot really ‘purr’. Perhaps some make a purring sound, such as tigers. They kind of make what I call a snuffling sound with their mouths that could be mistaken as a purr. Leopards saw, sounding much like a saw cutting through wood. Lions, of course, are loud. Their roars can be heard for miles! They are also more social than their leopard and tiger ‘cousins’. Leopards are more adaptable, excellent hunters, and opportunistic. Tigers are more solitary, love to swim, and are more likely to kill because they are often hunted and they are not the best hunters.  Cougars and cheetas are different, still magnificent animals, but they can purr and make a sort of mewing/screaming sound that can be quite loud. And, cheetas are wicked fast!  How many nature videos showcase how a cheeta can chase down prey? 

Now this post isn’t all about what makes a big cat a panther. It’s about Paranormal Romance. As I’d mentioned earlier, paranormals allow an author to dig into his or her imagination and create a world that’s unique, mythical, and filled with its own rules and consequences. The Abcynians, the mythical race portrayed in my Panthera series, have rules. Not all can shapeshift, but they are strong, live long lives, age slowly and are bound by the inability to touch gold. The Panthera, those few within the race that can change form and share their souls with a panther, are the leaders, the Elders, often seen as wise and the most protected and protective. They are protected by Abcynian Guards, humans that know what they are and keep their secrets. And they are hindered by a small herb that to us is really catnip. To the Panthera, it is a drug that induces first euphoria and eventually mind control and memory loss. Both men and women can be Panthera, but they cannot change form until they reach 200 years old, and they can chose not to transform at all. Change is painful, it is also wicked painful for their mate (if they are mated) and it can be dangerous if the Abcynian half is hindered by gold or seriously injured. Both Panthera and the Abcynians can convert humans, usually to save a life or heal another quickly.  However, the method of conversion will remain secret here, as I hope that you all will take time out to read Seductive Persuasion and Rhiannon’s Pride, books 1 and 2, in my Panthera series. There, you can learn all about the differences of this little known race, the rules, the obligations and their love stories. 

And that brings us to the ’romance’ part of Paranormal Romance.   I’ve always enjoyed writing a love story, believing in happily ever after, a dashing hero and a courageous heroine. I think I read my first romance when I was in the 9th grade, by Nora Roberts! I remember thinking, wow, this is cool. And I read another and another. I’d realize that the manuscripts that I’d written before, yes, I wrote my first book when I was 13, had elements of romance in them. I was a little innocent back then, but the first book featured a heroine that was basically a contemporary Laura Ingalls Wilder with the curiosity of Nancy Drew, who was dating a Hardy Boy. BTW, the Hardy Boy in question was the older one. So when I put down another Silhouette Romance, or bought another Harlequin, I was hooked. Then I purchased a book by Jude Devereaux that changed everything. A Pirate’s Love! It was the first book I’d read where the sensuality went beyond a closed bedroom door. That it was more than a hot and heavy kissing session, usually interrupted by something. I was like, wow, this is great! And my imagination took off. I wanted to write a sweeping epic love story like that! And, thus, I became hooked on the big, fat Historicals and mass market paperbacks. So whether I was reading, going to school, or working, I was always  writing. I’ll not confess how many manuscripts are tucked away in my files, but with each that I’d finished, I learned something new. I became more determined to create a world that was unique and long lasting.  With an appreciation for history, I focused on my favorite eras, Medieval, Renaissance, Golden Age of Piracy, Georgian/Regency, and Western.  Now, I consider Seductive Persuasion and Rhiannon’s Pride as Paranormal Romances set in the past, but what I strive to do is let the characters and the story be a reader’s guide to history. 

And, by the way, I do love to read big, bad Paranormal Romances by the likes of Sherrilyn Kenyon, J.R. Ward and Christine Feehan. These authors are always on my keeper shelves and I will race to the bookstore to buy their latest just as soon as I know it’s available. Vampires are just sexy and if they are big and strong and protective, that’s even better. I highly recommend their books, and they are excellent in showcasing ‘world building’ and how each uses a unique twist to the vampire lure. I also love Sherrilyn’s Were-Hunter books, as she’s created a whole world within the Dark Hunters and her paranormals that is just for them.

So yes, I love reading and writing Paranormal Romances. If you haven’t read any of the previously mentioned authors, check them out! Don’t forget to look up Lara Adrian, Angela Knight, and Deidre Knight, either. And, if you’d like to know more about the Panthera, both Seductive Persuasion and Rhiannon’s Pride are available from Cerridwen Press! There are buy links for each right on my home page, http://www.francesstockton.com, excerpts, a book video, and review links, too. Check them out and let me know what you think! I love to hear from readers.

Until next time,

Frances Stockton

Contest, CP Author Blog, and a Backseat Interview!

June 8th, 2009

Hello one and all!

As the subject heading indicates, tomorrow, June 9th, I’m going to be blogging at the Cerridwen Press authors blog. And, of course, because it’s new for me, I’m letting you all know that I’ll be holding a contest and the details will be on the blog at CP.

