The Importance of being a Hybrid Author in Today’s Volatile Publishing Marketplace

I started my career as a traditionally published author with Red Sage, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. I’ll forever be grateful that those publishers had faith in my writing ability, but in today’s publishing world, I believe it’s smart for an author to protect their career by investigating indie publishing as well.

A few years ago, self-publishing was transitioning from “vanity” press into something a lot less negative, rebranding itself as “indie” publishing. I belong to several author loops, and I began to hear about writers who had success self-publishing… both traditional authors who’d gotten their publishing rights back from older stories, and other writers who had  “niche” stories that the big publishers had rejected because they didn’t think they would sell. I was happy with my traditional sales, but because I’m a pragmatist, I decided to try this new publishing avenue.

My most recent book is a contemporary romance called Fear Of Flying, and it’s my “write what you know” book. Yes, I’m afraid to fly. And yes, a psychic once told me I’d never die in a plane crash, just like a psychic tells my heroine at the beginning of this story. And yes, I was a book publicist for two years just like Jessie Jordan in the book. I travelled the country helping non-fiction authors promote their new releases: cookbooks, art books, travel books.

This thinly-veiled autobiography was easy and fun for me to write, and I thought it was a good book to experiment with indie publishing.

Frankly, when I hit the “publish” button for that book, my hope was simply that anyone Googling Erica Jong might also find my version of Fear Of Flying and be intrigued enough to buy a copy. But an unexpected thing happened. In September, Erica Jong released a book called Fear Of Dying. Immediately, my sales of Fear Of Flying took off, and they’re still pretty good month to month!

So this was not an objective indie experiment, per se. I was lucky, but if you’re considering self-publishing, there are a few things you should know:

-Series sell better than single titles. Romance readers are voracious, and when they find an author they like, they’ll buy everything you’ve written. If you can hook them with a series, you’ll have a guaranteed readership.  

- Readers DO NOT CARE if you’re traditionally published or self-published, they just care that you’ve written a good book. Or let me clarify… a good, grammatically-clean, and copy-edited book. Self-published authors should have your book edited by an outside person, because nothing looks more “amateur” than misspellings, bad grammar and incorrect punctuation. Even if you’re absolutely convinced you’re an English maven, you as an author are so familiar with your story that you’re likely to miss obvious errors. And if you’re unsure that your fiction story WORKS… with Goal, Motivation & Conflict and your basic 3-act or 6-stage plot structure… you should consider hiring a content editor as well. 

-Your cover and your blurb are (almost) the most important parts of your book. Just like traditional publishing, the cover is the first thing that will draw a reader’s attention. Number two is the blurb… if your book doesn’t sound interesting in one or two paragraphs, a reader isn’t going to buy it. Then, as long as your story is satisfying, you’ll have a devoted reader. So hire a cover artist. And hire a professional formatter. You want to have the most professional product you can produce. In today’s crowded marketplace, you need to take advantage of every opportunity to stand out.

I’m sure there are a million other tips indie authors could give, but those are my top three. And as for me, I plan to keep a foot in both publishing camps (traditional and indie) because I believe it’s smart not to put all my career eggs in one basket.

What do you think of indie publishing? Read any good/bad books?

Leigh

www.leighcourt.com

Great Reviews for The Cottage Next Door!!!

It's been almost a week since The Cottage Next Door released from Samhain Publishing. I've been thrilled with the positive response!

"The author did a great job drawing the reader into the heartache of Hunter and Sylvie. Once I started the book I couldn’t set it down.
It’s a beautifully written love story that merged the past with the present. Leaving me, the reader, teary eyed throughout the book."

~ 5 Stars!! and a "A True Gem" rating from Guilty Pleasures Book Review

"THE COTTAGE NEXT DOOR is the second book I have read by Natasha Moore. She has a way of making the reader feel the sorrow and emotion in her characters. Be prepared to laugh one minute and cry the next. A strong willed and determined woman always makes a good story when she's fighting for what she loves and someone she is determined to heal. Natasha Moore is gifted with her words which make the reader feel strong emotions."

~ 5 Stars!! from Fresh Fiction

"This book is perfect for a lazy day in the sun on the beach...I love the interaction between the two characters and the dog especially as they start falling for each other."

~ 5 Stars!! from Mrs B's Books

Did you know how important reviews are to an author? It's not only a way for us to get the word out about our stories, but it also lets potential readers know what to expect when they might be intrigued by a cover or a blurb from a new-to-them author. It helps with visibility and it lets us know what our readers like (and don't like) and can help us decide which potential story ideas will appeal to our readers and which we might want to hold onto for another time. So if you have a couple of minutes when you finish a book, give an honest review. Thank you in advance!

Here's another excerpt The Cottage Next Door:

Hunter still didn’t know how he’d let Sylvie Chase get under his skin, or how she’d gotten him to agree to have dinner with her, but as he stepped into a pair of shorts and tugged on a T-shirt, he was struck with a strange sense of anticipation. The steaks smelled amazing. His stomach growled. He was getting tired of the crap he’d been living on for the past few months. Yeah, that was the only reason he could think of why he’d agreed to join her for dinner.

When he stepped back out onto his deck, he saw she’d taken the steaks off the grill. She stood beside the decked-out picnic table, looking a little apprehensive. Maybe she’d realized she was out of her mind to invite a jerk like him any closer.

His gaze skimmed over her skimpy top with the thin straps and the hard nipples poking at the fabric, drawing attention to her perky breasts that obviously were not being restrained by a bra of any sort. He swallowed and let his eyes drop over the shorts hugging her narrow hips and down the tanned legs until he saw the bright purple polish, the same deep purple as that tiny top, sparkling on her toenails.

“Hungry?” Her voice wasn’t much above a whisper. She cleared her throat and then louder said, “Come on over.”

Dinner. He was coming over for dinner. Hunter’s mouth watered when the scent of the meat hit him again. He grabbed a couple of cans from the ever-iced cooler beside his chair. “Beer?”

She nodded. “Thanks.”

He handed her the cans over the railings, then boosted himself over to join her. Riley barked and ran down one set of stairs and up the other. At Hunter’s command, the dog curled up on the floor beside him.

Sylvie gestured to one side of the picnic table. It was shaded by an umbrella and covered with a long cloth splashed with flowers of red, yellow and blue. A bright orange salad bowl sat in the middle, and the steaks had been placed on heavy green plates. He wasn’t surprised to see she liked lots of color in her life.

They sat down on opposite sides and their knees bumped under the narrow table. They shifted so they no longer touched, then looked at each other. Looked away. Looked back. She didn’t have a stitch of makeup on, but she was just about the prettiest thing he’d ever seen.

