It really is concerning how often I need to tell the internet I'm still alive and kicking.

Hello, lovely people!

Long time no see!  Sorry about that.

I could tell you all about it, but it would be dreadfully boring.  I would like to sum up the past year in a haiku:

Kids have to play sport
Tall pile of dirty washing
Em is distracted.

I do hope you enjoyed that.  It took a lot of tapping syllables out on my fingers, but I feel like I got there.

So, what's been going on with you?  Loads of cool stuff, I imagine?

Some of my news isn't really mine, sadly, but happily for my CP, Anna Hackett, it's great news!  Anna's been kicking sci-fi action romance butt and taking sci-fi action romance names.  She's recently become a NY TIMES BESTSELLER and won a PRISM Award.

I am in awe.

If you go to her blog, you'll learn all about her epic awesomeness, not to mention find out how to get a few of her book FOR GODDAMNED FREE!

And the best things in life are free, people.

I've been getting back into my writing.  To keep myself ignoring the washing pile, I made a widget (It's on the right.  It's red.  You can't miss it).

I've been working on another Virtue Alliance story (Liberating Clemency was published in the very marvellous Sci-Fi Romance Quarterly Magazine.  Find it here).  This one belongs to Seren, also known as Serendipity.

It's taken a little while, as I had a few K down, and then changed the setting after a Twitter discussion with Anna and the very clever Lindsay Buroker, after which I changed my mind about my setting.  Oopsy daisy.   Serves Emmeline right for not planning her schizz a little better.  But, I'm very happy with the new vibe, so that's noice.

I had been reading some (well, ALL) of Lindsay's books (including her pen name Ruby Lionsdrake), and I was GOBSMACKED and FLABBERGASTED to find that Anna and Lindsay had conducted a fabulous podcast chat about SFF Marketing.  It was stellar, and I've also enjoyed many more podcasts from Lindsay and her friends and guests since.  I get it on my iPhone, but you can totes watch it on 'Tube.

I can feel by the increasing tempo of my heart beat and a impending sense of dread that it is nearly... time to pick the OFFSPRING up from school (I love them dearly, I really do), so I shall leave you with one thing.

This is Hew, who is going to be Seren's squeeze if he'd just chill out a bit.

I found him here.

Until next time, happy reading and writing and kid-wrangling and cooking and clothes washing.

Emmeline.  xx

Whoopeeee! There's some new Anna Hackett sci-fi romance up for grabs! IN THE DEVIL'S NEBULA...

Ya'll have heard how much I love my girl Anna Hackett, right?

I'm sure, based on my verbose and protracted fan girl love professions, you will have all raced out and snagged yourself a copy of the very fabulous first book in The Phoenix Adventures series - AT STAR'S END, and you're all waiting with anxiously bated breath for the next book.

WELL, WAIT NO LONGER, ACTION SCI-FI ROMANCE JUNKIES!

Read on...

Action, Adventure and Romance IN THE DEVIL’S NEBULA

First there was AT STAR’S END and the treasure hunt to find the last remaining fragment of the Mona Lisa. Now travel to the heart of the Devil’s Nebula on the hunt for the gun used to assassinate Abraham Lincoln.

He lost it all.

His career, his woman, his sanity.

Two years ago, on a deadly mission to the lawless Devil’s Nebula, Commander Zayn Phoenix’s life imploded. Now the former Strike Wing pilot fills his days with dangerous adventures alongside his treasure hunter brothers.

But his nights are another story: haunted by nightmares of one unforgivable act.

Until an assassin lures him into a hunt. A hunt for her freedom from the Assassin’s Guild. A hunt for a derringer used in an ancient and infamous assassination—of old Earth president, Abraham Lincoln.

Zayn is compelled to join the perilous adventure with Ria Dante that will take them straight into the heart of the Devil’s Nebula, but not for money, fame or treasure.

He joins because Ria has the face of the woman he left for dead in the Nebula years before.

To read the first chapter or buy <<Click here>>

Ria moved her hands, her body bending like a slim tree in the wind. “Taiji isn’t so much about killing, it’s about settling the mind, balancing your energies.”