If you’d like to win a Barnes and Noble giftcard, come and check out the blog tomorrow, the url is: http://cerridwenpressauthors.blogspot.com/ and I sure hope you’ll stop by and visit sometime during the day.

In other news, yesterday I was interviewed by Terry at Romance in the Backseat, http://www.romanceinthebackseat.com and it was a blast! What a unique and creative way to get to know authors, established and new! Basically, Terry is going around the country in her car and stopping to interview romance authors along the way, and yes, the interviews take place in the back of a car.

Well, in my case, we used my car because it was more roomy, and Terry is a wisard when it comes to using a video camera, a white board, some beautiful trees where we were parked, and asking interesting questions. We talked about my books, how I got started writing the Panthera series, and how the jobs I’ve had in the past have helped create something that I love to write. Now, I’m not sure when the interview will be posted at Romance in the Backseat, but I’ll let you all know. The interveiw was done in segments, so there’s an introduction, a question and answer session, a segment dedicated to my newest release, Rhiannon’s Pride, and a brief reading from Seductive Persuasion.  We also discussed my 3rd book coming from Cerridwen Press, Sea Captain’s Ghost and my favorite pirate.

Again, when the interview goes up, I’ll let you all know! I’m so excited and it was really fun! Terry is currently still on the road, so it could be a few weeks. I also know that she interviewed some amazing authors while up this way in New England, so keep checking the Romance in the Backseat website for interviews.

Don’t forget about the Cerridwen Press authors blog: http://cerridwenpressauthors.blogspot.com/. Stop by, check out the contest, and maybe you could win a giftcard to Barnes and Noble, maybe even more .

Until next time,
Frances Stockton

Cerridwen Press Blog

May 28th, 2009

Hello everyone!

I wanted to stop by and update you all on the contest I’d begun with the release of Rhiannon’s Pride. I’d asked a question regarding Renaissance artists, and appreciate all the responses that were sent to me privately. I have contacted the winner and she was very excited but decided not to have her name announced. Out of respect for her privacy, I agreed.

But what I wanted to tell you about today, is that I’m going to be blogging once a month at the Cerriden Press blog, the url is: http://cerridwenpressauthors.blogspot.com/ beginning June 9th! I will be announcing a big contest on that day, right on that blog, and hope you all will visit, post a comment, and participate in the blog day. More information will be forthcoming, of course!

I fully intend to continue blogging right here, too, as well as on MySpace, so if you’re on MySpace, friend me and check out my blog there, too. I happen to really enjoy interacting with readers and friends there, so I hope you’ll join me. My MySpace url is: www.myspace.com/francesstockton.

Until next time,

Frances Stockton

How to Get Your Copy of Rhiannon’s Pride

May 22nd, 2009

Hello everyone! My awesome web guy is in the process of updating my website. You might notice some new banners at the bottom of the home page, and soon, there will be a buy link next to the cover of Rhiannon’s Pride. Since the book is now available, I wanted to privide a link right to the book, right here.  So here it is: http://www.jasminejade.com/p-7223-rhiannons-pride.aspx

Very soon, you’ll see a link on the home page. But for now, here’s another glimpse into the story of Rhiannon and Dante Luciano!

“Rhiannon and I will return home when she is ready. Shall we go, cara?” Dante asked, turning to Rhiannon and escorting her out of his home, following the steps that led to the circular piazza.

Stopping at the last step, he looked at his mate. Ornamental lions graced the short twin walls on either side of the stairs.  Marveling at how right she looked as they stood very close to a statue of a large male lion, he stared like a youth.  She had a sprinkle of sugar on her lips, leftover from the sugary pancake she’d had a short time ago. 

Wanting a taste of her, Dante touched his hand to her chin. For the moment the piazza was empty. A few pigeons fluttered about the circle, one landing atop the lion nearest to them.

“Rhiannon, there’s something I must do before we can progress.”

He felt her tremble. Her smile promised she wasn’t going to turn away. “What, Dante?”

“Come closer,” he said, guiding her closer with his hand at her chin.

“Dante?” Rhiannon’s breath caught, her amber eyes widening as she drew in his scent. Her panthera leo senses were growing stronger, she was scenting him, determining if he meant danger or pleasure.

“You shall see, just come a little closer,” he urged.

“Is this proper?” she teased.

He dropped his hand to her waist and tucked her close, keeping her protected by his taller, broader body.

Refusing to rush, he brushed his lips back and forth across the petal softness of hers. The sugar felt rough, tasting sweet as he swept the tip of his tongue along the top swell of her lip. Intrigued with the flavor of sugar and cassia, he sought more, growling in triumph when Rhiannon hummed and touched her tongue to his.

The responsive innocence of her kiss rocked Dante back onto his heels. Never had he wanted something more than to devour a woman’s mouth and brand it as his own. Somehow he slowed, managing to follow the withdrawal of her tongue into the warm, wet silk of her mouth before the quiet footsteps of a woman and two children reached them.

 

 

Site designed and Maintained by
Stonecreek Media, Inc
Stonecreek Media