My Avalon Books romance, GEORGIE ON HIS MIND is one of the CataNetwork Single Titles 2010 Reviewers’ Choice Award Winners!!

So excited and so thankful!!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!!

Jennifer

Jennifer fancies herself a more prolific writer than she really is and has an unnatural tendency to use words like "fancies" and "prolific" when describing herself. Please feel free to check out her ebook, The Role of a Lifetime from Samhain Publishing and her recent Avalon romance Georgie on His Mind--where she promises she didn't use either of those words in her stories.

Website - More Posts

Alright, that started maybe Dec. 1st and most of you are probably starting to panic as you realize the malls are opening longer hours, it's getting colder out, and kids are already handing you their Christmas list or Dear Santa letters. 

Here at Passionate Critters…writing never stops even though we do get busy with our every day life and wonder what greatness is going to happen next. But no worries. We all have big plans, whether it's to plan that big holiday party, gather together our friends and family, or just tackle down our muse and force it to product the next big best seller. Yup, that's us. We're all busy bees around here.

As you know, the first A Passionate Christmas Anthology has been released by Decadent Publishing and many of our critters have also added new releases to our growing group of brilliant authors here! So of course, us passionate critters have been cherry, merry, and bright for Santa to bring us many gifts as we share with you all our great happenings. 

So don't go too far. We have so much more news to share. If you're curious as to what each of us critters have been up to, feel free to stop by any of our websites. Our links are just right there. ———-> (On the side bar along with some awesome book covers.) Don't be shy! Drop us a note. I promise we don't bite and many of us are really friendly, I swear. 

What do you have going on this holiday season? What big plans are you hoping to accomplish before Santa arrives?

Clarissa Yip

Website - More Posts

Along with Thanksgiving, Black Friday hovers around the corner and many are gearing up to knock out their Christmas shopping with the supposedly spectacular deals that many businesses are offering. Me? i'll just stay home away from the crowd and keep my toes from being stepped on or playing tug aware with the insistent mother who claims their kids needs this toy. It's safer for me that way.

Besides keeping it safe, I'm happy to announce the start of A Passionate Christmas releases from Decadent Publishing. Snowy Encounters will be released this Black Friday! Check out the other stories they will be soon available to complete the anthology!

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope the holidays will bring everyone joy and love!

Banner made especially by Silke Juppenlatz! 

Clarissa Yip

Website - More Posts

A Passionate Christmas Anthology by Passionate Critters! Coming only to Decadent Publishing!

From contemporary to paranormal romance, this anthology has a taste of everything for every reader.

We have a great mix of characters, from On-probation Angels, Assassin Witches, Paranormal Investigators, and even the normal city girl on the run. All our unique voices came together to form a collection of short holiday stories that will leave you wanting more. How can you say ‘no’ to this bunch? Set in the small town of Five Oaks, anything is possible. Where mystery, passion, and magic collide…

This has been a great learning experience for all of us and we hope that this anthology will become a tradition that Passionate Critters will continue through the years.

More covers and news to come! 

Clarissa Yip

Website - More Posts

1. short stories — the possibility of sitting to read an entire story without needing a bookmark is just AWESOME!  A good book to sit down with at the end of the night…

2. new authors — I need new authors shoved down my throat.  There are authors I would never have considered reading if I hadn't been coerced by that new anthology.

3. cheaper prices — new, hardback (or even paperback) mass market books are EXPENSIVE!  Give me a novella length, epublished book any day, and I might be able to afford it.   

Lucky me, I have an awesome group of writers here who have just contracted a group of stories to be sold as a Christmas Anthology from Decadent Publishing!  Whoot!

Congratulations, ladies.

I CAN'T WAIT TO READ IT!

Bethanne Strasser

Mother of FIVE smarty-pants and married to her Love for twelve years, Bethanne spends her time writing stories that always--without a doubt--end happy.

Website - Facebook - More Posts

I swung my oversized backpack over my shoulders and trudged through the halls. The jansport bag I got last Christmas was bigger than me, but it carried everything I needed for the nine periods of hell and I needed it to bat at any of the freshman kids in my way.  Fresh meat loved standing in the middle of the halls. As a senior, you'd think the workload would be easy and light, and I'd have all the time to hang out at lunch break and maybe poke fun of some of the nerds in the corners talking about the math-atholons.

Oh, wait. That was me. I sat with the dorky kids in the corner, got attacked by spitballs, and laughed at by the head cheerleader, because of my snarly hair and pink braces. 

Okay, so I like to think at times I was one of the cool kids, but hey, a girl can only dream, can't they? But I have to admit, I had it better than any of my friends. I got to hang out with him….yup, the school's hot football quarterback–the cutest kid in school. Alright, I do his homework. So sue me? It was still nice that he thought I was smart, unlike some of the other cliquey people who thought I was a loser. And boy, was he cute! One smile and my knees were weak. One touch and I wanted to faint. 

Well, that was how I felt until I opened my eyes….

And now ten years later, I am still that dorky girl with glasses, minus the chubbiness. People change, people grow, and experiences only makes a person stronger. 

Have you thought back to those good 'ole days and wonder what you could have changed about it? I grew up in a suburb town, my graduation class was small, but there were still a few hundred of us. My high school reunion just passed and I never went. Now I have regrets. I wonder what happened to the group of friends I sat with in the corner, the snobby cheerleader who looked down at everyone, and the cool football star, who probably didn't remember my name. I just remember giggling and laughing a lot, but also those dark moments of insecurity and doubts as an adolescent. 

Some good, some bad memories, but I'm still here. 

So come meet Cara Standford, ex-high school dork and hot God, Brant Thomas, her high school hot guy. 