“Sounds very Old Earth.”

“It has its origins there, although they’re murky now. We don’t know exactly where it came from.”

“So, you’re feeling the need to balance your energies?”

She looked over her shoulder. “Yeah. Being hunted, stealing things, and dealing with you, it’s left me a little…out of balance.”

Zayn stepped toward her. “I came here to apologize. I didn’t kiss you because you remind me of Vik. I just…wanted to kiss senseless a hot woman who I’d just enjoyed a brilliant hunt with.”

Ria stopped and stared at him. “Jesus, Phoenix, you have no pretty words do you?”

He shrugged. “I’m just a simple pilot.”

She huffed out a breath. “There’s nothing simple about you. And for some crazy reason, it works for me.”

About Anna:

I'm Anna Hackett and I write action romance stories to thrill you, excite you and leave you inspired. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals to inspire you with the truth that the possibility exists for all of us to do the same. I love car chases, explosions and spaceships...and of course when the boy wins the girl. Oh, and I'm a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. After reading, watching or writing an awesome action romance story, I'm left energized and feeling like anything is possible. I aim to give the same to my readers.

I love hearing from fellow action romance lovers! www.annahackettbooks.com

I'm not dead, I've just been reading...

Hello, hello!

Every time I come here, I find myself having to clarify that I'm still alive and kicking.  Mmmm....  One needs to work on one's time management.  Or, stop working.  I know which I'd prefer.

I know which one Sparky would prefer....

It's been a little nuts here, what with Christmas coming, Anarchy slamming his thumb in a door and requiring plastic surgery, Faith going on camp, and getting gastro, and Love turning nine.

Mental, I tells ya!  I'm at peak performance when only one thing at a time is happening in my life.

BUT, I do love Christmas.  The fun, the food, the joy, the wine, the ... balls.

http://www.mhfa.com.au/cms/latest-news/christmas-balls-final-2/

Christmas seemed to come late to Casa Lock this year, so I've been watching this over and over, to get in the swing of things.  So much fabulous.  My data bill is through the wazoo, but totes worth it.

And because I've been buying myself eBooks for Christmas (I know it's not Christmas yet.  Hush yo' mouth), There've been NEW BOOKS!

I've been rounding up our SARA reads at www.romancesa.blogspot.com, and here's my offering for that column, x-posted.

Emmeline Lock

I also picked up Rough Diamond, and just finished it last night.  Phew-ee! Somebody say, "Adventurous ROLLER COASTER with GOOD LAUGHS and HOT LERV"?  Couldn't put it down.  Yes, Ms Ledson.  I am a little weary today.  But I don't regret a moment!

I agree, Carla, it's a funny, quippy read that doesn't belabour the relationship between Erica and Jack, even though life throws all kinds of rotten tomatoes their way.   Check out Sandra O'Grady's thoughts on this book here.  

The ending did leave me a bit wanting, until I rationalised the whole "Um, Emmeline, dude, there's another book," thing.  Then, I felt that the ending was very well done, and felt that Jack was some kind of GOD.  Oh, yum.

Looking forward to Monkey Business, the next book.  And not just because I want more Jack.  Well, maybe not only because I want more Jack... 


Speaking of awesome Aussie writers...  Here's a few I've been mowing through like Christmas chocolates...

The Kissing Season - Rachel Johns.

I do love to read Ms Johns, and this 100-page book does nothing to tarnish my girl-crush.  

A gorgeous hero (with an accent!), a feisty heroine, a small-town feel and and Aussie Christmas!  What more could a reader want?!

Rubies and Black Velvet - Denise Rossetti

I'm a big fan of Rossetti's Four-Sided Pentacle series (Loved The Flame and the Shadow!), and this novella, which falls at #1.5,  brings us all the mystique and sultry heat of those books.

Once again, the hero, John, was a work of art.  He was perfect.  Completely sigh-worthy.  

A curse, a delectable hero, a strong heroine, well-woven fantasy and a number of beautifully-done erotic scenes.  Win!  