No, that wasn’t true. Jenny had been pretty too. Beautiful. She’d been beautiful but in a different way, with long blond curls and a pouty mouth and full breasts he got lost in. But even as he thought about his wife, he couldn’t help but notice the light sprinkling of freckles across Sylvie’s cheek. How could freckles be sexy?

Natasha
The Cottage Next Door
Her Royal Masquerade
Her Royal Bodyguard
www.natashamoore.com

The Cottage Next Door Releases Tomorrow!!

I'm so excited!

Blurb:

It’s tough to grasp a second chance at love when you’re holding on to the past.

After his wife died in a car accident, bestselling author Hunter McCaffrey stopped writing—and stopped living. He’s rented a beachfront cottage to try to get his head on straight, and start the long climb up from his pit of despair.

Instead of pounding out a first draft, though, he runs the beach, drinks away his pain, and tries to ignore the vibrant woman in the cottage tucked next to his.

Still floundering months after the loss of her adventure-junkie husband, Sylvie Chase hopes some beach relaxation will help her decide what to do with the rest of her life. Instead she’s wondering what to do about her unexpected attraction to Hunter, who makes her body long for the feel of his arms around her.

As Sylvie drags Hunter back to the land of the living, soon they’re agreeing to a short fling. Just to get past their sorrow, not because it means anything. But when emotions get in the way, it’s a struggle to leave the past behind and dare to love again.

Warning: This story has plenty of sun and sand, with an energetic golden retriever thrown into the mix. Prepare to laugh and cry and cheer for two people who deserve a second chance at love.


Excerpt:

“Coffee?”

Sylvie squinted as she stepped out onto the deck into the sunshine the next morning. Hunter stood on his deck, cradling a large mug in his long-fingered hands. He wore khaki shorts and a T-shirt that for once didn’t look as if it had been slept in.

“Morning,” she said cautiously. Her shirt, on the other hand, had been slept in. She hadn’t done more than pull on a pair of white shorts before she stepped outside. She’d had to get some fresh air. The walls had quickly closed in on her after she woke from tangled dreams of Matt. And Hunter.

He held up his mug. “I made a pot of coffee. Probably not as good as yours would be, but it’s hot and full of caffeine.”

“Perfect. Thanks.” She crossed the deck, the surface already warm beneath her bare feet. Hunter was back out in a moment with another mug and handed it to her over the railings. “Smells great.”

“Taste it before you say too many good things.”

The small smile on his face was a bit disconcerting. Sylvie took a sip. Stronger than she usually drank it but not bitter at all. “It’s good. Thanks.”

“No problem. You can come sit over here if you want.”

She noticed for the first time that there was a second chair, a chaise, on his deck. He’d surprised her so much that she didn’t move. Didn’t know what to say.

“I was going to cook up some eggs. To pay you back for dinner.”

“Oh, you don’t have to…”

“And to apologize for being such an ass.”

“Oh, well…”

He chuckled. This time Sylvie was able to see his face when he did it, and the way his face lit up made her breath catch. If she’d been attracted to him when he’d been surly, he was ten times more attractive now.
Hunter set down his mug and reached out his hand. “Help you over?”

She laughed, a quick, surprised bark. “Thanks. No. I’ll use the stairs.” She turned toward the steps, then realized that she still wore her nightshirt and hadn’t even looked in a mirror this morning. “Um…I’m going to change into some real clothes. And untangle this hair.” She set the mug down on the railing and slapped her hand over her mouth. “And brush my teeth.”

He laughed. “Okay. I’ll be here. And, Sylvie…”

She stopped her retreat and turned back. “Yes?”

His hazel eyes flashed. “Your tangled hair is very sexy.”

She rolled her eyes and ducked into the cottage. What had happened to the beer-chugging asshole her neighbor had been up until now? Did something happen last night when they’d been talking about the ocean and spouses and…oh yeah, they’d talked about sex. Her face burned as she remembered how she’d practically thrown herself at him.

Lonely and horny was a bad combination.


You can pre-order THE COTTAGE NEXT DOOR and have it appear on your e-reader in the morning :)
Amazon
B&N
Apple
Samhain

I hope you enjoy Hunter and Sylvie's story as much as I do!

Natasha
Playing for Real
Her Royal Masquerade
Her Royal Bodyguard
www.natashamoore.com

Once it Gets Warmer

Like most of the US, western NY has been seeing unbroken cold weather for what feels like forever. We may be on the way to March but right now it feels as if winter will be here forever. I've been hibernating for weeks, rarely leaving the house. Getting a lot of writing and reading done, but it hasn't done much for the shape of my body.

So I've decided I have to stop putting off things. The things I keep saying I'll do "once it gets warmer".

I'll get my hair cut once it gets warmer. I let my hair grow over the winter but now I feel like it's just hanging there and I'd really like to get a cut that looks like an actual style. BUT...right now it covers my neck and it's freaking cold!

So I made an appointment to get my hair cut. Lots of people have short hair in the winter, right? I'll just need to wear a lot of scarves to keep my neck warm.

I'll start walking once it gets warmer. I love to walk around our village. We are on a lake and it's a beautiful sight to have on my walks. But not so fun when there is frigid air blowing across the frozen lake.

So I need to use the treadmill more. Yeah, it's not as much fun, but I can get my heart rate up and burn a few calories. My butt has not fared well with all the writing and reading I've been doing this winter.

I'll get more fresh air once it gets warmer. This is a tough one. As I said, I've been hibernating - not necessarily sleeping in, but staying in. I've decided I need to push myself to bundle up and get some fresh air every day. I'd like to say I'd get some sunshine when I go outside too, but we haven't had a lot of that either...

I'm finishing up one book, the first in a new series I will be publishing this year. I just got edits on another story which will come out from Samhain later this year. I'm eager to start book three in my Her Royal Romance series. So I have plenty of reasons to sit inside. But I need to get up and move as well.

My hubby and I are planning a trip to Florida next month. Hopefully there it will be warm enough to walk a lot, get tons of fresh air and sunshine, and be glad I have a shorter hair cut.

But as for now...I'll try not to put so many things off until it gets warmer.

Natasha
Playing for Real - available now
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Her Royal Bodyguard - available now
www.natashamoore.com

So long 2013 - Hello 2014

This is the time of year when we tend to look back on the past 12 months and see what we've accomplished, what we wish we had, and how we want to carry on in the new year.

2013 was a year of big change for me. I left the day job to write full time. And as well as contracting two stories to Samhain and one to Ellora's Cave, I also took a big step into indie publishing with a contemporary royalty romance, Her Royal Masquerade.