 Home for a high school reunion, Fashion Editor-in-Chief, Cara Stanford has ulterior motives: make childhood crush and womanizing playboy, Brant Thomas, pay for the hell she endure ten years ago.

Except he doesn't remember her.  

Though publically embarrassed by Cara at the reunion, Brant is intrigued by the beauty, who rejects his every pick-up line and charm. Never allowing a woman through his carefully erected barriers, she stirs up his past with her return, along with an undeniable passion. He sets out to seduce her until a series of accidental mishaps forces him to question Cara’s intentions.

Taken aback by her enemy’s suave attention, will Cara continue with her planned revenge or risk reopening her heart to Brant?

Unforeseen Reunion is available September 30, 2010 through Decadent Publishing!

So, what are your high school memories? Good or bad? 

Clarissa Yip

Website - More Posts

In a perfect world, I’d announce my recent agent acquisition, or the foreign rights a film company snatched up last week.

Not so, dear readers. I am writing to you from a most discouraging, though very necessary place: the wastelands. This is the “neither here nor there” place we all need to travel on our road to publication. It’s where your best friends get a burst of energy and sprint into that glorious book deal while you curse like a sailor (or a Marine, in my case) at your blinking cursor. It’s the place where you follow your crit partners around the web and cheer them on through their cyber book tours, while you scribble and bleed red all over your pages, crossing out entire sections at a time and throwing objects at the wall while you try to untangle that unholy mess that is POV (and it’s demon sister, Deep POV). It’s the place where the critiques coming your way aren’t, well, the most encouraging.  “Back to basics,” “strengthen the writing,” and “tighten the pages.” *sigh*

It’s where you cross out that “query Agent X” on your calendar, because you realize you, and your story, just aren’t ready yet. It’s where you put on them big girl panties and stop comparing yourself to others, wishing you told stories like they tell stories.

 Sitting in the wastelands by choice is about giving yourself the right to suck at writing for a minute or two, the whole time knowing that you’re about to roll the sleeves up and get to work at fixing whatever it is that isn’t working in your writing career—books, workshops, online classes, endless rewrites, killing off characters you love, vent sessions over coffee, more time critiquing and helping others…whatever it takes.

If publication is like reaching the Emerald City, the wastelands is that creepy forest where the trees throw apples at you and your story, pointing out your weaknesses and forcing you to rethink, rebuild, and re-create. Return a stronger writer with clearer goals. Return to the yellow brick road with a purpose.

So to my PCers who’ve celebrated HUGE victories lately, I am so, so proud of you. And to my fellow (temporary) wasteland visitors, when the mean trees throw apples, make applesauce, girl. (Or make like the scarecrow and thumb your nose at the thought of stopping too long to wallow!)

On with the words…

Harper

Website - More Posts

You can watch it here:

Doubting Thomas Book Trailer by Stephanie Taylor

admin

Website - More Posts

It's here! It's here! Read all about it! 

Love By Auction from Decadent Publishing. 

Come meet Rebecca Hathaway and Mark Passmore as their love is reunited…under extraordinary circumstances.

About:

Intent on leaving the Date for Charity Auction, billionaire Mark Passmore vows not to bid, until he sees the gorgeous blond strut across the stage. Need overwhelms his senses and he has to have her.

Although he’s ended their relationship three years ago, Mark has never stopped loving Rebecca. When he learns the truth of Rebecca’s role in the action, will he forgive her for her betrayal or walk away again?

Excerpt:

Slave? Laughter bubbled to her throat. “What do you mean? Slave for what? Like a chauffeur or butler for the day?”

Erin shook her head. “A slave, Bec. Anything you want him to be. The rest of the night alone with this person to fulfill any fantasy you have.”

Rebecca gasped and shot off the seat. “Why didn't you tell me this before?”

Erin smiled, a nervous glint in her eyes. “If I had told you, then you would have backed out, and Kelly would have won.”

Rebecca started to pace the small patch of carpet behind the chair to the door. Her life was over. Her mother was going to kill her and she'd never be able to show her face in public.

Oh, God. Her brother. She whirled around to face Erin. “You have to get Lucas out of here.”

Erin's eyes widened. “I can't. Then he'll go and tell my parents.”

She glared. “Look, if I'm going down, you're going down with me.”

“Bec, if your mother finds out I was involved, my mother is going to disown me, especially if she can't go to any of Catherine's garden parties.” Erin moved to the vanity table and threw the rest of the make-up back in the cosmetics Caboodle. “You're right. We should just get out of here before Lucas and Mark sees us. At least, I know neither of them won the bid with Kelly.”

Rebecca froze. “You're telling me that Mark bid on Kelly?”

Erin met her gaze in the mirror. “I heard one of them yell out a number from the back.”

Anger turned to rage. Her hand clenched a fistful of fishnet and lace as she stared at her reflection. Her blonde wig shined under the dressing room light, her done-up face emphasizing sultry eyes. Bright red lipstick covered her full lips. The swells of her breasts pushed to her chin, and fishnet garters peaked from under the frilly short layers of her skirt. The image in the mirror reminded her of Marilyn Monroe without the mole at her mouth. Though she looked more like a tramp in high-heels than an ice queen, her costume screamed seduction.

Power bloomed in her gut like a fierce energy uncapped.

A knock sounded at the door. “You're up!”

Rebecca jerked her head toward Erin, whose gaze filled with dread. “Give me my tiara.”

“Yo—you're going out there?”

With newfound confidence, she smiled at Erin.

“I'm taking Kelly down.”

And Mark Passmore is going to see what he gave up.

Hope you enjoy it! And thanks for stopping by! 

Clarissa Yip

Website - More Posts