Originally published in Unlaced in 2008, it stands alone well, and is a well-worth a holiday read.  

Bravo, Ms Rossetti!


Speaking of gorgeous novellas, I've also had a few more crackers that I've taken off of the top of the TBR and devoured...


Starstruck in Seattle - Juliet Madison

An adorable, funny, quick read that left me wanting more Juliet Madison!

Which led me to...

I Dream of Johnny!

I would have bought this for the title and cover alone, but on the back of a surge of Juliet love, this one was awesome.  A very cute, uplifting read.  





Finally, allow me to share with you one final book that I have recently read and loved...

Catch of the Day - Carla Caruso

Isn't that just THE prettiest cover you have seen for eons?  Our summer (ha!) has started off very cold, and made me kinda depressed.  But fear not, one look at this cover and I was cured!  The colours, the water, the floppy hat and the little heart ... isn't it just perfect!?
  
Now, Ms Caruso is fully aware of my girl-crush on her (I may or may not have done some gushing over CITYGLITTER here.) and it's only marginally embarrassing for us both.   

I would happily wear a lifetime of  weird silences and cleared throats, if I could read gems such as this.  

Set in Kingston SE, this is a wonderful coming-home story (I do love those, especially when high-flying women pack up their stilettos...).  It has a number of my favourite things--a mysterious hero, a heroine who knows what she wants and doesn't dally about decision making, crystal-blue waters, small-town heart ... and crayfish!  Heaven!

Do yourself a favour, hit the beach with this great book.  NOW!

And what is really cool is that every author featured today is AUSTRALIAN!  I KNOW!  Awesome, RIGHT?  

Oi, oi, oi!


Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see you on the flipside!

Em xx

Still alive...

Though you could be forgiven for thinking otherwise, here at Casa Lock, things are just fine.

If a little busy.

While I would like it to be the, "I've written a book, and it's fabulous dahlink" kind of busy, it's not.  It's more the, "Jeebus, it's Monday already?!  Right!  Fess up!  Who stole my weekend?" kind of busy.

The madly-spinning carousel of life.  The one we all get stuck on from time to time.  I appear to have my ass superglued to it, but I am determined to find some kind of solvent and douse the seat of my pants very soon.

Not everyone is busy and therefore non-productive.  Case in point--my lovely CP, Anna Hackett.  She's being a complete and utter darling and giving us a new book.  This one is exciting because it's actually a story about a guy in her Anomaly Trilogy.

THE BAD GUY!

Yes!  Leven gets his own SALVATION!

Can't wait!

All right, I have to go and be horribly, awfully domestic.  Please check out the new SARA Blog.  I've been hanging out there a bit these days, they have wine in bottles, and glasses with stems.

Classy.

Until next time,

Em.  xx

It was never gonna happen...

1)  Clean out the fridge (What IS that smell?).
2)  Sew the taupe pillow case back together (Don't ask).
3)  Force/cajole/bribe the offpspring into cleaning their bedrooms so I can find a bit of carpet in there to to vacuum.
4)  About a gazillion other things too mundane to actually mention (Bonus - condensing items four through four thousand of my to-do-list makes me feel much better).


Yes, this is the list of the things I DIDN'T do this weekend.  It's quite long, and now, about fourteen hours after the weekend has concluded, these items are, sadly, still not done.

I'm blaming RL Naquin, a lady whom I am sure is quite lovely, and whom I have also never met.

But I've MET HER BOOKS.  I am enamoured with them.  I read book one, then had to go straight out and epurchase books two.  I'm bereft as I have to wait until later in the year for book three.  I have been looking for lighter/humourous urban fantasy/paranormal and I SO FOUND THEM.


Monster in My Closet and Pooka in My Pantry from Carina Press involve Zoey, a fashion-challenged wedding planner who wakes one morning to find the closet monster she'd told her five-year-old herself didn't exist making muffins in her kitchen.  Throw in a VW, a Leprechaun Mafia, a smoking-hot paramedic reaper, and an incubus that, in my head, looks like badly-dressed Captain Jack Sparrow, and you've got yourself a weekend full of nuthin' but fun.