And watched the little guy grow from an infant into a toddler with a personality and a mind of his own.

Looking ahead to 2014, I have book #2 in my Her Royal Romance series - Her Royal Bodyguard - ready to go and am planning on writing several more in the series this year. I have two releases from Samhain scheduled. Playing for Real will be released Feb 4th and is availabe for pre-order now. The Cottage Next Door will be out in September. Only Playing for Real was even imagined when 2013 started, so I can't wait to see what 2014 brings.

Here's hoping 2013 was a great year for you and that 2014 brings even more wonderful things for you. And I'll finish off this post with a few pics of the little guy because I just can't resist :)

Happy New Year!
Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Guest Interview: Lisa Whitefern & Giveaway

Join me in welcoming fellow Samhain author, Lisa Whitefern, to Fierce Romance today.

Please tell our readers a little about Lisa Whitefern. What would our readers be surprised to know about you?

Well I was born in New York City to American parents but I've lived in New Zealand since the age of two years old so I'm basically a Kiwi. My husband and I own an ice-cream van, and that's what my husband does, he sells ice-cream from a mobile van. We have two little boys. Well perhaps I shouldn't say that anymore because one is a teenager now, and taller than me.

Mmm, ice cream. Tell us about your latest book.

When I conceived of my erotic novel Wicked Wonderland the three goals I had were to write a magical paranormal Christmas story, an emotional romance between 3 people in a ménage, and an erotic story hot enough to jingle sleigh bells and curl your mistletoe!

It's also a retelling of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer where the outcast heroine is taken on a magical erotic sleigh ride by two very sexy half-fae men. To make it more interesting there is also a very evil villain bent on her destruction.

I love holiday stories. What are you currently working on?

I'm currently working on another erotic paranormal menage with half-fae very loosely connected to Wicked Wonderland (the heroine is the daughter of the villain in Wicked Wonderland), but this one is set in Africa and has a werelion as one of the heroes. It also deals with themes of child abuse.

What do you wish you’d know before you became published?

Well I started out selling a lot of short stories to anthologies for flat rates. I don't know if that was the right choice because those books are still selling well, and of course I'm not getting any part of the royalties, since I took one off payments. If the anthology is not by a very good publisher though you could end up with very little in royalty payments so I was more comfortable taking the flat fee at the time.

The first book with my name alone on the cover was a historical paranormal erotic romance set during the Salem Witch trials and I didn't understand at the time that only a few historical periods such as the English regency really sell in historical romance. That's not to say people shouldn't be writing romance and erotic romance set in other time periods and settings, but go in with your eyes open and realize that it may be a hard sell. The story Waking the Witch has only really started selling now that people are buying Wicked Wonderland. People seem to really like it on Goodreads though.

Most people think the life of a writer is glamorous. What’s the least glamorous thing you’ve done in the past week?

Changed the sheets on my bed that my youngest child had an accident on. He wants to sleep with Mama all the time and it's hard to say no to someone who always wants to hug you. It's putting a damper on my own erotic time with my husband I must say, but I feel it's just an emotional need for my little one right now, he's scared of the dark.

Where can our readers find out more about you and your stories?

I've made a pintrest page that expresses the themes of some of my work. http://www.pinterest.com/lisawhitefern/boards/

I have a blog where I talk about market news, and opportunities for writers of fiction, especially romance and erotic fiction. http://lisawhitefern.wordpress.com/

Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?

I'd like to ask whether readers here like to read holiday themed romance. Anyone writing a holiday themed romance?

It's a little bit late I suppose but I'll give away an ebook copy of my Halloween themed paranormal romance novella (15,000 words) Waking the Witch to one reader who comments. :-)

Be sure and comment for a chance at Lisa's giveaway! Thanks for joining us today, Lisa!

Natasha

Silken Canvas Releases in Print Nov 5th! & Giveaway!!

Product Warnings
Contains a sexy, tortured artist, his gorgeous muse, and a string of pearls that creates one very erotic BDSM fantasy.

I love seeing my all full-length novels (and anthologies) make it into print, but I think I am most excited about Silken Canvas becoming available as a trade paperback. With that gorgeous cover, can you blame me? The hero in Silken Canvas is a very successful erotic artist/photographer and I asked for a cover that would look like a piece of erotic art. The Samhain art department didn't disappoint. I squeed when I got my author copies! They're beautiful

Silken Canvas is one of my favorite books. So much emotion and passion in this reunited couple. So much sensuality in the photo/art sessions. And one HOT tortured hero.

Excerpt:

When she walked into the studio again, Brendan was waiting for her. He smiled and dove his hands into a large box sitting on the counter. He pulled out several long strands of beads, then turned to wink at her. “Take off the robe and let’s get started.”

It was a little easier now to drop the robe and bare herself in front of Brendan. She glanced down at the box of pearls, then back to him. “Wow. That’s a lot of pearls.”

“I have a lot of plans for these pearls,” he replied, that silky, seductive tone back in his voice. He glanced between her and the beads in his hand, as if he was judging, selecting. He dropped all but one long strand. “Hold out your hands, wrists together.”

Brendan wrapped the beads once around her wrists, then looped the rest of the strand over so it hung down like the ends of a bow. “Bound by pearls. An elegant fantasy, wouldn’t you say?” He led her over to a black velvet backdrop he’d pulled down over the far wall.

“How many different types of binding have I used on you? Ropes, of course. And ribbons. I loved the way those red ribbons looked wrapped around your wrists.”

He grasped the pearls that were wrapped around her wrists at that moment and used them to pull her arms out in front of her. “These white pearls are a great contrast against the dark background. Keep your arms out. I’ll get the camera.”

Of course, Silken Canvas is available for download from Samhain and all your other favorite ebook sites right now. But if you want to hold a piece of art in your hand while you read a sexy, emotional romance, you can pre-order the print book today at a sale price.

AND to celebrate the print release of Silken Canvas, I am giving away one autographed print book to one lucky commenter! Be sure to leave your e-mail addy so I can contact the winner :) I love contests, don't you?

And if you haven't already liked my Facebook author page, stop on over and click that button. I share little bits about my books and I may even hold spur-of-the-moment contests there from time to time.

And if you'd like to get news of my releases in your inbox, you can sign up for my mailing list too.

Natasha
Her Royal Masquerade - available now
Silken Canvas - print release Nov 5th
Playing for Real - coming Feb 4th
www.natashamoore.com

Playing for Real - Sooner is Better

Playing for Real - book #5 in my Paolo's Playhouse series continues the story of Paolo and Julianne, the characters who met in Plaything, book #4. Playing for Real takes the loving Dom and the tightly-in-control sub from their first meeting at the Playhouse to finding a way to weave bondage and submission into their lives and falling in love along the way.

