Sloan—The Country Town With Heart
Back in late 2003 I started reading erotic romances and, in particular, books from Ellora’s Cave. I also started wondering if perhaps I could write one of these hot and spicy romances. Not a bad idea, I decided. My mind turned to aliens crash landing near a small country town, and my first Ellora’s Cave book Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters was born.
Along with the characters, the country town of Sloan where I set my story took on a real personality. I liked the town so much I’ve set two different series there. (Talking Dogs and Fancy Free)
Here are a few interesting snippets about Sloan:
1. It’s a reasonable size town, not far from Auckland, New Zealand, but surrounded by countryside.
2. The café is the place to go for great coffee and to pick up all the local gossip.
3. UFO sightings are a common phenomenon in this area. Strangely enough, the sightings often occur just after a juicy piece of gossip starts circulating. I wonder why?
4. Some of the locals make big money, taking tourists to view crop circles.
5. The Women’s Division usually sets up a stall and sells tea and scones.
6. The Thirsty Cricket, the local pub, is also a good place to catch up on gossip.
7. One of the main employers in the area is Fancy Free. They manufacture condoms and sex aids.
8. The board of directors of Fancy Free consists of retired people who took a chance investing in their school friend’s dream of developing a condom company.
9. The Children of Nature cult also makes their home in Sloan. They are totally against the use of birth control and often stage demonstrations.
10. Unknown to most residents, aliens live and love among them. There’s even a talking dog.
11. There are lots of great picnic spots around the town. Couples can picnic by the river, swim at the waterfall or find a private spot to get romantic. They should, however, watch out for Peeping Toms!
12. Sloan is a vibrant town with a lot of younger people who live in non-traditional relationships. Watch this space.
In Biding His Thyme, book four in my Fancy Free series, readers get their first inside look at the Children of Nature cult. Things are not as they seem! There’s definitely something strange going on.
Question: I’ve given you a list of things that have occurred in Sloan to date. Use your imagination and tell me what you think should happen in the town of Sloan next…
Contest: Complete the rafflecopter and go into a draw to win a $20 Amazon OR All Romance eBooks voucher (winner’s choice). Winner will be drawn on 15 April 2013.
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Blurb: Biding His Thyme
Born in the Children of Nature cult, Sorrel “Bitter” Thyme is destined to spend the rest of her life there, but not if she has her way. She’s perfected the dream cream that enhances orgasmic pleasure in those who use it. Now she must approach Fancy Free management with her invention while making sure the cult leader doesn’t learn of her idea and steal Sorrel’s chance of escape.
Jake Ramsey, a Special Air Services soldier on sick leave, agrees to go undercover in the cult to help local police close a case against the leader. Sorrel is his inside contact, a woman who is constantly ridiculed by the other cult members.
The partnership works well and kisses meant to cement their cover take on new possibilities. Jake uncovers secrets, and their loving heats up, passion coalescing into more than friendship. Then Sorrel is tossed into danger. What began as a favor is now deadly serious—-a game Jake must win to keep Sorrel safe.
Books set in Sloan:
Talking Dogs:
1. Talking Dogs, Aliens and Purple People Eaters – http://www.ellorascave.com/talking-dogs-aliens-and-purple-people-eaters.html
2. Never Send a Dog to do a Woman’s Job – http://www.ellorascave.com/never-send-a-dog-to-do-a-woman-s-job.html
3. Romantic Interlude – http://www.ellorascave.com/romantic-interlude.html
Fancy Free:
1. Fancy Free – http://www.ellorascave.com/fancy-free.html
2. Christmas is Coming – http://www.ellorascave.com/christmas-is-coming.html
3. Feeling the Buzz – http://www.ellorascave.com/feeling-the-buzz.html
4. Biding His Thyme – http://www.ellorascave.com/biding-his-thyme.html
Bio: Shelley Munro
Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.
Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her very own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres.
