The Holiday Season is Upon Us!

     With Thanksgiving (in the US) behind us, and after being stuffed to the gills for a week and probably a few pounds heavier from the over-indulgence, we are embarking on the month of prep for a joyous time of year! At least I hope for everyone this season will bring happiness and joy.

My Dog Dressed as a "Dog Reindeer" (He won the contest)

     As we quickly approach the end of 2013, I want to take the time to reflect back on what I’ve done in the way of my writing. Not much!

     I started last holiday season off with the first episode of a serial and had the subsequent episodes follow. The venture was a departure from what I normally write and I was disappointed by the way it was received. Due to pricing constraints with third party retailers, the price couldn’t be lowered, so I made a decision and fortunately my publisher agreed to the stories would be consolidated into one book. Christmas Eve, the entire story will be released with the final episodes added. Writing the stories was meant to be like a television series, or a comic book with new adventures happening for the main character. Sadly, the readers I pitched were interested, but the cost didn’t make sense or they said they didn’t want cliffhangers.

     Before I made the change to consolidate, I started reading reviews on Amazon with other books that were set up similarly. Not good reviews. The readers were speaking loud and clear—they didn’t like the concept. Romance readers like their HEA or HFN!

Okay, drop back and punt. So I pose the question—do you make changes to suite your audiences, or say screw it and write your way and forget what anyone says? Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t deviate from the story line, but the delivery I changed. I refuse to compromise on writing to the masses like that because my stories and characters dictate what gets written, but I’m talking about trying something new. If it fails, would you rewrite and change the method of delivery?

     With all that posed and said The Misadventures of Dick Grewcock with his new and updated final cover releases from Secret Cravings Publishing. Dick’s adventure actually begins on Christmas Eve so I find appropriate. As you can see from the tagline, Dick the computer geek has a few interesting adventures.

      Tagline: Vampires, Zombies, Voodoo and a possible UFO sighting...take a wild ride with the computer geek on an impossible mission not to lose his humanity.

Blurb:

     Dick Grewcock is a computer geek wanting more out of life. Yearning for a girlfriend, he takes steps to make his dream come true. Vampires are handsome, powerful, and have women falling over them—everything he’s not. Becoming one wasn’t an easy task and he had to find an real vampire willing to turn him.

     Christmas Eve, he begins an impossible mission for his boss. Before he starts, a cute spitfire woman just as geeky as him walks into Vampires ‘R Us and life changes. He could have everything he wanted—a pretty girlfriend and a great job—if he could just convince her.

     Noelle St. Nicholas is on a mission to save her home and won’t take no for an answer. The only one who can help her is Dick, the nerd staring at her and looking really weird.

     Follow the adventures of Dick Grewcock to find true love without losing his humanity.

Until next month . . .

Cynthia Arsuaga

Erotic Romance Author

Blog: http://romanticwordsbycynthia.blogspot.com
Website: http://cynthiaarsuaga.weebly.com
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A Very Warm Holiday Reading

A Very Warm Holiday Reading

I couldn't decide what to blog about for my first blog here, so I thought I'd go Christmas, heat, and a little bit of me! I’m a fan of holiday novels. I know some people can’t stand them and want to run away the first time they see something that may have a tree, lights, or mistletoe strewn about, but I love them. There's something about reading that holiday novel that makes me want to hug my hubby and remember why I love the holidays. Now, in hour house, we may not celebrate it like everyone else, in fact we have three separate holidays without real religion in the house because of our melding, but I totally love it.

I might not get to decorate the house for Christmas as much as I’d like to at home, but I want to read about it. I love the heartwarming tale. The idea that romance and family can come together under a common theme. I love the idea of people coming together and finding the Christmas spirit.

Now, I’m not talking about religion here. I’m talking about the idea of goodwill, happiness, the ability to give, the ability to just be a nice person. Some people tend to forget these things during the year, and even more forget them when they’re trying to find the best Christmas present. Yes, the irony of Black Friday being after the day of Thanksgiving is not lost on me, like I know it's not lost on all of you. But with a holiday novel, I hope that some people can sit back and watch what's going to happen. I like the idea of finding those obstacles and breaking them down, then cozying up by the fireplace.

In books you get the happiness. At least in a romance. And who doesn’t love a holiday romance with a little heat?

I hope it’s not just me considering I wrote one. That would be a little awkward. Just me, and Justin and Rina from my book hanging out in the corner while the rest of the world acts like Scrooges.