Playing for Real was scheduled to release March 18, 2014, but because of an opening in the schedule, the release date has been moved up to February 4, 2014. I know, still a ways away, but sooner is better, right?

AND...I've seen the cover the Samhain art department has designed and it is gorgeous! I can't wait to share!

And while you're waiting for Playing for Real, I'll have two more releases. Voluptuous, a Curve Appeal novella from Ellora's Cave will be released Sept 6th - and is available for pre-order now.

Also, look for Her Royal Masquerade, my first royal category romance, in October.

So you have a couple releases to look forward while you're waiting for Paolo and Julianne to find their happy ending.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

Release Dates!

Aside from contracts and covers, release dates are what we look forward to the most. This week I found out release dates for two of my upcoming e-book releases. I already knew the print release date for Silken Canvas this fall, but I'll be happy to give you a reminder today.



First coming up in the schedule is Voluptuous from Ellora's Cave. It's now up on the Coming Soon page on the Ellora's Cave website with a release date of September 6th. I know that day will come up fast because summers fly by, at least here in western NY.



Silken Canvas is available right now as an e-book from Samhain, but it will be out in print this fall. November 5th, to be exact. But it is available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I think the cover is like a work of art and I can't wait to hold this one in my hand!



My third release will be Playing for Real, book #5 in the Paolo's Playhouse series from Samhain. We'll have to wait a little longer for this one. The release date is March 18, 2014. That means we'll have to go through another winter before Playing for Real comes out! But it'll get here eventually and the wait, I'm sure, will be worth it. It will probably be a while before I have a cover, but I'll share it here as soon as I can.

When you read this, I hope to be on the road, heading for a vacation in the Outer Banks. But even though I'll be curling my toes in the sand, that doesn't mean I won't be getting some writing done. The story I'm working on now takes place in a spot very similar to where we will be staying, so I'll be getting some research done as well. Looking forward to getting inspired by those parasailors and kiteboarders:) Hope to be sharing some pictures in a couple weeks.

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com
Twitter
Facebook

Getting Ready to Go

Spring is finally here. In addition to the beautiful weather we've been having lately (don't be jealous, we had terrible weather so far in 2013) and the lovely trees blooming, and my swing once more on the back porch and a new laptop with a matte screen so I can write outside, we're getting ready for a trip to the Outer Banks.

I love to visit the Outer Banks. We used to go every May, but the last few years life has been too busy with other things. We hope to be leaving in about a week (another great thing about being retired from the day job is that if we play it by ear, it doesn't matter. I'm bringing my work with me, so we don't have to be back at a certain time.)

We brought our trailer from the campground where it is usually parked to our driveway, so my hubby can do all the maintenance things he needs to do before we take it on the road, and I can get it stocked with everything we'll need.



So I may be on the road next Monday. Guess that means I better schedule a post now, so I don't have to worry about it. After that, look for tales of my travels and some pictures of dunes and ocean waves. Can't wait to curl my toes in the sand.

Natasha
Silken Canvas-available now from Samhain
Voluptuous - coming soon from Ellora's Cave
Website

Playing for Real - Paolo's Playhouse #5

After the release of Plaything, book #4 in my Paolo's Playhouse series from Samhain, I was asked to write more about Paolo and Julianne. In Plaything, they meet for the first time, in an intense scene of bondage sex at the Playhouse. Paolo, who made an appearance in each of the first three stories, finds the first woman in a long time who intrigues and delights him. The story ends with them planning to meet again.

It was more of a challenge than I thought it would be to write this story. I already knew these characters, I already loved these characters, so how hard could it be to write a story where they fall in love? I do it all the time, right? But I never realized the constrictions of taking two people I never expected to write about again, use the characteristics and plot points already laid out in the original story, and go from there.

It was all my fault. I made it hard on myself. After complaining about all the things I couldn't do with the story because of the way it was set up in Plaything, I finally embraced what I COULD do. Once I did that, things went much more smoothly. (We won't talk about the sub-plot I tried to add that didn't work and had to be ripped out.) All of this added more time to what it took to complete the project, but I'm happy to say I just signed the contract for Playing for Real and the book will be coming out early in 2014.

Here's a rough blurb to give you an idea of what will happen to that sexy Italian in Playing for Real:

Dominant Paolo Mancini wants to settle down into a committed relationship with a submissive he can love and care for. After a failed marriage and a string of short-term relationships, he’s pretty much given up on finding the perfect woman. Then Julianne Barnes comes to his playhouse for one night of bondage sex and she blows him away with her beauty and sass and bravery. He thinks he may have found the sub he’s been looking for. He yearns to show her how to weave bondage and submission into her life, and hopefully into his.

Julianne has always fantasized about soft ropes and dark blindfolds and strong fingers wrapped around her wrists. But just because she craves bondage doesn’t mean she wants to submit to a man in her “real” life. She’s a successful businesswoman and can take care of herself. But Paolo is so sexy, so seductive, she quickly finds herself under his spell. Soon, just hearing his lyrical voice, that silky tone with the steel beneath, makes her sex clench and her soul submit.

But while Julianne tries to keep her time with the sexy Italian separate from the rest of her life, Paolo is determined to show her that he’s playing for real.


I'll be sharing the cover, official blurb, and release date once they become available.

Have a great week!

Natasha
Voluptuous - coming soon
Silken Canvas - available now
www.natashamoore.com

Starting My New Job

Friday was my last day at the office where I worked for thirty-seven years (yes, I was a baby when I started there!) This past weekend I spent cleaning, organizing and rearranging my office so I could officially begin my full-time writing day - today!

Planning. Organizing. I know I need to do those things or there is a good chance my days would fly by without accomplishing all I need to do. So this is what I have on my calendar so far...

I have galleys in my inbox. I just found out that Silken Canvas's print release date will be November 5th. So I'll be working on those this week.

I have another project I need to plan a new course for. Rejections come at every stage of a writer's life.

The project my Samhain editor is waiting for is finished and with a beta reader. I'll be submitting that book as soon I get it back, hopefully without too many problems found. But I need to work on the synopsis.

And I will be starting a brand new story this morning! New chapter in my life. New characters to give their happily ever after. I love my job!

So that's how the rest of January looks for me. I also plan to fit in at least 30 minutes of exercise in every day. Oh, and eat better. And give my hubby more time on the evenings and weekends.

So what are you up to?

Natasha
www.natashamoore.com

5 Days to Go Contest

Those of you who follow Fierce Romance know that I've been counting down the days until I leave the edj (evil day job) for quite some time. I'm thrilled and excited and a little bit nervous to announce that my last day is this Friday, January 11th! As of January 12th, I will be a full time writer!!