You can learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com. Also, feel free to drop her line via her website or join her newsletter via the link from her blog to hear more about new and upcoming titles.
http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog
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ok – I’m going with gay farmers with goats that make soap — and cheese — oh – wait – that’s the Beekman Boys
Ok – so have aliens channels the Boys 😳
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2. She listens to the gossip. She can decide to become a writer. Next time while she is listening to the gossip, she can use you for a storyline or as a part of her book. She can make up names and use their situation as a subject/part in her story. Other peoples problems and issues make the best stories. 12. She could figure of what different lifestyle they are into and maybe decide that is something she would like to try. You never know, you might like it.
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Hmmm, it doesn’t mention any anal probing (or other interesting experimentation on the locals) by the aliens. Do the aliens and human love across species? There could be a possible bad reaction to Sorrel’s cream which could induce interesting complications in the aliens.
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An alien baby being born.
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Yup…I’ll go with alien/human love and maybe an alien baby born of that love!!! 😳
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Sloan needs a fire department with lots of hot firemen (and maybe a fire controlling alien?).
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I think I will go with Ilona’s Idea.bibbiesparks@yahoo.com
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Probably couldn’t miss with the alien/human romance, but I would think locals would have a pretty good idea that some of their neighbors were literally out of this world. Make one of the lovers an outsider who has no idea what he/she is getting into!
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I will go with the fire department. Maybe they can be called to deliver the alien baby.
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You guys! My iPad almost wore a mouthful of tea when I read about alien probing *grin*
Alien/human loving – check! There’s quite a bit of that. No children yet, but it could happen. One of the aliens is intending to organize tours for the intrepid alien who wants to broaden their travel experience.
Firemen! Love that idea. I need to build a fire station in Sloan. There are lots of hunky builders around the place. i’m sure they could whip something up.
And just as an interesting aside. The male aliens have different colored equipment – known fondly by Lily in Talking Dogs 2 as the big blue. 🙂
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I do like the idea of some sexy aliens “probing” with their colorful equipment 😉
I think it would be great to have a character from each different group (the pro-condom, anti-birth control, and alien) fall in love and develop a committed menage relationship. It would be fun to see how each of the characters adjust to the other’s beliefs/lifestyles.
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LOL – June, that would be a combustive mix!
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The Talking Dog runs for political office and wins by a landslide. Sorrel has a baby with the Purple People Eater and Jake becomes CEO of Fancy Free.
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Sloan gets 2 new neighbors- Islamists, wanting to built a mosque and Survival preppers want a compound built. The retireeshave to mediate. Might not be PC, but it is a hell of a twist and reflects what’s going on this country, now.
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Hi ,
1st & 4 most I like the idea of sloan 2 date ..hmmm..ties 2 Black market baby ring…I think the Cult or the aliens could b connected. Furthermore..there could b a bond or friendship between humans & aliens I think there should b The Bad,Good,& ugly involved.Miracles should take place,a power struggle but Only certain people should know truths. Finally the old saying should hold true beauty is n the eye of the beholder..” Every one Needs some body”..ciao! 😉 thanQ 8) 8)
redz041@yahoo.com
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HELLO SHELLEY. SINCE THEY ARE DOING ALL KINDS OF WEIRD AND HOT THINGS. THE KIDS SHOULD BE ABDUCTED BY SOME ALIENS FROM OUTER SPACE, TO CONVINCE THEM, TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLES AND THE TOWN THEY LIVED IN. 🙂
😆
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Just outside of the town of Sloan is a nudists colony.
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I’m grinning at some of these suggestions. You guys need to start writing your own books
I think the Sloan residents are in for a shakeup!
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How about an alien kissing booth during the church social. A “Bull Run” down the center of town with all the “men” in the area running naked and all of them are painted blue.
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Whoa, I have some catching up to do in Sloan, Shelley! That’s kind of exciting 😀 Hmm… I think it’d be fun to have some of the folks in Sloan heading up the PTA and building up the rest of the community. Because it sounds like they’re a part of the fabric of that community!
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I agree with the alien love baby one too.