It's a rollocking ride of great humour, fabulous world-building and wonderful characters.

I have totally forgiven Ms Naquin (whose name is Rachel) for flattening my weekend.  How could I not?  I just hope I have that pillow case fixed by the time book three comes out.  Second thoughts, I'm cancelling that weekend in my diary right now.

The challenge is this...

I challenge you to read Soul Stealer, Anna Hackett's third and final installment of the Anomaly Trilogy and NOT DROOL LIKE HOOCH OVER THE HERO.

Try it if you dare.  ;)

The more courageous of you might also enter Anna's competition to win cool stuff!



The final action-packed novella of The Anomaly Trilogy.

She just wants her life back. After being kidnapped and forced to kill by a vicious crime lord, Cate Hartmann is now a killer with an addiction to stealing souls. On the island sanctuary of Haven, surrounded by other anomalies with secret abilities, she fights to recover. But only one man calms the dark storm inside and makes her believe she can be whole again…Dr. Gage Walker.

Scientist Gage Walker has spent a decade helping anomalies. But every day, he’s haunted by his previous job for the CIA—where he crossed far too many boundaries and hurt so many anomalies. Including his brother. He vows he won’t fail again and will do everything he can to heal Cate—including fighting his attraction to her.

But when the crime lord comes after Cate again, it’s a race against time to find out why he wants her. Amidst the danger, Gage and Cate drawn to each other, even as they fear that one wrong step will send her hurtling back into the depths of her soul stealing addiction.

Soul Stealer - paranormal/sci fi romance
Short Fiction: Novella - 24,000 words

The Anomaly Trilogy
Book 1: Time Thief
Book 2: Mind Raider
Book 3: Soul Stealer

Check these quick reviews:

"The elements of danger, suspense, romance and good vs evil were absolutely brilliantly depicted."
~ Desere - Romance Book Haven

"Rich with emotions, a fully developed plot and storyline and memorable characters, Soul Stealer was a fantastic read as well as a great addition & ending to the trilogy...Get on this series ASAP!"
~ Nina's Literary Xscape

"Read in one sitting, I loved the fast paced, pull no punches action that each page contained. Soul Stealer is full of twists and turns that I didnt see coming. My heart is still racing as I write this!"
~ Tash - Romance Book Haven

Oh, to be in an alternate universe right now...

Romance + Sci Fi + Holidays = A GALACTIC HOLIDAY!

I'm donning my pimping pants to yell from the back dock of my space station:

A GALACTIC HOLIDAY is OUT NOW!

Are you like me?  I love Christmas with adoration bordering on pathological, but sometimes the crazy lead-up blows.  But I HAVE A CURE!

How about an alternate universe?  A few stolen hours getting festive, futuristic and SCHMEXY?

Lose a few blissful hours on A GALACTIC HOLIDAY.

Anna Hackett has teamed up with Stacy Gail and Sasha Summers to bring you her first sci-fi romance, Winter Fusion, in a brand-new anthology from Carina Press.

It's getting some great reviews:

"If you are a Science Fiction Romance reader A Galactic Holiday is a must read."
"I really enjoyed this collection of novellas and I would recommend it to any fans of romantic sci-fi in the mood for the holidays."

"A Galactic Holiday is a wonderful read for the holiday season. Part romance, part sci-fi, and part just plain fun."

Head over to Anna's blog for your chance to win some intergalactic swag.  I don't know what that is, but it sounds awesome.  

I'd like a lightsaber.  Or maybe Anna's hero in nothing but a wrist-sync and a smile.  

I do love me some new marvellous Aussie authors...

This recent discovery has made me very happy indeed.

I've enjoyed a number of steampunk romances lately.  I like them (if you've got a good romance, you've got me), but sometimes, the dirigibles and mechanical animals can feel a little heavy-handed.  Maybe its the science teacher in me, but I sometimes find myself drifting from the story to wrap my brain around how something works.  Oh no!