I've been looking forward to this day for a long time. I've been building up my backlist and honing my craft to get ready for this day. And in celebration, we have to have a contest, don't we??

I've been cleaning out my office (okay, starting to clean out my office, unfortunately, I'm not the most organized person) and have found a few copies of print anthologies my stories have appeared in. So I am offering 3 print anthologies to 3 lucky commenters on today's blog.

The first book is Seasons of Seduction IV from Ellora's Cave. My story, Taste of Honey, (the first story I sold to Ellora's Cave) is included.
Blurb:

Cowboy Jake Manning is nursing a beer and a heart that’s been stomped into a million pieces when classy Shauna Montgomery asks him to dance. Jake knows better than to get involved with another sweet-smellin’ woman, but what the hell, it’s just a dance.

Shaunna had been planning a little revenge against the boyfriend who dumped her but the steamy dance floor seduction leaves both her and Jake hot and hurting. They end up at Jake’s place for a lesson in power, control and passion. But can they get past their differences and learn to trust again?

The second anthology is another Caveman collection from Ellora's Cave, Jewels of the Nile II. My story, Sunrise, is included here. I was proud to have Sunrise selected as the best erotic romance novella of the year by the Passionate Ink chapter of RWA.

Blurb:

Caroline has been meeting Alan at sunset for months. The hot sex they’ve been enjoying started out mindless and anonymous, just the way she wanted it. Little by little, they’ve gotten to know and care for each other. Caroline fears the changes in their relationship she can’t seem to prevent.

Alan wants Caroline in his life. He sets out to seduce her with his voice, his hands, his body. He’s no longer satisfied with sex in the shadows and wants more. Can he make Caroline feel the same?

The third print anthology is Binding Ties, from Samhain. My novella, Bound by Design, was included in this anthology.

Blurb:

Jenn spends her days crafting custom-designed slave jewelry, but wear a collar herself? No, thanks. Been there, done that, burned the T-shirt. That whole Master/slave scene was too much of a roller coaster ride. Then Scott, an architect with a dominant side, enters her life. Something about him makes her body come alive with longings for another taste of the lifestyle.

Scott’s life fell apart when he tried to deny his dominant tendencies. He’s determined to convince Jenn that denying her submissive needs would be a big mistake. Her response is so strong, so sweet, he finds himself falling again and falling apart for the smart and sexy sub.

Suddenly, something he thought he’d never have seems within reach—a forever love tied up in a nice leather bow. But any mention of 24/7 sends Jenn flying away in panic. If any real healing is to take place, he’ll need to take a giant step back and design a new approach using ropes, chains…and a whole lot of trust.

I will select three winners from the people who comment today (and please leave your e-mail addy, you can put spaces in so the bots don't get you - so I can contact you!). So if you'd like a chance at a print anthology featuring my story & more from other talented authors, tell me one thing you're looking forward to in 2013 and are you counting down the days????

Natasha
Silken Canvas - available now
www.natashamoore.com

It's New Year's Eve!

What are you all doing to celebrate the end of 2012 & the start of 2013? Are you making new goals for the coming year? Are you ringing in the new year with a party? Or staying home and snuggling up to your loved ones?

I actually slept in this morning for the first time in my 1 1/2 weeks of vacation. (Yes, sleeping in until 8 am is sleeping in for me!) So I feel awake and ready to take on the day. I hope to get a lot of writing done on my current project. I'd hoped to have it done by tomorrow but...it may not be quite there. There were a few more holiday get togethers this past week than I'd planned (and I loved every one of them!) so I may not get it done, but it'll be close. This little bit of vacation has given me a taste of what 2013 has in store when I leave my day job to write full time and I have to admit I can't wait!

In order to get ready for my new full time career, I know I need to make a plan. Organize my projects and plan promotions - but that's the subject for another blog post.

I'm going to finish out the year the way I expect the next one to continue, writing sexy emotional stories for readers to enjoy. Breathing life into characters for readers to fall in love with. And with only 8 more days at the day job, I'll be able to write more stories!

Bring on 2013!!

Oh, and I'm thrilled to see that Silken Canvas is on the best sellers list on the Samhain site! Not a bad way to finish out 2012! :)

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope 2013 brings amazing things to you all!

Natasha
Silken Canvas - available now
www.natashamoore.com

Sweet Sadness

When I was working on edits for Silken Canvas, my Dec 25th release from Samhain, my editor pushed me to dig deeper and try harder. I didn’t mind because I know it makes for a better book. But when she said she didn’t quite buy my heroine’s motivation for agreeing to spend time with a man she knew was no good for her, she suggested that maybe Ashley was an emotional masochist. Maybe she agreed to spend the weekend with her ex-lover because she craved the pain she would feel when it was over.

Ok, so I had a little problem with that at first. Silken Canvas does have a BDSM thread running through it, but don’t even people who love the pleasure/pain of nipple clamps and spankings, avoid emotional pain at all costs? I know I do. How can someone want to feel sad? How can someone seek out those feelings?

As I was pondering this, the song "Tomorrow" by Chris Young came up on my iPod. I love this song. I can listen to it over and over. It’s heart breaking. It’s gut wrenching. Every time I listen to it, my stomach clenches and I get that sweet little ache behind my breastbone. And I hit replay.

And then I got it.

Sad songs. Sad movies. Dark moments in my favorite romance novels. Though I would never want it in my real life, I love feeling that anguish in my books, my songs, my movies. I’m sure psychologists can explain it with words like catharsis and vicarious and release. I don’t really need to know the explanation. I just need to know that we can hug that powerful emotion close, and even though it’s not really ours, we can empathize and experience that exquisite sadness.

I finally understood how my heroine would feel and why she might actually crave the pain, and with that understanding, this is how her realization came out on the page:

She turned around to see him standing in the doorway, looking her over with his heated gaze. He was dressed casually today, in a white T-shirt and jeans that were ragged at the hem. His feet were bare, his hair once again a wild mass of curls. Damn, but she wanted to tangle her fingers in the silky strands. She backed away from temptation, but found herself up against the balcony railing. His lips lifted in a slow smile. She shivered.

A delicious ache spread through her as she looked at Brendan.

She’d told herself it was curiosity that had her packing her bag and driving here this morning. She told herself it was the money she’d make. But it wasn’t either of those things. It was the promise of this sweet pain that had her agreeing to spend the weekend with a man who was no good for her. It was the knowledge that it was going to hurt even more when she left.

And she would leave. She was strong enough. Even while she was crazy enough to crave the pain her time with him would bring.