Wait, that could just be my own version of a nightmare.

So back to that warm holiday. The extra warm kind. When the romance builds and you find yourself following the hero and heroines journey through random Christmas obstacles, like the town play, or Jack Frost coming to town to kill them all…wait…I’m off track!

But when the hero and heroine fall in love—or just in lust for the moment--the sheets need to be tangled, the mistletoe needs a sweaty kiss under it, and the heat needs to flame by the fire with care.

Okay, that was cheesy, but come on, it’s a holiday romance! I love the idea that when “Baby, it’s cold outside,” that they get find new and interesting ways to warm up.

I hope I’m not the only one!

And since I'm here, I thought I'd share the release that came out this weekend that's a holiday romance in a holiday series. Yes, I wrote a whole series in which each book is about a separate holiday. I'm like that.

But tell me, what do you like about holiday novels? Can you stand them? I'm not a fan of them all, but I do like the ones that make me smile. And cry. Then smile again. Then cry...yeah, its a cycle.

What about you? What's your favorite holiday novel? Come on y'all! I need some holiday reading. Oh, and in case you were looking for a holiday novel. *cough* *cough* *obligatory self plug* *cough* *cough*

Santa’s Executive 

 Justin Cooper wasn’t always the straight-laced Holiday Elementary School principal. In his youth, he broke all the rules and enjoyed being the bad Cooper brother.  One Christmas Eve night he got a little too rowdy and things changed forever. Now the consequences of that fateful night have come back in full force and the myths of Christmas might be more real than he thought.

Rina Brewer is one of Santa’s elves. Not the tiny cute little toy maker, but the sexy, petite, energy filled bombshell kind. She’s come to Holiday to aid Justin in his new role as Santa’s executive, but as soon as she sees the sexy ex-bad boy, she realizes the job may be more than she bargained for.

As they work together to make this Christmas one to remember, an old foe has come to town to make sure that this holiday is the coldest yet.

Warning: Contains a perky elf who dreams of something more, a Christmas myth who may be a baddie, and a sexy ex-bad boy who craves Christmas cookies…and a certain perky blonde.

Find it On:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo

Find it in Print Here:

eStore | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Excerpt:

Justin came in behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. Without thinking, she leaned back into his embrace.

“How about we make dinner and watch a movie? What do you say, roomie?”

All she wanted to do was jump into bed and sleep wrapped in Justin's arms, but there was nothing else to say except “That sounds great.”

They made chicken Alfredo, laughing in the mounting sexual tension in the kitchen. Then they piled onto the couch and ate while watching a cheesy romantic comedy. After their bellies were full, Justin pulled her into his arms again, and they cuddled on the couch.

She burrowed into his side and told herself it was only for the night. The only reason she was letting this happen was because Jack had scared her earlier, okay, always. Tomorrow, they would act professional and be friends. She was his assistant, nothing more, but as Justin traced circles on her shoulder and she could hear his heartbeat under her ear, all she could think about was how perfect this was and how she wanted more. Restraining herself might prove even more dangerous than Jack.

The Comfort of Ritual

My mother would be appalled, but I can walk around the same dust bunny for weeks without noticing that he’s taken up residence and started a soccer team. I wasn’t always like this. When the children were young, I had regular days for cleaning, laundry, scrubbing floors and polishing furniture. And I do mean polishing. None of that once over lightly with a worn out undershirt. I’m talking serious lemon oil and elbow grease.

My husband recalls those days with a certain fondness but not even he will suggest that I leave my desk and current WIP to battle dust bunnies and grime. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for every job he’s taken over but when the air takes on a definite chill and the wind starts blowing colorful leaves around the yard, there is something very comforting about the ritual of making the house ready for the upcoming holidays.

Maybe it’s something so old and embedded in my DNA that it harkens back to the days when cleaning was part of a ritual that marked the beginning and ending of the seasons. I can’t think of another reason that I’d smile while scrubbing every inch of woodwork in the house or washing the curtains.

The ritual isn’t complete until, at the end of a very busy week, I light a pumpkin candle, sit down with a cup of my favorite tea or coffee and nibble on cookies that have just come out of the oven. When the house is clean and smells of cookies and pumpkin, I know the holiday season is just around the corner. I look forward to a little craziness and a lot of love.

What about you? Do you have a comforting holiday ritual?

Until next month,

Happy Writing!

Paris

http://parisbrandon.com

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