Not so with Bec McMaster's KISS OF STEEL (Sourcebooks).  It was cleverly done, a gorgeous blend of alternate old London, a seamless romance, well-drawn characters and a fabulous blend of steampunk/paranormal world building.

#IHeartBlade.

Sigh.  And how cute is that top hat?

Am eagerly awaiting HEART OF IRON, which is the next book.  Incidentally, #IAlsoHeartWill, maybe more so, so I am dying to read his story.

My word, the Aussies are really stepping up to the romance-writing plate!

More AH cover love!

Since school holidays have rendered me less-than-scintillating, I'm bobbing up to share the news of someone blindingly, marvellously, scintillating.

My ultra-productive critique partner, Anna Hackett, has a new cover.

This one is for Mind Raider, Book Two of the Anomaly trilogy.  Which, not surprisingly, follows on from Time Thief, Book One.  Both are novellas.  Both are completely wicked. 

I know, because I've read them.  ;)

So, above-mentioned cover love, coming out later this month:

While I'm spruiking (love that word!), check the reviews of Time Thief at Goodreads, where it's averaging 4.8 out of five stars at time of typing.  Completely fabulous.  

And I agree.  :)

Anna Hackett's upcoming release from Carina Press - we have cover liftoff!

The very funky Anna Hackett, one of my ultra-talented CP's and fellow Darksider, has a brand new cover!  I stole this from her blog...

This is a collection of scifi novellas out on December 3rd, just in time to get festive, including Anna's WINTER FUSION, which I LOVED BEYOND MEASURE.  Oh, Savan!

Here's the blurb for WINTER FUSION:

Ex-space marine Savan Bardan survived the Galactic Wars to become the most ruthless trade negotiator in the galaxy. His planet needs energy to survive, and he'll do anything to close the deal for the Perman fusion crystals that can provide it—even if it means seducing his beautiful, infuriating opponent, a rival icier than her planet.

Perma's top negotiator, Brinn Fjord, lost her father when Savan delayed her planet's Trade Guild membership years ago. She hates the handsome Rendarian and the planet he represents. She's determined to finish the deal and get rid of him as quickly as possible, so she can celebrate the holidays.

But soon the rival negotiators are in a fight for their lives. Besieged by mysterious accidents and unforgiving weather, Brinn and Savan have no one to depend on but each other. As they put the past aside, they uncover a desire hot enough to melt ice, and Brinn discovers a secret that may keep them apart.

Here's the blurb for the whole bang lot:

Do androids dream of electric sugar plums? 
A detective who refuses to modify her body teams up with her cyborg rival to track down a burglar who is putting toys into homes. A solitary ice miner finds love and friendship while stranded on the surface of Galileo. And two hardheaded negotiators put their differences aside to evade an assassin and save their planets. Enjoy these visions of Christmases yet to come with three science-fiction novellas from Carina Press. 
Edited by Angela James, this anthology includes: 

• How the Glitch Saved Christmas, by Stacy Gail
• Galileo's Holiday, by Sasha Summers
• Winter Fusion, by Anna Hackett

Anna's other recent release, Time Thief, is on sale at the moment.  Check out her blog for info...

Finally, in more Hackett news, Anna is at fellow SARA Eleni's Taverna for Writing Buddy Wednesday.

I've got a secret...

...and if you have ever met me, you'll know--short of superglue and maybe strategic placement of duct tape--I usually fail miserably at keeping them.

Today is no different.

I'm going to let you in on a secret, which in truth, isn't a secret at all.  Lucky for me, coz I'm about to let you in on it.

My marvellous CP, Anna Hackett, has a new book coming out!

Isn't it pretty?!  I'll keep you updated, but I have seen the shenanigans she has planned for the release and OH MY!  there will be lots of cool stuff going on.  Anna will also keep us updated at her blog:  www.annahackett.blogspot.com.

But at this stage, all that's still secret.

AHEM.  Excuse me while I go find the duct tape.


Stay awesome,
Em.