If you’ve never heard Tomorrow by Chris Young, you can experience it here.

And if you want to pre-order Silken Canvas, you can do it here.

Natasha
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

4 Stars from RT for Silken Canvas

The first review is in for Silken Canvas and it's from Romantic Times magazine! The 4 star review says:

"Moore has given readers of erotica something to enjoy. With sizzling characters and an actual plot she has crafted a story that both entertains and thrills."

Silken Canvas will release in 3 weeks and is available now for pre-order. Just think, with the busy holiday shopping days ahead, you could pre-order Silken Canvas, and have a sexy romance waiting on your e-reader Christmas morning. Merry Christmas to you!

Pre-order from Samhain
Pre-order from Amazon
Pre-order from B&N

And speaking of Christmas, this year I am participating in the Smutketeers 12 Days of Xmas Bash 2012. Check their blog every day for tons of authors and giveaways. I'll be hanging out there on Dec 15th.

Natasha
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

Guest Post: Miranda Baker & Giveaway

My good friend, Miranda Baker, is my guest today at Fierce Romance. She has a new release from Samhain and I'm so glad she stopped by to answer some questions and share an excerpt with us! And don't miss out on a chance at the cool contest prize she's offering!

Q: Miranda – congrats on the release of HOOK UP your latest Come Again story. Tell us about it!

A: Thanks! I’m really excited to get Crystal’s story out into the world! A one-night-stand in college blew her mind – literally. Here’s the blurb:

A blast from the past can be hell on the heart.

“Spend the night with me, Crystal.”

One college hook-up with Ryan Anderson ripped Crystal LaRusso’s emotions wide open and hot-wired her to the world around her. After gaining control of her new abilities, she rebuilt her life and started a business as a sensual psychic. She’s bold, fearless and, admittedly, a little freaky. Black leather, exotic makeup and a reputation for only dating women keeps the world at a necessary distance—distance she can’t maintain when Ryan reappears in her life.

Ryan has spent the last ten years wondering what went wrong between them, and now that she’s back in his life, Crystal has a lot of explaining to do. The chemistry is just as potent as it was ten years ago, so why does she keep running away? One night won’t be enough to satisfy Ryan’s need for her, but it might take the edge off. At the very least, he can ask her why she broke his heart—and this time he’s not leaving without an answer.

Product Warnings
This book contains an unforgettable one-night stand, a heroine with a taste for beautiful women, a quest that begins in a sex shop and ends in a sex club, and enough mind-blowing psychic sex to change one lucky man’s life forever.

Hook Up Excerpt:

The door to Come Again opened just as he reached it and a pink-cheeked redhead stepped outside and held the door for him.

“Thanks,” he said, glad to be spared the awkwardness of trying to open the door while holding two hot coffees and a bag of goodies.

He spotted Crystal behind the counter.

“Be right with you,” she called. Her back was turned as she reached to hang a pair of fur-lined handcuffs on the wall behind her. He wasn’t exactly sure what she was wearing, but it was black and made out of leather and something shiny. There were an ungodly number of hooks and laces across the back. It reminded him of a Chinese puzzle box he’d had as a kid. It had kept him busy for hours unhooking latches and bolts to get inside. When he had discovered the trick, it had been fiendishly simple. One button and the lid had popped open like magic. He wondered if Crystal’s complicated getup had a simple catch too. Maybe a hidden zipper?

She turned around and her welcoming smile disappeared. The heavy black lines around her eyes made them look huge and deep, and her lipstick was so dark it looked like it had been applied with a black Sharpie marker. It should have looked garish, but it suited her.

She crossed her arms and the movement plumped her breasts above the neckline of her top. What the hell is that thing? How does it stay up? How does it come off? He itched to get his hands on the closures.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Bringing you coffee.” As he set her mocha on the counter, he saw an empty cup with chocolate residue on the bottom. “But I see you’ve had your fix today. My instincts were right on, but I guess I’m a little late.”

“I’d say that about covers our situation.” She slid onto the stool behind the counter and crossed her legs. The band of smooth white skin between the top of her fishnet stocking and her miniscule skirt made him dizzy.

He swallowed hard, forcing his eyes back to her face. “What’s with all the black and leather? I don’t remember you as a goth girl.”

She smiled, tilting her head back to gaze at him through half-shut eyes. The long line of her neck made his mouth water. “People change, Ryan.” The way she said his name sang through him. “I’m more comfortable this way. It fits the whole psychic image, and frees me up to do what I do best.”

“What do you do best?” he asked, even though he already knew—make love like an angel, haunt a man’s dreams, set the standard so high that no other woman would ever measure up.

She shrugged. “I help people. I know what my clients want, what they need. I give them the good advice they would give themselves, if they only knew what to say.”

“How do you do it? I don’t remember you being psychic.”

She laughed. “We spent one night together, Ryan. I didn’t tell you all my secrets. Did you tell me all yours?” Her voice held no more than mild curiosity, but something about her blasé attitude didn’t ring true. Maybe it was the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead and upper lip. The tightness in her jaw. The way her heel twitched against the leg of the stool.

He leaned on the counter. “You tell me.” They were eye to eye, her sitting on the stool, him leaning forward. “Even if I did, I have more secrets now. Better secrets. Want to try to guess them?”

She shook her head. “I can’t read minds. Only emotions.”

She could read his emotions? Did she know he wanted to walk around the counter and stand behind her, brace her body with his and drop his face into the long, pale curve of her neck? From this distance, he could just catch the edge of her spicy perfume. It wasn’t enough. Couldn’t they drop the bull and have this conversation naked? Somewhere comfortable? Where she couldn’t run away for at least a week?

She swayed on the stool. “And I don’t have to guess how you feel right now. I can’t get away from it.” She took a deep breath and blew it out loudly. “Enough with the lust, Ryan. You’re giving me a headache.”

Surprise jerked him upright. “That is certainly not my intention.”

“Yes, I understand that. But we aren’t teenagers anymore.” Her indulgent smile made his hackles rise. She had moved on. She’d made that clear, but he still felt like she owed him an explanation.

“I have some questions for you.” He crossed his arms. He had assumed she was cleverly tapping a niche market with the whole sensual psychic gig. Was it possible she was telling the truth? If so, he had nothing to hide.

She jumped to her feet. “I’m sorry, but I have a client at four-thirty. I don’t have time to chat.”

“Actually, you do.” He pointed at the appointment book on the counter. “I booked your last slot.”

She grabbed the book and flipped it open. “Marvin Gaye?” Her voice held disbelief and fury.

“I couldn’t resist.” He took a sip of his cappuccino, now cool enough to drink.

“Isn’t that what you peddle? Sexual healing? I’ve needed a dose of that for ten years. Bring it on, Crystal. I’m waiting.”

Q What made you write this story? What influenced your ideas/characters?

A: Crystal inspired the entire Come Again series. I walked into a sex shop in Toronto, and there she was. We had a long chat about breastfeeding and silicone-based lubricants, and I walked out of the shop with a bottle of Gun Oil lube and the idea for the Come Again series. In fact, Crystal’s story was originally titled Come Again, but my genius editor loved the title so much, she stole it for the series. Man, my brain almost exploded coming up with another title for Crystal’s story! Although she was the first character to walk into my head, Hook UP took time to develop. It was built from hints and dialogue in the first two books of the series, Bottoms Up and SoloPlay. If sexy, smart-ass, relentless Ryan hadn’t walked on scene in SoloPlay, Crystal probably would have gotten her happy ending with a woman!

Q: Will Bonita’s story be next? Any hints you can give us while we’re waiting?

A: I’m working on Bonita’s story right now. Her childhood sweetheart is a mega-famous Hollywood movie star with a sexy dungeon in her walk-in closet. I got some great ideas for plot and setting while I was visiting my high school BFF in LA last summer, and I can’t wait for my favorite lesbian submissive to get her happy ending!

Q: I understand you may have a new series in the works. What can you tell us about that?

A: Superhero kink! Power Trip, the first book in the Double Helix series, will release in January. The hero is super-charged with electricity, and the heroine is the only woman who can touch him. I’m in love with every character in this book, and I wish I could clone myself to write faster.

Q: How do you fit your writing in around family and your work outside the home?

A: That is the ten-zillion dollar question in my life, especially now when I’m working full-time teaching pastry arts classes at a community college. I’m lucky to have a very understanding husband who supports my writing and also loves to cook and play with the kids. He is my superhero! He brings me coffee and sandwiches and is more than happy to help me brainstorm. *wink*

Q: Do you make 5 year/10 year goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

A: Oh, Natasha…oh my God. I wish! I have daily goals, weekly goal and an epic to-do list. I dream about getting ahead of life, but it hasn’t happened yet. Since I have four days left of my current class and then a week off before the next one starts, I just want to survive until Christmas. In 5 years, I imagine I’ll be doing exactly what I’m doing now. Writing. Teaching pastry arts. Trying to set a good example for my kids. At least, I hope so! It’s a very good life, and I can’t complain.

Q: Where can we find you on the web?

A: My den of iniquity: http://www.mirandabaker.com
My home away from home: https://www.facebook.com/MirandaBakerfans
Or my favorite hangout: https://twitter.com/Miranda_Baker

Thanks so much for having me on the blog today, Natasha. You are a huge inspiration to me. I think of the writer’s journey as a path with many light posts, and you were holding up the first one. Hook Up is dedicated to you because it was the first story I wrote where you didn’t have to remind me that the emotions are as important as the sex in erotic romance! Woot!

And thank YOU for stopping by Fierce Romance today. Do you have a hero or mentor who inspires you? Who is it? How does s/he challenge you to grow? Leave a comment and I’ll enter your name in a giveaway for a Hook Up Survival Kit. The Hook Up Kit includes:

Orchid temporary tattoo (just like Crystal’s!)
Mini Magic 8-Ball (to check the auspices for a hook up)
E-copy of Bottoms Up, the first book in the Come Again series (because I can’t actually hook you up, but I can offer you a few hours of reading pleasure. If you already have it, you can re-gift it!)
Two STUDDED condoms (Safety first! In Hook Up, Ryan buys condoms at Come Again and discovers there is more to life than ribbed.)
Romance Trading Cards for Bottoms Up and SoloPlay (I love e-books, but I do miss actual book covers!)

Giveaway ends at midnight on 11/11/12! Let’s talk inspiration!

I'm a Sucker for a Bad Boy Hero

Over the past few months I've been highlighting my BDSM backlist, but you may not know that a couple of my early releases had no BDSM elements, in fact, were not erotic at all. My first sale ever was a contemporary romance, The Ride of Her Life, about a good girl who wants to be bad and a bad boy who wants to be good. There are several reasons that this has always been one of my favorite books.

* It was my first sale. I think the first sale always holds a special place in an author's heart.

* I'm a sucker for a bad boy hero - especially one who rides a Harley

* The Ride of Her Life won the 2009 NEC Reader's Choice award for short contemporary romance.

* The cover is totally made of awesome

Blurb:

After a devastating diagnosis, sensible Sarah Austin yearns to live life to the fullest. When she talks her former teenage crush into a cross-country ride on his Harley, she thinks it’s her one and only chance for adventure, including a fun fling with love ‘em and leave ‘em Bastian.

No longer a rebel, Dean Bastian is a counselor for troubled teens and ready to settle down. He doesn’t know why Sarah is so desperate for an adventure, but he’s willing to do anything to keep a smile on her face, even pretend to still be a bad boy.

Sarah doesn’t want to burden anyone with the future she faces, but can Dean convince her that the rest of her life can be an adventure…with him?

About The Ride of Her Life:

"...I loved the way Ms. Moore kept the tension between these two...This is definitely a keeper and a recommended read. ..."
- Nickie from Romance Junkies

"A great story of finding love and romance when you least expect it with a person you could spend the rest of your life with."
- Sheryl from ecataromance Sensual

“…The secrets in this story drew me into it and held my attention until the very end…”
- Missy – Fallen Angels Review – Recommended Read

"The Ride Of Her Life has a nice balance of heartfelt moments and scenes of careless exuberance of falling love."
- Mrs. Giggles

Excerpt:

He was out in the driveway, polishing the bike, when Sarah pulled up to the curb. At least, he thought it was Sarah. The woman who stepped out of the late-model Ford was petite, wearing faded blue jeans and a tight T-shirt that hugged her every curve. She pulled out a familiar saddlebag and slung it over her shoulder, then grabbed a pizza box out of the backseat. She nudged the door closed with her hip.

Dean couldn’t take his eyes off her, or her new short, spiky hairdo. She looked sexy as hell. He felt his body tighten as her hips swayed in the well-washed denim. Her white T-shirt stretched seductively across her breasts and his heart pounded at the sight. They were only talking about the trip and he already couldn’t control his response to her. They hadn’t even left the driveway yet. What would happen once they were on the road? He felt more than a little irritated that he was so out of control around her.

“What did you do to your hair?” he called out, a little harsher than necessary.

Her bright smile faltered and she lost the little rhythm she’d had in her step. Real smooth, Bastian. She continued up the walk at a slower pace and Dean met her halfway. He took the pizza box out of her hands but she didn’t meet his glance.