PS After a long hiatus, Anna is back on twitter @AnnaHackett.  Feel free to enter the twittersphere and heckle her a bit about her new releases this year.  Tell her Em sent you.  She loves the attention.  ;)

She's hanging out at DSDU now too, so head over there and get amongst it.

T is for titillating.

No, not me.  Well, not right at the moment.  I'm wearing trackies and sitting in the freezing cold at my computer.  I'm more arctic than titillating just now.

I refer to Lillian Grant's Male Review which is out TODAY.  Buckle yourselves in, we're in for a sexy ride.  If you're not eighteen, close the browser and come back next week when we get all over U.  Thank y'all.

Here's a teaser from Male Review:


A nymphomaniac octogenarian great aunt, a frigid mother, and a BDSM male strip club, what could possibly go wrong?

The cover:

Isn't it evocative?  And yes, that hand belongs to THE MAN WITH THE BIG...HAT.

Click through and you will understand my excitement.  And possible titillation.  (I can't leave the cover for Male Order here on my blog.  Last time I drooled, and shorted out my keyboard.  It's getting expensive.  So perhaps, cover your keyboard with something waterproof and THEN click through.)

But first, before we dive into the awesomeness that is the sequel to Male Order, next in the REIGNING MEN series, we should really talk about what 'titillate' actually means.

I would be the first to admit that the 'tit' in 'titillating' has made me snigger like a ten-year-old since, well, I was ten years old.  While there is actually more to it than that, there may well still be snorting.

This, from Merriam Webster dotcom:

tit·il·late

 verb \ˈti-tə-ˌlāt\

tit·il·lat·edtit·il·lat·ing

Definition of TITILLATE

transitive verb

1

: to excite pleasurably : arouse by stimulation

2

: tickle 2

intransitive verb

: to act as a stimulant to pleasurable excitement

— tit·il·la·tion noun

— tit·il·la·tive adjective

Examples of TITILLATE

1. a film made to titillate the audience
2. writing that titillates and provokes

Origin of TITILLATE

Latin titillatus, past participle of titillare

First Known Use: 1620

Related to TITILLATE

Synonyms: charge, electrify, excite, exhilarate, galvanize,intoxicate, pump up, thrill, turn on

[+]more

Talk about appropriate!

Lillian Grant is a fellow SARA (South Australian Romance Author), and also one of the few members who could seriously take me on for the title of class clown.  ;) She is fabulous fun, and so are her books. 

And her newest book is out today.  Now, just quietly, it's not for the faint of heart.  Perhaps if you've just eaten, or haven't eaten and your blood sugar is a little low, or maybe recently had major surgery, you might like to wait until you're feeling more robust.  Wouldn't want anything to pop/expire/fall out from over-exertion.  Or even over-titillation.

But, if you're up for a smoking hot, sexy read, get thee over to your favourite ebook store and download MALE REVIEW now!  It's available from today US time.  

Check out Lillian's blog for a giveaway, as well. That's sure to get your heart thumping!

Here's the blurb from Lillian's blog:

Sam Stephens and Meg Riley are in love, and finally on the cusp of sex anytime, anywhere, anyhow. That is until Meg’s Great Aunt Maud, the octogenarian nymphomaniac, gets tossed out of the old folk’s home and moves in with them, closely followed by her polar opposite, Meg’s scarily frigid mother.
When Meg’s best friend Laura convinces Aunt Maud to invest in Male Review, a BDSM themed male strip joint, it seems to be just one more step along the path to madness. Laura’s last venture ended with Meg being arrested as a pimp. When former prostitute Michael is hired as the bar manager the whole thing is surely destined for disaster. He’s to blame for the crazies invading Meg’s home and even worse, he still has the hots for her.

If she wants to get her life back all Meg needs to do is find a new home for Maud, resolve the dispute between her warring parents, keep Michael at arm’s length and rescue her relationship with Sam before it disintegrates completely. Male Review appears to be just one more problem to deal with, but perhaps it could provide an unexpected solution.

Sounds great.  Congrats, Lillian!