“I didn’t mean that how it sounded,” he told her. “You look great. In fact, I was blown away. You look so different.”

She shrugged her shoulders and finally looked at him. “I can’t fit a hairdryer in here,” she said, pulling the saddlebag off her shoulder. “The stylist said I just use a little gel and I’m ready to go.”

He’d always been one of those guys who loved women with long hair. Preferably flowing in a riot of curls down her back. But one look at Sarah and he was a changed man. The smooth pageboy she’d worn before had been plain and simple. But this flirty style brightened her eyes and flattered her tiny features. With a simple haircut, Sarah had been transformed from merely pretty to palm-tingling sexy.

He wanted to touch her again. Really touch her this time. Play with the fringe of hair around her face. Nibble on her pretty little ears. Kiss the bare nape of her neck. He grasped both ends of the pizza box. He was in big trouble.

The Ride of Her Life is available both as a download and in print.
Samhain e-book Print
Amazon e-book print
Barnes & Noble e-book print

How about you? Are you a sucker for a bad boy hero?

Natasha
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

Have You Been to the Playhouse?

There are 4 stories in the Paolo's Playhouse series and they are all available now for download. Haven't checked them out yet? Here they are.

FLAUNT IT

He’ll put her on display, if that’s what it takes to keep her…

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 1

When it comes to sexy and sassy, Piper, the most popular waitress at Ben’s bar, has it all going on. Now that they’re dating, though, Ben wishes she’d dial down the skimpy clothes and flirty attitude, and her habit of dancing around the bar and flashing to her favorite song. Every teasing peek at her body, every laugh at some customer’s lousy joke, is certainly good for business—but it sends his jealousy meter into the red zone.

Sure, they’re dating, but he’s no muscled, tattooed stud with diamonds in his ears. How can he compete, especially when she refuses to even spend the night at his place?

Desperate, Ben books a room at his friend Paolo’s fantasy club, hoping an erotic night in front of a two-way mirror will get her exhibitionist streak out of her system. Praying it won’t prove his greatest fear—that she lives only to show off. And he’s not that special to her at all…

RISK IT

Time to put out…or get out.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 2

On the outside, Amy has the American dream. Two busy kids, a job she loves, a big house thanks to her husband’s climb up the corporate ladder. What she hasn’t had in a long time…is sex. Sure, she’s too exhausted at night to think about it, but maybe Will’s long hours at work aren’t the real reason he rarely touches her anymore.

Feeling her marriage teetering on the edge, she rents the voyeur room at Paolo’s Playhouse. Maybe bringing back the memory of the one wicked thing they used to do together will relight the sparks.

Will loves his wife, but she’s never been one to take chances—except for the time before kids, when they’d camp out in a club’s back booth, getting all worked up watching the dirty dancers. Their careers have seriously cut into their “us” time, and if she’s booked them a sexual playroom, it sounds like she’s serious about solving the problem.

When Will shows up way, way late, Amy wonders why she bothered, and if her plan to relight the flame has only made it painfully clear that it’s too late to try.

BIRTHDAY GIRL

It’s not the age. It’s the attitude—and a healthy dose of kink.

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 3

For Shannon, turning thirty means getting serious. Responsible. Old. She can’t help dreading the day she has to leave her spontaneous, crazy, young self-image behind. Then there are all those unfulfilled items on her to-do list, like that threesome she and her husband, Ty, used to fantasize about. It fell by the wayside, right along with their neglected bag of sex toys.

Her birthday dinner starts out like any other…then her present arrives at the table. Marc, an old college friend, whose edgy persona tickles her in all the right places. And that’s not all. Ty’s reserved a room at Paolo’s Playhouse—for all three of them.

By the time the playroom door closes behind them, Ty’s and Marc’s intimate touches and wicked whispers have roused her hormones to a fever pitch. But when kiss comes to nipple clamps, Shannon’s not sure she has the courage to step off the edge of fantasy and fall headlong into reality…

PLAYTHING

One taste of everything she ever wanted…how can she walk away?

Paolo’s Playhouse, Book 4

Julianne’s the epitome of a successful businesswoman. But where her boardroom reality is full of decisions, her bedroom fantasy is the exact opposite—allowing a lover who knows what he’s doing to strip her of the need to make any decisions at all.

When she reads an ad for Paolo’s Playhouse, her long-ignored need twists inside her, too sharp to ignore. Trembling, she picks up the phone, and Paolo’s charm, lyrical accent and empathy soothe her fear just enough to agree to be the Playhouse’s bondage toy. One look at Paolo the following night, and she wishes she’d struck a different bargain. To be his alone.

Paolo can’t take his eyes off the brave and beautiful woman with hair like the fire he sees in her soul. Her sexual need to be bound matches his own powerful need to be the one to bind her. Tonight and always.

Except Julianne agreed to only one perfect night. Now he must convince her it could be the first night of many for them—if only she will trust him.

I loved writing this series of short stories about four couples whose lives are changed by visiting Paolo's Playhouse. Stop by see what it's all about!

Natasha
SILKEN CANVAS - Coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com

Don't You Love Pre-Order?

My December release from Samhain, Silken Canvas, is now available for pre-order! I'm so excited for this book to come out. I'm so in love with this story and I hope readers will love it as much as I do.

Blurb:

Brendan Cole burst onto the art scene in a blaze, creating erotic works of art from beautiful women. Recently, though, reviews suggest that his brilliance is burning out. He knows what’s missing—inspiration. He lost it the day his ex-lover and muse, Ashley Mancuso, walked out on him.

Together, they can once again create the erotic images that will silence the critics forever.

When Ashley runs into Brandon at an art gallery, their attraction is as hot as ever. Though she swore to never again take second place to his art, she finds herself agreeing to an impromptu photo shoot. Once in front of his lens, five long years of suppressing her kinky side melts away—and shakes her resolve to keep it strictly business.

One spellbinding session after another makes it impossible to resist talking of fantasies and long-buried desires. But once the images hit the gallery walls, all the fears and insecurities that drove them apart create a rift wide enough for danger to find its way in…

Warning: Contains a sexy, tortured artist, his gorgeous muse, and a string of pearls that creates one very erotic BDSM fantasy.

If you think you're going to get all caught up in Christmas shopping for everyone else on your list, you can pre-order Silken Canvas now and surprise yourself with a sexy romance on your e-reader Christmas morning. Isn't pre-order the best?

Pre-order Silken Canvas from Samhain

Pre-order Silken Canvas from Amazon

Pre-order Silken Canvas from B&N

Natasha
Paolo's Playhouse 1-4 available now
Silken Canvas - coming Dec 25th
www.natashamoore.com